Vancouver Canucks game rioters "stupid and contagious" but rot starts at the top - why expect better behaviour?

Vancouver police face rioting crowd June 15 - thanks to Cassandra for exclusive photo - click on photo for full sized detailed look

Vancouver Rioters and the Hollow People Higher Up

Why be surprised at the Vancouver crowd's bad behaviour when the rot starts at the top?

Bill Tieleman's 24 hours/The Tyee column

Tuesday June 28, 2011

By Bill Tieleman

"Here we are now, entertain us / I feel stupid and contagious"

- Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Nirvana

The Vancouver Canucks riot was not an aberration nor was it conducted by "anarchists" as Mayor Gregor Robertson and Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu wrongly claimed.

The rioters were instead pathetically hollow people with no moral compass.

Most had jobs, good parents and an education. One even held a prestigious membership on a national sports team.

None of that mattered.

They wanted entertainment and what better than a riot with burning police cars and the lasting memories that come from having your pictures taken in front of jumping flames?

But why expect better behaviour from young people when the rot in our society starts at the top?

Take Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini repeatedly telling media -- including one woman reporter - to F*** off for doing their job of asking questions after his team lost game seven.

Apparently making millions from a sports franchise does nothing to improve basic manners and instil professionalism.

By June 17, the foul-mouthed Aquilini was telling Global TV that "Real fans don't riot."

Are you kidding? Of course they do!

Who but a real Vancouver Canuck fan would buy an overpriced team jersey valued from $80 to $320 to wear on a riot and looting spree?

Watch the videos, Francesco, and in each incident you'll see about $15,000 worth of your Canuck merchandise-wearing fans rolling and burning cars or smashing downtown storefront windows.

Yes, "we are all Canucks" -- even the crazed rioters.

Corruption and disrespect

And why would we expect exemplary behaviour from young fans when everywhere they turn they see corruption and disrespect at the highest levels for the values we want them to respect?

After the riot we learned that four senior RCMP officers face multiple serious corruption charges in the infamous 2007 Surrey Six massacre that saw two bystanders and four gang members murdered.

The allegations include one officer impregnating a potential witness, the girlfriend of a man who pled guilty to murder in the case.

Last month four other RCMP officers were charged with perjury over their testimony in the tragic 2007 Robert Dziekanski tasering death incident at Vancouver Airport.

The allegation is that they lied under oath to protect themselves from prosecution.

While these officers deserve the presumption of innocence before trial, the impact is deeply disturbing.

Nationally, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government was voted in contempt of Parliament by the opposition for the first time in history -- and nonetheless rewarded with a majority government in the following election.

In this province, two former B.C. Liberal ministerial aides who pled guilty to breach of trust for disclosing confidential government information to a bidder in the $1 billion privatization of B.C. Rail had their $6 million legal fees covered by the B.C. government, ending their trial after just two witnesses testified.

And B.C. Premier Christy Clark said during her leadership campaign that she wouldn't cut the Harmonized Sales Tax rate because it would be like trying to buy people's votes -- then she did exactly that once in office.

Government and big business Smart Tax Alliance television and print ads falsely proclaim that the HST is 10 per cent when in fact it is 12 per cent and can't possibly be 10 per cent until 2014 -- if the B.C. Liberal government is both re-elected and keeps its words.

And they say "Vote no for lower taxes" when a no vote will keep the HST in place -- a tax not previously paid on hundreds of goods and services.

Yet they run the ads without a hint of embarrassment.

Those who give a damn

The gap between the good behaviour we expect and the results we see from our role models is tragic.

Fortunately many, many other Vancouver residents do give a damn about something and about their city.

Some tried to stop the rioting and destruction while others made the effort to help clean up, express their disgust for the riot and attempt to restore our city's tattered reputation.

Not all Vancouverites are "stupid and contagious" -- literally thank goodness.

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BC gets final HST payment from federal Conservative government - appointment of ex-Premier Gordon Campbell to High Commissioner to UK job!

New High Commissioner to United Kingdom Gordon Campbell

The federal Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made the final payment to British Columbia for agreeing to impose the Harmonized Sales Tax.

No, not the one-time-only $1.6 billion payment to the BC government - the other pay off.

Last week former BC Premier Gordon Campbell was appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a job that will pay about $190,000 a year, plus an official residence, chef and chauffeur in London.

While many commentators have focused on Campbell's background, relationship with Harper and other factors, none seem to have drawn the obvious conclusion - if the High Commissioner job is a reward - as it has been in the past for prime ministers both Conservative and Liberal - why Campbell?

After all, he doesn't even belong to either federal politicial party and certainly was responsible for the balancing act of keeping both federal Liberals and Conservatives in a provincial coalition misnamed the BC Liberal Party.

That hardly is helpful to the electoral success of the federal Conservatives.

So, if he isn't a party ally, political ally, major donor or diplomatic veteran, why give Campbell one of the best jobs in all diplomacy?

Because he delivered the HST in British Columbia, even if it cost him his job.

The HST is a federal priority and for good reason - Ottawa increases its take of provincial sales taxes through the HST by about $300 million a year.

Campbell's kind of blind loyalty deserves favour - and High Commissioner to the UK is that kind of reward.

No doubt many will disagree with this cynical view.

And I think Campbell will do a decent job, given his long record in public office.

I even wish him well - after all, if I lose my passport in England I'll be depending on him!

But really - let's not ignore an obvious conclusion. 

