Tue Jun. 09 2009 5:37:16 PM
Harper defends Raitt, dismisses 'sexy' comments as cheap politics
The Canadian Press
Minister of Natural Resources Lisa Raitt responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Monday June 8, 2009. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
OTTAWA — An unbowed Stephen Harper is standing by his embattled and unapologetic natural resources minister, dismissing the storm of criticism of Lisa Raitt.
Opposition parties and cancer survivors called for Raitt's resignation -- or at least an apology -- Tuesday for describing the shortage of isotopes used in cancer tests as a "sexy" issue from which she could benefit politically.
They got neither.
Many were offended by what they described as the minister's cold, selfish, political calculation involving people who are suffering.
"How could she?" hissed Geraldine Owen, 67, of Moncton, N.B., whose daughter-in-law has just begun breast cancer treatment.
"There is nothing sexy about cancer."
But neither Harper nor Raitt were backing down.
"This minister has been working around the clock to make sure we get a greater supply of isotopes and make sure we have alternative options for our health-care patients in this country," Harper told the House of Commons.
"That is what the minister is doing. That is what this government is doing -- not playing cheap politics."
That prompted Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff to fire back: "The cheapest politics there is is to call a crisis a career opportunity."
Raitt, whose brother died of cancer at age 36, said she empathizes with the plight of cancer patients and their families who struggle to support loved ones. But she offered no apology for her remarks made to an aide in January.
She even joined the political counter-attack in the Commons, saying when it comes to the isotope crisis "the only people interested in political opportunism is the opposition."
Her controversial comments came in a five-hour recording that was made Jan. 30 and obtained by the Halifax Chronicle Herald after a Raitt aide misplaced her tape recorder.
The aide, Jasmine MacDonnell, resigned last last week after it was revealed that sensitive documents about the future of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. were mistakenly left behind at a TV news bureau for a week following an interview.
In the tape, Raitt says the isotope issue is hard to control, "because it's confusing to a lot of people."
She then adds: "But it's sexy. ... Radioactive leaks. Cancer."
She also expresses doubts about the parliamentary skills of Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.
Regardless of whether it was a private conversation, Owen said it's clear Raitt was putting her "own power and ego above her compassion and humanity."
NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Quebecois chief Gilles Duceppe said the public is scandalized by Raitt's attitude.
"A lot of us in this House are surprised and shocked that there hasn't at least been an apology," Layton said. "Not only is she losing secret documents, but she expected a career bounce as a result of a medical crisis."
Last week, the rookie minister from Toronto faced calls for her resignation after news of the misplaced AECL documents broke.
She has also come under fire for $80,000 in travel and hospitality expenses rung up in two years in her former job as CEO of the Toronto Port Authority.
The government got more bad news Tuesday with the sobering revelation that smaller hospitals across the country will run out of medical isotopes by Thursday, leaving many cancer and heart patients scrambling to find alternatives.
Throughout a relentless series of attacks in the Commons, Raitt calmly outlined the steps the government has been taking to resolve the isotope shortage, caused by the emergency shutdown of the AECL reactor at Chalk River, Ont.
But it didn't placate angry cancer survivors and relatives whose loved ones were struck down by the disease, many of whom flooded radio talk shows demanding Raitt resign or be fired.
"This is outrageous and I think she should be gone, right now," said Tina Titus, 39, of Dartmouth, N.S., who helped nurse her best friend through breast cancer.
"This hurts people. I watched my friend go through chemotherapy and I was with her when she went through that. When I went through this with her she was sick all of the time. She couldn't get out of bed. There's nothing -- absolutely nothing -- sexy about that."
Norma Fisher, 87, who has survived two bouts of cancer in Kemptville, Ont., said at the very least the minister should issue a public apology.
"I'm trying to be fair, but most people realize the trauma that people go through when they have cancer and are sensitive to it," said Fisher, who helps counsel 40 others who are battling the disease.
In her long taped chat with MacDonnell, Raitt discusses Aglukkaq's handling of the isotope shortage.
"They're terrified of the issues," Raitt says during the recording.
"You know what? Good. Because when we win on this, we get all the credit. I'm ready to roll the dice on this. This is an easy one. You know what solves this problem? Money. And if it's just about money, we'll figure it out. It's not a moral issue."
Raitt says she is disappointed in Aglukkaq.
"Oh, God, she's such a capable woman, but it's hard for her to come out of a co-operative government into this rough-and-tumble. She had a question in the House yesterday, or two days ago, that planked. I really hope she never gets anything hot."
