Source: National Post
Shannon Kari, National Post Published: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A Toronto police officer beat a frail 50-year-old suspect in custody and broke his arm, the Crown alleged yesterday in its opening statement at an unusual retrial. Sergeant Chris Higgins is again facing trial in provincial court on a charge of assault causing bodily harm relating to an alleged incident on April 1, 2004, inside a downtown Toronto police station. Sgt. Higgins is accused of beating Gary Shuparski in a police interview room after the 125-pound drug addict responded sarcastically to a question. The evidence of Mr. Shuparski from the first trial will be used again in the retrial because he has since died, for reasons unrelated to the April 2004, incident. A provincial court judge acquitted Sgt. Higgins in 2005. The acquittal was overturned by a higher court and a retrial ordered.
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critter cartoon
Saturday, January 16, 2010
A new court date, another blow for fairness in Fantino case
Source:Globe and Mail
CHRISTIE BLATCHFORD
Published on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 12:00AM EST
Last updated on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 3:54AM EST
cblatchford@globeandmail.com
******
In a bizarre new version of "hurry up and wait," the Ontario Attorney-General's Department urgently rushed ahead of schedule the private criminal complaint of activist Gary McHale against OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino only to do absolutely nothing with it.
On Tuesday, the ministry issued a news advisory that "the Crown is taking steps" to bring the matter forward almost three weeks earlier than Feb. 3, the date it was slated to be back in Ontario Court.
But yesterday, the new date, Milan Rupic of the ministry's Crown law office offered no explanation for the move - and in fact, at one point, when Mr. McHale was asking for an extension, actually told Justice of the Peace Dan MacDonald that "the date fixed by the summons cannot be changed."
The absurd exercise lends credence to speculation that the AG was planning to stay the charge against the OPP boss yesterday, but was outfoxed by Mr. McHale, who complained in writing last Wednesday that the earlier date wouldn't allow him to prepare properly or present his evidence to the Crown.
To stay a charge in the face of such a reasonable request might have doomed the Crown on appeal and certainly would have made it look as though the fix was in.
Mr. McHale remains convinced that the fix is in - hard to argue with him - but that by agreeing to revert to the Feb. 3 date, the optics on the government's machinations may be slightly better.
Neither Mr. Fantino, who is on holiday, nor a lawyer representing him, appeared in court yesterday.
But then, as Mr. Rupic announced to JP MacDonald, the commissioner didn't have to be present because, although a summons has been issued against him, "it has not been served" upon him.
I asked ministry spokesman Brendan Crawley if perhaps the Crown was having difficulty locating Mr. Fantino. Mr. Crawley replied simply that York Regional Police, the force in the jurisdiction where the commissioner lives, has the responsibility for serving him.
Mr. McHale, 47, is an activist against two-tiered policing in Caledonia, the small Southwestern Ontario town just west of Cayuga that was made notorious after natives from the Six Nations reserve seized a housing development called Douglas Creek Estate in February, 2006.
The occupation, which continues to this day, turned violent on April 20 that year when the OPP raided the property but were driven off by as many as 1,000 protesters.
Only rarely have the OPP returned to the site, as various officers have testified in some of the myriad court actions that have sprung out of the occupation.
If Mr. McHale is hardly alone in criticizing the government and the OPP for its handling of the occupation - even during periods of egregious lawlessness, the official view was that immediate arrests of native suspects might spark further violence and other protests - he is probably the most irritating thorn in the commissioner's side.
The OPP boss is charged with the indictable offence of influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials, this via an April 7, 2007, e-mail to Caledonia Mayor Marie Trainer and her councillors.
In the e-mail, which the commissioner copied to Premier Dalton McGuinty's chief of staff and press secretary among others, Mr. Fantino threatened that any member of council who spoke supportively of Mr. McHale or his protests would pay the price - literally, because he would bill the county for any extra policing costs. He also threatened to recommend the OPP cancel its contract with the county.
A month after Mr. McHale laid his private information, there was a "pre-enquete" hearing before Justice of the Peace David Brown, who ruled that the charge shouldn't proceed.
The same Attorney-General's Ministry that now purports to offer Mr. McHale a fair review of his complaint sent two lawyers to the pre-enquete to argue that the complaint should be quashed, as indeed it was.
But Mr. McHale appealed, and again the ministry dispatched the two lawyers to oppose him.
And on Dec. 31, Ontario Superior Court Judge David Crane overruled the JP, and ordered the local JP to "issue process" - basically, to get on with it. On Jan. 8, the JP issued process, which meant that the commissioner was officially charged, although the York force apparently hasn't been able to locate him to serve him with a summons.
Furthermore, who should this week interject himself into the fray but Mr. McGuinty, who was asked whether Mr. Fantino would be stepping aside pending resolution of the charge against him, and said there was no reason for him to do so.
Given all of this, Mr. McHale has good reason for cynicism that his complaint will be reviewed neutrally and treated like any other. It sure hasn't been thus far.
And, speaking of Caledonia, the home of Dave Brown and Dana Chatwell, whose lawsuit against the government and the OPP provided weeks of evidence about the OPP's handling of the occupation before the case was quietly settled out of court, has been razed.
As part of the settlement, ownership of the house, which is bordered on two sides by the occupied site, was transferred to the province, which took possession of it on Thursday. For "safety and security reasons," according to a release from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, it was immediately demolished.
Spokesman Sylvia Kovesfalvi said the razing "will avoid potential hazards associated with an unoccupied building."
I'm sure it had nothing to do with this week's Turtle Island News, an independent paper published on the Six Nations reserve. On Page 7, a story reports that at last week's Six Nations' elected council meeting, in a general discussion about council "taking" land as opposed to buying it, Councillor Melba Thomas said, "Shouldn't we do that, too, with the house that's been vacated? At DCE?"
Only in Ontario do you tear down a house to protect it.
CHRISTIE BLATCHFORD
Published on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 12:00AM EST
Last updated on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 3:54AM EST
cblatchford@globeandmail.com
******
In a bizarre new version of "hurry up and wait," the Ontario Attorney-General's Department urgently rushed ahead of schedule the private criminal complaint of activist Gary McHale against OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino only to do absolutely nothing with it.
On Tuesday, the ministry issued a news advisory that "the Crown is taking steps" to bring the matter forward almost three weeks earlier than Feb. 3, the date it was slated to be back in Ontario Court.
