This Weeks' Honourary Canadian Citizenship Award

This week's Honourary Canadian Citizenship Award goes to Joseph Wilson, who is back in the news this week after it was revealed by Lewis "Scooter" Libby - charged with perjury and obstruction of justice in the case related to the outing of Mr Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame - that he was authorized by President Bush to leak classified National Intelligence information to the press in order to smear Wilson.

Ever since the period just before Mr Wilson wrote his New York Times editorial in July, 2003, "What I Didn't Find in Africa", which contradicted Bush's infamous 16 words in the July, 2003 State of the Union Speech claiming that Saddam sought uranium from Africa, the right-wing attack machine led by Bush, Cheney and Rove has been relentless. In fact, it still thrives today as is obvious by this anonymous editorial in the Washington Post, the gist of which Wilson quickly refuted.

Mr Wilson has had to endure being called a traitor by his enemies and his motives have been intensely scrutinized the past three years. What his critics fail to understand is that Wilson was sent by the Bush administration to investigate the Niger claim: he was working for them. And, when he came back with the truth that would debunk the president's nonsense, the outrage was and still is palpable. The ultimate revenge, of course, was the outing of his wife who was a covert CIA agent.

Yet, through it all, Wilson has remained steadfast, unflappable, dignified and unbelievably patient. The Bush administration will not win this battle, no matter how hard it tries. And that's why Mr Wilson deserves an honourary Canadian Citizenship Award this week.

Besides the fact that he and his wife are welcome to disappear in the Canadian wilderness any time they need a break from the insanity of the US right-wing, Wilson's willingness to speak truth to power relentlessly mimics Canada's honour to its own principles of doing things the correct way and sticking to its guns. We didn't buy into the Iraq war lies and we never flinched at the criticism. When you're right, you're right. It's that simple. Or, at least, it ought to be.

And, when you're right, you need to be humble about it. Nothing drives your detractors more crazy than to have an opponent who won't buy into the hysteria they attempt to create when they attack your character. So, even when they come at you sideways, backwards or full on and you still retain your composure, you've won. And so it is with Joe Wilson.

Mr Wilson, Canada salutes you and would be proud to have you as one of our own because you exemplify qualities that we hold dear and true. We've got your back, Joe.