Expert bolsters Grewal tape altering charges
<SCRIPT language=javascript type=text/javascript> var byString = ""; var sourceString = "CTV.ca News Staff"; if ((sourceString != "") && (byString != "")) { document.write(byString + ", "); } else { document.write(byString); } </SCRIPT>CTV.ca News Staff
One of Canada's top audio experts says a segment of a taped conversation between Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal and a Liberal appears to have been altered, a claim that bolsters charges of tampering.
Meanwhile, Grewal continues to deny the allegations.
After analyzing a 46-second segment of recordings of Grewal speaking with Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, audio expert Steven Pausak said Thursday that there appears to be a break in one of the tapes.
"It appears to be altered," Pausak said, after examining the segment at the request of The Canadian Press.
"This brief segment at the beginning shows that it's not continuous, and it should be."
The Conservative Party said late Thursday that small gaps occurred when the master tapes were transferred to CD.
But Pausak said he found an entirely separate abnormality that couldn't be explained by transferring.
Pausak, who once worked for the Ontario government and now testifies in trials, said there is a discontinuity in the audio file.
"I'm talking about alteration. I am trying to avoid the word tampering,'' he said.
"When you are using the word 'tampering', that means intent, right? Most of the time there is no way to show intent through the examination of the recording. You just see that it's altered.''
Grewal denied tampering with the evidence.
Earlier in the day, Dosanjh urged MPs not to trust the audiotapes released by Grewal earlier this week, alleging they had been doctored.
"I said yesterday that not much stock should be placed in those tapes, my suspicions have come true, independent experts from (Ottawa radio station) CFRA have said the tapes have been doctored," Dosanjh said during Thursday's question period, referring to producers at the radio station.
While Grewal said there were up to four hours of audiotapes, materials covering only about 90 minutes were released.
"He has now actually missed some of the tapes, he's missed the tape of a two-hour conversation with me in my home," Dosanjh said.
Martin turns tables
Prime Minister Paul Martin said the allegations raise questions that the Conservatives must answer.
"The allegations in terms of the tapes -- the tapes have been doctored and this kind of thing -- I think are actually very, very disturbing," he said.
"And I think the questions really should be put to Mr. Harper and Mr. Grewal."
Grewal alleges he and his wife were offered plum posts in exchange for their support in the crucial budget vote.
However, Dosanjh and Martin's chief of staff Tim Murphy deny any wrongdoing and say Grewal approached them.
Tapes dominate QP
Meanwhile, the Liberals and Opposition continued to butt heads over the tapes during question period.
"Does the prime minister still deny that his health minister and chief of staff were making a deal on his behalf?" Conservative Deputy Leader Peter MacKay asked.
But Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan maintained the position of the Liberal party.
"The prime minister was absolutely clear in relation to what he told Mr. Murphy, he told Mr. Murphy 'Do not make an offer' and, Mr. Speaker, no offer was made," she said.
On Wednesday, there was confusion over the exact nature of the RCMP probe.
"We are looking into the allegations of what happened and what everyone is talking about if, in fact, a criminal act happened," RCMP Cpl. Nathalie Deschenes told CTV News.
Later, the Prime Minister's Office asked CTV to call RCMP Chief Superintendent Bernie Corrigan, who contradicted Cpl. Deschenes' statement. He said there was no criminal investigation at this point, but the Mounties are considering a formal request from the Bloc Quebecois for an inquiry.
"How did they know in the PMO, and can the prime minister tell us when his communications department became the official spokesperson for the RCMP?" MacKay asked on Thursday.
"Let me make it absolutely clear: No one from the Prime Minister's Office contacted anyone from the RCMP," McLellan responded.
The Conservatives are saying that "it left the impression that the Prime Minister's Office might have been meddling in this," CTV's Rosemary Thompson reported from Ottawa.
"Now, speaking to the official at the PMO, they are very adamant, saying they never spoke to the RCMP. This of course would be very serious for the Prime Minister's Office to be engaging in any kind of influence of a police investigation, adamantly they are saying over and over again they never spoke to the RCMP."
