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In Defence of Canadians Rights & Democracy


* Hazel McCallion - Mayor of Mississauga *
- 2009 -
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!! A Mississauga Democratic Tradition Lost !!


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Scanned, recopied or Internet copy, if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections:


Opening comments:  More at the end.

To the Public Question Period Index page.

Comments by others to this web-page 3.


Mississauga News - Aug 18, 2009 - Guest Column by Donald Barber

Fight for our rights

Public question period (PQP) should be a right in a democracy where elected officials must treat Canadians with respect and be answerable to them between elections.

For those who wonder where PQP now stands, we won; it has been sent back to be re-done (at City Council).  We can still write in about saving it.
 There’s no telling when you will need it.

How did I get started and end up here, you ask?  In 1994, I went to City Hall to deal with issues regarding the Cawthra Bush and logging and tree farming of City-owned lands.  The community had serious concerns, and City Hall dealt with me by slamming the door in my face and stonewalling me.

The City has used every trick in the book to stop meaningful community involvement and remove me from the political landscape.  The sample bullying and intimidation served up by the mayor and councillors Nando Iannicca and Carolyn Parrish, with respect to public question period, is a perfect example of what I have suffered for 15 years.

Mississaugans should be thankful to Councillor Iannicca for showing the true face of the old guard that rules City Hall and for starting a revolution in thinking by the media and Mississaugans about the blind trust afforded local politicians.

Over the years, many other methods were used against me.  Efforts to find the facts using Freedom of Information Act requests for the benefit of the community were stopped with an IPC (Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario) ruling of frivolous and vexatious, despite the Canadian Environmental Law Association commenting on this matter, saying, “We submit that this claim, on the part of the City, lacks credibility.”

Here’s a short history of PQP events, leading to these changes.

In 2000, during PQP, Councillor Iannicca stormed out because I wanted to address Council regarding issues not on the agenda; the mayor ruled I have the right to do so.

On June 7, 2006 (an election year), I am confronted with PQP being changed, without notice to the public, and I’m not allowed to address Council.

City security started ordering (community activist) Roy Willis and I around, then I was arrested and thrown in jail.

All charges were dropped.

Now, just before an election year, it’s the same thing, but this time it’s to stop Ursula Keuper Bennett’s efforts to inform Council that City security, in her opinion, is not doing its job.  Council didn’t want the details to be broadcast on Rogers.
 
The changes to PQP started with a claim of costs.  When staff would not justify that, it was pushed ahead for political gains.

No changes are necessary as Council has the power it needs.  The changes are so complicated, you need a lawyer to get past them — perfect for making sure no surprise questions are asked of our mayor or councillors.

I’m being used as a scapegoat to end our traditional democratic rights.  Would people not expect me to do everything in my power to prevent this?

Donald Barber is a community activist and a Mississauga resident for more than 50 years.
 


Comments by others, 3, to this web-page;


The Mississauga Muse     Aug 20, 2009 1:42 AM

Uatu writes, " There's something happening here but you don't know what it is" I disagree.

Uatu, you wrote, “The thing is, Muse, despite your $2000 of FOI we only have a glimpse. We don't know what's REALLY going on." That's $2,000 only for Freedom of Information for Mississauga. I’ve also spent over $650 for just two FOI requests probing Brampton! Then let's not forget me videotaping (researching) all manner of Mississauga (and Brampton, Caledon and Peel) meetings. Mississauga Audit Committee meetings were by far the most important. Good grief, Uatu, since October 2006, I've attended more Audit Committee meetings than any elected official including the Mayor. You BET I know what's going on. Here it is: The Leadership Team runs Mississauga NOT elected officials. And elected officials look the other way. OBSTINATELY look the other way. Remember Hogan’s Heroes and Sergeant Shultz’s “I see nothing! I hear NOTHING!”? Staff control the Knowledge. How bad is it? Likely bottomless cesspool. And it’s not just Mississauga....


Uatu     Aug 19, 2009 7:46 PM

There's something happening here but you don't know what it is

The thing is, Muse, despite your $2000 of FOI we only have a glimpse. We don't know what's REALLY going on. We know what ISN'T going on: trust, quality, and excellence. Also, we know one at least one thing that is ONGOING: obfuscation.

* Agree 1


Think About It     Aug 19, 2009 6:50 PM

We Dont Want a Pickle

Just wanna ride on my Mojo-cycle……Don Barber made it clear to the judge at his trial, like myself, he doesn't have $10.00 for transportation let alone for chasing the endless loop at the Freedom To Access Information. Brampton Court room drama's unfold that defendant's are served with a technical bench warrant and chased out of town, another web behind the $66 million spare change scenario McCallion sends to Toronto every year. I had to resort to dumping my car and to building motorized bicycles just to get from point A to use the Compass Food Cupboard, that serves as our food bank for Mississauga South since 2002


The Mississauga Muse Aug 19, 2009 4:17 PM

Courtesy of Uatu through Courtesy Arlo Guthrie, Alice's Restaurant

"You know, if one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick... And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walkng in" [and filing Freedom of Information]. "They may think it's an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day, I said fifty people a day walking in" [and filing Freedom of Information] "and walking out. And friends they may think it's a movement!" [Indeed! And imagine fifty people in Mississauga actually knowing what's REALLY GOING on! And IMAGINE all fifty people in Mississauga actually knowing what's REALLY GOING –and WE ALL RUN for Mayor in 2010!


