Few answers, lots of spin
By BILL TIELEMAN, 24 HOURS
B.C. Liberal government ministerial aides are under strict orders when the B.C. Legislature is in session and rule No. 1 is to not provide answers to the opposition in Question Period and spin the media, a newly released confidential government document shows.
"It's Question Period, not Answer Period," reads an internal government document titled House Review: A Day In The Life dated January 2007.
"Answer the best you can each time, every time. But if you can't, ATTACK!! NDP record, evidence of internal conflict, etc ...." the document instructs ministerial assistants to B.C. cabinet ministers.
UPDATE: My 24 hours Sean Holman has a fascinating video scrum at his Public Eye Online website of B.C. Liberal House Leader Mike de Jong reacting to this story - don't expect much illumination though. Sean also gets a non-comment response out of Attorney General Wally Oppal - who uses the same excuses as de Jong that the "matter is before the courts" - but the scrum is entertaining!
House Review also details how cabinet aides and other government staff are expected to influence reporters to keep them from writing about controversial issues raised in Question Period by the opposition.
A section titled: "10 A.M. - The News Blitz" says: "This is our chance to get to the media while they are still thinking about their lead - give them something else to write on so they aren't pressured to write on QP [Question Period]."
There are: "Several options for 10 a.m. blitz: 1) Legislation; 2) News Releases; 3) Comment on issues already on media radar."
House Review is part of 8,000 pages of confidential government documents ordered released by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett Wednesday in response to an NDP court application.
The information was obtained through Freedom Of Information requests by defence counsel acting for David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi, three former government aides facing corruption charges related to the $1-billion sale of B.C. Rail.
Bennett also ordered that the documents be made available to media and the public for review but not photocopying at the court's Criminal Registry.
The document states in a "Question Period" section that: "Ministers are judged on the three Cs: Competence - we know the file better than the critics; Confidence - we are sure of our position; Control - we are clear in our communication."
The "Question Period" section also outlines how cabinet ministers are backed up by staff in several locations so they can answer opposition inquiries quickly.
"Speed Kills - one person in 223 [Room 223 in the Legislature, presumably], one in the office, so that info can get into the chamber," the unsigned document reads.
The media spin doctoring continues following Question Period, according to another section titled: "3 p.m. The Hallway" - regarding media questioning of ministers and opposition in the hallway outside the Legislature Chamber.
"The halls are Round 2 - if QP goes well, it's the NDP's 2nd Chance. If QP goes bad it's our chance for clean-up," House Review says. "The halls will NEVER be a good substitution for a good QP performance."
The newly released documents also include detailed briefing notes for Campbell prior to interviews with columnists Vaughn Palmer of the Vancouver Sun and Michael Smyth of the Province newspapers and for talk radio show interviews.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOT PUBLISHED IN 24 HOURS
House Review outlines in detail what happens in the hallway after QP: “Jason, Dale, Caucus and PAB work the halls – follow their lead, stay in contact if you are the flavour of the day. Find out what the NDP is saying and distributing. Assess best mitigation techniques, including whether to keep your Minister in the House or bring them out on cue.”
“Dale” would appear to be Dale Steeves, Premier Gordon Campbell’s Communications Director. “Jason” may be Jason Keenan, Campbell’s former Legislative Support Officer. PAB is the Public Affairs Bureau, the government’s communications arm.
“We can use the halls to mitigate their attacks,” House Review continues. “1) Distribute paper that refutes their claims….2) Provide balancing data to supplement their stories – usually contrasting information; 3) Send the minister back out to take another round of interviews with media.”
House Review says the government’s day starts with an 8:15 a.m. House Meeting: “Smaller meeting with PO [Premier’s Office], Leader’s Office, Caucus and Whip’s Office – may introduce PAB into discussions. Final decisions on QP angles. Final decision on the 10 a.m. News Blitz.”
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Kevin Falcon's A Bridge Too Far - $3 billion Public-Private-Partnership Port Mann bridge deal collapses! BC taxpayers to go it alone
Breaking news - BC Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon's much-vaunted $3 billion Public-Private-Partnership deal to build a new Port Mann bridge has collapsed - leaving BC taxpayers to pick up the entire project.
Falcon announced late Friday that the province could not reach a deal with a private consortium that was going to build the new 10-lane bridge - with a rapidly expanding budget that jumped from $1.5 billion to $3 billion in just eight months.
“We would've liked to have gotten to an agreement," said Falcon. "We had a memorandum of agreement, but ultimately we were not able to come to closing terms, and that's just life."
But the news has drawn fire from both the NDP and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
"If you can't get financing for this kind of a project, where there's a guaranteed source of revenue over a lengthy period of time, what project can you get financing for?" said NDP Finance critic Bruce Ralston. "So we're back to government financing, but we've been delayed for years by this minister's stubborn insistence on doing it a different way, which has completely failed."
Canadian Taxpayers Federation BC director Maureen Bader calls the government's approach "too risky."
"If it's too risky for a private sector company then it's also too risky for the taxpayers," said "So I think now is not the time to be going forward with these projects — to increase the debt even more than what we are already looking at. "
After an initial all private deal also fell through, BC announced it was going to provide one-third of the financing while a group of private developers was slated to provide the remaining two-thirds.
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Falcon announced late Friday that the province could not reach a deal with a private consortium that was going to build the new 10-lane bridge - with a rapidly expanding budget that jumped from $1.5 billion to $3 billion in just eight months.
“We would've liked to have gotten to an agreement," said Falcon. "We had a memorandum of agreement, but ultimately we were not able to come to closing terms, and that's just life."
Falcon claims that any cost overruns or construction delays will be the responsibility of Peter Kiewit and Sons and Flat-Iron Constructors Canada, the two contractors.
But the news has drawn fire from both the NDP and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
"If you can't get financing for this kind of a project, where there's a guaranteed source of revenue over a lengthy period of time, what project can you get financing for?" said NDP Finance critic Bruce Ralston. "So we're back to government financing, but we've been delayed for years by this minister's stubborn insistence on doing it a different way, which has completely failed."
Canadian Taxpayers Federation BC director Maureen Bader calls the government's approach "too risky."
"If it's too risky for a private sector company then it's also too risky for the taxpayers," said "So I think now is not the time to be going forward with these projects — to increase the debt even more than what we are already looking at. "
After an initial all private deal also fell through, BC announced it was going to provide one-third of the financing while a group of private developers was slated to provide the remaining two-thirds.
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009
BASI-VIRK - NDP wins access to 8000 pages of documents related to BC Rail privatization in Supreme Court of BC decision today
UPDATED 4:20 P.M.
The New Democratic Party opposition won a big legal victory in BC Supreme Court today when Justice Elizabeth Bennett ruled that they - and the public - could have access to 8,000 pages of government documents related to the privatization of BC Rail.
The documents contained in 15 binders had been obtained by defence counsel for three former BC Liberal government aides facing corruption charges connected to the 2003 BC Rail deal - David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi.
The documents will take some time to photocopy but should be available in the court registry by this afternoon.
UPDATE - The government documents ordered released by the court will not be available until Thursday due to the length of time needed to photocopy them.
NDP MLA Leonard Krog said outside court that the public deserved to see details of what he called a "giveaway" of BC Rail before the May 12 provincial election.
"We're getting 15 binders of documents that hopefully will cast some light on what I believe is the giveaway of a crown asset that led to criminal charges," Krog said.
But Krog said the BC government could release far more documents if it chose to, including two more binders of BC Rail company information that Bennett today declined to release to the NDP.
"The body that is holding back documents is the government of British Columbia," he said. "BC Rail can release those documents if they wish. The fact that this case has gone on so long is entirely the fault of the provincial government."
Krog said the Gordon Campbell government was using "entirely political" moves to keep the facts from the public.
"Bleak House by Charles Dickens doesn't begin to compart to this fiasco," Krog concluded, referring to the classic novel about a long-running legal dispute that was a criticism of the British judiciary system at the time.
A shorter version of this story will run in Thursday's 24 hours newspaper.
UPDATE 4:20 p.m.
The successful NDP legal application was brought to court by lawyer Mike Mulligan. In court Mulligan told Bennett that: "There should be a presumption of openness in court, including pre-trial hearings."
Bennett was unimpressed, replying: "This courtroom has been very open. There have been very few publication bans. Disclosure [of evidence to the defence] is not something the public generally has access to."
Defence lawyer Michael Bolton, representing David Basi, argued successfully in court for the exclusion of two documents in the 8,000 pages.
"It's communication between a lobbyist and Mr. Basi with regard to some Liberal Party matters," Bolton told Bennett. "It has relevance to these proceedings - I can tell from the date of it."
"I have concern with it being available prior to the trial because it affects Mr. Basi's right to a fair trial," Bolton said. This particular document will be relevant to cross-examinatino of one of the key Crown witnesses."
Bolton did not mention any names but former BC lobbyists Erik Bornmann and Brian Kieran, partners in the now defunct Pilothouse Public Affairs, are both testifying for the Crown and are alleged to have provided benefits to David Basi and Bob Virk in exchange for obtaining confidential government information. Neither Bornmann nor Kieran face any charges.
Bornmann and Kieran were retained as lobbyists by OmniTRAX, one of the two bidders for BC Rail. OmniTRAX has denied any knowledge of their actions and is not under investigation.
Bolton also received Bennett's approval to have a second document removed from the release.
"Binder 3, Tab 3, page 29 is a discussion between Mr. Basi and his previous counsel, Mr. Considine, regarding his employment," Bolton told the court. "It would not normallly be released under the Act. It involves employment history."
Outside court Bolton said that the information obtained by defence counsel through FOI requests that will be made public has much to do with the BC Rail privatization.
"There are a huge volume of documents that will illuminate aspects of the BC Rail deal - it doesn't affect the fair trial rights of Mr. Basi," he said in an interview.
The court adjourned until the next pre-trial session, scheduled to being March 9 with arguments over parliamentary privilege issues and disclosure of documents.
Lawyer Frank Falzone will be representing the Speaker of the BC Legislature, the Clerk and the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.
The New Democratic Party opposition won a big legal victory in BC Supreme Court today when Justice Elizabeth Bennett ruled that they - and the public - could have access to 8,000 pages of government documents related to the privatization of BC Rail.
The documents contained in 15 binders had been obtained by defence counsel for three former BC Liberal government aides facing corruption charges connected to the 2003 BC Rail deal - David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi.
The documents will take some time to photocopy but should be available in the court registry by this afternoon.
UPDATE - The government documents ordered released by the court will not be available until Thursday due to the length of time needed to photocopy them.
NDP MLA Leonard Krog said outside court that the public deserved to see details of what he called a "giveaway" of BC Rail before the May 12 provincial election.
