The federal Conservative nomination race in Newton-North Delta continues to be a source of controversy. Two of the nomination candidates - Paul Brar and Sandeep Pandher - have a past association with the Liberals. And now Heather Stilwell, the Surrey school trustee who's running against them, has found some anomalies in the riding's party membership list. In an interview with Public Eye, Ms. Stilwell said she and her supporters have placed calls to 684 out of the more than 12,000 Conservatives who belong to the local electoral district association. And, of the 155 they actually managed to speak with, just 25 knew they were Tories. The rest "didn't know they had joined the party. And quite a few of those said, ‘Well, no, I'm a Liberal.'" Will wonders never cease?!

Last year's Non-Partisan Association annual report - which summarized the civic party's achievements after one year in office - wasn't exactly an unequivocal success for Mayor Sam Sullivan and his team. The Vancouver Courier's Allen Garr described the report as an example of "pseudology" or the practice of making false statements. As part of his evidence for making that allegation, Mr. Garr wrote "on page 4 of the NPA document under budget ‘highlights,' there's a note on ‘significant new funding' for the Vancouver Police Department" - funding that "Sullivan along with the majority of his caucus voted against." So how much did the association pay to get beat up by the press you may wonder? Well, Public Eye has learned, the total price tag (including printing) was...er...more than $6,000 - with the cost being born by the association and Sullivan donors.

Kim Haakstad, one of the federal Liberal's most reliable workhorses, will soon be carrying some extra saddlebags. The former party executive director has been named the provincial tour director for Stephane Dion in the coming election. Ms. Haakstad was also the British Columbia returning officer during the recent Liberal leadership race.

Last week, we broke the news federal Conservative Newton-North Delta nomination candidate Paul Brar had once supported Liberal incumbent Sukh Dhaliwal. But he's not the only would-be Tory parliamentarian in that riding who has a past association with the Grits.

In an interview with Public Eye, Sandeep Pandher confirmed he was a special assistant to then natural resources minister Herb Dhaliwal between February and December 2003. After finishing off his master's degree in environmental engineering at Carleton University, Mr. Pandher worked as a policy advisor to York South-Weston MP Alan Tonks - the former chair of the standing committee on environment and sustainable development - until July 2005. He's also been a member of the Laurier Club. But never a card-carrying Liberal.

Mr. Pandher - the former North American policy coordinator for the International Emissions Trading Association - explained his involvement with the Grits "was all because of my understanding of environmental policies. I got asked to do some policy work and not partisan political stuff. I wasn't involved in any leadership campaigns. And I didn't even work on any election campaigns for that matter. So I wasn't a card-carrying Liberal. But I definitely worked for a number of Liberals."

So, given that work, why did Mr. Pandher take out a Conservative membership in March 2006? "In politics, a wise man once told me it's not about what you want to do - it's about who gives you an opportunity to do something. For the first time, somebody came to me and said it would be awesome to have someone like you on our team. And, to me, that was a humbling experience," responded Mr. Pandher.

"I think the Liberals - I'm a second generation Canadian, my parents moved here to Canada in 1968/69 - emotionally use the immigrant communities when they feel it's convenient. And yet there's no recognition. And I've been inside the system. I've felt a bit disheartened by the way things work. And I saw something that was fresh, that was a change" - in Conservative leader Stephen Harper. "His first reach out effort to the immigrant communities was humbling. And I went with my gut."

Mr. Pandher is presently on an unpaid leave of absence from his job as a policy advisor to Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Lawrence Cannon.

Now that we know who the federal Conservative candidate in Victoria will likely be, inquiring minds are wondering which hopefuls will be running for the Liberal nomination in that riding. In an interview Public Eye, Mulligan Tam Pearson Law Corp. partner Mike Mulligan confirmed he's presently planning on stepping up to the starting line. "I'm still in the process of rounding up support and completing all the nomination papers and so on. But you seem to have gotten the scoop early," said Mr. Mulligan.

"I was approached by the candidate search committee a few weeks ago about whether I'd consider running. And I've been giving it careful consider for a few weeks - talking to friends and family and so on. It's a major dislocation as you're well aware. And one of the challenges, of course, in trying to come up with candidates. And perhaps some of the people you'd like to see run have things that they're quite enjoying doing where they are. And that's certainly holds true for me. I enjoy what I do. And it's not something I was grasping to do."

That being said though, Mr. Mulligan added, "The current government's policies on justice matters, social issues, the environment and so on I find unpalatable. So I thought I might spend at least a few weeks of my life speaking out about that."

Victoria city councillor Chris Coleman is also being promoted as a possible nomination candidate. And some Liberals have ambitions to convince retired federal economic development policy assistant deputy minister and diplomat Anne Park Shannon to compete for the job.

More election readiness news from the federal Liberals: last week, we told you British Columbia campaign co-chairs Pam McDonald and Bruce Young had organized a conference call with constituency association presidents. And now we've learned officials in British Columbia are operating with the understanding that most nominations should be, if possible, concluded by the end of March. This, following last week's announcement that the national nomination freeze has been lifted.

Footage of junior politicos singing campaign songs is almost always somewhat embarassing (at least for the viewers). Witness this recent home movie of provincial Young Liberals returning from the party's biennial convention. But it seems one New Democrat didn't think that movie was embarassing enough. An anonymous party supporter has...er...edited that footage. You can see the results for yourself.

