Patronage

By definition, patronage is “the power of putting people into advantageous positions, bestowing privileges, etc.” The prime minister of Canada is in the best position of most leaders on the world stage to grant patronage positions to political party members, individuals who provided assistance to him, friends and friends of friends. Cronyism or favouritism in the Liberal Party of Canada has been very strong for many years. The previous prime minister, the “golf ball prime minister”, was a master at the task. He not only rewarded his favourites but also his favourite communities with rich rewards for their political allegiances.

The question has come up through the sponsorship scandal enquiry (the Gomery Commission) as to monies having been directed to the Liberal Party of Canada. In fact, it has been said that some individuals who were profiting from “contracts” that are being investigated by the Gomery Commission were asked very directly for large donations to be made to the Party. It smacks of: “If you want to receive benefits from government contracts or “if you want to feed from the trough” you must contribute to the Party. We will learn next December what the enquiry report will reveal

My thoughts and ideas may be very wrong but I do care to share these. All individuals who participated in criminal activity must be charged and if found guilty must be punished. A number of individuals have been charged with criminal offenses related to the sponsorship scandal, in the hopes that monies that were falsely acquired might be recovered.

I hope that if justice is done, the perpetrators of criminal activity will be incarcerated, not only to show others that if they follow the ways of wrongful activity that they will likewise be punished. Perhaps this is a form of retribution that I should not be looking at but I am and let the axe fall heavily. I just hope that some “bleeding heart” judge will say that they have suffered loss of name, etc., that they be let off lightly. My feeling is that some individuals not only “enjoy” the fruits and benefits of illegal activity but even if they are incarcerated, once they are out will find deposited money in foreign accounts and go on to enjoy the pleasures of ill gotten gains while many poor individuals experience suffering in Canada. I say, those who have wined and dined should be fed a lot of bread and water and enough nutritious but plain food to keep them alive!

Let justice be done!