Tory strategist leaves after false Ignatieff leak

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Tory strategist leaves after false Ignatieff leak

The Canadian Press Published Wednesday, April 27, 2011 1:32PM EDT Last Updated Saturday, May 19, 2012 4:35AM EDT

Pierre-Karl Peladeau, president of Quebecor, walks by media people to testify at a legislature committee on Labour 2011 at the legislature in Quebec City, Tuesday, February 1. (Jacques Boissinot / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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OTTAWA - A top Tory strategist has left the Harper campaign after a Quebec media mogul outed him for supplying false information.

The Conservatives have confirmed that Patrick Muttart "has no further role" with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's campaign team.

Muttart was a key backroom player in Harper's election victories in 2006 and 2008, and served as his deputy chief of staff before leaving to join an American public affairs firm.

He recently returned to work on the Conservative campaign as a consultant.

Sun Media owner Pierre Karl Peladeau took Muttart to task today for supplying false information to the news organization that inaccurately portrayed Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff as a planner of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Sun Media recently published a report relying on some of the leaked information.