"We're getting 15 binders of documents that hopefully will cast some light on what I believe is the giveaway of a crown asset that led to criminal charges," Krog said.
But Krog said the BC government could release far more documents if it chose to, including two more binders of BC Rail company information that Bennett today declined to release to the NDP.
"The body that is holding back documents is the government of British Columbia," he said. "BC Rail can release those documents if they wish. The fact that this case has gone on so long is entirely the fault of the provincial government."
Krog said the Gordon Campbell government was using "entirely political" moves to keep the facts from the public.
"Bleak House by Charles Dickens doesn't begin to compart to this fiasco," Krog concluded, referring to the classic novel about a long-running legal dispute that was a criticism of the British judiciary system at the time.
A shorter version of this story will run in Thursday's 24 hours newspaper.
UPDATE 4:20 p.m.
The successful NDP legal application was brought to court by lawyer Mike Mulligan. In court Mulligan told Bennett that: "There should be a presumption of openness in court, including pre-trial hearings."
Bennett was unimpressed, replying: "This courtroom has been very open. There have been very few publication bans. Disclosure [of evidence to the defence] is not something the public generally has access to."
Defence lawyer Michael Bolton, representing David Basi, argued successfully in court for the exclusion of two documents in the 8,000 pages.
"It's communication between a lobbyist and Mr. Basi with regard to some Liberal Party matters," Bolton told Bennett. "It has relevance to these proceedings - I can tell from the date of it."
"I have concern with it being available prior to the trial because it affects Mr. Basi's right to a fair trial," Bolton said. This particular document will be relevant to cross-examinatino of one of the key Crown witnesses."
Bolton did not mention any names but former BC lobbyists Erik Bornmann and Brian Kieran, partners in the now defunct Pilothouse Public Affairs, are both testifying for the Crown and are alleged to have provided benefits to David Basi and Bob Virk in exchange for obtaining confidential government information. Neither Bornmann nor Kieran face any charges.
Bornmann and Kieran were retained as lobbyists by OmniTRAX, one of the two bidders for BC Rail. OmniTRAX has denied any knowledge of their actions and is not under investigation.
Bolton also received Bennett's approval to have a second document removed from the release.
"Binder 3, Tab 3, page 29 is a discussion between Mr. Basi and his previous counsel, Mr. Considine, regarding his employment," Bolton told the court. "It would not normallly be released under the Act. It involves employment history."
Outside court Bolton said that the information obtained by defence counsel through FOI requests that will be made public has much to do with the BC Rail privatization.
"There are a huge volume of documents that will illuminate aspects of the BC Rail deal - it doesn't affect the fair trial rights of Mr. Basi," he said in an interview.
The court adjourned until the next pre-trial session, scheduled to being March 9 with arguments over parliamentary privilege issues and disclosure of documents.
Lawyer Frank Falzone will be representing the Speaker of the BC Legislature, the Clerk and the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Forget the Oscars! Here are the Academy of Political Pundit Arts and Sciences awards to local, BC and federal politicians!
Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column
Tuesday February 24, 2009
And the award goes to ...
By BILL TIELEMAN
Tuesday February 24, 2009
And the award goes to ...
By BILL TIELEMAN
The Academy Awards are obscene, dirty ... no better than a beauty contest.
- Dustin Hoffman
Welcome to the Academy of Political Pundit Arts and Sciences award ceremonies!
The Oscars were Sunday night but the achievements of local, B.C. and federal politicians are being awarded right here and now!
Our first category: The Best Unbelievably Out Of Touch Performance By A Provincial Politician.
The envelope please ... and the winner is: WALL-Y - the story of an animated B.C. Attorney-General Wally Oppal who fails miserably to deal with crimes committed by an overwhelming amount of human garbage on the streets of Metro Vancouver.
Our next category: The Best Urban Disaster Movie.
And the winner is: Milked, about how anout-of-control civic politician - played by former Non-Partisan Association Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan - takes taxpayers to the cleaners by having city council secretly finance an out-of-cash developer building the Olympic Village.
Don't miss the big- budget blockbuster sequel - titled Olympic Village of the Damned - starring Vision Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and a cast of millions - opening for two weeks in February 2010!
Speaking of the Olympics, our next category is Best Totally Underestimated Expense Claim.
The winner - Slumdog Billionaire, starring Colin Hansen as the B.C. Finance Minister who inexplicably budgets only $175 million for Olympic Winter Games security costs - and then acts completely shocked when the real total turns about to be $1 billion! An unbelievable performance!
Moving along, our next category is Best Non- Supporting Actor In A Crime Drama.
And the winner is The Slow Reader, with an absolutely unconvincing performance by Solicitor General John van Dongen as the politician who is supposed to be B.C.'s top cop during a gang war with thugs shooting up shopping malls in broad daylight.
Van Dongen won with monotone speeches about getting tough on crime, without actually taking any action.
Next up: The Best Unelected Government We Never Had award.
And the winner is ... Revolutionary Road, about a radical attempt to take over the government of Canada without actually winning an election!
It stars former federal Liberal leader Stephane Dion in his last public role, with New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton in a supporting role and Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe in an uncredited cameo appearance.
And our last category - Best Taxpayer Fantasy Story.
The winner is ... Debt - with Kevin Falcon starring as the B.C. transportation minister whose new Port Mann bridge project doubles in price to $3 billion in just eight months - without a single shovel touching the ground! Amazing!
Falcon's sequel, For Whom the Bridge Tolls, has a special admission price of $3 to get in - and $3 to get out as well!
And that's our show - good night!
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Thursday, February 19, 2009
NDP Opposition lawyer asks Basi-Virk judge to release FOI documents related to BC Rail privatization
A lawyer representing the New Democratic Party Official Opposition has asked BC Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett to release up to 8,000 pages of documents that defence lawyers in the BC Legislature Raid have obtained through Freedom of Information requests.
Lawyer Mike Mulligan appeared in court Thursday to ask Bennett to release to the opposition documents lawyers for David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi - the three former BC Liberal government aides facing corruption charges - have received through FOIs.
Bennett appeared unhappy with Mulligan's request, saying that it could disrupt trial proceedings but agreed to consider it. She is expected to make a ruling on February 25, after Robert Deane, a lawyer representing BC Rail, has an opportunity to review the material and see if his client has any objections to its release.
While Virk's lawyer Kevin McCullough said nothing in 15 binders of FOI documents would jeopardize his client's right to a fair trial, both the defence and Special Prosecutor were opposed to Mulligan's application, saying it would require many hours of photocopying.
I was unable to attend the pre-trial hearing today but have been informed about the proceedings from reliable observers.
There are also accounts online from the Vancouver Sun's Neal Hall and Robin Mathews of Vive Le Canada and The Legislature Raids blog.
NDP MLA Leonard Krog said in an interview with me this evening that the information it has requested could shed light on what happened in the BC Rail deal.
"The opposition is hopeful that some of the truth about the sale of BC Rail will come to light as a result of this application," Krog said. "British Columbians deserve to know the truth before the May 12 election."
Arguments on release of other FOI-requested documents continues in court this week and next.
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Lawyer Mike Mulligan appeared in court Thursday to ask Bennett to release to the opposition documents lawyers for David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi - the three former BC Liberal government aides facing corruption charges - have received through FOIs.
Bennett appeared unhappy with Mulligan's request, saying that it could disrupt trial proceedings but agreed to consider it. She is expected to make a ruling on February 25, after Robert Deane, a lawyer representing BC Rail, has an opportunity to review the material and see if his client has any objections to its release.
While Virk's lawyer Kevin McCullough said nothing in 15 binders of FOI documents would jeopardize his client's right to a fair trial, both the defence and Special Prosecutor were opposed to Mulligan's application, saying it would require many hours of photocopying.
I was unable to attend the pre-trial hearing today but have been informed about the proceedings from reliable observers.
There are also accounts online from the Vancouver Sun's Neal Hall and Robin Mathews of Vive Le Canada and The Legislature Raids blog.
NDP MLA Leonard Krog said in an interview with me this evening that the information it has requested could shed light on what happened in the BC Rail deal.
"The opposition is hopeful that some of the truth about the sale of BC Rail will come to light as a result of this application," Krog said. "British Columbians deserve to know the truth before the May 12 election."
Arguments on release of other FOI-requested documents continues in court this week and next.
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Monday, February 16, 2009
Outrageous gang violence demands action from Attorney-General Wally Oppal and BC government - stop the killing!
Police at scene of latest shooting death Monday morning - young woman gunned down with 4-year-old child in back seat at 10 a.m. in Surrey
UPDATE TUESDAY - Another young man shot to death in a hit on Fraser Street in Vancouver!
Tuesday February 17, 2009
Play your role in ending the violence
By BILL TIELEMAN
This violence is unanswerable. The fact these people are out on bail, it's unanswerable. It's an outrage.
- Steve Brown, anti-gang violence advocate
Understand one thing clearly about the B.C. government's announcement of measures to fight gang violence last week: The only reason anything happened is because of you, the public.
The heat on B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal - the guy who said two weeks ago that our "streets are safe" - got so seriously turned on that now he's talking about "an unparalleled wave of violence" - and it's about time.
B.C. Solicitor General John van Dongen said Friday: "No more gangs. No more guns. No more innocent victims."
Great news, but it won't happen - not with the $69 million over three years to add 168 "police specialists" and 10 extra prosecutors the government is promising.
Ending gang violence is a lot tougher than holding a flashy news conference and showing off assault rifles seized the past few years.
Gangsters facing serious gun and drug charges have to be kept in jail, not on bail.
Judges have to impose tough sentences for gun crimes and gun possession, not accept plea bargains that let criminals out of jail in weeks or months.
Prosecutors have to resist plea bargains and convict criminals on serious charges that draw longer custody time.
Premier Gordon Campbell, Oppal and van Dongen have to take continuous action - not just when deadly shootings occur.
And you - the public - have to keep the pressure on politicians until they do the right thing.
So I am thrilled that since last week's column almost 1,000 people have joined my Facebook online protest group called: "Where's Wally? BC Attorney General Oppal has 30 days to end gang violence."
It's inspired by Steve Brown, whose brother-in-law Ed Schellenberg was gunned down execution-style in the October 2007 Surrey apartment massacre - an innocent victim along with Chris Mohan - both in the wrong place when drug-related gang violence erupted.
Steve has spoken out against the lack of government action - and gave Wally Oppal until March 7 to do something.
So go to http://www.facebook.com/ and type the title in the search box to get there.
Here's how public pressure works: NDP MLA Mike Farnworth proposed on Jan. 22 that body armour being used by gangsters be made illegal. Van Dongen then called Farnworth's idea: "Grossly simplistic ... politics and grandstanding."
