August 2005 Archives

By now, former provincial cabinet minister Christy Clark has responded at length to questions about her reasons for seeking the Non-Partisan Association's mayoral nomination and why a soon-to-be former Port Moody resident can be Vancouver's top elected politician. So your humble organ isn't going to be repeating that message box here. But, in an interview with Public Eye, Ms. Clark did speak about a number of issues that will be of exclusive interest to the chattering classes. For starters, it turns out Mike Hillman, a federal Liberal national vice-president, will be her nomination campaign manager. Said Ms. Clark, "He's a friend of the family. My dad worked on Mike Hillman's campaign when he ran in Burnaby in 1984...I even knocked on doors for Mike that year." Mr. Hillman was also formerly an aide to Trudeau administration cabinet minister Iona Campagnolo, who is now British Columbia's lieutenant governor.

Former provincial cabinet minister Christy Clark and Terminal City councillor Sam Sullivan weren't the only ones who submitted Non-Partisan Association papers today. Noteworthy filings included prospective city council candidates Trevor Boddy, The Vancouver Sun's architecture critic, and Fairchild AM 1470 producer Ronald Leung. Marty Zlotnik, the man who recruited Ms. Clark and a longtime backer of Premier Gordon Campbell, wants a parks board nomination. And Carol Gibson, Tod Gnissios, Vijay Sanjhera and Shirley Wong have filed for spots on the association's school board slate.

So what does Sam Sullivan think about former provincial cabinet minister Christy Clark decision to file papers for the Non-Partisan Assocation's mayoral nomination? Well, in an interview, your humble organ asked the Vancouver city councillor whether he thought someone from Port Moody could be Terminal City's top elected politician. His response: "It's not the first time we've had a mayor from out of the city. Fred Hume lived in West Vancouver. And there are also councillors that lived out of the city." When pressed on that question, Mr. Sullivan said "That's not my judgement. That's the judgement that obviously NPA members will have to think about. But I think she's a credible candidate. She's got a lot of talent. I wouldn't be discounting her because she told me she intends to move to Vancouver." Incidently, Mr. Sullivan also submitted his nomination forms today. But, like Ms. Clark, he didn't officially announce he's running for the mayoralty. "I'm certainly interested. And I wanted to make sure my name was in for it."

Expectations have been met. Non-Partisan Association president Paul Barbeau just confirmed former provincial cabinet minister Christy Clark has submitted her mayoral nomination papers. Those papers were hand-delivered to the association's headquarters by Clark campaign representative Michael Hillman, a federal Liberal national vice-president and known Martini mover-and shaker. Said Mr. Barbeau, "She's a strong candidate. A capable politician. And she brings an awful lot to the NPA organization as does Sam Sullivan," who also filed his nomination papers today. But filing isn't the same thing as running. In a news release, Ms. Clark said she won't make a decision on that issue until she's spent the next week "listening closely to how grassroots members of the NPA and other Vancouver residents feel about the issues facing Vancouver." The following is a copy of that release.

In an interview with your humble organ, Non-Partisan Association president Paul Barbeau confirmed he expects former provincial cabinet minister Christy Clark to submit her mayoral nomination papers sometime today. That means Terminal City councillor Sam Sullivan and Ms. Clark will likely be squaring off for the nomination on September 24. The association presently has 2,600 members. The deadline for membership sign-ups is September 10. Public Eye broke the news about a possible mayoral bid by Ms. Clark on Friday.

An announcement concerning Christy Clark's possible run for the Non-Partisan Association's mayoral candidacy is expected shortly. But of equal interest to some association members is whether the delightfully meat-eating Sandy McCormick will be joining the starboard-leaning civic party's school board slate. But so far, association headquarters has not received completed nomination forms from Ms. McCormick. And since the former city councillor's answering machine claims she'll be "away till September 1" it looks like she's going to miss the association's filing deadline: 5:00 today. Ms. McCormick recently sought the provincial Liberal nomination in Vancouver-Langara but was asked to step aside for star candidate and now finance minister Carole Taylor.

