The Canadian Expat Association - Canadian Expat Association

Amanda Cumberland is absolutely correct! The Canadian government needs to explain policy to its citizens. Not only does it need to explain policy, it needs to act on that policy with consistency. The inconsistency that we have been seeing is troubling.

The Canadian Expat Association takes the stand that if you break the law, you will pay the consequence of your actions and will be subject to the laws of the country you were naughty in. No one would argue otherwise. However, it is the responsibility of the government of Canada to represent the interest of Canadians abroad in an Equal and Fair manner based on policy and our values at home. Yes, it is the right of any sovereign nation to ignore anything that the Canadian government says. However, it stands to reason that it would be important to have a clear policy on how the government should act when Canadians are imprisoned abroad.

Recently it was proudly announced by DFAIT that Saul Itzhayek who has been imprisoned for just over ten months in India would be released. DFAIT stood up on a soap box, pounded its chest and said in a news release ~

“Since Mr. Itzhayek’s arrest, consular officials in Ottawa, New Delhi and Kathmandu have been actively working on his case, engaging Indian officials at all levels. “I am proud of the hard work of our consular officials, who succeeded in expediting Mr. Itzhayek’s release,” said Secretary of State Guergis. “Our officials will be escorting Mr. Itzhayek to ensure his smooth return to Canada, where he will be reunited with his family.”

In contrast, although Brenda Martin was eventually charged and transferred to Canadian custody, that had nothing to do with advocacy on the part of the Canadian government. In an article from the Canadian Press ~

"Brenda Martin languished in a Mexican prison while the Member of Parliament then handling her file mingled with Canadian expatriates at a private reception nearby, The Canadian Press has learned. Conservative MP Helena Guergis rubbed elbows in late January with Guadalajara’s Canadian diaspora as they nibbled on hors d’oeuvres and sipped soft drinks and Coronas, say sources who attended the social function. Guergis, secretary of state for foreign affairs, visited Mexico on Jan. 29 and 30 to meet with government officials in Mexico City and Guadalajara. But now some are wondering why Guergis opted to attend a reception in Guadalajara instead of visiting Martin at the Puente Grande women’s prison, about 20 kilometres away."

Canadians living in Canada expect the Canadian government to treat everyone with the same yard stick. Are Canadian Expats no longer Canadian? Do Canadians living abroad not deserve to at least be subject to a consistent policy?

Allan Nichols
Executive Director
The Canadian Expat Association