TORONTO & DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD IS DYSFUNCTIONAL

Well it's not surprising to me to see that the provinces' largest school board is hopeless in a number of areas. A couple of days back the Waterloo Region Record carried a small article indicating that education Minister Liz Sandals was appointing an outside expert to review the troubled TDSB. Minister Sandals claimed that a "culture of fear" exists among staff. Isn't that just hilarious when you realize all the bullshit for years from school boards about removing bullying and harassment from the classrooms. I can recall at the time wondering if they were referring to student bullying or teacher bullying although appearently it's not politically correct to suggest that even one teacher in the entire province could possibly be so bad as to bully children. The infighting and political partisanship is so bad that police were recently called to a TDSB meeting. I love it!

Meanwhile on line there is a wonderful article (Toronto star) all about the same school board (TDSB) tampering with Freedom of Information requests. This had to do with requests for Trustee expense documents. It turns out that some Trustees are just a tad antsy for the voting public to see on what and how much they've been spending their money. Hence many responses forwarded by the FOI officer for the Board end up being redacted and altered improperly by Trustees. A lawyer and author of several works on freedom of information, Michael Drapeau, states that the FOI process "...is a victim to the open defiance, self importance and arrogance of individuals who place their interests ahead of the public interest and their fiduciary duties". Hey folks these lying twits and self absorbed jerks are in charge of your childrens' education. Why are we surprised that our children are falling behind academically when we continue to support such a ridiculous, self interested and absorbed inadequate education system.

HUNH! MALE TAXI DRIVERS ARE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN WATERLOO REGION?

Call me a dinosaur. I'm 65 years old and hardly can claim to be enlightened on "womens'" issues. That said even I can figure this one out. The title of the article in yesterday's Waterloo Region Record was "Training for taxi drivers aims to avoid sex assaults". Really! I had no idea that taxi drivers (male or female?) were victimized that often. So I read the article. They aren't! It's their female passengers who are occasionally being victimized. After reading the whole article it's all so very clear now. The Waterloo Region Taxi Association "...plans to make sexual assault prevention training mandatory for drivers." Hunh! Is it just me or is that again somehow suggesting that taxi drivers are the ones being assaulted? The president of the Taxi Association then follows up with this clarifying statement: "I've been around a long time and the whole two years there... where we had this bad run of luck, I don't want it to happen anymore". So if I understand correctly, this bad run of luck would be male taxi drivers tripping and accidentally penetrating women with their whatsis? Yeah that would take an incredible bit of bad luck for that to happen accidentally. Ahh but finally we have some real clarification with the final comment: "It's how to teach cab drivers how not to fall into the trap of stepping over the line". Got it now. These hapless women are actually female Mata Hari's using their feminine wiles to trap unwary males into sex so that the women can extort national secrets out of them. This is a huge problem because we all know that cab drivers are simply short term, out of work, nuclear physicists looking to spill their secrets. Well done Waterloo Region Record on this article.

ONTARIO'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS EXPENSIVE AND INEFFECTIVE

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carried this opinion piece titled "Ontario's education system needs reform". Basically it compares Ontario's system with that of British Columbia which is much more open and flexible to things like independent schools. "British Columbia offers a model of education financing and delivery that could reduce government costs and improve results." Both religious schools and specialized education schools are run as independent schools. Eligible independent schools which follow the provincial curriculum and hire accredited teachers can receive government grants to the tune of between 35 to 50 percent of government run schools. The results are incredible. Costs are greatly reduced compared to Ontario and student performance is clearly superior. It is estimated that the Ontario government could save between $849 million to $1.9 billion per year. The problem of course for the Ontario government is that those taxpayer funded higher costs essentially are simply taxpayers money buying Liberal votes from the teachers unions and the education establishment in Ontario. The cost savings will help Ontarians but at the expense of the Liberal Party. Guess why we haven't had reform to date.

MORE BLACK AMERICANS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF MURDER

Sometimes I wonder that there hasn't been more not less violence against whites in the United States. Last Saturday's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story titled "Two jailed in 1975 murder walk free after witness recants". The witness was thirteen years old and he had been coerced by police detectives in Cleveland into testifying that three men killed businessman Harry Franks on May 19, 1975. All three men were originally sentenced to death but fortunately Ohio's capitol punishment law was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1978.

Many things should be apparent. Firstly blacks are convenient scapegoats for police forces looking to close difficult cases. Secondly the U.S. judicial system is just as bad as ours here in Canada. How in the name of God do you convict someone of being guilty beyond a reasonable doubt on no more evidence than a frightened thirteen yaer old can unreliably provide. Thirdly how many others have been wrongfully committed of crimes and since executed by the state never to have had anything approaching justice in their cases. This is a blight and a scandal both in Canada and the United Staets that continues to this day. Shame on both our federal governments as well as provincial and state governments who quite obviously don't give a shit.

