Gutless Canadian Political Class

When Canada entered into the FTA with the U.S., the Council of Canadians, prominent among whom is Maude Barlow, lobbied hard against the deal, implying that such a treaty would, among other things, diminish Canada’s sovereignty. They were right, and our sovereignty has been diminished in relation to the U.S.

Nothing illustrates this more than the case of Conrad Black, against whom the most serious charge was obstruction of justice. This alleged crime, the removal of file boxes from his Toronto office, took place in Canada, supposedly an independent nation. How can an alleged crime that took place in Canada become the subject of American Extra-Territorial prosecution? The prohibition on removing those boxes was issued by the Ontario Superior Court, and subsequently, restrictions on removing those boxes were lifted by the same court. So what gives here?

Where were the protests of the likes of the Council of Canadians, of Maude Barlow, at the imposition of American law in our country? I never heard anything-the silence was deafening.

The Americans have become increasingly imperial in their attempts to impose their laws in other countries, for actions not even a crime in the country where they took place.

The case of Marc Emory springs to mind. Our justice system refused to prosecute Emory for posting pot seed to the U.S. but was happy to send him off to the U.S. for incarceration.

The even more outrageous case of Britain’s Natwest Six is another example of the bullying attitude of the U.S. towards countries with a more humane, and dare I say it, just system of law.

Canada Day is six days away. Remember the words of our national anthem,

“the true north strong and free.” Bah!

Not for our cowardly political class. And to hell with U.S. paranoia.

David B.