Maria Gutschi: Health Canada’s change to the definition of ‘Safe and Effective’ Smells of Big Pharma Intimidation

How can they keep saying “safe” and “effective”?

Because the meaning and standards used were changed

I knew from the very beginning that criticizing the “safe” and “effective” narrative using data and facts were doomed to fail. I have spent many years convincing doctors that their safe and effective drugs are not as advertised but outcome data from studies and trials can be massaged. So you end up in the battle of the experts. So I concentrated on manufacturing, and quality and we did get some traction using this approach.

However, to get at the root cause of this narrative, we need to really understand how the national regulatory authorities actually assessed these products. My colleague David Wiseman has been following the FDA process for 3 years and dissects how the FDA went off the rails. He talks about it here:

David Wiseman on Trial Site News start at 39:45 or thereabouts

I will attempt to do the same for Health Canada.

Safe and Effective is a Term Defined in Law and Regulation

Interim Order

Canada did not have existing legislation that could be applied to authorization of a drug product in the context of a pandemic. The FDA used their existing EUA developed for a pandemic, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) used a “fast track” or accelerated pathway used many times before and just adaped to the pandemic. I think this is why the EMA’s review is the most complete.

Canada therefore, introduced a temporary emergency authorization as a new legal rule, the Interim Order (IO), for a specific one-year time period, promulgated September 20, 2020. The IO was also designed to support “intellectual property considerations” so that there would be no delay in access to COVID-19 treatments for Canadians.

“Seriously? I think there is another rabbit hole there. I worked for the patent regime in Canada as a scientific officer and this smells of intimidation by Pharma to me.”

Comparison of Interim Order to Notice of Compliance (NOC)

Here I compare in a draft document I am writing how a normal drug is assessed to receive what is called a Notice of Compliance (NOC) in order for the manufacturer to market and sell the product. This is also a ‘full approval.’ Canada does not have a separate authorization for vaccines or biologics vs regular drugs. These are all considered “drugs” under the Food and Drugs Act. The FDA grants a specific biologic authorization for biologics, vaccines and gene therapies called the Biologic License Application or BLA.

 

Do you see it?

In regulations for an NOC in C.08.002(2) you need to establish the safety of a new drug with detailed report (part 2g). And you need substantial evidence of clinical effectiveness (part 2h)

In the Interim Order the Minister MUST approve? Really? Sufficient evidence that the benefits outweigh potential risks. So no standard for establishing safety and efficacy THEN doing a benefit vs risk assessment like we do for a regular approval. Basically if a ham sandwich looked liked it did something, the Minister was required to approve.

Read more

BREAKING: Canada’s Parliament Considers Detective Helen Grus Case

Order Paper Questions Government Health Authorities’ Influence Re Grus Investigation into Sudden Infant Deaths

MP Cathay Wagantall Demands Communications Mentioning: Deputy Chief Steven Bell, Superintendent Heather Lachine, Inspector Hugh O’Toole, Prosecutor Vanessa Stewart

The case of Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus and her investigation into a cluster of Sudden Infant Deaths in the Ottawa area is being raised in Canada’s Parliament. According to the rules, the Government must now provide a written answer within 45 days.

MP Cathay Wagantall (CPC)

Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus is charged with ‘Discreditable Conduct’ under the Ontario Police Services Act for conducting “unauthorized” investigations into the sudden deaths of nine infants. The next Hearing is on Monday, March 25, 2024.

Grus was investigating any potential connection between the vaccination status of the mothers and the sudden deaths of breastfeeding babies. Ottawa Police shut down her investigation, ordered her to stop, and charged her with an internal disciplinary charge.

My independent journalism revealed that Public Health Agency of Canada personnel sought to influence the Ottawa Police investigation of Detective Grus as early as March 2022, and even continuing after she was charged in July of 2022. (My April 27, 2023 article here)

Now a Conservative Member of Parliament is formally demanding answers about the Grus Case by placing questions on the Order Paper.

The just-published Thursday March 21, 2024, Order Paper includes the following question by MP Cathay Wagantall, Member for Yorkton-Melville, Saskatchewan…

Q-24332 — March 14, 2024 —  Mrs. Wagantall (Yorkton—Melville) — With regard to Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, National Advisory Committee on Immunization and Privy Council communications in 2022:

(a) were there communications between any of the entities or their personnel with the Ottawa Police Services Board or Ottawa Police Services personnel or the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario;

(b) if the answer to (a) is affirmative, was any of the communication with respect to Detective Helen Grus, stillbirths or deaths of infants under one year;

(c) if the answer to (b) is affirmative, what are the details of each communication, including the (i) date, (ii) type of communication such as memorandum, telephone conversation, fax, or email, (iii) subject, (iv) reports produced as a result of the communication, (v) names of people included or copied on the communication;

(d) were any of the named entities above or their personnel included in communications involving one or more of the following individuals, Deputy Chief Steven Bell, Superintendent Heather Lachine, Hugh O’Toole of the Professional Standards Branch, Prosecutor Vanessa Stewart, or the Ontario Coroner’s office; and

(e) if the answer to (d) is affirmative, what are the details of each communication, including the (i) date, (ii) type of communication, (iii) subject, (iv) reports produced as a result of the communication, (v) names of people included or copied on the communication?

Question Q-2433 can be found at the Parliamentary Website here.

Here is the Order Paper in pdf: ordpaper293

More Coming Soon

 

MP Cathay Wagantall

Website – CathayWagantall.CA

Twitter / X

Instagram

Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus Not Allowed Any Defense Witnesses

Dr. Eric Payne, Dr. James Thorpe, Dr. Gregory Chan, Ottawa Police S/Sgt (retired) Peter Danyluk, Lawyer Shawn Buckley – Ottawa Police Tribunal Rejects Every Defense Witness!

Hearing Officer Chris Renwick refuses to allow testimony from any of the five defense witnesses proposed by Detective Grus’s legal team.

Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus is charged with ‘Discreditable Conduct’ under the Ontario Police Services Act for conducting “unauthorized” investigations into the sudden deaths of nine infants.

“Why even pretend to have this sham trial? The verdict’s already been decided. The fix is in.”

(Ottawa Police Staff Sergeant ‘B’ commenting to journalist Donald Best)

Detective Grus was investigating any potential connection between the vaccination status of the mothers and the sudden deaths of breastfeeding babies. Ottawa Police shut down her investigation, ordered her to stop, and charged her with an internal disciplinary charge.

In a decision dated November 26, 2023, Hearing Officer Renwick rejected all five defense expert witnesses – three medical doctors, a retired Ottawa Police Staff Sergeant, and a Regulatory lawyer.

Let me paraphrase the legalese of Renwick’s decision with the truth…

Trials Officer Supt (Retired) Chris Renwick

Renwick essentially found that he doesn’t require the testimony of the witnesses as they are biased and will present evidence in favour of Detective Grus.

Oh… he says it a little differently but the core of his decision is evident to anyone with any sense of justice.

For instance, Dr. James Thorpe had expressed an opinion that “the Ottawa Police Service should be investigated for their political prosecution of Detective Grus.”

So no testimony from Dr. James Thorpe.

