OTTAWA, Jan 14 (AFP) - Canada's Immigration Minister, already battling a row over a Romanian stripper, resigned Friday over claims she helped an Indian pizza store owner dodge deportation in return for political favours.
Judy Sgro, tainted by scandals which have harmed Prime Minister Paul Martin's bid to shake off his own problems with political sleaze, quit after new claims of impropriety surfaced in the press.
"It was with great regret that I accepted Judy Sgro's resignation," Martin told reporters, adding that the former minister wanted to be free to fight to clear her name.
"I continue to support Judy Sgro, I think she was a very strong minister."
The Toronto Star and CBC television reported that pizza store owner Harjit Singh said in a sworn affidavit that Sgro asked him for free pizza and garlic bread and for up to 16 volunteers for her campaign office.
"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," CBC quoted Singh as saying in the affidavit.
The report said Sgro reneged on the alleged deal and ordered Singh deported when a scandal erupted over a temporary residence permit given to a Romanian stripper, who also worked on her campaign.
01/14/2005 18:50 GMT - AFP