MONTREAL - The Conservatives are speaking out in defence of an employee who's been described as a "shadow MP'' by Liberal Irwin Cotler.
Cotler has expressed concern that Saulie Zajdel _ the Tory candidate he beat in the last election _ has been working on the taxpayer's dime to undermine him in his Montreal riding.
Until today, the Conservatives had avoided discussing Zajdel's role.
Heritage Minister James Moore publicly addressed the issue today, saying Zajdel works for his office as a liaison to Montreal's cultural communities.
Asked about Zajdel during a stop in the city, Moore said his employee does not perform duties of a sitting MP and maintains his position is not political.
But Cotler has said he's been told Zajdel has offered to help municipal politicians in his Mount Royal riding secure federal grants and services.
The former justice minister has said he's concerned the former Montreal city councillor has been acting as a "shadow MP'' on the public purse. Zajdel lost to Cotler in the last election by fewer than 2,500 votes and is expected to take another run in the urban Montreal riding long coveted by the Tories.
Last fall, Cotler decried a phone-call blitz organized by Conservatives, during which his constituents were told there were rumours he was about to resign.
Cotler has denied the rumours and has said he fully intends to finish his term.
Moore made the remarks in Montreal after announing that Ottawa will extend the National Theatre School's annual $4.6-million operating grant for two more years.
