The Greg Selinger government fell over itself last week trying to act more concerned about endangered children in government care, than about the fate of embattled Family Services minister Gord Mackintosh.
The media coverage started inauspiciously in a little noticed story in the Wednesday, June 2nd Free Press. Opposition critics voiced concern that a permanent replacement for on-leave Children's Advocate Billie Schibler was not a priority for the NDP.
"Gerald Hawranik (Lac du Bonnet), a Conservative MLA who sits on the Legislative Assembly Management Committee (LMAC),... said while (acting CA Bonnie) Kocsis is "very competent" and may apply to be the permanent Children's Advocate, it's a disadvantage to keep someone in an acting position for too long. Much of the Children's Advocate's role is to develop long-term solutions to problems affecting children, Hawranik said. "I don't think that a child's advocate who is there in an acting capacity would make those changes. They would probably try to keep the status quo."
The second, red flag part of the story was about Hickes smacking down Liberal MLA Kevin Lamoureux, who had tried to expose a damning report Schibler filed with LMAC by tabling it during Question Period.
"Hickes said it was not a public document and contained "sensitive" personal information. Lamoureux defended his action outside the House, saying "our children are much more important than something that happens beyond closed doors."
A week later, acting speaker Marilyn Brick was forced to allow debate about the report after it was leaked to select media. The public came to see both critics as 100% correct and Hickes as having confused the public interest with that of covering up for his colleague, Gord Mackintosh.
But the NDP deflection campaign forged on, citing the extra funding poured into the system and ongoing reforms. An NDP spin doctor blamed the Tories for tying up commitee business with 1999 NDP Election fraud questions, which somehow prevented finding a replacement for Schibler. In Question Period, the opposition cited concerns about supports for social workers handling 8600 files and for foster parents, insisting Selinger call an emergency public commitee meeting to allow MLA's to ask questions of Kocsic.
Unreported by the mainstream media, 15 consecutive times Selinger side-stepped the demand - until the very next day, when government House leader Bill Blaikie announced that Kocsis, with provincial ombudsman Irene Hamilton and Manitoba auditor Carol Bellringer have agreed to appear before MLA's. Macintosh also smugly announced a new bill would pass within a week, to compel an annual appearance by the CA on Broadway, which had suddenly become a good idea, and an NDP one, at that.
Reporters and commentators pilloried the NDP about Schibler's claim that the CFS system was in "a state of chaos" on their watch, and echoed opposition calls for Mackintosh to be replaced. Finally it fell to Kocsis to save Mackintosh's hide.
She told the Free Press that the report information was taken out of context and that the systemic "chaos" is not resulting in a child care "crisis". She also asserted "the Office of the Children's Advocate (OCA) fully supports the devolution of child welfare services to better serve the specific cultural needs of aboriginal families in our province."
* Devolution is at the root of the murders of Phoenix Sinclair in March 2006 and Gage Guimond in July 2007.
* Add the 145 who died before Sinclair after the devolution policy was begun in 2003, to the 284 reported deaths since 2008, and the total number of deaths of children in contact with the various CFS agencies under the NDP stands at 429 (at least).
* Of the 106 cases referred from the Medical Examiner since 2008, 64 of those yet to even be assigned to a Children's Advocacy office investigator. That is in addition to another 64 cases they are mandated to still investigate.
That is the system Koscic now defends. (Eerily presaged by Hawranik's comment cited above- ed.)
That is the system Schibler as her last act exposed and Koscic in desperation and probably under orders from her political masters is now feebly trying to defend.
She also inadvertently opened a new front for skeptics.
"She said when she prepared the report she knew she would be attending an April 27 meeting (of LMAC) to explain it."
But the FP had earlier reported that Schibler went on paid leave from her $120,000 position in the third week of April -- BEFORE the meeting with LMAC, and well after the report was written.
So who wrote the report, Schibler or her successor? This begs the question, why would Schibler leave the week before it was presented to MLA's? All a little bit too convenient, n’est pas?
[ An edited version of this post will appear this week in the Neighborhood Living newsletters, available at Robins, Smitty's, and other dining and retail establishments throughout Winnipeg ]
Showing posts with label Bill Blaikie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill Blaikie. Show all posts
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
NDP shields Wiebe, as Lib and Tory Concordia candidates accept interview requests
The Concordia by-election next week has been a low-key affair, and the voting public welcomes any opportunity to evaluate the candidates. But the NDP did not learn from last years' Elmwood campaign. Or maybe they did.
After all, why would anyone think it was important to hear from the candidate about his qualifications, his position on issues like the provincial deficit, funding for the city of Winnipeg, education scores being withheld from the AIMS survey, crime fears, the delays in the Brian Sinclair inquest, and the appointment of an unqualified NDP insider, Arlene Wilgosh as head of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
In fact, if being the new Gary Doer is the the basis for the Wiebe campaign, the NDP is succeeding.
While Doer throws Olympic parties at his new embassy digs for 1500 guest, and gladhands the rich and powerful in Washington DC, campus radio fans well remember Ambassador SuperChicken's refusal to face the campus radio audience -- even after repeated phone calls and a personal invitation at Folklorama.
Last year, once we got through to him directly, candidate Bill Blaikie was more than happy to sit down for a pre-recorded interview with us, and address issues for the many listeners in East Winnipeg who were eligible to vote. He gave as good as he got in a 22 minute classic that remains one of our most popular interviews. He even said he enjoyed it.
But when we asked for the same consideration from Matt Wiebe, seeking to succeed former Premier Gary Doer as MLA for the area, we got every excuse in the book.
But when we asked for the same consideration from Matt Wiebe, seeking to succeed former Premier Gary Doer as MLA for the area, we got every excuse in the book.
Too busy.
Knocking on doors.
Shaking hands.
Kissing babies.
Can't join Matt on the campaign trail and be allowed an interview as a blogger was, because said blogger was a constituent with an audience of about 6 dozen.
After all, we were told, he did a quickie with Hal Anderson on CJOB one morning-- like that was relevant.
Shades of "Lesser media".
Knocking on doors.
