This morning, Vancouver Sun letter writers applauded the provincial New Democrat's by-election win on the newspaper's editorial page. According to Rupinder Kang, the victory "just goes to prove that despite the hundreds of thousands of dollars the provincial government spends on its television ads...British Columbians won't forget the damage this government has done to our province." And Nancy Clegg slammed Liberal whip Kevin Krueger for saying, "'I guess bad things can happen to good people.' Does Krueger really believe that the majority of residents who voted in the byelection did a bad thing by participating in the democratic process?"

But what Sun readers may not realize - because the newspaper didn't tell them - is that those letter writers aren't ordinary British Columbians. They're partisan hacks. Ms. Kang is the director of client relations for NOW Communications Inc., a public relations firm with connections to the New Democrats. She also previously worked as a special assistant to Advanced Education, Training, Technology and Intergovernmental Relations Minister Andrew Petter and was a member of Premier Glen Clark's youth office. As for Ms. Clegg, she ran as the New Democrat's candidate in Newton-North Delta, during last federal election. And she's president of the Kwantlen Faculty Association, which organized a demonstration last February to protest provincial budget cuts.

Brian Bonney, a backroom boy and failed municipal politician who has history of playing hardball politics, has been working for the past year as a provincial Liberal field organizer, Public Eye has learned. During a brief phone conservation, Mr. Bonney confirmed he was receiving a honorarium from the party to advise riding associations on a part-time basis. But he refused to answer further questions about his background or his involvement with the Liberals. But that's okay, because the newspapers and party insiders have more than enough to say about him.

According to those sources, Mr. Bonney first made headlines in July 1995 as the media liaison to one of the women who accused New Democrat cabinet minister Robin Blencoe of sexual harassment. At the time, Mr. Bonney, who had made an unsuccessful bid for the Liberal nomination in Port Moody-Burnaby Mountain one month earlier, admitted he was politically involved but refused to name which party or organization he belonged to. Minister Blencoe later resigned over those and other allegations.

Mr. Bonney did some more mudslinging seven years later when he ran as TEAM Burnaby's mayoral candidate against Derek Corrigan, who belongs to the New Democrat-connected Burnaby Citizens Coalition. During that campaign, Mr. Bonney claimed the coalition-dominated city council rejected a contract bid from Brinkman and Associates Reforestation Ltd. because the company's owner, Dirk Brinkman, is married to Management Services Minister Joyce Murray.

Mr. Corrigan responded to those allegations by accusing Mr. Bonney of using negative publicity to promote his election bid. He added councillors were "just not involved in the (bid selection) process like what's been suggested here." But that wasn't the only trick Mr. Bonney had up his sleeve.

He also partially paid for a half-page advertisement in Burnaby Now claiming Mr. Corrigan lost his job as chairman of British Columbia Transit for mishandling the agency's finances. Mr. Bonney was later forced to apologize for making that claim, which the advertisement identified as coming from "concerned residents," to avoid a libel suit in British Columbia Supreme Court.

And, to make matters worse for Mr. Bonney, the ad didn't seem to have much effect on the election result. Mr. Corrigan defeated him by 5,230 votes - adding another loss to his 0-3 election record. In 1993, Mr. Bonney ran unsuccessfully for city council as a candidate for the Burnaby Voters Association, TEAM Burnaby's predecessor.

Mr. Bonney is also friends with Burquitlam backbencher Harry Bloy, having managed his 2001 election campaign. Two years ago, Mr. Bloy introduced him in the legislature as one of Burnaby's "local heroes." And, in 2003, he presented Mr. Bonney the Queens Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal for his volunteer service with Scouts Canada, the Rotary Club and the Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education. Mr. Bonney, an advocate for traditional schools, is known for showing up at Burnaby council meetings wearing his scoutmaster uniform.

The provincial Liberals took a gamble by betting big on the Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election. So it seems only appropriate that the party's election day manager was Jacee Schaefer, the former vice-president of intergovernmental and media relations for the largest casino operator in British Columbia - Great Canadian Gaming Corp. As the president of the Casino Management Council of British Columbia, Ms. Schaefer was also one of the big movers and shakers behind gambling expansion in this province. But her place among right-wing cogs and wheels is equally prominent.

Ms. Schaefer became involved with Social Credit in 1975, having articled with Rafe Mair's Kamloops law firm and worked on his campaign. She also volunteered for the party during the city's 1981 by-election, which saw Claude Richmond elected to the legislature. That made her one of Socred dark prince Bud Smith's many devotees, which included future Liberal executive director Kelly Reichert and Greg Lyle. In 1988, Ms. Schaefer went to campaign for Conservative Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon, along with Mr. Lyle. The two re-emerged on the British Columbia political scene seven years later during the Abbotsford by-election, with Mr. Lyle being the Liberal's chief strategist and and Ms. Schaefer responsible for election day operations - the same jobs they'd do during the 1996 provincial election.

In a 1997 interview with Vancouver Sun staffer John MacKie, Ms. Schaefer said she considered Patrick Kinsella, one of Socred Premier Bill Bennett's chief advisors and now the most influential Liberal backroom boy in the British Columbia, to be her political mentor. Mr. Kinsella, who is friends with Mr. Smith and has been a consultant for Great Canadian Casino, was also on hand for the Surrey by-election last night. He is the Liberal's 2005 re-election campaign co-chair.

This old but good news: on Wednesday evening, Public Eye and a team of Times Colonist staffers received the Jack Webster award for best news reporting of the year. But there're a number of others who deserve credit for this win - most importantly, everyone who spoke to Public Eye on and off the record about the Doug Walls affair. Without you, this story would have never come out. Former Province legislative bureau chief Barbara McLintock should also be given her own award - for translating Public Eye's research into readable copy and being an absolute angel. And a big thanks to Public Eye's kitchen cabinet/editorial board/psychiatric team. You know who you are.

Tomorrow, the Jack Webster Foundation will be handing out the top journalism awards in British Columbia at the Westin Bayshore Resort and Marina. Public Eye and a team of Times Colonist staffers, including Lindsay Kines, Les Leyne, Judith Lavoie, Jody Paterson and Jeff Rud, are finalists in the best news reporting of the year category for our coverage of the Doug Walls affair. Public Eye's attendance at the Webster awards means we won't be posting stories until Friday.

Following a five month investigation, Public Eye revealed Mr. Walls, a Liberal insider, had been put in charge of a multi-million dollar government agency - even though senior staff were aware serious allegations of fraud had been made against the former Prince George car dealer. The investigation also revealed government wrote off a $484,939 bill owed by a consulting group run by Mr. Walls, Premier Gordon Campbell's cousin-in-law. It resulted in the resignation of Children and Family Development Minister Gordon Hogg and the firing of his deputy Chris Haynes. Mr. Walls also resigned.

Three prominent gay community leaders are criticizing government backbencher Lorne Mayencourt's attendance at a fundraiser for Liberal by-election candidate Mary Polak - one of several Surrey school trustees who supported a ban on books depicting same-sex parents. But Mr. Mayencourt, who was recently listed as one of Vancouver's 25 most interesting and influential gay citizens by Vancouver Magazine, dismissed that criticism, saying he didn't hold Ms. Polak responsible for the ban.

In an interview, Little Sisters Book Store owner Jim Deva told us he found it "offensive" Mr. Mayencourt attended the fundraiser. But, "it's been par for the course for his entire term. He's never really stood up and defended gay and lesbian people in the house."

Vancouver lawyer Barbara Findlay agreed saying, "There was absolutely no need for him to be there. It was entirely a matter of choice. And he chooses (to attend the event) presumably because that will advance his own political fortunes. But it will be at the cost of the fortunes of the queer community he purports to represent."

And James Chamberlain, the teacher who sued the Surrey school board over their refusal to approve the use of three children's books depicting same-sex relationships in kindergarten and grade one classrooms, was also critical. "That fact that he's supporting Mary Polak's campaign is really disturbing to me because Mary Polak has been quite vocal in her opposition to equality for gay and lesbian people."

But Mr. Mayencourt has a different opinion of Ms. Polak. The Vancouver-Burrard MLA told us Ms. Polak supported the ban because, "She was acting as a responsible chairperson (for the school board). She had to respect the views of her fellow trustees. And she had to find a way of bringing them around to the notion of accepting equality and demystifying same-gender marriages. And she did that." So there's no reason why he shouldn't have attended the fundraiser.

Federal Conservative Gary Mitchell, a gay politician who ran unsuccessfully in Vancouver Centre during the last election, added "I find the word offensive, offensive," referring to Mr. Deva's comment. "I am so tired of special interest groups claiming that, unless their elected officials are single-minded in their deliverance of policy and issues, they're not doing enough - no matter whether it's the gay community or another community."

Mr. Mitchell then went onto add "Certain members of the gay community are out for Lorne's blood...He's been mistreated a lot. And this is another stab at him to boost the election chances of Tim Stevenson," the Vancouver city councillor who will likely be running against Mr. Mayencourt in the next provincial election. But he also made it clear Mr. Diva's criticism has nothing to do with partisan politics.

Mr. Mayencourt also pointed out the Surrey school district is the only one in British Columbia offering student books about same-sex marriages. The district added those books to its reading list when the Supreme Court of Canada ruled trustees didn't have the right to ban them on religious grounds. The case cost the district more than $1 million.

Mr. Mayencourt has won some victories for the gay community since being elected. Last year, he was instrumental in arranging a $100,000 grant for Youthquest, British Columbia's queer youth services organization. And this year, he managed to get them a cheque for another $35,000. But members of the community were disappointed when Mr. Mayencourt's safe schools task force failed to make any recommendations on how to protect queer students from bullying.

Mr. Mayencourt says he got to know Ms. Polak over the past year and a half because she was, "a very important player" in the task force. "And she was very supportive of the work I was doing on that. And I admire her."

Rumour has it the fall sitting of the British Columbia legislature could adjourn either today or tomorrow. The sitting, which began on October 4, had been scheduled to recess on November 25. But a lack of government business could prompt an early end to the fun and excitement of legislative politics - assuming the New Democrats don't drag the session out.

