Tuesday, February 23, 2010

More About Candidate for New President of Rights and Democracy


Mr. Gerard Latulippe ran in Charlesbourg-Jacques-Cartier as candidate for the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance in the 2000 Election but he was not elected.

According to Joe Friesen and Campbell Clark: "Mr. Latulippe declared his support for Quebec sovereignty in the 1990s, several years after he was forced to resign from Liberal premier Robert Bourassa's cabinet over conflict-of-interest allegations."

According to Paul Wells: "In 1994 Latulippe was delegate-general for Quebec to Brussels when the Parti Quebecois was elected under Jacques Parizeau. Parizeau and his minister of international relations, Bernard Landry, couldn't bear the thought that Quebec's vast network of foreign bureaux be staffed by people who actually liked Canada. So they checked. And anyone who, having been asked, didn't swear their loyalty to the notion of a sovereign Quebec, was fired. That's how Gilles Houde lost his nice foreign post, and Reed Scowen. But Gerard Latulippe had no problem! He gave more than the client demanded,” Le Devoir reported at the time, noting in a Brussels press conference at Bernie Landry's side that he had secretly been a supporter of sovereignty for two years before anyone thought to ask."
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/02/22/rights-and-democracy-loyalty-and-competence/#


According to Graeme Hamilton: "In 2007, when Quebec was in the throes of debate over the reasonable accommodation of religious minorities, Mr. Latulippe submitted a 37-page brief to a provincial government commission studying the issue. Mr. Latulippe warned that Quebec's open immigration practices were leading to the creation of Muslim ghettoes in Montreal, which could easily become breeding grounds for terrorism."Some ethnic groups insist on living according to their own life codes, which run counter to our values and sometimes even our fundamental rights," he wrote. The smooth functioning of Quebec society, he said, is harmed by "the increasingly large geographical concentration [in Montreal] of immigration from Muslim countries." Among the solutions he proposed were a requirement that immigrants settle outside Montreal and a pre-immigration test to verify that a potential immigrant's values conform with those of Quebec society. He also said such religious symbols as the Muslim headscarf and the Sikh kirpan should be confined to the "private sphere." On the other hand, Catholic symbols such as the crucifix in the provincial legislature reflected Quebec's "national identity" and should be preserved, he said."
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2599979#ixzz0gMJjQaeY 


According to Juliet O'Neill: Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon is expected to decide early next week whether to take the advice of the three opposition party leaders and withdraw his proposed appointment of Gerard Latulippe as president of the troubled Rights and Democracy agency.
 http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=2620317#ixzz0gkIzAIOj 


According to Agnes Gruda: "Mais d'autres voix appuient la candidature de Gérard Latulippe, évoquant sa compétence et son expérience internationale."
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/201003/01/01-4256242-gerard-latulippe-un-homme-et-ses-zigzags.php

Monday, February 22, 2010

Minister Cannon Statement on the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (Rights & Democracy)


Minister Cannon Statement on the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (Rights & Democracy)

(No. 72 – February 22, 2010 – 11:40 a.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (Rights & Democracy):
“I am pleased that an exceptionally qualified candidate, Mr. Gerard Latulippe, is willing to take on the job of President of Rights and Democracy. As required under the legislation, we are now consulting the Opposition Leaders on the candidacy of Mr. Latulippe for the position.
“Mr. Latulippe is currently the resident director for the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Haiti. Before being posted to Haiti, Mr. Latulippe was the Institute’s Morocco country director and senior representative for the region of the Maghreb. He has also worked for NDI in countries such as Jordan, Libya, Iraq, Georgia, Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Egypt.
“I fully believe that Mr. Latulippe is the ideal candidate to return Rights and Democracy to the promotion of Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
“I would also like to express the Government of Canada’s support for the decision made by the Board of Directors to engage a private firm to conduct a forensic audit of the organization’s financial transactions, as announced last Friday.”
Rights & Democracy is a non-partisan organization with an international mandate. It was created by Parliament in 1988 to encourage and support the universal values of human rights and to promote democratic institutions and practices around the world. The organization continues to make valued contributions internationally.
In Haiti, Rights & Democracy is currently working on a new four-year program called Strengthening Democratic Governance and Promoting Human Rights in Haiti. This program has three components: Strengthening State Civil Society Dialogue; Strengthening the Office de la protection du citoyen (Ombudsman’s Office); and Enhancing the Political Participation of Women and Supporting Political Party Dialogue.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Loubier
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2010/072.aspx 


Comment: Mr. Gerard Latulippe ran in Charlesbourg-Jacques-Cartier as candidate for the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance in the 2000 Election but he was not elected.


