Clarkson's jet trips cost $48,564
Free Press Parliamentary Bureau
2004-08-17 02:39:28
OTTAWA -- Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson used a government Challenger jet to go on 10 trips to New York for a mix of business and pleasure over the past two years at a cost of $48,564, Sun Media Newspapers has learned. National Defence Challenger jet logs obtained under access to information requests show Clarkson and husband John Ralston Saul made four trips in each of 2002 and 2003, and have made two trips there so far this year.
Most of the trips were overnight visits.
A search of all Rideau Hall news releases from January 2002 to present turned up nothing that refers to official business in New York. But Clarkson spokesperson France Langlois said there are several events she does as part of her duties that don't warrant a news release.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Still Proud to be a Canadian taxpayer?
Council ponders 'dangerous' dogs
Council awaiting study on options
Free Press staff
2004-08-17 02:39:29
City council could know by November what options it has in dealing with the threat of so-called "dangerous dogs." The environment and transportation committee received council approval last month to study what other similar cities -- specifically Kitchener and Windsor -- have done to curb dog attacks, said Jay Stanford, London's manager of environmental programs.
"Pit bulls and rottweilers, when they bite, it is a very significant bite," Stanford said. "Council is quite concerned about this."
While Kitchener council has passed a bylaw banning certain breeds, critics say such a solution is difficult to enforce. But that possibility is one committee members will consider.
"It's going to be a debate about the breed of an animal and pet owner responsibility," Stanford said. "You could have a great owner and a dog that is deemed dangerous. You could also have the opposite.
"Our stats aren't showing (an increase in bites). The very nature of a pit bull, a rottweiler, they draw attention."
It will be "the November time frame" before the committee has completed the report, Stanford said.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Monday, August 16, 2004
Only the state knows what is in your best interest.......Bow down to the authoritarians
Catholic women join video game campaign
CARLY WEEKS, Free Press Reporter and news services 2004-08-16 02:35:46
An organization representing 103,000 Roman Catholic women is adding its voice to the growing call to restrict sales of violent video games to minors. The decision by the Catholic Women's League, which met in London last week, comes as Ontario and Manitoba consider new laws and members of film classification boards across the country plan to discuss ways of cracking down on video game violence.
"This is what we can do at home, make sure our kids are not watching things that would be encouraging them to be that way (violent)," said Maria Odumodu, president of the Catholic Women's League, London diocese.
The league adopted a resolution to urge the provincial government to limit the sale, rental and distribution of movies, games and videos containing graphic or violent images.
"We're hoping that . . . an age has been established," Odumodu said. ". . . If you're younger, you can be protected."
Ontario and Manitoba have introduced legislation aimed at banning the rental or sale of explicit video games to minors. But the laws have yet to take effect and details, such as how games will be rated and what specific steps retailers will have to take, have not been worked out.
Meanwhile, members of film classification boards across the country will hold a conference call this week to discuss ways of cracking down on video game violence.
"I think the system that we will be putting in place will be user-friendly and it will address many of the concerns that parents have raised," said Henry Huber, chairperson of the Manitoba Film Classification Board.
Manitoba Culture Minister Eric Robinson has said the general idea will be to fine people who sell or rent violent video games to minors.
He has also said Manitoba and other provinces will likely adopt the rating system already used by the Entertainment Software Rating Board -- a body set up by the video game industry that labels games Mature or Adults Only if they have explicit content.
But critics have said the industry rating system allows some violent games to be designated E for everyone and have called on governments to adopt an independent rating system.
There are also concerns about how any new laws could be enforced.
The possibility of new laws has worried the Retail Council of Canada, a lobby group that represents some 9,000 businesses across the country.
"Our preference would be to work with a voluntary initiative," said spokesperson Doug DeRabbie in Toronto, adding the council already has programs in place to encourage retailers not to sell explicit games to children.
DeRabbie said if governments start licensing video game retailers, or start requiring violent video games to be stocked in separate areas from other titles, retailers could face significant cost increases.
To date, governments have clamped down a handful of times on individual games, sometimes long after the products have appeared on shelves.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
London Ontario - The Land of Milk and Honey
Hunt Club deal questioned
Councillors and city leaders are upset about manoeuvres to get the deal passed.
HANK DANISZEWSKI, Free Press Reporter 2004-08-16 02:35:48
London got shafted on a recent deal to pay the London Hunt and Country Club $1.1 million for about two acres of expropriated land, say some councillors and city leaders. "I don't know how I can now explain to the folks in Pond Mills they can't have a splash pad for their kids because there is no money," Coun. Cheryl Miller said yesterday.
The way council brought the deal back on the agenda after it was defeated has upset Gloria McGinn-McTeer, president of the Urban League of London.
"It's very discouraging for ordinary citizens who would not receive the same flexibility of procedure," said McGinn-McTeer.
The city needed the long narrow strip of land along Oxford Street West when it widened the road and built a new bridge across the river last year.
At a closed-door meeting in June, a deal to buy the land from the club for $1.1 million was rejected by council on a tie vote and sent back to board of control.
Two weeks later, the proposal was sent back to council with one extra dollar tacked on the offer, so council could avoid a reconsideration vote that requires a two-thirds majority.
At that closed-door meeting on June 28, the deal was approved.
The city's deal with the Hunt Club seems overly generous and council appeared to be willing to bend procedural rules to accommodate the club, McGinn-McTeer charged yesterday.
But Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell, who was involved in the negotiations with the Hunt Club, said it was a good deal for the city and avoided a costly and futile battle before the Ontario Municipal Board.
"If we had gone to the OMB, we would have risked $500,000 to $800,000 in additional costs and we would lose," said Gosnell, adding that was the advice given by the city's legal and real estate staff.
Gosnell said the city only paid about $200,000 an acre for the land.
The remaining costs were for disruption and realignment of the course, replacement of trees and vegetation and the construction of a buffer wall.
The Hunt Club was willing to compromise on its original demands, Gosnell said.
"I take my hat off to the members of the Hunt Club for being reasonable. They were protecting their interests as any property owner would."
Hunt Club officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.
A two-metre brick wall has been constructed to shield the golf course from Oxford Street. Gosnell said the city paid only for the cost of a standard concrete barrier and the Hunt Club paid the additional cost of constructing the more attractive brick wall.
Five council members, including Miller, voted against the deal.
The deal was "far too rich," said one of them, Coun. David Winninger.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
"CSIS had no comment."
Police push for surveillance fee
By JIM BRONSKILL
OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's police chiefs propose a surcharge of about 25 cents on monthly telephone and Internet bills to cover the cost of tapping into the communications of terrorists and other criminals.
The suggestion is intended to resolve a standoff between police forces and telecommunications companies over who should foot the expense of providing investigators with access to phone calls and e-mail messages.
Police say they cannot - and should not - be forced to pay the often hefty costs involved in carrying out court-approved wiretaps and message searches, warning that investigations will suffer if they are expected to pick up the tab.
"This is a very, very serious issue for us. It has a potential for really paralysing operations," said Supt. Tom Grue, a member of the law amendments committee of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.
But the country's largest phone company believes that telecommunications firms and law-enforcement agencies, not subscribers, should split the costs.
"We think there should be more of a partnership between the agencies and us, rather than getting the public to pay for it," said Bell Canada spokeswoman Jacqueline Michelis.
The matter has taken on new urgency as the federal government prepares legislation aimed at preventing criminals from using new digital technologies to shield their communications from police and intelligence agencies.
Authorities argue the measures are needed to keep up with sophisticated criminals involved in such activities as terrorism, money laundering, child pornography and murder.
The legislative proposals, outlined two years ago, have raised the hackles of privacy advocates and civil libertarians.
Bubbling in the background is the equally thorny debate about money.
Under the federal proposals, service providers would be required, when upgrading their systems, to build in the technical capabilities needed by police and intelligence agencies, such as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, to easily tap communications.
The controversy revolves around the ongoing costs of looking up phone numbers, hooking up to networks and relaying communications from one city to another - individual services that may cost anywhere from pocket change to thousands of dollars.
Currently, a hodgepodge of payment practices applies, from negotiation of fees by the parties involved to refusal by some police forces to accept the bills.
Grue, a member of the Edmonton police force, said the costs should be spread as widely as possible to avoid unduly burdening a small number of parties.
The association of police chiefs, which represents the majority of Canadian forces, argues one way to accomplish that is adding a fee to each subscriber's monthly telephone, cellular or Internet bill.
"We're thinking, amongst ourselves, 25 cents. Whether that would cover off all the costs, we don't know. We haven't done the analysis on it," Grue said.
"But if you impose too great of a burden or put too high of a fee, then it becomes less and less attractive, obviously."
Grue compares the proposed fee to the one customers already pay to support 911 emergency service, which ranges from about 25 to 50 cents a month depending on the type of telephone plan.
Bell Canada's Michelis wants to pull the plug on the idea of a wiretap charge.
"We don't really think the cost should be flipped over to the general public," she said.
"I don't know how popular that's going to be, something like that. Twenty-five cents is a really significant amount to add to everybody's phone bill."
Tom Copeland, a spokesman for the Canadian Association of Internet Providers, said tacking a fee on monthly bills "might work" but could create a burdensome administrative regime that hampers companies, especially small ones with few staff.
Grue said it's "a bit of a mystery" to him why the industry is decidedly less than enthusiastic about the idea. "All companies would have that fee on the bill, so it's not like you're giving one company a competitive advantage over another company."
Federal officials have convened meetings of the various players to try to work out the issues.
Internal Justice Department notes prepared following a roundtable session in December stressed the need "not to further exacerbate the situation."
Bell Canada says it has invested heavily in infrastructure to allow for wiretaps and is only trying to recover its costs on the day-to-day services provided to police and intelligence agencies.
"Bell has already spent millions of dollars on this initiative and it's going to continue costing us a huge amount of money going forward," Michelis said. "We are looking to get some sort of compensation on the ongoing costs."
For the police, it's a matter of principle.
"From our perspective, it's a very slippery slope to start paying for the execution of search warrants or any kind of a court order," said Grue.
Lucie Angers, a senior Justice Department lawyer, indicated the issues will be resolved at the political level.
"You have different interests at stake," she said. "There's good sums of money that are involved in taking these decisions."
Federal officials are interested in a solution that would "balance the costs," said Simone McAndrew, a spokeswoman for the Public Safety Department.
"Any proposal that is brought forward will be considered."
CSIS had no comment.
Copeland said if subscribers end up funding the surveillance effort through monthly fees, Canadians would "demand a great deal more explanation" about the initiative and how it affects their constitutional and privacy rights.
And should the money come from law-enforcement budgets, the public will be contributing "out the back door" through tax revenues, he noted.
"One way or another, Canadians are going to pay."
Friday, August 13, 2004
Another Liberal Innocent
Ouellet quits Canada Post, says MPs would never accept defence of spending
John Ward
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP) - Canada Post president Andre Ouellet has resigned, brought down by a critical audit and by what he said were the political realities of a minority government.
Ouellet, who was suspended with pay last spring during the sponsorship scandal, sent his resignation letter to Revenue Minister John McCallum on Thursday. McCallum said Ouellet will get no severance package, but will receive pension benefits from the Crown corporation.
In his letter, Ouellet said he is "retiring."
He said he believed many Canadians were satisfied with his explanations of the audit findings released July 29.
"Unfortunately there are still many, including the majority of the members of Parliament who will never accept them," he wrote.
He said the politics of minority government made it impossible for him to stay.
"Even if you would like to make a business decision in my case, it is very clear to me that at the end you will have to make a political decision."
Questioned later Thursday about that statement, McCallum said that's Ouellet's theory.
"At the end of the day, the government would have taken its responsibilities and made the appropriate decision," he said. "But I was still investigating. The decision probably would have come early next week. . . . Today's decision by Mr. Ouellet makes that unnecessary."
In accepting the resignation, McCallum noted Ouellet's almost 30 years in Parliament and cabinet.
"Nevertheless, the results of the audit were very troubling to the government and Mr. Ouellet's decision is welcome," the minister said.
He said Anne Joynt will remain acting president of the corporation pending appointment of a replacement.
Brian Pallister, the Conservative critic for Revenue, welcomed Ouellet's departure.
"It's a palpable sense of relief in the short term that someone who so obviously disrespected the trust that the taxpayers bestowed on him is out of that position," he said. "I think that's good.
"However, if we repeat that soap opera again in future with more bad Liberal actors I don't know if we're necessarily any better off."
The audit released July 29 reported Ouellet spent $2 million on travel and hospitality over eight years without supporting receipts.
It also concluded that the longtime Liberal insider and Quebec lieutenant circumvented corporate hiring practices and meddled in contract tendering.
Ouellet had been suspended since spring, after a report by Auditor General Sheila Fraser criticized unaccounted-for spending in the federal sponsorship program. The scandal involved government departments and Crown corporations, including Canada Post.
In the wake of that report, heads rolled. Alfonso Gagliano, who was public works minister when the sponsorship program was set up, was recalled as ambassador to Denmark. Jean Pelletier was fired as head of Via Rail, as was Marc LeFrancois, the rail corporation's president. Michel Vennat lost his job as head of the Business Development Bank.
Fraser's findings also prompted the follow-up audit at Canada Post by the private firm Deloitte Touche.
Last week, Ouellet defended his actions point-by-point in a letter accusing the government of trying to dump him and hinted that disgruntled employees may have had a hand in the accusations against him.
"I have had the feeling the government has been engaged in a process of constructive dismissal," Ouellet said in the letter, which McCallum released to the public.
The minister said he doesn't think Ouellet could sue over this claim.
"He wasn't dismissed, so its hard to say how he could have been dismissed wrongfully."
The Deloitte Touche audit found that virtually all 83 of Canada Post's "special hires" outside normal rules between 1996 and 2003 involved people Ouellet had referred to personnel officers, but his letter dismissed that as a small matter in a corporation with 70,000 employees.
The audit also said Ouellet intervened in the tendering process for three contracts worth a total of $35 million for goods and services.
"If I have done so, it was only to make sure that new suppliers were invited to bid," he said in his letter.
Ouellet moved to Canada Post after three decades in Parliament. He held a number of cabinet posts, including Foreign Affairs, Consumer Affairs, Labour and Postmaster General.
In 1980-81, he quarterbacked passage of legislation that transformed Canada Post from a government department to a Crown corporation.
