The communication shop at sustainable resource management has been headless since Betty Nicholson decomissioned herself and Tamara Armstrong fled public affairs for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. But no longer. Public Eye has heard Human Resources communications manager Mike Long has been attached to that shop as its new director. Taking over from Mr. Long is public affairs officer Anne McKinnon.
This morning, Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer informed readers "The rumour mill had the premier calling the byelection to fill the four-months-vacant seat this week. The word Wednesday was 'not yet' but 'soon.'" And, according to an insider, soon will be at 1:00 today (which, by our watch, is 8 minutes away). On Tuesday, Public Eye reported word that the by-election would be called sometime this week, likely Wednesday.
It looks like the New Democrat campaign machine needs a little oil. According to a resolution submitted during last weekend's provincial council meeting, there "are low levels or diminishing numbers of active, experienced" party volunteers in the ridings of Revelstoke, Kelowna-Mission and Shuswap. That resolution called upon the New Democrats to deal with the problem by creating two seperate paid organizer positions in outlying regional centres. But it was eventually withdrawn when senior party members committed to make sure heartland ridings would be adequately supported in the run-up to the next election.
Another resolution, which was passed, notes many riding associations across the province "did not nor could not collect" much voter identification data during the last election, due to a lack of familiarity with NDP Vote. NDP Vote is a new online database similar to the Conservative's Constituency Information Management System. That data deficit means the New Democrats will have a tougher time getting out voters in British Columbia during the next provincial and federal elections.
The following are copies of those resolutions.
***
PROVINCIAL SUPPORT STAFF LOCATED AT REGIONAL CENTRES
Submitted by: Revelstoke NDP Club
Kelowna Mission Constituency Association
Shuswap Constituency Association
Received: August 23, 2004
August 23, 2004
August 30, 2004
WHEREAS there is an established need for closer links with the overall party apparatus and the functions of staff support in outlying regions from the lower mainland, and;
WHEREAS there are low levels or diminishing numbers of active, experienced support from which to draw on a volunteer basis in these outlying regions at this late date on the election countdown calendar,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BC NDP immediately create a separate endowment fund that would provide for the creation of two staff organizer positions to be established in outlying regional centres; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that selection of such staff include local experienced campaigners that have regional perspectives and insight with which to address their tasks at the regional level
***
NDP VOTE DATA & TRAINING
Submitted by: Kelowna Mission Constituency Association
Received: September 7, 2004
WHEREAS the new NDP Vote requires time to train local constituency workers,
And
WHEREAS the federal data was not received in a timely manner;
And
WHEREAS many Riding Associations did not nor could not collect much data as a result
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that::
* Provincial Office will ensure that voter contact databases are available earlier in the campaign; and
* That merged lists should be made more easy to handle, such as considering reverting back to MS Access (spreadsheet formatted) files.; and
* That NDP Vote Workshops be held outside the Lower Mainland; and
* That technological assistance at provincial office and in the regions can be very helpful and these relationships must be cultivated and maintained.
We also know some of you weren't able to make it to last weekend's New Democratic provincial council meeting. But fear not! Public Eye has also obtained a copy of the meeting agenda, which we're happy to provide to those of you who were snowed in or had other pressing engagements (like going to a vintage whiskey and port tasting fundraiser - see below). According to that document and party insiders, one of the main events was a public opinion research presentation by IdeaWorks Consulting Inc. member Ian Reid using an early summer 1,200 sample poll from Viewpoints Research Ltd. Mr. Reid, you may remember, was previously a senior advisor to the New Democrat government and communications director for the West Coast Environmental Law Society.
The poll's voting intention results were within one percentage point of the most recent Mustel Research Group Ltd. survey, which showed the Liberals at 43 percent and the New Democrats at 37 percent. Also included in the presentation were detailed breakouts of regional, gender, age and trade union numbers. And the polling showed voters expect both the Liberals and New Democrats to provide more evidence they can be fiscally responsible.
The following is a copy of the meeting agenda.
***
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL
of the New Democratic Party of BC
September 25 - 26, 2004
Landmark Hotel Vancouver
AGENDA
Saturday, September 25, 2004
9:00 am
1. Call to Order
2. Adoption of the Agenda
3. Approval of the Provincial Council Minutes of July 10 and July 11, 2004 SCHEDULE A
4. Receipt of the Provincial Executive Minutes of June 22, July 6, July 9, July 20, August 3, August 17 and August 31, 2004 SCHEDULE B
9:15 am
5. Federal Caucus Report Followed by Question and Answer Session, Bill Siksay, MP
10:00 am
6. Leader's Address, Carole James (Order of the Day - Media present) Followed by Question and Answer Session
10:45 am
7. Provincial Secretary's Report, Gerry Scott SCHEDULE C
11:15 am
8. President's Report, Including EPC Report, Jeff Fox SCHEDULE D
12:00 pm LUNCH BREAK
1:00 pm
9. Public Opinion Research Presentation
2:00 pm
10. Policy Review and Platform Development Discussion
3:00 pm
11. Affiliation/OMOV Reports and Discussion
4:30
12. Regional Caucus Meetings (including nomination of the Executive Regional Representative for Vancouver North Shore and Vancouver Island South)
5:15
13. Adjournment
Mt. Pleasant Constituency Association Presents:
Whiskey & Vintage Port Tasting - $100
4442 Sophia Street
Saturday, September 25 at 7 pm to midnight
Wine and Beer available
Includes a selection of fine, single malt whiskies and vintage ports.
Accompanied by various cheeses, haggis and smoked salmon.
Chocolate pate for dessert. Music by bagpipe.
Info 604-719-6413
COPE 15
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL
of the New Democratic Party of BC
September 25 - 26, 2004
Landmark Hotel Vancouver
AGENDA
Sunday, September 26, 2004
9:00 am
1. Call to Order
2. Treasurer's Report Including Debt Payment Plans, Cheryl Hewitt SCHEDULE G
10:00 am
3. 2005 Draft Budget (For Adoption at December Council Meeting) SCHEDULE H
11:00 am
4. Committee Reports
* WRC
* SCOE
* SCOA
* YND
11:30 am
5. Notices of Motion
* West Kootenay Boundary Constituency Association - Investigation Into Colony of Bountiful, Creston BC
* Revelstoke NDP Club; Columbia River Revelstoke; Kelowna and Shuswap Constituency Association - Provincial Support Staff Located At Regional Centres
* BC YND - Young Rights Campaign Funding To BC YND
* Kelowna Constituency Association - Campaign Workshops Outside The Lower Mainland
* Kelowna Constituency Association - Candidate & Nominee Training Sessions
* Kelowna Constituency Association - NDPVote Data & Training
6. Adjournment
Weren't invited to July's New Democrat provincial council meeting? Don't worry! Public Eye has obtained a copy of the minutes, which were circulated last Thursday to council members. And, just in case you don't want to read the whole thing, we've picked out a few of juiciest bits. According to the document, the New Democrats seem to be concerned about encouraging "Indo-Canadian participation" during the next election and mobilizing youth and ethnic voters. The minutes also indicate the party is currently using messages about rural unemployment and service cuts to encourage membership signups and donations. But a need to find new recruitment and fundraising methods has been identified.
The council also passed a resolution promising a New Democrat government would "set a minimum wage sufficient for a full-time employee to support one adult and a dependent at least at the poverty level as defined by a shopping basekt measure; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the minimum wage be increased annually by the cost of living index." And that same resolution calls on the party to "condemn the Liberals' reduction of the level of Workers' Compensation benefits and services for disabled workers."
