Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
National

Former Harper Aide Exaggerated Extent Of Pull With Government, Trial Told

The Canadian Press, 15 Sep, 2015 11:40 AM
    OTTAWA — The trial of a former top aide to the prime minister has been told that Bruce Carson exaggerated his abilities to influence the government to purchase water treatment systems for First Nations communities.
     
    Carson is in court charged with influence-peddling.
     
    The case is connected with an Ottawa-based company that employed his girlfriend at the time, a former sex trade worker.
     
    Court is learning that Carson sent emails in early 2011 to the owner of H2O Water Professionals Inc., saying the government was considering several pilot projects that could provide business to the firm.
     
    But Crown prosecutor Jason Nicol says communications from the Aboriginal Affairs Department show no such pilot projects existed.
     
    Carson has pleaded not guilty to a charge under Section 121 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits anyone from peddling influence on the government to obtain benefit for themselves or someone else.
     
    The trial, which is expected to wrap up today, has provided more fodder for Stephen Harper's opponents who question the prime minister's judgment when it comes to appointing the people around him.
     
    Carson was a senior adviser to Harper from 2006 — when the Conservatives first took office — until 2008.
     
    Harper asked the RCMP to investigate Carson after media reports surfaced about his involvement with H2O.
     
    The prime minister avoided commenting directly about the trial Monday, saying the case involves accusations about a private citizen who had long ago left his employ.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    U.S. Man Charged With Sexual Assault Of 13-Year-Old Girl He Met In Abbotsford Hotel

    U.S. Man Charged With Sexual Assault Of 13-Year-Old Girl He Met In Abbotsford Hotel
    Police in Abbotsford say 33-year-old Joshua Napoli of Newport News, Va., contacted the teen through social media and travelled to the Fraser Valley city.

    U.S. Man Charged With Sexual Assault Of 13-Year-Old Girl He Met In Abbotsford Hotel

    Man Arrested After Ontario Couple Watches Florida Home Burglary Via Web Cam

    Man Arrested After Ontario Couple Watches Florida Home Burglary Via Web Cam
    The surveillance tape helped Lee County sheriff's deputies arrest 45-year-old Thomas Hinton on Sunday, the day after the burglary.

    Man Arrested After Ontario Couple Watches Florida Home Burglary Via Web Cam

    Mina Khtaria Of Surrey To Audition For 'Miss Universe India 2015'

    Mina Khtaria Of Surrey To Audition For 'Miss Universe India 2015'
    Twenty contestants will be shortlisted who will appear on a TV reality show "Miss Diva".

    Mina Khtaria Of Surrey To Audition For 'Miss Universe India 2015'

    Stephen Morse Charged In Sexual Assault And Attack On Elderly Woman In Her South Surrey Home

    Stephen Morse Charged In Sexual Assault And Attack On Elderly Woman In Her South Surrey Home
    Police say the victim was in her home on Aug. 12 when a man burst in, restrained her and demanded cash and other items

    Stephen Morse Charged In Sexual Assault And Attack On Elderly Woman In Her South Surrey Home

    Car-Truck Collision In Quebec Leaves 3 Dead

    Car-Truck Collision In Quebec Leaves 3 Dead
    Quebec Provincial Police say all three victims were in the car, which ended up beneath the truck due to the impact of the collision at about 8:30 p.m.

    Car-Truck Collision In Quebec Leaves 3 Dead

    Indo-Canadian Edmonton Lawyer Justin Sidhu Who Smuggled Drugs Into Prison, Gets 4 Years In Jail

    Indo-Canadian Edmonton Lawyer Justin Sidhu Who Smuggled Drugs Into Prison, Gets 4 Years In Jail
    Charged with delivering six grams of banned methamphetamine to an inmate at a remand centre, Justin Sidhu was convicted of drug trafficking in June this year

    Indo-Canadian Edmonton Lawyer Justin Sidhu Who Smuggled Drugs Into Prison, Gets 4 Years In Jail