By William Miller

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

OTTAWA, Canada – Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Lawrence Cannon, announced that he would be nominating Gerald Latulippe for president of Rights and Democracy, a government-funded human rights organization. Latulippe will replace Remy Beauregard who died of a heart attack at age 66 last month.

Latulippe is a former Cabinet Minister who was in Parliament during the 1980’s. He currently works in Haiti for the Democratic National Institute, a group dedicated to promoting democracy around the world.

Latulippe will take over as President of Rights and Democracy during a period of heavy turmoil. Members of the group have accused the current administration of overloading the board with conservative members in order to promote issues relating to the Middle East and Israel. The sharp divide has compelled former Presidents of the organization to call for the resignation of some senior board members.

Lawrence Cannon expressed his full confidence in Latulippe to lead Rights and Democracy at a press conference on Monday, February 22. “I fully believe that Mr. Latulippe is the ideal candidate to return Rights and Democracy to the promotion of Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” said Cannon.

Latulippe’s appointment stands in stark contrast to recent officials appointed to Rights and democracy. The current administration has typically appointed conservative members to serve on the board. In contrast, Latulippe was a member of the liberal party during his tenure in parliament.

Liberals have criticized the move saying it will only bring more turbulence by pitting a liberal director against a predominantly conservative board. “Our view is that the Conservative government started this process of chaos by appointing a board of governors that basically waged war on the organization it was charged to look after,” said liberal leader Michael Ignatieff.

For more information, please see:

Winnipeg Free Press – Feds Install New Head to Besieged Rights Group – 23 February 2010

CBC – Rights & Democracy: How Much has Changed? – 22 February 2010

National Post – Human Rights Group Choice Disputed – 23 February 2010