Celebrating Our Past, Preparing For Our Future

At 147 years Canada stands amongst nations of the world as a teenager, its future shining with an abundance of hope and promise. We have not known anguish or struggle over ideology, setting brother against brother as have our neighbours. Nor have we been exposed to the terror of invasion by foreigners as those lands from which many Canadians find a link through ancestry. Our growth and gradual maturity has been peaceful, built on discussion and debate rather than anger or violence.

Although our past has travelled down roads of peace we had not ignored the call for help from others. The two great wars saw Canadians proud and strong standing alongside other nations willing to sacrifice life for the ideals of freedom and dignity. More recently our brave men and women travelled to lands where democracy and freedom as daily concepts had no existence or chance of practice. So it can't be said that in our youth we have not known sacrifice or experienced the pain of loss.

No Canadian had known how it would feel to wear the yoke of slavery. Individual freedom has been an almost presumed code of existence. Yet another form of slavery had not escaped our society, and we still deal with it today. The notion that race, religion or gender can be identifying marks may seem repulsive to many yet those marks still exist.

Although Canadians had not taken part in the horrors of slavery and willingly opened their doors to those brave enough to travel the dangerous road toward freedom, we still fought with the notion of branding. Five courageous women, Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Nellie McClung, Louis McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards, later to be known as The Famous Five, dared to question the ideal that a person was not a person, unless he was a man.

These five Canadian women asked the Supreme Court of Canada to answer the question, “Does the word 'Persons' in Section 24 of the British North America Act, 1867, include female persons,” in the case Edwards v. Canada (Attorney General). The Supreme Court on the 24^th of April in 1928 summarised its unanimous decision that women were not such “persons.” Later on October 18^th 1929 the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overturned the judgement. What these five courageous women did brought about change in the Canadian judicial approach to the Canadian constitution that has come to be known as the “living tree doctrine.”

As it came to be known the “Persons' Case” also had important ramifications for women's rights and women had never stopped demanding equality. From women's rights to human rights Canada has found individuals willing to stand against the flow and dare to provide reasons to change. John Peters Humphrey authored the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and on December 10^th 1948 the General Assembly unanimously adopted the declaration.

All of humanity had witnessed the horror of war and the unspeakable atrocities committed by man against man. It was not only a time for healing, it was a time for change. Mrs. Roosevelt dubbed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the “International Magna Carta of all mankind.” In 1882 Canada adopted its own legal framework to protect and defend basic human rights of all Canadians with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Canadians have been willing to show that change is the nature of humanity and we have provided examples of true pride in our past. Yet it is the future that has to be thought about, as our recent past has not had the same dignity. Our true independence relies on the dependance on all Canadians. We still have to deal with big issues in relation to equality of all, but as individuals it is our home base that holds the true relevance to each of us.

It is on that level that we need to care enough to stand up for the ideals expressed by the few courageous individuals in our past. There are weaknesses of the human spirit that cannot be eradicated on the whole but to simply accept that fact and do nothing about it is simple cowardice. Environmental issues, although clouded at times, are very real and not simply play things for hippy activists. If we are not willing to care for the soil we walk on, the air we need to breathe or the water that sustains all life today then what are we handing down to our children and grandchildren?

Accepting things simply because fear of raising one's voice is too great to overcome will only in the end bring about an erosion of individual freedom. In St. Catharines, Ontario self-imposed censorship has reached a level where greed and corruption are the true masters of the future. It is easy to claim that one individual, any one individual, cannot bring about change. Yet looking at a crowd what do you see, it is a gathering of single individuals willing to stand together for an ideal.

Whether we remember the Famous Five who stood against all that was accepted in their time, or remember the eloquence of thought of someone like John Peters Humphrey, it is the individual human spirit that is worth celebrating. Mary Ann Shadd, editor of The Provincial Freeman first printed in March 1853, provided a motto for her life, her work and the reason behind her courage, “Self-reliance is the true road to independence.” As we celebrate Canada Day these words need to be held tightly to our spirit. It is the individual who is part of a whole that provides strength to the whole. Our future depends on each of us, and each of us are equally responsible for our combined future.

Send comments to: demtruth@gmail.com

Brian McMullan's Fear Of Mayorgate

How far will the machinations of Mayor Brian McMullan reach past common dignity and continue to be motivated by the fear of truth? The answer to such a question is not easy to settle on, as time and time again Brian McMullan has proven that something new is always on the horizon.

Brian McMullan's hate for Mayorgate is clear and proven. That hate feeds on Mayorgate's refusal to accept lies and deceit in public office. Mayorgate will not surrender to threat or intimidation, and under no circumstance will Mayorgate make alliances with anyone. At the same time Mayorgate's readers number now into several hundred thousand yearly with over 30 countries outside of Canada and the US, regularly visiting the articles presented. Locally Mayorgate is growing simply because the truth is researched and supported with undeniable fact, that is the key to each article. Now that in itself is a threat to someone like Brian McMullan.

On September 1^st 2011 Brian McMullan had lawyer Christopher Bittle of Lancaster, Brooks and Welch issue a threat to shut down Mayorgate. In his egotistical world McMullan claimed that Mayorgate existed to only persecute the poor guy. Mayorgate began as a stand against the corrupt self-imposed censorship in a democratic society and has continued to provide articles that the standard media has ignored. Our issues traverse the spectrum from local through to international, always asking questions in the hope that we as people feel enough desire to step out of our daily routines of convenience.

Still Brian McMullan's fear of Mayorgate grows and if that is not to be considered true then another explanation of these actions by McMullan is welcomed, by Brian McMullan himself! Proof of this fear came in the form of contact by a candidate in the forthcoming municipal elections in October. Adam Arsenault, an unknown candidate for the top job in the city, had read Mayorgate. At this time there are four contenders declared, though plenty of time exists for another to declare his or her desire to steer St. Catharines. Besides Adam Arsenault, there are two current councillors Jeff Burch and Peter Secord, with another unknown in Mark Stevens.

Adam Arsenault sent an email dated June 9^th 2014 stating that he had been “reading articles on Jeff Burch,” which had been published on Mayorgate. He had indicated that he wished to discuss more about this corruption at City Hall. Arsenault concluded by stating, “I want to help expose this via my campaign for Mayor.”

This email was received 11:17 am and seemed somewhat encouraging though as always a great deal of scepticism remained. Later that day another email was received from Mayoral Candidate Adam Arsenault, this one at 9:34 pm. Now things truly heated up. Arsenault states, “Hello Alex after I emailed you. I made a post on my twitter re the issue and a like to your site. Within a few hours I got an email from the mayor telling me to take down the posts or face legal action.”

