January 2005 Archives

Here's something that flew under the radar: last Wednesday, when the premier was questioned about the Prem Vinning affair, he told BCTV "I heard yesterday about the situation. And Prem was asked about it. He told the truth about it." In other words, Gordon Campbell knew Mr. Vinning used a fake name during a call-in show a day before the media reported on the affair. Yet the veteran Indo-Canadian political organizer was still working in the premier's office. So does that mean the premier condoned his behaviour? And did Mr. Vinning resign only because the media found out what happened?

The New Democrats pride themselves on being the champions of ethnic equality. So one wonders what the politically-correct crowd thinks about the fact white boys have been nominated as the party's provincial election candidates in Vancouver-Hastings (Shane Simpson), Vancouver-Kensington (David Chudnovsky) and Vancouver-Kingsway (Adrian Dix). After all, these constituencies have a high percentage of visible minority residents - making up 53, 71 and 74 percent of those ridings, respectively. Then again, the New Democrats would never suggest a white person is incapable of representing the interests of minority groups - would they?

As you may or may not have heard (probably the latter), infamous federal Liberal non-candidate Tony Kuo announced on Friday he wants to run for the provincial New Democrats in Burnaby-Willingdon. Now normally an outsider wouldn't have much chance of winning a nomination in a party that's run like a closed union shop. But Mr. Kuo, who calls himself Mr. Democracy, must be feeling pretty darn good about his chances. Because, in a news release sent out last week, he informed the media multitude "I will have more to say on February 20, 2005 at the nomination meeting and upon my return of my family holiday from January 28, 2005 to February 14, 2005." In related news, Martinite high priest Mark Marissen was spotted doing cartwheels in the street upon finding out Mr. Kuo would officially be another party's problem. The following is a complete copy of the release.

The romance between Attorney General Geoff Plant and the provincial government's treaty negotiation office seems to have hit a rough patch. According to our snitches in the civil service, the office's deputy minister Lorne Brownsey is rumoured to have informed the minister there would be no final treaties signed before the election. That statement apparently didn't over well with Attorney General Plant, resulting in hurt feelings on both sides.

Yet another male joined the provincial New Democrat's election team yesterday. Ex-Williams Lake city councillor Charles Wyse beat out former Quensel Women's Resource Centre executive director Alice Stoddard to win the nomination in Cariboo South, 180 votes to 73. Of the 32 candidates nominated so far, six (19 percent) have been women.

More provincial New Democrat nomination results: in Alberni-Qualicum, Alberni and District Labour Council vice-president David Thompson won on the fourth ballot, with peace activist Norma Emerson coming in second; in Comox Valley, teacher Andrew Black smoked Comox-Strathcona Regional District director Barbara Price and two other candidates on the first ballot; in New Westminster, city councillor Chuck Puchmayr beat federal New Democrat New Westminster-Coquitlam 2004 election candidate Steve McClurg; and in Prince George-Mount Robson, Prince George and District Labour Council president Wayne Mills defeated University of Northern British Columbia First Nations Centre instructor and academic advisor Molly Eichar. Public Eye hasn't yet heard word from Cariboo South, where former Quensel Women's Resource Centre executive director Alice Stoddard was running against former Williams Lake city councillor Charles Wyse.

The Coalition of Progressive Electors sugar-free organizers are having a very bad month. Earlier, their favoured candidate in Vancouver-Kensington, Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 378 staff representative Kelly Quinn was defeated by former British Columbia Teachers' Federation president David Chudnovsky. And now the coalition's diet faction has suffered another loss in Vancouver-Hastings. According to our spies, Opposition caucus outreach coordinator Raj Sihota, who appeared on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. show The Making of a Political Animal, came in last on the first ballot with 221 votes. That put prison guard Tony Kosovic in second place with 227 votes and community activist Shane Simpson in first with 368. Mr. Simpson then went on to win the nomination on the second ballot, receiving 395 votes to Mr. Kosovic's 156.

Today, the provincial New Democrats put out a news release touting the fact "financial reports released by Elections BC show the New Democrats are the 'people's choice' when it comes to making political donations." The reason: because "of the $2.5 million dollars raised by the party in the first ten months of 2004, more than $2.0 million dollars came from individuals." But what the release fails to mention is that union donations, on a percentage basis, are up significantly compared with their last annual report. In 2003, just 4.3 percent of the party's contributions came from the labour movement. But, now that we're getting closer to an election, that number has jumped to 14.4 percent in the first ten months of 2004.

