Liberals won't bring Canadian oil-for-food angle under microscope
by Judi McLeod, Canadafreepress.com
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Wilmington, N.C. The long known Canadian angle in the UN oil for food scandal will never come under the microscope. That's as far as the Liberal Party of Canada is concerned.
The minority-status Liberals, who managed to squeak by a non-confidence vote threatened by the Official Opposition, and now on the proverbial role, seem more than willing to protect Canadian friends.
Some Canadians are thought to have played a pivotal if not leading role in the oil-for-food imbroglio. Maurice Strong, caught up in the scandal because of his association with "Koreagate Man" Tongsun Park, charged last month by American authorities, is a senior adviser to both Canada's Prime Minister Paul Martin and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Then there is the Desmarais family of the Montreal-based Power Corporation and their ties to BNP Paris, Saddam Hussein's favourite bank.
Both Strong and his protégé Prime Minister Paul Martin once worked for Power Corporation.
The Liberals nixed any notion for an examination of Canada's oil-for-food role and also opposed any mention of Canadian companies implicated in the affair. The examination was requested by Stockwell Day, the Official Opposition's Foreign Affairs critic.
"It speaks volumes about the Liberal Party, that they aren't willing to directly address the situation and hopefully clear up any suggestions of Canadian involvement in this scandal," said Day.
Martin is a part owner of Cordex Petroleum Inc., whose principals accepted $1-million from Saddam Hussein.
Those hoping to see chief Kyoto Accord architect Maurice Strong independently investigated for his alleged oil-for-food participation will have to rely on the Americans.
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