The Great Canadian Talk Show
By Marty Gold
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Podcast Description
Winnipeg's premier podcast! Featuring breaking news, current affairs analysis, and holding elected officials and mainstream media accountable. We are established as the alternative media leader after four years of community engagement, education, and entertainment on 92.9 Kick-FM in the drive home slot
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Thursday May 17 2012 – Ticket(gate)-taking NDP Ministers in conflict with Criminal Code? plus: Launch of City Circus on Shaw | We ask the questions the mainstream media does not in this podcast, including: - What does the Criminal Code statutes say under "Corruption and Disobedience" about bribery of judicial officers (including members of a legislature of a province) and f... | 5/17/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Wednesday May 9 2012: NDP’s Jets ticket scandal requires out-of-province probe | If a defence lawyer gave a prime ticket to a sold-out hockey game to a judge, everyone would know, instinctively, it was wrong. But to Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, the moral dilemma of a Crown Corporation giving NHL tickets to his Cabinet Ministers was easily rectified, as long as it wasn't free. "It's a whole new thing with the Jets in town," Selinger said. "It's a very hot ticket. People all want to go to the games. We had to lay down clarity in this regard so that there were no tickets that people were taking for free. We have to set an example. "They pay just like everybody else." Selinger proved this week, he is suffering from an affliction common to being the ruler of a one-party state. He will bend his moral compass to suit the conduct of his government, instead of having to adhere to - I hate to say this - true north. The magnetic pull of doing the right thing when faced with a conflict of interest escapes the NDP under Selinger, who in the last two weeks has made excuses for civil servants organizing a political rally at the Legislature against the federal government, and for 2 Ministers conducting a promotional tour of a birthing centre for two selected media outlets - and only two - during the fall election campaign. Even if the judge pulled out $200 to pay for the ticket, everyone knows , it would still be wrong, because everyone knows, that even if the judge had never dealt with that lawyer or his law firm in court before, one day he might. And that gift of a ticket - even if converted into a financial transaction - would still be seen as an act of influence-peddling. (An 'investment' in 'building relationships', no doubt in the eyes of any defence attorney.) And if the judge had, in the past, sat in contemplation of a matter raised by that attorney, and found in their favour, that gift of a scarce ticket - or accepting an offer to buy one to them - would be seen as corruption, and the purchase of it, as graft. That inescapable conclusion - that those who sit in judgement, or in government terms, regulate, cannot accept gifts from those they rule over, escaped Greg Selinger and his Finance Minister thrust into the damage control chair, Stan Struthers. On Tuesday, the on-the -fly policy was that all Ministers had to do was pay for the tickets, to make it kosher. Somehow, by Wednesday afternoon, Struthers' policy was that Ministers (and MLA's) were not to accept them, period. "... we wanted to be very clear they're not to offer tickets to ministers and ministers are to refuse them if they are offered". (GlobalTV news, 2.35) Too late. Steve Ashton, Gord Mackintosh and Andrew Swan all took tickets from Crown Corporations to Jets games. Crown corporations that they make the rules for, and which regularly ask for legislative changes. According to the latest policy pronouncement, they should have refused. And the people, seeing the NDP flip-flop, have started asking the obvious questions. The questions are rooted in the perception of bias. Of conflict of interest. Of influence-peddling. Add to this, the fact Manitoba Hydro cannot account for who got their 176 tickets - except for their chairman, former NDP Finance Minister Vic Schroeder, which makes 3 former NDP cabinet ministers known to have received Jets tickets (MLCC Board members Eugene Kostyra and Myrna Phillips the others). So when Dave Chomiak stated, no NDP cabinet members or MLA's used Hydro's NHL tickets, he has no proof. This started with 1 cabinet member. Then 3. At least. The story changes daily. And now apparently, at least 3 former Cabinet ministers were handed Jets tickets to go with their plum appointments. If a private business secretly gave tickets for sold-out events to any politician in the province, it would be a breach of conflict of interest legislation. The politicians cannot investigate themselves, the NDP controls the majority on legislative committees, | 5/9/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Thursday May 4 2012 – How the Winnipeg ‘Water Park at the Forks’ proposal got swamped – a review | This is the essential podcast to get the background on - the way the Canalta proposal for a Water Park at Parcel 4 near the Forks came forward to Executive Policy Committee, - the last minute recusal of Mayor Katz and the optics of the proposed location being across from his ballpark, - how opinions evolved and changed among councillors, - why Councillor Swandel's aggressive tactics to force the $7 M grant through the April 25 Council meeting turned other councillors and the public against it, - what the majority of the public's concerns were NOT about ie - the sanctity of the "iconic" Canadian Museum for Human Rights, - direct quotes from Councillors who spoke up at the meeting, and why a core of EPC members stuck together, - the mainstream media coverage and how it aided the public debate, - the emergence of social media and online comments and blogs such as Policy Frog and