Arar still on U.S. watch list: U.S. ambassador

Last Updated: Friday, December 15, 2006 | 11:53 AM ET

CBC News

Despite being exonerated by a federal inquiry, Maher Arar remains on a U.S. government watch list, says the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

David Wilkins became ambassador to Canada in June, replacing Paul Cellucci.
(Canadian Press)

In an interview with CBC Radio's The House, Ambassador David Wilkins confirmed Arar remains on the American border lookout system.

"My information is that he is on the watch list and has been since he was deported, yes," he said.

Four years ago, the RCMP mistakenly labelled Arar as an Islamist extremist and asked Washington to keep watch for Arar. The former Ottawa engineer was detained at a New York airport in late 2002 and deported to Syria, where he spent nearly a year being tortured in a prison.

The RCMP has since apologized for its mistake and its commissioner, Giuliano Zaccardelli, resigned after telling a Commons committee he gave incorrect information during earlier testimony.

Late last week, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said he didn't know whether Arar was still on the American watch list, telling a Commons committee he had recently posed the question to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"Their response was — I'm not saying I was totally satisfied with it — that because it was a matter of privacy that if Mr. Arar or perhaps his lawyers would contact the State Department, they can find that out," Day said.

Wilkins wouldn't comment further because Arar is suing the U.S. government.

PM should act: Layton

A spokesperson for Day said the minister has written Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff requesting the U.S. remove Arar from its watch list.

NDP Leader Jack Layton on Thursday called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to make a direct plea to U.S. President George W. Bush to have Arar's name removed from the list.

"The prime minister must do everything that he possibly can to correct this situation," Layton said. "Otherwise, it sends a message the Canadian government will not stand behind its own citizens."

Maher Arar has called for full accountability from officials involved in his detention.
(CBC)

A lawyer for Arar in the U.S. agrees that Canadian officials should do more.

"The excuse being that Canada understands that the U.S. won't accept pressure to take someone off their watch list," said Maria LaHood.

"I mean, I would hope that the Canadian government would put pressure on the U.S. because I don't know what's going to make a difference."

As for Arar's lawsuit in the U.S., a district court dismissed it last February. However, LaHood filed new information, including the final report of Arar inquiry with the Second Circuit Court of Appeal this week.

Arar has filed a lawsuit against officials from the RCMP, CSIS, Foreign Affairs and others in senior government positions for their alleged role in his deportation and detention in Syria, Falconer said.

The lawsuit seeks $37 million in compensation for extraordinary injury to Arar and his family.