OTTAWA – Liberal MP Marc Garneau says barring Irwin Cotler from an event in Israel is part of a pattern by Conservatives to exclude other parties – as is the government’s decision not to bring opposition members on its delegation to Ukraine.
“You’re darn right, it’s a pattern,” Garneau said Wednesday, after bringing the issue up in the House of Commons.
“It’s been a pattern ever since they’ve been around. They do it all the time and there are numerous other examples.”
The former astronaut has been shut out himself, when he wasn’t invited to the official unveiling of the space arm at Ottawa’s aviation museum last May. The government said at the time that the museum was responsible for the guest list and an official apologized for the “oversight,” although documents later released show at least two ministers’ offices helped plan the event.
“It was largely because of my efforts that it came to that museum, but (the Conservatives) didn’t want me to be there,” said Garneau.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird will travel to Kyiv on Friday, along with two Conservative MPs, a Tory senator and four prominent Ukrainian-Canadians.
No opposition MPs are invited.
“This would have been a nice opportunity, really nice opportunity to have one NDP-er and one Liberal in that delegation,” Garneau said.
Cotler was allegedly barred from an event by Conservative MP Mark Adler, who told him he wasn’t welcome at a reception he co-hosted with an Israeli charity. Adler did not take questions on the incident Tuesday.
Garneau called Cotler “the least partisan person” in the House and that anybody at the reception would have allowed him in.
“He is a world-recognized human rights expert. He has enormous respect in Israel,” Garneau said.
“But no, Adler saw this guy as the opposition, and somehow in his mind this was going to diminish the event in some way. That’s the kind of approach that’s taken by this party.”
(Cotler was, however, included on the prime minister’s delegation – as was NDP leader Thomas Mulcair – to attend Nelson Mandela’s funeral in South Africa. Cotler has declined to comment on the Israel incident)
NDP House leader Nathan Cullen accused the Conservatives of using diplomacy to win votes domestically.
“I think it’s a shame. I think it would have been good for Canada and certainly good for Ukraine to have a number of parties there. Show some dignity in it, rather than just always angling for votes which unfortunately I think the Conservatives do too often,” he said.
But the Conservatives weren’t apologizing to their political opponents.
“The NDP wouldn’t pick a side, unlike our government, which has been steadfast in its support for the Ukrainian people. Until they decide on what they stand for they, like the Liberals, shouldn’t be a part of the government delegation,” wrote MacDonald.
This last remark appears to reference the NDP’s past criticism of Baird’s foray into Kyiv’s main square in support of protesters in December.
– with files from The Canadian Press
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