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.

Minister of State for Resort Development Sandi Santori's ministerial assistant Pam Shatzko has also resigned to complete her masters in public administration at the University of Victoria. Bureaucratic denizens will best remember her as the executive assistant and later ministerial assistant to then Minister of State for Deregulation Kevin Falcon (who has since moved onto better things, becoming Premier Gordon Campbell's very own mini-me).

Former Children and Family Development Minister Gordon Hogg's ministerial assistant Val Hamilton (who will now be working for the Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia in Vancouver) and Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray's executive assistant Sarah Pendray have also quit the Rockpile, as has Energy and Mines Minister Rich Neufeld's ministerial assistant Colleen Sweet, who is going on maternity leave.

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."

Ms. Chan, who is currently running an extremely entertaining campaign in Vancouver East, replied with the most vitriol and inaccuracies. In her email, the Liberal candidate writes she "left the NDP in 1993 when the party knifed Harcourt in the back and replaced him with Glen Clark, whose 'leadership' turned BC into a have not province." Astute readers will remember Mike Harcourt resigned his premiership in 1995. Ms. Chan then comments that her New Democrat competitor Libby Davies and Ms. Langan "excel at name-calling" before adding "I certainly trust (Liberal leader Paul Martin) more than I trust any of you."

Mr. Murray, on the other hand, blames New Democrat homophobia for his decision to come out as a Liberal and run in Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia. In his email he writes that, "I was disappointed and repeatedly told by (the New Democrat) Party brass not to run (for mayor). That, as a gay man, I could never win. I was told to step aside more times then I can count, and when I finally achieved the job they said I could never have, I was not supported by the NDP."

For his part, Mr. Haggard (the Liberal candidate for New Westminster­-Coquitlam) sticks to the Grit message box, explaining, "when Paul Martin asked me to run, I thought long and hard about my choice and came to the only conclusion that I could - that the best way to represent working people and stop the radical, right-wing agenda of the Alliance-Conservatives is with the federal Liberal Party." The following are copies of Ms. Langan's email and the replies she received.

-----Original Message-----
From: Joy Langan
Sent: June 20, 2004 11:32 PM
To: contact@chrisaxworthy.ca; dave@davehaggard.ca; dosanu@teammartin.ca; shirleyyingchan@telus.net; glenmurray@teammartin.ca
Subject: Not nearly as much as you've disappointed us

Dear Liberal Candidates:

You talk in your press release about how disappointed you are in Jack Layton for comments which you have attributed to him but both he and the media have said were not trueconcerning the possibility of NDP working with the Conservatives if they win a minority government.

It's rather ironic to many of us, how you can talk about ethics when you are making political hay with untruths and changing your colours to suit your own agendas.

Chris, I was your seat-mate in the house of commons for five years. Your politics were showing even then, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Wrong.

Shirley, how proud we were of the wonderful work you did for Vancouverites when you worked with Harcourt. Sadly, you were a political opportunist.

Glen, I only know you by reputation, as Mayor and Councellor in Winnipeg. Your switch to the Liberals speaks for itself.

Ujjal, I was thrilled to campaign for you for leader and to work on your election campaign. I wouldn't be so disappointed in you had you not said directly to my face, "I will not run for the Liberals." I believed you and I wonder if you can be believed today?

Dave, I have known you the longest. You were the president of a once proud trade union. You left the country when your organization was on strike; you allowed raiding and yellow dog contracts to be signed that the BC Labour Board has ruled against; you are leading the IWA back into an international union after years of struggle by your members for Canadian autonomy; and now you are running for the Liberals. If that is the way you are going to work for working people then we don't need you and we shouldn't believe you.

Disappointed.

Joy Langan

-----Original Message-----
From: Shirley Chan [mailto:shirleyyingchan@telus.net]
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 12:08 AM
To: Glen Murray Campaign; contact@chrisaxworthy.ca; dave@davehaggard.ca; dosanu@teammartin.ca; glenmurray@teammartin.ca
Subject: Re: Not nearly as much as you've disappointed us

Joy,

I left the NDP in 1993 when the party knifed Harcourt in the back and replaced him with Glen Clark, whose "leadership" turned BC into a have not province. The NDP implemented welfare cuts and eligibility criteria to give salary raises to their wives, friends and insiders. The economy was crippled due to disastrous policies such as the corporate capital tax which killed jobs and drove investment out of the province. I concluded then that the NDP was corrupt and incompetent and you have done nothing since to change my mind.

