It is a Good Thing Jim Watson Decided not to Run Again

Because he would not be able to be elected dog catcher in this city.

Any chance of him winning again was scuppered by the Light Rail Transit fiasco in this city. While it is probably not all of his fault, considering all levels of government had their hands in that particular pie, it still made him unelectable even before this week.

Now the total impotence of the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Police Services, along with their mealy mouthed excuses for that impotence, would have put the final nail into the coffin of his reelection chances. Really, could he have shown any greater weakness than he has in the past few days?

I am not suggesting that the OPS take action to remove the protests as I stated in my previous post. I am suggesting that they take action to contain it. Right now, truckers are allowed to drive around virtually the entire downtown core unopposed. Why? 

Put up barricades at the corner of Wellington and Kent street to the West and where Wellington meets Elgin Street to the East. Then set up barricades at all the cross streets on Queen street to the South. (That is only two blocks south of Parliament Hill) Make certain each barricade has sufficient armed cops to man them, with orders not to fraternize with the protesters. Have actual riot police from the OPS, OPP and RCMP available to move to problem areas. If someone wants leave on foot let them but make it a one way trip and maybe escort them to the VIA Rail station. If they have left a vehicle behind they can arrange to have it shipped back to them, at their own risk and expense and after paying all of the hefty fines, towing and impound fees.

Any truck located outside of that area is to be ticketed and towed if they are breaking any local bylaws, such as parking where they should not be or breaking the noise bylaws of this city.

Of course that is not going to happen and I noticed today that our illustrious Chief of Police has indicated that the OPS will probably need the army to come in and help. Talk about passing the buck. The Trudeau government will deny that because the first place to get help would be from the Ontario Provincial Police and the Mounties but by saying the army is needed the Chief of Police can blame the Feds for the ongoing fiasco and not his incompetence.

If I am a mayoral candidate for the November municipal election part of the platform I would be running on would include a complete overhaul of the OPS senior ranks and the civilian Police Services Committee that oversees the OPS. Every cop who has the word "chief" in his or her title would be fired and every member of the committee would be replaced.

The OPS and the City of Ottawa has been a joke this past week. I have no problem with trying to make certain things do not get out of hand but that does not mean that you become completely paralyzed either. There is much that can be done to contain the protest, which is what most law enforcement organizations do as a matter of course, and which the OPS has not done.