ST. JOHN’S, NL – You can’t trust a prime minister who kept a convicted criminal like Bruce Carson in his office, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Monday night.
Speaking to several hundred supporters, Ignatieff said he believes in giving people second chances, but that Stephen Harper should have known better than to hire someone with five convictions for fraud.
“This is a prime minister who talks tough on crime everywhere but in his own office,” said Ignatieff.
“I’m always willing to give a man another chance, but this guy (Carson) didn’t have one conviction for fraud… He had five convictions for fraud and he was in the inner circle of the prime minister.”
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff rallies the troops in St. John's, NL
Ignatieff also drew comparisons between Carson and Earl Jones, a former financial consultant from Montreal who was found guilty of charges related to a $50 million ponzi scheme.
“White collar crime isn’t just Earl Jones,” Ignatieff said in French. “It’s Bruce Carson in the office of the prime minister. It’s unacceptable.”
Ignatieff also said a Liberal government would be there to support Newfoundland and Labrador develop new hydroelectric projects to help make Canada a “green energy superpower.”
He said a national strategy is essential to ensure the energy sector isn’t segmented or isolated from opportunities to grow.
Harper has angered the Quebec government with a pledge to offer loan guarantees for Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Quebec government said federal aid would distort energy prices and give its neighbour a competitive advantage over Hydro Quebec, which built its vast network without federal subsidies.
Ignatieff, who is expected to travel to three cities in Quebec on Tuesday, said he’d like to promote a new green energy strategy that would respect the provinces.
He has acknowledged that the federal government has limited powers to intervene, but said it can show leadership by bringing provinces together to discuss the issue.
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