Foreign Affairs committee Our normal practice is that if a Canadian comes looking for assistance we do not turn them away. And to go back to a couple of the earlier questions, indeed, I would say that the strong default of the consular service is to assist. I have seen it on very many occasions personally.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee Mr. Chair, perhaps I could ask Mr. Cossette to respond to that one.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee Well, we don't have training programs...or do you mean consular?
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee I can't answer that specifically in that particular case--
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee It would be a normal thing, right.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee It is not codified.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee Yes, I think Mr. Portelance should answer that.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee I don't know if you'd call it an obligation. There's certainly a duty.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee No, but I know from my long history in the department that--
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee Mr. Chair, in terms of answering the question--I suppose it has to do with your recent proposal, of today in fact--I can't answer whether it would make a difference or not.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee I know it's being done already. Whether codifying it would make a difference, I'm not sure. It might provide some assurances to Canadians that it in fact is happening, but I can assure Canadians that it is happening.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee Perhaps I can start. I'm sure that we at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade honour the rights of Canadian citizens. That's a rule and a way of working. We are always very much aware of Canadians' rights. We enforce our rules and provide our consular services in an equal manner.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee I am not aware that this letter came into the system. I heard, subsequent to the news about the particular case, that you had written a letter.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee Since I wasn't here when all of this occurred, I'm not in a very good position to provide a briefing on it. As well, I do think we are beginning to enter into territory that could well be part of the litigation, and I'm reluctant to enter into it.
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards
Foreign Affairs committee Well, somebody did take my place—
August 26th, 2009Committee meeting
Leonard Edwards