When The Newmarket-Aurora Old Boys Club turns into life threatening danger

Besides being members of Newmarket Council, what else do Tony Van Bynen, John Taylor, Jane Twinney, Christina Bisanz, Kelly Broome Plumley  (and possibly others) have in common?

All of these Newmarket council members accepted political "help" in the forms of cash and/ or other support from Magna Inc. and/or Stronach related people/ corporations.

Steven Hinder is the man behind this "help".  He is the Director of Community and Government Relations for the Stronach Group.  He is the Manager of Community Relations for Magna International Inc.  He is the past chair of the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce representing Magna (see the link http://www.newmarketchamber.ca/Steve-Hinder-biography) and he is heavily involved with Neighbourhood Network, Belinda's Place homeless shelter, and Southlake Hospital Foundation Board. He's also an ex-cop from the city of Toronto.

It is essentially Mr. Hinder's job to represent the Stronachs and Magna at various community events and initiatives. Mr. Hinder supports certain municipal politicians, and these politicians can be counted upon to reciprocate when needed.  In Newmarket, the Magna Centre and the Frank Stronach Park are just two examples of how this arrangement works.

On paper, Steven Hinder and his "help" appear quite commendable and that is certainly what the Stronachs and Magna intend.  No one can ever accuse either the Stronachs or Magna Inc. of not being great citizens of the Newmarket and Aurora communities.

But those who know Steven Hinder well will admit that on a personal level, Mr. Hinder relishes the role of power broker and he can be a bully to those whom he doesn't like.  It's a well known fact that a number of well funded, anonymous, politically motivated smear campaigns in both Newmarket and Aurora were initiated against candidates who Mr. Hinder doesn't like.  (A few insiders might note the irony of Nwkt Town Hall Watch in publishing the news that exposes Mr. Hinder).

Mr. Hinder enjoys picking the winners and losers in local politics. He uses his charity connections, Stronach and Magna money, and his ownership of Snap'd Aurora to his political advantage: in order to gain influence in the community.  But from all accounts, political strongman-ship is not the reason why Magna and the Stronachs hired him.

His job is supposed to be community outreach.  

Last year about this time, I attended Jane Twinney's PC party acclamation meeting at the Mansion in Aurora. I had heard of a fracas between Steven Hinder and another individual, PC loyalist Anthony Pullano.  Pullano is a former candidate in the last Aurora municipal election. He served in the past as a Director for the Newmarket-Aurora PC riding Association and is very well respected among his peers.

The incident was the subject of persistent whispers that ran through all of 2014 and into early 2015. Through it all, Steven Hinder continued in his ways, helping on various election campaigns, and donating either Stronach and/or Magna money to certain campaigns.  For the most part, the campaigns he gave money to were successful, which highly bolstered Hinder's reputation as a man who can "make things happen" for certain people.

On February 28th, 2015, in the Newmarket, Ontario General Division Court, a lawsuit was filed against Mr. Hinder, Magna Inc.and the Stronach Group, seeking $1.5 million in damages relating to the March 20th Newmarket-Aurora PC nomination in which Jane Twinney was acclaimed.

I was forwarded that Statement of Claim.

I have been told that both papers the Era and The Auroran have this information, but are too afraid to report on it.  For their sake, they can go to the Newmarket Court House and upon paying a $10 fee, they can have their own copy of File #CV-15-121907-00.  In the past, The Era published stories about an "imaginary" lawsuit against former councillor Maddie Di Muccio.  Yet, when the news is real, and the evidence is easily obtainable, these papers fail our communities over and over again. This is why more and more people are coming to my blog and others like me, for real news about what is really going on in our community and exposing the masks behind the "political players."

Here is a summary of the allegations against Steve Hinder (yet to be proven in court):

1) Hinder attended the Newmarket-Aurora PC Acclamation meeting for Jane Twinney on March 20, 2014 in his "capacity with his employment by Magna Inc. and the Stronachs."  He was there to support Twinney in her failed bid to replace Frank Klees as MPP.

2)  With a closed fist, Mr. Hinder approached the plaintiff and punched him in the chest exclaiming "Who are YOU supporting tonight!" - and walked away.

3) Nine months previously, the victim had suffered a heart attack and his treatment at that time included having a defibrillator surgically implanted in the right side of his chest. Immediately after the assault, Pullano experienced pain in the spot on his chest where he was punched and left the meeting, despite his friends and colleagues asking him to stay.

4) Within hours, the victim was at Southlake Hospital to have his injuries looked at. The attending physician confirmed that trauma to the area of the defibrillator had occurred and the family physician confirmed the injury was "most likely caused by trauma to that area."

5) Within weeks the trauma had become so infected that the plaintiff was admitted to the hospital for surgery and the defibrillator was removed from the right side of his chest and a new one replaced on the left side of his chest.

The Statement of Claim filed by the plaintiff alleges the following: "that Steven Hinder intentionally applied force to the chest of Anthony Pullano without his consent", was "excessive and unreasonable under the circumstances. The Claim cites "Assault and Battery, Negligence and Vicarious Liability and Other Liability" and that Steven Hinder "has a history of aggressive and bullying behaviour."

The Claim outlines the awful experience that Pullano went through and the serious threat to his life. It highlights "the highhanded, shocking contemptuous conduct of the defendants" and seeks damages of over $1.5 million.

I'm looking forward to following this case closely, but this allegation, if proven to be true, should be a wake up call to our communities.