The Great Canadian Talk Show

History repeats itself: CMHR boondoggles exposed, Free Press attacks Museum critics

2011-12-19T12:48:00.022-06:00

Two days late and two dollars short, the Winnipeg Free Press has come late to the games that the Canadian Museum for Human Rights plays with telling the truth to the public about their dubious finances and questionable activities, tactics that have been flagged for years by the very citizen journalists and newspaper readers whom the newspaper of record still deride.

The floodgates sprung a leak about the CMHR work on, or rather in, the ground:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/archeologists-dig-for-information-135720188.html

" ... the museum said Thursday evening its critics should be aware the archeological study's final report is still being written and will be released sometime next year.

"We want to ensure we tell the whole story," said Angela Cassie, the museum's director of communications and external relations. "

This comes only 21 months after we reported on Kick-FM the whole story about the Museum running away from any acknowledgement about the lands beneath it being a graveyard.

http://tgcts.blogspot.com/2010/03/museum-for-human-rights-ignores.html

"The truth about the bones beneath the floor was an inconvenient truth, for the human rights crowd of Manitoba.

Armed with extensive historical clippings and academic studies of the region, Carriere took his case to the vaunted Round Table consultations at the Forks in January, when CMHR officials ostensibly were asking for citizens to come forward with their ideas of which human rights stories the museum should tell.

As he described it, "THEIR JAWS WERE ON THE TABLE".

Carriere is not asking for construction of the Museum to stop.

He is not asking for existing structures to be torn down.

All he is asking for is a cairn, a plaque, a memorial, to allow visitors to the Forks and the CMHR to give pause and remember the exploitation of a native burial ground by land developers.

Apparently, for the Gail Asper's of the world, such an act would require too much time away from high-society hobnobbing and panhandling for donations from gullible school children and photo-op craving Premiers.

CMHR head cheerleader Gordon Sinclair of the Free Press also brushed off the concerns, based on assurances from the museum's handpicked aboriginal "experts" that enabled the pet project of millionaires to proceed unabated." "

The same day, another story exposed even more excuses for why the wheels are falling off the buses to the Museum, and Free Press readers reacted with a barrage of criticism not only for the pet project of millionaires, but for the newspaper that supports it:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/museum-may-be-delayed-again-135725168.html

"The museum recently revealed its 2013 opening has been pushed back a year, but didn't say why.

Now, 2014 isn't carved in stone either.

"2014 is contingent... by March, we can confirm that date," Cassie said... "When is the optimal time to open a museum? You have one opportunity to throw your doors open to the world."

Cassie said the museum needs to choose a specific month to open that would best align with school tours and conferences anxious to use museum facilities.

She acknowledged some groups have had to postpone such events scheduled for 2013." "

(Online comments)

Dave11

12:01 PM on 12/16/2011

@soolkyut... What the blackrod does is analysis. Drawing conclusions from the information. They were bang on about the last cost overruns, that were verified three months later by the Freep.

farmboy1

7:51 AM on 12/16/2011

I see they (CMHR) now have a feel good commercial running on TV begging for more private donations. Their "well-heeled" private donors must have finally awakened and shut the tap off. Fortunately our federal government has done the same. Note to Greg and Sam: Any more money into this will be political suicide for you guys. Don't even think about it.

Lubomyr Luciuk

6:16 PM on 12/18/2011

Over budget (again), not paying existing bills, behind schedule by several years, still refusing to listen to what most Canadians want - it seems as if the CMHR needs Jacques Marion of BDO Canada to come in as a third party administrator to sort out this continuing mess - he's not wanted at Attawapiskat so he might as well go to Winnipeg to figure out why this boondoggle just keeps getting further into the hole.

On Saturday, a follow-up story revealed that CMHR board chair Arni Thorsteinson was de-boarding the sinking ship with a startling new detail that pushed readers to the edge:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/rights-museum-left-in-lurch-135787338.html

"Sources say the museum is as much as $45 million over its $310-million construction budget, mainly because of the rising costs of interior work and the technology needed for the unique exhibits that are planned"

A small sample of the 400 comments:

earl tunnley1

9:24 AM on 12/17/2011

Absolutely no more tax money for this very carelessly run project. Not a penny of "bridge" financing, either. Get a loan from a bank or from the very powerful and wealthy supporters. This project was shoved down the throats of the public and the public is saying in no uncertain terms, No to donating money. It's high time the Free Press acknowledged the other side, ie., the public's disinterest and outright opposition to the project. There's a story here, Free Press. Why don't you tell it?

Steven T

9:29 AM on 12/17/2011

Say what you will about The Black Rod Blog, but he's been warning about this sort of thing for quite some time...

6 replies

Score: 21

MuddyWaters

12:35 PM on 12/17/2011

I trust the Black Rod blog more than the mainstream press for any news regarding the Human Rights museum.

Reader RJF summarized:

Of all the new projects going on in this city, this was the one we needed the least. It was the media elite who demanded it; not the public

Faced with losing control over the narrative which was decaying under the flood of mismanagement stories, the WFP editorial (credited to "Staff writer") insulted its own readers and told them to start going "MOOO", as they were to be treated as milk cows for the failing CMHR farm, regardless of how they felt.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/rights-museum-struggling-135787293.html

"It would be unreasonable to demand that the Friends do more, particularly when they are struggling to fill the last $20 million gap. The rising demand on private funds, moreover, means nothing will be left for an endowment fund that was to help bring students from across Canada to Winnipeg.

Nor would it be acceptable to dumb down the museum, or reduce its noble and necessary mission. The city too easily cuts corners on defining projects, such as the downtown arena, which was originally supposed to be more architecturally significant.

The Harper government has said it will not increase its capital or operating grants, but it should reconsider. The original financial projections were simply unrealistic.

Ottawa, which recently awarded $122 million to the Royal Alberta Museum, a provincial facility, needs to show more interest in a museum that will represent all Canadians. Instead, it seems intimidated by a small group of naysayers."

Readers told the Mountain Avenue braintrust how wrongminded they are:

Grubfoot

1:11 PM on 12/18/2011

"All Canadians, in fact, should be prepared to stand up for the museum to ensure that it fulfils its destiny as a truly national institution with an international reputation."============== Perhaps the powers that gave the CMHR its 'destiny' shoud have predestined its construction not commence until adequte funding was secured? It is telling that the editor uses a gambling metaphor. This thing was started on a bluff: 'even though we don't have enough money to finsih the museum, if we start building it anyway we will be able to shame the public into picking up the rest of the tab.'========= The proponents of this project often mistake it for an act of human rights. The CMHR is, if anything, a fiction to tell themselves

Riverman

4:17 PM on 12/17/2011

"Instead, it seems intimidated by a small group of naysayers." SMALL group of naysayers? Nobody wants this thing except the SMALL group of Asper sycophants. It has the potential to turn our city into a laughing stock. Oh wait, it already has.

Blue Rod Blog

2:41 PM on 12/17/2011

The wfp shows it's true colors. This is arguably one of the worst projects, not most important. It's clear the wfp has zero objectivity and abandoned their journalistic integrity regarding this project. For shame

earl tunnley1

10:45 AM on 12/17/2011

The organizers testified before a senate committee that they would not ask for more tax money above and beyond the Fed's contribution. Why on earth won't you mention this fact, Free Press? The public greatly resents having this museum forced on us. That is why their fundraising is suffering. The arrogance behind creating this project without any consent from the public, was astonishing but where was the mainstream media when the difficult but necessary questions needed to asked? You can and will continue to give us advertorials and editorials but we are not drinking your koolaid. You should do yourself a favour and cease trying to market this museum and just report the news.

MuddyWaters

2:54 AM on 12/18/2011

The best information available on the internet comes from the Black Rod. The Black Rod has been the most accurate source of information on the CMHR.

None of the dismissive and disrespectful attitude towards FP readers who don't drink the CMHR Koolaid comes as any surprise to listeners of TGCTS.

We laid it out 2 1/2 years ago:
http://tgcts.blogspot.com/2009/06/open-letter-to-margo-and-gordo.html

"Conveniently, the paper never mentions that Bob Silver and his partner Ron Stern kicked in to the Museum too.

The term "conflict of interest" never crosses the lips of Margo.

Instead, we lack "visionaries". Those who speak out about the obscenity of $300 Million being diverted from existing museums and charities, and from the taxpayer, are not losers like those who oppose the Fort, we're... "people who think small".

Then, she says "my money's on Gail Asper."

In a bizarre twist, the day before the newspaper repeated history and mocked readers "who think small", editor Margo Goodhand was portrayed in a new, tolerant light:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/citys-eritreans-condemn-back-fp-in-twin-protests-135725058.html

"Free Press editor Margo Goodhand went outside and waded into the middle of the protest to give the newspaper's side and to hear from the protesters. Goodhand later spoke with the opposition as well.

"This is a free and democratic society, and we welcome opinions of all kinds," Goodhand said.

"I'm glad these people came out to express their perspective, and we will continue to investigate the issue. We will not be intimidated by protests or petitions or threats on either side.

"We stand by our reporters and the work they have done on this story." "

For more about how welcoming Margo has been about differing opinions and her track record when her understanding of the actions of her reporters is proven wrong, see

http://tgcts.blogspot.com/2011/01/margo-goodhand-lawyered-up-on-way-to.html

Readers who have called out the newspaper for their pro-CMHR bias and selective reporting, had best hope the editor doesn't find out where they work or who the funder is.

Hear the full podcast special about the latest Museum debacle and their mainstream media enablers here:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/12/19/history-repeats-itself-cmhr-boondoggles-exposed-free-press-attacks-museum-critics/

Comin' soon - new year, new website, new watchdog (PS: and RRC gets a message)

2011-12-15T07:25:00.007-06:00

Later today, after the transcripts have been reviewed, a podcast about yesterdays City Hall meeting will be prepared. It was quite the experience for Osborne House CEO Barb Judt, who had never been down to see our elected representatives at work. It was also quite the experience for me, who has been going down there at various times since before Harvey Smith was elected.

More than ever, a watchdog over the actions of council and committees is needed.

That is why, as soon as it's ready we will have a new easy to use website for our podcast , with our archive, background information, new features, and ways for you to help move the work of TGCTS forward.

There is no ombudsman, no advocate, no voice for the people of Winnipeg coming from mainstream media.

That is our job here. And we'll continue to break stories they won't touch. Stay tuned.

PS - MESSAGE FROM LISTENER TO RED RIVER COLLEGE PRESIDENT STEPHANIE FORSYTH:

On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 10:55 PM, J wrote:

I used to listen to you everyday in my car. I was a financial advisor with xxx xxxx and would have your show on everyday while driving home or to a client's place. I'd even stream in my office if I was working late. Fast forward a year and a half and I'm at a different company in a different role and I ride my bike to work (no, not on the roads nor "rapid transit" anything - I take the paths along the river the entire way, year round). So the few occasions that I drive, I try to catch the show. Even my (now) 7 year old son still asks me to switch to your show if I'm driving him home.

Marty, WTF?

RRC should be ashamed.

J

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

Two charities may have to cancel Christmas dinners; plus a Lesson in Journalism

2011-12-13T04:06:00.005-06:00

Essential listening to understand what's going on in Winnipeg? You betcha.

Start with contrasting the state of the subjects on Winnipeg radio to our hyperlocal, relevant, informed content and style; how you'll be able to get involved with TGCTS thru our new website; then we enumerate our latest dozen followers (@TGCTS, it's booming!) on Twitter including United Way Winnipeg, Ottawa radio show The Album Drop, Cash Mob Winnipeg and Pulitzer Prize nominee, sportswriter Dave Kindred.

It's fascinating to watch the scope of awareness about our work spread across the continent, which sets up...

A Lesson in Journalism.

We examine the Twitterchat about the Jets licence plates, the Metro News story about Osborne House and their wish list and the issue of donor fatigue. How it relates to the CTV Late night news is part two.

Perhaps suffering from compartmentalization they missed a key point in their TV stories - with the Salvation Army and Indian Metis Friendship Centre being a combined $35,000 off the required donation pace for annual Christmas meals and gifts for the less fortunate, this issue of donor fatigue is now the elephant in the room in our city after the pet projects of millionaires sucked obscene amounts of dollars out of our community. (Remember, your favorite Museum is still panhandling for another $20 million. )

Also we reveal that Osborne House CEO Barb Judt is marching down to city hall later this week with a few messages for the Mayor and council.

In the crime report, we make a brief mention of the Grant Avenue Speed trap, the work of Colin Craig of the CTF and Tom Brodbeck of the Sun, as a Facebook member tries to find the good side of the fiasco; and a blogger discovers the city will issue an order on a derelict building, they just won't ENFORCE the order.

How Seinfeldian. Bizzaro Manitoba. Send this episode to everyone you know, here's the link:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/12/13/two-charities-may-have-to-cancel-christmas-dinners-plus-a-lesson-in-journalism/

EPC ignores public consultation promises: why the public needs a watchdog

2011-12-08T15:06:00.007-06:00

This powerful episode, recorded live on location, explains more background and ties together media reports about Red River College's privacy law woes, the scrambling of the CMHR plans to hire staff and open on - well it isn't on time cause it was already late - and their "Orwellian" question and answer exercise; and lastly, what happened at city hall when the Downtown Parking Plan was rubber-stamped with no regard for the unconnected common folk who are being denied input.

This is the third neighborhood this week to report an absence of fair treatment by city "planning".

Listen for an online comment about the difference between Coun. Eadie's tirade about his own backyard and the silence of councillors when other areas get steamrolled by city processes.

We explain how this ties in to the launch of a new website next week, and why the general public needs resources like our Podcast and our coverage of city hall, the Legislature, and local blogs to help them stand up to decision-makers and hold them accountable. Listen for how you can be part of the next stage.

Plus :
- more on homicides number 36 and 37,
- a Level 5 car thief tries to injure cops twice,
- the price of cocaine in Winnipeg plummets, and
- are the HA's picking up stakes?

A newspaper columnist and a local clothing designer now follow us on Twitter- you'll hear who they are!

LISTEN HERE:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/12/08/epc-ignores-public-consultation-promises-why-the-public-needs-a-watchdog/

TWITTER: @TGCTS
PS -- WATCH FOR A STORY ABOUT OSBORNE HOUSE IN TOMORROW'S METRO !

CMHR, RRC President Forsyth learning hard lessons in accountability; Is Parking Authority next (Updated after mtg) ?

2011-12-06T23:58:00.007-06:00

It's been a rough week for the upstanding responsible 'leaders' and 'visionaries' of our downtown.

On Sunday, to the shock of many, the Winnipeg Free Press - fed by an actual caring student journalist - told the public how, yet again, Red River College president Stephanie Forsyth had some splainin' to do to the Provincial Ombudsman because of those pesky privacy laws and some detoured-from-the-shredder security reports.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/college-fails-to-properly-dispose-of-documents-privacy-breach-at-red-river-134984893.html?device=mobile#

One of our listeners wasn't so willing to let Madame Micro-manager pass the buck to just the lowly contracted cleaning staff :

The security workers working that night that put those files in the designated recycling area should be fired for not doing there job and locking them up. The cleaner should also be fired because they clearly don't understand the concept of having a shredding station and knowing paper is there to get shredded for a reason.. Whoever was responsible for shredding those papers should be investigated as well. If they were dumping their work of on the cleaners and not shredding stuff themselves they should be fired too.

Then on Tuesday, the pet project of Millionaires - still silent about being built on a sacred burial ground - admitted to the Winnipeg Sun that after years of living high off the hog and showing no regard for whose money was being spent - the taxpayers of Canada - suddenly annual spending was constricted by 50%, hiring was only 1/3 of the planned staffing expansion, they might not be able to afford the entire $310 million for the monstrosity on the Red, and oh yes, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is ANOTHER YEAR behind schedule.
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/12/06/update-given-on-human-rights-museum

On Wednesday morning, I will be appearing at the City of Winnipeg Executive Policy Committee meeting. To my surprise, a caller advised me that a report from the Parking Authority about a downtown parking plan is wedged into their crowded agenda.

It is written in almost incomprehensible bureaucratese, such as "Develop a range of customer input mechanisms". (HUH?)

None of which, it appears, included the term "public consultation" or "town hall".

No wonder, considering not a single human unaffiliated with a civic department or agency was consulted as part this plan set before "the Mayor's cabinet".

I will be reminding the EPC members who amongst them agreed with my presentation last March, and are quoted in Hansard agreeing with me, that the public should have a say in parking planning; deserve some fair recourse for complaints; and that public consultation meant the public as in "humans", not just the designated organizational "stakeholders" the parking czardom is cozy with.

HINT: it's a majority of the votes.

Will their words of assurance from March have meaning, or will voter cynicism about politicians be once again validated ?

Given that aside from my late-in-the-day registration to speak, NOT A SINGLE DELEGATION was scheduled to address the dozens of issues EPC is deliberating on, it appears civic engagement in River City is at an all-time low.

Little wonder, when those who have stated their case at council have been personally attacked -- on the record -- not for the validity of their arguments, but for having dared to speak out in opposition and participate in something that got those same councilors into their jobs in the first place - democracy and free speech.

We'll let you know how it turned out on the next podcast, which will be recorded at our special Facebook group gathering to which all are invited Wednesday night, 7 PM, at the Kings' Head tavern.

EDIT: Here is the Twitter-ready version of the presentation - thanks to James Turner of the Winnipeg Sun:

heyjturner James Turner

@TGCTS at EPC meeting to present on his views of the downtown parking plan. @winnipegsun

heyjturner James Turner

Says report is 'dense' in terms of how it's written. Talking public consultation.

heyjturner James Turner

'The public had to be consulted' but stakeholders didn't include 'people' Gold says.

heyjturner James Turner

'I have waited since March ... For a public notice", Gold says.

heyjturner James Turner

Not a single record of WPA consulting public on downtown parking, he says. The plan affects Women's shelter

heyjturner James Turner

'Would somebody please ask (the WPA) to start speaking english?' Gold says.

2 hours ago

heyjturner James Turner

'How come the public is never mentioned as a key stakeholder group?' Gold asks. @winnipegsun

heyjturner James Turner

WPA references Los Angeles etc. In report: 'none of which have blizzards,' Gold says. @winnipegsun

heyjturner James Turner

'Couns. Must take some actions with regard to the Parking Authority.'

heyjturner James Turner

Katz thanks Gold for his comments, no questions @winnipegsun

Museum & Simkin Centre update, Eadie's tirade, Realtor rules, homeless housing victims, Vandal vs consultation, boneheaded judge: All in one podcast !

2011-12-04T19:30:00.010-06:00

Shout-outs off the top of today's podcast across the continent, to a crew that includes a Winnipeg student journalist, a realtor, a new member of our Facebook group from Thompson, a rock singer who is also an aspiring American politician, and a groovy Village retailer.

One of the overriding themes today - there is less news and information and more pollyanna-ism in Winnipeg mainstream media than ever with the return of the Jets - who will fill in the gap?

Part One: Follow-ups on recent featured analysis of

- The new slant of the Museum of Human Rights, apparently unwilling to allow discussion of human rights abuses and genocide by Nazi's and Communists but seemingly willing to commit a blood libel against Christianity as part of their Holocaust displays - a philosophy that all must disavow BEFORE more public funding goes to the pet project of Millionaires;

- the disregard of the Simkin Center for basic non-profit governance, as the CEO's contract was extended? renewed? no one's sure - without even needing approval of the closed-shop self - perpetuating Board of Directors .

Who in government or the MSM watches the public's back? Who will speak out about this abuse of power and is the watchdog against non-profits that break their bylaws, from bullying by the connected classes, from community dishonesty ? We ask, who's there to protect you ?

Part Two - City Hall behaves like a Grade 3 Class ?

L'affair Ross Eadie: F-sharps like "a newly peglegged pirate"; the real questions about his rant; naming names of who was for/against the 108 Scotia St. housing; and a blogger analyzes the cast of characters and explains how our impending civic budget ... um, well ...

"These are the people that we decided were responsible and mature enough to handle our money for us, and on the strength of their decision-making skills we will owe a billion dollars within the next three to four years without having solved any of our existing problems. Everything is terrible. There's your local news."

http://slurpeesandmurder.blogspot.com/2011/12/one-billion-dollars-of-debt-managed-by.html

Speaking of politicians, a realtor brilliantly delves into how complacency harms Winnipeggers as both voters AND homeowners, and reveals a startling new era of accountability may be on the way - for realtors, anyways:

http://simplewinnipegrealestate.com/2011/politicians-and-realtors-%E2%80%93-not-so-different

Part Three - Crime Courts and Public Safety

Just wondering, considering #35 was a homeless person in an abandoned apartment block, is #36 halfway there ?

Speaking of homeless people and public safety:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/program-rescuing-dozens-from-streets-134955593.html
FP Reporter: In Winnipeg, At Home has produced a number of heartwarming success stories along with some spectacular failures.
"Wally Ruban, operations manager at B & M Land Co., which once rented 10 suites to At Home participants, said the company has pulled out of the program. "I think it's fallen flat on its face," he said Friday."
(A project manager said:) "I think it's been a learning experience for all of us."

