From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Tue Jun 8 14:27:00 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2004 13:27:00 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] How much are taxpayers spending to appeal $100 awards? Asks Kwan Message-ID: -- NDP MLA says BC Liberals wasting court time, taxpayer dollars -- VANCOUVER ? NDP MLA Jenny Kwan yesterday asked the Campbell government to disclose the legal costs paid by the taxpayer to fund its appeal of the $100 awards granted to 39 homeless British Columbians. On November 7, 2002, the B.C. Supreme Court awarded $100 to 39 Woodwards protesters who appeared in court. The award was granted because the government lawyers failed to show up to the hearing. ?By failing to show up to court, the government was in the wrong, not the homeless protesters,? said Kwan. ?But instead of admitting their error, the BC Liberals are spending thousands more taxpayer dollars in a bull-headed appeal to prove a point. They should take the small loss, and promise to do a better job next time getting their lawyers to court.? In the 2002 ruling, the Judge wrote, ?Normally, if a party comes to the court and then the matter doesn?t proceed for reasons related to the other party, they?re given the costs for the day. I see no reason why that should not apply in that case.? ?The principle at stake is no different if you are a homeless protester or the president of the Vancouver Board of Trade,? said Kwan. ?If the government takes you to court and then doesn?t bother to show up, you are compensated for your inconvenience. That?s what happened in this case, but still we?re spending an untold amount of money to get $3900 back. ?It?s a waste of money and it underscores the mean-spirited and stubborn nature of the BC Liberal government.? - 30 ? To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Teresa.Marshall at bcgeu.ca Wed Jun 9 16:07:54 2004 From: Teresa.Marshall at bcgeu.ca (Marshall, Teresa) Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2004 16:07:54 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] Under the Volcano Message-ID: <517DADDBB3EDAF44A2620DCB53689BD601488753@exchange.bcgeu.bc.ca> The annual volunteer-run Under the Volcano arts festival is celebrating its 15th year on Sunday, August 10 at Cates Park in North Vancouver. Organizer Meegan Maultsaid (Rock Against the Cuts; Rock for Choice) asks if any unions are interested in taking ads in the program guide, or can contribute in-kind printing services for the guide, to please contact her: meegan at cheworx.com Or 604.215.8314 UNDER THE VOLCANO 15th Anniversary FESTIVAL PROGRAM GUIDE RATES: Business Card: (2" X 3.5") $75 1/6 Page (2 1/4" X 4 3/4") $105 1/4 Page (3 1/2" wide X 4 3/4 "tall) $125 1/2 Page Horizontal (7 1/4" wide X 4 3/4" tall) $225 1/2 Page Vertical (3 1/2" wide X 9 3/4" tall) $225 Full Page (7 1/4" wide X 9 3/4" tall) $450 DEADLINE: All ads must be booked and confirmed by June 28th All finished ads must be in by Monday July 5th FORMATS: camera ready art work must be emailed directly to the designer: digiboy at telus.net in one of the following formats: * eps (Mac format) with all fonts converted to support files * pdf *tiff (minimum 300 dpi ) *jpeg PAYMENT: Payment should be made at the time of booking the ad. Cheques made payable to: Under The Volcano Festivals P.O. BOX 21552- 1424 Commercial Drive Vanc., B.C. V5L 5G2 For more info contact: Meegan Maultsaid Meegan at cheworx.com 604.215.8314 From Carol.Adams at bcgeu.ca Thu Jun 10 16:14:26 2004 From: Carol.Adams at bcgeu.ca (Adams, Carol) Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2004 16:14:26 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] Global Warming forum June 15 Message-ID: <517DADDBB3EDAF44A2620DCB53689BD6020D2419@exchange.bcgeu.bc.ca> Global Warming A Labour-Environmental Dialogue [poster attached] June 15, 2004 5-7pm Discussion and pizza Maritime Labour Centre 111 Victoria Drive This is the first in a series of forums where panelists will explore strategies for the environmental and labour movements to work together to address key issues. The first focuses on the threats posed by global warming. All life on earth is being profoundly affected by climate change caused by human actions. Unions are beginning to respond and build links with environmental groups who have made this issue a priority. CEP, for example, has actively supported Kyoto, speaking out publicly and educating its membership. Collectively, we need to take urgent action to address what's happening. Panelists: Karen Cooling National Representative, CEP Alex Boston Climate Change Specialist, David Suzuki Foundation Sponsored by the VDLC, Labour Environmental Alliance Society, Hollyhock and the Labour Environmental Election Forum CEP 467 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: global_warming_poster.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 546253 bytes Desc: global_warming_poster.pdf URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Thu Jun 10 18:19:06 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2004 17:19:06 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Another privatization failure for Campbell =?iso-8859-1?q?