July 2005 Archives

Much venom and spittle is being spilled by capital city Conservatives today: in an email sent to Victoria constituency association president Paul Holmes and copied to Public Eye, director-at-large Eugene Parks announced his resignation. According to Mr. Parks, "After more than a year of being spammed and presented with material I believe to be bigoted and ignorant from some Victoria board members, I cannot in good conscience continue to be associated with the Victoria board and its efforts." To which Saanich-Gulf Islands constituency association communication chair Paul Arnold replied: "Get a life, Eugene. We'll all be better off without your dark view of the world." The following is a copy of their emails.

Last week, in a news release, the provincial government announced the Crown corporation that manages provincial buildings and properties would become part of the Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services. Speaking with the Times Colonist's Lindsay Kines, the minister responsible Mike de Jong explained the continued downsizing by noting the British Columbia Buildings Corporation, aspects of which have already been privatized, "was competing with the private sector for work by managing projects outside government, such as the Whistler library, Whistler municipal hall and the Ridge Meadows Medical Centre. 'That's not something we think it needs to do, and not something that we necessarily want it to do,' de Jong said." But not everyone thinks that's a good idea.

Earlier this week, the Times Colonist's Sarah Petrescu reported the provincial government had fined Maximus Inc. - the American firm that won the privatization contract to administer PharmaCare and British Columbia's Medical Services Plan. The reason: "it's taking about 15 minutes to answer a call, instead of the under three minutes required in its contract." But, according to a former bureaucrat familiar with the plan, there's more at stake than how fast the company answers calls.

Right now it's armpit-dripping hot outside. But despite the rising temperature, a lot of British Columbians are still working for the weekend. Meanwhile, though, your elected Opposition members seem to have taken a vacation from holding the government to account. Of course, the governing provincial Liberals aren't doing much these days either. But after four years of sweating to get the economy in order/picking on the poor and most vulnerable (your pick), you'd expect them to take (and even deserve) a break. But what's the New Democrat's excuse? Aside from Jenny Kwan and Jagrup Brar, their caucus is made up of members who were elected a scant two months ago. And yet party leader Carole James told them all to relax this summer. What kind of employer hires you and then immediately tells you to relax?

Today, The Vancouver Sun reported "The B.C. government will have its hands full with contract negotiations over the next year as collective agreements representing more than 94 per cent of the province's public sector workforce - from school teachers and university professors to nurses, doctors and Crown corporation workers - come up for renewal by June 30, 2006." Public Eye told you about the possibility of an upcoming public sector labour disruption two days ago, obtaining and publishing previously unreleased government documentation that now appears in the infographic accompanying The Sun article.

Earlier, Public Eye reported respected public service agency associate deputy minister Ron McEachern had been jettisoned from his job as the province's top labour negotiator, representing employer-side interests in negotiations with civil service unions. And now it seems the government has decided on a replacement. Welcome aboard assistant deputy minister of employee relations Paul Straszak. Not exactly a household name - yet. But British Columbia Rail Ltd. workers will remember him as being the former Crown corporation's director of labour relations, responsible for stickhandling employee-related aspects of the privatization deal.

Yesterday, in a news release, the provincial government announced British Columbia Buildings Corp. would "shift from (being) a Crown corporation to part of the Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services." Not mentioned in that release, though, was the fact that British Columbia Buildings chief executive officer John Beales and executive vice-president Sharon Halkett were being summarily exited from the corporation - this, according to a memo leaked to Public Eye. Ms. Halkett, astute readers may remember, had previously served as the chief executive officer of the Crown agencies secretariat under the Campbell administration. She is married to 21-year civil service veteran Phil Halkett, who was the deputy minister to Premier Ujjal Dosanjh before the Liberals won office and had him sacked. According to an article published in 2001 by then Vancouver Sun reporter Jim Beatty that sacking resulted in a $366,000 severance package. So one wonders how much Ms. Halkett received for her trouble? The following is a copy of that memo.

Earlier, Public Eye reported failed provincial New Democrat candidates Mike Hanson and Christine Hunt had been hired by the Opposition caucus. But they're not the only new staffers. Flemingites Brian Kowalski and Ed May have also joined the party's legislative assistant corp. Mr. Kowalski previously made headlines as the treasurer of the 2003 University of Victoria grad class committee that produced an anti-drinking and driving poster featuring Premier Gordon Campbell's mugshot. And Mr. May was most recently the South Island field organizer for the New Democrats.

Kamloops-North Thompson provincial New Democrat candidate Mike Hanson and Saanich North and the Islands candidate Christine Hunt may have failed to win their ridings. But that's doesn't mean you won't be seeing them at legislature. Public Eye has learned Mr. Hanson, a former journalist and process service and document service company owner, has been hired as one of the Opposition caucus's communications officers. And Ms. Hunt will be joining the New Democrats as a legislative assistant.

Fascinating news from the lone bastion of Liberalism in the Kootenays: according to the Cranbrook Daily Townsman, Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett has hired a new constituency assistant - former Canadian Broadcasting Corp. radio reporter Bob Keating. Not mentioned by the newspaper, though, was the reason why Mr. Keating is now a former reporter. But Public Eye is happy to let you in on his...um...dirty secret.