“S/Sgt. Danyluk, in written response to a questionnaire, provides his respectful opinion that the disciplinary system is being used against Cst. Grus where leadership should have been applied and there was a failure in not investigating the media leak.”

So no testimony from retired Staff Sergeant Peter Danyluk – a recognized expert in police ethics.

Lawyer Shaun Buckley “was a moderator at the April 26, 2023 National Citizen’s Inquiry who put questions to a witness, former RCMP Corporal Daniel Bulford, on Cst. Grus’ actions and subsequent PSA charges – whereas Dr. Eric Payne and Dr. Gregory Chan were witnesses at the Inquiry.”

So no testimony from Shawn Buckley, Dr. Eric Payne, or Dr. Gregory Chan.

And there you have it folks…

The Ottawa Police Tribunal will not allow Detective Grus to call any defense witnesses.

Dr. Eric Payne, Paediatric Neurology – NOT ALLOWED

Dr. James Thorp, Obstetrics and Gynecology – NOT ALLOWED

Dr. Gregory Chan, Family Medicine – NOT ALLOWED

Ottawa Police Staff Sergeant (retired) Peter Danyluk – NOT ALLOWED

Lawyer Shawn Buckley. – NOT ALLOWED

A sham trial by a sham tribunal.

Ruling on Proposed Expert Witnesses for Defence

This is the November 26, 2023 ruling by Ottawa Police Hearing Officer Superintendent (retired) Chris Renwick.

Having attended every day of the Grus Hearing in August and October/November, 2023 – I can assure each of my readers that there is NO WAY that Hearing Officer Renwick wrote the attached Ruling. Not a snowball’s chance. Never happened.

Which raises the question… Do Ottawa Police Hearing Officers have independent legal counsel to assist in crafting their decisions? If not, the obvious writer of this decision is at best a lawyer employed by the Ottawa Police, and at worst the prosecutor herself.

Here is the Tribunal decision in .pdf format…

Grus Case Ruling on Proposed Expert Witnesses for Defence

Grus Expert Witness Decision scanned

The Memo Book Scandal

Hearing Officer Chris Renwick also won’t allow Detective Grus to examine her own handwritten memo book notes for the very date and event she is charged with. (I’ll be covering that part of the story in more detail later this week.)

Full Listing of Detective Grus News Stories Here

Lies, Defamation, & Hypocrisy: CBC, Ottawa Citizen, CTV Reporting of Ottawa Police Settlement in Detective Grus Parental Complaint

Ottawa Police strategically settle a parental compliant the day before Detective Grus’s Judicial Review Hearing

CBC, Ottawa Citizen, CTV deliberately lied to public, Defamed Detective Helen Grus

 

* CBC, Ottawa Citizen, CTV know that court evidence showed Detective Grus did NOT access the ‘vaccination records’ of the deceased infants – but the outlets nonetheless reported this falsehood on December 7, 2023.

* CBC, Ottawa Citizen, CTV know that court evidence showed that in March 2022, rogue Ottawa Police officers illegally released confidential information to CBC reporter Shaamini Yogaretnam – who then presented an ultimatum to the Ottawa Police Service that the police had only 24 hours to contact the parents of the deceased infants before CBC broke the story.

* CBC, Ottawa Citizen, CTV know that court evidence has shown Detective Grus had absolutely nothing to do with the public release of any information about her investigation of the cluster of nine sudden infant deaths.

* CBC, Ottawa Citizen, CTV know that court evidence showed it was CBC and reporter Shaamini Yogaretnam and the news media’s reporting of stolen confidential police information that resulted in the current OPS settlement.

* CBC, Ottawa Citizen, CTV. also know that the family involved in the OPS settlement includes two Public Health Agency of Canada personnel who monitored and actively sought to influence the OPS investigation of Detective Grus from March, 2022, and even after she was charged in July 2022.

* CBC, Ottawa Citizen, CTV know that the Public Health Agency of Canada is part of the government group that advised and mandated experimental mRNA injections – even declaring that the injections were safe and effective for pregnant women and breastfeeding babies.

* Media Outlets defamed and attacked Detective Helen Grus, calling her ‘rogue’, and dehumanizing and degrading her in public – when those media outlets know that Grus had nothing to do with the illegal release of confidential police information. These media outlets know that court evidence showed the Ottawa Police refused to investigate the rogue police officers who illegally provided confidential police information to CBC reporter Shaamini Yogaretnam.

* CBC, Ottawa Citizen, CTV know that court evidence showed the Ottawa Police illegally, abusively WIRETAPPED Detective Grus and her family – yet they refuse to report this to the public.

 

Why Do Canadian Media Outlets Promote Lies, Corruption, Defamation, and Cover-ups?

Shaamini Yogaretnam CBC Reporter

Yesterday CBC, Ottawa Citizen, and CTV – all government-subsidized news outlets – published reports of a settlement between the Ottawa Police and mother of a deceased infant who complained of privacy violations but did not file a lawsuit.

The timing of this monetary settlement was clearly a strategic decision by the Ottawa Police Service (OPS). The OPS faces imminent embarrassment and exposure in today’s December 8, 2023, Divisional Court Judicial Review application filed by Detective Helen Grus’s defense lawyers.

The settlement, media release, and published news articles are clearly intended to impact public opinion on the day of a court hearing where Grus’s lawyers have filed court documents detailing extreme bias by both the prosecution and Hearing Officer Chris Renwick in the internal trial of Detective Helen Grus.

Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus is charged with ‘Discreditable Conduct’ under the Ontario Police Services Act for conducting “unauthorized” investigations into the sudden deaths of nine infants. Detective Grus was investigating any potential connection between the vaccination status of the mothers and the sudden deaths of breastfeeding babies.

In ten days of prosecution hearings in August and October / November 2023, this reporter witnessed firsthand many of the incidents of bias by the Hearing Officer, and outrageous behaviour by Prosecutor Vanessa Stewart. Among other excesses, Prosecutor Stewart weaponized ‘objections’ to prevent Grus’s defense lawyers from effectively cross-examining prosecution witnesses.

Trials Officer Supt. Chris Renwick

Prosecutor Stewart was so obviously attempting to protect the prosecution witnesses from impeachment – one of whom was her own family member sister-in-law Detective Renee Stewart. This conflict of interest was only revealed on the last day of the August hearings and shocked all public observers in the court.

More shocking, however, was that Hearing Officer Superintendent (Retired) Chris Renwick knew and approved of the conflict of interest.

Hearing Officer Renwick Refuses ALL Defence Expert Witnesses

In a decision dated November 26, 2023, Hearing Officer Chris Renwick DISALLOWED ALL FIVE DEFENCE WITNESSES.

Detective Grus’s lawyers sought to have three medical experts, one police expert, and one legal expert testify…

Dr. Eric Payne, Paediatric Neurology,

Dr. James Thorp, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Gregory Chan, Family Medicine

Ottawa Police Staff Sergeant (retired) Peter Danyluk

Lawyer Shawn Buckley

The biased Tribunal Hearing Officer Chris Renwick disallowed every defense witness.

