[antiwar-van] VANCOUVER EVENTS CALENDAR
Carole Karkhairan
carole at bcpolicyalternatives.org
Fri May 24 10:17:55 PDT 2002
>X-Sender: emerald at mail.islandnet.com
>Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 23:07:26 -0700
>To: earth at islandnet.com
>From: Janine Bandcroft <bandj at uvic.ca> (by way of Rycroft & Pringle
><rycroft at islandnet.com>)
>Subject: PEJ.van-- Vancouver Events, May 25...
>
>Lower Mainland Readers,
>
>Welcome to the first edition of Vancouver Events, a weekly (or twice
>weekly) listing of events in your area, edited by Janine Bandcroft.
>
>If you know of an event you would like to contribute to this calendar,
>please email it to events at pej.ca.
>
>Al Rycroft, Editor
>Peace, Earth & Justice News
>
>--------------------------
>
>Hi,
>
>I have been an activist in Victoria's peace, justice, and environmental
>communities for nearly a decade, after awakening to the earth's fragility
>while at college in California.
>
>>From the University of Victoria I earned a B.A. in English, a
>B.Ed., and a B.C. Teacher's Certificate. Prior to attending college I was
>employed at a small and highly successful software company in Vancouver.
>Originally I was born in Edmonton and, although I love the prairies
>(particularly during the bright summer days), I now consider B.C. my home.
>
>I've been publishing a Local Events listing for Victoria for several
>months, with much favourable feedback. People seem to appreciate the
>efficiency of a comprehensive list of events.
>
>My intention is to continue gathering and distributing information
>about interesting and informative events and activities in local
>communities. I believe that knowledge empowers individuals with compassion
>and understanding, enabling us all to construct a world we can proudly and
>safely inhabit.
>
>Namaste,
>Janine
>
>
>Peace, Earth & Justice News
>http://pej.ca
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Visit the new Web site and domain -- pej.ca.
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>VANCOUVER LOCAL EVENTS: Oil&Environment/Privatization/Anti-Protest/Transit
>Demo/Environment&War/Kananaskis/Chilcotin/BC Forests/Leg Visit/Virus/Websites
>
>
>CONTENTS:
>
>1. Oil and Environment
>2. Privatization and Public-Private Partnerships Forum
>3. Unreadable Dissent?
>4. BC Transit Multi-Sector Demonstration
>5. Environment and war
>6. Kananaskis Information
>7. Chilcotin's Brittany Triangle
>8. Challenge BC Forest Legislation
>9. Visit the Legislature
>10. Virus Information
>11. Interesting Websites
>
>+++++++++++++++++++
>
>editor's notes (for your information):
>
>I've recently learned of something called 'Charity Watch' which is funded
>by corporations, and which provides information to the government about
>non-profit organizations. Charity Watch reports on non-profit
>organizations which advocate or behave pro-actively on behalf of any
>particular 'special interest' organization. If the non-profit speaks too
>loudly about fundamental injustices in the economic structure in an attempt
>to challenge poverty, for example, and charity watch catches them, they can
>be denied funding.
>
>It is also my understanding that government departments are encouraged to
>spend every penny of the money they're allocated in their yearly budget or
>else they're not provided with the same amount of funds the following year.
>
>And, at the Paul Robeson event last weekend I learned, from the Washington
>Parks employees, that the movement of trains across the border is basically
>unhindered since the passage of the trade agreements. The train cars, and
>other components, are interchangeable, and the train I watched had both
>American and Canadian cars attached.
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>1. From: MJ <m-j at shaw.ca>
>
>"BIG OIL & BC'S ENVIRONMENT: The Alberta Lesson"
>
>Award-winning investigative journalist Andrew Nikiforuk, author of
>'Saboteurs: Weibo Ludwig's War Against Big Oil,' talks about the
>environmental implications of BC's plan to double oil and gas production.