Earlier today, Green leader Adriane Carr came out with a news release condemning the citizens' assembly for supporting a single transferable vote electoral system. According to that release, Ms. Carr will now "fight on for a fair, true proportional representation voting system where as many peoples' votes count as possible and election outcomes represent the will of the voters in terms of parties receiving a share of seats in the legislature equal to their share of vote." But Ms. Carr hasn't always been an enemy of the assembly. The following collection of quotes show her sudden change of heart.

"I'm pleased with the details of the process outlined in the backgrounders to Premier Campbell's press release announcing the formation of a Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform yesterday. This is a good start for getting democracy re-established in BC." - Green Party news release, April 29, 2003

"I sent out a press release giving (Premier Gordon Campbell) two thumbs up. This is the most exciting thing to come along in B.C. in a very long time. I don't think his caucus is anywhere near as committed as he is, but he's making it a go." - Vancouver Sun, May 10, 2003

"It's the only thing I give the Liberals two thumbs up for." - The Daily Townsman (Cranbrook), November 27, 2003

"I had such high hopes and I'm so disappointed. I think the Assembly went off-track when it was told that it didn't have to listen to the public input it received. Eighty percent of the over 2,000 submissions during the May to August public input phase of the Assembly recommended a Proportional Representation system, with most of them specifically asking for Mixed Proportional Representation." - Green Party news release, October 24, 2004

Ms. Carr has been a strong supporter of the mixed member proportional representation system rejected by the citizens' assembly. Today is the first time she's publicly criticized the group. It is also interesting to note assembly member Allan McKinnon said in July it looked to him as if 400 of the 1,000 public submissions were the result of a "concerted effort" by the Greens to influence the citizens' assembly. Ms. Carr denied those allegations.

Want to see the New Democrats win the next provincial election? If you answered yes, prepare to be disappointed. Because if the left's attempts to make sure party founder Tommy Douglas wins CBC's Greatest Canadian contest are any indication of their organizational skill and daring, the Liberals have absolutely nothing to fear.

The plan was simple and admirable enough: Vancouver and District Labour Council executive assistant Keziah Rothlin sent an email to the council's mailing list encouraging fellow travellers to cast their ballots via telephone or the Internet for Mr. Douglas - one of 10 Canadians we can vote for. And that's when the trouble started.

Vancouver city councillor Anne Roberts, who belongs to the left-leaning and sometimes New Democrat-allied Coalition of Progressive Electors civic party, sent an email to the district council's mailing list informing them that, "much as I admire Tommy Douglas, I'm not voting in a competition that doesn't include one woman among the Top 10 Greatest Canadians. I think that by voting you legitimize the contest. Instead, let's all register our outrage to the CBC that women got left off the list. And any visible minorities or aboriginal people."

(Ms. Roberts was later told uber-environmentalist David Suzuki, a Japanese-Canadian, was on that list. She apologized for missing him.)

Then fellow coalition councillor Ellen Woodsworth chimed in with her thoughts on the matter. Evidently, she thinks, the CBC "should be faced with a class action suit" for running a competition that's biased against women and minorities whose result can be manipulated by anyone with a computer. Ms. Woodsworth went on to add: "I thought progressive men were challenging the patriarchy and progressive whites were challenging racism but looks like here as in other aspects of society we are sliding backwards at great speed."

So let's get this straight: Lefties are refusing to vote for Mr. Douglas, the New Democrats' dear leader, in the Great Canadian poll because women (and, evidently, visible minorities) aren't on the ballot - a ballot whose composition was determined after the CBC tallied 140,000 ballots cast during an earlier online competition.

What an amazingly brilliant election strategy! And, oh how principled! A lot of people are going to notice how many lefties didn't vote in this online election just to spite the CBC. What a powerful statement!

And one that Mr. Douglas evidently would agree with. In an e-mail supporting Woodsworth and Roberts' position, retired union activist Sharon Yandle writes that, if the New Democrat founder were alive today, "he would, like many progressive men we know, side with those who are not prepared to remain silent while women are written out of history and society." Forget about winning the damn vote. It's the principle that's important.

And that's why the New Democrats stand very little chance of defeating the Liberals in the next election. Politics, sadly, isn't about principles - even if those principles are admirable. It's about winning elections so you can put your principles into practice - or, better yet, just run government well (because that's what most of us really want). And if the lefties are so dogmatic that that they can't put aside their convictions long enough to make sure Mr. Douglas - the father of public health care - is elected in a stupid online poll, it's hard to see how they're even capable of forming a government.

Footnote: Right-wing Internet activists are chronically annoyed at the CBC. But this Greatest Canadian competition has really got them riled up - largely because former prime minister Pierre Trudeau made the top 10 list. So they have come up with a slightly more productive way of spoiling their ballots. There seems to be a consensus developing on conservative message boards that the right should vote for Don Cherry. After all, there are probably few things that would annoy the CBC's Liberal-leaning, brie-eating, wine-tasting executives more than having a politically incorrect hockey commentator become the Greatest Canadian. Now those are good tactics! The following are copies of the emails referenced in this coumn.

Credit where credit is due: A version of this article ran in today's Times Colonist.

***

-----Original Message-----
From: VDLC
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 3:22 PM
Subject: Vote for The Greatest Canadian
The CBC is running a contest to decide which of ten finalists is the 'Greatest Canadian' of them all. http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/

You register on the site (it's short) then you vote by email on Monday.

The candidates:

Frederick Banting
Alexander Graham Bell
Don Cherry
Tommy Douglas
Terry Fox
Wayne Gretzky
Sir John A. Macdonald
Lester B. Pearson
David Suzuki
Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Let's all vote for Tommy!!!

Don't delay - do it now. And pass this on to other e-mail groups who will support the greatest Canadian ever - Tommy Douglas.
(CBC's website attached)
_______________________________
Keziah McCrystal Rothlin, Executive Asst.
Vancouver and District Labour Council
#140 - 111 Victoria Drive
Vancouver, BC V5L 4C4

kmr
cope15

-----Original Message-----
From: Roberts, Anne
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 4:37 PM
Subject: RE: Vote for The Greatest Canadian

Much as I admire Tommy Douglas, I'm not voting in a competition that doesn't include one woman among the Top 10 Greatest Canadians. I think that by voting, you legitimize the contest. Instead, let's all register our outrage to the CBC that women got left off the list. And any visible minorities or aboriginal people. Let's challenge the very notion of greatness being endorsed by this contest. After all, greatness is being defined mostly in terms of their wealth, power, and fame. It's terrible that only white guys are thought to be great!

Regards,
Anne Roberts
Councillor, City of Vancouver

-----Original Message-----
From: Roberts, Anne
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 5:56 PM
Subject: RE: Vote for The Greatest Canadian

Several have pointed out that I got a little carried away when I described the entire top 10 as "white guys." Quite right. My apologies. Though I think both David Suzuki and Tommy Douglas are great, my criticism still stands about this contest. Shouldn't we all be concerned about perpetuating an idea of "greatness" that doesn't include women?

Regards,
Anne

-----Original Message-----
From: Woodsworth, Ellen
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 8:16 PM
Subject: RE: Vote for The Greatest Canadian?

Why don't we rename it what it is? The ten most famous men in Canadian history and stop pretending they are the Greatest Canadians or even the Greatest men. I wouldn't even insult Tommy Douglas by putting him in the same category as Don Cherry. This contest is designed to exclude greats. If you tuned into Rick Cluff this morning Judy Rebick gave a great rebuttle. She reminded us that they tried this model in South Africa and had to cancel the show because three of the top candidates were with the DeClerk government.

Frankly I think that the CBC should be faced with a class action suit for using our money to host a biased program that can be manipulated by anyone with a good computer and calling it Canada's Greatest. I thought progressive men were challenging the patriarchy and progressive whites were challenging racism but looks like here as in other aspects of society we are sliding backwards at great speed.

You can do what you want with your vote but I would ask everyone to call, email and write the CRTC and CBC to challenge this contest.

Ellen Woodsworth

Sincerely,
Ellen Woodsworth
Vancouver City Councillor

----Original Message-----
From: Sharon Yandle
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 8:54 PM
Subject: RE: Vote for The Greatest Canadian

Tommy Douglas was in many respects a visionary. I have no doubt that were he alive today he would, like many progressive men we know, side with those who are not prepared to remain silent while women are written out of history and society. I associate myself completely with Anne's concerns - and I think Tommy would, too.

In solidarity and sisterhood,
Sharon

Today the citizens' assembly recommended a single transferable vote electoral system for British Columbia. Under that system, when voters go to the polls, they'll be handed a list of local candidate whom they'll rank in order of preference. Then, depending on the size of the riding, the top three to seven will be sent to the legislature - with metropolitan ones receiving more members those in rural areas. But, even though the single transferable vote system is a favourite among political scientists worldwide, the citizens assembly's recommendation may not sit well with the people who run Fair Vote Canada.

Back in September, a five-member committee of local Fair Vote Canada members - including Stephen Broscoe, Karen Etheridge, Bruce Hallsor, Steven Philips and Julian West - put together a presentation for the assembly endorsing a single transferable vote system. One reason (among many): the system increases the chances mavericks will make it to the legislature. After all, if British Columbians can vote for more than one person, there's a greater chance they'll be willing to take a chance on an independent.

That presentation was nixed and changed by Fair Vote Canada's 15-member national council, obstinately because the organization isn't supposed to favour one electoral system over another. But there was other reason why the council didn't want Mr. Hallsor, their vice-president, to endorse single transferable vote.

The organization's president Doris Anderson, the former editor of Chatelaine, personally favours a mixed member proportional representation system because she feels it's better for women. Under that system, British Columbians would vote twice: once for a local representative and a second time for their favourite party. Those parties would then be awarded a number of seats based on their share of the vote. And the bums filling those seats would most likely be chosen from a party list. That means public pressure could be brought to bear to ensure an equal number of men to women make it onto those lists - essentially creating a quota system. Kind of clever, eh?

But it also explains why, in a news release today, Green leader Adriane Carr condemned the citizens' assembly recommendation, saying she would be "contacting people like Doris Anderson, founder of Fair Vote Canada and a leader in the womens' movement" to fight against that proposal.