Again the question is asked who speak out for the people that live in suites next to the "spectacular failures" AND I tell what someone in the private sector hears after trying the "learning process" excuse out on the boss.
And who speaks out for the victims of these failures, ie their neighbours especially in public housing ?

Meanwhile, Coun. Danny Vandal tries to find a way to knock the public (and their own responsibility as elected officials) out, once and for all, from having a say in transit fares by emulating the Parking Authority model -

"It also allows that independent intelligent analysis that is often lacking and avoids what happened on the floor of council," Vandal said, referring to the recent transit fare hike.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/vandal-calls-for-independent-transit-authority-134896683.html

Memo to the Councillor: if we had something in this town called MANDATORY PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS, a 25c fare hike wouldn't have happened either.

And how can it exist until you and council get a handle on this next issue?

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crime-weighs-on-many-minds-134896958.html

"The report shows that when it comes to feeling "not at all worried" about using or waiting for public transit at night, Winnipeggers had the lowest rate in Canada.

Only 33 per cent of Winnipeggers said they felt that way"

James Turner of the Sun - well, in this case of his blog
http://winnipegcrime.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/the-latest-crime-scenes-golden-crown-award/#comments

tried to reward the effort of a Crown attorney to protect the public from a violent sick 16 year old who beat up two innocents in 2 days last summer, kept out of jail because she might be around bad influences and then there's the little baby that needs her.

She walked away Wednesday with two years of supervised probation, admittedly with some stringent conditions for the first few months.

Despite randomly picking a stranger to attack, brutally beat and strangle for no apparent reason — two days after robbing another guy behind a 7-11 — S won’t do any real time.

(How long till bonehead judgements forces the Crown to rethink her career?)

HERE IS THE LINK TO THIS IMPORTANT PODCAST:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/12/04/museum-simkin-centre-eadies-tirade-realtor-rules-homeless-housing-victims-transit-czars/

***********************
LASTLY: From our former Kick-FM colleague Ezra of Illegal Curve on CFRW:

"Hello everybody.

As some of you already know, my father, John Ginsburg recently released the e-version of his book "Fine Times" on Amazon and the iTunes book store.

My dad began working on this book in the summer of 2009 and completed it in 2010.

The book is currently only available for download from iTunes and the Amazon book store. The cost of the book is $2.99 and it can be found by searching "Fine Times John Ginsburg"

I'm really proud of my dad and I hope everyone enjoys it.

-Ezra Ginsburg"

(Ed. note - It's about a girl who idolizes Moshe Dayan, so it must be great.)

Crimestat flaws predicted 5 years ago/ Faron Hall poster child for failed NDP holistic approach

2011-11-30T03:00:00.011-06:00

TGCTS opens today by recounting our recent Twitter interaction with the likes of civics blogger Brian Kelcey, Taxpayers Federation director Colin Craig and PC Justice critic Kelvin Goertzen that proves the relevancy of our platform in the current local media scene.

Then 3 main segments are undertaken:

1) The attack on Christian values by the left, as analyzed by CBC's Rex Murphy for the National Post, was almost predictive of the plan of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to blame Christianity for the Holocaust, even while as Tom Brodbeck reports, the federal money tap to pay for it is being turned off

2) Revisiting previous stories -- The unexplained (by MSM) reasons why the NDP had to roll out a 511 emergency communications system - it's a 4 letter word; Bernie Bellan raises the issue of the responsibility of the WRHA and Health Dept. bureaucrats in the death of Simkin Centre resident Lilyan Peck; and the Free Press estimate of the enormous cost of the bribe paid (in the form of higher wages and pensions) at the back end of the wage freeze the NDP arranged with their union friends.

3) The amazing analysis of Bob Axford on March 12, 2007, that the proclamations of then police Chief Ewatski and Mayor Katz about how their version of Crimestat would emulate US successes was a con job on the public. Recent blog posts by Menno Zacharias and Rae Butcher seem to back up Axford's hypthesis.

Plus a rundown of recent near-killings and robberies involving teenagers, the jail time for a rampage last summer on downtown bike riders by a fledgling gangster, an excellent court report from James Turner about a 53 x arrested for intoxication downtown vagrant and what should be done about him, my comparison of that case to recently arrested and intoxicated 'homeless hero' Faron Hall, the biggest example of why the NDP has failed to protect not only the public, but the perp (from himself);

and last but not least, Justice Murray Sinclair jumped on the "one minute to midnight" bandwagon and the Free Press had to censor dozens of commenters that called his bluff for making excuses for the potential of aboriginal violence .

And a reminder to join our Facebook group at the Kings Head next Wednesday at 7 PM for a roundtable and announcements about the growth of our platform. GET INVOLVED - YOU HAVE THE POWER.

Here is the Wednesday Podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/30/crimestat-flaws-predicted-5-years-ago-faron-hall-poster-child-for-failed-ndp-holistic-approach/

Failures exposed: Paul Martin and WeDay, Chief McCaskill and Crime "Roadmap"

2011-11-25T06:01:00.007-06:00

This week, the mainstream media:

- Ignored the obvious questions about political bias and self-serving agendas that infected the presentations to 16,000 schoolchildren at We Day. TGCTS culled Twitter and the parliamentary record to bring you the other side of the story beyond the hype, about the event itself and the sorry history of former Prime Minister Paul Martin who pretended to now be the champion of aboriginal needs.

- Ignored the failed administrative practices, deceptive promises and insufficient math of Chief McCaskills' promises to bring more control over problem tenants and more cops to bear on crime in Downtown. TGCTS recaps the extensive analysis of The Black Rod that revealed how McCaskills' artsy layout cannot mask his failure to utilize Crimestat properly or to deliver meaningful change.

- Ignored the travesty of the Diamond Lane ticket trap on southbound McPhillips at Inkster, even with news cameras filming bewildered motorists getting tagged when the buses-only priority is not in effect. City Hall directed a cop to answer our listener Outlaw Adam Knight, who took the issue to Mayor Sam Katz and is keeping our audience in the loop.

- Ignored the disconnect between the Court of Queen's Bench on what would be acceptable conduct to "reasonable members" of the public and what a normal person would think actually went on, when the Labradoodle trial was compromised by a provincial Court judge's actions and a motion for his dismissal was rejected. We were there.

Plus: updates on the disruption of the Downtown Biz safety forum, the PC leadership race-to-be, the latest violent incident near the Air Canada building on Portage, and an arrest in the shooting of a 14 year old boy in the face last month - and a translation of the McCaskill-approved press release into plain English.

And no less than 8 shout-outs start off the show - along with the announcement of Marty Gold doing play by play for a cable TV sports special.

Here is the link to the Friday Podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/25/failures-exposed-paul-martin-and-weday-chief-mccaskill-and-crime/

Fifth Anniversary Episode: Chief McCaskill's colouring, em, crime reduction plan-to-make-a-plan booklet reviewed

2011-11-22T14:22:00.009-06:00

Today's podcast marks the 5th year of The Great Canadian Talk Show serving the community as the voice of the alternative media. The support of so many people, from all political stripes and opinions, and from the mainstream media, bloggers, world of business and academia, and supporters of free speech, is gratefully acknowledged.

My latest column in the Jewish Post and News provides some historical background on the training to engage in this form of broadcasting that I received under the mentorship of the late Yoram Hamizrachi East.

http://www.jewishpostandnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=470%3Awhat-yoram-hamizrachi-taught-me-about-social-activism&catid=47%3Afp-roknewsflash&Itemid=53

Shout-outs off the top of the show include the instructors and students at two institutions I had the pleasure of speaking to this week: the radio class at Academy of Broadcasting under John Copsey; and the Writing Partnerships Practicum course in the Rhetoric, Writing, and Communications department at the University of Winnipeg, at the invitation of Associate Professor Jennifer Clary-Lemon. Her class blogs at http://writingpartners.wordpress.com/ .

Our focus on this episode is the colouring book-like booklet distributed to the media on short notice last Friday by Winnipeg police chief Keith McCaskill, long on fluff and filler like:

“The fact that you’re planning is more important than the plan."

As I said to the classes I spoke to, if a Grade 10 student tried to regurgitate self-serving quotes and artsy pictures in a class project like McCaskill did, they would be awarded an F.

Forced by statistical fact of an increase in violent crime to croon a Petula Clark hit to explain where he intends to target resources - hello Stefano Grande - McCaskill adopted what could be a new phone number representing the lowball targets he has for a crime-reduction strategy - 9-3-3 - for approval at city hall "where normally supportive politicians damned the long-awaited plan with faint praise."

The Free Press also reported on how the presentation did not address breaking the backs of gangs "that seem to invade every safe space" by going after "the kingpins"; nor did the material explain how the Chief wants to work with the MLCC to address alcohol-fueled violence after working WITH the Liquor czars to pursuade the NDP to expand the hours socials held in neighborhood halls can sell booze.
Rounding out the show is a recap of two accounts from the blogosphere of last week's Downtown Biz safety forum being hijacked by anti-cop, anti- Biz anarchists:

http://thecoldcoldground.blogspot.com/2011/11/forum-on-downtown-unsafety.html#comment-form

http://uniter.ca/blog/entry/6934/

(NB - it has come to my attention that one of those stories is being disputed, which I will raise when taping the next installment.)

And of course given the circumstances, a special reflection on our time at Kick-FM and growing the audience, the dishonest conduct of Red River College censors under Stephanie Forsyth towards community radio and free speech - lying about Sam Katz and Vic Toews for instance - and what our listeners are saying about the show and the direction this city has taken in the past year with no one on radio holding the oligarchy to account in our stead, are part of the commentary. Here it is:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/22/fifth-anniversary-episodechief-mccaskills-colouring-em-crime-reduction-plan-booklet-reviewed/

Exclusive: Velomobile introduced in Manitoba; plus city "leaders" cower from public consultation on bus fares

2011-11-18T03:28:00.019-06:00

(Thanks for alerting us, the audio link has been fixed) On Remembrance Day, I was out with one of our close friends and sponsors, TJ Bratt of Double D Snow Removal (call 805-3555, he'd want me to remind you). As we drove down a quiet street in St. Boniface, what looked like a white rocket crossed the road about a block ahead of us. Naturally, as intrepid reporters and curious Georges, we set off in pursuit.

What we found was the debut of a unique form of transportation to Winnipeg and a most affable driver.

In this special podcast, you'll meet the owner of the first Velomobile on our streets, who has taken his love of cycling to a whole new level. Josh, (not to be confused with our longtime associate Young Josh, now of APTN) is a longtime resident of Southeast Winnipeg and although a believer in active transportation, has never been aligned with the militant bike lobby.

Rather, he went about his hobby quietly and decided to invest his hard-earned savings from his job as a shipper/receiver in the most unique, cool, self-propelled vehicle imaginable, the Sunrider model manufactured in the Netherlands.

Josh describes his personal background, the reasons why he decided to buy it, the physical demands of this style of cycling, and his hopes to add sponsorships to the fibreglass hull and perhaps make guest appearances at local events and for worthy causes to help him defray the costs. He sat in for the entire show and it was a pleasure to be able to host him in the studio.

Also on today's show - Josh helps list who was hitting up our blog (thank you potty-mouth Pat Martin!) and the shout-outs to our newest followers on Twitter - including Manitoba's Top Employers, social media ace Erica Glasier, and Destiny Watt of city hall.

And speaking of city hall...

You will hear our analysis of how councillors betrayed the working class, seniors and the poor when "leadership" at city council was re-defined as ditching all public consultation to hike bus fares by 400% more than was originally asked for, thanks to the allegedly spontaneous brainstorm of Deputy Mayor Justin Swandel to fund rapid transit ... sort of.

The way the vote passed, and who supported it, exposes the deep divide between the marginalized inner city and the arrogant oligarchy at 510 Main that resorted, without shame or guilt or conscience, to procedural trickery to avoid public debate. It was like they sneered "ya, what Pat Martin said" to Winnipeg voters, and ignored their promises to make sure the people had a say after the disaster of bike lanes in 2010.

Which members deserve a pat on the back for refusing to go along with anti-democratic tactics? Do we need recall legislation to ensure elected officials do not abuse the public trust or pocketbooks again ? What was said and by whom, in the Twitterverse and on blogs? Listen and get informed.

Also reviewed (speaking of Remembrance Day) is Free Press columnist Dan Lett admitting in a blog post to his surprise (and a few other things) that a U of M student didn't swallow his attacking Mayor Sam Katz again and told him off; and the fierce debate among our Facebook group about who (beside the convicted boy) should be held responsible for the murder of a 14 year old girl stabbed through the mouth while she was passed out drunk. And it ain't Gary Filmon.

Here is the link to the Friday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/18/velomobile-introduced-in-manitoba-plus-city-leaders-cower-from-public-consultation-on-bus-fares/

Go Bombers !

The Crime Special: Chief McCaskill's priorities dangerously out of touch

2011-11-15T02:36:00.006-06:00

The numbers tell the tale of a city where thanks to the 12 years of the NDP's "holistic approach" and a clueless police chief, criminals have no fear of cops and think they have a human right to commit crimes.

5 - the number of homicide cases in 2011 with no arrests and seemingly, no leads.

14, 15, 17, 17 - the ages of accused gun, knife and bear-spray wielding suspects this past week.

12,13,13,14,14,14,15,16,16,16,16,42 - the ages of their (known) victims. Think about how many teens across the city were terrorized, and the effect on their families and friends.

#33 - the Exchange District drive-by shooting where police are begging for tips.

# 35 - the most recent homicide count, the latest victim is now being canonized as a troubled homeless man found fatally injured in a blazing abandoned apartment block, barely 5 weeks after he himself almost killed an innocent man by bashing his face with a rock.

5 - the number of incidents referenced above that occurred in downtown Winnipeg in the past 7 days, (6 in two weeks if we include killing #33)

With murders, stabbings, shootings, macings, arsons, and break-ins ( including a bloggers' home) are rampant in Winnipeg, and while other cities try to find genuine solutions, in the Tuesday podcast we itemize the unacceptable priorities of our Chief of Police, Keith McCaskill:

- don't answer the non-emergency line;

- launch an encrypted dispatch system to conceal the number of violent emergency calls from reporters and the public, a technology that so endangered cops on the beat it had to be pulled;

- announce a volunteer-staffed fake initiative to compile complaints about "community issues" like poor street lighting that already never get fixed (why have citizens call 311 directly when now police trained volunteers can do it instead ?) ;

- assign cops to enforce diamond lanes on Saturday mornings in the north end - are the buses being delayed on McPhillips ?? - rather than having them investigate real crimes;

- pressure city council to ban snowmobiles, ignoring how maybe, maybe one day in a blizzard (ie 1966, 1986, 1997) the cops will actually need citizens to rally the troops and get doctors and nurses to hospitals;

- and whatever you do, DON'T WARN FAMILIES IN ST. VITAL, RIVERVIEW, DOWNTOWN, THE NORTH END OR WEST KILDONAN THEIR TEENS COULD GET ROBBED AT KNIFE AND/OR GUNPOINT BY A PUNK ON A BIKE.

"The problem is not a lack of policies or examples or approaches. It’s the absolutely shocking failure on the part of Winnipeg’s entire leadership class to act on any of these examples." Brian Kelcey

Listen to the Tuesday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/15/the-crime-special-chief-mccaskills-priorities-dangerously-out-of-touch/

Twitter: @TGCTS
Email: TGCTS1@gmail.com

Winnipeg blogosphere backlash against Free Press hypocrisy

2011-11-14T16:13:00.009-06:00

Today, Graham Hnatiuk blogged about a war of words started over on the Free Press website, after columnist Dan Lett didn't take kindly to being called out for ignoring allegations of election irregularities in the vote that resulted in Kevin Chief winning the Point Douglas seat at the legislature.

http://progressivewinnipeg.blogspot.com/2011/11/dan-lett-and-ivory-cafe.html

Hnatiuk raised serious issues about the derisive attitude of the Winnipeg Free Press towards citizen journalists, at the same time as they have joined forces with Red River College to administer a $400,000 program via the Winnipeg Foundation to "train" them.

I want to make clear that in no way do I think, or have I ever thought, that Dan Lett had anything to do with the "keep this confidential" backroom gang - style 'hit' of my reputation and my community radio program by pro-censorship elitists aligned with "people whose opinions we care about".

http://tgcts.blogspot.com/2011/02/winnipeg-free-press-opposes-censorship.html

However, the following email from a listener about today's blog post demonstrates that even one year later, the actions of Free Press and Red River College officials and of their corporate radio "partners" masquerading as community representatives on the radio station board of directors, continues to cause deep mistrust in this community towards the MSM and Red River College - and has backfired on FP editor Margo Goodhand, her bossman Bob Cox, and RRC president Stephanie Forsyth.

Hi Graham and Marty,

Graham, your post today was very well written and highlights  the arrogance and hypocrisy of some MSM members.

Folks like Mr. Lett are not used to being  challenged and as a result instead of engaging the public, resort to ad hominum  attacks.

Whether teddybaxter is right on his/her facts or  not - he/she is actually a customer of Lett.

All Lett had to do was place his evidence forward  and invite teddybaxter to do the same - while keeping his  professionalism.

Instead the public is treated to "Behold the wonder  of citizen journalism" and accusations of being "birthers" and 911 conspiracy  folks.

This is an insult to every single "citizen  journalist" and every single person who reads/listens to them (like  me).
 
The MSM is losing the trust of the people that they  supposedly serve.  As a result those folks are increasingly looking for  alternatives.

This scares the MSM because they are losing that  exalted space that used to be theirs.

When backed into a corner they lash  out.

I'm glad that you reiterated the cancellation of TGCTS.  This  has dire consequences for all community radio in this city.

If  commercial/"elite" interests can get away with it at KICK, you can bet your ass  they'll try it again somewhere else.  What happened to TGCTS should not be  forgotten.  These jokers might not like something on your own radio program and  all of a sudden there's no room at the inn at UMFM.

This past year has been one hell of an education  for myself (and it's not over yet).

"Citizen Journalism" and the "Alternative Media"  have never been needed more.

All the best as you continue your work

John

(Next podcast is a Tuesday special about Crime in Winnipeg. )

Live at King's Head - City Hall, the Bike Lobby and 'Rapid' Transit; reel-to-reel & 80's Winnipeg VHS tapes wanted; special guests

2011-11-10T18:32:00.020-06:00

Thanks to the wonders of our Facebook group, a live edition of TGCTS broke out at the King's Head on Wednesday night and was it fun (if perhaps recorded at a too-quiet setting, live and learn ) !

Notwithstanding the absence of a wireless signal, a fast-paced and wide-ranging discussion ensued with shout-outs to all sorts of Twitterists, guest commentators including Graham Hnatiuk of Progressive Winnipeg, and a rave review of Dr Pepper Barbeque sauce is but a fraction of the fun.

Oh, and the answer to the question from our last Podcast - how many callers did I hang up on at Kick-FM?

Lots of opinions, information, naming names galore (Rosemary Vodrey??), and discussion about Winnipeg past and present, and especially plugging Jim Jaworski's work to preserve historic video of this city (lil_zebra@truwinnipeg.org if you have any to contribute), at http://www.youtube.com/user/jaworskij

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE LIVE ON LOCATION PODCAST: http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/10/live-at-kings-head-city-hall-the-bike-lobby-and-rapid-transit-reel-to-reel-80s-vhs-wanted/

PS - If you would like to book a live edition of The Great Canadian Talk Show to generate discussion with your group or organization, as a fundraiser, or for your own entertainment, we'd be happy to oblige.

REMEMBER THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR OUR FREEDOM.

Osborne House CEO Barb Judt speaks out: Domestic violence and the underfunded women's shelter

2011-11-08T03:20:00.009-06:00

One year ago today, Osborne House was denied the launch of a $10,000 fundraising campaign on Kick-FM.

The Tuesday podcast returns to the issues surrounding domestic violence in our society that CEO Barb Judt was going to raise a year ago on campus radio - until RRC made the choice to stifle free speech and protect the fiefdoms of their "media partners" by canceling The Great Canadian Talk Show without notice that day, rather than have the story of Manitoba's largest shelter heard and help protect vulnerable women and children.

When she tried to address College officials involved with the Kick-FM board about their arbitrary actions, she was misled, outright lied to, and ignored. The President of Red River College Stephanie Forsyth and her obedient staff of censors "demonstrated insensitivity to Osborne House", says Barb, and they failed to recognize that their own students are among the most common demographic of victims. She appears on TGCTS today to set the record straight as part of Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Listen to Barb explain:

- how dysfunctional childhood backgrounds create volcanic environments for adults
- that new technology is enabling more pervasive stalking techniques
- the spiraling demand for protective services from new immigrants, who are shunned for refusing to be imprisoned in their homes and beaten
- why business owners and managers have a vested interest in raising awareness and funding shelter services to help their employees deal with domestic violence
- how the NDP government has finally moved on the funding crisis
- why mainstream media shies away from reporting about the issues Barb and her staff deal with every day

The details touched on in this interview about the role OH(@OsborneHouseWPG)
serves with children and new Canadians are of utmost importance. This is a podcast that listeners should email to everyone they know, and to elected officials they may not know but who control the public pursestrings.

