[Note: This Blog entry has been modified slightly since its initial 11:25:56am posting because Donald Barber re-sent his comment from yesterday into today's Comment section.]
Seems like The Donald lobbed in a complaint about The Toronto Sun's editorial cartoon (also below) to Toronto Police! Then looks like he sent a Letter to the Editor off to The Toronto Sun as well.
In his comment below, Mr. Barber wrote, "As Canadians we know that there is a law for the rich and a law for the poor." I want to go on record today in order to agree with Barber's rich/poor statement. I'll go so far as to say that even Freedom of Information is for the rich and cut off at the ankles for the poor.
Which leads me to what I wanted to write about today --just drop down a kind of "temporal stamp" for April 29, 2008.
Readers may recall my January 3, 2008 Blog where I outlined my MISSISSAUGAWATCH New Year's Resolutions. Now this is totally coincidence but --unknown to me, as Donald Barber was penning his complaints to the Toronto Police and Toronto Sun, I fulfilled one of my New Year's Resolutions.
As of this morning, three Ontario municipalities and one from another province have a wide-spectrum Freedom of Information request submitted. For the record, one (in Ontario) refused to accept email or even FAX and requires citizens to *yaaaaaawwwnnn* use snailmail and a postage stamp. I'll be going to the post office as soon as I "publish" today's entry.
In my January 28, 2008 Blog, "MISSISSAUGAWATCH Blogger videotapes MAUI COUNCIL MEETING to test its OPENNESS" I wrote:
"Resources will also include Freedom of Information format-questions that we've found successful for you to drop down on your municipality in order to peer behind their Corporate Mask."
This FOI (actually several --costs to be negotiated) involved select "format-questions" (widely-successfully field-tested at the City of Mississauga) that not just "peer behind the Corporate Mask" but fling windows wide-open into how a particular municipality treats its citizens. (And believe me, once the curtains are wwwhhhipped away, the sunlight can be blinding.)
Prediction. (The Mississauga Muse sticks her neck out...) I predict that when this is over, the Freedom of Information people at the City of Mississauga will come out head and shoulders above the other three Ontario municipalities and maybe even the out-of-Province one. I say this because it's tough for me to even think of a way that our Missy FOI people could be more conscientious. But we'll see.
Video: GAMZ: BIG BROTHER
(Click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)
Time for: MY BIG BROTHER FREEDOM OF INFORMATION POEM
Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Who's the evil-est empire of them all?
The End.
Stick around Missy boys and girls --we're in for one enlightening ride here.
Yep. Donald Barber (below) wrote:
"As Canadians we know that there is a law for the rich and a law for the poor."
I suspect that this Freedom of Information multiple-municipality field test begun today will confirm that:
"Access to General Records through Freedom of Information in Canada is for the rich/affluent. As for the poor --foggeddabbouddit!"
[UPDATE: April 29, 2008 11:36: WOW! That was FAST! I just got a long distance call from one of the three Ontario municipalities. Chalk an A+ up to that city for response time let me tell you!]
Anyway, here's --
YESTERDAY'S BLOG --UP FOR ONE MORE DAY
Hey there. Mississauga.
Got an email from Donald Barber yesterday giving me one crabby heads up.
Regular readers might remember The PotHole Poet who sent Mississauga Councillor Pat (Mississauga Crime Prevention Association) Saito a poem about potholes that included a suggestion that one be dug large enough to drop her in. He was arrested.
At age 76, Mr. Antonio Batista was found GUILTY of uttering a "death threat".
Then we had Toronto Star's columnist Royson James serve up, "Councillors need lesson on economy" which concluded:
"Councillors should be hanged, one a day, at noon, in Nathan Phillips Square. Charge admission. We'll net enough money to pay off most of our civic bills."
OH THE FUROR! The Dumping on James!
Donald Barber's email with the message header "Injustice" began with "Here is pure injustice", then he tossed me yesterday's Toronto Sun Editorial cartoon.
I mean look at it!
