OTTAWA — Federal Liberals are asking the RCMP to launch a criminal probe into allegations that the Conservatives tried to buy the support of an Independent MP in the days leading up to a crucial vote in 2005.

In a letter to RCMP Commissioner William Elliott today, Liberals say a police probe is needed to examine "very serious allegations regarding potential criminal activity by representatives of the Conservative Party of Canada."

According to a new book by Vancouver journalist Tom Zytaruk, two Conservative officials met with Chuck Cadman, then dying of cancer, and tried to lure him back to the Tory caucus with the promise of a $1 million life insurance policy just two days before the crucial May 19, 2005 vote.

"The Tories actually walked in with a list of offers written down on a piece of paper. Included in their proposal was a $1 million life insurance policy - no small carrot for a man with advanced cancer," says the new book, titled Like A Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper denied the allegations, saying nothing was offered to Cadman before the vote.

"This is completely false, completely irresponsible," Harper said in question period.

But if true, the attempt would constitute a criminal offence.

"As I am sure you will agree, any allegations of financial inducements being offered to an elected public official in an attempt to influence that individual must be treated with the utmost seriousness," Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc (Beauséjour) wrote in his letter to the RCMP.

"There is an obvious and significant public interest in determining whether or not officials from the Conservative Party of Canada engaged in attempts to bribe an elected public official for their own political and material gain," LeBlanc wrote.

Cadman sided with the minority Liberals, ensuring the survival of Paul Martin's government. Cadman died a few months later.

However, in an interview with CTV News this afternoon, Cadman's widow Dona confirmed that Tory officials had met with her husband to woo his vote.

"Two gentlemen had visited him, offered him a million dollar life insurance policy and a few other things," she said.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Asked whether she considered it a bribe, she responded, "Yes, in a way."

Cadman rejected the overture and was quite upset by the suggestion that his support could be bought, said his wife, who is now the Conservative candidate in the Surrey North riding once represented by her husband.