We know it sounds unbelievable, but apparently there are still people working at the provincial government's public affairs bureau. Here's the evidence: insiders tell us communications director Shawn Robbins, who was interned at transportation (and highways) during the Coquihalla Highway privatization debacle, is being transferred from energy and mines to agriculture, food and fisheries. That ministry has been without a permanent spinmaster since former CKNW legislative reporter Graham Currie replaced Betty Nicholson at skills, development and labour.

We are also pleased to report Ms. Nicholson, who has been trying to retire for the past two months (if not longer), will finally be decommissioned this week. No word yet on who will take her place at sustainable resource management. But rumour has it Mr. Robbins' old job will be filled by acting treaty negotiations office communications director Tamara Little, who is married to Tom Syer, the premier's prince of issues management. Ms. Little is making room for Deborah Bowman, who will also heading up the attorney general's public affairs bureau.

Liberal apparatchik and part-time lounge singer Mike Witherly, who most recently worked as Senator Jack Austin's assistant, will soon be serenading the prime minister. Starting Monday, Mr. Witherly, who provided the musical accompaniment for Martinite staffers Ann Wicks and Tony Roy's wedding, will be heading up Paul Martin's western desk. Prime Minister's office spokesman Justin Kingsley confirms that position was previously occupied by Bruce Young, who used to head up Hill & Knowlton Inc.'s British Columbia office. In addition to having a musical background, Mr. Witherly was chief of staff for the Liberals in British Columbia and a spokeperson for the party during the recent election campaign.

In 2001, the Liberals fired longtime New Democrat friend and Clark government appointee Lecia Stewart as the director responsible for the Province's $1.167 billion Millennium SkyTrain Line expansion project, awarding her a $401,000 severance package. So wouldn't it be knee-slapping hilarious if Ms. Stewart, who has been working as Bombardier Transportation's North American high-speed rail vice-president for the past two years, became involved with her company bid to win the Campbell administration's much-prized Richmond-Airport-Vancouver rapid transit line contract? Because that's been the scuttlebutt ever since Ms. Stewart moved back to North Vancouver home - even though her department remains based in Quebec.

Bombardier communications director Helene Gagon pooh-poohed those rumours, saying Ms. Stewart returned to Lotusland for "personal reasons." But, when asked whether Ms. Stewart might become involved with the rapid transit project if the company wins that bid, Ms. Gagon told Public Eye, "Really I couldn't tell you because, right now, she is extremely busy...with a couple high-speed rail projects in North America...But we'll see in a couple months. Maybe you might want to call me back?"

Ms. Stewart's career included stints working as a newspaper reporter and for the Hospital Employees Union, where she married then secretary-business manager Jack Gerow. She was brought into the provincial civil service by the New Democrats in 1991 and quickly developed a close professional relationship with aboriginal affairs deputy minister Eric Denhoff.

When Mr. Denhoff was appointed the chairman of B.C. Transit in 1992, she became his vice-president. While filling that position, the Crown corporation paid for her to take courses at Harvard University - a spending decision that was criticized in the legislature by Liberal Opposition member Doug Symons. Ms. Stewart then moved on to become the general manager of the West Coast Express commuter train project in 1995, where she spent $55 million to purchase 28 rail cars from Bombardier.

Then, in 1998, Ms. Stewart was put in charge of building the millennium line. While working on that project, she ordered $270 million worth of equipment and cars from the Montreal-based transportation company. Four years later, she was appointed to the board of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority by then federal Transportation Minister David Collenette. That appointment is set to expire in 2005.

Mr. Denhoff, who is currently a principal for executive search firm Western Executive Selections Inc. and director with the uber-secretive National Capital Commission in Ottawa, became the chair of Montreal engineering giant SNC-Lavalin Inc.'s British Columbia development board when he left government. SNC-Lavalin is competing with Bombardier for the rapid transit line contract.

Apparently, 400 words a day isn't enough for Province columnist Mike Smyth. Starting Monday, the Vancouver tabloid's legislative scribbler will be sharing his deep thoughts on provincial politics with CKNW listeners as the station's newest evening talk show host. You can catch him between seven and nine o'clock.

It looks like not everyone is fit to be a sacrificial lamb. Word has reached Public Eye that some provincial New Democrat hierarchs are having conniptions about failed federal nomination candidate Mary-Woo Sims' plan to run (and surely lose) against Children and Family Development Minister Christy Clark in Port Moody-Westwood. Of course, Ms. Sims resume looks appealing on paper. In addition to being a muse, she was the chief commissioner of the British Columbia Human Rights Commission - an esteemed post to be sure. But some of the tribunal's more eyebrow-raising rulings could be, to put it politely, a political liability.

After all, who could forget its decision to find Mr. Cool Ice Cream Ltd. guilty of religious discrimination and fine the company $1,000 for asking one its employees to sell frozen treats on a Sunday? And what about when the tribunal went head-to-head with the Gibson's Landing Slo-Pitch Baseball League for passing a rule preventing pregnant women from playing ball. Add that together with Ms. Sims' alleged friendship with party pariah and former British Columbia Teachers' Federation president David Chudovsky, and you can be sure party moderates are scrambling to find someone to take on Ms. Sims.

Enter Karen Rockwell. Insiders tell us the Port Moody city councillor is set to announce she'll also be seeking the nomination. Of course, Ms. Rockwell, who is vice-president of the Office and Professional Employees International Union local 378 (the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia), comes with her own baggage. If she wins, Ms. Rockwell would saddle the New Democrats with yet another big labour candidate - a problem that is threatening to turn the party's election team into a living, breathing manifestation of the British Columbia Federation of Labour.

Interestingly enough, Ms. Rockwell's resume notes she's been a volunteer for several minor softball associations. Hopefully that doesn't include the Gibson's Landing Slo-Pitch Baseball League. Ms. Rockwell was also reportedly instrumental in convincing key union executives to support moderate candidate Nils Jensen during the recent leadership race.

Others rumoured to be seeking the Port Moody-Westwood nomination include Coquitlam Teachers' Association president Kathleen Thompson (more big labour) and Dr. Truman Spring, a behavioral specialist for the local school district.

