Paul Durber's response to the Citizen Editorial on the Ottawa Witness Group

In its editorial in the City section of November 10th, the Citizen has set out its views about the Ottawa Witness Group. While the editorial brings our Group’s activities to the attention of readers, it misses the main point of our work and does not take up the issue that residents of Ottawa should care about – the thorny question of holding police accountable for how they exercise their power.

Additionally, the editorial contains a number of inaccuracies that deserve comment. The Ottawa Witness Group has never “pretend[ed] that every demonstrator is a harmless raging granny….” It is also not true that our Annual Report makes no comment about the behaviour of demonstrators. A more careful reading of the first page of the Report would have brought out the phrase “the use of tasers against peaceful protesters.”

The editorial unfortunately descends into personalities, which does nothing to highlight issues. For example, Mr. Baglow – who is one of members – is characterized as both “ubiquitous” and “one of Ottawa’s best-known political activists”. It is not noted that he is the retired Executive Vice-President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. It also just happens that Mr. Baglow was not one of our initial founders, as the editorial says. (We would have welcomed him earlier!)

Your readers should see past the allegation of “bias” to the issues themselves, none of which the Citizen canvasses. The police use force in the name of voters, who also provide the resources for the essential and difficult work of law enforcement. All residents should take an interest in this work, and ask how it is being carried out – for it is done in their name.

Bringing police forces tow account to their communities for this power is a difficult and sensitive matter. It deserves a good deal of public debate, which our Group hopes to stimulate. Unfortunately your editorial does nothing to underscore the importance of that public awareness and the need to strengthen institutions of accountability, from complaints processes to Police Services Boards. We hope that readers will go directly to our Annual Report for that discussion – at Witnessreport July 16 2002 .

Paul Durber

Ottawa Witness Group