June 2004 Archives

Earlier, Public Eye reported information from a government insider that British Columbia executive council member Rick Thorpe was dividing his time between running the revenue ministry and working on pre-election business for the provincial Liberals. Today, we caught up with the minister at the legislature and asked him for details on that pre-election business. At first, Minister Thorpe said he didn't "understand the question." But when pressed, he eventually responded by stating, "I do whatever I have to do to get our government re-elected."

New VI producer Jane Victoria King may not look like the bridge keeper from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. But she certainly was acting the part at this morning's provincial open cabinet meeting, asking a number of high-powered executive council members if they had "ever charged personal items on your government credit card?" Responses ranged from Premier Gordon Campbell's "I sure hope not" to Finance Minister Gary Collins' admission he accidentally purchased a dog using taxpayer dollars - money that has since been repaid. When Public Eye asked if The New VI had dug up information about cabinet ministers using those credit cards inappropriately, Ms. King was tightlipped. But none of the wags we spoke with seemed willing to bet money on it.

Concerned citizens tell us that the Mustel Research Group Ltd. has decided not to release the results of a provincial voting intentions survey it completed earlier this month. Rumour had it that those results would have shown the New Democrats eight percentage points ahead of the Liberals. But apparently, after rubbing their brain cells together, the researchers over at Mustel realized that number might be a bit skewed because they included questions about federal politics in that survey. So now the company is going back into the field, releasing its revised poll sometime next week.

Government operatives who weren't planning on seeing the provincial Liberals through the next election were told, during the last legislative session, to pack their bags, says an insider. Among those departing for milder climes, Health Minister Colin Hansen's longtime ministerial assistant Kim Chan who is traveling to the land of government communications consultants, where the pay is better and the hours shorter. Another insider described the talented Ms. Chan's resignation as a major loss for the government.

The provincial New Democrat rumour mill is being powered today by news that the Mustel Research Group Ltd. has a poll showing the party eight percentage points ahead of the governing Liberals. That poll, which should be released sometime this afternoon or tomorrow, is based on interviews with 721 British Columbians conducted between June 10 and 17 as part of the company's federal voting intention research.

It may just be a coincidence, but today - the date we'll be electing a new government (or not) - Statistics Canada released a study on...manure management. According to the study, which was pointed out to Public Eye by a concerned citizen, "Canadian livestock farmers have a wide range of options for managing the manure produced on their farms. Their challenge is to find the proper approach to deliver manure to their crops with minimal impact on the environment." Clearly sage advice for voters.

New Democrats got all hot and bothered when some of their most prominent party members decided to run for the federal Liberals. Commentator and ex-provincial government communications guru Bill Tieleman ripped former Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada president David Haggard a new one in his Georgia Straight column. Others sent nasty messages to the turncoats - one of which has been exclusively obtained by Public Eye (along responses from Mr. Haggard, former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray and ex-senior New Democrat bureaucrat Shirley Chan). In an email dated June 20, former New Democrat MP and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union regional representative Joy Langan admonished them for "making political hay with untruths and changing your colours to suit your own agendas."

What's Victoria New Democrat candidate David Turner doing at 7:30 this morning? Look no further then the news release sent out by fellow traveller and handpicked communications advisor Alan Rycroft late yesterday afternoon. In keeping with his tradition of letting journalists know about Mr. Turner's every intestinal movement and aerobic activity, Mr. Rycroft notes the former mayor will be going for a "Crystal pool workout" (among other items listed on the candidate's itinerary). Pity we're not electing a tri-athlete.

Gums continue to flap about what high-powered Conservative operative Ian Todd (also known as the Iceman) is doing at the provincial legislature. Earlier, Public Eye broke the news that Mr. Todd, who previously worked as Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day's chief of staff and Reform leader Preston Manning's right-hand man, had been appointed as mid-ranking cabinet minister Rick Thorpe's ministerial assistant. Since then, rumours have been circulating that the Iceman may be replacing Lara Dauphinee, the premier's deputy chief of staff, as Gordon Campbell's traveling aide. But that won't be his only job. A senior government insider tells us Mr. Thorpe has been dividing his time between running the revenue ministry and doing pre-election work for the provincial Liberals. The insider declined to give specifics on that work. But, evidently, Mr. Todd will be helping him out, leaving executive assistant Bob Poore in charge of the bureaucrats.

