When you're in a hole it's best to stop digging..

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Friday, January 20, 2006 Page A6
Canadian Press

SASKATOON -- An already tense race in the riding of Saskatoon-Wanuskewin has taken a downright nasty turn.

Liberal candidate Chris Axworthy has apologized to Conservative incumbent Maurice Vellacott after someone used a phone in Mr. Axworthy's campaign office to call a live, televised candidates' forum this week and falsely accuse Mr. Vellacott of sexual assault..

Mr. Axworthy concedes the call came from his office, but he believes someone not connected to his campaign sneaked in and made the call.

But Mr. Vellacott insists that it was a Liberal supporter because someone he knows recognized the voice. Mr. Vellacott is prepared to take legal action.

Mr. Axworthy, a former Saskatchewan justice minister, issued a statement yesterday apologizing and called the sex-assault allegation "deplorable."

"In as much as it appears that our phones were misused and that the comments were hurtful to Mr. Vellacott, I offer my heartfelt apologies," Mr. Axworthy said in the release.

"As anyone who has known my record in public life will attest, I do not campaign in this fashion or condone this type of conduct."

The incident happened Tuesday night on Shaw Television, the local community station in Saskatoon.

Mr. Vellacott said a caller to the forum accused him of sexually assaulting his secretary while he worked as a pastor at Saskatoon's North Park Church.

He was a pastor before being elected to Parliament in 1997, but maintains that he has never worked at North Park and most certainly has never been accused of sexual assault.

The caller was cut off by the station and Mr. Vellacott asked the staff for the number from the call display. When he returned to his office, Mr. Vellacott said he got a call from a viewer who recognized the voice on the phone as a "friend of Axworthy's."

Shortly afterward, Mr. Vellacott discovered the number was listed to Mr. Axworthy's office.

"This floors me," Mr. Vellacott said in an interview. "I'm not a stranger to people saying disparaging things and unkind remarks and so on, but this is something of an altogether different matter. It's one thing for kind of slanderous things to be said, but this is moving an awful lot beyond the pale."

In his statement, Mr. Axworthy said he talked to the supporter that Mr. Vellacott suspects made the call and he "steadfastly denies any involvement."

Mr. Axworthy said his campaign office is "subject to heavy public traffic" and there is a bank machine nearby.

"It is quite possible that a mischief-maker entered the headquarters and misused one of our phones."

Mr. Axworthy also said if the call was made by a campaign worker, he is "unwelcome on my campaign."