Liberals under pressure on Omer Khadr

The federal Conservative Party recently launched a website, called “Khadr Questions,” with suggested social-media posts questioning why and when Mr. Trudeau’s government made its decision to compensate “a convicted and self-confessed terrorist.”

Mr. Trudeau has publicly defended the government’s apology and settlement, saying Mr. Khadr’s rights had to be defended.

“The Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects all Canadians, every one of us, even when it is uncomfortable,” Mr. Trudeau said at the end of this month’s Group of 20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. “This is not about the detail of the merits of the Khadr case. When the government violates any Canadian’s Charter rights, we all end up paying for it.”

Mr. Khadr’s lawyers had filed a $20-million lawsuit against the federal government. Mr. Trudeau recently said he understands why Canadians are angry about the payout, but insisted a court case would have ended up costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars more. “I share those concerns about the money. In fact, that’s why we settled,” Mr. Trudeau told reporters last week. It was settled for $10.5-million payment to Omar Khadr.