Mississauga Council reminder prior to Judicial Inquiry Recorded Vote: "Give Youth The TRUEth"

Visit the MISSISSAUGWATCH Blog at: www.mississaugawatch.ca

SCRIPT that MISSISSAUGWATCH read from:

Good morning Madam Mayor -Members of Council.

First, I apologize for being up here again --in back-to-back Council meetings. Fact is, I didn't even want to be up here that first time two weeks ago. Addressing Council is torturous for me and requires anti-anxiety medication.

I thought I made it clear that my primary reason for giving a deputation on October 14th was to address the September 30, 2009 Council minutes.

I mentioned that those minutes failed to record what I felt was the most important thing that Councillor Pat Saito said about youth banned and arrested when on City property.

While I didn't expect Council to change the September 30th minutes, I DID expect that the reason I addressed Council on the 14th -that is, what I considered to be the most important thing that Councillor Saito said about youth banning practices -be recorded as part of my October 14th deputation.

It is important for youth --and the Council record, that the minutes reflect that.

I'll leave it to the City's discretion which of the 295 words in the October 14th minutes summarizing my last deputation you might wish to delete. But I request that the following 84 words be added perhaps something like:

"Ms. Keuper-Bennett expressed concern that the September 30, 2009 Council minutes failed to record what she felt was the most important thing that Councillor Pat Saito said regarding the banning and arresting of youth on City Property. She pointed out that Councillor Pat Saito stated that a ban is not usually an instant step for youth and that in many cases, various steps are taken before that happens. Ms. Keuper-Bennett then emphasized that nothing could be further from the truth."

And I ask that the following changes be made to the sentence, "She made reference to the City's policy with zero tolerance and expressed concern that security guards are granted the power to ban or trespass at their own discretion so that it reads:

"She expressed concern about the City's zero tolerance policy and that security guards are granted the power to ban or trespass and arrest at their own discretion and sole discretion.

Next I respectfully request that the minutes of today's meeting show that I came up here exclusively to address the minutes of the October 14th Council meeting.

Also, if I may, a related item.

I read how the October 14th minutes summarized what 14 year old James Valitchka, said regarding his Anti-bullying deputation.

The minutes state "He spoke about the bullying of kids and adults every day in schools and workplaces and urged Council to pass by-laws against bullying."

And there was something more urgent in that young man's message to Council and I need to repeat it.

This is what he asked of you-all. Quote.

In every item you vote on, please think, "How will this affect the children and youth? What can I do to make their lives safer and more successful?"

I ask that the October 14 minutes be changed, please, to record Mr. Valitchka's beautiful words -verbatim.

And I'd like to guarantee James' vision for youth also be recorded in today's minutes as part of my deputation.

So I ask that today's Council minutes state:

Ms. Keuper-Bennett expressed full support of James Valitchka's October 14th eloquent deputation before Council. In addition, she repeated the young man's request verbatim and pleaded with Mayor and Councillors, "In every item you vote on, please think "How will this affect the children and youth? What can I do to make their lives safer and more successful?"

Last, she reminded Council that, for youth to have a legitimate voice they must have TRUEth.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• HAZEL MCCALLION
• CONFLICT OF INTEREST
• JUDICIAL INQUIRY