Mr. Speaker, and there is the double standard.
Francie Ducros' only status is that she speaks for the Prime Minister. This is at a time when Canada is trying to convince the Americans that any war on Iraq should be conducted under UN auspices. We are trying to protect Canadian farmers against U.S. subsidies. We are trying to resolve the softwood lumber dispute. We need the cooperation of the elected president whom the Prime Minister's spokesperson calls “a moron”.
Why is protecting Francie Ducros more important than protecting Canadian farmers or protecting the Canadian softwood lumber industry?