Last week, Province columnist Michael Smyth, acting on anonymous phone calls, reported Victoria-Hillside election candidate Rob Fleming had been a member of the International Socialists. But, in a candid interview with Public Eye, Mr. Fleming says he thinks British Columbians have a right to know about the other skeleton in his closet: while running to become the University of Victoria Students' Society's finance director eight years ago, he impersonated an election official to get his opponents' signs torn down.

Veteran political organizer Prem Vinning may not have been on the public payroll when he quit his new job in the premier's office yesterday afternoon. But it seems he was already knee-deep doing electioneering on behalf of the provincial Liberals. As Public Eye and The Indo-Canadian Voice previously reported, Mr. Vinning attended a meeting on December 11, where Gordon Campbell met with Indo-Canadian leaders to discuss improving relations with their community. But it turns out Mr. Vinning, a friend of former finance minister and Liberal re-election committee co-chair Gary Collins, was doing much more than just filling a chair.

It appears political strategist Greg Lyle may have left the provincial Liberal's re-election team the same way he arrived - silently. When asked about rumours he was no longer working for the Grits, Mr. Lyle told Public Eye, "I can neither confirm nor deny." The Liberals have repeatedly refused to disclose who's on that team, classifying the information as "strategic."

This is kind of creepy. It looks like the mind control experts at the British Columbia Federation of Labour are running a workshop called "Talking Points" this Saturday for anyone who wants to "learn how to convince your co-workers, friends, and family to join the movement to defeat Gordon Campbell's Liberal government." According to a message circulated on the Vancouver and District Labour Council's email list, attendees will "come away from this workshop with some new tips and techniques in the art of persuasion." And guess who's responsible for organizing the event? Why it's none other than the federation's favourite regional political coordinator Mable Elmore, who has had some interesting battles with Zionists in the workplace. The following is a complete copy of the email.

At this hour, CKNW is reporting "a veteran political organizer has decided not to take a new job in the office of Premier Gordon Campbell after admitting he used a fake name while placing a call to Campbell on a TV talk show." The station adds, Opposition leader Joy MacPhail "doesn't buy the government's claim that (Prem) Vinning wasn't officially on the job." Interesting Ms. MacPhail should mention that because, when Public Eye phoned the premier's office in Vancouver on Tuesday and asked to speak with Mr. Vinning, the very helpful receptionist there informed us, "I'm not sure where he is today. He was using an office here yesterday. I'm not sure where he is today...I don't know that he's going to have a permanent office out of here. I do not know what the situation is. I just know that he was here yesterday at the invitation of the premier."

Public Eye has learned the premier's new director of Asia-Pacific trade and economic development Prem Vinning, a veteran federal Liberal organizer, has resigned - three days after being hired. That decision comes just hours after Public Eye revealed Mr. Vinning used a different name other than his own when phoning in a question to a weekend Channel M call-in-show featuring Premier Gordon Campbell.

In a taped interview, a veteran Indo-Canadian political organizer admitted he used a different name than his own when phoning in a question to a weekend Channel M call-in-show featuring Premier Gordon Campbell. Prem Vinning, who was hired on Monday as a senior staffer in the premier's office, confirmed he called himself Peter when he asked, "I'm in the trucking business and, you know, the economy is going great guns and that's good. But to get my products from the Cariboo into the harbour, the time I lose on my trucking business is just an enormous amount of time. When are you going to do something to move the traffic so we can keep our business going?" Premier Campbell responded "That is a very, very good question..." before answering. When asked about the question, Mr. Vinning explained, "It was me. And some of the guys call me Peter sometimes."

Prem Vinning, a veteran Indo-Canadian political organizer, has been hired as the director of Asia-Pacific trade and economic development in the premier's office - less than four months before an election, Public Eye has exclusively learned. But Mr. Vinning says his job doesn't involve doing any electioneering for the Liberals, although he may be helping out on the campaign trail.

