In his Dec. 26 column, Jim Thompson makes a
curious analogy between Conrad Black's current legal problems
and the Gomery inquiry into wrongful practices by a number of
advertising agencies who were contracted to work on behalf of
the federal government.
Thompson asserts the cases are similar in
requiring the dispensation of punitive measures and that, if
guilty, Black will face justice in the American courts.
Unfortunately, he goes even further and states that because a
few unscrupulous advertising executives and federal officials
are alleged to have broken the law, the entire Liberal
Government should face summary dismissal.
It is here where Thompson's logic crashes and
burns at his feet. Does he assert that like Black, every
employee of Hollinger Inc., it's customers and even those who
read Hollinger-owned newspapers must be equally responsible and
should be punished as he apparently believes is the appropriate
measure of justice for the entire Liberal government? The same
government, it should be noted, which took immediate action by
calling on Justice Gomery and the RCMP to investigate and take
action against those individuals who now face criminal
charges.
In the last election, Canadians sent the
government a message that was received in full clarity. Would
we now turn our backs on a successful record of achievement in
exchange for a party that, like Thompson, seems focused on
delivering punishment and other extreme right-of-centre
policies rather than
building on progress achieved?
Gary Holman
Sudbury