Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Dec. 8th, 2009

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

That is exactly what I wanted to do.

The question was prefaced by a quote from Andrew Coyne, and I think I have the right to respond for a moment, because the question was put as if I wanted to play the victim. My entire presentation was that I never wanted to even raise this on a question of privilege. I didn't want to make this an issue.

Let us distinguish between cause and consequence. What caused all this and where it all originated was in that false, accusatory, prejudicial flyer. We wouldn't be sitting here if that flyer had not been sent out. We wouldn't be sitting here if an apology had been made. That is the point. I don't want to play victim. Mr. Chair, I've had enough pain and anguish on this; I don't have to play the victim card.

We have a matter that breaches the privileges of the House in that regard.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

With respect, Mr. Cotler, could you answer the question now?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Were you named in the ten percenter?

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

It was the Speaker of the House--

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

I appreciate that, but I just want to know if you were named.

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Do I have the opportunity to answer your question?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

You have another opportunity to answer the question.

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

I'd like to answer, but I'm not even able to open my mouth before you pounce.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Go ahead.

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

I'd appreciate the right, as a normal civil discourse, to be able to respond to your question. You can jump in and attack after I finish.

All I wanted to say was that the Speaker determined that I was directly implicated in the false accusation in the flyer, in that it admitted of no doubt as to a flyer sent to the constituents of Mount Royal accusing the Liberal Party of supporting an anti-Semitic conference. I am the Liberal member of Parliament for Mount Royal. The natural deduction is that it's the Liberal member of Parliament in Mount Royal whose party supports anti-Semitism. No other conclusion can be drawn from that kind of false accusation.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

You were not named in the piece, just to clarify and to answer the question.

You have said that Mr. Ignatieff has apologized for the remarks in which he accused Israel of war crimes. Can you tell me when that apology occurred?

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Yes, Mr. Chairman, that apology occurred immediately thereafter in private, and subsequently thereafter in public at several forums.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Where? Can you give citations?

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

I can give you citations. Among others, I was present at the Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto when Mr. Ignatieff made a public repudiation. I was present--

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Cotler, I have a copy of the speech he made at Holy Blossom. I've just had a colleague provide it to you. If you can't do it immediately, I understand, because you've just been provided with it, but if you or one of your staff can check where the word “apology”, “sorry”, “mea culpa”, “apologize”, “apologizing” appears anywhere in that speech.... Again, I do respect the fact that you've just received it in front of you now.

I can tell you that I've read through it twice. I've conducted searches of the text of that speech and nowhere in the speech does he apologize for his remark that Israel had committed war crimes.

He does concede, in fairness to him, that it was an error to make that accusation.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Excuse me, a point of order.

Mr. Chair, I assume the document that has just been handed to the witness is bilingual.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

I don't know. I haven't seen it.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Could you check, please, Mr. Chair?

There's a rule that documents are not to be brought to the table to witnesses or to members of this committee unless they're in both official languages.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Is it in both official languages, Mr. Poilievre?

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Cotler, the chair asked you a question.

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

No, it's in one language.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Fair enough. If the witness wishes to disregard it, it can be provided to the committee later on in both official languages.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Just a moment, please.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

On a point of order still.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

Yes.