Last week, Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman admitted that for 5 years during the early 1990s, he took "illegal" party drugs. Claiming that he has been drug free for the past decade (his drug use took place before he held elective office) there seemed to be no particular reason why Smitherman chose to make this tell-part confession (only a part confession because he refused to say what illegal substance or substances he took) at the time that he did. Perhaps someone was about to make it public. Or, being a child of the left, perhaps he just had to confess to past bad behaviour in order make himself "feel" good. That latter would be consistent with the fact that when it comes to George Smitherman, it always is about him.
The Health Minister excused his prior behaviour on the grounds that his father had died at age 60, a traumatic event that in no way seemed to prevent young George from going out and partying. But Smitherman really isn't the issue in all this. What is really troubling is the reaction to his confession and to the illegal use of drugs by Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Upon hearing that his Minister had confessed to earlier illegal drug use, McGuinty said, "I've always been proud of George Smitherman, whether in his capacity as a public representative or in his capacity as a minister of health and I'm even more proud of him today".
"Even more proud of him today"? Poor George. The Premier's statement doesn't say much for his work as a high ranking cabinet minister in the McGuinty government. His greatest accomplishment was not saving the health care system that was almost destroyed by the evil Mike Harris but was kicking a drug habit.
Smitherman is not the first politician to have had a substance abuse problem and he won't be the last. and yes, he deserves credit for beating his addiction. But his revelations and the subsequent reaction to it tell us more about Dalton McGuinty than it does about George Smitherman.
The Premier of the province of Ontario clearly showed that he doesn't think that taking illegal drugs is particularly bad; something that should be generally condoned. McGuinty seems to be saying it's perfectly okay to say yes to drugs, as long as you can quit at some time in the future. McGuinty had an opportunity to send a strong anti-drug message but that thought probably never entered, as Ernie Eves would say, his pointy little head. He has shown that he is completely indifferent to the consumption of illegal drugs.
No one expected that Smitherman would be forced to resign his cabinet post after his semi-confession. In days gone by, he might have been forced to quit because his conduct fell below the standard that is expected of a minister of the Crown. But Dalton McGuinty has few if any standards —if he did he would tell the truth a little more often.
In his reaction to Smitherman's statements, McGuinty has illustrated the same self-centered obsession that his minister did. The Premier passed up the opportunity to speak out about drug use, restricting his public comments to how he "feels" about George Smitherman as if many of us actually care. There is anecdotal evidence that suggests that illegal drug use is bad for society. It has even been rumoured that this is the reason that these substances are illegal in the first place. Yet McGuinty sees nothing wrong with having broken the law and long as that conduct is stopped.
Dalton McGuinty loves to bill himself as the "education premier". Okay kiddies, listen up. It's okay if you break the law. It's okay to take illegal drugs as long as you manage to stop before the drugs kill you. Just be sure and have a good excuse for taking drugs in the first place. and most importantly, if you are able to quit taking these drugs, your premier will be oh so proud of you too.
McGuinty's views towards Smitherman's breaking the law by using illegal drugs together with all of his lies and deceptions makes him a poster boy for the moral decline in society.
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