Law-wielding North Vancouver MP Ted White is at it again. Earlier, we reported the Conservative incumbent had threatened legal action against an election prediction Website for posting defamatory emails accusing him of being a racist. Those emails have since been removed. But now, thanks to a concerned citizen, Public Eye has learned Mr. White is implying he'll involve "an outside organization" unless the North Shore News, a local newspaper, corrects "it's biased reporting" against him - a threat condemned by at least one of his supporters.

Win or lose, party members confirm this will be the last time Victoria Liberal cabinet minister David Anderson runs his embalmed political corpse in an election campaign. And tongues are already wagging about who'll replace him. The list of potentials reportedly includes Minister Anderson's campaign manager and executive assistant Lynne Henderson, Victoria mayor Alan Lowe (also known as Monday Magazine columnist Russ Francis' plaything), former British Columbia Ombudsman and aborted Saanich-Gulf Islands parachture candidate Dulcie McCallum, party bagman and 1988 Victoria candidate Michael O'Connor (a lawyer with McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corp.), Victoria-Hillside MLA Sheila Orr's husband John and Saanich-Gulf Islands candidate and drug prosecution contract winner David Mulroney (whom we have very much enjoyed reporting on).

The federal Liberal's internal polling results for Saanich-Gulf Islands and Vancouver North have officially been released. The poll, which was conducted by Synovate (the market research arm of the Aegis Group plc) between June 23 and 24, showed the Liberals at 23.7 percent in Saanich-Gulf Islands, the Conservatives at 21.3, the New Democrats at 20.7 and the Greens at 12.3. Meanwhile, in North Vancouver, the Conservatives are at 29.7 percent, the Liberals at 28, the New Democrats at 15 and the Greens at 11.7. The margin of error is 5.8 percent points.

Public Eye has learned federal Liberal headquarters in Vancouver will be releasing internal polling for Saanich-Gulf Islands and North Vancouver sometime this morning. That polling, which was based on surveys of 300 people in each riding, will show the Grits in a statistical dead heat with the Tories. In Saanich-Gulf Islands, the Liberals are running drug prosecutor David Mulroney against incumbent Conservative Gary Lunn. In North Vancouver, Liberal candidate and former mayor Don Bell is challenging Tory MP Ted White.

Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca Conservative candidate John Koury's car accident earlier this month was almost a tragedy - unlike his election campaign. Tonight, during a televised all-candidate debate broadcast at 6:00 on The New VI, moderator and former provincial New Democrat cabinet minister Moe Sihota announced "The Conservative party, about 15 minutes ago, said they would go up to their candidate, bar him coming into the doors of this station and tell him he ought not to participate in this show. They are trying to hide their candidate."

In the category of things that make you go hmmmm: yesterday, the Times Colonist published the results of a Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce poll showing a large number of Lower Vancouver Island voters remain undecided: 44 percent in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, 36 in Saanich-Gulf Islands and 34 in Victoria. By comparison, a Mustel Research Group Ltd. poll released on Monday showed 10 percent of British Columbians weren't sure who they would be casting their ballot for. And when Ipsos-Reid announced the results of a similar survey on June 10, just 7 percent of provincial voters were undecided. Which means Victoria is either an island of indecision or the chamber's polling methods are radically different then those used by other public opinion research companies.

Public Eye has learned New Democrat leader Jack Layton and his mustache will be making a campaign stop-off in British Columbia this Saturday. No word yet on Lower Mainland appearances or what his gainesburger will be. But a party member says Mr. Layton plans on waving the party flag at Victoria candidate David Turner's campaign office sometime in the late afternoon before jetting eastward.

Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca Conservative candidate cum race car driver John Koury has had his wheels taken away from him. Readers will remember on June 8, Mr. Koury lost control of his mini-van on Shawnigan Lake Road, crashed and was ticketed for driving without due care. Four days later, he was caught by fellow sneaky monkey and Times Colonist reporter Cindy Harnett speeding more than 30 kilometres above the limit in his sporty Mazda Protege. But, when Mr. Koury left the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce debate today, he wasn't in the driver's seat. His campaign has rented a Chevy Venture mini-van from Budget to chauffeur Mr. Koury from A to B.

