A YEAR'S END LAMENT

Poverty is with us. Some of it can be claimed to be the result of self destruction such as alcohol and drug abuse. The reality is that many addictions start by self-medication required to ease psychological pain. Guilt, worry and past traumas haunt human beings. None of us are perfect and all of us mess up in our lives.

People in jail over Christmas we might think are there because of their own fault. The trouble is the percentages of Canadian/Ontario or others in jail who to date are unconvicted is shocking. At any time more than fifty percent of those imprisoned in this province are awaiting their trials and undoubtedly many will not be convicted of the offence of which they are charged. Others will be yet the courts tend generally not to look at mitigating circumstances except perhaps in the severity of the sentences. I recall being absolutely stunned that Daniel P. Reeves, here in Kitchener-Waterloo, spent five years in pre-trial custody. Good Lord and this is Canada, a democracy. Yes he was eventually convicted of fraud but why the hell, for an non-violent offence, did he spend five years behind bars prior to conviction?

Politically we have idiots in charge of the asylum. Trump to the south and Doug Ford down in Toronto are the most obvious. Ford is attempting to destroy the Clean Water Act and the Greenbelt Act. He would like to undo environmental protections because he believes that the environment is no more than a left wing conspiracy. How do you argue, enlighten or consult with minds like that?

We like to think that we are progressive and that all human beings, at least here in Canada, are treated equally. That is a joke as well. The rich are always treated much better than the middle class or the poor including by our own government and courts. Women are making progress only for us to learn how badly powerful and influential males in Hollywood have gotten away with bullying and harassment forever. Our own female police officers face rude, ignorant and even illegal behaviour by males from the Waterloo Region Police Services. No recent news on the fate of their class action lawsuit but our courts,money and entropy will ensure that it will be a long time before that is resolved. Women in other police forces, the military and yes even in Parliament face nasty behaviour. Sometimes even our universities are not as inclusive as they should be whether for undergrads, grads or professors. There is even the unequal treatment of those teachers/profs who haven't gotten onto the tenure highway or achieved permanent employee status and are living contract to contract.

Swinging back to our judicial system there is an old saying that we have the best judicial system in the world ... that money can buy. If you have a million dollars available you can buy top notch, long term, professional legal representation when you need it. Believe me you need it each and every time you step into a courtroom no matter how honest and law abiding you are or have been. That perversion must change but the vested interests involved are in control just like in our educational, police, and health systems. Improvement will not come as long as some within the system are doing just fine thank you.

WE THE SHEEP MUST BE MOLLIFIED

So refreshing to know that Liz Witmer, chair of the (corrupt?) WSIB, has ordered a review of the files of 300 hundred former rubber workers. Of course there may very well have been 3,000 whose health and lives were affected by the working conditions in various rubber related factories around Kitchener-Waterloo but that's beside the point for the WSIB, the Ministry of Labour and our provincial government. It's all about scoping at the very start so just in case an adverse decision results, you've already limited the financial damages to your budget and the damages to your credibility and reputation.

Today's Waterloo Region Record carries the following story titled "Rubber Town: Workers, families hope for answers from WSIB review". The skeptics aka knowledgeable people are blunt in their assessment of the alleged promised review. "It's a public relations exercise." It's also a bureaucratic, minimum one year exercise by the WSIB. Allegedly it's all about the science and the records and what individual workers can prove they were exposed to according to Scott Wilson a WSIB board member. I believe that that is primarily nonsense. Why should the workers who are now sick and dying have to "prove" anything other than where they worked and from when until when? They were never given the records of which chemicals were in which departments. They were never given written lists of the chemicals in the products by the factories. The science of solvent poisoning has been available since the late 1800s and in the ensuing 100 years and more the science has only become more definitive and more obviously hazardous.

WSIB spokesperson Christine Arnott suggested that they want to undertake a review in a "thoughtful and deliberate way using the best approach." She also advised that they are working deliberately to put a plan in place as soon as possible." Isn't that just sweet? In my opinion they will indeed be deliberate and thoughtful in putting together a plan. They will deliberately take as long as humanly possible in order for as many as possible sick rubber workers to pass on thus lowering the financial liability of the WSIB. Is it even possible that managerial bonuses are at stake based upon the numbers of rejected claims that are overturned in the review as in the fewer overturned past decisions the higher the bonuses?

My father worked for Uniroyal in Elmira for twelve years and then for thirteen years at the Breithaupt Street plant. The Breithaupt Street plant has been mentioned twice in this series as having very polluted air. I wonder as in Elmira if the neighbours were also adversely affected by the fumes from the plant? By the way my father became sick a year after retiring and died at age seventy-three.

OH THANK GOD, ELIZABETH WITMER IS CONCERNED

Well her concern plus twenty-five cents that sick or dead rubber workers did not receive from Workman's Compensation won't buy them a cup of coffee. That is exactly what her "concern" is worth, that is nothing. Gee where was her concern when many of them fought the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) for years and lost to get their rightfully owed financial compensation to pay for lost work, lost wages and lost family members? While she was collecting her six figure plus salary, sitting in a plush air conditioned office accepting huge work related risks such as a papercut from her paycheque, rubber workers in Kitchener-Waterloo were being poisoned and dosed with carcinogenic chemicals all day long. Carcinogenic chemicals that their employers, scientists, chemists and the government have known about for many, many decades. Some of those same chemicals caused the first diagnosed bladder cancers in Germany in the late 1800s for God's sake!

Today's Waterloo Region Record carries this story titled "Rubber workers' claims to be reviewed." Allegedly a "dedicated review team" from the WSIB will re-examine more than 300 claims filed by rubber workers. Odd but I wonder what that "dedicated review team" are doing right now? The WSIB are understaffed we are told so which other claims will now be set aside to free up staff for this review? I also wonder if the WSIB will re-examine claims from dead rubber workers. Or how about dead rubber workers who either do not have immediate family or they too have passed on? Will the WSIB compensate the estates of rubber workers who lost everything; their health and all their assets paying for health care and prescriptions?

This is simply one more sham by government on the people as the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Kudos to the Record for their series of articles and shame on both the Liberals and Conservatives for continuing to serve the wishes of their corporate clients at the expense of the health, safety and financial needs of the public.

CANNON FODDER & PEASANTS

It's been a growing realization for me for many years now but the above title more or less says it all. That is exactly how the ruling elite in this country views all the rest of us. Especially those of us in the working class. We are here to provide them as much as possible with cheap, easily dispensible labour. Labour for them to get rich on. Labour for them not to have to get their hands dirty. The elite learned long ago that they on their own can never earn enough money to make them as wealthy as they believe they deserve. Therefore by harnessing the labour of others and essentially taking a cut for yourself out of every hour they work, you can become rich a hundred times faster and probably by an amount a hundred times greater. Of course no human being deserves a cut from another's pay but that is what free enterprise and capitolism are all about.

Today's Waterloo Region Record carries the following story by Greg Mercer on the front page titled "Rubber Town". The sub-title is "Kitchener's rubber industry once employed thousands. For many former workers and their families, the legacy of those jobs has been illness, disease, death and poverty." The facts behind this title of course only add insult to injury. Our elites whether in rubber, foodstuffs, land development, transportation, alcohol, cigarettes etc. were once appropriately known as robber barons both here and in the U.S. These elites have no use for unions. They have no use for trade associations and they certainly have no use for shortages of labour no matter how low the wages or awful and dangerous the work. Thus they fully support mass immigration in order to always keep more people of working age available than there possibly could be jobs for. While refugee and humanitarian immigration are often touted as the raison d'etre behind the mass immigration since the Second World War, it is all self-serving nonsense.

Our elites support either the Liberal Party or the Conservatives and sometimes both. They will never support the NDP or the Green Party. No profit there for them. Democracy is something they put up with as it helps them be able to lobby politicians at all levels to enact policies and legislation in their favour. Political parties live and die on the rock of political donations. George Weston and relatives donate a little more than you or I do. Do you think that that may be why we have no voice and they do?

Recently there has been a report condemning Ontario's Children Aid Societies. Likewise our Corrections system is also raked over the coals regularly along with so many other provincial and federal Ministrys that are mostly there to give the appearance of care, justice or benefit to the little folk. Both our Ministry of Labour and our Ministry of the Environment (now MECP) aren't even worthwhile enough to rise to the level of being a joke. This Record article adds one more to the list and that is the Workman's Compensation Board (WCB) now wishfully called the Workplace Insurance and Safety Board (WISB).

Here in Ontario our provincial government decades ago passed legislation denying workers their right to sue employers for either negligence or damages, disease or death caused by workplace conditions. In exchange, our lying government, while holding hands with industry, piously suggested that the WCB would be an improvement because workers with their intentionally (by employers) limited means couldn't afford intentionally outrageous court and lawyers fees to obtain justice. Therefore in order to compensate for a perverted and unjust judicial system the government produced a perverted workman's compensation system primarly under the control of those same employers. This is what today's Record story is all about.

ONTARIO'S CHILD CARE SYSTEM NEEDS AN OVERHAUL

The title above is based upon a recent scathing report by an expert coroner's panel. The newspaper article describing the death of Nathan Wehrle while in the care of the province is titled "Government failed "out of control" teen, father says" and was in the October 5, 2018 Waterloo Region Record. Nathan and his girlfriend died after a car accident while being chased by police from near Cambridge over to Highway #6 south heading to Hamilton. "The families of both teens argue police should have stopped the chase." It is difficult to disagree with those opinions. Furthermore "Nathan's death follows the deaths of a dozen other children in government care between 2014 and 2017." These other deaths were by suicide, accident or homicide.

