[All] Strategic Plan consultation: the most shameful and stupidest I've ever attended.

Wed Feb 23 17:08:03 EST 2011

OMG  Greg    this is exactly what happened at the Kitchener parks so-called" open round table"  discussions?  with the out of town parks consultant   " Fred Galloway" from London;brother to Tom Galloway.  We were made to name ONLY   ONE  on the list of needs and priorities   and when questioned about this limitation,like a BULLY , he kept saying  "No not 2   not  3  ONLY  ONE."   Daphne   and Gord and Yvonne and many of us were angry  and should have ALL walked out.
They will not allow freedom of choice or multiple choice in degrees because then those bullies lose control.
I have an old friend from long ago who was in high upper management (long gone now)  and he gave me the best definition of a "Consultant"  that I've ever heard.....and there are very few for whom I have gleaned any respect because most don't know a pittance about the subject they "consult on"  especially in another community.
My friend told me that  "A consultant is a guy who borrows your watch to tell you what time it is ".   
Yes, that means he picks the brains of those in the know  or aught to be; finds out what answers they want to 'reach?'  and then takes charge to do it come Hell or High Water over the backs of the common folks.
He was dead on for 90% of the ones I've met  or had to tolerate. Kinda like  "Them that can't-- Consults"  Ginny
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gregory C. Michalenko 
  To: Louisette Lanteigne ; all at gren.ca 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 3:30 PM
  Subject: Re: [All] Strategic Plan consultation: the most shameful and stupidest I've ever attended.

  Re:  Waterloo strategic plan consultations.  I went last night -- and walked out.  We were put in small groups - only 4 in mine.  We talked productively about our visions and hopes for Waterloo for about an hour, and then each of the 3 groups gave short summaries.  Before there was any chance for us to comment on the ideas coming from the other groups, the hired consultants swung into action.  We were each handed a gizmo that looked like a remote control for a tv.  Then they started explaining that we were to compare the "6 pillars" (eg, environment, economic) of the strategic plan to each other. Since there were 6 pillars, that made 15 possible combinations (eg 1+2, 1+3, 1+4...3+4, 3+5 etc.). The gizmo allowed us to pick which of each pair we favoured and rank on a score of 1-10.  And instantly it all would get added up and we would know what mattered most!  I put up my hand and asked what that was supposed to prove:  they cut us off from productive group interaction and were reducing us to individuals in a secret ballot voting at the same time for something and against another.  I mentioned how the School Board at a big public consultation after the Harris cuts tried to do the same thing: they tried to lure 200 people by giving each of us 3 votes to select our favourite things from a list of about 20 (eg, outdoor ed, special ed, music) so that they would know what to cut.  I spoke out and said that we needed all these things in an educational system, and chopping any of them would be like hacking off the leg or ears or liver of a body and expecting it to still function.  Now we were doing the same thing again.  The consultants just bulldozed me aside and kept on going.  I walked out and was joined by only one other person. 

  So if you go - don't be afraid to challenge such shenanigans.  Insist that you came to talk together and interact, not generate a bunch of numbers using gee-whiz technology.  Tell them that this is not public consultation but a shell game, and they should be ashamed of themselves
  - Greg Michalenko

  aFrom: all-bounces at gren.ca [all-bounces at gren.ca] on behalf of Louisette Lanteigne [butterflybluelu at rogers.com]
  Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 2:48 PM
  To: all at gren.ca
  Subject: [All] Strategic Plan, Nuclear not profitable and Tar Sands update

        Hello folks

        Here's the latest

        Waterloo Strategic Plan
        Tonight is the last evening where Waterloo residents can participate in a workshop regarding the Strategic Plan. The meeting starts at 6:30 at Forbes room at RIM Park. 

        Nuclear still not profitable
        After 50 years, Nuclear power still relies heavily upon subsidies. The industry is still not economically viable according to a report released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists. (UCS). To view the press release and the link to the report visit here: 
        http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/nuclear-power-subsidies-report-0504.html

        Europe & Tar Sands update
        The European Union is rejecting the Tar Sands oil saying it would circumvent their efforts to reduce emissions. They knew that Canada may challenge them at the World Trade Organization if they took this stance so prior to doing so the European Commission conducted their own analysis and published the data showing how dirty Tar Sands oil really is. That report is published on line here: 
        http://ec.europa.eu/clima/studies/transport/fuel/index_en.htm

        The issue is said to be threatening the European Free Trade deal:
        http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCATRE71K2FL20110221?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

        Currently the EU is on the verge of  approving a law that aims to cut the carbon pollution from vehicles: the Fuel Quality Directive as seen in this PDF: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:140:0088:0113:EN:PDF   
        This legislation will result in suppliers of petrol, diesel and gas oil reducing emissions of greenhouse gas by 2020 but the Canadian government is lobbying heavily to change the legislative text and undermine EU's climate policy in an effort to promote Tar Sands oil. The World Wildlife Fund has a quick sign petition to address this issue to help keep Tar Sands oil out of Europe. Here's the link:
        http://wwf.panda.org/how_you_can_help/campaign/ac_detail.cfm?ActionUrl=http://buffy.bluegecko.net/action/c489daab-6f4f-49fb-804c-96028eb782f1

        Meanwhile, several prominent scientists are still demanding further studies for toxins in Alberta. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Potent+toxins+need+studied/4309179/story.html

        That's it for now. 

        Lulu :0)

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