Conservative cabinet deeply divided on Khadr deal

Sources report shouting matches and accusations at a Monday cabinet meeting.

Several senior members of government are reportedly furious over the handling of Omar Khadr’s plea deal, which will see the Canadian citizen return to Canada from Guantanamo Bay next year after pleading guilty to war crimes. Stephen Harper was traveling in Europe when the government agreed to repatriate Khadr, and questions have been raised about to what extent Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon kept him informed. Harper is a notoriously hands-on leader (or control freak, depending on who you ask). There is also dissent over the bizarre way Cannon communicated the deal. Until Sunday he denied having any involvement in the agreement to repatriate Khadr, but diplomatic notes leaked yesterday show he was discussing it with the U.S. government as early as Oct. 23.