Wednesday 6 November 2013

A Shocking Day in Canadian Politics!

Nov. 5, 2013

Today was a shocking day in Canadian politics!!!

The mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, after weeks of denying he never took drugs, admitted in a press conference that he did smoke cocaine and apologized to the people in Toronto.

As if that was not enough, today in Ottawa, three Canadian Senators were voted to be suspended without pay ( for two years ) for inappropriate tax claims on their senate expenses.

I am always amazed and puzzled by famous/ successful people who try to cheat the government or from work for a few more dollars.

When I was a public school principal in Toronto, I was given a certain amount of budget as well as a credit card in my name to purchase things for the operation of the school. My colleagues and I were very careful and mindful of what our responsibilities were. We knew that we were public figures and what we did and said would have great impact in our communities at large.

It is not easy getting elected to be a mayor or appointed to the Senate in any democratic country like Canada.  Many candidates work long and hard  for years from the grassroot level buidling public trust and support before they could get to public offices.

 How on earth did people such as Mayor Rob Ford allow himself to lose his respect of the Canada's largest city by smoking illegal drugs , while Senator Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy claimed an extra few tax dollars to ruin what they have worked so hard for all their lives to achieve?

All of them were at the pinnacle of their political careers and yet a couple of simple mistakes brought them down from grace. How crazy is that?

"Look before Your Leap " is a saying worth remembering for anyone holding public offices.
Think about the consequences and the far reaching implications before one does anything trying to take advantage of one's position and power!

In today's climate with the omnipresent cameras and impromptu media posting, anyone can be a reporter digging up dirt and reporting the smallest infractions and inappropriate actions of anybody especially one who is holding a public position!

R.T.
Toronto

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