Mississauga Musings

I see the Missy News editorial staff has weighed in on the $$half-a-million$$ Our Future Mississauga Community Engagement Whatever --you know, the one that Councillor Nando Iannicca hailed as a report that he could've knocked off in a few afternoons?

[Aside: Based on my rigorous observations of Mississauga Council I can say without doubt that Councillor Iannicca is correct. He could've knocked off the report of the Our Future Mississauga Community Whatever in a few afternoons. However, this is not a compliment.]

Our good ol' Missy News' assessment of the "Our Future Mississauga" Shovel Fest is almost dead-on. Yes, "almost". They write:

"The results? A long laundry list of pie-in-the-sky platitudes and technicolour dreams of an Utopian community."

I know for readership-sensitivity reasons the Missy News had to use the almost-word "platitudes" instead of (click here)

And the Missy News was right about those "technicolour dreams" even if those dreams applied primarily to The Affluent (AKA "entrenched elite") lobbying/guiding the Mississauga Strategic Plan in order to get affluenter.

As for "Utopian community", I've been observing the Our Future Mississauga Cereal Box (yes, "cereal box" --think about it) from its first report to General Committee forever ago. Trust me, the "Utopian community" can only be described as Utopian by those who already have the means to dream BIG in technicolour.

Readers here know that my husband and I research sea turtles. We've been studying Hawaiian green turtles since 1988. Twenty years...

Now I research Mississauga in its natural Provincial environment. I've been observing Mississauga municipal governance since June 14, 2006. It ain't a pretty sight.

I'm "The Observer". Observing meant that through the entire Our Future Mississauga process --even the community input stages, I stayed "The Observer". Even at the discussion table, I had to shut up. Observing meant that I couldn't participate either by filling out a puzzle piece or even writing on stickers and sticking them where they should be stuck. "The Observer" must always limit himself to Observing.

I can tell you that it's far far more difficult observing Mississauga muncipal governance than sea turtles. For one thing I have far more in common with marine reptiles than with what draws breath inside Mississauga Council Chambers.

But the toughest part in my Observer role is trying to stay calm-and-quiet when Stuff Happens.

From June 2006 to present, I was fed (and worse, was forced to watch others fed) one endless Stream of Stuff. It's something that I'll never get used to --and more was comin'.

Well Tuesday was the big day of the Our Future Mississauga Open House. In celebration, The Corporate Glitterati and Hired Gun Consultants released their "Our Future Mississauga" report. And what a report it was.

At the evening Open House, The Corporation assured us that it wasn't too late for residents to fill out stickers and have our "Our Future Mississauga" say.

And so--

"THE OBSERVER" TURNS "PARTICIPANT"

I filled out stickers. On behalf of Peel at-risk Youth. On behalf of Peel's under-served and invisible Peel Unterclass. On behalf of the people of Ontario who get trickled-down-to. And especially on behalf of Me --one ticked off Mississauga Muse who'd have it up to here ^ --and then some.

So I went over to the Youth Board and filled in this sticker on behalf of the "other" Youth embedded in the Mississauga Corporate Security Incident Reporting Software database. They weren't present that evening because if they dared, they'd be charged with Trespass. Or, you know, encouraged to leave "without cause".

And I wrote:

"Ethicial Infrastructure before Bricks and Mortar! (and buses)"

Then still thinking about those "other" Youth, I went over to the Completing our Neighbourhoods Board and zeroed on the "Safe City" part. The fundamental definition of "Safe" has been missed throughout --like since Mississauga was incorporated in 1974.

Here's the deal "Safe" also means safe from your government.

Mississauga --"TRUST QUALITY EXCELLENCE" Mississauga --"LEADING TODAY FOR TOMORROW".

I'm callin' Mississauga OUT!

It's time that the "TRUST QUALITY EXCELLENCE LEADING TODAY FOR TOMORROW" people FRIKKIN' PROVE that they believe their own Leading Today slogans.

And so I wrote:

"Mississauga takes a leadership role to invite The Ontario Ombudsman into the MUSH sector through leadership in Provincial legislation."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH... yeah, I know, hilarious **SNORK**.

Can you see Hazel McCallion lobbying for McGuinty to give the Ontario Ombudsman full investigative power into the MUSH sector?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH... (I'm such a source of amusement to myself)

Just remember that I've been the one observing and researching through Freedom of Information so I know that "Mississauga takes a leadership role to invite The Ontario Ombudsman into the MUSH sector through leadership in Provincial legislation." is way more hilarious-er than how you may find it. (Unless, of course, you're a minion of the evil empire reading this)

So. Then I went over to the Transit board and finally had my (long overdue) say there.

And I wrote:

"Transit switches from GUARDS to Special Constables"

Right now, regardless of the difference in car decals and uniforms, this Mississauga Transit Team is Mississauga Corporate Security. Run by Mississauga Corporate Security. End of story. Anyone who wants my Freedom of Information proof on that assertion, email me here.