Something's got the Campbell administration hot and bothered and it ain't the New Democrats. Loose-lipped Rockpile residents inform us the corridors are abuzz with talk the Liberal's legislative agenda may have to be delayed due to the upcoming round of super-size biennial public sector labour negotiations. And just how big is super-sized, you may ask? Well, according to government documentation, collective agreements covering a whopping 83.8 percent of full-time equivalencies in the public sector will expire by March 31, 2006 (add an additional 10.6 percent after June 30). The following is a copy of that documentation.

Earlier, Public Eye told you about the existence of an Opposition caucus executive committee - responsible for planning out the provincial New Democrat's legislative strategy. At the time, we named five members of that politbureau: Carole James, caucus officers Katrine Conroy, Mike Farnworth and Jenny Kwan and Rob Fleming. But it turns out that wasn't the complete list. Also belonging to the committee, we're told, are Jagrup Brar, honourary soccer dad John Horgan, former provincial Liberal Bob Simpson and fish-out-of-water Claire Trevena.

Here's an interesting philosophical question for those provincial New Democrat MLAs who are still in the process of setting up their constituency offices: your socialist love nest needs phone lines activated or installed...but...Telus Communications Corp. rank-and-filers are walking the picket lines. So do you (a) let a management scab do the work and serve your constituents or (b) show your solidarity with the Telecommunication Workers Union and go without phone lines? Perhaps caucus should develop a policy on the matter?

Earlier, Public Eye reported provincial government communications directors would be getting together for cocktails and sausages with their new boss Finance Minister Carole Taylor. But that red-carpet event, scheduled for 4:00 yesterday, didn't happen. It turns out the Campbell administration's cabinet meeting (real as opposed to open) ran overtime. And Minister Taylor had to cancel out of the scratch and sniff session at the last minute. However, regrets were sent (surely on monogrammed envelopes) and the meeting will be re-scheduled.

A brief announcement from your humble organ: in honour of the upcoming civic elections, Public Eye has added a new category - Creatures of Government - for those stories covering local politics. The eyecon was handcrafted by Victor Crapnell of Art Department Design, who is responsible for the site's muckraking look-and-feel. Our many thanks to him. In related news, Mr. Crapnell is also putting the finishing touches on a Public Eye re-design, which we will be rolling out shortly.

According to our spies, the Non-Partisan Association is twitterpated with rumours Ronald Leung is thinking about running as a city council candidate for the meat-eating Vancouver civic party. Mr. Leung, a Fairchild Radio AM 1470 producer and program host, is known to some of the Bill Good of the Chinese-Canadian community and would be a prize-catch for the association. So what does Mr. Leung have to say about those rumours? Well, in an interview with Public Eye, the popular broadcaster confirmed the association has approached him about running. But Mr. Leung said "there are a lot of things that I have to consider before giving them an answer" - which will happen sometime in September. The association will be filling two city council nomination spots (three if Sam Sullivan runs for mayor) on September 24 at the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel.

Following Geoff Plant's announcement he wouldn't be running for re-election, there was much discussion as to what the attorney general would be doing in the future. Would Mr. Plant become a member of the academy, like New Democrat Andrew Petter? Or would he be joining the judiciary, others asked? Well, the answer is none of the above. It appears Mr. Plant has become a partner with Heenan Blaikie LLP. Heenan Blaikie, which once employed former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, is currently best known as the retirement home for fellow first among equals Jean Chretien.

News from the world of Terminal City politics: according to Public Eye tipsters, theoretical Non-Partisan Association mayoral nomination candidate Sam Sullivan will be glad-handing Chinese-Canadian community leaders this evening at the Pink Pearl Chinese Restaurant. The festivities are being organized by former city councillor Maggie Ip and General Cheung-Man Tsang and will commence around 6:30. Membership sales and donations are on the menu. But no word yet on who the diners will be.

British Columbians may already been paging through the latest Harry Potter novel. But what could be one of the most anticipated books in the province's political world has yet to hit the shelves. In an interview, Auditor General Wayne Strieloff confirmed his office will release an update of an earlier report reviewing the estimated cost of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. The update will look at whether the provincial government, which will be paying out at least $1.248 billion to cover the cost of the Olympics, is meeting those estimates and following the auditor general's due diligence recommendations. The report is due out in February, just in time to provide fodder for the New Democrats during the legislature's spring sitting.

Wondering who it was that came up with the name Vision Vancouver? Well, look no further than political consultant, feared letter-to-the-editor writer and federal Young Liberal alumnus Jonathan Ross. In a posting on his company Website, Mr. Ross writes "TDH Strategies' original concept was 'Vision of Vancouver,' a party that embraced a non-political approach in contrast to the polarized politics of the municipal scene locally - Larry was not a politician, and the new entity was as a result going to attempt sometlshing different. We lobbied Councillor Jim Green at the Mayor's fundraising dinner back in March, and he really liked it then. We talked to Councillor Raymond Louie and Councillor Tim Stevenson about it, and were ao always in close contact with the Mayor's office. We then finally sat down with Leonard Schein, one of the founders of the Friends of Larry group, and presented the abovementioned speech (something delivered directly to Larry back in December), which was subsequently given to the entire board in April."

Earlier, Public Eye reported the premier's office awarded an open-ended contract that paid out to Liberal-connected PACE Communications Group Inc. without competition. According to documentation obtained via freedom of information legislation, that contract paid out $345,425 in fees for service. But how much was PACE charging to earn that payout? The company's hourly rates was blanked out in the aforementioned documentation. But, thanks to a separate freedom of information request submitted to the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Public Eye can now report, in one instance, PACE vice-president Kathi Springer charged $100 an hour and her boss Norman Stowe charged $150 an hour. Not an unreasonable rate for consultants. But that's likely poor consolation for the public affairs bureau officers who make $34.53 an hour.