Your pride in me for the excellent work I did with Harcourt was not something I sought and I find your name-calling offensive. You and Libby seem to excel at name-calling. But truth be told, I am ashamed at the lack of results from those NDP politicians who climbed to office on the backs of the long-suffering people in Strathcona and the Downtown Eastside. What do you call them?

I joined the Liberals when the Prime Minister asked me to run. He made a commitment to work for the people of BC, the people of Vancouver East. He demonstrated his commitment to the Aboriginal people who live in Van East with his new Aboriginal strategies. He proved his understanding and recognition of the importance of cities with the Cities Initiative. I am prepared to work with him to make the changes I feel are needed in the riding. I certainly trust him more than I trust any of you.

Shirley

----- Original Message -----
From: Glen Murray Campaign
To: contact@chrisaxworthy.ca ; dave@davehaggard.ca ; dosanu@teammartin.ca ; shirleyyingchan@telus.net ; glenmurray@teammartin.ca
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 10:41 PM
Subject: RE: Not nearly as much as you've disappointed us

Joy,

I have been disappointed by the NDP for a decade - which was the last time I held membership in the Party. Since we do not know each other I simply want to tell you that I did not "switch" to the Liberal Party and therefore it does not "speak for itself."

Before lambasting me for my choice of Party, I would appreciate if you would look at my history in the NDP and then you will see that I was disappointed and repeatedly told by Party brass not to run. That as a gay man, I could never win. I was told to step aside more times than I can count, and when I finally achieved the job they said I could never have, I was not supported by the NDP.

The Prime Minister asked me to run, and I am proud to carry the Liberal banner. The NDP didn't want me.

Glen

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Lunny [mailto:scott@davehaggard.ca]
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 9:54 PM
To: Shirley Chan; Glen Murray Campaign; contact@chrisaxworthy.ca; dave@davehaggard.ca; dosanu@teammartin.ca; glenmurray@teammartin.ca
Subject: RE: Not nearly as much as you've disappointed us

Joy,

Since you claim to know me so well, you would know that I have never been strongly onboard with the federal NDP. You should know that it was the IWA, under my leadership, that fought for years to bring some economic sense to the Party. We struggled for policy that acknowledged the unmistakable reality that working people and their families in British Columbia depend on a strong economy, particularly a strong export economy to sustain our standard of living. Unfortunately, we were not successful.

Joy, if you know me so well, you would know how I feel about the same-old, same-old NDP policies as contained in the 320-something-promise platform. When Paul Martin asked me to run, I thought long and hard about my choice and came to the only conclusion that I could - that the best way to represent working people and stop the radical, right-wing agenda of the Alliance-Conservatives is with the federal Liberal Party.

Since the election began, everything I have heard from the NDP confirms my decision: increased corporate taxes, an inheritance tax, reckless spending and little or no mention of BC or of building a strong economy. I have listened to NDP candidates talk about BC moving away from the resource economy. I don't agree with these policies and would not support the NDP in this election even if I hadn't chosen to run as a Liberal candidate.

Joy, I know where I stand and it's where I've always stood. You can criticize the IWA all you like, but that's just sour grapes over the fact that the IWA leadership decided merging with your union wasn't in the best interest of our membership. Those members now have an opportunity to choose what they want for the future of their union and, quite frankly, they don't need your help to make that decision. As for the other issues you raise, your statements are way off-base and show an appalling lack of knowledge of the facts.

I don't apologize to you or anyone else for choosing Paul Martin's Team. I'm proud to be running for the only party in this election that will bring a balance between prudent fiscal management and progressive social policies to build the kind of Canada I want for my children and grandchildren.

Dave

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.

