Gag Order Lifted On Cameron St Bridge

Friday, December 05, 2008 03:45 AM

An issue that deserves serious attention escaped the people of this community earlier this week when it was revealed that city hall had a gag order in place over any release of information about the Cameron St Bridge.

The people in the media have known about the gag for some time. If you wanted to get some updates on the bridge, gets some information on the cost of the bridge, you would have to contact the Mayor's office. The Mayor, and only the Mayor, was allowed to speak on the matter.

The whole secret exercise may have originated after it was brought to the public that indeed there had been more than two options available for the construction of the Cameron St Bridge. The Brass at city hall just thought we, the people who pay the bills, didn’t want to know about the two other options.

Now do you suppose the gag order had something to do with the fact that Don Zurowski was Colin Kinsley’s job shadow? Rogers was viewed as the bad guy, that guy who dared to seek the Mayors chair while Kinsley was in office. Remember it was Rogers who lost the last civic election after Kinsley was able to convince the public that Rogers was dragging his feet on the issue.

Bill Gaall, Superintendent of Operations, which includes the Cameron St Bridge, would simply turn any questions about the bridge over to the Mayor's office, who (in my case) never ever returned calls. So if we wanted to know what was going on we had to do an end around and we did ,to come up with what was going on. Problem was that the Council of the day was also in the dark, they also didn’t have a clue and remember they are also elected by us.

So now the cork is off the Gene bottle, and newly elected Mayor Rogers is asking that Gaal deliver a report to him and Council every two weeks. I do hope that the media will be granted the same information; we after all are responsible to inform the public on goings on at the Hall. A hall where gag orders have no place.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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Posted on Friday, December 05, 2008 03:45 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: Lamb on December 5 2008 8:41 AM

Someone mentioned to me that Kinsley wasn't a bad mayor, my response was that he was a terrible mayor. He wasn't transparent and he had a secret agenda. Now the public has to pay for his mistakes. What a relief he's gone.

Posted by: gus on December 5 2008 8:49 AM

It was in the best interest of the greater good.

Now we have to find out what that greater good might have been.

Posted by: MrPG on December 5 2008 12:10 PM

I've never been a fan of Kinsley's and this is another example of why. He never would have been elected if he ran again.

Posted by: lostfaith on December 5 2008 9:29 PM

This is the first I have heard of a gag order, anyone else?
Why was this gag order not communicated to the public before his royal hiny left office.

Posted by: diplomat on December 6 2008 8:14 AM

Strange times, indeed! Gag orders to keep the taxpayers in the dark, pulling the plug on a parliamentary session when a non-confidence vote or a new legal coalition would spell defeat...Joe Public can't get any respect anymore! Whose fault is it? Ours. We the sheeple.

Posted by: Lamb on December 6 2008 9:26 AM

Diplomat I love it "sheeple". Too much reliance on the other "guy's" opinion and not enough reliance on our own personal research.

Posted by: caranmacil on December 7 2008 11:04 AM

I am with lostfaith here! If there was a gag order and the media were being denied information, then they should have made a big deal about it. I, for one am more concerned about such secrecy measures than i am about the bridge details themselves.
As for being sheeple, well not everyone can be the shepherd after all. Besides, it is facetious to suggest that the actions of the federal govt were the result of a lack of respect for Joe Public. A lot of us Joes respect the fact that the tories acted to respect the wishes of those who voted for them. A greater number, by the way than represented by any other single party.
If the 'coalition' thinks it is a legitimate ruling body, i hope they run as such in the next election. THe hypocrasy out there these days is truly awe inspiring. Does ANYONE out there relly think that the coalition was formed for any other reason than to gain power? Does ANYONE out there think that the liberals would roll over if the shoe were on the other foot? If you do, then i guess you are the people that political BS and posturing are aimed at.