Both the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and Ontario's chief coroner are looking into the deaths of both teens, Nathan and his girlfriend Taryn. The SIU was scheduled to release its report last month.

DANGEROUSLY ILL, RED FLAGS & MENTAL ILLNESS

The mother of Convicted murderer Trevor La Pierre has written an opinion piece that the Waterloo Region Record published today. It is titled "An ill person who is very much loved by his family". Mr. La Pierre's medical diagnosis is severe intractable treatment-resistant schizophrenia. His mother details all his hospitalizations, police interactions and psychiatric appointments over the year prior to his fatal attack upon Mr. Hunter Brown. Mr. La Pierre did not know his victim. Mr. La Pierre was not provoked in any way by his victim. Mr. La Pierre had no motive such as robbery or theft for his actions. Without even knowing the severe mental distress Mr. La Pierre was in prior to the crime he committed it should be obvious that a 21 or 22 year old male of sound mind does not attack with a knife or anything else, a 74 year old minding their own business. This case screamed out for mental health intervention prior to the crime as well as after the crime. While my heart goes out to Mr. Hunter's family it also goes out to Mr. La Pierre's family. Our society still are not treating mental illness properly or safely for all concerned.

SUING THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT

As per the September 20, 2018 article in the Waterloo Region Record titled "Lawsuit over "solitary" in jails certified as a class action", it once again appears as if our own government are incapable of following the laws of the land. The class action lawsuit is seeking damages of $600 million and includes inmates with severe mental illnesses as well as any inmates who have been in solitary confinement for fifteen days or longer. Also at issue is administrative segregation in which inmates are isolated either to ensure their own safety or that of others in the institution.

The lawsuit alleges that the provincial government has been negligent in their use of isolation by leaving prisoners for weeks, months or even years in isolation with no concern for the health consequences to them. It is claimed that solitary confinement can greatly exacerbate already existing mental health conditions. Of course our government using taxpayers money will spend as much as they want defending against this lawsuit, regardless of the merits of the claims.

DO EDUCATION SYSTEMS ACROSS THE CONTINENT ALL USE THE SAME PLAYBOOK?

I just have to ask that question after rereading an on-line article from the K-W Record dated July 6, 2018. The title is "She was worried how a "teacher of the year" treated her 5-year old son. So she made a secret recording."

Back when my son was eight years old we had a problem with a teacher who had multiple sets of parents complaining about her. We even had parents come to us telling us that their children had told them that the teacher was picking on our son. I of course talked to the other parents, my son and then I went to the Principal. What I got was similar to what the mother in this Record article got which was a lot of platitudes and puffery. The Record article stated that a school spokesperson suggested that the teacher involved had never had a complaint in her 33 year career as a teacher. That sounds right off to me as B/S. Then the Record article claims that the teacher involved was named "teacher of the year" by the school. Well that is really interesting.

In my case I was told that there had never been a complaint against the teacher which was pure horseshit as I'd already talked to several parents who had complained about the teacher. Then I was given a story about how professional she is and how wonderful and it all seemed a little like overkill.

By the time the smoke cleared I had been lied to by the Principal, a Superintendant and well you get the picture. It appears from the Record article that the school involved in this case also closed ranks and defended the teacher. It appears as if they are more concerned with the teacher than they are with the children. Kind of sad when you look at it that way.

LEAD IN OUR SCHOOLS TAP WATER

If this wasn't so serious it could almost be funny. Today we learn of ongoing problems with lead in our school's drinking water.For many years now our local school board, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) have been gaining notoriety for their poor academic performance. That's right this is the same board which is very long on puffery and suggestions that they are a world class institution providing world class education, blah,blah and blah. Turns out not quite so much. By a long shot. It turns out that the provincial math and english test scores for Grade 3 and Grade 6 students have exposed some pretty second class results. Gee maybe we could throw some more taxpayers money at the teachers and at the administrators. That always seems to work (Not!). Today's Waterloo Region Record carries the story titled "Some local school taps fail lead tests".

We've long known that lead can negatively affect brain development and learning outcomes. It especially has negative effects upon children. Sooooo exactly how long is it going to take our braintrust at the WRDSB to come up with their spin on this one? Remember these guys are all about spinning everything. Whether it's the latest flavour of the month Edubabble properly known as nothing more than a new educational fad or whether it's explaining away rising teacher absenteeism, these guys can spin a tale.

Therefore while currently allegedly exerting world class efforts to reduce lead concentrations in the fountains at our schools, might they not suggest that this is why they haven't been able to keep up with their educational counterparts around Ontario for so many years now? They've tried the English as a second language excuse due to children of immigrants, despite Toronto for example having lots more. Now it's time to get really creative. Our children aren't doing well because we've rotted their minds with excessive lead in their drinking water. See it's really not due to our managing and supervising nor is it due to teacher issues at the public school level. It's lead in their brains. That's it! Keep the money flowing suckers oops taxpayers. We love our public school system just as it is. No changes required.

PROUD TO BE OF SERVICE

I believe that the following posting and link is the evidence that individual citizens can get rid of bad municipal councillors. Both Councillors Hahn and Bauman are not running in next month's municipal election in Woolwich Township. Mr. Hahn resigned prematurely last January and Mr. Hahn has now publicly stated in the Woolwich Observer newspaper that I can take some credit for his departure.


ENDING ON A WHINE - MARK BAUMAN

Just a few factual errors in today's Woolwich Observer article titled "Ending on a high note". The Observer reporter claims that Mark failed to follow "new" provisions in the province's Municipal Act. No offence to the reporter but clearly right off the bat he's just writing what Mark tells him, otherwise he would know that the provision insisting that ALL candidates MUST file an expense report was not new. Secondly it's not the Municipal Act of Ontario it is the Municipal Elections Act (MEA). Those are two entirely different and separate pieces of legislation.

Secondly Mark was not "tied up in legal wranglings" at the Superior Court of Justice. Nor was I "...able to take me (Mark) to court
and cause a lot of grief." There were no legal wranglings because Mark and his lawyer as well as the Township did not advise the citizen (me) who informed the Municipal Clerk of the infraction, that it had gone to court. The proceedings took ten minutes maximum as the Township supported Mark's reinstatement and no one else was given the opportunity to oppose it. It was Mark himself who took it to court, not I.

"It was a huge expense for the taxpayer...", "it was a huge waste of time and effort - court time." Right, ten minutes of court time. Blame the taxpayers' expenses on the Municipal Clerk, Val Hummel. She is the one who failed to enforce the MEA by not insisting that Mark follow the black and white provincial law that explicitly states that ALL candidates, including acclaimed candidates MUST file expense reports (ie. Financial Statements). Acclaimed candidates can still have expenses for example by spending thousands of dollars on campaign signs,advertising etc. Therefore they like every other candidate MUST file Financial Statements. That is and has been the law for a very long time. Having the Municipal Clerk run interference for a candidate who fails to observe the law by telling a citizen, in front of a witness, that a) yes Mark's Financial Statement is on line and then b) telling the citizen that oh his Financial Statement is on her desk should be punishable by law as well but somehow Woolwich, Mark and their supporters overlooked that.

"And it was basically for not putting an "X" on box when I handed in my expense report." What kind of crap is this Mark? You didn't hand in any expense report until I called you on it. And Woolwich Township were so stupid they let you do this at least twice before that. And I'm the bad guy here?

Some of us refer to Mark as Mr. Flip Flop. I believe that he talks out of both sides of his mouth. In other words he tailors his comments to the audience in front of him. If it's the Chamber of Commerce etc. then Chemtura/Lanxess are the salt of the earth. In a private setting with environmentalists then he states that they need to do so much more.

This is the same Mark Bauman who once inaccurately advised Woolwich Council publicly that he was proud to have now kicked me off of CPAC twice. Trouble is that was the first time he did it (2011). Later on in 2013 he voted against me being reinstated when CPAC went to Council unanimously recommending that I be reinstated. And Mark whines in this Observer article that someone who disliked him, took him to court and caused him a lot of grief. Poor baby. You're lucky I didn't kick you in the balls you sniveling piece of crap.

GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION

By government I don't just mean politicians. All the trappings of government including provincial ministries, federal departments, police forces whether municipal, provincial or federal etc. I would also include Revenue Canada, OMB, ERT, former EAB, MPAC and a slew of other alphabet agencies whose members are appointed by the government of the day or the premier, prime minister etc. This could also include judges who are nothing but lawyers (with all that baggage) who are politically active outside of court and are then appointed by the appropriate party in power to a judgeship. Hell of a way to run a country. If this so called democracy is the best form of government then it's no wonder the world is in such trouble.

I read yesterday in the K-W Record that there are predictions that within eighty years humanity will have made the earth uninhabitable for our species. Way to go to every single politician around the world, past and present,on our planet. Job well done. In one sense other lifeforms on the planet probably hope that the time frame is shorter. My children assure me that insects will carry on just fine after humanity ends. I hope that they are right and I hope that much more than insects survives the plague of humanity on earth.

I suspect that every living, breathing politician on earth believe that humanity will move to the precipice and then unite in a sudden recognition of the end, and make miraculous efforts and changes to avoid the inevitable. Dream on. Most of our politicians look good and that's how they got elected. Our citizens in general aren't smart enough or diligent enough to elect smart and honest politicians hence we get a bunch of good looking dummies. No justice, no democracy, no accountability, no transparency, no long term thinking and eventually no human beings. Count on it.

LIARS LIE - IT'S WHAT THEY DO

First off apologies. Not apologies to the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Uniroyal Chemical or Chemtura Canada, the school board, local bent politicians, police hierarchy or others who have proven themselves incapable of routinely and honestly speaking the truth to we the citizens who pay their salaries. There is no excuse. Professional liars do it for self-serving purposes.

