June 2008 Archives

Rising opposition to British Columbia's carbon tax reminds me of the story of the politician who, upon seeing an angry mob go by, turns to a friend and says, "Gee, I must find out where they are going so I can lead them there." We simply haven't seen this magnitude of opportunistic populist pandering on the part of various politicians, commentators and interest groups since the Meech Lake Accord. I half expect Preston Manning to leap out from behind a curtain and yell "boo."

Last week, former community services minister Ida Chong was promoted to become the Campbell administration's technology, trade and economic development minister. But her new responsibility for the government's Asia-Pacific Initiative is also newsworthy. The reason: the Liberals have been allocating significant resources toward that intiative since it was rolled out in April, 2007. For example, in October, the government announced its intention to solicit proposal to plan and design an Asia Pacific Business Centre. It has also retained or is retaining contractors to represent the province's trade and investment interests in India and Korea. And the government recently closed a competition to hire a new assistant deputy minister to lead economic development's Asia Pacific division.

Earlier this month, former Vincor International Inc. president and chief executive officer Don Triggs was appointed a BC Hydro Corp. director. According to a biography provided by the government's board resourcing and development office, Mr. Triggs, a former Brock University trustee and Ivey Business School governor, has been "presented with a number of prestigious awards" including honourary doctorate degrees from Brock and Ryerson University. But what that biography doesn't mention is his relationship with former small business and revenue minister Rick Thorpe. So we will. In June 2001, The Vancouver Sun's Gillian Shaw reported Mr. Triggs was the senior partner in Mr. Thorpe's former winery. Commenting on that partnership, the legislator was quoted as saying Mr. Triggs "had a vision, he had leadership. He believed that if we decided where we wanted to go and worked as a team, why couldn't we do as well as the Americans, the Chileans, and the New Zealanders, and we did." In 2006, we reported on Mr. Thorpe long-standing association with Vincor.

Despite the premier's belief in the doctrine of subsidiarty, the Campbell administration hasn't always respected the autonomy of local governments in British Columbia. For example, in 2006, the administration mandated that all new municipal capital projects receiving provincial funding will have to be reviewed by Parnterships British Columbia if they cost more than $20 million. And, in 2003, passed a law giving the province the power to overrule local decisions that constrain the development of projects deemed to be provincially significant. So critics of that legislation will be delighted to know Blair Lekstrom, the new minister of community development, actually voted against the Significant Projects Streamlining Act.

This morning, on Public Eye Radio, British Columbia Association for Child Development and Intervention provincial advocate Bruce Sandy discusses the transfer of services for adults with developmental disabilities to the ministry of social development. Rick Peterson talks about running for the provincial Liberal nomination in Vancouver-Fairview. And Blair Lekstrom shares his thoughts on being the Campbell administration's new minister of community development. Also on the show: our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Bob Russell, Alex Tsakumis and Allan Warnke - debate 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 or leave a comment below.

This morning, on Public Eye Radio, 24 hours columnist Bill Tieleman discusses his opposition to Premier Gordon Campbell's carbon tax. Vancouver city planning commissioner Michael Klassen talks about his support for that tax. And retiring Bulkley Valley-Stikine legislator Dennis Mackay shares his thoughts on eight years in provincial politics. Also on the show: our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Bob Russell, Alex Tsakumis and Allan Warnke - debate 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 or leave a comment below.

This morning, on Public Eye Radio, Saanich Civil League chair Sher Morgan discusses her initiative to get more people involved in municipal government and elections. Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows legislator Michael Sather talks about his decision to leave provincial office to run locally. And our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Bob Russell, Alex Tsakumis and Allan Warnke - debate 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 or leave a comment below.

This morning, on Public Eye Radio, New Democrat legislators Harry Bains and Leonard Krog discuss the results of our investigation into The Progressive Group. Washington Forest Law Centre managing attorney Peter Goldman talks about an alleged foresty industry slush fund south of the border. And our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Eleanor Gregory, Bob Russell, and Allan Warnke - debate 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 or leave a comment below.

Mark Jiles, the president of The Progressive Group, says his firm "has consistently and correctly followed the requirements" of the Lobbyists Registration Act. The statement, which was issued Friday, comes after Public Eye obtained documents from the State of Washington in which Progressive claims to have helped win major government contracts and benefits on behalf of powerful foreign and business interests.

Earlier this week, Public Eye exclusively obtained documents from the State of Washington in which The Progressive Group boasts of having helped win major government contracts and benefits of powerful corporate and foreign interests. But what's also astonishing is that those documents - in their entirety - were delivered to us just eight days after Public Eye requested those documents from the state.

Speaking with The National's Peter Mansbridge on Monday, former federal New Democrat leader Alexa McDonough said the Tories and the Grits "don't take seriously that it matters whether women are elected or not. They love to trot out a particular high-profile woman from time to time. They don't have a problem saying women we're so important we're going to appoint them and absolutely crush the democracy - the democratic grassroots process in a riding. But they don't take it seriously in overall terms." Crushing democracy, eh? So would that include setting aside 40 percent of the New Democrat's non-incumbent ridings for women and other affirmative action candidates? Or how about using heavy-handed tactics to ensure that policy is put into place? Just askin'!

The provincial New Democrats will be asking the lobbyists registrar to investigate if Patrick Kinsella and Mark Jiles should have registered as lobbyists for some of their clients. This, after Public Eye uncovered claims by The Progressive Group that the company has helped win major government contracts and benefits for powerful corporate and foreign interests over the past five years.

Today, in 24 hours, Public Eye published the results of an exclusive investigation into statements by The Progressive Group that the firm has helped win major government contracts and benefits on behalf of powerful foreign and business interests. Progressive's chairman is Patrick Kinsella, who headed the provincial Liberal's election campaigns in 2001 and 2005. And it's president is Mark Jiles, Premier Gordon Campbell's former constituency campaign manager. The investigation was the result of documents obtained via an access to information request with Washington State. The following are links to parts one, two, three, four, five and six of those documents.

Patrick Kinsella, an architect of the provincial Liberals' election success, has apparently been reaping the benefits of his close relationship with the Campbell administration. His firm, The Progressive Group, has helped win major government contracts and benefits for powerful corporate and foreign interests over the past five years - although Mr. Kinsella has never personally registered as a lobbyist for any of those clients.

This morning, on Public Eye Radio, provincial New Democrat House Leader Mike Farnworth discusses the spring legislative session. And journalist and activist Murray Dobbin shares his thoughts on corporate sponsorship at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. Also on the show: our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Bob Russell, Alex Tsakumis and Allan Warnke - debate 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 or leave a comment below.