I've given the Globe and Mail grief in the past for the way it has reported political stories so I suppose I ought to give credit when it's due. This article states things pretty clearly.
The Conservatives are repeating allegations that a B.C. journalist doctored a tape of Stephen Harper talking about the Cadman affair – but only in places where they are protected from lawsuits.MP Pierre Poilievre, the parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister, slipped out of the Commons by the back door this morning rather than take up the NDP's challenge that he repeat the claims outside the chamber. MPs cannot be sued for what they say in the Commons, but outside the door of the House, they have no special protection.
That provides a pretty clear picture of Poilièvre working at avoiding responsibility for his own words. And later on, after quoting him saying clearly that it's "proven that the tape was doctored" there's this:
In fact, it was never proven in court that the tapes were doctored.The Conservatives hired audio experts who suggested that the recording of Mr. Harper was doctored, but a court-appointed expert found it was not.
I guess it would be bad form for a journalist to actually call an MP a liar in a national newpaper but this looks like the next best thing.
Poilièvre would do well to remember that while the Liberals may be constrained by the terms of the recent libel settlement, the other opposition MPs aren't. Any one of them can do what NDP MP Joe Comartin did here — push back hard inside the House of Commons and then step outside and talk as loudly as possible to any reporter who will listen. Personally I hope Pierre keeps talking. By all means let's keep this story in the news.
I'm not a quick study when it comes to law, but does this article indicate that the B.C. journalist can't sue for defamation?
Comartin suggests that Zytaruk can't afford to pursue legal action. If Pierre the Attack Puppy was to repeat his remarks outside of the House of Commons there is no legal reason that Zytaruk couldn't sue. At least none that I know of.
And here's a CTV piece on that very subject: Cadman biographer threatens to sue Conservatives.
I'm still bothered by the Liberal role in all this. Goodale says that they are constrained by the terms of the libel settlement. But the actual scandal wasn't all about them. Something happened that is important to all Canadian citizens, quite apart from the trivializing squabble with the Liberals that Harper set up. I find it very hard to believe that the more basic principles cannot be addressed, as the Liberals seem to be claiming.
True, the Cadman affair, according to Goodale, used to count as evidence of Conservative corruption.
Now, silence.
Link
And then there’s the tragic Chuck Cadman affair stretching back to 2005 – the family of this former Independent M.P (who was dying of cancer at the time) staunchly maintain that he was offered big “financial considerations” by the Conservative Party, to get him to vote for a quick federal election.
Evidence of Conservative corruption keeps on growing. They’ve obviously got a lot to hide!
No muzzled and reduced to being nothing but yapping ankle biters.
"MP Pierre Poilievre, the parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister, slipped out of the Commons by the back door this morning"
Hummmmm .... I have heard this before .... is there no 'journalist' smart enough to lurk by the back door of Parliament to confront this sucker?
Is it the back door to the building, or the back door to the Chamber? Mr. Poilièvre makes a pretty penny for being in Parliament I suspect he will be back and not disappear like Alice's rabbit down some hole? Will he be confronted over this issue then?