Hey Missy Proles and Prolettes,

Has MISSISSAUGAWATCH got video for you! It's such a terrific video that The Mississauga Muse has even gone through the effort of creating this transcript.

"What is missing?" indeed...

Yes, today's Blog is also about how Mississauga Library/Community Services selected for cuts-to-service, the four libraries (in the words of Councillor Pat Saito) "that are in the area of most need."

MISSISSAUGAWATCH is excited about all this. After all, we've been alerting readers that The Corporation of the City of Mississauga ain't what we've been groomed to believe.

It's rare for The Mississauga Muse to have such irrefutable proof drop so easily in her lap. And then that this proof can be weaved into a simple 3-minute video is, well, Gold, Jerry, Gold!

What's terrific this time around is it's not The Mississauga Muse's words, but those of Hazel (Order of Canada) McCallion, Mississauga Councillors Pat Saito and Eve Adams  —and best of all, the words embedded in the October 15, 2008 Corporate Report SUBJECT: Changes to Library Hours in 2009.

Notice the date, October 15, 2008, Mississauga Community Services tabled a report that recommended cutting hours of services to Meadowvale, Burnhamthorpe, Malton (yes Malton) and South Common " —libraries "that are in the area of most need} while Lorne Park remains untouched.

It's worth taking another look at "Circulation by time of day for current Friday evening and Sunday Service"

That Budget report happened Wednesday afternoon.

Not even 24 hours later,  Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, and Councillors Katie Mahoney, Eve Adams and Frank Dale attended the Homicide Information Session at Peel Regional Council Chambers. Peel Police Chief Metcalf gave an excellent report on what our Peelers would be facing in the future.

Hazel McCallion was the first to offer her comments after Metcalf's presentation.  And despite knowing that her own Community Services crapped out a report that targeted cuts for four libraries "that are in the area of most need" here's what McCallion said to Chief Mike Metcalf.

Hey all (I'm crabbier than usual so know that goin' in).

It's worth reviewing a July 24, 2007 Mississauga News Letter to the Editor written by the perceptive Mississauga resident Ivan Lung, who protested Mississauga libraries being closed "6 p.m. on Fridays, and out of operation on Sundays"

Recall that Ms. Lung concluded that, "If the library is for the convenience of the City workers, then we should consider why this is the case."

It's worth reading Ms. Lung's letter and to prep you for what Mississauga Staff have recommended as the 2009 round of library hour cuts and closings. (Guess what library Mississauga Staff decided to nail?)

THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS
Hours not good
Dear Editor:

The Mississauga News
Jul 24, 2006

Hours not good

The Mississauga Library system has provided much assistance in spreading word for events, as well as the many events that it runs itself, including reading groups for children.

I am writing to express my concerns about the change in working hours for the library.

I believe that it is completely unfair that the library should have changed their hours for the summer.

The new hours are simply inconvenient to the taxpayers. We still have to work our regular hours all year, unless we're on vacation.

The only convenient time for parents to take their children to the library is on Friday nights and weekends. But with the library closing at 6 p.m. on Fridays, and out of operation on Sundays, it makes it extremely difficult for some families.

I believe that we should reconsider the general reason why we have a library. If the library is for the convenience of the City workers, then we should consider why this is the case. If the library is for the people of Mississauga, then we should consider a change. If the library is going to continue to be a service to Mississauga's children, adults, and the elderly then there should be a change.

Ivana Lung

 

In my previous Blog, I wrote, that I would be attending the Homicide Information Session —quote: "if for no other reason than to watch Mississauga Council’s ritualized drama of mutual pretense aka: BULL**** about “Gee, we don’t understand what’s wrong, we have all these wonderful facilities and…”

Can I predict it or what?

Sure enough as if on cue, after Chief Metcalf finished his excellent presentation, Hazel McCallion served up the old "I don't understand it. We have programmes and excellent facilities" ...Mississauga's Same Song  —First and Second Verses.

How McCallion can go with the ol' Gosh-Gee we got great facilities" when this graph was dropped into her lap just the day before, catapults beyond my comprehension.

That graph? I'm not sure what it represents. Circulation average for a year? For the month just passed? It raises questions like why was Wednesday evening left out? It also raises the question why didn't McCallion or any councillor ask why Wednesday evenings was left off the graph.

 

 

 

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Hey Missy Proles and Prolettes,

Oooo my poor head!

I was at the evil empire til well past 3 pm yesterday  —first General Committee, then the killer, Budget. Killer, I tell you. I could feel brain cells dying. Worst Council session yet, I swear. I actually fell asleep. Councillor Parrish's voice finally stirred me from my stupor, but not before more brain cells *ping*ed into oblivion.

deadly  —their municipal world of *nudge* *nudge* *wink* *wink*.

