Earlier today, Public Eye broke the news that North Vancouver school board chair Chris Dorais had been charged with driving with a blood alcohol level above .08 on March 8 - nine months ago. In an interview yesterday afternoon, Mr. Dorais - who is contesting the charge - told us, "I'm not hiding it," when asked if he felt he had an an obligation to let constituents know about the incident. "If it was impacting my job, then certainly I would have an obligation. But it hasn't. And I don't see it ever impacting my job." But, in a written statement posted on his Website, Mr. Dorais now says, "Although I had hoped to resolve this matter privately, and I am confident in the grounds for my decision to contest the charge, I realize that my responsibility to the public is not only professional, it is also personal. I regret the decision I made not to address this matter publicly, and with my colleagues, sooner. For that, I sincerely apologize."

A spokesman for ING Canada Inc. says top provincial Liberal backroom operative Patrick Kinsella - who has never registered as a lobbyist - worked as a "consultant" for the insurance giant. The spokesman says Mr. Kinsella, while working for the company, attended an April 11, 2007 meeting with then solicitor general John Les, along with an ING executive.

Under the Lobbyists Registration Act, consultant lobbyists are required to sign-up if they, for pay, communicate with an office holder in an attempt to influence government - although there are some exceptions to that rule.

Mr. Kinsella has previously denied ever lobbying the government he was instrumental in electing. ING corporate communications vice-president Gilles Gratton was unable to say what kind of work Mr. Kinsella was doing for the company, which is part of multinational financial services firm ING Groep N.V.

"The only thing I can tell you is we've used the services of his firm on a number of occasions. Is he a lobbyist or not? I think that's not for me to decide if the nature of his services are lobbying or not."

"He's a consultant that we've used," Mr. Gratton continued. "I don't know the nature of the services that he provided."

Mr. Gratton also said he was unable to say what role Mr. Kinsella played during ING's meeting with Mr. Les, which took place at the premier's Vancouver office.

The topic of the meeting: "polling info" according to a calendar entry exclusively obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request.

Mr. Gratton said ING conducts polling on "consumer attitudes and behaviours" regarding insurance. And the entry states that information related to the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia - the province's publicly-owned auto insurance monopoly.

"We always believe that consumers' interests are better served when there is strong competition in the marketplace. And, as such, the situation with ICBC was discussed for sure," explained Mr. Gratton, when asked whether the company was looking for any specific policy changes. "I wasn't part of the discussion at the time. But, basically, if we can increase competition, we felt the interests of the consumer would be better served."

And was that meeting arranged by ING? "Probably most likely," Mr. Gratton responded. "I don't know if the minister approached us or not - what was the impetus, who made the initial call."

Nor could Mr. Gratton say what role Mr. Kinsella played at that meeting, which Mr. Les's senior aide Brian Sims was also scheduled to attend.

Government records show Mr. Kinsella and ING senior marketing and communications vice-president Alister Campbell - were also scheduled to attend a Feb. 1, 2006 meeting with Mr. Les and his junior aide Don Smukowich at the Globe@YVR restaurant. ING senior Western Canada vice-president Jetse de Vries was scheduled to be there as well.

Earlier this month, Mr. Kinsella refused to consent to a review of his interactions with the Campbell administration by the lobbyists registrar. The New Democrats have since asked the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to investigate – a request the force is still considering.

In a written statement issued five months ago, Mr. Kinsella's company - The Progressive Group - stressed it was "confident it has consistently and correctly followed the requirements" of the Lobbyists Registration Act.

Under the act, lobbyists don't have to register if they communicate about legislation or regulations in "direct response" to a "written request" from an office holder. Nor are they required to register if they communicate with an office holder about "the enforcement, interpretation or application" of an act or regulation. Other exceptions include communications concerning a constituent's "personal matter" or the "implementation or administration" of a "program, policy, directive or guideline."

Chris Dorais - who is running for re-election as a trustee - was charged with driving with a blood alcohol level above .08 on March 8, Public Eye has exclusively learned. He has pleaded not guilty. Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesperson Annie Linteau said Mr. Dorais' vehicle was stopped at 1:30 a.m. for excessive speeding while travelling westbound on Highway 1, west of Gaglardi Way. Const. Linteau said the officer who pulled Mr. Dorais over "formed the opinion that the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired."

Mr. Dorais provided a breath sample and was released on a promise to appear in court. He was given an administrative driving prohibition and his vehicle was towed.

Reached yesterday, Mr. Dorais didn't have any comment on the incident except to say he's disputing the charge.

Mr. Dorais, a Hospital Employees' Union representative who was first elected to the school board in 2002, added, "I'm not hiding it. If it was impacting my job, then certainly I would have an obligation" - to let constituents know about the charge. "But it hasn't. And I don't see it ever impacting my job."

Mr. Dorais's trial is scheduled for May 11, 2009 - six months after North Vancouverites vote on his re-election. His first court appearance was on June 17.

On October 14, former British Columbia Wildlife Federation president Carmen Purdy was re-appointed to the agricultural land commission for a one-year term ending December 1, 2009. The government's board resourcing and development office states Mr. Purdy is also a Nature Trust of BC director, founding president of the Kootenay Wildlife Heritage Fund and past president of the BC Conservation Foundation. But the office - as it often does - missed a detail. According to the Daily Bulletin's Gerry Warner, Mr. Purdy is one of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Bill Bennett's "closest friends and confidates." Commenting on his 2007 resignation as minister of state for mining, Mr. Purdy was quoted by Mr. Warner as saying the East Kootenay legislator, "is the strongest MLA we've ever had. He's a total working machine. He's done more for the hunting community in this province than any previous MLA."

Today, in an interview with Public Eye, Vancouver District Labour Council president Bill Saunders criticized the Christian Labour Association of Canada as being "an employer-dominated, conciliatory organization that doesn't serve the interests of workers." But, in an email response, association public affairs director Alex Pannu pushed back writing, "The comments by the V & D Labour Council about CLAC reflect the fundamental differences between CLAC and Old Labour."

"CLAC does not support political candidates. We don’t tell our members who to vote for and we don’t spend members’ dues on partisan political causes or candidates," Mr. Pannu continued. "With more than 50,000 members, CLAC is larger than any employer. We are Canada’s fastest growing union at a time of declining union membership among Old Labour unions. We serve CLAC workers by providing effective, responsive representation, negotiating excellent wages and benefits and spending members’ dues on services that they want such as free training."

"I look at this as a guy in a union getting support from members of other unions." That's what North Vancouver city council hopeful Rod Clark told us yesterday when asked about the Vancouver District Labour Council's decision to endorse his candidacy. But the union Mr. Clark belongs to - the Christian Labour Association of Canada - has a troubled relationship with the labour movement. In fact, in an interview with Public Eye, council president Bill Saunders Mr. Clark's association membership would "normally be kind of a killer. The trade union movement does not like CLAC. We do not consider it to be a true labour union. We consider it to be an employer-dominated, conciliatory organization that doesn't serve the interests of workers. But, having said that, that's the organization CLAC. According to Mr. Clark, he's just a member of CLAC because of where he works. And that's hard to hold against someone" - adding Mr. Clark isn't an association organizer.

