American website publishes banned testimony

[Jennifer_]

Tonight's CTV newscast spoke of this US-based political weblog which has published some of Jean Brault's explosive testimony, (now under media ban) from the Sponsorship Scandal Inquiry. Apparently the source is credible.

Interesting way of beating the publication ban - apparently CTV's lawyers have approved the mention of this site.

Thought I'd share....

http://www.******************.com/mt/***********.php

LINK REMOVED BY MODERATOR

[oldjones]

Thanks for the link. D'ya s'pose one of these guys, years from now, will launch a media career based on this notoriety? Like Howard Hunt or Ollie North? <shudders, turns round three times, throws salt over both shoulders>

[Why Not?]

Interesting way of beating the publication ban - apparently CTV's lawyers have approved the mention of this site.

Thought I'd share....

http://www.********************.com/**/archives/******.php
CTV mentioned the existence of it but did not give the name or URL. I suggest you edit your post. I understand that a link to it from a Canadian site is contempt of court.

[Moderator]

CTV mentioned the existence of it but did not give the name or URL. I suggest you edit your post. I understand that a link to it from a Canadian site is contempt of court.
What he said.

[Jennifer_]

CTV mentioned the existence of it but did not give the name or URL. I suggest you edit your post. I understand that a link to it from a Canadian site is contempt of court.

Actually CTV did show a clear screen shot of said website in their newscast (that's how I found the link :)). An entry on the weblog also mention that CTV had clearly shown the site's name and that the broadcaster's lawyers had approved mention of the site.

There is a link to the broadcast aired on CTV's website (Sunday April 3) where you can clearly see the site's name.

I take no offense for the moderators editing my post and apologize if I caused any headaches by posting the URL.

[djk]

What a fucking farce that a public inquiry isn't public.

[yychobbyist]

Man, there's some nasty stuff on that site about the Liberals. No wonder they wanted a publication ban though for the life of me I can't understand why the judge granted it.

[onthebottom]

Would someone please PM the url to me.

OTB

[sizematters]

Would someone please PM the url to me.

OTB

me too please.

[sizematters]

What a fucking farce that a public inquiry isn't public.

welcome to Canada, land of wealth and privilege, if you choose the right parents.

if we Canadians had any balls, we'd storm the gates of Ottawa...I can think of several worthy causes...Arar, Kazemi, Sponsorgate, BSE...and on and on and on...

nothing gets the government's attention like a hanging in the morning!

[onthebottom]

Wow,

You need to send these guys to jail, including that asswipe of a PM that just retired IMHO.

With any luck the fibrals will get their just ends when an election is called.

OTB

[onthebottom]

welcome to Canada, land of wealth and privilege, if you choose the right parents.

if we Canadians had any balls, we'd storm the gates of Ottawa...I can think of several worthy causes...Arar, Kazemi, Sponsorgate, BSE...and on and on and on...

nothing gets the government's attention like a hanging in the morning!

With that qualifier I'd say the odds are remote.....

;)

OTB

[feminista]

me too pleeze

[Truncador]

During the Cretin era, everyone knew that this country was being run by carpetbaggers and outright Mafia gangsters- but I don't think anyone had the courage to believe it was really as bad as it's now being revealed to have been.

I'm hoping that some day some gangster testifying before an American court will finger certain of the people in this scandal for knowing where a parking-lot full of bodies is or something else that'll finally force the authorities to bring them to real justice.

[someone]

For the benefit of anyone who has not found the site yet, if you pick up a hard copy of the globe, they have a picture of the web site with the name (but not URL) of the blog on it. You google that name, and you are there. The online edition does not contain the picture but I suspect that even it has enough information for a successful google search. I trust that I have not done anything illegal by simply posting about a Globe and Mail story. So much for publication bans. The link for the online article (which does not have the picture) is http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050405/GOMBLOG05/TPNational

[Why Not?]

Actually CTV did show a clear screen shot of said website in their newscast (that's how I found the link :)). An entry on the weblog also mention that CTV had clearly shown the site's name and that the broadcaster's lawyers had approved mention of the site.

There is a link to the broadcast aired on CTV's website (Sunday April 3) where you can clearly see the site's name.

I take no offense for the moderators editing my post and apologize if I caused any headaches by posting the URL.

I checked recently and CTV are now being pretty cagey about it although I did see the screen you referred to (I couldn't read it on my 13" bedroom TV). I've heard some CTV taliking heads now saying they must be very careful about what they say and show in relation to this. Maybe someone talked to them (like that spokesmen from the enquiry yesterday that issued a veiled threat about anyone linking to the site from Canada).

Having said that today's Globe had a full screen pic of the guy's website. Although the address bar had been turned off so you couldn't see the URL and they did not give the name of the site in the article, you could clearly see and read the guy's logo on screen. As "Someone" says anybody could google that and find it. I wonder how far is too far before these guys try to enforce it?

[Truncador]

^^A few Canadian bloggers have decided to draw the line and are linking to it in open defiance of the ban.

