Late Tuesday, the Harper administration accidentally leaked details of its environment plan - which was scheduled to be released today - to the federal Liberals. Despite that snafu, though, Environment Minister John Baird soldiered on, inviting parliamentarians and their staffers to a Thursday afternoon technical briefing about that strategy. And that invite prompted this email response from Liberal Senator Larry Campbell: "Thank you for the invitation. I believe we already have a copy of your announcement. I am sure there must be someone who hasn't read it." The following is a complete copy of those emails.
----- Original Message -----
From: Campbell, Larry W
To: Baird, John - M.P.; - CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS CONSERVATEURS; - CONSERVATIVE ASSISTANTS CONSERVATEURS; - LIBERAL MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS; - LIBERAL ASSISTANTS; - LIBERAL RESEARCH BUREAU; - BQ DÉPUTÉS/MEMBERS; - BQ: ADJOINTS; - BLOC: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE ET DOCUMENTATION; - NDP MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS NPD; - NDP/NPD ASSISTANTS; - NDP CAUCUS SERVICES; - INDEPENDENT MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS INDÉPENDANTS; - SEN C; - SEN LIBERAL
Sent: Wed Apr 25 15:49:24 2007
Subject: Re: Briefing/séance d'information
Dear Minister Baird;
Thank you for the invitation. I believe we already have a copy of your announcement. I am sure there must be someone who hasn't read it.
Regards
Senator Larry Campbell
----- Original Message -----
From: Baird, John - M.P.
To: - CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS CONSERVATEURS; - CONSERVATIVE ASSISTANTS CONSERVATEURS; - LIBERAL MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS; - LIBERAL ASSISTANTS; - LIBERAL RESEARCH BUREAU; - BQ DÉPUTÉS/MEMBERS; - BQ: ADJOINTS; - BLOC: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE ET DOCUMENTATION; - NDP MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS NPD; - NDP/NPD ASSISTANTS; - NDP CAUCUS SERVICES; - INDEPENDENT MEMBERS/DÉPUTÉS INDÉPENDANTS; - SEN C; - SEN LIBERAL; - SEN P.C.; - SEN IND; - SEN SENATORS' OFF/BUR. SENATEURS
Sent: Wed Apr 25 15:38:26 2007
Subject: Briefing/séance d'information
Dear Colleague:
On Thursday, April 26, I will be making a major announcement on behalf of Canada's New Government with regard to our regulatory plan on greenhouse gases and air pollution.
Therefore, I would like to invite you to a briefing by Environment Canada officials on Thursday, April 26 at 4:00 pm in Room 253-D Centre Block (Railway Room). Department officials will be available to answer technical questions about the plan.
While this invitation is for Senators and Members of Parliament, staff of Senators and Members of Parliament may attend if they bring a letter signed by their employer requesting admission to the briefing.
Should you have any questions, please contact my Director of Parliamentary Affairs, Garry Keller, at (819) 997-1441.
Sincerely,
Hon. John Baird, P.C., M.P.
Minister of the Environment
Chers collègues,
Chères collègues,
Le jeudi 26 avril, je ferai une annonce importante au nom du nouveau gouvernement du Canada concernant le cadre réglementaire sur les changements climatiques et la pollution atmosphérique.
J'aimerais donc vous inviter à une séance d'information donnée par les agents officiels d'Environnement Canada le jeudi 26 avril 2007 à 16 h dans la pièce 253-D de l'édifice du Centre (Railway Room). Les agents officiels du ministère seront sur place pour répondre à des questions techniques concernant le plan.
Bien que cette séance soit destinée aux députés et aux sénateurs, un membre du personnel de ces derniers peut assister à la séance à condition d'apporter une lettre signée de son employeur demandant que cette personne soit admise à la séance.
Pour toute question, veuillez communiquer avec le directeur des affaires parlementaires de mon cabinet, Garry Keller, au 819-997-1441.
Sincères salutations,
L'honorable John Baird, C.P., député
Ministre de l'Environnement
Kind of rude of Campbell not to also write his reply in french! Its payback for cancelling his show!
OK, love or hate the junior Senator from British Columbia, you have to admit one thing: he can be pretty darn funny when he wants to.