Our Yvonne, she's not going to take it...

Recent news flittering about certainly makes for good publicity. Although I've seen others claim to the contrary, in my mind there is no such thing as bad publicity. I believe a good fight is just what Yvonne needed right now to show the general public exactly what she's made of and bring to light how she has overcome so much and that if there is anyone who should be considered for Premier in the tradition of people like Brian Peckford, Clyde Wells and Danny Williams then it should be her.

I'm disappointed with my old friend John Efford's comments but I think they serve the purpose well in bringing out the fight in Yvonne and bringing it front and center to the general electorate.

The Latest bit of scuttlebutt from VOCM news...

When the Levee Breaks...(CYFS)

For two reasons today, Child Youth and Family "Services" are in the news.

First, because they are seeking a publication ban on the whole Rodgers' family persecution, so they can cover their asses and not have their own incompetence exposed.

Second, again connected to the whole Rodgers' family discriminatory draconian action and psychological, because the very psychologist they are basing this abuse of the parents and children on is of questionable ability!!!

When the levee breaks and can no longer hold this back, it is CYFS who are going to get drenched and I certainly hope that includes the previous minister.

The only one guilty of "mental and psychological" abuse to those children and their parents is the very social workers from CYFS, their "managers" "supervisors" and "directors"... and the former minister, Joan Burke who was there when this began.

BTW, the psychologist in question is in Stephenville, where former Minister of CYFS Joan Burke "practiced" Social Work. This seems all a bit too tangly and close for comfort, at least for the comfort of any of us who are parents.

RNC needs to be NL wide

Recent events in Bay Bulls, on the southern shore in Newfoundland, saw a local man under duress and stress barricade himself in the family home and face the wrath of the RCMP, Canada's police force as they tried every means possible to get him to leave.

No believable reason for his forced departure has been given as of yet. No reasonable explanation has really been offered, except the RCMP decided they wanted him out and they would do whatever it took to get their way...and "get their man". Which, as you probably all know by now, they failed to do.

So, this whole "cowboy" incident included a robot, tear gas, weapons drawn, lights flashing, SWAT team on standby. Why it was enough to make the most reasonable person panic. And panic, is what we expected of Leo Crockwell... except he didn't. After they turned the water cannons on him and flooded the house, they discovered Mr. Crockwell had quietly slipped out the side window of the house and went walk-about all the way to Petty Harbour.

In Petty Harbour, he was quietly and cooperatively picked up by an RNC officer who took him into custody and back to St. John's. There was no incident. It was peaceful. Mr. Crockwell was very calm and easily handled according to the RNC. A polite gentleman who was obviously just put through an ordeal that was completely overblown and unnecessary. Was the RCMP action necessary? Of course not. But hey, there's charges necessary!

Perhaps the greatest charge of all in all this is the $444,000 BILL we get from the RCMP for badly handling the whole affair. Mr. Crockwell faces a host of charges that are completely unnecessary and were provoked by the RCMP. Some might call that entrapment.

The RCMP are well out of control. This is tangible proof of the value of our very own police force and the need to have them all over Newfoundland and Labrador.

I have only praise for the RNC, and see them doing good work in Metro St. John's-Mt Pearl-CBS, greater Corner Brook and of course through the west in Lab City, Wabush and Churchill Falls. There are good men and women in both police forces, I have family in both of them, but I really believe it is time to have our own police force, connected to us all the way up, responsible for protecting us!!

Welcome Back, Yvonne

It should hardly be news to anyone reading this blog, but south-coast Labrador MHA Yvonne Jones is back in full swing now. Yvonne's recent participation in the campaign leading up to today's bielection marked her return to full form... and then some.

Yvonne has always been a determined individual and one not to be messed with. Her list of political and personal triumphs are perhaps best summed up in this: She's a cancer survivor and the last one standing from the Liberal wars of the past decade.

Yvonne is no shrinking violet and I am certain will show all in our House of Assembly and those who are watching who the strongest woman or man in NL politics is...

Some recent words of praise:

From Peter Whittle at Polemic & Paradox
Yvonne Jones is returning to politics with a zeal, and purpose, that I do not think she possessed before, or at least has not shown in sometime. She thrives as the underdog. Ask Danny Dumeresque who underestimated her and found himself defeated in one of the safest liberal seats in the House of Assembly by an independent as the Tobin tidal wave rolled over the province. She transformed her Independent win into a seat at the cabinet table and circumstances have placed her at the head of the Liberal Party.

My recent comment on Peter's post...

I have long admired and respected Yvonne Jones and wish we had more like her (of either gender).

Yvonne is in her position because of her character and persistence, not because of her gender. I only mention this because I hear a lot of sheepishly laughed comments from members of the old boys' club talking about how it's now high time we had more women in politics because they're women.

That's the same as holding them down because they're women. When will society shed such patronizing attitudes and just measure individuals on the content of their character?

I'm not holding my breath.

From VOCM news...

Yvonne Jones says she will be back in the House of Assembly when it opens for the spring sitting. The Liberal leader missed the fall sitting, as she was undergoing cancer treatment.

Jones was in the district of Humber West this weekend in advance of Tuesday's by-election. She says it is great to be back to work and says she is feeling good after a six-month long break. She says she has been wanting to return to work for some time.

And from The Telegram

In an exclusive interview with The Telegram, Jones said it’s been tough sitting on the sidelines through the Muskrat Falls announcement, the resignation of former premier Danny Williams and the fall sitting of the House of Assembly. She’s not prepared to sit on the sidelines any longer.

