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Helena Guergis

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The Honourable
Helena Guergis
PC
Member of Parliament
for Simcoe—Grey
In office
June 28, 2004 – May 2, 2011
Preceded byPaul Bonwick
Succeeded byKellie Leitch
Personal details
Born (1969-02-19) February 19, 1969 (age 55)
Barrie, Ontario
Political partyIndependent Conservative[1] (2010–present)
Other political
affiliations		Conservative (2004–2010)
SpouseRahim Jaffer
Children1
ResidenceAngus, Ontario
ProfessionBusinesswoman, policy adviser, political assistant, public servant
PortfolioSecretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) 2007–2008;
Secretary of State (Sport) 2007–2008;
Minister of State (Status of Women) 2008–2010

Helena C. Guergis, PC (/ˈdʒɔːrdʒɪs/ JOR-jiss; born February 19, 1969) is a Canadian politician of Assyrian descent.[2] She represented the Ontario riding of Simcoe—Grey in the House of Commons of Canada from 2004 to 2011, and was appointed Minister of State (Status of Women) on October 30, 2008, following the October 14, 2008 Canadian federal election. Soon after starting her parliamentary career, she became involved in several controversial situations, and these increased with time in both number and severity.

Guergis was forced to resign from the Cabinet of Canada and leave the Conservative Party caucus on April 9, 2010, pending a Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation into "serious" but unspecified allegations regarding her conduct.[3] While the RCMP investigated, and eventually concluded there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, Guergis continued to sit as an Independent Conservative in the House of Commons. She applied unsuccessfully for reinstatement to the Tory caucus.[4] Guergis was defeated while running as an independent in the 2011 election by Kellie Leitch, her replacement as the riding's Conservative candidate.

On December 22, 2011, Guergis launched a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Stephen Harper and several other people and organizations, including the federal Conservative Party, filed in Ontario Superior Court, over accusations of unfair and malicious treatment causing damage to her political career and reputation. Her lawsuit was later dismissed.

Early life

[edit]

Guergis was born in Barrie, Ontario; and raised in nearby Angus, part of Essa Township, where her family has a history of political work. Her cousins David and Tony Guergis were the mayors of Essa and Springwater, her sister Christine Brayford was a municipal councillor in New Tecumseth, their uncle Edward was a municipal councillor in Essa from 1978 to 1985, and their grandfather George was a reeve of Essa from 1971 to 1974.[5] Both David and Tony Guergis lost in landslide defeats in their bids for re-election in 2010.

Guergis attended Georgian College in Barrie, where she completed an Ontario Real Estate program. After her graduation, she opened a bed-and-bath gift shop called "Final Touch" at the Rainbow Mall in Angus.[6] She also worked as a fundraising volunteer for the Angus Food Bank and the Barrie Literacy Council, and was a Crisis Intervention volunteer for the Barrie and District Rape Crisis Centre for seven years. Guergis was a constituency assistant and executive assistant to Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Joe Tascona during this period.

Provincial politics

[edit]

Guergis closed her consumer retail business after six-and-a-half years, to accept a political adviser's position with Janet Ecker, who was then Minister of Education and Finance in the Ontario Progressive Conservative government of Premier Mike Harris. She held this position for three-and-a-half years, and also served three terms as a vice-president on the Progressive Conservative Party's provincial executive.[7]

She was the Progressive Conservative candidate for the downtown Toronto riding of Trinity—Spadina in the 2003 provincial election. The PCs did not target this riding as winnable, and Guergis agreed to be a "sacrificial lamb" candidate in order to gain experience. She finished a distant third against New Democratic Party incumbent Rosario Marchese. In 2004, Guergis endorsed Frank Klees for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.

Member of Parliament

[edit]

Guergis defeated Liberal incumbent Paul Bonwick by 100 votes in the 2004 election to win the riding of Simcoe-Grey. The Liberals formed a minority government after the election, and Guergis was appointed to the Conservative shadow cabinet as critic for International Co-operation. On January 24, 2005, she was appointed deputy critic for seniors' issues.

