Friday, January 10, 2014
Update
First time on here in a while. I finally got the computer out of the boxes and had to go to the FIRE FOX browser instead of Internet Explorer. Sofar, it seems to work just fine. So, will probably be back on here posting articles, and maybe, raising issues on concerns.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
LeBlanc | City man said he feared going back to jail A1By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
LeBlanc | City man said he feared going back to jail
A1By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Blogger Charles LeBlanc was released from custody Friday morning after being charged by the Fredericton Police Force with creating a disturbance on Queen Street
Stephen MacGillivray/The Daily GleanerCharles LeBlanc is seen leaving the provincial courthouse after he was released with conditions Friday. "This is one of the roughest feelings I ever had in my life, the last 48 hours," said a tired-looking LeBlanc as he talked to reporters outside the Queen Street courthouse.
Provincial court Judge Denis Lordon released him on an undertaking to keep the peace, to be of good behaviour and to stop using a bullhorn in the downtown to broadcast his beef with Fredericton police.
LeBlanc is scheduled to appear in provincial court Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m. for a trial after pleading not guilty to causing a disturbance.
He was arrested by Fredericton police Wednesday for shouting through a bullhorn outside the police station. He's upset with the police because it issued a $140 municipal bylaw ticket to him for riding his bicycle on the sidewalk. The ticket was issued on the basis of a third-party complaint.
LeBlanc said he hopes he can find a lawyer to take his case. Friends of the social assistance recipient are offering to help him, LeBlanc said, but he doesn't want to represent himself in court because of the importance of his case, which he believes is a freedom of speech case.
LeBlanc claimed the ticket was instigated by Dan Bussieres, the sergeant-at-arms of the New Brunswick legislature. LeBlanc has had a running battle with Bussieres because he banned him from the legislature in 2006.
LeBlanc frequently mocks Bussieres on his blog, and he called him his sworn enemy Friday.
"I won't even entertain that question," Bussieres said Friday when asked for a response to LeBlanc's accusations. "So it's a crime to file a complaint against Charles LeBlanc?"
LeBlanc began his protest against the Fredericton Police Force for issuing the ticket because he said the force has a double standard.
He tried to lay a third-party jaywalking complaint by supplying police with video evidence of Speaker Dale Graham and deputy premier Paul Robichaud crossing the street illegally, but the force wouldn't issue them tickets.
"We can't have a two-tiered system, one for the filthy rich and one for the filthy poor. I was forced to protest on the street because they won't listen," he said.
LeBlanc claims the Fredericton Police Force is out to get him since he recorded video footage of Fredericton police officers using force to arrest a Quebec soldier in the Tannery bar district. An officer was found not guilty after trial of using excessive force.
LeBlanc is also upset about how he was treated in jail because he was refused access to his own medications.
"When you're in jail, you don't really know what's going on in the outside world. I have ADHD and I'm on medication at night to sleep, and the medical staff at the Saint John regional correction denied me from having my prescription and from having my inhaler.
"They said use another inhaler. I was in pain. I didn't sleep good ... I only slept about six hours the last 48. It wasn't good, and there will have to be an investigation."
LeBlanc said when he's rested, he will seek a meeting with provincial Health Minister Madeleine Dube to demand an investigation into the actions of medical staff at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre.
LeBlanc said he would have preferred not to have to sign an undertaking that he wouldn't use a bullhorn in the downtown area, but he feared spending more time in jail.
"The last time I was in jail was in Phoenix, Ariz., in 1978, and I think it was better in Phoenix (than) in Saint John. I'm a strong supporter of freedom of speech, but when you're told if you don't sign these papers you can be remanded in custody for another month, moi, with no medication, I would have died," he said.
"It's a scary, scary case because it could set a precedent across Canada. If I represent myself, I might blow this case."
LeBlanc has had skirmishes with police in the past. In 2006, he was arrested when he blogged at a demonstration at the Atlantica business conference in Saint John. He was acquitted of the charge.
LeBlanc also shows up frequently at public events in Fredericton, at city council and does street interviews with local politicians.
About 20 of his friends attended his Friday court appearance.
A1By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Blogger Charles LeBlanc was released from custody Friday morning after being charged by the Fredericton Police Force with creating a disturbance on Queen Street
Stephen MacGillivray/The Daily GleanerCharles LeBlanc is seen leaving the provincial courthouse after he was released with conditions Friday. "This is one of the roughest feelings I ever had in my life, the last 48 hours," said a tired-looking LeBlanc as he talked to reporters outside the Queen Street courthouse.
Provincial court Judge Denis Lordon released him on an undertaking to keep the peace, to be of good behaviour and to stop using a bullhorn in the downtown to broadcast his beef with Fredericton police.
