COMMON ELEMENTS IN POLICE SHOOTING VICTIMS

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story titled "Guelph agency to honour victim in police shooting". The victim was Brandon Duncan and he suffered from mental illness, addiction and Crohn's disease. He had been living on the streets off and on for fifteen years and was known at a downtown agency which serves local homeless and marginalized residents. Sakura Saunders a local political activist is planning a protest at an upcoming Guelph Police Services Board meeting. She also referred to a number of recent fatal shootings of persons with various disorders and difficulties by Toronto police.

TORONTO G20 OFFICER GETTING OFF WAY TOO LIGHTLY

Sgt. Michael Ferry should be facing assault charges not a mickey mouse disciplinary hearing. He tackled a non violent protester, choked him, handcuffed him and then arrested him. For this the "disciplinary" panel want to demote the officer to constable from sergeant. How about arresting him, convicting him, sending him to jail and then telling him to get a new job where he can't bully people while hiding behind his badge and his weapons. Clean house and get rid of these assholes pretending to be police officers.

The G20 scandal exposed Canada for what it is: a psuedo democracy at best. Police went out of their way to break the laws of the land and to harass, intimidate and bully honest citizens. Get rid of them all who behaved in such a fashion. Yesterday's waterloo region record carrys this story titled "Demote G20 sergeant to constable, prosecution to urge discipline hearing".

GRAND RIVER HOSPITAL SCREWS UP YET AGAIN

So which is worse, that they make medication errors or that they cover them up? Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story titled "College cautions Kitchener doctor ". The doctor involved is the chief of staff for both hospitals, Dr. Sharma. Apparently he was defensive, evasive and vague about the significance of a medication error which occurred prior to an elderly man's death in Grand River Hospital. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario have cautioned Dr. Sharma about his behaviour. One member however on the three person appeal board wanted the case to go to the college's discipline committee. He (Taivi Lobu) stated "If misleading information about gross medical error was provided by a hospital chief of staff, a caution by the Committee - even one delivered in person- does not reasonably address the impact of such conduct on others involved in health care delivery and the erosion of public trust in the profession.". Mr. Lobu also added that"...the role of the medication error in the patient's death would likely have not been recognized without the "exceptionally perseverant measures" of the family.".

THE RULE OF LAW IS SUSPENDED IN WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP

Woolwich Township is part of the Region of Waterloo in southern Ontario. While a beautiful northern corner of the Region; it's politics are to say at the least parochial. At the most it's Family Compact time as in the old Upper Canada in the early 1800s when a very small group ruled for their personal benefit as well as for the purpose of keeping the unwashed masses at bay. Half of the six person Council are related at least (S. Shantz, M.Bauman & L.Shantz) and combined with that and identical church connections it is quite weird. Add in Councillor Martin who sides with them and who could blame the minority local wasps for at least thinking the dreaded "Mennonite Mafia". Of course many others don't approve of that term but they're not looking so here goes.

Apparently it's become routine in Toronto for municipal politicians to make light of the various provisions of the Municipal Elections Act 1996. That said many have been audited and several removed from office for failing to file any expense return at all. The same thing happened in Sudbury less than two months ago. In each instance the Municipal Clerk has stepped up and done as the Election Act stipulates which is to immediately remove the offender from office in the case of a total failure to file expense reports.

Not so here in Woolwich Township. Seems that they like to write their own rules and regulations and Mark being literally family and such a swell guy overall; clearly the provincial Elections Act forfeiture of office can't apply to him. That's where we stand today. I expect there will be some response from the province on this. Why Woolwich would take this bizarre position and knowingly court condemnation from the province and the courts is concerning. I don't see this ending well. Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story titled "Woolwich won't remove Bauman".

HOW DISGUSTING IS POLITICS?

It seems to be all about usurping authority. Whenever possible and at whatever level whether municipal, regional, provincial or federal it's all about politicians and bureaucrats making decisions that they have no authority or jurisdiction to so make. Whether Chairs of committees of Council trying to remove members without authority or municipal clerks reinterpreting provincial legislation to suit their wishes; it makes a mockery of our laws.

Ciurrently Woolwich Council are trying to stickhandle around both the Terms of Reference for the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee as well as the Woolwich Township Procedural By-Laws. Their purpose is clearly contrary to the public interest. They want to both change the membership of the committee as well as change the format totally to fulfill the wishes of both Chemtura Canada Inc. in Elmira, Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. That pair have effectively covered up each others culpability and liability over the last twenty-five years regarding the vast environmental damage done to both aquifers amd surface water bodies.

PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHERS AT IT AGAIN

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this Opinion article by Luisa D"Amato titled "Cancelled EQAO tests a loss of very valuable information". The timing by the teachers is certainly interesting. The first group of Ontario children to have the full effect of all day kindergarten are now in Grade 3 ready and waiting for their Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) testing. These results would certainly be valuable input into whether or not the very expensive idea of full day kindergarten is worthwhile or not. Of course the elementary teachers and their unions have decided that this where they'd most like to work to rule. Hence this grand experiment which some critics have pointed out was a welcome boost to the teachers' employment at the expense once again of all the rest of us; simply will not be validated or otherwise this time around as expected.

EVIDENCE FOR DEMOCRACY

The Executive Director of this new organization is Dr. Katie Gibbs of the University of Ottawa. She also helped organize the "Death of Evidence" protest in Ottawa in July 2012. Thousands of scientists and their supporters chanted "No science, no evidence, no truth, no democracy"as they carried a symbolic coffin to the steps of Parliament Hill. Evidence for Democracy advocates for the transparent use of evidence in government decision making and public policy development. The Harper Conservative government has ben cutting funding to various research facilities as well as muzzling of scientists to prevent them from speaking to the media.

It is informed decision making that is a fundamental part of democracy. Psuedo science and self interest science should have no part of government decision making. Dr. Gibbs also sees Evidence for democracy as an important bridge between scientista and the public.