News Release

June 14, 2006

For Immediate Release:

Holland formally requests RCMP to investigate Conservative MP Rob Anders

OTTAWA – Liberal MP Mark Holland today sent a letter to RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli officially requesting a police investigation into Conservative MP Rob Anders in light of a lawsuit that accuses Mr. Anders of fraudulently using taxpayer money to pay off personal loans.

“Although the claims made by Mr. Anders’ former Executive Assistant, James Istvanffy, are only allegations that have not yet been proven in court, they require the attention of law enforcement since they may involve criminal activity,” Mr. Holland said.

In a statement of claim dated May 29, 2006, filed in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, Judicial District of Calgary (available upon request), Mr. Istvanffy alleges that:

• Mr. Anders filed false travel claims (8 & 9) to obtain taxpayers’ funds as reimbursement for trips that were not taken;
   
• Mr. Istvanffy was paid for loans to Mr. Anders with bookshelves from the constituency office (11). As this furniture would have been Crown assets, their use for this purpose may constitute theft;
   

• Mr. Anders may have destroyed or hidden financial records (17 & 18) in order to conceal suspicious accounting practices; and
   

• Mr. Anders may have used House of Commons funds directly or indirectly to renovate a property as a constituency office (20), which he never used for that purpose, but in fact used to obtain rental income.

The document also outlines a number of other actions which, if true, would be an abuse of Parliamentary rules. Mr. Holland said he will be raising these directly with the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons.

“As the integrity of Parliamentarians is a matter of serious public concern, it is in the interest of all honest Parliamentarians and all Canadians that criminal matters be seen to face appropriate consequences. I therefore request that you investigate these allegations to determine if criminal prosecution is warranted,” Mr. Holland wrote in his letter.

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For further information:

Richard McGuire, Executive Assistant, Office of Mark Holland

(613) 995-8614

• Copy of letter sent to RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli (pdf)

• Statement of Claim by James Istvanffy (pdf)

• Letter to Speaker Hon. Peter Milliken

• Previous news release on this matter