Uatu     Aug 19, 2009 4:03 PM

Couretsy Arlo Guthrie, Alice's Restaurant

You know, if one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and they won't take him. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony, they may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them. And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day, I said fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. And friends they may think it's a movement!

* Agree 2


The Mississauga Muse     Aug 19, 2009 2:26 AM

Barber wrote, "but this time to also stop the Mississauga Muse’s efforts to inform Council that City security is not doing its job and making false statements to Council.

He continued, “Council doesn’t wants the details or being put on the spot to be broadcast on Rogers". That sure is the impression I got! I went up to that June Public Question Period (PQP) and handed them a dozen double-sided pages revealing Freedom of Information about City Security. Mayor McCallion let me talk until I mentioned an email from the Director of Facilities and Property Management. I drew in my first breath to read the “best” part and she stopped me! I also agree with Barber's claims that he's the one used as the scapegoat. I’ve made frequent PQP appearances asking Security (non-compliance to) policies questions. Then “DeValera” (also now filing Freedom of Information) showed. Easy to paint one citizen as a crank. Even two. But more speaking out?... Not good to have THREE highly-informed citizens wave Freedom of Information in front of Rogers Cable 10!


WatcherOIO     Aug 19, 2009 12:14 AM

0-Caught in the tanged web, Council has woven

And now a word from the person that Mississauga City Council would lead you to believe is a terrorist, when he is not saving our forests, salamanders and letting Monarch Butterflies free. Below is the column I sent in and before it is sent through the Missing News politically correct filter. Hay you know Hurricane Hazel was a Good News editor for many years, maybe she works a night job too. If you want to see the video of Nando unleashing his mouth of mass defamation it has been posted on YouTube at my watcher0I0 site. By the way, a very important event took place at this meeting and the media missed it completely or just will not report it, protect the Mayor some more. By the way the Nando rant article have been removed from the Missing News, News list of local News, why.


WatcherOIO     Aug 19, 2009 12:11 AM

1-Caught in the tanged web, Council has woven.

Public Question Period (PQP) - if not a right, it should be but most definitely, in a Democracy, elected officials must treat Canadians with respect and be answerable to them, between elections. For those who wonder where PQP now stands, we won, it has been sent back to be redone. We can still write in about saving it. No telling when you will need it. How did I get started and we end up here you ask. In 1994 we went to City hall to deal with issues regarding the Cawthra Bush and logging & tree farming of City owned lands. The community had serious concerns, City hall dealt with us by slamming the door in my face and stone walling us. The City uses every dirty trick in the book to stop meaningful community involvement and remove me from the political landscape.


WatcherOIO     Aug 19, 2009 12:11 AM

2-Caught in the tanged web, Council has woven.

The sample bullying and intimidation served up by the Mayor, Councillor Iannicca and Councillor Parrish, is a perfect example of what I have suffered for some 15 years. Mississaugans should be thankful to Councillor Iannicca for showing the true face of the OLD GUARD that rules City hall in public and starting a revolution in thinking by the media and Mississaugans about the blind trust afforded local politicians. Over the years many other methods were used against me. The effort at finding out the facts using the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) requests for the benefit of the community were stopped with an IPC ruling of frivolous and vexatious. Despite the Canadian Environmental Law Association commenting on this matter and saying "We submit that this claim, on the part of the City, lacks credibility."


WatcherOIO     Aug 19, 2009 12:10 AM

3-Caught in the tanged web, Council has woven

A short history of PQP events, leading to these changes. In 2000, during PQP, Councillor Iannicca storms out because I wanted to address Council regarding issues not on the Agenda, the Mayor rules I have the right to. In Apr. 2006, I presented the Mayor, during PQP with a belated birthday gift, a bottle of her favorite sherry, which she accepted warmly. That very night she has her bad car crash. I think it was then, it was decided to put an end to the unscripted PQP - oh to be a fly on the wall when this was being justified. June 7, 2006 (an election year), I am confronted with PQP being changed without notice to public and not allowed to address Council. Without justification City security starts ordering Roy Willis and I around, soon I am arrested and thrown in prison.

* Offensive 2


WatcherOIO     Aug 19, 2009 12:10 AM

4-Caught in the tanged web, Council has woven.

At the bail hearing the bottle was noted, clearly the eyes of government were on it. All charges were dropped, as the Crown knew the City’s claims lacked credibility. Now just before an election year, it is the same thing but this time to also stop the Mississauga Muse’s efforts to inform Council that City security is not doing its job and making false statements to Council. Council doesn’t wants the details or being put on the spot to be broadcasted on Rogers, maybe to claim ignorance to. The changes to PQP started with a claim of costs, when staff would not justify that, it was push ahead for political gains. No changes are necessary as Council has the power it needs.


WatcherOIO     Aug 19, 2009 12:09 AM

5-Caught in the tanged web, Council has woven.

The changes are so complicated you need a lawyer to get past them, perfect for making sure no surprise questions for our dear OLD Mayor or for Councillors to speak out of line. I am being used as a scapegoat to end our traditional Democratic rights and would people not expect me to do everything in my power to prevent this.



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