Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Tories mum on why they fired high-profile Parole Board appointee

OTTAWA — The Conservative government is refusing to say why it fired a high-profile appointee from his position with the Parole Board of Canada.

The government last week removed former police officer Fred Tufnell from his job as vice-chairman for the parole board’s Ontario region, saying he “no longer enjoys the confidence” of the federal cabinet.

Tufnell remains a member of the board, however.

Tufnell was appointed to the board in 2009 by then-Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan, who trumpeted his “extensive experience in the Canadian law enforcement field.” He was promoted to Ontario vice-chair in February 2011, earning an annual salary of between $135,300 and $159,200.

An order-in-council released by the Privy Council Office this week says that then-Public Safety Minister Vic Toews wrote to Tufnell in November 2012 and again in May 2013 to ask why his designation as vice-chair should not be terminated.

Tufnell responded in writing on Dec. 6, the document says, but it provides no explanation of the issue at hand or why his response was considered insufficient to keep the job.

Both The office of new Public Safety Minister Stephen Blaney and the Parole Board cited privacy considerations and declined to provide more information about Tufnell’s removal from the job.

It is unclear why cabinet decided to remove Tufnell from the job as regional vice-chairman but allow him to remain on the board, albeit at a reduced salary.

Board members rule on applications for conditional release from federal inmates.

According to the biography released by Van Loan’s office, Tufnell was a former armed forces member who later served on the York Regional Police Force. He was president of three security companies and also was involved with community groups and hospitals.

Original Article
Source: ottawacitizen.com
Author: GLEN MCGREGOR

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