Today, Public Eye reached the 1,000 story mark. This would usually be the cause of much jubilation at the converted walk-in closet/office your humble organ calls home. But there has been some consternation. Due to problems with our server, readers aren't presently able to post comments. We're working on the problem (as well as implementing our long-awaited re-design) and should be fully operational shortly.

Earlier, we reported rumours former forestry chieftain Rick Doman had been sniffing around for a federal Liberal nomination. But it turns out its the Grits who have been sniffing after him. In an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Doman stated "For six to eight months the federal Liberal party has asked me to run. And I have consistently said, 'First of all, I want to get back into a business. Secondly, I will help however you choose and I'll recommend some candidates. And, thirdly and most importantly, my dad is not well. And I'm 70 percent of the time in Vancouver at the hospital with him. And I just can't do it - even if I wished to. And I said I don't wish to. And what frustrated me most was that they were calling me up on Saturday and they had their convention here. And I've been in the hospital. I have not gone. And they said, 'The prime minister wants to meet with you. And will you run?' And I said, 'Look. My dad is in critical condition. I can't even come to your convention.'" He then added, "I've never asked for anything to run and I never would. If I do it, I'd do it out of the goodness of my heart."

Who's that we see challenging the "proven leadership" of Port Moody-Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam Conservative MP James Moore? Why it's none other than independent candidate Greg Watrich - once a proud member of Mr. Moore's constituency association executive. And what possible reason could he have for wanting to knock Mr. Moore off? Here's a hint: Mr. Watrich was once president of the Unity Party, running for them in the last provincial election. And his resume also lists him as being on the pastors advisory council of Foursquare Church and a Sunday school teacher. Still can't guess?

Well, the correct answer is helpfully underlined on Mr. Watrich's campaign Website: "it has become clear that our local Conservative MP has rejected one of the main commitments of his party from the previous election - to defend the traditional definition of marriage. Even after massive public protests, he has chosen to support the Liberals Same-Sex Marriage Legislation."

Mr. Watrich then goes onto write that, "many Conservative Party members are supporting me to challenge our MP as an Independent candidate in the upcoming election to give each of us in Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam the opportunity to vote to restore our traditional values."

Earlier, Public Eye reported Radio Punjab news director Harjinder Thind and former Vancouver South Liberal candidate Shinder Purewal were being targetted by the Tories as possible replacements for Newton North Delta Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal. And now, another name has turned up: Phil Eidsvik executive director of the British Columbia Fisheries Survival Coalition. Mr. Eidsvik, who has campaigned against the establishment of a First Nations-only commercial fishery since 1992, recently ran for the Tory nomination in Burnaby-New Westminster and lost.

At this hour, news is breaking that embattled Newton North Delta Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal will not be seeking re-election. According to our operatives, the Tories are presently targetting two names as a possible replacement for Mr. Grewal (although neither have yet been approached). They are: Radio Punjab news director Harjinder Thind, who was courted to run for the provincial Liberals, and Shinder Purewal. Prior to the last election, many had expected Mr. Purewal would win the Vancouver South Liberal nomination. But he reluctantly stepped aside to make way for star candidate and former premier Ujjal Dosanjh. Since then, he has been appointed a citizenship judge by the federal government. Messrs. Thind and Purewal are known to be friends.

Earlier, we reported on those who will be staffing the federal New Democrat's British Columbia campaign team, which will be managed by retiring party secretary Gerry Scott. But who's running the race for the Liberals in this province? According to our operatives, Kim Haakstad is the campaign director. Mike Witherly, who heads the prime minister's western desk, is the campaign spokesperson. And party outreach officer Thomas Marshall is the riding services manager. There are also presently four operations managers, responsible for coordinating various regional campaigns throughout the province. They are: the Liberal's British Columbia president Jamie Elmhirst (Vancouver Island), Industry Minister David Emerson's parliamentary affairs director Adam Johnson (Surrey), Senator Jack Austin's special advisor Forrest Parlee (Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and the Interior), Minister Emerson's chief of staff Bill Varvaris (Burnaby-Douglas, Burnaby-New Westminster and New Westminster-Coquitlam) and Earnscliffe Strategy Group Inc. principal Bruce Young (North Shore).

This just in from the world of news that isn't going to happen anytime soon: those who drink from the federal Liberal watering hole are gabbermongering about former Doman Industries Ltd. chief executive officer Rick Doman. According to said gabbermongers, Mr. Doman has been sniffing around for a Grit nomination. But, for some reason, the Liberal brass didn't roll out the red carpet. And, in any case, his olfactory glands have since lost interest in the nomination.

Public Eye readers, astute and otherwise, will already be aware provincial New Democrat conventioneers voted this weekend in favour of an emergency resolution approving the "statement by (party leader) Carole James that ended support of Bill 17." And who was responsible for throwing that softball, you may wonder? Well, the motion credits the Burnaby-Willington and Oak Bay-Gordon Head constituency associations.

Coincidently, Ms. James's old school board chum Charley Beresford ran in Oak Bay-Gordon Head during the last election. And the candidate for Burnaby-Willington was Gabriel Yiu - who has, in his own words been helping caucus chair Jenny Kwan "build support in the Chinese community." Ms. Kwan was a member of the so-called "31 percent club" and, last week, yapped in favour of Liberal backbencher Lorne Mayencourt's support for Bill 17.

But wait, there's more! According to party gossipmongers, a number of the leader's West Wing watchers were frantically phoning around in the days before convention to find a constituency association willing to submit just such a softball resolution. So could it be the party loyalists in Oak Bay-Gordon Head and Burnaby-Willington took them up on that request?

Meanwhile, as reported today by The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer, a hardball resolution calling for a reversal of the raise was distributed but not read out or debated at convention. According to Mr. Palmer, "organizers ruled it had been bypassed by events. Bill 17, the putative target, was already repealed." For the record, those organizers were the three members of the convention's resolution committe: caucus research officer and former party president Maura Parte, New Westminster and District Labour Council secretary-treasurer Carolyn Chalifoux and British Columbia Federation of Labour organizating director John Weir. The following is a complete copy of that resolution, which was authored by the New Democrats of Vancouver-Kensington

***

EMERGENCY RESOLUTION

Bill 17 - MLA Wages, Benefits and Pension Improvements

WHEREAS the BC Government legislated Bill 17 on November 17, 2005 that will substantially increase MLAs' wages by at least 15% and re-establisha pension plan; and

WHEREAS Bill 17 was passed unanimously be the legislature in two (2) hours and with no public consultation; and

WHEREAS the BC NDP caucus endorsed this secretive approach with no reference to the BC NDP party or its community allies; and

WHEREAS this legislation was rammed through two days before BC's municipal elections, which undermines the public's trust of progressive candidates; and

WHEREAS Bill 17 was passed a week before the BC NDP Convention, which will compromise the credibility of the party; and

WHEREAS there was no regard shown by the BC NDP caucus towards health care workers who continue to suffer under the regressive wage rollbacks and increased work time mandated by Bill 37,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BC NDP condemn the secretive actions of the BC legislature in imposing Bill 17; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the BC NDP support Carole James' call for the government to withhold Royal Assent and Proclamation of Bill 17 until there is an independent panel published for a full public review and input, and a report to the legislature in the Spring; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the BC NDP demand that the implementation of the provisions of Bill 17 be suspended until Bill 37 is repealed.

