“I’m hoping that for the integrity of the system that Mr. Corbett would come forward with an explanation as to why he resigned at this point given that the investigation is probably going to be done some time this year,” said NDP MP Joe Comartin (Windsor-Tecumseh, Ont.). “I think it behooves him in terms of the integrity of the commissionership to explain why he went at this point as opposed to waiting, even it was to till the end of the year.”
Mr. Comartin said he was “quite surprised” by the appointment of Yves Côté, a former officer with the Judge Advocate General’s Office and a former ombudsman for the Canadian Forces who is known as a “low-key” bureaucrat, to the commissioner position, given Elections Canada’s current, high-profile investigation.
“When [Elections Canada chief electoral officer Marc] Mayrand was [at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee] the last time, we had raised with him about the commissioner coming,” Mr. Comartin said. “The bottom line is he [Mr. Corbett] wouldn’t have anything much more than what Mayrand had given us just because of the length of time the investigation would be taking. The point I’m trying to make here is there was a number of exchanges and there was no indication from Mayrand that Corbett wasn’t going to be there.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) appointed Mr. Coté in December 2007 as associate deputy minister of justice. He worked closely with Justice Minister Rob Nicholson (Niagara Falls, Ont.) on Bill C-10, an omnibus crime bill on mandatory minimum sentences, according to Postmedia News. People familiar with Mr. Côté’s career described him as “low-key and competent, safe and methodical, but not a fighter,” according to Postmedia.
Scott Taylor, publisher of Esprit de Corps, closely observed Mr. Côté when he was at the Canadian Forces. He told Postmedia News that he has doubts Mr. Côté will be willing to run up against powerful interests in the robocalls investigation.
“Given that Côté was unwilling to make waves during the tumultuous period in which he served as the CF ombudsman, it is unlikely he would be willing to swim upstream against the political current in his present post,” said Mr. Taylor.
Mr. Côté will have to decide if or when any charges will be made and will refer it to Director of Public Prosecution Brian Saunders.
Mr. Comartin said he had every indication that Mr. Corbett would be the one to complete the investigation and would subsequently make an appearance at the House Affairs Committee. But on June 21, Mr. Mayrand announced that effective July 3, Mr. Côté would take over from Mr. Corbett.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Mr. Côté as the new Commissioner of Canada Elections,” Mr. Mayrand said in a press release. “Mr. Côté’s extensive legal experience and great commitment to the public service will be invaluable to the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections. He will provide continued leadership in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and in maintaining public confidence in our electoral system.”
The press release stated that Mr. Corbett was retiring, after a 40-year legal career including senior general counsel in charge of the criminal law section of the Federal Prosecution Service at the Department of Justice Canada. Former chief electoral office Jean-Pierre Kingsley appointed Mr. Corbett as commissioner in 2006.
“I would like to thank Mr. Corbett for his expertise and professionalism in exercising his duties as commissioner,” Mr. Mayrand said. “His dedication to democratic values and to due process ensured that Canadians were well-served during his tenure. His retirement is well-deserved following such a distinguished career.”
Elections Canada spokesperson John Enright told Postmedia News recently that there will be continuity when the changeover happens and the appointment would not affect any investigation.
“There is a new commissioner but the work of the Office of the Commissioner continues. It’s not going to impact their work at all,” Mr. Enright said, noting that the position had been advertised in the spring.
Liberal MP Sean Casey (Charlottetown, P.E.I.), his party’s associate justice critic, said last week that while he didn’t know Mr. Côté’s management or leadership style, he “assumes that he is a man of integrity with a commitment to public service” based on his previous jobs.
“Secondly, changing the lead guy in the middle of an investigation doesn’t strike me as problematic,” Mr. Casey said. “I believe the work of investigating potential election fraud will continue unimpeded with capable and dedicated investigators. This is not a political file. We may speak about it in Parliament, pose questions, seek answers in the political arena, but the election commissioner and his staff are non-political. So away from the glare of the cameras, they are working to find out the truth of what happened during the last election and whether or not elements within the Conservative Party engaged in activities that would call into question the integrity of some of the election contests.”
Summa Strategies vice-president Tim Powers, a Conservative pundit, also said that while he was not familiar with Mr. Côté, “Elections Canada is a team of well-regarded professionals” and he doesn’t believe that “the senior leadership change will unduly impact the pace of the robocalls investigation.”
Mr. Comartin said, however, that with Mr. Côté taking over, the robocalls investigation will “inevitably” be delayed because Mr. Côté has to get up to speed, not only with the office but also the investigation.
“That’s been a very extensive investigation and for the commissioner to be coming in this late in the investigation, my estimation is the investigation has at least the summer and probably into the fall before they’re completed and it’s going to be very difficult for him to come in let’s say two-thirds or three-quarters of the way through. The other problem is how does he give direction for the investigation if direction is required?” Mr. Comartin said. “It’s pretty hard to do that when you’re coming into the investigation this late in the day. And that’s true not just about this type of an investigation, but any type of police investigation which is what this is akin to.”
Original Article
Source: hill times
Author: Bea Vongdouangchanh
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