Dear Editor:
One could not miss the worldwide TV reports of a "pot-pourri" of misbehaviours of a prominent public servant - Mayor Rob Ford of Toronto. He made all sorts of denials, admissions, and apologies for behaviours totally unacceptable of anyone. He made a number of accusations towards some people, but the most disturbing of all -he accused reporter Daniel Dale of taking questionable photos of his children. These words drove Mr. Dale to file a law suit of Defamation of Character against Ford, and the police having to check Dale's cell phone at which time they found nothing questionable. (Imagine - the innocent have to prove their innocence, now!) Ford apologized and Dale will not pursue the court case. (He may regret this because doubt may have been cast as according to victims' web sites, there are people who love to believe vicious gossip. A victim could think he is cleared until he is refused for volunteer work, for example.) One Toronto Council member spoke out: Quote: " Councillor Pam McConnell was on the receiving end of a Ford apology - after he knocked her over in council chambers - that she felt came up short as well. "The mayor has become very reckless both physically and verbally, around smearing or hurting or endangering people's lives," she said. "He did that to (Dale) with his words and he did that to me with his actions," she said.
Defaming people's character publicly, or spreading malicious gossip behind people's back, fabricating damaging stories with no basis whatsoever, are actionable under the Criminal Code of Canada if enough evidence can be acquired. These behaviours can also be reasons to file a civil suit for millions in damages. We think we live in a true democracy, while our past and present history shows us that so many innocent people have been the victims of ignorant and malicious people, who appear to pass for good citizens. The tax payers of this country have had to pay for damages to victims of false accusations and imprisonment. Even millions of dollars does not compensate for the destruction of innocent people's reputations. We have well publicized cases where accusers recanted, or there was no evidence of wrongdoing, or DNA proved the victims to be completely innocent. We all need to speak out against these injustices, and we need to tighten our lax defamation laws to rightfully punish those who open their mouths to violate the laws on not bearing false witness towards their neighbours.
T. Lefebvre Prince, Yorkton, Sask.