Why have one retreat when you can have two? After taking the entire provincial Liberal caucus on a field trip to Harrison Hot Springs last week, Premier Gordon Campbell and his cabinet colleagues headed up on Wednesday to Lord Jims Resort and Conference Centre on the Sunshine Coast for a four-day getaway that will include lots of strategic planning, "ocean views from all lodge and cabin rooms, a fully licensed cocktail bar and lounge, fine dining restaurant, patio dining, games room, outdoor heated pool and more."

Earlier, we reported North Vancouver incumbent candidate Ted White had threatened legal action against an election commentary Website for posting defamatory emails. Those emails suggested the Conservative MP is a racist. The offending comments were removed by the site's moderator Milton Chan. But that might not be the end of the story. In a comment posted on Public Eye last night, Mr. White's parliamentary assistant George Pringle questioned Mr. Chan's political motivations. He then added his boss, "may have decided that it was a waste of time to take this Milton activist to court for now, but I've saved every post (on his Website)...and I feel very strongly that people like Milton have to be taken through the legal system as an example, so hopefully (the Internet) won't just be full of scumbags like him." The following are exerpts from Mr. Pringle's posting.

Mustel Research Group Ltd. released its British Columbia federal voting intention numbers today, showing the Conservatives at 36 percent, the New Democrats at 28, the Liberals at 26 and the Greens at seven. The poll was based on the results of interviews with 721 respondents conducted between June 10 and 17. But that isn't the end of the company's election research. Mustel has been commissioned to do another British Columbia federal voting intention survey, this one with a 1000 sample size, for a media client. The results of that survey will be published this coming Saturday. In related news, Mustel will be releasing its provincial voting intention numbers next week.

As we reported earlier, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is releasing a poll today showing voting intentions in the three Lower Vancouver Island ridings: Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, Saanich-Gulf Islands and Victoria. Former provincial management services assistant deputy minister Har Singh, was commissioned to do the poll. But the actual grunt work was done by Access Resources Corp. Haven't heard of that company before?

Is there another mismanagement scandal brewing at the Ministry of Children and Family Development? Public Eye has learned the government has just completed an "operational review" (read: audit) of the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society, the largest provincial contractor of its kind in British Columbia. According to the ministry's rumour mill, the review will include evidence of significant financial mismanagement at the society, which was setup in 1999 to provide children and family services to aboriginal peoples living in Vancouver. But children and family development communications director Deborah Bowman pooh-poohed those rumours.

Public Eye has learned the federal Liberals aren't the only ones appointing greenhorn campaign managers. Unable to find anyone from Skeena-Bulkley Valley with enough experience to manage the Conservative campaign in that riding, the party hired someone with almost no experience whatsoever from Victoria. Party members confirm Lisa Karoway, who was the University of Victoria's Canadian Alliance campus club president in 2003, is now Tory Andy Burton's campaign manager. But, upon further investigation, it turns out she's better known as a provincial Liberal. Ms. Karoway is former president of that party's University of Victoria campus club, an executive member of Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Jeff Bray's riding association and...wait for it...a former assistant legislative assistant at the Rockpile. With such esteemed political pedigree, how can Mr. Burton not win?

The Conservative campaign in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca is unraveling. Public Eye has exclusively learned Tory Vancouver Island campaign manager Troy DeSouza is having an emergency meeting today with Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca campaign manager Gary Del Villano to discuss what to do about candidate John Koury who is "essentially having a breakdown," says a party member.

Looks like New Democrat leader Jack Layton is sucking and blowing at the same time. During Wednesday night's English-language debate, Mr. Layton repeatedly complimented Conservative leader Stephen Harper for being "completely upfront" about his agenda - specifically when it came to healthcare spending. By extension, the New Democrat leader implied Liberal leader Paul Martin wasn't being upfront about his agenda. But yesterday, according to a Canadian Press story published today, Mr. Layton said the privatization of the country's healthcare system is "part of (the) hidden agenda of Stephen Harper that he doesn't want to talk about." So evidently, according to the New Democrat leader, Mr. Harper has a hidden agenda which he's being completely upfront about.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has commissioned a poll sampling federal intentions of 300 to 500 voters in each of the three Lower Vancouver Island ridings. Around the capital city, most commentators currently seem to think incumbent Conservative Gary Lunn will hold Saanich-Gulf Islands, Liberal cabinet minister David Anderson will be re-elected in Victoria and New Democrat candidate Randall Garrison will win the tight three-way race in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. But those assumptions will be tested when the chamber's poll results are exclusively released to the Times Colonist on Monday, for publication on Tuesday.