The minutes then go onto note there is a need for the New Democrats "analyze all remaining internal debts including repayment agreement with the federal NDP." The following is a copy of those minutes.
***
Provincial Council
BC New Democratic Party
Minutes of Meeting
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Empire Landmark Hotel Vancouver
01. Call to Order
Jeff Fox, President, called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.
02. Adoption of the Agenda
Agenda amended to add Standing Committee Reports for 10:15 am. Adopted as amended. M/S/C
03. Approval of Minutes
Approval of Minutes for December 6, 2003. M/S/C
Approval of Minutes for March 6 and 7, 2004. M/S/C
04. Receipt of Minutes of the Provincial Executive
M/S/C That the minutes of the meetings of Provincial Executive held on March 5, March 30, April 24 and June 8, 2004 are received.
05. Federal Election Report
Provincial Secretary Gerry Scott submitted his report. Discussion including remarks on training for NDP Vote; sign campaign training; colours; Bill C-24 impacts on timing of next election; polls; federal party fundraising and priorities; revenue sharing; role of Provincial Council; platform; our balance of power; messaging; answering machine messaging; website experiences and evaluation; volunteer and "crowd" recruitment; inheritance tax; need for on-going federal presence; need for more regional messaging; conduct of advance
polls including proof of citizenship; need to analyse Green philosophy and develop strategy for them; utilize donation envelope with leaflets; Liberal strategic vote strategy; rebate revenue-sharing; need for pre-election polling; multicultural representation on working group, opportunities for platform feedback; expansion of YND; rural unemployment and impacts of service cutbacks and new methods required for voter contact and fundraising.
06. Election Planning Committee Report
Presentation by President Jeff Fox. Discussion including memberships; platform;
damage by Liberals; nomination strategy and timing; Indo-Canadian participation; issue campaigns in pre-election period; current Liberal messaging; need for our fact base to be circulated widely; need for women to be key objective of candidate search with support for success; multicultural representation on working group; opportunities for platform feedback; feedback; expansion of YND; rural unemployment and impacts of service cutbacks and new methods required for voter contact and fundraising; voter contact especially youth and multicultural needs to be undertaken now; mass media being more critical as on-the-ground organizing gets harder.
07. Leader's Address
Carole James addressed the Council and attending media.
08. President's Report
President Fox presented his report as circulated. President Fox highlighted the process for seeking provincial nomination approval. The Executive has reduced the requirement from $5,000/$15,000 to $3,000/$10,000 with a concrete fundraising plan to request approval for nomination meetings. Discussion. M/S/C That the Report of the President be accepted.
09. Leader's Question and Answer Period
Carole James took questions from the audience.
10. Convention Policy Resolutions
Economics; M/S/C recommendations of Committee that all motions for concurrence be approved with the exception of E2003-13; -9; and -15
Motion that E2003-13 be removed M/S/C
Motion E2003-9 Poverty & Income Redistribution, recommendation of non-
concurrence, M/S/C
Motion E2003-13 Energy Policy, recommendation of non-concurrence, M/S/D; then E-2003-13 was M/S/C
Motion E2003-15 Privatization, non-concurrence, M/S/C
Education; Motion to support recommendation that all resolutions except F2003-05 be sent back to originators and that the recommendation of concurrence on F2003-05 be accepted. M/S/C
Environment; G2003-03 was tabled until Sunday. Recommendation of concurrence with all the other resolutions. M/S/C
Forestry; I2003-04 Federal support for forest workers, concurrence with removal of "IWA", M/S/C
Recommendation for concurrence on all other resolutions on forestry, including I2003-04 as amended. M/S/C
Housing; Recommendation for non-concurrence on L2003-03. M/S/C
Labour; Recommendations for non-concurrence on M2003-10 and M2003-18 and for concurrence on all other resolutions (including amendments to:
-07, "THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party condemn
the Liberal government's attack on workers' health and safety and its direction to the WCB to cut occupational health and safety regulations by one-third; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the NDP condemn the Liberals' reduction of the level
of Workers' Compensation benefits and services for disabled workers."
-13, "THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a BC NDP government will set a
minimum wage sufficient for a full-time employee to support one adult and a
dependant at least at the poverty level as defined by a shopping basket
measure; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the minimum wage be increased annually by the cost of living index."
-14, to amend by replacing "limiting" with "reducing" in the resolve.
-16, to amend by changing "promotive" to "promoting".
-17, to amend to include the names of the Bills.
M/S/C
Transportation; Recommendation to return all unfinished resolutions to originators. M/S/C
Women's Rights; Recommendation for concurrence on Q2003-04 and Q2003-05. M/S/C
11. Membership Drive Presentation (Glen Sanford and Boyd Pyper)
Discussion followed and questions about finances, revenue sharing and provincial office assistance for rural ridings were raised.
12. Affiliation and OMOV Committee Report
Angie Schira and Colin Gableman presented draft Affiliation report.
Alex Ng and Jessie Uppal presented draft OMOV report
Discussion including issues on the process to date; timing of proposed decisions; the benefits and challenges of affiliation; various options on OMOV implementation including "weighting" of the affiliates proportion of votes; costs of OMOV; the need for more feedback from constituencies and affiliates and advisability of trying to proceed before 2005 election.
President Fox concluded discussion by urging all participants to get input and guidance from their constituencies for next steps.
13. Adjournment
Provincial Council
BC New Democratic Party
Minutes of Meeting
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Empire Landmark Hotel Vancouver
01. Call to Order
Jeff Fox, President, called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m
02. Notices of Motion
Vancouver Kingsway
* For a proper implementation of the residency rule - M/S/D
* All nomination candidates must have timely access to membership records -M/S/D
* Changes to nature of nomination meetings and new nomination rules should be referred to next convention - M/S/D
* Candidates membership list - withdrawn from Vancouver Kingsway delegate.
Penticton Okanagan Valley
* Medical Services Plan - Garry Litke suggested that the parenthesis should be removed - agreed. M/S/C
Earth Charter (tabled in March Council meeting)
M/S/C with "just transition" amendment. It should be noted that there were
concerns expressed around both the concept and the language of "just transitions" and that there would be more work done on this.
03. Standing Committee Reports
SCOA - as reported by Lynn Perrin
Were not able to organize around Agricultural Fairs. They are looking for YND, WRC, Multicultural and Small Business Committees. ALC has several proposals to remove farm land. Avian flu, BSE are issues.
SCOE
Earth Charter "just transition" amendment needs to be worked on. Committee looking for liaisons with other committees.
WRC
"Winning Nomination" brochure on website.
YND
The website is getting ready for launch. Convention later this year.
Small Business - as reported by Marianne Alto-Bond
Discussion included looking for more folks. Request for directory, links to Multiculturalism Committee.
04. Provincial Secretary's Report
Gerry Scott submitted report as circulated. Discussion. M/S/C
05. Treasurer's Report
Gerry Scott presented report on behalf of Cheryl Hewitt. Discussion including the need to re-examine revenue sharing options for 2005 budget and the need to analyze all remaining internal debts including repayment agreement with Federal NDP. M/S/C
06. Adjourn
Submitted by
Gerry Scott
Provincial Secretary
cope15
Rumour has it the much-anticipated Surrey-Panorama Ridge provincial by-election will be called sometime this week, likely tomorrow. Controversial school trustee Mary Polak is running for the Liberals and community activist Jagrup Brar is the New Democrat candidate. Green Party leader Adrianne Carr and British Columbia Democratic Coalition leader Tom Morino are also in the race.
