Tonight at 11 PM, and on Thanksgiving Monday at 4 PM, we will be replaying the exclusive interview we did last week with Marilyn and Howard Andleton of Virginia.
Marilyn's father Louie Knizat (K-nee'-zit) began showing signs of dementia last year, and when it was diagnosed, the Chief Provincial Psychiatrist called in the Public Trustee's Office.
The dementia explained his abusive behavior towards his wife of 64 years, Mary. Her lawyer told the PTO that she was dropping her divorce petition in light of the fact Louie had not been acting in his right mind. But the Trustee, collecting $7000 every 3 months for "committeeship", ignored it's own rules and kept their lawyer involved in the case.
They charged $700 to have their employees "appraise" the assets, could not explain why their new Transcona house was left a shambles, personal items piled up in the basement, why the jewelry was not photographed but the truck and couches were, why their own printed rules say families can share in the use of vehicles but the elderly wife wanted to use the truck she was told, no we NEVER do that...
Despite the fact the family advocated for Louie when they found substandard care at Riverview where the Trustee had warehoused Louie, the WTO lawyer maintained that Mary was in a conflict of interest and was somehow to be viewed with suspicion, because she was turning to Marilyn and the other siblings for advice.
Meanwhile, the Trustee's Office was unaware that Louie had to be rushed for emergency gallbladder surgery after symptions had been ignored for weeks; that Louie was suffering circulation problems because he was kept upright strapped into a wheelchair for 5 months; that he was expected to share clothing and shoes, even though the estate has more than enough to pay for it.
They were even unaware that they had been depositing cheques from a joint annuity, which means they had also seized assets rightfully belonging to Mary.
In fact, the Trustee admitted that some of the frozen assets were jointly held with Mary, that they were collecting 3% quarterly fees on HER money, and then asked for a "settlement offer", and personal tax information to boot.
Mary could give in, and take a chance that at the rate of $28,000 plus sundry fees, in 5 years she will be forced out of her own home, to satisfy the PTO's greed.
Unless of course, Mary wanted to go to court to overturn the Trustee's stewardship of Louie. That would cost between $10-15,000. And they would use Louie's own money to defend their turf.
Mary, who managed the family household finances, who screamed bloody murder about the substandard health care in Riverview that the Trustee said was beyond their scope because their case workers are overloaded, who never overdrafted a family bank account by neglect as had the Trustee's Office, was told she would have to convince the Court of Queen's Bench that she could manage Louie's affairs better than the PTO.
It makes you wonder, if there case workers are overworked and the family is clearly capable, why is the PTO unwilling to meet with the family and cede jurisdiction?
Is it any wonder the Trustee controls $140 Million in liquid assets, when they can bully families without having to account to anybody? When they can use the families own money to hire lawyers and fight them in court? When they do not have to be accountable to the Minister of Justice or to the Legislature?
And if you think that they can have a complaint dealt with fairly by the Ombudsman, forget it. The Andletons were shocked to learn that in a previous incarnation, the Ombudsman WAS the Public Trustee.
Legislative Change is needed. The 3% fee on assets is highway robbery, given that the private sector charges about 1%. The lack of direct supervision over the care homes so many of their wards are housed in, is an abrogation of the Trustee's true responsibility- to look after those who cannot care for themselves.
The Andletons located a lawyer who will help their mother fight the Public Trustee. But they are lucky, because as professionals with their own business, they are not intimidated by bureaucrats, and are not afraid to fight. You can hear their story, this evening at 11 PM and on Monday, at 4 PM.
Here is some advice a listener provided.
As a Financial Planner, I always emphasize the absolute necessity of everyone having a will, power of attorney, and health care directive. This story is the best example I have heard yet why it is so important.
Everyone should have either a Springing Power of Attorney or an Enduring Power of Attorney. Contrary to what the Public Trustee suggested having a Power of Attorney demonstrates proper planning, not a lack of competence.
If only the couple had powers of attorneys none of this would have happened.
Tell your listeners to make sure NOW that they and their parents have proper Powers of Attorney. The cost is a pittance compared with what it will cost if the public trustee gets involved.
I operate out of an office that I sublet from Hub Capital, one of my MGAs, at 194 Provencher. My business # is 832-4463.
I focus on retirement and estate planning issues.
I have pretty in depth knowledge of tax planning, estate planning, and financial planning. If people want to contact me you may give them my business phone # or email plan@websterwebb.com
Webster Webb
******************
Today on the live show at 4 PM, we'll explain just who is being affected by the IBEW strike, and how children and families are being victimized, while the NDP stands idly by in observance with its pro-union ideology.
Plus strong police reaction to the gerrymandering by unelected Liberal Senators of federal crime legislation that would have abolished 2 for 1 credit for time in custody, and how this may be the death knell for Liberal leader Michael Ignatief.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Orlikow sends a message to city bureaucrats: stop screwing around with democracy
One of the issues continually raised on the Great Canadian Talk Show is the lack of proper consultation and discussion on important civic issues at city hall.
Time and again - bike lands, land swaps, water utility - things taxpayers have serious questions about or nothing of to begin with, are rushed before council for a vote to get things rolling. And stuck in the middle - cause they certainly aren't insiders - are councillors, who, we have learned, are not as clued in on the QT as we often presume.
From veterans like Charleswood's Bill Clement to greenhorns like Jeff Browaty of North Kildonan, we have heard that councillors are caught unawares and are expected to make complex decisions without having time to read, absorb and interpret the background material. For instance, the rookie from Fort Garry/River Heights, John Orlikow, spent 12 hours cramming for the water utility vote in July. How could the city mandarins expect citizens on the first week of summer break to devote that kind of time and research to prepare to voice their opinions?
Faced with a procedural trick to allow the $13 million Northwest BFI cart contract onto the City Council agenda just hours after Executive Policy Committee had, Orlikow did what is rarely reported: a politican did something out of principle.
CBC: "Support from 11 councillors — two-thirds of council — was required to add the matter to the official agenda for debate and vote. Only 10 councillors agreed to include it ... At least one councillor who voted to block the motion to add the item to the agenda on Wednesday said he did so out of principal for the democratic process, not opposition to the issue.
Today at 4.40PM, Coun. John Orlikow will make his first appearance on TGCTS, and explain why he stood up for democracy against bureaucrats who need to be taught a lesson about who is supposed to be running this town - our elected officials.
Also today,
- an exclusive story about possible cutbacks at the University of Manitoba in response to severe budget restraints;
- The Free Press once again manufactures news out of a poll, about a subject even more meaningless than usual;
- AM radio wakes up to the bike lanes story; and
- a startling endorsement for a key plank from our accountability manifsto by a most unlikely source- Freep newsie Mary Agnes Welch.
On Thursday, an exclusive story about the abusive behavior of the Public Trustees office towards an elderly couple and their children - the amount of money they are deducting from the estate, for the amount of work they do, is shocking;
On Friday, local comedy promoter Dave Shorr, Winnipeg's Roller Girls, and This Week in History with Professor Levinski.
Time and again - bike lands, land swaps, water utility - things taxpayers have serious questions about or nothing of to begin with, are rushed before council for a vote to get things rolling. And stuck in the middle - cause they certainly aren't insiders - are councillors, who, we have learned, are not as clued in on the QT as we often presume.
From veterans like Charleswood's Bill Clement to greenhorns like Jeff Browaty of North Kildonan, we have heard that councillors are caught unawares and are expected to make complex decisions without having time to read, absorb and interpret the background material. For instance, the rookie from Fort Garry/River Heights, John Orlikow, spent 12 hours cramming for the water utility vote in July. How could the city mandarins expect citizens on the first week of summer break to devote that kind of time and research to prepare to voice their opinions?
Faced with a procedural trick to allow the $13 million Northwest BFI cart contract onto the City Council agenda just hours after Executive Policy Committee had, Orlikow did what is rarely reported: a politican did something out of principle.
CBC: "Support from 11 councillors — two-thirds of council — was required to add the matter to the official agenda for debate and vote. Only 10 councillors agreed to include it ... At least one councillor who voted to block the motion to add the item to the agenda on Wednesday said he did so out of principal for the democratic process, not opposition to the issue.
Today at 4.40PM, Coun. John Orlikow will make his first appearance on TGCTS, and explain why he stood up for democracy against bureaucrats who need to be taught a lesson about who is supposed to be running this town - our elected officials.
Also today,
- an exclusive story about possible cutbacks at the University of Manitoba in response to severe budget restraints;
- The Free Press once again manufactures news out of a poll, about a subject even more meaningless than usual;
- AM radio wakes up to the bike lanes story; and
- a startling endorsement for a key plank from our accountability manifsto by a most unlikely source- Freep newsie Mary Agnes Welch.
On Thursday, an exclusive story about the abusive behavior of the Public Trustees office towards an elderly couple and their children - the amount of money they are deducting from the estate, for the amount of work they do, is shocking;
On Friday, local comedy promoter Dave Shorr, Winnipeg's Roller Girls, and This Week in History with Professor Levinski.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Winnipeg Free Press wilts as Police Association challenges editorial "facts"
On Tuesday, a Free Press editorial entitled " Time to police specialization" said:
"...in the jockeying of special interests, the police union has launched a salvo, warning that the strategy to beef up the battle against gangs will be a wash unless another 25 officers are assigned to the organized crime unit. ...
Hiring another 25 officers -- a number that was chosen as an opening negotiating bid, no doubt -- would cost millions of dollars; raiding other policing priorities would leave others exposed, in all likelihood the general patrol duty officers who respond to daily calls for service...
The number of officers on the city's payroll can be defended by Winnipeg's relative crime rate, but only to a point. Both Edmonton and Vancouver, for example, have higher crime rates but considerably fewer cops."
President of the union, Mike Sutherland, challenged the basis of that claim:
Dear Ms. Goodhand,
In regards to today’s (September 22, 2009) editorial (attached), “Time to police specialization” I have significant concern in regards to your portrayal of Winnipeg’s crime climate and in particular with regards to the following claim;
“Both Edmonton and Vancouver , for example, have higher crime rates but considerably fewer cops.”
Upon examination of the most recent information disseminated by Statistics Canada as of July 21st 2009, Winnipeg , in comparison with other cities of population over 500,000, leads the nation in total crime severity. The gap is even greater in terms of the violent crime severity index, as we surpass Edmonton by over 31 points and Vancouver by more than 36 points. (Stats Can “Police Reported Crime Statistics – July 21st 2009).
In its July 2009 report Stats Can also states;
“ Manitoba reported a rate of 4.5 homicides per 100,000 population, the highest among the provinces.”
“Crime severity was highest in Regina , followed by Abbotsford-Mission, Saskatoon , Kelowna , Winnipeg , Edmonton and Vancouver .”
“Homicide rates were highest in the western CMAs of Abbotsford-Mission (4.7), Winnipeg (4.1), Regina (3.8)….”
Consider as well that Winnipeg started 2009 with 6 homicides in January. As the year thus far has been characterized by numerous serious assaults, stabbings and shootings, we do not anticipate our situation to significantly improve without tangible measures to address the problem. Winnipeg has perennially been, and continues to be, at the top of many crime categories.
In terms of specialized units, which the article references, Winnipeg’s auto theft strategy, which is composed of a specific WPS auto theft suppression unit, contributed to a 44% reduction in vehicle thefts, although there is still work to be done as we continue to lead the nation in that category.
Although Winnipeg may have slightly more officers per capita than many other large Canadian cities, Winnipeg ’s increase in officers from 1998 to 2008 was the lowest of all major Canadian cities (1.3%) as compared to Calgary (13.1%), Edmonton (5.6%) and Montreal (7.2%). (Police Resources in Canada 2008 – Stats Can).
To be candid I am currently unaware of any information at all that supports your newspaper’s portrayal of Winnipeg ’s crime rate as less than that of Edmonton or Vancouver . I find it disturbing that such a claim would be made as it is in direct contravention not only to the daily experiences of Winnipeggers and their police officers, but is also refuted by the most current crime data available.
I invite you to please elucidate on the statement printed in the editorial such that we can examine whatever evidence was relied upon to convey this impression to Winnipeggers. In the absence of such, one can only wonder what would cause your agency to communicate information of questionable veracity that minimizes our crime problem and potentially misleads the public in terms of our true crime picture.
I invite you to peruse the current information at the following websites;
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2009003/article/10902-eng.pdf
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/090721/dq090721a-eng.htm
Making statements based upon questionable evidence, to justify certain viewpoints, hampers sincere efforts to constructively tackle crime problems. I would ask you seriously consider the merits of some of the claims made in the editorial.
Mike Sutherland
President
Winnipeg Police Association
FP editor Margo Goodhand replied:
Dear Mr. Sutherland:
Thank you for contacting us.
