From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Sun May 2 23:30:17 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Sun, 2 May 2004 22:30:17 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] NDP welcomes resolution of crisis Message-ID: VANCOUVER ? The following statement was issued today by BC NDP leader Carole James. ---------------- I join with all British Columbians in welcoming the news that both sides in the dispute between the government and health care workers have reached an agreement. Through negotiation a settlement was reached under extremely difficult circumstances. Sadly, the Campbell government could easily have avoided this situation and the very difficult position it put patients and the public around this province. On Thursday, Premier Gordon Campbell?s government passed legislation that provoked further conflict in an already very tense dispute. What I heard very clearly from British Columbians is that Bill 37 was a mistake. The government went too far. One of the challenges of governing responsibly is to admit when mistakes are made and then quickly do what?s necessary to rectify the damage that?s been caused. The government took the most provocative and extreme path in this dispute. And British Columbians from all walks of life recognized it was the wrong thing to do. But, rather than engage in constructive dialogue that could have prevented the conflict, the Campbell government chose to inflame tensions in a labour-relations climate already rendered poisonous by three years of the Liberals? confrontational approach. Bill 37 was also an unprecedented legislative attack on women workers in BC, and a cowardly attempt to blame workers who deliver patient care for the government?s own failures in health care . >From the outset, the NDP sought ways to avoid this conflict and prevent the drastic results for patient care. We offered constructive, positive avenues for dialogue ? a way to restore the health care system and to restore trust. The Premier himself acknowledged that the most extreme elements of Bill 37 ? unlimited privatization in health care and retroactive wage cuts ? were at the centre of this dispute. Over the past week, we fought Bill 37 in the Legislature, we suggested amendments to withdraw the most contentious elements that were at issue, and we called for an emergency session of the Legislature over the weekend. But the government aggressively rejected this path. As a direct result of its actions, the Campbell government precipitated this crisis and it must now take responsibility for those actions. British Columbians no longer trust this government, and its actions over the past week can only reinforce that mistrust. If the Premier takes away one lesson from all of this, surely it must be that his government?s privatization agenda for health care and the heavy-handed approach to workers who deliver public services in British Columbia is failing British Columbians. The lesson the premier must take away from this is that if it wishes to find modern, innovative, and cost-effective means of delivering public health care services, government must start from a position of respect ? respect for the public and patients, respect for legally negotiated agreements, and the collective bargaining process, and respect for the value of listening to, and working with, those who deliver patient services in BC. - 30 - MEDIA CONTACT: Scott Perchall 604-862-7747 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 May 5 15:23:15 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Wed, 5 May 2004 14:23:15 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] $39 Million spent to break BC Rail promise Message-ID: -- Taxpayers on the hook for the cost of the secret deal ? James -- Victoria? The BC Liberal government has spent $39 million in taxpayers' dollars on the deal to sell BC Rail, a deal Gordon Campbell promised would not happen, Carole James, Leader of the BC New Democrats said today. The NDP Opposition Caucus revealed today that taxpayers are paying $15 million to ink the deal that will sell BC Rail to CN, including $1 million devoted to government spin and communications. The NDP also questioned whether taxpayers paid out $24 million in land transfer taxes as part of the CN takeover. The Minister of Transportation has refused to answer whether CN would be reimbursing the province for the expense. ?This is just another example of Premier Campbell wasting taxpayers' money,? said James. ?We have seen $900,000 spent on the cancelled Robert?s Bank line due to government leaks of confidential information, over $6 million spent on the botched attempt to privatize the Coquihalla, and close to $19 million spent by the Premier on partisan health care advertising. ?How can the Premier justify his mismanagement of millions of dollars while surgery waitlists grow, hospitals are closing, and long-term care beds are being reduced?? asked James. ?This is a question of priorities. Clearly the Premier puts signing deals for his friends ahead of health care for British Columbians.? >From the start the deal to sell BC rail to CN has been mired in scandal, controversy and secrecy. A recently leaked document confirmed that the BC Rail deal is a 990-year lease, with the potential transfer of public lands to CN for one dollar. The deal has also been in the spotlight as the reason that leading to the raids on the Legislature last December. ?It is absurd that British Columbians are on the hook for a potential $39 million dollars for a deal the Premier promised would not happen.? James said. ?The BC Liberal government made a promise to the people of this province, and now he is spending a fortune to break yet another New Era commitment.? The NDP has called for the full, uncensored agreement between the government and CN to be released for public review. The government has yet to release the contract. -30- Media contact: Scott Perchall 604-862-7747 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 May 6 11:15:14 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Thu, 6 May 2004 10:15:14 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Tonight: BC New Democrats to nominate candidate for Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election Message-ID: VANCOUVER - BC New Democrats in Surrey tonight will nominate a candidate to run in the provincial constituency of Surrey-Panorama Ridge in preparation for the upcoming provincial by-election. Jagrup Brar will be acclaimed at the nomination meeting to be held tonight at the Newton Community Centre located at 7120 - 136B Street in Surrey. Brar is the Executive Director of the Surrey Self-Employment and Entrepreneur Development Society, a non-profit centre that trains new entrepreneurs to develop and launch small business ventures. BC NDP Leader Carole James and NDP House Leader Joy MacPhail will be speaking at the meeting. What: BC New Democrats Surrey-Panorama Ridge Nomination Meeting When: Tonight, Thursday, May 6 at 8:00 PM Where: Large Hall, Newton Community Centre 7120 - 136B Street, Surrey -30- Media contact Scott Perchall 604-862-7747. 