The mysterious Guergis third party is a private eye!

[ZeitgeistObserver]

The mysterious third party who uncovered serious allegations that led Prime Minister Stephen Harper to toss MP Helena Guergis out of caucus is a private investigator, CTV News has learned.

Police sources say the licensed private eye contacted a Conservative Party lawyer in Toronto, and expressed concern about a potential threat of blackmail arising from allegations about the purchase and use of drugs.

It has not been confirmed who may have purchased or used the drugs in question, or who may have been prone to blackmail.

When the lawyer received the information, he immediately alerted the prime minister


http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100413/guerigis_100413/20100413?hub=TopStoriesV2

Anyone remember that a few years ago Myron and his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl hired a private eye from London Ont to find dirt on other MPs...guy used to drive around in a flashy red Porsche or something, and then ran out of money...complete 007 scenario?

[daleo]

1. It seems like Harper is in full damage control mode

Couple this with the CBC story, and it looks like someone is trying to stamp out a looming conflagration. It seems like they want to isolate and shun Gaffer/Gurgeous, and lay any corruption allegations entirely on them. At the same time, they have to blame the OPP for Jaffer's easy treatment.

Quite a problem in political messaging. This could go big.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

2. I hope it does go big.

Harper may have made a mountain out of a molehill, or the distractions are to take the light off the Hell's Angels connections at least two of his ministers have now. :)

[daleo]

3. I wonder who had hired the private investigator?

That seems like an important piece of the puzzle. I mean, P.I.s don't work for free, and they don't usually tell a political party when they see something dodgy.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

4. He reported what he found to Conservative lawyers,

as he was 'concerned' about blackmail, so presumably he was hired by those Conservative lawyers, and they'd all be paid by the party. They seem very big on PI's. A few years ago they hired a PI to investigate Liberal MPs backgrounds.

[daleo]

5. If the government had suspicions about someone

Shouldn't they have put the police onto the matter? After all, the Conservative Party is the government, and potentially criminal matters ought to be investigated by police. The governing party, of all people, should be aware of this.

Using a PI creates the possibility that any criminal activity could be kept hush-hush, taken care of by the party. Besides questionable legality, it has ominous, somewhat Orwellian overtones. Does Harper routinely have his ministers and MPs tailed by PIs?

[ZeitgeistObserver]

6. You answered your own question.

If the police knew about it, it would be public. This way it's hush-hush, or at least it was. :)

As to PIs tailing people:

"Stinson and Thompson were soon after at the centre of another controversy when it emerged they had convinced Day to hire a private investigator to investigate Liberals."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrel_Stinson#Political_life

Day is treasury board currently, but between 06 and 08 he was Public Safety minister. Vic Toews is now, and we know what HIS views are like.