Throwaway comments? No, I think the issue points to the growing disconnect between a majority of in most cases socially moderate Canadians and those in the politically correct, self-styled "progressive" governing class, which is heavily represented in both the Lib and NDP brands. Most Canadians don't see Canadian citizenship as a legal technicality intended only to confer rights and benefits. They see it more broadly as inherently amounting to a social contract that entails both rights and benefits on the one hand and commitment and responsibilities on the other. The debate over the Khadr settlement almost perfectly illustrates the extent of the divide, with a solid majority of Canadians, including (by the way) majorities among both Lib and NDP supporters, siding with the broader interpretation.