We must obey the Rule of Law |
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Nipawin - February 9, 2001 - by: Mario deSantis | |
apologize |
We must keep our writing clean and we must learn how to apologize for any possible |
misstatement we make. As a consequence, I apologize for yesterday's statement in regard | |
to the RCMP's investigation of our Prime Minister Jean Chrétien(1). Jean Chrétien is not | |
under investigation, and we understand now that the RCMP is to review a request by | |
Joe Clark, the Tory leader, to investigate the role of the Prime Minister in obtaining a | |
federal bank loan for the financially troubled Grand-Mère Inn owned by his friend Yvone | |
Duhaime(2)(3). | |
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Harold |
As we try to keep our record straight, so we want other people and agencies keep their |
records straight, and in the process educate ourselves and our readers. Therefore, I want to | |
point out how meaningless our Rule of Law was when Ethics Counsellor Harold Wilson | |
conducted a twenty-four hour review on Chrétien's involvement in the Grand Mere's affair | |
and provided his final judgment that Chrétien had not violated any ethical written rule ( | |
Rule of Law) while at the same time stating that we need more written rules (Rule of Law) | |
to guide our parliamentarians(4). | |
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immigrant |
Yesterday, Stockwell Day, leader of the Canadian Alliance, tabled documents in the House |
of Commons showing that three immigrant investors provided $2.35-million for the | |
redevelopment of the Grand-Mère Inn between 1996 and 1998(5). Jean Chrétien had | |
previously denied any fifth financial partner in the Grand-Mere Inn(6), and he replied that | |
he knew nothing about the immigrant investments because the program is run by the | |
province. | |
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This is |
Later, when Deborah Grey, deputy leader of the Alliance, told the Commons the $2.35-million |
invested in the Grand-Mère Inn increased the value of the adjacent golf course partly owned | |
by the prime minister, Mr. Chrétien replied that there was no conflict of interest and that he had | |
sold his golf club shares in 1993. This is a lie, since Mr. Chrétien sold his golf course shares | |
in 1999 to millionaire pharmacy owner Louis Michaud of Montreal(7) even though he could | |
have thought that he sold the shares in 1993 to businessman Jonas Prince(8). | |
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degree |
As a principle, ignorance cannot be claimed for avoiding legal responsibilities and Mr. Chrétien |
knows that very well since he has a degree in law, he has practiced law, and he has received | |
many honorary doctoral law degrees from Canadian and foreign universities. | |
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example |
The morale of this story is that we have reached the point whereby we must obey the Rule |
of Law but not trust our luminary lawyer Jean Chrétien. Is this justice? And, is this the | |
example of justice provided to all Canadian lawyers and citizens? | |
------------References/endnotes: | |
List of relevant political and economics articles http://ensign.ftlcomm.com | |
It is not only a matter of self(ish) rights, but it is a matter of whole rights, by Mario deSantis, February 7, 2001 | |
RCMP unit to review Clark's bid for probe 'Taking letter seriously', Joël-Denis Bellavance, National Post February 8, 2001 | |
PM biz ally charged, By STEPHANIE RUBEC-- Ottawa Bureau, Sun Media, February 8, 2001 CANOE. An excerpt "Yvon Duhaime, the owner of the Grand-Mere Inn, is charged with four traffic violations and drunk driving after a high-speed chase through the streets of the PM's hometown of Shawinigan" | |
rime Minister Jean Chrétien's involvement with the BDC's $615,000 loan: Part 2: Thinking Recursively is a Creative Process. By Mario deSantis, December 7, 2000 | |
Alliance accuses PM of inn 'contradiction.' Replies that he did not know source of expansion funds, Andrew McIntosh, National Post February 8, 2001 | |
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's involvement with the BDC's $615,000 loan: Part 1: Chretien's interest for his friends? For his golf course? For creating jobs? By Mario deSantis, December 6, 2000 | |
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's involvement with the BDC's $615,000 loan. Part 5. Mr. Gauthier, Chrétien's golf course, and the pair Pépin & Lemire Co. By Mario deSantis, December 10, 2000 | |
Prime Minister Jean Chretien's involvement with the BDC's $615,000 loan: Wheeling Dealing with the Grand Mère Inn between 1988 and 1996. By Mario deSantis, December 1, 2000 |