Vancouver-Kensington NDP Constituency Executive and
Vancouver-Kensington NDP Delegation to Convention

cope 15

Earlier, Public Eye pithily reported provincial New Democrat conventioneers debated an emergency resolution approving the "statement by (party leader) Carole James that ended support of Bill 17." But what was the substance of that ornery debate? Due to the timing of the resolution, most print organs didn't cover it. So Public Eye, with the assistance of a tape graciously provided by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s Jeff Davies, has prepared a rush transcript of that...er...lively discussion.

Paul Browning Paul Browning, YND. I rise in support of this motion. I think we all recognize that passing this salary increase without a public process and with no debate in the house was a mistake. I'm also happy that this resolution supports Carole James and the statement that ended support of that. And that we support the work of the party caucus in the key and most important role of going after the Liberals in the destruction of this province. You know - yes, the caucus made a mistake. It's been reversed. Let's get on with things. We shouldn't spend a whole bunch of time in the party rehashing it, attacking our leadership you know. We should move on. Go after the real enemy - who are the Liberals. This resolution is a good balance. I don't think we need to spend lots of time rehashing it.

Chair Microphone four.

Leanne Dawson Leanne Dawson, Prince George and District Labour Council. I rise in opposition to this motion for the very reason that NDP MLAs voting for a 15 percent increase in a decade where the public sector employers council has been delivering mandates to public sector employees of zero over a decade now. It's an absolute outrage. I'm not opposed to a fair increase for anybody. And let's make it very clear. I think MLAs deserve a fair salary for the work they do. However, every one of our NDP MLAs ought to have stood up in the legislature and demanded that government rescind Bill 29 that took absolute cuts off of social service workers who went through an 11 week strike to finally get a decent wage. And that was eliminated right from out under their feet. They ought to have stood up and demanded that government rescind Bill 37 which rolled back wages of hospital workers by - by the way - 15 percent. They needed to stand up in the house and demand a fair remedy for the teachers. They needed to demand that all of the havoc that's been put on workers and working families in this province be turned around before they accept an increase in their wages. The next outrage for me is the outrage of our party's MLAs standing up and then saying, "Oops. We need to turn back. We cut a deal. And now we're not going to go through we the deal. We cut a deal. We're going to renege on it. What does that do to our party's credibility in the future, trying to put the new way out there and work together to achieve things for people in this province? That's why I'm opposed to this motion.

Chair Thank you delegate. Microphone three.

Judy Darcy Judy Darcy, Vancouver-Fairview. And a representative of 40,000 hospital workers in the Hospital Employees' Union of British Columbia. And I speak on this issue - I speak on this issue tonight as a longtime New Democrat, as a citizen and also as a representative of the hospital workers who saw their wages rolled back by the Liberal government by 15 percent. I want to begin by saying that, in politics, it takes a lot of courage to say we made a mistake. And I want to applaud the leader and the caucus for having the courage to say we were wrong. I also want to say that it's a very good thing we're not trying to duck this issue or sweep it under the carpet. The best way for our party to deal with it at the opening of convention is to put it on the floor - to talk it out so we can really learn the lessons from what was a very, very serious mistake. And I want to share with you the reaction of the members of our union. Many of them have lost their homes because they were rolled back. They can't afford tuition fees for their kids any longer. They're having a real struggle to make ends meet. And they went out there in the last election and they worked their butts off from one corner of British Columbia to the other to elect our 33 NDP MLAs. And I say to you tonight - more in sorrow than in anger - that I need to reflect to you the anger and outrage of those members. We've talked a lot in the last week about process. Yes, the process stunk. We've talked a lot about timing. And, absolutely, the timing stunk. But I think the most important thing we need to learn here is that there was a judgment call that was made that was profoundly out of touch with the lives of ordinary British Columbians. And that's the most important lesson that we need to learn.

Chair I ask you to sum up delegate.

Ms. Darcy I will wrap-up. It's precisely because of what's in the last resolve of this resolution that I think people are especially upset and hurt. Because we want to be there unequivocally to say our MLAs are doing a tremendous job on behalf of working people. And, in order to strengthen that course - in order to rebuild trust and faith - we've got to work even harder to do politics differently. And doing politics differently means first and foremost being in touch with what's happening out there on the ground with working people and the poor and the disadvantaged across British Columbia. That's what our party has to do. And then we can turn a corner and rebuild from this mistake.

Chair Thank you delegate. Microphone two.

Andrea Dunlop That's hardly fair to have to follow that. My name is Andrea Dunlop. I'm opposed to this for different reasons. This, for me, just says let's support our government. Let's support the NDP. And I think that we're all here because we support the NDP. This is explaining why we should support the NDP. And I don't think we need that. I feel uncomfortable voting on a thing saying we need to support the NDP. That's why we're here. I don't think this is necessary.

Chair Thank you delegate. Microphone one.

Fred Musen Fred Musen, Vancouver-Kensington. You know, this resolution is fine but it's damage control. And until you understand and admit to the full amount of the damage you can't provide adequate control or redress. What happened? What happened was there was $35,000 for constituencies. Good idea. Mailing privileges. Good idea. But where and how did that get transformed to an absolute undermining of the democratic process? No consultation with the constituencies. No advanced warning legislation was going to be introduced. No reference to the people that have to go out and tell members to join the party - because that's where the future of financing is going to go. How do you explain that? How do you explain it to the members of my union - the Hospital Employees' Union. Judy outlined some of what they're going through. They wanted to believe. And they're faced with a Liberal government that wants to extinguish hope. And part of the hope they have for a better future for themselves - for their communities, for healthcare - is belief that getting enough NDPers elected to form government will provide accountability and a solution. And that's not what we had. And where was the analysis of the timing? Two days before a municipal election! How much damage did that create? I don't think we'll ever really know. There were lots of close races. But people started saying it doesn't matter who we vote for anymore. And one week before this convention? The NDP did a great job about the 713 child deaths that were not investigated. And when they supported voting for this unanimously - without any debate - it made it look like they didn't really care about these kids and it was being used as a smokescreen. So there has to be some analysis. Before you decide what damage to control, you have to analysis what damage was created. So this is fine as far as it goes but it does not go far enough.

