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URGENT – Call, Fax and/or Email the Minister of Public Security Today!
Dear supporters of the Bennis family and the Justice for Anas Coalition:
The Justice for Anas Coalition is calling on all supporters – especially all groups who have endorsed the Coalition’s demands – to call, fax and/or email government officials today (Thursday, April 21) to ensure that the Bennis family’s legal fees are covered during the upcoming and long-awaited coroner’s inquiry into Anas Bennis’ death. Please read backgrounder further below for more information.
You can write an original letter or you can use the sample letter included at the end of this message. We suggest you send your letter by regular mail, fax and/or email. You can also call the offices of Ministers Dutil and Fournier. On the phone, be polite and patient, but firm and persistent. Convey your message in a clear and effective manner. In light of the fact that the inquiry is slated to begin on Wednesday, April 27, and that the upcoming weekend is a long week-end, we are calling for a day of calls, faxes and emails today (Thursday, April 21), but feel free to contact the ministers whenever you can. The Coalition is also requesting that copies of your letter be sent to Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec, and Catherine Rudel-Tessier, the coroner who will chair the inquiry. You will find all contact information immediately below. If you send a letter, please also send the Coalition a copy, in order to keep track of various supports actions. You can CC us directly on the email to the ministers (if applicable) or send us an email with your letter at the following address: justicepouranas@gmail.com. Please answer our call to ensure that the Bennis family’s legal fees are covered during the long-awaited coroner’s inquiry into Anas Bennis’ death!
Thank you for your support.
In solidarity,
The Justice for Anas Coalition
(514) 342.2111
justicepouranas@gmail.com
Contact Information
Robert Dutil
Minister of Public Security, Department of Public Security
Tour des Laurentides
2525 Laurier Blvd., 5th Floor
Quebec (Qc) G1V 2L2
Tel.: (514) 873-2112
Fax: (514) 873-6597
ministre@msp.gouv.qc.ca
Jean-Marc Fournier
Minister of Justice, Department of Justice
Louis-Philippe-Pigeon Building
1200 de l'Église, 9th Floor
Quebec (Qc) G1V 4M1
Tel.: (418) 643-4210
Fax: (418) 646-0027
ministre@justice.gouv.qc.ca
Catherine Rudel-Tessier
Coroner's Office
Wilfrid Derome Building
1701 Parthenais, 11th Floor
Montreal (Quebec) H2K 3S7
Tel.: (514) 873-1845
Fax: (514) 873-8943
catherine.rudel-tessier@msp.gouv.qc.ca
Jean Charest
Premier of Quebec
Honoré-Mercier Building
835 René-Lévesque Blvd. East, 3rd floor
Québec (Qc) G1A 1B4
Tel.: (418) 643-5321
Fax: (418) 646-1854
or use this form
Background
The coroner's inquiry into the death of Mohamed Anas Bennis will begin on April 27th, 2011. After more than five years of struggle, the Bennis family can finally hope to get answers to their questions. However, with the inquiry soon approaching, a major problem has presented itself. The legal fees for the Bennis family will not be covered by the government, thereby significantly compromising their participation in the inquiry.
The Bennis family recently learned that their lawyer's fees will not be covered. While officers Yannick Bernier and Jonathan Roy, the Montreal Police Brotherhood and the City of Montreal – all of whom were involved in the unsuccessful motion to have the coroner’s inquiry quashed! – will be represented by various lawyers during the inquiry, the Bennis finds itself without legal representation. Indeed, if the family wishes to be legally represented during the coroner's inquiry -- which they have fought arduously for in recent years -- they will have to pay out of their own pocket. As such, while the Montreal police and its officers receive significant legal representation paid by public funds, the family is left without any legal support. This is even more absurd since the family may be the only party present at the inquiry that will be able to challenge the police version of events if the Justice for Anas Coalition, or other community groups, are not recognized as “interested persons”. It is worth noting that in May 2009, Jacques Dupuis, Minister of Public Security at the time, agreed to cover the costs of legal representation of the Villanueva family and two other victims wounded by Jean-Loup Lapointe: Jeffrey Sagor-Metellus and Denis Meas. Why can the Bennis family not receive the same treatment, so that access to legal representation of the parties’ own choosing is distributed more equitably? The inquiry will be a sham if the family cannot participate in it because of being unable to afford legal fees. We are therefore appealing to our allies, both groups and individuals, to write to the Minister of Public Security, Robert Dutil, and Justice Minister, Jean-Marc Fournier, to ensure that the costs of legal representation for the Bennis family are covered for the duration of the coroner’s inquiry set to begin on April 27th.