The Black Rod as the best source of information and opinion on city hall - the moral of the story: public consultation cannot be ducked for political expediency. This uprising against "business as usual" at 510 Main Street has proven YOU HAVE THE POWER. | 5/3/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Monday April 30 2012 – Manitoba’s failing immigrant settlement program manipulated to benefit NDP; Blue Bombers’ Stadium | The Monday episode focuses on the shrieks of horror from NDP sympathizers at the announcement the Harper government was assuming responsibility for settlement programs for immigrants to Manitoba, and taking $30 Million out of the hands of the Selinger government in the process. (aka Canceling the Settlement Annex of the Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement.) Allan Wise, the former Liberal candidate in the federal riding of Winnipeg Centre, stepped forward to defend the decision of the federal Conservatives with a shocking op-ed in the April 24th Winnipeg Free Press. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/ndp-using-immigrants-as-a-ploy-148836865.html Wise exposed how the political operatives of the NDP have been "Injecting the ranks of the senior and mid-level civil servants, as well as the staff and the boards of the funded agencies, with party loyalists (which) has more to do with building constituencies than with delivering objective and responsible public administration." He also reveals the lack of retention of skilled immigrants facing a housing shortage in Winnipeg in favor of family reunification streams in a "lure and abandon" program, and the vacuuming up of department dollars to fund feel-good Multiculturalism while non-profit agencies are told to do more with less. No wonder the NDP tried to panic immigrant groups and stage a protest at the Legislature that helped delay the budget vote till Monday. We ask why was the offensive engineering of a compromised civil service and use of departmental grants to community groups to bolster NDP ground troops, not hammered by the opposition parties as an election issue in last spring's Manitoba campaign? Then we take the details of the Wise commentary and relate it to real life, via the crime file. Listen to the stabbing and robbery round-up, and how unsafe neighborhoods that we know, new Manitobans settle in, really are. Like the newly-coined 'north core strip", with 4 dead bodies found so far this year. Faced with poor job prospects and violent criminals in abundance, why would immigrants stay here? Especially with a court system where drunken killers get sentenced to time served and Mark Stobbe barely avoided the railroad treatment. Hell, we can barely retain police. They have guns, and 94% report higher than average stress. How do you think unarmed immigrants feel about living in the inner city? The show actually leads off with poking a few holes in the leap of (blind?) faith the Winnipeg football club is taking that the new Blue Bomber stadium will be ready in September - ever wonder what goes into a concourse and how long it might take to build one?, and points out a few things the mainstream media seems to be making excuses for. SPECIAL NOTE: -- OUR NEXT EPISODE WILL BE A SPECIAL SHOW, ABOUT ALL THE CANALTA/FORKS WATERPARK -- WE WILL EVALUATE AND DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF COMMENTS FROM COUNCILLORS DURING THE DEBATE, PLUS COLUMNS (Gordo, Lett, Brodbeck, Kives, etc), NEWS REPORTS, BLOG POSTS, TWEETS, AND THE ONLINE COMMENTS OF WINNIPEG RESIDENTS. -- A ONE STOP SHOP ABOUT THE WATERPARK CONTROVERSY AND THE PUBLIC RAISING ITS VOICE AND BEING HEARD - AND IGNORED BY SOME WITH THEIR OWN AGENDA - COMING UP THIS WEEK ON OUR PODCAST. On Twitter: @TGCTS SUPPORT TGCTS VIA PAYPAL! This is the voice of the alternative media in Winnipeg. | 4/30/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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April 24 2012 – “It’s not about the truth” for “mean and vindictive old guard” of reporters, says Spirited Kenny | A rare appearance by our former radio sidekick lends a nostalgic quality to today's podcast, as the broadcaster who Premier Greg Selinger tried to get Red River College to intimidate, Spirited Kenny, calls in to review current affairs. Kenny shows the wit and insight that scared the Premier's press secretary Jay Branch into seeking to silence him in 2010, as he tackles the latest headlines: - The not-really-at-the -Forks Waterpark ("fix the roads"), - The Canadian Museum for Human Rights ("I feel sorry for Gail Asper") - The work-in-progress Blue Bomber football stadium ("Fans are losing faith") - The NDP budget (" an attack on women and young people" by taxing body art and style.) plus Kenny , who now calls himself "A Conservative without a party", has great observations about: Crime and the rise of minimum wages; U of M. Prof. Rick Linden failing to recognize a pattern of either gang involvment or domestic violence in any of Winnipeg's 12 homicides in 2012; The true nature of the rise of "assaults" on bus drivers; Manitoba Public Insurance being more concerned about cars idling than in getting roads fixed to a driveable condition; And a few other City Hall characters and issues. Most notably, Kenny, no stranger to the subject of how mainstream media resents bloggers and pseudononymous posters exposing their flaws and biases, lauds the reporting of James Turner and Tamara King of the Winnipeg Sun as exceptions to the accepted standard in other newsrooms : "It's not about the truth anymore, it's about the story" for the old guard 'trained journalists', as they focus on currying favour and popularity within political circles. ***************** NOTE: at the end of the show I referenced an online comment about a senior citizen home under siege but could not find it to quote. Here is the actual comment on Sid Green's column, found on the Free Press website. The same day its reported that youths smashed a greenhouse owned by the Police (ed. note - Polish?) old folks home on Selkirk. Residents in the 70s and 80s chased the vandals. Its not the first time the seniors home was targetted. On Easter Sunday when everyone was in church, thieves stole a big TV from the home. Sorry, Sid, there's no hope. ********************** PAYPAL IS ONE WAY TO SUPPORT OUR WORK - top right side of this webpage. WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR LIVE TAPINGS, HOSTING SPECIAL EVENT AND PANELS, AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS. Twitter: @TGCTS Email: TGCTS1 at gmail.com YOU HAVE THE POWER. | 4/23/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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April 19 2012 – TGCTS gets proposed Winnipeg election rules canned; Selinger says blame Harper for NDP Sunday shopping flip-f | You Have The Power. That was the mantra of our radio show on Kick-FM and it scared the connected and entitled class in Winnipeg. Because it was true, and they didn't want people to learn how to wield their power with the kind of information we collected, analyzed, and distributed. We named names, dug into the details, and told the stories the MSM ignored. Today's podcast is A Lesson in Civics, a powerful testament to how that power can get results. 1) Before Executive Policy Committee got to the waterpark yesterday, there was the little matter of a report from the bureaucracy that suggested all sorts of changes to elections in Winnipeg. Some of the proposals were plainly unacceptable, including the idea councillors alone should decide how much cash their prospective opponents would have to put up to run, that the right of third part advertisers to express their political opinion should be rendered a campaign expense to candidates, and that minors be used as election workers. And then there was that idea to hold elections on Saturdays, with not a hint on how it would disenfranchise observant Jews. Remember, you paid for this report, and it somehow got past the attention of Governance Committee. Listen to my entire speech dissecting the report and its recommendations with such surgical precision, that EPC voted to put into turnaround. Did someone say public consultation? Not till I did. And as an added bonus, the questions from the media to Mayor Katz about it are also uploaded. 2) Then it's time for the 'not at the Forks' Waterpark. Once again, only on this podcast, will you hear the Mayor explain exactly how and when he found out, he had a conflict of interest in the vote, and his spin on what the conflict is. The mainstream media doesn't have time to describe how, in Katz' absence, deputy mayor Justin Swandel spoke down to fellow Councillors who appeared as delegations before the debate about a project he is steering thru council. But the alternative media has spent lots of time, as you'll hear explained, to put a microscope on the prince of positivity. Earlier this week he went too far in a reply to a blogger, Patrick Oystryk, who voiced his concerns about the project and the city subsidy for Canalta to Swandel. You'll especially want to read Swandel's reaction to being challenged. http://stumblingabordeaux.posterous.com/a-letter-to-councillor-justin-swandel Next, there is a great compilation of waterpark-related posts on James Hope Howard's blog, and he then uses them to highlight Swandel's attacks on citizen journalists and the great unwashed who just don't understand: "I'd just like to remind you all, at this point, that this is the Deputy Mayor; this is the man who gets to run the city any time Sam Katz is unavailable, as wildly infrequent as that scenario may be. So if you have ever wondered how the consultation and input of the public is perceived -- nay, valued -- among the upper echelons of our civic leadership, well, here we are. You live in a city where there is no such thing as a valid concern." http://slurpeesandmurder.blogspot.ca/2012/04/manitoba-links-weekly-i-bet-i-can-blame.html NOTE: In the podcast, I referenced the Free Press video of Swandel's press briefing - for the purpose of pointing out my conversation about - (no, not if he'd run for PC leader, which he now says he won't) - our unanswered questions about the $170,000 in tax breaks for the CMHR with Coun Fielding, and what he told me. While composing this blog post, I found this Sun video embedded in the James Turner story below not only includes the shot of me and Fielding, but is a much more useful and extensive clip than the Free Press chose. Click on it and hear Swandel trying to distance himself from the kinds of remarks he makes about opponents to his "vision" that the bloggers (above) are lambasting him for. I wish I'd heard it but as you can see, | 4/19/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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April 16 2012: Transit driver assaults down, not up; Freep misrepresents Katz land dispute – again; CMHR: 2 stories = 4 headl | We open the show by drawing an audio map of the past week's major crimes and arrests, including stabbings and assaults (including a streetjacking and a home invasion) that as Policy Frog pointedly tweeted, don't make Crimestat. We make the additiona... | 4/16/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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April 11 2012: Hear Brian Pallister tell why his time is now; Mike Sutherland explains the takedown of dangerous car thief Cody | Former Manitoba MLA and MP Brian Pallister, made his return to public life official today when he declared his candidacy to become leader of the provincial Progressive Conservative party. Citing strong family values from his upbringing on a Portage La Prairie farm, Pallister took a few minutes to tell the TGCTS audience why he thinks he can revive the Party and get voters to buy into his vision for Manitoba's future. Listen to the Podcast to hear