Hey Gawker -- WTF -- Where's Your Drug Dealer Source?

Tabloid trash-talking website Gawker.com claimed they saw a video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking a crack pipe, and the mainstream anti-Ford newspaper The Toronto Star ran with the story a week ago today.

The problem with using drug dealers as sources, is sometimes they make sh*t up.

Okay, that's a bit extreme. Even drug dealers are honest, hard working contributing members of society, right?

Yeah, right.

So it should be no surprise that the scoundrels at Gawker.com haven't been able to reach the drug lords that showed them the blurry, poorly shot iPhone video -- but wouldn't let them make a copy, or verify it's source.

The Toronto Star has been unable to reach the video's owners to verify its authenticity as well.

All of this hits as all things come to their inevitable end. Today, Toronto City Council's executive committee is sending a letter to their boss -- Mayor Rob Ford -- asking him to address the issue publicly. There are also rumours that the city's executive committee is asking for the Mayor to step down, and let the deputy mayor and the executive committee run the city until all the pressure from the media blows over.

And, Gawker.com itself is about set to reach it's drug-money-funding goal on crowdfunding website Indiegogo, to pay off the owners of the video behind this enormous scandal to rock Toronto, Canada.

Oh wait -- exactly who are they paying off again? Their "sources" have fled, just as they are about to make it rich.

Maybe money can't really buy happiness after all?

Or maybe the video was faked, by a couple of slimy druggies that thought they could bribe some gullible wanna-be American journalists with a poorly shot mobile phone video about some politician in another country.

Seems odd that legitimate sources would suddenly disappear, regardless of their chosen occupation. Especially sources about to hit the money load -- literally -- and be paid for their info.

Maybe they had a change of heart, and decided to come clean, and instead of using any profits from the video to further their drug trade, they'd donate it to a worthy cause, like the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health?

What are you, high?

The real damage ultimately is to the citizens of Canada, the residents of Toronto, and the business of running Canada's largest city.

Once again, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's lack of tact has put more than his left-foot in his mouth, and caused all the above to be made the fool on the world stage.

All because some slimy druggies that wanted to make more money.

And because technology allows anyone these days to claim to be a journalist -- even if they don't have what it takes to really do the job.

Like common sense for one.

Dealing with drug dealers as sources that ask for money up front?

Come on now Gawker.com -- is that how the game is played in your f*cked up world?

Why Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Needs to Resign

Unless you've been living under a rock on a secluded island in the middle of nowhere, chances are you've heard about some crazy Canadian big city mayor caught on video smoking crack cocaine.

Late night comedians Jimmy Kimmel and John Stewart both poked fun at recently on their late night talk shows. 

Major global news outlets, including CNN and the BBC have covered the story internationally.

Yet the only one speaking publicly about this is the media -- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, as of this writing, STILL has intentionally evaded the press, simply saying quickly when the story first broke that allegations of him smoking crack cocaine are "ridiculous" and simply untrue.

So, what is the story?

For those hiding under rocks on secluded islands, an American tabloid website called Gawker claimed to have been shown a video showing Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. Later that day, one of Canada's largest newspapers, The Toronto Star, claimed that two of it's reporters had also seen the video footage, and ran with the story.

Neither Gawker nor The Toronto Star have validated the video, because the shady characters that have the video want a million dollars for it's release.

Since The Toronto Star -- a newspaper that has had a long standing war with Rob Ford before he became mayor of Canada's largest city -- broke the story, the media has been on a feeding frenzy, trying to get the mayor to address the issue.

Gawker did what many tabloid organizations do -- try to build buzz using social media's crowdfunding. They created an Indiegogo campaign, to raise funds through donations to secure the video footage, from what the accused brother, fellow Toronto city councillor Doug Ford, calls "drug dealers."

Regardless of whether the video is legit, or simply a sham falsified by people that just want to make a dishonest buck, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford needs to step aside by resigning his post as Mayor for the good of the city and the country.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been embroiled in many wild and weird issues since taking over as Mayor of Canada's largest city.

From failing to acknowledge gay rights by being the first Toronto politician to not attend the annual city's annual Pride Parade (all local politicians usually attend the annual event), to almost making history by becoming the first Canadian mayor to be forced out of the job by court order over a conflict of interest charge (which he won, so he didn't lose his job).

Sometimes, sadly, Mayor Rob Ford attempts to do the right thing, but it ends up exploding in his face. Like the time he and his brother Doug held a weight loss challenge for themselves, to get Torontonians interested in fitness and health. Every week both would publicly weigh themselves, showing how much they had lost. As the pounds crept back on, they quickly and quietly stopped showing up for the weekly weigh-ins and the media had another field day trashing the mayor and his family, despite their good intentions.