Incidentally, Ms. Carr seems to be one of Ms. Anderson's biggest fans. Her favourite magazine is Chatelaine. And Ms. Carr told us she recently finished reading Ms. Anderson's autobiography, Rebel Daughter.

Yesterday, Public Eye reported rumours the provincial New Democrat big brains are thinking about running former Toronto Dominion Bank Securities Inc. chief economist Paul Summerville in Saanich North and the Islands. But today another whisper about Mr. Summerville has surfaced on Babble, a message board frequented by lefties. According to one anonymous poster, the would-be (if the party lets him) star candidate "is not running. He's pledged his support to the NDP candidates on southern Vancouver Island. Carole James said she if the NDP wins, she would like to put in place a 'council of economic advisors.' Just my guess, but Summerville would probably head it up." But when Public Eye asked local party insiders about that rumour, they said no firm decision about Mr. Summerville's future had been made.

Public Eye has learned the provincial Liberal's lead Indo-Canadian organizer in Surrey-Panorama Ridge Sukh Dhaliwal left the country yesterday, just six days before voters in that riding go to the polls. An insider told us the departure took by-election campaign manager Chris Gardner by surprise. But, in an interview earlier today, Mr. Gardner said he has known Mr. Dhaliwal would be going on vacation for the past three or four weeks.

He explained Mr. Dhaliwal, who ran as the federal Liberal candidate in Newton North Delta during the last election, has been "campaigning for a year. He started putting together his nomination bid in August of last year. He signed up 9,000 members himself. He won the nomination in February. Then he was effectively in the pre-writ period. And the federal election was in June. So the burnout factor (for him) was very high" - which is why he went on vacation.

Mr. Gardner added Mr. Dhaliwal's departure wouldn't impact the campaign, since his six lieutenants are still on the job. When asked where Mr. Dhaliwal had jetted off to, Mr. Gardner said "I know there was some talk of him going to India or China - doing both trips. I don't know what the final outcome of that was."

Mr. Dhaliwal, a professional engineer who runs Dhaliwal and Associates Land Surveying Inc., is an active member of the Surrey Chamber of Commerce and has a close relationship with city manager Umendra Mital. Mr. Dhaliwal seconded Liberal by-election candidate Mary Polak's nomination. Her campaign is currently operating out of Mr. Dhaliwal's office, in a building he partially owns.

Mr. Dhaliwal first made headlines in September 1999 when Vancouver Sun staffer Harold Munro reported he signed up 2,600 new Surrey Electors Team members, effectively seizing control of the right-wing civic party's nomination process. His takeover prompted team member and Surrey city councillor Edmund Caissie to announce he wouldn't be running again.

One month later, Mr. Dhaliwal's own political career took a tumble. His bid to become a Surrey city councillor failed after his support in the Indo-Canadian community collapsed. Mr. Munro cited sources who said, "some moderate Sikhs soured on Dhaliwal for perceived ties to fundamentalist Sikhs." Province staffer Jason Proctor also reported Mr. Dhaliwal's candidacy was hurt by an aggressive smear campaign.

At the time, Surrey Electors Team campaign manager and now Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon said such campaigns were "par for the course in a divided community that takes its politics very seriously."

The Berlin Wall has fallen! Last weekend, the provincial Young New Democrats took a half-step towards capitalism, electing Marion Pollock and Ryan Stewart as their co-chairs. Ms. Pollock and Mr. Stewart are considered somewhat more moderate than their predecessors Mike Palecek and Brianne Duhamel. Marion is the daughter of Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada senior staffer Kim Pollock and New Democrat treasurer Cheryl Hewitt. Mr. Stewart was a constituency assistant to Vancouver-Mount Pleasant MLA Jenny Kwan before going on to do contract work for Vancouver East MP Libby Davies and Vancouver-Hastings nomination hopeful Raj Sihota among others. He is currently an organizer for Surrey-Panorama Ridge New Democrat by-election candidate Jagrup Brar.

In September, Public Eye incorrectly reported Brian Archer was co-chair of the federal Conservative election campaign in British Columbia. The co-chairs for that campaign were Vancouver lawyer Ed Odishaw and development consultant Bob Ransford. Mr. Odishaw resigned that position following revelations he had been convicted for income tax offences. He is appealing the conviction, which is also being investigated by the British Columbia Law Society.

Earlier, Public Eye reported the provincial New Democrats have been having trouble clearing a riding for Toronto Dominion Securities Inc. chief economist Paul Summerville to run in. However, rumour has it the party generals are now considering parachuting Mr. Summerville into Saanich North and the Islands, which is currently occupied by Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray Coell. But Mr. Summerville might not necessarily take that assignment/suicide mission. After all, that riding has never been won by the New Democrats.

Last weekend, British Columbia's Young New Democrats gathered in Penticton to debate the heady issues of global, federal and provincial politics. According to meeting minutes leaked to Public Eye, the revolutionary vanguard passed resolutions endorsing the Hands of Venezuela campaign and exiled Haitian Prime Minister Jean Bertrand Aristide's return to power. Take that evil dictators and running dog capitalists! Tremble in fear at the wrath of the Young New Democrats!

Other resolutions called for the repeal top income bracket tax cuts, a moratorium on further development in community watersheds and the elimination of the significant projects streamlining act. But there was also an intense discussion of more mundane matters.

The Young New Democrats introduced a resolution banishing the presence of Sytrofoam at their events. But, at the last minute, cooler heads realized paper replacements and reusable dishware might not always be available. So amendments were passed allowing the use of Styrofoam and plastic but only "as a last resort." The following is a copy of those leaked minutes.

***

YND Convention Minutes - Penticton - October 16 and 17

Saturday, October 16

Call to Order 8:45 am

M/S/C to move adoption of the agenda until after the Orders of the Day

Orders of the Day - Carole James

Adoption of the Agenda:

M/S/defeated to amend the agenda to move workshop on the Youth
Rights Charter until after elections on Sunday

M/S/C to provide an informal environmental caucus on Sunday at 12:00
pm

M/S/C to thank the Okanagan people for their land at 9:45 on Saturday

M/S/C adoption of the agenda

M/S/C to recognize Okanagan people's territory and to thank them for use of
their land

Orders of the Day - Mayor David Perry

M/S/C to elect Jarrah Hodge as Convention Recorder

M/S/C election of Scott Hart and Miriam Martin as harassment officers

YND Executive Reports

- Submitted by all those executive members unable to report to a caucus.

Policy Resolutions

M/S/C therefore be it resolved that the BC Young New Democrats endorse the Hands Off Venezuela Campaign

M/S/C therefore be it resolved that the following regulations become policy
for BCYND leadership campaigns:

Any member of the BC Young New Democrats may officially declare their candidacy for the Co-Chair position on the BCYND executive after the first convention call by completing the BCYND Leadership Declaration form attached and submitting to BCNDP provincial office and any member of the BCYND steering committee.

Once declared and subject to Elections BC regulations, privacy legislation, BC NDP policy, BCYND policy, and in consultation with the communications committee as per bylaw II in the BCYND constitution a candidate may obtain a membership list of the BC Young New Democrats from the BC NDP provincial office for campaigning purposes only.

M/S/ therefore be it resolved that the next NDP government repeal the tax cut for the top income bracket.

M/S/C amend to read “that the BCYND call on the next NDP government to repeal the tax cut for the top income bracket at the next Provincial Council meeting.

M/S/C therefore be it resolved that the BCYND call on the next NDP government to repeal the tax cut for the top income bracket at the next Provincial Council meeting

M/S/C therefore be it resolved that updated membership lists will be sent
to Regional Coordinators quarterly; and

Be it further resolved that the membership secretary shall follow-up to
ensure all Regional Coordinators have received the quarterly mailing

M/S/ therefore be it resolved that the BCYND support:
1. The repeal of the 3 week waiting period and two year time limit on Welfare.
2. A review of the welfare regulations in general with the view of eliminating restrictions that may lead to denial of basic necessities.

M/S/C amend to add a section 3 reading “mobilizing opposition to defeat the so-called "Safe Streets Act"

M/S/C therefore be it resolved that the BCYND support:
1. The repeal of the 3 week waiting period and two year time limit on Welfare.
2. A review of the welfare regulations in general with the view of eliminating restrictions that may lead to denial of basic necessities.
3. Mobilizing opposition to defeat the so-called "Safe Streets Act"

M/S/C therefore be it resolved that the YND offer "at-cost", subsidized, or sliding-scale tickets to all YND events; and

Be it further resolved that the YND call on the BCNDP to offer "at-cost", subsidized, or sliding scale tickets to all BCNDP events.

M/S/C therefore be it resolved that the BCYND all on the Provincial government to immediately issues a moratorium on all developments in community watersheds, pending the eventual transfer of their control to the relevant municipal governments and Regional Districts; and

Be it further resolved that the BCYND support the repeal of Bill 75: the Significant Projects Streamlining Act.

M/S therefore be it resolved that Canadian and all other unilateral troops be pulled out of Haiti and be replaced by UN troops and UN election monitors; and

Be it further resolved that Aristide be allowed to return to Haiti.

M/S/ defeated amend to replace the first clause with "therefore be it resolved that the YND support the intervention of the UN"

M/S/C to sever the two therefore be it resolved clauses.

M/S therefore be it resolved that Canadian and all other unilateral troops be pulled out of Haiti and be replaced by UN troops and UN election monitors.

M/S/C to amend to remove "and be replaced by UN troops and UN election monitors".

M/S/C therefore be it resolved that the BCYND supports the withdrawal of Canadian and all unilateral troops from Haiti.

M/S/C therefore be it resolved that Aristide be allowed to return to Haiti.

M/S therefore be it resolved that the YND will only use paper products or other biodegradable materials and not use Styrofoam for any of their events.

M/S/C amend to replace "will only use paper products or other biodegradable materials" with "will use reusable dish ware"

M/S/C amend amendment to add "wherever possible".

M/S/C amend to add "and where not possible, that Styrofoam and plastic be used as a last resort".

M/S/C therefore be it resolved that the YND will use reusable dish ware wherever possible, and where not possible, Styrofoam will be used as a last resort at all YND events.

