Volume 4

Speculation about the contents of Feather Bed, largely driven by MP Tom Cossitt’s questions in the House, spilled into news coverage in 1979. Amidst the media frenzy, both Solicitor General Allan Lawrence and Prime Minister Joe Clark denounced the coverage as little more than “gossip.” Clark declined to release the file, insisting that it was not in the national interest for this sensitive information to be made public.

Files in Volume 4 confirm that Cossitt’s claims were unsubstantiated. Those who knew Feather Bed’s true nature were small, and the RCMP was reluctant to expand the circle beyond those with a “need to know,” such as the Solicitor General or the Prime Minister. In response to a November 1979 request to compile all Canadian names in the file, an officer mentioned apprehension at compiling such a list, fearful that “a certain MP,” likely Cossitt, would attempt to seize and publicize such information. 

All of the documents in this section are from Volume 4, linked below.