Mississauga Musingstag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//42008-07-01T17:04:15ZUrsula BennettMovable Type 3.33HAPPY CANADA DAY UPDATEtag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//4.11372008-07-01T17:00:49Z2008-07-01T17:04:15ZUPDATE: JULY 1, 2008. HAPPY CANADA DAY! This was just sent to the Toronto Star for Commentary: HAPPY CANADA DAY and I want to thank the Toronto Star for their part in keeping our country together. I've thanked them before,...Ursula Bennett
UPDATE: JULY 1, 2008. HAPPY CANADA DAY!
This was just sent to the Toronto Star for Commentary:
HAPPY CANADA DAY and I want to thank the Toronto Star for their part in keeping our country together. I've thanked them before, but will do so again today. THANKS TORSTAR! Especially for hiring (how many buses were there) so citizens could get there. Who else lined up around 2:30 am on October 27, 1995. October 1995 --when we almost lost our country. Here's a reminder. "Canadians rally for a united country Chretien pledges to stop Quebec's separatist move October 28, 1995 MONTREAL, Quebec (CNN) -- Beginning Thursday night, Canadians flooded into Montreal from all over the country to beg Quebeckers not to vote for sovereignty in Monday's referendum. Over 100,000 people -- Canada's largest ever political rally -- gathered in the city's Place de Canada on Friday to voice their support for unity. Link: www.cnn.com/WORLD/9510/canada/10-28/index.html Signed, The (OH I LOVE YOU CANADA!) Mississauga Muse
And here are two pics of that October 27, 1995 Montreal Rally with thanks to the Toronto Star (again) who made sure that we had free transportation-buses to get us there.
And a pic of one of my fondest memories ever at any time in my life --photo shot from UNDER the Big Canada flag. Remember that?
It was Thomas Jefferson who said that "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” Having observed/researched Ontario municipal/Provincial governance practices since June 14, 2006, I discovered something else, there are Those, right inside Queen's Park and our own city halls, who not only wouldn't think twice about denying us our freedoms, they are doing so right now. These minions of evil empires need to be eternally-vigilanced --by us-Canadians!
And, because this will be the last MISSISSAUGAWATCH Blog entry for a while --here's a repeat of June 29th...
CELEBRATING CANADA
What follows is --gee, I don't know what this is, a celebration of Canada, merged with an opportunity to respond to the "My Favourite Mississauga Space" call for Mississauga "Favourite Space" photographs.
Here's mine.
Me on the left, 4-5 years old, sitting on the Cooksville Creek bridge at (now gone) Miles Lane. This photo had to have been taken between July 1954 (when my grandfather came to Canada) and October 15, 1954 when Hurricane Hazel destroyed the bridge.
54 years ago...
Even now, this Cooksville Creek Paradise Lost Bridge is still my Favourite Mississauga Space. And my favourite part of Canada. (We were brought to Canada, my dad tells me, so his kids wouldn't have to grow up surrounded by Evil Empires.)
Which brings us to...
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS --a Review
Yes. Half a year's gone by and it's time to evaluate the status of the MISSISSAUGAWATCH New Year's Resolutions posted to this Blog entry on January 3, 2008.
I guess if I were a city, my New Year's Resolutions would be like a city's Strategic Plan with every Resolution "being intentional" to bring on "intentional change". The "Intentional" Concept is the most important thing I learned from the half-million dollar "Our Future Mississauga Pretense".
The really COOL part was discovering the even Pretense can be Intentional!
I also discovered that since an investigation into a municipality, via Freedom of Information, costs hundreds of dollars (even thousands) in search/photocopying fees, the Affluent buy Information leaving the the rest of us sucking on a steady Gusherie of Pretense.
Therefore, my preliminary MISSISSAUGAWATCH conclusion is that "CANADA" exists for those who can afford It. Yes, I know. Not a new concept. But often The Dullard has to Experience in order to Get It. I Get It Now.
Here we go.
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION #1
UPDATE: 080629. "Detail the facts behind Don Barber's arrest on June 7, 2006".
Progress Report: Researched agendas/minutes of March-June 2006 General Committee/Council meetings. Merged security footage with Rogers telecast. Figured out that the video/minutes do not support the "Statement of Witness" from the two Mississauga Corporate Security guards regarding what happened inside Council Chambers.
Status: Resolution #1 Completed --save for Freedom of Information results based on revelations from video. Most important discovery --you can be screwed over and not know it for years. And if you don't use Freedom of Information you'll never know why or how you've been screwed over. The Misssissauga Muse managed to avoid arrest for six months too.
VIDEO: "BIG BROTHER MISSISSAUGA" VIDEO SURVEILLANCE ARREST (June 7, 2006)
(Click here to go directly to the clip on Google Video)
UPDATE: 080629. "Expand research into a variety of practices to include Brampton and Caledon."
Progress Report: When Freedom of Information research is self-funded and costs hundreds of dollars, an unforeseen "intentional change" happened to this New Year's Resolution. Caledon was dropped and two entirely different Ontario municipalities were added. (Essentially dropped One, added Two.)
Status: Caledon wasn't the only thing that "dropped". So did my @$$ when early Freedom of Information results suggested that there are evil-ler evil empires in Ontario than my evil empire. OUCH.]
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION #4
UPDATE: 080629. "Expand research into several new areas UNdisclosed at this time."
Progress Report: The top 14 Freedom of Information (FOI) questions that turned out to reveal the most about Mississauga's governance practices were used to investigate other municipalities. MISSISSAUGAWATCH has already identified Ajax, Kingston, Ottawa and Winnipeg being FOI'd. Of those, we actually visited Ajax, Kingston and Ottawa to report on their video surveillance practices to compare with those of Mississauga.
Today we'll reveal that Brampton is also being FOI'd. I have to say that Brampton walloped down one big surprise. Unlike other municipalities (Mississauga, Kingston, Winnipeg) I got absolutely no information from Brampton --and a bill for half of $420.00 upfront. And that $420.00 will not include photocopying fees. Now imagine being poor and on the receiving end of this letter.
(Click here for larger image)
Ah what the heck. Now's as good a time as any to show this video report . Here's me outside Brampton City Hall being really ticked off and dropping down the $210.00 deposit on behalf of those Bramptonians/Peelers who can't afford $420.00.
Watch to the very end and you'll see that I even attracted the Corporate Stink-Eye of a Corporation of Brampton security guard --possibly even two security guards (the woman who walked right past me while I gave my report aroused my suspicion). What can I say? It's a gift...
VIDEO: CITY OF BRAMPTON FREEDOM of INFORMATION BLUUUUUUUES
(Click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)
Status: Because I know The Minions of The Evil Empire and minions of evil empires read this Blog, there are still several "areas UNdisclosed at this time."
Related theme: The Mississauga Muse has discovered that some of the greatest threats to CANADA aren't lurking "out there" in rogue states or terrorist sleeper cells. These enemies-from-within are embedded, like sinister-protracted-evil-empire-hemorrhoids, right inside our own Ontario city halls.
They freely make proud declarations like:
Thank God, all right! It's the Corporate Point of View that betrays CANADA.]
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION #5
UPDATE: 080629. "Continue research (Freedom of Information) into municipal security practices and related provincial legislation."
Progress Report: Let's put it this way. Freedom of Information blew quite the hole in Big Brother. And my 32-1 zoom mini-Panasonic video cam did the rest. Status: As for provincial legislation, readers will understand why I can't reveal more at this time.]
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION #6
UPDATE: 080629. "Investigate and report on PRECISELY WHY citizens "Can't Fight City Hall".
Progress Report: Hindsight being what it is, I realized Resolution 6 was carelessly-worded. The fact is, citizens CAN Fight City Hall --it's just that only The Affluent, who can afford industrial-strength lawyers actually have a chance to win.
As a result, MISSISSAUGAWATCH has concluded that Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is yep, "Pretense".
By way of examples:
"Legal Rights Life, liberty and security of person7. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice."
I've watched enough of the "fundamental justice" part happening inside the Brampton Courthouse to know that's it's a "legal system" not "justice". And this legal system isn't even good at hiding the "pretense" part.
--and The Biggest Lie in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"Equality RightsEquality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law.15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability."
"Equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law"... Blow it out your ōkoles whoever wrote that one down! It wasn't true then and it isn't true now. Who cares about "race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability" when the greatest frikkin' disability dealing with the courts or some evil empire's legal department --is POVERTY!
And my favourite from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
"EnforcementEnforcement of guaranteed rights and freedoms 24. (1) Anyone whose rights or freedoms, as guaranteed by this Charter, have been infringed or denied may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain such remedy as the court considers appropriate and just in the circumstances"
HAHAHAHAHAHAH! "to obtain such remedy as the court considers appropriate" Meaning that for those too poor to afford the mega-bucks for a Industrial-Strength lawyer, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms aren't..]
