Earlier, we broke the news former provincial cabinet minister Gulzar Cheema wouldn't be renewing his federal Liberal membership. But, in an interview today, Dr. Cheema said he's no longer thinking about running for the Conservatives in Newton-North Delta. "I think this is the best thing for me to do - not to be seen as just an opportunist and be painted as someone people can't trust. Even though I don't like what the (Liberals) doing and I like the present government and what they're doing...So I just want to sit out (the next election) and examine all options."

The former Manitoba MLA said he reached that decision after speaking with Vancouver South-Burnaby MP Herb Dhaliwal, Senators Sharon Carstairs and Mobina Jaffer, as well as Gerard Kennedy - whom he continues to support in the Liberal leadership race. And "they all all told me that if you have the problem, stick with the party, talk to us."

But Dr. Cheema says he still intends to let his membership with the Liberals expire. "And when the new leader comes - whoever is the leader - we'll sit down and see whether there's any common ground for me to rejoin the party and whether they'll make some substantial changes in the party structure."

And he's also wants to make sure the new leader will change the way future Liberal governments hand out order in council appointments. Because, in the past, Dr. Cheema says those appointments haven't been "equally distributed among all the different ethnic communities. And that's not fair."

Tonight, on Public Eye Radio, we'll be going on-air a hour later than usual. First up on the show: pundits Chris Gainor and George Gibault debate whether the old phrase "the best things in life are free" applies to Canada's trading policies. University of British Columbia resource and environmental management professor Mark Jaccard ruminates on our fossil fuel future. And Julia Gully from the Alliance of Concerned Citizens tell us why some manufactured home owners are now homeless. Also on the show: Plutonic Power Corp. president Donald McInnes will be talking about why his company is set to become the biggest independent power producer in British Columbia. You can listen to Public Eye Radio outside of Victoria by logging into CFAX 1070 between 7:00 and 9:00. If you have a question for one of our guests, you can email us, leave a comment below or phone (250) 386-1161 during the show.

Yesterday, we exclusively reported on a controversial Conservative email which uses Prime Minister Stephen Harper position on the current Middle East crisis to solicit funds from party members. And now federal Liberal leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy has weighed in on the issue. In an new release, Mr. Kennedy states "We have people dying and families being displaced on both sides of this conflict and meanwhile, Stephen Harper is allowing his foreign policy to be used as a partisan fundraising tool. This crosses the line." Mr. Kennedy calls on the prime minister to denounce the email. The following is a complete copy of that release.

Kennedy Condemns Immoral Conservative

Findrasing Tactics

Toronto, ON -- Liberal leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy today condemned the Conservative Party of Canada for using the recent conflict in the Middle East as a partisan fundraising tool in reaction to an appeal sent out last night from Conservative Party executive director Michael Donison.

"We have people dying and families being displaced on both sides of this conflict and meanwhile, Stephen Harper is allowing his foreign policy to be used as a partisan fundraising tool. This crosses the line."

Under the heading, Finally - A Leader who's willing to stand up and take a tough stand, Conservative Party Executive Director Michael Donison emailed party supporters asking for "a special contribution now of $150 or $75" in response to Harper's "principled stand on the new turmoil in the Mid-East".

Kennedy called on the Prime Minister to denounce the email and state clearly that Canada's foreign policy is not a partisan political tool to be wielded crassly for the sake of Conservative Party gain.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact:

Jill Fairbrother, National Office

Last month, federal Green leadership candidate Elizabeth May was adamant her cross-country climate change tour wasn't a campaign event and shouldn't be counted toward her leadership expenses. But, yesterday, her national communications director Christopher Ian Bennett confirmed in an email "a more than required portion of the (tour) will be paid for by the campaign," which has a $50,000 spending limit.

Earlier, Public Eye exclusively reported the climate change tour talks were being advertised on Ms. May's Website as "future campaign events." And, at one of her speeches, a prominent backer was spotted outside one of those events selling Green memberships in support of the former Sierra Club of Canada executive director's leadership bid.

Ms. May, who maintains she "hasn't cut an ethic corner in her life," earlier explained those sales weren't approved by her campaign. And she says she didn't know the talks were being described on her site as "campaign events" - removing them after Public Eye told her about those advertisements. Nevertheless, Ms. May's opponent David Chernushenko asked the party's election fairness committee to look into the matter.

And, after seeking clarification from Elections Canada, Green compliance officer Celine Deschambault informed the party's executive director Jean Langloisl that, "It is as we suspected, some of the cost" for so-called "multi-purpose" trips "will have to be apportioned."

In an interview with Public Eye, Ms. Deschambault declined to say if that meant Ms. May's climate change tour - or a portion thereof - would need to be included as a campaign expense. Nor does her email say whether the Greens consider Ms. May's tour to be a multi-purpose trip.

When asked whether these latest developments would change Ms. May's position on her climate change tour, the campaign issued the following statement: "We are pleased to be working cooperatively with Elections Canada, and have appreciated their help in ensuring our campaign finances are in accordance with all requirements and rules. Further to this, we have taken their recent notice regarding our recent tour/campaign expenses to our finance team and will continue to act in full accordance of the law."

Mr. Bennett later confirmed the Elections Canada clarification would mean a portion of the tour would be paid for by Ms. May's campaign. The following is a complete copy of Ms. May's statement, as well as the correspondence between Ms. Deschambault and Mr. Langlois. A version of this article was originally published in today's edition of 24 hours.

***

Hi Jean,

Below is the response we received from Elections Canada regarding the "Multi-purpose trip / event" question we submitted on June 29th 2006. It is as we suspected, some of the cost will have to be apportioned. Maybe we should meet later on today to discuss this further.

Sincerely,

Celine Deschambault
Compliance Officer
Green Party of Canada / Parti Vert du Canada
PO / CP 997 Station B Ottawa ON K1P 5R1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: RenedeCotret, Michele
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 9:29 AM
To: Celine Deschambault
Subject: Leadership contest: Multi-purpose trips or events

This is further to your request for clarifications regarding the reporting requirements for multi-purpose trips and multi-purpose events that take place during a leadership race.

YOUR QUESTION:

Multi-purpose trip
A multi-purpose trip is one in which a leadership contestant may travel to a location for a purpose unrelated to the leadership campaign. While there, the contestant conducts a campaign event, even though the travel expenses associated with that event are not being paid for by the leadership campaign.

If a leadership contestant is combining a campaign event and a non-campaign event on the same trip, how is this to be accounted for in order for the party, as well as the leadership contestant, to fully comply with the Canada Elections Act? Is there a need for a proportional amount of the travel costs and personal expenses (that were paid for by the non-leadership campaign event) to be apportioned to the leadership campaign? Do only the travel local travel costs between the two events constitute campaign expenses? Does the candidate have to account for some of the travel and/or accommodation expenses as campaign expenses?

If so, what formula is used by Elections Canada to calculate the portion of the travel expenses that are to be accounted for as part of the leadership campaign? How is the reporting of the travel expenses and other expense to be done?

