BC Government, Christy Clark, NPA all push for segregated schools for special needs children

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column
Tuesday March 20, 2007

Segregation's return?

By BILL TIELEMAN

The highest result of education is tolerance.

- Helen Keller

Long ago in B.C. our children with special needs were put in segregated schools away from their neighbourhood friends and sometimes far away from their families.

While well-intentioned at the time, it was completely the wrong way to help special-needs kids. We learned the hard way that they should have been included with all the other children in our classrooms and given the extra help they needed there.

Both kids with special needs and those without benefit from inclusion, experts around the world have concluded.

But for some children, those with autism, mental illness or deafness, it was more than wrong - it was horrible.

We later heard terrible stories from the Woodlands School and the Jericho Hill School for the Deaf of students sexually assaulted, physically beaten and mentally abused.

And so the idea of segregation of children with special needs was thankfully put to rest.

Until this year, when the B.C. Liberal government suddenly re-opened this widely discredited approach and tried to make it sound new and progressive.

The Feb. 13 Throne Speech said the government would establish "provincial schools" and Education Minister Shirley Bond later talked about "model schools" for children with autism.

Then - surprise, surprise - Christy Clark, the former education minister, said in her Feb. 25 Province newspaper column that critics shouldn't attack the government idea and that: "Segregation didn't work as a general rule. But rules have exceptions..."

That would be the same Clark whose party in opposition promised to help autistic children but in government went to the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn B.C. court rulings in favour of funding special programs for them.


Another surprise - four days later Clark pops up again to say that now she and businesswoman Wendy Cocchia want to start a separate school for special needs kids.

And - imagine that - Clark and Cocchia have already met with Education Minister Shirley Bond, who - surprise - is receptive to the idea!

And then a few days later - surprise once more - Ken Denike, the right-wing Non-Partisan Association chair of the Vancouver School Board, announces that hey, this is a good idea, we should try here!

The question that should be asked is: Why? Why is an orchestrated effort being made to once again start segregated schools?

One answer is money. The provincial government has never adequately funded school districts to provide the assistance special needs children require. Centralized, separate schools could be cheaper.

A wide range of groups, from the B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities to the B.C. Association for Community Living to the B.C. Teachers Federation have all raised their concerns, as have many B.C. academics.

But will this government listen?

Premier Gordon Campbell - Missing In California after meeting Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Campbell missing from picture

While BC Premier Gordon Campbell has recently found religion when it comes to "green" issues and the environment, he has apparently gone missing in California after allegedly meeting with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger!

At least, the Premier is missing completely from any U.S. media coverage of his big trip to meet the former action movie star/bodybuilder to talk environment with Arnie.

And while Campbell's visit may be a big deal for British Columbia media, it is non-news in California.

A thorough search of the Los Angeles Times newspaper, including its Sacramento state capital political coverage, shows that as far as California is concerned Premier Campbell may as well be a fictional extra in one of the Governator's old movies!

There were some promising entries in the LA Times that might have referred to Campbell's visit. For example:

CAPITOL JOURNAL
In the political murk lurk a few really foggy ideas

Perhaps the Governator had asked Campbell why just weeks ago BC was planning to allow two coal-fired power plants to open? But no.

Or this item:

Liberal lawmakers may sway key vote on Iraq war

Could Campbell have convinced U.S. politicians to get out of Iraq? Unfortunately, no.

Or could Campbell and his sidekick, Environment Minister Barry Penner have got themselves in real trouble with inappropriate financial support for Arnie?

Schwarzenegger opens his Brentwood home to deep-pocket donors
By Robert Salladay
A mere $250,000 buys entry to two receptions and a dinner -- and, critics say, influence.

That might have been money well-spent by Campbell if it resulted in some good face time but also, no.

Finally, it looked like the story I had been seeking in the LA Times was at hand - this had to be the headline:

March 15, 2007
COLUMN ONE
Drifters sure get around

But again, disappointment, this item was about the old 60s musical group, not Campbell and Penner!

One last try - a full search on the LA Times. And here come the results:

PHOTOS No matches found on search for: gordon campbell
Try broadening your search criteria.

AUDIO / VIDEO No matches found on search for: gordon campbell
Try broadening your search criteria.

VENUES No matches found on search for: gordon campbell
Try broadening your search criteria.

EVENTS No matches found on search for: gordon campbell
Try broadening your search criteria.

How disappointing for the Premier - his cameo role with Arnie is on the cutting room floor!

BUT WAIT - at least there is a small reference on Schwarzenegger's own California government website:

03/15/2007 GAAS:207:07 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Meeting Today with British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement today after meeting with British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell:

“I want to thank Premier Campbell for meeting with me today and discussing what we both have been doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen the effects of climate change. California and British Columbia can learn a lot from each other’s experiences with renewable energy, building a hydrogen economy and developing a clean energy industry. I look forward to working with Premier Campbell on these and other issues when I visit him in Canada this spring.”

Thank goodness! There's still hope for a Hollywood ending for Premier Campbell!

Who said: "I'm disappointed that the NPA chose to stick their heads in the poop"

Well, we can't always be serious and this is my nominee for political quote of the year so far:

"I'm disappointed that the NPA chose to stick their heads in the poop, and abdicate their role as leaders. They played partisan politics with poop, and the city is the poorer for it," our mystery commentator said.

"I will continue to raise the issue, and look forward to moving my discussions with businesses, scientists, and environmentalists forward to bring a solution for this problem," the commentator added.

Stumped?

Here's a hint: the issue was not NPA Mayor Sam Sullivan's crappy leadership, not NPA councilors constipated approach to significant city issues, not NPA school trustees exhibiting irritable bowel syndrome on education concerns.

Give up? It was none other than Vancouver COPE Park Board Commissioner Spencer Herbert.

This man has his shit together! Dog shit that is - and he want to recycle it.

Here's the COPE newsletter version:



"Herbert moved a motion at Monday night's Park Board meeting asking the board to consider some environmentally sustainable solutions for dog waste.

The City of Vancouver's over 60,000 dogs produce up to 4.4 million kilo's of dog waste a year. Much of this ends up in the city's land fill in plastic bags which won't biodegrade. Herbert wanted the Park Board to investigate possible solutions which include composting the waste, turning it into methane for use in heating, and creating electricity, and the possibility of having it go through the City's sewage system.

The motion brought much attention and had community members out to support it. The idea was featured on the front page of the Vancouver Sun, and had Herbert speaking about this unique idea on many radio shows.

Unfortunately the NPA Commissioners saw it another way, and voted against the motion defeating it in a tie vote (Commissioner's Herbert, Woodcock, and De Genova in favour).

"I'm dissapointed that the NPA chose to stick their heads in the poop, and abdicate their role as leaders."

"They played partisan politics with poop, and the city is the poorer for it. I will continue to raise the issue, and look forward to moving my discussions with businesses, scientists, and environmentalists forward to bring a solution for this problem," Herbert said.

Commissioner Herbert will also be working to draw attention to the Everett Crowley Park Committee's volunteer pilot project on dog waste composting, and see whether it can be adopted around the City."

Come on NPA - cut the crap!