The latest scandal to rock the municipal offices of the third largest city in North America, and the largest city in Canada, has disemboweled the office of Toronto's Mayor, Toronto City Council, the city, and even the country.

When you have late night talk show hosts poking fun at the mayor of Canada's largest city, it makes all Canadians look bad.

And it isn't just American talk shows which are shaping the minds of potential tourists to our great country -- the sordid story of Rob Ford and his legacy thus far have been trending on social networks worldwide, and told on legitimate news outfits from the BBC to NPR and beyond.

That's why, regardless of whether the allegations of alleged drug use are true or false, Rob Ford and his brother do the right thing, and resign for the good of the city and the country.

It's time to clean house, and have a new mayor in power in Toronto. Because the world has lost faith in Toronto, and to a degree in Canadian politics, and the only thing that will restore that faith is a change of the guard.

Ever Wanted to Be On TV? Here’s Your Chance

We’ve added some cool swag – perks, gifts, give-a-ways – to our On-Demand Internet Television crowdfunding project, including an all expense paid trip for you and a friend to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to appear in a television show!

If you’ve always wanted to appear on TV, or just want a vacation in one of the cleanest, friendliest and most exciting big cities in the world – here’s your chance.

We really are sick and tired of not finding anything good on television, and we want to change that.

How do we change that?

We ask YOU what you want to see.

No joke.

We’ll have discussion forums, where you can suggest a show idea, discuss and debate show ideas, and the shows which get enough interest could eventually end up being produced by our award-winning production teams, and shown exclusively on our hip and trendy new network.

And because our network is on-demand, you can watch what you want, when you want, and where you want.

But we can’t do any of this without support from YOU.

So, if you are also sick and tired of never finding anything good on television, please support our On-Demand Internet Television crowdfunding project.

Thank you for making On-Demand Internet Television matter.

Boston Tragedy a Signal of a Society on the Edge

The Boston Marathon incident was a horrible day, for the runners, their friends and families cheering them on, those just hanging out to watch, and ultimately the whole Greater Boston Area.

But it signals a disturbing trend in North America, which if our politically-correct politicians in both Canada and the United States don’t take a stand on soon, things will get worse.

Canada and the United States of America used to be great places to live, work and play.

We had a sense of pride, living in the freedom to be anything you wanted, safe, and secure from the economic and political unrest which many other nations unfortunately suffer from.

However, that freedom was broken by the tragedy in Boston. When law enforcement officers have to shut down an entire major urban center, no longer can we say we are safe and secure from those political and economic demons which plague other nations.

When people are told to stay at home, and not answer their doors unless the person is in an official uniform from the state, we are living in a society on the edge of falling into the abyss of despair, and ultimately doom.

Governments across North America have dropped the ball, allowing political correctness usurp sound judgement in the running of nations.

Both the federal governments of Canada and the United States have let immigration policies slide to such a degree, anyone – even those who want to destroy us – are being warmly welcomed here.

Want proof?

Just look at those responsible for the death and destruction in Boston – they were Americans, born elsewhere, but now living in the States.

Not everyone coming to Canada and the States is happy to be here. Though most of these people aren’t going to blow up innocent people at a public gathering.

They come here for the better standard of living, but because they really miss home, they fail to learn any of our languages, don’t do business with anyone that doesn’t speak their native tongue, and don’t let their kids play with anyone that doesn’t look just like them.

Although the Boston incident was horrific, what’s worse on a greater scale, and ultimately more deathly to the foundations and principles of what makes any society, are those warmly welcomed into that society, that fail to actively participate in it.

This has been going on for decades in Canada, and is just starting to come to the surface in the States.

Recently, Canada’s largest bank, The Royal Bank of Canada(RBC) was in the spotlight, for importing contractors from other countries, having the Canadians in those jobs train those people, and then firing those Canadians, as the very people they trained took their jobs.

All of those imported workers came over through eased federal government programs, which enables them to live and work in Canada – despite the fact they were directly taking jobs away from Canadian citizens.

When big banks import workers, they bring people in at substandard wages, subsidized by the federal government.

So although these new immigrants have jobs, they don’t have the great salaries which once came with those jobs, so essentially they are tossed into a life of poverty in a first world country.

Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes either – which is why most of these imported workers never learn English or French, so they can’t interact with Canadians, and they tell their kids not to play with Canadians.

They live in a society in which they feel as much an outsider as those Canadians that have to interact with them.

So of course they are going to be bitter, angry and unsettled in this nation – and this angst further erodes the core of what was once the very basis for our great land.

