Serving Justice

It would most certainly qualify as a first should the sentencing hearing for Raymond Lavigne conclude with punitive incarceration in response to his having been found guilty of abuse of power and his authority as a Senator. Ontario Superior Court Judge Robert Smith will issue his decision in mid-June. For the time being, speculation is that he could be sent to prison for a year to 15 months for fraud and breach of trust.

The man most certainly disgraced himself. His behaviour was no credit to the office he held in the Senate of Canada. He behaved in an arrogantly entitled manner, treating his employees like personal servants, and illicitly claiming benefits and payments he was not entitled to, short-changing his employees in the process. At a time when he was suspended from the Senate he saw nothing wrong in charging thousands of dollars to taxpayers for his perceived entitlements.

Despite the Ontario Superior Court finding of guilt of fraud and breach of trust, claiming over ten thousand in false travel claims, among other specious claims of entitlement, his lawyer feels he should evade a prison penalty for a far lesser penalty of serving his sentence in the community. The former senator claims that other politicians had been caught embezzling, but they were never brought to justice.

"Why me? They have dragged me through the mud, attacked me and my family and assassinated me in the media. I can assure you, I swear to you ... I have never stolen a penny." From the evidence presented at his trial this is pretty far from the truth. It is abundantly clear he refuses to take ownership of having committed dishonest acts, of entitling himself to funds beyond defence.

He remains defiant in his claims he has done nothing wrong. The Senate of which he was a part thought otherwise, and they turned files over to the RCMP who conducted an investigation that led to his trial and conviction. Despite being banned from attending Senate proceedings and committee hearings, he claimed hospitality, travel and office expenses for over four years.

If justice is to be served, he should be treated like any other felon who engages in white collar crime. After serving his time in jail, he can resume his life enjoying his handsome pension of $79,000 at taxpayer expense.