From our vantage point at the base of the Rockpile, Public Eye's telescope has spotted three brave adventurers scaling its gentle but extremely treacherous slopes. Bill "The Boy Wonder" Hepburn has been made the top aide to Minister of State for Immigration and Multiculturalism Patrick Wong. Legislative assistant Terry Lalari, who has strong connections with the Indo-Canadian community, becomes the executive assistant in Minister Wong's office. And Lindsey McCray, special assistant to federal International Trade Minister Jim Peterson, will be parachuting in from a foreign political land to work as Advanced Education Minister Ida Chong's executive assistant.

Much pressing of the flesh last night at The Fairmont Empress's swish Crystal Ballroom, where federal Conservative caucus members schmoozed with the local party rifraf. In addition to giving opinions on Newmarket-Auora MP Belinda Stronach's fashion choices, our spies at the event noted longtime operative Byng Giraud and his followers were spotted passing out buttons and brochures in support of his bid to become one of the party's two national councillors from British Columbia.

Today, The Province reported, "Team Harper will be the guests of honour at the Royal B.C. Museum, where the Campbell government is holding a catered reception for the Conservative caucus and their key staffers." Public Eye told you about that reception last week. The tabloid added the Campbell government the Province would be spending up to $5,000 of taxpayer money on the event.

Former Toronto Dominion Securities Inc. chief economist Paul Summerville didn't end up running for the provincial New Democrat nomination in Oak Bay-Gordon Head - in part, because party hierarchs seemed unwilling to forcefully ask his would-be competitor, Greater Victoria school board chair Charley Beresford, to step aside and make room for the late entrant star candidate. But that unwillingness doesn't seem to have hurt Mr. Summerville's feelings because he showed up on Saturday to deliver Ms. Beresford's nominating speech.

Remember that special caucus meeting BCTV reported on - the one where Premier Gordon Campbell was supposed to announce Attorney General Geoff Plant was resigning? Didn't happen. According to insiders, the premier simply met with caucus to talk about the issues he'd be discussing with the Provincial Congress of B.C., a gathering of MLAs, MPs, senators, municipal representatives and aboriginal leaders at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue in Vancouver.

Those familiar with Attorney General Geoff Plant's thinking say the provincial Liberal minister would be more likely to announce he's not running in the next election rather than resign from cabinet, as is being reported by BCTV. That's consistent with a previous statement he made in December to the Vancouver Sun. So if he's leaving the executive council (and that's by no means certain), it's likely someone else (read: Premier Gordon Campbell) made that decision for him. In other related news, the attorney general is said to be going on a Hawaiian vacation for two weeks in early February, with his wife Janet staying on the tropical island for another two weeks after that. The legislature resumes sitting on February 8.

Much blathering among the chattering classes as to whether and when Attorney General Geoff Plant is resigning. The answer to the latter question: likely not today. After all, the attorney general is currently in Ottawa attending a federal, provincial and territorial justice and emergency management ministers meeting. The following is a copy of the news release announcing that meeting.

BCTV is reporting "Premier Gordon Campbell is expected to call a special caucus meeting later this morning where sources say he will announce the resignation of Attorney General Geoff Plant." If that happens, the premier has few options when it comes to picking a replacement. After all, the Liberals are a bit light on lawyers. Government members with law degrees include backbenchers Bill Bennett, Tony Bhullar and Blair Suffredine, Education Minister Tom Christensen, Forest Minister Mike de Jong and parliamentary secretary Barry Penner. Most insiders are betting Minister Christensen gets the job. But another line of thought suggests Minister de Jong may become attorney general. Interestingly, Messrs. Bhullar, Christensen and Penner all attended the University of Victoria's law school at or around the same time.

Will the provincial government's executive council be getting a new member? The answer is yes, according to gossipmongers who tell us backbencher Patty Sahota is being promoted to cabinet - possibly as early as tomorrow morning. If those rumours are true, the Burnaby-Edmunds MLA's promotion will be viewed as a double-barreled attempt to shore up Liberal support among both women and the Indo-Canadian community. Ms. Sahota recently made headlines following a scrap with former New Democrat cabinet minister Harry Lali in the Indo-Canadian Voice.

