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How much should -- how much can -- the Canadian government exercise influence, when a Canadian citizen falls in to the hands of the police of another state?

How much more forceful is either of these questions when the foreign state is one which is known to use torture on those whom it jails?

These questions have been given terrible relevance, and equal immediacy, by the examples of William Sampson and Maher Arar who, respectively, were in a Saudi and a Syrian jail.

The case of Sampson who, after three years, and a sentence of execution, was finally released last month is well known. He has, since his release, detailed in a wide range of media outlets, the details of his treatment. His torture was brutal, long and horrifying. This week Mr. Sampson had the Parliamentary equivalent of his day in court. In Ottawa, before a parliamentary committee, he upbraided Canadian officials, challenged the assertion of some officials and the Minister of External Affairs that all that could be done had been done, and demanded an inquiry on how his case was handled by the government and its officials.

Maher's case, in one respect, is more complicated, though equally brutal. The complication comes from the question of whether Canadian officials were complicit -- gave either information or a "green light" on the Americans, who had arrested him, to return him, not to this country, but to Syria. Mr Arar has citizenship with both countries but was resident in Canada when he was picked up.

Did Canada, or its services, aid the Americans with information that it was not lawful for them to give? Or, did anyone in this country silently signal he should be sent, not back to Canada where he had been, but to Syria? With the knowledge, that in Syria, he would mostly likely be tortured.

Mr. Arar wants an inquiry into his case, as well. We will be talking with his lawyer on this program and with Mr. Arar.

The government, the PM, high cabinet ministers all deplore these two cases: but in neither is there any sign that government will permit or wants an inquiry.

Today on Checkup, were asking the question, "Does Canada do enough to protect its citizens abroad?" And, "Should there be an inquiry?"

I'm Rex Murphy. This is Cross Country Checkup.

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