Stances on same-sex marriage issue

[edit]

When running for provincial office in 2003 in the socially liberal riding of Trinity-Spadina, Guergis said that she would vote in favour of same-sex marriage if given the opportunity. Responding to a question on same-sex marriage at an all-candidates debate, she said, "I believe in the right to choose, so I would be voting in favour of it."[8]

Campaigning the following year in the socially conservative riding of Simcoe-Grey, Guergis said that she would vote against the federal government's proposed legalization of same-sex marriage. She argued that the majority of her constituents opposed the initiative, and that she was committed to supporting their views. Guergis did in fact vote against Bill C-38, which granted legal sanction to same-sex marriage, in 2005. In the same year, she tabled a private member's bill restricting MPs from crossing parties after their election.[9]

Wins re-election, becomes parliamentary secretary

[edit]

Guergis was re-elected with 49.8 per cent of the vote in the 2006 election, substantially increasing her margin of victory as the Conservatives won a minority government nationally. On February 7, 2006, she was named by Prime Minister Stephen Harper as parliamentary secretary to David Emerson, the Minister of International Trade, and the Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics. Guergis's appointment was somewhat controversial, in that Emerson had crossed the floor from the Liberal Party of Canada on the same day that he received his cabinet position. One day prior to her appointment, Guergis informed the media that she would issue a press release indicating her continued support for anti-floor-crossing legislation. The release never appeared.[10]

Cabinet Minister

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On January 4, 2007, Guergis joined the federal Cabinet when she was promoted to the dual positions of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Secretary of State for Sport. In February, she rejected opposition calls for a travel advisory for Mexico. Opposition members had made this request, after four Canadian tourists were killed in Mexico over the course of a year.[11]

On February 19, 2007, Guergis and Health Minister Tony Clement announced that Canada was reviving its dormant ParticipACTION program to encourage personal fitness.[12]

Afghan detainee controversy, injudicious information release

[edit]

The Conservative government was criticized in April and May 2007, over its handling of reports on the alleged mistreatment of prisoners captured by Canadian soldiers and turned over to local authorities in Afghanistan. At one stage, Guergis stated in response to an opposition question in Parliament that "The NATO commander has confirmed and has said that he sees no evidence to back up any allegations that are being made by the Taliban alleged terrorist detainees. The hon[orable] member continues to take the word of the Taliban detainees over our brave Canadian men and women and that is truly unfortunate."[13] The matter expanded into a full-blown controversy several months later, when it became clear that evidence of Afghan detainee mistreatment had been covered up, and it has retained Parliament's interest to the present day.

In January 2008, Guergis revealed that opposition leader Stéphane Dion would be traveling to Kandahar, Afghanistan, to visit a reconstruction project. This visit, along with similar visits to sensitive war-torn regions by Canadian politicians of all parties, along with other notable Canadians, was supposed to have been kept secret for Dion's protection. After his return to Canada, Dion angrily criticized Guergis' action, saying that she put him at risk of possibly being attacked by the Taliban. In a letter to Harper, Dion demanded Guergis' resignation or firing, saying that Guergis committed a "gross breach of Canadian security" that raised doubts about her fitness for Cabinet.[14]

She was re-elected in the 2008 federal election, winning 55 per cent of the popular vote,[15] following which she was appointed Minister of State (Status of Women).

Remarriage

[edit]

On October 15, 2008, Guergis married her former caucus colleague Rahim Jaffer; this was her second marriage and his first. Jaffer and Guergis became engaged in October 2007, and decided on the morning after the election to scrap their planned wedding date and to get married immediately. Jaffer, who had served as an MP since 1997 at the age of 25, lost his own Alberta seat, Edmonton—Strathcona, in the election. Their wedding was presided over by Ian McClelland, a former Member of Parliament and a licensed marriage commissioner, later that same day at McClelland's home. The couple's parliamentary colleague James Rajotte, along with one of Jaffer's cousins, witnessed the ceremony.[16]

On June 16, 2010, Jaffer excused his absence from a parliamentary committee hearing, which was being convened to look into allegations of his misconduct, by disclosing that Guergis was pregnant.[17]

Controversies

[edit]

Charlottetown Airport incident

[edit]

