First thanks to The Mississauga News for hosting this citizen's Blog and giving me this unique forum.
Admittedly there's all kinds of citizen-political Blogs out there, but very few --far far too few-- are devoted to the Municipal Level. That lack of "civilian oversight" desperately needs to be changed.
FIRST "MISSISSAUGA MUSINGS" ANNIVERSARY
It's been quite a year of Mississauga-Watching. Exhausting and above all depressingly-corrosive-to-the-soul (you have no idea...).
All that talktalktalk about "Accountability". Well, a year's worth of Freedom of Informations and rigorous observation (including retrospective analysis of videotape) confirm that there ain't none.
All that talktalktalk about "Transparency". You can't even get Transparency when you go through Freedom of Information, for crying out loud.
Allow me to show you one of many papers from my latest Freedom of Information --you know, so that you can see what my year's been like. (Freedom of Information --another misnomer). I had to shell out $63.90 for all "responsive records" regarding the Mississauga Corporate Security "Transit Enforcement" guards.
$63.90 plus the $5.00 for the actual request --total $68.90, that's what the latest cost me. Freedom of Information is not for the human beings working on minimum wage.
Here's a sample of what I got.
And it'd be no different if the Toronto Star made that Freedom of Information request --or the CBC. (And that isn't my worst case of "blackout" either.)
"Transparency"? "Accountability"? HERE'S THE REALITY
Which brings us to one truly happy coincidence for this March 9, 2008 One-Year MISSISSAUGAWATCH Blog Anniversary. And it comes from the strangest of all places --THE TORONTO SUN
Thanks once again to "Anonymous" who gave me the heads-up on the Toronto Sun "COMMENT" for today, "We're lucky to have Andre Marin on our side".
I won't reproduce Alan Shanoff's entire commentary here. I'll just highlight a few things.
Mr. Shanoff writes:
"In less than two years as ombudsman, Marin has had a huge impact in Ontario. In that short time, he has arguably done more for Ontarians than anyone else."
Mr. Shanoff then lists the numerous investigations that our Ontario Ombudsman, Andre Marin, has conducted in those two years to expose our 'DEADLAST'-in-Accountability 'Puffery' Province.
And then Mr. Shanoff lets 'em rip.
"He (Marin) doesn't use big words. He's a plain speaker. Of MPAC and OLGC he said: "Both forgot they were actually public servants. They treated the public as an annoyance and even an adversary."
HEY! MISSISSAUGA (BRAMPTON, CALEDON, PEEL)! YOU FORGOT THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY PUBLIC SERVANTS. YOU TREAT THE PUBLIC AS AN ANNOYANCE AND EVEN AN ADVERSARY! (And Shanoff neglected to mention "CONTEMPTOUS OF THE PUBLIC"!)
Mr. Shanoff continued --and this is the HUGE part, (HUGE, Jerry):
"But the Ombudsman isn't Superman. He can't order the government to do anything. He can only shame it to fix things. He doesn't have any power to investigate wrongdoing in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools or universities, children's aid societies, police or municipal governments (except in a narrow area relating to closed meetings). That means he was unable to deal with about 1,000 complaints related to those areas in the past year."
I can't believe this liberal, forever-Toronto-Star-reader is heaping praise on the Toronto Sun but--- GO TORONTO SUN! THANK YOU SHANOFF!
And readers, do you recognize what Mr. Shanoff is writing about when he says, the Ombudsman has no power into "hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools or universities, children's aid societies, police or municipal governments"? Shanoff's talking about the MUSH Sector (Municipalities, Universities, Schools, Hospitals)
And then thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you ....80-kabillion "thank you"s to the TORONTO SUN and Mr. Shanoff for calling on the McGuinty government to expand the Ontario Ombudsman's power into the secretive, unaccountable Ontario MUSH sector.
Hey --And Read this Thing of Beauty.
"It's up to the McGuinty government to pass legislation fixing this gap. The Ombudsman's office gets about 20,000 complaints a year. Not every complaint can be treated as a priority. Complaints that relate to systemic problems are. Marin's not perfect but with a budget for his office of about $10 million, we are sure getting our money's worth with this guy."
To read the entire commentary by Alan Shanoff, click here.
A ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY VIDEO
I just found this last week --this old Regular 8mm tape that's been kicking around for ages. Didn't even know there was anything on it. I was wrong and what a delightful discovery!
Seems I had gone through the trouble of videotaping that second Mississauga Train Derailment. You know, the one that happened on January 2, 1990? I even videotaped myself reading the January 1990 Mississauga News!
And MY, I was eighteen years younger then! And it's so neat to see Peel Regional Police cars as they looked in 1990. And how our Ambulances were red back then. And how Mississauga fire trucks looked back then.
I "time-travelled" to a happier time. I even mention Hazel McCallion. Back then I thought we were blessed in Mississauga. Absolutely blessed. Back then, like so many Mississaugans, I was oblivious.
