June 22, 1948 (20th Parliament, 4th Session)

Mr. J. M. MACDONNELL (Muskoka-Ontario):

Mr. Speaker, on a question of privilege, last evening at eleven o'clock I drew the attention of the house to a statement in the Ottawa Evening Citizen that a "highly-placed informant" had told the Canadian Press that the government had decided to withdraw the special 25 per cent excise tax. I said that if that were true I considered it a gross breach of the privileges of the house, a gross budget leak and a monkey wrench thrown into Canadian business. I said that I would bring up the matter again this morning and ask for a statement. I said that if that statement were true, exemplary treatment should be given to the person or persons responsible.
I think we are getting tired of government not only by radio announcement but by newspaper announcement. I suggest to hon. members of the house in every quarter that when they read about this highly-placed informant they contrast in their minds the very lowly place of the representatives of the people as against the highly-placed informant who is a servant of the government.