From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca  Thu May  3 01:45:21 2007
From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire)
Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 0:45:21 -0800
Subject: [LabComm] BC NDP Connection Newsletter
Message-ID: <jhg7vl.rndt9j@>



BC NDP Connection Newsletter



<H3>Campbell government continues to stonewall</H3>
Despite serious concerns about conflict of interest and political tricks, Premier Gordon Campbell continued to stonewall Opposition attempts at getting answers this week.

The Premier hid behind the ongoing investigation into the lobbying activities of his advisor, Ken Dobell, to avoid tough questions about a possible conflict of interest involving the same highly-placed advisor.

And Premier Campbell used the ongoing Basi-Virk trial to duck questions about whether his office was actively engaged in dirty political tricks.

"We tried for a week to get some answers from this Premier, but all we got was more evasiveness," said New Democrat Leader Carole James.

Evidence revealed by the Opposition this week showed that Dobell, a close friend of Premier Campbell, arranged provincial funding for a City of Vancouver 2010 culture project, while he was still the deputy minister to the Premier, and he then received a contract financed by that same provincial funding. 

Dobell is currently the subject of an investigation by privacy commissioner David Loukedelis, who is looking into whether he violated the Lobbyist's Registration Act by registering his lobbying of the Premier over six months late.

"That investigation has nothing to do with this possible conflict of interest," said James. "The public deserves to know if this was yet another instance when the rules don't apply to the friends of the Premier."

The allegations of dirty political tricks surfaced in the fraud trial of the two senior government officials relating to the sale of B.C. Rail. Defence counsel for David Basi and Bob Virk allege that media manipulation tactics were arranged and authorized by the Premier's office.

"Those allegations, while unproven, are disturbing," said James. "But what we wanted to know was whether any similar activity was taking place out of the Premier's office today.

"We know that those kinds of dirty tricks are part of the Campbell Liberal playbook," James said. "Prem Vinning, an official in the Premier's office, lost his job for calling a talk show pretending to be someone else. And Steve Vander Wal, from the Deputy Premier's office, called in to a radio show pretending to be a concerned parent."

The Premier refused to answer any questions, commit to investigating whether there were any dirty tricks being played out of his office - and most surprisingly, the Premier even refused to state that he does not and would not condone this behaviour.

"This is just another example of how the Campbell government views accountability," said James. "It's empty words, just another broken promise."

<H3>New Democrats show commitment to accountability with Conflict of Interest bill</H3>
New Democrat MLA John Horgan followed through on his promise to boost accountability this week.

Horgan, the NDP MLA for Malahat - Juan de Fuca, this week made good on his promise to introduce a Private Member's Bill. The Members' Conflict of Interest Act would oblige cabinet ministers to put their assets into blind trusts, and put similar restrictions on senior public servants.

"This bill brings the province's conflict regulations in line with federal laws," said Horgan. "It addresses not only real conflicts, but perceived conflicts, which can be just as disruptive to public life."

In January, Horgan lodged a complaint with Conflict of Interest Commissioner H.A.D. Oliver about Premier Gordon Campbell holding shares in Alcan in an open trust arrangement at the same time the government was negotiating with the company. In his ruling, Mr. Oliver suggested that cabinet ministers' holdings be placed in blind trusts. Horgan's bill would make that suggestion a requirement for cabinet ministers.

"The situation with Ken Dobell, the Premier's friend who is holding government jobs while lobbying the B.C. government on behalf of the City of Vancouver, is a pretty good indication of the woeful lack of commitment the Campbell government has shown to accountability," Horgan said.

"This bill would go a long way to ensuring that cabinet ministers and their key senior appointees are accountable."

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From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca  Sat May  5 06:50:44 2007
From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire)
Date: Sat, 05 May 2007 09:50:44 -0400
Subject: [LabComm] (no subject)
Message-ID: <E1HkKeq-0000BK-Kw@ismarus.webserversystems.com>

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From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca  Sat May  5 06:50:44 2007
From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire)
Date: Sat, 05 May 2007 09:50:44 -0400
Subject: [LabComm] (no subject)
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From weststar at telus.net  Sat May  5 08:56:51 2007
From: weststar at telus.net (West Star Communications)
Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 08:56:51 -0700
Subject: [LabComm] (no subject)
In-Reply-To: <E1HkKeq-0000BJ-L2@ismarus.webserversystems.com>
Message-ID: <001501c78f2d$ff1c1800$6400a8c0@DBRYWG31>

This is obviously an error.