Astute readers may have noticed a distinct absence of comments on Public Eye over the past 12 days. The reason: technical gremlins that have prevented the posting of those comments. We're not sure what their political affiliation is. But it matters little now because your humble organ has found a means of exterminating the wee beasties. So please return to your regularly scheduled mudslinging.

So what does provincial freedom of information and privacy commissioner David Loukidelis think about government instructions to avoid putting confidential information in emails? Well, in an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Loukidelis explained those instructions don't violate any laws. "There's nothing legislated that, at this time, prevents this from happening. There's no duty to document legislation - such as you have in some of the U.S. states where, in reaction to some of their FOI laws, there were similar concerns about whether some things were being documented. So they passed legislation that define a set of actions or decisions that must be documented. And we don't have that here." But should we? Said Mr. Loukidelis, "It wouldn't be a cure-all. Because it would only (require documentation of) a certain set of actions or decisions...But it be a nice compliment to a modern approach to information management in government."

A top provincial government spin doctor has advised the Vancouver Island Health Authority's supposedly non-partisan communications staff not to put sensitive information in writing, according to a leaked email. The reason: apparently, to prevent New Democrats from accessing that information via legislation allowing British Columbians to request copies of government documents.

Yesterday, the provincial government released the summary of a review into the death of 19-month-old Sherry Charlie at the hands of her foster dad in Port Alberni. That review found numerous failures in the government child protection system that could have contributed to the infant's death. But what does New Democrat MLA Nicholas Simons, a former independent social work consultant, have to say about this tragedy? After all, prior to winning a seat in the legislature, Mr. Simons was contracted by children and family development to investigate the Charlie case as part of the review.

Earlier today, Public Eye reported the premier's office awarded an open-ended contract that paid out $343,425 in fees for services to PACE Communications Group Inc. without competition. This, despite a confidential government memo stating "a formal RFP process must be used for contracts over $100,000." Government has defended that award by saying the instructions in the memo were meant as guidelines or best-practices not hard-and-fast rules. Well, let us all think about that position a bit while we read this excerpt from another memo - this one dated May 29, 2002 - that was sent by then finance deputy minister Paul Taylor and management services deputy minister Catherine Read to fellow top bureaucrats.

Public Eye has exclusively learned the premier's office awarded an open-ended contract that paid out $343,425 in fees for services to a Liberal-connected communications firm without competition - a violation of government purchasing guidelines. And the vice-president of that same firm, who has close ties to a government minister, also personally received a separate directly-awarded contract from the premier's office that paid out $47,300 in fees for services. But government is defending those contracts, saying no rules were actually broken.

Yesterday, New Democrat caped crusader Rick Barnes suggested Public Eye spend less time looking at docu-porn and more time investigating The New Relationship - a proposed government-to-government agreement between the province's First Nations and British Columbia. Well, ask and you shall receive. According to a memo sent to First Nations leaders, the particulars of that agreement will be negotiated by a management committee and several working groups.

It looks like Vancouver city councillor Tim Stevenson doesn't want to be an MLA after all. According to the rumour mill, Mr. Stevenson will soon be pulling out of the lawsuit he launched last month requesting a new election be held in Vancouver-Burrard because 71 ballots weren't counted in the final vote. That means our favourite backbencher Lorne Mayencourt will be serving another four years in the legislature - news that should bring smiles in the aisles among both New Democrats and Liberals.

Earlier, Public Eye reported cabinet ministers and their deputies would be making a strategic retreat to Lords Jim's Resort and Conference Centre to discuss the future direction of government and other nosestretching subjects. So what was the upshot of that meeting? Well, according to the rumour mill, private healthcare loomed large on the agenda. And there were significant differences among ministers about what exactly constitutes private healthcare. But, to the best of our knowledge, no agreement on that topic was reached. Also noticed at the retreat: Premier Gordon Campbell seemed somewhat disengaged during the entire process - perhaps suffering from post-election exhaustion.

Area 51: that's the name some wags gave to the basement office previously occupied by government caucus research - at least partially because the windows looking into that space had been blocked out with white paint. But, now that the provincial New Democrats have moved into that office, there's going to be a few changes. In an interview with Public Eye, Opposition caucus research director Don "Mr. Anderson" Anderson said he's getting the paint removed and putting in blinds. Says Mr. Anderson, "It looks like a prison in a bad, old movie. We don't do anything that secretive in here that you shouldn't be able to look through the friggin' window. Government isn't open and transparent but the friggin' Opposition is."

Last Wednesday, brother muckraker Russ Francis reported in Monday Magazine that now former deputy minister and merit commissioner Diane Rabbani "has some interesting connections. Her partner is Gary Cowan, until recently a director of B.C. Buildings Corporation. Cowan has had a colourful career himself, including an 18-year stint with none other than Marathon Realty, the developer for whom premier Gordon Campbell once toiled. Cowan ended up as Marathon's executive vice president." But equally interesting is the fact Mr. Cowan was a contractor for the provincial government while his lady love was heading up the public service agency. According to public accounts, the provincial government has transferred $212,687 to his company Westwynd Retail Consultants Inc. since fiscal 2003/04.