"I don't know what difference Mike Farnworth's private member bill would make," van Dongen concluded.
But on Friday what was one key part of the government's seven-point plan?
Outlawing body armour.
That's why I urge you to keep the heat on the B.C. government to end gang violence.
Send Wally Oppal a message - the clock is ticking on the 30 days Steve Brown gave him.
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Former Vancouver NPA Mayor Sam Sullivan sends friends an email and makes a prediction on NPA Councilor Suzanne Anton
Former Vancouver Non-Partisan Association Mayor Sam Sullivan is making the rounds electronically, drumming up support for his rather late defence of the disastrous Olympic Village deal.
His Honour is sending an email - reproduced in full below - to political supporters and passing acquaintances saying he could no longer remain silent.
Sullivan promotes the good NPA-oriented folks at the City Caucus website - where his "editorial" can be found.
And Sullivan interestingly predicts that lone NPA gunwoman, Councilor Suzanne Anton, "may" send you a note the he hopes you will "find useful."
Can't wait for that one!
Here is Sam Sullivan's email message - as received today by one contact:
* * * * *
Friend,
I have refrained from making political comments since leaving office but felt it necessary to weigh in on the Olympic Athlete's Village subject a couple of weeks ago.
My editorial can be found on citycaucus.com, a website that is doing a good job of bringing a different point of view to city issues. Here's my view on this topic...
http://www.citycaucus.com/2009/01/sam-sullivan-on-olympic-village
Councillor Suzanne Anton has a tough job as the only opposition member on City Council. She may send you a note which I hope you will find useful.
Best regards,
Sam Sullivan
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His Honour is sending an email - reproduced in full below - to political supporters and passing acquaintances saying he could no longer remain silent.
Sullivan promotes the good NPA-oriented folks at the City Caucus website - where his "editorial" can be found.
And Sullivan interestingly predicts that lone NPA gunwoman, Councilor Suzanne Anton, "may" send you a note the he hopes you will "find useful."
Can't wait for that one!
Here is Sam Sullivan's email message - as received today by one contact:
* * * * *
Friend,
I have refrained from making political comments since leaving office but felt it necessary to weigh in on the Olympic Athlete's Village subject a couple of weeks ago.
My editorial can be found on citycaucus.com, a website that is doing a good job of bringing a different point of view to city issues. Here's my view on this topic...
http://www.citycaucus.com/2009/01/sam-sullivan-on-olympic-village
Councillor Suzanne Anton has a tough job as the only opposition member on City Council. She may send you a note which I hope you will find useful.
Best regards,
Sam Sullivan
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Thursday, February 12, 2009
BASI-VIRK - BC Liberal MLAs caucus sends lawyer to block FOI disclosure of MLA communications
MLA talks not public: Lawyer
By BILL TIELEMAN, 24 HOURS
February 13, 2009
A lawyer representing the B.C. Liberal MLA caucus made a first appearance Wednesday at the B.C. Legislature raid case, asserting that communications between MLAs are not subject to disclosure from a defence Freedom of Information request.
Lawyer Ed Montague told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett that his appearance was solely due to an FOI request filed in July 2007 by lawyers representing David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi - three ex-government aides facing corruption charges related to the $1 billion sale of B.C. Rail.
Kevin McCullough, Virk's lawyer, said the FOI requests will ultimately be determined by Bennett, not the FOI Commissioner, because criminal charges are involved.
"Mr. Montague's clients took the position that their documents were not subject to FOI," McCullough said.
Montague said his "only involvement is regarding FOIs that may involve communications between members [of the Legislature]."
Basi's lawyer Michael Bolton disclosed that another defence FOI includes demands for cellphone records and datebooks of cabinet ministers and government staff.
UPDATE
The pre-trial hearing on FOI records resumes on Thursday February 19 for two weeks in BC Supreme Court.
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By BILL TIELEMAN, 24 HOURS
February 13, 2009
A lawyer representing the B.C. Liberal MLA caucus made a first appearance Wednesday at the B.C. Legislature raid case, asserting that communications between MLAs are not subject to disclosure from a defence Freedom of Information request.
Lawyer Ed Montague told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett that his appearance was solely due to an FOI request filed in July 2007 by lawyers representing David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi - three ex-government aides facing corruption charges related to the $1 billion sale of B.C. Rail.
Kevin McCullough, Virk's lawyer, said the FOI requests will ultimately be determined by Bennett, not the FOI Commissioner, because criminal charges are involved.
"Mr. Montague's clients took the position that their documents were not subject to FOI," McCullough said.
Montague said his "only involvement is regarding FOIs that may involve communications between members [of the Legislature]."
Basi's lawyer Michael Bolton disclosed that another defence FOI includes demands for cellphone records and datebooks of cabinet ministers and government staff.
UPDATE
The pre-trial hearing on FOI records resumes on Thursday February 19 for two weeks in BC Supreme Court.
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BC Liberals internal polling shows them 9% behind New Democrats - Dave Hayer, Pat Bell, Shirley Bond headed for defeat, even Kevin Falcon in trouble
UPDATE - Mustel poll shows dramatically different results - BC Liberals ahead of NDP by 16% with 52% to 36% lead.
ORIGINAL POSTING
Internal BC Liberal Party polling results obtained just days ago have created a panic amongst cabinet ministers and MLAs - because the poll shows that the BC Liberals are 9% points behind the New Democratic Party, according to a very reliable source.
My source also told me today that this polling shows that both Prince George cabinet ministers, Forestry Minister Pat Bell in Prince George Northand Education Minister Shirley Bond in Prince George-Mount Robson, would lose their seats if the numbers held up.
Also headed for defeat - Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave Hayer, who allegedly trails the NDP in his riding by 18%.
Perhaps most shocking is a riding result showing Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon in a neck and neck race with the NDP in Surrey-Cloverdale.
The BC Liberal polling also indicates its MLAs in the Burnaby-North and Burnaby-Willingdon, John Nuraney and Richard Lee are in serious trouble, along with Kamloops-North Thompson cabinet minister Kevin Krueger and in the riding of Kamloops, where Claude Richmond is retiring.
My source indicates that gang shootings, Olympic costs and the troubled economy outside Metro Vancouver and Victoria are all taking their toll on BC Liberal fortunes.
If true, the internal BC Liberal polling is another indication of a volatile political climate in the province.
Ipsos-Reid reported in November 2008 that the BC Liberals were at 44% versus the NDP at 35% and the Greens at 16%.
A Mustel poll in November had the Liberals at 44%, the NDP close behind at 42% and the Greens at 12% - but a more recent January Mustel poll put the Liberals up to 47%, the NDP down to 33% and the Greens at 16%.
Then there's the Angus Reid Strategies poll - which on November 15 put the NDP ahead at 44% against the Liberals with 39% and the Greens with 11%.
That result followed on the heels of the NDP winning two Vancouver by-elections, with Spencer Herbert taking previously Liberal-held Vancouver-Burrard and Jenn McGinn retaining Vancouver-Fairview for the NDP, formerly held by now-mayor Gregor Robertson.
An August 2008 Angus Reid Strategies poll also had the NDP ahead, by a margin of 41% to 38%, with the Greens at 14%.
Ahead? Behind? It's anyone's guess with anyone's poll but one thing is certain - if the BC Liberal Party's own internal polling shows then 9% behind with an election 89 days away, get ready for a lot of government announcements - and a lot of panic.
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ORIGINAL POSTING
Internal BC Liberal Party polling results obtained just days ago have created a panic amongst cabinet ministers and MLAs - because the poll shows that the BC Liberals are 9% points behind the New Democratic Party, according to a very reliable source.
My source also told me today that this polling shows that both Prince George cabinet ministers, Forestry Minister Pat Bell in Prince George Northand Education Minister Shirley Bond in Prince George-Mount Robson, would lose their seats if the numbers held up.
Also headed for defeat - Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave Hayer, who allegedly trails the NDP in his riding by 18%.
Perhaps most shocking is a riding result showing Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon in a neck and neck race with the NDP in Surrey-Cloverdale.
The BC Liberal polling also indicates its MLAs in the Burnaby-North and Burnaby-Willingdon, John Nuraney and Richard Lee are in serious trouble, along with Kamloops-North Thompson cabinet minister Kevin Krueger and in the riding of Kamloops, where Claude Richmond is retiring.
My source indicates that gang shootings, Olympic costs and the troubled economy outside Metro Vancouver and Victoria are all taking their toll on BC Liberal fortunes.
If true, the internal BC Liberal polling is another indication of a volatile political climate in the province.
Ipsos-Reid reported in November 2008 that the BC Liberals were at 44% versus the NDP at 35% and the Greens at 16%.
A Mustel poll in November had the Liberals at 44%, the NDP close behind at 42% and the Greens at 12% - but a more recent January Mustel poll put the Liberals up to 47%, the NDP down to 33% and the Greens at 16%.
Then there's the Angus Reid Strategies poll - which on November 15 put the NDP ahead at 44% against the Liberals with 39% and the Greens with 11%.
That result followed on the heels of the NDP winning two Vancouver by-elections, with Spencer Herbert taking previously Liberal-held Vancouver-Burrard and Jenn McGinn retaining Vancouver-Fairview for the NDP, formerly held by now-mayor Gregor Robertson.
An August 2008 Angus Reid Strategies poll also had the NDP ahead, by a margin of 41% to 38%, with the Greens at 14%.
Ahead? Behind? It's anyone's guess with anyone's poll but one thing is certain - if the BC Liberal Party's own internal polling shows then 9% behind with an election 89 days away, get ready for a lot of government announcements - and a lot of panic.
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Where's Wally? Attorney-General Wally Oppal given 30 days to take action on gang violence in Metro Vancouver or face call to resign
Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours ColumnTuesday February 10, 2009
Stop the gangs
By BILL TIELEMAN
People need to know our streets are safe.
- B.C. Attorney-General Wally Oppal, Feb. 4, 2009
Gangsters killed Kevin LeClair with submachine gun fire and riddled cars with stray shots in a Langley IGA store parking lot Friday in broad daylight.
Raphael Baldini, linked to B.C.'s worst gang massacre, was shot dead in Surrey's crowded Guildford Mall parking lot last Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Breanna Kinnear was shot to death in a car in Coquitlam the same day.
Last Monday, James Erickson was gunned down in a Whalley apartment.
And on Jan. 27, Andrew Cilliers was shot to death in his driveway in Surrey.
Yesterday, a 28-year-old was shot several times in an IGA parking lot at Broadway and Arbutus.
There is a murderous gang war raging in Metro Vancouver, the public is at grave risk and where's Wally?
Does the B.C. government's Attorney-General actually think our streets are safe?
People are being shot to death in public places by criminals acting with complete impunity.
