NAFTA-GATE: Brodie to leave as Harper's chief of staff

Globe and Mail

...Sources said Mr. Brodie made the decision before the delivery of a report looking into leaks of information regarding the North American free-trade agreement, which influenced the Democratic primary race in the United States. The report, while finished, has not been released, and sources close to Mr. Brodie said last night that the former political-science professor from the University of Western Ontario had already been mulling over his departure. Mr. Brodie was at the centre of the controversy over the leaks.

The leaks led to reports that Democratic hopeful Barack Obama's campaign had reassured Canadian diplomats through back channels that Mr. Obama's calls for renegotiating NAFTA were political rhetoric, not serious plans.

The leaks hurt Mr. Obama before two crucial Democratic Party primaries in Texas, and especially in Ohio, where Hillary Clinton's campaign was revived with strong showings.

It was later alleged that Mr. Brodie told reporters during the news media lockup for the Feb. 26 budget that Ms. Clinton's campaign had reassured Canadian diplomats that her tough talk on NAFTA was just posturing, although that wasn't what was subsequently reported. Mr. Harper appointed Kevin Lynch, the Clerk of the Privy Council, to conduct an internal investigation into the matter.

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