OUR ANSWER:

IF THE CANDIDATE PLANS HIS/HER AFFAIRS TO COMBINE TWO PURPOSES - ONE RELATED TO THE CONTEST AND ONE NOT - SO THAT BOTH CAN BE ACHIEVED IN THE SAME TRIP, THE COSTS SHOULD BE APPORTIONED REASONABLY BETWEEN THE EVENTS DEPENDING ON THE EVENT TO WHICH EACH COST MIGHT MOST REASONABLY BE ATTRIBUTED.

YOUR QUESTION:

Multi-purpose event
This then generates a secondary question: What determines whether or not something (an event) constitutes a campaign event?

Example: During an event that is unrelated to the leadership campaign, a leadership contestant sells a party membership. Should this be counted as a campaign event even if the membership sale was not the purpose of the event?

Another example: A leadership contestant has a speaking engagement on a subject other than the leadership race. The speaker is introduced as a leadership contestant among other things, answers questions from the audience about their leadership bid, alludes to their vision for the Party, or refers the audience to their leadership campaign website. Which of these, if any, would result in the event being considered a leadership campaign event by Elections Canada?

Numerous other examples exist. The Green Party of Canada and our leadership contestants would greatly appreciate a definition or guideline from Elections Canada as to how to determine whether or not something constitutes a campaign event.

As you know our leadership campaign is well underway, and a timely clarification is needed to ensure the party and all our leadership contestants know how to comply with the act. We appreciate all of your help in this matter and look forward to hearing from you soon.

OUR ANSWER:

IF, DURING A LEADERSHIP CONTEST, AN EVENT IS USED, OR REASONABLY PERCEIVED TO BE USED, TO PROMOTE THE CAMPAIGN OF THE CONTESTANT OR TO OPPOSE THE CAMPAIGN OF ANOTHER, THE FULL EVENT IS A LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN EXPENSE.

LEADERSHIP CONTESTANTS SHOULD DISCUSS THE APPORTIONMENT OF COSTS WITH THEIR AUDITOR AND SHOULD BE READY TO DEFEND SUCH APPORTIONMENT SHOULD THERE BE A COMPLAINT.

Michele Rene de Cotret
Avocate principale et directrice adjointe /
Senior Counsel and Assistant Director
Services juridiques / Legal Services
Elections Canada / Elections Canada
257 rue Slater St.
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0M6

***

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Ian Bennett
Sent: 26 July 2006 19:02
To: Sean Holman
Subject: Elizabeth May Response

Hi Sean, statement from Elizabeth below:

We are pleased to be working cooperatively with Elections Canada, and have appreciated their help in ensuring our campaign finances are in accordance with all requirements and rules. Further to this, we have taken their recent notice regarding our recent tour/campaign expenses to our finance team and will continue to act in full accordance of the law.

My campaign has been one of honesty and integrity, and I believe that a vibrant democracy requires transparency, and accountability. My campaign is in complete support of their recent report. We thank elections Canada for a such a prompt response to the recent inquiries, and look forward to our convention at the end of the month.

Elizabeth May
_______________________________
Christopher Ian Bennett
Chief Communications Strategist
NEW SCHOOL MEDiA

The recent violence in the Middle East has resulted in the deaths of at least 437 Lebanese, more than 140 Palestinians and 51 Israelis, according to the latest reports. So which political party do you think would try to politically and financially exploit the Harper administration's controversial decision to back Israel in this time of crisis? Would it be the Liberals? Or perhaps the self-righteous New Democrats? Well...er...no. It's the Conservatives. In a fundraising email sent out this evening to the party faithful, Tory executive director Michael Donison writes "Our Conservative Prime Minister, Stephen Harper was amongst the first of the world's leaders to take a principled stand on the new turmoil in the Mid-East. Since then, leaders the world over have risen to stand with Stephen Harper. Our nation has every reason to be proud. Admit it: Moral clarity feels a lot better than the endless equivocation we found with our previous government."

"But not everyone is grateful for the strong, clear direction of Canada's new government and this includes in particular the opposition parties who are only interested in maneuvering for party advantage," Mr. Donison continues. "And so, I must turn to you to ask for your support."

The email concludes by urging party members to make "a special contribution now of $150 or $75 to the Party today and help us be prepared to defend the decisive leadership of Stephen Harper and our New Conservative government." The following is a complete copy of that document.

***

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Finally - A Leader who's willing to stand up and take a tough stand
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:20:16 -0700
From: Conservative Fund Canada
Reply-To: donate@conservative.ca

En Francais | In English

During the last federal election, Stephen Harper promised to give Canada a principled foreign policy that advances and defends the Canadian values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. As Prime Minister, he is delivering.

Dear,

Our Conservative Prime Minister, Stephen Harper was amongst the first of the world's leaders to take a principled stand on the new turmoil in the Mid-East. Since then, leaders the world over have risen to stand with Stephen Harper. Our nation has every reason to be proud.

Admit it: Moral clarity feels a lot better than the endless equivocation we found with our previous government.

But not everyone is grateful for the strong, clear direction of Canada's new government and this includes in particular the opposition parties who are only interested in maneuvering for party advantage.

And so, I must turn to you to ask you for your support. The fact is: the opposition is not thrilled with the growing strength of the Harper government and the resurgence of national pride Canadians are showing in their country. You need only look at their ceaseless machinations to see that they are doing everything in their power to bring this government down..

We must be ready for an election now because the opposition is blindly determined to drag the country to the polls, on any pretext they can contrive.

As a matter of public record, everyone knows the Conservative Party of Canada managed the last election without adding a dime to the Party's debt. You made that possible, it's just that simple. And if we intend to win the next election and win a majority - we need to continue moving heaven and Earth to be ready.

When an election comes, we will have just days to mount a campaign and ensure the continuance of the most dynamic and forward-looking Canadian government in recent memory. The time to lay the foundation is right now and we continue to need your help if this effort is to succeed.

It is a wonderful thing to be reminded of the power of ideals, principles in which we believe and on which we will act. We have had far too many years of vacillation on ideals and fundamental values about which the majority of Canadians are clear and certain.

Unsurprisingly, Don Martin got it just right in his July 20th National Post column, speaking of Prime Minister Harper, he wrote: " He's proven himself bold, imaginative and unpredictable. This is something refreshing on the Canadian political landscape - a leader willing to take risks to do what's right in the face of certain criticism. It stands him in stark and favourable contrast to the hesitant poll-driven Martin reign."

What did surprise me, though, were the private comments of a Liberal acquaintance, among them the following: " I have never been so proud to be Canadian. I'm thrilled that we're investing in our military. I'm thrilled that we're staying to finish a job in Afghanistan, and I'm ecstatic that we are finally taking a position on issues of global importance like what is happening in the Middle East. Please let Stephen Harper know that I've never been more proud of being a Canadian."

Ultimately, not everything is about party politics. Canadians know what's right and wrong and it is a great satisfaction even if one may not politically admit it - to have a government that has the courage to tell the plain truth.