BC Liberals removed farm worker protection, tragic accident directly related

Farm protection laws taken out to pasture

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column
Tuesday March 13, 2007

By BILL TIELEMAN

Partnership Agreement helps protect farm workers ... Effective tomorrow, farm workers are excluded from hours of work, overtime and statutory holiday pay.

- B.C. government news release, May 15, 2003

The B.C. Liberal government should hang its head in shame for systematically attacking rules and regulations that protect farm workers.

Instead, and despite last week's horrific vehicle accident that killed three women farm workers, the Liberals deny the obvious - that their actions in support of farmers and farm labour contractors are directly related to this tragedy.

With the enthusiastic backing of the B.C. Agricultural Council, representing the farming industry, Premier Gordon Campbell's government has weakened previous protections for farm workers in almost every possible way.

One of the most misleading and outrageous actions was a Partnership Agreement signed between the government and the Council in May 2003 that resulted in what the Council called "Positive Changes in Employment Standards Act Regulations" in a memo to members.

Those "positive changes" include allowing child labour - letting 12 to 15-year-olds to work with only parental permission; removing farm workers from hours of work, overtime and statutory holiday pay provisions; and reducing by up to 75 per cent the bonds labour contractors are forced to post to ensure workers are paid.

Of course, it was a farm labour contractor with a history of violations whose overloaded van crashed last week, killing the three workers.

RHA Enterprises Ltd. had previously been found to have operated without a farm-labour contractor licence. They are currently licensed.

But the agreement between government and farmers states that: "The B.C. Agriculture Council and its member organizations agree that they will not support or condone the utilization of unlicensed farm labour contractors."

Rainbow Greenhouses in Chilliwack, where the farm workers were headed when the tragic accident occurred, is listed as one of "our growers" on the website of the United Flower Growers Co-operative Association, which signed the Partnership Agreement.

What's more, RHA Enterprises Ltd. has also been found to have failed to keep proper records and failed to register a vehicle in 2005. The company was fined $500 per violation.

B.C. farm-labour contractor vehicle accidents are all too common - and avoidable if basic safety rules were followed.

On July 13, 2003, farm worker Mohinder Kaur Sunar was killed when the van she was going to work in, carrying 19 people, had a tire blow out and crash on the Trans-Canada Highway.

A coroner's report said the government should review the Motor Vehicle Act, in particular to clarify the rules surrounding the use of seatbelts for passengers in vans and buses. WorkSafe BC said the same thing.

But it wasn't done. And once again, the provincial government's refusal to protect farm workers means more lives lost.

Basi-Virk Case - Disclosure, Delay and Documents

Basi-Virk Case Tests Citizens' Patience

Frustrates even trial judge with its delays, disclosure issues.

View full article and comments here http://thetyee.ca/Views/2007/03/12/Basi-Virk/

By Bill Tieleman

Published: March 12, 2007

TheTyee.ca

"Just so we're clear, the public interest in having this case heard outweighs just about everything else."

-- B.C. Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett

Over three years after the Dec. 28, 2003, police on raid the B.C. legislature and with the long-awaited breach of trust trial of former provincial government ministerial aides David Basi and Bob Virk still not underway, presiding Justice Elizabeth Bennett is understandably frustrated.

That's what led to Bennett's somewhat exasperated statement at the conclusion of another lengthy B.C. Supreme Court hearing March 7, where both defence lawyers and the special prosecutor explained why the case could not begin April 2 as planned but needs to be delayed by weeks more.

And much of the court session revolved around the thorny issues of disclosure -- of evidence and to the media. On Feb. 26, the defence had filed a lengthy application for disclosure and the hearing was to discuss related issues and the upcoming trial.

Justice Bennett began by expressing her unhappiness with the fact that while on business in Quebec last month she read a Globe and Mail newspaper report outlining a defence disclosure application before she had even seen it herself.

It briefly thrust blogger Robin Mathews, a retired Canadian studies professor who has intently followed the Basi-Virk investigation, into the spotlight after he sent a personal letter to Bennett complaining that he could not get access to the defence application through the court registry while the media obviously had the document the day it was filed.

But it was lawyers for the defence who raised the most vexing disclosure problems -- their claim that the RCMP and special prosecutor Bill Berardino continue to fail to adequately disclose evidence they have gathered so that the defence can prepare its case.

All in all, par for the course of one of the most delayed, difficult and yet ultimately extremely important cases on the court docket.

Media? What media?

Perhaps that's why there were more reporters present for The Tyee than for B.C.'s dominant newspaper chain, CanWest Global, publishers of the Vancouver Sun, Province, Victoria Times-Colonist and National Post combined. That would be me.

And just maybe that's why the day after the hearing, only five B.C. newspapers bothered to report on the latest developments: The Globe and Mail, 24 Hours -- my newspaper -- plus the Prince George Citizen, Nelson Daily News and The Daily News of Kamloops, the last three relying on Canadian Press reporter Camille Bains's filed coverage.

Or perhaps it's because a case that involves the B.C. government's controversial $1 billion privatization of B.C. Rail, charges against government aides who were highly politically active in both the federal and BC Liberal parties, allegations of connections to drugs and organized crime, claims of RCMP conflict of interest and a bungled investigation and an increasingly clear defence argument that the accused were merely following provincial government orders isn't worth reporting on.

To be fair, the Sun's Vaughn Palmer weighed in with a full column on March 10, and CanWest Global's John Daly of BCTV attended the hearing but the media turnout and subsequent reporting was sparse.

Disclosure? What disclosure?

"There's an issue I need to raise with you."

Definitely not the first words either a defence lawyer or special prosecutor want to hear from the presiding judge.

But that's exactly what Justice Bennett said to a group of about 10 assembled lawyers representing the defendants, prosecution and the federal and provincial government, as well as about six media representatives and a few observers.

"I read a lengthy report in The Globe and Mail in Quebec about the application before I received it," Justice Bennett continued. "I have a letter from a member of the public asking why he can't have access to the document."

One of those observers sitting next to me was in fact the letter writer -- Robin Mathews -- and his intervention in the case was a welcome reminder that the public does indeed have a right to know what goes on in its courts, a right that Justice Bennett amplified on considerably.

"These proceedings have to be as open as possible," she said, noting that in the most high-profile case she has previously adjudicated, the trial of former premier Glen Clark and Dimitrios Pilarinos, the building contractor and Clark's neighbour who hoped to influence a casino application, Bennett had set up a simple system to ensure access to court documents.

"Media access also means general public access," Bennett continued. "There's a presumption in the law of public access."

When special prosecutor Berardino mildly objected: "The presumption is public access but there will be documents with third-party information that...," Bennett cut him off.

"Let me be clear -- I will deal with this on a document by document basis," she said curtly.

Papers? Show me your papers

And documents there will be aplenty.

Previously in court it has been stated that over 100,000 pages of evidence have been produced, and counting.

But apparently not all the pages that the defence has been counting on.

That much was obvious when an angry Kevin McCullough, counsel for Bob Virk, lit into the special prosecutor's tardy disclosure of evidence.

