APTN National News
No delays are expected in the influence peddling trial next month of a former top advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper after the Crown handling the case was appointed as a judge to the Ontario Court of Justice Monday.
Crown attorney Robert Wadden had been preparing to present evidence against Bruce Carson for May 26 in Ottawa, but was suddenly appointed to the bench, along with Ottawa defence lawyer Matthew Webber.
When asked if this would disrupt the Carson trial, Wadden deferred comment to his superiors.
According to a spokesperson for the Ontario attorney general’s office the trial is scheduled as planned for May 26.
“We anticipate a new Crown will be formally assigned to the prosecution shortly, and we do not expect any delay in the matter proceeding to trial as scheduled,” said Brendan Crawley.
Carson’s judge-only trial is expected to run until June 6. Carson is also under an RCMP investigation for illegal lobbying.
He is facing an influence peddling charge stemming from a now shuttered Ottawa water company’s plan to sell filtration systems to First Nation reserves grappling with clean water woes. The company had a financial arrangement with Carson’s then fiancée Michele McPherson, a former Ottawa escort.
Carson’s trial was originally set for July 22, 2013, but the discovery of a suspected growth on his lung forced its postponement. He underwent surgery last July 15.
Carson was once a confidant of Harper’s and the Conservative government forked over $15 million to create a think-tank in Calgary, the Canada School of Energy and Environment, that the former PMO aide ended up leading. Carson was heavily involved in designing the country’s energy strategy, including the promotion of the tar sands, and was a founding member of the Calgary-based Energy Policy Institute of Canada (EPIC). The organization, which is funded by energy firms, is now led by Liberal leader Justin Trudeau’s senior adviser Daniel Gagnier, who was on EPIC’s board during Carson’s time.
The RCMP is investigating Carson over his alleged illegal lobbying on behalf of EPIC.
At the height of his prominence, Carson straddled the power centres in Alberta and Ottawa.