Raitt praised Aglukkaq in the Commons on Tuesday.
The tape was made public only after a Halifax court hearing which rejected MacDonnell's bid to keep it secret. Her lawyer argued that the recording was made inadvertently and that the conversation was supposed to be private.
The Nova Scotia judge in the case ruled that it was in the public interest to release the recordings.
"It is wrong to deprive the press, and the public it serves, of remarks made privately but not confidentially in the sense of trade secrets," said Justice Gerald Moir.
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Comments are now closed for this story
June 09, 2009 at 8:59:17 AM
Dennis
This is the stupidest move I have ever seen.Some idiotic back woods judge gives his permission to release tapes because they were left out in public.This now leaves the door opened for eavsedropper to record any public office conversation and than say that it was in the open.No wonder our legal system is in the shape it's in,(a joke).This judge should be brought up before the supreme court to justify his ruling.This borders on national security.MacDonnell should resign due to a lack of common sense.Keep an eye on McDonnell,there's more to this than meets the eye.Nobody's that stupid.
June 09, 2009 at 9:43:11 AM
Joe
"She's looking for a political win on the backs of people's misery," New Democrat MP Nathan Cullen said.
Isn't this the job of ALL politicians, after all.
June 09, 2009 at 11:05:33 AM
Marty
Should she lose her position? Maybe. But are we going to pretend that she is the first politician to do something to improve their career? C'mon!
June 09, 2009 at 11:20:47 AM
john
shame on u. this MP is playing with lives of canadian people. she should be punished and jailed. what a shame. people are dying with cancer and she playing politics with people lives.
June 09, 2009 at 11:25:59 AM
Jonathan
She should quit, period as the Conservatives came to power on the coctail of accountability. Officials should be very careful of whatever they do and say. Please resign your post in dignity.
June 09, 2009 at 11:30:07 AM
Reelair
OK, so Liberals can mis-spend over $5 million in un-tendered contracts and then give the person a HUGE severance package for being completely inept.
If the Conservatives say a few bad words, that don't cost the tax payers a cent and they have to fire someone?
McGuinty, you my friend are the one that should be fired
!
June 09, 2009 at 11:34:32 AM
Rodney
PM Harper and the Conservatives' reign is coming to an end! Expect an election in a few months and the Liberals to win a majority!
June 09, 2009 at 12:39:02 PM
B.Bince
Who made this tape? maybe it was left behind on purpose as to put the so called politician in a bad light..... Well done, mission complete :-)
June 09, 2009 at 12:59:05 PM
Bill from Toronto
Ok folks. Some common sense needs to come into play here. If you honestly believe no other politicians and their backroom strategists conduct this sort of reasoning with other issues, you are ignorant.
This is nothing more then normal politics. Like it or not, that is how the world works. We do it everyday in our lives. What is in it for me? How can this work for me? The list goes on.
Oh no....She made a comment about a co-worker. If anyone on here says they never have done the same I will call you a liar.
June 09, 2009 at 1:18:16 PM
Michelle
Obviously this woman has not seen cancer for what it is and certainly has never seen the effects the treatment has on a person, because if she did, she wouldn't think it "sexy"
June 09, 2009 at 1:33:00 PM
Kate
Shame on her! Let her wake up every morning without any hair, missing a portion of her breast and vomiting after treatments and tell me how sexy it is!!!
June 09, 2009 at 1:33:57 PM
Chris
The issue is sexy? I mean come on what a twit!
Yes political people always put their own power before the people its been like that since forever but I do think she should step down or get big time fired. Now I only say this due to the fact the #1 she left someone else handle highly sensitive documents and that they were forgotten in a public place which people found and reported #2 she thinks cancer is a sexy issue that would make her what a hero to other people just because she gets to spend money that isn't there probably lost in transit like always with the government. The first issue she should have been fired and 2nd thing should get her fired. Most places would can you the first huge mistake which she did and now that she has a huge 2nd mistake she should be fired as well but I doubt that will happen.
June 09, 2009 at 1:42:57 PM
Anne
Get her the hell out of there. The public is losing the confidence of the government (not just because of this, of course but this issue doesn't help).
If they don't fire her, Liberals need to step in and take over.
June 09, 2009 at 1:54:19 PM
Anil
I remember this government came into power with the accountability clause.... Not sure if they are following what they preach to the Canadian voters by keeping this MP after all the goof ups she has done while getting paid with public money for her services... I voted conservatives last time but now I see the wolves in sheep clothing here...