TORONTO POLICE: DISGUSTING "KETTLING" OF CITIZENS

Last Friday'w Waterloo Region Record carried this article titled "I'd never seen police "kettle" peaceful protesters: TV host". Steve Paikin testifed at the police disciplinary hearing for Supt. David (Mark) Fenton currently going on in Toronto. Specifically the crowd who were 'kettled" in one incident were "...sitting and chanting the words "peaceful protest."". As I've mentioned previously this police action is a permanent stain on policing in this province and country. For those who would assault, kidnap and forcibly detain Canadian citizens, there should be but one outcome and that is to face criminal charges and be imprisoned themselves. Nothing less will ever erase this stain on the civil liberties and human rights of Canadians.

TEACHERS' UNIONS & LIBERALS FACE ANOTHER SHELLACKING

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carrys this Opinion piece from Luisa D'Amato titled "Liberals will close schools because they're broke after pacifying teachers". Luisa relates the promises from the Liberals including premier Kathleen Wynne that there would not be cuts to Health or Education. Apparently that's long out the window now as the Liberals face massive deficits. The interesting part of course is the math when you look at recent concessions given to the teachers. The auditor general this week advised that those concessions to pension benefits and sick leave cost taxpayers $468 million. Just about exactly the $500 million that the Liberals are trying to now save by closing schools. The irony of course, and this is hardly the first union to screw newer employees for the benefit of more senior ones, is that indeed it will be the more recent teachers who are let go first as schools close.

WHY IS THIS TORONTO COP ONLY FACING A DISCIPLINARY HEARING?

This idiot Toronto Superintendant should be facing criminal charges exactly the same way Michael Sona did over in Guelph. Mr. Sona interfered with citizens rights to vote. Superintendant Dave (Mark) Fenton denied citizens their liberty amd indeed incarcerated hundreds in deplorable conditions based on nothing more than they were present during daylight hours in downtown Toronto. What an incredible asshole. Throw him in jail at least for the same length of time that Mr. Sona will be serving namely nine months.

It has taken four and a half years to bring this jerk to a lousy disciplinary hearing. Meanwhile Canada and Canadians civil rights have literally been in limbo while we await the consequences of illegal behaviour by seniopr police officers. Hey you idiots, revolutions have occurred for less. Some day Canadians will wake up and then watch our polticians squeal. Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys the following story "Senior officer faces renewed G20 anger".

DOES ANYONE ELSE SMELL SOMETHING FUNNY?

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this article titled "Region's public school trustees to put expenses online". Jeff Outhit of the Record staff is dutifully reporting attempts to make trustee expenses clearer and more public on a timely basis. Mike Ramsey is the current leader in trustee expenses at $23,948 for conferences in Toronto, Thunder Bay and california over the last four years. While the reporting on expenses will be clearer and more timely there appears to be no attempt to either reduce expenses or the number of conferences etc.. I find the usual platitudes from trustees about how these out of town and even out of country conferences make them better trustees a little thin. My interpretation is that they are little more than taxpayer funded junkets and perks for trustees who overall do little or nothing to benefit children, parents and education in general. Most of the trustees are there simply to hold down a chair and protect the staus quo, which means protecting school board staff and union personnel from any attempt to lessen their influence and power over the system. This includes resisting any initiatives which would reduce inflated salaries and perks.

MORE ON THE MINISTRY OF EXCUSES & CORPORATE COLLUSION

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) are all about appearances and public relations. Hence the new name. This is the third change I've seen since I seriously started studying their behaviour twenty-five years ago. They actually went from M.O.E. to M.O.E.E. or Ministry of Environment and Energy and then they went back to simply the Ministry of Environment. Recently due to the press around climate change and of course they've changed their name again. What has been consistent throughouit is their ability to talk the talk while utterly failing to walk the walk.

Enforcement of our current environmental laws are a joke. Here in Elmira we are even being bafflegabbed that the M.O.E. do not have the authority to go on private property in order to investigate spills, odours , complaints or any other reasonable evidence pertaining to pollution. The Chair of the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) recently had to quote part of the Environmental Protection Act to the M.O.E. to convince them that they do indeed have the authority to go private property.