=97?= James Message-ID: VANCOUVER ? This afternoon?s last-ditch effort from Premier Gordon Campbell to rescue the RAV project shows just how desperate the Premier has become to demonstrate a successful privatization project, BC NDP Leader Carole James said today. ?Rather than shift the project?s risks to the private sector partner ? as any true partnership would ? the Premier instead has moved all risk to every taxpayer in the province,? said James. ?I?m sure this announcement was intended by Mr. Campbell to convince British Columbians that the Premier had finally put together a privatization scheme the public can accept. But it falls far short of that goal. James said the announcement represents little or no change from the arrangement previously rejected by GVTA directors over concerns of financial risk if the construction were to go over budget. ?The Premier?s offer still holds much-needed rapid transit improvements to the Northeast corridor of the Lower Mainland hostage to acceptance of the RAV portion. ?This is another example of Mr. Campbell?s ideological approach to governing,? said James. ?Both the Northeast transportation corridor and the RAV project are too important to sacrifice to Mr. Campbell?s privatization agenda. True leadership would mean sitting down with the GVTA and the federal government to hammer out a partnership that really works, particularly for taxpayers. ?Rather than taking a consultative approach, the Premier?s methods have given us the bizarre spectacle of him making major announcements without even talking to GVTA directors. ?That?s not good government. Lower Mainland commuters, and all British Columbians deserve better leadership.? -30- To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Thu Jun 17 13:37:06 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 12:37:06 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Campbell privatizing front-line welfare services in Interior, says James Message-ID: KAMLOOPS ? The Gordon Campbell Liberal government is moving to privatize front-line welfare services in the Interior, BC NDP Leader Carole James said today. James released the details of a government document asking private companies to bid on the provision of welfare services in Clearwater. The posting says that interested bidders will be responsible for processing social assistance claims, identifying fraud, and transmitting confidential information to government. Since June 2001, the BC Liberals have closed and amalgamated more than fifty Human Resources offices in communities throughout BC. A decision on the bid is expected by July 1. James said that under the scheme, social assistance can be delivered by private operators in multi-use offices whose main line of business has nothing to do with welfare. The contractor will also be allowed to sub-contract services, with no requirement to demonstrate their qualifications. ?British Columbians applying for and receiving social assistance will put their personal financial information in the hands of private contractors and those they sub-contract to. This is not acceptable. Both in combating fraud, ensuring the timely delivery of services, and respecting the dignity of those on social assistance, this privatization scheme will fail. ?Under Mr. Campbell?s scheme, there is nothing to stop social assistance from being delivered at the local grocery store. That?s a terrible way to treat laid-off forestry workers, single-mothers, and others who need help to put food on the table.? ?This move by Mr. Campbell to privatize front-line welfare services shows that his cuts to government services in the Interior were both short-sighted and designed to make way for privatization schemes like this one,? said James. ?Once again, small communities are left to depend on private operators to get basic services from their government in Victoria.? ?Mr. Campbell needs to admit that bringing down the axe on government services in small communities was wrong, and he should tell us how many taxpayer dollars we are spending on this scheme to fill the service gap he?s left for rural British Columbians.? -- 30 -- To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Thu Jun 17 20:12:06 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 19:12:06 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] James presents to Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform Message-ID: NDP Leader outlines Party's support for Made-In-BC electoral system. Kamloops -- British Columbia needs to adopt a made-in-BC electoral system that better reflects our province's diversity and opens the doors to participation in the political process, NDP Leader Carole James said today. James presented the BC NDP's position on electoral reform to the Citizen's Assembly on Electoral Reform in Kamloops today. She reiterated the BC NDP's support for the Assembly's work and stressed