OK, so who has seen or met the Romanian stripper whom Judy Sgro issued a minister's immigration permit?
THE STORY:
Robert Fife
CanWest News Service
November 16, 2004
Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro, below, will investigate Immigration Minister Judy Sgro's approval of a temporary resident permit for a Romanian exotic dancer who worked on her re-election campaign. The inquiry was launched after opposition MPs accused Ms. Sgro of exploiting her ministerial powers to reward political supporter Alina Balaican, a 25-year old nude dancer whose immigration work permit was about to run out. Ms. Sgro signed the permit on June 25 -- three days before the election vote -- which allows Balaican to apply for permanent resident status in 2006. Ms. Balaican's work permit to perform as an exotic dancer was also extended for two years. Ms. Sgro expressed confidence yesterday that she will be cleared by Mr. Shapiro, who is conducting his first investigation of a Cabinet minister since his appointment as Commons' new ethics watchdog. "I cannot get into individual cases, but let me tell you, I made a decision on a case, pure and simple, on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, nothing else to do with anything," she said. Ms. Sgro's parliamentary secretary, Hedy Fry, said the Minister was concerned Ms. Balaican could "suffer as a result of being deported." She also said Ms. Sgro did not know Ms. Balaican personally.
© National Post 2004
THE STORY:
Robert Fife
CanWest News Service
November 16, 2004
Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro, below, will investigate Immigration Minister Judy Sgro's approval of a temporary resident permit for a Romanian exotic dancer who worked on her re-election campaign. The inquiry was launched after opposition MPs accused Ms. Sgro of exploiting her ministerial powers to reward political supporter Alina Balaican, a 25-year old nude dancer whose immigration work permit was about to run out. Ms. Sgro signed the permit on June 25 -- three days before the election vote -- which allows Balaican to apply for permanent resident status in 2006. Ms. Balaican's work permit to perform as an exotic dancer was also extended for two years. Ms. Sgro expressed confidence yesterday that she will be cleared by Mr. Shapiro, who is conducting his first investigation of a Cabinet minister since his appointment as Commons' new ethics watchdog. "I cannot get into individual cases, but let me tell you, I made a decision on a case, pure and simple, on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, nothing else to do with anything," she said. Ms. Sgro's parliamentary secretary, Hedy Fry, said the Minister was concerned Ms. Balaican could "suffer as a result of being deported." She also said Ms. Sgro did not know Ms. Balaican personally.
© National Post 2004
