Dion, a great Canadian, dishonoured by Trudeau

[Oscar]

Dion, a great Canadian, dishonoured by Trudeau

[ https://www.thestar.com/opinion/comment ... udeau.html ]

Dismissal of Stéphane Dion reveals the ruthless and calculating politician in Prime Minister Trudeau

PHOTO: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion take part in a meeting during the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru on Nov. 19, 2016. (Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

By Craig Scott Thu., Jan. 12, 2017
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What were you, Justin Trudeau, to do when, after winning the October 2015 election, you realized that the presence of a respected former leader of your party, Stéphane Dion, in your cabinet would serve as a constant reminder of progressive positions you’d rather not be reminded about?

You know, positions on such small matters as climate change, electoral reform, and handing over detainees to be tortured.

You could leave him out of cabinet entirely but, then, that would be a distinctly cloudy way to signal the start of a sunny new day in Ottawa.

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But, as it turns out, you show your Machiavellian hand, revealing your combined intent to force Minister Dion from cabinet all along and at the same time make sure the electoral-reform file comes nowhere near a proportional representation result.

You simultaneously shuttle another minister (Maryam Monsef — who had also been set up to fail) out of the single portfolio that would be the perfect fit for Minister Dion, namely, the minister of democratic institutions.

Rather than offer this newly open portfolio to a senior statesperson like Minister Dion with more interest and expertise on democratic reform than the entire cabinet combined, you, prime minister, choose to bring in another rookie who, doubtless, you are confident will follow the lead of the PMO in preventing real electoral reform.

Simultaneously and in the result, you summarily dismiss a great Canadian who busted a gut fighting for this country’s unity, who bravely took an early lead in advocating the need for a Great Greenshift, who generally served as a model of decency and integrity in our political life, and who was actually performing strongly as foreign minister notwithstanding the poison chalice of the Saudi arms deal handed to him by the PMO.

This is the opposite of treating a person with respect and dignity, regardless of what non-cabinet position may or may not have been offered.

Apart from declining to act callously and ruthlessly, what was a prime minister to do?

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Craig Scott is a professor of law at Osgoode Hall Law School and former NDP MP for Toronto-Danforth.

[Oscar]

Trudeau shuffles cabinet ahead of Trump presidency

[ http://www.news1130.com/2017/01/10/trud ... residency/ ]

National by The Canadian Press Posted Jan 10, 2017 11:33 am PST Last Updated Jan 10, 2017 at 12:50 pm PST

EXCERPT:

Dion’s tenure at Foreign Affairs has been a rocky one, marred by controversy over his approval of a $15 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. His prickly demeanour was also seen as ill-suited to dealing with the unpredictable Trump, who has demonstrated a tendency to easily take offence.

Rumours have swirled for months that Dion was to be named ambassador to France but he has denied any interest in the plum post. Tuesday’s announcement paid special tribute to Dion but would only say Trudeau looks forward to his “wisdom and his tireless service” in “the next chapter of Mr. Dion’s contributions to our country.”

[Oscar]

Statement by the Honourable Stéphane Dion

[ http://sdion.liberal.ca/en/news-nouvell ... hane-dion/ ]

January 10, 2017

For one year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave me the honour of being his Minister of Foreign Affairs. As is his privilege, he has just entrusted this great responsibility to another person. I wish Chrystia the best of luck.

On January 25th 1996, I entered politics at the request of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. I was envisaging a brief parenthesis in my life. It has been, in fact, an incredible adventure. For this, I am indebted to the prime ministers and Liberal leaders who placed their confidence in me, to my colleagues in Parliament, to the public servants who supported me with competence and professionalism, to the members of the Liberal Party of Canada, to my political teams who, in Ottawa as in Saint-Laurent – Cartierville, placed their talents and their enthusiasm at my service. With all my heart, I thank the voters of Saint-Laurent – Cartierville who, a full eight times, placed their confidence in me and gave me the honour of representing them in the House of Commons. Of course, I could not have accomplished anything without all the sacrifices made by Janine and Jeanne. I thank them for all their love.

Over the last twenty-one years, I have devoted myself to my riding, to my fellow citizens, to Québec, to all of Canada, to the role that we must play in the world, and to the Liberal Party of Canada. Now, I shall deploy my efforts outside active politics. I have enjoyed political life, especially when I was able to make a difference to benefit my fellow citizens. I emerge full of energy…renewable! But politics is not the only way to serve one’s country. Fortunately!