WRHA twists and squirms while Oswald hides from tough questioning

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has been battered this week by 2 scandals.

In the first, they claim that bonus payments from suppliers that comes in sealed brown envelopes after a bid is chosen, is under strict doctors' supervision. Since 4 of the WRHA's finest open the envelopes together, surely nothing other than a cheque made out to the WRHA ever fell onto the table, they insisted.

CEO Dr. Brian Postl originally tried (on CJOB- go to the Monday Feb. 2 audio vault 9.10 AM) to mock Jen Skerritt's scoop as " an amusing view" of the bidding policy. A real laugher.

If you listen carefully to that interview with Richard Cloutier, you will note that at no time , did Postl say he had invited the provincial auditor to review their tendering practice. Nor did he once address, the $2.2 million dollars in "unrestricted" value-adds under his direct control. It was only at the conclusion of a Letter to the Editor in Wednesday's Free Press, that Postl revealed his willingness to have the WRHA's value-added policy probe. Although he framed it as asking for advice about how they should operate in the future, and NOT a review of the past revenues and expenditures of what amounted to a slush fund.

This morning in an "exclusive" segment on CJOB (after 10 AM), Postl reiterated that he invited Carol Bellringer to audit them in a letter he sent her on Monday. We can only conclude the letter was sent AFTER Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen called for the auditor to investigate.

Cloutier did not catch this weasel-wordplay. And Postl did not utter one word about the perception of conflict of interest raised, by his having a slush fund to dole out on his sole authority.

Then again, Cloutier didn't ask him about it, nor did he ask about why the Conflict of Interest/Personal Gains policy that Postl swears guided their actions, cannot be found online and is not being produced for the public to evaluate those protests of innocence.

We have made 3 requests for the documentaion that guided the WRHA in dealings with suppliers going back to 1999, when Postl became head honcho. We have yet to receive even an acknowledgement, let alone an answer.

That is hardly a surprise, since we asked Health Minister Theresa Oswald twice for an interview, were assured cabinet communications would get back to us, and again all week long, there is only silence from her on our request.

One listener in the know described the silent treatment this way:

Believe me when I tell you that the minister of Health has no intention of acknowledging that you exist. I don't know if this comes from higher up the chain or not, but you will not get acknowledgment from the minister nor the department. There is some eye rolling going on when your name is mentioned. They act as if they've never heard of you, then, when reminded, will roll their eyes and make a dismissive comment regarding your place in the media.

Considering that Madame Oswald ducked the Free Press and the Sun on Wednesday when scandal #2 broke, I guess they are now celebrating as I do, being dismissed as "Lesser media" by the NDP government.

No matter. The Doer government have been exposed for their twisting of language and changing the subject whenever the heat is put on by tough questions about the WRHA.

Oswald called Postl 'courageous' after the Free Press outed their brown envelope scheme, and lauded the WRHA for their 'transparency' at the same time as they hid behind the privacy laws and insisted reporter Skerritt file forms and wait at least 60 days for the revenue and payout details from the value-add file.

Here's an email from a concerned listener:

Hi Marty,

If nobody else says it....thanks for your contributions to better Manitoba through educational radio and for turning mountains into mole hills. Your continued coverage on this brown envelopes got me thinking.... If the following facts are true:

1) WRHA has a one shot budget to get all they need to address their needs and sometimes their wants
2) They must pad room for surprises in their budget submission
3) There will always have remainder wishes

If these budget shortcomings are know well before their bidding process, might these shortcomings be communicated discretely to said suppliers to ensure these brown envelopes collectively account for the REAL needs of WRHA? This would be advantageous especially since the Provincial Government would be trying to maintain an balanced budget illusion, while hoping Corporations can flip the bill without going to the Province for more money?

If this were true, then the brown envelopes would also become an indirect means of padding untraceable political contributions. Speculating this were true, then maybe there is a new spin on the horizon from the Government top ensure this evidence was never exposed.

Cheers, and keep up the great work!

H.

As for scandal # 2, is there anything more pathetic than Dr. Brock Wright, the number 2 executive in the WRHA office, contorting himself yesterday to the point of asphyxiation when revising the actual facts of the Brian Sinclair death at the HSC emergency room to meld with his 4 month campaign of excuses and distortion, which he did conducted having seen all the evidence ?

"Wright said the system relies on people approaching the triage desk ... staff was surprised Sinclair wouldn't have checked in at the triage desk." (CTV Sept. 23rd)

"I didn't feel the need to review the videotape myself... My information is that he did not formally present himself to the triage desk" (CTV News Wednesday)

"Wright now says the video shows that Sinclair wheeled himself into the line at the triage desk where the triage nurse on duty was seeing one person ahead of him." (Winnipeg Free Press Thursday)

(Entirely missing from all MSM reporting on the changing Sinclair story is the abandoned claim about the Health Sciences Centre nursing complement being short-staffed, and that a concerned onlooker was told "they were too busy to check on him." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvlrAH3kT5M )

As a listener told us yesterday, an internal "Sinclair update" was issued to staff after Wright was forced to issue the statement Thurday reversing his field and admitting the truth.

Wright's excuse for not looking at the tape ?

"To avoid any suggestion of interference while the incident was being reviewed".

And Brian Postl's explanation on CJOB this morning?

"one of the points of view that was dominant was that we should limit access to the tapes" to avoid "TAMPERING".

So which is it? Was the WRHA worried about perceptions of conflict of interest about their internal Sinclair death review - which they utterly dismiss is a concern when it comes to their addiction to brown envelopes - or was it their officials could not be trusted with evidence about Sinclair's last hours? (This on the eve of the Provincial Auditor waltzing into their offices looking for financial records about the value-adds.)

On CJOB this morning, Postl concluded "Dr. Wright was caught in a misperception, yes it is a mistake", that led him to repeat a lie about Brian Sinclair to the public, and blame the dead for not checking in at the triage desk to get processed.

Yet Postl assures the public, "his (Wright's) future is as strong and bright as it has ever been."

That, in a nutshell, is the way the WRHA interprets the meaning of transparency and accountability in health care. And Theresa Oswald, their political master, see Postl as a "courageous" leader.

The sound you hear is of Tommy Douglas spinning in his grave.

Postscript: an email from a listener

Hi Marty,

To hear you today indicate the Mr. Postl didn`t share the details of a video footage from both the Minister of Health, and Dr. Brock Wright because of potential tampering of evidence is irresponsible on his part. Seems we continue to have a problem with responsibility of management in the Manitoba public sector that just cannot compare to the private sector. Case in point:

1) If Mr. Postl is the man in charge, has the responsibility to act as the liaison between his department and the public who rely on his guidance to protect them from malpractice, mistreatment, or potentially their own death under the care of his operations......then when something does happen, he should be the first man to rally the troops, assess the situation and delegate responsibilities and responses to address the concerns of the public who affect his livelihood.

2) If the public were to be questioning others within his department, then they SHOULD have a story (abet a company line story) to adhere to before addressing the media.

3) If you have evidence that must remain confidential under investigation....again....you would pass along a press release to have everyone understand what actions are underway, what is being reviewed, and a projected date of a response to address their concerns.

Because you takes a `Greater than Thou` approach to your position, would indicate that you are quite happy if anyone other than yourself takes the rap for any irresponsible acts within your control (sounds like he`s qualified to be an NHL General Manager, or bidding for Gary Betman`s job).