This government is worth the fight; help us make sure we win the next election whenever it comes. We can expect an avalanche of Liberal fury to get back into power and a flood of media support for their effort. Help us keep the focus on principle and character and Canada's return to its place in the world.

I ask you to make a special contribution now of $150 or $75 to the Party today and help us be prepared to defend the decisive leadership of Stephen Harper and our New Conservative government.

With my sincere thanks,

Michael D. Donison
Executive Director, Conservative Party of Canada

P.S. - Your contribution is tax deductible. To find out the specific tax advantage of your contribution, we've provided a simple tax calculator. For more specific information on the rules governing personal contributions to political parties, click here.

If you prefer that I not contact you again by email, please click here.

Authorized by Conservative Fund Canada, Chief Agent of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Ivy Leaguer Michael Ignatieff will be a busy boy when he touches down in British Columbia this coming Sunday. As expected, Mr. Ignatieff will be doing the usual grin and grip sessions you read about in news releases. But a travel agenda obtained by Public Eye also provides detailed information about the federal Liberal leadership candidate's private fundraising/get-to-know-you meetings - such as a Beach Drive reception in Victoria for Indo-Canadian community leaders and a North Shore lunch with British Columbia fundraising chair David McLean, who will be bringing along "10-15 guests/contributers (sic)." The following is an edited copy of that agenda.

Agenda - Michael Ignatieff
British Columbia - Vancouver, Abbotsford, Comox Valley, Victoria, Chilliwack
July 30 - August 1, 2006

10:45pm Depart Courtney for reception
Note: MI to drop-in Comox First Nation Band office on the way to reception to see past candidate Dan Smith and local chiefs.

Noon Vancouver Island North Liberal Riding Association Reception
Private residence - Comox
Contact: Dove Hendren, Dan Smith
MI to participate in riding association reception hosted by local members and MI supporters Gerry Slobodian and Marcelle Hebert. 25-40 expected including First Nations leaders.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY

6:00pm Private meeting with Victoria Indo-Canadian community
Private Beach Drive Residence
Contact: Surjhit Sodhi
MI to meet with 6-10 community leaders. DH to confirm and arrange. SD invited to attend.

7:00pm Private reception - Victoria Liberals and potential donors
David and Barbara Adams' residence
Contact: Catherine, Jason Walker, David Adams
MI to have private dinner with 15-20 guests/contributers. SD invited to attend.

Monday, July 31 - Victoria, Vancouver, Abbotsford, Chilliwack

8:25am Radio Interview
CFAX 1070 studio
Contact: Joe
DH to confirm availability with Joe Easingwood.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY

8:50am Depart studio for Vancouver

10:15am Meeting with Chinese Community Leaders
Chinatown location TBC
Contact: Bennie Yung, Albert Fok
DH to confirm location and attendees with Bennie. SO invited to attend. Vancouver Chinatown Merchants invited to participate. MI to be briefed on harm reduction. SO and SD invited to attend. Channel M interview may be scheduled on-site.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Noon Private lunch with David McLean
North Shore Pemberton Street location TBC
Contact: David McLean
DH to confirm location. 10-15 guests/contributers expected. SD invited.

1:30pm Depart North Shore for Abbotsford

2:30pm Abbotsford Temple Visit with Sukh Dhaliwal
Abbotsford location TBC
Contact: Bilal
BC to confirm details and coordinate with Sukh. MI to participate in brief tour and Vision TV interview with Sukh. Briefing required on local issues.

3:10pm Depart Abbotsford for Chilliwack

5:30pm First Nations - Chilliwack Riding Association Reception
Best Western Rainbow Country Inn, 43971 Industrial Way, Vedder Room
Contact: Bilal Cheema, Marcel Juneau
MI to participate in discussion with members of Sto:lo Tribal Council and Chilliwack riding association. 15-20 expected. BC to coordinate riding outreach and prepare briefing on Aboriginal fishery.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Tuesday, August 1 - Kooteneys
8:35am Depart Vancouver for Cranbrook

Noon Cranbrook Business Reception
Prestige Inn, 2090 Van Horne Street South
Contact: Ross Preist, Brian Kaufman
DH to confirm attendees with Ross. 25-40 expected. MI to give brief remarks. DH to prepare announcement.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY

1:45pm Community Roundtable - Early Childhood Development
Prestige Inn, 2090 Van Horne Street South
Contact: Betty Aitcheson
DH to confirm invitations with riding president. 6-10 guests expected on the issue of early childhood development and health promotion. DH to prepare briefing.

On Tuesday, former provincial Liberal cabinet minister Gulzar Cheema declined to comment on rumours he was interested in running against Grit MP Sukh Dhaliwal as a Conservative candidate. Although he did confirm he would be letting his Liberal membership expire next month. But, yesterday, he confirmed his Newton-North Delta election plans in an interview with The Vancouver Sun's Kim Bolan, telling her "That would be my choice if everything works out, if the party accepts me." But here's one detail Dr. Cheema might not be aware of: party rules stipulate that "unless waived by the Director of Political Operations in consultation with the President of National Council, (a nomination candidate) must have been a member of the Party for at least six (6) months." And that means that, if Dr. Cheema takes out a membership on August 2, he might not be eligible to run for a nomination until February. So he better hope the Newton-North nomination meeting is called after the New Year. But, according to our operatives, at least some of Conservative nominations will be held before Christmas.

Earlier, we reported former Squamish councillor Paul Lalli is campaigning for the federal Conservative nomination in Fleetwood-Port Kells. But we hear Kwantlen University College political science instructor Shinder Purewal's name is also being talked up as another contender for that nomination. Of course, such talk in no way implies Mr. Purewal has any intention of running or has even contemplated the matter. But there could be some interesting questions posed if he did enter the race. After all, as our astute readers may remember, there was a hue and cry from the Opposition benches last August when the Martin administration installed Mr. Purewal as the citizenship judge for Surrey. This, after Mr. Purewal reluctantly stepped aside as the Liberal candidate for Vancouver South so that Ujjal Dosanjh could run in the riding. Moreover, when he ran for the Liberals in 2000 in Surrey North, he told The Globe and Mail that voters should cast their ballot for him because "I am a center-left Liberal concerned with the Canadian social safety network." Mr. Purewal hasn't yet returned phone calls placed by Public Eye yesterday and earlier this morning seeking comment on the fact that others have been promoting him as a possible candidate.

For those following the Vivian Smith affair, here's the latest: in a news release from the Canadian Association of Journalists, CanWest Global Communications Corp. executive vice-president David Asper states his company shares the group's "concerns regarding the lines between editorial and advertising and work(s) vigilantly to ensure our readers are provided with unencumbered journalism, and where there are the occasional slip-ups...we are committed to remedying them quickly." Meanwhile, the association's Ottawa chapter has written to Times Colonist publisher Bob McKenzie commending his decision "to rescind the indefinite suspension of Vivian Smith both as a columnist and a writing coach." And The Tyee's Shannon Rupp is quoting CanWest communications director Dervla Kelly as saying Dennis Skulsky, who heads up the company's newspaper publishing arm, was "'very upset' when he learned about the way Smith's contract had been handled." Ms. Smith's contract with the newspaper was cut short after she wrote a column criticizing the high cost of Victoria's tourist attractions. The following is a complete copy of the Ottawa chapter's letter.