The provincial government has awarded Shaw Communications Inc. a $77,000 contract to produce and air two televised town hall meetings on the impact of offshore oil and gas development. The meetings, focusing on environmental and community issues, will be hosted by Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer, produced by Shaw staffer Kim Wildfong and taped this weekend in Port Hardy. But, according to Offshore Oil and Gas Team communications director Steve Simons, those meetings won't be broadcast until after the federal election because the government doesn't "want to stir the pot." Mr. Simons also says the province is taking a hands-off approach to the project.

New internal Liberal numbers verbally leaked to Public Eye show the party polling at 33 percent nationally, one percentage point ahead of the Conservatives. According to a campaigner, those results statistically match an independent poll that will be released tonight which will have the Conservatives at 33 percent and the Liberals at 32 percent. No word on what company did the poll but one possibility is Environics Research Group, which has been connected to the Grits in the past. In British Columbia, Liberal internals show the party at 32 percent, up four percentage points from yesterday's numbers. By comparison, the Conservatives are down nine percentage points to 33 percent, bleeding to the New Democrats. In Ontario, the results are even better for the Grits. The Liberals are at 39 percent, five percentage points ahead of the Conservatives.

Ian Todd, the high-powered federal Conservative operative who was appointed last week as mid-ranking cabinet minister Rick Thorpe's assistant, is rumoured to be in line to replace Lara Dauphinee as the premier's traveling aide, says a senior government insider. Ms. Dauphinee, who worked in Gordon Campbell's constituency office before becoming his deputy chief of staff and executive assistant, has been the source of much controversy in the West Annex. One reason: a reported lack of political acumen. As a result, Premier Campbell's appointment calendar (which Ms. Dauphinee keeps) reads like a senior bureaucrat's date book, says another insider - all policy and no politics (although that may not entirely be her fault). If the changeover happens, it would be a major victory for Martyn Brown, the premier's chief of staff, who has been locked in a power struggle with Ms. Dauphinee, adds the insider. Mr. Todd was Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day's chief of staff and Reform leader Preston Manning's right-hand man.

Premier Gordon Campbell will be making a major speech on the future direction of his government at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities annual convention, says a senior government operative. That convention will be held between September 20 and 24 at Prospera Place and the Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort in Kelowna. The operative characterized the pre-election speech as the "most important in Campbell's career" - but then again, aren't they all? The operative also reiterated earlier statements by Liberal party members and mid-level bureaucrats that the Campbell administration won't be introducing any newsworthy bills during the fall session (which resumes on October 4), continuing a legislative dry spell that began in the spring.

If yesterday's French-language debate was a dress-rehearsal, tonight's English-language debate was opening night. But one of the principle actors didn't seem to have practiced his lines. Prime Minister Paul Martin broke his leg on stage - and not in a theatrically good way. As for Conservative leader Stephen Harper, he was the surprise hit of the two-day debating season. The following are some of Public Eye's notes from the debate.

A senior Liberal informs us that, unless party leader Paul Martin crashes and burns in tonight's debate, the campaign will be shifting into a more positive gear tomorrow. That shift will presumably include the release of a new round of television ads that will make the prime minister look...er...prime ministerial. According to the Liberal, strategists are satisfied they don't need to feather the Conservatives, having already tarred them. And now it's time to present Canadians with a ballot box alternative to Stephen Harper.

No it's not just Ed Broadbent. Greg Lyle, Premier Gordon Campbell's former chief of staff and 1996 election campaign manager, has been spotted in Victoria. Mr. Lyle, who is now part of Toronto-based research/strategy firm Navigator Ltd. (along with Chretien loyalist Warren Kinsella and Mulroney aide Stew Braddick), also managed provincial cabinet minister Bud Smith's failed run for the Social Credit leadership and advised Manitoba premier Gary Filmon during his unsuccessful 1999 re-election campaign. When asked whether he was working on contract for the provincial government, Mr. Lyle told Public Eye, "I just can't get into what I'm up to. It's client stuff. And if clients want to say what I'm doing then they say what I'm doing." Mr. Lyle, however, did add that, "there should be lots more sightings of me, mostly on the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale ferry," since he'll be spending the summer in British Columbia, staying at his Sunshine Coast home.