Citizens are at risk - why isn't more being done by Oppal and the B.C. government?
What will it take - because already too many innocent victims have died.
That's why Steve Brown has given Oppal an ultimatum: Do something to end the violence within 30 days or he will campaign for the Attorney-General's firing.
Brown has been deeply scarred by violence.
His brother-in-law Ed Schellenberg was servicing a fireplace in a Surrey apartment when gangsters arrived and shot him execution-style, along with four occupants who were involved in the drug trade and another innocent victim - young Chris Mohan, a neighbour who accidentally happened on the scene.
Ironically, Baldini rented the apartment Schellenberg died in. Now he's dead too and the killers remain free.
"I've lost my patience with Wally Oppal," Brown told me Saturday when he publicly gave Oppal 30 days to find a solution or else.
"If Wally Oppal can't find a way to stop the gang slayings and the murder of innocent victims who are in their way, then he should resign as Attorney-General or be fired by Premier Gordon Campbell," Brown said.
Brown is furious that gangsters facing serious charges are let out on bail and commit more violent crimes.
"We're demanding answers - why are all these criminals running loose?" he said.
I agree. It's time for British Columbians to tell Oppal that the lack of action to make our streets safe again for citizens is totally unacceptable.
You can send that message to the B.C. Liberal government by joining my new Facebook protest group:
Where's Wally? BC Attorney-General Oppal has 30 days to end gang violence.
Just go to www.facebook.com and type in Wally Oppal in the Search box to get there - or click on the Where's Wally? link above.
If you aren't on Facebook, you can easily join.
But please - send a message today: Help stop the killing now.
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Sunday, February 08, 2009
Is Michael Ignatieff giving federal Liberal Party control to Paul Martin-Stephane Dion forces? Why is Bruce Clark running big donor Laurier Club?
Some federal Liberal Party activists are wondering if and why new interim leader Michael Ignatieff is giving back power to key players who backed Paul Martin in the internally bitter and divisive leadership battle with Jean Chretien to become Prime Minister.
And they are asking questions, quietly and privately, about why controversial Liberal Bruce Clark is chairing the high dollar donor Laurier Club in BC, among other roles in fundraising for the party.
The Laurier Club is made up of Liberal Party members who give $1100 per year in a single donation or through monthly installments.
And according to federal Liberal sources, the Laurier Club's paid administrator is Forrest Parlee, a senior associate at the Burrard Group, the communications and strategy firm run by Mark Marissen, Martin's former BC lieutenant and then National Campaign Manager in former federal Liberal leader Stephane Dion's surprise successful 2006 leadership campaign and National Campaign Co-Chair for the devastating October 2008 federal election.
Clark will presumably be front and centre on Tuesday February 10, when - as reported by my 24 hours colleague Sean Holman of Public Eye Online - federal Liberal Party presidential candidate Alfred Apps visits Vancouver for an exclusive breakfast with members of the Laurier Club at the law offices of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, as well as a grip and grin at the Labatt Beer Institute on Monday February 9.
Apps, a Toronto partner of the firm, is running against Ontario party president Mike Crawley for the position. Crawley is also CEO of a private Ontario-based wind power firm, AIM Power Generation.
Bruce Clark has an interesting past, including a
major connection with the BC Legislature Raid and the corruption charges trial of three former BC Liberal provincial government aides - David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi, a role as the major Paul Martin fundraiser in BC when the former Finance Minister moved up to Prime Minister, as well as serving on the executive of the federal Liberal party's B.C. wing, a stint lobbying against anti-smoking regulations and a job as CEO of money-losing Canada Payphone Corporation.
In the BC Legislature Raid case, Clark is alleged by police in Information To Obtain search warrant applications to have received government documents from Basi pertaining to a second BC Rail privatization, the proposed sale of BC Rail's Roberts Bank spur line for up to $100 million.
According to a police search warrant ITO sworn by RCMP Corporal Andrew Cowan, the residence of Bruce Clark -- then a federal B.C. Liberal executive -- was searched because:
"I believe that CLARK received documents pertaining to a Request for Proposal and presentations regarding Roberts Bank. I believe that CLARK has had meeting with BASI. I believe the items sought will be found at..." then giving Bruce Clark's Vancouver home address, the ITO concludes.
It should be stressed that the ITO contains unproven allegations that have never been tested in court.
B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon cancelled that sale in March 2004 after being told by the RCMP that the process had been compromised by the leak of confidential information to a bidder.
Clark's home was searched by police in December 2003, along with the BC Legislature, the home of David Basi, and the home of Erik Bornmann - the provincial lobbyist for OmniTRAX - the losing BC Rail bidder - who is now the Crown's key witness against Basi, Virk and Aneal Basi. The offices of Bornmann's now-defunct firm, Pilothouse Public Affairs, were also searched by police.
Bornmann's partners at Pilothouse were Brian Kieran, the former Province political columnist turned lobbyist - another key Crown witness, and Jamie Elmhirst - a past federal Liberal Party of Canada BC branch president and former aide to BC Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell and former BC Liberal cabinet minister turned federal Liberal MP Joyce Murray.
And Clark's sister is former BC Liberal Deputy Premier and Education Minister Christy Clark, while his brother-in-law is Mark Marissen.
David Basi was a key Paul Martin organizer in BC, blamed personally by former Chretien federal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal for organizing the takeover of his then Vancouver South riding association in one of the nasty battles of the war between the party's titans.
It should, of course, be pointed out that neither Bruce Clark nor anyone else mentioned here save Basi, Virk and Basi face any charges in regard to the BC Legislature Raid case, though it is highly likely Clark will be a witness in the trial.
Interestingly, many of the group of federal Liberal Party activists who strongly backed Paul Martin in his successful efforts to force Jean Chretien out of the Prime Minister's office and later backed Stephane Dion's leadership bid after Martin resigned are now said to be moving into position of influence during Ignatieff's early days as interim leader.
Will Ignatieff put his own stamp on the BC Liberal Party of Canada organization? Or will the activists who have controlled the party since the early 2000s continue to run the show?Interestingly, the Liberal Party's BC branch website still features photos of now-resigned leader Stephane Dion and promotes the discredited "Green Shift" carbon tax that helped sewer the Liberal campaign. It's a mistake the federal party website doesn't make.
Ignatieff's decision will have long-term repercussions either way, but count on the federal Conservative Party to target controversial Liberal Party connections in the next election if they are in positions of power.
For example, in January 2007 senior Tory John Reynolds slammed the federal Liberal Party for the "embarrassing" failure to remove its B.C. branch president Jamie Elmhirst after he was subpoenaed to testify in the breach of trust case against former provincial government aides David Basi and Bob Virk. Elmhirst was under subpoena to testify in the trial for three months before he resigned as president.
If the federal Conservatives are looking for a target of opportunity, Bruce Clark certainly provides lots to work with.
At last report, Clark is currently Vice-President of Green Island Energy Corporation, a firm that planned to convert garbage into energy in Gold River on Vancouver Island and sell it to BC Hydro. Originally pop singer Jewel was involved but she is no longer an investor.
Green Island Energy announced last year it was partnering with Covanta Energy, a major US firm involved in energy from waste projects. Interestingly, Public Eye Online reports that former BC Liberal Party President Andrew Wilkinson - also a former Deputy Minister to Premier Gordon Campbell - has registered as a lobbyist for Covanta in BC. And who was once a Vice-President at Covanta? None other than BC Ferries CEO David Hahn.
Clark's role as a lobbyist for the Lower Mainland Hospitality Industry Group drew fire from anti-tobacco groups, including AirSpace, because it vigorously fought a proposed Vancouver bylaw restricting smoking in the workplace in 1995.The Lower Mainland Hospitality Industry Group, according to anti-smoking groups and the Vancouver Richmond Health Board, was funded by the tobacco industry.
The earlier Canada Payphone role also brought some interesting connections together around Bruce Clark.
As I wrote in a column for the Georgia Straight in 2004:
"Clark was CEO of a money-losing telecommunications company called Canada Payphone Corporation between late 1998 and late 2000, earning up to $115,000 a year.
Patrick Kinsella, the influential cochair of the 2001 B.C. Liberal election campaign along with Christy Clark, was a director of Canada Payphone from 1995 to 2001, as well as buying a private placement and having share options, according to Stockwatch.
The Progressive Group, Kinsella's consulting firm, also bought a private placement in Canada Payphone in 1996 and received shares for debt in 1999. Kinsella and his firm have given more than $50,000 to the B.C. Liberals since 1996.
Bornman was Canada Payphone's communications director in 2000 and 2001.
The Earnscliffe Strategy Group, a powerful Ottawa-based public- and government-relations and research firm, became "consultants" to Canada Payphone in 1995.
Earnscliffe was a "virtual parallel finance department" when Paul Martin was minister, according to the Globe and Mail, with the firm winning $1.6 million in communications contracts from the finance department from September 1993 until July 2002.
Earnscliffe partners David Herle and Scott Reid were both senior Martin political advisers who held enormous influence with the prime minister.
Canaccord Capital, whose CEO, Peter Brown, is a major supporter of Gordon Campbell, helped Canada Payphone with a brokered private placement of two million units, with shares valued at $1.40 each. Those shares are currently worth just nine cents apiece. Canada Payphone losses for financial year 2003 were $1.8 million while those reported for financial year 2002 were $5 million.
Canaccord donated more than $191,000 to the B.C. Liberal Party between 1996 and 2002.
Darcy Rezac, executive director of the Vancouver Board of Trade and B.C. Liberal political supporter, was another investor in Canada Payphone.
The Neighbourhood Pub Owners' Association of BC chose Canada Payphone as its official payphone supplier in December 1998. The executive director of the association was then Brenda Locke, now Liberal MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers."
Ignatieff faces some difficult choices in BC - but that's what being leader of a federal party and wanting to prove you can be prime minister is all about.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Basi-Virk - Courtroom confusion explained, hopefully; new dates clarified and Special Prosecutor team member becomes Queen's Counsel
UPDATE FROM BC SUPREME COURT 3:45 p.m.
I attended this afternoon's brief BC Supreme Court hearing in Vancouver where Victoria developers Jim Duncan and Tony Young face corruption-related charges that allege they paid former BC Liberal ministerial aide David Basi $50,000 to assist them in removing land from the Agricultural Land Reserve for a housing development.
Appearing for the Crown was Andi Mackay, a member of the Special Prosecutor's team in the BC Legislature Raid case against Basi, Bob VIrk and Aneal Basi.
The matter was put over in an extremely short administrative hearing until March 18. No explanation was made as to why the hearing was in Vancouver but it is to be noted that Duncan and Young's lawyers, Richard Peck and Jeff Campbell, are both based here, as are all members of the Special Prosecutor's team, including MacKay.
