YOU SAID IT: Far from unimpeachable

David Johnston, special rapporteur on foreign interference, holds a press conference about his findings and recommendations, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada May 23, 2023.

FAR FROM UNIMPEACHABLE

Trudeau boasts that in David Johnston he “appointed an unimpeachable man.”

First point: David Johnston should not hang his hat on any endorsement from King Justin Trudeau. He is far from unimpeachable, which means to be beyond censure or question.

Second point: In our Westminster system, supposedly Parliament is supreme. As representatives of all Canadians, Parliament, by majority vote, expressed its desire that Johnston resign his appointment. Notwithstanding the former vice-regal should be better informed and cognizant of our system, he had the unmitigated gall, temerity and supreme arrogance to state he would not relinquish his role.

His integrity is totally compromised, and, like being dead or pregnant — either you are or you’re not — once your reputation and integrity are blown, they are blown. Presumably, he feels his continuing pompous attitude will not damage his reputation or integrity further than they are already. That’s true; gone is gone.

Third point: One would think that, if Johnston is such a learned and accomplished man, he would recognize and understand that his impaired condition will render any further actions he undertakes and any future findings he offers both suspect and worthless.

MIKE ALAIN

OTTAWA

(Any findings that come from hearings he may chair will be automatically greeted with suspicion, for sure.)

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

Diversity, inclusion and equity. The more I think about those three words, the more I see that we are further away from them than ever before.

For an example, people are demanding that Premier Doug Ford step in and force a school board to fly the Pride flag. The more people and governments try to force, demand and legislate companies and others into accepting and even celebrating various groups, the more the backlash will grow. Back off. Just because someone doesn’t acknowledge or celebrate what others do doesn’t mean they are against them. They are making the assumption that they are anti-LGBTQ, but that isn’t necessarily the case, and, even if it were, that’s their choice.

It’s time for people to take a step back and take a deep breath. Ever since Justin Trudeau took office, there has been a systematic segregating of people based on race, religion and sexual orientation, among other reasons. It started to be more blatant with his hate-filled speech about the unjabbed.

Everyone should live their lives and let others live theirs.

SANDY JOHNSTON

GREELY

(Live and let live would be a fine motto for any political party.)