"We support him because he was asked direct questions about issues of concern to our members and our affiliates - such as his position on transit. And it was his answers to those questions - and his recent record on those issues - that got him the endorsement. And it wasn't the fact that he happened to be a member of CLAC," continued Mr. Saunders. "We're trying not to hold it against him. We're not discriminating against the guy. Because it's something that's not in his control."

Mr. Saunders said council delegates also discussed Mr. Clark's past reported opposition to the deprivatization of garbage collection services in North Vancouver - along with his history of accusing local politicians who accept union donations of being in a conflict of interest. "But that affected CUPE. And CUPE is endorsing him" after having asked Mr. Clark about those issues. Mr. Saunders said it's his understanding Mr. Clark no longer supports privatized collection services. And if the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 389 is satisfied with his answers, said Mr. Saunders, "Who am I to disagree?"

Delegates voted to endorse Mr. Clark on October 21.

Premier Gordon Campbell's ten point economic plan was released just last week. But it didn't take long for provincial Liberal Vancouver-Fairview by-election candidate Margaret MacDiarmid to turn that plan - which was announced on taxpayer-funded television - into a political selling point. Her campaign has been hand-delivering a flyer promoting the plan, copying word-for-word sections a government news release. The flyer also encourages constituents to vote for Dr. MacDiarmid if they want a "strong economy." The following is a complete copy of the relevant portion of that document.

THE GOVERNMENT'S TEN-POINT PLAN FOR THE BC ECONOMY

On Wednesday, October 22, the Provincial Government released a ten-point plan to improve the province's economic competitiveness and reduce costs for families and business in the wake of the global economic slowdown.

For a Strong Economy, Vote for Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, BC Liberal, this Wednesday October 29

1. Unlimited deposit insurance for deposits to credit unions: The Province intends to provide unlimited deposit insurance protection on deposits to British Columbia's credit unions effective immediately.

2. A new pension opportunity: The Province will create a new private sector pension opportunity for British Columbians who currently have no access to a pension plan. About 75 per cent of private sector workers in B.C. currently have no access to a group pension plan.

3. An accelerated, retroactive personal income tax cut: There will be a five per cent personal income tax reduction retroactive to January 1, 2008. Taxpayers will see the retroactive benefit on their 2008 tax return. It will put an additional $144 million in the pockets of British Columbians.

4. School property tax rebate for industry: 50 per cent of all school property taxes will be rebated to light and heavy industry to help some of B.C.’s oldest and largest employers, particularly in rural British Columbia. It will save industry about $115 million over the next three years.

5. Accelerated tax relief for small business: Effective December 1, 2008 the small business income tax rate will be reduced to 2.5 per cent from the current 3.5 per cent. The savings to small business will be $146 million over three years.

6. Double commission paid to business for PST and HRT collection: The Province will double the commission it pays business for collecting the provincial sales tax and hotel room tax. That will provide more than 100,000 businesses with approximately $60 million over three years and add up to $1,200 to a business’s bottom line.

7. Accelerated public infrastructure: The Province will accelerate public investments in capital infrastructure projects. Funding will focus on projects without a long lead time that will keep people employed in our construction sector.

8. 33 per cent reduction in ferry fares for December and January: The Province will fund a 33 per cent reduction of ferry fares on all routes for December and January.

9. Rein in avoidable government spending: The Province will re-evaluate spending priorities and focus on scaling back unbudgeted increases.

10. Recall the Legislature: As a number of these measures require legislative approval, the Legislature will be recalled on November 20.

When last we reported on Suromitra Sanatani, the former Partnerships British Columbia corporate and government relations vice-president had been tasked with developing the government's Pacific Centre for Social Innovation. We haven't heard much about that centre since it was announced two years ago. But Ms. Sanatani, who once chaired the Coalition of British Columbia Businesses, has since left the provincial government and is now working as a strategic counsel for Heenan Blaikie LLP. According to her biography, Ms. Sanatani's areas of expertise include "government relations and procurement," along with "infrastructure and private-public partnerships."

In 2001, the provincial Liberal's New Era campaign platform promised a Campbell government would "establish service plans that include measurable performance standards and targets." But, in 2005 and 2007, legislators reported low usage of those service plan reports - which are released as part of the government's February budget cycle. This, according to a recently-released five year study by University of Victoria public administration professor Jim McDavid.

The reason: among New Democrats surveyed in 2007, the service plan reports were seen by some as giving "government an opportunity to gloss over risk issues." And, because the material used to prepare those reports isn't independently audited, opposition members felt they could "be inaccurate and verge of being market puff pieces." As a result, they expressed a desire for the reports to be "more detailed and broader in scope."

By comparison, Liberals wanted to make them "simpler - to make them easier to read, shorter, more like a report card so they are more accessible to the public." Indeed, according to backbenchers, service plans reports constitute "too much reading" for private members. And there was a concern, in 2005, that the bureaucrats preparing those plans "learn the game so well that they give you what they think you want which may not be reality."

But one view New Democrats and Liberal do share is this: the public is the least likely group to use the government's performance measures. That being said, though, opposition and government members also found value in those reports. New Democrats acknowledged they included "comprehensive reporting that isn't available elsewhere," serving as a "reference when needed." And, for their part, the Liberals said the reports make government more "business-like." The following is a complete copy of the executive summary of Prof. McDavid's report.

***

Findings from a five year study of legislator uses of performance reports in British Columbia

Executive Summary

This report tracks legislator uses of the annual Service Plan Reports in the BC government from 2003 through 2007. Three anonymous surveys (2003, 2005 and 2007) asked MLAs to what extent they found the Service Plan Reports useful for 15 different purposes. These 15 uses cluster into five themes: accountability uses; information uses; improving efficiency and effectiveness uses, policy decision-making uses; and budget decision-making uses.

Key Finding: The Gap Between Expected Uses and Actual Uses

Overall, a key finding from the three surveys is the pronounced gap between initial expectations and MLA assessments of the actual usefulness of the Reports. For Liberal Government MLAs overall, the declines from the 2003 survey of expected uses to the 2007 surveys of actual uses, ranged from 35.9% for communication uses to 56.0% for budgeting uses. When results for backbenchers and Cabinet members are separated, only one exception to the significant declines is evident: for communications uses of the annual Service Plan Reports, the decline for backbenchers was only 24.5% (from a mean of 3.65 to a mean of 3.0).

Among the five clusters of uses, accountability uses dropped the least for Cabinet ministers, and communication uses dropped least for non-Cabinet MLAs. What dropped the most were uses focused on improving efficiency and effectiveness, making policy decisions, and making budgeting decisions.

In 2007, the Members of the Opposition reported that they generally used the annual Service Plan Reports less that do Government MLAs. The once exception was the accountability cluster of uses: Opposition MLAs reported somewhat higher use levels.