Putting an end to weeks of speculation, Baba Brinkman has announced he will be composing a new rap song in suppport of his mother Joyce Murray bid for the Vancouver Quadra federal Liberal nomination. In an email to friends, Mr. Brinkman writes "when the local political internet watch-dog" - that would be your humble organ - "caught wind of the story that Quadra's current MP had decided not to seek re-election, opening the possibility that my mom could succeed him, how did they report it? Was the headline 'Stephen Owen to Retire'? Was the headline 'Joyce Murray Rumoured to Be Running in Quadra'? No, the headline was 'Coming Soon: A New Baba Brinkman Rap?' Even though I wasn't even mentioned in the article, this was the point of interest. So despite my mom's incredible credentials and abilities, according to BC's political pundits she is just 'that rapper guy's mom'. What's good for the goose is good for the gander though, so you can bet I intend to deliver the goods." In the meantime, readers can listen to Mr. Brinkman past campaign raps on his Website. The following is a complete copy of the aforementioned email.

-----Original Message-----
From: Baba Brinkman
Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 7:34 PM
Subject: Help Wanted in the West

Hi - me again. This is just a note to everyone I know in the lower mainland, a plug for someone else this time.

As most of you know, my mother is Joyce Murray, the former provincial Minister of Environment turned federal Liberal candidate for MP. She chaired Stephane Dion's leadership campaign in British Columbia at his personal request, because they had both been environmentalists in cabinet and were both passionate about tackling climate change. As it turns out, Dion made us all proud, and now things are beginning to heat up.

My mom is now seeking the nomination for Liberal Party candidate in Vancouver Quadra, which includes Kits, West Point Grey, Shaughnessy, Dunbar, Kerrisdale, and UBC. She grew up in that area, graduated from Lord Byng Secondary, and has recently moved back there, and she now faces a tough battle to get nominated. If she's nominated, she will be a great candidate with solid political experience and will kick conservative ass in the election, whenever it drops on us. Then she will be on Stephane Dion's team once he becomes Prime Minister, and will have a hand in the progressive social and environmental agenda that he is promoting. Don't be fooled by those cynical Conservative TV ads either; Stephane Dion will be Prime Minister and he will put this country back on the right footing. I know he will be a great leader, from speaking to him and from seeing the enthusiasm he can inspire in people for positive change.

This is something remarkable. My mom was a tree-hugger and a tree-planter, a peace-marcher and entrepreneur, she is a dedicated environmentalist, and she even wrote her Master's thesis on climate change issues back in the early 90s before everyone jumped on the bandwagon, and now she will have a chance to contribute to Canada's role in achieving sustainability and tackling the single greatest challenge of the century. Don't get distracted by terrorism, unless you've got an appetite for pickled red herring (actually, I am partial to red-eye roll-mops, but that's another story).

So here's the plug. If you live in Vancouver Quadra, or if you know someone who lives in Vancouver Quadra, my mom needs people who live in Quadra (see map on www.ElectionsCanada.ca) to sign up as members of the Liberal Party to vote at the nominating meeting. Or if you just have time to spare, my mom needs volunteers for her nomination campaign, and she needs donations. If you've been watching Dion from the sidelines and secretly cheering for him, here's your chance to make a modest move (a membership only costs ten bucks). It is something substantial towards the greater good, which I can testify is my mother's motivation as a politician.

Finally, a little comic relief. For every election my mom has fought since 2000, I have made a rap song about the issues and release it in time to have some impact, change some minds, or at least get some laughs as political satire. The most recent one was in support of Stephane Dion, and it got played on nation CBC radio a number of times during the leadership race back in November/December. You can check all of these songs out at this link:
http://www.babasword.com/index/audio.html

So when the local political internet watch-dog caught wind of the story that Quadra's current MP had decided not to seek re-election, opening the possibility that my mom could succeed him, how did they report it? Was the headline "Stephen Owen to Retire"? Was the headline "Joyce Murray Rumoured to Be Running in Quadra"? No, the headline was "Coming Soon: A New Baba Brinkman Rap?" Even though I wasn't even mentioned in the article, this was the point of interest. So despite my mom's incredible credentials and abilities, according to BC's political pundits she is just "that rapper guy's mom". What's good for the goose is good for the gander though, so you can bet I intend to deliver the goods.

Here's the link if you want to take a gander:
http://www.publiceyeonline.com/archives/002154.html

If you want to help out or if you know of anyone who might, please contact Cameron St John.

If you want to learn more about my mom or contact her directly, her website
is: http://www.joycemurray.com

Here's to a better future,

baba

--
Baba Brinkman
Babasword Productions

Tomorrow morning, on Public Eye Radio, former California Environmental Protection Agency secretary Terry Tamminen discusses the climate change challenge confronting British Columbia. Provincial New Democrat education critic David Cubberley talks about how much progress we've made in earthquake-proofing the province's schools. And the party's House Leader Mike Farnworth shares with us the Opposition's plans for the present legislative session. Also on the show: our rabble-rousing panel - Ariel Lade, Bob Russell, Alex Tsakumis and Allan Warnke - discuss 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 8:30 and 10:00. 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.

Non-Partisan Association directors are putting on their talent scout caps. On Wednesday evening, they passed a resolution to strike a committee to recruit candidates for the upcoming board elections - scheduled for April 25. There were also some - how shall we put this - spirited discussions about the possibility a board-endorsed slate. However, it's likely the board will only act on those discussions if it becomes apparent there may be a repeat of last year's divisive slate-organizing activities. But, really, who would do such a thing?

Last week, the provincial government announced it would be forming a climate action team - chaired by Premier Gordon Campbell - to set interim targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. But will that action team need additional support staff? And, if so, who will be recruited for that effort? Well, some have suggested Partnerships British Columbia corporate affairs vice-president Suromitra Sanatani as a possible staff member. But that wouldn't work. After all, Ms. Sanatani is presently seconded to the ministry of advanced education, where she's working on another one of the premier's pet projects - the Pacific Centre for Social Innovation.