EARLIER REPORT
Today's BC Supreme Court docket for the Vancouver courts shows an apparent appearance there at 2 p.m. today in the case of former BC Liberal ministerial aide David Basi on breach of trust charges related to allegations of removing land from the Agricultural Land Reserve.
BC Mary at the Legislature Raids points out to me that:
"The first two entries are identified only by the File Number 134750-1 -- the file number which was assigned to Dave Basi at his A.L.R. trial which began in Victoria last month.
Today's listing is in Vancouver Law Courts and is designated as "HMTQ vs Limited Access."
Here's what I have now been able to ascertain.
In fact the appearance is to be made by Victoria developers Jim Duncan and Tony Young, who also face charges in this case, in which the allegation is that Basi was paid $50,000 by Duncan and Young to help get land for their giant Sunriver Estates development in Sooke.
The hearing is likely to be merely to put over the case of Duncan and Young to a later date, as the Crown and defence have previously indicated in discussion in court that the intent is to combine the trial of all three men if possible.
Obviously the main and long-delayed trial of Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi on corruption charges related to the $1 billion BC Rail privatization is a complicating factor.
I am also told that the next date for an ALR case hearing for Basi is Friday March 6 in Victoria, where arguments will be heard on whether Basi should be committed to stand trial on those charges. Regular readers of this blog will remember that a preliminary hearing in front of Justice Ernie Quantz has already taken place in Victoria - this is the next step in the legal process.
On another note, the main event in the Basi-Virk/BC Legislature Raid case returns with yet more pre-trial hearings - this time on defence Freedom of Information requests for evidence - starting on Tuesday February 17 for an estimated 2 weeks.
In addition to the regular cast of lawyers from the defence and Special Prosecutor teams, provincial government lawyer George Copley and BC Rail lawyer Robert Deane are expected to play prominent roles.
Lastly, congratulations to Special Prosecutor team member Janet Winteringham, who has been made a "Queen's Counsel" - a recognition of service and
The news release from Attorney General Wally Oppal states:
"The Queen’s counsel designation is an honour conferred on members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and contribution. Successful candidates demonstrate professional integrity and good character and must be members of the British Columbia bar for at least five years."
Regarding Winteringham, it says: "Janet L. Winteringham of Vancouver has considerable experience both defending and prosecuting criminal cases. She also instructs on preliminary hearings and Provincial Court practice for the advocacy course at UBC’s law faculty."
I attended this afternoon's brief BC Supreme Court hearing in Vancouver where Victoria developers Jim Duncan and Tony Young face corruption-related charges that allege they paid former BC Liberal ministerial aide David Basi $50,000 to assist them in removing land from the Agricultural Land Reserve for a housing development.
Appearing for the Crown was Andi Mackay, a member of the Special Prosecutor's team in the BC Legislature Raid case against Basi, Bob VIrk and Aneal Basi.
The matter was put over in an extremely short administrative hearing until March 18. No explanation was made as to why the hearing was in Vancouver but it is to be noted that Duncan and Young's lawyers, Richard Peck and Jeff Campbell, are both based here, as are all members of the Special Prosecutor's team, including MacKay.
EARLIER REPORT
Today's BC Supreme Court docket for the Vancouver courts shows an apparent appearance there at 2 p.m. today in the case of former BC Liberal ministerial aide David Basi on breach of trust charges related to allegations of removing land from the Agricultural Land Reserve.
BC Mary at the Legislature Raids points out to me that:
"The first two entries are identified only by the File Number 134750-1 -- the file number which was assigned to Dave Basi at his A.L.R. trial which began in Victoria last month.
Today's listing is in Vancouver Law Courts and is designated as "HMTQ vs Limited Access."
Here's what I have now been able to ascertain.
In fact the appearance is to be made by Victoria developers Jim Duncan and Tony Young, who also face charges in this case, in which the allegation is that Basi was paid $50,000 by Duncan and Young to help get land for their giant Sunriver Estates development in Sooke.
The hearing is likely to be merely to put over the case of Duncan and Young to a later date, as the Crown and defence have previously indicated in discussion in court that the intent is to combine the trial of all three men if possible.
Obviously the main and long-delayed trial of Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi on corruption charges related to the $1 billion BC Rail privatization is a complicating factor.
I am also told that the next date for an ALR case hearing for Basi is Friday March 6 in Victoria, where arguments will be heard on whether Basi should be committed to stand trial on those charges. Regular readers of this blog will remember that a preliminary hearing in front of Justice Ernie Quantz has already taken place in Victoria - this is the next step in the legal process.
On another note, the main event in the Basi-Virk/BC Legislature Raid case returns with yet more pre-trial hearings - this time on defence Freedom of Information requests for evidence - starting on Tuesday February 17 for an estimated 2 weeks.
In addition to the regular cast of lawyers from the defence and Special Prosecutor teams, provincial government lawyer George Copley and BC Rail lawyer Robert Deane are expected to play prominent roles.
Lastly, congratulations to Special Prosecutor team member Janet Winteringham, who has been made a "Queen's Counsel" - a recognition of service and
The news release from Attorney General Wally Oppal states:
"The Queen’s counsel designation is an honour conferred on members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and contribution. Successful candidates demonstrate professional integrity and good character and must be members of the British Columbia bar for at least five years."
Regarding Winteringham, it says: "Janet L. Winteringham of Vancouver has considerable experience both defending and prosecuting criminal cases. She also instructs on preliminary hearings and Provincial Court practice for the advocacy course at UBC’s law faculty."
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
BC Business leaders back Campbell Liberal deficits but hate much smaller NDP deficits or even surpluses!
Hi everyone - and welcome to the brand-new, back in deficit British Columbia - Gordon Campbell, Proprietor and previous record-holder of BC's largest deficit.
I don't argue for a minute against the need for BC to go into deficit - my complaint is that Campbell and the BC Liberals made balanced budgets into the political equivalent of the Rosetta Stone in a rigid ideological position that lacks historical perspective, economic understanding and just plain common sense.
By the way, Stephen Harper, come on down! You also win a prize!
The second thing that bugs the hell out of me is the endless parade of business leaders who are shameless in their political pimping for Campbell and the BC Liberals - business leaders who would be screaming blue bloody murder if a New Democrat government in exactly the same position did exactly what Campbell is doing.
From the Vancouver Board of Trade's debt clock and endless pontificating about the horrors of deficit financing we now have come to this.
"So what? It's a sensible response," Vancouver Board of Trade managing director Darcy Rezac said. "To suggest that the Government balance its budget at all costs in very unusual circumstances wouldn't be wise in our view. So I think the Government is doing a sensible thing."
Really Darcy?
Here's what Rezac said on November 22, 2000, when the NDP government was running a surplus - yes, my friends - a surplus of $1 billion:
"We note that the rapid rise in the provincial debt is worrisome. Debts incurred by funding general operating costs of government, which has happened during the '90s, ought to be avoided at all costs," Rezac said.
And what did Darcy say on September 23, 2002, when the BC Liberals ran the province's largest-ever deficit of $4 billion?
"We're impressed with the government's resolve to attain the goal of a balanced budget by 2004-05, and we support that...We congratulate the government of B.C. for moving quickly to take the measures they did with the 2002-03 budget," Rezac told reporters then.
Wow! So what indeed!
At least Gordon Campbell show some understanding that he has dramatically changed his tune.
"I know what I have said and I'm sure you've all got the clips," Campbell told reporters yesterday.
But for a lot of business leaders, the song remains the same - it's just who calls the tune that really matters!
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Is Campbell going for a largest deficit personal best on February 17? Could well be.
I don't argue for a minute against the need for BC to go into deficit - my complaint is that Campbell and the BC Liberals made balanced budgets into the political equivalent of the Rosetta Stone in a rigid ideological position that lacks historical perspective, economic understanding and just plain common sense.
By the way, Stephen Harper, come on down! You also win a prize!
The second thing that bugs the hell out of me is the endless parade of business leaders who are shameless in their political pimping for Campbell and the BC Liberals - business leaders who would be screaming blue bloody murder if a New Democrat government in exactly the same position did exactly what Campbell is doing.
From the Vancouver Board of Trade's debt clock and endless pontificating about the horrors of deficit financing we now have come to this.
"So what? It's a sensible response," Vancouver Board of Trade managing director Darcy Rezac said. "To suggest that the Government balance its budget at all costs in very unusual circumstances wouldn't be wise in our view. So I think the Government is doing a sensible thing."
Really Darcy?
Here's what Rezac said on November 22, 2000, when the NDP government was running a surplus - yes, my friends - a surplus of $1 billion:
"We note that the rapid rise in the provincial debt is worrisome. Debts incurred by funding general operating costs of government, which has happened during the '90s, ought to be avoided at all costs," Rezac said.
And what did Darcy say on September 23, 2002, when the BC Liberals ran the province's largest-ever deficit of $4 billion?
"We're impressed with the government's resolve to attain the goal of a balanced budget by 2004-05, and we support that...We congratulate the government of B.C. for moving quickly to take the measures they did with the 2002-03 budget," Rezac told reporters then.
Wow! So what indeed!
At least Gordon Campbell show some understanding that he has dramatically changed his tune.
"I know what I have said and I'm sure you've all got the clips," Campbell told reporters yesterday.
But for a lot of business leaders, the song remains the same - it's just who calls the tune that really matters!
.
Bill Tieleman interviewed by Erin Airton in City Caucus online publication
I was interviewed by Erin Airton, political commentator on the right side of the fence, for the new online publication City Caucus.
The article was posted today and here's a small sample - check it out:
Erin Airton interview with Bill Tieleman
3 Feb 2009
I sat down with Bill Tieleman, a well-known local political strategist, at a hip Kits eatery during Dine Out Vancouver in January. Our conversation was far-reaching, fueled by a glass or two of wine, Tieleman’s second love, after progressive politics.
EA: What do you see as the two biggest issues facing the City of Vancouver?
BT: Vancouver has two main issues, both are very inter-related.
The first is the different aspects of affordability in the city itself.
The second is dealing with poverty and low incomes. Both are very connected and are challenges that face Vancouver and the whole Lower Mainland. Affordability and housing prices go across the board.
If you look at cities like Geneva and Hong Kong, there is a limited group of people who lives there. Public policy steps need to be taken because most of us don’t want to live where there is just fine dining and expensive shops.
The other challenge is that our city has these increasing land values. These make it impossible for young people to be independent and impossible to have a city with a wide range of diverse and interesting people.
People working in Vancouver, like servers and cooks, are forced to live far away from their jobs. Vancouver is becoming an “executive city”.
EA: What can be done about affordability? There is a limited amount of “Vancouver” available.
BT: That’s right and that’s why we are seeing a disparate amount of people’s income taken up by rent and housing.
