Beyond The Commons

 Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

The courage of your convictions

by Aaron Wherry on Thursday, June 3, 2010 3:34pm - 65 Comments

Employment with the government apparently now requires that one is an able player of hide-and-seek.

MPs at the ethics committee are hearing how Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s director of communications, and another political aide, did not return repeated calls from the bailiff over two days. The bailiff also told the committee clerk that he had shown up at their government offices, but was barred entry and could not deliver the summons.

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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

    You say tomato, I say obstruction of justice.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/lgarvin lgarvin

    How long before they threaten to shoot the hostages?

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/tedbetts tedbetts

    They're Conservatives. Doesn't he know that the law doesn't apply to them?

    • The Real Jan

      Soudas has his red passport – doesn't it ward off evil spirits?

  • Anon 001

    Why doesn't the bailiff love our troops?

  • John D

    Government offices can bar entry to bailiff's hired by committee clerks? Are there any legal ramifications to avoiding a summons?

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/tedbetts tedbetts

      Unfortunately no. I don't believe there is.

  • JAG

    Man this has gotten really bad. The PMO's Dcomms is literally hiding from the authorities now.

  • Emily

    Baliffs are used to avoidance behavior so it's to be hoped these guys have a washroom, and an ample supply of food in their office, because they'll be in there a long time.

    Or the baliff could just return with security guards.

    To think our Parliament has come down to this.

    • Bonnie N

      Personally, I'd just show up in front of his residence. Stand in front of his car and give him the summons. Come on baliff it's not rocket science.

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/charlesh Charles H.

        It's been suggested by some opposition committee members to give the bailiff an RCMP escort if needed so that he can gain access to the "secure government building" (which he was barred access to) that Andrews's office is located in.

        Now that would be a media circus.

        • http://intensedebate.com/people/LynnTO LynnTO

          I'll stand behind that suggestion. With "normal people" summons, they're delivered to the recipient or someone in their household by an officer or someone deputized specifically for that purpose.

          • Greg

            Who says he is at home? It would not surprise me to find out he is holed up in a hotel somewhere.

          • http://intensedebate.com/people/LynnTO LynnTO

            I think you missed my point. It's the "who" that counts, not the "where."

      • Emily

        Like I said, baliffs know how to deal with this.

        Technically, since it arrived at his office, it's already been delivered.

        • Greg

          Knowing this government they will get the justice department to fight it to the Supreme Court. They may not have money for women's groups, but they always have money for lawyers.

    • BCer in Mtl

      Send in Dog the Bounty Hunter

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/tedbetts tedbetts

    I just keep wondering what Harper is trying to hide? Why he is so afraid of accountability?

    We know as fact that there has been political interference in the access to information process.

    We know as fact that this government is the worst violator of the ATI Act and has been given many failing grades and damning reports by the Information Commissioner and the interim Information Commissioner.

    Maybe I've answered my own question, but I can't stand how these clowns think that they are above the law, that democratic processes and rights do not apply to them. Time and time again.

  • madeyoulook

    I know! The bailiff should disguise self as a parliamentary press gallery reporter. Since, as Director of Communications, Soudas interacts with those guys and gals all the time, it would be a cinch to — oh, wait…

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Halo_Override Halo_Override

      Zing!

    • John D

      Hi-o!

  • Former server

    I don't understand why they don't just drop it off and consider it served. The bailiff can just drop a summons at the feet of the PMO's receptionist and then draw up an affidavit of service. It's done everyday in other suits. Receptionists hate signing for documents, but in the event of perceived obstruction (or, more often, senior people taking too long to get to the lobby), that's what servers do all the time. I guess it's different with Parliament? But I don't see why not.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/tedbetts tedbetts

      I believe personal service is required because it is a personal summons.

      Servers do it all the time when a company is being sued or there is a statement of claim. This is different.

    • Dave

      It's not Delissio, it's delivery.

  • Lord Kitchener's Own

    This does make his "Director of Communications" title all the more hilarious. Before, all he had to do was avoid communicating in public. Now, he has to avoid even being SEEN in public.

    • Charles H.

      "Welcome back to The National. We're joined now by the Prime Minister's Director of Communication, who's speaking to us via phone from his undisclosed location."

      • Lord Kitchener's Own

        Now, that's just silly hyperbole.

        Prime Minister Harper's Director of Communications speaking to the media? I find that premise hard to believe.

        • The Real Jan

          Soudas had the nerve to be texting Evan Solomon during his show this afternoon.

          • Lord Kitchener's Own

            From Paris?

          • The Real Jan

            Wasn't saying.

          • Sigh

            "undisclosed location"

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

      They should change his title to "Director of Perception".

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

      Best laugh of the day.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/PolJunkie PolJunkie

    Someone should posted Wanted posters all over the Hill.

    This is what we've come to, ladies and gentlemen. You remember this the next time we go to the polls.

    • Lord Kitchener's Own

      LOL

      Now I REALLY want to see pictures of Wanted posters all over the Hill.

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

        We can only hope they say "Dead or Alive" on them.

        • http://intensedebate.com/people/PolJunkie PolJunkie

          I didn`t want to say it…

          • Lord Kitchener's Own

            No one should have said it.

          • http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

            Hey, if they're going to treat parliamentary justice like the wild west and think they can avoid it just by skipping town, perhaps they should be prepared to realize the full consequence of that action.