The New VI continues to pillage CH Television's newsroom, escalating the proxy war between CHUM Ltd. and CanWest Global Communications Corp. Public Eye has learned last night, CH news reader personality Meribeth Burton tendered her resignation to take a position at The New VI, joining fellow defectors Moira McLean and Hudson Mack.
If you need further evidence the provincial Liberals have backed off on their promise to de-politicize government communications here it is: Minister Gary Collin's longtime assistant Robert Pauliszyn is moving out of Rockpile to head up finance's public affairs shop. That position has been occupied on an acting basis by Robert Duffus ever since Karen Johnston made her prison break to become vice-president of client relations at the B.C. Ambulance Service.
Prior to becoming a Liberal staffer in 2000, Mr. Pauliszyn was director of research for the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, British Columbia division - guess which side of the political spectrum he comes from. He is rumoured to be the first of several ministerial assistants who will be moving into communications director positions.
Meanwhile, executive assistant Steven Puhallo, who has been working for Sustainable Resource Management Minister George Abbott, is taking Mr. Pauliszyn's old job. Mr. Puhallo is said have a friendly relationship with many backbenchers, having previously worked as the executive assistant to Government Whip Kevin Krueger.
Adrian Dix, Premier Glen Clark's right-hand man, has decided to run for the provincial New Democrat nomination in Vancouver-Kingsway, according to an email obtained by Public Eye. The email invites supporters to his campaign kickoff this coming Saturday at the Cassandra Hotel. Interestingly enough, Cassandra also happens to be the name of a prophet from Greek mythology who was doomed to tell the truth but never to be believed. The following is a copy of that email.
You're invited to
Adrian Dix's Nomination Campaign Kickoff!
Join us with family, friends and a few special guests... Come out and show your support for the best choice to represent Vancouver-Kingsway!
Where: India Abroad
3075 Kingsway (in the Cassandra Hotel)
When: Saturday, October 2nd, 2004 at 2:00 pm
Light refreshments will be served.
Please contact 604-767-1900 for more information.
Produced by volunteer labour
We're really not sure why anyone would actually want this job, but Public Eye has learned at least two Martini candidates will be competing for the somewhat dubious distinction of being president of the federal Liberals in British Columbia (a post previously manned by Billy Cunningham, who is now heading up the minister's regional office in Vancouver). The first candidate: Patrick Maloney, an investment advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
Mr. Maloney, the riding association president for Vancouver Centre (Hedy Fry's constituency), publicly backed the forced retirement campaign against Prime Minister Jean Chretein. Back in June 2002, he told Vancouver Sun reporter Peter O'Neil "I support the prime minister, but if he really believes we should be acting in the best interests of the party and the country for the long term, we should have a farewell party for him as soon as possible."
Mr. Maloney will be running against Jamie Elmhirst, a lobbyist with search warrant target Pilothouse Public Affairs Group Inc. Mr. Elmhirst is considered by some to be one of the more talented graduates of the University of Victoria Young Liberals social club (whose alumni includes the majority of party operatives in the province). He previously worked as an assistant to aristocratic cabinet minister Lord David of Anderson (who has since been dethroned from that vaunted position). Mr. Elmhirst also did a stint as Gordon Campbell's body man, during the provincial Liberal's opposition days. And he later became ministerial assistant to Water, Land and Air Protection Minister Joyce Murray when the party won government.
Liberals will be choosing between Messrs. Maloney and Elmhirst at their biennial convention, which is scheduled to be held in Penticton on November 13 and 14.
John "I'm just a private citizen" Horgan, premier Dan Miller's chief of staff, will announce tomorrow he seeking the provincial New Democrat nomination for Malahat-Juan de Fuca. That announcement will include endorsements from Mr. Miller, ex-Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Lynn Hunter and once and wannabe future MLA Corky Evans. Mr. Horgan will be running for the nomination against Cowichan Valley school trustee and communications consultant Julie Thomas. The following is an advanced copy of Mr. Horgan's press kit.
Malahat-Juan de Fuca New Democrats
For Immediate Release - September 26, 2004
John Horgan to seek NDP nomination in Malahat-Juan de Fuca
Langford - Longtime Langford resident John Horgan announced today that he will seek the NDP nomination in the provincial riding of Malahat-Juan de Fuca for the coming provincial election.
Horgan, a management consultant and former senior public servant, announced his intention to seek the nomination following the Annual General Meeting of the local riding association held in Langford over the weekend.
"People want government to tend to basic needs, health care, education, transportation and other public infrastructure. They do not want extremism and confrontation. With the Campbell government we have seen both in equal measure. They have turned our province on its head, selling our shared assets, confronting working people and communities," said Horgan.
Horgan, active in public life since the 1980's, had been urged to seek the nomination by many people in the community. However, his decision to run for elected office was sealed with the BC Ferries decision to award over $500 million to a German shipyard to construct three new ferries.
"I waited for a response from my local Liberal representative, or any other Liberal on Vancouver Island. The silence was deafening. People deserve a representative who will speak forcefully when stupidity is so apparent," said Horgan. "Government should be fostering economic development locally, not sending it to Europe."
"This next election is about what values we want to protect and what course we should follow in the decade ahead. Campbell and his extreme views are bad for BC and bad for the communities in Malahat-Juan de Fuca," said Horgan.
"Quality public health care, adequate funding for education, investing in the environment and high quality sustainable jobs: those are the priorities of British Columbians, and those are the priorities for Carole James and New Democrats," Horgan said. "If chosen to represent the NDP I will bring new energy and a positive approach to Malahat Juan de Fuca."
- 30 -
For more information, contact:
(250) 360-7916 (cell)
***
A Great Candidate for Malahat Juan de Fuca
* John Horgan, 45, was born and raised in Victoria, B.C.
* After finishing Reynolds High School, he travelled across Canada to find the Canadian identity before working in the pulp mill at Ocean Falls, B.C.
* After the Social Credit government closed the mill and shattered the community, he returned to Victoria and made plans for higher education.
* Attended Trent University in Peterbourgh, Ontario and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Canadian Studies. During the summers he worked in Cobble Hill at the Cowichan Joinery.
* Attended Sydney University in Australia and completed a Master of Arts degree in History.
* In the mid 1980's, he began a career as a legislative assistant in the House of Commons, first with Jim Manly and later with Lynn Hunter.
* He returned to Victoria following the election of the Harcourt government and became an assistant to the Minister of Economic Development.
* He was quickly promoted to policy analyst in the Premier's Office, then Director of Priority Issues, and finally named Chief of Staff to Premier Dan Miller.
* After the election of the Campbell Liberals he started IdeaWorks, an independent policy, management and research firm.
* He is active in his community coaching basketball and roller hockey. He sat on the Chamber of Commerce committee for a new arena in the Westshore.
* He is site coordinator for the annual Victoria Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion Event.
* He and his family go to Pilgrim United, the hippest United Church on the Island.
* He has been married to Ellie for 20 years and their two sons, Nate 16 and Evan 14, attend Belmont High School.
* He loves basketball, hockey and cricket.
* He cycles with his dumb dog, Lizzy, down the Galloping Goose toward Sooke three times a week.
***
John Horgan, A great candidate who'll be a great MLA
John cares deeply about people. His politics combine keen intelligence, compassion and a rollicking sense of humour. He brings the assets of commitment, depth of knowledge and experience to the job. Snap him up.
