Mr. Speaker, in the House all members are protected from harassment for their beliefs by parliamentary privilege, but judging by the personal smears that have been launched by the opposition it is clear that some of us are abusing that privilege to harass a private citizen.
I refer to the disgraceful treatment of Mr. Jean Carle and his family. I know Jean Carle.
I have worked very closely with him. Jean has a great deal of talent and I am privileged to call him a friend.
For the sin of having worked for the Prime Minister he has become the victim of an opposition witch hunt that would make Senator McCarthy proud. He has been the subject of baseless allegations of wrongdoing, allegations that have been refuted time and time again including in the National Post this morning. His every career move is fodder for snide comment and gross innuendo with no regard for fairness or for the effect on his reputation and his family.
The opposition may be doing this just for laughs but it is no joke.