Mayor Brian McMullan had threatened a candidate in a forthcoming election, even though Brian McMullan is not running for mayor in the election, and this comes directly and in writing from the candidate himself. What Brian McMullan had done is a direct breach of the law, but Brian McMullan has proven that being a bully is a tool he enjoys. The law to Mayor Brian McMullan has not always been something he has had respect for.

A question was asked of Adam Arsenault as to what did he link in his Twitter post. He responded on June 10^th 2014 at 11:29 am stating “I posted a link to this...” The link was to the archive postings for August 2013 on Mayorgate. Three articles had been posted in the month of August 2013. The first was Deceit & Censorship Breed Corruption, then Cone of Silence Receives a Crack and finally Society's Checks & Balances, are they real? Reading through these articles it is clear that none of them deal with Brian McMullan, though they do centre on a different issue.

During this period in 2013 a situation developed around Merritton Ward Councillor Jeff Burch who intentionally lied to council and was recorded both on video and audio. Jeff Burch lied to cover up for a developer and owner of Sun Collision, Sam Demita. An Integrity Commissioner had attempted an investigation though was not able to complete her investigation and stated in her final report that the serious allegations against Councillor Jeff Burch had not been cleared. At the same time the media through the newspapers The Standard and Niagara this Week, and radio Newstalk CKTB, had ensured nothing was made public. It was the usual censorship to keep the truth silent.

Adam Arsenault had linked to articles that had nothing to do directly with Mayor Brian McMullan and had a great deal to do with Councillor Jeff Burch. Why did Brian McMullan threaten a prospective candidate in an upcoming election? Why did McMullan need to protect Jeff Burch from any questions being raised regarding his lies to cover up for Sun Collision owner and operator Sam Demita?

As most brave men Adam Arsenault erased the tweets and quoted back the Charter of Rights and its sections. Erasing the tweets then quoting these sections does not show one has any belief in the actual words of the Charter. Still Arsenault had sent copies to Mayorgate, though when asked about a copy of the threat by Mayor Brian McMullan, fear became more evident. Fear is a tool of any bully and cowardice is the truth each bully hides. Brian McMullan had played these tactics often enough, whether with Arsenault or with Regional Councillor Andy Petrowski or even his attempts with his lies about statutory declarations.

In this case fear and bullying worked. Arsenault's story now changed from “I want to help expose this via my campaign for mayor,” to this, “I may have given in but not without pointing out that they were wrong and breaking the law by doing what they did I wanted facts so I could build a strong fight and if I win I can expose them all. That would have a lot more credibility if the mayor exposes all the past corruption within its municipal government. I like to do things strategic.”

This exchange was on June 10^th 2014 at 6:02 pm on the following day June 11^th, Arsenault sent this, “As far as my tweets to Maggie I want them to think that there is no threat and I want to confront them in issues.” By now it was clear that Adam Arsenault is truly no threat to anyone in any way, and as far as the comment about confronting “them in issues,” maybe no one has told Adam that Brian McMullan was not running in the election. The apple once bitten never tastes the same again.

Maybe Arsenault's desire “to do things strategic” is now left open to embarrassing questions, his tweets to Maggie Riopelle surely provide an opening to Pandora's Box. First of all Maggie Riopelle should be identified as the Executive Assistant to Mayor Brian McMullan at City of St. Catharines (directly quoted from LinkedIn).

Maggie's background is not so impressive according to LinkedIn. She is currently a part time student at Niagara College chasing a web design certificate, with a Journalism Diploma from Cambrian College. Listed as Maggie's expertise and skills are journalism, communications, problem solving, social media, blogging, storytelling and social media marketing. Considering what is to be revealed now expertise and skills may be a little too adventurous a term.

As already confirmed by Arsenault he had tweeted Maggie as part of his being “strategic,” and not wanting “them” to see him as a “threat.” Adam Arsenault's tweet to Maggie was, “As a request of Mayor Mr. McMullan I have honoured his request to remove my tweets re Mayorgate.” Maggie Riopelle, Executive Assistant to Mayor Brian McMullan responded, “Thank you for your assistance. There is some history you may not be aware of. Feel free to call to discuss.”

Here you have it folks, skill and expertise in journalism, communication, problem solving, social media and so much more. Maggie on behalf of Mayor Brian McMullan confirms that Mayor Brian McMullan is in absolute fear of Mayorgate. Maggie confirms that Brian McMullan threatened Adam Arsenault illegally. Best of all Maggie confirms that Mayor Brian McMullan will slander Mayorgate in person and lie. Arsenault responded with, “Thank you, I'd rather speak in person than over the phone cause body language can speak a million times greater.”

Maybe this was an example of being “strategic,” though someone should inform Adam that an individual skilled in communication can use body language to lead one down any chosen path. Yet a voice when confronted with the right question is another thing all together. Still Maggie responded with this gem, “Feel free to call to book a time. The mayor would be happy to meet with you. He always welcomes people to his office.”

All the expertise in communication, journalistic diplomas, social media, storytelling, etc, etc came shining through here. In a fashion it smells so similar to the infamous telephone answering machine message confirming Mayor Brian McMullan's breach of law only a little more updated by 'twitting'.

Maggie with all her self-appointed skills and expertise has confirmed the slander of Mayorgate by Mayor Brian McMullan and by herself. Someone should have warned dear Maggie that it sits out in the open and can be snatched up a little like the old fashioned telephone answering machine. Strategy in this case makes John Beam look like a genius sitting in a storage locker with a flashlight and a cold Big Mac.

History, as it had been alluded to by Maggie and the trembling Mayor McMullan, needs revisiting. It began with a simple corrupt act and a voice of a councillor confirming that act of corruption. Councillor Jennie Stevens left a message on a telephone answering machine, that message confirmed that Mayor Brian McMullan had fixed a lawful by-law fine. The amount is irrelevant, the type of by-law fine irrelevant, the act of 'fixing' is illegal. Mayor Brian McMullan and Councillor Jennie Stevens didn't simply peddle their influence they broke the law. An article titled A Fine "Fix-ed"? presented all the details as so called media in St. Catharines will not publish the truth and only clean up after our dear elected ones.

Censorship was and is not the solitary tool of the local bunch of news hounds. Marlene Bergsma of The Standard decided it was not enough to censor the facts, Marlene Bergsma took it one step further, hence the article titled You Are A Liar Bergsma. Brian McMullan himself showed his true colours when on October 22^nd 2010 he decided to call me. McMullan said “your blog, you call me corrupt I have referred this to my solicitors in Toronto.” This was the same as his cowardly threat of May 11^th 2014 and the imaginary statutory declaration.

