Former Harper advisor had deal with escort for First Nations water contracts

[rattykins 100]

I can't seem to understand how a man of his stature can be convicted for whatever scams he committed back in the 80's and still be able to have influence enough to reach as high as the PMO's office and start the scams all over again. I mean, does the PMO's office have any credibility left? It's no wonder they're steering clear of any wrongdoing on their part - but if you or I applied for a job that required a security clearance - wouldn't we come up as red flags if we were in his shoes?

 

In my eyes - this goes alongside the disdain I already had for this Harper Government and its cronies running the show...don't think for a second they had no idea about him....he ran with Clark and Mulroney - he's in their club and now has to be spanked for stealing a cookie out of the jar!

[Guest W***ledi*Time]

If I follow this story correctly so far, it seems the political issue is the allegation that Bruce Carson, a former senior adviser to the Prime Minister of Canada, was able to get five meetings with top bureaucrats and political staff in Indian Affairs, possibly in violation of the Federal Accountabilty Act.

 

The more personal issue is that, since Carson only left his advisory position two years ago, the allegations would seem to place him in violation of the Conflict of Interest Act, which prohibits lobbying for five years by former political staff. In addition to the question of lobbying only two years after leaving his position as advisor to Harper, there is also the question of Carson's allegedly illegal influence peddling, promising that he had access to Harper and influence with Government.

 

The other personal issue deals with his fiancee - a lady of whom I was a client, so her treatment by some of the media does inevitably make me wince. The allegation that Carson structured his recompense as a lobbyist for H2O Global Group in the form of a 20% off-the-top sales-commission to her does put her legitimately in the media spotlight, however. She is not just a bystander. Money that was allegedly intended to be generated from a clearly unethical and possibly illegal arrangement was designed to be flowing directly to her - possibly as a means of circumventing the law, or as a way of obscuring the money trail. And the money trail is essential to the issue.

 

As a general rule, when one chooses to play in the big-leagues of shady-dealing for a prize of millions of dollars, one can't expect to be treated with kid-gloves by the media when the scheme is uncovered. In this particular case, whether a deliberate choice was made remains among the points at issue. The details of their personal relationship, and their personal and professional lives, are relevant enough to an understanding of possible motives that the media will dig for what they can find out. As OutForFun points out, they wouldn't have had to dig very hard. And yes, I'm sure they were not disappointed with what they found and are now publishing. Much of it is within bounds as far as I can see, but some of it is definitely over-the-top, and obviously published for its sheer titillation value.

 

And yes, everything is at this point allegation.

[Miss Scarlett 25073]

Totally agree with Megan. Couldn't respond better myself. Couldn't give you any more rep point and my Nomination button has disappreared in thin air!!!!.

 

I never met miss Leanna, but her being outed like this, I feel bad for her.

 

There is no nomination in the news area! lol

[Peachka 4334]

I agree, the Sun didn't need to publish her stats, ad and cerb reference. Though, if I had never heard of cerb or Leanna, the article would certainly get my attention!

[Capital Hunter 18263]

Lets be clear about what the facts are so far:

 

The facts are that they are allegations of misconduct and/or conflict of interest. Nothing is proven yet and investigations have started.

 

The other fact is that miss McPherson was outed (with her pictures, descriptions, reviews on cerb, ex-escort,.advertisement on cerb....) ALREADY without yet proven guilty in any of these allegations. She is punished already before being found guilty. This is a fact too. This may change but so far she is the only victim (of the press). They could have waited at least until (if) she is found guilty before outing her.

[bucky501 923]

This woman must be going through hell right now. This `political operative` she got involved with already has the battle scars of his `profession`'''-she has just learned in the most difficult way.

Being aware of the manner in which funding/scams and First Nations operatives work, all of this is very plausible. And there is always collateral damage on the way through. That damage is to her and the fact they will likely never see that contract brought to fruition.

At this point it does not matter if the allegations are true or not--the damage has been done to her.

Politicos like him have 9 lives'''they just move on to other `opportunities`

[PistolPete 61421]

Is there clear facts? Or are they allegations?

 

As WIT already said,

"obviously published for its sheer titillation value"

 

And look now we got 6 pages over 2100 views, I guess this story does sell?

