Inside Politics

UPDATED - Liveblog: Rights & Democracy Chair Aurel Braun (and friends) at Foreign Affairs

by Kady O'Malley Posted: April 1, 2010 10:30 AM Last Updated: April 21, 2010 9:25 AM
MICRORECAP - Despite a written request to do so, Rights and Democracy chairman Aurel Braun and former interim president Jacques Gauthier were not, alas, "packing documents" when they rolled up at the Foreign Affairs committee today with R&D directors David Matas and Brad Farquhur. That didn't stop NDP MP Paul Dewar from grilling Gauthier over a series of contracted tendered by the institute in the weeks following the sudden death of former president Remy Beauregard, during which time an auditor, a private investigator and a communications firm were hired, costing R&D an as yet unreleased sum of money which Gauthier would only acknowledge was more than $10,000 in total. They did promise to release the details -- and the results of the audit -- at a later date. 

Meanwhile, government members were more interested in hearing from Farquhar about the new collective agreement between R&D and its union, which was signed under unusual circumstances, according to the director -- so unusual that it suggested to him the possibility that employees were coerced into signing the letter calling for Braun's resignation in exchange for a favorable deal. 

For full coverage, replay the liveblog! 
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After cancelling his previously scheduled appearance at the very last minute, R&D chairman Aurel Bran -- along with directors David Matas and Brad Farquhar, and director/interim president Jacques Gauthier -- is expected to go before the Foreign Affairs committee this morning to share their side of the still-unfolding saga. Braun and Gauthier are also supposed to come "packing documents," as NDP MP Paul Dewar put it last week, although it's not clear whether the requested material -- which included several contracts tendered over the last two months -- was, indeed, delivered to the committee in advance, as requested. It should be a fascinating morning either way, so check back at 11am for full coverage. 

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Tags: blackberry jungle, committee liveblogging, foreign affairs committee, r&dwatch, rights and democracy