"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Tuesday 31 December 2013

The Thread is Winding

George Smitherman   made a public announcement of his marriage  and introduced his "husband" to  thunderous applause ,at a gathering to celebrate his political career.

He publicly announced the adoption of his first child and was photographed  by the media with the infant in his arms.

During  his campaign for Mayor, he confided to reporters that he  almost missed a candidates meeting because he could not find a baby-sitter.

I'd say he intended his role as mother to be  made clear.

I don't think a  woman candidate , with an infant , would  be making the point during a campaign of competing demands between motherhood and political office.

One must conclude therefore Mr. Smitherman was  using marriage and  family for political purpose.

The question has been posed ; Who is the arbiter of decency?

Perhaps the better  question would be ; what is decent?

Are we not each entitled to formulate  a personal standard ?

Did  Mr,  Smitherman coming from a position  of power , get to create the image he thought would appeal to the greatest number ?

It didn't.

Are we entitled to ponder whether, in the circumstances, the  adopted children   were of no more significance than the image he clearly intended ?

It's a harsh  question but some  might  believe  creating an image for the purpose is  simply sensible
reasonable, therefore decent,  in the circumstance.

Who  decides what's decent?

Is decent a question of morality?

Has morality  become another archaic concept ?  A joke for the late night comedians?

Like  personal judgement?

Or professional integrity?

If it isn't written in the office manual , does  it count?

Like a Code of Conduct ?

Who  gets to write the manual or the Code ?

If  had a desperate  need to  fulfill my life by nurturing a child . a  completely natural inclination, and found myself repeatedly denied  for no  identifiable reason , I would  surely want to know the answer.



A Conversation Likely to Go Nowhere

I  have young   friends who crave a child im their livces more than  life itself .

Through no fault of theirs, they have not been blessed .

In every way they are suitable  parents . a loving home.  loving childhood  background . means to provide ...financially...socially...culturally

For ten years they have experienced the adoption  process with  Children's  Aid. 

Time and again , the choice  came down to themselves and one other couple. 

Time and again they met the children , twins on one occasion, and ached to hold them in a loving embrace. 

Just as often , in the final hour they were informed  it was not to be. Someone else was more suitable. 

It's a cold ,brutal, inhuman process.  Only the compelling need to be parents explainss why anyone would willingly  subject themselves  to  such excruciating emotional turmoil .

George Smitherman , retired Liberal Cabinet Minister, introduced his "husband" at a Liberal fundraiser shortly before he declared as candidate for the office of Mayor of Toronto. 

Early  in the campaign , he told reporters he almost didn't make it to a campaign meeting. He had difficulty finding a baby-sitter for his newly adopted  infant. It's not  been much more than three years since and he has a second  adopted child. 

The public was recently made aware Mr. Smitherman's "husband" has been suffering from severe depression and  this week  expired in sad but unpublicxised circumstances. 

Obviously, there are gaps in the story. Yet it's perfectly clear. It's  about more than Mr. Smitherman's 
sexual orientation.

So why is a comment from someone  whose  own life may be filled with sadness be relegated to the  status of homophobia ? 

If  homosexuality is as normal as heterosexuality , why   must  all  conversation  be focussed on sexual  prediliction?

In these  days, when marriage is a choice  and "partner " or "significant other " descxribes a relationship, why do homosexuals insist on using hetorosexual terms to describe the relationship. ?

Why do they feel they must? Why use the word "husband" but not the word "wife"?

When  Glen Murray resigned from the office of Mayor of Winnipeg , was it  mere coincidence he came to Ontario to pick up a  Liberal nomination, get elected and become Ontario's Minister of Transportation ?

Was it because he is gay?  

Is it O.K. to be prejudicial in favour of  homosexual?  But not against?

Is a homosexual family unit preferable to a heterosexual faamily unit   for adopted children ?

Who makes  the decision?  A fieldworker of unknown sexual  or political persuasion?

Did Glen Murray have a rainbow arching on his Liberal elections signs? 

Monday 30 December 2013

Christmas 2013.....A Ramble

It will not soon be forgotten.  It was a week without communication.  No phone. No internet. The car stuck  in ice like  the  Arctic Ocean.

We had no heat or light for a couple of days. But we had hot  water and we could cook .We had natural gas.  If the power had stayed off any longer, next step was to put  food  that needed refrigeration outside.

Stephanie had a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle. All the characters of Disney land.   Put  together by candle-light.

I  don't  like  thousand piece puzzles. . It's not just that there are so many pieces unidentifiable .  It's the decision to break it up after spending hours putting it to-gether that's hard.

We had to re-schedule the family Christmas gathering. That was the day of the ice storm. We  gathered yesterday.

On Christmas Day, I went to Barrie , to Martin and Marnie's house. It has  become a tradition.

They had no power  disruptions.   Barrie always gets everything.

The countryside looked like another planet. Landmarks  were undistinguishable.

Nobody on the media was talking about global warming.

My street is a scene of devastation.  Never happened  before.

Grandson Cameron lives in a condo on the sixteenth floor  of a building in Toronto. Elevator operated by generator.  No  water.

Places  in Toronto  are still without power.

Toronto's Mayor was on T.V. providing bulletins.

Deputy-Mayor  was  there too.  He had been  in Florida.

The media reported  criticism of Deputy. Then said he didn't need to apologize for visiting his elderly sister who was ill.

But  they told  he was in Florida in the first place.  In the second  place, nothing  was known about his sister. It  never was their business.

Deputy-Mayor said it didn't matter he was in Florida because he was in touch with the city at all times.  Neither did that make  a difference


 The Mayor was  apparently on the job at all times.

Both were at the press conference.

What a farce !!!''

They say 20% of  Toronto's urban forest has been lost. to the ice storm. Including trees injected  to save them from the pesky little beetle from Korea.

How many millions have  been  spent to  protect trees from a natural predator?

How  loud  will be the lament about cost to replace trees destroyed by  natural devastation?\

Oops !!  same thing !!! Right!

Just turned  on T.V. for an update on Toronto's situation.

Watched an interview with Toronto's Police Chief.

Asked about his "disappointed"  reference to Toronto's Mayor...theoretically....from a public perspective.... his  boss..... he denied  political implications.

He said  it was an honest answer to a question.  He accepted  no responsibility for public reaction to his comment that he was disappointed.

Three thoughts occur:

First;   is  expectation of judgement from  a police  chief an archaic concept?

Second; does professional integrity have no place in modern  society? Is it just another relic of times past?

Third; Does Toronto Police Department  function under the authority of a  Police Governing  Board?If so , where are  they?

Sunday 22 December 2013

Random Memories

To-day was to be the family Christmas Gathering. It had to be  re-scheduled . Obviously because of the weather.

We 've  heard from  all  except the Kitchener satellite. Power is out over there but Mary has a cell phone like a mini computer  that works on a battery.

Christmas always makes me think back. Right now,  I"m thinking of my father on his weekly visit to his parents. I was small enough to ride on his shoulders, my two sisters and brother walked alongside.

It must have been six miles there and back up th brae and across the moor. The last part was up the Course Hill  in Kilwinning. My mother never came.  Nothing  needs to be made of that. The tradition was and still is that each sibling had a  particular day to visit parents.

 New Year was everybody's night; except for children.

At my maternal grandmother's house . Saturday was Aunt Jean's  day and Monday was Aunr Mary's. The first part of Aunt Meg's married life was taken up by the war .She lived at  Grannie's  for the duration with  my infant cousin Anne.

My paternal  grandparent's house was full as well. Aunts  Maggie  and Kate  and  my father were married. The rest were still at home.

They were Mary, Michael, Bill, Pat, Tom. and David, also called Sonny because he was the youngest.