 

And we had to move it in the news area, where nobody could get nominated posts :)

[Capital Hunter 18263]

Yes I agree with your points :icon_smile:. I just hate to see victims, especially if the victim happened to be a female lol :icon_smile:. Women have been victims for too long now in the history of mankind, and they still are in many parts of the world where equality and women's right still does not exist in this day and age. Enough is enough. No more victimization or exploitation of women. Equal rights and freedom for all women in the world and right NOW!!!. It is long overdue....

[scribbles 6031]

The reason I disagree that her past profession is relevant is twofold. First, it's her "past" profession. Maybe we should bring up whether or not her was a Scout or Wolf Cub as a boy. What they did in the past is only relevant if it has direct bearing on their actions in the alleged crime.

Which leads to my second point. Her past profession is not relevant unless you are making a connection between what she did for a living and an attitude, personality or propensity that makes it more believable that she committed the crime. Simply, are they saying "well of course she was a shady, fraudulent criminal; she used to be an escort!"

The media is using her past profession as an "ah ha!" Corrupt, greedy ex-political operative schemes to make tons of money, and if you doubt the intent of the deal, well his fiancé was his accomplice, and she used to br an escort. Case closed.

 

THAT is how using the titillation of this story under the false premise of relevance is damaging. And, worse, it draws negative attention to SPs in the midst of a court battle, and draws CERB into the media for a short spin.

[moonshine 399]

Good lord, saying 'poor girl' here is a complete oxymoron. And regardless of whether or not there was anything illegal going on, the fact that she was an escort is integral to how all of this came to be in the first place. Do you think this couple met at a mixer for affluent, influential, retirement-aged men and barely out of their teens Paris Hilton wannabe's?

 

If she wasn't an escort, most here reading this story would be whispering 'golddigger' under their breath. But no, instead it's a tragedy about the media outing a girl who was once a popular SP here. And she's been tied to this man for a least a few months as a fiancee, as a homeowner, with a Mercedes - yet when did her website with pictures clearly showing her face go down? How monumentally stupid are these people?

 

Poor girl my ass. This story has more than a few similarities to the recent Macklem drama. The blatantly callous and malicious aspect is missing, but the age old fable of foolish men with money and a simple young girl using sex to get into that life of luxury is all there.

[Krusty 473]

i think the pm did exactly what he was supposed to do and i also think everyone is innocent until proven guilty so we're all just better off waiting for the investigation. we could speculate so many scenarios.

 

hypothetically if a well connected man is a client of a prostitute and wants it kept quiet which I would assume he does, then he is at risk of being blackmailed. whether or not she did anything wrong as a prostitute is not the question. the pm had to call for an investigation to find out if national interests were being breached. for all we know the engagement is simply there so that if they were married they can't testify against each other.

 

so it'd be smart to wait before speculating. here's to hoping it is all innocent, no national security or interests were crossed, and they live a long and healthy life together as a couple in bliss.

[Suzirider 737]

It is all innocent, maybe.

I wouldn't hire anybody that likes to forge cheques. But I'm not Harpy !

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Carson+troubled+past/4460456/story.html

[Lou 9208]

I agree that they wrote irrevelant information - her reviews and weight, do we really need to know that?

 

But she was not outed. Her face was all over the place, she spoke publicly has an escort before.

 

If the allegations turn out true, I wont drop a tear for her. I have no pity for unethical people like them. She claims being in love with one of Harper's best man. I hate everything about Harper's and his gang. She and her finacé were wangeling not respecting laws that are essential for a democratie. Why would I cry for her, because she is one of us? No way.

 

If that is all true, they deserve to spend time in the new jails her fiancé and his friends wish to build with our income taxe.

[Capital Hunter 18263]

She was outed because nobody knew about miss McPherson being miss Leanna the escort. Certainly her descriptions and how she was being made love to, was not all over public media before. Yes her pictures were out already but only those who checked out escort related sites like cerb or her web site (likely not most of her family and friends) would have seen her pictures NOT the whole public and not on TV and public newspapers!!.

 

If she is found guilty, of course I won't shed any tear for her either but at this moment as we speak these are all allegations and she is being punished already by being outed and in the eyes of many found guilty already (because of her past profession) for these unproven allegations and that is why at this time I feel bad for her. Just imagine if she is innocent, she must be going through hell right now and I don't wish that on anyone. And she was not his mistress. They were in a genuine relationship. She was his fiance.

