Harper says Liberal use of Holocaust event pic with Duceppe is 'beyond tasteless'
Last Updated: Friday, December 23, 2005 | 3:56 PM ET
CBC News
The photo shows Harper whispering to Duceppe during the Holocaust memorial last spring on Parliament Hill, suggesting he would work with the separatist party. The event was also attended by Liberal Leader Paul Martin and NDP Leader Jack Layton.
The Liberals are distributing the material for internal use by candidates. Harper expressed contempt for any plan to use the photos.
"I think it's beyond tasteless. You know, all party leaders attended the Holocaust memorial," Harper said Friday. "This is a pretty solemn event with Holocaust survivors, and to use that photo to imply that Mr. Duceppe and I would share some kind of agenda other than obviously opposing the Holocaust I think is disgraceful."
Stephen Harper whispers to Gilles Duceppes during a Holocaust remebrance ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Thursday May 5, 2005. (CP photo)
Harper, who was in his home riding of Calgary, denied any plan to form a coalition with the Bloc in a new Parliament. He said the two parties don't share the same motives.
"We may co-operate on the odd issue, but even there we're not naive," he said. "We understand that, even when the Bloc agrees with us, their motives are very different."
Liberal spokeswoman Amy Butcher said in an e-mail to the Canadian Press that the material is not intended for a planned advertising campaign.
She said it is part of a list of issues to help candidates who are knocking on voters' doors.
The pieces were prepared by a volunteer and have been available on the internal Liberal website since last spring.
"They were never at any time prepared in the context of an advertising strategy. It was never our intention to use them in our strategy, nor will they be used in future ad spots," said Butcher.
Harper warned that the Conservatives will be tough but accurate in their messaging abou the Liberals.
"Anything we'll be saying in this campaign will be factual and accurate," he said. I won't promise it will all be pretty.
"But these people want to play a dirty game. I won't say that we won't be tough. But we will at least be truthful. And I certainly won't use a misleading photograph in that kind of manner."