Shaking hands.
Kissing babies.
Can't join Matt on the campaign trail and be allowed an interview as a blogger was, because said blogger was a constituent with an audience of about 6 dozen.
After all, we were told, he did a quickie with Hal Anderson on CJOB one morning-- like that was relevant.
Shades of "Lesser media".
In fact, if being the new Gary Doer is the the basis for the Wiebe campaign, the NDP is succeeding.
While Doer throws Olympic parties at his new embassy digs for 1500 guest, and gladhands the rich and powerful in Washington DC, campus radio fans well remember Ambassador SuperChicken's refusal to face the campus radio audience -- even after repeated phone calls and a personal invitation at Folklorama.
However, the opposition parties with dreams of snatching the riding from the government, have no hesitation to allow radio audiences the opportunity to hear how the hopefuls fare in a genuine, intelligent, challenging political conversation.
On Monday, Green Party nominee Ellen Young explained why a young lady such as herself would take up the challenge of public life, and how crime is a big concern in the riding.
Today at 4.35, we'll be joined by the Liberal Party choice, Judi Heppner.
And on Thursday at 4.35, Brian Biebrich of the Progressive Conservatives will appear.
The next time anyone tells you The Great Canadian Talk Show is one-sided, biased, or unfair to the NDP, ask them -- why won't they allow their flagbearers to face the voters questions, Kick-FM style?
Also today:
- the attacks on Christianity continued at City Hall in the Youth For Christ /CentreVenture loan debate;
- will Councillor Browaty lead a revolt against Garbage Carts?
- who IS Arlene Wilgosh, nurse-cum-Postl successor at the WRHA?
- and at 5.25, a preview of tonights' special post-Canada vs. Russia showdown- edition of The Illegal Curve Radio Show
plus your calls at 780-5425, emails at talk@kick.fm, and remember, join our Facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=2344284529&ref=ts
Thank you for listening
On Monday, Green Party nominee Ellen Young explained why a young lady such as herself would take up the challenge of public life, and how crime is a big concern in the riding.
Today at 4.35, we'll be joined by the Liberal Party choice, Judi Heppner.
And on Thursday at 4.35, Brian Biebrich of the Progressive Conservatives will appear.
The next time anyone tells you The Great Canadian Talk Show is one-sided, biased, or unfair to the NDP, ask them -- why won't they allow their flagbearers to face the voters questions, Kick-FM style?
Also today:
- the attacks on Christianity continued at City Hall in the Youth For Christ /CentreVenture loan debate;
- will Councillor Browaty lead a revolt against Garbage Carts?
- who IS Arlene Wilgosh, nurse-cum-Postl successor at the WRHA?
plus your calls at 780-5425, emails at talk@kick.fm, and remember, join our Facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=2344284529&ref=ts
Thank you for listening
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Vote for best story of Year 3! and Manifesto Monday tomorrow
Young Josh has reviewed the list and has determined the following 10 nominees for Story of the Year.
You can register your vote at talk@kick.fm
and one lucky voter who picks the winning entry will get a special prize package courtesy of TGCTS and 92.9 Kick-FM!
The nominees are:
1) Porkgate - the Winnipeg Free Press never once covered the story of how taxpayer-funded food for the poor, mysteriously arrived at the picket line around their building, and was later the cause of public health warnings due to the fact it had already thawed and was reportedly re-frozen.
2) The real story of the New Years Eve "Vigilante"/hate-crime" beating of a carjacker on Horace Street by concerned citizens defending the occupants of the warming vehicle, a mother and her baby.
3) The Meth Caller- a friend of meth addict Daniel Van Den Bosche explained her view of his shooting himself when cornered by cops, only hours after a raid uncovered illegal guns to which he was believed linked. She told of the deep-rooted meth epidemic in the city often overlooked by MSM and politicians
4) Two-Tier justice: a man accused of an attempted home invasion on a Crown Attorney, where nobody was injured, got sentenced to 57 months; meanwhile, a 15 year old who, with 2 accomplices, stormed an Alexander Avenue West house that his sister had been evicted from, stabbed the new occupant and nearly killed him, got only 27 months.
5) Inside the Free Press union conflict: the battle between rank-and-file CEP members who felt frozen out of strike negotitation and later tried to initiate job-sharing, and the arrogant union leadership.
6) Bill Blaikie exclusive interview: TGCTS scored the only extensive interview with the former MP who successfully held the Elmwood riding for the Doer NDP in the byelection. Our interview was the first time anyone heard of a commitment for additional funding from the NDP to keep the Disraeli Freeway open during re-construction.
7) The death of Gail Glesby: Not only was the Health Sciences Centre caught hiding proof about her multiple falls suffered while in the emergency room, we exposed how at one point Glesby was left in a hallway, strapped into a wheelchair and dying of a brain bleed, while her frantic family was told she had been discharged and an HSC operator hung up on them. Questions were asked in the Legislature and the Winnipeg Sun also picked up on our story.
8) Cox2 studies faked by leading anaesthetist- Unreported in mainstream media, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Mass. asked medical journals to make retractions because its former chief of acute pain, Dr. Scott S. Reuben, had faked data used in 21 studies purporting that COX2 drugs such as Vioxx, Celebrex and Effexor XR were safe.
9) Aurtarlia- to this day, the Free Press has never corrected their mistake, leading to our determination that they must have discovered a new continent. Subsequently on October 30th, Adam West accepted the role of Consul-general of Aurtarlia and announced the initiation of diplomatic relations with the fictional town of Quohog, Rhode Island, of which he is the Mayor on Fox-TV's Family Guy.
10) Exposing the Public Trustee's Office - the story of the Knizat family, who discovered the Kremlin-like tactics used by this unaccountable agency to fleece the father's estate of $7000 every 3 months, while he was left without proper medical care in Riverview under their 'authority'.
Listeners can certainly suggest other stories, such as:
- forcing Justice Minister Dave Chomiak to apologize to Mayor Sam Katz after falsely claiming Katz was opposed to photo-radar refunds;
- relevations about the Parking Authority bullying employees, as well as inner-city residents and businesses, and how all tickets issued since last year under the G4S contract may be invalid; and...
