PC frontrunner flayed
Flip-flops, hit lists linked to MacKay
By SUN MEDIA


OTTAWA -- The frontrunner in the Tory leadership race came under intense attack by his rivals last night.

During a nationally televised debate on CBC Newsworld, Nova Scotia MP Peter MacKay was accused of drafting "hit lists" within his party and of chronically flip-flopping on important issues of the day.

Fellow Nova Scotia MP Scott Brison blamed MacKay for public confusion about the party's platform and accused him of waffling on issues such as Canada's role in Iraq and the gun control program.

"They've criticized the party for not standing for anything, and I think that's your problem," Brison said. "We don't know, and Canadians don't know, what you stand for because you flip-flop on the issues."

'Hit lists'

Calgary businessman Jim Prentice lambasted MacKay for publicly calling for inclusion while developing "hit lists" of people he doesn't welcome in the party fold.