Posted by [EMAIL PROTECTED] : From: Ann Pohl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Ipperwash Bill Defeated: Coalition Responds ****************************** December 9, 1999 - Media Alert ****************************** ********************************************* Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash Postal: Box 111, Station C, Toronto, Ont., M6J 3M7 Website: http://www.web.net/~inquiry Telephone: 416-537-3520 Fax: 416-538-2559 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *************************** Press Conference: Coalition's National and International Strategy with Lawyer Mary Eberts, and Harry Kits from Citizens for Public Justice Friday, December 10, 1999: 10:00 am Media Studio, Main Legislative Building, Queen's Park Tories Defeat "The Truth About Ipperwash Act" on First Reading ~ But the Coalition Won't Give Up - Announces National & International Strategies ~ This morning Conservative party members speedily defeated a Private Member's Bill calling for an Inquiry into Ipperwash. Sponsored by Liberal MPP Gerry Phillips and strongly supported by the New Democrat caucus at Queen's Park, the Bill was aptly named "The Truth About Ipperwash Act". It had been deftly worded to accommodate Tory concerns about prejudicing other cases before the courts. Still, only one Tory MPP could bring himself to 'do the right thing': Garry Guzzo, who represents an Ottawa riding. It was absolutely clear that Mr. Guzzo, a former Judge, 'broke ranks' on this matter as Tory and Tory stood to vote the Bill down. "This is just a continuation of the Ontario Tory strategy to delay and obstruct the emergence of the truth about Ipperwash. At the very last minute, the Tories used their legislative majority to switch the timing for discussion of this Bill, so that the Press and our members missed the debate," said Ann Pohl, a Coalition Spokesperson who was alerted about the time change 40 minutes before debate began and in attendance. "We admire the ongoing efforts of the Opposition Parties at Queen's Park to get at the truth about Ipperwash. Yet, it is totally clear that the Harris government will not allow a public investigation into why the September 6, 1995 events at Ipperwash Park went so terribly wrong. We are relying on national and international strategies at this point." The Ontario government has already spent AT LEAST $2,000,000 on the Ipperwash Cover-Up alone - exclusive of the costs of the associated criminal cases. By defeating the Bill, the Ontario Tories have ensured that this fiscal drain will become a hemorrhage. Costs related to the Civil Suit against the Premier and others, for Dudley George's "Wrongful Death", will skyrocket in the next few months as the Premier's new outside lawyer, Eleanore Cronk, attempts to continue Tory delaying tactics in relation to the oral Examination for Discovery. Cronk normally bills in excess of $400/hr or $4000 per day in court. At stake is not just the misuse of taxpayers' money. The Coalition is terribly concerned about the nature of state response to democratic protest across North America: Ipperwash, student and public service demonstrations in Ontario in 1996, APEC in 1997, and recently the WTO meeting. Combined with the threat of violence associated with growing anti-Aboriginal rights backlash across Canada, our members feel we are involved in what may be the fight of our lives: opposing the downward slide in official respect for civil and political human rights. We will not tolerate Premier Harris curtailing public investigation and debate of government actions in the name of efficiency. We WILL NOT give up on the idea that we are entitled to a full, impartial, judicial Public Inquiry into all the circumstances surrounding the death of Dudley George during the Ipperwash Affair. - 30 - For more information: Ann Pohl - 416-537-3520 Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<> Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<>
