Mr. Speaker, earlier the member for Winnipeg North asked a question of the leader of the official opposition. I would like to quote from the blues. She said: “We did a little digging in terms of the Canadian association that is sponsoring all these libellous ads and found it very curious in fact that over the last 13 years the Liberals received about $282,000 from the Canadian Association of Income Trust Investors. In the leadership race they delivered about $39,000 to Bob Rae in his leadership bid and $6,000 to the Leader of the Opposition. My question is did that money influence his decision today?”
I have been advised by the Canadian Association of Income Trust Investors that it did not come into existence until January 2007. It could not possibly have made those donations.
During her speech, the member then went on to advise the House that she had received a threat from the Canadian Association of Income Trust Investors. I would like to read into the record what the Canadian Association of Income Trust Investors wrote to the member by email today at 11:04 a.m. It states:
You need to publish a[n] immediate retraction of your false statements and assertions made in today's House of Commons today about our association funding the Liberal Party. CAITI did not come into existence until January 11, 2007. Please provide evidence to support you[r] statement that we have funded the Liberal Party to the tune of some $280,000. We have provided no funding to any political party directly or indirectly' Never have, Never will.
Please advise immediately.
In the absence of an immediate response, CAITI will pursue legal recourse.
The member has immunity in the House. She can say whatever she wants, whether truthful or not, but she cannot say those things, I believe, outside the House. Will she go outside the House and say the same things to the media and expose herself to the consequences of misleading of the House of Commons?