According to Paul Wells: "In 1994 Latulippe was delegate-general for Quebec to Brussels when the Parti Quebecois was elected under Jacques Parizeau. Parizeau and his minister of international relations, Bernard Landry, couldn't bear the thought that Quebec's vast network of foreign bureaux be staffed by people who actually liked Canada. So they checked. And anyone who, having been asked, didn't swear their loyalty to the notion of a sovereign Quebec, was fired. That's how Gilles Houde lost his nice foreign post, and Reed Scowen. But Gerard Latulippe had no problem! He gave more than the client demanded,” Le Devoir reported at the time, noting in a Brussels press conference at Bernie Landry's side that he had secretly been a supporter of sovereignty for two years before anyone thought to ask."
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/02/22/rights-and-democracy-loyalty-and-competence/#

According to Graeme Hamilton: "In 2007, when Quebec was in the throes of debate over the reasonable accommodation of religious minorities, Mr. Latulippe submitted a 37-page brief to a provincial government commission studying the issue. Mr. Latulippe warned that Quebec's open immigration practices were leading to the creation of Muslim ghettoes in Montreal, which could easily become breeding grounds for terrorism."Some ethnic groups insist on living according to their own life codes, which run counter to our values and sometimes even our fundamental rights," he wrote. The smooth functioning of Quebec society, he said, is harmed by "the increasingly large geographical concentration [in Montreal] of immigration from Muslim countries." Among the solutions he proposed were a requirement that immigrants settle outside Montreal and a pre-immigration test to verify that a potential immigrant's values conform with those of Quebec society. He also said such religious symbols as the Muslim headscarf and the Sikh kirpan should be confined to the "private sphere." On the other hand, Catholic symbols such as the crucifix in the provincial legislature reflected Quebec's "national identity" and should be preserved, he said."
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2599979#ixzz0gMJjQaeY 


According to Joe Friesen and Campbell Clark: "Mr. Latulippe declared his support for Quebec sovereignty in the 1990s, several years after he was forced to resign from Liberal premier Robert Bourassa's cabinet over conflict-of-interest allegations." 
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ex-alliance-politician-will-head-troubled-rights-group/article1477863/



Friday, February 19, 2010

Rights and Democracy Controversy on "The Agenda" tonight.

Tonight on The Agenda on TVO @ 8 and re-broadcast at 11: "The controversy at the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development and what it says about the government's appointment process." It will be available in streaming video on The Agenda web page afterward.  http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/theagenda/index.cfm?page_id=7&bpn=779721&ts=2010-02-19%2020:00:00.0

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Canada Tibet Committee denounces Chinese government’s delisting of University of Calgary

News Release
For Immediate Release Canada Tibet Committee denounces Chinese government’s delisting of University of Calgary
(Montreal, Thursday, 4 February 2010) – The Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) is denouncing the Chinese government’s decision to remove the University of Calgary from its list of accredited institutions, ostensibly because the university hosted His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Calgary last September and awarded him an honourary degree.
“Unfortunately, the Chinese government chooses to bully rather than reason in order to resolve differences. Canadian universities are respected worldwide for embracing free and open debate where opinions are expressed without fear of reprisal,” said CTC executive director Dermod Travis. “That a foreign power should be so out of touch as to believe that they can intimidate a Canadian university through such tactics would be even more astonishing if it were not the Chinese government doing the intimidating.”
The Chinese government’s decision to delist the University of Calgary falls on the heels of their criticism this week of the Obama administration for its decision to sell defensive helicopters to Taiwan and the President Obama’s plans to meet with the Dalai Lama later this month.
“Western governments must realize that if we don’t change China through constructive and substantive engagement, China will change us. The decision to delist the University of Calgary is only the latest illustration of the authoritarian measures that the Chinese government will attempt to export to western democracies unless we make it abundantly clear that we will not be bullied by authoritarian regimes in our own countries.”
The Canada Tibet Committee is an independent non-governmental organisation of Tibetans and non-Tibetans living in Canada, who are concerned about the continuing human rights violations and lack of democratic freedom in Tibet.
- 30 -
For more information:
Dermod Travis
Executive Director
514.281.1907 / dermod@tibet.ca


Comment:  If China's accreditation of universities process is based not actually on the academic value of the degrees they confer, but rather on political criteria, is it possible that the Chinese Government has accredited substandard universities because those institutions promise not to allow the Dalai Lama on campus?