Apologies are to those citizens who do not like confrontation or who prefer somewhat softer words. That is not a criticism. The word liar is a very strong word. It does not encompass misinformation or honest mistake. I agree that it should be reserved for those who have been found to be making false statements even after being advised of the truth. It should possibly even be reserved for repeat offenders. In other words if you catch someone in a blatant, in your face lie, it is difficult not to blurt out that you're a liar, in the heat of the moment. That said a cold blooded, after the fact accusation of someone or some group being liars should probably be reserved for those whom you have caught lying on numerous occasions. That would be the Ontario MOE, Uniroyal and Chemtura.

In 1994, the MOE, Uniroyal and their consultants CRA lied to UPAC (Uniroyal Public Advisory Committee) and the public about the Upper Aquifer Containment and Treatment System (UACTS). They said that 97.5% of the contaminants were entering the Canagagigue Creek in Elmira from the south-west corner of their property even though the creek ran down the middle of their property and the company had toxic waste pits on both sides of the creek.

It was miles beyond ridiculous. They claimed that the contamination from the east side was naturally attenuated on its way towards the creek via normal groundwater flow. One of the local environmental groups, APT, resigned from UPAC allegedly in disgust. The other group which I co-founded, the EH-Team, left UPAC six months earlier over other lies (DNAPL-Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquids).

Now we know why. Uniroyal had already installed an Interceptor Trench between the toxic waste pits and the creek. Both the MOE and Uniroyal were so ashamed (if that's possible) of either the lack of treatment or the location of discharge of the trench, or both, that they wouldn't admit to what they had done. Satellite photos appear to show the trench being discharged south-east onto the neighbour's farm. From there it likely goes through a man made drain, then the next farm over and through their home made in ground swimming pond and back into the Canagagigue Creek. If so that is disgusting, contemptible and illegal.

ANOTHER MAJOR BLOW TO THE WATERLOO REGION POLICE & POLICE BOARD

Today I will comment on the article in today's Waterloo Region Record titled "Retired superintendent joins police lawsuit". Oh boy I've been wondering where Supt. Rita Westbrook was at. Now we know. She has stepped forward and out of retirement to speak up about the treatment she received courtesy of the Waterloo Regional Police. She has joined the class action lawsuit against the Waterloo Regional Police Service and the Police Board. That's right the civilian "oversight" Police Board. What a joke they are and thank you Waterloo Region Council and councillors for that. Also a special thanks needs to go to the female regional councilors who have ever sat on the civilian Police Board and looked the other way. If memory serves there was one female regional councillor however who was alleged to have been rude to a police officer present at a Police Board meeting. I believe that his allegations went nowhere. I always wondered what she could possibly have said to him. Maybe a crack about policemen and Tim Horton's doughnuts? Maybe an honest and incisive criticism about police behaviour that he wasn't willing to accept from a female? Hard to say.

Supt. Westbrook in today's story has listed several juvenile, nasty and rude behaviours that she had to put up with during her career. She will be a huge addition to the class action lawsuit especially because she did rise through the ranks. One has to understand that likely the in your face comments from peers and subordinates decreased as her rank rose but apparently not from her so called "superiors". Sometimes "superiors" may be interpreted as superior assholes. What has become painfully obvious to all except the willingly blind and deaf is that gender discrimination was not just tolerated but encouraged through the ranks and from the top. That is to the everlasting shame of those males at the top who participated either actively or tacitly. The title in reference to Police especially applies to the Chief and all the senior management team. In regards to lawyers I can hardly not gloat about psuedo Woolwich Township mayor Sandy Shantz's lawyer, James Bennett, garnering some more negative press. I believe he lied about me as has his client Sandy Shantz. He lied about the class action suit according to Supt. Westbrook. I understand that this is a civil suit and will be settled likely out of court. That is a shame because these liars, hypocrites, bullies and overall lousy people need to be publicly exposed. After all if they settle privately there will be a confidentiality clause allowing the guilty to continue to do what they do best. LIE. Then we the public will continue to be inflicted by incompetent and ignorant senior police, police Boards and regional politicians.

YOU CAN'T MAKE RULES AGAINST JUDICIAL STUPIDITY

Well, well,well. It sure looks to me that there is an imbalance in the criminal justice system. That imbalance has historically favoured the Crown ie. the prosecution side. What however is most bizarre is how our courts have been able to produce guilty beyond a reasonable doubt verdicts in murder cases where there wasn't any crime committed. Bad enough that anyone was charged with murder (usually mothers) in the case of a young child or infant suddenly passing away but to be able to manipulate the evidence and the "facts" to get a murder conviction when after the fact it has now been determined that many of the cases called murders by Dr. Charles Taylor were absolutely no such thing. His expert opinion was favoured by prosecutors because he so strongly insisted that so many child deaths were murder based entirely upon either his incompetence, arrogance or willingness to support the Crown in their prosecution of the child's caregiver. Truly horrific stupidity and even worse when it took both his colleagues and the system so long to realize what complete horseshit the verdicts were based upon. What a mockery of our so called justice system when common sense can be so easily trumped by voodoo science or medicine.

The K-W Record carried a story titled "Ontario coroner to review undetected homicides-all the way back to Tammy Homolka". The question for me is whether this is simply Crown prosecutors drumming up business or whether it truly is about getting to the truth. Even having to ask the question is an indication that this citizen has a healthy contempt for our government bureaucracies and oftentimes their motives.

IT JUST NEVER ENDS APPARENTLY

I'm at a loss as to figure out why. Why do Police Officers, especially apparently Waterloo Regional Police Officers get into so much legal trouble? Were the individuals bad hires in the first place by the brain trust down at Police headquarters or is there something else going on? Are these all different officers over the years and decades or is it the same bad apples coming back again and again but we the paying public aren't allowed to see their past records and judge for ourselves? Therefore are these officers repeat offenders who should have been fired long ago or are they acting out based upon intolerable conditions of their employment?

Again in today's Waterloo Region Record we learn that an officer (unnamed this time) has been charged with uttering threats. The officer is a thirty year veteran of the force. He is to appear in court in Woodstock later this month. I guess I find it difficult to understand how trained police officxers who should no better apparently don't. That said at this point it is only allegations and charges. Is it possible that certain officers who aren't either part of the clique or popular face a different standard when it comes to facing charges? I repeat I'm at a loss but this does not speak well to either the professionalism or to the administration of our police force. The title of the very small article in the Record is "Police officer charged with uttering threats".

WRPS - TWO TIDBITS OF NEWS

Firstly there is a court date of June 18, 2019 at the Brampton Courthouse in regards to the class action lawsuit filed against the Waterloo Regional Police, the Union and the Police Services Board by a number of female officers. This needs to be attended by any and all media possible. That said has anyone noticed the outstanding vacuum in the media since this suit was filed last summer?

Secondly there has been a second lawsuit filed by another Regional Police Officer. Gather around Regional Councillors and line up to show where you really stand on the disgusting behaviour alleged in these lawsuits, both recently and going back decades.

BOOK WRITING

Sorry folks but although retired I'm working almost full time writing a book about the Elmira Water Crisis in 1989. I expect I'll be back here off and on but clearly it's been more off than on this past month.

Alan Marshall

TORONTO COP'S CONVICTION UPHELD

Imagine that. Ontario's top court (Ontario Court of Appeal) actually decided that a cop killer needed to face the music. By a cop killer I of course mean a cop with a gun who murdered a boy suffering from a drug reaction. Officer Forcillo gunned down Sammy Yatin on a Toronto streetcar back in 2013. The streetcar was empty and the troubled teen never left the streetcar while walking back and forth on it while brandishing a small knife. His crime was in disobeying an officer of the law who apparently believes that either mentally disturbed individuals or the hearing impaired deserve to die for not following verbal orders from police officers. News flash, so far not yet in Canada is the death penalty legally available to these people.

Forcillo's lawyer is hinting that they might seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Good luck with that. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that shooting a young man three times and then after he's fallen, shooting him again five or six times is a criminal act. Perhaps Forcillo and lawyer are hoping that the Supreme Court are as stupid as he is. The article was in yesterday's Waterloo Region Record and is titled "Ontario's top court upholds Forcillo conviction".

PRE-TRIAL POLICE LAWSUIT WRANGLING GOING ON

It's not just the evidence and nothing but the evidence. It's more about the scope of the trial and what you can get excluded from ever being part of the trial. This is what the lawyers for the regional Police and the civilian Police Services Board are now attempting. Today's Waterloo Region Record carries the following story titled "Prof's evidence to proceed in police lawsuit". It appears that a University of Waterloo prof who consulted with Chief Bryan Larkin on various matters will get her day in court. The Force's lawyers wanted her testimony denied at trial claiming that she was either unqualified or her opinions irrelevant on matters directly related to female officers who had confided in her about police wrongdoing which she later discussed with the Chief in hopes of improving the situation.

Among other tidbits to which the public are now privy is the one about the senior Regional Police Officer running down the road naked after being caught in a compromising situation with a married woman (not his wife). The Judge decided against allowing that evidence to proceed despite the Plaintiff's lawyers suggesting that it indicated a double standard whereby female officers were disciplined for minor matters whereas senior, male officers were not disciplined even for public, major breeches of either decorum or the law. Imagine that, males in authority actually flagrantly abusing their authority. Who knew? The reality is that human beings in positions of authority with little or no accountability will always abuse that authority in favour of their own perceived interests. Surprise! Surprise!