Special Constables are Police SERVICES. Mississauga and the entire GTTA needs a seamless set of Special Constables instead of guards. Real Police. And it can't happen fast enough.

Then I saw two opportunities on one board! I've been observing/researching both the CITIES NOW campaign and The Mississauga Youth Plan from the get-go --so I leapt on those.

And so for CITIES NOW I wrote:

"Before FEDERAL and PROVINCIAL $$$$$$ Ontario municipalities require the Ontario Ombudsman".

and of course that pairs nicely with my previous sticker:

"Mississauga takes a leadership role to invite The Ontario Ombudsman into the MUSH sector through leadership in Provincial legislation."

Yes, yes, McGuinty will tell you there's an Auditor General doing his Auditor General thing and The Ombudsman's not needed. Go to the Auditor General 's website and do a word search for "municipalities". You're welcome.

And then it was time for the Mississauga Youth Plan. I wrote:

"Policies* Youth need INFORMATION in order to have legitimate meaningful input!"

(a bit of regret there now that I read the sticker --"legitimate" makes "meaningful" redundant. )

And then I saw the "MY MISSISSAUGA" board and **bristled**.

Believe me, if you have to have an audio-recorder with fresh batteries going whenever you're on The Corporation's private property that's trumpeted as "public space" and you still don't feel safe, reading "MY MISSISSAUGA" is like being on the receiving end of a sharp stick in the eye.

"MY MISSISSAUGA" --The Mississauga Muse **bristled** some more.

And on behalf of all those "Disconnected Others" like me, I wrote:

Not 'MY MISSISSAUGA" but "THEIR MISSISSAUGA' Citizen-reps selected to puppet the Corporate line."

There's a story to this one. A lady was watching me and came over and said how neat it was that I was videotaping myself writing down the comments on the stickers. I told her that's because my questions and comments never see sunlight so video is proof that I submitted it. I don't think she believed me.

She then leaned close, read my comment and was totally taken aback. She asked what I meant by "Citizen-reps selected to puppet the Corporate line." Committed as I am to Freedom of Information, I freely shared my insights with her. Not sure that she believed that either.

However. I don't think it was even five minutes later that she approached me again while I was photographing the puzzle pieces and she said, "You know, I think you're right about those citizen-reps. I just overheard something..."

I was going to thank her for the confirmation because usually it takes a minimum of 30 days for me to be proven right through Freedom of Information. Sometimes 60. On rare occasions 120...

Five minutes is now my new MISSISSAUGAWATCH "*OUCH* Too bad I'm right" record.

So then I saw this other board and wrote:

"Accountablity and 'Ethical Infrastructure' pre-requisite for authentic Implementation."

So. As to where I stuck that "Authentic Implementation" sticker? Well, you'll have to wait for my yet-to-be-started video "Future Mississauga --Making it Real Itinerary".

Now, a reminder quoting from the Toronto Sun Comment: Point of View Thu, June 19, 2008 --this jewel:

"Whether McGuinty extends Marin's oversight to the MUSH sector will be the real test of how seriously the premier believes in accountability. If he doesn't, nothing else he says on the issue matters."

And so.

THE MISSISSAUGA MUSE IS CALLING HAZEL MCCALLION OUT!

To paraphrase the Toronto Sun:

Whether McCallion lobbies/bullies for McGuinty to extend The Ontario Ombudsman's oversight to the MUSH sector will be the real test of how seriously McCallion believes in accountability. If she doesn't, nothing else McCallion says on "Our Future Mississauga" or "Our Future GTA" or "Our Future Ontario" --OR "Our Future Canada" matters.

Nothing.

Last. While this Blog entry was written primarily on behalf of Peel "at-risk" Youth, I dedicate this in its entirety to the Mississauga "Grand Skulk" and "Big Brother".

Signed,
The ("The Observer") Mississauga Muse

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"Whether McCallion lobbies/bullies for McGuinty to extend The Ontario Ombudsman's oversight to the MUSH sector will be the real test of how seriously McCallion believes in accountability. If she doesn't, nothing else McCallion says on "Our Future Mississauga" or "Our Future GTA" or "Our Future Ontario" --OR "Our Future Canada" matters. (The Mississauga Muse, June 26, 2008)

"The technologies of the day helped automate access control into sensitive areas, but it did not help stave off the streams of visitors coming and going from the [Civic Centre] building." (City of Mississauga Corporate Security 2003 Strategic Draft Plan"

BEHAVIOUR IN A PUBLIC PLACE Malton Community Centre and Library "Under Provincial law, any person can be directed by staff to leave at any time without cause"... (Malton Community Centre and Library entry sign)

"We continue to encounter ingrained organizational attitudes and practices that at times can make public service seem more like public nuisance...These maladies persisted this year, leaving many Ontarians in what I can only describe as the twilight zone of public service." (Andre Marin, Ontario Ombudsman - June 17, 2008)

"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