Diplomatic Impunity?

"She was really sad. She really likes me. She said: 'Mark, don't worry about anything, I'll compensate you for your time off and everything'. She felt really bad. She had never seen her dog fall in love with somebody as quick as (with) me."
"I said: 'Milou, Milou. How's it going?' He's wagging his tail, he's all happy. I get down on one knee. "I was about to pet him and he friggin' locks onto my hand. ...I swung him once or twice while I was on one knee. ...I got up while I was still swinging him, and that's when I swung him into the wall and banged him. That's when he let go.
"It went so quick. I was so pumped. My adrenalin was so wild."
 Mark Liboiron

The 25-kilogram golden retriever Milou must have forgotten his unusual love for Mr. Liboiron, someone whose presence the dog had become familiar with, while renovations were taking place at the official residence in Rockcliffe Park of the newly-assigned German ambassador and his wife.  The contractor for whom Mr. Liboiron worked as a carpenter had been loathe to  contact Ontario's Workers Safety and Insurance Board.

Particularly as Mr. Liboiron had assured his employer that Ambassador Werner Wnendt and his good wife Eleanore had assured Mr. Liboiron that all would be taken care of, not to be concerned. It was immediate concern enough that he be taken to hospital for treatment. They believed the Embassy or the Wnendts themselves, from their assurances, would look after missed work compensation, prescriptions, rehabilitation, pain and suffering.

Mr. Liboiron took a week off work to recuperate, then was assigned light duties for a short period of time. His employer paid his salary of $5.000. He is still awaiting compensation from the German Embassy, a month and a half after the event. For the German mission appears now to feel no obligation to make good on the word of the German Ambassador's wife.

Nor does it appear as though Ambassador Wnendt or his wife feel any obligation to make amends to the carpenter and his employer for the attack on the man by their dog. The dog did have a reputation of being unfriendly to strangers. And Mr. Liboiron often took it upon himself to calm the animal while other workers it was not familiar with were about.

Mr. Liboiron appears to have suffered serious damage to his shoulder; his wrist muscles remain sore, while the punctures to his hand and two fingers are still in the healing stages. When the pain subsides, he has been informed, he will have to undergo a course of physiotherapy. To cope with his discomfort he takes anti-inflammatories and painkillers.

"We want to make it absolutely clear. We do not claim any diplomatic immunity. ...There are ways and structures here in Canada which we want to observe and go through, and find a proper solution. ...I think in a country like Canada ... you do not deal with these things by saying, 'I have diplomatic immunity", explained an Embassy spokesman.

The verbal assurances hastily proffered by the Ambassador's wife immediately following the attack are now denied both by herself and her husband. The solution seems simple enough; apology and compensation should be forthcoming. Surely the Embassy, furthermore, has insurance to cover just such unforeseen incidents?