The election campaign of 2010 had a number of wild issues flying through the air. Two articles one titled Candidate Double Dipping Campaign Funds and Minister Jim Bradley Protecting a Political Pal moved the veil somewhat to take a peek at our honourable representatives and Brian McMullan's star was shining at centre stage. By October 2011 Mayor Brian McMullan decided to stretch courage past a threat over the phone. He had Christopher Bittle of Lancaster, Brooks and Welch send an official letter of threat to shut down Mayorgate. It was simply another cowardly idle threat.

Mayorgate has kept on growing, though local issues remain an important component. Articles such as Salem's Witch Hunt Comes To Niagara showcased Brian McMullan's disregard for the law, and Mayorgate's Author Under Threat provided enough shock as to the lengthy attempts to silence an individual can be carried in a climate of censorship and corruption.

By 2014 the arrogance of Mayor Brian McMullan was no longer a surprise. In the article How Much Can A Koala - Bear, questions were raised as to how can one individual in a nothing position, in a small town, abuse the law and dignity and still walk away without consequence. At least Toronto's Robbie has the light of public attention to deal with. Laval, Quebec had an investigation to finally deal with, but here in St. Catharines, nothing but censorship.

Degradation Of Public Office showed how deceit had grown to a greater and wider scale, and the questions raised have not been answered. To be sure history will repeat itself and this is far from the final journey into the machinations of an individual who has been publicly challenged to prove how any of these points are not true in relation to him. Threat, intimidation and now even slander are simply the tools of someone who has no respect for the law or dignity.

To Maggie Riopelle, Executive Assistant of Mayor Brian McMullan the question is simple and publicly made. How were you going to slander Mayorgate and its publisher? You surely would not tell Arsenault that all of this history is true. If you did then one would question your motivation in your chosen job. Yet on the other hand how are you able to claim that any portion of this is untrue or without fact?

Mayor Brian McMullan made an unlawful threat to a member of the public. McMullan also knew that his threat was a lie as no legal action could be taken against Adam Arsenault for his link or his tweet. It was intentional intimidation and a lie. Yet the legal ramifications are enormous now, and the questions raised alarming.

Why did Brian McMullan threaten Adam Arsenault to protect Councillor Jeff Burch from the truth? The articles published in August of 2013 dealt with issues surrounding Councillor Jeff Burch's lie to council to protect and shelter the owner and operator of Sun Collision, Sam Demita. Those articles had nothing directly related to Brian McMullan. Councillor Jeff Burch had himself send NRP cops in 2010 to attempt some form of intimidation to silence questions of his possible association with Sam Demita. Now Mayor Brian McMullan who is not looking for re-election, has decided to threaten a potential candidate in the election. As always the questions surrounding Brian McMullan seem to begin with why.

Threat and intimidation thrive in a climate where the victims grab their tales and run. Adam Arsenault did nothing wrong in his tweet or his link yet he bowed to threat and removed it all. He claimed to tell them they were wrong by using someone else's words and reference the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of this great land. Arsenault did not believe in the Charter or he would have stood by its principles against a coward's threat. The time has long passed to demand answers and demand we shall continue.

Mayorgate will not run from threat, intimidation or from slander. Publicly Maggie Riopelle, Executive Assistant to Mayor Brian McMullan is asked what she planned to use as slander. To explain what she meant by her own words, “There is some history you may not be aware of.” Can you Maggie Riopelle deny any of the facts or history as published?

Mayorgate only expects silence in return!

Send comments: demtruth@gmail.com

Debbie Zimmerman Attacks Mayorgate

On May 19^th 2014 I published an article titled Degradation of Public Office bringing to public light a divorce file at the Supreme Court, file #133/14. Patricia Ruth McMullan had filed for divorce against her husband and Mayor of St. Catharines Brian McMullan. That in itself is not newsworthy and Brian McMullan surely has no gossip worthiness. The reason for divorce is listed as adultery and Mrs. McMullan names Debbie Zimmerman, Regional Councillor for Grimsby as the partner in the adultery.

Rumours of the affair had circulated not only in St. Catharines but throughout the Niagara area for some four years. These divorce papers raise serious questions in relation to government and deceit. In addition to asking questions regarding the affair I reported that Mayor Brian McMullan had come to my place of work on May 11^th 2014. Brian McMullan came to deliver a threat, he did so like a bully and coward. In turn I had challenged him openly to carry out his threat. He lay claim to some statutory declaration which in some way appears to bear relations to the Conservation Authority and my day off work. Like a coward Brian McMullan has remained silent. Either this so called statutory declaration is just a lie or Mayor McMullan is still looking for the unattainable, just like the lion from The Wizard of Oz.

Nevertheless truth is a bitter pill to swallow and now Debbie Zimmerman has issued a threat. In the threat by Debbie Zimmerman it states she will be, “contacting the host of your blog and requesting it be removed, in its entirety.” This threat comes under the letterhead of Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP and signed by a Jordan Goldblatt, it is dated June 2^nd 2014 with file reference #14-1015.

The impudent monkeys of Mayorgate face-off once again against the potshots of threat, intimidation and harassment. Debbie Zimmerman's threat came in two parts and I have decided to post the whole thing as I had always with my response made publicly.

Reading the Notice Of Action two things become rather clear. First of all it is only Debbie Zimmerman who finds that the issues raised in Mayorgate's article Degradation of Public Office are in her interpretation not based in fact. By this claim Debbie Zimmerman is calling Mrs. Patricia Ruth McMullan a liar. Second, this whole threat is only on behalf of Debbie Zimmerman and not Mayor Brian McMullan. Brian McMullan has not denied anything.

Divorces by nature become messy, this is not going to be any different in the case of Mrs. Patricia Ruth McMullan and Mayor Brian McMullan. Although the ramifications of this divorce affect the whole of Niagara and its people. Lies and deceit are the key ingredients in any affair, and those lies are like flies circling the decaying carcass of a marriage. Those flies do not only circle the radius of the decay they spread further and further.

Debbie Zimmerman has now said that Mrs. McMullan is a liar because she had been identified as the other woman. Who can forget Bill Clinton's denials until finally the truth became heavier than a cigar box. Can anything other than denial be expected from Debbie Zimmerman? Still Zimmerman decided that her denial was going to be in the form of threat, intimidation and the shutdown of Mayorgate. Brian McMullan also threatened to shut down Mayorgate, and it was no different than the imaginary statutory declaration.