Provincial communications officers once joked that no one ever got promoted out of the Bunker, a small two-story building behind the legislature whose basement has been home to the government's media monitoring staffers since 1988. But that changed yesterday. Those staffers were moved across the street to the fourth floor of the Douglas Building into a space previously occupied by the Crown Agencies Secretariat. That floor also happens to house the public affair bureau's headquarters, which shared the Bunker with media monitoring until 1992.

Government insiders say the move will save money and increase staff efficiency. But other bureaucrats question that explanation - especially since the Douglas Building required substantial (and presumably costly) renovations to hook up the equipment media monitoring uses to record and transcribe television and radio broadcasts across the province. Public Eye has filed a freedom of information request to get a price tag on the move. The downsized intergovernmental relations secretariat has taken over media monitoring's old offices.

If three's company and four's a crowd, what happens when you add a fifth wheel? Well, the provincial New Democrats in Vancouver-Hasting are about to find out. According to party insiders, forty-something Latino community leader Julio Lara has become the latest entrant in the nomination race to succeed retiring MLA Joy MacPhail. Mr. Lara, the president of the Latino American Lions Club, is also the editor and publisher of a weekly Spanish-language newspaper. He hosts Voces de mi Terra, a current affairs show on Simon Fraser University's campus radio station CJSF. And he's an active member of the Hotel, Restaurant and Culinary Employees and Bartender's Union Local 40.

Former Victoria Canadian Alliance candidate and Crease Harman and Company lawyer Bruce Hallsor may be adding a new entry to his resume: political trustbuster. Conservative insiders say Mr. Hallsor is considering running against Saanich mayor Frank Leonard, who has monopolized the job since 1996, in the next municipal election. Mr. Hallsor, who is thought by some to be the most obvious successor to Saanich-Gulf Islands Conservative MP Gary Lunn should he ever retire, is president of that riding's constituency association. He is also a member of the Monarchist League of Canada and vice-president for Fair Vote Canada, an organization advocating electoral reform. Earlier Public Eye reported Conservatives in Victoria were considering forming a municipal farm team.

Inland Strategies Communications Management Services Ltd. co-owner and former communications manager Laurie Best has to have a love/hate relationship with the provincial government. Some bureaucrats seem to hate the fact that the government, specifically health services and planning deputy minister Penny Ballem we're told, seems to love her so much that, since fiscal 2001/02, has paid $444,343 (almost half-a-million dollars for those who are counting, including expenses) to Ms. Best and her company, according to public accounts records. Those monies, as previously reported by The Times Colonist's Les Leyne and Monday Magazine's Russ Francis, include the cost of shuttling Ms. Best (who left government in 1998) back and forth from Victoria to her Kamloops home - which she shares with her partner Brent Humphrey.

So Public Eye, with the presumed good will of almost everyone working at the underpaid public affairs bureau, filed a freedom of information request asking for copies of her expense claims, along with every contract ever issued to Inland Strategies since the election. Little did we know this request would dig up 340 pages of material! That's right: 340 pages of contracts, expense claims and the accompanying selection/evaluation documents. Ms. Best sure has been busy. Of course, before Public Eye can get a copy, we've been told we need to pay a $415 entrance fee. Needless to say, we're planning to appeal.

Inland Strategies Communications Management Services Payments

Fiscal 1998/99 - $53,916
Fiscal 1999/00 - $32,192
Fiscal 2000/01 - $104,519
Fiscal 2001/02 - $60,142
Fiscal 2002/03 - $212,081
Fiscal 2003/04 - $172,611

Here's a shocker: legendary radio broadcaster and former Social Credit cabinet minister Rafe Mair never worked for CKNW. At least, that's what the suits at station-owner Corus Entertainment Inc. seem to think. After all, why else would they leave Mr. Mair, who was a CKNW fixture for 19 years, off the invitation list for their sixtieth anniversary party? In an email sent yesterday to CKNW general manager Lou DelGobbo and leaked to Public Eye, Mr. Mair wonders the same thing. The broadcaster writes, "I suppose that because Corus behaved so badly toward me that you would assume that I would somehow not behave in a decent and classy way...Notwithstanding all this, I still wish CKNW many happy returns of the day. It's record is truly a remarkable record and deserving of the widest note and good wishes." The following is a copy of that email.

-------- Original Message --------

Thursday, August 19, 2004

Dear Lou,

I was saddened and hurt not to be invited to the 60th Anniversary party for CKNW, with whom I had a relationship lasting nearly 19 years, 16 of those hosting the #1 talk show slot. Over that period I was #1 in every rating period, which I'm sure you would agree is a remarkable record.

Of those 19 years, I made a great number of friends at CKNW all of whom I would have enjoyed meeting and reminiscing with. I find it extraordinary that the current ownership and management would be so petty as to air brush me out of the station's history.

I suppose that because Corus behaved so badly towards me that you would assume that I would somehow not behave in a decent and classy way. It's this, Lou, that turns sadness into bewilderment that you could be so misinformed. I suppose upon reflection I should consider the possibility that you would believe that others would behave towards you as you behaved towards them.

Notwithstanding all this, I still wish CKNW many happy returns of the day. It's record is truly a remarkable record and deserving of the widest note and good wishes.

I hope you will convey these good wishes to all of my former colleagues.

Yours Truly,

Rafe Mair

CH Television reporter Moira McLean seems to have become the media "it" girl of the moment. According to the rumour mill, she isn't just being romanced by The New VI. If whispers are to be believed, BCTV is also bringing Ms. McLean flowers and chocolates. The CanWest Global Corp. broadcaster wants to make her a provincial legislative reporter. Of course some (although certainly not Public Eye) might question the optics of bringing in the Liberal's former press secretary to cover her past employers. But, according to at least one senior New Democrat insider, Ms. McLean has been nothing but "straight up" in dealing with the lefties since leaving caucus for journalism. No word on what, if anything, would happen to BCTV legislative bureau chief Keith Baldrey if she took the position.

