Understaffed and incapable, by design
In The Tyee, Scot McCannel, executive director of the Professional Employees Association, asserts, The B.C. government has slashed professionals in the public service to the point where it doesn’t have…
Norman Farrell
Another fleet sunk
When financial people mention “sunk costs,” they refer to expenditures that cannot be recovered. Almost 15 years ago, BC politicians learned the investment of hundreds of millions for fast ferries…
LNG export policy will damage BC businesses and consumers
A large employer organization in Australia wants government to subsidize businesses crippled by large price increases for natural gas. Ai Group says governments have to moderate the consequences of decisions…
More than LNG subsidies, consumers to pay higher prices
From the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, October 2014: There are new warnings that gas prices will skyrocket as Queensland’s huge LNG export projects start production next year. The independent think tank,…
Kumpelkapitalismus
Oil’s dive set to transform LNG market, The Financial Times, November 14, 2014 BC taxpayer “The downward spiral in oil prices is poised to shake up liquefied natural gas… “The…
A letter to BC Ferries
Republished from the Facebook page of Sean Smith, with permission. Dear BC Ferries: I know that you are having a hard time trying to figure out ways to save money.…
You can’t handle the truth: BC Liberals
Site C not necessarily a slam dunk: Bennett, Business in Vancouver, October 15, 2014 “Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett says he is still torn on whether his government should…
Fiscal unfairness, a BC Liberal tradition
Between Powell River and Texada Island, ferry service is by the oldest vessel in BC Ferries’ fleet, the 57-year-old MV North Island Princess, a vessel with capacity to carry 49…
Plus ça change…
Suzanne Methot reviewed Farley Mowat’s Walking on the Land, which was published in 2000. From that review: “Farley Mowat detailed government treatment of the Ihalmiut, First Nations people in Canada’s…
Careless or captured?
When you read or listen to resource industry advocates, especially ones masquerading as objective political pundits, compare their concerns in 2009 about burning natural gas to generate peak-demand electricity to…
All the spin that’s fit to print
This week, British Columbia saw evidence that corporate media does not report adverse details about public finance unless the material is dropped on desks in digested form, complete with defensive…
Don’t follow the law, change the law
British Columbia’s Auditor General reported to the BC Legislature and there is interesting commentary throughout. Carol Bellringer qualified her opinion as to the fairness of the province’s financial statements and…
Hedonists of power
Chris Hedges wrote many words for the New York Times; some of them wrong. He participated in false reporting that helped orchestrate invasion of Iraq by the coalition of the…
Restraint, BC Government style
Nearly half a million children are missing school days this year because government believes that spending restraint is imperative. Restraint in collecting taxes, at least from ordinary citizens, is not…
Liberal estimates and guesstimates
BC’s Minister of Energy and Mines says the $7.9 billion budget for Site C is “reliable” and the estimate of “direct construction costs” of $3.8 billion has “an 18% contingency.”…
Truthiness
This week, radio Station CKNW played commercials aimed at promoting public confidence in the absolute safety of Trans Mountain pipeline operations and marine shipments of petroleum products on the west…
Leadership with courage to be honest
Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay Gordon Head, spoke to the Legislature on October 9, 2014. This is an excerpt, with emphasis added: “The undeniable truth is that British Columbians…
At BC’s Public Accounts Committee
An excellent recap of the reasons behind the call for individuals to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to explain extraordinary financial transactions. Sept 15 2014 SSC PAC Corrigan to…