December 2004 Archives

Public Eye is going on vacation to enjoy the remainder of the holiday season. Postings will be infrequent until we've finished drinking a copious amount of eggnog.

Even on the day criminal charges were being laid against him, former ministerial assistant David Basi remained a consumate political operative. Here was a man who had been one of the most powerful Indo-Canadian organizers in the province, the right hand of Finance Minister Gary Collins, laid low by the law. And yet, at the Victoria courthouse, he was still backslapping reporters, even reaching across a row of cameras to shake hands while his pinstripped lawyer Michael Bolton was being scrummed. Only after what could be a long and drawn out legal proceeding, will we find out whether those charges become convinctions. And whether his relatives Bob Virk and Aneal Basi go from being suspects to criminals. But those aren't the only questions that should be answered. The charges laid against these three men have raised further questions about the legislature raid scandal. Here are four that should be pondered.

Former ministerial assistants David Basi and Bob Virk (Mr. Basi's brother-in-law) have been charged with a number of offenses relating last year's police raid on the legislature. Those charges include breach of trust, accepting a bribe to influence government business and fraud over $5,000. Also charged with aiding in laundering the money allegedly accepted by Mr. Basi is his cousin, transportation public affairs officer Aneal Basi. The three men will appear in court on January 28. The following is copy of the charges.

Following the announcement charges would be laid against former ministerial assistants David Basi and Bob Virk, as well as public affairs officer Aneal Basi, Attorney General Geoff Plant phoned the press gallery to give government's take on the day's events. During that call, Attorney General Plant acknowledged the charges are not limited to the Roberts Bank deal, but rather the whole British Columbia Rail privatization initiative. He refused to speculate on whether Finance Minister Gary Collins would have been forced to resign because of those charges had he not already left government last week. The following is a rush transcript of the scrum.

Earlier, Public Eye reported rumours further charges flowing from Operation Everywhichway could be laid on the week of December 20. And now, according to palace gossipmongers, that rumour could become a reality as early as today, with an announcement being made at around 4:00. Others say tomorrow morning is more likely.

Today, the Vancouver Sun reported "Olympic gold medallist Daniel Igali is being courted by the B.C. Liberal party to run in the next provincial election...The Liberals' interest in Igali as a star candidate was confirmed by Tony Bhullar, the current MLA for Surrey-Newton, who said he is moving over to the riding of Surrey-Panorama Ridge at the request of the party to take on a tough fight against the new NDP MLA, Jagrup Brar." Public Eye broke that story yesterday. The Sun added, "the champion wrestler is also mulling an offer to be Nigeria's new minister of sport." And Terminal City columnist Ian King has posted some interesting background information about Mr. Igali on his Website.

Boy, the provincial government must be really proud of their climate change action plan. After all, the Liberal released that report last Wednesday (ten days before Christmas), burying the announcement at the bottom of a seemingly unrelated news release - a guaranteed way to get the media's attention. But, to date, it seems that cunning reverse psychology strategy hasn't worked. So Public Eye thought we'd crack open the report to let our readers know what innovative ideas the Campbell administration has come up with to save the world.

Public Eye has learned Surrey-Newton government backbencher Tony Bhullar is switching ridings. He'll be seeking the provincial Liberal nomination in Surrey-Panorama Ridge. And our spies tell us there's a good chance Olympic wrestling gold medalist Daniel Igali will announce he's looking to become the party's replacement candidate for Surrey-Newton. Mr. Igali, who won the medal during the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, is also frequently called upon by the media to talk about sports issues.

With friends like this, provincial New Democrat nomination candidate Chuck Puchmayr doesn't need any enemies: in an endorsement written on the back of his competitor's brochure, Brewery, Winery and Distillery Workers' Union president Roy Graham writes "Even though Steve McClurg's opponent was our business agent, our union voted to support Steve for the New Westminster nomination because, when it comes to supporting working people, Steve not only talks the talk, he walks the walk."