December 7, 2023 Media Articles

CBC: Ottawa police board settles with family over invasion of privacy

CTV News: Ottawa police board settles with family over officer who accessed dead child’s vaccine records

Ottawa Citizen: Family settles privacy complaint with Ottawa Police Services Board

Much More to Come

This story broke late Thursday, December 7, 2023.

Tune in to The Lavigne Show on Friday, December 8, 2023 at 8am Eastern time when Vlad Tepes, Jason Lavigne and yours truly will provide full coverage.

You can see the show on X (Twitter) @donaldbestca

And on Rumble… The Lavigne Show – with Vlad Tepes and Donald Best

Ottawa Street Cops Unaware Police Union Abandoned Detective Helen Grus

Ottawa Police Association Paid Legal Fees for On-Duty Rapist – but not for Detective Grus charged with ‘unauthorized’ on-duty investigation of infant deaths.

An informal survey of 37 Ottawa Police patrol officers from August to November 2023 revealed that not one was aware that their own union – the Ottawa Police Association – is not paying legal fees for Detective Helen Grus.

Detective Helen Grus is charged with ‘Discreditable Conduct’ for conducting a purported “unauthorized” investigation into the potential connection between mRNA vaccinated mothers, and the sudden deaths of breastfeeding babies.

Detective Grus conducted her investigation ON DUTY, and after informing then Ottawa Chief of Police Peter Sloly about a significant increase in sudden infant deaths. Detective Grus presented her official criminal investigation file to Professional Standards investigator Sgt. Jason Arbuthnot on May 12, 2022.

The Ottawa Police served Detective Grus with ‘Notice of Increased Penalty’ that she will be fired if convicted. Nonetheless the Ottawa Police Association refused, and continues to refuse, to pay Detective Grus’s legal expenses for the charge arising from her on-duty investigation.

Matthew Cox, Ottawa Police Association President

“The questions that you have put to us are not only rife with inaccuracies, they also relate to internal policy decisions…

Guidelines are established that our members have to follow, and I do not believe it would be appropriate to speak out in the middle of a Police Service Act hearing.

The Association will not be granting your request for an interview. We can, however, confirm that we adhere to fair and transparent business practices, and ensure that all our members are treated equally.”

Matthew Cox, President Ottawa Police Association on November 10, 2023, replying to an interview request. (Media Request + Full Response below.)

Patrol Officers Question Why Some Accused Officers Receive Association Legal Funding and Others Do Not

Ottawa Police Officers told me that they have questions not only about why their police union refuses to pay Detective Grus’s legal fees, but also about what some called “the secretive process” that results in the Association covering legal fees for some members but not for others.

Ottawa Police Association Paid Legal Fees for Officers Accused of On-Duty Rape, Bribe-Taking

Several Ottawa Police Officers informed me that their police union paid at least partial legal expenses for Constable Eric Post – charged in 2018 with 32 criminal offenses against women including sexual assault (rape), forceable confinement, threatening, and pointing a firearm.

It is alleged that some of the criminal events occurred while Post was ‘on duty’, including when he wore his uniform and sidearm into a school classroom where the victim was teaching.

Post victimized numerous women over several years. One victim committed suicide. In 2021, Post pleaded guilty to five criminal charges involving violence against women in a negotiated plea that many found disgusting.

Police sources also state that the Ottawa Police Association paid at least some legal counsel expenses for three Constables charged by an RCMP anti-corruption squad for taking bribes and kickbacks from tow-truck operators for on-duty corruption. Two officers were also involved in a fraudulent insurance report that also involved on-duty criminal acts.

Constables Hussein Assaad, Kevin Putinski, and Andrew Chronopoulos resigned from the Ottawa Police in 2022 after a mixture of pleas and stays.

 

Informal Survey of Ottawa Police Officers Yields Shocking Answers

From August to November 2023, I approached 37 Ottawa Police patrol officers on the street and near various police facilities. I informed the officers that I am a former Toronto Police Sergeant Detective – now an independent journalist – and asked if they were aware of the charges against Detective Grus, and that the Ottawa Police Association is not funding her legal defense.

All 37 officers were unaware that the Ottawa Police Association had refused to fund Detective Grus’s legal expenses. Further, 26 of the officers passionately stated that I must be wrong – that their union would of course be paying Detective Grus’s legal fees.

The disconnect between these officers’ beliefs and their union’s refusal to fund Detective Grus’s legal fees is shocking.

 

“I thought the Association was covering her (Detective Grus’s) lawyer.”

Ottawa Police Constable ‘J’ – August, 2023.

“Officers don’t know that their legal fees aren’t covered until it happens to them. They assume they’re covered for all charges from on-duty things but it’s not true. The Association lets them think that they have their back.”

Ottawa Police Constable ‘J’ – October, 2023. (Same officer as above, two months later)

“The Association is more concerned with saving its bank account than the members who fund it.”

Ottawa Police Constable ‘T’ – October, 2023

“No f’ing way the Association is not paying for her lawyer. I heard the brass wants to fire her.”

“She has to fund raise? WTF?”   (When told of Detective Grus’s GiveSendGo)

Ottawa Police Constable ‘P’ – November, 2023

One Toronto Police Staff-Sergeant blames both Toronto and Ottawa officers for not taking an interest in the Association rules and policies that could impact them – but also acknowledges how decisions to pay member’s legal expenses can be quite arbitrary.

“Toronto Police Officers are ignorant of the Toronto Police Association bylaws about funding legal expenses, and it’s probably the same thing in Ottawa. They should be asking for the bylaws. It’s available to the rank and file and if they don’t read it, that’s their problem.

When the Association Executive is unfair in its discretion that’s something else. It’s happened in Toronto too. Sometimes it depends on who you know in the Executive. It’s not fair but it’s the way it is.”

Toronto Police Staff Sergeant ‘B’ – November, 2023

Union Reps Missing in Action at Detective Grus Trial

Ottawa Police Association union representatives were distinctly absent from the ten days of Detective Grus hearings in August and October / November.

In November one union representative showed up for a few hours.

I forgot to ask OPA President Matthew Cox about this, but he refused to answer any questions so it would not have made a difference.

“I would be pleased to publish any response by Mr. Cox as to why the Ottawa Police Association is so disinterested in the trial of an outstanding Detective who will be fired if convicted.”

Police Association Conflicts of Interest

Some officers told this journalist that the support shown by their police union for the coerced and mandated Covid vaccinations of Ottawa Police Service officers and civilian employees raises questions about Conflicts of Interest by the Ottawa Police Association.

Officers said that the Ottawa Police Association has consistently been in favour of experimental mRNA gene therapy injections for police personnel – and that their leadership failed to stand up for their members’ personal health autonomy and medical privacy.

When the Ottawa Police Service mandated COVID ‘vaccines’ for members, the Ottawa Police Association agreed. OPA President at the time Matt Skoff stated that unlike the Toronto Police Association, the OPA would not oppose the mandates. Further, President Skoff made statements in support of the Ottawa Police Service “(continuing) to pursue high vaccination rates of its members…”

Ottawa Police Association won’t oppose potential vaccine mandate – Ottawa Citizen August 25, 2021

Like the Ottawa Police Service that mandated the experimental injections for all employees, the Ottawa Police Association is a defacto supporter of mandatory mRNA injections and therefore has a real conflict of interest in anything to do with the legal and medical issues surrounding the vaccines.