DID MIKE HARRIS TELL A WHITE LIE, A DAMNED LIE OR NO LIE AT ALL?

Hmm this is an interesting one. On several media over the weekend as well as in today's Waterloo Region Record is an article advising that Michael Harris, a local Conservative MPP, has announced that he will not be running in the June provincial election for health reasons. These health reasons are in regards to upcoming eye surgery for a condition he's had for a couple of decades.

That said I received a phone call this afternoon from a friend advising that hot off the press and in the local media today is an item stating that Mr. Harris has been kicked out of the Conservative caucus for some unspecified improper conduct towards a woman. I don't have the specifics although allegedly they will be on this evening's 6 pm. CKCO-TV Kitchener News. The implication for me at least is that there may be some all too familiar allegations of the "Me Too" variety.

I further emphasize that as of right now I have not first hand seen this on the news. I might also add that the friend who called me is somewhat skeptical and is even suggesting that this could be some form of payback for Mr. Harris supporting Christine Elliot in the recent Conservative leadership campaign. I don't know which would be worse: this whole thing being dirty, nasty politics or there actually being some rude or inappropriate behaviour on Mr. Harris's part.

Finally if it turns out that there is some evidence of misconduct, has Mr. Harris exacerbated his political future with his claims of health issues forcing him out of provincial politics? In the alternative if he is cleared of any wrongdoing will what appears to be an ingenuous and convenient excuse for not running, come back and bite him?

"THE $1.27M "BAD APPLE"

The above title is taken from a report written by Kelly Donovan in regards to police claims that there are only a few bad apples within the police service who need to be corrected. Her report advises that through a Freedom of Information request the Waterloo Regional Police have spent $1.27 million on ONE law firm to cover Labour Relations matters between 2009 and 2017. That is an ongoing, awfully large chunk of money to be spending on lawyers. She also includes a graph which indicates that the spending has hugely escalated since 2009 and is now currently in the $225,00 per year range. Ms. Donovan's point is that "Ineffective oversight and poor governance are costing the Ontario taxpayer millions of dollars and ethical integrity.". Keep further in mind that there are about 60 municipal police forces in Ontario. Many such as London, Toronto, Peel and Ottawa police services have long histories of internal complaints and lawsuits regarding discriminatory behaviour and harassment of officers. Exactly how many unnecessary millions of dollars per year are all our combined municipal, provincial and even federal police forces costing Ontario taxpayers? By unnecessary costs I'm referring to costs incurred due to systemic racism, homophobia and harassment? These costs should also bring home to taxpayers the human suffering and accompanying costs to individuals mistreated by the behaviour and poor governance of senior police administrators. Then of course above and beyond reprehensible police behaviour towards their own employees is the no small matter of some, hopefully few, police officers behaviour towards members of the public who are either marginalized or incapable of paying huge sums of money to lawyers to protect their rights. It is less difficult to believe that this occasionally occurs when we learn that the senior officers at the top apparently have had no problem existing with ongoing disgusting behaviour within their ranks.

WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SHOOT MAN BY 401

Well it certainly isn't much of a story on the front page of yesterday's Waterloo Region Record. The title is "Show me your hands ! Now!" Also the story today doesn't make important facts any clearer. The key question is whether or not there was any justification for shooting the suspect. In other words was he shot simply because he was outrunning the police or did he have a weapon in his hands and refused to drop it. That is clear as mud after two articles in the Record. Today's headline talks about the suspect having a weapon "on him" but also states that two rifles were left in the stolen van and perhaps a crossbow was missing. Well news flash folks, a crossbow isn't remotely a concealed weapon. Either he had it in his hands or he didn't because he certainly didn't have it in his pocket or the waistband of his trousers.

The allegations are that the suspect who was shot in the leg had stolen the van and two rifles and a crossbow from a Hamilton residence. None of that on its' own justifies shooting him. It sure seems as if the police want to keep things murky and let the SIU sort things out. Unfortunately unless there's been a recent change the SIU have a history of being ignored and disrespected by many police forces. I believe the Tulloch Commission may have made recommendations to improve that a couple of years ago but whether or not they are as yet law I do not know.

COURTHOUSE RALLY at 12 NOON TOMORROW

A local lawyer has publicly blasted the system and procedures around Coroner's Inquests in Ontario. Davin Charney who is representing the family of Beau Baker who was fatally shot in Kitchener three years ago had the following to say regarding delayed inquests often for years: "The longer you wait, the less value there is to the process.". Furthermore he stated "In the U.S. if there's a fatal shooting, the next day they're releasing in-car cameras or video from bystanders". He added "And here it's a coverup for years and years until maybe nobody cares anymore. It seems like in Canada we're just way behind in terms of the public having access to information about these things and I really think that entirely protects the police."

Well Mr. Charney certainly tells it like it is. There is no good reason for taking three years to hold an Inquest into a police shooting of a disturbed individual who called the police for help, not to be shot and killed because he was holding a small knife allegedly. The family have a right to know all the facts and all the details. Justice delayed is justice denied and this case is but one of a number which smell here in Ontario.

The front page article in today's Waterloo Region Record is titled "Family of man killed by police want closure".

WELL THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE WEREN"T AT FAULT IN BOTH CHARTER VIOLATIONS CASES

The Waterloo Region Record two days ago carried the following story titled "Two court cases fall apart due to charter violations by police". The one involving the Waterloo Regional Police concerned an impaired driver who failed a roadside sobriety test. he was not advised of his right to legal counsel immediately after his arrest. The second case involved the Ontario Provincial Police who also failed to advise an arrested citizen immediately of his right to counsel.

I am of two minds on these cases as to where the blame totally falls. Were the police officers incompetent and or were they given poor training? Finally should our courts have let both individuals walk hence compounding the police errors? I am a very strong advocate of individual's rights under the Charter and other legislation thus I might lean towards the original police errors as the over riding fault exhibited. It is unfortunate if there is no legal remedy possible to both address the police errors as well as the legal fault of the individuals arrested.

CLEANING UP THE MOUNTIES

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carried the following article titled "New RCMP boss faces a daunting task". The daunting task is cleaning out the died in the wool, deeply entrenched sexists and misogynists within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Make no mistake they may be a little older and a little dumber, but they are still there.

In 2016 there was a settlement of two class action lawsuits against the RCMP. Those lawsuits had alleged "...a long history of harassment, intimidation and discrimination perpetrated by male members of the Mounties against female colleagues. The federal government agreed to set aside $100 million to pay victims and family members depending on the severity of each claim. Estimates are that 4,000 of the 20,000 women working for the RCMP might come forward with claims of harassment and discrimination. That money citizens and taxpayers could have been better spent over the decades fighting crime rather than the Mounties wasting their time and energy fighting women within their workforce. Big, dumb and stupid may may turn out to be the motto of multiple police forces across Canada. Don't forget it's our politicians, male and female, who have enabled this behaviour for decades.

IS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW UNREASONABLE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES ARE?

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carried the following story titled "Ruling an affirmation of the freedom of conscience, religion". It seems that a CAS social worker to exception to a foster couple's refusal to lie to their two foster girls by telling them that both santa Claus and the easter Bunny were real. Other than that minor setback the CAS were quite happy with the foster couple. CAS was not to be denied and with only one days notice removed the children from their foster parents. The judge for the Superior Court of Justice in Hamilton took the CAS to task. The judge even suggested that there appeared to be some animus on the part of the social worker who had gotten all twisted up over the foster parents refusal to jump at her ridiculous orders. I have read of other dubious removals of children from their natural parents in the past but this particular case really makes me wonder as to what is wrong with some people who get a little bit of authority.

HERE WE GO AGAIN - ANOTHER WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE OFFICER CRIMINALLY CHARGED

I've only had this Blog going for about six years but I've lost count of the number of local officers charged with offences. It is becoming ridiculous. Some of the charges are internal Police Act charges which are bizarre in their own right as per Kelly Donovan's book titled " Systemic Misfeasance in Ontario Policing and the Coordinated Suppression of Whistleblowers". Other charges are criminal charges and it seems that a favourite may very well be sexual offences against women. Seems more than a tad incongruous.

The Waterloo Region Record published yesterday the following story titled "Officer facing sex assault charge". The charge relates to an incident at an Octoberfest festhall last fall. Constable Eric Schnarr has been charged with sexual assault by the provinces Special Investigations Unit (SIU). The incident allegedly took place last October 14/17 at the Concordia Club on Ottawa St. in Kitchener. There was a separate incident the previous month involving another Waterloo Regional Police officer which also resulted in a charge of sexual assault.

I'm slowly becoming numb with the allegations of wrong doing by our local police force. Whatever the outcome of these charges and allegations I hope that the media will as promptly as possible bring them to the public's attention.

MEDIA HEADLINE SOMEWHAT DECEIVING

The headline I'm referring to is from the Waterloo Region Record two days ago. It's title was "Ontario has "most improved" justice system. The sub-title was "Canada has a whole saw drop in crime rates, fewer police officers required per capita and rising support for legal aid". The problem is that the second annual justice system report card from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute is by no means that optimistic.

Yes Ontario has risen from seventh place in Canada to fourth place however the sub-title is even more deceptive in that the newspaper article about this report by Gordon Omand of the Hamilton Spectator states that the good news is "...overshadowed by an increase in costs, lengthier court delays and the persistent over-representation of Indigenous people in prison...".

There are also concerns and gaps regarding public confidence in both the justice system across Canada as well as a lack of public confidence in various police forces. generally speaking Manitoba comes off as particularly bad in a number of criteria.