The vacillations of Lord David of Anderson continue. Those close to the Victoria MP say the former federal Liberal cabinet minister, who looked like he would be soon retiring, is now telling party members he'll be running in the next election. In fact, he's even saying kind words behind Prime Minister Paul Martin's back (we're good friends, he's more concerned about domestic issues, I'm going to be the environment minister again and so on). But that messaging doesn't seem to have deterred his constituency association from searching for a replacement. Our spies tell us the Liberal's national vice-president (British Columbia) Sharon Apsey recently met with Victoria mayor Alan Lowe to discuss succeeding Lord Anderson as the Liberal candidate for Victoria. Mr. Lowe is among several hopefuls said to be interested in the job.

Lefties aren't exactly known for their ability to laugh at themselves. After all, pursuing the cause of social justice is very serious business (big frowns everyone). But there's always exceptions to every rule. Over at Babble, the progressive crowd is currently discussing whether labour organizer Kelly Quinn's criminal record contributed to her defeat during the Vancouver-Kensington nomination race. That discussion prompted one wit to point out, "if it was divulged that (Premier) Gordon Campbell used a coathanger to steal a pack of Juicy Fruit from a vending machine in 1971, there'd be no fewer than three different threads on babble calling for his immediate resignation, and two more complaining that he won't be getting any jail time for it."

Moments ago, we speculated Premier Gordon Campbell's upcoming reception for the visiting national Conservative caucus would provide an excellent opportunity for the professional protesting classes to demonstrate against two right-wing parties at the same time. And now it seems the effort to organize that demonstration is already underway...sortof. In a comment posted on Public Eye, Young New Democrat Scott Hart reports his federal Liberal counterparts are "trying to organize a 'non-partisan' protest" for January 25.

Let us, for a moment, do some strategic thinking on behalf of the Campbell administration. Earlier this week, Public Eye reported the premier had personally invited his MLAs to attend a reception at the Royal British Columbia Museum "in honour of the National Caucus of the Conservative Party of Canada." Hmmm...two right-wing parties in the same place, at the same time, right in the middle of a New Democrat stronghold. Boy oh, the professional protesting classes must be salivating over that prospect. But, wait, there's more.

Last week, Public Eye reported whispers high-profile police reform advocate and fashion designer Julie Berg was thinking about running for the New Democrats, possibly in Premier Gordon Campbell's riding of Vancouver-Point Grey. Today, The Province followed-up by interviewing Ms. Berg who said, "she may take a shot at an NDP nomination, possibly in Campbell's Vancouver-Point Grey riding."

Word coming out of today's provincial government caucus meeting, held at the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, is that former children and family development minister Gordon Hogg has been elected the new caucus chair. Mr. Hogg, who resigned from cabinet last year over the Doug Walls affair, beat out Alberni-Qualicum MLA Gillian Trumper for the job. He'll be replacing Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Wendy McMahon. Mr. Hogg is said to have been Premier Gordon Campbell's favoured candidate.

Red guards disappointed by moderate Victoria city councillor Rob Fleming's New Democrat nomination victory in Victoria-Hillside will be cheered by this news. Former British Columbia Teachers' Federation president and class warrior David Chudnovsky has taken the Vancouver-Kensington nomination on the first ballot, with 246 votes out of 444 cast. Our spies report British Columbia Cancer Agency lab technician Ravinderjit Shergill got 98 votes and Umendra Singh, owner/editor of The Asian Star, received 67. Labour organizer Kelly Quinn, who had been the target of an apparent whisper campaign, came in last with 33 ballots being cast in her favour.

The provincial Liberals are giving the New Democrats a huge photo opportunity on the eve of the upcoming election. Today, government caucus members received a personal invitation from Premier Gordon Campbell to attend "a reception in honour of the National Caucus of the Conservative Party of Canada" at the Royal British Columbia Museum on January 25. The Conservatives are in Victoria for their annual caucus retreat. Premier Campbell's invitiation and the reception will likely be used as evidence by those looking to confirm the Liberal's rightward drift. But an insider says the premier would also be inviting MLAs to a reception with the federal Grits if Prime Minister Paul Martin and his crew were in town. The following is a copy of that invitiation.

It looks like the provincial Liberals are showing an increasing interest in the concerns of ordinary British Columbians - 119 days before the next election. According to our spies in Saanich South, residents have been receiving phone calls from the party asking them the following question: "With the legislature sitting soon, what issues can Susan Brice, your BC Liberal MLA, raise on your behalf?" In an interview today, party communication officer Chad Pederson confirmed the MLA-initiated polling operation, adding that similar surveys are taking place in other ridings across the province.