In the Notice of Action delivered by Sack Goldblatt Michell LLP there are six selected quotations which are claimed to be hurtful to Debbie Zimmerman. As always done by lawyers each is taken out of its particular flow and context to suit a claim. Trying to dissect these at this time will consume too many words. These quotations are followed by another heading 'The Comment,' relating to the fact that Mayorgate permits readers to comment. One such reader had done so, his name as it appears is Fred Bracken. Zimmerman's legal eagle claims that Fred Bracken had “further defamed Ms. Zimmerman” by saying, “Having an affair with a fellow regional council is news everyone should hear.”

I particularly like this statement made on behalf of Debbie Zimmerman. “As publisher of the Article, and encouraging the Comment, you are jointly and severally liable for its defamatory content.” It is true I encourage comment and not only on the articles as they are posted. Debbie Zimmerman could have made her comments if she had desired. Instead she aims to intimidate and threaten.

Not only do I encourage comment on the articles, I also seek comment from individuals often via email. I had done so in this case. I had sent three emails which I had not spoken of in the article. No response was received to either one. I had sent emails previously to Mayor Brian McMullan asking for comment where he had ignored my questions. I had sent emails to Chair Gary Burroughs, to Councillors, and more each refusing to respond. The reason is simple, my questions are not sanitised like the other so called media. Zimmerman may have erased the email but I have copies, and if she refused to comment it was her decision.

According to the eagle of law, Zimmerman, his client, “is certainly aware of the allegations in the McMullan divorce matter, which she denies in their entirety...” As this “divorce matter” is before the courts and Debbie Zimmerman has not proven that Mrs. McMullan is a liar, this whole threat is based only on her word. For this reason I have decided to publish several pages from the documents filed at the Superior Court. A portion of this is a statement made by Mrs. McMullan and it is not easy to read at times.

In a divorce there are often outrageous claims and accusations. Betrayal brings with it pain and emotional distress, in this statement the pain is evident. I have also reported that an attempt to seal the documents has been made and a decision by the judge deferred till the 19^th of June, 2014. Divorces are no different to any other matter before the courts. Richard G. Dearden, a partner with Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP in Ottawa, Canada represented The Ottawa Citizen, CTV Inc., The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Global Television and The Ottawa Sun before the Court of Appeal for Ontario after numerous non-publication and sealing orders had been issued in a high profile divorce case. The Court of Appeal on January 24^th 2012 set aside the sealing orders and publication bans.

Justice Doherty, one of the three presiding Justices at the Court of Appeal for Ontario said “The evidence cannot support the (the lower courts) conclusion that the orders were necessary to prevent a serious risk to the proper administration of justice. Absent that finding, the orders could not have been made under the controlling jurisprudence.” (Cristina Schmitz, Sweeping ban is set aside, lawyersweekly.ca, Feb. 10, 2012). Justice Doherty also confirmed that “personal emotional distress and embarrassment cannot justify limiting publication of, or access to, court proceedings and records.”

Richard G. Dearden concluded in his article titled Heavy Evidentiary Burden Imposed On Litigants Seeking Publication Bans and Sealing Orders, “Freedom of the press and the open court principle in family law proceedings were at stake in this appeal. Family law litigants cannot simply file hearsay evidence from their psychiatrist or psychologist who accuse the media of feeding frenzies and invasions of privacy. The convincing evidentiary standard is a significant burden to overcome and is not met even in cases of real emotional distress and embarrassment. ....Openness is the rule. Secrecy is the exception. Litigants have an extremely high evidentiary threshold to overcome to obtain any secrecy regarding Court proceedings and records filed in Court files.” (Richard G. Dearden, MLRC Medical Law Letter, gowlings.com, January 2013).

What “high evidentiary threshold” is Mayor Brian McMullan able to overcome to seal records in his divorce? A source close to Mrs. McMullan has stated in response to my questions regarding the appeal to ban or seal details of these proceedings, that it is not Mrs. McMullan who wanted the ban. It is clear that Mayor McMullan wants the ban as the details of the divorce are extremely uncomfortable for him.

It is not difficult to understand why Mayor Brian McMullan wants to seal the details of the divorce from public scrutiny. Ms. Debbie Zimmerman may not want this to be made public and claim all kinds of hurt feelings but serious questions remain unanswered.

As I had said, I sent emails asking for comment and was ignored. That is nothing new to me. Mayorgate is hated for a simple fact, I as publisher won't play any games with the truth and with fact. I owe no one any favours and make no alliances. So the threat to shut Mayorgate down is not new. I will not give into threat, at the same time I will not ignore any opportunity to present all sides of a story. The decision to ignore that opportunity is only the choice of the individual who makes that decision.

An email was sent to Chairman Gary Burroughs regarding this whole situation, I asked Chair Burroughs specific questions, as I had of McMullan and Zimmerman, Burroughs ignored that email. Yet a request for a Freedom of Information application had been filed wanting access to my email to Burroughs. Who made this request? How could they know that I had sent an email to Burroughs unless it was someone like Brian McMullan or Debbie Zimmerman who had ignored my emails to them? A private communications between a constituent and a head of government is now the centre of a Freedom of Information application. Asking who, how and why leads to only more questions.

Bullying, intimidation and slander are the tools of cowards, Brian McMullan came to my place of work with a threat on Mother's Day. It now appears the supposed statutory declaration was simply another lie by Brian McMullan. Was it meant to frighten me in some way I don't know. I have had reason to deal with the Conservation Authority and I do get two days a week off, the rest is only in the mind of a coward. Whether or not Ms. Zimmerman likes it she is named by Mrs. McMullan and statements made by Mrs. McMullan cannot be ignored. The source close to Mrs. McMullan also stated that Mayor Brian McMullan and Debbie Zimmerman were witnessed going into the King Edward Hotel in Toronto together. The witness then confirmed the room booking and the name it was booked under.

Debbie Zimmerman has claimed that the article I wrote was unfair and defamed her. She had refused to comment. Brian McMullan refused to comment. Regional Chairman Gary Burroughs refused to make a comment. Yet Zimmerman now has decided to say that Mrs. McMullan is a liar and the whole mess has not even gone to court.

Reading Attachment A provided by Mrs. McMullan to the divorce file leaves the reader distressed. Bullet 3 (the individual points are not numbered) and 4 speak for themselves, as one reads further Bullet 6 hits the hardest. It is easy to understand why Brian McMullan wants the details sealed. Amongst all the clearly evident pain in Attachment A's author, Bullet 2 truly shows a callous contempt to another's dignity. Brian McMullan had called the police in another matter which had no merit. In the case of Regional Councillor Andy Petrowski, Mayor McMullan called the police, used a court order against Andy Petrowski only to disregard the court's time and public expense by not showing up at the court hearing and dropping the whole matter.

