Key MP wins Liberal support for Darfur aid initiative: PM briefs independent David Kilgour on plan; all sides deny action related to non-confidence vote

David Kilgour, MP Edmonton Mill Woods - Beaumont

Ottawa Citizen, May 5, 2005

News, A3

An independent MP, who could hold the deciding vote to force a snap election, received a promise this week from the prime minister that Canada will launch a military and development effort in Sudan's troubled Darfur region as early as next week.

Edmonton MP David Kilgour, a longtime advocate of increased aid for Africa, met with Paul Martin on Tuesday to discuss details of the planned initiative in a region where at least 180,000 people have been killed and 1.9 million driven from their homes in ethnic violence over the last two years.

They were joined at the meeting by Senator Romeo Dallaire, the retired Canadian general who led the 1994 United Nations mission in Rwanda.

"I've been told ... that something is coming," Mr. Kilgour said in an interview yesterday. "But I don't, obviously, know ... all the details. It wouldn't be proper for me to be making that announcement."

Senior government sources revealed the prime minister is personally directing the Darfur plan and that it will involve sending fewer than 100 military advisers to assist the African Union military force. There will also be increased money to augment the $50 million in humanitarian assistance already earmarked for Darfur.

"Given the continuing severity of the situation, there's scope for more money for aid," said a government source.

A senior spokesman for the prime minister defended the meeting with Mr. Kilgour.

"Few would quarrel with Mr. Kilgour's expertise on African issues. The prime minister has also spoken about the same subject with Senator Dallaire, with the head of the African Union and with international leaders the world over. If Canada finds itself in a position to do something more to help relieve suffering and fashion stability in Sudan, one would expect that Canadians would be proud," said Scott Reid.

Mr. Kilgour, who defected from the Liberal party last month over the sponsorship scandal, insisted the troop commitments and increased spending will not buy his support for the minority Liberal government in a confidence vote.

Mr. Kilgour is one of three independent MPs whose support -- or lack of support -- for the government could mean the difference between a federal election next month or the longevity of the minority Parliament.

Word of the prime minister's meeting with Mr. Kilgour comes one day after the Conservatives alleged four of its MPs were recently offered Senate appointments or diplomatic postings from prominent Liberals in order to tip the balance of parliamentary power.

The prime minister hinted such a strategy could be employed when he gave an interview to CanWest News Service last week.

Mr. Dallaire, whose struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder following the Rwandan genocide has been widely chronicled, said the planned government program "makes me very happy."

"I think that would be a real perverse statement to say that because of the complexity of the situation in Parliament that that might be a catalyst for (helping in) Darfur," Mr. Dallaire said. "You'd really have to be warped to think of some link like that."

Mr. Kilgour also rejected suggestions he was offered a deal in return for his support, saying he will make up his mind on a confidence vote "about an hour or two before the vote."

He did admit, though, his quest to have Canada boost its foreign aid spending has become easier since the fault lines in the fragile Parliament began to emerge more than a month ago. "I think it's a unique time when the stars are in line and people have a chance to have leverage," he said.