And those that become unstable, and decide to do harm will.

Hence Boston – and whatever follows next.

Unless our politicians stop, think and act.

Are Canada’s Scientists Being Silenced?

The Canadian government is muzzling scientists, according to a complaint filed by Democracy Watch and a western Canadian university’s environmental law clinic earlier this year.

The nation’s information commissioner has confirmed her office’s investigation into the complaints.

The complaint claims Canadian scientists are being “muzzled” by being forced to request permission from numerous federal departments prior to talking to any media outlets.

The 26-page complaint (with over a 100 pages of appendices) alleges this breaches the Access to Information Act.

In an era when it’s virtually impossible to keep anything public private, thanks to social media, this complaint at first seems silly – as if the scientists just don’t want to have to fill out all the paperwork to report their findings.

However, this complaint isn’t just about the paperwork – it’s about freedom of speech and reporting on environmental issues which affect us all.

We’ve seen big businesses and government use this tactic to quash media attention from controversial issues before.

Cigarette companies used the tactic to try and convince us that their products were actually good for us – which we now painfully know is hogwash.

By forcing mounds of paper upon anyone requesting information, the cigarette companies made it almost impossible to learn the true dangers of smoking.

The Soviet government made it hard for journalists to find reliable information about most things during the Cold War, often forcing mountains of paper to be filed, which made it too time consuming to get and report on anything out of that part of the world.

But the Canadian government?

Really?!?!

Canada isn’t a communistic country, and freedom of speech and access to government has always been something Canadians never worried about.

It just is unheard of.

Hopefully, the Canadian government is not trying to stall environmental research, by delaying or denying scientists access to the press, and to each other’s reports.

Because if that is what really is going on – it’s not just a dark day for science in Canada – but a hurricane of hurt for free speech everywhere.

Thanks to Our Wired World, We’re Running Out of Numbers

As our dependence on mobile technology grows, our need for more numbers to link those magical devices grows too.

SO much so, mobile service providers and governments are coming up with more creative ways to keep us from running out of numbers.

They can do what is taking place in Canada’s largest city today – Toronto gets two new area codes as of today, 437 and 365.

This adds a millions of potential phone combinations to an already crowded see of 10-digit codes.

Or you can go the way of some big service providers, which encourage you to have one number which is shared among all your mobile devices.

Alternatively, you could cut the cord with your phone company, and go completely digital, using a Voice Internet Protocol (VOIP) based service such as Skype.

Maybe that’s why software giant Microsoft recently bought out Skype – which incidentally is giving out free VOIP calling for one month, to current MSN account holders, to lure them over to their newly acquired messaging platform.

All of these solutions work – for now.

What happens when Apple’s iWatch, Samsung’s version of the iWatch and Google Glass from the search engine company hit the streets later this year?

Think about all the numbers most people currently have – home landline, office landline, their personal smartphone and tablet, and then their work smartphone.

Some even have separate lines for their home office and home – both landline and mobile.

We’re swamped in a vast ocean of 10-digit dialing.

I remember years ago, when we only had to dial seven digits to connect over the phone. That’s before we got the addition of ONE – just one area code to our major urban area.

Now here in Toronto, we have six – SIX – area codes, and you’d never not dial the area code plus the number you are dialing.

As technical advances release us from the cables and cords of the past, allowing us to be free, and still be wired to the world, we’ll need to work together to ensure we don’t run out of numbers to connect our wireless devices.

Otherwise, regardless of how wonderful the tech is, it’ll be useless.

Canada's Budget Locked Down But Tweeted

It's almost budget day in Canada.

I know.

So what?

Unless your an economist, politician, news junkie, or have nothing else to do, the fact that Canada's Finance Minister put on his new shoes, and is ready to deliver his new budget tomorrow for the nation just doesn't matter much.

That's why the feds in Ottawa are hitting social media mega-site Twitter, to spur up some social media interest, and engage Canadians in one of the most important, yet yawn-inspiring political functions of the nation's governance.

Traditionally, journalists are locked down prior to the delivery of a budget. They are herded like cattle into a room, where they get exclusive access to the actual budget.

This allows newshounds reporting on the budget to understand and comprehend the massive financial blueprint of a nation.

However, journalists aren't allowed to discuss what they see until after it's been announced. 

That's the law. 

It'll be interesting to see if politico-junkies manage to keep their excitement muted long enough to obey the law, or if the instant communications of social media leaks budget news ahead of the finance Minister's announcement.

Using social media in politics isn't all that new -- more "newish."

