Categories: Polls

How do you feel about Helena Guergis's departure from the federal cabinet?

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by macleans.ca on Monday, April 12, 2010 4:43pm - 42 Comments

Tags: guergis, Helena Guergis, Rahim Jaffer

Jaded Iris

Who cares about this question ! Really MACLEAN'S………. how about a national issue ?

Like……. politicians getting 450% more pension a year then the average tax paying Canadian can ever dreamed of .
No claw back, no worries about inflation , no thought that the fund will run out . Politicians will keep on taking until the last tax payer is SUCKED DRY.
They are elitist , voting themselves unbelievable riches , while not really changing the citizens life for decades. JUST keep on protecting the criminal and the native gang members. Letting habitual criminals free .

What about the huge democratic disparity , Quebec .( the Bloc is NOT a National party )….the Atlantic provinces should be one with so much LESS clout and then there is the soft and useless Charter of Rights because no Politician can get a back bone .
'Cause I ain't contributing anything very much in the future.

Doug from Angus

I care.

I am still saddled with this individual representing me on a federal level.

Simcoe Grey will not rest until she resigns her seat as well. And we mean NOW!

Cissy

I agree, before the story with Jaffer came up last September I was proud to have a local (I am from Angus) represent Simcoe Grey in Ottawa. Now it is like an embarrassment. For what I know she should have been removed back in September and Mr. Jaffer should have been convicted for drunk driving, speeding and cocain possesion.
I am only sad that justice is only served on the little hard working tax paying citizen.

NOTFOOLED

Hey Cissy, Guergis may have been an embarrassment. But she's not the criminal that Harper has tried to frame her to be. Guergis maybe many things. Corrupt is not one. Harper need to save face after everybody and their dog was calling for Guergis's resignation. So, after the Toronto Star story on her husband. Harper drummed up some bogus drama that made him look like a poster boy for accountability(HA!!! RIGHT!!) and tough on crime. Nothing will come of this because there is nothing there…the ethic commissioner has already said so…the RCMP would be redfaced if they followed through. This is as bogus as McKay talking as if he single handedly fought off Russian bomber at the arctic circle a couple of years ago…the sooner people get wise to the fact that Harper and his goofs are thugs and would sell out on anybody…even their own…good luck Soudas…you're next.

Cissy

Notfooled, true! I agree…. To me politics are what they are and we could talk for days how corrupt and twofaced they are. This on the other hand has to do with the behavior and involvement of Ms Helena in shady characters like Mr Jaffer and his bosse such as Nazim Gillani, the businessman who allegedly boasted to be a financier to the Hells Angels. His shady dealings would have sooner or later brought her down. Why was he acquitted of charges of drunk driving, speeding and cocaine possession. Sounds to me like somebody got paid a little (or a lot) taxpayers money to make that happen. Also Ms Helena's tantrum at the airport. Please tell me Notfooled, if this is you would you get away with this? You would have lost your drivers license for a year, got the immobilizer in your car (drunk driving convicts get those), hefty fine and points for speeding, especially if it is 95km an hour in a 50 zone. Finally you would get a criminal record for possession and would have to pay your own lawyer to keep you hopefully out of jail! This – my friend turns my crank! Helena is married to this guy and please don't tell me she had no idea about his shady lifestyle?

Norma

how will you feel when she qualifies for her pension in June?
http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

I wouldn't be terribly embarassed, Cissy.

Really, Guergis' problems can all be traced back to falling for an Alberta CPC member, and people don't have a lot of control over who they fall for. Should she have exhibited better judgment once hooked up with Jaffer? Sure. But I don't think that she reflects on Simcoe-Grey at all. Pre-Jaffer she wasn't bad — and how could you folks have known what post-Jaffer would be like?

http://intensedebate.com/people/skyroamer skyroamer

You hit this nail right on the head! The only thing you missed is the obvious comparison of our so-called democracy to the USSR of Joe Stalin. Elitist politicians; hate crimes–all you had to do was denounce someone in the USSR and you were guilty; kangaroo courts–the HRC; politicians are dictators–after you vote do you have any say, can you control the pols?; yes the pols will keep taking until we're sucked dry–how is that different from working for the state like in the USSR?; no freedom of speech, or even thought–see the HRC and the Charter of Rights. We are free to speak and think as long as you are speaking and thinking the "correct line"–see the Human Rights Commission and the Charter of Rights again. Native rights, minority rights, collective rights, criminal rights–where does the majority, the individual, and the law abiding, tax-paying citizen fit into this scenerio? I'm sort of happy that I'm nearly at the end of my life because I won't have to watch the continuing crumbling of this country thanks mostly to Trudeau and the Trudeaupians!

Pat

I care also. I also live in her riding.
In a few weeks, she will qualify for a big fat pension. In my view, that's criminal.

muscgrl

Now isn't that the truth!