© The Canadian Press 2004
Thursday, August 12, 2004
The Regime has spoken
Monkeys motivated with laziness 'cure'
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
Scientists have managed to turn procrastinating primates into workaholic monkeys by switching off a gene in the brain circuit.
Like many humans, monkeys tend to slack when a goal is distant, but work harder as a deadline looms. But scientists in the United States have found a gene therapy - blocking the brain messenger chemical, dopamine - that makes the animals work hard all the time.
The monkeys, which had been trained to perform simple computer tasks in return for treats, lost their sense of balance between a reward and the work required to earn it, says a team at the National Institute of Mental Health, in Bethesda, Maryland.
The team used a technique to turn off a gene that makes a receptor for dopamine, said Dr Barry Richmond. "The gene knockdown triggered a remarkable transformation in the simian work ethic. Without the dopamine receptor, they consistently stayed on-task and made few errors.
"This was conspicuously out of character for these animals," he added. "Like people, they tend to procrastinate when they know they will have to do more work."
Dr Richmond, Dr Zheng Liu, Dr Edward Ginns and colleagues report their work in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The find could lead to advances in treating conditions such as depression, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, in which the ability to associate work with reward is disturbed.
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004.
McGuinty takes on Spain and the European Union
Ontario won't give in on 407
KEITH LESLIE, CP 2004-08-12 01:53:43
TORONTO -- Ontario won't back down from its fight with the operators of the province's only toll highway, even if the Spanish government gets involved, Premier Dalton McGuinty vowed yesterday. "We're not going to shrink from our responsibility to stand up for the public interest," he said. "We're going to protect the Ontario public."
The Spanish-led consortium that signed a 99-year lease for the 407 with the previous Conservative government in 1999 has been locked in a bitter legal battle with the province over McGuinty's promise last year to roll back tolls on the highway.
In February, 407 ETR -- the company that runs the highway on behalf of the consortium -- raised tolls, rejecting a claim by the province that it has the right to approve all rate increases.
That increase was later approved by an independent arbitrator, a decision the government said it would appeal. The proceeds from the increase are being held in an escrow account until the dispute is resolved.
A report in yesterday's edition of the Globe and Mail said the dispute threatens to scuttle a trade deal between Canada and the European Union.
Dale Albers, speaking for 407 ETR, insisted yesterday that it wasn't the company's idea to escalate the dispute into an international incident.
"I think most people will agree this is clearly a political dispute, not a contractual dispute. Clearly that's what's concerning the Spanish government and the European Union."
Government "authorization and approval are not required to raise tolls," Albers added.
McGuinty said Spain shouldn't be surprised that Ontario is trying to block the company's bid to raise tolls without approval.
"People connected with the highway maintain that the deal they got from the Conservative government said that they effectively had the unilateral right to raise tolls for the next 94 years," he said.
"I'm convinced that the Spanish government would fully understand . . . that we have the legitimate right to pursue the matter before the courts." He also said he isn't aware of any Spanish government official commenting on the dispute, and vowed to continue the effort to reduce tolls.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Don't move! You might break your toenail!
Health group urges caution on playgrounds
Playground injuries saw 8,698 children taken to emergency rooms in Ontario in 2002-2003.
MEGAN LEACH, CP 2004-08-12 01:53:45
TORONTO -- A health organization is urging parents to take precautions with their kids to prevent injuries at playgrounds. New figures released yesterday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information show 8,698 children were taken to emergency rooms in 2002-2003 after being hurt at Ontario playgrounds.
Fifty-six per cent of the injuries involved kids aged five to nine during the summer season.
"The rate of playground injury doesn't seem to be decreasing, despite our best efforts," said Allyson Hewitt, executive director of Safe Kids Canada, a national injury prevention program run by Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.
Almost 600 of the injuries resulted in kids being admitted to hospital for at least one night. The study said most injuries were orthopedic in nature and involved upper extremities, such as a broken arms, wrists or elbows. There were 131 reported head injuries.
The institute said the number of playground-related injuries resulting in a hospital stay has remained relatively stable since 1998, fluctuating from a low of 420 in 1998 to a high of 644 in 1999.
"I don't think it's inconceivable that the Ontario information is relevant nationwide," said Hewitt.
She cites national data from the Canadian Hospital Injury Reporting and Prevention program from 1996 that showed injuries associated with playground equipment were sustained most frequently by kids five to nine years old.
The data also said about 56 per cent of those injuries were suffered by males and about 65 per cent occurred when the child fell off the playground equipment.
Hewitt believes the five-to-nine age group continues to be most at risk because of exposure.
"They're the group that are out there playing the most," she said. "Five-to-nine-year-olds are also the group that are beginning to test their limits. They're much more confident in their physical abilities, but they also still have developmental issues related to depth perception and other things that just make them more vulnerable."
Parents also play a role in keeping that age group safe.
"When the kids are under four and the parent is at the playground with them, they're more likely to be standing at the bottom of the slide to hold them," said Hewitt. "The five-to-nine-year-old is more likely to say, 'Mom, I can do it on my own' or, 'Dad, you don't have to catch me.' "
"The numbers are not intended to keep parents or children away from the playground," said Hewitt. "Playgrounds can be a great place to learn new skills and meet other children, as long as the right precautions are taken to ensure that no one gets hurt."
Hewitt recommends making sure children are supervised by an adult and that they wear clothes without drawstrings or scarves that can get caught in equipment.
She also suggests checking the playground structures and surfaces for anything that can cause injury, such as loose railings or unprotected edges.
Any safety concerns, such as faulty equipment or other hazards, should be reported to the owner-operator of the structure. Hewitt said that information is usually posted at the site and she recommends parents follow up to make sure the problem is addressed.
But playgrounds aren't the only culprit when it comes to children suffering injuries. The Canadian Institute for Health Information says other sports- and recreation-related injuries increased over the summer months during the 2002-2003 period.
Cycling remained the leading cause of recreation-related injury, with 665 cases of hospitalization from June to August, followed by playground injury. ATV-related injuries ranked third.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There will be no relief from anything for anyone in Ontario for the forseeable future
Lower water rates on hold
Hopes of having new rates in place for next year's budget are washed away.
JOE BELANGER, Free Press City Hall Reporter 2004-08-12 01:53:00
There will be no quick relief from high water rates for London taxpayers, city staff said yesterday. Representatives of large industrial and institutional users met yesterday with city officials for the first time to discuss proposed sewer and water rate hikes.
Though they'll meet again, it's clear hopes of having the new rates in place for the 2005 budget are dashed.
"Trying to get back (to council) in October doesn't look like it's going to work," Pat McNally, director of water and environment for the city, said yesterday.
"Everything we're talking about is on the table and open for discussion."
The proposed new rates redistribute the cost burden among users, resulting in a break for homeowners.
Yesterday's meeting was the first step in a public consultation process expected to take several months, well past the 2005 budget review in October.
Officials from London Health Sciences Centre, the University of Western Ontario and a coalition of major industrial users asked city officials for time to study the details and make counterproposals.
A recent city study, prompted by the newly formed Utility Watch group, found London residential users pay a greater share of sewer and water costs than commercial, industrial and institutional users.
Lower rates for business and industry were used as an economic development tool to attract industry, a practice used by few Ontario municipalities.
Most now have a flat rate for all users.
The city is proposing to reduce the average residential sewer and water bill eight per cent to $624 a year from $679.
Offsetting the reduction are proposed hikes for other users, including 29 per cent for commercial, up to 16 per cent for industrial and 25 per cent for institutional.
City staff say the changes would be revenue-neutral.
Aside from the need for more time, it's also clear the users don't like the proposed hikes.
"We feel we are different than other uses, and clearly that should be taken into account," said Dave Riddell, Western's associate vice-president.
All representatives at the table agreed the issues are complex.
As an example, Riddell explained that the university maintains its own water and sewer system. As well, he said Western continues to pay a grant in lieu of taxes and didn't reduce payments when it started paying for sewer and water in the mid-1990s.
"The other thing is that the cost of the system is based on the peak periods in summer, and that's when our consumption is lowest. So, why should we be paying capital costs for peak periods when we're helping to lower the peaks?"
Dave Gardner, plant manager for Casco Inc. who speaks for the large industrial users coalition, declined comment on the proposals until the city's reports can be studied.
"But we see the city is willing to work with us to come up with a mutually acceptable solution and they're going to give us the time to do so," Gardner said.
Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell, the city's budget chief, said that it is better to delay implementation of new rates than make a mistake.
"I would think that before we start moving the rates around we should know the impact on industrial and institutional users," Gosnell said.
"The worst thing we could do is create a rate structure for our industrial users that would be seen as a hurdle for new investment."
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Crime, Punishment and Damages in London, Ontario
Slaying victim's family sues cops
Vanessa Bol's family alleges in a civil suit that London police were negligent in protecting her.
KELLY PEDRO, Free Press Reporter 2004-08-12 01:54:00
The family of slain teenager Vanessa Bol is suing London police for nearly $1.4 million, claiming officers failed to protect their daughter. The civil suit names London's police services board, retired chief Brian Collins, the Ministry of the Attorney General and two London police officers.
In a statement of claim filed in a St. Thomas court July 29, the Bol family says police were negligent in protecting their daughter, who was shot and killed Nov. 3, 2003, in her Pond Mills Road apartment.
Emerson Dominguez, Bol's former boyfriend, is charged with first-degree murder.
The statement of claim contains allegations not yet proven in court.
A statement of defence has not been filed.
Douglas Gunn, lawyer for Vanessa Bol's parents Tom and Kim Bol, declined to comment yesterday.
Reached at his home yesterday, Collins said he had been out of town until recently and was unaware of the lawsuit.
Police Chief Murray Faulkner and Jan Richardson, chairperson of the police services board, said they couldn't comment.
"In cases like this, there's always due process and things that have to be followed," Faulkner said.
Along with Collins, the police services board and the ministry, the civil suit also names London police officers Kelly Ryan and David Young.
Ryan was the officer investigating an assault Bol reported to police Oct. 30, 2003.
Police searched for Dominguez that night, failed to find him and applied for an arrest warrant the next morning.
An OPP officer pulled over Dominguez later that evening, but didn't know city police were looking for him.
Police didn't send the arrest warrant application to the courthouse until Nov. 4, 200 * -- a day after Bol was killed.
Young was the officer responsible for bringing the arrest warrant application before a justice of the peace.
The negligence, the claim alleges, began on Oct. 30 and continued for several days.
"They (police) failed to properly respond to the Oct. 30, 2003, telephone call from Vanessa Bol reporting the assault on her and they failed to apprehend Dominguez on Oct. 30, 2003, immediately thereafter," the claim states.
"They failed to process the application for an arrest warrant and issue a warrant for Dominguez's arrest in a manner and within a time period that could be considered reasonable in all the circumstances."
The claim says police and the board should have known the policies and procedures surrounding processing arrest warrant applications did not ensure the safety of Londoners, particularly Bol.
Police also failed, the claims states, to have "a proper and efficient . . . system of notifying other law enforcement and/or government agencies of the existence of pending arrest warrants."
Bol's death was a direct result of that negligence, the claim states.
In the statement, Bol's parents are asking for $20,000 to cover their daughter's funeral expenses and another $700,000 in damages, plus legal fees.
Bol's sister, Tara, is also asking for $150,000, while Bol's daughter, Angelida, is asking for $500,000 and any other relief a court deems just.
The statement of claim also outlines Bol's relationship with Dominguez, which began in September 2001, saying Dominguez often physically abused Bol.
In February 2003, Bol gave birth to her daughter, Angelida, of whom Dominguez is the father.
On June 26, 2003, London police charged Dominguez with assaulting Bol. He pleaded guilty about a month later and was sentenced to 18 months' probation and ordered not to speak with Bol.
London police changed the way they operate following the Bol case.
They decided to use a "special interest" category under a Canadawide system listing arrest warrants, probation orders and charges.
The officer can click on the special interest category to tell other police departments an arrest warrant has been applied for.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Maybe we need police traffic helicopters just like old East Germany. Oh shit, I didn't really say that . . .
Photo radar back in mix
CP 2004-08-12 01:54:02
TORONTO -- Premier Dalton McGuinty refused yesterday to rule out the return of photo radar to Ontario highways, prompting his old nemesis Mike Harris to call the electronic surveillance "nothing but a cash grab." One day after giving towns and cities the right to install traffic cameras at intersections, McGuinty said he would also consider letting them use photo radar to help reduce speeding on city streets.
"Some municipalities are proposing that we have a return to photo radar," McGuinty acknowledged yesterday on his way into a cabinet meeting. "I'm not ruling it out."
London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco said it would be "premature to know what London's position is" on photo radar. "We haven't had a full discussion or dialogue of that type of a project or tool in the city of London for traffic management," she said yesterday.
DeCicco said the municipality needs more details from the provincial government concerning the project.
Promising to scrap photo radar helped Harris lead the Conservatives from third place to a majority government in 1995, and the former premier couldn't resist disputing McGuinty's claim that it reduces accidents.
"It did not contribute to making the roads safer," Harris told radio station CKAT in North Bay, where he was attending a charity golf tournament yesterday.
Harris yanked photo radar vans from the province's highways shortly after the Tories were elected.
Because photo radar involves snapping a photo of a speeding vehicle's licence plate, it's the registered owner of the vehicle who gets hit with the fine, whether that person is behind the wheel or not.
As a result, said Harris, would-be speeders were undeterred by photo radar because they knew they wouldn't lose demerit points, face higher insurance premiums or lose their insurance coverage if they got nabbed.
The comments came just one day after Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar, who on Tuesday gave municipalities permission to install red-light cameras, said the province was not considering the return of photo radar.
But McGuinty insisted the Liberal government has not given the idea much consideration and won't proceed with it unless and until it gets a request from local governments.
"Listen, nobody's made any kind of formal proposal to us, and until such time, I'm not giving it any thought," said McGuinty, although he warned governments have a duty to consider anything that could improve public safety. "Maybe the red-light cameras are going to be unpopular. But don't we have a shared responsibility to protect lives?"
Politicians from several large cities, including Toronto Mayor David Miller and Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, said residents are fed up with speeding and would support the return of photo radar.
"It's one of the biggest complaints that our councillors get," McCallion said. "We can't hire any more police; our police budget has hit the roof."