In the Private sector...Maple Leaf is labeled to potentially tainted meat. THey immediately pull the products in question off the market, investigate their operations, uncover the source, and the President of the company has enough sense to address it publically through VARIOUS media to take responsibility, provide a vision of what actions he has taken to regain credibility and address any customer concerns.

I believe it is time for action Dr. Postl, or are you just not responsible enough to handle your job.....

Cheers,
H.

Frank the Italian Barber saddest man in Winnipeg; all about WRHA's brown envelopes and murders #4, 5, and 6

Say what you want about the opinionated King of Corydon Avenue, but alone among all the pundits, he steadfastly maintained from about week 8 of the NFL regular season, that the Arizona Cardinals was a team that was headed for glory.

On Monday, Frank, having parlayed his hunch into untold riches behind the skill and artistry of wily quarterback Kurt Warner and speedy son-of-a-journalist Larry Fitzgerald, will describe the full emotion of (cue Jim McKay) "the agony of defeat".

The twists and turns of luck and effort and of course, officiating, all conspired to deliver one of the most exciting Super Bowls in history but one of the most crushing disappointments in Franks's prognostication career.

Along with our analysis of the 27-23 Pittsburgh Steelers football championship there is a lot of important news to catch up on.

* Right in line with our focus this year on "the untouchables" such as justice and health officials, Jen Skerritt of the Winnipeg Free Press blew the lid off the biggest scandal to ever - indisputably - touch on Gary Doer and his cabinet in Saturday's edition.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority practice of accepting brown envelopes totaling over $20 Million from bid-winning suppliers, in a shady "value-added" process that they swore they've been trying to fix, they swear to it, for over 2 years now, raises questions that will shake the halls of power long and deep.

Supposedly, as long as an unnamed quartet of insiders opened the envelopes together, and the head honcho had sole control over the spending of $2.2 million of the loot, we can rest assured that the secret bonus payments 'had nothing to do with who won the bids', and 'the WRHA has policies', and if one official says 'the envelopes included cash', so what if the other said 'the WRHA insists on cheques', and 'heck, we've been trying to fix it for two years now', and as for the $1.1 million that went to the "regional corporate department" and not to patient care ( like, say, keeping the Seven Oaks Emergency Department open at night), well, 'watch out, those doctors and nurses are getting scratchpads from those pharmaceutical drug pushers !'...

Test, meet sniff. Inhale.

Health Minister Theresa Oswald has been invited to appear on Monday's show.

She told the Free Press that she was aware of the practice, and said she views CEO Brian Postl as "courageous" for overseeing the slow-as-molasses reforms to the bidding process.

Keep in mind the bidding process was so lacking in accountability the Free Press found not one member of another profession or from within government, who could remember ever hearing of such a lucrative side-stepping of transparency commitments and conflict of interest standards.

* Fresh details have emerged about the young woman who plunged to her death downtown last week. But she was quickly displaced as the cities latest murder victim, by 2 men seeping the end of their life out in a Maryland Street rooming house Saturday morning. We'll round up all the reports and see if there is more information yet to be disclosed.

* Last week the death of 2 aboriginal teens rammed by a stolen van near Black River, generated more calls than anything in recent memory. The universal condemnations also anticipated that root-causes apologists would try to blame the victim, for leaving his van running while grabbing a burger at VJ's.

The public outrage about blaming victims and two-tier justice is a sign that the paradigm has shifted; last week the Crown assailed the host of Texas hold-'em poker games on Corydon as 'organized crime', but agreed to ask a judge (Meyers? Lismer? depends on which paper you read) to sentence a 21 year old involved in the stolen car massacre of Duffy's taxi driver Tony Lanzellotti to PROBATION. Just like 11 of his underage co-accused.

The concept that sentences for violent crimes include consideration of deterrance and denunciation, means nothing to the Crown Attorney's employed by Justice Minister Dave Chomiak. Apparently neither does the so-called requirement to ensure a victim impact statement (in this case, from the widow), forms part of the record for a judge to evaluate.

In another case recently, the Crown bragged about a "plea bargain" for the 56 months sentence given to a man who failed to break into the home of a Crown attorney, in an incident where no weapon was used and no one was injured.

Listeners compared that with the slap on the wrist of 21 months given to a 16 year old Native Syndicate hooligan, who broke into and wrecked a strangers' home with 2 buddies and stabbed a 59 year old resident 3 times, because the punk had a beef with the landlord.

The only logical conclusion: If the home of a Crown Attorney doesn't get actually broken into or anyone gets hurt, perp gets 56 months; if Joe Sixpack lives on Alexander Avenue, his possessions get destroyed and he suffers a performated lung, the attacker gets less than half that sentence, and a hug to boot.

Two tier justice - one for the rest of us, and another for "the untouchables".

The public sees through all the government talk about being tough on car thieves and punks. Compared with the fury unleashed on someone accused of undermining the NDP's gambling monopoly by holding poker tournaments, gang bangers who terrorize someone in their home or steal a car (or joyrides in one) rightfully thinks, they can probably get away with anything that happens- including murder !- and face minimal consequences.

* Don't forget to check out The Spirited Kenny Show, from 3-4.00 and 5.30 - 7 PM on Tuesday, sandwiched around TGCTS.

Dissecting a listener's complaints, Hydro maps downtown, remembering a retailer

Last Friday, I read on the air a typed letter Rick the Boss got expressing "disappointment with the decision to extend" the show - which was in September. It was unsigned and typical of some of the pressure put upon the station to silence TGCTS and your opportunity to ask questions, get answers, and share information the mainstream media often will either mis-state, distorts, or ignore.

I want to respond to some of the issues raised by the letter.

Dear "disgruntled KICK listener",

I appreciate it took a lot of time to compile the ad-hominum attacks used, like " conspiracy theorist, right wing ideagogue" ( an idea-gogue? I sure am); "toxic rhetoric", and suggesting my "conduct is borderline slanderous".

However it is apparent *someone* does not actually listen to the show.

"maligning public officials without allowing time to rebut or refute any of his salacious allegations."

This is utterly false. The lack of response (emails or calls) from defenders of public officials is telling. I have never screened out any calls that take issue with any of the stories or analysis we broadcast (however rare they may be).

" I checked his allegations with one of the politicians I happened to bump into socially and he assured me that the spin couldn't be further from the truth..."

Last Friday, Spirited Kenny invited you to forward the name of that politician to us to allow for them to express that position and defend it to our listeners, the voters of Manitoba.

As I expected, we have gotten the usual response we get whenever we offer this opportunity to those we hold to account:

Silence.

Here is but a sample of the "many politicians from all parties, from all levels of government, who are trying to improve our quality of life here in Manitoba." who have not even acknowledged, let alone accepted, our requests for interviews.

MP Pat Martin

MP Jim Malloway (granted that was when he was a city councillor)

Premier Gary Doer

Family Services Minister Gord MacIntosh

Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross
Councillor Dan Vandal

Councillor Harry Lazarenko

Councillor Mike O'Shaunessy

The lack of response from government or government-funded agencies includes:

- the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority about the superbug that killed a woman at Seven Oaks General Hospital;

- the various agencies that won't divulge any costs estimates for the long-delayed 511/CanAlert public warning system;

- Winnipeg Harvest about how they track food such as, say, frozen minced pork;

to name but 3.

Next time you bump into one of your political acquaintances, if they are on the list, tell them the door is open.

Hell, tell ANY politician you bump into that our door is open. I'm sure the audience would appreciate your efforts to convince them to provide "more accurate information and a more balanced view of our political landscape", that you claim is lacking.

