Wood lashes out at Stephen Harper over mail-out

Nipissing MP Bob Wood has lashed out at Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper regarding a mail-out notice sent to 32,100 households in the riding.

The mail-out refers to Wood's no-show in the House of Commons Sept. 16 when a vote was scheduled on the definition of marriage.

Yaroslav Baran said the Alliance was doing its job as the official opposition and "raising questions we believe constituents should be asking of their MPs. We're not passing judgement."

Baran added the same mailer went out to five other Liberal MPS across the country who also were no-shows at the vote.

Wood's response to Harper's mail-out can be found in the following news release, issued Nov. 25 at 10:20 a.m.:
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WOOD ACCUSES HARPER OF DESPERATION

Date: November 25, 2003

NORTH BAY – Nipissing MP Bob Wood accuses Alliance party leader Stephen Harper of desperation in a mail-out notice to voters in Nipissing.

The notice deals with a vote in the House of Commons on September 16th on the definition of marriage. It says MP “Wood was a no-show at the vote. Why didn't Bob Wood stand up to defend marriage?”

The long time Liberal MP for Nipissing says it’s “unfortunate that Mr. Harper did not do his homework, or even ask me. Pretty well everyone in my riding knew that I was off sick for the whole week. It got full coverage in all the media, and I made no secret of my views on the issue.” Mr. Wood says he is “disappointed but not surprised” at the latest tactic by the Alliance party.

Wood has been getting support from party supporters and non-supporters as well. One email said: “I consider this attack on your credibility totally out of line” and “the worst form of political desperation”.