With "CAUTION BE SURE THAT COUNCIL CHAMBER IS FULL BEFORE DETONATION"
Now THIS should be interesting --any fallout, I mean.
There's also this from our MissyNews weekend online edition.
"No criminal record for gun-toting MPP
By: Louie Rosella
April 25, 2008 11:57 AM -Despite admitting to owning a restricted and unlicensed handgun, John Snobelen will not have a criminal record.
Noting that the former Mississauga MPP and Ontario cabinet minister made a "foolish mistake" by continuing to possess the weapon and not disposing of it, Justice Steve Brown granted Snobelen, 53, an absolute discharge today in Oakville court."
"absolute discharge" for two firearms-related offences.
A frikkin' "absolute discharge"
Ask yourself, Mississauga.
What if it had been just any 53 year old white guy who committed "two firearms-related offences." and "made a "foolish mistake" by continuing to possess the weapon and not disposing of it"?
What if it had been just any 53 year old black guy who committed "two firearms-related offences." and "made a "foolish mistake" by continuing to possess the weapon and not disposing of it"?
What if it had been just any Youth who committed "two firearms-related offences." and "made a "foolish mistake" by continuing to possess the weapon and not disposing of it"?
As for the question, "What if it had been just any Black Youth who committed "two firearms-related offences." and "made a "foolish mistake" by continuing to possess the weapon and not disposing of it"? we needn't ask.
I'm reminded of an email I received from Hazel McCallion (Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007). Yes, over a year ago now.
"In any event, please be advised that the City treats all its residents fairly regardless of language or ethnicity."
Yes yes --and so do all municipalities in the Province of Ontario. After all, they are mature, responsible --and above all, accountable governments.
RELATED TOPIC: CHASING SHADOWS
On Friday, I went to the Burnhamthorpe Courthouse to drop down a Freedom of Information (FOI). I tried to FOI "All Trespass notices from 1998 through 2008 issued by the City of Mississauga" over at the Courthouse because I was told that to conduct such a search through the City Clerk's FOI Department would hit astronomical search and severance costs.
I figured that the Courthouse would keep searchable records.
But when the Courthouse guy began explaining how the records are kept there, it all sounded familiar. The data I needed was all on paper, I was told. The Court House guy explained how it was impossible to search for specific charges like Trespass. He gestured how they are just piles of tickets and--
I stopped him and asked, "Is this Mississauga? Is this (gesturing to the floor) in here City of Mississauga?" He said yes, it was City of Mississauga. (I felt like an idiot. I got fooled trying to FOI for records at the Burnhamthorpe Courthouse building because it had big letters with "ONTARIO" on it and I thought it was a Provincial Building. Get this, I didn't even wear my audio recording device for protection because I thought it was "ONTARIO").
All my hopes now hang on Peel Regional Police. Also on Friday, I submitted a Freedom of Information request at 22 Division with wording somethin' like:
"All records of ARRESTS made at the request/called in by the City of Mississauga from 1998 through 2008."
There'll be a lot of blacked-out personal information on the people arrested and there should be for their privacy. Still, Peel Police records are now my only way to chase shadows. (I refer to those arrested at the request of City of Mississauga as "shadow people". Donald Barber is one. So is Antonio Batista. How many are there over the past ten years? How many are Youth? Are there parts of Mississauga with more Arrest-Requests than others? So many questions.)
I had the same types of questions for those receiving PON's (Provincial Offenses Notices) but that area of investigation is now a Needles-in-One-Huge-Frikkin'-Bureacratic-Haystack-Dead-End. I'd have to be a millionaire to afford the search/severance time to follow that shadowy trail.)
It's not possible for regular people to Freedom-of-Information this stuff to even get some idea that their fellow-citizens are treated fairly by their own city governments. (I'm forced to conclude that this administrative "paper black hole" is pan-Ontario...)
Shadow People..."paper black hole"... thousands and thousands of dollars in FOI search time... No Soap Radio.
NO SOAP RADIO
Anyway, on the bright side, I'll be the first to admit-- No Soap Radio is an efficient way to run a Business.
