The federal government has recently passed new legislation on law and order. It has also been recently alleged that a few years ago, during an important vote in Parliament, the Conservative Party of Canada tried to win the support of independent MP Chuck Cadman, two months before he died of cancer, with the offer of a million-dollar life insurance policy.

In the March 5 issue of the Examiner, local Conservative MP Tony Clement dismisses the Cadman affair as a sideshow. I believe how the government reacts to the Cadman affair reflects how they view the law-and-order issue.

Law and order refers to the obedience to and respect for the rule of law by all. Certainly a million-dollar offer to an elected official like Mr. Cadman is a serious crime! As Mr. Cadman has since died, what is the evidence that the offer took place? Both the wife and daughter of Mr. Cadman have stated that he confirmed to them that the million-dollar offer took place.

I believe the RCMP should investigate the alleged offer to Mr. Cadman. Only if one does not believe the Cadman family, or is not interested in finding any possible criminal activities, can one justify dismissing a police investigation into the affair. The statement of Mr. Clement that the whole affair is hard to believe is quite irrelevant.

Whether or not Mr. Clement encourages an RCMP investigation of the Cadman affair will demonstrate if: (i) Mr. Clement believes in law and order for all Canadians at all times; or (ii) Mr. Clement believes in law and order only when it does not inconvenience the Conservative Party or his political future.

Sean Moore

Gravenhurst