Living arrogant proof that George Bush spoke for all politicians when he said:

“We had an accountability moment, and that’s called the 2004 elections.”

Speaking of elections.... just quickly. I'm happy that Paul Szabo won. Having followed Mississauga South, I really do believe he was the best candidate.

Next, I'm jumpin'-off-the-wall delighted that Wajid Khan isn't my MP anymore. I've been waiting for this moment since I dropped down some major semaphore in front of his office on January 5, 2007 when he proved himself to be a Liberal of convenience and crossed the floor. (Seriously, it'd be one thing if a Liberal crosses to the NDP —but Harper neo-conservatives? Talk about Orwell's BLACKWHITE.

The Mississauga  Muse has waited since January 2007 for that "accountability  moment" and so I (fresh from putting an X beside Bonnie Crombie's name) decided to spend election night at Khan's campaign headquarters to take in what I hoped would be a concession speech.

Lots to do today and too tired to write you-all much else. But I do need to thank merci bien, Quebec! And especially Montreal! Seems our belle province neighbours are credited with keeping Harper at a minority!

So here it is. Video. Wajid Khan's concession speech.

(Harper Special Advisor to the Middle East) WAJID KHAN'S Concession Speech (October 14, 2008)

(Please click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube and Google Video)

Last. I want to close with something. Remember how I've been saying that it isn't the mayors and councillors who run Ontario municipalities but rather EMPLOYEES.  Yesterday, I witnessed EMPLOYEES do their employee-thing at Budget. (I'll write more about this all later.)

I was once told by Commissioner Paul Mitcham that social issues should not concern me. Yes. Really. Social issues should not concern me. I now understand why. That's because social issues don't concern Mississauga Council either except in the most superficial Noises-for-ROGERS-TV duckspeak.

The way that Mississauga Staff decided to cut library hours is DESPICABLE.

But for now allow me to cut-and-paste a Mississauga News Letter to the Editor reaching all the way back to July 24, 2006.

Regarding Mississauga libraries, Ivana Lung wrote, "The new hours are simply inconvenient to the taxpayers. We still have to work our regular hours all year, unless we're on vacation."

Yesterday at Budget, not only did Library Staff cut back on evening hours again, but also decided to close some libraries again (you ready?) —ON STATUTORY HOLIDAYS!

ON FRIKKIN' STATUTORY HOLIDAYS!

And this is the evil part because this had to be on purpose (for convenience and comfort of Staff).  What library in Mississauga is already closed the most number of evenings?... MALTON!

This is for Commissioner Paul Mitcham.

YO. DUDE! I NOW KNOW WHY YOU TOLD ME THAT SOCIAL ISSUES SHOULDN'T BE OF CONCERN TO ME! AND I DEDICATE THIS CUT-AND-PASTE TO YOU!

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[This Blog entry was updated at 9:27 pm so that additional info could be added and for it to read more smoothly. The MISSISSAUGAWATCH Thanksgiving video was also switched from YouTube-embedded to Google Video]

[The title of this Blog entry was updated October 14, 2008 at 9:27 pm from "PEEL’s FEDERAL CANDIDATES CONTEST: Hugh ARRISON or Wajid KHAN?" to "PEEL's FEDERAL CANDIDATES CONTEST: Wajid KHAN or Hugh ARRISON?" because I want "Wajid KHAN" to place higher up in seaarch egines. Love, The Mississauga Muse]

Hey Missy Proles and Prolettes,

Just a quick follow-up from my last Blog.

Remember how I mentioned that the Peel Government Relations Committee (chaired by Mississauga Councillor Carolyn Parrish) had compiled a whole series of Peel-specific "feet to the fire" questions for all Peel Federal candidates? And, how according to the Mississauga News, Parrish had "warned them against spewing the standard party response"?

And how then I gave all NINE of Peel's Conservative candidates credit that they sure didn't "spew" the standard party response onto the questionnaire because NONE had bothered to fill the sucker out?!

0 out of 9 Peel Conservatives wouldn't commit

You're now up-to-date.

Now maybe it's just me, but surely that's got to be suspicious! Especially when you consider that Peel Government Relations Committee Chair Parrish reassured all Federal Candidates that it wasn't a Speak-for-your-Party thing.

(and this is a transcript):

"I understand that you can't commit for your Parties but you can commit for yourself."