>
>Friday, May 24, 2002 - 7:30 PM
>
>Alice MacKay Room
>Vancouver Public Library
>Library Square, 350 West Georgia
>Vancouver, BC
>
>No admission charge
>Sponsored by:
>
>West Coast Environmental Law,
>The David Suzuki Foundation, and
>The Endswell Foundation
>
>Background:
>
>The BC government has announced it intends to double oil
>and gas production. With measures ranging from new industry
>tax credits to moves to end the moratorium on offshore oil and gas
>exploration, the provincial government is already taking important
>steps to make this happen sooner rather than later.
>
>But what about the environment? Will it be left out of the
>equation?
>
>To help answer these questions, West Coast Environmental Law, The
>David Suzuki Foundation and The Endswell Foundation are sponsoring
>an evening with Andrew Nikoforuk, one of Canada's leading
>investigative reporters and author of 'Saboteurs: Weibo Ludwig's
>War Against Big Oil'
>
>Nikoforuk will speak on the Alberta experience with unbridled oil
>and gas expansion and the lessons for BC.
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>For clips on climate science & politics:
>http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Subscribe
>
>Alex Boston
>David Suzuki Foundation
>2211 West 4th Avenue, Suite 219
>Vancouver BC V6K 4S2
>T: 604 732-4228 x 257 F: 604 732-0752
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>2. From: shannon at mail.bcpolicyalternatives.org
>
>FREE PUBLIC FORUM ON PRIVATIZATION AND "PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS"
>
>What will privatization and "public-private partnerships" (P3s) mean for
>you and your family? What happens to accountability and the quality of
>public services like health care and education? Do P3s really save
>governments money?
>
>Find out the answers to these and other questions about the effects of
>privatization. Join us to hear from world-renowned experts from Great
>Britain, Canada and the United States.
>
>The effect on health care_
>
>Dr. Matthew Dunnigan is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of
>Glasgow and Edinburgh. He has published more than 100 papers in
>peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Dunnigan has conducted detailed analysis of the
>so-called "Private Finance Initiative" (PFI)in the United Kingdom.
>
>The impact on schoolsŠ
>
>Heather-jane Robertson is an author, a Distinguished Educator of the
>Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and a recipient of the Teacher
>of the Year Award from the Canadian College of Teachers. She has spoken to
>groups on four continents.
>
>The loss of local servicesŠ
>
>Professor John Loxley, an economist at the University of Manitoba, is one
>of the few Canadian economists to have conducted in depth studies into the
>impact of privatization of public services and public-private partnerships.
>
>The cost to community safetyŠ
>
>Judith Greene, a criminal justice policy analyst with Justice Strategies,
>currently serves as a research consultant for both the RAND Corporation and
>Human Rights Watch. Her articles have appeared in numerous academic
>journals.
>
>Wednesday May 29, 200
>7:00 pm Metrotown Hilton (6083 McKay, Burnaby)
>
>Free
>
>For more information, contact the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
>at 604-801-5121.--
> _____________________________________________
> Shannon Daub, Communications Coordinator
> Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - BC Office
> http://www.policyalternatives.ca
> 1400-207 West Hastings St, Vancouver, V6B 1H7
> Direct tel: (604) 801-5509 Fax: (604) 801-5122
> CAW3000
>
>editor's note: Why, when the government chooses to 'privatize' publically
>funded organizations, usually without the taxpayers' consent, don't the
>taxpayers receive some compensation for their investment? Isn't that like
>attaining a small business loan from a bank, selling the company after it
>becomes successful, and refusing to re-pay the loan?
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>3. From: Cathy Woods <cathywoods at shaw.ca>
>
>PROTEST GENRES AND THE PRAGMATICS OF DISSENT
>
> A Talk by Roger Farr
> Sunday May 26 at 2pm FREE
> at the Kootenay School of Writing
> 201 - 505 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
> 604-688-6001
>
>"Like all speech-acts, protest and opposition often fall into recognizable
>genres: the leaflet, the march, the strike, the sit-in,the blockade, etc.
