Pride may have seized their money but embattled Emo Township is showing it still has some pride left.
Mayor and council are not surrendering. They may be down and have even seen their chief magistrate’s bank account drained of $5,000 to honour a judgement against them, but the Emo township council has decided to fight on against Borderland Pride and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO).
“The township of Emo has decided to seek judicial review of the decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. As the matter is proceeding to the Divisional Court, we will not be commenting further at this time.”
They added, “The township does wish to state that it made a declaration of equality in 2022, which remains in effect today” and in that they did declare the LGBT community as being equal. What they didn’t do is vote back then, or since, is designate the whole month of June as Pride month or fly the Pride flag in the tiny remote Northern Ontario hamlet.
The HRTO admonished Emo Mayor Harold McQuaker, 76, for his comments that there was not a straight month or flag to be flying and not only fined his township $10,000 and himself $5,000, but they went into his bank account and garnisheed it.
Borderland Pride, of nearby Fort Frances, was thrilled – posting to X, “Sure, sex is great, but have you ever garnished your mayor’s bank account after he publicly refused to comply with a Tribunal’s order to pay damages?”
Of course, while all of Ontario’s mayors and political leaders stayed silent, it appears McQuaker’s own five-member council has decided to not throw in the towel and bend to this strong-arming, which the Mayor has called “extortion” and weaponized human right’s Stalinism.
The Mayor and council have decided to continue the Battle for Emo – and that includes still refusing to attend a re-education course.
Meanwhile, Borderland Pride Director and Co-chair Doug Judson, whom is also a lawyer, issued a statement saying, “We unequivocally condemn this mayor and council” and “will vigorously defend our rights, and the rights of all 2SLGBTQIA+ people to be treated without discrimination by public officeholders” and insist “this judicial review represents the further mismanagement of hundreds of thousands of dollars by a small, cash-strapped town council – all to wage a homophobic and transphobic litigation vendetta and to protect one 76-year-old man’s fragile ego.”
Their full statement is below.
There’s no peace coming to Emo this holiday season as both sides fight for their pride. What should happen, in my opinion, is that Borderland Pride should take their win, give Mayor McQuaker back his $5,000, choose not to collect the $10,000 from Emo taxpayers and let this go.
It’s already gone way too far in a free country. A mediator and compromise is needed instead of war.
The best place to sort this out is at the ballot box in the next election. Borderland Pride can run against McQuaker and council and people can vote their choice.
But so far, there doesn’t seem to be an appetite to settle this. Borderland Pride appears mocking and whimsical while the Mayor and council appear closed off and mistrusting.
The Mayor did say in my last phone contact with him that he appreciates all the support from around the world.
Meanwhile, Borderland Pride is offering up special coffee mugs on their Facebook page with a quote from one of my earlier columns that stated: “And a country understands Borderland Pride is the new boss.”
The quote is credited to the Toronto Sun on the mug, but a post on their Facebook reads: “With thanks to Joe Warmington for inspiring the holiday gift of the season.”
I teased with a comment on their site asking, “Should I hire Douglas Judson to sue for copyright lol,” and they responded, “To be clear, we are not making money off of them.”
Borderland Pride also offered to send me a mug, saying, “It’s not every day we are the subject of so much ongoing coverage.”
Judson’s law partner and Borderland Pride’s co-chair Peter Howie offered a post, “If you are offended that we put this on a mug, I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, that your hurt snowflake fragile feelings bring me joy.”
Spoken like the boss.
But what Borderland Pride and Mayor McQuaker should know is what would bring me joy this Christmas season is for all of these fellow Canadians to stop this mean fight, shake hands and go into 2025 drinking from the same mug.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
Borderland Pride’s full statement on Emo’s decision to seek a judicial review:
“Yesterday we were served with a Notice of Application for Judicial Review on behalf of the Corporation of the Township of Emo and the Mayor Harold McQuaker. The Township and Mayor McQuaker are represented by separate, taxpayer-funded law firms.
“An application for judicial review is not an appeal. It is a process by which the court reviews the decision of an administrative body or tribunal. This application asks the court to overturn the November 20 decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, which found that by denying Borderland Pride the service of issuing a proclamation, the municipality discriminated against us, contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code.