Chair Thank you delegate. Microphone four.

Barry O'Neil Barry O'Neil, CUPE British Columbia. It's unfortunate that I am actually at a con mike. But this why I think I'm a New Democrat. Because unlike other parties in this country, the kind of things we have to deal with we'll deal with in front of cameras, in front of each other. We'll talk. This our parliament. This is our opportunity to debate these things. And I'm pleased that we actually have this resolution on the floor. This is certainly - as a brother said earlier - not any attack on the leader. I think that this is encouraging to our leader because what our leader did in response to what she heard was the right thing to do. And we're voicing those kind of concerns to our party. If we don't do it no one else will my friends. So I'm proud to be part of this debate and make no qualms. Although I believe some of the things in this resolution will work there are certain things that I think we need to be aware of in the future. If we learn nothing from this tragedy in my view then we will learn nothing. And our MLAs, we all know work very hard. But I want to talk about a couple things. Because I don't think it does our debate any good by adding number three to this resolution because those are the kind of things that we should be talking about as New Democrats on a day-to-day basis. It shouldn't take a new resolution to actually encourage us to talk about the things that are covered in number three. That's what our party is built on and those are the kinds of issues we believe in. And we need not have a part of a resolution here that encourages us to do the same. You know, I think there was a lot of talk (that) happened as a result of this. But I think if we learn nothing when this resolution came forward and wherever it was made we need to learn to talk better to each other. People in this room understand what's happening in communities all across this province. And there's certainly nothing wrong with those of us who work in Victoria asking us what we think because we are the pulse of this government. We are the pulse of this province. And God knows the Liberal government does it with their business friends on a daily basis. We need to understand that we need to better communicate. Because nobody knows what workers are going through better than workers. And our government needs to understand that if they ask them they can give them the kinds of positive kinds of comments that need to be made around pay increases for our MLAs. My friends, this is all about a debate we need to have. And I'm pleased that we are having it. We should make no bones or apologies about having it. It's what we're all about as a party. Thank you very much.

Chair Thank you delegate. Microphone three.

Jim Evanson Jim Evanson, president of Vancouver-Kensington. First time delegate. First of all, I'm encouraged by the passion I'm hearing in this debate. This is a huge issue. To find that we're dealing with 33 highly-intelligent MLAs who came to this conclusion that it would be a good idea to pursue this enterprise - however many weeks it was or days it was that they made that decision. I think that we need to have - my suggestion, the only thing that I'm going to suggest in addition to what people have been saying is that we need to take back to local constituencies the idea that there's a lot of people out there who need to talk about this. And my suggestion - and this is what we're going to do it in my constituency - is to have an evening in someone's living room and invite people to come and do what we're doing right now. Because, if we don't, these feelings are going to fester. And this is going to be bad for the party. So this is is my thought.

Chair Thank you delegate. Microphone two.

Delegate (inaudible), New Westminster. I stand at the con mike not because I've lost any of my faith in the party - so I'm not going to be opposiing part three - nor because I've lost fiath in our caucus - which I supported and helped get elected. But, frankly, I don't think the pay increase should be accepted whether it comes from an independent process or by a vote in the legislature. If our party wants to say we stand in solidarity with the people who are suffering under this government, then we can say it by saying that under no circumstances will our caucus accept pay increases while the working people - and we haven't heard very much about the people who aren't working, the people who are on welfare, the 100 percent increase in people who are homeless. If we want to stand in solidarity with people, then our answer isn't what the proceess is. Our answer is we stand in solidarity with the people who are suffering under this government. We'll carry on that fight. And we won't compromise as a caucus or a party until that fight is won and we reverse the course that this government is on. I oppose this motion. I think that it continues the problem of process. It's a glossing over. It's not right to entertain this kind of process. It wasn't right to entertain it in the beginning. And it's not right to put number three here and entertain this process on convention floor. There's only one way to show that solidarity. And it's to say no - we stand in solidarity with the people as a party, this convention stands in solidarity with the people who are suffering under this government.

Chair Thank you delegate. Microphone one.

David Vipond David Vipond, Surrey-Green Timbers. I'm at a pro mike to actually speak in favour of this - and for a number of reasons. As has been said, the process as we all know has been flawed. But I have to commend the leader because recognized that immediately and she took unequivocable action to correct it. So the error was immediately remedied. So for us to dwell on it and flaggelate ourselves and engage in recriminations is just an unproductive exercise. And even though the process was flawed, I disagree with the previous speaker who said that they should never be entitled to a wage increase if the circumstances in BC are anything less than perfect. My day job is to represent working people in bargaining. And if you take a look at terms for MLAs, they make about $25 a hour. It's a very difficult job. You have to interrupt your career. You have to seek election. You're guaranteed to get fired in four years. And then you've got to seek election again. For some reason, they decided in an earlier administration that they had to get rid of their pension plan. And I can tell you they have an entirely inferior arrangement right now. I'm a pension trustee and we would not accept the proposed system that they have for our members. We would advocate for a defined benefit plan as being a superior pension provision. I'm also aware that their benefits are the pits. I can tell ya, if it was a unit appropriate for collective bargaining, the current arrangement is not one we'd settle for. The other thing that I would like to say is that people have spoken against our government members. And they rail really about past sins. It was the NDP, it was Joy MacPhail and Jenny Kwan would stood in a marathon - a heroic marathon - to oppose Bill 29. They slugged their guts out for that. And how on earth can we stand here today and say that the NDP's not entitled to consideration in their pay because Bill 29 was passed by the rotten Liberals. It doesn't make any sense. And it was the NDP in this current session that stood and stood and fought and fought against that rotten legislation to force teachers back to work. They're doing a good job.

Chair Sum up delegate.

Mr. Vipond And it is the NDP - our current members - who have drawn attention to the disgusting episode regarding children that are dying in this province. So I urge delegates here today to support this resolution and move on. Because we've got miles to go before we sleep.

Chair Thank you delegate. Microphone four.

