Mississauga Musings

I know that I've mentioned this in my Blog before --and in conversation.

I feel like I'm a character in a novel. Held hostage to a narrative. And I don't want to read it --let alone live inside it. I loathe that such a novel even exists. And yet there ya have it.

I'm a character in a novel over which I have little control. All I know is that there are Others who are living their own private hells inside their own Kafkaesque novels. And most, I suspect, don't even know --oblivious. And those who do, have nowhere to turn (unless of course, they're "connected" ).

An article in the The Ottawa Citizen said it best:

"Latest allegations concerning mayor also highlight need for integrity commissioner
Randall Denley, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Saturday, March 15, 2008

This part:

"If you are a citizen dissatisfied with any of this, there isn't much you can do. With no rules of behaviour for councillors and no one to enforce the rules even if there were some, the only jeopardy councillors face is at the polls in a few years' time. That's not much of a deterrent."

Based on extensive research and observation going all the way back to attendance at my very first Mississauga Council (General Committee) meeting --June 14, 2007, that's the inevitable conclusion --"no one to enforce the rules even if there were some" (and there ain't).

And it's far far worse than that. Not only is there "no one to enforce the rules even if there were some", there's just no one to turn to --Period.

I know how Life's "Losers" feel --well, a bit. Good Gawd what black black holes Ontario municipalities allow human beings to fall into!

We're not talkin' "cracks" in the safety net...but vast gaping VORTICES.

"safety net"? Where?!

Oh, I'd be told that there is a public "safety net", no question. I'd be reassured by Brampton. By Caledon. By Mississauga. By Peel.

But if I (just to be sure, mind you) dropped down some Freedom of Information requests to confirm the existence of that social safety net, I'd get back one of three things:

• "There are no responsive records..."

• "The City (Region) denies Access to..."

• or partial access with a whole bunch of BLACK LINES through the part citizens would really need to know about.

There you have it. Now what?

Here's Randall Denley of The Ottawa Citizen again:

"If you are a citizen dissatisfied with any of this, there isn't much you can do. With no rules of behaviour for councillors and no one to enforce the rules even if there were some, the only jeopardy councillors face is at the polls in a few years' time. That's not much of a deterrent."

The Mississauga Muse has absolutely no idea what to do next save one. Stay this unnavigable course and commit to never ever giving up until some future Provincial Government (and this liberal no longer cares what party) gives the Ontario Ombudsman FULL INVESTIGATIVE POWERS INTO MUNICIPALITIES.

So (she serves up her own Pep Talk)

It's OK to get crabby. It's OK to cry. It's even OK to STOP but it's never ever ever OK to give up.

To readers, this Blog will be intermittent for a while, perhaps the next couple of weeks or so. I know. It's already "intermittent". Apologies. Beyond my control. Having hit a municipal Dead End, I've concluded that I'm now doomed to fail at the Provincial level (oh joy...).

I'm leaving readers with the following email --a bit of a surprise, actually. The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has agreed to a videotaped interview (still can't believe it).

I guess I'm going to meet a new "character" inside my own personal ridiculous novel. (Yes, "ridiculous novel". I mean seriously. What 58-year old female has to go around communicating to Government in Semaphore with light sticks during Earth Hour in front of her city hall? Cripes, I've read comic books more believable. And this "novel's" so predictable. Next, this 58-year old female will have to communicate to The Province in Semaphore with light sticks in front of Queen's Park. What a stupid Two-Thumbs-Down-Stupid novel! And--and, (The Killer) I have to research inside this Two-Thumbs-Down-Stupid novel.)

Subject: FW: Bill 159 - Private Security and Investigative Services
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:48:28 -0400
From: "(JUS)" <@ontario.ca>
To: my personal email address

Hello,
Thanks for your query regarding the above as communicated in your email to our webmaster. We'd be happy to provide answers to your questions on the legislation. Please send me the questions for which you seek answers so we can determine who's the best person to respond. I'll then arrange a time and place for the interview. Look forward to hearing from you.

[Name]
[Responsibility]
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
25, Grosvenor Street,
Toronto ON M7A 1Y6
Tel 416 314-7772

Like I said, "research".

You'd think an Ontarian could just walk into a government agency (any level), be able to relate their issue and then be told what they needed to know. Like --what they really really really needed to know. Nope.

A citizen first has to research enough to be able to ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS before they get help.

And I don't want to. I'm sick of the Impossible.

I want to be researching and writing about sea turtles

not THIS *ClusterSinister*!

Wherein, The (Intermittent) Mississauga Muse changes focus slightly. For now.

Signed,
The (Did I mention that this Canadian sea turtle advocate is stuck in a stupid Two-Thumbs-Down-Stupid novel?) Mississauga Muse

UPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATEUPDATE UPDATEUPDATEUPDATE

[UPDATE: 13:34 Just when I thought things couldn't get worse, I check out this email --from Hawaii-- with a link to University of Hawaii Press. THE JOY! To see the cover of your book for the first time --wow. And at a time when I needed it most!

Yes, two Canadians, from Mississauga, have a book on sea turtles published by the University of Hawaii Press coming out in the Fall.

Oh man I needed this. A lifeline from Hawaii.

[UPDATE 13:44. Dark clouds doth return. Odd. What with me writing about this black municipal gaping hole where a "safety net" should be... Just saw an article in today's Missy News. Poverty underestimated in Peel, says group. And there are the words, "social safety net". Words... just words. Like, "Transparency", "Accountablity" and "will take the appropriate action".]
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QUIS CUSODIET IPSOS CUSTODES? "Who Watches the Watchers? --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)

Want (or worse, need) to learn more? Link to MISSISSAUGAWATCH.CA
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