So. For today's First Anniversary of Mississauga Musings, MISSISSAUGAWATCH presents:
MISSISSAUGA TRAIN DERAILMENT JANUARY 2, 1990
(Click here to Time Travel directly to YouTube or Google Video)
LOOKING BACK
And I guess here's where if MISSISSAUGAWATCH were a municipal government, we'd be expected to detail our SUCCESSES 2007.
Can't. Just far too depressing. That's because a legitimate annual evaluation also examines FAILURES 2007. And there were far far more of those. Believe me, citizens who persist in standing up and fighting city halls lose. A LOT. I have tons of FAILURES 2007.
But one 2007 thing stands out. Councillor Carolyn Parrish referring to municipalities as "Children of the Province". Indeed.
And the Municipal Brats-and-Bullies are totally unsupervised by the Province.
And this liberal is adding her voice to the Toronto Sun's, Alan Shanoff, and demanding that the McGuinty government FIX THE PROBLEM AND LET OUR ONTARIO WATCHDOG INTO THE "MUSH SECTOR"!
Signed,
The (WOOF WOOF GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR It's about *snarl* time!) Mississauga Muse
P.S. Here is the first March 9, 2007 Mississauga Musings Blog entry, "Hey There, Mississauga".
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"Corporate Security Policies and Procedures are proprietary." (Mississauga Corporate Security --February 16, 2006)
It's up to the McGuinty government to pass legislation fixing this gap. The Ombudsman's office gets about 20,000 complaints a year. Not every complaint can be treated as a priority. Complaints that relate to systemic problems are. Marin's not perfect but with a budget for is office of about $10 million, we are sure getting our money's worth with this guy. (Alan Shanoff, Toronto Sun --March 9, 2008)
"The impact of the Unconnected can't be underestimated" - Mississauga Visionning Symposium comment (February 23, 2008)
"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear" ---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)
Want (or worse, need) to learn more? Link to MISSISSAUGAWATCH.CA
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Comments (11)
Congratulations Muse.
It`s only been a year?
I think you should have a donation button on your blog to help pay for those Freedom of Information requests.
I hope you`re appreciated in Mississauga. Maybe Hazel could chip in a toonie or two. If you get a button,I`ll chip in.
People like you are far more important and useful than politicians.
Posted by Mac`s Gang | March 9, 2008 7:47 PM
Posted on March 9, 2008 19:47
Hey there, Mac's Gang,
Thanks for the congrats and the kind words.
You're right, I could use financial help with Freedom of Information but I suspect that a donate button is more trouble than it's worth.
Rather I'm hoping to attract a corporate sponsor --the one I was thinking of is PELCO.
You know, PELCO? The manufacturers of the video surveillance cameras that the City of Mississauga aims at its citizens without bothering to advise them?
That PELCO?
I figure the company owes us.
last you wrote:
Actually, I've "discovered" a precious few politicians over this year -and I mean a precious few. "Precious" as in "rare".
I'm pulling them altogether for a Municipal Dream Team. Only two qualifications. A good heart and strong conscience. That's it.
Right now I have only five people --one meager Dream Team let me tell you, but I'm sstill scouting around.
Just Five. And the really grim news is that I had to go out of Mississauga to find them.
Citizens actually have politicans as well as bureaucrats who have good hearts and strong consciences and they're very much on our side.
The problem is, The Good Guys are pitfully outnumbered by the vast legion of Municipal Minions who from a firmly entrenched logistical parade of Ontario evil empires.
We have to fight them at their own gamz (yes, I meant that spelling)
One day at a time, Mac's Gang...
Bow wow *woof* chirp breeDEEP breeDEEP meow
(I'm multilingual)
Posted by The Mississauga Muse | March 9, 2008 8:46 PM
Posted on March 9, 2008 20:46
Congratulations Muse - how time flies when you are not having fun!
I see you have noted the high price of getting the facts from our government and have learned the reasons why this must be done - what we are told just is not factual!
Your FOI that shows sections are blacked out is most useful and please send me a good copy of a page with most of the details blacked out. Reason being, got an FOI from the City that denied access to a number of records and they supplied nothing of the pages in question. The reason given was that if the City sever so many parts of a record, names or lines, then so much of the record would be lost that it would be meaningless to the requester.
However, the City is willing to supply just such a record to you - so no offence but the City doesn’t think you dangerous enough that you could do something harmful to it with 1/10 of a record.
Just have to try harder - forget the so-called FAILURES, if you keep going in the face of all the bullying they dish out, you are a SUCCESS. Keep at it - we need you, even if most don’t know it.
"Transparency" & "Accountability" doesn’t just happen - people like you make it happen, be proud.
But do master that filing system - nothing worse than knowing you have something and then can’t find it, when you need it!
It also shows how there are special laws for Donald Barber and not the rest of Canadians.
“Councillor Carolyn Parrish referring to municipalities as "Children of the Province".” - as I recall that is a Hazel line.
Posted by Donald Barber | March 9, 2008 11:23 PM
Posted on March 9, 2008 23:23
Is that from all of Ontario?
Did anyone from South Glengarry sign on?
Don`t mention me.
It won`t help.