Response to a Chinese Ph.D. Student's Query on Canada-China Relations

Question: What's your interpretation of the two "change"s in Stephen Harper China policy that were witnessed in his first and second governments respectively?

My answer: I think that most of the changes in policy in Canada-China relations have come from the Chinese side.  For example granting Approved Destination Status after turning down Chretien and Martin on this over many years.  Canada made no changes to its Refugee Policy nor to the independence of the Judiciary that keeps Mr. Lai Changxing away from Chinese justice in Vancouver.  There have also been concessions on the Chinese side on a wide range of other issues, although not on the Celil case yet.  My interpretation is that the Chinese Government realizing that the Harper Government would be in power for some years recognized that yearning for return of the weak past Liberal approach was counter-productive to Chinese interests in Canada.  For example the Chinese Government now respects that Canada will not engage in fruitless dialogue on human rights and no longer makes the pretence that this or shunning of the Dalai Lama is conditional for "good relations."  The demeaining rhetoric about "friendship" is less applied.  The key is effective maximization of each other's national interests.  For China this is access to Canadian natural resources and the Canadian market for Chinese goods.  In Canada's case it  is promotion of our prosperity through attracting talented Chinese immigrants to Canada and access to the Chinese market as well as effectively standing for democracy and rule of law in China and seeking to support people in China denied their fundamental entitlement to human rights.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs that Government Will Act on "Rights and Democracy" Controversy

Lawrence Cannon on R&D controversy: "I do not intervene in the discussions that are held at the Board level.  Mine is to make sure that this organization is smooth running and that it functions correctly."
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/TV_Shows/The_National/ID=1404185114 

"Obviously, there seems to be a governance structure problem here, and so I'll be looking at that," Cannon said.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/02/03/rights-democracy-dissent.html

"I can tell you that I intend to have a discussion in the very near future with the chairman of Rights and Democracy in order to get his view and his perspective of things," Cannon said Wednesday.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/760353--rights-group-troubled-cannon-says

 February 6: Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon met with Mr. Braun yesterday and said they both want a "constructive future" for Rights and Democracy.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-rights-agencys-future-in-peril/article1458589/ 

February 11: "Le ministre canadien des Affaires étrangères Lawrence Cannon promet d'intervenir d'ici quelques jours à Droits et Démocratie."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hjs-SzBgeXVG9yQDqAdeccra1P0w


Comment:  I think that Mr. Cannon's characterization of the essence of this matter as a "governance structure problem" can lead to a productive resolution once this "governance structure problem" is effectively addressed.  I feel cautiously optimistic that the Board and management of R&D can find a way to work together in harmony again.  There has to be openness, trust and good will on both sides.  There will always be differences of opinion as to priorities and approaches, but at the end of the day R&D has an important mandate to fulfill for Canada and on the nature of that mandate there is in fact a high degree of consensus.

February 19: Le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Lawrence Cannon, serait sur le point d'annoncer une décision dans ce dossier. Selon sa porte-parole Catherine Loubier, il juge «inacceptable» le fait de scruter les origines ethniques d'un groupe d'employés.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/national/201002/19/01-953189-droits-et-democatie-une-enquete-reclamee.php

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Chair of Rights and Democracy Challenged on CTV "Power Point"

Tom Clark, host of "Power Point" quotes anonymous Government source as characterizing "Rights and Democracy"  as a "playground for the left."