Today, the Vancouver Sun reported, "a messy split over who should be the Liberal candidate in West Vancouver-Garibaldi has led one riding association executive to resign and three others to contemplate quitting as well. On Thursday night, Joan McIntyre-Pottinger handily won the nomination over Tim Duholke, a chartered accountant, who entered the race only to find out he couldn't sell memberships and wouldn't be allowed to give speeches at any of the three nomination voting meetings." Public Eye broke that story yesterday.

Three executive members of the West Vancouver-Garibaldi provincial Liberal constituency association are planning on resigning over concerns the nominating process in their riding was biased in favour of winning candidate and pollster Joan McIntyre-Pottinger, Public Eye has learned. They include vice-president Kelly Thomas, special events coordinator and fundraising chair Sharron Cant and community events coordinator Ron Erickson.

Today, Go Direct Marketing Inc. president Virginia Greene will announce she's seeking the provincial Liberal nomination in Vancouver-Fairview. Ms. Greene was the assistant deputy minister of tourism for the British Columbia government during the eighties. She was previously involved with Bob Plecas, a powerful deputy minister who served under several Socred administrations and eventually the New Democrats. Mr. Plecas is the former president of the British Columbia Lumber Trade Council.

Yesterday, Public Eye outed several of the provincial Liberal's paid staffers, including field organizer Barb McClarty. News reports identify an individual with the same name as the women's commission chair on Solicitor General Rich Coleman's Fort Langley-Aldergrove constituency association and Nelson-Creston backbencher Blair Suffredine's former constituency assistant. Ms. McClarty did not return repeated calls to confirm this information. But not to worry. Jordan Bateman at Langley Politics Dotcom is on the case. Today, Mr. Bateman, a former Langley Advance News staffer, reports the field organizer is the same woman "I serve with on the Fort Langley-Aldergrove riding association."

Public Eye took a number of phone calls yesterday from operatives wondering who would be responsible for the public affairs bureau now that Finance Minister Gary Collins has resigned. And the answer, ladies and gentlemen, is his replacement Colin Hansen. But, according to insiders, there's some question marks surrounding how active Minister Hansen will be in managing that file - perhaps leaving most of the responsibility to the bureau's deputy minister Athana Mentzelopoulos.

Last Christmas, the cops paid a visit to the legislature. This year, Rockpile residents returned the favour. Press gallery members Jeff Davies, Justine Hunter, Lindsay Kines, Moira McLean, Phillippe Murat, Jeff Rudd and Scott Sutherland visited Victoria police headquarters earlier today for eggnog and news that Constable Ravinder Singh Dosanjh has been charged with attempting to obstruct justice. According to Chief Constable Paul Battershill, those charges are indirectly linked to the drug investigation involving former ministerial assistant David Basi. But the legislature's scribblers and gabbers weren't the only ones who showed up for some holiday cheer. Provincial Liberal caucus communications director Shane Mills was also there. He was not, however, wearing a Santa Claus suit (although Public Eye thought his grey jacket was quite fetching).

Public Eye is proud to announce we're helping the provincial Liberals keep their promise to run the most open and accountable administration in Canada - whether they like it or not. Despite the best efforts of party executive director Kelly von Reichert, who seems to be under the mistaken impression that Liberal business is none of our business, we've managed to put together a list of the party's paid staffers. And, according to our research, more than a few of them have strong connections to the meat-eating side of the Liberal coalition. The party has refused to confirm or deny those names because the identities of its field organizers are classified as "strategic information." And those organizers seem to be following the same orders. The following is a copy of that list, with backgrounders on each staffer.

On CKNW this morning, Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer confirmed he was on holidays when news broke that Finance Minister Gary Collins was resigning. He added, "This happens everytime I'm on holidays. I was on holiday when (New Democrat Premier) Glen Clark resigned. I was on holiday when the police raided the legislature. It's become a standing joke around the capital that the politicians wait for me to go on holidays before they do anything outrageous." Which begs the age old question: does provincial politics rotate around Mr. Palmer or does Mr. Palmer rotate around provincial politics?