Explaining the Gap: Were Expectations Realistic?

One way to address the gap is to ask whether expectations were realistic. Performance reporting is part of broader efforts to reform governments to make them more accountable, efficient and effective. Advocates for performance measurement and reporting tend to underestimate the challenges in designing and implementing performance measurement and reporting systems. Resolving the technical challenges of getting the right measures, collecting reliable and valid information, and writing good reports do not address the people problems - getting buy-in and ongoing commitment in situations where reporting performance results is risky for the bureaucracies and for the Government. As well, research points out that legislators are so pressed for time that reading lengthy reports is a low priority. Further, the incentives they have in their roles and responsibilities tend not to reward performance measurement and accountability work.

In sum, expectations may not have been realistic in the BC Government, when the service planning and service plan reporting process was implemented in 2002 and 2003. But aside from this issue, there is the question of how much actual use MLAs are reporting.

MLAs Report Low Levels of Uses in 2005 and 2007

In the figures and tables presented in this report, the actual use levels in 2005 and 2007 are low. On a five point scale describing the 15 possible uses, possible values range from "have not used at all" (a value of 1 on the scale) to "have used to a great extent" (a value of 5 on the scale). Many of the averages in 2005 and 2007 are closest to "have used a little bit" (a value of 2 on the scale). For Cabinet Members, four clusters of uses (information uses, efficiency and effectiveness uses, policy-making uses, and budgeting uses) are closest to "have used a little bit". The only exception is "accountability uses" which tends to be somewhat higher in 2005 and 2007. For non-Cabinet MLAs, the only exception to this pattern is "communication uses" which tend to be higher. For the Opposition in 2007, four of the five clusters of uses are closest to "have used a little" but two are actually below that level.

Liberal Government MLAs and Opposition MLAs See Legislators as the Top Users

In the 2007 survey, MLAs were asked to pick the top four user groups for the annual Service Plan Reports. The key similarities between Government and Opposition MLAs are:

* both Liberal Government and Opposition MLAs picked legislators as the group most likely to use the Reports;
* both sides picked the public as least likely to use the Reports; and
* both sides of the Legislature picked government executives as important users (perhaps because their involvement in preparing the Reports).

The biggest difference was the importance of the media: 55 percent of Government MLAs said the media would be among the top users compared to only 27 percent of the Opposition.

Service Plans are not Used More than Service Plan Reports

Also included in the 2007 survey was a question about uses of the Service Plans that are published each February as part of the budget cycle. When uses of the annual Service Plan Reports are compared to uses of the Service Plans, there are no big differences among Liberal Government MLAs or among Opposition MLAs. There are significant differences between Liberal Government and Opposition MLAs in their uses of the Service Plans - Opposition MLAs use them more for accountability purposes and Government Members use them more for communication and for improving service quality.

Legislator Suggestions for Improving the Reports

The surveys included several open-ended questions that provide suggestions for improving the usefulness of the reports.

One theme that emerged from Liberal MLA comments was to make them simpler - to make them easier to read, shorter, more like a report card so that they are more accessible to the public. This theme suggests that the reports need to be succinct and compelling. On the other hand, NDP Members of the Legislature wanted the reports to be more detailed and broader in scope. Clearly the two sides of the House had different views of how much detail was desirable.

Another theme related to making the reports more useful was to layer the reports - having a short, simple version that is widely available, backed up by longer and more detailed versions for different audiences, perhaps even with appendices. These themes are echoed in the literature that makes the point that different audiences require different reports. The information needs that legislators have will differ even among themselves, and those needs will be different from the public, and other stakeholders.

Given recent (2008) changes in the format and content of the annual Service Plan Reports - the reduction in the maximum number of measures from twelve to six for each ministry, the reports will be pitched at a higher level than was true prior to this change. These changes tend to support the view, consistent with the findings from Liberal MLAs, that the reports are a primarily a communications tool and a high level commitment to being accountable, and less an aid to improving efficiency and effectiveness, or making policy and budget decisions.

What Does All This Mean for MLAs and for the Government?

Assuming finite resources for performance planning and reporting, simplifying the service planning and reporting cycle could make it possible to better address the internal performance management needs of agencies. The literature points out that when performance results are reported externally, and particularly when they are subjected to external audits, public organizations tend to decouple the external performance measurement and reporting process from the rest of the work that they do. Concerns with reporting results that somehow might reflect badly on the agency mean that external performance reports become quite bland and sanitized and tend not to be used for internal performance management

If the goal of measuring results is to get them used, it may be that the key users are internal to the organizations themselves. To facilitate internal performance measurement, and managing using performance results, there may be a case for formally acknowledging that external reporting will continue to have high level accountability and communication uses, particular for Government MLAs, and devoting resources to building internal performance management capacity.

Two Suggestions for Changes

First, the limited uses of the annual Service Plan Reports suggest that it may be time to focus the reporting process so that they are more useful for communicating with constituents and other stakeholders. Government MLAs suggested that short, simple reports are important to them and should be the centerpiece of the process.

Second, the literature suggests that public performance reports have very limited utility as a decision-making resource for managing performance within public organizations. The process of reporting externally is risky, and in our Canadian federal and provincial governance system, there are inherent pressures to avoid reporting shortcomings. Managers need performance information they can use and trust to adjust the work they do - and as need be, learn from their mistakes. In the 2007 survey, there were several suggestions that the resources that go into the current system be re-assigned. One way to do that would be to support internal performance management more, and recognize that public reporting is different from managing performance.

Last week, the Vancouver District Labour Council announced endorsed former North Vancouver city councillor Rod Clark bid to return to local office. But the council's endorsement, along with that of Canadian Union Public Employees Local 389, may seem a bit odd to some.

* In a September 1999 interview with The Vancouver Sun's Glenn Bohn, the then former councillor claimed local politicians who accept union campaign donations are in a "moral conflict." And, as an example of how those donations have influenced city policies, he cited North Vancouver's decision to stop contracting out garbage collection services, giving those jobs to Canadian Union of Public Employees members. As a councillor, Mr. Clark - according to The Vancouver Sun's Karen Gram - voted against that deprivatization decision in 1991. Asked about that report, Mr. Clark told Public Eye he "supported a bid process" when the service contract came up for renewal. "And that didn't go ahead."

* In 1991, Mr. Clark accused his council colleagues Barb Sharp and Bill Bell of being in a conflict of interest when they voted to purchase a garbage truck. The reason: that truck would be used by members of the union that contributed to Mr. Bell and Ms. Sharp's election campaigns. This, according to report by Ms. Gram.

* In 1990, Ms. Gram reported Mr. Clark was considering running for the Socred nomination in North Vancouver-Lonsdale. And, last month, Mr. Bell - writing for the North Shore News - reminded readers about Mr. Clark's failed 1993 bid to win the federal Reform nomination in North Vancouver, where was defeated by future parliamentarian Ted White.

