LONDON (March 1996) - Despite an August 24, 1994 ruling by the Ontario Human
Rights Commission (HRC) that there was no evidence to support a racism
complaint against London landlord Elijah Elieff, the consequences of the
actions against him have yet to be rectified.
Elieff was represented before the Commission by Fp president Robert Metz, who,
after observing the landlord attempt to defend himself, took on that challenge
on the fourth day of hearings before the HRC Board of Inquiry. (Metz is not a
lawyer, and represented the landlord free of charge.) Complete details of the
issue have been extensively reported in previous issues of Freedom Flyer and
consent, while an excellent re-cap of some of the fundamental issues involved
in the case is included in an Ottawa Times news article reprinted in this issue
of Freedom Flyer.
As a result of publicity generated by the London Free Press, and as a result of
that paper's complicity and involvement with United Church minister Susan
Eagle's campaign to have Elieff's apartment buildings converted - at taxpayer
expense - into co-op housing, Elieff has lost his apartment buildings, his
submarine sandwich shop, and his public reputation as a responsible Canadian
citizen.
Efforts have been undertaken by both Fp executive members and by Fp members and
supporters to obtain the necessary legal expertise with which to pursue
Elieff's justifiable recourse against those who were directly responsible for
his plight. So far, what legal advice we have received has not been comforting.
We have been informed that it will be very expensive for Elieff to seek redress
in the courts. A case such as his is highly complex from a legal standpoint and
would take many years to resolve.
Since Elieff has no money left with which to launch applicable lawsuits, he
must rely on the assistance of others who might be willing to take on the
challenge of redressing the injustice to which he was subjected. This is doubly
tragic, given that the consequence of the events which caused his plight (a
loss of his income) is the very thing that prevents him from being able to do
anything about it.
While those who brought unfounded complaints and charges upon Elieff had their
cases subsidized by taxpayers, Elieff is forced to defend himself at his own
expense at every stage of the process.
Elijah Elieff needs our help. Anyone able to offer assistance in obtaining the
necessary legal expertise, assist with funding, or otherwise be of help to his
cause is encouraged to contact Freedom Party offices.
