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Time for ASA to do right

posted Oct 22, 2011, 2:18 PM by Tyler Durden   [ updated Oct 22, 2011, 2:21 PM ]


Why has the current ASA not been able to clean up the damage done by the previous board regarding Mr Billings suspension? It has been 22 months since Mr Billings was suspended by the Charpentier led board. You will remember that the members were outraged at this "coup d'état", that they rallied behind Mr Billings and fought for justice for all. Now that they are in a position to see justice done and to ensure that a fair hearing takes place ... nothing. This new board has been in place for 6 months and still Mr Billings has had no hearing. I am reminded of the words of the Alberta Court of Appeals in its decision on Voorhorst v CSA.

[12] Combining the respondent's demand to exhaust all internal appeals with its proposal (carried out in parallel proceedings) to exclude from all governance in the interim, creates real danger. It is that the respondent's victories will become permanent in all but name.

The current ASA board's inaction is just perpetuating the injustice originally perpetrated by the Charpentier led board. Mr Billings put himself at considerable financial and reputational risk when he fought his original suspension on his own behalf but also on behalf of the members of the ASA. Some of those same members who have benefited from his fight now sit in a position to do something about it, but the silence is telling is it not? It is time for the board and more importantly the membership to take a page from Mr Billiings and show the cojones to do what is right.

I am not advocating for an exoneration of Mr Billings only for a fair hearing that ends this 'victory that becomes permanent in all but name'.

The ASA membership at it SGM this weekend has an opportunity to do the right thing, lets hope that they remember why and how they got where they are today.

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