Cornwall Ontario – October 22, 2018 is almost here. Time to reflect before casting that vote.

In the words of Albert Einstein:

“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil but because of those who look on and do nothing”

…which continues to reflect this Councils lack of ability to provide much transparency of any kind. They may find doing the right thing is just too difficult, exhausting and time consuming to address for the taxpayers.

Cornwall is a small City with sky rocketing taxes and a declining population. It is a border town on the St. Lawrence River.  This asset could so easily be developed in a way that both the community and tourist can take advantage while generating revenue.

I see that that Councillor Clement recently did a video after the legal clinic received training from Alzheimer Society. It is like closing the barn door after the horses are gone, considering she sat on the GSDL Management Committee for years and dealt with at least two whistle-blower cases that impacted residents with Alzheimer’s/dementia.

In 2010 she met with Registered Nurse Julie Johnston for an hour at the legal clinic to talk about her written complaint, the same complaint that mysteriously vanished twice from councillors mail boxes. Ultimately it became an interrogation of Ms. Johnston’s by Ms. Clement about her relationship with Ms. Derouchie rather than confronting the real issues of resident care. It makes you wonder where her loyalties lie?

Then again in 2010 there was Deputy Chief Hickley’s complaint related to the hiring Mayor Kilger’s son as a firefighter. Interesting how all of these investigations are going on and council knew nothing. I guess claiming ignorance give them plausible deniability.

I am attaching a written transcript of Mayor O’Shaughnessy’s 2014 “meet and greet” that I attended where he identified his goals so passionately but has done nothing in the last 4 years to meet these goals. Councils lack of responsibility and accountability has now made it impossible for others to speak out allowing this culture of fear to thrive.

I never realized how complicated simply doing the right thing would become with three city managers and an army of lawyers (at $400.00 to $600.00 hr.) attacking me. The lawyers included John Saunders, Guy Reginald, and Lynne Watt at different stages. In the middle of all this came Judith Allen who was suppose to INVESTIGATE my complaint. She added two more lawyers to the mix, David Sheriff Scott and Mark Jocelyn to deal with any conflict of interest issues. Her witness interviews were unprofessional, inconsistent and harassing,  producing a report that some councillors threw in the garbage or refused to finish reading.

Yet, councillors Clement, Dupelle, E. MacDonald, Murphy, O’Shaughnessy, Rivette and Carr were all on council when this report adopted even after Ms. Allen refused to attend to answer questions. Both of these actions by council and Ms. Allen speaks to how non transparent this council was and still is.

Now if we add in Rob Menagh’s and Donna Derouchie’s lawyers and settlements, you have 11 elected officials collectively voting to spend millions of tax dollars because Paul Fitzpatrick told them to do it.

The Whistle-blowers on the other hand, confronted all of them with every once of strength they had giving up careers, income, health and many personal relationships to do the right thing and protect public safety.

Ultimately voting is an individual decision and my hope is that the information in my last three articles will help you to make an informed one.   LINK

Take care,

Diane Shay

Copy of Transcripts of Leslie O Shaughnessy

16 Comments

  1. “Yet, councillors Clement, Dupelle, E. MacDonald, Murphy, O’Shaughnessy, Rivette and Carr were all on council when this report adopted even after Ms. Allen refused to attend to answer questions. Both of these actions by council and Ms. Allen speaks to how non transparent this council was and still is”.
    The above individuals (bus drivers ?) need to GO ! VOTE THEM OUT ! Right a wrong ?

  2. Has the actual costs of this fiasco, cover-up, stench, back-room deal, etc,etc, ever been made public ? WHY NOT ? To follow up on Diane’s theme, “you have 11 elected officials collectively voting to spend millions of tax dollars because Paul Fitzpatrick told them to do it.” Personally, I call the above sheep ? Including Mayor Les (bus driver) , send them packing ? Thank you !

  3. Diane,
    they violated all laws and council was in a position to fire them all but didn’t. They all have to go!! ALL OF THEM!

  4. Diane, you took the right and legally expected action as a City employee in reporting the abuse of an innocent elder by a healthcare worker. The abuse you suffered from co-workers remains shocking but not unbelievable. At least Andre Rivette stood ground, even in the face of retaliation, representing the decency that does exist in Cornwall. I think of you often.

  5. Share the shame!

  6. Diane , I too think of your case quite often , no doubt because of the election & how poorly you were treated. Really funny thing happened the other day , the City ran an ad locally (not in CFN) looking for bus drivers, well, I started to laugh like hell, thinking Les will be applying ! He’ll be looking for work soon ! Stay well !

  7. Leslie O’Shaughnessy is / was a realtor. He’ll probably go back to that after he loses.

  8. Like it or not one of the 4 / 3 will be elected MAYOR shortly .
    Perhaps the discussion on CFN would be better focused on the Best Person
    of those running to fill that important job .

  9. Author

    Sorry BM1- if there’s nobody worthy there is nobody worthy and in this election it’s embarrassing that this group that is running for mayor represents the failures of our city gov’t no matter how big your mancrush on Les is. Why aren’t you mentioning that your son is running for council and giving him a vote of support?

  10. HUGGER I,,, Cannot believe you’ve missed the sarcasm regarding Les (the bus driver) ? lol It just isn’t proper to explain a joke ! Lately, people have been referring to him as the bus driver, due to the perception that he threw Ms Shay “under the bus” ! You feel, he’ll return to realty after he loses, perhaps, “me tinks” Cornwall Transit will grab him ? lol

  11. Unfortunately each member only ha only one voice/vote to fulfil their election promises but they all chose not to use it for for the past fours years. Jamie is right there is no worthy candidate for Mayor. It will be choosing the best of the worst.

    Take Care,

    Diane Shay

  12. Author

    He threw the community under the bus frankly; just like he did David Murphy in this election by running for vote splitting for Flipper.

  13. Sorry Alain St Germain. Sometimes I miss the most obvious sarcasm. But the four running for mayor scare me of what will happen when they’re in charge.

  14. Author

    Why hugger? Each will continue the path of #taxrape emanating from City Hall.

  15. Admin…that is exactly why I am afraid when one of the four is elected.

  16. Mary Ann,

    Yes, Andre did make a significant effort to be transparent in the whistleblower cases, but to quote Rob. Menagh ” I am not the only wolf in the henhouse. There were a pack of them including City Council.

    Take care,

    Diane

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