Ashley Smith … One Troubled Soul

 

A Coroner’s Inquest is currently underway in Kitchener in regard to the self strangulation of Ashley Smith, an inmate at the Grand Valley Institution for Women in October 2007.

Many good articles have been written concerning this very troubled teen, most notably by Christie Blatchford of the National Post.

Smith first had run ins with the authority in her very early teens in her home town of Moncton New Brunswick.  The ‘crimes’ she committed were of the usual sort for a young teen e.g. trespass, causing a disturbance but by the time she was 15, she was continually skipping school and causing numerous breaches of the peace, as well as inflicting injuries to her body.

She was diagnosed at this point with ADHD.

Until she reached age 18, Ashley was continually in and out of juvenile detention.

Upon reaching age of majority, she was transferred to women’s prison and began attempts to seriously injure herself, most usually by tying rope / strings around her neck.  It became an almost daily event.

At first guards responded quickly to her rescue but by the time she had reached 19 and was now jailed in Kitchener Ontario, word had been given to her guards to only interfere with her attempts at suicide if death was imminent.

One day in October, 2007 the guards waited a few seconds too long and young Ashley succumbed to her self administered strangulation.

The Warden was fired and guards criminally charged for the wanton way in which they stood back and let this young lady die.

In due course though, the criminal charges were withdrawn when it became evident that these self same guards were under orders from above to do just what they did – i.e. wait.

The Coroner’s Inquiry has placed a spot light on this very sad chapter of Canadian Penal History.

Wrong was done.

Not by the guards however but by the system.

She never ever should have been admitted to the criminal justice system – either at the juvenile level and most especially at the penitentiary level.

As for the guards, they are not there to be on call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to prevent a suicide. Even by saying their directive to go slow was ill advised, sooner or later, Ashley would have been successful – regardless.

Back when she was but 15 enough evidence existed to confirm she needed mental health assistance.  She needed active mental health treatment in a facility designed specifically for that.

Here in Canada, we have very few such facilities and young ones like Ashley are dying or going untreated.

The System failed Ashley – but it was not the Guards nor even the Warden who did so. 

It was us – the public for not having demanded better care for our mentally ill kids long before now. 

As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

The Honourable George Harris Hees ..

 

A Belated Eulogy by his former staff.

When we see how politics has fallen into disrepute in recent times, we consider ourselves most fortunate to have worked for one of Canada’s last great statesmen-politicians, the Honourable George Hees.

Mr. Hees passed away in Toronto on June 11, 1996 at the age of 85.  This Monday, June 17th, would have been his 103rd birthday.

Married in 1934 to Mabel Dunlop..’the Pembroke Pearl’, the Hees’ had three daughters and a life together full of interesting times and adventure.

Save for a brief interlude between 1963 and 1965, our Boss was continually a Member of Parliament from 1950 until his retirement in 1988.

His accomplishments were legend: all star athlete culminating with his being on the 1938 Grey Cup Champion Toronto Argonauts; a war hero wounded in the heavily fought battle for the Walcheren Causeway in Holland in 1944; a most successful businessman having had to take over the family business at a young age after his father was killed in a riding accident; he served as Cabinet Minister in the Diefenbaker Government of 1957-1963 both as Minister of Transport and Minister of Trade and Commerce;and, later in life served in the Mulroney Government as both Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State for Seniors. 

The list could go on and on but for us, Mr. Hees was far more than these biographical entries.  He was a gentleman of the first order.

Always cheerful and never critical he inspired his staff to do their utmost simply by the fact that we never wanted to let him down.  On those occasions when we did, he encouraged us to shake it off “we all make mistakes” he said, “and no one more than me”. 

When asked one time what best prepared him for a life in politics he replied simply, “that’s easy, sports, in sports you have to depend on your teammates and with sports comes both victory and failure and the lessons learned in how to successfully deal with each”.

He did not view the Members of other parties as the enemy, rather he considered them friends, all working in the interests of a better Canada and he lived that philosophy by example, as well as by word.  When we came to work for him as the newly appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs his first order of business for us was to get to know the Veterans’ Opposition Critics. He asked us to find out what he could do for them to make their jobs easier all with the goal that this would benefit veterans whom he viewed as the most special of Canadians.

