May 18, 2005: Grewal holds news conference and claims to have taped Liberal offers (CTV)

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1116459430183_5

CTV Newnet Live (May 18):

CTV reporter: We go live to Ottawa, now. The Conservative Party is pretty upset. They allege the Liberals have been approaching their members and trying to lure them over to the Grits. A prominent Tory MP is about to emerge from the House to speak to the assembled media. And as we await to find out who this may be and what the message is, Bob Fife, our Ottawa Bureau Chief joins us.

(Fife.)

Grewal: As you have already heard, (Reading a prepared statement) I was approached early this week by Ujjal Dosanjh and asked to abstain or vote with the government on the budget vote. In exchange, I was given an understanding that I would be rewarded in some fashion. Some of the options discussed were different diplomatic appointments, or a future senate seat for Nina. Yesterday I met with both Tim Murphy and Ujjal Dosanjh at their request. In Mr. Dosanjh's office and later on in my office. In that meeting, I was offered the opportunity to later talk with the Prime Minister by telephone, or to meet with him at 24 Sussex Drive about these possibilities. Today, Tim Murphy came to my office,to meet me, where we discussed this further. He told me that the Liberals were talking to three or four other Conservative MPs. I told Mr. Murphy that if any offer was being made, I needed certainty about what it was and the timeframe involved. Mr. Murphy told me he would get back to me. At no time did I have any intention of accepting these offers. I responded to Mr. Dosanjh's invitation and entered these discussions to determine the level to which the Liberal party and Paul Martin were willing to sink to save their government. Do you have any quick questions?

Reporter: (inaudible)

Grewal: I had been approached in the past, quite some time ago, and I'm very comfortable where I am; I'm confident that Stephen Harper is leading the party in the right direction.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Grewal: Because I didn't ... I didn't deny, but I didn't want to xxx at that time.

Reporter: Why were sitting there going along with all this?

Grewal: It's really bad that the Liberal government would do all this, to sink to this level to save the government. But I was comprehending with it, and I wanted to consult, and I was consulted by our communication team, we had some xxx to go through, and we did that.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Grewal: Uhh... If you really need proof, we'll provide that later on.

Reporter: what kind of proof?

Grewal: You'll be provided with some sort of proof.

Reporter: did you tape your conversation with Murphy?

Grewal: Yes, there are some tapes of some conversations as well.

Reporter: You taped them?

Grewal: Yes.

Reporter: Is that against the law?

Grewal: No, I knew that I was taping, so if two people are having conversation and one is knowing.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Grewal: No, I didn't. Because I was aware ... Because I was told that if recording a conversation, and if one of the parties know that it is being recorded, then it is legal.

(Reporters cross-talk)

Reporter: (inaudible)

Grewal: Because last time when I was offered this, I didn't have any evidence. There are some other members who have been offered, they didn't have any evidence. So you guys were not convinced--Canadians were not convinced--that what we were telling is the truth. So, now, this evidence, which you will have the opportunity to know,that these offers were made.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Grewal: Both.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Grewal: No, they wanted to meet with me. They are the ones who wanted me to cross over. The approaches were made by them. They were willing to meet.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Grewal: I leave it to the judgement of Canadians to determine whatever the inference they want to draw from it. But once you have a statement before you, it's quite evident that they've been contacting members of parliament from our party,and they've been making some sort of offers, and what more does Canadians need to know than that the Government is sinking to the level that they have.

(Grewal leaves)

May 18, 2005: Ottawa Sun: New Tory strategy

The Ottawa Sun, May 18, 2005 Wednesday
FINAL EDITION. SECTION: NEWS; Stronach Defects; Pg. 4

HEADLINE: GRIT EMPIRE STRIKES BACK; HARPER CAVES ON GRIT BUDGET AFTER LOSING MP

BYLINE: BY MARIA MCCLINTOCK, PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU

CONSERVATIVE Leader Stephen Harper backed off his attack on Paul Martin's Liberal budget, announcing late last night that his MPs will now support it.