As our astute readers know, constituency assistants are forbidden from doing partisan work. But does that stop them from collecting opposition research materials? Last October, senior provincial New Democrat research instructor Paula Gunn sent an email to assistants clarifying caucus's new Community Network project - which would see those aides record the names of key activists, supporters, government appointees and firms with provincial business in their ridings.

Asked whether such activities cross the partisan line, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Bill Barisoff said the project - which was brought to his attention by Public Eye - is "certainly, something that probably falls in that grey area. I've talked to both caucus chairs about it" this past Tuesday. "I didn't just talk to one. I talked to both. And passed on to them both what was happening and just advised them they were sliding into this grey area."

"And they should be cognisent of the fact that - when you slide into a grey area - it's pretty easy to slip over and cause some problems for all concerned. So they’ve both taken it back. Both caucus chairs are dealing with it. And if slides beyond the area of being grey, then certainly they’ll hear from the speaker.” The following is a complete copy of the aforementioned email and the community network project template.

***

From: Gunn, Paula Sent: Wed 10/18/2006 11:20 AM
Subject: Confusion over Community Networks project/document

Hello everyone,

I understand that there is considerable confusion among CAs over the Community Networks project, and that many of you have not got the Community Networks template document. I hope this email will clear up that confusion.

THE DOCUMENT

Leonard sent out an email yesterday to all of you using the name we had previously been using for this project - it is about this Community Networks form and project.

I am attaching the document again (above).

This is the form that I sent out for recording useful info on your constituency, and also for use when I send out the weekly/bimonthly Orders in Council appointments

MY EMAILS WITH Orders in Council/OICs

My emails of the OICs go the MLAs' public address, cc'd to their private address.

NOTE - I can send OIC emails to this CA distribution list INSTEAD of the MLAs Public one, if that is preferable - please let me know.

My first email went out September 22nd. There was then a delay while we worked out process issues, and then I sent out email with 2 batches of OICs last week, one on October 12, and then on Oct. 13th.

THE PROCESS

The idea is that this template document be used to record information pertaining to your constituency.
OICs come out every couple of weeks - I will be sending them (as above) by email.

Any info from the OICs (local names of people getting appointments to government boards, ministries etc.) should be added to the form. Your MLA or you should submit the information gathered to me, by email Please title the email "Community Networks Info" so that I know what it is I apologize for the confusion. If you have questions about this project, please ask your MLA - or you can phone me. If your MLA is unclear on this project, they should speak to Sue or Leonard.

Paula

Paula Gunn
Senior Research Officer
Caucus Research
New Democrat Official Opposition

***

Community Network
DATE

Constituency Association Executive
Name Position Other Information

Key Activists
Name Position Other Information

Key Supporters (Individual & Business)
Name Position Other Information

Local OIC Appointees
Name Position Other Information

Local Firms with Government Business
Name Principals Other Information

Earlier this month, Kamloops This Week's Dale Bass revealed provincial New Democrat caucus communications officer Mike Hanson sent an email to his contacts calling Minister of State for Mining Kevin Krueger a "potato-head." And now, a week after it was revealed he had been disciplined for that email, Mr. Hanson has tendered his resignation. In an email obtained by Public Eye, caucus executive director Mary O'Donoghue writes she has accepted that resignation, adding "there are no oustanding issues." She then goes onto ask that "MLAs" - yes, you read that right - "and staff refrain from speculating about the matter any further." The following is a complete copy of that email.

All MLAs and staff,

This is to inform you that I have accepted Mike Hanson’s resignation, effective immediately. There are no outstanding issues.

I ask that MLAs and staff refrain from speculating about the matter any further.

If you have questions, please speak to me and please continue to refer all media inquiries on the matter to me.

Thank you.

Mary

Mary O’Donoghue
Executive Director
New Democrat Caucus

Public Eye has obtained an undated photograph showing Newton-North Delta federal Conservative candidate Paul Brar attending an event with Joel Volpe - who recently ran for the federal Liberal leadership - and Grit parliamentarian Sukh Dhaliwal. Asked for comment, Mr. Brar said "I've been a member of the (Conservatives) for the past 16 to 18 months." But before that he was friends with the Liberals. "We were getting together. And everything was happening the way we wanted it." But now Mr. Brar feels the community “can do better in the Conservative Party of Canada because they’re better on crime, they’re better on accountability and they’ve shown it.”

On Wednesday morning, Mr. Brar denied having been involved with Mr. Dhaliwal's past nomination or election campaigns. Later in the day, though, Mr. Brar said he couldn’t remember whether he had supported Mr. Dhaliwal - who represents Newton-North Delta - in 2004. But he spent most of the 2005 election in Conservative candidate Phil Eidsvik's campaign office. A copy of the aforementioned photograph will be published in tomorrow's edition of 24 hours

Earlier, we noted the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch reported just 69 percent compliance in fiscal 2005/06 with a government regulation requiring liquor licensees to ask anyone who appears to be under 25 for two pieces of identification. Solicitor General John Les has promised to increase that compliance rate - a goal which should now be much easier to meet. On Friday, the government discarded that regulation - which was applied to government liquour stores on March 14, 2003 - because it was "difficult to enforce." So now only those who appear to be under 19 will be required to show two pieces of identification. Fancy that!

Across the country, federal Liberal operatives are girding their loins in preparation for the upcoming election - whenever that may be. So it should come as no surprise British Columbia campaign co-chairs Pam Mcdonald and Bruce Young have invited constituency association presidents to participate in a conference call tomorrow afternoon to discuss candidate recruitment and the party's election readiness.