The West Annex has a new (willing) occupant. Government caucus executive director Steve Vanagas, who has been scurrilously accused of being a "pretty nice guy," has become the premier's deputy chief of staff responsible for (strategic) communications. Mr. Vanagas is best known for previously being a reporter with the now defunct BC Report magazine. But our spies tell us, during his troubled left-leaning youth, he was also the leader of an armed communist cell in Nicaragua (as well as being editor of the Fraser Institute's Canadian Student Review). Shocking! Meanwhile, Public Eye has heard our good friend and biggest fan Tom Syer, the premier's director of issues management, gets a name promotion to deputy chief of staff - putting him on an equal organizational chart footing with Lara Dauphinee and Mr. Vanagas.

Last year, Public Eye reported on the existence of the Octagon, an influential association of capital city conservatives who have been having lunch every Friday for the past seven years. But now it seems they have a bit of competition. Former Victoria federal Conservative nomination candidate Faith Collins, who is looking to run in the next election, announced over the weekend she's starting up her own Friday lunch group for right-wingers, this one meeting at the Sticky Wicket Pub and Restaurant. Of course, this would have absolutely nothing to do with the fact Ms. Collins' husband Jim was kicked out of the Octagon a couple months ago.

Earlier today, Public Eye reported that, when British Columbians visit the provincial Liberal's MLA Website, the first elected member who appears on the page is none other than headquarters favourite Solicitor General Rich Coleman. But, a couple hours later, it appears that's no longer the case. After a brief period where the page was inaccessible, followed by an even shorter period where backbencher Val Anderson's bio was front and centre, it seems Richard Stewart, the MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville, has replaced the solicitor general as the Liberal's cover boy. So the question is now: does Mr. Stewart secretly have leadership ambitions (we're just kidding, of course)?

Last week, Public Eye reported "in a frank and admirably honest interview" provincial New Democrat Vancouver-Kensington nomination candidate Kelly Quinn disclosed she was convicted of assaulting a police officer 23 years ago. Rumours about Ms. Quinn's criminal record have been circulating as part of what appears to be a whisper campaign against the labour organizer, who is running in a tightly-contested race. But Public Eye has since learned, via an anonymous posting on this site and party insiders, that Ms. Quinn failed to mention she was convincted of another offense.

Like most parties, the provincial Liberals' Website includes a listing of their elected members. But what's interesting is that when you load up that section of the site, the first MLA who appears isn't Sustainable Resource Management Minister George Abbot - alphabetically the first member of the Liberal caucus. Nor is it Premier Gordon Campbell, the leader of the party. It's actually Solicitor General Rich Coleman. And this has been the case since Public Eye first started paying attention to the page on Saturday. Of course, this has nothing to do with the fact Liberal headquarters is principally staffed by meat-eaters - some of whom have strong connections to the Coleman camp.

This weekend, Democratic Reform BC (which was previously known as the British Columbia Democratic Coalition), held its first policy convention in White Rock. At the time, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation reported Surrey-Whalley MLA Elayne Brenzinger attended the convention, saying she will make a formal announcement this week on her continued involvement with the new party. That has yet to happen. But it seems the party's Webmaster may know something we don't know.

At the Victoria-Hillside provincial New Democrat nomination meeting, party leader Carole James said she believes the "politicians of British Columbia have a choice. We can exploit the divisions that naturally exist in our province or we can bridge them. Mr. Campbell believes in burning bridges and I plan to build those bridges." It's a message she delivered many times before. But, increasingly, it seems many of her supporters don't think that promise should include spanning the widening gulf that exists between Ms. James' party and the Liberals - unfortunate, since it is this gap which many British Columbians are really concerned about.

It seems the provincial New Democrat leader Carole James' is having some difficulty pronouncing the words moderate and middle. In a scrum at the Victoria-Hillside nomination meeting, CKNW legislative bureau chief Sean Leslie asked Ms. James what city councilor Rob Fleming's victory said about the direction of the party. But Ms. James seemed to have some difficulty answering that question, despite repeated follow-up questions from Public Eye asking specifically whether the victory represented a shift to the moderate middle. She eventually settled on saying the win was a "significant decision by the people of Victoria-Hillside" and describing Mr. Fleming's and her own views as being "balanced."

