CP
OTTAWA - L'ancien député conservateur Dean Del Mastro, reconnu coupable la semaine dernière d'avoir violé la loi électorale canadienne, a annoncé que ses avocats veulent retourner en cour pour présenter de nouvelles preuves.
Del Mastro a été reconnu coupable d'avoir dépassé le montant limite de dépenses durant la campagne de 2008, d'avoir omis de déclarer une contribution personnelle de 21 000 $ à sa propre campagne et d'avoir sciemment déposé un document falsifié.
Del Mastro affirme maintenant détenir de nouvelles preuves qui n'ont pas été présentées au tribunal, parce qu'elles n'ont pas été fournies à temps par Élections Canada.
Il veut donc rouvrir la défense avant le 21 novembre, jour où sa peine doit être prononcée.
De nouvelles preuves peuvent être présentées si elles sont pertinentes et crédibles, si elles peuvent changer l'issue du procès et qu'elles n'ont pas pu être soumises durant le procès, soutient-il.
Le député, qui siège maintenant comme indépendant, est un ancien secrétaire parlementaire du premier ministre Stephen Harper. Il est passible d'une peine allant jusqu'à un an d'emprisonnement et une amende de 1000 $ par chef d'accusation. Il pourrait aussi perdre son siège à la Chambre des communes.
INOLTRE SU HUFFPOST
Memorable Del Mastro Moments
Catholic Clash(01 of38)
In 2011, Del Mastro made headlines after he publicly questioned Liberal MP Justin Trudeau\'s adherence to the Catholic faith.\n\nDel Mastro said on Facebook it was \"outrageous\" the Peterborough Catholic school invited Trudeau to speak to students.\n\n\"Are there any tenets of the Catholic faith that Justin supports?\" he wrote.\n\nTrudeau said at the time he was \"surprisingly upset\" at the insult.\n\n\"For someone to start questioning my own faith and accusing me of being a bad Catholic, is something that I really take issue with. My own personal faith is an extremely important part of who I am and the values that I try to lead with.\" (credit:CP)
#DelMastroInternet(02 of38)
Last October, Del Mastro used his member\'s statement to suggest Parliament should move to regulate anonymous commentary online.\n\n\"Yesterday I read the comments of hundreds of anonymous posters online and was frankly shocked and saddened by the level of vitriolic hatred and personal attacks that were freely posted,\" he said. \"While I believe firmly that the right to free speech must be strongly defended and protected, I also believe it should be backed up by the common decency to stand by one\'s words as opposed to hiding behind online anonymity.\"\n\nMany Canadians took to Twitter to poke fun at Del Mastro and suggest he had just discovered the Internet. The hashtag, #DelMastroInternet, soon began trending. (credit:CP)
(03 of38)
On April 1, 2014, members of Parliament received a 2.2 per cent pay increase, bringing the basic pay of each MP up to $163,700 from $160,200 the year prior.\n\nBut while that base salary is the same for every member, certain MPs are afforded the chance to make much more.\n\nThe full list of indemnities, salaries and allowances can be found here. (credit:Getty)
Member of the House of Commons(04 of38)
Tory MP Brad Butt (Mississauga-Streetsville) is an example of an MP who earns just the base salary afforded to all MPs.\n\n2014 Salary: $163,700\n\nThere are currently 308 MPs. (credit:CP)
Prime Minister of Canada(05 of38)
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, however, makes double the salary of your average MP.\n\n2014 Salary: $327,400\n\nCar Allowance: $2,000 (credit:CP)
Speaker of the House of Commons(06 of38)
Tory MP Andrew Scheer (Regina—Qu\'Appelle) earns the base salary, plus $78,300 for serving as Speaker.\n\n2014 Salary: $242,000\n\nCar allowance: $1,000\n (credit:CP)
Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons(07 of38)
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair earns the base MP salary, plus $78,300 for leading the Official Opposition.\n\n2014 Salary: $242,000\n\nCar Allowance: $2,000 (credit:CP)
Cabinet Minster (08 of38)
Treasury Board President Tony Clement (Parry Sound–Muskoka), like other cabinet ministers, earns $78,300 on top of the base MP salary.\n\n2014 Salary: $242,000\n\nCar Allowance: $2,000\n\nThere are 39 cabinet ministers in Harper\'s government (including ministers of state who make slightly less). (credit:CP)
Minister of State(09 of38)
Minister of State for Democratic Reform Pierre Poilievre (Nepean-Carleton), like all other ministers of state, earns $58,700 on top of his base MP salary.\n\nBut junior ministers do not received a car allowance.\n\n2014 Salary: $222,400 (credit:CP)
Leader of Other Parties(10 of38)
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and the leaders of the Green Party and Bloc Quebecois earn the base MP salary, plus $55,600 for serving as their party\'s top dog.\n\n2014 Salary: $219,300 (credit:CP)
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons(11 of38)
Tory MP Peter Van Loan (York-Simcoe) earns $78,300 on top of the base MP salary.\n\n2014 Salary: $242,000\n\nCar Allowance: $2,000 (credit:CP)
Oppostion House Leader(12 of38)
NDP MP Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster) earns the base MP salary plus a $40,600 pay bump for serving as Opposition House leader.\n\n2014 Salary: $204,300\n\nFormer NDP House leader Nathan Cullen recently took a $40,000 pay cut to move from that role to NDP finance critic. (credit:CP)
House Leader (Other Parties)(13 of38)
Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc (Beauséjour), earns the base MP salary plus $16,300 for serving as House leader for his party.\n\n2014 Salary: $180,000 (credit:CP)
Chief Government Whip(14 of38)
Tory MP John Duncan (Vancouver Island North) earns the base MP salary, plus $29,400 for serving as the Harper government\'s whip.\n\n2014 Salary: $193,100 (credit:CP)
Chief Opposition Whip(15 of38)
NDP MP Nycole Turmel (Hull—Aylmer) also earns an additional $29,400 for serving as the Opposition\'s whip.\n\n2014 Salary: $193,100 (credit:CP)
Parliamentary Secretary(16 of38)
Tory MP Paul Calandra (Oak Ridges—Markham) is one of 31 parliamentary secretaries who gets a $16,300 pay bump on top of their salaries.\n\n2014 Salary: $180,000\n\n (credit:CP)
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Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre rises in the House of Commons to apologize for making an obscene gesture yesterday, in Ottawa Wednesday June 14, 2006. (CP PHOTO/Tom Hanson)\n (credit:CP)
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Ottawa-area Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre smiles as he talks with reporters on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Tuesday Feb. 27, 2007. Poilievre referred to \"extremist elements\" in the Liberal party that want to ease anti-terror laws and shut down the Air India inquiry last week.(CP PHOTO/Tom Hanson) Canada\n (credit:CP)