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 May 7 09:41:20 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Fri, 7 May 2004 8:41:20 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Jagrup Brar to run for BC New Democrats in Surrey provincial by-election Message-ID: VANCOUVER ? Jagrup Brar will carry the BC New Democrat banner in the upcoming provincial by-election in Surrey-Panorama Ridge. 500 people turned out last night for the nomination meeting held at the Newton Community Centre where Brar was acclaimed. ?Surrey is ready for change,? said Brar. ?The people I talk to in our community are very concerned with the direction of the Campbell government. They?re angry about the chaos and cutbacks in health care, angry about the state of our local schools and skyrocketing tuition fees, and they?re angry with a government that refuses to listen to local communities. They want positive solutions, not constant conflict and extreme policies.? Brar is currently the Executive Director of the Self Employment and Entrepreneur Development Society in Surrey, an organization that helps people to develop and launch small business ventures. A recent poll released in April by the NDP showed New Democrats would win by a wide margin over the Campbell Liberals in Surrey-Panorama Ridge (http://nid-594.newsdetail.bc.ndp.ca to view the poll). Brar is confident he can win the by-election. ?Surrey-Panorama Ridge is the first community in British Columbia with the opportunity to send Gordon Campbell a strong message to get back on track,? said Brar. ?And this will be one message from our community that he can?t ignore.? Brar said the Campbell government will finally have to face the public and face up to its mistakes. ?It?s time for Mr. Campbell to take a good look in the mirror. The province is seriously off track, his government is mired in scandal, they?ve broken too many promises, and they seek conflict and confrontation instead of dialogue and consultation. And the crisis the Campbell Liberals caused last week in our health care system is a further indictment of their entire approach to government.? BC NDP leader Carole James said Brar?s experience and his commitment to the community will make him an effective and responsible voice for Surrey-Panorama Ridge. ?I?m very excited about working with Jagrup. He has incredibly diverse support from the Surrey community," she said. "When he joins Joy and Jenny in the Legislature he will bring his considerable talents to bear on holding the Campbell Liberals to account." Supprt for Brar?s nomination was widespread, including the business community (including the Scott Road Business Association, the Indo-Canadian Business Association, and two recipients of the Surrey Chamber of Commerce?s 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year awards); the Sikh and Muslim communities (Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Gurdwara Singh Sabha, and Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, the Jamal Mosque, Fizi Islamic Centre); a host of social service organizations; and Surrey city councillors Bob Bose, Penny Priddy, and Judy Villeneuve. ?It?s Jagrup?s commitment to the economic needs of communities combined with his passionate dedication to social justice that will make him a formidable addition to our team,? said James. ?It?s time to build a better British Columbia,? said James. ?It?s time to send New Democrats back to Victoria and get this province back on the right track. Ordinary British Columbians in every region will be watching us here in Surrey. We won?t let them down.? - 30 - Media contact Scott Perchall 604-862-7747 BIOGRAPHY OF JAGRUP BRAR: Jagrup Brar is the Executive Director of the Self Employment and Entrepreneur Development Society (SEEDS) in Surrey where he works to help individuals develop and launch successful small business ventures. Prior to working at SEEDS, Jagrup managed the employment, ESL, and children?s programs for Progressive Intercultural Community Services in Surrey, and was the Assistant Director of Youth Services for the Punjab government in India. Jagrup has lived and worked in Surrey for nearly ten years, since moving to British Columbia from Winnipeg in 1995. For over a decade, he has worked in the public and non-profit private sector, assisting professionals with career development and working with employers to develop strategies to recruit a highly-skilled, multicultural workforce. A dedicated and active member of his community, Jagrup is active in both the Indo-Canadian Business Association and the Surrey Chamber of Commerce. He has served in volunteer capacities for a variety of services, sports, and cultural events, including the United Way, Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg, Surrey Farm Workers Child Care Support program, and the visible minority advisory committee for Human Resources Development Canada. Jagrup played basketball at the national level as a member of the Indian National Basketball team. He has a master?s degree in Philosophy from Punjabi University in India, and a MPA in public administration from the University of Manitoba. Jagrup lives in Surrey with his wife Rajwant and their five-year old daughter Noor. ------------------------------------------------- Below is a copy of Brar?s speech to the nomination meeting May 6, 2004 //CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY// Fellow members, honoured guests, friends and community supporters, thank you for coming this evening and welcome to Surrey Panorama-Ridge, the next constituency in British Columbia to be represented by a New Democrat! Welcome to all of you (perhaps also say welcome in Punjabi). I feel privileged to accept the nomination as your candidate in the upcoming by-election and will proudly carry the NDP banner in Surrey. I would not be here today without the very active support, love and guidance of my wife Rajwant. The unflagging support of