“It would not be in the interest of the Ottawa Police, the Ottawa Police Association, or the Police Association of Ontario if evidence in the Grus Internal Hearing revealed that the mandatory mRNA vaccine injections cause injuries or deaths…”  Donald Best

Courthouse Prayers for Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus

Media Request for Interview – Matthew Cox

Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at 2:21 PM

From:

Donald Best
Barrie, Ontario

To:

Mr. Matthew Cox,
President
Ottawa Police Association

Re: Detective Helen Grus

Dear Mr. Cox,

I am requesting a media interview about the case of Detective Helen Grus.

I’ve covered the Grus case extensively at my website and in other media. I did live broadcasts at the hearing every day of the recent August and October / November dates. The case is attracting international attention in the US, UK, and Australia where I’ve appeared in various media interviews.

I’m not into ‘ambush’ journalism, so here are the issues I wish to cover in your interview…

My readers and viewers are interested in these issues concerning the Ottawa Police Association and the Detective Grus case…

1/ Why isn’t the Ottawa Police Association covering the legal fees of Detective Grus?

Considerations:

  • At the very least the allegations against Detective Grus were an ‘on duty’ event. Professional Standards and the Hearing Officer have already stated that there is no evidence that the investigation Detective Grus initiated was for a personal purpose. The evidence before the Hearing is that Detective Grus was engaged in a criminal investigation, briefed Chief Sloly, and even provided her investigation file, evidence and exhibits to the Professional Standards officer on May 12, 2022.
  • The Ottawa Police Association has previously covered the legal expenses of police officers charged with on-duty rape, accepting bribes-kickbacks, and other offences.
  • So why is Detective Grus forced to mortgage her home to pay legal costs?

2/ I recently interviewed 37 Ottawa Police patrol officers on the street. Not one of them was aware that the OPA is not covering Detective Grus’s legal fees. Fully 26 of them informed me that I must be wrong – that the OPA was certainly covering her legal fees given the seriousness of the charge and the fact that the prosecution served ‘Increased Penalty’ notice that Detective Grus can be fired if convicted.

Question: Why do Ottawa Police patrol officers believe that the OPA is covering the legal fees of Detective Grus?

Question: In what other cases has the Ottawa Police Association NOT covered the legal fees of members charged with offences?

3/ Does the Ottawa Police Association have a Conflict of Interest in the Grus Case?

When the Ottawa Police Service mandated COVID ‘vaccines’ for members, the Ottawa Police Association agreed. OPA President at the time Matt Skoff stated that unlike the Toronto Police Association, the OPA would not oppose the mandates. Further, President Skoff made statements in support of the Ottawa Police Service “(continuing) to pursue high vaccination rates of its members…”

Further, the Ottawa Police Association is now aware that some OPA members are claiming serious injuries from the mandated injections that the OPA failed to oppose, and defacto supported.

Questions:

a/ Does the position of the OPA to not oppose the mandates, and / or to support the COVID ‘vaccines’ – now create any actual or perceived liability for the OPA?

b/ Did the OPA require employees, members, or volunteers be ‘vaccinated’ to enter the OPA office?

c/ How many OPA members have reported injuries allegedly from the mandated injections?

d/ Has the OPA Executive discussed…

1/ Claims by OPA members of alleged vaccine injuries, and

2/ the growing medical evidence and even admissions from some governments that the COVID ‘vaccines’ have caused unprecedented levels of injuries and deaths?

Has this been a topic at Executive meetings, and if not, is this issue scheduled for discussion by the OPA?

e/ Does the OPA’s refusal to fund the Detective Grus legal defense have anything to do with the fact that her acquittal might draw attention to the OPA’s role in supporting COVID injections for its members?

INTERVIEW

I would appreciate recording an interview with you at your convenience via phone, Zoom or any other method of direct communication.

In the alternative, I would publish your written response to this email.

As I intend to publish my article at 6am Monday, November 13, 2023, I would appreciate interviewing you or your written response by Sunday evening.

Regards,

Donald Best

Barrie, Ontario Canada

X: @DonaldBestCA

website: DonaldBest.CA

Daily Broadcast: co-host of The Lavigne Show – https://rumble.com/c/TheLavigneShow

Published in and / or interviewed by:

CBC
Epoch Times
Financial Post
Globe and Mail
Rebel News
Toronto Star
Toronto Sun
True North
Viva Frei
Western Standard

 

Response from Matthew Cox – President, Ottawa Police Association

FW: Media Request for Interview – Matthew Cox

From Matthew Cox

Friday, November 10th, 2023 at 8:44 AM

Mr. Best,

Thank you for your enquiry, along with your request for an interview.

The Ottawa Police Association is an independent, Not-For-Profit corporation that has a fiduciary duty relating to the labour relations interests of the Civilian and Sworn employees of the Ottawa Police Service. The questions that you have put to us are not only rife with inaccuracies, they also relate to internal policy decisions; these policies are developed and approved by the duly elected Board of Directors of the Ottawa Police Association.

Guidelines are established that our members have to follow and I do not believe it would be appropriate to speak out in the middle of a Police Service Act hearing.

As such, the Association will not be granting your request for an interview. We can, however, confirm that we adhere to fair and transparent business practices, and ensure that all our members are treated equally.

Matthew Cox

President, Ottawa Police Association

“Statistically Improbable” Sudden Infant Deaths Ignored by Ottawa Police

Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus is charged with ‘Discreditable Conduct’ for conducting purported “unauthorized” investigations into the potential connection between mRNA vaccinated mothers, and the sudden deaths of breastfeeding babies.

“I haven’t yet reported the jaw-dropping testimony about infants dying in their mother’s arms.”

Grus’s trial resumes Monday, October 30, 2023, in Kanata, (West Ottawa) Ontario. The public is invited. (details below)

The initial five days of testimony from three prosecution witnesses in August 2023 produced many shocking revelations. I’ve already covered some of the evidence in previous articles and broadcasts on Jason Lavigne’s Morning Show – but I haven’t yet reported the jaw-dropping testimony about infants dying in their mother’s arms.

A Disconnect Between Prosecution’s Perspective of the Testimony – and Public Gallery Reactions.

Detective Helen Grus

Readers and viewers of my coverage of the first five days at the Detective Grus trial know that I’m running out of adjectives to describe each new revelation that seems more “Shocking”, “Incredible”, “Unbelievable”, “Gasp-producing”, and “Stunning” than the last.

From August 14-18, 2023, the Prosecution led so much evidence that was damning against its own case – that independent media and public observers were left with two obvious conclusions:

1/ The case against Detective Grus lacks any meaningful prosecution evidence at all, which reinforces the widespread belief that the charge against Grus is entirely political, and,

2/ The Prosecution’s perspective and faith in its ‘evidence’ is disconnected from reality and how the public perceives each shocking revelation.

“The prosecutor seems totally unaware that not only is the case floundering, the reputation of the Ottawa Police is increasingly being brought into disrepute with each new witness.”