Don't you ask yourself, what is the real reason they ignore invitations from this program, rather than come on the air and explain how they are being "unfairly" criticized?

You also advocate for "an additional program to be developed that allows for alternate views than that of Mr. Gold."

As Kenny explained last week, there already are such programs. It's called the main stream media.

We are alternative media.

That is the point.

We're the alternative.

And that is why more and more people with questions and who want answers, listeners who are lawyers, doctors, small businesses, service organizations, restaurant and bar workers, professional drivers, police, parents, students, bloggers, and MSM newsrooms, academics, are not only tuning in, but are participating via calls, emails and even typewritten letters like yours.

Thanks for listening.

Marty

************
With all the discussion last week about the aborted Manitoba Hydro plan to expand their substation by eviscerating three heritage buildings on McDermot in the Exchange District, it might be helpful to allow concerned Winnipeggers to have a visual on the area in question to better assess the spin from Hydro officials.

CBC, Thursday Jan 22: (Hydro spokesman Glenn) Schneider said the solution is not as easy as simply choosing another location for the substation because the existing substation in need of an upgrade is adjacent to the three McDermot Avenue buildings.

"We can't just take a spot two blocks away, which is a parking lot or that's vacant land right now because all of the underground feeders feed into that, the local feeders feed into that spot on King Street."

Two blocks away huh. Well courtesy of the Skyscraper forum, lookie here:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?s=fc36c380bf3060dc99c90038a2791d37&p=4042575&postcount=980

***********

A loyal listener has started his own blog, so here's the plug:

http://www.grumpyyoungwinnipeg.blogspot.com/

**********

Lastly an email, about the unexpected closure of legendary local audio/video store Krazy Krazy, fifteen-oh-nine St. Matthews Av-e-nue:

In 1984 I bought a 28 inch RCA TV there. It was the biggest TV I had ever seen. It cost almost 1000 (l984) dollars. (I was young, single and employed, then.) It had a beautiful picture; everyone who saw it commented on how sharp it was. Everyone. It lasted me 21 years.

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

Enjoy Super Bowl 43, on Monday we'll find out if Frank the Italian Barber hit it big on the Cardinals roll he's been on since game 8 !!

Links to recent Currier/Browaty/meth interviews, highlights of this weeks' news and analysis, and what our staffers do in their spare time

A flurry of action has driven more interested listeners to the Kick-FM website than ever, to sample the special interviews we've snared since the begining of the 2009. Here is a convenient compilation:

* Audio of our interview with veteran CJOB sports and talk guy Geoff Currier, who gave us the very first broadcast interview about why he left the world of commercial radio and what he thinks are the issues to the voters in River Heights - Fort Garry, where he aspires to replace the late Brenda Leipsic in the March 17th civic by-election:

http://www.kick.fm/2009/01/geoff-currier-on-kick-fm.html

(Note that the page linked to, includes another good interview Currier did on our Monday night staple The Download with Kick FM News director Dan Vadeboncouer and co-host Conor Lloyd.)

* Speaking of City Council, Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) made an in-studio visit last Thursday and we covered, well, everything but Waterfront Drive:

http://www.kick.fm/2009/01/jeff-browaty-on-great-canadian-talk.html

* The best friend of crystal meth addict and habitual criminal DJ Van Den Bosch, who committed suicide when cornered on Simcoe Street by the K9 Unit, provided the most intense call in the history of TGCTS last Monday when she talked about her own struggle with meth addiction:
http://www.kick.fm/2009/01/glimpse-into-world-of-meth-addiction.html

* and for good measure, a link to the archive of the last two weeks worth of episodes:
http://www.kick.fm/2009/01/catch-up-with-great-canadian-talk-show.html

Already this week,

* we broke the eyewitness story of the African Mafia inner city street gang that crashed a teen birthday party at the Event Exchange Centre last Saturday night, and asked why CBC-TV refused to identify what kind of "gang" was behind the mayhem;

* noted the disturbing pattern of public health officials concealing communicable disease outbreaks in Winnipeg, including flesh-eating disease last fall and the belated Superbug-forced shutdown of an entire ward at Seven Oaks Hospital last winter that may have killed a senior citizen;

* and explained how the Free Press outdid itself in a story about CFRW Classic rock-jock Raccoon Carney, with the story having 3 factual mistakes in a single, 2 sentence paragraph.

Today, while everyone else yakked endlessly about all things Obama, we alone:

- broadcast information about massive layoffs at Clear Channel in the US and layoffs at Global TV Toronto, and asked the true impact of cancelling Morning and Noon news casts in the country's biggest market;

- found out about the Public Utilities Board being forced to hold public hearings next month into the business application of Wpg Airport Authority-owned Avion to crack the city ground transportation/taxi market, the release date of the government study into Taxi demand in Winnipeg, and the fight for more downtown cab stands and taxi access to Diamond Lanes;

- asked why the special prosecutor agreed to a plea bargain with a man charged for attempting a home invasion on a Crown Attorney's home with 3 other men, (one had charges stayed, another's charges were dismissed, and a third accused awaits trial).

Even though the special prosecutor could not link the home invasion to a threat made against the Crown Attorney by a convicted gangster, place the accused at the scene or even present a positive ID to the judge, Alphonse Traverse made a deal and got an additional 12 months and a total equivalent sentence of 56 months. And, we read how he got off easy, because there was no weapon, the house wasn't actually entered, and the targets were not injured in any way.

We compared that decision to the recent sentence meted out to a Native Syndicate juvenile who at age 15, led a 3 man wrecking of an Alexander St. home last March and viciously stabbed a 59 year old tenant 3 times, in a misguided revenge against the home's landlord who had evicted the punk's sister. In this case, there was proof of identity, forced entry and destructive rampage through the home, brandishing of a knife and the near-death of the innocent victim.

Judge Judith Elliot decided the young gangster deserved only 27 months of custody and community supervision.

We asked, is this proof of two-tier justice ?

* Not to mention our blog round-up, including Policy Frog (by-election and CJOB), Progressive Winnipeg (city's IKEA 'smart planning' sucks), and Rob Galston at Rise and Sprawl (more on IKEA, and the financial failure of Senator Rod Zimmer's redevelopment proposal for Alexander Docks).

These stories are some of the good reasons why more and more listeners are turning to our alternative media broadcasts every afternoon at 4 PM - to get the news and analysis they can't get anywhere else on the dial.
**********************

There's a lot of talented people who make the show possible.
A sampling of their work that deserves broader recognition:

- Part 1 and 2 of the audio reports by Spirited Kenny into the 5-1-1/CanAlert warning system and the runaround Kenny got in chasing down the story, and the first Ken-O-Rama podcast with great music and features, is on his blog, Spirited Kenny the Blog

- Frequent control room commander Dave "I'm A Comic "Shorr did a not-safe-for-work turn at the Comedy Loser competition at the King's Head Tavern and it's up on youtube , debuting the ad campaign for his new fragrance Le Dave

- The misadventures of former sidekick/foil Silent Mitch as he trains for a career as a professional wrestler - in other words, ' How I got stretched by Lance Storm in Calgary, Alberta, Canada ' is at his new blog

- The new sound of the commercial and promo spots is largely the work of our own Shannah-Lee, who voiced some -- and mixed all -- of the lively new break content, including picking out the themes - banjo music, anyone?

She is now a published fiction writer: look for her work in this months Rhubarb Magazine, available at McNally-Robinson bookstores.