But yesterday, the new date, Milan Rupic of the ministry's Crown law office offered no explanation for the move - and in fact, at one point, when Mr. McHale was asking for an extension, actually told Justice of the Peace Dan MacDonald that "the date fixed by the summons cannot be changed."
The absurd exercise lends credence to speculation that the AG was planning to stay the charge against the OPP boss yesterday, but was outfoxed by Mr. McHale, who complained in writing last Wednesday that the earlier date wouldn't allow him to prepare properly or present his evidence to the Crown.
To stay a charge in the face of such a reasonable request might have doomed the Crown on appeal and certainly would have made it look as though the fix was in.
Mr. McHale remains convinced that the fix is in - hard to argue with him - but that by agreeing to revert to the Feb. 3 date, the optics on the government's machinations may be slightly better.
Neither Mr. Fantino, who is on holiday, nor a lawyer representing him, appeared in court yesterday.
But then, as Mr. Rupic announced to JP MacDonald, the commissioner didn't have to be present because, although a summons has been issued against him, "it has not been served" upon him.
I asked ministry spokesman Brendan Crawley if perhaps the Crown was having difficulty locating Mr. Fantino. Mr. Crawley replied simply that York Regional Police, the force in the jurisdiction where the commissioner lives, has the responsibility for serving him.
Mr. McHale, 47, is an activist against two-tiered policing in Caledonia, the small Southwestern Ontario town just west of Cayuga that was made notorious after natives from the Six Nations reserve seized a housing development called Douglas Creek Estate in February, 2006.
The occupation, which continues to this day, turned violent on April 20 that year when the OPP raided the property but were driven off by as many as 1,000 protesters.
Only rarely have the OPP returned to the site, as various officers have testified in some of the myriad court actions that have sprung out of the occupation.
If Mr. McHale is hardly alone in criticizing the government and the OPP for its handling of the occupation - even during periods of egregious lawlessness, the official view was that immediate arrests of native suspects might spark further violence and other protests - he is probably the most irritating thorn in the commissioner's side.
The OPP boss is charged with the indictable offence of influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials, this via an April 7, 2007, e-mail to Caledonia Mayor Marie Trainer and her councillors.
In the e-mail, which the commissioner copied to Premier Dalton McGuinty's chief of staff and press secretary among others, Mr. Fantino threatened that any member of council who spoke supportively of Mr. McHale or his protests would pay the price - literally, because he would bill the county for any extra policing costs. He also threatened to recommend the OPP cancel its contract with the county.
A month after Mr. McHale laid his private information, there was a "pre-enquete" hearing before Justice of the Peace David Brown, who ruled that the charge shouldn't proceed.
The same Attorney-General's Ministry that now purports to offer Mr. McHale a fair review of his complaint sent two lawyers to the pre-enquete to argue that the complaint should be quashed, as indeed it was.
But Mr. McHale appealed, and again the ministry dispatched the two lawyers to oppose him.
And on Dec. 31, Ontario Superior Court Judge David Crane overruled the JP, and ordered the local JP to "issue process" - basically, to get on with it. On Jan. 8, the JP issued process, which meant that the commissioner was officially charged, although the York force apparently hasn't been able to locate him to serve him with a summons.
Furthermore, who should this week interject himself into the fray but Mr. McGuinty, who was asked whether Mr. Fantino would be stepping aside pending resolution of the charge against him, and said there was no reason for him to do so.
Given all of this, Mr. McHale has good reason for cynicism that his complaint will be reviewed neutrally and treated like any other. It sure hasn't been thus far.
And, speaking of Caledonia, the home of Dave Brown and Dana Chatwell, whose lawsuit against the government and the OPP provided weeks of evidence about the OPP's handling of the occupation before the case was quietly settled out of court, has been razed.
As part of the settlement, ownership of the house, which is bordered on two sides by the occupied site, was transferred to the province, which took possession of it on Thursday. For "safety and security reasons," according to a release from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, it was immediately demolished.
Spokesman Sylvia Kovesfalvi said the razing "will avoid potential hazards associated with an unoccupied building."
I'm sure it had nothing to do with this week's Turtle Island News, an independent paper published on the Six Nations reserve. On Page 7, a story reports that at last week's Six Nations' elected council meeting, in a general discussion about council "taking" land as opposed to buying it, Councillor Melba Thomas said, "Shouldn't we do that, too, with the house that's been vacated? At DCE?"
Only in Ontario do you tear down a house to protect it.
Friday, January 15, 2010
McGuinty is too loyal to Fantino, NDP says
Source:National Newswatch
Premier Dalton McGuinty is rejecting NDP pressure to ask Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino to step down over allegations the veteran cop tried to influence municipal officials regarding the aboriginal occupation of Caledonia.
"I continue to have confidence in Commissioner Fantino and that's all I'm going to say about this because it is before the courts," McGuinty told reporters Wednesday.
Gary McHale, an activist fighting the occupation, contends Fantino sent an email telling the mayor and councillors in the town not to attend rallies organized by McHale to protest what he called two-tier justice in policing the land dispute.
Under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is illegal to influence or attempt to influence municipal officials and convictions come with a prison term of up to five years.
McHale is pursuing the charge as a private citizen in a process known as a "private information," which will be heard in court this Friday, following a sworn statement made before a justice of the peace last week. Police have not laid any charges against Fantino.
The commissioner will "vigorously defend" himself but will not appear in court Friday and will not step aside from his post, said OPP Insp. Dave Ross.
"At this time, the commissioner has not seen that process or received any process requiring him to be in court," Ross told the Star. "His intent at this time is to continue to provide strong leadership to the men and women of the OPP."
Fantino's refusal to take temporary leave and McGuinty's refusal to force him to do so does not bode well for the "fair and unbiased" administration of justice in Ontario, said New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath.
"The thing I find most disconcerting is the premier is putting his loyalty to Mr. Fantino over and above the practical reality that it's becoming more and more difficult for Mr. Fantino to do his job while he's under this significant spotlight."
She added Fantino "should see that it's time for him to take a back seat for a while, at least until this is dealt with."
The Progressive Conservatives did not call for Fantino to step aside.
