Did Federal Conservative Cabinet minister Vic Toews declare it "opposite" week, and just not bother to tell anyone else? Because I can't think of any other rational reason why he would call Louise Arbour, who is retiring from being the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a "disgrace."

Far from a "disgrace," Arbour is the epitome of the type of person I want representing Canada to the world.

She doesn't back down. A human rights abuse is a human rights abuse. Whether it's in Canada, the USA, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America.

Yes, she calls out Canada. Good for her!

If she didn't, the moment she dared to challenge other countries, we all know what the response would be. The usual "What right do you have to talk about things happening in our country, when your own country is abusing human rights?" line.

To have someone on the UN who so obviously isn't interested in towing her nation's line is something to be proud of, because it's what is needed for her to do her job. It takes people like Arbour to counter the cynicism that comes when people see UN human rights panels run by some of the worst countries for human rights. When she does that, she makes us look good.

I'm proud that this position in the UN was filled by such an amazing Canadian like Arbour. She is a voice of conscience in a world filled with politicians and people who will compromise.

And you know what? I'm proud that she's willing to point out when my country is wrong, because we are wrong. We are wrong a lot. We just had a huge apology this week for how wrong we were to force aboriginals into residential schools.

Like any nation, we have to be held to account for any human rights abuses perpetrated on our soil. Ignoring human rights abuses don't make them go away or solve them. It just makes them fester and poisons all of society.

And name-calling towards one of Canada's greatest ambassadors of human rights and peace? Now that's a disgrace.