Defence Minister Demands Answers

Kate Yule
Monday, October 19, 2009

Canada’s defense minister is vowing to find out why reports warning of the possible torture of prisoners transferred to Afghan authorities never crossed his desk.

Peter MacKay says neither he nor his deputy minister saw diplomat Richard Colvin’s reports on the issue. The report was widely circulated in his office and the department of Foreign Affairs. It also made its way to senior military commanders.

For more than a year, the Conservative government has stated it knew nothing about possible prisoner abuse.

Both former defence minister Gordon O’Connor and Prime Minister Stephen Harper maintain they never say the report, however, top military brass has not commented on the document.

Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh is accusing the Conservatives of willful blindness.