Canadian conservatives panned the government's decision to give former terrorist and Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr an apology and $10 million (Canadian) for what is called "oppressive circumstances."
Khadr pleaded guilty to killing U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Christopher Speer when Khadr was just 15 years old. Khadr spent 10 years at Guantanamo before being sent back to his native Canada to serve out his term but where he filed an appeal, claiming his plea was made under duress.
The Canadian government agreed, setting him free in 2015 and agreeing to pay him recompense now, to the tune of $8 million in American dollars.
That decision does not sit well with the country's conservative politicians.
"Most Canadians' thoughts would be with Christopher Speer's widow and family, who are reliving their terrible ordeal once again because of the actions of the Canadian government this time," said Tony Clement, another Conservative Member of Parliament.
Clement went on, telling the The Globe and Mail that Khadr's fight should be with the U.S.
"If he has a cause for action, he should be suing the Americans. It should not be on the Canadian taxpayers to pay this payment," Clement said.
"The fact that he is living in Canada at liberty should be compensation enough. After all, he is former enemy terrorist combatant," Conservative foreign affairs critic Peter Kent told the Globe.
The decision did have its supporters, too.
"Finally we have seen the light!" wrote Shelly Whitman, executive director of the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.