Lynn Hunter, former Member of Parliament
John is always positive and working to make sure everyone is treated fairly. He has my full support.
Darlene Younger, hockey mom of eight
John Horgan has the ability and the experience to be a great representative for the people of Malahat-Juan de Fuca.
Jim Manly, former Member of Parliament
He listens to my perspective and understands that small business needs flexibility to succeed.
Ken Fenton, local businessman
John will get things done. He and I worked hand in hand to establish the Columbia Basin Trust, one of the lasting legacies of our time in government.
Corky Evans, former Cabinet Minister
John is a real person that can be counted on to make a difference. He is a reason to get excited about politics.
Deb Shultz, of Sullivan’s Barber shop
He has a grasp of the issues and an uncanny ability to get to the heart of things quickly. He is intelligent, quick on his feet and would make an outstanding MLA.
Dan Miller, former Premier of BC
John is an energetic and fun guy that has helped me to understand that politics, although serious business, must include joy and enthusiasm. I will work as hard as I can to help him get elected.
John C. Russell, high school student
Shaw Television is broadcasting Victoria television personality Stephen Andrew's last opinion panel show. The mutli-talented Mr. Andrew, whose career (we think) bears something of a passing resemblance to that of Factory Records producer Tony Wilson, is leaving the community station to work as a reporter/host for The New VI. He will be joining former CH Television anchor-thingy Hudson Mack and reporter Moira McLean.
Monday morning is come to Jesus time for public affairs bureau directors. That's the day when the provincial government's top spinners will be having their first official meeting with Athana Mentzelopoulous, the bureau's new deputy minister. According to insiders, hopes are high Ms. Mentzelopoulous will be rolling out a plan to deal with the agency's high turnover rate (read: low morale and long hours) - which has been making the bureau look more like McDonalds than the civil service. Finance Minister Gary Collins, who is now the minister responsible for government communications, earlier hinted he might be increasing salaries to attract new communications officers and keep the ones the Liberals already have. Managers and directors may have a meeting with Minister Collins later that afternoon.
Federal Conservative House Leader John Reynolds has one big job between now and the next election: making sure history doesn't repeat itself. Speaking at the Victoria Tories' monthly breakfast meeting earlier today, Mr. Reynolds detailed some of his party's advanced plans to beat the Liberals. Included in those plans is the hiring of regional communications teams that will brief party leader Stephen Harper at 8:00 every morning. British Columbia and Ontario will get two communications officers apiece, while the Prairies, Quebec and the Maritimes will each have one. Interviews for those jobs have already been wrapped up, with the successful candidates being announced shortly.
The Conservatives will also be recruiting three part-time organizers in British Columbia, replacing a single full-time position previously filed by longtime Reform/Canadian Alliance fieldworker Brian Archer. Mr. Archer is now part of the B.C. Alternative movement which is looking to unite the provincial Conservative and Unity parties.
No word yet on who those replacement organizers will be (the official announcement will be made in about two weeks) but Andrew Jackson, who was elected last Saturday to the provincial Conservative executive council, has thrown his resume into the pile.
According to local lawyer Troy DeSouza, who was the party's eyes and ears on Vancouver Island during the last election "Andrew is a talented indvidual who has been a past candidate and knows how to run and win elections. And we need one of these organizers working full-time on the Island."
Mr. Reynolds also said Tom Flanagan, who managed the Conservative's last election campaign, is already assembling his next war room team and renting office space. And when the election is called, Mr. Reynold says the Conservatives will be taking their cues from the Republican's 72 Hour Task Force strategy. The strategy, which was instrumental in helping George W. Bush win the 2000 presidential election, focuses party resources on the last 72 hours of the campaign.
That's especially important for the Tories, since Mr. Reynolds (who attended the recent Republican national convention) says internal polling has shown 38 percent of identified Conservative supporters in the party's Constituency Information Management System database switched their vote in the last four days of the election.
Public Eye has learned the provincial Conservative executive council just passed a resolution salvaging an earlier deal to merge with Unity. The resolution, which was drafted by Unity communications director Blake Mackenzie and Conservative president Bill Smith, was approved by 15 out of the 18 council members who voted. Mr. Smith and Unity president Tim Bonner want to hold a newser tomorrow announcing the deal. But others have cautioned against that plan, citing problems with getting the media out to a last-minute event. The following is a copy of the resolution.
1. The BC Unity Party at its Sept 25/04 AGM elect 10 members to sit on the BC Conservative Party Board of Directors. That 8 directors of the BC Conservative Party volunteer to step down so that the 10 elected at the BC Unity Party AGM can replace them. (There are 2 vacancies out of the possible 20)
2. That at the BC Unity Party AGM, the party decides to de-register the BC Unity Party and instruct it’s Executive to do so immediately.
3. That the BC Unity Party use their party's assets to purchase one-year memberships in the BC Conservative Party on behalf of the BC Unity Party current membership or encourage the BC Unity Party membership to take out membership into the BC Conservative Party voluntarily. Any remaining assets be donated to the BC Conservative Party to cover mailing and meeting costs.
4. That the newly-constituted BC Conservative Party Executive commence as soon as possible to;
a) Organize a Special General Meeting to amend/replace the BC Conservative Party Constitution and Policy by Saturday, January 15th 2005.
b) Organize a Leadership Convention.
c) Determine rules and qualifications for Leadership and Constituency candidates.
d) BC Conservative Party directors, work with former BC Unity Party Constituency organizations to establish BC Conservative Party Constituency organizations.
e) Prepare constitutional amendments for a Special General Meeting and Leadership Convention.
f) Strike a policy committee to prepare a blend of the existing policies of the two parties. If any conflict exists between the policies of the two parties on a specific item, that item is to be dropped until a later policy convention.
Yesterday, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities annointed first vice-president and Central Okanagan Regional District director Aaron Dinwoodie as their new president, replacing ever-talkative Saanich mayor Frank Leonard. Mr. Leonard has had a somewhat of an on-again, off-again relationship with the provincial Liberals. He's been friends with Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray Coel since grade nine. But his supporters were furious when party hierarchs put the kayboosh on Mr. Leonard's plan to run in Saanich South during the last election, instead handing the nomination to Oak Bay mayor and now Human Resources Minister Susan Brice. He's also been an outspoken opponent of the Significant Projects Streamlining Act, which allows government to circumvent municipal approval processes for any project it declares significant.
However, the handsome Mr. Dinwoodie doesn't have a clean slate when it comes to the dealing with the Liberals either - although his isn't quite as dirty. Back in 2000, Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer reported Mr. Dinwoodie was poised to win the Liberal nomination for Okanagan-Penticton. But party leader Gordon Campbell threw his weight behind parchute candidate Rick Thorpe. So Mr. Dinwoodie, despite having done six months of campaigning for the job, withdrew from the nomination race and endorsed Mr. Thorpe. Mr. Dinwoodie is also a former member of the Progressive Democratic Alliance, the party Gordon Wilson setup when he was ousted as Liberal leader by Mr. Campbell's supporters.
And when cabinet ministers get shuffled, so do their assistants. Kim Haakstad, former Children and Family Development Minister Christy Clark's ministerial assistant, will be doing the same job for Human Resource Minister Susan Brice. Meanwhile, Minister Brice's predecessor, Stan Hagen, is taking his ministerial assistant Sharon McKinnon to children and family development. And Health Services Minister Colin Hansen's executive assistant Alex McMillan gets a promotion, becoming Minister of State for Immigration and Multicultural Services Patrick Wong's ministerial assistant.