Also today, Los Angeles homelessness activist/documentarian Mark Horvath (@hardlynormal) - whose speech at CDI College this summer was attended by ZERO MSM reporters, ZERO CEO's and ZERO Downtown Biz representatives - made an observation this weekend about the true test of people who claim they want to help find solutions.

Listeners may also want to send his remark to everyone they know and to elected officials they don't know, it's that good. Some local phony-baloney "leaders" would surely pale at the thought of living up to Horvath's standard.

The shout-outs today include a blogger, musicians, an online radio industry hub, a newspaper rep, and a journalism instructor. Plus news in progress about a planned gathering of our Facebook group members on Wednesday evening.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE TUESDAY PODCAST:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/08/osborne-house-ceo-barb-judt-speaks-out-domestic-violence-and-the-underfunded-womens-shelter/

PS: GO TO THE RED TOP DRIVE-IN ON THURSDAY BETWEEN 8 AM AND 9 PM FOR A FOOD NETWORK TAPING OF "YOU GOTTA EAT HERE"

Feedback on Occupy Winnipeg, Downtown Biz and safety, poverty, Crocus; plus FLM nominations open

2011-11-07T02:35:00.014-06:00

In lieu of a Podcast today, we are going to take some extra time to prepare a special Tuesday episode marking the one year anniversary of the betrayal of radio listeners (and their own Cre-Comm students) by the anti-citizen journalism, anti-free speech bosses at Red River College.

One of the reasons the media oligarchy, as Scott Price of CKUW describes it, had to find a way to silence the community platform offered to TGCTS by CKIC station manager Rick Baverstock, was our mandate to circulate other sources of opinion and information and to reflect the comments by listeners and readers in our community about the issues and how they are reported on by the mainstream media.

Can you imagine if last November, heading into a provincial election, the public had learned on drive-time campus radio that the largest shelter in Manitoba was rife with mould and needed $1/2 million in repairs, while the Selinger priority was to devote over $30 million to polar bear projects and $40 million for a museum about "human rights" ?

Which media outlet do you think would have asked Greg Selinger why his government underfunded Osborne House and endangered its clients health? Because TGCTS would have.

Then again, we derived not a dime from his government.

The execution of TGCTS on radio wasn't about silencing us in the studio - it was about silencing ALL of you who were being given a voice at a time of day when people would actually be able to listen to their radio, and would want to participate in a professional format that engaged the audience to take action and challenge elected officials for funding the pet projects of millionaires to the hilt while they ignored the daily needs of vulnerable human beings in our community.

We are sure the brown tower bullies at RRC and their loyal "partners" in mainstream radio will want to listen tomorrow to the story told by Barb Judt of Osborne House about domestic violence in this community and the demand for the services her agency provides.

After all, it is the story that they themselves silenced one year ago at Kick-FM because they cared more about their corporate agendas then they did about homeless women and children in Winnipeg and the precarious financial situation of the shelter.

In the meantime, here is a sampling of recent public affairs coverage in the alternative media and feedback we get via email and social media from believers in You Have the Power.

**********
Firstly a message posted on our Facebook group from Kristaps:

"Whether you are for, against, curious, or have no idea about the Occupied movement in this city, please come down and talk to us! We are a diverse group of people of various races, religions, educations, careers and views on the the movement. You are always welcome to come sit around the fire and share your opinions, and hear ours. If any of you have been thinking of joining the movement do not procrastinate. Yes the weather is getting cold, but we are preparing for the winter. I am a full time student at U of W, and I hold down a part-time job while still camping out every night. We have food, extra sleeping bags and a communal tent in case you do not have access to any of the materials to get started. Please come and talk!"

To which a listener responded:

"Thursday's podcast was good. Kenny and yourself have good chemistry and you're at your best with someone acting as a foil.

I was really impressed with the way you have treated those on the facebook group supporting "Occupy Winnipeg". It shows your commitment to community engagement

Personally I have no issues with the occupiers as long as they clean up after themselves and leave the park as they found it. At least they are engaging each other and if they are sincere are willing to openly engage anyone who wants to hike down there.

Perhaps members of our government and city council should go and talk around the firepit as well. They may get more accomplished."

And we heard more from our Facebook group after we spread word that an Exchange District business, Ragpickers Anti-Fashion Emporium, was re-structuring for the future:

Kristen wrote:

"CBC french radio was by today, with their film cameras - and the shop was filled with French speaking Victorian Dressed frolickers, from other continents, on their way to party! We live in our own time zone here...its multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-dimensional, and filled with uni-bio-philia!!"

**********

An earlier public event, well and deservedly panned by the alternative media, was the CEO Sleepover PR stunt at 201 Portage by the Downtown Biz.

For those who think we were alone in hammering the hypocrites, check out these two pieces from the College press:

http://uniter.ca/view/6586/

http://uniter.ca/view/6572/

And this blogger had some valid observations:

"A quick Google search on the subject reveals that most of the conversation regarding the CEO Sleepout is of the chest-beating, back-slapping, self-congratulatory variety. Participants in the Human Library have been far more self-critical"

http://writingpartners.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/

and there was also this view:

"As I think about that event now, it’s kind of corny: rich and powerful people pose as those in solidarity with those most desperate among us."

http://www.geezmagazine.org/blogs/entry/day-1-on-four-dollars-of-food-per-day/

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

A lot of the recent criticisms about the Downtown Biz stem from the unrealistic statements on downtown safety coming from their office and public officials after the Air Canada memo was made public.

My column in the Jewish Post about the controversy

http://www.jewishpostandnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=431%3Atelling-it-like-it-is-about-winnipegs-downtown&catid=34%3Ademo-articles&Itemid=78

garnered the following response:

"I finally just had the chance to read the Jewish post article about downtown and it was fabulous man. Well done. Its completely unbelievable how air Canada is getting blasted and no one is actually talking about the real problem. J"

Plus this view from an eyewitness:

" In my last job, I used to be at work for about 5:30 a.m. Monday thru Friday. I would drive down Ellice and make a right at Garry Street. The first left you can make before Portage Avenue takes you down a small back lane. On Garry and down that back lane was a regular occurring show of sex (orgies included), drug deals and then the individuals who thought they had privacy masturbating in public. If you drove down there and startled one of them, you ran the chance of having someone urinate, throw feces or blow their load onto your vehicle.

I used to park in the underground lot at the TD Center. Because it was heated, individuals used to sneak in on occasion and have sex. There’s nothing like stumbling upon that at the end of the day!"

and we also got the following email from a former resident:

"Good article on the downtown. This is what happens when political correctness takes over."

EDIT: and finally, this quote from a documentarian and activist from Los Angeles; his speech this past summer at CDI College was not deemed worthy of attendance by Winnipeg's CEO's for lack of a ribbon to cut or other similar PR trade-off, I presume.

"every person working in homeless services should spend at least 4 hours (1/2 day) each month on the "front lines". They need to "feel" the real pain of homelessness to better understand people and find solutions to help"

Mark Horvath

*********

Inasmuch as poverty is a frequent issue raised in matters of homelessness and downtown crime, this blog analysis by Brian Gilchrist about how food banks are seeing more 'working poor'

http://bgilchrist.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/not-numbers-to-be-proud-of-a-clear-example-of-the-ndp-failing-the-working-poor/

led to this FB comment:

"I agree with two of his points...

Minimum Wage is part of the problem... Minimum wage went up 5.26% in October, which is over 2% mora than inflation. Minimum wage goes up, businesses that higher unskilled/minimum wage labour, such as those working at grocery stores, have to raise their prices to compensate above and beyond the usual 3% inflation.

Since we are on a variable rate taxation system, and that won't change for the forseeable future, I think the best thing they can do is make the personal tax exemption limit 25% less than minimum wage at full time, which would currently be $15,600, which means low income earners pay tax on just $5,200 per year. Now, I can predict now the socialists in the group will say, WAIT!!! They shouldn't pay tax at all! If they make minimum wage then they should keep all their money.

But, if that was the case, the take-home income for someone earning $30,000 per year would be $21,050, after tax, which is only $250 more than someone on minimum wage who got to keep everything. So everyone, even the lowest earners need to contribute to taxes to keep things fair."

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

One of the news stories we kept the spotlight on for years was the Crocus Fund rip-off. The wrist-slap deal made between the Securities Commission and 8 of the Directors - that ONLY TGCTS looked into the details of - fed public cynicism about what justice means under the NDP:

"The sad thing is the people who are responsible won't get punished."

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

Lastly, you may want to occupy a few minutes of your time by taking part in the following process that recognizes true leaders in our community:

"Dear Friends, Family and Colleagues,

As many of you are aware over the past number of years I have been involved in the Future Leaders of Manitoba Council (FLMC). On Thursday, January 26th, 2012, the FLMC will be hosting the Fourth Annual Awards Gala, which honours young Manitoban’s aged 25-39 for their amazing achievements in the areas of Business, Community Service, and The Arts. We are always looking for new talent, and cannot wait to honour Manitoba’s finest once again this year.

If you know someone exceptional, please visit the FLMC website at www.flmc.mb.ca for more information on how to nominate. Each finalist and their nominators will be given 2 tickets to the event, to come and celebrate Manitoba.

Nominations are due on Saturday, December 10th, 2011. All nominators will be entered into a draw to receive 2 tickets to the Winnipeg Jets vs. Anaheim Ducks December 17^th hockey game courtesy of FLMC Media sponsor, HOT 103.

Thank you in advance for taking some time out of your day, to honour your friends, family and colleagues by nominating them for one of the exciting and prestigious Future Leaders of Manitoba Awards.

If you have any questions about nominations please feel free to reach me by email at jfarber@qualico.com."

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

NEXT PODCAST IS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8TH

Spirited Kenny chimes in on crime, gangs, CFS, and MSM

2011-11-03T15:38:00.005-05:00

Spirited Kenny finally rejoins the TGCTS microphone today!

He contributes a horde of opinions about crime, cops, courts, homicides #33 and 34, gangs, the CFS system, Gordo, his alma mater Red River College, and of course Gary Doer, who, as he points out, at least had charm -- unlike his successor Greg "where's my glass of milk?" Selinger. And city plans for garbage and transit hikes gets a schmeissing as well.

We also discuss upcoming improvements to the TGCTS platforms. It was good to have Kenny in the co-pilot seat again !

Here is the link to the Thursday Podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/03/thurs-podcast-spirited-kenny-chimes-in-on-crime-gangs-cfs-and-msm/

Among our shout outs today are to new Twitter followers:
@larrystefaniuk and @WHY_music,
and to a couple of participants in the Occupy Winnipeg movement who wanted to get messages across to the community.

First this from Kristap to our Facebook group:

Whether you are for, against, curious, or have no idea about the Occupied movement in this city, please come down and talk to us! We are a diverse group of people of various races, religions, educations, careers and views on the the movement. You are always welcome to come sit around the fire and share your opinions, and hear ours. If any of you have been thinking of joining the movement do not procrastinate. Yes the weather is getting cold, but we are preparing for the winter. I am a full time student at U of W, and I hold down a part-time job while still camping out every night. We have food, extra sleeping bags and a communal tent in case you do not have access to any of the materials to get started. Please come and talk!

And our friend Kristen Andrews wanted us to pass along the following information about a meeting on November 15th to transform Exchange District mainstay Ragpickers Anti-Fashion Emporium into a co-op retailer.

http://www.leifnorman.net/ragpickers-anti-fashion-emporium-nov-2-2011/

( Next Podcast will be on Monday but we expect to drop something fresh to read on the blog over the weekend.)

Tuesday podcast: Ethnic gangs focus of both weekend homicides; Gordo wants bureaucrats not crime fighters

2011-11-01T11:39:00.020-05:00

On the Tuesday podcast, we find there was nothing innocent about either of the weekend homicides.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/shootings-linked-to-drugs-gangs-death-in-the-city-homicide-numbers-according-to-winnipeg-police-and-statistics-canada-132980823.html

Victim #33 was linked to a "Vietnamese" drug crew, but no media outlet seems to have looked for the details of their failed foray into the US crime market. We did:

http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/canadian-pleads-to-cocaine-charges/article_102c671a-ee49-11e0-b900-001cc4c03286.html

Victim #34 was not alone when he was shot, with a 17 year old also getting blasted in the face (remember what we said about "reported" shootings this weekend?), rushed to hospital while his African Mafia pal was left for dead on the Lincoln Hotel pavement.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/11/01/gang-ties-in-lincoln-motor-hotel-shooting-police

Media reporting about this shooting was less than optimal, with CBC continuing not to identify racial ID's - (the suspect in the SUV was black in appearance and, as police spinners put it "STALKY"), while Sun TV's Krista Erickson and Nicole Dube both unaware the gang, a Mad Cowz spin off, has been terrorizing Winnipeggers since 2005.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2010/01/21/f-man-african-mafia-intelligence.html

Let alone anyone in MSM asking, what was a 17 year old doing out at 4.40 AM getting shot and did he have a social worker ?

Meanwhile, Gordo outdoes himself by using an unrelated Sunday afternoon mugging of a 17 year old girl by 2 chicks on Watt St. in EK for her IPod, to backstop egghead Rick Linden's fund-more-bureaucrats agenda in Monday's Free Press. The ink-stained wretch and Professor Immobilizer want to heap more dough at "root causes" - like that's gonna stop gangbangers from jacking other teens for their stuff.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/we-need-a-better-plan-to-fight-violent-crime-132980873.html

Listen in to hear how quality journalism like Gordo's has been greeted by readers ... that's the sound of thousands of people not buying the newspaper anymore according to the official audit.

There was also some confusing contradictions between CBC and the police statement, but apparently there were 2 bear spray-induced robberies of pedestrians by a group of thugs around Osborne St in the Village. The root cause being simply - THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT, GORDO.

Today is also time for a round-up of:
* Ambassador Gary Doer's visit to the home of NDP-pleasing censorship, Red River College's Creative Communications crew;
* the disgraceful attitude of Health Minister Theresa Oswald in Question Period - who cares about 361 cancelled surgeries in 5 months when Gary Filmon can be blamed?; * Kevin Chief being turned into a prop so Erin Selby can act all Ministerial instead of doing what he was elected to do, stick up for the people of Point Douglas and ask real questions in the House.

Lastly, the issues of Occupy Winnipeg seems to befuddle Mayor Katz, who wonders what these people occupying Memorial Park are about.

http://www.metronews.ca/winnipeg/local/article/1011962--mayor-mystified-by-occupy-winnipeg

Well, the best reason to Occupy anything in the city, was seen at Ozzy's last Friday night.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE TUESDAY PODCAST:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/01/tuesday-podcast-ethnic-gangs-focus-of-both-weekend-homicides-gordo-wants-bureaucrats-not-cops/

NEXT TGCTS PODCAST WILL BE ON THURSDAY. PS: Two other links of interest, a weekly round-up of local stories at http://slurpeesandmurder.blogspot.com/2011/11/manitoba-links-weekly-always-so-good.html and the 18 year old son of a former NFL quarterback drinks himself to death http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/California-QB-a-son-of-former-NFL-star-found-d?urn=highschool-wp7940

Winnipeg police chief, Wiggum-like, couldn't predict annual Halloween weekend mayhem

2011-10-31T21:57:00.005-05:00

When the best the police chief can do is add 2 cops to the chase for clues in three weekend shootings, and admits he had not even a thought that the Halloween weekend might, just might, end with gunshots, blood, and death after last years' triple shooting, Winnipeg has a serious crime fighting problem -- right at the top.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/10/31/winnipeg-homicide-record-reax.html

As we explain in the Monday Podcast, it's a little late now for El Chefe to ask the public to help with tips, when the police brass have up till now somehow concealed serious crime from being compiled on Crimestat so the public could actually have a complete picture of the mayhem,

http://mennozacharias.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/crimes-committed-vs-crimes-reported/

or from being mentioned in daily press releases, when there's all those road closures to announce:

http://adayinthehood.blogspot.com/2011/10/crime-stat-vrs-police-releases.html

We also review another blogger/columnist, Colin Fast, who today agreed with our long-standing position that leaders from minority communities have to become engaged in the discussion about public safety solutions because politicians keep acting like, well ... :

"Is it possible that all the shiny new toys in town are masking some of our real, serious problems? After all, it’s more fun to cut the ribbon on a fancy new development than cut the police tape on a crime scene."

http://www.metronews.ca/winnipeg/comment/article/1010901--welcome-to-the-peg-watch-your-back

Speaking of ribbon-cutters et al, the folks from the "Air Canada was wrong, its just a perception of crime" crowd tried to regroup in response to the Winnipeg homicide record being tied at 34.

Firstly was the guy who only weeks ago said of downtown crime, that his reading of statistics indicated "there was not much going on."

FP readers online comments indicate great scepticism at the new mantra "we can do it!"of resident local tall forehead, U of M professor Rick Linden, whose solution to car theft treated drivers - and not car thieves - as criminals. He now wants to help dictate a "crime master plan" needing more funding for the failed social engineering programs the NDP love to blow tax dollars on.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crime-can-be-stopped-professor-132905283.html

Meanwhile the beleaguered, Crimestat--defending Downtown Biz, was forced to pretend to be doing something and demonstrate it really cares when it comes to consulting the public about crime.

The setting will be at 3 different November forums, on two subjects (urban transportation and housing) that will #fail if public safety is not incorporated effectively, and a third where the subject actually IS downtown safety.

http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/news_details/index.cfm?recid=277

"“We all have a role to play in the revitalization of our downtown, so come on down and speak up! Have your voice heard!” Stefano Grande, Executive Director of the Downtown BIZ declared. “This is a chance to ask questions and learn from others who are stepping up and taking the lead on these important downtown issues.”

We shall see if the Biz not only allows voices to be heard, but actually listens to an outraged public and Biz members and learns something itself.

Or, if the anticipated throngs of associated lapdog agencies and lobby groups try to dominate the forum narratives in lockstep with, as Scott Price of CKUW calls it, the media oligarchy.

Here is the link to the Monday Podcast:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/31/winnipeg-police-chief-wiggum-like-couldnt-predict-annual-halloween-weekend-mayhem/

Shots ring out all weekend long in Murderpeg as Crimestat under fire

2011-10-30T20:31:00.009-05:00

If anyone complains to you, that CTV is a US style 'crime/violence/fear' TV newscast, well you can tell them the station doesn't do a very good job of it.

For instance at 6 PM Sunday, the anchor said Winnipeg had our 34th homicide tying the record, but didn't point out we have 2 months to go.

And the victim number 33, whose family declined to speak to CTV but who did talk to Richard Cloutier on CJOB radio, seems to have been a straight-laced Asian young adult of 20 who was in the passenger seat - the passenger seat mind you - of a car after going out Friday night, presumably to an Exchange District bar, for -- Halloween.

And the news script concluded, that police explained, "it's hard to predict who may have firearms and when they might be used".

How comforting, for parents whose kid go out trick or treating or to community parties, let alone their older kids who go to bars and socials. Just in time for the cops to admit, they have lost control of the streets of this city. Lovely.

It is notable how many of the killings and stabbings this year have been open-air, rather than inside dingy apartments or 1 star hotel rooms on Main Street.

CTV also, on this quite violent weekend after last years' pre-Halloween shooting and killing spree- split the crime reports up on the newscast. It separated the Lincoln Hotel shooting - which wasn't identified by either CTV or the Free Press as the second north end shooting location in 12 hours - from a stabbing at Aura nightclub on Portage Avenue one block from the University of Winnipeg (and showed the blood on the sidewalk).

Instead CTV did a 180, following the Exchange District murder with a glowing upbeat cheerleader piece about the opening of the new airport, mentioning that "problems with the underground pipes" led to a one year delay , but not connecting the delay to any increase in cost -- although the cost had been mentioned too.

Getting back to the crime aspect, the police department has to completely rethink the way it deals with the press and public. This week former deputy chief Menno Zacharias carved the sanctimonious piety of Crimestat upholders into little bits, stemming from Stefano Grande's recent comments and opinions on Twitter, blogs and, well, maybe some radio but not radio where the questions to the Downtown Biz director would be guaranteed in the Zacharias realm --- challenging Grande's fantasy that downtown is safe.

Zacharias showed that only the most serious of crimes- such as, oh, people being shot - made the daily press releases.

"In September 2011 the Winnipeg Police Service issued 26 News Releases. In those 26 news releases, however, the Service made reference to only 10 of the 787 offences reported on Crimestat during September... During the month of September, 59 of the 111 muggings reported city-wide were committed in District 1, which encompasses the downtown area. "

http://mennozacharias.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/crimes-committed-vs-crimes-reported/

North end blogger Rae Butcher, who has fought tooth and nail for accountability and proper information about her own street, noted how important measures of public safety such as stabbings are under-reported as robberies on Crimestat and arsons are not calculated into Crimestat at all.