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/power-play/feb-1/

Monday, February 01, 2010

Statements of Central Party School on Death of Rémy Beauregard

  1. Nous sommes consternés et éprouvons une douleur profonde après avoir appris la terrible nouvelle du décès le 8 janvier 2010 de notre vieil ami, monsieur Rémy Beauregard, président de Droits et Démocratie. Veuillez accepter nos sincères condoléances et toute notre sympathie à l 'occasion de son départ subit.
    Durant sa présidence, M. Beauregard a constamment attaché une grande importance aux échanges et à la coopération entre l 'École du comité central du Parti communiste chinois et Droits et Démocratie et c 'est sous son impulsion que notre projet a pu connaître des succès considérables. Notre école a tiré grand profit de sa connaissance intime des droits de la personne et de ses réflexions perspicaces, qui nous inspirent une grande admiration. L 'an dernier, M. Li Liandong, directeur du Département de science politique et de droit, dirigeait une mission de notre école au Canada, durant laquelle il fut reçu chez les Beauregard; il y a ressenti personnellement la chaleur de l 'accueil du couple et leur profonde amitié pour le peuple chinois. En novembre dernier, M. Beauregard dirigeait à son tour une mission de Droits et Démocratie en Chine et visitait notre École.
    Sa présence, sa voix et son sourire sont encore bien vivants parmi tous les collègues ici à l 'École!
    Nous vous prions de transmettre toute notre sympathie à son épouse Suzanne et aux membres de sa famille. Nous espérons qu 'ils pourront contenir leur douleur et prendre bien soin d 'eux-mêmes!  Fidèles à la volonté posthume de M. Beauregard, poursuivons sans relâche, côte à côte, les échanges et la coopération entre l 'École du Comité central du Parti communiste chinois et Droits et Démocratie!
    Le Bureau des Affaires étrangères de l 'École du Comité central du Parti
    communiste chinois
     
  2. Nous sommes consternés et profondément attristés par le décès de votre président, Monsieur Rémy Beauregard. Au nom du Centre des droits de la personne de l 'École du Comité central du Parti communiste de Chine, nous exprimons nos plus sincères condoléances et toute notre sympathie à Droits et Démocratie ainsi qu 'à la famille du disparu!
    Monsieur Rémy Beauregard a consacré d 'énormes efforts à la promotion de la coopération académique entre le Centre international des droits de la personne et du développement démocratique et le Centre des droits de la personne de l 'École du Comité central du Parti communiste chinois. Il a fait une contribution exceptionnelle à l 'amitié entre les peuples chinois et canadien.
    Nous chérirons à jamais la mémoire de M. Rémi Beauregard.
    Zhang Xiaoling, directrice, Centre des droits de la personne,
    École du Comité central du Parti communiste de Chine

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Finally Some Good News on Rights and Democracy Board of Directors Allegations

Looks like DFAIT will address the deteriorating situation at Rights and Democracy: Le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Lawrence Cannon, a demandé à son sous-ministre adjoint, Gérald Cossette, d'éclaircir la situation à Droits et Démocratie. Il mènera une vérification et fera un rapport au ministre. C'est la première indication que le gouvernement Harper se préoccupe de la crise qui secoue l'organisme fédéral depuis le 8 janvier dernier.
http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/281964/affrontement-ideologique-ottawa-depeche-un-sous-ministre-a-droits-et-democratie

February 2:  Lawrence Cannon is quoted in the Toronto Star today as indicating that "This is an internal matter at an arm's length agency, and I trust that it will be resolved as soon as possible. There is no investigation into this matter"
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/759030--rights-agency-probe-urged

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

My Preliminary Views on Axworthy Advisory Panel Report on the Canadian Democracy Promotion Agency

Agency ("The Canadian Centre for Advancing Democracy") would have a specific focus on sustainable party development

The 2008 Speech from the Throne made the promise that, "a new non-partisan democracy promotion agency will be established to support the peaceful transition to democracy in repressive countries and help emerging democracies build strong institutions"

The 2007 report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (SCFAID), Advancing Canada’s Role in International Support for Democratic Development, recommendation 15:
"The Parliament of Canada, following consultations with all parties represented in the House of Commons, should consider setting up a centre for multi-party and parliamentary democracy, with a parliamentary mandate."

Relevant Points:
p. 9 "For historic reasons, the Centre should view countries of the Francophonie and Commonwealth, as well the Americas, as priority areas for the Centre to invest in."
p 10 "Rosters of Canadian party activists, able and willing to work overseas should be assembled by the new Centre."
p. 14 "An appropriate mission for the CCAD [Canadian Centre for Advancing Democracy] would be to support the process of democratization by helping to establish or to strengthen pluralistic democratic institutions, particularly political parties, in countries where they are absent or in need of further encouragement and development.  .  . to assist political actors in repressive regimes to participate in the transition to a democratic system."