Ron Wagner Ron Wagner, Steel. I rise to speak against this motion. I find that the timing of the presentation of this motion and the language of this motion are both a shameful attempt to sweep a turd underneath a carpet. To pair the rising of wages with the idealism is phrase three is an attempt to hide what happened and to not talk about what happened. The issue of the compensation for MLAs is not part of the question. The question is how they went about addressing that. The transparency that wasn't there. Honestly, I thought the NDP was a party of workers. Where were they in the teachers' strike? I didn't hear them saying anything about BCPC and how the government uses BCPC to hide - to distance themselves. I saw the NDP running away from supporting labour. And to talk about the past administration and how they behaved and to hide behind their skirts now for how this caucus has behaved is disingenous. Again - how did you manage to present this three minutes before closing? Was that an accident? So, I rise - there is already accomodation for MLA pay increases in legislation. And, if it's not adequate, good politics would be to include us. This whole thing has brought shame on politics and will distance voters from the electorate process. Anyways, let's tear up this resolution. It's just water.

Chair Thank you delegate. Microphone three.

Brenda McBain Brenda McBain, provincial council delegate, Oak Bay-Gordon Head. Oak Bay-Gordon Head is one of the presenters of this motion. And I'm here to speak in support of it. Contrary to what the previous speaker has said, the intention of this motion is to bring this issue to the forefront, earlier in convention. To have the opportunity to have delegates speak to it - to express their disappointment over a terrible mistake that was made. But (it is) also an opportunity to acknowledge the fine, hard work on many difficult issues that the NDP caucus has undertaken in this last legislative session. Just a reminder to delegates - this is largely a rookie caucus who have undertaken some excellent work on some very serious issues that they faced. And yes, a serious mistake has been made in this particular instance. But, in spite of their efforts to do politics differently, they did make a terrible mistake. It's been acknowledged clearly by Carole James the leader. I believe that the members of caucus have heard us tonight and heard our disappointment. I feel confident they will have learned from this mistake. And they have much, much serious work to do on our behalf in the future. And I'm proud to lend them my support as they care on to do that.

Chair Thank you delegate. I hear the question being called. But I'll hear one more speaker and then I'll test the house. Microphone two.

Lyle Kristiansen Lyle Kristiansen, Powell River-Sunshine Coast. I rise to oppose the resolution - not for the kind of reasons I've heard so far. I've been a union representative. I've been on the CCF national council. The NDP federal council. I've been a member of parliament. And if anybody thinks that by having an independent bloody commission you're going to save money you need your bloody heads examined! Hell! For ten years, I was about the only federal member of parliament that would defend on TV and radio the salaries and pensions that MPs get. Everybody took 'em. But few had the guts to stand up and defend them. The socialist movement, ever since it was born in this country, has fought like hell to try to get decent pay and decent pensions for elected people so working people got afford to run for bloody office. That's what we existed for for bloody half of the last bloody century. I don't know what was said in caucus when the decision was made. But it's a caucus of 33 people and I'm sure it wasn't unanimous and I'm sure they had a long debate. And I'm sure some of them questioned the wisdom of the timing. There's never a good time. There's never a good time. But to have a decision reached by a majority to be overruled by one person without full consolution with that caucus when it was our party when it was in government - I forget whether it was under Harcourt or Clark - that screwed up the MLAs pension plan that was there before. And it was well past time that we tried to correct it. Because, if you work for the boss and you get elected and they you get defeated, somebody will put you on the payroll. But, if your a bloody worker, no one will look after you if you get cut-off after three or four years or six years. You want to have ordinary people elected in parliament. Then you give them so God damn security! And you don't have anyone - a leader or anyone else - single-handedly reverse a democratic decision that was reached whether it was right or wrong.

Chair Please sum up delegate.

Mr. Kristiansen You just don't do that. The whole purpose behind this resolution is gutless and it's wrong.

Chair Thank you delegate. I said I would test the house now and whether it was the pleasure to go to a vote or continue debate. So all those in favour of closing debate and voting now please raise your hands. Thank you. All those who'd like to continue debate. Okay, we'll be putting the question (to the floor).

So has federal New Democrat leader Jack Layton personally spoken with failed Terminal City mayoral candidate Jim Green about running for the party nomination in Vancouver Centre? Mr. Layton was mum about the subject yesterday. But, speaking with my comrade-in-ink Irwin Loy at 24 hours (who also runs an excellent blog, by the way), Mr. Green confirmed Mr. Layton had approached him about running but he was "strongly leaning towards no...I don't think there's any possibility about it. But I haven't told them flatly no. I'm not quite over the last election...so I'd really have to consider it."

Earlier, Public Eye reported senior New Democrat operatives have been seriously discussing recruiting failed Vision Vancouver candidate Jim Green to run for the party's federal nomination in Vancouver Centre. In fact, we've been told party leader Jack Layton has personally spoken to Mr. Green about the matter. And what does Mr. Layton have to say about those rumours? Cornered by your humble organ earlier this morning, the leaders's mustache said, "Look, we've only..." before re-starting his response: "I'm a longstanding friend of Jim's. I wanted to commiserate with his loss. I ran for mayor of Toronto. And had the same experience he just had. So we've certainly been commiserating. I don't know what his plans might be going into the future." So you've haven't talked to him about the nomination, we pressed? "That's all I'm willing to say," answered Mr. Layton with a non-denial, denial "because Jim has been a friend of mine for many, many years."

In a textbook example of democratic socialism inaction, the party brass-picked "momentum slate" has won each and every chair on the provincial New Democrat's executive council - in most cases, by acclamation! Surely, this is an election result Fidel Castro, Kim Jong-il or any number of other communist dictators past and present would be proud of. The one exception to that rule was the race for the executive's three member-at-large seats, where the slate's candidates were challeged by independent Jennifer Burgis and her team of women's rights committee supporters. Ms. Burgis, who is running in Saanich-Gulf Islands for the federal New Democrats, lost that challenge by 13 votes. The following is a complete copy of the glossy colour flyer "advertising" the New Democrat's "winning" executive council slate.

A progressive,
pro-active
Executive for
today's BC New Democrats

Pro-active. Inclusive.
Hard-working.
That's what our team will provide to NDP members, our party and caucus over the next two years as your Executive.

We will:
* be strong constituency advocates
* ensure fair access to all regions to party and caucus support
* build on the momentum that you created over the past two years
* establish the foundation for a victory for the BC NDP and all British Columbians in 2009!

