Former immigration minister Judy Sgro threatens legal suit against Singhs

TORONTO, Jan 24, 2005
NRIpress

Former immigration minister Judy Sgro hit back at her accusers Monday, threatening court action if they don't retract their allegations of influence-peddling against her but at least one of them held firm.

Sgro, who resigned amid allegations about her actions as minister, issued a statement in Ottawa saying she would take legal action against Harjit Singh and three others "unless a full and complete retraction" was provided within seven days. "I have taken this action for one purpose only: to clear my name and to fight back against these lies," her statement said.

Singh, who is on the verge of deportation to India, claimed earlier this month that Sgro promised to fix his immigration problems in return for help with her election campaign last June.

The others Sgro named all supported the allegations. They are Singh's friends Harminder Singh Brar and his son Aman Deep Singh Brar, and Harkamal Preet Virk, Singh's daughter-in-law.

Sgro said the comments were defamatory and called them "outrageous, unfounded and completely untrue."

But 16-year-old Aman Brar said Monday what he said was accurate.

"What I did say was right, like, nothing lying about anything," he said. "I'm not regretting anything."

Sgro resigned as immigration minister on Jan. 14 saying she wanted to clear her name. Her threatened suit is the first step in that process, she said.

"As a public figure, I understand that it is reasonable to expect some occasional personal criticism and complaints," Sgro said.

"However, I cannot allow outrageous accusations of the nature that have been levelled against me to be left unchallenged."

Brar, an airport limousine driver, and his son Aman, have both said they were at the meeting in which Sgro promised Singh that she would ensure he could stay in Canada if he supplied volunteers and food to her campaign.

"I was there with him in the office," Brar told The Canadian Press in an interview last week.

"I was there during the meeting. She was saying, 'As long as you give us volunteers to do the work in our campaign, we'll look after your immigration papers - we'll see what we can do'."

Singh, who owns Pizza Market in Brampton, Ont., northwest of Toronto, sent pizzas and chicken wings to Sgro's campaign office every evening, Brar said.

Virk has said she drove the others to the meeting with Sgro. She also said she drove Singh to other meetings either with Sgro, or her then-senior aide, Ihor Wons.

Neither Brar nor Virk could be reached for comment Monday.

Agop Evereklian, who was Sgro's acting chief of staff, said in an interview that Sgro wanted to give Singh and the others a chance to withdraw their "completely false" allegations before hitting them with a lawsuit.

Even if Singh is deported, he has family and assets here that Sgro could pursue in a lawsuit, Evereklian said.

Sgro has also decided to stay out of Singh's deportation case before Federal Court because it's not up to her to intervene," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bloc Quebecois has weighed in against deporting Singh until his allegations against Sgro have been thoroughly aired.

"It would be dangerous for the credibility of our democratic institutions if Mr. Singh was removed before he testifies fully in this matter," said Meili Faille, the Bloc's immigration critic.

"Otherwise, there can only be remaining doubts."

Faille, the vice-chair of the Commons Immigration committee, makes her comments in a letter to the Montreal-based Human Rights Action Committee, which formally sought intervener status in Singh's deportation case Monday.

In an affidavit in support of the application, the committee's president says deporting Singh now could let Sgro off the hook.

"Execution of the removal orders of Mr. Harjit Singh will cause loss of the material evidence witness," said Sanjiv Kumar.

"There seems to be undue haste which makes it probable that he was getting removed to hide the truth from the Canadian public."

Singh remained in detention Monday pending deportation on Feb. 2.

He was arrested late last month after Immigration authorities said he had failed to report to them as required.

Singh maintains he did report, and both Virk and Brar have sworn affidavits saying they were with him.

Virk has requested the release of video-surveillance tapes, saying they will show she and Singh were at the reporting window.

A detention hearing Tuesday is to decide whether the tapes will be seen publicly - and whether Singh should remain in custody.

He is also due in Federal Court on Thursday to request an emergency stay of his deportation.

Sgro, a veteran Toronto municipal politician, was first elected to the Commons in a byelection in November 1999. She was re-elected in 2000 and was appointed to cabinet in December 2003. She was re-elected last June.

Here is the statement issued Monday by former immigration minister Judy Sgro:

On January 14th, I resigned as minister of Citizenship and Immigration after very serious allegations were made against me and published in Media outlets in every part of our country.

At the time of my resignation, I indicated that I was stepping down to clear my name and my reputation.

I have now taken the first step in that process.

Earlier today, I instructed my solicitors to issue formal written notice to Harjit Singh, Harminder Singh Brar, Aman Deep Singh Brar and Harkamal Preet Virk advising them that unless a full and complete retraction is provided to me within seven days that legal action will be commenced against them for defamation of my character arising from outrageous, unfounded and completely untrue statements made about me and others.

I have taken this action for one purpose only; to clear my name and to fight back against these lies. I have worked many years to gain the respect and confidence of others. I have no choice but to take the legal steps necessary to protect my good name.

As a public figure, I understand that it is reasonable to expect some occasional personal criticism and complaints. However, I cannot allow outrageous accusations of the nature that have been leveled against me to be left unchallenged.

I have retained the Toronto law firm of Fogler Rubinoff LLP to take the necessary steps to protect my interests. As a result, at this time, I do not intend to speak to the Media regarding this matter.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, my colleagues, my constituents and the many people across Canada who continue to provide me with their support and well wishes.

I would also like to thank the prime minister for his unwavering support.

While the last several months have been personally very difficult, I can assure the residents of my riding of York West that I will continue to work very hard for them on issues which I believe are important to the community and our great country. (CP)

Yours truly,

The Honourable Judy Sgro, P.C.

Member of Parliament, York West

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