Hamilton city councillor Bernie Morelli, chairperson of the city's police services board, echoed McCallion's support for the idea.
Morelli said photo radar would complement the red-light cameras, the proceeds from which municipalities will be allowed to keep.
The opposition Conservatives and New Democrats are split on photo radar, with the NDP supporting its return. But both parties agree that the governing Liberals will likely reinstate it as a source of revenue for cash-starved municipalities.
"I believe that behind closed doors, in secret, they've been looking at photo radar for some time, and that it is coming," said deputy NDP leader Marilyn Churley.
Conservative critic Garfield Dunlop said his party still opposes photo radar and suggested McGuinty isn't as motivated by the promise of safer roads as he claims to be. "I heard his comments and I think he's very seriously considering it."
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Enter Joseph K
Toronto trash has potential, councillor says
Bernie MacDonald says London should look into the financial benefits of taking the garbage.
JOE BELANGER, Free Press Staff Reporter
2004-08-11 02:10:45
London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco "is chasing her tail" talking to Toronto's mayor about that city's garbage woes, says a veteran city councillor. "She's chasing her tail because if the province says we have to take Toronto's garbage, we have no choice," Coun. Bernie MacDonald said yesterday.
DeCicco rejected the charge.
"I'm shocked that a member of council would blast me or the coalition for doing the work that should have been done years ago," DeCicco said.
"The idea is to stop the garbage from coming here before it gets to that point."
MacDonald was responding to news reports about a meeting Monday between Toronto Mayor David Miller and area politicians from Southwestern Ontario, led by DeCicco, to discuss Toronto's future garbage plans.
Key issues include the daily truck traffic carrying Toronto garbage to a Michigan landfill, border delays and the need for a contingency plan in the event the border is closed -- temporarily or permanently -- to truck traffic.
Instead, MacDonald said London should be examining whether there's money to be made if it was forced to take Toronto's garbage.
"Is it a win-win situation? In my opinion, it could very well be and the issue is here and it's not going to go away. So, let's at least look at the potential," MacDonald said.
MacDonald said he will ask council to direct staff to prepare a report on the issue at its meeting in September.
Although Miller assured DeCicco Toronto would divert its trash to other private U.S. landfills if the border closed temporarily, there is no plan if it's closed permanently.
That could leave the Ontario Environment Ministry and the minister to decide where Toronto trash is dumped, such as ordering other municipalities to take it.
DeCicco, who met with Miller as chair of the Southwestern Ontario Trash coalition, said it's the first time Toronto has agreed to discuss the issue.
"If we're ever going to get a comprehensive (provincewide) solution from the ministry on (waste), you need all cities working together," DeCicco said.
The mayor also rejected the idea of a study to examine the pros and cons of taking Toronto's waste.
"We already know what it will do -- it will eat up our landfill."
In fact, to discourage the province or Toronto from using London's landfill, the city recently set a tipping fee of $150 a tonne for imported garbage.
"In the short term, it may bring in a lot of money," DeCicco said.
"But I don't need a study to know how quickly our landfill will fill up. Then where are we going to take our garbage? We'll be in exactly the same situation Toronto is in now."
Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell agreed. "The biggest issue is, where is the province on this?" Gosnell said.
"We've had 20 years of provincial governments passing the buck. This is a provincewide issue and I think the province has to step up to the plate and come up with some long-term solutions."
Coun. Roger Caranci, who chairs council's environment and transportation committee, said he would like to see a staff report.
"This is always a very difficult subject, an emotional subject," Caranci said.
"But it never hurts to get more information and find out what the issues are, the positives and the negatives," Caranci said.
Controller Gord Hume cautioned against any move that would reduce the lifespan of the city's landfill.
"Getting approval to open a new landfill is a long, expensive and complicated process," Hume said.
"But I'd never object to getting more information."
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
But of course......
City mulls red-light cameras
HANK DANISZEWSKI, Free Press Reporter
2004-08-11 02:11:20
London will take a go-slow approach to installing red-light cameras, Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco says. Ontario Transport Minister Harinder Takhar announced yesterday municipalities would be allowed to install red-light cameras, at their own expense, and pocket the fines paid by offenders.
DeCicco said the London police services board has supported red-light cameras for years, but the $200,000 cost of each unit means the city will have to move slowly.
"We are definitely behind the concept, but whether we can do it in the city of London from a financial point of view in the near future -- that's the question," DeCicco said yesterday, noting the city hasn't set aside any money for the cameras in its budget.
DeCicco said she is not even sure if the cost would come from the police budget or the city transportation budget, but she said a good safety and business case would have to be made for installing cameras.
"We would have to prioritize this among many other projects we are considering."
Takhar said red-light cameras are meant to improve safety, not generate cash. He noted one-third of fatalities at intersections are due to motorists who run red lights.
Toronto has had a pilot project since 2000, with 10 red-light cameras that are rotated around 38 intersections, and the city has reported lower collision and death rates as a result. Violators in Toronto are hit with a $190 fine.
Sgt. Tom O'Brien, head of the London police traffic management unit, said he receives many complaints about drivers running red lights.
He said the department believes red-light cameras can be an effective enforcement tool for police, especially at the busiest intersections.
But associations representing front-line officers are opposed to the cameras.
The Ontario Police Association holds its annual meeting in London this week and president Bob Baltin said putting more officers on the streets is a better use of limited funds.
"These are resources that should go to front-line policing," Baltin said.
Dan Axford, head of the London Police Association, said cameras are neither as portable nor as effective as traditional policing.
"Cameras are a quick fix for politicians who want to be seen doing something. The best deterrent is a police officer in a cruiser at the intersection."
Axford said motorists only would have to behave themselves at the limited number of intersections equipped with cameras.
The province would require signs to be posted warning motorists of cameras at intersections.
RED-LIGHT CAMERAS
- A red-light camera system consists of a camera enclosed in a housing unit mounted on a pole at an intersection. Loops with sensors are embedded in the road to trigger the camera unit as a vehicle approaches the red light.
- The camera takes two pictures of the rear of the vehicle. The first shows the vehicle in advance of the intersection when the signal is red, the second shows the vehicle in the intersection on the red signal.
- Photos are reviewed by police to determine if there is sufficient evidence to ticket the owner of the licence plate.
- Red-light cameras are used in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta and have been piloted in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton and in Peel, Halton and Waterloo regions since 2000.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Ode to London
Two Brothers are we,
Two gloomy men.
Our clock has lost its chime.
We ought to wind it up again.
But we can't find the time.
From "Whiskers & Rhymes" by Arnold Lobel
Rudolph The Red Nosed Money Grabber
Red-light cameras get green light
Keith Leslie
Canadian Press
TORONTO -- Red-light cameras could soon be snapping away at intersections across Ontario in an effort to slow down motorists anxious to avoid paying a $190 fine for running a red, Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar said Tuesday.
The province has given its blessing to those Ontario towns and cities that want to install the cameras to improve public safety -- and give their municipal budgets a lift at the same time, Takhar said.
But the measure, which will include signs to warn drivers about the cameras, is all about protecting motorists and pedestrians, Takhar told a news conference.
"One-third of all deaths at municipal traffic light intersections are due to red-light running,'' he said. "Red-light cameras are proven to reduce collisions and fatalities.''
Municipal Affairs Minister John Gerretsen said he's not worried about a public backlash similar to the one that prompted former premier Mike Harris to scrap photo radar shortly after the Conservatives came to power in 1995.
"There may very well be a motorist backlash, but remember, it's all about safety,'' Gerretsen said.
"Statistics clearly indicate that there are fewer accidents, fewer fatalities and fewer injuries'' in the half-dozen Ontario municipalities where red-light cameras have been used in a pilot project that began four years ago.
There are currently no plans to reinstate photo radar on Ontario highways, Takhar added.
The Ministry of Transportation says the red-light camera pilot project reduced collisions resulting in personal injuries and fatalities by close to seven per cent.
The owners of vehicles caught on camera will face fines of $155 plus a $35 surcharge, but won't earn demerit points, which they would if they were pulled over by police for the same offence.
The cameras, which snap a photo of the licence plate of a vehicle that enters an intersection after the light has turned red, won't be paid for by the province, Takhar said.
Municipalities will also be required to post signs warning motorists that the cameras are watching, in the hope that they'll think twice before racing through an intersection in an effort to beat the signal.
"Hopefully, if they know that the cameras are out there, and they think they might get caught, they'll stop running red lights,'' said Staff Supt. Gary Grant of the Toronto police traffic division.
"Red light cameras are an around-the-clock safety tool that will encourage motorists to drive safely, avoid collisions and save lives,'' Takhar said.
Mayors and regional chairs from the Greater Toronto Area told the province they wanted to make their own decisions on red-light cameras, and also wanted to keep the money generated by fines levied against motorists who are caught running a red.
"The government is showing confidence in Ontario municipalities by giving them the tools needed to do what they do best, serve and protect their citizens,'' said Ann Mulvale, president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
The Canada Safety Council calls the cameras "an important traffic safety measure'' and supported the province's requirement that signs be posted to warn drivers which intersections are being monitored by the cameras.
"Without the signs, the safety benefits are compromised,'' council president Emile Therien said in a release.
"The purpose is to prevent violations, not to make money from fines.''
The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police also offered its support for red light cameras, calling them ``a welcome measure to enhance road safety.''
© Canadian Press 2004
UWO diplomas across London develop curious cigarette burns
Tobacco grant fires up activist
The London Free Press
2004-08-10 02:13:21
The University of Western Ontario -- and every other medical school in Canada -- must reject all research grants from big tobacco, an outspoken UWO grad and anti-smoking activist said yesterday. "This is a cigarette burn on the diploma on my wall," Dr. Atul Kapur, who graduated in 1991, said in contacting The Free Press yesterday.
"I'm not picking on Western -- all medical schools and all universities should do this."
As president of Physicians For a Smoke-free Canada, Kapur admitted he doesn't know what funding the University of Ottawa, where he is a professor, gets from cigarette makers.
He made the comments after learning a UWO researcher is getting hundreds of thousands of dollars in research money from tobacco giant Philip Morris. A Western official stressed yesterday they don't, however, take donations from that industry.
But Kapur is still upset, noting he is considering holding back any donations to his alma mater until it bans all research grants from big tobacco.
Any concern from an alumnus is important to the school, a UWO development official said.
"It's fair to say Western alumni are by and large active and concerned about the university," said Grant Sterling, associate director of development. "I'd be really happy to speak with him to understand what his concern is."
For Kapur, his concern will end if Western introduces a policy against tobacco company research grants.
"That would be good enough for me," he said. "That would solve the problem for me."
A recently completed study, funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada, found that four of the 16 Canadian medical schools received tobacco research funding between 1996 and 1999. The funding represented less than one per cent of the total research grants the schools received.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Taxes will be going up again - significantly
Cop retention pay defended
The president of the Ontario Police Association says it's a stress buster.
The London Free Press
2004-08-10 02:13:34
Retention pay is "absolutely necessary" for large police forces to retain senior officers, the president of the Ontario Police Association says. "I think police officers are finding financial pressures, policing pressures and living with their families in major centres fairly stressful," Bob Baltin, a Peel Region police officer, said yesterday.
"London needed to remain competitive."
Baltin is in London today with 200 delegates from police associations across the province for a four-day annual general meeting at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn.
Baltin was reacting to the London Police Association's new contract giving officers a basic pay hike of eight per cent over two years and "retention pay" of three, six and nine per cent for eight, 17 and 23 years of service.
By the end of 2005, a first-class constable in London will make $69,290, not including retention or experiential increases, making them the best-paid in Ontario by a few hundred dollars.
Retention pay replaced what had been much smaller amounts of extra pay for years of service.
Baltin said London is one of 11 police forces in Ontario offering a retention pay clause. The first was negotiated by Toronto police three years ago.
"This is not breaking new ground," Baltin said.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, a spokesperson for the Toronto Police Association said retention pay has worked.
"I know a lot of the people I dealt with who left talked about the commute, the wear and tear on their vehicles and their bodies and the high cost of living," said George Tucker, the Toronto association's director of uniformed field services.
The Toronto force was losing between 300 and 500 officers a year to other police forces before retention pay was implemented, Tucker said.
"After the retention pay was fully implemented, (the departures) dropped off significantly. So, it definitely showed a decline," Tucker said.
In London, experiential pay will cost the force $440,607 this year, compared with the former service pay that cost $81,500 last year.
The total pay hike represents an addition of more than $2 million to the $55-million police operating budget, of which 93 per cent goes to salaries and benefits.
Some members of city council have challenged the pay hike and the necessity of retention pay when the city is already struggling with a 5.9-per-cent tax hike this year and potentially greater hikes the next two years.
During the 31 months since the last contract took effect in January 2002, 21 of 500 officers left London to join other forces, some for personal issues unrelated to pay, according to data and statements from police.
Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco, a police board member, defended her approval of the police contract, saying without it the city risked losing officers and would likely lose if the contract was taken to arbitration.
Police board chairperson Jan Richardson said retention pay was inevitable because an arbitrator would expect London to follow the recent trend of eight other boards.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
We were wrong, but now we are right!
Higher hydro prices predicted
CP
2004-08-10 02:14:01
TORONTO -- Electricity prices for Ontario homeowners and small businesses will likely rise next year once the price cap is lifted, but consumers can expect "fair" and "stable" rates, says Energy Minister Dwight Duncan. Duncan kicked off public hearings yesterday into Bill 100, the government's electricity restructuring act, by saying the Liberals are "not bound by ideology, but by what works for Ontario's future."
But NDP Leader Howard Hampton was among those predicting significantly higher power prices because the Liberals are following the former Conservative government's plan to privatize the province's energy sector.
"The more (Duncan) moves toward private, profit-driven electricity in Ontario, people's hydro bills are going to go up -- and they're going to go up significantly," Hampton told the committee.
Conservative critic John O'Toole said he was concerned about where electricity prices were going, too.
"I heard the minister say nothing about future prices except all signals are higher," O'Toole said. "I don't say that to be an alarmist . . . but all you have to do is look at the price of gasoline and its volatility."
John Wilson, an electrical engineer and former board member of Hydro One, warned private, for-profit power would result in much higher electricity prices that he said could threaten Ontario's economic stability.
