December 2008 Archives

This morning, on Public Eye Radio, British Columbia Teachers' Federation president Irene Lanzinger discusses the provincial government's so-called election gag law and her opposition to foundation skills assessment tests. And our rabble-rousing panel - Troy DeSouza, Sheila Orr, 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.

Just like those we cover, Public Eye will taking some time off to enjoy the holiday season over the next two weeks. So expect postings to be sporadic until then.

This morning, on Public Eye Radio, select standing committee on finance and government services chair Randy Hawes talks about a recommendation to hold the line on funding to independent officers of the legislature. Provincial New Democrat finance critic Bruce Ralston shares his thoughts on that recommendation. 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.

Since leaving broadcast journalism, Saanich South provincial Liberal nomination candidate Robin Adair has been perhaps best been known as WCG International Consultants Ltd.'s communications and government relations vice-president. But, in an interview with Public Eye, Mr. Adair confirmed he hasn't been with the company since October 31.

Jeremy Berland has joined children and youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond's office. According to a biography posted on the representative's Website, Mr. Berland will be leading "the development and implementation of a province-wide performance monitoring, research and evaluation strategy on B.C. child and youth serving systems." In 2006, Mr. Berland - who was then the province's child protection director - took a controversial government-funded, two-year secondment with the University of Victoria. At the time, provincial New Democrat critic Adrian Dix suggested the government - which was being scrutinized for its involvement in the death of toddler Sherry Charlie - was "scapegoating" Mr. Berland.

Lesley du Toit could be the deputy minister of children and family development a year longer than the government initially intended, Public Eye has learned. When she was first named to that post, her April 16, 2006 letter of appointment stated the South African would serve as the ministry's top bureaucrat "for a period not to exceed four years." But, in a letter dated December 1, 2008, the premier's deputy minister Jessica McDonald wrote, "I am very pleased to confirm your continued appointment as Deputy Minister, Children and Family Development, pursuant to the recent extension of your work permit. The term of this appointment cannot exceed the November, 2011 expiry date of this most recent work permit."

The provincial Liberals' powerful former campaign co-chair was repeatedly scheduled to meet with British Columbia Lottery Corp.'s president and chief executive officer between 2005 and 2007. Patrick Kinsella, a public affairs consultant who has been accused by the provincial New Democrats of lobbying the government without registering, has long been connected with the province's gaming industry. But the subject of those meetings - which occasionally included the corporation's chairs - remains a mystery. Mr. Kinsella, who has previously denied ever lobbying the government he was instrumental in electing, didn't return phone calls from Public Eye.

Last week, the Times Colonist's Darron Kloster reported Dodd's Furniture Ltd. owner Gordie Dodd would be running for the provincial Liberal nomination in Saanich South. But, according to Mr. Kloster, Mr. Dodd is "facing some resistance from the local riding association, which told him at an initial meeting on Monday they were leaning toward former broadcaster and chamber of commerce president Robin Adair to carry the Liberal colours." But that might not be Mr. Dodd's only handicap. After all, during the recent civic election, the furniture store owner recorded an endorsement for successful New Democrat-favoured mayoral candidate Dean Fortin, praising him as "dedicated," "community-minded," and a "tireless guy." And that endorsement might not sit well with some Liberals.

Last month, former WCG International Consultants Ltd. communications and government relations vice-president Robin Adair told CFAX's Murray Langdon he would be seeking the provincial Liberal nomination in Saanich-South. But the kick-off for his campaign is tonight at McMorran's Beach House. And, accoring to an email from Mr. Adair, that event is still taking place, despite the blustery weather. Mr. Adair is running for that nomination against Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce policy development and communications mananger Shannon Renault and Dodd's Furniture Ltd. owner Gordie Dodd. The following is a complete copy of the aforementioned email.

Last week, CTV's Robert Fife reported "Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to fill 18 vacancies in the unelected Senate with Conservative loyalists before Christmas." And who might those appointees be? Well, in this province, speculative candidates include Olympian Nancy Greene, man in motion Rick Hansen, former Vancouver-Burrard provincial Liberal legislator and Vancouver-Centre federal Conservative candidate Lorne Mayencourt, former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan and the Tory's former British Columbia campaign co-chair Bruce Hallsor - who's being championed by a Facebook group.

