NOTE
The statements made in the letter above
are supported by the following documentation.
THE ETHICS OF MISUSING MAILING PRIVILEGES and USING PURLOINED MEMBERSHIP LISTS.
Stephen Harper's OPEN LETTER to Progressive Conservative Members was published in
May 1st's NATIONAL POST.(1)
That same day JOHN REYNOLDS' office was called (613-996-6740) and the e-mail address
<catour@parl.gc.ca> was obtained
with the assurance posts sent to it would be passed on to Mr. Harper.
A post was immediately dispatched (2), the address circulated resulting in others
sending posts as well.
TO THIS DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE.
Friday, May 10th posts came in stating a copy of the OPEN LETTER had been received
by e-mail from the address "Canadian Alliance Distribution" <CADistribution@parl.gc.ca> (3) .
In order to determine the nature of the list to which this post was being sent,
Reynolds' office was called once more. Contact was made with Craig Cantin, Data Base
Administrator for Alliance communications at 613-947-8895,
the 'phone number provided.
Craig was most open stating the list was outside his usual data base which consists
of "interested individuals." (4). When asked from whence the OPEN
LETTER distribution list had come he said from Matt John and, when requested, gave
provided the telephone number 613-995-1956.
Matthew John, Manager of Technical Services, was what the answering machine said.
A request was made that he
call. To this point none has been received either directly or on the answering system.
Beginning on the 10th and continuing over the last ten days reports of Stephen Harper's
OPEN LETTER being received
in postage free envelopes in that they bore the stamp J. REYNOLDS, M.P. WEST VANCOUVER-SUNSHINE
COAST (5).
The addresses, some of which were out of date since due to individuals moving, have
the code [UCL52] after them. (6)
Two questions arise
(1) the ethics of using the postage free privilege accorded Members of Parliament
for purely partisan purposes, there being nothing in the franked envelope bearing
the name of the Member of Parliament sending it.
(2) the ethics of using a mailing list, [UCL52] UNDOUBTEDLY A MEMBERSHIP LIST in
all probability drawn from the same list used by TOM LONG in his bid failing bid
to recruit Tories for his ALLIANCE LEADERSHIP 2000, this list being the 1998 Progressive
Conservative Membership List purloined for his purposes contrary to the confidentiality
pledge signed by candidates.
END NOTES
(1) OPEN LETTER INVITATION IN THE NATIONAL POST
The Invitation:
Harper issues invitation to PCs Stephen Harper National Post
http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary/story.html?f=/stories/20020501/85781.html
(2) POST SENT IN RESPONSE AND NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED
Date: Wed, 01 May 2002 23:12:10 -0400
To: STEPHEN HARPER_LEADER_CANADIAN ALLIANCE <catour@parl.gc.ca>
From: Joe Hueglin <hueglinj@cogeco.ca>
Subject: Information vital to a consideration of your proposal.
Bcc: Joe Hueglin <hueglinj@cogeco.ca>
Stephen Harper, Leader,
Canadian Alliance
Dear Stephen,
In your Open Letter to Progressive Conservative Members on Wednesday, May 1st, you
resuscitated the Unite the Right idea buried three weeks ago at your meeting with
Joe Clark. It included an invitation to "to discuss it with me or my representatives.‰
To give it „the most serious consideration‰ you request some details are necessary.
In terms of a Parliamentary Coalition, what will be the nature of Leadership and
distribution of Caucus Critic responsibilities? In terms of single candidates, what
method of candidate selection are you proposing?
Your aim is "amalgamation". Would a new constitution be framed at a convention
with equal delegates from both parties? Would the Leadership selection for this new
entity be by the Alliance mail in ballots and popular vote method or the PC vote
at polling station riding and riding by riding percentage process?
These are not details to be worked out after acceptance of your proposal but integral
to a consideration of it.
This Letter is sent to you at the e-mail address provided by the office of Opposition
Leader in the House of Commons. Your response to the questions it raises are looked
forward to with interest.
Yours truly,
Joe Hueglin,
Member 29th Parliament
5838 Mouland Avenue
Niagara Falls Ontario
Tel 905-356-3901
(3) POST SENT TO PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS FROM LIST PROVIDED BY MATT JOHN
From: Canadian Alliance Distribution [mailto:CADistribution@parl.gc.ca]
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 7:23 AM
Subject: AN OPEN LETTER TO FEDERAL PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2002
AN OPEN LETTER TO FEDERAL PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVES
Dear PC member,
. . .
(4) STATEMENT AT END OF CANADIAN ALLIANCE DISTRIBUTION POSTS MAILING LIST IS TO
"INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canadian Alliance Distribution is a mailing list that periodically sends information
to interested individuals. If you wish to continue to receive e-mail messages from
us, please reply to this message with the word 'subscribe' in the subject field.
(5) POST RELATING TO THE AGE OF THE MEMBERSHIP
Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 16:17:40 -0400
Joe
I just received today this open letter in the mail sent to an address that is at
least 3 years old. The interesting aspect of this is that the envelope was sent from
the House of Commons (without postage using taxpayer $$$) from J. Reynolds, M.P.
West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast. There was nothing from Mr. Reynolds, MPP and the
letter was sign by Mr Harper as the Alliance leader.
Ben
(6) POST STATING THE CODING OF THE LIST UNETHICALLY OBTAINED AND USED
Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 10:36:14 -0700
Hi Joe,
Both my husband and I received the „Open Letter to PCs‰ by mail today. Each one of
us received an envelope sent byJ.Reynolds, MP, in a House of Commons envelope. The
letter bears no letter head. The envelope has no stamp. It was thus paid for by the
government. Both our names have this [UCL52] behind our names.
Ariane