The Prime Minister has made it official that Simcoe Grey MP Helena Guergis is no longer in his federal cabinet or in the federal caucus.
Stephen Harper told a news conference Friday afternoon he has referred matters surrounding Guergis to the commons ethics commissioner, and that pending a resolution of the case, Guergis will sit outside the Conservative caucus.
Harper repeated to the news conference what his communications team had to say yesterday about an explosive story in the Toronto Star — that Rahim Jaffer, Guergis’ husband, has no power or sway within his government.
Guergis had been under fire for weeks, after her husband was arrested on charges of drunk driving and speeding in September, and was given a plea bargain deal in court.
On Thursday — the Toronto Star published allegations that he had been part of a boozy dinner that night, and claimed to be able to influence the PMO for grants and loans for green enterprises.
Guergis also threw a now-notorious temper tantrum at an airport in PEI and it was discovered a few weeks ago, her aides had been writing fawning letters about her to local newspapers and national magazines.