Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Premier Christy Clark rejects BC Legislature Raid inquiry again - and claims no questions remain to be answered!

"Move along, nothing to see here, move along."

Railgate questions? Asked and Answered, Says Premier Christy Clark


Premier calls me out as she rejects Basi-Virk inquiry. Yet questions do persist.


Bill Tieleman's 24 hours/The Tyee column 

Tuesday November 29, 2011

By Bill Tieleman
"I think it would probably come up with some conclusions that would clear up a lot of myths that people like Bill Tieleman might like to perpetuate." 
- Premier Christy Clark on a B.C. Legislature Raid inquiry
Christy Clark still rejects holding an inquiry into the biggest political scandal in recent B.C. history -- about two ex-BC Liberal ministerial aides passing confidential government information on the $1-billion sale of BC Rail to lobbyists for one bidder.

The premier claimed Thursday there are no questions to be answered after last year's surprise guilty pleas of ex-government aides David Basi and Bob Virk.

And Clark says an inquiry wouldn't embarrass her, but would actually clear up myths that I'm allegedly spreading.

Clark was deputy premier at the time of the deal, when police raided the B.C. legislature in December 2003 with an unprecedented search warrant to obtain evidence -- and her own brother Bruce's home was also searched by police, because of his links to Basi and Virk.

The BC Liberal government paid Basi and Virk's $6-million legal fees despite their admission of guilt, as part of the plea bargain deal that ended their trial after just two of an estimated 40 witnesses -- including possibly Christy Clark herself -- had testified.

But in response to a question I posed for Shaw Cable's Voice Of B.C. last Thursday, Clark told host Vaughn Palmer it would be "really expensive" to hold an inquiry to get to the truth -- so she won't.

The idea that there are no questions to be answered is absurd.
Instead of "myths," we actually have some cold, hard facts that many people would likely wish to see further examined.

Statements of fact

For example, a joint "Statement of Facts" entered in B.C. Supreme Court by special prosecutor Bill Berardino and defence lawyers for Basi and Virk says the police search of Bruce Clark's home found confidential government bidding information about a related BC Rail privatization effort.

Basi and Virk pled guilty to breach of trust and fraud in part because of their role in illegally passing information to Bruce Clark -- who was never charged -- about the proposed $70 million sale of the BC Rail Port Subdivision in Roberts Bank.

The Statement of Facts reads: "With respect to Count 10 of the Indictment and in relation to the Port Subdivision bidding process, the RCMP seized a number of documents from Bruce Clark's office and residence, which Basi and Virk disclosed to Bruce Clark between Jan. 1, 2003 and Dec. 28, 2003."


"Two examples of the documents that Basi and Virk improperly disclosed to Clark are:

"a) The draft Request for Proposals for the Port Subdivision bidding process, which was received by Clark prior to the RFP being finalized by the Evaluation Committee; and

"b) A 'confidential presentation' made by TD Securities to the Evaluation Committee dated Oct. 14, 2003 containing a detailed economic analysis of what BC Rail considered to be the value of the Port Subdivision."

Christy Clark has acknowledged Bruce Clark played an undetermined role in her BC Liberal leadership campaign, but has declined requests from The Tyee to explain his duties, which weren't mythical.

Bruce Clark has not spoken to media at any point about his role in either the BC Rail situation or his sister's campaign.

Clark points to Toope report

Christy Clark has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the BC Rail case and police have said no cabinet ministers were investigated.

In a 2004 police interview with Erik Bornmann -- a lobbyist for losing BC Rail bidder OmniTRAX who turned into the key Crown witness against Basi and Virk -- he claims he discussed his client's bid with Christy Clark and other cabinet ministers.

"We were very interested to see what cabinet ministers we could count on as being allies for our bid. We've expected Gary Collins, Christy Clark, Rick Thorpe to be supportive simply on account at the meetings that we had with them and some follow-up, some follow-up conversations," Bornmann says in the police transcript that was released by the courts after a media disclosure application filed by the Globe and Mail newspaper and CTV. Collins was then-finance minister and Thorpe competition minister.

Later, Bornmann elaborates.

"I had a conversation with Christy Clark and with Bobby Virk and Dave Basi separately and Dwight was, Dwight Johnson [OmniTRAX executive] was in the regular habit of wanting information on the BC Rail process," Bornmann said.