- our shows on how panicked Manitoba Hydro executives are violating the Whistleblower Act.
Monday at 4 PM:
- we kick off Year 4 with Manifesto Monday, in which we set out our theme for the coming year.
- As well, a Lesson in Journalism about Manitoba Hydro;
- the Canadian MSM ignores emails proving pro- Al Gore scientists invented "global warming" data;
- inside the Transcona murder of Nolan Norman;
- and Spirited Kenny joins Frank the Italian Barber and Brad Harrison to preview the Grey Cup game between Saskatchewan and Montreal.
And how about that Brett 'Vikings are 9-1' Favre ?
You can register your vote at talk@kick.fm
and one lucky voter who picks the winning entry will get a special prize package courtesy of TGCTS and 92.9 Kick-FM!
The nominees are:
1) Porkgate - the Winnipeg Free Press never once covered the story of how taxpayer-funded food for the poor, mysteriously arrived at the picket line around their building, and was later the cause of public health warnings due to the fact it had already thawed and was reportedly re-frozen.
2) The real story of the New Years Eve "Vigilante"/hate-crime" beating of a carjacker on Horace Street by concerned citizens defending the occupants of the warming vehicle, a mother and her baby.
3) The Meth Caller- a friend of meth addict Daniel Van Den Bosche explained her view of his shooting himself when cornered by cops, only hours after a raid uncovered illegal guns to which he was believed linked. She told of the deep-rooted meth epidemic in the city often overlooked by MSM and politicians
4) Two-Tier justice: a man accused of an attempted home invasion on a Crown Attorney, where nobody was injured, got sentenced to 57 months; meanwhile, a 15 year old who, with 2 accomplices, stormed an Alexander Avenue West house that his sister had been evicted from, stabbed the new occupant and nearly killed him, got only 27 months.
5) Inside the Free Press union conflict: the battle between rank-and-file CEP members who felt frozen out of strike negotitation and later tried to initiate job-sharing, and the arrogant union leadership.
6) Bill Blaikie exclusive interview: TGCTS scored the only extensive interview with the former MP who successfully held the Elmwood riding for the Doer NDP in the byelection. Our interview was the first time anyone heard of a commitment for additional funding from the NDP to keep the Disraeli Freeway open during re-construction.
7) The death of Gail Glesby: Not only was the Health Sciences Centre caught hiding proof about her multiple falls suffered while in the emergency room, we exposed how at one point Glesby was left in a hallway, strapped into a wheelchair and dying of a brain bleed, while her frantic family was told she had been discharged and an HSC operator hung up on them. Questions were asked in the Legislature and the Winnipeg Sun also picked up on our story.
8) Cox2 studies faked by leading anaesthetist- Unreported in mainstream media, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Mass. asked medical journals to make retractions because its former chief of acute pain, Dr. Scott S. Reuben, had faked data used in 21 studies purporting that COX2 drugs such as Vioxx, Celebrex and Effexor XR were safe.
9) Aurtarlia- to this day, the Free Press has never corrected their mistake, leading to our determination that they must have discovered a new continent. Subsequently on October 30th, Adam West accepted the role of Consul-general of Aurtarlia and announced the initiation of diplomatic relations with the fictional town of Quohog, Rhode Island, of which he is the Mayor on Fox-TV's Family Guy.
10) Exposing the Public Trustee's Office - the story of the Knizat family, who discovered the Kremlin-like tactics used by this unaccountable agency to fleece the father's estate of $7000 every 3 months, while he was left without proper medical care in Riverview under their 'authority'.
Listeners can certainly suggest other stories, such as:
- forcing Justice Minister Dave Chomiak to apologize to Mayor Sam Katz after falsely claiming Katz was opposed to photo-radar refunds;
- relevations about the Parking Authority bullying employees, as well as inner-city residents and businesses, and how all tickets issued since last year under the G4S contract may be invalid; and...
- our shows on how panicked Manitoba Hydro executives are violating the Whistleblower Act.
Monday at 4 PM:
- we kick off Year 4 with Manifesto Monday, in which we set out our theme for the coming year.
- As well, a Lesson in Journalism about Manitoba Hydro;
- the Canadian MSM ignores emails proving pro- Al Gore scientists invented "global warming" data;
- inside the Transcona murder of Nolan Norman;
- and Spirited Kenny joins Frank the Italian Barber and Brad Harrison to preview the Grey Cup game between Saskatchewan and Montreal.
And how about that Brett 'Vikings are 9-1' Favre ?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The topics and guests of the first quarter of 2009
Quarterly review
This has been a very busy 3 months and we want to thanks all our listeners who have contributed with an avalanche of emails and calls that kept the shows moving at a rapid fire pace throughout.
January Top Stories:
- Exclusive: The truth about the Horace Avenue carjacker and the "vigilante hate crime beating" that wasn't
- Free Press publisher Bob Cox ignores a complaint that Dan Lett personally insulted a reader because apparently, emailers are not allowed to be "anonymous"
- Chief McCaskill tells James Turner " we never thought much of it...we missed the boat on crack"
- Bus union wants driver shields
- Exclusive: FP "Ask the City Editor" online feature ignores questions about Porkgate
- Exclusive: Details of U of M anti-Semitic incident and of Pro-Israel rally confrontation (and how the FP hid the photo)
- The Monday Manifesto: This year, it's about "the untouchables"- Government appointees such as judges, government funded boards and universities,
- Exclusive: Caller explains the life and death of meth addict DJ Vanden Bosch who committed suicide when surrounded by cops in the west end
- 16 year old Alexander Avenue home invasion/stabber gets easy sentence, FP ignores his membership in Native Syndicate street gang
- Murder victim Shawn Beauchamp, member of Bloodz gang, worked for Free Press, chased, bear sprayed, shot, police claim not a gang crime
- The 3-1-1 with Spirited Kenny, predicting inquiry phone line disaster
- Exclusive: a dozen Somalian street gang members bust up all ages party at Exchange Event Centre.
