No Holds Barred


Appearances


It would appear that too often we are concerned more with appearances than with substance.

From businesses looking to get their name in the paper for free for every little good deed they do, to celebrities wanting to be “connected” to the latest cause.

From a hundred dollar donation to some worthy cause, proprietors expect their name in lights; to a corporate or celebrity tour of the Katrina suffering to help one or two people, they make sure we all know what wonderful, generous people they are. The best publicity money can buy!

It is all about appearances.

That is not to make light of the good works some are doing or that the need is not there – but do you really have to make such a big splash about it?

We even have a felon doing her own reality show to give some poor shmuck a job. I hope none of her candidates are on probation; they will be violated for consorting with an ex-con.

Self-promotion has reached a new high – or low, depending on your view – when it helps your career to promote your criminal record.

It is all about appearances.

However, these are all amateurs compared with the politicians. They have turned the photo opportunities into a true art form.

They manage to milk multiple presentations out of a single block of money – the extension of Highway 417 was a perfect example with no less than five separate events staged to announce the money for the last section. Each contract was treated as yet another gift from the gods.

Again, it is all about appearances.

However, just every so often these multiple photo op presentations can backfire.

The prime example of this was the “presentation” of a $200,000 cheque to Pacific Safety Products in Arnprior by the County of Renfrew and their economic development department.

Not only did the smiling politicians from Pembroke announce their benevolence to the voters of Arnprior by such a magnanimous gift to help secure jobs, but also they actually presented a cheque for $200,000.

That money never materialized.

The county is now saying it was because certain deadlines were not met – so they gave it to another firm in Barry’s Bay.

That may or may not be true, but when the presentation was made, no mention was made of restrictions, or maybes, or perhaps.

Now they are, of course, saying it was “just” a photo opportunity and one has to assume that a second or a third or a fourth such presentation would be made before the money was actually handed over.

If that is the case, then they should not have used a bouncing cheque as a prop. It was worthless at that moment, even though it was dated and signed for that same date by Renfrew Warden Bob Sweet.

When the public sees a cheque being presented – certain assumptions are rightfully made. The deal is done. No ifs or ands or buts.

When someone presents me with a cheque, I have to assume the deal is done – the requirements have been met and it is something I can take to the bank.

There is a law that deals with the sanctity of cheques, which is EXACTLY why they used one. It creates an aura of reality.

Under Section 362 of the Criminal Code of Canada, Section 4, it states in part; “Where….it is shown that anything was obtained by the accused by means of a cheque that, when presented for payment within a reasonable time, was dishonoured on the grounds that no funds or insufficient funds were on deposit to the credit of the bank or other institution on which the cheque was drawn, it shall be presumed to have been obtained by false pretences…”

There is a maximum sentence prescribed of 10 years in prison for bounced cheques over $5,000.

In this case, I am not suggesting that a court would be likely to convict anyone of fraud, but it certainly is false pretences in my mind.

By using an oversized dated and signed cheque they deliberately sought to create an impression that the money was being handed over that day to PSP.

That was simply not factual – which is another way of saying it was an outright deception.

What did they get in return for creating this false impression?

They got the military contract in their jurisdiction and they created the impression that it was the County of Renfrew who was giving money to Arnprior, which had great political value.

Now that the money has vanished and the photo bulbs have stopped popping, they just wish it would all go away.

They even tried to pay the cheque with a future pay packet from the province – that never materialized either. That game is called kiting cheques.

It seemed like a good idea at the time, but this time they got caught with their trousers down and their pockets empty.

PSP and Mayor Terry Gibeau feel duped and want to know when they can cash that cheque.

The county says…’sorry ‘bout that, we really didn’t mean it boys and girls, it was only a photo op and you really did not qualify.’

The county should think carefully about it next time - before they present anyone with a cheque and try to create a good appearance.

Make very sure the cheque doesn’t bounce.

Like the appearances yet?

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