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FIGHT BACK

Squishing the truth

by Jeff Goodall

May 26, 2003

In his May 18th 2003 Sunday Sun column "Do union militants speak for all teachers?" Lorrie Goldstein refers to CUPE Ontario boss Sid Ryan as being "unequivocal in his opposition to OCAP’s (Ontario Coalition Against Poverty) violent tactics…."

Come on now Lorrie, do you really believe that? Sid Ryan is the one who "twinned" CUPE Ontario with OCAP a while ago, and who has had nothing but praise for OCAP leader John Clarke, who is on record as saying that "private property is an obstacle to social justice". Indeed, in my April 7th, 2003 column "Sid Ryan comes to town", I stated that: "Clarke made bail with help from several activists, including Toronto "street nurse" Cathy Crowe and Communist Party executive David Kidd, who was an OCAP spokesman in the early 90s…. In a CUPE Ontario press release dated July 24th, 2000, Ryan is quoted as follows: ‘John Clarke and OCAP activists are no threat to the community. It’s the unfeeling Harris Tories, and their hard-line policies, that are hurting vulnerable people in this province. John Clarke is a true champion of the poor and homeless." (Emphasis added)

Although Goldstein says in his column that Ryan stated his opposition to violence "both at the time of the demonstration, and when I spoke with him on Friday", the riot at Queen’s Park took place on June 15th, 2000, five weeks before Ryan’s plethora of praise in the press release just quoted.

Sid Ryan’s assurances to Lorrie Goldstein are obviously phony, and there is a reason for this fluffing of the truth. As the NDP candidate for Oshawa in the anticipated provincial election, Ryan is running in Canadian Auto Workers territory, and will assuredly be receiving substantial help from the CAW. Here’s the clincher: After OCAP trashed provincial minister Jim Flaherty’s offices in nearby Whitby a couple of years ago, CAW boss Buzz Hargrove withdrew CAW’s financial support for OCAP. Sid Ryan did not withdraw CUPE’s support. So, if Brother Sid wants help from the Auto Workers, then he had best toe the line on Hargrove’s policy of anti-violence. At least, that is, until after the election is over and the cheques have all been cashed.

More squishing:

The decision to tell lies in order to protect his mayoralty candidacy has caused Tom Jakobek’s political career to crash and burn. Way beyond "toast," he is now what the kids call a "crispy critter." Not only did he lie to the press, he even lied to his own lawyer, and had that worthy write a letter to the Toronto Star stating that Jakobek was not present on the now-infamous Philadelphia trip, and would be giving evidence to that effect at the MFP inquiry.

But, as seems to happen with a lot of people these days, he forgot that cell phones leave tracks, in this case an incriminating call made on his cell phone to his house in Toronto from Philadelphia at the time the trip took place. Only when he became aware of the existence of incontrovertible proof of his presence at the game did he decide to tell the truth.

And now, even as his career lies in ruins all around him, he still thinks that he can "stand on his record" and win the race. What a classic case of denial, and what a stupendous waste of talent and potential.

Correction:

In my April 28th, 2003 column I attributed a quote to U.S. Supreme Court Justice "Samuel L. Jackson." The correct name is "Robert H. Jackson."

This time definitely!

In my May 5th, 2003, column "Hobbies and Indulgences," I attached a link to the site of the Australian company "My Best Gem". For some reason, the link didn’t work. This excellent business supplies amethyst and other crystals, plus a plethora of related products, at very reasonable prices. And, of particular importance, parents with older children may find this web site to be very useful for educational purposes. Use any search engine for "my best gem" (Google works fine) and you should get there.

Jeff Goodall worked for the Metro Treasury and City Finance Departments for 25 years, and served as a member of the CUPE Local 79 Executive Board for 14 of those years.