Reforms are necessary according to the Macdonald-Laurier Institute "...to make our criminal justice system more efficient, fairer and better serve the needs of victims".

POLICE DISCRIMINATION & RACIAL PROFILING

Well firstly the good news. I'm not talking today about the Waterloo Regional Police. Today's posting is about the Thunder Bay police and is in regards to the following article in today's Waterloo Region Record titled "Police probe of Indigenous man's death ruled shoddy". Apparently a so called "investigation" took place after an indigenous man was found floating in a nearby river. The "investigation" lacked in several ways including no video, no photographs and no measurements of the scene. Other failures included police not contacting the person last known to be in contact with the victim. Police also didn't know that the victim's debit card was used after his death. Hmm that would be a clur for me that something could be amiss.

Quoting the chief (Robin McGinnis) of the Rainy River First Nation "The degree of incompetence and indifference to the lives of First Nations is mind-boggling". The provincial Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OPIRD) have stated "the deficiencies in the investigation ...support an allegation of neglect of duty".

It seems that police procedures and standards are somewhat elastic depending upon who died, the circumstances thereof and who may have done it. Clearly more oversight is needed of the investigations being done by police forces in Ontario. This is somewhat in line with the allegations of Kelly Donovan in regards to internal investigations done by our very own Waterloo Regional Police Service.

DOG & PONY SHOW THIS EVENING IN WOOLWICH COUNCIL CHAMBERS

P.T. Barnum has nothing over Woolwich Council when it comes to putting on a show. This will be a spectacular demonstration of chutzpah, misdirection and smoke and mirrors. We will hear from ten, mostly sincere, Woolwich citizens who are all throwing their hats in the ring to sit on Council from now until October when they have the option of facing the electorate. I would suggest that Council in their infinite arrogance have dug themselves a tiger trap. How embarrassing will it be if their hand picked appointee tonite gets soundly rejected by the voters in October; especially if it's in favour of one of tonite's unsuccessful candidates?

Dare I hint of my belief that Julie-Anne Herteis is their hand picked appointee from the beginning? Dare I suggest that this Council would so arrogantly waste the time and energy of nine other citizens just to mask their own gamesmanship? Dare I suggest that I believe that most members of this council are so shallow and unethical that they would put on a circus in order to mask their manipulations to give a council seat to their preselected candidate now and a foot up on the competition in the fall?

Of course if I'm correct then council will feel the need to assist their previously hand picked candidate in the fall election. Look for endorsements at the minimum. Look for their appearances at her media events and or other public events. Hell would it be illegal for them to donate to her campaign fund? If it is they need not worry because as we've already seen there are no legal penalties even when they are caught red handed breaking the Municipal Elections Act.

Come out one and all at 6 pm. this evening. You will meet and hear from ten citizens and get to learn something about them and their hopes and aspirations. Do not blame them for the circus unnecessarily put on by Woolwich Council.

THOSE THAT WIN ELECTIONS AND OTHER LOTTERIES REAP THE SPOILS

So what is the difference between winning an election versus winning a lottery? Essentially the odds are just so much better to win an election than a lottery. Sometimes the odds are as good as fifty/fifty and other times you might have three opponents still giving you odds of one in four of winning the election. The other item of course is money. The big reason there aren't more people at the municipal levels running is because of money. It literally costs thousands of dollars to run for office and very few of us dealing with mortgages and children (when we were younger) can afford it. Therefore politics generally is a sport for the better off financially. At the provincial and federal level it is all about party affiliations. You need to be endorsed by a major established party and that usually is a result of a history of political activism either within the party itself or as a school trustee or on a municipal council. Occasionally very high profile candidates will be parachuted into ridings that are very important to the party.

Any idiot can win a lottery and believe me any idiot can and has won municipal elections as well as others. Here in Woolwich Township we abound with examples of ill educated representatives, stale thinking and behaviours that were tolerated in the 60s and 70s but certainly aren't anymore. This is due to the huge advantage that incumbents are given. Unfortunately voters seldom do their due diligence prior to depositing their vote. Here especially in Elmira it's all about family name. If you are a Martin, Bauman, Strauss, Hahn, Sittler, Shantz, Gingrich then you are half elected before the first vote drops. Mennonite and or German last names carry the day. Secondly the luck factor is greatly increased if you are a new candidate and their is some kind of scandal or crisis immediately before the election. Incumbents rely on their "record" which the vast majority know nothing about. If as in 2010 we have a major discharge from Chemtura (Uniroyal) immediately before the election then the voters remember the headlines and throw out the old council. If all is quiet then usually the incumbents win yet again.

Todd Cowan was elected as mayor with virtually zero elected experience but both his timing was right (2010-see above) plus he campaigned door to door and people remembered him for that at the polling stations. In hindsight Todd was absolutely not elected due to any attributes or talents. The same goes for others both on that council and other councils. Voting records, gaffes and even laziness are seldom causes for electoral defeat. It's all about smiling, obfuscating and superficial glad handing and socializing. Former Woolwich mayor Bill Strauss was never accused of being smooth or polished but he sure had a way with people and at public events. he gave a good impression.

This folks is why the best anyone can say about democracy is that it's better than any of the alternatives. Ouch. Talk about damned with faint praise.

WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE ARE SCRAMBLING

So we are advised that the very difficult changes within the WRPS have been underway for a long time. Isn't that just dandy. That must be of some comfort to female police officers who feel that their careers have been stifled and damaged by the culture that they've had to tolerate over the last few decades. Today's Waterloo Region Record carries the following story by Lisa Rutledge titled " Waterloo Regional Police to hire consultants to drive cultural change".

I'm the first to admit that there has been a huge cultural change in Canada within my lifetime. I was born just after the Second World War and boy there was animosity towards immigrants from the European and Asian countries that we and the Allies had fought against for almost six years (1939-1945). It changed but I know my father had difficulties with my friends of Germanic background even into the nineteen sixties.

What I find very difficult to understand is the workplace culture that discriminates against women. Here in Canada, boys and girls went to school together throughout our entire education from public school to high school and through university. In public school the majority of our teachers were female and any boys who were bullies or rude to the girls in the class quite promptly and appropriately got put in their place. In high school there were more male teachers although the ratio may have been 3:2 . Again discrimination or rudeness based upon gender simply didn't happen because if it did the offenders would be given one warning and then promptly sent home.

So what the hell happened in our workplaces? Yes I saw gender discrimination in wages and promotions in private industry. The vast majority of managers were male as were the bosses. As significant as that was what I did not see was overt rudeness and or gender based crude "jokes" or other obvious female putdowns. Subtle (somewhat) dumb blonde jokes maybe. The odd risque joke between two genders who were of equal status maybe. There was no touching, butt grabbing or skirt lifting as has been alleged (repeatedly) at the WRPS. That would have been grounds for immediate dismissal with no defence available whatsoever.

Guess what Waterloo Regional Police? In non-union private industry there was no democracy in the workplace. When the bosses said jump you asked how high. But despite this there were social conventions that were not explicitly contravened and those conventions were followed. If you seriously believed that women were less able to do certain jobs then that was your thinking. It did not give you license to treat them poorly or disrespectfully. From the top down through the ranks gender based blatant disrespect simply was not tolerated.

It appears that these beliefs and behaviours have never existed at the WRPS or many other police services. Traditional male dominated jobs such as construction, police , firemen, mining, military all likely share the same negative attitudes and sterotypes. It requires the so called leaders and managers to bring their institutions into the 21st century. The times changed dramatically during the Second World War when women were desperately needed in factories as the younger males all went overseas. Women filled these roles magnificently in all our times of need. That war ended nearly 3/4 of a century ago and our local police service and many others still haven't gotten with the program. Perhaps our current police leadership all need to step aside. Clearly they have been unwilling and or unable to keep up with normal, common sense behaviour in the workplace.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPEALS SOLITARY CONFINEMENT RULING

And no they aren't appealing a ruling approving solitary confinement; they are appealing a ruling by the B.C. Supreme Court which struck down indefinite solitary confinement as being cruel, inhumane and can lead to severe psychological trauma. In other words its' use is counter productive as it can make either bad or mentally ill persons much worse. The story is on the front page of today's Waterloo Region Record and is titled "Federal government to fight solitary confinement ruling". The B.C. Civil Liberties Assoc'n as well as the John Howard society had gone to the courts to try and have solitary confinement ruled unconstitutional. Prior to this an Ontario court had ruled that administrative solitary confinement longer than five days was unconstitutional however otherwise it did not violate constitutional rights. The B.C. Civil Liberties Assoc'n have stated that currently prisoners continue to spend weeks, months and even years in small cells without human contact.

WOOLWICH COUNCIL"S FURTHER GAMESMANSHIP

Last Tuesday's Council meeting was going to discuss a Council Vacancy Policy produced by the Township Clerk, Val Hummel. Essentially this Council owns Val as they could have and maybe should have fired her three years ago for not doing her legislated duties in regards to the Municipal Elections Act (MEA). Councillor Mark Bauman in particular should have had the riot act read to him by both Val and her predecessor, Christine Broughton. Mark had repeatedly contravened the MEA by not, post election, filing Election Financial Statements with the Clerk and for public display. This of course is one more major weakness in provincial legislation in that it assumes that the Municipal Clerk, who is hired and can be fired by the CAO of the Municipality, is somehow independent and owes a duty to provincial legislation even when it is in direct conflict with her duty of loyalty to her employers, the Municipality.

