Hey all, in yesterday's Blog I mentioned that over the Victoria Day weekend, the two-citizen MISSISSAUGAWATCH team went to Ottawa City Hall and Kingston City Hall to conduct the quick 'n easy "City Hall Video Surveillance Citizen Pop-In Test"
Yesterday, I went to another city hall to do the same test and file some Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. Like-whoa. The first thing I did when I got home was revamp yesterday's Blog entry with the following:
[UPDATE: May 26, 2008 6:03 pm. Something happened today that I'll eventually report in this Blog but it's forced me to change the previous paragraph from "Admittedly no one should try this without an audio-recorder going for protection but... " to "Warning, do NOT try this with your own town/city hall!"]
Now remember my "City Hall Video Surveillance Citizen Pop-In Test" is a cut-and-dry quick'n easy two step YES/NO process. I simply ask, "Does the city hall have video surveillance cameras? YES/NO. " and then "Is there signage?"
Even prior to yesterday's experience, our YouTube/Google sites, contained this warning:
"WARNING: Do not try this citizen-test yourself. Ontario municipalities can be shameless bullies only too happy to ban you from their Corporate Property. Things could even go worse --arrest."
It turned out to be prophetic.
Yesterday was the first time I'd had "difficulty" filing Freedom of Information. Regarding an FOI question to gauge the subject-municipality's compliance with the 2001 Guidelines for Using Video Surveillance Cameras in Public Places the two people processing my FOI stated that they were "only guidelines".
(Now remember, that's what they'd be telling anyone who would ask about their video surveillance...)
I told my story about having gone to Queen's Park and asked The Privacy Commissioner herself about whether they were "only guidelines". I then told them that Ann Cavoukian instructed me to tell anyone who'd say that to me to call her up.
I then asked for both their names (I got their cards).
Let's just say that things went downhill from there --the gentleman asking me, just what it was that I was "insinuating". I guess it didn't help that these were the first Freedom of Information forms to include the category "Researcher" and I'd checked that off instead of "Individual".
After I filed the FOI's, I attempted to videotape that there was no signage on the outside doors when I was approached and told to stop taping for "privacy of staff". Now can you appreciate the Irony here? Concerned about staff privacy but seemingly zero for citizens?
I've learned to stifle and not share such helpful observations with Ontario municipal staff and merely told him that I aim my camera down for people and offered to show him what was on the camera. He declined. He then said that he'd have to watch me tape and that he didn't have time.
I then asked if he'd at least admit that there was no signage on any of the doors. He would not even commit to that.
This, Mississauga Boys and Girls, is Ontario Municipal Government. (I'm reminded of the December 12, 2006 Mississauga Council deputation on the revised Violence, Vandalism and Bullying Policy (I call it the Ban, Arrest, Trespass policy or BAT --an apt acronym if there ever was one).
Government demands that citizens take "accountability for one's actions" and yet far as I can determine avoid accountability when the tables are turned.
Anyone still think I'm "paranoid" never stepping onto any Ontario municipal property without an audio-recorder and fresh battery? Or that I have Peel Regional Police on my speed dial? Or that when I finish this Blog, I'm also adding long distance Peel Regional Police on my speed dial?
Repeat --with the 2001 Ontario Municipal Act, (aka "Evil Empire Act") the Mike Harris Government gave Ontario municipalities "natural person" status, tons of power and far as I can determine, no protection for citizens from any Ontario "natural person" BULLIES.
It's frikkin' corrosive-to-the-soul dismal out there in this "Dead-Last" Province.
NOW LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT KINGSTON CITY HALL
As I've mentioned before, over the Victoria Weekend, we conducted the City Hall Video Surveillance Citizen Pop-In Test . We showed the results for Ottawa City Hall yesterday.
Now let me tell you about Kingston City Hall --"home" of former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, John Gerretsen (of the Bill 130 "Municipalities of responsible and accountable governments" fame). Gerretsen is also Kingston's longest-serving mayor.
Kingston City Hall. Both my husband and I were awed (a word so over-used and abused today as to be rendered meaningless unless you qualify it like I just did) Awed. I found what I needed at Kingston City Hall.
Reverance.
Yep. After observing Mississauga Council since June 14, 2006, The Mississauga Muse finally FOUND CANADA! (You know, like in Roots "I have found you, Kunta Kinte!")
CANADA.
And I understand how Religion happens into (yes, "into") people. Like they have some kind of experience that injects itself straight into their hearts and it's a physical thing that becomes part of their DNA.
I FELT CANADA EVERYWHERE INSIDE KINGSTON CITY HALL! And so did my husband. It was some kind of eye-opener.
And now I see Mississauga City Hall in a new light --it's a Big Yellow false idol.
Get this. I found Sir John A. Macdonald there. Good ol' Sir "Cooperation, Communication, Caring" John A.
By the way, Kingston City Hall PASSED the "City Hall Video Surveillance Citizen Pop-In Test"
Video: KINGSTON CITY HALL VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CITIZEN "POP-IN" TEST (May 20, 2008) 7 min.
(Click here to go directly to YouTube or Google Video)
Well, I'm off to conduct another "City Hall Video Surveillance Citizen Pop-In Test"....
Signed,
The (I now know where I can find CANADA if I ever need it again) Mississauga Muse
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"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)
"Amen for 32:1 zoom hard-drive 7-hour capacity video cameras" (The Mississauga Muse --May 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