FOR PRESIDENT

RE-ELECT JEFF FOX

FOR TREASURER

RE-ELECT CHERY HEWITT

FOR VICE-PRESIDENT

RE-ELECT SAV DHALIWAL
ELECT MAURINE KARAGIANIS, MLA
ELECT MARIANNE ALTO
ELECT BOB SMITS
ELECT HEATHER HARRISON

FOR MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

ELECT CATHY McGREGOR
ELECT LORRAINE SHORE
ELECT CRAIG KEATING

Our team unanimously endorses the Labour Caucus candidates for Vice-President and Member-at-Large.

cep 467

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s Jeff Davies was partying like it was 2000 at the British Columbia New Democrat convention. On Saturday, the mischevious bearded radioman was spotted frightening unassuming delegates with his vintage provincial campaign shirt. According to Mr. Davies, most have reacted to that shirt - which reads "Making History Ujjal Dosanjh and the NDP" - with a mix of "shock and horror."

Provincial New Democrats conventioneers weren't the only ones living the Terminal City high life yesterday evening. As we earlier reported, those covering the party convention ditched an offer to attend the Dippers' fundraising dinner and instead went for a "vegeterian" meal at Memphis Blues Barbeque House, chowing down on three of the restaurant's trademark $64 Elvis Platters. Also getting their carnivore fix at the event were caucus communications director Jim Rutkowski, New Democrat leader Carole James's press secretary Scott Perchall and Trish Webb - who occupied the same post when Glen Clark was premier.

With a non-confidence vote just a day away, New Democrat conventioneers and their tongues are wagging about the upcoming campaign and those who will be running the party's show in British Columbia. According to our operatives, strategist-for-hire Brad "Darth" Zubyk and former provincial caucus executive director and Vision Vancouver communications director Clay Suddaby have been assigned to the candidate support desk - whose operations will be coordinated by New Democrat communications officer David Bieber. Ex-Canada Now reporter Marcella Munro, who worked as a fartcatcher for the party during the last provincial election and was a member of the Vision campaign's research squad, has jetted off to Ottawa to join the New Democrat war room's quick response team.

Earlier, your humble organ reported provincial New Democrat rank-and-filers would be paying up to $100 to attend tonight's Celebration 2005 fundraising dinner with party leader Carole James, her big federal brother Jack Layton and his mustache (Public Eye passim). But those weren't the only luminaries at the dinner. Former interim provincial party leader Joy MacPhail was spotted, as were ex-premiers Dave Barrett and Dan Miller (guess his new boss doesn't mind him schmoozing with the socialists). Gord McAdams, the government ecologist who was fired for leaking confidential documents to save a painted turtle habitat, turned up. And so did (drumroll please) Marc Emery, Canada's prince of pot.

The provincial New Democrat constitution may still embrace the principles of democratic socialism. But you can be guaranteed the party's bobos won't be serving borscht tonight, at Celebration 2005 - a $100 ticket fundraiser being held at the Westin Bayshore Resort and Marina's ballroom. Attending said fundraiser will be party convention delegates, their provincial leader Carole James, her caucus and Ms. James's big federal brother Jack Layton. Meanwhile, those covering the New Democrats this weekend (as well as some caucus staffers) will be munching at the Memphis Blues Barbeque House.

British Columbia Federation of Labour secretary-treasurer and dinosaur lover Angie Schira is not running for re-election as the provincial New Democrat's labour vice-president, Public Eye has learned. And, according to our operatives, the party's labour caucus will be filling that chair with federation policy director Lynn Bueckert. She'll be running tomorrow as an endorsed member of the party brass-picked's "momentum slate." Some New Democrats are interpreting the fact Ms. Bueckert is a staffer rather than an elected union official (and, therefore, less senior) as some kind snub.

Back in October, while commenting on the United Steelworkers of America's opposition to de-affiliation, The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer referred to the union's district three director Steve Hunt as "Mr. Brontosaurus." And now it appears some labour movement members are working hard to change that prehistoric descriptor from an insult to a badge of honour. Public Eye has noticed a number of unionists sporting dinosaur stickers on their provincial New Democrat convention delegate passes. And we're told British Columbia Federation of Labour secretary-treasurer Angie Schira has affixed two small plastic dinosaurs to the shoulders of her shirt.

Last week, Public Eye floated a rumour that failed Vision Vancouver mayoral candidate Jim Green may run against Lord of the Rings Svend Robinson for the New Democrat nomination in Vancouver Cenre. At the time, those close to the former Terminal City councillor pooh-poohed that rumour. But the push to recruit Mr. Green seems to be getting serious discussion today by senior party operatives attending the British Columbia New Democrat convention.

It seems federal New Democrat patriarch Ed Broadbent has some stern words for provincial party leader Carole James...sortof. In a statement republished in the Dippers' newsletter and distributed to conventioneers, Mr. Broadbent outlines a seven point ethics plan for federal politicos. Point number one: "Democratic accountability should mean no MP can ignore his/her voters for personal gain." Mr. Broadbent, of course, is referring to MPs who "change parties, cross the floor, and become a member of another party without first resigning their seats and running in a by-election." But, a number of delegates are wondering whether that same principle should apply to MLAs who negotiate secretive deals to enrich their own bank accounts?

As has been already been reported far and wide, provincial New Democrat conventioneers had a lot to say last night about party leader Carole James's earlier support for a MLA pay raise. But Ms. James wasn't nearly as talkative about that support when she addressed those delegates earlier this morning: "Last week, when we made a mistake, you spoke up. You told us we were wrong. And you were right. But we cannot allow it to overshadow our incredible success." Full stop.

In a scrum following that address, The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer asked Ms. James why she thought her "glancing, half-sentence reference (to the controversy) was a sufficient way to deal with the furor over the wage increases?"

Answered the leader, "Because of the fact we had a very good discussion last night. A good opportunity for people to raise their issues. I think it was important to mention it again today. But yes, I've had delegate after delegate come up to say they're pleased with the way we've handled it. Their pleased with that we had an open opportunity for debate last night."

"You didn't really mention it though...you didn't say what (the mistake) was. You just said you made a mistake," commented BCTV/Global's Keith Baldrey. "I don't think there's a person in this province (who) doesn't know what's gone on in the past five years," responded Ms. James.

But what about this line that the mistake should not "overshadow (caucus's) incredible success?" Doesn't that sound like something out of Premier Gordon Campbell's oft-mocked robotic "moving forward" message box, which focuses future successes rather than past mistakes? "Not at all. In fact, we stood up and said, 'We made a mistake.' We acknowledged and fixed it. If we'd seen the Campbell government admit mistakes we wouldn't be dealing with things like child deaths that we've been dealing with in the past six months."

