Helena Guergis starts University of Alberta law school next week

By Emily Jackson Toronto Star August 30 2012

It’s back to school for Helena Guergis.

The former cabinet minister will start law school at the University of Alberta next week, according to her Facebook page.

Her first year of legal studies in Edmonton begins less than two weeks after a judge tossed out most of a $1.3 million conspiracy and defamation lawsuit she filed against Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Conservative Party and others after she was expelled from caucus in 2010.

Guergis, a former small business owner and the Member of Parliament for Simcoe-Grey from 2004 until 2011, is “disappointed” and plans to appeal the decision, according to an Aug. 24 Facebook post.

“I should have the opportunity to present my evidence in Court. I believe Canadians would be disturbed. The average Canadian doesn’t believe politicians or their staff etc. should be above the law,” she wrote.

“On a positive note, I am enjoying private time with my family and look forward to beginning law school in a week,” she wrote.

Neither Guergis nor her husband Rahim Jaffer could be reached for comment Thursday.

Guergis resigned from her post as minister of state for the status of women in April 2010 after a private investigator alleged she was involved with fraud and extortion. She has always denied the allegations, and the RCMP cleared her of wrongdoing in July 2010.

Her foray into law school will be Guergis’ second stint at U of A. According to her Facebook page, she received her MBA from the university.

After a first-year orientation next Tuesday, U of A law students are scheduled to attend class on Wednesday.

The law program accepts a maximum of 175 students annually.