Earlier this month, The Vancouver Sun's Janet Steffenhagen reported former British Columbia Teachers' Federation president Jinny Sims would be seeking the provincial New Democrat nomination in Vancouver-Kensington. But she's not the only candidate running in that race. Canadian Auto Workers Local 111 union and politics committee chair Mable Elmore is also a contestant, having already submitted her nomination papers.

ForestEthics is best known as one of the world's leading forest protection organizations. But, according to a job posting, the group is "expanding its work to include energy and climate issues" - including coalbed gas development and the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project, a twin pipeline system running from Bruderheim, Alberta to Kitimat. Which is why ForestEthics is looking to hire a "creative and talented individual who has a demonstrated track record as a change agent." The following is a complete copy of that posting.

Tomorrow morning, on Public Eye Radio, British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union president Darryl Walker shares his thoughts on the past political season and the upcoming provincial 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.

Today, the province's children and youth representative criticized the government for not doing enough to implement the Hughes Review's recommendations. But, in response, Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen said the Campbell administration isn't taking an approach "where - to the letter of each recommendation - we must be able to satisfy it completely." Instead, "what we've said is we want to address those recommendations in the context in which they were offered and within our own Strong, Safe and Supported plan which we have offered to the public."

"There is still no coordinated effort" within the ministry of children and family development to implement the Hughes Review's recommendations, which were released 32 months ago. That's the opinion of Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, British Columbia's children and youth representative.

Patrick Kinsella attempted to arrange a meeting with British Columbia Lottery Corp.'s president and chief executive officer to "chat about issues of mutual interest and concern" four months after the last provincial election. In an email sent to then president and chief executive officer Vic Poleschuk on September 7, 2005, Mr. Kinsella wrote, "We have talked from time to time about getting together for coffee or lunch. With the legislature ready to resume next week and with it the political scrutiny that follows, I was hoping we could get together…"

In advance of the last provincial election, former provincial cabinet minister Paul Ramsey and then past British Columbia New Democrat president Maura Parte were appointed co-chairs of the party's platform committee. But who's responsible for laying down the New Democrat's policy planks for the upcoming campaign? The answer: former cabinet minister Cathy McGregor and party provincial executive member-at-large Lorraine Shore.

Former provincial deputy health minister Penny Ballem has gotten into the real estate business. Dr. Ballem, who resigned in June 2006, been on Bentall LP's board of directors since January 1, 2007. Bentall is one of "North America's foremost real estate advisory and service organization," whose clients include the British Columbia Investment Management Corp. Dr. Ballem resigned from the civil service because the plans Premier Gordon Campbell and his deputy Jessica McDonald had established for her ministry were "unsound and reflect a lack of confidence in my leadership on your part." Dr. Ballem is also presently a senior advisor and health industry expert with RPO Management Consultants Ltd.

Freedom of information and privacy commissioner David Loukidelis is expressing regret about a quote attributed to him in Saturday's edition of The Vancouver Sun. Commenting on the utility of the newspaper's new public sector salary database, Mr. Loukidelis was quoted as saying, "If it's known that a public servant has a multi-million dollar house and she's earning $60,000 a year...that might start you down the road of how that came about." But, in an interview today with Public Eye, the commissioner said "I'd readily admit that comment was not good...It didn't advance the story. It didn't advance the case for transparency. And it doesn't reflect how I feel about public servants."

Last year, former Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission member Cindy Grauer failed to win the federal Liberal nomination in Vancouver Quadra. But, this year, fortune has favoured her. The reason: earlier this month, Ms. Grauer - the principal of GR Strategies Inc. - was appointed to British Columbia Lottery Corp.'s board of directors. According to her biography, Ms. Graurer's firm specializes in the "development and execution of strategic plans and initiatives in the areas of stakeholder relations and partnership development with and between businesses governments and communities."