Oh, how the might have fallen! Just three short months ago, federal Liberal sympathizers Christy Clark, Gary Collins, Geoff Plant and Colin Hansen occupied four of the most powerful seats around the provincial cabinet table: the deputy premier's office, finance, the attorney general's office and health. But now that Ministers Clark and Collins have vacated their chairs, Liberal influence within the Campbell administration is on life support. And, according to the rumour mill, Attorney General Plant may also be looking to exit British Columbia politics or even resign.

Barry Penner must think he's got an enormous capital L tattooed on his forehead. Despite having more political smarts than most cabinet ministers, Mr. Penner languished in the backbenches for two years before the premier named him parliamentary secretary to House Leader Gary Collins. At the time, Mr. Penner was told he was being groomed for his new boss's job. But now it looks like the premier has passed him over for the house leader spot, instead putting Labour Minister Graham Bruce into that position. We're pretty sure this decision has made Mr. Penner very, very, very happy. But we're just guessing. Of course, Mr. Penner's predicament will come as no surprise to Ralph Sultan, the Harvard economist, former bank executive and government MLA who also remains inexplicably excluded from cabinet.

Premier Gordon Campbell has announced Colin Hansen will be taking Finance Minister Gary Collins's portfolio and Labour Minister Graham Bruce gets the house leader job. Shirley Bond replaces Minister Hansen in health services and planning. Ida Chong moves into Minister Bond's old job in advanced education. And caucus chair Wendy McMahon becomes responsible for women's and senior's services. Premier Campbell said he hasn't decided who will replace Minister Collins as the provincial Liberal's re-election campaign co-chair.

In a news conference, Finance Minister Gary Collins provided two reasons why he was resigning his cabinet and legislative seats to become chief executive officer of Harmony Airways. Number one: "it's an important time to be close to my family" because his wife Wendy Cox is expecting their second child. And number two: "flying has always been a passion of mine."

So why did Finance Minister Gary Collins, a former flight instructor, choose Harmony Airways as his private sector landing strip? Well it might have something to do with the fact the company owner, Hong Kong tobacco fortune heir David Ho, happens to be a big provincial and federal Liberal donor. Last year alone, Mr. Ho and his companies donated more than $102,000 to the provincial Liberals. And he contributed $100,000 to Prime Minister Paul Martin's leadership campaign.

Finance Minister Gary Collins is resigning his cabinet and legislative seats to become chief executive officer of Harmony Airways, which is operated by HMY Airlines Inc. A news conference at the premier's office in Vancouver is expected at 4:00. But, in the meantime, the scribes in the press gallery are busy writing Minister Collins's political obituary and operatives in both parties are speculating on the reason why he resigned and who will replace him. Early bets seem to include Labour Minister Graham Bruce, Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Health Minister Colin Hansen. We're putting our money on Minister Bruce.

More shenanigans at the Saanich South provincial New Democrat nomination meeting. Earlier, Public Eye reported agents unknown slipped pro-Liberal leaflets under the windshield wipers of cars parked outside that meeting. And now, a New Democrat apparatchik who was there tells us that, during party leader Carole James's speech, "there was a young man with a video camera standing outside the front doors of the hall taping Carole. We quickly spotted him and shut the door. Perhaps he was the same gentleman putting literature under car windshields?" Or perhaps he was simply looking for candid shots of Ms. James to post on his bathroom wall? Nah. It's probably the former.

The provincial New Democrats are recruiting three new staffers in preparation for the upcoming election. According to an email sent out last Thursday, those staffers include a pre-election production coordinator who will be responsible for designing and producing campaign materials. Interestingly, the job description specifically requires the coordinator to "develop media capacity to reach members of Indo-Canadian, Chinese, Filipino, First Nations and other cultural communities with leaflets and both radio and print ads." Earlier, Public Eye reported the New Democrats provincial council seemed especially concerned about encouraging "Indo-Canadian participation" during the next election and mobilizing ethnic voters. The party is also hiring a pre-election organizer (northern British Columbia) and a volunteer and training organizer. The following is a copy of the email.

Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell and city councilors Jim Green, Raymond Louie and Tim Stevenson will announce they're quitting the Coalition of Progressive Electors caucus at 1:00 today. But, according our spies, they won't officially be leaving the civic party. Those same sources also say Mayor Campbell and his council supporters will be fundraising seperately from the coalition. And CKNW is reporting they'll be running as an independent slate in the next election.

Former road warrior Harry Lali, who is running for the provincial New Democrats in Yale-Lillooet, is playing the race card against Indo-Canadian Liberal backbencher Patty Sahota. In a letter published yesterday in the Indo-Canadian Voice, Mr. Lali claims she has "completely abrogated her responsibility to her race and, along with the other six South Asians in her caucus, has left the task of representing South Asian interests for the last three and a half years to Gordon Campbell and the other non-Indo-Canadian MLAs." Racial responsibilities eh? What are are those? Please do tell Harry. We're all listening. The following is a copy of that letter.

Biker babe Deborah Grey is rolling onto the airwaves later next month. Between January 17 to 21, the federal Reform movement's grande dame will be filling-in for a vacationing Rafe Mair on AM 600 in Vancouver. That temp job would have usually gone to Mr. Mair's producer Shiral Tobin. But she's going on maternity leave for six months as of January 14.

The commissars who control the provincial New Democrat constituency association in Vancouver-Kingsway are accusing party leaders of running "an unclean nomination meeting" in their riding. According to an email authored by the puritans, offenses include the fact "only one of the candidates, (nomination winner) Adrian Dix, was provided with a musical background before and after his speech" and "people had no privacy when marking their ballots" because "the voting took place in a gym where the chairs were tightly packed together." Oh my God! Tightly packed seats! Nothing is more offensive to democratic process than that!

In an interview today, Paul Daynes, who has single-handedly proven grassroots provincial Liberals aren't mythic creatures, talked about his experienced handing out anti-New Democrat leaflets at the British Columbia Federation of Labour's convention. Deadpanning, Mr. Daynes said "I can reveal to you one very, very interesting aspect of this whole exercise. I've discovered a large number of B.C. Federation of Labour delegates - at least the ones I spoke with - have a very unusual set of priorities. Basically, they wanted me to have sex with myself. And they seemed particularly obsessed with Premier Campbell going away and having sex with himself." The following email, which seems to have become something of a holy relic among Liberals, provides a more in-depth account of that experience.

Earlier, we reported a pro-Liberal leaflet was slipped under the windshield wipers of cars parked outside the provincial New Democrat's nomination meeting in Saanich South. The leaflet, which was distributed by agents unknown, didn't identify who produced it. But, in an interview with Public Eye, plain vanilla Liberal member Paul Daynes admirably owned up to being the author. Mr. Daynes explained, "I think the left, to their credit, are socially active and get out and put their viewpoint out to the public. And I think, on the centre-right, it's always been my personal feeling that we're a bit lazy. So I just decided to exercise my right to free speech and association" by putting together the leaflet.

The election race in Saanich South has gotten off to a bit of a dirty start. A pro-Liberal leaflet was slipped under the windshield wipers of cars parked outside the provincial New Democrat's nomination meeting, which was held earlier today. One side of the leaflet proclaims "BC is on track to be a have province again" because the Campbell administration has introduced "real balanced budgets" and "lower taxes." The other side warns "despite our resources, BC became a Have-Not province" during the "NDP Decade of Decline." Each side features a collage of photocopied newspaper articles with headlines supporting those statements. Some of those articles date back to 1997. The leaflet doesn't identify who produced it.

The provincial New Democrats have nominated Saanich councillor and Tom Skerritt-look alike David Cubberley as their candidate in Saanich South. Mr. Cubberley, who ran in that riding during the last election, won on the first ballot with 114 votes, beating out former University of Western Ontario zoology professor Michael Clinchy and former leadership candidate Mehdi Najari. Mr. Clinchy received 50 votes and Mr. Najari got 19. Mr. Cubberley previously worked as a ministerial assistant to cabinet minister Andrew Petter, who also represented Saanich South, and a speechwriter for Premier Mike Harcourt.