[Jennifer_]

Here is an interesting quote off the weblog in question.

It is a quote from an interview someone else did with the guy who runs the controvercial blog.


Canada's attorney general is investigating the legality of the U.S. blog posting. Government lawyers may charge Canadian Web publishers with contempt of court if they reproduce some of the Adscam testimony or perhaps even link to M******y's blog, the Toronto Sun reported

[Jennifer_]

Also off the weblog.

It is interesting to read his take on the contovercy that is surrounding his site from north of the boarder.


Canada's AG To Take On Bloggers

In an odd display of twisted priorities, Canada's Attorney General may start investigating the Canadian blogosphere to find bloggers who have linked back to ** and broken the publication ban:

CANADA'S attorney general is probing possible breaches of a publication ban set up to protect explosive testimony at the AdScam inquiry. Justice spokesman Patrick Charette said federal lawyers are looking into the Internet sites reproducing excerpts of Montreal ad exec Jean Brault's testimony and providing a link to a U.S. blog featuring more extensive coverage of the hearing.
"We have to decide what the best course of action is," Charette said, adding federal lawyers could charge Canadian bloggers and website owners with contempt of court or suggest AdScam Justice John Gomery issue warning letters.


So instead of chasing down felons or prosecuting violent criminals, or perhaps investigating government corruption, the AG intends to start delivering contempt citations ... or even sillier, warning letters. For what? Writing about testimony to which their politicians have complete access and the media can watch but not report.

Don't get me wrong; American AGs often have their own screwed-up priorities, too. It just seems to me that prosecuting Canadian bloggers for creating a hyperlink to my site realistically ranks rather low on the threat level for most Canadians. However, perhaps the chilling effect on Canadian bloggers from this government intimidation should be taken as an ominous sign about the future of free speech in Canada by all of its citizens.

UPDATE: People keep asking me if I worry about the Canadian government cracking down on my blog. Not with these guys on my side, I don't...

[Cardinal Fang]

This just keeps getting better and better.

Wed, April 6, 2005

By GREG WESTON (greg.weston@tor.sunpub.com), NATIONAL AFFAIRS COLUMNIST

A MONTREAL advertising firm that received more than $40 million in AdScam sponsorship contracts paid huge kickbacks to both the federal Liberal party and the Quebec separatists, senior executives of the company have told Sun Media. "I remember seeing the cheques," one former Groupaction executive said of payments to the federal Liberal party in Quebec.

The man spoke on condition that he not be identified until he testifies at the Gomery inquiry sometime over the coming weeks.

The exec said the president of Groupaction, Jean Brault, made no secret around the company about where the kickback cash was going and for what.

"He spoke to me about it ... having to pay money back to the Liberal Party" in return for contracts.

ANTI-SEPARATISM CASH

The $250 million in sponsorships that the previous Liberal government pumped into Quebec was supposed to help fight the separatists after the near-miss referendum in 1995.

But another former Groupaction executive, Alain Renaud, said that while the firm was getting millions of dollars in federal sponsorship money, it was secretly cutting cheques to the separatist Parti Quebecois.

Renaud said that in one transaction, a total of about $90,000 was given to the PQ as part of Groupaction's getting a $4.5-million advertising contract for the Quebec liquor board, called the SAQ.

Groupaction apparently won the contract in a competition when a bagman for the Parti Quebecois had a meeting with the firm's top executives.

One of those executives told Sun Media: "The bagman came by and said: 'Well, you won the bid, and all that's needed now is a signature, and the documents are on the minister's desk to be signed, and it's going to cost you fifty grand.' "

Renaud recalled about $45,000 a year in donations were to be paid to the PQ for two years.

The money was funnelled through individual Groupaction employees to circumvent Quebec law, which prohibits corporate political contributions.

Renaud said Groupaction president Brault was personally involved in the tollgating deal. "I was there when he (Brault) was negotiating with the people of the PQ," he said.

Brault's testimony at the Gomery inquiry over the past week is under a publication ban and cannot be reported.

[slowpoke]

Anyone can google to find the site in a matter of minutes. The guy's name is on numerous Canadian sites. Just look for "Ed Morrissey" and you'll see all the other Canadian sites who've already mentioned his name as well the name of his website: "Captain's Quarters". It isn't illegal to publish the name of a person or a popular website. It probably isn't even illegal to publish a link either but why bother when it is so easy for anyone to find it?

[chd]

May Be After This Is Over
We Can Get A Full Report On The "TAS" Oh Sorry Cbc News

[loveasian]

Liberals are toast.

[someone]

Liberals are toast.
I hope you're right. I have always thought that the federal liberals were dishonest but even I'm shocked. The Globe does not seem to have many details on their web site yet but the CBC does:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/04/07/domery-ban050407.html

[onthebottom]

I hope you're right. I have always thought that the federal liberals were dishonest but even I'm shocked. The Globe does not seem to have many details on their web site yet but the CBC does:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/04/07/domery-ban050407.html

One would think the protests over this would be as large as when Bush visited, including the single finger salute.......