"Studies demonstrate that competition requires consumers to pay more for electricity than they would pay with regulated pricing," he said.
The United States may well use free trade to force Ontario to accept competition from American utilities because the province is opening the electricity market to private firms, Wilson added.
"If the government doesn't close the market, NAFTA would permanently entrench high-priced, deregulated, private power in Ontario."
Duncan said opening up the market to the private sector is critical, considering it's expected to cost $25 billion to $40 billion to bridge the gap between supply and demand over the next 15 years.
The Society of Energy Professionals, which represents 6,000 electricity workers in Ontario, echoed Wilson's concerns about NAFTA and unregulated electricity prices.
"What we're really concerned about with this legislation is that prices are going to go up for electricity," spokesperson Andrew Muller told the committee.
Hampton said it didn't take long for the Liberals to break their promise to maintain a price freeze on electricity after last year's provincial election.
Duncan said it was a mistake for the Liberals to think they'd be able to hold prices steady. The price cap, which the Tories had said would pay for itself over time, actually cost Ontario consumers $1 billion in just one year.
"We were wrong," he said.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Anne Marie DeCicco an expert on trash
Toronto gives pledge on trash
JULIE SACCONE, Free Press Reporter
2004-08-10 02:14:06
Toronto Mayor David Miller assured a delegation of area politicians that Toronto does not intend to unload its trash in Southwestern Ontario, London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco said after a meeting yesterday. DeCicco led a delegation of members of the Southwestern Ontario Trash Coalition, including the mayor of Kitchener and the warden of Essex County, to Toronto to talk about trash issues.
"(Miller) is not looking to bring Toronto trash to London or to other communities," DeCicco said.
"That is not where he is going."
DeCicco, chairperson of the coalition, has written several letters to Miller since he was elected in November. This was the first face-to-face meeting on the issue.
Toronto has been trucking its trash to the Carleton Farms landfill in Michigan's Sumpter Township since its Keele Valley landfill closed in 2002.
Shipping the Toronto trash adds 125 trucks a day to the traffic volume on Highway 401 and trash trucks have been involved in several crashes.
DeCicco told Miller London and other municipalities are not interested in taking Toronto's garbage if trucks can't cross the border because of a border closing, either from a security emergency or by American legislation.
"(Miller) understood that, respected that and indicated that it would not be his intent to use a municipal landfill within the . . . coalition area."
If Michigan ever closed its border to Canadian trash haulers, Miller said, Toronto's garbage would end up in privately owned dumps in other parts of the United States.
"The remaining concern is if the entire U.S. border is closed to interstate commerce," said Miller, adding a plan is needed to deal with such a situation.
DeCicco stressed Toronto is trying to reduce its trash.
The number of loads each day being transported has dropped 10 per cent compared to this time last year, she said.
"Some progress is at least a recognition of their efforts and the fact that because we have been very vigilant, we are staying on top of this and they know that," she said.
DeCicco said if for some reason the border closed, the Environment Ministry and the minister have the ultimate authority in deciding what happens to garbage. "We want to start working now as we have been over the last number of years in making sure the province is looking at longer-term solutions."
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
The sadly forgotten Allaround Limousine case continues
Allaround Limo case takes another twist
Barry Wells - Scene Magazine
City council has endorsed the environment and transporation commitee's recommendation to approve a zone-to-zone rates structure for Allaround Limousine - a rate structure that is identical to that used by Checker Limousine with a $5.50 minimum fare.
Ironically, Allaround Limo's use of Checker's rate structure has previously led to complaints from the local taxi industry and more than 15 bylaw charges are still pending against Allaround's drivers for not charging the bylaw's purported $30 minimum fare prescribed for "van limousines".
The impact of the city's reversal on Allaround's upcoming Provincial offences trial and the city's injunction application hearing are unknown.
Councillor Roger Caranci, chair of the ETC, says that "the taxi - limo task force will make recommendations for any future amendments to the bylaw, but they [Allaround] were using an unapproved fare structure."
However, Ed Corrigan, Allaround's former lawyer, had previously argued that Allaround had obtained defacto council approval for its executive - class limousine rate structure after it had been submitted the clerk's office and in return received their 2003 and 2004 broker and limo licenses. Mr. Corrigan also argued that it wasn't Allaround's fault that the clerk's office didn't pass the rate structure along to city council for approval.
Allaround Limousine is now being represented by London lawyer Hamoody Hassan.
As reported by Scene Magazine - August 5 - August 18 2004 \ issue 472
Monday, August 9, 2004
Well, you voted for him - what did you expect from a Liberal?
McGuinty trying to explain
CP
2004-08-09 01:51:35
TORONTO -- Critics have dubbed it Dalton's damage control tour: a month-long road trip across Ontario designed to help shore up the damaged credibility of the province's promise-breaking premier. Next on the tour: expected visits to London, Chatham and Barrie this week.
But rivals and academics alike have their doubts that Premier Dalton McGuinty will be able to shake up the dubious political reputation that he's earned over the scant 10 months since claiming victory in last year's provincial election.
"Some people say, 'Well, maybe you made too many promises, McGuinty,' " the premier said during a luncheon speech in Markham last week.
"Maybe I did, but I'd rather be accused of being overly ambitious for Ontarians than to side with the cynics."
McGuinty said Ontario residents don't know the extent of the $5.6 billion deficit left by the previous Conservative government, and the near-impossible choices the Liberals faced after winning last October's general election.
But he's confident people will forgive him for the hated new health-care premium the province implemented in May if he takes the time to explain why he broke his promise to balance the budget and freeze taxes.
"I'm convinced most people don't know what motivated us to do that," McGuinty said. "I don't think they really understand the choices that we faced were to make dramatic cuts to public services."
Henry Jacek, a professor of political science at McMaster University in Hamilton, said McGuinty will have to go further than that and actually say he's sorry if he hopes to shed the promise-breaker label. "If he doesn't put the problem behind him by a strong apology, by admitting the mistake, he can't put it behind him, and it will continue to dog him," Jacek said.
Voters remember McGuin-ty's signing of a taxpayer protection pledge during last year's election campaign, and it's an image they won't soon forget, Jacek added.
"I think what really keeps this issue alive is he won't come out and make a strong statement that he made a mistake in signing that pledge. He still looks too much like he's sweeping it under the carpet."
Just before hitting the road, McGuinty made key changes in the premier's office, hiring longtime Liberal Jim Warren as executive director of communications to replace the departing Sheila James.
Opposition critics say Warren's appointment won't help McGuinty recover from the negative publicity he's been bombarded with since the May 18 budget.
"The premier doesn't have a communications problem; he's got a credibility problem," said New Democrat House Leader Peter Kormos. "He's off on his Dalton damage control summer tour, but people aren't buying it."
Conservative critic Gar-field Dunlop said people won't soon forget the image of McGuinty on television in September, promising he would not raise taxes despite the economic consequences of SARS, mad cow disease and last year's blackout.
"This guy would do anything to become premier, and he'd promise you anything you wanted to hear," said Dunlop. "I don't think for a second the people of Ontario are dumb enough to believe that this guy didn't know exactly what he was doing."
The opposition list a string of other broken Liberal promises: capping hydro rates, rolling back Highway 407 tolls, freezing development on the Oak Ridges Moraine and lowering auto insurance rates.
Jacek said he doesn't think McGuinty lied to voters, but simply got bad advice, especially when the Liberals decided to make the taxpayer protection pledge the centrepiece of the campaign.
"He didn't have to make so many promises, and he certainly didn't have to make the tax promise, because he would have gotten elected without it," Jacek said.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Busy bodies get righteous again
Western rapped for taking tobacco grant
The London Free Press
2004-08-09 01:51:43
The University of Western Ontario's medical school is getting about $500,000 in research money from a tobacco giant -- earning a rebuke from a fellow academic who calls the acceptance of big-tobacco dollars "terrible." "That seems contradictory to me," said University of Toronto Prof. Joanna Cohen, who recently completed a study, funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada, on links between medical schools and tobacco money.
"It's terrible that medical schools are taking tobacco money of any sort -- you think they would know better," said Cohen, who teaches public health sciences.
But a Western official said there's nothing wrong with accepting the money offered by tobacco giant Philip Morris.
"Why not?" said Jack Bend, associate dean of research at Western's Schulich medical school.
"This is such a small amount of the total faculty funding. This (specific project) has nothing to do with the tobacco industry."
The research project in question will last until either 2005 or 2006, UWO officials said. The grant is worth between $500,000 and $640,000, according to differing Western reports.
It focuses on the effects of cadmium, a toxic metal, on pregnant women and unborn babies, Bend said, adding there are no other research, or philanthropic, gifts from cigarette makers.
Dr. George Cherian, who received the funding, stressed he doesn't have to answer to Philip Morris.
The money, he added, does not come directly from the company.
"They are giving money to a research corporation and they decide who should be funded."
Bend calls cigarettes the "single biggest health hazard we face."
But research costs money.
"You can't totally stop these kind of interactions -- then you potentially shut off the opportunity for that faculty member to be successful."
But to Cohen, any past or current association with cigarettes should be butted out by Canadian medical schools.
"It's time for medical schools . . . to start discussing these issues and start discussing the ethics. Do they want to be associated with these companies?"o
Because several levels of Western officials vet any funding offer, it's unlikely the school or Cherian would allow the relationship to affect research, Cohen noted.
But she charged it's the sterling credibility of both the school and its faculty that likely attracted the tobacco company's support.
"Once they give money to UWO's medical school, they can say, 'Look who we're funding. We're funding a professor in a prestigious medical school to do research; therefore, we're the good guys.'
"For them to continue to sell and market their product and make profits they have to be seen in a positive light. One of the ways they do this is by linking themselves to credible organizations."
A spokesperson for Philip Morris, however, took exception to that theory.
"We absolutely disagree," Jennifer Golisch said from Richmond, Va. "(Our funding) program is not publicized."
While cadmium can be found in cigarettes, Cherian said his work has "nothing to do" with big tobacco's interest and stands by his funding sources.
"You may think it's bad to get money from alcohol or tobacco, but I don't have that kind of feeling."
Cohen's study found between 1996 and 1999, four of Canada's 16 medical schools got research money from big tobacco.
The school names were not published and Western officials didn't confirm their funding sources from those years.
The study found big-tobacco research grants represented less than one per cent of the faculties' total funding from 1996 to 1999.
Five of Canada's 16 medical schools refused to take part in the survey.
None had policies regarding funding from tobacco firms, the study found.
Western has strict guidelines about funding and potential conflicts, Bend said, and someday it could include an outright ban on tobacco money.
"Our faculty of medicine and dentistry is a very, very important part of the London community. If this is a huge problem among our community . . . I think (we) will take a closer look at it."
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Councillors fear remorse over spending - yes more! - taxpayer money
Police pay hikes slammed
Some councillors say their colleagues on the police board should have put the city first.
Readers divided on police pay raises
The London Free Press
2004-08-09 01:51:45
City council representatives on the London police services board should put the interests of city taxpayers first when voting on wage increases for police, says Ward 6 Coun. David Winninger. Commenting on pay raises granted to the city's 500 police officers, Winninger yesterday chastised his two council colleagues on the police board -- Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco and Ward 1 Coun. Ab Chahbar -- for supporting the pay increases.
"I'm concerned that the city's representatives on the police board would be voting for something we can't afford," he said.
"If they are our financial watchdogs at the police board, perhaps they should be siding with the city rather than the police."
Other council members also weighed in on the raises yesterday, with most unhappy about it.
"It's been frustrating at council year by year to reluctantly go along with a tax increase that will hurt fixed-income seniors and struggling businesses," said Coun. Rob Alder.
Increases in last year's police budget came with promises of more police on the streets "but I'm pressed to notice a difference year after year," Alder said.
Chahbar defended the pay increase yesterday, but said now it has been approved, he expects the police force to meet council's budget expectations for 2005.
"You can take this to the bank from me," Chahbar said.
"The police budget increase will be exactly what we as a council instructed the police chief and police services board to come in with."
The pay increase approved by the police board is between eight and 14.5 per cent over two years.
The contract increases basic pay eight per cent over two years and adds "retention pay" of three, six and nine per cent for eight, 17 and 23 years of service.
Winninger doesn't believe that much retention pay -- designed to keep officers from moving to other forces -- is needed in London, since there's little turnover on the local force.
"This contract comes at a time when the police continue to press their demands for more officers and to expand their facility," he said.
"Where is the money going to come from? Is it going to be taken from social agencies or the library board?"
He noted council's budget striking committee has set a target of three per cent for London's 2005 tax increase.
The police were asking for an eight-per-cent increase in preliminary budget discussions, he said.
Alder doesn't expect police to go along with council's request for city departments to seek modest 2005 budget increases.
"I expect the police will come in with two- or threefold what every other department will ask for," he said.
Alder said he hopes the majority of council members will realize this year that something has been done to bring spending under control, "not just for the police, but across the board."
DeCicco could not be reached for comment yesterday. She earlier defended her approval of the police contract, saying without it
the city risked losing officers and had no hope of successfully challenging it in arbitration.
But Controller Bud Polhill noted the Ottawa police services board has gone to arbitration to challenge the increase sought by police there.
The London police services board should have waited for the outcome of the Ottawa arbitration before voting on the salary package, said Polhill.
"I don't think you just accept what's asked of you off the bat. I think you're not doing your job if you don't take every opportunity to save the taxpayers money."
Controller Gord Hume said yesterday the police pay increase will restrict council's flexibility to "do other things, whatever that might be."
Hume said he's also concerned about the message the police contract sends to other unions.
"It will have implications on the next round of budget and contract debates," he said.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Saturday, August 7, 2004
Anne Marie wants to marry a cop or a firefighter
Few London officers leave for other forces
The London Free Press 2004-08-07 02:10:20
London taxpayers will pay $2 million more for wage hikes designed to retain police -- even though few of this city's cops have left for another force in recent years. During the 31 months since the last contract took effect in January 2002, 21 of 500 officers have left to join other forces -- some for personal issues unrelated to pay, according to data and statements from police.
London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco, who voted to hike pay as a member of the police services board, defended her vote yesterday, saying the city risked losing officers and had no hope of challenging the extra pay before an arbitrator.
Every large police board in Ontario has agreed to similar deals except one, Sudbury, which lost before an arbitrator, DeCicco said.
