Arar-Opposition Exploitation is Shameful!

The report from the O'Connor inquiry has placed the blame for Maher Arar's mistreatment on "misleading information" passed along to US authorities by the RCMP. It is regrettable that a Canadian citizen was subjected to torture, and even more so if he was innocent of allegations against him. Public Safety Minister, Stockwell Day, expressed his sympathy for Mr. Arar in the House of Commons by saying the following: "As a matter of fact, Justice O'Connor's own words, and heartfelt words I might add, related to Mr. Arar were that this whole situation was regrettable, and we have said it is regrettable. Those were his words. Those are our heartfelt words and we think those are appropriate."

Today in the House, Conservative members joined in a unanimous consent to a Bloc motion that "in the opinion of this House an apology should be presented to Maher Arar regarding the treatment he has been subjected to." When they did so however, they made the distinction that "As parliamentarians, we obviously have a function that's completely different from the executive branch of government. As parliamentarians we're completely sympathetic."

For two days the NDP and the Bloc have been trying to lure a government member into making an explicit apology on behalf of the Government of Canada. It is instructive to note that during this time the Liberals have been notoriously silent (that is because this all happened on their watch). What is shameful however is for parties like the NDP, who claim to be the champion of the oppressed, to exploit the unfortunate event of an innocent Canadian being tortured for crass political gain. Alexa McDonough, et al, know full well that if the government were to express an official apology, specifically if it came from the Prime Minister, it would be tantamount to accepting culpability for Mr. Arar's detention and torture. In Tuesday's debate, the Prime Minister already telegraphed the reason for his reticence to offer an official apology: to do so when Mr. Arar is currently suing the government for compensation would effectively present the latter with a blank check at the taxpayers expense!

The only reasonable thing for the government to do is to express their regret, to admit that Mr. Arar was clearly the victim of injustice, to give assurances that the recommendations of the O'Connor report will be followed, all of which has been done. Honorable Members know that one does not comment on matters that are under litigation, specifically if they will circumvent or prejudice the negotiations already underway. The fact that the NDP hoped to cause the Conservative party political embarrassment before the 'great unwashed' is a naked shame, particularly when Mr. Arar's dignity and suffering is the tool for such exploitation.

-TruBlue