In a letter written to the newspaper's senior editor Anna Marie D'Angelo on June 20, Mr. White accuses her of violating the Canada Elections Act. The reason: according to him, Ms. D'Angelo has attempted to influence the election via the publication of untrue information about his character and conduct as an MP. If the courts agreed, she could be fined up to $5,000 or imprisoned for a maximum of five years.

Among the Conservative incumbent's grievances: an article reporting that, during an all-candidates debate, Mr. White was accused of making a racist statement in the House of Commons. In that statement, Mr. White said, "At least 40 percent of all the Iranians living (in North Vancouver) are refugee claimants. Most of them are bogus...I cannot say how many times that comment has been made to me by the decent Iranian immigrants in my riding who came in using the proper system."

According to the MP, "the real story, which should have been reported by your newspaper, was that political opponents had tried to label me as a racist."

He also takes issue with Ms. D'Angelo's refusal to publish his rebuttal to a critical letter to the editor from retired provincial court Justice Jerome Paradis. And Mr. White demands she rerun a candidate profile which stated he hadn't responded to a newspaper question about his accomplishments.

In actuality, the MP replied to that question in email to Ms. D'Angelo, writing that "An extensive list of my accomplishments over the past ten years appears in my election brochure number three which is available from my Campaign Office." But that answer was deemed inappropriate and, therefore, not published by the North Shore News.

The North Shore News hasn't responded to Mr. White's demand. But at least one supporter is on the newspaper's side. In an unpublished letter addressed to Ms. D'Angelo, former Progressive Conservative parliamentary assistant Wayne Hunter writes that the incumbent's threatened legal action against the North Shore News is "based on what I consider to be a convoluted interpretation of the Elections Act and a bullying demand for additional coverage." He then goes onto criticize Mr. White for "denying any support for public investment in our community."

The following are copies of Messer. White and Hunter's letters to Ms. D'Angelo.

June 20, 2004
Ms. Anna Marie D'Angelo, Senior Editor
North Shore News
1139 Lonsdale Avenue
North Vancouver, BC
V7M 2H4

Dear Anna Marie,

It is abundantly clear that you have been taking an anti-Ted White stand in the North Shore News for some time now, but I believe that you have taken your newspaper well outside the normal bounds of decency during the election campaign. The latest example, your decision to state on page 3 of the June 20th edition that I had not provided an answer to one of your candidate profile questions, is the straw which breaks the camel's back.

Our exchange of email messages on June 9, 2004 is absolute proof that I DID provide you with an answer to Question 9b. The fact that you did not like the answer does not give you the right to publicly state that I did not provide an answer, and in making such a statement you could well be in violation of Section 91 of the Canada Elections Act, which states:

"No person shall, with the intention of affecting the results of an election, knowingly make or publish any false statement of fact in relation to the personal character or conduct of a candidate of prospective candidate."

The June 20th example is just one of what I consider to be three serious breaches of protocol and/or decency during the term of this campaign. Here are the other two examples:

l. On June 4, 2004 you published a letter from retired Judge Paradis in which he criticized both me as the Member of Parliament, and a brochure which I had dropped to all homes in the Riding. On that very same day I sent you a letter of rebuttal with the reasonable expectation that it would be published because (a) It is normal newspaper protocol, even outside of an election campaign, to permit a public figure to rebut charges made against him or her in a letter to the Editor, and (b) During an election campaign any reasonable person would expect a newspaper to strive to show fairness in presenting both sides of a
particular issue.

ln this case you made the decision to prevent me from setting the record straight, even though you must have known that making that decision was biased and would perpetuate amongst your readers a one sided perspective on an important election issue.

2. On June 16, 2004 you published an article by Jane Seyd which incorrectly reported the circumstances surrounding a question posed at the all-candidates meeting sponsored by the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce on June 14, 2004. It is my opinion that an attempt was made by Jane to distort the information so that the impression was left with readers that I had made a "racist" statement in the House of Commons when, in fact, this was completely untrue. The questioner quoted from material extracted from the Hansardrecords of Parliament which had been posted on a website based in Toronto. However, that material was incomplete in that the operator of the site had allowed the removal of a critical sentence in order to misrepresent the message. It is a matter of record that the site operator has since publicly apologized for the posting and has posted the correct version of the speech on the site. The real story then, which should have been reported by your newspaper, was that political opponents had tried to label me as a racist by posting false information on a website but I was actually representing views provided to me by immigrants of Iranian extraction in my Riding. The correct quote included the sentence "I cannot say how many times that comment has been made to me by the decent lranian immigrants in my riding who came in using the proper system."

