- Matt Gurney: The legal perils of attacking city hall
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There are strange rumblings out of Toronto city hall. Toronto's most left-leaning politicians have approved a lawsuit against a newspaper, and surprisingly, it's not against us here at the Post. The city's general manager of solid waste took exception to a recent Toronto Star story claiming solid waste collection was suffering from serious flaws. The city is funding his suit.
Setting aside the oddity of Toronto's politicians suing their cheerleaders at the Star, there are serious issues at play here. Despite having recently voted down a proposal that would have let city councillors sue citizens on the taxpayers' dime, it is still permissible for the city to fund lawsuits approved by various officials at city hall. What could be more chilling to free speech than a thin-skinned politician or bureaucrat with a taxpayer-financed legal team? Remember, folks – even asking reasonable, fair, and completely valid questions might bankrupt you, if you can't afford to pay for your defence.
An Internet Fisherman who uses barbless hooks and this one dimensional world as a way of releasing the frustrations of daily life. This is my pond. You are welcome only if you are civil and contribute something to the ambiance. I reserve the right to ignore/publish/reject anon comments.
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