On the DEWLine 2.0: Dwight Williams

I have just signed up to delegate to the Ottawa Transit Commission about the upcoming service changes. I have next to no script for this. I am almost certain to have to do this while I'm working on my day job, and it will be over Zoom.

I have somewhat less than two days to decide whether or not to settle for a written submission instead, and if so, what to write for it.

"Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:

Passenger rail is a safe, efficient, sustainable, affordable, and accessible mode of public transportation;
Due to federal cutbacks and underinvestment over many years, Canada’s current passenger rail services lag far behind those available in other countries;
Since its creation in 1978, VIA Rail has lacked both the legislative mandate and stable budget necessary to maintain and expand passenger rail service in Canada;
While VIA Rail's on-time performance on tracks it owns is over 90 percent, it is only 60 percent on tracks it shares with other railways;
Rail privatization and outsourcing schemes in other countries have led to higher fares, reduced service, deteriorating safety performance, and lower salaries for workers;
Unlike other public passenger rail providers around the world, VIA Rail lacks representation from passengers and workers on its board of directors; and
In its Corporate Plan, VIA has warned that its long-distance fleet, built in the 1950s, is overdue for replacement, without which it will soon be unable to provide services in Atlantic and Western Canada.

We, the undersigned, Residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Incorporate the contents of Bills C-371, the Rail Passenger Priority Act, and C-236/C-640 (41-2) the VIA Rail Canada Act, in a Government Bill and prioritize its passage through the legislative process;
2. Commit, in the 2024 federal budget, the funds necessary to renew VIA Rail’s long-distance fleet;
3. Provide passenger and worker representation on VIA Rail’s board of directors; and
4. Revise the High Frequency Rail project to protect VIA Rail’s role in delivering public passenger rail service along the Windsor to Quebec City corridor."

https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4754

Well, it wasn't a deputation. That's apparently not until next month, which is going to...not complicate at least one other appointment at the end of November. I am going to have to deal with lost income for however long I have to be ready to deliver it on that day, I think.

What did happen was further training, as well as face time directly with three city councillors. Leiper, Troster and Devine. Also, contact with some of the staffers of other members of city council.

Focus is still on mental health, poverty reduction and housing, because the city budget-building for 2024 is underway, and the staff's under direction to keep the rate increase to 2.5 %.

What I could have felt better about? More than a half-dozen of the 50 attendees masking up, for one. Seeing working air purifiers in the room for another. Neither of those things happened, though, so...

If you live in Ottawa and care about climate issues, you may be interested in this organization:

https://www.ocaf-faco.ca/

Many of us know of that infamous night in February 1939 at Madison Square Garden in New York City when the American Nazis held a "Pro-Americanism" rally. We've seen footage of similar crimes against civil society across the United States thanks to the Mar-a-Lago Malefactor over these past seven years.

Many of us also know of "Doctor" Jordan Peterson. I consider him a man with the ambition to be akin to the likes of Aleksandr Dugin, Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Sebastian Gorka, and other atrocity-whisperers across the planet.

Turns out his "book tour" is bringing him to Ottawa, and to the former Palladium in particular. I will not refer to the building by its current name out of respect for people who do honest work for the corporation from which that name comes. CTV News is under no such restraint at present. Nor are other organizations and individual citizens.

To say that reputations will be at risk - are at risk now! - should that event happen as announced and scheduled is to state the situation mildly, I think. Some of you will say "too effin' mildly" or variants of that, and I won't disagree with you.

I would rather that event never be held. I have no leverage to apply here. Only my disgust.

Noticing the little pylons marking the route for the runners in my neighbourhood this morning during my own walking.

As regards the response to premature relaxation of Pandemic safety rules in the province of Ontario:

https://twitter.com/ccleighton/status/1566802379638546433?s=20&t=5x4emYthyoUXR0KSc8zOSA

Another job applied for, some more learning about how to argue for voting during an election done, and next year's air filters for the CPAP machine bought as well. Among other adulting done today, that is.

And that's how September 2022 started for me.

Copied from elsewhere, as I want to protect my trans friends in the States somehow:

There is a proposed revision to Title IX to explicitly protect trans students. It's real, valid 27 July 2022, and TERFs are flooding the comments with via hate networks so please go counter that with comments in support.

Here is a direct link to the revisions document, you're looking for "submit a formal comment" in green on the right side of the page.

As always, don't read the other comments, they've had their army in full mobilisation.

As to non-American input, I'm not sure what US law says about providing that. Many of us outside the States have friends and/or family and/or co-workers to protect.

 

I've already signed this, partly in anticipation of the needs of self-preservation.

https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-3991

An earlier tweet along similar lines to this one:

https://twitter.com/AShoutAbout/status/1539048097778499584

Got me to sign it.