"I'd met Christy, I'm, as you know, friends and acquaintances with Christy's husband [now ex-husband Mark Marissen] and I'd a, I'd sort of broached the topic I mean, just trying to recall, I broached the topic or I promised Brian [Bornmann lobbyist partner Brian Kieran] that I'd broach the topic of BC Rail with Christy but I didn't receive, didn't receive anything terribly useful from her just a, Basi and Virk would have obviously have a, provided me with information on whatever was taking place, but Christy wasn't providing any information beyond what politicians tell people," Bornmann told police.

Clark says she is proud of a "great report" she requested by University of B.C. president 

Stephen Toope into her government's payment of legal fees to Basi and Virk without any effort to recover those funds when they pled guilty.

The report, Clark says, will "make the process better" in dealing with public servants facing criminal charges in the future.

But regardless of Toope's esteemed role as a senior professor of law and well-deserved reputation, there is also the fact that UBC receives hundreds of millions of dollars from the provincial budget each year. If Clark had wanted to pick a person with no ties to government spending, she could have done so.

Clark also could have asked Toope to investigate why Basi and Virk's legal fees were exempted from repayment when they pled guilty. But she didn't.

Questions not yet answered

B.C. auditor general John Doyle -- who is independent of government -- is also investigating the Basi-Virk payments and has been forced to go to court to gain access to government documents.

Doyle's report may eventually provide some limited answers, but is more likely to raise new questions about what happened.

A key one is why the defence alleged for years that a "consolation prize" -- the Roberts Bank port-subdivision rail line -- was to be offered by the government to OmniTRAX in exchange for the company staying in the bidding after CP Rail and Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad both quit,saying the process was tainted?

The reality for Clark is that unless and until some independent inquiry is held to address such questions that a full trial may have answered, the BC Legislature Raid case will continue to smell like bad cheese in the fridge.

David Basi has called for a public inquiry, in an exclusive interview with 24 Hours and The Tyee in February.

"I want everything released, all the transcripts of the wiretaps -- not just snippets -- let's get it all out," Basi told. "I have consistently called for all documents in this case to be released and for a public inquiry, which I will fully cooperate with."

But the one person who could call an inquiry isn't going to do so.

Here's Clark's exchange with Vaughn Palmer after my question was posed to her.

Palmer: "But the difference between your party and the NDP at the moment is -- Adrian Dix was on the show just recently, he says there still needs to be a public inquiry into BC Rail and your position is we don't need one."

Clark: "Yeah, my position is two people were convicted and I think people want to move on. It was a hugely expensive process and I think people want to move on from it because I don't know that there's a whole lot more to learn in the thing -- you know, two people were found guilty, by the courts. And so, you know, let's not throw any more good money after bad on this.

"We are struggling to try and find resources for all the things that we need to do already in British Columbia so you know, we're in really tough financial times, the world is in economic turmoil. We have to make sure we are lookin' after people in British Columbia and frankly I think that if, you know..."

Palmer: "You don't think that a public inquiry in this case would embarrass you?"

Clark: "Well, no I don't! Absolutely not! Absolutely not! And in fact I think it would probably come up with some conclusions that would clear up a lot of myths that people like Bill Tieleman might like to perpetuate.

"But the thing is it would be really expensive and I don't know that there are any more answers to be found out there."

When Clark says Basi and Virk were "found guilty by the courts," a more precise way to say it is that they pled guilty by their own admission in a deal negotiated by their lawyers with the Crown.

But the larger point is that finding out what really happened is not throwing good money after bad -- it is an essential part of democratic accountability.

If you believe an inquiry is needed, join my Basi-Virk Public Inquiry page on Facebook.

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30 comments:

Kelly L said...

Why is Christy Clark the leader of the NDP again? They should just get rid of her!

poison pen of New Westminster said...

"Yeah, my position is two people were convicted and I think people want to move on...."

Umm yes there are people that want this thing to 'move on'. They're called the BC Liberals. I love how in the interview she specifically names Bill, but not Alex Tsukamis. I wonder why? I think that with the Grey Cup now over,and it being winter, there's going to be a lot less photo ops for Christy to hide in. I also got the distinct impression that Vaughn should have been playing that famous song "You spin me round round baby right round" when Christy was talking. She is a product of that era when that song came out. Who knew she would use it for her blathering mantra as premier.