I just spoke with the editorial board. We corrected the error on crime stats earlier today online. It was a mistake we should not have made, and it will be corrected in tomorrow’s paper as well.
The basic tenet of today’s editorial, however, remains the same.
The Free Press believes that the city should first look at the possibility of redeploying its current complement of officers before deciding to hire more. This city has more officers per capita than any other community of 500,000 or more, except for Montreal.
Again, thank you for bringing this error to our attention.
Regards,
Margo Goodhand
Editor
Winnipeg Free Press
Her email was copied to a large group of media, including TGCTS, that Sutherland had cc'd on his challenge to Goodhand to prove their claim about local crime rates.
Thank you for the invitation to go on the Great Canadian Talk show to discuss these issues.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the time tomorrow to join you on air.
Best wishes with the show,
Margo
Vancouver and Edmonton have slightly lower crime rates than Winnipeg. Incorrect information appeared in an editorial Tuesday.
Free Press readers questioned the true motive for couching the "correction" in murky terms:
Posted by:ohreally
September 23, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Please define "slightly". Isn't this a newspaper? Please explain how much lower the crime rates are. How incorrect was the information? Does it change the point of the original article? Does it render the piece moot? I would like to know how different the crime rates are. What is the point of a one line correction if it doesn't explain the discrepancies? Does the Free Press think that this statement clears up the incorrect information?
Posted by:statusquo
September 23, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Almost reads spiteful in a way. What does slightly have to do with it? They're either lower or they're not.
Posted by:MaC
September 23, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Agreed. Slightly immature response I should think. Kind of like a petulant child who is corrected on his mistake and replies "yah, I guess I was wrong, but only a little wrong". I would have appreciated (and respected) a more direct admission. Something along the lines of "we were wrong", not "we were slightly wrong". Reporters/columnists are human after all, subject to making mistakes like everyone else. Having said that, personal responsibility and growth starts with constant self-assessment and the subsequent, albeit difficult, unconditional/unqualified acknowledgement of one's shortcomings. My two cents.
"...in the jockeying of special interests, the police union has launched a salvo, warning that the strategy to beef up the battle against gangs will be a wash unless another 25 officers are assigned to the organized crime unit. ...
Hiring another 25 officers -- a number that was chosen as an opening negotiating bid, no doubt -- would cost millions of dollars; raiding other policing priorities would leave others exposed, in all likelihood the general patrol duty officers who respond to daily calls for service...
The number of officers on the city's payroll can be defended by Winnipeg's relative crime rate, but only to a point. Both Edmonton and Vancouver, for example, have higher crime rates but considerably fewer cops."
President of the union, Mike Sutherland, challenged the basis of that claim:
Dear Ms. Goodhand,
In regards to today’s (September 22, 2009) editorial (attached), “Time to police specialization” I have significant concern in regards to your portrayal of Winnipeg’s crime climate and in particular with regards to the following claim;
“Both Edmonton and Vancouver , for example, have higher crime rates but considerably fewer cops.”
Upon examination of the most recent information disseminated by Statistics Canada as of July 21st 2009, Winnipeg , in comparison with other cities of population over 500,000, leads the nation in total crime severity. The gap is even greater in terms of the violent crime severity index, as we surpass Edmonton by over 31 points and Vancouver by more than 36 points. (Stats Can “Police Reported Crime Statistics – July 21st 2009).
In its July 2009 report Stats Can also states;
“ Manitoba reported a rate of 4.5 homicides per 100,000 population, the highest among the provinces.”
“Crime severity was highest in Regina , followed by Abbotsford-Mission, Saskatoon , Kelowna , Winnipeg , Edmonton and Vancouver .”
“Homicide rates were highest in the western CMAs of Abbotsford-Mission (4.7), Winnipeg (4.1), Regina (3.8)….”
Consider as well that Winnipeg started 2009 with 6 homicides in January. As the year thus far has been characterized by numerous serious assaults, stabbings and shootings, we do not anticipate our situation to significantly improve without tangible measures to address the problem. Winnipeg has perennially been, and continues to be, at the top of many crime categories.
In terms of specialized units, which the article references, Winnipeg’s auto theft strategy, which is composed of a specific WPS auto theft suppression unit, contributed to a 44% reduction in vehicle thefts, although there is still work to be done as we continue to lead the nation in that category.
Although Winnipeg may have slightly more officers per capita than many other large Canadian cities, Winnipeg ’s increase in officers from 1998 to 2008 was the lowest of all major Canadian cities (1.3%) as compared to Calgary (13.1%), Edmonton (5.6%) and Montreal (7.2%). (Police Resources in Canada 2008 – Stats Can).
To be candid I am currently unaware of any information at all that supports your newspaper’s portrayal of Winnipeg ’s crime rate as less than that of Edmonton or Vancouver . I find it disturbing that such a claim would be made as it is in direct contravention not only to the daily experiences of Winnipeggers and their police officers, but is also refuted by the most current crime data available.
I invite you to please elucidate on the statement printed in the editorial such that we can examine whatever evidence was relied upon to convey this impression to Winnipeggers. In the absence of such, one can only wonder what would cause your agency to communicate information of questionable veracity that minimizes our crime problem and potentially misleads the public in terms of our true crime picture.
I invite you to peruse the current information at the following websites;
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2009003/article/10902-eng.pdf
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/090721/dq090721a-eng.htm
Making statements based upon questionable evidence, to justify certain viewpoints, hampers sincere efforts to constructively tackle crime problems. I would ask you seriously consider the merits of some of the claims made in the editorial.
Mike Sutherland
President
Winnipeg Police Association
FP editor Margo Goodhand replied:
Dear Mr. Sutherland:
Thank you for contacting us.
I just spoke with the editorial board. We corrected the error on crime stats earlier today online. It was a mistake we should not have made, and it will be corrected in tomorrow’s paper as well.
The basic tenet of today’s editorial, however, remains the same.
The Free Press believes that the city should first look at the possibility of redeploying its current complement of officers before deciding to hire more. This city has more officers per capita than any other community of 500,000 or more, except for Montreal.
Again, thank you for bringing this error to our attention.
Regards,
Margo Goodhand
Editor
Winnipeg Free Press
Her email was copied to a large group of media, including TGCTS, that Sutherland had cc'd on his challenge to Goodhand to prove their claim about local crime rates.
We took note of a couple of unresolved aspects in this matter and sent Margo an invitation:
Re: today's editorial -Sept 22nd 2009 time to police specialization
Dear Ms. Goodhand,
I would like to invite you to appear on the Great Canadian Talk Show tomorrow between 4 - 5.30 PM, at your convenience, to allow your newspaper to defend the editorial and to explain how such a basic error in fact-checking was allowed to make it to print.
I trust you will take advantage of this opportunity to correct the record to a broader audience than reads your "Our Mistake" notices on page 2, and to elaborate on your suggestion of examining staff redeployment. I note that the editorial did not make clear if you favor a review of the necessity for 14 staff sergeants, 19 inspectors and 3 superintendents, rather than officers on the beat.
Thank you,
Marty Gold
And to our surprise, we actually got a response:
Dear Mr. Gold:Thank you for the invitation to go on the Great Canadian Talk show to discuss these issues.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the time tomorrow to join you on air.
Best wishes with the show,
Margo
(Indeed. Raise a Reader Day is soooo important. Anyways...)
Goodhands' claim of printing a "correction", was a model of modern MSM hubris.
Although entitled "Our Mistake", it could have been slugged under "But we were almost right":
Vancouver and Edmonton have slightly lower crime rates than Winnipeg. Incorrect information appeared in an editorial Tuesday.
Free Press readers questioned the true motive for couching the "correction" in murky terms:
Posted by:ohreally
September 23, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Please define "slightly". Isn't this a newspaper? Please explain how much lower the crime rates are. How incorrect was the information? Does it change the point of the original article? Does it render the piece moot? I would like to know how different the crime rates are. What is the point of a one line correction if it doesn't explain the discrepancies? Does the Free Press think that this statement clears up the incorrect information?
Posted by:statusquo
September 23, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Almost reads spiteful in a way. What does slightly have to do with it? They're either lower or they're not.
Posted by:MaC
September 23, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Agreed. Slightly immature response I should think. Kind of like a petulant child who is corrected on his mistake and replies "yah, I guess I was wrong, but only a little wrong". I would have appreciated (and respected) a more direct admission. Something along the lines of "we were wrong", not "we were slightly wrong". Reporters/columnists are human after all, subject to making mistakes like everyone else. Having said that, personal responsibility and growth starts with constant self-assessment and the subsequent, albeit difficult, unconditional/unqualified acknowledgement of one's shortcomings. My two cents.
Today at 5 PM, Mike Sutherland will appear in studio to reply to the "correction" and explanation of Margo Goodhand, and to explain why his group has endorsed Andrew Swan to succeed Gary Doer as Premier of Manitoba.
Also, at 4.40 today, the outgoing weather specialist for Global-TV, Andrea Slobodian, will tell us all about her upcoming future in forecasting chinooks for her new Calgary audience.
And, another Aurtarlia mention on the Free Press website! TGCTS starts at 4 PM, on 92.9 Kick-FM.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Boycott of Peak of the Market brand no small potatoes
Mainstream media newsroom managers scrambled late last week, faced with a compound headache. Sorting out the details of a brewing battle between small potato growing operations and a provincial marketing board is hard enough, but they are also assessing the risk to their own jobs if they cover the story. The only thing worse than a complex story, is one where the execs upstairs mutter "bury it, they're a big advertiser".
The facts first broke on a website of Waverley grocer Crampton's Market.
http://cramptonsmarket.blogspot.com/2009/09/bad-news-for-manitoba-potato-eatersand.html
"Until this year, farmers who did not grow potatoes for Peak of the Market were allowed to grow 4 acres of potatoes to sell on their own. This year Peak of the Market changed the rules as of July 15th. Now farmers are not allowed to grow potatoes to sell unless they have a Peak of the Market quota and sell only to Peak of the Market... It is now illegal to grow and sell your own potatoes in Manitoba. Peak of the Market has the legal authority to fine farmers who break these rules, and the fines are high."
POTM lawyers threatened farmers, who started the growing season on the understanding the rules allowed for them to grow and sell 4 acres of spuds privately, with $10,000 fines for bypassing the monopoly, and demanded records of who they had sold potatoes to, going as far back as 2007. Consumers felt deceived by a decade of feel-good ad campaigns portraying POTM as all-around community do-gooders and never mentioned that it was, in fact, a produce version of The Canadian Wheat Board. Public outrage at the bullying of potato farmers by "Peak" forced the hand of some newsrooms to report the story.
Crampton's has now posted a follow -up:
"(CTV learned) The 4 acres referred to in the Peak documents simply was there to classify those growers as 'small growers'. But they should still have, by law, been marketing their potatoes through Peak. This 'change' in their document taking away the 4 acres was in fact not a change at all, just a clarification of the law... I think that the Peak document was purposely written in a convoluted manner...As far as I am aware, Peak of the Market does not handle new crop 'immature' local potatoes. I have been informed by a few farmers that Peak does not sell quota in this category. These are the potatoes that I would like to buy. Peak does not sell them, but Manitoba farmers are prevented from legally growing and selling them to me."
President and CEO Larry McIntosh has been front and centre in slick Peak of the Market advertising campaigns designed to position him as the carrot-wielding friend of children and the local farm industry, urging shoppers to choose the "less-traveled" POTM-label produce over imported varieties.
So successful was the persona in the ads, that McIntosh, never known to have made any serious public pronouncement beyond "eat your vegetables kids", has variously been touted in recent years as a possible candidate for parliament, the legislature, city hall, the mayor's chair, and talk show host.
Since POTM collected prizes and awards for being a successful "business", it was perceived by the general public as a farmers co-op. Upon learning that it was actually a "non-profit" provincial marketing board, and perceiving it as bullying farmers in a manner that would have made Stalin proud for not paying the mandatory per-potato tribute, a backlash in the form of a consumer boycott of the "Peak" brand is underway.
McIntosh faces the first serious crisis of his reign as farm baron of Manitoba.
Away in the Yukon when the story broke, he stuck to the "we are only just worried about food safety" line with CTV, figuring no one would question the sincerity of his "concerns".
Unfortunately, he also told the Free Press that the threatening letters started when a farmer with a superior, rare product sold his crop directly to Sobey's, not because someone was rushed to an emergency room after eating a "creamer".
Listeners flooded the Kick-FM email box, noting that the fees seemed to be paying for McIntosh himself to be sold to consumers as much as the food, and that the quality of POTM branded potatos has been second-rate for years.
