Knowledgeable, but not Guilty

How unfortunate it is when politicians prove yet again how fallible they are. We elect them to represent us in a parliament assembled to present as representatives of the people who assign them to political office in the hope and expectation that their interest in justice and the well-being of the society they represent is uppermost in their thoughts and representational determinations. We hold them to be upright members of society, reliable, mindful of integrity and social purpose.

We trust them to act on our behalf, on behalf of the nation to ensure that decisions are made that are logical and praiseworthy in their direction, leading the country to a place where all its citizens are fairly and evenly represented. It is disturbing and unnerving when we discover, as we do time and again, that those whom we send to high political office all too often are self-serving, more attuned to the power of public office than the obligation to act in the best interests of the country.

Like other members of society who represent professions that are respected and upon whose professional credentials the balance of society depends; educators, scientists, medical doctors, engineers, we appreciate the long years of academic achievement that prepare these professions to lead the country in their fields of endeavour. None, however, have the obligation to live exemplary lives of dedication to the public weal that politicians do.

So a political figure like Liberal Member of Parliament Ruby Dhalla may protest all she wishes that it was not she who was responsible for the hiring and management of socially, economically vulnerable care workers but her brother. This woman is an elected and senior politician, despite her young age; seen as potential cabinet material. It is incumbent upon such as she to be aware and responsive to situations that may take unfair, illegal advantage of foreign nationals working on temporary visas.

Ms. Dhalla cannot claim innocence of wrong-doing - having been accused by three former caregivers of being treated like virtual slaves to the Dhalla family - on the basis of not herself being fundamentally involved in the (illegal) hiring and handling of these three women who were tasked with overlong and underpaid working hours, directed to work at tasks having nothing to do with what they were hired for.

These women were not working for the family of a constituent whom she may represent; they were working for her family, and she is of that family, living in close communion with her family and directing the work of the women. Richelyn Tongson claims that Ms. Dhalla insisted that she submit her passport to Ms. Dhalla's possession, as an obvious means of control, and an illegal one at that. And she proferred the paperwork to prove it; awkward in construction and ironically, designed to 'protect' Ms. Dhalla from blow-back.

Two of the women had enquired of Ontario MPPs with Cabinet positions relevant to their problems how they might proceed to obtain their human rights recognition in this case, and both of those to whom they turned preferred to refer them elsewhere rather than become personally involved, even though it was their elected obligation to look into the matter. Avoiding the possibility of embarrassing a colleague.

This represents a failure to act and responsibly demonstrate a willingness to represent the interests of people will no influence and scant protection in a foreign country; foreign workers who have obviously suffered a degrading and illegal working experience in this country. That a federal member of parliament is herself involved integrally in this miscarriage of justice, is pretty nasty stuff, however it's finally played out.

And that two provincial members of the legislature also failed the responsibility test is a sad message of mediocrity on the part of disinterested functionaries, rather than responsive elected officials.