Fantino calls for criminal probe of Liberal co-chair

torontosun.com
Oct. 15, 2015
By Joe Warmington

Cabinet minister and former police chief Julian Fantino says the backstory of Justin Trudeau’s campaign co-chairman’s resignation should be criminally probed.

“It’s a serious issue that I believe warrants a police investigation,” the MP for Vaughan said Thursday. “Let’s put the cards on the table and get to the bottom of it.”

He was responding to Daniel Gagnier’s resignation from Trudeau’s reportedly surging campaign because of reports he instructed a pipeline company on how to lobby a hypothetical Liberal government.

Gagnier advised that since a Liberal or NDP government could operate with a smaller 25-minister cabinet, the most important person to lobby would be the finance minister, The Canadian Press reports.

“An energy strategy for Canada is on the radar and we need a spear carrier for those in the industry who are part of the solution going forward rather than refusing to grasp the implications of a changing global reality,” Gagnier said in an e-mail, according to The Canadian Press report. “The last point is critical as federal leadership and a discussion with premiers will take place early. This is where we can play and help them get things right.”

Canada’s associate minister of defence calls the e-mail “distressing.”

Fantino says the future of Canada’s energy resources is on the line and the RCMP should investigate.

But Trudeau and former prime minister Jean Chretien say the matter has been dealt with.

Trudeau: “This action was unacceptable, inappropriate and Mr. Gagnier fully assumes the responsibility for his actions and stepped down.”

Chretien: “Let’s talk about the future. He’s not there anymore. Next?”

That’s not the approach the Liberals took with Conservative Sen. Mike Duffy’s spending scandal.

Fantino said it’s too early to draw conclusions, but it’s also too early to just dismiss.

“It isn’t up to the leader of the Liberal party to exonerate the actions of this particular individual,” Fantino said.

Same goes for Chretien, who has his own black marks from Shawinigate and the sponsorship scandal.

“Justin Trudeau doesn’t represent change,” Fantino said. “He represents the same old Liberal party that brought you the sponsorship scandal. A party run by elite insiders who sell their influence to the highest bidder to the detriment of taxpayers.”

But on this one, the legendary former Toronto Police chief and OPP commissioner says, “we are all entitled to accountability.”

The Liberals, after all, are always talking about transparency.

Fantino said he finds it ironic that he’s been laughably charged during this campaign for “something from 42 years ago,” but so little attention is being paid to the Liberal scandal.

Two weeks ago, a former construction worker laid a private complaint assault charge against Fantino for his arrest in 1973.

“The whole thing is political and utter nonsense,” Fantino said. “But it does raise an interesting point in that everything we do as Conservatives is analyzed and put under the microscope while others seem to get free admission passes and are not held to the same standard.”

Having said that, Fantino said Trudeau and Gagnier deserve a chance to explain their side to police.

“I really think in this situation, the public needs a full airing,” Fantino said. “The best way to do that is get an investigation underway and let it all air out.”