Katherine Bergen, Advanced Education Minister Shirley Bond's executive assistant, is graduating to a whole new level of stress (translation: being promoted to ministerial assistant). She'll be replacing Kim Haakstad, Human Resources Minister Susan Brice's aide, who is leaving the legislative precincts to become the executive director of the federal Grits in British Columbia. Ms. Bergen is a card-carrying member of the University of Victoria Young Liberals social club (provincial division).

Today, Ipsos-Reid Corp. released a major poll on the upcoming election. Most of the poll results have already been publicized by The Vancouver Sun and BCTV. But the survey also included questions testing some of the messages the provincial New Democrats and Liberals will be using during that election. Company public affairs vice-president Kyle Braid talked a bit about the answers to those questions during his breakfast presentation. And Public Eye is pleased to provide both to our readers.

The provincial government has approved an increase in funding to women's services, Public Eye has learned. But there was some debate among caucus members about how and whether to go ahead with that increase. One reason: the Liberals cutback $1.7 million in funding to women's centres because, according to insiders, half of the work many of those centres do is activism and half is actual services. And the Liberals, out of principle, didn't think government should be funding advocacy work. So there was concern restoring some of the funding could undermine that principle. Insiders also say Minister of State for Women's and Senior's Services Ida Chong proposed to have that funding announcement rolled out around the anniversary of the Montreal massacre. But it was decided not to play politics with that date. So the announcement will instead be kicked out sometime later.

Is former provincial cabinet minister Christy Clark a ticking time bomb? That's the question some audience members were asking following this morning's Ipsos-Reid Corp. briefing on the upcoming election. The reason: during his presentation, BCTV legislative bureau chief Keith Baldrey told the assembled that Ms. Clark is "fundamentally unhappy with the direction government is taking but it's too early to be speaking out against the government." During his presentation, the television reporter also said the New Democrats were better organized on the ground than the Liberals and there was a real possibility the lefties could win the next election - although he added the New Democrats continue to be a divided party.

"It was like Rick's nightclub in Casablanca." That was how one wit described this morning's Ipsos-Reid Corp. breakfast briefing at the Marriot Vancouver Pinnacle Hotel, which was attended by around 200 political operatives from both the left and right. According to our spies, those present included Brewers of Canada executive director Greg D'Avignon, Canadian Union of Public Employees communications representative and Highwire Act author Dan Gawthrop, Go Direct Marketing Inc. president Virginia Greene, NOW Communications Group Inc. president Ron Johnson, British Columbia Business Council president Jerry Lampert, Greater Vancouver Green Party school trustee Andrea Reimer, Strategic Thoughts publisher David Schreck, British Columbia New Democrat executive director Gerry Scott, James Hoggan and Associates Inc. executive vice-president Nancy Spooner, Vancouver city councilor Tim Stevenson, The Pace Group managing partner Norman Stowe and Georgia Straight columnist Bill Tieleman.

Premier Gordon Campbell is meeting with Indo-Canadian community leaders this Saturday, Public Eye has learned. Insiders say the meeting is part of an ongoing effort by the provincial government to strengthen (read: repair) relations with that community. Attendees, who are said to number more than a dozen (and perhaps as many as 30), will include Prem Vinning, who was previously one of the principal Indo-Canadian organizers for the federal Liberals in British Columbia before he was sidelined by the Martinites. While most insiders seem to think this meeting is a good thing, there's some concern the premier is putting traditionalists and moderates in the same room together.

Vancouver Sun legislative reporter Jim Beatty is making the leap to the small screen. In an interview, Mr. Beatty, who has been with the newspaper for almost ten years, confirmed he has been hired as CTV's legislative bureau chief. That position has been vacant since Ed Watson left to become CH Television's anchor. When asked for his thoughts on leaving the Sun, Mr. Beatty said, "I've spent my entire career in newspapers...And I'm really excited about taking things in a different directions: to tell stories using real people rather corporate heads and politicians. I'm excited about learning a new skill and craft but continuing to stay in journalism."

