The Cross of Valour is an award that was created by the Canadian government in 1972. It is only to be awarded to someone who has shown “conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril”. Since its inception 35 years ago, it has only been awarded nineteen times.
In the early hours of May 15, 2004, police in the small Ontario town of Coburg received a robbery call. Eighteen year police veteran Constable Chris Garrett, along with two other officers responded to the call that turned out to be bogus. While the other two officers scoured the area looking for suspects, Garrett went to talk to “the victim”. He was taken by surprise and his throat was slashed. While Garrett lay bleeding to death, he managed to get some shots off, striking his attacker in the leg. Twenty-one year old Troy Davey was arrested shortly afterwards when he went to a hospital to seek medical attention for his wound. It was later established that he had planned to kill several more people, including more police officers. In early 2007, Davey was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years.
In April of this year, Garrett’s name was submitted for the Cross of Valour. The police officer who made the submission had decided to wait until Davey’s trial was over so that the facts surrounding Garrett’s heroism could be fully established. The reply from Governor General Michäelle Jean was that there was a two year time limit in which to award the honour. Too bad, so sad. Jean, seemed completely uninterested in doing anything to assist in having this appropriate award bestowed upon the late police officer. This is what can happen when Governors Generals are appointed by someone in the bureaucracy turning on the television set and watching CBC. That’s perhaps a little harsh considering that although the previous CBC info babe slash Governor General didn’t hesitate to blow the taxpayers’ money taking 60 or 70 of her closest friends circumpolaring, whatever that is, at least Clarkson had a respect for Canada and its institutions such as the military.
Unlike the 30,000 or so Canadians that signed petitions demanding that Garrett receive the award, Jean seemed totally disinterested in the matter. Her one weak comment on the matter was to suggest that all police officers who lose their lives in the line of duty be honoured. While there may be merit in that suggestion, there is a vast difference between the death of Chris Garrett and a police officer who dies after being hit by a drunk driver while standing on the side of a highway. Above and beyond giving up his life while performing his duty, Garrett’s actions fell within the definition of the Cross of Valour’s requirement of showing conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril. Chris Garrett deserves the Cross of Valour and Canada deserves a new Governor-General. Jean’s appointment is perhaps the clearest example of why the Right Honourable Paul Martin is no longer the Prime Minister of Canada.
Even our constitution and beloved Charter of Rights can be changed. And so can the two year time limit for the Cross of Valour to be awarded. Although Michäelle Jean doesn’t see it as any big deal, thousands of Chris Garrett’s fellow citizens do. The Governor General has now sent the matter to the prime minister. Let’s hope Stephen Harper acts quickly to allow the Cross of Valour to be awarded to a real Canadian hero.
And Steve – if you’re still around when Michäelle Jean’s term ends, don’t turn on the TV to find a new Governor General. Then again, Harper watches hockey games on CBC. If an application for the Cross of Valour was made to Governor General Don Cherry, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
