Belinda Grewal

Mr. Dosanjh testified that Mr. Grewal was extremely excited about the crossing of the floor of Belinda Stronach, that morning, and how it was now easy for him to be appointed to Cabinet. However, Mr. Grewal’s account was that Mr. Dosanjh suggested a Cabinet position or diplomatic post for him and a Senate seat for his wife... [I]f Mr. Grewal sought rewards from Mr. Dosanjh or Mr. Dosanjh offered rewards to Mr. Grewal to act in a way that would alter Mr. Grewal’s decision on whether and how to vote ... this would clearly fall within the parameters of ... the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons... Either of these would amount to an extremely serious breach of the Members’ Code.

-- from the Report of the Grewal-Dosanjh Inquiry, Office of the Ethics Commissioner.

During the weekend’s clandestine discussions, it was Peterson who insisted Stronach receive a cabinet post. "This was no backbencher," he said. "She was a high-impact political player who deserved her chance to play." It was serendipitous that the Human Resources and Skills Development portfolio, containing all of Stronach’s signature issues—education, empowerment of labour, a competitive, knowledge-based economy—was lying fallow. "It was beautiful the way the whole thing came together," said Peterson.

-- from "The Belinda Stronach Defense, Toronto Life, February 2006. Peterson boasts of obtaining for Belinda what the Liberals swear they would never think of offering Grewal. Joan Tintor limns the remarkable similarities between these two negotiations: use of third-party intermediaries, involvement of Tim Murphy, fear of "separatism" as cover story, etc. Differences: one was taped, the other wasn't. One was investigated, the other wasn't. Similarity: nothing was done about either. POSTSCRIPT: The Toronto Life piece is a must-read. I can truthfully say it is a masterpiece of its kind.