Tony Clement’s Integrity over Hydo One

Lorrie Goldstein of the Toronto Sun makes some valid points as to whether Tony Clement is the pot calling the Kettke black. If the central issue of the next federal election is integrity, and Clement manages to win the Consevative Party leadership, then Clement may find himself struggling to disassociation himself with his previous allies.

The integrity sword cuts both ways
[With] news this week that his campaign co-chair, Tom Long, and two other prominent supporters, were among four Tory consultants whose firms received big, untendered contracts from Hydro One during the Mike Harris/Ernie Eves era, he must have known the question was coming.

… Clement, asked whether he had talked to Long, co-chair of his campaign, two full days after the revelations about the Hydro One contracts appeared, responded: “I haven’t, no.” Asked if he was going to, he replied, “and say what?” Told an appropriate question might be, “what about this?” Clement responded: “I guess I could. The issue is that they feel, I suppose, in their reaction, that things are justifiable, so, unless there’s something more that comes of it, I’m not sure what else I can gain from the conversation, but I’d be happy to have that conversation.”

… since Clement acknowledged yesterday there were obviously spending programs that Harris initiated as premier that he knew nothing about as a minister (Harris is a supporter of Belinda Stronach) it stands to reason Martin can at least make the same argument about Chretien.