I believe that any reasonable person looking at the above evidence would come to the conclusion that your newspaper, for which you must take responsibility, has acted in an irresponsible, biased, and unprofessional manner with respect to its treatment of the incumbent Member of Parliament during this election campaign. As a public figure I am accustomed to being questioned about my positions on important issues, and I am also accustomed to receiving criticism for time to time, but I have never come across such a deliberate campaign of exclusion by a newspaper which is clearly determined not to allow me to set and keep the record straight.

As I mentioned in my opening paragraph, the publication of a false statement about my response to your candidate profile questionnaire was the last straw. I am therefore requesting that you publish a repeat of my profile published on June 20, 2004, run a position of at least equal prominence, and at least equivalent in size, which clearly shows my response to your question 9(b). ln case you do not have a record of our correspondence on the matter, copies of the emails follow below:

Email Message 0910612004 llz43z04 AM Pacific Daylight Time

June 9/04
Good Morning Anna Marie
Here are my responses to your questions. A recent photograph is attached. Ted White, MP
-----
Name: Ted White
Age: 55
Occupation: Member of Parliament
Family Status: Married
Budget: All candidates have the same maximum budget set by provisions in
the Elections Act. The most recent figure supplied to us is $79,513.35
and while we have enough funds to spend this amouht we do not feel
we will need to spend more than $72,000 to conduct the campaign.
Health Care: The new Conservative Party will implement the 2003 Health Accord signed by the provinces and all but ignored by the Liberals. The Accord ensures federal funding increases of $36.8 billion over 5 years from existing budget surpluses, plus catastrophic drug coverage, but requires accountability from the provinces for timely access'
Party Leader Strengths: Stephen Harper is a well educated, very smart young economist, absolutely committed to providing us with ethical and accountable government.
Party Leader Weaknesses: He has been unable until now to implement our programs because the Liberals have been in power.
Accomplishments: An extensive list of my accomplishments over the past ten years appears in my election brochure number three which is available from my Campaign Office at 1247 Ross Rd, or by calling 604-980-300. lt will also be delivered to every home in the Riding beginning on June 21st.
Regards
Ted White, MP

Email Message 0910612004 11:56:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time

thank you Ted
Regarding the response you have given to the last question, we have provided
you space for the answer, and the purpose of the candidate grid questions
are to provide information for our readers, not to have them look for the
information elsewhere

Regards
Anna Marie D'Angelo
Senior Editor

Email Message 0910612004 l2:llz41 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Jun 9/04
Good Aftemoon Anna Marie
Unfortunately my list of accomplishments over the past decade on behalf of my constituents is WAY too long to fit in 50 words, which is why my team has produced a special brochure dealing with the subject. That brochure will be delivered to EVERY HOME in the Riding beginning on June 21st so nobody will have to look for the information elsewhere. However, my answer to the question in your survey will make it easy for constituents to access additional copies of the information if they so wish.
Regards
Ted White, MP

I await your prompt and favourable response to the above expressed concerns and my request for correction of the record. I consider your newspaper's above-mentioned failure to allow me to defend my reputation and integrity, and its biased reporting, to be a serious matter, but I am hopeful that we can resolve our differences without the need to involve any outside organization.

Yours truly,

Ted White, MP

***

Dear Anna Marie

As discussed, I'm forwarding to you a copy of an email message which I received from Mr. Ted White yesterday afternoon. The email contains an attachment which outlines threatened legal action against the NS News based on what I consider to be a convoluted interpretation of the Elections Act and a bullying demand for additional coverage.

Firstly, I wish to acknowledge that I've been a member of the Conservative Party for many years. My family ancestors who arrived in Canada over 180 years ago, were also Conservatives. And for a brief time in the late 70's I actually worked in the House of Commons for a Conservative Member of Parliament and later a Minister.