- FP Raccoon Carney story- 1 paragraph, 2 sentences, 3 mistakes, 0 corrections
- Two Tier Justice: "no break in, no injuries, no weapon" accused gets more time (56 months) for attack on Crown attorney's house, than Native Syndicate punk did for nearly killing Alexander Avenue resident in home invasion (21 months)
- Hydro backs down on Exchange District block-busting plan
- Listeners complaint to Kick-FM refuted
- Exclusive: Inside the Free Press job sharing proposal/intenral union conflict
- Van stolen from VJ's Drive-In kills 2 university students
- Lanzellotti "laughing girl" denied bail
January Guests:
Scott Taylor on Sports
Stacey Ashley of CTV on Montana drug pleas by 2 Winnipeg men
Ron East explained the truth about Israeli 'atrocities" in Gaza
Chris Jericho on being a Red River College Cre-Comm legend and his wrestling comeback
CTV's Kelly Dehn with Crimewatch
City Councillor Jeff Browaty on Disraeli reconstruction and area issues
Bryan Danielson, pro wrestler of the year 07-08
Kelly Holmes, Resource Assistance for Youth (RAY), on the meth problem in Winnipeg
Colin Craig, CTF, on federal budget
Mike Sutherland, Winnipeg Police Association, on changes in major unit assignment limits
Slam Sports' Jon Waldman
CJOB talk show host-turned council candidate Geoff Currier
Joan Wilson, Unicity Taxi
Andrew Allentuck about his new book, "When Can I Retire"
Ken Klassen, engineering technologist, critiqued the Ikea proposal
Jon Waldman, Slam!Sports
***************
February Top Stories:
- Health Minister Theresa Oswald ducks CJOB as MSM heats up brown envelope scandal
- Details of Brian Sinclair HSR Emergency room video revealed by exasperated Chief Medical Examiner Balachandra ahead of Judicial Inquest
- HSC honcho Dr. Brock Wright finally decides to look at Sinclair video, changes story about triage desk role in death, WRHA invents 3 excuses of how and why video was (not) reviewed
- Bloggers come of age: My Left Nut (with compilation of blogger and MSM reports), Policy Frog ("Oswald toast") , Progressive Winnipeg, and James Cotton, dissect WRHA excuses, NDP spin, and MSM coverage of Sinclair affair
- WRHA press conference fails to control the spin on Sinclair, raises even more questions about who knew what when
- CJOB's Vic Grant inexplicably defends HSC, attacks Balachandra and other critics as 'vigilantes'
- EXCLUSIVE: CJOB General Manager sits on HSC Foundation board
- Newspapers across continent start to waver and collapse, Canwest shares collapsing
- Photo radar tickets tossed due to lack of actual construction workers in protected zone
- FP bias showing- no mention of 300 homes at risk in HSC "Bio-Med City' expansion plan in West alexander neighbourhood
- WRHA releases legal "opinion" preventing publication of Sinclair death internal review, as CJOB softballs Premier Doer and HSC mouthpiece Alan Fineblit, meanwhile a Free Press editorial demands Oswald apologize for misleading public and legislature
- Paa Pii Wak, gang -run halfway house, closes after staff gets busted
- Critics blast Judge Ray Wyant taking control of Sinclair inquest, demand outside arbiter
- Tan Le, accused in Monty's bar shooting, outed as dating twin sisters, detail unreported in FP
- "Aboriginal journalist" Colleen Simard supports Native chiefs whine that blogs be censored for "hate speech"
- EXCLUSIVE: native online mag calls whites "The Scum Dogs of Europe", Simard et al silent
- NDP ignored offer for private clinic to help relieve pressure on HSC ER; plan to open across from HSC in honour of Brian Sinclair announced by darin Jorgenson
- Blogger James Cotton goes to city ER's, in 12 hours gets approached zero times about whether he is in need of care
- Vancouver shooting/drive-by epidemic
- Exclusive: Phil Walding plan for sensible Disraeli and Louise bridge reconstruction
- Experts speak out in letters to the Free Press -- and reveal WRHA practice of having unqualified personnel operate Concordia Hospital EKG's risk patients lives contrary to assurances of WRHA officials
- Katz win in ethics vote portrayed by FP as loss as smear campaign continues
- 311 disasters emerge in emails from listeners
- WRHA hires $125,000 consultant to improve 'communication' while they ignore media requests for information and interviews
- Exclusive: details of stolen paramedic SUV chase through North End
- Disraeli closure surprises NDP as top byelection concern
- Concordia nighttime ER closure almost kills woman suffering ectopic
miscarriage
- MPI buys Citiplace, ratepayers outraged
February Guests:
Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen on WRHA brown envelopes and the planned provincial audit; Doer and Oswald "misspoke" 13 times about how Brian Sinclair asked for HSC ER help
Dr. Jon Gerrard demands firing of top WRHA and HSC officials
Scott Taylor - how the Manitoba Boxing Commission almost got MMA fighter Dean Lewis killed by poor supervision
CTV's Kelly Dehn
Retha Dykes, general manager, Misty Lake Lodge, Gimli
Councillor Grant Nordman defended his opposition toMMA bouts at Convention Centre
Mayor Sam Katz brought light to Crocus Fund receiver motion that was dismissed by court, called Porkgate a "schande"
Mike Sutherland, WPA on Crimestat information gaps
Colin Fast, candidate for Wpg. School Division trustee
Regan Woolfrom, Liberal candidate in Elmwood
Exclusive: Brian Smiley of MPI, with all the answers about the Citiplace purchase
Jon Waldman, Slam!Sports
***********
March Top Stories
- Canadian Museum of Human Rights fundraising flounders
- Porkgate apologists and Free Press loyalists attack defenders of poor and hungry, as new details emerge from Winnipeg Harvest insider about distribution and spoiled food issues that plague organization
- Exclusive: music promoter Rob Hoskin, 54, loses battle with cancer
- FP job movements and layoffs include crime reporter James Turner
- More newspaper layoffs and closures across America
- Rapid Transit corridor expropriations expedited
- More bedbugs overrun Manitoba Housing complex
- Ron Schuler to propose bill to allow 16-18 year olds the right to go to high school even if parents refuse to sign permission waivers
- NDP begins to worry about Disraeli backlash in Elmwood byelection
- FP book reviewer admits no evidence of Jim Walding getting bribe to defeat Pawley NDP budget in 1986 -- despite Gordon Sinclair insinuations
- Bike lobby controls "consultations" on new bridges and traffic flow for Point Douglas, shuts out non-artists in neighborhood from group, opposes new Louise Bridge and wants gated community for "artists"
- more shooting deaths in Vancouver as gun seizures in 'peg gun play on rise
- FP Trust loses $5million after fall strike and buyouts
- Shades of Porkgate: FP editorial on lemon car dealers says not naming them due to 'privacy' is like protecting identity of spoiled meat distributors!
