Culture clash

I wrote this last August, when the story broke, but don't know why I didn't publish it then?  Anyway, the opinions still hold.  Here it is: 
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The thieves behind the hospital-funding scandal plaguing three Toronto hospitals struck me immediately.  Both executives who approved the contracts are from cultures where graft, greed, corruption and not paying taxes are almost badges of excellence.  One culprit appears to be Greek and the other East Indian, cultures which seem to have no problem with operating way outside proper fiscal lines. 

So, it's no surprise these individuals stole --  be it from taxpayers or the government.  The proof is in the pudding, which is the ugly mess called Greece; Pakistan and India are also widespread dens of graft and corruption from top to bottom.  Sorry to point out these connections, but I may be the only Canadian who would. 

It's not race, folks, it's culture.  Plain and simple.  Having worked for the CRA for many years, I know a thing or two about what categories of taxpayer trigger audit flags.  While not mentioned for fear of mass, bleeding-heart Canadian finger-pointing about targeting, it is nonetheless practiced because it has to be.  Canada has the best tax system in the world to ensure citizens pay their due and are given their entitlements.  By the way, you never hear anyone complaining about entitlements, just taxes.  They don't seem to realize that both go hand-in-hand, can't have one without the other.

The Canadian system is also one which comes down very hard on tax cheats to strongly discourage those who contemplate engaging in it.  Huge penalties, fines and even imprisonment await those caught.  Thanks to the CRA and the fine folks who work there (hats off to all my colleagues), Canada remains the best country in the world.  Why else would so many people flock here?  But if you come, you better obey the law, respect our corporate and financial rules and pay your taxes.

So whatever fate has in store for Mr. Georgiou and Mrs. Bahl, I say bring it on.