M/S/defeated to amend constitution to read:

Article Four - Provincial Council

4:01 The Provincial Council shall consist of the Youth Representative from each Constituency Executive and the Executive Council

4:02 The Provincial Council shall meet at the call of the Executive Council at least once between conventions.

4:03 Subject only to the convention and the constitution, the Provincial Council shall be the governing body of the BCYND between conventions.

4:04 It shall be the right of any individual member of the BCYND to attend meetings of Provincial Council

Co-Chair Debate

Workshop - Protest School - Barb Burke

Caucus Meetings

Sunday, October 17

Call to Order 9:30 am

Youth Rights Charter

M/S/C adopt preamble of revised version

M/S/C amend to replace "parallel shrinkage…" with "and a tax on social programs and working people."

M/S/C adopt clause entitled "Quality Jobs"

M/S/C amend to remove the word "balanced"

M/S/C adopt "No War" clause

M/S/C adopt "Training Wage" clause

M/S/C amend to strike the words "such as McDonalds"

M/S/C amend to change title of clause to "Living Wage" and to add ", which must be repealed", at the end of the clause.

M/S/C amend to replace "large corporations" with "employers"

M/S/defeated to remove the word "to"

M/S/C to adopt "Quality Education" clause

M/S/C to strike "the" and "of their parents"

M/S/C amend to strike the words "such as Sweden and Switzerland."

M/S/defeated to strike last sentence

M/S/defeated to change title to "Free Quality and Accessible Education"

M/S/C amend to change the title to "Free Quality Education"

M/S/C to strike clause beginning with "that grasp the social…"

M/S/C adopt Transit clause

M/S/defeated amend to remove "and indeed, every citizen."

M/S/C amend to replace "transit" with "transportation" throughout the clause.

M/S/C remove word "citizen" and replace with "every person".

Amendment to Agenda

M/S/C to amend the agenda to move to caucus reports and elections, suspending discussion on the Youth Rights Charter.

M/S/C to amend the agenda to add renewal of chartered clubs.

M/S/C that all currently chartered clubs have their charters renewed.

Caucus Reports

Regional Caucuses

Interior - Mike Ouellette

Northern

-4 members in attendance
-Discussion about member contact and Northern involvement
-Allyson Roussy elected Northern Coordinator

Lower Island
Shea Warner

Upper Island
Kate Curtis

Lower Mainland
-Discussion of high school outreach, Surrey-Panorama Ridge By-Election, and regional events
-Cadence Warner elected Lower Mainland Rep.

Kootenays - Vacant

Other Caucuses

Women's
-Executive report submitted by Jarrah Hodge
-Discussion of event planning and women's issues
-Jarrah Hodge elected Women's Coordinator
-22 members present

Pride - Ashley Silcock

High School
-M/S/C to endorse Katie Sardinha's motion that the YND not use Styrofoam at future events
-18 members present
-Katie Sardinha elected High Schools Coordinator

Campus Clubs - Kory Yamashita
Visible Minorities
-Discussion about Multiculturalism Committee
-Duc Tran acclaimed Visible Minorities Coordinator

Disabilities
-Melanie Vogels elected Disabilities Coordinator

Aboriginal
-Starleigh Grass elected Aboriginal Coordinator by Convention (too few to have a caucus)

Elections

Co-Chair:

Nominated - Mike Palecek
Brianne Duhamel
Ryan Stewart - Elected
Marion Pollock - Elected

Federal Youth Liaison:

Nominated - Katie Riecken
- Elected Kathryn Whithead

Membership Secretary:

Nominated - Thomas Hubert
Sam Heppell - Elected

Communications Coordinator:

Nominated - Brendan Hurley - Acclaimed

Secretary:

Nominated - Sophie Isbister
Scott Hart - Elected

Treasurer:

Nominated - Sophie Isbister - Acclaimed

Labour Coordinator:

Nominated - David Manchester - Acclaimed

2 Members-at-Large for Steering Committee:

Nominated - Jarrah Hodge - Elected
Kate Curtis - Elected
Allyson Roussy

Provincial Council Delegates and Alternates:

Nominated - Mike Ouellette - Delegate
Katie Riecken - Delegate
Sophie Isbister - Delegate
Jarrah Hodge - Delegate
Scott Hart - Alternate
Sam Heppell - Alternate

Policy Review Committee Representatives:

Aboriginal: Vacant

Advanced Education: Nathan Lane

Anti-Racism and Multicultural: Duc Tran

Arts and Culture: Cadence Warner

Economy: Jeff Dean

Education: Jason Phillippo

Federal/Provincial Affairs: Vacant

Good Government: Jeff Dean

Health: Kory Yamashita

Housing and Municipal Affairs: Brendan Hurley

Justice and Human Rights: James Studer

Small Business: Adam Friesen

Social Services: Paul Browning

Transportation: Ian Backus

Standing Committee on Agriculture: Vacant

Standing Committee on the Environment: Paul Browning and Jen King

Party and Constitutional Affairs: Sam Schechter

M/S/C defer the remainder of the YRC discussion to the new YND Executive.

M/S/C adjournment

The on-again, off-again marriage between the Unity Party of British Columbia and the Conservative Party of British Columbia has ended in a divorce. And one of the principle match-makers, Blake Mackenzie, has resigned from the Conservative executive in protest, accusing some fellow board members of having "deceit in their hearts to kill the deal."

When we last tuned into the right-wing Gong Show on September 28, the Conservative executive had approved a motion to merge with Unity. That merger agreement had been endorsed three days earlier by Unity members during their annual general meeting. A six-member joint council was then struck to negotiate the particulars.

But, last night, the Conservative executive passed a motion to put a stop to those negotiations. According to an insider, there was a growing impression that Unity wasn't interested in a merger. Instead, "What they wanted was to be the Unity Party with the Conservative Party name."

That motion prompted Mr. Mackenzie, Unity's former communications director, to resign from the Conservative executive. In an email sent to fellow executive members, Mr. Mackenzie described some of them as, "deceptive manipulators who are no different than federal Liberals when it comes to keeping power at all costs and sell out their souls to make it happen."

He then went onto to write that other executive members may have been "duped with backroom phone calls and misinformation over the subject." We can only speculate on what that subject might have been because Mr. Mackenzie did not elaborate further and has not yet responded to Public Eye's attempts to contact him. The following is an edited copy of his email, which was leaked to us.

***

-----Original Message-----
From: Blake MacKenzie
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 12:04 AM
Cc: 'Tim Bonner'; 'BC Unity Party / Greg Watrich'; Lance Wilson; 'Gerard Huff'; Wayne McGrath; Yvonne Dunlop; Amrita Moore; Andrew Jackson; Barbara Reid; Barry Chilton; Beverly Welsh; Bill Smith; Blake MacKenzie; Byng Giraud; Cliff Blair; Doris Dungey; Ernie Paterson; Frank Tofin; Grant Cepuran; Jason Cox; Kimberly Yee; Mario Vetro; Paul Holmes; Paul Scrimger; Ryan Warawa; Stephen Lawrence; 'Ryan Warawa 2'; 'Paul Scrimger 2'
Subject: Official Resignation

I hereby resign my position as director on the BC Conservative Party.

Since I believe it was never the intention of some of the members on this board to ratify any deal with the BC Unity Party, also I believe they negotiated with deceit in their hearts to kill the deal with BC Unity. I can no longer stand this kind of underhanded behaviour and I choose to stand with people of principle not with those who in my eyes are nothing more than deceptive manipulators who are no different than federal Liberals when it comes to keeping power at all costs and sell out their souls to make it happen.

My above comment does not apply to the following individuals because I believe you all had good intentions and may have been duped with backroom phone calls and misinformation over the subject:

Ernie Paterson
Jason Cox
Stephen Lawrence
Kimberly Yee
Art Robatzek
Yvonne Dunlop
Grant Cepuran
Paul Scrimger
Sandra Scrimger
Bev Welsh
Ryan Warawa
Amrita Moore
Mario Vetro

Good luck with going nowhere in the next election because this is exactly what the group who wish to wait until 2009 have been instructed to do and the other group who wish to maintain control over their little social garden club will once again go back to doing what they do best, do nothing.

Blake MacKenzie
Victoria BC

In yesterday's edition of the Oak Bay News, writer Thomas Winterhoff reported provincial New Democrat moderate leadership candidate Nils Jensen wouldn't be running for the party's nomination in Oak Bay-Gordon Head. Mr. Jensen cited family reasons for the decision saying, "I have things I've committed to in the community and I still have two boys at home." But those in the know say his decision might also have had something to do with party leader Carole James unwillingness to forcefully intervene in the nomination race.

Insiders had encouraged Ms. James to ask her friend Greater Victoria school trustee Charlie Beresford not to run against Mr. Jensen. After all, Ms. Beresford's long history in the party, and her control of the riding association executive, almost guaranteed her the nomination - even though Mr. Jensen, with his position and profile on Oak Bay council, is thought to be a more winnable election candidate.

No one seems sure whether a conversation between Ms. James and Ms. Beresford took place, although there are rumours words were exchanged. But in the end, Ms. Beresford - who ran in the last election and lost by 35 percentage points - ended up announcing she would be seeking the nomination. Earlier, Public Eye reported the party has been having trouble clearing a riding for Toronto Dominion Securities Inc. chief economist Paul Summerville to run in.

The British Columbia Federation of Labour's by-election poll isn't exactly good news for the provincial New Democrats, showing them in a statistical dead heat with the Liberals. So why did the federation release those results? Well, according to party insiders, there were two reasons. Number one: if New Democrat supporters believe victory isn't a sure thing, they're more likely to go to the polls on Election Day. Which means the man who publicized the poll, BCTV legislative bureau chief Keith Baldrey, has inadvertently become part of the lefties get-out-the-vote strategy (a bit of a downer for those who think CanWest Global never does any favours for the New Democrats). And number two: the poll shows Green Party candidate and leader Adriane Carr is a potential spoiler. So New Democrats are hoping that will cause some of her supporters to think twice before voting for her.