AND THEN TO REVIEW THIS JANUARY 3, 2008 VOW
"LAST: I vow to continue to stay the course --and answer the call of our Ontario Ombudsman."
UPDATE: 080629. I have stayed this slippery and treacherous course. And, six months later, I vow, once again, to continue to stay that course --and answer the call of our Ontario Ombudsman."
VIDEO: ANDRE MARIN --ONTARIO OMBUDSMAN at "RIGHT TO KNOW"
(Click here to go directly to the clip on Google Video)
"I am a Canadian,
free to speak without fear,
free to worship in my own way,
free to stand for what I think right,
free to oppose what I believe wrong,
or free to choose those
who shall govern my country.
This heritage of freedom
I pledge to uphold
for myself and all mankind."
John G. Diefenbaker
(1895-1979) Prime Minister of Canada
Source: Paraphrasing the Canadian Bill of Rights, July 1, 1960
Signed,
The (I am a Canadian) Mississauga Muse
P.S. To the Bright Lite [Anonymous] who instead of addressing facts or issues, left me the comment, "Why don't you move to the U.S! If you hate Canada so much". You can find my response where you left your turd at "MISSISSAUGA --One Year Today: Birds of a Feather have noses errummm --beaks for their own"
( [Anonymous] --not the "Anonymous" who's been heads-upping me)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"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)
[UPDATE: June 30, 2008. Today we launched a Mississauga Musings mirror-site at mississaugawatch.ca.]]>
"CANADA"? WHERE? --a Different Kind of Canada Day Tributetag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//4.11362008-06-29T20:07:11Z2008-06-30T14:38:05ZCELEBRATING CANADA What follows is --gee, I don't know what this is, a celebration of Canada, merged with an opportunity to respond to the "My Favourite Mississauga Space" call for Mississauga "Favourite Space" photographs. Here's mine. Me on the left,...Ursula Bennett
CELEBRATING CANADA
What follows is --gee, I don't know what this is, a celebration of Canada, merged with an opportunity to respond to the "My Favourite Mississauga Space" call for Mississauga "Favourite Space" photographs.
Here's mine.
Me on the left, 4-5 years old, sitting on the Cooksville Creek bridge at (now gone) Miles Lane. This photo had to have been taken between July 1954 (when my grandfather came to Canada) and October 15, 1954 when Hurricane Hazel destroyed the bridge.
54 years ago...
Even now, this Cooksville Creek Paradise Lost Bridge is still my Favourite Mississauga Space. And my favourite part of Canada. (We were brought to Canada, my dad tells me, so his kids wouldn't have to grow up surrounded by Evil Empires.)
Which brings us to...
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS --a Review
Yes. Half a year's gone by and it's time to evaluate the status of the MISSISSAUGAWATCH New Year's Resolutions posted to this Blog entry on January 3, 2008.
I guess if I were a city, my New Year's Resolutions would be like a city's Strategic Plan with every Resolution "being intentional" to bring on "intentional change". The "Intentional" Concept is the most important thing I learned from the half-million dollar "Our Future Mississauga Pretense".
The really COOL part was discovering the even Pretense can be Intentional!
I also discovered that since an investigation into a municipality, via Freedom of Information, costs hundreds of dollars (even thousands) in search/photocopying fees, the Affluent buy Information leaving the the rest of us sucking on a steady Gusherie of Pretense.
Therefore, my preliminary MISSISSAUGAWATCH conclusion is that "CANADA" exists for those who can afford It. Yes, I know. Not a new concept. But often The Dullard has to Experience in order to Get It. I Get It Now.
Here we go.
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION #1
UPDATE: 080629. "Detail the facts behind Don Barber's arrest on June 7, 2006".
Progress Report: Researched agendas/minutes of March-June 2006 General Committee/Council meetings. Merged security footage with Rogers telecast. Figured out that the video/minutes do not support the "Statement of Witness" from the two Mississauga Corporate Security guards regarding what happened inside Council Chambers.
Status: Resolution #1 Completed --save for Freedom of Information results based on revelations from video. Most important discovery --you can be screwed over and not know it for years. And if you don't use Freedom of Information you'll never know why or how you've been screwed over. The Misssissauga Muse managed to avoid arrest for six months too.
VIDEO: "BIG BROTHER MISSISSAUGA" VIDEO SURVEILLANCE ARREST (June 7, 2006)
(Click here to go directly to the clip on Google Video)
UPDATE: 080629. "Expand research into a variety of practices to include Brampton and Caledon."
Progress Report: When Freedom of Information research is self-funded and costs hundreds of dollars, an unforeseen "intentional change" happened to this New Year's Resolution. Caledon was dropped and two entirely different Ontario municipalities were added. (Essentially dropped One, added Two.)
Status: Caledon wasn't the only thing that "dropped". So did my @$$ when early Freedom of Information results suggested that there are evil-ler evil empires in Ontario than my evil empire. OUCH.]
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION #4
UPDATE: 080629. "Expand research into several new areas UNdisclosed at this time."
Progress Report: The top 14 Freedom of Information (FOI) questions that turned out to reveal the most about Mississauga's governance practices were used to investigate other municipalities. MISSISSAUGAWATCH has already identified Ajax, Kingston, Ottawa and Winnipeg being FOI'd. Of those, we actually visited Ajax, Kingston and Ottawa to report on their video surveillance practices to compare with those of Mississauga.
Today we'll reveal that Brampton is also being FOI'd. I have to say that Brampton walloped down one big surprise. Unlike other municipalities (Mississauga, Kingston, Winnipeg) I got absolutely no information from Brampton --and a bill for half of $420.00 upfront. And that $420.00 will not include photocopying fees. Now imagine being poor and on the receiving end of this letter.
(Click here for larger image)
Ah what the heck. Now's as good a time as any to show this video report . Here's me outside Brampton City Hall being really ticked off and dropping down the $210.00 deposit on behalf of those Bramptonians/Peelers who can't afford $420.00.
Watch to the very end and you'll see that I even attracted the Corporate Stink-Eye of a Corporation of Brampton security guard --possibly even two security guards (the woman who walked right past me while I gave my report aroused my suspicion). What can I say? It's a gift...
VIDEO: CITY OF BRAMPTON FREEDOM of INFORMATION BLUUUUUUUES
(Click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)
Status: Because I know The Minions of The Evil Empire and minions of evil empires read this Blog, there are still several "areas UNdisclosed at this time."
Related theme: The Mississauga Muse has discovered that some of the greatest threats to CANADA aren't lurking "out there" in rogue states or terrorist sleeper cells. These enemies-from-within are embedded, like sinister-protracted-evil-empire-hemorrhoids, right inside our own Ontario city halls.
They freely make proud declarations like:
Thank God, all right! It's the Corporate Point of View that betrays CANADA.]
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION #5
UPDATE: 080629. "Continue research (Freedom of Information) into municipal security practices and related provincial legislation."
Progress Report: Let's put it this way. Freedom of Information blew quite the hole in Big Brother. And my 32-1 zoom mini-Panasonic video cam did the rest. Status: As for provincial legislation, readers will understand why I can't reveal more at this time.]
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION #6
UPDATE: 080629. "Investigate and report on PRECISELY WHY citizens "Can't Fight City Hall".
Progress Report: Hindsight being what it is, I realized Resolution 6 was carelessly-worded. The fact is, citizens CAN Fight City Hall --it's just that only The Affluent, who can afford industrial-strength lawyers actually have a chance to win.
As a result, MISSISSAUGAWATCH has concluded that Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is yep, "Pretense".
By way of examples:
"Legal Rights Life, liberty and security of person7. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice."
I've watched enough of the "fundamental justice" part happening inside the Brampton Courthouse to know that's it's a "legal system" not "justice". And this legal system isn't even good at hiding the "pretense" part.
--and The Biggest Lie in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"Equality RightsEquality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law.15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability."
"Equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law"... Blow it out your ōkoles whoever wrote that one down! It wasn't true then and it isn't true now. Who cares about "race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability" when the greatest frikkin' disability dealing with the courts or some evil empire's legal department --is POVERTY!
And my favourite from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
"EnforcementEnforcement of guaranteed rights and freedoms 24. (1) Anyone whose rights or freedoms, as guaranteed by this Charter, have been infringed or denied may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain such remedy as the court considers appropriate and just in the circumstances"
HAHAHAHAHAHAH! "to obtain such remedy as the court considers appropriate" Meaning that for those too poor to afford the mega-bucks for a Industrial-Strength lawyer, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms aren't..]
AND THEN TO REVIEW THIS JANUARY 3, 2008 VOW
"LAST: I vow to continue to stay the course --and answer the call of our Ontario Ombudsman."
UPDATE: 080629. I have stayed this slippery and treacherous course. And, six months later, I vow, once again, to continue to stay that course --and answer the call of our Ontario Ombudsman."