Former Government House Leader Graham the Bruce (Public Eye passim) was one of the major Liberal names defeated during the last election. And, because of the Members' Conflict of Interest Act, Mr. Bruce likely won't be receiving a government contract any time soon. So what's he going to be doing with his time? Well, according to the rumourmill, the former cabinet minister had an interview last week. But when we contacted Mr. Bruce over the weekend and asked him what he could tell us about that rumoured interview, this was his response: "Nothing. I'm still reflecting on what I may or may not do and out of public life for the time being." But our First Nations informants tell us one of the things he may be looking at is the job of chief operating officer of the North American Indigenous Games, which will be hosted by the Cowichan Tribes in 2008. An announcement concerning that job is expected toward the end of September.

Is provincial New Democrat caucus research officer and former party president Maura Parte, considering running for municipal politics? That's the rumour circulating among earnest elements of the port-leaning Victoria Civic Electors team. But when asked about the rumours, Ms. Parte, who is married to Victoria-Hillside MLA and former city councillor Rob Fleming, said "They're absolutely not true...I'm not seeking any municipal positions at this time." To which your humble organ replied, "That's not necessarily a no." But, apparently, "it is at this time, for this election," said Ms. Parte.

The Sam Sullivan membership drive continues tonight at the offices of Davis and Company LLP. Astute readers will know Davis and Company as being one of Vancouver's most prominent law firms and the professional home of Dale Pope, who is best friends with Premier Gordon Campbell. What you may not know is that the firm is one of the few law offices in the world that can boast of having a 666 street address. But we digress. Hosting the 5:00 event, which is being held at Park Place's scenic 28th floor lounge, will be intellectual property lawyer John Rogers. Mr. Sullivan, a Vancouver city councillor, is unofficially campaigning for the Non-Partisan Association's mayoral nomination which may be contested by former provincial cabinet minister Christy Clark.

24 hours columnist Bill Tieleman was one of the leading voices opposing electoral reform during the recent referendum. And, according to financial reports filed with Elections British Columbia, he certainly put his money where his mouth was. Mr. Tieleman, the president of West Star Communications and a former government communications guru, contributed $3,000 in money or services to KNOW STV - the group that agitated against the single-transferable vote system proposed by the citizens' assembly. But he wasn't the only donor.

Many column inches have been plowed reporting on the upcoming round of public sector labour negotiations. But government and its creatures aren't the only ones who will be occupied by collective bargaining this fall. This week, provincial New Democrat MLAs will start hammering out a new contract with their constituency assistants, who are represented by the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union Local 701. Presently, those assistants make between $34,548.57 and $39,317.04 annually. But they're looking for a raise that will push them over the $40,000 a year mark.

Last week, we reported provincial New Democrats MLAs would be cuddling up with one another for an extended nose-stretching session at Dunsmuir Lodge and Conference Centre. Of course, the substance of those proceedings is supposed to be under lock and key. And those who remember the real-time leaking that occured during the Clark administration seem determined to ensure their (wind) pipes remain sealed. But, according to our tipsters, the most interesting discussion at the retreat was the one that didn't happen.

The provincial Liberals may have gained a MLA when former pollster Joan McIntyre was elected in West Vancouver-Garibaldi. But her election meant the Non-Partisan Association also lost its principle public opinion researcher. There's no need for tears though, because our tipsters tell us a replacement has been found: Greg Lyle, managing director of the Innovative Research Group Inc., who was the campaign planning director for Liberals during the (insert adjective) 1996 election. And, according to the rumourmill, the Campbell administration's former caucus communications director Mike McDonald, will be working with Mr. Lyle on that file.

Earlier, Public Eye reported sex trade activist Jamie Lee Hamilton would be campaigning for a spot on the Non-Partisan Association's parks board slate. But it turns out she's decided to stay outside the big tent party instead. In a posting on her blog, Ms. Hamilton writes, "I need to be true to my own spirit, my own heart and my own values. I don't want to compromise my beliefs in order to sell someone else' package...I need to participate in the reforming of City Hall and the best way of accomplishing this is by campaigning for a council seat without the backing and trappings of the major brands." Translation: she's running as an independent.