"There are disclosure issues in this case that must be resolved," McCullough said. "There are several investigations of Mr. Basi and where one stops and the other one starts is very difficult to tell. There are many investigations going on."

"We've got disclosure problems and they're big problems and they've got to be dealt with. Milady, I apologize for the frustration but when my friend says he needs 13 days..."

McCullough was referring to his "friend" -- in the courtroom parlance of bonhomie -- special prosecutor Berardino, who had just told Bennett that he needs 13 business days in order to file a response to the defence disclosure application.

That's a full 13 days after the defence supplies Berardino with background to its disclosure request, because Berardino told the court that: "There is no material in support of the application."

So, who's not disclosing?

Well, Basi's own lawyer, Michael Bolton, laid the blame at Berardino's doorstep.

"The material that gave rise to the disclosure application arises predominantly from the disclosure received from the Crown," he told Bennett. It's important because it will let the defence know and the court know the Crown's theory, for example."

"What is the nature of the benefit?" he asked, referring to the allegation that Basi and Virk were to receive a benefit in exchange for providing lobbyist Erik Bornmann with confidential government information about the B.C. Rail deal for his client OmniTRAX, one of the bidders.

Bolton claimed that the original Crown theory that Basi and Virk were getting jobs in Ottawa with the federal Liberal government under then prime minister Paul Martin "seems to have been discarded."

Bolton continued by stating that a Crown failure to disclose evidence was hampering the defence case.

"The problems with pursuing the goal is that we're still receiving disclosure," he said. Bolton claimed that the defence had received a "statement from one of the key Crown witnesses, Mr. Erik Bornmann, in 2005 -- we got it in 2007."

Bolton also said that two wiretap applications the defence had been seeking for two years had only been received on Jan. 10, 2007.

And McCullough ended his exasperated appeal by stating that: "We've received critical notes from senior police officers just now."

But Bennett wasn't overly sympathetic.

"Mr. McCullough, there's nothing I can do about that now. You've received them," she said.

And Berardino defended the Crown's position. "There's a fundamental difference of opinion on disclosure," he told Bennett.

Relations? We have provincial and federal relations

While the defence and Crown sparring provided most of the sparks, legal counsel for the province gave a little levity to the proceedings.

George Copley, appearing for the "Executive Council of British Columbia" -- in other words, for the provincial government, addressed the potentially thorny issue of "privilege" -- the legal right of both cabinet privilege and solicitor-client privilege when it comes to disclosure of evidence involving cabinet members.

"I don't know how much background you know," Copley quietly began.

"Assume I know very little," Bennett replied, to muffled laughter in the courtroom.

Copley outlined that a sensitive procedure had been developed under Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm to ensure evidentiary documents seized from the B.C. legislature where privilege was claimed were examined to see if they were deemed relevant to the case.

Copley's low-key presentation revealed little of great interest -- with one prominent exception.

"Borden, Ladner, Gervais were the solicitors for the B.C. Rail deal," Copley said. "We may have to involve them."

Dates? We got dates

That left it to Justice Bennett to determine a new schedule for the now-delayed trial.

Another hearing on progress on the pre-trial preparations will be held at 9:30 a.m. on April 2.

Then, after a series of responses from defence and Crown on the disclosure application, the defence will file its Charter of Rights application on April 13.

That application -- originally expected to be filed March 21 -- is expected to ask that Justice Bennett throw the entire case out of court over the validity of search warrant applications obtained by RCMP.

And then on April 16 Justice Bennett will hear the actual arguments on the defence disclosure application in what will take up to 15 days in court.

After that the case is expected to continue on into the summer months, with Bennett noting that she is scheduled to teach a course in the second week of July but will forego it if necessary if the trial requires it.

Expect a long, hot summer of evidence -- if the case goes ahead.


Related Tyee stories:
Will BC Rail Bomb Explode?
Leg Raid Hearing Intrigue
'Spiderman' in a Web of Intrigue

Bill Tieleman is a regular Tyee contributor who writes a column on B.C. politics every Tuesday in 24 Hours, the free weekday newspaper, also online at http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/. Tieleman can be heard every Monday at 10 a.m. on the Bill Good Show on CKNW AM 980 or at http://www.cknw.com/. E-mail him at weststar@telus.net or visit his blog at: http://billtieleman.blogspot.com/.

Just 5 newspapers in BC report on Basi-Virk trial update

Disappointing to discover that just 5 newspapers in British Columbia bothered to report on the latest developments in the trial of David Basi and Bob Virk, two former provincial government aides charged with breach of trust.

My own newspaper, 24 hours, ran my report from the BC Supreme Court hearing Wednesday, the Globe and Mail ran a report by Mark Hume, who was also there, and the Kamloops Daily News, the Nelson Daily News and the Prince George Citizen ran stories written by Canadian Press reporter Camille Bains.

This according to an InfoMart database search of newspapers conducted this afternoon.

That means neither the Vancouver Sun, the Province nor the Victoria Times-Colonist reported that the most important political criminal trial in British Columbia has been delayed again, or that serious questions were raised about the evidence and about the lack of public access to court documents.

I am also unaware of any radio reports based on reviewing BC radio websites but the story may have been broadcast without being posted on their sites.

One can only hope that this omission by so many prominent media will be corrected shortly.

More on Basi Virk trial delay

Trial delayed again

BASI-VIRK

By BILL TIELEMAN, 24 HOURS

The long-delayed trial of former provincial government aides David Basi and Bob Virk on breach of trust charges will take a little longer still to get underway.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett has reluctantly delayed the planned April 2 start date for the trial connected to a police raid on the B.C. Legislature on Dec. 28, 2003 due to disclosure of evidence and administrative issues.

Bennett yesterday set April 16 for the start of a three-week hearing on the defence's application for disclosure of Crown evidence.

But Justice Bennett questioned why she read about the defence application in the media before she herself had received it.

And Bennett warned that she would make the case as open as possible after receiving a complaint letter from a member of the public about being unable to access the defence document through the court registry.

"Just so we're clear, the public interest in having this case heard outweighs just about everything else," Justice Bennett told the courtroom full of lawyers at the end of yesterday's hearing.

Robin Mathews, a retired professor of Canadian studies who has been closely following the case, told 24 hours he was the complainant.

Basi Virk Trial - delayed again!

The long-awaited trial of BC Liberal government aides David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi has been delayed once again.

BC Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett reluctantly decided Wednesday that the planned trial start date of April 2 will be pushed back to April 16 for a three-week hearing on the defence application for disclosure discussed in these pages and elsewhere.

That decision came after lengthy submissions by defence lawyers on the challenges facing them and their frustration with a lack of disclosure of evidence from the Crown.

How long will this case take once it gets underway? Well, the best indication came when Justice Bennett told the lawyers she is scheduled to teach a legal course in the second week of July but will forego it if required by the trial!

Defence lawyers and the special prosecutor will appear before Justice Bennett again at 9:30 a.m. on April 2 to discuss progress in trial preparation and motions.

The defence will file Charter of Rights applications - which could determine if a trial even takes place - on April 13.

A hearing on those applications is yet to be scheduled but will take place after the disclosure hearing.