Lots of provincial New Democrat nomination results today. Kalum Horseshoe Community School Society employee Robin Austin won Skeena, beating out Helmut Giesbrecht on the third ballot. According to our spies, the former MLA seems to have been the victim of an anyone-but-Giesbrecht movement. Meanwhile, in Victoria-Hillside, city councillor Rob Fleming narrowly defeated Steve Orcherton, another member of the ex-MLA club, winning 261 out of 461 ballots cast. And, as reported on Babble, Vancouver city councillor Tim Stevenson, also a former legislative member, got the nod in Vancouver-Burrard, squeaking past British Columbia Hydro Corp. administrator Allison McDonald - 196 votes to 155.

The provincial New Democrat nomination race in Vancouver-Kensington seems to be headed down a dirty road, just five days before the constituency association's candidate selection meeting. An apparent whisper campaign against candidate Kelly Quinn is alleging the union organizer has a past criminal record. But, in a frank and admirably honest interview with Public Eye, Ms. Quinn put those rumours to rest, confirming she was convicted of assaulting a police officer 23 years ago.

CKNW is reporting "Premier Gordon Campbell may take to the airwaves in a televised address in the coming months. The premier says he has not made a final decision on that yet...Campbell says if he goes ahead with the address it will be paid by the Liberal Party and not by the government." Public Eye told you about that address earlier today.

Premier Gordon Campbell may soon be having a fireside chat with British Columbians. According to the rumourmill, government hierarchs are considering buying a half hour of airtime for the premier to make a province-wide address - possibly around budget time or the opening of the legislature. Money for the chat would come from party coffers rather than taxpayers.

Earlier, Public Eye reported government caucus members wouldn't be meeting until January 19. But their cabinet colleagues are getting together a bit earlier. Today, in Vancouver, the executive council is having having their first post-Christmas pow-wow. Of course, don't expect to see the proceedings broadcast on Hansard TV. This is a real cabinet meeting as opposed to an open one.

Yesterday, Public Eye reported a new editor-in-chief for the Times Colonist had been chosen. And now our spies tell us the successful candidate is Lucinda Chodan. Ms. Chodan was most recently deputy editor at The Gazette in Montreal, having also been the newspaper's readership development editor. She was promoted to that position in 2002, previously serving as the newspaper's assistant managing editor (features) and entertainment editor (among other jobs).

High-profile police reform activist Julie Berg is said to be considering running for a provincial New Democrat nomination, possibly in Premier Gordon Campbell's riding of Vancouver-Point Grey. And, according to the rumour mill, discussions are already underway between party hierarchs and the Vancouver fashion designer. The articulate Ms. Berg first made headlines in the winter of 2003 when she alleged Constable David Bruce-Thomas beat her brother to death in a back alley. An internal investigation cleared the constable but the police complaint commission is currently reviewing the matter. Ms. Berg, who has become an advocate for overhauling the commission, could pose a significant threat to the Liberals should she decide to run, forcing Premier Campbell to spend more time in his riding during the election.

The Vancouver Sun is bringing disciplinary action against real estate business reporter Wyng Chow, Public Eye has learned. The action was taken based on information provided to the Sun's editor-in-chief Patricia Graham via an anonymous phone call she received in early August, say insiders. Newspaper management is reportedly investigating the information further. But those close to Mr. Chow say the reporter, who has worked for the Sun for almost 32 years, is strongly denying any professional wrongdoing. The Canadian Energy and Paperworkers Union Local 2000 is grieving the disciplinary action. Mr. Chow is currently on short-term disability leave and hasn't written for the paper since September. In an interview this morning, Sun managing editor Kirk LaPointe said he couldn't talk about the issue, adding the newspaper has a policy of not discussing personnel matters. Ms. Graham also declined comment.

The Times Colonist has found a new editor-in-chief. No word on the identity of the incoming head honcho (although an official announcement is expected shortly). But insiders say it's an outsider rather than an internal hire. The newspaper has been without an editor-in-chief since Andrew Phillips backed his bags and headed to The Gazette in Montreal last year.

As has already been reported, Minister of State for Resort Development Sandy Santori announced earlier today he was resigning his cabinet post and would be vacating his legislative seat at the end of the month. In a scrum, he answered questions about the reasons for that departure and his decision to become general manager of the Rossland Trail Golf Club. The following is a rush transcript of that scrum.

