Contortions of logic and promises
The BC NDP government taxes fossil fuels severely to discourage consumption by citizens. That is an appropriate policy choice but the same government turns around and offers huge public subsidies…
Norman Farrell
Pension pain pending
Many people think of Canada as one of the more socially advanced countries of the world. That is only partly true.
Humanity’s slow-motion suicide
When I think about infinite growth on a finite planet, overpopulation, inequality, climate breakdown, and the ever-present risk of nuclear annihilation, I recall my science teacher son’s reminder, “Earth will…
Methane, a clear and present danger
The rich oil and gas industry is willing to damage the Earth and put natural life at risk, if its activity puts money in corporate accounts. Captured governments cooperate with…
Seth Klein fixed a Fortis letter
Fifteen months ago, writer, researcher and climate activist Seth Klein asked Fortis to stop asking people to undo their good work…
BC NDP donor reluctance
People professing to be former BC NDP supporters say they stopped financial contributions and/or resigned after disagreeing with policies imposed by party leaders. I trust many of these statements are…
Inaccurate carbon accounting
Calling bioenergy “carbon-neutral” suggests that emissions are instantaneously offset, when in reality it can take trees decades to absorb all the carbon emitted by burning wood, say critics…
Unprepared, ill-equipped
Despite massive disruption to the entire province, John Horgan’s government has made no change to its policies of promoting fossil fuels with lax regulation and multi-billion dollar industry supports. It…
Organized irresponsibility
For decades, flood risk studies written by specialists have accumulated on shelves in Victoria. One government after another failed to prioritize actions recommended by experts. They rated other expenditures as…
Can we prevent capitalism from destroying the world?
Journalists should pay close attention to Albert Camus because they have a responsibility to raise strong warnings of a potential climate-induced collapse of civilization.
Death throes of democracy
We will wake up to the realization we the voters no longer have the ability to shape our governing bodies through elections. The slippage is abundantly clear already. Big Money…
COVID-19 dead: 5 million or 20 million?
The official death toll from COVID-19 is about 5 million. The real number is likely closer to 20 million according to mortality researchers…
Dysfunctional duopoly
Far from being “broken,” our political system is doing precisely what it’s designed to do. It wasn’t built to deliver results in the public interest or to foster policy innovation,…
Megaproject madness; strategic lying at work
One is left to wonder why senior public officials do repeat business with global companies that have a history of delivering not on-time and not on-budget. Perhaps there are reasons…
Natural gas revenues in BC
The 2017 BC NDP platform promised, “The people of BC must get a fair return for our resources.” The pledge was immediately dropped when the NDP took power…
Corporate media, a propaganda system for elite interests
PoP BC formed after health professionals became concerned about inadequate health policies in BC. Are participants qualified to express opinions different than government officials who balance political issues with health…
Sunk costs sinking
BC government is reluctant to reveal information about BC Hydro’s Site C project but news that does emerge is useful to knowledgeable analysts…
Facts seem to support a progressive agenda
David Card’s Nobel Prize carries with it a cash prize of more than C$700,000 but the economist may experience greater satisfaction from credibility the award lends to his findings. Those…
Planning fallacy
John Horgan’s crew had a truckload of hard hats ready to go when they formed government in 2017 and the last thing they intended to do was alter the controversial…
Deceit and distraction
BC Hydro and government overseers have long claimed electricity demand is growing at a rate of 40% over 20 years. In fact, demand has not grown since 2005. What did…