Times & Transcript | Sleuth
As published on page D12 on April 29, 2006
What is that stink in Fredericton?
The Sleuth
Rumours, gossip and other tales
Can you smell that odour coming from our provincial capital?
Yes, it's sacrificial lamb on the barbie and his name is Chisholm Pothier.
The well-liked press secretary for Premier Bernard Lord resigned this week after he released a letter sent to Transportation Minister Paul Robichaud by Miramichi Bay Liberal MLA Carmel Robichaud on behalf of a constituent.
Carmel Robichaud was asking the minister to essentially interfere with a court decision to ban her constituent from driving for a period of 18 months due to a drunk driving conviction. The man wanted to drive to work and was seeking an exemption from the court order.
And what was Chisholm's big mistake? He released the letter to the media without blacking out the man's name.
Gotta love those privacy laws, huh?
Sleuth has known Chisholm for nearly 10 years and this old gumshoe has been known to associate with some low-life types in order to dig up the best dirt. Chisholm Pothier is no low-life; he's about as honest a person as you will find in Fredericton.
Sleuth hears Chisholm's noble decision to resign has created quite a buzz in the capital. As a former reporter, Chisholm knew exactly what journalists need to do their job; he was as accommodating as a premier's press secretary could be to the media while serving his boss first.
He's also a guy who took a leave of absence last year to volunteer with the Red Cross in the southern U.S. areas hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina. Years before that, he and a buddy went to Quebec City for the G8 Summit where they ran the gauntlet between flying tear gas canisters thrown by protesters.
He was a political junkie without being political - if that's possible.
Now he's gone and Sleuth hears the phones are already starting to ring with offers for his services. Don't be surprised if Chisholm lands a plum role in Ottawa, working as a press secretary for a federal minister or department. He's become extremely well-connected during his three years as Lord's right-hand man and he won't be on the EI line long enough to collect his first cheque.
Meanwhile, what about the Liberal MLA who asked government to interfere with a Criminal Code conviction? Didn't she commit the larger mistake in this fiasco? Shouldn't we all be more alarmed by that breach of conduct instead of the release of a letter from a man whose drunk driving conviction was already on the public record?
Saturday, April 29, 2006
THE IRVINGS GOES AGAINST CARMEL ROBICHAUD!!!!!
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4 comments:
Actually this is one of those cases where both sides look bad.
What the hell was Robichaud doing lobbying to get a convicted drunk driver a permeit to drive??? If it happened to you or I Charles, the law is very clear these days.....there is NO such thing in New Brunswick as a permit even for work when you are convicted of drinking and driving.....shame on Robichaud.
As for Pothier, he fell on his sword like a good soldier. Anyone who know's anything about the way Governmnent works, knows that he did not release that info without it first going through other hands and being ok'd. The question is who was that person above Chislom that ok'd it??? Inquiring minds would love to know. I doubt it was Lord himself, however, there is normally somebody above that checks these things......or was the normal chain of command ignored?? If so on who's orders? It would be nice if the ombudsman could get to the meat of this one, but, I doubt it will happpen. Either way this entire incident stinks of opportunism on both sides, which has become normal as of late. The entire bunch at the peoples house should be ashamed. Makes me sick to watch.
our canadian parliament is a soap opera nothing more or nothing else ..we even have commercial about taxes in this soap
Charles this is sickening to think that an elected official would try to get a drunk driver back there job. Do the Liberals not care for the famalies who have lost loved ones to drunk drivers? Is this what we can expect of the Liberals if they get a chance at power????
Charles you should do a blog asking the public what they think of Carmel Robichaud asking for this kind of favour,then we might find out what is going on with the liberal party
I already did????...you got this blog right here.....
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