New VI castoffs Moe Sihota and Norman Spector, whose political gong show was the best part of the Victoria television station's current affairs lineup, may have found a new home. Their song and dance routine is scheduled to be broadcast at 10:00 this Monday on CKNW and, according to the rumour mill, may become a permanent part of multimedia host Bill Good's variety hour(s).

The provincial New Democrats leadership race wouldn't have been the same without Mehdi Najari. The unabashed revolutionary-in-waiting won the applause if not the votes of party members at last November's convention. And during the recent election, he became an unofficial (and occasionally unwanted) advisor to federal New Democrat candidates David Turner and Jennifer Burgis. But what's the party's leading red brigadier up to now? Well, word has reached Public Eye that Mr. Najari has joined an organization called Left Turn. Apparently, its members seem to think the New Democrats aren't socialist enough. And they're determined to run an independent slate of commies in the next election - a plan the party's apparatchiks aren't too worried about. Said one, "Frankly, if Mehdi Najari wants to go off and be part of Left Turn and do that, he should fill his boots. Leave us alone."

Speculation has become fact. A number of civil service insiders confirm communications director Deborah Bowman is indeed leaving children and family development for positions unknown with the attorney general, where the issues are less crisis-oriented and the minister far friendlier. She's being replaced by acting education communications director Ron Norman, who is looked upon more favourably by Children and Family Development Minister Christy Clark.

Last month, The Vancouver Sun reported the Law Society of British Columbia and the federal Justice Department were looking into allegations of overbilling at Lobay Dennison Beubier, a Nanaimo law partnership. At the time, Public Eye revealed that David Lobay, one of the partners working at that firm, previously ran as a federal Liberal candidate and was a major party donor, contributing $49,650.29 since 1995. Mr. Lobay also chipped in $1,000 to Paul Martin's leadership campaign. But that isn't his only connection to the prime minister's cult of personality. A concerned citizen has informed us that, back when Mr. Martin was a mere finance minister and Mr. Lobay was still working at Hunter Garrison Lobay, the great man himself went sports fishing with the Nanaimo lawyer and his colleagues (one of whom supplied the boat). That Kodak moment was captured with a photograph that is now prominently displayed in the lawyers' private offices. Perhaps that's one reason why the firm received $5,468,905.10 in drug prosecution contracts from the feds?

Public Eye has obtained a summary of Insurance Corporation of British Columbia records, under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which exposes new information about disgraced provincial government heavy-weight Doug Walls' past business practices. According to the summary, a Prince George auto body shop, owned and managed by Mr. Walls (a cousin-in-law to Premier Gordon Campbell), was the focus of two corporation audits that found "discrepancies in billing" and "concerns regarding the quality of work" at that shop.

Mr. Walls, you may remember, resigned from his position as acting chief executive officer of a multimillion dollar government agency back in January when the Times Colonist revealed a special prosecutor was looking into serious allegations of fraud against the former Prince George car dealer. The Times Colonist also reported Mr. Walls, who was awarded thousands of dollars in untendered or mismanaged contracts by the government, was appointed to that position even though political officials had been notified of allegations.

The first audit, conducted in 1994, was prompted by complaints about "discrepancies in the billing for parts and work performed on a specific claim" at Fred Walls & Son (Body & Paint Center) Ltd. The corporation found there wasn't enough evidence to support those allegations. But ICBC still "recovered portions of the funds paid for parts and work listed on the bills."

The second, more extensive audit in 1996, revealed "billing discrepancies and concerns regarding the quality of work performed on repairs." As a result of that report, Mr. Walls and his partner Mike Millard fired the shop manager, who was held responsible for the problems, and contacted "all vehicle owners identified to have work completed to standards required by ICBC."

It's unofficial! CH Television news anchor Hudson Mack is leaving the Victoria station to become the talking head/news director for The New VI. Mr. Mack will be discussing his depature for browner pastures at 3:00 with Shaw TV uber-reporter/host Stephen Andrew, who is filling in for Terry Moore on CFAX.

At the risk of sounding repetitious, word has reached Public Eye that Martyn Brown, Premier Gordon Campbell's chief of staff, is once again rumoured to be stepping aside to focus on election planning for the provincial Liberals. But here's the interesting part: senior party insiders tells us his old job will be divided into two, with each half reporting directly to the premier. One will deal with staffing and administration - the other, communications and politics. Small business and economic development deputy minister and former Liberal president Andrew Wilkinson is expected to fill the staffing and administration job. And rumour has it that public affairs bureau executive director Andy Orr will take responsibility for communications and politics. However, government caucus executive director Steve Vanagas has also been talked about as a candidate for either position.

Poll addicts: get ready for your summer fix. According to Mustel Research Group Ltd. project manager Phil Giborski, the firm's latest provincial voting intention numbers, which were expected last week, will be released sometime tomorrow. No rumours yet on what those numbers will show and Mr. Giborski wasn't spreading any simply telling Public Eye that "The only thing I can say is you'll just have to wait and see."

Back in June, Public Eye reported rumours of scandal and financial mismanagement circulating around the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society. When asked about those rumours, children and family development communications director Deborah Bowman 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." Well, apparently, this non-scandal has forced society executive director and former senior provincial bureaucrat Stan Paranteu to resign, say community insiders, as well as every single member of its board of directors.

At least some of those board members have been instructed not to speak with the media - which could explain why interim executive director Walt Rupert told Public Eye "I have no comments to make about (the resignations) whatsoever...And that's as much as I'm prepared to say. I would direct you to Jeremy Berland." Mr. Berland, who is currently on vacation, is an assistant deputy minister at children and family development. In fact, the society is so tight-lipped about the non-scandal that even their Website isn't talking (although that may not have anything to do with the resignations).

So far, the Ministry of Children and Family Development has said it won't publicly release the final results of an operational review into the society. However, Public Eye has filed a freedom of information request to obtain the review.

The following is a list of the directors who have reportedly resigned from the society, as displayed in a Google cached copy of its Website.

***

Carole Patrick-President

Carole Patrick has been the President of Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society (VACFSS) since December 1999. She is of Metis descent, her ancestors being the original Red River Settlers of Manitoba. She graduated with a Criminology degree from S.F.U. in 1979, and a Master of Arts and Applied Behavioural Sciences degree from Bastyr University, Seattle, Washington in 1995. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Institute of Seattle. Carole is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and family therapist in Private Practise, and currently working towards completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Carol was previously a child-in-care in Manitoba and knows first hand the experiences that many children face while in the care of the state. Carole has one Adult son.