Michael was an apprentice baker. On one visit. he baked us a fruit cake.  It's not a Christmas cake . That's  a Black Bun. The fruit cake he baked had a mixture of   moist spicey dried and candied fruit between two layers of pastry sprinkled with sugar on op. It could be puff pastry or short. Short is easier to make.

Mary played piano and a harp. and entertained us.

Mary was expelled  by the nuns from St. Michael's College for playing piano  to silent movies in Green's picture house . Clearly the place was a den of iniquity.

Ten years later , Mary died in childbirth with her first child.   Her parents didn't even know she was in labour.

There  were  no telephones .  A relative came to tell  Mary had died and the baby too. I was seven then.

Homes were lit by gas mantle  and cooking done  on a coal range. The last time I hung a stocking, it was from the cord that stretched  across the smoke  board.  That was part of the range that slid up  or down ,depending  on the direction of the wind  outside  that made smoke blow down the chimney into the room.

The last doll I had  poked out from the sock top. It was a small sock .It must have been a small doll. It was a sixpenny  Woolworth doll. I washed her clothes and pot them back  on the doll wet. Her body , being made of paper composition , collapsed.

She wasn't the only doll I ever had . Just  the only one I remember.

My father got a bicycle when they came on the market. Sunday visits to his parents were no longer a day long expedition. They were in the evening. I remember the lamp  being primed with a material I think was asbestos. It was a miner's  lamp. There were no batteries then.

My last memory of  those times was begging him to take me along with him to Grannie's house.

I was seven when my mother took us to live at my  maternal grandparent's home.  It wasn't large  but they had big hearts.

My Finnigan grandparents became strangers after that .

Life changed in other ways as well

About Twitter and Such

I deleted  the last  post. 

It hasn't been easy maintaining silence  over the past four  years. 

When the trial started ,I thought  it was the beginning of the end.

After four weeks , once again it came to an abrupt halt although not a conclusion. 

I won't pretend it hasn't been stressful. No- one should imagine I am without opinion. 

But i history will take its course and it will come to a conclusion , Then  we will be free to talk aboit this chapter . 

In the meantime , Im happy to receive your comments and if I  don't publish them I hope you understand. 

That doesn't apply  of course to the snarks  who lurk abaout in the shadows..

The last four weeks  I've been  more or less   pre-occupied . 

I had a bout of bronchitis  for a week . Thank Goodness for antibiotics.  I missed a couple of Council meetings  but was back at it  on Tuesday and Wednesday  and very glad to be there.

Margaret Atwood  is talking to Peter Mansbridge  about Twitter. I must listen to this. 








Council  and thetown's business has helped keep me focussed over all this long time I daresay I can maintain the discipline for the weeks remaining. 

Friday 20 December 2013

Something went awry

I wrote a post. I gave it a title. I clicked on edit to make some necessary changes.apparently so necessary  the whole thing deleted  and I had to start again.

Sorry about that.

Wednesday 18 December 2013

An Unlikely Story

I've always  known I would tell this story. I never knew when. It's not really mine to tell.

So it has to be slightly obscure.

A youth with a friend , partied in Newmarket. At the end of the evening, they called a taxi for the ride home to Aurora. Neither had cars, so it wasn't a matter of choice or judgement.

Waiting for the taxi, they were joined by three other youths who asked if they could share the cab home.

On arrival at destination, the three jumped out  and  ran without paying their share.

The friend ,seeing what happened, thought he ought to take off as well.


The fifth ,drunk as a skunk ,groping in tight  jeans pocket for what he knew was enough to pay his share, was left  swaying on his feet.

The fare was $11. He had $7. He decided  he'd better run.

He fell.  Got  kicked in the side of the head, in his ear.  steel toed boots, by cab driver  and dragged back to the cab where call placed to York Region Police.

Police  arrived. He was shoved into the back of the police car.

Youth charged with  intent to commit fraud.

Fraud is an indictable offence , meaning it carries  the penalty of  a jail sentence and a record.

Parent ,finally informed ,seeks  legal counsel.

Lawyer's office , painted dark green. Hunting prints on  wall.  Lawyer in tweeds ,pince nez,short beard neatly trimmed and  desk lamp with green shade on impressive leather -topped desk.

Queen's counsel.

Lengthy conference. Strategy outlined . Separate the friends.  Seek a  different judge's court. Knows the judge. Plead leniency for first offence. One and a  half hours into conference,  no fee cited. But preparation  continues.

Finally .....fee cited.

High. Even  without  knowing how time passes in a court room. Fee exorbitant. Added to the certain  knowledge  that whatever the offense to be defended .....it was not fraud......Intent to commit  requires  competence.

Being drunk eliminates the possibility.

Another lawyer consulted.  Answer sought to question. Police officer responsible for  the charge. Crown attorney responsible for prosecution.

At what point does  C.A. examine evidence and determine charge  can be successfully prosecuted.?

Lawyer swings  chair around to face wall lined with law books as though seeking the answer,

"Good question" he responds .   but does not answer.

Fee is  a third of Queen's counsel.

First day in court, nothing  accomplished Previous case went  overtime. Judge decided too late to start
new case. Wags finger sternly at miscreant youth and warns him to be in court promptly  at the precise time ,on the  following day...like failure to proceed on appointed day is youth's fault.

A day's  pay  and lawyer's fee  out of pocket and  little assurance  the  process will not be repeated.

Time spent watching  court proceedings  revealed another  being represented by  agent.

Parent decides to  act as agent.  Youth informs  C.A. In turn C.A. informs Judge of wish to  dismiss
legal counsel and be represented by agent.  Stern Judge indicates  youth should make the request himself.

Agent visits CA 's office; request to see charge.

Refused.

Visits police station, requests to see  charge..

Refused.

Visit with Police Chief. Assured  of unlikelihood of  jail time due to first offence.

To cut a  very long story shorter,  parent defends youth  against charge of fraud.

Cites  definition of the crime of fraud straight from law books in the  library on the top floor of the almost new court house.

Stern lecture yo youth from judge about bad behaviour being a problem for society , but not fraud. Charge dismissed.

Parent leaves court house not proud of youth.

But  also less than impressed  by  behaviour of  individuals consulted   with objective of obtaining  a correct ruling on a wrongful charge.

Sequel!  information  provided not previously confided.

In the police car , with his ear bleeding, youth informed  officer of intent  to file assault charge against taxi driver.


Officer  advised he could not do that.

Youth informed officer,  parent would not be pleased  about that.

Further inquiry resulted in car  parked and further beating .

Between night and morning , the charge was changed from  minor  to  an indictable offence  with possibility of jail time or at very least a record.

With a friend ,he hired a cab. He had his share of the fare. He was most inebriated.

Guilty of nothing but  severely impaired judgement.

Certainly, in accordance with evidence, not capable of a plan to commit fraud.

Moral of the story. If your kid gets in trouble. Remember...Remember....  possibility is more real than apparent

Listen to what he tells you.

No matter how incredible it  may seem.

Sunday 15 December 2013

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

I had a  Christmas card from my friend in Scotland on Friday. We've been friends since we were five years  old ,when we  started school.

Grade Two  was our  happiest, most carefree year. Miss Kelly was our teacher.

She was young and pretty with masses of black curly hair.

Annie Wolohan and  I sat together  at a double desk. We got to squeeze out  sponges in the jam jars on the window sill and go round the class wiping slates clean . We got other neat little chores to do as well. When new slate pencils had to be distributed , we slid the lid  off  the box and  caught the scent of fresh  cedar shavings that kept the  pencils whole and  still remind me of those happy days.

We lived close by each other. Our family environments were substantially different  but we practically shared each other's lives. We both had sisters but we were closer to one another than we were to our sisters.

Life separated us early but we always knew we were still best friends.

Bobby Gibson is  Anne's husband . She  loved him since she was thirteen. There was a point when they separated. He went into the navy. Ann was a bus conductor for years. I went to London after the war.

