Has a sitting Prime Minister ever sent a notice of  Libel to an Opposition Leader in the history of Canada?

Notice of Libel replaces explanations and debate.
Notice of Libel (.pdf) at CTV

Stephane Dion was served with the notice at his official residence apparently over breakfast. Goodness, the lawyers were busy this weekend. Deputy Leader Michael Ignatieff is named, as is Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale, and just so they don’t miss anyone, The Liberal Party of Canada.

These are the two articles The Conservatives want taken off the Liberal Party of Canada website.

Dona Cadman has issued a statement regarding her 2005 conversation with then opposition leader Stephen Harper. The author of the book interviewed Stephen Harper after he met with her at her home. She is the Conservative nominee in her riding and she doesn’t say the insurance policy offer didn’t happen. She says she Stephen Harper had  no idea of it.  She is choosing to issue a carefully worded statement today because…

I’ll be honest, I thought this was mostly Tom Zytaruk’s attempt to peddle his book. He was a friend of Chuck Cadman and has been on this story since 2005. Then I wondered if his publisher Harbour House was keen on pushing the book. Then of course it crossed my mind The Liberals had a hand in it.

Now with this notice, I am leaning toward The Conservatives, and most definitely a politically perfect storm of all involved parties. I’ve believed all along Harper didn’t know or didn’t want to know exactly was was offered, but that does not let him off the hook. Now I’m less sure about what I thought he knew.
Why is The Conservative Party threatening to sue only The Liberal Party?

The House of Commons is completely dysfunctional. MP’s in QP today outdid themselves. For crying out loud even tempered Ken Dryden thinks he’s back in a hockey game yelling ‘you’re dead!’ across the isle.

There is word Zytaruk’s book (an earlier draft ) has leaked online. 
Canadians were busy in 2005 watching Belinda Stronach cross the floor, dump Peter MacKay and get herself a plumb Liberal cabinet post. While the information on Chuck Cadman and visits from parties about the 2005 budget vote was in media, voters weren’t paying much attention.

I think some of the better coverage we’re going to see is from Katie O’Malley at Mclean’s. She posts there are 3 notice of motions going before The Ethics Committee tomorrow from all three opposition parties. 
With a notice of libel toward a party is The Ethics Committee permitted to operate?

This story is getting odder and odder. While everyone has an opinion, the facts are in shorter supply than we care to acknowledge.

moar funny pictures

There is copious howling from politicians today, the pundits are jostling for position, Canadians are most certainly weighing in. Is anyone optimistic this will be cleared up by The Ethics Committee, The RCMP, or the inevitable public inquiry?

The Liberals have been clear they will not take the two articles off their website, nor are they prepared to apologize in English and French. This is what The Conservative Party lawyers are demanding Stephane Dion say to the public: “We apologize to the prime minister for the unfounded attacks made on his reputation.”

(Here is a list of Stephen Harper lawsuits) via: noottawa