Speaking of Olga Ilich, rumours abound her election day chair Lisa Kadian may soon be working for the minister. Astute readers may remember Ms. Kadian as the British Columbia chief of staff for former federal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal. But, for the past year or thereabouts, she's been the administrative comptroller for the Richberry Group of Companies - whose chief executive officer is none other than the high and mighty Peter Dhillon. Mr. Dhillon chaired the Ilich campaign and is one of the new minister's closest allies.

Last week, while profiling Terminal City councillor Jim Green, The Vancouver Sun reported "while getting a degree in social work" the future mayoral candidate "helped register black voters during the civil rights movement and organize farmworkers in Colorado." Inspiring stuff. But there's just one little problem. Mr. Green never purused a degree in social work - this according to a biographical email the councillor sent to one of his constituents. So what's the truth? In an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Green explained the reporter made a mistake and phoned later to apologize - although a correction was not printed. The following is a copy of that email.

Government watercoolers are bubbling with rumours that tourism strategic planning and industry development director Tom Lee was summarily exited from his post earlier this month - soon after responsibility for his branch was transferred from small business and economic development to tourism, sports and the arts. Annettte Antoniak, then acting deputy of that ministry, is said to have been the woman who wielded the hatchet. But when we contacted communications to ask about those rumours, Public Eye was told to take the matter up with the new deputy minister Virginia Greene. And so far, calls placed yesterday to Ms. Greene inquiring about Mr. Lee have not been returned - including a specific question as to the reason for his alleged no-cause exit. Of course, given the lack of evidence to the contrary, civil servants are assuming Mr. Lee was exited because Minister Olga Ilich has someone she wants to slot into that position.

The provincial and federal governments publish hundreds of public documents every year. But few are as handsome as the recently released Nisga'a Final Agreement 2003-2004 Annual Report entitled Collected Wisdom. The 54-page, full-colour taxpayer-funded luxury-model booklet includes no fewer than 26 pages of photographs and graphic elements. And of the remaining pages, most are half-filled with blank space to give the publication a look that's more pleasing to the eye. The only expense that was spared was glossy pages. But, in an interview, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs chief federal communications advisor Peter Baird refused to say how many of your dollars went towards creating and printing that eye-pleasing look and feel.

Earlier, Public Eye reported the premier's chief of staff, Martyn Brown, was listed as one possible selection for BC Business magazine survey participants who were asked to select those "who have had the biggest impact in the B.C. business community over the past year." And now, one our astute readers has found another interesting mention on that list - David Emerson who is identified as the "BC (emphasis added) Minister of Industry." Who knew he was now working for the Campbell administration?

Apparently, BC Business magazine thinks the premier's chief of staff Martyn Brown is one of the province's preeminent capitalists. In a Web survey sent to readers via email by Ipsos-Reid Corp, the magazine asks them to identify those businesspeople "who have had the biggest impact in the B.C. business community over the past year?" And Mr. Brown is on the selection list. Should he reach the top of that list, press gallery members could have an opportunity to ask their favourite unasked question: "Premier, what's your opinion of the first Martyn Brown government?" Of equal interest, though, is the fact the magazine is also asking readers "how likely are you to purchase private medical care for yourself?" The following is a copy of those survey questions.

The Times Colonist's newsroom is beginning to look like a cross between Brave New World's antiseptic society and 1984's security state, according to Public Eye tipsters. Last Monday, management notified the broadsheet's word slaves that food and beverages would no longer be allowed in the newsroom. No reason for the restriction was given. But Times Colonist reporters who are not members of the paper's deadwood brigade are seething about the decision, since many of them are accustom to taking working lunches at their desks. Meanwhile, our tipsters tells us security cameras were also installed in the newsroom on the same day - not to monitor cleanliness but instead deal with a supposed theft problem. No word whether the video feed from those cameras is being piped directly into publisher Bob McKenzie's office or recorded for a future reality show.

The provincial New Democrat's very own Rocket Man has landed at the legislature. As of last week, former caucus communications director Chris Gainor has started filling-in for vacationing staffers - a job he'll be doing until the end of the summer. Since leaving government, Mr. Gainor has become better known as an expert on many things space-related - having been the author of Arrows to the Moon, which tells the story of the Canadian and British engineers from Avro Canada who made a major contribution to putting American astronauts on the Moon.

Like Christ on the cross, Gurmant Grewal is simply a good man being crucified for his (in this case, political) beliefs - at least according to Newton-North Delta constituency association president Jim Holt. In a voluminous email sent to constituency members last Thursday and leaked to Public Eye, Mr. Holt blames the media and the Liberals for Mr. Grewal's woes...all six of them. The following is a copy of that email.

More news from the swiftly tiltling planet known as the public affairs bureau: according to our tipsters, Finance Minister Carole Taylor (the elected official responsible for that office) has scheduled her first meeting with communications directors for July 27. No word whether directors will be bringing their autograph books to that meeting. But we may get an indication about Minister Taylor's futures plans for government communications, including her determination to make the Campbell administration a "very dominant player in terms of communicating with the community on all subjects."