LeBlanc is scheduled to appear in provincial court Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m. for a trial after pleading not guilty to causing a disturbance.
He was arrested by Fredericton police Wednesday for shouting through a bullhorn outside the police station. He's upset with the police because it issued a $140 municipal bylaw ticket to him for riding his bicycle on the sidewalk. The ticket was issued on the basis of a third-party complaint.
LeBlanc said he hopes he can find a lawyer to take his case. Friends of the social assistance recipient are offering to help him, LeBlanc said, but he doesn't want to represent himself in court because of the importance of his case, which he believes is a freedom of speech case.
LeBlanc claimed the ticket was instigated by Dan Bussieres, the sergeant-at-arms of the New Brunswick legislature. LeBlanc has had a running battle with Bussieres because he banned him from the legislature in 2006.
LeBlanc frequently mocks Bussieres on his blog, and he called him his sworn enemy Friday.
"I won't even entertain that question," Bussieres said Friday when asked for a response to LeBlanc's accusations. "So it's a crime to file a complaint against Charles LeBlanc?"
LeBlanc began his protest against the Fredericton Police Force for issuing the ticket because he said the force has a double standard.
He tried to lay a third-party jaywalking complaint by supplying police with video evidence of Speaker Dale Graham and deputy premier Paul Robichaud crossing the street illegally, but the force wouldn't issue them tickets.
"We can't have a two-tiered system, one for the filthy rich and one for the filthy poor. I was forced to protest on the street because they won't listen," he said.
LeBlanc claims the Fredericton Police Force is out to get him since he recorded video footage of Fredericton police officers using force to arrest a Quebec soldier in the Tannery bar district. An officer was found not guilty after trial of using excessive force.
LeBlanc is also upset about how he was treated in jail because he was refused access to his own medications.
"When you're in jail, you don't really know what's going on in the outside world. I have ADHD and I'm on medication at night to sleep, and the medical staff at the Saint John regional correction denied me from having my prescription and from having my inhaler.
"They said use another inhaler. I was in pain. I didn't sleep good ... I only slept about six hours the last 48. It wasn't good, and there will have to be an investigation."
LeBlanc said when he's rested, he will seek a meeting with provincial Health Minister Madeleine Dube to demand an investigation into the actions of medical staff at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre.
LeBlanc said he would have preferred not to have to sign an undertaking that he wouldn't use a bullhorn in the downtown area, but he feared spending more time in jail.
"The last time I was in jail was in Phoenix, Ariz., in 1978, and I think it was better in Phoenix (than) in Saint John. I'm a strong supporter of freedom of speech, but when you're told if you don't sign these papers you can be remanded in custody for another month, moi, with no medication, I would have died," he said.
"It's a scary, scary case because it could set a precedent across Canada. If I represent myself, I might blow this case."
LeBlanc has had skirmishes with police in the past. In 2006, he was arrested when he blogged at a demonstration at the Atlantica business conference in Saint John. He was acquitted of the charge.
LeBlanc also shows up frequently at public events in Fredericton, at city council and does street interviews with local politicians.
About 20 of his friends attended his Friday court appearance.
Government may bypass FSIN, Premier says
By JASON WARICKAND DAVID HUTTON, The StarPhoenix September 16, 2011 •Story•Photos ( 1 )•Video ( 1 ) ICON
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations interim Chief Morley Watson speaks to the media about SIGA and FSIN issues at the FSIN offices on Packham Avenue on Thursday.Photograph by: Gord Waldner, The Starphoenix, The StarPhoenixThe provincial government may start to bypass the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) and deal more directly with tribal councils and individual First Nations “who are doing great things,” in light of recent revelations about the FSIN and its Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), Premier Brad Wall said Friday.
“What we’ve seen in the last number of months at the FSIN, first with the chief (Guy Lonechild) situation and now with SIGA, gives this government pause,” Wall told reporters Friday in Saskatoon.
“At the end of the day, we want results for First Nations people. . . . Perhaps the best way to achieve that is to work directly with the First Nations and tribal councils, and less with the FSIN.”
Wall said he has “some real concerns” about Edward “Dutch” Lerat’s continued involvement with SIGA and will be writing to ask officials to reconsider who’s in charge of that file.
“It just isn’t giving anyone any confidence,” Wall said.
Wall said there are also concerns about recent reports of heavy administration costs for a SIGA fund meant to benefit First Nations sports and culture programs and a questionable insurance settlement SIGA accepted following a $1.2-million ATM scam.
“I think we have some real concerns about what’s happening at SIGA in a general sense,” Wall said.
