2 out of 4 papers agree

At the risk of seeming like I'm just blogging on what The Toronto Star is writing about these last couple days, I have to mention one of its editorials posted up early this morning. With Don't muzzle pet critics, there is now strong acknowledgment by two out of four of Toronto's main newspapers that there is something very wrong with the Toronto Humane Society management under prez Tim Trow (I'm not sure where The National Post stands in all of this and as for The Sun, well, I'm guessing they'll keep on backing Trow regardless of what he's guilty of as long as Trow's got pal Worthington in the editor's seat there).

In the wake of the recent THS rejection letter muck-up, The Star has this to say:

Only members are allowed to speak, and vote, at the society's annual meeting, where the agency's governing board is elected. The organization's bylaws allow disqualification of anyone whose interests are deemed in conflict with those of the humane society; but the current effort to keep critics out suggests president Tim Trow is attempting to retain power by silencing his opposition.

That's exactly what critics of the THS have been saying for a very very long time - like years - but it sure has a lot more impact coming from the big booming voice of a newspaper with a circulation of over half a million.

So, first of all, thanks Toronto Star and, secondly, what took you so long?

One important thing the editorial brings up is the responsibility of Ontario's Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee whose mandate is to oversee the correct running of charitable status organizations. You know, to make sure charities don't abuse their status by, say, interfering with proper voting procedures in electing their board of directors or not being able to account for missing donation receipts - that kind of thing, the exact sort of things for which THS management has been accused.

THS critics held a demonstration outside OPGT offices a couple of weeks ago to try and light a fire under their combined asses and managed to get some chit chat time with a security guard and an office clerk but the main guy they needed to speak to ran home sick - allegedly when he heard about the demonstration. Nice job with facing your public, OPGT. For an enforcement agency, that's awfully passive aggressive I'd say.

So, what then has the OPGT done about the THS situation? Ummm ... nada? Or maybe they're working on the case right now. Or maybe not. Or maybe they're thinking about doing something about it. Maybe they're thinking about if they want those pink pickles in their falafels at lunch. Ach .... bureaucrats.

Now there's an article The Toronto Star could do: What exactly are we paying the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee for?

More here.