Premier Dalton McGuinty is rejecting NDP pressure to ask Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino to step down over allegations the veteran cop tried to influence municipal officials regarding the aboriginal occupation of Caledonia.
"I continue to have confidence in Commissioner Fantino and that's all I'm going to say about this because it is before the courts," McGuinty told reporters Wednesday.
Gary McHale, an activist fighting the occupation, contends Fantino sent an email telling the mayor and councillors in the town not to attend rallies organized by McHale to protest what he called two-tier justice in policing the land dispute.
Under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is illegal to influence or attempt to influence municipal officials and convictions come with a prison term of up to five years.
McHale is pursuing the charge as a private citizen in a process known as a "private information," which will be heard in court this Friday, following a sworn statement made before a justice of the peace last week. Police have not laid any charges against Fantino.
The commissioner will "vigorously defend" himself but will not appear in court Friday and will not step aside from his post, said OPP Insp. Dave Ross.
"At this time, the commissioner has not seen that process or received any process requiring him to be in court," Ross told the Star. "His intent at this time is to continue to provide strong leadership to the men and women of the OPP."
Fantino's refusal to take temporary leave and McGuinty's refusal to force him to do so does not bode well for the "fair and unbiased" administration of justice in Ontario, said New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath.
"The thing I find most disconcerting is the premier is putting his loyalty to Mr. Fantino over and above the practical reality that it's becoming more and more difficult for Mr. Fantino to do his job while he's under this significant spotlight."
She added Fantino "should see that it's time for him to take a back seat for a while, at least until this is dealt with."
The Progressive Conservatives did not call for Fantino to step aside.
Fantino case delayed until February
Source:National Post
Fantino case delayed until February
The Crown quickly adjourned the first court appearance on Friday to deal with a criminal charge against Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino.
The proceeding was put over until February 3 and Gary McHale, the private citizen who initiated the complaint, was asked to provide more evidence to the Crown.
Mr. Fantino is charged with influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials in Haldimand County, in relation to the native land dispute in Caledonia in southern Ontario. He was not in court Friday and was not required to attend.
The unusual proceeding stems from an e-mail that Mr. Fantino sent in 2007 to Haldimand council, with copies forwarded by the commissioner to senior members of the staff of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. The e-mail warned the politicians against expressing any support for Mr. McHale, who has been an outspoken critic of the OPP and the government over its handling of the Caledonia dispute.
The e-mail stated that Mr. Fantino would recommend against renewing OPP police services in the county and would hold council responsible for any injuries to officers, if there was public support for Mr. McHale.
An Ontario Superior Court judge ordered a justice of the peace in a Dec. 31 ruling, to approve the criminal charge initiated by Mr. McHale, over the objections of the province. Justice David Crane concluded that the e-mail contained evidence of the "elements of the offence" of unlawfully attempting to influence municipal officials.
Premier McGuinty has downplayed the significance of the charge and earlier this week stressed that it was a private complaint. However, once a court has "issued process" for a private prosecution, it has the same legal weight as a criminal charge laid by police. Under the Criminal Code, it is then up to the Crown to take over prosecution of the case.
The Ontario government has refused to retain an outside lawyer to avoid any potential conflict of interest, even though it opposed Mr. McHale at the hearing before Judge Crane.
The province was also opposing Mr. McHale in the Ontario Court of Appeal on Thursday, in a case that could potentially limit the rights of citizens to initiate private prosecutions.
The Crown was appealing another Superior Court decision in favour of Mr. McHale, about when the Crown has the authority to dismiss a privately initiated charge.
Crown attorney John Patton argued that it has the authority to dismiss a charge, even before a private citizen presents evidence to a justice of the peace. More than 25 years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada said it was a "fundamental and historical right" of a citizen "under oath" to inform a justice of the peace of a potential crime.
The three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal appeared skeptical of the claim that the Crown has this power. "Then there really is no such thing as a private prosecution," noted Justice Warren Winkler.
The panel reserved its decision on Thursday after hearing arguments from the Crown and Mr. McHale, who is self-represented.
The province has assigned Milan Rupic to prosecute the case against the OPP Commissioner. Mr. Rupic works on the same floor as Mr. Patton at the head office of the Ministry of the Attorney-General in Toronto.
Mr. Rupic is also the lead prosecutor in a corruption case against former Toronto drug squad officers, who were charged by an internal task force when Mr. Fantino was chief of the Toronto police.
As well, three months ago Attorney-General Chris Bentley appointed the son of Mr. Fantino as a justice of the peace to preside in Toronto.
A spokesman for the Ministry of the Attorney-General insisted earlier this week that there is no conflict of interest because Mr. Rupic was not involved in the previous attempts by the Crown to stop the charge against Mr. Fantino from going ahead
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Fantino case delayed until February
The Crown quickly adjourned the first court appearance on Friday to deal with a criminal charge against Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino.
The proceeding was put over until February 3 and Gary McHale, the private citizen who initiated the complaint, was asked to provide more evidence to the Crown.
Mr. Fantino is charged with influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials in Haldimand County, in relation to the native land dispute in Caledonia in southern Ontario. He was not in court Friday and was not required to attend.
The unusual proceeding stems from an e-mail that Mr. Fantino sent in 2007 to Haldimand council, with copies forwarded by the commissioner to senior members of the staff of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. The e-mail warned the politicians against expressing any support for Mr. McHale, who has been an outspoken critic of the OPP and the government over its handling of the Caledonia dispute.
The e-mail stated that Mr. Fantino would recommend against renewing OPP police services in the county and would hold council responsible for any injuries to officers, if there was public support for Mr. McHale.
An Ontario Superior Court judge ordered a justice of the peace in a Dec. 31 ruling, to approve the criminal charge initiated by Mr. McHale, over the objections of the province. Justice David Crane concluded that the e-mail contained evidence of the "elements of the offence" of unlawfully attempting to influence municipal officials.
Premier McGuinty has downplayed the significance of the charge and earlier this week stressed that it was a private complaint. However, once a court has "issued process" for a private prosecution, it has the same legal weight as a criminal charge laid by police. Under the Criminal Code, it is then up to the Crown to take over prosecution of the case.
The Ontario government has refused to retain an outside lawyer to avoid any potential conflict of interest, even though it opposed Mr. McHale at the hearing before Judge Crane.