Asked about his union endorsements, Mr. Clark - who describes himself as a "fiscal conservative but very much in the centre politically - told Public Eye, "As far as me accepting CUPE and VDLC endorsement this time, I happen to be a member of a union. I'm a proud of member of something called CLAC - the Christian Labour Association of Canada. And I have been for a short-time now, so I look at this as a guy in a union getting support from members of other unions - that's all."

But what about his past accusations that those who accept union donations put themselves in a conflict of interest? "You read the article by Bill Bell. Okay. Fine. I shook my finger at him. And I told him he was wrong to take the money. We sent it to the lawyer and the lawyer sided with him."

"I know what you're trying to do," he continued. "You're trying to sell papers. And you're trying to paint me in a corner. I am a trade unionist. And I'm being supported by other members of the union."

But don't these endorsements suggest his values have evolved? "There's nothing inherently wrong with unions. They've done our country a great deal of good," he responded. "Maybe I have evolved. I don't know. But I can tell one thing - there's nothing wrong with what I'm doing."

According to British Columbia's pollsters, Premier Gordon Campbell isn't a vote-getter for the provincial Liberals. For example, an August Angus Reid Strategies Inc. survey found just 26 percent of respondents approve of him. And half say their opinion of Premier Campbell has worsened over past two month. But provincial Liberal Vancouver-Fairview by-election candidate Margaret MacDiarmid must be ignorant of those numbers. After all, a recent brochure promoting her candidacy lists the premier as the seventh among ten reasons to vote for the Liberals on Wednesday. Fancy that! The following is a complete copy of the text of that brochure.

Looking for ONE good reason to vote for the BC Liberals on October 29?

Here's 10

1. Lower taxes
The BC Liberals didn't just reduce taxes, they reduced them dramatically and now British Columbians enjoy among the lowest tax rates in all of Canada. And those most in need earning under $16,000 pay no income taxes at all.

2. Balanced budgets
After years of NDP deficit spending, the BC Liberals have passed fix consecutive balanced budgets and cut wasteful spending.

3. Improved health care
Thanks to a better economy, the BC Liberals have invested an additional $6 billion in BC's health care. It means you'll have access to more doctors and nurses and see a dramatic reduction in waiting time.

4. More affordable housing
The BC Liberals have tripled investment in housing and other intiatives aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness to over $400-million per year.

5. A cleaner environment
The most comprehensive environmental protection initiative in BC history. LiveSmart BC promotes smart choices to save energy, water and fuel.

6. Safer neighbourhoods
The BC Liberals have enacted policies to track and prosecute online predators and violent crimes have reduced throughout BC.

7. Premier Gordon Campbell
As Premier, Gordon Campbell has shown the leadership and determination to turn our economy around," the brochure tells constituents. "Building on those results, he has the vision to tackle the challenges we face today and tomorrow.

8. Better public transportation
Investing $14-billion in the Provincial Transit Plan to build new rapid transit, rapid buses, and purchase 1,500 new clean energy buses.

9. Improved education
The BC Liberals have increased per student funding to its highest level in history, added 25,000 new post-secondary spaces, and recently created five new universities.

10. Job growth
After a decade of job losses, BC has created over 430,000 new jobs since 2001. We now enjoy one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.

There's a chance the provincial New Democrats could lose the by-election in Vancouver-Fairview. But they should win the by-election in Vancouver-Burrard, which was narrowly held by Liberal Lorne Mayencourt in 2005. The New Democrats are running headlining Coalition of Progressive Electors park board member Spencer Herbert as their candidate in that riding. Mr. Herbert, who is openly gay, was voted "one of Vancouver's three best politicians" in 2007 by Georgia Straight readers and an "Unsung Hero" in 2008 by WestEnder readers. And he should receive heavy support from Vancouver-Burrard's queer community.

Of course, Liberal candidate Arthur Griffiths is equally if not better known to voters, being the former owner of the Vancouver Grizzlies and Canucks. And his business background may appeal to residents of the riding's upscale and growing Yaletown and Coal Harbour neighbourhoods.

But that background is also a liability, having been notably savaged by The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer. In a column published back in May, Mr. Palmer reminded readers how Mr. Griffiths "got over his head financially in the mid-'90s and lost the family sports empire - hockey team, basketball team, stadium - to Seattle billionaire John McCaw."

Mr. Griffiths will also, undoubtedly, be weighed down by the Liberal's recent political troubles - which have put the party three percentage points behind the New Democrats. This, according to an August survey by Angus Reid Strategies Inc. The announcement of Premier Gordon Campbell's ten point economic plan last week could give some buoyancy to the Liberals' poll numbers. But it might not be enough to prevent Mr. Griffiths' candidacy getting deep-sixed on Wednesday.

Freedom of information requests filed by Public Eye and The Tyee's Andrew Macleod show Mark Jiles attended and arranged scheduled meetings with provincial public office holders on behalf of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. Those interactions happened prior to The Progressive Group president registering as a lobbyist for the association. And, according to association business manager Tina Coleman, they also happened before Progressive was hired by the car dealers in late 2007. So what's going on? Well, yesterday, we asked former car dealers' president and chief executive officer Glen Ringdal - who was scheduled to attend those meetings - about the matter. His response, in part: "I usually didn't need someone to set up my meetings for me. I know my way around there pretty good."

That being said, when asked about the specifics of Mr. Jiles and Progressive's relationship with the association, Mr. Ringdal said, "I can't remember. My head is so far gone away from that stuff, I just can't remember it...Honestly, I just don't want to say something because if I say it it will become a fact. And I honestly just don't remember."

In a written statement issued five months ago, Progressive stressed it was "confident it has consistently and correctly followed the requirements" of the Lobbyists Registration Act. Under the act, consultant lobbyists are required to sign-up if they, for pay, communicate with an office holder in an attempt to influence government - although there are some exceptions to that rule. But consultants must always register if they, for pay, arrange a meeting with an office holder and another "person."

Earlier, we reported Mark Jiles was scheduled to attend a "New Car Dealers meeting" on September 7, 2006 with Solicitor General John Les and then motor vehicles superintendent Mark Medgyesi. But Mr. Jiles - the president of The Progressive Group - wasn't by himself. The name of another person scheduled to attend that meeting was edited out because government deemed it outside the scope of our freedom of information request. But last week - at our request - government gave us an unedited copy of that calendar entry. And it shows that person was Glen Ringdal - the then president and chief executive officer of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C.

At the time the meeting took place, Mr. Jiles wasn't registered as a lobbyist for the association. In fact, car dealers' business manager Tina Coleman says Progressive wasn't hired by the association "until sometime in late 2007."

In a written statement issued five months ago, Progressive stressed it was "confident it has consistently and correctly followed the requirements" of the Lobbyists Registration Act. Under the act, consultant lobbyists are required to sign-up if they, for pay, communicate with a public office holder in an attempt to influence government - although there are some exceptions to that rule. But consultants must always register if they, for pay, arrange a meeting with an office holder and another "person."