And Justice Bennett raised another issue at the start of the hearing - that she read the details of the defence disclosure application in the Globe and Mail newspaper while she was in Quebec before she had ever seen the application itself as the presiding judge.

Bennett also pointed out that she had received a letter from a citizen concerned that he could not get access to the defence disclosure application at the BC Supreme Court registry.

Bennett said she would be conducting the trial in the most open manner possible.

Robin Mathews, a retired professor of Canadian Studies who has been following and reporting on the trial online, told me that he was the letter writer and was pleased that Justice Bennett had acknowledged the problem.

I have filed a story for 24 hours newspaper for Thursday's edition and may have more to report here and elsewhere in the days ahead.

Basi Virk Case - New Defence Disclosure Application Details BC Rail Connections

Will BC Rail Bomb Explode?

Basi-Virk lawyers allege deal was rigged by BC Libs.

View full article and comments here http://thetyee.ca/Views/2007/03/06/BCRail/

By Bill Tieleman

Published: March 6, 2007 TheTyee.ca

"They've been calling for this deal to be cancelled since before it started, so it doesn't surprise me much. [But] there has been nothing that's come to our attention or to the attention of investigators that would lead anybody to believe that there was any concern about the CN transaction at all."

-- B.C. Finance Minister Gary Collins, March 13, 2004

The $1 billion privatization of B.C. Rail will be the explosive core of the upcoming April 2 trial of former provincial B.C. Liberal ministerial aides David Basi and Bob Virk on fraud and breach of trust charges.

That's what lawyers for the defence are alleging in a lengthy application for disclosure filed Feb. 27 in B.C. Supreme Court, saying the B.C. Rail deal is the key to the entire case -- and to their exoneration.

The defence dropped bombshell allegations that Premier Gordon Campbell's B.C. Liberal government had already delivered the deal to CN Rail before final bids were even considered and that Basi and Virk were only following Collins's orders to deliver a $70 to $100 million "consolation prize" to losing bidder OmniTRAX -- the B.C. Rail-owned Roberts Bank spur line.

But those are far from the only shocking allegations in the defence document.

And given that the defence has served notice it seeks a stay of proceedings against Basi, Virk and Basi "on the basis of an undermining of the accused's right to a fair trial," it may turn out that the claims made are never introduced as evidence because the trial never happens.

Alternatively, presiding Justice Elizabeth Bennett may grant some or all of the defence's long list of requests for disclosure of evidence against their clients, evidence that could prove very damaging to the provincial government and the federal and provincial Liberal parties.

Fair trial jeopardized?

The allegations in the 32-page application filed by the defence prior to the trial -- to which the Crown will file a reply on March 14 -- come more than three years after the Dec. 28, 2003 police raid on the B.C. legislature. The allegations, it should be reminded, have not been proven in court.

At the heart of the defence case is a serious contention -- that the police and Crown have so screwed up their prosecution of the accused that a fair trial is impossible.

The defence will file a Charter of Rights challenge to the case on March 21 and that application, plus other defence requests, could well have the effect of delaying the April 2 trial start date -- if they don't result in the complete cancellation of the trial itself.

If the trial goes forward, expect the $1 billion B.C. Rail privatization to be placed under more scrutiny than ever before, because it is central to everything about this case.

And notwithstanding former B.C. Liberal finance minister Gary Collins's claim in March 2004 that the there was no concern by investigators about the B.C. Rail sale to CN Rail, in fact the police were literally all over it.

Just how much concern there was can be seen in the defence application, which details a major police surveillance operation focused on Collins himself when he dined with senior executives of OmniTRAX at Vancouver's posh Villa del Lupo restaurant on Dec. 12, 2003.

CN Rail had just been announced as the successful bidder for B.C. Rail on Nov. 25, and according to the defence document, the RCMP learned through intercepted communications that Collins was meeting with OmniTRAX executives Pat Broe and Dwight Johnson.

'Extensive video surveillance'

"The surveillance included undercover operatives both inside and outside the restaurant, and extensive video surveillance and tracking of the parties," the defence states.

It claims that on Nov. 17, 2003, the RCMP had "learned through a series of intercepted communications that Mr. Basi advised OmniTRAX that Minister Collins had authorized a consolation prize for OmniTRAX in exchange for them staying in the bidding process."

The defence will argue that Basi and Virk were merely following ministerial orders from Collins, not acting in their own benefit by leaking confidential government information to a lobby firm representing OmniTRAX.

The defence applications spells this out clearly: "The defence takes the position that at no time did Mr. Basi or Mr. Virk act in a fraudulent, deceitful or criminal manner, but rather acted at all times under the direction of their superiors in the highly political circumstances of their offices."

'Fraught with political controversy'

The defence also spells out just what kind of importance the B.C. Rail privatization had to the B.C. Liberal government.

CP Rail had already dropped out of the bidding, saying privately to government that it believed CN Rail was the predetermined winner of the bidding. A letter to that effect stated that a "clear breach" of fairness had occurred when other bidders obtained confidential government information about B.C. Rail.

"It was clearly in the provincial government's political interest to have an auction with more than one bidder," the defence application states. It later continues that:

"The decision by the Liberal government to sell B.C. Rail was fraught with political controversy, largely because it was in direct contravention of a previous election promise not to sell B.C. Rail.

The Liberal government had recently suffered serious losses of political capital due to their decisions surrounding other major projects, including the Coquihalla Highway project."

"The B.C. Rail bidding process therefore had to be handled with the utmost political care, given this sensitive political climate," it concludes.

Who will testify?

"Sensitive" is a good word to describe much of the evidence slated to be heard in this trial.
For example, will former finance minister Gary Collins be called to testify against his own former ministerial assistant David Basi?

Entirely possible and totally impossible for the defence to actually know, because they also allege that: "From the outset of this case, defence counsel has repeatedly sought a list of witness the Crown intends to call at the trial of this matter." That list is among the requests the defence is asking Justice Bennett to order the Crown to provide.

The defence is also frustrated that it has limited information about "an interview with a member of the public who provided the RCMP with his opinion of two witnesses on the condition of anonymity."

"The special prosecutor and RCMP have refused to provide this statement, advising that its disclosure would breach the third party rights of this individual and the two witnesses," the defence states.

What is alleged

Again, a reminder is in order that these are only allegations not proven in court. Among the more stunning allegations made by the defence are these:

That the defence is seeking correspondence between the RCMP, its legal advisors, the government of B.C. and B.C. Rail about "whether the sale of the freight division ought to have been rescinded and whether any compensation should be provided to any proponent, including the successful proponent";

That the defence also seeks from the same parties "any suggestion that CN paid too much or too little for the freight division";

That Basi and Virk worked on Gary Collins's orders to keep U.S. firm OmniTRAX from dropping out of the bidding for B.C. Rail, by indicating it would be given the "consolation prize" of the B.C. Rail Roberts Bank spur line, worth an estimated $70 to $100 million, for staying in the overall B.C. Rail bid process won by CN to maintain its credibility;

That "the indictment before the court deals directly with the connection of the accused and certain witnesses to the federal Liberal party";

That the "RCMP have extensively investigated various political and quasi-political activities of Mr. Basi in relation to provincial politics" and that "Messrs. Basi and Virk were significant political operatives for the provincial Liberal party";

That B.C. Liberal party Executive Director Kelly Reichert's brother-in-law Kevin Debruyckere was the RCMP sergeant in charge of the investigation;

That in 2004 there had been a leak of information regarding key Crown witness Erik Bornmann, a provincial lobbyist, and that it "pertained to Mr. Reichert knowing that Mr. Bornmann had been granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for the provision of information against Messrs. Basi and Virk";

That "Bornmann advised the RCMP that Mr. Reichert had advised Mr. Bornmann's partner, Mr. [Jamie] Elmhirst, of same."