Richard Cleroux
President, Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Association of Journalists Parliamentary Press Gallery, Ottawa

Bob McKenzie
Publisher, Victoria Times-Colonist
Victoria, BC

Dear Mr. McKenzie:

On behalf of the members of the Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Association of Journalists I write to commend you on your decision to rescind the indefinite suspension of Vivian Smith both as a columnist and a writing coach.

Ms. Smith is a nationally-respected journalist, editor and journalism educator, and her presence as a contributor brings credit to your newspaper. I am glad that you see it that way.

Your decision supports your declaration that advertisers do not influence the editorial policies of your newspaper - and I might add, the human resources policies either.

I am sure many of your readers will applaud your decision.

I urge you as well to make every effort to appeal to Ms. Van Leuven and Janis Ringuetteto return to the Times Colonist as well, so that we can all put this entire episode behind us and get on with the business of publishing a fine newspaper of national acclaim.

Richard Cleroux,
President, Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Association of Journalists

As some of our astute readers may know, the provincial government maintains an online phone and email directory for its employees. But how many of you have ever taken a look at it's terms of use? Not many huh. Well, one of our readers did. And what he discovered may surprise you. According to that document, the information included in the directory cannot be used for "unsolicited commercial purposes, distributing junk mail" and...wait for it..."lobbying." So how, pray tell, are government relations professionals supposed to communicate with the Campbell administration? Perhaps they should start dailing random numbers! Or better yet, just shell out the money to attend a Liberalfundraiser! The following is a complete copy of the directory's terms of use.

Terms of Use

Program and employee listings in this directory are provided for the purpose of enabling communication with individual provincial government programs and employees. Directory information may only be used for communication related to government business. Persons violating the Terms of Use may be denied access to this directory and/or may have their communications blocked without notice.

Examples of inappropriate use of directory listing information are unsolicited commercial purposes, distributing junk mail or "spam", or lobbying. Using the information contained in this directory for these or similar activities is not permitted.

In addition, those accessing this directory to use government e-mail addresses must follow generally accepted rules of conduct by users of the Internet. Furthermore, government e-mail addresses must not be used in a manner that jeopardizes the security or operation of the government's computer network or any associated systems. Incoming e-mails with large attachments or addressed to a large number of recipients may be blocked without notice.

Users should also take note of the copyright and disclaimer notices associated with this directory.

The summer barbeque circuit always cooks up generous helpings of gossip and innuendo. And the juiciest rumour being served at Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon's Beans n Jeans event was that former provincial cabinet minister Gulzar Cheema - who ran for the federal Liberals in Fleetwood-Port Kells during the 2004 election - will soon be joining the Conservatives to run against Newton-North Delta Grit MP Sukh Dhaliwal. And what's Dr. Cheema's response to those rumours? In an interview with Public Eye, he said "At this stage, I'm still a member of the (federal) Liberal Party. And my membership expires on August 2. And, after that, one thing's for sure is that I'm not going to renew my membership with the party at this stage. I think I'm going to look at all the options. And that's all I can say at this time. But, certainly, I have enjoyed working in my (medical) practice for the last few years. But I love politics. And I want to get back into politics."

When asked whether he was dissatisfied with the Liberals, Dr. Cheema said "I won't say anything at this stage. But I think, as I told you, I've been part of the party for a long time. And I have a lot of good friends (in the party). But I think it's time to look at all the options. And I think the community has to look at the political parties. And I'm not the only one (who feels that way). I think, across the country, I can say for sure that the people from the Sikh community are looking at all the options."

Prior to the last election, federal Conservative problem child Gurmant Grewal announced he wouldn't be seeking re-election in Newton-North Delta. And now it looks like at least one candidate is looking to unseat his wife Nina. It has come to Public Eye's attention that former Squamish councillor Paul Lalli is campaigning for the Conservative nomination in Fleetwood-Port Kells. In an interview, Mr. Lalli explained he's been door-knocking for about two or three months "And what I've been hearing is that people want a MP that is going to listen. People want a MP that's going to be accessible. And people want a MP that's going to engage the entire community. And that's what I intend on doing." Are you implying then that Ms. Grewal hasn't been listening or been accessible to riding residents? "I'll let the constituents make that decision on election day," Mr. Lalli responded. The small businessman has been living in the constituency for the past year. The following is a complete copy of his campaign brochure's text, which features the fascinating campaign slogan "Strong Voice. Honest Choice for Fleetwood-Port Kells."

Paul Lalli
Strong Voice. Honest Choice for Fleetwood-Port Kells.

Paul is involved in our community. He is a member of the Fraser Heights Ratepayers Association, the Surrey Lions Club and the Surrey Chamber of Commerce. His volunteer work includes the Children’s Hospital and the Canadian
Diabetes Association.

Paul served on the Economic Advisory Committee for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid Committee.

A city councillor in Squamish from 1996 - 2002, Paul brings a no nonsense approach to government and a track record of cutting through red tape and delivering results.

The owner of two small businesses, Paul understands that a strong economy is the foundation for jobs and opportunity for families in our community.

Paul has been a member of the Conservative Party of Canada for 15 years.

"As a father of two, I believe that encouraging our children to participate in sports and excel in school is critical to ensuring that our children realize their full potential."

Paul Lali
Someone We Can Count On!

***

Paul Lali
Strong Voice. Honest Choice for Fleetwood-Port Kells

"We need someone in Ottawa who understands our community. We need a member of parliament who will earn our trust every day they serve in office. As a small business owner, a former councillor and a long-time volunteer
for charity organizations, I believe that we build stronger communities by bringing people together, working toward
common goals and inspiring the next generation."

Paul Lalli

I believe in:

Respecting your hard-earned dollars.

Fighting red tape and big government programs that waste our taxes.
Putting tax dollars to work for us in our community.

Reducing traffic congestion.

Twinning the Port Mann Bridge and widening Highway #1.
Bringing more federal gas tax dollars back to B.C.

Making our communities safer.

Tougher sentences for those committing violent crimes.
Greater resources for our police and putting more officers on the street.

Strengthening public health care.

Reducing waiting lists.
Training more doctors and nurses.

Paul with wife Sarb and daughters Justine and Jaya. Paul with wife Sarb and daughters Justine and Jaya.

Paul at a Surrey United Youth soccer game. Paul wants to tackle crime head on and get tough with criminals.

Join the Conservative Party and make Paul Lalli our Conservative Party Candidate in Fleetwood Port Kells.
Contact Paul Lalli at 604-443-5066
www.paullalli.ca

Within the next few hours, federal Liberal leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy will be getting on board the harm reduction band wagon. His campaign will be issuing a news release calling on the federal government to continue funding Vancouver's safe injection site. During the last election, then Opposition leader Stephen Harper said he was against providing government support for the use of illegal drugs.