- Taxi study says no new cab plates except for winter season
- IKEA plan gets sharp rebukes from bloggers and southend residents facing expropriation
- Exclusive: Spirited Kenny hosts TGCTS in solo effort on March 13
- FP wastes 3 Sunday pages on new archive, a week after Gordon Sinclair plagiarizes his own 24 year old column in plug preview
- Blind granny mugged in EK hate crime by 10 kids, First Nations leaders and human rights grandstanders silent
- Hespeler residents suddenly facing expropriation despite no indication in original Disraeli reconstruction open-houses their land was needed
- "left of centre" John Orlikow defeats Geoff Currier to rise to council seat
- Exclusive: CBC and other newsrooms editing racial identification out of police crime descriptions
- Exclusive: accidental head injury from fall that killed actress Natasha Richardson, mocked by Margo Goodhand in Free Press Editors Bulletin' to online readers
- EXCLUSIVE: NDP Elmwood candidate Bill Blaikie answers questions about pension, promises more money to keep Disraeli open, supports WRHA honchos
- Peguis members not on list, may have had treaty card, but still had to meet with chief and council before being allowed to vote
- 93 year old woman forced out of HSC one hour after amputation of toes
- Listeners critique Blaike interview and election result
- Free Press scooped by Sun x 2 on convictions in deaths of Nathan Starr and Tannis Bird, respectively
- Justice Minister Chomiak, in a budget chat with reporters, admits car theft mainly stopped by locking up the perps
- 2 for 1 sentencing break exposes folly of 'holistic approach'
- Exclusive: 311 tells District 6 cops to shovel their way out of snow storm to get cruisers to calls for help from public, can't provide number for plowing supervisor
- Free Press blogger Brian Huycke dies of head injury in accidental fall; editor Goodhand keeps jokes to herself this time
- CBC cuts amateur sports telecasts
- FP story about 3 gangs involved in Tony Lanzellotti murder by stolen SUV crash into his taxi begs the question- why aren't gangs that recruit FASD kids charged with child abuse?
- Young Josh and Dave Shorr leave TGCTS for new challenges; Silent Mitch returns from Lance Storm's Wrestling Academy in one piece
- Unreported in mainstream media, 21 studies purporting that COX2 drugs such as Vioxx and Celebrex were safe, used faked or fudged data
- Gordon Sinclair column rants about restaurant "etiquette" after long wait for table at a local eatery; he scalps a blog post by an anonymous waitress about 'campers' who don't pay their bill and leave quickly, but Gordo fails to link to, or credit the blogger. Take note how at the end, she says she doesn't mind all campers: http://tipsfromservers.blogspot.com/
AND a special postscript: one of the customers Sinclair was complaining about, left a comment online for him -- and beneath that are comments by others who have seen Gordo's act in person:
Posted by:ks123
April 1, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Well, this is not the first time this columnist has irked me the wrong way. But it is the first time I have been the target. Thank you, Mr Sinclair, for tainting my day after reading that rubbish.
Since I was one of the two young ladies that "hogged" a table, I'd like to clarify a few things. First of all, I waitressed though university and am well aware of the 'camper' term. However, I do also understand that some times people need a venue to get out and talk, and guess what... sometimes that place is a restaurant! It just so happens that my girlfriend needed to talk about some very unfortunate events occurring in her homelife and couldn't exactly talk openly about the issues in her own home. I have 2 young children, so my home is not the most condusive site for such discussion. I thank badkat for recognizing that there is always more than meets the eye.
And for the record, we finished our lunch around 2, which I'm pretty sure is not peak hours, and I did tip the waitress well for our time, because I do recognize the issue. By well, I mean 50%.
So again, thank you for undertaking such compassionate, investigative journalism and getting all the facts. I am very sorry that you had to wait for a table - I have apparently not shown you the respect you think you deserve. But perhaps by writing this piece, you have not shown my friend and I any respect either.
Posted by:gohabsgo
April 1, 2009 at 7:09 AM
A restaurant is a business, and when your business is concluded, move on. If you do not order an item after a reasonable amount of time, your bill will be provided. The term I've heard friends in the business use often is 'entitlement'. People feel that the table is theirs to use as they please, be it a business meeting, viewing pictures of a trip, etc. I've seen a server return to a table every few minutes after billing to offer more products and services. The continual 'yappus interruptus' didn't do the trick, and the server grinned and bore it.
Mr. Sinclair declares he hasn't "seen them all", so I will offer one I have witnessed him use: the customer who refuses to sit at the table he was assigned. It's a table. They're all the same. Square, with chairs. The food comes from the same kitchen. Get over yourself. From our table, you looked like an arrogant spoiled brat. Acquire some restaurant etiquette before commenting on it.
Posted by:GFinn
April 1, 2009 at 3:29 AM
I've personally witnessed Gordon Sinclair linger in Fresh Cafe for over an hour AFTER finishing his meal. I arrived just after his server was clearing the table and bringing more coffee. He was in a group of 8+ people. Hypocritical.
Posted by:Statusquo
March 31, 2009 at 11:52 PM
For those who think this is a real issue worth all of the hand wringing...shut up or do something about it. If it's such a constant problem that apparently EVERYONE who waits tables has to deal with, restaurants would go belly up because of it. Just do something already and stop complaining because people are acting in a way that YOU don't like.