my family ? my wife and my daughter Noor ? provides me with the courage to be a strong voice for our community, to stand up for Surrey and help defeat the Campbell government. Tonight I want to thank our leader Carole James whose strong and powerful voice is carrying the New Democrat message to every community in British Columbia That message is the message of hope. While Joy MacPhail and Jenny Kwan hold the Campbell government to account in the Legislature day after day, Carole?s tireless efforts hold the government to account in communities throughout the province, and say to people, ?There?s a better way.? And I will help to carry that message here in Surrey. I have lived in Surrey-Panorama Ridge for 10 years and have put down strong roots here. I am committed to this community. I love our neighbourhoods and the great diversity of Surrey the true face of today?s British Columbia. I have always been committed to social justice, to building a world based on the values and needs of ordinary people A society that?s fair. That?s why I joined the NDP shortly after I came to Canada over a dozen years ago. I am also committed to helping build a strong economy. At the Surrey Self-Employment and Entrepreneur Development Society ? where I am Executive Director ? we have trained over 500 new entrepreneurs, helping them on the road to achieving their dreams. I am privileged to make my living helping people in our community put their entrepreneurial spirit into action to help them develop and sustain vibrant, successful businesses that serve the community. The Surrey Chamber of Commerce has recognized several of our graduates with Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. We?re successful because we believe in small business. And I believe New Democrats offer a unique vision that will help small business to thrive in a strong economy An economy that works for ordinary British Columbians An economy that works to build our communities, not tear them apart Where the needs of working people and their families come first. Here in Surrey-Panorama Ridge we represent people from many countries and cultures By working together, we learn from each other, celebrating each other?s values and faiths. Surrey?s diversity is our strength. But the Campbell government has let Surrey down. Surrey needs new leadership in Victoria, and a voice that will stand up for the community... A voice that will carry a strong message to Victoria that our community wants a government that listens. We don?t need or want a government that rams it?s own agenda down the throats of taxpayers, regardless of local concerns. Gordon Campbell?s MLAs in Surrey have done nothing for this community. They act more like public relations flaks for the Campbell government agenda than as real community representatives. The number one issue facing Surrey and every community in BC is the state of public health care in our province. Mr. Campbell promised to improve health care. And he promised not to privatize health care But health care is worse off under Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals waitlists have grown dramatically. hospitals have been shut down. and the Liberals have embarked on a massive campaign to expand privatized health care in BC. What did Surrey?s Liberal MLAs do when emergency services were cut back at Surrey Memorial? What did they do when they laid off nursing staff? Nothing. And they continue to say nothing while Mr. Campbell spends tens of millions of dollars on television advertising telling British Columbians what a super job they?re doing for health care. While their government raised class sizes in our schools and cut funding to school boards, the Surrey Liberal MLAs stood by and cheered Gordon Campbell in the Legislature. While the government increased taxes and fees for low- and middle-income families in Surrey, Gordon Campbell?s Surrey MLAs stood by and cheered him in the Legislature. While the Liberal government took away resources for fighting crime and building safe communities, our Liberal MLAs stood by and cheered. The Campbell government cut funding for services to victims of crime. It cut funding to the Crown Prosecutors office. Campbell promised money from increased provincial traffic fines would go toward crime prevention programs Yet another broken promise. Not once did any of Surrey?s Liberal MLAs ever raise a voice to say it?s wrong to force seniors out of care homes to take away support for organizations in Surrey that provide food and shelter to our growing homeless population. They stood by and said nothing when Gordon Campbell broke his promises to provide better higher education. At Kwantlen College, while the Campbell-appointed board raised tuition fees, it cancelled courses, fired instructors, and fired workers who provide services to students. And, as we saw last week, not one of Surrey?s Liberal MLAs was willing to do the right thing and stand up to say Bill 37 was wrong. Only Jenny and Joy and the independent MLAs who left the Campbell caucus because of the Liberals? extreme agenda, stood up and voted against this brutal piece of legislation. As a result of the Campbell Liberals confrontational approach to workers who deliver health care in this province, we saw chaos at Surrey hospitals. People in Surrey cannot take another four years of Mr. Campbell. His failed economic plan is bankrupting the province. New Democrats should be proud of our ten years of work and accomplishments for ordinary British Columbians. When New Democrats were in Victoria, we proved that you can balance budgets without slashing programs, without de-moralizing families and communities and without devastating small business owners who are the back-bone of our economy. Surrey-Panorama Ridge will be the first community in the province to be given the opportunity to send Mr. Campbell a message. And all of you here tonight will be an important part of sending that message. When I join our team in Victoria as the NDP MLA for Surrey-Panorama Ridge, I will bring all the discipline, energy and commitment that I have always brought to bear on the challenges I faced in both my work and personal life. It will be up to the voters to examine my credentials, but I can tell you here today that my life has been about speaking out on important issues. Issues of social justice for minorities and new Canadians; issues that affect the health and well being of our families, our children and our communities Issues like public safety in our neighbourhoods and economic