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Canadian Pizza Scandal

Posted by Adam Kuban, January 18, 2005 at 11:48 AM

IMMIGRATION MINISTER RESIGNS IN PIZZA, GARLIC-BREAD QUID PRO QUO

No, you didn't misread that headline. And, no, we aren't making this shit up, either. This story has it all—pizza and strippers. (Sounds like a pretty fun Saturday night, heh.)

Canada's immigration minister, Judy Sgro, resigned Friday after allegations were made that she promised to help immigrant pizzaiolo Harjit Singh avoid deportation in exchange for free pizza and garlic bread for her campaign staff.

Mr Singh - a father of three who came to Canada in 1988 - is currently in detention awaiting deportation fraud charges next week.

In an affidavit, he says he went to see the minister in the run-up to general elections in June last year.

"I told her my whole situation and she assured me that if I helped out in her election campaign she would get me immigration in Canada," says the affidavit, quoted by the Toronto Star newspaper.

"I own a pizza store in Brampton and Judy said that she wanted me to deliver pizza, garlic bread etc., to her campaign office in North York. I did this," he said.

It gets better: A Romanian stripper may also be involved in the story:

Mr Singh says the deal began to unravel at about the time Ms Sgro was facing separate allegations that she arranged a temporary residency permit for a Romanian stripper also working on her campaign team.

And now for another slice of the pie:

Ms Sgro has vehemently denies the alleged arrangement or even ever speaking to Mr Singh.

"It is unfortunate that these outrageous fabrications have interfered with my vision and desire to modernise this portfolio," she said in a statement.

Oh my. We actually feel a bit sorry for Ms. Sgro. Pizza is great and all, but what a silly thing to risk—and ultimately lose—your career over it.

[Our wire editor saw this story Friday night but had forgotten about it over the weekend. Thanks to Cyrus, Allison and Kristin for reminding us.]

— photograph from the BBC

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Tags: Pizza Politics