Yesterday, the provincial government announced the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops would be renamed Thompson Rivers University next year. That name, which was selected during a comprehensive community nomination process, is functional. But it's not nearly as colourful as some of the 170 others which were submitted by local residents. Our personal favourite is The Free University of Kamloops - an excellent example of wishful thinking. The following document, obtained by Public Eye, lists those recommendations that were put into the "other" category (as opposed to being place-name based, for example).
Heartland University
Overlander University
All Nations University
British Columbia Academic University
British Columbia University
Canada Pacific University
All Civic University
British Columbia's Unique University
Canadian Comprehensive Open University
Central University
Central University of British Columbia
Chinook Applied & Open University
Chinook University
Fraser Valley University
Hughland Valley University
Kamcarnictom University
Millennium University
Monashee University
North Cascades University
Nottkwyta University
Omni University of Interior British Columbia
Open University of British Columbia
Pacific Diversified University
Pacific University
Pro-Civic University
Quansem University
Success University
Superior University
The Applied British Columbia University
The Free University of Kamloops
The Great University
The Great University of British Columbia
University Campus of Canada
University Education Institute of British Columbia
University of British Columbia of Open Learning
University of Cascadia
University of Pacific West
University of the Heartland
Public Eye has learned Earnscliffe Strategy Group Inc., the Ottawa lobby/communications firm that employs many of Prime Minister Paul Martin's closest advisors, is setting up shop in downtown Vancouver. In an interview, Earnscliffe principal Harry Near confirmed the decision saying, "We've had a number of clients over the years who have basically said we wish you had an Earnscliffe operation in Vancouver." He added the office, which will focus on lobbying the provincial government and is the company's first satellite branch, should be up and running by October 3. Bruce Young, who previously headed Hill & Knowlton Inc.'s British Columbia outpost and, until recently, was a special advisor to Prime Minister Martin, will be running the operation.
Earnscliffe's expansion could be bad news for federal Liberal operative Mark Marissen, whose company Burrard Communications Inc. has been the unofficial base of Martinite operations in British Columbia. But, when asked what the office opening would mean for Mr. Marissen, Mr. Near said, "I've never met Mark. The guys here know Mark. The guys here speak very highly of Mark. I don't think it's going to be anything that's going to be particularly problematic from Mark's point of view."
Mr. Marissen and Mr. Young are rumoured to be rivals of sorts.
In a comment posted on Public Eye earlier today, provincial Young New Democrat co-chair Brianne Duhamel writes that socialist historian Syvlia Russell will not be speaking at the wing's annual convention. Meeting minutes leaked to Public Eye show the youth executive planned to invite her to that convention. And, according to an insider, Prof. Russell's attendance was discussed last Sunday, during an executive conference call. Ms. Duhamel also comments, "I can see why some would try to make an issue about a well-respected scholar of Russian Studies speaking to BC youth" - about the Soviet education system. So can we, especially when those youths are New Democrats. But, we're pretty sure Ms. Duhamel is just being sarcastic.
Yesterday, British Columbia Democratic Alliance leader Tom Morino announced his party was merging with three others to form the British Columbia Democratic Coalition (whose logo bears a strong resemblance to four intertwined Celtic pretzels). In a news release, the party claims "active negotiations are underway (to unite) with two other political parties, and preliminary discussions had (sic) been conducted with others." Leaving aside the issue of whether anyone actually cares whether the United Oak Bay Nosepickers' Club joins the coalition, Public Eye is left wondering just how many parties British Columbia actually has.
Well, here's the answer: according to a recent report released by Elections British Columbia our province has 42. By comparison, Alberta has the next largest number at 12. And most provinces have less than half of that. Which means, if Mr. Moronio really wanted to, virtually all of his time between now and the election could be spent uniting fringe partiies. But we're not sure that would be much of a vote-getter.
Insiders confirm the provincial New Democrat headquarters hive mind is planning on sending drone-leader Carole James on a cross-province healthcare "consultation" tour sometime this fall. Of course, the fact Ms. James will be doing a lot of listening but (likely) very little talking during that tour should come as a surprise to no one. After all, aside from her controversial plan to oulaw open-net fish farming, Ms. James seems to have avoided (to-date) taking a firm position on anything expect on the most motherhood of issues (such as bunnies are cute and anything the Liberals do is bad, bad, bad).
Public Eye has learned an internal notice was just sent out announcing finance deputy minister and political red-meat eater Paul Taylor has been been appointed the chief executive officer and president of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. That appointment comes three months after the Liberals are alleged to have fired former insurance corporation head Nick Geer for aggressively supporting public auto insurance. Earlier, Public Eye reported rumours, Mr. Geer's old job would be given to Mr. Taylor.
British Columbia Young New Democrat co-chair Mike Palecek (whose predecessor, Miriam Martin, is also his partner) has written a fascinating (read: very damaging) article on party leader Carole James. That article ran in this month's edition of L'Humanite, a magazine published by the New Democrats' very own communist cell (which goes by the same name). In it, Mr. Palecek accuses Ms. James of having come "to power without a platform. She said nothing concrete in her campaign for leader and clearly had no real plan for how to move forward."
"This is precisely why the party brass rallied around her and got her elected. Each of the four leading candidates represented a different section of the party...Carole James was an empty smile" - perhaps explaining the most recent Mustel Research Group Ltd. poll showing 55 percent of British Columbians remain undecided about Ms. James (a five percentage point jump since August).
Mr. Palecek, who is a regular contributor to L'Humanite (which was recently renamed Fightback), then goes on to ask "Why would the leaders of the labour movement and the NDP be so eager to back someone with no real political direction? It is all very simple. They wanted someone pliable. They needed a leader that they could control; that is, a leader that wouldn't lead. And this is precisely what they found in Carole James."
The Liberals couldn't have said it any better.
The communist revolution may not yet be underway in British Columbia. But the Young New Democrats are already planning out what will happen when it does. According to minutes taken during their August executive meeting, Okanagan University College socialist historian Sylvia Russell is being invited to speak at the Young New Democrat's annual convention (which is being held in Penticton between October 15 and 17). An insider tell us Prof. Russell's attendance was discussed last Sunday, during a youth executive conference call. And, evidently, the plan is to have her tell the little 'uns all about the Soviet education system - surely the model party leader Carole James plans on using should she ever become premier. The following is a copy of those leaked minutes.
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 09:38:08 -0700
From: Marion Hewitt-Pollock
To: Mike_Palecek@telus.net
Hey Mike, I can't email from my other email so I'm forwarding you the minutes. (I hate computers.)
-Marion
Minutes - August 29th, 2004
Present: Scott Hart, Mike Palecek, Marion Pollock, Breanne Duhammel, Sophie Isbister, Linsie Landa, Chris Palecek
On the phone: Jarrah Hodge, Allyson Roussy, John Barker
Guests: Elena Barbir, Jeff Dean, Thomas Hubert, Johny DeSilvera, Brent McVicker, Duc Tran.