On February 19, 2010, Guergis was alleged to have had a verbal confrontation with Air Canada and Charlottetown Airport security staff while attempting to board an Air Canada Jazz flight to Montreal.[18] According to an anonymous letter allegedly from an airport employee,[19] Guergis arrived with an aide very late for her flight to Montreal, and publicly berated airport staff and security. During pre-boarding airport screening, Guergis reportedly refused to remove her footwear, which set off the alarm as she walked through the metal detector. When Guergis was asked again to take off her footwear, she was allegedly rude and uncooperative.[18][20] On February 25, 2010, Guergis issued an apology for the airport incident by news release.[21] During the week of March 15, 2010, Guergis claimed that she had grounds for legal action against Air Canada, for violation of her privacy. Guergis was criticized by members of the Federal Conservative Party, who felt her actions hurt the party.[22]

CBC's TV news anchor Peter Mansbridge went to an airport security headquarters office in Ottawa with Guergis to view the tapes of the alleged incident. Mansbridge described it as "pretty tame stuff." At no time does she throw her boots. Nor does she wave her arms around, he said. "I can tell you I have seen a lot worse on most of my trips through Canadian airports of people being upset about what they were being put through," Mansbridge said.[23]

Letters to the editor controversy

[edit]

Several people—including Guergis’ executive assistant Jessica Craven, Craven's mother Dawn Richards, constituency office staff member Valerie Knight, former Simcoe—Grey riding association president Paul Shaw, and Bonnie Ainsworth, an assistant to Guergis’ colleague MP Patrick Brown – allegedly engaged in a coordinated letter-writing campaign to the local media in Guergis' riding, praising the abilities and achievements of Guergis. None of the individuals disclosed their close association with the Conservative Minister.[24] Guergis subsequently blamed Jessica Craven, her executive assistant, declaring it was not appropriate for her to send letters to media without disclosing her identity.[25]

Conduct involving Jaffer; RCMP investigates

[edit]

According to CTV News, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigated allegations that Guergis allowed Jaffer to conduct commercial business out of her office unrelated to her parliamentary work, after Jaffer had lost his own position as an MP, and also sometimes accompanied Jaffer to his business meetings during this period.[26] On April 13, 2010, Guergis' former chauffeur told The Globe and Mail that Guergis frequently let Jaffer use her government-issued car for personal use when she was not using it.[27] The Toronto Star reported that Jaffer, then still an MP, accompanied Guergis on an official trip to Belize, according to pictures posted on a Canadian government website; this was some three months before their October 2008 marriage.[28]

The Globe and Mail reported that Guergis and Jaffer had dinner in September 2009 with Nazim Gillani, a Toronto financier. A few days earlier, Gillani and Jaffer had gone to dinner together—but without Guergis—and Gillani subsequently wrote an "over-enthusiastic" email saying that Jaffer had "opened the Prime Minister's Office to us," for which Gillani has apologized, saying Jaffer never used those words. Gillani had apparently claimed he was a banker for the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, and was under police investigation at the time for suspected underworld connections. Later that night, Jaffer was picked up for speeding by the Ontario Provincial Police near his wife's riding, arrested, and charged with impaired driving and cocaine possession; he subsequently pleaded guilty to careless driving and had his licence suspended. The cocaine possession and impaired driving charges were later dropped.[26][29]

CTV News reported that Prime Minister Harper forced Guergis to resign from Cabinet and suspended her from caucus, after private investigator Derek Snowdy, who was investigating Gillani on an unrelated matter, claimed that Gillani had made some verbal accusations about Guergis and Jaffer.[30] Guergis denied the allegations against her; her lawyer stated that she "vigorously denies all of this man's bizarre claims, and looks forward to helping the RCMP demonstrate that they are completely false".[31] Gillani also denied Snowdy's claim in testimony before the Commons committee investigating the issue,[32] while the Globe and Mail reported that Snowdy had filed for bankruptcy in 2009 to cover over $13 million of debt, including $2 million of taxes owed.[33]

Resignation from party

[edit]

On April 9, 2010, Guergis resigned her post as Minister of State for Status of Women, and she was expelled from the Conservative caucus. In announcing the resignation and expulsion, PM Harper also said that he had asked both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Commons ethics commissioner Mary Dawson to investigate allegations about Guergis.[34] Harper stated that pending the results of the investigation, Guergis would leave the Conservative caucus and sit as an independent.[35]