Apparently, New Democrats in British Columbia weren't the only party members who wanted to defeat the Campbell administration. Card-carriers from other provinces also got in on the act. According to financial reports filed with Elections British Columbia, the Alberta New Democrats contributed $4,808 by loaning out their provincial secretary Laura Nichols to come work as Carole James's anchor - the staffer responsible for scheduling the leader's cross-province campaign tour. And donations from the Ontario New Democrats and the federal New Democrats, totaling $8,020.81, paid the salaries of two imported day planners and travel costs for those out-of-province staffers. A version of this article was originally published in yesterday's edition of 24 hours.

The provincial Greens didn't raise much money during the election - just $89,430. But they would have raised even less if it hadn't been for Wayne Crookes, owner/president of Vancouver-based company West Coast Title Search Ltd. Mr. Crookes, who was the Green national campaign manager during the 2004 federal election, donated $11,458 to the party - which, for those of you without calculators, works out to a whopping 13 percent of the Green's total donations. And he also handed the party a $35,000 loan which has yet to be repaid. But, interestingly, that's less than the $86,289.52 he donated and $9,100 he loaned to the party during the 2001 election. A version of this article was originally published in yesterday's edition of 24 hours.

Good cheer wasn't the only thing bar owners were serving up during the election period. According to financial reports filed with Elections British Columbia, at least 47 pubs dished out $63,780 to the Liberals - mostly in the form of separate $1,000 donations. Under the Campbell administration, the province's liquour laws and regulations governing drinking establishments have been relaxed. Those changes mean such establishments are now eligibile to serve alcohol until 4:00 in the morning and cold beer and wine stores can sell spirits. But pub owners who wanted to open more of those stores were furious when the Campbell administration scrapped plans to privatize provincial liquour outlets. The Liberals have since soothed those savage feelings by permitting private liquour stores to purchase booze at cheaper prices. A version of this article was originally published in yesterday's edition of 24 hours. The following is a complete copy of donations made by identifiable pubs to the Liberals.

More than two months after Athana Mentzelopoulos stepped down from the job, the Campbell administration has selected a new deputy minister for the public affairs bureau. According to an information bulletin that was quietly released from the premier's office within the last hour, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority's communications and community engagement vice-president Linda Morris is the government's new top spin doctor. Perhaps not surprisingly, Ms. Morris and the minister responsible for the public affairs bureau Carole Taylor previously worked together at the Vancouver Port Corp. Minister Taylor was appointed the corporation's vice-chair in 1995 and then served as its chair between 1997 and 1999. For her part, Ms. Morris was public affairs director of the corporation and its successor authority between 1995 and 2001.

Today, The Vancouver Sun is reporting "political fundraiser and longtime NPA stalwart Marty Zlotnik said he first approached (former provincial cabinet minister Christy) Clark with the idea of running for mayor last week. He said NPA supporters are trying to convince Clark that being mayor of Vancouver is an attractive position." Public Eye broke that story yesterday.

Earlier, Public Eye reported rumours that Non-Partisan Association members have been courting former provincial Liberal cabinet minister Christy Clark to run as the Vancouver civic party's mayoral candidate. Longtime association operative Marty Zlotnik's name has been attached to that recruitment effort. But, when Public Eye reached Mr. Zlotnik today and asked about those rumours he said he had "no comment."

Rumours abound that Non-Partisan Association members have been courting former provincial Liberal cabinet minister Christy Clark to run as the starboard-leaning Vancouver civic party's mayoral candidate. When questioned about similar rumours back in July, Ms. Clark told Public Eye "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 turned all those offers down. But that was before Mayor Larry Campbell announced he wouldn't be seeking re-election. And, according to senior association members, the most recent rumoured attempts to recruit the Port Moody resident sound more serious.

Earlier this month, the provincial government's information and privacy commissioner David Loukidelis six-year term in office ended. Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Mr. Loukidelis, who is currently filling that position on an acting basis, is not eligible to serve another term. So that means MLAs will be looking for a replacement. Or maybe not? According to the legislative whispermill, government is said to be considering an amendment that would allow the information and privacy commissioner to be re-appointed.