Regards,
 
Bill Tieleman   West Star Communications   Tel 604-844-7827  Website:
http://billtieleman.blogspot.com/
 
Hear Bill Tieleman on the Bill Good Show every Monday at 10 a.m. on CKNW AM
980 or online at www.cknw.com 
 
Read Bill Tieleman every Tuesday in 24 hours, the Lower Mainland's new free
weekday newspaper.  Online at:
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/Columnists/NewsViewsAttitude/
 
 


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From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca  Mon May 14 21:30:23 2007
From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire)
Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 20:30:23 -0800
Subject: [LabComm] BC NDP Connection Newsletter
Message-ID: <ji242o.l9wdgk@>



BC NDP Connection Newsletter



<h3>Allegations surface about inside knowledge of investigation</h3>
It's no longer just the New Democrats looking for answers from the Campbell Liberals. Now, a B.C. Supreme Court judge is asking questions.

Madam Justice Elizabeth Bennett, presiding over the trial of former B.C. Liberal insiders David Basi and Bob Virk, asked the provincial government this week about the former Solicitor General's role in the investigation.

Allegations surfaced that two former cabinet ministers were given advanced knowledge of the investigation by then Solicitor General Rich Coleman, who now fills the Forest Minister's role.

NDP Leader Carole James brought the issue up in Question Period this week.

"Last week we heard more startling allegations about the B.C. Rail investigation. Allegedly, the RCMP delayed interviewing two key players in the scandal, former Ministers Gary Collins and Judith Reid, at the request of the former Solicitor General," James said in the Legislature. "According to RCMP documents read in court, the government was concerned that two B.C. Liberal cabinet ministers could expose cabinet confidences.  My question is to the current Solicitor General. Can he explain why cabinet confidence would ever trump a criminal investigation?"

True to form, the Campbell Liberals refused to answer the question.

<h3>Government continues to hide true cost of the Olympics</h3>
After two years of delays, the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee finally released its business plan this week.

Unfortunately, British Columbians who were expecting a complete picture to emerge from the plan were disappointed.

The plan still doesn't divulge just how much British Columbia's taxpayers will be shelling out to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. New Democrat MLA Harry Bains says that's disappointing.

"After two years of waiting, we had reasonable hopes that the business plan would be complete and shed some light on the full picture," said Bains, the NDP Critic for the Olympics.

"Instead, we got the same thing we've been getting for the past two years -- only part of the story."

What makes things worse, Bains said, is that the information released this week doesn't match that which came out in the auditor general's reports released earlier. Combined with the secrecy that surrounds VANOC -- the Opposition has been pressing for the release of meeting minutes to no avail -- and there is a real worry that British Columbians could be in for a shock sometime in the next three years.

"All British Columbians want a successful Olympics," said Bains, the NDP MLA for Surrey-Newton. "But that doesn't mean we write a blank cheque. British Columbians are ultimately responsible for any cost overruns, so it's important that we be very diligent in examining the plans."

The Campbell government's attitude seems to be "trust us," said Bains. "Look where that got us with the Trade and Convention Centre expansion. The cost overruns are $400 million and counting, with no end in sight.

"These Olympics are going to cost the people of British Columbia more than $2 billion. We need to see some accountability, and that's sorely lacking from the Campbell government."

<h3>Gasoline price rises again: Campbell government refuses to act</h3>
Gas prices rose in British Columbia again this week, but the Gordon Campbell government refuses to take any steps to protect B.C. consumers.

The Campbell Liberals this week spoke out against two New Democrat-sponsored initiatives to address the rising cost of gasoline.

"Everyone knows we're getting gouged at the pumps," said NDP Leader Carole James, "yet Premier Campbell and his government have abandoned British Columbians. 

"Huge corporations like Chevron and Exxon Mobil are making billions of dollars in profits at the expense of ordinary consumers. Gordon Campbell won't take any steps to protect consumers because those corporations are his friends."

NDP Energy Critic John Horgan introduced Private Member's Bill to regulate gasoline prices in the same way that natural gas and electricity rates are regulated. The bill came up for second reading in the Legislature this week.

