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confidence in the democratic system ... Byrne used his position to carry out these fraudulent and corrupt activities." The Judge noted two significant mitigating factors in his decision: first, that Byrne's marriage had broken down (and his family life dramatically affected); and, second, that having been convicted of an offense against Her
Majesty, Byrne may never again be employed in or by the Public Sector (i.e., any government body under the authority of Her Majesty anywhere in Canada). The judge nonetheless largely agreed with the prosecution's request for two years imprisonment, citing the need to send a message of deterrence given the serious nature of Byrne's fraud. The judge rejected the defence's suggestion for a conditional sentence as too lenient, despite considering Byrne as not considered a danger to society if he was released due to his high-profile.
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294:, Byrne pleaded guilty to both criminal charges laid against him: fraud in excess of $ 5,000 and fraud against the government (influencing peddling). On April 17, 2009, Judge Pike sentenced Byrne to two-years-less-a-day on the count of fraud in excess of $ 5,000, and eighteen months on the count of fraud against the government, with both sentences being served concurrently. Byrne was further ordered to repay CAD$ 117,812 to the
216:. Subsequently, Byrne was elected to represent the district of Kilbride in the provincial elections of 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2003. As a Progressive Conservative Member of the House of Assembly, he served in several shadow portfolios including Post-secondary Education, Employment and Labour Relations, Environment, and Industry, Trade and Technology; and as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.
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On June 22, 2006, the provincial
Auditor General released a report on Byrne's constituency allowance claims in the 2003 and 2004 fiscal years. While Byrne had been eligible for a maximum claim of $ 31,500 for that period, the Auditor General had found evidence that he had claimed a total of $ 326,642
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In his sentencing decision, the Judge noted that "The most aggravating factor to be considered is that this fraud and bribery was committed by someone who was in a high position of public trust. When officials enrich themselves or others in circumstances such as this, there is an undermining of the
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Byrne was forced to step down from cabinet in 2006 after it was revealed that he and several other legislators had exceeded their constituency allowance claims, which led to a criminal investigation. He resigned from the
Assembly at the end of that year. In 2009, he was convicted of defrauding the
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Byrne was appointed as the
Minister of the Departments of Mines and Energy and Forest Resources and Agrifoods (now known collectively as the Department of Natural Resources) and Government House Leader on November 6, 2003, by Williams, positions he held until June 21, 2006.
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He began his career as an adult educator specializing in curriculum development and serving as a skills training coordinator, and he went on to serve as
Administrator of the Atlantic Labour Training Trust Fund. For five years, as well, he served as a management consultant.
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Byrne was arrested in April 2008, after he ran a red light while driving in St. John's. At the time of his arrest, Byrne's blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit. On April 28, 2009, Byrne pleaded guilty to a charge of failing a breathalyzer (a charge of
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began a criminal investigation based on the findings of the
Auditor General. Byrne, three other Newfoundland politicians and a senior civil servant in the House of Assembly were subsequently indicted under the Criminal Code of Canada, on fraud-related offenses.
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member. The finance director of the
Assembly, Bill Murray, was also suspended. As the scandal involved all political parties, the Conservatives did not suffer a backlash in the 2007 election and actually increased their share of the popular vote and seat count.
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and opposition leader from 1998 to 2001. When the
Conservatives came to power in 2003, he was named Minister of Natural Resources and Government House Leader, being considered the second-most powerful politician in the province after Premier
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was dropped). His licence was suspended for 18 months, and he was fined $ 920. Byrne was incarcerated on fraud and corruption charges, at the time of the court hearing for impaired driving and was not present for the sentencing.
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On June 21, 2006, Williams announced that he had requested Byrne's resignation as a result of an audit of the financial records of the House of
Assembly by the
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The
Auditor General also reported, on June 22, that three other members of the House of Assembly were being investigated for similar actions, one former
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businessman Danny Williams to assume the leadership. Williams and the Progressive Conservatives then went on to win the 2003 provincial election.
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in excess of that amount. The Auditor General recommended that the case be turned over to the Department of Justice for review.
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Studies and Religious Studies. In 1984, he was elected President of the university's Council of the Students’ Union.
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On November 28, 2006, Byrne announced his resignation from provincial politics, effective January 1, 2007.
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of the province. Byrne was forced to step down after the Auditor General expressed concern to the
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where towards a joint Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education program majoring conjointly in
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185:(known more formally in Newfoundland and Labrador as fraud against the government).
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the PCs increased their seats from 9 to 14. He stepped aside in 2001 to allow
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Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
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Office of the Premier: Press release announcing Byrne's resignation
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Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador MHAs
164:(born 1963) was a Canadian politician, formerly a member of the
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He served as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and
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Byrne had a prior conviction for impaired driving in 1991.
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Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
460:"Former N.L. minister Byrne sentenced to 2-year jail term"
344:"Newfoundland and Labrador audit scandal: The players"
536:"Byrne's drunk driving related to fraud woes: lawyer"
416:"N.L. politician in spending scandal quits politics"
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member, one sitting Liberal member, and one sitting
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over financial issues. Byrne left cabinet that day.
212:, who was then serving as the Deputy-Speaker of the
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438:"Former N.L. minister Byrne pleads guilty to fraud"
394:"Spending scandal rocks province's political scene"
758:Newfoundland and Labrador political party leaders
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166:Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
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508:"Her Majesty The Queen V. Edward Byrne"
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181:Crown of in excess of CAD$ 100,000 and
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302:(Bishop's Falls Correctional Centre).
298:. Byrne served his prison sentence at
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195:Memorial University of Newfoundland
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763:21st-century Canadian legislators
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286:Upon his arraignment in front of
189:Early career and rise in politics
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481:Mullalhey, Rosie (2 July 2010).
249:Speaker of the House of Assembly
272:Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
16:Canadian politician (born 1963)
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168:. He served as leader of the
418:. CBC News. 28 November 2006
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440:. CBC News. 16 January 2009
370:"Agreed statement of facts"
133:1963 (age 60–61)
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483:"Ed Byrne is out of jail"
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292:D. Mark Pike
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743:1963 births
652:Ottenheimer
104:Bob Aylward
100:Preceded by
54:Preceded by
737:Categories
697:Dunderdale
542:4 November
517:4 November
492:28 January
466:4 November
444:4 November
422:4 November
400:4 November
378:4 November
354:4 November
327:References
229:St. John's
151:Politician
148:Occupation
115:John Dinn
94:1993–2007
90:In office
48:1998–2001
44:In office
702:Marshall
692:Williams
682:Sullivan
662:Peckford
487:Saltwire
348:CBC News
82:Kilbride
25:Ed Byrne
722:Wakeham
712:Crosbie
667:Rideout
637:Hollett
627:Higgins
260:Liberal
717:Brazil
657:Moores
647:Murphy
642:Greene
632:Cashin
707:Davis
687:Byrne
677:Verge
672:Simms
511:(PDF)
373:(PDF)
296:Crown
622:Mews
544:2015
519:2015
494:2022
468:2015
446:2015
424:2015
402:2015
380:2015
356:2015
130:Born
80:for
78:MHA
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