Dear editor,

In reference to Glen Staples (Record, April 1).

I quote, 鈥淐oalitions were quite acceptable in 2004 when he (Harper) wanted one 鈥� but when they didn't favour him, 鈥榗oalition鈥� had to become a dirty word.鈥�

That claim is not true. It was a deliberate innuendo by Jack Layton and the Eastern Liberal anti-Conservative elites in media.

When asked by the press about his recollection of the discussions prior to his press conference with Harper and Duceppe in 2004, Jack鈥檚 line was: 鈥淲ell, it (a coalition) was certainly on the table 鈥︹�� Did the presser clarify who put it on the table or ask Mr. Layton how come he said one thing in 2004 and another now? No way! Silence from the media section.

Here is what Jack actually said at that press conference:

鈥淚t鈥檚 impossible to imagine that these three parties with their completely different platforms could form a coalition as we find in other countries.鈥� (Jack Layton, 2004)

Gilles Duceppe in 2004: 鈥淚n no way we are a coalition and we won鈥檛 be a coalition.鈥�

Stephen Harper, a quote from the same press in 2004:

鈥淭his is not a coalition but a co-operative effort 鈥� we want the Prime Minister (Paul Martin) to respect our positions in Parliament 鈥︹�� (Stephen Harper, 2004)

Stephen Harper鈥檚 position has been consistently honest and transparent: Separatists do not belong in the government of the country they wish to destroy.

Joyce Dargie,

Courtenay