EX-TORY MP WHO LED ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN CHARGED WITH COCAINE POSSESSION

OTTAWA - The former chairman of the Conservative caucus who was
featured in anti-drug campaign ads is facing charges of cocaine
possession and drunk driving.

Former Edmonton MP Rahim Jaffer, husband of federal Tory cabinet
minister Helena Guergis, was arrested in the wee hours of last Friday
morning by Ontario Provincial Police in the village of Palgrave, north
of Toronto.

A police report indicated that the officer who stopped a speeding SUV
at about 12:45 a.m. could smell alcohol on the breath of the driver.

Jaffer has been charged with driving while over the legal
blood-alcohol limit and with possession of cocaine.

His licence has been suspended for 90 days and he is to appear in
court in Orangeville, Ont., on Oct. 19.

Jaffer did not respond to several requests for comment.

Guergis, a junior minister responsible for women's issues, issued a
brief statement saying "I take this very seriously. I love my husband.
I will wait for further information before I make any comment."

Jaffer, 37, was MP for the riding of Edmonton-Strathcona from 1997
until a surprise defeat in last year's election to the NDP's Linda
Duncan.

Days before the vote, Jaffer's campaign approved radio ads chiding NDP
Leader Jack Layton for comments years earlier that Jaffer cast as
broad support for marijuana use.

The spots said, in part: "Edmontonians understand how difficult it is
to make sure our children make the right choices, especially on
serious issues like drug use. The Conservative Party supports
drug-free schools and getting tough with drug dealers who sell illegal
drugs to children. Don't let our schools go up in smoke. On October
14th vote Conservative."

Jaffer was staying in Angus, Ont., in his wife's southern Ontario
riding of Simcoe-Grey when his vehicle was pulled over.

The gregarious MP was a regular on the Ottawa party scene before
romance blossomed with Guergis. They were married last Oct. 15 - one
day after the federal election.