Guergis maintained at the time that she had no knowledge of what she was being accused of.[4] Opposition MPs pressed the government for more details about the allegations, citing Harper's previous willingness to defend her. At Question Period on April 12, 2010, Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Official Opposition Liberals, wondered how soon the government would "tell Canadians the truth." His sentiments were echoed by NDP leader Jack Layton, who called for Harper to "come clean" about why Harper went so far as to call in the RCMP, because he was ultimately responsible for his ministers. Transport Minister John Baird, speaking for the government, was reticent with further details, saying only that Harper "acted quickly and appropriately" after being tipped off by an unknown "third party."[36] Ignatieff has also linked the events to organized crime, due to the reports of cocaine being present: "I don’t want to make false accusations but you don’t get cocaine at a corner drug store, right? You have to get it from somewhere, from someone and usually that means organized crime".[37]

Some people have expressed concern that Guergis's right to due process (innocent until proven guilty) has been infringed upon. On The Michael Coren Show, commentator Akaash Maharaj, former Liberal and Independent MP John Nunziata, and host Coren himself voiced opposition to the way Guergis was being treated.[38] "Whatever happened to due process in this country?" Nunziata said. On May 16, 2010 Alfred Apps, Canada's Liberal party president, said Guergis was treated unfairly by PM Stephen Harper. "This whole Guergis situation is what I hope will become a big wakeup call to Canadians," Apps said. "We treat our public servants … with just horrific disrespect these days and then we go on and treat our members (of Parliament), we don't give them the natural justice that we would expect to give to ordinary Canadians." Apps continued, "He's (Stephen Harper) basically taken onto himself, on the basis of serious and credible allegations – and there's no evidence yet that they were either serious or credible." Further, Apps said, "She has the right to know specifically the allegations against her; she has the right to be heard and answer to those allegations." However, Conservative MP Shelly Glover said Harper did the right thing in expelling Guergis. According to Glover: "These were serious allegations that were brought forward to the prime minister, and frankly he did the right thing. He is the prime minister of the country and we need to maintain confidence in all the people working for him."[39]

No evidence found of criminal wrongdoing

[edit]

When Derek Snowdy, the Toronto-based private investigator involved in the Guergis-Jaffer political affair, testified before the House of Commons Government Operations Committee in Ottawa in May 2010, he said he had no incriminating evidence regarding Guergis. "I have nothing – I have no evidence, or no information, with respect to conduct of Ms. Guergis in my possession or knowledge," he said.[40][41]

The RCMP would echo Snowdy on July 21, 2010, in saying there was no evidence to indicate criminal actions by Guergis. It was also announced that they were ceasing their investigations of Rahim Jaffer. Guergis's lawyer, Howard Rubel, also stated that Guergis was not interviewed nor asked any questions, and "that speaks volumes."[4]

Conservatives drop Guergis as candidate

[edit]

On May 5, 2010, the Conservative Party's National Council removed Guergis as their nominated candidate for Simcoe—Grey. Earlier in the week local Conservatives in the riding wrote a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking that he not interfere with the local Conservative riding association's process of choosing a candidate. Executives of the association stated "head office personnel have deliberately interfered with, obstructed and circumvented our autonomy as an association, and our right to freely express our opinions" if Harper had taken action to remove Guergis.[42] On September 14, 2010 the Toronto Star reported Dr. Kellie Leitch planned to run for the Conservative nomination in Simcoe-Grey.[43] Leitch subsequently won the nomination.

Guergis was involved in an automobile accident in August 2010, but emerged uninjured. Guergis sought to rejoin the Conservative caucus after being cleared by the RCMP, but was rejected. She stated she would run as an Independent candidate in the next federal election.[44] Her independent candidacy led to a third-place finish in the May 2011 election, when she gained only 13.5 per cent of the vote.

