Cornwall Ontario – That’s Todd Lihou, editor of The Seaway News. He also has worked for the Freeholder in the past. Yesterday Mr. Lihou, as editor of the Seaway News, published an article by Claude McIntosh.
Mr. Lihou also has gone to journalism school. Now in the public one must have thick skin, and I have very very thick skin as has been mocked because of my girth. Growing up with a weight issue helps build the tools to deal with some of the childish antics of politics; but I do draw a line at accuracy and the truth; something that apparently Mr. Lihou does not. Something that most journalism schools actually teach.
In the article my name was misspelled not once, but three times. Mr. McIntosh also refers to me as a “blogger” (as if that were some slur?) media personality, and owner of a website instead of editor of an online newspaper.
Referring to CFN as a website is truly odd for a Transcontinental Media owned outlet as Rick Shaver, former publisher, now simply General Manager, took me out to lunch before hiring Mr. Lihou and asked if I’d sell my online newspaper to TC Media and be his editor. While those negotiations went nowhere I find it sad and defamatory for a great organization like Transcontinental to allow this sort of behavior.
I mean are Claude, Todd and Adam blogging on www.Cornwallseawaynews.com ? I think most viewers of theirs know who I and CFN are, so why the childish refusal to spell my name correctly or mention my title and company?
When the Seaway News turned 25 I wrote a piece congratulating them for their achievement. Why the petty mud flinging and grammar school antics from them?
The root of the column is politics. And politics can be nasty and dirty; but you can’t wrongfully slur people. You can’t for example call Mayor Bob Kilger a rapist, philanderer, liar, and wife beater who nailed their own sons wife if in fact he or they didn’t or aren’t.
Mr. McIntosh raises the question of what I’d do if I did elect to run for office if Mayor Kilger ever gets the cojones to sign on the dotted line; but the examples he uses are faulty in that the fine journalists he quotes worked for outlets that had their own policies.
We know that Claude wrote speeches for Mayor Kilger in the past and we know that Mr. Shaver wants as many city dollars as he can grub, but there are standards in journalism and if you actually were one of the few that read that story why not mention Leslie O’Shaughnessy who is the front runner to challenge Mayor Kilger if he runs?
I of course, as Claude has pointed out wear many hats at CFN, but as majority shareholder set policy. Nothing in the Municipal Act would prevent me from running and still operating my newspaper and I have a hunch if I run I’d be a heck of a lot more fair to other candidates than Mr. Shaver and his monkeys would be with me.
While the last words Claude wrote at the Sun Media owned Freeholder came after a legal action was initiated by myself, the third in less than 24 months, because of his untruthful writings, I would hope that TC Media would not tolerate such scribblings any more than Sun Media did. And while Mr. McIntosh whined in his last column about his great relationship with Publisher Peter Padbury I would posit that perhaps people like Tycho Manson, Quebecor’s (parent company of Sun Media) head of legal might not proffer the same opinion?
In boxing there’s a term; hitting below the belt. Frankly it’s sad to see Mr. Lihou to allow such below the belt shots as jealous he may be that CFN is the largest newspaper in the city and that he can only gaze from behind. Instead of petty and shoddy journalism perhaps he should think about simply working harder and better; upping his game and putting out a product that more people would want to read instead of riding waves of mediocrity and big cheque stories?
I have contacted Mr. Shaver and TC headquarters asking for an apology in Claude’s next column (if there is one).
There is no room in our profession for purposeful falsification of the truth and frankly if Claude and his editor misspelled my name by accident they both probably should have to go back to Journalism school or Sesame Street.
And my final word on this silly and sordid attack from Messers Shaver, Lihou, and McIntosh; it’s very very important to be honest with the public. I made a statement which I’m sticking to. I know it’s rare. I think it was Mike Harris that was famous for that. And while I may not have agreed with many of his policies it’s hard to not respect someone that honours his word.