security for our communities. Raising a family is hard work. We have a sacred trust in shaping our children and preparing them to face the world. Every child deserves the best we can offer in health care, education and in preparing for a meaningful career. I have the skills, the drive and the commitment to help build a better province A province where we all feel safe and satisfied when we send our kids to school. A province where parents can rest knowing their sons and daughters will return home in safety. A province where small businesses can grow and individuals can prosper and feel hopeful about the future. My Friends Surrey is ready for change. The people I talk to in our community are very angry with the Campbell government. When the Premier decides finally to face the voters of Surrey and calls a by-election, we?ll send him a strong message ( and a TALL messenger): It?s time to build a better British Columbia. It?s time to send New Democrats back to Victoria and get this province back on the right track. Ordinary British Columbians will be watching us here in Surrey. We won?t let them down. Again, it is my sincere privilege to represent New Democrats in Surrey-Panorama Ridge To proudly carry the New Democrat vision of Carole James. I?ll need your help. And I ask you to work with me when the by-election is called so we can win this by-election for our children, our families and our community. Thank you 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 May 7 09:41:19 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Fri, 7 May 2004 8:41:19 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Jagrup Brar to run for BC New Democrats in Surrey provincial by-election Message-ID: VANCOUVER ? Jagrup Brar will carry the BC New Democrat banner in the upcoming provincial by-election in Surrey-Panorama Ridge. 500 people turned out last night for the nomination meeting held at the Newton Community Centre where Brar was acclaimed. ?Surrey is ready for change,? said Brar. ?The people I talk to in our community are very concerned with the direction of the Campbell government. They?re angry about the chaos and cutbacks in health care, angry about the state of our local schools and skyrocketing tuition fees, and they?re angry with a government that refuses to listen to local communities. They want positive solutions, not constant conflict and extreme policies.? Brar is currently the Executive Director of the Self Employment and Entrepreneur Development Society in Surrey, an organization that helps people to develop and launch small business ventures. A recent poll released in April by the NDP showed New Democrats would win by a wide margin over the Campbell Liberals in Surrey-Panorama Ridge (http://nid-594.newsdetail.bc.ndp.ca to view the poll). Brar is confident he can win the by-election. ?Surrey-Panorama Ridge is the first community in British Columbia with the opportunity to send Gordon Campbell a strong message to get back on track,? said Brar. ?And this will be one message from our community that he can?t ignore.? Brar said the Campbell government will finally have to face the public and face up to its mistakes. ?It?s time for Mr. Campbell to take a good look in the mirror. The province is seriously off track, his government is mired in scandal, they?ve broken too many promises, and they seek conflict and confrontation instead of dialogue and consultation. And the crisis the Campbell Liberals caused last week in our health care system is a further indictment of their entire approach to government.? BC NDP leader Carole James said Brar?s experience and his commitment to the community will make him an effective and responsible voice for Surrey-Panorama Ridge. ?I?m very excited about working with Jagrup. He has incredibly diverse support from the Surrey community," she said. "When he joins Joy and Jenny in the Legislature he will bring his considerable talents to bear on holding the Campbell Liberals to account." Supprt for Brar?s nomination was widespread, including the business community (including the Scott Road Business Association, the Indo-Canadian Business Association, and two recipients of the Surrey Chamber of Commerce?s 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year awards); the Sikh and Muslim communities (Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Gurdwara Singh Sabha, and Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, the Jamal Mosque, Fizi Islamic Centre); a host of social service organizations; and Surrey city councillors Bob Bose, Penny Priddy, and Judy Villeneuve. ?It?s Jagrup?s commitment to the economic needs of communities combined with his passionate dedication to social justice that will make him a formidable addition to our team,? said James. ?It?s time to build a better British Columbia,? said James. ?It?s time to send New Democrats back to Victoria and get this province back on the right track. Ordinary British Columbians in every region will be watching us here in Surrey. We won?t let them down.? - 30 - Media contact Scott Perchall 604-862-7747 BIOGRAPHY OF JAGRUP BRAR: Jagrup Brar is the Executive Director of the Self Employment and Entrepreneur Development Society (SEEDS) in Surrey where he works to help individuals develop and launch successful small business ventures. Prior to working at SEEDS, Jagrup managed the employment, ESL, and children?s programs for Progressive Intercultural Community Services in Surrey, and was the Assistant Director of Youth Services for the Punjab government in India. Jagrup has lived and worked in Surrey for nearly ten years, since moving to British Columbia from Winnipeg in 1995. For over a decade, he has worked in the public and non-profit private sector, assisting professionals with career development and working with employers to develop strategies to recruit a highly-skilled, multicultural workforce. A dedicated and active member of his community, Jagrup is active in both the Indo-Canadian Business Association and the Surrey Chamber of Commerce. He has served in volunteer capacities for a variety of services, sports, and cultural events, including the United Way, Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg, Surrey Farm Workers Child Care Support program, and the visible minority advisory committee for Human Resources Development Canada. Jagrup played basketball at the national level as a member of the Indian National Basketball team. He has a master?s degree in Philosophy from Punjabi University in India, and a MPA in public administration