Only in BC you say?  Pity.

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HST Referendum Vote Is About Democracy, Not Just Money

Fight HST organizer Gabriel Yiu,left, and local residents show off community support for YES to extinguish the HST in Vancouver-Fraserview riding - after over 100 signs mysteriously stolen overnight earlier in June!

Bill Tieleman's 24 hours/The Tyee column

Tuesday June 21, 2011

Voting on the HST not just on tax policy, but also about defending democracy

By Bill Tieleman

 

 

"Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner."

- James Bovard, author

The Harmonized Sales Tax referendum isn't just about tax policy -- it's about democracy itself.

Voting "Yes" to extinguish the HST sends a powerful message to this and every future B.C. government -- do not mislead voters by bringing in a major policy that you denied you would before an election.

We've seen it before -- from this same BC Liberal government that said it wouldn't privatize BC Rail before the 2001 election and sold it off in 2003.

We saw it in Nova Scotia, where the New Democrat government said before the 2009 election it wouldn't raise taxes -- would even cut some -- but afterwards increased their HST to 15 per cent from 13 per cent.

There are always reasons why many governments insist they just had to break their word -- and usually have a few years to get away with it before the next election.

Not this time.

Historic opportunity

The grassroots rebellion led by Fight HST, which I helped create with former B.C. premier Bill Vander Zalm, forced this month's binding referendum vote when the 2010 citizens initiative petition obtained more than 557,000 valid voter signatures.

That means that for the first time in Canadian history -- even Commonwealth history -- voters have the chance to democratically overturn a government policy that was imposed against their will.

That in itself is reason enough to vote "Yes" to extinguish the HST -- to punish a government that didn't respect its own citizens -- and teach all parties a lesson about political honesty.

Democracy is earned

Former premier Gordon Campbell could have listened when the petition was successful and cancelled the HST -- but wouldn't.

The BC Liberal government could have paid attention to polls showing over 80 per cent opposition to the HST -- but didn't.

New Premier Christy Clark could have been different -- but instead her government is running a $5 million advertising campaign claiming the HST is good for us -- while Clark actually claims she is "neutral."

And the BC Liberal Party's big business allies, the so-called Smart Tax Alliance, are running an even more expensive HST ad and automated telephone campaign.

They think democracy can be bought. Don't believe it.

Democracy can only be earned. And it isn't for sale.

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Bill Tieleman in Chicago

Hi friends - I will be in Chicago from Thursday through Tuesday - your comments always welcome but posting may be delayed - cheers!

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The HST vote is about your money - that's why government and big business misinformation so outrageous

BC Liberal government's "Stickmen" ads - $5 million of your taxpayer dollars at work to convince you the HST is good for you - even though they promised not to do it!

Remember - the HST is 12% - not 10% as BC government and Smart Tax Alliance TV ads wrongly claim

         

Bill Tieleman's 24 hours/The Tyee column

Tuesday June 14, 2011       

By Bill Tieleman

"This particular tax takes the tax off business, it takes $1.8 billion off businesses and puts it on consumers, and so that shift is a shift that is ideological as well as factual."

- Former BC Liberal finance minister Carole Taylor on the HST

This month's binding referendum vote on the Harmonized Sales Tax is about your money.

HST misinformation is being promoted with $5 million in B.C. government advertising and another big business campaign from the so-called Smart Tax Alliance with an undisclosed but likely even bigger budget.

Remember -- the HST is a 12 per cent tax on goods and services, not the 10 per cent their ads claim.

That means you are spending up to $1,200 a year in HST that you didn't spend when the Provincial Sales Tax and federal Goods and Services Tax were in effect.

Why? Because you weren't charged the seven per cent PST on hundreds of services and products -- like restaurant food, basic phone and cable TV, home repairs and renovations, domestic airline tickets, haircuts, vitamins, gym memberships, sports and concert events and much more -- a huge list.

Businesses which greatly benefit from the $2 billion tax shift onto consumers want you to believe the HST will eventually be 10 per cent -- but only if you vote NO to keep it.

Rubbish. The BC Liberal government is "promising" to reduce the HST to 10 per cent by 2014.

String of broken pledges

That's the government which promised before the 2009 election it wouldn't impose an HST; promised the HST would be "revenue neutral"; promised all the money would go to healthcare; promised a 15 per cent income tax cut to make up for the HST, promised 141,000 new jobs in 10 years and promised it wouldn't try to buy your vote with your money.

Every single one of those promises has been broken.

Now Premier Christy Clark "promises" an 11 per cent HST next year and a 10 per cent HST in three years -- but only after you vote. Is that believable?

And even if it was, would you really be better off still paying an extra five per cent tax on all the items above?

Right now the seven per cent HST will cost you an extra $140 on a $2,000 domestic flight and an extra $3,500 on a $50,000 home renovation or repair.

Would an extra five per cent tax on these costs be better than zero per cent?

Obviously not.

Yes means No

Giving people a vote to demand government listen is why I helped start Fight HST, which led the citizens initiative petition that forced a binding mail ballot referendum going into the mail this week and next, with a deadline to return it of July 22.

And remember that you have to vote Yes to extinguish the HST and vote No to keep the HST -- that's the way the referendum ballot has been worded by Elections BC.

Don't take advice from government "stick men" ads and big business, which have everything to gain from your loss -- do the math for yourself and your family.