That because Special Prosecutor Bill Berardino had not notified the provincial government that Bornmann had made statements "that he had bribed Mr. Basi," Bornmann continued in the lobby business and "received a benefit from this conduct of the special prosecutor";

That Bornmann's business partner at Pilothouse Public Affairs, former Province columnist Brian Kieran, also continued to lobby the provincial government on behalf of clients after making his statements to the RCMP in 2004 he "also made an allegation of a payment to Mr. Basi that would have been unlawful";

That because the special prosecutor's "failing to notify the provincial government of this conduct" it left "Mr. Kieran free to continue lobbying the provincial government." That resulted in "a substantial benefit to Mr. Kieran." The defence notes that Kieran announced his retirement in March 2006 when the "court ordered the release of search warrant information";

That the RCMP knew a public claim in April 2004 by Bornmann that he "had been given the 'all clear' by the special prosecutor" was false and that "the special prosecutor has advised defence counsel that Mr. Bornmann continues to this day to have the threat of criminal charges brought against him until after he testifies";

That the RCMP seized federal Liberal Party donor lists in a March 2005 visit to the Liberal Party of Canada B.C. offices -- a fact that caused senior federal Conservative John Reynolds to ask why the RCMP would want them;

That Erik Bornmann made allegations about Bruce Clark, brother of former B.C. Liberal deputy premier Christy Clark and brother-in-law of Mark Marissen, federal Liberal leader Stéphane Dion's campaign manager. According to the defence, Bruce Clark is "another potential Crown witness" and "Mr. Clark bribed Mr. Basi." The defence says it has not received "the entirety of Mr. Bornmann's statements against Mr. Clark although they relate directly to this investigation. [Clark told The Globe and Mail newspaper that: "The police investigated the allegations. They found nothing because the allegations were completely false."]

In a nutshell, a bombshell

In a nutshell, the defence has alleged that there was an internal political decision by the B.C. Liberal government to "fix" a $1 billion dollar deal and pay off the losing firm with another deal worth up to $100 million. And it seeks internal RCMP and government information on whether the B.C. Rail deal should have been rescinded.

It also alleges that a key RCMP investigator was related by marriage to the top staff person of the B.C. Liberal Party and that confidential information about the immunity granted to the Crown's key witness was leaked to that staff person.

The defence also alleges the special prosecutor gave beneficial treatment to two provincial lobbyists who are to be Crown witnesses, so they could continue their lucrative business. And that one of those witnesses still faces potential criminal charges.

More shockers?

Believe it or not, this lengthy compendium does not even cover all of the allegations made in the defence disclosure application -- not even close. I have deliberately left out many of the allegations that have been previously reported in The Tyee and other media outlets for reason of space and complexity.

Suffice it to say that if the Basi, Virk, Basi trial does go ahead as planned, there will be more bombshells than on a bad day in Iraq.

And if the case is somehow derailed by defence motions, well, British Columbia will have been deprived of the most fascinating trial in decades, a trial that could well alter the course of provincial political history.


Related Tyee stories:
Leg Raid Hearing Intrigue
'Spiderman' in a Web of Intrigue
Premier Scrambles to 'Restore Trust'

Bill Tieleman is a regular Tyee contributor who writes a column on B.C. politics every Tuesday in 24 hours, the free weekday newspaper, also online at http://vancouver.24hrs.ca. Tieleman can be heard every Monday at 10 a.m. on the Bill Good Show on CKNW AM 980 or at www.cknw.com. E-mail him at weststar@telus.net or visit his blog at: http://billtieleman.blogspot.com.

Stephane Dion - Environmental Dud!

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column
Tuesday March 6, 2007

All talk, no action

By BILL TIELEMAN

As Prime Minister, I will bring Canadians together to ensure that Canada's natural environment is conserved and protected from sea to sea to sea - for ourselves, for our children, for our future, for Canada, and for our responsibility to the planet.

- Federal Liberal Leader Stephane Dion

Stephane Dion talks a good game on protecting our environment, presenting himself as the greenest Liberal leader ever.

But a close look at his record shows that on green achievements, Dion should actually be red-faced with embarrassment.

While Dion scored an upset win in the December 2006 federal Liberal leadership contest by highlighting his green platform, the longtime Member of Parliament is an environmental dud.

In fact, Dion mentioned the words "environment" and "environmental" in the House of Commons just four times between first joining the Liberal government in January 1996 and becoming environment minister in July 2004 - once every 237 days.

But actions always speak louder - and again Dion has a clear record.

Dion voted with the Conservatives against mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods on Oct. 18, 2001. He joined the Conservatives again in voting against mandatory fuel efficiency for all cars on Feb. 22, 2005.

And as federal environment minister in July 2005, Dion set up a "Chemicals Sector Sustainability Table" to consult on pollution issues - with one of the co-chairs being the vice-president of Imperial Oil's Chemicals Division!

"This move shows that the federal government is determined to kowtow to industry at the expense of the public interest," said Dr. Rick Smith, Environmental Defence executive director at the time. "The creation of this new table is particularly obscene given that Canada ranks as one of the worst countries in the industrialized world for many kinds of pollution."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of Dion's environmental action.

But then again, the federal Liberals themselves had to admit that during their 13 years in power - with Dion an MP for 10 of them and mostly in cabinet - as leadership rival Michael Ignatieff put it about the environment: "We didn't get it done."

Greenhouse gases alone went up 30 per cent under the Liberals.

The party's own 2006 Renewal Commission report confesses that the Liberal government failed to "translate our good environmental intentions into concrete action."

Like when Dion himself reduced offshore oil and gas drilling environmental assessment regulations.

"The science indicates that the environmental effects of offshore oil and gas exploratory drilling are, in general, minor, localized, short in duration and reversible. Under the legislated criteria, a screening type assessment would provide an appropriate level of assessment for such projects," Dion said on Nov. 17, 2005.

But then, that was before he wanted to protect Canada's environment "from sea to sea to sea."

Whatever you say, Stephane.

Kitsilano resident protests plans to axe 45 linden trees along West Broadway

More than 125 Kitsilano residents gathered on West Broadway Saturday to protest plans by Vancouver to cut down 45 mature linden trees in their neighbourhood.

Community activists, arborists and local business owners all spoke out strongly against the city plans, saying that the city refuses to consider alternate ways of dealing with tree roots pushing up the paved sidewalk between MacDonald and Alma.

