This morning he sang some traditional native songs. One song translated into English mean "Help us Great Spirit for we do not remember where we came from.".

 

There were many visitors again and many people stopping to show their support,

 

I have a meeting with the Ministry at 4:15 but reception advised me this morning that there is no change in there position, 

 

Loads of people are taking the flyer and strips of paper with web and email contact numbers which will help them keep updated.

 

Well this is all for now. I am writing a letter to the Ombudsman complaining that the Ministry is not following its policies will post tomorrow.

 

 

I am getting weak and light headed though. I will visit the clinic tomorrow and get checked by a doctor.

 

Yesterday afternoon I met with the Ministry and they said there is no change in their position. They asked me how I was and I said I am getting very hungry. This made them very uncomfortable. They say they are monintoring restraint situation. They will not explain what this means. I raised the issue of a small child restraint being taught in the Ministries brand new Behaviour Managment Intervention course. They said they are not responsible for this because they commissioned Robert Smart Centre to do this. I told them I did not think the public would accept that they are not responsible when it was the Ministry who have publicly committed to institute a now BMI program and they are the ones who commissioned Robert Smart. I also said I am going to display parts of this manual to the public.

 

I tried to meet with them today. They would not met with me but stated that there is no change in their position and they will met me tomorrow at 4:00.

 

It looks they are digging in to ignore my protest.

 

I will sign off now and write more tomorrow.

 

This morning something very overwhelming happened this morning. I met one of the parents whose child was killed by restraint in a group home. They were very moved that I was doing this hunger strike and they said they could hardly believe their eyes when they saw my sign "Hunger Strike to End Child Restraints."

 

I think good things will develop from this chance meeting.

 

Again many more people stopping to express support. In fact a women from Hawsbury the town John will soon arrive in stopped and said she works in a facility there that houses children who are prone to violent outbursts and they do not use restraint ever.

 

I also found out that the Behaviour Management Program that the Ministry commission the Robert Smart Center to produce and impelement to group home staff was put on hold. I had complained that this brand new program that was suppose to be the governments response to the coroners report recommending training on how to handle aggression without restaints actually taught "A small child restraint".

 

I hope my complaint helped put the program on hold. This program had already been put into action and group homes were already being taught so hopefully this program will be pulled and a facility that does not use restraints will be commissioned to teach others how to manage behaviour without restraints.

 

I have to sign off now more tomorrow.

 

We also had a group of musicians stop by and do a set of fabulous music and they donated the audience money given.

 

Many people stopping by and showing all kinds of support.

 

The only down part of the day is worry about John Dunn. He is now in Montreal. He is having a hard time. He needs some more support.

 

More tomorrow.

 

Yesterday I was really upset by the Ministry. They are still saying they are monitoring the situation and make no move to resolve the situation. At the end of the conversation they said they could not meet with me again until Friday because they were off for the next two days because of the G8 protest.

 

I said to them "Oh heaven forbit your safety might be threatened." I had a hard time accepting that they are turning a blind eye to the children they are madated to protect but take every measure to protect themselves even against unlike risk. Everyone else at the Rideau Centre worked even those on the main floor. And we kept our strike going right there on the street.

 

Last year one window at McDonalds was broken period. Hardly a reason for two days off when they work on the 7th floor.

 

Anyway on a brighter note there were a group of peddle bikers who rode from Montreal to Ottawa to protest the G8. There were about 150 of them. As they passed the hunger strike they stopped and someone called out Jane and then all the others shouted and cherred and shoke there fist in the air. This was very uplifting for me.

 

We again have had tons of visters, more press CTV, NEW RO and CBC radio.

 

 

 

I went ot the doctors for the first time. I was told my blood pressure was a little low but not serious. And that as long as I take electolites it is likely that I will remain stable.

 

Steady flow of people stopping still with many giving a very strong response.

 

One man stopped by today and said he spoke to his MPP yesterday and was told that this hunger striker has certainly stirred up contraversy over restaints amongs the MPP's.

 

 

 

Canadian Press is doing a article which will be out Sunday. And CTV is doing another interview Sunday.

 

And I got a call from a staff member of Dalhousie who wants to talk to me out this cause.

 

And of course the documentary on restraints will be on tomorrow night at 7:00 on W5 which is CTV.

 

My daughter Kayla is spending the day with me tomorrow and I am looking forward to this time with her.

 

John Dunn is doing much better in Quebec now. He has met some contacts in Trois Riverier who are going to help him bring attention to his the CAS file disclosure issue.

 

All for now.