Essentially, this legislation would set forth both the rights of Canadian citizens as well as the threshold obligations of the Government of Canada and its consular services. This bill would affirm these rights and obligations, including rights to consular access, consular visits and repatriation; reporting requirements for Canadian officials when they suspect a Canadian detained or captured abroad has been or may be tortured; and requirements that the government request the repatriation of a Canadian detained abroad in situations where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Canadian has been or may be tortured, is being subjected to conditions constituting cruel or unusual punishment, or is being arbitrarily detained.
Seconded by Elizabeth May on February 1, 2012