Toronto

Learn about Scientology history and controversies in Toronto, Ontario.

Toronto in the News

Datesort icon Title Blurb Tags
April 23, 1992 She "Ran The Agents" The former head of Scientology’s Canadian intelligence network identified one of his underlings as being responsible for "running" agents the church had planted in several police and government agencies. Levman said defendant Jacqueline Matz "ran the agents" who got jobs in the mid-1970s with the RCMP, the OPP, Metro Police and the attorney-general’s office in order to pass information back to Scientology. crimes, Press, Toronto
April 23, 1992 Church Wanted Files, Trial Told A former senior official of the Church of Scientology testified yesterday that during a trip to Britain in 1973 he got orders to obtain police files on investigations into the organization's activities in Canada. He said techniques to be used included "ripoffs" and "agents." A "ripoff" involved "a break and enter" and the use of "agents" involved having a Scientologist get a job within a targeted organization. crimes, Press, Toronto
April 22, 1992 Ruby Outlines Case For Scientologists The successful prosecution of senior members of the Church of Scientology in the United States was held out yesterday as a basis for acquitting five Scientologists and the Toronto affiliate of criminal breach-of-trust charges. Upcoming witnesses were to testify that infiltration of the Attorney-General's Ministry involved two Scientology "plants" who worked together on obtaining information from government files. crimes, Press, Toronto
April 23, 1991 Scientology Church On Trial In Canada The Church of Scientology goes on trial in Toronto, charged with stealing thousands of documents from government offices and law firms. It is the first time that a church has been put on trial in Canada. Charges include four counts of theft of documents and information, four counts of breach of trust and seven counts of possession of stolen property. crimes, Press, Toronto
April 21, 1989 Scientologists Lose Privacy Appeal Scientology lost another round in a long-running legal effort to keep religious confessions out of the hands of police and prosecutors. The issue arose when Ontario Provincial Police, acting on warrants alleging possible tax fraud, raided the Toronto premises of the church and the home of one member in 1983, seizing more than 850 boxes of material including files, books, correspondence and other documents. crimes, lawsuits, Press, Toronto

Toronto in the News

Datesort icon Title Blurb Tags
January 29, 1976 Paulette Cooper Deposed In Toronto Lawsuit Paulette Cooper is deposed in the Toronto lawsuit. Paulette Cooper, Toronto
February 11, 1975 The Toronto Scientology defendants allegedly begin stealing The Toronto Scientology defendants allegedly begin stealing documents from the law firm of Fasken & Calvin, according to charges laid against them. (From the charges: "CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF TORONTO, JAQUELINE MATZ, PAUL FRANCOIS CHARBONNEAU, JANET ELSIE WILKENS and ANNE MARIE WALSH STAND CHARGED THAT they, within the period commencing on or about the 11th day of February, 1975 and ending on or about the 2nd day of September, 1977, at the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, did steal documents, the property of the law firm of Fasken & Calvin, Barristers and Solicitors, of a value exceeding $200.00, contrary to s.294(a) of the Criminal Code;") There was a directed verdict of not guilty, since a judge ruled that ALL of the documents seized in the raids were "confessional materials" and therefore inadmissable as evidence. Toronto