Even if it was short-lived it could still be found out there on the internet. People who largely agree with you politically are even pointing out that in this case there is no supporting evidence for your assertion. Not on BBC, not on Canada's, nor any of the other mainstream media outlets. It just isn't there.
I believe that you certainly believe you heard this story, but it certainly isn't, as you have suggested "common knowledge" as the current common knowledge states that you are incorrect, that your assertion is not accurate.
We have simply asked for more evidence than, Were it common knowledge I long since would have found the link and supplied it. I often do that so that the conversation can advance. In this case your link doesn't exist because this didn't happen.