Ken Dobell made headlines in 2006 and 2007 after he violated the provincial Lobbyists Registration Act while serving the premier's special advisor. But don't count on his government consultant colleagues to make the same mistake. The reason: over the summer, the comptroller general asked deputy ministers to attach a notice to all government contracts reminding consultants of their responsibility to register as lobbyists if they "fall within the parameters" of the act. Mr. Dobell received an absolute discharge after pleading guilty to violating the legislation.

By-elections customarily favour the opposition, giving voters an opportunity to express their discontent with the government. Nevertheless, the New Democrat's chances of holding Vancouver-Fairview - which was represented by Liberal Gary Collins between 1996 and 2005 - are less than certain. Party candidate Jenn McGinn - a constituency association president and Vancity Credit Union community business banking account manager - isn't a headliner, having been mentioned in the press just seven times prior to announcing her by-election bid.

By comparison, her predecessor, Happy Planet Foods Inc. co-founder Gregor Robertson, received 16 mentions prior to making his bid for elected office and was recognized by The Globe and Mail's Report on Business Magazine in 2004 as one of Canada's Top Forty Under 40. And Ms. McGinn's Liberal competitor Margaret MacDiarmid is - as former president of the British Columbia Medical Association - no stranger to provincial and national media attention.

Moreover, Ms. McGinn's electability is questionable. In 2005, she ran as an unsuccessful Coalition of Progressive Electors park board candidate, coming in twelfth out of a field of 19 hopefuls. And her party's opposition to the Campbell administration's controversial carbon tax could hurt her with environmental voters - especially since Green leader Jane Sterk is also running in the by-election.

Still, Ms. McGinn's candidacy isn't a write-off. In August, Angus Reid Strategies Inc. found 41 percent of decided voters support the New Democrats, giving them a three percentage point lead over the Liberals. Of course, that was before Premier Gordon Campbell rolled out his ten point economic plan last week - which has received more laurels than darts in the media.

But that was one of the few favourable headlines the Campbell administration earned in recent weeks. Which means Ms. McGinn could find herself with a seat in the legislature when Vancouver-Fairview residents go to the polls on Wednesday.

Tomorrow morning, on Public Eye Radio, University of Victoria public administration professor Jim McDavid discusses his recent study of performance reporting in the provincial government. Stan Houston State University associate mass communications professor Marc Edge explains why Canwest Global Communications Corp.'s share price has been tanking. And our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Eleanor Gregory, Bob Russell and Allan Warnke - will 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.

Earlier, we reported Premier Gordon Campbell's former constituency campaign manager Mark Jiles attempted to arrange a meeting "on behalf of Glen Ringdal, Moray Keith and Henning Brasso of the New Car Dealers Association" with then Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman. This, according to an email sent by Mr. Jiles to Minister Coleman's senior aide on November 17, 2006. And now, The Tyee's Andrew MacLeod has obtained a similar November 26, 2007 email from The Progressive Group president that resulted in a scheduled meeting between New Car Dealers Association of B.C. representatives and finance assistant deputy minister Andy Robinson. At the time, Mr. Jiles wasn't registered as a lobbyist for the association - something that didn't happen until January 1, 2008.

In a written statement issued five months ago, Progressive stressed it was "confident it has consistently and correctly followed the requirements" of the Lobbyists Registration Act. And, in an interview, association business manager Tina Coleman said the strategic communications firm wasn't hired by the association "until sometime in late 2007." Under the act, consultant lobbyists are required to sign-up if they, for pay, arrange a meeting with a public office holder and another "person."

Premier's Gordon Campbell former deputy minister and special advisor Ken Dobell continues to remain active in his retirement. According to The Whistler Question's Jennifer Miller, Mr. Dobell - lobbying firm Hill and Knowlton Canada Ltd.'s British Columbia chair - has been named to a volunteer steering committee that will be updating Whistler's long term financial plan. Mr. Dobell is also a Vancouver 2010 Olympic organizing committee board member.

Guess who's been working for Sarah Palin? Why, it's none other than former British Columbia attorney general Geoff Plant. According to the provincial lobbyists registry, Mr. Plant has been lobbying the British Columbia government since July on behalf of the Alaska governor's office. The subject matter: the Alaska gas pipeline project. Mr. Plant signed up to contact Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Rich Neufeld, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations Joan McIntyre and Premier Gordon Campbell.

Tonight, at 6:15, Premier Gordon Campbell will deliver a 15-minute address on the state of the economy. That address will be broadcast live on Hansard television, the channel whose programming customarily consists of British Columbia's legislative debates. So who's responsible for the decision to allow the premier's address to be aired on Hansard, which receives its funding from the provincial legislature? Well, that would be Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Bill Barisoff's office - who earlier also saw fit to appoint a Liberal campaigner to the supposedly non-partisan electoral boundaries commission. The speaker's office hasn't responded to an inquiry as to what criteria was used to make that broadcast decision.

Earlier this month, top provincial Liberal backroom boy Patrick Kinsella refused to "consent to any investigation" of his interactions with the Campbell administration by the lobbyists registrar. In this matter, Mr. Kinsella was represented by his counsel, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP partner Paul Cassidy. But Mr. Cassidy is best known as "one of Canada's leading environmental lawyers." According to his biography, Mr. Cassidy's "practice is a combination of regulatory, corporate/commercial and litigation work carried on for clients across North America in the energy, natural resources (mining and forestry) and manufacturing sectors." He is also co-chair of the Canadian Environmental Law Forum and a governor of the British Columbia Business Council.

Over the summer, the British Columbia Medical Association notified its Vancouver members that former president Margaret MacDiarmid would be running for the provincial Liberal nomination in Vancouver-Fairview. But, in an interview with Public Eye, sitting president Bill Mackie said the association wasn't showing favouritism toward Dr. MacDiarmid - who won that nomination - or the Liberals by sending that email.

"We have supported other doctors that have been NDP members. So it's an equal opportunity kind of thing," said Dr. Mackie - citing former New Democrat legislators Tom Perry and Barb Copping as examples. "Each one is a one off type of thing. But, as a policy, we support doctors running for political office. And we do so in a non-partisan way."

"It's been the stand of the medical association to do that," he continued. "So it's not related to (Dr. MacDiarmid) being past, past president. In fact, she has very little role in the association right now. But, as an association, we have a mandate to encourage doctors to take a political stand and be active."

The following is a complete copy of the aforementioned email.

From:
Date: August 12, 2008 3:57:20 PM PDT (CA)
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Dr Margaret MacDiarmid

To All District 3 Members

This notice is to inform you that past-president, Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, will be running for the provincial Liberal nomination in the Vancouver-Fairview Riding (previously held by Mr. Gregor Robertson).

For more information you can visit her website at: www.margaret4fairview.com

Thank you.

The province's child protection watchdog has been sharply critical of the ministry of children and family development and its compliance with the Hughes Review's recommendations. But can Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond count on social service agencies to publicly validate those criticisms? Perhaps not. An internal survey conducted by the Federation of Child and Family Services of British Columbia found its members were generally satisfied with the group's direction. But one survey respondent complained about a lack of advocacy on behalf of the federation, noting "the voice of the fed is increasingly like the chamber of commerce for social service agencies - self interested." In fact, just 25 percent of respondents highlighted advocacy as a priority for the federation. By comparison, 57 percent highlighted operational sustainability and 48 percent highlighted wages and benefits equity.