from the University of Manitoba. Jagrup lives in Surrey with his wife Rajwant and their five-year old daughter Noor. ------------------------------------------------- Below is a copy of Brar?s speech to the nomination meeting May 6, 2004 //CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY// Fellow members, honoured guests, friends and community supporters, thank you for coming this evening and welcome to Surrey Panorama-Ridge, the next constituency in British Columbia to be represented by a New Democrat! Welcome to all of you (perhaps also say welcome in Punjabi). I feel privileged to accept the nomination as your candidate in the upcoming by-election and will proudly carry the NDP banner in Surrey. I would not be here today without the very active support, love and guidance of my wife Rajwant. The unflagging support of my family ? my wife and my daughter Noor ? provides me with the courage to be a strong voice for our community, to stand up for Surrey and help defeat the Campbell government. Tonight I want to thank our leader Carole James whose strong and powerful voice is carrying the New Democrat message to every community in British Columbia That message is the message of hope. While Joy MacPhail and Jenny Kwan hold the Campbell government to account in the Legislature day after day, Carole?s tireless efforts hold the government to account in communities throughout the province, and say to people, ?There?s a better way.? And I will help to carry that message here in Surrey. I have lived in Surrey-Panorama Ridge for 10 years and have put down strong roots here. I am committed to this community. I love our neighbourhoods and the great diversity of Surrey the true face of today?s British Columbia. I have always been committed to social justice, to building a world based on the values and needs of ordinary people A society that?s fair. That?s why I joined the NDP shortly after I came to Canada over a dozen years ago. I am also committed to helping build a strong economy. At the Surrey Self-Employment and Entrepreneur Development Society ? where I am Executive Director ? we have trained over 500 new entrepreneurs, helping them on the road to achieving their dreams. I am privileged to make my living helping people in our community put their entrepreneurial spirit into action to help them develop and sustain vibrant, successful businesses that serve the community. The Surrey Chamber of Commerce has recognized several of our graduates with Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. We?re successful because we believe in small business. And I believe New Democrats offer a unique vision that will help small business to thrive in a strong economy An economy that works for ordinary British Columbians An economy that works to build our communities, not tear them apart Where the needs of working people and their families come first. Here in Surrey-Panorama Ridge we represent people from many countries and cultures By working together, we learn from each other, celebrating each other?s values and faiths. Surrey?s diversity is our strength. But the Campbell government has let Surrey down. Surrey needs new leadership in Victoria, and a voice that will stand up for the community... A voice that will carry a strong message to Victoria that our community wants a government that listens. We don?t need or want a government that rams it?s own agenda down the throats of taxpayers, regardless of local concerns. Gordon Campbell?s MLAs in Surrey have done nothing for this community. They act more like public relations flaks for the Campbell government agenda than as real community representatives. The number one issue facing Surrey and every community in BC is the state of public health care in our province. Mr. Campbell promised to improve health care. And he promised not to privatize health care But health care is worse off under Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals waitlists have grown dramatically. hospitals have been shut down. and the Liberals have embarked on a massive campaign to expand privatized health care in BC. What did Surrey?s Liberal MLAs do when emergency services were cut back at Surrey Memorial? What did they do when they laid off nursing staff? Nothing. And they continue to say nothing while Mr. Campbell spends tens of millions of dollars on television advertising telling British Columbians what a super job they?re doing for health care. While their government raised class sizes in our schools and cut funding to school boards, the Surrey Liberal MLAs stood by and cheered Gordon Campbell in the Legislature. While the government increased taxes and fees for low- and middle-income families in Surrey, Gordon Campbell?s Surrey MLAs stood by and cheered him in the Legislature. While the Liberal government took away resources for fighting crime and building safe communities, our Liberal MLAs stood by and cheered. The Campbell government cut funding for services to victims of crime. It cut funding to the Crown Prosecutors office. Campbell promised money from increased provincial traffic fines would go toward crime prevention programs Yet another broken promise. Not once did any of Surrey?s Liberal MLAs ever raise a voice to say it?s wrong to force seniors out of care homes to take away support for organizations in Surrey that provide food and shelter to our growing homeless population. They stood by and said nothing when Gordon Campbell broke his promises to provide better higher education. At Kwantlen College, while the Campbell-appointed board raised tuition fees, it cancelled courses, fired instructors, and fired workers who provide services to students. And, as we saw last week, not one of Surrey?s Liberal MLAs was willing to do the right thing and stand up to say Bill 37 was wrong. Only Jenny and Joy and the independent MLAs who left the Campbell caucus because of the Liberals? extreme agenda, stood up and voted against this brutal piece of legislation. As a result of the Campbell Liberals confrontational approach to workers who deliver health care in this province, we saw chaos at Surrey hospitals. People in Surrey cannot take another four years of Mr. Campbell. His failed economic plan is bankrupting the province. New Democrats should be proud of our ten years of work and accomplishments for ordinary British Columbians. When New Democrats were in Victoria, we proved that you can balance budgets without slashing programs, without de-moralizing families and communities and without devastating small business