— Peel Government Relations Committee Chair, Carolyn Parrish

Not ONE of the 9 Peel Conservative candidates were prepared to break Party ranks! Not ONE of the 9 Peel Conservative candidates were willing to commit to vital Peel issues in WRITING.

MISSISSAUGAWATCH was at that Peel Federal Candidates Meeting.

MISSISSAUGAWATCH's 32 to 1 zoom zoomed in on Wajid Khan exactly when Mississauga Councillor Carolyn Parrish requested that all Federal Candidates fill out the Peel Federal Candidates questionnaire on such important Peel topics as Reducing Poverty, Affordable Housing, Employment Insurance, Strengthening Municipalities: Best Use of Taxes, and Immigration.

MISSISSAUGAWATCH's 32 to 1 zoom videotaped Wajid Khan exactly when Parrish was saying "So you will have the questionnaire and you'll have a week to do it."

MISSISSAUGAWATCH's 32 to 1 zoom videotaped Wajid Khan exactly when Parrish was saying "And we're hoping that you'll put some time in..." The Mississauga Muse can't help but wonder whether Wajid Khan knew even then that no Conservative would cooperate with Peel Regional Council's Government Relations Committee.

Not even Hugh Arrison, who responded to my question, "Please define 'accountable' by saying, “Defining ‘accountable’ would be responsible -being totally.. taking total responsibility for your actions.” (The Mississauga Muse (silly me) assumes that "total responsibility for your actions" also means "total responsibility for your actions" you decide not to take.

MISSISSAUGAWATCH can only conclude that the Peel Conservative Party decided en masse not to commit to Peel despite their sanctimonious noises during the ROGERS (and various riding) candidates' debates.

Some Peel Federal Candidate MISSISSAUGAWATCH stats:

• Worst riding for returned forms was the pathetic Mississauga Brampton South, just 1 (Green Party) out of 5 Federal Party candidates.

• A close Second Worst was (no surprise) Mississauga South where just 1 (Liberal) out of 4 Federal Party candidates returned the questionnaire.

And what better way for Peel residents to celebrate Thanksgiviing 2008 than with a quick glance at their own special turkeys?

Here they are!

As for which Conservative is the biggest of our Thanksgiving Meleagris gallopavo domesticus, only time will tell. Right now, Wajid Khan and Huge Arrison are head-to-head.

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Hey Missy Proles and Prolettes,

A quick one today focussing primarily on the Mississauga South riding.

I attended the October 6th  Federal Candidates' Debate at the Cawthra Senior Centre and took the opportunity to ask the question I always ask any politician I meet for the first time:

"Please define 'accountable' for me, as used in the political sense."

I asked the question for a lark because I know that no politician will ever admit to the straight goods on that A-word.  So having dangled the juicy verbal-worm, I just sit back and wait for the political B.S.-Shovelfest Song-and-Dance.

A little background.

I just surfed to the Peel Region website to check out the candidates' info for each riding. You remember.

Like how the Mississauga News reported that Councillor Carolyn Parrish compiled a whole series of Peel-specific "feet to the fire" questions... here:

Parrish handed each of the candidates a questionnaire and warned them against spewing the standard party response.

Well I have to give all nine of Peel's Conservative candidates credit. They sure didn't "spew" the standard party response onto the questionnaire (at least I don't think they did).

Get this, NONE of the nine Conservatives even sent back the questionnaire to Peel Council!

Our Missy News continues:

“We don't want them to handle the questions in a mechanical way,” said Parrish, who was instrumental in designing the questionnaire. “We're asking for commitment from individuals rather than their party positions, so we can hold their feet to the fire.”

"Feet to the fire" is pure posturing. "Feet to the fire" means accountability and as I keep telling readers, "accountability" doesn't exist in Peel let alone "feet to the fire accountability" (and I've scoured Mississauga, Peel and Queen's Park. Just ain't none to be found).

Had to marvel at Conservative Hugh Arrison's remarkably brief (10 second) response:

"Defining 'accountable' would be responsible -being totally.. taking total responsibility for your actions."

—Mississauga South Conservative, Hugh Arrison October 6, 2008.

It's interesting to watch the following video knowing that despite the Mississauga News article headline, "Federal candidates vow to take Peel's fight to Ottawa", three (PC Arrison, Green Party Laushway and NDP Turner) didn't bother completing the Peel questionnaire. All three avoided stating their positions on such Peel issues as Reducing Poverty, Affordable Housing, Employment Insurance, Strengthening Municipalities: Best Use of Taxes, and Immigration.