Public affairs bureau human resource and provincial emergency communications director Theresa Lumsdon's pain and suffering has ended - maybe. In an email circulated to bureau staff (nice to see they're being kept in the loop), operations director Denise Champion announced she would be also be taking over Ms. Lumsdon's casualty replacement responsibilities. And Alex Dabrowski, who was most recently a public affairs officer at water, land and air portection, will be handling emegency communications (although Ms. Lumsdon will still have overall responsibility for that file). For her part, Ms. Lumsdon is being sent/exiled to children and family development as the ministry's top spin doctor - a position whose unofficial job description is similar to those of relief workers in Baghdad. The communications shop at kids has been without a permanent director since Deborah Bowman left for the attorney general's ministry. The following is a copy of the email.

-----Original Message-----
From: Champion, Denise PAB:EX
Sent: October 19, 2004 3:18 PM
To: PAB All Staff
Subject: Staffing Update

Good Afternoon,

A quick update to let you know about some changes taking place:

* Effective November 1, 2004, Theresa Lumsdon has accepted an OIC appointment as Communications Director assigned to the Children and Family Development Communications Office.

* As a result of Theresa's appointment, responsibilty for Human Resources has been transferred to Operations under my stewardship (now Operations & Human Resources).

* Effective immediately, Alex Dabrowski has accepted an OIC appointment as Manager, Provincial Emergency Communications.

* Effective immediately, Deb Pearce has agreed to take on additional responsibilities as Acting Communications Manager assigned to the Advanced Education Communications shop.

* Effective immediately, Laurie Cuisinato has been temporarily reassigned as the Senior Public Affairs Officer responsible for the corporate calendar.

* Effective immediately, for the duration of Laurie's temporary reassignment, Sarah Harrison has been temporarily reassigned to assist with Events Planning.

As well, please welcome to the Public Affairs Bureau:

* Calvin Jones, Graphic Designer
* Christina Pederson, Public Affairs Officer assigned to the Attorney General/Treaty Negotiations Communications Office
* Craig Chambers, Media Monitoring Officer (Victoria)
* Janet Rogers, Media Monitoring Officer (Victoria)
* Neera Amrit, Media Monitoring Officer (Vancouver)

Denise J. Champion

Director, Operations & Human Resources
Public Affairs Bureau
Phone: 250 953-4685 or Fax 250 387-0718

Last night, BCTV legislative bureau chief Keith Baldrey reported a Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election poll, commissioned by the British Columbia Federation of Labour, shows the provincial New Democrats at 44 percent, the Liberals at 41.5 percent and the Greens at 13.8 percent. If that poll, which was conducted by Strategic Communications Inc., is accurate it means the Liberals clearly have the momentum in this race. According to the October issue of BC Political Insider, internal Liberal numbers from September showed the party, "running 10 points behind the New Democrats."

The British Columbia Democratic Coalition, an alliance between four minor provincial parties, has fractured less than a month after leader Tom Morino announced its creation. During an executive meeting on Sunday, Democratic Coalition president Bill Savage, the leader of the Citizens Action Coalition resigned, taking his party with him. And so did Democratic Coalition vice-president Harvey Maser, the leader of Link British Columbia.

In interview, Mr. Savage's replacement Matthew Laird said his predecessor's resignation had something to do with "personal issues." He then mentioned Messrs. Savage and Maser resigned because of concerns about the coalition's "policy direction." Mr. Laird agreed when Public Eye helpfully suggested the resignations might have something to do with a personal issue regarding the party's policy direction.

Mr. Savage was more forthcoming. The Citizens Action leader says he stepped down because there was an unwillingness "to follow the chain of command...there were decisions being made that were not going to the (executive) board. And I will not stand for and will not tolerate decisions being made outside the board. It's not a one man show."

Mr. Savage declined to elaborate but added there was also, "a bit of distrust. Tommy's an ex-Liberal. And I don't know whether its true or not whether (former provincial Liberal leader) Gordon Wilson is lurking in the background somewhere with Matthew Laird. But we don't want a Gordon Wilson around, quite frankly - just as much as I don't want a Bill Vander Zalm around."

Mr. Morino unsuccessfully ran for the Liberals in 1991. But when Gordon Campbell became party leader, he joined Mr. Wilson's Progressive Democratic Alliance. Mr. Laird, the co-founder of Recall B.C., was also an alliance member.

Messrs. Savage and Maser have now decided to merge their parties under the Link British Columbia brand name, with Bill becoming president and Harvey its leader. Meanwhile, over at Democratic Coalition headquarters, the oh-so secretive Mr. Laird says his party is about to do some merging of its own. The coalition is in negotiations to ally with the British Columbia Labour Party and the All Nations Party of British Columbia, an aboriginal political group. It's also signed an agreement-in-principle to amalgamate with the British Columbia Reform Party. And hey, if those parties leave the coalition, there're always 37 others just waiting for a chance to join.

Footnote: Mr. Laird says Link British Columbia hasn't left the Democratic Coalition, adding that the party's president - whose name he couldn't remember - is still supportive. But Mr. Savage says Link has left the coalition. And its president, whose name Mr. Savage did remember, is now first vice-president of the merged Link-Citizens Action Coalition party. Mr. Savage also gave a detailed account of a meeting between himself and Gordon Nelson to discuss that appointment. Public Eye was unable to reach Mr. Nelson at publication time.

Don't know how the Coalition of Progressive Electors managed to lose the wards vote while having control of city hall? Well, don't worry - Vancouver Parks Board commissioner and coalition-member Anita Romaniuk, who is also running for the provincial New Democrat nomination in Vancouver-Langara, has already figured out what went wrong. In an email sent to Sunrise, a members-only listserv frequented by lefties, Ms. Romaniuk outlines four reasons why the coalition lost Saturday's wards referendum.

According to that email, the yes-side was financially outgunned, spending $70,000 on their campaign or $130,000 less than the Non-Partisan Association-backed no-side. Ms. Romaniuk also writes "the difference between the 1980’s (sic) referenda and today is that there is a much larger Chinese population in Vancouver." And that population was "very susceptible" to the no-side's message a wards system would "result in an increase in taxes."

Ms. Romaniuk then goes onto write that, although the election day operation was well-executed, the yes-side should have started its campaign earlier and "there should have been a campaign specific to young adults." Finally, Ms. Romaniuk speculates opposition from the Green Party, which wanted a proportional representation system rather than wards, might also have been a factor. The following is a copy of Ms. Romaniuk's email, which was leaked to Public Eye.

***

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anita Romaniuk"
To: "Sunrise"
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 12:50 AM
Subject: Re: [sunrise-l] Wards defeated - what happened??!!!

1. You have to spend money to win an at-large election in Vancouver, and that includes at-large referenda. In the 2002 election, COPE spent about the same as the NPA, more than $1 million dollars. This was 3 times as much as they had ever spent before. COPE won, but is still carrying a debt to this day. Because of the debt situation, the decision was made to only spend as much as they could raise on the wards referendum. This translated into about $70,000. The "No" side spend over $200,000. Money talks. Unfortunately, the message from this is that COPE has to pay off the debt and raise $1 million plus again in order to stand a chance of winning a majority in the 2005 civic election, which will be at large. Sigh.

2. The difference between the 1980's referenda and today is that there is a much larger Chinese population in Vancouver today. They are very susceptible to the message "this will result in an increase in taxes". The NPA a.k.a. Knowards were putting this message out for all they were worth. Wards would mean a more costly city government and therefore their taxes would be raised. In fact, the cost of moving to wards would have been minimal compared to the overall Operating Budget in Vancouver, but the message worked. All of the areas of the city with large Chinese populations voted against wards, including the SE part of the city, not just the west side.

3. The E-Day operation was fairly well-executed, but the campaign itself should have started earlier than it did (and left more time for voter contact). There should have been a campaign specific to young adults. My experience in mainstreeting was that many young adults weren't paying any attention, didn't understand the issue, and weren't interested in
listening. Some non-traditional method needed to be found to get through to them. COPE succeeded in this to some extent in 1999 and 2002. This didn't happen in the short space of time leading up the wards referendum.

4. The Green Party opposed wards because they want proportional representation and weren't prepared to wait for a "second step" (following the results of the provincial citizen's assembly/referendum) where wards came first and then PR. I'm not sure why, because it is quite clear by now that the provincial citizen's assembly is going to recommend a PR system that includes some sort of constituency representation because that is what people all over the province seem to want. There were also some other fringe groups (remnants of VCATeam, etc) who were advocating a "mixed" system of at-large & wards (but not necessarily proportional) who were also advising their adherants to vote "No".

My 4 1/2 cents.

Anita Romaniuk

Western Opinion Research Inc. has been the favoured pollster for the provincial Liberals and their municipal farm teams for the past nine years. But it looks like a Surrey-based polling company with close connections to Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon may soon be competing for the same work. Before 1995, Winnipeg-based Western was best known for doing Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon's public opinion research work. But the company became the Liberal's pollster when Premier Filmon's principal secretary Greg Lyle was hired as the party's 1996 election campaign planning director. Western was also the pollster for the 1999 Total Recall campaign organized by Mr. Falcon, who, at the time, hadn't won a seat in the legislature.

But Western's position as the right's principle public opinion researcher in British Columbia may by under threat from iTrend Research Group Inc. The company, which was incorporated in July 2003, is now doing similar partisan jobs. For example, according to The Vancouver Sun, the Knowards campaign contracted iTrend to do its voter identification work.

In an interview two months back, Mary Polak, who was managing director of iTrend until she became the Liberal's Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election candidate, told us the company was setup by Surrey backroom boys who started to wonder "why are we spending all this money to pay people like Western Opinion Research when we can do the polling ourselves?"

One of those backroom boys is Surrey Tourism and Convention Association president Stephen Casson, the vice-president of Minister Falcon's riding association. Mr. Casson, who has been friends with the minister since the mid-eighties, says the company also does non-political work but "Generally, we felt (Western) was out of touch with the local issues." And Public Eye has been told some legislative insiders are feeling the same way.

Ms. Polak's campaign manager Chris Gardner is also an iTrend director. And so is Gordon Schoberg, who chairs the Liberal's provincial council meetings and is president of Minister Falcon's riding association. Messrs. Casson and Shoberg sit on the executive of the conservative Surrey Electors Team, a municipal party which counts Minister Falcon among its founding members. And Mr. Gardner is a strategic advisor to the team - which has had a somewhat "rancorous relationship" with Western Opinion Research according to one insider.