Yesterday, British Columbia New Democrat conventioneers debated an emergency resolution approving "the statement by (party leader) Carole James that ended support of Bill 17." As has already been reported by provincial broadcasters, that resolution was passed 294 to 190 - although some ornery delegates took to the microphones to condemn caucus for supporting that pay raise package in the first place. And now, some delegates are curious why that debate happened on Friday at 8:00 - past The Vancouver Sun's weekend edition deadline and the six o'clock news. After all, traditionally, emergency resolutions have been discussed on Sunday - a much more convenient time for the press pack. But, in an interview with Public Eye, party secretary Gerry Scott explained that tradition was changed two years ago, prior to the leadership convention. Now, those document are debated at the same time as non-emergency policies. The following is a copy of that resolution.

Emergency Resolution
Category: Good Government

Whereas: The recent legislation dealing with MLA's compensation and support budgets for MLA's service offices has caused significant public concern, and

Whereas: Many citizens in BC feel the priority of the Legislature at this time must be to address the attacks by the Campbell Liberals on middle income and working families, on the most vulnerable, on key public services, on collective bargaining, on fair labour laws, on employment standards, and on the fair sharing of economic opportunities in BC, and

Whereas: British Columbians of all political persuasions believe any Changes (sic) in MLA compensation must be based on an independent and transparent process,

Therefore be it resolved that:

1. The BC NDP supports the initiative of the NDP in bringing about the repeal of Bill 17 and supports any future MLA compensation change going through an independent and transparent process, not simply a legislative process.

2. The BC NDP supports the statement by Carole James that ended support of Bill 17 and that recognized the public concern on the issue.

3. The BC NDP supports the work of the NDP MLAs and Leader Carole James in their efforts during the recent Legislative session to address the numerous failures of the Campbell Liberal administration in the protection of children, in the destruction of collective barganing, in the provision of vital health, educational, and social services, in the privatization of public utilities and public services; and in the neglect of the public inteerest in the core functions of government.

Submitted by,
BURNABY-WILLINGDON
Composite with Oak Bay Gordon Head

cope 15/sem

It seems some liquour distribution branch employees got into a spot of bother during a long service award ceremony at Government House on October 19. Speaking with Public Eye, the lieutenant governor's private secretary Herb LeRoy explained "The long service award is a recognition of "longtime, good public service (for civil servants). And it's the big event of their career. They come well-behaved and very excited about being presented to the lieutenant governor (Iona Campagnolo) and their minister. It's a big deal. And some of those who got too exuberant about the evening tended to ruin it for the others. Instead of clapping and hooting and cheering for their co-workers - which happens all the time - (the evening) had a bit of an edge to it. And that's the part that concerns us. But, as far as any fallout from it, it's really up to the organization - the ministry - to deal with it internally. The lieutenant governor isn't making an issue about it."

Earlier, your humble organ reported former provincial backbencher Sheila Orr had won the federal Liberal nomination in Saanich-Gulf Islands. But who's won the...er...prize of being the Grit campaign manager in that riding? Come on down, David Kelly! Mr. Kelly, of course, will be well-known to those bureaucrats working at British Columbia's health ministry - he was once their deputy minister. And, in the (recent) past, he's been touted as a possible Liberal candidate.

Your humble organ has written at length about the federal legal work awarded to once and present Grit candidate David Mulroney. But, today, Public Eye has learned his firm - David Mulroney and Company - resigned as an agent of the Crown. In an interview, the candidate explained, "I think it would be incompatible with my running for office for me to still be doing the work. It may not be legally incompatible. But there might be a perception that, if I'm doing work for the government while I'm running for office, it might look like or be perceived by some as an indirect form of assistance. So I want to avoid that possible perception."

Mr. Mulroney, who took a leave of absence from his firm when he campaigned in Saanich-Gulf Islands during the last election, also said "I have no intention of applying to do that work again" regardless of whether he wins his bid to become the MP for Victoria.

So who will be handling that work now? In a letter dropped off in Victoria court boxes today, McConnon, Bion, O'Connor and Peterson principal Michael Mark notified capital city law firms that his office, which already does legal work for Ottawa, would now be "the exclusive standing agent for the Attorney General of Canada in Greater Victoria and the Western Communities." Interestingly enough, that firm is home to longtime Grit backroom boy and fundraiser Michael "Benji" O'Connor.

In an interview with Public Eye, justice department senior communications advisor Lyse Cantin, said the decision to hand those contracts to McConnon, Bion, O'Connor and Peterson was made independent of Mr. Mulroney by federal prosecution service agent supervisor Bill West. The firm is one of the few in British Columbia with the security clearance required to take over that work on short notice.

At least five of Mr. Mulroney's staffers will now be joining McConnon, Bion, O'Connor and Peterson, leaving David Mulroney and Associates as a one-lawyer firm. The following is a complete copy of Mr. Mark's letter.

***

McCONNAN
BION
O'CONNOR &
PETERSON
BARRISTERS &
SOLICITORS

Reply to the attention of: Michael R. Mark

November 23, 2005

Attention: Victoria Defence Bar

Dear Sirs:

Re: Attorney General of Canada

We are writing to advise that effective Thursday November 24, 2005, Michael James O'Connor and offices of McConnan Bion O'Connor & Peterson Law Corporation ("McConnan Bion") shall be the exclusive standing agent for the Attorney General of Canada in Greater Victoria and the Western Communities. All existing prosecution files presently conducted by David Mulroney as agent for the Attorney General of Canada and David Mulroney & Company shall be transferred to McConnon Bion for all purposes. As you may know, the reason for the transition is that Mr. David Mulroney will be a candidate for office in the anticipated Federal election and, as such, he shall be resigning as an agent for the Attorney General of Canada.

We have made every effort to make this sudden transition as seamless as possible in order to ensure continuity in the conduct of all prosecutions that we are assuming. Inquiries regarding specific files may be made through our office and we will ensure that the assigned prosecutor will be in a position to respond effectively. Matters of an administrative nature may be referred to our legal assistants Michelle Gomm or Debbie Jackson.

We look forward (sic) servicing in our continuing and expanded role as agent for the Attorney General of Canada in this area. If any interested party has any questions or concerns, please feel (sic) to contact Michael R. Mark.