I would hope that we have fine people step up to the plate to run for mayor and council here in Cornwall in 2014. I would hope that there is a strong challenger to Mayor Kilger in the next election. I have made the statement that if Mayor Kilger decides to run that I’d run against him. Frankly I don’t think he’ll run. I think he knows he’s done, and he’s lost his base of support.
I think Bob Kilger is yesterday’s news like his friend Claude McIntosh. I’m more concerned about tomorrow.
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Jamie said: Quote ‘When the Seaway News turned 25 I wrote a piece congratulating them for their achievement. Why the petty mud flinging and grammar school antics from them?’
The sad truth is Jamie, you’ve shot down their networks, their personal school buddies for the 5 years you have been publishing. They see it as retribution, just like refusing to allow city and then provincial and federal advertising with you has been their pay back for your hard hitting, in depth put downs, sarcastic truths that hit home with them.
The sad truth is they won’t recognise you for the reporter and journalist you really are because they see you as a threat for ‘disrupting’ their and their buddies nice little nest eggs here in Cornwall. Your squeeze and unrelenting highlighting corruption. collusion and counter productive activity of city hall makes it hard for them to see it for what it is.
You’ve been pulling the rug out from under them as well by being behind the 8 ball when reporting incidences 1 to 3 days ahead of them because you have an instant news capacity that they can not meat or beat with ‘paper’ issues later. This is why some ‘paper’ issues catch you on purpose because of withholding some city news just so they become aware of things before you see them…..no doubt you have seen this from time to time.
Keep on trucking Jamie. We’ll not see the results of your hard work until we see an entire new city hall.
MR. Gilcig, i admire your retention of signing for the position of mayor, although i feel you should run whether kilger decides to or not, you have the public on your side as you have been on ours. few others have stood up to the (shenanigans) council and their brand of secrets, (as you put it), like you did. you have the perfect opportunity to make a difference in this city with your ability to get it out in the public’s eye. i see you have the betterment of our community in mind and respectfully request that you run for the office of mayor. do some good!!
I second that with both gentlemen Diddlyscwat and Mr. Rothwell and Jamie I mean it and I never say something that I do not mean and I am saying go for it my man and run for mayor of Cornwall. Believe me you have the intelligence and the know how and you have exposed these culprits for what and who they are and believe me nobody so far has able to do that but yourself. I have seen this for a mighty long time and so have the rest of us and we are more than fed up. It is time to shake the who city hall up like you put something in the jar and shake it but then throw the whole gang out lock, stock and barrel who will not be fair and good to the people that they represent and to work hard for the people. Never mind about Bare Ass or anyone and run. I want Mr. Samler out there as well as Mr. David Oldman, as well as Mr. Leslie O’Shaughnessey and many good people who are capable of making a very good change and a good job. The toilet paper of record – SF is not going to survive for long and I can shake on that one. I want you to be strong and have a good self confidence in yourself and go out there and give them your all. You are intelligent and you are one who is successful whereas neither the rags of Seaway News nor the toilet paper of record SF can hold a candle to you. It will go out like what is happening with the post office. All those rags did all these years is hide the truth from the people and it is way past the time for people to wake up and know the truth. Thank you Jamie.
^What they said.
Jamie it is apparent that you are perceived as a threat, hence the attention given you by parties or through parties in an attempt to discredit or intimidate you. Don’t bite, continue to be the better person and recognize and revel in the fact that you have gotten under their collective skin and they are uncomfortable. The house of cards is destined to collapse and the face of Cornwall will change for the better.
Keep the faith.
I sure do hope that the house of cards will collapse and that the people of Cornwall will finely wake up and see who has been keeping them down all these years. I have no respect for such people at all and I refuse to vote for any of them. One has to be able to choose the right people for the job. Bare Ass sure showed just what kind he is as well as his clique. Jamie look into that lease and they cannot hide that or they would be in big trouble. When something is hidden you know very well that it is something evil or not right at all. I have said that so many times before to you. Something is not kosher at all and my brain keeps on wondering what is hidden. This is getting more and more interesting to try and solve. Take care and best of luck to you and everyone this evening.