Over the past 25 years, Carole's experience includes: Coordinator for Special Services to Children in Maple Ridge, developing a community based mental health housing outreach program in Vancouver, as well as participating as a member of the Provincial Review Panels in Mental Health for over 9 years in Vancouver.

In the capacity as Panel Member, she was required to conduct in depth mental health assessments to determine the readiness of patients to become decertified from a provincial hospital under the Mental Health Act.

She held the position of Executive Director for Big Brothers of Burnaby for 6 years, during which time she developed and implemented services and programs for single parent families in Burnaby. Lastly, she worked as a co-therapist in a spousal assault program for court mandated clients in the Forensic Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic in Vancouver, as well as a providing individual counselling to clients deemed not guilty by reason of mental illness.
Carole has been deeply honoured to have been chosen by the community to work with VACFSS through these exciting times, as our agency progresses through to Level 15 delegation. She is also deeply honoured to have received the support of the Board Members and agency staff in her position of President throughout the past two years. She has made a commitment to the Board and the agency staff, to provide unfaltering leadership and support as together they work towards implementing the DEA.

She has found her experience to be challenging and rewarding. She is very happy to play a leadership role at this very important time in history. She has seen VACFSS through the development, signing and implementation of the first Delegation Enabling Agreement in an Urban setting. She recognizes the importance of the DEA signing as not only historical but also a step forward for the whole aboriginal community.

Carole expresses her appreciation to the staff of VACFSS, for there dedication through the tremendous growth and change in the agency. The staff and board have demonstrated a strong sense of commitment to the principal that aboriginal people need to provide services to aboriginal people.

Joy Ward-Vice President

Joy describes herself as a "Coastal Cree". Her birth mother was Cree from Saskatchewan and she was born in the downtown eastside of Vancouver. She was adopted by the Haida Nation.

Joy has a 27-year old daughter and a 7-year old grandson and equally proudly states that she has an adopted 4-year old dog.

Joy has worked for 23 years uninterrupted service with the BC government in various Ministries including Finance, Education, Social Services and the Attorney General's Department (this work was in the Children's Commission complaints and fatality investigation department); 2 years as a member of the Children's Commission Multi-disciplinary team that reviewed fatality reports; 3 years in Aboriginal Health; 10 years teaching public school; 4 years mediating; 4 years counselling adult male survivors of Residential School abuse (on a contract with Ottawa Family Services); experience working for the Vancouver Aboriginal Problem Gambling Program; 3 years experience as a Commissioner on the Metis Commission for Children and Families.

Joy was adopted at age of 5 years to a non-native family in Victoria where she was raised. Joy was separated from here siblings and it wasn't until many years later that she was able to reconnect with her siblings and her mother.

As often as Joy can she, and for finding balance in her life, Joy enjoys her "cycletherapy" (riding her Harley) and participating in traditional ceremonies and celebrations.

John Jardine-Secretary

John Jardine is a member of the Red Rock Band-Lake Helen's Reserve in Northern Ontario. At the age of 2.5 he and his three siblings were removed from their parents and placed up for adoption. At the age of 5 he was cross-culturally adopted into a family that had already adopted 3 other children, who were considered to be hard to place children due to age and ethnicity (2 siblings are of Negro ancestry and 1 other sibling was of First Nations status). Prior to being adopted John was moved at a minimum of 7 times in a short 2.5 year span, though I have been told this figure of moves is much higher. In his teen years his adopted parents had their first biological child. At the age of 21 he actively searched out his Birth family and had a successful reunion and relationship with both parents until their early deaths. John has connected with his three siblings and is in the process of developing relationships and connections with other family members. John has a close relationship with both his adopted family as well as his biological family.

John received his Bachelor of Indian Social Work from the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College in 1988 and is currently completing his Masters in Social Work from the University of British Columbia and will be convocating in November 2002. In his undergraduate studies he had the opportunity to do a Field Placement with the Mapuche Indians in Chile (during Martial Law under Pinochet) doing community development for six months. John has previously worked as a Front Line Child Protection Officer for the Ministry for Children and Families for 6 years, working at the Aboriginal Team, a Family Service Team and the Intake and Assessment Team. From there John moved onto work with the Federal government with the Department of Indian Affairs, as a Social Development Specialist servicing the Bands in the southern part of the province for two years. John has also been an Executive Director of an urban Aboriginal Child Welfare agency, as well as the Executive Director of a provincial Aboriginal Foster Parent Support Federation.

Currently John is a caregiver for a non-aboriginal special needs individual through the Community Living Society. Prior to working with Community Living Society John was a foster parent (7 years) and owner/operator of a Group Home in the United States for Special Needs Adults and Children. "I would say that out of all the jobs I have had in my life-the most rewarding and satisfying has been as a foster parent-though it has contributed to my increase in grey hair!"

Alvin Dixon-Board Member

Alvin is a member of the Heiltsuk Nation, Waglisla, BC (Bella Bella). He has been married twice and has 4 biological children and 2 adopted children. As well Alvin is a grandparent of 4 grandchildren.

Alvin attended UBC in 1960 studying English and Geography. He returned in 1963 and completed the Teacher Training program-Education.

Alvin has had a varied work experience form working in a Fish Cannery, as a Fisherman, Fish Company Manager, Fish Company Loans Manager, Teacher, was an International Salmon Commissioner, Negotiator, Parole Board Member (1998-2002). As well Alvin sits on a number of provincial committees and community Boards. He is also a trustee/senator with two colleges.

Alvin has a deep commitment to Aboriginal child welfare and this has been demonstrated not only by the fact that he has fostered 4 teenagers, adopted 2 First Nations children as well as counselled many "at risk" teens in many local and provincial High Schools.

"People involved in First Nations politics are usually more self-serving than committed to the well-being of children at risk-people and communities need to get involved1"

Flora Raynes-Board Member

Flora is a single parent of a teenage boy-who is her pride and joy. Flora is a member of the Shuswap Nation but has resided in Vancouver for a number of years.

Flora has worked for Native Courtworkers for many years and is well known both at Criminal Court and Youth Court. Flora has assisted many youth and families through the Court process, and has earned great respect by not only her clients but also the professionals involved from Social Workers to Lawyers, Crown Counsel and Judges.

Flora has been active in the Vancouver Aboriginal community for many years. She has been on the Board of Directors for the past 5 years and has been actively involved in many cultural and ceremonial activities in Vancouver.

Margaret Webber-Board Member

In 1979 Margaret Webber was awarded and recognized as "Mother of the Year" by the Government of BC, and the then Minister Grace McCarthy bestowed this prestigious award upon Margaret Webber. Margaret started fostering children at the age of 15 prior to being married and has fostered children for over 50 years. Over 59 children have passed through her doors.

Margaret Webber (nee Nelson) originally comes from 2uatsino, her father was George Nelson and her mother was Sarah Nelson. She comes from a large family (6 brothers and 3 sisters) all of whom are deceased. As a result of this, Margaret has become substitute parent to her many nieces and nephews.

Margaret married Andrew Webber, and transferred her band membership to the Bella Coola Band, which she is a member of. Margaret and Andrew moved to Port Alice where her husband worked at the local mill. Margaret continued to be a housewife and foster parent. Margaret and her husband had 7 children, however fostering 59 children would deservingly be considered not only "Mother of the Year" but also probably "Mother of the Decade". Margaret is currently a widow, as her husband passed away a few years ago. Margaret moved to Vancouver and continued to foster, in fact she was the house parent of the Mamale Benevolent Group Home, when VACFSS was in its infancy.

Margaret is an Elder and continues to foster. She takes great pride in her culture and traditions and has passed on this information to her many foster kids. The kids continue to be involved in her life and during the summer months, many of them return to visit her, keeping her summer months very occupied. Margaret credits her strength, commitment and dedication to her children to her faith. "The best job with the greatest rewards and joys has been fostering."

Minnie Humchitt Kullman-Board Member

Minnie was born in Bella Bella, BC daughter of Leslie and Emma Humchitt; she is the second of six children. Minnie is proud to say that she comes from a long line of hereditary chiefs of the Heiltsuk Nation, her late father's name was Chief Wig Vilga Wakas (Eagle nose of the great river) the name was passed on to her brother Harvey Humchitt.

Minnie's professional career began at Capilano College studying family law and taking various courses at the Justice Institute of British Columbia, also took a practical nurse course at Vancouver Vocational Institute.

In 1977, Minnie initiated her career working with children and families for Native Court Workers, advocating for First Nations people in the family courts and juvenile system. Following the Native Court Workers Minnie worked as a cultural enrichment worker at the Vancouver School Board. Her responsibilities were educating aboriginal children with their identity and traditions and researching history of First Nations people across Canada.

Minnie's also gained valuable experience in the area of Bill C-31 which brought her across the Province assisting and facilitating workshops for Aboriginal women, men and children who lost their status through marriage or enfranchisement. This accomplishment was rewarding because it enabled Aboriginal women to regain their true identity as First Nations people.

In 1978, Minnie was one of the founding members of the Native Police Liaison Program that is still in existence today. Minnie's has also been involved with the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre (VAFCS) movement since her teen days as a basketball player. After a while, Minnie was elected as a board member both locally and provincially and she personally involved in the naming of the rooms of the VAFCS. The naming of the rooms was a memorable experience at VAFCS; this was to honour and respect the original founding members.

Minnie was elected as a Director of the Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society in September 2001, and she is pleased to say that she has been involved in exciting changes with the MCFD and the recent signing of the Tsawassen Accord. Minnie presently sits on the working committee on Governance for pending Aboriginal Regional Authority.

Minnie is a proud mother of one daughter and extra proud grandma of three grandchildren. Minnie's objective is to continue carrying on the work to make a difference for all First Nations children and their families.

Apparently, not everyone at the public affairs bureau lusts after specialty pens. A number of provincial government insiders have told us they actually like the bureau's standard issue writing implement - which, we have learned, is the reliable Paper Mate Flexgrip stick. In fact, the flexgrip, we're told, is even refillable - a big cost-saver. But there's just one problem. The refills actually cost more to buy than the pens themselves.

The bureaucrats toiling away in the provincial government's communications shops just can't seem to catch a break. First the Liberals deprived them of their job security. And now, the bean counters at the public affairs bureau's operations branch are taking away their fancy pens. In a high-priority email sent to all communications staffers and leaked to Public Eye, financial services officer Dawn Stewart notes that, "it has come to our attention that a lot of specialty office supplies...are being requested by staff. As PAB Headquarters has standards for pens, paper etc that are to be ordered, these standards will now apply when ordering office supplies for all PAB staff. If your supplies to be ordered do not comply with these standards, your orders will be revised by PAB Purchasing and you will be notified of the change." The following is a copy of that email.

-----Original Message-----
From: Stewart, Dawn M PAB:EX
Sent: August 12, 2004 2:40 PM
To: PAB All Staff
Cc: Orr, Andy PAB:EX; Champion, Denise PAB:EX
Subject: Ordering Supplies
Importance: High

Good afternoon:

Futher to my e-mail of July 28th, 2004, it has come to our attention that alot of specialty office supplies, ie pens, markers etc. are being requested by staff. As PAB Headquarters has standards for pens, paper etc that are to be ordered, these standards will now apply when ordering office supplies for all PAB staff. If your supplies to be ordered do not comply with these standards, your orders will be revised by PAB Purchasing and you will be notified of the change.

If you require a special type pen, etc, you are welcome to purchase and pay out-of-pocket, however, you will not be reimbursed.

Wherever possible office supplies must be purchased through the Office Products Centre (OPC). Only if it is an absolute necessity, and there is not a comparable product available through OPC, will we then order from Grand & Toy. Ordering from Grand & Toy should be an exception, and not a regular reoccuring event.

Just a reminder, when your supplies arrive, please ensure all packing slips are checked for accuracy and forwarded to PAB Purchasing.

