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.

The Iron Lady is No More

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher passed away from a stroke – she was 87.

I remember the Iron Lady – given that nickname by the tabloid British press for her unwavering stance on her economic policies which at the time caused protests in the United Kingdom, but were hailed as revolutionary and necessary changes by the leaders of Canada, the States and even the former Soviet Union.

Ah, the former USSR – or Soviet Union. When Baroness Thatcher was Prime Minister, the world was a very different place.

Thatcher’s Conservative Prime Minister reign ran from 1979 to 1990, right through the Cold War, and long before cell phones, smartphones, tablets and most of the mobile devices we take for granted today existed.

The Cold War was a frightful period for the world. It was a time when the world’s superpowers – The United States of America and the Soviet Union – were constantly at loggerheads over the way the world should be run, and at anytime, the world was ready to take cover from a nuclear strike by either superpower.

Or as ready as you could realistically be for the end of the world.

Fear over a nuclear holocaust was real. If you look back at the movies of the time, many were either about such a holocaust, or the fear of coming to the brink of such a holocaust, as the trigger-happy American’s edged closer to “DEFCON 1” – the codename used to signal the start of a nuclear war.

There was a now legendary tale about how a flock of Canadian Geese raised the DEFCON threat levels, when they showed up on NORAD’s radar, but failed to identify themselves, despite the NORAD commander’s urgent calls on the radio.

Luckily, a couple of F-16 fighter pilots were dispatched, and once they saw it was a flock of birds and not missiles or enemy fighter planes, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, maybe even had a bit of a chuckle.

Yes, Margaret Thatcher’s Iron Lady stance governed through some very interesting times. She worked on the world stage with other charismatic characters, trying to balance the power while maintaining the peace in very uncertain times.

If a flock of Canadian Geese could set off alarm bells, it’s any wonder how we somehow managed to avoid a nuclear war.

Or is it?

Before the world of instant always on and always available communications, the true test of political leadership was character.

Back in Margaret Thatcher’s time, email, cell phones, smartphones and other mobile devices just didn’t exist. So what really made a leader a great leader, was compassion, empathy, honesty, and above all else, being charismatic and an exceptional communicator.

Margaret Thatcher certainly was on par with the other great leaders of the time – American President Ronald Reagan (who’s nickname was “the great communicator,”) and the deep voiced and chiselled chin Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who’s sense of humor often stole the show at press events where all three were in attendance.

The ever prim and proper Margaret Thatcher was like the stern but loving mother, keeping President Reagan and Prime Minister Mulroney on track and out of trouble.

The Cold War has long since ended, and the type of leadership our world needs has since changed forever.

However, the compassion, empathy, honesty and charismatic communications of the Iron Lady will be missed, in our new world of social media, and always on digital communications.

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.

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.

Budget Axe May Grind Away Toronto Teachers – Good Riddance

Last night, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) had to reduce its annual operating budget – in the Province of Ontario, Canada, public school boards aren’t allowed to be in debt.

On the budget chopping block are numerous full and part-time teaching positions, mostly in the high school level.

Good riddance to the bloated, ego-maniacal teachers – serves them right if they lose their jobs.

Normally, I’d have the utmost respect for those charged with educating our kids.

However, since the school year began last September, our kids have been stuck in the middle of a labour war between the teachers, their union, and the Province of Ontario.

The province imposed – as they are rightfully allowed to being the public school teachers employer – a new contract, which the union didn’t like.

Since then, there have been random walkouts, picket lines and worse for the future leaders of tomorrow – no extra-curricular activities.

There’s more to life than reading, writing and arithmetic – although those are important. The after school sports, clubs and events which has been a part of most children’s – until this school year – foundation of learning forms the basis for learning more than books can teach.

From being a good sport, to learning how to work well with others, to thinking outside the box – sounds a lot like what you’d find in a job ad – extra-curricular activities teach our kids how to function in society, and lead meaningful lives.

That is unless you live in Ontario, where the teachers haven’t been doing their job.

At first blush, it appears to be a labour issue, where the teachers and their union are working to rule in protest against their boss, the provincial government.

But just two weeks ago, the union asked teachers to resume extra-curricular activities, as the union was forging ahead with negotiations. Most of the teachers – the good apples – joyfully did just that.

But according to the union, about 20 percent of the province’s teachers are holding out, STILL refusing to give kids the education they need, by refusing to do extra-curricular activities.

These bad apples aren’t just holding innocent children hostage, they are now making it clear they don’t deserve to have a good paying government job.

As unemployment worldwide climbs in the worst depression since the Great Depression, apathy is anything but your friend. And lazy-ass teachers, can’t hide behind their union in Ontario and claim extra-curricular activities are part of their protest – the union made it clear that’s not the case anymore.

