It has been said that Maher Arar should have received a smaller compensation package than the $10.5 million awarded by the federal government.

Who can say what the correct amount of compensation is? I would hesitate to name the price of a destroyed life. The RCMP and CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) did Mr. Arar a great injustice. Identifying an innocent man as a terrorist was wrong. The iniquity was compounded when the RCMP, with no proof of wrongdoing, shared this accusation with the USA. Knowing the USA policy on extraordinary rendition (a disgusting U.S. euphemism meaning torture by proxy) Canada became implicit in torture. While Maher Arar was being tortured in Syria, Canada did nothing to help him.

Mr. Arar is an educated software engineer with employable skills. He was gainfully employed when the government unleashed its Security apparatus on Arar simply because he was seen talking to a man who was on their secret list. We do not even know if the man should be on such a list. Incompetence and secrecy is a combination dangerous to all citizens.

Today, Maher Arar lives with the nightmares of the torture inflicted upon him and those nightmares will continue for the rest of his life. He is unemployed with his reputation tarnished forever. Furthermore, who of us can measure the pain and fear his family endures?

I knew a young woman who was the victim of torture. She had been a medical student in Argentina during the Dirty War. Arrested at a demonstration, she spent months in a military prison. No charges were ever brought against her but she was tortured while held in a military goal. I saw an intelligent woman now broken, hesitant and nervous with no self-assurance. I still become angry recalling what was done to her. Let no one tell me that $10 ½ million would be too much for Argentina to pay.

There are people who object that they, through their taxes, must pay the compensation awarded to Maher Arar by the federal government. Citizens should pay. Citizens go about their business with no thought of the draconian laws and regulations governing our immigration and security policies. Few care what can happen to a refugee claimant nor was there a popular outcry when Bill 36 was passed, with indecent haste and with little thought, giving the RCMP and CSIS the power to act outside civil and common law. The $10 1/2 million is only a down payment on the real price for allowing our legal rights, established over hundreds of years, to be eroded piece by piece.

Doubters of what is happening should read, I will Bear Witness, 1933-1941, by Victor Klemperer and objectors might read, A Glimpse of Hell, ed. Duncan Forrest.

“Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.” – Pastor Niemoeller.

February21, 2007

Council wants a $1.57 million addition to the Davidson Centre now. The addition will be tacked on to a building needing its own costly renovations. Councillor Randy Roppel was the only one voting against the motion. Though I sympathize with the goals for extra space, comments by councillors and the mayor have a definite déjà vu about them. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor Laura Haight, “both agreed the addition is needed now….” I acknowledge Councillor Anderson’s sincere concern for the older citizens of Kincardine. But I harbour misgivings over the decision. There is too much talk about the possibility of a grant paying 50% of the cost. There are too many claims that the addition must go ahead now. There is no discussion as to the physical condition of the Davidson Centre and alternative approaches.

The previous council stampeded to grasp Enbridge to its bosom at the sight of silver coins. There are alternatives but they were not given a moment’s thought. The prospect of receiving easy money should never be the major reason for a major decision

The sense of urgency, the “now” factor, recalls the decision to build the Medical Centre though doubts were being raised even within the committee. Citizens were encouraged to give their money to a flawed project without knowing the concerns regarding the building. Kincardine did not need a medical centre right then. There was no pressing rush. A wise project and financial manager would have waited until all the concerns became public and dealt with before proceeding.

“Now” is a word for emergencies such as health considerations but the word did not enter the vocabulary of council when raw sewage flowed into peoples’ houses, onto their property and into our source of drinking water. “Now” is never applied to clean washrooms or fixing water fountains. “Now” no more applies for this addition to the Davidson Centre then it did for the Medical Centre. I am certain Council would not wish another Medical Centre experience.

Richard Pym is a thoughtful person. he has served many years on the recreation committee; Randy Roppel is also well aware of the condition of the Davidson Centre. It would be irresponsible to dismiss their concerns. Considering the Medical Center fiasco and the unthinking rush to say yes to Enbridge and its accomplices at the trough, this project should be reviewed.

Council is at a cross road. It can ignore the concerns thereby falling back into the old bad ways or work for a solution that will better serve all citizens.