Another Fine Mess You Have Gotten Us Into!

The charges against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman have been stayed. Norman was originally charged with leaking or disclosing sensitive information to one company during a bidding process for a substantial government contract. At the time, on the surface, it did appear as if he had given information that could have given one company an advantage over another. The RCMP investigated the allegations, searched his house and office, passed on what they found to the prosecutors; it was determined that there was sufficient information for charges to be laid.

For over a year Norman has been suspended from his job with the Canadian Navy, his reputation is in tatters and one has to assume that he has invested a considerable amount of money in his defence. All of a sudden, the Crown declares that there is not a reasonable chance of conviction and the case, appropriately was dropped. Obviously, at one point the crown thought there was a solid case and then they thought differently. What could have possibly happened?

It is possible that the RCMP were over-enthusiastic in their investigation. Perhaps the evidence appeared to be so clear that they just did not ask the right questions of the right people. It appears that the latter is what happened. It turns out that Norman, acting under instructions from the Harper Government, did disclose information to the one company. To be clear - the government told him to do so. At least three Ministers of the Crown knew this to be the case. Those three men decided not to tell the police or the Crown Attorney what they knew - but rather to tell the defence team. When they have been asked why didn't they come forward sooner - their answer was no one asked us!

In my narrow world of reasonable thought, it would seem to me that it is the duty of every citizen to come forward and tell the authorities what they know - especially if they know an innocent man has been falsely accused. We are not supposed to wait until someone asks us; even more, we are not supposed to sit on important information until such time that it can embarrass the sitting government. It is difficult to imagine any reason why the witnesses waited for so long to come forward other than to believe that it was an intentional act to make the government look bad. The allegations of government interference, in spite of both the defence and prosecuting attorneys saying that there was none, comes conveniently close after the SNC affair. One must wonder if the timing is accidental.

For people who have been national politicians, who have claimed to have the best interest of all Canadians at heart- to allow someone to spend months with a black cloud over their head is unconscionable. To allow the thousands and thousands of dollars to be spent in this trial - knowing that he was innocent and that the charges would be dropped is just wrong.

Vice-Admiral Norman will, I am sure, sue someone for his false accusations. For many people who have been falsely accused, they may remain free, but they are hopelessly in debt; they seldom have the opportunity to reclaim their reputation. Of course, many more cannot afford their own lawyer and are mass processed through our inadequate legal aid system. In a perfect world, Norman's desire for retribution would receive exactly the same level of support as do all people who are charged with a criminal offence and found not guilty. But he won't. He will be celebrated by a certain segment of the elite, he will win because the political pressure to vindicate him will be almost overwhelming.

It is a win-win situation for Norman, the Conservatives. In fact, the only people who lose are the people of Canada.