Order of Canada Revoked for Stephen Fonyo

[JLM]

Steve fony0

I just heard on C.B.C. that Steve Fonyo just had his Order of Canada revolked. Pettiness or what? Shades of Ira Hayes?

 

[karrie]

What felony crimes did Ira Hayes commit? I don't quite get how they compare.

 

[FiveParadox]

Today the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General terminated the membership of Mr. Stephen Fonyo as an Officer of the Order of Canada. Mr. Fonyo’s membership was revoked pursuant to the Policy and Procedure for Termination of Appointment to the Order of Canada. (Mr. Fonyo has been convicted of several criminal offences for which no appeals remain outstanding.)

Mr. Fonyo had been an Officer of the Order for over two decades.

Members of any rank of the Order of Canada can have their appointments revoked when they are convicted of a criminal offence, or when they demonstrate clear departures from accepted Canadian standards of behaviour, or when they are sanctioned by any professional body or association. Appointments to the Order of Canada are made by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order, on the advice of the Order of Canada Advisory Council.

The Council is led by Madame Chief Justice the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin P.C., Chief Justice of Canada, and supported by several other key Canadians. Other members of the Advisory Council include:

• Mr. Wayne Wouters, Clerk of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Secretary to the Cabinet;
• Ms. Judith LaRocque C.V.O., the Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage;
• Yvan Guindon C.M., F.R.S.C., the President of the Royal Society of Canada;
• Mr. Joseph Rotman O.C., Chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts; and
• Mr. Tom Traves, Chairperson of the Board of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

 

[JLM]

What felony crimes did Ira Hayes commit? I don't quite get how they compare.

I wasn't aware he committed any. They compare in that they both did heroic deeds for which they were decorated and both of them suffered a decline of fortunes by their own doing, Hayes with alcohol abuse, Fonyto with drug and alcohol abuse, theft and assault. I don't believe Hayes was ever stripped of his decoration, just his dignity. Fonyo's decoration was for something he did (raised almost $14 million for cancer) and while I believe he should be punished for his infractions- the Order of Canada should be his for life. Does an Olympic champion stand to lose his gold medal, if he breaks a law later in life?

 

[JLM]

I wasn't aware he committed any. They compare in that they both did heroic deeds for which they were decorated and both of them suffered a decline of fortunes by their own doing, Hayes with alcohol abuse, Fonyto with drug and alcohol abuse, theft and assault. I don't believe Hayes was ever stripped of his decoration, just his dignity. Fonyo's decoration was for something he did (raised almost $14 million for cancer) and while I believe he should be punished for his infractions- the Order of Canada should be his for life. Does an Olympic champion stand to lose his gold medal, if he breaks a law later in life?

I forgot to add that Fonyo's behaviou isn't much worse than the average politician's.

 

[countryboy]

I wasn't aware he committed any. They compare in that they both did heroic deeds for which they were decorated and both of them suffered a decline of fortunes by their own doing, Hayes with alcohol abuse, Fonyto with drug and alcohol abuse, theft and assault. I don't believe Hayes was ever stripped of his decoration, just his dignity. Fonyo's decoration was for something he did (raised almost $14 million for cancer) and while I believe he should be punished for his infractions- the Order of Canada should be his for life. Does an Olympic champion stand to lose his gold medal, if he breaks a law later in life?

Jeez, it's a good thing it's not a cash award (is it?) or else they'd be asking for a refund. I guess turning from a superhero into a human being with problems is not acceptable to the Order of Canada people. I agree with you...the award was given for a specific deed and that should still stand. Big Brother seems to be watching these things closely...for life!

 

[FiveParadox]

It was entirely appropriate to revoke Mr. Fonyo’s membership.

The Order of Canada exists to recognise and celebrate excellence for Canadians — it would be inappropriate to have convicted fellons amongst its ranks. What he did to raise funds for cancer research is admirable, and that shouldn’t be forgotten — but would you also honour a forty-time serial killer because he helped an old woman cross the street? The Order of Canada’s conditions of appointment have always been extremely clear right from the moment that the Order was launched by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of the late The Right Honourable Lester Pearson P.C., C.C., O.B.E., O.M., the 14th Prime Minister.

Integrity is one of the pillars of any decent honours system, and that is why it is imperative that convicted criminal behaviour absolutely bars any appointments or decorations under the Order of Canada, or any other State recognition on either the national or provincial stages. Anyone who truly represents excellence would never be in a position to be convicted to begin with, so this decision makes perfect sense and should be applauded.

Once again the Advisory Council has made a decision that strengthens and re-enforces the confidence that Canadians have in the Order of Canada. The termination of Mr. Fonyo’s appointment has also re-affirmed that the Canadian definition of excellence is one of selflessness, integrity and honour.

 

[karrie]

Does an Olympic champion stand to lose his gold medal, if he breaks a law later in life?

Okay, thanks for the clarification on Hayes.... when he said pettiness, and shades of Ira Hayes, in such direct conjunction, it sounded like the stripping of honours was the comparison.

Anyway...

Winning a medal for winning a race is not the same thing as the Order of Canada. The Order of Canada comes with it's own set of rules and standards. Fonyo would have known that upon committing a felony he'd no longer fill the criteria.

 

[Kreskin]

During his "Journey For Lives" he struck me as a guy who needed 15 minutes of fame to get a job.

 

[JLM]

It was entirely appropriate to revoke Mr. Fonyo’s membership.