The attached letter only served to remind me of my growing disaffection for our incumbent Member of Parliament. For some time now, it's been my strong belief that Mr. White's election was never so much a measure of his distinction, or his yet unproven ability to represent this riding, as it was a reflection on us, as a constituency which elected him. How did this happen? For example, when did we advocate for a "Star Chamber" process where all Federal initiatives within our riding would be scrutinized by unelected and personally appointed representatives of Mr. White? Who are these people that would deny this riding's federally mandated share of community investments including Film Industry Tax Credits, youth job training and other life skills investment, for example?

When is the last time Mr. White ever visited a local Community Centre? I've been involved in many aspects of our community over the last several years, and have constantly had to deal with the "White Manifesto" of denying any support for public investment in our community...of having to live with the "Scarlet Letter" branding of representing a dreaded 'Special Interest Group." That our community has achieved so much in the last 10 years is a testament to the will and ingenuity of the hundreds of other community volunteers who continue to prevail despite the lack of any meaningful support from Mr. White. As a neo Conservative Mr. White denies the historical Canadian legacy of community engagement, irregardless of the constitutional responsibility.

In the preparation of your usual election "Profile Grid" you were absolutely correct in your notation that the incumbent did not respond to the question about achievements. His claim that he directed your attention to an existing or upcoming pamphlet was wrong and a lame attempt to either (a) overcome a dumb decision caused by laziness, or (b) an irrational and arrogant response from an incumbent MP with the most pedestrian, lackluster and insignificant achievements to show for a 10 year member of Parliament representing this constituency.

Just as he now defiantly declares that you have presented him with the "straw that broke the camel's back", I too have come to a turning point. As a long time Conservative I no longer respect his constant denial of involvement in our local affairs, because of jurisdictional "boundaries." Using Mr. White's logic, the Provinces would be the sole players in the delivery of health care in Canada. I no longer respect Mr. White's obsession with his own variant of "direct democracy," supported by tele-votes and unaccountable and unscrutinized polls, where majority rules dominate and Charter minority rights and freedoms become indefensible. Is this really how we want our fellow citizens across the country to know us? How can anyone forget his use of the "Liberal biased North Shore News" when it came to his paranoia of losing his own nomination to members of the Iranian community, who he claimed had "hijacked" the nomination process.

No, Mr. White has lost more than my respect. He's lost my vote. He claims that elections are simple sales campaigns...a competition of marketing ideas selling political "products." If this is the case consider me "unsold", and I consider his banal analogies of our electoral process insulting. Being a Member of Parliament should be about leadership and humility. It should be about what you stand FOR...not what you're constantly against. Trying to bully the North Shore News to do his bidding in the late stages of a campaign is nonsense. And on election day, this Tory will be voting for (Liberal candidate) Mr. Don Bell.

Regards

Wayne Hunter

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."

But Mr. Koury's campaign manager Gary Del Villano, who was at the station along with Vancouver Island campaign manager Troy DeSouza denied that conversation ever took place. In an interview, Mr. Del Vilano explained Mr. Koury didn't participate in the debate because his candidate "thought the program was at 6:30" and arrived too late to go on the air.

That explanation, however, isn't going to stop Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca New Democrat communication director John Horgan from kicking out a news release tomorrow morning calling on the Conservatives to explain why Mr. Koury was missing in action.

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.

Name: George Pringle

Comments:

For quite a while, Milton has "predicted" elections but his real agenda has been a project which attempts to shape the direction of the election through his selective approval of postings. He then changes his predictions at the last minute to claim a success rate and collect money through advertising.

A reporter would investigate Milton's con job rather than refer to and further misrepresent lies that he was legally forced to remove from his site due to his editing of Hansard transcripts.

Hmmm...you want a story...most serious people on the net know the special interest group (not just his federal Liberal connection) that Milton is involved with and thus his political bias and the game he is playing.

Ted may have decided for now that it was a waste of time to take this Milton activist to court but I've saved every post for this case, which includes his editing of Hansard, and I feel very strongly that people like Milton have to be taken through the legal system as an example, so hopefully this medium won't just be full of scumbags like him.

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?

