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DIPLOMATIC
APPOINTMENT
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Pierre Pettigrew today announced the appointment of Bhupinder S. Liddar as Deputy
Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
and to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Deputy Permanent Representative
to UNEP represents Canada’s views and policies to the Committee of Permanent Representatives,
its sub-committees and to the management of the organization. The Deputy Permanent
Representative provides strategic and tactical policy analysis and advice on the
advancement of Canadian foreign policy and environmental objectives within the UNEP
on such issues as conservation of biodiversity, restoring the ozone layer, and water
and sanitation for development.
As Deputy Permanent Representative
for UN-Habitat, Mr. Liddar will work to bring an international perspective to the
Government of Canada’s preparations for the World Urban Forum, which will be held
in Vancouver next June on the 30th anniversary of the first Habitat conference in
that city in 1976. The Deputy Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat also represents
Canada’s views and policies to the Committee of Permanent Representatives, its sub-committees
and to the management of UN-Habitat.
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A biographical note on the appointee
is attached.
For further information, media
representatives may contact:
James Christoff
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
Biographical
Note
Bhupinder S. Liddar (BA [International Relations], Rockford
College, 1973; MA [Social Sciences], University of Illinois, 1975) was Publisher/Editor
of Diplomat & International Canada magazine from 1989 to 2003. He was
host of “The Diplomatic World”, a weekly panel discussion on current international
issues broadcast on CPAC-TV, and “The Diplomatic World” columnist for The Hill Times.
Mr. Liddar also wrote columns on diplomats for The Ottawa Citizen from 1997
to 1999, and The Ottawa Sun from 1992 to 1994. From 1986 to 1988, he was
Associate Editor of International Perspectives. He worked as a parliamentary
research assistant from 1977 to 1980 and from 1986 to 1988. Mr. Liddar is a member
of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs and the United Nations Association
of Canada, and a former member of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery and the
National Press Club of Canada.
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NEWS RELEASES
September 14, 2005
(11:00 a.m. EDT)
No.
164
STATEMENT
BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MR. BHUPINDER S. LIDDAR
Minister of Foreign
Affairs Pierre Pettigrew and Mr. Bhupinder S. Liddar issued today the following
statements upon the release of the Security and Intelligence Review Committee’s
(SIRC) report on his security clearance:
“On behalf of the Government
of Canada, I wish to take this opportunity to express our sincere regret for the
impact the delays related to Mr. Liddar’s diplomatic appointment have had on him
both personally and professionally,” said Mr. Pettigrew. “With Mr. Liddar’s
consent, I also wish to confirm publicly that the government has granted him a top
secret security clearance based upon the recommendations of Canada’s Security and
Intelligence Review Committee.”
“I am pleased that
the Minister and the government have expressed regret over the delay in making my
appointment and delighted that the government has issued a security clearance to
me,” said Mr. Liddar. “I am also pleased with the SIRC decision and look forward
to serving Canada.”
The government and
Mr. Liddar are in discussions regarding his diplomatic appointment, which will conclude
in the near future, and have no further comments to make about this matter at this
time.
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For further information,
media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
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Statement
by the Deputy Prime Minister
Date Published: 2005-09-14 / Full Statement
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness Anne McLellan today issued this statement in respect of the report
of the Security Intelligence Review Committee on the complaint by Mr. Bhupinder
S. Liddar.
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Statement by Mr. Liddar's lawyer, Ms. Janice Payne:
August 16, 2005
We just met
with Mr. Liddar and agreed that we can now add that we are, on Mr. Liddar's behalf,
continuing our discussions with government legal.counsel and are insisting that
his appointment be honoured for the usual full 3 year term. Discussions are
continuing. If discussions fail, we expect to release the decision and comment
more fully on it by the beginning of September. You can so advise any media
who contact you.
End of statement
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Statement by Mr. Liddar's lawyer, Ms. Janice Payne:
August 8, 2005
SIRC has released
its report containing its findings in response to Mr. Liddar's complaint that he
was improperly denied a Top Secret security clearance following his appointment
on October 21st, 2003 as Consul General to Chandigarh, India. The report upheld
Mr. Liddar's complaint and specifically recommends that he be granted a Top Secret
security clearance.
The Honourable
Paule Gauthier reviewed exhaustively the evidence brought before her and was categorical
in her findings that there was no basis for the conclusion that CSIS drew that Mr.
Liddar should be denied the necessary security clearance.
Mme Gauthier's
report has completely removed any possible concern that
there could have been concerning Mr. Liddar and his appointment. We are currently
reviewing the SIRC report and are engaged in discussion with DFAIT legal counsel
in an effort to resolve and agree on appropriate action with respect to Mr. Liddar's
appointment. We hope to be in a position to advise further in that regard
shortly.
End of statement
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Statement by Ms. Alexa McDonough
"Mr. Liddar deserves to know and
Canadians want to know what role government officials, agencies and departments
have played in freezing Mr. Liddar's appointment so that his name may be cleared"
May 5, 2004 | Full Story
House of Commons
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CBC Television (The National)
"Bhupinder Liddar knows all too well
about international political stories, but he probably didn't know he'd become the
subject of one," Peter Mansbridge
April 20, 2004 | Full Story
Transcript
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