As many of our readers know, this past Saturday Conservative Senator Gerry St. Germain hosted
provincial Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon's annual Beans n Jeans barbeque. Not surprisingly, more than a few Tories made an appearance at that shindig, including South Surrey-White Rock MP Russ Hiebert, national party council member Ray Leitch and minister's regional office chief of staff Colin Metcalfe. But federal Liberals - such as Newton-North Delta MP Sukh Dhaliwal and former South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale candidate Judy Higginbotham - were also spotted doing grin and grip exercises.

Also in attendance: Minister Falcon's past and present caucus colleagues Gulzar Cheema, Rich Coleman, Dave Hayer, John Les, Mary Polak and John Van Dongen. And there was a respectable contingent of Lower Mainland mayors (Kurt Alberts, Judy Forster, Sam Sullivan, Dianne Watts and Maxine Wilson).

Other worthies of mention included iTrend Research Group Inc. founder Chris Gardiner and Campaign Life Coalition British Columbia president John Hof. But we would be remiss if we didn't note the presence of Jordan Bateman, who rightly reported this wasn't a fundraising event. Although, as one of our correspondents observed, there were more than a few partygoers wondering what bringing 800 people together for a free event really means. Indeed.

Earlier, we reported Times Colonist publisher Bob McKenzie sent an email to the broadsheet's staffers, apologizing for putting Vivian Smith's column on hiatus. But he's not the only one who's writing about the affair. CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. president Dennis Skulsky has weighed in on the matter, telling employees the company "takes the issue at the Times Colonist very seriously and has acted to address this situation. Vivian Smith's column has been reinstated and our journalists have been reassured that they are free to cover any organization or subject with the full support of their Editor and Publisher. We believe that the rigorous adherence to these principles is a public trust and a precondition for the credibility of any media outlet." The following is a complete copy of Mr. Skulsky's email. In related news, the Canadian Association of Journalist has put out a news release referencing Ms. Smith's axing.

There have been a number of rumours and concerns circulating about the relationship between the Victoria Times Colonist and its advertising clients, and on behalf of CanWest MediaWorks I would like to clarify our position on this issue. While advertisers are a very important part of our business model, our readers expect and deserve an impartial reporting of the news. We value the editorial independence of each our news outlets and under no circumstances should advertising influence the content of newspapers.

CanWest MediaWorks' management takes the issue at the Times Colonist very seriously and has acted to address this situation. Vivian Smith's column has been reinstated and our journalists have been reassured that they are free to cover any organization or subject with the full support of their Editor and Publisher. We believe that the rigorous adherence to these principles is a public trust and a precondition for the credibility of any media outlet.

Dennis Skulsky
President, CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.

Less than an appropriate amount of ado has been made out of last week's decision to increase the salaries for senior bureaucrats and - most egregiously - political aides. To wit, in some cases, ministerial assistants - who now top out at $94,500 - will be making more than the base salary for a MLA: $75,400. But what hasn't been reported yet is that, last week, our good friends at the legislative assembly management committee voted to boost the budgets for constituency offices by $35,000 annually to $119,000. And, at that same closed door meeting, they hiked the amount of money each caucus gets by $5,000 per member. Funny old world eh? The following is a complete copy of the news release announcing those increases.

Honourable Bill Barisoff, MLA
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2006

CONSTITUENCY OFFICE FUNDING

VICTORIA - The Legislative Assembly Management Committee has approved additional funding to enable Members of the Legislative Assembly to better serve their constituents. Included are an amount of $35,000 per Member for constituency expenses and an additional $5,000 per Member for parliamentary offices. Both increases will allow Members to obtain the services necessary to provide better assist their constituents.

Members have many demands made upon them from Victoria and their ridings which will be eased by this additional funding. Each constituency is different: large rural and coastal remote ridings demand more travel, resulting in greater operating costs. Urban ridings have different demands, such as a greater number of constituents to serve.

It is vital that Members receive the support they need to be effective in their roles. Members need to be funded appropriately with the proper guidelines in place to assure the public that these funds are being spent prudently.

These allowances were raised minimally in 2002.

The expenditure of these funds will be in strict accordance with the current financial management policies of the Legislative Assembly.

For further information about the work of the Committee please contact the Speaker.

-30-

Earlier, we reported Times Colonist publisher Bob McKenzie wrote an email to the broadsheet's staffers, apologizing for putting Vivian Smith's column on hiatus. In an interview with Public Eye, Ms. Smith, who was also a writing coach for the newspaper, responded to the news this way: "I got a call from (the newspaper's editor-in-chief) Lucinda (Chodan) on Friday morning, asking me to consider starting to write my column again. And I said I would do that but I'd like to consider that. I needed to know what their terms were. So I had a short meeting with her on Friday evening during which she assured me that the column could continue on as it had - that I would be able to write with the constraints that would be typical of a newspaper reporter" or columnist - i.e. that it be fair and accurate. "And she did repeat to me that the publisher was not influenced by advertisers. So I heard her out and I told her I would let her know (my decision) by Monday morning."

"Over the weekend, I thought about it. And I decided that I could go back to the column." But, Ms. Smith added, "My concern about going back was that, in the absence of any explanation or credible explanation (as to why my contract was cut short) how could I move forward with the T-C? And if they were going to continue to be publicly silent about the suspension of the column and publicly silent about the return of it, it would be as if nothing had happened. And that would not be acceptable to me."

"But, if they were prepared to give me a reason - and they wouldn't necessarily have to deliver it in a public way because, frankly, they didn't issue a public statement when they let me go and I wouldn't expect them to publicly talk about it - but if I could be public myself about it then that would be acceptable. So that was last night. And this morning, the statement - which I assume you have - came to me and to the staff. And it more than satisfied what I need to return to work as a columnist. And Lucinda and I have agreed separately that we will resume the coaching in some shape or another in the fall...So I'm pleased with this statement. And I am pleased to be able to contribute whatever I can contribute to the readers of the Times Colonist."

The tenative return date for the column is August 20, after Ms. Smith's summer holidays wrap-up. Although, she added, it could end up being a week or two later.

Public Eye has reported at length on the Vivian Smith affair. As early as this morning, the Times Colonist declined to discuss why Ms. Smith, a columnist and writing coach at the broadsheet, had her contract cut short. But, within the last hour, publisher Bob McKenzie sent out an email to staffers writing that "the recent decision to place Vivian Smith's column on hiatus was an error in judgment for which I apologize." The email notes "there have been a number of rumours circulating about the relationship between the Times Colonist and its advertising clients. I would like to underscore our policy on this matter: we do not allow advertisers to influence the content of this newspaper. I value the editorial integrity of the paper and the important role it allows us to play in the community." The following is a complete copy of that message.

From: Bob McKenzie
Date: July 24, 2006 10:20:05 AM PDT
Subject: Publisher's Statement

To all staff:

There have been a number of rumours circulating about the relationship between the Times Colonist and its advertising clients. I would like to underscore our policy on this matter: we do not allow advertisers to influence the content of this newspaper. I value the editorial integrity of the paper and the important role it allows us to play in the community. The recent decision to place Vivian Smith's column on hiatus was an error in judgment for which I apologize.