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper No Help to Chinese Voices of Democracy, Human Rights and Freedom in Jail

Imprisoned artist & architect Ai Weiwei

Canada to double trade with China, whose government imprisons artist Ai Weiwei and Nobel winner Liu Xiaobo

Bill Tieleman's 24 hours/The Tyee column

Tuesday June 7, 2011

By Bill Tieleman 

"I believe that no matter what happens, nothing can prevent the historical process by which society demands freedom and democracy."

- Ai Weiwei, imprisoned Chinese artist and architect

UPDATE JUNE 24 - Good news - Ai Weiwei has been freed from prison!  But he is also under a severe gag order from Chinese authorities not to talk about his detention. See: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/06/23/ai-weiwei-gag-order.html

China's best-known artist and architect -- Ai Weiwei -- has been jailed since April 3 for speaking out against that country's dictatorship.

The first Chinese national to win the Nobel Peace Prize -- Liu Xiaobo -- is also in jail, serving an 11-year sentence for "inciting subversion of state power."

On June 4 in Hong Kong, an estimated 150,000 people rallied to demand human rights in China and mark the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre of protestors by the army.

Meanwhile Canada plans to double our $30 billion a year trade with this viciously authoritarian government by 2015.

That means these two extraordinarily brave men are good for democracy but bad for business, especially for corporations with huge financial investments in China.

What landed Ai in prison

Ai predicted his eventual jailing in May 2009.

He knew that criticizing the 2008 Beijing Olympics -- despite being consulting architect to the fabulous Bird's Nest stadium -- and compiling online lists of the names of children killed in the May 2008 Szechuan earthquake when their poorly built schools collapsed -- would doom his freedom.

Before his popular blog was erased from the Internet and his Twitter account with 70,000 followers was silenced, Ai wrote: "Reject cynicism, reject cooperation, reject fear... There is nothing to discuss... I won't cooperate. If you must, come bring your instruments of torture with you."

Now Ai languishes in jail, accused of "tax evasion" but clearly being punished for statements like this, written just before the Olympics began: "A society lacking in democracy is incapable of orchestrating true joy for its people."

Many artists have rallied to Ai's cause and those of other pro-democracy activists -- but the art world establishment has been almost as silent as the controlled Chinese media.

That's because China controls access to its vast artistic collections and the funding to permit exhibits to travel to western nations.

VAG curator stands up for Ai

The Vancouver Art Gallery's chief curator Daina Augaitis deserves praise for immediately calling for Ai's release from jail.

"It's terrible. We need to speak out about it. We need to demand his release -- as the French and German governments have already done," said Augaitis, who had previously visited Ai in his studio along with VAG director Kathleen Bartels in 2010.

Unfortunately, of all major American galleries, only San Diego's Museum of Contemporary Art has officially protested Ai's detention.

But several continue with plans to showcase art exhibits organized in conjunction with the Chinese government, including the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Liu Xiaobo's activism

The case of Liu Xiaobo is equally, if not more disturbing.

Liu joined student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in 1989 and has been a pro-democracy activist ever since, despite losing his job as a teacher and being repeatedly jailed.

Liu's commitment to achieving democracy and protection of human rights through non-violent protest earned him the Nobel Prize last October.

To his credit, Prime Minister Stephen Harper publicly congratulated Liu on his Nobel win -- but regrettably Harper has yet to protest Ai's jailing.

U.S. President Barack Obama called for Liu's release in a powerful statement describing him as "eloquent and courageous."

But China's response was classic -- there was no mention of international condemnation of Liu's imprisonment in official media.

But China did describe Liu as a "criminal" and his being awarded the Nobel Prize "an obscenity."

Here in Canada, a Parliamentary page can stage a silent protest against Harper's government on the floor of the Senate without fear of jailing, torture or death.

Voters in British Columbia will democratically decide in a binding referendum if the Harmonized Sales Tax should be repealed, overriding an arbitrary government decision.

The contrast couldn't be sharper.

So at a time when Canadian and other countries rightly rally support for pro-democracy movements in Egypt and Libya, isn't it also appropriate to demand freedom for Liu and Ai and more support for democracy in China?

Or is it just business as usual?

A disturbing footnote: The last time I raised the issue of democracy in China in 2008 I received email death threats that were investigated by Vancouver Police. They originated in China, which refuses to cooperate with investigations by foreign police.

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Bill Tieleman & Bill Vander Zalm & Chris Delaney - Fight HST - take on Smart Tax Alliance - Vancouver tonight - Wosk Centre 7:30 p.m.



Bill Tieleman, Bill Vander Zalm, Chris Delaney at Fight HST news conference

I will be joining Bill Vander Zalm and Chris Delaney tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Wosk Centre at Simon Fraser University's downtown Vancouver campus as Fight HST debates the Smart Tax Alliance on the Harmonized Sales Tax.

Bill Vander Zalm and I will also be debating in Victoria at Camosun College's Lansdowne Campus on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. [yes, I know, Canucks game on that night - can't change schedule]

Camosun College, Lansdowne Campus
1950 Lansdowne Road, Victoria
Gibson Auditorium, Room 216, Young Building

And we will be in Nanaimo on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Vancouver Island University
900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo
Malaspina Theatre, Building 310, Main Theatre, Room 218

Click on the links above to get maps and more details.

Please come down and support Fight HST if you can!

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CN Rail - buyer of BC Rail - main sponsor for Christy Clark speech to Vancouver Board of Trade!

Premier Christy Clark - questions on BC Rail?