Earlier, Public Eye reported one of the firms receiving a direct award from Community Living British Columbia may have been dissolved by the provincial government's corporate registry. And another was in the process of being dissolved. Our attempts over the past two days to contract representatives from both companies regarding this matter were not responded to. At the time, we speculated both companies could be operating as non-incorporate entities or under different names. And today we now have some answers. Earlier this morning, Public Eye received a phone call from agency chief executive officer Rick Mowles who explained the individuals running those companies were simply "shy guys" and they wanted to set the record straight. Speaking on their behalf, Mr. Mowles explained ACB Consulting Group Inc. now operates under the name ACB Solutions Ltd. (information contrary to documentation on the government's BC Bid Website). And HII Health Information Canada Inc., listed by the provincial corporate registry as not having filed an annual report since 2002, has filed such documents with the federal government's registry and is still active according to their records.

Earlier, Public Eye reported Billy Cunningham had gotten into a spot of trouble with federal Opposition leader Stephen Harper's office. In a news release, the leader's office demanded to know who had authorized the senior Liberal aide to speak at a downtown Vancouver rally attended by former members of a terrorist group banned in Canada. But before Mr. Harper and his staffers get too self-righteous about the issue (oops...too late), they might want to get in touch with rally coordinator Sukhpreet Singh Heir. In an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Heir said, "before the merger I was active in the PC party. And, after that, I've been involved in organizing (for the Conservatives) for the election."

By now, Public Eye readers should be well acquainted with Community Living British Columbia's decision to directly award $407,800 worth of information technology contracts. But equally eyebrow-raising is Community Living British Columbia's use of PACE Communications Group Inc. as their principle media relations consultant. The reason: the firm has extensive connections to the Campbell administration. PACE president Norman Stowe and his vice-president of communications and corporate relations Kathi Springer are both close with current Children and Family Development Minister Stan Hagen - the elected official responsible for the agency. And the PACE contractor working at Community Living British Columbia is none other than Val Richmond - the daughter of Employment and Income Assistance Minister Claude Richmond and former senior aide to ex-Children and Family Development Minister Gordon Hogg.

Earlier, Public Eye and Strategic Thoughts reported on the direct awarding of $407,800 worth of information technology contracts to four companies. Three of those companies were among the primary contractors for the controversial and now bankrupt CareNet Technology Society. And now Public Eye has learned at least one of those companies, ACB Consulting, may no longer exist in the eyes of the provincial government's corporate registry. A registry search has revealed that, as of July 13, a firm named ACB Consulting Group Inc. was dissolved for not having filed an annual report since May 2000. And another of the contracted companies, Health Information Canada Incorporated (HII), may also soon be in the same fix. A company listed on the registry as HII Health Information Canada Inc. is in the process of being dissolved, having filed its last annual report in July 2002.

Many column acres have been plowed covering the woes of financier Ian Thow, who is facing investigations by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the British Columbia Securities Commission concerning his investment activities. According to lawsuits filed against Mr. Thow, the former Berkshire Investment Group Inc. executive vice-president allegedly failed to account for more than $1 million in investor funds. So far, this sorrowful Howe Street story hasn't attracted much attention from Government Street. But Public Eye readers may be interested to know, for the record, that a search of the corporate registry has revealed three of Mr. Thow's companies list their registered and records office as being at 420-880 Douglas Street - the law offices of McConnan, Bion, O'Connor, Peterson. That firm is notable among politicos for being home to prominent federal Liberal backroom boy and fundraiser Michael "Benji" O'Connor. Mr. O'Connor was also chair of the Greater Victoria Hospitals Foundation's Together We Care campaign, which accepted a $500,000 pledge from Mr. Thow that was never met. So Public Eye telephoned Mr. O'Connor to ask him about what relationship, if any, he had with Mr. Thow. The following is an edited transcript of that interview.

Public Eye readers may have noticed some difficulties posting comments on the Website. Presently, your humble organ is not aware of why those difficulties may be occuring. But we'll try to resolve them as soon as possible.

An acrimonious Coalition of Progressive Electors general meeting has ended with a majority of members rejecting a proposed alliance with Vision Vancouver. The rejected proposal would have resulted in a city council slate with five vision candidates and five coalition candidates. Parks and school board candidates would have been choosen by the coalition. But councillor Jim Green would have been the designated mayoral candidate. According to Public Eye tipsters at WISE Hall, around 120 members voted against the proposal, with approximately 95 voting in favour.

The bureaucracy's favourite acting...oops, she's now permanent...assistant deputy minister will soon be changing ministries. Effective July 20, Barb Walman will be moving from energy, mines and petroleum resources to community services, where she will be responsible for women's services, seniors's services and inner city partnerships. Astute Public Eye readers will remember Ms. Walman as being one children and family development deputy minister Chris Hayne's special projects, having advanced through the civil service under his tutelage. But when her boss was exited from government following the Doug Walls affair, Ms. Walman was parachuted into the custody of Mr. Haynes's former colleague Sheila Wynn, then deputy minister of energy and mines and now the top bureaucrat at...yes, you guessed it...community services.

Yesterday, Public Eye published an interview with Bill Cunningham, executive director of the federal government minister's regional office in Vancouver, where he explained his presence at a demonstration attended by former members of a terrorist group banned in Canada. In that interview, Mr. Cunningham said he might not have attended the rally had he known the International Sikh Young Federation was going to be there. But, according to our tipsters at the rally, when The Vancouver Sun's Kim Bolan asked about the presence of the former federation members, the Martini shaker told her "I don't know if it was one or two people or if it's many, but I don't think the actions or past of a few should be reflective of the altruistic goal of the larger group." The group was protesting the alleged arrest and torture of 2,000 to 3,000 innocents within the last few week by the Indian government. In related news, the Opposition leader's office has now started asking questions about Mr. Cunningham's appearance at the event. The following is a copy of their news release.

