Man accused of harassing Sudbury mayor speaks out after charge dropped
A 34-year-old man who used to live in Sudbury is sharing his side of the story after a criminal harassment charge involving former Mayor Brian Bigger in 2021 was dropper earlier this year.
Andrew Ouellette, who now lives in Alberta, told CTV News in a phone interview he lost several mining job opportunities due to the harassment charge.
Ouellette said he went to the former mayor's house uninvited to talk to him about solutions for people in the city experiencing homelessness.
"All I wanted to do was help these people," he said.
"Just because they are homeless, just because they are going through a hard time, I wasn't doing it for attention, I wanted to get answers."
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Ouellette said after talking to some people at the downtown Sudbury homeless encampment, he had reached out to Bigger, but hadn't heard anything back and cold weather was approaching.
He said he was told by a city employee that due to COVID-19, the former mayor was working from home, so he went to the house Nov. 16, 2021, to ask him a few questions.
Something that Bigger told CTV News isn't appropriate.
"You need to remember we are people, too, and hopefully people can respect our privacy and the safety of our family members," the former mayor said.
And Sudbury police agreed.
"This is a reminder that there are proper and appropriate channels available to community members who are looking to contact public officials," police said.
"Attending an individual’s private residence is not an appropriate avenue. Please be respectful of their privacy and the privacy and safety of their family members."
Ouellette said he recorded video of himself walking up to Biggar's house, rang the doorbell and was only there once for about three minutes. He denies banging on the door, as previously reported by Sudbury police. CTV News has not been able to verify this claim.
Ouellette said he is just happy the charge was dropped, but more needs to be done to help the homeless and vulnerable.
"Be the change you want to see, because sometimes it takes only one person to make a difference," Ouellette said.
The Sudbury courthouse confirmed that the criminal harassment charge was withdrawn on Jan. 23 and replaced with a peace bond.
"The conditions in the peace bond contain a no contact with Brian Bigger or his immediate family and to remain 100 m away from any known place him or his family live, work, go to school or any place known to be," Sudbury courthouse said in an email to CTV News.
"To not attain the residence of any public official or attend on Maureen Crescent, Sudbury, ON (between Gemmell Street and Downland Avenue) And a weapons prohibition."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.