I have no doubt that by this time, a jury would already be planning a ‘NOT GUILTY’ verdict. But there is no jury of peers involved in this internal tribunal – only Trials Officer Superintendent (Retired) Chris Renwick.

The Ottawa ‘Cluster’ of Sudden Infant Deaths was Seven, not Nine

Defense Counsel Bath-Sheba van den Berg

During the first day of testimony on August 14, 2023, we heard Defense Counsel Bath-Sheba van den Berg explain how the original ‘cluster’ of nine sudden infant deaths should be regarded as seven – because one of the nine children drowned, while another was unfortunately a homicide.

Also, during that first day the prosecution played a video of the May 12, 2022, three-hour long Professional Standards Unit ‘compelled interview’ of Detective Grus.

Many in the courtroom were moved to hear Detective Grus describe why she initiated the investigation into the cluster of Sudden Infant Deaths. She told the Professional Standards Sergeant Jason Arbuthnot that other officers in her unit were disinterested about a spike in infant deaths.

Two of the Seven Deceased Infants Died in Their Mother’s Arms

Later in the recording, Detective Grus explained that two of the seven Sudden Infant Deaths were highly unusual, yet her fellow officers “fluffed it away”…

“These two cases struck a bell suddenly that day because both those babies were sent home healthy. Both those mothers picked them up to feed them, and both of those babies collapsed and went limp in the mother’s arms.

It still gives me chills because to leave it, to just fluff it away.

As a police officer, that’s not enough. I’m a police officer; I’m there to solve and help solve if somebody dies. Especially an innocent little baby.”

Detective Grus also stated…

“I don’t want more babies to die. Whether it’s vaccine-related or not, I want to try to find out why these little babies died… I’m not okay with babies dying and not getting any answers.”**

Testimony from Prosecution Witness: Only 1 in 500 infants die suddenly in Mother’s Arms.

On Tuesday, August 15, 2023, the court heard Detective Grus’s immediate supervisor, Sergeant Marc-Andre Guy, testify that he had for many years been assigned to the ‘Deaths Under Five Committee’.

This multi-disciplinary committee was established under the office of Ontario’s Chief Coroner…

“… to review all cases investigated by a coroner involving the deaths of children under five years of age including neonatal cases where the death was potentially linked to parental behaviour (for example, sleep circumstances/unsafe sleep environment, maternal substance use, neglect, domestic violence, etcetera) and those in which a children’s aid society or Indigenous child wellbeing society (“Society”) was involved at time of the death. The committee did not review neonatal deaths that occurred prior to discharge from hospital where no substantive issues had been identified.”

Sgt. Guy testified,

“I was part of the Death Under Five committee. I went to Toronto three times a year and investigated about 500 infant deaths (in total). I reviewed investigations from other police services. Over four or five years every time I reviewed at least 150 different files.” **

Defense attorney Blair Ector asked Sgt. Guy how common it was for healthy babies to just die in their mother’s arms. Guy replied…

“In my experience it is very rare. I can think of a case or two that the committee reviewed where it happened, but that’s all.”

So there it is. Testimony at the August hearing showed that Detective Grus had every right to be concerned about the cluster of infant deaths and to launch an investigation… when the usual is 1 of 500 babies suddenly dying in their mother’s arms versus the 2 of 7 infant deaths in the Ottawa cluster.

An argument can be made that the sample size (7) is too small to extrapolate from, and that it might be an anomaly. While that position has technical merit, the testimony of Sgt Marc-Andre Guy that he only saw one or two ‘dying in mother’s arms’ incidents in over 500 infant deaths over a five year period is powerful.

Further, Canadians will not have a larger sample size anytime soon because the Ottawa Police Service shut down Detective Grus’s investigation and punished her for daring to ask if mothers’ mRNA injections could have anything to do with the Sudden Deaths of breastfeeding infants.

Conflict of Interest between Prosecutor Vanessa Stewart and Prosecution Witness Renee Stewart

Defense Attorney Blair Ector also pointed out that prosecution witness Detective Renee Stewart investigated one of the cases where the infant died in its mother’s arms.

Then on the last day of the hearings, Friday, August 18, 2023, the public gallery and journalists were shocked to learn that Prosecutor Stewart and Detective Stewart are close family members – sisters-in-law.

My next article will cover this serious conflict of interest that threatens to undermine the prosecution’s entire case.

Grus Hearings – October 30 to November 3, 2023 – 9:30am

Community Boardroom, 211 Huntmar Drive, Kanata, ON

Ottawa Police Service: Police Act Matters – Scheduled Hearings

** Testimony Quotes appearing in this article are taken from my own notes, and may differ from those reported by other journalists or in any official court transcripts.

Legal Defense Fund for Detective Helen Grus

Complete List of Articles about Detective Helen Grus

Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus sings Oh Canada at Hockey Tournament

Have a listen to Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus singing our national anthem, and the cheers of the crowd that follow.

The public invitation to Detective Grus shows strong community support behind the Ottawa Police officer. She is charged with conducting ‘unauthorized investigations’ into the potential connection between mRNA ‘vaccines’ and nine Sudden Infant Deaths.

Detective Grus’s trial continues October 30, 2023 and is already attracting considerable attention from foreign news media.

Worldwide Interest in Grus Case

A recent article in the US press by Christopher Brunet resulted in uncountable millions of views and social media postings. Read ‘Trudeau regime puts Canadian detective on trial for investigating link between infant deaths and mRNA vaccines.’

Even legendary New York Police Detective and Medal of Honor recipient Frank Serpico has slammed the Ottawa Police Service for covering up Detective Grus’s investigation into the potential connection between mRNA ‘vaccines’ and Sudden Infant Deaths.

Detective Serpico says this cover-up is proceeding even though it puts “innocent infant lives” at risk…

“Incompetence or criminality will go to any length not to be exposed even at the cost of innocent infant lives.”  Famed NYPD Detective Serpico comments on the Detective Grus case.

Starting October 30, 2023, Donald Best will be posting daily reports and live broadcasts from the trial of Detective Helen Grus on X-Twitter – @donaldbestca

Full article list on the Detective Helen Grus case here.

Sudden Infant Death Parents Contact Donald Best – Supporting Detective Helen Grus

“I don’t want more babies to die. Whether it’s vaccine-related or not, I want to try to find out why these little babies died… I’m not okay with babies dying and not getting any answers.”

Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus during her compelled interview by Professional Standards. (Photo: Courthouse prayers for Detective Grus at the first day of her trial.)

Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus is charged with ‘Discreditable Conduct’ under the Ontario Police Services Act for conducting “unauthorized” investigations into the sudden deaths of nine infants. Detective Grus was investigating any potential connection between the vaccination status of the mothers and the sudden deaths of breastfeeding babies.

Since my August 2023 reporting of the first five days of prosecution testimony in the trial of Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus, I have been contacted by seven parents whose babies died suddenly and unexpectedly.

The communications came from mothers and fathers in Canada, the USA, and one from Australia.

Each parent expressed support for Detective Grus and told some of their own story and grief. Two of the babies died many years ago, while five died since January 1, 2021 – (which puts the five deaths within the period when the experimental mRNA COVID vaccines were rolled out.)