owners who are the back-bone of our economy. Surrey-Panorama Ridge will be the first community in the province to be given the opportunity to send Mr. Campbell a message. And all of you here tonight will be an important part of sending that message. When I join our team in Victoria as the NDP MLA for Surrey-Panorama Ridge, I will bring all the discipline, energy and commitment that I have always brought to bear on the challenges I faced in both my work and personal life. It will be up to the voters to examine my credentials, but I can tell you here today that my life has been about speaking out on important issues. Issues of social justice for minorities and new Canadians; issues that affect the health and well being of our families, our children and our communities Issues like public safety in our neighbourhoods and economic security for our communities. Raising a family is hard work. We have a sacred trust in shaping our children and preparing them to face the world. Every child deserves the best we can offer in health care, education and in preparing for a meaningful career. I have the skills, the drive and the commitment to help build a better province A province where we all feel safe and satisfied when we send our kids to school. A province where parents can rest knowing their sons and daughters will return home in safety. A province where small businesses can grow and individuals can prosper and feel hopeful about the future. My Friends Surrey is ready for change. The people I talk to in our community are very angry with the Campbell government. When the Premier decides finally to face the voters of Surrey and calls a by-election, we?ll send him a strong message ( and a TALL messenger): It?s time to build a better British Columbia. It?s time to send New Democrats back to Victoria and get this province back on the right track. Ordinary British Columbians will be watching us here in Surrey. We won?t let them down. Again, it is my sincere privilege to represent New Democrats in Surrey-Panorama Ridge To proudly carry the New Democrat vision of Carole James. I?ll need your help. And I ask you to work with me when the by-election is called so we can win this by-election for our children, our families and our community. Thank you 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 May 7 15:56:04 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Fri, 7 May 2004 14:56:04 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Provincial RAV dollars should be remain committed to public transit in Lower Mainland -- James Message-ID: - NDP Leader says transit should remain priority despite Campbell mishandling of RAV project - VICTORIA ? The provincial government should allocate the funding it intended to spend on the failed RAV line to other public transit priorities in the Lower Mainland, NDP Leader Carole James said today. The provincial government, which had earmarked $300 million to fund the project, indicated the money would be taken off the table if Translink voted down the RAV Line. ?Public transit remains a critical priority in the Lower Mainland despite Mr. Campbell?s failure to get agreement on the RAV project,? said James. ?The province needs to sit down with regional transit authorities and find public transit solutions that work for citizens now and into the future.?. ?The demise of RAV is another example of Gordon Campbell?s inability to get public consensus on his priorities,? said James. ?Just like the scheme to sell the Coquihalla Highway and the sale of BC Rail, the premier pushed his agenda without bringing the public on board. As a result, the RAV line is added to a long and growing list of BC Liberal failures.? James said that with the 2010 Olympic Games on the horizon, and a growing need for improvements to public transit, she hopes the Premier will learn from his mistakes on the failed RAV deal and play a constructive role meeting the transit needs of Lower Mainland residents. ?Public transit is too important to be sacrificed to pay for Mr. Campbell?s failure on this project,? said James. ?Now is the time for everyone to re-group, and focus on finding new public transit solutions. - 30 - Media contact Scott Perchall 604-862-7747 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 Mon May 10 10:48:27 2004 From: Teresa.Marshall at bcgeu.ca (Marshall, Teresa) Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 10:48:27 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] Rock Against the Cuts concerts Message-ID: <517DADDBB3EDAF44A2620DCB53689BD6014885B3@exchange.bcgeu.bc.ca> Greetings, 1) Attached please find a colour leaflet for printing, distribution, and web posting. 2) The greyscale PDF can be reprinted in your local publications, or faxed. 3) Text below can be circulated via email. Please forward this information to your members, executives, and co-workers. Your generous assistance is needed to make these benefit concerts for BC women's centres successful! Thank you, Teresa Marshall Communications officer British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union Tel: (604) 291-9611 ext. 454 ROCK AGAINST THE CUTS! Two nights of music to benefit BC women's centres. Presenting rock, new country, and contemporary folk tunes by some of BC's finest artists. Wed. June 2, 8 pm: Black Mountain, Veda Hille, Loud, The Gay Thurs. June 3, 8 pm: Holly McNarland, members of Be Good Tanyas & Po' Girl, Sandy Scofield, Ridley Bent Vancouver East Cultural Centre (1895 Venables). Tix $26 (incl. fees) at Ticketmaster 604-280-4444. For more info: www.savewomenscentres.ca Sponsored by BCGEU with proceeds to benefit BC Coalition of Women's Centres CEP 467 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: RockAgainstCuts8x11.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 157221 bytes Desc: RockAgainstCuts8x11.pdf URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: RockAgainstCutsGrey.