“This is the biggest year of my political career,” Jones said.

Two weeks after her last chemotherapy treatment, Jones is back in the Opposition office for meetings and this weekend she’ll be in Corner Brook to campaign for Mark Watton in the Humber West byelection.

I like this next bit... What she likes best is serving other people. Those words would rign hollow from someone else, but from Yvonne? As sincere as can be.

When she makes it back into the House of Assembly it won’t just be health care that Jones wants to push.

“We’ve had the highest revenues in our history, and now we’re still forecasting deficits in the years to come,” she said. “We have people all over the province who feel that they have never gotten an adequate share of that wealth.

“In my opinion, there’s some accountability that this government needs to own up to, and my job is going to be to insure that they do that.”

This is expected to be a pivotal year for the Liberal Party, and for politics in the province.

She said with so much going on, there were days when she wished things could have been different; that the cancer hadn’t gotten in her way.

“But at the same time, you know, everybody is dealt a certain part in life and given challenges,” she said.

“Did I ever consider leaving politics? Never.

“Serving people is what I enjoy doing most.”

Department of CYFS out of control.

Have any of you been following the latest on Child Youth and Family Services? You see, the latest publicly known victims of CYFS are the Rodgers family of Port Aux Basques. These poor folks had their kids torn from them. This is an all too ready familiar occurrence in Newfoundland and Labrador, although we all wish it were less common and familiar.

Here's the latest bits...
Rally Held for Family
SNIP...About 30 people stood bundled in front of the Family Services office. Some held hand-made signs. Others chanted, “Bring the kids home.” Most cars that drove up Main Street past the protestors honked their horns and waved.

“We just wanted to show everybody that the support of the public and the community is here with the Rodgers’ family and that we all feel there’s been an injustice done and in our hearts we would really like to have those children back home with their parents,” said Mrs. Pieroway, who came up with the idea of holding the peaceful protest.

And the Child and Youth Advocate Carol chafe is also taking a look into the matter, as reported by CBC. I will say one thing: When the Child and Youth Advocate looks into things - THINGS ARE OFF THE RAILS! The previous CYA and the current were both very vocal in their criticisms of the actions of the entire Department. And I'm not throwing stones at all Social Workers, there are some no many good ones and they have a very hard job. But the management right up to the director and the previous minister stinks.

I will keep the Rodgers' family in my prayers and ask you to do the same, and remember all families in Crisis throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Some thoughts I have shared on Peter Whittle's Blog.

As long as politicians like Joan Burke continue to act as if they are still social workers, and circle the wagons around the bad ones, all the mistakes, the institutionalized malpractice methods that are passed down from the old jaded, bitter, twisted, angry ones to the younger ones then things will never change. I know this first hand.

Social Workers don't think they are even capable of making mistakes. They have had a minister who was one of their own who actually believes this philosophy.
I know this first-hand.

They believe they can write whatever they wish to in their notes and it serves as "evidence" and "fact" to support any decision they make, and their supervisors will cite their notes as "facts" and this follows through right up to the Director.
I know this first-hand.

They make quick judgments and decisions based on their own personal lives and experiences and tar anyone who is not like them as undesirable.
I know this first-hand.

They are poorly trained and have very little life experiences of their own to draw on before being thrown into high conflict situations and considering themselves expert.
I know this first-hand.

Social workers as young as 23 years old, party girls on George Street, with no children of their own, no relationship experience even to draw on, will tell successful moms and dads of 20+ years that they are incompetent and will try (and sometimes) success to take their children from them.
I know this first-hand.

CYFS has a culture of entitlement and extreme arrogance and have the ability to (and routinely do) push even the RNC and RCMP around into taking actions that officers categorically state are wrong - officers with 20+ years experience who have seen it all.
I know this first-hand.

IF The Williams and now Dunderdale government has one overwhelming failure beyond ALL others, it is...
Child Youth and Family Services.

For that alone, they should all resign.

And then someone suggested our current Premier was a former Social Worker. That one really made me laugh!

Here's how I had to reply to that one:

Dear anonymous...

Kathy Dunderdale was never a social worker, DESPITE her claims to having been one. This is what you call in polite terms: A misspeak, an error, a falsehood, a resume embellishment, a mistake of facts...
I.E. a lie.

She was a financial facilitator and planner in the greater area of social economics in Marystown. Although she crossed paths with social workers and their "clients", she was never a social worker.

I seriously doubt my present MHA (the single most inept MHA I have ever had BTW) is capable of solving this or any other problem.

Regards!!

Keep following the news from all sources and watch this blog, and Peter's.

Double Standard?

Anyone read this?

[url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/02/07/nl-woman-assault-207.html]NL Woman Sexual Assault[/url]

An eastern Newfoundland woman told provincial court Monday she repeatedly had sex with a 13-year-old boy because she felt trapped in her marriage.

The woman, 44, who pleaded guilty to sexual assault in December, said she had intercourse with the teen three different times.

The woman said she wasn't "thinking straight" at the time.

She told the court she is now ashamed of what she did. She also said she is sorry for the harm her actions caused the teen, and her own children.

A judge heard sentencing recommendations from Crown and defence lawyers Monday.

The defence asked for a sentence of less than two years in jail. The Crown said the woman should serve three years in prison.

There is a ban on the woman's name to protect the identity of the boy.

Does anyone else think the story would be slightly different if this were a 44 year old man having sex with a 13 year old girl?