American President Barack Obama successfully used social media to get elected in his past and recent election bids for the presidency. He and his staff continue to use social media to engage younger people in the management of their country.

And perhaps that's the greatest good today, when Canada's Finance Department will tweet news about the new budget.

Budgets are typically long, dull and dreary financial statements. Not usually the stuff which attracts young people to politics.

However, budgets form the foundation from which all other government programs come. From tax breaks for students, to how much the government will fund student loans and repayment programs, to providing tax credits for low income families to send their kids to school -- budgets affect young and old people across Canada.

Using Twitter -- and maybe down the road other social media sites like Facebook, Google Plus, maybe even YouTube and Pinterest -- is a step in the right direction for Canada's Finance Department, and one all federal, provincial and municipal departments should take note of and follow.

Because a more politically aware and engaged youth means a more politically aware and engaged future.

And that's just good governance.

Toronto Wanna-Be Mayor Cries Wolf

Last week, International Women’s Day was tarnished by the brash sexually abuse accusations fired at a big city mayor by a woman he defeated in the last election campaign.

Sarah Thomson, claimed that Canada’s largest city mayor,Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, made lewd sexual slurs while grabbing her butt at a political function.

Thomson, who ran against Toronto’s Mayor and lost, didn’t follow the usual course of action by a victim of sexual assault and report it to police. Instead, she blasted Mayor Rob Ford publicly on social media, posting a picture of her smiling, alongside the accused on Facebook.

Mayor Ford denied Thomson’s whole story, claiming none of this happened, and that she was crying wolf.

Numerous people at the event, even those not traditionally supporting the controversial Toronto mayor have spoke out against Thomson, claiming they clearly saw that none of what she was claiming happened.

A handful of local politicians are even coming forward, saying they overheard Thomson talking about intentionally setting up Mayor Rob Ford, to further her own political aspirations.

Thomson claims if anything, publicly talking about this would hurt her political career, as she’ll be known as the “ass grab” politician.

Sarah Thomson – formerly Sarah Whatmough – unsuccessfully ran for a municipal council seat in her native city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1997. She then launched a monthly newspaper called the Hamilton Examiner in 1998, which shortly ceased publication. Since then, she moved to Toronto, ran unsuccessfully against Rob Ford, and failed again in politics, when she ran locally for the Provincial Liberal Party in 2011.

Her bold and potentially criminal charges – despite her lack of filing a police report – was the first time in a long time the 45-year-old Thomson had been in the public eye, with just about every news organization in the city clamouring for an interview.

Allegations of sexual abuse are traditionally he said, she said debates, hammered out in a court of law. And make no mistake, sexual assault is one of the most distasteful and disruptive of crimes one person can commit against another. 

Victims of sex abuse often endure years of therapy, as they overcome the horrible events of their past. Some never fully recover.

However, Thomson is acting more like a person with a mission, than victim, as of this writing, she still hasn’t filed a police report, laid criminal charges, or sought any of the traditional sources for assistance and recovery from sexual abuse which one would normally take in such matters.

All Sarah Thomson has done, is as Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has said, is cry wolf.

If what Thomson is claiming is true, than the mayor of Canada’s largest city should be held fully accountable for his actions.

If on the other hand, Thomson is just crying wolf to rally for her personal gain, not only should she be held fully accountable for her actions – which she will because no one will believe or trust her ever again – but she should also meet with and learn from actual victims of sexual abuse.

Because those who’ve been harmed sexually often have the longest road of recovery. And perhaps, if she learns from those who’ve got more than a Facebook page with unsupported allegations to cry wolf from, she’ll realize just how devastating sexual assault is on those who’ve actually been assaulted in this manner.

And that will make her – slightly – a better person, even if she just cried wolf.

Why Won’t Print Just Die

Yesterday, Canada’s largest daily, The Toronto Star, sent out a memo to staff advising of layoffs, and outsourcing of various production and design work due to budget cuts.

The death bell has been ringing for years in the newspaper business, as digital on-demand media becomes the way most of the western world keeps connected.

SO how come print just won’t die?

Funny thing about technology – it makes it possible for even old things to be new once again.

Maybe we’re just waiting for the right genius kid to discover a new technological solution to re-ignite the newspaper business?

That kid better hurry up – there’s not much left at most newspaper offices these days except a few old curmudgeons and the blurry eyed interns that don’t see the proverbial forest for the trees.

When I was a kid, we got The Toronto Star delivered to our home every day. When it came, we’d take turns ripping through it, looking for our favourite sections.

We always fought over the "Star Week" the paper's TV Guide, this was back long before on-screen program guides which we all have now.