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 302474 bytes Desc: RockAgainstCutsGrey.pdf URL: From organize at bcfed.com Mon May 10 11:21:20 2004 From: organize at bcfed.com (John Weir) Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 11:21:20 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] TWU Editor Job Posting.doc Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C41CCBE@BCFEDNT> Please find attached, a current job posting from the TWU. This file is in Rich Text Format (RTF), and can be viewed with most word processing software, including Windows Wordpad. In Solidarity, John Weir Director of Organizing and Executive Assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer British Columbia Federation of Labour 200-5118 Joyce Street Vancouver, BC, Canada V5R 4H1 Phone - (604)-430-1421, Ext. 238 Fax - (604)430-5917 Websites - For information about joining a union, please visit -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: TWU Editor Job Posting.rtf Type: application/rtf Size: 176013 bytes Desc: not available URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Mon May 10 15:22:10 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 14:22:10 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] James calls for made-in-BC Olympics strategy Message-ID: -- NDP leader says Premier?s approach to Olympics development creating recipe for failure -- VICTORIA - BC NDP leader Carole James is calling for a new strategy for the Olympics to prevent skilled labour shortages and to ensure the 2010 Games come in on budget. In a speech to the British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council convention today in Victoria, James said a looming skilled trades shortage and Campbell government intransigence threaten to result in catastrophic cost over-runs on the 2010 Olympics. "Government needs a made-in-BC Olympics strategy that includes all stakeholders to ensure we get the most from our investment in the Games," said James. "This is one of the largest construction projects in British Columbia's history. A project of this size is an enormous opportunity but also an enormous challenge. Done wrong, the Olympics can wind up being a huge burden on taxpayers and another source of division. "The Campbell government's approach is creating the conditions for failure. The Minister responsible, John Les, has refused to sit down and establish partnerships and a mutual understanding of how best to complete projects on time and on budget," she said. ?The Sydney Olympics should be our model here, not Atlanta or Athens.? "The government has ignored the NDP's proposal to give BC's independent auditor general the job of watching over Olympic costs to protect taxpayers. And the government's Olympic plans are already being overtaken by reports of spiralling cost overruns that are putting key projects at risk," said James. "Moreover, the labour relations climate fostered by the Campbell government is poisoning the environment in which important decisions about the Olympics are being made." James said the premier's approach to the RAV line is indicative of his government's incompetent handling of Olympics infrastructure construction. "Rather than work to find the best solution for the Lower Mainland, Mr. Campbell wasted two years insisting - on ideological grounds - that RAV go ahead only as a privatization project and without making an adequate financial case," said James. "Now that RAV has been turned down by local government, the premier has withdrawn provincial funding and, with that, is risking federal matching dollars. Mr. Campbell needs to commit to funding Lower Mainland transit expansion instead of playing politics. "The Games are an historic opportunity to showcase the best of British Columbia to the world, and an opportunity to establish a lasting social, economic, and athletic legacy for our province and country. To succeed, we need a new approach." James said government needs to foster a climate of partnership and creativity to ensure the Games reflect BC's culture of innovation, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and our shared sense of community. Government also needs to establish new apprenticeship and training opportunities for the thousands of workers who will make the Games a success - from the people who build the facilities to those who will welcome the guests. "Community involvement, business involvement, and labour involvement today equals Olympic success six years from now," says James. "The Olympics can't be the private preserve of a few. They must become a common project for every British Columbian." - 30 - Media contact: Scott Perchall 604-862-7747 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 May 12 17:08:03 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 16:08:03 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Walls report leaves important questions unanswered Message-ID: - James says report fails to examine Premier?s role in insider scandal - VICTORIA ? The audit into the Doug Walls scandal leaves important questions unanswered about how a BC Liberal insider and friend of the Premier got control of a $600 million budget, was handed untendered contracts, and why more than $500,000 in debt owed by Doug Walls was eliminated, NDP Leader Carole James said today. ?British Columbians want to know how a BC Liberal insider got a special deal at taxpayers' expense and enormous influence over government policy behind closed doors. Despite the audit released today, that critical question remains unanswered.? James said that the terms of reference provided to the auditors by the government protected the Premier, his top aide, Martyn Brown, and his deputy minister, Ken Dobell, from scrutiny. ?From the start, this scandal has revolved around the question of how a government contractor with strong BC Liberal connections ? and a personal and family relationship with the Premier ? was catapulted into a senior government position and handed untendered contracts and control of a $600 million budget with no scrutiny, no notice, and no public disclosure,? said James. ?The audit does not explain why he was allowed to operate outside the normal chain of command, controlling huge amounts of government money. It also does not explain how and why a debt owed by Mr. Walls worth more than $500,000 was eliminated at the stroke of a pen. Until those questions are answered, we have yet to get to the bottom of this growing scandal.? -- 30 -- Media contact: Scott Perchall 604-862-7747 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 media at bcfed.com Wed May 12 18:22:09 2004 From: media at bcfed.com (Jessie Uppal) Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 18:22:09 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] OLYMPIC FORUMS- NOON, FRIDAY MAY 14, 2004 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C745FCC@BCFEDNT> May 11, 2004 VIA FACSIMILE TO: EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ALL STANDING COMMITTEES Dear Sisters and Brothers: RE: B.C. FEDERATION OF LABOUR AND THE BC YUKON BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL HOST OLYMPIC FORUMS- NOON, FRIDAY MAY 14, 