Yours truly,

McCONNAN BION O'CONNOR & PETERSON
LAW CORPORATION

Per:

MICHAEL R. MARK

MRM/lc

F:\FEDERAL\GENERAL\2005\Notification letters\Defence Counsel letter.wpd

Want to celebrate the end of the fall legislative session but don't have anywhere to go? Well, worry not because if you're a provincial government staffer, Earnscliffe Strategy Group Inc. has taken care of everything. Just show up to the Irish Times Pub, where the Ottawa lobbying firm is hosting a drink-up for ministerial and executive assistants and associated hanger-on-ers. Meanwhile, New Democrat members and staffers are already partying in the Opposition's caucus chamber, embedded deep within the fortified office known only as 201.

The weekend's Terminal City election results mean Vision Vancouver mayoral candidate Jim Green will soon be checking the classifieds. But he's not the only one. Mayor Larry Campbell's executive assistant Geoff Meggs will also be out on the job market. But the question is, who'll be picking him up off the politico shelf? According to our operatives, the British Columbia Federation of Labour - where Mr. Meggs once worked as a communications director - is rumoured to be interested. But don't expect to see Mr. Meggs at 5118 Joyce Street until the New Year.

On Friday, The Peace Arch News's Steven Addison reported the federal Liberals conducted a poll of four potential South-Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale candidates last month. Among those named in the survey was Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. And, according to our operatives, senior Grits are still mulling the possibility of recruiting Mr. McCallum - even though he lost the recent civic election to Dianne Watts by 10,423 votes. Meanwhile, rumours are circulating that defeated Vision Vancouver mayoral candidate Jim Green could seek the New Democrat nod in Vancouver Centre. But those close to Mr. Green pooh-poohed such gossip, noting back-to-back campaigns would be too much of a strain for anyone. The nomination meeting for Vancouver Centre has yet to be scheduled, with former MP Svend Robinson having announced his intention to seek the nomination in that riding back in October.

Columbia Power Corp. president Lorne Sivertson may be retiring. But perhaps he should consider pursuing a second career - as a stand-up political comedian. According to our operatives, Mr. Sivertson entertained the 100 or so guests at his retirement party last night with a number of delicious one-liners directed at the eyebrow-raising actions of the Columbia Basin Trust. An example: "My personal dispute with the Columbia Basin Trust, not to put to fine a point on it and with all due respect, was a matter of principle." We'll let you use your imagination to fill-in what Mr. Siverston had to say about his principles versus those of the Columbia Basin Trust. Also in attendance at the party, which was hosted by Victoria's Queen Mother Waterside Cafe, was provincial New Democrat MLAs Katrine Conroy and John Horgan, as well as energy, mines and petroleum resources deputy minister Greg Reimer.

Once again, Public Eye fills a vaccuum created by the provincial New Democrat's Website: your humble organ has obtained a much sought-after and not-yet posted copy of the agenda for this weekend's party convention, scheduled to be held at the Westin Bayshore Resort and Marina. Of most interest to the assembled press pack will be Friday's caucus introduction (how will delegates greet party leader Carole James following last week's MLA pay raise fiasco?) and Sunday's emergency resolution debate (will there be an attempt to condemn Ms. James and her colleagues for supporting that raise?). The following is a complete copy of that schedule.

BC NDP Leadership Convention 2005
Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver
November 25,26,27, 2005

DRAFT AGENDA

Friday, November 25, 2005

2:00 pm Registration opens

3:00 pm New Delegate Orientation 1

4:00 pm New Delegate Orientation 2

5:00 pm Call to Order/Greetings
Oh Canada
Adoption of Rules, Reports, Committees

7:00 pm Introduction of Caucus
Policy debate

9:00 pm Adjournment

Saturday, November 26, 2005

8:00 am Registration opens

9:00 am Call to order
Close of Oversight Committee nominations

9:05 am Reports
Policy debate

11:00 am Order of the day: Carole James

11:25 am Election of Oversight Committee
Policy Debate

11:45 am Induction Ceremony: Honorary Life Members

12:00 pm Recess

1:30 pm Call to Order

Reports

Policy Debate

2:45 pm Keynote Speaker

3:05 pm Workshops - 4 concurrent

5:00 pm Forum for Executive Election candidates (not on convention floor)

5:00 pm Forum for Nomination Review Task Force

6:00 pm Close of nominations for President

7:00 pm Dinner

Sunday November 27, 2005

9:00 am Call to order
Reports
Ratification of Regional and Committee Representatives on Executive
Elections

9:35 am Order of the Day: Jack Layton

10:00 am Policy debate

Elections

11:00 am Announcement of Election Results
Policy debate
Referrals, Emergency Resolutions

12:00 pm Adjournment

The province's second electoral reform referendum may be three years away. But fundraising for that campaign is already underway. In an email sent to fellow travellers, conservative legal mastermind Bruce Hallsor, who co-chaired the Yes to STV campaign, invites electoral reform supporters to attend an "intimate wine and cheese" event with former capital-r Reform leader Preston Manning. Tickets to the event, which will be held at the Harbour Towers Hotel and Suites on January 7, are $40 - with the money going to support "Fair Vote BC and the Victoria Chapter of Fair Vote Canada in their efforts to organise for a Yes vote in the next referendum on electoral reform." The following is a complete copy of that invite.

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Hallsor
Sent: 22 November 2005 15:25
Subject: Preston Manning in Victoria -- Fair Vote BC Event

Preston Manning will be in Victoria on January 7 to support Fair Vote BC and the Victoria Chapter of Fair Vote Canada in their efforts to organise for a Yes vote in the next referendum on electoral reform, set for November 2008.

Preston is an engaging person, and this intimate wine and cheese event will present an excellent opportunity to get to know him better. It will be held in a top floor suite of the Harbour Towers Hotel, with a stunning view of the harbour. Preston will speak very briefly, and the rest of the event will be an opportunity for questions, and informal mingling.

I hope you can come. Tickets are only $40.00. They will make great christmas presents for STV fans and Preston supporters alike.

Just send me a return e-mail, or call me at 388-5421, and I will be happy to get you one or more tickets.

Bruce Hallsor

Sheila Orr wasn't the only former provincial Liberal MLA to win a federal Liberal nomination over the weekend. On Sunday, once (and hyped future) cabinet minister Joyce Murray beat out Coquitlam tourism director Barb Stegemann for the Grit nod in New Westminster-Coquitlam, 346 to 202. Meanwhile, in an interview with your humble organ, Ms. Murray's old executive council colleague Brenda Locke said she'll soon be seeking the Liberal nomination in Fleetwood-Port Kells: "I'm certainly interested. I'm certainly looking at it. I certainly have been approached by many, many, many people to do it. And my arm is being twisted very aggressively. Am I going to be doing it? You bet I'm going to be doing it."