>As interlocutors in these speech-acts, the authorities rely heavily on
>anticipation and predictability in order to understand, describe,
>control,and diffuse our actions. Therefore, we need to anticipate this
>anticipation;we need to identify the predictable conventions of the protest
>genres, and re-introduce elements of shock, surprise, and misrecognition.
>We need to make dissent unreadable."
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>4. BUS RIDERS EXPOSE AND OPPOSE 'NEW ERA' FOR BC
>
>Demonstrate: Thursday May 30, 12:00 noon
>Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia Street
>
>At 12:00 noon on Thursday May 30 Ken Doebell, deputy minister to the
>Premier, at a $900 a head conference on Public Private Partnerships, will
>address a group of business elites and government officials on the 'New
>Era' for BC. Gordon Campbell and his right-hand man, in a ruthless
>promotion of neo-liberal economic policies, have intentions of selling-off
>every single one of BC's essential public services and crown corporations.
>According to the agenda of this conference on PPP, everything is up for
>grabs: healthcare, education, transportation, not to mention public health
>measures such as water filtration.
>
>PPP, or public-private partnerships, is another name for privatization. The
>push for PPP in this province is a direct application of the
>neo-liberal policies of de-regulation and privatization. Bus Riders are
>already feeling the effects of de-regulation and privatization on our
>public transit system, as our fares increase, our Night Owl services are
>cut, whole routes are eliminated, and other routes are privatized for
>profit. These cuts, drastic reductions, and regressive user-fees are
>implemented while TransLink commits hundreds of millions of dollars to an
>underground champaign service to Richmond and the airport, to be
>constructed under a Public Private Partnership. Pat Jacobsen, the current
>CEO of TransLink is also a keynote speaker at this conference, sharing with
>delegates the benefits of investing in a transit partnership with the
>Greater Vancouver Region. Organizers at the Bus Riders Union know all to
>well that these benefits for private business spell the downfall of the bus
>system, the backbone of public transit in the region. Public transit
>funds, rather than increasing much needed bus services, are earmarked for
>the construction of this transit mega-project. However, profits of this
>over-priced rail will flow into the coffers of private operators. While
>bus riders comprise 94% of transit riders in the region, the grossly
>disproportionate amount of transit money serves to profit business elites.
>
>Transit is only one example of how privatization undermines the hard-won
>social rights of working class people in British Columbia. This May 30 -
>31 conference is a virtual fire sale of the public assets of British
>Columbia.
>
>The Bus Riders Union is calling on community organizations, trade unions,
>grassroots groups, faith communities, and student groups to join us in our
>resistance to this anti-people business agenda. The Bus Riders Union is
>calling a multi-sector demonstration for 12:00 noon on Thursday May 30, at
>the Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia Street. It is critical that we take
>our opposition to the private profit agenda straight to those who set the
>agenda! Join us in exposing and opposing this attack on the lives of all
>working class people in this province!
>
>No privatization!
>Expand public services now!
>Decent jobs not corporate profits!
>
>For more information contact:
>Bus Riders Union
>info at bru.ca
>604-216-2775
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>5. From: "Peacewire" <pcoombes at peacewire.org>
>
>GLOBAL PEACE AND JUSTICE
>
>The Environment and War
>Jillian Skeet, National Programmer
>End the Arms Race
>
>Ban Space-based Weapons
>Alfred Webre, JD, MEd
>Institute for Cooperation in Space Canada
>
>Annual General Meeting
>Planning and Organizing
>Global Peace and Justice Campaign
>Executive Elections
>
>1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
>Saturday, June 8th, 2002
>YWCA of Vancouver
>535 Homer Street, 4th Floor Rooms 1 & 2
>Vancouver
>
>Notice of Annual General Meeting
>
>The End the Arms Race Annual General Meeting for 2002 will follow the
>information session. The agenda will include a discussion about the future
>programming and organizing plans for End the Arms Race.