“The Tribunal ordered $15,000 in compensation, $5,000 of which was to be paid by Mayor McQuaker, given his bad faith, homophobic comments justifying the discriminatory decision. The Mayor and municipal CAO were also ordered to complete a 30-minute online training module, which the CAO has completed but the Mayor refuses to do.
“Judicial review is a procedural right; however, the applicants face a heavy burden. Section 45.8 of the Human Rights Code prevents an order of the Tribunal from being set aside unless it is “patently unreasonable”. Section 47(2) of the Code also gives it primacy over all other provincial legislation, which would include the statutory immunity provisions of the Municipal Act that apply to members of council. The applicants have also failed to make use of the Tribunal’s reconsideration process prior to launching this court application.
“All of this is aside from the reality that the application needlessly challenges interpretations of the Human Rights Code that have been settled for almost 30 years. It makes unnecessary attacks against our organization and its volunteers for exercising their right to enforce a Tribunal order.
“The application reflects the far-right political obsession with the legal rights of queer and trans people. It attacks the civil rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Ontario to access municipal services free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It attempts to conflate the personal political views and bigotry of members of council with the legal, institutional role of the municipal corporation in our communities. This is entirely unacceptable.
“The Township has refused to disclose to the community how much money it has paid to lawyers over the past four years to defend its discriminatory actions, despite being given several opportunities to resolve and move forward. Taxpayers have a right to know how well their hard-earned money is being spent. Sadly, they remain in the dark. This judicial review represents the further mismanagement of hundreds of thousands of dollars by a small, cash-strapped town council — all to wage a homophobic and transphobic litigation vendetta and to protect one 76-year-old man’s fragile ego.
“The decision to pursue judicial review by this council reflects their continued abdication of municipal leadership, their failure to promote community safety and respect for law and legal institutions, a blatant disrespect for taxpayers, and a tacit endorsement of weeks-long threats of violence against members of our organization.
“We unequivocally condemn this mayor and council. We will vigorously defend our rights, and the rights of all 2SLGBTQIA+ people to be treated without discrimination by public officeholders, regardless of where they live in this province.”
Borderland Pride is currently fundraising to offset some of the costs of its representation. Donations can be made online at www.borderlandpride.org/donate. Donations received by December 31, 2024 are eligible for charitable donation receipts from Veritas Charity Services.
For more information, please contact:
Douglas W. Judson (he/him)
Director/Co-Chair
Email: [email protected]
The HRTO admonished Emo Mayor Harold McQuaker, 76, for his comments that there was not a straight month or flag to be flying and not only fined his township $10,000 and himself $5,000, but they went into his bank account and garnisheed it.
Borderland Pride, of nearby Fort Frances, was thrilled – posting to X, “Sure, sex is great, but have you ever garnished your mayor’s bank account after he publicly refused to comply with a Tribunal’s order to pay damages?”
Of course, while all of Ontario’s mayors and political leaders stayed silent, it appears McQuaker’s own five-member council has decided to not throw in the towel and bend to this strong-arming, which the Mayor has called “extortion” and weaponized human right’s Stalinism.
The Mayor and council have decided to continue the Battle for Emo – and that includes still refusing to attend a re-education course.
Meanwhile, Borderland Pride Director and Co-chair Doug Judson, whom is also a lawyer, issued a statement saying, “We unequivocally condemn this mayor and council” and “will vigorously defend our rights, and the rights of all 2SLGBTQIA+ people to be treated without discrimination by public officeholders” and insist “this judicial review represents the further mismanagement of hundreds of thousands of dollars by a small, cash-strapped town council – all to wage a homophobic and transphobic litigation vendetta and to protect one 76-year-old man’s fragile ego.”
Their full statement is below.
There’s no peace coming to Emo this holiday season as both sides fight for their pride. What should happen, in my opinion, is that Borderland Pride should take their win, give Mayor McQuaker back his $5,000, choose not to collect the $10,000 from Emo taxpayers and let this go.
It’s already gone way too far in a free country. A mediator and compromise is needed instead of war.
The best place to sort this out is at the ballot box in the next election. Borderland Pride can run against McQuaker and council and people can vote their choice.
But so far, there doesn’t seem to be an appetite to settle this. Borderland Pride appears mocking and whimsical while the Mayor and council appear closed off and mistrusting.