The province was also opposing Mr. McHale in the Ontario Court of Appeal on Thursday, in a case that could potentially limit the rights of citizens to initiate private prosecutions.
The Crown was appealing another Superior Court decision in favour of Mr. McHale, about when the Crown has the authority to dismiss a privately initiated charge.
Crown attorney John Patton argued that it has the authority to dismiss a charge, even before a private citizen presents evidence to a justice of the peace. More than 25 years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada said it was a "fundamental and historical right" of a citizen "under oath" to inform a justice of the peace of a potential crime.
The three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal appeared skeptical of the claim that the Crown has this power. "Then there really is no such thing as a private prosecution," noted Justice Warren Winkler.
The panel reserved its decision on Thursday after hearing arguments from the Crown and Mr. McHale, who is self-represented.
The province has assigned Milan Rupic to prosecute the case against the OPP Commissioner. Mr. Rupic works on the same floor as Mr. Patton at the head office of the Ministry of the Attorney-General in Toronto.
Mr. Rupic is also the lead prosecutor in a corruption case against former Toronto drug squad officers, who were charged by an internal task force when Mr. Fantino was chief of the Toronto police.
As well, three months ago Attorney-General Chris Bentley appointed the son of Mr. Fantino as a justice of the peace to preside in Toronto.
A spokesman for the Ministry of the Attorney-General insisted earlier this week that there is no conflict of interest because Mr. Rupic was not involved in the previous attempts by the Crown to stop the charge against Mr. Fantino from going ahead
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Wednesday, January 13, 2010
No compensation for Baltovich after acquittal!
Source: CBC.CA
Ontario's attorney general says Robert Baltovich will not receive compensation even though he served eight years in prison before being acquitted in 2008 in the slaying of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Bain.
Attorney General Chris Bentley says financial compensation is not appropriate in the Baltovich case.
Bentley says in each stage of the case, the Crown and police "acted with integrity" and in the best interests of the administration of justice.
The minister has also decided not to compensate Anthony Hanemaayer, who was wrongfully convicted of sexual assault in 1987.
Bentley says that case involved, among other things, a "voluntary, unequivocal and informed" guilty plea and "honest but mistaken" identity evidence.
Ontario's attorney general says Robert Baltovich will not receive compensation even though he served eight years in prison before being acquitted in 2008 in the slaying of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Bain.
Attorney General Chris Bentley says financial compensation is not appropriate in the Baltovich case.
Bentley says in each stage of the case, the Crown and police "acted with integrity" and in the best interests of the administration of justice.
The minister has also decided not to compensate Anthony Hanemaayer, who was wrongfully convicted of sexual assault in 1987.
Bentley says that case involved, among other things, a "voluntary, unequivocal and informed" guilty plea and "honest but mistaken" identity evidence.
Fantino doesn't need to step aside: premier
Source: CTV
Fantino doesn't need to step aside: premier
Updated: Tue Jan. 12 2010 17:24:40
The Canadian Press
CHATHAM, Ont. — There's no reason why Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino should step aside while the courts probe allegations that he threatened municipal officials, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday.
McGuinty downplayed the allegations, saying he didn't think Fantino should take a leave from his duties while the case progresses.
"My understanding is that it's a private information being put forward by a private citizen, it's going to work its way through the courts and I'll allow that to take its normal course," McGuinty said.
The province's top cop is set to appear in court Friday on one count of influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials -- a legal step required before charges could be officially laid and court dates set.
He has vowed to fight an allegation from an activist that he illegally influenced elected officials in Caledonia, Ont., the site of a long-running aboriginal occupation.
Activist Gary McHale has been trying to have Fantino charged after the commissioner allegedly sent an email in 2007 telling the mayor and councillors in Caledonia not to attend McHale's rallies.
McHale led a number of rallies to protest what he called two-tier justice in the policing of the land occupation in the town south of Hamilton.
Fantino has vowed to "vigorously" defend himself and the provincial police force against the allegations, and has stood by police efforts to keep the peace and protect the public in Caledonia during the land claims dispute.
Influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials is a Criminal Code offence that carries up to a five-year prison term.
NDP critic Peter Kormos chastised the premier for his comments, saying he's "absolutely wrong to trivialize this charge."
"Although privately laid information, it's been approved by a judicial official," said Kormos.
"It's a very serious matter. It may or may not result in a conviction -- that's for the courts to determine. But at the end of the day Fantino has been an embarrassment as the top cop in the province of Ontario."
Kormos said Fantino, who has been entangled in controversial legal disputes in the past, has become a liability.
"If Mr. Fantino wants to be a lawmaker, (he can) run for provincial or federal parliament," said Kormos.
"His job is to be an enforcer of the law, and that means he is to enforce the law as it is written, and not to use his clout -- real or imaginary -- to bully politicians into passing legislation that serves his personal interests."
McGuinty also brushed aside questions Tuesday about why it took so long to settle a suit with a local family that sued the Ontario Provincial Police and the provincial government over the handling of the aboriginal occupation of a housing development in Caledonia.
David Brown, his wife Dana Chatwell and their son Dax had filed a $7-million lawsuit, claiming they lived under siege and were abandoned to a state of lawlessness after aboriginal protesters occupied the Douglas Creek Estates housing development in February 2006.
The terms of the settlement reached late last month were confidential, with no admission of liability by any of the defendants.
"I think there were discussions, negotiations that took place for an extended period of time," McGuinty said.
"There's been a settlement now, which I have no reason to believe is not to the full satisfaction of the individuals who were involved in this and I'm happy that we've come to a resolution that they find acceptable."
The premier sidestepped questions about whether the family -- who spent weeks in what they described as "total panic mode" -- was owed an apology by the province.
"It's a very difficult circumstance there and we're doing everything we can to maintain some order and some goodwill in the face of circumstances, divisions, which arose before Confederation," McGuinty said.
"We'll do everything that we can from a provincial perspective to bring the sides together, but at the end of the day it's up the feds to formally resolve this."
Fantino doesn't need to step aside: premier
Updated: Tue Jan. 12 2010 17:24:40
The Canadian Press
CHATHAM, Ont. — There's no reason why Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino should step aside while the courts probe allegations that he threatened municipal officials, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday.
McGuinty downplayed the allegations, saying he didn't think Fantino should take a leave from his duties while the case progresses.