Asked about the matter, federation executive director Jennifer Charlesworth said, "That was the only comment we got like that" among the 91 respondents. "And there were lots of others that said that people appreciated the new wave of advocacy that we were doing - which was, instead of beating people with a stick, drawing the lines in the sand very clearly and working with people as much as possible but making it clear there would be points at which we would stand up and speak out in order to do the right thing."

Continued Ms. Charlesworth, "We've been really clear about where the lines in the sand are. And we've been really clear recently where some have been crossed over. And we're preparing to say, 'Okay, so the lines have been crossed. Now what. Where are we going to take this? How are we going to do it?' And picking our issues strategically so we can actually affect some change rather than some reaction behind closed doors."

The following is complete copy of the aforementioned survey.

***

Federation of Child and Family Services
Member Survey
Overview of 2008 Results

INTRODUCTION

In early 2008, the Federation of Child and Family Services undertook a survey of all of its 100 full member agencies. The return rate on the survey was a remarkable 91%. What the survey clearly exposes, is the enormous array of services and supports provided to the citizens of British Columbia through these community-based social services agencies, what stresses they are under as they cope with a host of pressures, and the remarkable commitment and resiliency of the sector in finding ways to cope and continue to extend services. Additionally, the survey exposes weaknesses in the sector such as the current funding model and the significant challenges in finding and retaining qualified staff. Overall, the survey supports the role that the Federation plays in representing the sector and providing added value to the members.

PART ONE: AGENCY SERVICES

Perhaps the most surprising finding about the services provided by member agencies is just how broad the scope of programming is. As expected, many agencies provide services such as parenting supports (76%), family support services (74%), youth justice (59%), youth services (58%), community capacity building (57%) women's services (23%) community living services (29%) addiction services (children and youth) (29%), mental health services (children and youth) (29%), employment services (27%) and housing/ housing supports (26%). Additionally, a host of other programs are also provided in varying degrees to children, adults and families such as FASD and autism services, food banks and thrift stores, Social/recreation programs, adult mental health, respite, adoption support, services to sexually exploited youth, crisis lines, Christmas hampers, meals on wheels, elder abuse, food security, transportation, services to new immigrants, mentoring programs, and child care resource and referral. The list goes on.

What this demonstrates is that although most agencies have a significant child and family focus, the ‘family' is considered in a much broader context by many agencies, so that a support service to senior citizens, for example, is not at odds with other supports to families and may, in fact contribute to a more holistic approach to the needs of a particular family. In total, member agencies served 312,131 persons in 2007.

Currently, approximately 60% of agencies are accredited and 39% are unionized. Interestingly, a number of agencies manage a complex labour relations environment with some staff unionized in one or two different unions while having other staff outside the union.

PART TWO: AGENCY FUNDING

In the survey, 79 agencies reported being funded a total of $236,245,380. Of this amount, 54% was funded through MCFD. Other key funders included, the Federal Government, Community Living BC, health authorities, United Way, municipalities, BC Housing, fundraising and other ministries such as the Ministry of Community Services. The extensive variety of programs offered by multi-service agencies via different funders may be partly indicative of a desire to decrease financial vulnerability by spreading the risk to several different funders.

"We are always chasing money to keep a float which causes staff to feel uncertain about future programming."

When asked about financial challenges, most agencies reported issues with sustainability related to operational and administrative costs. Many of these are the same issues raised through the survey on this issue in 2007. The problems have emerged because government contracts have not addressed inflationary costs for many years, leaving agencies to try to manage these increases year to year through administrative cuts, fund-raising and changes to programs. Increases in audit fees, information technology, accreditation, lease costs, food costs, and now, importantly, energy costs, including the price of gas, are so significant that some agencies are facing program cutbacks and some suggest that agency viability may be in question.

"Bottom line would be closure, staff burnout from very little or no time off, increased sick leave from employees, higher benefit costs."

"Worst case scenario would be to fold."

The issues are exacerbated in rural communities where gas increases are making it very difficult to continue to provide services requiring extensive travel.

"Rural areas are underfunded, maintenance of building are the same as in larger communities, wages, merc's and operation expenses are the same as in larger communities. The rural formula does not work!"

High staff turnover, costs related to recruitment and lack of funding for training or other extras to retain staff are also constant pressures. A number of agencies anticipate the loss of Federal CAPC (ECD) funding and the possible loss of employment program funding as these programs are devolved to the provinces. As well, there is some trepidation that funding will be redirected away from their agencies to Aboriginal agencies, further compromising their capacity to deliver services. Some agencies have noted that they may have to stop running some programs altogether due to funding limitations.

"We are spending more than budgets allow – we are examining costs associated with residential services and may have to withdraw from providing some of these services."

"I believe we will evolve into truly charitable organizations with only a few Mother Theresa's working with the increasing number of homeless, hungry and mentally ill."

Agencies discussed many of the strategies they have pursued in order to continue to provide services in the face of severe budget problems. Most involve cutting back on administrative costs, but also in important areas like training. Many have had to lay off staff and curtail programs. A number have indicated establishing more vigorous fundraising programs.

PART THREE: STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

The 73 agencies that completed the staffing section of the survey employ 2,626 full time employees, 1,206 part time employees and 982 active casual employees. These cross the full range of social service and administrative jobs including child and youth care workers, social workers, early childhood educators, youth justice workers, counsellors, therapists, nurses, educational assistants and various managers and administrators. If we extrapolate from these responses we can estimate that 6600 staff are employed by federation full member agencies.

In addition, 7,562 volunteers contributed 303,337 hours of work for the 73 reporting agencies. It is estimated that all Federation member agencies benefit from the talents of over 10,300 volunteers and over 410,000 volunteer hours. These volunteers contribute across the whole spectrum of agency activity from the boardroom to maintenance, advocacy to peer counselling. Although some agencies indicate that they don't have the capacity to manage a proper volunteer program, it's hard to imagine how most of these agencies would continue to operate without dedicated volunteers contributing millions of dollars worth of their time and energy.
Fifty-one percent of agencies responded that it is getting harder to retain staff, 64% reported that it is now more challenging to recruit staff than in the past, and 81% anticipate this to be a big issue in the future. Agencies report fewer qualified applicants applying for positions which do not offer competitive wages.

"Way fewer applicants, then when you go through them, you hope that at least one of them have at least some of the qualifications you were advertising for."

Retention is becoming more and more difficult as other community based operations have much higher wage grids. This story was repeated over and over.

"Our contract values are so low we can not compete with salaries paid by Interior Health and MCFD for identical work. We have has 2 staff recruited by Interior Health and one by the Government of Alberta. Additionally people who want to work at the agency for lifestyle reasons have had to decline because they can not afford to live on the wages we can offer."