Speaking of Websites, junior federal Grits are dismayed to discover notorious Tory shit-disturber Ryan Warawa, the son of Langley MP Mark Warawa, has captured the domain name youngliberal.ca. According to information available via the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, the site is "dedicated to exposing the hidden agenda of the Liberal Party of Canada." Such dedication currently consists of posting an old Georgia Straight column by our 24 hours colleague Bill Tieleman reporting on the connections between the federal Liberals and those targetted by the police raid on the legislature. Mr. Warawa, who is presently on vacation, has not yet responded to an interview request from Public Eye.

As Public Eye previously reported, provincial New Democrat MLAs have converged on Dunsmuir Lodge and Conference Centre for a three day navel-gazing exercise with Carole James. But before the group groping got underway, the fourth estate - many of whom have been idling in the press gallery, waiting for politicians to return for their summer holidays - were invited for a question and answer session with the party leader. The following are some of your humble organ's notes from that event.

Money from British Columbia unions may have only accounted for 32 percent or $1.9 million of the provincial New Democrat's election contributions. But, according to documents released by Elections British Columbia yesterday, the labour movement also ran election period advertising valued at $3.5 million, with 44 percent of those expenditures coming from the British Columbia Teachers' Federation and local teachers' association. On top of that, the unions also bankrolled a number of grassroots organizations with agendas opposed to Campbell administration policies. For example, the Council of Senior Citizens' Organizations of British Columbia, which spent $86,032.80 on advertising, received $63,400 in contributions from the labour movement, including a $41,500 chunk from the British Columbia Federation of Labour.

Good news for underemployed provincial Liberals: back in June it was decided (but not announced) Elizabeth Watson would be leaving her post as managing director of the board resource and development office - the bureau responsible for vetting appointments to provincial agencies, boards and commissions. Some Liberals have partially-blamed Ms. Watson for the present shortage of government bum-warmers for party members. The reason: under her watch, government introduced guidelines to ensure those filling such seats would at least have some qualifications to be there - aside from their politics.

Earlier this week, it was reported that government healthcare service contractor Maximus BC Health Inc.'s president Richard Mason resigned following revelations his company had been penalized for failing to meet customer service commitments. Ironically, just before his departure, Maximus employees had been sent a survey, which included questions about the company's leadership. The following is a copy of that survey, which was leaked to Public Eye.

Just a quick note from Denise Champion, the public affairs bureau's casualty replacement officer (Public Eye passim): according to an email leaked to your humble organ, Rockpile resident Barb Ewens - previously a senior aide to Tourism, Sports and the Arts Minister Olga Ilich - has joined the bureau as an events coordinator. Astute readers will know the bureau's events planning branch has become something of a retirement capital/emergency escape hatch for political hacks, presently staffed by the likes of former assistants Sheryl Exton, Cheryl Maitland and Pavan Nirwan. The following is a copy of that email.

Patrick Kinsella, perhaps the most powerful provincial Liberal backroom boy in the province, and Mark Jiles, Premier Gordon Campbell's constituency campaign manager, may soon be doing business together. In an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Jiles, a former account director with public and government relations giant Hill and Knowlton Canada Inc., confirmed he and Mr. Kinsella have had a number of coffee conversations about how best they can pursue 2010 Winter Olympic business prospects. Mr. Giles, who now provides sports marketing services under the name Bluestone Ltd., said the two of them are "looking at advising companies on everything from sponsorship opportunities to procurement opportunities." Mr. Kinsella runs The Progressive Group, a communications firm.

Barinder Sall, we hardly knew you. According to our operatives, Attorney General Wally Oppal's ministerial assistant is leaving the precincts under his own power for an opportunity in the private sector. Astute Public Eye readers will remember Mr. Sall, who was the former judge's aide/scheduler during the recent election, became a Rockpile resident shortly after cabinet was sworn-in. Also leaving the legislature for the private sector: Philip Rygg, who had been working as a senior aide to Environment Minister Barry Penner.

The commuter newspaper bushwar in Vancouver has escalated. Public Eye has learned the managing editor of Metro Vancouver, Gord Kurenoff, has had his name removed from the newspaper's masthead. And, as of Sunday, Metro staffer Don Fiorvento, a former reporter with the North Shore Outlook was filling that position on an interim basis. Prior to joining Metro, Mr. Kurenoff had been editor of Kamloops This Week.

