Monday, June 8, 2009

More mystery in Nova Scotia

Who is the applicant? What are the comments and who is the other cabinet member? (the web is full of suggestions but it's probably slanderous to repeat them so I won't). Perhaps more to the point why was someone taping a discussion between a cabinet minister and her staff -- was it the staffer and if so why did the staffer feel it necessary? -- was it the cabinet minister and if so why? -- if it was someone else... oy!


Court hearing begins over Raitt audiotape
Last Updated: Monday, June 8, 2009 2:45 PM ET

A Nova Scotia court began hearing an argument on Monday to block the Halifax Chronicle-Herald from publishing a story about an audio recording involving federal Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt.

A publication ban has been put in place on the arguments before the judge.

The Chronicle-Herald has not reported anything on its website. The paper's Parliament Hill reporter, Steve Maher, has declined to comment.

Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said the federal government has no involvement in Monday's Halifax court hearing and would not comment on the case.

The Conservative party also said it was not involved in the injunction, the CBC's Rosemary Barton said.

The CBC has hired a lawyer to try to get access to the tape.

In the audio recording, Raitt reportedly makes comments about her portfolio and a cabinet colleague. The nature of the comments and the way in which the paper obtained the recording remain unclear.

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