The Mayor did say in my last phone contact with him that he appreciates all the support from around the world.
Meanwhile, Borderland Pride is offering up special coffee mugs on their Facebook page with a quote from one of my earlier columns that stated: “And a country understands Borderland Pride is the new boss.”
The quote is credited to the Toronto Sun on the mug, but a post on their Facebook reads: “With thanks to Joe Warmington for inspiring the holiday gift of the season.”
I teased with a comment on their site asking, “Should I hire Douglas Judson to sue for copyright lol,” and they responded, “To be clear, we are not making money off of them.”
Borderland Pride also offered to send me a mug, saying, “It’s not every day we are the subject of so much ongoing coverage.”
Judson’s law partner and Borderland Pride’s co-chair Peter Howie offered a post, “If you are offended that we put this on a mug, I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, that your hurt snowflake fragile feelings bring me joy.”
Spoken like the boss.
But what Borderland Pride and Mayor McQuaker should know is what would bring me joy this Christmas season is for all of these fellow Canadians to stop this mean fight, shake hands and go into 2025 drinking from the same mug.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
Borderland Pride’s full statement on Emo’s decision to seek a judicial review:
“Yesterday we were served with a Notice of Application for Judicial Review on behalf of the Corporation of the Township of Emo and the Mayor Harold McQuaker. The Township and Mayor McQuaker are represented by separate, taxpayer-funded law firms.
“An application for judicial review is not an appeal. It is a process by which the court reviews the decision of an administrative body or tribunal. This application asks the court to overturn the November 20 decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, which found that by denying Borderland Pride the service of issuing a proclamation, the municipality discriminated against us, contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code.
“The Tribunal ordered $15,000 in compensation, $5,000 of which was to be paid by Mayor McQuaker, given his bad faith, homophobic comments justifying the discriminatory decision. The Mayor and municipal CAO were also ordered to complete a 30-minute online training module, which the CAO has completed but the Mayor refuses to do.
“Judicial review is a procedural right; however, the applicants face a heavy burden. Section 45.8 of the Human Rights Code prevents an order of the Tribunal from being set aside unless it is “patently unreasonable”. Section 47(2) of the Code also gives it primacy over all other provincial legislation, which would include the statutory immunity provisions of the Municipal Act that apply to members of council. The applicants have also failed to make use of the Tribunal’s reconsideration process prior to launching this court application.
“All of this is aside from the reality that the application needlessly challenges interpretations of the Human Rights Code that have been settled for almost 30 years. It makes unnecessary attacks against our organization and its volunteers for exercising their right to enforce a Tribunal order.
“The application reflects the far-right political obsession with the legal rights of queer and trans people. It attacks the civil rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Ontario to access municipal services free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It attempts to conflate the personal political views and bigotry of members of council with the legal, institutional role of the municipal corporation in our communities. This is entirely unacceptable.
“The Township has refused to disclose to the community how much money it has paid to lawyers over the past four years to defend its discriminatory actions, despite being given several opportunities to resolve and move forward. Taxpayers have a right to know how well their hard-earned money is being spent. Sadly, they remain in the dark. This judicial review represents the further mismanagement of hundreds of thousands of dollars by a small, cash-strapped town council — all to wage a homophobic and transphobic litigation vendetta and to protect one 76-year-old man’s fragile ego.
“The decision to pursue judicial review by this council reflects their continued abdication of municipal leadership, their failure to promote community safety and respect for law and legal institutions, a blatant disrespect for taxpayers, and a tacit endorsement of weeks-long threats of violence against members of our organization.
“We unequivocally condemn this mayor and council. We will vigorously defend our rights, and the rights of all 2SLGBTQIA+ people to be treated without discrimination by public officeholders, regardless of where they live in this province.”
Borderland Pride is currently fundraising to offset some of the costs of its representation. Donations can be made online at www.borderlandpride.org/donate. Donations received by December 31, 2024 are eligible for charitable donation receipts from Veritas Charity Services.
For more information, please contact:
Douglas W. Judson (he/him)
Director/Co-Chair
Email: [email protected]
The best place to sort this out is at the ballot box in the next election. Borderland Pride can run against McQuaker and council and people can vote their choice.