Terminal City may have a new civic party. But who will be Vision Vancouver's candidates? City councillors Raymond Louie and Tim Stevenson are already on the ticket. But that still leaves at least three spots on the slate that need to be filled by November. In an interview, candidate selection committee chair Am Johal explained Vision Vancouver started compiling a 30-person list of possible recruits for that slate back in July. And now they've shortened the list down to 10 hopefuls.

Earlier, Public Eye reported sex trade activist Jamie Lee Hamilton organized a meeting this past Monday so that supporters and fellow travellers could "come out and brainstorm some great campaign ideas" for her upcoming Non-Partisan Association parks board nomination campaign. Among those in attendance: former TEAM and Green city council candidate Bev Ballantyne, former Progressive Democratic Alliance candidate John Spark and ex-Tory nomination hopeful and independent city council candidate Ryan Warawa. So it will come as no surprise to Public Eye readers that - according to our tipsters - in the days before and after that meeting, all three of them requested association memberships forms.

Public Eye's 24 hours colleague Erin Airton has resigned from her post at provincial Liberal-connected public relations firm James Hoggan and Associates Inc., your humble organ has learned. Ms. Airton, the company's account director, will now be working as manager of communications and strategic planning at Platinum Group Metals Ltd., a Vancouver-based, publicly-traded platinum and palladium mining company with operations in South Africa and Canada

It looks Ezra Levant, publisher of the starboard-leaning Western Standard is doing his bit for Queen and country. On October 14, the recovering Stockaholic will be the featured speaker at the fourth annual fundraising luncheon for the Victoria chapter of The Monarchist League of Canada. The festivities, scheduled be held at the landlocked Princess Mary Restaurant, are being organized by capital city federal Conservative grand poobah Bruce Hallsor. Previous speakers have included artist Robert Bateman and Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo.

The premier's chief of staff, Martyn Brown, is on the move - geographically speaking, that is. Public Eye has learned Mr. Brown's Cobble Hill residence is up for sale. Asking price: $359,995. The real estate agency responsible for the sale, Ken Neal and Associates, notes the "one owner home has been meticulously maintained since day one" (no surprises there) and features "a huge master with double closets and luxurious en suite including a corner soaker tub" - perfect for relaxing after a hard day's work running the province.

The Social Credit Party may be little more than a page in British Columbia's history books. But the party's youth wing seems to be making something of a comeback. In an interview with Public Eye, ex-Socred youth president and Simon Fraser University alumni Robin Dhir confirmed he's invited former fellow travellers to attend a reunion in Coquitlam on August 27.

Astute Public Eye readers have notified your humble organ that yesterday, without fanfare or an accompanying news release, the provincial government posted some details about the so-called New Relationship it's negotiating with British Columbia's aboriginal peoples. Those details had previously been kept under wraps by the West Annex's openess and accountability advocates - although they were available on the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Website. Better late than never, we suppose.

Since being elected leader of the provincial New Democrats, Carol James has consistently refused to answer questions about whether she wants to move the party to the centre. Instead, Ms. James has said she favours a "balanced approach" to politics - which members of the chattering classes have simply assumed means she's a centrist. Not so, it seems.

Today, The Georgia Straight reported "A former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister is considering a political comeback. Ted Nebbeling, former minister in charge of the Olympic bid and the community charter, told the Straight that he is seriously considering running for mayor of Whistler in the November civic election." Public Eye broke that story last week.

Just in time for the November civic elections comes this could-be bombshell: in an email, sex trade activist and potential Non-Partisan Association parks board candidate Jamie Lee Hamilton confirmed a tell-all book about her life will be published by Toronto-based Cormorant Books Inc. this September. Entitled She's No Lady: The Story of Jamie Hamilton, the biography - written by Barbara Daniel was originally scheduled to hit bookshelves last October. Ms. Hamilton then mysteriously added she knows of "one politician who is shaking in his boots" about material that may or may not be in the book. A version of this article was originally published in today's edition of 24 hours.