The common thread was that none of the parents was provided with any answer as to what caused their child’s death. Further, each parent expressed a lack of confidence in the completeness and diligence of medical personnel and / or police. One mother described the police as “callous and didn’t care” about her infant’s death. She stated that she wished Detective Grus had been the officer to investigate.

A Police Detective to be Admired

During the first day of testimony on August 14, 2023, the prosecution played a video of the three-hour long Professional Standards Unit ‘compelled interview’ of Detective Grus.

Many in the courtroom were moved to hear Detective Grus describe why she initiated the investigation into the cluster of Sudden Infant Deaths. She told the Professional Standards Sergeant Jason Arbuthnot that other officers in her unit were disinterested about a spike in infant deaths.

Detective Grus also told the interviewer that she personally met with and informed Chief of Police Peter Sloly of the spike in infant deaths – and of her investigations that later became the subject of her charge!

Detective Grus was in tears as she said:

“There’s something alarming going on. We had double, a huge spike in baby deaths, and I said “What are we gonna do about it?” Because I was getting that people were dismissive about it. (They said) “Oh well, that sucks.”

I’m not okay with babies dying and not getting any answers.

I need a tissue.”

Later in the recording, Detective Grus explained that two of the nine Sudden Infant Deaths were highly unusual, yet her fellow officers “fluffed it away”…

“These two cases struck a bell suddenly that day because both those babies were sent home healthy. Both those mothers picked them up to feed them, and both of those babies collapsed and went limp in the mother’s arms.

It still gives me chills because to leave it, to just fluff it away.

As a police officer, that’s not enough. I’m a police officer; I’m there to solve and help solve if somebody dies. Especially an innocent little baby.”

Sean Hartman just wanted to play hockey. He took the jab and died.

More from various times during the interview…

“With the way that the babies expired in their mama’s arms. Which I find crazy. It’s a drastic change from what we’ve always known as SIDS.”

I’m not comfortable with just closing it as “Oh well. Too bad, so sad; it’s unexplained.”

“I don’t want more babies to die. Whether it’s vaccine-related or not, I want to try to find out why these little babies died.”

January 11 (2022) it struck a chord. I found out that two babies collapsed in their mother’s arms. One had an enlarged heart. The next day I found out that Sean Hartman died, just dropped dead with an enlarged heart.

Detective Grus met with Chief Sloly and told him about the spike in Sudden Infant Deaths

“I told the chief there had been a significant increase – double or triple numbers on baby deaths in 2021.”

A Request of Parents Whose Babies Died Suddenly

Some of you have already reached out to me – a few using only their first names.

I would appreciate hearing from more of you as I research a further article in my series about Detective Helen Grus.

I want to know your stories, your experiences with medical personnel and police officers – and whether you believe that Detective Grus was correct to investigate the cluster of infant deaths as she did.

You have my promise that I will never reveal your name to anyone without your explicit written permission. I’m fine if you wish to remain anonymous and use a g-mail or some other method of contacting me.

My email is: [email protected]

My twitter for direct messages is: @donaldbestca

I can also speak with you on Telegram or Signal.

Thank you,

Donald Best

 

Ottawa Police Still Withholding Court Documents In Detective Grus Case – Here Are Those We Have

Worldwide Interest in Ottawa Police Disciplinary Trial

Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus is charged under the Police Services Act with ‘Discreditable Conduct’ for allegedly conducting “unauthorized” investigations into nine Sudden Infant Deaths where she sought to know the vaccine status of the mothers in January 2022.

The internal trial is scheduled for five days August 14-18, 2023.

Although Ottawa Police recently released some of the legal documents filed in the case, the organization is still refusing to release motions and decisions since April 26, 2023.

As previously reported here, the Ottawa Police for many months concealed the judge’s decisions and lawyers’ motions – even going so far as to deceitfully inform the public and the press in April that the judge had not made a decision about a December 29, 2022 Disclosure Motion – when the truth was the judge delivered his decision on January 31, 2023.

This lack of transparency continues with much of the case still being conducted in secret.

Further, the Ottawa Police ignored numerous requests from the public and media to stream the upcoming trial over the internet as was done for a few appearances in the Fall of 2022.

In a recent commentary, legendary NYPD Detective and Medal of Honor Recipient Frank Serpico slammed the Ottawa Police cover-up in the Grus case, saying “Incompetence or criminality will go to any length not to be exposed even at the cost of innocent infant lives.”

Five Court Documents Available Here

I redacted these documents to remove Identity Information, signatures, and email addresses. Use ‘control’ or right click to open these documents in a new browser tab for downloading…

20221229 Exhibit #8 Motion regarding Disclosure_Redacted

20230112 Exhibit #9 Respondent’s Factum – Response to applicant’s request for disclosure_Redacted

20230131 Exhibit #11 Ruling on Motion for Disclosure_Redacted

20230417 Exhibit #13 Consolidated Motion_Redacted

20230426 Exhibit #14 Respondent Ottawa Police Service Factum_Redacted

Obviously the April 17, 2023 Motion would have produced a decision by the judge, but the Ottawa Police are withholding this and any other documents filed since April 26, 2023.

Summary of Each Document

20221229 Exhibit #8 Motion regarding Disclosure_Redacted.pdf

  • Defense motion requesting disclosure from the prosecution.
  • Para 12 recounts that Detective Grus requested the OPS Professional Standards Unit to investigate who leaked the confidential information to CBC Journalist Shaamini Yogaretnam. OPS REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE THIS CRIMINAL OFFENSE!
  • Para 14 recounts that the OPS Sgt. Arbuthnot told the Detective Grus that ‘the two CBC articles that were published generated public attention and that as a result of the Applicant’s alleged actions, OPS’ s reputation was brought into disrepute.”
  • Para 15 – Professional Standards found that Grus did nothing wrong in looking at the Sudden Infant Death reports. HOWEVER – the Professional Standards Unit found she did wrong by conducting “an unsanctioned quality control project of SACA infant death investigations.” (Oh really! And what did Grus find? That the investigations were flawed, biased, negligent.)
  • Para 30 lists the initial disclosure to Grus. What follows are paragraphs detailing subsequent OPS disclosures and further requests by Grus’s lawyer – including the autopsy records of the deceased infants.
  • Para 42 reveals an extensive list of defense requests for disclosure items. The totality of the requests indicate that Grus’s legal team will be conducting a detailed and strong defense.
  • Para 42-13 reveals that Ottawa Police Wiretapped Detective Grus and her family. (See BREAKING HERE: Ottawa Police Wiretapped ‘Sudden Infant Deaths’ Detective Helen Grus – And Her Family)

20230112 Exhibit #9 Respondent’s Factum – Response to applicant’s request for disclosure_Redacted.pdf

(Continuing)

Above is Work in Progress – Check back in a few hours for an update.

NOTE: I’ve published this article unfinished so readers can download the documents ASAP and start reading. If you find something noteworthy, please leave a comment. (Comments sometimes take a few hours to appear so please be patient.)

BREAKING HERE: Ottawa Police Wiretapped ‘Sudden Infant Deaths’ Detective Helen Grus – And Her Family

Court Documents reveal Ottawa Police wiretapped Detective Grus and her family

Detective Helen Grus is charged under the Police Services Act with ‘Discreditable Conduct’ for allegedly conducting “unauthorized” investigations into nine Sudden Infant Deaths where she sought to know the vaccine status of the mothers in January 2022.

