Alleged ‘shadow MP’ says he resigned after becoming distraction to Harper

MONTREAL – A former government employee described as a “shadow MP” by the Liberals says he resigned out of concern he was distracting people from the work of Stephen Harper.

Saulie Zajdel told a Montreal radio station that he quit after the controversy surrounding his federal job overshadowed a recent announcement by the prime minister.

“I was tired of being this distraction,” Zajdel said Wednesday in a radio interview with CJAD.

The former Conservative candidate was hired by Heritage Minister James Moore after losing to Liberal MP Irwin Cotler in last year’s election.

Cotler expressed concern that Zajdel was working on the taxpayer’s dime to undermine him in his Montreal riding.

Zajdel said his job was to promote and explain Canadian Heritage programs that are available to multiethnic communities.

“Frankly, it’s kind of an insult to say I was a shadow MP,” he said.

Zajdel also hopes to run again in Mount Royal riding if the Tories will have him.

“I certainly support the Conservative party totally,” he said.

“If the party, and the powers that be, and the association still want to have me as their candidate – it would be my greatest pleasure.”