RIGHT HONOURABLE JOE CLARK, LEADER P.C. PARTY
LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER SEPTEMBER 25, 2001
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September 25, 2001
The Rt. Hon. Jean Chr�tien, P.C., M.P.,
Prime Minister of Canada,
Room 309 S, Centre Block,
House of Commons,
OTTAWA, Ontario K1A 0A6
Dear Prime Minister:
Welcome back from Washington. I trust your conversation with President
Bush was productive, and look forward to hearing your detailed report in
the House of Commons.
I am sure the government is looking for all the help it can find in
responding to the unprecedented terrorist attacks on North American
targets. At times like this, our nation needs to mobilize the widest
range of its abilities and talents. In particular, as we examine new
ways to replace systems and assumptions that were proven inadequate on
September 11, any prudent government would want to ensure that all
alternatives were examined, including those the government itself, or
its public service, had put into
place.
With that in mind, I am writing to urge you to put the elected Members
of the House of Commons to work immediately on examining the weaknesses
and strengths of existing arrangements, consulting the widest range of
qualified and expert opinion, and recommending immediate changes that
will make Canada and Canadians safer.
As a parliamentarian of some experience, you would know that MPs bring
more than just wisdom and independence to challenges of this kind. Their
very engagement, in the nation's most important business, reassures
Canadians that all options are being considered, and that no inquiry is
limited by the special interests or preferences of the government. That
kind of public confidence is especially necessary today.
When Mr. Strahl and I have raised this matter in Parliament, the
response of your Ministers has been to note that Parliament has already
been allowed to talk about the tragedy. Talk is no substitute for
action. In other democracies - the United States, the United Kingdom,
for two - elected representatives of the people have been empowered to
act as well as talk. They have been called upon to exercise their
judgement and their experience, as well as just their voice.
For example, in the United Kingdom, the select Committee on Foreign
Affairs began in camera meetings, to discuss terrorism, as early as
September 14, 2001. Prime Minister Blair has, personally, called in
members of three Commons select committees - Defence, Home Affairs, and
Foreign Affairs - to brief them. He has done the same with the
Intelligence and Security Committee of their Parliament. So at least
four parliamentary committees have been at work in the United Kingdom
for more than ten days.
In the USA, the House Committee on Appropriations has, since September
14, been studying a special supplemental spending bill to aid in the
recovery, to help fund the investigation, and to enhance national
security. On September 20, the House Armed Services Committee began
consideration of new spending for national security. The House
Intelligence Committee is working on proposals to improve security
arrangements.
The US Senate Appropriation Committee began meeting September 14, on
measures similar to those being discussed in the Congress. The Senate
Foreign Relations Committee was briefed September 21 respecting
sanctions
affecting India and Pakistan. On September 17, the Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee on Transportation began a joint hearing with the House
Transportation Appropriations Committee to examine airport security.
Expert witnesses have been appearing all week. That means at least seven
committees in the United States Congress and Senate have been meeting
and acting, often for more than ten days.
So elected Members in the United States have been given the authority to
work, as well as talk. So have elected Members of Parliament in the
United Kingdom. So far, your government has taken no initiative to put
Canada's extremely able Parliamentarians to work. That wastes talents
Canada needs, and I would hope you would act today to urge the relevant
committees or subcommittees of the House of Commons to meet immediately
on issues of airport security, aircraft security, the adequacy of border
arrangements,
the adequacy of immigration policy, the funding and other resources of
the Canadian Security and Intelligence Agency, the funding and other
resources of our Armed Forces, and other relevant issues. We should use
our Parliamentarians as actively as Britain and the United States use
theirs.
Finally, let me note that one of President Bush' first acts was to reach
beyond partisanship and act personally to draw in the leadership of
other parties in the United States. Prime Minister Blair did the same
thing in the United Kingdom. You have not yet done that in Canada.
This is not a matter for governments, or for governing parties, alone.
Canadian interests are at stake, and in peril. Parliament exists to
serve the broad Canadian interest. It should be given the tools to do
its job.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely
THE END
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