Letter: ‘It does not require many words to speak the truth’

By Letter to the Editor on February 15, 2023.

Dear editor,

At the top of JoLynn Parenteau’s Jan. 25 News column is a quote from Nez Perce Chief Joseph, Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain, who said, “It does not require many words to speak the truth.”

Let us look through the lens of the chief’s wisdom at the conduct of a present-day leader, one Danielle Smith. She, in three weeks, is now up to her sixth different explanation about her involvement with and her giving of directions to Alberta’s Crown prosecutors in their prosecutions of COVID-19 public health rules violators and of Criminal Code Coutts border blockade charges. At least three of her six different versions of the “truth” are on video.

In our legal system politicians are forbidden from contacting prosecutors about prosecution of charges. Prosecutors are called “Crown” prosecutors because they are lawyers who represent the state (the public interest) and not a particular government or political party. They are independent and have prosecutorial discretion within the bounds of the law.

Four of Smith’s explanations ago, University of Calgary political science professor Duane Bratt said Albertans had two choices: either believe Smith contacted prosecutors, or believe she lied about contacting prosecutors. Four different versions of the “truth” later, the public has only one choice on May 29 – voting out the UCP.

A friend of mine would say Smith needs a shovel with a shorter handle. He is correct, except she is adeptly using her shovel to not only dig a hole, but to spread an awful lot of… well, you know.

Populists such as Smith and her ilk do not worry about truth, facts, law, justice or propriety, because these pillars of a solid, healthy democracy do not matter to them. Only their beliefs and their movement matter, and if their actions align with their beliefs and support their movement, then those actions are proper, at least in their minds, and need not be appraised nor measured against standards of proper behaviour.

Danielle Smith is not a leader. She is a mere cheerleader for her self-satisfied populist base. Chief Joseph’s wise advice, given in the 19th century though it was, is still valuable today. Smith is incapable of following it.

Gregory R. Côté

Irvine

11
-10