Her internal trial is scheduled for August 14, 2023.

“The wiretap was calculated to intimidate Detective Grus and her family – but all these ‘Urgent Emergency’ wiretaps during the Freedom Convoy backfired.

 The wiretaps served only to galvanize Canadians and strengthen the legitimacy of protest against governments that overstepped their authority and power.”

Rob Stocki – former Ottawa Police Sergeant

For seven months the Ottawa Police Service (‘OPS’) refused to provide the motions and decisions in the Grus Case to journalists or the public.

Now we know why the Ottawa Police refused to let the public and press see the court documents. The documents are explosive – and not just because of the wiretapping revelation.

Only after famed NYPD Detective Frank Serpico publicly slammed the Ottawa Police and accused them of a cover-up did OPS provide five of the documents they had refused to release in January through April, 2023.

Some documents are still missing but I’ll work with what we have while the OPS decides if they will release further documents.

Prosecution Response Reveals Section 188 ‘URGENT’ Wiretap against Detective Grus

Ottawa Police Conducted ‘Urgent Emergency’ Wiretap Targeting Detective Grus and her Family

On December 29, 2022, the lawyer for Detective Grus filed a ‘Motion Regarding Disclosure’ demanding further access to police records and evidence in the case.

Section 42 (13) of this Defense Motion reveals that the Ottawa Police wiretapped Detective Grus…

“42. Further, on review of the disclosure provided so far, the Applicant requests the following disclosure be made and any and all disclosure in relation to the Discreditable Misconduct Charge:

13) Authorizations to Intercept Private Communications, namely decision to wiretap the Applicant:”

So, the defense lawyers received some type of disclosure that the Ottawa Police had wiretapped Detective Grus. Due to the OPS response below, I speculate that Grus might not have learned about the wiretap as part of the prosecution’s disclosure process. Instead, she (or her lawyers) might have been served with a standard notice of the wiretap after it ended.

In the ‘Respondent’s Factum’ dated January 12, 2023, the Ottawa Police state in paragraph 47…

“Authorizations to Intercept Private Communications, namely decision to wiretap the Applicant”. (Item 13 at paragraph 42 of the Applicant’s factum).

“47. There was no Wiretap authorization sought or granted in relation to this PSA matter. Further, any application to access materials filed and sealed in support of a Criminal Code s.188 (wiretap) authorization must be brought pursuant to section 187(1.3) of the Criminal Code, i.e., an application to unseal the packet must be brought before a provincial court judge, a judge of a superior court of criminal jurisdiction, or a judge as defined in section 552 of the Criminal Code.”

This response is an admission that the Ottawa Police did wiretap Detective Grus under the Emergency Authorizations for Interception of Private Communications under Section 188.

The passage also purports that the police did not wiretap Grus as part of her current Police Services Act charge before the Trials Officer.

Should we believe the Ottawa Police that Wiretapping Detective Grus had nothing to do with her Investigation of Sudden Infant Deaths?

Ottawa Police Professional Standards Unit began investigating Detective Helen Grus and suspended her with pay on February 4, 2022 after at least one of her fellow officers complained that Grus was re-investigating and “auditing” nine Sudden Infant Deaths.

According to the CBC, Detective Grus was also one of only ten Ottawa Police employees to refuse the mandatory mRNA genetic treatment injections that some call Covid ‘vaccines’. In September of 2021, she sent an open letter to the Chief of Police and fellow officers asking questions about the safety and effectiveness of the Covid ‘vaccines’.

One of Detective Grus’s questions to the Chief was: “Will Ottawa Police take full legal and financial liability for any injuries, adverse effects and/or death occurring to members following the receipt of any EUA vaccine potentially mandated?”

Detective Grus’s February 4, 2022 suspension was only a few days after hundreds of Freedom Convoy trucks and thousands of protestors arrived in Ottawa.

Notice to Rob Stocki of Urgent Emergency Wiretap – Courtesy of Rebel News

Police Used Freedom Convoy as an Excuse to Wiretap Grus and her Family

The Ottawa Police used a Section 188(2) ‘Urgent Emergency’ Wiretap against Detective Grus – a special shortcut authorization typically reserved for only the most urgent of cases like abduction, hostage taking, terrorism, murder, or organized crime violence in situations where there is no time to organize formal affidavits and evidence.

Section 188 allows a judge to authorize a wiretap at much lower thresholds of proof and judicial oversight. The ‘evidence’ placed before the judge does not have to be sworn – a huge red flag ripe for abuse.

The judge can issue an authorization good for only a limited period up to 36 hours. This is typically done to allow time for police to ready and present the full sworn evidence and ‘Information To Obtain’ (‘ITO’) a normal wiretap authorization under Section 186.

We know that the Ottawa Police did NOT follow up after the 36 hours with a ‘real’ Section 186 wiretap against Detective Grus because that would be mentioned in the defense motion and prosecution response. That says everything.

In other words… there were no real grounds, no evidence, no urgency, to obtain the ‘Urgent Emergency’ Section 188(2) wiretap against Detective Grus and her family. Ottawa Police did it because they could get away with it during the Convoy – just to ‘see’ if they might catch Grus doing something, and to intimidate and punish her.

What the Ottawa Police did wiretapping Detective Grus and her family was probably illegal – and at the very least a gross violation of Charter Rights and privacy. It also shows the malicious intent of the Ottawa Police command officers to continue the shut-down of Detective Grus’s investigations into the nine Sudden Infant Deaths.

Someone in charge of obtaining the ‘Urgent Authorizations to Intercept Private Communications’ simply threw Detective Grus’s name on the list as a 36-hour fishing expedition – with no intention of applying for a ‘real’ warrant later.

Make no mistake… Wiretaps strip families naked to a degree that most Canadians never contemplate or realize.

The decision to wiretap Detective Helen Grus and her family was without any legitimate basis. The Ottawa Police knew exactly how invasive a wiretap would be against Grus and her family – and that Detective Grus would know that too when she was served Notice of the wiretap.

The wiretap was intended as punishment and intimidation for Detective Grus and her family members.

Ottawa Police Legal Counsel Probably Advised on the Grus Wiretap

Christiane Huneault

Throughout the Freedom Convoy, Ottawa Police senior legal counsel Christiane Huneault worked with the Chief of Police and even substituted for Chief Sloly at meetings with the RCMP and OPP. (CBC article here)

It seems reasonable that the Senior Legal Counsel to the Ottawa Police would have provided legal advice and perhaps even supervised the wiretapping of Detective Grus and other serving and retired OPS employees during the Freedom Convoy.

Ottawa Police Repeated the Abuses of 1970’s ‘FLQ Crisis’ War Measures Act

During the 1970 ‘FLQ Crisis’, police across Canada took advantage of the War Measures Act to violate rights, illegally enter homes, and to perform illegal searches – all of which had nothing to do with the FLQ kidnappings, murder, and bombings in Quebec.

Some 52 years later the police behaved in the same manner during the Freedom Convoy. Detective Grus and her family are probably one of the best illustrations of this abuse in 2022.