One listener wrote during Friday's broadcast:
"Hi Marty, after hearing the crap Peak of the Market is pulling off, I will never buy their products again. I will head down to the farmers market or go down Henderson Highway and buy from the local farmers. Larry Mcintosh can go stick it (location redacted)."
A farmer told us
"Peak of The Market only wants a handful of large growers in this Province and is slowly pushing out all the little guys one by one. The big growers like Kroeker Farms in Altona have the most clout in not only acres grown but also on the board as well and seems to be giving Larry McIntosh a mandate that they control this industry."
We'll see if anyone in the mainstream media investigates the question who is really being protected here (starting with asking why the POTM website does not bother to list the directors), or if protection of their lucrative "Peak" advertising accounts is more of a priority than holding Mr. Carrot and his organization accountable.
PS. We were copied on an email that was sent to federal MP Joy Smith by a farmer:
From: xxxxx
To: joy@joysmithmp.ca
Subject: Potato Growers and Peak of the Market
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:54:25 -0500
Dear Joy,
I'm sure you've seen the article in today's Free Press about Peak of the Markets' attempt to control the small local farmer's choice of market.
I've pasted below several e-mails that we have circulated this morning, as this would affect us directly. Most people have limited knowledge of
the amount of money, time and sweat equity that small farmers put in in an effort to earn a living - for some their only income, for some a second source
of income.
With all the attention paid nowadays to promoting local produce which is not only much fresher but reduces reliance on food from sometimes hundreds of miles away (which increases carbon output greatly), you would think that independent producers would be a welcome addition to the market. And local producers are for the most part seasonal operations - with our climate, we don't have the luxury of growing things all year round.
Not only would this put local producers out of business, but think of all the spin-off - students and others may be out of part-time summer work, roadside stand operators will lose income, seed companies will lose orders from producers, farm equipment manufacturers may lose orders as well. It's never just one person or industry affected..
I'm not sure if you can bring any pressure to bear on this issue with the market board or the legislature but as this could affect a number of growers in the East St. Paul area, I wanted to bring more detail to your attention.
Thanks,
xxxxx
The facts first broke on a website of Waverley grocer Crampton's Market.
http://cramptonsmarket.blogspot.com/2009/09/bad-news-for-manitoba-potato-eatersand.html
"Until this year, farmers who did not grow potatoes for Peak of the Market were allowed to grow 4 acres of potatoes to sell on their own. This year Peak of the Market changed the rules as of July 15th. Now farmers are not allowed to grow potatoes to sell unless they have a Peak of the Market quota and sell only to Peak of the Market... It is now illegal to grow and sell your own potatoes in Manitoba. Peak of the Market has the legal authority to fine farmers who break these rules, and the fines are high."
POTM lawyers threatened farmers, who started the growing season on the understanding the rules allowed for them to grow and sell 4 acres of spuds privately, with $10,000 fines for bypassing the monopoly, and demanded records of who they had sold potatoes to, going as far back as 2007. Consumers felt deceived by a decade of feel-good ad campaigns portraying POTM as all-around community do-gooders and never mentioned that it was, in fact, a produce version of The Canadian Wheat Board. Public outrage at the bullying of potato farmers by "Peak" forced the hand of some newsrooms to report the story.
Crampton's has now posted a follow -up:
"(CTV learned) The 4 acres referred to in the Peak documents simply was there to classify those growers as 'small growers'. But they should still have, by law, been marketing their potatoes through Peak. This 'change' in their document taking away the 4 acres was in fact not a change at all, just a clarification of the law... I think that the Peak document was purposely written in a convoluted manner...As far as I am aware, Peak of the Market does not handle new crop 'immature' local potatoes. I have been informed by a few farmers that Peak does not sell quota in this category. These are the potatoes that I would like to buy. Peak does not sell them, but Manitoba farmers are prevented from legally growing and selling them to me."
President and CEO Larry McIntosh has been front and centre in slick Peak of the Market advertising campaigns designed to position him as the carrot-wielding friend of children and the local farm industry, urging shoppers to choose the "less-traveled" POTM-label produce over imported varieties.
So successful was the persona in the ads, that McIntosh, never known to have made any serious public pronouncement beyond "eat your vegetables kids", has variously been touted in recent years as a possible candidate for parliament, the legislature, city hall, the mayor's chair, and talk show host.
Since POTM collected prizes and awards for being a successful "business", it was perceived by the general public as a farmers co-op. Upon learning that it was actually a "non-profit" provincial marketing board, and perceiving it as bullying farmers in a manner that would have made Stalin proud for not paying the mandatory per-potato tribute, a backlash in the form of a consumer boycott of the "Peak" brand is underway.
McIntosh faces the first serious crisis of his reign as farm baron of Manitoba.
Away in the Yukon when the story broke, he stuck to the "we are only just worried about food safety" line with CTV, figuring no one would question the sincerity of his "concerns".
Unfortunately, he also told the Free Press that the threatening letters started when a farmer with a superior, rare product sold his crop directly to Sobey's, not because someone was rushed to an emergency room after eating a "creamer".
Listeners flooded the Kick-FM email box, noting that the fees seemed to be paying for McIntosh himself to be sold to consumers as much as the food, and that the quality of POTM branded potatos has been second-rate for years.
One listener wrote during Friday's broadcast:
"Hi Marty, after hearing the crap Peak of the Market is pulling off, I will never buy their products again. I will head down to the farmers market or go down Henderson Highway and buy from the local farmers. Larry Mcintosh can go stick it (location redacted)."
A farmer told us
"Peak of The Market only wants a handful of large growers in this Province and is slowly pushing out all the little guys one by one. The big growers like Kroeker Farms in Altona have the most clout in not only acres grown but also on the board as well and seems to be giving Larry McIntosh a mandate that they control this industry."
We'll see if anyone in the mainstream media investigates the question who is really being protected here (starting with asking why the POTM website does not bother to list the directors), or if protection of their lucrative "Peak" advertising accounts is more of a priority than holding Mr. Carrot and his organization accountable.
PS. We were copied on an email that was sent to federal MP Joy Smith by a farmer:
From: xxxxx
To: joy@joysmithmp.ca
Subject: Potato Growers and Peak of the Market
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:54:25 -0500
Dear Joy,
I'm sure you've seen the article in today's Free Press about Peak of the Markets' attempt to control the small local farmer's choice of market.
I've pasted below several e-mails that we have circulated this morning, as this would affect us directly. Most people have limited knowledge of
the amount of money, time and sweat equity that small farmers put in in an effort to earn a living - for some their only income, for some a second source
of income.
With all the attention paid nowadays to promoting local produce which is not only much fresher but reduces reliance on food from sometimes hundreds of miles away (which increases carbon output greatly), you would think that independent producers would be a welcome addition to the market. And local producers are for the most part seasonal operations - with our climate, we don't have the luxury of growing things all year round.
Not only would this put local producers out of business, but think of all the spin-off - students and others may be out of part-time summer work, roadside stand operators will lose income, seed companies will lose orders from producers, farm equipment manufacturers may lose orders as well. It's never just one person or industry affected..
I'm not sure if you can bring any pressure to bear on this issue with the market board or the legislature but as this could affect a number of growers in the East St. Paul area, I wanted to bring more detail to your attention.
Thanks,
xxxxx
Friday, September 11, 2009
Our tribute to Kerry Brown, Alabama Jim Silver's gang "study", and more! today at 4PM
Today at 4 PM we'll be joined by Dan Denton from Los Angeles. It was Denton who introduced me to Stampede Wrestling star Kerry Brown. Kerry became a close and valued friend, and his sudden passing at age 51 has saddened everyone from the world of wrestling who knew him.
Here is a link to the story I wrote about Kerry for Slam!Wrestling:
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2009/09/11/10837311.html
A demo reel of a 1994 match under my Rough House Rasslin' label, with Kerry putting his career on the line against rookie Paul Marcoux, and yes that is my voice on the play by play:
http://revver.com/video/647133/rough-house-rasslin-part-one/
Thanks to Tony Condello, who trained Kerry and broke him into the business, for sharing his thoughts yesterday on Kerry's career and his influence on so many of the younger local hopefuls.
Also scheduled for today:
- At 4.20 a special look at the Alabama Jim Silver and co. Free Press op-ed where we read about how 6 gang members conned Jimbo and 3 other professors into going soft on North End crime;
- more on the NDP leadership race, as Steve Ashton garners a supporter from city hall, while Andrew Swan finds support from 3 cabinet ministers of dubious merit;
- another listener complaint, this time about how we handled last weeks' complaint- and yes, there is a pattern developing;
- and at 5.20 Jon Waldman will explain why the police want to bust up tailgate parties at this weekends' Banjo Bowl game.
RIP Kerry.
marty
Here is a link to the story I wrote about Kerry for Slam!Wrestling:
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2009/09/11/10837311.html
A demo reel of a 1994 match under my Rough House Rasslin' label, with Kerry putting his career on the line against rookie Paul Marcoux, and yes that is my voice on the play by play:
http://revver.com/video/647133/rough-house-rasslin-part-one/
Thanks to Tony Condello, who trained Kerry and broke him into the business, for sharing his thoughts yesterday on Kerry's career and his influence on so many of the younger local hopefuls.
Also scheduled for today:
- At 4.20 a special look at the Alabama Jim Silver and co. Free Press op-ed where we read about how 6 gang members conned Jimbo and 3 other professors into going soft on North End crime;
- more on the NDP leadership race, as Steve Ashton garners a supporter from city hall, while Andrew Swan finds support from 3 cabinet ministers of dubious merit;
- another listener complaint, this time about how we handled last weeks' complaint- and yes, there is a pattern developing;
- and at 5.20 Jon Waldman will explain why the police want to bust up tailgate parties at this weekends' Banjo Bowl game.
RIP Kerry.
marty
Thursday, September 3, 2009
What we did on our summer "vacation"
Traditional news and information outlets claim that summertime is "slow".
That with politicians on vacation, stories can't be pursued.
That people like parents, college students, Joe and Jane Lunchbucket, are too distracted during 'construction season' to care about news.
Could have fooled us.
The Great Canadian Talk Show continued to prove the important role alternative media serves in keeping the public engaged all through July and August. The emails and phone calls poured in. There was no vacation for the elite with their pet projects on our dime, for politicians, or for the untouchables like 'arms-length' agencies and the media gatekeepers, from being held to account.
* While the daily newspapers published without question an "editorial" of Gail Asper that her Museum project was soooo good for all of us, we
- dissected the massive and predicted cost-overruns that were ignored by the mainstream media until it was too late to protect taxpayers;
- revealed the contradictions in public statements by Asper and her cohorts, about who knew what when about the failing finances and inflation;
- evaluated the reasons behind the refusal of the Musuem leaders to take calls on CJOB radio;
- and examined concerns about the too-close ties between Premier Gary Doer and his millionaire panhandler friends.
- We alone got councillors on the record, whether they would vote to give the museum what they have asked for from city hall - YOUR money.
* When the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority released their 'compensation disclosure' right before Canada Day and hoped no one would notice, we noticed -- and questioned why they continually undermine the integrity and value of ER doctors who save lives, while insisting that the "irreplaceable" honchos and creative apologists at head office deserved big pay raises -- lest they be "recruited" to spin misinformation and deflect blame in say, Alberta.
* The rest of the media happily rides along with the bicycle - oops, "Active Transportation" initiative, never once voicing the concerns of the businesses and residents of city streets that are being sacrificed to satisfy the agenda a lobby dominated by car-hating environmental radicals.
WE did. After watching the evasion of questions about cost and demand, and saw the slanted presentations for adding 4 more bike paths along residential streets at the open house, TGCTS stands alone in speaking up and asking what is really going on.
- One listener, an avid cyclist, rode the bike lanes downtown on August 20th, and in a 70 minute audit found 23 users on those streets, 18 on other streets, and 12 on SIDEWALKS. A total of 53 bike users seen in rush hour- and no, it wasn't raining that day.
Even if we double it to account for summer vacations etc., can someone please tell us how it makes sense to hold up "greenhouse gas belching cars" in rush-hour bottlenecks caused by giving 110 bike riders their own lanes?
* TGCTS gave a full airing of the water utility debate, interviewing 4 city councillors, and asking aloud why Mayor Katz and his supporters think that the general public can absorb volumes of complex material within a 10 day limit, right at the beginning of summer (it took River Heights Coun. John Orlikow, who is paid to do things like this, 12 hours to go through it). Not to mention not being given time to figure out the Parker Avenue/Fort Rouge railyards land swap deal, where one major landowner on Taylor hit the jackpot after Transit told the administration, we need to jump the development cue and this deal has to be approved by council NOW.