- Don't forget to enter our SuperBowl 43 contest, where a lucky Kick-FM supporter can win $50 in free taxi rides to get to and from their party courtesy of Unicity Taxi, and Hey!, Frank the Italian Barber is throwing in a free trim (retail value $8.00).
Enter by emailing talk@kick.fm with the subject line Superbowl.

* JUST CONFIRMED FOR WEDNESDAY, KELLY HOLMES OF RESOURCE ASSISTANCE FOR YOUTH, THE ORGANIZATION LAUDED IN THE 'METH CALL' LAST WEEK, WILL UPDATE US ON THE CURENT STATE OF THE METH TRADE IN WINNIPEG.

MAKE SURE TO LISTEN AT 5.10 PM WHEN SHE TELLS US WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE SOCIAL SERVICE FRONT LINES.

* And on Thursday at 5.10 PM, an interview with former Ring of Honor World Champion and The Wrestling Observer Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2006 and 2007, Bryan Danielson ! He's facing off against The Amazing Mentallo in the main event of the inaugural Canadian Wrestling Elite (CWE) event at the Maples Community Centre, Friday night at 7.30 PM.

Exclusive audio: Caller explains the Simcoe St. suicide and Manitoba's Meth epidemic

Last week we had exclusive details about the St Boniface car thief who was detained by citizens and got called 'vigilantes' for defending a mother and child, and of the altercation at the Stand with Israel rally and the anti-Semitic hate literature displayed at the University of Manitoba by Hamas sympathizers.

We also explained the dual reasons behind the WRHA announcement that after-hours emergency surgeries at the Seve Oaks Hospital were being cut; and heard from Mike Sutherland of the Winnipeg Police Association about the aftermath of the west-end chase of a suspect who ran from a car that was pulled over, and when cornered pulled out a handgun and shot himself in the head in front of stunned officers.

The dead man was connected to a house on Manitoba Avenue which was raided the next day, where police found 5 guns and arrested 5 men and also made arrests in connection to an armed invasion last week of a Selkirk Avenue home.

This weekend the Winnipeg Free Press crime reporter, Mike McIntyre, revealed the name of the Simcoe suicide victim, Daniel Joseph Van Den Bosch, his criminal past and his long-standing addiction to crystal meth.

While going over that story yesterday, we repeated the question from last week: why wasn't the driver of the car charged for driving away from the scene when the cops ran after his passenger?

Unexpectedly we got a caller who gave a shocking reason: he 'ratted' out the gang house on Manitoba and numerous other gang-bangers -- and was let go.

In what was the most explosive call ever on TGCTS, she said she was DJ's best friend, that he wanted to kick his habit, and discussed at length the local Meth problem that the Provincial government has been claiming, is under control.

Here is a link to the KICK-FM web page that has the interview with the caller, as well as the entire show from yesterday.

http://www.kick.fm/2009/01/glimpse-into-world-of-meth-addiction.html

EXCLUSIVE AND EXPLOSIVE DETAILS ABOUT HORACE AVE. CAR THIEF BEATING

You've all watched and read and listened the past few days, as the mainstream media bent and twisted the facts (the few that they had) to their own agenda, and willingly provided a platform to race-baiters who defend criminals if they meet certain criteria.

It took about a day for TV stations to begin to balance their stories and see there was more than "racist vigilanti-ism" going on. It took an hour and twenty minutes this morning for AM talk radio to admit "there was more we don't know than we do know", and an hour 40 minutes to report there was a child in the car.

As this story unfolded, the local website chrisd.ca was outstanding in holding the media outlets that ignored the crime and focused on allegations of "a hate crime" to account.

By posting Global-TV's original video report and very responsibly also posting about the more balanced follow-up by Lorraine Nickel, Winnipeggers got a transparent real-time lesson on the alternative media as watchdog of the MSM.

Similarly, the posting of the angry response of the Sun reporter to criticism he received for slanted coverage - he pointed the finger at Global while denying being in the wrong himself - proved once again that reporters in this town squirm when taken to task for selective or incomplete reporting.

Today at 4 PM we had the facts nobody else had:

The story of our eyewitness revealed a neighbourhood held hostage, and that the suspect matched exactly (down to the unique jacket insignia) the description of a man "aged 19-23" listed in the Neighbourhood Watch circular, which was given to police when they arrived to take the man away.

That is why pictures of the man were taken and posted on the internet - so residents of St. Boniface could see if they recognized him as the man who had been lurking in the area for weeks now. We were told citizens are afraid to open their blinds in case their homes are being cased. One TV report included a man saying that crime was so bad in the area, if property wasn't tied down it was gone.

There was a clear and present danger (disturbingly unreported or ignored by MSM) on Horace Street on New Year's Eve outside the house party.

Not only was the thief trying to break the rear car window right beside the 2 year olds' head in his carseat as his mother screamed in fear; the would-be thief fought the crowd in trying to run away before police arrived, slashing at them with a screwdriver, ripping the glove of a bystander who had come up the street to help -- before the weapon was kicked out of his hand.

The statement of police that charges against the menace were not laid because of "a lack of evidence" is hard to fathom, given the couple whose car was attacked were right there to speak to, and there were other eyewitnesses to his actions. (As a caller today asked, "why wasn't he charged with public drunkenness" ?)

Tonight, after professional agitators told TV reporters that they want this low-life to come forward and file a human rights complaint because he was called names by his intended victims, we have learned yet another MSM outlet has received a complaint for their reporting on the incident and potentially endangering residents of the neighbourhood.

Tuesday at 4 PM, we'll have more on the Horace Street coverage, a follow-up on the WRHA cutbacks to surgery at Seven Oaks General Hospital, listener emails, and of course your calls to Winnipeg's only drive-home call-in show.

Final guest list for 2008, and holiday replay schedule

As we wrap up 2008, our thanks to the great guests who have appeared on the show since October:

Mayor Sam Katz

Kelly Dehn, CTV News

Bernie Farber, Canadian Jewish Congress

Jon Waldman, Slam!Sports

Brad Slater, Team 1260 Edmonton

Hugh McFadyen, Manitoba Conservative party leader

'Dirty Money' Shaun Myall, Island Sports and Entertainment

Phil Walding, federal election analyst

Steve Andjelic, Halifax based blogger

Ryan Wood, professional hockey referee

Nick Penner, MMA fighter

Coun. Scott Fielding (St James)

Scott Taylor, Citi-FM Sports Director

Kenny Omega, Indy Wrestler of the Year

TJ Bratt and Anthony , Atlantic Pizza

Stacey Ashley, CTV News

Caroline Barghout, CTV News

Prof Michael Bennaroch, University of Winnipeg Dean of Business ( and a dear childhood friend)

Paul 'Willie' Williamson, Winnipeg Free Press automotive columnist

Loretta Hunt, editor and MMA writer, Sherdog.com

Joan Wilson, general manager, Unicity Taxi

Chic Devanney, coach and GM, Winnipeg Alliance Indoor Football Club

Ron Schuler, PC MLA (Springfield)

The Amazing Mentallo, Mexican lucha libre/ pro wrestling star

Robin Black, MMA fighter and musician

Judy Eastman, "anti-coalition" rally organizer

Justin Johnson, Global Reporter web project

Rob Galston, Rise and Sprawl blogger and Free Press contributor

Nick Bockwinkel, 4 time AWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion

Jarret Storey, Exchange District BIZ Association

Mike Sutherland, Winnipeg Police Association

Mod Marty and 'IndieRawker' Catherine, The BEAT Deejays and Kick-FM hosts

Ace Burpee, HOT 103 morning man extra-ordinaire

Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, President, Red River College

Brandon Trask, community newspaper columnist

John from VJ's Burger stand on Main St. @ Broadway

Graham Hnatiuk, http://progressivewinnipeg.blogspot.com/

AND...