So, when school boards across the province face laying off slacker teachers to balance their budgets, cry me a river, because they deserve the seeds they sowed.

Unfortunately, another “benefit” of unionized labour is time in. The longer you’ve been in the union, the more clout you carry, and that means the teachers that most likely will face unemployment are the young new ones, which aren’t necessarily lazy-ass slackers.

Unionized labour – good grief.

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.

Teachers Harm Their Students in Blind Self Interest

As the economy continues to nose dive, labour unrest grows, as everyone is worried about their job.

That’s understandable, given a job is the foundation for keeping us fed, clothed and sheltered in our modern, always on and available world.

From pilots, at a small Canadian airline – Porter – going on strike, to the loss of Twinkies in the States thanks in part to a union’s increasing costs to the profit losing-company Hostess, organized unions aren't very – well – organized – these days.

The latest victim to the labour movement are perhaps those most unprepared for it – our children.

In Canada’s largest province, Ontario, the province’s teachers union is organizing an illegal strike, because they don’t agree with their latest collective agreement.

Granted, that collective agreement was mandated upon them by the government, however, last I checked, the government was well within its legal and some may argue ethical, rights to do just that.

Since the school year began last September, the teachers just haven’t been very deserving of apples, as they hold our kids hostage all so they can guarantee something no one can anymore – job security and salary increases. The teachers have stopped hosting extra-curricular activities, coaching school sports teams, and even forced kids to cross picket lines.

Imagine, being a scared child, and having to be rushed through an angry mob just to get to class!

Maybe Ontario’s teachers skipped economics class, because most know when the economy tanks, job security and guaranteed wage increases just don't happen.

Unless you've got a mafia – I mean union boss – threatening – I mean negotiating – on your behalf.

Seriously, unions act just like organized crime. They come around, force you to sign up for “protection,” threaten your job if you refuse, and then they go out and bully your manager if they don’t get what they want.

Maybe they can enlist the cast of The Sopranos to do a new TV show, only instead of leading a crime family of gangsters, Tony Soprano will lead a group of high school teachers?

Whatever happened to teachers that gave a damn about teaching? Where did the teachers go that actually got into the profession to shape future generations?

Millions of people globally are struggling just to find a basic job – yet the average Ontario teacher makes a very comfortable middle-class income, and all we ask of them is to take care of our kids so they too can have a future.

Mr. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, you’re too nice. You should abolish the union, fire any teacher instantly that refuses to do their job, and hire one of the thousands of Ontarian’s out of work.

That’ll teach the teachers a lesson in economics.

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.

Canada’s Largest City is Full of – Well – You Know

As most of the major urban centres across the globe embrace environmental policies, Canada’s largest city of Toronto appears not too.

Earlier this month, they paved over bike lanes on a major downtown street, to allow more room for gas guzzling cars, taking away space from environmentally-friendly clean pedal-powered cyclists.

Then yesterday, they reversed their decision banning the sale of single use plastic bags, after pressure from retailers claiming it would kill them.

Cry me a river – retailers in Toronto and many of the surrounding suburbs already charge five-cents for plastic bags, even though the City of Toronto removed that green by-law this past summer. Many retailers in – and for some reason out of Toronto – still charge five-cents if you want to carry home the stuff you just paid for.

Actually, charging for plastic bags is a good idea. It encourages people to bring their own reusable cloth bags when shopping. However, retailers shouldn't be allowed to profit from a green initiative – those funds should be put back into city programs specifically for improving our environment.

But the ultimate issue which Toronto Council backed away from favouring business over the environment is the outright ban on plastic bags in the first place.

Plastic – a chemical composition of fibres created from filthy petrochemicals – takes years to decompose, and when it does, it leaves the chemical residue in it’s wake, causing further pollution. Even biodegradable plastics leave this chemical residue.

An economical and environmentally-friendly alternative is to bring your own cloth bags – which a ban on plastic encourages.

It also encourages retailers to think of alternatives for packaging their products, which is something the suits and ties that run retail just don’t do enough of.

Although we’re a far more environmentally aware society, we still are very much a disposable one. From fast-food containers, to all the stuff we buy wrapped in layers of plastic, paper, cardboard and Styrofoam.

If manufacturers, retailers and anyone else selling goods gave more thought to how their customers will carry their products upon purchase, we’d all be better off.

We want the stuff we buy to be clean and unbroken, and expect a method of getting it from store shelf to home or business in it’s original clean and unbroken state. But we don’t need all the packaging materials most things are crammed with.

Packaging materials which eventually find their way to landfills in many instances, and recycling if we’re lucky.

Or worse – in the case of plastic bags – enjoying a lifespan buried beneath our homes, businesses and schools, leaching Cancer-causing chemicals into our drinking water, the Earth we grow our food, feed our livestock with and allow our kids to play on.

