Richard Colvin: CTV Interviews FAIR

Executive Director David Hutton speaks to Brad Giffen of CTV News regarding the case of diplomat whistleblower Richard Colvin.

Former Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin testified officials either ignored or downplayed his reports about the abuse of detainees. Colvin told a Commons committee that many Afghan prisoners had been tortured after they were handed over by Canadian troops to Afghan security.

November 21, 2009

Giffen: Federal Liberals and NDP are stepping up their demands that a full independent inquiry be called into allegations of abuse of Afghan prisoners.

Excerpt from Question Period

Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale: "Why won't the government help Canadians get the whole truth in this matter through a full, independent judicial inquiry?"

Transport Minister John Baird: "In his testimony before the committee earlier this week Mr Colvin confirmed that he never witnessed abuse first hand. Mr Speaker, his allegations are nothing short of hearsay, sometimes second or even third-hand information"

Giffen: Former Canadian diplomat Richard Colvin testified officials either ignored or downplayed his reports about the abuse of detainees. Colvin told a Commons committee that many Afghan prisoners had been tortured after they were handed over by Canadian troops to Afghan security.

While calls for an inquiry continue from Parliament Hill, the government has set its sights on the whistleblower himself, Richard Colvin. The Tories have repeatedly said his testimony is not credible.

David Hutton, the Executive Director of FAIR, the Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform, which is an organization that encourages whistleblowers to speak out, is on the line with us from London. Mr Hutton, before we get to the specifics of Mr. Colvin I wonder if you can tell us what Canada's record is when it comes to handling its whistleblowers?

Hutton: Well Brad, it is a pretty appalling record. We theoretically have some laws that are supposed to protect them, but these seem to be really just for show. The way that Canadian whistleblowers are treated is absolutely appalling and I can cite you some examples.

I think that the case that people should be looking at if they want to understand what's likely to happen to Richard Colvin is the case of Joanna Gualtieri, who was also with foreign affairs and who raised concerns in the early 1990's about extravagance and wasteful spending in their accommodations for diplomats abroad. Her case is still before the courts: she is still fighting the government in court and there is no sign of her case coming to trial.

She has been subject to all the kinds of harassment and reprisals that typically happen to whistleblowers. Her case is typical: the only thing that's unusual is that's unusual about it is that she is still standing and still fighting.

Giffen: Specific to the case of Richard Colvin now, the man we are seeing in these pictures that we're showing the Conservative government is attacking Colvin's credibility outright, even suggesting that his testimony aided the Taliban. Defence Minister Peter McKay however made it clear yesterday that Mr. Colvin will not be punished for his testimony. Where do you think that this will go for him, Mr. Hutton?

Hutton: Well his claim that he (Colvin) won't be punished is kind of laughable because the government is currently doing everything in its power to punish people who have previously spoken up in a similar fashion and they continue to do this.

They are obviously not going to turn round and fire him now, not while he has this high profile, but he has already been subject to reprisals in the sense that the justice department seems to have done everything in its power to restrict his access to legal counsel, even though they have intentionally put him in an extrement difficult position, of double jeopardy if you like, where he could go to jail if he refused to testify to the Military Police Complaints Commission, and he could go to jail if he does testify.

That's the kind of position that they have put him in and that that is why of the 22 people who were subpoenaed to testify to the Commission, the other 21 backed out.

Giffen: Well Mr. Hutton I think it seems pretty obvious that this is going to have a dampening effect on anyone else who ever considers stepping forward as a whistleblower.

Hutton: Oh absolutely, and people need to understand how extraordinarily courageous this man has been, because he is fully aware of the situation that he is stepping into and the intensity of the feeling against him by senior people in government. So it's extraordinary that he would come forward in this way.

I think that people should also bear in mind that this was not someone going out there looking for a fight or to embarrass the government. On the contrary, this was someone who by doing his job properly was trying to keep our troops safe, to protect the success of our mission in Afghanistan, and also to keep the government out of trouble. The reason that they are in trouble now is because they have simply ignored his reports, and in fact tried to suppress them from quite an early stage.

Giffen: Testimony this week by whistleblowing diplomat Richard Colvin putting the Conservative government on the defensive amid opposition calls for an official enquiry. David Hutton, Executive Director of FAIR, an organization that encourages whistleblowers to speak out, speaking with us from London. Good talking to you sir, thank you.

Hutton: Thank you for having me.