Guergis Quits Jr. Cabinet Post, Now Subject Of RCMP Probe
Posted April 9, 2010 12:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
After two months of intense scrutiny due to a series of scandals Helena Guergis resigned from her junior cabinet post Friday. The Conservative MP is also the subject of an RCMP investigation although the details of that probe haven’t been revealed.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper accepted the resignation and temporarily kicked Guergis out of the Tory caucus. She was the minister of state for the status of women and will continue to serve her riding of Simcoe-Grey as an MP.
The only detail of the RCMP probe the PM would divulge was there are no other government employees involved. Harper wouldn’t discuss Guergis’ husband, former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer, who he said is now a private citizen.
Guergis and Jaffer found themselves in the spotlight for the wrong reasons last year when Jaffer was charged with drunk driving. Things went from bad to worse for the political couple in February thanks to Guergis’ tirade at a Prince Edward Island airport.
The MP berated airport staff and complained about being “stuck in this hellhole” as she and an aide rushed to board a Montreal-bound flight on Feb. 19.
Last month it was revealed that a Guergis staffer penned letters to newspapers in her riding praising the MP. The author of those letters failed to mention she worked for Guergis.
Jaffer also made the headlines again last month when drunk driving and cocaine possession charges against him were dropped. He pleaded guilty to careless driving and received a $500 fine.
And this week a Toronto Star report suggested Jaffer told some apparently shady business associates that he could provide them access to the Prime Minister’s Office. He also allegedly handed out business cards that name him as an MP.