* And speaking of city hall, why is it that not one newsroom has picked up on our exclusive -- that the city is going to relocate fleet and other services into a 55 acre superyard off Nairn Street, at the same time that Premier Doer's breakfast club pals in South Point Douglas are pulling the levers of power to have the nearby Louise Bridge closed to all traffic - including civic vehicles like snowplows - in the name of "Active Transportation"?
* We have also delved into the problematic practices of the beleagured Winnipeg Parking Authority. According to the Free Press, none of the following issues were worthy of inclusion in the recent multi-day "news" series:
- A downtown businessman who knew the truth was denied his day in court when the city stayed a ticket prosecution, rather than face the embarassment of losing and facing their own ticketgate scenerio; a city lawyer, Markus Buchart, researched our discovery that all tickets issued since November 16 have been issued by officers without legal standing to enforce bylaws and also argued against a WPA ticket on the basis they are illegal. He said he will provide advice to anyone wishing to do the same.
- All four enforcement officers forced out of work by WPA edict to G4S (the contractor that employed them) had signed union cards, which presumabely fell within the Free Press's definition of "performance issues";
- The WPA has imposed pay stations in front of homes and businesses, and changed streets from free to paid parking throughout the inner-city, without a whit of discussion with the people affected;
- It now appears they have been improperly collecting revenue on streets by duping motorists into thinking a $10,000 machine at eye level on the boulevard is the law, and superceeds existing and legally binding "free parking" signage above people's heads;
- To the shock of Counsillor Jeff Browaty, the WPA now rents spaces on obscure South Point Douglas streets for 12 hours at a stretch, competing with private parking lots. (So much for "turnover" of parking as their reason d'etre.)
Not even Premier Doer's departure will close the book on our coverage of Crocus, wait times, hallway medicine, doctor and nursing shortages, brown envelopes, easy probation, absurd sentences, gangs, social work agency debacles...
* We even had time to explain about a false death report that we helped quash before it went viral.
Thanks to all of our listeners and callers this summer. Of course, a large part of the success of the program comes from the participation of people such as the following, who value the role of campus radio and took the time to be interviewed on our show:
Guests:
Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi
Howard Mandshein, CITI-FM musicologist
North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty,
Barret Fraser, Triallo Communication Media
Caroline Barghout, CTV News
James Turner, CBC Radio
Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt
Mike Sutherland, Winnipeg Police Association
Morden Mayor Doug Wilson
Daniel McIntyre Coun. Harvey Smith
Dick Rivers, theroosterrocks.com
Chuck McEwan, Winnipeg Fringe Festival
Scott Taylor, CITI-FM/Winnipeg Goldeyes
Former professional wrestling champions:
Dan Kroffat, Bret 'Hitman" Hart, Mike (Sgt. Steele) Phillips
and Tony Condello
Ron East, Canadian Magen David Adom
Markus Buchart, lawyer on illegality of parking authority tickets
Allen the cyclist, our bike lane 'auditor'
St. Vital Coun. Gord Steeves
Brad Harrison, Curb-Ease.com
Sean Crawford, MacDonald Youth Services
Julie Epp, Edge Gallery
Colin Craig, Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Kelly Harrison, outgoing director, Teen Touch Inc.
plus our regularly featured guests, Kelly Dehn of CTV News, historian Professor Levinski, 92.9's Illegal Curve hockey show host Drew Mindell, Jon Waldman of Slam!Sports, and Frank the Italian Barber.
(A special thanks to senior producer Captain Audio, and board operators Spirited Kenny, Shannah-Lee, Deniz, Kick-FM news director Adam Toy, and the now on-hiatus Wonderboy Taylor)
Today's episode: The downside of the NDP leadership hopefuls - can you say scandal?; Professor Levinski's weekly history lesson; and Jon Waldman, Kenny and I will banter about all things Pacman and Blue Bombers for about 10 minutes starting at 5.20 PM.
The Sunday night replay of 5 episodes are on for 7 PM as usual, and we'll have a rerun on Labour Day but it's a doozy- everything the media didn't tell us about Gary Doer till he was resigning.
Join us as we kick off the new season on Tuesday Sept 8th with Conservative party leader Hugh McFadyen; Mayor Sam Katz comes into the studio on Monday, Sept. 14th; and Councillor Harvey Smith appears on Tuesday, Sept. 29th.
Drive safe and have a nice long weekend.
HAIL AURTARLIA!
That with politicians on vacation, stories can't be pursued.
That people like parents, college students, Joe and Jane Lunchbucket, are too distracted during 'construction season' to care about news.
Could have fooled us.
The Great Canadian Talk Show continued to prove the important role alternative media serves in keeping the public engaged all through July and August. The emails and phone calls poured in. There was no vacation for the elite with their pet projects on our dime, for politicians, or for the untouchables like 'arms-length' agencies and the media gatekeepers, from being held to account.
* While the daily newspapers published without question an "editorial" of Gail Asper that her Museum project was soooo good for all of us, we
- dissected the massive and predicted cost-overruns that were ignored by the mainstream media until it was too late to protect taxpayers;
- revealed the contradictions in public statements by Asper and her cohorts, about who knew what when about the failing finances and inflation;
- evaluated the reasons behind the refusal of the Musuem leaders to take calls on CJOB radio;
- and examined concerns about the too-close ties between Premier Gary Doer and his millionaire panhandler friends.
- We alone got councillors on the record, whether they would vote to give the museum what they have asked for from city hall - YOUR money.
* When the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority released their 'compensation disclosure' right before Canada Day and hoped no one would notice, we noticed -- and questioned why they continually undermine the integrity and value of ER doctors who save lives, while insisting that the "irreplaceable" honchos and creative apologists at head office deserved big pay raises -- lest they be "recruited" to spin misinformation and deflect blame in say, Alberta.
* The rest of the media happily rides along with the bicycle - oops, "Active Transportation" initiative, never once voicing the concerns of the businesses and residents of city streets that are being sacrificed to satisfy the agenda a lobby dominated by car-hating environmental radicals.
WE did. After watching the evasion of questions about cost and demand, and saw the slanted presentations for adding 4 more bike paths along residential streets at the open house, TGCTS stands alone in speaking up and asking what is really going on.
- One listener, an avid cyclist, rode the bike lanes downtown on August 20th, and in a 70 minute audit found 23 users on those streets, 18 on other streets, and 12 on SIDEWALKS. A total of 53 bike users seen in rush hour- and no, it wasn't raining that day.
Even if we double it to account for summer vacations etc., can someone please tell us how it makes sense to hold up "greenhouse gas belching cars" in rush-hour bottlenecks caused by giving 110 bike riders their own lanes?
* TGCTS gave a full airing of the water utility debate, interviewing 4 city councillors, and asking aloud why Mayor Katz and his supporters think that the general public can absorb volumes of complex material within a 10 day limit, right at the beginning of summer (it took River Heights Coun. John Orlikow, who is paid to do things like this, 12 hours to go through it). Not to mention not being given time to figure out the Parker Avenue/Fort Rouge railyards land swap deal, where one major landowner on Taylor hit the jackpot after Transit told the administration, we need to jump the development cue and this deal has to be approved by council NOW.
* And speaking of city hall, why is it that not one newsroom has picked up on our exclusive -- that the city is going to relocate fleet and other services into a 55 acre superyard off Nairn Street, at the same time that Premier Doer's breakfast club pals in South Point Douglas are pulling the levers of power to have the nearby Louise Bridge closed to all traffic - including civic vehicles like snowplows - in the name of "Active Transportation"?
* We have also delved into the problematic practices of the beleagured Winnipeg Parking Authority. According to the Free Press, none of the following issues were worthy of inclusion in the recent multi-day "news" series:
- A downtown businessman who knew the truth was denied his day in court when the city stayed a ticket prosecution, rather than face the embarassment of losing and facing their own ticketgate scenerio; a city lawyer, Markus Buchart, researched our discovery that all tickets issued since November 16 have been issued by officers without legal standing to enforce bylaws and also argued against a WPA ticket on the basis they are illegal. He said he will provide advice to anyone wishing to do the same.
- All four enforcement officers forced out of work by WPA edict to G4S (the contractor that employed them) had signed union cards, which presumabely fell within the Free Press's definition of "performance issues";
- The WPA has imposed pay stations in front of homes and businesses, and changed streets from free to paid parking throughout the inner-city, without a whit of discussion with the people affected;
- It now appears they have been improperly collecting revenue on streets by duping motorists into thinking a $10,000 machine at eye level on the boulevard is the law, and superceeds existing and legally binding "free parking" signage above people's heads;
- To the shock of Counsillor Jeff Browaty, the WPA now rents spaces on obscure South Point Douglas streets for 12 hours at a stretch, competing with private parking lots. (So much for "turnover" of parking as their reason d'etre.)
Not even Premier Doer's departure will close the book on our coverage of Crocus, wait times, hallway medicine, doctor and nursing shortages, brown envelopes, easy probation, absurd sentences, gangs, social work agency debacles...
* We even had time to explain about a false death report that we helped quash before it went viral.
Thanks to all of our listeners and callers this summer. Of course, a large part of the success of the program comes from the participation of people such as the following, who value the role of campus radio and took the time to be interviewed on our show:
Guests:
Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi
Howard Mandshein, CITI-FM musicologist
North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty,
Barret Fraser, Triallo Communication Media
Caroline Barghout, CTV News
James Turner, CBC Radio
Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt
Mike Sutherland, Winnipeg Police Association
Morden Mayor Doug Wilson
Daniel McIntyre Coun. Harvey Smith
Dick Rivers, theroosterrocks.com
Chuck McEwan, Winnipeg Fringe Festival
Scott Taylor, CITI-FM/Winnipeg Goldeyes
Former professional wrestling champions:
Dan Kroffat, Bret 'Hitman" Hart, Mike (Sgt. Steele) Phillips
and Tony Condello
Ron East, Canadian Magen David Adom
Markus Buchart, lawyer on illegality of parking authority tickets
Allen the cyclist, our bike lane 'auditor'
St. Vital Coun. Gord Steeves
Brad Harrison, Curb-Ease.com
Sean Crawford, MacDonald Youth Services
Julie Epp, Edge Gallery
Colin Craig, Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Kelly Harrison, outgoing director, Teen Touch Inc.
plus our regularly featured guests, Kelly Dehn of CTV News, historian Professor Levinski, 92.9's Illegal Curve hockey show host Drew Mindell, Jon Waldman of Slam!Sports, and Frank the Italian Barber.
(A special thanks to senior producer Captain Audio, and board operators Spirited Kenny, Shannah-Lee, Deniz, Kick-FM news director Adam Toy, and the now on-hiatus Wonderboy Taylor)
Today's episode: The downside of the NDP leadership hopefuls - can you say scandal?; Professor Levinski's weekly history lesson; and Jon Waldman, Kenny and I will banter about all things Pacman and Blue Bombers for about 10 minutes starting at 5.20 PM.
The Sunday night replay of 5 episodes are on for 7 PM as usual, and we'll have a rerun on Labour Day but it's a doozy- everything the media didn't tell us about Gary Doer till he was resigning.
Join us as we kick off the new season on Tuesday Sept 8th with Conservative party leader Hugh McFadyen; Mayor Sam Katz comes into the studio on Monday, Sept. 14th; and Councillor Harvey Smith appears on Tuesday, Sept. 29th.
Drive safe and have a nice long weekend.
HAIL AURTARLIA!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Gary goes to Washington while media swoons
(Welcome to our new readers, coming to us courtesy of local pollsters and mainstream media pundits. Make sure to tune in to our show at 4 PM weekdays on 92.9 Kick-FM, for even more about the changing political landscape in Manitoba.)
The so-called pundits fell all over themselves yesterday and today to heap praise on Beltway-bound Premier Gary Doer, and demonstrated how truly out-of touch they are with reality, in rationalizing their predictions about possible successors.
Nary a one, made any mention of the NDP switch from true democratic one-vote-per-member to a union-slanted delegate leadership convention system at their 2007 convention, which led to the exit of Elmwood MLA Jim Malloway to the federal stage when he squawked loud and long about the change.
The bias of the predictors, who universally avoided mentioning the obvious downside of some potential aspirants, (i.e. Finance Minister Greg Selingers' involvement in the 1999 Election Rebate scam), and ignored Doer's burial of "old left" (ie Bill Blaikie) style politics in his remarks, was exemplified once more today in the Free Press.
Ignoring the record number of departing doctors, the impending audit of WRHA slush-funded "brown envelopes", and her hiding from the press when the video of Brian Sinclair in the Health Sciences Centre proved she had lied to the Legislature, the "Theresa Oswald for NDP leader" idea was revisited with a straight face.
