Liberals mock environment minister's friendly invite 
by Romeo St. Martin

[PoliticsWatch updated 11:20 p.m. April 26, 2007]

OTTAWA  — Liberal Senators and staffers on Parliament Hill had a good chuckle on Wednesday at the expense of Environment Minister John Baird.  
 
On Tuesday, the Conservative government scrambled after someone accidentally faxed a speech Baird was to deliver on the government's environmental policy to a fax machine in the opposition lobby in the House of Commons. 

The Liberals believe that Baird's speech was the outline for the Conservative government's secret greenhouse gas emission regulations that are to be announced Thursday after the markets close.  

The Tories have denied it was related to the big Thursday announcement and said it was a speech that was to be delivered on Wednesday in conjunction with the government's ban on inefficient lightbulbs. They say they were only using an abundance of caution when they originally demanded the Liberals return the document because it contained market sensitive information. 

On Wednesday, Baird sent by email to the offices of all MPs and Senators a friendly invitation on behalf of "Canada's New Government" to a technical briefing by Environment Canada officials on Parliament Hill about Thursday's environmental regulations announcement. The Parliamentarians were encouraged to have their questions about the regulations answered.  
 
However, emails obtained by PoliticsWatch show that within minutes Liberal senators and staffers used the "Reply to All" button to send sarcastic comments back to Baird and everyone on the mailing list about the briefing. 

At 3:41 p.m., an unidentified staffer replied:

"I can't make it. Can you fax it to me?"

At 3:42 p.m. a Liberal from the Senate replied: 

"We have a new government? 

When did this happen?"

At 3:49 p.m., Liberal Senator Larry Campbell responded with: 

"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"

And at 4:08 p.m. Liberal Senator Jim Munson wrote: 

"Dear Minister Baird. 

I already received my briefing from (CTV News') Robert Fife last night. 

Thanks anyway for being so thoughtful 

Cheers. 

Senator Jim Munson" 

Baird and his staff most likely had a good laugh about the responses since the minister himself made fun of the accidental fax incident before delivering the speech on Wednesday. 

"As I left the office earlier this morning I said to one of my staff, 'Do you have my speech?' He told me, 'John, everyone has your speech.'" Baird quipped. 

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