Woman at centre of misleading ‘bylaw sting’ story offers official apology

The woman at the centre of a story that sparked public outrage and the condemnation of the City of London’s bylaw office has issued an official apology and notice of retraction.

The letter was distributed by lawyer Jacob Damstra of Lerners LLP, who represents chief bylaw officer Orest Katolyk. Damstra confirmed to 980 CFPL that the woman prepared and signed the letter and that Katolyk received and is satisfied with the apology and retraction.

In late February, the woman reported to the London Free Press that she charges $12 a ride to shuttle patients in need to and from their appointments, with the funds covering gas and maintenance. The woman, a cancer survivor, said an undercover bylaw enforcement officer posed as a patient and charged her with a bylaw violation.

“There was an overwhelming response by the public that was extremely critical of the Bylaw Enforcement Department and in particular, the chief of that department, Mr. Orest Katolyk,” the letter states.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There was an overwhelming response by the public that was extremely critical of the Bylaw Enforcement Department and in particular, the chief of that department, Mr. Orest Katolyk," the letter states.

“I attempted to paint myself as an innocent victim of overzealous enforcement of a municipal bylaw.”

What the woman did not mention, was that she was also offering rides for a fee to customers other than hospital patients and that she had previously received a warning from city bylaw officers.

“The officers directed me to contact the Business Services office of the Development and Compliance department of the City of London for information on how I could continue to operate legally,” the letter reads.

“City staff did everything they could to assist me.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "City staff did everything they could to assist me."

According to the letter, city staff told her that if she continued to accept money in exchange for driving a person from “point A” to “point B,” she would be in violation of the bylaw. She told staff that she did not charge a fee to those she transported to medical appointments and she was told that those rides did not violate city bylaw and she could continue to offer them.

The letter ends with the woman writing that she does “completely and unequivocally retract and withdraw all comments and false statements,” and that she wishes to express her “sincere apology” to all involved, and that city staff continue to help her by advising her on how to legally provide her services.