B.C. NDP candidate ordered to pay $75K in defamation suit

[Gone_Fishin]

B.C. NDP candidate ordered to pay $75K in defamation suit

Ruling comes just 5 days before election

CBC News Posted: May 04, 2017 8:07 PM PT Last Updated: May 04, 2017 9:04 PM PT


An NDP candidate in the Kootenays has been ordered to pay $75,000 in damages in a defamation suit.

Gerry Taft, the mayor of Invermere, called an opponent of the deer cull in his town a "convicted felon," and a Cranbrook, B.C. judge ruled that the comments were defamatory.

Under Taft's watch, Invermere was one of the first towns in B.C. to cull urban deer.

Controversy around the cull got so heated a man named Devin Kazakoff destroyed nets used to trap deer in neighbouring Kimberley.

Kazakoff was charged with mischief and given a conditional discharge.

Taft waded into an online argument and called Kazakoff a "convicted felon," which is not true, and was sued.

The trial began the day Taft was to start campaigning and the ruling came Thursday — five days away from the provincial vote.

In his ruling, Justice Weatherhill awarded Kazakoff $75,000 in damages and said Taft's online post "attacked Kazakoff`s credibility."


Taft says he is disappointed by the ordeal and the judgement.

snip

Taft's Liberal opponent, Doug Clovechok, was quick to jump on the news.

"The people of Columbia River-Revelstoke deserve an MLA with the highest integrity, someone they can trust," Clovechok said in a statement.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.4100641

[maryjane48]

so the guy messes with private property and the clark supporters defend the moron. im all for stopping useless culls but not for touching other folks property . if your ok with this then you will be okay with people messing with pipelines and what ever else because you cant have it both ways .

[Muzza]

so the guy messes with private property and the clark supporters defend the moron. im all for stopping useless culls but not for touching other folks property . if your ok with this then you will be okay with people messing with pipelines and what ever else because you cant have it both ways .

The guy who did the damage is not running for public office (and yes he is an idiot for damaging property!)

[Hassel99]

so the guy messes with private property and the clark supporters defend the moron. im all for stopping useless culls but not for touching other folks property . if your ok with this then you will be okay with people messing with pipelines and what ever else because you cant have it both ways .

No one has defended either of the morons involved.


Same Gerry Taft from this story last year

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.3811299

The current MLA is the NDP's Norm MacDonald, who is retiring after three terms in office. The party has a policy requiring any departing MLA to be replaced by a woman or "equity-seeking candidate," including racial minorities, Indigenous people, and members of the LGBTQ community.

Hawes is a woman with a disability, and after losing the race, she questioned how Taft could be the candidate.

Gerry stood up and stated he would take the D for the NDP.

[lasnomadas]

Once again I feel vindicated. After reading that CBC story a few months ago, I dashed an e-mail off to Craig Keaton, head honcho of the BCNDP, telling him what I thought of their 'gender equity' policy. The very same thing happened in my riding, and I'm sure the NDP's going to lose a lot of votes over this. I would never vote for an obvious liar like Taft, and I'm glad he got fined for his slanderous statement.

As for BC Liberal MLA Clovechok's statement, "The people of Columbia River-Revelstoke deserve an MLA with the highest integrity, someone they can trust", I find that laughable, considering his boss is the biggest liar ever to find herself in a position of power.

[The Green Barbarian]

*removed*