I've only one response to No Soap Radio:
Mississauga's Councillor Pat Saito on: Openness and Accountability.
(Click here to go directly to the this on YouTube or Google Video)
Signed,
The Mississauga Muse
PEEL CHILDREN'S CHARTER OF RIGHTS
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"In contrast to the local law enforcement agencies, Corporate Security provides a distinect difference in approach to providing a safe and secure environment within the community." --City of Mississauga Corporate Security 2003 Strategic Draft Plan
"Big Brother has his hand firmly planted in our back pocket – government revenues his lifeline; unaccountability his refuge." (Andre Marin, Ontario Ombudsman --June 27, 2007)
"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 (5)
The following are two letters that have been faxed off regarding the cartoon that was printed which clearly advocates the terrorist act/attack on Toronto City hall and its elected officials;
1 - William Blair, Chief of Police - RE: Formal request for charges & arrests in regards to a death threat and/or intimidation towards City of Toronto Elected officials, City of Toronto staff and suggesting destroying City hall.
2 - Letter to the Editor - RE: Chief of Toronto police & cartoon death threat - terrorist act.
I would strongly suggest that others make a request to the Toronto police for an arrest so the dangerous legal precedence can be over-turned in the Courts as being anti-Democratic.
1- ****
RE: Formal request for charges & arrests in regards to a death threat and/or intimidation towards City of Toronto Elected officials, City of Toronto staff and suggesting destroying City hall.
In the Toronto Sun, Apr. 27, 2008, the below cartoon was printed that clearly advocates the terrorist act of blowing up Toronto City hall and specifically making sure that the City “Council chamber is full before detonation” of Toronto Councillors. It also shows wires running to other parts of Toronto City hall for what could only be to promote the idea of blowing up the whole building with explosives - killing all inside.
A legal precedence was recently set in Peel, in the case of Antonio Batista a 75 year old man who wrote and did a very limited distributed of a satirical poem suggesting that a Mississauga Councillor who thought pot holes were not all bad, should be buried in one. He was found guilty of the offence of uttering a threat to cause death, pursuant to s. 264.1(l)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada. As the “actions of the accused crossed the line from permissible political comment to prohibited criminal conduct.” At the very least the charge of Intimidation towards elected officials should be laid.
2 - ****
Letter to the Editor.
RE: Chief of Toronto police & cartoon death threat - terrorist act.
A formal request has been sent to the Chief of Toronto police. In the Toronto Sun, Apr. 27, 2008, a cartoon was printed that clearly advocates the terrorist act/attack of blowing up Toronto City hall and specifically making sure that the City “Council chamber is full before detonation” of Toronto Councillors were inside. It also shows wires running to other parts of Toronto City hall for what could only be to promote the idea of blowing up the whole building with explosives - killing all inside.
A legal precedence was recently set in Peel, in the case of Antonio Batista a 75 year old man who wrote and did a very limited distributed of a satirical poem suggesting that a Mississauga Councillor who thought pot holes were not all bad, should be buried in one. He was found guilty of the offence of uttering a threat to cause death, pursuant to s. 264.1 (l)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada. As the “actions of the accused crossed the line from permissible political comment to prohibited criminal conduct.” At the very least the charge of Intimidation towards elected officials should be laid. The above has been sent to the
As Canadians we know that there is a law for the rich and a law for the poor. That it is likely the Toronto police will be too fearful to take on the media. But it should be noted that Peel police had no such trouble taking on poor old Antonio Batista who fled a dictatorship in his home land of Portugal for a freer & saner life in Canada, where he was a model citizen. In his home land they made up songs to poke fun at the oppressive government, in Canada it is now a crime. It cost the “Pothole poet” and his wife their life savings to fight for justice & found none, in the eyes of reasonable people. If the Ontario government can find the time and Court resources to persecute those it feels can’t fight back, to set undemocratic legal precedence, they should try taking on the media for a real fight, so we will not be losing our rights a piece at a time, in unfair legal contests.