PS Gord...you must've REALLY wanted to eat at Fresh and only Fresh. Wanting to see and be seen? Can't believe you couldn't bear to go somewhere else if the wait was so excruciating that you had to go "investigate" and then creepily keep tabs on other people by timing their lives. Wonder how they would've felt if they knew? Like you couldn't have walked somewhere else as most people do when they don't want to wait.
Posted by:Donovanf
March 31, 2009 at 7:50 AM
Seriously,Did they publish this in a newspaper? Breaking news, some people stay too long in restaurants!
People who have a subscription for the Free Press should feel insulted that they actually just paid to read this.
March guests:
Adrien Schulz, PC candidate for Elmwood
James O'Conner, Managing editor Brandon Sun, remembrances of Rob Hoskin
Geoff Currier, River Heights/ Fort Garry council candidate
Carlos James, WSD trustee candidate
Susan Tymofichuk, CTV weeknight news anchor/reporter
Regan Wolfram, Liberal party candidate in Elmwood
Brian Glow, world-famous illusionist
Jim Carr, Business Council of Manitoba president, provincial budget review
Colin Craig, CTF, provincial budget review
Kelly Dehn, CTV Crime watch
Jon Waldman, Slam!Sports
Coun. Jeff Browaty says 311 must be fixed immediately
***************
Wednesday: Kelly Dehn of CTV will make April Fool's Day extra-special; and we'll have an exclusive report about a lawsuit filed against the Province of Manitoba over the seizure of animals from a legal business. The seizure made the news, but the true story was obscured by the 'save the animals' mind-set of the MSM.
Thursday: An exclusive report into the botched treatment of a Winnipeg women by Health Sciences Centre Emergency staff - this was the red flag about HSC ER dysfunction YEARS before Brian Sinclair was ignored. When you hear this story, you'll understand why we say, what happened to Sinclair was predictable and avoidable. Her family came to TGCTS asking for our help, and the file review a doctor conducted for the show's use, will reveal the missteps and mistakes the family now wants an explanation and apology for from the HSC.
Friday: At 5.50 PM, a Wrestlemania 25 preview with our very special guest, the pre-eminent ring journalist Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer and Jon Waldman of Slam!Sports and Spirited Kenny.
This has been a very busy 3 months and we want to thanks all our listeners who have contributed with an avalanche of emails and calls that kept the shows moving at a rapid fire pace throughout.
January Top Stories:
- Exclusive: The truth about the Horace Avenue carjacker and the "vigilante hate crime beating" that wasn't
- Free Press publisher Bob Cox ignores a complaint that Dan Lett personally insulted a reader because apparently, emailers are not allowed to be "anonymous"
- Chief McCaskill tells James Turner " we never thought much of it...we missed the boat on crack"
- Bus union wants driver shields
- Exclusive: FP "Ask the City Editor" online feature ignores questions about Porkgate
- Exclusive: Details of U of M anti-Semitic incident and of Pro-Israel rally confrontation (and how the FP hid the photo)
- The Monday Manifesto: This year, it's about "the untouchables"- Government appointees such as judges, government funded boards and universities,
- Exclusive: Caller explains the life and death of meth addict DJ Vanden Bosch who committed suicide when surrounded by cops in the west end
- 16 year old Alexander Avenue home invasion/stabber gets easy sentence, FP ignores his membership in Native Syndicate street gang
- Murder victim Shawn Beauchamp, member of Bloodz gang, worked for Free Press, chased, bear sprayed, shot, police claim not a gang crime
- The 3-1-1 with Spirited Kenny, predicting inquiry phone line disaster
- Exclusive: a dozen Somalian street gang members bust up all ages party at Exchange Event Centre.
- FP Raccoon Carney story- 1 paragraph, 2 sentences, 3 mistakes, 0 corrections
- Two Tier Justice: "no break in, no injuries, no weapon" accused gets more time (56 months) for attack on Crown attorney's house, than Native Syndicate punk did for nearly killing Alexander Avenue resident in home invasion (21 months)
- Hydro backs down on Exchange District block-busting plan
- Listeners complaint to Kick-FM refuted
- Exclusive: Inside the Free Press job sharing proposal/intenral union conflict
- Van stolen from VJ's Drive-In kills 2 university students
- Lanzellotti "laughing girl" denied bail
January Guests:
Scott Taylor on Sports
Stacey Ashley of CTV on Montana drug pleas by 2 Winnipeg men
Ron East explained the truth about Israeli 'atrocities" in Gaza
Chris Jericho on being a Red River College Cre-Comm legend and his wrestling comeback
CTV's Kelly Dehn with Crimewatch
City Councillor Jeff Browaty on Disraeli reconstruction and area issues
Bryan Danielson, pro wrestler of the year 07-08
Kelly Holmes, Resource Assistance for Youth (RAY), on the meth problem in Winnipeg
Colin Craig, CTF, on federal budget
Mike Sutherland, Winnipeg Police Association, on changes in major unit assignment limits
Slam Sports' Jon Waldman
CJOB talk show host-turned council candidate Geoff Currier
Joan Wilson, Unicity Taxi
Andrew Allentuck about his new book, "When Can I Retire"
Ken Klassen, engineering technologist, critiqued the Ikea proposal
Jon Waldman, Slam!Sports
***************
February Top Stories:
- Health Minister Theresa Oswald ducks CJOB as MSM heats up brown envelope scandal
- Details of Brian Sinclair HSR Emergency room video revealed by exasperated Chief Medical Examiner Balachandra ahead of Judicial Inquest
- HSC honcho Dr. Brock Wright finally decides to look at Sinclair video, changes story about triage desk role in death, WRHA invents 3 excuses of how and why video was (not) reviewed
- Bloggers come of age: My Left Nut (with compilation of blogger and MSM reports), Policy Frog ("Oswald toast") , Progressive Winnipeg, and James Cotton, dissect WRHA excuses, NDP spin, and MSM coverage of Sinclair affair
- WRHA press conference fails to control the spin on Sinclair, raises even more questions about who knew what when
- CJOB's Vic Grant inexplicably defends HSC, attacks Balachandra and other critics as 'vigilantes'
- EXCLUSIVE: CJOB General Manager sits on HSC Foundation board
- Newspapers across continent start to waver and collapse, Canwest shares collapsing
- Photo radar tickets tossed due to lack of actual construction workers in protected zone