>
>As well, we will elect a new executive. Everyone is encouraged to consider
>running for an executive office position. If you are interested in being a
>member of the Executive please contact Peter Coombes for more information.
>
>Those who do not live in the Vancouver area are also encouraged to consider
>running for an Executive position. You can participate in the Executive
>meetings by way of telephone. We ask that you send a brief letter stating
>your intention to run for an Executive office position with a brief
>biography.
>
>Executive offices include: President, two Vice-Presidents, Treasurer,
>Secretary and a minimum of three members-at-large.
>
>For more information contact: End the Arms Race, 405 -825 Granville Street,
>Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 1K9 Tel: (604) 687-3223 Fax: (604) 687-3223 E-mail:
>ear at peacewire.org Website: http://www.peacewire.org
>
>Thank you,
>
>Peter Coombes
>National Organizer
>
>End the Arms Race
>Suite 405 - 825 Granville Street
>Vancouver BC V6Z 1K9 Canada
>604/ 687-3223 fax 604/ 687-3277
>ear at peacewire.org http://peacewire.org
>
>To subscribe to Peacewire send an email to peacewire-request at peacewire.org
>containing: SUBSCRIBE peacewire "Your name" your_email at domain.net ;
>as the first and only line in the message body. Make sure your name is
>within the quotation marks.
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>6a. From: Valerie Lannon <vlannon at pacificcoast.net>
>
>GET ON THE BUS!
>
>JOIN THOUSANDS FROM ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD TO PROTEST
>THE G8 MEETINGS IN JUNE!
>
>On June 26/27th Jean Chretien, George Bush and the other leaders of the G8
>will be meeting in Kananaskis 120km west of Calgary. They are meeting to
>further their agenda of privatizing public services, more wars for oil in
>the middle east and forcing Structural Adjustment Programs on the peoples of
>Africa. In an attempt to intimidate peaceful protesters Jean Chretien is
>spending $500 million on security. More than 5000 canadian troops, plus the
>RCMP and the Calgary police will be present.
>
>Thousands of people are already planning to attend teach-ins, forums and
>demonstrations in Calgary in a show of national and international solidarity
>against the G8 agenda. They will be calling for an end to war, cancellation
>of third world debt, reduction in greenhouse gases and protection of public
>services. The Canadian Labor Congress and the Toronto Mobilization for
>Global Justice have chartered two planes from Toronto dubbed Air 6Billion to
>bring labor, social justice, environmental and anti-globalization activists
>to Calgary. Globalize Resistance from Britain and Tute Bianche from Italy
>are sending contingents. There will be speakers from a dozen African
>countries speaking out against the New Partnership for African Development
>(NEPAD). This and much much more.
>
>Don't miss this historic opportunity to show 'Dubya' and Chretien that the
>anti-capitalist/anti-war movement is back stronger than ever after S11. Get
>on the bus and be a part of the movement for another world.
>
>To find out more:
>
>Going to the G8 protests - Information Session
>Sunday, May 26th 7:00pm
>Fernwood Community Association
>1923 Fernwood Avenue
>
>Please Post this wherever you can!
>
>Contact the Mob4Glob Bus Organizer at 385-7087 or email:
>victoriag8buses at lycos.com
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>6b. From: Bob Olsen <bobolsen at interlog.com>
>
>G8 SOLIDARITY VILLAGE
>
>There's a lot of mis/disinformation going around on various
>matters.
>
>For example, some people (including some of the corporate media)
>are under the mistaken impression that Solidarity Village has been
>cancelled. While the original land that was expected to be used
>has been made unavailable (insert rumor-laden conspiracy theory
>involving the federal government here ;-), the Solvil organizers
>are still very hard at work preparing the Village.