Ann got engaged to someone else. I never knew him.

Bobby's ship was shelled on the Yangtse River . The crew who survived had to swim ashore and went missing for a  bit.

Ann knew then she could not spend her life with anyone else.

They've been married now more than sixty years.  Like everyone else , they had their troubles.

They were in Canada for a while.  In Vancouver. Bobby liked it. Ann persuaded  him to come to live in Toronto. They stayed with us for a bit. Then  she  went back in Scotland  and Bobby followed .

They've  been there ever since.

I was in Scotland in the early nineties for several months taking care of my mother. One day after I'd
 been hanging out laundry, in the sunshine , with a stiff sea breeze blowing. Ann came and knocked on my mother's  door.

"I thought it was you " she said. She had been looking out her kitchen window and  couldn't believe her  eyes.

We were s close as ever again for a few months. We have exchanged  Christmas cards faithfully and  news of our families ever since.

I received her card on Friday without much news and just hoping we are all well.

She knew I was still involved in the town's political affairs.  She didn't know I was suing .

It's too late now to send a  Christmas card.  They  had  to give up the phone  a few years ago.

So I won't  be  able to say where it's at now or that everything's fine at my end.

Which is as good a way as any I suppose, of wishing her a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year
and Tidings of Comfort and Joy.

Friday 13 December 2013

Sweden has it right ...I think

I thought  it would be done by now. It isn't. And will not be until "early in the New Year"

It's best I don't print comments on the trial until it's over. Much  as I appreciate the support therein.

But there are things we can talk about . We've spent a lot of time waiting . Considering the surroundings , some  trains of thought are inevitable.

Over the years, I've found myself in a court room on a number of occasions. Some I'd forgotten.

One occasion was in a court room in Leksand, Sweden.  I went on a charter with StAndrew's College band. They were invited by high schools in Sweden. The charter was  a few  heads short of the number required/. The late Norm Stewart was a Councillor and at the same time the dietuician at St. Andrew's.

Former and late Richard Illingworth,his partner; the late  Col. Fred Tilston, the late Colleen Gowan , town clerk and  a  personal friend and myself ; the late Councillor Norm Stewart  all went along  to make up the numbers.

It was a highly informative trip.

We had a day in court.

A Saturday.

The  Judge explained the  Swedish judicial system .

When a person graduates  from studies in law, the judiciary is  a field  among others to choose from.

He/she works in the court. Eventually minor cases  are assigned to the fledgeling Judge.

A panel of senior Judges monitor decisions.

A Judge sits on the bench  with an equal number of citizens on either side.  Decisions are made
collectively.  Judge advising  citizens on  points of law.

More  serious cases are assigned as judgement  and competence matures.

I do not offer this as a full account of the Swedish judicial system.

My impression is, the  system is a reflection of  sober, serious, conscientious attitudes and respect for law and order  of the community at large.

 I came away with huge respect for Swedish society.




Wednesday 11 December 2013

I've Missed You Too

My day in court has turned into a marathon. It's not over yet.

Nothing is happening





 to-day.

I am physically free.

I have missed being here with you.

I'm not sure I will ever be able to fill in the gaps of what has happened. I cannot provide  any details yet.

I am not the person  I was before. Time  and experience have changed me. Not by much and not  so's you'd notice but change there is.

I had to re- read hundreds of my blog  posts.

I never  re-read.

When I've  done with a post  I put it behind me and move on to the next.

A  minimum of  editing is done.  

Spelling needs  correction because keyboard skills  are  negligible .

But some errors always remain.

They are exasperating.

Welllllll.....   It's not a  professional staff report. it's not a legal deposition. I'm not competing for the Giller  Book Prize.

I'm just gossiping  and sharing  stuff  I think you have a right to know and I have a right to  tell you.

Going to court is not the stuff of  tout le monde

And yet....of a weekday morning....the place teams with people with business before the courts.

None of it joyful.

Decisions are made affecting  people's lives .

Yesterday we saw a young  man in his early twenties, wrists and ankles manacled and a policeman on either side of him.

Decisions are  made in  sound-proofed courtrooms.

We hope they are fair. We hope they are just.

We  are not certain.

I heard  recently the  Government of Sweden  is contemplating closing down the prisons.

There are not enough prisoners in Sweden to keep them open.

They must be doing something right.

Monday 11 November 2013

We will not forget

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Our Town ====NOT":

Looks like a busy week. Forget about us.

**************


I  will not  forget .  You will be there with  me wheter you know it or not. 

You used to say  " I don't  know  how you  make yourself go every week  knowing what's going to
happen"

I  went  because you  sent me.

At an inaugural , I said once:

"When I take  my seat , you will be there with me. In the waft and weave of my garments ,in every hair on my head and every fibre of my being."

It  may have seemed a bit over the top.

Yet  I needed to say what it meant to have been chosen.

It's no small thing.

It  kept me going all through those four years.

Had I not  been the  foil for jeers and sneers and snide remarks ---constant denigration  and humiliation-----there would have been a different  performance on your  T.V.

For everything ,there is a reason.

What  was done to me, was done to you.

I was your choice to be at the Council table.

How could they not understand  and respect your right to choose? The same right that chose them?

How could they not comprehend the  trust invested in them ----to behave honorably, fairly and with respect for all.

How could that translate into power to harm ?

Even after you withdrew your trust , it's not certain they understood.

They  continue to believe someone else was to blame  and you will discover your error.

You made no mistake in me.

I will not forget .

The ultimate sacrifice has been paid.

Respect is our due in this wonderful country.

We will uphold the right.

Sunday 10 November 2013

Our Town ====NOT

I linked in to the Globe and Mail  and read Richard Florida's piece about Toronto politics

I read a front page story as well.  It reminded  me why I stopped reading Toronto's newspapers.

I saw somewhere The Star is offering  an "explanations" for paying drug-dealers $5,000. for the first video compromising Toronto's Mayor.  Did they give it to Toronto Police?

Did the Police find one of their own"

Who told Clayton Ruby, the Police had he video?

So  the police could be accused of covering for the Mayor

So the Chief got spooked and not only spilled the beans about the video and his "disappointment" .
And then threw in surveillance videos  filmed by Toronto' Police Department from a plane in the sky.

My God, those suckers cost hundreds of thousands  of dollars an hour  to fly in the sky.

Who is keeping check on the police Department and the judgement they exercise?

Now we have McCormick. son of a former Police Chief , now Presidnet of the Toronto Police Association weighing in on the discussion.

The same McCormick on trial for  something nasty----like extortion from people in the entertainment ( read drug dealing) district of Toronto-------Richmond Street...where a person associated with the
explosive video ----was shot and killed on the sidewalk----outside an entertainment club.

Anybody who knows anything about the police, knows, no police officer would ever be charged  with a crime if the evidence was not iron clad and insurmountable.

McCormick got off.  Does  anybody know?   who was his lawyer-?--Does Clayton Ruby ring a bell?

Soon after McCormick was President of the Toronto Police Association.

Here's something else not commonly talked about------ the real power in Ontario Policing lies with the Ontario Police Association.

Power corrupts---absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Since less than twenty years, the Province stopped appointing judges to chair Police Commissions.

It had been determined ----Ontario  Judges  consistently aligned  themselves with the Police and could not therefore provide objectivity  required  from a  Police Governing Authority.

The Judge chairing York Region Police Services Board  when I was a member was last to serve in that  capacity.

Since then---- Regional Councillors  have served as Chairmen 

If a judge can't be objective-----what can be expected of a politician? A regional politician at that---accountable to no-one--------How many reading this know who is chair of York Region Police Services Board? 

I don't read Toronto newspapers----because when I read ,I think.  When I think I need to write.

And since the blog is at hand  there's nothing to hinder me and lots to tell----at the expense of  Our  Town  Affairs .

