Last month, Coalition of Progressive Electors members celebrated the fortieth anniversary of their party - along with Vision Vancouverites such as George Chow and Gregor Robertson. But opinion was split as to whether Messrs. Chow and Robertson's attendance at that anniversary was a cause for celebration. Responding to one such enthusiastic email, party secretary Tim Louis wrote, "Let's not forget that Heather Deal" - who was invited but couldn't make the event "and George Chow represent the party that stole money from COPE and to this day have refused to repay it." That accusation is a reference to the fact the coalition accumulated a substantial debt during the 2002 campaign - which resulted in the election of the four politicians who would go on to establish Vision Vancouver. As a result, Mr. Louis warned, "Let's not be too effervescent in our effusive gushing at their willingness to attend our events." The following is an edited copy of the aforementioned email.

From: Rachel Marcuse
Sent: March 29, 2008 11:13 AM
To: COPE Exec and Staff
Subject: thanks....

...for the great night last night, everyone! We had over 300 people throughout the night.

We'll be reconciling all the money on Monday, so please let me know if you have any expenses before then. (If you can't get me the physical receipts by Monday, that's cool, please just email me the amounts so I can account for everything.)

Good job, us!

Rachel

Rachel Marcuse

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From: Donalda
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 11:38 AM
To: 'Rachel Marcuse'; 'COPE Exec and Staff'
Subject: RE: thanks....

You all did great – it was wonderful.

Thanks for all your work on this,

Donalda

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From: loretta is always
Sent: March 30, 2008 10:00 AM
To: 'Donalda'; 'Rachel Marcuse'; 'COPE Exec and Staff'
Subject: RE: thanks....

Just to let U know that Heather Deal called me to let me know she was out of town and unable to attend this event. She appreciated my invite.

Loretta

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-----Original Message-----
From: Donalda
Sent: March 30, 2008 10:41 AM
To: 'loretta is always'; 'Rachel Marcuse'; 'COPE Exec and Staff'
Subject: RE: thanks....

Oh – great – too bad we didn’t hear ahead of time and could have announced that.

George Chow did show up, which was really nice, as did Gregor.

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From: Tim Louis
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:04 PM
To: 'Donalda'; 'loretta is always'; 'Rachel Marcuse'; 'COPE Exec and Staff'
Subject: RE: thanks....

Hello folks,

Let's not forget that Heather Deal and George Chow represent the party that stole money from COPE and to this day have refused to repay it. Let's not be too effervescent in our effusive gushing at their willingness to attend our events.

Tim

Tim Louis
Tim Louis and Company

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-----Original Message-----
From: loretta is always
Sent: April 1, 2008 8:18 PM
To: 'Tim Louis'; 'Donalda'; 'Rachel Marcuse'; 'COPE Exec and Staff'
Subject: RE: thanks....

Yes there is the sad history that took place at the Council level, and I have my own history in working well with both of these electeds from my position at park board.

Loretta

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From: Tim Louis
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:35 PM
To: 'loretta is always'; 'Donalda'; 'Rachel Marcuse'; 'COPE Exec and Staff'
Subject: RE: thanks....

Loretta,

They did not steal the money from the Council caucus. They stole the money from OUR party. That's the party called COPE which belongs just as much to you as a Park Board Commissioner as it does to all of the COPE membership. The money was taken from COPE.

'The sad history that took place at the Council level' is not the point I was making. However, if you do want to discuss the history at Council, I would expect that even Ellen would confirm that on issue after issue they voted in a coalition with the NPA to block COPE policy.

Tim


Tim Louis
Tim Louis and Company

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-----Original Message-----
From: loretta is always
Sent: April 1, 2008 8:50 PM
To: 'Tim Louis'; 'Donalda'; 'Rachel Marcuse'; 'COPE Exec and Staff'
Subject: RE: thanks....

My point is that the unhealthy circumstances that occured at the council level left park board and school board dealing with the fall out. Through all this turmoil, my focus has been to maintain a positive attitude. My experience has been that it takes more energy to be negative and I need all my energy to focus on my work on park board.
Loretta

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-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Louis
Sent: April 2, 2008 5:55 PM
To: 'loretta is always'; 'Donalda'; 'Rachel Marcuse'; 'COPE Exec and Staff'
Subject: RE: thanks....

Loretta,

The unhealthy circumstances that occurred were solely the result of elected COPE officials forming a coalition with the NPA to defeat key COPE policy - which they did at City Hall. I am just as disappointed about the negative impact this had as you are. The negative impact was on all of us at the Council, School Board and Park Board level. We were all negatively affected.

Tim

Tim Louis
Tim Louis and Company