Letter: 'This Is Ridiculous.' It Really Is.
Owen Sound resident Sasha Fernando writes that good governance requires good judgment, and questions the power imbalance on display in the local case of a student facing a City bylaw charge.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
“This is ridiculous.” In this case, it really is.
Whether Sherry, the nursing student facing a bylaw charge the City is taking all the way to trial, is ultimately found guilty or not is for the court to decide.
But taxpayers should be continuing to ask questions. Why has a teenie-tiny, itsy-bitsy single cardboard box escalated into a full court trial?
Every hour spent by by-law officers, prosecutors, court staff, and judges is funded by taxpayers. Is this really the best use of those resources when our community faces more pressing challenges?
Sherry is representing herself because there is no duty counsel for provincial offences and Legal Aid does not cover matters like this. The City is represented by paid professionals. She is not. Regardless of the outcome, that imbalance, and the burden of preparing a defence while completing nursing school, should give pause.
Can no one just cut her some slack? She is a student!
Good government requires good judgment.
Just because enforcement is possible does not mean prosecution is always the right choice. Every day, officials exercise discretion. Police do not issue a ticket for every rolling stop. By law officers do not prosecute every overgrown lawn.
The public expects common sense, fairness, and proportionality.
Meanwhile, there are larger issues demanding attention. Public garbage downtown? Litter remains a frequent complaint, and residents continue to raise concerns about the City’s overall approach to waste management. Rather than investing time and money prosecuting a cardboard box, perhaps those resources would be better spent addressing the problems that affect the community every day.
I have personally observed what appeared to be City staff dumping personal garbage into public bins. If I had known this case was coming, I would have documented it. If that practice is permitted, residents deserve to know the policy. If it is not, then the rules should apply equally to everyone.
Whatever the court ultimately decides, this case is obviously more than just a cardboard box.
It is about proportionality, discretion, and whether our municipal government is using its authority and tax dollars with common sense.
Again, to reiterate what Sherry said… “This is ridiculous.”
Sincerely,
Sasha Fernando
Owen Sound
Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
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I agree with Diane Ferguson, a complete waste of resources. Yes I know City Hall has to support their employees(bylaw enforcement) but this could have been settled out of court. A reminder to people to take the labels off of the recycles would have gone a long way in solving this. Take the box back to the address on the label and explain where it was found and suggest that labels be taken off if it is an issue of people trashing through recyling bins in that area. I am hoping that a local lawyer will take this on pro bono and help her. It would be great for the lawyers business, showing that he/she is community minded and would help our victim
Ditto ditto ditto, ridiculous is not even strong enough. I feel ashamed and embarrassed as a citizen.