"She's managed the politically risky health portfolio "quite successfully," said University of Manitoba political scientist Paul Thomas, who said Oswald "seems to be down-to-earth and very human in the way she presents herself and her ideas."
James Cotton, who was assaulted by a Free Press reporter when he tried to question Deputy Premier Wowchuck about how charity-bound government pork ended up in Freep employees' bellies, did an excellent job in recounting the true record of the Doer administration that the broadsheet refuses to detail:
http://manitobapost.blogspot.com/2009/08/ginny-is-smiling-for-different.html
Meanwhile, after The Black Rod provided their own take on the political reasons for Doer's decision to depart ("his teflon was gone...This is the best time to leave, right before the perfect storm that's brewing for 2010 hits"), http://blackrod.blogspot.com/2009/08/gary-doer-gittin-while-gittins-good.html, longtime Doer-apologist, former MSM columnist, and part-time blogger Curtis Brown trotted out his current employers' springtime poll as proof the blog could not possibly be correct, "sorry".
Sorry indeed.
The facts buried in the poll, taken June 8-25th - before the details of the 1999 Elections Manitoba rebate scam that engulfed Selinger, Justice Minister Dave Chomiak and Doer himself, and before gang warfare on our streets became issue -- show that the Black Rod may have been even more correct than they realized.
- The poll Brown cleaves to, showed a 44-36% lead for the NDP.
- The margin of error was 3.1%
- That means the poll result could have been NDP 40.9- PC 39.1.
( Brown replies: ... The margin of error was 3.1%. Yes, it could have been NDP 40.9, PC 39.1....)
- The Tories showed a lead among young voters, many of whom were highly pissed off at the NDP refusing to refund illegal photo-radar tickets. - The NDP had dropped 2 percent since their last poll, which means if they continued trending downwards ...
Premier Doer said at the press conference that "I believe you can't be accountable to the public without accessibility through the media. I try to be accessible, unless I'm dodging you."
Given that we never received a single reply to our invitations for him to appear on TGCTS and address the campus radio audience, it would appear that Doer realized that Kick-FM was a teflon-free zone.
**************
From our email bag:
Marty,
Thank you for suggesting the more prosaic theory of why so many young aboriginal are missing or murdered. The usual race hustlers want a task force to hunt down the white devil apparently targeting aboriginal women (or white devils, if you believe Lindor Reynolds). Some seem to perversely desire finding a Willie Pickton-type figure, as it will simultaneously vindicate their prejudices and further their agenda. But most likely these girls and women were killed by street gangs; the fact that Cherrisse Houle and Hilary Wilson knew each other substantiates that theory.
We often hear how aboriginal youth are more vulnerable, or lead high-risk lifestyles. You were right about the waste funding more education programs would be. Who doesn't know you shouldn't do crack? Or you shouldn't be a whore? Or you shouldn't hang with street gangs? The only reason a kid wouldn't know better is if they came from a remote reserve but considering how pervasive the street gangs are on reserves, even the remote ones, I doubt kids aren't exposed to those evils already.
What the race hustlers and sad-sack sociologists refuse to accept is that kids are making irrational choices that threaten their well-being and life. It takes a lot of desperation for a kid to choose the irrational, to choose to be so fatalistic. Growing up on a reserve where welfare is in its third generation giving birth to the fourth, where one or two families dominate the band, where the average resident has zero equity and little chance of acquiring any, where kicks include sniffing gas or guzzling super juice: who wouldn't despair?
Either we believe the aboriginal lobbyists that aboriginals are "over-represented" in jails and social services or we recognize just how profoundly detrimental the reserve system is to human beings. Some lobbyists and apologists claim we would feel differently if it were white girls from the suburbs. It's not a fair comparison. No other group has the socialization of the reserve system to deal with. No other group has a history of being treated differently in law and in society. I'm tossing thoughts around here but can you have a real social contract when you also have Indian treaties? And the lobbyists want more aboriginal-specific programs... What the public might generally feel towards these serial tragedies is something like a passive/aggressive response.
Regardless of what anyone feels or does or says, the sun will rise on the reserve system tomorrow and the day after. We will be told to pay more money to compensate for what we are told is our systemic racism. Homicide after homicide, we are told it is us or some white devil we spawned that is killing these girls; no other suspects are considered. Meanwhile the gangs blast away every night and most violent crimes are tagged with the familiar phrase, 'aboriginal in appearance.' I don't know how many job ads I've seen that offered first dibs to applicants that are aboriginal in appearance. The state bends over backwards to appease the historically disadvantaged but the history never ends.
You can't expect much sympathy from the public that witnesses the choice of irrational, criminal behavior in spite of an abundance of opportunities. Does anyone not know you shouldn't drink when pregnant? And yet there are more FASD cases ever year. And more aboriginal kids in care than ever before. And what is the one constant in all these nightmares and tragedies? The reserve system.
And we know the reserves are now euphemistically known as "First Nations communities" and they are moving towards self-government and self-sufficiency. Canada, as it is presently constituted is failing us, and failing native kids. We the people are sick of being told we have a racist system when the same voices that condemn us also want the reserves to continue and to have different rights and race-specific services and programs. The public cannot be indifferent to these deaths. If anything, these deaths prove our point: the reserve system is a colossal failure. We ask: How many more deaths does it take before the Crown and its fellow travelers renounce the reserve system?
No, Ms. Fontaine and Ms. Reynolds, do not ask us if we care about these women. It is you who sifts through their entrails for signs of serial killers or some other fiction that comports with your ideological bent. A task force? Why bother? You still have the same judges and the same justice system. Forgive us, the public, who sees no change no matter how many bodies end up in the morgue. There are no gangbusters in office here, just colour-coded activists and professional socialists who make their living off the human carnage, and they're making a killing.
Keep up the good work!
M
**********
When we stop to think about why our city is in CHAOS engulfed in violence, theft, homicide. It is very simple.
Human beings have been desensitized to all these issues. No one cares anymore. Back in the day when the neighborhood bully would beat up on one of the small kids the entire neighborhood would teach him a lesson, and his parents would hear an ear full from all the other parents. This comes from growing up on HOME Street (between Notre dame & Wellington).
The main media outlets help to turn a blind eye to all the chaos by running stories like this http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/garden-variety-lack-of-reason-53287202.html ..... Are you kidding me? This story is being run mean while I haven't heard squat about Vince Weiguang Li. The man who beheaded the young man on the grey hound bus.
The media should be hammering everyone involved with this guy until he is put in jail for life with no parole. But instead I hear more about how he was troubled, and suffered with a disorder. So keep printing stories about gardens at bus stops, and lets continue to turn a blind eye to what is really happening out there.
Regards,
JY
****************
I guess we aren’t entitled to question our betters such as judges and politicians. According to (a recent letter to the editor) we should only be permitted to trudge away while child rapists, street thugs and other assorted scum commit their crimes, then abscond after receiving bail. I thought it was a free country where we were permitted to express deep frustrations when we repeatedly witness first hand the pain and trauma victims’ experience which is often compounded when their victimizers receive little or no meaningful consequences for their actions.
All too often there is little “justice” in the system and that’s why cops speak out, both to inform the public and tell the truth about a system that needs some serious fixing. Obviously this man feels the system works quite well and is more than happy to trust his fate, and that of his loved ones to it, should they ever happen, god forbid, to be victimized themselves. I wonder how satisfied with the performance of judges and politicians he will be then.
Mike Sutherland
President
Winnipeg Police Association
*************
Hello Marty,
I do have to reiterate how much I hate the NDP and the fact that they have repeatedly lied to, deceived and screwed over the people of Manitoba on most issues - not just health care. I also will say that any progress that we see on wait times appears to have come from federal (read: Conservative) money and direction and their efforts.
Having said this, it is unfair to dramatically increase the number of physicians allowed to access MRIs and then to simultaneously have the extra techs, machines and radiologists available. When the MMA negotiated for universal access to MRI by family physicians, many of which have no business ordering MRIs, they slit their own throat, so to speak on this issue.
Now you have an extra 500+ people accessing a scarce resource without ready infrastructure to accomidate this. I am willing to bet that if MB health did not grant this concession, we might be ahead of the curve when it comes to wait times on this issue.
Cheers,
Dr X
************
I had a blast driving to work this morning with the Louise bridge closed and a bus stalled in the curb lane.
Oh yeah never mind that's only a closed bridge which has 1 lane not the closed bridge with 2 lanes I wonder how much longer it will take when disraelli is closed and we get a bus stall in the curb lane?? Cause you know its going to happen
GG, Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone
******************
Marty: I guess we know why Doer never gave a f___ about Disraeli.
He was planning on quitting his job so he wouldn't get stuck in it.
Swell guy, it all makes sense now if he stayed till the next election he would have added the 50-80 minutes onto his round trip like the rest of us.
Now he can just sit back collect his big pension(remember at his age there is no wait) and laugh at the rest of us suckers as we suffer making it to work to pay for his fun. Legacy they say? Legacy of self interest reinforced at every turn.
Thanks
A Loyal listener
************
and lastly, this email from June 5, 2008:
... By the way, I do listen to your show and I find it highly entertaining.
Best,
Curtis Brown
The so-called pundits fell all over themselves yesterday and today to heap praise on Beltway-bound Premier Gary Doer, and demonstrated how truly out-of touch they are with reality, in rationalizing their predictions about possible successors.
Nary a one, made any mention of the NDP switch from true democratic one-vote-per-member to a union-slanted delegate leadership convention system at their 2007 convention, which led to the exit of Elmwood MLA Jim Malloway to the federal stage when he squawked loud and long about the change.
The bias of the predictors, who universally avoided mentioning the obvious downside of some potential aspirants, (i.e. Finance Minister Greg Selingers' involvement in the 1999 Election Rebate scam), and ignored Doer's burial of "old left" (ie Bill Blaikie) style politics in his remarks, was exemplified once more today in the Free Press.
Ignoring the record number of departing doctors, the impending audit of WRHA slush-funded "brown envelopes", and her hiding from the press when the video of Brian Sinclair in the Health Sciences Centre proved she had lied to the Legislature, the "Theresa Oswald for NDP leader" idea was revisited with a straight face.
"She's managed the politically risky health portfolio "quite successfully," said University of Manitoba political scientist Paul Thomas, who said Oswald "seems to be down-to-earth and very human in the way she presents herself and her ideas."
James Cotton, who was assaulted by a Free Press reporter when he tried to question Deputy Premier Wowchuck about how charity-bound government pork ended up in Freep employees' bellies, did an excellent job in recounting the true record of the Doer administration that the broadsheet refuses to detail:
http://manitobapost.blogspot.com/2009/08/ginny-is-smiling-for-different.html
Meanwhile, after The Black Rod provided their own take on the political reasons for Doer's decision to depart ("his teflon was gone...This is the best time to leave, right before the perfect storm that's brewing for 2010 hits"), http://blackrod.blogspot.com/2009/08/gary-doer-gittin-while-gittins-good.html, longtime Doer-apologist, former MSM columnist, and part-time blogger Curtis Brown trotted out his current employers' springtime poll as proof the blog could not possibly be correct, "sorry".
Sorry indeed.
The facts buried in the poll, taken June 8-25th - before the details of the 1999 Elections Manitoba rebate scam that engulfed Selinger, Justice Minister Dave Chomiak and Doer himself, and before gang warfare on our streets became issue -- show that the Black Rod may have been even more correct than they realized.
- The poll Brown cleaves to, showed a 44-36% lead for the NDP.
- The margin of error was 3.1%
- That means the poll result could have been NDP 40.9- PC 39.1.
( Brown replies: ... The margin of error was 3.1%. Yes, it could have been NDP 40.9, PC 39.1....)
- The Tories showed a lead among young voters, many of whom were highly pissed off at the NDP refusing to refund illegal photo-radar tickets. - The NDP had dropped 2 percent since their last poll, which means if they continued trending downwards ...
Premier Doer said at the press conference that "I believe you can't be accountable to the public without accessibility through the media. I try to be accessible, unless I'm dodging you."
Given that we never received a single reply to our invitations for him to appear on TGCTS and address the campus radio audience, it would appear that Doer realized that Kick-FM was a teflon-free zone.
**************
From our email bag:
Marty,
Thank you for suggesting the more prosaic theory of why so many young aboriginal are missing or murdered. The usual race hustlers want a task force to hunt down the white devil apparently targeting aboriginal women (or white devils, if you believe Lindor Reynolds). Some seem to perversely desire finding a Willie Pickton-type figure, as it will simultaneously vindicate their prejudices and further their agenda. But most likely these girls and women were killed by street gangs; the fact that Cherrisse Houle and Hilary Wilson knew each other substantiates that theory.
