Jack Layton is reported to have held a telephone meeting with his caucus which was recorded by a Conservative member.  The article then goes on to deal with the issues surrounding such a deal. 

But nowhere, does it question the ethics of a Canadian political party conducting what amounts to electronic surveillance on one of its opponents.  If I am reading this article correctly and the information is true, then we have a grave situation in Ottawa.  Anybody ever here of ‘Watergate’?  A very similar act brought down the most powerful politician of his time, President Richard Nixon of the United States. 

Here is what needs to happen now if integrity is a word still understood in Ottawa. 

1. The information must be confirmed and the Conservative member publicly identified.  If it is not correct then CTV needs to clarify and apologize. 
2. The Speaker of the House needs to take the matter under advisement to determine what sanction the House needs to apply.
3. The RCMP need to be consulted for possible criminal charges.
4. Stephen Harper needs to immediately apologize to the Canadian people (and actually mean it). 
5. Canadians need to make a statement by contacting their individual MPs from all parties and put them on notice that such behaviour will not be tolerated. 

I lived through the time when governments north and south of the border believed that spying on their own citizens was justifiable and normal procedure.  I will not live through such times again!