ACCOUNTABLITY? G-WAN! --plus BRAMPTON CITIZENS GET THEIR OMBUDSMAN --at least for Brampton Civic Hospital (Mississauga Musings)

*GROAN*

And it's only the 4th day of 2008. Crumbs, look what Google just dredged up. ---a press release (SPIN) from the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Attention News Editors:
McGuinty Government Actions Benefit Ontario Municipalities
First Anniversary Of Progressive Measures

Get this:

TORONTO, Jan. 4 /CNW/ - The new year marks the first anniversary of three significant pieces of McGuinty government legislation - one providing new powers to the City of Toronto, another empowering all other Ontario municipalities, and a third giving the municipal sector more planning tools and clearer rules. This is also the first anniversary of the new Building Code coming into force.

And these "three significant pieces of McGuinty government legislation" come with ZERO Accountability only a tonna-paper claiming there is. And they can stick their Building Code.

YO McGuinty! One Question!

QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES, TINKERBELL?!

WHO'S WATCHING THE WATCHERS, TINKERBELL?!

This Liberal piece-of-fiction continues:

"The new legislation recognizes municipal government in Ontario as a mature and accountable order of government," said Doug Reycraft, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. "The act empowers municipalities to show greater initiative, and to adopt more efficient and innovative approaches to serving their residents better."

*SIGH* --time to email Doug Reycraft and ask him for his definition of "accountable".

There's more:

"Other amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001 and the City of Toronto Act, 2006 came into effect on January 1, 2008. They require more transparency on the part of municipal councils. Municipalities may appoint a meetings investigator to investigate complaints regarding the openness of council meetings. If a municipality has not appointed an investigator, the Ontario Ombudsman would investigate these complaints."

I mean, can you believe it?! That paragraph skids right past Contempt-for-the-Public and straight into the expansive political toilet bowl of fresh'n'virulent Liberal-laced E coli.

I'll spare you the rest of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing press release --save the very last:

"Disponible en français"

Reassuring to know that this offensive Liberal PRcrap-a-rama was delivered fresh on a platter en français as well. Quel bilingual of the Province to do so!

To honour this Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing press release, MISSISSAUGAWATCH offers an appropriate video response.

It shows Brampton Council --"a mature and accountable order of government"-- as they discuss an impending rally by Bramptonians for Better Health Care.

Watch this video to see for yourself just who showed greater concern for the health and welfare of Brampton citizens back in December --Brampton Council or..?

This video is dedicated to the BRAMPTONIANS FOR BETTER HEALTH CARE.

(Click here to go directly to the clip on Google Video or YouTube)

Just think what would be revealed if the McGuinty government really were committed to Accountability and gave the Ontario Ombudsman full investigative powers into the MUSH sector.

And McGuinty should start with the "M" --for "Municipalities"!

QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES, MCGUINTY?!

Signed,
The (Allow the Ontario Ombudsman into Municipalities!) Mississauga Muse

6:55 PM UPDATE: Man my !ex!cl!!am!atio!!!!!n mark key really took a beating in today's Blog.
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TOWERpelcoTEXT
"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

Links to all "Antonio Batista Pothole Poet Trial" Blog entries have been moved to our alternate MISSISSAUGA WATCH Blogspace. Please click here.

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 (1)

Anonymous:

Toronto Sun responds to Mississauga Muse's call:

Fixing a hospital nightmare

The Toronto Sun
Sun 06 Jan 2008
Page: O1
Section: Editorial/Opinion
Column: Editorial

On its website, the Brampton Civic Hospital proclaims "What once was just a dream -- is now a reality."

And according to the outspoken group Bramptonians for Better Healthcare, once the doors of the $800-million new hospital swung open just before Halloween the nightmare began.

Doctors operating on the wrong leg of a 72-year-old woman Christmas Day is just the latest reported blunder. Health Minister George Smitherman had already taken control of the hospital and put it back in the government's hands.

Bramptonians for Better Healthcare have been relentless in criticism of the new hospital, demanding improved wait times in the emergency room, more staff at the hospital and more beds opened. That loud cry for help, luckily, has been heard.

Unfortunately, demanding more staff and more open beds in a province with doctor and nurse shortages can't just happen overnight. And reopening old Peel Memorial Hospital is the farthest thing from a solution.

But what's happened at the Brampton hospital has raised numerous questions, including:

- Why is a brand new hospital so dysfunctional that it's being picketed by its community?

- Are the problems in Brampton different than what's happening at other hospitals in the province, or is this residents' group just better at airing the concerns?

- How do we prevent the same debacle at the planned hospital in Vaughan and others in the pipeline?

- Who do concerned patients and residents turn to for help if Ontario's ombudsman doesn't have the mandate to oversee hospitals unless the government does come in and take over, as happened in Brampton?

If you're looking for first steps, that's one. Ombudsman Andre Marin's office should be allowed to investigate hospital complaints. Marin has proven to be strong and effective and the government has been quick to accept his recommendations. Why not expand his role? The Liberals promised openness and accountability -- this would be one big step toward keeping the promise.

If this is a system-wide problem, this government is running out of excuses. Of every provincial tax dollar, 46 cents goes to health care, a whopping $38 billion. That figure has risen 30% since 2003. For hospitals alone, funding has jumped 36% to $17.5 billion since 2003.

There's also the hated health premium we're paying -- although it certainly doesn't seem to be buying us premium service.

Yes, the wheels started falling off the gurney when the Harris government sought to rationalize the system. But the Liberals attempt to buy itself out of the problem isn't working either.

And this hospital arrived under the Liberal watch and it isn't working.

What people who are forced to go to the hospital want is efficient service, the right care, and to get out as quick as possible -- in better shape than when they arrived.

For $17.5 billion, is that too much to ask?

Posted by Anonymous | January 6, 2008 7:24 AM

Posted on January 6, 2008 07:24

Mississauga Musings

Ursula Bennett

ACCOUNTABLITY? G-WAN! --plus BRAMPTON CITIZENS GET THEIR OMBUDSMAN --at least for Brampton Civic Hospital

FOR READERS' COMMENTS --SCROLL TO VERY BOTTOM OF THIS ENTRY.

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