Bumped …..Update: this just came across the Canadian Press wire. (No link yet).
“Dhalla issued her own brief statement in response:
“I appreciate Ms. Villanueva’s clarification; however she is not speaking on behalf of all the Brampton Filipino Seniors Club. Many members of the Filipino Seniors Club and community have expressed their support in letters, phone calls and emails.”
Where SDA leads, the mainstream is sure to follow!
(Original post follows below.)
May 7: Filipino Seniors in Support of Dhalla
Maybe not.
To whom it concern:
My name is Aurora G. Villanueva, a member of the Brampton Filipino Seniors Club.
I wanted to clarify my position in relation to the statement made by Ms Dhalla during the inquiry. The letter she presented in the inquiry that was signed by me, but not written by me.. It was prepared by the office of Ms Dhalla.
Full text (note this is an unsigned draft) here and reprinted below the fold.
To whom it concern:
My name is Aurora G. Villanueva, a member of the Brampton Filipino Seniors Club.
I wanted to clarify my position in relation to the statement made by Ms Dhalla during the inquiry. The letter she presented in the inquiry that was signed by me, but not written by me.. It was prepared by the office of Ms Dhalla.
I signed that letter to indicate my support for her as a friend. I was not at this point representing or speaking for the Brampton Filipino Seniors Club. This club is non-political and we are not affiliated in any political party. It has certainly not taken a position in this matter as the facts are still in question.
I clearly stated to Ms Dhalla’s representative that I am no longer the president and my current position among other past presidents is an advisor, whose sole function is for internal affairs only. That, I have no authority to represent or speak for the club. That what I can do for her is just a friendly gesture.
I never used the name of the club in signing my name. Therefore, I must be understood that I did it in my own way to help a friend. Besides, the letter was well written and there seem nothing is unpleasant for me to extend a little help.
However, when I signed the letter, I was unaware of the seriousness of the allegations of abuse. I was feeling sick at that time and was not properly informed. I was misled by not being provided with sufficient information to make an appropriate decision.
I wish to retract that letter. The implication that I personally, or the club has taken Ms Dhalla’s side is totally false. I hereby request that Ms Dhalla stop claiming that she has the support of the Brampton Filipino Seniors Club and me. Both claims are false and should not be used in her defence in this inquiry.
Thank you very much.
___________________________________
Aurora G. Villanueva
Gee, this is beginning to take on the same kind of moves as if it was taking place in Manila.
The shoe is on the other foot.
Well then, that would seem to clear up the matter, does it not? The ball is now in Dhalla’s court; it will be interesting to see how the matter progresses from here on. I think it can only get this minister in deeper than she is now.
Minister? Where?
Isn’t she kicking stones down the street yet?
We need recall provisions. Of course to follow after criminal proceedings have taken place and IF a verdict of guilty is reached.
Ruuuby! You have some splaining to do…
This is sure turning into she said;they said thing. Well if the Conservatives can keep from any low and racist ‘msm’ remarks, they can keep the wanabe ‘MI the royal one’ on the burner for a while yet. You keep going ‘I Ruby’, keep them flames burning.
Ruby duby duby – whatcha doin’ girl?!
Did you append; ‘Brampton Filipino Seniors Club’ to this letter?!
iRube as anon sez u gots sum splainin’ to do gal! And oh and what a tangled web we weave and all that stuff.
“The letter (Dhalla) presented in the inquiry…was prepared by the office of Ms Dhalla.” Ahh, that would explain the over-the-top testimonial, as in, “We have seen firsthand Ruby’s commitment to people, to Brampton and the Filipino community. Whenever anyone has needed her she has always been there.”
Erm, keep up the good fight, Ruby.
Ah..these Bollywood soap operas (!) :)))
Show us how much you really care,Aurora G. Villanueva,and back up your community by not voting Lieberal next time.Oh are you just a Phillipino version of I Ruby?
And who is this Atkins twit? Nice to see he upholds that high journalistic standard by investigating and “proofing” his stuff before he prints it,instead of just blindly following the Lieberals butts.
But then I guess onnocent until proven guilty is for leftards only,and not anybody else.Well.In their world anyway.
Sheeeesssshhh…”innocent”.Where’s my coffee?
What a tangled web we weave,
when we practise to deceive.
iRuby’s in a bit of a spot now, isn’t she? I don’t imagine this is the first time she’s taken advantage of a relationship to try to show herself in a good light.
The web of deceit is becoming unravelled. Who’s surprised?
The assumption that Canada could successfully import whoever from abroad and instantly elect them into legislature was wrong, wasn’t it?
Is everyone comfortable being ruled by the 3d world slave traders and document forgers?
It’ll be interesting to see the media, which has tried to turn this into a question of whether Ruby is the target of an eeevil conspiracy to get her, doing their best to ignore or underplay this.
“However, when I signed the letter, I was unaware of the seriousness of the allegations of abuse. I was feeling sick at that time and was not properly informed. I was misled by not being provided with sufficient information to make an appropriate decision.”
Pelosi and now Aurora G. Villanueva not properly informed. How does this always happen to liberals?
The plot thickens in the soap opera “As Ruby Turns and Twists”………
Given the formality of both the “confession” and “retraction” one might cynically infer that Aurora had found herself between a rock and a hard place.
That was my take as well, Sgt.
It appears that “feeling sick” Ms. Villanueva was coached by HRC lawyer Giacomo Vigna in writing the letter…
MR. VIGNA: Sorry. Mr. Chair, I don’t have the flu but I don’t feel in a serene state of mind to proceed with the file today. I don’t feel very well. I feel dizzy, I feel anxiety, and I am not in a serene state of mind to proceed with this file today.
I have a lot of things worrying me right now and I don’t want to elaborate, but my colleague said, Mr. Fine, there are some certain incidents that have occurred which I don’t feel at liberty to elaborate right now, which have had an impact on my ability to proceed in a professional way on this file, at least for today, because I wouldn’t be rendering the Commission a just service by proceeding in this condition.
I am not dying, Mr. Chair, I don’t have the flu, but I am not mentally capable of proceeding under these circumstances.
THE CHAIRPERSON: But the witness is here?
MR. VIGNA: The witness is here. It’s not the question of the witness. The witness is here. I thought until this morning that I would proceed, but I really don’t feel primarily mentally able to proceed, and physically too.
MS. KULASZKA: I am very concerned about this very hush hush allegation that some sort of breach of security has happened. The only people who have been here for the last two days are us, either counsel or a representative of the party. No one else has been here in this room. I know of no incident outside that’s happened….
MR. CHRISTIE: I have heard two explanations which are as frivolous as any I have ever heard in justifying an adjournment of a whole proceeding… To say I am not feeling well, but sit here and talk about it, is inconsistent. There is no medical certificate, and I heard very faintly Mr. Vigna say I’m not physically sick, I don’t have a serene state of mind. Very few of us in the difficulties we face always have a serene state of mind. I don’t know what that means.
This is not a case of a nervous breakdown or a mental state justifying a psychiatric examination. I am certain of that. To say I don’t feel like doing it today is insulting…
MR. VIGNA: Mr. Chair, I will provide a medical certificate.
THE CHAIRPERSON: Please sit down, Mr. Vigna.
MR. VIGNA: I feel insulted by that comment.
THE CHAIRPERSON: Please sit down.
Being unwell seems to be the Get Out of Jail Free card for many people these days.
Post by: Aaron at May 21, 2009 7:28 AM
‘Aaron’ she was born in Canada.
That does not mean she acquired Canadian culture. Of course if you don’t consider enslaving the immigrants as part of it. The broad is still an import in my books.
…I must be understood that I did it in my own way to help a friend.
With Liberals for friends who needs enemies?
The assumption that Canada could successfully import whoever from abroad and instantly elect them into legislature was wrong, wasn’t it?
Are we talking about Ruby or Iggy?
Seems she was duped into signing something without knowing what it was going to be used for. She’s quite possibly a senior herself. Irregardless, I’m glad she has set the record straight.
As to calling her a “broad” and an “import”, thats pretty narrow. I have several friends and co-workers that are Filipino and they are some of the hardest working and talented people I know.
No defence for Ruby Dhalla here, but broad-brush smearing of immigrants is really out of place. Dhalla, it seems to me, is operating in a long-established tradition of political hucksters operating in immigrant communities, making alliances with a major political party (in Canada, normally the Liberals) to make themselves godfathers (or godmothers) in those communities. They deliver the votes and push for jobs and grants for their community (and special treatment for themselves). To some extent, it’s what all MPs do, except in this case, it tends to be more raw and exclusive. Not all immigrants, however, fall into line, and there are a number of immigrant or first generation provincial and federal politicians who make an honest effort to represent all of their constituents. You just don’t find that many of them in Vancouver, Montréal, or the GTA.
If you didn’t write the letter but SIGNED it then it IS your responsibility. Can’t backpeddle on it now. Nice try but not gonna wash.
Glastnost writes:
With Liberals for friends who needs enemies?
It should actually read:
With Liberals for friends who needs enemAs?
Whatda yah wanna bet that Giggles Taber makes mention of this?