It wasn't a debate. It was an ambush. Last night, incumbent Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca Liberal Keith Martin and Conservative candidate John Koury were lured into an all-candidate forum with New Democrat candidate Randall Garrison sponsored and attended by the Victoria Labour Council, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and several other left-leaning community associations. Also in attendance, real Green candidate Jane Sterk and independent Green candidate Jen Fisher-Bradley, a strident anti-colonialist (how's that for left-wing vote splitting). The following are some of Public Eye's notes from that event.

Yesterday, there was much gum flapping by talk show callers about a supposedly secret subliminal muzzle flash from the handgun in the Liberal's recent attack ads. A frame-by-frame analysis of the tape revealed that the gun, which appears to simply be pointing at the camera, actually fires. But who did that analysis in the first place and how did it become a national story? As near as we can tell, the man responsible is Paul Albers, an active member of the online right-wing community. On Sunday, he posted a message under the pseudo name Grig about the subliminal muzzle flash on Free Dominion, an Internet forum for Canadian conservative political commentary. At the time, Mr. Albers, wrote "I just fired this off to Bourque (Newswatch), so watch for it there. If it doesn't show up by Monday morning, blitz the media with this." A day later, Pierre Bourque published that story on his Website, a popular news digest regularly read by the punditocracy. It then showed up on radio and television broadcasts before finally making the headlines today.

There was nothing parliamentary about tonight's televised French-language debate - at least when it came to the set. The faux stone podiums looked like they had been imported from imperial Rome. And the four leaders standing behind them were clearly in a gladatorial mood. The following are some of Public Eye's notes from that debate.

Rumour has it that Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca incumbent federal Liberal candidate Keith Martin is considering running provincially if he loses his seat. No word yet on where he'll be running or which party he'll run for. However, last week MLA Brian Kerr announced he won't be seeking the Liberal nomination in Juan de Fuca-Malahat - a natural home for Mr. Martin. When asked by Public Eye if he would rule out a move to provincial politics, Mr. Martin said, "I'm just focused on this one thing and nothing else."

On Election Day, the New Democrats want you to think a vote for Prime Minister Paul Martin is a vote for Premier Gordon Campbell and his unpopular provincial government. But what they don't want you to think is that you're voting against Premier Campbell. Confused? Here's the explanation: according to New Democrat strategists, there's an increasing concern within the party that British Columbians will take their frustration with the provincial Liberals out on the federal Liberals and then turn around and re-elect the Campbell administration next year. "Its been my nightmare that they will spill their bile," by voting against Prime Minister Martin instead of the provincial Liberals, says a senior party member. "I'm not a person who can keep a hate-on for a long-time. And I don't expect the public's much different."

On Thursday, we reported on Vancouver East Liberal star candidate Shirley Chan's campaign-comedy of errors. That comedy most recently featured a skit where Vancouver radio station CKNW reported Ms. Chan's husband Stephen Hopkins was the first person to question New Democrat opponent and incumbent Libby Davies during an all-candidates debate. In a comment posted on Public Eye, Mr. Hopkins took issue with our reportage writing, "Next time you might want to quote the lame answer I got, regardless of who I married...Or you could just keep feeding empty rhetoric to what's left of the Left." Having gotten his attention, Public Eye emailed this question to Mr. Hopkins: "I would be extremely interested in knowing why you got up to the microphone with the media present. Surely you must have realized how that would look to the CKNW reporter (who was there)?" The following is his answer.

A New Democrat operative tells us Saanich-Gulf Island candidate Jennifer Burgis's campaign will be running an advertisement in local newspapers next week targeting Green competitor Andrew Lewis. According to the operative, those advertisements will feature a headline that reads something like this: "Andrew Lewis says he would put checkmarks against every item in our platform. We'll do it for him," followed by a check marked list of the New Democrat's environmental promises. The kicker: "Join Andrew Lewis. Vote for the New Democrats." The ads follow Mr. Lewis' foot-and-mouth appearance on CBC's The National last Thursday where the Green's deputy leader endorsed the NDP's environmental platform and urged Canadians to vote for his party to make sure the New Democrats, who aren't expected to form government, live up to their...er...commitments.

North Vancouver incumbent Conservative candidate Ted White has threatened legal action against an election commentary Website for posting defamatory emails. Election Prediction Project moderator Milton Chan removed the offending messages, commenting that "While we disagree with Mr. White's point that those (emails) constitute defamation, as a volunteer-run project, we are in no position to fight a legal case...We would state without reservation that Election Prediction Project does not have or care to have a position regarding whether Mr. White is a racist."