A recent letter from the new Director of the West Central Region of the Ontario M.O.E. is a typical example. Written on behalf of the Director it purports to be responding to a CPAC Resolution, endorsed by Woolwich Council requesting that the M.O.E. undertake a comprehensive investigation of the east side including off-site of the Chemtura property. This M.O.E. letter is uninformed, inaccurate and generally dismissive of the concerns of local residents as well as of the local Council. Yes the power and money are in the hands of Chemtura canada, Not in the hands of Woolwich Township. Nevertheless it would be nice for a change if we could see our provincial government and Ministry actually working on our behalf rather than on the behalf of the polluter.

MORE ON NEW STUN GUNS FOR WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE

If I had more confidence based upon the history of the Waterloo Regional Police I'd be less likely to suggest that these stun guns are simply toys for boys. My expectation is that each and every cop is going to be dying to try theses things out and guess who will be disproportionately targeted? You got it: young males, drunks and anybody else with an "attitude".

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys the following opinion of a member of the Community Editorial Board, one Joyce Hodge. The title is "Stun guns should be used sparingly by police". Overall I find her article to be balanced and she does have concerns both with the costs involved, the need for them and as well she states "...the officers who are using stun guns need to be extensively trained and monitored to assure they are using the devices appropriately-and only when absolutely necessary." Amen to that.

ARE THE OPP UNFAIR TO CANCER SURVIVORS IN THEIR MIDST?

Surprisingly I can't find this article on line in order to give a link to it. It is a surprisingly large and detailed article titled "Cancer survivor says OPP was unfair"and was published this past Monday (Nov. 10) in the Waterloo Region Record. The complainant is seeking a human rights hearing because he feels there was not adequate accomodation made for him after extremely serious and major cancer surgery. After reading the story it certainly does appear that his superiors were trying to get him to quit by rushing him back into front line duties with the OPP. Frankly based upon the description of the surgery it really makes no sense whatsoever to have insisted that he be back on patrol even if it was mostly patrol from a car. His surgery has resulted in significant weakness in his leg which often leaves him unbalanced and prone to falls. He felt that office duties were much more appropriate after his surgery. Mr. Flameling makes reference to a culture that may have been acceptable in the 60's but is certainly not nowadays.

WHY ISN"T THE REGIONAL COP BEING CHARGED AS WELL?

Are you kidding me? Minor shoplifting including stealing cheese strings ends up with the cop firing his gun four times in the city, in a residential area. Why the hell isn't the cop charged with attempted murder and or reckless endangerment? There had been a theft followed by a car chase. No weapons were involved in any of the charges against the driver yet the officer drew his weapon and opened fire after confronting them in a parking lot. The extraordinarily convenient excuse was given after the fact that the officer had been informed "...that the car may be tied to firearms...". There were three or four people in the car and the pig opens fire on them for minor shoplifting and for running from the police. For the love of God get police like that the hell off the police force. Other than killing everybody in the car he could also have killed innocent civilians outside the car with his missed shot or the one that hit the car other than the two that went through the windshield. The menace that officer posed to the public was far greater than that posed by those currently charged and in custody. Today's waterloo region Record article titled "Theft of snacks led to chase, gunfire".

THE SUITS DO THEIR DEATH DANCE

I came across this expression about twenty-five years ago in Elmira, Ontario. I have no idea who coined it but it was in relation to the Ministry of Environment plus a number of consultants on behalf of Uniroyal Chemical. They were present at a public meeting for the purpose of misinforming the public about the best way to deal with Uniroyal's destruction of the Elmira Aquifers plus extensive damage to Canagagigue Creek and all life in it.

That was around 1990 or even the big public meeting in 1995. I am expecting that we'll have another one soon as the M.O.E. and Chemtura attempt to head off even more devastating revelations surrounding their environmental misbehaviour. It turns out that they've been permitting/allowing toxic discharges from their site into the natural environment off of their site. Of course for a few million I have no doubt that they can somewhat buy their way out of trouble once again. Isn't money a fabulous way to buy legitimacy and respect?

All the key elements are in place. A Ministry of the provincial government (M.O.E.) have two summers in a row determined that there is excessive levels of DDT in the sediments of the Canagagigue Creek. These readings most conveniently are downstream of where a recently discovered manmade Drain has been found. The north end of this Drain ends about 85 metres short of the south end of Uniroyals former toxic waste pits on their eastern property line. There is a pipe running from the direction of the pits into the Drain. Further adding suspense is the recent discovery via Google earth of a line, scar or trench which runs for hundreds of yards north to south and then jogs east to end right at the end of the eastern pits as previously mentioned, 85 metres from the Drain. At first blush one could certainly be forgiven for assuming that this pipe is simply the extension of the line, scar or trench. To date that has yet to be proven although testimony from a local landowner is tantalyzing.

The lies and deception have already started. Look for all the stops to be pulled out. This one could do serious damage to many, many self-important people.

