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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Toews speaks out on Twitter turmoil in letter to constituents
Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews (ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES)
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Manitoba's senior MP Vic Toews says he and his family have been the target of criminal acts and threats of criminal acts, in a wide-ranging letter to his constituents in his Provencher riding.
The letter is a response to a week in which his divorce details were released online and he was mocked relentlessly on Twitter.
The letter ranges from undetailed revelations of threats against his family, which he said he has reported to the police, to strong declarations of devotion to his present family. He does not detail in what way he and his family have been threatened by criminal acts, or whether he is only referring to the release of private details of the breakup of his previous marriage.
Toews, the federal minister for public safety, has come under attack following the introduction of his proposed online surveillance legislation in the House of Commons. Critics say it threatens the privacy of law-abiding people.
First, details of his divorce were posted on Twitter, in apparent retaliation. Then, via the Twitter hashtag #TellVicEverything, people described to Toews the most quotidian details of their lives.
What Toews wrote
An Open Letter To My Constituents
Dear Constituents,
Over the last few weeks I have been subjected to an extensive personal attack by my political opponents as a result of certain legislation that I have introduced in the House of Commons on behalf of the federal government.
These attacks, which have included criminal acts and threats of criminal acts against me and my family, have been referred to the police for investigation. Any further criminal activity or threats of criminal activity against me or my family will also be referred to the police.
As my constituents I would like you to know that the personal attacks, criminal acts and threats of future criminal acts against me will not dissuade me from carrying out my responsibilities as an elected Member of the House of Commons and as the Minister of Public Safety for Canada.
The personal attacks against me are based on allegations contained in affidavits filed in the course of my divorce proceedings a number of years ago. The affidavits are on the public record and filed with the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench. These allegations have been the basis of prior personal attacks against me and I assume they will form the basis of attacks against me for many years to come.
I want you to know that I have never responded publicly to the specific allegations made in these affidavits nor will I ever do so. I will be fully accountable for any responsibility that I bear for the breakdown of my previous marriage but that accountability is not something I owe to the public generally or to my political opponents in particular. It is a personal accountability which I cannot avoid nor do I seek to do so.
However, I do want you to know that I have a spouse and a young son who I love more than life itself.
The other night, while I was reading my favourite poet, William Butler Yeats, I came across these lines:
'Yet they that know all things but know That all this life can give us is A child's laughter, a woman's kiss.''
No words could ever describe my love for my young son and my spouse any better. What a fortunate man I am to have them in my life.
Sincerely,
Vic Toews
MP for Provencher
History
Updated on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 10:09 AM CST: tweaks second graf
10:31 AM: amends "RCMP" to "police"
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