We can hear him now … in his speeches … telling audiences of the sacrifices made by these young men and women, “they risked their lives, risked having their heads were blown off and too often their limbs destroyed, all so that we might enjoy the many freedoms we have today.”

Our Boss was fond of mottos; while Minister for Trade and Commerce in the early 1960s he promoted the phrase You Can’t Do Business Sitting On Your Ass and neckties of a donkey accompanied with the letters YCDBSOYA soon flourished.  While Minister of Veterans Affairs he coined the phrase Courtesy, Generosity and Speed (C.G.S.). Both these mottos encouraged his departments to double their efforts on behalf of their respective clientele.

Mr. Hees was very much from the old school in that he was proud of his profession and proud of his colleagues on all sides of the House of Commons. Often he would coach newly elected M.P.s regardless of party just because that was the way he was. Few know this, but he met often with Pierre Elliott Trudeau to discuss issues of the day.

Also of interest, was the fact that he was offered a Senate position by both the Liberals and the Conservatives but dismissed them by saying “I’m too young to retire.”

Perhaps the best way to sum up this Eulogy is to refer back to Hansard on the last day George Hees appeared in the House of Commons, the date was September 1, 1988:

Neil Young the NDP Critic for Veterans Affairs stood and asked the Boss a rather soft question – he began with the following lead-in – “My question is to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, and it may very well be the last chance I have to ask the Minister a question in the House or indeed for him to give a response.  And I regret that very much Mr. Speaker, because the Minister has been appreciated by all members on all sides of the House and certainly by the Veterans of Canada”.

Mr. Young’s question was met with thunderous applause throughout.

George Hees then replied -

“To start with, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all Honourable members for their very kind and generous expression of good will that they accorded me a few moments ago. This is one of the reasons that makes serving in Parliament the finest profession that anyone can have. I’ve enjoyed it tremendously not only because of the work that we’re all able to do,but because of the associations that we make, not only with members of our own party, but with members of all other parties.”

This was followed by several standing ovations.

It has been a quarter century since the voice of George Harris Hees echoed in the Halls of Parliament but for many and most especially for those like us who had the honour to have worked for him, those words will never be stilled.

Respectively submitted by:

Keith Bell … Former Chief of Staff

Shirley Cheevers … Former Executive Assistant

 

 

Even In Retirement … McGuinty …

 

Puts the screws to us.

Today Dalton McGuinty formally announced his retirement as MPP for Ottawa South after 23 years as a Member and 9 years as Premier.

He lied to the end – having initially promised to stay as MPP until the “next election”.

In once sense – it is good – nay – great to see him go after continued lies and billions of waste.

In another sense he leaves giving the finger to democracy.

How So?

Coupled with his announcement this morning was a statement that a nomination meeting to replace him will take place within a week’s time.  The only person ready for such a nomination is … guess who?

You got it – his constituency assistant – John Fraser.

No one else has a chance to organize given that virtually no notice of the nomination meeting was given and that, again, the McGuinster had promised to hang in there until the next election leaving real candidates on the sidelines.

The guy is sleazy to the end.

But it is democracy that suffers.

My hope is that someone will get nominated from the floor but the likelihood of that is just about zero.

My second more realistic hope is that the good folks of Ottawa South tire of being taken for fools and votes in another Party – even the Rhino Party would do.

This though is just one more arrogant, self righteous act by a pitiful little individual.

This on top of yesterday’s display where a rump NDP props up a totally discredited Grit Government. 

Is there anyone out there that still believes we live in a vibrant democracy?

If so, please contact me since you must be one rare bird.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

Sometimes in my home town of Brighton, Ontario …

 

We did things differently.

Take our annual swimming lessons for instance.

With the end of school in late June, we kids headed each morning for the pristine white beaches of Presqu’ile Park located a few miles south of our village - on Lake Ontario.

We went there for our annual swimming lessons which lasted a few weeks over late June and early July.

The swimming lessons, dear reader, were conducted on the pristine white beaches; not, unfortunately in the cold waters of the Lake.

Back in those days, all prior to Global Warming, Lake Ontario did not warm up sufficiently for swimming until very late July or more likely, early to mid August.

