Morris comments far from shocking
The unfortunate remarks that MLA Mike Morris made as part of the Liberal diatribe against the NDP Government’s recent budget – I refer to his statement to the effect that the funds allocated to language renewal would be better spent strengthening police in First nations communities – could hardly surprise. Morris was a cop for many more years than a politician and carries with him a set of colonialist priorities that prevailed for much of Canada’s history – and, obviously, aren’t gone yet.
Back in our country’s earliest days, legislation and its enforcement were all about keeping Natives under control so that land theft could proceed. For that, a strong constabulary was needed, especially when Indigenous children had to be scooped off to schools established to rid them of “Indian ways.” The schools, of course, were not only cesspools of physical and sexual abuse, malnutrition, and even pseudoscientific experimentation on the kids, but very intentionally, were places established to drive out native language. In that they were pretty effective, and it is only comparatively recently that nonNative politicians have apologized and taken halting measures – as the NDP budget proposes – to redress language and related cultural loss.
And so, it with great consistency that a long-term Mountie would rail against efforts to correct what, in fact, his occupational ancestors worked so hard to achieve. It’s not surprising that Morris looks at First Nations communities primarily in terms of substance abuse and domestic violence – such has been the mindset that brought about residential schools, the banning of the potlatch, suppression of land claims and a lot more. Nor should we be shocked when, instead of an apology (something the RCMP don’t get trained to do – nor for that matter did Christie Clark’s thankfully defunct Liberal team), he would stick to his guns, so to speak, and in his YouTube rebuttal, presume to lecture First Nations leaders on what their priorities should be in making their communities safer and better. Great White Fathers have been doing this since Columbus landed five and a quarter centuries ago. Norman Dale Prince George the electorate were not privy to on referendum day.
Suddenly it wasn’t just $35 million for the pool, but now the purchase of the Day’s Inn at a tune of $4.5 million, plus the extra millions for tear-down and other associated costs for both the pool and Day’s Inn. Also the taxpayer was not informed as to the estimated interest charges to borrow the $35 million for the pool, which could reach $21 million. So the real cost of replacing the pool is about $61 million over 20 years, after which, based on current city thinking, is almost 50 per cent worn out.
Millions of dollars can be saved by renovating Fire Hall No. 1 to accommodate the bigger trucks, move the administrative department, emergency dispatchers and training facility to the abandoned old police station. Many residents find it very hard to understand why the old police station, made from solid concrete and steel, has to be torn down – why can’t it be renovated and recommissioned? That building is good for another 100 years. So Fire Hall No. 1 is 60 years old. Station 312 located at 34 Yorkville Avenue in Toronto was built in 1878 and responds to more than 5,000 calls each year. So Fire Hall No. 1 is only middleaged, by the City of Toronto standards.
The Four Seasons Pool can be renovated into something we all as tax payers would be proud to have, for a fraction of replacement. The City of Terrace is nearing completion of their
$8.8 million renovation of their 45-year-old pool, with wonderful results.
With all this money saved we could build a much needed professional theater downtown, which would help answer the question from the other letter written by WDM Barteluk, “City needs more performance space,” ending with this line: “What can be done to push this forward?” Thank you.
Edward J. Denicola