Small and welcome Truths

Vancouver Police Chief, Jim Chu, refuses to join the rose-colored sunglasses set.

He freely admits that the DTES will remain essentially a drug-addled hell-hole during and after the famous Games.

Read this story and at the least be thankful that there is one official who is not selling more fairy dust.

CHOKE HOLD

There are full page ads in your newspapers today.

Here's what they say in very large bold type:

As of tomorrow Gordon Campbell wants you to just shut up.

The ads, featuring a number of people with masking tape over their mouths, are paid for by the BC Federation of Labour and a number of unions.

The ads encourage you to visit the justshutupBC.com website to register your unhappiness with Bill 42.

The bill limits who can spend how much on advertising leading up to the May 12th provincial election.

Bill 42 is a gag law and it stinks to high heaven and these ads and protests are right.

This is a cynical attack on basic democratic principles by a cynical and unprincipled administration.

It is a direct assault on free speech.

The Harper government is considering wide police access to the internet for the purposes of thwarting criminal and terrorist activities. That consideration is worthy of many lengthy philosophical discussions.

But this appalling piece of legislation by the Campbell government is so blatantly wrong and pig-headed and self-serving that any discussion would be beyond the point.

Why can this government or any government in this country not withstand healthy and open debate of issues and ideas in the lead up to an election?

There is no reasonable way to rationalize this Orwellian nonsense.

And here's the kicker:

"Attorney-General Wally Oppal has defended the gag law, saying the idea is to keep the election focus on the candidates and political parties, instead of having third-party interests try to influence the outcome of the vote."

A Man Without Shame.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"There's no way to manage what's happening."

Sergeant Shinder Kirk of the Integrated Gang Task Force speaking yesterday about, well, you know, shootups at Timmy's and the IGA.

Bet the good Sergeant is not having a jo with Gord these days.

JULIE LONDON with an assist from RUDOLPH VALENTINO