Harper said his party will still attempt to defeat the Grits on a second budget bill for the $4.6-billion Grit deal inked with the NDP, which sees cash for the environment, education and cities.

Both budget bills come to a vote tomorrow and are considered to be matters of confidence. Should the Liberals lose one of the votes, the government falls and an election is triggered.

Harper insisted he hasn't given up the fight to push Martin out of office.

"We have two votes on Thursday. It's our intention, unless the government pulls some fast ones, to support Bill C-43, the original budget," Harper said after emerging from a two-hour emergency caucus meeting.

INDIE VOTES CRUCIAL

"Bill C-48 is also a vote of confidence, that's what the government said. So we're going to vote non-confidence on Bill C-48. I don't know if we have the numbers or not but we're going to make every effort to defeat that. It will ultimately come down to a couple of Independent (MPs)."

A key part of the main budget bill includes the multibillion-dollar Atlantic Accord. In the last couple of days, Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams has demanded Tory MPs vote with the Liberals to ensure the cash flows.

Earlier in the day, Harper suffered the unexpected defection of his highest profile MP, Belinda Stronach, to the Liberal Party -- a move considered to be a huge blow to his campaign to gain more seats in voter-rich Ontario.

He admitted Stronach's bolting makes toppling Martin's Liberals more difficult.

"Obviously Belinda's actions today make the defeat of the government on Thursday, much less likely, but it doesn't, in any way, change the principled position that our caucus has taken," said Harper.

Harper said he is relieved Stronach is gone, but his caucus was blindsided by the news.

The defection is proof, he said, that the Grits are ready to do anything to win.

May 18th, 2005, afternoon. Second phone call with Murphy

May 18th, 2005, afternoon. Third phone call with Murphy

May 18th, 2005, afternoon. Second phone call with Dosanjh

This call seems to belong to the next day, May 18th, in the afternoon. Dosanjh says that he spoke to Murphy 'after lunch', presumably of the 18th.

May 18, 2005: Harper & Martin in Regina to meet Queen

3 Stories

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Copyright 2005 CTV Television, Inc.
CTV Television, Inc.
SHOW: CTV NEWS
May 18, 2005, Wednesday 23:00:00 - 23:30:00 Eastern Time
LENGTH: 320 words

HEADLINE: The Royal visit

ANCHOR: LLOYD ROBERTSON

BODY:

LLOYD ROBERTSON: Barely two days in Canada, and the Queen and
Prince Philip have already been exposed to foul weather, political drama, and
even possibly a breach of protocol. But it was all taken in stride today as
Regina staged the official welcome for the royal tour. CTV's Jill Macyshon
reports.

JILL MACYSHON [Reporter]: They came clutching carnations and cameras.
Ignoring the driving rain, 3,000 people gathered to see the Queen.



UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: This is a very special event. There's a lot of us that
deeply love the lady.

MACYSHON: Despite the weather, the Queen and Prince Philip arrived in an
open carriage, each clutching an umbrella. On a rain-soaked red carpet, the
Queen expressed her happiness in returning to Canada.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II: My mother once said that this country felt like a home
away from home for the Queen of Canada. Ladies and gentlemen, six decades
later it, still does.

MACYSHON: The Prime Minister wouldn't talk politics and steered clear of his
rival. Stephen Harper was also in town for the royal visit. Paul Martin made two
slip-ups. As he recovered his step, he put his hand on the Queen's back,
normally a big no-no in royal protocol. The Queen seemed unphased and broke
into a grin with the unveiling of a grand statue of her favourite horse, Burmese.
The horse raised and trained in Saskatchewan by the RCMP, and given as a gift
in 1969. The Queen rode Burmese during all of her birthday celebrations and
after the horse was retired, she attended all future celebrations for 18 years.
It's said after the horse was retired, she attended all future celebrations in a
carriage. From the legislature, the royal couple made their way to the nearby
town of Lumsden. There, they were served lunch in a very Canadian venue, a
hockey rink. The whirlwind tour continues Thursday in Saskatoon. Jill
Macyshon, CTV News, Regina.

