LONDON (November 11, 1997) - About 100 members of the London
Property Management Association (LMPA) listened to Fp president
Robert Metz outline the trials and tribulations of London
landlord Elijah Elieff, whose recent encounter with an Ontario
Human Rights Commission Board of Inquiry eventually led to the
total loss of his Cheyenne Avenue apartment buildings and a
submarine sandwich shop he owned and operated. (Details of his
experience have been covered in past issues of Freedom Flyer and
Consent and are always available on Fp's website at www.freedomparty.org/cheyenne.htm. )
In addition to telling the landlord's story and warning property owners about the dangers of Human Rights tribunals, Metz made a personal appeal to LMPA members:
"I am also here to ask you to support one particular individual, on whose behalf I am speaking, in his personal struggle for some semblance of justice," he said, and then introduced Mr. Elieff to the audience.
Still reeling from the loss of his buildings and his businesses, Elieff now plans to go on the offensive, but his legal options have been limited both by the time that has passed since his first encounter with Ontario's Human Rights Commission in 1989, and by his lack of funds with which to launch an effective lawsuit against those he holds responsible for his plight.
In July 1997, Elieff obtained a 41-page letter of opinion from Barrister and Solicitor Paul McKeever, of Oshawa Ontario. The letter outlined various legal approaches and options open to the London landlord, and stressed the complexity and expense that he would face once any action was launched, costs that could go as high as $50,000. To complicate matters further, Elieff's case has many unique aspects from a legal standpoint, and precedents may not always be applicable.
In April 1998, with the help of a personal loan to augment his current income as a transport truck driver, Elieff retained the services of London lawyer Anthony Steele of Ross, Bennett & Lake, who likewise warned the former landlord that "The law relating to civil actions is complex and technical and Mr. McKeever has done an excellent job of reviewing the factors relating to those technical complexities."
Undaunted, Elieff nevertheless plans to forge ahead. He has made it clear to all involved that he would rather "fight the fight" and lose, than sit and do nothing about what has happened to him. That is his one unacceptable option.
"For Mr. Elieff, this is a highly personal matter, and needless to say, he has a personal stake in his success," said Metz to LMPA members. "For me, it's a matter of principle, personal and public. Do I want to live in a country that allows subjective and arbitrary government tribunals to replace all semblance of objective justice? I think not.
"For you, it's a matter of protecting yourself, and protecting your fast-disappearing property rights. What happened to Mr. Elieff could happen to YOU."
LMPA meeting attendees each received a special reprint of two articles which originally appeared in Consent #21 and Consent #22. The first was Metz's final argument before the Board of Inquiry, where he had acted as the landlord's representative. The second was written by London-area home builder and property manager Peter Sergautis, who, as the landlord who subsequently purchased Elieff's buildings through a power of sale, outlined some of his own experiences with "community leader" Susan Eagle after he took over the buildings. Eagle, a United Church minister, is the primary individual responsible for Elieff's ordeal, since it was she who led the search for a complainant to file charges of discrimination against the landlord. Eagle also led public demonstrations in front of his sandwich shop for the specific purpose of attacking Elieff's reputation as a businessman.
TORONTO (March 1998) - Voice of Canadians chairman Dick Field has already alerted his organization's membership to the "travesty" of Elieff's plight in the March/April 1998 edition of Voices, published by the Voice of Canadians Committees. Field has encouraged his members and supporters to contact Freedom Party to help, and to visit Fp's website for more details of Elieff's story. Many have already done so.
"We will tell the story to you in our next newsletter," promised Field, "although a novel should be written. The story will enrage you and bring tears to your eyes. It is a story filled with political intrigue, conspiracy, misuse of the tribunal system, and the ruination of an innocent man and his wife."
Readers interested in obtaining a copy of Voices may contact the Voice of Canadians Committees at: Box 88512, Swansea Postal Outlet, 34 Southport St., TORONTO, Ontario. M6S 4Z8; Phone (416) 766-0895, Fax: (416) 766-2270
Field has been conducting his own campaigns against Ontario's Human Rights Commission. He believes that there are a growing number of people who are concerned with the corruption of Canada's legal system and who may wish to get involved in cases like Elieff's.
"We must find people who are prepared to support Elieff," says Field. "He has been hurt badly and needs our support."
TORONTO (April 18, 1998) - That was the message heard by attendees at a meeting of the Montgomery Tavern Society (see back issues of Freedom Flyer), where they each had a chance to personally meet Elijah Elieff. Fp president Robert Metz reviewed Mr. Elieff's story in much the same manner as when he spoke to LMPA members in London.
Lobby group leaders and individual activists were asked for their help on three fronts: (1) financial support, (2) moral support, including publicity and appeals to group membership for support, and (3) advice and input relating to how each group/member might be able to assist Mr. Elieff.
All members agreed that they would do something to help. Stay tuned for future updates on this very important issue.
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last updated on April 28, 2002