"My understanding is that it's a private information being put forward by a private citizen, it's going to work its way through the courts and I'll allow that to take its normal course," McGuinty said.
The province's top cop is set to appear in court Friday on one count of influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials -- a legal step required before charges could be officially laid and court dates set.
He has vowed to fight an allegation from an activist that he illegally influenced elected officials in Caledonia, Ont., the site of a long-running aboriginal occupation.
Activist Gary McHale has been trying to have Fantino charged after the commissioner allegedly sent an email in 2007 telling the mayor and councillors in Caledonia not to attend McHale's rallies.
McHale led a number of rallies to protest what he called two-tier justice in the policing of the land occupation in the town south of Hamilton.
Fantino has vowed to "vigorously" defend himself and the provincial police force against the allegations, and has stood by police efforts to keep the peace and protect the public in Caledonia during the land claims dispute.
Influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials is a Criminal Code offence that carries up to a five-year prison term.
NDP critic Peter Kormos chastised the premier for his comments, saying he's "absolutely wrong to trivialize this charge."
"Although privately laid information, it's been approved by a judicial official," said Kormos.
"It's a very serious matter. It may or may not result in a conviction -- that's for the courts to determine. But at the end of the day Fantino has been an embarrassment as the top cop in the province of Ontario."
Kormos said Fantino, who has been entangled in controversial legal disputes in the past, has become a liability.
"If Mr. Fantino wants to be a lawmaker, (he can) run for provincial or federal parliament," said Kormos.
"His job is to be an enforcer of the law, and that means he is to enforce the law as it is written, and not to use his clout -- real or imaginary -- to bully politicians into passing legislation that serves his personal interests."
McGuinty also brushed aside questions Tuesday about why it took so long to settle a suit with a local family that sued the Ontario Provincial Police and the provincial government over the handling of the aboriginal occupation of a housing development in Caledonia.
David Brown, his wife Dana Chatwell and their son Dax had filed a $7-million lawsuit, claiming they lived under siege and were abandoned to a state of lawlessness after aboriginal protesters occupied the Douglas Creek Estates housing development in February 2006.
The terms of the settlement reached late last month were confidential, with no admission of liability by any of the defendants.
"I think there were discussions, negotiations that took place for an extended period of time," McGuinty said.
"There's been a settlement now, which I have no reason to believe is not to the full satisfaction of the individuals who were involved in this and I'm happy that we've come to a resolution that they find acceptable."
The premier sidestepped questions about whether the family -- who spent weeks in what they described as "total panic mode" -- was owed an apology by the province.
"It's a very difficult circumstance there and we're doing everything we can to maintain some order and some goodwill in the face of circumstances, divisions, which arose before Confederation," McGuinty said.
"We'll do everything that we can from a provincial perspective to bring the sides together, but at the end of the day it's up the feds to formally resolve this."
Fantino case before Cayuga court on Friday
Source:The Spec
January 13, 2010
Barbara Brown
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 13, 2010)
A criminal charge laid against Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino will be before a Cayuga court on Friday, but the province's top cop is not expected to make an appearance.
Activist Gary McHale brought the privately laid charge, alleging the commissioner used his clout to illegally influence elected officials in Caledonia during the native occupation of a residential construction project on the town's main thoroughfare.
The court was not expected to deal with Fantino's charge until Feb. 3, but the Crown Law Office advised McHale yesterday it was moving the case ahead by nearly three weeks. A special prosecutor with the Justice Prosecution Unit is to speak on the matter Friday.
OPP Inspector Dave Ross said provincial police were aware the Crown was bringing the charge forward early, but said Fantino had not yet received his summons to appear in court.
The private charge arises from an e-mail Fantino sent in April 2007 to Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer and other councillors. The two-page letter stated members of council were not to support public rallies led by McHale, or make statements in support of the activist to the residents of Caledonia.
In the e-mail, which was widely circulated and reported by the news media at the time, Fantino said he would recommend the OPP contract with the county "not be renewed" if members of council expressed support for McHale.
McHale led a number of rallies in the town to protest what he called a two-tier justice system in the policing of the native occupation and counter protests by residents of Caledonia.
The activist has been pressing the courts to prosecute Fantino since August 2009 when he urged justice of the peace David Brown to lay the private charge. At issue was whether Fantino had "made a threat" in order to influence councillors from performing or failing to perform an "official act."
When the justice of the peace refused to issue a summons or warrant against the commissioner, McHale appealed to a higher court.
The matter came before Superior Court Justice David Crane in November, with McHale up against three lawyers -- two Crown attorneys acting on behalf of the Attorney General of Ontario and one lawyer representing Fantino -- all of whom argued the police commissioner should not be charged.
In his decision released on New Year's Eve, Crane granted McHale's application for a rarely used judicial remedy known as Mandamus -- an order from a superior court compelling a subordinate court, government body or public official to do something the person or body was duty-bound to do in the first place.
"I observe on the record in this application there is evidence of influenced behaviour by the Mayor and County Council in response to the Julian Fantino letter," said Crane, who ordered the justice of the peace to lay the charge.
Brown "issued process" against Fantino late Friday.
McHale said the Crown Law Office told him that because Fantino is a police officer, the ministry's practice is to assign a special prosecutor with the Justice Prosecutions Unit to handle the case.
McHale pushed the Crown to assign a prosecutor from outside Ontario, arguing the Crown was in a conflict of interest because its position that Fantino not be charged was on the record.
bbrown@thespec.com
905-526-3494
January 13, 2010
Barbara Brown
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 13, 2010)
A criminal charge laid against Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino will be before a Cayuga court on Friday, but the province's top cop is not expected to make an appearance.
Activist Gary McHale brought the privately laid charge, alleging the commissioner used his clout to illegally influence elected officials in Caledonia during the native occupation of a residential construction project on the town's main thoroughfare.
The court was not expected to deal with Fantino's charge until Feb. 3, but the Crown Law Office advised McHale yesterday it was moving the case ahead by nearly three weeks. A special prosecutor with the Justice Prosecution Unit is to speak on the matter Friday.
OPP Inspector Dave Ross said provincial police were aware the Crown was bringing the charge forward early, but said Fantino had not yet received his summons to appear in court.
The private charge arises from an e-mail Fantino sent in April 2007 to Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer and other councillors. The two-page letter stated members of council were not to support public rallies led by McHale, or make statements in support of the activist to the residents of Caledonia.