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth and wearing of sackloth and ashes

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Drat":

A good day for reading. Incidentally, yesterday someone told me the minutes for the GC weren't up yet. Is that usual ? I wanted to see if Council ever finished messing with the property owner and his trees. 


****************
I received my  agenda as usual. That's all I know.

The manager of parks has visited the lot and determined the trees are  compromised by the grading plan approved by the town. They will not survive. 

The Director of E and I  has  visited the lot  and submitted  a detailed report  indicating the lot cannot be properly graded with the trees in place. 

The  Solicitor's  Report is back on the agenda for Council to deal with.

There's a recommendation from the Planning Director for approval of a plan to plant seven trees to replace three .

The home -buyer has been in touch

All  except Councillors Gaertner and Ballard have visited the lot to see  the situation for themselves.

The lot was graded a week  before it was inspected.

It was inspected  two weeks before the report is submitted.

I think we  can predict all but three members of Council will  accept staff advice and  approve the recommendation of the  Planning Director.

There's  no indication at the moment of a third or fourth, I've lost count, delegation from immediate neighbors whose lots abut 33 Longthorp Court.

That's not to say they won't come back once more to fight for the right to enjoy the sight of their neighbors trees, is greater than his right to  have a properly graded yard that keeps the rain out of his
house.

Well---dontcha know -----they bought  lots on the basis of  beautiful trees on someone else's lot.

He bought and paid for a lot with  three trees .

He is losing the trees on the lot  he  paid for .

But his neighbors are the ones losing out.

On the basis of that  logic, my bet is ,there will still be Councillors who insist -----despite all the evidence----and all the months of discussion  and delay -------the trees should not be removed.

Until Tuesday, we cannot know for sure












Saturday 9 November 2013

Drat

The text of the previous post is inexplicably chopped up. I didn't do it and I don't know how to undo it.

Sorry  I'm going back to my reading now,

Just a thought

I am still reading ---TEAM OF RIVALS---- on page 251 a paragraph reads:


Benearh his graceful facade, Seward was hurt, angry and humiliated." it wasonly some months later,"
the biographer Glyndon Van Deuseb writes,  " When the shock has worn off and hope of a sort revived, that he could say, half whimsically, half ruefully, how fortunateit was he did not keep a diary,
for if he had there would be a record of all is cursing and swearing" when the news arrived.


That was after Abraham Lincoln won the Republican  nomination .

Seward was confident of victory.

Could he ever have imagined a time , I wonder, that some sly.sneaky bastard pretending to be a friend might have been in  his  private company filming his reaction at  hat moment of  unimaginably intense  emotion.

Friday 8 November 2013

Repeating and Talking about

I published  Councillor Gord  Perkins  ruminations about poitics becuse  obviously it echoes what I said in the previous post.

Not that there's  anything new or original in the concept.

We have had plenty of examples in recent years of demands that somebody or other be unseated for this reason or that.

Closest to home was that Belinda Stronach be replaced because  she wa elected Conservative and crossed the floor to join the Liberals.  

We needn't fear interference in the people's right to choose.

I wrote the post because of Andrew Coyne's suggestion in response to a prompt from Peter Mansbridge, there should be a mechanism to undo an election .

Mansbridge and Coyne have influence.Thank Goodness for Chantel.

I don't echo Gord Perkins ideas about how people's reactions to government have to change.

I  don't echo his view Rob Ford is  a racist and homophobic.

I know nothing to support the statement. He offers nothing to prove it.

So Ford denies things

Oh my Lord, do we not see people twist themselves into pretzels to stay on the right side ---Even while they must know they can't get away with it.

 What is the  rational explanation?

There is none.

Nigel Wright said he wrote a cheque from personal resources to  reimburse the government for Mike Duffy's claimed expenses.

I don't believe it.

Neither do I believe the Prime Minister who says he knew nothing of it.

Stephen Harper invites us to picture him smoking pot like Justin Trudeau.

No  we can't.  It's the last thing we can picture.

Does that make him a better person. Ot more human.   I  don't think so.

It doesn't do much for Justin either but we're not talking about him.

Gord Perkins criticizes Ford for criticizing past Councils.  Does that mean Councils past were above criticism?

How many times have I referred to Toronto's salacious computer scandal? Many had to have been aware but it continued for months.

It resulted in  Provincial legislation to guarantee integrity against  corruption and we know how that turned out.

Perkins refers to "good government " and  how  Ford exploited public anger with low level accusations.

Well now, not much respect there for the public's ability to form their own judgement.

His sanctimonious  homily about how citizens should conduct themselves is  a tad nauseating

If  a person is not ready to listen.----- if he doesn't accept people the  way  they are,----that's like a marriage destined for divorceafter a whole lot of misery has flowed under the bridge.

Politics is  the art of compromise-----the art of  the possible---- the second oldest profession----

Whatever it is -----it is not like any other enterprise.

Can it be described-----No----it can only be experienced.

If you don't like it ---you don't enjoy it----if small victories are not enough ---- if  just being where your voice can be heard ------- is not  sufficient.--------the opportunity is void.


If someone throws your foibles  back at you and you can't laugh because you know they're true ---
politics is not for you.

It's the people's business------- people as they are and not how you would like them to be.

Well Worth Repeating

Christopher Watts has left a new comment on your post "Election is the only option":

Here is Toronto City Councillor Gord Perks response when asked how council should move Toronto forward (this was provided following Rob Ford's radio show apology on Sunday - so before the crack smoking admission and tape of the mayor screaming about how he wants to kill someone):

"Many people are asking me to work to remove Mayor Ford from office. To the core of my being I believe it should not be up to elected officials to remove each other from office.

It is axiomatic that in a democracy the community elects its government. It must also be up to the community to remove its government and replace it with another – through elections. Anything that displaces the electorate's power to choose its government is anti-democratic. Further, our system wisely allows for a range of different points of view in government. If we allow elected officials to force each other out of office, we risk having elected officials who oppose the majority view being pushed out of office. History is replete with examples of how bad that is for a society.

Both before and during the previous election, it was clear that Rob Ford was racist, homophobic, and had problems with substance abuse and honesty. Nevertheless he won the election. We, all of us who care about justice and democracy, need to ask ourselves why this happened.

I have what I believe is part of the answer. It is increasingly common for people and institutions to succumb to anger, resentment, and an urge to punish government for real and perceived failings. Ironically, it was this very anger that helped elect Rob Ford Mayor. Recall the relentless attacks he made as a Councillor and mayoralty candidate on factually small but symbolically large uses of Councillor's office budgets, and his mantra about ending the so called "Gravy Train".

This style of politics draws on the slogans of people like Ronald Regan who said "Government is the problem" and Margaret Thatcher who said "There is no alternative". Nonsense! Government is the tool we build together to solve problems. Its precise function is to find alternatives that bring us to a better future. Theirs is a politics of resentment and anger. Reject it.
When we succumb to that anger, important questions about how to build the City we want are lost and forgotten. For the record, I am not immune to this anger. Over three years of resisting the ugliest parts of the Mayor's assault on good governance I have on occasion lost my temper and have twice decided I had to apologise to Council. Frequently, I have to remind myself to step back and count to ten and remember that I am here to build the City. I am not here to get into pointless conflict. It's hard to do, but essential that I do it.

I want to ask you to count to ten. When you are angry at your government, remember that quick, anger-fuelled solutions usually make problems worse. When a neighbour expresses anger over a real or perceived failure of the government or public servants, speak up and remind them that so much of what holds our society together depends on those same public servants. They work to make sure that we have the comforts and community we all enjoy. When government does not solve the social problems that bring suffering to neighbourhoods, resolve not to grumble but instead to learn, participate, and organize for a better government.
Most of all spend some portion of every month – even just one hour – doing political work to ensure that we don't elect angry anti-democratic leadership to govern this wonderful City that is our home."

