OTTAWA - Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day is on a Middle East swing, meeting with Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian and Saudi officials -- but his office says he has no time to talk to reporters back home about the trip.
Day met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday to discuss "issues of mutual interest,'' but his only communication with Canadian media was a news release.
His talks with Saudi officials Wednesday are expected to include the fate of a Canadian under sentence of death, but his office said his schedule is too tight to allow for a conference call back home.
The snub comes despite the fact that the Conservatives pledged an open and transparent government in the election campaign that brought them to power two years ago.
While in Israel on the weekend, Day signed a declaration of intent to "enhance co-operation in the area of public safety,'' but no details were made public.
Day's office offered a brief e-mail about the trip, including planned efforts to sway the Saudis to change the death sentence against Mohamed Kohail.
Kohail, a 23-year-old Montrealer, was convicted after a man died following a schoolyard brawl. His supporters say his trial was unfair.
The news release from Day's office said: "While in Saudi Arabia he plans on raising Mr. Kohail's consular case.
"As you know, our government is deeply disappointed at the verdict handed down by Saudi authorities on March 3rd. (Foreign Affairs) Minister (Maxime) Bernier has written to his Saudi counterpart to request that the government of Saudi Arabia review the decision.
"As Foreign Affairs Minister Bernier has stated, Canada will pursue all avenues to assist Mr. Kohail. We urge Saudi authorities to overturn the death sentence.''