Paul Brar wants to be the federal Conservative candidate in Newton-North Delta in the next election. But has he supported incumbent Liberal parliamentarian Sukh Dhaliwal during past campaigns? In an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Dhaliwal described Mr. Brar as having been a "very good friend" and a "strong supporter." Continued the MP, "He helped me in my nomination and my elections. He was there everyday." Mr. Brar, though, says something different.

Asked yesterday morning whether he had been involved with the MP's past nomination or election campaigns, Brar said, "No, not at all." Then, when we spoke to him later that day, Mr. Brar said "I don’t remember actually" if he supported Dhaliwal in 2004. But "in the last election, I didn't support him at all" - having spent most of the 2005 campaign in Conservative candidate Phil Eidsvik's office.

In his authoritative British Columbia Children and Youth Review, former conflict of interest commissioner Ted Hughes noted past ministry of children and family development service plans "have contained too few" performance measures. Those measures, a hallmark of the Campbell administration, are used as "indicators of the government's progress in achieving its goals" - in this case ensuring "child safety and child wellbeing."

So it seems somewhat strange the ministry would remove a timeline for regionalizing aboriginal and non-aboriginal children and family development services from its latest service plan. The fiscal 2008/09 and 2009/10 targets for increasing the number of aboriginal children in aboriginal care has also been discarded. And the report doesn’t record the "average annual number of days between entry into care and placement," "the proportion of children in foster care and 'kith and kin' placements who are 'very satisfied' with their placements" or any number of performance measures the Hughes review suggested will be needed "in the coming years."

Asked why those new measures weren't in the plan, Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen said, "We are in the midst of a process of transformation - a process that will put in place a framework to enhance the delivery of services to the children, families and communities we serve. It is through this process that we will be able to re-visit our targets and ensure those measureables are the correct ones. To establish new targets in advance of creating that framework would make no sense."

But why does the ministry no longer have a timeline for establishing regional authorities? "We are in the process of building a structure to support families and communities," responded Minister Christensen. "This is a grassroots process - one that will take time - and one that will be done properly. However, we will not force the process by putting a time frame in place."

You’d think it would be easy to make sure government stores don't sell liquor to minors. But, according to the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch's latest service plan, you'd be wrong. Last year, the branch promised those stores would be 85 percent compliant with a regulation requiring liquor licensees to ask anyone who appears to be under 25 for two pieces of identitifcation. But it fell somewhat short of that mark in fiscal 2005/06 - achieving just 69 percent compliance. Asked about that failure by Public Eye, Solicitor General John Les said, "That's a concern. It's a big concern for me. We want to make sure minors are not accessing liquor through government liquor stores. So I've asked the general manager for the LDB (Jay Chambers) to ensure that government liquor stores complying with those 2-ID requirements for those who appear to be 19 and younger - like everybody else has to comply."

The Vancouver Quadra federal Liberal nomination race is beginning to get a bit crowded. Last night, three hopefuls made nomination pitches to the constituency association membership at the Kerrisdale Community Centre. They were Cindy Grauer, Joyce Murray and Ethos Strategy Group partner Catherine Evans. The following is a complete copy of an email announcing Ms. Evans's candidacy.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Helesia Luke"
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 9:25 PM
Subject: Catherine Evans Nomination Campaign

Hello everyone,

My good friend and business partner, Catherine Evans, has just announced her intention to run for the Federal Liberal nomination in Vancouver Quadra. This seat is currently held by Stephen Owen who recently announced he will not run again in the next federal election.

Catherine is a principled and thoughtful person. She would be an effective representative in Ottawa and a tireless advocate for constituents.

If you live in Quadra or know people who do, please forward this webpage link along.

www.catherineevans.blogspot.com

Thanks
(and sorry for any cross-posting!)

Helesia

Comments being posted on Public Eye seem to suggest our readers have launched a grassroots campaign to recruit Kim Emsley-Leik to run for the federal Liberal presidency in British Columbia. And what does Ms. Emsley-Leik have to say about such talk? In an interview with your humble organ said, "To be honest I'm really flattered. And it's probably something I'd be interested in in the future. But right now I'm doing my master's" degree in pathology at the University of British Columbia. "And if you're going to do the LPCBC presidency you have to be 110 percent committed to do it so you can do it properly. So right now, I won't be running." Ms. Emsley-Leik, the operations chair for party leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff's British Columbia campaign, also confirmed she was approached to seek the Liberal nomination in Cariboo-Prince George and Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam. But she's also turned down those offers.

It's no secret relations between employees and executives at the ministry of children and family development could stand a little improvement. According to a recent work environment survey, just 20 percent agreed with statements expressing confidence in their bosses. So it should come as no surprise that, last fall, the ministry's leadership team launched an initiative to encourage managers to "engage employees in a meaningful way by looking at and acknowledging the staff and their strengths." This, according to records obtained under a freedom of information request by Public Eye.

Leadership team meeting minutes, dated October 26, 2006, suggest managers should "have a piece of paper where you would write down when a person has done something noteworthy." A praiseworthy program, to be sure. And the ministry has even distributed notepads to make it easy for them. But those notes - which feature the phrase "Caught you with a strength!" below a cartoon butterfly casher - have raised some eyebrows. As one wag put it "would you be embarassed or proud" to receive one? Ten points for effort. We'll let you grade the execution. The following is a copy of the aforementioned minutes.

