SNC-Lavalin mess shows corporate ‘backroom collusion’
The political shemozzle regarding the criminal activities of SNC-Lavalin and the Trudeau government is the latest reminder of how backroom collusion exists between corporate executives and unscrupulous or naive politicians.
If SNC-Lavalin finally ends up paying a heavy price for its corrupt past practices, the employees and shareholders will suffer, not members of management, who are comfortably cloistered in their boardroom while the best lawyers corporate money can buy guard the doors.
If corporate executives were made personally accountable for illegal misdeeds, their focus might shift.
They might think twice before enhancing the bottom line by any means possible in order to maximize their incentive bonuses.
If cornered by damning evidence, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s credibility should take a big hit.
Hopefully, the pompous, preachy prime minister will not try to blame his latest self-inflicted predicament on the previous Harper government.
He has already overused that farcical finger-pointing ploy.
Lloyd Atkins, Vernon
There are no rights in China
So, letter-writer Mike Higgins believes that the people of China are better governed than we are. He obviously doesn’t know — or refuses to believe — what the Chinese government is all about — forced organ harvesting of select prisoners, for one.
There are absolutely no personal rights in China. Citizens are monitored from birth to death. Higgins should move to China, become a Chinese citizen, and find out first hand just how “better governed” they are than Canadians and then report back to us.
Doug Marsden, Vancouver
Who was more important?
While I have nothing bad to say about journalist Joe Schlesinger, and appreciate that he had a challenging and interesting life, was he worth devoting about twothirds of a page to an item on his death, especially as you ignored the death of Michael Wilson?
Wilson was Canada’s finance minister for nine years, our ambassador to the U.S., an architect of NAFTA and chancellor of the University of Toronto.
He was also a leading light in the business community and a devoted and effective advocate for mental health.
Schlesinger told us about significant actions and about parties taking action and having an impact.
Which should merit more coverage?
Ross Greenwood, Vancouver
Schlesinger ‘sorely missed’
I have very fond memories of watching and listening to Joe Schlesinger’s booming voice, reporting on events happening around the globe.
Whether it was from the war zone in Vietnam, the Gulf War or from other trouble spots around the world, Schlesinger was there with the most up-to-date information and his critical analysis.
Most of Schlesinger’s reporting involved history-making events.
As such, it was pertinent for Canadians to hear about them from a very competent, dependable and reliable reporter.
He stood tall among his fellow journalists and will be sorely missed.
Balwant Sanghera, Richmond
Trump backers closing eyes
In response to Cherryl Katnich’s letter, it always amazes me how Trump supporters close their eyes to all his lying, cheating, fraudulent deal-making and so many other despicable acts.
And by the way, it was former U.S. president Barack Obama who got the economy back on track.
It’s time for Trump supporters like Katnich to take off your “orange” coloured glasses once and for all.
Yvonne Vansoldt, Vancouver