And Kelly L, I hope you meant "leader of the BC Liberals, not NDP."

Anonymous said...

Wasn't the money tied to the plea bargain?

The government offered these guys $6M to plead guilty and stop a trial that would cause all the 1% to squirm in this province.

Anonymous said...

Seems rather silly to keep asking for the BC Liberals to set an inquiry. They simply wouldn't do it.


When exactly when did the NDP launch an inquiry in regards to their own errors in government?

Example: The Fast Cats. No NDP inqiry there.


Commonwealth Holding Society. Was there ever an NDP public inquiry on that one?

Anonymous said...

Kelly, she's leader of the BC CHRISTY Liberal Party.

I have nothin but questions..nothin but time...I can wait for the answers. Theyre comin, sure as the next train south.

Anonymous said...

"The good citizens of BC are more interested in my CUP SIZE than Basigate, Bii". ... Hon. Christy Clark, Premier of BC

The GREAT SATAN

DPL said...

If Ms. Christy is so sure she or her family did nothing wrong, why won't she simple arrange a public inquiry to stop having awful folks like Bill, asking questions, that she doesn't want to answer? And if she actually checks around, she will find its not just Bill asking such questions. a change of government will no doubt have such an inquiry so she and some " friends" better get ready to leave town. There was a policy about paying for government employees but if found guilty , they paid their own bills. Most everyone knew that, but the BC Liberals ignored it. Ever wonder why?

Anonymous said...

Surprised Palmer doesn't pick up on the "you knows" A good interviewer picks that up right away, understanding that the interviewee is uncomfortable with the question and wants to move on, you know. Correct followup is to say No, I don't know, but maybe preoccupation with the neckline derailed him. He's just a boy.

Anonymous said...

Sorry Christy, the BC citizens would like the Campbell/Clark BC liberals to admit the truth, about the theft and corrupt sale of the BCR. It isn't only "Bill" who wants to hear the truth.

The trial was a total farce. Not all of us are as brain dead as Martyn Brown.

This is the sleaziest crime, in Canadian history. It is also our misfortune, we have a P.M. who rewards corrupt, thieving, deceiving politicians, to high places.

Anonymous said...

The Great Satan...you rock!

Kelly L said...

No, I meant NDP. Not sure what you guys are reading. It says so in the article.

But yeah I agree with poison pen, definately true.

Jack Phast said...

So the government gets to decide if there should be a public inquiry when it is members of the government (and their family members)that stand to be investigated?

Oh yeah, this is how democracy is supposed to work.

Anonymous said...

The Toope report only covered the policies as written on paper. Not what actually was done in the Basi-Virk case.

Anonymous said...

This just keeps getting worse all the time.

If Basi says he will cooperate totally, but the Clark Liberals will not, sounds fishy to me? Hmm , smells getting worse and worse.

Time for Adrian Dix and the NDP to step up and call for a "Full" public enquiry. If the NDP wants to see victory in the next election, promise this to the "people" of BC, and deliver. If there is "any" form of Obstruction of Justice, tainted bidding processes, collusion, or "any form" of political interferance in this at all,it is time to get the air cleared.
Try the alledged, and jail for a minimum of 5 years, the guilty. Forget plea bargans and the like, the public has already lost $6 million on this nonsense.

I guarantee you will " fix" your broken political system. If Jail is the only means to prevent this type of political crap...use it!

If the Liberals cannot clear this mess up, it is time for the public to step up and demand it.

Where is the Attorney General in all this ? You are supposed to be impartial, the same with the Judicary. What is going on here?

Seems like the Auditor general is knocking on all the right doors, but is being obstructed in investigating the funds in question.

Lets get the ball rolling on this,
people!

Anonymous said...

Example: The Fast Cats. No NDP inqiry there.


Commonwealth Holding Society. Was there ever an NDP public inquiry on that one?

....

The above is an example of the train to loserville. These examples are small potatoes compared to the corrupt BC Liberals governing my BC since 2001.

Bill Tieleman said...

Anon at 2:19 p.m. Tuesday doesn't know their BC political history. Premier Glen Clark appointed former Chief Justice of the BC Supreme Court Nathan Nemetz to fully investigate the Nanaimo Commonwealth Holding Society concurrently with the ongoing criminal investigation of Dave Stupich, former NDP MLA.

