Ok, so I'm cooling out on vacation in Canada, pick up the Globe and Mail and flip on the news and begin reading and listening to news reports that make me think I've never left home!
What could it be?
The Federal Auditor General has just released a long anticipated report into the misuse of federal funds in Crown Corporations involving the channeling of funds into Liberal party friendly pockets (see story here) for little or no service.
The Liberals are in damage control mode and the new Canadian Prime Minister and former Finance Minister Paul Martin is struggling to contain the scandal with an election due to be called soon.
The similarities to Bermuda's own financial scandals of the past 5 years are striking - but there are also a few things of note in the Canadian situation that should be pointed out:
1) Someone has been fired! Fancy that, someone held accountable for their corruption.
2) The Prime Minister ordered an immediate inquiry, the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee is meeting to discuss the report and the report was discussed in Parliament! Wow, inquiries, committees and discussion!
3) No-one, not even the accused, have attacked the Auditor's integrity, or called for her to be replaced, or called her a racist - well, that wouldn't really work with a white auditor and a mostly white government would it? If only our PLP didn't always have that card up their sleeve ready to play?
So, we'll wait and see how this unfolds but already the Canadians are closer to reaching a resolution and holding people responsible that we are!