"More difficult [to] retain counsellors in the addictions programs as Northern Health will hire them for about $10.00 more with a pension."

Smaller, isolated communities report a particularly difficult time attracting employees due to a lack of available qualified staff to choose from as well as a lack of capacity to cover relocation costs. Higher gas prices are also a factor in rural areas.

"Harder to find qualified personnel willing to work for the wage we offer, especially as we live in an isolated area and positions are often part-time -- people will not re-locate for this."

The emerging issue related to recruitment and retention is complex and not easily resolved. Repeatedly agencies reported two key issues: wages and availability of qualified staff.

"Until non union wages are on par with union wages we will continue to have difficulty hiring and retaining qualified staff…"

"It will all require money, at least! We are also going to be increasingly challenged to hire people who speak different languages that match the immigrant/refugee population in the community and who are qualified to do the work."

"Older workers are leaving the field and younger employees require much training and orientation. We just can't pay a living wage. Our admin staff shares a 1.6 position...this includes myself, business manager and reception/graphics, counsellor support, admin support (aka wonder woman) We are all seriously below our wage grid."

Without the timely hiring of staff, other issues emerge for the agency.

"We have lost substantial contracts due to our inability to fill positions, we may lose more contracts"

"The specialized nature of the work with children, youth and families who have very complex issues to deal with requires staff who possess special skill, patience, commitment, and positive enthusiastic personality."

"If we cannot successfully address this issue then there will be a huge snowball effect, staff will be denied time off, staff will get tired and sick, staff will be removed from work by their physicians or employees will look for a less stressed environment to work, leading to a lack of coverage for time off, stability and services to clients will be affected."

Agencies recognize that they face an enormous problem and are thinking about what they must do to try to ameliorate the problem.

"The pool of available talent is lean. We have to find creative ways of making the organization more attractive to prospective employees. We have to interface more effectively with the institutions that are training these individuals. We have to create the capacity to support practicum applications from those same institutions."

PART FOUR: FEDERATION MEMBERSHIP SERVICES & BENEFITS

The Federation of Child and Family Services has been in operation for 26 years. 58% of its members have been in the organization for more than 10 years and a further 15% for 6 to 10 years. In itself, this speaks to a solid commitment to the Federation and its value. Networking and information-sharing (e.g. general meetings) were cited by 71% of respondents as a reason for joining. Sixty eight percent cited the collective strength and increasing ‘voice' of the sector as reasons for joining the Federation, while 59% cited access to information, such as media and government policy updates and 43% cited access to benefits and services e.g. insurance.

A series of questions were asked about what the membership found to be the most useful of Federation activities. The following percentages reflect aspects of the responses in key areas:

Activity (Valuable,extremely valuable/OK/Not so Valuable)

Media Clippings (41%/34%/25%)
Weekly News (42%/40%/18%)
Website (18%/38%/44%)
Gov't Info (82%/13%/5%)
ED & Board Communications (69%/28%/3%)
General Provincial Meetings (69%/21%/10%)
Regional Meetings (60%/18%/22%)
Education and Training (45%/33%/22%)
General Insurance (36%/8%/56%)
Health and Disability (43%/11%/38%)
Advocacy (75%/20%/5%)
Special Research and Reports (73%/26%/1%)
Sector leadership (82%/18%/0%)
Specific Initiatives (69%/22%/8%)

The Federation generally received positive feedback about how it is doing overall. Quotes such as "It keeps getting better each year -- thanks, and please stay the course!" or "Again, thanks for the excellent leadership and sensitive balance in building good working relationships with government while at the same time advocating strongly for the sector. Much appreciated!" or "I receive significant value as does our agency", were sprinkled throughout the comments section.

There were very few comments which indicated a degree of dissatisfaction with the current direction such as:

"One of the reasons listed in the past would have been advocacy and systemic change which is not here - the voice of the fed is increasingly like the chamber of commerce for social service agencies - self interested";

However, most comments focussed on how the Federation could enhance directions already established. One of the more common themes was that the Federation needs to move past any singular focus on MCFD. The following are examples of the suggestions members made with respect to moving forward:

"The federation could play a stronger role in fostering more effective working relationships between these member organizations to counteract the tendency toward fragmentation in what is often perceived to be an environment of limited resources."

"Increase profile and focus of the work of the Federation across Ministries, i.e. less emphasis on MCFD."

"Every year each of our not for profit members have new board members go on to our boards. Many of them have no governance expertise in this sector. If we could position ourselves like the UBCM as the place to attend and get the training needed in leadership of your agency that would be great. Cost is a factor--maybe the province would see that this would be a benefit to the stability of sector. Connecting with the federal funders so they see the Fed the group to go to in BC--like we have with the province."

"… promote the value of the sector at a provincial level, profiling the work of its non-profit member agencies emphasising its community governance roots and giving voice to its key constituents, those who benefit from the services."

"Maybe we should do a piece in the employment section of Vancouver Sun on working in the field...."

"Work hard on the salary and benefits parity in the sector. Work hard on contract improvements."

"Increase information about developments in funding world and how to take advantage of such opportunities. Increase 'real' information about government initiatives. Ministry speak is not informative in and of itself. Mobilize the membership to challenge the funder through a variety of means."

"Advocating for realistic core and operating costs as well as closer wage parity with government counsellors and therapists is high on my list. We are a rural agency and quite isolated. We pay high costs in travel to serve clients, have no service clubs to raise money for things such as building upkeep so core costs increases are also relevant for us. Regional training opportunities such as Justice Institute would be great!!"

The Federation received interesting feedback on the content and timing of both provincial and regional meetings which will assist in future planning and several priorities for action were highlighted by the respondents.

PART 5: PRIORITIES The following priorities were highlighted by members for Federation attention:

* Operational sustainability – 57%
* Wages and benefits – equity – 48%
* Government relations – 38%
* Recruitment and Retention – 38%
* Promising Practices Research – 38%
* Advocacy – 25%
* Aboriginal transitions – 15%

CONCLUSION

The scope and contributions of the community social services sector are huge and were only hinted at through this survey. The value of the Federation of Child and Family Services to help to focus issues for the sector at a provincial level was clearly described in the survey and there were some excellent suggestions made in regards to enhancing the services and capacity of the Federation. Clearly, the sector is under considerable financial strain. Feedback from this survey will inform the Federation as it develops strategies to address this and other important concerns.

Earlier this month, a national payday loan company executive told us top provincial Liberal backroom boy Patrick Kinsella did lobbying work for his firm. Mr. Kinsella has never registered as a lobbyist for that company - or any other. But The Cash Store Financial Services Inc. isn't the only organization with a stake in how British Columbia regulates the payday loan industry. Among them: the Canadian Payday Loan Association. And it's representatives - including association president Stan Keyes, Bishop & McKenzie LLP partner Norman Bishop, Fleishman-Hillard Canada Inc. senior vice president Mark Reder and Fleishman-Hillard Canada vice-president Stephanie Tan - have all registered to lobby the Campbell administration.