VIDEO: ANDRE MARIN --ONTARIO OMBUDSMAN at "RIGHT TO KNOW"
(Click here to go directly to the clip on Google Video)
"I am a Canadian,
free to speak without fear,
free to worship in my own way,
free to stand for what I think right,
free to oppose what I believe wrong,
or free to choose those
who shall govern my country.
This heritage of freedom
I pledge to uphold
for myself and all mankind."
John G. Diefenbaker
(1895-1979) Prime Minister of Canada
Source: Paraphrasing the Canadian Bill of Rights, July 1, 1960
Signed,
The (I am a Canadian) Mississauga Muse
P.S. To the Bright Lite [Anonymous] who instead of addressing facts or issues, left me the comment, "Why don't you move to the U.S! If you hate Canada so much". You can find my response where you left your turd at "MISSISSAUGA --One Year Today: Birds of a Feather have noses errummm --beaks for their own"
( [Anonymous] --not the "Anonymous" who's been heads-upping me)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"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)
[UPDATE: June 30, 2008. Today we launched a Mississauga Musings mirror-site at mississaugawatch.ca.]]>
Our Future Mississauga --"The Observer" finally becomes "Participant" and calls for The Ombudsmantag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//4.11332008-06-26T17:42:34Z2008-06-29T13:20:57Z 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...Ursula Bennett
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."
"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]]>
Malton Neighbourhood Services, Peel Police, and Transit Body Shop "Photo Opportunity"tag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//4.11312008-06-24T15:41:19Z2008-06-24T18:03:06ZA change of pace today Missy Dudes and Dudettes --to some good things that happened last week that I'm only getting around to this week because of all the bad things that happened last week that I had to report...Ursula Bennett
MALTON NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES celebrates 30 YEARS (18:30 min)
(Click here to go directly to Google Video)
Another Good News video. On Friday, the Peel District School Board made a presentation to the Peel Police Services Board thanking Peel Police for the work they do helping Peel students and teachers in their own schools.
Right now there are 31 middle schools in Peel and kids --Grades 6 through 8-- would certainly benefit from daily Police presence and guidance. I hope that Peel Region will somehow find the budget to assign one Peel Police officer for every two middle schools. That'd be ideal.
Back in the Fifties when I was a kid, we-all loved Constable David Yakichuk visiting us. I know that my affection for Peel Police began at Fairview School with him.
Anyway, here's that Peel Schools thank Peel Police video.
PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD thanks PEEL REGIONAL POLICE SERVICES
(Click here to go directly to Google Video)
"Photo Opportunity:
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, C.M., Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville Wajid Khan, and the Mississauga East-Cooksville MPP and Minister of Tourism Peter Fonseca inside the body shop's high-tech paint booth.
Displays at the event will feature the City of Mississauga transit projects including the Bus Rapid Transit Project and Transit Security."
Like I said, "Photo Opportunity".
A couple of Transit geeks emailed me to see if I was attending because they couldn't. They asked me to take pics and shoot video for them. I even met the YouTube MissyTransitGeek called "ORION" face-to-face for the first time. "ORION" cradled a camera. Even his TransitGeek friends had cameras.
We all went outside to the back of the facility --them to take pics of Missy Transit service vehicles and me to check for any evil empire Pelco PTZ's about. (But you didn't hear that from me).
Back inside the body shop, I set up my tripod to video the line of beautiful Missy buses when a Mississauga Corporate Security Manager wearing a Transit Enforcement uniform approached me and said I couldn't take pictures. I don't know what confused me more, seeing what I knew to be a Mississauga Corporate Security "SAM" wearing a Mississauga Transit Enforcement unitorm or being told that I couldn't take pictures at this mississauga-ca-announced "Photo Opportunity".
Believe me, it's a strange-strange feeling looking straight into someone's eyes who's looking straight into yours and you know that he knows that you know that he's a law unto himself. I put the camera away.
Then I saw the Mississauga Transit Enforcement Dodge Charger 302 car tucked in the corner of the Body Shop and things got worse. I recognized yet another Mississauga Corporate Security guard dressed up in a Mississauga Transit Enforcement uniform. (Now I'm more confused. What gives? Freedom of Information revealed that anyone applying for this new/specialized 8-member Transit Enforcement Team had to pass this rigorous Transit Enforcement Team test. There are only two unpalatable possibilities here. Either way, MissCorpSec, not even a good try.)
I decide to investigate.
After making sure that my audio-recorder was working, I target the Mississauga Corporate Security guard leaning on my 302 car. The guard sees me and smiles --he wasn't smiling last time he saw me on June 20th 2007 when Mississauga Civic Centre architect Michael Kirkland was giving his talk. (Note to readers: MissCorpSec ain't the only one keepin' a database).
I looked directly into his eyes and said:
"Hi, you're Mississauga Corporate Security, right? I recognize you from before.""Yes, that's right.""Can I have your name and badge number, please?"
He gives me the info because he has to.
I wonder how many others of the 8-member "new" Mississauga Transit Enforcement team are really just Mississauga Corporate Security guards wearing prettier shoulder patches.
So. We're not allowed to take pictures at this secretive, shadowy "Photo Opportunity".
I decided to do what I always do when I'm not allowed to take pics. I slumped to the floor and started to sketch. Believe it or not I even got careful-looks from staff for that. I sketch some more...
Later, "ORION" and his Transit-geek friends came over to me and enthused about how "Enforcement" had told them that they'd try and set up a new policy so we could all take photographs in the future. I shot a glance at the CorpSeckers over by the 302 car....
"ORION" said that Enforcement working up a photo policy was great and showed how progressi-- I cut the kid right off at the third syllable with "PLEASE. Don't use the words "enforcement" and "progressive" in the same sentence" and walked away.
I went back to sketching..
"Checking out the new facility during the open house was David Vincent, 16, a self-described 'transit enthusiast.' Besides touring the facility, Vincent learned about Mississauga Transit's history and its future vision.'l’ve always been interested in how public transit works, so I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to come out,' said the Cawthra Park Secondary School student. Vincent said he spends hours each week 'bus spotting' and in a chat room discussing the transit-related industry in Canada. Mississauga Transit, he says, 'isn’t bad, but has a long way to go' before it can consider itself an excellent service provider.'The worst part is all the waiting passengers have to do,' said Vincent, whose goal is to become an urban planner, specializing in public transit.'"
So "ORION"'s real name is David Vincent.
Signed,
The (Next time I get told I can't take pics, I'm sketching the MissCorpSeckers NAKED wearing an Oktoberfest hat with floppy feather!) Mississauga Muse
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"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]]>
EXACTLY WHY there's a DESPERATE NEED to give the Ontario Ombudsman FULL investigative powers into MUSHtag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//4.11302008-06-21T18:10:41Z2008-06-22T21:17:48ZJust got email from Donald Barber with a link to his latest posting at his website and my jaw dropped. Barber's three pics plus a plaque that I discovered bolted on the wall at the main entry of Malton Community...Ursula Bennett
Mississauga Corporate Security dealt with "6,925 security occurrence reports last year (2006)." (There's roughly 7,000 a year --that actually make it into the records, that is)
What the article, "Shattering the myth of corporate security" failed to mention was that Mississauga had no public complaints system nor kept any records of public complaints. Actually there's a lot of "failure to mention" in that article.
There's tons and tons more but now's not the time --still too much to investigate and besides, I know the Minions of Municipal Evil Empires read this blog and I don't want to telegraph anything.
Now remember the premise that Barber and I operate on --what Mississauga has done to us has happened to others and will continue to happen to others. So... Do they have a record like this on you?.... or your kid?
(Click on the image for a larger version)
Check this out (bottom left hand corner) . Mississauga Corporate Security has Barber down for "Disturbance", "Mischief" and "Assualt" [sic]. How "Mischief" got in there is anyone's guess. And what this record fails to mention anywhere is that both those "Disturbance" and "Assualt" [sic] charges were dropped months ago!
Proving that you can have the most sophisticated computer software program.... (well, at least they got "Male" right)
(Click on the image for a larger version)
Now check this third one out. Upper right hand corner "Arrest Information". Notice it's blank? Donald Barber was ARRESTED by Mississauga Corporate Security that day, yet the "Corporate Security Incident Software" doesn't reflect that. Why?
Remember, this is the entity with no public complaints procedure, kept no record of public complaints, bristles with 300 video surveillance cameras, violated provincial privacy guidelines (and its own policies) --and, AND had no oversight mechanisms in place (confirmed by Freedom of Information).
Like. Help. Someone frikkin' HELP!
(Click on the image for a larger version)
The Municipal bottomless bucket just got bottomless-er.
Which brings us to this plaque that I discovered posted at the main entry to the Malton Community Centre. It's like-- so totally Mississauga, you know?...
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"...
What I loved about this Corporate "without cause" proclamation was that, hung on the same wall, was the Peel Youth Charter Plaque --you know, the one guaranteeing the Rights of Peel Youth?
(She tosses up this photo concentrating on her favourite Peel Youth "Right")
"Be involved in policy, program and service development on issues that affect young people".
