I was very surprised to learn that City of Whitehorse bylaw officers seem to take the stance that if a person receives a complaint, they are automatically considered guilty until he or she can prove their innocence.
I was under the impression that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides that “any person charged with an offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
I know of someone who called bylaw to claim that they saw someone kicking and abusing their animal. I witnessed the same event and no such thing occurred. Upon reporting the same to the bylaw officer, the impression was given that, “Oh well, the complaint was made, so end of story, despite the fact that there was a witness who could verify no such abuse took place.”
I do understand that once a formal complaint has been received it has to be investigated, but at least look at it objectively.
Diane Connor
Whitehorse