Banning plastic bags was a good idea Toronto.

Reversing that decision because you got cold feet will be felt by you, me, our children, their children their children’s kids and their kids, and countless other generations.

All because a small group of politicians in Canada’s largest city stopped thinking green. 

Feds Go After Social Media Giant Concerned for Privacy – And It’s Not Facebook

Canada’s federal government is formally requesting Twitter testify before a House of Commons committee studying privacy and social media, after they refused to voluntarily appear when initially approached.

Second only to Facebook, Twitter is one of the most popular social media networking services, with an estimated 500 million users. Facebook has over 600 million users, while Google Plus draws in an estimated 400 million users.

Both Facebook and Google voluntarily appeared before the Canadian government’s committee – yet Twitter refused.

Last May, the Commons committee began investigating how social media companies protect the personal information of their users, because of high profile interventions from Canada’s Privacy Commissioner with Facebook and Google just weeks earlier.

Usually it’s social media mega-site Facebook which is in the news for its self-serving privacy policies, but this time, the social network seemingly with something to hide is Twitter.

Twitter’s refusal to appear before the committee hearing falls amidst the company’s aggressive positioning to take-over the top spot in social media.

Many companies have gone out of business, as Twitter adds features and functionality to its social networking service, which previously could only be found through third-party companies. 

As Twitter adds these new perks to its service, it disables the ability of these third-party companies from providing the same service, by changing its Application Programming Interface (API).

Twitter has been consistent in denying third-party companies from providing apps which “replicate its core user experience,” as the company puts it. However, as Twitter adds to that “core user experience” it is putting companies out of business and people out of work.

However, this past August, Twitter announced major changes to its API, and since then, has been rolling out many features previously provided by third-party companies to its service.

As these new features are rolled into the giant social networking site – commonly called the world’s largest microblogging site – one has to question how the company is managing its member’s personal information?

Perhaps Twitter has been so busy gobbling up third-party features, the top brass has let that part of their business slide?

Or perhaps Twitter has discovered new ways to use that personal private information, which they fear could land them in the penalty box at a federal government investigation into privacy and social media?

We’ll have to wait and see, because the Canadian government’s House of Commons Committee hasn't sent out the formal letter to appear to Twitter as of this writing.

The motion to formally call Twitter to testify came after a representative from Facebook took committee members through that company's privacy policies.

Although Facebook’s relationship with Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has improved much since their initial meeting, by exploring the types of personal information collected, managed and stored with the world’s largest social networking service, the Canadian government is convinced they need Twitter’s participation to protect the interests of Canadians, and ultimately all of its users.

Canadians are among the top users of social media, along with the United States and the United Kingdom.

There are just over 10 million Twitter accounts based in Canada, according to a recent study by a Paris research group.

Another recent study says that Facebook has about 18 million Canadian users, more than half the country's total population.

Judge Fires Canadian Big City Mayor to Bully the Bully

Yesterday, a Canadian judge made international headlines when he fired the mayor of Canada’s largest city on a technicality.

Rob Ford, the now out-going Mayor of Toronto, was told he had 14-days to vacate his seat on council, giving up his leadership post as Mayor, because he violated a provincial conflict of interest law. The judge is said to have gone easy on Ford, because he could have also banned him for running for council – and in effect for mayor again -- for seven years.

There is no doubt that Toronto’s controversial mayor was in a direct conflict of interest. He voted ‘no’ during a council vote on whether or not he should pay back money to residents and businesses he had solicited to support the high school football team he coaches. He should have abstained from that vote, because it directly involved him – that’s the technicality which cost Rob Ford his job.

Whether or not he solicited donations to his high school football team inappropriately or not wasn't the issue which the judge ruled on yesterday. However, it’s been argued in Toronto council that the mayor used city letterhead in his dealings with donors.

So now, Rob Ford has two weeks to transition the power of governance of Canada’s largest city to – oh wait – who?

It’s up to Toronto council how they proceed, and this is where it becomes clear that the judgement against Rob Ford -- the first of its kind ever in Canada, and possibly in North America – was more political than practical.

By firing Toronto’s mayor, the judge opened up the barn doors to the political back-stabbing within the city’s council chambers. It’s no secret that many city councillors despised Rob Ford’s policies – some may question whether or not that hatred even became personal too.

Although every member of council is an elected representative of their local community on council, none of them were individually elected by the people of Toronto to be mayor.

And that’s the real issue left in the wake of this landmark decision – and worse – it shows how even our democracy has become infected by bullies.

For the brief two-years of Rob Ford’s leadership, he has constantly bullied council, businesses, and residents into following him – or else.