That's news to the police board in Ottawa, which is fighting before an arbitrator to reject retention pay similar to that agreed to in London.
A member of that board, Michel Bellemare, who's also a city councillor, said too much money is at stake to give in, especially when Ottawa, like London, hasn't had problems retaining officers. "I think there is enough at stake to arbitrate," said Bellemare, noting Ottawa taxpayers had just been socked with a 2.9-per-cent tax hike -- less than half the increase this year in London.
A decision from the arbitrator is expected before summer's end.
With a decision expected soon, London's police board could have waited a few weeks before signing the contract, Cont. Russ Monteith said. "If Ottawa won, that would suggest we could, too."
But DeCicco, who learned of the Ottawa arbitration from The Free Press after she voted, disagreed, saying she'd have approved the contract even if she had known a ruling on Ottawa was imminent.
That drew a stern response from Coun. Fred Tranquilli.
"I'm not so quick to write a cheque for $2 million," he said.
A Northern Ontario city like Sudbury may struggle to retain police, but London, like Ottawa, does not, he said.
The pay hike in London is between eight per cent and 14.5 per cent over two years.
Earlier calculations placed the maximum hike at close to 20 per cent over two years, but police provided more detailed information yesterday.
The contract hikes basic pay eight per cent over two years and adds "retention pay" of three, six and nine per cent for eight, 17 and 23 years of service.
But that retention pay replaced what had been much smaller amounts of extra pay for years of service.
The hikes make London police the best-paid in Ontario, albeit by a tiny sum, said Dan Axford, head of the London Police Association.
The 10 or so forces that have approved contracts recently have salaries within a few hundred dollars of one another, he said.
The impact of the pay hike will be felt at budget time, Coun. Harold Usher said. "There is only so much the taxpayer can bear."
The city may not be able to hire as many officers, he said.
"Retention pay is difficult to swallow," police board chairperson Jan Richardson said.
But it was necessary, she said, because an arbitrator would expect London to follow the trend of eight other boards. And arbitration, even if successful, creates animosity between police and the board.
The London Free Press © 2004
It pays to get in good with London City Council
Why doesn't the Hunt Club pay for London's birthday?
Posted by News Hound on Thursday August 05 2004 @ 10:08PM EDT - altlondon.org
London is headed for it's 150th birthday party and City Council is divided over how to celebrate. Some want to spend up to $350,000 for a party. Others say it is too much to justify at a time of budget restraints and cutbacks.
What restraints? The city has tons of money to throw away. And they already have thrown a big chunck of your money at a private golf course.
According to Scene Magazine, available in news stands today, the city did an about face on an earlier decison and is paying the Hunt Club $1.1 million for slightly more than 2 acres of frontage on Oxford St.
The deal originally came before council on June 14 and failed to pass on a 7-7 vote according to Scene. To overturn that decison, would require a 2/3's vote of council, unless it was a different deal. Well, it was. The deal was different by a whole $1.00. It's a fine line our city council swaggers along, eh?
In any case, presumably on the basis of the dollar, councilors who had voted against the package now voted in favor of it. They were, -- who else? -- Bud Polhill and -- guess! -- Roger Caranci. And Judy Bryant. What? You bet.
According to Scene, Bryant cannot recall supporting the deal.
The deal which adds yet another one million dollars to the cost of expanding Oxford St. for the pleasure of salivating developers, gives Londoners 2.019 acres in a strip along Oxford St. West, and compensates the Hunt Club for "injurious affectation, disturbance, and tree and vegetation damage."
On Princess St. they are replacing water mains. I bet there is a lot of injurious affectation, disturbance, and tree and vegetation damage going on there. Hey guys! There are millions to be had!
However, let's be practical here. The Hunt Club has our money. Surely they can take $350,000 and give it back in the form of a birthday bash. Just to say thanks for the loot, you know?
Interestingly, you didn't read anything about this in the Free Press. It must be either the city or the Hunt Club is an advertiser.
Originally posted to Altlondon.org
Orthorexia - Eating Healthy Food may be pathological
Dr. Stephen Bratman: inventor of this new 'disease'
Thanks for coming out!
What is Orthorexia?
by Steven Bratman, MD
(inventor of the term "Orthorexia Nervosa")
It’s great to eat healthy food, and most of us could benefit by paying a little more attention to what we eat. However, some people have the opposite problem: they take the concept of healthy eating to such an extreme that it becomes an obsession. I call this state of mind orthorexia nervosa: literally, "fixation on righteous eating."
Such people are sometimes affectionately called "healthfood junkies." However, in some cases, orthorexia goes beyond a mere lifestyle choice. Obsession with healthy food can progress to the point where it crowds out other activities and interests, impairs relationships, and even becomes physically dangerous. When this happens, orthorexia takes on the dimensions of a true eating disorder, like anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
Do you wish that occasionally you could just eat, and not think about whether it’s good for you? Has your diet made you socially isolated? Is it impossible to imagine going through a whole day without paying attention to your diet, and just living and loving? Does it sound beyond your ability to eat a meal prepared with love by your mother – one single meal – and not try to control what she serves you? Do you have trouble remembering that love, and joy, and play and creativity are more important than food? Have you gotten your weight so low that people think you may have anorexia?
If you recognize yourself in these questions, you probably have orthorexia.
For a somewhat more formal way to evaluate whether you may have orthorexia, you can take the orthorexia self-test.
If you are concerned that you (or someone you care about) may need help recovering from orthorexia, please see my book Health Food Junkies for practical advice on how to overcome health-food obsession. You can also contact me. However, if your orthorexia is so severe that you can't even keep up a minimum healthy weight, you really should see an eating disorder specialist. See the comments and suggestions at the end of the story about Kate Finn, on the home page of this site.
— Steven Bratman, M.D.
©2003 Steven Bratman, M.D.
Visit this guys homepage
Obesity : the new disease - the new form of control
Fat activists protest diet industry
NEW YORK (AP) -- Unashamed of their size, fed up with fat jokes, and angry at the national obsession with dieting, overweight activists are mounting a feisty protest movement against what it calls the medical establishment's campaign against obesity.
"We're living in the middle of a witch hunt and fat people are the witches," said Marilyn Wann of San Francisco, a militant member of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. "It's gotten markedly worse in the last few years because of the propaganda that fatness, a natural human characteristic, is somehow a form of disease."
The association, known as NAAFA, holds its annual convention starting Wednesday in Newark, New Jersey, bringing together activists for social events and workshops on self-acceptance, political advocacy and the "fat liberation" movement.
"I hope we can be a viable force of sanity in the midst of hysteria," said NAAFA spokeswoman Mary Ray Worley of Madison, Wisconsin. "I've found allies in all kinds of unexpected places, but overall there's a lot of animosity. Some people act like obesity is the next worst thing after terrorism."
The convention comes as the movement is scrambling to counter federal government pronouncements that obesity is a "critical public health problem" costing more than $100 billion and 300,000 lives per year.
Jeannie Moloo, an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman who counsels overweight clients at her nutrition practice in Sacramento, California, empathizes with the activists' fight against bias, but says they should be wary of oversimplifying obesity-related health issues.
"Some people can be overweight all their lives and not end up with diabetes or heart disease or hypertension," Moloo said. "But the majority are probably going to develop one of these life-altering conditions."
Fat-acceptance groups were dismayed when federal officials announced last month that Medicare was discarding its declaration that obesity isn't a disease. The policy change will likely prompt overweight Americans covered by Medicare to file medical claims for treatments such as stomach surgery and diet programs.
"Obesity is not a disease," insisted Allen Steadham, director of the Austin, Texas-based International Size Acceptance Association. "All this does is open the door for the diet and bariatric surgery industries to make a potentially tremendous profit."
Most fat-acceptance activists endorse the concept of eating healthy food and exercising regularly, but they oppose any fixation on losing weight and contend that more than 95 percent of diets fail. They also decry the rapid growth of stomach-shrinking surgery; the number of such procedures has quadrupled to 100,000 annually since 1998.
Wann depicts bariatric surgery as "stomach amputation" that imposes anorexia on patients and exposes them to long-term risks. Kelly Bliss, a self-described "full-figured fitness instructor" from Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, predicts that future generations will disapprovingly look back on stomach surgery as "comparable to lobotomies."
Bliss, who coaches clients by phone and in fitness classes, subscribes to a philosophy called "health at every size" -- preaching that health, fitness and self-esteem can be achieved independent of weight.
"There's a war on obese people, and I'm treating the casualties - people whose hearts are being ripped out," Bliss said.
NAAFA and others have tried to combat what they see as rampant discrimination against fat people, but progress has been sporadic. Southwest Airlines, for example, resisted protests targeting its policy of requiring large passengers to purchase a second ticket if they can't fit in a single seat.
"People want to fight for their rights, but there's a lot of shame involved," Steadham said. "It takes a whole lot of determination to stick through it to the end."
A few cities, including San Francisco, explicitly outlaw weight discrimination. Michigan is the only state to do so, but its Civil Rights Department said only five of 1,696 job discrimination complaints filed in 2003 involved weight.
Walter Lindstrom, a San Diego attorney specializing in weight-discrimination cases, said overweight plaintiffs usually must prove that acts of bias against them are covered by federal laws prohibiting discrimination against disabled people.
"These cases are more difficult from a proof standpoint, and also because you're dealing with a very unpopular class of clients," Lindstrom said. "Juries are generally disgusted with your average size-related plaintiff. You have to get past that, and have them see the plaintiff as someone with a true medical problem."
Many fat-acceptance activists were heartened by this year's publication of "The Obesity Myth" by University of Colorado law professor Paul Campos, who contends that diet promoters, drug companies and weight-loss surgeons have whipped up an irrational panic over weight.
Campos shares many of the activists' views but says their effectiveness has been limited.
"The movement has found itself marginalized by drawing its membership and leadership from the far extreme of obesity," he said. "It will be more successful if it can attract the two-thirds of Americans who are being told by the government that they weigh too much -- the I-want-to-lose-20-pounds crowd who are starting to feel a certain amount of resentment from the constant haranguing they're getting."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press.
Theft is not theft if you are a politician - Svend ponders future employment with the treasury department
Svend spared any jail time
Judge says former MP suffered enough
Lori Culbert
CanWest News Service
Saturday, August 07, 2004
VANCOUVER - Former MP Svend Robinson yesterday admitted in court that he stole an expensive diamond ring during a time of "devastating stress," but the judge ruled that losing his long-time job and suffering "public vilification" were punishment enough. The judge handed him a conditional discharge, meaning Mr. Robinson will not have a criminal record or serve any jail time.
"This is a gut-wrenching tale of a man who has achieved much, more than most, and who has taken a fall, probably more than most. All for a bauble, a trinket, a ring," said Judge Ronald Fratkin.
"On the balance, I'm satisfied that the credits outweigh the debits for Mr. Robinson. I'm satisfied that what he has gone through, the public would say is enough.
"The end result is that Mr. Robinson needs help. He's fallen a long way. He has embarrassed himself. Further, he is always going to be remembered for this. This is not going to go away. As I say, the public, at least in Canada, I think, has always lived by the guiding principle: You don't kick somebody when they're down. Mr. Robinson is down."
Another Canadian motto: if the government kicks you, don't kick back.
Mr. Robinson's supporters in the downtown Vancouver courtroom appeared relieved by the decision by the Richmond provincial court judge. However, New Westminster resident Leni Szameit, 47, slammed the ruling as "a joke" as she walked out of court.
Outside court, Mr. Robinson, and his high-profile Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby, refused to take any questions from the dozens of journalists.
In a brief statement, Mr. Ruby said his client "is grateful that the court's judgment reflects the understanding of the role of the exceptional stress under which he has laboured and the role of a life of unusual accomplishment."
Before he was sentenced, Mr. Robinson made a short statement to the court in which he said the ordeal has been a "shattering experience," that he recognizes the seriousness of his offence, and that it was "devastating" for him not to seek a seventh-straight seat in June's federal election.
"I feel a deep sense of remorse and shame for my totally unthinkable actions. I want to tell your honour that this isn't who I am and I am taking every possible step to ensure that this terrible mistake is never repeated."
A joint statement of facts admitted by the Crown and defence said Mr. Robinson was suffering from an unspecified strain when he stole a ring, valued by the Federal Auction Service at $64,500, from a jewelry auction in Richmond, B.C., on Good Friday, April 9.
Remember now folks - it was only "a bauble, a trinket, a ring,". I wonder if Mr. Robinson also stuffs cavier down his pants?
Mr. Robinson's defence lawyers called for a conditional discharge, suggesting it was a moment of irrationality by a man who turned himself in to police.
About Mr. Robinson's mental state at the time of the theft, Mr. Ruby told the judge, "He had suffered extensive stress and lack of sleep, and some psychological issues identified by his therapist.
"This was indeed a cry for help."
Or perhaps a strategic move?
Special prosecutor Len Doust suggested the value of the ring, Mr. Robinson's unusual behaviour at the auction after the theft, and his four-day delay in reporting the crime to police should culminate in a conviction. Mr. Robinson's detractors, Mr. Doust said, would say he was nothing more than a "common thief" who had earlier been shopping for a diamond ring for his partner, Max Riveron.
Judge Fratkin, who agreed with the Crown and defence that Mr. Robinson had given much to the public during his 25 years as MP, ruled a discharge did not violate the public's interest.
He also placed Mr. Robinson on probation for one year, and ordered him to attend psychological counselling and perform 100 hours of community service.
Mr. Ruby submitted 21 letters of support to the court, some of them written by Mr. Robinson's political opponents. The authors included Conservative deputy leader Peter MacKay, Liberal MP and Cabinet minister Stephen Owen.
(The Vancouver Sun)
Reprinted in The National Post © 2004
Friday, August 6, 2004
City of London to bribe police to remain on job
London police get big pay hike
The wage increases of seven to 20 per cent prompt the mayor to call for a review.
APRIL KEMICK, Free Press Reporter 2004-08-06 02:38:08
London police officers will get two-year wage increases ranging from 7.8 per cent to roughly 20 per cent, prompting the mayor to call for a new way to negotiate contracts in Ontario. "We want to ensure we have solid policing, but it has to be at a price we can afford," Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco said at a police board meeting yesterday.