During the period when Brian McMullan lost his home to the bank for non-payment of mortgages the local 'press' called it a private matter. In St. Catharines and the Niagara Region families are struggling on only a few hundred dollars a week to survive, with children to feed and bills to pay. Looking at what Mayor McMullan earns a year it is hard to understand how a base salary of $83,769 that reaches $163,733.01 including expenses is not enough. Bullet 4 truly leaves a shock in anyone's mind.

image: CHV20 - Canada's Government - who is who in government

Now Mayor Brian McMullan has Debbie Zimmerman do her threat. As publisher I asked questions and will continue to do so. I am not The Standard, I am not Marlene Bergsma and I will not lie or sanitise the facts for Mayor Brian McMullan, or anyone. Mrs. McMullan's pain is clear and evident, and Debbie Zimmerman calls her a liar. Here Zimmerman and her legal eagle may try and take offense to such a fact. Yet if you claim something is not true then the opposite of truth is a lie.

Debbie Zimmerman had also provided bullets in the Notice of Action. She expects that only her word is to be taken as truth. She does not answer any questions and only calls Mrs. McMullan a liar. Though her attempt to intimidate Mayorgate has close similarities to Brian McMullan's. If Brian McMullan is successful in sealing the court proceedings then no one will know the truth. If Brian McMullan makes a deal with Mrs. McMullan then no one will know the truth.

At this time Debbie Zimmerman can lay claim to hurt feelings yet the trial for divorce has not begun. She is the woman identified in legally filed documents at the Superior Court. When she was approached, as were others, for comment she ignored the approach. Now she first has to successfully prove that she is not the 'other' woman and that Ruth McMullan lied. That has to be done in court and in the open. Instead Debbie Zimmerman decides she is going to threaten, intimidate and attack. Yet Brian McMullan has not denied anything at all.

Mayorgate answers all threats publicly and will not run from the truth. There are still serious questions to be asked and as new information has come forward those questions and more will be raised here on Mayorgate.

Send comments to: demtruth@gmail.com

Election Caravan of 2014

On June 12^th 2014 Ontarians are off to vote in another provincial election, it is also a year that will host the municipal election festival across the province. For now we have the three main parties running around trying to sell what they are about. Naturally each party selects candidates in local areas who may in some way correspond with the party values and ideals. Here in St. Catharines that is almost an ironic joke.

First to hit the treadmill is the sitting government led by Premier Kathleen Wynne. The Ontario Liberals have had a rough ride of late. Scandals shadow the party and the notion of skeletons in the closet has almost reached the level of a Greek Comedy.

When Dalton McGuinty made a run for the back door he left behind a mess. Kathleen Wynne has tried to put on a face of a strong leader interested in only the future. Has the smoke and mirror game worked? Maybe this election will turn out to be a true test if the alternatives had some real value in them.

Wynne's Liberals can't get past two major stumbling blocks and both are related to each other. First off the horrific bungling of the gas plant cancellations. No Ontarian can in any way understand how the taxpayer is to be responsible for such a massive cost. No matter how Wynne or her cohorts try, no excuse, no lie can fully explain what had happened, and the truth will never see the light of day. After all this is Canada and we do not hold our elected representatives accountable for anything, that would take courage and it has never happened.

Second, and equally horrific is the mess surrounding the deletion of emails and the fraudulent cover-up of documentation. In this case it is the criminal code that has been breached and no one would believe that such drastic actions were simply the act of some underling. Ministers had to be involved and possibly at the highest level. True we still hear of ongoing investigations and the opposition bellowing on the campaign trail. Wynne still talks of moving on and not dwelling on the past. In the end no investigation will result in action taken or charges laid, not against a minister.

So the Liberal caravan is on the road, with possibly only one saving issue in their hands as an offering, and that is an Ontario Retirement Pension Plan. There are those who have criticised the whole idea as something we don't need. Noticeably the criticism comes from those living off the public purse and living rather well. Can it be possible to ignore all the dishonesty and deceit over one good idea?

Back in St. Catharines the Liberals have a veteran running once again in the name of Jim Bradley. This Liberal holds the record for the longest sitting MPP at Queen's Park. Jim Bradley also is the minister who had given direct instructions to two directors at the Ministry of Environment to alter documents already presented at the legislature some two years prior. All of this to simply protect pals in the Niagara area. When his pal Mayor Brian McMullan broke the law and fixed a lawful by-law fine, Jim Bradley as the Minister for Municipal Affairs ensured no action was taken against Mayor Brian McMullan, he even made a financial contribution to Mayor McMullan's re-election dish.

During the horrific C-difficile outbreak as bodies of innocent victims fell around him Jim Bradley simply waived around the Liberal cheque book and the promise of a new hospital. A new hospital St. Catharines did get, going well over budget costing in the end close to $759 million, and leaving a mountain of questions in relation to its location. Once again 2014 sees Jim Bradley walking the beat and telling all who will listen that he can be trusted. At the same time his opponents in St. Catharines are far from an exciting pair. Jimbo's record is not likely to be broken in 2014.

Speaking of opponents the Liberals are up against Tim Hudak's Conservatives and Andrea Horwath's NDP. How much of a race this really is, it's hard to predict. Tim Hudak has blown it before and once again he started off by putting the working families on side by promising to cut 100,000 public service jobs. He has made it clear he wishes to slash at social services that are provided to the most vulnerable in our community. Tim Hudak also made a swipe at teachers and the hair salons. He has clearly endeared himself to the average individual who makes up the majority of the voting public.

In St. Catharines the Conservatives chose their representative months ago. He is Mat Siscoe, a school teacher at Saint Paul High School in Niagara Falls. Mat Siscoe is a physics teacher, and by explaining the laws of physics he may shed light on the Conservative platform. As a politician Mat Siscoe really is not one. He is a first time councillor elected to the St. Catharines City Council with no other prior experience. As a City Councillor Siscoe has been a shy one with little said or done to gain any attention. If form or past actions were to be considered he is definitely not a boat rocker. When it came to vote for a new by-law to be implemented on behalf of a developer who had broken the law willingly for over five years, and taking into consideration that a fellow councillor Jeff Burch lied to council, Mat Siscoe raised his hand with all the rest.

The third opponent out of the starting gate comes in the shape of the NDP and Andrea Horwath. Now Horwath has been around for a while, she has flirted with the Liberals offering support, then like a little child changed her mind. Who really knows what's on Horwath's mind. This time out she has said that the corruption of the Liberals was enough and she was not willing to take it anymore.