2004 You are invited to a labour forum on the 2010 Olympics this Friday, May 14th from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm at the Operating Engineers Hall, 4333 Ledger Avenue, Burnaby, BC. Sandwiches and refreshments will be provided. The forum will include a special presentation by Tony Webb, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Sydney, Australia. Mr. Webb is the author of "The Collaborative Games", an analysis of how negotiated, cooperative partnerships were developed between business, labour and government at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. For further information, contact Phillip Legg at 604-430-1421 extension 234. In solidarity, JIM SINCLAIR President JS/mp opeiu 15 1030-04let-js-olympic forums -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Thu May 13 17:53:03 2004 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 16:53:03 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] NDP demands to know why BC Liberals dismissed senior bureaucrat who blocked Doug Walls' demands for money Message-ID: VICTORIA ? The New Democrat Opposition is demanding to know why the BC Liberal government dismissed a senior bureaucrat who was blocking Doug Walls? demands for more taxpayer money. The audit released yesterday into the Doug Walls scandal detailed the efforts of Theresa Kerin, an Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Children and Family Development, to block Doug Walls? efforts to secure hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for his company CareNet. According to e-mails released in the audit, Ms. Kerin held to the previous government?s position that it would provide $50,000 a year for CareNet to connect its non-profit clients to the Internet. Mr. Walls was demanding $20,000 a month. In late July 2001, after making a final stand, Ms. Kerin was dismissed and replaced by a new ADM, who granted Doug Walls his request. ?Before the Liberals took office, Mr. Walls was held on a short leash by government. After the election, he was allowed to spend freely on a taxpayer funded credit card handed to him by the new government,? said NDP MLA Jenny Kwan ?The Audit does not explain why Ms. Kerin was fired or who ordered her dismissal.? A senior BC Liberal insider and relative of the premier, Doug Walls eventually ran up a $2.3 million tab at taxpayer expense with no scrutiny from the Liberal government. He was granted unprecedented access to the premier?s office, and given control over a $600 million budget and untendered contracts to administer programs for the developmentally disabled. The audit shows clearly that Mr. Walls, a high-level Liberal Party official, lobbied the Premier?s office on more than one occasion to advance his interests,? said Kwan. ?Was it the Premier?s office that fired Ms. Kerin, and did they do so at the request of Mr. Walls?? - 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 Fri May 28 13:33:48 2004 From: Teresa.Marshall at bcgeu.ca (Marshall, Teresa) Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 13:33:48 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] Reminder: Rock Against the Cuts -- women's centres benefit concerts Message-ID: <517DADDBB3EDAF44A2620DCB53689BD6014886EA@exchange.bcgeu.bc.ca> Dear sisters and brothers - we still need to sell a bunch of tickets for the Wed. June 2 Rock Against the Cuts concert at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. It's a fabulous lineup of musicians. PLEASE support BC women's centres, and tell everyone you know to buy their tickets now! - Thank you. * Please pass this on to everyone you know. Great music, great cause! ROCK AGAINST THE CUTS - June 2 & 3 Two nights of music to benefit BC women's centres. Please order your tickets now to enjoy rock, new country, and contemporary folk tunes by some of BC's finest artists! Wed. June 2, 8 pm: Black Mountain, Veda Hille, Loud, The Gay Thurs. June 3, 8 pm: Holly McNarland, members of Be Good Tanyas & Po' Girl, Sandy Scofield, Ridley Bent Vancouver East Cultural Centre (1895 Venables @ Victoria Drive) Tix each night $26 (incl fees) at Ticketmaster 604-280-4444. Sponsored by the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union CEP 467 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 698159 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From bhumphries at bctf.ca Mon May 31 08:50:15 2004 From: bhumphries at bctf.ca (Bev Humphries) Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 08:50:15 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] office workers vote to leave IWA Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20040531084755.02ba2ed0@pop.bctf.ca> The support staff at the B.C. Teachers' Federation were successful in their bid to leave IWA Local 1-3567. See the news release below. NEWS RELEASE May 26, 2004 For immediate release Office workers win right to leave IWA, form new union After a lengthy process, the support staff at the B.C. Teachers' Federation office have voted to leave the International Wood and Allied Workers, Local 1-3567, and form their own independent union. The 145 members, mostly female, were determined to leave the IWA Local 1-3567 because of what they saw as the local's unprincipled actions. Collaborating with healthcare privatization and their undemocratic processes did not sit well with the majority of the membership. "We're proud that we've taken a strong stand for democratic unionism," said Bev Humphries, president of the new union. After considering submissions from both unions, the LRB ruled that the representation vote, held by the LRB on February 26, 2004, be counted. The count took place May 25, 2004, with the result that the support staff at the BCTF will be represented by the Teachers' Federation Employees' Union (TFEU). The TFEU will hold its first AGM on June 24, 2004. The interim executive foresees a positive future working in solidarity with the labour movement. "We look forward to a smooth transition," said Humphries. "TFEU will work diligently to represent all members fairly in accordance with the collective agreement." -30- For more information, see our web site at http://www3.telus.net/newunion/ _____________________________________________________________ Bev Humphries Communications and Campaigns Division B.C. Teachers' Federation 100-550 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4P2 604 871-1875, F: 604 871-2289 E-mail: bhumphries at bctf.ca Toll free: 1-800 663-9163 http://www.bctf.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: