Surette uses the F word
The conservative conscience is in turmoil, Ralph Surette, Halifax Chronicle Herald, June 23, 2012 “Are you among those baffled and alarmed by what’s going on with the Harper government —…
Norman Farrell
What’s hidden from the Auditor General ?
Vancouver Sun’s excellent business writer David Baines considers tax implications of government paying $6 million in legal fees for convicted criminals Basi & Virk. $6-million question: Should corrupt aides pay…
While local radio dies
May I recommend BBC Radio for its many worthwhile podcasts and online listening opportunities. Currently, one of the many series available, free of charge, is the 2012 Reith Lecture series…
Reinventing the wheel, timidly
British Columbia has established significant domestic production of natural gas and there are enormous reserves of recoverable gas newly discovered. Western Europe has identified major new gas fields and North…
Bonuses for bureaucrats – a phony scheme
Fine editorial from the best daily in British Columbia: CLBC bonuses call for inquiry, Times Colonist, June 22, 2012 “…Last fall, as reports of CLBC’s mismanagement and cover-ups mounted, the…
Fact free radio
Friday morning on BC Liberal radio, one of the trio assured us that BC Ferries has been cutting administration costs and its overheads had little or nothing to do with…
Nikiforuk examines Enbridge
Spill Crisis: ‘Whatever, We’re Going Home’, Andrew Nikiforuk, The Tyee “…damning U.S. regulatory reports portraying Calgary-based Enbridge as a company that ignored safety protocols and warning alarms as well as…
Words from Hansard
November 1, 2011, Page 8568 C. James: “To the minister, to the Premier, to this government on the other side: if they wanted to look at affordability, they’d end those…
Our pending meltdown
Are BC Liberals about to drag taxpayers into another economic calamity? Something akin to BC Hydro’s private power initiative, where government has taken near $50 billion of financial risk and…
On the backs of the disadvantaged
Minister orders end to bonuses at Community Living BC, CTV News, October 21, 2011 “Social Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux has ordered an end to bonuses for managers at the Crown…
More of Harper’s Canada
Private prison companies look to Canada as industry faces lawsuits in US, Bilbo Poynter, The Guardian, June 19, 2011 – US states are beginning to rely less on privately run…
Comparing investment returns WA & BC
My earlier article pointed out the vast difference in overhead costs for government investment agencies in British Columbia and Washington State. One of our readers asked: “How did our group…
Needing leadership, we get greed
Province pundit Michael Smyth slammed provincial court judges – bellyachers of the bench, he called them – for demanding richer packages of salaries and benefits. Maybe Smyth is grinding an…
Lying like a cheap rug
Perhaps the largest barrier making re-election of Christy Clark’s government unlikely is its lack of credibility. The Liberal brain trust decided long ago that veracity should always rank behind expediency.…
No news is likely bad news
With the first quarter of British Columbia’s current fiscal year ending, public agencies and crown corporations will soon release annual reports and audited financials for the year ended March 31,…
Smyth tells part of the story
I wonder if Province political columnist Michael Smyth spends only some of his time in this province and the rest on an isolated beach of Molokai. Occasionally, he seems plain…
Une artiste qui dérange
Harper government targeted artist for her green conscience, internal documents reveal, Vancouver Observer, June 12, 2012 “Franke James, a Canadian artist and environmental advocate blacklisted by the Harper government, has…
Crude lies
Pipeline spill risks are low, Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines “… with modern pipeline design and mitigation measures, the risks are very low… “What we can say is that at Enbridge,…
Politics over education of children
B.C. spends $1.7M on ads in teachers’ dispute, CTV BC, June 14, 2012 “The B.C. government’s ad campaign defending their position in the teachers’ dispute has cost more than $1.7…
Finding fibre for China
Timber panel eyes logging protected areas, Wendy Stueck, The Globe and Mail, Jun 12, 2012 “A committee looking for ways to boost B.C.’s dwindling store of timber is looking at…