We no longer have the 'best of the rest' from which to choose, do we? Who, in their right mind, with a scintilla of ethics, would be caught dead in politics today? From where I'm sitting in my broken down chair. All I see are too many candidates, who are hoping to be elected so that once in can hold on long enough to serve for at least six years. Having arrived at that level, they're assured of a nice tidy pension to lock into. After that, even if they're voted out of office, they're guaranteed positions on various so-called 'blue-ribbon panels', Royal Commission panels, and if they're really dedicated party people – an appointment to the Senate. Let's not forget those directorships! It's quite a club. No sirree. There's no retirement in store for these birds. It would seem that most of them are guaranteed any other number of 'nose-perpetually-in-the-trough' positions, from which they can continue to suck up the money. How lucky can you get? In the meantime, fools that we are continue to put up with this nonsense.

johnnyk

No more inflated cabinet salary, no more limo, no more paid flunkies and toadies scurrying back and forth. As a taxpayer, what's not to like?
StinkyMann

The most annoying thing about this Guergis scam is that she receives the pension. Can't they invoke a state of emergency and just pull the f'g thing away from her. Or raid her house for the coke.
Out There

At one level, the whole Guergis situation is meaningless: Conservative ministers primarily exist to serve as drones who recite their leader's talking points at every conceivable opportunity and function as partisan attack dogs as needed. They're pretty much interchangeable parts.

On the other hand, the behaviour of Guergis and Jaffer leads me to wonder: exactly why do people want to become Conservative members of Parliament anyway? Don't Conservatives believe that government can't really do anything useful?

Which leads me to wonder whether this line of work appeals to people who are personally ambitious or who desire power (as opposed to the traditional idea of government as a form of public service).

cynic

its not just cons.they are all in for money,perks and power.

porky

Guergis has got a great bod, but the buck stops there, they have to pull that pension now. Forget the rcmp, we need action.
anon

The wording of this question confirms my worst suspicions about this magazine.

I would suggest adding another option: "I don't yet have enough information to have an opinion one way or the other."

Yes, she's acted badly, as has her husband. No, so far I haven't seen evidence that she's done anything substantially different than many of her colleagues – on either side of the house. Yes, it looks like her party/PMO has fed her to the wolves. No, I haven't thus far seen evidence that would justify anything stronger than a shuffle out of cabinet, and loss of her seat at the next election.

So far this looks like an artificially manufactured tempest in a teacup with lot's of sturm und drang, but not much evidence, which may have been the entire point in the first place.

Myrna

I am with you, anon, you said it well.
muscgrl

Since these polls are skewed to reflect only a particular viewpoint (rather like a PhD thesis), there is one choice that has been omitted. That alternative viewpoint has been given by 'anon' and I couldn't agree more!

It would seem we really need to have all the evidence in before we damn her to hell. I do agree, however, that the PM acted correctly in relligating Ms. Guergis from her cabinet position to the back benches, if only to make it clear to her, her husband and any friends of questionable ethics, that if anyone of them thought that she was going to represent a conduit into the PM's office or the public coffers, then they had better be straightened out on that notion immediately. Thusfar, it would appear that Ms. Geurgis is guilty of complete lack of judgement, an overly strong sense of entitlement, and arrogance. Why don't we all just calm down. In the meantime, it would be nice if the press would adopt a new plan of not drawing, hanging and quartering the alleged offender before all the facts are in. What a refreshing change that would be!

John

This minister and her husband are a major embarrassment. She is as dim as a 10 watt lightbulb and he is as greasy as a mechanic's rag. Both of these fine upstanding citizens (?) deserve each other. They are pompous, self aggrandizing buffoons and if we never hear from these two nitwits again, it will be too soon.
sharon

It is even more disgusting that this member of parliment lives in our town.. and we are having to put up with all the garbage.. I think there is NO government party that is the best.. they are all liars and crooks they cheat on us people and also lie to everyone.. Mr Harper I think you are as much of a disgusting person in parliment as all of the rest… YOU ALL ROB FROM THE POOR PEOPLE LIKE US AND GIVE TO THE RICH WHICH IS YOU… to live happily ever after.. We the people are going to stand up and want to be counted for.. it is about time we said enough is enough………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You likely as well Mr Harper and members of parliment … you all have done some wrong stuff . . but you havent been caught.. well not as yet.. so watch your selves… like the old saying goes.. WHAT GOES AROUND…….SURE DOES COME AROUND.. and Karma is a bitch………….. !!!!

Orson Bean

MORE CAPITAL LETTERS AND MULTIPLE EXCLAMATION MARKS PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! IT MAKES YOUR POST SO MUCH MORE IMPRESSIVE AND CONVINCING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Janet McNabb

White trash born into a silver spoon setting. That's how she got into it most likely. Too bad parliament is so set amongst themselves they can't tell the golddiggers from the sincere people who really do get into government to make a change and not for the big benefits that go with it.

cynic

and who would they be ?

G.M.

Believe it or not cynic, there are many good peoples in Politics; Like any other professions you have the incompetent, the greedy, the corrupt, the lazy and yes the hardworking sincere one. I can't speak for all the others but I know of at least one and his name is Keith Martin; I believe, just to name a few, that we could add Jason Kenny, Ralf Goodale and Jack Layton amongst others. No matter what you think of their Political stripes, you can at least give them the benefit of the doubt, until proven otherwise, that they are sincerely trying to make a difference and do believe in what they are doing.
G.M.