"What is the actual purpose of the CrimeStat map on the WPS website? Is it to arm citizens with valuable information on crimes being committed throughout Winnipeg? Or is it designed to create illusions of Winnipeg as City Hall sees fit?"

http://adayinthehood.blogspot.com/2011/10/crime-stat-vrs-police-releases.html

She also enumerated recent PR and non-emergency bulletins issued by police email last Friday which the number of which dwarfed the real news. (Not to mention what Tom Brodbeck of the Sun has to say about the real news downtown and Mayor Katz.)

The time has come for the revival of placing someone the press and public can trust to meaningful compile press releases and reports with some basic comprehension that the idea is to report on crimes, not to promote Chief McCaskill's social work agenda and manipulative style (like when drinking parties turn bad, and the official lingo is " they were socializing".)

The time has come for a civilian spokesman who understands what the public needs to and wants to know, and to assign the officers to what we paid to train them to do - be cops and deal with crime and criminals , not with keyboards and microphones.

As of CTV, the segue to the weather was "I don't want to say we dodged a bullet yesterday - but we did"

You'd think on a weekend when 2 men are gunned down and a 14 year old gets dropped in broad daylight on Selkirk Avenue and barely survives, CTV would have thought thru how their "happy-chat" clever-word quotient would be expressed under the circumstances.

And you'd hope someone in the MSM will ask, what role the police chopper played in the response to any of the 3 (known) shootings this weekend. If any.

Happy Halloween.

(Next podcast is on Monday, this was a stand-alone blog piece. )

CKUW host calls out "teflon" Downtown Biz for ducking public safety discussion: "We're not idiots"

2011-10-28T04:35:00.014-05:00

"It's an important debate that needs to happen", explains CKUW assistant news director Scott Price about why he tried to get Downtown Biz honcho Stefano Grande to tackle the issue of downtown safety mano-a-mano with urban affairs blogger Brian Kelcey on live radio.

But as the host of the thrice weekly morning show People of Interest tells TGCTS, "His first response, I just shook my head. "There's no debate with the Biz, there's only moving forward." What the heck does that mean?"

"I have little to zero journalistic training, but that doesn't mean I don't know the issues" states Price, who chased Grande by Twitter, email and phone to appear on the show on October 17 to no avail. "We're not idiots", Price exclaims, believing that Grande "probably didn't want, as knowledgeable as Brian Kelcey is, isn't something Stefano wanted to do on a Monday morning".

What he, as a citizen journalist sees of the Downtown Biz, is "this strategic, tactful, trying to sidestep things put on the teflon so things don't stick approach" that fails to recognize that Grande's suggestion to go on CKUW to talk about topics such as housing was insufficient at best and insulting at worst.

"If we're talking about downtown residents, crime and safety is at the top of the list ... Our audience is Downtown, West Broadway, west end. To me, when the Biz was evasive, these people give us their money ($50,000) every year to keep us as a media source, every year, there's a disconnect there, maybe Mr. Grande doesn't realize that."

Price admits that even at 6'2" and over 200 lbs, it was "heads up hockey" out there, going so far as saying he and his friends as a rule plan to "only make 1 beer run" to avoid being jacked leaving the Sherbrook Hotel vendor. In our exclusive interview, he is as unimpressed by the Downtown Biz' CEO Sleepover stunt as we were, and also criticizes, as we had, the charade of City of Winnipeg public consultations for the Sherbrook bike lanes and the Our Winnipeg open houses.

Campus radio certainly "gets it" when compared to what Price saw as the mainstream newsroom "oligarchy".

Also on the Friday podcast:

A review of the racist attack on the Okay Groceries supermarket (3 blocks from Health Sciences Centre) by radical supporters of the deceased shoplifter Geraldine Beardy yesterday, leads TGCTS to ask serious questions.

Will Justice Minister Andrew Swan and the police brass will take action to crack down on vigilantiism against the Korean storeowner after charges against him were dropped? Or does the store have to have the windows smashed out or be torched by arsonists first.

Listen to the Friday podcast and the interview with Scott Price here:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/28/ckuw-host-calls-out-teflon-downtown-biz-for-ducking-public-safety-discussion/

Inside the Crocus "settlement" - 8 directors lined up to agree starting the day after NDP re-elected

2011-10-27T15:38:00.005-05:00

None of the mainstream media outlets took a moment to actually look into the details of the Manitoba Securities Commission decision allowing 8 Crocus Fund Directors to walk away without being held accountable or expressing any remorse for allowing inflated shares in the labour fund to be sold without the required checks and balances being followed by the Board, that would have protected trusting Manitobans from being fleeced.

How did the MSC think that suspending their ability to do anything like it again -- for a year -- is any kind of sanction or protects the public?

We took the time to read it over.

Since not one newsroom seems to have actually named the Directors - can they be called guilty? I think they can because they admitted to breaching the Act by not adhering to the Prospectus - TGCTS will name names:

Charles Curtis, Peter Olfert, Waldron (Wally) Fox-Decent, Lea Baturin, Albert Beal, Diane Beresford, Sylvia Farley and Robert Hilliard.

It is a sickening reminder of how under the NDP white-collar crime that would result in a stint in the penitentary in the US is absolved in Manitobastan by compliant regulators after hearing pleas that 'the lawyers advised us' and 'the accounting firm said it was ok'. (Ever heard of Enron, any of you ?)

The "Reasons for Decision" is ONE WHOLE PARAGRAPH.
http://www.msc.gov.mb.ca/legal_docs/investigation/reasons/crocus.pdf

Wait till you hear excerpts from the Order, which includes:

- the dirty details of stalled Valuation approvals;

- backroom infighting between parties unnamed in the documentation (but who were longtime Crocus CEO Sherman Kreiner and new executives Chief Operating Officer Laurie Goldberg and Chief Investment Officer John Pelton - please note I mis-guessed the CIO in this narrative on this podcast as being Albert Black which will be corrected on the next podcast);

- and the pathetic excuses of the 8 directors subject to the Order whom, although all promoters of the Fund and highly educated professionals, were seemingly out of their depth on how to discharge their responsibilities properly when it came to actually running the Fund as Directors of the Board.

(Two remaining Directors, Ron Waugh and Robert Ziegler, will appear at a hearing at 1 PM on Wednesday, November 2 at the MSC offices.)

http://www.msc.gov.mb.ca/legal_docs/orders/6414_crocus.pdf

Listen to our walk-thru of the details, and in particular the discovery of a glaring irregularity in the documentation. And I mean glaring.

Also on the agenda today:
* The Simkin Centre pulled an Olga Fuga and declared the Annual General Meeting over when the tough questions about the abuse of the elderly and a closed-shop Board nomination process started piling up. This was a shameful way for a Jewish organization to abandon their duty to the community.

* The City of Winnipeg 311 Service, try though it might, cannot cover-up for the bloated bureaucracy, which has taken 6 weeks to figure out who is supposed to remove two discarded toilets ( left there in mid-August) from the lane behind Home Street in the west end.

* Don't forget tomorrow's special episode, focusing on the Air Canada memo fall-out and the relationship between the Downtown Biz and its critics, featuring a special interview with a citizen journalist who pulls no punches in describing the sad state of civic "debate" in Winnipeg and the dismissive attitude of the Biz to the community.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE THURSDAY PODCAST:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/27/inside-the-crocus-settlement-8-directors-lined-up-to-agree-starting-the-day-after-ndp-re-elected/

email: tgcts1@gmail.com
@tgcts on Twitter

Bizarro Manitoba: Crocus Fund directors pay no penalty; foreign students and polar bears NDP priority over humans in need

2011-10-26T14:55:00.014-05:00

When newsrooms report that the punishment for 8 Crocus Fund directors who admitted selling shares far above their worth, is to bar them from doing it again FOR ONE WHOLE YEAR, and the mainstream media fails to identify who those directors are or question the Securities Commission about the post-election timing, this province is in a serious free-fall of accountability and ethics.

When foreign students getting free health care and multi-million dollar shelter for Polar Bears is more important to local philanthropists and the Selinger government than access to doctors for Manitobans and shelter for victims of domestic violence and the homeless, this province is in a serious free-fall of financial and moral judgement.

When a political party that fell under 10% support thinks people will now pay to join up, this province is in a serious free-fall of critical thinking and common sense.

When mainstream media reports on a poll about Mayor Sam Katz based on at best, 450 responses, and more likely only 300, and the pollster is allowed to claim '1.2% accuracy 95% of the time' without challenge, this province needs a strong alternative media more than ever.

These topics, plus an explanation about the legacy of hug-a-thug sentencing in the Tony Lanzellotti murder, a police chief who cares more about being a social worker than caring for police dogs, and asking why cars crashing on winter streets isn't called an "accident" but the wrongful release of dangerous violent offenders into the community is, rounds out the show. Plus shout-outs and some surprising visitors to our blog today.

Please note that on Friday, we are scheduling a special about the Air Canada memo, the war of words between realists and pollyanna's, and the attitude adjustment needed by the Downtown Biz to truly get a handle on the crime and safety problems downtown.

That episode will feature an exclusive interview with a citizen journalist, who explains why it is indisputable they represent a neglected segment of the community. Wait till you hear what he has to say about the players and the political game, the message he has for Stefano Grande, and how remarkably similar his observations and experiences are, to the positions taken and causes championed by TGCTS for the past 5 years.

Far from being on the wrong track, we were right on the money about the issues and the role of campus radio to raise awareness and create a sense of community, regardless of what Red River College censors like Cathy Rushton and Graham Thomson thought.

To prepare for that special, take a look at photo-blogger Bryan Scott's danger spots in downtown, which we also reviewed today. You'll recognize all the usual suspects instantly.

https://twitter.com/#!/wpglovehate/status/121643407121711104/photo/1

THE WEDNESDAY PODCAST IS HERE:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/26/bizarro-manitoba-crocus-fund-directors-pay-no-penalty-foreign-students-polar-bears-ndp-priority/

Exclusive details: Judge Ted Lismer facing QB hearing to turf him from Labradoodle trial

2011-10-25T00:24:00.015-05:00

October 25th is the 22nd anniversary of the final election of Bill Norrie as Winnipeg's mayor - which I covered on MTN-TV. Time flies, eh ?

Along with a brief recollection of that vote, and shout-outs to our friends the Greendell Falcons for their valiant losing effort in double overtime at Canad Inns Stadium on Sunday in Midget Football playoffs and to Kenny Omega for winning the World Junior Heavyweight wrestling title in Japan, the Tuesday podcast focuses on our personal observations of the proceedings in the Labradoodle trial, now being challenged by an application to Queen's Bench by lawyer Gene Zazalenchuk for a Prohibition Order to turf the judge.

http://www.metronews.ca/winnipeg/local/article/1005804--small-talk-a-big-issue-for-judge

What's with this court case about allegedly abused dogs ? We tell you all about it.

Missing warrants - as in there was none.
Missing Inspection Notices - was there ever one, or was there none ?
Missing the point - a provincial court judge who is now accused of creating an apprehension of bias after being seen speaking in the hallway to the 'star' witness from the Provincial Veterinarians' Office and refusing to recuse himself.

Excerpts from an official transcript and affidavit, combined with James Turner's report in Metro, gives TGCTS listeners a pretty complete review of the situation involving Judge Ted Lismer they can't get anywhere else in the local media.

In civics, somehow we use Dan Lett's column to tie together Phil Sheegl's statue of 3 monkeys, Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, and the bike lobby. It makes sense to us, anyways.

In the public safety update, a drive-by in Elmwood proves the Safer Communities initiatives bragged about by the NDP government are a dangerous joke. Why did neighbours get no action after 15 calls about the house - until it was finally shot up? Maybe police were too busy chasing the cold, cold leads in last year's triple shooting in the north end. Plus, a listener advises that another Winnipeg hospital may yet be the scene of the next Brian Sinclair tragedy because it tolerates non-patients to loiter in the ER.

Also, here is the link to my latest column in the Jewish Post and News about downtown safety that names a few prominent Pollyanna's.
http://www.jewishpostandnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=431%3Atelling-it-like-it-is-about-winnipegs-downtown&catid=34%3Ademo-articles&Itemid=78

(Although it didn't get mentioned in the podcast, check out this hilarious take on Terry Nelson's new career in the used car business:
http://slurpeesandmurder.blogspot.com/2011/10/crazy-terrys-used-car-capital.html)

HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE TUESDAY PODCAST:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/25/exclusive-details-judge-ted-lismer-facing-qb-hearing-to-turf-him-from-labradoodle-trial/

How blogs and alternative media step up to fill local news and information gap

2011-10-21T17:55:00.011-05:00

The opening segment is a commentary about the role of alternative media, the entrenched ivory-tower local institutions, and the state of critical and other reporting in the local MSM, that is a must-hear for those concerned about free speech in our community.

Then, three blogs anchor the three segments today:

Civic: The slush fund being carved out of new garbage fees, and the Gem Equities court file are each dug up by a blogger with personal observations about the track record of those involved and the lack of genuine common-sense analysis by elected officials.

Provincial: What's with Selinger appointing interim Ministers to handle key departments?

Crime and Courts: James Turner proves that when it comes to 'accidental' prisoner releases, the time line tells the tale.

Here is the link for the (belated) Friday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/23/blogs-and-alternative-media-step-up-to-fill-local-news-and-information-gap/

Our apologies for the delay in being able to upload the Friday audio file.

The next podcast will be on Tuesday with an exclusive story coming from the Law Courts building.

Thursday podcast: WRHA review of Jewish senior's care facility results in more questions by families

2011-10-20T16:05:00.016-05:00

Highlights of the Thursday podcast:

- A city official enunciated the actual position on downtown surface parking lots today - they're against it until they're for it. (It's about time that was explained.)

- FP readers shame the newspaper into providing actual, you know, details about 2 stories. (Actually Bart did really well in handling one of them.)

- According to CBC, Greg Selinger actually backed the losing horse for speaker today. (Mazel Tov to Darryl Reid.)

- According to CP, Jon Gerrard's "I'm go-going going (in 2 years)" scrum was terribly run.

- According to the Winnipeg Jewish Review, the Simkin Centre still faces lots of questions about its management, Board governance, and not meeting WRHA standards.
(LATE BREAKING NEWS: Private prosecution laid over Rabbi Berkal's death in that care home: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/breakingnews/Charges-laid-against-Sharon-Home-over-residents-death-132267883.html

- According to a blogger, Riverbend residents are seeing decay and disorder that the new federal crime bill does not address.

Oh, and a few observations about former speaker George Hickes, the NDP, and Red River College; and about today's Throne Speech today as well. Plus this: http://slurpeesandmurder.blogspot.com/2011/10/manitoba-links-weekly-inaugural-edition.html

Here is the link to the podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/20/thursday-podcast-wrha-review-of-jewish-seniors-care-facility-results-in-more-questions-by-families/

MKO chief says witnesses and evidence in Beardy death not required, plays race card

2011-10-19T19:02:00.008-05:00

Better late than never...

A coverage triple crown of city hall, under the big dome and around the blogosphere stand as proof the alternative media leader tells you what you need to know and tells it like it is.

At 510 Main, it was loan guarantees and garbage fees; meanwhile the NDP Premier extolled the virtues of a Maple Leaf Foods "Centre of Excellence For Bacon" (not that there's anything wrong with that) while putting Energy and Conservation together under the man who promised to end hallway medicine (and we all know how that turned out). Over in cyberville, award-winning blogger Graham Hnatiuk explained to a former city hall insider the business basics of the lopsided Forks-North Portage parking fee scheme that extracts substantial game night profit margins out of the pockets of Forks restaurants, as well as a listener blasting another blogger for his performance in a radio studio.

Then we get to the good stuff.

The Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak expressed outrage that the Geraldine Beardy manslaughter charge was dropped by the Crown against a Korean storeowner in the Centennial neighbourhood 3 blocks from the Health Sciences Centre.

MKO's David Harper, the deceased's cousin, told CBC there was "no need for such cases to be dropped".

Oh really. Who needs the witness, who skipped a border to avoid their own arrest? or anything like, say evidence against Mr. Kim ? Apparently not Chief Harper.

Today's podcast applies some of that logic to other recent justice system examples such as Premier Selingers favorite rapper, and refutes Harper's comparison of this shoplifters' death to a single case of a missing or murdered woman.

We also mine some classic comments from the Free Press' record 683 online contributions, and explain why any Beardy lawsuit is on thin ice compared to the Brian Sinclair family suit, in which they are kicking the WRHA's heinie by pointing out the court can't allow an institution to precipitate a customers death and then claim his rights didn't exist.

Shout-outs today to TGCTS alumnus Shannah-Lee Vidal, Josh Grummett and David Shorr, who have gone on to notable careers with Mix 100 FM CJCD, APTN-TV, and the Manitoba Liberal party respectively.

The trio were producers and contributors to our show for many years and are an example of the quality of people who interned with TGCTS on 92.9 Kick-FM in citizen journalism and talk radio, while taking the Red River College creative communications course. (Welcome back Shannah-Lee)

The link to the Wednesday podcast is here:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/19/mko-chief-says-witnesses-and-evidence-in-beardy-death-not-required-plays-race-card/

Tues. Podcast: Kelcey missed Grande's real message: Downtown crime realists to be ignored

2011-10-18T19:38:00.004-05:00

After a great morning helping CDI College produce compelling new ad spots for Streetz104.7, and an afternoon investigating your story leads, the Tuesday podcast is finally ready !

- State of the City has Part 3 in their crime analysis disagreement with the Downtown Biz. But in sending a polite message to TGCTS about a proposed debate, Brian Kelcey might have missed the real message sent by Stefano Grande to critics from the alternative media. Between a tweet to Graham Hnatiuk and communications with CKUW, we piece it together and it does not bode well for Biz members or the general public.

- Speaking of Hnatiuk he raises the kind of pick-their-pocket story about the Forks-North Portage management from businesses at the Forks and "free" parking for Jets games that they are in the end paying for, that the MSM would never delve into and do what Kelcey endorses - question authority. It's another message that also should cause concern for Biz members.

- - We set the record straight about the departure of Dave Shorr from Manitoba Liberal Party offices at 405 Broadway and the deck chairs being shuffled;

- And an "Our Mistake" classic from the Free Press: "She was dead before she was alive";

Plus more on youth criminals, violent home invasions, and runaway teens repeatedly in the police bulletins.

Here is the link to the Tuesday Podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/18/tues-podcast-kelcey-missed-grandes-real-message-downtown-crime-realists-to-be-ignored/

ON TWITTER: @TGCTS

JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP: http://www.facebook.com/groups/2344284529

Remembering Reg Alcock; Grande challenged to debate Kelcey; Online media helps find teen

2011-10-17T13:43:00.012-05:00

A personal recollection of the late Reg Alcock from my MTN days at the Manitoba Legislature, and a reminder of how an interview with Krista Erickson may explain why he fell out of favour with voters in Winnipeg South, leads off today's show. Reg passed away suddenly on Friday morning.

A recap of the reported and unreported numbers (and underlying motivations of participants) of the Zombie Walk, Slutwalk and Occupy Winnipeg which all took place this weekend is provided (find out Zombies favorite brands of beer!) -- and as all of the marchers went through downtown, naturally the latest salvos in the Stefano Grande vs Brian Kelcey online battle about downtown safety is reviewed, with Kelcey holding the upper ground.

The attacks by representatives of the Biz on honest reporting of public concerns and experiences downtown has the potential to backfire on the organization, as Kelcey points out: (By the way, as you'll hear on the podcast, many of these examples ARE criminal offences, and Grande is invited to test one in particular.)

Not incidentally, (Grande) writes:

"Panhandling, public intoxication, aggressive panhandling, urinating, loitering, gangs of kids hanging out - all are an issue. But these issues are not crimes.

Coming from the Director of the Downtown BIZ, these are strange words. He's technically right, of course - if you define crime exclusively by what's in the Criminal Code.

But while the City rarely uses the by-law in question, aggressive panhandling is an offence under Winnipeg by-laws because it's a threat to public safety. If the Director of the Downtown BIZ feels that this by-law should be unmentioned, unreported or left unenforced because it's not really a crime to corner someone in an enclosed bus stop and demand cash, I'd encourage him to consult with his membership to see if they agree. He might not like the answer he'll get.

This latest attempt to deny the obvious by the Downtown Biz resulted in an as-yet unresponded to challenge to a debate by Kelcey, which I have offered to moderate. We're waiting ...

The Crime and Courts roundup offers congratulations to Shelley Cook and Jacqueline Traverse for their role in the return of a missing 14 year old girl to her family; asks some obvious questions after a 13 year old, with a 10 year old accomplice, tried to commit 3 armed robberies late last week; and we have a few final words about the late John Radocaj after all 3 defendants were convicted for his murder.

Shout-outs to our newest followers on Twitter: @OutlawAK (Adam Knight), @deanatwpgsun (Dean Pritchard), and @pegpoppindeals (no idea who they are but thanks for following us !)