Ergo we took our lessons in the sand.

As you can imagine, I became quite proficient swimming in sand but not so in water.

Sand swimming had advantages other than just being warmer than water, but admittedly, sand diving did present its special challenges.

We did not realize it at the time, but I suspect our swimming teachers were preparing us for life down the road in arid countries like Saudi Arabia. Swimming through their famous sand storms would be a breeze for our Brighton Swim Contingent.

Had things been left at that, I would have been okay but after two or three years of sand swimming, my mother lost her patience (she was raised in Toronto and did not always understand nor appreciate the niceties of our small town)

The following year she enrolled me in intermediate lessons.  Sadly, these lessons took place at the public dock on Brighton Bay where the waters were over 20 feet deep.

So there I was one frosty morning in June, at the dock, after having completed two to three years of beginner sand swimming lessons.

I can still hear my instructor even now asking me if I knew how to swim?  Since he did not specify water or sand swimming, I said I did.

“Jump in” he said, and away I went…all the way 20 feet down to the bottom.

You know that white bright light near deaths talk about seeing?  Well I saw it that fateful morning at Brighton Bay.

Even today, I am not much of a water swimmer but you should see me go like a fish on sand.

As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Na na na / Hey hey hey / Goodbye …

 

As in Ms. Wynne and the rest of her Liberal Sycophantic Crew.

The straw the finally broke the beast’s back was yesterday’s release of the Report of Ontario’s Privacy Commissioner, Ann Cavoukian.  In her Report, she found that senior Liberal Government Officials had illegally and blatantly destroyed e-mails relating to the Gas Plant Cancellations that took place just days before last year’s Election.

In a former Blog, in regard to a federal scandal, I predicted that Harper’s Chief of Staff and Senator Mike Duffy would be gone by the upcoming weekend.  The Chief of Staff resigned on the Sunday and just days later Duffy resigned from the Tory Caucus (albeit he should have resigned outright).

The same dynamics can be found in the Ontario debacle …but are much worse.

The Grits have gone from 1 billion dollar scandal to the next and in closing the two power plants under construction, they bought last year’s election result with our money and via their illegal erasure of the written record, have attempted to thumb their noses at us all.  

The negative reaction from the public has been predictable and in the face of that, I believe there is no way the NDP can continue to prop up Wynne and company.

The NDP have set-up a telephone line requesting input from the public as to whether or not they should support the Liberal Budget currently before the Legislature.  I can imagine the ear full they are now receiving.  Their number, for those wishing to call in, is 1-877-341-0244.

I even called in myself and spoke to one of their officials and voiced my concern.  The lady did not even attempt to dissuade me from my criticism I got the feeling she felt the same way I did.

Given this, the Liberals, dear reader are now toast and the sooner they pull the plug the better since if they don’t do it themselves, an early combined Tory / NDP vote will do the trick. 

In these circumstances, it is difficult to see the Liberals being successful in a new election but as I have said on former occasions – never overestimate the intelligence of the electorate. 

But regardless as to how a new election would turn out, for now it appears the current Government is teetering for a fall.

As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

Is Machiavelli alive and Well?

 

Certainly his deviousness must be as evidenced by the Tories calling for a broad audit of Senate Expenses.

(This Blog will be short and to the point)

From my perspective, there can be only two reasons why the Tories have called in the Auditor General to review Senate expenses.

Either it is an indication that they have folded in the face of public criticism and just want to buy time and by so doing get the issue of the front pages for now.

Or, they want to run on this issue in the next election and hope to use the AG’s Report to support their platform to either reform or deep six the Senate.

If they have done so for the former reason – they are sorely mistaken since it may accomplish taking  the issue off the front page for now but it will be back stronger than ever when the report is released.

And, there will be many more examples of misused government funds albeit both Liberals and Conservative Senators will be implicated.

Not a great strategy given that the Report’s release will occur closer to the time of the next Election.  One could even call it dangerous.

Or, two, if they are indeed counting on a very negative AG Report which they can use to muster support for an election plank dealing with the Senate, it may in fact work to their benefit and hence most Machiavellian.

I do not know which reason is a work here but I fear if one were to peel back the onion, number one would prove to have been the motivating factor.