My initial observation:  I do not see how this Advisory Panel report conceives of what the CCAD would actually do. It is unclear to me how its activities would be distinct from work of The Parliamentary Centre, Rights and Democracy, and CIDA.  I am concerned that it could turn into something of a boondoggle for out of work Party activists and retired Parliamentarians.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Privy Council Governor in Council Appointment seeking candidate for Rights and Democracy President

International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development
(President)

The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development is a Canadian institution with an international mandate to promote, advocate and defend the democratic and human rights set out in the International Bill of Human Rights. In co-operation with civil society and governments in Canada and abroad, the Centre initiates and supports programs to strengthen laws and democratic institutions in developing countries. Although its mandate is global, the Centre focuses its work in a number of core countries.

Retired Senior Chinese Communist Officials on Liu Xiaobo

Four retired Communist Party officials have signed an open letter to China's government calling for a review of the case of jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo.  They are: Hu Jiwei, former editor of the Party newspaper the People's Daily, He Fang, who is an honorary member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Li Pu, a former deputy chief of the official Xinhua News Agency, and Dai Huang, a former Xinhua senior reporter.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100125/wl_asia_afp/chinarightsdissident


Saturday, January 23, 2010

On Hurting Sino-US Ties

The Chinese Government made a statement today to counter the US Secretary of State's call for the Government of China to stop blocking its citizens' access to a wide range of websites. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100122/wl_afp/chinausitinternetgoogleclinton):
BEIJING (AFP) China on Friday said US calls for Internet freedom were "harmful" to bilateral ties, after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticised Chinese censorship of the web.
"We firmly oppose such words and deeds which go against the facts and are harmful to China-US relations," foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement posted on his ministry's website.

I do wonder about this aspect of "harmful to China-US relations."  What does this imply?  For example will the Chinese Government try and interfere with trade relations by violating China's WTO commitments?  Will the Chinese Government try and interfere with immigration matters such as withholding exit permission for Chinese students going to the US to study?  Will China cease to cooperate with the US in addressing international crises at the UN Security Council?  What is it about what Mrs. Clinton has said that "goes against the facts"?  Why does China respond to her statement with what are evidently empty menacing threats instead of something concrete and substantial?  I have many questions?  Leaving aside the usual invective, are there any fact-based answers to them?

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Commentary on Shortcomings of US China Policy

The Canadian Press has issued an insigntful commentary on shortcomings of President Obama's China policy by AP writer Foster Klug entitled "A year into presidency, Obama has little to show from China outreach".   It says: "During his first year, Obama's administration postponed a meeting with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan monk reviled by Beijing, declined to label China a currency manipulator and was cautious in its criticism of China's human rights record.  Obama's China policy has been designed to gain concessions from a country crucial to solving global crises. Yet the United States has seen little benefit on many of its pressing problems, including nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and tackling climate change and economic worries."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hjtng_3EzG9TS53dUhN-IW_n8fkA

Friday, January 15, 2010

CTV Interview with Jason Kenney on Canada-China Relations

Chinese police have "lost" Gao Zhisheng???

According to the Agence France Press, the Chinese police who took prominent lawyer Gao Zhisheng into custody have informed Mr. Gao's brother that Mr. Gao is "missing."  This has prompted speculation that Mr.Gao may have died from torture in the course of interrogation.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100115/wl_afp/chinarightsjusticeus

February 3:  A very distrubing article about this has come out in the New York Times: "Diplomatic entreaties to the Chinese government have been brushed aside. Foreign reporters who ask about his plight have been treated to glib retorts. Ma Zhaoxu, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, compounded the mystery two weeks ago by saying that Mr. Gao “is where he should be.” When prodded again at a regular press briefing last Tuesday, he offered ... See morea smile and said: “Honestly speaking, I don’t know where he is. China has 1.3 billion people and I can’t know all of their whereabouts.”
Legal experts say the disappearance of Mr. Gao, whose case has been championed by American lawmakers, several European leaders and the United Nations, represents a disturbing milestone. Even in the most politicized cases, the Chinese authorities generally claim to be complying with their own criminal procedure laws. Mr. Gao has vanished with no official accounting or legal explanation."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/world/asia/03dissident.html?th&emc=th 

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Report in Le Devoir on R & D Employees' Letter

There is a report in Le Devoir this morning indicating that employees of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development have sent a joint letter to Aurel Braun, Jacques Gauthier and Elliot Tepper demanding their immediate resignation from R & D's Board: http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/280911/droits-et-democratie-en-crise-dirigeants-et-employes-reclament-la-demission-du-president-du-conseil.