The chattering classes have pummelled the citizens' assembly proposal to change British Columbia electoral system. But it's not down for the count yet. The embryonic committee supporting that proposal is having another meeting tonight, with Crease Harman and Company lawyer Bruce Hallsor hosting the Victoria-side of the conference call and James Hoggan and Associates Inc. account and business development director Erin Airton covering the Vancouver-side. According to an email obtained by Public Eye, a number of topics will be discussed - including the committee's official launch date, which is scheduled for December 10 at the legislature. The following is a copy of the meeting agenda.

Ipos-Reid Corp. is giving politicos a pre-Christmas present. The public opinion research firm is releasing a major 800-sample size poll, which was conducted between November 24 and 30, identifying the opportunities and vulnerabilities of the leaders and parties in the next provincial election. Some of those results will be broadcast tonight on BCTV. Others will be published in tomorrow morning's Vancouver Sun. And a more detailed analysis will be available during Ipsos-Reid's breakfast presentation at the Marriot Vancouver Pinnacle Hotel. In an interview with Public Eye, Ipsos-Reid public affairs vice-president Kyle Braid, not surprisingly, declined to give specifics on the poll results. But he did talk about some of the questions the firm asked British Columbians.

It seems like the provincial New Democrats at the party's Burnaby mothership are having a bit of fun with history. In a news release posted on the party's Website over the weekend, the hiveminders announced, "Media commentator and non-profit director Adrian Dix was nominated as the candidate for Vancouver-Kingsway at a meeting attended by nearly 800 members Sunday afternoon." Hmmm...media commentator and non-profit director eh? It seems something is missing from that description. Could it be the fact that Mr. Dix previously worked as Premier Glen Clark's chief of staff! Don't worry guys, your secret is safe with Public Eye. Because we're pretty sure no one else in the media is aware of Mr. Dix's past life.

Today, The Province reported North Vancouver-Seymour backbencher Dan Jarvis "is being challenged by North Van school board trustee Cindy Silver. Silver is a crusading Christian who specializes in fighting legal cases against same-sex marriage and other religious causes." Public Eye broke that story early last week. Mr. Smyth also reported retiring Langley backbencher Lynn Stephens was opposed to former Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election candidate Mary Polak's plan to seek a nomination in her riding. Public Eye brought you that news yesterday.

On Saturday, Surrey Now's Marisa Babic reported controversial former Surrey school trustee Mary Polak is looking to run for the provincial Liberals in Langley. But one person who won't be endorsing her is the riding's sitting MLA Lynn Stephens, who has announced she won't be running in the next election. In an interview with Public Eye, Ms. Stephens told us she would be supporting, "Anybody but Polak."

Democracy and the federal Liberals don't exactly go together like peanut butter and jam. But, during his recent election campaign, the party's British Columbia president Jamie Elmhirst promised to improve that sticky relationship. And it seems veteran Liberal organizer Tex Enemark has some ideas about how that might happen. In an email sent to senior party members last month and leaked to Public Eye, Mr. Enemark, who was an executive assistant to Trudeau administration Consumer and Corporate Affairs Minister Ron Basford before becoming deputy minister to Socred Consumer and Corporate Affairs Minister Rafe Mair, makes a number of suggestions on how to reform the party.

On Saturday, Surrey Now reported "rumours are swirling that Palbinder Shergill, a lawyer with Peterson Stark Scott in Surrey, is poised to run for the Liberals in Panorama Ridge. Shergill denied the rumour when contacted yesterday, although her comments weren't entirely unequivocal. 'At this time, I have no plans to run,' said Shergill, who is a member on the board of the Fraser Health Authority. But when pressed further, Shergill laughed and said she's learned that it's best to 'never say never.'" Public Eye brought you that news last Wednesday.