that political parties should take a back seat to citizens in the development of a proposal for reform. The elements of the BC NDP's position on electoral reform adopted at its 2003 convention include the adoption of an electoral system that provides greater proportionality in the allocation of seats while ensuring significant local representation, in particular representation for rural and remote regions. "We recognize that the Citizens' Assembly faces a formidable challenge in attempting to design an electoral system that will meet the needs of British Columbians," James told the Assembly. "We need a made-in-BC solution to the ills that beset our current voting system. In our view, proportionality and local representation must be the key ingredients of a new electoral system for British Columbia." Follow this link to read Carole James' presentation to the Assembly. http://nid-723.newsdetail.bc.ndp.ca/ -- 30 -- To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Fri Jun 18 15:32:05 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 14:32:05 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Campbell blows it on RAV, says James Message-ID: -- NDP Leader says transportation project sacrificed to Premier?s privatization agenda -- VICTORIA ? Translink?s decision to kill the RAV line, despite the government?s last-ditch attempts to save it, is a repudiation of the Premier?s competence, and his failed privatization agenda, BC NDP Leader Carole James said today. ?It seems that every major project the premier touches, from privatizing the Coquihalla to the sale of BC Rail, results in scandal or failure,? said James. ?Now, despite the fact that everyone wants RAV and transit improvements in the Lower Mainland, it?s clear the Premier can?t deliver.? James said that from the start the Premier was unwilling to compromise to achieve consensus on RAV. Instead, he pushed his privatization plan forward with little regard for the concerns of taxpayers and local government. The result was predictable: No RAV and more transportation gridlock. ?Real leadership requires reaching out, building consensus, and forming partnerships with local government to get important things done for the community,? said James. ?The premier continues to fail on all these counts, pushing his privatization plan at the expense of improvements to transit. ?Gordon Campbell thinks that because he has almost all the seats in the Legislature he doesn?t have to listen to anyone. Once again, he?s learned that just isn?t true.? James said the Premier should take a lesson from this defeat and use the opportunity to sit down with transit officials to work out a plan to invest provincial and federal dollars in transit. She said the premier should ask for an assurance from the federal party leaders that Ottawa?s $450 million contribution to RAV is kept on the table after the federal election. ?Potentially, the premier has blown a chance to invest $450 million in federal dollars on transit with his intransigence,? said James. ?He needs to take steps to keep those dollars available to get transit moving in the Lower Mainland.? - 30 - To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Wed Jun 23 14:24:07 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 13:24:07 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Statement from Carole James regarding Campbell government's failure to address Lower Mainland transit priorities Message-ID: "The past week has seen the death of two of the Lower Mainland?s most critical transportation priorities ? the RAV line and major transit improvements in the Northeast corridor. Responsibility for this defeat lies squarely at the feet of Premier Gordon Campbell and Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon. Their obsession with privatization at all costs created the conditions for failure. "It?s important to remember that, despite the name-calling and personal attacks from Minister Falcon, opposition to the province?s high-risk RAV proposal crossed partisan and geographic boundaries. "Now, faced with two rejections of his privatization plan, the Premier and the Minister have arbitrarily decided that with the rejection of their high-risk RAV proposal, the province will now double the width of Highway 1 and twin the Port Mann bridge. While these two projects may deserve examination, they clearly are not the highest priorities expressed in the GVRD?s Livable Regions Strategy, a transportation strategy determined through extensive regional and local consultations. "As I?ve said before, real leadership isn?t easy. The Premier and his Transportation Minister have failed, creating a confrontational environment from which it is difficult to imagine a consensus emerging on a plan to move forward. "Since becoming Transportation Minister, Mr. Falcon has presided over repeated failures and scandal ? the sale of BC Rail, the cancellation of the sale of the Roberts Bank spur, both of which are mired in ongoing police investigations, and now the botched privatized RAV line