How about Fife? this is too funny.
The rumble of Liberal head’s exploding.
What’s that, a Liberal exaggerating and bending the real truth? A Liberal trying to make it appear they have the support of a group, without their permission, and when really they don’t? Please say it ain’t so!
In response to “If you didn’t write the letter but SIGNED it then it IS your responsibility. Can’t backpeddle on it now. Nice try but not gonna wash.”
Sure you can backpedal. You can retract the letter based upon the fact that you signed it not having full information. In fact, you can even just change your mind for no reason and retract it. So what? The new letter clearly sets the record straight that (a) this person never spoke on behalf of the Brampton Filipino Seniors Club, and (b) knowing the facts now, the person rescinds their support.
This isn’t just a “he said/she said” story, as (a) there are a number of nannies telling the same story, and (b) the nannies have outside uninterested third parties (i.e. INTERCEDE) who support their claims that documentation was withheld and that Ruby was personally involved.
On a macro level, this is more of a textbook situation of how NOT to conduct damage control. Ruby’s actions have blown this issue up. She’s only in her 30s – take your lumps, plead mea culpa, lie low for a year or two, and come back strong. It is the way political survivors deal with these issues.
The Filipino community could love Ruby. Ruby could be loved by billions of people. That is all totally irrelevant. The issue is not that Ruby is or is not a wonderful human being. The issue is: did this abuse take place and, if so, did it take place with her knowledge. Ruby’s sainthood is not a factor – this is nothing but Liberal smokescreening.
The first and last paragraph of the (original) letter she wrote made it sound like she was well aware of the issue. The rest of it was just fluff and a character reference.
It looks to me like she wrote the letter, and she or somebody added the title to give it weight. I suspect it was her (or at least she was aware of it) because the seniors club is referenced in the last paragraph. The Fillipino Seniors Club probably took her to task for using their name inappropriately, and forced her to withdraw the letter, or they would have withdrawn it for her.
Just speculating.
On a side note, I love how this senior uses the excuse that she was sick, she was confused, she didn’t understand what she was writing. If I suggested that about a senior I would be instantly accused of discriminating against old people.
“The assumption that Canada could successfully import whoever from abroad and instantly elect them into legislature was wrong, wasn’t it?”
Oh you crazy SDAers. You just can’t help yourselves can you? You can’t even keep comments like these in check while pretending to be outraged by the abuse of immigrant workers…
I just want to see her naked. Where are the naked pics??/
Do any of you believe that the nannies laid on the couch side by side with Ruby’s mother and then the mother would cook for them while they laid about? Of course this letter was a fake. This is the liberal way. Lie, deflect and accuse. Remember when one Liberal MP thought she saw porn on a CPC MP’s laptop? Remember the uproar? Can you imagine if a CPC member was caught doing what Ruby has done? OMG…they’d be calling for a hanging. As for Giggles as commented on earlier…she’s so enamoured with Iggy, the liberal puff pieces will never stop. Iggy wife # 2, better be careful!
This is hilarious. Ruby, Ruby, Ruby……always entertaining, even when the camera isn’t rolling.
Anyway, I think it’s pretty obvious who wrote the letter. Note it refers to ‘Dr. Ruby Dhalla…’ Who other than our Ruby thinks she has a right to be addressed as ‘Dr.’
OT, but, relevant to Dhalla Nana Iggy’s political future.
This is a saver; get screen shots.
CBC uses ‘adscam’ in a headline.
CBC does not use Liberal Chretien-Martin ‘adscam’.
CBC only uses Liberal at the end: “The ensuing scandal devastated the Liberal party in Quebec and helped drive it out of power in the 2006 federal election.”
This is the most important item:
>>> “the Quebec court also ordered 22 people — mostly current and former government employees — to state under oath”.
Does this qualify for the QOTD?
More Truth Ads, please.
…-
“Top court to hear Globe’s appeal over ‘adscam’ confidential sources
CBC News
The Supreme Court of Canada will hear the Globe and Mail’s appeal of a lower court’s order aimed at uncovering the identity of a confidential source used by the reporter who broke the story of the federal sponsorship scandal.
The top court’s decision was announced in a release on Thursday without comment.
At the heart of the case is the federal government’s $35 million lawsuit against ad firm Le Group Polygone, one of the ad companies accused of overbilling Ottawa, to recuperate funds paid to the firm as part of the so-called “adscam.” The case is expected to go to trial in Quebec in October.
The Quebec Superior Court at one point ordered Globe reporter Daniel Leblanc not to write about out-of-court negotiations for repayment between the government and the ad firm.