Earlier, Public Eye and Strategic Thoughts reported on the direct awarding of $407,800 worth of information technology contracts to four companies. Interestingly, three of those companies - ACB Consulting, CRB Consulting and Health Information Canada Incorporated (HII) - were among the primary contractors for the controversial and now bankrupt CareNet Technology Society - this, according to a May 2004 audit. That society wasted more than $1 million in taxpayer-dollars during a failed attempt to develop a software system that would coordinate and integrate ministry and social service agency services. So we telephoned Community Living British Columbia chief executive officer Rick Mowles to ask him whether he had any concerns about using those same contractors. The following is an edited transcript of that interview.

Yesterday, The Vancouver Sun's Kim Bolan reported on a weekend Vancouver demonstration by around 300 Sikhs who claimed the Indian government has arrested and tortured 2,000 to 3,000 innocents within the last few weeks. According to Ms. Bolan "many in the crowd were former members of the International Sikh Youth Federation, a terrorist group banned in Canada that supported the creation of an independent Sikh nation called Khalistan." But Sikh separatists weren't the only ones in attendance: "Bill Cunningham, a senior adviser to the federal cabinet, also addressed the protest." That news has raised some eyebrows among British Columbia's chattering classes. So Public Eye telephoned the well-known Martini shaker to ask why he was at the event. The following is an edited transcript of that interview and a copy of the invite Mr. Cunningham received.

Sometimes it pays to be a socialist. Under a collective agreement negotiated between the provincial New Democrat caucus and the British Columbia Government Employees Union Local 701 back in September 2001, caucus communications and research officers earn between $42,223.82 and $59,481.51 annually - depending on their seniority. By comparison, Liberals staffers earn considerably less. How much less is one of the Campbell administration's many secrets. But those in the know report the Liberal's non-unionized research officers make between $30,000 and $40,000 and their communications officers make around $45,000.

Yesterday, Public Eye and Strategic Thoughts reported on the direct awarding of $407,800 worth of information technology contracts to four companies: ACB Consulting, CRB Consulting, Ramsay IT Solutions Ltd. and Health Information Canada Incorporated (HII) Interestingly, three of those companies - ACB Consulting, CRB Consulting and Health Information Canada Incorporated (HII) - were among the primary contractors for the CareNet Technology Society - this, according to a May 2004 audit. CareNet, you may remember, was a controversial and now bankrupt non-profit society managed by Doug Walls, the premier's cousin-in-law. It made headlines when an investigation revealed the Ministry of Children and Family Development improperly wrote-off a $537,180 debt owed to the provincial government by the society. It was also later discovered taxpayer-funded social service agencies had contributed $1.2 million to the society, which never delivered on its promise to develop a complex software system that would coordinate and integrate agency and ministry services.

Earlier today, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health announced a panel of distinguished Canadian political, corporate and academic leaders would be joining forces to raise awareness about the burden of mental illness of Canadian society. A worthy cause to be sure. But, interestingly, four out of the ten distinguished Canadians (Remi Bujold, Otto Lang, Don Mazankowski and David Peterson) are already members of the same force - each one a senior counsel with government relations firm GPC International Inc. And the panel chair is none other than firm president and chief executive officer Jim Roche. The following is a copy of that release.

Over at Strategic Thoughts, David Schreck is reporting Community Living British Columbia will be directly awarding $407,800 worth of information technology contracts to four companies: ACB Consulting, CRB Consulting, Ramsay IT Solutions Ltd. and Health Information Canada Incorporated (HII) The awarding of those contracts without competition is somewhat ironic, since this is the same provincial government agency that got into trouble for directly awarding contracts valued at more than $214,000 to its former interim chief executive Doug Walls. So, earlier today, Public Eye asked agency acting communications director Val Richmond why the authority wasn't awarding those information technology contracts via a public tendering process.

What was rumour is now official. According to the most recent list of order in council appointments, which were posted on Friday, Philip Yung had been named director of multicultural affairs in the premier's office. As we earlier reported, Mr. Yung has extensive connections with the veggie-eating side of the pollitcal spectrum, having been a Coalition of Progressive Electors school trustee candidate and vice-president of NOW Communications Inc. Chinese language subsidiary Chi Tah Communications Inc.

The provincial New Democrat's Soviet sympathizers are marshalling to stamp out the sprouting super-sized seeds of capitalist dissent within their party. Tomorrow, at an event organized by the Democratic Caucus of the Lower Island NDP, Comandante Alicia Barsallo (Public Eye passim) and well-known University of Victoria Red Radhika Desai will lead a forum on the New Democrat's shift to the centre. Among the topics under discussion: "Should the party encourage more participation by members?" and "Do you want MLAs to put forward a genuine vision for BC?" The following is a copy of the notification for that meeting, which is being held at Fairfield Community Place.

Have the good people of Victoria-Hillside moved into the legislature? After all, MLA Rob Fleming's fresh young face seems to have beome a common site at the Rockpile these days, according to the edifice's liberally-wagging tongues. A thorough search of the precincts says the answer to that question is no. But it turns out Mr. Fleming has cause to be lurking the legislative corridors.