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Hey all. It's gonna be one grim one today. And when you've experienced the private face of government as I have, it's even scarier. Recall the Federal candidates' debate and an unruffled Stephen (stay the course —we're not going to panic like the Liberals) Harper answering questions on the economy?

When you think about it, the economy sure looked a whole lot better then than now.

There was nothing in Harper's demeanour, body language, voice intonations that hinted he had any idea of what's currently crashing down around our ears. And gosh, I have to wonder, did Harper have some clue just how vicious this could get? Or has Bush-Lite over the years simply rehearsed, rehearsed, rehearsed and therefore perfected THE MESSAGE?

Then again, maybe for his confident "I know the domestic situation" on October 2nd, Harper was glidin' along just fine on Prozac or some other reality-inhibitor. Here's the CBC pronouncement of the success of Harper's "THE MESSAGE"  —Harper victorious in English debates, survey suggests.

Well, la-dee-frikkin'-DA!

Since all politics is local, it's worth revisiting the words of the Mississaug Streetsville Conservative candidate and Harper Special-Advisor-to-the-Middle-East, Wajid Khan. (For a complete text, please check out my Blog, "WAJID KHAN -DOUBLEPLUSGOOD DUCKSPEAKER -oh yes, 'The Snake' by Al Wilson (goin’ out to *ALL* Unworthy of the Public Trust!)"

I'll pair Wajid Khan's (ROGERS Cable 10 telecast) words with highlights from an article in today's Globe and Mail business section.

From Breaking News from The Globe and Mail "Ottawa admits it must act on the economy":

ATTENTION: STRONG LANGUAGE ALERT. KNOW THAT BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO

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Hey there, Missy Proles and Prolettes!

Lots happening on the MIssissauga front (and the Rear, too, for that matter).

Some things that The Mississauga Muse is working on.  First. Y'all remember that Mississauga News article where the City of Toronto municipal employee put up this sign?

Last Friday, I tippy-toed up to Mississauga City Hall and showed the City Hall Sign By-law dude my photos of the "HAZEL FOR PM" sign. He took one swift look and agreed the sign was in violation of Mississauga's Sign By-law. Imagine, a City of Toronto (municipal) employee violating a municipal By-law tsk tsk).

The By-law guy promised to send someone out later in the day and I figured the sign should be down over the weekend. Nope.

So I phoned Big Yellow on Monday and talked once again to the Sign By-Law guy who made the error of providing me with his card on Friday.

Get this. He mumbled something about this sign complaint going to his manager who sent it off to Legal. Knowing the Mississauga Legal Department, I then asked the obvious question, "That means this sign can be up all election, doesn't it?" The Sign Dude mumbled some more and I took that as Affirmative.

I'm reminded of the Ontario Ombudsman's report on the SIU "Oversight Unseen" —the part about the SIU having the motto "One Law". You know, "One Law" for both those with Power over us and us-proles?

You sure have to wonder. Here we have a municipal employee so openly flaunting the Sign By-law of another municipality and —well, I don't know, I'm just left to wonder what would've happened had I put up the same two-faceted-billboard-numerous-violations-sign. Perhaps like this...

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MISSISSAUGAWATCH announcement: Since I've oh-so-reluctantly turned my attention to the cesspool that is politics in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, I've actually had to invent new vocabulary for the duplistic-drek posturing as public service in this province.

Our Glossary is now working to assist you in understanding why our Ontario Ombudsman stated:

“We continue to encounter ingrained organizational attitudes and practices that at times can make public service seem more like public nuisance…These maladies persisted this year, leaving many Ontarians in what I can only describe as the twilight zone of public service.” —June 17, 2008)

So MISSISSAUGAWATCH invites you to check out "MISSISSAUGAWATCH GLOSSARY".  Click on the red banner (above) or click here.

And now—

WAJID KHAN...Part 2

Wherein, The Mississauga Muse translates Wajid Khan's ROGERS Cable 10 speech into George Orwell's 1984 NEWSPEAK!

In my previous Blog on Mississauga Streetsville flip-flop artist (thank God he's not a Liberal anymore) Special Advisor to Stepen Harper on the "crucial areas of worn-torn countries" Wajid Khan, I wrote:

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WAJID KHAN...

In a previous Blog, "MISSISSAUGAWATCH addresses the Ontario Grade 5 curriculum 'Aspects of Citizenship and Government in Canada'” I highlighted some of the expectations in the Ontario Ministry of Education's...

Canada and World Connections: Grade 5 – Aspects of Citizenship and Government in Canada

The recent ROGERS Cable 10 Federal Candidates debates have given me a splendid opportunity to revisit the "Overview" of Ontario's Canada and World Connection: Grade 5 —Aspects of Citizenship and Government of Canada".