our interview, and a brief explanation of our previous experience 'back in the day' with Pallister, when he was the only long-haired MLA in the Filmon government and was assigned to ward off a taxicab driver protest at a Legislature hearing. ******************* Also today, a listener has followed up on yesterday's podcast and blog post about the remark we reprinted of Winnipeg Police Association president, Mike Sutherland, after officers were cleared of wrongdoing in the Cody Bousquet takedown. The listeners' keen observations about use-of-force are discussed. As indicated in the show, here in its entirety is the original email that contains Sutherland's full response (emphasis added) to Winnipeg Free Press reporter Gabrielle Giroday. From:Mike Sutherland Sent: April-05-12 5:09 PM To: 'Giroday, Gabrielle' Subject: RE: officers cleared In depth studies on the subject have repeatedly demonstrated that one of the most dangerous situations faced by a police officer is attempting to secure a suspect that while on the ground with hands beneath them, refuses to or resists attempts to allow control of the arms and hands. Cursory info is available here; http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/march-2010/daily-planet---march-11-2010/#clip275641 Officers must use necessary force in quickly restraining such a suspect, particularly one that has clearly demonstrated a wanton and reckless disregard for the lives of others. It is my understanding that while operating the stolen vehicle, this particular subject drove it on the sidewalk forcing pedestrians to dive out of the way to avoid serious injury or death. There may also have been police vehicles that were deliberately rammed if my memory serves correctly. While unpleasant and does not reflect the apparent ease with which suspects are restrained on many TV police dramas, the fact is that in real life, unappealing force is sometimes needed to keep people safe and apprehend the dangerous. We do not often enjoy the niceties of a well mannered accused in a sterile courtroom putting on his or her best impression of innocence before the presiding judge. We deal with the crime often in the moments it happens. We do not have months or years to author carefully composed soliloquies on the various legal virtues of specific crimes and the balancing of societal and individual needs or previous case precedents. We have a split second to react, and sometimes we don’t even have that long. The reality of policing is an ever present risk and danger, despite the fervent hopes and beliefs of some that it is otherwise. Officers, particularly in this jurisdiction where violent firearm and edged weapon offences have risen dramatically in recent years, are simply foolish to take silly chances. I have been to too many police funerals and watched small children stand beside their parent’s coffin because some scumbag decided to kill a cop. It’s a long career, and one may well not survive it by routinely putting oneself at undue risk because adequate force wasn’t used when needed. Here’s a link to a u tube video (http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=/watch%3Fv%3DGX5kwVc9IOk), it’s disturbing to say the least. You’ll need an account to view it. The gurgling you hear at the end is the officer breathing his last into the microphone after repeatedly screaming uselessly at a patently non compliant suspect who finally kills him. Ask yourself what could have happened to the officer if he had instead shot the perp, | 4/11/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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April 10 2012 – Lindor explains MGEU fears of Phoenix Sinclair inquiry; Peguis flood funding boondoggle; Are aboriginal gangs | Topics today: Lindor Reynolds hits a home run with her column that challenges the Manitoba Government Employees Union wanting to conceal the identities of 38 Inquiry witnesses,, and reveals that apparently no CFS social workers were fired after send... | 4/10/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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April 5 2012 Alternative media clear leader in Crime, Courts, Hydro analysis, explaining why Winnipeg Free Press is losing valu | The reasons why the value of the sinking ship on Mountain was written down by 25% becomes obvious with every passing 'dead tree' edition - Topics today include: - The Mark Stobbe persecution was hammered by bloggers before the verdict, Manitoba Hydro's deep financial crisis explained in depth long ago; Why do the Free Press editorials lag so far behind citizen journalists ? Is the newspaper of record now following instead of leading? - A Politically Correct University of Winnipeg professor tried to cyber-bully Liberal leader Dr. Jon Gerrard and got a screenful of blow-back for the offensive attack. The same 'PC' mentality was behind years of attacks on our radio show (and the eventual silencing of it on Kick-FM by Red River College president Stephanie Forsyth's agents on the Board ) because we told the truth about mainstream media and held politicians to account. Which WFP 'star reporter' - who was part of that 'mawb' - was YEARS behind citizen journalists in their reporting this week, and how is it even possible ? - Flowing from that, we next explore the missing element no one in MSM wants to discuss in last weeekends 2 murders but the alternative media does and has - the personal responsibility of the victims to manage and mitigate the risks of being willingly involved with the sex trade and drug scene; Why is the public rejecting the tactic of using racialism to blame society for their deaths? - The apology to millionaires penned by Bartley Kives - why did he try to mute his very sensible criticism from the previous week ? Was it really because anti-Semites took advantage of his remark about the diminished credibility of the Asper brand name ? Or was it because of the 'pc' mentality of the people he answers to ? Why have anti-Semites NEVER flooded the TGCTS email and phone lines, but are so eager to let the Free Press know what they think ? - the Free Press editorial on Osborne House funding request was riddled with mistakes and illogical argument; listen to what factor affecting OH's bottom line was researched by the newspaper using our blog only AFTER writing about it. Plus, here is a link to our column in the Jewish Post and News about the rally to support Osborne House that Margo couldn't be bothered to have a reporter attend before running an inaccurate editorial about it : http://www.jewishpostandnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=660%3Awhy-wont-city-council-help-osborne-house&catid=34%3Ademo-articles&Itemid=78&lang=en "Arts and sports and libraries and housing are easy choices for councillors to fund with taxpayers dollars. After all, there is no photo op, no trophy to award or ribbon to cut, when a woman with black eyes and a broken arm crosses the threshold of Osborne House." Also today, a special shout out to the many friends- spanning the many careers and phases of my life - who brightened my birthday this week; and the topper? Being re-tweeted by one of the Dragon's Den panelists to 42,000 followers. It's a special show today, and makes for compelling and fun Easter/Passover listening ! If you like what we're doing, support our bottom line by making a contribution, using the PayPal button at the top right of the page. Remember, YOU HAVE THE POWER. Yoram told me so. which Dragon re-tweeted a TGCTS message to 41,000 followers ? and I voice some special thank yous for the good wishes sent my way for my birthday this week. | 4/5/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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March 28 2012 – Report from Osborne House rally at City Hall; community stepping up to help while Council stands still | Listen to today's podcast for important analysis, news and updates: - Hear the voices from last week's rally in support of Osborne House; - Which city councillors have made statements that have deepened public cynicism about their spending priorities; - Who is leading fundraising efforts from the media, business and the Legislature; - What moves have been made by provincial officials; - Listener questions about the role of the United Way and donor fatigue; - We name mainstream media newsrooms that have covered the story, and the only one has totally ignored this important story. In light of the weekend murder of Renelle Nonato - the third domestic violence-related killing of the year, no argument can be made that the services of Osborne House should be restricted due to budget constraints, or that the City of Winnipeg should not pay a share of the costs. Wait till you hear our finding of how much tax support is going to professional sports teams, while none goes to Osborne House. This just in: Osborne House Inc For the month of April, Boon Burger Cafe will be collecting donations for Osborne House! You can stop in, get some absolutely amazing, delicious vegan food, and give a donation for Osborne House, too. Thanks, Boon! Also today: the Ashton family is all over the news, and not in a good way; the boondoggle Manitoba midwife program is now mired in a lawsuit; gangs are at war to control the crack trade in east Winnipeg; a description of the Seven Oaks Hospital emergency room last Friday night; and is Bomber CEO Garth Buchko channeling the spirit of 70's Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau ? Plus shout -outs to our new Twitter followers from Hot103, the Winnipeg Free Press, Pitblado Law office and Safe Ride Winnipeg (among others :) ************************* SUPPORT THE ALTERNATIVE MEDIA - USE THE PAYPAL BUTTON ON THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE. WE ARE YOUR WATCHDOG ON CITY HALL AND THE LEGISLATURE. | 3/28/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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March 21 2012: EXCLUSIVE: Mayor Katz to battered women’s shelter: $0 for you, $5M for Winnipeg Jets. Ask them to fund Osborne | Today's podcast reports on the refusal of Winnipeg's elected representatives to even discuss the "1% Solution" put forward by Osborne House as an alternative to restricting services for women and children fleeing domestic violence due to rising costs a... | 3/21/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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March 12 2012 – For Winnipeg taxpayers, Free Press reality deficit keeps growing | After an embarassing March 6th editorial that declared ,"let no one say they weren't given an opportunity to have their say" about downtown parking (ignoring the fact there was no plan to consult the public and drivers until after our presentation to City Hall in December); when the proximity of the Millionaires Downtown Country Manitoba Club is exempt from any mention in declaring support for a preposterous 'fundraising' parking lot; and the pom-poms are waved to proclaim support for Gail Asper's ongoing campaign to extract more taxpayers dollars to pay for her failing pet project, while one thousand people whose frustration about speed traps and unfair traffic signage led them to organize and join WiseUp Winnipeg are called "bad drivers (who) have been emboldened to band together to self-righteously defend their crimes." this week the Winnipeg Free Press is taken to the woodshed by alternative media analyst Graham Hnatiuk who suggests the newspaper of record has almost totally lost touch with the reality of taxed-to-the-max Winnipeggers: "We've been waiting 3 years for our interpretive centre (at Upper Fort Garry). And the Free Press supports a parking lot? ... Winnipeggers are now catching on to this dupe of a scam. The scam has repeated itself in recent years and seems to follow a general guideline: a) new project is announced b) Winnipeggers