We often hear how aboriginal youth are more vulnerable, or lead high-risk lifestyles. You were right about the waste funding more education programs would be. Who doesn't know you shouldn't do crack? Or you shouldn't be a whore? Or you shouldn't hang with street gangs? The only reason a kid wouldn't know better is if they came from a remote reserve but considering how pervasive the street gangs are on reserves, even the remote ones, I doubt kids aren't exposed to those evils already.
What the race hustlers and sad-sack sociologists refuse to accept is that kids are making irrational choices that threaten their well-being and life. It takes a lot of desperation for a kid to choose the irrational, to choose to be so fatalistic. Growing up on a reserve where welfare is in its third generation giving birth to the fourth, where one or two families dominate the band, where the average resident has zero equity and little chance of acquiring any, where kicks include sniffing gas or guzzling super juice: who wouldn't despair?
Either we believe the aboriginal lobbyists that aboriginals are "over-represented" in jails and social services or we recognize just how profoundly detrimental the reserve system is to human beings. Some lobbyists and apologists claim we would feel differently if it were white girls from the suburbs. It's not a fair comparison. No other group has the socialization of the reserve system to deal with. No other group has a history of being treated differently in law and in society. I'm tossing thoughts around here but can you have a real social contract when you also have Indian treaties? And the lobbyists want more aboriginal-specific programs... What the public might generally feel towards these serial tragedies is something like a passive/aggressive response.
Regardless of what anyone feels or does or says, the sun will rise on the reserve system tomorrow and the day after. We will be told to pay more money to compensate for what we are told is our systemic racism. Homicide after homicide, we are told it is us or some white devil we spawned that is killing these girls; no other suspects are considered. Meanwhile the gangs blast away every night and most violent crimes are tagged with the familiar phrase, 'aboriginal in appearance.' I don't know how many job ads I've seen that offered first dibs to applicants that are aboriginal in appearance. The state bends over backwards to appease the historically disadvantaged but the history never ends.
You can't expect much sympathy from the public that witnesses the choice of irrational, criminal behavior in spite of an abundance of opportunities. Does anyone not know you shouldn't drink when pregnant? And yet there are more FASD cases ever year. And more aboriginal kids in care than ever before. And what is the one constant in all these nightmares and tragedies? The reserve system.
And we know the reserves are now euphemistically known as "First Nations communities" and they are moving towards self-government and self-sufficiency. Canada, as it is presently constituted is failing us, and failing native kids. We the people are sick of being told we have a racist system when the same voices that condemn us also want the reserves to continue and to have different rights and race-specific services and programs. The public cannot be indifferent to these deaths. If anything, these deaths prove our point: the reserve system is a colossal failure. We ask: How many more deaths does it take before the Crown and its fellow travelers renounce the reserve system?
No, Ms. Fontaine and Ms. Reynolds, do not ask us if we care about these women. It is you who sifts through their entrails for signs of serial killers or some other fiction that comports with your ideological bent. A task force? Why bother? You still have the same judges and the same justice system. Forgive us, the public, who sees no change no matter how many bodies end up in the morgue. There are no gangbusters in office here, just colour-coded activists and professional socialists who make their living off the human carnage, and they're making a killing.
Keep up the good work!
M
**********
When we stop to think about why our city is in CHAOS engulfed in violence, theft, homicide. It is very simple.
Human beings have been desensitized to all these issues. No one cares anymore. Back in the day when the neighborhood bully would beat up on one of the small kids the entire neighborhood would teach him a lesson, and his parents would hear an ear full from all the other parents. This comes from growing up on HOME Street (between Notre dame & Wellington).
The main media outlets help to turn a blind eye to all the chaos by running stories like this http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/garden-variety-lack-of-reason-53287202.html ..... Are you kidding me? This story is being run mean while I haven't heard squat about Vince Weiguang Li. The man who beheaded the young man on the grey hound bus.
The media should be hammering everyone involved with this guy until he is put in jail for life with no parole. But instead I hear more about how he was troubled, and suffered with a disorder. So keep printing stories about gardens at bus stops, and lets continue to turn a blind eye to what is really happening out there.
Regards,
JY
****************
I guess we aren’t entitled to question our betters such as judges and politicians. According to (a recent letter to the editor) we should only be permitted to trudge away while child rapists, street thugs and other assorted scum commit their crimes, then abscond after receiving bail. I thought it was a free country where we were permitted to express deep frustrations when we repeatedly witness first hand the pain and trauma victims’ experience which is often compounded when their victimizers receive little or no meaningful consequences for their actions.
All too often there is little “justice” in the system and that’s why cops speak out, both to inform the public and tell the truth about a system that needs some serious fixing. Obviously this man feels the system works quite well and is more than happy to trust his fate, and that of his loved ones to it, should they ever happen, god forbid, to be victimized themselves. I wonder how satisfied with the performance of judges and politicians he will be then.
Mike Sutherland
President
Winnipeg Police Association
*************
Hello Marty,
I do have to reiterate how much I hate the NDP and the fact that they have repeatedly lied to, deceived and screwed over the people of Manitoba on most issues - not just health care. I also will say that any progress that we see on wait times appears to have come from federal (read: Conservative) money and direction and their efforts.
Having said this, it is unfair to dramatically increase the number of physicians allowed to access MRIs and then to simultaneously have the extra techs, machines and radiologists available. When the MMA negotiated for universal access to MRI by family physicians, many of which have no business ordering MRIs, they slit their own throat, so to speak on this issue.
Now you have an extra 500+ people accessing a scarce resource without ready infrastructure to accomidate this. I am willing to bet that if MB health did not grant this concession, we might be ahead of the curve when it comes to wait times on this issue.
Cheers,
Dr X
************
I had a blast driving to work this morning with the Louise bridge closed and a bus stalled in the curb lane.
Oh yeah never mind that's only a closed bridge which has 1 lane not the closed bridge with 2 lanes I wonder how much longer it will take when disraelli is closed and we get a bus stall in the curb lane?? Cause you know its going to happen
GG, Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone
******************
Marty: I guess we know why Doer never gave a f___ about Disraeli.
He was planning on quitting his job so he wouldn't get stuck in it.
Swell guy, it all makes sense now if he stayed till the next election he would have added the 50-80 minutes onto his round trip like the rest of us.
Now he can just sit back collect his big pension(remember at his age there is no wait) and laugh at the rest of us suckers as we suffer making it to work to pay for his fun. Legacy they say? Legacy of self interest reinforced at every turn.
Thanks
A Loyal listener
************
and lastly, this email from June 5, 2008:
... By the way, I do listen to your show and I find it highly entertaining.
Best,
Curtis Brown
Friday, July 24, 2009
Someone tell Gail Asper: Stop looking for handouts from taxpayers
Today, without a hint of shame, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights continued down their pollyanna path, where nothing has ever been wrong in their world.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Planned-human-rights-museum-reaches-original-funding-goal_-but-needs-more-money.html
Media reports carefully omit which donors- crown agencies? another bank? Global TV employees? - finally pushed the deadweight that is the CMHC over their original $105 M fundraising goal.
The compliant media regurgitates the official spin, that Gail and her Friends only discovered the concept of "construction inflation" and "over-budget" two months ago. But the MSM failed to fairly cover the story for years, and it was only the pressure from a series of reports by blogger The Black Rod that finally forced Asper to spin a tale of woe to the publicity arm of the CMHC, the Winnipeg Free Press.
Today, without shame, she proclaimed they would simply get out their tin cup and ask the public that is too wise (to the millionaires, no doubt too apathetic) to fork out more dough, through her good friends in government.
The Sun story reinforces our view of the delusional mind-set of the upper crust - the CMHR seeemingly describing the federal Conservatives intention to hold the Friends to their word as "more or less" having told Gail et al to drop dead.
http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/winnipeg/2009/07/24/10250801.html
Clearly the fact that her chum, Premier Gary Doer ,didn't ask the any taxpayers before doubling how much Manitobans would pay to $40 million doesn't bother the rich, in fact it encourages them. They expect he'll obligingly cut a cheque for another $7M without asking you. So the CMHC press release first attempts to seduce the cash-strapped City of Winnipeg for ANOTHER $3 Million.
http://www.canadianmuseumforhumanrights.com/resource/file/NewsRelease_7-24-09_E.pdf
We already have an email from a city councillor about this latest round of begging by the new welfare class. Here's what Coun. Jeff Browaty told us:
Taxpayers want accountability and a firm number for the entire capital component of this project. Until I am convinced we have an accurate total costing for the project, I am opposed to spending any additional taxpayer money it.
Not only have listeners already deluged TGCTS with outraged calls at the prospect of being fleeced for even more by a group of "elite" who couldn't budget a 5 years old's birthday party, one email sends a strong message that were this a private sector project...
Marty :
Can someone please provide me with a reasonable explanation why construction activity still continues at the future site of the Canadian Human Rights Museum WHEN there STILL exists a $45M shortfall in secured funds?
What backroom deals have been agreed to to allow this to happen? Backroom deals by politicans who are too embarassed to admit that they have promised MORE taxpayer dollars to make this project work.
Do you think that in a New York minute the private lending industry would release funding for a project of this size WITHOUT all funding in place? Not on your life.
Marty please ask the question!
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Planned-human-rights-museum-reaches-original-funding-goal_-but-needs-more-money.html
Media reports carefully omit which donors- crown agencies? another bank? Global TV employees? - finally pushed the deadweight that is the CMHC over their original $105 M fundraising goal.
The compliant media regurgitates the official spin, that Gail and her Friends only discovered the concept of "construction inflation" and "over-budget" two months ago. But the MSM failed to fairly cover the story for years, and it was only the pressure from a series of reports by blogger The Black Rod that finally forced Asper to spin a tale of woe to the publicity arm of the CMHC, the Winnipeg Free Press.
Today, without shame, she proclaimed they would simply get out their tin cup and ask the public that is too wise (to the millionaires, no doubt too apathetic) to fork out more dough, through her good friends in government.
The Sun story reinforces our view of the delusional mind-set of the upper crust - the CMHR seeemingly describing the federal Conservatives intention to hold the Friends to their word as "more or less" having told Gail et al to drop dead.
http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/winnipeg/2009/07/24/10250801.html
Clearly the fact that her chum, Premier Gary Doer ,didn't ask the any taxpayers before doubling how much Manitobans would pay to $40 million doesn't bother the rich, in fact it encourages them. They expect he'll obligingly cut a cheque for another $7M without asking you. So the CMHC press release first attempts to seduce the cash-strapped City of Winnipeg for ANOTHER $3 Million.
http://www.canadianmuseumforhumanrights.com/resource/file/NewsRelease_7-24-09_E.pdf
We already have an email from a city councillor about this latest round of begging by the new welfare class. Here's what Coun. Jeff Browaty told us:
Taxpayers want accountability and a firm number for the entire capital component of this project. Until I am convinced we have an accurate total costing for the project, I am opposed to spending any additional taxpayer money it.
Not only have listeners already deluged TGCTS with outraged calls at the prospect of being fleeced for even more by a group of "elite" who couldn't budget a 5 years old's birthday party, one email sends a strong message that were this a private sector project...
Marty :
Can someone please provide me with a reasonable explanation why construction activity still continues at the future site of the Canadian Human Rights Museum WHEN there STILL exists a $45M shortfall in secured funds?
What backroom deals have been agreed to to allow this to happen? Backroom deals by politicans who are too embarassed to admit that they have promised MORE taxpayer dollars to make this project work.
Do you think that in a New York minute the private lending industry would release funding for a project of this size WITHOUT all funding in place? Not on your life.
Marty please ask the question!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
For listeners who asked: Full listing of CJOB Nighthawk episodes, available via CJOB Audio Vault
If you missed any of the 8 episode, guest-host stint by Marty Gold on CJOB's Nighthawk talk show, here is the list of guests and topics.