Silent Mitch (good luck at Lance Storm's wrestling school kid, you're going to need it), Outlaw Adam Knight, Slurpee Girl, our operations crew- Kiirsten, Adorable Adam, WonderBoy Taylor, Dave "I'm a comic" Shorr, Spirited Kenny, Young Josh, Shannah-Lee, senior producer Captain Audio, and Frank The Italian Barber !

To all our sponsors - Atlantic Pizza, CDI College, Unicity Taxi, Canada Sheli, Diligence Works, Focal Point Opticians, Exchange District BIZ, Sing Like a Pro, and to our listeners, callers, emailers, and yes even to our critics -- thank you for your participation with our show.

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Replay schedule:
Wed Dec. 31st: One hour with Mayor Sam Katz (Nov. 27)
New Year's Day: The 2nd anniversary show from Nov. 20th (with Dr. Jon Gerrard)
Fri Jan. 2nd: Friday November 21st (throne speech reaction and crime galore)

A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2009 TO ALL!!

Burpee and Bockwinkel audio online/ big party tonight and other plugs/ replay schedule thru Monday

Recently we presented two of our most popular programs, and have had a number of requests already for the audio.

This Monday we hosted Hot 103 Morning man Ace Burpee, a big fan of our show and of the alternative media.

He sat in for the entire show and joined Spirited Kenny, Wonderboy Taylor and the inimitable Dave "I'm a stand-up comic, really I am" Shorr, as we discussed news coverage of the day's events and he chimed in during our Porkgate update. Ace had picked up on the scandal, and the harm it has done to the reputation of Winnipeg Harvest, and was the first mainstream media personality to raise it on-air with Mator Katz (on Hot103 last week). He also went toe to toe with Frank the Italian Barber comparing losing SportSelect tickets.

I can't thank Ace enough for his kind words and support.

Courtesy of our esteemed fearless leader, Rick the Boss, the link for the entire program with Ace is here:
http://www.kick.fm/2008/12/ace-burpee-on-great-canadian-talk-show.html

(You'll note in that post, that Rick has also provided separate audio of a discussion with a caller, about his views of the state of local media and the importance of our program. Give it a listen.)

Last Friday, Dec. 12th, we were honoured to interview former AWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Nick Bockwinkel, one of the classiest and most intelligent athletes ever to grace our Arena.

Below is the link for that entire program that includes the retrospective with Bockwinkel (the interview begins about 1.08.00 into the show)
http://www.kick.fm/2008/12/nick-bockwinkel-interview.html

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We are on live today at 4 PM with Scott Taylor, sports director of Citi-FM; he did 15 media appearances yesterday about the financial floundering of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes and whether the team might again become the Winnipeg Jets.

Our special guest today will be our old friend John, the man behind the counter at VJ's, the historic best burger stand in Winnipeg at Main St and Broadway. It's all about the best french fries ever, VJ's dripping-with-calories special burger, and the secret of the chili sauce today at 4 PM.

AND JOIN US TONIGHT FOR THE MATZA BALL, AT OZZY'S BAR AND NIGHTCLUB, 160 OSBORNE ST. (DOWNSTAIRS AT THE ZOO).

Hosted by The BEAT Deejays Mod Marty and Catherine ( heard every Saturday from 2-3 PM on Kick-FM's Breaking and Entering), this will be the best Chanukah party ever, with dreidel games, fresh fried latkes, a beautiful menorah lighting, and proceeds going to Jewish Child and Family Services. Doors open at 8.30 and it's happening all night long.

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Our thanks to blogger Jim Cotton, who took time on his blog this week to endorse not only our show, but also our nifty new mugs! (Great pic Jim!)
http://jimmycotton.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-drive-home-show-in-winnipeg.html

While we're at it , don't forget to check out the playlist and pre-order the Kick-FM music collection HomeSpun 2: The Revenge, a solid way to support our station and local music, and sponsored by Half Pints Brewing Company:
http://www.kick.fm/2008/12/homespun-delayed.html

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Our replay schedule the rest of the week:
Xmas Day: The Best of Cheez Whiz, or, the NDP says Northerners don't need no stinkin' fresh milk.
Boxing Day: The interview with Nick Bockwinkel.
Sunday Dec. 28th - 5 episodes starting at 7 PM.

Live programing returns Monday at 4 PM with a return visit from wandering hockey referee Ryan Wood, and on Tuesday, CTV CrimeWatch reporter Kelly Dehn will give us his top stories of 2008.

A peaceful and happy Christmas and Chanukah and Kwanzaa to all our listeners and friends.

Evolution of a blog post: Kenny and Josh discuss the gaming industry crisis

This is a geat example of how we foster stories for the show;

I picked up on a short note on the Wrestling Observer about the video game business having a economic downturn that was going to affect TNA on Spike TV, and sent it on.

Which led to a fascinating exchange between Spirited Kenny and Young Josh about the inner workings of the industry, and the development of a blog post by Kenny -- which is linked to at the end of this exchange and is well worth reading.

Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:24:07 -0800
From: marty
Subject: gaming takes hit
To: spirited_kenny; josh

"Midway laid off 150-200 people today and closed down their Austin studios. Their main Chicago branch also laid off 20-25% of the staff, and the big news is that with the exception of Mortal Kombat they have suspended development on all future titles, including the proposed TNA Impact 2"
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From: kenny

this was weeks in the making, when the Sumner sold his shares in the company to Thomas. This activate some law where the bondholders to get some 70 million dollars from the company in about 50 days. Midway has also been kinda mis managed in the past years too.

EA is also decided not to open a new studio in BC.

Also a number of people are getting laid off from Gamespot after CBS interactive bought CNET.

The only company that seems to kicking ass and chew bubble gum in nintendo
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From: josh

That's what happens when you make products with massive hype that soccer moms can afford and their kids can enjoy -- you kick ass and chew bubble gum.

It doesn't help that Midway's been churning out mid-card, underperforming titles for the last several years (Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe? Please), and nobody ever got really excited by EA's stuff pre-2008. Gamespot can keel over and die, as far as I'm concerned -- last year, they fired a veteran editor for giving a bad review to a game that had been massively sponsoring their site, and we can't have that kind of shit if games journalism ever hopes to become respectable.

I know we had been talking about the video game industry being recession-proof, but here's something we've got to consider: game development studios aren't like music studios, where they've got a bunch of albums on the go all at once. Any studio outside of EA, Ubisoft, Activision/Blizzard, or Square-Enix, the whole studio will work for years on a single title, and if that title doesn't perform well, the studio can go under just like that. And that was *before* the 2008 market corrections hit. Some studios (Rockstar, Bungie, Infinity Ward, Epic, to name some recent ones) get lucky and make blockbusters. Most (Clover, Ensemble) don't. Atari is barely surviving, and that's only thanks to its history.

And finally, regarding Midway, it really doesn't help if your new CEO is named Matt Booty. That just doesn't bode well!
****************

From: kenny

What most of the big boys are doing now is buying up smaller companies that have big titles. EA tried to do it with Rock star, and Atari picked up ghostbusters from sierra.. and so on...

Its dog eat dog out there right now.
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From: josh

Yes, that's true, Kenny -- although, the only really successful one I've heard of is Activision merging with Blizzard. Blizzard is the studio that makes World of Warcraft, and they rake in almost $2 billion a year from that game alone.