Here is the link for the Monday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/17/remembering-reg-alcock-grande-challenged-to-debate-kelcey-online-media-helps-find-teen/

Slim pickings for NDP cabinet; Kelcey hammers out truth about crime and downtown cheerleaders

2011-10-13T16:42:00.007-05:00

The Thursday podcast starts off with a brief tribute to my mentor, Yoram Hamizrachi East on the first anniversary of his passing.

Part one of the show is all about provincial politics, as we recount an interesting opinion piece from the publisher of the Neepawa Banner, Ken Waddell, and then explore an issue only TGCTS addressed during the election campaign - the wafer-thin depth of the NDP backbenches with 2 cabinet posts to be filled.

Blogger Brian Gilchrist looked at the poor crop of Finance candidates,
http://bgilchrist.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/matt-wiebe-for-finance-minister/

FP reportrix Mary Agnes Welch focused on the rudderless Conservation department which even Bill Blaikie didn't bother to fix

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/welch/Conservation-speculation-131619163.html

Part two continues the Air Canada/downtown safety controversy, utilizing not only the op-ed analysis of Brian Kelcey "Downtown spinners in crime denial"

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/downtown-spinners-in-crime-denial-131575468.html

but also his excellent and revealing blog post with a first hand account of harassment of AC employees and other vulnerable (potential) victims of habitual drunks

http://www.stateofthecity.ca/front-page/2011/10/13/added-op-ed-on-crime-in-downtown-winnipeg.html

And we ask, how can the police brass be expected to develop strategy to deal with the bums, when they can't even figure out how to use internal security cameras to protect their own cops from false claims of assault?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/10/12/winnipeg-police-station-cameras-iteam.html

And in the last segment, imagine the nerve of the defence attorney asking for leniency for a Native Syndicate member who broke into his own cousins' house in Lake St. Martin, mistakenly thinking a drug dealer lived there, and robbed the family anyways before firing a shotgun into the air to scare the little kids even more ?

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/gangster-off-to-prison-for-chilling-break-in-that-scars-kids-131772638.html

Shout-outs today to our new followers on Twitter,
Illegal Curve's Richard Pollock @ICrichyp
and, The Pony Corral @ponycorralwpg

(And let's all welcome FP editor Margo Goodhand @margogoodhand to social media)

Here is the link for the Thursday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/13/slim-pickings-for-ndp-cabinet-kelcey-hammers-out-truth-about-crime-and-downtown-cheerleaders/

TGCTS PODCASTS RESUME ON MONDAY.

Wed podcast: Race-baiting rapper lauds Selinger

2011-10-12T12:53:00.006-05:00

The Winnipeg Sun added more details about the arrest of Premier Selinger's favorite rap artist Jamie Prefontaine after an altercation while boarding a flight in Montreal on election day.

The accused posted a number of comments online earlier today, raft with gangsta lingo, bad spellink and threats. On today's podcast we highlight his racially-charged ramblings alleging mistreatment by the media and police and claims of community service such as the excerpts below:

"i maid bails this morning in montreal im free there is not one bit of thruth to the story ... we help troubled youth avoid the life style we had in the past due to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poor you take away are rec centers are goverment money and put white ppl into programs that kids dont want ... greg silinger got more votes bye standing bye ppl who have changed there life get the real facts before you print storys on us no ones been convited in heatbag records or winnipegs most in 5 years so suck it up and suck me off this is brooklyn"

The first half of the show reviews blog posts about the promotion of the "perp being a victim" culture in the north end and why one blogger has walked away from "organizations", how it connects to the Greg Selinger-directed tactics of manipulating community institutions while ignoring the escalation of crime, and connects the dots to City Hall which has a bottomless pit of rewards for mega-project developers with no shame.

Plus, filling in the blank on the first of two Good Samaritans who were stabbed this week, and closing arguments in the Ivan (John) Radocaj murder trial.

Here's the link:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/12/race-baiting-rapper-lauds-selinger/

Tuesday podcast - Gordo and pals gang up on Air Canada; fail to refute valid downtown safety concerns

2011-10-11T10:20:00.018-05:00

With Yom Kippur and Thanksgiving observed, today's podcast is a classic TGCTS stream-of-consciousness tapestry reflecting on the reality of the state of the downtown, that starts and ends with Gordo himself -- all because of this drivel from Saturday:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/its-the-kind-of-face-many-fear-131379728.html

Listen to the Tuesday podcast to hear our own Jim Nielson story, and our analysis explaining

- how the distorted Freep headline and "reporting" about downtown crime rates tried to conceal the fact that maybe, just maybe, there is a basis for Air Canada to be concerned for the safety of it's crews on layovers,

- the lecture by Lloyd Axworthy from his U of Winnipeg fiefdom,

- a government lease in the "once-downtrodden North Portage" relies on those evil surface parking lots,

- exactly what Judge Fred Sandhu said about alcoholism fueling social disorder with no solutions from government in sight (H/T James Turner who ran the transcript here),

- how $40 million of provincial tax dollars earmarked for the CMHR could be used to make our community safer instead of pumping up the pet project of millionaires

- why the social do-gooders don't pressure the NDP to deal with it: because Greg Selinger didn't tell them too

- and in the Crime Courts Public Safety Update, election day news about Greg Selinger's favorite rapper and his dealings with Air Canada and Montreal police (here's our previous story about Brooklyn and his pals, he's on the far right, yo);

plus a recap of a violent weekend in the 100 block of Main Street, including a midnight firearm-backed sexual assault and a broad daylight stabbing of a Good Samaritan.

(Off the top of the show we shout-out to our new Twitter followers, we end with our favorite story about a Game 1 Jets fan and a challenge to Gordo, and for those CFL and wrestling fans, here is a link to my book review of Angelo Mosca's biography http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Reviews/2011/09/29/18759781.html )

Tuesday Podcast link:http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/11/tgcts-oct-1111-gordo-and-pals-gang-up-on-air-canada-fail-to-refute-valid-downtown-safety-concerns/

**********

ON TWITTER: @TGCTS

JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP: http://www.facebook.com/groups/2344284529/

Metro News Publisher Steve Shrout details their positive Winnipeg experience/ Election vote count surprise

2011-10-06T12:24:00.021-05:00

Right off the top of the program today, TGCTS features a lengthy interview with Steve Shrout, recorded at the Metro News office at Portage and Main.

He tells about how the paper had to overcome resistance to their free distribution plan before it could launch; his dealings with Mayor Sam Katz and city hall; why the tabloid has found acceptance among consumers and advertisers locally; social media as part of their self-promotion; and why he is a big booster of this city. It's a fast-paced informative exchange and so good it just had to lead today's edition. Thank you Steve.

Newswise, we have more analysis of the failure of the PC's to translate their support into enough added votes at the polls to win, more MSM stories and listener comments about the Air Canada and downtown safety issue, and some Jets history round out the show, and the week as we will be taking tomorrow off for the Yom Kippur holy day.

Here is the link to the Thursday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/06/metro-news-publisher-steve-shrout-details-their-positive-winnipeg-experience-election-vote-count/

Podcasting resumes on Tuesday with an exclusive news story courtesy of a listener - or as Brad Oswald would say "citizen journalist" - that will - ! surprise ! - NOT be about the Jets home opener.

Hint: Why were all those bikes on parade in a Winnipeg neighbourhood overnight ?

GO JETS GO !
Twitter: @TGCTS

Opposition disconnects with public; public disconnects with voting

2011-10-05T17:40:00.006-05:00

The post-election post-mortum reflects on the state of Manitoba politics and media with a round-up of pundits critiques, including Tom Brodbeck, Charles Adler and Brad Oswald, as well as listener comments and an idea to encourage voting. Where are the missing 15% , and why are they staying away ? Who will watch out for the majority of Manitobans who are not pro-NDP when both parties are in disarray ? What about reports of dirty tricks and possible fraud even at the polls?

The CCPS Update takes a look at Portage Avenue, a suggestion to the Mayor from a former cop, and the trial in the murder of John Radocaj.

And advance notice - tomorrow's podcast features our interview with Metro publisher Steve Shrout !

https://foursquare.com/steveshrout/checkin/4e8ce8746c25640673cfbb0f?s=6pH2sEzKb1UMfHujVewtnIUW-gM&ref=tw

Here's the link to today's edition:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/05/opposition-disconnects-with-public-public-disconnects-with-voting/

Election Day: The missing details of 'Lemieux cheque' complaint / Pics of homeless-wear of the rich

2011-10-04T16:24:00.013-05:00

On Election Day we bring listeners the exclusive story behind the dirty trick complaint that was dismissed by Elections Manitoba against NDP local Government Minister Ron Lemieux.

"Watchdog Clears Lemieux"

"Elections Commissioner Bill Bowles said Lemieux, who is running for re-election in Dawson Trail, was acting as an MLA, not a candidate, when he presented a $15,000 cheque for a playground in Landmark ...

"In his ruling, Bowles said the cheque presentation was only semi-public. Lemieux did not speak at the formal playground dedication ceremony and did not publicize his attendance. He waited until after the ceremony to give the cheque to the playground committee. A reporter from the Steinbach Carillon happened to tag along.

Bowles also said he could find no fault with a blog-style article Lemieux published a few days later on a local news site, where he touted the playground grant and posted a photo of the cheque presentation."

Listen to the podcast to hear us dissect the intellectual dishonesty of Elections Manitoba creating the new concept of a "semi-public" appearance by a cabinet minister wielding a government cheque, and then absolving him for writing as a "candidate" about his actions as a Minister, replete with a photo that just "happened". (What is "blog-style", anyways?)

More importantly, a source shared information with TGCTS about the timing aspect, which seems to have escaped scrutiny.

When was the Community Places grant cheque cut? What is the normal protocol for getting the money to the organization? What decisions did Lemieux have the option of making ? You can decide, is Elections Manitoba part of the supplicant society as described by Prof. Bryan Schwartz?

And that's not the only campaign dirty trick discussed, as while recording the show, we received confirmation of a major brouhaha over voter ID at an inner city polling station that had (has?) lawyers involved.

Two bloggers provide great insight into the Air Canada crew layover controversy.

Kevin dug up an insiders' explanation of a recent violent incident downtown that appears to have spurred the move; while the other asked why people cannot discuss the obvious connection of downtown disorder with a down-and-out and often homeless element in the aboriginal community without being labeled a racist.

Speaking of homelessness, DJ Monkey took time away from upgrading the desktop in the studio to provide some colour commentary about pictures we have acquired of the Downtown Biz CEO sleepover that illustrate how out of touch the Biz and corporate honchos are, focused more on public relations than true compassion and understanding of the homeless in the city.

For instance, whereas this was supposed to be an "outdoor" sleepover, it doesn't mean the CEO's slept under the stars.

They slept under canvas.

No staying warm under newspapers for this pretend-homeless person, with her 4 layers of clothing and a hairstyle so perfect Mary Agnes Welch is sure to endorse her for political office one day.

Nothing says "at one with the homeless" than a $600 Canada Goose insulated parka and fur-lined hood. Way to go, Brain, er, em, Brian.

In addition to the access to indoor washrooms, bright Las Vegas style lighting, and 20 security guards obstructing photographs and demanding that even visiting senior executives from Alberta show identification, the Downtown Biz couldn't very well have the high and mighty of Winnipeg experience the indignity of suffering any actual, you know, hunger, before the formal breakfast with an imported speaker last Friday.(Wait till you hear what DJ Monkey said about what the real homeless have for dessert.)

As our picture-provider said:

"They wanted to talk the talk of homeless people but they sure didn't walk the walk."

Here is the link to the Election Day podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/04/election-day-the-missing-details-of-lemieux-cheque-complaint-pics-of-homeless-wear-of-the-rich/

Air Canada pullout over safety exposes Downtown Biz, politicians living in denial

2011-10-03T13:15:00.009-05:00

The dirty tricks pile up as Election Day draws near, CBC flunks math, and reporting the gritty reality of downtown crime and disorder started a Twitter assault by the Downtown Biz on the Winnipeg Sun this weekend.

Listen to the podcast for details about
- the fliers attacking Liberal candidate Joe Chan,
- the excellent blog post by L.L. about the dangers of living and working downtown, after the pollyannas and the politicians complained that Air Canada pulled their crews from staying at Portage and Smith,
- the Tweets back and forth smacking down Stefano Grande (and what broadcaster and former downtown resident Andrea Slobodian wrote),
- opinions of a listener about the Biz' CEO Sleepover PR stunt
- and another listener had some observations about the election campaigns and health care bureaucracies.

The Free Press coyly refusing to give credit to our podcast for the Selinger/Heatbag records picture and story, alcoholism wreaking havoc on our city coming up in court last week, Gordo making excuses for teen killers, the passing of a Winnipegger whose name is well known in the sports scene even if he is not anymore, and my weekend on the road with the legendary Honky Tonk Man in Beausejour and La Broquerie for Western Wrestling Tours, round out the show.

Special thanks are in order for our Marquee Sponsor for October, Osborne House. We'll have lots to say about their service to the community and how you can help, all month long.

Here's the link:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/03/monday-oct-311-air-canada-pullout-over-safety-exposes-downtown-bizpoliticians-living-in-denial/

Tomorrow: Maybe Elections Manitoba can be fooled but we aren't - exclusive details behind a campaign dirty trick;

PLUS! see for yourself the Downtown Biz PR stunt and how pampered the CEO's were, while pretending to the public they would, in any way, be able to better understand the challenges of a homeless person after sleeping outdoors at 201 Portage. You will not want to miss it.

Friday podcast: Liberal fossils back Oswald, backstab Gerrard

2011-09-30T12:00:00.007-05:00

A short and punchy Friday podcast scrutinizes the backstabbing of provincial Liberals by 2 former federal MP's who endorsed NDP Health Minister Theresa Oswald in Seine River, the Wolbert-esque Anita Neville and the irrelevant John Harvard. With friends like these, Jon Gerrard can declare his enemies quota filled.

Greg Selinger was on CJOB today and was dragged into addressing two of our favorite topics, the price of milk and a youth curfew. Wait till you hear how he answered the question of an outdoor sleepover in the north end.

Speaking of sleepovers, we also have an eyewitness account of the CEO PR stunt for homelessness at 201 Portage last night. Doncha dare miss it!

Here's the link to today's podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/30/friday-podcast-liberal-fossils-back-oswald-backstab-gerrard/

Run John Run: Interview with PC Point Douglas candidate John Vernaus

2011-09-29T15:15:00.004-05:00

A longtime fixture on the local boxing scene, autobody shop owner John Vernaus decided to get into the race to succeed former Manitoba Speaker of the Legislature George Hickes as MLA for the inner-city riding of Point Douglas.

Vernaus has been running some very strong radio ads about the numerous murders and rampant crime in the riding (just yesterday a knifefight between rival gangbangers broke out on the street across from his campaign office) and his own accomplishments in the community. He took about 20 minutes to talk with us last week and our discussion - about why he is running, what he is hearing at the door, and what he thinks about whether Greg Selinger really didn't recognize his name - is the centrepiece of today's podcast.

Among the other issues touched on are the CBC exclusive alleging flood mis-management by the NDP at the Hoop and Holler cut; recapping the FASD coverage of yesterday; Gordon Sinclair gets beat up by his own readers for utter irrelevancy; was there a political bias behind Daren Jorgenson being hauled into court the Freep missed?; and the cushy "homeless" sleepover PR stunt tonight at 201 Portage that will feature U of M doctor-school boss Brain Postl, Free Press publisher Box Cox, and other local CEO types previously victimized by typos. (Well, at least those two were). Free Press online comments were not so accepting of the stunt; meanwhile Graham Hnatiuk, who sat in on the podcast yesterday, blogged some very good observations here about the Downtown Biz event. And at the end of the show, I reminisce about the old days at the soon-to-be-demolished Junkyard, replete with Chuck Green imitation.

Here is the link to today's episode:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/29/thurs-sept-29th-run-john-run-interview-with-pc-point-douglas-candidate-john-vernaus/

PS- I didn't mention it on the podcast, but for those interested, my opinion piece about the risk of electing Greg Selinger as Premier (in this week's Jewish Post) is found at this link:

http://www.jewishpostandnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=404:greg-selinger-has-a-lot-to-answer-for&catid=34:demo-articles&Itemid=78

SHANA TOVA !

Wed. podcast: The media talks about Harry Who while Gerrard talks about FASD; WRHA doctors get political

2011-09-28T15:47:00.010-05:00

The intertwining of health, crime, and public safety is a major election focus of the Wednesday podcast, with a special candidate interview plus a guest commentator joining in for the Inside Politics analysis.

Or, as was said about the manufactured Liberal leadership dismay, "Harry Who"?. (Hear how Ray Simard could have done something about it and made a splash provincially, instead of getting ink in the broadsheet.)

The Liberals' $3.9 m FASD platform presser is reviewed, and St James candidate Gerard Allard speaks about his move from policing to politics, the social cost of undiagnosed FASD and of a surprising 'missing' issue at the doorsteps. Then blogger Graham Hnatiuk returns to TGCTS and has a few things to say about the media, Liberal campaign, and l'affair Wolbert.

We also dive into CBC's story yesterday about the grlforum.com we've been talking about for weeks, the online community of doctors, nurses and others (some of whom fear retaliation from the WRHA) who bring out their evidence that the NDP system is bullying and wasteful.

The CCPS Update highlights Tom Brodbeck's rip on Greg Selinger for suddenly remembering the NDP was worried photo radar was a cash grab after years of total support for it; and we explain how he isn't old enough to vote, he isn't old enough to drive, but the suspect arrested for homicide #32 is old enough at 14 to be carrying a gun in the north end at 4 in the morning on Sunday. Oh, and it might be retaliation for #30, a 15 year old knifed 4 blocks away.

And would you please take a look at this petition to support the police K9 unit and consider signing it?

Officers in the Winnipeg Police Service K9 Unit are looking for people to sign their petition. They are petitioning the government (municipal and provincial) to put the funding back to build proper Kennels for the police service dogs. These dogs provide a huge service and they aren't being treated with the respect they deserve. There used to be kennels but they were torn down. There was a promise to build bigger and better ones when the police station on Dugald was built and that funding was pulled. These dogs need our help. Feel free to pass this link along.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-winnipeg-police-service-dogs.html

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE WEDNESDAY PODCAST:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/28/wed-podcast-the-media-talks-about-harry-who-while-gerrard-talks-about-fasd-wrha-drs-get-political/

Conflicting, incomplete polls lead off final week of provincial campaign

2011-09-27T13:34:00.008-05:00

Two half-baked polls - one with less than 470 declared respondents and the other conducted online and then extrapolated - leave Manitobans no wiser as to which direction the 2011 election is headed.

Today's podcast does a quick review of the latest promises and opinions - expanding Osborne House finding favour with the Tories and soccer facilities with the NDP; our story about a political contribution by Theresa Oswald's US husband makes the online comments, if not the actual news pages, of the Free Press; some follow-up comments about the Selinger photo story, including CBC's apology to us for not providing proper credit; and what blogger Brian Gilchrist thinks about Selinger's claim on CJOB that the NDP has run a clean campaign.

In the middle you'll also hear an interview with Tahl East of CDI College, whose Bras for A Cause campaign is now featured on billboards and in Swaggerville; homicide number 32 has two north end bloggers reacting here and here ; and a look at the first day of the trial into the murder of John Radocaj, courtesy of the blog writings and Metro story of James Turner.

(Also, a reminder that PCW's 10th Annual Back to School bash takes place Thursday night at the Marquee Lounge and Event Centre, 1875 Pembina, with a career-ending casket match between Damon and Dicaprio in the main event !)

Here is the link to the Tuesday Podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/27/conflicting-incomplete-polls-lead-off-final-week-of-provincial-campaign/

The reaction to our Selinger photo exclusive; CJOB poll off key?; Words from Gerrard; The cost of stolen signs

2011-09-26T15:15:00.005-05:00

It started on Twitter, with notices from James O'Connor of the Brandon Sun and local news site Chris D. Then the national online aggregator, Bourque.org, posted a link right to our story "The One Photo Greg Selinger Does Not Want You to See in an Election Brochure"

http://tgcts.blogspot.com/2011/09/one-photo-greg-selinger-doesnt-want-you.html

beneath stories about the federal NDP leadership race and the Ontario election. So there is no denying, the alternative media made a big splash in the provincial election on Friday.

CBC TV picked up our story about Greg Selinger alienating police by posing with the Heatbag Records crew bandana, and even led the TV newscast with it at 5 PM, barely an hour before the Leader's debate. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitobavotes2011/story/2011/09/23/mb-selinger-photo-110923.html

On Saturday, The Winnipeg Sun added details about the past violent record of convictions of one of the group and got more police reaction

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/09/23/selinger-in-photo-flap#disqus_thread;

Even the Winnipeg Free Press managed to crank out a few paragraphs online about the controversy, making sure not to identify our podcast as the source.