More news from Babble. According to the rabble rousers, Adrian Dix, Premier Glen Clark's chief of staff, has won the provincial New Democrat nomination in Vancouver-Kingsway. Our unofficial correspondent Adam Tondowsky reports Mr. Dix received 330 votes on the first ballot. Former Peruvian revolutionary Alicia Barsallo came in with 171, followed by homebuilder Shavinder Parmar at 141 and ex-Filipino student activist Roberto Rous at 84. Messrs. Parmar and Rous withdrew before the second ballot, which Mr. Dix won with 264 votes to Ms. Barsallo's 236.

A rabble rouser is reporting former provincial Liberal Delta North membership chair Ravinder Gill will be the New Democrat candidate for Vancouver-Fraserview during the next election. According to Babble, he won the nomination on the first ballot. Last Saturday, The Vancouver Sun's Gordon Hamilton reported Harmond Bal, one Mr. Gill's competitors, was accusing the constituency association of "letting (federal) Liberals decide who is going to run for the NDP." The reason: according to Mr. Bal, 110 of Vancouver-Fraserview's 523 members are also listed as Grits in Vancouver-South Burnaby. Mr. Bal, however, is also alleged to have been a Liberal.

Last Saturday, The Vancouver Sun's Gordon Hamilton reported complaints by provincial New Democrat nomination candidate Harmon Ball that his constituency association was, "letting Liberals decide who is going to run for the NDP." The reason: according to Mr. Bal, 110 of Vancouver-Fraserview's 523 members are also listed as federal Liberals in Vancouver-South Burnaby. The candidate has filed a complaint about those dual membership. After all, provincial New Democrats are required to belong to the party's federal wing. But here's the funny part.

British Columbia's community living authority, which was supposed to takeover responsibility for provincial government services for the developmentally disabled in fiscal 2003/04, seems to be slouching its way toward Bethlehem to be born. That takeover was delayed following the forced resignation of authority chief executive officer Doug Walls earlier this year. And now, Public Eye has learned Mr. Walls replacement Phil Goodman, an assistant deputy minister with children and family development, will be taking a leave of absence due to health problems. But, according to a memo from his boss Alison MacPhail, the ministry will still be moving ahead with its devolution plans, identifying an acting replacement as soon as possible. The following is a copy of that memo.

This is something you don't usually see in the world of politics: an apology. In an email sent to Coalition of Progressive Electors members moments ago, the civic party's internal co-chair Donna Morgan admits "that COPE could have done more" to win the wards campaign. "We could have committed more funds and efforts to voter contact, and we could have had earlier and greater communication with Vancouver's diverse ethnic communities." Some excuses follow. But Ms. Morgan then goes onto writes the wards defeat "will serve as a wake up call to unite us with the knowledge that the election in November 2005 is by no means a sure thing." Before the election happens, though, the coalition, "will be organizing a membership meeting (in January) to further discuss the wards campaign" with party members. The following is a copy of that email.

Yesterday, Public Eye reported the British Columbia New Democrat's provincial executive had seized control of the Vancouver-Kingsway's upcoming Sunday nomination meeting to make sure it's run impartially. The constituency association sent out an email that decision was unconstitutional. The email also alleged there were "a number of anomalies" in the Vancouver-Kingsway membership list - anomolies head office hadn't looked into. Today, the party brass responded to those allegations.

Earlier, Public Eye reported the British Columbia New Democrat's provincial executive had seized control of Vancouver-Kingsway's upcoming Sunday nomination meeting. The executive took charge following complaints by nomination candidates Adrian Dix and Sharvinder Parmar that the riding's constituency association executive treated them unfairly. And how had they treated those candidates unfairly, you might ask? Well, it might have had something to do with the fact the association, which is controlled by their competitor Alicia Barsallo, put Andrew Adler on the nomination meeting's credentials and balloting committees. You see, in addition to being the association's membership secretary, Mr. Adler was listed in a news release as a spokeperson for Comandate Barsallo's nomination campaign. The following is a copy of that release.

