The federal Conservative Party will try to halt a trial Tuesday that could shed light on the deals that paved the way for the candidacies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Public Works Minister Stockwell Day after they became leader of the former Canadian Alliance.At this point, it's surprising that the Cons haven't simply cut their losses with a settlement (and one with a clear confidentiality clause if it's that imporant to them). What's more, even if the Cons are determined to have the case heard, a time when a federal election looks unlikely would seem to be the best opportunity to minimize any damage.
Mr. Harper has hired a lawyer to represent him at a proceeding that will be held this week to determine whether there was implied confidentiality in the Conservative Party's agreement with Alan Riddell, who gave up the nomination in the riding of Ottawa South so the Tories could run a high-profile candidate.
But the Conservatives will tell the court Tuesday that the trial should be adjourned — a position Mr. Riddell's lawyer says may have been influenced by the fact that details of similar agreements made by the Canadian Alliance, a predecessor of the Conservatives, could be called as evidence.
Tom Conway said that he plans to raise similar deals that paved the way for the candidacy of Mr. Harper in Calgary in 2002 and for Mr. Day in British Columbia in 2000.
“I am just speculating here, but that may be one of the reasons they don't want it to proceed this week,” Mr. Conway said.
But for now, all indications suggest that the Cons really are both too stubborn to admit defeat and too short-sighted to at least get the outcome determined in the near future. And that combination makes for a stronger indictment of the Cons' suitability to hold power than the contents of any past agreement.
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