Federal Conservative nomination candidates are getting some unexpected (but surely not unwanted) visitors this summer. Our tipsters report Tory House Leader Jay Hill and Opposition Whip Rob Nicholson are scheduled to tour British Columbia during the last week of August for scratch and sniff sessions with the would-be and already-are MPs in this province.

It looks like the Brewers of Canada will be mixing business with pleasure next week. In an interview with Public Eye, the industry association's public affairs manager Marko Dekovic confirmed he sent emails to select provincial Liberal staffers inviting them to attend an evening of refreshments on August 17 at the Sticky Wicket Pub and Restaurant. According to Mr. Dekovic, the invite has been extended "to just some of the staff we now. There's staff we like to keep in touch with. It's summertime. And we get together once or twice a year." No word on how many staffers will be attending as Mr. Devoic hasn't yet gotten back any RSVPs.

Upper-crust federal Liberals in Victoria are preparing for a night of cocktails and schnapps with Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, Public Eye has learned. Invites to the event were extended to members of the exclusive Laurier Club, whose members donate $1,000 or more to the Grits each year. The grand gathering is being hosted by Victoria constituency association executive member and real estate developer Jurgen Weyand. There's currently some discussion about whether event attendees will ask Minister Cotler about British Columbia Marijuana Party president Marc Emery's arrest-by-request of the United States.

The colourful Jamie Lee Hamilton, who ran unsuccessfully as a Coalition of Progressive Electors city council candidate back in 1996, wants a spot on the Non-Partisan Association's park board slate. In a leaked email, sent last Thursday, Ms. Hamilton - who was also a federal Green candidate in the 2000 election - invited friends and supporters to a Monday evening organizing meeting at the Jewel of India Restaurant. The reason: "Jamie Lee will be throwing her hat in the ring (Parks Board) and you are requested to come out and brainstorm some great campaign ideas."

Canadian Union of Public Employees provincial communications representative Daniel Gawthrop's name will once again be gracing bookstands across Canada. The author of Highwire Act Power, Pragmatism, and the Harcourt Legacy is coming out with a new book that's more personal and perhaps even more political than his previous offerings - which also included Affirmation: The AIDS Odyssey of Dr. Peter and Vanishing Halo: Saving the Boreal Forest. Entitled The Rice Queen Diaries, the autobiography focuses on "the politics and pleasures of being a self-identified 'rice queen': a gay man who is attracted to Asians." The book, which will be available in September, has been at least seven years in the making. Back in 1998, The Vancouver Sun's Malcolm Parry reported the former XTRA-West editor, said "he's coming along nicely with The Rice Queen's Diaries, his roman-a-clef novel 'of reflections on ethnicity and desire.'" A launch party is scheduled for September 8 at the Lamplighter in Gastown.

It looks like semi-professional political watcher and Public Eye comment-poster Bernard Schulmann is preaching the Green Gospel this summer. Our tipsters report Mr. Schulmann has been circulating a form email urging recipients to join one of the similarly-coloured civic parties being organized in Victoria and the surrounding municipalities. By law, those parties need at least 50 members if they endorse local candidates during the upcoming round of civic elections. The email also notes, "Publically (sic) identifiying people as Greens and then electing them will be the sort of clear step forward needed to build the credibility of the party." The following is a copy of that email, which was leaked to Public Eye.

While at The Vancouver Sun, Public Eye reported on a sophisticated anti-provincial New Democrat Website that ran afoul of British Columbia election rules. The now offline site - NDP Fairytales - used a narrated cartoon to compare current party leader Carole James with past premier Glen Clark. Clever. But there were just two little problems. Number one: the site wasn't registered as a third party advertiser - a violation of the Elections Act. And number two: Elections British Columbia couldn't contact the violators because the Web address for NDP Fairytales had been registered using an American company called Domains by Proxy Inc., which purchases domain names for clients who want to keep their identities anonymous. But, following inquiries by your humble organ, the provincial agency contacted the company and managed to get them to cough up a name: Yaletown resident Eunji Jung - who, on Wednesday, was forced to file the appropriate registration papers.