Speaking last week on Voice of BC, Premier Gordon Campbell stated, "I think it's very difficult to say to someone before they come in, 'Are you a lobbyist? What are you doing? How are you doing?'" But that's also what lobbyists registrar David Loukidelis has recommended the provincial government do, requiring public officials to "verify that a lobbyist is registered and to verify the intended outcome of the communication." But why is that requirement important? In an interview on Public Eye Radio, Mr. Loukidelis explained, "I do recognize that, if you get into a situation where the law requires those on the receiving end of the lobbying to ensure registration and so on or to verify registration, that can create administrative burdens, candidly."

Last year's controversial increase to MLA pay and pensions was "designed to attract and retain talented people from all walks of life by lowering existing barriers to serving as elected officials." So it seems both surreal and appropriate that The B.C. Refederation Party is using that pay and pension package to recruit their election candidates.

"A matter of note and concern." That's how children and youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond described last week's announcement that the ministry of children and family development will be looking at "fiscal restraint measures" in the coming weeks. But, for his own part, provincial New Democrat critic Nicholas Simons thinks that announcement - which suggested timelines for some ministry initiatives may be "revisited" - is little more than "damage control" on the part of the ministry. The reason: next week, Ms. Turpel-Lafond will likely release her second update on the Hughes Review "and the government's implementation and progress on following through with the recommendations in that important report from 2006."

Earlier, we reported children and family development will be looking at "fiscal restraint measures" in the coming weeks, resulting in the possible revisitation of timelines for some ministry initiatives. Although, top bureaucrat Lesley du Toit has also stated the ministry remains "committed" to these initiatives and to a "system of support" for vulnerable children and families. So what does children and youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond think about that announcement? Well, in an interview on Public Eye Radio, Ms. Turpel-Lafond stated Ms. du Toit's email was, "a matter of note and concern in my office. And I had an opportunity to raise it almost immediately after I saw the note to see what this means. And it would appear from the response I got that no one is quite sure what it means."

Tomorrow morning, on Public Eye Radio, children and youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond shares her thoughts on child protection during a time of declining government revenues. Freedom of information and privacy commissioner David Loukidelis discusses updates to the lobbyist registry. 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 exclusively reported private bingo hall and communication gaming centre interests appear to have contributed more than a quarter million dollars to the provincial Liberals between 2002 and 2007. But, when asked about those donations last night on Voice of BC, Premier Gordon Campbell said, "I can tell you gaming corporations do not contribute to the party. We send them back. Individuals - it's up to individuals what they do." Just two percent of the industry's donations came from companies publicly-identified as bingo hall service providers. The rest came from industry-connected individuals or other companies whose president is a current or former gaming facility owner/operator. Those individuals have offered a range of explanations for why they didn't donate through their service provider.

"I think what any private citizen does is up to them, right?" That was Gordon Campbell's response when we asked him, on Voice of BC, about Patrick Kinsella's refusal to cooperate with a review of his interactions with the provincial government by David Loukidelis, the lobbyists registrar. But, later, when pressed by host Vaughn Palmer, the premier conceded, "I would certainly prefer that he said, 'This is what I'm doing,' but it's up to him, not up to me."

Children and family development top bureaucrat Lesley du Toit has told staff her ministry will be looking at "fiscal restraint measures" in the coming weeks. According to an email distributed on Wednesday, that means it may be "necessary to revisit" timeframes for some ministry initiatives. Although there will be no "across-the-board hiring freeze."

A calendar entry exclusively obtained by Public Eye states Mark Jiles arranged and was scheduled to attend a meeting between then solicitor general John Les and a pub owner. But, in an interview, the pub owner said Mr. Jiles didn't arrange or attend that scheduled meeting. Nor, said the owner, did he hire Mr. Jiles, Premier Gordon Campbell's former constituency campaign manager and president of The Progressive Group, to do any work for him.

