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Roméo Dallaire appointed senator

With more than 800,000 people slaughtered in 100 days the Rwandan genocide stands as one of the most horrific mass murders of the past century. In the middle of the horror was a Canadian peacekeeper whose efforts to avert the tragedy were thwarted by political apathy and incalculable evil. CBC Digital Archives looks back at this sad chapter in Africa's history and how Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire managed to survive to become Canada's most famous casualty of war.

More than 11 years after he was plucked out of obscurity to head a mission into a little-known African country, Roméo Dallaire has made it into the political elite. In March 2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin appoints Dallaire to the Senate, completing a tortuous personal journey with a plum political post. This CBC Television interview looks at what he hopes to achieve in his new role as Senator Dallaire. 
• Dallaire was appointed to the Senate along with former Liberal cabinet member Art Eggleton and feminist activist Nancy Ruth.
• As Dallaire explains in this clip, his allegiance to the Liberal party runs in the family. Both his parents were active members of both the federal and Quebec Liberal parties.
• On his choice to sit as a Liberal, he told the Globe and Mail: "One of the things that is cherished in political parties, which I think is most important, is loyalty…and so you see it through the good times and the tough times."

• "As such," he added. "I saw absolutely no other option than to join it as a Liberal."
• Dallaire said that he would continue pushing his personal causes, which include a commitment to send troops into the Darfur region of Sudan.
• In a March 25 interview with the Globe and Mail, he said "[The Senate] has not in any way, shape or form given me any indication that I can't continue to advance my thoughts, research and, hopefully, influence in the inside on human rights."

• "Hopefully," he added. "My five cents will be useful in those decision processes."
• Prior to his Senate appointment Dallaire worked as a special advisor to the federal government on the issues of war-affected children and the prohibition of small arms distribution.
• Dallaire was also a fellow at The Carr Center For Human Rights Policy at Harvard University's JFK School of Government.

• On March 9, 2005, he was awarded the Pearson Peace Medal by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.
• In 2004, viewers of the CBC Television show The Greatest Canadian ranked him in 16th place, just ahead of humanitarian Stephen Lewis and just behind broadcaster Peter Gzowski.
• Due to an arcane constitutional law, Dallaire was forced to purchase a piece of land in the Gaspé region of Quebec in order to become a senator.

• The law, which dates back to 1867, states that a senator from Quebec "shall have his Real Property Qualification in the Electoral Division for which he is appointed, or shall be resident in that Division."
• Paul Martin wanted Dallaire to sit as a representative of the federal electoral ward of Golfe, which includes the Gaspé.
• Since Dallaire owned no property in his ward, he was forced to scramble to purchase a piece of land in the area. Although he won't say where the land is, the law requires it cost at least $4,000.
Medium: Television
Program: Politics
Broadcast Date: March 24, 2005
Guest(s): Roméo Dallaire
Host: Don Newman
Duration: 7:42

Last updated: March 27, 2012

Page consulted on May 24, 2013

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