Mr Malley's appointment can be seen as nothing more than self serving and I do not believe Me.LeBlanc has done anything wrong.
All he has done if anything is take a page right out of the Conservative book of unethics. ------------------------------- Tories want LeBlanc's comments investigated Saint John Lancaster MLA could be in hot water over comments in letter to the editor
LeBlanc
By Shannon Hagerman Telegraph-Journal
FREDERICTON - A Saint John MLA who called Michael (Tanker) Malley's promotion to Speaker a "sham" could find himself tossed out of the legislature for alleged contempt of the House.
Saint John Lancaster Liberal MLA Abel LeBlanc is being accused of breaking privilege after he called Mr. Malley's appointment an act of "greed" in a letter published in the Telegraph-Journal Thursday.
Parliamentary tradition forbids elected members from calling into question the Speaker's impartiality or rulings.
"His comments have undermined this venerable institution and the work we perform," said Government House Leader Bev Harrison. "By questioning this House's selection of Speaker and the operation of this legislature, he has brought disrepute to the role of the Speaker and the legislature as a whole."
Mr. Harrison is asking the matter be investigated by the legislature's standing committee on privileges.
If Mr. LeBlanc is found guilty of contempt of the legislature, he could face stiff penalties.
The committee-which rarely meets in New Brunswick-has the power to order an MLA removed from the legislature, revoke their right to vote and even impose jail sentences, in severe cases.
It will be up to Mr. Malley to decide if an investigation is ordered.
Mr. Malley said Thursday he will review the alleged breach and report back on his decision.
Liberal House Leader Kelly Lamrock urged Mr. Malley to seriously weigh the consequences of allowing the privileges committee to investigate the issue. The governing Tories hold a majority on the committee and could abuse the power to tip the scales inside the tightly-matched legislature, he warned.
"It's not a question of privilege that means you give the government the power to throw Liberals in jail or throw Liberals out of the house," he said. "They want to pass motions to take a Liberal out of commission."
Mr. LeBlanc refused to comment on the issue on Thursday.
The controversy over Mr. LeBlanc's letter erupted late in the afternoon on Thursday a few hours after a Conservative cabinet minister was accused of making offensive comments when he referred to the "tripod" under his kilt.
Business New Brunswick Minister Kirk MacDonald later apologized.
Mr. Lamrock said the allegations being lodged against Mr. LeBlanc were "bogus".
He said even the House of Commons has been reluctant to send investigations to the privileges committee. It has only happened three times, he said.
"The House should tread very lightly when we talk about letting a committee of privilege throw a member in jail for expressing their opinion," Mr. Lamrock said.
The letter may dominate debate again today, on the eve of a crucial budget vote.
Mr. LeBlanc's letter stated that the governing Tories should be ashamed for using Mr. Malley's appointment for their own personal gain.
"I am writing on the issue of Michael (Tanker) Malley becoming Speaker of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly. How disheartening it is to have this sort of sham take place in the legislature. No wonder the citizens of New Brunswick question politicians and their motives," he wrote. "In this instance, the motive is greed."
Mr. LeBlanc also suggested the real reason Mr. Malley has been named Speaker is to protect the pensions of government MLAs who must serve eight sessions inside the legislature before they are eligible.
"I've heard of sneaky deals, but this one takes the cake," Mr. LeBlanc wrote. "Shame, shame, shame."
He also questioned why Mr. Malley was good enough for the post.
"Mr. Malley chose to leave the Progressive Conservative Party to sit as an Independent. He supposedly did so because he was passed over in the last cabinet shuffle. Although not ministerial material, this man is now holding one of the most prestigious seats in our province. I must ask, does this make any sense? How did this happen?" he asked.
Abel LeBlanc has brought me back faith in Politicians.. He is honest and speaks the truth...shame ...shame...to the crafty ways our Premier Lord is trying to fool New Brunswickers. I am sure there will be no investigation because with a representative like Abel LeBlanc in Fredericton that has the guts to speak out and tell the TRUTH...he could probably speak out on many more issues that many would not like to hear!!!!!..Thank you Abel for making many squirm!!!!!!!!!
4 comments:
Sounds like we have another Jay Chan on our hands.
He's having fun for now but will he make it in the next election?