I say that it's my favourite Peel Youth Right because Youth Involvement in policy on issues that affect them has been the primary thrust of my municipal-research since the Inauguration Meeting of the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Inauguration Meeting back on March 29, 2007.
So.
When Mississauga held its Youth Plan meeting at Malton Community Centre do you think the Youth attending were advised of the disciplinary policies that affect Mississauga Youth when they're on Corporate property?
Or advised of the policy "welcoming them" to the Malton Community Centre entry door?
I'll share some of my own Malton observations at a later date but can offer this right now. The sign stating "Under Provincial law, any person can be directed by staff to leave at any time without cause"... seems to be exclusive to Malton. I've checked and there's no sign like that for Erin Meadows Community Centre, Clarkson Community Centre, Huron Park Community Centre or The Valleys Community Centre (yes, I checked them all and looked carefully. If I'm wrong, I'd appreciate being advised).
As the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Symposium, I approached Councillor Katie (Mississauga Crime Prevention Association) Mahoney and asked her about that sign and especially what "without cause" meant. Won't go into detail (there'll be time for that) but bottomline for Mahoney was this comment:
"Ursula, you don't really think that staff gets rid of anyone without cause, do you?"
And Mahoney asked me that question with a straight face.
What can citizens do about all this? Nothing.
In the Globe and Mail article, "McGuinty snuffs demand for expanded oversight" it stated:
"A spokesperson for the Ombudsman called the provincial-level oversight exercised by the Auditor-General inadequate because it is directed primarily at financial irregularities rather than complaints from citizens."
The Globe continues:
"Jane Almeida, a spokesperson for Mr. McGuinty, said that existing oversight by the Auditor-General and local attention to hospitals and schools are adequate safeguards, and thus any expansion of Mr. Marin's power would be unnecessary."
"When the Auditor General Act became law on November 30, 2004, it expanded the Auditor’s value-for-money mandate to include organizations in the broader public sector that receive government grants, such as hospitals, colleges, universities, school boards, and other organizations meeting the definition of grant recipient. This is a significant change to our mandate insofar as over 50% of provincial expenditures go to such organizations. While the expanded mandate does not apply to grants to municipalities, it does allow the Auditor to determine whether a municipality spent a conditional grant for the purposes intended."
"does not apply... to municipalities" (nothing ever freaking does!)
So. You think if Donald Barber and I were to send a complaint about the absolute lack of municipal accountability to the Ontario Auditor-General that the first eyeballs to open the envelope would bother to read past our first paragraph complaining about the ingrained organizational Mississauga attitudes and practices that make Mississauga public service seem more like a public nuisance, whose maladies have persisted for years leaving many people trapped in a twilight zone of stonewalling, denial and bullying?
(Stick around, Mississauga, cuz in the Fall, MISSISSAUGAWATCH is gonna find out!)
This is for Jane Almeida, spokesperson for Mr. McGuinty and for Mr. McGuinty himself on behalf of a whole pile of victims of Ontario municipalities.
McGuinty, about your bogus Auditor-General comment --you KNOW exactly how BAD it is with Ontario municipalities! And the MUSH sector.
Yeah, STICK IT (and on behalf of Peel At-Risk Youth) please accept this oh-so-overdue #@^% #*%!
Signed,
The (I know! Let's give an entity that has no oversight or accountability in place and give them the power to remove people at any time "without cause") Mississauga Muse
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"'The Government has been saying, in a catchy, misleading piece of spin: 'If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.' This is a demagogue's trick. We do have something to fear -- the total loss of privacy to an intrusive state with authoritarian tendencies." (Former Conservative Prime Minister John Major, in a June 6, 2008 op-ed in the Times.)
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]]>
More on BIG BROTHER and "If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to worry about"tag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//4.11292008-06-20T13:23:01Z2008-06-21T18:50:16ZBack in April, Ajax-based citizen-Blogger, Karem Allen gave me the heads-up that she would try to get her town council to reconsider its position on the Bill 130 "Investigator" provision. (As a reminder, in late 2007, Ajax Council had voted...Ursula Bennett
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHhahahahaah... those MissyPelcoWanx are so funny.
Now it was Ajax's turn. I sat down opposite the two mini-domes and with my own camera recorded myself videotaping the camera videotaping me. I'd talk into my camera, wave and give the time documenting me as the only living thing except the potted plants. That way, if Ajax were to deny me footage based on "the privacy of others" well... I'd go straight to the Privacy Commissioner as in by GO Train.
Anyway, I got back the Ajax Freedom of Information Video Surveillance footage result. No surprise, video of just l'il ol' me -- "ACCESS DENIED".
But I was flabbergasted by the reason! Now I'll only share the first part. (I know that the Minions of Municipal Evil Empires read this Blog and I don't want to telegraph the rest.)
"This will acknowledge receipt of your request for information under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Act) in which you requested;
i) a copy of the video surveillance footage from 2:30 to 3:50 pm, Monday May 26, 2008, from the two ceiling camera [sic --I wrote "cams"] outside Council Chambers, in Town Hall, at 65 Harwood Avenue South, Ajax," and;
AND HERE'S WHAT I GOT!
"In response to the first part of your request, staff were immediately advised and asked to ensure that the video footage from these cameras was secure. It was at this time that staff became aware of a problem with the system and the security company was called in. The security company confirmed that the digital video recorder that covers the camera outside of the Council Chambers had stopped recording at 12:08 p.m. on April 26, 2008. As a result, there is no video surveillance footage for the time in question noted in your request."
Yep. Only on May 28th when I dropped down the FOI for that video surveillance footage, did Ajax realize their security cams haven't been recording anything for over a month.
And funny. The video recorder failing on April 26th meant I got all shorts-in-a-knot-indignant over Ajax snooping on our Ontario Ombudsman's rep for nothing.
Signed,
The (the best defence against a Pelco is a 32:1 zoom) Mississauga Muse
P.S. Beside my request for footage from "2:30 to 3:50" I'd scribbled "precise time will be emailed" because no, I didn't sit in front of the surveillance cams that long. It's simply not necessary. One day, after my research on municipal security operations/practices is complete, I'll explain it all.
[UPDATE: June 20, 2008 7:09 pm. I didn't feel right about this Blog. I'd written that it was Linda Williamson at Ajax Council but the image in my mind was of Wendy Ray who had represented the Ontario Ombudsman's office in Niagara. I don't like not being sure. So I emailed Linda Williamson to confirm one way or the other. Please note, that it was Wendy Ray, Ontarians' Acting Deputy Ombudsman who was at the April 28, 2006 Ajax Council meeting. Ray's some kind of terrific.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I was upstairs, and later made my way to the podium area - where I observed Mr. Barber - a known problem person, previously banned from city hall.." (Mississauga Corporate Security Supervisor Witness Statement - June 7, 2006 - 12:57 am.)
"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]]>
YIPPEE YAYS TORONTO SUN!!! (I can't believe I typed that --let alone made it my title)tag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//4.11272008-06-19T21:49:38Z2008-06-19T22:30:58ZMe and the Toronto Sun had a thing going for a while. Ho yeah. Back in 2001, I sent a series of "You gotta be kiddin'" emails to the Toronto Sun's editorial staff for their editorials. I eventually drew a...Ursula Bennett"McGuinty? Like nailing MUSH to wall"
I read the thing and was just blown away. (I wonder if Lorrie Goldstein wrote it...) And all I can say is --Perfection. Yeah, a Toronto Sun editorial.
Now I've read LOTS on the Ontario Ombudsman coming from newpapers. TONS. Have to tell you, people, this Toronto Sun editorial has just totally nailed it. The Toronto Sun GETS IT! (Did I just type that?!)
And the last paragraph is to die for. What a terrific quote I can add to my terrific-quote-arsenal. Thank you Toronto Sun for speaking up so powerfully on behalf of the people of Ontario. Above all, thanks for your last paragraph --what a gift.
TUUUUUESDAY aaa-AFF-TERNOONnnn
I was double-booked Tuesday. I knew that the Ontario Ombudsman, Andre Marin would release his annual report at Queen's Park. I so wanted to go. But the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Network was holding its day-long "Reconnect, Celebrate and Look Forward" Symposium at the Living Arts Centre on Tuesday as well.
As it turned out my decision to stick with the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Symposium was a no-brainer. I'd been monitoring/researching this initiative since its March 2007 Inauguration meeting. Much as I'd have loved to meet Mr. Marin, there really was never any doubt around where my duties lay.
For one year and three months, I've been observing the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Committee's "Education and Policy Working Group" --with emphasis (at least for me) on "policy". Observing, researching, documenting.
Then it all came together on Tuesday. School boards, police, Peel agencies, the Caledon mayor, Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga Councillors --quite the crowd.
In the afternoon we got down to the real business.
Our Education and Policy Working Group had to come up with this "Vision Hopes Dreams" list that would guide us for the next three years. Like where we'd like to see our group in 2011. We brainstormed our brains all over the cards.