Kinda makes it all the more shocking that Jim Rondeau doesn't have straight answers for us on fostering game studio development here in Manitoba, eh? We go crazy for Hollywood films to shoot here, when they're here for only three to four weeks, and their industry's revenue is a fraction of that of the video game industry.

A new Winnipeg studio under Take-Two, Ubisoft, or EA would create 100-200 permanent jobs, requiring little more than office space, and a triple-A title from that studio would not only keep them here in Manitoba, but would also boost our own economy. (Especially if they're Harmonix employees, who got $300 million in bonuses this year from the success of Rock Band.)

And a game studio can show those profits and boost our economy about a year earlier than the IKEA on Sterling Lyon and Kenaston!
************

From: kenny

The merger of Activision and Blizzard was more a mutual thing. Blizzard has been dieing to get back into the console world, and Activison has never had a presence on the computer. Its some what different then the hostile take overs that are being seen now. Particularly EA, and now Ubisoft is on a mad dash of buying.

It’s the way the business is going. The ideals of have a small studio and making a game every 3 to 5 years is done. It’s all going corporate. Businessmen are taking over the business part, and artists are making the games.

I was reading an article from Gameguru I think, some emailed in asking the best way to break into game designing with just a programming degree, not one specific for gaming, they also had quite an active social schedule.

Gameguru pretty much told him that if he couldn’t manager his time now with the full time job and family and friends, and he couldn’t find time to take a course or start programming flash games, and then mini games that he would never make in the game publishing field. (Insert dream crushing sound here for millions of people my age)

I will try to find the article tomorrow if fire it to ya both…

Nite boys!
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and finally, here is the link to today's blog post at kenorama:

http://kenorama.blogspot.com/2008/12/recession-proof-cheat-and-bad-product.html

A Sampling of Listener Letters

A sampling of recent LT-me's, as we call 'em ( as opposed to LTE's- letters to the editor). Send yours to talk@kick.fm

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Porkgate

Marty

I know you don't listen to early morning radio, which you told me when I called re: Bob Silver panhandling on CJOB for the United Way one day.

This morning on Hot 103, Ace Burpee had the Mayor on and asked him about Porkgate. Some interesting notes Sam mentioned:

1. Both the City AND Province have been looking into this.

2. Sam is so upset by this he had had a meeting specifically on this topic, with who not sure.

3. He said the main problem is that no one is talking about this and they cannot get any answers.

4. He honestly doesn't care about the who what where and when on how the pork got out, just that he doesn't want anyone to get sick.

5. No coverage since the MSM is not doing anything on this topic.

Now you may know all of this, some thigns might be news to you, just thought I would give you the update since you give me the updates everyday on the newest info on this topic.

Thought it was a curious thing for him to say the Province is looking into it. I thought Minister Wowchuk said this was dealt with?? Why are they looking into it, if it was dealt with?

Perhaps your next interview with the Mayor you can ask him about his meeting. If the Mayor cannot get answers on this, does that not seem strange?? Doesn't he have any leverage if he is that worked up about this? He seemed genuinely concerned on the radio this morning.

I understand that his main concern is finding the pork so no one gets sick, I guess that's the best approach in order to get to the bottom on where the pork is before someone gets sick. If you promise you don't care about the mis-deed, then perhaps someone will just come forward and not worry that they are going to get the blame.

I guess that's the Pork Amnesty approach.

Personally I'd rather see someone get fired. This could have been dealt with easily and without major incident, but it wasn't.

If not for someone providing Richard Cloutier with 3 packs of this pork, I would almost say this story was a complete fabrication made up by the union in order to get sympathy. Kind of a passing "boo hoo poor us but then some nice decent person came and dropped this off to save us all" story that GSJ would write in his standard column. They would get their raise as public commentary would be poor Freep staff and everyone would move on. Instead it totally backfired and now they don't know how to find a way to come clean on an incident that was made up in order to drum up public support.

It would explain why no one can get any answers, and why there are minimum 6 published stories on this that are all different in some way.

People talk, things always leak, especially when there are this many people involved. How many people were on the line that day when this pork showed up? How can none of them have a straight story on this? Is every member of the union that sick to believe there was nothing wrong with this? I can understand how there might be a brother/sisterhood in the media not to tell on their collegues, but this is ridiculous.

I can only assume The Sun won't let Brodbeck go to town on this due to some sort of you scratch, we scratch policy. He's got all the time in the world for every government or police story it seems whenever someone needs to be publicly shamed, but for this silence.

Anyways

love the show, keep it up.
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more Porkgate

Marty,

I was listening to the Sunday Night replays and noticed something about that reporter from the CBC French TV channel 'interviewing' James Cotton (it was more like interrogating, I thought).

She was trying to pigeon-hole Cotton about whether he was an "independent journalist or a blogger." She said, "There's a difference you know. You need to be aware of that."

First of all, Cotton is clearly an independent journalist whose medium is the blogosphere. But I was struck most by her arrogant, didactic tone and just how utterly condescending she was. She seemed to barely know what a blog was but she was quick to hammer Cotton on a 'difference' that exists in her mind solely to her ignorance.

I think her attitude is typical of mainstream media, especially publicly funded media. It's an elitist attitude that has ceased to be self-critical and has subsequently developed an unconscious insecurity.

Her badgering Cotton wasn't much different from Bruce Owen's outburst. The MSM, or at least the Free Press and CBC factions, have become so over-run by the Left group-think that it reacts bitterly to any opposition with the vigor of religious zealots towards any heterodoxy.

Keep up the good work,

M

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WRHA and Anaesthetists

I was particularly glad to hear you pick up on the Anesthesia thing at the U of M / WRHA. I'm not sure who clued you into that, but it's all true and it certainly won't stop with one department. The involvement of the current dean of Medicine in issues that have always been outside the purview of the dean (such as recruiting, contracting with and providing privileges to clinicians) is unprecedented here, and is very dangerous. It's all about power and control, despite the rhetoric from the University and WRHA.

a doctor
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WRHA and consolidated after-hours surgeries

(from Free Press story) Earlier this week, Winnipeg health officials announced their plan to cancel emergency general surgery at three community hospitals after surgeons complained there are too many on-call positions for too few surgeons.

Dr. Brock Wright, vice-president and chief medical officer of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, confirmed after-hours emergency general surgery was stopped at Concordia Hospital on April 7, and all urgent cases are being sent to St. Boniface Hospital instead.

Wright said if things at Concordia go well the plan is to consolidate after-hours urgent surgery at four sites -- St. Boniface, Health Sciences Centre, Grace Hospital and Seven Oaks -- so surgeons have to work fewer after-hours on-call shifts.

There are 34 general surgeons in Winnipeg, but Wright said they would need to recruit eight more surgeons to properly fill the on-call shifts.

So according to that statement, they are already not doing after hours general surgery at the Vic?

I don't know about the general surgery call schedule, but as residents they perform somewhere between a 1 in 3 to a 1 in 5 call schedule.

The Residents' Association mandated a 1 in 4 call schedule years ago, but general surgery always argued that there would be a dilution of experience.

Even with the very acceptable 1 in 5 call schedule, you only need 6 surgeons per site (5 for call and one on holiday).

