COUNCILLOR SCOTT HAHN BACK TO PROVINCIAL OFFENCES COURT ON SEPTEMBER 26/16 9 am.

Both the Waterloo Region Record (Local Section) and the Woolwich Observer carry articles today regarding yesterday's visit to Provincial Court in downtown Kitchener (77 Queen St.). The Observer story is titled "Scott Hahn case adjourned as Crown decides if action warranted". The Record's brief story is titled "Case against Woolwich councillor adjourned to Sept. 26".

The key to Mr. Hahn's case is the Forensic Audit produced by Froese Forensic Partners and paid for by Woolwich Township. The Audit Committee (MECAC) who are a bunch of political appointees courtesy of multiple Region of Waterloo townships and cities determined that it was necessary to order this Forensic audit based upon Scott Hahn's initial ridiculously bad Financial Statement as well as based upon conflicting or unclear facts which surfaced at the MECAC hearings. How difficult or technical was this decision? In my opinion any honest, unbiased Woolwich citizen who invested fifteen minutes of their time to get informed would have made the same decision.

Froese Forensic Partners listed a number of apparent contraventions of the Municpal Elections act (MEA) in their report for BOTH of Mr. Hahn's Financial Statements. His first Statement and by the way only legal Statement claimed $258 expenses above and beyond his $100 deposit. His second Amended and illegally accepted and commissioned Financial Statement stated that he had $3,200 in expenses. This second Amended Statement was improperly and illegally accepted by Woolwich Township on May 11, 2015 approximately two months after the legal deadline. Talk about the blind leading the blind. In the words of Justice Quinn of Superior Court (St. Catherines) "Ignorance of the Act is not a defence; neither is relying on the ignorance of others.".

In regards to the Crown advising the Judge yesterday that he was missing vital information I believe that to be correct. That said I believe that part of that information simply was not sent from Superior Court (Intake Court) up to Provincial Offences Court as it should have been. That at least is what I was advised weeks ago when I filed the Affidavit of Service with Provincial Offences Court. The lady behind the counter advised me then that she had as yet not received the Summons and Information (charges) from Superior Court. Weird.

Regardless I provided extra copies of what I had yesterday to the Crown including for a second time the Forensic Audit produced by Froese Forensic Partners. Yesterday afternoon I then provided 21 more pages to the Crown including Scott's two Financial Statements. Finally I advised where on line all these documents were publicly available.

While I respect that the Crown needs to do his due diligence I can unequivocally advise that our judicial system to date has not inspired confidence in me or other well informed Woolwich residents in regards to enforcing the Municipal Elections Act.