From Wed, Sept, 28, 2005 Globe and Mail article titled, "Ontario ruling clears path for police-misconduct suits".

This article suggests that residents of Ontario can sue agencies for misconduct when substandard performance of important (police) duties. The ruling may have impact on various government agencies that have regulatory rules to follow, and have been accused of ignoring them in the name of convenience or other reasons.

Names that come to mind include the ASC, OSC, IDA, the Competition Bureau and I am sure others will come up over time. Any agency that has a mandate of protection of the public interest and following the rule of law, may be accused of regulatory failure if it is found that they did not follow their own process, or if they followed them arbitrarily and selectively. This story follows a recent news item of a citizen initiative to act as watchdog over police in Ontario, when complaints are made against them.

In the past the police were the ones responsible for investigating the police, and this was found to have some obvious conflicts of interest. In due time many are hoping that this same level of reason will be applied to the betterment of the investment industry reputation in Canada. So far, members of the Securities Enforcement Coalition are saddened to say that Canada is earning a well deserved reputation for being a buyer beware game, as far as consumers are concerned, and the United States is the only player that is enforcing ethical rules. They are even the only player enforcing the rules here in Canada, while we stand by and watch our rep go down the drain.