1. Adoption of Agenda
Motion to adopt agenda m/s/c
2. Adoption of minutes from last meeting
Motion to postpone m/s/c
3. Elections
-Jarrah will phone a scrutineer separately
-Chris, Marion to scrutineer m/s/c
CO-CHAIR:
Mike Palecek and Brianne Duhammel acclaimed
PRIDE COORDINATOR
Brent McVicker acclaimed
UPPER ISLAND COORDINATOR
Vacant
ABORIGINAL COORDINATOR
Sarain Friedenberg acclaimed
KOOTENAY COORDINATOR
Vacant
VISIBLE MINORITY COORDINATOR
Duc Tran acclaimed
LABOUR COORDINATOR
Mathieu Poirier acclaimed
-Mike Palecek resigns as Lower Mainland co-ordinator
-Brianne Duhammel resigns as Interior co-ordinator
-Motion to accept Mike and Brianne's resignation m/s/c
Interim elections
LOWER MAINLAND COORDINATOR
Elena Barbir acclaimed
3. Convention
-Report from Breanne and discussion:
-Hostel has 18-20 beds with off-season rates
-Billets have 50-65 beds
-Elks Lodge in centre of town
-200 seats in theatre 150 with tables
-With kitchen costing $10/ hour and bar costing $100 per day
-OUC lecture hall seats 90 in theatre
-Penticton Mayor David Perry and Councillor McIver, Professor Sylvia Russel of OUC and Jack Layton and Carole James would be good to invite
-A protest school and election preparedness workshop
-Saturday Social
-Bar
-Restaurants
-Laser Tag
-Social at Elks Lodge
-Constituency Fundraiser
-YND fundraiser
-Charter bus costs between $1300-4500 for a 54 seating bus
-Mini-buses and carpooling
-Elks Lodge has a kitchen and Penticton has many grocery stores
-Leslie Kerr from provincial office will help with convention and will be
at convention as our organizer.
-Motion to give Thomas Hubert permission to speak m/s/c
-Marion to organize booking hotels/ hostels and report to steering committee m/s/c
-Executive to direct steering committee to meet to discuss convention between August 29th and September Convention m/s/c
-Mike to look into transportation and report to steering committee m/s/c
-Breanne to book Penticton Elks Lodge m/s/c
-Scott to invite Jack Layton and Carole James m/s/c
-Chris to organize meals and food m/s/c
-Delegate fees to be $10-100 sliding scale m/s/c
-Scott to organize a fundraiser in Victoria m/s/c
-Mike to organize an auction at Federal Council m/s/c
-Mike and Breanne to send a fundraising letter to Labour Movement m/s/c
-Theme to be "Bring Down Campbell" m/s/c
-Breanne to organize a social on Saturday October 16th m/s/c
-Marion to write agenda to be approved by executive m/s/c
-Breanne to email Marion with information about hotels/hostels
-Executive members to come up with at least one workshop idea and send to listserve
-Marion to work on registration form and with Provincial Office
4. Any other Business
Provincial Council Delegate and alternate elections
-Marion and Linsie to scrutineer m/s/c
COUNCIL DELEGATE: Brent McVicker
COUNCIL ALTERNATE: Chris Palecek
-Motion to destroy ballots m/s/c
UVic Clubsdays
-Motion to allow Jeff Dean to speak m/s/c
-Uvic wants to make a pamphlet for clubsdays
-Committee for clubsdays: Chris Palecek, Brent McVicker, Jeff Dean,
Marion Pollock, Mike Palecek m/s/c
YRC
-Motion to direct council delegates to vote for motion concerning YND
autonomy
at September Council m/s/c
University Model Parliament
-Allyson Roussy be reimbursed for UMP 2004-09-04 m/s/c
ADJOURN
Last night, the provincial Conservative executive delayed voting on a deal that could salvage an earlier proposal to merge with Unity - in part, because only 12 of its 23 members showed up for the conference call. Included among the absentees: president Bill Smith, whose presence is necessary, under party rules, for an official meeting of the executive. But, when council meets again on Thursday, it's unlikely the deal drafted by Unity communications director Blake Mackenzie will be approved as is. According to insiders, there are continuing constitutional concerns about a provision to have all Unity members automatically awarded Tory memberships.
Instead, we're told the executive will announce they're supporting the merger in principle but not (yet) in practice. Meanwhile, this weekend, Unity members will be asked during their annual general meeting to vote on a resolution calling for them to individually take out Conservative memberships. But there are some who are considering scrapping the merger idea entirely and simply rebranding Unity as the United Conservative Party.
Footnote: It's interesting to note the total number of Conservative executive members is more than half the number of people who showed up for the party's annual general meeting last Saturday.
News of the B.C. Alternative movement's untimely death has been greatly exaggerated. Tonight, at 8:00, the newly-elected provincial Conservative executive council will be voting via conference call on a resolution that could salvage an earlier proposal to merge with Unity. That proposal failed to be approved at the Conservative's annual general meeting, which was held on Saturday. Unlike the original agreement in principle, this new deal (which was drafted by Unity communications director Blake Mackenzie) won't officially merge the two parties. That change was considered, by some, to be a constitutional amendment which would need to voted on via a referendum of the party membership.
Instead, the merger will simply happen in practice by having all Unity members automatically awarded Conservative memberships (which was part of the original agreement anyway). The deal also does away with plans to have a joint council draft a new constitution and determine the united party's policies. Instead those decisions will be made at a special general meeting, held within 45 days of September 25.
The deal removes a promise to "protect BC's publicly owned assets, including BC Hydro, ICBC, Highways, our shared resources and our sovereign land base" as one of the Conservative's founding principles. And it commits the Tories to immediately make half of their party's director-level positions available to Unity members.
The following are copies of the new deal (which was leaked to Public Eye) and the original agreement in principle.
***
AGREEMENT-IN-PRINCIPLE BETWEEN THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CONSERVATIVE PARTY and THE BRITISH COLUMBIA UNITY PARTY (AMENDED)
1. Purpose of the Agreement
The purpose of this Agreement is to create a single provincial political party uniting the two existing parties into the British Columbia Conservative Party.
2. Name of the Party
The name of the party will be the British Columbia Conservative Party.
3. Membership
Upon ratification of this Agreement, all members of the BC Unity Party will automatically have their memberships transferred to the BC Conservative Party with their expiration date being the same as their current membership.
4. Guiding Principles for this Agreement
Following are 5 key guiding principles for this Agreement to be voted upon at a BC Conservative Party Special General Meeting:
1. BC First
The Party believes in serving BC and its citizens ahead of all other interests.
2. Free Enterprise/Fiscally Responsible
The Party believes in private enterprise and fiscal responsibility as the cornerstones of wealth creation and prosperity.
3. Social Conscience
The Party believes in a government that has compassion for the truly needy in society, including the disabled, the dispossessed, the sick and the elderly.
4. Democratic Accountability and Reform
The Party believes substantial reform of the political system is required to create political accountability and democratic renewal in BC.
5. Inclusive
The Party is an inclusive party that respects and welcomes all people from every background, and which seeks to find common ground on important social and political issues.
6. BC Conservative Party Executive and Board
BC Conservative Party Executive and Board will make available half the directors seats to make way to appoint 10 BC Unity Party board members to director positions. These directorships will be made available following an affirmed vote in favour of this agreement by the BC Unity Party membership on Saturday, September 25, 2004.
The BC Conservative Party Executive and Board will be responsible for:
* Carrying out such actions as are necessary to give effect to the Agreement
* Drafting a constitution, bylaws and a policy platform which is consistent with this Agreement and which will be subject to amendment at the Special General Meeting of the BC Conservative Party.
* Help with the transfer of current BC Unity Party Constituency Associations into BC Conservative Party Constituency Associations and the Establishment of new Constituency associations.
