Canada's Hollow Claim to be Defender of Human Rights

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs made a tweet about human rights - it might not have proven she is a twit, but that's pretty clear anyway. And her tweet managed to offend that paragon of virtue, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who took umbrage (or at least pretends to) and created an international hissy fit.

Saudi Arabia's extreme reaction against Canada aside, there is something about Canada being criticized for speaking out against Saudi Arabia's violation of human rights that doesn't ring true to me.

A spokeswoman for the foreign minister says:

"Canada will always stand up for the protection of human rights, including women's rights and freedom of expression around the world. Our government will never hesitate to promote these values and believes that this dialogue is critical to international diplomacy."

The problem with this statement is that it is simply not true.

It's almost as if the Canadian government has been intentionally presented with an opportunity to showcase its 'consistent moral stand on supporting human rights', even though this is a myth. The whole narrative coming from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other officials feels contrived.

It is true that Canada spoke out against the arrest of women's rights activists, including Samar Badawi in Saudi Arabia. My question, though, is why?

How are Palestinian rights, which are being violated daily, different from the violation of the rights of the Saudi Arabia activists? This is also a prime opportunity for the Canadian government to speak out against the U.S.-supported Saudi Arabian genocide committed against the citizens of Yemen. They have said NOTHING!

What about Venezuela? Are their rights being violated and, if so, by whom? First the Canadian government imposes sanctions on Venezuelan individuals allegedly linked to human rights and corruption. Then our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland calls Venezuela's May election "illegitimate and anti-democratic."

It gets better! She continues on with "the Maduro regime has shown itself unwilling to make any serious attempt to ensure the elections meet international, democratic standards of freedom and fairness." There were 250 international election observers in Venezuela to oversee the May election. Not ONE of them came to the conclusion that the Venezuelan election was "illegitimate and anti-democratic." Every single election observer, to a person, concluded that the Venezuelan election was fair and democratic.

So where is Freeland getting her information from? Nowhere. She is simply mouthing, almost verbatim, the U.S. policy line regarding Venezuela.

So is her conscious lying about Venezuela's political system a violation of Venezuela's government and peoples rights? Yes! She violates the most fundamental principle underlying all governments' communications, and that is to speak the truth.

Venezuela deserves the right to be acknowledged for the democracy that it is and it deserves to be treated fairly and honestly by other countries. Take note that our foreign affairs minister, Chrystia Freeland, can look straight into the camera and lie to the Canadian people about the Venezuelan people and, by her silence, the Palestinian people. Canadian citizen's rights are of no interest to this government.

These are just a few of the countries whose rights, human or otherwise, Canada does not recognize, or seem troubled by.

Canadians were starting to doubt their governments' commitment to human rights and support of freedom of expression world wide, but the Saudi's over-the-top response against Canada, supposedly for Canada supporting the rights of Saudi activists, may have simply given the Canadian government an opportunity to say to the Canadian people "see, we really do speak out against human rights violations."

Freeland, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and most of the liberal cabinet are ruthless about implementing their neoliberal policies economically, politically, and militarily - domestically and globally. That's what all the lying is about. As they dismantle the Canadian democracy already wounded by the previous prime minister, Stephen Harper, thereby paving the way for the corporate and military elite to govern, they are constantly telling the Canadian people that we are a democracy that enjoys rights and freedoms.

Their number one focus is the next election and to win another majority. No matter how big the lie, no matter how deceptive the narrative, they will say and do anything to get 4 more years of governing. But for now the Canadian rubes must be placated. So keep them distracted with future NAFTA negotiations illustrating how Trudeau will fight for Canadian interests. For Canada's government, Donald Trump has been a real blessing in distracting Canadians with his tariffs, ridiculous tweets, and overall belligerence toward Canada.

Continuously supporting human rights at home and abroad is probably the most important activity our government can engage in. What the government's claimed focus on human rights says is that valuing human life supersedes all other values.

When it is decided that Trudeau, Freeland, or any liberal MP should speak to the Canadian people it is a calculation, made by the real powers that be. It is a strategy undertaken to control the message and in turn to control what Canadians can and cannot be told. Mainly it's about what Canadians CANNOT be told.

Recently the narrative has been about our government laying claim to continuously protecting human rights. In proclaiming this falsehood they have violated the Canadian people's fundamental right and that is, when our government speaks to us, it needs to speak the truth.

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