A newspaper publisher fired after criticizing Jean Chrétien says he's concerned his dismissal may influence the way other newspapers cover the prime minister.

Russell Mills, publisher of the Ottawa Citizen since 1986, was fired Sunday after an editorial criticizing the prime minister was published.

Russell Mills
Russell Mills

Mills, who a day earlier received an honorary degree from Carleton University for excellence in journalism, called it a "strange weekend."

He says he was offered cash if he would leave the paper quietly, but opted instead to speak publicly. He says he was fired for publishing an editorial calling on the PM to quit, without first clearing the article with head office.

Gov't not involved, says deputy PM

Opposition members of Parliament jumped on the news, accusing the prime minister of using his relationship with the Asper family to influence media coverage within CanWest Global, the company that owns the Citizen.

NDP leader Alexa McDonough called on the Liberals to take action.

"The Aspers gave more than $250,000 to the Liberal party of Canada. What does this government intend to do to protect freedom of the press and diversity of voices in this country?" asked McDonough.

Alliance MP John Reynolds said the prime minister should assure the House that he had no communication with the Aspers.

Deputy Prime Minister John Manley said the government has nothing to do with the daily operations of CanWest Global. He said the Aspers control their own business.

"They answer for them in the courts and elsewhere, it has nothing to do with the administration of the government," said Manley.

But the man at the centre of the controversy says he believes there will be fallout. Mills predicts his termination will scare other journalists and managers of Asper-owned newspapers.

"This will create some chill at the newspapers and fear of certain types of political reporting," said Mills.