Dear Editor,

In February 2018 there was an article by Kevin Donovan, Chief Investigative Reporter - Toronto Star. This article expressed that there have been, and continues to be, abuses by upper management in the Attorney General's Office. In some instants "bureaucrats "doctored" the legal opinions of skilled government lawyers but kept their names on the opinions. Also, complainants say they were ordered to give a certain opinion about the risk of taking an action just to please another government department or to respond to "political sensitivities." The aforementioned and other statements are from a "secret" report done by Leslie MacLeod "a lawyer and former senior Ontario bureaucrat" entitled "Turning the Ship Around." These are very serious matters for all Ontarians.

The Attorney General's Office is to be the safeguard of law and justice for Ontario. This office, according to the government web-site, "is to oversee that all legislative enactments are in accordance with principles of natural justice and civil rights... This is obviously an important and broad area of responsibility. The second aspect of this responsibility is to advise on the constitutionality and legality of legislation," and the web-site goes on to state:

"... The Attorney General's authority, therefore, is not only to conduct litigation in cases directly affecting the government or its agencies but also to litigate cases where there is a clear matter of public interest or public rights at stake.

This has been characterized as a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the public interest is well and independently represented. ...A key component of the Attorney General's responsibilities to ensure the administration of justice in the province is the administration of the courts and as a result the responsibility for maintaining liaison with the judiciary.

Given the fundamental importance of the independence of the judiciary, the responsibility for courts administration is often a very sensitive and delicate issue. Great care and respect for the principles of judicial independence must be exercised in this area."

With this report; with the many questionable things that are happening when government officials violate the Criminal Code of Canada under the guise of legislative authority; with government passing unconstitutional legislation; and with some of the questionable rulings coming from the courts – how can Ontarians have any faith in government or the justice system in Ontario? No wonder government has kept this report secret.

With a new government coming into power what kind of legislation will they enact? Will it be a continuation of what has and is happening now – or will they make the decision to uphold the constitution and protect the people from what would seem a systemic abuse of power?

Elizabeth F. Marshall
Grey County