Two-Tier Justice?

This is based on a story I read in the March 2006 Readers Digest. It was written by a Licia Corbella who is a Calgary Sun columnist.

Here is the meat of the story:

Paul Coffin - Montreal advertising executive.
Pleaded guilty to 15 counts of fraud, spanning several years during which he stole $1.56 million of taxpayers' money by falsifying invoices, falsifying information about the number of employees he had and charging the government for work he never did. Besides the $1.56 million he admitted to stealing, he billed the feds another $3.8 million in sponsorship contracts over six years. In return, Coffin donated generously to the Liberal Party of Canada.

His sentence...not a day in jail and no fine. He received a sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community. As part of that sentence he has to be home by 9 pm weeknights and has to lecture university students on business ethics.

Coffin's sentence is being appealed by the Crown. He has paid back $1 million to the feds and the government received another $600,000 through a combination of previously paid federal tax and funds held back from Coffin.

Noel Hyslip - Farmer
Was charged for carrying a bag of grain across the border (US) and donating it to a local 4H Club and later, hauling a truckload of his own grain over the border into Montana and selling it at a higher price than he would have got from the Canadian Wheat Board

His sentence...Eight days in jail and fined $7500.

OK...this isn't quite the same type of crime as Coffin...but the crime and punishment do not appear equal. Noel Hyslip is just a regular guy.

Svend Robinson - A long time NDP member of Parliament
Stole a ring worth thousands (if I do recall it was $50,000). In the trial, judge Ron Fratkin said Robinson "has embarrassed himself" and has "taken a fall, probably more than most, all for a bauble, a trinket, a ring.

A bauble or trinket costs a lot less than thousands of dollars, in my opinion.

His sentence...No prison time, no fine. He was given a conditional discharge and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.

George Radwanski - appointed as Canada's privacy commissioner by then prime minister Jean Chretien.
Owed the Federal government $500,000 in back taxes.

His sentence...Revenue Canada forgave the $500,000 he owed the federal government in taxes. Radwanski agreed to pay $60,000 before accepting his patronage appointment, which paid $200,000 a year and included a chauffeur as well as excessive travel and dining expenses.

Husein Amery - owner of Amery Group Inc., a denture company
Evaded taxes of $506,258 in corporate and personal taxes.

His sentence...was ordered by Alberta Court Judge Catherine Skene to pay a fine of $506,258, plus he must serve a 12 month conditional sentence, including 6 months of house arrest and an additional half a year of curfews.. And that is not all...Gordon Luchia of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency said Amery will have to pay back all the taxes - $506,258 - plus penalties and interest.

Notice the difference between George Radwanski and Husein Amery. Now I am sure there are circumstances that might make a difference in the truth of the stories, but it must be quite the circumstances.

The Coffin and Robinson cases are in themselves criminal. The Hyslip case is one for the ages. Farmers for many years have wanted to challenge the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly, and now we see what happens when you do.

I might even suggest that just like in the US, if money can't buy you happiness, it can sure by you freedom.