What a non-story. I don't know if the ironically named "Mr. Toole" was actually at the Anchorage event last week but to argue that corporations were over-represented takes an extreme stretch of the imagination. All four of the working groups I attended (Energy, Tourism, Workforce Development and Health Care) were dominated by public sector presenters and discussion topics. Every major hospitality suite and dinner was hosted on by a government body, and the vast majority of the attendees I spoke to were either legislators or government agency employees.

As for the financial contribution of corporate members, if the states and provinces were kicking in a little more for the enormous value (and direct financial benefit) they get from this organization perhaps they wouldn't be having to bend over backwards to get some private money to keep this dream alive.

The financing of this is very important to know, Andrew. It not only keeps the "dream" alive, it tells us whose dream it is.

Thanks for stating the obvious. From PNWER's website (www.pnwer.org), the mission statement is:

- To increase the economic well-being and quality of life for all citizens of the region.
- To coordinate provincial and state policies throughout the region; to identify and promote "models of success;" and to serve as a conduit to exchange information.

If our governments are happy to benefit from the tremendous achievements of PNWER, but not to pay for it, then we should be asking our questions of them, not demonstrating a lack of gratitude to the corporations who are generously willing to fill in when governments fail to fund properly.

Golly, I just LOVE generous corporations who are so altruistic. I'll remember them in my prayers.

"Golly, I just LOVE generous corporations who are so altruistic. I'll remember them in my prayers."

You may have heard how forestry tycoon Ike Barber has contributed several million dollars to the reconstruction and expansion of the UBC Main Library, to now be called the Barber Learning Centre (or something like that). A less reported story is that Barber asked UBC to remove some of the trees on the East Mall so that people would have a better view of the new building. The trees on that Mall were planted by previous graduation classes, mostly in the Twenties, Thirties, and Forties, by those who went on to face the challenges of the Depression and the Second War.

A few years ago when I was walking on the northern stretches of the Main Mall, I noticed what appeared to be some kind of monument or memorial, a low concrete structure with paths running through it and name plaques attached. At first I guessed that these must be the names of UBC staff and students who had died during the World Wars and in Korea. But no, they were the names of large donors to UBC! I may be wrong, but I think this particular small edifice was the work of Martha Piper's team.

Budd, I assume you mean that the exception proves the rule. You look at the list of corporate sponsors here and tell me which ones aren't there to secure their own self-interests.