***

LEADERSHIP TEAM MEETING
MINUTES

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Meeting Minutes for October 26, 2006

6. Caught You With A Strength program
* An internal program, facilitated by leadership that will involve anyone who has a direct report.
* Managers need to engage employees in a meaningful way by looking at and acknowledging the staff and their strengths.
* We have to work hard at relatiuonships and not loose individuals in the collective.
* Have a piece of paper where you would write down when a person has done something noteworth i.e. level of work above and beyond normal, always positive etc.

Action:
* To be put into place immediately.
* International communications to develop "Caught You with a Strength" template.

When last we spoke with Gary Collins, the former provincial finance minister had resigned as president of Harmony Airways to pursue "other career opportunities." And what might those be, you may wonder? Well, in an email sent to friends and associates minutes ago, Mr. Collins announced he'll be joining Belkin Industries as a senior vice-president. The following is an edited copy of that email.

Dear Friends and Associates,

I am very pleased to announce that effective April 1st I will be joining Belkin Industries as their Senior Vice President. It is a very dynamic group of companies headquartered here in Vancouver with interests in fields as diverse as Rogers Sugar, CHIP REIT, environmental services, Merchant Banking and Investment Services, as well as holdings in Commercial and Residential Real Estate.

I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Stuart and his team.

All the best,

Gary Collins

Public Eye sends our congratulations (we think) and best wishes (he may need it) to Harris and Company partner Dean Crawford, who has been acclaimed as chair of the British Columbia federal Liberal green light committee. Committee members, who are responsible for vetting nomination candidates, named Mr. Crawford to that post last Wednesday.

Last week, we told you about a discussion paper being circulated by the provincial New Democrat's nomination review committee. That paper features a number of affirmative action proposals. But those aren't the only recommendations included in the report. The committee also reaffirmed that "nomination meetings held in constituencies whose executives willfully violate the regulations established by the Provincial may be declared null and void." Which is all well and good. But one wonders what Delta North legislator Guy Gentner thinks about that proposal. After all, Mr. Gentner was selected as the New Democrat candidate in that riding following a controversial nomination meeting - the result of which the party's executive council rejected. That is, until they appointed Mr. Gentner to that post! Other newsworthy suggestions in that report include a proposal "implement a ceiling on nomination expenses" - because, apparently, the New Democrats...uh...don't have one right now.

Central Saanich police corporal Jack McClintock failed in his first bid to be the federal Conservative candidate in Victoria. But, as they saying goes, if at first you don't succeed...er...you probably will if you try again. Mr. McClintock has again submitted papers to run for that nomination - the only one to do so before Wednesday's filing deadline. And that means - assuming those papers are approved - he'll be running against incumbent New Democrat parliamentarian Denise Savoie in the next election. Mr. McClintock, a former member of the Victoria police department, also competed to be the Canadian Alliance candidate in Victoria in 2000.

Fond farewells to our good friend Brian Bonney. In an interview with Public Eye, provincial Liberal communications director Chad Pederson confirmed Mr. Bonney - whose Internet adventures have been chronicled by your humble organ - resigned on February 11 as the party’s operations director. Said Mr. Pederson, "He's left to explore other opportunities. He was a valuable asset to the party. And he'll be missed. And we certainly wish him well." So now the world is Mr. Bonney’s oyster. Good pearl hunting.

In last week's throne speech, the Campbell administration mentioned the legislative buildings would be upgraded to meet modern seismic standards. But one wonders what the Families for School Seismic Safety think about the provincial government's commitment to historical preservation? After all, in its December 2006 newsletter, the association expressed concern "bureaucratic hold ups - such as due diligence reviews of projects in progress" - may delay the Campbell administration's 2004 promise to make all of British Columbia's schools earthquake safe within the next 15 years, at a cost of $1.5 billion. Well, we'll find out the answer to that question on Tuesday. That's when the association is thinking about issuing a statement concerning the issue - following Monday evening's Vancouver school board meeting.

Tomorrow morning, on Public Eye Radio, provincial Liberal House Leader Mike de Jong talks about Campbell administration's legislative agenda. Federal Liberal British Columbia campaign co-chair Bruce Young and his Conservative counterpart Bruce Hallsor share their thoughts on election preparedness. And our rabble-rousing panel - Troy DeSouza, Bob Russell, Allan Warnke and Brad Zubyk - discuss 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 8:30 and 10:00. 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.

Promises of throne speeches past are coming back to haunt the Campbell administration. In 2005, the Liberals reaffirmed their commitment to "lead the way in Canada on electoral reform." As part of that commitment, the government said there would be an "extensive effort to better inform British Columbians" about the present first-past-the-post system and its proposed replacement - the single-transferable vote. And that effort will include "equal funding" for those who favour change and those who don't. But the government hasn't given any further details on how it's going to keep said promises.

In an interview with Public Eye, Fair Voting British Columbia president Bruce Hallsor - who supports change - said, "If a subsidy is going to be given, we need to know what the rules are going to be, what the playing field is going to be and who's going to get it. These are details that no political party would do any campaign planning without knowing. And yet here we are, two years away from a referendum (on electoral reform) and we have no idea what the rules are going to be for fundraising, for funding, for anything."

Continued Mr. Hallsor, "The government's recent throne speech doesn't even mention electoral reform or anything about the referendum. Nobody in the government seems to have given any thought to it. Nobody seems to know what the plan is. And that does a disservice to the Campbell government's leadership on this issue. There's not going to be an informed public debate and there's not going to be effective use of taxpayer dollars unless the yes side and the no side understand what the rules are for the next referendum and have them laid out clearly in advance."