The pro-electoral reform committee is considering hiring an American political consultant to run their grassroots campaign, Public Eye has learned. Veteran operative Lynne Serpe, whose fees range from $3,000 to $6,000 U.S. per month, was the Green's national presidential campaign manager in 2004. She also was responsible for overseeing the recent Ohio vote recount. And, in 1999, Ms. Serpe co-managed Audie Bock's successful bid to become the first Green candidate elected to the California state legislature, defeating Democrat Oakland mayor Elihu Harris. She is also a strong supporter of electoral reform, having been the national coordinator for the New Zealand campaign to get the single transferable vote system approved for use in local elections.

Former cabinet minister Paul Ramsey, who has been a Prince George resident for more than 30 years, is moving to warmer climes. In an interview, Mr. Ramsey, who is currently co-chairing the provincial New Democrat's platform committee, confirmed he and his wife purchased a 2,000 square foot house in Saanich about seven months ago. They'll be taking up permanent occupancy in April. When asked whether the purchase was in preparation for helping out a possible New Democrat government, Mr. Ramsey quipped, "It's in preparation for the rest of our lives. We both turn 60 this year. And so we thought it was time to live a life where we worked a little less...And if we're not working, it might be nice to be a bit closer to the kids."

Speaking of Neil Monckton, some readers have been wondering what the Coalition of Progressive Electors' former chief organizer has been doing since he left the civic party. Well, according to our spies, as of January 3, he's been working as the national campaign director for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now Canada, an organization representing low and middle income families. The association is connected with an American group with the same name.

The provincial New Democrat nomination race in Vancouver-Kensington is a "tight three-way contest" - at least according to a fundraising email from candidate Kelly Quinn's bagman Neil Monckton. Mr. Monckton writes, "This race is not only about selecting (Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 378 staff representative) Kelly as our candidate - it is about the kind of party we want the NDP to be as we head into this very exciting provincial election" - a comment directed at Ms. Quinn's competitor David Chudnovsky, the former president of the British Columbia Teachers' Federation, whom some consider an extremist. Umendra Singh, owner/editor of The Asian Star, and Ross Street Temple proxy Ravinderjit Shergill are also in the running, but insiders seem conflicted about which of them is competitive. The following is a copy of the email.

Last month, Public Eye reported Premier Gordon Campbell met with a number of Indo-Canadian community leaders on December 11, including veteran federal Grit organizer Prem Vinning, as part of an ongoing effort by the provincial government to strengthen relations with that community. Today, Indo-Canadian Voice editor Rattan Mall published a fascinating and detailed account of that meeting, which apparently didn't go so well for the premier. According to Mr. Mall, in the wake of that meeting, some community leaders are alleging "Campbell's campaign knowingly allowed Indo-Canadian corrupt practices in his own leadership takeover of the BC Liberal party from Gordon Wilson in 1994!"

Do you think the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is secretly staffed by commies and pinkos? We don't (at least not entirely). But if you do, you won't be surprised to learn the newest member of the New Democrat's stable of party dog waggers is former Canada Now reporter Marcella Munro. Ms. Munro, who started work last month, has also worked as a producer and reporter for The National, CBC News: Sunday and counterSpin.

British Columbia is renowned for its predictably polarized politics. So Public Eye is always pleased to report when operatives are able to make light of their differences. Such is what happened when Georgia Straight columnist and former provincial New Democrat government communications guru Bill Tieleman, an opponent of the single transferable vote system, received four copies of Fair Vote British Columbia's newsletter from electoral change promoter Nick Loenen. The following is a leaked copy of their email correspondence.

In August, Public Eye reported Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society executive director Stan Paranteu had resigned amidst rumours of financial mismanagement, taking the organization's board of directors with him. At the time, children and family development communications director Deborah Bowman acknowledged the existence of what she called an internal operational review into the society, adding that government wouldn't be making the document public. But, following a freedom of information request by Public Eye, it seems the administration has had a change of heart. Because, late last month, the review (which was actually an audit conducted by the comptroller general's office), quietly found its way onto the province's Website.