Then the facilitator instructed us to prioritize. Everyone was allowed to pick the four "vision" cards that were most important to them. After that our group, with the help of our facilitator, organized everyone's cards into categories/themes.
An odd thing happened. When the exercise was all done, it turned out that all four of my cards lined up one-by-one in a category all by themselves. (one guess which four were mine)
A member of our group suggested my card-group category heading as, "AUTHENTIC ACCOUNTABILITY". Boy, was I happy because it was clear to me that the lady GOT IT!
"AUTHENTIC ACCOUNTABILITY"
See my second card in that row?
"Ontario Ombudsman full investigative powers MUSH sector"
That's my dream for Peel Youth by 2011. Our Ontario Ombudsman having "full investigative powers" into Municipalities, Universities, Schools, Hospitals (MUSH) and everything else publicly-funded that's been successfully avoiding accountability since forever.
And it better happen! What?! Demand accountability from Youth for their actions and allow those in power to keep their Kevlar-frikkin'-coated Zones of Immunity?! (I'd ask if it were possible to be any more contemptuous and hypocritical of Youth than that but there's still two more Mississauga Council meetings before summer break so I know the answer's "yes")
To quote that kick-ass paragraph from the Toronto Sun editorial:
"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."
"nothing else he says on the issue matters."
You hear the Toronto Sun, McGuinty?!
This is a liberal writing --give us-Ontarians our Ombudsman or spare us your B.S.RHETORIC!
Which brings us to the--
PEEL YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY
Here we go.
By extension, unless the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Committee leads the charge in urging McGuinty to extend Marin's oversight into the MUSH sector, (ready?) nothing else they say about Youth matters.
It'll just be B.S.RHETORIC!
Bottomline. If you're committed to Youth, then you demand Authentic Accountability for them as well as from them. That's the goal of The Mississauga Muse by 2011 --Authentic Accountability, and I'm grateful that the Toronto Sun is digging in there on behalf of Ontarians.
Well, I'm done then...
I'll turn it over to the Toronto Sun.
McGuinty? Like nailing MUSH to wallThere are two reasons Premier Dalton McGuinty doesn't want to give Ombudsman Andre Marin the right to investigate Ontario's "MUSH" sector -- municipalities, universities, school boards and hospitals. And why Health Minister George Smitherman insists Marin isn't needed to probe the deadly C. difficile outbreak that has claimed at least 264 lives in seven hospitals since 2006. The first reason is governments instinctively resist greater openness and scrutiny. The second is the smart and media-savvy Marin scares the daylights out of them.In one sense, that's absurd.After all, McGuinty is the premier and a master political tactician. Smitherman is the self-designated "tough guy" of the cabinet whom, we are urged to believe, cracks heads behind closed doors if he must to ensure public safety and quality health care. By contrast, Marin has no power. He can't charge or fire anyone or even order changes to procedures. All he can do is investigate, report and recommend. His only weapon is to sway public opinion. That's what Marin did when he exposed the culture of denial inside the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., which led it to stonewall about obvious problems it was having with some OLG retailers fraudulently cashing winning lottery tickets. It's what he did when he revealed the unconscionable, bullying tactics of Ontario's Criminal Injuries Board when compensating crime victims. Both cases prompted reforms, but such agencies are bit players at Queen's Park. By contrast, to deny Marin the ability he wants to investigate public complaints about the MUSH sector, as other provincial ombudsmen can and which accounts for 80% of provincial spending, is absurd. Marin also rightly complains Toronto Mayor David Miller, lobbying McGuinty for greater powers, including the right to meet privately with his executive committee (which we support), has failed to appoint a municipal ombudsman, as required, by Jan. 1. 2007. That's disturbing. 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.Toronto Sun Comment: Point of View
Thu, June 19, 2008
Video: ALLOW THE ONTARIO OMBUDSMAN INTO MUNICIPALITIES (1 min)
(Click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)
Signed,
The Mississauga Muse
To our Ontario Ombudsman...TWO FLAGS: The ANDRE MARIN and the EDWARD R. MURROW (3 min)
(Click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube and Google Video)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"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." (Toronto Sun editorial - June 20, 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
Signed,
The (Next we will reveal the "Statement of a Witness" from the female guard) Mississauga Muse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I was upstairs, and later made my way to the podium area - where I observed Mr. Barber - a known problem person, previously banned from city hall.." (Mississauga Corporate Security Supervisor Witness Statement - June 7, 2006 - 12:57 am.)
"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]]>
The Mississauga Muse goes to The World-Wide-Well and asks about "The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act"tag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//4.11202008-06-13T14:07:04Z2008-06-13T16:11:05ZThe Mississauga Muse has been pondering about "personal information". And I'm not gettin' anywhere. So I'm going to the Great Wide Wisdom Well --it has yet to fail me. I need help interpreting the "personal information" part of the The...Ursula Bennett
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario and ask there. But then readers who'd really benefit from understanding this conundrum won't be aware of it. And awareness is important in that this has relevance to society's most vulnerable --those least able to defend themselves.
It's got to do with "personal information".
Ready? OK. First this part of the Act.
The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
“personal information” means recorded information about an identifiable individual, including,
(a) information relating to the race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation or marital or family status of the individual,(b) information relating to the education or the medical, psychiatric, psychological, criminal or employment history of the individual or information relating to financial transactions in which the individual has been involved,(c) any identifying number, symbol or other particular assigned to the individual,(d) the address, telephone number, fingerprints or blood type of the individual,(e) the personal opinions or views of the individual except if they relate to another individual,(f) correspondence sent to an institution by the individual that is implicitly or explicitly of a private or confidential nature, and replies to that correspondence that would reveal the contents of the original correspondence,(g) the views or opinions of another individual about the individual, and(h) the individual’s name if it appears with other personal information relating to the individual or where the disclosure of the name would reveal other personal information about the individual; (“renseignements personnels”)
I'm trying to understand the definition of "personal information" as it applies to video surveillance --like Donald Barber's video surveillance "evidence" tape. Or the "personal information" that's slurped up when you go to Mississauga City Hall underground parking and pass (pulling this from memory...) one, two, five video surveillance cameras before you even get to (say) the Ground floor cashier's line where four more are staring down at you (cameras, not cashiers).
The definition of "personal information" in this Act suggests that video surveillance can pick up on "information relating to the race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation or marital or family status of the individual". Video surveillance can certainly record your race, colour, definitely sex. In addition, depending on who you're with --also sexual orientation, as well as marital and family status.
I get it.
Certainly a video surveillance camera can also record "psychiatric, psychological" personal information because a video camera is GREAT at recording --and studying behaviour. When you watch TV tonight take a sitcom or drama and turn down the sound. You can still get excellent visual cues simply by watching body language or facial expressions to gauge if a person is happy, silly, angry, wasted, bored or...
With me so far?
Here's the part I don't get.
I figured that somewhere in the Act (silly me), there'd be some minimum-care-provision setting expectations around how a government handles/cares and especially creates, one's personal information.
Like I expected the Act to contain requirements --like a statement about some minimum standard regarding Accuracy. You know, like some kind of moral obligation on the part of a municipal government that information that they generate about you is accurate?....
BOY WAS I DISAPPOINTED!
I did find some reference --but I don't believe this. Like this is freaking-obscene if I'm interpreting this right. Back to the Act. Ready?
Standard of accuracy(2) The head of an institution shall take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information on the records of the institution is not used unless it is accurate and up to date.
Don't use personal information "unless it is accurate" --OK, excellent, amen. Phew, right?
But then my eyeballs skinned their knees. You sitting down?...
Exception(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to personal information collected for law enforcement purposes.
WHAAAAA?! Say again, WHAAAAAAAAA?!
Like I'm fresh watching video of Donald Barber's June 7, 2006 Mississauga-Experience. And right now Canadian papers have all kinds of coverage of this "Alleged Homegrown Terrorist Conspiracy" trial
And then I read:
Exception(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to personal information collected for law enforcement purposes.
Someone please help me out here.
Serious question.
Is the Municipal Freedom of Information Act saying that "personal information" doesn't have to be accurate if it's used for law enforcement?!!!!
[UPDATE: 10:19 am. My email is mississauga_watch@yahoo.com]
Here's why I ask. After reviewing the June 7, 2006 merged ROGERS telecast/security footage, I have absolutely no idea why Donald Barber was removed from Council that day. He stood down. He was about to hand over his questions --the video shows that. He was resigned --had accepted Council's decision not to let him speak at Public Question Period.
And then when I read the "Statement[s] of a Witness" from the security guards.... well, you'd at least have thought that they'd have reviewed their own security tape --plus the ROGERS telecast before they wrote their report.
Let's put it this way. It appears, that the differences between the two "Statement[s] of a Witness" and what actually happened inside Council Chambers that day contain a greater gulf-in-reality than my Council videotaped-record and Mississauga's Council "minutes" of any meeting you care to name.
