Pubdate: Sun, 06 Aug 2017
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Sue-Ann Levy
Page: 7

HYPOCRISY AT ITS MOST VILE

Mihevc misses the irony in his drug stance

When the truth came out about then-mayor Rob Ford's crack cocaine use
in late October of 2013, 26-year NDP councillor Joe Mihevc quickly
joined the queue of councillors and media pundits who savaged him.

In fact, in one interview on Oct. 31 of that year, Mihevc claimed that
Torontonians were "shocked and disappointed" because Ford "clearly has
an addiction issue of one form or another" and associates with the
"wrong people" (meaning, drug dealers).

In that same media interview, Mihevc - in that positively preachy and
self-righteous tone he forever adopts - said Ford "needed to look at
himself in the mirror" and decide to "come clean with Torontonians."

His patronizing message was accompanied by a delicious smirk, as if he
was enjoying every minute of Ford's dilemma.

There was no compassion, no empathy expressed toward Ford's apparent
addiction issues.

There was certainly no question Mihevc had already tried, and
condemned, the troubled mayor, at least in the court of public opinion.

His stance only hardened as time went on. When NDP pal John Filion put
together a petition to hold a special meeting in mid-November of 2013
to strip Ford of his powers, Mihevc was among the first of 28 to sign
it.

And even when Ford went into rehab in May of 2014 (months after I had
suggested he needed to do so), Mihevc was quoted as saying Ford would
have to provide "proof" that he has changed in order to be redeemed by
council and Toronto residents (what proof, Mihevc didn't say, but I
suspect the well-past-his-best-before-date councillor thought that for
Ford, at least, nothing short of walking on a bed of hot coals would
suffice).

Except that's all ancient history, it seems, for Mihevc, who on
Friday, without a trace of irony or any recognition of his gall for
daring to suggest it, proposed that heroin and other drugs be
decriminalized.

"After a generation ... the war on drugs ... has been an abject
failure," he said.

The chairman of the Board of Health also asked the media whether it
was a wise use of public resources to be throwing police, lawyers,
courts ... the criminal justice system at illegal drugs.

Hmmm. Is this the same Mihevc who even had the audacity to suggest
Ford be investigated criminally for allegedly trying to buy the
infamous crack video?

"Saying, 'I'm sorry' now means taking full responsibility," Mihevc
said at the time. "This man needs help. He needs a lot of help."

I tried to get a comment from Mihevc on the disconnect between his two
approaches to illegal drugs at the Caribbean Carnival Saturday. When I
first approached him after he spoke at the festival's launch, he
pushed me away and had a security guard block me from him.

When I tried again after the launch activities, he ran away from me
angrily, ignoring my questions.

Now, I happen to think most of Mihevc's ideas are inane and this one
is no exception, yet more proof that there should be term limits in
place at City Hall and that this guy is so cosy at City Hall, he's
lost all sense of reality, not to mention any imperative to be
accountable.

The last thing we need, in addition to harm reduction sites in this
city and giving sanctuary to illegal immigrants, is yet another reason
to allow the inmates (drug traffickers) to run the asylum. Aren't our
city, provincial and federal politicians already soft enough on crime?

Tory, by the way, said he's not interested in opening "new
discussions" on the decriminalization of heroin.

Perhaps it's ancient history to Mihevc. But to me, it represents an
odious double standard, hypocrisy at its most vile.

I would venture to add that Mihevc ran away from me because it's
awfully difficult to defend the indefensible.
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MAP posted-by: Matt