Questions raised about Day suit settlement
WebPosted Wed Jan 3 04:49:47 2001
CALGARY - Some Albertans want to know the final cost of settling a defamation suit involving Stockwell Day. That's because it's being paid with tax dollars.
'When you're out there just shooting off your mouth, you bear a responsibility' ? Brian Edy
The settlement was reached just before Christmas.
The details of the settlement have been kept secret so far, but Brian Edy, for one, thinks the government should reveal its terms because it involves tax money. He's applied for access to the information.
FROM DEC. 22, 2000: Stockwell Day settles defamation suit out of court
"I think this is a secretive government," said Edy, a lawyer in Calgary. "We taxpayers are pretty mad at governments taking advantage of us, and we know when we're being fleeced."
The leader of the Opposition had been sued by Lorne Goddard, a Red Deer lawyer, for a letter to the editor written by Day while he was Alberta treasurer.
In that letter, Day criticized Goddard for defending a man accused of child pornography, and suggested the lawyer shared his client's interests.
The Canadian Alliance leader managed to have the trial date set back until after the federal election.
Day was planning to argue he deserved greater freedom of expression as a member of a legislative assembly. That's an argument that doesn't wash with Edy.
"An MLA clearly wears two hats," Edy said. "When he's in the house and speaking, that is subject to privilege.
"But when you're out there just shooting off your mouth, then you bear a responsibility."
But the taxpayers are bearing the cost, and Michael Ritter doesn't think they should.
"In my opinion, it is absolutely, positively an unlawful coverage that the government of Alberta is giving to Mr. Day," said Ritter, former parliamentary counsel for the Alberta legislature. "There is no authority in law that I know of."
Goddard had sued for $600,000. While the details of the settlement were not made public, Goddard was reported to have been pleased with the terms. |