[Nicolette Vaughn 294340]

It is already somewhat difficult as an SP to guard your privacy. Showing your face for advertising in this business, then hooking up with someone who is that high profile and not expect anyone to find out is absurd.

 

Obviously she did not plan ahead and think of future consequences by getting involved with this man and threw caution to the wind whether it was for love, money or both. Imo, I believe she knew what she was getting into so no, I don't feel sorry for her just because of the fact that she was an escort. It's nice to try and support your fellow SP within the business and for sex worker rights but this is not one of those issues.

 

Yes, it was sleazy how the newspapers used the escort angle to sensationalize this story but she was not outted. This whole incident is a two part story with her and her fiance getting involved in this business transaction along with the Conflict of Interest Act and secondly, with her being an escort which was used to vamp up the story so it would be interesting to the public.

[E.D. man 691]

Heres a question where is the money coming from, since they did not win the contract. He has not been in he gov't for awhile. So how is it gov't money.

[Lou 9208]

This woman chose to show her face as an escort. She did television interview as an escort. She is (or was) escorting which means she is doing a legit job. She kept her ads all over the Internet. If she had been a 22yrs bartender or university student, they would have say it also. She is fiancé to a conservative man who is hand in hand with the most conservative government we ever had, he is a major hyprocrite, I think that the public has the right to know that these guys are not acting like they are preaching. if I had been the journalist I would also have made public this information.

[E.D. man 691]

This woman chose to show her face as an escort. She did television interview as an escort. She is (or was) escorting which means she is doing a legit job. She kept her ads all over the Internet. If she had been a 22yrs bartender or university student, they would have say it also. She is fiancé to a conservative man who is hand in hand with the most conservative government we ever had, he is a major hyprocrite, I think that the public has the right to know that these guys are not acting like they are preaching. if I had been the journalist I would also have made public this information.

But they were not together when he had his foothold in the gov't.

[jollyscoop 100]

I agree. This is a possible conflict of interest situation and the fact that she is a guards should play any role, I do not understand why the article even mentioned her escort work.

[d*mm*y 887]

This article seems to have some good stuff in it and makes you go hmmm

 

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/cityplus/story.html?id=8025d47f-c930-4b83-92dd-bfabffb6fde4&amp%3bk=85469

[bucky501 923]

This article seems to have some good stuff in it and makes you go hmmm

 

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/cityplus/story.html?id=8025d47f-c930-4b83-92dd-bfabffb6fde4&amp%3bk=85469

 

Does make you go "Hmmmm"; and the tangled web we weave in these types of things; these politicos (as we all know)are only out for Number 1'''they will buy their way in '''-and shed what they don`t need on the way out'''-that is often personal and financial collateral damage. There is likley no "victim" here but there might still be a human tragedy unfolding. Some of the Seven Deadly Sins are working overtime::Pride,Lust, Envy, Greed'''-and it is mans` own hubrus that is ultimately the downfall.

Beauty & Sex lures Money & Influence'''-my oh my hasn`t that played out in incalculable ways over the centuries?????? And it usually isn`t a Disney ending!!!!

[mark101 214]

Government waste

From the story that Dumpy brought:

You know we as tax payers should not be paying 14 million dollars to fund bringing universities together to support oil company platforemes, when they are making lots of money. This type of wasteful spending is rampant, know wonder there is no money for pensions,schools,roads and fast health care

[Nicolette Vaughn 294340]

Next time vote Liberal.lol.

[capitalman 3861]

What's the news here? A former Harper advisor is trying to make money from his contacts and experiences and employs his girlfriend in the company, and she used to be an escort which has no relevance whatsoever?

 

I guess if I"m reading it right, "Under legislation brought in by the government in 2006, senior federal officials cannot engage in lobbying activities on behalf of private companies for five years after retiring from the government." So that's the crime I guess?

[Guest s******ecan****]

Anytime the media can link a politician to sex they will, you can count on it. Remember the Raheem Jaffer situation a while back and the suggestion that he and his wife were at a social event in the "company of escorts". Then there wasn't even proof of this, or even a suggestion they had hired the escorts (the escorts were suppossedly the guests of other attendees), yet the media couldn't resist mentioning it.

 

No one should be surprised.