You can fool some of the people some of the time BUT you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
Should be interesting to say the least.
Mr Malley's appointment can be seen as nothing more than self serving and I do not believe Me.LeBlanc has done anything wrong.
All he has done if anything is take a page right out of the Conservative book of unethics.
-------------------------------
Tories want LeBlanc's comments investigated
Saint John Lancaster MLA could be in hot water over comments in letter to the editor
LeBlanc
By Shannon Hagerman
Telegraph-Journal
FREDERICTON - A Saint John MLA who called Michael (Tanker) Malley's promotion to Speaker a "sham" could find himself tossed out of the legislature for alleged contempt of the House.
Saint John Lancaster Liberal MLA Abel LeBlanc is being accused of breaking privilege after he called Mr. Malley's appointment an act of "greed" in a letter published in the Telegraph-Journal Thursday.
Parliamentary tradition forbids elected members from calling into question the Speaker's impartiality or rulings.
"His comments have undermined this venerable institution and the work we perform," said Government House Leader Bev Harrison. "By questioning this House's selection of Speaker and the operation of this legislature, he has brought disrepute to the role of the Speaker and the legislature as a whole."
Mr. Harrison is asking the matter be investigated by the legislature's standing committee on privileges.
If Mr. LeBlanc is found guilty of contempt of the legislature, he could face stiff penalties.
The committee-which rarely meets in New Brunswick-has the power to order an MLA removed from the legislature, revoke their right to vote and even impose jail sentences, in severe cases.
It will be up to Mr. Malley to decide if an investigation is ordered.
Mr. Malley said Thursday he will review the alleged breach and report back on his decision.
Liberal House Leader Kelly Lamrock urged Mr. Malley to seriously weigh the consequences of allowing the privileges committee to investigate the issue. The governing Tories hold a majority on the committee and could abuse the power to tip the scales inside the tightly-matched legislature, he warned.
"It's not a question of privilege that means you give the government the power to throw Liberals in jail or throw Liberals out of the house," he said. "They want to pass motions to take a Liberal out of commission."
Mr. LeBlanc refused to comment on the issue on Thursday.
The controversy over Mr. LeBlanc's letter erupted late in the afternoon on Thursday a few hours after a Conservative cabinet minister was accused of making offensive comments when he referred to the "tripod" under his kilt.
Business New Brunswick Minister Kirk MacDonald later apologized.
Mr. Lamrock said the allegations being lodged against Mr. LeBlanc were "bogus".
He said even the House of Commons has been reluctant to send investigations to the privileges committee. It has only happened three times, he said.
"The House should tread very lightly when we talk about letting a committee of privilege throw a member in jail for expressing their opinion," Mr. Lamrock said.
The letter may dominate debate again today, on the eve of a crucial budget vote.
Mr. LeBlanc's letter stated that the governing Tories should be ashamed for using Mr. Malley's appointment for their own personal gain.
"I am writing on the issue of Michael (Tanker) Malley becoming Speaker of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly. How disheartening it is to have this sort of sham take place in the legislature. No wonder the citizens of New Brunswick question politicians and their motives," he wrote. "In this instance, the motive is greed."
Mr. LeBlanc also suggested the real reason Mr. Malley has been named Speaker is to protect the pensions of government MLAs who must serve eight sessions inside the legislature before they are eligible.
"I've heard of sneaky deals, but this one takes the cake," Mr. LeBlanc wrote. "Shame, shame, shame."
He also questioned why Mr. Malley was good enough for the post.
"Mr. Malley chose to leave the Progressive Conservative Party to sit as an Independent. He supposedly did so because he was passed over in the last cabinet shuffle. Although not ministerial material, this man is now holding one of the most prestigious seats in our province. I must ask, does this make any sense? How did this happen?" he asked.
The next election headline will say it all.
The Voters Floored Mr.Lord with a Liberal Majority Government!
Abel LeBlanc has brought me back faith in Politicians.. He is honest and speaks the truth...shame ...shame...to the crafty ways our Premier Lord is trying to fool New Brunswickers. I am sure there will be no investigation because with a representative like Abel LeBlanc in Fredericton that has the guts to speak out and tell the TRUTH...he could probably speak out on many more issues that many would not like to hear!!!!!..Thank you Abel for making many squirm!!!!!!!!!
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