You can go to www.cjob.com and click into the audio vault, to catch the action:
Monday June 29
9 PM Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz, with callers
10 PM Los Angeles filmmaker Dan Denton
11 PM Today in History with Professor Levinski
Tuesday June 30
9 PM Manitoba Public Insurance Brian Smiley
9.30 PM Blues guitarist Derek Miller
10 PM Local issues ignored by mainstream media, blogs to watch for online
11 PM - call from 12 year old Aiden, denied entry into local pool for being "too short", Professor Levinski
Wed. July 1
9 PM Special Canada Day interview with Canada's Greatest Athlete, Gene Kiniski, who declared Canada should declare a republic and abandon the British monarchy
9.30 PM Canada Day in review - Osborne Village
10 PM All about Dr. Brian Postl, the $418,000 a year man; the Free Press does not criticize the WRHA since agreeing to produce a glossy pro-WRHA magazine
11 PM Today in History with Professor Levinski
Friday July 3
9 PM Sean Crawford, Macdonald Youth Services
9.30 PM James O'Conner, managing editor, Brandon Sun
10 PM More on WRHA and Postl's salary
10.30 PM US Independance Day with Tina G.
11 PM Today in History with Professor Levinski
Monday July 6
9 PM- 10.25 PM In studio with Hugh McFadyen, Progressive Conservative leader in Manitoba plus callers
10.30 PM Doctor wrote a letter to the Sun defending WRHA salaries, refused to appear on air to explain why we misunderstand the value of her leaders
11 PM Today in History with Professor Levinski
Tuesday July 7
9 PM - 10.25 PM City Councillor Jeff Browaty on water utility proposal, infrastructure, tax breaks for Asper stadium and human rights museum
10.30 PM Global TV reporter Meera Bahadoosingh with a great discussion about her fight back from a debilitating stroke
11 PM 'The Mean Streets of Winnipeg' -- Letter from a media personality about the dangers of living in downtown Winnipeg, many callers react
Wednesday July 8
9 PM More on the water utility- Free Press unimpressed by nureaucrats explanations
10 PM Follow up on The Mean Streets, callers plus WRHA update- still no word on whether any board members will appear on CJOB to defewnd the salary hikes given to administrators and communications hacks
11.00 PM - Adam Firestorm on the PR nightmare faced by VANOC (Vancouver Olympics)
11.30 PM - Update from 12 year old Aiden- pool rules changed or just optional depending on the lifeguard?
Thursday July 9
9 PM Interview with Sel Burrows, he is critical of the Manitoba government decision to expand jail cell capacity rather than reduce inmates allowed to sit in jail on remand awaiting trial
9.30 PM Chief Ron Evans clip from RCR Reports this morning- are the chiefs too scared to stand up to the Indian Posse ?
10 PM Review of Coun. Browaty changing his mind on TGCTS earlier today about tax breaks for Gail Aspers' museum project, plus the Parking Authority may not have been issuing legal tickets (since November)
10.45 PM Barrett Fraser, Triallo Media, they have 45,000 vieweers of their exclusive HDTV content in local offices and malls
11 PM Paul Lazenby, MMA lobbyist, the battle for legalization in Vancouver
11.30 PM In-depth interview with Professor Levinski
******************
A reminder that we are collecting suggestions for the naming of Marty's new grandson, with the most creative name as determined by the official arbiter - mommy of said grandson - awarded a copy of Retropeg, a photographic look at the city in the 70's.
Email your entry to talk@kick.fm
You can go to www.cjob.com and click into the audio vault, to catch the action:
Monday June 29
9 PM Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz, with callers
10 PM Los Angeles filmmaker Dan Denton
11 PM Today in History with Professor Levinski
Tuesday June 30
9 PM Manitoba Public Insurance Brian Smiley
9.30 PM Blues guitarist Derek Miller
10 PM Local issues ignored by mainstream media, blogs to watch for online
11 PM - call from 12 year old Aiden, denied entry into local pool for being "too short", Professor Levinski
Wed. July 1
9 PM Special Canada Day interview with Canada's Greatest Athlete, Gene Kiniski, who declared Canada should declare a republic and abandon the British monarchy
9.30 PM Canada Day in review - Osborne Village
10 PM All about Dr. Brian Postl, the $418,000 a year man; the Free Press does not criticize the WRHA since agreeing to produce a glossy pro-WRHA magazine
11 PM Today in History with Professor Levinski
Friday July 3
9 PM Sean Crawford, Macdonald Youth Services
9.30 PM James O'Conner, managing editor, Brandon Sun
10 PM More on WRHA and Postl's salary
10.30 PM US Independance Day with Tina G.
11 PM Today in History with Professor Levinski
Monday July 6
9 PM- 10.25 PM In studio with Hugh McFadyen, Progressive Conservative leader in Manitoba plus callers
10.30 PM Doctor wrote a letter to the Sun defending WRHA salaries, refused to appear on air to explain why we misunderstand the value of her leaders
11 PM Today in History with Professor Levinski
Tuesday July 7
9 PM - 10.25 PM City Councillor Jeff Browaty on water utility proposal, infrastructure, tax breaks for Asper stadium and human rights museum
10.30 PM Global TV reporter Meera Bahadoosingh with a great discussion about her fight back from a debilitating stroke
11 PM 'The Mean Streets of Winnipeg' -- Letter from a media personality about the dangers of living in downtown Winnipeg, many callers react
Wednesday July 8
9 PM More on the water utility- Free Press unimpressed by nureaucrats explanations
10 PM Follow up on The Mean Streets, callers plus WRHA update- still no word on whether any board members will appear on CJOB to defewnd the salary hikes given to administrators and communications hacks
11.00 PM - Adam Firestorm on the PR nightmare faced by VANOC (Vancouver Olympics)
11.30 PM - Update from 12 year old Aiden- pool rules changed or just optional depending on the lifeguard?
Thursday July 9
9 PM Interview with Sel Burrows, he is critical of the Manitoba government decision to expand jail cell capacity rather than reduce inmates allowed to sit in jail on remand awaiting trial
9.30 PM Chief Ron Evans clip from RCR Reports this morning- are the chiefs too scared to stand up to the Indian Posse ?
10 PM Review of Coun. Browaty changing his mind on TGCTS earlier today about tax breaks for Gail Aspers' museum project, plus the Parking Authority may not have been issuing legal tickets (since November)
10.45 PM Barrett Fraser, Triallo Media, they have 45,000 vieweers of their exclusive HDTV content in local offices and malls
11 PM Paul Lazenby, MMA lobbyist, the battle for legalization in Vancouver
11.30 PM In-depth interview with Professor Levinski
******************
A reminder that we are collecting suggestions for the naming of Marty's new grandson, with the most creative name as determined by the official arbiter - mommy of said grandson - awarded a copy of Retropeg, a photographic look at the city in the 70's.
Email your entry to talk@kick.fm
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Exclusive: City facing Refundgate redux; parking tickets since November may be invalid
TGCTS has learned that a Winnipeg businessman is challenging a ticket and tow-away from the Winnipeg Parking Authority, armed with evidence from City Hall that tags issued since November may have been illegally issued.
According to the man, and another sources, the WPA may have made a fatal miscalculation when they split with the Corps of Commissionaires and issued a contract so onerous with penalties that the Corps refused to bid to renew their long-standing deal to patrol Winnipeg streets and laneways.
The employees of the winning bidder, G4S, are NOT sworn peace officers, and the Commissionaires that carried on duties by joining the private security firm lost their peace officer status by doing so. The City sent a letter to officials asking them to clarify the question months ago but it is unclear if they replied.
However the man challenging the ticket told TGCTS that he went to see the WPA and asked, are the tickets being issued by sworn peace officers as required at the top of the tickets? and he told us "they turned white" and refused to answer.
He saw a magistrate with a copy of the letters sent by the city raising the possibility this was a problem; the court case is set for August and we'll follow the story. If his ticket is dismissed, this would mean every ticket issued by G4S would have been without authority, and the city could have a Refundgate 2 scandal on it's hands.
Not to mention the question, would the tow truck companies who executed instructions to remove vehicles, technically have committed grand theft auto?
TGCTS will have more on the WPA with Coun. Jeff Browaty today on TGCTS, and on The CJOB Nighthawk at 9 PM tonight.
Also on the Nighthawk, Sel Burrows has harsh criticism for Justice Minister Dave Chomiak for choosing to add to jail facilities rather than deal with the remand backlog; and Barrett Fraser of Triallo Communication Media will explain their exciting foray into the city scenescape - contest time! - at 10.30PM; with Paul Lazenby of BODOG fights speaking about the fight to legalize MMA in Canada at 11 PM.
According to the man, and another sources, the WPA may have made a fatal miscalculation when they split with the Corps of Commissionaires and issued a contract so onerous with penalties that the Corps refused to bid to renew their long-standing deal to patrol Winnipeg streets and laneways.
The employees of the winning bidder, G4S, are NOT sworn peace officers, and the Commissionaires that carried on duties by joining the private security firm lost their peace officer status by doing so. The City sent a letter to officials asking them to clarify the question months ago but it is unclear if they replied.
However the man challenging the ticket told TGCTS that he went to see the WPA and asked, are the tickets being issued by sworn peace officers as required at the top of the tickets? and he told us "they turned white" and refused to answer.
He saw a magistrate with a copy of the letters sent by the city raising the possibility this was a problem; the court case is set for August and we'll follow the story. If his ticket is dismissed, this would mean every ticket issued by G4S would have been without authority, and the city could have a Refundgate 2 scandal on it's hands.
Not to mention the question, would the tow truck companies who executed instructions to remove vehicles, technically have committed grand theft auto?
TGCTS will have more on the WPA with Coun. Jeff Browaty today on TGCTS, and on The CJOB Nighthawk at 9 PM tonight.
Also on the Nighthawk, Sel Burrows has harsh criticism for Justice Minister Dave Chomiak for choosing to add to jail facilities rather than deal with the remand backlog; and Barrett Fraser of Triallo Communication Media will explain their exciting foray into the city scenescape - contest time! - at 10.30PM; with Paul Lazenby of BODOG fights speaking about the fight to legalize MMA in Canada at 11 PM.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
McFadyen reveals clue that tipped off auditor to NDP scam; FP joins Gerbasi in call for water utility caution
The tired, old MSM excuse "it's summertime and there is no news to report" was blown out of the water yesterday on both AM and FM talk radio.
On TGCTS in the drive time, Coun. Jenny Gerbasi told the Kick-FM audience why she felt the process to establish a water utility was being rushed.
At a time of year when so many Winnipeggers are on vacation and unplugged from new media, councillors are in a position of voting on a proposal that would remove accountability from them not only for water rates, but for any future deals with outlying municipalities -- and even opened the door for fee-for-service home garbage collection.
Today, the Winnipeg Free Press editorial "Water utility muddle" echoed Gerbasi, stating "it's getting hard to believe that all 15 councillors and the mayor are fully prepared for the important decision they are about to make", concluding, "Unless there is a need for a decision on July 22, council should consider postponing the vote until September so it can ensure that all councillors, and the public, have a clearer understanding of the plan."
Then last night on CJOB's Nighthawk, Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen outlined how far the opposition is willing to go to force Elections Manitoba to fess up the details of the arrangement to forego prosecution of the Doer NDP just before the 2003 election call. The NDP was caught submitting forged documents in a rebate scam stemming from the 1999 election.
McFadyen revealed to CJOB listeners that the auditor David Asselstine stumbled across the most blatant clue - the "expense" being claimed, wages paid to as-yet-unnamed unions for their workers supplied to the NDP campaign, was paid for by a cheque, written the SAME DAY a cheque in the same amount was "donated" back to the NDP by the unions.
The cheque-swap resulted in the actual cost to the NDP being zero-- but the arrangement was concealed in the official filings to make it look like the party was eligible for approx. $76,000 in taxpayer support to help repay the campaign expense. The official agents at the constituency level, who prepared the documentation for party headquarters to review, were unaware their work was altered when it was presented for their final signature.
According to Finance Minister Greg Selinger, this sleight of hand was standard for the NDP to falsely garner refunds for non-existant expenses since the 1980's, which would include the entire time Gary Doer has been party leader.
McFadyen said that options included going to court or even to the new Lt.-Governor Phillip Lee seeking redress, and he emphasized that Manitobans need clear answers about why Elections Manitoba allowed the NDP to defraud taxpayers without penalty, as their impartiality is justifiably in question.
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The story of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority scramble to control and stifle questioning of their pay raises was heard on both TGCTS and the Nighthawk yesterday.
It turns out a letter to the editor written by a doctor, did not reveal that said doctor is actually a director of a program for the WRHA, and not in private practice.
When the doctor was called and offered the opportunity to go on radio and explain her asssertion that the head knocks of the WRHA are hard working and deserve every penny, she insisted that the invitation had to be vetted through the WRHA spin doctors (themselves beneficiaries of handsome pay increases even though they do not save lives and there is no proof they are 'heavily recruited' by other health agencies). The communications expert commenced to lecture that any requests to interview doctors had to go thru head office, even though she confirmed the letter at issue did not require, or have, prior WRHA approval.
Even though the doctor could have refused the invitation when we spoke to her yesterday morning, it was left to the word-bending professional, on the taxpayers' dime, to act as publicist for the doctor's private matter and refuse the opportunity to set the record straight.
If you think it's tough to understand why the WRHA insists they control the media speaking to doctors about non-WRHA related actions such as letters to the editor supporting the entitlements of Doctor-bosses like Brian Postl and Brock Wright, try to figure out why the "Public Sector Compensation Disclosure" report is not available online, or why no announcement of its release is found anywhere on the WRHA or Manitoba government websites.
