By Gudrun Schultz
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, February 8, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) –Shaw Cable has fired program manager Jim Mattern, he says for his role in releasing the phone number of the caller who accused Conservative candidate Maurice Vellacott of sexual assault during election programming Jan.17.
LifeSiteNews broke that story, which involved allegations of defamation and slander against Liberal candidate Chris Axworthy, who lost the Saskatoon-Wanuskewin riding to Mr. Vellacott in the election. The phone number released by Mr. Mattern was traced to the Liberal campaign office. Mr. Vellacott has said he will purse legal charges.
Jim Mattern said he has no doubt that he has been fired for his role in releasing that number.
“Absolutely. There’s no question about that,” he told the Star Phoenix. “I guess they didn’t like the way I handled it.”
Mr. Mattern has said he stands by the decision to release the phone number to Vellacott.
“I was confirming a fact. I wasn’t doing anything to harm Shaw,” he said. Mattern said Tuesday he will be speaking to a lawyer about Shaw Cable’s actions.
To contact Shaw:
Jim Shaw
Chief Executive Officer
Peter J. Bissonnette
President
Shaw Communications
630 Third Ave. SW, Suite. 900
Calgary, AB T2P 4L4
Phone: (403) 750-4500
Fax: (403) 750-4501.
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage of the scandal:
Liberal Campaign Caught Falsely Accusing Conservative Candidate of Sexual Abuse
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jan/06011901.html
Confirmed: Sexual Abuse Slander Call Came from Liberal Campaign Office – Hear Audio
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jan/06012001.html