Guergis faces RCMP probe

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has asked former cabinet minister Helena Guergis to sit outside the Conservative caucus while the RCMP investigates "serious" allegations over her conduct.

In an email sent Friday before the prime minister held a news conference in Ottawa, Guergisannounced she hadresignedas ministerof state for the status of women, endingher tumultuous tenure in Harper's cabinet.

Harper said helearned of the allegations against Guergison Thursdaynight and immediately referred them to the Mounties, as well as the commissioners for ethics and conflict of interest. In the meantime, he has askedPublic WorksMinister Rona Ambrose to assume Guergis's cabinet responsibilities.

"Those allegations had to do with Ms. Guergis's conduct and do not involve any other minister, member of Parliament, or federal government employee," Harpertold reporters outside the Commons, without providing more details about the allegations.

"Ms. Guergis offered her resignation from the ministry, andI accepted it. Pending a resolution, she will sit outside of the Conservative party caucus."

Allegations 'peripheral' to Jaffer dinner

Speculation over when the unpopular junior minister's time in cabinet would come to an endescalated mid-week after media reports about the alleged business dealings of Guergis's husband, former Alberta Tory MP Rahim Jaffer.

A Toronto Star reporton Thursday alleged Jafferboasted to potential clients about his connections inside the Prime Minister's Office at a liquor-filled dinner meeting in downtown Toronto last September. Later the same night, while driving home, he was arrested on charges of impaired driving and cocaine possession. ThePMO dismissed Jaffer's alleged claims of influenceas "false" and "absurd."

It also emerged Thursday that Jaffer was using a parliamentary email account through a wireless device given to him by Guergis.

SourcestoldCBC Newsthat the prime minister received the "credible" allegations against Guergis lateThursday night. The sourcessaidGuergis did not volunteer any information herself, asHarperdidn't speak toher until Friday morning.

The sources added the allegations are "peripheral" to Jaffer and not directly linked to the alleged events of the dinner meeting reported in the Star story.

CTV News reported Friday night that the RCMP is investigating whether Jaffer usedhis wife's parliamentary office for private, commercialbusiness and whether Guergis accompanied him to business meetings.

Remains MP for Simcoe-Grey

Guergis has faced repeated calls for her resignation after she apologized for throwing a tantrum in Charlottetown Airport in February, during which she allegedly swore at airport staff and referred tothe cityas a "hellhole." This week, the Liberals asked the federal ethics commissioner to probe the financing of her purchase of an Ottawa home.

Jaffer, who represented the Alberta riding of Edmonton-Strathcona first as a Reform Party MP and later as a Conservative pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving stemming from his Sept. 10 arrest and was ordered to pay a $500 fine, but the more serious charges against him were dropped.

In her email announcing her resignation, Guergis saidshe will remain the MP for the southern Ontario riding of Simcoe-Grey. She saidthe past nine months have been a "very difficult time" for her.

She apologized again for her "emotional" behaviour in Februaryand insisted she would neverinsult Prince Edward Island, her fathers birthplace.

"I have worked hard for Canadian women, and I am proud of my record of my accomplishments on their behalf," she added.

PM must 'be straight': Ignatieff

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said the prime minister must restore public confidence in the government and Parliament by coming clean about the whole affair.

"He's got to come out and level and be clear and be straight and then I think we all want to move on,"Ignatieff told reporterson Friday outside the House.Ignatieff said its not credible for the government to say MPshad no contact with Jaffer, a former MP, who was using the Conservative logo on his website until Thursday.

"There are a huge number of questions to which Canadians need an answer, and the idea that this is over seems to me mistaken," he said. "Its continuing because this government cannot level with the Canadian people."

NDP Leader Jack Layton said Harper should reveal to the public the allegations against Guergis.

"Ithink he would be obliged. He said he would run the most transparent and open government that we had seen," Layton said."But lets face it, thats not happening and Mr. Harpers tendency is to be very closed about things. You get the impression he was dragged kicking and screaming into this one."

Guergis was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004. She served as parliamentary secretary to then trade minister David Emerson after the Conservativeswere elected to form a minority government in 2006.

In 2007, shewas promoted tosecretary of state for foreign affairs and international trade, and secretary of state for sport. She was named minister of state for the status of women following the 2008 federal election, which saw Jaffer defeated in his riding. The two married the day after the election.