Here's the INCREDULOUS part. The "Statement of a Witness" of the male guard craps all over Donald Barber including the observation, "his voice getting louder and louder".
But here's the obscenity.
The male guard's "Statement of a Witness" makes no mention of Roy Willis except in passing. In this sentence:
"My Supervisor had also advised a male that was with Barber to leave".
The dude has GOT TO BE KIDDING! I mean seriously. That's It?!
Why does all this matter? Just please remember the premise that Donald Barber and I operate on. If "Mississauga" has happened to us, it has happened to others and will continue to happen to others. And it will affect the less-affluent/poor the most.
Understand now why I'm asking about:
Exception(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to personal information collected for law enforcement purposes.
I'm showing the Barber Tapes again --for readers interested in the concept of video being "personal information" and now intrigued in examining the ROGERS/surveillance footage based on the male guard making no mention of Roy Willis other than "My Supervisor had also advised a male that was with Barber to leave".
And maybe you can pretend that You are Donald Barber this time. Put yourself in Barber's place. You. And watch with eyes that believe that what happened to you, has happened to others and will continue to happen to others.
It's also instructive to watch this video again (concentrate on the security footage though) to fully appreciate "Why You Can't Fight City Hall"."BIG BROTHER MISSISSAUGA" VIDEO SURVEILLANCE ARREST (June 7, 2006) 20 minutes
(Click here to go directly to the Big Brother clip on Google Video)
MISSISSAUGAWATCH will eventually reveal both "Statement[s] of a Witness" but first we have to do some *yawn* homework.
We're convinced that the only answer is dramatic and genuine change in Provincial legislation... in several acts. Starting with the one:
Ombudsman Act
R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER O.6
Citizens need the Ontario Ombudsman looking into Municipalities --like FULL INVESTIGATIVE POWERS.
Sure, Hospitals too. But the "M" in "MUSH sector" is The Priority.
Right now certain Ontario Municipalities are making far too many of us SICK. There are indications that many more are under-served and over-"SOLD". Dupes. Except, of course, an "entrenched elite".
Then again, best of all would be to give the Ontario Ombudsman full investigative powers into the entire MUSH sector all at once.
Stick around. We live in interesting times. (I hate interesting times)
Video: Allow the Ontario Ombudsman into Municipalities (1 minute)
(Click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)
[UPDATE: 10:19 am. My email is mississauga_watch@yahoo.com]
Signed,
The (Next we will reveal the "Statement of a Witness" from the female guard) Mississauga Muse
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"I was upstairs, and later made my way to the podium area - where I observed Mr. Barber - a known problem person, previously banned from city hall.." (Mississauga Corporate Security Supervisor Witness Statement - June 7, 2006 - 12:57 am.)
"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]]>
Video shows what REALLY happened on June 7, 2006. Why wasn't this shown in the Court? And PHOTO RADAR!tag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//4.11172008-06-10T23:17:29Z2008-06-12T22:01:23ZSeriously. Where do you begin, let alone, how? The reader who requested that I work up the Donald Barber arrest security video footage in real time will be pleased. I stayed up all Sunday night and heard the birds break...Ursula Bennettwill continue to happen to others.
Both Mr. Barber and I are convinced "what happens" most affects the Poor/"At Risk" --people least able to defend themselves and people who actually need Government most.
Only by working up the video all Sunday night do I finally know what happened to Donald Barber. You see the irony, kiddies? It was Mississauga's Big Brother June 7, 2006 surveillance evidence-tape that finally Shattered the Myth of Big Brother.
By example, even though I'd watched Barber's security tape dozens of times, it took me (someone now quite sophisticated in video analysis) this Sunday to identify the subtle nuances that appear to have gone down (yes, "appear to have gone down" --carefully-guarded wording) back on June 7, 2006.
It was only by listening to the final product through headphones that I heard comments for the first time.
Like when Donald Barber took his first picture of the female security guard, someone (likely Katie Mahoney) can be heard to say, "Oh come on. That's intimidation."
(Taking pictures is "intimidation"? Ya gotta wonder what that makes me on those occasions when Mahoney's waxin' ever-so-poetic, soaring to lofty heights on some fave topic --and I've got all three video cameras documenting for posterity that Ward 8 Sage.)
Back on June 7, 2006, Mr. Barber did not know that video surveillance security footage could be requested through Freedom of Information and then held secure at the City Clerk's office pending investigation by the Ontario Freedom of Information/Privacy Commissioner.
Had Barber known, he could've seized all video from (say) 9:00 am when he entered Council Chambers to (say) 12:00 (well after he was escorted out). Instead he was handed a video-record of what Mississauga Corporate Security wished him to have.
If readers (especially "at-risk" Youth) learn nothing else from viewing today's important video (most important one I've ever produced), let it be this:
Big Brother is NOT INTERESTED in your Rights. They're not part of his Job Description. Big Brother is there exclusively to secure The Corporation's assets. Those "assets" are The Corporation's Property and its Employees. You're regarded as a potential nuisance. End of story.
Which brings us to a related topic --another form of surveillance...
PHOTO RADAR MISSISSAUGA
When you watch this video, the more astute viewers will come to understand my objection to Mississauga pushing for Photo Radar. Despite Councillor Saito's assurances that great care will be taken by Mississauga to follow provincial legislation/guidelines, well, I've heard that before (check out today's video to see how Mississauga followed Provincial Privacy Video Surveillance Guidelines).
Moving Forward. Regarding Councillor Pat Saito insisting that people must really be educated about Mississauga "Automated Speed Compliance" in order to support it, here's just one example of Saito et. al. not being straight with the public.
From the mississauga.ca FAQ:
"Does someone review the photograph?
Yes. A provincial offences officer reviews every photograph to verify information and ensure that there is clear evidence that the vehicle is in violation. Tickets are mailed to vehicle owners via regular mail."
"[P]rovincial offences officer" sounds all province-cy and licensed, right? Even hints there's a "Third Party objective reviewer", right? The reality is that a "provincial offences officer" is any City employee allowed to hand out a Provincial Offences Notice (PON)!
And what are "Provincial Offences Notices"?
Of course, you'd never get this information from the Mississauga Photo Radar FAQ.
You'd have to go to the City of Toronto website and their FAQ!From the CITY OF TORONTO:
"Q: What are provincial offences?A: Minor offences that include, but are not limited to:* speeding, careless driving, or not wearing your seat belt - Highway Traffic Act* failing to surrender your insurance card or possessing a false or invalid insurance card - Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act* being intoxicated in a public place or selling alcohol to a minor - Liquor Licence Act* entering prohibited premises or failing to leave premises after being directed to do so - Trespass to Property Act* Occupational Health and Safety and Ministry of Environment violations
noise, taxi and animal care by-laws - City by-lawsMost Provincial Offence charges result in out-of-court fine payments. Residents who are issued a ticket under the Provincial Offences Act should read it carefully for a complete list of their payment and trial options."
Yep, "Provincial Offences Notices" are frikkin' TICKETS! So any City employee who can slap you with a TICKET --I guess, is a "provincial offences officer" and therefore more than qualified to "verify" your photograph. Have a nice day.
So. Let's review the *choke* Mississauga Photo Radar FAQ:
"Does someone review the photograph?
Yes. A provincial offences officer reviews every photograph to verify information and ensure that there is clear evidence that the vehicle is in violation. Tickets are mailed to vehicle owners via regular mail."
Yeah, the individual who reviews every photograph to verify information and ensure "clear evidence" is potentially any City employee who hands out TICKETS.
Here's the weird-weird-Twilight-Zoney-thing.
The "provincial offences officer" who will review "every photograph to verify information and ensure that there is clear evidence that the vehicle is in violation" can even be the dude who operated the roving-eye-snoopy "Pelco One" video surveillance camera back on June 7, 2006 --isn't that a HOOT?
Yeah --could be the same dude (or dudette).
Now you know why I skate up there to the Council Podium and try to fling a couple of darts every time Mississauga is floatin' up its ol Photo-Radar-weather-balloon.
TODAY'S VIDEO --A MUST SEE (especially for Peel Regional Police)
One final thing. I really didn't appreciate what Councillor Pat Saito said about Mr. Barber when he was removed from Council back on June 7, 2006. "Unsavory" --that was the word, she used.
"Unsavory
Main Entry:
un·sa·vory
Pronunciation:
Function: adjective
Date: 13th century
1: insipid, tasteless
2 a: unpleasant to taste or smell b: disagreeable, distasteful [an unsavory assignment]; especially : morally offensive [unsavory business practices]"
Stick around, Mississauga Boys and Girls as The Mississauga Muse continues her quest to document "Unsavory" business practices.
This video is dedicated to Mississauga Big Brother (yes, really) --and Councillor Pat Saito.