West Kitsilano Residents Association representatives Mel Lehan and Alayne Keough urged the crowd gathered outside the Hollywood Theatre to contact City Hall to demand the linden trees be saved. Arborists and landscape architects say that at a maximum only 15 linden trees need to be replaced instead of the 45 scheduled for the chain saw starting in early April.

You can email Mayor Sam Sullivan and all City Councilors at once with your concerns.

Contact the West Kitsilano Residents Association at westkits@hotmail.com

The Basi & Virk Case - Supreme Court Schedule - Questions Clarified

There has been some understandable confusion amongst media and interested members of the public about the scheduling of BC Supreme Court appearances and filing of applications by the defence and Crown in recent days regarding the trial of former provincial ministerial aides David Basi and Bob Virk and government aide Aneal Basi.

In particular, there was an unscheduled teleconference with Justice Elizabeth Bennett, defence and Crown this past week. There was not, however, anything filed with BC Supreme Court on Friday March 2 or Thursday March 1, contrary to rumours.

Here is the best schedule possible based on current information I have:

February 26 - the defence filed a lengthy application for disclosure - some of the contents have been widely reported. See my article on this blog here.

March 7 - BC Supreme Court - Pre-trial conference scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. but may start at 9:30 a.m. This conference will address trial scheduling and other issues. This is the only BC Supreme Court appearance by the defence and Crown prior to the trial start on April 2.

March 14 - Filing only - the Crown responds to the defence disclosure application of February 26 by filing with the Registry of the BC Supreme Court.

March 21 - Filing only - two documents - 1) the defence files a Charter of Rights application related to aspect of the case and 2) the defence responds to the Crown's reply to the disclosure application of February 26 NOTE: The Charter application was originally scheduled for March 5 but was put over to this date.

April 2 - BC Supreme Court - trial begins.

Please note that this is not an official version, but a reasonably accurate summary based on information I have obtained from those close to the trial.

Ho fucking Ho? Harmony Airways owner David Ho allegedly pulled over by police with two prostitutes, Global TV reports

Sorry for the obscenity but this story begs for it.

Global TV's John Daley reported last night that David Ho, owner of Harmony Airways, was recently pulled over by Vancouver Police in the company of two sex trade workers.

Global reports that a crack cocaine pipe was also found in the car and that Ho was given a 24 hour roadside suspension at the time.

Ho's name most recently came up in December 2006 when former BC Liberal Finance Minister Gary Collins quit as Harmony Airways CEO after just two years on the job. Collins recently joined Belkorp Industries as a senior Vice-President.

Ho is a major BC Liberal donor and supporter, donating more than $102,000 to the party.

Senior Conservative John Reynolds asks why RCMP allegedly seized federal Liberal donor lists in BC in Basi-Virk investigation

March 1, 2007

Senior Tory wants answers on Basi/Virk

By BILL TIELEMAN, 24 HOURS

Why did the RCMP allegedly seize the donor lists of the Liberal Party of Canada B.C. branch in March 2005 in connection with the investigation of breach-of-trust charges against former provincial government aides David Basi and Bob Virk?

That's what senior federal Conservative John Reynolds is asking after Basi and Virk's lawyers filed a disclosure application Monday in B.C. Supreme Court claiming that RCMP "attended the federal Liberal Party's B.C. office in March 2005 and seized donor lists."

Reynolds, 2006 Conservative election campaign co-chair, said if the RCMP seized donor lists the reasons should be made public.

"I don't know what the RCMP were looking for, but we should be able to know why they seized the Liberal donor lists," Reynolds told 24 hours. "There's no question that there's been a lot of things happening that there are no answers to and the public wants answers."

When 24 hours asked last October if RCMP had visited LPC B.C. headquarters, executive director Mark Grant declined to comment. Grant did not return phone and e-mail messages yesterday. RCMP media relations did not respond to phone messages by press time.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOT PUBLISHED IN 24 HOURS

And Reynolds said questions remain about a $90,000 Harmony charter flight of Young Liberals to the 2003 federal leadership convention that made Paul Martin leader and prime minister.

“There’s always been questions about how that airplane was paid for,” he said.

Former B.C. Liberal Finance Minister Gary Collins – Basi’s boss - became Harmony CEO in December 2004 and quit this past December.

Reynolds also said he is disturbed that the Basi-Virk case could be thrown out of court over claims that police wiretaps were improperly obtained and are therefore inadmissible as evidence.

Defence lawyers have previously indicated that they intend to file a Charter of Rights challenge to wiretap evidence after alleging that police failed twice to obtain a judge’s authorization because of Parliamentary privilege.

The defence claims police reapplied for cellphone wiretaps to another judge without disclosing that the address attached to the cellphone was in the B.C. Legislature.

“It’s very frustrating to read in the paper that the whole case might be thrown out because of the way police search warrants were obtained,” Reynolds said.

Basi Virk - new defence disclosures rock Gary Collins, Bruce Clark and others

New allegations made by defence lawyers in Basi Virk BC Legislature raid case touch top levels of provincial and federal Liberal Party insiders

Lawyers defending David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi in the BC Legislature raid case have filed an application for disclosure with BC Supreme Court that makes a number of stunning allegations.

Among those allegations - and a caution as always that these are merely allegations that have not been yet raised in court, let alone proven - some amazing claims.

• That top RCMP investigator Inspector Kevin DeBruyckere was at the time of the Legislature raids the brother-in-law of BC Liberal Party executive director Kelly Reichert.

• That Reichert was leaked information that key Crown witness lobbyist Erik Bornmann had received immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying against Basi, Virk and Basi in the trial.

• That former BC Liberal Finance Minister Gary Collins met with U.S. executives Pat Broe and Dwight Johnson from failed BC Rail privatization bidder OmniTRAX at Vancouver's Villa Del Lupo restaurant to alleged tell them they would get a "consolation prize" of the Roberts Bank superport spur line. That second privatization process was cancelled by the government after the RCMP told officials it was "tainted". Collins yesterday denied that claim and said he would like RCMP videotape surveillance released to clear his name.

• That Bruce Clark, brother of former BC Liberal Deputy Premier Christy Clark and himself an executive of the federal Liberal Party of Canada - BC, had offered bribes to David Basi in an unrelated matter, according to key Crown witness lobbyist Erik Bornmann. Clark has told the Globe and Mail that he has already been investigated and cleared by police in that matter.

The application also alleges Special Prosecutor Bill Berardino has not provided Basi, Virk and Basi's lawyers with the evidence they need to prepare the defence case.

Much, much more on this and other disclosures in the very near future.

Premier Gordon Campbell's Heart Transplant Explains Political Change of Heart

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column

Tuesday February 27, 2007

Have a heart, Gord

By BILL TIELEMAN

Politics is largely a matter of heart.

- British Conservative politician R.A. Butler

24 hours has learned that Premier Gordon Campbell's shocking political change of heart on key issues like helping the homeless, fighting climate change, improving welfare and settling aboriginal land claims has an equally shocking explanation.


In the past year Campbell has literally had his heart changed - the premier has received a heart transplant - and from a deceased New Democratic Party activist!

