TO TRAIL P.M.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30079, 13 March 1963, Page 15

TO TRAIL P.M.

Truth Squad In Canada

(N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright

OTTAWA, March 12.

The Canadian Liberal Party headquarters have announced that a three-member “truth squad” will start trailing the Prime Minister (Mr Diefenbaker) on the April 8 election campaign to point out inaccuracies in the Prime Minister’s speeches. The squad will be composed of a Liberal member of Parliament, Miss Judy La Marsh, a journalist, Mr Jack Macbeth, and a research consultant for the Liberal Party, Mr Fred Belaire. The announcement said the Liberals decided to send the group to follow the Prime Minister on his campaign travels because of statements he has made “which proved to be exaggerations or distortions of official facts and records,” the Canadian Press reported today. “The Canadian public is entitled to an accurate presentation of the issues in this election,” the Liberal campaign headquarters said. Carrying official statistics and records, the squad will issue statements to reporters accompanying the Prime Minister “minutes after he has finished speaking.” “In the meantime, as the ‘truth squad’ goes about the job of keeping a watchful eye on Mr Diefenbaker, Mr Pearson will continue to stress the positive and constructive approach to the campaign issues,” the announcement said.

The “truth squad” was used extensively in the 1960 United States Presidential election campaign.