- FP bias showing- no mention of 300 homes at risk in HSC "Bio-Med City' expansion plan in West alexander neighbourhood
- WRHA releases legal "opinion" preventing publication of Sinclair death internal review, as CJOB softballs Premier Doer and HSC mouthpiece Alan Fineblit, meanwhile a Free Press editorial demands Oswald apologize for misleading public and legislature
- Paa Pii Wak, gang -run halfway house, closes after staff gets busted
- Critics blast Judge Ray Wyant taking control of Sinclair inquest, demand outside arbiter
- Tan Le, accused in Monty's bar shooting, outed as dating twin sisters, detail unreported in FP
- "Aboriginal journalist" Colleen Simard supports Native chiefs whine that blogs be censored for "hate speech"
- EXCLUSIVE: native online mag calls whites "The Scum Dogs of Europe", Simard et al silent
- NDP ignored offer for private clinic to help relieve pressure on HSC ER; plan to open across from HSC in honour of Brian Sinclair announced by darin Jorgenson
- Blogger James Cotton goes to city ER's, in 12 hours gets approached zero times about whether he is in need of care
- Vancouver shooting/drive-by epidemic
- Exclusive: Phil Walding plan for sensible Disraeli and Louise bridge reconstruction
- Experts speak out in letters to the Free Press -- and reveal WRHA practice of having unqualified personnel operate Concordia Hospital EKG's risk patients lives contrary to assurances of WRHA officials
- Katz win in ethics vote portrayed by FP as loss as smear campaign continues
- 311 disasters emerge in emails from listeners
- WRHA hires $125,000 consultant to improve 'communication' while they ignore media requests for information and interviews
- Exclusive: details of stolen paramedic SUV chase through North End
- Disraeli closure surprises NDP as top byelection concern
- Concordia nighttime ER closure almost kills woman suffering ectopic
miscarriage
- MPI buys Citiplace, ratepayers outraged
February Guests:
Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen on WRHA brown envelopes and the planned provincial audit; Doer and Oswald "misspoke" 13 times about how Brian Sinclair asked for HSC ER help
Dr. Jon Gerrard demands firing of top WRHA and HSC officials
Scott Taylor - how the Manitoba Boxing Commission almost got MMA fighter Dean Lewis killed by poor supervision
CTV's Kelly Dehn
Retha Dykes, general manager, Misty Lake Lodge, Gimli
Councillor Grant Nordman defended his opposition toMMA bouts at Convention Centre
Mayor Sam Katz brought light to Crocus Fund receiver motion that was dismissed by court, called Porkgate a "schande"
Mike Sutherland, WPA on Crimestat information gaps
Colin Fast, candidate for Wpg. School Division trustee
Regan Woolfrom, Liberal candidate in Elmwood
Exclusive: Brian Smiley of MPI, with all the answers about the Citiplace purchase
Jon Waldman, Slam!Sports
***********
March Top Stories
- Canadian Museum of Human Rights fundraising flounders
- Porkgate apologists and Free Press loyalists attack defenders of poor and hungry, as new details emerge from Winnipeg Harvest insider about distribution and spoiled food issues that plague organization
- Exclusive: music promoter Rob Hoskin, 54, loses battle with cancer
- FP job movements and layoffs include crime reporter James Turner
- More newspaper layoffs and closures across America
- Rapid Transit corridor expropriations expedited
- More bedbugs overrun Manitoba Housing complex
- Ron Schuler to propose bill to allow 16-18 year olds the right to go to high school even if parents refuse to sign permission waivers
- NDP begins to worry about Disraeli backlash in Elmwood byelection
- FP book reviewer admits no evidence of Jim Walding getting bribe to defeat Pawley NDP budget in 1986 -- despite Gordon Sinclair insinuations
- Bike lobby controls "consultations" on new bridges and traffic flow for Point Douglas, shuts out non-artists in neighborhood from group, opposes new Louise Bridge and wants gated community for "artists"
- more shooting deaths in Vancouver as gun seizures in 'peg gun play on rise
- FP Trust loses $5million after fall strike and buyouts
- Shades of Porkgate: FP editorial on lemon car dealers says not naming them due to 'privacy' is like protecting identity of spoiled meat distributors!
- Taxi study says no new cab plates except for winter season
- IKEA plan gets sharp rebukes from bloggers and southend residents facing expropriation
- Exclusive: Spirited Kenny hosts TGCTS in solo effort on March 13
- FP wastes 3 Sunday pages on new archive, a week after Gordon Sinclair plagiarizes his own 24 year old column in plug preview
- Blind granny mugged in EK hate crime by 10 kids, First Nations leaders and human rights grandstanders silent
- Hespeler residents suddenly facing expropriation despite no indication in original Disraeli reconstruction open-houses their land was needed
- "left of centre" John Orlikow defeats Geoff Currier to rise to council seat
- Exclusive: CBC and other newsrooms editing racial identification out of police crime descriptions
- Exclusive: accidental head injury from fall that killed actress Natasha Richardson, mocked by Margo Goodhand in Free Press Editors Bulletin' to online readers
- EXCLUSIVE: NDP Elmwood candidate Bill Blaikie answers questions about pension, promises more money to keep Disraeli open, supports WRHA honchos
- Peguis members not on list, may have had treaty card, but still had to meet with chief and council before being allowed to vote
- 93 year old woman forced out of HSC one hour after amputation of toes
- Listeners critique Blaike interview and election result
- Free Press scooped by Sun x 2 on convictions in deaths of Nathan Starr and Tannis Bird, respectively
- Justice Minister Chomiak, in a budget chat with reporters, admits car theft mainly stopped by locking up the perps
- 2 for 1 sentencing break exposes folly of 'holistic approach'
- Exclusive: 311 tells District 6 cops to shovel their way out of snow storm to get cruisers to calls for help from public, can't provide number for plowing supervisor
- Free Press blogger Brian Huycke dies of head injury in accidental fall; editor Goodhand keeps jokes to herself this time
- CBC cuts amateur sports telecasts
- FP story about 3 gangs involved in Tony Lanzellotti murder by stolen SUV crash into his taxi begs the question- why aren't gangs that recruit FASD kids charged with child abuse?
