Comment:

"Chris Alexander: A case study in what can go wrong

A lot of good people invested a lot of hope in Chris Alexander.

And it has come to this…the attached cartoon from the Corriere Canadese

www.corriere.com, expresses the legitimate relief of millions of Canadians as Alexander leaves public life.

Alexander comes from a Toronto family respected for its commitment and integrity. Growing up, he was subjected to the best of influences. His education and professional career prepared him for a position of serious social responsibility. Much was expected of him. He was in line to become leader of the Conservative party.  

So why did things go so terribly wrong?

Why did Chris Alexander, quite unnecessarily and with the zeal of an uneducated Austrian house painter, join Jason Kenney in hurting so many families and businesses? 

Why did Alexander, as a Minister of the Crown, endeavour to keep pace with Jason Kenney in setting this generation’s standard for rudeness, personal compromise, questionable financial gain, exploitive intolerance, boot licking and abuse of position?

The answer is that I don’t know what happened to Chris Alexander. I don’t know why a man of Alexander’s credentials would join an uneducated con artist like Kenney in the gutter.   

But I do know that many of us wish Alexander the best as he comes to terms with his behavior. He is still a young man with a young family. There is ample time for him to pay the heavy price required for personal redemption.

The Road to Damascus will be difficult... but there is no option for a man of Alexander’s background.

I wish him well."

Richard Boraks, October 22 2015