When the city’s public transit commission appeared to favour a different transit plan than his, Rob Ford fired the general manager of the Toronto Transit Commission – a post he had successfully filled for over two decades.

When there was public outcry against service cuts and user fees, the Mayor showed his lack of concern for the people directly affected. He held an unprecedented 24-hour public hearing, where anyone could come address him personally, making their views known. Problem was, people were rushed through their two-minutes to speak, and Mayor Rob Ford clearly wasn't paying much attention, often looking like he was about to nod off during the whole fiasco.

Bullies seldom care what others think – they just do.

When his advisers – hell even his opponents – advised him it was a conflict of interest to raise funds for his high school football team in the manner he was doing, he ignored them and continued on.

Then, when a well-to-do citizen had enough, he hired one of the most prominent lawyers in the country – Clayton Ruby – to file charges of conflict of interest against the mayor.

If there is anything a bully can’t stand, is another bully cutting in on his turf.

So instead of admitting he made a mistake, he defended his decisions, claiming he didn't know all the rules of conflict of interest – which incidentally are printed and distributed every year to all members of council – and the race to remove Canada’s biggest city’s mayor began.

It was a quiet race, rarely covered in the press, until judgement day yesterday. That was when one bully succeeded over the other. In true blood sport style, they got Rob Ford in their clutches, and crushed his proverbial political neck, leaving a twisted mess of destruction for the remaining city councillors to clean up.

It was like watching one of those dinosaur shows on Discovery Channel, where the giant T-Rex is swarmed and killed by a group of savage Raptors.

Only in this case, Toronto’s city council is breathing a slight sigh of relief, as now they don’t have Rob Ford in all his pig-headed arrogance to bully them into following his leadership.

However, it remains to be seen who will take the reins of Toronto council, and lead the city going forward.

And worse, a bullied environment creates a culture where being bullied is the norm. So the next leader of Canada’s largest city may follow in their predecessors footsteps, and be just as stubborn and arrogant as before.

Passing the Canadian Crown Royal

Canada is known far and wide for many things. We are a hockey-loving nation, with great beer, always friendly people, and we have kept the peace globally in many United Nation’s war-torn regions.

Some even know that our ultimate ruler is the Queen of England.

What? You didn't know?

Canada is officially a constitutional monarchy, which means Queen Elizabeth can overrule our parliament any time she wants too.

So far, we've been lucky that the Royals haven’t interfered with the Canadian political system – so far.

Actually, like many political figures, the Queen’s presence in Canada is mostly just that, a figure head roll. All pomp and no circumstance.

Every year, there is talk in Canada and many other countries where the Queen, or other Royally ruled nations, about the relevancy of a royal leader.

And we’re sure to hear about it again soon in this country, as one of the greatest Royal representatives Canada has had passed away today.

Former Lt. Governor Lincoln Alexander, passed away today at the age of 90. Alexander was the first black person to serve as a Member of Parliament (MP) and was Lt. Governor for Canada’s largest province, Ontario, from 1985 to 1991.

The Lt. Governor represents the Queen’s interests for the province he represents.

I remember Lincoln Alexander as being one of the last people in that post, that didn't use it to forward his own political causes and beliefs.

Others have since used the title to push forward their own political ideologies, and pet projects.

Regardless of who or what was represented in a provincial Lt. Governor role, they ultimately represent the British Royal family, and their interests.

Before the industrial revolution of the 1900’s, royalty really did rule. Kings and Queens sent their knights and soldiers out to raid other lands, to expand their territory.

It was the era of wooden sailing ships, horse-drawn carriages, and loyalty to one’s King or Queen above self.

Times have changed – yet many countries around the world still have a royal as their official head of state. These Royals – as with the British – are really more political eye candy than constructive contributors to the governance of a nation. 

They make the usual public appearances, do charity work, and announcements of good will and world peace around the end of the year.

But they don’t really serve any substantive purpose that greatly influences a nation’s growth or prosperity.

Back when Royal families ruled, they really were the leaders of a country. Making the decisions which affected how their citizens lived their lives.

These days, it’s usually the tabloid press capturing royals in uncompromising positions, which causes them to lose public faith, trust and respectability.

The Queen may have the final legal say in many countries, but she lacks the will of the people to achieve greatness for any nation she “governs.”

That’s because over the years, we've gone from dictator-like royals, which unilaterally made decisions for the whole nation, to democratically elected political systems where politicians are voted in – and out – of office based on the public’s perceptions of who should rule.

Former Lt. Governor Lincoln Alexander was a wonderful representative for the Queen. But as we remember him, maybe we should think towards the future, and remember that although Kings and Queens were important to our becoming the democratic states we live in today, they are outdated, archaic political structures that need to be eliminated.

It’s time we moved on from Kings and Queens, because today’s world leaders aren't any more or less royal than you or me.