On the first page of the Council Vacancy Policy we see Val hiding behind the Vacancy Policies of other communities such as Barrie, Vaughn and South-Oxford. Similarly the Ontario Municipal Act 2001 was quoted at the last Council meeting as the authority for Council not simply appointing the first runner-up in Ward 1 to the Council seat vacated by Ward 1 Councillor Scott Hahn. Again this provincial legislation is inadequate in allowing self-serving councils to have complete authority and discretion to literally appoint anybody they want. The legislation is wide open in that runner-ups can be appointed as can citizens applying for the vacancy or believe it or not, Councils supposedly reaching out at random to any citizen they wish, and giving them the nod without any alleged input from them. Essentially this section of the Municipal Act is an inappropriate and undemocratic gift to any Councils who want their friends, buddies or fellow travellors on Council with them. This is a bone and a perk from the higher tier of government to the lower.

Woolwich Council sincerely thank the province of Ontario for this perk. Now they can hide behind other self-serving politicians further up the food chain, in order to avoid the embarrassment of having to appoint the runner-up, Dr. Dan Holt, to Council. Dr. Holt via Council's own stupidity (see last Thursday's Elmira Advocate posting) publicly humiliated this Council two years ago when they attempted to stifle democracy and deny citizens' right to attend Council and speak to them as Delegates. Sandy Shantz actually went so far as to suggest that Council was not a "soapbox.". Lynne Hare in her Delegation two weeks later assured Sandy that in fact it was a soapbox for citizens to address their concerns and complaints directly to Council.

FURTHER ALLEGATIONS IN REGARDS TO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE

The following allegations are found in an Affidavit in support of the class action lawsuit. They were filed by Sgt. Karin Eder and sworn on December 18, 2017.

Early in her career her immediate supervisor Fred Benedict repeatedly showed her unsolicited photographs of him having sex with various women. On one occasion he grabbed her waist from behind and pressed himself into her buttocks. Both Detective Fred Sinko and Fred Benedict made loud verbal comments regarding her female anatomy in front of other officers. Sgt. Benedict also on many occasions grabbed her buttocks. Both Staff Sgt. Wherle and Inspector Beacock refused to assist her in regards to her complaints of sexual harassment and assault. Furthermore both of them were dismissive and rude and refused to address her complaints. Supt. Pat Dietrich is also named in her Affidavit in regards to several rude and crude behaviours towards her. Several other officers both union reps and superior officers were aware of the nude photo that Supt. Dietrich sent to her but no action was taken against Supt. Dietrich. These and other behaviours and actions of sexual harassment went on throughout her thirty years as an officer at the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

SEXUAL OFFENDERS HIDING WITHIN THE WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE?

The Waterloo Region Record published the following story on February 2, 2018 titled "SIU investigating 4 sexual assault allegations involving officers". The investigation is of the Waterloo Region Police (WRPS). The alleged assaults are in regards to a class action lawsuit that was filed last June and in which a number of complaints including sexual assault were stated. Further to the initial lawsuit there were three Affidavits filed this past December, in support of the suit, and in which three new complainants also added more allegations against specific officers within the WRPS.

The fact that the SIU is investigating these complaints is a good sign. That said however the fact that they didn't go to the SIU a long time ago is worrisome. There are many possible reasons for this not occurring including the understanding that it could be career suicide. The promotion within the WRPS may very well be, as alleged, discriminatory. In other words rather than promotions based upon merit, the criteria could be extremely subjective including opinions of the very same officers accused of illegal or immoral behaviours. Hence who in their right mind, seriously trying to get ahead in the force, would want to allege criminal misconduct by one (or more) of their superiors?

CANADA'S MILITARY SHARES BEHAVIOURS WITH HER POLICE FORCES

Apparently Canadians will soon be seeing in detail how yet another male dominated institution treats female members. We already know from lawsuits and Human Rights complaints how the RCMP as well as some provincial and municipal police forces treat female officers. Twenty years ago I exposed how the City of Waterloo's Public Works Department treated their female employees. All of these male dominated organizations condoned bullying, harassment and sexual assault.

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carried a story titled "Pm orders review of arguments against military lawsuit". It seems as if federal Justice Department lawyers have taken an aggressive stance against the proposed class action lawsuit filed last year by three former service members. They are seeking $800 million for themselves and others in similar situations. Beyond the aggressive stance is a claim by these lawyers that the government does not owe a duty of care to individual members within the Armed Forces nor must they provide a safe and harassment free work environment. Obviously that flies in the face of statements and actions of Prime Minister Trudeau over the last couple of years. Interestingly though they are in line with comments recently made by the lawyer for the Waterloo Region Police Services Board who are facing a similar class action lawsuit.

JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED

The title of today's posting is in regards to a civil suit that is potentially about to start in Toronto this week. The Waterloo Region Record carried the story this past Monday titled "Kitchener man's civil trial stemming from G20 to start". The man, Luke Stewart, filed his statement of claim in 2011. Seven years it's taken to merely get close to starting in court. That is pathetic. Literally witnesses could have died, retired or simply disappeared. That is not justice.

The G20 Conference occurred in June 2010 in downtown Toronto. Mr. Stewart claims he was assaulted and detained illegally by Toronto Police Services. He is suing the Toronto Police Services Board. Furthermore his personal property, a pair of swimming goggles were seized from him. He was attempting to attend a legal protest and had the goggles for defensive purposes in case police deployed chemical weapons (tear gas). This apparently is the only civil suit to date to have gotten this far. There have been other minor legal actions taken against police including one criminal conviction for assault.

WATERLOO REGION POLICE SERVICES BOARD & MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS & CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

Those are the two most guilty and blameworthy bodies for the local mess here in Waterloo Region according to Kelly Donovan in her book "Systemic Misfeasance in Ontario Policing and the Coordinated Suppresion of Whistleblowers". Clearly throughout the rest of Ontario the local Police Service Boards in conjunction with this provincial Ministry are at fault. Basically uninformed, out to pasture former and current local politicians combined with status quo provincial appointees are a huge problem. Do not forget these names: Ken Seiling Regional Chairman, Tom Galloway Regional Councillor & Police Services Board Chair and Karl Kiefer Regional Councillor. Those three are all members of the Police Services Board. Former Regional Councillor Jim Wideman was as well. Our regional council also appoints one of the other members of the Board along with three additional provincial appointees.

My comment on status quo provincial civilian appointees may be by provincial intent or may be by inexperience. If your a new member of the Board you are extremely unlikely to rock the boat until after you've gotten some experience and varied input from more than just the vested interests all around you. The lack of training given these individuals as to the relevant legislation and their duties and responsibilities essentially guarantees that they won't be confronting even obvious problems. It certainly appears that this lack of training is intentional. It's all about power and control and I would suggest from the choice of Chair to the regional council having control over four out of seven appointees; it's clear who are in charge. Again it is this Board who allegedly choose the Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs. This is supposed to be part of the civilian control over our Police Services. What is apparent from both the class action lawsuit and the book by Kelly Donovan, this civilian "control" is a sham. Through knowledge, financial and legal power, manipulation and intimidation, the Waterloo Regional Police Service are and have been in charge of the Police Services Board for a very long time. Apparently with the full knowledge and support of our Regional Council.

Ask yourselves this. When was the last time you saw an announcement in your local newspaper advising you when and where the next PUBLIC meeting of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board was occurring? Exactly! Here in Woolwich Township, despite the long sham of honest public consultation around the Uniroyal now Lanxess property and environmental degradation; we still have these PUBLIC meetings announced in our local paper. NEVER does our local Police Services Board do so. They and Regional Council prefer out of sight and out of mind in order to avoid informing citizens as to what is and is not going on.

CLARIFICATION OF OPINION PIECE REQUIRED RE: WRPS

I am very disappointed in the opinion piece by Peter Shawn Taylor in last Thursday's Waterloo Region Record titled "Police deserve their day in court". In his sub-title he suggests that comments made about the class action lawsuit are "disconcerting". Indeed they are as in very disconcerting. I would take less umbrage with his opinion article if his tone and bias was a little less evident. He suggests that the police deserve their day in court as if that is a positive to allow them to explain themselves. Based upon my life experiences and knowledge of past history of both gender discrimination and police behaviour and attitudes; I suggest that indeed the police deserve their day in court as in I hope they get their asses hauled into court and have to "explain" why they've either broken provincial laws on these matters or turned a blind eye to them for decades. Yes I believe the allegations in both the lawsuits and the recent Affidavits and I and others need not apologize for that. Our Regional Police just like our school board (WRDSB) literally have millions of dollars of taxpayers' money per year to play with and that is exactly what they do as they attack legitimate concerns and complaints of parents, local residents and citizens. They do this with lawyers, lawsuits and courts constantly. In other words stop feeling sorry for the bullies. At long last they're on the defensive and it's about time.

Mr. Taylor exaggerates. "As soon as the allegations are made, the case is closed.". No it's not. There will hopefully be some kind of opportunity for Patrick Brown for example to fully respond to the allegations against him. Many people like myself, a non-Conservative, understand that those allegations are anonymous and do not have the weight of an identifiable person stepping forward and signing their name to a written Affidavit or Civil Lawsuit as six current or former police officers have done. Yes I will agree with Mr. Taylor that in the Patrick Brown case he has been already punished. Especially with anonymous allegations, that is unacceptable.

Mr. Taylor suggests that we must vigorously resist any attempt to impose mob-based tactics on our court system. Really? O.K. I might agree in principle with that statement however I see virtually no attempt to do so by anybody. Secondly do you think our courts are so damned good in the first place that they don't need a serious good kick in the ass? Justice! Horseshit, it's all about money. Who's got it and is most willing to spend it greatly determines the outcome especially in civil law. Who can buy the most experts. Who can buy the best lawyers. Who can buy the best private investigators. And on and on.