The British Columbia New Democrat's provincial executive has seized control of the Vancouver-Kingsway's upcoming Sunday nomination meeting, Public Eye has learned. According to emails leaked to us, the executive took charge following complaints by nomination candidates Adrian Dix and Shavinder Parmar that the riding's constituency association executive, which is controlled by their competitor Alicia Barsallo's Red Brigade, had treated them unfairly. The constituency's membership secretary Andrew Adler has also leveled a counter-complaint that there are "a number of anomalies" in the Vancouver-Kingsway membership list.

The provincial Liberals have added another meat-eater to their staffer roster. Former federal parliamentary operative R.J. Senko is replacing Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon's executive assistant Pavan Nirwan, who is now holed up in government's events planning monestary. Mr. Senko has worked in Ottawa for Reform and its successor parties for the past eleven years, with nine of them spent as an executive assistant in the party whip's office. Mr. Senko, who was born in Red Deer, Alberta but raised in Delta, unsuccessfully ran in 1997 and 2004 to become his party's candidate in Nanaimo-Cowichan. Mr. Senko also worked as a radio broadcaster for CFWB Campbell River (1988 to 1989) and CHUB in Nanaimo (1989 to 1993). According to the inscription beneath his high school yearbook photo: "Ray hopes to become emperor of the world some day."

Earlier, Public Eye reported the provincial government's public service agency had paid Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Nerd Tod Maffin $7,500 to educate and entertain 300 bureaucrats earlier this week. Today, in a comment posted on Public Eye, an anonymous civil servant argued in favour of that song and dance routine, pointing out, "Good companies do things like this for their employees all the time." The bureaucrat then went onto complain that the public seems to think "all government employees should just shut up, be glad they have a job and sit in their cubicles being as productive as possible."

Kim Haakstad, ex-provincial cabinet minister Christy Clark's longtime assistant, is leaving the Rockpile and heading across the pond to become executive director of the federal Liberals in British Columbia. The seasoned Ms. Haakstad, who currently works as an aide to Human Resources Minister Susan Brice, will be replacing the less spicy Colin Topham. Mr. Topham previously managed the disaster zone that became known as Shirley Chan's campaign in Vancouver East during the last election. He will continue to be paid until the end of January but no political parachute has been provided at this point.

This morning, The Province reported "the fruit-juice businessman tabbed to run for the NDP against Finance Minister Gary Collins and described as a candidate who 'embodies the spirit of New Democrats' is caught in a sex-discrimination suit filed by an ex-employee alleging she was unfairly fired." Public Eye broke that story yesterday afternoon.

Peterson Stark Scott lawyer Palbinder Shergill seems to be a woman in demand - by the provincial Liberals, that is. Earlier, Public Eye reported palace gossip Ms. Shergill could be in-line for a government appointment. And now, we're hearing rumours she may be considering seeking the Liberal nomination in Surrey-Panorama Ridge, possibly backed by Finance Minister Gary Collins. No word on whether Mary Polak will be running against her for that nomination. Ms. Polak, who was the Liberal candidate during the recent Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election, had earlier promised to take another stab at that riding.

The workers of the world aren't going to like this one bit. Public Eye has learned the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal is considering a sex discrimination complaint against provincial New Democrat It Boy Gregor Robertson, his company Happy Planet Foods Inc. and its president Johann Burger. According to a document posted on the tribunal's Website today, Hilda Janzen, who worked as a controller for Happy Planet, claims when she lost her job, Mr. Burger said she was a "strong woman and that he could not harness me and because of this had to let me go." Messrs. Burger and Robertson have denied this and other allegations, saying Ms. Janzen was terminated because of a financial downturn.

It looks like fortune tellers aren't the only ones interested in crystal ball gazing these days. Yesterday, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s Nerd (we're not kidding) Tod Maffin delivered a 80-minute afternoon presentation to around 300 provincial bureaucrats on...cue 2001 drumroll...the future! And for this speech, which was proudly introduced by public service agency deputy minister Diane Rabbani, the government paid the Nerd $7,500. But, in an interview, British Columbia Leadership and Training Centre assistant deputy minister Liz Gilland maintains the agency got value for its money.