The Laurier Club

William Tetley, Q.C., a Law Professor at McGill and once a member of the first Robert Bourassa cabinet, tells a funny story about his experience with the Laurier Club back in the 80s. To join the Laurier Club you have to be a permanent $1,000 (at least) a year donor to the Liberal Party.

A few weeks later it was rumoured that the Laurier Club was to meet at the Prime Minister’s official residence at 24 Sussex Drive and the meeting was said in the press to be a chance for big party donors to ask for and receive their just reward. The media established themselves outside the gates of the residence and as the guests entered, they covered up their faces and even heads as though it was a meeting of the Mafia at the back of a speakeasy in New York in the 1950s. (my emphasis)

In light of what we have been hearing, seeing or reading from the Gomery Commission, the description of Prof. Tetley is hardly surprising.

The practice of serving cocktails at the Prime Minister’s residence for wealthy Liberal contributors has been kept up by Paul Martin (pdf). Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

Crossposted from Civitatensis