            And besides, to be honest, I'd much rather they went up like that, because at least then most people would realize it's a joke…

            ..at least, those whose cornflakes weren't pissed in would.

          • Lord Kitchener's Own

            Hey, if they're going to treat parliamentary justice like the wild west and think they can avoid it just by skipping town, perhaps they should be prepared to realize the full consequence of that action.

            Well, sure, but a "Wanted: Dead or Alive" poster kinda suggests that DEATH could be an appropriate component of that "full consequence", which is obviously inane.

            Don't get me wrong, I get the point you're making, but I think you're VASTLY overestimating the sense of humour of your fellow human beings. There were people who weren't totally comfortable when George Bush said he wanted OSAMA BIN LADEN "dead or alive" for Pete's sake.

  • Anon ABC

    Blockade the PMO. Taser anything that moves in or out, then issue a statement that Parliament regrets any inconvenience caused to any party whose initials are not SD.

    Oh yeah, if the blockage goes on long enough, cut off his old age pension and security too.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Stewart_Smith Stewart_Smith

    I am looking at launching a whole line of products with Wally/Waldo replaced by Dimitri.

    • The Real Jan

      Think Bagdad Bob.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/tedbetts tedbetts

    I would be ashamed to show my face in public too if I was the Director of Deceit Communications for the Conservative Party. I'm only surprised it took this long for one of them to do so.

  • ahm

    David Akin tweets he's been spotted in Paris. Pink Panther opportunities abound.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/PolJunkie PolJunkie

      Don`t we have an extradition treaty with the French

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

      France? Or Ontario?

      The plot thickens…

  • Lord Kitchener's Own

    I heard there was some Paris rumour out there.

    My question is, if he's in Paris, why did the Tories bar the bailiff from entering the building to serve him? Wouldn't the more appropriate response to a bailiff attempting to serve a legal summons be to just TELL HIM THE GUY'S IN PARIS???

    My only conclusion at this point (presuming it's true that he's in Paris) is that they were afraid someone would actually go to Paris and serve him there, and that no one in the PMO wanted to deal with the optics of a bailiff having to fly to Paris to serve a hiding taxpayer-funded Tory political staffer with a subpoena.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/tedbetts tedbetts

    Maybe Obama's chief of staff could take some lessons from Soudas in how to avoid a subpoena.

  • Lord Kitchener's Own

    I liked someone else's title suggestion of "Director of Deception" too.

  • Lord Kitchener's Own

    If Soudas is really in Paris as the Twitter rumours suggest, and the bailiff has to fly there to serve him, can the bailiff claim the flight as a travel expense and have the taxpayers pay for it?

  • LaxAtlDfwYow

    Last night on another thread there was speculation that the ever more aggressive committee disruptions, the detainee non-negotiation and solicitor-client privilege exemption demand, and banning political staff from appearing as committee witnesses were all bits of Harper attempting to build a Parliament-is-dysfunctional-so-I-get-to-ignore-the-law-and-force-a-snap-fall-election scenario.

    However repugnant dodging a House bailiff may be to many Canadians, there are probably more who would be willing to accept it as evidence of an opposition run wild. I'm not there, but I'm also not convinced the opposition is actually thinking thru all these tactics before they (attempt to) execute them.

    • Gayle

      You might be right, but I am of the opinion the opposition has to do their jobs, and not be scared off because of some diabolical plot by Harper. If they are going to go down, they should do so on principle.

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

        Yay! Another one of us! Please keep posting this highly original and imaginative idea that apparently can't be thought of by anyone in the leader's office. If we all do our part to get this message out, perhaps someone in some leader's office somewhere just might see it!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

      You mean like the point of privilege granted by the Speaker but never consummated to climax with a motion of contempt?

      • LaxAtlDfwYow

        Precisely. The opposition just seem to be surprised by events of their own instigation. You don't summon folks to committee hearings without a plan to question them. Baird showing up to disrupt yesterday was no surprise but there was no apparent preparedness to handle him; just a friggin' free for all. You don't go into negotiations on the detainee docs and then appear to lose or give up all momentum that the Speaker's ruling (supposedly) provided.

        A comparison: today Harper tossed out his "losers don't get to make coalitions" gambit int he UK. Well, this evening in Ottawa, Pierre "The Weasel' weaseled himself onto the local wingnut talk radio at 6:10PM to push the concept. As sniveling as he is, you have got to give the PMO credit for having their sh– together. I'll bet other MPs hit their local friendly news outlets with the same pitch.

  • Holly Stick

    Everyone google "Dmitri Soudas" and see the first entry.

  • The Real Jan

    Soudas has been found. According to David Akin he boarded the PM's flight in – wait for it – Paris and is winging his way back home.

  • Crit_Reasoning

    I love this goofy drama. What next? Will Soudas don a wig and fake moustache to outfox the bailiff?

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/tobyornotoby tobyornotoby

    I'd go see that. I recommend that someone also light cigarettes with a lighter shaped like a gun.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/charlesh Charles H.

    "Dmitri Soudas? Never heard of the guy. Who am I? Why I'm… ummm… Smitri Doudas. Yeah, that's it: Smitri Doudas."

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

    The one in the burka tiptoeing out the side door of the East Block. IT'S SOUDAS!!

  • Dave

    I'll pay admission to that show.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/PolJunkie PolJunkie

    Except it isn't goofy, right? We are now reduced to issuing subpeonas to force this govt to be accountable…

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/tedbetts tedbetts

    Better do that before burkas are outlawed.

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