Quoted

Quotes by, and about, Donald Best…

“In his ongoing legal cases and public advocacy, Mr. Best has exposed corruption in the Canadian legal profession including secret orders and investigations by judges, the submission of false evidence in court by lawyers, and the failure of disciplinary bodies such as the Law Society of Ontario and the Canadian Judicial Council to investigate individuals’ complaints against judges and lawyers.

Mr. Best’s tireless efforts to create integrity and accountability in the Canadian legal system make him an exemplary leader in the fight for equality before and under the law of all Canadians, including self-represented litigants.” The Ontario Civil Liberties Association (OCLA)

(Ottawa, December 4, 2018: OCLA presents its 2018 Civil Liberties Award to whistleblower and anti-corruption activist Donald Best.)

“Former Conservative cabinet minister and provincial police commissioner Julian Fantino has accused a Canadian judge, lawyers and several police forces of acting improperly and even illegally in the conviction and jailing of (Donald Best) for contempt of court.” Colin Perkel, Journalist, Canadian Press

(Toronto Star, December 29, 2017: Ex-federal cabinet minister Julian Fantino takes aim at judge, cops, lawyers)

“The systemic failings in our justice system include a Canada-wide tolerance by judges and lawyers for corruption in the legal profession.” DB

(November 1, 2017, DonaldBest.CA summary)

“There were secret recordings you made of your telephone conversations with the lawyers involved. I read the official court records showing what those lawyers told the court. They lied to the court, and as a result you were convicted for Contempt of Court while you weren’t even in the country.” Broadcaster Jimmy Dore to Donald Best

September 28, 2018, The Jimmy Dore Show at about 10:30 into the video

“My lawyer believes that everyone deserves Access to Justice and fair legal representation – but for over one hundred other Ontario lawyers, Access to Justice apparently ends if a litigant has evidence of misconduct by a fellow member of the Bar.” DB

(July 7, 2016 Windsor Law School – National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP) The client most lawyers fear – and won’t represent at any price.)

“Donald Best, one of Canada’s most methodical and well documented whistleblowers.” Peter A. Allard, founder Allard Prize for International Integrity

(September 28, 2017, Peter A. Allard at 2017 Allard Prize Ceremony)

“The record shows that after Best requested a review of his conviction and sentence, the Judge (Shaughnessy) refused to consider his fresh exculpatory evidence including but not limited to secretly made and forensically certified voice recordings of a telephone call with the lawyers that showed they placed false evidence before the Judge, refused to allow Best to cross-examine the lawyer-witnesses, their clients and ‘private investigator’ James Van Allen, who together provided the false evidence that the court used to convict and sentence Best.”

“I cannot recall any other case where a Canadian was convicted and sentenced in absentia (when the accused was not present) upon provably false and/or illegally sourced evidence, and was then refused the basic right to cross-examine the witnesses and accusers that the court relied upon to convict and sentence.” Former Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police Julian Fantino in his sworn affidavit, September 28, 2017)

(October 26, 2017, Court Denies Former OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino intervention in Judicial Review of CJC)

“A thousand protesters in the street do not equal one lawyer, judge, law enforcement officer or notable business person who stands firm and refuses to give way to corruption” DB

(September 27, 2018, @DonaldBestCA Twitter)

“This is also the true story of how the Canadian legal profession and courts, when confronted with forensically certified telephone recordings and other irrefutable evidence proving the lawyers fabricated evidence and lied to the court to convict me – closed ranks to save the corrupt lawyers, even when that meant knowingly sending an innocent man to prison.” DB

(August 1, 2014, DonaldBest.CA Summary)

“Our justice system is self-destructing before our eyes because too many lawyers, judges and elected / appointed government officials place their profession, friends, cartels and profits before the Rule of Law.” DB

(January 6, 2018, Retired RCMP Inspector William Majcher swears affidavit about Corrupt Canadian Lawyers and Judges)

“As a result of untrue statements made by lawyers in a civil case that turned in part on whether Donald had been served with legal documents, he was held in contempt of court. He was overseas at the time.” 

“I want to end by paying tribute to Donald’s fortitude, perseverance, and commitment to better access to justice in Canada. I am proud to call Donald Best my friend, and the NSRLP is proud to have his support.”  Dr. Julie Macfarlane (Order of Canada) Law Professor, U of Windsor Law School, Director NSRLP – National Self-Represented Litigants Project.

2018 OCLA Civil Liberties Award – Introduction by Julie Macfarlane

“And then there is the dark side of the ‘win at any cost’ culture that seems to be on the rise, especially within larger law firms. The bullying mentality plays a large role in that behaviour, but bullying is only a symptom of a much larger problem within the culture of the legal profession.

How far have things gone when personnel from large law firms get caught fabricating evidence, lying to judges and using the office computer network to send anonymous threats to opposing witnesses?

The legal profession needs to return to its foundations of Integrity, Honour, Accountability and Rule of Law, and it needs to do that soon.” DB

(April 7, 2016, LSUC Bencher Joseph Groia “Lawyer-bullies prey on the weak and inexperienced”)

“Peel’s Principles of Policing didn’t die a natural death – Canadian police officers murdered them.” DB

(February 5, 2024, @DonaldBestCA Twitter X )