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Airdrie, Alberta
July 21, 2017 MY FILE: 017
Mr. Sinclair Watson, MBA
Senior Information and Privacy Manager
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
# 410, 9925 - 109 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta
T5K 2J8
Dear Mr. Sinclair
Re: REQUEST FOR REVIEW - MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS FILE: 2016-G-0098
Reference is being made to your letters to me dated July 11, 2017 and July 10, 2017.
I have no real new information to add to my original letter of complaint to the Commissioner dated
December 5, 2016 (copy attached for easy reference). I have also attached a copy of my original FOIP
request dated September 16, 2016. Some of the URLs regarding the four telephone polls on the recently
updated National Firearms Association website, included in my original FOIP request, no longer work so
I have included revised links below.
The very fact that 1,785 persons have supported my Change.org petition to the Premier of Alberta should
be another reason for Municipal Affairs to have held a meeting or two. You will note from the wording
of my petition that the concerns raised go far beyond the seizure of firearms from 112 High River homes
following the 2013 flood. https://www.change.org/p/premier-of-alberta-call-a-judicial-inquiry-into-the-high-river-forced-entries
I have also included a copy of my recent letter to the Prime Minister and Premier Notley which includes
the newest information on my investigation into the High River Forced Entries. http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/07/17/high-river-letter-to-the-prime-minister-with-a-copy-to-premier-of-alberta/
You have my permission to share any information I provide to you with any Public Body you need to
share it with if it will help get all the records I requested.
Thanks for your help. Please call or e-mail if you need more information.
Yours sincerely,
[Original signed by]
Dennis R. Young
1330 Ravenswood Drive SE
AIRDRIE AB T4A 0P8
Home Phone: 587-360-1111
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.dennisryoung.ca
2
FOUR POLLS OF HIGH RIVER RESIDENTS INDICATE TRUST IS STILL BROKEN
SEPTEMBER 9, 2016: LESS THAN HALF OF HIGH RIVER RESIDENTS TRUST THE RCMP TO
PROTECT THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTY IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER EMERGENCY
EVACUATION.
http://dennisryoung.ca/2016/09/10/4th-nfa-high-river-poll-trust-in-the-rcmp-still-broken-three-years-after-flood/
SEPTEMBER 5, 2015: 48% OF HIGH RIVER RESPONDENTS WANT PREMIER NOTLEY TO CALL A
JUDICIAL INQUIRY
https://nfa.ca/media-release-poll-shows-half-of-high-river-residents-want-judicial-inquiry/
MARCH 9, 2015: 67% OF HIGH RIVER RESPONDENTS DO NOT SUPPORT RCMP ENTERING
THEIR HOMES IN A FUTURE EMERGENCY
https://nfa.ca/public-believes-police-actions-at-high-river-unnecessary-3/
AUGUST 7, 2014: 53% OF HIGH RIVER RESPONDENTS WOULD REFUSE ORDERS TO EVACUATE
THEIR HOMES IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER FLOOD
https://nfa.ca/poll-of-high-river-residents-shows-a-dismal-lack-of-trust-in-rcmp-2/
Airdrie, Alberta
December 5, 2016 MY FILE: 017
Ms. Jill Clayton, Information and Privacy Commissioner
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
# 410, 9925 - 109 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta
T5K 2J8
Dear Ms. Clayton:
Re: NO RESPONSE RECORDS - MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS FILE: 2016-G-0098
Please find enclosed the following information:
1. My completed Request for Review/Complaint Form.
2. A copy of my FOIP request dated September 16, 2016.
3. A copy of the response received from Municipal Affairs dated November 22, 2016.
I wish to complain about the unusual restrictions placed by Municipal Affairs on their search for the
records I requested. Firstly, it seems they restricted their search to meetings with the Minister. Secondly,
the statement in the department’s letter stating that records ‘… prepared for the Minister’s meeting do not
specifically address the issue of the RCMP securing firearms in High River during the flood.’ My request
said nothing about the RCMP securing firearms. Nor do the four polls of High River residents mention
firearms. Therefore, I don’t understand why the search for records of meetings was restricted in any way
other than the way my FOIP request was worded.