Don't expect a lot of questions to be asked about the $1 billion privatization of BC Rail in 2003 - or about the Basi-Virk/BC Legislature Raid case - when Premier Christy Clark speaks at the Vancouver Board of Trade on June 16.

That's because the events "Presenting Sponsor" is none other than CN Rail - which bought BC Rail!

The event is a hokey "conversation" between Clark and 60 Minutes TV show co-editor Lesley Stahl.

And in an unintentionally hilarious error by the Board of Trade, ads for the event say: "Join us for this signature even kicking off a new era of member engagement...."

Of course, ex-Premier Gordon Campbell launched his "New Era" of "Hope and Prosperity" after winning the 2001 provincial election.

Clark - who literally refuses to speak Campbell's name in all public statements, referring to him only as "my predecessor" - won't likely use the "new era" term.

What will be interesting is if this "conversation" will be compared to Katie Couric's devastating TV interview with Sarah Palin that showed the Vice-Presidential candidate to be less than up to speed on major issues.

Premier Photo-Op is in serious need of showing some comprehensive grasp of public policy rather than lighting the Olympic Cauldron and wearing a Canucks jersey.

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BC Liberals or Smart Tax Alliance enlist robot calling to conduct pro-HST voter identification

Have you been "robo called" yet about the HST?

If not, you will be - by the firm Prime Contact - who are working either for the BC Liberal Party or the so-called "Smart Tax Alliance" - the big business group spending millions to promote the Harmonized Sales Tax.

I was called at home on Tuesday May 31 at 8:15 p.m. from telephone number 604-283-1504 and I've since talked to half a dozen other people who got the identical robo call.

What is a "robo call"?  It's a fully automated call that records your responses entered on your telephone keypad and then reports back to the robot's masters.

This call from the Hamilton Ontario-based firm was very simple.

First question:  "Are you in favour of extinguishing the HST?"  Yes or No?

Second question:  "What age range are you?"  Under 18, 18 to 34, 35 to 54 or 55 and older?

Third question: "Are you male or female?"

And that's all folks.

Prime Contact has worked for right-wing Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and several federal Liberal Party candidates and - probably - the BC Liberal Party in the 2009 provincial election.  The firm's website says it worked in that election.

They also do automated polling as well as holding "telephone town halls" - something the BC Liberal government has been doing continually on the HST - with your tax dollars of course.

Prime Contact claims that: "We define ourselves by winning elections, especially the close ones and those that people say are impossible to win! We are passionate when it comes to grassroots campaigning and we want to help you win."
Here's how they describe their service:

"Automated Voter Identification Surveys

When faced with contacting thousands of voters without the budget for Live Agent Voter ID, use our AutoID system to get the job done.

As Election Day approaches, it's important to know who your voters are and what is important to them. With our new technology, even small campaigns can afford voter ID. This can make the difference on Election Day.

Our automated ID technology is accurate, cost effective, and will generate valuable voter data for your direct mail and Get-Out-The-Vote efforts. With PrimeContact, you can acquire the key information you need to win.

We'll save you time. With volunteers, identifying support can take a long time. Not only do you have to recruit the volunteers, but you are unlikely to be able to use every available phone all day. However, with Automated Voter ID we can get started immediately and generate tens of thousands of phone calls every day."

Will robots save the HST?  One thing is clear - they can't vote!
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The HST fix? Trust us, say BC Liberals as Christy Clark plays Lucy to British Columbians as Charlie Brown with football

Charlie Brown meets BC Premier Lucy van Pelt and HST football

Christy Clark Has Trust Issues

She's Lucy. The HST is the football. Are we all Charlie Brown?

Bill Tieleman's 24 hours/The Tyee column

Tuesday May 31, 2011

By Bill Tieleman

"I don't mind your dishonesty half as much as I mind your opinion of me -- you must think I'm stupid."

- Charlie Brown, as Lucy tries to persuade him to kick the football again.

Trust us.

Forget all the times we've broken our promises to you -- this time it will be different.

You have our word on it.

That's what the BC Liberal government is telling voters about the Harmonized Sales Tax.

Believe that they will introduce changes they pledged last week to bring in -- trying to buy your vote with your own money -- but only if you agree to keep the HST in the June binding referendum.

It's like cartoon character Charlie Brown running full speed to once again try kicking the football -- and having it pulled away as usual by his nemesis Lucy Van Pelt.

With the HST, Lucy's character is played perfectly by Premier Christy Clark.

Big smile, sweet words: "This time you can trust me -- see, here's a signed document testifying that I promise not to pull it away."

British Columbians get to be Charlie Brown, the trusting soul who always gets tricked and ends up flat on his back yelling "Arrrgggh!" at his foolish mistake of believing Lucy once more.

That is, unless voters decide to not get fooled again.

Or unless they look at what a bad deal the HST changes really are.

The first part is simple.

Here's what Clark said on March 21 on Vancouver's CKYE Red FM 93.1 on why she would not cut the HST rate:

"We aren't going to be talking about trying to reduce it by a point or two before the referendum. I mean, I think people will see that as buying them with their own money," Clark said.

Now she's trying to buy us with our own money! She does think we're stupid.

And why give a $175 grant for every child under age 18 without any regard for the family income level?

Why give $175 to someone making $200,000 a year? Or $150,000 a year?

But guess who qualifies for that $175 grant -- Premier Christy Clark and Finance Minister Kevin Falcon, who each have a child.

