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“ It is a big lie.”
Canadian consular official Léo Martel doing his best — and failing — to beat back claims by Maher Arar that he was tortured in a Syrian prison after being sent there as a suspected terrorist post-9/11. Two other Canadians have come forward this week with stories similar to Arar’s. Who’s lying now?
Ruby bow-wows ’em
We love civil rights lawyer Clay Ruby. He’s fought many good fights. But frankly, we’re a little concerned about his newfound affection for pit bulls – not to mention the bizarro band of rabid dog owners who’ve been fighting the province over the ban on the killer canines. Perhaps all pit bulls are not the property of drug dealers interested in guarding their stash. But those TV shots of Ruby frolicking in a park with a face-licking terrier? Isn’t there a torture victim out there who could use Ruby’s help?
Radler the Rat jumps ship
Former Hollinger exec David Radler’s not the only one ratting out his old pal Conrad Black. More than a few columnists have asked where the political power brokers who served on the boards of Black companies are now that their “friend” has been left to answer questions from nosy reporters about a moving van seen leaving his Post Road manse. (Planning a last-minute getaway to some isle in the Pacific, Lord Black?) Radler seems to be doing a little relocating of his own. He was ordered by a judge last week to return documents he was caught removing from his Vancouver office. We say throw the book at the pompous bastards. The levees around New Orleans are breaking. Water is pouring into the hurricane-ravaged city at the rate of 3 inches an hour. While Bush fiddles, the American Red Cross has launched its largest-ever disaster relief effort. The Canadian Red Cross is encouraging Canadians to donate to its 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund either online (https://www.paypaq.com/redcross/en/) or by phone (1-800-418-1111).
Air Canada cuts like a knife
You can’t bring knives onboard — or nail clippers for that matter. But starting in a couple of weeks, executive-class passengers on Air Canada will be given metal knives to cut their grub with instead of those cheap plastic numbers they’ve been forced to use since 9/11. (That metal forks weren’t banned is a bit perplexing.) But why extend the courtesy to first-class only? Are rich folk more trustworthy than commoners? Judging by the boardroom brawls filling the biz pages these days, they’re a lot more apt to stab you in the back.
