David Jones got it wrong: MP Minna

In an article published in the Aug. 5th edition of The Hill Times, David Jones of Washington, D.C., falsely claimed that: "Ms. Minna was accused of running a campaign for a friend out of her office and voting in a riding where she was not registered."Both of those statements are categorically untrue.While it was brought to my attention that one unauthorized person improperly used the fax machine in my constituency office to send one single-page campaign letter to one individual, no one has ever run an election campaign out of my office.As for "voting in a riding where she was not registered," the City of Toronto properly placed my name on the official voters' list as one of 1,900 non-resident eligible voters in the ward within my riding in which I voted. I was properly registered and I had an irrefutable, irrevocable, right to vote.I would appreciate an immediate retraction of the false statements published about me in The Hill Times.Mr. Jones claims that I am one of several female politicians who "have failed on their own merits." He also bemoans the fact that "there are no Margaret Thatchers on either the U.S. or Canadian political scene."On June 14, 2002, I had the honour of receiving the RESULTS Canada "Outstanding Leadership Award" at a reception in Ottawa, hosted by Greek Ambassador Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos.With sister organizations in the United States, Germany, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Lesotho and the United Kingdom, RESULTS Canada is part of an international non-partisan and non-denominational network of concerned citizens working to ensure that the basic needs of the world's poor are fulfilled.RESULTS Canada President Blaise Salmon said I was selected as the first recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award because, as Canada's Minister for International Cooperation, I "created a vital legacy that will provide essential life-saving basic services for some of the world's poorest people for years to come."Under my leadership, the Canadian International Development Agency created what is now known as the Social Development Framework.We doubled the investment in health and nutrition and quadrupled the investment in education, HIV/AIDS and child protection. We also ensured that gender equality and human rights formed an integral part of all of those priority areas."One result of this new programming," Mr. Salmon said, "is that at least 500,000 additional children who would otherwise be without schooling will be able to attend primary school."In an article published in the Aug. 5th edition of The Hill Times, David Jones of Washington, D.C., falsely claimed that: "Ms. Minna was accused of running a campaign for a friend out of her office and voting in a riding where she was not registered."Both of those statements are categorically untrue.While it was brought to my attention that one unauthorized person improperly used the fax machine in my constituency office to send one single-page campaign letter to one individual, no one has ever run an election campaign out of my office.As for "voting in a riding where she was not registered," the City of Toronto properly placed my name on the official voters' list as one of 1,900 non-resident eligible voters in the ward within my riding in which I voted. I was properly registered and I had an irrefutable, irrevocable, right to vote.I would appreciate an immediate retraction of the false statements published about me in The Hill Times.Mr. Jones claims that I am one of several female politicians who "have failed on their own merits." He also bemoans the fact that "there are no Margaret Thatchers on either the U.S. or Canadian political scene."On June 14, 2002, I had the honour of receiving the RESULTS Canada "Outstanding Leadership Award" at a reception in Ottawa, hosted by Greek Ambassador Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos.With sister organizations in the United States, Germany, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Lesotho and the United Kingdom, RESULTS Canada is part of an international non-partisan and non-denominational network of concerned citizens working to ensure that the basic needs of the world's poor are fulfilled.RESULTS Canada President Blaise Salmon said I was selected as the first recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award because, as Canada's Minister for International Cooperation, I "created a vital legacy that will provide essential life-saving basic services for some of the world's poorest people for years to come."Under my leadership, the Canadian International Development Agency created what is now known as the Social Development Framework.We doubled the investment in health and nutrition and quadrupled the investment in education, HIV/AIDS and child protection. We also ensured that gender equality and human rights formed an integral part of all of those priority areas."One result of this new programming," Mr. Salmon said, "is that at least 500,000 additional children who would otherwise be without schooling will be able to attend primary school."Mr. Salmon also said that the Social Development Framework "is the most significant new programming initiative at CIDA in many years, and is certainly one that will make the most difference in the lives of the poorest people on the planet."David Jones got one thing right. I am most definitely not a Margaret Thatcher. Nor would I want to be.Liberal MP Maria Minna Beaches-East York, Ont.

David Jones got it wrong: MP Minna

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David Jones got it wrong: MP Minna

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