Later: Less detailed report in English on same topic; http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/81278482.html 

January 13: Fragment from report in today`s Globe and Mail The employees of Rights & Democracy have unanimously demanded the resignation of the board's chair, Aurel Braun, and two vice-chairs, saying they mistreated the organization's president Remy Beauregard in the months before his death.
At the same time, Mr. Beauregard's widow, Suzanne Trepanier, has insisted that Prof. Braun's name be removed from the message of remembrance displayed on the group's website, describing it as "hypocrisy."
Ms. Trepanier said in a letter to Mr. Braun that the way her late husband was treated for the last year of his life made it impossible for her to accept his expressions of regret.
"You don't treat a person like you did with Remy and then praise his qualities after he is dead. This is, to me, hypocrisy," she wrote.
Prof. Braun, who teaches at the University of Toronto, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/rights-groups-staff-demand-resignation-of-chair/article1429192/

January 14: Former Presidents of D&D, Ed Broadbent, Warren Allmand, Jean-Louis Roy et Jean-Paul Hubert write to the PM: http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/281058/a-la-defense-de-droits-et-democratie
"Quatre anciens présidents de Droits et Démocratie ont apporté leur soutien aux employés en colère. Dans une autre lettre envoyée à Stephen Harper, et dont Le Devoir a obtenu copie, Ed Broadbent, Warren Allmand, Jean-Louis Roy et Jean-Paul Hubert réclament une enquête indépendante. « Cette enquête devrait porter une attention particulière au rôle et aux agissements du conseil d'administration », expliquent-ils, selon le quotidien. « Compte tenu des informations qui nous sont parvenues relativement aux circonstances qui ont entouré le décès de M. Beauregard, nous croyons que le comportement de certains membres du conseil d'administration soulève de sérieuses interrogations qui méritent l'attention du gouvernement », ajoutent-ils." http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/National/2010/01/14/001-droits-democratie-rebelles.shtml#commenter

January 15: "In an interview yesterday, Mr. Braun, a professor of political science at the University of Toronto, called the suggestion that board members contributed to Mr. Beauregard's death ludicrous.  . . . He also questioned whether the staff letter made public this week was authentic because it was sent by email and contained only typed names, not signatures. .  .  . Following his death, his widow, Suzanne Trepanier, said she had been told by a coroner that her husband's heart attack was likely linked to the stress he was under.": http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=2443403.

January 20: Aurel Braun, Jacques Gauthier, Brad Farquhar, Elliot Tepper, David Matas, Marco Navarro Genie and Michael Van Pelt respond by Op-Ed in National Post: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/20/aurel-braun-jacques-gauthier-brad-farquhar-elliot-tepper-david-matas-marco-navarro-g-233-nie-and-michael-van-pelt-committed-to-accountability-and-oversight.aspx 
But then an article appeared on this in the Winnipeg Free Press (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/82205207.html) that says: Payam Akhavan, another Conservative appointee who quit the board earlier this month, said Braun's assertion of the board being stonewalled was "absolutely false."  Akhavan, a McGill University law professor who specializes in human rights, said the real dispute is not over Israel and Gaza - where the agency has virtually no presence - but rather control of Rights and Democracy's day-to-day operations, and a board that was trying to "usurp power" and "micro manage."Akhavan said raising the anti-Israel card is part of a "concerted campaign" by the board to polarize public opinion about the agency.

My comment:  The bottom line is that Braun, Tepper and Gauthier provide no account for why the staff at D&D and Mme Trepanier are SO upset with them.  This does not bode well.

January 21: "Troubled rights agency asked for government help months ago: documents" Winnipeg Free Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/82294287.html

January 25: David Matas issues a rambling commentary that appears to imply that he expects that the resolution of the current crisis can only be through the disbanding of D&D altogether: http://ezralevant.com/Matas%20R%26D.doc

January 28: Looks like the situation will be addressed by Ottawa: Le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Lawrence Cannon, a demandé à son sous-ministre adjoint, Gérald Cossette, d'éclaircir la situation à Droits et Démocratie. Il mènera une vérification et fera un rapport au ministre. C'est la première indication que le gouvernement Harper se préoccupe de la crise qui secoue l'organisme fédéral depuis le 8 janvier dernier.
http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/281964/affrontement-ideologique-ottawa-depeche-un-sous-ministre-a-droits-et-democratie