>
>The corporate media has inaccurately reported that the Solvil folks
>hadn't been talking with the Stoney - when there have been ongoing
>discussions, meetings and negotiations with various members and
>representatives from the reserve(s) since November. Moral of the
>story: Don't believe the corporate media (but, then, you probably
>already knew that...)
>
>I'm calling on all of the working groups to start trying to issue
>a summary/status message (short: just one or two paragraphs) every
>week to hopefully reduce confusion. Please either post it to the
>g8-plan list, or e-mail it to g8 at activist.ca for inclusion in the
>g8-announce newsletters.
>
>http://g8.activist.ca/
>
>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>7. From: "Western Canada Wilderness Committee" <wc2vic at island.net>
>
>PROTECT THE CHILCOTIN'S BRITTANY TRIANGLE
>
>The Brittany Triangle is a nationally significant wilderness, perhaps the
>largest tract of continuous pine forests/grasslands left on the Chilcotin
>Plateau. The satellite images are striking, revealing a 155 000 hectare
>island of green in a vast sea of clearcuts and fragmented forests.
>
>This "triangle" of intact forest lies between the Chilko and Taseko Rivers,
>about 150 km west of Williams Lake. The area includes incredible large
>carnivore-prey complexes, including grizzlies, black bears, wolves,
>cougars, coyotes, lynx, moose, mule deer, and interestingly, feral or wild
>horses. Horses evolved in North America and spread to Asia. They went
>extinct in North America 8 000 years ago, perhaps due to anthropogenic
>causes during the era of Pleistocene mass extinctions (perhaps from Clovis
>point hunting technologies). Thus, some biologists feel they may have a
>place among the native fauna of North America. The horses in the Brittany
>may be ancestors of Spanish mustangs that arrived here over 300 years ago.
>
>At any rate, the intact ecosytem of the Brittany Triangle is very
>environmentally significant, and has been in a tenuous situation for
>decades. Its time will run out soon and join the ranks of the rest of the
>fragmented Chilcotin plateau's forests - unless YOU make your voice heard.
>
>The First Nations people of the Nemaiah Valley have declared the Brittany
>Triangle and surrounding forests an "Aboriginal Wilderness Preserve", but
>the BC government has permitted logging to encroach on the area.
>
>Please let the following MLA's know, with a quick e-mail, whether they
>should respect the Xeni Gwet'in First Nation's Aboriginal Wilderness
>Preserve in the Brittany Triangle (please forward us a copy of your letter
>to wc2vic at island.net ).
> - Ken Wu, WCWC
>-------------------------------
>
>**** Write or call the these politicians and tell them you want to see a wild
>horse preserve created in the Brittany Triangle:
>
>Premier Gordon Campbell; premier at gov.bc.ca
>Minster of Sustainable Resource Management Stan Hagen;
>stan.hagen.mla at leg.bc.ca
>Minister of Forests Mike deJong; mike.dejong.mla at leg.bc.ca
>MLA for the Cariboo South electoral riding, Walt Cobb;
>walt.cobb.mla at leg.bc.ca
>
>Friends of the Nemaiah Valley (FONV) have released the McCrory Report, a
>leading edge conservation assessment of the disputed Brittany Triangle area
>of British Columbia's Chilcotin District, west of Williams Lake.
>
>Friends of the Nemaiah Valley
>1010 Foul Bay Rd.
>Victoria, B.C., V8S 4J1
>Email: ps at fonv.ca
>Web-site: http://www.fonv.ca
>
>Contact: David Williams (250) 592-1088, or
>Garth Woodworth (250) 478-6336
>
>A formal presentation of the Report, including a slide show and talk by
>Wayne McCrory, will take place at the Xeni Gwet'in First Nations Government
>Band Office in the Nemiah Valley:
>
>Thursday, June 6, 2002
>1:00 p.m.
