T
The420Guy
Guest
After spending weeks exiled to the political wilderness for
impersonating MP Rahim Jaffer, Matthew Johnston has surfaced again -
in the ranks of the B.C. Marijuana Party.
"I have known Matthew for a year or two," party president Mark Emery
said in an interview from Vancouver yesterday.
"I have always been impressed by Matthew's thoroughness, experience
and integrity."
Johnston, who was fired after he impersonated the Canadian Alliance MP
on a mid-March national radio program, began working for the party
yesterday as Emery's provincial election campaign co-chairman.
Johnston was Jaffer's executive assistant until the impersonation
incident. He's now responsible for the Marijuana Party's media
relations and telemarketing efforts to reach roughly 150,000 voters in
79 provincial ridings, Emery said.
"He will be working for us for at least the six-week term of the
campaign and perhaps longer," he said.
Although some have questioned his decision to hire Johnston, Emery
said that the facts will exonerate his new campaign co-chairman.
"If I thought he (Johnston) did that on his own hook I wouldn't hire
him," Emery said.
After Johnston was fired Jaffer delivered an emotional apology in the
House of Commons. He blamed Johnston for the stunt.
The Edmonton Strathcona MP, who initially lied in an attempt to cover
up his aide's impersonation, had been attending the opening of his
Whyte Avenue cafe, Timothy's, when he was slated to be on the air.
Jaffer could not be reached yesterday.
Newshawk: creator@mapinc.org
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact: sun.letters@ccinet.ab.ca
Website: Canoe.Com
Pubdate: Friday, April 13, 2001
Author: David Rooney
impersonating MP Rahim Jaffer, Matthew Johnston has surfaced again -
in the ranks of the B.C. Marijuana Party.
"I have known Matthew for a year or two," party president Mark Emery
said in an interview from Vancouver yesterday.
"I have always been impressed by Matthew's thoroughness, experience
and integrity."
Johnston, who was fired after he impersonated the Canadian Alliance MP
on a mid-March national radio program, began working for the party
yesterday as Emery's provincial election campaign co-chairman.
Johnston was Jaffer's executive assistant until the impersonation
incident. He's now responsible for the Marijuana Party's media
relations and telemarketing efforts to reach roughly 150,000 voters in
79 provincial ridings, Emery said.
"He will be working for us for at least the six-week term of the
campaign and perhaps longer," he said.
Although some have questioned his decision to hire Johnston, Emery
said that the facts will exonerate his new campaign co-chairman.
"If I thought he (Johnston) did that on his own hook I wouldn't hire
him," Emery said.
After Johnston was fired Jaffer delivered an emotional apology in the
House of Commons. He blamed Johnston for the stunt.
The Edmonton Strathcona MP, who initially lied in an attempt to cover
up his aide's impersonation, had been attending the opening of his
Whyte Avenue cafe, Timothy's, when he was slated to be on the air.
Jaffer could not be reached yesterday.
Newshawk: creator@mapinc.org
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact: sun.letters@ccinet.ab.ca
Website: Canoe.Com
Pubdate: Friday, April 13, 2001
Author: David Rooney