I really enjoyed the national, local and international news sections, along with “Wheels,” and I even liked some of what us old school reporters used to call “the woman’s section” known as “Life.”

I remembered enjoying the full-colour comics on Saturdays, and how they packed extra stuff into the weekend papers.

Thinking back, I feel sorry for the kid that was our newspaper carrier at the time, because the Saturday Star must have weighed as much as a Smartcar.

Those were the days before the Internet, social media, and on-demand digital media. People had more time – or so it seems now – to read through all the various sections, gloriously getting inked fingers from the constant page-turning.

Not so anymore – all broadsheet-width newspapers reduced their standard width years ago, simply because it was becoming too expensive to make such Bible-sized publications.

When that happened over 20-years ago, it was the start of the end for print. Newspapers, like most media sources, make their money by advertisers. The more advertisers, the more pages a paper can be, the more stories can be jammed in.

As people stopped reading papers, advertisers pulled out, meaning fewer pages for the already popular sections.

So newspaper moguls cut the size of the physical paper. They claimed at the time it was to make it easier for people to read, and in a way it was.

But truth be told, it was because newsprint costs went up, while ad revenues and readership went down.

Many major metropolitan daily newspapers including The New York Times, The Globe and Mail and others have attempted “pay walls” to bring in much needed cash flow.

A “pay wall” essentially lets you read part of a story, or a certain number of articles from the publication online, and then after that limit, you have to either pay for an online subscription, or pay a set price per article to continue reading.

Though when it comes to the end product – news – who’s going to pay for something you can get for free in a more timely manner via television, radio, or the social networks?

Pay walls aren’t going to save newspapers from their death.

And yesterday’s announcement of staff cuts and outsourcing labour by Canada’s largest daily certainly puts another knife in the back of an already dying media business.

Although I’m a digital media guy, I’ve always enjoyed newspapers, and hope that someone, somehow figures out a way to save them.

But time is not on their side, as they continue to slash staff, outsource production, and lose money, in our on-demand digital media world.

When Women Are the Minority It’s OK – But Men It Isn’t?

Yesterday, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) announced it wanted more men, to keep in line with its equal opportunity hiring practices.

For years, women, visible minorities and the disabled have had a leg up on jobs, simply because of these politically correct hiring practices to “balance” out the minority in the workforce.

But apparently, that balance has shifted slightly, as the TDSB admits it has too many women, and not enough men educating our young people.

The TDSB did qualify that, by saying they are looking for men, which are racially diverse, aboriginal or disabled.

Sorry if you’re a white able-bodied man – you’re still not wanted.

Women’s groups were up in arms that after the largest school board in Canada’s announcement that they would give a job to a man, instead of a qualified woman.

The irony in all of this, is it goes how wrong being politically corrupt – whoops I mean politically correct – really is.

Whenever a company boasts about being an “equal opportunity employer” it might as well go a step further and tell us which gender, race, ethnic background, and other discriminatory factors they really are looking for, because there isn’t anything “equal” about their employment practices.

Hiring someone because you don’t see the token black blind man anywhere in your office isn’t giving someone who wouldn’t normally get hired a break, its discrimination in the worst possible way – its blatantly labelling people for what they are instead of who they are.

I applaud the TDSB for recognizing they don’t have enough men in their workforce. But if they got off their lazy butts and actually hired qualified teachers – regardless of gender – then maybe they wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.

At least the TDSB publicly admitted it’s shortcomings – most companies continue to use “equal opportunity employment” lingo to discriminate regardless of how obvious it is when you walk into their offices what the dominant culture is.

I’ve worked at some companies – American Express, BMO Bank of Montreal – just to name a handful of offenders, where their so-called “equal opportunity employment” standards were so lacking, I felt like I was in another country – yet I was right here in Toronto, Canada.

At American Express Technologies (AET) at their Canadian offices in Markham, out of well over 300 people, all were Chinese. Well, all except myself, and maybe five to 10 others – you could literally count on your fingers the number of people that weren’t Asian on that team.

BMO Bank of Montreal’s Trader’s Help Desk in Toronto, Canada had one or two non-Asian women, while the remaining 30 or so individuals were Chinese men, when I was working for that company.

BMO and Amex both have equal opportunity employment policies, but just as the TDSB, they don’t work very well unless you happen to be the specific racial or gender group they want to hire.

Seems to me that “equal opportunity employer” gives some companies the ability to only hire those they WANT to work with – people that look like the hiring managers.

That’s certainly not “equal” but I suppose it does give an opportunity for the employer.

But that’s not an opportunity I’ll have in my company – we hire based on something sadly forgotten in today’s politically correct world – talent.

