Vancouver Island is as far from Ottawa as Switzerland

And the climate is nicer than Ottawa's in February. Norman Spector, with some cheek, demands equal video-conferencing treatment from the Commons' ethics committee--Norman in particular knows something about Mr Mulroney's cash dealings whilst prime minister:

Ottawa in February? Non, merci

[...]

During the time I worked for Mr. Mulroney as Secretary to the Cabinet for Federal-Provincial Relations – a deputy minister position first filled by Gordon Robertson that regrettably no longer exists – I got to know the former prime minister's strengths and weaknesses. And, as you know, I have personal knowledge of the Bear Head project, having been handed the file while I was seconded from the Privy Council Office to serve as Mr. Mulroney's chief of staff. I also believe I can help your committee understand the comportment and motivations of Canada's 18th prime minister by referring to other controversial but largely unreported files with which I'm familiar. Finally, with supporting documents in hand, I'll identify the source of large quantities of cash reported at 24 Sussex – which I understand from news reports is of interest to several MPs...

[...]

Last Friday, I e-mailed...to request that I be given equal treatment to Mr. Pelossi, and was informed that the committee had agreed to a video-conference because he lives in Switzerland. Obviously, many central Canadians do not appreciate the actual time required to travel from Vancouver Island to what we used to call the national capital until MPs passed that too-clever-by-half motion about the Québécois – which is why I, too tall to fit comfortably into those damn Airbus planes, await your committee's agreement to my request.

Mark C.

Update: Stormin' Norman will show up in person:

From: Norman Spector [mailto:nspector3@shaw.ca]

Sent: Tue 29/01/2008 2:03 AM

To: Pereira, Erica

Subject: RE: Videoconference

Ms Pereira

The consensus of my readers in reaction to yesterday’s column is that I should go to Ottawa and tell it like it is.

Accordingly, you can expect me at Committee at the appointed hour on the appointed day, “with bells and whistles.”

Norman Spector

Posted by markc at January 28, 2008 07:22 PM