Resigned To The Inevitable

"As you are undoubtedly aware, a National Post article that was published on November 8 challenged my credibility and contributions to Canada.... I am very disappointed with the scurrilous portrayal. I am a proud Canadian and man for whom integrity, honour and respect hold tremendous meaning.
"For this reason, despite the knowledge that I haven't let other business interests interfere with my SIRC responsibilities, I respectfully tender my resignation as the chair and as a member of SIRC." Dr. Arthur Porter, former chairman of the Security and Intelligence Review Committee

Good for Dr. Porter. Undoubtedly, CSIS is relieved, and so must certainly be Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Receiving that letter of regretful resignation must have released a burden of concern for the prime minister. He's had quite a few of these little revelations, that professionals he has selected for quite specific and sensitive positions have come burdened with baggage making their tenure unfeasible.

And that Dr. Porter has done the honourable thing, expeditiously enough given the circumstances, does honour to his claims of being an honourable man. Even if that honourable man has been tainted by his propensity to compromise himself and by extension the position he undertook at the behest of the PMO and PCO. He simply was not a good fit for the job, and that's an understatement.

The very fact that he is unable to recognize the manner in which he has potentially created a situation of distrust because of his split loyalties, along with his penchant to make rather unwise choices in his selection of business contract partners identify him as a man who is both careless with his own reputation and careless of the security lapse he represented for CSIS, and the Government of Canada.

As someone privy to government matters that require the highest level of diligence in ensuring that no untoward situations could possibly be incurred due to judgement lapses, Dr. Porter amply demonstrated his fallibility. Whether he was discreetly asked to render his resignation,or he pre-empted that inevitability, he has done the right thing, on this occasion.