Last April, former conflict of interest commissioner Ted Hughes released 62 recommendations to repair British Columbia child protection system - recommendations the Campbell administration has committed to act on. So it seems somewhat curious children and family development deputy minister Lesley du Toit doesn't reference his British Columbia Children and Youth Review in any correspondence she sent between May 1, 2006 and December 8, 2006. This, according to a New Democrat freedom of information request response released today.

Asked for comment, Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen told reporters, "What I'm interested in is not the words that are used by the work that is being done. And, if we reflect on the work that the deputy minister is doing with the aboriginal community, the work that's going on around transformation and how we're engaging communities and regions and how we make decisions, that's all very consistent with a number of the recommendations Mr. Hughes has made. So I'm comfortable in terms of the work my deputy is doing that is relevant to Hughes. I'm committed - and the government remains very committed - to implement the recommendations." The following is are edited selections from that scrum.

***

Media Maybe you can explain to us why there aren't any emails from Lesley du Toit referencing the Hughes report within this time frame?

Minister Christensen Well, as I said in the house, we very much appreciate the work Mr. Hughes did and the recommendations that he's made. And the government's commitment to implementing those recommendations. We established a transition team at the time we received Mr. Hughes's report so that we'd have a strong team in place to ensure implementation ocurred. That team is led by the deputy attorney general. So that's where the leadership at the public service level is coming from. That work is ongoing. We've made significant progress in terms of the recommendations that are specific to the ministry of children and family development. I think it's worth recalling that Mr. Hughes actually was encouraged by a number of the shifts the ministry was making. And he encouraged us in that work in terms of how we're working with aboriginal communities. That work has continued throughout the course of the last year and will continue. The deputy minister - my deputy minister - is key to that work. We've implemented the recommendation to establish the independent officer of the legislature. That legislation was passed within days of when Mr. Hughes's recommendations came down. Government acted very quickly. We're happy the representative is now in place. We're looking forward to working with her and getting her input in terms of some of the recommendations going forward. And we've added staff within the ministry. We've focused on quality assurance. So that work is being done.

Media But Tom, doesn't it seem odd to you that, given how much Lesley communicates via email - and goodness knows I've received more than a few of them - that she wouldn't at some point in time, as the deputy minister responsible for MCFD, reference the Hughes report in her emails?

Minister Christensen Again, what I'm interested in is not the words that are used by the work that is being done. And, if we reflect on the work that the deputy minister is doing with the aboriginal community, the work that's going on around transformation and how we're engaging communities and regions and how we make decisions, that's all very consistent with a number of the recommendations Mr. Hughes has made. So I'm comfortable in terms of the work my deputy is doing that is relevant to Hughes. I'm committed - and the government remains very committed - to implement the recommendations.

Media Do you have a timeline in mind for covering all these 62 recommendations?

Minister Christensen I think it would be irresponsible of me to give you a specific timeline. But we're going to continue working on them. Some of them we believe would be helped by some input from the representative. So, once she's firmly established in her office, I think that will help on that front. And we'll continue this work. What I will add is that if the leader of the Opposition has concerns about specific recommendations, I'm more than happy to hear those concerns from her and to follow-up on those. Mr. Hughes made one recommendation that the Opposition is key to assisting in implementing that. And that is to try to take some of the partisan politics out of issues to deal with children and youth. I've seen no indication that the government wants to do that.

Media Can you explain the difference between transformation at the ministry and the recommendations in the Hughes report? Because I know that might be a relevant question for a lot of people.

Minister Christensen Well, the ministry is undergoing a process of transformation that I believe Mr. Hughes reflected on in his report where we're doing much more to engage aboriginal communities in defining the direction that government should be going and delivering services to those communities. So that's a key element of transformation. It's a key direction that Mr. Hughes was encouraging in. And Mr. Hughes made a number of other recommendations that supported that around the need to hire more aboriginal social workers. We've implemented steps forward around that. One is a new program at UNBC where we've just - I believe - graduated the first ten people that will be specialized in child protection that are aboriginal students. That's a big step forward. That's going to make a big difference in the north. That's consistent with Hughes. So we're very much on the right path. And I believe we'll continue on this path.

Premier Gordon Campbell's former personal polymath may soon be taking on a new job if some federal Liberals have their way. Rhodes scholar Andrew Wilkinson, a former provincial deputy minister, is being promoted as a possible successor to Heenan Blaikie LLP partner Craig Munroe, the president of the Vancouver Quadra constituency association. Mr. Wilkinson, a trained physician and partner with McCarthy Tetrault LLP, hasn't yet returned a call from Public Eye requesting comment on such talk. Mr. Munroe is said to be thinking about running to be the Liberal's British Columbia president.

Earlier, we reported Finance Minister Carole Taylor talked about British Columbia's public-private partnership opportunities at invite-only forum organized by Euromoney and Project Finance Magazine. But she wasn't the only one addressing the conference. James Stewart, the chief executive officer of Partnerships UK - the government agency responsible for promoting public-private projects in Britain - was also scheduled to give his two cents. And the province’s public affairs bureau wanted to make sure Minister Taylor was aware of his presence. Her speaking notes include a reminder to acknowledge Mr. Stewart's presence because Partnerships UK "helped (Partnerships British Columbia) a lot." Hmmm...it seems the Blair administration has been providing a lot of inspiration for the Campbell government.

It's no secret the union movement thinks the Campbell administration's public-private partnerships are a bad deal for the province. For example, in November, British Columbia Federation of Labour conventioneers said those projects are "shrouded in secrecy and face gross delays, loss of service and public scrutiny, as well as huge cost overruns." This, according to a news release from the Canadian Union of Public Employees. But it seems at least one union pension plan thinks investing in such partnerships is a good deal for its members.

