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Tuesday May 22, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday May 22, 2012

The forever mayor: Bratina looking ahead to 2014

On the previous city council, it was Tom Jackson who stepped up to compensate for Mayor Fred Eisenberger’s ceremonial and directional deficiencies, particularly during his unsteady early days.

This time around, in the absence of strong political leadership from Mayor Bob Bratina, it looks as if Sam Merulla may be fulfilling the role of shadow mayor.

While Bratina is consistently missing in action on the council floor, Merulla is increasingly taking a leading part in setting the agenda with motions, proposals, and initiatives. Andrew Dreschel column.

Meanwhile, Mayor Bob Bratina is eyeing a second term in office.

Bratina told the crowd at a Bulldogs Foundation fundraising dinner this week that he will usurp Bob Morrow’s record as the city’s longest-serving mayor.

He added that he’ll continue to push his agenda regardless of the “unnecessary criticism” by “uninformed” people” that has been levelled against him over the past year.

“Nobody is going to stop me,” he said.

In an email to The Spectator Thursday, Bratina said he attended “a great community fund-raising event as guest of honour.”

“Hamilton’s longest serving mayor Bob Morrow paid me the honour of emceeing the evening, and included some very positive and encouraging statements about my performance in the mayor’s office,” Bratina wrote. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Wednesday February 15, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday February 15, 2012

Toews accuses critics of siding with child pornographers

The government says anyone who opposes federal plans to make electronic surveillance easier for police and spies is siding with child pornographers.

It’s the first salvo in a battle that will resume Tuesday when the government reintroduces legislation that would expand online monitoring powers.

The issue pits the desire of intelligence and law-enforcement officials to have easier access to information about Internet users against the individual’s right to privacy.

Asked Monday in the House of Commons about the coming bill, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews told a Liberal MP he could either stand with the government or “with the child pornographers” prowling online.

Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart has warned against simply resurrecting a trio of previous federal bills to expand surveillance powers, citing several shortcomings.

Of particular concern to the privacy commissioner are provisions that would allow authorities access to Internet subscriber information without first getting a court’s go-ahead.

Toews office has said the government will strike an appropriate balance between necessary investigative powers and the protection of privacy.

Still, opposition MPs were alarmed by his comments Monday.

“Apparently if you care about civil liberties in this country you obviously side with child pornographers, murderers,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. (Source: CTV News) 

 

Monday February 6, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday February 6, 2012

Offenders Everywhere

The names of dozens of alleged white supremacists in Canada are contained in files leaked by computer hackers in Europe intent on exposing hate movements, CBC News has learned.

The alleged white supremacists’ names were revealed earlier this month by members of a loose-knit group of hackers called Anonymous on a website called nazi-leaks.net, which is now offline.

In addition to emails and secret websites and blogs, the hackers uncovered photographs of children giving Nazi salutes at a gathering in Missouri, confidential legal documents and displays of Hitler tattoos.

“We can now begin to piece together a more accurate picture in terms of the distribution of these types of racist groups across Canada,” Loewen said.

Among the information hacked were the names of 74 Canadians — with associated street addresses, email addresses and passwords — who are members of Volksfront and Blood and Honour, along with 142 emails from people who had joined Blood and Honour’s Canadian online forum.

Meanwhile, Police in Ontario have arrested 60 men — including a daycare worker — and charged them with hundreds of child pornography offences.

The co-ordinated raids by 24 police forces across Ontario picked up the suspects in the days leading up to Thursday’s announcement.

“The is one of the largest co-ordinated efforts of its kind in Ontario,” said Det.-Sgt. Frank Goldschmidt of the Ontario Provincial Police. “We anticipate there will be several more charged.”(Source: CBC News)