Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino is now officially charged with influencing or attempting to influence elected officials in Caledonia, Ont., site of the long-standing native occupation. Justice of the Peace David Brown yesterday "issued process" in Ontario Court in nearby Cayuga, which means a summons has been issued against the OPP boss. He, or his lawyer, must appear in court on Feb. 3.
The charge was privately laid by activist Gary McHale, a long-time critic of how the provincial force has policed the almost four-year-old dispute on the former Douglas Creek Estates, and a leading organizer of rallies in the small town just south of Hamilton.
At the centre of the complaint is an April 7, 2007 e-mail Commissioner Fantino sent Caledonia Mayor Marie Trainer and her councillors, warning them if they continued to show support for Mr. McHale, he would hold them responsible, support any OPP officer who sued council in the civil courts, bill the county for any extra policing costs and "strongly recommend" the OPP not renew its policing contract.