I’m sure the Minister, his Chief of Staff, Deputy Minister and Asst. Deputy Ministers had many meetings
because they were and are most likely very concerned about the facts mentioned in the preamble of my
request and the dire consequences for High River residents if the lack of trust in the RCMP and the
Emergency Management regime isn’t corrected before the next flood hits High River. It would also be
very odd for the Alberta Government to pay out $2.3 million (so far) for the damages the RCMP caused
by their forced entries in High River without having at least a meeting or two even if the payouts were
approved by the previous government.
Thanks for your help to get the records I requested.
Yours sincerely,
[Original signed by]
Dennis R. Young
1330 Ravenswood Drive SE
AIRDRIE AB T4A 0P8
Home Phone: 587-360-1111
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.dennisryoung.ca
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST
My File Number: 017
Alberta Government Institution:
Municipal Affairs and Emergency Management Agency
Details of the records being requested:
Reference is being made to 2,210 complaints filed with the RCMP by High River residents for $2.5 million dollars in damages caused by the RCMP’s unnecessary and unwarranted entries and unwarranted searches of and seizures from High River homes following the 2013 flood. http://dennisryoung.ca/2015/11/19/the-mounties-kicked-in-how-many-doors-in-high-river/
Reference is also being made to the four telephone polls conducted on behalf of the National Firearms Association that found:
September 9, 2016: Less than half of High River residents trust the RCMP to protect their homes and property in the event of another emergency evacuation. http://dennisryoung.ca/2016/09/10/4th-nfa-high-river-poll-trust-in-the-rcmp-still-broken-three-years-after-flood/
September 5, 2015: 48% of High River respondents want Premier Notley to call a judicial inquiry http://new.nfa.ca/media-release-poll-shows-half-of-high-river-residents-want-judicial-inquiry/
March 9, 2015: 67% of High River respondents do not support RCMP entering their homes in a future emergency http://new.nfa.ca/public-believes-police-actions-at-high-river-unnecessary-3/
August 7, 2014: 53% of High River respondents would refuse orders to evacuate their homes in the event of another flood http://new.nfa.ca/poll-of-high-river-residents-shows-a-dismal-lack-of-trust-in-rcmp-2/
For the period from May 4, 2015 to present, please provide copies of the minutes of all meetings held
in the department/ministry regarding the RCMP, National Defence and provincial government response
to the 2013 flood in High River, Alberta including:
(1) minutes of meetings attended by the Minister;
(2) minutes of meetings attended by public servants working for the Minister including Deputy
Minister and Assistant Deputy Ministers; and
(3) minutes of meetings attended by the Minister’s political staff including her Chief of Staff.
Please include copies of any records discussed in these meetings including: briefing notes,
presentations, reports, government commissioned polls, correspondence, consequences for High
River residents if the results of the above polls are right, corrective action necessary to rebuild trust in
the RCMP among High River residents; and, finally, copies any handwritten notes taken at those
meetings by the persons in attendance.