* Appointing an interim leader for the BC Conservative Party
* Determining rules for candidate recruitment
* Fundraising
* Organizing a leadership convention
6. Leadership Selection and Special General Meeting
The Leadership of the BC Conservative Party will be made vacant for a Leadership race. The BC Conservative Party Leadership will be decided on December 4, 2004.
A Special General Meeting will be called by the BC Conservative Party within 45 days of September 25, 2004.
The Special General Meeting to include;
*Adoption of a new/amended Constitution
*Adoption of Policy
*Election of a New BC Conservative Executive and Board of Directors.
7. Transfer of Assets
Upon ratification of this Agreement, all assets and liabilities of the BC Unity Party shall be transferred to the BC Conservative Party.
8. Ratification of Agreement
This Agreement must be ratified by both existing parties. The BC Unity Party will ratify by a mail ballot to be concluded by, or at, their AGM on September 25, 2004.
9. Nomination of Candidates
Neither existing party will permit nominations for the next general election until after ratification of this Agreement.
***
AGREEMENT-IN-PRINCIPLE BETWEEN THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CONSERVATIVE PARTY and THE BRITISH COLUMBIA UNITY PARTY
1. Purpose of the Agreement
The purpose of this Agreement is to create a single provincial political party uniting the two existing parties.
2. Name of the Party
The name of the party will be the British Columbia Conservative Party.
3. Membership
Upon ratification of this Agreement, all members of the BC Unity Party will automatically have their memberships transferred to the BC Conservative Party with their expiration date being the same as their current membership.
4. Founding Principles
Following are 5 key founding principles:
1. BC First
The Party believes in serving BC and its citizens ahead of all other interests. We will protect BC's publicly owned assets, including BC Hydro, ICBC, Highways, our shared resources and our sovereign land base.
2. Free Enterprise/Fiscally Responsible
The Party believes in private enterprise and fiscal responsibility as the cornerstones of wealth creation and prosperity.
3. Social Conscience
The Party believes in a government that has compassion for the truly needy in society, including the disabled, the dispossessed, the sick and the elderly.
4. Democratic Accountability and Reform
The Party believes substantial reform of the political system is required to create political accountability and democratic renewal in BC.
5. Inclusive
The Party is an inclusive party that respects and welcomes all people from every background, and which seeks to find common ground on important social and political issues.
5. Interim Joint Council
Each of the existing parties will appoint three individuals to an Interim Joint Council which will be responsible for:
* carrying out such actions as are necessary to give effect to the Agreement
* drafting a constitution, bylaws and a policy platform which is consistent with this Agreement and which will be subject to amendment at the first general meeting of the united party
* establishing Riding associations
* appointing an interim leader for the united party
* determining rules for candidate recruitment
* organizing a leadership convention coincidental with the first general meeting of the united party
6. Leadership Selection and First General Meeting
The leadership will be decided at the first general meeting on December 4, 2004. To be eligible to vote, a person must be a member in good standing of the Party by November 14, 2004. A preferential ballot will be used. Members may mail in their ballot or vote at the first general meeting.
7. Transfer of Assets
Upon ratification of this Agreement, all assets and liabilities of the BC Unity Party shall be transferred to the BC Conservative Party.
8. Ratification of Agreement
This Agreement must be ratified by both existing parties. The BC Conservative Party will ratify at their AGM on September 18, 2004. The BC Unity Party will ratify by a mail ballot to be concluded by, or at, their AGM on September 25, 2004.
9. Nomination of Candidates
Neither existing party will permit nominations for the next general election until after ratification of this Agreement.
The proxy war between CanWest Global Communications Corp. and CHUM Ltd. in Victoria is escalating. The first shot was fired when CHUM raided CH Television's newsroom, capturing anchor-thingy Hudson Mack and reporter Moira McLean. CanWest Global retaliated by announcing they wouldn't be participating in any community events sponsored by CFAX, which is now owned by CHUM. And now we've learned Times Colonist editor-in-chief Andrew Phillips has had to cancel CFAX broadcaster Joe Easingwood's column due to the deteriorating relationship between the two companies.
Ministry of Attorney General branch communication counsel Geoffrey Gaul confirmed his office will be releasing a media statement on the Doug Walls affair, possibly within the next 30 minutes. Special prosecutor Josiah Wood has been reviewing an RCMP recommendation to press criminal charges against Mr. Walls, who was forced to resign earlier this year as the head of multimillion dollar government agency. Those charges relate to serious allegations of fraud made against the former Prince George car dealer by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
Today, Public Eye reported in the Times Colonist that uber provincial Liberal backroom boy Pat Kinsella is denying two-year-old allegations he worked as a lobbyist for Alcan Inc. (among many other companies). One of those who could back-up that denial is former Competition, Science and Enterprise Minister Rick Thorpe, who previously had responsibility for the Alcan file.
But, when Terrace Standard writer Jeff Nagel originally asked the minister about those allegations, it looks like he dodged the question by saying, "Are we trying to talk here about the future of the northwest or are we just trying to cause conflict? I'm trying to bring people together to build a spirit of cooperation and partnership." As a result, Public Eye wanted to discuss this issue with him further. But, so far, Minister Thorpe hasn't returned repeated calls from Public Eye. According to ministry staff, he is currently away from the legislature and, therefore, evidently unreachable.
Openness and accountability were Liberal watchwords during the last provincial election. And, as part of keeping that commitment, the Campbell administration passed legislation requiring lobbyists to sign their names to a registry so everyone knows exactly who is trying to influence our elected representatives. But there are significant gaps in the legislation that have meant some of the most powerful movers and shakers in British Columbia aren't required to be on that registry. And no one is more representative of those gaps than hired political gun Pat Kinsella, the most influential Liberal backroom boy in the province, and aluminum giant Alcan Inc., one of his many clients.
Two years ago, Terrace Standard writer Jeff Nagel reported accusations Mr. Kinsella was lobbying to make sure the provincial government went along with Alcan's power export plans - plans which some say could mean job losses in northern B.C.
Mr. Kinsella's name isn't on the registry. But in a message left on Public Eye's answering machine, Mr. Kinsella explained he was, "in fact, registered. The number is 3LBY1068. And I am registered. I don't know where you got the idea that I wasn't."
But when we contacted lobbyist registrar Brenda Guiltner, who works out of the office of the information and privacy commissioner, she told us that number wasn't a lobbyist number at all. It was the password to a not-yet-activated lobbyist account - an online computer file lobbyists use to record which clients they're working for.
"If you contact him again you should tell him he doesn't appear on the list and maybe he should give me a call?" Ms. Guiltner said. "Because the act makes it against the law to lobby without being a registered lobbyist," with offenders facing the possibility of a $25,000 fine.
"It's fairly new," she said, referring to the need to register. "Some people who are new or out of province may not realize that because all provinces don't have a lobbyist registration."
But Mr. Kinsella has been working in British Columbia for quite some time. He was imported from Ontario by Social Credit Premier Bill Bennett as one of his top advisers. Mr. Kinsella surfaced again during the 2001 election as the provincial Liberals' campaign co-chair. And now Mr. Kinsella, who is also one of the party's key fundraisers, is co-chairing their 2005 re-election campaign, putting him in regular contact with Liberal elected officials.
So Public Eye contacted Mr. Kinsella again. This time he told us he hadn't activated his account because, "I don't consider myself a lobbyist. I hold myself up as a communications consultant. I don't do any lobbying. They don't need me to pick up a phone and talk to the provincial government or any members of the provincial government. I make it very clear to my clients that I don't do that."