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Democratic Reform Minister Peter Van Loan (right), with Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre looking on, makes an announcement on the introduction of the Accountability with Respect to Loans legislation at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec across the river from Ottawa, Tuesday May 8, 2007.(CP PHOTO/Fred Chartrand) CANADA ,\n (credit:CP)
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Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre rises in the House of Commons to apologize for saying in a radio interview Wednesday that native people need to learn the value of hard work more than they need residential schools compensation, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday June 12, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tom Hanson\n (credit:CP)
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With copies of the Conservative accountabilty booklets, Conservative M.P. Pierre Poilievre waits for the start of the Commons House affairs committee looking into allegations of Tory election spending misconduct during the last election, on Monday Sept. 10, 2007 in Ottawa. (CP PHOTO/Fred Chartrand)\n (credit:CP)
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Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre speaks in the House of Commons during question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday June 16, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick\n (credit:CP)
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Pierre Poilievre, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, leaves a news conference after speaking with the media about the gun registry in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday September 14, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld\n (credit:CP)
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Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre listens to a question during a news conference in Ottawa, Friday October 15, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Adrian Wyld\n (credit:CP)
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Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre poses with a bust of Sir John A. Macdonald after announcing the former Bank of Montreal building would be renamed in honour of Canada\'s first prime minister during a ceremony in Ottawa, Ont., Wednesday January 11, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld\n (credit:CP)
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Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday February 28, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld\n (credit:CP)
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Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre holds up copies of legislation as he responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Friday October 19, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld\n (credit:CP)
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Pierre Poilievre is sworn in as the minister of state for democratic reform during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Monday, July 15, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld\n (credit:CP)
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The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), poses for a group photo after the swearing in of the federal cabinet at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Monday, July 15, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle\n (credit:CP)
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Minister of State Pierre Poilievre stands in the House of Commons during Question Period, in Ottawa Friday, February 7, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand\n (credit:CP)
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Minister of State (Democratic Reform) Pierre Poilievre responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, February 27, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick (credit:CP)
(32 of38)
\"The Fair Elections Act will ensure everyday citizens are in charge of democracy, by putting special interests on the sidelines and rule-breakers out of business,\" says Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre.\n\nRead more about the Fair Elections Act here.\n\n (credit:CP)
Crackdown On Illegal Robocalls(33 of38)
The legislation proposes a mandatory public registry for mass automated election calls, jail time for those convicted of impersonating an elections official, and \"increased penalties for deceiving people out of their votes.\" (credit:CP)
No More 'Vouching' For Your Buddy(34 of38)
In the interest of cracking down on voter fraud, the bill would prohibit the practice whereby one Canadian vouches for another\'s identity at a polling station. \n\nIn fact, voter information cards will no longer be accepted as proof of identity.\n\nBut the government says voters will still have 39 forms of authorized ID to choose from in order to prove their identity and residence.\n (credit:CP)
Independence For The Elections Commissioner(35 of38)
The Commissioner of Canada Elections office, responsible for enforcing the elections law, will be moved under the mantle of the public prosecutor\'s office, not Elections Canada.\n\nConservatives believe this will give the commissioner more independence as the Chief Electoral Officer will no longer be able to direct him to carry out \ninvestigations.\n\nIn future, the commissioner would be appointed by the director of public prosecutions to a non-renewable, seven-year term.\n\nThe legislation also bars former political candidates, political party employees, ministerial or MP staffers or employees of Elections Canada from being named commissioner.\n\nTories believe the legislation will give the commissioner \"sharper teeth\" and a \"longer reach\" to seek out stronger penalties for offences. (credit:CP)
More Donations Welcome(36 of38)
The ceiling for individual political donations would be raised to $1,500 from $1,200 and party spending limits would be increased by five per cent. \n\nUnion and corporate donations are still banned, though.\n (credit:Getty)
The West Won't Have To Wait(37 of38)
A long-standing ban on the premature transmission of election results will be lifted, meaning voters in Western Canada will get to know how things are shaping up out East before heading to the polls.\n\nBroadcasters can share results from Eastern Canada on election night, even if the polls aren\'t closed in the West. \n\nThe government believes this change will uphold free speech. (credit:CP)
New Rules On Political Loans(38 of38)
The legislation would raise the amount candidates can contribute to their own campaigns to $5,000.\n\nLeadership contestants will be allowed to give their own campaign up to $25,000.\n (credit:CP)