People might be shocked by me saying this, but former Mayor Sam Sullivan was right to talk about density – that’s the only way Vancouver can maintain diversity and affordability.
Poverty is related to affordability, but not 100%. We have a real continuum of poverty in Vancouver.
This starts with the true homeless, sleeping on the streets or accessing shelters. Our food bank use is overflowing. We also have couch surfers, occasional shelter users and those who are living in inappropriate or substandard housing.......Continued at City Caucus
.
The article was posted today and here's a small sample - check it out:
Erin Airton interview with Bill Tieleman
3 Feb 2009
I sat down with Bill Tieleman, a well-known local political strategist, at a hip Kits eatery during Dine Out Vancouver in January. Our conversation was far-reaching, fueled by a glass or two of wine, Tieleman’s second love, after progressive politics.
EA: What do you see as the two biggest issues facing the City of Vancouver?
BT: Vancouver has two main issues, both are very inter-related.
The first is the different aspects of affordability in the city itself.
The second is dealing with poverty and low incomes. Both are very connected and are challenges that face Vancouver and the whole Lower Mainland. Affordability and housing prices go across the board.
If you look at cities like Geneva and Hong Kong, there is a limited group of people who lives there. Public policy steps need to be taken because most of us don’t want to live where there is just fine dining and expensive shops.
The other challenge is that our city has these increasing land values. These make it impossible for young people to be independent and impossible to have a city with a wide range of diverse and interesting people.
People working in Vancouver, like servers and cooks, are forced to live far away from their jobs. Vancouver is becoming an “executive city”.
EA: What can be done about affordability? There is a limited amount of “Vancouver” available.
BT: That’s right and that’s why we are seeing a disparate amount of people’s income taken up by rent and housing.
People might be shocked by me saying this, but former Mayor Sam Sullivan was right to talk about density – that’s the only way Vancouver can maintain diversity and affordability.
Poverty is related to affordability, but not 100%. We have a real continuum of poverty in Vancouver.
This starts with the true homeless, sleeping on the streets or accessing shelters. Our food bank use is overflowing. We also have couch surfers, occasional shelter users and those who are living in inappropriate or substandard housing.......Continued at City Caucus
.
Marks. Rubes. Suckers. Chumps. Hicks. BC Liberals screw up bigtime on Mackenzie pulp mill and Port Mann P3 fiascos!
Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column
Tuesday February 3, 2009
B.C. government blind to its own bad deals
By BILL TIELEMAN
"I wanted to puke in my corns flakes over this."
- Mackenzie pulp mill worker Carl Bernasky on toxic danger
Marks. Rubes. Suckers. Chumps. Hicks.
That's what the flim-flam men call people who are too slow, too dumb and too unsophisticated to figure out an obvious bad deal.
But in this province we call them the B.C. Liberal government.
Take two sterling examples.
First, the Mackenzie pulp mill holding 15 tonnes of deadly chlorine dioxide that had to be taken over by the government from a former convicted money-launderer whose company wasn't paying the few workers left there.
They kept the chemical tanks from freezing and rupturing, potentially killing 5,000 people.
The clean-up costs could be $30 to $50 million - all charged to taxpayers because the company that bought the mill, Worthington Mackenzie, isn't doing its job and has a single director living in Slovenia!
All big news to the B.C. Liberals.
Second, the Port Mann Bridge twinning project. B.C. Liberal Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon always sings the praises of public-private partnerships.
"With respect to the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge, there will be no federal or provincial dollars involved in the construction of that project," Falcon promised in April 2008.
But now B.C. is on the hook for one-third of the financing - about $750 million - because the vaunted P3 banks weren't willing to fund it.
Hello B.C. taxpayer! Can you spell "bailout?"
But Falcon is "thrilled" with the new taxpayer-financed deal because it "makes sense."
Let's see - Falcon said P3s are a good idea because the private sector takes the risk instead of taxpayers - but now taxpayers will pay for both the project, through tolls of $3 per trip, and also lend the risk-takers the money we didn't want to risk by doing it ourselves?
Talk about marks and suckers - with this kind of business acumen we can expect a lot more desperate P3 bankers to head for B.C.!
Back to the Mackenzie mill, where the B.C. government completely failed to protect the community or the jobs.
While a skeleton crew of workers have to be paid by taxpayers to keep the mill from freezing up, across the province the B.C. government has let 55 sawmills and pulp mills close in the last few years, throwing 25,000 workers out of work.
Ironically, the only time they've lifted a finger to save jobs was when forced to by a potential environmental catastrophe.
When the mill was bought, Forests Minister Pat Bell - whose riding it's located in - told the media: "So far, so good."
Not good enough for taxpayers - not by far.
These marks, rubes, suckers, chumps and hicks have a lot to answer for in throwing away our money.
UPDATE: You simply can't make things like this up - from tonight's online Vancouver Sun - I rest my case after just one day!
Port Mann price tag could hit $3 billion
The Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 expansion project could cost as much as $3 billion, double the announced cost of $1.5 billion in 2006, Premier Gordon Campbell said Tuesday.
In a speech at the B.C. Economic Summit, Campbell said the Port Mann Bridge will be a “$2- to $3-billion project.”
When announced by Campbell in January 2006, the project was estimated to cost $1.5 billion. Accounting for general inflation, that would now be between $1.6 and $1.7 billion, although there were industry estimates as early as 2006 that construction costs would go up by 50 per cent or more by 2010.
Campbell, who was scheduled to officially unveil a design for the new bridge today in Surrey, did not elaborate Tuesday on any reasons for the change.....
Tuesday February 3, 2009
B.C. government blind to its own bad deals
By BILL TIELEMAN
"I wanted to puke in my corns flakes over this."
- Mackenzie pulp mill worker Carl Bernasky on toxic danger
Marks. Rubes. Suckers. Chumps. Hicks.
That's what the flim-flam men call people who are too slow, too dumb and too unsophisticated to figure out an obvious bad deal.
But in this province we call them the B.C. Liberal government.
Take two sterling examples.
First, the Mackenzie pulp mill holding 15 tonnes of deadly chlorine dioxide that had to be taken over by the government from a former convicted money-launderer whose company wasn't paying the few workers left there.
They kept the chemical tanks from freezing and rupturing, potentially killing 5,000 people.
The clean-up costs could be $30 to $50 million - all charged to taxpayers because the company that bought the mill, Worthington Mackenzie, isn't doing its job and has a single director living in Slovenia!
All big news to the B.C. Liberals.
Second, the Port Mann Bridge twinning project. B.C. Liberal Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon always sings the praises of public-private partnerships.
"With respect to the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge, there will be no federal or provincial dollars involved in the construction of that project," Falcon promised in April 2008.
But now B.C. is on the hook for one-third of the financing - about $750 million - because the vaunted P3 banks weren't willing to fund it.
Hello B.C. taxpayer! Can you spell "bailout?"
But Falcon is "thrilled" with the new taxpayer-financed deal because it "makes sense."
Let's see - Falcon said P3s are a good idea because the private sector takes the risk instead of taxpayers - but now taxpayers will pay for both the project, through tolls of $3 per trip, and also lend the risk-takers the money we didn't want to risk by doing it ourselves?
Talk about marks and suckers - with this kind of business acumen we can expect a lot more desperate P3 bankers to head for B.C.!
Back to the Mackenzie mill, where the B.C. government completely failed to protect the community or the jobs.
While a skeleton crew of workers have to be paid by taxpayers to keep the mill from freezing up, across the province the B.C. government has let 55 sawmills and pulp mills close in the last few years, throwing 25,000 workers out of work.
Ironically, the only time they've lifted a finger to save jobs was when forced to by a potential environmental catastrophe.
When the mill was bought, Forests Minister Pat Bell - whose riding it's located in - told the media: "So far, so good."
Not good enough for taxpayers - not by far.
These marks, rubes, suckers, chumps and hicks have a lot to answer for in throwing away our money.
UPDATE: You simply can't make things like this up - from tonight's online Vancouver Sun - I rest my case after just one day!
Port Mann price tag could hit $3 billion
The Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 expansion project could cost as much as $3 billion, double the announced cost of $1.5 billion in 2006, Premier Gordon Campbell said Tuesday.
In a speech at the B.C. Economic Summit, Campbell said the Port Mann Bridge will be a “$2- to $3-billion project.”
When announced by Campbell in January 2006, the project was estimated to cost $1.5 billion. Accounting for general inflation, that would now be between $1.6 and $1.7 billion, although there were industry estimates as early as 2006 that construction costs would go up by 50 per cent or more by 2010.
Campbell, who was scheduled to officially unveil a design for the new bridge today in Surrey, did not elaborate Tuesday on any reasons for the change.....
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Test BC Liberal Cabinet Ministers, not kids, with Political Foundation Skills Assessment!
Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column
Tuesday January 27, 2009
Test Cabinet, not students
By BILL TIELEMAN
Standardized testing has become the arbiter of social mobility, yet there is more regulation of the food we feed our pets than of the tests we give our kids.
- Educator Robert Schaeffer
There's a controversy raging between the B.C. Liberal government and teachers over whether or not students should take what's called Foundation Skills Assessment test.
Education Minister Shirley Bond is demanding all B.C. Grade 4 and 7 students take the tests, which she says ensure they are meeting expectations.
The B.C. Teachers' Federation opposes the tests, saying that they don't help students learn or teachers teach but are used by the right-wing Fraser Institute to unfairly rank schools without considering social situation and other factors.
And guess what? Students at ritzy private schools in Shaughnessy do better than kids at East Vancouver public schools!
Shocking!
But I have a modest suggestion to end the controversy. With a minor wording change, all British Columbians could support this test.
I propose a Political Foundation Skills Assessment test - given to all B.C. Liberal cabinet ministers before the next election.
Here's a direct Education Ministry quote about the FSA - but I've changed a few words, which are in bold - to make this test worthwhile:
"The Political Foundation Skills Assessment is an annual assessment of British Columbia's Liberal Government Cabinet Ministers' skills, and provides a snapshot of how well B.C. Cabinet Ministers are learning foundation skills in Reading, Comprehension, Writing, and Numeracy.
The main purpose of the assessment is to help the province's voters evaluate how well B.C. Liberal Cabinet Ministers are achieving basic skills, and make plans to improve government achievement.
"The Political FSA is designed by British Columbia voters. The skills tested are linked to the provincial election."
Test kids?
Better to test politicians!
Better to test politicians!
And the BCTF could partner with the Fraser Institute so all voters see the test results before the May election!
Massive convention centre overruns? Unfair pay hikes for top bureaucrats? The test would show what went wrong.
But there is one problem: Is it fair to force Premier Gordon Campbell to take the Political FSA test when he unfortunately has a disability that could affect the results?