But so far, there doesn’t seem to be an appetite to settle this. Borderland Pride appears mocking and whimsical while the Mayor and council appear closed off and mistrusting.
The Mayor did say in my last phone contact with him that he appreciates all the support from around the world.
Meanwhile, Borderland Pride is offering up special coffee mugs on their Facebook page with a quote from one of my earlier columns that stated: “And a country understands Borderland Pride is the new boss.”
The quote is credited to the Toronto Sun on the mug, but a post on their Facebook reads: “With thanks to Joe Warmington for inspiring the holiday gift of the season.”
I teased with a comment on their site asking, “Should I hire Douglas Judson to sue for copyright lol,” and they responded, “To be clear, we are not making money off of them.”
Borderland Pride also offered to send me a mug, saying, “It’s not every day we are the subject of so much ongoing coverage.”
Judson’s law partner and Borderland Pride’s co-chair Peter Howie offered a post, “If you are offended that we put this on a mug, I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, that your hurt snowflake fragile feelings bring me joy.”
Spoken like the boss.
But what Borderland Pride and Mayor McQuaker should know is what would bring me joy this Christmas season is for all of these fellow Canadians to stop this mean fight, shake hands and go into 2025 drinking from the same mug.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
Borderland Pride’s full statement on Emo’s decision to seek a judicial review:
“Yesterday we were served with a Notice of Application for Judicial Review on behalf of the Corporation of the Township of Emo and the Mayor Harold McQuaker. The Township and Mayor McQuaker are represented by separate, taxpayer-funded law firms.
“An application for judicial review is not an appeal. It is a process by which the court reviews the decision of an administrative body or tribunal. This application asks the court to overturn the November 20 decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, which found that by denying Borderland Pride the service of issuing a proclamation, the municipality discriminated against us, contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code.
“The Tribunal ordered $15,000 in compensation, $5,000 of which was to be paid by Mayor McQuaker, given his bad faith, homophobic comments justifying the discriminatory decision. The Mayor and municipal CAO were also ordered to complete a 30-minute online training module, which the CAO has completed but the Mayor refuses to do.
“Judicial review is a procedural right; however, the applicants face a heavy burden. Section 45.8 of the Human Rights Code prevents an order of the Tribunal from being set aside unless it is “patently unreasonable”. Section 47(2) of the Code also gives it primacy over all other provincial legislation, which would include the statutory immunity provisions of the Municipal Act that apply to members of council. The applicants have also failed to make use of the Tribunal’s reconsideration process prior to launching this court application.
“All of this is aside from the reality that the application needlessly challenges interpretations of the Human Rights Code that have been settled for almost 30 years. It makes unnecessary attacks against our organization and its volunteers for exercising their right to enforce a Tribunal order.
“The application reflects the far-right political obsession with the legal rights of queer and trans people. It attacks the civil rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Ontario to access municipal services free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It attempts to conflate the personal political views and bigotry of members of council with the legal, institutional role of the municipal corporation in our communities. This is entirely unacceptable.
“The Township has refused to disclose to the community how much money it has paid to lawyers over the past four years to defend its discriminatory actions, despite being given several opportunities to resolve and move forward. Taxpayers have a right to know how well their hard-earned money is being spent. Sadly, they remain in the dark. This judicial review represents the further mismanagement of hundreds of thousands of dollars by a small, cash-strapped town council — all to wage a homophobic and transphobic litigation vendetta and to protect one 76-year-old man’s fragile ego.
“The decision to pursue judicial review by this council reflects their continued abdication of municipal leadership, their failure to promote community safety and respect for law and legal institutions, a blatant disrespect for taxpayers, and a tacit endorsement of weeks-long threats of violence against members of our organization.
“We unequivocally condemn this mayor and council. We will vigorously defend our rights, and the rights of all 2SLGBTQIA+ people to be treated without discrimination by public officeholders, regardless of where they live in this province.”
Borderland Pride is currently fundraising to offset some of the costs of its representation. Donations can be made online at www.borderlandpride.org/donate. Donations received by December 31, 2024 are eligible for charitable donation receipts from Veritas Charity Services.
For more information, please contact:
Douglas W. Judson (he/him)
Director/Co-Chair
Email: [email protected]
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