Senior staff churn in the provincial government has been comparatively pacific over the past couple months. But from the shores of the health ministry comes this rogue wave: two weeks ago, deputy minister Penny Ballem announced she was "pleased...(ministry chief information officer) John Schinbein has accepted our offer to lead an important eHealth program initiative." Translation: Mr. Schinbein is no longer the ministry's chief information officer. And, in what surely is an astounding coincidence, his two lieutenants - architecture and standards senior manager Mike Leavy and healthnetBC director Stuart Frampton - have also left to...um..."pursure other opportunities." And why, you may wonder, is this important? Well, one of Mr. Schinbein's successors (Peter Durrant) will be taking over responsiblity for laying down British Columbia's stretch of the Canada Health Infoway - a controversial $100 million federally-funded health survelliance system. The following is a complete copy of Ms. Ballem's memo.

Re: Staffing Changes - CIO and eHealth

Over the past two years, government has placed a high priority on strategic planning in the areas of eHealth and this emphasis has allowed us to make significant progress. We are now approaching a new stage in the development of these exciting advances and, in this context, we are implementing some staff transfers and reassignments.

As we move ahead, we have made some changes in our leadership responsibilities to enable us to maximize our ability to meet our challenging goals and timetable. I am pleased to announce John Schinbein has accepted our offer to lead an important eHealth program initiative on behalf of the Ministry of Health and will be working closely with and reporting directly to Ron Danderfer, Assistant Deputy Minister, Knowledge Management and Technology Division, on this key project. This move by John Schinbein requires some readjustment of other roles and responsibilities.

Joan Elangovan will now take on the Chief Information Officer functions for interfaces within government and the Ministry. Peter Durrant will assume the CIO functions for eHealth, the health authorities/Ministry CIO Council and all activities related to Canada Health Infoway. Mike Leavy and Stuart Frampton have left the Ministry and will be pursuing other opportunities.

While the changes described above are effective immediately, over the coming weeks we will be realigning the work of the Knowledge Management and Technology Division teams to ensure that we are making the best use of staff expertise and efforts to advance our long and short term health system plans. For the health authority leadership, I ask that you support Peter Durrant, who will be responsible for the interface with the health authorities on our eHealth agenda as he begins to organize his area. We will be looking for qualified applicants to assume senior project management roles within the eHealth Branch, and these opportunities will be posted in the near future. Joan Elangovan will be working closely with the rest of government on important cross-ministry initiatives. To my Deputy Minister colleagues, I ask that you and your staff support her in this work.

At this time, I would like to thank all the Divisional staff for their dedication and hard work on our many initiatives. We have come a long way in the past four years and there is still much to do. I am confident that the changes outlined here will further strengthen our ability to plan for, and take maximum advantage of eHealth in delivering a high quality, effective, and sustainable health system.

Original signed by

Penny Ballem, MD
Deputy Minister

Today, in the legislature, Liberal backbencher Joan McIntyre announced she will have "pleasure of attending the opening of Dundarave's redeveloped MarketPlace IGA. While the opening of a new supermarket may not be too significant to some, what the developers incorporated should be, as they have a concept that incorporates the new variety of housing that West Vancouver so badly needs...I hope that here in the House today, you'll help me congratulate all those involved from the property owner, the architects, the developer, H.Y. Louie Co. in rebuilding their MarketPlace IGA." Not mentioned in that speech though was the fact the former pollster once worked for IGA Canada operator H.Y. Louie Co. via her husband Andrew Pottinger's consulting company, AJ Pottinger & Associates Ltd. And Mr. Pottinger presently serves as a community relations advisor for London Drugs, which has been owned by H.Y. Louie Co. since 1976.

As your humble organ (and the rest of the provincial press pack) earlier reported, the legislative assembly management committee's members were principally responsible for negotiating the MLA pay raise. That commitee meets in secret but publishes its minutes - a document that might provide some insight into why our elected representatives thought they could get away with this porkbarrelling. Pity those minutes aren't available. A jaunt down to the clerk of committees' office reveals that body's members haven't approved publication of those minutes since January. Although staffers noted that approval is expected come through later this week.

Earlier today, in a scrum, provincial Liberal Whip Randy Hawes defended last week's MLA pay hike saying, "I don't think that what we did was unjustified." Nothing surprising there. After all, Mr. Hawes is a member of the legislative assembly management committee - the body principally responsible for negotiating that hike. But what is interesting is that Mr. Hawes is also a member of the so-called "31 percent club" - the MLAs who would receive the biggest pay raises from Bill 17. Others in that exclusive clubhouse include Liberal and New Democrat caucus chairs Gordon Hogg and Jenny Kwan, as well as New Democrat House Leader Mike Farnworth. And guess what - they just so happen to be members of the legislative assembly management committee too (a point made by pundit David Schreck on Public Eye Radio this weekend). Speaker of the House Bill Barisoff and Liberal House Leader Mike de Jong also sit on that committee.

So what happened at yesterday's Saanich-Gulf Islands federal Liberal nomination meeting? Well, speaking on Public Eye Radio last night, contender Sheila Orr announced, "I managed to get enough support that I won the nomination. I have to say that Mr. (Jag) Dhanowa put up an excellent campaign. And, at the end, I can say truthfully that we were very united." Of equal interest, though, was the fact the constituency association's best-known member David Basi showed up to vote - resulting in a number of raised eyebrows. Ms. Orr wasn't able to say what her margin of victory was. But we are: the former provincial backbencher won by 71 votes, with 476 ballots cast.

Public Eye readers - astute and otherwise - will be aware that, last week, provincial MLAs (both New Democrat and Liberal) approved a bill that will increase their base salary by 15 percent and boost the special allowances awarded to executive council members and caucus officers. But that bill may have one other unintended consequence: three years from now, when British Columbians vote again on electoral reform, this porkbarreling will have made more of them "dissillusioned with the system. And they may think any change may be better. It does not make me happy. But that may be the result," said pundit David Schreck - who advocated against the single-transferrable vote system during the last election.

Do you remember our good federal Liberal friend Jag Dhanowa? Of course you do. He's the guy who's running against former provincial backbencher Sheila Orr for the party nomination in Saanich-Gulf Islands. But did you know Mr. Dhanowa is also a mind-bending psychic with the power to see into the future? After all, why else would his