B.C. Liberal Party insiders have confirmed the closely guarded secret - Campbell's recent dramatic move from hard right to political left is the result of his receiving the heart of a young woman who had been heavily involved in the NDP and social justice issues.

The stunning news explains moves by Campbell that have confounded political pundits and even his cabinet colleagues.

"Campbell's been wackier than Britney Spears on crack," exclaimed one cabinet minister speaking on condition of anonymity. "I half expect him to show up at the Legislature with his head shaved and Paris Hilton on his arm!

"First he sucked up to the aboriginals and then the bloody environmentalists," the shaken minister said. "But when he jacked up welfare rates I knew it just wasn't the same premier who slashed and burned government for years - something was deeply wrong with Gordon."

The premier's behaviour mystified other supporters. Phil Hochstein, president of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, which has donated over $250,000 to the B.C. Liberals, described the recent B.C. budget as coming from a "left-wing government".

Doctors who performed the emergency surgery sometime last year warned that the new left-wing heart might cause side- effects but they were overwhelmed when Campbell began reading Karl Marx's Das Capital while recovering in hospital.

"You know, some of this stuff about the bourgeoisie and workers seizing the means of production really makes sense to me," Campbell reportedly told worried surgeons.

In a desperate medical effort to reverse the effects of the left-wing heart transplant, a group of right-wing politicians donated blood to Campbell.

Former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein volunteered immediately but his blood had to be politely rejected when tests showed Klein still had a disturbingly high residual level of alcohol months after he quit drinking.

Fortunately, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former Reform Party leader Preston Manning and Campbell's brother Michael all donated blood to temporarily right the left-leaning premier.

And the B.C. Liberal cabinet minister still believes Campbell can completely recover.

"Now that I know what's happened I only hope Gordon can be re-transplanted with a new right-wing heart - otherwise, his premiership is over," he said. "Unless Campbell wants to keep his new heart, switch parties and replace Carole James."

Tieleman Guest Hosting Nightline BC tonight - Monday February 26 - on CKNW & Corus Radio Network

I will be guest hosting Nightline BC tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. on CKNW AM 980 and the Corus Radio Network throughout British Columbia, filling in for a snowbound Mike Smyth who is trapped in Toronto! What a fate.

And you can also listen online at www.cknw.com

Tonight's hot topics:

7 p.m. - What happens if the Fraser River floods Fraser Valley? We'll talk to Province columnist Brian Lewis, who has been spearheading a series of articles in that newspaper.

7:30 p.m. - The growing issue of violent girls - what causes it and what can be done? We hear from Anita Roberts of SafeTeens.

8 p.m. - The childcare crisis - the Conservative government's decision to end federal child care funding represents a $455 million loss to BC over the next three years - BC Minister of State for Child Care Linda Reid talks about what the province is doing.

8:30 p.m - Sea lice and fish farms. Craig Orr of the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform talks about the connection.

Tune in, call in, be heard.

BC Budget - You're Paying Through The Nose For It

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column

Tuesday February 20, 2007

The budget circus

By BILL TIELEMAN

It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it.

- George W. Bush

If British Columbia's Legislature was a small town carnival, today's annual provincial budget would be the cheesy midway, with games where you spend $30 to win a prize worth a buck.

And taxpayers would be the rubes and marks so easily separated from their hard-earned money that they go home thinking they're big winners.

So step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and try your luck!

B.C. Liberal Finance Minister Carole Taylor is the head carny, delivering a budget this afternoon intended to fool you into believing, as one bank's television ads tell us, that: "You're richer than you think."

Well, you're not. You paid through the nose for the B.C. government's surplus of somewhere near $3 billion.

And that extra $885 million the generous Taylor has already said she will spend on your health care? Yep, she picked your pocket without you even noticing!

But what a great smile and, unlike last year, Taylor probably won't wear new $600 Gucci's to distract rubes from the con.

Here's just some of the ways you have already been fleeced before you even get to the carnival.

Medical Services Plan Premiums - These were increased by a whopping 50 per cent in 2002 by the B.C. Liberals and never reduced.

That means each year you give the government an extra $468 million dollars over the $954 million it collected in 2001/02, for a whopping total of $1.42 billion a year. And you still get patients lying in hospital hallways.

Post Secondary Fees - Got a college student in your family? Gee, that's too bad, because tuition is over double what it used to be.

University, college and other post secondary institution fees have jumped dramatically under the B.C. Liberals, from $452 million in 2001/02 to $985 million this year, a big $533 million hike.

Fuel Tax - You are paying a lot more for fuel, thanks in part to an almost forgotten tax grab by the government in 2003. That's when carnival ringmaster Premier Gordon Campbell told us B.C. needed a 3.5-cent-a-litre increase in gas taxes.

It helped fuel tax revenue jump from $659 million in 2001/02 to $945 million this year, a tidy $286-million "gas and dash" at the pumps - at your expense.

Liquor Distribution Branch - Taxes driving you to drink? Pay up again! Booze income has grown by $157 million since 2001/02, a happy hour boost of 25 per cent.

Why? Perhaps because a bottle of Hogue Cellars cabernet/merlot from Washington sells for just $6.99 in their state liquor store and a whopping $13.99 here at home.

So watch out today for the government's hand in your pocket!

Hear Bill Tieleman Mondays at 10 a.m. on CKNW AM 980's Bill Good Show. Website at: http://billtieleman.blogspot.com/

Tieleman in Mexico till February 24

Buenas dias amigos y amigas!

I am travelling in Merida, Mexico - back February 24.

More posts then.

adios,

Bill Tieleman

The BC Liberal Throne Speech - what it should but probably won't say

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column

Tuesday February 13, 2007


BC Liberal Throne Speech today – what it should but probably won’t say

By BILL TIELEMAN

Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes.

- Peter Drucker

Tuesday is Speech from the Throne day in British Columbia, an occasion of pomp and circumstance as well as pomposity and circumvention of important issues by weasel words.

As usual for all political parties – the throne speech will be full of platitudes and worthy goals but lacking in details or commitment.

And while Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnola delivers the speech on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, our official head of state, it is the backroom boys and girls in Premier Gordon Campbell’s office that actually write it.

All indications are that Campbell’s government will have lots to say about the literally hot topic of the environment but here’s what the throne speech should – and almost surely won’t – say:

* * * * *

“As we begin a new session of the British Columbia Legislature, our province is experiencing untold wealth but also unparalleled poverty.

It is deeply shameful that on the streets of every major city homeless people beg for spare change, sleep in the doorways and suffer needlessly when our economy is so robust.

We can easily see why homelessness has more than doubled - my government made draconian cuts to social assistance in our first term that reduced eligibility and benefits for our poorest citizens.

The Ministry of Human Resources budget alone was slashed - expenditures dropped from $1.93 billion in 2001-2002 to $1.37 billion this past year.

This has been a terrible mistake and your government apologizes for it.

Concurrently, this province will also reverse course to again become a leader in building social housing, so that no one need be without a warm, dry and affordable home regardless of their income.

To partially fund this work, we will introduce a sliding scale reduction in the provincial homeowner grant – so that those living in houses with values approaching $1 million will increasingly help those without shelter.