As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

A Tale Of Three MAYORS…

 

Let’s start with the biggest story, in more ways than one … – Mayor Rob Ford.

Let’s be honest, Ford has been a great disappointment in his time as Mayor of the City of Toronto.  I won’t get into his many miscues only to say, these past few years, he has brought neither credit to himself nor to his office.

I wrote in a former Blog that he lucked in when a Court ordered his removal as Mayor a year or so ago for the nonsensical reason that he had failed to recuse himself from voting on a $3k grant to a football team composed of disadvantaged youth.  Ford’s sin?  He was the coach of the team.

He had shown himself incapable of doing the job of Mayor by then and I suggested in my blog that the court ruling was manna from heaven since it allowed him to quit the mayoralty post with his head held high.

Not surprisingly, Ford did not see it that way; he appealed successfully and the rest – as they say, is history.

Next on my list is former Ottawa Mayor Larry Obrien.

Obrien, unlike Ford, was a novice to politics having made a name for himself in the very competitive tech field  He wanted to revolutionize city government by making it leaner and meaner and in so doing, mirror private sector organizations.

He too went from one gaff to the next and very early on showed that he could not work with others – the ‘others’ being professional (read ‘long time’) city councillors.

He also campaigned on a ‘zero increased budget’ and yet with the very first budget, he voted an increase.  (Great way to motivate your base). Indeed, in his 4 years as Mayor, realty taxes increased by over 14%.  His campaign promise of ‘zero means zero’ meant …zero.

And then we come to the guy who put Larry Obrien out of his misery … current Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.

Unlike the first two Mayors, Jim Watson is a consummate politician.  He has known nothing other than politics since he graduated from University.

Where Ford and Obrien have demonstrated they do not play well with others, Watson plays his council like a fiddle.

He campaigned on realty tax increases of no more than 2.5% and through sleight of hand he has convinced the public of having done so, i.e. no need to include user fees and the like in the final total.  Indeed, in this his last full year of office, Watson is now promising an increase of no more than 2%.

The guy is a shoe in for re-election and if he was not a well known liberal, even I might have voted for him.

Okay, so we have two failures and one success.

Why so?

Well judging from the above, skill set play a very distinct role and as the professional politician, Watson has the advantage.

But that said, many of us are tired of professional politicians – we see them as being too steeped in the status quo and accordingly are most unlikely to do what is needed to get municipal government debt – like all government debt – under control.

Simply stated, we are reaching the tilting point when it comes to more new taxes.

And let me continue to be candid here, I voted for the genuine novice, Larry Obrien in the belief that as a successful businessman, he would get our finances under control.  Call me naive.

In retrospect, Obrien failed for two main reasons, one being that he as a successful businessman his management style is ‘top down’ which works in industry but not in politics where compromise is the watchword.  Obrien would have been much more successful had he hired and listened to experienced political operatives to get his agenda through.  More on that perhaps another day.

But it is with respect to the ‘second’ reason that I would like to focus ….  ingrained self interest.

Both Ford and Obrien lean to the right and in so doing attract the enmity of the powerful public unions and left wing biased media. 

Indeed it was a Union Leader who pushed Obrien into court on trump up charges which by the time the court had thrown them out …the damage had been done.  Obrien was toast.

In Ford’s case, his main adversary has been the Toronto Star which, since his election, has been on a vendetta to totally discredit him.  Unfortunately it has been most successful in its efforts.

Conversely, Watson is a keeper of the status quo …and thus big government, big debt -  with unions and the press vying for the privilege of lending him their support.

So what are we to take from these three case studies?

I am glad you asked:

First, if a novice runs for mayor, he had better be a people person who is good at reaching consensus;

Second, even if he has such attributes, he needs to hire very experienced staffers to help make up for his or her inexperience;

Third, in order to gain the support of the powerful public unions and the media, you had better be of the liberal or ndp persuasion;

Finally, let me propose a solution for you.

Given that some cities now are bigger that several provinces;

And given that debt at the municipal level is unsustainable;

And given that Mayors have little more power than the average councillor;

I propose that party politics be introduced into municipal politics especially at the city level.

This would allow voters to vote in a slate of candidates under the Mayor enabling a focused sustained effort to address the issues of the day.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’