The federal government announced it will conduct a public and independent inquiry into the case of Maher Arar to reveal all of the facts that led to his deportation and detention in a Syrian jail.

January 28, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario

Government announces plans for National Security Committee

The federal government announced it will conduct a public and independent inquiry into the case of Maher Arar to reveal all of the facts that led to his deportation and detention in a Syrian jail.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Anne McLellan recommended that Mr. Justice Dennis O’Connor undertake the inquiry, following a number of recent developments including the RCMP investigation of an Ottawa Citizen journalist who allegedly obtained classified documents about the case and reported on their contents.

Prime Minister Martin said he supports Ms. McLellan’s decision to call the inquiry.

“It was felt by the Deputy Prime Minister that really, to use her expression, as a result of the turn of events over the course of the last… while that, in fact, this was the solution. And I’ve accepted her recommendation,” said the prime minister.

Arar, a Canadian citizen, was arrested by U.S. authorities at a New York airport and deported to a Syrian jail, where he allegedly was tortured.

In a press conference following the announcement, Arar called it a "great day for Canadian justice."

The government also announced plans to create a National Security Committee of parliamentarians. It will immediately get underway consulting with parliamentarians about the committee’s focus and submit a consultation paper on the matter. At the same time, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler will ask MPs to conduct a review on whether to modernize Section 4 of the Security of Information Act, a law that forbids government from publicizing certain information related to security issues.

In a yet another related measure, Deputy Prime Minister McLellan invited Opposition Party Leaders, who are members of the House of Commons, to be sworn in as privy councillors so that they can review classified documents connected to the Arar case.

Mr. Justice O’Connor will also make recommendations on the RCMP public complaints commission, which will be aimed at ensuring it has the ability to review police activities.