Discussions

Canadians are asking whether Conrad Black still deserves the honour of holding the Order of Canada.  
The NDP has submitted an official request to the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall to have Mr. Black removed as officer of the Order of Canada now that he has been convicted of criminal offences. A U.S. jury found the newspaper tycoon guilty last week on three counts of fraud and one count of obstruction of justice.  
NDP Heritage critic Charlie Angus said allowing Mr. Black to hold on to Canada's highest civilian honour undermines its integrity.  
The Order of Canada is used to recognize the highest achievement in Canadian life, and when someone falls below that standard by being convicted, in the past they've been removed from that Order.  
Mr. Black's leading defence lawyer, Mr. Edward Greenspan, said in a statement that any move to strip Mr. Black of the Order should wait until the judicial process is completed. "Since we have announced that there will be an appeal, the only appropriate thing to do is to await the result of the appeal before any motion about his Order of Canada should be brought,'' Mr. Greenspan said.  
Black was originally inducted as an Officer, the second highest level of the Order, for his achievements in commerce, literature and the arts, as well as charitable works. His business ventures have ''enhanced Canada's visible presence internationally,'' the announcement from his appointment read. In fact, the only Newspaper that Mr. Black launched on his own was the still money losing National Post. He did own the Southam chain of Newspapers and other Media holdings across Canada, in the U.S. and Europe, but I suggest that it was Mr. David Radler who actually ran these Newspaper operations. I think it is on record that none of these newspapers actually grew in circulation or in the quality of the journalism. He took over the Jerusalem Post and wrecked it. From being a factual source of information and reasoned opinions he changed it to a strident one-sided megaphone for the extreme political right. He did this by firing the editors and writers. The top priority in running his newspapers was to increase profits, and this was achieved by reducing staff and budgets to a level that the editorial quality was severely diminished. Mr. Black made a career of buying things and squeezing all he could from them before going to liquidation. He ventured into the Farm Implement Industry when he bought the great Canadian Company, Massey Ferguson, and promising to keep it in Ontario, but after he received a massive handout of tax payers money, his side kick Mr. Victor Rice moved it to New York State. Mr. Black’s Lawyers are now saying that he will be exonerated after the ‘Hail Mary’ appeal process is completed, but what they are not saying is that Mr. Black is under an injunction not to defraud, resulting from a US Securities Exchange Commission from many years ago. His fraud convictions, if they stand up means he is in breech of that injunction, and is liable to having the SEC impose serious penalties. Rideau Hall spokesperson Ms. Marie-Paule Thorn said the office is unable to discuss the names of people who might be under consideration for termination of their Order of Canada.  
Only two other recipients of the Order of Canada have ever been stripped of the honour since it was introduced in 1967.  
Former hockey Czar Alan Eagleson lost his in 1998, shortly after he was jailed on fraud charges connected to his leadership at the National Hockey League Players Association. He had worn the Insignia on his lapel during court appearances in the United States and Canada.  
Aboriginal leader David Ahenakew, once the chief of the Assembly of First Nations, had his appointment terminated in 2005 after he was found guilty of wilfully promoting hatred by a Saskatoon court. He had referred to Jews as a "disease.''  
In the case of Ahenakew, Ms. Thorn said he was not removed from the Order until his court case had been resolved so as not to influence the proceedings. She was unable to say whether Black's appeal of his convictions would have any impact on the timing of the process.  
That process for terminating someone's appointment to the Order of Canada is well detailed in the honour's constitution. Withdrawing the award is only considered if a person is convicted of a criminal offence, or has been officially sanctioned, or has conducted him or herself in a way that departs from public standards.  
Any Canadian can approach the deputy secretary of the Chancellery of Honours, as to request that a person's appointment be withdrawn. If the Deputy Secretary determines there are enough grounds, the case is forwarded to the Secretary General and to an 11-member Advisory Council.  
The Council will conduct a study, and if they think there is a basis for the allegations, it will inform the person that his or her appointment is being reviewed for termination. The person can either voluntarily resign or make their own representations to the Council.  
Either way, the process goes forward and the Council prepares a report with a recommendation for action to the Governor General.  
Ms. Thorn said the Governor General stands by whatever decision the council makes.  
The current chair of the council is Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin of the Supreme Court. Other members include Kevin Lynch, Clerk of the Privy Council, and performing artist Tom Jackson.