June 09, 2009 at 1:56:58 PM
Todd
So she used the term "sexy". What's the big deal. "Sexy" has filtered into business speak as something of high interest, high curb appeal, high profile. Take it for what it is...a word. And no I don't believe for one second that she thinks cancer is sexy. Unfortunatley the issue of cancer is high profile. A book got left behind and the person responsible is no longer employed. Done.
I think it's time for politicians to actually stand by what they say and NOT apologize to suit the flag raisers of the moment.
June 09, 2009 at 2:09:23 PM
John_Downtown_TO
Cancer victims have every right to be infuriated. They are being used as playthings for Raitt's political ambitions. I always thought the Harper Tories were thoughtless and cold.... Now I am sure of it!
June 09, 2009 at 2:14:10 PM
Wendy
There is nothing sexy about cancer. My mother is a 3 time breast cancer survivor and her legacy continues because of the treatment she was able to receive. Step down, TODAY. You should be ashamed of your comments.
June 09, 2009 at 2:48:22 PM
Janice Sykes
This Minister should resign immediately, cancer is a disease and not sexy, educate the lady and send her quickly out of office.
June 09, 2009 at 2:56:57 PM
Angry Lina in Toronto
I sure as hell didn't find anything "sexy" when our son at 14 mos had chemo and radiation AND a bone marrow transplant!
Nothing "sexy" about having cancer and fighting for your LIFE!
This is disgusting - as most public figures and politicians are proving....
She should make a public apology and resign AND pray she never finds herself in need of "isotopes" Let's see how "sexy" she'd feel then.
June 09, 2009 at 3:27:40 PM
Anita
SHAME SHAME SHAME
Raitt should be REMOVED from her job IMMEDIATELY!
What's wrong with the PM. He actually thinks that it's OK???
What's wrong with this government?????????????????
June 09, 2009 at 3:30:37 PM
Becky
Raitt should RESIGN NOW.
Or the PM should FIRED HER NOW.
June 09, 2009 at 4:34:53 PM
Tara
I am a liberal but the media is blowing this all out of propotion. She did not make this comment to be evil because it is a "sexy" topic.
June 09, 2009 at 4:52:04 PM
Ronnie
What the problem? People are nuts. I am not Conservative fan, but I do not understand the problem. Are not people to be allowed to joke around anymore even thought they deal with a serious issue? Should everyone be grim and politically correct even in private conversation? No one to be allowed to used a joke to discharge a tense situation? Come on people...
June 09, 2009 at 5:06:33 PM
Ronnie
The real issue to look at the the firing of the head of the nuclear safety agency last year. Apparently the head was correct that the reactor needs repairs and was fired for refusing to change the positions. Instead of firing the government had to develop a plan to satisfy safety demands while proving temporary relief for isotope production. However everyone is more concerned about some meaningless comments.
June 09, 2009 at 5:51:56 PM
Rosanna
How do you trust a politician's decision making after a remark like the isotope affair is "sexy". Lisa Raitt has a twisted and immature insight. Canadians expect politicians to act with respect, dignity, and intelligence, and Lisa Raitt is clearly a great pretender. Even refusing to apologize is an obvious show of disregard and disrespect towards us all, but especially to cancer patients. I say grow up, take responsibility for your thoughtless remarks, and get out !!
June 09, 2009 at 5:54:16 PM
Paul
I find it disturbing in a society with free speech that someone making comments like this is being thrown to the fire pits...
Perhaps all those who are angry at her comments come from countries without free speech... But in canada (especially in closed dooors) our freedome of speech is paramount. Shame on all those who call for her to resign!
June 09, 2009 at 5:56:53 PM
j.brown
This is considered one of the cream of the Conservative crop.
I shudder to think of what the also ran back benchers would be like if given a portfolio.
Then again maybe they would know when to keep their mouths shut, and where their paperwork is at all times.
There is no excuse for her she must go!!!
June 09, 2009 at 8:32:53 PM
Marty
Give me a break! She is not trying to be insensitive to people with cancer. It is funny that the liberals are doing what they accuse the Conservatives of doing--getting off on things that are insignificant. Furthermore, I am not sure what Ignatieff is talking about--he has never done something for his own career? Really? Hypocrites!
June 10, 2009 at 7:30:21 AM
Jas
People are basically pounding on her for being more open with her thoughts than others.
What she said makes sense. Let's not play innocent here. I can bet each and every one of us have at one point, thought about our own benefits in expense of others' misfortunes. It's not limited to politicians.
The problem lies not within what she said. The real problem is that she chose not to keep the thought to herself. Apology is well within the boundaries but all the call for the resignation is ridiculous.