In A Court Of Law

Ward XII Candidate Rakesh Patel

Ward XII Candidate Yash Sharma

R. Joey Koopmans, B. Admin., Ward XII YEG City Councilor Byelection Candidate, Alberta Law Courts Bvilding Library Public Use Computer, Edmonton, Alberta

February XIIth, MMXVI

Hon. Dave Eggen, B. Ed., MLA, Minister of Education, New Democratic, Edmonton-Calder

Dear Dave:

As a close & personal friend of former Progressive Conservative MLA Peter Sandhu, I find myself in a rather unique & extraordinary position. I, as an active Ward XII YEG City Councilor Byelection Candidate have been called by several media organizations for a comment of "alleged" improprieties by my fellow Ward XII Candidates Yash Sharma & Rakesh Patel.

- First and foremost, the matters are part of court actions filed by other parties. Therefore, it would not as both as an active candidate & as a provincially licensed security officer for me to comment in any way. That would be frankly rather unethical of me & it should be up to a court of law to decide & furthermore, I am not a lawyer, judge, or police officer.

- Second, I was also asked to comment on past charges or incidents laid against four other candidates. I would for the record rather not as these other candidates have paid their debts &/or are obey any obligations or Peace Bonds against them.

- I for one don't want to be accused of taking political advantage &/or smearing Candidates Sharma or Patel, or for that matter Candidates Sam Jhajj, Shani Ahmad, Steve "C.P." Toor, or Terry McKinnon. I have come to know all VI of these fine gentlemen during the campaign & they seem like very upstanding citizens.

- Also, I for one firmly believe that of the XXXII (32) candidates at hand, each of us should have a I in XXXII (1 in 32) chance of winning or losing, no unfair tactical advantage for any of us whatsoever! 

That Is The True Essence Of Democracy & Fair Play At Work,

R. Joey

Source: CBC Edmonton News Jennie Russell, Charles Rusnell, & Janice Johnston & "The Campaign II Elect R. Joey Koopmans Ward XII YEG City Councilor."

Ward XII Candidate Terry McKinnon

Ward XII Candidate Steve "C.P." Toor

Ward XII Candidate Sam Jhajj

Ward XII Candidate Shani Ahmad

As an aside, I do find it wrong from a security standpoint that Sikhs can bring in ceremonial daggers to a polling station when nobody else can & which can be used as part of voter intimidation tactics. Its just as bad as the niqab in the Muslim tradition which clearly subjugates women to their male counterparts, women should have to uncover their full face in a polling station like those of every other voter to establish proper identification. Finally, if you cannot say a Loyalty Oath to Her Majesty The Queen then perhaps you shouldn't be a Canadian citizen because The Queen is above all else!