"BIG BROTHER MISSISSAUGA" VIDEO SURVEILLANCE ARREST (June 7, 2006) 20 minutes
(Click here to go directly to the Big Brother clip on Google Video)
Signed, The (HEY MISSISSAUGA! Why don't you call your silly Automated Speed Compliance, "Automated Speed Surveillance"?! It'd be a way more fitting acronym to describe McGuinty should he approve your cash-cow initiative!) Mississauga Muse
PS. Caveat. I support Photo Radar ONLY IF its design, implementation and evaluation are exclusively the domain of Peel Regional Police. And I mean "exclusively". Like "exclusively-exclusively". And/or OPP, too.
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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)
"But what are we without him, our courage, our valor? Steady and righteous we may be, my friend, but without courage to risk ourselves for our brother, we are but politicians--blustering whores to rhetoric." (Christopher Moore novel, A Dirty Job)
"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]]>
DONALD BARBER's Arrest and Mississauga Corporate Security (June 7, 2006) video surveillance analysistag:www.mississaugablogs.com,2008:/Mississauga_Musings//4.11142008-06-07T14:05:50Z2008-06-11T00:46:47ZJUNE 7, 2006 It was exactly two years ago today that Mississauga citizen-activist, Donald Barber was arrested by Mississauga Corporate (City) Security guards. In 2006 alone, Freedom of Information confirms that Mississauga Corporate Security issued a minimum of 815 Bans,...Ursula BennettJUNE 7, 2006
It was exactly two years ago today that Mississauga citizen-activist, Donald Barber was arrested by Mississauga Corporate (City) Security guards.
In 2006 alone, Freedom of Information confirms that Mississauga Corporate Security issued a minimum of 815 Bans, Arrests, Trespass notices and "Others".
MISSISSAUGAWATCH says minimum because we've accumulated evidence that not all bans are recorded. Citizens are also banned over the telephone and through email. This behaviour is actually condoned by the Corporation of the City of Mississauga (at least we're forced to reach that conclusion considering we complained about such citizen treatment directly to the Mayor and Council --and received no denial, let alone reply that informal telephone/email bans are not allowed and that they'd be looked into).
"The goals of the policy are to stress accountability" --so they say.
"...and will take the appropriate action."
Which brings us right back to June 7, 2006 and the arrest of Donald Barber.
Today, MISSISSAUGAWATCH has prepared a response to June 7, 2006 in the form of the actual Mississauga Corporate Security video surveillance tape that Mississauga Corporate Security would use as "evidence" for Mr. Barber's inevitable trial.
The footage (from "Pelco One" --the security camera inside Mississauga Council Chamber) is one hour in length and spans the time 11:59:56 to 12:59:57.
Here's the deal. MISSISSAUGAWATCH asks why 11:59:56 to 12:59:57? What about the three hours of security footage showing Barber arriving and his presence in the audience? Why was this footage erased?
Given the way that Mississauga Corporate Security zooms Pelco One in on people, like right onto their notes, we'll never know the degree to which Mr. Barber's privacy was violated two years ago today.
I do know that the first time I decided to request security footage of me from Pelco One, Freedom of Information (FOI) informed me that there were "GAPS" in the surveillance footage and denied me access to the material. (This footage, plus others I've requested through FOI is currently held at the City Clerk's office pending an investigation by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner --Ontario).
"...and will take the appropriate action".
FACT:
The June 7, 2006 security footage selected by Mississauga Corporate Security to be used as evidence against Barber already shows shadows of what must surely be Security personnel waiting to remove/arrest him at 11:59:56 (the beginning of the tape).
There is a Woman-in-White sitting four benches back from Donald Barber.
FACT:
Donald Barber goes up for what he believes to be Open Public Question Period at 12:01.
FACT:
12:16:20 Barber is right beside this Woman-in-White who does her best not to watch what's going down. The Woman-in-White bears an uncanny resemblance to a Mississauga Corporate Security Security Area Manager (MissCorpSecSAM).
At 12:16:54 Mr. Barber (escorted by a Mississauga Corporate Security guard) leaves Council Chambers.
12:17:06 the escalator stair well still shows the shadows of three individuals.
12:17:07 the Woman-in-White gets up to leave (yes, really).
12:17:17 the Woman-in-White walks down the stairs. Footage also reveals the shadows of three individuals still in stairwell.
12:17:27 the Woman-in-White has left through the same door as Barber did (12:16:54) less than one minute before. (The feel of a MissCorpSecSAM...)
12:18:06 the shadows of three individuals (now almost certain to be Mississauga Corporate Security guards) leave.
12:18:20 no shadows in the escalator well.
12:59:57 video surveillance security footage ends.
FACT:
12:59:57 (end of tape) minus 12:16:54 (when Mr. Barber, escorted by a Mississauga Corporate Security guard leaves Council Chambers) equals 43 minutes and 3 frikkin' seconds USELESS to Donald Barber for his defence.
CONCLUSION
It's safe to assume that what Mississauga video surveillance footage is retained by Mississauga Corporate Security for "evidence" at trials suggests that the statement "...and will take the appropriate action" means "appropriate" to The Corporation.
It's also safe to assume that this --what can only be called ummm... "selective evidence practice" of security video surveillance footage, has happened to others and will continue to happen to others.
By the purest of luck, Mississauga Councillor Pat (Hang 'em High) Saito, co-founder of the Mississauga Crime Prevention Association, handed me one beaut of a quote at last Wednesday's Council meeting. (I weaved Saito through the "appropriate" Eurithmics music of this video.
"our employees are the eyes and the ears of The Corporation"
Peel Youth, especially those deemed "at risk" TAKE HEED. The employees of The Corporation of the City of Mississauga "are the eyes and the ears of The Corporation".
I met with Donald Barber yesterday so the question that I'm about to raise is one raised by both of us.
We ask, "HOW MANY OTHERS?"
This video commemorates the second anniversary of Donald Barber's arrest by Mississauga Corporate Security on June 7, 2006.
"BIG BROTHER MISSISSAUGA" SECURITY VIDEO SURVEILLANCE PRACTICES
(Click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)
Signed,
The ("The goals of the policy are to stress accountability") Mississauga Muse
[UPDATE: June 7, 2007 8:20 pm. I received feedback from one viewer saying that the security video surveillance footage is sped up too much for her to understand what was happening. There's a lot I didn't tell you about the footage. Like how at 12:13:51 pm June 7, 2006, a lady (in orange) nudges her butt over to the female guard, the Mississauga Corporate Security guard who ultimately arrests Barber.
At 12:13:53 pm "Agent Orange" whispers something to the guard. At 12:14:04 she's finished and returns to her original place. Now what can someone tell a Mississauga Corporate Security guard in 11 seconds?
I can say that by 12:14:49 the guard is directly behind Don Barber even though it's Roy Willis who's the one talkin'.
By my count there's three Mississauga Corporate Security individuals in the escalator well, then one directly atop the escalator, The female guard directly behind Barber, a new Corp Sec dude showing at 12:15:14, the Woman-in-White (presumed MissCorpSAM) plus Agent Orange. Total 7. When you count BIG BROTHER workin' Pelco One, that's eight CorpSeckers.
Eight.
It's impossible for me not to conclude that Barber was set up. They were waiting for him. When Barber goes up to address Council, the Woman-in-White seems to be using a Blackberry and then there's shadow-activity in the escalator well.
In addition, should that Woman-in-White be who I think it is, I'd certainly be justified to conclude that the Mayor and Councillors knew what was going to happen.
Please read John Stewart's Blog entry, The Political Torture of Donald Barber. Was this Mississauga's attempt to take out a political opponent during an election year?
I actually have a request from this reader to work up the Mississauga Corporate Security footage in real time --all of it. That is the intent. Including colour commentary by none other than Donald Barber and The Mississauga Muse.
Please be advised that I'm not near through analyzing the security footage. The intent is to match it to the Rogers Cable TV video of that Council meeting. I tried once but it was technically too difficult. I've learned a lot about video since then. The problem is TIME.
Standing up to Mississauga Big Brother takes every-ounce-of-thing I've got.
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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 Omb
And a pic of one of my fondest memories ever at any time in my life --photo shot from UNDER the Big Canada flag. Remember that?
It was Thomas Jefferson who said that "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” Having observed/researched Ontario municipal/Provincial governance practices since June 14, 2006, I discovered something else, there are Those, right inside Queen's Park and our own city halls, who not only wouldn't think twice about denying us our freedoms, they are doing so right now. These minions of evil empires need to be eternally-vigilanced --by us-Canadians!
And, because this will be the last MISSISSAUGAWATCH Blog entry for a while --here's a repeat of June 29th...
Me on the left, 4-5 years old, sitting on the Cooksville Creek bridge at (now gone) Miles Lane. This photo had to have been taken between July 1954 (when my grandfather came to Canada) and October 15, 1954 when Hurricane Hazel destroyed the bridge.
54 years ago...
Even now, this Cooksville Creek Paradise Lost Bridge is still my Favourite Mississauga Space. And my favourite part of Canada. (We were brought to Canada, my dad tells me, so his kids wouldn't have to grow up surrounded by Evil Empires.)
