IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PROCESS

Decisions are usually determined before the meeting/hearing ever starts. It's all about those in charge of the process and what they want. This includes the Agenda, the order of speakers, whether or not questions from the floor are permitted, who the parties are, whether party status was tightly controlled early on and surprisingly who controls the Minutes. It's amazing what doesn't get into the Minutes but should have. Also of course is the composition of the members of either Tribunals, Boards or Committees. Conflict of interest rules are also crucial as otherwise stacking of Boards, Tribunals and Committees with friendly faces often occurs.

Here in Woolwich Township we have yet another MECAC meeting in regards to election expense contraventions. It is scheduled for October 26/15 at 9:30 am. and it is a complete crock of shit. The proof is in the pudding as two of their three Decisions to date are contrary to the Municipal Elections Act spirit and law. While numerous contraventions including bizarre late production of receipts and invoices occurred,a forensic audit was unable to substantiate their authenticity. That normally is the kiss of death and should have guaranteed the Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee (MECAC) sending the matter to the courts for consideration. They did not.

MECAC have at least two members with a conflict of interest including their Chair. The Woolwich township Clerk is insisting on treating this Region of Waterloo appointed Committee as if they are strictly a committee of Woolwich Council which they are not. This includes strict speaking times for alleged Delegations. Unfortunately yours truly is not a Delegate, I am a party to the process as I am the Complainant/Applicant. Despite that I do not have any rights to question committee members, the candidtae or any one else in order to substantiate the very simple and obvious legal requirement for a Compliance/Forensic Audit needing to be ordered by MECAC. They failed miserably to do so last July 2/15 based upon two Financial Statements filled with erors and contraventions of the Municipal Elections Act (MEA) and now with a total of four of them; three being produced after the March 27/15 deadline, I expect they wish to do the same again. It's all about keeping the Mayor from facing the courts and the possibility that they might determine that she knowingly violated the MEA.