James Bennett. Please. He promised that "...the truth will be properly revealed under cross-examination in coming months.". Well that's almost certainly horse manure. Little or nothing of the truth will be revealed either by the courts or by cross-examination in the near future. This is our judicial system of which he's been sucking at the teats of for decades. Every additional court appearance, delay, rescheduling, motion etc. are all money in the bank for him and his fellow lawyers. NOBODY within the judicial system has any incentive to get the lead out and get on with cases. Delay is usually the name of the game by one party or the other if not both.

Mr. Taylor then suggests that the Sexual Violence Task Force want the regional police to pay out $167 million immediately because "getting to the truth might have "negative impacts"" on women and girls. Such trollop Mr. Taylor. The negative impacts are in response to the words of Mr. James Bennett, lawyer for the Waterloo Region Police Services Board and presumably the union (?) as well. Mr. Bennett has publicly called the victims of systemic gender harassment and abuse, liars. Well puck you Mr. Bennett. You sir are in absolutely no position to be calling other people liars. Those words of yours are what could cause "negative impacts", not the truth.

Then finally Mr. Taylor, to his shame, hints that this lawsuit is all about female police officers looking at a possible $167 million payday. Let's see exactly how long and how well you would last in a hostile and toxic work environment. I and others have done it for years and decades. Sitting behind your typewriter/word processor wordsmithing articles; I expect that you have not, probably ever. Instead of blaming the victims try empathizing with them, rather than with the perpetrators.

INSP. PAT DIETRICH (NAMED IN LAWSUIT) TO RETIRE

The Waterloo Region Record carried the following story yesterday titled "Superintendent named in lawsuit to retire". The Superintendent was named as a police officer who took advantage of his position in regards to his treatment of some female officers. One female officer in particular has made serious accusations regarding his conduct towards her. This recently announced retirement effective yesterday was unexpected and will only serve to give even greater credibility to the Plaintiffs in the lawsuit and to the Affidavits recently filed in support of the lawsuit.

The other astounding item in this article is the fact that the Police Union (WRPA) earlier this month filed a grievance against the Waterloo Region Police Service (WRPS). Hoo boy does that ever smell in regards to this Union's (oops - Association) credibility. The lawsuit was filed last June. Those police officers have stated that they went to the Waterloo Region Police Association (WRPA) over a period of years and received little to no assistance. The Affidavits were filed in December 2017. Then and only then, after waiting to see the fallout from the lawsuit, does the Police Union get off their backsides and actually file a grievance. I feel that the stench of corruption is permeating. Union President Mark Egers is saying all the right things in yesterday's article. Filing the grievance however is decades late.Tom Galloway the Chair of the Waterloo Region Police Services Board and a regional councillor advised that the board does not get involved in employee matters or with union/management business. From what I can see the board pretty much has a hands off policy on just about everything dealing with the Waterloo Regional Police. Whether this is entirely of their own choosing or due to provincial government legislation I am not sure. Regardless it must change or otherwise get rid of this useless taxpayer funded board.

ONCE AGAIN WOOLWICH COUNCIL PUT THEIR INTERESTS AHEAD OF THE PUBLIC'S

Well last night Council and Staff's vacancy appointment scam unfolded pretty much to script. If you're a politician, lying to the voters is simply all in a day's work. It's all about their will and wishes versus what is in the public interest. Two speakers via Delegation advised Council and the public that the fastest, easiest and most responsive to public wishes was to simply appoint the runner-up candidate in Ward 1, Dr. Dan Holt. He was third with 1,036 votes for the two available positions in Ward 1. Lisa MacDonald also advised Council that the Staff Report was inaccurate with its' claim that an official Appointments Process involving advertising for Applicants, interviewing Applicants and then deciding on the winner would only cost $1,000-$3,000. Apparently Staff and Council like to add in Staff wages when they are totaling costs for say Election Financing Audits and Hearings but not so much when it doesn't suit them. They also forgot to add in the wages of the Township's taxpayer funded lawyers (Smith Valeriote).

Dr. Holt advised Council of his interest in representing Ward 1 residents as well as of his and other candidates having stepped forward in the last election, putting themselves out there, speaking publicly and spending time and money in order to get elected. An Appointments Process soliciting applications from far and wide was unnecessary, time consuming (2 months) and expensive. Furthermore the public had already spoken as to whom they wanted to represent them for this term of council.

Two other Delegates spoke. I am somewhat in awe of Jacqueline Hanley. She appears friendly, sociable, confident and out-going. She also speaks very well. The problem was in her message. She confidently advised that results in the last election were not to be a criteria as they did not represent the wishes of the public. She claimed that a wide open new Application Process potentially drawing in lots of applicants was far more democratic than relying on the results of the last election. In other words, unstated by her, was that the decision of five Councillors (actually 3- the majority) was allegedly more democratic than the votes of 1,036 Woolwich voters. Councillor Patrick Merlihan asked her the only question of any Delegate last evening. Could she explain or clarify how Councillors deciding could possibly be more democratic than the votes of over a thousand citizens. She was taken aback and stumped.

Then we had the last Delegate, Julie-Anne Herteis. Oh my. Julie-Anne "resigned" as Chair of CPAC before the very first public meeting ever occurred. This was after she stormed out of a meeting in the Councillor's Boardroom at which I was present. The kindest thing said after her sudden departure was that she was not "chairperson material". Julie-Anne later told Mayor Todd Cowan that she was going to resign as a Councillor. This was in her first year on Council. He talked her out of it. Then she didn't run for Council again in October 2014 to absolutely no one's surprise. Anyone who saw her at Council meetings found her knowledge base minimal and her grasp of the issues even less so.

Last evening she made it clear that she wants to throw her hat in the ring both now and in the fall. What are you doing Julie-Anne? You hated your time on Council. Is this simply for the part time salary available to Councillors? I absolutely do not know her outside her role as a past councillor. I have heard several good things about her work at Chartwell and about her social outings. She may be a wonderful human being but she simply does not have the necessary skills to be voting on issues affecting her fellow Woolwich residents.

Councillor Murray Martin introduced a Motion to accept the Staff Recommendation to hold a formal and extensive Appointments Process. He voted YES and did so without any explanation of his position. Larry Shantz followed him by voting YES also without explanation. Councillor Merlihan clearly explained why he felt that the best, least politicized move was to appoint the next runner-up Dr. Dan Holt. He therefore voted NO. Councillor Mark Bauman explained that he felt that the best decision for Woolwich was to vote NO and then appoint the next runner-up, Dr. Holt. Sandy Shantz as Chair broke the tie by voting YES, without any explanation.

The only surprise for several of us in the gallery was Mark Bauman voting NO along with Pat Merlihan. Then history and memory kicked in. This crap has happened before. In Council's In Camera meeting before they go public they claimed they were discussing an Ontario Municipal Board settlement. It is no difficult trick for even the dumbest of councillors to finish up the proper In Camera discussion and then go on to discussing another issue illegally in private (ie. in camera). This Council and others have been caught breaking Ontario law around In Camera meetings (Municipal Act) before and the most recent was only 2 1/2 years ago.

Setting up a phony vote ahead of time so as not to give the appearance that everybody on Council are against one councillor, Pat Merlihan, is child's play. In fact a few phone calls or e-mails prior to even the In Camera session would work just as well. I saw this done at the end of 2006 when the lame duck Council (after the election) gave the go ahead for the Jigs Hollow gravel pit. Losing Councillor Murray Martin changed his position and then voted against the proposal (Jigs Hollow Pit) knowing there was a majority vote in favour already. All of this is about Woolwich Councillors serving their own interests not the public's. Keep in mind that for the 2006 vote Councillor Mark Bauman had not yet (for years) revealed that he was in a conflict of interest position due to his relationship with Ray Kuntz, one of the proponents for the Jigs Hollow Pit. Mark voted in favour.

WILL COUNCIL ADDRESS WOOLWICH'S VACANT SEAT THIS TUESDAY?

Well both the Waterloo Region Record (Tuesday) and the Woolwich Observer (today) have carried articles about the resignation from Woolwich Council by Scott Hahn. I am unaware of any other councillor ever having resigned from Woolwich Council allegedly due to "time constraints". I am aware of councillors outside Woolwich either having died on the job or resigning due to personal sickness or family tragedies. That said I will admit surprise a few years back that Mr. Hahn was running for Council after I learned that he had a full time job AND a very young family. He had every right to run under those circumstances nevertheless this may serve as a warning to future very young individuals who already have extremely tight family commitments.

The Observer have an Editorial today titled "Put public first in filling vacant council seat". It has several good points to make regarding the public interest and asking candidates to be public and community-minded. Their Editorial however makes it clear that they are not impressed with either the majority of the current crop on Council nor with the bureaucrats to whom they too often defer.

Scott Hahn has not done Woolwich Council any favours by resigning now. His actions may well be interpreted as immature somewhat in line with a citizen's Comment in the Observer's on-line version after their story on Scott's resignation. Others may somehow see Scott's last minute resignation as a shot at his former fellow councillors. Scott has now set up Council to fail. Thousands of votes other than for Scott and Pat Merlihan were cast in Ward 1 in 2014 and those voters obviously would like their candidate appointed. At the same time Council understandably would prefer to have a "fellow travellor" on Council with them for the rest of this term and then take their chances during the October election.

I would like Council to carefully look at both what is most appropriate as well as to which appointee will be most defensible and hence most likely not to provoke a strong backlash. This Council have been on the receiving end of serious public criticism over the last three years and heading into an election is not the time to remind the public of past errors on their part.