It has come to Public Eye's attention, via a concerned citizen, that two more contestants have voted themselves off of the increasing deserted island that has become known as the public affairs bureau. Finance communications director Karen Johnston, who was stranded 10 years ago following a career in the media, is being airlifted out on July 2 to become the vice-president of client relations at the B.C. Ambulance Service. Meanwhile, health services and planning communications manager Suzanne Germain launches her patchwork raft next Wednesday after working on it for the past four years. She's being rescued by the S.S. Vancouver Island Health Authority where she'll be serving as a media and issues advisor.

Let us, for a moment, stand in gaping awe at the ever-expanding electoral disaster zone known as federal Liberal star candidate Shirley Chan's campaign in Vancouver East. First, wet-behind-the-ears Young Liberal apparatchik and recent full-time student Colin Topham, whose political experience includes such weighty and vaunted posts as the party's University of Victoria campus club president, was appointed as Ms. Chan's campaign manager.

After weeks of watching pundits and journalists grope in the political dark, Ipsos-Reid Corp. is finally shedding some much needed light on British Columbia's federal election scene. Tomorrow, the firm is releasing a special poll detailing voting intentions in this province, including a regional breakdown. That poll, which will be broadcast on CTV and published in The Globe and Mail on Saturday, is based on the results of a recent 800 respondent booster sample and answers given by the 266 British Columbians already interviewed by Ipsos-Reid during their last two national public opinion surveys. According to an insider, "the regional results are fascinating - maybe predictable, but fascinating."

A senior Grit campaigner says Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine and former Churchill Liberal MP Elijah Harper will be visiting Vancouver Island tomorrow to speak out against Conservative advisor Tom Flanagan and his "fuck off and die Indians writings that he is world famous for in the past." Those writings include First Nations? Second Thoughts, a controversial 254-page treatise that argues the assimilation of aboriginal peoples is not only inevitable but desirable. Mr. Flanagan is a University of Calgary political science professor and longtime friend to Tory leader Stephen Harper.

Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca Conservative candidate John Koury was in a car accident Tuesday night. He lost control of his vehicle while driving home on Shawnigan Lake Road. His mini-van left the roadway and suffered significant damage. Mr. Koury is unhurt but will be taking time off from campaigning until next week.

Skills, development and labour communications director Betty Nicholson, who has worked in the provincial government for the past 29 years, finally has a retirement date: June 21. Ms. Nicholson plans on working on her garden and taking a much-deserved vacation when she leaves the civil service. She'll be replaced by former CKNW reporter Graham Currie, who currently heads the sustainable resource management and agriculture, food and fisheries communication shop. When Mr. Currie leaves, responsibility for those files will be split between two new directors. No word yet on who those directors will be. But there should be no shortage of options. Word has it that Theresa Lumsdon, the public affairs bureau's human resource manager, has been aggressivelly recruiting new communication troops for the Liberals.

Public Eye has learned the provincial Liberal's annual caucus retreat will run from June 17 to 18, with MLAs arriving at Harrison Hot Springs on the evening on June 16. In a breathtaking example of just how closed-mouthed the Grits are, official government sources were extremely reluctant to confirm this closely-guarded piece of information, which at least 74 MLAs already know about (not to mention the hundreds of political staffers who work for them).

Former Reform leader Preston Manning, who turns 62 on Thursday, will be in Victoria today as part of a private Canada West Foundation powwow on economic policy issues at Dunsmuir Lodge and Conference Centre. Mr. Manning is the Arthur J.E. Child Fellow at the foundation. Meanwhile, former caucus mate Deborah Grey begins her Vancouver Island campaign tour. A copy of her itinerary, obtained by Public Eye, indicates CBC television reporter Gregor Craigy will be covering Ms. Grey's visit while she mainstreets with Victoria Conservative candidate Logan Wenham in Oak Bay Village between 11:15 and noon. A half-hour interview with CKNW in Vancouver is scheduled to start at 1:15.