Should Criminals Host TV Shows?

Criminal record checks have become all too common as part of the hiring process. Employers want to know that you won’t steal their pencils.

But in some jobs, a criminal record check really does prevent problems for both employer and employee down the road.

Last thing a major television network wants, is to have it’s top rated morning show host taken away in handcuffs.

But if you’ve done the time for your crime, should you be allowed on television?

Television’s perfect home body, Martha Stewart is back on the TV, after doing time for securities fraud.

In Canada, media baron Conrad Black may be following the home body’s lead, as there is talk that he may get his own talk show on a cable channel available across the nation.

Conrad Black served time for fraud as well, just a different kind. His was to do with his newspaper empire, and made headlines in some of those papers, as he continued to write columns while in prison.

Now he may be on the airwaves, broadcasting his thoughts on television.

Which raises the question – should convicted criminals be hosting television shows?

We all make mistakes, and both Stewart and Black have paid for those mistakes by serving out their criminal sentences in prison.

But millions of people are denied even the most entry level of jobs, because of their criminal past.

Such as the teenage mom, that can’t get a job working in a retail store, because her criminal background check shows she was charged with theft. What it doesn’t show is she stole a loaf of bread to feed her kid.

There are other reasons why criminals don’t usually get put on the tube. The last thing any network president wants, is to turn on his station, to see someone telling the world how to break the law.

It’s unlikely Black or Stewart would publicly tell others to do something illegal. But the possibility is always there.

And our television personalities are role models for us all. We get hooked on their energy and drive, and often mimic them.

So putting criminals on television is bad for our kids, and ourselves.

Do we want others to follow Lance Armstrong?

Before the cyclist came forward with confessions of “doping” while competing he was a role model to many.

Now that he’s come out and spoken publicly about his drug-laden past, he’s on television even more – explaining himself and what he did.

Fair enough, television does provide a forum for public debate, and all sides should be allowed to participate.

But if someone were to offer Armstrong his own television show, I’d question that person’s motives.

And you should too.

Peace, Order and Good Governance? Not in Toronto

If you live in Canada’s largest city, today you are either breathing a sigh of relief or cursing at the fiasco of local government.

Since Rob Ford became Toronto’s mayor in Dec. 2010, the feisty outspoken – and edgy – Ford had caused uproar, controversy and today came close to being the first Canadian mayor to be fired by a court of law.

Lucky for Mayor Ford the court ruled in his favour, and he remains mayor of Canada’s largest city.

But through it all, the primary role of his office – of all elected municipal politicians at the City of Toronto – is to provide good governance of the city.

Good governance is a sacred right in Canada. It says so in the Canadian Constitution dating back to 1867, that we have a right to: “peace, order and good government.”

City of Toronto Councillor Joe Mihevc said himself on a local news channel that Torontonians haven’t been getting good government quite a while, and that they are frustrated because of it.

Damn right we are!

The whole notion of paying for a service which you don’t get is enough to make anyone’s blood boil. That this service is also a guaranteed right under the highest law in the land – the Canadian Constitution – makes it all the more serious of an offence to us all –or it should.

Because when politicians start to ignore the founding laws of the nation in which they serve, they tarnish the very fabric which makes that nation whole.

That’s why Toronto owes you money.

The City of Toronto should refund Toronto residents for their lack of governance.

I want a refund for the Mickey Mouse antics I’ve witnessed by our local politicians. And you should too.

It’s embarrassing to watch Canada’s largest city, with some of the most experienced veteran municipal politicians, failing to act professionally in their management of our city.

And management of our city, of our province and of our country is a fundamental law, ironed into the very weave which made Canada a country.

We have peace.

We have order.

We just don’t have good governance.

That needs to change.

Are We Ready for a Woman in Power?

Before Barack Obama became America’s first non-white male president, there was much debate which would American’s most likely accept – a woman president or someone that wasn’t white?

This debate continues in the strangest of places of sorts – on the airwaves in Canada. Earlier this week, a radio disc jockey in British Columbia was fired, for asking the female premier of that province what it’s like to be a MILF.

Shock-Jock Justin “Drex” Wilcomes, surprisingly got an answer from BC Premier Christy Clark: “You know, I take that as a compliment . . . better a MILF than a cougar.”

Wilcomes was fired, and has since apologized to the political leader of Canada’s most western province. Though he quickly got back on the air, he’s now working for another station in Vancouver, BC.

This isn’t the first time the female politician has taken a ribbing for her female charms. Late last year, eclectic billionaire-business tycoon Sir Richard Branson went kite surfing with a beautiful naked woman on his shoulders while visiting the province. After the media stunt, he said if the premier wants a similar ride, she should call him, but she must be naked to ride.

