Re: National Group Opposes Gomery's Proposal To 'Dilute' PM's Power, Feb 27.

Sheldon Ehrenworth of the Public Policy Forum argues that the prime minister is a chief executive who must retain his current powers of appointment in order to manage the nation's business effectively.

In the light of recent events in the fields of public governance and corporate private governance, it is both astonishing and alarming that influential voices are still heard defending the extraordinary concentration of power that we see today, in our boardrooms and in the Prime Minister's Office.

No one disputes that such power makes governance much easier. But the evidence does not show that it makes for good governance. If we have learned anything during the past millennium evolving from the dictatorship of kings, it is that the broad distribution of power as exemplified by democracy works best. Certainly it takes time, patience and negotiation, but it generally keeps the ship off the rocks and leads to prosperity and contentment.

Whether the chief executive is running Canada, Enron or Nortel, absolute power brings disaster to all the stakeholders.

David A. Kahn,

Chairman-Canadian Justice Review Board

© National Post 2006