Some people may be uncomfortable talking about this, but it's obvious that Premier Campbell has Political Attention Deficit Disorder.
Just look at his erratic record: Slash the public service, then give bonuses to government workers, gut environmental protection, then fight climate change, oppose Aboriginal treaties, then negotiate them, close schools, fire librarians, then make literacy a priority!
Nonetheless, I'm afraid we simply have to give Campbell this Political FSA test for the same reason the Education Ministry says kids have to take it.
Because the test will help: "Make plans for improvement."
.
Monday, January 26, 2009
BASI-VIRK - RCMP "cloaking duplicity" in efforts to deny disclosure of legal memo to accused - defence allegation
Defence charges that RCMP “cloaking duplicity” by denying evidence disclosure in BC Legislature Raid case
By Bill Tieleman, 24 hours newspaper
A defence lawyer in the B.C. Legislature raid case Monday accused the RCMP of “cloaking duplicity” in not disclosing evidence to the accused, drawing strong objections from the Special Prosecutor.
Kevin McCullough, representing Bob Virk, one of three former B.C. government aides facing corruption charges connected to the $1 billion B.C. Rail sale, alleged that the RCMP failed to fully disclose a key memorandum from their lawyers regarding wiretap applications at the Legislature.
“The RCMP are cloaking duplicity,” McCullough said, prompting an angry Special Prosecutor Janet Winteringham to leap to her feet in B.C. Supreme Court during a pre-trial hearing.
“Objection! This submission is premature and the issue goes to innocence at stake,” Winteringham told Justice Elizabeth Bennett. “Maybe down the road but not today.”
Bennett agreed with Winteringham, telling McCullough he will have a later opportunity to argue RCMP abuse of process during the actual trial.
But McCullough repeated his accusation against the RCMP again, drawing another objection from Winteringham.
“How many other documents are there that we aren’t pursuing because we don’t know they even exist?” asked an exasperated McCullough.
The "innocence at stake" reference is to a court term that is a test of whether there are grounds sufficient to set aside solicitor-client privilege - one of the strongest protections the courts allow. Only in cases where the innocence of the accused may be at stake is that privilege overruled.
Earlier Michael Bolton, representing David Basi, argued that the RCMP had wrongly avoided obtaining the Legislature’s Speaker’s permission to place wiretaps on Basi’s cell phone and phone in the office of then-Finance Minister Gary Collins.
By Bill Tieleman, 24 hours newspaper
A defence lawyer in the B.C. Legislature raid case Monday accused the RCMP of “cloaking duplicity” in not disclosing evidence to the accused, drawing strong objections from the Special Prosecutor.
Kevin McCullough, representing Bob Virk, one of three former B.C. government aides facing corruption charges connected to the $1 billion B.C. Rail sale, alleged that the RCMP failed to fully disclose a key memorandum from their lawyers regarding wiretap applications at the Legislature.
“The RCMP are cloaking duplicity,” McCullough said, prompting an angry Special Prosecutor Janet Winteringham to leap to her feet in B.C. Supreme Court during a pre-trial hearing.
“Objection! This submission is premature and the issue goes to innocence at stake,” Winteringham told Justice Elizabeth Bennett. “Maybe down the road but not today.”
Bennett agreed with Winteringham, telling McCullough he will have a later opportunity to argue RCMP abuse of process during the actual trial.
But McCullough repeated his accusation against the RCMP again, drawing another objection from Winteringham.
“How many other documents are there that we aren’t pursuing because we don’t know they even exist?” asked an exasperated McCullough.
The "innocence at stake" reference is to a court term that is a test of whether there are grounds sufficient to set aside solicitor-client privilege - one of the strongest protections the courts allow. Only in cases where the innocence of the accused may be at stake is that privilege overruled.
Earlier Michael Bolton, representing David Basi, argued that the RCMP had wrongly avoided obtaining the Legislature’s Speaker’s permission to place wiretaps on Basi’s cell phone and phone in the office of then-Finance Minister Gary Collins.
Bolton said the date of the memorandum in question - which the defence has part of - was December 22, 2003 and that it appeared to be faxed from Special Prosecutor Bill Berardino's law office to "Kevin".
"I assume it was faxed to Kevin DeBruyckere, the RCMP officer in charge of the investigation," Bolton told Bennett.
McCullough drew Bennett's attention to the circumstances at the time of the memo, which apparently provides the RCMP with legal advice about wiretap applications it was making.
"The context, milady, that I think you should see these documents in is that in August 2003 the RCMP was trying to get a DNR on the cell phone of Mr. Basi and the Finance Ministry office," McCullough said, using the term DNR to refer to a Dialed Number Recorder - a type of device that records all dialed numbers and is often a precursor to a wiretap.
"Their application was twice declined by the judge on Parliamentary privilege grounds," he said, noting that the RCMP did not seek the consent of the BC Speaker.
It was then that McCullough triggered objections from Winteringham, by saying that another lawyer who mentored him early in his career told McCullough that "when dealing with police duplicity, it is usually hidden by olice procedure" and other tactics to avoid disclosure.
Winteringham objected quickly and added that if McCullough was alowed to continue the argument: "We're going to have to stand down and deal with allegations of duplicity."
Bennett agreed, saying: "You can't argue innocence at stake at this point."
Addressing McCullough directly, she continued: "I understand the context. I understand the importance. I understand the issue with the DNR."
But McCullough wasn't letting go.
"The RCMP are guarding vetting in this case in an extreme way," he replied. "We know for certain the RCMP have these three pages."
"Where's the fairness in us not having the remainder of the document? When we are assessing conduct we need the document in full."
"In light of the RCMP changing course, not getting the Speaker's permission ....there was talk of getting another wiretap... the RCMP are cloaking duplicity...." McCullough continued but Winteringham's second loudly exclaimed "Objection!" stopped him.
"Objection again. This goes to innocence at stake and can't be dealt with now," Winteringham told Bennett.
"I'm not sure where you're going," Bennett said to McCullough.
"They changed tactics and instead of getting another wiretap, they raided the Legislature," McCullough replied, suggesting for the first time in court that the RCMP raid of December 28, 2003 may have been borne out of frustration with failed wiretap applications.
Then McCullough launched into his complaint that the RCMP and Special Prosecutor were not providing full disclosure.
"Where are these two documents on the Documents Not Disclosed List? And how many other documents are there that we aren't pursuing because we don't know they even exist?" he asked. "We rely on tht Documents Not Disclosed List to determine what to pursue."
"The fact that I figured there were two of them doesn't solve the problem and begs for an explanation," he concluded.
[I should note here that I missed the beginning of the morning session due to my appearance on CKNW's Bill Good Show and am at this point unclear what second document is being referred to.]
McCullough then referred to "a legal opinion written by a lawyer named Jody Puscas" whichm he said Berardino claims is protected by the rule of privilege.
The Puscas opinion has been mentioned only in passing at recent previous hearings.
McCullough then prompted another objection from Winteringham by telling Bennett that: "This is the context of documents we had been seeking for three and half years."
"Hold on. If we're going to argue the whole disclosure..." Winteringham started, but McCullough continued.
"...documents we should have received three and a half years ago," McCullough finished.
"Objection!" Winteringham almost shouted.
Bennett intervened: "I would not have expected an argument now that the documents should have been provided three and a half years ago. I could have expected that in your abuse of process application."
"You want to keep me happy and I suggest you not ask me to deal with that today," Bennett concluded to McCullough.
Unstated but lying heavily over the proceedings was one fact - that the RCMP had never sought the permission of the Speaker of the Legislature - then BC Liberal MLA Claude Richmond - for placing wiretaps in the Finance Minister's office where David Basi worked and on Basi's cell phone.
Richmond gave his consent to the police raid on the Legislature in an unusual meeting with RCMP senior officers at the Kamloops Airport on December 27, 2003, but not to electronic eavesdropping.
The defence, of course, will argue that those wiretap applications should never have been granted by a judge without the Speaker's approval - and that will form part of their arguments to have wiretap evidence ruled inadmissable - a decision that could deal a fatal blow to the prosecution.
NOTE: Neither Special Prosecutor Bill Berardino nor Special Prosecutor team lawyer Andi MacKay were present for today's hearing. There were no media except myself and Robin Mathews and no observers either.
A shorter version of this story will be published in Tuesday's 24 hours newspaper.
.
BASI-VIRK - Story to come here tonight on fireworks in BC Supreme Court
Just a teaser for now but there were lots of fireworks in BC Supreme Court this morning over defence allegations against the RCMP and objections from the Special Prosecutor.
I unfortunately don't have time to file a full posting till late this afternoon or early evening, but stay tuned - or read 24 hours on Tuesday for a story there also.
I unfortunately don't have time to file a full posting till late this afternoon or early evening, but stay tuned - or read 24 hours on Tuesday for a story there also.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Canwest Publishing internal memo details severe cost cutting measures
Canwest Publishing details severe cost cutting measures including freeze on hiring, salary increases, travel, consultants, conferences and more
I have obtained an internal memorandum from Dennis Skulsky, President and CEO of Canwest Publishing and Doug Lamb, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Canwest Publishing which details a series of significant cost cutting measures to be implemented by Canwest newspapers across Canada.
Canwest Publishing is a division of Canwest Global Communications Corporation.
Canwest publishes the National Post, Vancouver Sun, Ottawa Citizen, Edmonton Journal and other major market and community newspapers with a combined weekly readership of over 5 million. Canwest Global also owns the Global Television network.
Canwest reported a $33 million quarterly loss earlier this month and recently announced it was dropping morning and noon newscasts at Global Toronto's television station.
The cuts include:
A freeze on all hiring.
A freeze on salaries until the end of the fiscal year.
A freeze on travel with "essential" travel requiring publisher's approval for economy class or best price single tickets only.
A freeze on meals, catering and entertainment expenses, including food at meetings.
A freeze on attending conferences and seminars.
Ending contracts with external consultants.
Limiting use of cell phones, with a goal of reducing the number of cell phones by 20 to 25%.
Delaying capital expenses unless absolutely necessary.
Reducing energy usage.
Cancelling subscriptions.
Creating a Voluntary Vacation Leave program for unpaid employee holidays.
Suspending "national employee events for this year," including the Vancouver Sun Run, Hockey Tournament, Slo-Pitch Tournament, Enlightened Leader sessions and Leadership Forum.
[NOTE - The Georgia Straight's Charlie Smith reports tonight that Vancouver Sun Managing Editor Kirk LaPointe tells him the Sun Run has NOT been cancelled - the Canwest memo is unclear as to it's status - as you can see below.]
Encouraging employees to suggest further cost-cutting measures.
