'Agitator' and the agitated
By John Mohan

Media mogul and philanthropist David Asper (of the renowned Asper family) and I have some glaring and not-so-glaring similarities. We're both 50 and the eldest of our siblings. Both are married and each has two sons and a daughter. He's a practised criminal lawyer and some of my relatives have needed a criminal lawyer. He is known among Winnipeg's wealthiest families while I know our city's poorest citizens. His family owns newspapers and I read them. He's a self-confessed "agitator" and people say I'm just agitated. He's working on buying the Blue Bombers and building a new football stadium. I like eating hotdogs, which are sold at football stadiums. I drive a Kia and David Asper drives a ... well, I don't know what he drives but I'm pretty sure it's not a Kia.

I advocate for the poor, and unknown to many, so does he. While it's assumed the affluent are ambivalent about the plight of the needy, David Asper is passionate about social justice issues. Through the Jewish Foundation, the Asper Family sponsored Siloam Mission's School of Expressive Arts this year, which provides art instruction and creative opportunity for the inner-city community.

In honour of his philanthropy, Asper was presented a painting created by a homeless artist, at the Siloam Mission Change Happens gala. I met him and his charming wife Ruth for the first time there, and had the opportunity to hear many of his views -- including government treatment of the poor.

In receiving his memento, he was asked to address the gala attendees. He had kind remarks about the organization I lead and admitted he reads my column. He gave support to my views that businesses and citizens can assume a greater role in solving domestic poverty issues but was candid in pointing out our governments have a legal responsibility to ensure quality of life for our poor.

Last week as he and I exchanged some e-mails, he offered a copy of a paper he wrote as a University of Toronto graduate law student. It's a thought-provoking document to say the least.

In it, Asper recounts that historically, internationally and judicially Canada has committed itself to the rights, welfare and dignity of the poor and disadvantaged -- drawing somewhat on biblical principles. He asserts the quality of life for our less fortunate is so fundamental to Canadian values that no political candidate would attempt to run for office advocating for a Darwinian social policy (survival of the rich at the expense of the poor). But he also highlights that a significant disconnect exists between our ideals and desires that the poor and needy are cared for, and the legal support that assures their quality of life, rights and dignity. At the risk of misrepresenting a lawyer's essay, Asper offers that what Canada says about the rights and care of the poor are far removed from how they are actually treated in our country. We can tell how our governments value and protect the poor (and their basic human rights) by how willingly they provide access to justice through affordable and quality legal representation, sustainable welfare and adequate social housing.

Has anybody heard about rights of the poor being mentioned by anyone in Ottawa the past few days? Which means David Asper continues to be right -- on that point at least.

Originally printed in the Winnipeg Sun, Wednesday, December 10, 2008.
Reprinted with the permission of Sun Media Corporation.