NDP MP Pat Martin is trying to use political allies to circumvent donation laws in order to pay for his loud, libellous mouth.
Martin is being sued by Racknine after a belated apology (see here) was deemed insufficient by the company and now wants to avoid coughing up the money for his own defence:
“I’m having a trust fund set up, separate from the party and separate from my office as a Member of Parliament, and that makes it legal for people to donate. It’s not a tax-deductible donation of any kind. It’s not a charity, nor is it a political party donation. It would simply be a contribution to my legal defence fund.” (see here)
Curious to see if Martin’s scheme to get past donations rules will be found to be legal under Canada’s Election Act.
Update: The Federal Accountability Act states:
“In a related amendment to the Parliament of Canada Act, clause 99 of Bill C-2 prohibits members of the House of Commons from directly or indirectly accepting a benefit or income from a trust fund established by reason of their position as members of the House of Commons (see here)
June 26, 2012 at 8:17 AM
Now the Canada Revenue Agency can look into these donations to him as income. I trust he will file all the appropriate documents? This guy is not all there and is a discredit to his party.
June 26, 2012 at 9:57 AM
Kady O, Evans Solomon, Don Martin Peter Mansbridge and the rest of the media would gladly open their purses(wallets) to aid Pat Martin. All socialists must stick together right Dean?
Election Canada would bypass this just as they did when the ndp received contributions(money) from the American Unions.
BTW, this IS not breaking news because the story is not on the CPC.
June 26, 2012 at 10:05 AM
I’m not sure if it will qualify as income for Martin. If they set it up that all monies will be paid DIRECTLY to a defense team and will never enter the accounts of Martin, then, technically, it will never be income for him. To disperse any monies above and beyond, should there be any, what the legal deffense team needs for payment, they just set it up so any additional funds can be donated to a charity, such as a food bank.
This has been done for members of all political parties; maybe Martin learned this from Vic?
June 26, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Vic who?
June 26, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Ridiculous comment. Martin would realize financial gain read income as he is named as defendant. And the lawsuit is a result of his mp position. Without the so called trust fund he would be out of pocket those legal fees.
June 26, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Why does Mulclair keep him around?
June 26, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Mulcair must agree with him or he’d give him at least a reprimand if not the boot, he’s a disgrace to Parliament but that doesn’t faze the NDP.
Martin has gotten away with spouting off his potty mouth before, this time he got sued and expects others to pay for his mouth wash.
June 26, 2012 at 10:30 AM
I trust the Ottawa Citizen’s Mayer and McGregor will be on top of this story, along with EC investigative sleuth. They haven’t reported on Del Mastro now for almost 4 days.
June 26, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Mulcair has to agree with Pat Martin or else Pat Martin would finish Mulcair within two mins.
The media? they follow the socialist ndp/lib drum beat. or else…..
June 26, 2012 at 12:06 PM
In his discussions with European Union ambassadors, did Mr Mulcair request a euro backed bailout for MP Martin’s litigious comments?
June 26, 2012 at 12:59 PM
Martin…you are such a little man with a big mouth…stupid enough to get caught up in a lawsuit that your mindless mouth set you up for.
Now you are reduced to having to beg other people’s $$$ to get you out of a predicament that was avoidable had you engaged your brain long enough to realize the ramifications of your ugly slurs.
You didn’t care too much at the time about how you were trashing Matt Mieir’s reputation… a man with obligations and mouths to feed… and true to your irresponsible socialist mindset thought it would just blow over.
You were given the fair opportunity to appologize but instead your foolish pride wouldn’t allow you to do so in a timely fashion.
So enjoy your predicament Patty boy and the only other thing that would be as good would be your constituents voting you down the road.
Remember: as you sow, you will reap.
June 26, 2012 at 3:16 PM
Really? Have NONE of you posters, who do not understand, apparently, how to set-up a legal trust fund, participated in any board of directors of any size to know that you can circumvent having a trust fund be deemed income? If the monies never cross the palm of Martin, then they are not income for him. As for the comment that he is only being sued because he is an MP? That is true, however, the point of this blog is to determine *IF* it is illegal for Martin to set-up a legal trust fund. Nothing, within this opinion piece, states that he will financially benefit. If it is set-up by good lawyers, then all Martin has to say, and it will be legal, is, “I have people who wanted to pay for my legal bills.” Hey, anyone can pay anyone’s bills. People are free to do what they want with their money.”
Vic? Good comment, and precise. “Vic who?”
June 26, 2012 at 4:18 PM
You are insinuating that Vic Toews and others have had a trust fund set up. So either prove it or I will be blocking you from posting as I won’t allow you to libel on here.
June 26, 2012 at 8:12 PM
What a typical NDP’er socialist/commie/union thug, always looking for someone else to pay for their bad ideas. Martin has clearly demonstrated what a nasty imbecile he is, and just like a true socialist/commie he’s wants others to be responsible for his actions. Martin’s media comrades and union “brothers” and “sisters” better open their publicly filled wallets and bail out loud mouth Pat, nobody else will. Go Racknine… sue the arse of this deranged lying, bullying coward, no one is more deserving then Pat (“F##k you”) Martin.
June 27, 2012 at 5:53 AM
Imo, Pat Martin started his own mess but the media went along with Pat Martin to do more damage to Racknine which caused Racknine to loose some customers which led to some empoyees being laid off.
June 27, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Anyway, he’s not being sued because he’s an MP; he’s being sued because of the comments he made about Racknine OUTSIDE Parliament. True, he wouldn’t have had the press attention he received had he not been an MP. However, being an MP is not the issue; making comments judged slanderous is.
June 27, 2012 at 2:47 PM
I think the voters who keep electing him should pay the bill. As vile as he is he is just a reflection of the voters in his riding.
July 3, 2012 at 8:33 PM
To Martin -Engage brain before mouth this one is going to cost you Loudmouth