“Obviously, given the events of the past in this province in SIGA, we have a real concern about the people the FSIN has assigned to basically be in charge of the file. I think a lot of people in the province would have that concern as well.”
Wall noted the five-year gaming agreement between the province and the FSIN is up for renewal before the end of this calendar year. Wall said if his party remains in power after this fall’s election, it will be “asking some very pointed questions.” Wall added that’s already happening to an extent.
“(The government is) asking some very pointed questions about where the dollars are going and about whether or not this is the right action to take, to have Mr. Lerat, who obviously has a history with respect to SIGA.”
Wall repeated his position that the FSIN is “not a government in and of themselves. They are an association.”
Federal Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan was not available Friday to discuss the FSIN, but his office issued the following statement: “Our department is monitoring this situation and we will ensure that the terms and conditions of any funding agreements we have with this organization are respected.”
The StarPhoenix revealed this week that Lerat, now an FSIN vice-chief, has been active on SIGA policy matters as recently as this week, even though he still has an open lawsuit against SIGA and the FSIN. The wrongful dismissal suit stems from his firing as SIGA CEO in 2000 after hundreds of thousands of dollars could not be traced.
FSIN vice-chief Morley Watson was asked about Lerat’s involvement at a news conference Thursday. Watson, who is serving as interim chief of the FSIN following the recent buyout of former chief Lonechild, said Watson assured him the lawsuit would be withdrawn. As of Friday afternoon, however, the lawsuit remained active at Saskatoon’s Court of Queen’s Bench. Lerat’s Regina lawyer could not be reached for comment.
© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix
Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Government+bypass+FSIN+premier+says/5416387/story.html#ixzz1YEQvkz8M
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations interim Chief Morley Watson speaks to the media about SIGA and FSIN issues at the FSIN offices on Packham Avenue on Thursday.Photograph by: Gord Waldner, The Starphoenix, The StarPhoenixThe provincial government may start to bypass the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) and deal more directly with tribal councils and individual First Nations “who are doing great things,” in light of recent revelations about the FSIN and its Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), Premier Brad Wall said Friday.
“What we’ve seen in the last number of months at the FSIN, first with the chief (Guy Lonechild) situation and now with SIGA, gives this government pause,” Wall told reporters Friday in Saskatoon.
“At the end of the day, we want results for First Nations people. . . . Perhaps the best way to achieve that is to work directly with the First Nations and tribal councils, and less with the FSIN.”
Wall said he has “some real concerns” about Edward “Dutch” Lerat’s continued involvement with SIGA and will be writing to ask officials to reconsider who’s in charge of that file.
“It just isn’t giving anyone any confidence,” Wall said.
Wall said there are also concerns about recent reports of heavy administration costs for a SIGA fund meant to benefit First Nations sports and culture programs and a questionable insurance settlement SIGA accepted following a $1.2-million ATM scam.
“I think we have some real concerns about what’s happening at SIGA in a general sense,” Wall said.
“Obviously, given the events of the past in this province in SIGA, we have a real concern about the people the FSIN has assigned to basically be in charge of the file. I think a lot of people in the province would have that concern as well.”
Wall noted the five-year gaming agreement between the province and the FSIN is up for renewal before the end of this calendar year. Wall said if his party remains in power after this fall’s election, it will be “asking some very pointed questions.” Wall added that’s already happening to an extent.
“(The government is) asking some very pointed questions about where the dollars are going and about whether or not this is the right action to take, to have Mr. Lerat, who obviously has a history with respect to SIGA.”
Wall repeated his position that the FSIN is “not a government in and of themselves. They are an association.”
Federal Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan was not available Friday to discuss the FSIN, but his office issued the following statement: “Our department is monitoring this situation and we will ensure that the terms and conditions of any funding agreements we have with this organization are respected.”
The StarPhoenix revealed this week that Lerat, now an FSIN vice-chief, has been active on SIGA policy matters as recently as this week, even though he still has an open lawsuit against SIGA and the FSIN. The wrongful dismissal suit stems from his firing as SIGA CEO in 2000 after hundreds of thousands of dollars could not be traced.
FSIN vice-chief Morley Watson was asked about Lerat’s involvement at a news conference Thursday. Watson, who is serving as interim chief of the FSIN following the recent buyout of former chief Lonechild, said Watson assured him the lawsuit would be withdrawn. As of Friday afternoon, however, the lawsuit remained active at Saskatoon’s Court of Queen’s Bench. Lerat’s Regina lawyer could not be reached for comment.
© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix
Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Government+bypass+FSIN+premier+says/5416387/story.html#ixzz1YEQvkz8M
Friday, September 16, 2011
Blogger pleads not guilty to disturbance charge - New Brunswick - CBC News Posted: Sept. 16, 2011 7:41 AT Last Update Sept 16, 2011 11:30 AM
Fredericton blogger jailed again over disturbance
External Links
Charles LeBlanc's blog
Charles LeBlanc after being released. Jacques Poitras/CBCFredericton blogger Charles LeBlanc pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge of causing a disturbance and will stand trial in provincial court on Oct. 28.
LeBlanc was arrested for causing a disturbance outside of the city’s police headquarters on Wednesday and had been in provincial jail in Saint John since that time.
LeBlanc was released from custody Friday after agreeing to a condition that he not use a bullhorn or "voice-amplification device" in the downtown area of the city.
LeBlanc said he agreed to the condition because he was deprived of an asthma inhaler and other medication while in jail.
"Freedom of speech, I've always been a strong advocate, but when you're told if you don't sign these papers, you could be remanded in custody for another month, moi, without medication, I would have died," said LeBlanc Friday outside of court.
LeBlanc, who writes a blog on politics and social justice issues, had received warnings from the police that people were complaining about his use of a bullhorn outside the police headquarters.
The blogger has been protesting a ticket he received for riding his bike on the sidewalk in Fredericton.
Fredericton Police Const. Rick Mooney confirmed the blogger was arrested because of the complaints from people in a nearby office building.
"We had a number of complaints in relation to this in the area here, so we conducted an investigation and acted on that information,” Mooney said.
LeBlanc, however, is convinced that ticket was related to his long-running feud with officials at the New Brunswick legislature and the city police.
One municipal councillor is questioning the arrest of the well-known blogger.
Tim Scammell, a village councillor in New Maryland and friend of LeBlanc’s, said he's wondering why the blogger was arrested for loudly complaining about the Fredericton police force.
"I think he should be allowed to say what he wants to say, wherever he is,” Scammell said.
“As much as we may or may not agree with it, or find the method annoying, that's his rights."
LeBlanc has had a controversial past. He was banned from the legislature in 2006.
And LeBlanc made international headlines in November 2006 when he was acquitted on an obstruction charge.
He had been arrested when he was blogging coverage of a demonstration at the Atlantica business conference in Saint John in June 2006.
External Links
Charles LeBlanc's blog
Charles LeBlanc after being released. Jacques Poitras/CBCFredericton blogger Charles LeBlanc pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge of causing a disturbance and will stand trial in provincial court on Oct. 28.
LeBlanc was arrested for causing a disturbance outside of the city’s police headquarters on Wednesday and had been in provincial jail in Saint John since that time.
LeBlanc was released from custody Friday after agreeing to a condition that he not use a bullhorn or "voice-amplification device" in the downtown area of the city.
LeBlanc said he agreed to the condition because he was deprived of an asthma inhaler and other medication while in jail.
"Freedom of speech, I've always been a strong advocate, but when you're told if you don't sign these papers, you could be remanded in custody for another month, moi, without medication, I would have died," said LeBlanc Friday outside of court.
LeBlanc, who writes a blog on politics and social justice issues, had received warnings from the police that people were complaining about his use of a bullhorn outside the police headquarters.
The blogger has been protesting a ticket he received for riding his bike on the sidewalk in Fredericton.
Fredericton Police Const. Rick Mooney confirmed the blogger was arrested because of the complaints from people in a nearby office building.
"We had a number of complaints in relation to this in the area here, so we conducted an investigation and acted on that information,” Mooney said.
LeBlanc, however, is convinced that ticket was related to his long-running feud with officials at the New Brunswick legislature and the city police.
One municipal councillor is questioning the arrest of the well-known blogger.
Tim Scammell, a village councillor in New Maryland and friend of LeBlanc’s, said he's wondering why the blogger was arrested for loudly complaining about the Fredericton police force.
"I think he should be allowed to say what he wants to say, wherever he is,” Scammell said.
“As much as we may or may not agree with it, or find the method annoying, that's his rights."
LeBlanc has had a controversial past. He was banned from the legislature in 2006.
And LeBlanc made international headlines in November 2006 when he was acquitted on an obstruction charge.
He had been arrested when he was blogging coverage of a demonstration at the Atlantica business conference in Saint John in June 2006.
CTV Atlantic - Residents flee from fire at Fredericton apartment building - CTV News
CTV Atlantic - Residents flee from fire at Fredericton apartment building - CTV News This is very Sad. especially when we are coming into cooler time of the season. My prayers are with the Injured, Homeless Firefighters, and all who have been in any way affected by this tragic situation.
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