Overview

Students examine the structure and function of the three levels of government in Canada and how they relate to one another. Students use research skills and critical thinking skills to extend their understanding of the rights of groups and individuals and the responsibilities of citizenship in Canada. Students also identify ways in which government and the responsibilities of citizenship directly affect their own lives.

With my profound interest in reconciling George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World with Mississauga/Peel municipal governance, I will also address "Aspects of Citizenship and Government of Canada" for older students as well.

They say all politics is local and that surely has become the case for me. Through observation and monitoring of my municipal government and research through Freedom of Information, I view all governance —that POWER over us, through a different lens.

To hold politicians accountable, Canadians must inform themselves and do so through primary research (ie Freedom of Information). We simply cannot trust what our politicians tell us —any of them!

As readers here know, I've been filing dozens of Freedom of Information requests on the conduct and operations of City of Mississauga Corporate Security and that Hazel McCallion once wrote me with:

“There is nothing to support your allegation that “Mississauga Corporate Security is a secretive, shadowy Master-of-Duplicity” —email Hazel McCallion March 19, 2007

Here's the deal —GOVERNMENT ITSELF, doesn't matter which Party, doesn't matter which Level—is a secretive, shadowy Master-of-Duplicity”.

Yesterday I reached age 59 —and I'm thoroughly ashamed to admit that I only figured that out far too recently! Repeat.

GOVERNMENT ITSELF, doesn't matter which Party, doesn't matter which Level—is a secretive, shadowy Master-of-Duplicity”

There is no better example than an exchange in the ROGERS Cable 10 Mississauga-Streetsville debate. It was left to Rick Drennan of the Mississauga Business Times to raise the question —why Wajid Khan flip-flopped to the Conservative Party.

To Drennan's credit, he then followed up with theee question —why, two elections ago, after Drennan made all candidates promise they wouldn't flip-flop and Wajid Khan gave his word, Khan flip-flopped anyway.

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Attention all you DOUBLEPLUS UNGOOD PARTY, INNER PARTY, C.R.E.E.P.S., KNOBS, MEDIA-PROLEFEEDERS (and you-all know who you are) —this Blog isn't for you. Instead, I encourage you to CLICK HERE.

Now here. Enjoy the rest of your day.

This Blog entry is written exclusively for my fellow Ontario Proles and Prolettes.

Hey there, fellow Ontario Proles and Prolettes.

OK, in yesterday's blog, I wrote, "Yes, I’ll do a Blog on Marin’s SIU report but first I have to read it."

I just looked at the thing and it's 120 pages. I still intend to read the report but I really want to plant something down now if for no other reason than events are unfolding that make it important for me to go on record.

For example, when I read the Toronto Star articles on the Ombudsman's Office investigation into the SIU, I felt Marin et al were reading directly off my Freedom of Information (FOI) results into Mississauga Corporate Security/Ontario Municipal Security operations.

Remember one of my New Year's resolutions?

“Continue research (Freedom of Information) into municipal security practices and related provincial legislation.”

You have no idea of where this research is taking me —and WHAT it's taking out of me! So it's terrific that Marin's results are in.

Here we go. The Ombudsman's Report on the SIU, let's begin, shall we?

I'll  cut-and-paste what I consider highlights from the Ombudsman's report. I'm going through it as I write.  Direct quotes from the report are italized and indented.

To Ontario’s great credit, incidents in this province involving serious injury and death of civilians resulting from police contact are not investigated by police officials, but by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), a civilian criminal investigative agency...

Unfortunately, over the past two years, several serious concerns have been raised by individuals, families, lawyers and community advocates who complained to my Office about the credibility and effectiveness of the SIU...

Hunnh. Some people not happy with SIU investigations and complaining to the Ombudsman... Tsk tsk. Imagine that...

The SIU is still very much a fledgling organization. It does not have its own constituting legislation, its mandate lacks clarity, it is administratively and technically challenged and it is dependent on the Ministry of the Attorney General...

Love the "technically challenged". I know what that means. Non-computerized so most, if not all records exist only on paper and are therefore unsearchable. I know "technically challenged" from my Freedom of Information research into Ontario Municipal Security (ONT-MUNI-SEC) operations.  Some ONT-MUNI-SEC are so "technically challenged" that they find transferring even the most basic information via pencil onto paper a daunting task.

"Technically challenged" means it'll cost a citizen THOUSANDS of dollars in Freedom of Information search times! "Technically challenged" all but guarantees a permanent safe harbour for KNOBS.

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