Jamie,
May I suggest that you don’t join in the mud slinging; it is counter productive and will get you nowhere. Instead, stay focussed on the real issues…the high property taxes, the city’s systemic abuses and the abhorrent lack of transparency! Hang in there man.
@Admin
As a non-resident of Cornwall I maintain a rigid restriction on myself not to offer my opinion about local figures directly in print. I feel I lack the necessary insight to make those types of determinations living almost three hundred miles away as I do. I know a few of the people that are spoken about in the pages of CFN, but I’ve been away more than 30 years. Most of the players a strangers to me.
I still feel an attachment to this place I can’t explain.The distance hampers my ability to know the intricacies of your local politics; but it also affords a clarity based on a more objective view of the city from afar.
I strongly feel that CFN remains an important source of information and views about Cornwall and I’m going to show that support this new year witha substantial lift to my subscription payment.
Thumbs-up Jamie and Reg. I read everyday
As always, I welcome anyone to come and debate me or at least debate the merits of my comments (my serious comments).
Should you so choose to offer comment , consider using your real name so we can have a REAL conversation. And if you know me , you’ll know how I love to debate with brainless bought & sold Cornwall losers.
Mr. Clifton you and I remember when Cornwall was a great deal better than what it is today. I go down there with my family every three to six months and the town is deserted compared to what it used to be. I remember the better days and so do you along with many other people. I only read Jamie’s CFN because that is where we get the real truth. I know enough about Bare Ass to last me a lifetime and a very weak council that is afraid to stand up to him and be counted among the people of Cornwall with whom they are supposed to represent. It doesn’t matter how far away or how close by you live Mr. Clifton Cornwall can never be taken out of us no matter where we live. Our opinions matter a great deal when we still care for the town that we left behind. An awful lot of people are suffering because of Bare Ass and his clique and weak council and all this has to change PRONTO. Those tanks can be a great danger to the public and much more than they know. We have to help the little people who are not aware or educated enough to know what is going on and the shoving of things down their throats that isn’t good and the humoungous taxes that they have to endure which is totally uncalled for. Councellor Gerry Samson stood up one time and Bare Ass scolded him for sticking up for people who could not handle the high premiums. It does take all of us to help out our former town. I appreciate seeing what you have to say and no matter what name I use your input is very important indeed.
@Jules
Yes, Jules it’s all about honesty. You do your thing and I’ll do mine. And BTW thank you for your positive vibes. Please promise me that you will remain engaged as will I. Nobody can stop us from expressing our feelings.and thanks to CFN we have a voice in the community.
“Everything is beautiful in its own way” – the oh so corny Ray Stevens
Julrs said ” I want Mr. Samler out there as well as Mr. David Oldman,”
Not so sure of Mr. Samler yet. Still waiting for his and Mr. Oldman’s platforms, debates, ability to pull together viable teams, etc. Being ‘new’ to most of us and new to a council approach, it is important that we know much more to garner confidence in them to hold such a position on our behalf for the next 4 years.
It is commendable that anyone wants to change what we’ve been conditioned as obsolete in our current
make up at city hall, however, just wanting a change is NOT ENOUGH. Show us more is important, as I am sure they will as time moves forward.
Of course this follows with anyone contemplating such a move. Hey, wonder if Claude McIntosh would venture out of his eliment?
Curse you Michael Clifton! You just reminded me of the worst godam song ever to be recorded! Now I have to get that vile three-coil steamer out of my head. Grrrr…
@ Jules and Diddly. Who is David Oldman?
Thanks Furtz. Correction, not Old’man’…or maybe he is, but Oldhan, is more appropriate. Sorry David, I should have caught that. I’ve never had an oversight before….tsk, tsk. Have a better day folks.
Leave it to me to screw up names. Sorry Mr. Oldhan. I hope that I have that name right.
@Furtz
Oh c’mon Furtz – worse the “The Streak”? You know, from Ray’s scintilating disco period – oh yeah!!!!
He covered so much ground!