That's right. "Freedom of Information isn't".
Now don't get me wrong. I'm grateful there is such a thing as Freedom of Information. Even more grateful that there is such a thing as the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. And the vast majority of snoozing Ontarians don't know how fortunate they are to have Dr.Ann Cavoukian filling the role of Information and Privacy Commissioner. She's Diamond.
I'm even grateful that I'm allowed a max of 6 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests percolating inside the Mississauga City Clerk's office at any one tme. It's just that it's impossible for a citizen to explore even one small aspect of municipal governance using Freedom of Information only.
Example. I need to drop down at least three dozen FOI's this very minute. Can't. I need at least two full-time Freedom of Information staffers just working for me alone over the next little while. No such thing. And the ability for a citizen to probe the practices of several departments, through FOI ---the stuff of DREAMS!
Freedom of Information --I mean the deep, multi-dimensional, broad-disclosure, investigative stuff, is as glacial as it is tedious. The FOI Time Lag when an FOI department consists of skeletal staff is very much like trying to (send/receive) communicate with someone in deep deep space. (Or like "participating" in the Discussion Forum at the mississauga.ca website.) You learn the true meaning of "forever".
You know, I just realized something. It wasn't that long ago I didn't even know there was such a thing as Freedom of Information. Perhaps it's time for a Freedom of Information Glossary. (I know a citizen-Glossary would've helped me back then).
The MISSISSAUGAWATCH FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (MUNICIPAL) GLOSSARY
Organized in Alphabetical Order
appropriate: Citizen Alert! Beware of the word "appropriate"!
If readers learn one thing today, learn this. There is a HUGE difference between the use of "appropriate" in these two sentences (think antonyms)
"We will select the appropriate staff and conduct an appropriate investigation and will respond appropriately." (City of Mississauga.)
"We will select the appropriate staff and conduct an appropriate investigation and will respond appropriately." (Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner)
BS: 1. What only Freedom of Information helps citizens cut through albeit very slowly. (Note: A citizen or citizen-group that discovers enough BS may qualify for the assistance of The Information and Privacy Commissioner and/or The Ontario Ombudsman. Both cut through BS better than anyone/anything else.)
2. PR generated by (but not limited to) evil empires, Evil Empires and EVIL EMPIRES.
BS-suspected: Wafting breezes from your city hall that don't pass the smell test.
BS-confirmed: 1. What citizens can call their local government's PR, "news" declarations etc only after they get a Freedom of Information (FOI) result back.
ie: "The statement, 'Corporate Security will proceed under all existing guidelines and laws.' is BS-confirmed."
evil empire: Any municipality on this list that chose their own "investigator" or Local Authority Services. (caveat: within this list are even evil-er evil empires that actually charge their citizens for an "investigation". Citizens of some municipalities can get a real investigation provided free through the Ontario Ombudsman.)
FOI: Noun: Freedom of Information. Alternate: Freedom of Information request. ie: "I'm going to drop down an FOI today." Click here for an example of a Mississauga FOI form.
FOI: Verb: to drop down a Freedom of Information request. ie: "What BS! -I'm going to FOI that."
alternate verbs: FOI'd. ie: "I FOI'd that last year."
FOI'ing. ie: "Whaaa? Surely that's BS --I'll be FOI'ing that."
FOIs Noun: plural of FOI. ie: "Currently I'm waiting on six FOIs."
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION: The result of a belief by Few in Government that citizens have a right to Legitimate Input. (see: Legitimate Input)
Freedom of Information request: A form you can fill out to cut through your local governnment's PR and "news".
Information and Privacy Commissioner: Dr. Ann Cavoukian. The agency/person a citizen can go to when their local government has denied them access to information --or breached any one of numerous provincial guidelines/regulations/laws drafted/passed by the Province to protect citizens from their local evil empires.
Informed Public: 1. The Stakeholders referred to at your city's meetings, website, flyers, blurbs, etc. (see: Stakeholders!)
2. Citizens who reach beyond traditional media and use FOI to penetrate their local government's PR.
IPC: (Abbreviation for): Information and Privacy Commissioner. Office set up by the Province to protect citizens from their local evil empires. ie: "What would we do without the IPC?"
Legitimate Input: The ideal form of democratic participation made possible only by an informed public.
"News": Click here for Mississauga "news". See also PR and BS.
Ontario Ombudsman: 1: Andre Marin. (Who your local government avoided by selecting "Local Authority Services" or by choosing their own "investigator" see entry: evil empire.)
2: currently the only legitimate means for a citizen to ensure complaints are handled appropriately --who citizens desperatively need looking into/investigating the "MUSH" sector (Municipalities, Universities, Schools, Hospitals)
PR: BS
Stakeholders They run your city. Their influence ranges from money to MONEY to MONEY to MONEY. Stakeholder influence can also relate to Who You Know (see entry "Who You Know).
NOTE: Put a Star beside this one: ***Your local government's employees are also Stakeholders.***
Who You Know: Get serious. Do I really need to spell this one out to you?
ENOUGH FOR TODAY
I have a Peel Police Services Board meeting to sit in on. Believe me, dear readers, it's the only place where there's sanity. Because Science --Blessed Science-- happens there.
I'M BACK
Me, this morning, waiting for the Peel Police Services Board meeting to start.
Signed,
The Mississauga Muse
P.S. To Mac's Gang, Wayne Nagy and others interested in Rambo. It looks like Google Video no longer accepts clips longer than 10 minutes. Lots of noises in the user groups from people complaining about 2-seconds worth of gray instead of their video. Me too. So. I may have to upload it in three (ho hum) separate sends.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------