Second, can you believe a BC Liberal government that said it wouldn't introduce an HST, then did so after the election, will cut the HST in 2012 to 11 per cent?

Or that three full years from now it will cut the HST to 10 per cent in 2014?

Can you trust a government that swore the HST would be revenue neutral, then admitted it would raise an extra $820 million a year?

Who can have faith in desperate BC Liberals who said in March 2010 that every dollar from the HST would go to health care, when that's just not true.

Why would you believe a government that promised a 15 per cent income tax cut for all British Columbians last October to convince us to support the HST and then rescinded the tax cut just weeks later?

Can anyone believe BC Liberals who first attacked NDP leader Adrian Dix for pledging to increase corporate taxes to pay for public services -- and then said they would hike corporate taxes to pay for the HST grants and lower rate?

On the HST changes themselves, most British Columbians will still pay more even if the BC Liberals actually do cut the rate to 11 per cent.

That's because you will still pay an extra six per cent on hundreds of goods and services.

The extra six per cent HST would still apply to restaurant food, basic cable TV, telephone, household cleaning, maintenance, and renovations, sports events, movies, gym membership, domestic plane, train or bus travel, taxis, parking, dry cleaning, vitamins, massage therapy, some school supplies, snack foods, haircuts and far more.

In three years if the rate is cut to 10 per cent you will still pay five per cent more on all these things than you did back in June 2009.

Is it any wonder the BC Liberal government is trying to buy your vote with a multi-million dollar ad campaign?

Or that big business is spending millions to keep the massive tax shift that makes consumers pay more and corporations pay less?

Trust us.

Kick the HST football.

What could go wrong?

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What the HST will cost us - and why BC should vote "YES" to extinguish the HST in June referendum

Bill Tieleman signs Fight HST citizens Initiative petition April 14, 2010
in Vancouver-Point Grey riding

What the HST is costing us – and why it should go in June’s referendum

Bill Tieleman's 24 hours/The Tyee column

Tuesday May 24, 2011

By Bill Tieleman

In terms of the revenue of the HST, it's roughly the same as the revenue we currently get from the PST.

-        B.C. Finance Minister Colin Hansen, August 13, 2009

The B.C. Liberal government said they wouldn’t impose a Harmonized Sales Tax before the May 2009 election.

Afterwards they did.

Hansen and then-Premier Gordon Campbell said the HST would be “revenue neutral” for government.

Now their hand-picked Independent Panel discovered the HST is raising a whopping extra $820 million a year from your pocket.

And none of it is budgeted to pay for needed public services.

New Premier Christy Clark claims she will “fix” the HST with “smart” moves.

Yeah, right. 

But the only real way to fix this dumb tax is to vote “Yes” to extinguish the HST in the binding mail ballot referendum in June.

Because it’s not hard to figure out the HST is costing you lots of money.

The HST adds an extra 7% to hundreds of goods and services  that were not subject to the Provincial Sales Tax in the past.

The Independent Panel calculates that if your household family income is $40,000 to $60,000 you pay an extra $366 a year in HST.

But for a two-income earning family with both members making $50,000 each – the average B.C. wage – the HST costs you over $1,000 a year!

Those numbers are conservative and don’t include spending major coin on a home renovation or repair.  A $20,000 new roof will set you back an extra $1,400 and for a $50,000 kitchen reno add $3,500.

That’s causing some consumers to pay cash to avoid the entire HST and save the total 12% tax.  But it means honest businesses suffer and their customers pay more while government loses revenue to the black market.

And heaven help you if you want to buy a new home – because the HST adds 7% to anything costing over $525,000 when Vancouver’s average house price is over $1 million. That means on an $825,000 home the extra HST is a cool $21,000.

But even on everyday items you can quickly see how the HST adds up to far more than $366 a family.

My cable TV bill alone shows I’m paying $8 a month in HST while my telephone costs me $7 monthly in HST for a total of $180 on just two basic items!

My condominium fees went up because the HST is charged on cleaning, maintenance and other services – costing me an extra $160 a year.

And our family eats a lot of restaurant food at an extra 7%.  Spend $2,000 a year, add $140 in HST.

Even a cappuccino or coffee and doughnut break at $4 every work day will add up to an extra $67 a year in HST.

My wife and daughter fly to Winnipeg annually to visit family – add $84 to the $1,200 ticket price or to any domestic plane, train or bus travel.

Go to a Canucks game, movie, ballet or work out at the gym or play golf and pay 7% more every time.  For some, that means hundreds more in HST costs.

And the list of extra 7% HST charged is very long. 

Add in taxis, parking, dry cleaning, vitamins, massage therapy, over-the-counter medications, newspaper and magazine subscriptions, bicycles, safety helmets, camping sites, shoe repair, some school supplies, snack foods, haircuts, manicures and pedicures, tailoring, landscaping, accounting, veterinarian visits, computer and appliance repairs – even wedding planners and funerals cost 7% more!

But don’t worry – a few things actually have slightly less tax with the HST. 
Luxury vehicles worth more than $55,000 and disposable baby diapers – go crazy!

The enormous cost of this tax is why I helped form Fight HST with former Premier Bill Vander Zalm, former Unity Party leader Chris Delaney and others, which led a successful citizens Initiative campaign that forced this referendum.

The B.C. Liberal government is spending $5 million of your tax dollars on an advertising campaign telling you to keep the HST. 