Former maverick Surrey-Newton provincial Liberal backbencher Tony Bhullar has been hired as the executive director of the Vancouver Taxi Association, Public Eye has learned. The association represents the interests of four Terminal City taxi companies: Black Top and Checker Cabs Ltd., MacLure's Cabs Ltd., Vancouver Taxi Ltd. and Yellow Cab Co. Ltd. Commenting on the appointment, association board member Hardy Atwal said, "In the past, all of the input I got from other people was that he's very aggressive and we needed someone aggressive to work for us because we have many issues we need to tackle. And we choose Tony because we know he can take our voice and make it heard."

Don "Mr. Anderson" Anderson has been hired to head the provincial New Democrat's caucus research operations, Public Eye has learned. Before his party was kicked out of government, Agent Anderson was a senior advisor/issues management director with the cabinet policy and communications secretariat and a coordinator in the premier's coordination and liason branch. Meanwhile, rumour has it acting caucus communications director Jim Rutkowski may soon be permanently named to that position. And, on the other side of the aisle, Liberal caucus communications manager Dale Steeves is now sitting in the director's chair in an acting capacity.

It looks like the premier's office has found someone to guide the administration through the foreign lands of ethnic politics in British Columbia. According to Rockpile rumour mill grinders, CHMB 1320AM program host Philip Yung has been hired as Gordon Campbell's director of multicultural affairs. Mr. Yung was previous president of the Vancouver Chinese Parents Association. But he used to be known as a notorious socialist!

Nothing says hard work like ocean views and cocktail bars. So it will not surprise British Columbians that, on Wednesday, the Campbell administration's cabinet ministers and their deputies will be packing their bags and briefing books for a three-day strategic planning get-together somewhere on the Sunshine Coast - which likely means Lords Jim's Resort and Conference Centre, the site of last year's retreat. The cabinet pow-wow will be followed on Monday by a caucus retreat at Sun Peaks Resort.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officers officers were in Vancouver last week probing the explosive Grewal affair while appearing to have rented at least one room at the luxurious Sutton Place Hotel. The affair involves accusations federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh and the prime minister's chief of staff Tim Murphy spoke with Tory MP Gurmant Grewal about taking a patronage position in exchange for supporting the Liberals.

Earlier, Public Eye reported Allen Langdon was leaving his position as senior consultant with GPC International Inc. for whereabout unknown. But now, Mr. Langdon confirms he has been hired by government and public relations firm Reputations Corp. as their senior counsel. That appointment caused much twittering among Non-Partisan Association members. The reason: Mr. Langdon will likely be managing Vancouver city councillor Peter Ladner's campaign to become the association's mayoral candidate. But Reputations's founder and director is none other than Wayne Hartrick, who is a strong supporter of councillor Sam Sullivan, Mr. Ladner's principle competitor.

Earlier, Times Colonist columnist Les Leyne reported rumours failed provincial Liberal candidate Virginia Greene would be appointed deputy minister responsible for tourism, sports and the arts. And, via Broadcast News legislative correspondent Scott Sutherland, we hear the premier's office has now confirmed those rumours, quietly releasing an information bulletin earlier today announcing that appointment. Of course, this announcement is not much of a surprise to the Rockpile's liberally-wagging tongues. After all, Ms. Greene - a former senior bureaucrat - became buddies with her future minister Olga Ilich during the election campaign. And, along with now Finance Minister Carole Taylor, they became known as the three sisters. So now that Ms. Greene has gotten her patronage position with the provincial government, the question becomes who's next?

Former provincial Liberal cabinet minister Christy Clark may not be joining CKNW as the station's afternoon talk show host. But she's had been entertaining a lot of other job opportunities in the run-up to the November civic elections. When asked whether she had been approached about running as a mayoral candidate for the Non-Partisan Association, Ms. Clark said "I have been asked to run to be mayor of Port Moody, the mayor of Burnaby, the mayor of Coquitlam and the mayor of Vancouver." And she's turned them all of the offers down. The reason: because, Ms. Clark joked, "What I really want to be is mayor of Whistler." A version of this article was originally published in today's edition of 24 hours.

Gordon Campbell may only be the premier of British Columbia. But, these days, his party is raising more money than the Grits. In 2004 the provincial Liberals received $8.2 million in contributions, with 61 percent coming from the business community. By comparison, Prime Minister Paul Martin's natural and national-governing party took in just $5.2 million thanks to new fundraisings restriction that prevent companies and unions from donating more than $1,000 and individuals from donating from more than $5,000. The provincial Liberal's chief bagman is Dundee Securities Corp. vice-president Chris Owen, the son of former Vancouver mayor Philip Owen and chair of the party's 24-member fundraising committee. A version of this article was originally published in today's edition of 24 hours.

Earlier, Public Eye reported former Coalition of Progressive Electors wonderboy Neil Monckton was now doing work for the Surrey Civic Coalition. And what work has he been doing you might ask? Mr. Monckton wouldn't say. And, in an email sent to Public Eye a few hours ago, coalition president Bill Piket - who had earlier not responded to our interview requests - wrote "You are correct in assuming that I am not at this moment interested in commenting on your neil monkton (sic) story." But one of our spies does have a comment: according to the rumour mill, Mr. Monckton is conducting the coalition's candidate search for the upcoming civic election.

