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December 16, 2004
Blunkett resignation should be a lesson to Sgro
Yesterday, Britain's Home Secretary David Blunkett resigned because he may have fast-tracked an immigration matter. The British media have been all over the Blunkett Affair for months now. First it was about how he had an affair and fathered a child. Then it was about his seeking legal remedies to have access to that child. At the end it was about whether or not he fast-tracked the immigration application for that child's nanny. As far as political scandals go, this story had all of the important components - an outspoken Cabinet Minister, sex and allegations of abuse of power.
Which brings me neatly to Canada's Immigration Minister Judy Sgro. The outspoken Cabinet Minister is alleged to have abused her authority by fast-tracking the immigration application of a Romanian stripper who worked on her election campaign. It's a different kind of sex, but all the elements are there. There is even an allegation one of her staffers had links to terrorists.
Like Mr. Blunkett, Ms. Sgro has referred the matter for investigation by the government's Ethics Commissioner, but unlike Mr. Blunkett, she doesn't understand that the perception of a conflict of interest or abuse of power is as bad as the reality. As Mr. Blunkett put it so well yesterday, "whether or not I asked for any action to be taken is irrelevant to the inference that can be drawn."
Ms. Sgro's continued presence in the Canadian Ministry serves only as continued distraction for a Liberal Government that may be heading to the polls in less than a year. She should step aside and allow the Ethics Commissioner to do his job while also allowing her government to get on with the business of running the country.
Mr. Blunkett's resignation came perhaps a bit too late, but was a reflection of his respect for the principle of Ministerial Responsibility, something Ms. Sgro simply does not understand.
Further Reading:
Blunkett's resignation statement Blunkett's resignation statement (Press Association)
Blunkett's letter of resignation (Press Association)
Blunkett resigns (The Guardian)
Blunkett comments: 'I am mortified and very sorry' (The Independent)
Blunkett broke an iron law of politics: don't infuriate Cabinet colleagues (The Times)
Sgro lambastes staff security probe story (CTV News)
Sgro criticizes smearing of the vulnerable (National Post)
New immigrant gave Sgro $5Gs (Toronto Sun)
Ethics Commissioner Wants to Question Sgro's Staff (CFRA Radio)
Posted by maxthecat on December 16, 2004 at 09:53 AM
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