At the request of Polygone, the Quebec court also ordered 22 people — mostly current and former government employees — to state under oath whether they’d given information to Leblanc.”
urlm.in/clxd (cbc)
This is insane. The depths to which people will sink….
“The broad is still an import in my books.”
Wow Aaron, aren’t you quite the racist bigot… or are you simply a misogynist?
Just because you are a proud member of the Aryan Brotherhood doesn’t make you a better person than Ruby.
That does not mean she acquired Canadian culture. Of course if you don’t consider enslaving the immigrants as part of it. The broad is still an import in my books.
Posted by: Aaron at May 21, 2009 10:10 AM
Keep in mind Aaron, that not all immigrants are by default Liberal supporters. I immigrated to Canada 20 years ago from another continent and have always supported a conservative cause. Such comments serve only to portray us conservatives as rednecks.
And yes, we need to keep Dhalla’s feet to the fire on this – she entirely deserves this (unwelcome on her part) attention. But her ethnic background has nothing to do with this.
Statement from the nannies debunking the “conspiracy” theory.
http://www.sgmlaw.com/en/newsevents/SGMNewsDetail.cfm?ID=171
Wonder why this little nugget didn’t make the news?
Oh who am I kidding…no I don’t.
Forain
I doubt you’ll dispute that on both sides of the political spectrum some people say stupid racist things. The difference between the left and the right is when someone on the left does this the entire group rationalizes the statement, never criticizes it; whereas, when someone on the right does the same the rest of us are embarrassed and we hold them to account, as has been demonstrated on this thread. The real issue is on the left, selective bigotry is one of the tools to push the agenda forward. I believe reverse racism is the term, and it’s not a crime as far as leftist institutions and people are concerned.
Back on topic.
There’s nothing new here, and all of this will amount to nothing. I predict Ruby hangs on to her seat next election and the liberals make gains in Ont and Que regardless of, well, anything.
btw Kelly, a small pet peeve of mine, irregardless is not a word.
adam
“”””Keep in mind Aaron, that not all immigrants are by default Liberal supporters.””””
nope, I’m not a lieberal supporter either, but me thinks Aarons point was that lieberals will do almost any thing to appease any and all minority groups just to garner votes, rather than govern, and Ruby happens to be a Canadian born “immigrant” ( in lieberal thinking)that covers a lot of ground, dark skin, sexy, female, minority. Ruby is above her pay grade (capabilities), and one must ask why????
Ruby appears to have been conforming to “cultural” norms, so she has not “canadianized” all that well.
Forain
I forgot, the most glaring flaw in your statement is it appears you’re unaware that Aaron is a troll, he’s one of yours.
Apparently leftards are smart enough to operate in independent cells. This way they can’t roll over on each other if they’re being water-boarded.
I think the most important consideration is just who appended the title to the letter.
If it was Villanueva she’s trying to undo what she did. If not, then either the media did (and they should answer for it) or Ruby did and she should answer for it.
Who’s the villain in this story?
Indiana,I concur,Aaron has been here before… I had an interesting conversation with a leftard freind about the Dholly affair yesterday. He was twisting himself in knots when I asked him which side had the most plausible story. His dilemna was that there was not an obvious bad guy (white person) in this story,and to actually denounce a visible minority person was giving him fits.
The reality of this whole “Ruby-said/nannies-said” exercise is that Ruby can only lose.
Whatever the truth of the matter, politics is a game of public perception. Ruby’s conundrum is this: how on earth, as a seemingly high-powered, up-and-coming politician, does she challenge the testimony of a couple of humble Filipino nannies without seeming utterly mean-spirited and heartless to the public?
Her lawyer has already done her no great favour by implying some sort of conspiracy theory with persons unknown out to get her. Two strikes against her right there. First, there’s her credibility: Filipino nannies in a convoluted Canadian political conspiracy? Come off it.* Secondly, it’s all about poor little Ruby, isn’t it?
Unless she can come up with close circuit TV footage of Harper in a Toronto hotel lobby handing the nannies an envelope containing $75,000, she’s going to have to wear this one.
And because she is a politico, the sublime irony is that she’d be among the very first to yell for blood if an opponent across the floor were caught in the same predicament.
By the way, no partisanship intended here. It’s not a Lib or a Tory or Kneedipper thing, it’s the price of being in politics.
* Say what you like about the old blarney-master, but at least Brian Muldoon is sparring with a credible villain in public eyes (a dodgy German businessman)!
Forain, and you can’t help taking them seriously.
Don’t expect MSM to report this breaking news bulleton, if it makes the Liberal Party look even the slightest bit stinky they won’t report it.