And Rae Butcher wrote on her blog about how it reinforces her concern about clueless politicians, when it comes to dealing with crime and public safety in the north end:

http://adayinthehood.blogspot.com/2011/09/dumpster-fires-galore.html

Today our inside story of how the story was brought to light and how the mainstream media reacted to it, what the commenters and politicians said, and how this picture of Greg Selinger being duped actually relates to a story told by my mentor Yoram Hamizrachi about Pres. Bush Jr. and the middle east.

Also today:

a dissection of the CJOB/MREA poll that had fewer than 470 respondents; a few words with Liberal leader Dr. Jon Gerrard;

why stolen election signs are a big and expensive deal;

a wait list scandal involving echocardiagrams,

and in the crime update, Richard Cloutier uttered the C word today at 9.47 AM. The 6 letter one we've been talking about since the podcast launched.

Plus, shout-outs to our new Twitter followers and don't forget to read part 3 of my profile of RCMP Commissioner-applicant, psychologist Dr. Michael Webster !

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/08/01/18495896.html

Here is the link for the Monday podcast:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/26/tgcts-mon-sept-26-how-msm-handled-the-selinger-photo-exclusive-is-ob-poll-off-key-stolen-signs/

Twitter: @TGCTS

The one photo Greg Selinger doesn't want you to see in an election brochure

2011-09-23T04:33:00.019-05:00

A photograph of a celebration has been circulating around town. It's of a local rap and hip hop label, Heatbag Records, and their top act, Winnipeg's Most.

The photograph which we acquired, shows NDP Premier Greg Selinger with 6 men associated with the label. He is smiling widely, while holding outstretched a black Heatbag Records bandana.

At times those bandanas been seen online brandished as gangster-wear to conceal rappers' faces in photos and videos, or as a costume for some very attractive young women who pose on social media barely wearing it. In hip-hop culture, a bandana represents the thug life values the gangster rappers glorify - pro-drug, anti-police, settling scores - which infects the lives of thousands of young Manitobans.

Selinger seems quite pleased to be associated with a popular and successful music act and the crew is definately glad to have a picture like this in their back pockets.

But Manitoba Justice officials cringe at this photo. They know exactly who the rappers are. Justice officials are all too aware of who is involved in Heatbag and how their "other records" - not music, but with the courts - are a microcosm of the failure for over a decade of the crime and justice platform of the NDP. And Greg Selinger is smiling at the camera and waving their flag.

Among Selinger's associates, convictions have been registered for drug trafficking, sex offences, and breach of probation, and charges are pending for assaults, more trafficking, weapons, probation breaches, and skipping court.

Police sources tell TGCTS that at least two people in the picture have associations with the Manitoba Warriors. Officers are told to consider them armed and dangerous, and to be approached with caution.

As he campaigns for re-relection, Selinger wants credit for being tough on crime. But what justice officials see in this photograph is how easily Selinger was duped by the street-wise rappers, who have benefitted from the NDP's hug-a-thug holistic approach to crime. The picture has been going around for months, but nobody realized its significance until The Great Canadian Talk Show identified the players and discovered their criminal records.

*****

Charlie Fettah, seen second from the left, made the news in 2008 as part of a simmering dispute involving shotguns and a "rap beef" between Heatbag and a rival group.

"Heatbag is self-described as "not really a label, but a crew."

http://ca.vlex.com/vid/rappers-involved-dangerous-rivalry-64912206

By the following March a follow-up story made clear, they see themselves as victims of stereotypes and oppression, and claim they are not gangsters but are misunderstood and mistreated. Assurances were made they are on the straight and narrow despite a leaked video showing them threatening retaliation.

Local rappers' gun-toting video on web
Group linked to string of violent incidents
By: Mike McIntyre and James Turner
Updated: September 17 2008
at 02:55 AM CDT

Fettah disputes the categorization of Heatbag as a gang. He said it's a label police and justice officials have made up to keep members away from each other by virtue of widely used court orders to not associate with known gang members.

Since being released from Stony Mountain in November, where he was serving a drug-related sentence, Fettah said he's been relentlessly pulled over by police looking for contraband in his car. Fettah swears he has left the criminal life behind and says he is now coaching kids to stay away from drugs and speaking about his street life. "

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1556416841.html

The story gave no background on Fettah's "drug-related sentence", or why police might have had reason to keep a close eye on him when he got out of Stony. It would have been instructive for the public to do so.

Court records reveal he was sentenced to 5 years in Stony -- for being a drug trafficker.

As part of the deal, he served no additonal time on another charge - for altering a serial number of a gun.

The Crown dropped 2 other firearms-related counts and one of possessing property obtained by crime.

In essence it was a 5 for 1 deal, and within 20 months, Fettah was back in circulation, rappin'.

After the awards for their music rolled in and legitimized the group with the media, label general manager Jon-C continued the PR spin. While he told the Free Press last December that he and his peers have been victims of police profiling and racism, he assured his fans that he abided by the gang code of refusing to cooperate with authorities and that police are not to be trusted.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/a-bum-rap-111745254.html

A bum RAP
Three-man crew dispels myths of aboriginal hip hop
By: Alexandra Paul
Posted: 12/12/2010
1:00 AM

Jon C says police pulled him in for questioning two years ago before Winnipeg's Most hit it big. "I was true to the streets. I didn't say a word."

Jon C says the cops thought the rappers were a street gang and he was their leader.

Early gigs drew an unwelcome police presence; fans were carded for IDs, one club was surrounded. The rappers still get angry talking about it.

"They've laid off now," Jon C said.

Suspicion of police, after the triple shooting in the North End in October, doesn't surprise local rappers.

There is an atmosphere of fear in the North End that wasn't there before the two men died and a girl, 13, was shot in the abdomen.

The 45-minute shooting spree a week before Halloween is thought to be a random crime...

For much of the city's aboriginal population, North End and inner-city 'hoods are the new black ghettos.

"It's like what they said in Maclean's. They ridiculed the blacks in the States. Now it's like that for us," Jon C says.... "Winnipeg is like Detroit used to be, or New York or L.A., Jon C says."

"Winnipeg's Most has a recording company called Heat Bag Records, a double play on words with a cheeky message.
"A heat bag is street slang for someone who scores himself out and gets caught by the police. It's a logo they've outgrown, the crew says. Today's artists are tight, they share gigs, help each other out and they present a united front to the public outside their fan base.
"Hip hop is not gang culture. It's an expression of yourself... Our goal isn't money. It's relief of the stress built up in your chest. It's therapy with a mike. Sure there's gangsta rap," Jon C says.
"But we're hip hop," Brooklyn adds."

The reporter fell for it hook, line and sinker, stating: "That's a sea change. You'd almost think the rappers were social workers", and quoted a social worker cum rapper (how convenient) to back her up:

"Hip hop and rap have been blamed many times for many years for everything from suicides to murders. I'm not delusional, I do recognize that rap has its issues and problems," Winnipeg rapper Pipskid says by email while on tour in Europe. "But I believe the overall effect it has on Winnipeg's inner city and North End is incredibly positive."

For a record label from a troubled genre, what a public relations coup.

But had the reporter looked one inch deep into the legal status of Heatbag impressario Jon-C, the reporter would have found his dealings with the court were even more current than those of Fettah, and that legal trouble was not a thing of the past for the bunch.

In fact, Jon-C has had serious charges before the courts since June 23, 2008 - during the time the picture was taken, in which he is standing over Selinger's right shoulder.

Jon-C is due in court December 16th, to face charges of possess for the purpose of trafficking and possess property obtained by crime. Other charges for failing to comply with attending court have been dropped. By the time Jon-C gets in front of a judge in December, his charges will be over 3 1/2 years in process. So much for the success of the NDP hiring more prosecutors. And you can bet the plea-bargain card will be played.

The third member of Winnipeg's Most, Brooklyn, seen at the far right with that hat on, is awaiting two trials of his own.

One is for an alleged assault (and breach of probation) in June 2010. The other is from an incident on Valentine's Day 2011 that allegedly encompassed another assault, utter threats, mischief, possession of a dangerous weapon, and multiple breaches of conditions of probation regarding weapons and alcohol. Brooklyn is not going to court on those 11 charges until September -- of 2012.

Heatbag Records is more than just the rap trio of Winnipeg's Most. There are other rappers, MC's, and an entourage.

Take, for instance, the guy in the track suit in the photo, Ashley Blakk (third from the left). He was convicted of trafficking in March 2008 and was tossed back in the brink for breaching probation last December.

His court record also shows a conviction in 2002 for sexual assault, bargaining away 5 related charges; with yet other charges of assault cause bodily harm and 4 breaches of conditions being plea-bargained away by the Crown over the years. A total of 10 charges have been stayed on him alone.

Police have seen 15 charges stayed against members of the crew. Another 15 charges are pending. They range from drug trafficking to assaults to uttering threats to multiple breaches of conditions of release - which as we've seen are the first to be plea-bargained away and are treated by judges as jokes.

And the delays in getting the remaining charges to trial is the hallmark of the court system under the NDP.

In the meantime, the hip-hoppers are free to release more tracks, garner street cred, spread their don't snitch mantra, earn cash money, and get the number one crime fighter in the province to pose with them.

A police source told us: "They get the right photo op and legitimize themselves instantly. Perhaps Greg Selinger thought he was legitimizing himself with that crowd too - except of course that doesn't work too well because they can't cast ballots on Bebo.

The Heatbag Records website shows logos of guns, bullets, fingerprints, all the gang trappings. is it all in good fun, or something more sinister? By appearing at the side of an organization like this, Selinger is signaling -- to them at least - that slinging dope, beating people up and stuff is kool. And don't forget about the shooting up the neighborhood part. But, it's always nice to have a picture of you with the provincial juice to show a judge you've turned your life around. "

There's nothing like getting the Premier's seal of approval. Will hanging out with gangster rappers and holding up their colours win Selinger the public's seal of approval?

North end Liberal candidate says campaign dirty tricks "bullying"

2011-09-21T17:39:00.005-05:00

The outspoken Grit candidate in Burrows, Twyla Motkaluk, told TGCTS today that campaign signs being stolen and illicitly removed are not the only tactics being used to try to derail her campaign. As you will hear, she claims that racism has been wielded to dissuade voters from supporting her at the ballot box.

Calling it the behavior of NDP bullies, she also told of one example of government waste that led her to seek election, a Healthy Baby subsidy program for pregnant mothers that Motkaluk claims provides about 33c per day for nutritious groceries while the administration of the funding consumes over 80% of the monies.

Along with reviewing the Liberal platform released this morning - which included Dr. Jon Gerrard endorsing our longtime call for having Legislative meetings and Question Period archived online! - a bloggers' hypothetical script for a faux Greg Selinger job interview TV ad, an email from a listener who got surveyed online about their voting intentions, Dan Lett's views on downtown safety, and the ethics of an NDP cabinet-ista ( no, not Theresa Oswald, the subject of yesterday's exclusive) - appearing in a community TV ad, are on the agenda for today.

Oh, and a great quote from my cousin Avi Saper.

Here's the link: http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/21/tgcts-wed-sept-21-2011-north-end-liberal-candidate-says-campaign-dirty-tricks-bullying/

Exclusive: Theresa Oswald's re-election campaign takes a detour to the US

2011-09-20T16:09:00.025-05:00

A faithful listener of our program, who has taken quite an interest in the way politicians get their message out in the hopes of being elected this October, sent along a copy of a pamphlet dropped in their mailbox, a standard 8.5 x 11 folded. They had a few questions which are a little confounding, and perhaps some of the more informed among you can help clear up the confusion.

Now at first glance there doesn't seem to be anything unusual. A candidate, in this case a government Health Minister, is providing some personal career background and towing the party line.

Oswald, of course, is well remembered from her days as an English teacher - sources say she was given the nickname "Dragon Lady" for her firm attitude with students - and was a volleyball coach. The middle section of the pamphlet has a quote - bilingual of course - beside the family portrait.

"Manitoba is a better place to live, work and raise a family than it's ever been", Oswald tells her constituents in Seine River, as she implies she shares their experiences and so, they should vote for her to continue on as their MLA.

Our listener, though, found Oswald's urging ironic.

Because it appears not everyone in the family portrait found in the Health Minister's election advertising, is living and working here.

The listener discovered that her husband, Sam McCreedy, is a member of the Language Arts faculty of Apple Valley High School.

http://www.district196.org/AVHS/

Which is in Minnesota, about a 10 hour drive from Oswald's address.

He's even a member of the state volleyball coaches association.

http://www.mshsca.org/volleyball/members.htm

The question raised by the listener was, how can Theresa Oswald ask voters to re-elect her on the basis that under the NDP, Manitoba is better than ever to work and live in, but it isn't good enough for her own family members?

Good question.

Now that is not to say that Mr. McCreedy is not supportive of Oswald's beliefs. After all, according to page 19 of the NDP Annual Returns for 2010 on file with Elections Manitoba, he gave $1020.00 to the party.

http://www.elections.mb.ca/galleries/download/Financial_Returns/Party_annual_returns/F920_2011_NDP.pdf

That wouldn't be unusual, except that the Voter's List shows only Theresa Oswald as a registered voter at her home.

That in itself, also wouldn't be unusual if Sam McCreedy only holds American citizenship, because Americans can't vote in our elections. The law says:

Only individual residents may contribute

41(1) No person or organization other than an individual normally resident in Manitoba shall contribute to any candidate, leadership contestant, constituency association or registered political party.

Losing Manitoba residency

8 A person ceases to be a resident of Manitoba when he or she
(a) leaves Manitoba with the intention of becoming a resident of another place for a period of at least six months;

Mr. McCreedy appeared on page 60 of the 2009 -2010 Apple Valley handbook as a Language Arts instructor.

http://www.district196.org/avhs/communications/handbooks/0910avhscal.pdf

And the same page in the next year's handbook.

http://www.district196.org/avhs/communications/handbooks/1011AVHSCal.pdf

It appears that Manitoba has never been a better place to work and live, unless you're the husband of the NDP Minister for Health, who seems to have been teaching in Minnesota for at least the last 3 years.

Based on the information at hand, Sam McCreedy's contribution to the NDP in 2010 would be illegal.

Not that this would bother the NDP, given their past record of election finance fraud and cover-up.

Heck, here's how the unelected premier handled it the last time:

"Manitoba's Finance Minister Greg Selinger, the man responsible for ensuring tax money is spent properly, admits he's known for six years of the scheme by the NDP to defraud the province of hundreds of thousands of dollars. He never went public, although he did insist on a letter from the NDP executive in 2003 exonerating him from blame."

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

Also on today's podcast: a blogger reviews the 'Downtown' debate last night; Free Press readers raise a lot of questions why the North End is only to be made safe when the poverty industry complains and Lloyd Axworthy can grab a headline; a Free Press reporter quotes another reporter's wife without realizing it; and in the Crime Courts Public Safety update, the gentrification of the crack epidemic in Winnipeg.

PLUS, the return of Frank the Italian Barber !

Here's the link to hear the Tuesday Podcast:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/21/tgcts-tuesday-sept-20-exclusive-theresa-oswalds-re-election-campaign-takes-a-detour-to-the-us/

Monday podcast: CJOB debate highlights Selinger's weaknesses

2011-09-19T16:11:00.007-05:00

The outcry about the cheating tactics of the NDP campaign hit the pages of both the Sun and Free Press, and the credibility issues resulted in Greg Selinger facing pointed arguments from his opponents for the Premier's seat, OB callers, and host Richard Cloutier this morning (who seems to have identified an issue today about full time home care jobs being created as part of a "sweet deal" with the MGEU to the detriment of patient care. Imagine being told you get one bath a week, it was going to be on an afternoon you go to a church activity, and it was being cut back to 25 minutes from an hour).

Today's podcast recaps the weekend announcements and the topics of the morning debate and juxtaposes the campaign priorities the PC's and Liberals set out on strokes, diabetes, emergency response and care homes, with Selinger's performance on-air and increasingly irritated retorts to accusations of using his a way-back machine and his "Crocus calculator" to create a "phony reconstruction of the 1990's".

Harping on the supposed Filmon record rather than account for the NDP record after 12 years in power is losing traction with voters and some local media types who want answers and accountability, not homilies to "optimism" and the wonders of the WRHA. The phrase "Brian Sinclair" was heard today on CJOB, as it is in many forums now.

Also today, another phrase not heard - but it could have been - was Cheez Whiz as the price of milk in remote communities was Cloutier's punch line at the end of the debate, we report on more dirty elections tricks against a non-NDP candidate, and ask, is it proper for public and institutional officials like Dauna Crooks, Elliot Levin and Suzanne Hrynyk to be pumping the NDP campaign ?

The CCPS update looks at the plan of the University of Winnipeg and other groups to demolish the Merchants Hotel with public money. The question is why? or is it because the wine and cheese poverty pimps think it's ok for some neighbourhoods to have beverage rooms close by, but not the beer drinking working class areas of the north end they claim they want to see revitalized? Plus, what a pleasure to see that our "controversial" exposes about idiotic traffic circles in River Heights during last fall's civic election was in fact, quite on the money, with Councillor Orlikow stating what was obvious to all of us last year:

"You can’t throw out information and say the citizens are engaged."

Here is the link for the Monday Podcast: http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/19/monday-podcast-cjob-debate-highlights-selingers-weaknesses/

PS - coming up tomorrow: A star candidates' brochure says some wonderful things about Manitoba trying to woo voters but does the reality of their own life reflect those beliefs ? plus the Greg Selinger job interview parody, a great FP feature from the weekend about BiPole dividing west-side community opinions, and an exclusive insight into the gentrification of the local crack epidemic.

Twitter: @TGCTS

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/2344284529/

Radio recap of the end of election campaign week #2 made people sit up and notice

2011-09-19T00:47:00.010-05:00

Nothing illustrated the contrasts between the strategy of the opposition parties and that of the NDP as week 2 came to a close, than the nighttime report on Friday by Kim Lawson of CJOB. A number of listeners made mention of it to us, and with good reason.

She started off by reporting that PC leader Hugh McFadyen pledged to extend operations of clinics to take the pressure off emergency brooms, add ambulances and paramedics, and initiate a specialized stroke unit to save lives; then that Liberal leader Jon Gerrard was focusing on investigating abuse of the elderly in personal care homes and the over-prescribing of anti-psychotic drugs as a way to numb patients despite the added risk of causing strokes.

Those were substantive proposals that spoke to the problems and worries of voters about their families and how health care delivery is managed.

Kim Lawson contrasted what the opposition leaders did on Friday, with what the NDP leader did.

Greg Selinger held a press conference with the owners of the Winnipeg Jets.

To hear her recap what she saw and heard in her report on the campaign day, was kind of startling to listeners. They made a point to let us know about Lawson's summary.

The un-elected Premier engaged in what the front page of the Winnipeg Sun proclaimed was outright cheating, by making a government announcement while hiding behind the purity of the Return of the Jets.

Perhaps his brain-trust figured no one would dare complain about something targeted at 'helping at-risk kids', even if they realized the law prohibited government announcements within 90 days of the vote. Maybe they planned on arguing that it was exempt from the legislation because it related to theories about child safety. But once media outlets, including ChrisD.ca and CBC, slugged their headlines as "Province and Jets team up" rather than "NDP promises to team up with Jets", it was obviously not a 'misunderstanding'. CBC, CJOB, The Sun, CTV, all picked up on the blatant breach of the Elections Act by the NDP.

If it were a misunderstanding, Selinger would not have "brushed aside questions" from reporters that morning. He would have tried to set the record straight.

Only the Winnipeg Free Press repeated, without question, the desperate cover-up spin of the NDP after being caught in a bald-faced attempt to fool the media and get an unchallenged "happy news story" in front of the public.

History
Updated on Friday, September 16, 2011 at 9:34 AM CDT:
Clarifies this was a MB gov't announcement, not an NDP party announcement

Updated on Friday, September 16, 2011 at 2:14 PM CDT:
Amends that this is an NDP campaign promise, not a Manitoba gov't announcement; includes information from Elections Act

So the Free Press reported that Greg Selinger and the NDP acted to break the elections law, then simply revised their story to match the NDP's sanitized version of their actions after Gerrard raised the ante by filing a formal complaint.

Consider it A Lesson in Journalism.

After having to think for a few hours to make an excuse, Selinger claimed to CJOB it was just a follow-up of a week-old campaign promise about mentorship, which no one buys because it was not presented that way to the media - or the headlines would have said so i.e. "NDP pledge moves forward by teaming with Jets".

We delved into this subject on Friday's podcast, as another example of the ethics and credibility gap of a party that watched over the collapse of the Crocus Fund Ponzi scheme, lies about Tory "plans" to sell Manitoba Hydro, lies about BiPole, and lies about the size of the deficit, but wants the public to be scared of a change in government to another party.

On Monday's podcast, we'll review the media and online reaction to the NDP campaign trick that failed, report on another campaign dirty trick, and reveal how the crack epidemic in Winnipeg has relocated under the NDP's watch, right under their nose. It will be online in about 2 PM.

Ethics gap grows as Selinger drags Winnipeg Jets into Election Act scandal

2011-09-16T16:21:00.003-05:00

As the NDP campaign of attack ads continues to backfire, unelected premier Greg Selinger resorted to playing the Jets card today with disastrous results.