Kind of Information: General information Private information
Method of access preferred: Receive copies Examine the record
Name of Applicant: Dennis R. Young
Address: 1330 Ravenswood Drive SE
Airdrie, Alberta T4A 0P8
Telephone Number: 587-360-1111 (Day or Evening) E-Mail: [email protected] Cheque Number: 510
Signature: __[Original signed by]____________________________ Date: September 16, 2016
Dennis R. Young
1
Airdrie, Alberta July 16, 2017 The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Dear Prime Minister: RE: TRUST IN RCMP STILL BROKEN BECAUSE OF HIGH RIVER FORCED ENTRIES Thanks for having your Executive Correspondence Officer, T. Jolicoeur respond to my two letters sent to you in November 2016 (here is the link to a copy of Jolicoeur’s letter for easy reference). http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/06/25/prime-ministers-office-finally-responds-to-my-high-river-letters/
Unfortunately, Jolicoeur’s response did not address any of the concerns I raised in my letters and nor did it prompt the courtesy of an acknowledgement, let alone a reply, from your Ministers of Public Safety and National Defence. (here is the link to copies of my two letters for your easy reference). http://dennisryoung.ca/2016/11/23/asking-prime-minister-for-his-help-to-get-two-ministers-to-respond-to-my-high-river-letters/ I was impressed with your fine words quoted in the Thursday, July 13, 2017 issue of the National Post: “Trudeau said the lesson for future governments is that when they violate a Canadian’s rights, everyone pays. “The measure of a society — a just society — is not whether we stand up for people’s rights when it’s easy or popular to do so. It’s whether we recognize rights when it’s difficult, when it’s unpopular.” http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/trudeau-says-khadr-settlement-troubles-him-but-it-could-have-cost-more/wcm/05ce32a0-dfa2-48ae-b3ec-a84f8ba2df05 Again, unfortunately, no one in your government or the previous one led by Prime Minister Harper have stood up for, paid for or even acknowledged the Charter rights violations suffered by the residents of High River, following the 2013 flood, when hundreds of RCMP officers kicked in thousands of doors, entered their homes unlawfully, searched their homes without warrant and seized their private property, again without warrant. Consequently, the trust in the RCMP remains broken among a majority of High River residents. (At the bottom of this letter, see the results of four telephone polls taken over a two-year stretch conducted by the National Firearms Association in High River). Until and unless the trust in the RCMP is restored before the next flood and emergency evacuation order, many High River residents will refuse to evacuate completely or delay evacuating; thereby, putting themselves, their families and emergency responders in greater danger. The result will be far worse than in 2013 when three lives were tragically lost and more than 300 residents refused to evacuate. How many more can only be determined by a scientific poll of High River residents which would either validate or refute the results by the four telephone polls. Quito Maggi, President and CEO of Mainstreet Research provided me with a reasonable estimate to conduct such a validation poll of High River residents. This seems like the very least the government could do considering all they have done to avoid taking any responsibility of the mess they themselves created by letting the RCMP officers and soldiers run amok and then only conducting a partial investigation of their wrongdoing.
2
UPDATES ON MY HIGH RIVER INVESTIGATION SINCE I LAST WROTE GOODALE’S RESPONSE TO MP FAILS TO ADDRESS KEY QUESTIONS IN HIGH RIVER LETTER http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/03/01/goodales-response-fails-to-address-key-questions-in-high-river-letter/
2014 FEDERAL GOV’T RESPONSE TO HIGH RIVER JUDICIAL INQUIRY PETITION http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/06/02/2014-federal-govt-response-to-high-river-judicial-inquiry-petition/
RESULTS OF PARLIAMENTARY PETITION CALLING FOR A JUDICIAL INQUIRY IN HIGH RIVER http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/05/05/trust-in-high-river-rcmp-to-remain-broken-minister-goodale/
