Government and police leaking information to undermine Vancouver's poorest women
Thursday, October 13, 2011 by David Eby
The protests of the women out front of the Missing Women Inquiry must be gaining traction. Government and police spin doctors have been feeding information to friendly journalists like CKNW commentator and Province columnist Michael Smyth to undermine the demands of Vancouver's poorest women to be heard at their own inquiry.
The theme of the leaks to the media is the perverse notion that the Commission is stacked in favour of the women of the DTES, who just happen to be excluded from their own inquiry. Down is up, and up is down. The public, caught in the middle, will assume that the whole thing is a mess and ignore what's really happening.
In his most recent column, Smyth reveals that the police have been in contact with him:
"They are still furious over comments he [Oppal] made suggesting they were partly to blame for Pickton's rampage."
Putting aside the weirdness of the supposed police anger, because both the RCMP and VPD issued reports saying that they were partly to blame, I don't doubt for one second that the well-connected Smyth has been speaking with high level RCMP and VPD officers and spokespeople "off the record," and that they are pushing the idea that the police are the victims of this Inquiry. They're just trying to fend themselves off from baseless attacks from people with nothing to lose and co-conspirator Commissioner Wally Oppal.
Second, members of the provincial government have been speaking to Smyth, and possibly even provided him with a copy of what would ordinarily be a confidential legal opinion they supposedly obtained. What did this mysterious legal opinion, from Ottawa, suggest? Well, of course, that Commissioner Oppal is over the top in favour of the missing women, those same women Mr. Oppal's lawyer is saying he can conduct the Inquiry without.
"I'm told the government even obtained an independent legal opinion from University of Ottawa professor Ed Ratushny, an expert in public inquiries, about Oppal's controversial remarks. Ratushny concluded the cops and Crown could end up suing Oppal for bias in an inquiry that's bound to get more controversial and — of course — more expensive."
This remarkable conduct of the government and police, leaking information to try to undermine impoverished aboriginal women, survival sex workers, and the most marginalized members of Vancouver's poorest neighbourhood, is all in an effort to deny these women the legal support that they reserve for themselves and their bureaucrats.
I think that's absolutely appalling.
On the bright side, however, it means the protests are working.
The theme of the leaks to the media is the perverse notion that the Commission is stacked in favour of the women of the DTES, who just happen to be excluded from their own inquiry. Down is up, and up is down. The public, caught in the middle, will assume that the whole thing is a mess and ignore what's really happening.
In his most recent column, Smyth reveals that the police have been in contact with him:
"They are still furious over comments he [Oppal] made suggesting they were partly to blame for Pickton's rampage."
Putting aside the weirdness of the supposed police anger, because both the RCMP and VPD issued reports saying that they were partly to blame, I don't doubt for one second that the well-connected Smyth has been speaking with high level RCMP and VPD officers and spokespeople "off the record," and that they are pushing the idea that the police are the victims of this Inquiry. They're just trying to fend themselves off from baseless attacks from people with nothing to lose and co-conspirator Commissioner Wally Oppal.
Second, members of the provincial government have been speaking to Smyth, and possibly even provided him with a copy of what would ordinarily be a confidential legal opinion they supposedly obtained. What did this mysterious legal opinion, from Ottawa, suggest? Well, of course, that Commissioner Oppal is over the top in favour of the missing women, those same women Mr. Oppal's lawyer is saying he can conduct the Inquiry without.
"I'm told the government even obtained an independent legal opinion from University of Ottawa professor Ed Ratushny, an expert in public inquiries, about Oppal's controversial remarks. Ratushny concluded the cops and Crown could end up suing Oppal for bias in an inquiry that's bound to get more controversial and — of course — more expensive."
This remarkable conduct of the government and police, leaking information to try to undermine impoverished aboriginal women, survival sex workers, and the most marginalized members of Vancouver's poorest neighbourhood, is all in an effort to deny these women the legal support that they reserve for themselves and their bureaucrats.
I think that's absolutely appalling.
On the bright side, however, it means the protests are working.
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It's incredible that the current city council doesn't show leadership and provide an emergency fund in the interest of humanitarianism. That's why I'm running as an independent for mayor and will commit $2,000,000 for the inquiry if elected. Darrell 'Saxmaniac' Zimmerman www.freetransit.ca
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I went to the protest Tuesday morning and heard chants "Shame on Canada!"... which I found really unsettling.
Then I read the Lowman report and media accounts...
I'm convinced the Missing Women Inquiry is being systematically obfuscated by those we put in a position of trust to protect us... simply heartbreaking.
I ask every person who took an oath before he/she became a person our society wants to respect..PLEASE reread your oath quietly to yourself in front of a mirror before you pick up a telephone or darken the doorway of that Inquiry!
Statement from Mayor Gregor Robertson on Occupy Vancouver
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson offers this statement on Occupy Vancouver:
"This Saturday, citizens from across Vancouver and throughout the Lower Mainland will gather downtown for the Occupy Vancouver event being held in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
"We have seen the Occupy Wall Street movement grow and spread to dozens of cities across North America. In these turbulent economic times, I recognize and appreciate the concerns and angst that people, especially young people, feel about the economy, rising inequality, the environment, and state of the world right now. I fully support the right of people to demonstrate those concerns publicly and peacefully.
"The vast majority of those planning to participate in Occupy Vancouver have expressed openly their desire to do so peacefully and lawfully. The City of Vancouver has a long history of protecting free speech and the right to protest peacefully.
"However, we know from our experience with the Stanley Cup riots and the protests that marked the start of the Olympic Games that large gatherings can sometimes attract small groups of people determined to use these avenues for their own violent ends.
"Violence, whether against people or property, will not be tolerated and will only detract from those who wish to legitimately express their opinions. Senior City staff are working closely with the VPD and stakeholders across the community to ensure we are positioned to support a lawful and peaceful protest.
"The issues of economic instability and inequality are important, and our citizens are free to voice their concerns and protest peacefully as they see fit.
"However, there will be police presence in and around this protest, as there is for any large event downtown. This is to ensure the City is doing what we can to ensure people have the ability to be heard safely, and that this protest is not undermined by violence or destructive behaviour of any kind."