EX-MP JAFFER FACES DRUG CHARGES

'Devastating'

A close friend of former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer said he was
"shocked and surprised" to learn the one-time chairman of the
Conservative caucus and husband of MP Helena Guergis has been charged
with drunk driving and possession of cocaine.

"I couldn't believe this when I heard about it," said Patrick Glemaud,
a family friend and former university classmate of Mr. Jaffer. "Rahim
understands how devastating this will be when his family hears about
it."

OPP say Mr. Jaffer, 37, was pulled over early Friday morning after a
grey Ford Escape was seen traveling northbound at a high rate of speed
through the village of Palgrave, about 65 kilometres northwest of Toronto.

"When the officer approached the car, she smelled the odour of alcohol
and demanded a roadside screening test, which [Mr. Jaffer] failed,"
said Caledon OPP Sergeant Mike Garant. "He was arrested and searched,
and that's when the alleged cocaine was found on his person."

Mr. Jaffer was taken to the Caledon OPP office where he provided two
more breath samples, which registered more than 80 milligrams of
alcohol in his blood, said Sgt. Garant. After spending about four
hours in police custody -- part of which was spent in a jail cell
while police processed his case --Mr. Jaffer was released.

His licence was suspended for 90 days and he will make his first
appearance in Orangeville Criminal Court on Oct. 19.

Mr. Jaffer was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997 for the
riding of Edmonton Strathcona as a member of the Reform Party. At 25,
he was one of the youngest MPs on Parliament Hill and became known for
his outgoing personality. Prime Minister Stephen Harper named Mr.
Jaffer chair of the Conservative caucus shortly after the 2006 general
election. Mr. Jaffer lost his seat in a surprising result in the 2008
election, to New Democrat Linda Duncan.

He is married to Conservative Helena Guergis, MP for Simcoe-Grey. In a
statement last night, she said, "I take this very seriously. I love my
husband. I will wait for further information before I make any comment."

Mr. Jaffer's arrest Friday isn't the first time the former MP has
courted controversy. In 2001, Matthew Johnston, one of Mr. Jaffer's
aides, impersonated the then Canadian Alliance MP on a national radio
broadcast. Mr. Jaffer was suspended from caucus duties by the party
and apologized to the House of Commons.

Since his defeat in the last election, Mr. Jaffer has been working in
business development for Green Power Generation Corp.