Big businesses in the misnamed Smart Tax Alliance are spending many millions more on pricey TV ads with accountants who say the HST is “good” for you.

Nonsense!  Vote Yes to extinguish the HST – and save your money!

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Help the BC Liberals rename their party! Your suggestions for Premier Christy Clark's makeover gratefully accepted

Christy Clark - "what's my riding?"

Loose cannon - new BC Lib symbol?

What's in a Name?  "BC Liberal" must go! 

A political makeover for shoot-from-the-hip Christy and her BC Liberals

Bill Tieleman's 24 hours/The Tyee column

Tuesday May 17, 2011

By Bill Tieleman

"The type who would charge hell with a bucket of water."

- Lady Bird Johnson, on those who act without thinking.

Do you think any political party in the world would trumpet the following approach as a winning strategy?

The party leader narrowly wins a seat in a by-election to enter the legislature, defeating a candidate she repeatedly refused to debate and who wasn't supposed to have a chance.

Within 24 hours of that slim victory, which was a fraction of the margin the ex-leader racked up in several elections in the same riding, the new leader announces she may run somewhere else next time.

In the same 24 hours, a veteran legislator, the leader's campaign chair and until recently the finance minister, makes a surprise announcement that their party should seriously consider changing its name.

After all, why remind voters you handily won three successive elections to hold power for a decade, and have existed as a political party with the same name since 1903, first forming government in 1916?

The leader chimes in to say there are "real merits" to changing the name, but other senior cabinet members disagree -- in public.

Then the leader announces she will make "bold" and "smart" changes to "fix" a despised tax that's been in place for nearly a year -- but won't tell anyone what they are for weeks -- until just before a binding referendum vote.

But she is spending more than $5 million on a government advertising campaign already, despite no one knowing what changes are coming.

Oh yes, and the TV ad campaign features a cartoon stick man to inform consumers about a $2-billion-a-year tax.

Is this any way to run a party? Or a province?

Change in the air

By now you've guessed that this is British Columbia under new Premier Christy Clark, with former minister Colin Hansen in charge of party name changes.

And it's clear Clark is busy trying to change the provincial symbol from the dogwood tree to one more representative of her own style -- a loose cannon!

As someone who endorsed New Democrat candidate David Eby in the Vancouver-Point Grey by-election, where Clark eked out a win of 595 votes despite former premier Gordon Campbell winning by 10 per cent and over 2,300 votes, I should be thrilled at her political miscalculations and insult to the riding.

And as a founder of Fight HST, the group that ran the successful citizens' initiative petition leading to the binding referendum on the Harmonized Sales Tax, I should applaud the outrageous ad spending and uncertainty as help in getting a "Yes" vote to extinguish the HST.

But as a political commentator and communications consultant, I'm appalled at how amateurish British Columbia looks right now.

I suspect it's a position shared by some BC Liberal MLAs, all but one of whom declined to endorse Clark in the leadership campaign for increasingly obvious reasons.

Lend a name

So let's at least help the BC Liberal Party pick a new name that accurately reflects its current status.

You can email suggestions, post them on my blog, or post them in the comment thread below.

To get you started, here's a few ideas:

"The Party Formerly Known as BC Liberal";

The "Gordon Campbell? Never Heard Of Him" Party;

The "Because Christy Clark's Really Awesome & Zany, Yeah" Party -- B.C. C.R.A.Z.Y.

The names may change, but B.C. politics will remain wild!


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Celebration in honour of our friend Tom Cameron-Fawkes - Wednesday May 18 at 1:30 p.m. Metrotown Hilton Hotel

Tom Cameron-Fawkes

Tom Cameron-Fawkes - A Life to Celebrate


He left us too soon! His humour, generosity and talent will be much missed but warmly remembered.

Please join Tom's family and friends, and UFCW Local 1518 for a special celebration of his life, wit, and work:

1:30 pm on Wednesday, May 18, at the

Metrotown Hilton Hotel - 6083 McKay Ave., Burnaby, BC.


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David Eby versus Premier Christy Clark - the choice couldn't be clearer in Vancouver-Point Grey by-election, given Clark's sorry record

Premier Christy Clark - no debate, a sorry record

David Eby - NDP Vancouver-Point Grey candidate

Vote Gliberal?

Christy Clark is breezy on the campaign trail, but her record is seriously flawed

Bill Tieleman's 24 hours/The Tyee column

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

By Bill Tieleman

"Glib, off-the-cuff comments might make for good ratings on a talk show, but if you want to be leader of our party and premier of our province you have to know that your words have power."

- BC Liberal MLA Kevin Falcon on Christy Clark, Feb. 1, 2011

The Vancouver-Point Grey by-election Wednesday is about far more than whether BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark wins a seat in the Legislature.

Rather, it's the first chance for any B.C. voters to determine whether Clark's flaws of character, policy and record should be punished or rewarded.

It's a choice all British Columbians will likely soon get in a provincial election this fall when Clark faces new NDP leader Adrian Dix and new BC Conservative leader John Cummins.

The by-election match-up of Clark against New Democrat David Eby is a classic for contrast.

Eby is a young lawyer with an admirable record of standing up for human rights and democratic freedoms as the executive director of the BC Civil Liberties Association and Pivot Legal Society before that.

Clark’s experience with the law consists of breaking it as education minister in ex-premier Gordon Campbell’s cabinet, by violating the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

And of course, Clark never had to testify in B.C. Supreme Court about what she may have known or not known of the $1 billion privatization of B.C. Rail in the trial of former BC Liberal ministerial aides David Basi and Bob Virk.