Evidently, Public Eye is a conservative mouthpiece - at least according to former New Democrat cabinet minister Moe Sihota. The November/December edition of the socialist The Lower Island News reports that, during a speech discussing the media's right-wing bias, Mr. Sihota pointed out "columns by Paul Ramsay (sic) and Adrian Dix (in the Times Colonist) have been pushed aside for Shaun Coleman (sic) and Mark Milke as the May 2005 election approaches." Who knew we were related to the solicitor general?

It looks like Virginia Greene, Premier Gordon Campbell's star provincial Liberal nomination candidate in Vancouver-Fairview, is surrounding herself with a small constellation of shining supporters. In an interview this morning, Brewers of Canada western vice-president Greg D'Avignon told Public Eye he is managing Ms. Greene's nomination/coronation campaign. Mr. D'Avignon previously worked as executive director of the British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association and was a special assistant to former Prime Minister Kim Campbell.

Maura Parte, one half of the provincial New Democrat power couple that includes Victoria-Hillside nomination candidate Rob Fleming, has been hired as an Opposition caucus research officer. Ms. Parte, who most recently worked as the general manager of the University of Victoria Graduate Students' Society, is the past president of the party and is co-chairing its platform committee and with ex-cabinet minister Paul Ramsey. Former University of Victoria Students' Society president Jamie Matten has also been hired as a communications officer. She did the same job on a temporary basis during the spring legislative session. Misses Parte and Matten's jobs were made possible by Surrey-Panorama Ridge MLA Jagrup Brar, whose by-election win earned caucus an extra $60,000 in funding for this fiscal year.

Cabinet ministers weren't the only ones that got shuffled last month. Our spies report their senior assistants also got the domino treatment. Steve Vander Wal has followed his boss Shirley Bond to health services and planning. That pushed Michael Harrison into advanced education. Also moved: Steve Puhallo who has gone to labour, where he's assisting Graham Bruce with his house leader duties. Mr. Puhallo has been succeeded at finance by Alex Macmillan, who was serving Minister of State for Immigration and Multicultural Services Patrick Wong.

This morning, brother muckraker Russ Francis reported in The Province that, "In disclosures about gifts received last year, Solicitor-General Rich Coleman lists a $400 crystal rendition of two horses (he received) from the Horsemen's Protective and Benevolent Association and Thoroughbred Related Associations." After doing a bit of digging, Public Eye has learned those "Thoroughbred Related Associations" include the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (British Columbia division) and (drumroll please) Hastings Entertainment Inc. The three organizations split the cost of the Swarovski crystal horses, which were actually valued at closer to $500. So what did the solicitor general do to deserve such a fine gift?

In an interview yesterday, Surrey school board chairman Shawn Wilson confirmed he believes provincial Liberal by-election candidate Mary Polak's organizers used a fabricated quote attributed to him in their campaign literature. But, when Public Eye contacted Ms. Polak earlier today, the Surrey school trustee strongly denied that allegation.

In September, Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer reported the British Columbia Federation of Labour was hiring regional political coordinators "to push the union agenda in advance of the provincial election." That hiring process was completed last month. But the names of the successful candidates have been kept under wraps...until now. Yesterday, after some discussion, the federation agreed to release those names to Public Eye. We have prepared the following backgrounders on those coordinators.

Last month, Public Eye wondered aloud whether police allegations that ministerial assistant David Basi "had offered, delivered or promised to have delivered government documents to (former provincial cabinet minister Christy Clark's brother Bruce) CLARK" were still under investigation. So we asked Royal Canadian Mounted Police acting Staff Sergeant John Ward that question earlier this afternoon. And this is what he had to say.

The Vancouver Sun is in the process of hiring a temporary replacement for legislative reporter and blonde bombshell Jim Beatty, who resigned last month to become CTV's Rockpile bureau chief. The position, which will be based in Vancouver but regularly assigned to Victoria, is being offered to existing reporting staff. In an interview, Sun managing editor Kirk LaPointe said the broadsheet will be hiring a permanent legislative bureau staffer in five or six months, after the election. Mr. LaPointe added the competition for the temp job will close in the next couple days.

The holiday season may be over but the government's first caucus meeting of 2005 won't happen until later this month. Insiders tell us that meeting is scheduled for January 19. It will coincide with the second installment of the provincial Liberal's campaign school, which teaches MLAs the basics of electioneering. The first installment was held on November 24 in Vancouver.