proposal. British Columbians can?t afford to continue down this path. Our province?s reputation within Canada and internationally is suffering. "That is why today I am calling on the Premier to replace Mr. Falcon with a new minister who has the skills necessary to build a new relationship with elected officials in communities throughout the Lower Mainland. A relationship based on respect and trust, ingredients that are sorely lacking in Mr. Campbell?s approach to date. Only by clearing the slate, reaching out and abandoning ideology can we deliver better transit and improved transportation throughout the region. "An NDP government would work within the framework of a Lower Mainland planning blueprint that the Campbell government could easily adopt itself?the GVRD?s Livable Regions Strategy. This blueprint puts the emphasis on reducing gridlock and pollution by increasing transit options for commuters. It was achieved by thorough consultations throughout the Lower Mainland, and points the way forward to build a transportation and transit system for today ? and for decades to come." - 30 - To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Tue Jun 29 16:18:03 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 15:18:03 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] New BC Liberal message on health and education just not credible, says James Message-ID: Victoria ? With under a year to go before BC voters pass judgment on the Campbell Liberal government, the Premier?s new message on health care and education is just not credible, NDP Leader Carole James said today. Earlier today, Finance Minister Gary Collins confirmed that BC?s deficit in 2003/04 topped $1.3 billion. He said that with the economy showing signs of recovery, the BC Liberals would now consider putting more resources into health and education. ?After three years of broken promises, reckless high-income tax cuts, and scandal, Gordon Campbell wants British Columbians to believe he cares,? said James. ?But Gordon Campbell hasn?t changed. He is just changing his story in advance of a provincial election.? James said that while British Columbia is benefiting from low-interest rates and high commodity prices, the BC Liberal record on fiscal and economic issues is a failure. According to BC Stats, BC Liberal tax and service fee increases led to a decline in real after tax income in 2003, falling to $19,495 ? below the national average. Moreover, while incomes have declined, savings rates have plunged. ?Because of Mr. Campbell?s tax increases for low- and middle-income people, average British Columbians have less money to spend on family essentials,? said James. ?The BC Liberals may want to take credit for low-interest rates and high commodity prices, but over the long-term their economic plan is putting BC at risk. ?And now with an election on the horizon, Gordon Campbell is desperate to convince voters that his plan is working and that he can put back the money he cuts from health care and education. But after three years, we know that Mr. Campbell just can?t be trusted.? - 30 - To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Carol.Adams at bcgeu.ca Wed Jun 30 16:44:51 2004 From: Carol.Adams at bcgeu.ca (Adams, Carol) Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 16:44:51 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] PLEASE ATTEND public forum about USA Patriot Act and privacy concerns Message-ID: <517DADDBB3EDAF44A2620DCB53689BD6020D250F@exchange.bcgeu.bc.ca> Who may soon be eyeballing your personal information? The FBI, for starters. Scary? You bet. Find out more at a free public forum. The CAMPBELL LIBERALS plan to contract out the administration of the Medical Services Plan and PharmaCare by the end of August. This could mean the government handing over your personal and confidential information to American multi-national corporations where it could be accessed by the FBI under the USA Patriot Act. And the Campbell Liberals don't want to stop at your medical files. They plan to contract out payroll services, IT Helpdesk, Provincial Revenue, Disaster Recovery, and other public services. Find out more about the Patriot Act and its implications for you and your family. FREE PUBLIC FORUM 7 pm Wed. July 7 Vancouver Public Library Central Branch (350 W. Georgia) 7 pm Thurs. July 8 David Lam Auditorium University of Victoria Jameel Jaffer, of the American Civil Liberties Union, will speak about the USA Patriot Act and American court cases involving privacy and national security. SPONSORED BY: Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, BC Persons With AIDS Society, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, BC Health Coalition, BC Seniors' Network, BC Library Association, Women Elders in Action, Vancouver Public Library. [poster attached] CEP 467 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Outlook.bmp Type: image/bmp Size: 140854 bytes Desc: Outlook.bmp URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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