A surprise guilty plea ended the trial before Clark could be called to testify, but after the BC Liberal government signed off on paying $6 million in legal fees for Basi and Virk, despite their lack of innocence.

On the environment, Eby would protect B.C.'s coastline from oil tanker traffic.

But Clark's position: "We've got [oil] tankers going up and down the St. Lawrence [river] for heaven's sake... I don't know why we'd ban them off the west coast."

And Clark's top priority federal government issue? Reversing a decision that the Prosperity Mine in northern B.C. could not proceed because even Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government said it was too environmentally devastating.

Then there are cosmetic pesticides. Clark surprisingly agreed with Dix's proposal last week to ban them -- surprising because her top leadership campaign advisor Gwyn Morgan says the idea is "junk science."

Morgan even disagrees with the Canadian Cancer Society's support for a ban, saying: "The medical evidence is scant."

Has Clark decided to support Dix because she thinks Morgan is wrong -- or because it's politically expedient?

Division or unity?

When it comes to building a team that crosses traditional divides, Eby has gained support from former politicians of different stripes -- like Eleanor Gregory, an ex-BC Liberal constituency president and former Non-Partisan Association Vancouver school trustee.

And Eby's campaign was boosted by NDP MLAs Mike Farnworth, Jenny Kwan, Shane Simpson -- who didn't back Dix's leadership bid -- canvassing with Dix to help defeat Clark.

By comparison, Clark could only convince one unknown backbench MLA to support her leadership campaign and there has been no significant presence of former leadership candidates Falcon, George Abbott or Mike de Jong in Vancouver-Point Grey.

Clark campaigns in a glaring spotlight but totally alone.

And rumours fly that Clark is busy purging BC Liberal MLAs who backed other leadership candidates. That explains West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Ralph Sultan's odd letter obtained by Public Eye Online saying he is going to run for another term when there is no election in sight.

North Shore News columnist Trevor Lautens recently wrote that Sultan and West Vancouver -- Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre may be pushed out by Clark's supporters and replaced by former BC CTV News anchor Pamela Martin -- Clark's campaign membership chair -- and Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, West Vancouver's mayor.

Other reports indicate more dissension in BC Liberal ranks, with Clark targeting MLAs and staff who didn't salute her leadership flag for an early pre-election exit.

Ducking debates

Then there's this little thing called democracy.

Clark claims she is "changing" the style of the BC Liberal government and doing things "differently" -- but her cowardly avoidance of all-candidates' debates -- even one organized by parents at Bayview Community School -- is identical to Gordon Campbell's disdain for citizen engagement.

Some media columnists have said Clark the former CKNW radio talk show host would never have tolerated a politician dodging debates.

"Now she has become what she despised," The Province's Mike Smyth wrote after he couldn't convince Clark to participate even in a debate on her old CKNW show, which he now hosts.

But I think otherwise -- because Clark was always a politician who only used her radio show to build profile for her inevitable run for premier -- Clark was no Jack Webster in the making.

Vancouver-Point Grey voters will have their say Wednesday. And Clark's sorry record makes the choice very clear.
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Two big winners and two abysmal losers in election: Conservatives and NDP elated, Liberals and Bloc Quebecois devastated



Stephen Harper - winning!




Jack Layton - Official Opposition Leader

Price of Liberals, NDP forcing election is four years - minimum - of Conservative majority government

Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours/The Tyee column

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Long gun registry, "strategic" voting among many casualties

By Bill Tieleman

A majority is always better than the best repartee.

- Benjamin Disraeli, British prime minister, 1804-1881

In this stunningly exciting federal election two parties were devastated and two – the Conservatives and the New Democrats – absolutely elated.

NDP leader Jack Layton’s “Orange Crush” has fundamentally changed national politics and the near total Liberal and Bloc Quebecois collapse let the Conservatives easily gain their much-wanted majority government.

The NDP bashed the Liberals into third place to achieve their dream of becoming official opposition and absolutely devastated the Bloc Quebecois and their separatist goal.

The Conservatives get their first majority government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper despite his campaigning in a bubble and avoiding most media questioning. Harper’s voters really don’t care.

The results sadly vindicate the Conservative strategy of demonizing Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff with negative attack ads, damaging his credibility so much the NDP leapfrogged into second place.

But Ignatieff was also the overly academic author of his own demise.

Now the Tories and NDP have four years to solidify their positions – and marginalize their opponents.

Ignatieff’s failure to connect with voters means the party will seek its third new leader in three years.

Neither a discredited Bob Rae nor an unremarkable Justin Trudeau can rescue the Liberals.

But the Bloc’s near elimination by the federalist NDP is a death blow to separatism and Gilles Duceppe’s leadership.

Harper is now in the position he has wanted since becoming Conservative leader –a four-year mandate with control of Parliament.

And that's not a huge surprise.  In my column of March 29 I predicted a majority Tory win was likely - and many readers strongly criticized me for doing so, but the results speak for themselves. 

At that time I wrote:

"Friday's opposition vote to defeat the Conservative government for "contempt of Parliament" was an exercise in self-delusion, testosterone and faulty logic that will surely result in Stephen Harper returning after the May 2 election as prime minister -- and likely with a majority....."

"The Liberals, NDP and Bloc argued somewhat persuasively that the Conservatives were in contempt of Parliament over their disdain for democracy, openness and accountability."

