Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff offered the following statement concerning comments made by the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary towards Canadian environmentalist Steven Guilbeault:
Yesterday in Copenhagen, we witnessed an unfortunate but all-too-frequent demonstration of the Conservative government’s attitude toward dissidence. Dimitri Soudas, Prime Minister Harper’s Press Secretary, attempted to taint the reputation of respected environmentalist Steven Guilbeault, by accusing him – without any proof – of having written yesterday’s hoax press release parodying the Canadian government’s position on climate change.
Instead of falsely accusing those who don’t agree with them, the Conservatives should start working on a real plan to fight climate change. It is unacceptable that Canadians have to rely on leaked documents to know the government’s true position.
Due to his unjustified public accusation of Mr. Guilbeault, Mr. Soudas should leave Copenhagen and we call on Mr. Harper to recall his Press Secretary to Canada immediately.”
