Owen is a world-famous artist and one of the organizers of Vanessa Beeley's Canadian lecture tour. Here is what he wrote:

It was my honour yesterday to meet two heroes of mine, courageous journalist Vanessa Beeley - who needs no introduction - and equally intrepid Donald Lafleur, Vice President of the Canadian Labour Congress. Mr.Lafleur had the temerity to flout conventional wisdom @ Syria and visit Damascus to see for himself, attending an international trade union conference. Though he travelled on his own dime as a private citizen - at a time when Canadian labour and progressives of all stripes should be pushing to increase contact with that beleaguered and suffering nation rather than increasing their misery through sanctions which hurt the average citizens - he has been vilified on his return by CLC president Hassan Yussuff. This scoundrel has cynically wrapped a personal antipathy in the shroud of Syria-bashing, claiming Donald's legitimate and humanitarian interest means he is an Assad apologist. He has his eye on a Senate seat and kissing Global Affairs Canada's fat backside is a step along the way. This persecution must be vigorously rebuffed.