The world of business can be a pretty small place and it’s hard to say who a person might meet on the road.
While looking at some equipment last summer in Oakville we came across a guy that lives out Erin way. He was an avid reader of the Advertiser for many years and ultimately our conversation turned to local politics.
It’s hard not to, certainly with the theatre on the go in Erin these days.
One would assume a businessman to be keenly interested in the working of local government, but this guy, not so much. Living there and working elsewhere no doubt added to his disinterest.
While indifference seems to be in vogue these days, this particular fellow just couldn’t bear to watch the battles between real business and getting hung up on the minutia. He muttered on about everything seeming to be a tempest in a teapot.
The phrase struck as an odd dismissal of local government so we dropped the subject. Surely Canadians can expect better and demand more than that. Events in Ottawa have us pondering that cliché.
The battle in the Senate certainly has hackles raised across the country. Perhaps by press time the result of this past week long debate will be known.
Who knew what and when? Who is telling the truth? Did the prime minister know more than he admitted initially? The intrigue is palpable as the outrage of Canadians reaches a boiling point.
People typically not interested in politics now bend our ear about abolishing the Senate and other shenanigans in the headlines. Unease continues to grow across the country that politicians at all levels – even appointees – are in it for themselves, whether claiming dubious expenses or ratcheting up their pay packages.
One commenter on our website even suggested, “Wow. Who needs Ottawa when you have Erin?” That might be a stretch, but the sentiment is nonetheless telling.
While the conduct of Senators as presented in the media is abhorrent, the idea that due process or the custom of following the rule of law can be abandoned on a whim for political gain should be of larger concern to all.
There are processes to follow and that should be given the time required. Once guilt is determined, by all means exact a substantial penalty, but until then, fellow Senators should not resort to a lynch mob mentality.
The more this drags on, the murkier the truth becomes, making the insistence on due process that much more critical.
Although we understand the inclination to jump in on such easy issues that engender outrage, we wish the same level of interest or confidence in opinion would show up when dealing with real issues.
Like much in life, too little time is spent on the things that count or deserve our time and thought.