Across Canada during the Freedom Convoy there were many ‘Urgent’ wiretaps issued against serving and retired police employees. To my knowledge, no charges were laid because of evidence collected during these ‘Urgent’ wiretaps.

Ottawa defense lawyer Paul Lewandowski explains on his excellent website that “URGENT” really does mean “URGENT”…

Section 188(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada provides a legal avenue for law enforcement agencies to intercept private communications without obtaining prior authorization under section 186, but only if the urgency of the situation demands it.

[…]One strategic consideration is whether the urgency of the situation justifies the interception of private communications without prior authorization. In determining the urgency, law enforcement agencies must assess the risk to public safety and security, the potential harm that could result, and whether the information that could be gained by intercepting private communications is crucial to the investigation.

Former Ottawa Police Sergeant Rob Stocki

Former Ottawa Police Sergeant Rob Stocki Was Also Wiretapped

Rob Stocki is a former Ottawa Police Sergeant turned New Blue Party candidate in the 2022 Ontario Provincial election. He too received notice that police had wiretapped him during the Freedom Convoy under an ‘Urgent’ Section 188(2) from February 18 to 19, 2022.

Just as with Detective Grus, the Section 188 ‘Urgent’ wiretap was not followed up with a ‘real’ wiretap authorization.

That says everything to Stocki, who told me,

“The ‘Urgent’ wiretaps are a dangerous precedent because in this case they were used as a political tool to serve the interests of politicians. To accept this use is to normalize tyranny.”

“I accept the fact that there are real and dangerous criminals out there who deserve to be wiretapped. But in this particular case, the wiretap had nothing to do with justice. It had nothing to do with a danger to society. The fact that the ‘Urgent’ wiretap wasn’t followed up with a ‘real’ wiretap says it all. It was a political tool on a fishing expedition.”

Rob Stocki also advised about Detective Helen Grus,

“I was working in one of the convoy command centers along with Daniel Bulford, Tom Quiggen, and others. Of course, I met and knew of many others associated with the convoy.

I can definitively and absolutely say that Detective Helen Grus had nothing to do with the organization or planning of the convoy.

The fact that the Ottawa Police wiretapped Detective Grus is an example of politicians using the resources and power of the state to crush those who disagree with political policies.

The wiretap was calculated to intimidate Detective Grus and her family – but all these ‘Urgent Emergency’ wiretaps during the Freedom Convoy backfired.

The wiretaps served only to galvanize Canadians and strengthen the legitimacy of protest against governments that overstepped their authority and power. When the news broke that the police wiretapped me, so many people told me “When I saw what they did to you, I knew they were evil.”

Dave Menzies from Rebel News produced an excellent presentation on the wiretap against Rob Stocki… Did you take part in the Freedom Convoy? Maybe you were WIRETAPPED like this retired cop

Uher 4000 Report Monitor – Standard wiretap recorder used by Ontario Provincial Police in 1977

My Background in Wiretapping

Starting in 1977 I spent almost a year at the old Ontario Provincial Police HQ working wiretaps against motorcycle gangs and the Italian Mafia.

What an education for a naïve 23-year-old rookie cop!

We had wiretaps on home and business phones. We planted microphones in cold cellars, garden sheds, trucks, boats, and in the parts-room at a major auto dealership. At one home we planted a microphone in a gazebo where the target loved to bring his friends to smoke smuggled Cuban cigars and discuss heroin shipments from Hong Kong.

Against two wiretap targets – a husband and wife – with special judicial authorization we planted microphones over and beside their marital bed. And in the master bedroom ensuite washroom.

In the 1970s, everything was recorded on Uher ‘Report 4000’ reel-to-reel tape recorders – the standard German wiretap machine used by intelligence agencies on both sides during the Cold War.

I soon learned that some of our targets were so evil that they frightened me.

My police comrades and I listened as Mafia mobsters so casually discussed the future abduction, torture, and murder of a minor gang member for the purpose of delivering a message to his boss – their business rival. The plan was to castrate the man alive, then kill him, and send his organ and photos of the killing to his family via Canada Post.

I listened as motorcycle gang members discussed the pros and cons of raping the 15-year-old daughter of a bakery store owner who refused to pay protection money.

I listened as a thug called a prostitute and told her that she had better perform three ‘tricks’ a day or she wouldn’t be so pretty anymore. I heard her cry, promise to work harder, and beg the thug to deliver more “go” (methamphetamines).

Listening in to such evil every day can take a toll on a police officer, so as doctors do, cops learn to compartmentalize – to put the unpleasant in a box in the mind and leave work at work.

After my first week of listening to all this evil, my new squad mates took me out for a beer… or ten. I don’t quite remember except that Tex and Donny R. drove me home and poured me in the front door.

You see, there is much that ordinary decent people haven’t a clue about. They live their lives with love and integrity. They fight the normal daily battles, work hard for their families, and obey the laws – never knowing what evil people live across the street and two doors down.

Wiretaps allow police to listen in on your most intimate moments.

Wiretapping Detective Grus’s Family – Reality of Modern Wiretaps

It is 100% certain that the wiretap targeting Detective Helen Grus also recorded members of her family, her friends, and other people she communicated with.

Properly obtained, judicially supervised wiretaps are an unfortunate necessity against the monsters who live among us. But because wiretaps are such a gross violation of privacy, they should only be used to investigate the most egregious criminals and crimes.

Every wiretap also violates the privacy of innocent people – the target’s family, spouse, children, and friends. When someone calls the home, police listen because the caller might be leaving a message for the target. If a boyfriend calls the daughter and asks to come over while the parents were away, police listen because she might say where her parents traveled to. (“They went to Sudbury and won’t be home tonight so come on over.”)

Now ‘wiretaps’ aren’t just telephone taps. “Interception of Electronic Communications” includes email, chats, photos, faxes – everything. Not to forget that police are now capable of turning on the microphone in your smart phone to listen to everything in the room without your knowledge.

And so it is that the wiretap targeting Detective Helen Grus, was also a wiretap against her family.

For the year that I ‘worked the wires’ I came to know the targets’ spouses, children, relatives, and friends. Some you would feel sorry for, others you would silently cheer on as they faced some personal challenge. And you would learn their most intimate secrets.

I knew that a 17-year-old daughter was pregnant three months before she told her parents. I knew that a wife was having an affair with an old high school boyfriend. I listened as a sobbing son told his father about the affair.

We knew that a grandmother who lived with her daughter’s family kept a bottle of vodka in the garden shed – for those difficult days when she couldn’t find methamphetamine. We knew that grandfather was terribly embarrassed because he had cancer and had to wear diapers – often soiling himself at dinner or when out in public.

Make no mistake… Wiretaps strip families naked to a degree that most people never contemplate or realize.

The decision to wiretap Detective Helen Grus and her family was an abusive fishing trip without any legitimate basis. The Ottawa Police knew exactly how invasive it was against her family – and that Detective Grus would know that too.

The wiretap was intended as punishment and intimidation for Detective Grus and her family members.

Donald Best

August 7, 2023

Revision History

August 7, 2023 8:35pm ET – Originally published.

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