The Alberta NDP is calling for an investigation into bribery allegations which have been made against PC member Naresh Bhardwaj. Premier Jim Prentice should get the ball rolling on an investigation according to many, because the allegations alone could cause a loss of confidence in the Canadian government if they are not fully investigated. According to Brian Mason, a critic of the NDP, stated “There are unproven allegations that a former cabinet minister was involved in bribery, and rather than refer the matter to the police, Premier Prentice is having his own party investigate themselves. Where potentially criminal activity is concerned, it is not appropriate for such matters to be dealt with internally.” Since the bribery allegations have been made Bhardwaj has stepped down from the post that he held, and he has started a million dollar defamation lawsuit against Sidhu.
Any bribery allegations should be taken seriously, and the Alberta NDP is not alone in calling for an investigation into the claims that have been made. On Monday there were a number of questions that were left unanswered, an dthe calls are for the RCMP to investigate so that the results will be impartial. This request is not unreasonable since attempting to bribe a public official could be viewed as a criminal act, and this would make the investigation the jurisdiction of the RCMP. Bribery allegations should never be handled as an internal matter and full transparency should be provided throughout the investigation. This is the only way that the public can trust the investigation results.