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."

Internal Links

Harper's Quebec chief apologizes after Algonquins offended
Canada Votes 2008: The race in the National Capital Region
Canada Votes 2008
Several arrested after Algonquins occupy MP's office in western Quebec

Overall Results

Overall Election Results
Party	Elected	Leading	Total	Vote Share (%)
Updated: Nov. 7, 2008, 5:00 PM EST
CON	143	0	143	37.63
LIB	77	0	77	26.24
BQ	49	0	49	9.97
NDP	37	0	37	18.20
IND	2	0	2	0.65
GRN	0	0	0	6.80
OTH	0	0	0	0.51

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Unofficial results were updated at the time shown following judicial recounts in six ridings. For more recent results, visit Elections Canada. The CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. External links will open in a new window.

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