The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) delivered a resounding verdict in favour of Robert W. Buckingham on April 4, 2024, by dismissing the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador’s application for leave to appeal from the judgement of the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The law society attempted to stifle Buckingham’s speech by issuing a letter of caution over public comments he made after the death of his client, Jonathan Henoche. Buckingham had a right and duty to advocate for his client and a right to freedom of expression.
The President of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, Scott Worsfold, who also holds the position of General Counsel at Memorial University, stands exposed in his brazen attempt to stifle speech. His involvement in this sordid affair shines a glaring light on his authoritarian tendencies.
On December 2, 2021, Memorial University resorted to a draconian measure, banning student Matt Barter (me) from campus. Subsequently, on March 18, 2022, Memorial sanctioned me for exercising my right to free expression in the form of a protest during a media briefing with since removed President Vianne Timmons. I took Memorial’s decision to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the judge is still in the process of rendering their decision on the matter.
Buckingham has been supportive of me since I was banned from Memorial campus. In 2021, Buckingham stated that Memorial’s decision was one of the most disturbing pieces of news he had seen out of a university in all his years, and it was an embarrassment to the whole community, academic and public. Buckingham said that whoever made such a horrendous decision should be forced to resign.
In 2023, Buckingham stated that my challenge to the authoritarian actions of Memorial is to be commended and my call for the resignations of Jennifer Browne and Gregory McDougall is justified. Buckingham suggested I be awarded an Honorary Degree of Laws.
In 2024, after the release of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s report into my complaint over Memorial’s refusal to release the Genesis Centre and C-Core bonuses, Buckingham stated that I should keep after the administrators and their minions who supported the attack on me. Buckingham also stated that my work exposing nepotism, insider personal friendship deals, financial irregularities, and questionable discretionary spending was great.
While Gladys Dunne, who received over $80,000 in payments from Memorial and John Hogan, who went on to be the province’s Justice Minister, drafted the caution letter, Worsfold still had involvement.
It has become increasingly evident that Worsfold has a disturbing propensity for trampling upon Charter rights, particularly freedom of expression. On September 13, 2021, I met with Worsfold and his buddy Chief Risk Officer Gregory McDougall after receiving a meeting request via email about my posters demanding that President Vianne Timmons resign. Many now say that my posters were visionary.
Before the meeting began, Worsfold said that recording was strictly prohibited and emphasized secrecy. When I suggested to Worsfold that he should talk to lawyer and former student activist Bob Buckingham about protest and civil liberties, he laughed and said something along the lines of, “I don’t talk to the likes of Bob Buckingham.”
It’s a shame because if Worsfold talked to Buckingham, he may learn something. Worsfold’s disdainful dismissal of Buckingham serves as a stark reminder of the ignorance and arrogance often found among those in positions of power.
The clandestine maneuvers orchestrated by Worsfold and McDougall reek of corruption and ethical breach. It came to light through a media release from Memorial, drafted by McDougall himself, that the September 13 meeting was part of the Student Code of Conduct’s informal resolution process. McDougall’s dual role as mediator and then complainant presents a conflict of interest. Furthermore, McDougall’s audacious imposition of harsh penalties, such as a campus ban before any investigation, only serves to intensify this conflict. The ban has since been lifted. McDougall’s dual capacity of writing media releases on behalf of Memorial while simultaneously being the complainant raises significant ethical concerns. McDougall’s multifaceted roles as mediator, decision-maker, and complainant, coupled with his flagrant abuse of power, expose the deep-seated corruption festering within the halls of authority at Memorial.
Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.
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