I agree that a 4 year term has proven itself counterproductive and would like to see some debate surface about returning to a 2 year term.

Election is the only option

I just watched the CBC trio  with Peter Mansbridge talking about  Toronto and the Senate situations.

Mansbridge asked the question and Coyne made the point ; voter loyalty to the extent information  provided by the media is ignored, is a problem for democracy.

There needs to be a mechanism to  remove people from office if need be.

He didn't  indicate who  should make the determination

i thought----- a committee of journalists perhaps, elected by their peers.

Heavy weights like Mike  Duffy and  Pamela Wallin  would  no doubt be perceived as excellent candidates.

Chantal Hebert, ever the voice of reason , pointed out -----we've just  had the debate about the
rule  of law. It would not be that easy to find  such a mechanism.

The  true irony is---------we have a mechanism-------it's called an election. ---- it's an established principle of democracy that the people have the right  to choose their representatives.

They haven't always had that right.  An entire generation of young men were torn apart by  the machines  of war ----on beaches drenched with their blood -----before the right to vote was granted.

A heavy price was paid .  To quote Winston Churchill. in the Second World War ------- Never has so much been owed by so many to so few .

We are about to remember that sacrifice.

 For a  century,  local elections were held every year,   For  about twenty, it was every two years. Then  it was three .

In  2003,  democracy was  substantially reduced ----- one might say---neutered---- snipped---scissored----emasculated....  sterilized----- take your pick----by extending municipal terms  to four years.

Four years is half as much democracy as two .  A bad situation is twice as onerous. 

Twice as much damage can be done in four years as in two. 

Four year terms were introduced when Toronto was amalgamated.

Odd thing---- I never heard of a  single learned journalist ---- or team -----.Mansbridge and Coyne were  both around at the time-------I heard  neither  one intone that a four year term  of office is a bad or a good thing.

It is bad but it wasn't even  worth discussing.

Election is  the only mechanism  possible in democracy for dealing with  a  problem of mis-representation.

Thursday 7 November 2013

Something and Nothing

We seem to share the feeling something very bad is loose  and  running amuk.

All the force of  malevolent media, focused on  an ordinary man. 

Police surveillance  and videoing from a plane---- said videos released to the media.

A Police Chief expressing  his "disappointment"

Small  children can take meaning from that--- precisely the reason the Police Discipline Code prohibits  any and all involvement  in politics.

A forest of  cameras and microphones ------voices shrieking  meaningless questions.

A cabinet minister speechless  ----save for concern expressed  for  the family.

A  grinning, exultant  inauspicious Councillor ----"If he can't find the door we should take him to it "

It's not clear there's anything we can do to help.

So we will simply not add fuel to the flames.

If something positive  comes  through , I will publish.

If it's cold-blooded and lacking in compassion or humanity----------I will not.




Tit For Tat

After municipal elections in 2010, a successful candidate in Toronto was  sued by a defeated candidate for defamation.

A  taped telephone message was the evidence.

The Alderman, Heap son of Dan ,I think  was obliged to settle with  a payment of  $10,000.  

His  quote in the press was ---- he had no option----to do otherwise would have bankrupt him.

A resolution  was put forward in a Council meeting  to  reimburse the alderman for his legal expenses.

The City's legal department  advised Council had no authority to do any such thing.

The resolution passed despite legal advice to the contrary.

The payment was put on hold.

Alderman Doug Holyday, with personal resources , retained legal counsel and took the issue  before a judge.

The resolution was indeed determined to be illegal. Council had no legal authority to use public resources for the purpose.

Legal  costs  of an alderman  who defamed a rival candidate  were not paid.

The story is based  on  recollection.

No doubt proficient research could verify the facts.

Doug Holyday was  Deputy-Mayor of Toronto and recently  elected  in a by election to fill a vacancy in the Provincial Assembly.

He also served as Mayor of the Borough of Etobicoke  for a number of years .

He and Councillor Rob Ford had complaints filed against them to Toronto's Integrity Commissioner
They had not  claimed against the $75,000 expense allowance for Toronto Councillors.

The complaint was filed by a Councillor who claimed the lot.

The complaint was ------by not filing a claim ---Holyday and  Ford made Councillors who did----look bad.

The Integrity Commissioner agreed. She  ruled they should claim.

They were ordered to do so.

Politics are  generally volatile.

Toronto is special












Tune in on Tuesday

KA-NON has left a new comment on your post "Lavender's Blue, Dilly Dilly----Lavender's Green":

I am not sure I understand this clearly. Are you saying that a $323,000 project was cancelled, or that we incurred costs of $323,000 for the Town Hall renovation, a project that was eventually cancelled, and that cost ($323K) was not referenced on the list?


The figure of $313,722 was made available to Council on November 5th, last Tuesday. The
number difference was my error. I was going by recollection. 

Because of the two hours spent on the question of an unwanted school site on Mavrinac Boulevard, the agenda was not  completed even though the hour of adjournment  was extended until 11.15p.m.

Monday night's report to  the budget meeting was  the  financial status of capital projects; completed, underway, not started and cancelled. It included various expenditures for projects that did not materialize.

In a separate report  on Monday. council were informed that because of a   projected 2013 budget deficit,  projects had been deferred  and other actions taken to "mitigate " the deficit and allow the year to end with a "surplus"

The figures on the cancelled town hall renovation project were not included in Monday's report.
They were not available when the report was compiled.

Although ....I  did ask a couple of  meetings ago... what had been spent on the town hall renovation project before it was cancelled?

The Treasurer answered  immediately, without having to check, $300,000;  to be just as quickly contradicted by the CAO.

The following week I submitted  Notice  of Motion to direct  a report  giving the figures to be provided.

The Motion was withdrawn with indication that a report was  forthcoming.

The report was on Tuesday's agenda.

We didn't get to it.

It will be on  next Tuesday's Council agenda

Council meetings are normally shown  on  Cable 10  

See you there

Lavender's Blue, Dilly Dilly----Lavender's Green

The contract award for renovations to Aurora Fanily Leisure Complex  was approved in committee last night. 

The  decision will be  ratified   next Tuesday.

I  have been opposed to location and not persuaded by design concept.

I voted  to award the contract.

It was the final step  after weeks of  duly authorized procedure. 

Not to award  the contract would simply deny reality. 

There are other practical reasons. 

Half a million dollars have already been  been spent .

A  financial report presented  to a budget meeting on Monday references numerous  expenditures for projects  eventually cancelled or deferred. 

Not on the list was $323,000  for renovations to the Town Hall.

No longer scheduled . Cancelled . Not deferred. 

The initial plan proceeded to tender, bids  were received, project cancelled  by staff in that order.

An  option  proceeded  as far as Council  before being cancelled. 

It's no small thing to cancel at that stage.

Staff , Architects and  Engineers  have completed their task. specification documents  prepared for  tender are  voluminous and expensive to produce

They are "sold" to  Contractors . hopefully familiar with Public Works projects.

Certified  cheques are posted with the municipality.

The process is formalized and legally circumscribed.

It's a competition. 

Bids  close at  an exact  hour.  On a specified  date.

They are  opened in public, read into the record and referred for analysis and a check on performance competence. 

Days of precise calculations  are essential to complete a bid. 

The investment of funds,  man hours and  risk  are  all inherent in the public process.

There is no room for error

A municipality that  makes a practice of cancelling  projects  does not build confidence.

A municipality can acquire a reputation of being fickle.

Flibberty Gibbet. 

A Reluctant Suitor

Cardboard Cavaliers

A House of Cards 

Slip out the back Jack and  get yourself free





Wednesday 6 November 2013

Shrinking Violets ....Not

The  names  David Heard; and Klaus Wehrenberg were mentioned in a post.

Somebody  says. that could be grounds for  complaint.

Is that so?  

