Does government advertising affect the way media reports on political events? Maybe no, or not much, if the proportion of government advertising, compared to the total, is minor. However, when the taxpayers’ deep pockets pay for significant air time, we have to wonder. It’s that old perceived conflict of interest
Continue readingAuthor: Norm Farrell
Northern Insight: The evidence mounts
In the Times Colonist today, Rob Shaw provides information that should result in every citizen, BC Liberal supporters included, demanding a formal inquiry into disposition of BC Rail. Unfortunately, that’s not likely to occur for another 17 weeks. Moving sooner would require the exercise of common sense and that is
Continue readingNorthern Insight: When politicians aim to manage "freedom"
The federal Conservative government is creating an Office of Religious Freedom, intending to monitor and criticize religious persecution and to promote religious freedom around the world. Perhaps especially in Winnipeg, where the Harper Government’s preferred religion is Youth for Christ (Winnipeg) Incorporated. This organization received $6.8 million from government in
Continue readingNorthern Insight: BC’s slow ferry fiasco
Heading to Vancouver Island January 4, I noted something while checking BC Ferries schedules. Here are the vessels in service today on major routes to the island: Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo Queen of Oak Bay (built 1981) Queen of Coquitlam (1976) Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay Spirit of British Columbia (1993)
Continue readingNorthern Insight: As life moves on
The holidays are over, a season that pleased even the newcomer, grandchild #6, grand-daughter #2, from our youngest son and his wonderful wife. Can anyone doubt why we need steady hands guiding British Columbia? Regular readers will know that we’ve been involved in a major house renovation for months. After a pause
Continue readingNorthern Insight: A message to Christy Clark and friends
An old Turkish folk tale teaches: The candle of someone who lies almost always burns just to midnight. After his candle goes out, nobody gives him any light. He remains without light. This story illustrates: A lonely princess, known by all, once had friends, family and respect but she sometimes
Continue readingNorthern Insight: A road to inevitable unrest
Libs’ ‘Job Plan’ not enough to tackle poverty, Trish Garner, The Province, Dec 2012 “…B.C. has the largest gap between the rich and the poor, and the highest poverty rate in Canada. Over half-a-million British Columbians live below the poverty line, and most of them have a job, sometimes several,
Continue readingNorthern Insight: "Improved" PST will look much like HST
With less than 20 weeks before the BC election, our Liberal government continues spending tax dollars to promote themselves. It’s not the first time they aimed to influence the vote with government-paid advertising. This is from an opposition press release after the 2005 vote: “Following revelations that the Campbell government
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Five myths about charitable giving
From the Washington Post, follow the link for complete article. Of course it refers to American organizations but Canadian charities are not substantially different. 1. Charities are principally dedicated to serving the poor and needy. “…hospitals are the largest component of the U.S. charitable sector, but they are more likely
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Prudent fiscal management, BC Liberal style
Note 16 of BC Hydro’s audited financials statements, March 31, 2012 Energy Commitments “BC Hydro (excluding Powerex) has long-term energy purchase agreements to meet a portion of its expected future domestic electricity requirements. The expected obligations to purchase energy under these agreements have a total value of approximately $53,109 million… Powerex has energy
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Citizens shouldn’t face legal assault by their own governments
Elizabeth James, an independent minded columnist with the North Shore News, is regularly a far better read than many of her high profile colleagues in the Postmedia newspaper enterprise. In this column Ms. James writes, “I decided to clear my work space a little to make way for the seemingly
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Association precludes effective regulation
When governing parties are controlled by big business, agents shuffle back and forth between the regulated and the regulators. Now, faux capitalists are so confident in their right to rule, they drop pretences that their guys work for the public during times they handle the business of industry regulation. Energy
Continue readingNorthern Insight: "Marginalization continued"
Writing in The Tyee, Bob Mackin makes an incisive point about recent work of Liberal remittance man Wally Oppal, the loyal BC Liberal go-between when $6-million cash from taxpayers topped up Basi/Virk prosecutor Berardino’s offer of slap-on-the-wrist sentences in return for an end to the BC Rail trial. After Year
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Pay no attention to the men behind the curtain
Laila Yuile has a good piece today. She demonstrates an example of obedient political loyalty within the corporate press. A Times Colonist editor, who might be competent on matters of genealogy, failed miserably in writing an apologia for Premier Clark. Ms. Yuile dissects the defence and leaves it in tiny pieces. Alex Tsakumis earlier
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Deception and financial fakery for friends
A few days ago, I wrote Cronies, henchmen and the future and noted the loss of revenue government derives from natural resources, even though prices have risen dramatically in the past decade. BC Government revenue from natural resources, taken from annual public accounts, were these: 2001 = $3,975,000,000 2012 = $2,699,000,000
Continue readingNorthern Insight: The reason Liberals hide BC Rail files
While British Columbia’s government hides BC Rail documents from the Auditor General, consider this current news story. It demonstrates one more example of why full disclosure and transparency is needed for all public and quasi-public financials transactions: York University sues former executive for “vast” fraud, Toronto Star, Dec. 23/12 “A
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Who are these Greens, really?
Candidate choice splits B.C. Greens in Saanich South, Rob Shaw, Times Colonist “Sterk said her election readiness committee will unilaterally acclaim Branko Mustafovic — a local photographer and chef — as the riding’s Green candidate. The move bypasses any vote by members in the Saanich South constituency association.”
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Ice bombs inevitable
The reason for ice bombs dropping onto vehicles from the $3 Billion Port Mann bridge? Take a look. Compare the Alex Fraser bridge. On the new Port Mann, the bridge decks, east and west bound, are shrouded by cables carried from the centre towers. On the Alex Fraser, the cables
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Poor people are real economic stimulators
Now that Mr. Oppal has delivered his report, let’s ask whether the $8 million spent on Wally and friends was worthwhile. Oppal has been charging $1,500 a day. According to CTV four months ago: Senior commission counsel Art Vertlieb charged the province $483,741, while first-year lawyer Jessica McKeachie – who
Continue readingNorthern Insight: The only real change is to Oppal’s wallet
Wally Oppal’s report on missing and murdered women runs 1,638 pages. It is filled with politically correct dialogue that spreads blame so far and wide, it has little focus. Oppal gives advice to people who shouldn’t need advice, the technocrats we pay handsomely for alleged expertise. The Liberal’s man for
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