Page "Peter Kent" Paragraph 17

In an interview with journalist Steve Paikin on December 9, 2009, Kent acknowledged that as Minister, he is instructed to only use language vetted by the PMO, on occasion lifting Stephen Harper's statements from newspaper reports: " So when we ’ re asked about the Israeli position on settlements, we never criticize Israel publicly.

We say those settlements are ' unhelpful ' in finding a comprehensive peace settlement.

We ’ ve put on the record our position on nuclear power and India.

We say ' it ’ s no longer the 1970 ’ s, it ’ s now 2009.

' I saw the prime minister ’ s quote in the newspapers to that effect yesterday, and so I used it today.

" Kent's comment that his government does not criticize Israel publicly was contradicted several months later by his senior minister, Lawrence Cannon, who went on record in the House of Commons " condemning " Israel's expansion of illegal settlements.