Speaking at an invite-only forum attended by around 80 international bankers and developers this past June, Finance Minister Carole Taylor noted British Columbia’s public-private partnerships are attracting new financiers from around the world - including the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. This, according to speaking notes obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request.

And what projects is the plan, which governed by the Ontario government and the teachers' union in that province, financing you may wonder? Well, it seems the pension lending money for the William R. Bennett Bridge Project. That's right, the five-lane, Kelowna traffic congestion reliever that’s named after British Columbia's most famous free enterprise premier. Fancy that!

Earlier, we reported the provincial New Democrat's nomination review committee - which has eight female members and four males - has advanced for discussion a suggestion that 50 percent of the party’s candidates in the next election should be women. So here's some relevant numbers: presently, the Opposition caucus has 33 members, of which seven are women. That means, assuming all the men run for re-election, there will be room for just 13 more males on the New Democrat slate in 2009. The following is a complete copy of the committee's membership, as listed in its Changing the Nomination Process report.

Appendix A: Committee Information

Members

- Marianne Alto
- Jeanette Ashe
- Katrine Conroy, MLA
- Sav Dhaliwal
- Cheryl Hewitt, Co-Chair
- Jarrah Hodge
- Glen MacInnes
- Cathy McGregor
- Glen Sanford, Co-Chair
- Lorraine Shore
- Tom Sigurdson
- Jessie Uppal

Contact

The Committee may be contacted through either of the Co-Chairs:

Cheryl Hewitt

Glen Sanford

During the federal Liberal leadership race, Stephane Dion promised one-third of the party’s candidates in the next election would be women. But that's nothing compared to a series of affirmative action proposals being advanced for discussion by the provincial New Democrat’s nomination review committee. According to a report, obtained exclusively by Public Eye, "lack of representation of women, Aboriginal people, youth, people with disabilities, visible minorities, and (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) individuals" is one of the principle issues confronting the party’s candidate recruitment process.

So the committee is suggesting setting "targets for the next provincial election of 50% women candidates and 65% affirmative action candidates (the latter including women)." And, in order to meet that target, it's proposed that the party’s provincial executive should be empowered to "appoint candidates in selected constituencies or designate specific constituencies for affirmative candidates."

Strangely, though, the report - which has been circulating since the fall - seems to pay little attention to how the New Democrats can recruit more winnable candidates. But, then again, winning isn't everything! Nomination review committe co-chair Cheryl Hewitt hasn't yet returned a call from Public Eye requesting comment. The following is a complete copy of the relevant portion of that report, entitled Changing the Nomination Process.

***

Candidate Recruitment

Issues - Perceived and Real

Representation

1. Lack of representation of women, Aboriginal people, youth, people with disabilities, visible minorities, and LGBT individuals.
2. Proportionally fewer women nominated in the top (competitive) 30 constituencies than in less winnable (uncompetitive) constituencies.
3. Lack of women's success in contested nominations.

Potential contributing attitudes to under-representation of women and minorities

4. Attitudes/beliefs of potential women candidates who may feel they don't know the issues or don't have the support at home (childcare in particular), and experience a lack of financial resources.
5. Advantage afforded previously successful candidates.
6. Search committees which focus on traditional organizations and communities.
7. General bias against candidates who may not have had traditional public experience.
8. Bias in political parties generally against women or minority candidates (e.g. 'these folks don't have the right attitude', 'women are less electable', 'women with children shouldn't run', etc.)

Other issues

9. An early start by those aware of the process and rules disadvantages newer recruits.
10. Degree of knowledge of winning nomination strategies.
11. Cost of nomination processes.
12. Women typically don't have access to traditional political networks which may reduce their membership signup and fundraising capacities.
13. Lack of gender-specific candidate training.

Principles

1. The Party's social justice agenda includes concern for policies and practices that will enhance democratic participation in the Party generally and particularly among women and identified groups. This includes a recognition that many social, cultural and civic benefits accrue from more inclusive, just and equitable nomination processes and practices.
2. Party policy and practices must be focused on removing visible and invisble barriers to identified groups' participation in candidate recruitment and nomination processes on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, level of education or income, or ability.
3. Education is an important tool to achieve a deeper understanding of and to overcome barriers to equity.
4. It is our collective responsibility, not only the responsibility of members from minorities, to see that equitable and fair processes are adopted and practiced at all levels of the Party. This includes challenging stereotypes about the suitability of candidates on the basis of race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, age, level of education or income or ability.
5. We need to set measurable targets for women and affirmative action candidates in order to ensure equitable representation.

Proposed

Training
1. Provie skills training and support for affirmative action candidates seeking nominations through campaign schools and workshops.
2. Organize mentoring for potential women nomineees with established female Party politicians, and later expand this program to other identified affirmative action groups.
3. Update and distribute guides for winning nominations, ensuring that these documents recognize regional, social, cultural, economic and gender distinctions.

Recruitment
4. Establish an Affirmative Action Recruitment Committee and ensure board representation including the Leader, at least two MLAs and two Party Vice-Presidents, as well as the Chair of the WRC and representatives from targeted equity groups, reporting to the Provincial Executive. This Committee will strive to recruit well in advance of nominations. (A very similar committee was set up in June 2006; the Provincial Executive will determine how this committee will relate to the Provincial Executive's overall candidate search process.)
5. All constituency candidate search committees must include representatives from affirmative action groups, including women.
6. Hold regional candidate recruitment seminars beginning early in 2007.
7. Strengthen the ability of the regional representatives on the Provincial Executive and WRC regional representatives to ensure that candidate searches in the regions start early and reach out to women and minority canidates by making this task part of their job descriptions.
8. Leader involvement in candidate search.

