| From the Mississauga News web-site (http://www.mississauga.com/article/full/fullview/1VA6V-4C), if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections: Opening comments - more at end. Dec. 5, 2001 - Mississauga News - By LOUIE ROSELLA Defence fund established for Gyles Friends and business associates of Cliff Gyles -- the Ward 5 Councillor charged with municipal corruption, fraud, and perjury-- have formed a committee to help pay for his court battle, The News has learned. The Committee to Support Cliff Gyles Defence Fund, complete with a chair, two vice-chairs, and a treasurer, was established about two weeks ago, according to Leroy Grey, one of the vice-chairs. The objective of the nine-member committee is to raise funds to help pay for Gyles' legal defence. "This is the only way we can help him," Grey told The News. "Cliff has been wrongly accused and he doesn't deserve to be going through this." Peel Regional Police allege Gyles demanded a $100,000 payoff from a local businessman last February in exchange for political influence on a pending property zoning application. The property owner was seeking to build a funeral home in Malton. The rezoning application was approved by council early this summer. Preliminary hearings for Gyles, who faces 12 charges of municipal corruption, fraud and perjury, are set to begin in Brampton court in April. On top of these charges, City councillors have hired a Toronto lawyer to investigate allegations that Gyles violated municipal election rules during last year's campaign after a financial audit concluded the longtime Mississauga politician may have broken several rules under the Municipal Elections Act. Grey, who has known Gyles since 1972 and helped him with his election campaign last year, said the councillor may be in trouble financially since his lawyer is Alan Gold, a provincially-renowned criminal lawyer. "He is being represented well, but that is coming at a great cost," he said. "Cliff needs help with his financial state." Joyce Ewers, chair of the committee, has sent more than a dozen letters out to friends of Gyles and other business associates petitioning for their financial support. One of the letters, obtained by The News this week, gives an account number, as well as an address, where donations can be made. "We...strongly believe Councillor Gyles will be vindicated and we are committed to stand by him in his ordeal," Ewers wrote in one of the letters. Walter Galvao, director of the Mississauga Convention Centre (MCC), said he isn't sure whether or not the centre will contribute to the fund. "I'll have to confer with my staff before making any decision," he said yesterday. Last year, according to the auditor's report, the MCC donated $2,500 to Gyles' election campaign. Ewers has lived in Mississauga for 29 years, and knows Gyles through community initiatives such as the Peel Multicultural Council and Carassauga. "We are supporting him through a difficult time," she said. Grey said the committee is prepared to handle any backlash that may arise from supporting a man facing criminal charges. "If people want to criticize us, let them," Leroy said. "Cliff is innocent until proven guilty, and there is nothing wrong with standing behind him." The committee refused to comment on how much money has been raised for Gyles so far. [COMMENTS BY DON B. - |
Your Financial Donations are Greatly Appreciated The • |