- Young Josh and Dave Shorr leave TGCTS for new challenges; Silent Mitch returns from Lance Storm's Wrestling Academy in one piece
- Unreported in mainstream media, 21 studies purporting that COX2 drugs such as Vioxx and Celebrex were safe, used faked or fudged data
- Gordon Sinclair column rants about restaurant "etiquette" after long wait for table at a local eatery; he scalps a blog post by an anonymous waitress about 'campers' who don't pay their bill and leave quickly, but Gordo fails to link to, or credit the blogger. Take note how at the end, she says she doesn't mind all campers: http://tipsfromservers.blogspot.com/
AND a special postscript: one of the customers Sinclair was complaining about, left a comment online for him -- and beneath that are comments by others who have seen Gordo's act in person:
Posted by:ks123
April 1, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Well, this is not the first time this columnist has irked me the wrong way. But it is the first time I have been the target. Thank you, Mr Sinclair, for tainting my day after reading that rubbish.
Since I was one of the two young ladies that "hogged" a table, I'd like to clarify a few things. First of all, I waitressed though university and am well aware of the 'camper' term. However, I do also understand that some times people need a venue to get out and talk, and guess what... sometimes that place is a restaurant! It just so happens that my girlfriend needed to talk about some very unfortunate events occurring in her homelife and couldn't exactly talk openly about the issues in her own home. I have 2 young children, so my home is not the most condusive site for such discussion. I thank badkat for recognizing that there is always more than meets the eye.
And for the record, we finished our lunch around 2, which I'm pretty sure is not peak hours, and I did tip the waitress well for our time, because I do recognize the issue. By well, I mean 50%.
So again, thank you for undertaking such compassionate, investigative journalism and getting all the facts. I am very sorry that you had to wait for a table - I have apparently not shown you the respect you think you deserve. But perhaps by writing this piece, you have not shown my friend and I any respect either.
Posted by:gohabsgo
April 1, 2009 at 7:09 AM
A restaurant is a business, and when your business is concluded, move on. If you do not order an item after a reasonable amount of time, your bill will be provided. The term I've heard friends in the business use often is 'entitlement'. People feel that the table is theirs to use as they please, be it a business meeting, viewing pictures of a trip, etc. I've seen a server return to a table every few minutes after billing to offer more products and services. The continual 'yappus interruptus' didn't do the trick, and the server grinned and bore it.
Mr. Sinclair declares he hasn't "seen them all", so I will offer one I have witnessed him use: the customer who refuses to sit at the table he was assigned. It's a table. They're all the same. Square, with chairs. The food comes from the same kitchen. Get over yourself. From our table, you looked like an arrogant spoiled brat. Acquire some restaurant etiquette before commenting on it.
Posted by:GFinn
April 1, 2009 at 3:29 AM
I've personally witnessed Gordon Sinclair linger in Fresh Cafe for over an hour AFTER finishing his meal. I arrived just after his server was clearing the table and bringing more coffee. He was in a group of 8+ people. Hypocritical.
Posted by:Statusquo
March 31, 2009 at 11:52 PM
For those who think this is a real issue worth all of the hand wringing...shut up or do something about it. If it's such a constant problem that apparently EVERYONE who waits tables has to deal with, restaurants would go belly up because of it. Just do something already and stop complaining because people are acting in a way that YOU don't like.
PS Gord...you must've REALLY wanted to eat at Fresh and only Fresh. Wanting to see and be seen? Can't believe you couldn't bear to go somewhere else if the wait was so excruciating that you had to go "investigate" and then creepily keep tabs on other people by timing their lives. Wonder how they would've felt if they knew? Like you couldn't have walked somewhere else as most people do when they don't want to wait.
Posted by:Donovanf
March 31, 2009 at 7:50 AM
Seriously,Did they publish this in a newspaper? Breaking news, some people stay too long in restaurants!
People who have a subscription for the Free Press should feel insulted that they actually just paid to read this.
March guests:
Adrien Schulz, PC candidate for Elmwood
James O'Conner, Managing editor Brandon Sun, remembrances of Rob Hoskin
Geoff Currier, River Heights/ Fort Garry council candidate
Carlos James, WSD trustee candidate
Susan Tymofichuk, CTV weeknight news anchor/reporter
Regan Wolfram, Liberal party candidate in Elmwood
Brian Glow, world-famous illusionist
Jim Carr, Business Council of Manitoba president, provincial budget review
Colin Craig, CTF, provincial budget review
Kelly Dehn, CTV Crime watch
Jon Waldman, Slam!Sports
Coun. Jeff Browaty says 311 must be fixed immediately
***************
Wednesday: Kelly Dehn of CTV will make April Fool's Day extra-special; and we'll have an exclusive report about a lawsuit filed against the Province of Manitoba over the seizure of animals from a legal business. The seizure made the news, but the true story was obscured by the 'save the animals' mind-set of the MSM.
Thursday: An exclusive report into the botched treatment of a Winnipeg women by Health Sciences Centre Emergency staff - this was the red flag about HSC ER dysfunction YEARS before Brian Sinclair was ignored. When you hear this story, you'll understand why we say, what happened to Sinclair was predictable and avoidable. Her family came to TGCTS asking for our help, and the file review a doctor conducted for the show's use, will reveal the missteps and mistakes the family now wants an explanation and apology for from the HSC.
Friday: At 5.50 PM, a Wrestlemania 25 preview with our very special guest, the pre-eminent ring journalist Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer and Jon Waldman of Slam!Sports and Spirited Kenny.
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