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

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/

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

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

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/

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

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/

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

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

North end Liberal candidate says campaign dirty tricks "bullying"

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/

Monday podcast: CJOB debate highlights Selinger's weaknesses

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

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

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.

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

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

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/

Public Trustee finally forks over Knizat estate after Dr. Jon Gerrard presses NDP

On Thursday, October 1st, 2009, the case of Louie Knizat was brought to listeners of The Great Canadian Talk Show by his daughter Marilyn and son-in-law Howard, in one of the most moving and disturbing stories of government-sanctioned abuse of power we had ever broadcast.

http://www.archive.org/download/TheGreatCanadianTalkShow-ThursdayOctober12009/TheGreatCanadianTalkShow-ThursdayOctober12009.mp3

In our blog post recapping the fight for dignified treatment of the hospitalized Louie and the disrespectful conduct of the Office of the Public Trustee towards his wife Mary, we wrote :

Is it any wonder the Trustee controls $140 Million in liquid assets, when they can bully families without having to account to anybody?

When they can use the families own money to hire lawyers and fight them in court?

When they do not have to be accountable to the Minister of Justice or to the Legislature?

Even after Louie died, the bureaucrats continued to try to starve the widow out, insisting she sign off on an unaudited accounting of their exorbitant fees and agree not to take legal action, and threatened to take her to court -- using the estate's money -- to enact their selfish terms when she refused.

But once provincial Liberal Leader, Dr. Jon Gerrard, got involved, the sharks from the Trustee's Office shrank to meek goldfish.

On March 10th he wrote the Manitoba attorney-general and urged he discuss this matter with the OPT, pointedly stating to Andrew Swan:

"Mrs. Knizat is the executor of his estate and sole beneficiary ... These funds legally belong to Mrs. Knizat and it is wrong of the Public Trustee to indefinitely keep these funds from her."



According to Marilyn, thanks to Dr. Jon's help, all but $5000 was advanced to her mother, without being forced to waive her right to demand justice after the abusive behavior and policies of those entrusted by the Selinger NDP with managing Louie's medical and financial care -- and the Office of the Provincial Ombudsman :

I explained to Dr. Gerrard the treatment we got from the assistant Deputy ( Minister of Justice) when we were in Canada about a year and a half ago. We were nicely kicked out of their office . She refused to listen to us or look at any of our records. She told us that they do not assist with individual cases. Then I told them about the phone call I made to the Ombudsman's office. The young lady that answered the phone told me that they do not handle such complaints (regarding the Public Trustee.)...

Dr. Gerrard, Dave Shorr and Peter were the greatest ! They seemed truly interested in helping Mom. I told Dr. Gerrard that my crusade with the Public Trustee awareness was not over ! I made that promise to Mom that I would never quit fighting to make the public aware of how the PT works. She asked me if I would ever quit and I told her I would ...... when I'm six feet under !

I made a call the other to the taxation office because the PT did not forward us any of the tax information to complete Dad's taxes. The guy that answered the phone was from BC and he truly was interested in the PT. We spoke for about an hour and he was amazed ! He said he knew the PT was difficult to work with but he had no idea that this was going on ! He said he would go on line and read the stories about the PT and of course check out the radio show we did.

Well take care and talk to you soon !

Sincerely,
Marilyn Funk Andleton

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In the queue for this week:
- More Red River censorship uncovered,
- A federal election exclusive, and
- We'll be at City Hall to question the tax break for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Email: martygoldlive@gmail.com
Twitter: @TGCTS
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=2344284529
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Postscript:

I Just learned of the passing of Marley Rae MacDuff, who was very well known in the Winnipeg music and modeling scene and was a true supporter of the work of TGCTS. My deepest sympathies to her family and many friends.