Ethics Commissioner finds against Guergis

[edit]

On May 20, 2010, Federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson fined Guergis $100 for failing to report details of an $800,000 mortgage liability within the 30-day time limit required for MPs. Guergis had purchased an Ottawa home with her husband Rahim Jaffer in November 2009. Guergis said "I simply forgot and I accept responsibility for this oversight, I have already made arrangements to pay the fine – within the 30 days I was provided to do so."[45][46]

In July 2011, Mary Dawson further found Guergis contravened two sections of the MP Conflict of Interest code, by writing a letter of support for a company in the Green Energy sector to a local municipal politician. Guergis's husband Rahim Jaffer was seeking lobbying business from the same company at the time; further issues with Jaffer on this file concerned his not being properly registered as a lobbyist under applicable federal rules, and his employment as a lobbyist too soon after having been an MP.[47]

Lawsuit

[edit]

On December 22, 2011, Guergis launched a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Harper, as well as against several other people and organizations, including the federal Tory party, in Ontario Superior Court, over allegations of unfair treatment leading to damage to her reputation and political career.[48] The lawsuit was dismissed from Ontario Superior Court, by Justice Charles Hackland in late August, 2012. Guergis immediately announced her intention to appeal this decision.[49] Her appeal was rejected by the Court of Appeal for Ontario in June, 2013.

In the summer of 2013, Guergis filed an amended statement of claim against Snowdy, Glover, the lawyer who had represented Harper in the original lawsuit, and his lawfirm. A lawyer representing Glover and Harper argued that the case should be placed on hold until Guergis had paid the legal costs that had been awarded in the earlier suit, but the judge rejected this argument and ordered that the suit could proceed.[50]

Aftermath

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Guergis announced in the spring of 2012 that she had moved to Edmonton, Alberta and that she had been accepted to study law at the University of Alberta. She began her law studies in September 2012.[51] She graduated with her Juris Doctor degree in November 2017.

Posts in the Harper government

[edit]
28th Ministry – Cabinet of Stephen Harper
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Josée Verner (*) Minister responsible for the Status of Women
2008–2010 		Rona Ambrose
Sub-Cabinet Posts (2)
Predecessor Title Successor
position created in 2007 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(2007–2008) 		position abolished in 2008
Peter Van Loan (*) Secretary of State (Sport)
(2007–2008) 		Gary Lunn
  • Verner's full official title was Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and Minister for la Francophonie.
  • Van Loan's official title was Minister for Sport.

Electoral record

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2011 Canadian federal election: Simcoe—Grey
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Kellie Leitch 31,784 49.36 -5.68 $96,128.50
New Democratic Katy Austin 11,185 17.38 +6.18 7,993.48
Independent Helena Guergis 8,714 13.50 – 57,289.66
Liberal Alex Smardenka 8,207 12.75 -8.80 83,148.92
Green Jace Metheral 3,482 5.41 -4.71 8,522.13
Christian Heritage Peter Vander Zaag 757 1.18 – 4,385.89
Canadian Action Gord Cochrane 244 0.38 – 2,512.75
Total valid votes/Expense limit 64,373 100.00 – $99,651.72
Total rejected ballots 269 0.42 +0.08
Turnout 64,642 66.13 +6.03
Eligible voters 97,755 – –
Conservative hold Swing -5.93

Source: Elections Canada


2008 Canadian federal election: Simcoe—Grey
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Helena Guergis 30,897 55.0% +5.2% $71,239
Liberal Andrea Matrosovs 12,099 21.6% -9.3% $36,810
New Democratic Katy Austin 6,288 11.2% 0.0% $6,077
Green Peter Ellis 5,685 10.1% +4.5% $9,015
Christian Heritage Peter Vander Zaag 1,018 1.8% -0.6% $4,175
Libertarian Caley McKibbin 143 0.3% – $20
Total valid votes/expense limit 56,130 100.0% – $94,127
Total rejected ballots 189
Turnout 56,319


2006 Canadian federal election: Simcoe—Grey
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
Conservative Helena Guergis 30,135 49.76 $84,181.76
Liberal Elizabeth Kirley 18,689 30.86 $92,500.47
New Democratic Katy Austin 6,784 11.20 $10,776.74
Green Peter Ellis 3,372 5.57 $2,361.42
Christian Heritage Peter Vander Zaag 1,585 2.62 $14,301.65
Total valid votes 60,565 100.00
Total rejected ballots 172
Turnout 60,737 67.60
Electors on the lists 89,841
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.


