BorealThe Globe and MailDavid Walmsley - Editor in ChiefSat 2022-10-01 10:28 AM Subject: On World News Day, let’s remember that access to information is a human right Dear Mr. Walmsley, Perhaps before the end of this year—definitely before the end of the next—it will all be over and I will have failed her again; for the last time. Just over six years ago I was diagnosed as having a “rising aortic aneurism.” Every eight months or so for the following three years I underwent an echocardiogram to measure if it had reached the size where an operation to cut off the damaged portion of the aorta was called for, to be replaced with some type of polyethylene tubing. After my wife died, I cancelled any further echocardiogram and decided to let nature take its course. One of Lucette’s last requests was that I make one more attempt at telling my story; now, our story. I should not have been surprised that my firing by Foreign Affairs for alleged insubordination still bothered her considering the surroundings in which she died. In an attempt to fulfill a dying wish, I planned an advertising campaign for a book I had completed after her passing about our life together. I emailed the Globe and Mail the following advertising copy: *** Shooting the Messenger: Till Death Do Us Part 244 pages $14.50 CDN www.amazon.ca/dp/1928023274 At the heart of Shooting the Messenger – Till Death Do Us Part is the story of my discovery of a multi-year, multi-million dollar fraud at the then Department of Foreign Affairs and my subsequent dismissal for failing to report the theft of additional millions. Without the benefit of a lawyer, I appealed my dismissal all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. Till Death Do Us Part ends with the assisted death of my wife on the afternoon of July 5, 2019, away from where she had hoped to die, with only Scott Brison, while at Treasury Board, admitting to his helplessness. *** After working out the details, in an exchange of emails with a Mr. Greg McGowan, I received the following: Sent: Tue 2021-06-08 12:37 PM From: Globe Media Group Subject: Ad for Shooting the Messenger - Till Death Do Us Part Good Afternoon Bernard, My apologies, but our legal team has advised that we will not be able to publish the ad. Greg McGowan I Team Lead The Globe and Mail No explanation was provided, and requests for clarification as to what the GM’s lawyers found objectionable went unacknowledged. You wrote in “On World News Day, let’s remember that access to information is a human right” that “Making a positive difference to someone’s life is the greatest gift a journalist can give. Perhaps an individual is heard for the first time, or an injustice is settled.” In my case, it will probably be the last time—assuming the Globe and Mail has a change of heart and accepts my advertising—and no injustice will be settled; it’s too late for that. But at least I can say to my beloved when we get to meet again, that I tried my best to get our story out there. My apologies for bothering you with this, but your words about journalists and journalism gave me hope. Sincerely Bernard Payeur Ottawa
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