Sample Leter
[Date]
Mister Robert Dutil, Minister of Public Security
Mister Jean-Marc Fournier, Minister of Justice
RE: Legal fees of Anas Bennis’ family in the context of the coroner’s inquiry presided by Catherine Rudel-Tessier, as set out in the Act respecting the determination of the causes and circumstances of death (R.S.Q., c. R-0.2)
Dear Sirs:
I am writing you [on my own behalf / on behalf of my organization] about the coroner’s inquiry into the death of Mohamed Anas Bennis that is finally set to begin on April 27 at the Palais de Justice in Laval. You are undoubtedly aware of this file: On December 1st, 2005, Anas Bennis, a 25-year old Quebecker of Moroccan origin, was on his way home following morning prayers in a nearby mosque in his neighbourhood of Côte-des-Neiges when he was shot twice and killed by Montreal police officer Yannick Bernier who was working with officer Jonathan Roy at the time.
[I was / We were] shocked to learn, very recently, that the Bennis family’s legal fees will have to be paid out of their own pockets during this inquiry. It seems to me to be particularly unfair that the lawyers of the police officers, of the Montreal City Police, and of the City of Montreal will benefit from high-quality legal representation paid by public funds, while the Bennis family is left without any support. This is even more absurd in light of the fact that the family has fought all these years for a public inquiry in the hopes of finding answers to their questions and so that justice be done for the brother and son they’ve lost. The family has persevered despite the numerous obstacles that have been placed in their way, including a motion submitted by the Montreal Police Brotherhood, supported by the city of Montreal, to have the coroner’s inquiry itself quashed!
You are undoubtedly aware that in May 2009, Jacques Dupuis, Minister of Public Security at the time, agreed to cover the costs of legal representation of the Villanueva family and two other victims wounded by Jean-Loup Lapointe: Jeffrey Sagor-Metellus and Denis Meas. Why can the Bennis family not receive the same treatment, so that access to legal representation of the parties’ own choosing is distributed more equitably between the Bennis family and the community on the one hand, and the Montreal Police and the City of Montreal on the other?
When the Bennis family requested for legal fees be covered, the response received from the Coroner’s Office was that there is no legislation that allows the coroner to take such a measure. Accordingly, it is up to you to act now so that the family receives fair and equitable treatment in this case, and so that the family’s efforts over the past few years weren’t in vain.
[I am/We are] therefore asking that you take a position to ensure that the Bennis family’s legal fees are covered for the entire duration of the coroner’s inquiry. I strongly feel that such an intervention is imperative so that the public can have confidence in the inquiry. Without legal representation of their own choosing for the Bennis family, the inquiry will be a sham and conducting it in a credible and useful fashion will be impossible.
I await your prompt reply to this time-sensitive matter.
Sincerely,
[Your name, ± the name of your organization, your address and contact info]
cc :
Jean Charest, Premier of Québec :
https://www.premier-ministre.gouv.qc.ca/premier-ministre/joindre-pm/courriel.asp
Catherine Rudel Tessier, coroner:
catherine.rudel-tessier@msp.gouv.qc.ca
Justice for Anas Coalition:
justicepouranas@gmail.com