>
>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>8. From the David Suzuki Foundation:
>
>On May 1, 2002 the government of British Columbia announced its intention
>to give industry even more access to and control of our public forests. The
>first step in this process is the development of a "results-based" code to
>replace the Forest Practices Code.
>
>Under the results-based code, the responsibility to protect the environment
>will shift from government to the very companies that stand to benefit from
>the short-term extraction of natural resources from publicly owned lands.
>Instead of seeking to prevent damage to the environment, the results-base
>code will penalize operators only after damage has occurred.
>
>As proposed, the results-based code is a weak piece of legislation that
>gives companies incredible latitude in determining what are appropriate
>practices in the forest. The regulatory loopholes are as big as an 800-year
>old Douglas-fir. For example, targets established for the preservation of
>old-growth trees can be waived to build roads, to ensure profitability, and
>to ensure timber supply.
>
>What you can do:
>
>There are two venues for public input into the development of the
>results-based code.
>
>The first is to post your comments on the government website at:
>http://www.resultsbasedcode.ca
>
>Another option is to attend one of a series of public meetings scheduled
>for some communities around the province. A panel of Liberal MLAs is
>travelling the province to solicit public input. Your participation at one
>of these meetings will show the government that the citizens of BC care
>about the future of their publicly owned forests.
>
>If you live in or near Victoria, Nanaimo, Mission, Prince Rupert, Smithers,
>Prince George, Fort Nelson, Williams Lake, Merritt, Kamloops, Nelson,
>Cranbrook or Golden, please attend the meeting in these communities.
>
>Please contact us at fir at davidsuzuki.org if you plan to participate in the
>public meeting. We can provide logistical details and briefing materials.
>
>Public input will be summarized by Professor George Hoberg, Head of the
>Department of Forest Resources Management at the University of BC, who will
>present a report to the provincial government on August 1, 2002.
>
>The timeline that the government has set for the public review is extremely
>short, so please either plan to attend a public meeting or respond to the
>website http://www.resultsbasedcode.ca now. Limited public input and the
>pressured timeline will likely result in incomplete and unworkable
>legislation this fall.
>
>Here is some information on the proposed results-based code:
>
>1. The proposed code will punish those who damage the environment AFTER
>damage has been done, rather than ensuring environmental damage is avoided
>from the outset.
>
>2. The proposed code gives private companies more control over a public
>resource. It is part of a policy package that includes privatization of
>forest lands, as well as ‘working forest’ legislation to increase
>operational security for these companies in areas with unsettled aboriginal
>treaty claims.
>
>3. The proposed code decreases public participation in forestry planning
>and the opportunity for public interest groups to act as a 'watch dog'. It
>decreases public access to data and logging plans.
>
>4. Adequate planning is not a requirement , or a ‘result’, of the proposed
>legislation. Good forest management requires good planning.
>
>You can review the government's white paper on forest policy reform at:
>http://www.resultsbasedcode.ca
>
>Thank you for your action!
>
>Panos Grames
>Researcher
>David Suzuki Foundation
>Suite 219 - 2211 West Fourth Ave
>Vancouver, BC V6K 4S2
>p: 604.732.4228
>f: 604.732.0752
>
>More information will be available soon on website of the Forest Caucus of
>the BC Environmental Network: www.bcen.bc.ca Also check out the following
>websites:
>Sierra Legal Defence Fund: <http://www.sierralegal.org>
>David Suzuki Foundation: <http://www.davidsuzuki.org/>
>Forest Futures: <http://www.forestfutures.org>
>Western Canada Wilderness Committee:
>Victoria chapter: http://www.wildernesscommitteevictoria.org
>Vancouver (main office): http://www.wildernesscommittee.org
>
>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>9. From: MJ <m-j at shaw.ca>
>
>I am forwarding this in hopes that the Many would like to 'SIT IN' the
>Legislature's Public Gallery to witness the government's unprecedented
>use of closure.