In the e-mail, which was widely circulated and reported by the news media at the time, Fantino said he would recommend the OPP contract with the county "not be renewed" if members of council expressed support for McHale.
McHale led a number of rallies in the town to protest what he called a two-tier justice system in the policing of the native occupation and counter protests by residents of Caledonia.
The activist has been pressing the courts to prosecute Fantino since August 2009 when he urged justice of the peace David Brown to lay the private charge. At issue was whether Fantino had "made a threat" in order to influence councillors from performing or failing to perform an "official act."
When the justice of the peace refused to issue a summons or warrant against the commissioner, McHale appealed to a higher court.
The matter came before Superior Court Justice David Crane in November, with McHale up against three lawyers -- two Crown attorneys acting on behalf of the Attorney General of Ontario and one lawyer representing Fantino -- all of whom argued the police commissioner should not be charged.
In his decision released on New Year's Eve, Crane granted McHale's application for a rarely used judicial remedy known as Mandamus -- an order from a superior court compelling a subordinate court, government body or public official to do something the person or body was duty-bound to do in the first place.
"I observe on the record in this application there is evidence of influenced behaviour by the Mayor and County Council in response to the Julian Fantino letter," said Crane, who ordered the justice of the peace to lay the charge.
Brown "issued process" against Fantino late Friday.
McHale said the Crown Law Office told him that because Fantino is a police officer, the ministry's practice is to assign a special prosecutor with the Justice Prosecutions Unit to handle the case.
McHale pushed the Crown to assign a prosecutor from outside Ontario, arguing the Crown was in a conflict of interest because its position that Fantino not be charged was on the record.
bbrown@thespec.com
905-526-3494
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Ontario appointing Crown in Fantino prosecution
Source: The Spec
OPP boss has yet to receive summons
January 12, 2010
With files from wire services
The Hamilton Spectator(Jan 12, 2010)
Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino had not yet received formal notice by end of business yesterday after a summons was issued alleging he illegally influenced elected officials in Haldimand County over the ongoing native dispute in Caledonia.
"The commissioner hasn't been served with anything yet," said OPP spokesperson Dave Ross.
"All we've been told at this point is a process is issued," Ross said.
On Friday, the ministry of the attorney general confirmed that a justice of the peace "issued process" against Fantino on one count of influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials.
Issuing process is a legal step required before charges are officially laid and court dates set.
The case results from the launch of a private prosecution by activist Gary McHale, who pressed to have Fantino charged after the commissioner sent an April 2007 email allegedly telling the mayor and councillors in Caledonia not to attend McHale's rallies.
McHale led a number of rallies to protest what he called two-tier justice in the policing of the Caledonia occupation.
The summons came after a Dec. 31 Ontario Superior court order demanding a formal charge be laid.
Next, the ministry must decide whether to prosecute the charge, stay the case or drop it.
McHale says he wants an out-of-province prosecutor if the case proceeds. But McHale says he received a letter from the attorney general's ministry informing him that because Fantino is a police officer, the case will be assigned to a Crown within the justice prosecutions unit, a division formed to prosecute criminal cases where the accused is someone involved in the justice system.
Brendan Crawley, a spokesman for the Ministry of the Attorney-General, said Monday that a Crown who has no previous experience of Fantino will be assigned to the case.
The OPP issued a written statement on behalf of Fantino during the weekend saying the commissioner intends to strongly defend himself against the charge.
In the weekend statement, Fantino also defended police efforts to keep the peace and protect the public in Caledonia during the land claims dispute.
"I am proud of the work that the men and women of the OPP have done in Caledonia over the years in a complex and, at times, extremely volatile environment," it said.
"The OPP and its officers have taken a measured approach and acted in accordance with legislated responsibilities and exercised police discretion appropriately, fairly and equally," the statement said.
Fantino, whose tenure at the OPP has at times been controversial, has been at the helm of the police force since 2006.
Last June, the province extended Fantino's term through July 2010, saying he needed to stay as commissioner past the October 2009 end date of his appointment so he could oversee the G8 Summit in Huntsville this summer.
OPP boss has yet to receive summons
January 12, 2010
With files from wire services
The Hamilton Spectator(Jan 12, 2010)
Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino had not yet received formal notice by end of business yesterday after a summons was issued alleging he illegally influenced elected officials in Haldimand County over the ongoing native dispute in Caledonia.
"The commissioner hasn't been served with anything yet," said OPP spokesperson Dave Ross.
"All we've been told at this point is a process is issued," Ross said.
On Friday, the ministry of the attorney general confirmed that a justice of the peace "issued process" against Fantino on one count of influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials.
Issuing process is a legal step required before charges are officially laid and court dates set.
The case results from the launch of a private prosecution by activist Gary McHale, who pressed to have Fantino charged after the commissioner sent an April 2007 email allegedly telling the mayor and councillors in Caledonia not to attend McHale's rallies.
McHale led a number of rallies to protest what he called two-tier justice in the policing of the Caledonia occupation.
The summons came after a Dec. 31 Ontario Superior court order demanding a formal charge be laid.
Next, the ministry must decide whether to prosecute the charge, stay the case or drop it.
McHale says he wants an out-of-province prosecutor if the case proceeds. But McHale says he received a letter from the attorney general's ministry informing him that because Fantino is a police officer, the case will be assigned to a Crown within the justice prosecutions unit, a division formed to prosecute criminal cases where the accused is someone involved in the justice system.
Brendan Crawley, a spokesman for the Ministry of the Attorney-General, said Monday that a Crown who has no previous experience of Fantino will be assigned to the case.
The OPP issued a written statement on behalf of Fantino during the weekend saying the commissioner intends to strongly defend himself against the charge.
In the weekend statement, Fantino also defended police efforts to keep the peace and protect the public in Caledonia during the land claims dispute.
"I am proud of the work that the men and women of the OPP have done in Caledonia over the years in a complex and, at times, extremely volatile environment," it said.
"The OPP and its officers have taken a measured approach and acted in accordance with legislated responsibilities and exercised police discretion appropriately, fairly and equally," the statement said.
Fantino, whose tenure at the OPP has at times been controversial, has been at the helm of the police force since 2006.