Party Regulations/Internal Solutions
9. Dedcate Party staff resources to research "best practices", summarizing what other parties do in Canada and elsewhere to elect more women and minorities; these practices will guide evolving nomination processes.
10. Set targets for the next provincial election of 50% women candidates and 65% affirmative action candidates (the latter including women).
11. In order to meet affirmative action targets and to address emergencies, the Provincial Executive may appoint candidates in elected constituencies or designate specific constituencies for affirmative action candidates.
12. Set aside funding in the provincial Party budgets and pre-election budgets to assist women financially during their nomination races.

A provincial government-commissioned review suggests Community Living British Columbia might not save money when it begins closing group homes. This past September, the authority launched a six-month project to give developmentally disabled individuals living in those homes the option of moving into what are described as "person-centred and cost-effective" dwellings. And, as part of that process, some group homes could be closed - with the financial savings being tracked by the authority's quality service branch.

But a literature and initial program review, conducted by the University of British Columbia, notes a 1998 comparison between supported living and traditional residential services in Oregon found there was "no statistically significant difference in public support costs between supported living services and group home services." Although a 2000 study in Australia showed "per consumer staff support hours and annual (non-capital) costs on accommodation support services were far greater for group home residents than for semi-independent settings."

In an email, Community Living British Columbia communications director Sally Greenwood wrote the authority wasn't worried about that conflicting evidence. The reason: "the primary objective of the (residential options project) is to enhance quality of life for people with developmental disabilities - to provide choices and options and ensure each individual is in the best suited residential option available. If cost efficiencies are an outcome of this project, then cost savings will be allocated to assist those currently waiting for supports."

For his part, the review's principal investigator - University of British Columbia associate social work professor Tim Stainton - acknowledged existing academic literature doesn't give a definitive answer as to whether group homes are more costly than other residential options.

But, he added, "If you look at B.C.'s own figures, it's pretty clear that family care model homes and independent living homes do tend to cost less than group homes. Again, you can't be universal. But, I think, for B.C.'s own figures that would be born out. Although, at the end of the day, I'm more interested in quality outcomes."

The federal Conservatives seem to be using sticks rather than carrots to make sure would-be election candidates are on their best behaviour. According to the party’s nomination rules and procedures - which were distributed to riding associations this past June - candidates must make out a $1,000 cheque payable to the Conservative Fund Canada to "serve as a Good Conduct Bond." Those who follow those rules and procedures will get their cheque back. But it’s tough luck for those who don't. And the news is even worse for candidates who win less than 10 percent of the vote at a nomination meeting. They have to relinquish their $1,000 "Non-Frivolous Bond." Which means troublemakers who want to run for the Conservatives for shits and giggles are going to be out $2,000. Ouch!

Former provincial Liberal cabinet minister Joyce Murray might not be the only one thinking about running for the federal Liberal nomination in Vancouver Quadra. Cindy Grauer, who, sat on the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission between 1997 to 2003, is also being talked up as a could-be nomination candidate. Ms. Grauer, the principle of management consulting firm GR Strategies Inc., hasn't yet returned a phone call from Public Eye placed earlier this morning.

This week, in an interview with The Province's Ian Bailey, former provincial cabinet minister Joyce Murray confirmed what we had already anticipated - that she's "considering a bid to become Vancouver Quadra's Liberal candidate in the next federal election." This, after parliamentarian Stephen Owen announced his retirement from politics. But, notwithstanding Ms. Murray's enthusiasm for that job, the party's local constituency association executive will be setting up a candidate search committee this coming Thursday to recruit a few more good women to run in the upcoming nomination race.

Forest and Range Minister Rich Coleman was hobnobbing with ice rink royalty last Wednesday. One of our astute readers spotted him in the Orca Bay box at General Motors Place, socializing with National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman. Asked whether he gave Mr. Bettman any advice about the management of the league, Minister Coleman laughed and said, "I don't know whether he would have taken it anyway. I just asked him what he thought of the league 15 years later - because he's been the commissioner for 15 years - and whether he was satisified. And his remark is he's never satisfied." Also in the box were Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Bill Barisoff and Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini.

Your humble organ is making the transition from a PC to a Mac. As a result, expect somewhat fewer postings over the next week.

Last month, Mayor Sam Sullivan community relations director resigned "to take on a new opportunity in the private sector." And the hunt is now underway to find a replacement for Anna Lilly. Chief of staff Daniel Fontaine fired the starting pistol this morning, in an email encouraging friends and fellow travellers to beat the bushes for anyone who might be interested in becoming the mayor's next communications director. The following is a complete copy of that email.

------ Forwarded Message
From: "Fontaine, Daniel"
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:51:07 -0800
Conversation: CAREER OPPORTUNITY - Director of Communications, Office of the Mayor
Subject: CAREER OPPORTUNITY - Director of Communications, Office of the Mayor

Dear Friends,

As many of you might have heard, the Mayor's Director of Community Relations will be leaving our office on Friday, Feb 23. If you are aware of anyone who might be interested in our new Director of Communications position, can you please have them send a cover letter and resume to mayorjobposting@vancouver.

The closing date for applications is on Wednesday, Feb 28th at 5 pm.

Please have anyone applying for the position indicate in their cover letter that you have referred them to the Mayor's Office.

I have posted a link to the job description: http://www.mayorsamsullivan.ca/career-opportunity-join-the-mayors-.html.

Thanks for all your help.
cheers

Daniel Fontaine
Chief of Staff
Mayor of Vancouver