2004 Canadian federal election: Simcoe—Grey
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
Conservative Helena Guergis 22,496 40.62 $81,760.75
Liberal Paul Bonwick 22,396 40.44 $75,249.79
New Democratic Colin Mackinnon 5,532 9.99 $6,796.70
Green Peter Ellis 2,668 4.82 $654.47
Christian Heritage Peter Vander Zaag 2,285 4.13 $10,167.48
Total valid votes 55,377 100.00
Total rejected ballots 248
Turnout 55,625 63.15
Electors on the lists 88,083
Percentage change figures are factored for redistribution. Conservative Party percentages are contrasted with the combined Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative percentages from 2000.
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.


2003 Ontario general election: Trinity—Spadina
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
New Democratic Rosario Marchese 19,268 47.51 $64,058.75
Liberal Nellie Pedro 12,927 31.88 $131,631.40
Progressive Conservative Helena Guergis 4,985 12.29 $23,485.00
Green Greg Laxton 2,362 5.82 $5,594.40
Libertarian Judson Glober 756 1.86 $0.00
Independent Renewal Nick Lin 256 0.63 $626.66
Total valid votes 40,554 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 453
Turnout 41,007 52.05
Electors on the lists 78,790

References

[edit]
  1. ^ PARLINFO – Parliamentarian File – Federal Experience – GUERGIS, The Hon. Helena, P.C Archived 2007-11-09 at the Wayback Machine. .parl.gc.ca. Retrieved on 2012-05-22.
  2. ^ "Guergis family history". The Barrie Examiner. April 10, 2010. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  3. ^ "Guergis resigns, now faces RCMP probe" Archived 2013-01-24 at the Wayback Machine, Toronto Star, April 9, 2010
  4. ^ a b c "Jaffer, Guergis cleared by RCMP: lawyers". CBC News. 2010-07-21. Archived from the original on 2010-07-24.
  5. ^ "Growing Up Guergis: The evolution of a political family" Archived 2021-05-01 at the Wayback Machine, Simcoe Life, Spring 2007.
  6. ^ Helena Guergis, statement at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, 14 October 2004.[permanent dead link] See also CBC Canada Votes 2006, Simcoe-Grey riding entry Archived 2006-01-10 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ Robert Benzie, "Marchese fighting cynicism to keep seat he's held 13 years", Toronto Star, 3 September 2003, A08.
  8. ^ "Marchese 1; Guergis, Pedro 0", The Varsity, 9 September 2003. Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine The context of the article indicates that she was responding to a question on same-sex marriage, not civil unions.
  9. ^ Jason Fekete, "Cabinet controversy ruffles Tory feathers", Calgary Herald, 8 February 2006, A4.
  10. ^ Alexander Panetta, "Tory Rumblings; Some MPs in the new government want to revive legislation against switching parties", Hamilton Spectator, 8 February 2006, A10.
  11. ^ Richard Brennan, "Tories dismiss calls for Mexico travel advisory", Toronto Star, 9 February 2007, A10.
  12. ^ "Ottawa revives ParticipACTION campaign to promote fitness", National Post, 17 February 2007, 17 February 2007, A10; "ParticipACTION is Back" [press release], Canada NewsWire, 19 February 2007, 16:13.
  13. ^ Guergis, Helena (May 2, 2007). "Afghanistan". Canada. Parliament. House of Commons. Edited Hansard. 39th Parliament, 1st Session. 145. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Dion accuses cabinet minister of security breach, calls for resignation". CBC News. 2008-01-16. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
  15. ^ Guergis makes first public appearance since resigning[usurped] Canoe News April 24, 2010
  16. ^ Henton, Darcy (October 17, 2008). "MP lost seat, gained bride in 24 hours". National Post. Edmonton, Alberta. Canwest News Service. p. A4. Retrieved December 30, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Jaffer discloses Guergis's pregnancy". CBC News. 2010-06-16. Archived from the original on 2010-06-19.
  18. ^ a b "UPDATED – Helena Guergis's Adventures on Prince Edward Island – Inside Politics". cbc.ca. Archived from the original on 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  19. ^ "Unsigned Letter Redacted". www.scribd.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
  20. ^ Boesveld, Sarah; Taber, Jane (2010-02-26). "Airport worker says Guergis meltdown among worst he's seen". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  21. ^ "Statement by the Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women)". www.marketwire.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  22. ^ "YouTube – Helena Guergis to sue Air Canada? CTV Exclusive!". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2015-12-05. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  23. ^ "Guergis breaks silence on scandal". CBC News. 2010-05-11. Archived from the original on 2010-05-14.
