Above: Calandra responds to Dan Harris’ question about Garneau’s exclusion from Canadarm exhibition opening on Friday, May 3.
Below: Calandra apologizes to Garneau on Monday, May 6.
TORONTO – Conservative MP Paul Calandra apologized Monday for disparaging comments he made regarding Canada’s first astronaut and current Liberal MP Marc Garneau.
“Mr. Speaker, let me first apologize to the member for Westmount—Ville-Marie. I answered a question on Friday that I was not particularly proud of, and I just wanted to take the opportunity to tell him that, of course, I am very proud of all our astronauts and our achievements in space, including our first astronaut.”
The public apology in the House of Commons followed Calandra’s response to comments from NDP MP Dan Harris during Question Period Friday.
Harris had claimed the decision not to invite Garneau to an exhibit featuring Canada’s acclaimed Canadarm was political.
Calandra, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, said the government is “very proud of Canada’s astronauts,” and that “in this particular event, the Canadian Space Agency was in charge of who was invited to this event.”
He added, “We are very proud of Canada’s astronauts. It is a shame that the Liberal Party rejected him by 80% at their leadership convention.”
Garneau operated the robotic arm on two of his three space missions and lobbied to have the Canadarm displayed at the museum.
With files from The Canadian Press
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