It sure was a surprise to the government information phone operator, the Minister of Health's office, and the Information and Privacy Secretariat, as we spent hours playing the chase-the-report game. (A hard copy was made readily available- for pick up at the new WRHA digs at 650 Main Street.)
Meanwhile, no word yet from the spin gang on Main Street about our request to have any- ANY- spokesperson from the WRHA Board of Directors come on the CJOB Nighthawk this week - we offered Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday - and explain to open-line radio listeners why, for instance, Postl is worth $418,000 a year given the scandals and secrecy that have characterized his reign.
*************
Today on TGCTS -
more on the water utility proposal, negative feedback from David Asper's football stadium at the U. of Manitoba open house, and the WRHA. And, the interview with Citi-FM's H!- Howard Mandshein, which we couldn't fit in to yesterdays show.
Tonight on the Nighthawk -
9 PM, Coun. Jeff Browaty in studio, 10 PM Global TV reporter Meera Bahadoosingh, and 11 PM, Today in History with Professor Levinski.
On TGCTS in the drive time, Coun. Jenny Gerbasi told the Kick-FM audience why she felt the process to establish a water utility was being rushed.
At a time of year when so many Winnipeggers are on vacation and unplugged from new media, councillors are in a position of voting on a proposal that would remove accountability from them not only for water rates, but for any future deals with outlying municipalities -- and even opened the door for fee-for-service home garbage collection.
Today, the Winnipeg Free Press editorial "Water utility muddle" echoed Gerbasi, stating "it's getting hard to believe that all 15 councillors and the mayor are fully prepared for the important decision they are about to make", concluding, "Unless there is a need for a decision on July 22, council should consider postponing the vote until September so it can ensure that all councillors, and the public, have a clearer understanding of the plan."
Then last night on CJOB's Nighthawk, Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen outlined how far the opposition is willing to go to force Elections Manitoba to fess up the details of the arrangement to forego prosecution of the Doer NDP just before the 2003 election call. The NDP was caught submitting forged documents in a rebate scam stemming from the 1999 election.
McFadyen revealed to CJOB listeners that the auditor David Asselstine stumbled across the most blatant clue - the "expense" being claimed, wages paid to as-yet-unnamed unions for their workers supplied to the NDP campaign, was paid for by a cheque, written the SAME DAY a cheque in the same amount was "donated" back to the NDP by the unions.
The cheque-swap resulted in the actual cost to the NDP being zero-- but the arrangement was concealed in the official filings to make it look like the party was eligible for approx. $76,000 in taxpayer support to help repay the campaign expense. The official agents at the constituency level, who prepared the documentation for party headquarters to review, were unaware their work was altered when it was presented for their final signature.
According to Finance Minister Greg Selinger, this sleight of hand was standard for the NDP to falsely garner refunds for non-existant expenses since the 1980's, which would include the entire time Gary Doer has been party leader.
McFadyen said that options included going to court or even to the new Lt.-Governor Phillip Lee seeking redress, and he emphasized that Manitobans need clear answers about why Elections Manitoba allowed the NDP to defraud taxpayers without penalty, as their impartiality is justifiably in question.
**************
The story of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority scramble to control and stifle questioning of their pay raises was heard on both TGCTS and the Nighthawk yesterday.
It turns out a letter to the editor written by a doctor, did not reveal that said doctor is actually a director of a program for the WRHA, and not in private practice.
When the doctor was called and offered the opportunity to go on radio and explain her asssertion that the head knocks of the WRHA are hard working and deserve every penny, she insisted that the invitation had to be vetted through the WRHA spin doctors (themselves beneficiaries of handsome pay increases even though they do not save lives and there is no proof they are 'heavily recruited' by other health agencies). The communications expert commenced to lecture that any requests to interview doctors had to go thru head office, even though she confirmed the letter at issue did not require, or have, prior WRHA approval.
Even though the doctor could have refused the invitation when we spoke to her yesterday morning, it was left to the word-bending professional, on the taxpayers' dime, to act as publicist for the doctor's private matter and refuse the opportunity to set the record straight.
If you think it's tough to understand why the WRHA insists they control the media speaking to doctors about non-WRHA related actions such as letters to the editor supporting the entitlements of Doctor-bosses like Brian Postl and Brock Wright, try to figure out why the "Public Sector Compensation Disclosure" report is not available online, or why no announcement of its release is found anywhere on the WRHA or Manitoba government websites.
It sure was a surprise to the government information phone operator, the Minister of Health's office, and the Information and Privacy Secretariat, as we spent hours playing the chase-the-report game. (A hard copy was made readily available- for pick up at the new WRHA digs at 650 Main Street.)
Meanwhile, no word yet from the spin gang on Main Street about our request to have any- ANY- spokesperson from the WRHA Board of Directors come on the CJOB Nighthawk this week - we offered Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday - and explain to open-line radio listeners why, for instance, Postl is worth $418,000 a year given the scandals and secrecy that have characterized his reign.
*************
Today on TGCTS -
more on the water utility proposal, negative feedback from David Asper's football stadium at the U. of Manitoba open house, and the WRHA. And, the interview with Citi-FM's H!- Howard Mandshein, which we couldn't fit in to yesterdays show.
Tonight on the Nighthawk -
9 PM, Coun. Jeff Browaty in studio, 10 PM Global TV reporter Meera Bahadoosingh, and 11 PM, Today in History with Professor Levinski.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Gerbasi today, McFadyen tonight- TGCTS and CJOB Nighthawk at a glance
Today on TGCTS:
A special interview with CITI-FM's Howard Mandshein at 4 PM;
Coun. Jenny Gerbasi will explain her concerns about the proposed water utility at 4.30.
And, I will have lots to say about the WRHA compensation report, and who is worth -- how much??
Tonight on the CJOB Nighthawk:
PC leader Hugh McFadyen at 9 PM, we'll discuss the Elections Manitoba scandal, the WRHA pay scale, and gang warfare on the streets of the city.
At 10 PM, more about The Untouchables - why the debate about the pay of Dr. Brian Postl and others in the Regional Health Authority is being controlled if not stifled; also the Free Press had a very bad weekend sorting real news from made-up news;
and at 11 PM, another edition of Today in History with Professor Levinski.
Also scheduled this week on the Nighthawk -
Tuesday 10 PM: Global TV reporter Meera Bahadoosingh
Wed. or Thursday (details being confirmed)- Coun. Jeff Browaty
Thursday 11 PM - The voice of BODOG MMA fights, Paul Lazenby, on the battle to legalize MMA in Vancouver and across Canada
************
Thanks very much for all the listeners who have commented about both shows recently.
I can be reached at martygoldlive@gmail.com
A special interview with CITI-FM's Howard Mandshein at 4 PM;
Coun. Jenny Gerbasi will explain her concerns about the proposed water utility at 4.30.
And, I will have lots to say about the WRHA compensation report, and who is worth -- how much??
Tonight on the CJOB Nighthawk:
PC leader Hugh McFadyen at 9 PM, we'll discuss the Elections Manitoba scandal, the WRHA pay scale, and gang warfare on the streets of the city.
At 10 PM, more about The Untouchables - why the debate about the pay of Dr. Brian Postl and others in the Regional Health Authority is being controlled if not stifled; also the Free Press had a very bad weekend sorting real news from made-up news;
and at 11 PM, another edition of Today in History with Professor Levinski.
Also scheduled this week on the Nighthawk -
Tuesday 10 PM: Global TV reporter Meera Bahadoosingh
Wed. or Thursday (details being confirmed)- Coun. Jeff Browaty
Thursday 11 PM - The voice of BODOG MMA fights, Paul Lazenby, on the battle to legalize MMA in Vancouver and across Canada
************
Thanks very much for all the listeners who have commented about both shows recently.
I can be reached at martygoldlive@gmail.com
Friday, July 3, 2009
Canada Day was great, now back to work - loaded Friday Nighthawk on CJOB
I was so blessed this Canada Day to be able to enjoy the day in such a unique way. During the sunny afternoon, I tracked the Osborne Village Street Festival enjoying the sights and sounds, seeing friends like Marshall Dana and Dave Shorr - happy birthday, Dave's dad! - music producer Chris Burke-Gaffney, Tammy my favorite waitress, and of course Chuck, David and Coleman, the Brothers Green, at the Osborne Village Inn, stage-managing the circulation of beer, entertainment and great memories (a special thanks from them and the Biz to Sgt. Bob Irwin and the Winnipeg Police Service for their efforts to keep the festival the safest and best family event in the city!).
Danny's Whole Hog outlet was a steady business of carnivores; nearby Andrew and Paula Debenham were handing out pamphlets and explaining their First Aid Training Centre concept to a surprisingly receptive audience; down the block at 120 Osborne, Fabutan, bless em, was handing out free sunscreen and advocating responsible tanning.
Northbound, outside of Noir, I bumped into Councillor Jenny Gerbasi navigating the sea of celebrants at River and Osborne. Not only got as voicer for the Nighthawk on CJOB, I confirmed her appearance on TGCTS next Monday. The water utility proposal will get a full working over that day.
South of Stradbrook, Vintage in the Village gave me a copy of Captain Canuck, the Winnipeg comic book from 1975, to give away on Kick-FM next Tuesday. One of my mentors in broadcasting, Howard Mandshein of CITI-FM, showered me with praise for my work in the talk realm, and introduced me to Kevin Donnelly of the MTS Centre who books in all the fabulous top-line music acts. Kevin graciously said a few words for broadcast later on CJOB.
The feature attraction at the Zoo stage, was Derek Miller, and he followed up his electric performance the night before with an amazing exhibition of jazz, rock, and rock-a-billy infused blues. He is the best act in the country right now.
PS. To join our Facebook group, go to http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=2344284529&ref=ts
Danny's Whole Hog outlet was a steady business of carnivores; nearby Andrew and Paula Debenham were handing out pamphlets and explaining their First Aid Training Centre concept to a surprisingly receptive audience; down the block at 120 Osborne, Fabutan, bless em, was handing out free sunscreen and advocating responsible tanning.
Northbound, outside of Noir, I bumped into Councillor Jenny Gerbasi navigating the sea of celebrants at River and Osborne. Not only got as voicer for the Nighthawk on CJOB, I confirmed her appearance on TGCTS next Monday. The water utility proposal will get a full working over that day.
South of Stradbrook, Vintage in the Village gave me a copy of Captain Canuck, the Winnipeg comic book from 1975, to give away on Kick-FM next Tuesday. One of my mentors in broadcasting, Howard Mandshein of CITI-FM, showered me with praise for my work in the talk realm, and introduced me to Kevin Donnelly of the MTS Centre who books in all the fabulous top-line music acts. Kevin graciously said a few words for broadcast later on CJOB.
The feature attraction at the Zoo stage, was Derek Miller, and he followed up his electric performance the night before with an amazing exhibition of jazz, rock, and rock-a-billy infused blues. He is the best act in the country right now.
That night at 9.30 PM on CJOB, the thrill of my sportscasting career was achieved when Canada's Greatest Athlete, Gene Kiniski, proved wrestling has no script when the former world champeen pontificated at length about this country, where it has been and where it is headed. So much for asking about Don Leo Jonathon and Verne Gagne.
Strong on the issue of low-cost education for all, Gene also explained his surprising role in the flag debate and proclamation of a national anthem.
In a 1956-ish national CBC telecast of the bouts from Toronto, the former footballer from Edmonton decried that a country so vast and strong should stand at attention for a flag and anthem of another nation (the Union Jack and God Save the Queen). Liberal cabinet ministers Robert Winters and Lester Pearson seized upon the outcry and Kiniski had influenced the national psyche.
After a day off the airwaves, I will return to CJOB tonight with a roster of fine guests and features, including Sean Crawford of MacDonald Youth Services; Brandon Sun managing editor James O'Connor; the latest installment of "keep your eye on the ball" -- the WRHA's attempt to divert public focus onto the salaries paid to life-saving emergency room doctors, rather than on the executive's own unjustified pay raises; a special look at the 4th of July festivities down south with special correspondent Tina G from L.A.; and another edition of Today in History with Professor Levinski.
We've already made news by cross-pollinating public affairs between both shows - check out what Policy Frog has to say about the spat between Mayor Katz and the MGEU, that started on campus radio and got ratcheted up on the AM band.
Don't forget to check out the CJOB archives to hear what you may have missed from my Nighthawk stint thus far; and I will return to double duty on Monday with TGCTS at 4 PM on 92.9 Kick-FM,
and at 9 PM Monday on the CJOB Nighthawk, I'll be joined by Progressive Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen.
PS. To join our Facebook group, go to http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=2344284529&ref=ts
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