Inquiry into Rahim Jaffer's case not needed: Worthington

Why is a public inquiry necessary to know why former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer of Edmonton had cocaine and drunk driving charges in Ontario reduced to careless driving and a $500 fine?

The reason is obvious: Because he is a former MP with connections.

Those demanding an inquiry to ensure everyone is treated the same by our justice system are kidding no one. They want to embarrass the Tory party and Jaffer. Period. More political gamesmanship.

Working itself into a lather about Rahim Jaffer, the Opposition knows full well favouritism is probably at work. That can’t be proven, of course. It’s just the way it is.

Those who insist the law should be blind and equal are right. But it’s not.

Every MP knows he or she is treated differently than ordinary citizens when they confront the law. Some, like former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant, are treated more roughly by the legal system than an anonymous citizen in the same situation would be. That, too, is because all eyes are on the case.

The cyclist who confronted Bryant’s car in August and died, is relatively simple. Charges being laid are themselves questionable.

Going through the motions of a public inquiry into why Jaffer was treated so leniently for cocaine possession and drunk driving (“two beers,” he told the OPP) is a waste of time and money.

If MPs who seek Jaffer’s blood were serious about establishing equal treatment for all citizens, they’d raise questions about our health care system, in which MPs are treated more equally than others.

Average citizens can die while awaiting heart surgery. An MP with a hangnail jumps to the head of the queue.

That’s an oversimplification, but you know what I mean. No matter the medical complaint, MPs get preferential treatment. As do others with pull or connections. Celebrity status is a ticket to preferred treatment.

Opposition MPs squawking about Jaffer’s lenient treatment have no qualms about accepting pay raises beyond the percentage real workers can get. And pensions. Wow!

Severance pay for MPs exceeds anything approaching equality.

One wonders if anyone reading this has ever heard of a politician — or publisher, or CEO, or celebrity — getting nailed for, say, drunk driving or soliciting a prostitute, and then having charges dropped, dismissed or downgraded?

It happens all the time.

Most of us have limited sympathy for Rahim Jaffer — a guy whose future as a politician seemed unlimited, and who had every advantage. And who blew it.

The break he’s getting from the system is similar to the break most of those demanding retribution would have gotten had they been caught as Jaffer was caught.

Anyway, the double-standard and rampant hypocrisy on display is enough to make one cringe. So spare us the meaningless expense of a public inquiry, where the leniency to Jaffer will be explained, rationalized and depicted as necessary, because evidence might have been tainted, or that authorities erred on the side of caution, or guilt might not be provable beyond reasonable doubt. That sort of stuff.

Remember, if there’s a next time for Jaffer, things will be tougher.

Second chances are not usually so generous.