When John Les was solicitor general, he had 11 meetings that were scheduled to include top provincial Liberal backroom operative Patrick Kinsella. Those meetings occasionally took place over breakfast, coffee, lunch and dinner at venues such as the Hy's Encore and Herons Restaurant. By comparison, his prdecessor Rich Coleman was scheduled to meet with Mr. Kinsella just once - for lunch on Jauary 31, 2002. This, according to records obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request.

Plutonic Power Corporation Inc. seems to have a schoolgirl crush on the Campbell administration. Earlier, the company made headlines for putting former provincial Liberal aides on its payroll. Plutonic also contributed $12,148 to British Columbia's governing party between 2006 and 2007. And, according to Rich Neufeld's public disclosure statemenet, Plutonic vice-chairman and chief executive officer Donald McInnes gave the energy, mines and petroleum resources minister a framed art print by Harold Harvey on October 4, 2007 at a "groundbreaking ceremony for the East Toba River/Montrose Creek Hydroelectric project." The value of the print: an estimated $500. Ain't that cute?

"I am looking forward to working closely with BC Hydro in further developing our province's potential in opening up new opportunities for investment and family supporting jobs in clean energy." That what former federal cabinet minister David Emerson said last week, upon being appointed the new executive chair of the British Columbia Transmission Corp. And that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the former Canfor Corp. president and chief executive officer. After all, BC Hydro Corp.'s senior corporate affairs vice-president Susan Yurkovich worked with Mr. Emerson when she was an executive at the forest company. And, according to The Vancouver Sun's Jeff Lee, Ms. Yurkovich also helped run Mr. Emerson's successful 2004 election campaign in Vancouver-Kingsway. Fancy that!

Earlier, we reported Mark Jiles and then New Car Dealers Association of B.C. president and chief executive officer Glen Ringdal were scheduled to meet with John Les on September 7, 2006. But, according to records obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request, that wasn't the only time Mr. Jiles, the president of The Progressive Group, and Mr. Ringdal were scheduled to meet with the then solicitor general. On May 1, 2007, the two of them were also scheduled to have a three hour dinner with Mr. Les at The Union Club of British Columbia. Mr. Jiles didn't register as a lobbyist for the car dealers until January 1, 2007. In fact, the association's business manager Tina Coleman says Progressive wasn't hired by the car dealers "until sometime in late 2007."

Earlier, we reported provincial Liberal backbencher Harry Bloy was gifted trips to China and Korea, costing an estimated $12,000. But he's not the only government member who visited the Far East on someone else's dime. According to John Yap's public disclosure statement, the Liberal caucus chair went to Beijing as part of a "delegation of business representatives to promote trade and goodwill," as well to "observe" the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics Games. That trip, which had an estimated cost of $5,000, came "courtesy" of Infospec Holdings Corp. and New Asia Capital Investments Corp.

"It wouldn't be my choice." That's what Premier Gordon Campbell told The Vancouver Sun's Miro Cernetig when asked about the provincial New Democrat leader Carole James' 2006 decision to let the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association pay for her, three legislators and two staffer to go on a trade mission to Taiwan. So what will the premier think when he finds out backbencher Harry Bloy and his wife took a trip to China with the Canada-China Friendship Asssociation at a cost of $7,500? According to his most recent public disclosure statement, that trip was paid for by the Across International Business Exchange Ltd. That statement also shows the backbencher went to Korea with the Canada Korea Business Association. The $4,500 price tag for that trip was picked up by Tomorrow Consulting. By comparison, the New Democrats' trip cost at least $12,441.

Government House Leader Mike de Jong says the government intends to fix the broken Lobbyists Registration Act in the spring legislative session. Speaking on Public Eye Radio yesterday, Minister De Jong stated, "No one has been - in particular the attorney general - hesitant to a) acknowledge that there are some changes, call them improvements, required (to the act). Some of that work is complex. The opposition will want to characterize it as easy to do. But, if it was that easy, of course one wonders why - for ten years in the 1990s - it never happened. So there's an act there now that's far from perfect. It needs to be changed. It needs to be up upgraded and updated. And that work is taking place. We'd like to have it presented before the house rises in the spring. And that's the intention."