Therefore, four sites require a minimum of 24 surgeons, five sites = 30 surgeons, six sites = 36 surgeons

I think that you need to dig a little deeper.

dr. x
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fake 'disreali freeway public consultations'

marty,

here's a timeline and commentary on disraeli-gate (or mini stink bomb, how to lie in public... ):

1. tuesday, april 29,2008 norquay community centre-first public open house on the disraeli bridges rehabilitation project.- no mention at all about a separate bike /pedestrian bridge east of the disraeli project-final concept and traffic management plan to be released late 2008

2. per cbc.ca story monday september 22,2008 'city adds new bridge to disraeli freeway project'-'the new vision of the project would cost about $15 million more than previously anticipated , the report says.-one day later, tuesday september 23,2008 'the city's standing committee on infrastructure renewal and public works will hold a special meeting ... to discuss the plan.'

3. wednesday sept.24,2008 per free press, ' bridge repair nears impass'-public works committee ties 2-2 the previous day to go ahead with freeway plan-special meeting of epc , today, sept.24,2008, then same day off to city council-council approves of disraeli project, 11-4, and includes the extra bike/pedestrian bridge so what the hell, eh?

we 'outsider' winnipeggers first hear of this extra 15 to how many million dollar 'extra bridge' on tuesday sept.22,2008 and two days later on sept.24,2008 city council approves of the whole shebang.

i was wrong. this beats the hell out the 10 days it took to ram through the downtown arena scam.

mayor katz on your show this past thursday immediately responded that there 'was public consultation' on the second added bridge project.

in 48 hours this deal went from general first knowledge to being passed through council, so for sam to claim public input took place is just so much horse manure .
was sel burrows privy to this extra bridge? the artists? residents on rover?

his claim is bogus. he's been caught in a public lie and i don't care his spin to come: ( well we talked to the manitoba cycling association...)

public is public , not some select group in a secret location. what is this, a fucking banana republic? (not sure who said this first but it applies here)yeah, he's a different kind of politician. well, he's our new mayor who doesn't wear a tie and has a nice shiny star over his heart, such a sweetheart.

anyways mr. g., if you don't mind, sam deserves a heavily spiced grilling on this one.

don't lying politicians bother you as much as the general public of millions of people out here that are beyond fed up with this abuse of power and disdain of public concerns?

it's only 15 million dollars...public money mr. katz. an open house on the extra bridge proposal should have taken place, end of story. on his claim the extra bridge is really a cost saving measure.give us the new numbers then.

the main stream media didn't cite this 'conclusive' information, rather the opposite. where does sam get his numbers from?

that's about all for now. if you need more info or comment by me on this

listener in south Point Douglas
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downtown crime

My boyfriend and I were both mugged while living by the University of Winnipeg for one god-awful year. You know what the Winnipeg Police's advice was to us? Don't live downtown...

Well, it was two separate instances (2004 or 2005). A girl tried to mug me as I was leaving the U of W campus – a security guard showed up after about 5 minutes of us scuffling. He then asked what was going on, blah blah blah and then asked if I wanted to press charges. I told him I didn’t know, as I didn’t even know what the hell just happened! So he let her go and told her not to come back to the campus.

When I went inside to collect myself, a different security guard asked me where the girl was – I told him what happened and that Security Guy A let her go. Well, he wasn’t too impressed with that; apparently she should have been detained for the cops, and they decide what to do. Like I’m going to know that.

I spoke to the head of campus security a few days later, and he said I should go to the police and give a description, etc, etc. I thought about it, but never bothered to. Really, what would happen to her? She looked to be only about 15-16 years old. Home arrest which she would promptly ignore? Maybe an umpteenth stint in juvie?

Instance number two was my boyfriend walking home at about 11:30 at night from his friends place on Donald, close to Portage (we lived beside the U of W on Young). He told me later that he thought two guys were following him, but a couple of blocks from our apartment, they disappeared. Well, they reappeared as he was opening the building door, hit him in the head with brass knuckles and a 2 x 4 and took his wallet (considering recent events, he’s lucky that a black eye and mild concussion were the worst of his injuries).

The two officers who responded were quite nice, and in defense of their comment, I don’t believe they were faulting us for living downtown. I think the police are just as fed up with the situation as the rest of us.

What’s the point of them arresting any of these assholes when there’s no repercussion, no jail time, no reason at all for them to be something other than human filth? Every working day for a downtown beat cop must feel like an exercise in futility. Police presence doesn’t solve the problem – it just pushes it to another area of the city.

Oh, and in response to the caller yesterday who talked about being able to physically defend yourself, my boyfriend has plenty of martial arts training and was involved in a number of fights in his home country (Sri Lanka) as a teenager (the police don’t really get involved there). That all counts for nothing when you’re jumped from behind. This isn’t the movies; a hard blow to the back of your head means you’re fucked (pardon my French), and you’re not getting back up

Okay, I better stop this rant before it turns into a novel.

J
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Cheez Whiz

Again Marty - well done your humour and straight talk of the facts never ceases to impress.

I was re listening to your talk with Councilor Browaty - and it was the mention of the NDP and there advestising of Cheeze Whiz as a milk subsitute - we joked (and it truly isn't something to be joked about) of it all weekend -

I look forward to todays show - as I'm sure with the events of today - there will be much to discuss.

I.

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story of the year

Hello guys.

For the story of the year, I have to go with something from the Upper Fort Garry debacle.

You did a great job exposing the selfish hypocrisy of the so-called "friends", who plot the destruction of our downtown while sipping cognac in the Manitoba club lounge enjoying their unobstructed view of the red river.

Now, for my books, I want a first edition Don Quixote, and a hard cover copy of A Brief History of Time signed by the author. For my key chain, I want mini Rubik's Cube.

Thanks, and keep up the good work.

c.
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Today at 4.40 PM -- more about Porkgate you won't want to miss;
Tomorrow, a special Lesson In Journalism- what the Winnipeg Foundation report about Centennial Neighborhood didn't talk about and the media didn't ask.
Wednesday - how are those changes to emergency room protocols working anyways ?

Dr. Reynolds firing, anaesthetists' working conditions, alleged Porkgate assault among last week's highlights

Last week the health beat was front and centre, as we uncovered insider information about planned changes by the WRHA to the way anaesthetists will be assigned to cover after-hours call. It's an attempt to alter working conditions and make those valued specialists de facto employees -- this months after (as we exclusively reported) the doctors resoundingly rejected a new contract that would have made them employees under tax law.

We also reported about cancellations of surgical slates at Children's Hospital because, despite the recruitment of anaesthetists, the critical shortage of nurses continues to impact patient care. And just wait till the call system changes, and surgeons who schedule procedures for after-office hours are forced to wait for anaesthetists to run around the city from hospital to hospital in blizzards because, well, the bureaucrats from the WRHA prefer to inconvenience patients rather than deal with staffing issues responsibly and ensure all hospitals have an on-call anaesthetist.

There was a lot of reaction to the firing of family medicine head Dr. Larry Reynolds by the WRHA and U of Manitoba, which seemed linked to an ideological battle between pro-life and pro-abortion philosophies, rooted in a 2004 flunking of a student trying to exercise their rights under the Canadian Medical Association to refuse to refer patients for procedures that violate their personal beliefs.

The U of M took the position that students studying to be doctors do not have that right; Reynolds was clearly opposed and we dug up a similar incident in 2001 in Ontario where a student was not flunked for stayign true to their beliefs. Meanwhile as this province faces a serious shortage of family doctors, 50 residents studying to enter the field are in limbo while the University scrambles to replace the well-respected Reynolds.

Another major story you heard exclusively on TGCTS was the alleged assault of a blogger who was following up on our Porkgate series. Jim Cotton tried to ask Agriculture Minister Rosann Wowchuk how the potential danger of tainted donated pork held by Free Press strikers being targeted to hampers for the poor, and if it fit into her much-ballyhoo-ed announcement about the new Food Safety Act (it doesn't by the way).