Andrea Horwath said “I'm guided by my principles,” she also seems to like taking quotes as the one by John Steinbeck, “Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.” She then accused the Liberals of cynical manoeuvring and “politics of the worst kind.” As of the 29^th of May there began reports of a possible coalition government between the Liberals and the NDP.

So what principles guide Andrea Horwath? The NDP selected candidate for St. Catharines is one Jennie Stevens. She is not known for any truly eloquent statements though she is known for something less pleasant. On her candidate profile for the Our Team section of Andrea Horwath's Makes Sense web page, Jennie Stevens lays claim to this statement about herself: “Worked closely with the Niagara Health System to protect healthcare in St. Catharines after the loss of the St. Catharines General Hospital.” Has anyone told Jennie Stevens of the newly built St. Catharines General Hospital on 4^th Avenue which ran over budget with a final cost around $759 million. Oops!, a lie or just a little error?

Since principles are of high value to Andrea Horwath an email was sent to her with one major question relating to the chosen candidate for St. Catharines. There has been no response from Andrea Horwath or any crony from her camp. Jennie Stevens NDP Candidate ran from any potential questions, though the issue does not disappear simply because it is damaging and proves the level of hypocrisy both from Andrea Horwath and Jennie Stevens.

In 2010 Jennie Stevens left a telephone answering machine message. That message in Steven's own voice confirmed that she brought an issue of a by-law fine to St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan, and in her own voice Jennie Stevens confirmed that Mayor Brian McMullan had fixed the lawfully issued fine so as the individual did not have to pay it. An Integrity Commissioner confirmed that such an act was a criminal breach of law. Jennie Stevens had threatened legal action when the recording of her voice was first released. Naturally Stevens did not follow through with her threat.

As you listen to the voice of Jennie Stevens one thing stands clear, principles were not and are not part of anything she had in mind when she left that message. Jennie Stevens now represents the NDP and Andrea Horwath has her face on every sign with the name of Jennie Stevens. Andrea Horwath runs from the truth and refuses to answer a simple question. What principles really guide Andrea Horwath?

June 12^th is nearing us all, and Ontarians will have to make a choice in the end. In St. Catharines it is hard to see anything but a win for Jim Bradley, regardless of the scandals or the corruption. His opponents are either inexperienced or simply hold no credibility. The Conservative candidate Mat Siscoe can only carry the hardline supporters of the Conservative Party. Anyone looking for an alternative to Jim Bradley will find it difficult to justify a vote for Mat Siscoe.

On the other hand the NDP candidate Jennie Stevens carries with her dark questions that even her party leader runs from. Corruption was an issue raised against Jennie Stevens several years ago and no answer has been provided. Andrea Horwath it appears sees little faith in her candidate as all of the signs with Stevens' name provide a third of the space for a photo of Horwath.

Clint Eastwood had to deal with only 'The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly' while here in St. Catharines we have 'the shy, the corrupt and the conniving.' Take your pick and good luck for the next four years.

Send comments to: demtruth@gmail.com

Four Years Old, Four Years Young

Mayorgate has grown now to find itself trusted and read by literally hundreds of thousands. We are proud to say that some 30 countries outside of Canada and the US walk through our articles, and many articles published months or even longer in our past are finding new readers today. This in itself is testimony to the value of content and proof that the articles published on Mayorgate hold a relevance to each subject or topic without the desire to appease a popular trend.

As publisher and author of Mayorgate I began with a stirred motivation to take a stand against the censorship imposed on the release of fact and information. This censorship was and is today designed to protect the corrupt, and regardless of the reasons behind those who wield this censorship it in itself becomes the foundation for corruption.

Today Mayorgate has grown to encompass articles on topics that reach out to all readers regardless of what corner of the world they call home. One such article, Earth Has Its Residents, was published for Earth Day and its relevance to all across the globe cannot be denied. As humanity combined we are capable of great things and at the same time commit atrocities that impact not only our future but that of all the creatures we share our Earth with. The insane slaughter of Africa's Rhino has reached shocking proportions and if not stopped this majestic beast will disappear from the wild into extinction.

Once again the incredible talent of artist Alexandra Davidoff was there adding a visual kaleidoscope of emotion with her drawing of a rhino. Alexandra had been part of an exhibition with 100 artists from all mediums and nationalities in New Delhi, India. She took time from her work to provide a piece that brought to life a beast whose eyes pleaded for simply the right to live.

Mayorgate also did as Mayorgate does; not only has the pot been stirred with ideas and truths, the boisterous monkeys of Mayorgate tipped it over. An article appeared in January 2014 dealing with issues surrounding a seniors' home and Niagara Regional Housing (NRH). It was not the first time that the NRH had found attention in the sights of Mayorgate. As always everything was researched with an interview conducted to verify the situation. Copies of documents were also published as it is the usual practice with Mayorgate. Lawyer Rachel Slingerland from Martens Lingard LLP acting on behalf of her clients the Board of Directors of the Paderewski Society Home decided that the truth should not be made public. The article Seniors Languish in Intimidation had become a target for yet another attempt to silence Mayorgate.

This time lawyer Rachel Slingerland from Martens Lingard LLP found it unnecessary to care for the law. Breaches of legislation by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) led to a breach of law by the NRH, and in the end lawyer Rachel Slingerland changed her claims three times. Consistency definitely was not the benchmark for this lawyer. All of this is far from ending and lawyer Slingerland has many hurdles to jump over. WeirFoulds LLP, the oldest law firm in Canada with an impressive CV is now part of the whole game on behalf of the RHRA. Whistleblowing protection is under investigation and a whole lot more is still to come.

Throughout the past year many topics found purpose for discussion, such as the integrity of lawyers, self imposed censorship and the lost values in public servants we elect. One of the first articles for year 4 was titled Law, lawyers are they one and the same, with the actions of lawyer Rachel Slingerland it has become a question needing to be asked. Originally the focus was lawyer John Willey who lied to a City Council on behalf of his client Sam Demita, owner and operator of Sun Collision. Integrity and law were far from the mind of John Willey.

At the same time as lawyer John Willey spread his web of deceit, Councillor Jeff Burch joined in. Here was a member of local government elected by the people to act on behalf of their best interests who decided to openly lie to help cover-up broken laws. Councillor Jeff Burch was brought before an Integrity Commissioner, but this only turned out to be a farce and an insult. Integrity Commissioner Suzanne Craig did not clear Councillor Burch and the report of the investigation was analyzed in the article Integrity Commissioner Suzanne Craig Presents Report.

