Tories win 'in-and-out' ad spending case

[Joe Blow]

From CBC.ca
The Conservative Party of Canada has won a decisive victory in Federal Court over Elections Canada in its long-running dispute over the so-called "in-and-out" election financing scheme.
Justice Luc Martineau in Ottawa set aside the chief electoral officer's decision not to approve $1.1 million in Conservative Party expenses challenged by Elections Canada after the 2006 federal election.
The court determined the expenses were incurred by the applicants — identified in court documents as official agents of two Conservative candidates — and ordered the chief electoral officer to approve the claims
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Obviously the court agrees with the Tories interpretation of the Elections Act and not that of the Chief Electoral Officer. Interesting how the ruling is only in response to two applicants. I can only image that the other 65 caught up in this episode will be quick to use this ruling as justification against Elections Canada for their reimbursmants.

 

[AgentM]

I was surprised when I saw this headline, and I certainly disagree with the court's decision. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Joe Blow]

I would trust the interpretation of the Elections Act more to the Federal Court than I would to the Chief Electoral Officer considering the CEO is really just a politically appointed mandarin.

 

[AgentM]

I would trust the interpretation of the Elections Act more to the Federal Court than I would to the Chief Electoral Officer considering the CEO is really just a politically appointed mandarin.

Perhaps, but court justices are federally appointed as well.

 

[Joe Blow]

Perhaps, but court justices are federally appointed as well.

True. But they're appointed for their legal skills (mostly). Appointments to Crown Corps & Gov't agencies have little or nothing to do with skill sets in specific areas. I doubt the current head of Via or Canada Post had any industry specific experience or skills when they took on the job.

 

[AgentM]

True. But they're appointed for their legal skills (mostly).

That's part of it for sure, but in the States they always talk about conservative and liberal Supreme Court Justices. I'm assuming that there is at least some of that up here too...

 

[Joe Blow]

That's part of it for sure, but in the States they always talk about conservative and liberal Supreme Court Justices. I'm assuming that there is at least some of that up here too...

There is, albeit not as prevelant. The current Chief Electoral Officer (Mark Maynard) previously served as the Superintendant of Bankruptcy; not exactly industry experience in my book. Hence why I'd rather leave it to the courts even if it was heavily (l)iberal dominated.