are on the fence to support it c) taxpayer money is announced to help pay for it d) project runs into delays e) project budget balloons and f) taxpayers asked to fork out more money to save the project... The biggest most prominent project going on that follows this pathway is the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, which the Black Rod blog has been warning about cost overruns for years but nobody, especially the Free Press, likes to listen. .. So now we have this empty gravel lot at Broadway and Main, a phenomenally appropriate symbol of what these projects really offer our city. Nothing ... no city is so desperate to want to belong to an international community as our leading administrations do. " Name calling of those who voice opposition to expensive legacy projects and "city planning" and traffic management rammed down the throats of neighborhoods, businesses and drivers; it's A Winnipeg Free Press thing. Maybe one day, instead of automatically supporting pie in the sky proposals and special interest projects that co-incidentally, are closely tied with influential advertisers and local bigshots, editor Margo Goodhand may direct her scribes to actually read things like this this, before insulting in this case, the intelligence of South Broadway/Downtown/Exchange District residents and businesses. How does the ad below in any way, meet the standard for public consultation set by the City Auditor after the Assiniboine Bike Lane was exposed? He said it was inexcusably unfair of consultants and the city to manipulate and suppress the consultation process by not describing how it would affect the quality of life of those affected who may be riled up enough to show up.. Logically, you'd expect that after the previous audit report, the next City public consultation would try to attract interest by implementing those principles, and using plain language like: "Wanna pay twice as much to park downtown? Wanna pay for 4 more hours per day? Wanna know how much revenue it will bring in for the Parking Authority?" NOPE. Just remember, to the Winnipeg Free Press editorial department, that was your fair opportunity - if you even read the weekend newspapers and saw the ad- to address those kinds of pocketbook issues. Even if you weren't told about those issues being raised by the Parking Authority plan - whose name is conspicuously absent from the ad. Even if they ad didn't tell you, the downtown plan was already developed with those costly alterations to downtown parking in mind, and not a 'work-in-progress'.(Have your say, | 3/13/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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March 8 2012 – Winnipeg’s ‘other Mayor’ blasts Parking Authority and Downtown Biz for “1974″ style public consultat | A key downtown Winnipeg business - in the midst of a move to the adjacent Exchange District - only found out about an important public consultation this week about changes to parking rules and costs when called by CBC Radio for an interview with Larry ... | 3/9/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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March 6 2012 – Total Public Consultation #fail downtown; Winnipeg Parking Authority blames public | CJOB missed the story but nailed the single statement what would have solved the problem: Why did less than a dozen citizens go to last night's public consultation about the plan to revamp parking systems in downtown Winnipeg? The answer lay in the refusal of the City and Winnipeg Parking Authority to use plain language like OB did in its online story: "Get ready to pay more for downtown street parking." Can you imagine if fliers with that phrase had been distributed to Downtown and Exchange businesses, parkers, and residents? ....... Oh right, first you'd have to imagine that the parking mandarins could be bothered to write, print and distribute a flier in the first place, which considering they smack tickets on windshields with impunity, it would seem second nature. But coming from an outfit that refused to answer a single question about its debt load yet admitted it had no revenue projections for planned meter hikes that is part of their BUSINESS PLAN - that's right, a Business Plan with no financial projections ("It's not about the revenue"), why would anyone be surprised? After all, empire building is such hard work. Heck, they needed the "help" of the Downtown Biz to achieve such a resounding attendance. * Rather than learn a single lesson from the report of the Auditor into the Assiniboine bike lane embarrassment, the WPA faced down hundreds of empty chairs last night and pronounced it was the public's fault for not coming out with essentially 1 days notice of a dinnertime meeting on a Monday, with limp excuses FOR : - Only weekend display ads in the Free Press and the Sun were relied upon, ignoring the shrinking use of newspapers as an information source, - No ads or fliers in the free weekday morning Metro, - No mention or campaign online on Facebook, - Waiting until last Friday to issue a press release - Waiting till Friday to use the Twitter feed to publicize the event, with a SINGLE MENTION Listen for the professional opinion we received of Metro and Global TV commentator and Policy Frog blogger Colin Fast, who knows a thing or two about communications practices, about the proper time frame to get people talking about a public meeting (Hint: it ain't 3 days.) * Given that certain downtown streets are going to be gridlocked by drivers competing for the small number of discount $1.00 parking spots, you won't want to miss our review of why the parking mandarins believe - They could get away with claiming 20,000 off street parking spots are available when there are NOT, as proven by the experience of Richard Edwards. - They could get away with keeping secret that certain streets in their HSC "test areas" are pay station exempt - They did