Canada taking steps to expel Eritrean diplomat, Baird says

Canada taking steps to expel Eritrean diplomat, Baird says

Canada is taking steps to expel Eritrea's consul general in Toronto, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced Wednesday.

"Canada has taken steps to expel (declare persona non grata) Mr. Semere Ghebremariam O. Micael, consul and head of the Eritrean Consulate General in Toronto, effective immediately," the Foreign Affiars department said in a short news release.

"Mr. O. Micael must leave Canada no later than noon Eastern time on June 5, 2013."

The expulsion comes amid allegations from the Eritrean community in Toronto that O. Micael had been using his position to fundraise for the Eritrean military, demanding that expatriates living in Canada offer "contributions" to help the country fund its war against Ethiopia.

"That is not allowed under international sanctions, because the Eritrean military is believed to have links to African al Qaeda affiliate," CTV's Mercedes Stephenson told CTV News Channel minutes after the announcement was made.

The United Nations imposed sanctions in 2009, and again in 2011, calling on Eritrea to "cease using threats of violence, fraud and other illicit means to collect taxes outside of Eritrea."

Stephenson says members of the Canadian Eritrean community were complaining that those rules were being violated and they were being told that they had to pay "dues" or "taxes" to the Eritrean government.

The Department of Foreign Affairs issued the Toronto consulate several warnings to stop its fundraising activities and to respect international sanctions and Canadian law.

Baird said in his written statement that "today's actions speak for themselves."

"The Eritrean government is welcome to propose another candidate to represent it in Canada, but that person must be prepared to play by the rules," the department said.

"Our resolve on this matter should not be further tested."

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