Bob McKenzie
Publisher

The Canadian Association of Journalists will soon be weighing in on the Vivian Smith affair, Public Eye has learned. In an interview, president Paul Schneidereit confirmed the association will be releasing a statement - perhaps within the next hour - "on the larger issue of editorial independence." But that statement will specifically reference the axing of Ms. Smith by the Times Colonist. That controversial decision was made after Ms. Smith wrote a column criticizing the high cost of Victoria's tourist attractions. Tourism representatives subsequently met with the newspaper's publisher Bob McKenzie. And, according to one account of that meeting, Mr. McKenzie told those representatives he agreed Ms. Smith's column "should have never run" and that her contract would "probably" be cut short.

This morning, the newspaper's editor-in-chief Lucinda Chodan continued to decline comment on the reason Ms. Smith is no longer writing for the broadsheet. When asked about the recent decision by two freelancers to pull their columns for the newspaper in protest, Ms. Chodan responded "What I would like to say is that I have a great deal of respect for Lynne Van Luven and Janis Ringuette. And I'm sorry to loose their contribution to the newspaper. They're terrific people."

Tonight, on Public Eye Radio, freelance photojournaist Jon Elmer joins us to discuss the conflict in the Middle East. Maureen Broadfoot, a leading member of the Tsawwassen Residents Against Higher Voltage Overhead Lines, will be chatting about the cost of satisfing Vancouver Island's power needs. And Jack Burak discusses his bid to lead the Canadian Medical Association - challenging president elect and private healthcare advocate Brian Day. Also on the show: anti-gambling crusader Sol Boxenbaum, co-founder of Viva Consulting Family Life Inc, weighs in the British Columbia Lottery Corp.'s controversial gold player card program. And our regular panel of rabblerousers - Troy DeSouza, John Heaney, Ariel Lade and Bernard Schulmann - debate the week that was in provincial and federal politics.

Earlier, we reported former United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society chairman Mason Loh was still contemplating whether to file his nomination papers to run in Vancouver-Kingsway. And now, Public Eye has learned Mr. Loh has submitted those papers and is now waiting for the green light committee to approve his candidacy. He'll be running against businesswoman Wendy Yuan.

Yesterday, Public Eye reported University of Victoria journalism professor Lynne Van Luven had decided to stop writing columns for the Times Colonist "as a sincere protest against the way TC Management has dealt with" Vivian Smith. Ms. Smith had her contract with the newspaper cut short after she wrote a column criticizing the high cost of Victoria's tourist attractions. And now, Public Eye has learned another freelancer is joining Prof. Van Luven's protest. In an email addressed to Times Colonist staff and management and forwarded to Public Eye, Janis Ringuette - who also writes for the newspaper's Sunday Monitor section - states "Smith's column rightly reported that many tourist attractions are very expensive...A reasonable response to complaints about Smith's column from business interests with different opinions would have been to provide space in the newspaper for those other views to be presented. Terminating Smith was unfair. A deep chill has descended on freelancers and regular staff alike."

Ms. Ringuette also writes that the correction the Times Colonist published to Ms. Smith's column was "misleading." That column suggested Butchart Gardens might not be of interest to the pre-schooler set. But the correction countered that the gardens has "numerous activities" for children, including "fireworks" and "skating in winter." However, Ms. Ringuette points out "during regular summer day visits, there are no activities for children." The following is a complete copy of her email.

***

To: Times Colonist management and staff,

I regret to inform you that I will no longer contribute freelance articles to the Times Colonist. After writing twenty-eight feature articles for the Islander section of the Sunday Monitor, I am ending my association with the newspaper in protest against the recent termination of columnist Vivian Smith.

The column Smith wrote on July 2, 2006 was printed under the heading "Monitor/Comment" and bore her photo, so it was clearly an opinion column. According to Public Eye Online, she was fired when business people complained about that the painful truths in that column.

Though some tourist businesses don't want it said out loud, Smith's column rightly reported that many tourist attractions are very expensive. Not every visitor can afford them. Smith was also correct to point out that Butchart Gardens isn't the best activity choice for small children. (From 24 years of public school teaching, I know the Bug Zoo, for example, is a much better choice.)

The "Correction" printed on page one on July 5 countered that the Gardens has "numerous activities" for children, including "fireworks" and "skating in winter." This is misleading. During regular summer day visits, there are no activities for children.

A reasonable response to complaints about Smith's column from business interests with different opinions would have been to provide space in the newspaper for those other views to be presented. Terminating Smith was unfair. A deep chill has descended on freelancers and regular staff alike.

I hope that action will be reconsidered. I also hope the TC will decide to print the views of all sides of this important issue.

I want to thank the excellent editors and staff at the TC who have worked with me. A special thanks to Liz Pogue for all her good work.

Janis Ringuette

The controversial axing of Times Colonist columnist Vivian Smith has prompted one of her colleagues to quit working for the newspaper, Public Eye has learned. University of Victoria journalism professor Lynne Van Luven, who freelances a regular column for the broadsheet's Sunday Monitor section, tendered her resignation in an email sent earlier today to features editor Bruce MacKenzie and books editor Liz Pogue. In that email, Prof. Van Luven explains she's resigning "as a sincere protest against the way TC Management has dealt with" Ms. Smith, whose contract was cut short after she wrote a column criticizing the high cost of Victoria's tourist attractions.

"Vivian Smith wrote an informative and reasonable column in the July 2/06 issue of the newspaper," continued Prof. Van Luven. "Smith's sole error about Buchart Garden's fees for children was minor and duly corrected. That she should be suspended so summarily seems greatly disproportionate to whatever complaints the column sparked within the Victoria business and tourism sector."

As we previously reported, Times Colonist publisher Bob McKenzie met with tourism representatives to discuss those complaints. And, according to one account of that meeting, Mr. McKenzie told those representatives he agreed Ms. Smith's column "should have never run" and that her contract would "probably" be cut short.

Prof. Van Luven's email goes onto note Ms. Smith's dismissal "also suggests a harsh 'one strike and you are out' mentality that does not bode well for staffers at the TC itself...as a senior journalist with a long-standing association with Canwest Global, I am dismayed by this blot upon the Times Colonist's integrity."

Times Colonist representatives have yet to comment on the reason for Ms. Smith's axing, except to confirm the former Globe and Mail editor was told the newspaper doesn't base editorial decisions on advertiser complaints. The following is a complete copy of Prof. Van Luven's email.

***

ATTENTION: Bruce MacKenzie, Features Editor, and Liz Pogue, Books Editor

Hello Bruce and Liz:

I feel awkward sending this note to two people I so admire, at a time when newsroom morale may be somewhat shaky.

Nevertheless, I feel impelled to notify you that I have decided to resign from my position as freelance columnist for the Books and Ideas pages of the Monitor. Perhaps freelancers cannot really resign, in which case, I want to withdraw my column and cancel my contract with the TC. I do so after much serious thought. I do so as a sincere protest against the way TC Management has dealt with a respected fellow journalist.

