Mr. Speaker, I would submit that this is clearly not in any fashion a point of privilege.
Yesterday, during an exchange in question period in response to a question from the leader of the NDP, the member for Toronto--Danforth, I reported some remarks that I had heard while I was walking into the main entrance of West Block this past Tuesday on my way to the meeting of the committee which was interviewing Mr. Gwyn Morgan with respect to his nomination for the public appointments commission.
At that time, just as I was entering the building, at precisely 9 a.m., I distinctly heard the leader of the NDP speaking to a colleague, not the member for Parkdale--High Park who was already in the committee. I was as usual running a couple of minutes late.
I distinctly heard the hon. leader of the NDP say that the hon. member for Parkdale--High Park was going to go through his speech and “Tear him apart”. He was not whispering. It was a clear, audible public statement he was making to a colleague on the way into the building.
I reported this remark because I believed it was contextual in terms of the NDP's approach to Mr. Morgan's nomination twice at committee and I did so again yesterday in the House.
I stand by the veracity of what I heard. I am sorry that the leader of the NDP and his colleague from Windsor object to the fact that I have reported what I clearly heard. I do not retract what I believe to be absolutely truthful and I do not believe this is a matter of privilege.