The last iTrend director is Korean businesswoman Yang Soon Kim. Ms. Kim recently immigrated to Canada under the federal government's entrepreneurship program. The program requires individuals to have a net worth of at least $300,000 and invest in a Canadian business. And, in the case of Ms. Kim, that business was iTrend.

Ever get the feeling the provincial Liberal government just isn't listening to you? Well, you'd be right. When it comes to public opinion research, the Campbell administration hasn't been a big spender. According to the government's public accounts records, between fiscal 2001/02 and 2003/04, the Liberals paid out $842,381 to major polling firms, with the lion's share ($362,531) going into Ipsos-Reid Corp.'s wallet. By comparison, between fiscal 1998/99 and 2000/01, the New Democrats spent $1.9 million to ask those same firms what British Columbians were thinking.

And, according to one insider, that cutback has had political consequences for the Campbell administration. "There's a lot of decision that the Liberals made and ways that they've communicated that they could have done much better, especially in the first couple years." And more polling might have helped.

But, "having said that, the NDP polled people to death and look at the good job they did. You need to listen to the polling and you need to poll in a way where you're actually getting real opinions and not just what you want to hear - which was sometimes the problem with the NDP."

***

Fiscal 2003/04 payments to polling firms

Environics Research Group Ltd. - $64,000
Western Opinion Research Inc. - $63,978
Mustel Research Group Ltd. - $61,150
Ipsos-Reid Corp. - $46,070
Synovate Inc. - $43,734
Ekos Research Associates Inc. - $26,250

Total - $244,032

Fiscal 2002/03 payments to polling firms

Ipsos-Reid Corp. - $176,226
Western Opinion Research Inc. - $65,000
Environics Research Group Ltd. - $58,798
McIntyre and Mustel Research Associates Ltd. - $43,900
Synovate Inc. - $31,890

Total - $375,814

Fiscal 2001/02 payments to polling firms

Ipsos-Reid Corp. - $140,235
Environics Research Group Ltd. - $55,000
McIntyre and Mustel Research Associates Ltd. - $27,300

Total - $222,535

Fiscal 2000/01 payments to polling firms

Viewpoints Research Ltd. - $221,143
Ipsos-Reid Corp. - $141,075
Angus Reid Group Inc. - $96,245
McIntyre and Mustel Research Associates Ltd. - $34,024
Pollara Inc. - $39,500

Total - $531,987

Fiscal 1999/00 payments to polling firms

Angus Reid Group Inc. - 243,263
Viewpoints Research Ltd. - 232,930
McIntyre and Mustel Research Associates Ltd. - 93,735
Ekos Research Associates Inc. - $40,000

Total - $609,928

Fiscal 1998/99 payments to polling firms

Viewpoints Research Ltd. - $385,677
Angus Reid Group Inc. - $217,980
McIntyre and Mustel Research Associates Ltd. - $68,550
Marktrend Research Inc. - $37,748
Ekos Research Associates Inc. - $28,769

Total - $738,724

Carole James' closest confidante and travelling companion Donna Cameron will be resigning as director of the provincial New Democrat leader's office next month. That announcement was made in an email circulated to riding association presidents late Friday. According to a party insider, Ms. Cameron, who managed Ms. James' leadership campaign, has decided she wants to get a life outside of airports and hotels. She'll be replaced on a permanent basis by New Democrat organizer Boyd Pyper. Mr. Pyper, who ran David Turner's unsuccessful federal election campaign in Victoria, was most recently responsible for keeping a lid on the Young New Democrat's revolutionary tendencies (among other files). He also seems burdened with a loud booing section (something Mr. Pyper shares with Ms. Cameron) - but, then again, who isn't in politics?

Last night, an anonymous source posting on Public Eye reported Patrick Kinsella, the most powerful Liberal backroom boy in the province, was seated at aluminum giant Alcan Inc.'s table during the Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election fundraiser. Just to make sure we checked with the company's corporate affairs director Richard Prokopanko. In an interview from Kitimat, Mr. Prokopanko confirmed Mr. Kinsella had invited him to the fundraiser as his guest, where the two were seated together. But he said no lobbying took place, although "one person asked about what the aluminum industry was doing." Mr. Prokopanko also said he was the only Alcan representative at the event.

When asked directly whether Mr. Kinsella engaged in any lobbying on Alcan's behalf at the fundraiser Mr. Prokopanko said, "You'd best ask Mr. Kinsella what he talked about that evening. But we certainly didn't (lobby)." A call placed to Mr. Kinsella has not yet been returned. Mr. Kinsella, who is not listed on the lobbyist registry, has repeatedly denied working as a government relations man for Alcan, instead saying he's been under contract as a communications conusltant for the company. Mr. Kinsella has also denied ever talking to cabinet ministers or their staffers about his clients. Legislation passed by the Liberals requires all lobbyists to register or face a fine of up to $25,000.

Last night, an anoymous source posting on Public Eye gave further details about Wednesday's Surrey-Panorama Ridge provincial Liberals by-election fundraiser. According to the source, the fundraiser was attended by cabinet ministers Pat Bell, Susan Brice, Shirley Bond, Rich Coleman, Kevin Falcon, Colin Hansen, Brenda Locke, Joyce Murray and Patrick Wong. Also along for the ride: backbenchers Harry Bloy, David Hayer, Gordon Hogg and Ken Stewart making this "the biggest event" since the party's annual Dinner Under The Sails. That's another indication the provincial Liberals are investing significant resources in this by-election. The source then went onto to add many of those MLAs "were in the Lower Mainland last night for this purpose alone."

It wasn't a Hollywood premiere. But last night's $200 plate fundraiser for provincial Liberal Surrey-Panorama Ridge byelection candidate Mary Polak at the York Business Centre came complete with searchlight trucks. Banners, featuring the somewhat hokey slogan "Good for you!" decorated the centre, which was stuffed with more than 800 party supporters.

According to attendees, the evening (which was organized by the Surrey-Green Timbers riding association) went off without a hitch - except for a number of disturbingly off-colour statements made by master of ceremonies Gale Honey. One of her jokes referenced an MLA's bedroom habits. Another targetted Vancouver-Burrard backbencher Lorne Mayencourt. After praising his safe streets iniative, Ms. Honey quipped, "It says right here, on this note from Lorne, that that's what I should say." Good to know MLAs aren't the only ones being scripted these days. Ms. Honey's late husband Rick was a well-known Vancouver disk jockey.

The Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election isn't going to do much to improve the reputation of in-laws in this province. Provincial Liberal candidate Mary Polak's mother-in-law Elsie, a healthcare worker, is volunteering for New Democrat rival Jagrup Brar. And, according to party insiders, she hasn't been shy about letting fellow volunteers know about her familial relations. However, a Liberal campaigner says Ms. Polak's husband Paul is wholeheartedly supporting her candidacy.

Yesterday, the premier's office announced David Podmore, the president and chief executive officer of Vancouver-based development company Concert Properties Inc., had been appointed to the British Columbia Progress Board. That appointment, which essentially makes Mr. Podmore an economic advisor to the provincial government, could be the source of some embarrassment for the union movement. After all, Concert Properties is owned by union and management pension funds. And the unions aren't too happy with the government right now.

But, in an interview today, Mr. Podmore explained the company's directors, "discussed (the appointment) a week ago and were wholeheartedly in support." Those directors include a number of past and present union leaders including former Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers Union president Dave Haggard, Telecommunications Workers Union president Rod Hiebert, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada national representative Dave Schaub and Don McGill, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 213 (among others).

Mr. Podmore also dismissed suggestions union insiders had advised him against joining the progress board, which meets four times a year. He then added "Just like any other business we want to be able to help deal with issues that are important to the province as a whole. And we also want to make sure people are aware of any concerns we may have."

Mr. Podmore, who has a longstanding relationship with the premier and newspaper mogul David Black (who also chairs the progress board), had earlier gotten into trouble with the union movement when Georgia Straight newshound Charlie Smith revealed Concert Properties had donated $16,665 to the provincial Liberals in 2003. Company board member Ken Georgetti, the president of the Canadian Labour Congress, was instrumental in convincing Mr. Podmore and company chairman Jack Poole to personally repay most of that donation. Mr. Georgetti, who sat on the board for 15 years, resigned his seat in July.

CFAX creative director Craig Chambers has been hired as the provincial public affairs bureau's newest media monitoring officer. Mr. Chambers, who is said to be a bona fide expert at writing advertising copy, has been looking to leave the radio business for quite sometime. He is married to Moira McLean, the former CH Television reporter/assignment editor who is now covering provincial politics for The New VI. A government insider told Public Eye Mr. Chambers is more than qualified for the job he'll be doing and his hiring had nothing to do with Ms. McLean's job.

The provincial New Democrats have a proud history of standing shoulder to shoulder with their union brothers and sisters. But it seems they're not going to let that history get in the way of a business decision. Last week, Public Eye reported the party had awarded IdeaWorks Consulting Inc. and Viewpoints Research Ltd. a contract to do their polling work during the next election, beating out Strategic Communications Inc. But there's just one nagging detail that has some insiders hot and bothered.

It turns out Stratcom's Vancouver call centre is unionized. But the same cannot be said for Viewpoints 32-person phone bank in Winnipeg. And the one unionized call centre the company did have was shutdown in 2002, less than a year after its 38-workers were certified by the Telecommunications Workers Union and before they had signed their first collective agreement.

According to company co-owner Leslie Turnbull, Viewpoints closed its Vancouver office because, "We didn't have enough business to sustain an office and an operation." After all, the company had been the provincial government's main pollster, taking in $1.2 million of work between fiscal 1997/98 and 2000/01. But when the New Democrats lost the last election, those contracts dried up.

She then added Viewpoints, "made all of our financial information fully available to the union and we reached an agreement with the union to provide severance to the interviewers."

Ms. Turnbull, whose business partner is Manitoba Premier Gary Doer's wife Ginny Devine, didn't know how much work the company currently does in British Columbia, except to say Viewpoints "had a significant amount of clients" in the province.