The Nemetz inquiry, however, was shut down by - wait for it - the BC Liberal government of Gordon Campbell when it took over.

Fast ferries? No inquiry by the BC Liberals when they too power. Why? They were in too much of a hurry to sell them for a fraction of their cost and use that to embarrass the NDP.

Anonymous said...

http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=7060

Anonymous said...

"Fast ferries? No inquiry by the BC Liberals when they too power. Why? They were in too much of a hurry to sell them for a fraction of their cost and use that to embarrass the NDP."

Bill doesn't know his political history. The Fastcats were initially put up for sale by Price Waterhouse by the NDP. No sale. Tried again. No sale. Joy McPhail was the only Minister Responsible that pleaded guilty on that fisaco. Dan Miller to his credit was steaming mad about the huge overrun cost. But Bill here doesn't mention that one.

The market simply did not want them at the time).

As far as the Nemetz Inquiry goes, that was a consequence of something that happened on Mike Harcourt's watch, well before Glen Clark. It's a prime facie why these "wanna get ya" inquiries are largely useless. If the NDP was smart on that one, the Inquiry would have lasted just a year, not keep going well beyond the end life of Harcourt.

Anonymous said...

Fast cats,fast cats,spin,spin,spin.Red herrings,red herrings,deflect,deflect,deflect. Off topic spin trolls show the shallow, cowardly side to a Clark backer LMAO.

Anonymous said...

Fast cats,fast cats,spin,spin,spin.Red herrings,red herrings,deflect,deflect,deflect. Off topic spin trolls show the shallow, cowardly side to a Clark backer LMAO.

Which one? Glen Clark or Christy Clark. They're both bad examples of what not to do in government.

They are the worst examples out there, but the best to learn as to what not to do.

Anonymous said...

The government offered these guys $6M to plead guilty and stop a trial that would cause all the 1% to squirm in this province.

While the Occupiers who represent the 0.00099% sit on their pants and do nothing except squish their bum cheeks.

Anonymous said...

Thanks again Bill. You are a true patriot.

Anonymous said...

Thanks again Bill. You are a true patriot

Everyone is a patriot. Bill is a left wing blogger of a left wing blog.

DPL said...

Everyone is a patriot. Bill is a left wing blogger of a left wing blog. Sunday, 4 December, 2011 5:40:00 PM PST.
Everyone has their own opinion and I for one tend to agree with Bill. Some well paid columnists say similar things to him as well. Come on anon, you ca do better than that, one would think

Anonymous said...

Everyone has their own opinion and I for one tend to agree with Bill. Some well paid columnists say similar things to him as well. Come on anon, you ca do better than that, one would think

C'mon DPL, this is just a blog, one of one blog owner's opinion. It's not Cdn. Centre for Policy Alternatives policy research.

Don't be so blindly loyal. Bill is not god's gift to the democratic socialist movement.

DPL said...

I guess it's safe to believe that at least one Anon figures those who follow Bill's blog and 24 hours column and other places are all wrong. Too bad anon you are certainly outvotes

Anonymous said...

Everyone is a patriot. Bill is a left wing blogger of a left wing blog.

Not everyone is a patriot. Some would sell this province and this country out from underneath us. And some would even cheerleader their efforts for a pittance. Traitors.

Anonymous said...

Not everyone is a patriot. Some would sell this province and this country out from underneath us. And some would even cheerleader their efforts for a pittance. Traito

So the opposite is public ownership of just about everything such as what the NDP did in the 1970s? No thank you.

There's a middle ground somewhere.

Besides if you're that patriotic about our country buy your Christmas gifts here rather than crossing into the United States. Buy a Blackberry rather than iPad.

Buy a Chevy, Ford or GM vehicle rather than the cheap Korean KIAs and Hyundais.

Insist on local lumber for your home.

Cheer on the CFL rather than the over rated NFL.

Cheer on the Canadian teams in the NHL rather than the anemic teams in Major League Baseball.

Buy Cheezies instead of Cheetos.

Anonymous said...

"Cheezies instead of Cheetos"

These are the people your government pays to "manage the message". We deserve better.

Anonymous said...

We need an inquiry in to BC Rail to answer all questions and we need a NEW LAW that prohibits politicians and their ilk from allowing a 999 year lease on future generations - that is criminal. The tipping point is coming!. Thanks for the keeping up the pressure Bill. Much appreciated.