When asked directly whether he ever talks about his clients with cabinet ministers and their staffers he said "Absolutely not. That's an understanding that I have...I suspect there's no one in government who would say they've ever been lobbied by me."
One could also add Mr. Kinsella's power within the Liberals is such that he doesn't need to meet with ministers directly anyway. We're told that the very fact Mr. Kinsella's name is associated with a company is enough to influence government policy and legislation.
But, even if he hasn't been meeting with cabinet ministers and staffers - which would make him a lobbyist and therefore required to register - there's no way the lobbyist registry could verify that. The registry has an annual budget of $97,000. None of that money goes toward enforcing the legislation. That means the registry operates on an honour system. Government is trusting lobbyists to shine a light on themselves.
Mary Carlson, the information and privacy commissioner's policy and compliance director, says her office can look into complaints that someone who isn't on the registry should be listed. But Ms. Carlson says that type of investigation, of which there has been only one to date, usually involves simply contacting the individual and asking why they haven't registered.
That isn't the only problem with the registry, though. If Mr. Kinsella isn't lobbying for Alcan, who is? After all, the company isn't on the list. And the District of Kitimat, which has been opposing Alcan's power export plans, is.
When we put that question to Richard Prokopanko, Alcan's director of corporate affairs in British Columbia, he explained that under government policy a person doesn't have to register unless at least 20 per cent of his work each month involves lobbying. And because no one at Alcan does that work (it's divided among several people), the company doesn't have to register.
In addition, according to Ms. Carlson, unpaid lobbyists aren't required to register either. And she says, "A lot of people can lobby the government who are very, very powerful and not paid to do it." Despite the existence of these loopholes, though, Ms. Carlson says she isn't aware of any plans to close them. And government says that's because no one has complained about how the registry works, noting the New Democrats didn't even have such a system in place. So, to their way of thinking, progress has been made.
But the way the registry currently works makes the Liberals look like they aren't serious about letting us know which of their friends is trying to influence them. So, consider this a complaint.
Credit where credit is due: A slightly shorter version of this article ran in today's Times Colonist.
Your voice mailbox is full - and has been for the past week, ever since Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm released edited copies of the legislative raid search warrants. You probably already know that though. However, we'd really like to ask you why your name is in those warrants. Of course, we know being named in a search warrant doesn't mean you've been involved in any kind of wrongdoing. And we realize police have repeatedly said only former ministerial assistants David Basi and Bob Virk are under investigation. But, according to the warrants, it's alleged "Basi is believed to have offered, delivered or caused to have been delivered government documents to Clark." And there's probably quite a few people wondering about that allegation. You might also be interested to know the police identify you as being a major fundraiser for Prime Minister Paul Martin. If you'd like to talk to Public Eye about this matter, please feel free to get a hold of us at (250) 598-9792.
Yesterday, Children and Family Development Minister Christy Clark resigned her cabinet position and announced she wouldn't be seeking re-election. In a scrum, which could have been - at times - entitled a sentimental journey, reporters asked her about the reasons for that decision. The following is a rush transcript of that scrum (which would have been available a lot sooner, were it not for Public Eye's more pressing Times Colonist column deadline).
Media Christy - I'm going to ask the obvious question: how hard was this decision for you to make?
Minister Clark It was a really difficult decision. I've been involved in politics for all my life. And I was a volunteer for most of it. I got first elected in 1996. So I struggled with it for a long-time. But I need to give my riding association and my party the time to be able to select a candidate and be able to put together a really good campaign in Port Moody-Westwood. My riding association annual general meeting is tonight. So I needed to be able to tell them tonight that I'm not seeking another term as their candidate.
Media Do you envision still making a return to politics at some point?
Minister Clark Well, in B.C. politics, nobody ever really goes away do they? So, I don't...
Media Well that's good sometimes...
Minister Clark I don't plan on it. I don't have any plans for that at the moment. My focus is my family. I want to make sure I have enough time for them.
Media What was the premier's reaction?
Minister Clark Well, I think the premier is disappointed. He thanked me very much for the service that I put in. And he told me he really appreciated it. But, you know, life is going to go on for him and the government. And I'm going to continue to work as a private member to make sure we're successful. And I'm going to work on the hustings wherever anybody needs me to make sure we can elect as many B.C. Liberal MLAs in the next election as possible.
Media Do you not feel you've left them in the lurch? You're deputy premier, education minister...?
Minister Clark We're seven months before the next provincial election. They need time to choose a candidate. And so I think making sure everybody had time to plan and to get ready for the inevitability of having another candidate is really the best thing to do.
Media Was your decision in any way linked to the legislature raids - that issue that your hursband and your brother have been involved with? Was there an exasperation because of that that helped fuel your decision?
Minister Clark No. If I had any sense that anyone in my family had been implicated in this, I would have resigned in January. But there's no reason to think anyone was implicated. And I think recent news has probably clarified for us that this story was probably a lot more limited that certainly initial speculation indicated.
Media Well, that's true. And the police certainly aren't investigating your family. But I'm wondering if that had any effect on you. Sort of the effect we've heard around here is we don't need this kind of stuff in elected office. Did you feel that? Because you were certainly under the spotlight and your family was under a spotlight for quite a while.
Minister Clark No. You know, sure it was a very difficult time. It's been a difficult time. And we all wish it certainly hadn't happened. But I've seen a lot of difficult times in politics. And I've been through a lot of discussion and heated debate. And I've certainly been asked a lot of tough questions. So no - that didn't contribute to it. The issue really is an issue of time at the moment for my family. And my family needs more of me than I've been able to give them.
Media Is it a tough fit - family life and politics? And people are going to look at you as one of the most prominent women in B.C. politics and look at the fit between your life as a woman and being in politics.
Minister Clark Well, I did it for eight years. I did it for three years as a mother. And I've done it for three-and-a-half years in cabinet. So, it can be done. And every family is different. So different families will have children of different ages. They may have extended family support. I mean, everybody's got a different environment that they live in. So all I can speak to is mine. And my life at the moment requires me to spend more time with my family.
Media Christy - everybody will look for political reasons behind this, when somebody of your profile decides to packs it in. I mean you're kind of there in terms of the political ladder. You're a senior minister in a government that's likely to be re-elected. So people might search for some political reasons behind this. Are there any?
Minister Clark This is a personal decision. It's not a political one.
Media Christy - in the last election you were the election co-chair for the Liberals along with Mr. Kinsella. I understand this year, Gary Collins is the co-chair along with Patrick Kinsella. When were you informed that you would not be in that role?
Minister Clark I told the premier I would not be in that role in January when he appointed me to this job. Because, when I agreed to take on what, I think, is the most demanding ministry in government I said, "Look, I can do it. But I can't do it if I don't lighten the load on all the rest of the responsibilities I have." So, we talked about the fact that I wouldn't be able to do a whole lot of the other things he's relied on me to do in the past because I really had to focus on this job. And I'm proud of what we've accomplished in the last nine, ten months in this ministry. I mean, it's been on an even keel. The planning work that we're doing on childcare has really been coming together very quickly. I met with Ken Dryden a couple days ago. And I think we're going to have a federal deal very, very soon. Which will mean we're going to be able to improve childcare for kids, for example.
Media This is a ministry that not a lot of people look forward to. It's nobody's first choice. If you were in another ministry do you think you would have made the same kind of decision you made today?
Minister Clark Probably not. All ministries are demanding. It's hard to say though. It is hard to say because this is the most demanding ministry in government.
Media If you were still education minister thou