Thursday, May 31, 2007

O'Connor Still Wears Clownshoes

On March 13th I posted an article entitled "O'Connor Wears Clownshoes". Mr. O'Connor and Canada's not-so-new government continue to prove that they are not fit to run a lemonade stand, never mind our country or a Middle Eastern war. Gordon (I can't believe I'm still Defense Minister) O'Connor continues to embarrass his boss by making statements in the House that are later contradicted. O'Connor said that since becoming Minister he directed his staff to cover the "full cost" of soldiers' funerals. Lincoln Dinning, father of Cpl. Matthew Dinning, found this offensive and was compelled to hold a press conference to announce that he had, in fact, not been reimbursed for his son's funeral. Obviously Mr. O'Connor wants Dinning to get his money, this is probably more bureaucratic bungling than it is bad policy. But it is symptomatic of a government that likes to make announcements but has very little idea how to implement their agenda. O'Connor and his department have dropped the ball again. He and General Rick Hillier said today that the department will do "what has to be done" to ensure families are reimbursed. No kidding! Everybody from every end of the political spectrum who is not an asshole thinks the government should pay for these final expenses. Like Mr. Dinning said, "it's a no-brainer". So make it happen!