LETTER

Ombudsman's Office is empty

 

The Ombudsman's Office is empty; the watchdogs are gone. Who now is to protect us against inefficiency, incompetence, prevarication, abuse of power, etc. on the part of our elected officials and the city's administrative bureaucracy?

The experienced professionals in the Ombudsman's Office could be relied upon to recognize cover-ups for what they were. They were unpaid, independent and fearless. Our elected officials and their cohorts were so embarrassed at having their failures revealed to the public that they set out to discredit the Ombudsman's Office. It may not have been proof of culpability, but it sure had the stench of revenge. They had one of their own do a study of the performance of the Ombudsman's Office and, wouldn't you know it, she found the Office wanting. That called for a public upbraiding and defaming of our guardians by Council and an absolute refusal on the part of its spineless members to allow a public meeting between the two bodies. Members of the Ombudsman's Office could not stand to watch this rape of justice and sound governance. They resigned to manifest their horror.

What we should do is remember each and every member of Council who refused to hear the Ombudsman's defence of his Office's work, for they, whether or not they are new to Council, are guilty of a serious assault on democracy and unworthy of the position they hold. There was a matter of principle to be upheld: accountability. They failed miserably and should be ashamed.

Ronald Lefebvre
Aylmer