Edited to add: Kim (see comment below) says Mr. Riel did indeed make the donation in April 30, 2009. Lil says neither she nor the school have received the cheque. No word yet from the mayor's office.
Ottawa is a political town, and as such, I think we all understand the wheeling and dealing that goes on. God knows I've been the rough end of some these machinations. (Hear my story before voting for the former mayor or his cousin. Just saying.) The fact is, we know making promises is what politicians do. In most cases, I don't expect much. Want to build a bridge? Clean up the river? Solve conflict in the Middle East? I fully expect that your campaign promises and what actually comes out the other end are going to be somewhat watered down if they happen at all.
But some promises are meant to be kept. In my book, if you personally promise to help someone in need, whether you do it for political gain or out of what's left of your heart you need to make good on it. Here's the story:
About this time last year, a fundraiser was held for the Hajjar-Randell family. Their eldest son Jacob, now (happily) six, has a rare form of brain cancer and had to have a large tumour removed. Because Jacob was so young, he needed chemotherapy in Montreal. But the family had to defray the cost of going to Montreal to be with him. (Really, as a parent, can you imagine not going?) The local school (where Jacob goes, held a fundraiser. By all accounts, it was a smashing success and it helped a lot.
The Hajjar-Randell family were tremendously grateful. They are these are good people who are dealing with a really hard situation.
At said event, the Mayor of Gatineau Marc Bureau and one of the City's councillors Alain Riel attended the event. The City promises a donation of $1,500, Mr. Riel a contribution for $500 (which he says he made but that the Hajjar-Randell's never received). There is a story/blurb written about the event. The Mayor says "Jacob is my hero." Bureau and Riel look really good for coming to a family in need.
In politics, there ain't nothing better than kissing a baby except perhaps for getting your photo in the paper handing over cash to help a 5 year old with a rare form of brain cancer. Sounds like a movie of the week don't it? The mayor swoops in at the last minute to save the day with cash, right?
It would be except they never coughed up the dough -- Mr. Riel says they cut a cheque but neither Lil nor the school have ever seen it. The City said they aren't going to honour the donation. Lil is understandably angry and says if they send the cash now she'd send it back. She is most upset because she feels these politicians used the event to make themselves look good at the expense of her sick son. I tend to agree -- you don't call Jacob a hero, then promise to help then walk away.
So Lil wrote them an email demanding an explanation. This is the reply she received:
Nous avons bien reçu votre courriel adressé au maire, monsieur Marc Bureau. Il sera porté à sa connaissance dans les meilleurs délais et sera traité avec toute l'attention qu'il mérite.
Merci.
NOTE: An English version of this message is available upon request
(We have received your email addressed to the Mayor, Mr. Marc Bureau. It will brought to his attention as quickly as possible and will be treated with all the attention that it deserves. One would think it would be easier to have this in French and English, I mean it's a standard reply.)
Jacob is now thriving, going to school, playing with his brother, and getting into mischief. His last scan show no new growth and this is good news. I hope she tells all the great deeds people did to make him better. The fundraisers, the offers of food and help and all that. I know she'll teach him the importance of helping and coming through on promises. And I hope when he grows up, that he never EVER becomes a politician.