Public Eye comment-poster and lawyer Eleanor Gregory has filed her nomination papers to run for a spot on the Non-Partisan Association's school board slate, your humble organ has learned. Others who have sent in the required documentation but not yet trumpeted their candidacies include Carousel Theatre Company founder Elizabeth Ball, who co-chaired federal Liberal Hedy Fry's campaign during the last election and now wants a second shot at city council - having fought for a seat and lost in 1991; and parks board hopeful Bud Li-Lam, former Liberal MP Sophia Leung's constituency association president and co-founder of computer firm Minitronics Inc. Selections will be made on September 24 at the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel, where civic party members will be nominating two city council, five school board and two parks board candidates.

From a Public Eye reader comes this curiousity: according to 2003 and 2004 financial statements filed with Elections British Columbia, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. donated $29,990 to the provincial Liberals. Not interesting in and of itself. But attached to those donations is the name Larry Blain - once managing director of RBC but, as of December 2002, president and chief executive officer of Partnerships British Columbia. So, on Friday, we telephoned Mr. Blain to ask him why that might be. And this was his response: "I haven't worked there for two and a half years so I don't know." Mr. Blain then hung-up as Public Eye was asking him whether he had attended any fundraisers for the Liberals under RBC's name since joining Partnerships British Columbia.

Former Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Ted Nebbeling is heading back to the future. In an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Nebbeling confirmed he is thinking about running to become mayor of Whistler - a position he held before being elected to the legislature. "I'm not going to fool you, cause you're going to get to it anyway," he said, when asked about his political plans. "I'm having a little poll done right now because I think that's a smart thing to do. And then maybe, by the end of next week or the following week, I will make an announcement one way or another."

Earlier today, Public Eye made mention of the organizational chart for the provincial government's Olympic Games secretariat. That chart showed associate deputy minister Annette Antoniak at the centre of a small circle of administrative and executive support staff - all of whom, apparently, report directly to her. This somewhat bizarre graphic was the source of much snickering among civil servants, one of whom quipped "The only other organizational design that resembles this is the court of Henry VIII." But since we posted that story, the chart has been hastily removed. Apparently, such documents are now for internal government amusement only.

Annette Antoniak, the associate deputy minister of the provincial government's Olympic Games secretariat, is known for stocking her office with memorabilia from the Pacific National Exhibition. Curious but not surprising, given that she once was the exhibition's chief executive officer. But it looks like trinkets aren't the only things Ms. Antoniak brought with her. A look at the secretariat's fascinating Antoniak-centered organization chart (referred to us by a helpful and amused Public Eye reader), turns up two new additions to the bureaucracy: corporate relations director Darlene Haber and chief financial officer Jeff Garrard. Competent individuals to be sure. But would it surprise you to learn Mr. Garrard was formerly finance and administration vice-president at the exhibition? Or the fact that Ms. Haber once sat on an exhibition advisory committee and co-produced a video honouring Canadian Gulf War soldiers which Ms. Antoniak, according to The Vancouver Sun, "solicited donations of talent, studios, engineers, cameras and lighting and sound equipment" for. Probably not. But then again, our readers are a cynical bunch.

It seems some garden-variety federal Liberals from Vancouver's seaside constituency associations are none too happy with Mayor Larry Campbell's appointment to the Red Chamber. The reason: according to the rumour mill, said Liberals, many of whom also happen to belong to Terminal City's Non-Partisan Association, are bothered by the new senator's past promise to campaigning for Vision Vancouver mayoral candidate Jim Green during the upcoming civic election. Seems they would have preferred it if one of their favoured fossils, such as citizens' assembly architect Gordon Gibson, had gotten the nod instead. And who's taking the blame: why it's none other than our good friend, future Red Chamber seat-warmer Mark Marissen - who is said to have engineered Mayor Campbell's appointment.

Earlier, Public Eye reported Vancouver Island Greens were looking at running candidates in the upcoming round of civic elections. And now we've learned those same Greens are in the process of signing-up supporters to register slates in the capital city and its surrounding municipalities. Under the Local Government Act, those slates need to have at least 50 members by August 10 if they want to endorse local election candidates. At publication time, an online registry was showing 17 Green supporters in Victoria, seven in Saanich and just a handful in the other municipalities online. But we're assured the number of paper sign-ups is much higher.

