News Summary and Comment:
I start with two stories about two Canadians who were/are stranded outside Canada and subjected to torture. First, a new document has come out that partly blames Canadian officials for the torture of Ahmad El Maati. It appears that information was shared with foreign agencies that falsely and linked the men to Islamic extremism. This led to torture. CSIS even went to Egypt with some questions for the Egyptians to ask. I’m sure they expected the questioning to be done politely and in accordance with the relevant UN charters.
Second, the government is now defending its position to leave Omar Khadr in U.S. hands. It believes that asking the Americans to please not use information obtained under torture against him will deal with any messy Constitutional rights violations.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan’s Information Privacy Commissioner joins the line of under-resourced oversight agencies. He had to go so far as to cut back services because he couldn’t hire enough staff. This is the goal of many governments, of course: make information hard to get and then starve the agency to which people can appeal.
In Ontario, the government has announced that it will not renew André Marin‘s contractor as provincial ombudsman. The general consensus is that it’s because Morin is just too good at his job, and has embarrassed the Premier too often. Stand by for the appointment of someone more agreeable.
Have a good weekend.
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Released Documents Underline Government Accountability for El Maati Torture
Government Defends Decision to Leave Omar Khadr’s In U.S. Hands
Saskatchewan Privacy Commissioner Forced to Cut Services
Ontario Ombudsman not to be Renewed
Government Leadership Candidate for Rights and Democracy Criticized
N.S. Premier Continues Calls for Change after Spending Scandal
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Released Documents Underline Government Accountability for El Maati Torture
Torture destroyed his life, victim says
The Star (Toronto), February 24, 2010
Summary: Canadian spies took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to human rights when they travelled secretly to Egypt to interrogate a jailed Toronto man, newly released documents show. Their actions and apparent indifference to the fate of trucker Ahmad El Maati “likely contributed indirectly” to his torture, writes former Supreme Court of Canada justice Frank Iacobucci.
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Government Defends Decision to Leave Omar Khadr’s In U.S. Hands
Justice minister defends refusal to seek Khadr’s return
Winnipeg Free Press, February 23, 2010
Summary: The Harper government says it trusts that the U.S. will voluntarily comply with a diplomatic request to exclude Canadian-gathered evidence in any trial of Omar Khadr.Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said Tuesday that he’s satisfied a diplomatic note sent to the Americans is remedy enough for a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling.
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Saskatchewan Privacy Commissioner Forced to Cut Services
Saskatchewan privacy commissioner cuts services citing lack of resources
Winnipeg Free Press, February 23, 2010
Summary: Saskatchewan’s privacy commissioner says his office is in crisis and is being forced to cut back services because of a lack of funding from the provincial government. Gary Dickson says surging demand for service has overwhelmed his office and the current three investigators cannot sustain the caseload.
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Ontario Ombudsman not to be Renewed
Ontario government to get rid of fiery ombudsman
Ottawa Citizen, February 24, 2010
Summary: The provincial Liberal government, frequently on the receiving end of Ombudsman Andre Marin’s criticism, says it will not renew Marin’s contract, though he’s free to reapply for his job.
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Government Leadership Candidate for Rights and Democracy Criticized
Human rights group choice disputed
National Post, February 23, 2010
Summary: The Conservative government’s choice to head the troubled human-rights organization Rights and Democracy is a former Canadian Alliance candidate who has argued for restrictions on Muslim immigration to Montreal.
Droits et Démocratie: l’opposition rejette Latulippe comme president
La Presse, February 24, 2010
Summary: Le chef du Bloc québécois, Gilles Duceppe, s’attend à ce que le gouvernement Harper écoute les trois partis d’opposition et revienne sur sa décision de nommer Gérard Latulippe comme président de Droits et Démocratie.
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N.S. Premier Continues Calls for Change after Spending Scandal
N.S. Liberal leader calls for change in wake of spending scandal
Globe and Mail, February 24, 2010
Summary: Nova Scotia’s Liberal leader says he’s looking for immediate changes to spending by politicians as he heads into a meeting today with the other party leaders.