The two  regularly  attend  Council  meetings.  Do not hesitate to take the podium to expound on  the singular interest each  has. 

When they've said  their piece , off they go home or wherever else they plan to spend the evening.

I'm  still there , waiting, to  get  at the job  I am charged to perform.

High -price  personnel sit with hands folded , a captive audience, accomplishing absolutely nothing.

There's a stack of work in front of me. I've read  the lot in preparation for debate and decision.

Eight others  at the  table have done the same. 

Our task requires  time, concentration and an awareness  of the fish bowl aspect is never far distant. 

We speak on behalf of the people we represent. 

Time slips away  as we listen. Energy ebbs  as David Heard reads poetry, delivers  lectures 
and waxes fulsomely about his  personal vision.

Last time he  attended ,I had a motion  to present on the agenda .

David took it upon himself  to  use public forum to oppose the motion before it even got  to the table.

Last night , the Council  Chamber was filled with residents from  a new neighborhood.
First time  perhaps for  many attending  a council  meeting. 

Three speakers made the case for the neighborhood issue. 

Council spent an hour  and a half in camera receiving legal advice and determining  how best to 
proceed .

We  reported out . Each  Councillor  spoke to the recommendation.

More than two hours  were spent dealing with one issue. 

Other  items  involved intense discussion .

 The hour of adjournment is 1030p.m.  We  adjourned At 11.15 p.m. 

Much of the agenda  was referred to Tuesday's Council meeting. 

Klaus Wehrenberg  waited five hours for an agenda item on a trail underpass to be considered.

It wasn't.

Klaus was not pleased.

When people choose to become involved to the extent Klaus and David have, they become part of the story.

If their names appear  in this post or elsewhere  that's  hardly surprising . Certainly , nothing  about it is either inappropriate or unexpected. 

They put themselves out there. 

I'll be damned if I see any cause for complaint . 

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Neither Rhyme nor Reason

Sugar coat ----scintillate
Whitewash------vindicate
Obfuscate------prevaricate
ameliorate-----mitigate


Sears is closing  a  number of  outlets including a"flagship" store  in Eaton's Centre.

There's irony for yiu. All that's left of  Eaton's is the name.How long, I wonder before the idea of selling naming rights  is proposed and even the name will disappear.

Yes, there's no place for sentiment in business.

Rona store at Smart Centre in Aurora is closing next month. It did only half the business expected.

I came home from  Budget meeting last night  and turned on the news.

Blackberry had withdrawn from the market. Apparently the market  did not put the same vaalue on the shares as Blackberry.

The Town is  a $51 million  operating business  the  Mayor  recently advised.

Politicians should not "micro-manage" he said.

The rationale is problematic.

Oversight , involvement, authority,control  Call it what you like. Those elected  are held responsible by electors for success or failure of town business.

The current Council is like two solitudes, on the edge of a precipice looking down into an abyss.

Town finances  are in  shambles.

With three months until year end,  the  2013 budget is overspent,increased taxes  were collected. ,  projects planned , either cancelled or deferred.

Supplementary assessment  forecast , but not in hand, failed to materialise. .

It was always a possibility.

Micro managing or not the Mayor and Council are in it up to their necks.

The Budget  was approved   in  mid-April.

In May, June, July and August, agendas were jam-packed with direction to b e given.

More  time scheduled for town business was  spent givig and receiving awards. Repeat delegations demanding we deal with issues we had no authority to deal with.  Lawyers retained and paid for  advice  already known.  There never was  authority to do what was demanded of us.

We  listened to David Heard tell us over and over about his vision and Klaus Wehrenberg  agitating just as often for trails.

Deliberations continued until midnight . Agendas never once completed 

 Short shrift  to major issues and ill-advised decisions. 

 In some circumstances .there may be satisfaction is saying "I told you so"

Not  politics. 

In politics , no discernment  is practiced , no justification sufficient, no  culprits to blame. 

Responsibility rests  securely at the feet of  power to make a difference ---- exercised or mot


Monday 4 November 2013

What price experience?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A perfect example":

Since there is a meeting tonight, perhaps you will be ' allowed ' to ask the solicitor a few key questions. If there is the slightest doubt about possible conflicts of interest, no councillors - including the Mayor - have any business at Centre meetings.
Looks like a bright very cold morning. Have a great day. 


********************

To-night's agenda is budget .

I forwarded the question  on receipt  of the decision. No doubt the answer will be available tomorrow when the report  is tabled and direction sought.

You know, sheer genius is not the only explanation for my approach to the decision-making process.

( Evalina  should be choking and spluttering her morning coffee about now)

The Region was created in 1971. Work and study had been going on for years before that. It started with the Smith Committee Report of taxation.

There had been few changes in the structure since the British North American Act, a hundred years since.

Change was long overdue.

A number of  appointed Boards and Commissions were making decisions that rankled with local government.

There was a Planning Board,  A Recreation Commission,  Arena Boards of Management, Local Boards of Education . Library Board members were appointed by the Boards of Education.

Their  financial decision-making caused friction with Councils.

They requisitioned funds from the municipality which in turn took all the flack for  taxes collected.

Regions were created and the Province wiped out some boards , changed others slightly and allowed municipalities to retain Arena Boards of Management, or not.

Arena Boards couldn't requisition funds. They were charged with  financial self-sufficiency.

The Province acknowledged the accountability for spending should rest with the elected body.

County Boards of Education were formed in 1969.  There was no equality in education. Places like Markham could have everything the heart desired  while communities without wealth did not have
means to provide essentials.

Changes were drastic.

"What if " I asked,  "the solution is  worse than the problem.?"

The Honorable Minister Darcy McKeogh answered:

" You make the decision Then  you make sure it's the right one"

He didn't stick around to make sure .

Somewhere along the way ,the message  got lost.

Aside from everything that has happened at the Region, in 2010, the Culture Centre Board created in Aurora with an agreement  shaped by the municipality, so bad, it was thousands of times worse than anything ever seen prior to 1971.

No other member of Council has had my experience. They have not learned to depend on their own judgement.

From  mine and  the taxpayers' perspective, that is a definite disadvantage.

For the Councillors, the outlook is not  particularly rosy either.

To-night we start deliberation of the fourth budget of the term.

Last  chance to take control and show progress.

Whether  or not it's too late, is no longer  their option to decide.

A perfect example

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "What's the price of trust":


Not being privy to the written legal questions and/or argument submitted on the Town's behalf, presumably by the Town Solicitor, with possible outside legal consultation, it does indeed appear to be most unfortunate that the matter of the Board meeting in secret was not mentioned and therefore the Judge didn't know this.

If this a correct statement then a further submission should be made on behalf of the Town to the Superior Court.

Meetings in secret are only permitted under the Municipal Act for a few very specific reasons. The secret meetings of the Centre Board don't qualify.

*********************************

The above comment is exactly what  I mean with the phrase "insufferably condescending and  patronizing"

It has nothing to do with snobbery. It has to do with a limited range of judgement.

The writer learned whereof he spoke from my post. Proceeds to challenge the veracity. Then states "if correct"  and cites the point of the post.

Like  it would kill him to acknowledge a person  of my lowly status might  be correct in facts and judgement.

It's the very substance of the glass ceiling.

He is not unintelligent. He   simply either needs to withhold  merit----hog it for himself ----or both.

The problem would not be the same if a string of letters followed  my name.

It would be a different . If I had the letters , the illusion  would be they make up for experience in the field and judgement.

Sunday 3 November 2013

A Humble Apology

I'm having a slight butexasperating problem with publishing.

A pink line appears telling me an error has occurred that won't allow publishing.

Then a place to "dismiss"' the message. But t doesn't.

Then I fiddle  about with  Draft   I set about editing while  letting it it rest. Then I publish . But the edit hasn't happened. 

 I grit my teeth, edit again and click on publish , hoping it will. 

