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 Editorials | Opinions | January 2008 
Done Their Utmost Best
 Hon. Helena Guergis, P.C., M.P. - The Independent
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| | Happier Days: Brenda Martin |
I wish to respond to recent and repeated concerns and reports expressed by citizens within your area of readership pertaining to the Consular Case of Ms. Brenda Martin. To be clear – Canadian officials have strongly and repeatedly pressed senior Mexican officials at both the state and federal level for a speedy resolution to the judicial process underway in the case of Brenda Martin. Indeed, I have personally raised Ms. Martin’s case directly with senior Mexican officials on several occasions, as did former foreign minister MacKay. With my new responsibility for consular affairs, I will maintain pressure on Mexico to resolve Ms. Martin’s case as soon as possible.
Our consular officials worked vigorously to ensure Ms. Martin’s medical concerns were promptly addressed and that regular communication with her family was maintained. It is unfortunate that these humanitarian efforts do not receive media or opposition attention, but I digress. I would like to extend my personal appreciation to Mr. Rick Norlock, MP for Northumberland-Quinte West, who has been a strong and effective voice in Ottawa advancing many issues, but in particular has been a leader on raising the profile of the plight of Ms. Martin.
As we stress in our messages to the travelling public, Canadians are bound by the laws of the country in which they are travelling – just as foreigners travelling in Canada are subject to our laws. Mexico is a sovereign country and Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in the judicial affairs of another country. That said, our consular officials work to ensure that our citizens have access to legal counsel, receive due process under local laws and demand that their human rights be respected.
It is important for Canadians to know that not all diplomacy takes place in public. While Canada’s privacy legislation also limits me in the information I can divulge about a specific consular case, I can say without hesitation that Canadian consular officials have done their utmost best to advance Ms. Martin’s case since her arrest in February 2006.
Canada’s rigorous advocacy for Ms. Martin’s rights will continue under my watch. However, I wish to caution those who are playing politics with Ms. Martin’s regrettable situation as they are not helping to advance her case or get her home any faster.
Hon. Helena Guergis, P.C., M.P., Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade |
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