It has come to Public Eye's attention, via a concerned citizen, that former Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day's chief of staff Ian Todd was hired earlier today as a ministerial assistant to provincial Revenue Minister Rick Thorpe. Mr. Todd, who currently lives in Vancouver and is known in some political circles as the Iceman because of single-mindedness and serious expression, was also former Reform leader Preston Manning's right-hand man. No word yet on why this workaholic power-player has thrown his lot in with Minister Thorpe, who belongs to the meat-eating component of government caucus. However, we do know Mr. Todd previously worked on Belinda Stronach's federal Conservative leadership campaign. And the man in charge of that campaign in British Columbia was none other than infamous provincial Liberal bagman and advisor Patrick Kinsella. Mr. Todd's appointment follows the hiring of federal Liberal Environment Minister David Anderson's press secretary Athana Mentzelopoulos as the deputy minister of the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat.

Despite being demonized by the federal Liberals, Tory leader Stephen Harper didn't seem to have much trouble walking on hallowed ground earlier today. Speaking to reporters at Mount Saint Marie's hospital, a Victoria long-term care facility run by the Sisters of Saint Marie Madeleine Postel, Mr. Harper made a play for the over 55 vote by promising to throw the book at criminals who prey on senior citizens and fight against the New Democrat's inheritance tax proposal. The following are some of Public Eye's notes from that event.

Conservative leader Stephen Harper is making a surprise campaign stop in Victoria tomorrow. A senior Tory tells us Mr. Harper will be holding a 9:00 news conference at Mount Saint Mary's Hospital, a long-term care facility. No word yet on what the gainesburger will be but given the location, a healthcare/aging related announcement seems likely. Those of you paying attention will remember that Prime Minister Paul Martin also visited a long-term care facility during his visit to Victoria, all of which simply reinforces the city's image as God's waiting room.

Federal Liberal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale will be meeting-and-greeting Lower Mainland media on June 10. Meanwhile, across the pond, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham will be campaigning in Victoria on June 13 and 14, providing supporting fire for Grit incumbents David Anderson and Keith Martin and newcomer David Mulroney. Those visits follow today's release of the Liberal's British Columbia-centric policy platform: A Made-in-B.C. Agenda.

Public Eye has learned the federal Liberals will be releasing a British Columbia-specific election platform, possibly as early as Monday. The platform, which was championed by provincial campaign manager Mark Marissen, will include commitments on issues of particular concern to British Columbians, such as the West coast fishery. No word yet on whether the Grits plan on releasing province-specific election platforms in other parts of Canada.

Don't worry about Big Brother. It's his younger siblings you've got to watch out for. Public Eye has learned at least one federal political party, the Conservatives - and possibly the Liberals and New Democrats - are using sophisticated computer programs that allow operatives easy access any voting information you give their party, even after the ballot boxes have been packed away.

Polling has always been considered more of a dark art than a proven science. But the federal seat projection numbers released by Ipsos-Reid Corp. today are nothing short of magical. In a news release, public affairs president and chief operating officer Darrell Bricker says his projection model "is now pointing to the potential of two Green Party seats in British Columbia." Leaving aside the fact that Mr. Bricker's model is based on interviews with just 133 British Columbians, the results of the last provincial election suggest Green support is simply too diffuse to a win a first-past-the-post seat. And the two ridings where they might have substantial support - Saanich-Gulf Islands and West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast - are occupied by strong incumbent Conservative candidates (Gary Lunn and John Reynolds). Which means, even if Ipsos-Reid's numbers are showing two Green victories, reality isn't.

In the category of things that make you go hmmmm: on Thursday, Premier Gordon Campbell appealed to 2,000 provincial Liberal donors attending the party's annual Dinner Under The Sails fundraiser to "stand up for what we believe in...I need you to be there. I need your voice in your communities." Many of those donors were members of the business community, including millionaire and surprise guest speaker Jimmy Pattison. And now, today, The Vancouver Sun just so happens to be running a front page story with a 60-point headline that informs readers "15,000 new jobs turn B.C. economy red-hot" last month. And guess who's in the lede? That's right - it's Mr. Pattison, talking about how the "economy surged with a spirit (which is) the best he has seen since he started washing cars on Cambie Street 43 years ago."

The provincial government is coming out with a new edition of the British Columbia HealthGuide - in French! According to Health Services Minister Colin Hansen, "This innovative program," which was previously only available in English, "helps ensure effective use of our health system and resources, while relieving pressures on physicians and emergency rooms." Of course, what Minister Hansen doesn't mention is that, according to the latest census, there are only 53,040 Francophones living in this province, accounting for just 0.01 perent of the population. By comparison, there are 252,405 British Columbians whose first language is Chinese, accounting for 0.06 percent of the population. So why did the government use what little dollars it has to publish a guidebook for the small number of Francophones we have in the province, rather than a larger ethnic group? The answer: the province wouldn't have gotten $218,325 in federal government funding ear-marked for French-language projects.

