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The Story behind the story: Greg McArthur,
The Globe and Mail & Linden MacIntyre, CBC-TV
The 2007 Michener Award finalists talk about their
award winning stories and the people who helped make them happen -
Michener Awards Ceremony, June 13, 2008
Stories broadcast on the CBC News program the fifth estate and
published in The Globe and Mail revealed details of the financial
relationship between former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and
German-Canadian businessman Karlheinz Schreiber. The House of
Commons Ethics Committee held hearings on these financial dealings
and a public inquiry was called.
YOUR EXCELLENCY, FELLOW FINALISTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
Greg McArthur |
As Linden and I stand here being honoured for our work on this
story, it’s easy to forget that asking questions about Brian
Mulroney’s relationship with Karlheinz Schreiber has not always been
so warmly received.
This story began more than a decade ago with a very simple question.
Fifth estate producer Harvey Cashore, who couldn’t be with us
tonight because he’s preparing to welcome a new baby into his
family, uncovered a series of secret contracts. Those contracts
funneled more than 20 million dollars to a mysterious
German-Canadian lobbyist to help him in his efforts selling
European-made planes, helicopters and tanks to Canadian government
agencies.
Harvey had just one simple question: What happened to that money?
Instead of an answer, Harvey got something else: Editorials attacked
him for asking the question. He was on the receiving end of three
frivolous lawsuits. Mr. Mulroney called it a vendetta-driven
campaign to smear his family’s good name.
Fortunately for all of us, Harvey does not scare easily. And
although he often felt like he was the only person asking that
question, he was not alone.
In 2003, lawyer and author Bill Kaplan came to Globe and Mail
editor-in-chief Ed Greenspon with a story that turned the prevailing
narrative on its head. Mr. Mulroney had accepted hundreds of
thousands of dollars in cash from Schreiber, and that set the course
for The Globe to join Harvey’s pursuit.
This year, we finally made some real discoveries about those
payments, but the most important discovery was a lesson for our
profession.
We should not assume Canada’s most important institutions are
perfect mechanisms for maintaining the integrity of our democracy.
A lengthy RCMP investigation failed to determine why those payments
took place -- but was shut down anyways. Even worse, a Montreal
courtroom was used to convince the entire country that a very
powerful man with powerful lawyers had nothing to hide -- when
nothing could have been further from the truth.
We are often the last line of defence.
And this story has also shown us that that defence is formidable. It
is made up of determined people like Harvey, his co-producer Timothy
Sawa and Linden. It has unflinching managers like Globe editors Ed
Greenspon, Sylvia Stead, Colin MacKenzie and David Walmsley. It is
also buttressed by CBC executive producers David Studer and Sally
Reardon. It also includes a few lawyers -- Danny Henry, Peter
Jacobsen -- and one particular lawyer who, next to Harvey, deserves
the most credit for exposing those three notorious hotel room
meetings, Bill Kaplan.
Thank you for the nomination. It is a great honour.
Greg McArthur
The Globe and Mail
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EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
Linden MacIntyre |
I’ve worked with Harvey Cashore on this story for nearly 10 years …
more recently with another young CBC reporter who couldn’t be here …
Timothy Sawa who’s based in Winnipeg. And of course … with Greg
McArthur of the Globe and Mail. I have to say that for someone who’s
been in this line of work for more than four decades it is inspiring
to work with young reporters of this caliber --- journalists who
will carry the torch of investigative journalism well into the
future.
Greg has succinctly outlined the objective elements of the many
stories we’ve done on this particular issue. For me the over-arching
significance of the story is its power to remind us of the crucial
importance of transparency and accountability in high places --- not
just for elected officials, but also regarding the conduct of the
many people drawn to them by the magnetism of power … and the
prospect of easy personal enrichment at public expense. This, for
me, is the root motivation for us and for our supervisors at the CBC
and the Globe for pursuing this particular story so aggressively and
for so long.
I appreciate the recognition that is explicit in a nomination for an
award that has quite rightly become the highest compliment available
for the work we do.
Linden MacIntyre
CBC-TV fifth estate
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The Globe and Mail |
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CBC-TV fifth estate |
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L-R: Greg McArthur; Colin MacKenzie; Ed Greenspon; David
Walmsley; Seated; Her
Excellency Michaëlle Jean; His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond |
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L-R: Linden MacIntyre;
Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of
Canada, His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond; Sally
Reardon; David Studer |
Back to 2007 Award Winner
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