A feel-good presser to announce an after school program for at-risk kids was immediately identified by media outlets (here and here ) as a (prohibited) "province" or government announcement, and not an NDP election pledge. This comes on the heels of an Elections Manitoba investigation into Cabinet minister Ron Lemieux presenting a cheque within the 90 blackout period.

Today's podcast looks at the official complaint filed with Elections Manitoba and at Liberal leader Jon Gerrard's terse accusations about the NDP being "so arrogant and indifferent to Manitobans that they think they can break the law and get away with it ... What kind of lesson is Greg Selinger sending to inner city youth by breaking the law?"

For his part, the dirtiest player in politics stuck his nose in the air like something didn't stink: "Selinger brushed aside questions from reporters about the timing of the announcement during an election campaign. He and Chipman said the whole concept has been in the works for months."(CBC)

Also up for discussion, including an email from a sharp-tongued listener, is a desperate attempt to manipulate Jewish voters using scare tactics and ancient history - by a columnist who did not reveal his links to the ruling party.

Here's the link to the Friday podcast: http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/16/tgcts-fri-sept-16-2011-ethics-gap-grows-selinger-drags-winnipeg-jets-into-elections-act-scandal/

And please feel free to read Part Two of the Mike Webster story: Ruling the Ring, I am very proud of it.

Deficit dishonesty drives NDP's integrity onto election radar

2011-09-15T16:12:00.009-05:00

Two weeks ago TGCTS asked whether ethics and integrity were going to play into the consideration of Manitobans during the election campaign.

Now, after former senior executives revealed that Greg Selinger himself enacted a referendum requirement before Manitoba Hydro can be sold, with the spectre of possible criminal charges in the Brian Sinclair death at HSC in 2008 being reported yesterday, and the ongoing revelations about the NDP hiding loans and grants as 'assets' on the provincial books, the issue of honesty and integrity has gained traction in the media and in the minds of voters.

Reports about Selingers' "frustration" with opposition claims and election promises are contrasted on today's podcast with the NDP record on those 3 files and how whistleblowers and red-flag wavers (like Dr. Larry Reynolds and Miss Whistle) are treated by the government's bureaucracies and agencies.

While Free Press columnist Dan Lett portrays Hugh McFadyen's statements about the NDP misrepresenting the deficit as 'true but false', there is no doubt that voters who read the Freep online are now taking seriously the issue of NDP integrity and accountability. Potential hikes in Hydro and MPI rates to cover their spending tracks may lurk in the minds of the electorate before the campaign is through.

(Also check out the satirical Dos Equis -styled ad campaign of young Liberal Kevin Friedman running in Fort Garry - Riverview http://www.kevinfreedman.ca/media.html)

Todays' edition weaves emails and comments from our listeners into the narrative - follow us on Twitter @TGCTS
or join The Great Canadian Talk Show Facebook group
and get involved!

Here's the link to the podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/15/tgcts-thurs-sept-15-2011-deficit-dishonesty-drives-ndps-integrity-onto-election-radar/

PS - I forgot to mention on the podcast today, that part two of my 3 part interview with former CFL Grey Cup winner/Wrestling champion/RCMP and CIA consulting psychologist Mike Webster is posted at Slam!Wresling, please look it over!
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/08/01/18495891.html

The Loan Act budget trick of the NDP, and more campaign dirty tricks

2011-09-14T16:14:00.005-05:00

A lot of important people (ie the WRHA, Manitoba Nurses Union, Health Minister Theresa Oswald) had a startling beginning to their day with the report in the Free Press that a homicide investigator had recommended the Crown lay charges against both a front line care worker, and the Health Sciences Centre, over the death of Brian Sinclair after a 34 hour wait in the emergency room in September 2008. Denials that a report had been completed, let alone charges recommended, were issued in record time, but the story had the reputation of ace cop reporter Mike McIntyre behind it, and the denials did little to quell the buzz among listeners about how "the NDP had stalled the Inquiry till after the election and now this gets out".

On todays' podcast we go into depth about the Loan Act, which is the way the NDP is shifting monies to outside agencies that can never pay it back while claiming the dollars still exist in the treasury, thereby concealing how big the deficit really is. Translation: can you say tax increase to pay for the loans? Listen for the surprise realiziation about which pet project of millionaires may have benefitted from the book-cookery while providing cover for their political allies at city hall.

Another episode, another report of stolen campaign signs. It's pretty obvious from the victims, who the perps might be, and we even have a partial physical description of one of the dirty tricksters.

FP edu-beat fella Nick Martin can't stop blogging his feelings about Dr. Jon Gerrard refering to the 'Field of Dreams' purchase of the Midway Chrysler land being an unfulfilled NDP promise (and an eyesore), and the paper quickly ran a follow up to explain why the new 'green space' at Gordon Bell HS is behind schedule ie. needing to raise $500,000 for astro turf (does that count as green space), plus another $800k on top of it. We parse the stories and comments to give some perspective on the political opportunism behind it all - without even mentioning the name Pat Martin!

Plus, by stumbling across a column about the inner city by the poverty industry in today's broadsheet, we launched into a lesson in electioneering, and explain the links between the 'grassroots organizations' being lauded and the party that was not named that was also being patted on the back and promoted. Or, as one onliner said: Are the numbers in this article just a platform for the NDP?

To conclude the show, we compare the poverty industry ways vis a vis homicide #30, as if the 15 year old killed after being knifed 6 times at College and Aikens would have been saved if only there was more recreation programs. (At 3 AM ?)

There's a 6 letter word that might, might, have saved gang-involved Clarky Stevenson - and may save other children - and TGCTS is waiting for one of the leaders to say it out loud.

Here's the link to the Wednesday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/14/tgcts-wed-sept-14-2011-the-loan-act-budget-trick-of-the-ndp-and-more-campaign-dirty-tricks/

NDP scandals and cover-ups continue to pile up just by reading what's out there

2011-09-13T14:17:00.009-05:00

Today's podcast strings together reports from mainstream and alternative media to paint a picture: about Manitoba Housing ignoring health hazards (CBC TV), Manitoba Hydro refusing to give a mailing address (Les.net), the sneaky accounting to reduce the provincial deficit picture (Bruce Owen via blogger Brian Gilchrist http://bgilchrist.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/the-campaign-of-misinformation-and-lies/ ), and online comments from voters about NDP promises to hire more nurses and cut cancer wait times - there are a lot of people whose experiences with these Crowns, agencies and departments, hospitals, etc, demonstrates that an entitled class is running this province and has but one goal- to stay employed in power.

The facts now coming out about how the books have been cooked for years by Greg Selinger not reporting loans and advances properly, and how Tom Brodbeck is told to file a FIPPA to get to see stadium loan documents, is a red flag our listeners will well recognize.

Also, a shout-out or two; is Dr. Jon Gerrard exaggerating about Winnipeg being Detroit North?;, how cops took down a one man crime spree overnight; and the reaction of Free Press readers to Margo Goodhand preparing to sleep outside for a night as part of a publicity stunt, to show how she cares about poverty and homelessness. Whatever will she wear? The phrase Granny Clampett comes up.

here's the link:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/13/tgcts-tues-sept-13-ndp-scandals-and-cover-ups-pile-up-just-by-reading-whats-out-there/

Exclusive: First dirty trick of election campaign reported

2011-09-12T11:22:00.003-05:00

Winnipeg's premiere podcast tells you the story of a remarkable dirty trick played in the election, from a north end riding no less. It's quite clever although highly unethical and shows someone is scared of someone else gaining ground.

Also today, Metro reporter James Turner echoes our position that rampant alcoholism is fueling violent crime in this city and should be an election issue; Dan Lett isn't very complimentary about the attack ads on Hugh McFadyen but still thinks the NDP is ahead in the race- although he didn't seem to consider another variable; and Kevin Engstrom of the Sun blasts the NDP for gutter politics.

In civics, Gordo's column about a proposed Waterfront Drive development in the FP this weekend was so obnoxious that blogger Cherenkov was compelled to make sure everyone knew the history of Sinclair distorting the plans at Upper Fort Garry to generate support for the Manitoba Club members engineering the kaiboshing of a much-needed apartment block to preserve their back yard view. Since Gary Filmon is involved in some way with the Waterfront deal, I set the record straight that this was a ploy by Gordo to use his bully pulpit to demonize the Tories, even tangientally, yet again. We review the facts of how the bike lobby and their enablers inflated attendance figures at past Ciclovia events for political purposes, and in the crime report, two weekend stabbings lend rise to a 6 letter word no one dares utter to protect our youth from each other - curfew.

Plus shout outs to bloggers and twitterists including Rae Butcher, John Dobbin and Airchecker!

Listen here: http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/12/tgcts-monday-sept-12-2011-first-report-of-dirty-trick-in-election/

Neglect of elderly patient at Seven Oaks Hospital an NDP "improvement"? ; those fake Ciclovia attendance numbers

2011-09-09T12:56:00.013-05:00

Yesterday in the Winnipeg Free Press, NDP campaign quick-response director Maeghan Dewar was "insisting the NDP has improved health care during 12 years in power."

Today's podcast contrasts that spin, with a story in the Jewish Post and News about the horrific treatment of 98 year old Ann Rostecki in 2009 at the Seven Oaks General Hospital.

http://www.jewishpostandnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=372:rosteciki&catid=45:rokmicronews-fp-1&Itemid=70

Bernie Bellan includes documentation and correspondence to lay out the entire tale of neglect - including starvation of the elderly stroke victim - and the dismissive contemptuous attitude towards the children who advocated for their mother.

"...there was little dignity to her stay at Seven Oaks Hospital--a dignity that every human deserves from the public health care system in spite of their age or infirmities. Or is this like the battlefield, where the medic only ministers to those whose wounds are not major enough to preclude recovery...
Had we, as children, neglected our Mother's care in the fashion of that at Seven Oaks Hospital, we might have been brought up on charges under Section 215 of the Criminal Code of Canada under The Vulnerable Persons Act. Having the word 'hospital' in one's name, however, exonerate them from the same prosecution."

The subject of health care and the WRHA has yet to emerge as a campaign issue, as 'safer communities', a catch-all phrase encompassing crimefighting, courts, and social programs and supports has dominated the platforms of all 3 parties thus far. But as you will hear in our interview with Mike Brown off the top of the show, the newsman-turned PC candidate in St. Vital, even he was surprised at the level of concern in his community.

And during the CCPS Update near the end of the episode, Hugh McFadyen has more to say about getting tougher on crime and spoke (this was on Wednesday remember) about expanding the use of GPS anklets to track high-risk offenders, making the point that the NDP opposed the PC position when it was announced - yet today, on Friday, they're for it.

We also point listeners to a personal tribute by Dan Denton on Slam!Wrestling about the death of old-time midget wrestler Little Tokyo and their travels together in the 80's.
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/GuestColumn/2011/09/08/18655286.html

While you're on Slam!Wrestling, check out Part 1 of my story about former Montreal Alouette defensive tackle Mike Webster, who has had an amazing journey from Grey Cup champion to main event heavyweight wrestler, to a career as a consulting psychologist for police, military forces and agencies in the area of hostage negotiations.
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/08/01/18495861.html

Item Last: Keep an eye on the reporting of this weekends' ManyFest on Broadway - the mainstream media won't remind you that this resulted from a failed attempt by the Downtown Biz to close down Broadway for 4 separate festivals, so they were rolled into one weekend and STILL can't find enough volunteers.

What the mainstream media also won't do, is report on the way the bike lobby and their supporters at City Hall and the Biz have inflated the attendance history of the Ciclovia event, which is the basis of all this "let's close down Broadway for a weekend" nonsense, to justify the blatant cheerleading for the bike lobby and their anti-car agenda.

Hell, at first they told the truth about how many attended the first Ciclovia in 2009 - but watch how the story has changed as the demand for dollars has grown, without anyone in the media challenging the inflated numbers.

First, Bike to the Future said the inaugural festival in 2009 was attended by 5000

Recent News Archives 2009 | Facebook
Ciclovia success! Winnipeg's inaugural Ciclovia on Sunday September 13th was a major success! There were an estimated 5000 attendees, and almost all ...
www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=8375557558&topic=8461 - Cached

But the Downtown Biz thought no one would notice if they fibbed a little:
http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/home/events/ciclovia/2009_stats/.
CICLOVIA AT A GLANCE
Facts for Ciclovia 2009
Ran between 8am and 6pm on Sunday, September 13, 2009
The goal was to promote physical activity, community building and the benefits of using non-motorized transportation through a bikeway and major programming area downtown
Winnipeg was the first Canadian city to run Ciclovia
The route connected Assiniboine Park to the Forks with full and partial street closures
The north side of Broadway from Main to Osborne was closed to motorized traffic and was home to vendors, entertainers, family activities, fitness classes, farmers’ market and more
An estimated 10,000 people were out on the route that day, cycling, jogging, walking, rollerblading, etc, many of whom don’t usually come downtown

Then, in 2010, BTTF claimed attendance had doubled from their "official" estimate of the year before, although TGCTS traffic reporter Kim Calder and alternative media godfather Bob Axford said it had been no bigger.

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=8375557558&topic=8461
September 12, 2010
Thank you to all our sponsors and volunteers!
In its second year, this FREE eco-friendly, healthy-lifestyles festival and active transportation initiative saw the north side of Broadway closed from Osborne to Main Street, creating a network of car-free streets from Assiniboine Park all the way to The Forks! An estimated 10,000 people enjoyed car-free streets this year for Ciclovia!

Then, Mayor Katz showed he was either misled by lobbyists, or that he flunked math, as he justified throwing even more resources at Ciclovia by adding 5000 and 10,000 and issued a press release that overstated the event's popularity by 25%

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

Katz Pledges Support for More Successful Downtown Celebrations
Will more than double existing street closure funding; additional $57,000 for Downtown BIZ Events

Winnipeg - October 20th, 2010 –Mayor Sam Katz today announced he will more than double the existing city-wide street closure budget as well as commit in-kind services up to $57,000 to expand the hugely successful “Lights on Broadway” from one day to up to four Saturdays, and provide annual support for the popular downtown festival, “Ciclovia.” ...Through festivals hosted by the Winnipeg Downtown Biz and community partners, vendors and citizens celebrate eco-friendly living and car-free streets from Assiniboine Park to The Forks. Since 2009, over 20,000 people have participated in the immensely popular free street festival “Ciclovia”...

Finally, in this week's Uptown, the Downtown Biz tells an even bigger whopper to an unquestioning reporter.

http://www.uptownmag.com/news-and-views/marlo-campbell/Something-for-everyone--no-seriously-129396958.html

"It’s for many people and there’s many things happening, so we thought it was a perfect fit," explains Jennifer Verch, manager of communications and marketing for the Downtown Winnipeg Biz, one of ManyFest’s presenters.

Approximately 30,000 people took part in last year’s festival and the hope is that at least that many show up for this year’s scheduled events, most of which are being offered free of charge."

So if the Bike Lobby, Downtown Biz, or City Hall makes any claims about the attendance this year, be assured it will be inaccurate, misleading, and won't add up with eyewitness accounts. But that number will be used to justify even MORE tax dollars and resources be used to help special interest groups and politicians build empires as summer turns to fall next year.

Here is the link to the Friday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/09/tgcts-sept-10-2011-seven-oaks-patient-neglect-an-ndp-improvement-ciclovia-inflates-attendance/

McFadyen: Selinger's lowest - price utility guarantee has "zero credibility", supports PUB role as consumer watchdog

2011-09-08T13:45:00.015-05:00

In an exclusive interview with TGCTS, Progressive Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen dismissed the Joe Namath-like guarantee of Greg Selinger to fix utility costs at the lowest in the country as a "phony promise" and added that, given the NDP record from the 2007 campaign on hallway medicine and the return of the Jets, "these are people who have zero credibility on anything they say during election campaigns."

McFadyen also pledged to uphold the independent authority of the Public Utility Board which he lauded as a safeguard for Manitoba consumers. Listen to the full Q and A on today's podcast.

The Free Press elicited a response from former PC premier Gary Filmon about being used as a strawman to "fairly or unfairly" attack McFadyen for what he "might" do to Crown Corporations in new NDP attack ads. While editor Margo Goodhand mocks the notion the election is heating up as a lie, candidates in Westman struggle to get their message out because of a lack of a local TV outlet. And we point listeners to a new website www.manitobaelection.ca as a handy resource for candidates, events, and aggregated news coverage.

Some questions arose about the future of Bob Wilson's campaign for a judicial review of his conviction after Ian 'Whitey' Macdonald made a deathbed plea bargain implicating the former MLA in a 31 year old pot ring; and we close off the show with a description of a powerful blog post "Reality Check" by a Dallas woman whose job brought her face to face with the family of a hockey player killed in yesterdays Lokomotiv plane crash. http://achicksperspective.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/reality-check/

Here's is the link to the Thursday Podcast:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/08/tgcts-thursday-sept-8-2011-mcfadyen-says-selinger-guarantee-phiny-promise-supports-role-of-pub/

Podcast court report exclusive: 'Labradoodle' charges face motion to dismiss; Is Selinger end-running PUB with low-cost utilities pledge?

2011-09-07T17:53:00.008-05:00

Among local media, only TGCTS was in court today to hear the testimony of witnesses in a case alleging a puppy breeder neglected dogs seized by the Manitoba government and sold under questionable circumstances by the Humane Society. And only TGCTS can report on the reaction in the courtroom today by the Crown Attorney, when defence lawyer Gene Zazalenchuk presented a motion to dismiss the charges immediately after the prosecution closed their case, citing a "fatal" flaw in the proceedings. Exclusive details in the CCPS Update today.

The front-end of the show takes a hard look at the Joe Namath-style 'guarantee' by Greg Selinger that electricity, home heating and auto insurance rates would always be the cheapest nationwide. This raised two issues: is Selinger planning to neuter the Public Utilities Board, which sets pricing rates and has repeatedly turned back rate hikes proposed by the Crown Corporations? And, is a 'rate stabilization fund' just another way of saying 'slush fund' ?

A Free Press opinion column - published in the guise of a news story - claiming that crime rates are falling and the provincial election pledges to deal with criminals here and now are somehow misguided and more hugs are what is needed. Oh, and that crime is only a 'perception' in the suburbs and not the new reality. A FP reader hit the nail on the head about the spin, and we give voice to those views. Another FP story where the details don't match the headline - you think a review that finds 30 pathology reports required a change in treatment isn't "major" ? Smart readers called out the broadsheet on that one today as well. Almost time to revive our "Lessons in Journalism" segments ?

A brief comment about the tragic plane crash involving the Lokomotiv hockey team and Brandon native Brad McCrimmon (the link has a team photo), and some upcoming events on the local pro wrestling schedule, round out today's podcast. Oh, and a plug for my story about former CFL lineman Mike Webster !

Listen to today's podcast here: http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/07/tgcts-sept-7-2011podcast-exclusive-labradoodle-case-dismissal-motion-ndp-utility-guarantee/

Twitter: @TGCTS
email: tgcts1@gmail.com
Join The Great Canadian Talk Show group on Facebook!

Podcast exclusive - NDP 'statesman' gets his rude-on when PC candidate pays respects at funeral

2011-09-06T18:00:00.016-05:00

Week Two of Winnipeg's Premiere Podcast kicks off with an exclusive !

Which NDP stalwart embarrassed himself on Saturday at a funeral reception, of all things, by trying to start an argument with someone who has publicly turned away from the Greg Selinger regime? We got a first hand account and name names. As well we tell you what was revealed in the confrontation about the NDP re-election philosophy.

With the election writ made official, our continuing series of candidate interviews features Liberal hopeful Paul Hesse of Fort Rouge; we review the Winnipeg Sun's weekend commentary from Tom Brodbeck about Selinger "cooking the books" by not reporting money moved to Crown Corporations as grants which keeps the cash on the books and lowers the true deficit, and an editorial by Kevin Engstrom reviving the old-time Sterling Lyon-ism about the NDP spending like "drunken sailors". Meanwhile Winnipeg Free Press coverage in print and on their Margo Goodhand approved-blogs was seen by some listeners as selective reporting and a continuation of a bias against Hugh McFadyen.

The Crime Courts Public Safety report includes a follow - up in the Metro by James Turner on Gordo's favorite violent homeless downtown panhandler, Faron Hall, who is in jail after being convicted for threatening a mother getting her two kids in the car; and a variety of incidents - a lot of break-ins and robberies actually - required the help of the crime chopper to track down the (alleged) perps.

Episode 7, were it to be numbered, concludes with Frank the Italian Barber's prediction for this years' Super Bowl winner- he's picked 3 out of the last 4 winners folks - and how the city of Vancouver and Vancouver Police Department is desperately trying to blame the NHL for their failure to control the Stanley Cup riot, and how no one is buying it.