OTB

[someone]

One would think the protests over this would be as large as when Bush visited, including the single finger salute.......

OTB
I think that Watergate would be a better comparison. Nonetheless, I can’t see how even strong liberal supporters could bring themselves to vote for this bunch. That being said, I have thought the same thing in the past and have been proven wrong.

[onthebottom]

I think that Watergate would be a better comparison. Nonetheless, I can’t see how even strong liberal supporters could bring themselves to vote for this bunch. That being said, I have thought the same thing in the past and have been proven wrong.

It's the 30% in the middle that elect governments and I would think that 30% would be really pissed at the moment.

Watergate is a good analogy, we'll see if your run the PM out of town and imprison his henchmen.....

OTB

[chd]

liberals toast

i do not think so

not one to vote for the same party every time

but there is no way the liberals will lose the next federal election

ontario will not give HARPER the support

the liberal fear machine will see to that

this liberal federal party is teflon

I and others may not like this

but you have to face the fact

the table was set before the last election

and ontario sent them back to power

my god Martin was the finance minister and it did not stick to him

just imange the size of the surplus with out the adscam gun registory

the tip the iceberg stuff

the waste is unbelievable

with the tax levels of the federal liberals since they took over from

the pc party we as a country should be out of debt

so don't be fooled in thinking they are toast

next election they will win maybe not a majority

but they will have the most seats

THAT IS A SAD FACT OF THE PEOPLE OF ONTARIO

[chd]

After Reading The Above Post
It Looks Like I Am Anti Liberal
I Am Not I Have Voted Liberal More Times Then Not
What I Am Is Anti Waste

[xarir]

It's a sad day. Eventually we can hope that we will know the names of the persons who tried with high arrogance to willfully deceive the Canadian population. But what's so sad is that a political party formed so many years ago with the best ideals at heart, has been destroyed by the insolent loftiness of a few bad individuals.

Personally I hope that the responsible individuals are clearly identified and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. What these people have done amounts to fraud. At it's core, this situation is no different than an Enron or a WorldCom. The Canadian taxpayer has been hurt, the Canadian psyche has been wounded and the country has been embarassed. The perpetrators has trodden upon the very ideals they were supposed to uphold and protect. For that, they cannot be forgiven.

[chd]

Come On Now
Martin Knew
His Watch
His Money [fianace Minister At The Time]
What A Pile Of Crap The Spin Doctors Our Up To
Ya Ya
Martin Did Not Know
Mark M Hit All Them Hommers Clean
O J Did Not Do It
If It Walks Like A Duck And Talks Like A Duck
It Is A Federal Liberal Of The Last 15 Years
Oh Ya
And Jean The Previous Pm Did Not Say He Would Scarp The Gst In The
Little Red Book

[someone]

It's a sad day. Eventually we can hope that we will know the names of the persons who tried with high arrogance to willfully deceive the Canadian population. But what's so sad is that a political party formed so many years ago with the best ideals at heart, has been destroyed by the insolent loftiness of a few bad individuals.
I don't know how you can say that. They have a history of bad ideas, eg. the NEP, FIRA, the gun registry, etc. etc. Moreover, they have a history of lying to people during elections, e.g. Trudeau on wage and price controls, Turner on the implications of Free Trade, the last idiot on the GST, etc. etc.


Personally I hope that the responsible individuals are clearly identified and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. What these people have done amounts to fraud. At it's core, this situation is no different than an Enron or a WorldCom. The Canadian taxpayer has been hurt, the Canadian psyche has been wounded and the country has been embarassed. The perpetrators has trodden upon the very ideals they were supposed to uphold and protect. For that, they cannot be forgiven.
I agree with you here but I am worried that chd might be right and people might make the mistake of reelecting these idiots as they have so many times before. Tonight, I listened to the first two hours of the most popular open line radio show in the province I’m in and there was not even a mention of the scandal. Just the usual whining about not getting enough handouts from the rest of Canada.

[Don]

Why are people so devastated about this? Corruption in the gov't is the norm.

[loveasian]

Why are people so devastated about this? Corruption in the gov't is the norm.

This is really unprecedented, this level of corruption. We're talking possibly $100 million, maybe more. Not a few buck here and there, or some cozy patronage appointments, this appears to be a well planned scheme on a scale we haven't seen before. I hope the media can put this in perspective for the indifferent electorate and get them off their asses!

[Don]

This is really unprecedented, this level of corruption. We're talking possibly $100 million, maybe more. Not a few buck here and there, or some cozy patronage appointments, this appears to be a well planned scheme on a scale we haven't seen before. I hope the media can put this in perspective for the indifferent electorate and get them off their asses!

Still doesn't surprise me that much. I have a very pessimestic view of govenment. That's why I kept quiet when all the folks were hitting the USA and Americans for being greedy and corrupt, saying "only in America" and so on thinking that in Canada we do it differently.

So like I said, it doesn't surprise me all that much.