She directed specific questions about the company's relationship with the New Democrats to party secretary Gerry Scott. When we asked him whether there were any provisions in the polling contract requiring Viewpoints to do their phoning at a unionized call centre, he told us, "We'll see...No arrangements have been made. I'm not commenting on what's in a contract...It's none of your business what contracts we've signed. What and when I sign a contract has nothing to do with your life."

Rumour has it Martinite super-uber-operative Mark Marissen has been telling Indo-Canadian organizers in Surrey-Panorama Ridge not to participate in provincial Liberal candidate Mary Polak's by-election campaign. But Martinite insiders pooh-poohed those rumours. According to those insiders, although Mr. Marissen has been vocal in his opposition to the controversial Surrey school trustee's socially conservative values (reportedly calling them "incredibly il-Liberal"), he wouldn't have actually told those organizers not to campaign for Ms. Polak. In fact, Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer noted earlier this month longtime Marinite supporter Sukh Dhaliwal seconded Ms. Polak's nomination. Mr. Marissen's wife, Christy Clark, recently resigned from cabinet and announced she wouldn't be running for the provincial Liberals in the next election.

Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Liberal MLA Karn Manhas will announce today (likely this afternoon) that he won't be running in the next election, Public Eye has learned. Mr. Manhas, who is a federal Liberal and was one of former cabinet minister Christy Clark's allies, has no family and no health problems Public Eye is aware of. Ms. Clark also recently said she wouldn't be running in the next election. Mr. Manhas's departure from politics will likely increase speculation there is a growing rift between the Grits and the federal Conservatives/former Socreds in the provincial Liberal caucus.

The veteran operative who managed Premier Ujjal Dosanjh's successful but controversial leadership campaign is now running the New Democrat's by-election fight in Surrey-Panorama Ridge for Jagrup Brar. In an interview, Sandra Houston also said she has a special "understanding and appreciation of Indo-Canadian culture" having previously worked with a number of South Asian candidates including cabinet minister Moe Sihota and Alberta New Democrat opposition leader Raj Pannu. But her biggest job was the Dosanjh campaign, which became mired in controversy because of the large number of Indo-Canadian instant members who attended the 2000 leadership convention.

Ms. Houston's career with the New Democrats started as an executive assistant to Ontario MPP Neil Young back in 1982. She then worked for six years as a field organizer before becoming the party's provincial secretary in Nova Scotia. But the election of a socialist government in British Columbia took her westward in 1992, where she was hired as the ministerial assistant to Transportation Minister Art Charbonneu.

Her partner, former Ontario New Democrat membership organizer Barry Salmon, was also a Harcourt administration apparatchik. Mr. Salmon was the New Democrat's caucus communications director and eventually became Mr. Dosanjh's ministerial assistant. Mr. Salmon, who could usually be found smoking in the breezeway between the Centre Block and the West Annex, also managed Mr. Dosanjh's 1991 and 1996 election campaigns.

In 1993, Ms. Houston was brought in as the outreach branch coordinator in the premier's office, where she had direct input into the hiring and management of ministerial assistants and administrative assistants. That appointment attracted the carniverous attentions of Province columnist Brian "Fang" Kieran, who reported one of his sources "described Houston as a controller who 'is under the delusion that political staff are to take direction from her rather than the ministers they work for.'" Other insiders interviewed by Public Eye confirm Ms. Houston had a rocky relationship with some of her fellow legislative staffers but acknowledge her as being a talented organizer.

But as talented as she was, Ms. Houston left government in 1995, three weeks after Premier Mike Harcourt resigned. She then went to Royal Roads University, completed her masters degree in leadership and training and went to work as a job councillor for Steps to Employment. But when Mr. Dosanjh, who was the best man at Ms. Houston and Mr. Salmon's wedding, moved into the West Annex, she moved along with him as his deputy chief of staff. That job lasted little more than a year, ending when the New Democrats were booted out of government.

Since then, Ms. Houston and her husband have become involved with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, an American group promoting democracy worldwide. But these days, she seems to be sticking closer to home. After the Surrey-Panorama Ridge byelection, Ms. Houston is travelling to Edmonton to run Mr. Pannu's re-election campaign.

Former Toronto Dominion Securities Inc. chief economist and banking world celebrity Paul Summerville wants to run for the provincial New Democrats, Public Eye has learned. Mr. Summerville, who most recently worked as the managing director and regional head Asia-Pacific for Toronto Dominion Securities, could give party leader Carole James a powerful counter to accusations she has been bought and is controlled by big labour. But so far, according to insiders, the New Democrats haven't exactly rolled out the red-carpet for him.

To win a nomination, Mr. Summerville (who lives in Victoria) will need to run uncontested. After all, the New Democrat rank and file has a bad history of voting against outsiders just because they're outsiders, preferring candidates to have some kind of genetic connection to party founder Tommy Douglas.

Ridings under consideration for Mr. Summerville include Malahat-Juan de Fuca, Oak Bay-Gordon Head and Saanich South. But each of those ridings already has a number of declared or almost-declared nomination candidates, some with a high-profile. And, according to the rumour mill, although party leaders claim to be enthusiastic about having a running dog capitalist on their campaign team, none of those candidates has been asked to step aside for Mr. Summerville. That would be consistent with Ms. James' current Prime Directive (i.e. non-interference) attitude toward local nomination battles.

Victoria Times Colonist editor-in-chief Andrew Phillips announced this morning he is leaving to do the same job for The Gazette in Montreal. Mr. Phillips, who previously worked as a reporter and editor for The Gazette, is replacing Peter Stockland. Mr. Phillips will be following in the footsteps of Times Colonist publisher Alan Allnutt, who made a similar horizontal move to the Montreal newspaper in April. In an interview last month with Public Eye, Mr. Phillips told us, "you can't stop people from chattering" when we asked about rumours he was planning on taking a job with The Gazette.

Yesterday, Public Eye reported on the increasing influence of senior bureaucrat Jessica McDonald within the premier's office. Prior to being hired by that office in November 2003, she ran Tupelo Consulting Inc., a public land management consulting company. That company's clients have included First Nations groups and the government of New South Wales. But most of its work has been done right here at home for the taxpayers of British Columbia. Between fiscal 1998/99 and 2002/03, the provincial government paid out $413,301 to Ms. McDonald and her company. Most of that money has been awarded since fiscal 2000/01, with the firm receiving $214,710 in fiscal 2002/03. Ms. McDonald previously worked as a manager-level civil servant in environment, lands and parks and is married to former Liberal caucus communications director Mike McDonald.

Payments to Jessica McDonald and Tupelo Consulting

Fiscal 1998/99 - $25,203
Fiscal 1999/00 - $39,470
Fiscal 2000/01 - $67,113
Fiscal 2001/02 - $66,805
Fiscal 2002/03 - $214,710

Fond farewells to caucus communications manager and Kelowna-native Megan Stiles. Ms. Stiles, who has been chiefly responsible for the Liberal MLAs' growing Web presence, is packing her bags and heading to another right-wing jurisdiction: Alberta. There, she will enter the wonderful world of private sector corporate communications, working for TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. in Calgary. Ms. Stiles' position will be split between her colleagues Nicole Chalmers (who will take responsibility for Web-communications) and Doug Brown.

Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon has his fingerprints all over the Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election. Not only was he the power behind Surrey school trustee Mary Polak's successful provincial Liberal nomination bid, but it turns out he's also good friends with her campaign manager Chris Gardner. In an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Gardner told us he met Mr. Falcon while attending Simon Fraser University. Together, the two Young Socreds helped setup Students Working Together, a legendary centre-right coalition that booted the lefties out of student government during the 1985/86 school year. That coalition included former deputy premier Christy Clark and independent Liberal MLA Tony Bhullar (seeds of the future perhaps?). After graduating from Simon Fraser with a history degree in 1988, Mr. Gardner became involved in civic politics.

He was one of the founding members of the now dominant Surrey Electors Team, along with Kevin Falcon and prominent local backroom operator Janet Pierotti, who passed away two years ago. Mr. Falcon and Ms. Perotti, who was one of Premier Gordon Campbell's earliest supporters, continued to play prominent roles in that team, managing mayoral candidate Doug McCallum's successful 1996 civic campaign. But, by that time, Mr. Gardner was in Korea.

After graduating from the University of British Columbia's law school in 1991, he dropped out of politics to take a job as an associate for that country's second largest law firm Lee and Ko. He then went on to work as a manager with Samsung Electronics Co.'s international finance department and a director with ING Groep NV's investment banking arm in Korea, before becoming chief executive officer of Mobilewise Inc. (a company he remains involved with as a major shareholder).

He returned to Canada in 2002, jumping back into politics as the campaign manager for the Surrey Electors Team during the recent civic elections. Mr. Gardner is also one of iTrend Research Group Inc.'s partners, a polling company that has been in business since August 2003. Ms. Polak also works for that firm.

Jessica McDonald, a senior civil servant in the premier's office, has been put in charge of sketching out what the provincial bureaucracy will look like under a second Liberal mandate, Public Eye has learned. According to a memo signed by the premier's deputy minister Ken Dobell (and leaked to us), Ms. McDonald will "take on a new role to lead a broad examination and evaluation of government operations across all ministries and the Crown corporations in light of new circumstances and new priorities. This work will in part lead to changes in the strategic and service planning process for the 06/07 and subsequent years." She will also be responsible for carrying out those changes.

Ms. McDonald, who is married to former caucus communications director Mike McDonald, will continue to have overall responsibility for the government's resource and environmental ministries. But she'll now be one of three deputy ministers reporting directly to the premier, along with Ken Dobell, the head of the public service, and Brenda Eaton.

Bureaucrats have long stood in slack-jawed, drool-mouthed awe at the talented and respected Ms. McDonald's rapid career advancement. After all, it seems like it was only yesterday (1997 to be exact) that she was promoted to manager of land programs in the Crown land branch of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. One year later, Ms. McDonald left government to setup Tupelo Consulting Inc., a public land management consulting company.

She remained there until the premier's office hired her in November 2003 as deputy minister of special projects, focusing on government's management of natural resource and environmental issues. But her authority quickly swelled. And now this memo suggests Ms. McDonald could be well-positioned to succeed Mr. Dobell when he retires (with the date of that momentous event being the subject of the third most popular guessing game in provincial politics). The following is a copy of that document.

***

Office of the Premier

MEMORANDUM

TO: Deputy Ministers
DATE: September 27, 2004
RE: Premier's Office Organization and Roles

Over the past few weeks, the Premier has provided direction on a new alignment of responsibilities in the Premier's Office to continue innovation and leadership in the management of government business. To this end, he has modified the Deputy Minister roles in the Premier's office as set out in this memo. We hope that the revised roles will provide clarity, as well as provide effective management and support for Ministries.

* Jessica will now report directly to the Premier and her title will change to reflect that she is Deputy to the Premier. Jessica will continue to be the lead Deputy for resource and environmental ministries. She will also take on a new role to lead a broad examination and evaluation of government operations (including core responsibilities, planning, decision processes, organizational structure and service delivery, and the public service) across all ministries and the Crown corporations in light of new circumstances and new priorities.

This work will in part lead to changes in the strategic and service planning process for the 06/07 and subsequent years, and the responsibility for overseeing those processes will rest with Jessica. Overall, the breadth of this new assignment will require a high level of participation from Brenda and me, and we are committed to ensuring that this work is carried forward in a collaborative and coherent manner.

* Brenda's primary role over the next several months will be to identify policy and program priorities for potential development over the medium and long term. Obviously, in that role she will overlap and interact with Jessica and me in a significant way, and will also look for your assistance in developing new program proposals.

* I will continue to be the primary contact in the Premier's Office for the social and "mechanics of government" ministries; and will maintain my role as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Public Service. In that role, I will be available to all Deputy Ministers when they believe that would be appropriate.

* Joy will maintain her role as Deputy Cabinet Secretary. Kathryn Dawson will continue to oversee legislation and support me in my work with Ministries, but will also provide support to Jessica in her new role.

As always, we will rely on Deputy Ministers for advice and input, and I look forward to your ongoing support.

Ken Dobell
Deputy Minister to the Premier
and Cabinet Secretary

Minister Rick Thorpe, who previously worked for John Labatt Ltd., has a reputation for being a hard-nosed businessman. But he has a softer side too. Back when he was at competition, science and enterprise, Minister Thorpe would give employees a birthday phone call - a nice personal touch. The practice seems to have been discontinued since he moved to revenue (although we could stand to be corrected). But we're hoping former employees still get a birthday call. After all, Public Eye previously worked as a communications advisor for competition, science and enterprise. And, if we're lucky, the minister will pick up the phone on February 26 and dial our number - giving us an opportunity to chat about Patrick Kinsella (a topic he really doesn't seem to want to talk about).

In the last election, the Liberals promised British Columbians they would run the most open and accountable government in Canada. But it seems that promise doesn't extend to answering questions about Patrick Kinsella, the most influential provincial Liberal backroom boy in the province. Earlier, Public Eye reported in the Times Colonist that Mr. Kinsella was denying two-year old allegations that he worked to lobby the government on behalf of aluminum giant Alcan Inc. If those allegations were true, Mr. Kinsella would have been in violation of legislation requiring anyone who lobbies government to register with the provincial lobbyist registry or face a fine of up to $25,000.

But Mr. Kinsella, who describes himself as a communications consultant and is the Liberals' 2005 re-election campaign co-chair, says he never talks to cabinet ministers or political staffers about any of his clients - which include Alcan. And that means he doesn't need to register or identify whom he works for.

One of the people who could confirm Mr. Kinsella isn't working as a lobbyist is Revenue Minister Rick Thorpe. When he was the minister of competition, science and enterprise, Minister Thorpe was the man responsible for stickhandling the government's relationship with Alcan. But on Thursday, after repeated phone calls, Minister Thorpe's office declined Public Eye's request for an interview to talk about Mr. Kinsella.

That's not surprising. Two years ago, Terrace Standard writer Jeff Nagel asked Minister Thorpe about Mr. Kinsella's relationship with Alcan and the government. But, in an interview, Nagel confirmed Minister Thorpe wouldn't give him a direct answer to those questions.

And Minister Thorpe isn't the only one who has dodged questions about Kinsella. In May 2003, interim New Democrat leader Joy MacPhail asked Premier Gordon Campbell if Mr. Kinsella had ever met with him about one of his alleged clients.

But the premier said he didn't "have an answer for that (question). As the member opposite knows, if she wants to know about specific meeting times with either myself or the minister, she can do that through freedom of information."

That makes Public Eye wonder why both Minister Thorpe and Premier Campbell seem so anxious to avoid discussing whether Kinsella, who says he isn't a lobbyist, is lobbying them. After all, what's there to hide - especially when you're supposed to be running the most open and accountable government in Canada?

Credit where credit is due: A version of this article ran in today's Times Colonist.

Today, Public Eye opined in the Times Colonist that British Columbians want to be reassured provincial New Democrat leader Carole James isn't a union puppet before they give her party another chance at government. But she also needs to reassure those voters her New Democrats aren't the same as the old New Democrats. And, according to insiders, she had an opportunity to do that last week.

When Adrian Dix, Premier Glen Clark's right-hand man, announced he would be seeking the party nomination in Vancouver-Kingsway, Ms. James could have let it be known she would have some difficulty signing his nomination papers. But, instead, she told CKNW, "It's not up to the leader to make a choice around who's going to represent that community. It's the community who will make that decision. I don't parachute candidates in. People will make that choice. And they'll ask the right questions." Another missed Sister Soulojha moment?

Winning an election is a little bit like buying a used car. Voters want to be reassured that what they see is what they're going to get. And, in this upcoming election, British Columbians want to be reassured provincial New Democrat Leader Carole James isn't hiding a labour-powered engine under her hood. But to do that, Ms. James needs to do more than just give warm fuzzy speeches to business groups. Ms. James needs to have a Sister Souljah moment.

That term dates back to the 1992 American presidential election. During that election, Democratic candidate Bill Clinton delivered a controversial speech to the Rainbow Coalition - a powerful special interest group representing the rights of working people, women and ethnic minorities. In it, he essentially called rapper Sister Souljah a racist for explaining the actions of Los Angeles rioters by saying: "If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?"

Since then, having a Sister Souljah moment has become shorthand in political circles for taking a position that alienates allies (such as the Rainbow Coalition) so that a politician can prove his or her independence and capture centrist votes. And that's exactly what Ms. James should do if she delivers a speech to the British Columbia Federation of Labour convention in November.

She needs to make it absolutely clear the New Democrats aren't patsies for big labour by killing one of the movement's sacred cows on stage (and it has to be a really meaty one - not a calf). Because that's the only definitive way James, whose leadership campaign received 50 per cent of its funding from the labour movement, can prove she isn't a union puppet.

But she may not be able to do that. Public Eye has spoken with many people about Ms. James - her friends and colleagues - and come to the conclusion James is just not a confrontational person. She's a conciliator. That's not a bad thing. But being confrontational is what having a Sister Souljah moment is all about.

And her party doesn't seem to be in much of a confrontational mood, either. They may be moving in a centrist policy direction. But they're doing so on tippy-toes, trying desperately hard not to alienate their core lefty voters too much. That would be a smart idea if it weren't for the fact that those voters are probably so furious with the Liberals they would support the New Democrats even if the party started sacrificing small animals.

So Carole, here's Public Eye's advice: ignore your instincts. Give British Columbians what they want. Prove to them that you and your party aren't owned by anyone. Give big labour a big talking to. And put this issue to rest.

Credit where credit is due: A version of this article ran in today's Times Colonist.

Back in July, BC Political Insider, a newsletter published by government relations consultants Brad Zubyk and Ian Jessop, reported the provincial New Democrats had put out a request for proposal to find an election campaign pollster. And it looks like that search is over. In an interview Friday, party secretary Gerry Scott confirmed that contract was recently awarded to Viewpoints Research Ltd. and IdeaWorks Consulting Inc., beating out Vancouver/Toronto-based Strategic Communications Inc. Mr. Scott refused to comment further on that decision. Public Eye has prepared the following backgrounders on the two winning firms.

Viewpoints Research is a Winnipeg-based polling company co-founded in 1986 by the late Dave Gotthilf. Mr. Gothilf was instrumental in helping the New Democrats win the 1991 provincial election. After that election, the company became government's principal pollster, being awarded $1.1 million in contracts between fiscal 1997/98 and 2000/01. It also has a close connection with NOW Communications Group Inc., whose president Ron Johnson had a 20-year relationship with Mr. Gotthilf. That relationship dated back to when the two were Young New Democrats together.

Viewpoints is currently co-owned by Manitoba premier Gary Doer's wife Ginny Devine and Leslie Turnbull, a former senior bureaucrat with Mr. Doer's government. Ms. Turnbull couldn't (or perhaps wouldn't) say how much business the company currently does in Lotusland. But we do know its clients include the British Columbia Federation of Labour. In 2002, Winnipeg Sun city columnist Tom Brodbeck reported business was booming at ViewPoints, allowing the Doer couple to purchase a "smashing, two-storey, 3,376 sq. ft. home" located in a posh neighborhood.

***

IdeaWorks Consulting is a management company, incorporated in April 2002, whose directors include former senior New Democrat government staffers John Horgan, Ian Reid and John Heaney, among others. Mr. Horgan was Premier Dan Miller's chief of staff and is now seeking his party's nomination in Malahat-Juan de Fuca.

Mr. Reid worked as the executive director of research and strategic planning (translation: public opinion polling) in the New Democrat's government policy and communications office, which is now known as the public affairs bureau. After leaving government, he did a stint as the Western Coast Environmental Law Society's communication director. Mr. Reid is friends with Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell. And he worked closely with Geoff Meggs, Premier Glen Clark's communications director and Mr. Campbell's executive assistant.

Mr. Heaney was Mr. Reid's deputy minister at the government policy and communications office. Before taking that job, he worked as a communications consultant, stickhandling the Bingogate scandal and the New Democrat's $7 million advertising campaign to sell the Nisga'a treaty.

The issues management lead at the government policy and communications office, Nancy Thompson, is also with IdeaWorks. And so is Mary O'Donoghue, who worked as the Coalition of Progressive Electors' election day manager during the last Vancouver civic campaign and was the New Democrat's caucus research director.