not have to specifically invite businesses to the session, because some of them (who knows how many?) had been involved in informal meetings with the WPA that led up to the plan that was rolled out last night, rationalizing that those participants couldn't possibly have been interested in the display panels showing the final result - The excuse "you can't make people come" - shifting the blame - is acceptable, when the auditor has declared if the city fails to engage the citizens, it reflects a failure of the City to use plain language and engage them by explaining how proposed changes will impact people's businesses, homes and parking rights. - That comments like the bewildered Tweet of downtown resident and student activist David Jacks does not show the total failure of the Parking Authority to get the message out, it shows his failure to read the weekend newspaper cover-to-cover : David Jacks @JacksActII Public consultation on parking in my neighbourhood taking place tonight, and nobody in my neighbourhood knows about it. @CarlShura do you? * Meanwhile, TV Newsrooms proved they couldn't figure out the real story if it sat on their heads. | 3/6/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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March 2 2012 – Free Press columnists fear political (r)evolution will eclipse Mb. opposition parties; analysis of Christy Cla | Let's start off with a review of our last podcast, shall we?: Hi Marty, Great podcast. You've really hit the nail on the head with regards to the opposition. Where are they? Our elected representatives seem to have completely acquiesced any ov... | 3/2/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Feb. 27 2012 – Seven Oaks Hospital squirming after ER patient rushed out and dies / CTV exposes McCaskill’s strategy: ticke | Where, oh where, are the voices of the Opposition parties in Manitoba? That is the question on today's podcast. -- What did they say when yet another patient doesn't survive an encounter with the NDP's Emergency Room management practices ? It appears the Seven Oaks Hospital may have changed the story about whether 68 year old Heather Brenan was actually seen by a doctor before being sent home at 11 PM on a freezing January Friday night by taxi, with no house keys, and off her blood thinner medication for 4 days. She collapsed on her doorstep. Her daughter is asking if she was forced out to make room for the regular influx of weekend drunks. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/mom-sent-home-dies-next-day-140406623.html We ask if Greg Selinger or Theresa Oswalds' mother would have waited 4 days on a gurney to await this fate. -- What were the elected representatives of those Winnipeggers who did not vote for the Selinger NDP doing today, when Police Chief McCaskill was exposed for his "strategic plan" to turn Winnipeg into Cobb County, Georgia. CTV"s Caroline Barghout discovered Mr. "Building Relationships" now demands his force TRIPLES the number of traffic tickets his squad cars write for the next 3 years. http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120227/wpg_traffic_tickets_120227/20120227/?hub=WinnipegHome That's one a day, each and every day, according to an unapologetic smarmy Inspector who denied it was a ticket quota when confronted with an internal email on the newscast, claiming it's just an "expectation." Dedicated Police officers will spend their shifts worrying about being "performance evaluated" on a measure of revenue, rather than on arrests, improved neighborhood safety, hell, even on the unmeasurables like helping seniors and children cross a busy intersection. ( Listen to examples of what "expectations" taxpayers might have of a proper strategic plan, like clearing backlogged evidence rooms. ) -- The Winnipeg Sun's James Turner revealed a new, dangerous California motorcycle gang had recruited their new national president right here in Manitoba after apprenticeships with the Bandidos and Rock Machine , and was only apprehended after months of sluething and tailing. http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/02/26/biker-ring-leader-caught-in-project-deplete# What was done with all that news by MLA's ? Nothing. They said nothing, they did nothing, they asked nothing. About any of these important public issues. They did not demand accountability and answers. They did not speak up and say, we will defend you from dangerous health care policies, from abusive pocket-picking by Chief Hairdo, from new gangs that have no fear of the NDP. Nope, instead the Progressive Conservatives and Liberals continue to navel gaze about their disastrous election rejection, fret about percolating discontent, and show the public zero leadership this winter while thinking someone, anyone, will want to take over as their new leaders after offering the voters this kind of representation. So it is left to our Podcast to watchdog the Legislature as well as City Hall until the internal politics of the parties is finally replaced by the politics of the waiting people. Listen to the podcast for not only our comments and opinions of this political inertia, but we also have the latest unconfirmed, no Twitter draft movement yet, unverified, recognizable name tossed around PC circles today as contemplating a run at the top spot. ***************** Also today, Twitter related happenings are reviewed including: * "Manitoba Math" to be taught to high schoolers? The NDP government has a plan to teach kids about credit and banking - h/t to the CTF's Colin Craig @colincraig1 and Sun Media's Jess Chapman @Jess_TFA for their sharp contributions. * Vic Toews @ToewsVic takes on a smug Justin Trudeau about the Liberal-sourced Vikileaks attack http://news.nationalpost. | 2/27/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Feb 24 2012 – Orlikow rips Katz for public consultation “sham”; audio about Assiniboine bike lane dangers; Shallcross tal | A loaded