Re: “Fake letters are troubling,” Jan. 21.
Thank you for your editorial on fake letters. Writing a letter pretending to be someone you are not is fraud. I was appalled to hear of companies writing such letters, and my initial reaction was that your editorial was too mild. On reflection, I think you got it about right. However, if such an event were to happen again, and the intended financial impact material, then consideration should be given to referring the matter to the RCMP.
If Goldman Sachs wrote a letter pretending to be Warren Buffet extolling the virtues of itself or a company it was representing for a $1 billion gain, you can bet the Securities and Exchange Commission would take action. Here we are talking about a very different scale, but the principle remains the same.
Over my career, I have been involved in running or financing more than 15 start-up companies. The best guidance I received, and that I try to pass on to aspiring entrepreneurs, is that decisions should be legal, ethical and credible. I suspect the actions described in your editorial fail on all three counts.
Richard MacKellar
Managing Partner, Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital
Adjunct Professor, UBC Sauder School of Business
Squamish