Last June, the province extended Fantino's term through July 2010, saying he needed to stay as commissioner past the October 2009 end date of his appointment so he could oversee the G8 Summit in Huntsville this summer.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Another ship jumper from the Dalton Gang?
Source:Metro
Watson expected to announce bid for mayor's chair
It’s going to be fun.”
That’s what Bay Ward Coun. Alex Cullen, already a candidate for mayor, said of the prospect of Ottawa West-Nepean MPP Jim Watson stepping into the race.
After months of speculation, Watson is releasing a statement this morning “regarding his political future,” a press release stated. He is expected to announce his intention to run for mayor. Watson served as mayor of Ottawa in 1997.
If Watson does enter the race, he’ll be a major player, said Cullen.
“What voters will have to find out is, ‘What does Jim Watson stand for?’” he said.
Cullen said people should look at the choices Watson is offering in terms of rapid transit, sewage into the river and other city services.
Watson would be the second provincial cabinet minister to move into municipal politics.
Former deputy premier George Smitherman is registered to run in Toronto.
After a difficult year for the provincial Liberals with OLG, eHealth and the HST, it appears as if high profile Grits are jumping a sinking ship, said Ottawa Nepean Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod, who has been pressing Watson for weeks at Queen’s Park to reveal whether or not he would run for mayor.
“He’s going to make a decision based on his own self-interest and not the best interest of the city,” said MacLeod. “Otherwise, he would have done that for taxpayers earlier in terms of communicating his ambitions to the public.”
Last week, Watson told Metro Ottawa people have been encouraging him to run for mayor.
“It’s evident that there are challenges that emanate from the budget process, transportation and environmental issues,” he said recently
Watson expected to announce bid for mayor's chair
It’s going to be fun.”
That’s what Bay Ward Coun. Alex Cullen, already a candidate for mayor, said of the prospect of Ottawa West-Nepean MPP Jim Watson stepping into the race.
After months of speculation, Watson is releasing a statement this morning “regarding his political future,” a press release stated. He is expected to announce his intention to run for mayor. Watson served as mayor of Ottawa in 1997.
If Watson does enter the race, he’ll be a major player, said Cullen.
“What voters will have to find out is, ‘What does Jim Watson stand for?’” he said.
Cullen said people should look at the choices Watson is offering in terms of rapid transit, sewage into the river and other city services.
Watson would be the second provincial cabinet minister to move into municipal politics.
Former deputy premier George Smitherman is registered to run in Toronto.
After a difficult year for the provincial Liberals with OLG, eHealth and the HST, it appears as if high profile Grits are jumping a sinking ship, said Ottawa Nepean Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod, who has been pressing Watson for weeks at Queen’s Park to reveal whether or not he would run for mayor.
“He’s going to make a decision based on his own self-interest and not the best interest of the city,” said MacLeod. “Otherwise, he would have done that for taxpayers earlier in terms of communicating his ambitions to the public.”
Last week, Watson told Metro Ottawa people have been encouraging him to run for mayor.
“It’s evident that there are challenges that emanate from the budget process, transportation and environmental issues,” he said recently
Ontario's top cop Fantino facing charges
Source: Global
Kathryn Blaze Carlson and Kenyon Wallace, National Post; With Files From Matthew Coutts: Monday, January 11, 2010
Ontario Provincial Police commissioner Julian Fantino is facing a charge of attempting to influence municipal officials, an indictable offence, after a justice of the peace yesterday signed a summons requiring the former Toronto police chief to appear before a criminal court.
The summons comes after a Dec. 31 Ontario Superior Court order demanding a formal charge be laid in relation to allegations against Mr. Fantino brought forward by a private complainant, Gary McHale, who has long been at odds with the commissioner over his handling of the aboriginal protests in Caledonia.
"The summons makes sense," said Mr. McHale. "It's great that the system has finally kicked in and the charge has gone forward. I'm happy that the courts have upheld the rights of average people to have these types of cases prosecuted."
The OPP could not be reached for comment last night, but Brendan Crawley, spokesman for the Ministry of the Attorney General, wrote in an email that "when a private prosecution involves an indictable offence, the Crown Attorneys Act requires the Crown to intervene and assume carriage of the prosecution."
Now that Mr. Fantino has been summoned, onlookers question the logistics of launching a criminal case against the province's top officer.
"This is a very unusual case," said Steven Skurka, a partner at Toronto law firm Skurka & Spina LLP. "I can't remember a police officer ever being charged in private prosecution, let alone the chief."
"This is uncharted territory," echoed James Stribopolous, associate law professor at York University's Osgoode Hall.
At the centre of the current dispute is Mr. Fantino's April 7, 2007 email to Haldimand County's mayor and councillors in which he allegedly warned the politicians not to support anti-occupation protests.
The Commissioner wrote that he would hold the county directly accountable for any injuries suffered by OPP officers during protests by a contentious group known as "Caledonia Wake Up Call," led by Mr. McHale. He also warned that he would advise the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services not to renew the OPP's contract with Haldimand County for policing once it expired if councillors supported the protest group.
A letter sent to Mr. McHale yesterday by the Ministry, and obtained by the National Post, states that because Mr. Fantino is a police officer, the case will be assigned to a Crown within the justice prosecutions unit, a division formed to prosecute criminal cases where the accused is someone involved in the administration of justice, such as a police officer.
"I can assure you that the Crown assigned to this matter will fairly and appropriately apply all of the applicable legal standards to this case as are applied to every other criminal case in Ontario, regardless of who is charged, or who commenced the charge," wrote Kenneth Campbell, director of the Crown's criminal law office.
Because the allegations were brought forward by a private complainant, the Identification of Criminals Act does not apply, and Mr. Fantino will not be photographed or fingerprinted.
Next, the Ministry must decide whether to pursue the charge, a decision Mr. Skurka said rests on two criteria: whether there is a reasonable prospect of conviction and whether it is in the public interest to do so.
"They could withdraw the charge, but that's not something to be done capriciously," he said. "There's an added layer of political accountability."
Mr. Skurka said the Attorney General's decision would be announced at the first court appearance, likely within several weeks of the summons. Mr. McHale said he was informed yesterday by the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga, about 50 kilometres south of Hamilton, that Mr. Fantino is expected to appear as early as Feb. 3.