I think they would like me to move to Mississauga.
They still think my issue is about dogs.
All except the Manager,he "gets it".
It`s too bad Mississauga is in Ontario.
I`m giving serious thought to leaving the Province of Ontario if Bill 132 isn`t struck down.
Off Topic:
A truck drove up and down my road today with a large Confederate flag affixed to the back of the cab.
Any idea on what might be bugging him?
That`s been driving me crazy all day.
I was thinking of mentioning that on my own blog but I was afraid I might get shot or worse so I thought I might throw that out over here.
Posted by Mac`s Gang | March 10, 2008 12:14 AM
Posted on March 10, 2008 00:14
Hey Don,
Thanks for showing up and serving up the Congrats. Yeah. One year...
Congratulations Muse - how time flies when you are not having fun!
You wrote:
Actually, Don, I've gone on record to say that $5.00 for a Freedom of Information is one of the best bargains in Canada.
What's bladder-bleeding expensive is when a citizens really decides to investigate policies, adherance to legislation and well, Accountability.
It's getting into the hundreds of dollars now.
And Mississauga must be putting in a new order for black magic markers...
You wrote:
I say that's what $25.00 and the Privacy Commissioner is for. Challenge it, Don. I suspect there's value in all that black.
Even if it's to show citizens ALL THAT BLACK on your website.
As you know, citizens' butts would fall off if they knew what kind of records the government keeps (and most importantly, doesn't keep) on us.
You wrote:
"master"? I can't even tame it.
Wouldn't surprise me what with McCallion having close to four decades of influencing legislation in this province.
New, but related topic:
Posted by The Mississauga Muse | March 10, 2008 8:52 AM
Posted on March 10, 2008 08:52
Hey there, Mac's Gang,
Regarding my comments that I've managed to find "five people" for a Municipal Dream team, you wrote:
No, Mac's Gang, just (let me think...) just from seven Ontario municipalities that I have personally sat in and observed. And since Ajax and Niagara Regional Council were just one-timers I can't be all that confident about them.
Just five. And those five Good Hearts are majorly out-numbered.
You asked:
My Municipal Dream Team is unlike most-things-municipal --you have to qualify on merit. They consist of people who know --like at the cellular level-- what it means to be in public service.
You wrote:
Actually, it's too bad about Ontario PERIOD.
You wrote:
You don't leave, Mac's Gang. You stay. You always have to stay.
Here's why --this poem. Wikipedia states that it's a "poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group."
Here goes.
A Government may pass a bill that you or I don't like, Mac's Gang. It may still be a good bill --as in, for the Common Good.
But I've done enough research now to conclude that we have governments (municipal and this provincial one) that is NOT here for The Common Good. All kinds of evidence.
And THAT'S why you have to stay. You have to stay, Mac's Gang, because otherwise your fate is always to run.
Posted by The Mississauga Muse | March 10, 2008 9:37 AM
Posted on March 10, 2008 09:37
Ok
I`ll stay.
I was having a bad day yesterday.
I know that poem by heart.
That`s why I speak up.
That`s a good one to commit to memory!
Posted by Mac`s Gang | March 10, 2008 12:31 PM
Posted on March 10, 2008 12:31
Great Job Ursula
Just think if we took all the blogs and combined them into one Mother of a Mississauga News blog, it would at least eliminate the money government spends on Virtual Black-Outs used behind liable defamation bullying and political Public Media spins.
Posted by Wayne Nagy | March 10, 2008 12:54 PM
Posted on March 10, 2008 12:54
Hi again, Mac's Gang.
Yeah, I sympathize about bad days...
You wrote:
As you know, even that poem inside your head isn't always enough to keep you going.
That's why citizens have to band together to give each other support and heart. (I learned that from Fellowship of the Ring... and also this Bugs Bunny cartoon)
That's what "evil empires" count on --wearing citizens down so they give up.
You can't ever give up.
Because THEY won't.
Posted by The Mississauga Muse | March 10, 2008 1:56 PM
Posted on March 10, 2008 13:56
When comes to wearing down our regional HRDC Records of Employment and occupational codes, Emile Kolb's certainly taking his time revising different questions from the same crisis 2 years ago?
http://www.peelregion.ca/council/councill/kolb-20-questions.htm
http://www.fasken.com/files/Publication/3d34fffb-678c-468a-8190-625eb4875108/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/fd3c0db6-b3cf-48ba-a049-3f32b2604ff9/DUE_DILIGENCE_PAPER.PDF
http://www.fasken.com/files/Publication/8586ece5-c143-411b-9747-45daba7f19b3/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/30be0885-8486-43bc-b795-f54f4e881218/CRISISARTICLE_GGIORNO.PDF
Posted by Wayne Nagy | March 11, 2008 8:20 AM
Posted on March 11, 2008 08:20
New Ombudsman speech just posted re: oversight of municipalities. Check out para 24 and following!!
http://www.ombudsman.on.ca/UploadFiles/File/MMAH%20forum-March%206.pdf
Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2008 10:32 AM
Posted on March 12, 2008 10:32