Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion is harshly critical of Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the question of double-murderer Ronald Smith who is on death row in Montana:

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion today wrote to Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer to ask him to commute the death sentence for Mr. Ronald Allen Smith, a Canadian citizen sentenced to death for the murder of two men in 1982.

“I have taken this step because the Conservative government is not representing the views of the majority of Canadians nor is it respecting long-standing Canadian law and policy on the issue, and I believe it is my responsibility to make those views known and to uphold the law,” said Mr. Dion.

“By refusing to seek the commutation of the death sentence of Canadian citizens on death row in other countries, and by reneging on Canada’s decision to co-sponsor the UN resolution opposing the use of the death penalty, the Conservative government has changed Canada’s policy by stealth.”

Stephen Harper is not representing Canadians.

Stephen Harper is not upholding the law.

Stephen Harper is acting in an underhanded manner.

It sure sounds like Stephane Dion is breaking his promise not to bad-mouth the Canadian government in front of foreigners:

"I never, never will speak against my government when I am with international personalities,'' Dion said. (Globe and Mail, June 15, 2006)

But guess what? Stephane Dion is keeping this promise. The actual text of the letter to Governor Schweitzer makes no mention of Stephen Harper or the current government, or even obliquely references government policy. The letter is a personal plea to spare Smith's life:

I write to you today on behalf of Canadians of all political stripes, beliefs, creeds and religions to respectfully urge you to commute the death sentence for Mr. Ronald Allen Smith, a Canadian citizen sentenced to death for the murder of two men in 1982.

I am not asking for you to pardon Mr. Smith, nor do I question the validity of his conviction. I believe that the state of Montana has every right to convict and punish Mr. Smith for his crimes and that is why I am not seeking his return to Canada. I ask only that you commute Mr. Smith’s death sentence.

Today, Mr. Smith is the only Canadian facing the death penalty in the United States. Canada abolished the death penalty more than 30 years ago and the majority of Canadians continue to believe that we must oppose its use, both domestically and in cases where Canadian citizens face this punishment abroad. I share this belief and as Leader of the Official Opposition in our Parliament, it is my duty to convey to you the conviction of millions of Canadians who want to see Mr. Smith’s sentence commuted.

I know that as the chief executive power in the state of Montana, you have been entrusted with upholding the laws of your state and providing safety and security to your citizens. I do not believe these would be undermined if Mr. Smith’s sentence was changed to life in prison. I know too that you are also entrusted with the reputation and the dignity of your state and its people. I believe both would be enhanced by commuting the death sentence in this case.

I give Stephane Dion a hard time on this blog. I think by and large he deserves it, and more. But in this case, Stephane Dion has kept to his word o never criticize the government when comunicating directly with a foreign government. I can think of a few members of the Liberal caucus who might not be trusted to show such constraint and respect for the role of the government as Stephane Dion has shown.

Stephane Dion gets a lot of things wrong. But on this, he got it right. And I would be getting it wrong if I pretended not to notice it.