National Hero Remembered
A great number of years have gone by, and by most Canadians a man was forgotten for the sacrifices he made for the common good of all Canadians.
Thousands of destitute Canadians looked to this man in hopes that his victory might change the course of history for the crimes perpetrated against them.
This courageous young man was a pioneer in fighting for justice in Canada, breaking ground in a field that to this day remains a battle between David and Goliath.
The outcome however was much different that that of David and Goliath, because in this case and in every case since Goliath remains victorious.
The man who was never honored nor thanked for his efforts was none other than Blair Ross, the man who spent 64 days on a hunger strike in front of the Prince Edward Island legislature to draw attention to widespread complaints about the island's Workers Compensation Board.
The Tory government of Premier Pat Binns ordered Blair and his small tent city forcibly removed by police on July 18 after he had spent 64 days leafleting, giving interviews and generating embarrassing publicity about the heavy-handed tactics of the board.
The shutting down of the protest was reminiscent of the manner in which the former Tory government of Brian Mulroney had peace protesters forcibly removed in the late 1980s after they had camped for several months on Parliament Hill.
Leo Broderick of the Council of Canadians said “Peaceful protesting is a legal right guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and under the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights,"
However in the end Goliath the almighty always gets his way.
Below is a copy of what was posted in the Charlottetown Guardian
Charlottetown Guardian names wrongly
arrested man P.E.I. newsmaker of the year
Charlottetown - Blair Ross, the man who spent 64 days on a hunger strike in front of the Prince Edward Island legislature last year protesting practices of the island's Workers Compensation Board, is suing the City of Charlottetown for wrongful arrest, unlawful detention and assault by police.
Ross was acquitted of trespassing last Nov. 21 after a judge ruled that Charlottetown police exceeded their authority by removing him from the legislature, instead of confining their activities to removing a tent that he had erected on the grounds.
A statement filed in court by Ross claims $10,000 in punitive and other damages, plus legal costs.
The Charlottetown Guardian, not normally a champion of workers' issues, recently named Ross its newsmaker of the year. The paper published an editorial sympathetic to his cause at the time of his arrest.
Ross accuses police of using "non-existent legislation" to arrest him, bruising his elbows and wrists, placing him in solitary confinement, stripping him, forcing him to change clothes and preventing him from contacting his doctor, family or lawyer.
The conclusion to this story also comes from the Charlottetown Guardian.
Supreme Court of Canada dismisses appeal by Blair Ross
Island digest
The Supreme Court of Canada this week dismissed an appeal by Blair Ross of a P.E.I. Supreme Court decision in which the court threw out an action Ross had filed against the City of Charlottetown over a series of events seven years ago.
Ross had commenced an action against the city over its decision to evict him from a tent he erected on the grounds of Province House in 2001 to protest certain rules at the provincial Workers Compensation Board.
The P.E.I. Supreme Court threw his case out this past spring because he had failed to pay approximately $5,000 in earlier court costs (25/10/08)
In closing I would like to say that it is a sad day in Canada, when the solution to the problem Blair Ross was fighting for was simply justice for injured workers. One can only assume the Government of Canada, the Provinces of Canada have in the past, and intend to continue in the future to maintain a policy of using labor in Canada as a disposable commodity.
Goliath is victorious again, with a 0% losses on record. if this makes you angry, call your MP today, as they are all on a holiday at your expense, they have the time to listen.
WCBCANADA STAFF WRITER