If I spent as long as I might , improving the writing , I would likely offer half as many  posts. 

I'm not being paid upwards of $100,000 a year with benefits to publish this blog. 

Nor $7.50 a week which is what I used to get paid to write a weekly column  for either of the two local newspapers. 

I do this as a labour of love and  a contribution to town affairs.  The object is to get as much information out to you as possible within the exigencies. 

So those who criticize  my spelling and editing can , with all due respect,  Go Fly A  Kite in their spare time. 

To the rest . I humbly apologize for  the myriad of corrections after the fact. 

Have a great Sunday 


What's the price of trust

At Tuesday's Committee meeting, Council will receive the judicial response a question posed by the town.  

Council members can be members of   the Culture Centre Board and vote on matters  of pecuniary interest  to the board without incurring a Conflict of Interest.

If  one understands the meaning of conflict , the answer was never in doubt. 

In the simplest terms, a conflict of interest happens when an elected member  votes on a motion that has the potential of putting money into her pocket or the pocket of a close relative .

The opinion was supportive and  considered good governance to have Councillors serving on the board.

It is said to be precedent setting decision. 

I don't think so. 

Half the membership of the Library Board are Councillors the rest are town appointees. 

Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority  and the Hospital Board  both have regional councillors serving;

Boards of Education are entirely elected. Police Services Board and  any other  board receiving public funding   has elected members on board including the Board of Public Health. 

The common factor is that meetings are conducted in public. 

The Culture Centre Board meetings are private. 

The Board would not budge on that in negotiating   a new agreement ,

They choose board members. 

They meet behind closed doors . 

They have a   valuable rent-free building, with utilities  and maintenance paid by the town and 
hundreds of thousands of public dollars  to spend, growing every  year.

They meet in secret. 

The Judge didn't know.  He wasn't  told. 

The night a motion was debated in Council to give twelve months notice of  termination  to the Board 
something  strange happened. 

The debate ended . Everything that could  be said had been said.  Support was evident.

The Mayor spoke at length in support of the motion. 

All that was left was for the vote to be called.  It  wasn't. 

A pause intervened; long enough to be noticeable.

Finally ,prompted by the Mayor, CouncillorThompson  and Humfrey's  moved an amendment that jettisoned the motion.

It was  about then I requested  a review of  the agreement by the town solicitor.

The Mayor demurred. The solicitor had plenty of work  to do , he said, without adding to it. 

Council discovered  about the same time , the Mayor had been attending board meetings for months against advice of the town solicitor.

The solicitor's review led to negotiation of a new agreement. 

It is better than the first. 

Asked  to guess the appointees to the arm's length ,self-appointed board with closed door meetings, allowing  secrecy in all their deliberations  I would say Mayor Dawe and Councillor  
Thompson.

As  members of the board ,they may speak for the public's interest. We cannot  be certain tof course.
Because they will be bound by secrecy  and independence inherent in the Board's  constitution.

Somewhere there's a reference to ex officio members. How is that useful? Ex officio members can attend, on=bserve,participate in deliberation; they cannot vote .

No conflict of interest presents for Council appointees. No obvious purpose of any kind really.

Only a breach of the requirement for elected officials to conduct all public business openly and without concealment. Except for a few notable exceptions. 

One of which is NOT participating in  secret meetings of a  board spending public funds 

Saturday 2 November 2013

It's about keeping faith

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Weird and Weirder":

CBC News
Forum Research Poll showed Mayor Ford's approval rating ROSE by 5% on Thursday after the police chief spoke.
I did not make that up


******************

But you see,  I think the outcome was predictable.

It's what you learn, if they give you the chance to serve.

If  you're there for them when they need you if you never let them down even if it might cost you, they will  always be there for you.

It's a pact.

They just need to know you can be trusted. No matter what.

Rob Ford might have been unable to impress the editors. 

If they had learned  their craft the old-fashioned way, if they had  ever plumbed the depth of the stories they tell , instead of  collecting degrees in journalism and business administration  from  renowned universities, the ediots would have known they couldn't do what they thought they could.

Twenty per cent logic, eighty per cent emotion. 

Rob Ford didn't disgrace the city.

The Toronto media did .  
How could the Mayor be responsible for headlines they wrote?

Were they protecting the city's image when they  told the story of a video offered to them for sale 
by a gang of drug dealers and murderers.

It's  like the victim of rape becomes responsible for having been raped in the adversarial system of law as practiced in the courts.

Eight editors in the Sun tabloid had to band  to-gether to do the  damnable deed. 

None of them had the courage to do it alone or take responsibility. 


Guest Post on Stephen Harper

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Weird and Weirder":


It's interesting to do a bit of research on Stephen Harper's beginnings, his education and initial work experiences.

Harper was born in Toronto and completed his schooling there through his secondary school graduation. He enrolled at U of T but dropped out after two months. He then moved to Edmonton where he found work in the mail room at Imperial Oil. Later, he advanced to work on the company's computer systems. He took up [post-secondary studies again at the University of Calgary, where he completed a bachelor's degree in economics. He later returned there to earn a master's degree in economics, completed in 1993.

Harper became involved with politics as a member of his high schools Young Liberals Club. He later changed his affiliation because he disagreed with the National Energy Policy of the Trudeau government. For the next ten years he toiled in the political back rooms of the Reform Party, including the position of policy chief. Harper became leader of the National Citizens Coalition. He was skeptical about the Reform Party's United Alternative initiative, arguing it would serve to consolidate Preston Manning's hold on the party leadership. In 2000 the United Alternative created the Canadian Alliance as a successor party to Reform. As the battle for leadership took place Harper's positions on a number of issues hardened. On social issues Harper argued for 'parental rights' to use corporal punishment against their children and supported raising the age of sexual consent. He described his potential support base as "similar to what George Bush tapped."

I'm not going to go any further except to refer to a portion of his speech last night where he attacked academics (himself one), judges (how many Supreme Court nominations has he made?), Senators (again how many of these are his creation?) bureaucrats, bankers, big business (is the Keystone Pipeline not part of several big businesses?) diplomats, lobbyists and the Rideau Club.

He appealed to his "base" - the little guy, "cab drivers, the small business owners, the farms and foresters and fishermen, the factory and office workers, the seniors...those honest, hard-working Canadians, old and new," as Harper put it.

Will this speech be a success for Conservatives? if it isn't, it will be because it didn't matter what Harper said.

Weird and Weirder

Strange  times .  Yesterday we watched the Chief of Police make statements relating circumstances to the Mayor of Toronto.

He expressed "disappointment"

The Chief  and the army he commands, are public servants .Theoretically at least., they functions under the authority of those  who pay the  freight.  A hefty price at that.

The police are governed by provincial legislation. There's a police governing authority.

Politics cannot interfere with the work of the police. The police must steer clear of politics.

But yesterday we saw what we saw.

I doubtit was the  Chief's intention. There appears to be no artifice to the man. His character is written  large upon his face.

He  seems to be a good,kind,well-intentioned  policeman with a very difficult job.

We witnessed by the magic of television the instantaneous effect of his statement .

People were persuaded  his words  incriminated the Mayor. They said so into the camera.

They did not hear follow-up  information  of no evidence of  "criminality"  against the Mayor.

Senator Pamela Wallin's experience, at the hands of a Corporal of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police  is similar.

The Senator Wallexpense claims have been audited. Almost $200,000 were found to be invalid.
Despite her disagreement with the finding Senator Wallin refunded the money to the Senate Treasury.

Then along comes a Corporal and declares the Senator   is guilty of "fraud"

Since when does a police corporal have the authority to make that determination.

Are there no  proscuting attorneys? No courts ? No judges? No trials?

Are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police a law unto themselves. ?

Well. God Help Us All !

