 A Rahim Jaffer poster from a previous election with the words 'TEFLON' added appears Wednesday along 98 Avenue near 95 Street. (David Bloom, QMI Agency)
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EDMONTON - Justice has not been served for former MP Rahim Jaffer, a QMI Agency poll suggests.
And Jaffer's old Edmonton-Strathcona constituents are among those lashing out against the disgraced politician.
Getting what some called "a slap on the wrist," Jaffer pleaded guilty in Ontario court Tuesday to careless driving.
Cocaine possession and drunk-driving charges were withdrawn.
"It's a joke," said Bob Shank, while waiting for a bus Wednesday in Jaffer's old riding.
"He should've been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I would never vote for him in a lifetime."
More than 1,000 people responded to a QMI Agency poll that asked whether justice had been done in the case.
Eighty percent of people responding said no, while another 15% said they would never know.
Jaffer was arrested Sept. 11, 2009, after police pulled over a grey Ford Escape speeding through Palgrave, Ont., north of Toronto, about 1 a.m.
The former Conservative MP was charged with driving over the legal limit and possession of a controlled substance.
Those charges were dropped, though Jaffer's careless driving conviction will carry a $500 fine.
Police defended their investigation that led to the initial charges.
"A very thorough and detailed investigation was completed and done," said Ontario Provincial Police spokesman Const. Peter Leon from headquarters in Orillia, Ont.
"It's up to the court to interpret the work that the officer put before the court."
The officer involved, who had about 10 years of experience, did a "professional" investigation, Leon said.
Despite that, the system failed, said Shank.
"The Canadian justice system is a joke," he said. "The big shots get away with anything they want and the little guys get nothing."
Someone else posted a Jaffer re-election sign near 98 Avenue and 95 Street, but added the word "teflon" to the poster.
A pedestrian walking past the sign Tuesday pulled it from the ground, bent the sign in half and tossed it in the trash.
John Gannon, 62, called the court decision "nonsense."
"If any one of us (did that), they'd nail our bottoms to the wall," he said.
"He should have been prosecuted like everyone else."
Letting Jaffer off with merely a "slap-on-the-wrist" fine is indicative of a flawed justice system, said Nicholas Mayne.
"It sends the wrong message for sure," Mayne said. "We should be holding our public officials to the same standard -- if not higher -- than the rest of us."
Others were taking it easy on Jaffer.
"I think everybody should be forgiven," Tim Holmes said.
"Everybody makes mistakes."
michelle.thompson@sunmedia.ca
- With a file from The Canadian Press