"So why did the opposition parties foolishly believe that the best way to restore those values is to give Stephen Harper an excellent chance to win a four-year majority?"  

"Now voters who deeply fear a Stephen Harper government with untrammelled power have to feverishly hope the Conservatives do what they will be desperately avoiding -- make a huge campaign mistake."

"Nothing less can stop their drive to majority power," I concluded.

So, will Harper wisely moderate his party’s right-wing red meat demands and instead occupy the centre of the political spectrum?

Or will he throw them steaks – like dismantling the CBC, privatized health care or slashing public services to pay for corporate tax cuts? Count on the long gun registry to die along with public funding for political parties and much more.

Also deceased – strategic voting. The idea of changing the results in ridings with small margins of victory with an ABC campaign – Anybody But Conservative – showed yet again it is a failing strategy, especially when two competing parties completely deflate.

Jack Layton won big. His appealing personality was backed with an excellent campaign that focused on key voter issues like job protection, retirement security, the environment and public health care.

Now Layton has four years to prepare for a classic left-right battle against Harper’s Conservatives – if he can dispatch the Liberals to political history before the next election.

And the election is a warning sign for B.C. Liberal Premier Christy Clark – the long-time federal Liberal may want to avoid a general election. at least until the Orange Crush runs out.


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NDP "Orange Crush" devastates Liberals, Bloc Quebecois - but Conservative majority government elected

NDP devastates Liberals, Bloc Quebecois to take Official Opposition for first time but Conservatives win majority government!

A Conservative majority government, the NDP as official opposition, the Liberals devastated, the Bloc Quebecois destroyed, the Greens irrelevant - what a night.

More soon and my 24 hours/The Tyee column to come.

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UPDATED: Why I will be voting for NDP candidate Victor Elkins in Vancouver Quadra on Monday - not so-called "strategic" voting

Vancouver Quadra NDP candidate Victor Elkins

UPDATED - SEE END OF ARTICLE

On Monday I will be casting my vote for Victor Elkins, the New Democratic Party candidate in my riding of Vancouver Quadra - and not voting "strategically" for another candidate whose party I don't support.

Why? 

First and foremost, the only reason why the NDP and leader Jack Layton are poised to take over Official Opposition status from the Liberal Party of Michael Ignatieff is because NDP voters in hundreds of ridings over dozens of years voted NDP - even when they knew their candidate would likely or surely lose.

The only way a political party can build strength to form the opposition or government is by consistently giving voters a choice - a real choice - with a different philosophy, platform and ideals.  And in the NDP's case, a social democratic choice.

Second, Victor Elkins is the best candidate in the race in Vancouver Quadra.  Liberal MP Joyce Murray was British Columbia's worst environment minister under BC Liberal Premier Gordon  Campbell - even the ministry name was changed to remove "environment"!

But also removed were wildlife protection officers and other staff in a gutting of the ministry's ability to do its job to protect our environment. 

Murray could have stood up for the environment. She could have quit cabinet rather than do the wrong thing - but she stayed and kept her mouth shut.  I could never vote for Murray with her track record - and she has done nothing of consequence as an MP either.

Third, strategic voting doesn't work.  Alice Funke of PunditsGuide.ca has an excellent article on this titled "Why the Conservatives Love 'Strategic' Voting Sites" that explains it well.

As Alice correctly writes: "A vote 'against' someone or something is a vote in favour of nothing. It gives no mandate to elected officials, creates all the wrong incentives for the politicians who are elected that way, and guarantees that Parliament will descend even further into the partisan barking we see there now."

And in an earlier article in 2008, Alice also did the research, rather than simply pontificate like some media and political observers have, and discovered that: "more of the seats that changed hands in an election had previously been won by margins of more than 5%, than had been won with margins under 5%."

That means the entire strategy of strategic voting is flawed - and in this 2011 election I believe it will be shown again with the NDP's results when the party wins seats in Quebec and elsewhere that were nowhere near that 5% margin.

So my advice in Vancouver Quadra - and in your riding, whether you are an NDP, Liberal, Conservative, Green or other party supporter - is to vote your beliefs. 

Your candidate may not win this election - but you won't have to hold your nose in the ballot box - and isn't that what democracy should be about?

UPDATE Monday May 2, 2011 - Election Day

As noted in a comment from PunditsGuide.ca, well-known political columnist Lawrence Martin is reporting another good reason to reject strategic voting.

Martin writes at iPolitics.ca : "The success of the NDP pays off in other ways for Mr. Harper. It could very well give him more time.

"Liberals tell me they are unlikely to want to enter into any formal arrangement with the NDP to bring down the Harper government and seek the approval of the Governor-General to replace it.

"This would mean the Liberals would be playing second fiddle to the New Democrats under Prime Minister Jack Layton. The optics of that, the Liberals say, would not be in their interests.

“'We’ll want to rebuild our own party,' said one 'and you don’t do that by being seen as a support team for the party has just replaced you as the official opposition.'”

Martin also adds this provocative option in his must-read article: "No one has mentioned another post-election possibility, it being the British example wherein the first place party forms an alliance with the third place party to stay in power.

"In this case it would mean a temporary alliance between Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff with the Liberal leader and a few other Grits receiving cabinet posts."

So there you have it - could the Liberal Party that constantly propped up the Harper Conservatives in Parliament for years, under Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff, ensure that Harper stays on as prime minister to attempt to salvage their party?


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