RCMP COMMISSIONER’S LETTER TO MINISTER GOODALE FAILS TO FIX BROKEN TRUST IN THE RCMP IN HIGH RIVER http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/01/08/public-safety-releases-more-high-river-letters-to-minister-goodale/ ONCE AGAIN, RCMP FAIL TO PROVIDE ‘LEGAL AUTHORITIES PAPER’ FOR HIGH RIVER DOOR-KICKING SPREE http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/04/17/once-again-rcmp-fail-to-provide-legal-authorities-paper-for-high-river-door-kicking-spree/ ALBERTA FOIP REQUEST: “POLICE OFFICER AUTHORITIES” FOR HIGH RIVER FORCED ENTRIES http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/07/15/foip-request-police-officer-authorities-for-high-river-forced-entries/ HIGH RIVER GUN GRAB A “BLIGHT” ON RETIRING RCMP COMMISSIONER’S LONG AND STORIED CAREER http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/03/09/high-river-gun-grab-a-blight-on-retiring-rcmp-commissioners-long-and-storied-career/ GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON HIGH RIVER INFORMATION REQUESTS http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/07/09/government-dragging-their-feet-on-high-river-information-requests/ CALGARY SUN – DAMAGE CLAIMS FROM RCMP’S HIGH RIVER GUN GRAB TOTAL $2.3 MILLION (so far) http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/06/13/damage-claims-from-rcmps-high-river-gun-grab-total-23-million http://dennisryoung.ca/2016/06/14/calgary-sun-damage-claims-from-rcmps-high-river-gun-grab-total-2-3-million/
FEDERAL AND ALBERTA DEPUTY MINISTER’S LETTERS ON HIGH RIVER FORCED ENTRIES & FIREARMS SEIZURES – 2014 http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/06/02/deputy-ministers-letters-on-high-river-forced-entries-firearms-seizures-2014/ NOW WE KNOW HOW HIGH RIVER RCMP KNEW DON WHITE’S LONG-GUNS WEREN’T REGISTERED http://dennisryoung.ca/2017/06/16/now-we-know-how-high-river-rcmp-knew-don-whites-guns-werent-registered/
3
CANADA FREE PRESS – PRAY THE RCMP DON’T LOOK AFTER YOUR TOWN IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY - EXCERPT: Having secured their home again, Don White went to the RCMP detachment in High River to pick up his long guns, where the RCMP officer informed him that that two of his long-guns weren’t registered. Don responded, “That’s right, the two new shotguns we just bought!” The only possible way the RCMP Constable knew that two of his long-guns weren’t registered is if he had access to a copy of the old long-gun registry listing of their guns – a listing that was supposed to be completely destroyed in accordance with an Act of Parliament, Bill C-19, Ending of the Long-gun Registry Act, proclaimed into law on April 12, 2012. By Dennis R. Young – April 1, 2014 http://canadafreepress.com/article/pray-the-rcmp-dont-look-after-your-town-in-a-state-of-emergency If you or your staff require any further information please do not hesitate to call me or e-mail me. Yours sincerely, [Original signed by] Dennis R. Young 1330 Ravenswood Drive SE AIRDRIE AB T4A 0P8 Home Phone: 587-360-1111 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.dennisryoung.ca
cc The Honourable Rachel Notley, Premier of Alberta
FOUR POLLS OF HIGH RIVER RESIDENTS INDICATE TRUST IS STILL BROKEN
SEPTEMBER 9, 2016: LESS THAN HALF OF HIGH RIVER RESIDENTS TRUST THE RCMP TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTY IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER EMERGENCY EVACUATION. http://dennisryoung.ca/2016/09/10/4th-nfa-high-river-poll-trust-in-the-rcmp-still-broken-three-years-after-flood/
SEPTEMBER 5, 2015: 48% OF HIGH RIVER RESPONDENTS WANT PREMIER NOTLEY TO CALL A JUDICIAL INQUIRY https://nfa.ca/media-release-poll-shows-half-of-high-river-residents-want-judicial-inquiry/ MARCH 9, 2015: 67% OF HIGH RIVER RESPONDENTS DO NOT SUPPORT RCMP ENTERING THEIR HOMES IN A FUTURE EMERGENCY https://nfa.ca/public-believes-police-actions-at-high-river-unnecessary-3/ AUGUST 7, 2014: 53% OF HIGH RIVER RESPONDENTS WOULD REFUSE ORDERS TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER FLOOD https://nfa.ca/poll-of-high-river-residents-shows-a-dismal-lack-of-trust-in-rcmp-2/
Petitioning Premier of Alberta: Call a judicial inquiry into the High
River Forced Entries - 1,785 Supporters (as of July 21, 2017) https://www.change.org/p/premier-of-alberta-call-a-judicial-inquiry-into-the-high-river-forced-entries
WHY A JUDICIAL INQUIRY IS NEEDED FOR HIGH RIVER: On February 12, 2015, the Civilian Review and
Complaints Commission for the RCMP released their long-awaited report of their investigation of the RCMP's actions
during and following the emergency flooding in the Town of High River, Alberta between June 20, 2013 to July 13,
2013. The Commission's investigation examined the RCMP's forced entries of "more than 754 homes", their unwarranted
search of 4,666 homes (most on at least two occasions), damage complaints filed by more than 1,900 home owners, the
RCMP's seizure of more than 600 firearms and the seizure and destruction of approximately 7,500 pounds (between
400,000 and 450,000 rounds) of ammunition.