The basic salary increase approved by the board yesterday gives officers and civilian staff a 4.3-per-cent increase retroactive to Jan. 1, a 2.75-per-cent increase effective Jan. 1, 2005 and another 0.75-per-cent increase beginning July 1, 2005.
But officers with more than eight years experience will get additional increases of three, six and nine per cent each year of the two years, depending on how long they've served.
The new experiential pay -- designed to keep officers in London -- replaces an earlier system called service pay. That was used to give officers bonuses or extra vacation time.
Service pay cost the board $81,500 last year. But experiential pay will cost the force $440,607 this year.
Three years ago, Toronto police started the trend of what they call "retention pay" in their contract.
London was one of the last forces to follow suit, board chairperson Jan Richardson said yesterday.
The new pay is a "significant increase," she acknowledged.
"This was the driver in these negotiations," she said.
In London, the pay hike represents an addition of more than $2 million to the $55-million operating budget, of which 93 per cent goes to salaries and benefits.
Negotiations were difficult because of the previous benchmark settlements across the province, DeCicco said. She received board approval yesterday to contact the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to discuss improving the negotiating process.
"When other police services that (settle) before us set a wage, and you see new things come in like retention pay . . . it makes (negotiating) very difficult," she said.
Richardson agreed the precedent of basing salaries on a provincial standard can tie a board's hands.
"It keeps pushing the benchmark up higher and higher . . . leaving little flexibility at a local level," she said. "And if that's the way it's going to be then we have to look at how we negotiate so we can have the best agreement reached that meets our local economic conditions."
But Dan Axford, head of the London Police Association, said it's important to maintain comparable pay for police forces across the board.
Police Chief Murray Faulkner said forces that don't offer comparable salaries can suffer serious consequences. " . . . You lose a massive number of people who go and work in another place.
"The OPP are all around us, so we've got to stay competitive with them."
Under the previous contract, a first-class London police officer made $64,174.
By the end of 2005, a first- class constable will make $69,290. This does not include the experiential increases.
The experiential pay increases are broken down into categories. Officers with eight to 16 years of service will get a three per cent experiential increase each year. Officers with 17 to 22 years of service will get six per cent each year.
Officers with 23 years of service or more will get nine per cent each year, on top of their basic increase.
The experiential increase is applied only to the equivalent of a first-class constable's salary.
In other words, if a senior officer with 23 years experience makes $100,000, the nine per cent increase applies only to about two thirds of that amount.
A rough calculation puts the overall increase at about 20 per cent over two years for those officers.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Thursday, August 5, 2004
Support group wants safe site for crack users to smoke up
TERRI THEODORE, CP
2004-08-05 02:05:45
VANCOUVER -- A new support group for crack cocaine users wants the government to establish a safe inhalation site to give crack users a spot to smoke up in safety without harassment from police. The smoking site would in the one established almost a year ago for injection drug users, the first and only spot of its kind in Canada.
"I believe it makes the street safer," said Rob Morgan, spokesperson for the Rock Users Group.
"Right now, on the street, if you're even carrying a pipe and you're not smoking it, you get roughed up by the police. That shouldn't happen."
The group wants access to a room specially built at the safe injection site for those who smoke or inhale their drugs.
The room was built into the facility with the notion it might be needed for such users in the future.
But it is currently being used as an office because there is no legal provision to allow a safe inhalation site, said Viviana Zanocco, spokesperson for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, which operates the safe injection site.
"It's not so far-fetched. I think if you told me a couple years ago that we'd have a safe injection site in the city of Vancouver, I probably would have thought that was far-fetched," said Zanocco.
But she cautioned that a safe inhalation site isn't likely soon and would also require changes in the law to allow it to operate.
"I wouldn't speculate on what Ottawa wants to do. But I would anticipate that they would wait until the three years of the operation of this is up and we evaluate this and see what kind of harm reduction we get," she said.
The safe injection site received a grant of $1.5 million from Ottawa and $3.2 million from the provincial government. It opened last September.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Corrupt? bylaw continues to cost taxpayers
Bylaw battle costs pile up
The public will pay for four more London councillors to hire lawyers.
The London Free Press
2004-08-05 02:05:56
London taxpayers will pay for four more city councillors to hire outside lawyers in an increasingly heated and costly battle over a controversial development bylaw. With at least five outside lawyers on the case already, and a legal bill set at more than $130,000 a month ago and rising, some council members are getting worried.
"It is not cheap," Controller Bud Polhill said yesterday.
"It is a situation that is unfortunate."
"The whole issue about legal bills over this issue has been a concern, absolutely," said Coun. Fred Tranquilli.
Politicians will hear about it from the public, warned Coun. Cheryl Miller.
But others say the city can't back down now, or else it will lose the battle over the future of Richmond Street.
If council wavers, developers can do whatever they want on the heritage streetscape, warned Coun. Joni Baechler, who chairs city hall's planning committee.
"The very thing residents begged us to stop will happen," Baechler warned.
She's one of the four councillors who have hired a lawyer outside the city's legal department in the court battle.
A court ruling this year said the city's in-house solicitor represents the mayor, not necessarily council members, and council members are free to hire outside help.
"I want to make sure I have someone that represents my interests," Baechler said.
The dispute centres on a bylaw passed in January that temporarily limits development along Richmond between Huron and Grosvenor streets.
Lawyer Alan Patton, representing developer R.S.J. Holding Inc., has taken the city to court over the bylaw.
Patton claims council passed the bylaw first in private, which violates the Ontario Municipal Act -- a law governing how municipal councils must operate.
Patton obtained sworn statements, or affidavits, from Polhill and Coun. Roger Caranci supporting that claim.
Other council members say there was no private vote and accused Polhill and Caranci of breaking council rules by revealing information about a closed meeting.
Twice this spring, council failed in court to get the affidavits quashed and Patton taken off the case for bypassing city solicitors.
After the second failure, council agreed to pay the legal bills of Polhill and Caranci, who hired a Toronto lawyer to represent them.
That bill was more than $19,000.
As of June 25, the city's costs for hiring outside lawyers for the court battle stood at about $112,000.
Since those two bills came in, there have been hours of pre-trial discovery in which council members have been questioned by lawyers for the city and the developer.
Baechler, and councillors Harold Usher, Bill Armstrong and Sandy White opted to hire lawyers to represent them. Three others have requested representation from the city's own legal department.
If the city loses the court case, it may also have to pay Patton's costs.
White defended her decision to seek outside counsel.
"I would be someone who doesn't want the city to spend money, but I think this is a serious allegation (that council broke the Municipal Act)."
Miller said she opted to go to discovery without a lawyer.
"I have nothing to hide."
Tranquilli said he wasn't sure it was worth it to go for outside help, but supports council members doing so.
"It is really up to the individual member to determine how their interests are best represented."
Chronology of the bylaw battle
- January -- City council passes a temporary zoning bylaw prohibiting development along Richmond Street between Grosvenor and Huron streets. The bylaw is sparked by developer
R.S.J. Holding Inc.'s application for a permit to demolish a cottage-style house at 915 Richmond St. to build a fourplex.
- Residents of the area had complained of the proliferation of rental units on the street and destruction of heritage houses.
- April: It's revealed the developer's lawyer, Alan Patton, obtained
affidavits from Coun. Roger Caranci and Cont. Bud Polhill in his battle to get the bylaw quashed. Patton says the affidavits support his claim council held an earlier vote on the bylaw behind closed doors, violating provincial law.
- The affidavits take other council members by surprise. They charge Caranci and Polhill with revealing details of a closed meeting.
- Caranci and Polhill counter they're just telling the truth.
- May 10: A London judge dismisses the city's bid to remove Patton from the case and have the affidavits struck down. Justice John Kennedy does not deal directly with the city's bid to quash the affidavits, but says council members are free to hire their own lawyers to independently represent them. "The city solicitor does not represent or speak for these individuals unless with their
consent," the judge wrote.
- May 17: Council votes 11-8 to appeal the court decision. Those in favour say the city must protect its right to do some business in private. Those against say the fight is getting too costly.
- June 24: Superior Court Justice Dougald McDermid denies the city permission to appeal the judgment.
- June 2: City hall legal staff begin a review of council's policies for closed meetings. Council also agrees to pay the $19,000-plus legal bill for Polhill and Caranci.
- July: Discovery for the trial over the bylaw begins. The case may be heard as early as September.
- Aug. 3: Council agrees to allow four council members to hire outside legal help and three others to use the city's legal department.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
Zere are vays off making you cooperate!
Wake me up from this nightmare! Give me a toke!
Vaccination against drug addiction?
July 26 2004 at 01:28AM
By Sophie Goodchild and Steve BloomfieldLondon
A radical scheme to vaccinate children against future drug addiction is
being considered by ministers, The Independent on Sunday reveals.Under the
plans, doctors would immunise children at risk of becoming smokers or drug users
with an injection. The scheme could work similarly to the current nationwide
measles, mumps and rubella vaccination programme.Childhood immunisation would
protect adults from the euphoria experienced by users, making drugs such as
heroin and cocaine pointless to take. Such vaccinations are being developed by
pharmaceutical companies and are due to hit the market within two
years.
Childhood immunisation would protect adults from the euphoria
experienced by usersThe department of trade and industry has set up a special
project to investigate ways of using science to combat drug and nicotine
addiction.A national anti-drug immunisation scheme is one of the proposals by
the Brain Science, Addiction and Drugs project, an expert committee of
scientists appointed by the government earlier this year.Professor David Nutt, a
leading government drugs adviser who sits on the committee, said anti-drug
vaccines for children are likely to be among the panel's recommendations when it
reports next March.Professor Nutt, head of psychopharmacology at the University
of Bristol and a senior member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs,
said: "People could be vaccinated against drugs at birth as you are against
measles. You could say cocaine is more dangerous than measles, for example. It
is important that there is a debate on this issue. This is a huge topic -
addiction and smoking are major causes of premature death."According to the
government's own figures, the annual cost of drug addiction, to the economy,
through related crime and health problems, is £12-billion.
'You could say
cocaine is more dangerous than measles'There is a strong incentive for the
government to find new ways to halt spiralling addiction. Last week, the
Independent On Sunday revealed that cocaine use had trebled in Britain with
increasing numbers of users switching to crack cocaine.Scientists are already
conducting trials for drugs that can be used by doctors to vaccinate against
cocaine, heroin and nicotine addiction.Xenova, the British biotechnology firm,
has carried out trials on an anti-cocaine vaccine which showed that 58 percent
of patients remained cocaine-free after three months.And the Scripps Research
Institute in San Diego, California has developed a super-virus, harmless to
humans, which produces proteins that can block or reduce the effects of
cocaine.The Scripps team tested the virus on rats by injecting it into their
noses twice a day for three days. On the fourth day, the rats were given a shot
of cocaine. It was found that the cocaine had more effect on the rats not
injected with the virus than those that were.Scientists hope the virus will help
stop the cravings for cocaine by blocking the pleasure they normally associate
with cocaine.The medication is expected to be available within in the next two
years in the form of a nasal spray.This article was originally published on page 2 of Cape Times on July 26, 2004
Tom Gosnell puts God on hold
Council delays prayer decision
Free Press staff
2004-08-04 02:38:43
Praying is good, but maybe too good for London's city council. City council last night referred a religious group's request to hold prayer meetings in council chambers twice a month back to board of control for further study.
"I support prayer and I don't care what faith or religion you are, it's a noble idea, but not in this chamber," said Coun. Ab Chahbar.
"I think they should pray there isn't another genocide like Rawanda or pray there isn't another 9/11. That's far more important than praying for the 19 members of council."
Instead, council followed the suggestion of Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell that board of control and staff should study the issue more deeply.
"We want to make sure we get it right, review our policies and practices and develop a policy," the deputy mayor said.
"We want to make sure London is seen as a community that is respectful of other people's points of view and religions."
Rev. Joe Campbell, senior minister of Cornerstone Community Church, wants to use the chambers twice a month so "non-denomination Christian" volunteers can pray for council.
Although board of control recommended approval of the request last week, it was not without reservations, especially whether it would be open to all religions and whether it violates the Canadian tradition of keeping the state and church separate.
Campbell couldn't be reached for comment.
Coun. Bill Armstrong said he wanted to know the ramifications of allowing the group's use of council chambers, especially if similar requests are made.
"Perhaps we can come up with a solution to not just make this group happy, but every other group that makes a request like this," Armstrong said who supported a motion to send it back to the board and staff.
Campbell is co-ordinator of London Pastors and Leaders Prayer Team, which meets weekly to pray for London, its elected leaders and city employees.
Campbell's request was accompanied by letters of support from other municipalities where the practice is allowed, saying other centres noticed major improvements after the prayers began.
The group's numbers could range from five to 20 people and Campbell said prayers would be open to anyone wanting to observe or take part.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Fuck the poor, let's party!!!
$300,000 bash hits barrierCouncil members balk at approving funds for London's sesquicentennial.
Free Press staff
2004-08-04 02:38:58
Plans for a $300,000 birthday bash celebrating London's 150th anniversary ran into a wall of opposition at last night's city council meeting. "I just don't know if there's a whole lot of interest in the community for spending $300,000 on a party," Coun. Cheryl Miller told council.
"That money could be spent lighting walkways in the city."
Miller and others on council said they received several calls from the public about a board of control recommendation to spend $50,000 to hire a co-ordinator to oversee the year-long celebration.
They were also concerned about a proposal to spend $250,000 on events, which the board has so far deferred.
Instead, Coun. Bill Armstrong suggested the city use volunteers to organize the festivities.
"I think there are probably people in the community who would be willing to volunteer their time and it doesn't cost the city anything," he said.
The issue was sent back to the board for further study.
Festivities marking both the city's and its police force's sesquicentennial are to kick off New Year's Eve.
At board of control last week, Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco said by budget time council should have a better idea of what's planned and whether other funding is available.
DeCicco also said the city expects to have volunteers working on the celebration, but it's necessary to have one paid person to "take the lead."
Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell told council the $300,000 "will get us millions in advertising by showcasing London, not just to have a party.
"We have a chance to restate our claim as the place to be in Southwestern Ontario," Gosnell said.
"It's an investment, not money we're going to burn at the corner of Richmond and Dundas. We certainly weren't going to go out and waste money."
In a later interview, Gosnell said the issue will be studied more closely to make a sound business case for any spending.
