MPPs raise Standard incident with minister
Three of Niagara’s MPPs raised the issue of Niagara Region seizing a reporter’s computer and notes with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs Monday.
St. Catharines Liberal MPP Jim Bradley, Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates and Niagara West– Glanbrook MPP Sam Oosterhoff all expressed concern over last Thursday’s incident with Minister Bill Mauro.
The trio followed Welland NDP MPP Cindy Forster’s complaints about the incident to Mauro and to provincial Ombudsman Paul Dube.
Mauro’s initial response to Forster’s office was to say he could not comment on a specific incident and that complaints about a municipality should be brought to the attention of the municipality.
However, Bradley said hearing from three area MPPs drove home how serious the incident was.
“I think hearing from all MPPs, from all parties, made it clear,” Bradley said. “(The minister) now thinks this is an issue for the ombudsman, which is there to investigate municipalities.”
On Thursday, Standard reporter Bill Sawchuk was ejected from regional headquarters.
Staff also unlawfully seized his notebook and laptop computer. In addition to speaking directly to the minister, Gates took to the floor of the legislature to express his concerns about the incident and the minister’s response.
“I don’t believe that anyone who has read the story or seen the photo of Bill Sawchuk being removed from the Region by the police is comfortable with what happened at that council meeting — and that includes many regional councillors themselves,” said Gates. “The response from the minister basically says nothing — it’s clear he doesn’t care as deeply about the protection of the press here in Niagara as we do.”
Gates said he expects more from the minister and that “the ministry should be stepping up and making a stand here to say that this can’t happen in Niagara and, frankly, that it can’t happen in Ontario.
“We rely on a free and vibrant press to keep local governments accountable. We have some of the best reporters you can find here in Niagara and throwing them out of meetings will not stop their work — no one should be treated this way.
“I also believe that the Ombudsman should be investigating this incident.”