by Judi McLeod, Canadafreepress.com
September 15, 2004
as Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin was being snubbed by provincial premiers, who broke their promise and had breakfast without him yesterday, the Canadian Coalition for Democracies was launching a campaign to recall his cohort Yvon Charbonneau as ambassador to UNESCO.
"Yvon Charbonneau is an embarrassment to Canadians," said alastair Gordon, spokesman for the Canadian Coalition for Democracies. "Through this petition campaign, the CCD hopes to urge Parliament and Prime Minister Paul Martin to recall ambassador Charbonneau."
Coalition members are not the only ones lamenting Charbonneau’s recent plum post to Paris. The Canadian Jewish community is understandably outraged that the Prime Minister would dispatch the seriously anti-Semitic, long-time Liberal MP to Paris as ambassador and permanent delegate to UNESCO.
Never recanting, Charbonneau, former Marxist president of the Province of Quebec’s second largest union, has been vociferously outspoken against Jews, both on the homefront and abroad.
as a Liberal MP, he was quoted last January as saying "on the Middle East question, I hope that Canada contributes in a more active fashion to the restoration rights of the Palestinian people, without which no hope of a lasting peace can be envisaged."
Canadians were unable to manifest their disdain for him in the polling booth because he stepped aside in the prelude to last June’s federal election. Duly nominated for his home riding of anjou-Riviere-des-Prairies, Charbonneau relinquished his seat to make way for Martin’s handpicked candidate, Pablo Rodriguez.
"While Mr. Charbonneau served as an MP in Parliament, he served the pleasure of his constituents, where they maintained the right of recall," said Gordon. "as Canada’s ambassador, Mr. Charbonneau serves at the pleasure of Parliament and our Prime Minister. Therefore, the responsibility of recalling Mr. Charbonneau rests solely with Prime Minister Martin and the Parliament of Canada."
Charbonneau’s name can also be added to the growing list of anti-american Canadians holding public office. In april of 2003, he was berating President George W. Bush…for "his arrogance."
"He is playing a very dangerous game by riding roughshod over the UN. He is acting in a very dangerous and irresponsible manner." (New Catholic Times, april 6. 2003).
CCD hopes to have one petition a day read out by friendly MPs when Parliament returns after its long, post-election holiday on Oct. 4.
"The appointment of UNESCO ambassador Yvon Charbonneau, a man who has expressed anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and anti-american views, sends a message to Canadians and the global community that such views reflect the policies of the Government of Canada and are acceptable to Canada," said Gordon. "On behalf of all Canadians, we are calling on Parliament to urge the Prime Minister of Canada, the Rt. Honourable Paul Martin, to immediately withdraw Mr. Charbonneau’s appointment and articulate a clear and unambiguous message that anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and anti-US commments do not reflect the policies of the Government of Canada and are unwelcome in Canada."
Canadians, here is your chance to send Charbonneau packing.
Sign thepetition, included here, gather another 24 valid signatures from friends, family and acquaintances.
Upon completion, return the petition to the CCD (address at the bottom of the petition) as soon as possible.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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