Deepening rift at Rights and Democracy

Forty-seven members of Rights and Democracy, the government-funded agency charged with promoting democracy and human rights abroad, yesterday sent a letter to three members of its board of directors, Jacques Gauthier, Elliot Tepper, and chair Aurel Braun, claiming that they have lost the confidence of their employees at Rights and Democracy and requesting their resignations.

Forty-seven members of Rights and Democracy, the government-funded agency charged with promoting democracy and human rights abroad, yesterday sent a letter to three members of its board of directors, Jacques Gauthier, Elliot Tepper, and chair Aurel Braun, claiming that they have lost the confidence of their employees at Rights and Democracy and requesting their resignations.

The letter, which was cc’d to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, follows the sudden death late last week of Rights and Democracy President Remy Beauregard and the resignation of two board members, Payam Akhavan and Sima Samar.