<SCRIPT language=javascript type=text/javascript> var byString = ""; var sourceString = "CTV.ca News Staff"; if ((sourceString != "") && (byString != "")) { document.write(byString + ", "); } else { document.write(byString); } </SCRIPT>CTV.ca News Staff
One of Canada's top audio experts says a segment of a taped conversation between Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal and a Liberal appears to have been altered, a claim that bolsters charges of tampering.
Meanwhile, Grewal continues to deny the allegations.
After analyzing a 46-second segment of recordings of Grewal speaking with Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, audio expert Steven Pausak said Thursday that there appears to be a break in one of the tapes.
"It appears to be altered," Pausak said, after examining the segment at the request of The Canadian Press.
"This brief segment at the beginning shows that it's not continuous, and it should be."
The Conservative Party said late Thursday that small gaps occurred when the master tapes were transferred to CD.
But Pausak said he found an entirely separate abnormality that couldn't be explained by transferring.
Pausak, who once worked for the Ontario government and now testifies in trials, said there is a discontinuity in the audio file.
"I'm talking about alteration. I am trying to avoid the word tampering,'' he said.
"When you are using the word 'tampering', that means intent, right? Most of the time there is no way to show intent through the examination of the recording. You just see that it's altered.''
Grewal denied tampering with the evidence.
Earlier in the day, Dosanjh urged MPs not to trust the audiotapes released by Grewal earlier this week, alleging they had been doctored.
"I said yesterday that not much stock should be placed in those tapes, my suspicions have come true, independent experts from (Ottawa radio station) CFRA have said the tapes have been doctored," Dosanjh said during Thursday's question period, referring to producers at the radio station.
While Grewal said there were up to four hours of audiotapes, materials covering only about 90 minutes were released.
"He has now actually missed some of the tapes, he's missed the tape of a two-hour conversation with me in my home," Dosanjh said.
Martin turns tables
Prime Minister Paul Martin said the allegations raise questions that the Conservatives must answer.
"The allegations in terms of the tapes -- the tapes have been doctored and this kind of thing -- I think are actually very, very disturbing," he said.
"And I think the questions really should be put to Mr. Harper and Mr. Grewal."
Grewal alleges he and his wife were offered plum posts in exchange for their support in the crucial budget vote.
However, Dosanjh and Martin's chief of staff Tim Murphy deny any wrongdoing and say Grewal approached them.
Tapes dominate QP
Meanwhile, the Liberals and Opposition continued to butt heads over the tapes during question period.
"Does the prime minister still deny that his health minister and chief of staff were making a deal on his behalf?" Conservative Deputy Leader Peter MacKay asked.
But Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan maintained the position of the Liberal party.
"The prime minister was absolutely clear in relation to what he told Mr. Murphy, he told Mr. Murphy 'Do not make an offer' and, Mr. Speaker, no offer was made," she said.
On Wednesday, there was confusion over the exact nature of the RCMP probe.
"We are looking into the allegations of what happened and what everyone is talking about if, in fact, a criminal act happened," RCMP Cpl. Nathalie Deschenes told CTV News.
Later, the Prime Minister's Office asked CTV to call RCMP Chief Superintendent Bernie Corrigan, who contradicted Cpl. Deschenes' statement. He said there was no criminal investigation at this point, but the Mounties are considering a formal request from the Bloc Quebecois for an inquiry.
"How did they know in the PMO, and can the prime minister tell us when his communications department became the official spokesperson for the RCMP?" MacKay asked on Thursday.
"Let me make it absolutely clear: No one from the Prime Minister's Office contacted anyone from the RCMP," McLellan responded.
The Conservatives are saying that "it left the impression that the Prime Minister's Office might have been meddling in this," CTV's Rosemary Thompson reported from Ottawa.
"Now, speaking to the official at the PMO, they are very adamant, saying they never spoke to the RCMP. This of course would be very serious for the Prime Minister's Office to be engaging in any kind of influence of a police investigation, adamantly they are saying over and over again they never spoke to the RCMP."
