We get email

I'm certainly not assuming it was written just for me but I did get one response to yesterday's outgoing mail about Omar Khadr and it was actually substantial and addressed the issue. Since the NDP took the trouble to write, they get the publicity. Eat your heart out, Iggy.

Subject: New Democrats support Omar Khadr's return to Canada

From: laytoj@parl.gc.ca

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.

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: New Democrats launch campaign to protect Canadians abroad

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 added link text to a couple of raw links but otherwise that's as I received it.