Dona Cadman
Encyclopedia
Dona Cadman is a Canadian
politician, who represented the electoral district of Surrey North
in the Canadian House of Commons
from 2008 to 2011, as well as the widow of Chuck Cadman
, a former Member of Parliament for the same district. She served in the Conservative Party of Canada
caucus.
Dona married Chuck Cadman (1948–2005) in 1969 and had two children; a daughter Jodi born in 1973 and a son Jesse (1976–1992). In 1992 their son Jesse was murdered in a random act of violence by a group of young offenders. In an effort to turn their personal tragedy into a cause for public good, in 1993 Dona and Chuck and a small group of friends founded CRY (Crime Responsibility and Youth). CRY was dedicated to strengthening the justice system and helping youth at risk in the hopes of preventing future senseless acts of violence. When her husband, Chuck, was later elected to Parliament, Dona remained active in Victim's Rights organizations and Criminal Justice reform groups.
She worked for Canada Post for ten years; and has also been active in her community, coaching girl's softball and sitting on the Surrey Girls Softball Board of Directors. Dona is an active member of the Surrey Mayor's Crime Task Force and she sits on the development committee for the SOS Children's Village BC.
Dona Cadman alleged that her husband told her that prior to the vote, two Conservative Party
officials offered her husband a million-dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his vote to bring down the Liberal government in May 2005. These allegations first became publicly known in early 2008 in connection with the scheduled March 15, 2008 publication of Like A Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story, by Vancouver journalist Tom Zytaruk.
Under section 119 of the Criminal Code of Canada
, it is illegal to bribe an MP. Accordingly, Opposition Liberal party Intergovernmental Affairs critic Dominic LeBlanc
asked the RCMP in February 2008 to investigate this allegation, that the Conservatives had offered Mr. Cadman a million-dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his support on the budget vote. In May 2008, the RCMP announced that there was no evidence to support charges.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper responded to the Liberal repetition of these allegations with a $2.5 million libel lawsuit, alleging defamation.
Tom Zytaruk claimed to have an unedited audio tape of an interview with Stephen Harper where Harper acknowledged that Chuck Cadman had been approached by two Tories. Zytaruk then sold copies of the tape, through his publisher, for $500.
In March 2008, Cadman herself stated publicly she believed Harper. According to her, Harper "looked me straight in the eyes and told me he had no knowledge of an insurance policy offer. I knew he was telling me the truth; I could see it in his eyes." On the very same day Harper issues a notice of libel against the Liberal leader and his party in preparation of the libel suit that he would pursue 10 days later. (Unlike other democracies, Canada still allows political libel
suits).
Based on copies of the tape, in early June 2008, the Conservatives introduced two affidavits from experts indicating the tape had been edited. James Moore
, Conservative MP for Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam
told a news conference June 4, 2008 that two audio specialists retained by the Conservative Party had determined that the tape in which PM Stephen Harper apparently confirms financial considerations had been offered to Chuck Cadman included "the insertion of a fabricated sound bite,". This was later refuted by the court appointed FBI expert who examined the original tape, and found the tape was not altered.
In early July 2008, Dona Cadman swore an affidavit that challenged some of Tom Zytaruk's assertions, though in a previous affidavit she maintains her "recollection of her husband's words to the effect that two Conservative operatives... offered him a million dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his vote," notes Liberal MP LeBlanc. Her new affidavit denies specific public accounts by Zytaruk of how he came to meet Harper that day, and he professed himself "extremely surprised, disappointed and deeply distressed" by her statement.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, who represented the electoral district of Surrey North
Surrey North
Surrey North is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988. It covers the northern part of Surrey....
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 2008 to 2011, as well as the widow of Chuck Cadman
Chuck Cadman
Charles "Chuck" Cadman was a Canadian politician and Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2005, representing the riding of Surrey North in Surrey, British Columbia.- Early life :...
, a former Member of Parliament for the same district. She served in the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
caucus.
Background
She was born into a Canadian military family in Chilliwack, BC. In addition to residing in Germany, she lived in eleven different Canadian bases from coast to coast during her first 18 years.Dona married Chuck Cadman (1948–2005) in 1969 and had two children; a daughter Jodi born in 1973 and a son Jesse (1976–1992). In 1992 their son Jesse was murdered in a random act of violence by a group of young offenders. In an effort to turn their personal tragedy into a cause for public good, in 1993 Dona and Chuck and a small group of friends founded CRY (Crime Responsibility and Youth). CRY was dedicated to strengthening the justice system and helping youth at risk in the hopes of preventing future senseless acts of violence. When her husband, Chuck, was later elected to Parliament, Dona remained active in Victim's Rights organizations and Criminal Justice reform groups.
She worked for Canada Post for ten years; and has also been active in her community, coaching girl's softball and sitting on the Surrey Girls Softball Board of Directors. Dona is an active member of the Surrey Mayor's Crime Task Force and she sits on the development committee for the SOS Children's Village BC.
Legal controversy
In an interview after the budget vote, Chuck Cadman said he voted in favour of the budget simply because he was obeying the wishes of constituents who did not want to face another election a year after giving the minority Liberals their shaky mandate.Dona Cadman alleged that her husband told her that prior to the vote, two Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
officials offered her husband a million-dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his vote to bring down the Liberal government in May 2005. These allegations first became publicly known in early 2008 in connection with the scheduled March 15, 2008 publication of Like A Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story, by Vancouver journalist Tom Zytaruk.
Under section 119 of the Criminal Code of Canada
Criminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...
, it is illegal to bribe an MP. Accordingly, Opposition Liberal party Intergovernmental Affairs critic Dominic LeBlanc
Dominic LeBlanc
Dominic A. LeBlanc, PC, MP , is a Canadian lawyer and politician from New Brunswick, Canada. He is the Member of Parliament for the riding of Beauséjour and sits in the Canadian House of Commons as the Liberal Party's Foreign Affairs Critic. He was first elected in the 2000 federal election and has...
asked the RCMP in February 2008 to investigate this allegation, that the Conservatives had offered Mr. Cadman a million-dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his support on the budget vote. In May 2008, the RCMP announced that there was no evidence to support charges.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper responded to the Liberal repetition of these allegations with a $2.5 million libel lawsuit, alleging defamation.
Tom Zytaruk claimed to have an unedited audio tape of an interview with Stephen Harper where Harper acknowledged that Chuck Cadman had been approached by two Tories. Zytaruk then sold copies of the tape, through his publisher, for $500.
In March 2008, Cadman herself stated publicly she believed Harper. According to her, Harper "looked me straight in the eyes and told me he had no knowledge of an insurance policy offer. I knew he was telling me the truth; I could see it in his eyes." On the very same day Harper issues a notice of libel against the Liberal leader and his party in preparation of the libel suit that he would pursue 10 days later. (Unlike other democracies, Canada still allows political libel
Political libel
The criminal statutes protecting nobility from criticism in 16th and 17th century England eventually evolved into various categories of political libel . Cases of political libel and eventually damages actions were handled by the infamous Star Chamber until its abolition in 1641...
suits).
Based on copies of the tape, in early June 2008, the Conservatives introduced two affidavits from experts indicating the tape had been edited. James Moore
James Moore (Canadian politician)
James Moore, PC, MP is the Canadian Member of Parliament for Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam. He is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada...
, Conservative MP for Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.-Demographics:Consisting of the following parts of the Greater Vancouver Regional District:...
told a news conference June 4, 2008 that two audio specialists retained by the Conservative Party had determined that the tape in which PM Stephen Harper apparently confirms financial considerations had been offered to Chuck Cadman included "the insertion of a fabricated sound bite,". This was later refuted by the court appointed FBI expert who examined the original tape, and found the tape was not altered.
In early July 2008, Dona Cadman swore an affidavit that challenged some of Tom Zytaruk's assertions, though in a previous affidavit she maintains her "recollection of her husband's words to the effect that two Conservative operatives... offered him a million dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his vote," notes Liberal MP LeBlanc. Her new affidavit denies specific public accounts by Zytaruk of how he came to meet Harper that day, and he professed himself "extremely surprised, disappointed and deeply distressed" by her statement.