-------------------------

Copyright 2005 CTV Television, Inc.
CTV Television, Inc.
SHOW: CANADA AM
May 19, 2005, Thursday 07:15:50 - 07:18:30 Eastern Time
LENGTH: 512 words

HEADLINE: A rainy Regina welcomes the Queen

ANCHOR: Ravi Baichwal

GUEST: Pat Fiacco, Mayor of Regina

BODY:

BAICHWAL: In the middle of all this political drama, the
Queen is visiting Canada. Queen Elizabeth will be in Saskatoon
today for a Centennial arts gala. She will be sharing the stage
with some big Canadian names who of course call Saskatchewan home,
among them singer Joni Mitchell, CTV's "Corner Gas" star Brent
Butt, actor Leslie Nielsen as well.


Now, yesterday the Queen and Prince Philip touched down in Regina.
They were greeted by some 3,000 people in the rain, including both
Prime Minister Paul Martin and opposition leader Stephen Harper.
And the mayor of Regina was also there. And Pat Fiacco joins us now
from Regina where all eyes, if they're not on Ottawa, are. They are
on Regina.

-------------

Regina - The Queen City is ready to receive the Royals.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh are scheduled
to arrive in Regina at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, flying nonstop from
London on a Canadian Forces CC-150 Airbus.

After being greeted by Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson, Prime
Minster Paul Martin, Lt.-Gov. Lynda Haverstock and Premier Lorne
Calvert, the Royal couple will attend a ceremony inside the First
Nations University of Canada, where there will be a tribute to
Second World War Canadian soldiers of First Nations ancestry,
followed by the presentation of several gifts to the Queen.

They will then go by car to the Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson
Plaza for a short media reception and a meeting with the prime
minister.

The official welcome to Canada and Saskatchewan takes place
Wednesday morning at the Legislative Building, when the Queen and
Duke are scheduled to arrive in a landau at 10:55 a.m. They will
inspect an honour guard and watch a flypast of military aircraft
before hearing remarks by the prime minister and premier.

From there, the Queen will unveil a garden and the golden
jubilee equestrian statue of herself riding the horse Burmese,
born and raised in Saskatchewan, and meet sculptor Susan Velder.

The Queen will then enter the Legislative Building and
unveil a plaque giving a committees room a First Nations name and
view portraits of former lieutenants-governor in the building's
Qu'Appelle Gallery.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh will be inspecting the site
of the Saskatchewan War Memorial, and will turn the sod for it at
11:35 a.m.

The Queen and Duke are slated to reunite in the rotunda of
the Legislative Building to unveil a new centennial mural by Air
Ronge artist Roger Jerome.

Shortly after noon, they will depart for a luncheon in
Lumsden Sports Centre. There, Premier Lorne Calvert will present
the Queen with a book saluting Saskatchewan's heritage buildings
and announce two scholarships.

On Thursday, the Royal visitors go to the RCMP's Depot
Division for a mid-afternoon ceremony saluting the force's fallen
members.

Next, they are scheduled to fly to Saskatoon for a tour of
the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron and the
Lieutenant-Governor's Centennial Celebration of the Arts gala at
Credit Union Centre. They are expected to return to Regina that
night.

Late Friday morning, the Duke of Edinburgh will visits a
Ducks Unlimited conservation project on the southeast edge of
Regina, then go to a fundraising luncheon at the Wascana Country
Club, where he will be presenting awards to nine conservation
activists.

Meanwhile, the Queen will go to the recently expanded
Government House for its official opening.

The Royal visitors will be reunited at a luncheon at the
Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts before leaving by air for a
two-day "private retreat". Their destination might be the
best-kept secret in Saskatchewan, though past royal visitors have
been given time off in places as diverse as an island in northern
Saskatchewan and a large cottage in the Qu'Appelle Valley.
(Regina Leader-Post)


LOAD-DATE: May 17, 2005