DEAN DEL MASTRO, MP FOR PETERBOROUGH
I’ve had some time since I resigned from the Conservatives to reflect on what happened and I’m starting to think that provoking Elections Canada to issue charges against me was a bad idea.
Now, sometimes I get a little feisty when it comes to standing my ground. Remember last year when I accused the Liberals of using an American telemarketing firm for the 2011 Election? Sure, it turned out that my re-election campaign used an Ohio-based company for the exact same thing, but I said that when I was upset, okay?
And then there was the time I intimidated my former pollster and current witness in the investigation while speaking in the House of Commons, not before I called Elections Canada full of ‘malice’ and ‘contempt.’ Bad decision? Yeah, probably.
But I think my biggest folly probably occurred when I became a little impatient and asked Elections Canada to either charge me or clear my name. I was kinda hoping for the latter, but now understand why they did the former.
I know I’ve been pushing Elections Canada’s buttons, but that’s just the kind of guy I am. I have a strong-willed, badgering personality and get easily upset when people disagree with me or scrutinize my election campaign finances.
I guess hindsight is 20/20 and I insolently assumed that the investigators found nothing. But once I’m found innocent, I can get back to an initiative Laureen Harper and I are very passionate about; bullying prevention. I definitely have the skills and experience on that issue.
