To the editor:
Two hours before my scheduled post budget public consultation deputation on Feb. 12, Thunder Bay city clerk John Hannam advised me by email, that “a trespass order has been issued against you, prohibiting you from entering on City Hall property.”
The clerk’s reasoning are as follows:
“This action is taken in response to the frequent and abusive emails sent to myself, members of Council, other members of City Administration, and others on February 12(?), 2014; as well as your behaviour during recent attendance at City Hall including but not limited to recent deputations and interactions with staff, members of Council and Administration.”
Requesting specifics I was provided this by the city clerk.
“Mr. Wojak; the emails referred to would be the at least 56 emails sent to myself, council and other on Feb 11. The 'incidents' would be your recent deputations in which your language and demeanor was often disrespectful of Council and Administration, your interference with removal from city hall of another member of the public, and complaints relayed to my office about comments made by you while in the gallery that offended others seated there.”
Yes, 56 emails during a 6.5-hour budget deliberation the mayor himself read and used to try and reduce the municipal tax levy to $0.9 million, that suggested borrowing $2.5 million for the EIRP contribution, rather than a lump sum bill to the residents for this year.
Council debated that idea sent by email by myself, for one hour that evening. An editor emailed me, stating that I should get a twitter account.
So how do I fight the cabal at city hall on this trespass notice?
I feel the notice is breaching s.2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees my freedom of expression, and were justified in a free and democratic society.
Do I need to apply to the courts to rule if my Charter rights were breached?
My wife Valerie Wojak in a letter to the city manager Feb.24, 2014 asked that the Trespass Notice be revoked and that the city create the position of an ombudsman ,where complaints against the City can be made. Being the professional, the city manager is, they have not responded as of yet, to her letter.
An email from myself to my MPP’s office requested:” We need an independent ombudsman,how can our mpp's office help?"
Well I never realized how quickly an MPP works on an issue and I was elated to hear in an announcement on March 06, that legislation is being proposed to expand the mandate of Ontario’s Ombudsman’s Office to include complaints against municipalities to make them more accountable and transparent.
City council should pass a resolution in support of this proposed legislation and forward it to our local MPPs, maybe the city clerk can help draft it.
In the meantime I feel the trespass notice against myself be revoked, until there is due process in the City of Thunder Bay.
Henry Wojak,
Thunder Bay