Which brings us to...
UPDATE: 080629. "Detail the facts behind Don Barber's arrest on June 7, 2006".
Progress Report: Researched agendas/minutes of March-June 2006 General Committee/Council meetings. Merged security footage with Rogers telecast. Figured out that the video/minutes do not support the "Statement of Witness" from the two Mississauga Corporate Security guards regarding what happened inside Council Chambers.
Status: Resolution #1 Completed --save for Freedom of Information results based on revelations from video. Most important discovery --you can be screwed over and not know it for years. And if you don't use Freedom of Information you'll never know why or how you've been screwed over. The Misssissauga Muse managed to avoid arrest for six months too.
VIDEO: "BIG BROTHER MISSISSAUGA" VIDEO SURVEILLANCE ARREST (June 7, 2006)
(Click here to go directly to the clip on Google Video)
UPDATE: 080629. "Disclose all videotape related to the Bill 130 Accountability ("Investigator") response by Brampton, Caledon, Mississauga and Peel."
Progress Report: Mississauga --easy because Council took all of 16 seconds to hide from the Ontario Ombudsman. Still one more Mississauga video to produce. Peel complete.
Status: All of Brampton and Caledon video still to disclose.
VIDEO: MISSISSAUGA CITY COUNCIL "pro forma"s in 16 SECONDS!
(Click here to go directly to YouTube of Google Video)
UPDATE: 080629. "Expand research into a variety of practices to include Brampton and Caledon."
Progress Report: When Freedom of Information research is self-funded and costs hundreds of dollars, an unforeseen "intentional change" happened to this New Year's Resolution. Caledon was dropped and two entirely different Ontario municipalities were added. (Essentially dropped One, added Two.)
Status: Caledon wasn't the only thing that "dropped". So did my @$$ when early Freedom of Information results suggested that there are evil-ler evil empires in Ontario than my evil empire. OUCH.]
UPDATE: 080629. "Expand research into several new areas UNdisclosed at this time."
Progress Report: The top 14 Freedom of Information (FOI) questions that turned out to reveal the most about Mississauga's governance practices were used to investigate other municipalities. MISSISSAUGAWATCH has already identified Ajax, Kingston, Ottawa and Winnipeg being FOI'd. Of those, we actually visited Ajax, Kingston and Ottawa to report on their video surveillance practices to compare with those of Mississauga.
Today we'll reveal that Brampton is also being FOI'd. I have to say that Brampton walloped down one big surprise. Unlike other municipalities (Mississauga, Kingston, Winnipeg) I got absolutely no information from Brampton --and a bill for half of $420.00 upfront. And that $420.00 will not include photocopying fees. Now imagine being poor and on the receiving end of this letter.
(Click here for larger image)
Ah what the heck. Now's as good a time as any to show this video report . Here's me outside Brampton City Hall being really ticked off and dropping down the $210.00 deposit on behalf of those Bramptonians/Peelers who can't afford $420.00.
Watch to the very end and you'll see that I even attracted the Corporate Stink-Eye of a Corporation of Brampton security guard --possibly even two security guards (the woman who walked right past me while I gave my report aroused my suspicion). What can I say? It's a gift...
VIDEO: CITY OF BRAMPTON FREEDOM of INFORMATION BLUUUUUUUES
(Click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)
Status: Because I know The Minions of The Evil Empire and minions of evil empires read this Blog, there are still several "areas UNdisclosed at this time."
Related theme: The Mississauga Muse has discovered that some of the greatest threats to CANADA aren't lurking "out there" in rogue states or terrorist sleeper cells. These enemies-from-within are embedded, like sinister-protracted-evil-empire-hemorrhoids, right inside our own Ontario city halls.
They freely make proud declarations like:
UPDATE: 080629. "Continue research (Freedom of Information) into municipal security practices and related provincial legislation."
Progress Report: Let's put it this way. Freedom of Information blew quite the hole in Big Brother. And my 32-1 zoom mini-Panasonic video cam did the rest.
Status: As for provincial legislation, readers will understand why I can't reveal more at this time.]
UPDATE: 080629. "Investigate and report on PRECISELY WHY citizens "Can't Fight City Hall".
Progress Report: Hindsight being what it is, I realized Resolution 6 was carelessly-worded. The fact is, citizens CAN Fight City Hall --it's just that only The Affluent, who can afford industrial-strength lawyers actually have a chance to win.
As a result, MISSISSAUGAWATCH has concluded that Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is yep, "Pretense".
By way of examples:
And I wrote:
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:
And I wrote:
And so for CITIES NOW I wrote:
and of course that pairs nicely with my previous sticker:
And on behalf of all those "Disconnected Others" like me, I wrote:
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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]]>
(For a larger version, click here)
(For a larger version, click here)
Huhnnn... The Missy News even mentions the Transit geeks.
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Check this out (bottom left hand corner) . Mississauga Corporate Security has Barber down for "Disturbance", "Mischief" and "Assualt" [sic]. How "Mischief" got in there is anyone's guess. And what this record fails to mention anywhere is that both those "Disturbance" and "Assualt" [sic] charges were dropped months ago!
Proving that you can have the most sophisticated computer software program.... (well, at least they got "Male" right)
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Now check this third one out. Upper right hand corner "Arrest Information". Notice it's blank? Donald Barber was ARRESTED by Mississauga Corporate Security that day, yet the "Corporate Security Incident Software" doesn't reflect that. Why?
Remember, this is the entity with no public complaints procedure, kept no record of public complaints, bristles with 300 video surveillance cameras, violated provincial privacy guidelines (and its own policies) --and, AND had no oversight mechanisms in place (confirmed by Freedom of Information).
Like. Help. Someone frikkin' HELP!
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The Municipal bottomless bucket just got bottomless-er.
Which brings us to this plaque that I discovered posted at the main entry to the Malton Community Centre. It's like-- so totally Mississauga, you know?...
I'll share some of my own Malton observations at a later date but can offer this right now. The sign stating "Under Provincial law, any person can be directed by staff to leave at any time without cause"... seems to be exclusive to Malton. I've checked and there's no sign like that for Erin Meadows Community Centre, Clarkson Community Centre, Huron Park Community Centre or The Valleys Community Centre (yes, I checked them all and looked carefully. If I'm wrong, I'd appreciate being advised).
As the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Symposium, I approached Councillor Katie (Mississauga Crime Prevention Association) Mahoney and asked her about that sign and especially what "without cause" meant. Won't go into detail (there'll be time for that) but bottomline for Mahoney was this comment:
Yeah, STICK IT (and on behalf of Peel At-Risk Youth) please accept this oh-so-overdue #@^% #*%!
Signed,
The (I know! Let's give an entity that has no oversight or accountability in place and give them the power to remove people at any time "without cause") Mississauga Muse
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"'The Government has been saying, in a catchy, misleading piece of spin: 'If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.' This is a demagogue's trick. We do have something to fear -- the total loss of privacy to an intrusive state with authoritarian tendencies." (Former Conservative Prime Minister John Major, in a June 6, 2008 op-ed in the Times.)
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]]>
An odd thing happened. When the exercise was all done, it turned out that all four of my cards lined up one-by-one in a category all by themselves. (one guess which four were mine)
A member of our group suggested my card-group category heading as, "AUTHENTIC ACCOUNTABILITY". Boy, was I happy because it was clear to me that the lady GOT IT!
See my second card in that row?
By example, even though I'd watched Barber's security tape dozens of times, it took me (someone now quite sophisticated in video analysis) this Sunday to identify the subtle nuances that appear to have gone down (yes, "appear to have gone down" --carefully-guarded wording) back on June 7, 2006.
It was only by listening to the final product through headphones that I heard comments for the first time.
Like when Donald Barber took his first picture of the female security guard, someone (likely Katie Mahoney) can be heard to say, "Oh come on. That's intimidation."
(Taking pictures is "intimidation"? Ya gotta wonder what that makes me on those occasions when Mahoney's waxin' ever-so-poetic, soaring to lofty heights on some fave topic --and I've got all three video cameras documenting for posterity that Ward 8 Sage.)
Back on June 7, 2006, Mr. Barber did not know that video surveillance security footage could be requested through Freedom of Information and then held secure at the City Clerk's office pending investigation by the Ontario Freedom of Information/Privacy Commissioner.
Had Barber known, he could've seized all video from (say) 9:00 am when he entered Council Chambers to (say) 12:00 (well after he was escorted out). Instead he was handed a video-record of what Mississauga Corporate Security wished him to have.
If readers (especially "at-risk" Youth) learn nothing else from viewing today's important video (most important one I've ever produced), let it be this:
Big Brother is NOT INTERESTED in your Rights. They're not part of his Job Description. Big Brother is there exclusively to secure The Corporation's assets. Those "assets" are The Corporation's Property and its Employees. You're regarded as a potential nuisance. End of story.
Which brings us to a related topic --another form of surveillance...