LAST DAY OF 2007 AND:
PM Harper here for New Year's Eve announcement
Poor Craig MacBride. Right now he's over at Mississauga's Heartland Town Centre forced to report on Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It's 7:25 as I type this and over in Mississauga (Canada's self-proclaimed Best City in the World) big things are happening in exactly three minutes because right now it's 7:27 as I type this.
MacBride's article states:
"Prime Minister Stephen Harper officially will shave another point off the GST when he comes to Mississauga tomorrow for an early morning New Year's Eve announcement."
*Phew* --when I heard about Harper scuttling-it over to Mississauga I feared the worst: that he was caving in to demands by "cities" to support their "infrastructure".
Yes, support the same Ontario cities that are so terrified of Accountability that they've hired their own investigators to investigate themselves rather than risk having the Ontario Ombudsman taking a peek into their practices. And yes, it's McCallion leading that "We're Accountable enough to demonstrate how Accountable we are by hiring our own Accountability Accountant" ploy.
This will prove interesting. Harper and his team are true CHampions Of Manipulation and PloyS (CHOMPS). Few people can sniff out the first hint of SPIN quicker than CHOMPS themselves. (It's like moths and pheromones --CHOMPS can detect the first whiff of a spin-molecule months before it's even released to the "public".)
MacBride continues:
"Harper, along with his Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, will appear at an electronics store in the Heartland Town Centre at 7:30 a.m. Tomorrow's event will be held in the same complex where, during the 2006 election campaign, Harper announced his pledge to cut the GST from seven to five per cent."
I just hope that Harper limits his Buy-4-Votes to citizens directly. That is, putting money back into the pockets of Canadians rather than dumping taxpayer bucks into the Big Black Impossibly-Inpenetrable Big Black Holes of Ontario Cities.
For example, citizens of a province with strong municipal-accountability practices in place, should not be forced to subsidize Ontario's "infrastructure" (check out how much $$$$ goes into Mississauga official/staff salaries, perks and benefits some time).
Yeah, really. As I said yesterday, I'd love to be a Mississauga councillor. I'd get $115,500 (plus catering --especially those fantastic rice crispie squares!) to address my constituents' concerns simply by typing "I can assure you..." "refer to staff for a full investigation" and then have the Records Retention By-Law kick in and *SZZLLOOOP" --all my email records aren't.
What could be cleaner?
Of course that's why I oppose increasing any money to cities from either the province or federally. People in Newfoundland or B.C. should not have to $bleed$ because citizens in some Ontario city can't be bothered to peer through the P.R. and hold their elected officials accountable. (After all, the only thing holding city staff accountable are those elected officials who are accountable just ten hours every four years!)
MOVING FORWARD
Returning to the Mississauga News article, MacBride writes:
"Over the past month, Mayor Hazel McCallion has been critical of Harper and Flaherty, expressing her concern repeatedly and vehemently that the federal government is not doing enough to support cities."
There's only one response to that.
MacBride continues:
"City Council recently attached a five per cent surcharge on top of regular tax hikes to pay for infrastructure improvements that can't be postponed."
Yes, it's called all-employee-contracts-are-due-this-year-and-the-next... (One thing I've learned since observing Council and via Freedom of Information is that Mississaugans pay top dollar for staff/council who then pick the lowest bid to work on our "infrastructure".)
Signed,
The (it's just not in me to be a Mississauga Councillor...) Mississauga Muse
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"In contrast to the local law enforcement agencies, Corporate Security provides a distinct difference in approach to providing a safe and secure environment within the community." --City of Mississauga Corporate Security 2003 Strategic Draft Plan
"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear" ---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)
FOR READERS' COMMENTS --SCROLL TO VERY BOTTOM OF THIS ENTRY.
"MISSISSAUGA --HOWZIT'S GOING" CARTOON ARCHIVE
Links to all previous cartoons in the Mississauga Howzit's Going series.
FELLOW-CITIZEN BLOGGERS
Voices of Ajax (Citizen-Blogger, Karem Allen)
TORONTOIAM (compilation of GTA Blogs)
Woodstock Ontario Independent News (Jim Bender)
FURTHER READING
MEDIA Bloggers:
Click here for John Stewart's Blog, RANDOM ACCESS
and Craig MxBride's X MARKS THE SPOT
Posted Toronto (National Post)
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Comments (3)
"pick the lowest bid to work on our "infrastructure".
Does it work the same way there? Review minutes and find these bids after work has gotten underway or nearly finished on these large projects that carry over a year or so.
They approve quickly increases to that contracted price-- I know about contingincy but it seems that the lowest bid is not the actual price of the job.
Maybe the Higher bidder was more accurate in true job costing?
Happy New Year !
Posted by Karem Allen | December 31, 2007 9:11 AM
Posted on December 31, 2007 09:11
Hey there, Karem,
Won't say "Happy New Year" because the old one sucked and 2008 promises to be more of the same.
Great to hear from you though.
Regarding bidding contracts you wrote:
Cripes "review minutes"? Are you kidding? You're LUCKY if bidding increases make it into your Ajax Council minutes.
Far as I can determine, contracts get switched by staff and council isn't even aware of it, let alone, in some minutes. Jeez...
You wrote:
Far as I can see a citizen can't even find out the slightest details of a contract out even through Freedom of Information.
I get "City has denied" or "Third Party" considerations.
The Ontario Ombudsman wasn't kidding when he used the term "zones of immunity"
Karem, you wrote:
Doesn't matter. They Go. With The Low.
Even if a few months later a councillor is squawking about a newly-paved road that's now a "washboard".
Or worrying about whether the warranty on a bridge has expired.
And then there's the road signs that are showing their age after only a few months. And a councillor suggesting that "traffic" is the problem.
NOPE.
That's just what happens when you aim paint at toilet paper instead of spending the bucks for decent materials.
I tell ya, Karem --it's a hoot in those Council Chambers.
Posted by The Mississauga Muse | December 31, 2007 3:37 PM
Posted on December 31, 2007 15:37
If you were to mean “dazed and confused” with the volumes of overseas manufactured goods that are “in waiting” thru Mississauga’s Workfare distribution warehousing, coincidently I watched the big “ Bali Flop” unfold under the same made in China black smog, whilst watching it on an assembled in Mexican television set that expires right after the warranty date.
Stored and packed inconspicuous to the same tax increases (Peel’s Workfare personnel agency fees) Harper and his Federal Tax Payers consultants are eluding contrary to their own Tax Payers Protection referendum since 2001?
I’d have to recall Roy Willis pointed out to Charles Souza that Jon Stewart from the Mississauga News was taking notes on how “Harpers Bizarre” $54 billion surplus got that big at the expense of our own health
There are no GST savings because our ppag [Ed: Peel Poverty Action Group] Mississauga South/ March 24 2001 referendum that was upwind the Dixie Value Mall and Flea Market was down wind from the disappearance of ROEs, T-4 slips and these attendance records.
When you peel back 7 years of layers, Charles Souza should recall the history lesson Mulroney’s North American Freaky Trade Act shut down our own Lakeshore West Viking-Admiral Appliances out of business while wages were being dropped to compensate middle men before McGuinty’s become this complacent on serious issues as local health and dental care.
Harper New Year
Posted by Wayne Nagy | December 31, 2007 3:51 PM
Posted on December 31, 2007 15:51