Well, unless you've had an overdue bill recently, that's not surprising. Access Resources is a collection agency expanding its operations into the field of market research. But what's even more interesting is that some of that research includes election polling and voter identification work for the Conservatives focusing on five British Columbia ridings, including Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca.

One reason: the company's vice-president of business development is none other than Jeff Bridge, a nice fellow who Public Eye has met several times in his capacity as a senior British Columbia operative for Stephen Harper and the Tory's Vancouver Island campaign manager (a position now occupied by Troy DeSouza).

In an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Bridge said the polling work for the chamber was not done at the same time as the polling work for the Conservatives, nor by the same people.

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.

In an interview with Public Eye she said, "We don't have a scandal or anything like what you started your conversation with. It's certainly not that...We've identified some issues (at the society). We want to help them through their financial management. And we're working in total partnership with them. There's a draft but I haven't seen it. And there's no final at this point. When the final is available you're welcome to FOI it."

When asked what specific problems have been identified, Ms. Bowman said, "I don't know. I haven't seen the audit. I haven't seen the recommendations. I don't know that." But she did say the draft would be finalized in the next couple weeks.

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.

Mr. Koury, who previously worked as incumbent candidate Keith Martin's executive assistant, is reportedly under an "immense amount" of personal financial stress, having staked his professional career on winning the election. That stress, coupled with Mr. Koury's volcanic personality, has poisoned his relationship with campaign staffers and affected his debate performances. Those performances have sometimes degenerated into personal attacks against his former boss, who crossed the floor and became a Liberal.

In fact, the situation is so bad that Mr. Del Villano actually approached Mr. DeSouza and John Vukovic, both of whom ran for the Conservative nomination in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, about re-opening the nomination process, says another member. Instead, a decision was made last Sunday to "keep John off the campaign trail" - a decision made easier when Mr. Koury got into a car accident on Tuesday, losing control of his mini-van on Shawnigan Lake Road.

Conservative MPs Gary Lunn and John Reynolds have also had discussions with Mr. Koury "just to calm him down," as has retiring MP Deborah Grey. But the situation deteriorated further last night when Mr. Koury delivered a disastrous performance at an all-candidate debate sponsored by the Sooke Harbour Chamber of Commerce, yelling at Mr. Martin and an audience member.

According to the first source, the containment strategy is "basically to keep him out of the public as much as we can, out of the debates and keep him mainstreeting or something like that" until Election Day.

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.

Former CHEK TV legislative reporter Robin Adair, a government relations consultant with WCG International Consultants Ltd. and Victoria Chamber of Commerce vice-president, was subcontracted by Shaw to find and schedule panelists for the show along with Ian Jessop. Mr. Jessop was communications director for the provincial Liberal caucus while they were in opposition.

Environmental town hall meeting participants will include University of Victoria earth and ocean sciences professor Michael Whiticar, Living Oceans Society executive director Jennifer Lash and Scotia Fundy Mobile Gear Fisherman's Assocation executive director Brian Giroux. The community issues meeting will feature Port Hardy mayor Harry Mose, oil industry consultant Mark Shrimpton and Tsimshian Nation fisheries and aquatic resources director Teresz Ryan.

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.

- Prime Minister Martin looked like a Black Cassandra throughout the debate - a prophet constantly and loudly wondering why no one was listening to his forecasts of impending (Conservative) doom. On several occasions, he even threw his hands out in frustration, a gesture that only seemed to accentuate his impotence. Another snafu: the Liberal leader couldn't decide whether he wanted to look like a prime minister or an opposition leader, addressing the camera or gunning down his opponents. As a result, he did both. Perhaps no one ever told Mr. Martin it's not polite to look away when you're talking to someone?

- Prime Minister Martin clearly has an addiction. He can't seem to stop himself from legitimizing opposition parties. When New Democrat leader Jack Layton criticized the prime minister for arrogantly assuming the Liberals are the only ones who can defeat the Conservatives, Mr. Martin actually said, "I'll accept that criticism." Then, later in the debate, Prime Minister Martin compared Mr. Harper to Ontario Premier Mike Harris - a guaranteed way to make sure voters in that province don't think of the Conservative leader as a scary extremist but instead the same guy they elected twice.

- Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe once again harped on Liberal mismanagement and corruption. His coup de grace: Mr. Duceppe finished his closing remarks by accusing the prime minister of not telling the truth about the sponsorship scandal during the debates and he now had, "60 seconds" to do so - "It's your turn sir." Clearly shaken, Mr. Martin (the last to close) coughed uncomfortably and proceeded to stutter through his canned speech.

- Mr. Layton seems to agree with the old adage that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, becoming a third party validator for Mr. Harper. He disagreed with the Conservative leader's positions. But on more than one occasion, Mr. Layton complimented Mr. Harper for being "completely upfront" with his policies unlike the Liberals. So much for claims the Tories have a secret agenda.

- Mr. Layton also did the Conservative leader a huge favour by goading the prime minister into asking the New Democrat whether his, "handlers tell you to talk all the time?" The prime minister laughed at his own joke. But the New Democrat leader wasn't amused, remarking that missile defense - the issue under discussion - isn't a laughing matter. Public Eye thinks Canadians will likely share Mr. Layton's opinion.

- Mr. Layton may have been dreaming in Technicolor by suggesting the New Democrats could lead a minority government. But his argument that the New Democrats could challenge the Conservatives shows just how vulnerable his campaigners think the Liberal vote is.

- Mr. Harper was the most prime ministerial of the four leaders - calm and collected beside the sputtering Liberal leader. By focusing on what the Conservatives have in common with the New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois (don't laugh - we're serious) and declaring his willingness to work with both parties, the Tory leader looked like the kind of broker-mediator Canadians love to elect. Notice the emphasis on looked.

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.

- Mr. Martin, who has been an MP since 1993, is an old-hand on the debate circuit. But no amount of spit and polish could make his proposal to introduce two-tiered healthcare shine for this audience. He was also the recipient of some heavy heckling from Danny Lineham, a former arts journalist who now makes hand-bound books and plans on voting New Democrat in the next election.

- Like most incumbent candidates, Mr. Martin (a former Tory who crossed the floor to become a Grit) mentioned his accomplishments as an MP, repeatedly saying "we" did this and "we" did that. But neither the audience nor Public Eye was quite sure whether the "we" he was talking about was the Conservatives, himself or the Liberals. Such are the perils of being a regal turncoat.

- Mr. Garrison, the crowd favourite, matched Mr. Martin as the best performer. But in the fashion competition, the New Democrat candidate was the hands-down winner. He blasted Mr. Martin's grey polka-dot tie with a funky brown number that contrasted nicely with his yellow dress shirt and black suite. Mr. Garrison also took responsibility for asking the moderator, on behalf of his fellow candidates, to change the format of the debate, automatically putting him in a leadership role. Clever.

- There were some weeds in Mr. Garrison's rose garden though. When asked how he would deal with a conflict between the wishes of his community and the wishes of his party, the New Democrat skated around the question, saying he would find common ground through, "dialogue not confronatation." But that wasn't good enough for Mr. Lineham, who shouted, "What's your answer?" Mr. Garrison's reply: "Dialogue is my answer." Or not, as the case may be.

- Mr. Koury, the incumbent's former executive assistant, had the toughest time during the debate - clinging to his briefing book like a Linus blanket, receiving the meekest applause and stumbling over his lines (somewhat surprising since he was the strongest speaker during the Conservative nomination battle). But, given the circumstances, he deserves credit just for showing up.

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.

- Prime Minister Paul Martin, his blotchy skin evened-out with makeup, mistook the debate for a television commercial. He addressed the camera rather than his competitors. His message: a vote for the Bloc Quebecois is a vote for the Conservatives. And, according to Prime Minister Martin, a Conservative government would be against "the values of Quebec."

- Canada's party leader may be old and white. But Prime Minister Martin seemed to be dancing to a ghetto beat during the debate. The Liberal leader held off interrupters by forcing them to talk-to-his-hand.

- The Liberals adopted former separatists as part of their campaign team. But it was Jack Layton and his mustache who looked like he wanted to marry Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe. The New Democrat leader told Mr. Duceppe the healthcare crisis was one reason he wanted to, "build with Quebec a progressive alternative across Canada - a pan-Canadian approach," presumably with the Bloc Quebecois.

