Harper accused of insulting 'entire Greek community'

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 | 4:45 PM ET

CBC News

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was slammed in the House of Commons on Wednesday for bringing up the Greek heritage of two Tories at the centre of a political controversy.

Harper was being questioned about alleged political interference by PMO spokesman Dimitri Soudas and Leo Housakos, a longtime Tory supporter and party organizer in Quebec.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper gestures as he responds to questions from the opposition during Question Period in the House of Commons Wednesday.
(Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

Asked by Bloc Québécois MP Michel Guimond whether he ever met Housakos at 24 Sussex Drive, Harper responded:

"The Bloc member mentioned two people who are of Greek origin, one who was an employee here in Ottawa, another one who was a supporter of the Conservative party of Montreal.

"The fact there are two Montreal gentleman of Greek origin doesn't mean there's a conspiracy here," Harper said in French.

Harper's response, which included the first mention in the House of the men's ethnic background, was met by a chorus of boos from the Bloc. Later, Liberal MP Denis Coderre also criticized Harper's answer.

"I find it degrading that a prime minister comment on the ethnic basis because we're talking about people of Greek origin," Coderre said. "It's degrading, it's unacceptable for a prime minister to say things like that. Unacceptable."

Following question period, Liberal MP John Cannis rose on a point of privilege to condemn Harper's remarks, saying he had "insulted the entire Greek community" and demanded an apology.

"Why did he have to refer to them as Greek Canadians? I don't see how that ties together," Cannis said.

"This is a dark day for the Greek Canadian community and each and every Canadian of Greek origin."

Government House Leader Peter Van Loan defended Harper's remarks, saying the prime minister was "defending the people of Greek origin from what seemed to be unremitting attacks from the opposition."

Attention has focused on Soudas and Housakos following a joint investigation by the Globe and Mail and Radio-Canada.

The report, which aired on the CBC's French-language service on Tuesday night, alleged Soudas directly intervened on behalf of Rosdev Group, a Montreal real estate developer currently embroiled in a multimillion dollar lawsuit with the Public Works Department over the management of two office buildings that house thousands of civil servants.

The report also said that Housakos intervened directly with the Public Works Department.

BQ Leader Gilles Duceppe accused the PMO of exerting pressure on the Public Works Department on behalf of the Rosdev Group.

But Harper denied the company received any special benefits.

"This is bizarre. The Bloc is complaining a company didn't receive any special treatment from the government," Harper shot back.