Branson too caused a public outcry, and eventually apologized to the female premier.

But these incidents raise the question – are North American’s really ready and accepting of women in powerful positions?

If Hillary Clinton became was elected president of the United States, would she have quickly attained the rock star status that President Obama achieved when he first was elected?

Or would she also go through the growing pains of being sexualized such as the premier of BC?

There have been women in high powered positions. In the 1980’s who could forget Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of England, known for her iron-glad stance on the economy?

Canada briefly had a woman prime minister, but she was more of a scapegoat for the outgoing prime minister Brian Mulroney. Kim Campbell was handed the rings to the Canadian prime minister key chain, by the outgoing Mulroney. The press quickly labelled her just a female version of the outgoing prime minister, and she lost the election, because Mulroney’s popularity had slipped so much so, he wouldn’t have won had he remained in office.

Campbell was never sexualized like the current premier of BC, but she didn’t last long in power.

Have we grown-up beyond our own prejudices?

Why should it matter whether America’s president is white, black or brown? Why should it matter if that person is a man or a woman?

Why indeed?

Despite our amazing advances in technology over the years, our society may not be advanced enough to recognize that a person’s race or sex has little to do with their leadership abilities.

Until our society crosses that threshold, we are still a primitive society. We just have a lot of nice tech gadgets to occupy our time.

The Politics of Democracy

You’d think political influences in a democratic society would be – well – democratic, right? 

Not if you’re a citizen in Canada’s largest city, where democracy rests in the hands of the well-to-do.

Just before the Christmas holiday season, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was brought to court, under a conflict of interest charge. He lost. Not only did he lose the case, he lost his job. The court ruled that the Mayor had shown so much disregard for the laws governing governance, he didn't belong in the mayor’s chair.

Sounds like a fair, legal ruling – logical down to the core.

Though the people responsible for bringing down Canada’s largest mayor weren't those who elected him into power – or at least not the majority of ‘em.

One man, wealthy enough to hire one of the best criminal lawyer in the country, brought the charges to light against Mayor Rob Ford.

You can smell the stink of political poop buried within – why would a criminal lawyer be tasked with a non-criminal case? Yes, the Mayor disobeyed the rules of conduct for his job – but that’s not a felony. It’s no different than you or I being late for work – one doesn't get a criminal record for that!

When you can afford the best lawyer in the game, you win – just look at murderer-or-not O.J. Simpson’s dirty gloves.

Clearly, this case brought against the mayor of Toronto was a politically motivated act, by someone that had it in for the person, not for what he did.

Rob Ford, a veteran politician, should have known better than to vote on a matter in council where he was in direct conflict. However, he shouldn't be forced out of office because one wealthy individual doesn't agree with his politics, his attitude, or his very being.

Yesterday, three judges heard both sides to the sordid tale, as Mayor Rob Ford appealed the ruling which threw him out of office.

He’s still the mayor during the proceedings which continue today, and as of this writing says he’ll run in a re-election if council votes to have one if his appeal fails. Council can vote for a by-election, or simply appoint someone, however a vote has yet to be tendered on which direction to take.

Either way, the politics of democracy isn't very democratic in Canada’s largest city. One well-to-do person shouldn't have the power to remove a person elected to lead by the majority of the citizens.

Yet in our so-called democratic society, money seems to buy one the power to control that democracy – and that certainly isn't democratic.

Regardless of whether you agree with a politician’s policies, performance or person, if that person has been elected into power, you alone shouldn't be the one to take away that power.

Because in a society where one can arbitrarily determine the fate of who ultimately makes decisions for the whole, that democracy ceases to exist.

Real Freedom is Only for Those Who You Can’t See

Yesterday, Canada’s highest court ruled in some situations, Muslim women can wear the full face-covering veil called a niqab, while testifying in court, due to religious reasons.

The niqab provides only a slit across the eyes, allowing women wearing it to see, but fully covers the rest of the face.

Canada’s Supreme Court ruled narrowly in favour of allowing the Muslim woman to wear the full-face covering in an Ontario provincial court, as she’s the victim of a horrible rape.

One of the great things about being Canadian, is our acceptance of other cultural and religious beliefs. It’s also our greatest fault – because it doesn't work the other way ‘round.

For years, first responders have had serious reservations about serving Muslim women wearing the niqab. Be it a slight fender bender, a major car crash, a house fire, or – as in the case of the woman who won her right to wear such a garment in a public court of law – a rape case – the job of all first responders is to ensure the safety and security of all those involved.

