Collins 'deeply involved': Defence Basi-Virk
By BILL TIELEMAN, 24 HOURS
The defence in the B.C. Legislature raid trial alleged Wednesday that former Finance Minister Gary Collins was deeply involved in media and political manipulation about the $1 billion B.C. Rail privatization.
Defence lawyer Michael Bolton, representing David Basi - Collins' former ministerial assistant now charged with breach of trust - alleged in B.C. Supreme Court that RCMP wiretaps show Collins was involved in media manipulation and political dirty tricks.
Bolton read from what he said was the transcript of an Oct. 31, 2003 cellphone call that details the opposition of former B.C. Premier Bill Vander Zalm and former North Vancouver City Mayor Barbara Sharp to the B.C. Rail deal.
"Basi: Bill Vander Zalm will be on [the radio] with Barb Sharp, mayor of North Vancouver. I wanted to have the mayor of Squamish, who's a good friend of ours, rip Barb Sharp a new asshole. Is that okay?
"Collins: Absolutely."
Sharp told 24 hours the alleged comments are "quite a shocker."
"What a terrible way to talk about people. I don't know what they were so upset with me about except that I was trying to keep B.C. Rail in North Vancouver."
Later in the call Bolton quoted Collins to Basi: "I want you to keep this completely to yourself because there's only two of us who know about this."
Collins' spokesperson Clark Roberts left the court without speaking to reporters.
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9 comments:
Thanks Bill, Especially for this:
Later in the call Bolton quoted Collins to Basi: "I want you to keep this completely to yourself because there's only two of us who know about this."
So that's what the ceo means when he talks about open and accountable government.
This is starting to be something of an embarrassment, isn't it?
gw
Clark Roberts won't say anything now until his two "bosses" have a chance to caucus.
It is great to see your reports coming out of the court house. Maybe Dave Basi will soon be in a place where tearing a new one isn't just a metaphor.
I guess Clark Roberts doesn't want to comment anymore. What do they call it, tongue tied!! I noticed on cbc radio last week Roberts was repulsed by the use of "dirty tricks" and found it unseamly. Maybe someone should ask him to comment now, after a conversation was read out in court where his friend and client, Collins, is clearly participating in some "dirty tricks".
Anonymous 11:00 AM, basi would be joined by every political staffer who has ever participated in any type of campaign to attack ones opponents. These places would be overflowing with socreds, ndpers, liberals etc. etc.
This stuff is theatre, not criminal. Please show me a crime like our public asset being sold after an explicit promise was made not to sell bc rail.
Bill, I just caught the Neal Hall story on the Vancouver Sun online addition about the Mayor of Quesnel accepting a payment from Kieran for condemming one of the bidders, CN. Is this true, did you hear this? What's next?? Didn't Steve Wallace run for the bc liberals in the last election??
Thanks JS - unfortunately I am not in BC Supreme Court today but out of town on business.
The issue of an alleged payment to former Quesnel Mayor Steve Wallace came up briefly yesterday in BC Supreme Court but the details in Neal Hall's online story today must obviously have come out today.
Wallace was the BC Liberal candidate in Cariboo North in 2005, losing to the NDP's Bob Simpson.
I have asked before and I will ask again "WHAT DID THE PREMIER KNOW AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT!!"
The Cancer is growing, its getting close and closer to the premiers office every day!
Mr. T. and/or the Anon-O-Mice and/or D.T.--
Another detailesquish query for you all.....
From the 'allegated' transcript of the alleged phone call between Mr. Collins and Mr. Basi that are part of the post....
Collins: I talked to the Premier. We want to put Colin Kinsley [mayor of Prince George] and the mayor of Squamish on the committee.
Do you know what 'committee' this is and whether, indeed, the two mayors were ever appointed (by the Premier's office?) to it?
Thanks.
.
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