show to end the week. Highlights: - Personal reflections about "Pizza Phil" Sacco and his role in the community as the benefit social approaches next Friday; - City Councillor John Orlikow exposed a secret Gimli retreat held by Mayor Katz with Executive Policy Committee for "planning", and labels the follow-up session with "lesser councillors" an attempt to give marching orders (presumably about golf courses being sold); - Why the Mayor and some councillors - ie Jenny Gerbasi - have a credibility problem with the public now, as do the mainstream media and the Red River College censors of Kick-FM for subverting their responsibility and abandoning the public interest while TGCTS and our reporters, interns and campus radio audience forced public consultation onto the civic agenda; - The consequence of rigged consultation for the Assiniboine bike lane, area lawyer Douglas Mackenzie told Council, was a street full of dangerous risks for cyclists and residents alike - and we play his speech - hear for yourself what city departments and consultants did in the name of spending "free" federal tax dollars - Update on Simkin Centre deaths investigations causing a rift in the Jewish community; - Were victims of botched biopsy reports lied to by Diagnostic Services Manitoba about why their files were reviewed? - An analysis of the "let's move forward" philosophy of media outlets and politicians when public outcry about wrongdoings such as the above are found valid; that attitude would treat Winnipeggers like mindless cattle - Elaboration of my story about the passing of a West Coast wrestler, Sonny Meyers, who had a fascinating path into the ring and lots of Winnipeg connections http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2012/02/23/19417241.html - and a special interview with Premier Championship Wrestling promoter, and longtime TGCTS supporter Andrew Shallcross about the art of connecting with the rabid Winnipeg audience; the development of internationally traveled world class grapplers like Kenny Omega and Donnie Dicaprio (Jason Geiger); the multicultural diversity of his roster; and a preview of the 10th Anniversary event on Thursday, March 15th, (www.PCWAction.com for details) that will include the return to PCW of a featured star on the debut card that drew over 1000 fans, The Greatest WWF Intercontinental Champion of all time, The Honky Tonk Man! Twitter: @TGCTS Email: TGCTS1 @ gmail.com | 2/24/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Feb. 20 2012 -Today in history: The NDP were against a February Civic holiday, before they were for it | Since no one in Winnipeg's mainstream media cares to remember the hard road traveled to earn this midwinter off-day, we thought we'd remind everyone of the truth. A) The NDP government didn't think it was an important public issue. (1) B) A ra... | 2/20/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Feb 15 2012 – Who has something to hide in Lilyan Peck, Brian Sinclair deaths ? | The Winnipeg Free Press may have been satisfied publishing the statement of the Simkin Centre personal care home, and it is entirely possible the institution may very well have had no idea what the Crown was up to when it stayed a private criminal prosecution filed against them. But the Winnipeg Jewish Review had the inside scoop, and provided proof the Winnipeg Police Homicide Unit were being called in to investigate the death of 93 year old Lilyan Peck. From: "McDuff, Colleen (JUS)" Date: February 12, 2012 10:09:46 PM CST To: Harvey Berkal Subject: RE: Sharon Home case All members of the public will be told the same thing, that the Crown has intervened and stayed proceedings pending further investigation. If this is to be done properly this is how things proceed. The file has gone to the Homicide Unit. I have provided all your contact information and once the file is assigned to investigators I expect each of you will be contacted regarding the information you can provide. Colleen McDuff Supervising Senior Crown - Domestic Violence Unit Manitoba Prosecutions Service Meanwhile, the family of Brian Sinclair had no idea the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority was going to spill the beans about a payment made under the Fatal Accidents Act to the survivors while the same day, the WRHA sought to have a civil suit quashed. But the family set the record straight: http://twitpic.com/8juhrf We explore some similarities in the two deaths, the level of care for vulnerable patients, and who may be anxious to avoid having to answer questions in sworn testimony. Also today: demands for public consultation continue to dog city council - which councillors are reacting and why; Internal City Hall emails reveal great discomfort at the questions being asked about a "risk-free" loan guarantee to a developer tied into the rapid transit plan, which led to even more scepticism from Free Press readers and our Facebook group; And with the motives of MSM reporters under fire, if the credibility of Gordo's column was a stock, would a stop-trade order be issued? * Happy 125th to the Winnipeg Press Club ! http://www.winnipegpressclub.com/ * Happy Flag Day ! * And, a belated Happy Valentines Day to Red River College presidente Stephanie Forsyth, who was the subject of a most interesting Google search from a most interesting source: The Great Canadian Talk Show By Details > Visit Detail Domain Name bnc.ca ? (Canada) IP Address 207.61.145.# (Banque Nationale du Canada) ISP Bell Canada State/Region : Quebec City : Montreal Search Engine google.ca Search Words stephanie forsyth winnipeg free press Visitor's Time Feb 14 2012 4:13:24 pm Visit Number 142,020 **************** YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR WORK VIA THE PAYPAL BUTTON - TGCTS AVAILABLE FOR LIVE APPEARANCES/ DEDICATED EPISODES/PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS | 2/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 20 Episodes |
