Mr. Speaker, it is distressing to note that the Prime Minister is prepared to use every means to ensure his truth wins, including standing behind documents that advocate blackmailing business.
The Prime Minister persists in claiming this is perfectly normal. Imagine, it is perfectly normal for Industry Canada to keep the political opinions of the heads of Quebec business on file. The Prime Minister thinks it is perfectly normal for a government document to describe ways to armtwist Quebec businesses into voting the way the Prime Minister wants them to.
When the Industry Canada document identifies the political affiliation of a number of heads of Quebec businesses, when it lists the subsidies granted them, when funding cuts to Spar, Pratt & Whitney or Canadian Marconi are threatened, how can this still be claimed to be a simple matter of economics and not a political matter for the special unit of the Prime Minister's office?