Several NDP MLAs -- including Adrian Dix (Vancouver-Kingsway), Mike Farnworth (Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain), Guy Gentner (Delta-North), Leonard Krog (Nanaimo), Chuck Puchmayr (New Westminster) and Charlie Wyse (Cariboo-South) spoke in favour of the bill, yet speaker after speaker from the government side opposed it.

"The debate brought into sharp focus the differences between New Democrats and Gordon Campbell's team," said James. "My MLAs stood up to protect consumers from the gouging that we all know is going on, but the Campbell team has no interest in helping average British Columbians."

Horgan, the MLA for Malahat-Juan de Fuca, also asked the Attorney General to launch an investigation into why prices have spiked and why they seem to go up, as if by coincidence, just before a long weekend. Small Business Minister Rick Thorpe dismissed the idea out of hand.

"British Columbians can see now that the Gordon Campbell government has no intention to looking out for their interests," said James. "Well, New Democrats will continue to insist that the needs of average families should come first."

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From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca  Sun May 20 16:45:13 2007
From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire)
Date: Sun, 20 May 2007 15:45:13 -0800
Subject: [LabComm] Tell Gordon Campbell what to do with his pay raise
Message-ID: <jicuvd.ipnz16@>



Tell Gordon Campbell what to do with his pay raise



Earlier this week, Gordon Campbell and the Liberals introduced a bill that is designed to give themselves a pay raise that is completely out of touch with reality.

If passed, Gordon Campbell's pay raise bill will increase his own salary by 54% -- he'll be helping himself to an extra $89,000 of your money, every year.

Just think of it. $89,000, on top of what he already makes. The increase alone is more than twice what the average British Columbian earns in a year.

At the same time, Campbell is rejecting Carole James' proposal for raising the minimum wage to $10.

<strong>How can he justify giving himself $89,000 while denying a modest increase for minimum wage workers?</strong>

BC has the fastest growing gap between the rich and poor anywhere in Canada.

We have the highest poverty rate.

The highest poverty rate for seniors.

And the highest overall poverty rate.

Seniors are facing a shortage of long-term beds. 

Students are facing massive debtloads.

Parents are struggling to find and pay for child care.

How can Campbell look British Columbians in the eye and tell them he deserves another $89,000 of your money -- even while cutting services for vulnerable people in BC?

<strong>Carole James and the NDP are trying to stop this bill. They're calling on Campbell to withdraw the complete proposal. </strong>

If he refuses to do so, Carole and the NDP are urging Liberal MLAs to join the NDP in voting against this proposal.

If the Liberals choose not to do the right thing and vote in favour of Gordon Campbell's pay raise, the NDP will give their pay increases to charity.

In many cases, these donations will go directly to help people who have been hit hard by years of Campbell cuts.

For example, NDP Leader Carole James will be donating to the Mary Manning Centre -- a facility in her riding that provides counseling support for children who have suffered sexual abuse.

The Mary Manning Centre makes a real difference for these children, but there are many more who are stuck on a waiting list because the facility needs more resources. They have been pleading with the Campbell government to provide them with $170,000 to hire three therapists who can help these children.

What was the response from Gordon Campbell and his government? 

The response was no, they couldn't find $170,000 for sexually-abused children, but they can sure find the $89,000 for Gordon Campbell's pay increase.

Carole's donation won't get all those children off the wait list, but it will help make up for the indifference of the Campbell government.

NDP MLAs all over British Columbia will be doing the same thing. They will be donating their pay increase to help charities like the Mary Manning Centre help vulnerable people in communities hit hard by the arrogant and uncaring government of Gordon Campbell.

But <strong>if Gordon Campbell truly cared about these children -- and people in need all over this province -- he'd withdraw his pay increase bill and make those resources directly available to charities like the Mary Manning Centre.</strong>

Here's how you can help.

If you know of a charity in your neighbourhood that could put $89,000 to good use, let us know. Tell us about them with a quick note to <a href="mailto:bcndp at bcndp.ca">bcndp at bcndp.ca</a>.

We'll pass it on to Gordon Campbell and the Liberals. It will help us make the case that they need to forget about this unreasonable pay raise proposal -- and make that money available to the people who work hard every day helping sick children, lonely seniors and abused women.

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