THE RULE OF LAW IS SUSPENDED IN WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP

Woolwich Township is part of the Region of Waterloo in southern Ontario. While a beautiful northern corner of the Region; it's politics are to say at the least parochial. At the most it's Family Compact time as in the old Upper Canada in the early 1800s when a very small group ruled for their personal benefit as well as for the purpose of keeping the unwashed masses at bay. Half of the six person Council are related at least (S. Shantz, M.Bauman & L.Shantz) and combined with that and identical church connections it is quite weird. Add in Councillor Martin who sides with them and who could blame the minority local wasps for at least thinking the dreaded "Mennonite Mafia". Of course many others don't approve of that term but they're not looking so here goes.

Apparently it's become routine in Toronto for municipal politicians to make light of the various provisions of the Municipal Elections Act 1996. That said many have been audited and several removed from office for failing to file any expense return at all. The same thing happened in Sudbury less than two months ago. In each instance the Municipal Clerk has stepped up and done as the Election Act stipulates which is to immediately remove the offender from office in the case of a total failure to file expense reports.

Not so here in Woolwich Township. Seems that they like to write their own rules and regulations and Mark being literally family and such a swell guy overall; clearly the provincial Elections Act forfeiture of office can't apply to him. That's where we stand today. I expect there will be some response from the province on this. Why Woolwich would take this bizarre position and knowingly court condemnation from the province and the courts is concerning. I don't see this ending well. Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story titled "Woolwich won't remove Bauman".