On Oct, 12, former OPP commissioner Julian Fantino announced he is running as a federal PC candidate in a coming byelection in Vaughan.
Fantino likes to fancy himself, "Mr. Law and Order." In his 2007 autobiography he states, "If a police chief doesn't believe in law and order then he should get another job."
During the native land occupation in Caledonia, "Mr. Law and Order" suddenly started singing a different tune called "maintaining the peace."
Yes, it's so peaceful when elderly people are terrorized and hospitalized (The Regional News This Week -- June 14, 2006), TV cameramen are assaulted and their film stolen (TRNTW -- June 14, 2006), people living adjacent to the land in dispute are intimidated and harassed (National Post -- Nov. 27, 2009), home builder Sam Gualtieri is bludgeoned with a banister (Hamilton Spectator -- Sept. 15, 2007), hydro transformers are blown up, tires and bridges are burned and visiting U.S. law officers are attacked and their vehicle stolen (TRNTW -- Aug. 26, 2006).
Wow, what an impressive record of "maintaining the peace."
The conduct of Fantino and his troops during the G20 in Toronto was just as disgraceful. You know, 19,000 police officers doing nothing to stop a hundred or so miscreants from trashing storefronts on Saturday and then arresting 900 people on Sunday for doing nothing. Brilliant strategy.
Perhaps "Mr. Law and Order" could explain why Douglas Creek Estates is still occupied and off limits to non-natives despite being purchased by the provincial government (i. e. Ontario taxpayers).
Perhaps "Mr. Law and Order" could explain why two illegal smoke shops on Haldimand County land have not been shut down.
Perhaps "Mr. Law and Order" could explain why the OPP won't venture onto Six Nations reserve without permission from Mohawk Warriors.
No wonder the usually verbose Fantino refused to speak to journalist Christie Blatchford when she was writing her book about Caledonia (Helpless -- available Oct. 29).
As police chief Fantino certainly excelled at one thing -- attracting litigation. He initiated disciplinary action against two subordinates and then did everything in his power to have the retired judge serving as adjudicator dismissed. When this failed he dropped the case (Globe and Mail -- Oct. 13, 2010). Fantino -- 0 for 1.
Dave Brown and Dana Chatwell, the Caledonia couple who sued the province and police for failing to protect them, settled out of court when the facts got too onerous and ugly (Brantford Expositor -- Jan. 2, 2010). Fantino -- 0 for 2.
Home builder Sam Gualtieri is also suing the province and police. I'm willing to bet it will also be settled out of court. That would make Fantino a perfect 0 for 3.
Oh, and that's not counting the class action suit against the police on behalf of 400 businesses and contractors in Caledonia (Canwest News Service -- Feb. 9, 2010). Also, the class-action suit on behalf of the hundreds of people incarcerated during the G20.
Thank goodness Fantino resigned before he bankrupted Ontario with any more lawsuits.
Brantford resident Chris Brennan's column appears every other Friday.