| From the Mississauga News web-site (http://www.mississauga.com/article/full/fullview/1AUUX-24), if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections: Opening comments - more at end. Sept. 5, 2001 - Mississauga News - By DECLAN FINUCANE Ward seat given back to Gyles Court ruling Embattled Ward 5 Councillor Cliff Gyles was expected to resume his official duties today at City Hall after winning another legal skirmish. The Ontario Supreme Court has ruled that Gyles can once again function as both City of Mississauga and Peel Region councillor while charges against him of municipal corruption, fraud and perjury are dealt with in court. Gyles, 57, who was stripped of his political duties for a second time after a Brampton judge imposed a series of restrictive bail conditions July 18, was expected to take part in today's City of Mississauga General Committee meeting. "He'll be doing the job he was elected to do," Gyles' lawyer Alan Gold told The News yesterday. The ruling, handed down from the province's highest court, marked the second time since Gyles' arrest last February the councillor has regained the right to function at the council table after previously having those duties stripped via bail conditions. Gyles, already facing charges of municipal corruption after his initial arrest, was arrested a second time and had new charges laid against him July 18. The same day a Brampton judge imposed bail conditions on Gyles that banned him from performing his duties as both a City and Regional councillor. Gold said he immediately appealed the bail restrictions with the Ontario Supreme Court, which heard the appeal last Friday. On May 1, Gyles regained his seat as a full-time Ward 5 representative when a Brampton judge dropped bail conditions that had been imposed Feb. 23. Gyles is scheduled to appear in Brampton court again next Tuesday. He was initially charged with municipal corruption, breach of trust and fraud against the government. In July, Gyles was charged with several counts of fraud and two counts of perjury. 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 earlier this summer. In addition to the criminal proceedings, Gyles' campaign expenses related to last November's municipal election are also under investigation. On May 23, City council gave the go-ahead for a compliance audit of Gyles' 2000 election expenses after a voter filed a request with the City. The accounting firm hired to crunch those numbers has not yet completed the task. Meanwhile, the Malton Black Development Association issued a statement yesterday supporting Gyles' right to retain his seat as both a City and Regional councillor while the charges are dealt with in court. Several members of the community have called for Gyles' resignation. "On the issue of resignation, it is the position of this organization that if Councillor Gyles is coerced or pressured into such action, that would indeed compromise the integrity of the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty and replace it with one of guilt until proven innocent," the statement reads. Under the Municipal Act, elected officials who have been charged are allowed to keep their seats unless they're convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to jail. Gyles, a Ward 5 trustee with Peel's public school board from 1980 to 1997, is Canada's longest-serving African Canadian politician, having served at the school board and City for a combined 21 years. In February, 1997, he was one of 13 people to receive an African Canadian Achievement Award, sponsored annually by the Scarborough-based Pride Newspaper. The awards have been delivered to people and organizations outstanding in their field since 1985. The award recognized Gyles for his contributions to education and his longevity on the Canadian political scene. [COMMENTS BY DON B. - ] |
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