Rahim Jaffer

Hello all, this is my first post and I don't want to step on anyone's feet (or forum policies) but I have read the sandbox threads for a month now and I have enjoyed the debate that occurs. I have finally decided to join and take part in the banter.

That being said, I don't believe the current situation of Mr. Jaffer had been dealt with properly in "Get Tough Eh". So I thought I would just start a new thread and those that want to take part, all the better, please do.

I am not suggesting Mr. Jaffer was let off because Justice Doug Maund is in the pocket of the Conservatives or Jim Flaherty or PM Harper, but I do think that his sentencing does merit a debate and in the very least some questions.

Facts: Mr. Jaffer was charged with drunk driving and possession of cocaine in September 2009, after Ontario Police stopped him for speeding through the town of Palgrave, Ontario.
-Court heard that an OPP officer clocked Mr. Jaffer's driving at 93
kilometres per hour in an area where the speed limit is 50 kilometres
per hour.

Mr. Jaffer is no longer a Conservative member, true. He maintains his official political site here: http://www.rahimjaffer.com/ Yet he was a member of parliament and (as you already know) his wife is a junior cabinet minister for the Federal government. A main part of his 2008 campaign involved rhetoric of tougher sentences for drug possession. Even if cocaine charges were dropped, the OPP officer didn't plant the cocaine in his car. If these reasons don't make you think he should be held at a higher standard than the average Joe, I don't know what will. He acted irresponsibly and hypocritically, I know Liberals are too, but this thread isn't about them.

Finally, David Akin, a national affairs correspondent for Canwest News Service, Ottawa, Canada found that Justice Maund was once Chief of Staff to former Conservative Minister Perrin Beatty and appointed to the bench in 2000 by Federal Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who was Ontario's attorney general at that time.

I repeat, I am not insinuating that this had an effect on Mr. Jaffer's sentencing, it is just facts of merit. I love Canada because we have accountability and I'm sure all of this has an explanation and will come out. Regardless of what others say, the sentencing was odd to say the least.

Thank you and I hope to hear your opinion.

Welcome to the sandbox Ralphie.

Decided to jump in with both feet eh? Did ya bring a thick skin with ya? Heh heh. Well good luck.

Not sure if this topic has run its' course or not. Ordinarily I don't much care for two identical threads running concurrently, but I'll let 'er go and lock the other one as it appears to have degenerated quite nicely...

Welcome to the Sandbox.

Mr. Jaffer maintains his innocence and the Crown dropped the charges. I wasn't there when Mr. Jaffer was pulled over by the OPP, were you Ralphie?

Now if Mr. Jaffer did indeed have cocaine in his possession then he should have been dealt with appropriately. Since the laws are weak (thanks to the liberal senate)then there really isn't much the Crown could have done. Mr. Jaffer is no longer an MP and just because his wife is a junior cabinet minister has no bearing on this situation.


Since none of us know with 100% certainty if Mr Jaffer was impaired or if he indeed was possessing cocaine, he is innocent. Much to the chagrin of Mr Layton who of course was all over the news calling for Mr Jaffer's head.

If Mr Jaffer was still a Conservative MP then yes I agree he should be held to a higher standard. He is no longer an MP, he is a regular citizen like you or I.

Ralphie you stated: Even if cocaine charges were dropped, the OPP officer didn't plant the cocaine in his car. How do you know the OPP officer didn't plant the coke? There are an awful lot of dirty officers out there.

I am not sure if you are familiar with the death of Crystal Taman? Well if you aren't she was killed by a drunk driving Police officer. All charges were dropped. Should that drunk cop who killed Mrs Taman not be held to a higher standard? I wasn't at the scene of the accident so I have no idea what happened. Just like you weren't there when Mr Jaffer was pulled over.

I have no doubt dude was given a break due to his former position and current connections. That said I can't be 100% certain as to why charges were dropped. I'd love to hear what the circumstances were around his arrest and what the circumstances were around the dismissed charges.

@Goth_chic
I absolutely agree with you on the case of Crystal Taman. I believe all police forces and especially the RCMP need major reforms, changes and most of all accountability. Cases such as Mr. Khan http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/01/23/bc-beaten-newspaper-man.html and of course the tragic atrocity that took place with Robert Dziekanski are outrageous. There is certainly a different set of rules for police than for the average citizen. I also agree with you that the state of our justice system is poor and has keeps Judges and prosecutors hands tied thanks to the Liberal senate. However, do you truly believe that the OPP officer planted cocaine or that the cocaine did not belong to Mr. Jaffer? He also was still going 43 km over the speed limit and failed a breathalyzer test. Speed and alcohol were both contributors to Crysal Taman's death. Also Mr. Jaffer's site (link in 1st post) still has the Conservative Party of Canada logo on it. I think that reflects the party negatively and his affiliation with it, don't you?

grumpy old man wrote:I have no doubt dude was given a break due to his former position and current connections. That said I can't be 100% certain as to why charges were dropped. I'd love to hear what the circumstances were around his arrest and what the circumstances were around the dismissed charges.

agreed.

