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April 10th, 2015

Welcome to Panama Mr. Harper

The NDP is encouraging Stephen Harper to accept Arthur Porter’s invitation to visit him in prison, while the prime minister attends the Summit of the Americas in Panama, and tell him in person that he will be removed from the Privy Council and stripped of his “Honourable” title.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Harper failed to respond to the letter we sent to him in February, but as he’ll be in Panama in a few hours, this is a good opportunity to visit his friend Arthur Porter in prison and tell him he has no place in the Privy Council,” said NDP deputy Ethics critic Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont – La Petite Patrie).

Arthur Porter has been a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada for the past seven years, despite the fact that he is currently serving time in a Panamanian prison for fraud relating to illegal transactions between SNC-Lavalin and the McGill University Health Centre.

“On Mr. Harper’s recommendation, Conrad Black was removed from the Privy Council after the American courts found him guilty of fraudulently using corporate property and obstruction of justice. It’s time for Mr. Harper to do the right thing and remove Arthur Porter,” concluded Boulerice.