>
>Tuesday, May 28
>3:00 PM - 5:00 Pm
>Employment and Assistance Act -
>
>Wednesday, May 29
>6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
>Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act -
>
>Please Contact :
>Danielle Marchand
>Communications Coordinator
>Opposition Caucus
>Vancouver Office
>Phone: 1 604-775-2417
>Fax:1 604-775-2410
>Email: OppositionCaucus at leg.bc.ca
>
>if you plan to attend as Joy and Jenny will want to acknowledge your
>presence in the House during the course of debate. Joy and Jenny will also
>read the names of those who are unable to attend but who would want the
>opportunity to speak as a witness to any of these bills should the
>opportunity arise.
>
>May we all stand up in Unity.
>Mj
>
>Please READ BELOW. in regards to the Legislative Session.
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
><><><><>
>
>> Good Afternoon;
>>
>> As you probably know the current legislative session is scheduled to end
>on
>> May 30th. As the Legislature is not sitting this week that means there
>are
>> only four sitting days left in this session. If you have been keeping up
>> with the debate on Bill 26 and Bill 27 you know that there is still a long
>> way to go in the debate and many questions that Joy and Jenny have not yet
>> had a chance to ask.
>>
>> In this situation--when there is too much legislative business to be
>> responsibly completed by the end of the legislative session--the Liberals
>> have the option of either extending the legislative session or leaving
>> certain pieces of legislation "on the order paper," which means that
>debate
>> would pick up where it left off when the next legislative session begins.
>>
>> The Liberals have ignored both of these options and chosen a
>third--invoking
>> "closure" on all legislation that is currently before the house.
>>
>> This means that whether there are questions left unasked or not, all bills
>> currently before the house will be passed by the end of next Thursday. In
>> effect, the Liberals are allowing only 20 hours to debate the changes to
>> Bill 26 (Employment and Assistance Act) and Bill 27 (Employment and
>> Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act), as well as the changes to
>the
>> Workers' Compensation Act, the Labour Code, the Environmental Assessment
>Act
>> and the Employment Standards Act. These are all bills that deserve much
>> more scrutiny than will be available through the work of Joy and Jenny in
>> the house in 20 hours.
>>
>> This government's use of closure is unprecedented in the history of BC's
>> Legislative Assembly. The only time closure was used in the last 10 years
>> was on the Nisga'a Final Act, and then it was invoked only after 120 hours
>> of debate on that one bill.
>>
>> The Opposition Caucus will attempt to introduce motions to have all of
>these
>> bills referred either to select committees or a Committee of the Whole for
>> thorough examination, including the hearing of witnesses, during the
>course
>> of debate.
>>
>> We anticipate debate on our motions to occur at the following times:
>>
>> Employment and Assistance Act - Tuesday, May 28 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
>> Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act - Wednesday,
>May
>> 29 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
>>
>> We are inviting individuals interested in these pieces of legislation to
>sit
>> in the Legislature's public gallery to witness the government's
>> unprecendented use of closure. We are unable to assist with travel costs,
>> but attendance in the gallery is free. Please let me know if you plan to
>> attend as Joy and Jenny will want to acknowledge your presence in the
>House
>> during the course of debate. Joy and Jenny will also read the names of
>> those who are unable to attend but who would want the opportunity to speak
>> as a witness to any of these bills should the opportunity arise.
>>
>> If you have any questions, or require any additional information about
>this
>> message, please let me know.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Danielle Marchand
>> Communications Coordinator
>> Opposition Caucus
>> Vancouver Office
>> Phone: 604-775-2417
>> Fax: 604-775-2410
>>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>10. From: "Rico" <rhabgood at telus.net>
>
>> > >
>> > > This is not listed on the Symantic Virus Hoax site
>> > >
>> > > Arch
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > PLEASE READ THIS AND HEED IT...