Ralphie wrote:@Goth_chic
I absolutely agree with you on the case of Crystal Taman. I believe all police forces and especially the RCMP need major reforms, changes and most of all accountability. Cases such as Mr. Khan http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/01/23/bc-beaten-newspaper-man.html and of course the tragic atrocity that took place with Robert Dziekanski are outrageous. There is certainly a different set of rules for police than for the average citizen. I also agree with you that the state of our justice system is poor and has keeps Judges and prosecutors hands tied thanks to the Liberal senate. However, do you truly believe that the OPP officer planted cocaine or that the cocaine did not belong to Mr. Jaffer? He also was still going 43 km over the speed limit and failed a breathalyzer test. Speed and alcohol were both contributors to Crysal Taman's death. Also Mr. Jaffer's site (link in 1st post) still has the Conservative Party of Canada logo on it. I think that reflects the party negatively and his affiliation with it, don't you?

I don't believe coke was planted but I don't know what really happened as I wasn't there. I can speculate until the cows come home....

Goth_chic wrote:

I don't believe coke was planted but I don't know what
really happened as I wasn't there. I can speculate until the cows come home....

I wasn't present either, but I don't believe having a Conservative Party of Canada logo on your official website, being gunned
driving 43 km over the speed limit and then failing breathalyzer test is speculation either.

MPs, MLAs, Civic to a higher standard? nope. COPS and Judges... yup.

Hey the guy got a break. As the John Howard Society guy says - society would gain nothing from jailing him - that his punishment will be to his public life. Now, if had large amounts then he wouldn't have gotten off the distribution charge and should have rightfully been incarcerated. The personal consumption stuff is increasingly getting a pass. Lot's of impaired charges get beaten in court and they didn't want to press that one on weak grounds of some sort.

Ralphie wrote:Finally, David Akin, a national affairs correspondent for Canwest News Service, Ottawa, Canada found that Justice Maund was once Chief of Staff to former Conservative Minister Perrin Beatty and appointed to the bench in 2000 by Federal Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who was Ontario's attorney general at that time.

Keep in mind that the judge could only consider the charges put in front of him. It was the prosecutor who withdrew the possession and drunk driving charges. So, even if he was given a break by the judge, it was only on the careless driving charge. Don't you normally just get a ticket for that?

Ralphie wrote:

Goth_chic wrote:

I don't believe coke was planted but I don't know what
really happened as I wasn't there. I can speculate until the cows come home....

I wasn't present either, but I don't believe having a Conservative Party of Canada logo on your official website, being gunned
driving 43 km over the speed limit and then failing breathalyzer test is speculation either.

Who really cares? LOL. He didn't murder anyone, he is no longer an MP and whatever "deal" his lawyer struck with the crown is none of my business.

Seems to me that he was dealt with a lot harsher that any ordinary guy.

Anyone know just how much coke he had on him (if he did have coke on him)?

I heard they originally thought it was coke. Turns out it was pepsi...

Ahhh, thats why the possession charges were dropped.

Save your time Ralphie this bunch is too cynicle to change or see past their blinkers . Now if it had been a cop or a Liberal boy would the comments be flying .

Jondo wrote:Hey the guy got a break. As the John Howard Society guy says - society would gain nothing from jailing him - that his punishment will be to his public life. Now, if had large amounts then he wouldn't have gotten off the distribution charge and should have rightfully been incarcerated. The personal consumption stuff is increasingly getting a pass. Lot's of impaired charges get beaten in court and they didn't want to press that one on weak grounds of some sort.

So you say what we should turn a blind eye to this .

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/family-erupts-as-driver-sentenced-to-42-months-87319212.html

Just so no one thinks I brought up the other thread because of the party involved . This fool deserves more and harsher punishment also , but under our weak kneed system he is not going to get it . And they are all to blame including us as we put them there so put your conservative banners away, and think about it . The laws have to be changed for the good of all , and we can do it if they the politicians won,t Fire away at me for it is expected from this crowd .

No comparison.

This piece of sh1t was:
1) Speeding at the time
2) Driving without a license (which begs the question why he didn't have a license)
3) Left the scene

This guy sounds like a low life anyway, so putting his name in public doesn't do anything, he deserved time. The laws are in place, the judges just have to have the balls to administer them.

And where did I make a comparison of the cases , the point for you to see is that we have to get tough on the laws regarding this sorta thing in generel .

From poster couple to problem couple

Well, even some Tories want Jaffer and his wife to come clean.

\"Rahim Jaffer and Helena Guergis have become the poster couple for political entitlement, under attack not just by opposition critics but by prominent members of their own Conservative party.\"

\"Kory Teneycke, a former communications director to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said both Jaffer and Guergis owe Canadians a big apology and an explanation. \"You\'ve got to come clean and you\'ve got to show contrition and in doing that it allows everyone to move on. Half addressing it or skirting it doesn\'t allow people to turn the page.\"\"

\"Teneycke said anyone else who indulged in such \"diva behaviour\" at airport security likely would have been \"Tased\" and arrested.\"

Looks like some Tories see things the way Pav does.

Damage control If they really cared it would not have happened . The federel minister can and could follow the case , and over rule the judge .

Pavolo wrote:Damage control If they really cared it would not have happened . The federel minister can and could follow the case , and over rule the judge .

On a careless driving charge...thats what we need, a Minister of the Crown getting involved in traffic tickets.

Besides, lets keep in mind that Jaffer is not an MP, but a private citizen.

As far as the boorish behaviour of his wife, thats another story.

Pavolo wrote:Damage control If they really cared it would not have happened . The federel minister can and could follow the case , and over rule the judge .

Does anyone have any precedent of a federal minister overruling a provincial judge's decision?





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