Two more cabinet ministers call for review of the CHRC

John Baird

is the Conservative MP for Ottawa-West Nepean, and he's the Minister of the Environment. On August 6, he sent this letter to a constituent in response to a question about the corrupt and abusive practises of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. His letter was fairly bland -- as you can imagine, until the government as a whole and the Justice Minister in particular decides to formally tackle the CHRC, cabinet ministers in other portfolios must tread carefully. The letter mentions Rick Dykstra's motion before the Justice Committee to convene a full review of the CHRC's operations, and especially its pursuit of censorship.

Baird's letter is not much more than "boilerplate". But look at the hand-written note: "I share your strong concerns and will raise them directly with my colleagues + the PM"

 

I understand that the subject of the CHRC's bad behaviour has been bruited on at least three occasions in caucus, so I don't doubt that Baird will in fact raise his strong concerns. And I'm pleased: he is an influential cabinet minister, and one upon whom the PM relies to handle particularly delicate matters.

Helena Guergis is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Simcoe-Grey. She is also the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the Secretary of State for Sport. On August 4, she wrote this letter to a constituent. I received it from two different contituents, so I sense she's receiving a lot of mail about it.

Her letter has the same ministerial blandness as Baird's, but she calls the CHRC "problematic".

I'd add these two to the list of supporters for reform, and I'd put Baird as a strong reformer.

Why not take a moment to send these two an e-mail of encouragement? You can e-mail Baird here, and Guergis here.

I haven't added them up in a while, but we must be close to 20 MPs from several parties.