ALSO - check out part one of my 3 part series about former CFL'er-turned wrestler-turned expert criminal psychologist Mike Webster
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/08/01/18495861.html

And a special surprise celebrity audio at the very end of the show...
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/06/tgcts-tues-sept-6-2011-exclusive-ndp-statesman-loses-cool-when-tory-attends-north-end-funeral/

Saturday special Podcast: Why HST was rejected by BC voters, Dragon's Den revisited

2011-09-03T16:43:00.004-05:00

The Great Canadian Talk Show on 92.9 Kick-FM found an audience across the country, and we regularly featured perspectives from experts outside of Winnipeg. No perimeteritis here. On our first Weekend Special, 'Dirty Money' Shaun Myall joins us from Victoria BC, to discuss the recent crushing defeat of the Harmonized Sales Tax that had been inposed on taxpayers in British Columbia. Despite the lectures of the Globe and Mail and others about 'morons' being allowed to vote, Myall made the case that a dishonest Liberal government got a message and explained how in BC, issues of unethical behavior had sunk previous governments.

We also compared notes on how repeated CBC reruns of our Dragons Den appearance in October 2007 has resulted in the odd situation where people have come up to us the past few months saying "oh I just saw you on TV", and we had no idea what they were talking about. DM also went into how the 'reality' show is so heavily edited, that the real drama of our 45 minutes in front of the Dragons demonstrating professional wrestling as a marketing device and business model was lost in favour of a recreated storyline - not that the contract didn't allow for it. Heck, when else are 675,000 people going to hear us do play by play of a match?

Tom Brodbeck's column about the murders of 3 innocents this summer got a lot of supportive online comments which are also highlighted. The Saturday Episode can be heard on the player on this blog to the right, or by visiting the tgctspod.podbean.com hosting site.

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/03/tgcts-saturday-sept-3-2011-will-the-mood-that-destroyed-hst-in-bc-shift-to-manitoba/

Episode 5 now online: Selinger’s health care spending problem, goodbye Sylvia

2011-09-02T12:54:00.003-05:00

Listen to the Friday podcast on the player to the right of this column or, to download go directly to our host site

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/

The blaring Winnipeg Sun headline yesterday caught a lot of eyes - "Read his lips". While Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen pronounced no new taxes and no selling Manitoba Hydro, unelected Premier Greg Selinger was heard on CJOB complaining that the Tory economic platform held the line on the health care budget.

Does Greg Selinger think he needs to throw more money at wait times and staffing shortages, and that current spending is accountable and fully defensible? Puh-Lease. An online forum where medical professionals talk about the issues without fear of reprisal from the medical system, grlforum.com, provided us with some solid examples of how incompetence is costing us money while making patients suffer needlessly due to - you guessed it- bureaucratically engineered WAIT TIMES.

Meanwhile, text messages indicate Spirited Kenny is ecstatic that the Manitoba Liberals have endorsed revising Sunday shopping laws, he's anxious to see how the PC's respond on the concept.

The Crime Courts Public Safety update features an email from a listener about the changing nature in the last decade of panhandling in St. Boniface and downtown; a personal view about the departure of Sylvia Kuzyk from CKY, and an erev-Shabbas note about the passing of Rabbi Rafael Halperin z'l", a pioneering Israeli businessman, learned scholar, and post-war professional wrestler.

OY - I forgot to plug the contest! send us 3 questions - one each - for the party leaders and you will be entered to win a copy of Let's Get It On, the autobiography of UFC referee Big John McCarthy. Email tgcts1@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter @TGCTS.

And yes we'll try to get a Podcast out this weekend as well. Thanks for all your support this week!

Episode 4: McFadyen goes on offense; the return of coach Brian Smiley

2011-09-01T05:37:00.004-05:00

Three bloggers and a Free Press editorial paint an unflattering picture of the NDP stewardship of the province's finances, development and management, while PC leader Hugh McFadyen outright calls unelected premier Greg Selinger a liar for his claim he will pay down the budget deficit without raising taxes.

I tell of the drive through the easy side of town (Watt/Archibald version) and what it says about the NDP MLA's who represent those areas. Meanwhile, a dirty NDP trick to sidestep partisan advertising using the guise of a health facility announcement was so blatant, even Mary Agnes Welch had to call foul. That and more discussed in the first part of the show.

Then we're joined by an old ink-stained wretch of the news and sports variety, as MPI's Brian Smiley talks about Czeck hockey players, a famous check by a Leaf, and asks Brian Burke to please call him about that coaching vacancy. We also try to wrap our heads around why some drivers in this city are so terrible.

For more detail about Episode 4, and to download the show, click here:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/09/01/tgcts-thursday-sept-1-mcfadyen-starts-swinging-at-selinger-over-provincial-debt/

Episode 3: A Sunday night in downtown Winnipeg: perception vs reality

2011-08-31T09:46:00.006-05:00

A surprise visit from Graham Hnatiuk caused the script to go out the window for Episode 3, as the civic issues of panhandling, homelessness, and public safety in and around downtown forged to the front of the line. Graham was a regular contributor about urbanism on our radio version and it was great to have him join in again.

The Downtown Biz wants to paint a rosy picture that doesn't do justice to the injustice of how unsafe the city is when cruise night winds down. How dangerous is Marty's perception of downtown Winnipeg on a Sunday night? Plenty. How upset was Graham with the Winnipeg Sun? Plenty. How embarrassing is it that the pet project of millionaires can't pay its taxes ? Plenty.

Read more preview and take a listen here (or click on the player to the right):

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/08/31/tgcts-wednesday-august-31-2011-city-hall-revolving-door-gives-us-first-scoop/

Follow us on Twitter @TGCTS
Email TGCTS1@gmail.com
Join our Facebook group The Great Canadian Talk Show

Exclusive: Deputy CAO Alex Robinson splits from Winnipeg City Hall

2011-08-30T16:21:00.007-05:00

TGCTS has acquired the following statement from Winnipeg Chief Administrative Officer Phil Sheegl

Good afternoon.

This afternoon, I am writing to advise that Alex Robinson is leaving the Winnipeg Public Service leadership team to seek other career opportunities, effective today.

Once a member of the former Business Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs Department, Alex returned to the City of Winnipeg in November, 2005 as an Advisor in the Executive Policy Committee Secretariat, moving into the role of Senior Advisor in December, 2006. Alex took on a new challenge in September, 2007 when he was appointed Acting Chief Administrative Officer. In April, 2008 he was appointed Mayor’s Director of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives, and was responsible for a comprehensive intergovernmental relations strategy and the review of high profile, strategic initiatives.

In November, 2008 Alex was appointed to his most recent position of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.

Those who have worked with Alex know him to be a leader with tremendous skills and the ability to develop strong relationships. On behalf of the City of Winnipeg, I would like to thank Alex for his many contributions to our City. We will miss his commitment and loyalty to the organization, and I know his colleagues and many friends wish him the very best as he prepares to take the next exciting step in his career.

Phil Sheegl

Chief Administrative Officer

**********
Welcome to our new readers, from media outlets, colleges and universities, and government agencies across Canada!

We are the alternative media leader, giving a voice to those who have views that challenge the established political interests and hold to account, the mainstream media that has abandoned their role as watchdog for the public interest on many issues. If Winnipeg had radio that mattered, this would be it.

Our latest episode of Winnipeg's Premiere Podcast is always available to the right of our blog stories, and to check our Podcast archive, go to http://tgctspod.podbean.com/

Fan reaction to Podcast launch; New episode explains the NDP jumping on the Jets bandwagon, candidate interview, book contest, and more.

2011-08-30T11:49:00.009-05:00

Using email, Twitter and Facebook, listeners gave us feedback on the debut of Winnipeg's Premiere Podcast:

Hi Marty and Ken

Enjoyed the podcast. You did a great job. I was surprised how professional the sound seemed done from a Mac and Microphone.

The good: Updates on the blogosphere, I know some of them but learned some new ones, Selinger/Flanders comparison, crime court and public safety, shout outs and finding out what past TGCTS staffers went on to do.

The Bad: nothing really. - I think that finding a way for the live audience participation is a good idea.

I even found something to disagree with.

Sorry, I'm really skeptical about the Jets. It seems that this is a sop to the masses to distract us from the issues (like crime, healthcare and infrastructure). Circus Minimus while Rome burns. Middle class gets to spend incredible amounts of cash to watch upper class play game to benefit upper class assuming they can get tickets. I really hope I'm wrong (and will freely admit it should it be a monster success) but I have a hunch that once the honeymoon is over in about five years we can all go down to the Forks and have another save the Jets rally. Maybe Premier McFadden can reprise Gary Filmons role.

I'm in the minority on that one and again I hope that I'm wrong.

We've lived in St. Boniface since 2004 and the neighborhood is definately getting rougher, there are a lot more panhandlers along Marion from Dominion Centre almost to Des Meurons as well as in front of St. B Hospital and the park across from the library (there were 8 drinking it up last Friday around 10am)

10 to 15 years ago you never saw folks hustling for change at intersections (lately nobody bothers to squeegee anymore and the age group has gone up by about 15 years, squeegee "kids" are a dying breed)

My wife comes home at midnight and was accosted in our parking lot.

I find it sad that all this goes on within sight of the CMHR (it looks a lot like Jabba the Hut's fortress from "Return of the Jedi")

Glad to hear the bike lanes are not a dead issue. I drive to work every single morning down Bannatyne towards HSC at around 7am and home again up McDermot at around 4pm. At the height of the summer I see maybe two going to work (seems to be the same two) and two or three on the way home. And in winter the lanes are filled in anyway forcing them into one of the only two remaining car lanes.

Here's an interesting thought. I've noticed cracks in the asphalt seem to be getting wider, particularly McDermot towards the HSC end. When they put the bike lanes in they moved over the car lanes. It seems that when the road was designed, it was designed to handle the load for the lanes that were originally installed.

Now motorized traffic straddles these original lanes and there seems to be separation in the asphalt. Did anyone think of the implications to the infrastructure by moving these lanes over in such a fashion? Are we causing more damage to the roads by doing this? I'm no engineer but it's an interesting question given what I'm observing.

I wonder what McDermot will wind up looking like after a few freeze/thaw seasons.

All that and the Fiends of Upper Fort Garry got a mention too.

Speaking of the Free Press - Did you read the review that Marion Warhaft gave the FP cafe? Four stars of course! No conflict of interest there!

Look forward to the provincial election.

John

********

bmyska Barbara Myska

@TGCTS LOVED it! Great to hear you again, and you're right, Ned Flanders IS more exciting than Selinger!

Aug 29, 12:10 PM via web

*********

SymptomOSociety Symptom Of Society

@TGCTS Welcome Back Marty! Your voice will once again grate against my sensibilities! ;)

*********
Jess Chapman wrote:

Great job Marty! When are you planning your recordings? If it's not between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays, I can offer my services as a U.S. commentator.
********

Adam Knight

29 August 11:39

You saved the Dr pepper This Long?

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

Episode Two is now online, either by using the player on top right of this page, or by going to our Podbean hosting where it can be downloaded for future use:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/08/30/tgcts-tuesday-august-30-2011-msm-forgets-ndp-mocked-return-of-the-jets-in-07/

Of course during our Wing meal break we decided to do a full hour, with
- lots more analysis about the upcoming election and the flier of that warm glass o'milk drinking unelected Premier, and how he tried to get Kenny in trouble with Red River College;
- Kenny also explains why Sunday Shopping should be a major election issue
- our first candidate interview with Ludolf Groulle, the Liberal hopeful in St. Paul who is relying on a viral campaign;
- how Dr. Jon Gerrard helped the Knizat family get their money from the bullies at the Public Trustee;
- a history lesson the MSM forgets - the NDP did NOT support the return of the Jets until it was convenient;
- Bombers and Goldeyes get a mention;
- and a contest to win the autobiography of UFC ref Big John McCarty "Let's get it On!", written with frequent TGCTS guest Loretta Hunt - I was sent a review copy by mistake so I'm paying it forward, with the proviso the winner writes a review for use on a future Podcast.

To sponsor these podcasts or contribute to our work, or if you have story tips, comments, etc, please email TGCTS1@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter @TGCTS

Podcast episode 1: How electable is the unelected premier, Greg Selinger?

2011-08-29T10:10:00.012-05:00

Our inaugural podcast is TGCTS at its best, including going into overtime cause there was so much to dissect on the local scene -- especially when Spirited Kenny is in the studio.

Who's more exciting, Greg Selinger or Ned Flanders? Kenny decides. It's a fun kick-off to Winnipeg's premiere podcast with a review of how the leaders debate at the Teachers Society unionista gathering sounded on CJOB and the on-site reaction to the saturation bombing of Tory ads on the broadcast.

We also put out the call for tips about the Manitoba election - (dirty campaign tricks to report? tgcts1 at g mail dot com folks!) and set out the first plank in what we think should be an election issue -- Sunday shopping.

Also there's a Crime Courts and Public Safety update with a tremendous assessment of the abandonment of the north end from Rae Butcher, plenty to say about Winnipeg radio, newspaper and TV reporting, recommended blogs to read, and innumerable shout outs to all sorts of Winnipeggers who have supported our work. Hint: some of them went to Red River College. We even try out the new Old Dutch chip flavour, Sweet and Sour.

All that and more in Episode 1, just follow the link below. Margo, pass Stephanie some Rolaids.

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/08/28/tgcts-monday-august-29-2011-our-election-platform-sunday-shopping/

Podcasts launch next week, just in time for the Manitoba election

2011-08-26T11:13:00.008-05:00

The gatekeepers of the Winnipeg mainstream media tried to use their power behind closed doors, to cancel our drive-home talk show, and then lies were told to cover up the actions of "role models".

Ask yourself, who benefited?

And why did anyone feel they had to lie about the true motives for canceling our show "as a first step" to eliminate the community from campus radio on 92.9 Kick-FM ? (a flimsy excuse that has since been erased from their talking points, when the brilliant minds at Red River College realized it would be illegal to do so under the CRTC licence. )

Because we made a difference and shook up the status quo, that's why.

Our civic election coverage proved, there was a silent majority in Winnipeg who want their stories told about this city, that want to hear the views and analysis of bloggers and the alternative media, are interested in the concerns of small businesses and non profits, and wanted the voiceless defended. It accomplished what the Democracy Project is now trying to - we got people engaged, gave candidates a chance to address issues and for the public to know them, and made voting important.

Thousands of Winnipeggers want real issues covered every day, and to hear politicians and bureaucrats - and the newsrooms covering them - held accountable, and exposed when they failed the public interest.

Thanks to modern technology, beyond the reach of Margo Goodhand and the Winnipeg Free Press and immune from political pressure tactics, YOUR VOICE will again be heard.

Next week regular podcasts of The Great Canadian Talk Show, about an hour in length, is going to be launched that will include the Crime, Courts and Public Safety Update, brought to you by the Winnipeg Police Association.

Spirited Kenny is hard at work on the technical details to get the Podcast ready for smartphone and online access. Check this blog daily for that audio as well as evening / overnight updates and special segments.

Along with the usual topics of interest - (hello, bike lobby; how ya doin' Manitoba Hydro?), the provincial election is front and centre. We'll interview candidates, go inside the campaigns, and ask the questions voters want answered.

And if anyone sees, knows, or hears about ANY dirty tricks on the campaign trail, any allegations of breaking the election rules, we want to know. This time, when we report on those complaints, no one can cancel us.

YOU HAVE THE POWER.

To contact us with your story ideas, news tips, comments, or to sponsor the Podcasts, email: TGCTS1@gmail.com

The Great Canadian Talk Show

History repeats itself: CMHR boondoggles exposed, Free Press attacks Museum critics

(Online comments)

Comin' soon - new year, new website, new watchdog (PS: and RRC gets a message)

Two charities may have to cancel Christmas dinners; plus a Lesson in Journalism

EPC ignores public consultation promises: why the public needs a watchdog

CMHR, RRC President Forsyth learning hard lessons in accountability; Is Parking Authority next (Updated after mtg) ?

Museum & Simkin Centre update, Eadie's tirade, Realtor rules, homeless housing victims, Vandal vs consultation, boneheaded judge: All in one podcast !

Crimestat flaws predicted 5 years ago/ Faron Hall poster child for failed NDP holistic approach

Failures exposed: Paul Martin and WeDay, Chief McCaskill and Crime "Roadmap"

Fifth Anniversary Episode: Chief McCaskill's colouring, em, crime reduction plan-to-make-a-plan booklet reviewed

Exclusive: Velomobile introduced in Manitoba; plus city "leaders" cower from public consultation on bus fares

The Crime Special: Chief McCaskill's priorities dangerously out of touch

Winnipeg blogosphere backlash against Free Press hypocrisy

Live at King's Head - City Hall, the Bike Lobby and 'Rapid' Transit; reel-to-reel & 80's Winnipeg VHS tapes wanted; special guests

Osborne House CEO Barb Judt speaks out: Domestic violence and the underfunded women's shelter

Feedback on Occupy Winnipeg, Downtown Biz and safety, poverty, Crocus; plus FLM nominations open

"every person working in homeless services should spend at least 4 hours (1/2 day) each month on the "front lines". They need to "feel" the real pain of homelessness to better understand people and find solutions to help" Mark Horvath

Spirited Kenny chimes in on crime, gangs, CFS, and MSM

Tuesday podcast: Ethnic gangs focus of both weekend homicides; Gordo wants bureaucrats not crime fighters

Winnipeg police chief, Wiggum-like, couldn't predict annual Halloween weekend mayhem

Shots ring out all weekend long in Murderpeg as Crimestat under fire

CKUW host calls out "teflon" Downtown Biz for ducking public safety discussion: "We're not idiots"

Inside the Crocus "settlement" - 8 directors lined up to agree starting the day after NDP re-elected

Bizarro Manitoba: Crocus Fund directors pay no penalty; foreign students and polar bears NDP priority over humans in need

Exclusive details: Judge Ted Lismer facing QB hearing to turf him from Labradoodle trial

How blogs and alternative media step up to fill local news and information gap

Thursday podcast: WRHA review of Jewish senior's care facility results in more questions by families

MKO chief says witnesses and evidence in Beardy death not required, plays race card

Tues. Podcast: Kelcey missed Grande's real message: Downtown crime realists to be ignored

Remembering Reg Alcock; Grande challenged to debate Kelcey; Online media helps find teen

Slim pickings for NDP cabinet; Kelcey hammers out truth about crime and downtown cheerleaders

Wed podcast: Race-baiting rapper lauds Selinger

Tuesday podcast - Gordo and pals gang up on Air Canada; fail to refute valid downtown safety concerns

Metro News Publisher Steve Shrout details their positive Winnipeg experience/ Election vote count surprise

Opposition disconnects with public; public disconnects with voting

Election Day: The missing details of 'Lemieux cheque' complaint / Pics of homeless-wear of the rich

Air Canada pullout over safety exposes Downtown Biz, politicians living in denial

Friday podcast: Liberal fossils back Oswald, backstab Gerrard

Run John Run: Interview with PC Point Douglas candidate John Vernaus

Wed. podcast: The media talks about Harry Who while Gerrard talks about FASD; WRHA doctors get political

Conflicting, incomplete polls lead off final week of provincial campaign

The reaction to our Selinger photo exclusive; CJOB poll off key?; Words from Gerrard; The cost of stolen signs

The one photo Greg Selinger doesn't want you to see in an election brochure

North end Liberal candidate says campaign dirty tricks "bullying"

Exclusive: Theresa Oswald's re-election campaign takes a detour to the US

Monday podcast: CJOB debate highlights Selinger's weaknesses

Radio recap of the end of election campaign week #2 made people sit up and notice

Ethics gap grows as Selinger drags Winnipeg Jets into Election Act scandal

Deficit dishonesty drives NDP's integrity onto election radar

The Loan Act budget trick of the NDP, and more campaign dirty tricks

NDP scandals and cover-ups continue to pile up just by reading what's out there

Exclusive: First dirty trick of election campaign reported

Neglect of elderly patient at Seven Oaks Hospital an NDP "improvement"? ; those fake Ciclovia attendance numbers

McFadyen: Selinger's lowest - price utility guarantee has "zero credibility", supports PUB role as consumer watchdog

Podcast court report exclusive: 'Labradoodle' charges face motion to dismiss; Is Selinger end-running PUB with low-cost utilities pledge?

Podcast exclusive - NDP 'statesman' gets his rude-on when PC candidate pays respects at funeral

Saturday special Podcast: Why HST was rejected by BC voters, Dragon's Den revisited

Episode 5 now online: Selinger’s health care spending problem, goodbye Sylvia

Episode 4: McFadyen goes on offense; the return of coach Brian Smiley

Episode 3: A Sunday night in downtown Winnipeg: perception vs reality

Exclusive: Deputy CAO Alex Robinson splits from Winnipeg City Hall

Fan reaction to Podcast launch; New episode explains the NDP jumping on the Jets bandwagon, candidate interview, book contest, and more.

Podcast episode 1: How electable is the unelected premier, Greg Selinger?

Podcasts launch next week, just in time for the Manitoba election

"every person working in homeless services should spend at least 4 hours (1/2 day) each month on the "front lines". They need to "feel" the real pain of homelessness to better understand people and find solutions to help"

Mark Horvath