At the local level, a police officer is responsible for filing a charge.  The Crown Attorney's office is responsible  to determine if  evidence is sufficient to prosecute the charge under the relevant law.

They do a slip -shod job of it but it is their  jurisdiction.

A date is scheduled and trial proceeds ----or not . depending on other procedures.

It's a judge who decides guilt or innocence . Not a police corporal.

But when a revered Red Coat says it is so,  "She did it. Oh Yes Indeed , She did it alright"

Why would an average citizen suspect  the Corporal had no authority to say any such thing.

Having reached the level of Corporal, past the level of first-class constable, could he possibly be unaware he was speaking out of turn and doing inestimable damage  to a citizen  in the process?

Would anyon suspect a Corporal of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police of malce aforethought?

Yes  indeedy, the times they are aseething !



Friday 1 November 2013

When will it stop ?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Blog Update":

I'm no Ford advocate but I think the Police Chief has made an enormous mistake. He seems to be confirming suspicions about what was in that pipe. No way he can know for sure. there are at least 2 other possible substances. I can't see how he is going to wiggle out of that assumption. Mayor Ford has some pretty decent lawyers 


****************

I  had the same reaction. The media were careful to say no  "criminality"  is alleged against the Mayor.

Yet  comments by passers-by were " Now the Police Chief is saying it ------it must be true"

Mr Blair stated they had the Mayor and his friend under surveillance.

The friend became aware of it so he set up counter-surveillance.

Then the police used a plane to follow them about

My God, how much did they spend to uncover nothing "incriminating" against the Mayor.

Last night, Halloween, David Letterman featured  various well-known figures in videos in a variety of costumes.

Morley Shaeffer  had little horns protruding from his head and wearing grey loosely hung wrestler's tights.

It was Morley's face alright and Morley's voice but the body  clearly didn't belong .

I've seen an all- out  effort before now to destroy a man's life.   It happens.

It's an ugly sight.

Nobody involved can be proud to have been part of it.

What's happening now in Toronto is a  firestorm   of hysteria ,

The Mayor is not the one fanning the flames. 

PSSHAW ---snobbery me arse

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "My Preference":

"We don't need someone who thinks he's slumming."

There's that reverse snobbery of yours again. 


***************************

At the last Council meeting , a motion on the table was an attempt  to clarify precisely  how the 
elected body exercises control and requires accountability  from staff.

The motion sprang from a response from the Mayor a query from Council was tantamount to micro-managing .

During debate, the function of the Mayor as Chief Executive Officer was dismissed as meaningless .

He indicated  with a glance around the table if he really  had  authority as CEO "there would be changes "

The comment was clearly not directed at staff

One is forced to conclude  the  remark was directed at Councillors.

At best it was unwise. At worst, downright stupid

The only meaning  possible was that some members occupying seats would not  if he really was CEO

The comment was offensive.  Not conducive  to  civil response.  In breach of the rule
requiring civility by the member responsible for maintaining  civility.

Insufferable, patronizing,condescending ,insulting reference deserving of  a  straightforward, figuratively speaking, smack in the  teeth.

There's nothing reverse, perverse  or snobbish about it.

It's just -----put  up yer dukes and let's have at you  me boyyo!

And may the better woman win









Thursday 31 October 2013

My Preference

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Blog Update":


One is supposed to lead by example.

What would you have said and continue to say if Mayor Dawe had performed, in public, the way Rob Ford has done?

I wouldn't expect you to say that such a performance was enhancing our town's image or reputation.


***********************

Election  before last, I registered as a candidate forMayor.  On reflection , I  decided against . 

The town deserved a more youthful  image.

 I never had a  doubt about my competence to bring  a Council together to work for  the best interest of the community, to ensure accountability and share the satisfaction of a job well done. 

I have a few basic principles; 

Respect for the voters right to choose

The Mayor's role is pivotal. 

Judgement   is paramount.

Council authority  must be respected.

Taxpayers  must receive  full value 

Spending  must be controlled by Council. 

Fairness, Equity  and  Consistency  is the backbone of decision-making.

Employees  at every level, committed to the dignity and meaning of public service  are the  face of  the organization . Their role is the day to day  and face to face delivery of service  and must be acknowledged and respected.

Leadership comes from the Mayor's  Chair ...well not  precisely the chair....the Mayor 

We don't  need someone who thinks he's slumming.

Now then-----take what you like out of that

A Family Dispute

Numbers are  growing. With an Apple App Spam is almost negligible

Standards continue to evolve  as I become more surefooted.

Comments denigrating staff continue to be made, not published and numbers are reduced.

Councillors  are fair game but  I try to screen out personal  references. It would be better to stay away from the personal.

As I told the Mayor last Tuesday. I didn't learn what people expect of me from books. I learned the hard way.  I don;t think it  hurts for Councillors to  read reactions to performance  as long as it  is the political performance.

Growth in  the comment numbers is  the most positive from my perspective.

I've never understood why people can't get into a vigorous argument for the joy of  it.

My twenty -three year old grandson phoned me from Whitby today. He'd been listening to CFRB
speaking on the  release of documents from the Toronto police department

I haven't had television or radio  on , so I haven't heard it.

Aaron has been determined to prove I'm wrong about Rob Ford and he wanted  to rub my face in it.

I love my grandson and I love that he cares as much about something as I do.

We pick up the argument where we left off  whenever we see each other.

He thinks I admire Rob Ford personally.I continue to insist  the fact he  won  a decisive victory as  Mayor of  Toronto  in a fair fight against a number of valid candidates. must be respected.

I cannot begin to comprehend what it takes to  accomplish  such an overwhelming challenge.

In  Rob Ford' s  case it wasn't  urbane slick .

It wasn 't  self-proclaimed righteousness.

There was no vainglory .

I think it's because Rob Ford is  the common man with all the flaws and foibles plain to be seen.

Voters empathized and felt  every cruel cut of the machete attacks by the Toronto Star .

It  became  even more ferocious after he won the day and became the  City's  Mayor,


Cleaning Up In The Kitchen

I cooked yesterday. Ribs'n beans in  home- made barbecue sauce in the crock pot. I cleaned up as I went.

Doesn't matter there was still clean-up today. Not finished yet.

That's one reason  I posted someone else on David Suzuki.

Besides  enlightenment  there was the mention of speaker fees.

$40,000. a pop .

Travel, accommodation and meals would be provided by the host as well.

Think about that:

Suppose  Senators Wallin and Duffy were asked to  tally the number of speaking engagements on behalf of the Government(Conservative Party) .

Expenses  claimed  against the Senate budget  and speaker's fees would  be higher  than  that which they are now accused of improperly claiming .

The Prime Minister , to house applause , says they deserve to be suspended without pay and should  resign.

The Prime Minister made the appointments.  Did  he not know Mike Duffy worked and lived in Ottawa for years.

For sure, he knew Pamela Wallin had not resided in Saskatchewan  for  decades.

ThePrime  Minister's private sector brand of  integrity/ expediency is not useful in politics.

Every politician understands very well why Wallin and Duffy were appointed.

What is happening  to them now,at the ands of the Prime Minister,is  precisely  the reason Senate appointments  cannot be  put asunder.

Cheques from "private funds" of the PMO Chief of Staff, legal fees paid by the Conservative Party.
are  merely dots to be connected.

In the public eye, Wallin and Duffy can't be defended .

In Harper's estimation, they could be jettisoned. They should just crawl away quietly.

Well no, they were never going to do that.

Masters of Communication are  least likely victims.  Even if told in the first person, the more salacious the story the more delicious to tell.  This story is too hot to hold.

Duffy can't hide his glee.Wallin is more ladylike but she is a veteran  of wars.

The only Conservative with courage  intelligence and decency enough to defend their right to due process was Hugh Segal.  No slouch himself in the art of communication.

But never fear,  it was likely enough

Now I need to  go finish cleaning up in the kitchen