One thing peoples often forgets is that Politics unlike any or most other professions puts you under such scrutiny that even a Mother Theresa would have a hard time coming out smelling like a rose after our Journalists and the other Parties would have had a go at her.
We also forget that they are just like us imperfect human beings, that they will make mistakes and while we shouldn’t excuse corrupted and incompetent behaviours we should at least give them their dues and not put them all in the same bag.
It’s a much tougher job than most peoples realize and we can count ourselves lucky that we have in Canada peoples like them, we could have much worse; And No, I am not a Politician nor someone affiliated with a Political Party, I do vote and did as a matter of fact voted for different Political Parties over the years.

http://www.TheJeffFariasShow.com BlueBerry Pick'n

another garbage poll from MacLeans.

Here's a tip: stop crafting polls to highlight your desired outcome.

How about, "When we know more about what happened, we can make a decision based on a real investigation"

These MacLean's polls are always designed with a series of outcomes that support whatever MacLean's wants to publish, not what the Readers might really think.
Hire a real statistician for heaven's sake, you're embarrassing yourselves both ethically & journalistically.

[youtube 240Bjka6cGIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=240Bjka6cGI youtube]

paintsman

Right on. I also think she is innocent of anything criminal, until proven guilty by a court of law, not by what the liberal mud slingers say.
bob

I agree with Blue– for sure. Can't believe a tree was killed to print crap like this!

sarah

this poll isn't well written at all. the options are not distinct enough and are hugely skewed to the negative. i know it's just an internet poll, but seriously?
nick

Her so called "hissy fit" at the airport was about coming up against the arcane arbitrary restrictions enforced by the airport goon-ocracy.

We should all take a page from her book and resist the increasingly pointless and ineffectual "security" arrangements if we ever hope to regain our freedom.of movement.

Finn

Get back on your meds. " Nick" , her governement drafted and implemented those airport regs.

DEE

HOW UNFORTUNATE! PEOPLE LIKE TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING THEY HEAR AND SEE ON TELEVISION. OPEN YOUR EYES AND THINK FOR YOURSELVES. WAIT UNTILL YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO HANG SOMEONE. I'M AN EDMONTONIAN WHO VOTED FOR RAHIM JAFFER BECAUSE OF HIS INTEGRITY AND HARD WORK. I WILL WAIT BEFORE I PASS ANY JUDGEMENT.

Rick

He drives drunk, blows over the legal limit, is caught in possesion of cocaine, [ask the OPP and Julian Fantino] hires hookers, uses a parliament e-mail account to give his business 'credability', sells access to Canada's ruling political party, flogs Canada's justice system by having pressure put on Canada's prosecuting attornies to change/drop charges, funnells non-taxed Canadian dollars to a Belize account and his wife throws a temper tantrum in an airport [if you did the same you would be charged and in jail] with no reprecussions and you say he has integrity? I'll bet he or his wife signs your cheques, oh yeah that has already been proven too many times; again with no repricussions. Is everyone as dense as you in Edmonton?

Pablo

Not fooled…in your own mind. Your former Liberal government and croonies had more 'thug' dealings than we will ever know. Gomery was able to show us the tip of the 'thug'berg.
Pablo

Not fooled…in your own mind. Your former Liberal government and croonies had more 'thug' dealings than we will ever know. Gomery was able to show us the tip of the 'thug'berg.
Michel Brazeau

What disappoints me about some of these polls is that there isn't a 'Who cares?' or 'None of the above' or 'Whatever…' or 'So…..?' criterion.

Therefore, I didn't vote.
Brian

Harper did act when he had enough evidence- he fired her – the right thing to do. Unlike the ad scam and boondoggle we may have prevented further corruption of our system. blame the accused not the whole government Mr. Ignatieff.
http://elmciver@sympatico.ca Linners

Sadly, I think we all can agree that Guergis’ recent airport meltdown signifies deeper problems than simply “having a bad hair day”! Although she has displayed inappropiate behaviour , there is no link at this time to any criminal wrongdoing on her part, merely a baffling attitude, lack of good judgement and guilt by association in the case of her husband’s questionable behaviour. The Prime Minister did the right thing when he accepted her resignation and removed her from office and asked her to leave caucus. We can not have this person sitting as a Minister in Parliament with this dark cloud of suspicion swirling around her.
skerrlee

I watch Ques Period and when "the lady" was always in the "shot" I thought she looked dazed. BUT, I just figured she was maybe pregnant but now, who knows. Just wish I was 40 yrs younger, I must have REALLY looked good I would run for Office. This is just a racket. All that $$$, plus trips all over the world, good suntans – but gotta watch the weight – limos chauffer driven, + pensions and who knows what else they get and just exactly what are their qualifications????????
Guest

Another crooked government mooch. What else is new.
No relation

How do we separate which comments come from John Q. Public and those from friends, relatives, staffers, etc. of Guergis?
Len

What's wrong with everyone? Why are you condemning her before we know the facts? Don't we live in a society with a justice system that presumes that we are innocent until proven guilty? If she is guilty, and she was aware of the consequences then throw the book at her and take away the pension.