Politics and ethnic references can be a volatile mix.

That was the case today when Prime Minister Stephen Harper suggested a meeting in government offices, arranged by one of his staff and a Conservative fundraiser, was not a conspiracy. Rather, just two guys of Greek origin getting together.

That answer enraged Liberal MP John Cannis, a proud Greek Canadian.

Cannis called it a ''black mark" against every one of the nearly half-a-million Greek Canadians.

He demanded an apology. But didn't get one.

Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe said Harper's response had nothing to do with the issue.

The issue, he says, is whether Dimitri Soudas, a member of the prime minister's own staff, should be arranging a meeting at the request of his friend, fundraiser Leo Housakos, between a developer who is suing the government and government officials.

The government insists Soudas did nothing wrong.

They say the lawsuit continues. No promises were made.

And arranging meetings, on behalf of friends, is the sort of thing political staff do all the time on Parliament Hill.