Canada could possibly help Egypt in next election
Posted Feb 3, 2011 10:01:28 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA, Ont. – Members of Parliament held an emergency five-hour debate on the crisis Egypt in Ottawa, Wednesday night, focusing on Canada’s reaction to the growing violence and unrest.
In a 20-minute speech, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon called on the Egyptian government to start moving on reforms.
“Putting on a coat of paint to cover the cracks in the wall will not satisfy Egyptian people’s demand for change,” Cannon said.
He said Egypt needs to set up things like an independent election commission, and that the international community is willing to provide observers and technical assistance.
Liberal MP Bob Rae was happy to hear this, but didn’t know why it took so long.
“I don’t think the minister would have made as clear a statement as he did tonight if we hadn’t had the emergency debate,” Rae said.
The Opposition also pushed the government to call on President Hosni Mubarak to step down now and not wait for the next election, but Cannon wouldn’t go that far.
