Modeling Journey

The Cat agrees with Andrew Coyne's view regarding the Harper-Mulroney-Schreiber letter and what was behind it:

"Here’s the relevant section of his testimony, as best I could transcribe it. What did Mulroney promise he would do with the letter, he was asked. To take it to Harper, Schreiber answered.

And what was the outcome of that exchange? “The outcome was the message was very well received.”

There were no guarantees, he was told, and the courts would have to deal with the matter first, but after that the justice minister, Vic Toews, would look into it and “do the right thing.” It was, he said, “a shock” to hear Harper deny on television that he and Mulroney had discussed Schreiber at the meeting.

It could all be a lie, of course: Schreiber lying to the committee, Mulroney lying to him.

It could even be that Harper lied to Mulroney.

But if in fact there were such a deal -- Schreiber’s liberty in exchange for his compliance -- we would have a serious problem on our hands.

That Mulroney was anxious to obtain such a letter is suggested by the reported involvement of Elmer MacKay, the former solicitor general and friend to both Mulroney and Schreiber, in its drafting.

Schreiber claims that Mulroney put MacKay up to it: “he would never have been able to help me if this was not resolved.”

That Harper might wish to be reassured that Schreiber had patched things up with Mulroney is also plausible: we already knew by then about the $300,000 in cash, and it wouldn’t do to have Schreiber making fresh accusations against the former Prime Minister. But that he would offer that the minister of justice would stay his extradition? This cannot be."

http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20071129_182431_4620