Vivian Smith wrote an informative and reasonable column in the July 2/06 issue of the newspaper. Smith's sole error about Buchart Garden's fees for children was minor and duly corrected. That she should be suspended so summarily seems greatly disproportionate to whatever complaints the column sparked within the Victoria business and tourism sector...It also suggests a harsh "one strike and you are out" mentality that does not bode well for staffers at the TC itself.

As a teacher of future journalists, I would feel hypocritical if I were to continue my column under a publisher who appears to have so little respect for freelancers' autonomy and freedom of expression, and who appears to value only the business aspect of his newspaper's intimate and vital role within its community.

I would be happy to work for the TC again in the future, as I have been treated with nothing but respect and professional conduct in my own dealings with the TC. Furthermore, the paper's staff includes many hardworking professionals who do the best job possible and will surely also find these events distressing.

However, as a senior journalist with a long-standing association with Canwest Global, I am dismayed by this blot upon the Times Colonist's integrity. My most direct means of protest is to withdraw my column and byline from the newspaper.

It looks like British Columbia's federal Liberal hierarchs are going to be catching a whiff of grapsehot tomorrow afternoon. In an interview with Public Eye, Royal Pacific Real Estate Corp. president and chief executive officer David Choi - who has been mentioned as a Vancouver-Kingsway nomination candidate - confirmed he'll be holding a 2:00 news conference at the Kensington Community Centre this Friday. And what will that presser be about, you may wonder? Well, according to Mr. Choi "As you know, the Liberal Party announced on the 17th that there will be a nomination (meeting for Vancouver-Kingsway) on the 29th," of this month, which is "rather quickly. And the membership cut-off was actually on the 14th because they announced this on the 17th. So we have concerns about the process" by which the nomination was called. Mr. Choi said Vancouver school trustee Don Lee will also be at the news conference and is helping organize the event. Presently, the only candidate running for that nomination is Wendy Yuan, whose campaign is being chaired by national party vice-president Mike Hillman.

The federal Greens are looking southward for political advice, Public Eye has learned. On August 23 and 24, Joe Trippi, who managed Howard Dean's headlining but ultimately failed bid to win the Democrat presidential nomination in 2004, will be putting on a political strategy workshop for senior Greens. The event is being organized by outgoing party leader Jim Harris. Mr. Trippi is also the author of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - a book about "how how to engage Americans in real dialogue, how business leaders, government leaders, and anyone else can make use of the most revolutionary idea to come along since man first learned to light a fire. No...not the Internet. Or computers. Or telecommunications. Democracy."

Earlier, we told you Wendy Yuan is the only candidate who's currently running in the Vancouver-Kingsway federal Liberal nomination race, scheduled to be held on July 29. Former United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society chairman Mason Loh and Royal Pacific Real Estate Corp. president and chief executive officer David Choi have been suggested as possible competitors. Those familiar with the nomination race say it's unlikely Mr. Choi will run. Mr. Loh, on the other hand, has filled out his nomination papers. But he's still contemplating whether to file them. The deadline for new entrants into the nomination race is tomorrow. Meanwhile, in related news, the Vancouver-Kingsway constituency association is said to have an estimated 1,200 members.

Yesterday, we reported on British Columbia Lottery Corp.'s controversial gold player card, which corporation representatives have described as a customer loyalty program. Said communications officer Shelly Marsh, "You see (such programs) at Petro-Canada, where you get points for filling up with gas. Or, at Save-On-Foods, where you get points for groceries." The only difference, according to the corporation: with this card, you earn points for gambling. But University of Lethbridge professor Robert Williams, research coordinator for the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, doesn't agree.

South of the border, slot club cards can only be used at the casino that issues them. And that means players won't receive reward points unless they continue to spend money at that casino. It's a way "to retain patronage against your competitiors," Prof. Williams explained.

Here in British Columbia though, the lottery corporation's cards plugs into any slot machine in the province - whether it's at an establishment run by Gateway Casinos Ltd., Great Canadian Gaming Corp. or another "gaming service provider." So there is no loyalty aspect to the program - unless it's to encourage players to spend their gambling dollars in British Columbia rather than another jurisidiction. Still, though, says Prof. Williams. "It's a bit of an odd thing to introduce," he added, referring to the gold card. "The only real potential benefit is to increase play."

"British Columbia has taken state-sponsored gambling promotion to a new level...And that's a low-level, not a high one" - this, according to America's leading anti-gambling group. The National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion, which issued the statement following a Public Eye inquiry, was responding to news that the British Columbia Lottery Corp. is now administering a frequent player program for casino-goers.

The program - which is similar to one pioneered by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. in Atlantic City back in 1983 - encourages gamblers to sign-up for a so-called "gold player card" that can be inserted into slot machines across the province. And, for every dollar that's spent at a machine, the player earns points worth half-a-cent each that can be redeemed for cash. The Web page advertising the program also notes program members are eligible for special benefits - such as hotel room and meal discounts. And members are sent promotional material about casino-related activities.

In an interview with, lottery corporation communications officer Tamara Ibbott defended program - which would be known south of the border as a slot club - noting that government-operated company has a responsibility to "market and promote the products and services that we offer. So the loyalty card program is a standard program that most business or some businesses offer. And we also feel that British Columbia make up their own minds about participating in gaming and participating in the BC gold card program."

But coalition chair Dr. Guy Clark says, "I really can't think of anything more irresponsible or cynical for a government to be doing than British Columbia's 'loyalty marketing' program for its casino...For anyone to use a loyalty marketing program to boost sales of an addictive product is diabolical. We expect that kind of behavior from Harrah's, but for government to do that is inexcusable. The province may just as well raise its alcohol tax revenues by sending free drink coupons to Alcoholics Anonymous chapters" - referring to the promotional material distributed via the gold card program.

And, according to Carl Bechtold, a communications specilaist who works with the coalition, sending those materials is "exactly what you would not want to do to someone who has a gambling problem. Essentially, for them, it's an addiction stimulus device."

Ms. Ibbott, however, counters that the lottery corporation - in conjunction with the provincial government - runs a voluntary exclusion program that can "assist individuals who voluntarily wish to be excluded from casinos or bingo halls for a specified period of time." And those participating in that program aren't allowed to be gold card members. Nor would they be sent gold card promotional material.

The British Columbia-based slot club was piloted in April 2003 at the Casino of the Rockies. But the current points-for-cash program has only been in place province-wide since in January 2006.

"If you proudly consider yourself not right-of-centre but right-wing and proud of it - do you happily vote Liberal or look for some truly right-wing alternative?" That's the question CKNW's Bill Good posed to listeners last Tuesday morning. And the answer, from at least some of the callers, was resounding support for the Campbell administration. "I've always considered myself a moderate Conservative. And, therefore, I have no problem with the BC Liberal government doing it," said Dan. Mark later added, "I think we've got to look to the positive things that have been done. I think they've hit the right economic issues. And know they're doing with other things like labour - which is just a sigh of relief." And Brian gushed, "I think Gordon Campbell's doing an excellent job. I don't know why we'd want to replace someone who's doing so well for British Columbia right now." Surely, this is a strong vote of confidence in the work the Liberals have been doing during their second term in office! Or perhaps not.