- Mr. Layton managed to come across as enthusiastic and prissy at the same time. The New Democrat leader accessorized his jaunty grin with sharp yet florid hand movements. Add a translator with a lisp and the result was positively flamboyant.

- Mr. Duceppe's hearing must not be very good because, regardless of the question under debate, his answer always seemed to have something to do with Liberal mismanagement and corruption. The best example: when Mr. Layton asked the Bloc Quebecois leader whether he supported proportion representation, Mr. Duceppe said yes and then launched into an attack on Paul Martin's shipping company, Canadian Steamship Lines Inc., and its decision to move its headquarters to Barbados, a tax haven. A commanding performance by a general in friendly territory.

- Conservative leader Stephen Harper, who looked prime ministerial but sounded canned (which could be the same thing), seemed to have trouble remembering he was speaking to Quebecers not Texans. Rather than following former prime minister Pierre Trudeau's lead and saying "governing stops at the master bedroom door," Mr. Harper stated he would put same-sex marriage up for a vote in Parliament - not reassuring for the 59 percent of Quebecers who support those unions, the highest level in Canada according to Ipsos-Reid Corp. The Conservative leader also voiced his unequivocable support for the Star Wars anti-missile defense system - not the best position to take in a province where Ipsos-Reid polling shows 84 percent think American president George W. Bush, the chief advocate for that system, isn't Canada's friend.

- Prime Minister Martin and Mr. Harper courted the New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois as minority government partners. But Messrs. Layton and Duceppe would have none of it, rebuffing their wanton advances. For example, when Prime Minister Martin said the New Democrat leader agreed with his environmental platform, Mr. Layton said, "We do not agree at all because you were in government for ten years when we were asking for action on the environment. And the air now is a lot worse then it was ten years ago. Drinking water is a big problem throughout Canada. This is your government’s file and we have seen no action."

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.

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Hopkins
Sent: June 11, 2004 2:05 AM
To: Sean Holman
Subject: Re: [Public Eye Online] New Comment Posted to 'Situation no-win'

The media were represented only by CKNW and he left about the same time I went outside for a smoke. Maybe a professional politician would have been worried about how things look to radio reporters, but Ms. Davies is the only professional politician in this campaign. All she's ever done is talk for a living and her experience shows. Pick a topic and out it pours in an unending stream, on and on, leaving no cliche unturned, no slogan un-chanted, no interest group un-buttkissed.

But go ahead, dangle the bait and see if I take the hook. We both know that no-one cares about my opinions. That's why I don't express opinions, I discuss facts. Ms. Davies and her small, tame coterie were all set to pander to the students in the audience at the Vancouver Community College with their demands for free tuition and for grants in place of the unsecured loans on which they so often default. Too bad only a dozen people turned out. She claimed that there are serious barriers to post-secondary education which could be overcome by government handouts, instituting a tuition freeze and creating a federal Ministry of Education (a constitutional impossibility). A more cynical observer than myself noted that, while starving students don't vote, their upper-middle-class parents do.

As everyone knows, the demographic profile of university students in Canada has changed very little in the last 30 years. Over 90 percent of those admitted to a university program still typically come from families with an annual income in excess of $60,000. Any policy which grants additional privileges to this already privileged group is merely welfare for the rich, an unusual stand for an NDP candidate. I went up to the microphone to ask an unscripted and unrehearsed question: how much Ms. Davies suggestions would cost and where the money would come from? She didn't answer.

If you are truly non-partisan and opposed to pomposity and hypocrisy, then take a close look at the contrast between Ms. Davies' words and her deeds. Start with the fact that she occupied a three-bedroom townhouse in a social-housing project for which she paid $718 a month. At the time, her salary was in excess of $150,000. To put this in perspective, she gets as much every month as someone on the "training wage" makes in a year. In an analysis of data from the last census, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. reported that over 1.7 million Canadian households paid more than 30 percent of income for shelter. Over a third of those 1.7 million households paid more than 50 percent of their gross income. Many of them live in Vancouver East. Ms. Davies paid less than six percent of h