The Cadre + _13 October 1998 National News 7

Solicitor General denied "inappropriate conversation" about APEC inquiry

BY ALEX BUTOS

OTTAWA (CUP)--Federal opposition parties demanded the resignation of Solicitor General Andy Scott Tuesday for allegedly pre-judging an RCMP inquiry investigating police actions at last year’s Asia Pacific Economic Co- operation conference.

The demands came aday after Dick Proctor, a New Democrat member of parlia- ment, said he ov acon- versation between Scott and another ger aboard an Air Canada flight to Fredericton on October 1.

Proctor, who was sitting two seats away in the same row as Scott, took notes as he listened in on the conversa- tion.

“[Scott] talked very openly about the APEC in-

quiry and he said that as far as he was concerned it would come out that there was ex- cessive force used by four or five Mounties,” he said last

Monday.

{Scott also) said, ‘I'm the cover. I to go to the world series in New Y ork next week but I can’t because I’m the cover.’”

When asked to i the meaning of the word “cover” Proctor cima Scott was protecting ; minister from the RCMP pub- lic complaints commission.

Dozens of students were pepper sprayed, arrested with- out charge and had their pro- test banners confiscated dur- ing the APEC conference last November.

Thealleged discussion on

the plane, the ioe charged, was proof Scott had prejudged the commission's results.

Scott has said publicly in recent weeks that people look- ing for answers about the treat- ment of at the sum- mit should wait and see what the inquiry concludes.

asked to respond to the al ions on Monday, Scott told the House he couldn't recall who he spoke to on the flight or if they discussed the APEC affair.

Outside the House, Scott also said Monday he would have to consider quitting if Proctor’ s story was confirmed, the Globe and Mail reports.

But on Tuesday, Scott told the House he recalled talk- ing to lawyer and Liberal Party

su Frederick Toole on the Fredericton-bound flight.

He said he discussed APEC with Toole but didn’t engage in “an inappropriate conversation that in any way would prejudice the outcome of the [public complaints com- mission) inquiry.”

The opposition wasted no time in rejecting Scott's assur- ances,

“How is it that the solici- tor could notrecall any of the conversation y, but today has total recall of that same conversation,” said Reform Leader Preston Man- n

Moments later, Reform member of parliament Deborah Gray demanded that Scott step down.

“Great Scott, we have gone from ‘I can’t recall’ to total recall, now to a rebuttal. When will we go to the resig- nation?” Gray asked.

The other opposition par- ties joined Reform’s call for Scott's resignation.

“In light of this contro- versy, will the solicitor general now show some integrity, take

eaereetay, for his actions and resign immediately?”

asked ive Conserva- tive member of parliament Peter MacKay.

Scott re step down.

“As I said this morning, | said nothing that would inter- fere with process of the [hearings] or with the out-

come,” he said.

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