Dion calls on Harper to fire minister's aide after remarks to Algonquins
Last Updated: Friday, September 19, 2008 | 4:54 PM ET
CBC News
Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon's riding assistant should be "shown the door" for "disgraceful" and "unacceptable" comments she made to an Algonquin constituent, Liberal leader Stéphane Dion said Friday.
If Cannon won't dismiss her, Harper should, Dion said Friday, speaking in French.
Cannon is Harper's Quebec lieutenant and the Conservative MP for the Pontiac riding.
His office issued an apology Wednesday after riding staffer Diane Lannigan was caught on tape telling an Algonquin man that a group from his community of Barriere Lake wouldn't be arrested at Cannon's office "if you behave and you're sober."
Barriere Lake is an Algonquin community in Quebec, located about 300 kilometres north of Ottawa.
But Cannon said Friday that Lannigan isn't going anywhere, and he accused Dion of trying to deflect attention away from the Liberal platform.
"She's not going resign. That's perfectly clear," Cannon said. "Once again, here's Stéphane Dion trying to change the channel."
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