To believe that democracy and our basic rights are guaranteed in some fashion is a dangerous illusion to hang on to. Articles such as Deceit & Censorship Breed Corruption, and Can Opposition Be Silenced provide the undeniable truth that in Canada nothing is guaranteed and everything has to be fought for. Sadly the average Canadian cares little and the corruption of society continues.

Amongst all the realities of our rights and freedoms gradually eroding away came a story of an ordinary man, a very ordinary man. Disabled Body, A Heart Full of Pride – The Bob Hansplant Story, peeled away the facade of hypocrisy that surrounds our attitudes towards those with physical handicaps. Here was a double-amputee who was not able to use the shower in his own apartment for four years, and when Niagara Regional Housing was confronted with the issue their response was to lie and intimidate.

Although local issues found a greater presence through the year their relevance to all could not be denied. Mayorgate found itself fighting through the quicksand of deceit, corruption and censorship yet the joy of life was not ignored. Silent Splendour found two instalments added to the continuing story of the evolution of a garden. I promise that more is to come as this garden continues to grow and change in its beauty.

Humanity as a whole is capable of reaching great heights if in some way we could disengage ourselves from our most base weaknesses. Our society needs the steering and guidance that government provides. At the same time rules and laws are a necessity for as totally free individuals without constraints only anarchy could result. That being said, how is it that no real constraints are enforced against those who we elect to steer our governments, or who we entrust the authority and power to enforce equally our laws and legislation?

Coming to the end of our fourth year an article was published that clearly resounds with these questions of the previous paragraph. Degradation of Public Office, sets the stage where the two main characters are far from an endearing couple. Finally the veil had been lifted on the rumours of an affair between a mayor and a regional councillor. Divorce papers had been filed by Mayor Brian McMullan's wife, Patricia Ruth McMullan. Adultery had been named as a cause of the marital misfortunes amongst other little indiscretions committed by Brian McMullan. The woman named as the partner in adultery was Regional Councillor for Grimsby, Debbie Zimmerman.

Today divorces are far from uncommon, the stresses of society prove too often to be unbearable. If Mayor Brian McMullan was swapping pillows with any woman or man for that matter, other than a fellow sitting Regional Councillor no one would give a damn. But that is not the case, these two are elected members of a government and one had to step down from

regional council. Neither did but preferred to lie and deceive on a daily basis. Now with the news being made public a legal mess potentially is waiting like a Pandora's Box to be sprung open.

So as we approach the end of our fourth year Mayorgate is simply preparing for much more to report. As always the articles each of you read here are either filled with facts that standard media avoids, or time had been taken to provide supporting evidence to ride along with the material. Either way I as publisher and author stand by each article knowing that someone may disagree with Mayorgate, but in the end no one can argue the facts presented, at least not successfully.

Mayorgate will always keep those mischievous monkeys free.

Send comments to: demtruth@gmail.com

Degradation of Public Office

Today our society has no real respect for anyone in public office. Reports of corruption and wrongdoing no longer ring the bells of surprise, rather such news only finds in response a flippant “what did you expect?” Some say that the longer Toronto's Mayor Rob Ford is permitted to prance over the front pages of the daily newspapers the greater the insult is to not only the City of Toronto but to all of Canada, yet it continues.

At one time a slogan pilfered through the airwaves that you 'CAN' in Canada. That is true for where else “can” an elected member of government admit to drugs, be photographed drunk and with reports of association with the ladies of the night without consequence. If this had happened in the US there is no doubt what the result would be. Yet such disrespect, such contempt for the law is not a disease of a big city alone. It is a disease of the very law itself in Canada which protects those elected into office and ensures that no action is ever taken against them.

Toronto has its Mayor Rob Ford, here in the quiet town of St. Catharines Ontario we have our own. There is no issue of drugs, no photographs of public inebriation and no sexy gals are to be heard of. Rather the drug in St. Catharines is a more universal one and one that the law cannot restrict. It is the lust for power and the ability to slip through anything as easy as a Teflon coated pan slips off a fried egg.

St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan has been able to breach the Criminal Code, have a local newspaper lie to cover for him, abuse the court system and walk away unscathed. Mayor McMullan does not like Mayorgate because here the truth does find an opportunity to be aired. He had tried to bully and threaten me as publisher with a letter from a lawyer Christopher Bittle. In that letter Mayor Brian McMullan threatened to shut Mayorgate down. I published his threat and more evidence against him. McMullan shut his mouth and packed up his threats.

Now there is something new brewing in Brian McMullan's mind. On May 11^th 2014 Mayor Brian McMullan appeared at my place of work. At first he came in front of me with his expected phoney approach. Then some 15 minutes later he came up behind me. Mayor McMullan came close this time and said “you took some time on your day off to visit the Conservation Authority in Welland.” My response was simple, that I had not. McMullan then said, “we now have a statutory declaration.” After he left with his smugness in tow, I was left to wonder what was this all about. What affidavit and from whom? Who was the “we” that McMullan alluded to? Why or what is the Conservation Authority to do with my day off?

Before saying anything else Mayor Brian McMullan should be aware that I carry a small digital recorder on my person at all times. Also above my station is a security camera and that day a video had been requested to be copied and kept. McMullan should remember that I do not run from threat or intimidation. But there in itself lies the problem of how a coward threatens another individual only to run and not carry his or her threat through, to have time and energy wasted to prepare the fly swatter.

This wild act by Mayor McMullan left only questions and bemusement in the air. Though another incident prior to McMullan's personal appearance may shed some light on the matter. A private message came to me via Facebook by Mayor Brian McMullan's wife Ruth McMullan. Both the message and who it came from was quite a surprise. I have had no dealings with Ruth McMullan in any way, and as far as Facebook's terminology of 'friend' stands it is a laugh and a farce. Oops, watch some 'friends' get offended by this.

Looking at the Facebook page, the name is listed as Ruth French McMullan. Family photographs pepper the page as so many have with a son in police uniform and an adult daughter. What little could be checked proved to be a genuine Ruth McMullan even comparing to a newspaper photo in the Standard of Mayor McMullan and wife from 2010.

The message bordered on slander and sounded more like a rant of a disturbed person, or was it something else. Now that is purely my suspicious nature being activated as I had never had any contact with a Ruth McMullan in any way. She went on about things being said and how they are hurting her children and her at work. No explanation of what things though. Ruth McMullan asks me to stop them or if not me if I know who is saying this, to tell that invisible person to stop. I am not Brian McMullan and this is not a Tim Lewis affair. My response was swift and hard.