Controller Bud Polhill, who initially supported the proposal, said he too heard concerns from the public about spending money on a party.
Instead, Polhill suggested the city consider hiring an organization with experience putting on major events to make a profit for charities.
"That way, we're not putting any money into it and we're making money for a charity."
Coun. David Winninger joined Miller in questioning how the city can turn down social agencies at budget time and then find $50,000 to hire a party co-ordinator.
"When London didn't have any money for the New Year's Eve celebration, the public pulled together and made it happen," Winninger said.
He was referring to the group London Cares, led by businessperson Ed Holder and London Public Library chief executive Darrel Skidmore, which organized and raised money for New Year's Eve parties at Victoria Park in 2001 and 2003.
Coun. Joni Baechler suggested the city should go ahead with the plan.
"This is a very important event and I don't think for one minute we have a volunteer group capable of pulling this off," Baechler said.
HOW THEY VOTED
- In favour of referring the issue back to board of control were: Controllers Tom Gosnell, Russ Monteith and Bud Polhill, and councillors Sandy White, Bill Armstrong, Ab Chahbar, Cheryl Miller, Fred Tranquilli and Roger Caranci.
- Against sending the issue back to board of control were: Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco, Controller Gord Hume and councillors David Winninger, Judy Bryant, Harold Usher, Joni Baechler and Rob Alder.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Tuesday, August 3, 2004
The Heritage controversy continues
Ridout bites the dust
The move renews calls for a tougher heritage preservation policy in London.
JULIE SACCONE, Free Press Reporter 2004-08-03 01:49:16
One of London's oldest watering holes has bitten the dust, demolished in a move that's renewed calls for a tougher heritage preservation policy. Workers yesterday were digging out the foundations and footings of the Ridout Tavern, one of two 19th-century buildings on the same downtown site.
The other building -- a former factory, which had other modern uses -- is expected to be demolished in the coming days.
"We don't have all that many buildings that we can afford to lose them like this," said George Goodlet, who heads city council's advisory committee on heritage.
"The city has to take a more determined attitude for the preservation of heritage buildings, particularly any that are left downtown," he said.
Demolition of the Ridout -- to make way for development -- comes just days after the death knell was rung for another downtown heritage landmark, the yellow-brick 1874 rectory at St. Peter's Catholic Cathedral.
Church officials say the mortar holding the building's walls together is too fragile to replace for anything less than a new building would cost, so the original will be torn down.
Yesterday, only stone and brick remnants remained of the Ridout's former walls in the rubble at York and Ridout streets.
David Rapson, a site worker, said work began 10 days ago. The tavern was knocked down last week.
The tavern was the former site of a variety of commercial enterprises.
The larger building on the site, fronting on King Street, is one of the city's few surviving 19th-century factory buildings. It was once used to build steam traction engines and threshing machines, London Six touring cars and later housed car dealerships.
A spokesperson for the site's new owners, a development group, said the two buildings were plagued by vandalism and posed fire risks.
City council voted in May to allow the group to demolish the buildings to make way for unspecified future development with temporary plans for a parking lot.
In 1995, council adopted a policy to prevent demolition of downtown buildings for temporary parking lots, with few exceptions.
Both buildings are considered priority heritage buildings, but have not been designated as sites for protection.
Goodlet said he wrote to council asking it to refuse the demolition proposal.
"We are very disappointed it is being demolished," he said of the King Street building. There is nothing else like the building left in downtown London.
"As far as the industrial history of London was concerned, that was probably the last building."
Coun. Sandy White, who voted in favour of the demolition, said it would have been too costly to save the building.
"I really hope that they do use the designated heritage within the building for the new site," she said.
White said she voted for the demolition assuming development would occur.
"The developers that purchased this property, we could trust that they would put housing there," she said.
"I'm not in support of another parking lot," she added.
Please let us know where people are to park in downtown London then Ms. White
"I want to see construction as soon as possible again with the designated heritage included in the site."
The development group that now owns the site, Ridout Development Corp., includes seven major London developers.
Goodlet said the city and heritage enthusiasts must be "more proactive in identifying these buildings beforehand and hopefully getting them designated."
Rapson said there have been no problems with the demolition.
"Most people in the neighbourhood are glad to be rid of it," he said.
Neighbouring businesses had complained the site was an eyesore and a magnet for vandals.
Complete demolition of the site is expected to take about three weeks, said Rapson.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
And the answer to council's woes is.....God
Councillors mull city hall prayer issue
Free Press staff 2004-08-03 01:49:17
A religious group's request to hold prayer meetings in London's city council chambers won't get a quick blessing from council. Rev. Joe Campbell, senior minister of Cornerstone Community Church, wants to use the chambers twice a month so "non-denomination Christian" volunteers can pray for council.
Council's board of control recommended approval of the request last week, but not without reservations.
Members of council want to know if it will include all religious faiths, but also worry about mixing religion and politics, normally kept separate in Canadian government.
The issue goes to full council tonight where a decision is expected to be deferred.
Ward 1 Coun. Ab Chabar, a Muslim, was especially troubled by the proposal, describing it as "noble" but potentially "divisive."
"I'm not against anyone having prayers, but it doesn't have to be in council chambers," Chabar said over the weekend.
"They can pray in a church, a mosque or a synagogue. I'm afraid that, although it may be noble, the end result could also be divisive."
Chabar said before any decision is made, he'd like to hear from religious leaders of all faiths.
"I think the proposal needs a lot more work," Chabar said.
"But, even if you open it up to all faiths, I think they should keep it out of council chambers. That's for all citizens of London."
Chabar also noted the chambers "is not sacred ground."
"I don't think their message is going to get to God any quicker from the council chambers," he said.
Campbell, who couldn't be reached for comment, is co-ordinator of London Pastors and Leaders Prayer Team, which meets weekly to pray for London, its elected leaders and city employees.
Campbell provided letters of support from other municipalities where the practice is allowed, saying other centres noticed major improvements after the prayers began.
Major improvements such as?????
The group's numbers could range from five to 20 people and Campbell said prayers would be open to anyone wanting to observe or take part.
Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell is also concerned and wants a decision deferred.
"I've got some reservations about what they want to do," Gosnell said yesterday.
"I'm certainly not objecting to people having faith or the faith community having a role in the community. But is it inclusive (of all religions)? What's the purpose?" he asked.
WHAT COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY
"I don't know if it (praying) will help us. But if prayers are held, we should leave it open to all religious groups. Is it going to be a problem? I don't know. But city hall was not designed, not meant for that. I think we have bigger fish to fry."
Coun. Roger Caranci
I'm a praying man, myself, so I'm generally supportive of it . . . If others in the community are willing to pray for us, I think that's great. But I also think it's important for the governing body to be somewhat distanced from it."
Coun. Rob Alder
"I don't think using city hall for prayers offends the principle of separation of church and state, but others may think differently."
Controller Russ Montieth
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Saturday, July 31, 2004
"It seems the CRTC is governing the country, not the government"
Can't quash CRTC ruling, Frulla says
By KIM LUNMAN
OTTAWA -- It's not up to the federal government to decide if Quebec City's most popular radio station should be allowed to stay on the air, Heritage Minister Liza Frulla said yesterday.
Last week, 50,000 protesters marched in the streets in Quebec to protest against a decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission not to renew CHOI-FM's licence, citing crude comments by the hosts of its morning show.
The government cannot interfere in such matters, Ms. Frulla said.
"According to Article 28 of the Broadcasting Act, the decision of the CRTC cannot be appealed to the government," she said in a written statement. "Therefore, [the station's parent company] Genex Communications Inc. has two options: to appeal the CRTC decision to the Federal Court or to apply for a new broadcasting license should the company decide to meet the criteria established by the CRTC."
The radio station has been lobbying Ms. Frulla to reverse the decision in a case that has sparked debate over freedom of speech and become a political hot potato for Prime Minister Paul Martin. Quebec Premier Jean Charest, NDP Leader Jack Layton and Conservative Leader Stephen Harper have voiced concern over the decision.
The federal government's response is sure to raise more ire in Quebec, where the Liberals were trounced in the June 28 election.
"It's incredible the government doesn't take a position," station owner Patrice Demers said. "It's silly. By the decision, it seems the CRTC is governing the country, not the government."
The station is planning to broadcast from Parliament Hill next month in protest, said Mr. Demers, who calls the ruling censorship.
If the decision not to renew the licence is upheld, he stands to lose a $25-million business that attracted up to 380,000 listeners.
The controversy stems over two shock jocks who were the target of 92 complaints for repeatedly making crude and insulting comments about local personalities, foreign students or disabled people.
Jean-Francois (Jeff) Fillion, host of the 6 to 10 a.m. slot, and Andre Arthur, of the smaller sister station CKNU, were the co-hosts of a now defunct 30-minute segment.
Among some of the more shocking comments were suggestions that psychiatric patients should be gassed and that African students at Laval University were children of cannibals and plunderers.
It is the first time that CRTC has not renewed a commercial licence solely because of verbal content.
CRTC chairman Charles Dalfen has defended the regulator's actions, arguing that freedom of expression is not absolute when there is a pattern of "abusive comments" being aired.
CHOI lost its licence, which expires Aug. 1, because it did not clean up its act after several warnings. Its lawyers are preparing a request for an injunction to suspend the decision while it is being appealed in early August in Federal Court.
"I believe we'll win in court," Mr. Demers said. "I hope so."
The Globe and Mail © 2004
Ontario appeals ruling on Highway 407 tolls
CP
2004-07-31 01:54:48
TORONTO -- Ontario's Transportation Ministry filed an appeal yesterday of an arbitrator's ruling allowing Highway 407's owners to hike toll fees without prior government approval. The province says it's legally entitled to renegotiate the tolling portion of its agreement with the owners every five years.
"We would be negligent in our duty to protect the public interest if we failed to fight for a better outcome on this important issue -- we have solid legal grounds for an appeal," Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar said in a statement.
During last fall's election campaign, the Liberals promised to take action on rising fees on the 108-kilometre highway. In the past four years, rates for some peak hours on the highway have gone up more than 200 per cent, prompting complaints from drivers.
The issue came to a head in February, when 407 International Inc. raised tolls by one cent to 13.95 cents a kilometre without government approval.
The province argued that the highway's lease, signed for $3.1 billion in 1999 with the previous Conservative government, stipulates that the province must approve any toll increases. The owners disagreed, saying it was not part of the agreement.
An arbitrator ruled July 10 in favour of the owners.
With 94 years remaining in the contract between the company and the government, Takhar said it was "critical" the government file the appeal to protect consumers.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie
Premiers push drug plan
They're demanding Ottawa pay the cost - $7 billion a year.
DENNIS BUECKERT, CP
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE -- Canada's premiers and territorial leaders dropped a bombshell on the federal government yesterday, demanding a national drug plan that would cost more than $7 billion annually. They got an extremely cautious response from Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, who said Ottawa is keen on a more limited program that would cover so-called catastrophic drug costs, those which could bankrupt a patient.
The premiers want Ottawa to pay full costs for a full-fledged drug program, which would replace all provincial drug plans except Quebec's. That province would maintain its program, but receive federal funds to cover its costs.
Premiers also pushed the federal government to bring its level of health-care funding up to 25 per cent of overall health spending, which would likely take another $2 billion to $3 billion annually.
They refused to provide cost estimates, but the combined demands probably would cost at least $50 billion over five years, exceeding the prime minister's offer of $9 billion over the same period.
"All 13 provinces and territories have developed and signed on to an action plan to reform and improve universal public medicare," Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said.
"Prime Minister Paul Martin has committed to fixing health care for a generation. Well, we've got the plan to make it happen."
Martin is scheduled to meet with the premiers and territorial leaders in September to hammer out an agreement. First Nations representatives -- who met with the premiers Wednesday to demand a seat at the table -- will be included.
"We are supportive of aboriginal leaders being part of the solution, including participating in a special meeting with first ministers in September to discuss aboriginal health care," McGuinty said.
The premiers made little reference to other health reform goals set by Ottawa.
The federal government's health care goals include shortening waiting lists, a national home care program and greater accountability in the spending of health funds.
The premiers were unable to bridge their differences over whether to accept conditions on federal transfer payments for health.
Dosanjh said Ottawa will start negotiations immediately with the provinces on all issues ahead of the Sept. 13 first ministers' meeting, but emphasized there's only so much cash available.
"Whenever premiers meet, historically, their demands are much larger than the final settlement," Dosanjh said in Ottawa.
"Regarding pharmacare, all jurisdictions agree that no Canadians should incur catastrophic drug costs. The strategy for pharmacare is one of numerous reform elements that we must discuss with the provinces.
"We have a lot of work to do. It is in everyone's interest to discipline costs."
Quebec Premier Jean Charest said the premiers' plan fits with Martin's own election promises. "Mr. Martin has committed to this," he said.
During the federal election campaign, Martin proposed to work together with premiers on a national pharmacare program, but did not suggest the federal government would pick up the full cost itself.
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein called the proposal for a national pharmacare program a "stroke of brilliance" that "allows the federal government to get involved where they've been talking about getting involved for a long, long time."
By presenting the bold plan, the premiers placed Ottawa on the defensive and distracted attention from their own differences of opinion, especially on the issue of conditional federal funding.
Charest said he would never agree to accept targeted federal funding, which would have to spent on a specific purpose set by Ottawa. "Quebec will not accept any conditions," he said.
Klein took the same position, while some other premiers, including McGuinty, said they would be open to discussions on the issue.
Some critics hailed the idea of a national drug plan but decried the absence of any discussion about national standards or private, for-profit health-care delivery.
Conservative health critic Steven Fletcher applauded the pharmacare proposal and urged the federal government to "get on with it," although he was more cautious on the issue of cost.
"We need to find out what the actual numbers are before we can have a thorough debate on that," Fletcher said. "But I think what's important is the principle that there is recognition that a national pharmacare program -- its time has come."
Premiers also want to tie the health negotiations to the issue of equalization payments.
P.E.I. Premier Pat Binns said the leaders are asking Ottawa to restore equalization payments for Canada's less wealthy provinces to 2001 levels.
"This is part of the package," he said.
"Equalization cannot be ignored; it's how a lot of us pay for health care, at least in part."
