8 National News

The Cadre * 1 December 1998

Scott resigns under pressure over APEC affair

By ALEX BUSTOS

OTTAWA (CUP) — With the much-anticipated resignation of Solicitor General Andy Scott, opposition members of parliament are wondering what took so long — and renewing their calls for an independent body to replace the APEC in- quiry.

After nearly two months of intense political pressure, Scott bowed to the prevailing winds in Ottawa on Monday by announcing he was resign- ing as Canada’s top cop.

His exit, however, didn’t putan end to political heat over the APEC affair. “Why did the Prime Minister not fire the solicitor general six weeks ago when it might have meant

Bishop’s University honours Archbishop Desmond Tutu

By MATT MCOOEYE

LENNOXVILLE, Que. (CUP) — Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu came to this small com- munity last week to receive an honorary degree from one of Canada’s smallest universities.

Bishop’s University awarded the archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, an honorary Doctor of Civil Law Degree at a special graduation ceremony.

About 250 people filled the pews of St. Mark’s Chapel, the oldest university chapel in Canada, before going on tothe convocation where Tutu was awarded the degree in front of about 3,000 students, faculty community members.

The famous speaker and anti-apartheid activist, who has recently headed South Afri- ca’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, told the crowd young people are the key to the future.

“I ask young people to dream,” said Tutu, who re-

something?” Reform Party Leader Preston Manning asked during question period Monday.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien replied by turning the tables on his political oppo- nents,

“T didnot fire the solici- tor general,” he said. “Because ofthe constant attack from the opposition he decided that it was too difficult for him to do all his work and he decided to offer me his resignation.”

The government’s ex- planation didn’t wash with stu- dent leaders.

“People don’t resign over nothing,” said Elizabeth Carlyle, national chairwoman of the Canadian Federation of Students. “This is a de facto

ceived five standing ovations from the crown throughout his speech.

“Weare too hard on our young people. All youth need affirming, and someone to be- lieve in them. Continue to dream and whatever you im- agine, you can accomplish. When we are

not supernatural, we are subhuman,” he said.

The Anglican arch- bishop also credited many peo- ple, including former Prime Minister F.W. DeKlerc and President Nelson Mandela, for the progress South Africa has made since 1990, when apart- heid was ended.

Tutu also thanked peo- ple from other countries who participated in the fight against apartheid.

“Our victory is your vic- tory,” he said. “We wouldn’t have made it without you. Without your help, we would not be where we are today.”

Bringing Tutu to Lennoxville, Que., was a grati-

admission of guilt (by Scott).”

In his letter of resigna- tion to Chretien, Scott said al- legations he had prejudged the APEC inquiry had made his situation as solicitor general “untenable.”

But Scott once again denied he had tainted the RCMP Public Complaints Commission hearings into the actions of officers at last year’s APEC conference in Van- couver.

“The fact is that I have never, and never would have, prejudged the outcome of the commission’s inquiry nor in- terfered with its process,” the embattled former minister said.

Calls for Scott’s resig- nation surfaced last month when New Democratic Party

MP Dick Proctor said he over- heard him discuss the APEC inquiry with a seatmate on an Oct. 1 flight from Ottawa to Fredericton.

According to Proctor,

Scott said a police officer.

named Hughie — assumed to be RCMP Staff Sgt. Hugh Stewart—would be found guilty of using excessive force against student protesters at the APEC conference.

Opposition MPs said the allegedcomments proved Scott had prejudged the inquiry — a charge the government has steadfastly denied for the last month and a half.

But last week the Lib- eral line was weakened when New Brunswick lawyer Frederick Toole, Scott’s

seatmate on the infamous flight, filed an affidavit confirming Proctor’s record of the con- versation.

Conservative Party MP Peter MacKay said Scott’s resignation didn’t liftthe cloud of suspicion hanging over the troubled APEC hearings.

“The (APEC) commis- sion itself is still being chal- lenged by the RCMP,” MacKay said outside the House. “They’re saying they don’t have confidence in the panel.”

Earlier this month alle- gations surfaced that inquiry chair Gerald Morin had pre- judged the hearings by telling a friend the police overreacted during the meeting of 18 Pa- cific Rim leaders.

fying experience for Bishop’ University, officials said at th ceremony.

Bishop’s University i honored to have such an es teemed guest on its campu: said Bishop’s Chancellor D Alex K. Paterson.

“It was Desmond Tt tu’s leadership, backed by h church, that inspired millior inside and outside South A rica to oppose oppression,” said.

The school’s histor

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being founded by Anglicz ministers in 1843, playedarole in luring the high-profile figure to this small city outside of Montreal.

“By awarding this de- gree to Archbishop Tutu, Bish- op’sis celebrating its Anglican roots and paying tribute to a distinguished member of the worldwide Anglican commun- ion,” said Paterson.

Tutu left Lennoxville for Edmonton, where he was to attend a human rights confer- ence.

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you, a very special holiday season.