LOCAL WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP POLITICS

There was a story in the Waterloo Region Record titled "Woolwich votes for big changes at the top" on October 30/14. This story listed some of the likely reasons for changes in Mayor and Councillors. In some cases the reasons were the same for both. In other words Todd Cowan's expenses scandal probably was the icing on the cake for many after a number of boneheaded moves he made as Mayor. It is quite likely that the complete housecleaning less Mark Bauman in apparently remote and isolated St. Jacobs, was leftover disgust from the Mayor's sins being put upon Councillors Al Poffenroth and Bonnie Bryant. Agreed Councillor Bryant faced stiff competition regardless from Sandy Shantz but her coming in second last after total newcomer Doug Hergott was frankly ridiculous. Having shared a conversation with Councillor Bryant the day after the election I am even more convinced that this Township have sufferred a loss with her departure. Personally I hope she runs again in 2018 for Council.

WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE TO TRIPLE STUNGUN ASSAULTS ON CITIZENS

O.K. now that headline is intentionally eyecatching. It's meant to be. Do I agree that a less lethal tool than a gun for either subduing suspects or for defending officers and the public from unprovoked violence should be available. Absolutely yes. Is the Taser the right tool. The answer is a firm maybe. It doesn't kill as often or as emphatically as a firearm but no mistake it can and does kill on occasion. Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this article "Police to triple number of stun guns".

Maybe the Taser will save the lives of agitated suspects, mentally ill persons acting out and maybe even felons with a knife or club. If used appropriately and carefully first over a year ago in Toronto, Sammy Yatin would still be with us. Instead those idiot officers shot him with a firearm multiple times and then when he was down they Tasered him. That's the kind of crap I'm worried about here. There are bullying officers on every police force. That is primarily because of union protection and failure by management to weed out the bad apples before they kill a citizen. These bullying officers will believe that they have the right to routinely give out "attitude adjustments". Therefore instead of a slap or punch they will think it just dandy to Taser someone who mouths off at them. That's the problem.

MUSINGS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The politicization of everything drives me crazy. Especially the politicization of the environment. This politicization is exactly why we have to be knocking at disaster's door before anything actually gets done. Everything else is just window dressing until what is obvious the whole planet is finally accepted as fact by politicians with agendas. These agendas of course are directly set by who's lobbied (paid) them the most money recently. Look at climate change. How many years and how many scientific reports were necessary before the politicians decided that despite the oil and gas industry lobby; that they really must do something. Burning of fossil fuels is getting too close to an irrevocable tipping point.

This politicization also carrys over into public consultation. What a great idea for the polluters and or regulators to control so called independent public consultation. This is called having your cake and eating it too. The provincial government controls the Ministry of the Environment as well as local municipal governments who are trying to get infrastructure funds from the province. Any municipality who push too hard say on environmental matters soon learn that their Application for funding on other matters has hit a roadblock. What a system!

FURTHER ON KEN SEILING & THE LRT

Peter Shawn Taylor wrote in last Thursday's Waterloo Region Record the following article "The municipal election makes history-ancient history". Mr. Taylor compares ancient Athens to the Region of Waterloo today. It is an interesting comparison for at the very least the history lesson from the past regarding overeaching governments. Mr. Taylor suggests that Chair Ken Seiling has a layer of soft authoritarianism and glory-seeking beneath much of his agenda. Mr. Taylor also takes to task a number of regional initiatives dealing with development, infilling and the environment such as watering restrictions and the green box. Mr. Taylor even criticizes the nanny state somewhat via the regional Health Department's meddling in our food choices as in healthy food choices. While I don't agree with everything Mr. Taylor says there is certainly an accuracy about a lot of it. Eventually he gets around to Light Rail Transit and how expensive, glorious and ambitious the project is. Mr. Taylor's final shot is to wonder whether LRT will someday end up as no more than a Greek tragedy. Interesting comments and comparison.

THE DOUBLE STANDARD & THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

Last Saturday's front page Local Section of the Waterloo Region Record carrys this story "Son who fired to help his father jailed". Basically the Crown had initially charged him with second degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. He had left his room at his father's home and discovered three assailants had barged into the house uninvited and the largest one at 6 foot four and 350 pounds was attacking his father. He did what any son or daughter would do and he defended his badly outnumbered and outmuscled father. He did this by using a tool which was built for that purpose, called a handgun. He shot two of the assailants each in the arm and the biggest once in the chest. All three fled without further shots being fired. The Crown and police in their infinite wisdom and stupidity or malice charged him with the above offenses. They had to know how asinine those charges were hence by overcharging they gave themselves room to negotiate lower for a plea deal which they got. I find that repugnant but typical of a perverted and incompetent justice system.