The Order of Canada exists to recognise and celebrate excellence for Canadians — it would be inappropriate to have convicted fellons amongst its ranks. What he did to raise funds for cancer research is admirable, and that shouldn’t be forgotten — but would you also honour a forty-time serial killer because he helped an old woman cross the street? The Order of Canada’s conditions of appointment have always been extremely clear right from the moment that the Order was launched by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of the late The Right Honourable Lester Pearson P.C., C.C., O.B.E., O.M., the 14th Prime Minister.

Integrity is one of the pillars of any decent honours system, and that is why it is imperative that convicted criminal behaviour absolutely bars any appointments or decorations under the Order of Canada, or any other State recognition on either the national or provincial stages. Anyone who truly represents excellence would never be in a position to be convicted to begin with, so this decision makes perfect sense and should be applauded.

Once again the Advisory Council has made a decision that strengthens and re-enforces the confidence that Canadians have in the Order of Canada. The termination of Mr. Fonyo’s appointment has also re-affirmed that the Canadian definition of excellence is one of selflessness, integrity and honour.

On this we have to agree to disagree. Mr. Fonyo should stand to lose nothing more than you or me if convicted of a crime. Mr. Fonyo was never one of my favourite people, I found him a little obtuse and arrogant, but he didn't exactly get dealt a good hand from the getgo.

 

[karrie]

On this we have to agree to disagree. Mr. Fonyo should stand to lose nothing more than you or me if convicted of a crime. Mr. Fonyo was never one of my favourite people, I found him a little obtuse and arrogant, but he didn't exactly get dealt a good hand from the getgo.

You or Paradox didn't accept entrance into an elite club with rules for membership. And if you did accept entrance into such an elite club, one that even goes so far as to have its own constitution on the books, then I'm sure you'd get what the results of felony would be on your membership in that club.

 

[FiveParadox]

On this we have to agree to disagree.

Perhaps.

Mr. Fonyo should stand to lose nothing more than you or me if convicted of a crime.

You and I are not appointed to the Order of Canada, JLM, whereas Mr. Fonyo was. He was a represent of what makes Canada absolutely wonderful, and for someone in that position—someone who has been recognised as the absolute best that our country has to offer—to be convicted of criminal behaviour is absolutely unacceptable. Unless we want to equate ‘Canadian excellence’ with ‘criminal behaviour’, convicts have no place on the Order of Canada’s rosters. I think it’s very fair to say that those who have been appointed to act as an example of excellence to other Canadians should probably act as an example of excellence to other Canadians.

Appointments to the Order are not a right, they are a very prestigious privilege.

 

[countryboy]

You or Paradox didn't accept entrance into an elite club with rules for membership. And if you did accept entrance into such an elite club, one that even goes so far as to have its own constitution on the books, then I'm sure you'd get what the results of felony would be on your membership in that club.

I wonder if there would be a conflict with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms if JLM (as an example) were thrown out of that club, constitution or not. The Charter would override a silly little Club constitution, would it not? Sounds like a big lawsuit potential to me.

 

[#juan]

Steve Fonyo going to jail. Cancer runner, Order of Canada recipient Fonyo going to jail

 

[karrie]

I wonder if there would be a conflict with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms if JLM (as an example) were thrown out of that club, constitution or not. The Charter would override a silly little Club constitution, would it not? Sounds like a big lawsuit potential to me.

I guess if you can find anywhere in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that says every club has to allow you as a member regardless of whether or not you meet their qualifications, there might be some legal ground.

But you won't.

The Order of Canada says its members are those people who spend a lifetime striving for the betterment of Canada. When Fonyo was honoured with membership in the Order, he met that criteria. Now he is a felon. He is not working toward the betterment of this country. He does not qualify for membership, and they have every right to revoke it.

 

[FiveParadox]

What are you talking about, countryboy?

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms would have no bearing on the termination process of the Order of Canada; nobody has a right to be a member of the country’s highest national honour. (It would rather defeat the purpose to have thirty-three million Officers of the Order of Canada.) And besides, I’m sure there are no judicial concerns in this matter considering the Chief Justice chairs the Advisory Council.

 

[JLM]

I wonder if there would be a conflict with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms if JLM (as an example) were thrown out of that club, constitution or not. The Charter would override a silly little Club constitution, would it not? Sounds like a big lawsuit potential to me.

I have an uncanny feeling Countryboy that we haven't heard the end of this.

 

[FiveParadox]

:lol:

So every Canadian has a constitutional right to be a member of the Order of Canada? Really?

 

[JLM]

I guess if you can find anywhere in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that says every club has to allow you as a member regardless of whether or not you meet their qualifications, there might be some legal ground.

But you won't.

The Order of Canada says its members are those people who spend a lifetime striving for the betterment of Canada. When Fonyo was honoured with membership in the Order, he met that criteria. Now he is a felon. He is not working toward the betterment of this country. He does not qualify for membership, and they have every right to revoke it.

I think "felon" is a little strong, if not I suppose the Premier of B.C. could fall into that category. Fonyo's currently doing 30 days on weekends for driving infractions. In the past he had more serious convictions, and the fact they didn't revoke it then says to me they shouldn't be revoking it now. But then I'm the first to say there is an exception to every rule.

 

[#juan]

Being a member of the Order of Canada is belonging to a pretty exclusive club. The most exclusive club in the country. If one of the members get's himself thrown in jail for his umpteenth drunken driving offense, or driving without a license offense, I think it is only reasonable that his Order of Canada be revoked. Fonyo just didn't measure up.