SCRUTINY OF LOCAL POLICE SERVICES BOARD LONG OVERDUE

Well I find myself choking each time I now hear Waterloo Regional Police Services Board Chair Tom Galloway talk about wanting more women and more diversity on that old boys club. Jim Wideman who resigned opening the door for Rosita Tse is an example of the old boys club. Far too many long time regional councillors, past or present, have taken up space and not much else on that Board. Mr. Galloway is just the opening shot of those who should be either resigning or given the boot. As Chairman he's been in the driver's seat and that Board hasn't been doing a good job. What it has accomplished is an entrenchment and continuance of the status quo and that is exactly what the regional police hierarchy and politicians have wanted including the regional chairman who also is a member of that Board.

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carried the following story titled "Regional Councillor calls for more women on police board". I agree with just about everything she (Jane Mitchell) says in that article but I've long had a problem with giving her any credibility. Is she just another Tom Galloway jumping on the current "womens' rights" campaign or is she the real deal? She was formerly a school board trustee for ten years and that was at a time when I was paying close attention to the school board. She did not impress. Hence I'm taking her solid support for more women on the Police Services Board with a grain of salt. Could she be angling for that appointment herself? Regardless of whether she would make a good appointee or not the fact is that she is right in that "It's time for change". Our Police Services Board is a disgrace. How much of that can be attributed to recent appointees is debatable. What isn't debatable is that the membership over decades have not promoted transparency or accountability within the Waterloo Region Police Service on many issues including gender equity.

Then there are the very interesting comments by Karen Scian a former City of Waterloo councillor. She is making veiled references to the old guard of established public figures stepping from one appointment or leadership role to another. She compares them to a bag of milk past its' expiry date. For me it's more about their support of the status quo and avoiding change than it is about their age. It's their politician's desire to talk about issues rather than actually deal with them and possibly offend someone important.

The bottom line is that both the Police Services Board and the Regional Police Service are in desperate need of a house cleaning. Unfortunately any housecleaning is likely to be done by the very same people who put these ones in charge in the first place. That would be our regional politicians. An election is coming. Time for citizens to houseclean the pack of them.

IS WOOLWICH COUNCIL DYSFUNCTIONAL - SCOTT HAHN'S SUDDEN DEPARTURE

Scott works as an electrician not as a CEO or in a high powered management job. He certainly had full family support both from his parents and in-laws in his campaign for a councillor's job. This we learned after he was ordered to appear at MECAC (Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee) hearings as they had anonomously and hence illegally paid for his election signs and brochures. Today's Waterloo Region Record carries the story titled "Woolwich councillor quits in last year of term". Heaven forbid if Scott or a close family member had fallen seriously ill. No one would question his commitment to family coming first. However there were three other defeated candidates all who were willing and able to represent Ward 1 in Elmira for the full term. The fourth candidate, Al Poffenroth, passed away in 2015 after a car accident. I'm sure they have to be thinking about the votes candidate Scott received. Those voters have to be disappointed. Fellow Woolwich councillors have to be disappointed. Scott's resignation letter states that he has a new position and "...it has become very apparent that it is no longer practical to continue to serve on Council...". No longer practical to continue to serve on Council... There are only nine months to complete the term of Council for which he was elected.

Scott's decision I believe will effectively eliminate him from any further political opportunities. I mean really who's going to waste their vote in the future if they suspect he's not going to last for a full term? There will be blowback on Council. Whether or not they embraced him fully and cooperated fully and effectively with him on Council, there may be questions raised. Could they have lessened his committee workload? Could they have permitted the occasional absence from Council meetings? Were there any personality conflicts? Does Scott's resignation speak to leadership issues on Council?

Politicians are the first to admit that politics is not fair. It's all about appearances and this does not look good. At this point in time it may be premature to express skepticism regarding Scott's explanation for his resignation. If there is more to it that comes out down the road then things may become less murky. If more does not come out then we will be left to wonder. My final comment is this: Scott did have the decency to apologize to his fellow Council members "...for not being able to finish the rest of the term with you.".
That apology was necessary under the circumstances.

THE ABUSE AND USURPATION OF AUTHORITY

Abusing authority is as old as humanity. Also is usurping authority. Instead of using the proper authority invested in a person or group for either the benefit of the majority or the benefit of the business, additional authority is claimed or assumed to accomplish these or other goals. Usurping authority of course means that the individual is claiming authority that they really do not have. They may be taking someone else's authority expanding upon their already known and understood authority. Usually this usurpation involves deception, manipulation or lying. Sometimes depending upon the circumstances it can also involve breaking the law. Of course abusing authority sometimes also involves law breaking. It could be the Human Rights Act of Ontario, provincial labour laws, health and safety laws etc..

What is the motivation for either abusing or usurping authority? Generally it is a nefarious motive. Perhaps during an emergency one could think of circumstances whereby abusing or usurping authority might be for the purpose of helping society. Possibly the October FLQ crisis (1972?) in Quebec occasioned a usurpation of authority via Pierre Trudeau invoking the War Measures Act. Note I say possibly. The vast majority of abuse of and usurpation of authority is all about greed, cowardice, aggrandizement, personal power and authority. it's about putting others down to make yourself feel bigger and better. It is little men desperately needing an ego boost by demonstrating what they can get away with.

Recent price fixing by Weston's is an abuse of authority. It's also illegal. Senators taking advantage of loose expense rules is also an abuse of authority. It turned out however not to be illegal albeit it was close. Woolwich Township's shenanigans including illegally holding closed Council meetings was an abuse of authority. Also their game playing both by individual councillors as well as by the Clerk was an abuse of authority. Permitting contrary to law, elected by acclamation, councillors to avoid submitting election Financial Statements was an abuse of authority. I personally believe that Woolwich Township also indulge in usurpation of authority. If it's not nailed down as regional, provincial or federal jurisdiction and it suits them, they simply go ahead and claim it as under their authority.

Then we have our Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS). Anonymous phone calls occasioning middle of the night rousting of families out of their beds and homes is an abuse of authority. Individual officers demanding identification ("carding") from pedestrians minding their own business is an abuse of authority. "Driving while black" pullovers by police are abuses of authority. Coordinated suppression of complainants asking that their human rights be respected within the work force are an abuse of authority. Filing either Police Service Act or inappropriate criminal charges against their employees are both abuses of authority and illegal. Harassment and discrimination based upon race or gender within the workplace is also illegal in the province of Ontario. These are supposed to be the guardians of citizens rights yet they apparently routinely are the violators of citizens' rights.

Non-union workplaces in Ontario run the gamut from hellholes to heaven on earth for employees. Astoundingly (at least for me) so do some unionized workplaces. I would like to believe that the majority of unionized workplaces make for better workplaces but I know that that isn't always the case. If you read Kelly Donovan's book about Ontario policing or the class action lawsuit and accompanying Affidavits laid against the WRPS, you will be hard pressed to have confidence in unions. At least for all their faults the various teachers' unions represent ALL their members to the best of my knowledge.

Abuse of authority is all about personal aggrandizement by little people at the expense of those around them with less influence and power. It is the behaviour of cowards.

JAMES BENNETT OF MADORIN SNYDER IS GETTING HIS KNUCKLES WRAPPED

Interesting! Very interesting! There are however exceptions to every rule. Usually all of us can appreciate the innocent until proven guilty aspect of our judicial system. Hence it is unusual for people to stand up and say "whoa there- it's not O.K. for you to publicly deny the allegations of gender inequity, harassment or discrimination filed against the Waterloo Regional Police Service ". Today's Waterloo Region Record carries the following story on the front page titled "chief's comments trouble task force". The Sexual Violence Task Force was initiated by the Regional Police less than a year ago in response to a report indicating that the Waterloo Regional Police deem a greater percentage of sexual assaults as "unfounded" than other Ontario forces.

James Bennett of Madorin Snyder did more than simply proclaim his clients (Police Services Board & Police Association (union)) as innocent of allegations; he attacked the complainants by publicly stating that the allegations were "untrue, exaggerated, misleading and defamatory.". He also said that the Police Services Board "vehemently" denies the allegations. This is especially interesting when Police Services Board Chair Tom Galloway now says that the tone of the lawyer's statement was "over the top". He further adds that "There is no question there has been bad behaviour at the service and other police services. It is not unique to this organization", he said. "Nobody is sweeping this under the carpet and saying the allegations are untrue.". Holy crap! Really! Well your lawyer said it was untrue as in he vehemently said it! So while credit and kudos to Mr. Tom Galloway for saying this, where exactly have you been Mr. Galloway, Chair of the Police Services Board, for the last couple of decades on these matters?

This morning I sent a copy of my July 22,2015 Elmira Advocate post to both the Waterloo Region Record and to CKCO-TV Kitchener. The title is "Former mayor's lawyer is blackmailing me ???". The lawyer in the title is none other than James Bennett. His motive for blackmailing?/intimidating me was to keep me from testifying against his client, Sandy Shantz, in Superior court in Kitchener. This Advocate posting can be accessed through the Blog Archives section on the right side of my Elmira Advocate Blog (ie. not this one).

I am more than 4/5 of the way through the recently released Affidavits of four persons in support of the civil lawsuit filed by three former regional Police officers. The alleged language and behaviour of multiple named male police officers is way beyond disgusting. if those shits (alleged) weren't armed cops with almost the blind support of the courts behind them, they would have had their heads kicked in by brothers, husbands, fathers and friends (including females) decades ago. Perhaps some day we will look into the cases of those imprisoned for defending the rights of family and friends abused by others while the courts piously proclaim that we should not take the law into our own hands. If and when our courts and legal system ever gets within a mile of perfection then there would probably be no need to take the law into our own hands.