And as we try to keep our record straight, so we want other people and agencies keep their records straight, and in the process educate ourselves and our readers. Therefore, I want to point out how meaningless our Rule of Law was when Ethics Counsellor Harold Wilson conducted a 24 hour review on Chrétien's involvement in the Grand Mere's affair and provided his final judgment that Chrétien had not violated any ethical written rule (Rule of Law) while at the same time stating that we need more written rules (Rule of Law) to guide our parliamentarians(4).

And yesterday, Stockwell Day, leader of the Canadian Alliance, tabled documents in the House of Commons showing that three immigrant investors provided $2.35-million for the redevelopment of the Grand-Mère Inn between 1996 and 1998(5). Jean Chrétien had previously denied any fifth financial partner in the Grand-Mere Inn(6), and he replied that he knew nothing about the immigrant investments because the program is run by the province. And later, when Deborah Grey, deputy leader of the Alliance, told the Commons the $2.35-million invested in the Grand-Mère Inn increased the value of the adjacent golf course partly owned by the prime minister, Mr. Chrétien replied that there was no conflict of interest and that he had sold his golf club shares in 1993. This is a lie, since Mr. Chrétien sold his golf course shares in 1999 to millionaire pharmacy owner Louis Michaud of Montreal(7) even though he could have thought that he sold the shares in 1993 to businessman Jonas Prince(8). As a principle, ignorance cannot be claimed for avoiding legal responsibilities and Mr. Chrétien knows that very well since he has a degree in law, he has practiced law, and he has received many honorary doctoral law degrees from Canadian and foreign universities.

The morale of this story is that we have reached the point whereby we must obey the Rule of Law but not trust our luminary lawyer Jean Chrétien. Is this justice? And, is this the example of justice provided to all Canadian lawyers and citizens?

References/endnotes

Relevant political and economics articles http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign

1. It is not only a matter of self(ish) rights, but it is a matter of whole rights, by Mario deSantis, February 7, 2001 http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/desantisArticles/2001_300/desantis319/wholerights.html

2. RCMP unit to review Clark's bid for probe 'Taking letter seriously', Joël-Denis Bellavance, National Post February 8, 2001 http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?f=/stories/20010208/468281.html

3. PM biz ally charged, By STEPHANIE RUBEC-- Ottawa Bureau, Sun Media, February 8, 2001 CANOE. An excerpt "Yvon Duhaime, the owner of the Grand-Mere Inn, is charged with four traffic violations and drunk driving after a high-speed chase through the streets of the PM's hometown of Shawinigan" http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSTopNews/pmally_feb8-sun.html

4. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's involvement with the BDC's $615,000 loan: Part 2: Thinking Recursively is a Creative Process. By Mario deSantis, December 7, 2000 http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/desantisArticles/2000_200/desantis281/recursive.html

5. Alliance accuses PM of inn 'contradiction.' Replies that he did not know source of expansion funds, Andrew McIntosh, National Post February 8, 2001 http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?f=/stories/20010208/468233.html

6. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's involvement with the BDC's $615,000 loan: Part 1: Chretien's interest for his friends? For his golf course? For creating jobs? By Mario deSantis, December 6, 2000 http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/desantisArticles/2000_200/desantis280/details.html

7. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's involvement with the BDC's $615,000 loan. Part 5. Mr. Gauthier, Chrétien's golf course, and the pair Pépin & Lemire Co. By Mario deSantis, December 10, 2000 http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/desantisArticles/2000_200/desantis284/friends.html

8. Prime Minister Jean Chretien's involvement with the BDC's $615,000 loan: Wheeling Dealing with the Grand Mère Inn between 1988 and 1996. By Mario deSantis, December 1, 2000