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Is the cheese slipping off Len Goucher’s cracker? |
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Saturday, 04 October 2008 |
There is spin doctoring and then there is stupidity. As my departed friend Breen Driscoll used to say, “Here’s two shovels, take your pick.” I don’t know if Len Goucher was trying to spin his way out of the immigrant fees fiasco, or is just unbelievably dense. Either way, his attempt to slough off the report of the Auditor General was nothing short of pathetic.
This is a minister of the crown, an individual sworn to serve the people of Nova Scotia, not just the cluster of Tories who think they own Bedford. Let me tell you a bit about that crowd.
On Wednesday September 24th, there was an unveiling of a memorial to the merchant marines who served this country so proudly during World War Two. Groucher acted as the emcee. There were two rows of dignitaries, including the mayor, Peter Kelly.
Also seated with the guests of honour were Bedford citizens Peter and Joan Christie. I say “citizens” because neither currently holds public office. One public official, Bedford’s councilor Tim Outhit, was not seated at the front. He tried to take his place there, but was told he was not included in that “elite” group and was to join the audience, whereupon he graciously did just that.
Not so gracious were Goucher and Kelly, both of whom pointedly ignored Outhit when introductions were being made. Could that be because Tim is running against Matthew Christie, son of “citizens” Christie? Whatever the reason, it lacked class and smacked of bottom feeding.
Back to the announced RCMP probe. At least Goucher’s boss, Rodney MacDonald, had the political smarts to face the question head on and give an honest answer to the people of Nova Scotia.
He had to.This is a very serious matter. Auditor General Jacques Lapointe says the program is a failure and hundreds of thousands of dollars has either gone missing or has been wasted. The old axiom of the law states that he who alleges must prove. Well, if this is proven to be true, then jail times should await the guilty.
The man in charge of the immigration program thinks otherwise. He must. Why else would he have the audacity to say, “Whether the program was an ultimate success or whether it was a dog, you can call it what you want. I personally believe that this program has served its function.”
Shortly after that, the man who appointed Goucher to his post, Rodney MacDonald, said the program was “obviously flawed.” He went on to say, “Of course we apologize to individuals. When government does something wrong in a program or has issues in a program, then we have to accept responsibility, And as premier, in any program that we have in government, it is important to recognize if there is an issue with a program, then you deal with it.”
Well spoken, Mr. Premier. You are slowly restoring my faith.
MacDonald also called the program “deficient.” Now he should call for Goucher’s resignation.
(Al Hollingsworth is a retired journalist and broadcaster)
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