Cotton has filed a police complaint against Free Press reporter Bruce Owen in relation to the incident where, he says, Owen got in his face demanding to know who he was, pushed him, and swore loudly at Cotton in an act of pure intimidation by a mainstream media gatekeeper.

Only TGCTS brought you the audio of Jim Cottons' press conference outside Wowchuk's office in the Legislature, the ignorant questioning by a CBC French TV reporter of his right to ask the Minister how she would protect public health, and the attempt by a government spin doctor to identify who had covered Cotton's announcement, going so far as to deny she was a witness to the incident and that getting names and numbers of peopel who interview critics of the government was "what Cabinet Communications does".

As Cotton revealed, 2 cameras in the hallways captured the confrontation, and he identified the girl who admitted "eavesdropping" on his press conference, as a witness to Owen's inexcusable actions.

Listeners last week also heard our exclusive report about the funeral of Spring Taxi founder Tommy Springman; an interview with PC MLA for Springfield Ron Schuler; and Justin Johnson explained his plan to launch Global Reporter, a web-based citizen journalist project (and as the Mumbai attacks proved, MSM is increasingly being forced to share the stage with eyewitnesses using technology to get information out to the world without restrictions like expired broadcast permits from foreign governments.)

Tuesday: More on the ouster of Stephane Dion as Liberal leader after the failed federal coup;
additional information about the cab-commer who wanted so desperately to know who we are - and now we know who SHE is;
and a reminder at 4.40 PM on Friday Dec. 12th, legendary former AWA Heavyweight champion of the world, and the most hated man ever to wrestle in Winnipeg, Nick Bockwinkel, joins us for a rare interview.

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We have launched TGCTS brand merchandise, just in time for the holidays. Order your t-shirts, coffee mugs, hoodies or other items by going to our online store: http://www.cafepress.com/kicktalk

COALITION WITH BQ LEADS LIBS AND DIPPERS TO COLLAPSE: NEW COMPAS POLL

I guess Darlene Dziewit and the Manitoba Federation of Labour have to admit one thing: for a "fear-mongering campaign", it looks like there is way more fear of a prospective Prime Minister Dion taking orders from Jack Layton and their separtiste friends, then there is of letting Stephen Harper prove his mettle.

Need help viewing / downloading a PDF? Click Here
December 5, 2008

Canadians Call for New Election; Harper Would Win Big Majority, Sweep Seat-Rich Ontario and Overtake Liberals in Quebec

A Canadian Business/COMPAS Poll

Canadians Call for an Election
Below are highlights from a new Canada-wide, COMPAS Research poll on the recent turmoil in the House of Commons. Permission is granted to publish or broadcast results provided COMPAS Inc. is appropriately cited.

For comments or inquiries, please contact COMPAS President Conrad Winn at (416) 598-0310 or on his direct cell at (416) 460-5844.

By a more than 2:1 margin, Canadians call for another election if the choice faced by the Governor-General were between inviting Stephane Dion to form a government and hold a fresh general election weeks after the most recent one. That is the key finding from a national representative poll completed December 4, 2008.

If an election were held today, Stephen Harper would win a large majority based on nation-wide support of 51% compared to 20% for the Liberals, 10% for the NDP, 6% for the Greens, and 8% for the Bloc.

Harper would sweep seat-rich Ontario with 53% of the vote compared to 24% for the Liberals and 10% for the NDP in that province and would surpass Dion in Quebec with 32% of the vote compared to 19% for the Liberals and 35% for the Bloc.

Key factors in this lightening speed transformation of public opinion:

66% of Canadians oppose the Bloc Quebecois having a say in who forms the government;

48% have confidence in Stephen Harper as Prime Minister in the current economic climate compared to 14% for Michael Ignatieff in second place, 11% for NDP leader Jack Layton, 8% for Stephane Dion, 4% for Bob Rae, and 3% for Gilles Duceppe;

58% believe that the Coalition's real or main motivation was a power grab while 28% perceive the Opposition as honestly believing that Harper is a poor manager of the economy;

61% believe that the Liberals, following their drop in support in the October election, should not be trying to form a government.

MEDIA CONTACT: Conrad Winn (416) 460-5844

Jim Rondeau Minister of Science, Energy, Mining, and all Technology -- except Video Games?

When the ESRB released the new videogame summary, a number of American politicians that have been very critical of the content of games, and how they were rated were more than happy to praise the ESRB.

Politicians like Senator Hilary Clinton and Senator Joe Lieberman have coming out supporting the new rating summaries.

When I heard all this, I thought for sure our political leaders would be more then happy to comment on the new ESRB summaries, and they were just waiting for the right outlet.

And who better to comment then our very own Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining? That’s right -- my very own MLA Jim Rondeau.

After all, what are videogames but technology? They also happen to be a major part of the entertainment sector, one that has billion dollar days, and we have yet to tap into it here in Manitoba.

Jim Rondeau, after all, did give a little speech at the University of Winnipeg when the MacArthur Foundation released the results of a $50 million dollar US research study that asked ‘Do Video Games Help Kids Learn?’

In January, Jim Rondeau announced funding of just over $138,000 to the Manitoba Interactive Digital Media Fund. Some of the companies that benefit from this fund also develop videogames.

So he has got to be savvy, right?

The MLA of Assiniboia should have been more than happy to comment on the new rating system, happy that the ESRB is making it easier for parents to monitor what their children are exposed to.

So on Nov 13, the day after the ESRB sent out the press release about the new game rating summaries, I phoned Jim Rondeau’s office, and I was told he was very busy but that they would get back to in a week or so.

In the meantime, more American politicians give their unsolicited support to the new ESRB game summaries.

New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey, and Nebraska’s Attorney General Jon Burning have also created public service announcements (PSAs) helping to inform parents about the new summaries. Even the Attorney General of Florida Bill McCollum sent out a press release urging parents to check the ratings of videogames that they might be considering buying for their children this holiday season.

On Nov 28th, I hadn’t heard back from Jim Rondeau, our NDP MLA and minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining in Manitoba. So I decided to phone his office. This is when I was told by a spokeswomen that:

“Jim Rondeau is not in a position to comment because his department does not rate videogames.”

When I pointed out that Senator Hillary Clinton did not rate video games, the spokeswomen pointed out to me that Hillary Clinton was not a minister in Manitoba, to which I could not argue.

I would have thought that as Minister of Technology, he would at least want to comment on a new system the regulators of one of the biggest economic sectors of interactive digital media has implemented.

After all, making a comment would focus the gaming industry’s attention on Manitoba, a sector that is inherently insulated against recessions. It’s not like we aren't living in times of economic volatility.

On his website, Mr. Rondeau lists being accessible to the people of Assiniboia as his number one (of three) ways to stay focused and effective as a good MLA. I would like to thank Jim Rondeau for being so “accessible” when I tried to get a comment from his spokespeople.

I also emailed the Canadian Teachers Federation to see if they had a statement about the ESRB rating summaries (you may remember the Canadian Teachers Federation asked for a boycott of a Rockstar game titled Bully) but they have yet to reply.

You can always find out more about the Gaming industry at;

http://kenorama.blogspot.com/

Or by staying tuned too;
The Great Canadian Talk Show weekdays from 4PM-530PM on 92.9 Kick FM,
And
The Kenny Show every Tuesday from 3Pm to 4 then starting back up a 530PM all the way to 7PM on 92.9 Kick FM