Harper attacks Liberals over seniors' money
Last Updated: Friday, December 9, 2005 | 12:46 PM ET
CBC News
Harper was in Guelph, Ont., to make an announcement regarding pensions, but he was asked to comment on the latest accusations that information leaked out before Goodale announced there would be no change to taxes on income trusts.
"I think Mr. Goodale should step aside ... while these questions get resolved," Harper said.
"Mr. Goodale told the House of Commons that he had checked with his staff and there had been absolutely no possibility of a leak, and now we find out in fact there were conversations between Mr. Goodale's staff and other people," Harper said.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, Friday.
Bill Gleberzon, the director of government and media relations for the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), said he was telephoned by someone in the minister's office on the morning of Nov. 23 and alerted to an announcement later that day.
But CARP later said: "The record must be set straight! At no time was CARP given an indication by the minister's office of when the announcement would be made or what it would say. "
The lobby group for older Canadians said the political controversy about the announcement "has created the false allegation that there was a leak to CARP."
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"Remember, it was the Liberals who threatened to tax income trusts," Harper said. "This was a direct attack on the retirement incomes of millions of Canadians. And when the government changed its mind, it now appears that it was again privileged insiders, not ordinary seniors, who benefited."
