EDITORIAL

Some scoffed when Prime Minister Paul Martin offered whistle-blowers his personal protection if they came forward with evidence about financial wrongdoing in light of the $250 million federal sponsorship scandal. Well, the critics aren't scoffing today.

Martin fired VIA Rail chairman Jean Pelletier yesterday for belittling Olympic gold medallist Myriam B�dard, who complained about what she believed to be unlawful use of taxpayers' dollars.

B�dard contends she was forced from her marketing job at VIA in 2002 after questioning the sponsorship program. Pelletier, a former top aide to Jean Chr�tien, responded by labelling B�dard "a poor girl, a pitiable thing who doesn't have a husband, as far as I know" and who craves publicity.

While Pelletier later apologized, B�dard saw his remarks as an attempt to "crush" her so that others would be afraid to speak up.

Martin obviously agreed with her. He had promised a "change of culture" in government, including Crown corporations, and intends to follow through, he said.

"When a person wants to come forward with information about financial practices, that person should have an opportunity to do so, indeed should be encouraged to do so," he said in New York.

"When an employee, as in the case of Mme. B�dard, had something to say, she should have been encouraged � and not had comments made that would discourage her."

Martin had already fired former public works minister Alfonso Gagliano, who oversaw the troubled program, from his post as ambassador to Denmark.

At the same time, Martin has demanded an accounting from VIA's president Marc LeFran�ois, Canada Post president Andr� Ouellet and Business Development Bank of Canada president Michel Vennat. The three Crown corporations were cited in a scathing report last month by Auditor-General Sheila Fraser.

B�dard, a former biathlete, has offered to testify at the Commons public accounts committee probing how $100 million was funnelled to Liberal-friendly ad agencies for work that may never have been done. Martin has also appointed a judicial inquiry to investigate.

B�dard deserves thanks for having the courage to protest, and for reminding us how badly Canada needs legislation to protect conscientious public servants from reprisals. Ottawa won't introduce a draft whistle-blower bill until later this month.

Pelletier's condescending statement about "the pressure of being a single mother" reveals that attitudes in Ottawa require an overhaul.

His dismissal is an encouraging sign that Martin is serious about making that change.

page mise en ligne le 2 mars 2004 par SVP

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