The New Democrats may be turning their guns on the Conservatives. A mid-level campaigner confirms draft scripts of a new television commercial have been circulated to party communications advisors. And another source says he's been told those commercials will broadside the Tories in an effort to loosen up some of the old Reform protest vote that previously went New Democrat.

Canadian law prevents registered charities from becoming too involved in politics. And those laws also prevent third parties from advertising during the federal election. But that's not going to stop the sneaky monkeys over at the David Suzuki Foundation from attempting to influence its outcome. Public Eye has learned the foundation may be sending an anti-offshore oil and gas development householder to mailing list members in green-leaning Victoria sometime next week.

Revenue Ministry deputy minister Chris Trumpy will be taking over from retiring deputy minister Jon O'Riordan at sustainable resource management. According to civil servants, there's some concern Mr. Trumpy may consider privatizing the ministry's mapping and data collection services. Ken Dobell, the premier's deputy minister, said in an interview yesterday that Mr. Trumpy has not been brought in to turn sustainable resource management into a environmental super-ministry, swallowing up energy and mines, forests and water, land and air protection. An internal competition is underway to find a replacement for Mr. Trumpy at revenue.

Sustainable Resource Management deputy minister Jon O'Riordan will officially be leaving the provincial civil service on July 2. Mr. O'Riordan, who previously worked as an assistant deputy minister with environment, lands and parks under the New Democrats, has been stick-handling the Working Forests initiative for the Liberals and overseeing a land-use consultation and planning process started by the Harcourt administration. In his retirement, he plans on writing a book on sustainable resource management principles with his twin brother Tim, a professor at the University of East Anglia's school of environmental sciences. A going-away reception at the Harbour Towers will be held on June 24. Those planning on attending are being asked to make a $20 contribution toward appetizers and a gift.

Retiring Edmonton North Conservative MP and Reform Party founder Deborah Grey has been tenatively scheduled to tour Vancouver Island, says a senior party organizer. She'll be campaigning in Nanaimo-Cowichan on June 9 before coming down to Victoria on June 10. Once there, she'll be glad-handing until eleven o'clock the next day. Ms. Gray previously visited the Island to celebrate the opening of Saanich-Gulf Island incumbent Gary Lunn's campaign headquarters.

What's the difference between running a major amusement park and diplomacy? Apparently not much if you're going to be working for the provincial government. Back in September, Annette Antoniak, the chief executive officer of the Pacific National Exhibition, replaced polymath and former B.C. Liberal party president Andrew Wilkinson at the helm of the province's intergovernmental relations secretariat. That's the agency responsible for charting out British Columbia's relationship with Ottawa. In the past, the Liberals have said improving that relationship is one of their top priorities.

Mustel Research Group Ltd. won't just be doing polling on federal politics when they next go into the field. The Vancouver-based public opinion research company will also be asking British Columbians about their provincial voting intentions. The results of that research will be released on the week of June 21 (seven days before the federal election), almost guaranteeing no one will pay attention to them.

Respected media commentator Norman Ruff, who is on sabbatical from his position at the University of Victoria and headed for retirement, is preparing to publish his masterpiece on provincial politics. The book, entitled The Shaping of B.C. Politics: A Ruff Guide, is about halfway done and should be available in bookstores before the next election. Prof. Ruff says it will focus on how our political system has lagged behind British Columbia's rapidly changing society.

What a difference five days can make. On May 28, EKOS Research Associates Inc. released a regional breakdown showing the New Democrats at 30 percent in British Columbia, the Liberals at 29 percent and the Conservatives at 37 percent. But today, Ipsos-Reid Corp. came out with numbers showing the New Democrats at 14 percent, the Liberals at 34 percent and the Conservatives at 39 percent. So what happened? Did federal New Democrat leader Jack Layton and his moustache get caught in bed with another razor?

The New Democrats are doing well in the polls and they know it. About 800 Victoria supporters congregated at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall last night to hear federal leader Jack Layton speak. And when the balding, mustachioed socialist pornstar-warrior arrived at the converted church, the effect was better than sex. Cheers and foot-stomping drowned out the party's bass-heavy campaign theme song as Mr. Layton pranced onto the stage. The following are some of Public Eye's notes from that event.