News that's 31 days fresh

Last night I heard a reporter on CBC radio discuss the donation of 500 wheelchairs by an anonymous Canadian veteran of WWII to Afghan amputees in Kandahar. Today, I was pointed to a similar story by Bill Graveland of CP (ht:TP). What a wonderful good-news tale - I'm glad it's finally getting out to the Canadian public.

I say finally, because David Akin pointed me to an earlier announcement - in the House of Commons no less - on December 5th of last year:

Mr. Russ Hiebert (South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow 500 wheelchairs will arrive in Kandahar, Afghanistan. A wheelchair can transform the life of an amputee, providing mobility, opportunity and hope.

After decades of conflict and war, several hundred thousand Afghanis are amputees. In response, Wheelchair Foundation Canada, led by a constituent of mine, Christiana Flessner, has worked alongside our Canadian military to provide wheelchairs to Afghanis in need.

Each wheelchair proudly displays the flags of Canada and Afghanistan side by side symbolizing our friendship and national determination to help them through this difficult time. The wheelchairs will be distributed by our soldiers in Kandahar, giving our troops yet another opportunity to build new and important friendships with Afghanis.

Note that the MND's Parliamentary Secretary said the wheelchairs would arrive "tomorrow." That is to say, on December 6th. And yet, we heard nothing further in either the press or from the government or military until yesterday. Until Mr. Hiebert arrived in Afghanistan to make a press event of it, that is.

Now, I've heard that the wheelchairs actually arrived last month, and were distributed to the hospital right away - that they weren't selfishly and cynically held back until Mr. Hiebert could arrange a flight for the photo-op. If anyone has different information, feel free to correct me by e-mail or in comments. But assuming this info is correct, BZ to everyone involved for at least having the good sense and decency to do the right thing whether or not anyone was watching.

Having now doled out all the credit that is due, I would like to offer a piece of advice to "Canada's New Government": if you're going to expropriate the goodwill of a private donation for your own political purposes, at least show you're competent enough to make the most of the opportunity next time. Either postpone any announcement until the time of delivery or, better yet, get your front-man's tush on a plane right away so you don't have to postpone a damn thing.

News that's a full month old isn't news any longer, folks. You're lucky - LUCKY - this got any press at all this far after the fact. I wouldn't count on getting lucky twice.