Former provincial cabinet minister Ian Waddell wants to take another shot at public life. In an interview, Mr. Waddell confirmed he is once again planning on seeking the federal New Democrat nomination in Vancouver-Kingsway - where he ran and lost against Liberal David Emerson during the last election. Former Vancouver-Hastings provincial nomination hopeful Tony Kosovic will be competing against Mr. Waddell. And Mable Elmore told us she is also considering throwing her hat in the ring. Astute Public Eye readers will remember Ms. Elmore, an anti-war activist and British Columbia Federation of Labour regional political coordinator, kicked off a minor internal shitstorm when it was reported she told an online magazine that convincing union members to oppose the conflict in Iraq was difficult because of "vocal Zionists in our worksites." The nomination meeting for the riding has not yet been set but will likely be sometime in September or October. A version of this article was originally published in today's edition of 24 hours.

Earlier today, CKNW reported "the company taking over Terasen gets generally good reviews from investors but it did have to pay a fairly hefty fine for environmental damage earlier this year. It was a Kinder Morgan diesel pipeline which burst new San Francisco Bay in April 2004, polluting hundreds of acres of wetland with diesel fuel. A year later the company pleaded guilty to four misdemeanour counts and paid $3 million in fines and another $2 million in environmental projects." Public Eye told you about that incident and several other safety and environmental concerns surrounding Kinder Morgan Inc. yesterday.

Two days before the election, provincial Liberal pollsters called British Columbians to ask them whether they would "agree or disagree with Carole James and the NDP's policy to allow for a teachers' strike" - this, according a leaked phoned script. At the time, BCTV was reporting the station had "secret documents from the (British Columbia Teachers' Federation) suggesting that teachers could take a strike vote very soon after next Tuesday's election." The polling question was asked by those working at a party call center uncovered by columnist and Public Eye colleague Bill Tieleman. It matches the broadest definition of a push poll - in which questions are used not to collect information but rather raise issues that may encourage people to vote for one party or candidate over another. A version of this article was originally published in today's edition of 24 hours. The following is a copy of that script.

Environment Minister Barry Penner, a former park ranger, seems to be taking his duties as the province's green guardian seriously. On July 22, Minister Penner met with representatives from the Business Council of British Columbia at the organization's downtown Vancouver offices. During the hour-long meeting, Minister Penner is said to have told the representatives, who included council president and chief executive officer Jerry Lampert and executive vice-president Jock Finlayson, that the government stills wants to stop environmental problems before they start. But he added the business community can expect an increased emphasis on enforcing existing green laws. A version of this article was originally published in today's edition of 24 hours.

Kinder Morgan Inc., the new American owner of one of British Columbia's top energy companies, isn't a household name in this country. CanWest Global Communications Corp. newspapers have mentioned the firm just 49 times since it was founded in 1996. But, south of the border, the company's chairman and chief executive officer Richard Kinder has made headlines as both a prominent Republican moneyman and the former president of Enron Corp. And Kinder Morgan itself has been the focus of several recent environmental and safety-related controversies.

Right now, you and the rest of the province may be on vacation. But it looks like the folks at one of British Columbia's top energy companies are a little busy. Today, Terasen Inc. announced it had been bought by Houston, Texas-based energy transportation and storage giant Kinder Morgan Inc. for $6.9 billion. But what the release didn't mention was that the sell-off (which must still be approved by Industry Canada and the British Columbia Utilities Commission) was made possible, in part, by the provincial Liberals. Back in November 2003, the Campbell administration introduced and later passed the B.C. Hydro Public Power Legacy and Heritage Act, which removed legal provisions preventing Terasen from being taken over by another firm without cabinet's approval or moving its headquarters out of province.

Earlier, Public Eye opined provincial New Democrats MLAs were giving the exhausted Campbell administration time to a chance to regroup in time for the fall legislative session by taking a vaction from holding government to account. An example: last week, the Liberals had two-day cabinet meeting that started on Tuesday evening and stretched into a full-day session on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the New Democrats aren't scheduled to have their next caucus powwow until the end of August - a retreat at Dunsmuir Lodge and Conference Centre (which, socialists should note, bills itself as the place "where business meets" and one of five "favourite haunts for corporate retreats" in Canada).