Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae, has yet to explain his controversial remarks on Quebec’s law on the secularism of the state and has been invited to appear before a parliamentary committee for this reason for almost six months. , recalls the Bloc Québécois.
“As early as January, I asked that we summon the Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, and we agreed to summon him as soon as possible. But we are in July and we still have not heard from the ambassador, ”complained to his colleagues, MP Stéphane Bergeron, last Friday.
The elected Bloc member took part in the emergency meeting of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. The elected members were trying to formulate the invitation to appear for Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, in particular, on the subject of Canada’s decision to allow the export of turbines requested by the Russian company Gazprom.
Mr. Bergeron objected to the use of the expression “as soon as possible”, judging that the committee had not yet fulfilled its promise to have Ambassador Rae appear, following the latter’s public position against the Secularism Act of the State of Quebec, nicknamed “Bill 21”.
“There is a deeply discriminatory meaning to this law. This is clearly contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” wrote on Twitter Bob Rae, December 12, 2021.
The leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, had quickly described the ambassador as “unworthy of the position he occupies”, asking the federal government to recall him to the country.
On the recommendation of its subcommittee on procedure, the federal parliamentary committee responsible for foreign affairs issues invited Mr. Rae to appear before its members, according to a motion passed on January 31.
Still no explanation
According to the agreement between the parties, Mr. Rae was to answer questions for two hours “concerning his mandate and his experience”. The Bloc Québécois intended to seize the opportunity to cook it on the sharing of its position on its social networks.
The ambassador did make a brief appearance before the elected members of the parliamentary committee on international affairs on February 28, but only to talk about the war in Ukraine. This had just been launched, and it monopolized the most urgent work of elected officials. Mr. Rae is still invited to attend to answer questions from elected officials, including those concerning Quebec politics.
“The invitation remains with Global Affairs Canada [le ministère responsable de la diplomatie canadienne]. At this time, they have not provided a date when Mr. Rae may be available,” committee clerk Erica Pereira confirmed.
To hear Mr. Rae on the question “remains relevant”, believes MP Stéphane Bergeron.
“We have seen the intention of the government [fédéral] lend a hand to those who want to challenge Bill 21 in court [en Cour suprême]. Was this already discussed? he asks himself.
According to him, the government’s choice to send Mr. Rae to represent Canada at the UNU illustrates the practice “which is becoming commonplace among the Liberals” of appointing former politicians as ambassadors, instead of diplomats from careers who have risen through the ranks in the public service.
Bob Rae has served as Premier of Ontario, Liberal MP and Interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, among others. He has held various diplomatic positions since 2017, and was appointed Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations in 2020.
Controversy over his use of Twitter to criticize Bill 21 has not deterred Mr Rae from using his official account for writingon July 7, “#BoJoMoJoNoMo”, in all likelihood a joke at the expense of the resigning Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson.
Global Affairs Canada had still not responded to questions from the To have to at the time these lines were written. Bob Rae could not be reached.