I made it clear that I would not accept such lunacy again and I had said that I wanted no further contact with whoever this was. Thirty odd minutes later another response came. Now the lunacy was more wild, sounding more like a drunk wrote it with spelling errors. This time Ruth McMullan uses words that raise even greater suspicion and a close correlation to the legal threat by Mayor Brian McMullan which he did not carry though.

Now 'Ruth' carries on that I had “misunderstood” her lunatic accusation. She also says not to continue “just for something against Brian.” I have only ever published the truth with supporting hard evidence, it had never been done on a personal level. Mayorgate does not look for something against anyone and the facts regarding Brian McMullan are undeniable.

These two incidents lead me to suspect that both are somehow associated to each other. Ruth McMullan is accusing a stranger of circulating “information...about a private matter.” Brian McMullan's cowardly threat must have something to do with this “private matter” though the so called statutory declaration is somewhat bewildering. Here the “private matter” is the divorce filed by Ruth McMullan, and it is far less private that she claims it to be.

First and foremost Mayor Brian McMullan is far from a private person. Mayor McMullan uses the front page of his public relations newspaper whenever he chooses to butcher anyone. He as the mayor is a public figure, elected by the public and answerable to the public even though he doesn't think so. Ruth McMullan can pretend to be shy and not liking the spotlight of public attention, she may make lunatic accusations if she wishes, yet it is she who filed the divorce papers. If Brian and Ruth McMullan were some nondescript couple living on a nondescript street in St. Catharines no one would care. They are not and for either of them to demand that this is a private matter then Brian McMullan should have controlled his desire for power and influence.

Amongst all the angst of what is a private matter or not comes a far more serious issue to deal with. In her divorce filing Ruth McMullan cites adultery and names the female. Now no part of this is a private matter as the woman Ruth McMullan names is Debbie Zimmerman, Regional Councillor for Grimsby and former Regional Chair.

Rumours are the realm of the National Enquirer and other such tabloids, not a part of, or ever had been a part of Mayorgate. In this case rumours of the affair were brought to me as far back as the time of the 2010 elections. Then I had said that I was not interested regardless if they were true. Now it is not a rumour rather it is a Superior Court of Justice Family Court file #133/14. In file #133/14 the Applicant is Patricia Ruth McMullan and the Respondent one Brian James McMullan, in case anyone wishes to mistake this McMullan the address for service is c/o St. Catharines City Hall.

The Superior Court documents are available for public inspection unless sealed by a judge and to seal divorce files requires certain criteria to be met. A person who has a public position or is known by the general public has no grounds to have such a court order. Court file #133/14 is available for public view to this date.

On page 5 of the filed divorce papers it states the important facts for the claim. One being Adultery naming Debbie Zimmerman of Grimsby, Ontario, the other Cruelty, with an attachment A. There is no doubt that divorces become messy with a great deal of he said and she said. Here between Mayor Brian McMullan and his wife it will be no different. If as said McMullan was a private person there would be no interest at all, just another marriage crushed by the stresses of humanity. Mayor Brian McMullan is not a private person, nor is Regional Councillor Debbie Zimmerman.

Cupid may sling his arrows wherever he wishes, it is the response to the sting that can become bothersome. Both Brian McMullan and Debbie Zimmerman sit on regional council. Both have lied publicly and to all members of regional council although without a doubt there are those on council who have known for a long time. This deceit has also been aimed at the people of Niagara.

The Regional Municipality of Niagara, Code of Conduct For Members of Council on page 2 of 10, with section 1 Principles Upon Which This Code is Based, subsection 1.2(c) states the following:

“Members of Council are expected to perform their duties in office and arrange their

private affairs, in a manner that promotes public confidence and will bear close public

scrutiny.”

Regional Councillor Debbie Zimmerman was at one time Regional Chair, she is fully aware of the impact of her affair with Mayor Brian McMullan and the potential legal mess it opens up. As a starry eyed couple conducting an affair deceit becomes a way of life on a daily basis, otherwise divorce papers are served earlier than planned. Deceit in this case affects, or has the potential to affect the workings of government.

Mayor Brian McMullan has played his games even publicly attacking all who get in his way. He is quoted making his sanctimonious statements in relation to how councillors should act when he attacked fellow councillor Andy Petrowski. Yet he has been part of a deceitful blanket for several years. The City of St. Catharines Code of Conduct for Elected Officials, Local Boards and Advisory Committees on Page 1 under “The key principles that underline the Code of Conduct are as follows,” then states: “members are expected to perform their duties in office and arrange their private affairs in a manner that promotes public confidence and will bear close public scrutiny.” Any similarity to the Region's?

In the end Mayor Brian McMullan and Regional Councillor Debbie Zimmerman have only spat on both of these Codes of Conduct. Their combined decision was to lie and deceive each and every day. Yet they expect trust in return and spout condemnation of others.

There is a reality here which cannot be put aside. Since Cupid did his deed and both Brian and Debbie answered the call of love one should have stepped down from regional council. Neither is capable of relinquishing their seat of power and that has resulted in deceit and lies.

Ruth McMullan cries and without cause makes statements that are slanderous, yet it was she who filed the divorce papers. Brian McMullan attempts some kind of cowardly threat without being specific. At the bottom of this rotten pool sit the people of Niagara. Some will say who cares about the mayor's pillow stacking, others will find the conflicts of interest important to consider. The purveyors of so called news in St. Catharines will only try to wash it away. Doug Draper of Niagara At Large will again aim his empty rhetoric at the “ugly blogs” without the courage to say anything more. Truth is sometimes very ugly and in our Niagara it rarely finds the light of day. Maybe that is why Doug Draper is more willing to insult than to speak of it.

In the final analysis Mayor Brian McMullan and Regional Councillor Debbie Zimmerman have shown contempt for government, and only self interest. Whatever the issues are between Mayor McMullan and his wife are their own affair. Both had decided for whatever reason to drag Mayorgate into it. The people of Niagara simply deserve the truth. I as publisher of Mayorgate will say to Mayor Brian McMullan either carry out your threat or run like you did once before. You have lied to your family and to the people you asked to trust you. You, Mayor McMullan, have answers to provide.

On May 22^nd 2014 a judge will make a decision whether file #133/14 will be sealed. It is going to be interesting to see what grounds are cited to arrange the sealing.

To end for now I'll quote a favourite wise crab from SpongeBob Squarepants, “questions are a danger to you and a burden to others.” Mayorgate will never stop asking the ugly questions.

Send comments to: demtruth@gmail.com