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PRIME MINISTER HARPER DIDN’T DO RIGHT BY NIGEL WRIGHT
With all of the media sensational reporting on Nigel Wright I had to ask myself who he was before he agreed to serve in the Prime Minister’s Office. In 2010, Prime Minister Harper, who was an old friend, asked him to serve as his chief of staff for 18-24 months.
Let’s look at the background of Nigel, he was the son of an engineering technician but was able to attend Harvard University and graduate with a Master’s degree in Law.
After graduating he worked for Davies, Philip, Vineberg one of Canada’s most prestigious law firms. Onyx Corporation who had Nigel work on their behalf to acquire a multi-billion air craft company were very impressed with his work and hired him.
As managing director of Onyx Corporation that is Canada’s largest employer his salary and bonuses where estimated at two million dollars a year. Harper's call to serve his country he felt he could not refuse. Nigel’s new salary at the PMO did not exceed $300,000.
Nigel is the epitome of a man who was very hard working, loyal honest and honorable to a fault. His work ethic is legendry: eighty to ninety-hour work weeks are routine.
Religion is his second anchor. As a young man he contemplated joining the Anglican priesthood. To-day he is a subdeacon at St Thomas’s Anglican Church in Toronto.
Despite these commitments he found time for three major charities. "Loft Community Services" which provides housing for people in need." " Out of the cold , a multi-denomination program for the homeless and Camp Oochigeas that runs a program for children with cancer in Muskoka Ontario. He made time over the years to volunteer his services for one week every year to help children on the camp site.
Since his father died he has been a wonderful son and brother to his family. He seems to have not an enemy in the world with everyone who has had the pleasure to be with him extol his virtues.
So you may ask why did Harper throw him under the bus? Harper being the ultimate stern headmaster needed someone to take the blame for the cheque to Duffy in the amount of $90,00 for his living expenses. I find it hard to believe that Nigel acted on his own without counsel from Harper to end the mess regarding Duffys’s residence expenses in Ottawa. Harper and his advisors knew that Duffy’s principal residence when he was chosen for the senate was based in Ottawa. Sure he lived in Prince Edward Island when he was a youth and perhaps owned a cottage on the Island. The Senate regulations for residency are quite lenient with minimum property values set at $5000.00. Believe it or not all expenses submitted had to be approved by someone in government. Wonder who signed the cheques?
Sadly there is a lesson to be learned. Our young talented Canadians who have heard the sad tale of Nigel Wright will not be eager to serve their country.
We all suffer when the best end up with the majority of the rest of society who are self-serving not wanting to make waves in Canada. Why should they care to make a difference when their lives are put asunder when they are thrown under the bus for political expediency?
Len Lesser