Bill Vander Zalm: Former B.C. Premiers Flustered During Testy Exchanges With Lawyer Over Lawsuit — MY COMMENT
My comment on a CP story in The Huffington Post
Read the original story here
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Hughes vs Vander Zalm
It appears former premier of BC, Bill Vander Zalm did not break any criminal or civil laws prior to 1991 but was merely censured by the then conflict of interest commissioner for BC, Ted Hughes.
Bill Vander Zalm then chose to resign his position. He was never charged with any offense, nor did he undergo a trial, nor was he convicted or sentenced, nor did he pay any fine or do any prison time.
Then, years after all of that… Vander Zalm wrote a book detailing how unfairly he felt he had been treated. He expressed his opinions in that book.
Hughes took umbrage at Vander Zalm’s personal opinions contained within the book and then sued him for defamation of character.
But, people, who of us writing a book, wouldn’t offend someone and risk being sued?
My definition of frivolity: suing someone in court for daring to have an opinion.
This sort of display in the media brings disrepute on the provincial system of governance, from those who are, or were elected officials – to those who are, or were civil servants.
I take umbrage that my tax dollars are being used to facilitate this unseemly display in provincial court.
Hughes could have written his own book to refute the personal opinions of Vander Zalm.
He didn’t. And that leaves me wondering about the merits of his case.
Were I the judge deciding whether the case should be allowed to proceed, I would have decided against it.
Next case.
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