YOUNG'S OBTAINING OF TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS TO SUPPORT SMITH LIBEL LAWSUIT AGAINST CBC CITED AS ABUSE OF HIS OFFICE BY JUSTICE GOUDGE;

"THIS REQUEST WAS ONE OF SEVERAL EXAMPLES WHERE DR. YOUNG WAS WILLING TO USE THE AUTHORITY OF HIS OFFICE TO DEFEND DR. SMITH, JUSTIFIED OR NOT, FROM ANY CRITICISMS OR DAMAGE TO HIS REPUTATION."

JUSTICE STEPHEN GOUDGE;

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Last night, while continuing my careful read through the four volume Goudge report, I found a reference to Dr. Young's securing of taxpayer's money to help fund Dr. Smith's libel action against the CBC in connection with a searing CBC Fifth Estate documentary which showed both Dr. Smith and The Chief Coroner's Office in a very poor light.

Justice Goudge's comments are significant as they reflect the extent to which Dr. Young would go to protect Dr. Smith and his office at all costs.

"In February 2000, Dr. Smith sued the CBC over the Fifth Estate program. Even though he never bothered to watch the program, Dr. Young requested that the Ministry of the Solicitor General assist Dr. Smith with legal fees for his lawsuit, which the ministry did," Goudge's comments began.

"It is difficult to understand how Dr. Young could make the decision to support Dr. Smith's legal action without having watched the episode. His explanation is that he felt it was important that the ministry support its people because, otherwise, people would not work for the ministry," they continued.

"This request was one of several examples where Dr. Young was willing to use the authority of his office to defend Dr. Smith, justified or not, from any criticisms or damage to his reputation.""

The Ontario Government is fighting my request for release of all documents relating to Dr. Young's obtaining government funding of the private lawsuit.

I am beginning to understand why.

Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;