This requires the ability to SEE with their own eyes the whole situation, including the faces of those affected.

There have been numerous reports from ambulance, police, fire and other first responders, where women in the niqab have refused to remove their coverings.

In at least three Canadian situations, paramedics were forced to wait until the women passed out from their injuries, so they could legally assist an unconscious victim, by removing the niqab, to perform necessary life-saving care.

In extremely oppressed cultures – and you can’t get much more extreme than covering your whole face – they don’t have the openness to accept other cultural or religious beliefs.

So when they come to an open and free country, and are told for their own safety and security, they must uncover their face so we can see them, they refuse.

However, they aren’t dumb – one might argue they are psychotically smart – because they not only hold true to their beliefs, but they use their new found free country’s laws to further those beliefs here. They cry about their rights and freedoms under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms being violated when asked to remove their coverings.

Freedom of all forms of expression – be it cultural, religious, or anything else – is the foundation of what makes this country great.

However, there is always a line which has to be drawn, even when freedom is concerned, for the public’s greater good.

And the public’s greater good isn't served by allowing people to cover their faces where either their own or another’s safety and security is at issue.

Wearing a full-face covering mask – which it essentially is, because it masks the identity of the person wearing it – shouldn't be allowed in any place where you interact with others.

We communicate so much through body language, and facial expressions, covering your whole face really does more harm than good. From signalling your intentions when four cars stop at a four-way stop sign at the same time while driving, to simply going into any store or bank and not being mistaken for a robber or a thief.

balaclava (a full-face sky mask), I’d probably be taken down at gun point by police. I could claim I was just wearing it to protect myself from winter’s chill – which would be understandable in a cold climate country such as we have here in Canada. 

However, I’d probably still be charged with mischief, as we Canadians know what is and isn't acceptable in our society.

So how come our nation’s highest court allowed something which isn't really acceptable in our society for a select few?

Murder and Mayhem – Divided By Borders

While American’s mourn the devastating loss of young children and their teachers, over 300,000 Canadian kids just north of the border are running a muck.

Teacher’s across much of Canada are unionized, and in the Province of Ontario, teachers at the largest school boards in the province are staging a one day walk-out to protest the province’s plans for them. 

Since last week, school boards across the province have been staging these one day strikes, today’s just so happens to hit the biggest school boards of Toronto, Durham and Peel regions.

Ironically, teachers are protesting provincial legislation which would ban them from striking.

Only a union would protest a possible ban on striking, by holding wildcat strikes. What a way to win over parents and others, by showing just how harmful these strikes are too our children, and our community.

The province’s teachers have actually been protesting over a month, most have withdrawn their extra-curricular activities, so sports teams, student clubs and groups, and other after school programs have all been axed.

This means no more cheer leading, football, student paper, or debating club.

Not that teachers need to learn how to mentor cheerleaders, coach football, edit a newspaper, or build their confidence and public speaking through debate.

Oh wait – that’s not the point of these things – it’s all about the kids.

By cutting back on extra-curricular activities, today’s children are already losing out – big time. 

Teachers are more than just educators, they are role models, and leaders within their community.

What kind of role models are these for our children, when they demonstrate when the tough get going, they stop what they are doing either part-way or as in today’s walk out, just stop completely?

Kids across Canada’s largest province today may rejoice in a well-deserved day off. Their parents on the other hand may have been left scrambling at the last minute, trying to figure out who’s going to take care of Little Johnny while mommy and daddy need to go to work?

Student groups across the province have spoken out, crying foul too. Across much of Toronto last week, numerous high school students walked out of class to protest the cuts to extra-curricular programs, and the threats of these rotating one day strikes.

All this remember is because the government of Ontario wants to eliminate the right for teachers to strike.

Regardless of whether teachers should be allowed or not allowed to strike, all of this is raising an even bigger issue buried in the subtext of strikes, walk outs, and suspended services.

Isn't a well-rounded education about more than just reading, writing and arithmetic?

Shouldn't teachers be more concerned with shaping the future leaders of tomorrow?

School should be a place where kids go to learn, not just stuff in books, but through self-discovery, led by well-rounded adults that know there’s more to life than the stuff in a text book.

Think back to your memories of your favourite teacher – we all have one.

If you are like me – and you probably are somewhat – then your memories are of a teacher that did more than just teach.

My favourite teacher participated actively in the drama club, began the high school radio station, ran the environmental action group and more.

He didn't just teach, he helped make me who I am by encouraging me, and bringing out the real me, by allowing me – and other students in his classes and activities – to discover who they were.

That’s what school is all about – learning, growing and self-discovery.

Or at least, it should be.