Here is the complete internal memo:
MEMORANDUM
Date: January 23, 2009
To: All Canwest Publishing
From: Dennis Skulsky and Doug Lamb
Subject: Cost Control
As you know, our business is facing unprecedented pressure due to both the global economic downturn and challenges to our traditional publishing business.
The recent voluntary buyout program and costsaving initiatives we have implemented are proving to not be enough to offset advertising revenue shortfalls.
We are faced with significant advertising declines across the board but in particular in our employment, real estate and auto advertising categories.
As a result,across our organization, teams are taking a hard look at how to affectthe one lever we have absolute control over, our costs.
Following are a few initiatives underway and additional tactics that will contribute to our cost savings objectives:
· A freeze on all hiring. All new hire requests – including replacement and backfill positions – must be approved by the appropriate publishing executive management committee member and the SVP People. Expenses for consultants, freelancers and contractors mustbe approved at the publisher/SVP level.
· A freeze on salaries until the end of the fiscal year (September). Any exceptions must be approved by the President of Publishing.
· A freeze on travel. Essential travel must be approved inadvance of booking at the publisher/SVP level. All approved travel should be economy class or best price single tickets only – for alllevels within the organization.
· A freeze on meals, catering and entertainment expenses. An immediate freeze on all food at meetings. This includes previouslyfunded or subsidised coffee/snacks/drinks. Only expenses related toexternal customers and suppliers that are pre approved will be reimbursed. Approval for the expenses must be obtained in advance from a Publisher or SVP level executive.
· Evaluation of marketing and promotional spends. All marketing and promotional activities will be reviewed and re-evaluated. Approval for the expenditures must be approved by a Publisher or SVP level executive.· Ceasing engagements with external consultants. Consultants should only be used for those limited instances where a specific expertise which does not reside within our organization is absolutelyrequired.
· A freeze on conference/seminar attendance. Attendance at anyexternal conference must be approved by a Publisher or SVP levelexecutive and is expected to be severely curtailed. At this time, all external training expenses are to be halted.
· Equipment expense and capital purchases will be delayed unless absolutely necessary.
· Limiting the use of mobile devices. All contracts arecurrently under review to ensure the appropriate service level with the objective of limiting data usage and reducing the number of unitsby 20-25%.
· Reducing energy usage. Many companies, including our NetworkTen in Australia have significantly reduced costs by better managingthe use of energy and hydro.
· Use discretion when printing. Whenever possible avoid printing unnecessary copies by reading on your desktop. Colourprinting should be used only when necessary. When printing multiple pages, set printer defaults to double-sided output.
· Subscriptions. Cancel those subscriptions which are not essential.In addition, we are announcing a Voluntary Vacation Leave program. Any employee may make a request for unpaid vacation days between now and August 31st to their manager.
Approval is at management's discretion and based upon impact to the operation. This voluntary program will allow employees to take unpaid days in addition to their allotted paid vacation days for longer holidays or family time. Details of the program will be communicated next week.
We have also decided to suspend a number of our national employee events for this year including the Hockey Tournament, Sun Run,Slo-pitch tournament, Enlightened Leader sessions and Leadership Forum.These critical measures must be taken to weather the current economicclimate we're doing business in.
We appreciate all the efforts that have been taken by everyone during these difficult times. Corporate and Broadcasting are taking similar measures, and in the coming week, your manager will be following up with you to discuss anyfurther cost-control measures specific to your department.
The above list of measures is by no means exhaustive and we are sure there are many other measures that can be implemented to help reduce operating costs. Please feel free to share any additional ideas orthoughts you may have in this regard by e-mail at reducingcosts@canwest.com .
Just think, if every employee could save$1000, the collective savings would amount to 10,000,000! Our overarching goal is to come out of this with stronger businesses that best position us for the future.
Your involvement, support and hard work to maximize our cost savings initiatives are sincerely appreciated.
Dennis Skulsky
President and CEO, Canwest Publishing
Doug Lamb
Executive Vice President &Chief Financial Officer, Canwest Publishing
The News. When You Want It. Where You Want It.
Canadian Local Leading Newspapers online and in downloadable format.Canwest Digital Media offers 12 language translations, NewspaperRadio, archives and more...Daily print subscribers get complimentary access to their host and 10additional newspapers from across the country.Register or enjoy a FREE 7-Day TrialVisit www.canada.com/digital Today!
This email and the information transmitted herein may contain privileged and/or confidential material and may be subject tocopyright. Any unauthorized review, retransmission, dissemination orother use or disclosure is prohibited.
If you receive this email inerror, please notify the sender immediately and delete all copies,including attached material from any computer immediately.
I have obtained an internal memorandum from Dennis Skulsky, President and CEO of Canwest Publishing and Doug Lamb, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Canwest Publishing which details a series of significant cost cutting measures to be implemented by Canwest newspapers across Canada.
Canwest Publishing is a division of Canwest Global Communications Corporation.
Canwest publishes the National Post, Vancouver Sun, Ottawa Citizen, Edmonton Journal and other major market and community newspapers with a combined weekly readership of over 5 million. Canwest Global also owns the Global Television network.
Canwest reported a $33 million quarterly loss earlier this month and recently announced it was dropping morning and noon newscasts at Global Toronto's television station.
The cuts include:
A freeze on all hiring.
A freeze on salaries until the end of the fiscal year.
A freeze on travel with "essential" travel requiring publisher's approval for economy class or best price single tickets only.
A freeze on meals, catering and entertainment expenses, including food at meetings.
A freeze on attending conferences and seminars.
Ending contracts with external consultants.
Limiting use of cell phones, with a goal of reducing the number of cell phones by 20 to 25%.
Delaying capital expenses unless absolutely necessary.
Reducing energy usage.
Cancelling subscriptions.
Creating a Voluntary Vacation Leave program for unpaid employee holidays.
Suspending "national employee events for this year," including the Vancouver Sun Run, Hockey Tournament, Slo-Pitch Tournament, Enlightened Leader sessions and Leadership Forum.
[NOTE - The Georgia Straight's Charlie Smith reports tonight that Vancouver Sun Managing Editor Kirk LaPointe tells him the Sun Run has NOT been cancelled - the Canwest memo is unclear as to it's status - as you can see below.]
Encouraging employees to suggest further cost-cutting measures.
Here is the complete internal memo:
MEMORANDUM
Date: January 23, 2009
To: All Canwest Publishing
From: Dennis Skulsky and Doug Lamb
Subject: Cost Control
As you know, our business is facing unprecedented pressure due to both the global economic downturn and challenges to our traditional publishing business.
The recent voluntary buyout program and costsaving initiatives we have implemented are proving to not be enough to offset advertising revenue shortfalls.
We are faced with significant advertising declines across the board but in particular in our employment, real estate and auto advertising categories.
As a result,across our organization, teams are taking a hard look at how to affectthe one lever we have absolute control over, our costs.
Following are a few initiatives underway and additional tactics that will contribute to our cost savings objectives:
· A freeze on all hiring. All new hire requests – including replacement and backfill positions – must be approved by the appropriate publishing executive management committee member and the SVP People. Expenses for consultants, freelancers and contractors mustbe approved at the publisher/SVP level.
· A freeze on salaries until the end of the fiscal year (September). Any exceptions must be approved by the President of Publishing.
· A freeze on travel. Essential travel must be approved inadvance of booking at the publisher/SVP level. All approved travel should be economy class or best price single tickets only – for alllevels within the organization.
· A freeze on meals, catering and entertainment expenses. An immediate freeze on all food at meetings. This includes previouslyfunded or subsidised coffee/snacks/drinks. Only expenses related toexternal customers and suppliers that are pre approved will be reimbursed. Approval for the expenses must be obtained in advance from a Publisher or SVP level executive.
· Evaluation of marketing and promotional spends. All marketing and promotional activities will be reviewed and re-evaluated. Approval for the expenditures must be approved by a Publisher or SVP level executive.· Ceasing engagements with external consultants. Consultants should only be used for those limited instances where a specific expertise which does not reside within our organization is absolutelyrequired.
· A freeze on conference/seminar attendance. Attendance at anyexternal conference must be approved by a Publisher or SVP levelexecutive and is expected to be severely curtailed. At this time, all external training expenses are to be halted.
· Equipment expense and capital purchases will be delayed unless absolutely necessary.
· Limiting the use of mobile devices. All contracts arecurrently under review to ensure the appropriate service level with the objective of limiting data usage and reducing the number of unitsby 20-25%.
· Reducing energy usage. Many companies, including our NetworkTen in Australia have significantly reduced costs by better managingthe use of energy and hydro.
· Use discretion when printing. Whenever possible avoid printing unnecessary copies by reading on your desktop. Colourprinting should be used only when necessary. When printing multiple pages, set printer defaults to double-sided output.
· Subscriptions. Cancel those subscriptions which are not essential.In addition, we are announcing a Voluntary Vacation Leave program. Any employee may make a request for unpaid vacation days between now and August 31st to their manager.
Approval is at management's discretion and based upon impact to the operation. This voluntary program will allow employees to take unpaid days in addition to their allotted paid vacation days for longer holidays or family time. Details of the program will be communicated next week.
We have also decided to suspend a number of our national employee events for this year including the Hockey Tournament, Sun Run,Slo-pitch tournament, Enlightened Leader sessions and Leadership Forum.These critical measures must be taken to weather the current economicclimate we're doing business in.
We appreciate all the efforts that have been taken by everyone during these difficult times. Corporate and Broadcasting are taking similar measures, and in the coming week, your manager will be following up with you to discuss anyfurther cost-control measures specific to your department.
The above list of measures is by no means exhaustive and we are sure there are many other measures that can be implemented to help reduce operating costs. Please feel free to share any additional ideas orthoughts you may have in this regard by e-mail at reducingcosts@canwest.com .
Just think, if every employee could save$1000, the collective savings would amount to 10,000,000! Our overarching goal is to come out of this with stronger businesses that best position us for the future.
Your involvement, support and hard work to maximize our cost savings initiatives are sincerely appreciated.
Dennis Skulsky
President and CEO, Canwest Publishing
Doug Lamb
Executive Vice President &Chief Financial Officer, Canwest Publishing
The News. When You Want It. Where You Want It.
Canadian Local Leading Newspapers online and in downloadable format.Canwest Digital Media offers 12 language translations, NewspaperRadio, archives and more...Daily print subscribers get complimentary access to their host and 10additional newspapers from across the country.Register or enjoy a FREE 7-Day TrialVisit www.canada.com/digital Today!
This email and the information transmitted herein may contain privileged and/or confidential material and may be subject tocopyright. Any unauthorized review, retransmission, dissemination orother use or disclosure is prohibited.
If you receive this email inerror, please notify the sender immediately and delete all copies,including attached material from any computer immediately.
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