COPS ARREST JAFFER

Former MP for Edmonton-Strathcona Charged With Drunk Driving and
Cocaine Possession

Former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer -- one of the youngest ever
elected to Parliament -- has been charged with drunk driving and
cocaine possession.

Jaffer was arrested Friday morning by the Ontario Provincial Police
for speeding.

Shortly before 1 a.m., Caledon officers noticed a grey Ford Escape
racing through the village of Palgrave, about 50 km northwest of
Toronto, said OPP Const. Jonathan Beckett in a news release.

When police pulled the vehicle over, they could smell alcohol on the
driver's breath.

Jaffer, 37, was charged with driving over the legal limit and
possession of a controlled substance, and his licence was suspended
for 90 days. He is expected to appear in Orangeville Criminal Court on
Oct. 19.

Jaffer is the husband of Simcoe-Grey MP and Tory cabinet minister
Helena Guergis. He was staying in Angus, Ont., in Guergis's riding, at
the time of the incident.

He could not be reached for comment yesterday.

During last year's federal election, just days before the final vote,
Jaffer's campaign office had approved local radio advertisements
chastising NDP Leader Jack Layton for allegedly supporting the
legalization of marijuana and for reportedly calling it "a wonderful
substance."

"Edmontonians understand how difficult it is to make sure our children
make the right choices, especially on serious issues like drug use,"
the ad stated.

"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."

Edmonton-Castle Downs MLA Thomas Lukaszuk, a friend of the ex-MP, said
he was stunned when he heard the news of the charges.

"I've never known of, or seen him, using illicit drugs, so I'm
shocked," Lukaszuk said yesterday, adding he wants to give Jaffer as
much benefit of doubt as possible.

"I hope the outcome vindicates him in some way."

Lukaszuk said he had spent a lot of time with Jaffer and referred to
him as "a breath of fresh air in politics."

Guergis addressed her husband's charges in an e-mail to the Globe and
Mail yesterday.

"I take this very seriously. I love my husband.

"I will wait for further information before I make any
comment."

Jaffer was born in Uganda and as a child fled to Canada with his
family.

In 1997, at age 25, he became one of the youngest MPs elected to the
House of Commons, representing Edmonton-Strathcona -- a riding he held
until last year's election when NDP candidate Linda Duncan won by 442
votes in a shocker.

Jaffer first faced controversy in 2001 when his staffer Matthew
Johnston was caught impersonating him on a Vancouver radio show,
forcing Jaffer to apologize to the House of Commons and temporarily
relegating him to the back benches.

He spoke to Sun Media earlier this summer, indicating his plans to
focus on completing his master's degree in business administration,
and doing some consulting.