According to a number of astute CKNW listeners, the voices of Dan, Mark and Brian sound like those of provincial Liberal field organizers Dan Baxter and Mark Robertson and party operations director Brian Bonney. Messrs. Baxter, Robertson and Boney haven't responded to messages left yesterday morning asking whether they called into Mr. Good's show last week. However, the voices on their answering machines seem to resemble those of the callers in question. In the past, Public Eye has caught Liberal staffers calling into talk shows under assumed names or their initials. Earlier, we also reported on Mr. Bonney's attempt to manipulate the results of an online poll being conducted by The Tri-City News.

Earlier, we noted the Canadian mainstream media has yet to report on the controversial axing of Times Colonist columnist Vivian Smith - although the story was picked up by the British press yesterday. But we may have spoken to soon. Today, former Globe and Mail and Maclean's managing editor Geoffrey Stevens, a columnist with The Record and the Guelph Mercury weighed in on the issue. After canvassing the facts of the case - which have been covered at length by this organ - he notes "although the bloggers are having a field day, none of this was reported in the 'TC' or the Vancouver Sun or Vancouver Province. All three are owned by bottom-feeding CanWest Global. As they say, freedom of the press is reserved to those who own it." Mr. Stevens, a friend of Ms. Smith's, is one of Canada's most respected journalists.

Earlier, we reported Susan Yurkovich, a member of the provincial Liberal's super-secret central campaign committee, was working for BC Hydro Corp. as their public affairs and communications vice-president. And now we've learned she's going to get some company from a fellow traveller. Today, Steve Vanagas informed colleagues he's leaving the West Annex to be the director of corporate communications at the power producer. Mr. Vanagas, the premier's deputy chief of staff responsible for communications and research, will be working under Ms. Yurkovich - who is now styled as the company's senior vice-president of corporate affairs.

It seems the Igantieff campaign isn't alone when it comes to sampling the "elegant yet relaxed" ammenities offered by the Royal Vancouver Yatch Club - although the Kennedy men are doing so in a somewhat less public way. In an email circulated to key supporters, Ballard Power Systems Inc. external affairs and government business development director Stephen Kukucha invites them to attend a meeting of Kennedy campaign's British Columbia policy team at the club this coming Thursday. According to the email, the purpose of the meeting will be to discuss national and provincial policy issues, as well as prepare two to three Lotusland-specific statements for August/September. Those invited include: Kennedy campaign British Columbia youth co-chair Braden Caley; Delta-Richmond East policy chair Hatem Ela-Alim; Dale Flood, former special assistant to Industy Minister David Emerson; Seabreeze Power Corp. government relations vice-president Eugene Hodgson; Non-Partisan Association director Doug Leung, former Nanaimo-Cowichan candidate Lloyd MacIlquham; and Vancouver Quadra constituency association communications chair Rikia Saddy. The following is a complete copy of that email.

From: Kukucha, Stephen
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 7:36 PM
Subject: Gerard Kennedy B.C. Policy Team (Meeting on Thursday July 20)

I'm writing to invite you to a meeting of the B.C. Policy team on Thursday, July 20th. The meeting will be held at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (3811 Point Grey Road, Vancouver) on the 2nd floor in the Library Room between 7:00 - 9:30 PM. I apologize for the delay in getting this group together but with Phase 1 of the campaign now over (and Gerard placing very well in B.C. with new memberships) it is time to focus on phase 2 and some of the issues and activities that will help build support amongst all party members whose support we will need to make Gerard Leader of the Liberal Party.

The objectives of the meeting, aside from getting to know each other, will be to discuss:

* National policy issues (process, priorities, strategy and current position papers)
* B.C. policy (issue identification and prioritization)
* Identifying subject matter experts in the group (to draft briefing notes and provide input to National documents)
* Preparation of briefing notes for upcoming visits by Gerard to B.C.
* Preparing 2-3 B.C. issue statements for August/September

Please let me know if you can make it to this meeting by responding to this email. As well, if there is anyone else you know who could add value to this meeting please let me know and we can consider inviting them. I look forward to seeing you next week if you can make it.

____________________________________________________________

Stephen Kukucha
Director, External Affairs and Government Business Development

Earlier, Public Eye broke the news that Wendy Yuan (who dat?) would be running for the federal Liberal nomination in Vancouver-Kingsway. So far, Ms. Yuan - whose nomination campaign is being chaired by national vice-president Mike Hillman - is the only declared candidate in the race. And she may end up being the only one. Today, the Grits announced the nomination date for that riding has been set for July 29, with the meeting scheduled to take place at the Vancouver Alpen Club. Sharon Apsey, the Liberal election readiness chair in British Columbia, made the decision to call the meeting in conjunction with the party's green light committee. That decision was approved by national election readiness co-chairs Mike Eizenga and Lucien Robillard. New entrants have until July 21 to get throw their hats in the ring.

Here at Public Eye, we've spilled much ink reporting on the axing of Times Colonist columnist Vivian Smith. That axing occurred a day after tourism industry representatives met with the newspaper's publisher to complain about a column by Ms. Smith in which she encouraged out-of-towners to explore Victoria's no-charge attraction rather than its more pricey visitor venues. And, according to one account, Bob McKenzie "agreed" during the meeting "that (the column) should have never run" and indicated Ms. Smith's contract would "probably" be cut short. So far, there's hasn't been a peep about this story in the Canadian mainstream media. But, across the Atlantic, it is getting some attention. Yesterday, The Guardian's media commentator Roy Greenslade - a journalism professor at London's City University - referenced the controversy on his blog, calling it "an extraordinary tale." Times Colonist representatives have yet to comment on the reason for Ms. Smith's axing, except to confirm the former Globe and Mail editor was told the newspaper doesn't base editorial decisions on advertiser complaints.

Tonight, on Public Eye Radio, William Stubblefield, the chair of the independent scientific panel which reviewed Victoria's sewage treatment practices, joins us to talk about his final report. Fiona Gow, the adoptive mother who fought successfully to stop Community Living British Columbia from using IQ test results to determine who gets services for the developmentally disabled, discusses the provincial government's recent decision to appeal that court ruling. Royal Roads University political communications professor David Black shares his thoughts on Bell Globemedia Inc. deal to takeover CHUM Ltd. And Mackenzie Institute president John Thompson will be talking terrorism. Also on the show: our rabblerousers - John Heaney, Bob Russell, Bernard Schulmann and Brad Zubyk - rant about the week that was in provincial and federal politics. You can listen to Public Eye Radio outside of Victoria by logging into CFAX 1070 between 6:00 and 9:00. If you have a question for one of our guests, you can email us, leave a comment below or phone (250) 386-1161 during the show.