Mississauga Musings

At last we get to the nitty-gritty. You've identified a lot of issues that need to be held up to the light. It will be interesting to see how many [deleted by The Mississauga Muse] you find.

How long do you think it will be before they cut off your FOI requests and declare you - how do they put it? - frivolous and vexatious?

Welcome uatu!

Sorry 'bout censoring that one word on you, but I've already been approached by The Corporation and "warned" with the "S" word. So I have to be real-real careful what I allow on here.

You wrote:

"How long do you think it will be before they cut off your FOI requests and declare you - how do they put it? - frivolous and vexatious?"

I asked that very question of one of the clerks when I filled out my very first FOI request. (After all, I heard AND read about what happened to Don Barber)

I tld the clerk that The Corporation can't legitimately claim that FOI requests-- that I hope will shed light on Poverty and Equity issues-- in Mississauga are "frivolous" --like, seriously.

Vexatious?

Just checked the dictionary.

Vexatious:

"1 a : causing vexation : DISTRESSING b : intended to harass "

This stuff isn't intended to harrass but to ...well, uatu, you said so yourself:

"a lot of issues that need to be held up to the light."

FOI --Freedom of Information is the only flashlight I got.

And it isn't just to hold up to light --just want to confirm what The Corporation is saying about "Trust, Quality and Excellence" is all.

Should my FOI stuff confirm what they've been saying all along then I'll be the first to post that AND to celebrate our City.

And face it. If they really believe "Trust, Quality and Excellence" they'll be the first to welcome AND assist in Confirmation and in Celebrating their Commitment to Openness and Transparency.

Last, you asked:

"How long do you think it will be before they cut off your FOI requests"

I've already filled in and signed my name to four FOI's. Then I got my husband to fill in five blank forms. As of today, he's on his third. Gonna give him one more and then...

after that, I got two sisters who'll sign no problem (although one's in the States but she's still Canadian). Then I got both my parents.

After that?

Friends.

After that? Hope I can rely on readers of this Blog.

After that?

On Friday I went to Brampton City Hall and the City Clerk there wouldn't even accept my money for FOI. Said I should email the department first for info because the City of Brampton is committed to providing open access to information for their citizens.

So. After I hit bottom?

I ask BRAMPTON!

You see it isn't just Mississauga I'm interested in. It's how consitent things are in Peel as well.

Again. Welcome uatu! My readership is now approaching a dozen.

Signed,
The Mississauga Muse

"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear" ---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)

We’re actually looking in all the wrong places for FOI requests.

Frivolous and vexatious programs funded through the region are done as one big happy “Family Services of Peel” in conjunction through the “Ontario Works Commission of Peel”.

To debunk Peel’s Fair Share myths on funding formulas, the shortage of funding was caused during their 1994 amalgamation where Mulroney had transferred our Employment Insurance into General Revenues to pay down the Federal debt whilst Mike Harris commissioned tax increases through Public Private Partnerships (Sorry, Abbe, had to remove two names) that throw previous governing “Due Diligence” into chaotic structural problems.

Hmmmm ??? Free Trade, an interesting united way to commission previous Trans Atlantic Trade movements?

Hey there, Abbe,

Welcome back.

You wrote:

"Abbe:

We’re actually looking in all the wrong places for FOI requests."

Abbe, I've only been to two Peel Regional Council meetings. I don't even know the names of all the Councillors yet. I just know it's totally overwhelming for a citizen or even a group of citizens to cover even a portion of the bases needed to be covered.

It's like playing Bop-a-Mole. Mole disappears before you can even react with the mallet and out pops another mole somewhere else.

And all the moles under the ground sing about "accountability" and "transparency".

Here's the other thing. I can't see how even the hardest-working most dedicated of our Mississauga Councillors (and we are blessed with a few) can keep up with it all.

It's all just overwhelming.

And then as you mentioned, there's the Feds...

First I want to point out that my previous comment was actually intended to be in response to "Environics survey etc. etc. etc." (You seem fond of long subjects.) Sorry, I goofed.

Second I would like to know what the S-word is. It must be pretty powerful to drive you to censorship. I hate censorship. It is a
tool of those who would oppress by fear, as I think Edward R. Murrow would remind you. I am not accusing you of oppression by fear; rather, I am saying that fear has already succeeded in oppressing your otherwise illuminating posts.

If you are feeling intimidated by certain parties (and I think we can guess who those might be) I recommend that you read carefully and ponder this:

Bloggers and Defamation Law: A Short Primer

It's from a blog that you might find interesting, since it is doing for federal politics what you are doing at the municipal level.

Incidentally, in my humble opinion this sort of thing is far more necessary for the sadly neglected municipal level.

Don't let the b-words grind you down.

In Camera's a very interesting development!

As a former Media Arts student and film buff myself "Portraits of Peel" was actually the main pilot to kick off a 3 part GASP series “Scratching the Surface”.
We’ve seen the main ingredient “ income tax “ but still lacking in the story board, script, budget and the distribution.

If you'd happen to bump into Shelly White you'd want a copy of these too because it looks like Ed Murrow had access to the entire mixed bag.

uatu,

Many thanks for aiming me at that Blogger URL. Before I wrote my first entry I went to the actual law to read that over.

I believe that the stuff I am writing about and will write about are of the public interest, not just for Mississauga but all municipalities in Ontario. I also know that that won't necessarily protect me.

You wrote:

"Incidentally, in my humble opinion this sort of thing is far more necessary for the sadly neglected municipal level."

Absolutely. I feel the same way --discussion and investigation of issues are far more important at the municipal level because it's thee most neglected level of government and the one that affects us most day-to-day.

I hold no illusions. I won't change a thing about how things are done. I'm no Murrow. But I got eyes and a brain and I can bear credible witness and do so objectively.

I'm just here to bear witness, is all.

Plus, I can't tolerate an unasked question.

Above all, look around. Ya see anyone else doin' it?

Regarding that S-word, uatu, you wrote:

"It must be pretty powerful to drive you to censorship. I hate censorship. It is a
tool of those who would oppress by fear, as I think Edward R. Murrow would remind you."

It isn't so much that. When I started this Blog on March 9th, I knew it wasn't a matter of "if" but "when" I'd get leaned on. I figured my Blog had the shelf-life of an open jar of mayonnaise.

Frankly, I'm surprised that it's still around.

uatu, you wrote:

"I am not accusing you of oppression by fear; rather, I am saying that fear has already succeeded in oppressing your otherwise illuminating posts."

I have an anxiety disorder, uatu. Like today, just to get up to Council and ask questions during Question Period, I had to take three beta-blockers just to keep my heart in my chest and my voice steady.

I couldn't go up there otherwise.

I've always had a terror of public speaking. I can dive with sharks no problem --I mean that literally. But humans scare me.

re: you sharing "Bloggers and Defamation Law: A Short Primer" --thank you again. It reads scarier than the actual law.

Still. I have to respect myself so I can't walk away.

Like Murrow said over 50 years ago now, "The Terror is right here in this room".

And what did Murrow teach us, uatu?

Someone's got to stand up and face it. Face The Bullies.

I sure shouldn't be the one. I prefer researching marine creatures plus I have this anxiety disorder.

But there's no one else!

Last, you wrote:

"Don't let the b-words grind you down."

Too late.

Thanks uatu.