Longtime Saanich-Gulf Islands Liberal backroom boy Kit Spence and his pet hat are considering running for the federal nomination in that riding, Public Eye has learned. Mr. Spence, a political party development expert with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, has been doing aide work in Afghanistan since May 2004 - a country whose current level of democracy is only slightly behind the rotten borough he calls home. But the former executive assistant to Indian and Northern Affairs Development Minister John Munro will be concluding that work come September - just in-time to start signing supporters up. Of course, someone who will not be pleased to hear that is Jag Dhanowa, the party's former British Columbia multiculturalism chair, who has already announced he's seeking the nomination.

Earlier, Public Eye reported former Coalition of Progressive Electors wonderboy and Public Eye reader favourite Neil Monckton was now the national campaign director for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now Canada. But, now, our spies whisper that he's also been working for the port-leaning Surrey Civic Coalition.

In the past fiscal year, the Campbell administration farmed out more than $400,000 in work to government relations firms Global Public Affairs Inc. and GPC International Inc. - according to a review of public accounts. In the past, some eyebrown raisers have said the awarding of such contracts opens the door to conflict of interest allegations. After all, these firms are in the business of lobbying government on behalf of powerful corporate interests. So couldn't the work they do for taxpayers be influenced by those interests?

Of course, backbenchers aren't the only ones with an Olga Ilich fixation. The talk among the legislature's spearchuckers is the former real estate development diva and current tourism, sports and the arts minister is still coming to grips with the reality that, as an executive council member, her life is no longer her own - a difficult transition that some other rookie cabinet ministers also seem to be having a tough time making. Of course, whether that life belongs to the West Annex or the bureaucracy is a matter of some debate.

Earlier, Public Eye reported a number of veteran provincial Liberals MLAs had been passed over for cabinet. And now, according to legislative whisper collectors, some of those MLAs have found a focus for their professional discontent: Tourism, Sports and the Arts Minister Olga Ilich. Minister Ilich's appointment to cabinet surprised some caucus members. After all, the former president of Suncor Real Estate Development Corp. and the Urban Development Institute, hasn't served a single term in office. So why, grumble the veterans, should she get to sit on the executive council while they remain private members? Of course, the answer to that question most likely has to do with her close connections to the real estate development community - one of Premier Gordon Campbell's core constituencies. But something tell us the backbench doesn't care.

Last week, Public Eye reported on the provincial Liberal's sold-out Leader's Invitational Golf Tournament, one of the party's biggest fundraisers. But money from the event won't just be coming from ticket-buyers. The tournament also boasted a number of corporate sponsors who paid to have their signage at the event. Most noticeable among them was B.C. Hothouse Foods Inc. According to tournament hobnobbers, golfers were greeted at each hole by a plate of fresh, sliced vegetables - courtesy of the company.

Let us now turn our attention to the glamourous world of kiddie politics. When we last checked-in on our hero Dallas Henault, the aspiring young apparatchik was eating at the adult's table (sortof) - working as a provincial Liberal field organizer by-day and a Cactus Club playboy by night. But now it looks like Mr. Henault will be headed back to the ivory leagues. In an email sent to local Liberals and leaked to Public Eye, Mr. Henault writes he will be "starting classes this Monday at UVic, and then full time in September, and will be graduating in April, so I won't be your official organizer anymore." But don't be sad because Mr. Henault writes he will be "working hard in areas like the North, Kootenays and the Okanagan" to build the Liberal's youth wing. The following is a copy of that email.

North Vancouver Politics contributor George Pringle may not look much like Rachel Marsden. But the two of them will soon share something in common: having the country's hotest remix artist, Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal, as an employer. That's right ladies and genetlemen! On Monday, Mr. Pringle, formerly an executive assistant to ex-MP Ted White will be starting work as an aide to the political disaster zone who currently represents the good people of Newton-North Delta.

David Perry, the provincial New Democrat's interim chief of staff, has been appointed to that post on a more permanent basis - this, according to our ears and eyeballs inside causus. That position may, according to the same insiders, include responsibilities that would have usually been assigned to the caucus's executive director. When asked about rumours of that appointment last week, Mr. Perry declined comment.

One of British Columbia's past labour leaders has been hired by the provincial New Democrats. On Wednesday, staffers were informed Marian Meagher would be the caucus's director of operations (a position previously and more humbly known as office manager). Ms. Meagher, a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, was an employee with Canadian Airlines International Ltd. before she joined the federal civil service. As a civil servant servant, she was an active member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, having been a director, national director, and British Columbia regional executive vice-president for the union. She retired from her union post five years ago but has continued to be a part-time, union-representative on the Canadian Industrial Relations Board. Under the previous New Democrat administration, she also served as a member of the British Columbia Institute of Technology's board of directors. During the last election, she was Victoria-Hillside MLA Rob Fleming's media contact.

Earlier, Public Eye reported rumours that responsibility for the public service agency (in-charge of human resources across government) would be moved from labour and citizens' service to another ministry. Today, Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer confirmed the transfer. According to Mr. Palmer, "Critics said that created a conflict of interest. You'd have the minister of labour, supposedly the neutral arbiter of employee-employer relations, also serving as cabinet representative for the government as employer. Labour Minister Mike de Jong conceded the problem in an interview Wednesday...during an interview on Voice of B.C. on Shaw TV...Where was the agency headed next? 'Possibly finance,' he said. 'We're still looking at what the best fit is.'