>> > >
>> > >
> > > > Forwarded from
>> > >
>> > > Bonnie Barnes-Tracey, CIM, FCSI
>> > > Associate Portfolio Manager
>> > > (604) 661-2381
>> > > bonnie.barnes-tracey at cibc.ca
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Subject: WORST VIRUS EVER...CNN ANNOUNCED
>> > >
>> > > PLEASE SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST !!
>> > >
>> > > A new virus has just been discovered that has been classified by
>> > > Microsoft as the most destructive ever! This virus was discovered
>> > > yesterday afternoon by McAfee and no vaccine has yet ! been developed.
>> > This
>> > > virus simply destroys Sector Zero from the hard disk, where vital
>> > > information for its functioning are stored.
>> > >
>> > > This virus acts in the following manner: It sends itself
>automatically
>> to
>> > > all contacts on your list with the title "A Card for You".
>> > >
>> > > As soon as the supposed virtual card is opened, the computer freezes
>so
>> > > that the user has to reboot. When the ctrl+alt+del keys or the reset
>> > button
>> > > are pressed, the virus destroys Sector Zero, thus permanently
>destroying
>> > the
>> > > hard disk. Yesterday in just a few hours this virus caused panic in
>New
>> > > York, according to news broadcast by CNN. This alert was received by
>an
>> > > employee
>> > > of Microsoft itself.
>> > > So don't open any mails with subject: "A Virtual Card for You."
>> > > As soon as you get the mail, delete it!! Even if you know the
>> sender!!!
>> > >
>> > > Please pass this mail to all of your friends.
>> > >
>> > > Forward this to everyone in your address book. I'm sure most people,
>> like
>> > > myself, would rather receive this 25 times than not at all.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Richard G. Long
>> > > General Manager
>> > > FGR Steinmetz Inc.
>> > > Vancouver, Canada
>> > > 604 584 8224 Tel
>> > > 604 584 2795 Fax
>
>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>11. Interesting Websites
>
>The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) is a private sector union engaged with
>campaigns focussed on improving the lives of workers nationally and around
>the world:
>http://www.caw.ca
>
>With 60,000 members in more than 400 bargaining units, the B.C. Government
>and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) is one of the most diverse unions in
>British Columbia:
>http://www.bcgeu.bc.ca
>
>The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has 475,000 members
>delivering public services, and defend the public sector and construct a
>better, more caring:
>http://cupe.ca
>
>Canada's Sustainable Living Store provides a guide for thoughtful planning:
>http://www.energyalternatives.ca
>
>GreenSense provides resources for sustainable living:
>http://www.greensense.com
>
>The Simple Living Network provides tools, examples, and contacts for
>conscious, simple, healthy, and restorative living:
>http://www.simpleliving.net
>
>Redefining Progress is a nonprofit public policy organization that creates
>policies and tools to encourage accurage market prices, to protect common
>social and natural assets, and to foster social and economic sustainability:
>http://www.redefiningprogress.org
>
>The Canadian Anti-racism Education and Research Society (CAERS) was
>launched in 1996 to provide workshops and conferences on anti-racism
>leadership, community development, cross cultural, equity and diversity
>issues and institutional change, victim support, neighbourhood watch,
>family support and referral services, and action oriented research on hate
>group activity and hate group recruitment.
>http://www.antiracist.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>"Time has a wonderful way of weeding out the trivial."
>Richard Ben Sapir
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>Please provide as much advance notice as possible for events information.
>Email: bandj at uvic.ca or events at pej.ca
>
> http://web.uvic.ca/~bandj
> http://www.pej.ca
>
>
>Local Events is a volunteer project distributed twice a week. Please feel
>free to forward it to your friends and colleagues. If you wish to
>contribute to the editor financially, any amount will be graciously
>received and distributed in a socially responsible manner. Your donation
>is not tax deductable, however I will forward a receipt if you include a
>self-addressed, stamped envelope. Thanks!
>
>Janine Bandcroft, #407, 1939 Lee Avenue, Victoria, B.C., V8L 4W9
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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