Harper hires ex-con

by **styky** » 05/ 12/ 06 12:15 pm

Harper hires ex-con
By ALAN FINDLAY, OTTAWA BUREAU, SUN MEDIA

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper has hired on as an adviser a former lawyer who was disbarred, convicted of theft and sentenced to 18 months in jail in the early 1980s for stealing money from clients of his law firm.

In 1982, Bruce Carson pleaded guilty to two counts of theft over $200, after forging the signatures of two clients and stealing almost $20,000. He was 37 at the time.

Soon after he was fired by the Ottawa law firm Soloway Wright in 1980, Carson began working for the federal government, a newspaper report at the time states.

He has held several positions on Parliament Hill since then, including roles with former PMs Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark and as policy adviser to the Conservative caucus, during which he appeared before a Senate committee to answer a question on legislation around ethics in the workplace.

He is currently listed on the government website as legislative assistant in the Prime Minister's Office.

A telephone call to Carson was referred to the PM's communications director, Sandra Buckler, who refused comment.

Former law colleagues, speaking on condition of anonymity, described Carson as being a well-liked and capable lawyer prior to his dismissal.

Conservative supporters quietly praised him as talented and a professional mentor.

NDP ethics critic Pat Martin questioned whether Harper knew about Carson's past when he was hired, but stressed that people deserve a second chance in life.

"Having a past offence in your record I don't think precludes you from having a position of confidence, as long as there was full disclosure along the way," Martin said.

According to Law Society of Upper Canada records on his disbarment, Carson was caught up in a land development project and "living beyond his means."

"He bought five different homes, each one being more expensive than the other," according to a summary of his disbarment in 1981.

In one incident, Carson instructed the City of Ottawa to rewrite a cheque for $15,319 -- intended for a client -- in his name. He then deposited it into his personal account.

He forged another client's signature on a $4,110 cheque and collected three retainers from another client without ever telling the firm.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/20 ... 8-sun.html

by **Captain Jack** » 05/ 12/ 06 1:24 pm

styky wrote:Harper hires ex-con
By ALAN FINDLAY, OTTAWA BUREAU, SUN MEDIA

He has held several positions on Parliament Hill since then, including roles with former PMs Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark and as policy adviser to the Conservative caucus, during which he appeared before a Senate committee to answer a question on legislation around ethics in the workplace.

He is currently listed on the government website as legislative assistant in the Prime Minister's Office.

This is obviously an effort to try and embarass the PM, likely fed to the reporter by the Libs. They are probably going through the PM's staff lists trying to dig-up dirt.

Bruce Carson is not a new hire. He worked in the OLO since at least the 2004 election, and went over to the PMO after the recent campaign.

Cap'N.

by **styky** » 05/ 12/ 06 1:44 pm

Captain Jack wrote:
styky wrote:Harper hires ex-con
By ALAN FINDLAY, OTTAWA BUREAU, SUN MEDIA

He has held several positions on Parliament Hill since then, including roles with former PMs Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark and as policy adviser to the Conservative caucus, during which he appeared before a Senate committee to answer a question on legislation around ethics in the workplace.

He is currently listed on the government website as legislative assistant in the Prime Minister's Office.

This is obviously an effort to try and embarass the PM, likely fed to the reporter by the Libs. They are probably going through the PM's staff lists trying to dig-up dirt.

Bruce Carson is not a new hire. He worked in the OLO since at least the 2004 election, and went over to the PMO after the recent campaign.

Cap'N.

I have to agree it was spoon fed. Afterall the reporters are operating from the basement now in more ways than one.

by **EdS** » 05/ 12/ 06 1:47 pm

So, he hired him from the Liberals, eh? The article conveniently fails to mention that.

by **Roy Wilson** » 05/ 12/ 06 1:50 pm

No biggy. In Ontario our Liberal Health Minister is an ex druggy. And it shows.

by **Knave** » 05/ 12/ 06 1:54 pm

styky wrote:Harper hires ex-con

...

In 1982, Bruce Carson pleaded guilty to two counts of theft over $200, after forging the signatures of two clients and stealing almost $20,000. He was 37 at the time.

They realize that children who were born in that year are eligible to vote now, right?

The man would now be in his 60s. It'd be on his record, sure... but so what? He's had no criminal record since then, obviously, and he served out his sentence and paid his debt to society. If this is the best they've got on him - a 24-year-old conviction - then they must be pretty desperate for news.

Personnally, I have friends who are ex-cons, who have become respectable family men (and woman) and productive members after leaving prison. I know there's a stigma attached to them, but I am a believer that people can turn their lives around... and that people need the benefit of the doubt if they're going to do that. There are good people everywhere, even in prison.

And need I remind anyone of the following, posted a few years ago during the Liberal years;

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 300 employees and has the following statistics: 30 have been accused of spousal abuse, 9 have been arrested for fraud, 14 have been accused of writing bad cheques , 95 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses , 4 have done time for assault, 55 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit, 12 have been arrested on drug related charges, 4 have been arrested for shoplifting , 16 are currently defendants in lawsuits, 62 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year.

Can you guess which organization this is?

It is the 301 MP's in the Canadian Parliament. The same group that cranks out hundred of new laws designed to keep the rest of us in line. Which one did you vote for?

TAKEN FROM THE OTTAWA CITIZEN .

So what's the big deal?

by **Darren** » 05/ 12/ 06 1:57 pm

"He bought five different homes, each one being more expensive than the other," according to a summary of his disbarment in 1981.

Run that by me again?

by **Roy Wilson** » 05/ 12/ 06 2:00 pm

Darren wrote:
"He bought five different homes, each one being more expensive than the other," according to a summary of his disbarment in 1981.

Run that by me again?

If that was a criminal offence I would be out of business. :lol:

by **Darren** » 05/ 12/ 06 2:03 pm

Roy Wilson wrote:
Darren wrote:
"He bought five different homes, each one being more expensive than the other," according to a summary of his disbarment in 1981.

Run that by me again?

If that was a criminal offence I would be out of business.

Let's see you do it, though. How's it possible for every home he bought to be the most expensive one?

by **EdS** » 05/ 12/ 06 2:03 pm

1982, eh? That was 24 years ago. Who gives a sh!t?

by **Roy Wilson** » 05/ 12/ 06 2:07 pm

Darren wrote:
Roy Wilson wrote:
Darren wrote:
"He bought five different homes, each one being more expensive than the other," according to a summary of his disbarment in 1981.

Run that by me again?

If that was a criminal offence I would be out of business.

Let's see you do it, though. How's it possible for every home he bought to be the most expensive one?

It's more expensive not most. Its called buying up. Done every day by many.