Thank you for your assistance in this regard.

CH Television anchor-thingy and soccer mom heart-throb Hudson Mack isn't the only one being wooed by CHUM Ltd. Word has reached Public Eye that the station's crack reporter Moira McLean is also being courted by executives from the Toronto-based media company. Those executives want Ms. McLean, who previously worked as the provincial Liberal's press secretary when the party was in Opposition, to become The New VI's assignment editor (a position she is said to hate). No word on whether Ms. McLean accepted that offer.

A number of readers have written in to ask what happened to the much-anticipated Mustel Research Group Ltd. provincial voter intentions poll that was supposed to be released earlier this week. Well, here's the answer: in an email sent to Public Eye, the poll's project manager Phil Giborski explained the company was, "still in field. And, with other projects on the go, we are not absolutely sure as to when we will finish."

Just how interested is the British Columbia Lottery Corp. in seeing slot machines in bingo halls? Answer: interested enough that the company has contracted the former editor-in-chief of The Province to sell local governments on the benefits of approving those machines. In an interview with Public Eye, Brian Butters said, "My assignment at present is to basically manage the municipal approval process for what we call the community gaming initiative. And that entails basically presenting the opportunity to various municipal councils around the province, explaining to them the concept around the community gaming centre idea and inviting them to participate if they're prepared to do so."

An example: according to the Comox Valley Record, during a presentation to Courtney city council last May, Mr. Butters told its committee of the whole that, "gaming in B.C. needs to be preserved at all costs as it's an important linkage to charitable funding within communities. Larger, more modern facilities with more gaming choices (such as slot machines), will be more attractive to a larger population and get people to stay in the (bingo halls) for a lot longer." Moreover, "regarding problem gambling with slots, Butters said it has been shown by independent studies to be negligible."

When asked whether he would call himself a slot machine lobbyist, Mr. Butters told Public Eye, "Well I don't call myself that at all. I'm really there just to explain and expedite the process of approvals. I'm not urging councils to take any particular position on the issue of community gaming centres. I'm just there to provide information."

Mr. Butters, who has been working with the lottery corporation since April, became the publisher of the Kamloops Daily News and the Fredericton Daily Gleaner when he left The Province. He then went on to become the assistant vice-president of public affairs at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. In 2001, he started up his own consulting company - B Squared Communications.

In addition to the lottery corporation, his company's clients have included Novus Insurance. Early on in the provincial Liberal mandate, Novus lobbied the government to increase private participation in the auto insurance industry.

Mr. Butters declined to reveal the length of his contract with the lottery corporation or its value. However, he did confirm he is part of a twelve member team that has been working on the community gaming centre initiative since March. That team is headed by project manager Les Orcutt, who last week replaced Jay Van Brunt.

It looks like Cache Creek mayor John Ranta isn't the only municipal politician thinking about starting up a new provincial party. Public Eye has learned former Vernon mayor Wayne McGrath is chairing a six or seven member steering committee that has been working to bring British Columbia's minor parties together under one moderate "fiscally conservative, socially sensitive" roof (translation: we want to win). The committee, which heads an organization calling itself the B.C. Alternative, has been meeting for the past three months, says an insider. And a number of parties have already expressed interest in the idea.

Those parties include the British Columbia Conservative Party, the Reform Party of British Columbia and the British Columbia Unity Party. In fact, within the next two weeks, the insider says Unity will announce it's canceling its annual general meeting to host the BC Alternative merger talks - not surprising since Mr. McGrath is also the party's deputy leader. That announcement will be made at the legislature and include a number of prominent individuals who will be running for the new, yet-to-be-named party in the next election. A leadership race is expected to follow the merger talks.

Mr. Ranta reportedly has had some discussions with BC Alternative steering committee members but hasn't decided whether he'll jump aboard their band wagon.

Victoria Tory nomination candidate Faith Collins' husband has been excommunicated from the Octagon, an informal but influential association of capital city conservatives. At the association's most recent Friday lunch meeting, founding member Norm Fiss announced he could no longer break bread with Jim Collins - who has been attending those meetings for the past three months.

The reason: according to an insider, Ms. Collins thinks she lost her bid to become the Conservative candidate for Victoria because the winner, Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Gary Lunn's executive assistant Logan Wenham, cheated (evidently his use of balloons, bagpipes and popcorn machines at the constituency association's nomination meeting violated party rules). And, "people have been telling Norm," who ran Mr. Wenham's nomination campaign, "that Faith said she wouldn't work on any campaign he was involved with."

Mr. Fiss, a funeral director, took offense - despite assurances from Ms. Collins she had said no such thing. So the issue of whether her husband should be allowed to continue attending the Octagon's Friday meetings was put to a vote. And a majority decided he was no longer welcome at their downtown restaurant clubhouse (at least until the differences between Messrs. Fiss and Collins have been resolved).

Victoria has its very own vast-right wing conspiracy (although it is neither vast nor much of a conspiracy). Public Eye has learned that, for more than seven years now, an informal but influential association of conservative and libertarian big thinkers have been meeting for lunch every Friday to discuss and gossip about provincial and federal politics. The association, known to some insiders as the Octagon, previously met around a similarly-shaped table at the Yates Street Pizza Hut before moving to another nearby restaurant.

Octagon members were the backroom brains behind a number of local federal Conservative candidates during the last election including Logan Wenham, who was trounced by incumbent Victoria Liberal David Anderson, and talented but unsuccessful Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca nomination candidate Troy DeSouza, who ran against the ticking time bomb known as John Koury. They were also instrumental in helping elect Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Gary Lunn back in 1997.

Who's that we see climbing towards the events planning monastery recently vacated by show business guru Kevin Grandia? Why, it's none other then Cheryl Maitland, who has been appointed as Mr. Grandia's successor. Ms. Maitland previously worked as Premier Gordon Campbell's constituency assistant before becoming Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon's executive assistant last year. She was an active member of the provincial Liberal and federal Conservative youth wings and worked in the Progressive Conservative's Vancouver office before it was shutdown. Pavan Nirwan, who was an executive assistant to former Minister of State for Immigration and Multicultural Services Gulzar Cheema, will be replacing Ms. Maitland as Minister Falcon's executive assistant.