Posted by Don B. thats me | April 29, 2008 12:40 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 12:40
Hey there, Don.
Interesting noises and I sure can see where you're going with this.
I view it all a tad differently though. Rather than a "free" society attempting to stifle political commentary like Donato's (what even to me seems) over-the-top cartoon, I'd rather have had someone tell Councillor Pat Saito, "Arrest? What? You serious? It's a frikkin' POEM, lady!" and be done with it.
You're absolutely correct on one thing though. We are losing our rights a piece at a time. And --tragically, those who are poor never had that many rights to begin with.
You're inspired me to create a new video though...
Our ohana of sea turtles send their aloha to The Watcher's salamanders.
Posted by The Mississauga Muse (MISSISSAUGAWATCH) | April 29, 2008 1:06 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 13:06
Where you been, baby? Surely you don't believe in that quaint notion from days gone by (like ancient Greece, for example and Ontario until October, 2003) that all citizens deserve equal treatment under the law?
What's that? It's one of the two founding principles of democracy?
You mean you still believe in democracy? In Ontario, Canada? Dalton McGuinty's dysfunctional Ontario, Canada?
Wow, have I got a bridge for you...
Of course, I'm a dog owner AND a smoker so I got used to selective and subjective enforcement, stigmatization, discrimination, presumption of guilt and restrictions on mobility based on junk science when in possession of a LEGAL product (and pet) quite awhile ago.
The policy in this province is that Some Animals are More Equal than Others.
Our FOIs keep getting rejected by the MAG - something about 'solicitor/client privilege' prevents them from revealing how much taxpayers' money they've wasted on the 'pit bull' (ha!) ban and court case, not to mention some juicy details that we know about but would like to see in black-and-white (hopefully without too much black).
Pretty hilarious that we are not only their clients but are also playing with the other team as we fight to have their fascist law overturned.
Keep the faith.
Posted by Caveat | April 29, 2008 1:10 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 13:10
Hey there, Caveat and thanks for your comment.
Had to grin at your:
You should see the latest one I just received. Will write about it because the reason for THIS rejection deserves its own Blog.
Asked for footage of the Council Chamber from the Pelco1 security camera when I knew with CERTAINTY that I was the only person in there while Council went in-camera.
Get the picture?
Empty except for me. And two corporate security guards. AND that video surveillance camera.
First FOI they refused because of four "GAPS" in the footage.
Second time, refused because there were others present and privacy was of issue.
This time I figured I got 'em. I knew if they tried the old "others present" I could protest at the IPC because they were guards.
Nope. New reason.
Released footage would reveal the extent of camera coverage and therefore compromise security of the chambers.
I busted out in laughter.
Both Donald Barber and I've posted footage from that security camera onto YouTube and Google Video MONTHS ago.
Like. The cat's out the bag the horses have bolted the crick's done rise, the frikkin' Titanic's torn a leak and their excuse is
Access Denied. SECURITY OF BUILDING --lest the "coverage" of the camera get out to the public.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH....
Check Barber's YouTube out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1hbUL4UWcs
or my "Ode to Pelco One"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiQyQSSZDtU
Not gonna IPC it though. Gotta pick your battles...
(It's the good thing Les Despics have Third Party privileges, huh?)
Posted by The Mississauga Muse (MISSISSAUGAWATCH) | April 29, 2008 1:40 PM
Posted on April 29, 2008 13:40
In Mrs. McCallion’s correspondence to “The World Wide Web of Information” her letter clarifies the Quality Continuing Improvement Centre consultants and John Snobelen’s Placements Plus were drawing money for Ontario Works in Peel off the same HRDC $52 billion surplus that was never available to anyone in the first place.
Now it’s all gone into the septic systems with our occupational codes that used to be affixed to box 13 of our records of employment before the $.5 billion was tossed into Peel Regions “cesspool-ing maintenance"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=E5qGUIXRYYo&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FD2BzvGTAjw
Posted by Wayne Nagy | May 2, 2008 9:34 AM
Posted on May 2, 2008 09:34