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Friday, July 30, 2004
The Mayor's Wish List
Mayor’s New Year’s Honours List Policy 14. (19) That, on the recommendation of the General Manager of Finance and Corporate Services, the following changes to Council Policy I (4A) as it relates to the Mayor’s New Year’s Honours List BE ADOPTED: (a) part (a)(i)(6) be amended by deleting therefrom the words “The Physically Disabled” and by substituting therefor the words “Persons with Disabilities”; (b) part (a)(i)(7) be amended by deleting therefrom the word “Humanitarian” and by substituting therefor the word “Humanitarianism” (c) part (a)(ii)(l) be amended by deleting therefrom the words “Advisory Committee on the Arts” and by substituting therefor the words “London Arts Council”; (d) part (a)(ii)(6) be amended by deleting therefrom the words “London Paratransit Service Advisory Committee” and by substituting therefor the words “Accessibility Advisory Committee”; and (e) part (a)(ii)(7) be amended by adding thereto after the word “London” the words “Diversity and”. (32.1.4.)
See the relevant politically correct section of the city policy
Like it or not - More taxpayer money allocated to mindless entertainment and propaganda
150th Anniversary Celebration
That, on the recommendation of the Chief Administrative Officer, the following actions be taken with respect to the development of a 15Oth Anniversary (Sesquicentennial) celebration of the Incorporation of the City of London as a ‘City’:
the Civic Administration BE AUTHORIZED to proceed with the development of a celebration for the 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the Incorporation of London as a ‘City’; it being noted that while the key focus of the celebration would include showcasing specific community festivals, events, activities and assets taking place during July 1 to August 1, 2005, other opportunities throughout the year will also take place;
funding in the amount of $50,000 from the 2004 budget BE APPROVED for the development of the Sesquicentennial celebration to hire a coordinator and cover space and material costs, and that new funding for this initiative in the amount of $250,000 BE CONSIDERED for 2005 budget approval;
a Steering Committee BE CREATED to oversee this Sesquicentennial celebration; it being noted that the Steering Committee would be responsible for the development of a plan for the celebration which would be presented to Council for approval; it being further noted that the Committee would be made up of representatives of the arts, heritage and corporate communities, Tourism London, the Chief Administration Office, and other civic departments, the City Clerk and interested members of Council;
and an interested member of Council BE APPOINTED by Council as the Chair of the Sesquicentennial Steering Committee.
the 28th Report of the Board of Control - July 28/2004
Human Rights - The Canadian Way
Thanks to Trudeaupia for posting a link to this blog entry from Mike Brock
It’s very scary that our school system seems to have instilled within our young a much skewed version of what human rights and liberty truly mean. It seems that if you’re not parading around waving a Liberal logo and espousing support for same-sex marriage, the right for immigrants to flow to the country unabated, and enforced bilingualism on the entire country, you’re somehow not on the side of human morality.
Her logic for enforced bilingualism was such, and I quote her as best as my mind serves me: “Shouldn’t it be a right for a Quebecer to move anywhere in their own country (Canada) and be able to speak their own language?”
I was dumbfounded that a human being could actually subscribe to such logic. I mean, let’s look at what she’s saying here: Somebody in Quebec should have the right to come to Toronto, talk to somebody in French and expect to be answered in French.
I know what you’re thinking at this point, you’re saying, “wait Brock, she probably just means government services!” Wrong, reader! I asked her specifically, “Are you saying that I should be expected to learn and know French fluently as a regular citizen in order to ensure ‘equality’ for francophones, working self-employed as I do?”
I could not believe for the life of me how she replied, “The government shouldn’t give you a business license if they can’t conduct business in both official languages.”
Read the whole article here:
The Ontario Liberal Motto - Pay more for less!
Ontario needs health user fees: report
GILLIAN LIVINGSTON, CP 2004-07-30 01:45:17
TORONTO -- Ontario's controversial health premium will have to triple by 2008 to deal with the exploding cost of medicare unless the province turns to user fees and private health care, a Fraser Institute report released yesterday suggests. To manage skyrocketing health-care costs and long waiting lists, every province in Canada will have to embrace the idea of private-sector health care delivery, said Brett Skinner, the institute's manager of health policy research.
"Other provinces are faced with similar situations," said Skinner, author of the study entitled Paying More, Getting Less: Ontario's Health Premium and Sustainable Health Care.
Ontario, which requires taxpayers earning more than $25,000 a year to pay between $300 and $900 annually, is the third province, along with British Columbia and Alberta, to charge a premium -- essentially a health-care surtax based on income.
Public costs and private care are hot topics as Canada's premiers meet in Niagara-on-the-Lake in a three-day bid to forge a financing plan to be put before Prime Minister Paul Martin in September.
The report found that the government estimates growth of 3.3 per cent over the next two years -- an "unrealistic expectation" in the face of figures that show spending has grown by nearly six per cent since 2000.
It also found that the premium -- so unpopular that it was blamed for a plunge in Martin's polling numbers during the federal election campaign -- would have to triple by 2008 if it was to cover all the cost increases.
In other words, warned Skinner, as long as governments insist on a system funded exclusively by public dollars, taxpayers should be prepared to hand over more money to cover rising costs.
Nonsense, said Peter Coyte, a professor of health economics at the University of Toronto, who dismissed the idea of a tripling of costs as "bogus."
Since 1960, inflation adjusted health-care growth is about five per cent, so costs only double every 14 or 15 years, Coyte explained.
Health Minister George Smitherman also dismissed the report, although saying he hadn't seen it.
"I think it's off-base," Smitherman said, although he acknowledged that the report addresses the problem of Canada's ever-increasing health-care costs -- precisely the same issue the premiers are hoping to solve.
"This meeting is the beginning of a process that is designed to get more resources for provinces like Ontario to continue with the reforms that we've making, to contribute to the sustainability of medicare for the future generations."
The report finds other faults with Ontario's premium, particularly that it has no impact on costs.
"There is no incentive for users to control their demand responsibly," said Skinner, who suggested that instead, it should be a user fee or else act like an insurance premium, where people pay more depending on their use.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Martha Stewart burns while these guys make off with the public funds
Canada Post boss under fire in audit
JIM BROWN, CP 2004-07-30 01:45:18
OTTAWA -- Suspended Canada Post president Andre Ouellet has circumvented corporate hiring practices, meddled in contract tendering and flouted expense account rules, a new audit indicates. He was cited for interfering in the tendering process for three contracts worth $35 million; failing to provide documentation for travel and hospitality expenses, ranging up to $327,000 a year; and for 83 "special hires" described as personnel officers.
The findings, which follow earlier criticism of Canada Post's role in the scandal-plagued federal sponsorship program, sparked quick action yesterday by Revenue Minister John McCallum.
In a news release, McCallum, also minister responsible for Canada Post, called the latest audit results "troubling" and said he has given Ouellet seven days to reply in writing.
After that, McCallum said, he will consult officials of Treasury Board, the federal financial watchdog, and take appropriate action.
The process resembles the one used in firing other Crown corporation executives in similar controversies since Prime Minister Paul Martin took office. Shane Diaczuk, a spokesperson for McCallum, said the minister has not yet drawn any conclusions.
"There will be no decisions made as to what further actions are until Mr. Ouellet has had an opportunity to respond," said Diaczuk.
Ouellet was suspended with pay earlier this year after Auditor General Sheila Fraser included Canada Post among the federal organizations singled out for criticism in the sponsorship affair.
The government said at the time his ultimate fate would depend on a followup audit by the private firm Deloittte Touche, which was asked to look beyond sponsorship to wider management practices.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Thursday, July 29, 2004
London to rely on divine intervention
Maybe they could phone in the prayers
MARY-JANE EGAN, Free Press City Hall Reporter 2004-07-29 01:29:52
It's one thing to have people pray for councillors, but do they have to do it at city hall? That was the concern yesterday of Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell, the only London controller who seemed to have reservations about an offer from a pastoral group to open city council chambers twice a month so volunteers could pray for council members.
Rev. Joe Campbell, senior minister of Cornerstone Community Church, has asked council to let his lay volunteers and ministers conduct non-denominational prayers when chambers aren't in use, to help guide council in decisions. He noted other councils, from Nova Scotia to B.C., have welcomed the prayers.
"I don't understand why they have to use council chambers," Gosnell said.
Countered Controller Russ Monteith: "Because they're praying for us."
But, asked Gosnell, "can't we ask them to do it long-distance, from their own chambers?"
Monteith suggested Gosnell was missing the point, noting Campbell had provided letters of support from other municipalities where the practice was allowed, stating they'd noticed major improvements since the prayers commenced.
"OK," Gosnell quipped. "We can tell them if we don't see any improvements in six months, they're outta here."
That prompted Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco to deadpan, "I think it will take more than six months."
The issue goes to full council Tuesday.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
City seeks feedback, but nothing will change
Scrutiny of council touted
The new city manager sees feedback from the public as crucial to the operation of London.
MARY-JANE EGAN, Free Press City Hall Reporter
The public should have a chance to rate the performance of London city councillors, similar to report cards, new city manager Jeff Fielding said yesterday. "We need public input. You need to know what the community thinks of you," Fielding said as he presented the first draft of his "strategic direction for council" since he joined the city staff in the spring.
Details of how that input will be sought and other strategic plans will be set out in September, Fielding said.
He said he wants council's goal to be to position London "within the top rank of Canadian municipalities."
Fielding -- the fifth person in two years to fill the controversy-plagued top job at city hall -- said city employees are understandably uncertain about their position in the organization.
"We haven't done the best job of communicating with our employees," Fielding said at yesterday's board of control meeting.
"Employees are wary of change, but not resistant to change," he said.
"They've just been told so much that hasn't happened."
He called city staff "incredibly resilient" and said he wants all employees to be proud to work for the city.
Fielding said that goal will require the improvement of city hall's workplace culture as well as the strengthening of public confidence.
"We need to consolidate our relationship with our unions," he said.
He urged council members to e-mail city staff to compliment them for a job well done.
"That can mean a lot," he said.
Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco said she welcomes reaching out for feedback on council's performance.
"I don't think it's just going to be about council, but just in general, are we doing some good things and where have we fallen behind and can improve?"
DeCicco said she also welcomes honesty.
"I don't think we should fear what people might say. Every time we go through an election, we're judged the same way -- you're returned or you're not."
She said she hopes the community won't overlook improvements to the downtown, the new Central Library and the John Labatt Centre.
Fielding, formerly chief administrator in Kitchener, replaced Bob Blackwell, who filled in the top spot last spring after the departure of city manager George Duncan.
Duncan lasted less than a year in the job after replacing acting city manager Jeff Malpass. Malpass left the post in the spring of 2002 amid revelations he was paid more than $1,000 a day in overtime during an outside workers' strike in which he was the city's chief negotiator.
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
As usual, blame the smokers and the fatties
London ranks 15th for life expectancy
JOE BELANGER, Free Press Reporter and new services
Londoners live shorter lives than residents in 14 other Canadian cities, a new study says. And if they want to increase their life expectancy, they need to protect their health more, says a local health official.
London ranked 15th in life expectancy among 25 cities, according to the Statistics Canada report that makes international comparisons for life expectancy.
"I'm surprised," said Mary Lou Albanese, manager of chronic diseases and injury prevention at the Middlesex-London health unit.
"But I guess when you look at the issues, the risk factors, especially obesity, is a big issue in London and we are working on getting more people physically active."
Londoners have a life expectancy of 78.8 years, compared to people in Vancouver, who enjoy Canada's highest life expectancy of 81.1 years. The national average is 79.4 years
People in the nickel-mining city of Sudbury typically die before their 77th birthday.
Sudbury is the lowest of the 25 cities.
Smoking, heavy drinking, obesity and high blood pressure were blamed for cutting lives short. Higher education and income, along with influxes of new immigrants, tended to enhance life expectancy, says the study released yesterday.
London's year-old smoking bylaw and the fact fewer people are smoking should help improve overall life expectancy, Albanese said.
Smoking, lack of physical activity and poor eating habits are the major culprits for Londoners, she said.
Albanese said it's important for London to send the message of healthy living to children.
"We'd like to get better (at all age groups), but especially for our children because they'll be the measure for life expectancy in the future," Albanese said.
The top-ranked Canadian cities, Vancouver and Toronto, are on par with Japan and Switzerland. Sudbury ranks with Denmark, the U.S., Ireland and Portugal.
Residents of Greater Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Windsor were least likely to describe their health as good. Nearly one-fifth of Windsorites, who live across from Detroit in a region renowned for poor air quality, reported unmet health-care needs.
Those most positive about their health lived in Quebec City, Chicoutimi-Jonquiere, Que., and Calgary.
Victoria and Vancouver have the most physically active populations, while residents of Sherbrooke, Que., are statistically least likely to get off the couch, says the report.
Internationally, Canada ranked fifth among 22 countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, with a life expectancy of 79.4 years for those born in 2000.
The top-ranked Canadian cities, Vancouver and Toronto, are on par with Japan and Switzerland. Sudbury ranks with Denmark, the U.S., Ireland and Portugal.
LIFE EXPECTANCIES IN CANADIAN CITIES
Life expectancy at birth in Canadian cities in 2000:
Vancouver: 81.1
Toronto: 81.0
Victoria: 80.9
Calgary: 80.0
Edmonton: 79.8
Quebec City: 79.8
Kitchener: 79.7
Ottawa: 79.5
Montreal: 79.5
Hamilton: 79.4
Oshawa: 79.3
Saskatoon: 79.1
Sherbrooke, Que.: 79.1
Halifax: 79.1
London: 78.8
Windsor: 78.6
Trois-Rivieres, Que.: 78.6
St. Catharines- Niagara: 78.5
Saint John, N.B.: 78.3
Winnipeg: 78.1
Regina: 78.0
Chicoutimi-Jonquiere, Que.: 77.7
St. John's, Nfld.: 77.4
Thunder Bay: 77.3
Sudbury: 76.7
Source: Statistics Canada
Copyright © The London Free Press 2001,2002,2003
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Ontario - The Province of Non-Identities
Birth-certificate wait drags on
Assurances that a backlog has been cleared ring hollow for a London father.
APRIL KEMICK, Free Press Reporter
Despite assurances from the province that the worst of a birth-certificate backlog is over, one London father says he'll believe it when he sees it. Ontario Consumer Minister Jim Watson said yesterday the bureaucratic back-up for birth certificates is cleared, with wait t