“In Question Period Monday, the NDP jumped all over a trove of emails between the Industry Minister and municipal officials in his Huntsville riding. New Democrats argue the correspondence shows that Mr. Clement was circumventing the approval process to ensure G8 projects got into his riding.

The Industry Minister, however, did not respond to any of the charges, leaving it all to Deepak Obhrai, the parliamentary secretary to the Foreign Affairs Minister. This allowed Mr. Clement to avoid putting his foot in it.

Curiously, however, the Liberals were extremely quiet. They didn’t dive into what seems like a no-brainer and delicious fodder for opposition politicians.

Outside of the House of Commons, Mr. Rae explained why – and he did not show any restraint.

“The House of Commons in regard to this question of Mr. Clement and his activities has become a joke,” Mr. Rae charged. “… You’re getting answers of a completely robotic nature from the parliamentary secretary who’s not in a position to answer. He doesn’t know any of the answers to any of the questions. He wasn’t there, he wasn’t involved.”

“The only person who can answer these questions is Mr. Clement and he refuses, so there is absolutely no accountability with respect to how the questions are being answered – none whatsoever,” he said.”

www.theglobeandmail.com

[Italics added]