The RCMP Complaint Commission's report starts with such lofty aims and ambitions by quoting British statesman
William Pitt from his speech to the House of Commons in 1763: "The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all
the forces of the Crown. It may be frail, its roof may shake; the wind may blow through it; the storms may enter, the rain
may enter,—but the King of England cannot enter; all his forces dare not cross the threshold of the ruined
tenement." Sadly, the report documented what we already knew: how the Queen's forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (with the help of more than 300 Canadian Armed Forces personnel), did cross the thresholds of 4,666 High River
homes, by kicking in doors, searching homes and seizing private property without warrant. The report tries to justify the
RCMP's actions in High River, overlooking the Alberta Emergency Management Act's plain requirements for the
delegation of authority for unwarranted searches of buildings (which was clearly not followed), omitting or distorting
important details, contradicting past public statements and documents; and, holding no one to account for systematic,
organized egregious violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Alberta Bill of Rights and offences under
Criminal Code and the RCMP Act.
This is a story of police, bureaucratic and ministerial misconduct and cover-up that belongs in the third world, not in
Canada. The entire story needs to be dragged out into the sunlight and those who were responsible need to be held
accountable. We need an independent public inquiry if we are to have any hope of correcting this gross abuse of power.
We believe a judicial inquiry will reveal the entire story as well as those responsible; in the same manner as the
Braidwood Inquiry revealed the truth about the death of Robert Dziekanski and those who lied to cover it up. (Please read
my letter to the Premier below)
MARCH 31, 2015 - SO MANY QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED BY HIGH RIVER INVESTIGATION
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/70833
SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 - HIGH RIVER UPDATE - Governments still hiding many facts and overlooking 4,666
Charter Violations! http://canadafreepress.com/article/75156
This petition will be delivered to: Premier of Alberta
Letter to the Premier of Alberta [email protected]
Dear Premier:
Please call a judicial inquiry to examine all the issues and claims related to the High River forced entries, unwarranted
searches, seizures of private property and damages caused to High River homes by police overreach and bureaucratic
mistakes during the flood of 2013.
A telephone poll taken after the RCMP Complaints Commission's High River report was released, showed that sixty-
seven percent of the people in High River thought the RCMP's actions were not "appropriate" contrary to the report's
findings. Fifty-three percent of High River residents polled last August indicated they would be prepared to refuse an
evacuation order in the event of another emergency.
A judicial inquiry is needed to fully restore the trust of the residents of High River and to reassure all Canadians that their
rights and their homes will be protected in any future emergency. Lack of a full scale judicial examination of the events in
High River casts a negative shadow on the many thousands of dedicated RCMP members who serve and protect us and
maintain our rights every day in thousands of communities all across Canada.
We look forward to your response. (Note: We never got a response)
Sincerely,
Dennis R. Young
Airdrie, Alberta
Honourary Life Member of the CSSA and the NFA
Member of the Calgary RCMP Veterans Association
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.dennisryoung.ca
E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR YOUR LETTERS
Premier of Alberta: [email protected]
Alberta Minister of Justice: [email protected]
Prime Minister of Canada: [email protected]
Minister of Public Safety: [email protected]
Minister of Justice and Attorney General: [email protected]
Minister of National Defence: [email protected]