Many of the homeless on our streets are suffering from drug addiction. This government will begin a new initiative to dramatically boost drug and alcohol treatment programs.

Our promise will be that any British Columbian who wants to enter de-tox will be able to do so within 48 hours of making that decision.

This promise will not only be compassionate, it will be cost-effective. We pay daily for property and other crimes committed by the addicted.

And the health care costs of those who are addicted, including those who contract HIV-AIDS, hepatitis and other serious illnesses are both significant and avoidable.

We have made many grievous mistakes – today, we begin to correct them.”

* * * * *

Wouldn’t that be nice?

Calling Lorne Mayencourt! Pollsters phoning Vancouver Centre voters in effort to see if MLA Mayencourt can be the next Conservative MP

Controversial BC Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt may be the "safe" choice for federal Conservatives as their candidate for Vancouver Centre Member of Parliament to take on Liberal Hedy Fry.

There have been one or possibly two polling efforts undertaken in recent weeks in Vancouver Centre to gauge Mayencourt's support for a possible candidacy. Polling was continuing as of February 1 and some was done before that.

The poll asks a number of questions that help identify Mayencourt as the author of the "Safe Streets Act" - the private members bill that banned "aggressive panhandling" and squeegeeing cars at intersections and the "Safe Schools Act" as well.

Other questions include:

"What is your impression of the following politicians: favourable or unfavourable; somewhat or very?

Stephen Harper

Jack Layton

Stephane Dion

Gordon Campbell

Carole James

Hedy Fry

Svend Robinson

What party did you vote for in the last federal election?

What party did you vote for in the last provincial election?

Who do you intend to vote for in the upcoming federal election?

According to one alert reader the company involved is NRG Research, a company formerly known as Nordic Research which merged with Western Opinion Research.

Western Opinion Research was the pollster of record for Gordon Campbell's BC Liberal Party.

NRG Research Senior Vice-President Adam Di Paula told me by email today that:

"Company policy is that we can’t discuss who are clients are or what they may be polling on—unless of course they release that on their own accord."

But it's possible that there are two polls. The question is - who wants to know?

Obviously either the Conservative Party or Lorne Mayencourt, potential candidate - or both.

Resigned BC Liberal cabinet minister Bill Bennett proves himself a $25,000 bonehead

Ex-Minister of State Bill Bennett - bonehead once again

I've called BC Liberal cabinet minister Bill Bennett a bonehead before - and now he just had to go out and prove it again!

Bennett flamed out in an email with obscene language not to an NDP symp or union supporter but - bonehead play - to the president of the Fernie Rod & Gun Club!

And that misanthropic missive cost Bennett a cool $25,000 a year - the money he was collecting for being a junior Minister of State - in other words, Minister with Letterhead and not much more.

A tip of the hat to my 24 hours colleague Sean Holman, also of http://www.publiceyeonline.com/ who first broke the story on Tuesday.

Obviously Bennett's exalted position got to his head because how else can you explain using language unfit for a daily newspaper to belittle someone who dared criticize Bennett.

In his email to Maarten Hart, Bennett wrote that: "It is my understanding that you are an American, so I don't give a shit what your opinion is on Canada or Canadian residents."

"As someone who has spent the past six years working my ass off for my constituents, I am not about to take that kind of bullshit from someone who, for all I know, is up here as an American spy who is actually interested in helping the US create a park in the Flathead," Bennett continued.

"I will continue to work for hunters and anglers in the East Kootenay as I always have and you will continue to be a self-inflated, pompous, American know-it-all.

Have a nice day.

Bill Bennett"

Bennett - obviously no relation to former Social Credit Premier Bill Bennett - is prone to gaffes.

In October of last year he accused the BC NDP of planning a campaign of "dirty tricks" against Premier Gordon Campbell's Conversation on Health and that they would be advised by "American strategists" who might be "Democrats or Republicans".

His "evidence"?

Bennett told Province reporter Ian Bailey that he had learned some New Democrats had been to Washington, D.C. for seminars, "where they were trying to teach people about how to practise politics in a more effective and negative way."

Of course, Bennett didn't realize that Premier Campbell's chief of staff Martyn Brown had been doing the same thing - attending seminars in Washington on political strategy and tactics.

Ironically, just a few days after the first Healthcare Conversation it's not the NDP who pull a dirty trick on the Premier but his own minister, Bill "Bonehead" Bennett!

Basi-Virk case key crown witness Erik Bornmann was guest at Canadian state luncheons for Chinese, Mexican Presidents in September 2005

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column
Tuesday February 6, 2007

A strange guest

By BILL TIELEMAN

The art of being a good guest is to know when to leave.

- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Erik Bornmann, the crown's key witness against ex-provincial government aides David Basi and Bob Virk in their bribery trial, was a guest at official Canadian state luncheons in Vancouver for Chinese President Hu Jiantao and Mexican President Vicente Fox in September 2005, 24 hours has learned.

Police allege that Bornmann provided compensation to Basi and Virk in exchange for confidential government documents about the $1 billion BC Rail privatization deal in 2003. Bornmann was a lobbyist for OmniTRAX, one of the bidders.

Bornmann's Vancouver home and the office of his Victoria lobby firm, Pilothouse Public Affairs, were searched by police on Dec. 28, 2003, the same day they searched the B.C. Legislature.

In April 2005, 24 hours first disclosed that Bornmann had become the key Crown witness against Basi and Virk.

Former Liberal Party of Canada B.C. Chief of Staff Mike Witherly told 24 hours he was unaware why Bornmann was in attendance at both events, hosted by then-Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin, or who invited him.

"No. I don't know. It was a large process," said Witherly, the former Chief of Staff for the LPC BC office who had also served as Martin's senior B.C. political advisor. Questioned further, Witherly only replied: "It was a large process."

Bornmann was a key organizer in B.C. for Martin's Liberal leadership campaign and a former LPC B.C. executive member.

Bornmann attended the luncheon for Chinese President Jintao on Sept 17, 2005 and Mexican President Fox on Sept 30, 2005. Both were held at the Westin Bayshore.

There also remain unanswered questions about Jamie Elmhirst, who resigned last month as LPC B.C. president but was subpoenaed to testify in the Basi-Virk case on Oct. 4, 2006.

Elmhirst was business partners in Pilothouse with Bornmann and Brian Kieran, who is also scheduled to testify for the crown against Basi, Virk in the April 2 trial.

Mark Grant, LPC B.C. Executive Director, told 24 hours by e-mail that the state luncheons: "Were not organized by the Liberal Party of Canada in B.C. I also want to point out that Mike Witherly was not in charge of LP CBC during that time."

Mark Marissen, who was federal Liberal Leader Stephane Dion's leadership campaign manager and now co-chairs the Liberal Party national election campaign team, said in an e-mail to 24 hours that he did not know about Elmhirst's subpoena to testify.

"I was first aware of it from your story in 24 hours," Marissen wrote. In response to a question whether he had at any point discussed the subpoena with Elmhirst, Marissen replied that: "Given that this is a matter before the courts, I did not feel it was appropriate to ask him about any details associated with his subpoena."