Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale has resigned, effective immediately.
This comes after a group called the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association stated yesterday that Gale was the owner of a copy of Mein Kampf, signed by Adolf Hitler, having bought it at an auction in 2010 and having it authenticated in 2018.
In a resignation statement yesterday, Gale called the document dated, while calling the group that released the information a communist party. Gale added that he collects historical artifacts, including an 1859 letter from anti-slavery advocate John Brown, a letter from George Washington, a letter from Winston Churchill and Vatican archives. In his statement, Gale did not confirm or deny whether or not he still owns the signed copy of Mein Kampf, which he notes is available in libraries.
The former chair says there's been a "strong vocal minority" that wishes to paint a picture of him that is untrue and hurtful to not only him, but his family, friends, and others around the region.
Gale has been at the centre of attention in Niagara recently as amalgamation talks have circulated, which he says are changes that are larger than any one person. He says he took responsibility to undertake a governance review seriously, adding that it's something that would benefit Niagara taxpayers.
Gale was appointed Chair by Premier Doug Ford late last year after the passing of former chair Jim Bradley.
(Written by: Matt Latour)