If the Crown decides to pursue the charge, which can carry a sentence of up to five years in prison, the Ministry may choose to hire an independent criminal lawyer -- as it did in the case of former Attorney General Michael Bryant.
Mr. Skurka said that while the case is certainly unusual, the Attorney General "prosecutes police officers all the time," and it makes no difference that Mr. Fantino is the commissioner.
"I see no conflict of interest in terms of the Attorney General dealing with this matter," he said. "Commissioner Fantino is independent of the Attorney General's office."
Mr. Stribopolous, meantime, said it would be "a prudent move" for the Ministry to hire independent counsel. "It's a grey area, but I would think they'd bring in a special prosecutor for the sake of optics," he said, adding Mr. Fantino would benefit from such a decision.
"That way, if the charges are dropped, then it would not look like he was getting any favours. If I were Fantino, I'd want exoneration from an independent prosecutor."
Whether the Attorney General decides to hire a special prosecutor might affect Mr. Fantino's decision to stay on as commissioner, Mr. Stribopolous said. "He'll probably want to see what happens at the first court appearance," he said. "It might be unseemly to stay on as commissioner, but there's no hard and fast rule."
Said Mr. Skurka: "My view is that it is appropriate for him to stay on as commissioner because he has the right to a presumption of innocence just like anyone else."
© Copyright (c) CW Media Inc.
Kathryn Blaze Carlson and Kenyon Wallace, National Post; With Files From Matthew Coutts: Monday, January 11, 2010
Ontario Provincial Police commissioner Julian Fantino is facing a charge of attempting to influence municipal officials, an indictable offence, after a justice of the peace yesterday signed a summons requiring the former Toronto police chief to appear before a criminal court.
The summons comes after a Dec. 31 Ontario Superior Court order demanding a formal charge be laid in relation to allegations against Mr. Fantino brought forward by a private complainant, Gary McHale, who has long been at odds with the commissioner over his handling of the aboriginal protests in Caledonia.
"The summons makes sense," said Mr. McHale. "It's great that the system has finally kicked in and the charge has gone forward. I'm happy that the courts have upheld the rights of average people to have these types of cases prosecuted."
The OPP could not be reached for comment last night, but Brendan Crawley, spokesman for the Ministry of the Attorney General, wrote in an email that "when a private prosecution involves an indictable offence, the Crown Attorneys Act requires the Crown to intervene and assume carriage of the prosecution."
Now that Mr. Fantino has been summoned, onlookers question the logistics of launching a criminal case against the province's top officer.
"This is a very unusual case," said Steven Skurka, a partner at Toronto law firm Skurka & Spina LLP. "I can't remember a police officer ever being charged in private prosecution, let alone the chief."
"This is uncharted territory," echoed James Stribopolous, associate law professor at York University's Osgoode Hall.
At the centre of the current dispute is Mr. Fantino's April 7, 2007 email to Haldimand County's mayor and councillors in which he allegedly warned the politicians not to support anti-occupation protests.
The Commissioner wrote that he would hold the county directly accountable for any injuries suffered by OPP officers during protests by a contentious group known as "Caledonia Wake Up Call," led by Mr. McHale. He also warned that he would advise the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services not to renew the OPP's contract with Haldimand County for policing once it expired if councillors supported the protest group.
A letter sent to Mr. McHale yesterday by the Ministry, and obtained by the National Post, states that because Mr. Fantino is a police officer, the case will be assigned to a Crown within the justice prosecutions unit, a division formed to prosecute criminal cases where the accused is someone involved in the administration of justice, such as a police officer.
"I can assure you that the Crown assigned to this matter will fairly and appropriately apply all of the applicable legal standards to this case as are applied to every other criminal case in Ontario, regardless of who is charged, or who commenced the charge," wrote Kenneth Campbell, director of the Crown's criminal law office.
Because the allegations were brought forward by a private complainant, the Identification of Criminals Act does not apply, and Mr. Fantino will not be photographed or fingerprinted.
Next, the Ministry must decide whether to pursue the charge, a decision Mr. Skurka said rests on two criteria: whether there is a reasonable prospect of conviction and whether it is in the public interest to do so.
"They could withdraw the charge, but that's not something to be done capriciously," he said. "There's an added layer of political accountability."
Mr. Skurka said the Attorney General's decision would be announced at the first court appearance, likely within several weeks of the summons. Mr. McHale said he was informed yesterday by the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga, about 50 kilometres south of Hamilton, that Mr. Fantino is expected to appear as early as Feb. 3.
If the Crown decides to pursue the charge, which can carry a sentence of up to five years in prison, the Ministry may choose to hire an independent criminal lawyer -- as it did in the case of former Attorney General Michael Bryant.
Mr. Skurka said that while the case is certainly unusual, the Attorney General "prosecutes police officers all the time," and it makes no difference that Mr. Fantino is the commissioner.
"I see no conflict of interest in terms of the Attorney General dealing with this matter," he said. "Commissioner Fantino is independent of the Attorney General's office."
Mr. Stribopolous, meantime, said it would be "a prudent move" for the Ministry to hire independent counsel. "It's a grey area, but I would think they'd bring in a special prosecutor for the sake of optics," he said, adding Mr. Fantino would benefit from such a decision.
"That way, if the charges are dropped, then it would not look like he was getting any favours. If I were Fantino, I'd want exoneration from an independent prosecutor."
Whether the Attorney General decides to hire a special prosecutor might affect Mr. Fantino's decision to stay on as commissioner, Mr. Stribopolous said. "He'll probably want to see what happens at the first court appearance," he said. "It might be unseemly to stay on as commissioner, but there's no hard and fast rule."
Said Mr. Skurka: "My view is that it is appropriate for him to stay on as commissioner because he has the right to a presumption of innocence just like anyone else."
© Copyright (c) CW Media Inc.
It never ends...ANOTHER Police officer charged...with fraud!
A Leamington police officer was charged today with fraud over $5000
Const. Paul Mensour a 14 year vetran from Leamington Police, faces a charge of fraud over $5000
Thankfully Paul gets his day in court to face this allegation!
Const. Paul Mensour a 14 year vetran from Leamington Police, faces a charge of fraud over $5000
Thankfully Paul gets his day in court to face this allegation!
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No more taxes after HST...I promise!
They had No Choice!
They wore these or I took away thier toys for 7 days!
No kidding!
"Damn Street Racer"pays with Brusies