  24. ^ "Assistant wrote pro-Guergis letters to newspapers – CTV News". www.ctv.ca. 30 March 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-04-03. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  25. ^ Fitzpatrick, Meagan (31 March 2010). "More trouble for embattled Tory minister – Winnipeg Free Press". Winnipeg Free Press. www.winnipegfreepress.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  26. ^ a b "Guergis gone, RCMP to investigate, says PM". CTV News. 2010-04-09. Archived from the original on 2010-04-12.
  27. ^ Leblanc, Daniel; Taber, Jane (2010-04-13). "Chauffeur claims Guergis frequently let husband use government car". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  28. ^ Whittington, Les; Campion-Smith, Bruce (2010-04-15). "Jaffer travelled to Belize with Guergis in July 2008". The Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  29. ^ Clark, Campbell (2010-04-12). "Guergis dined with financier at centre of Jaffer affair". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  30. ^ "RCMP probe of Guergis centres around cocaine allegations". CTV News. 2010-04-14. Archived from the original on 2018-05-17. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  31. ^ Akin, David (2010-04-15). "Guergis flatly denies cocaine allegation". Canwest News Services. Archived from the original on 2010-05-07. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  32. ^ "Jaffer contacted 7 government departments". CTV News. 2010-04-28. Archived from the original on 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  33. ^ Friesen, Joe; Leblanc, Daniel (2010-04-15). "Private investigator in Guergis affair is $13-million in debt". Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  34. ^ "Guergis scandal explodes: Harper calls in Mounties, turfs her from caucus". ca.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2010-04-16. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
  35. ^ "Guergis resigns from cabinet". CBC News. 2010-04-11. Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  36. ^ "Guergis allegations came from '3rd party'". CBC News. 2010-04-12. Archived from the original on 2010-04-16.
  37. ^ "Ignatieff links Guergis, organized crime". The Hamilton Spectator. April 18, 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  38. ^ Michael Coren Show Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine April 15, 2010
  39. ^ "Guergis unfairly targeted, says Liberal party president". www.ctv.ca. 16 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2018-05-17. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  40. ^ "CBC News – Politics – No evidence of Guergis wrongdoing: PI". cbc.ca. 2010-05-12. Archived from the original on 2010-05-15. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  41. ^ "Private eye lacks smoking gun". nationalpost.com. Retrieved 2010-06-02.[permanent dead link]
  42. ^ "It's official: Tories drop Guergis as riding candidate – CTV News". www.ctv.ca. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-05-10. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  43. ^ Campion-Smith, Bruce (2010-09-14). "Prominent doctor set to challenge Helena Guergis". www.thestar.com. Toronto. Archived from the original on 2010-09-16. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  44. ^ "MP Guergis 'fine' after car crash". CBC News. 2018-05-16. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  45. ^ "CBC News – Canada – Guergis fined $100 by ethics commissioner". cbc.ca. 2010-05-20. Archived from the original on 2010-05-24. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  46. ^ Steven Chase (May 20, 2010). "Ethics commissioner fines Helena Guergis for failing to disclose mortgage". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  47. ^ The Canadian Press (2011). "Helena Guergis broke conflict-of-interest rules: ethics watchdog – Winnipeg Free Press". winnipegfreepress.com. Retrieved July 14, 2011. The Canadian Press
  48. ^ "Helena Guergis launches defamation suit against PM, Tory party". The Globe and Mail. December 22, 2011. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  49. ^ Fitzpatrick, Meagan. "Guergis to appeal dismissed lawsuit against Harper". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  50. ^ Maher, Stephen (January 16, 2014). "Judge rejects attempt to shut down Helena Guergis lawsuit". Canada.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  51. ^ Jackson, Emily (2012-08-30). "Helena Guergis starts University of Alberta law school next week". The Star. Toronto. Archived from the original on 2012-09-01. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
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