[fatbasturd]

Liberals attack Tories over judicial 'patronage'
Updated Mon. Oct. 2 2006 11:05 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Liberals were crying patronage in question period over a series of judicial appointments by the Conservative government.

They particularly mentioned the Mr. Justice J.D. Bruce McDonald, whom the Tories recently elevated to the Court of Queen's Bench in Alberta from provincial court where he was appointed in 2004.

McDonald has a long track record of financial support for the Reform, Canadian Alliance and Conservative Parties.

"Will the minister admit this is nothing but Conservative hypocrisy?" Liberal MP David McGuinty asked on Monday.

Justice Minister Vic Toews said McDonald's name came from a list of potential appointees prepared by the previous Liberal government.

Liberal Party researchers told The Globe and Mail that McDonald served as Alberta co-chair of Tony Clement's campaign for leadership of the Tories and was a lead organizer of fundraising dinners for Stockwell Day, the former Alliance leader and current public safety minister.

He wrote a 2004 letter to the editor of the Calgary Herald that painted a very positive picture of then-Conservative leader Stephen Harper.

"Canadians recognize that Stephen Harper is one of the new party's greatest assets," McDonald said. "Harper's record of integrity contrasts with the ethical deficiencies of the Chrétien-Martin Liberals. Voters looking for a counterpoint to Liberal mismanagement could not select a better alternative than Stephen Harper."

McDonald's daughter Meredith is a special assistance in the Prime Minister's Office.

"This may be payback time for Conservative operatives, but what does it mean for the integrity of our justice system?" asked interim Liberal Leader Bill Graham.

Toews said McDonald was first appointed by another government and distinguished himself as a provincial court judge.

"We appointed him to the Queen's Bench on the basis of his demonstrable legal ability," he said. "And if he goes through the entire list, he actually find there are some Liberals on the list that have been appointed."

Toews said one of them is a former president of the Laurier Club, which is composed of elite Liberal donors.

Saskatchewan MP Ralph Goodale asked the government if it would table the lists that Toews mentioned.

Toews said the list was compiled by the judicial advisory committee, which he described as a Liberal-appointed committee, and that it's confidential.

House Speaker Peter Milliken said there is nothing requiring the government to table the document at this time.

[Ripcat]

They haven't caught him attempting to have a relationship with an attractive woman have they?

[Firecat]

We must now resign ourselves to the traditional cries of outrageous patronage as a new government replaces its key appointed functionaries with new people as reward for their own usually considerable efforts at getting the government elected. There are, after all, only so many jobs and a lot of people worthy of reward. It is the way our system is, and should, be. The former patrons, now in opposition will criticise loudly, sometimes dredging up old criticisms from the Conservatives themselves, trying thus to portray the Conservatives as hypocrites - all the while both sides of the House knowing such complaints are absolutely meaningless posturing but they make a terrific camera shot in the next Householder pamphlet to your constituents.