It had to happen eventually: just like boys on the cusp of manhood, the provincial Liberals have finally discovered women. Senior government insiders confirm the West Annex has directed the communications shop at community, aboriginal and women's services to put together a comprehensive list of everything good the Campbell administration has done for the fairer sex. That directive, which came down during the recent legislative session and has been passed along to other ministries, is said to have been a reaction to Ipsos-Reid Corp. numbers showing support for the Liberal among women lagging. According to the company's latest polling, released last month, just 28 percent of women would vote for the governing party if an election were held today, compared with 36 percent of men. The premier's office has also asked community, aboriginal and women's services flaks to put together another list identifying the government's First Nations success stories.

Provincial New Democrat vice-president and former party leadership candidate Craig Keating is considering seeking the nomination in North Vancouver-Lonsdale, a riding previously held by leftie political commentator David Schreck. During the leadership race, the talented Mr. Keating, a centrist city councillor and Langara College history instructor, was best known for his ability to create an incredible amount of smoke with very little kindling - delivering firebrand speeches while standing on a paper-thin campaign platform. Half-way through the race, he dropped out to endorse former MLA Leonard Krog (even going so far as to second his nomination). But, when Mr. Krog's convention speech failed to meet expectations (and competitor Carole James came out in front on the first ballot), Mr. Keating put on a James scarf - a move that irked some party members.

Mr. Keating will be likely running against Cathy Pinsent, a member of the Hospital Employees' Union provincial executive and shop steward at Lions Gate Hospital, and federal New Democrat North Vancouver candidate John Nelson.

Mr. Nelson, who has worked as a researcher and writer for the David Suzuki Foundation, the Sierra Club of British Columbia, and BC Wild, lost the riding but managed to earn 15 percent of the popular vote - ten points more than his predecessor Sam Schechter (who, at one point, was a member of Mr. Keating’s leadership campaign team). This would be what some would charitably call a morale victory.

North Vancouver-Lonsdale is currently held by Liberal backbencher Katherine Whittred, who won the riding in 1996 with 46 percent of the vote - beating out Mr. Schreck by 10 points.

Attorney general/solicitor general communications director Curt Albertson has won an all-expense paid vacation to the holiday resort known to public affairs bureau insiders as program management. Mr. Albertson - who worked as a CBC television and radio journalist before being hired by the provincial government back in 1998 - will be doing the horizontal mambo on August 27, moving to Vancouver to become the deputy director of the family maintenance enforcement program. Brett Lowther, Mr. Albertson's second-in-command, is expected to become the ministry's acting communications director.

CH Television's five o'clock mannequin and assistant news director Hudson Mack, who has been with the station since 1985, has been offered the top talking head spot over at The New VI. If he accepts, Mr. Mack, who has been twice named by Vancouver's TV Week magazine as Victoria's most popular bingo-caller, will also become The New VI's news director, a position currently held by station manager/executioner Richard Grey. Mr. Mack is taking the weekend to think the offer over. The CHUM Ltd. station was recently the site of a staff massacre that featured the firing of 29 employees.

You've really got to feel sorry for Vancouver-Burrard MLA Lorne Mayencourt. Mr. Mayencourt, who introduced anti-panhandling private member bills during the last legislative session, had his constituency office windows shattered by a slingshot back in May. And now, word has reached us that the provincial Liberal backbencher is being pelted with food.

An eyewitness described the incident to Public Eye: "This past weekend, I was taking in all the festivities that is the fabulous pride parade in Vancouver, sitting right around the corner of Cardero and Beach (Street) with a bunch of folks. And Mayencourt's little truck comes by. The crowd was pretty quiet. Not very enthusiastic. He was handing out water bottles. You know. Shaking hands. Being a politician.

But then, off to my right - out of nowhere - comes hurling in this green mass. Not sure what it is. And then - all of a sudden - as he's walking back to the truck, this big head of broccoli smacks him right in the side of the face. The crowd laughed.

He tried to be the bigger person. He tried to ignore it. Like, 'Ha! Ha! I just got hit with broccoli.' Then he caves in, picks up the broccoli and he’s holding it - looking angrily at the crowd like he's going to throw it back. But then he dropped it and got back in the truck."

Mr. Mayencourt has not yet return phone calls placed yesterday and earlier today to talk about the broccoli incident. However, at the time his office was vandalized, the backbencher told CTV News, "It's a bad sort of signal the way politics is going right now. It's so polarized. We are trying very hard to have an open debate with people and there is a fringe element that thinks this is the way to get things done."

Former provincial New Democrat cabinet minister and freelance columnist Paul Ramsey is doing a lot more than just writing about British Columbia politics these days. In an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Ramsey, a moderate, confirmed rumours that he and former party president Maura Parte have been appointed as the first two members of the New Democrat's platform committee. That committee will be responsible for penning the party's election platform.

Mr. Ramsey was asked to join last month by New Democrat president Jeff Fox and party leader Carole James. Mr. Ramsey and Ms. Parte will be responsible for recruiting other committee members but their selections will have to be approve by the party's provincial executive. No word on how many or who will sit on the commitee, but former cabinet minister Andrew Petter and ex-premier Mike Harcourt's names have been mentioned by insiders. Mr. Ramsey's appointment is a strong indication the New Democrats will be running from the centre during the next election.

Ms. Parte, who was also formerly the British Columbia chairwoman for the Canadian Federation of Students, is one-half of the New Democrat power couple that includes Victoria city councillor Rob Fleming. Mr. Fleming is currently seeking the party's nomination in Victoria-Hillside. He's carrying the moderate banner against former MLA Steve Orcherton, whose nomination papers were approved by the party earlier this week.

If the Rockpile was a battleship, klaxon alarms would be sounding. A senior government insider travelling aboard the S.S. Gordon Campbell tells us some ministries have been instructed to "not even think" about legislation or regulations between now and May. The reason: the provincial Liberals will be too busy preparing for the next election. That seems to substantiate earlier rumours that the government will be introducing very few significant bills in the fall legislative session, continuing a dry spell that began last year. The insider also says cabinet will be meeting less frequently in the lead-up to the next election, with most decisions being delegated to its committees.

