Mr. Speaker, we strongly denounce the action of Liberal MPs and of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, who took advantage of a meeting with the Chairman of the CBC to discuss coverage of the referendum campaign.
The Liberal members displayed, to say the least, a lack of subtlety by linking the financing of the French network of the CBC to a pro-federalist referendum coverage. In fact, this is unjustifiable interference in the network's affairs. We wonder whether the Liberals are implementing the directives of the current Minister of Foreign Affairs who, back in April 1977, said this in an interview: "I do not want the network to adopt a neutral stance in presenting both sides of the issue. When the referendum comes, the employees must unequivocally be pro-Canada in their coverage".
This is obviously a case of déjà vu.