In the past, Mr. Kinsella has repeatedly denied ever lobbying the government he was instrumental in electing. And, according to a written statement issued by his company, The Progressive Group is "confident it has consistently and correctly followed the requirements of the Act," registering "each and every" time it communicates with public office holders on behalf of clients.

Under the Lobbyists Registration Act, consultant lobbyists are required to sign-up if they, for pay, communicate with a public office holder in an attempt to influence government - although there are some exceptions to that rule. But consultants must always register if they, for pay, arrange a meeting with an office holder and another "person."

Earlier this month, the provincial New Democrats asked the Mounties to investigate top Liberal backroom boy Patrick Kinsella. This, after Mr. Kinsella refused to consent to a review of his interactions with the Campbell administration by the lobbyists registrar. So what's the status of that request? In an interview with Public Eye yesterday, Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesperson Annie Linteau stated, "We've received a faxed copy of the complaint along with the supporting documents. And it's just being assessed right now by our commercial crime section who will then determine what the most appropriate course of action should be." Constable Linteau added she didn't have a timeline for how long that assessment would take, saying "It can certainly be involved. It can take some time."

Mr. Kinsella has never registered as a lobbyist. In the past, he has repeatedly denied ever lobbying the government he was instrumental in electing. And, according to a written statement issued by his company, The Progressive Group is "confident it has consistently and correctly followed the requirements of the Act," registering "each and every" time it communicates with public office holders on behalf of clients.

But a national payday loan company executive has told Public Eye his firm hired Mr. Kinsella to do lobbying work. Earlier records exclusively obtained by Public Eye also show Mr. Kinsella's strategic communications company has helped win major contracts and benefits for foreign and business interests. And those same records show Mr. Kinsella was scheduled to repeatedly meet with one government minister.

Under the act, consultant lobbyists are required to sign-up if they, for pay, communicate with a public office holder in an attempt to influence government - although there are some exceptions to that rule. But consultants must always register if they, for pay, arrange a meeting with an office holder and another "person."

In an October 2006 editorial published in The Vancouver Sun, Jane Morley acknowledged "some commentators" didn't like the "beyond blame" approach she took during her tenure as British Columbia child and youth officer - which ended in December of that year. And now Ms. Morley, who was appointed to the federal government's Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission on May 13, 2008, is once again making headlines. The reason: yesterday, the commission's chair resigned because, in his words, Ms. Morley and fellow commissioner Claudette Dumont-Smith were "unprepared to accept that the structure of the Commission requires that the TRC's course is to be charted and its objectives are to be shaped ultimately through the authority and leadership of its Chair."

According to Justice Harry LaForme, "Challenging the reality that they were appointed as providers of advice and assistance to the Chair, the two have chosen to compete for control of the Commission by insisting that it is to be run on the basis of simple majority rule...Efforts on my part and on the part of others to move the Commission away from their position toward one that would restore functionality and respect have been futile."

Earlier, we reported regulatory bodies representing architects and engineers in British Columbia sent a letter expressing concern about the government's controversial promise to allow the construction of five and six storey wood-frame buildings. But, in an interview with Public Eye, Architectural Institute of British Columbia professional practice director Michael Ernest said government "has been pretty good" about responding to those concerns - hiring "several firms separately to look at any number of issues that are in that letter." And, at the same time, the Campbell administration is consulting with a number of advisory groups that were formed following a September 17 stakeholder meeting. But is all this costly work even necessary? Is there a demand for six storey wood-frame buildings?

"Are we driving this? No. Are the engineers driving this, building officials driving this? No," responded Mr. Ernest. "This is what happens every once and a while where some authority - whether it's local, regional or, in this case, provincial or ocassionally national - will have a bright idea to do something that might make sense. And I don't mean that facetiously at all. And, professionally, since we're setup in the public interest, we need to respond."

"So you're right. We throw the resources at it," he continued. "The government itself, I'm sure, is spending money for the consultants. It's also spending its own staff resources. My sense of it is they're applying a lot of staff resources to this - and for the second time in a year. Because the Green Building Code is the predecessor. And it practically stripped a lot of their staff off of a lot of other things. So, yeah, you're observation there is reasonably astute."

"What's driving this? It's not us. What's driving it, in some respects, might be marketplace. But what's driving it is the wood products industry and small towns with losses of jobs all over the province. I don't have too much doubt that's what's driving this."

The Architectural Institute of British Columbia and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia have expressed concern about the government's controversial promise to allow the construction of five and six storey wood-frame buildings. In a letter sent to the government's building safety branch on July 18, the groups stated they would support that promised change if the government could address 15 issues related to the construction of such buildings. Among them: "fire safety," "structural and seismic issues," "wood shrinkage" and the likelihood of "higher environmental moisture loads" in six-storey wood-frame residences. That being said, the groups also warned "the compressed time-frame we are operating under increases the risk that some issues or solutions to problems will not be identified prior to the changes to the (BC Building) Code." The letter - which was sent prior to a September 17 stakeholder meeting - echoes earlier earthquake and fire concerns about such residences.

Earlier, we reported Wave Consulting Ltd. has been working for the provincial government since September 2007 on an "overall mental health plan" for British Columbia. According to records obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request, that plan won't be ready until December at the earliest. But that hasn't stopped the Campbell administration from making what Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman referred to as a "significant departure" in how it treats those with mental health problems - opening two new mental health facilities. Speaking with The Vancouver Sun's Jonathan Fowlie back in June, Minister Coleman said, "Some people would call it reinstitutionalization, and I don't actually argue with that."

In September 2007, the provincial government hired Wave Consulting Ltd. to develop and implement a new "overall mental health plan." At the time, the government stated that contract would be complete by August 31, 2008. But, according to records obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request, the end date for that supposedly "time sensitive project" has been extended to December 31, 2008. The reason: to allow for "final document preparation." The records also show Wave Consulting - whose principals include former women's equality and children and family development assistant deputy minister Dyan Dunsmoor, as well as Saanich school board chair and former deputy children's commissioner MaryLynne Rimer - will be paid a maximum of $210,000 for the contract.

In an interview this morning, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP senior partner Hector MacKay-Dunn confirmed he and former small business and revenue minister Rick Thorpe are chairing the provincial Liberal's election preparation efforts. Asked whether past campaign co-chair Patrick Kinsella has been involved in those efforts, Mr. MacKay-Dunn said, "I would have to say there's a whole lot of people that are involved. So I wouldn't preclude Patrick from that. But I'm not exactly sure what you mean. There are many, many people that are involved here in the campaign." So has Mr. Kinsella been involved with election preparations at a senior capacity? "Again, I think that's a question you should be asking Patrick," Mr. MacKay-Dunn responded. On October 5, CKNW paraphrased Premier Gordon Campbell as saying Mr. Kinsella isn't involved in the 2009 campaign.

Tomorrow morning, on Public Eye Radio, Victoria mayoral candidate Dean Fortin discusses the major ballot box issues in the upcoming civic election. And our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Eleanor Gregory, Bob Russell and Allan Warnke - will 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.