I have been reliably informed that today is Email Harper Day.
Subject: Please repatriate Omar Khadr
To: HarpeS@parl.gc.ca
CC: CannoL@parl.gc.ca, NichoR@parl.gc.ca, IgnatM@parl.gc.ca, LaytoJ@parl.gc.ca
To The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada:
Canada is the only western country that has failed to repatriate those of its citizens who are imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay. The Courts have found that in the case of Omar Khadr, the Canadian government has failed to abide by its obligations under both the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international human rights law including the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
I urge you to reconsider the government's position and respect these decisions without any further delay.
Yours truly,
The nice people on Facebook seemed to think it was important that I include my full mailing address so I did. Do you suppose this means Harper will drop by for a chat?
Y'know, I worry about that. Not about Harper himself dropping by, but, y'know, he knows people, if you catch my drift.
Doubt Harpo himself will actually drop by for 'a chat'. But he may send that pit-bull Bard to belittle your POV, question your patriotism, and demean you existence!
Oops, sorry 'Bard' should be BAIRD... of course.
Thank you for your email requesting that Canada repatriate Omar Khadr. New
Democrats have consistently supported Khadr's return to Canada. At our NDP
Convention in August, delegates passed a motion re-affirming our demand for
his return.
On the seven-year anniversary of Omar Khadr`s detention by US authorities,
we now know that the Canadian federal government spent more than $1.3
million to effectively keep him in Guantanamo Bay. The total cost of the
government's appeals recently was released in response to a formal question
asked by our Party in June, 2009.
NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar said, "Every thread of this case shows
the government is in denial of its responsibility, but now we find out it`s
also spending a significant amount of money just to fight repatriation,
which means the end result is that they're spending money to keep him in
Guantanamo".
We share the disappointment of Canadians over the foot dragging by the
Harper government. Like you, we want them to abide by judicial orders and
seek the return of Omar Khadr to Canada. This government also should follow
the will of Parliament which passed New Democrat Human Rights Critic Wayne
Marston's concurrence motion calling for the immediate repatriation of Omar
Khadr. This March 24th motion endorsed a report compiled a year ago by the
House Subcommittee on Human Rights which called for Khadr's repatriation.
http://www.ndp.ca/press/marston-s-khadr-motion-passes-repatriation-urged.
This case is yet another example of the Conservatives indifference to the
plight faced by a growing number of Canadians who are experiencing problems
abroad. New Democrats believe that it is time to put an end to 'conditional
citizenship'. Looking ahead, MP Dewar has launched a campaign to protect all
Canadians travelling abroad. For more information, please visit:
http://www.ndp.ca/press/new-democrats-launch-campaign-to-protect-canadians-a
broad.
In opposition, Mr. Harper spoke of the government's moral responsibility to
respect the will of Parliament because it was ultimately the democratic will
of Canadians. Regrettably, now in government, Mr. Harper has continued the
Liberals' shameful record of non-interference in the case of Omar Khadr.
Again, thank you for taking the time to register your concern. Feel free to
pass this email to anyone who may be interested. I also invite you to check
our website at www.ndp.ca to learn the latest work being done by our team of
New Democrats.
Sincerely,
Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada's New Democrats
I'm guessing you didn't come in by way of the front page. ;-)
Um, I guess that was sloppy of me. Obviously, I didn't write that message -- I was just copying it out, and I should have said so, blocked it off, even. Sorry.
(Y'all can tell I'm not Jack, eh?)
I just thought it was funny to see it show up in comments less than an hour after I'd put it on the front page.
Oh. I see.
I guess I can't plead old eyes, eh? You wouldn't believe some of the misreadings I do these days. *hangs head in shame, shuffles off stage left*
You can't leave now. It's time for Friday night. (Yeah, it doesn't make a lot of sense when I put it that way, does it?)