"Ali Tahmourpour always dreamed of being a Mountie. But it was not to be.

"In 1999, the Iranian immigrant washed out of cadet school after he was singled out and harassed because of his ethnicity.

"Last week, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal awarded him upward of half a million dollars and ordered the RCMP to give him another chance. 'I believe I have a lot to contribute to the force,' declared the 35-year-old.

"Since flunking boot camp all those years ago, Mr. Tahmourpour hasn't exactly displayed the resilience, resources or self-reliance you might expect from someone who wants to be a Mountie. For example, he hasn't held a job. He got a real-estate licence, but that didn't work out. He qualified to be a translator, but that didn't work out, either. He claims he was too busy fighting his case to look for work. Mercifully, the adjudicator didn't swallow that one. That's why she awarded him only half a million dollars, which was far less than what he wanted - 8 1/2 years back pay from the RCMP, including upgrades for promotions.

"So, all in all, I guess we should be grateful. Mr. Tahmourpour got his day in court, and then some. Now he'll get a second chance to fulfill his dream and, this time, the people who run boot camp will be very, very careful. Will our nation be well-served if he makes it? You decide."