Burnaby-Douglas New Democrat MP Svend Robinson just can't seem to stay out of trouble. Insiders inform us Mr. Robinson been telling fellow party members he is contemplating seeking a provincial nomination in one of the Burnabies. Mr. Robinson decided not to run in the last federal election after admitting he stole a $50,000 ring from Federal Auction Service Inc. He is scheduled to appear in court this Friday on theft charges.

Yesterday, Public Eye reported controversial school board trustee Mary Polak was considering running in Surrey-Panorama Ridge for the provincial Liberals. Some of those Liberals are concerned Ms. Polak's candidacy could paint the party with a socially conservative brush. After all, they say, Ms. Polak was part of an effort to keep children's books about same-sex relationships out of kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms. But Ms. Polak wrote in today to say those concerns are unwarranted. In her email she notes it's "absolutely true that I endorsed Belinda Stronach. Interesting, given that I'm supposed to be such a radical social conservative? :-)" The following is an edited copy of her email.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Polak
Sent: Thu 8/5/2004 12:48 PM
Subject: Comment on Public Eye magazine

Hi Sean,

Well, it's a fairly good article, but I need to correct a couple of things.

1. The Supreme Court of Canada remanded the decision on the books back to the board with specific criteria including sensitivity to the cultural and religious concerns of parents (consider paragraph 66 of the decision). The Board again declined approval. The Board then approved two books dealing with same-sex families that are of much higher quality and are much more appropriate in kindergarten or Grade 1 classrooms. The central point of departure for the court was the issue of what was intended by the curriculum (remember, the Ministry of Education had approved NO materials dealing with same sex relationships for primary grades). The court determined that the curriculum intended that all lawful family models be included.

2. Also, the motion you describe requiring board approval of books...ALL books to be used to support the currirulum are required by Ministry Regulation to be approved by the Ministry of Education (library books which may be used in the classroom are another matter). Failing that, someone seeking approval can approach a local Board. When the NDP established the Personal Planning and Career and Personal Planning K-12 curriculum in 1995, there was a requirement that Boards develop a local approval process for sensitive resources. In 1997, a committee of parents and stakeholders was completing development of that process. The interim approval process was for resources to be brought to the Board. The motion you refer to was a motion to inform school staffs that a list of books being circulated by the Gay and Lesbian Educators of British Columbia was NOT an approved list (they had distributed a list of "recommended learning resources" directly to schools which contravenes Ministry and District regulations). This motion was struck down for being "impermissibly vague!" (which is a tag that would sink many a government action around the country). :-)

3. Re: my federal attempt, I was going to seek the Conservative nomination in the riding of Fleetwood-Port Kells until Nina Grewal (Gurmant's wife) and Gurmant Grewal both filed nomination papers in both ridings. It was quickly apparent that the "fix" was in, so to speak, and so I withdrew my nomination papers rather than lend credibility to that process.

4. Absolutely true that I endorsed Belinda Stronach. Interesting, given that I'm supposed to be such a radical social conservative? :-)

Provincial New Democrat caucus outreach coordinator Raj Sihota may not have actually announced she's running for the party's nomination in Vancouver-Hastings. But her campaign team seems to have already left the starting gate. According to a leaked email, the team is having a garden party/fundraiser for Ms. Sihota this coming Sunday. The email was sent to supporters by David Black, the federal New Democrat's former treasurer. Like Ms. Sihota, Mr. Black endorsed moderate candidate Nils Jensen during the provincial party's leadership race. Ten bucks says he's also going to be playing a prominent role in Ms. Sihota's nomination/election campaign. The following is a copy of that email.

Subject: Committee to nominate Raj Sihota

Hi,

Please follow the link below for your invitation to a Garden Party hosted by Joan & Bill Fletcher in support of Raj Sihota for Vancouver-Hastings.

Please join us.

http://homepage.mac.com/davidopeiu378/Invites22.html

David Black

In an interview with Public Eye late yesterday, controversial Surrey school trustee Mary Polak confirmed rumours circulating around government caucus that she is considering running for the provincial Liberals in the Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election. Ms. Polak made headlines seven years ago when she refused to approve three children's books depicting same-sex relationships for use in kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms. The books included Asha's Mum, Belinda's Bouquet and One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dads, Blue Dads.

Speaking with CTV News back in 2002, Ms. Polak defended the ban and the parents who supported it saying, "There is an insinuation that if you hold the moral position that is opposed to homosexuality, that believes that it is sinful, that therefore you are bad, you are wrong."

The board's decision was overruled by the Supreme Court of Canada last year on the grounds it violated a requirement in provincial legislation that the public school system remain secular and non-sectarian. According to an article published in British Columbia Report Magazine, Ms. Polak also voted for a motion on April 10, 1997 requiring a formal board review of any gay and lesbian publication - that is not on the province's approved list - before permitting its use in the district.

Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, whose political fiefdom encompasses Surrey-Panorama Ridge, would reportedly back Ms. Polak nomination bid. Minister Falcon is friends with the school board trustee and helped out during her first election campaign. But other provincial Liberals are less enthusiastic about Ms. Polak. There is a concern among some that her candidacy would tar the party as being socially conservative, a brush the Campbell administration has so-far been able to avoid. So the hunt is on for an anyone-but-Polak candidate.

Ms. Polak, an advocate for school board autonomy, was recently elected to the British Columbia School Trustees' Association board of directors. In the past she has also supported traditional schools and student uniforms. Ms. Polak ran against Gurmant Grewal for the federal Conservative nomination in Surrey-Central prior to the last election and endorsed Conservative leadership candidate Belinda Stronach. She currently works for iTrend Research Group Inc., a new polling firm.

Earlier today, Public Eye reported Clark administration New Democrat insider Adrian Dix would be seeking the nomination in Vancouver-Kingsway - this, according to a leaked email from the riding's constituency association. But apprently, the association didn't have its facts straight. Mr. Dix writes that "The email is wrong. The riding association sent this out to a wide distribution list (though not to me) earlier today...M