August 2009 Archives

Tomorrow, Public Eye will be reporting from the provincial government's budget lock-up. Finance Minister Colin Hansen is expected to table that budget somewhere around 2:30. And, when he does, Public Eye will be bringing you our briefing on the province's books, along with exclusive stories gleaned from the government's service and fiscal plans.

Look who's in the precincts today! Why it's former provincial Liberal election campaign co-chair and cabinet minister Rick Thorpe - making an appearance on the floor of the legislature during question period and the legislative dining room. What could he be doing here?

In July, we reported B.C. Pavilion Corp.'s president and chief executive officer Warren Buckley was making 166.67 percent more than he did when he left that same job in 2000. So, in this new era of austerity and government-imposed Crown agency reviews, we asked Kevin Krueger, the minister responsible for PavCo, whether there would be any changes to Mr. Buckley's compensation - which came in at $400,000 in fiscal 2008/09? The answer: "that's the board's responsibility."

"The genesis goes back to the many discussions I've had with the premier over the years as we've developed a housing strategy for B.C. about how do we get to the next stage of affordability." That's what Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman told us last week following the Campbell administration's announcement it would be increasing the affordability of single-family homes by examining government-imposed housing charges - specifically at the municipal-level. But the Canadian Homebuilders' Association of British Columbia also discussed the issue with Premier Gordon Campbell in January, during the weekend following this year's Georgie Awards.

Plutonic Power Corporation Inc. partially paid for a government study assessing Toba Inlet's grizzly bear population. And now the environment ministry is putting the finishing touches on that project, Public Eye has learned. Plutonic contributed $200,000 toward that project in fiscal 2008/09 to fund the collection of grizzly hair samples. And now the government is paying out an additional $47,000 to Wildlife Genetics International Inc., which will do DNA analysis of those samples and "estimate the abundance, density and distribution" of grizzlies in the inlet. A government spokesperson stated the study is meant to "get results on a base population estimate in the area that (the ministry) can use to compare to future estimates." Plutonic is presently constructing its flagship independent power project in the Toba Valley.

Earlier this month, Public Eye reported the provincial government could introduce legislation allowing authorities to detain at-risk youths against their will. But the Liberals gave no indication they might pass such a law during the election campaign. When asked by the Children of the Streets Society whether their party would "advocate and assist in the development of regulations, policies and procedures to implement a Secure Care Act," the Liberals stated they would be "prepared to listen" to the group's "perspective on this issue."

Children of the Streets Society executive director Diane Sowden said yesterday introducing legislation allowing authorities to detain at-risk youth in secure care facilities could be a costly exercises. And, according Ms. Sowden, it's one that won't work unless the government funds support services for youths that will prevent the need to detain them. Speaking on Public Eye Radio, she said, "When you're talking about the services for secure care, it's not just the ability to apprehend and hold a young person. There has to be a continuum of services. And that isn't in place yet. And that has to run from prevention to safe care and everything in between."

If the Campbell administration didn't introduce the harmonized sales tax, it would be turning aside $1.6 billion in transition funding from the federal government. This, at a time when the province's books are in the red. So what would the tax-opposing provincial New Democrats do to replace that one-time funding if they were in government? For starters, Opposition House Leader Mike Farnworth said retaining the province's corporation capital tax and eliminating oil and gas industry subsidies - two promises his party made during the election - would earn the government approximately $200 million extra each year.

Sunday morning, on Public Eye Radio, provincial New Democrat House Leader Mike Farnworth joins us to discuss next week's budget and last week's throne speech. Children of the Street Society executive director Diane Sowden talks about the possible introduction of legislation allowing authorities to detain at-risk youth against their will. And our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Eleanor Gregory, The Times Colonist's Dave Obee and Bob Russell - 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 8:00 and 10:00. If you have a question for one of our guests, you can email us or leave a comment below.

Here's something we're going to be watching for in the upcoming provincial budget: the government has blown its forest fire fighting forecasts six times between 2002/03 and 2009/10 - in part, because of lowballing. In fact, in February, the Campbell administration estimated those costs would decline from $62 million to $52 million because, according to Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell, the government would be upgrading its tanker bases and dispatch system.

"Double-deleting" emails - a method some provincial Liberal political aides used to keep their communications confidential - became a minor source of controversy during the second Bush administration. In 2007, it was revealed administration officials had been communicating about government business with private email accounts administered by the Republican National Committee and that some or all of those messages may have been permanently lost. The media suggested officials might have "double-deleted" them "to cover their tracks on inappropriate communications." Although presidential advisor Karl Rove's ability to use that function had been removed in January 2006.

Earlier this month, we told you the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation has found a means to make six-storey wood-frame buildings more earthquake resistant - at a cost of five to ten percent higher than conventional methods. So will British Columbia, which partly bankrolled that simulation, require builders to use that new method when constructing taller wood-frames? The answer: no. In an interview with Public Eye, Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman explained why.

During Tuesday's throne speech, the provincial government announced a potential major vote-getting initiative to "encourage affordable market housing in B.C. that will put the dream of a single-family home within the economic reach of our children." The speech was short on further details. But, in an interview with Public Eye, Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman revealed it won't be a single policy. Instead it will involve working with municipalities to "bring down the affordability, it will deal with densities, it will deal with looking into development cost charges, how much time does it take to develop housing in B.C. - all of those things that can add cost to try to reduce cost to make it more affordable." Minister Coleman also spoke to the timing of that initiative and how it came to be.

Shaw TV's long-running weekly political editorial segment has been canceled. This Week in BC, which first aired in 2001 was most recently hosted by CKNW legislative bureau chief Sean Leslie, was canceled as a result of budget belt-tightening. Public Eye's Sean Holman was the fill-in host for that segment, which had a running time between 90 seconds and two minutes.

Earlier today, Mustel Research Group Ltd. principal Evi Mustel explained why her polling shows the provincial Conservatives at two percent, while Angus Reid Strategies Inc. has them at seven: "Our methodology is such that we don't read the party names out. Every polling company has a little bit of a different approach. So I think when you read parties out - as other polls have done - you probably would get a little sort of inflated response for Conservatives," she said. But, in an email, Angus Reid research director Hamish Marshall disputed that explanation.

There was a line in Tuesday's throne speech that had press gallery members scratching their heads: "Adherence to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles should not prevent government from maximizing its public investments in independent, regulated authorities." So what does that mean? Finance Minister Colin Hansen had this response when asked during a scrum yesterday morning.

Today, Mustel Research Group Ltd. released a poll showing the provincial New Democrats at 46 percent support, giving them an eight percentage point lead over the Liberals. But what about the Conservatives? After all, earlier this month, Angus Reid Strategies Inc. reported the Tories were polling at seven percent. However, they're not even mentioned in Mustel's latest survey.

The provincial government has said it will be reviewing health authorities, school boards and Crown corporations to ensure public funding isn't subsidizing "unreasonably high compensation levels or administrative costs." But who will those reviews be conducted by? Finance Minister Colin Hansen didn't have an answer to that question yesterday. And, when contacted by Public Eye, government declined to say whether those reviews would necessitate an increase in comptroller general Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland's budget if her office is assigned that task.

Provincial New Democrat senior caucus communications officer Neera Ritcey has been named party leader Carole James's press secretary. But that gig could mean some commuting for Ms. Ritcey. The reason: according to an email from the leader's chief of staff Jim Rutkowski, "Neera will still be based in Vancouver, but will be joining us in Victoria on a regular basis during session." The following is a complete copy of that email.

When the government announced it wanted to build taller wood-frame buildings, it released a report that supposedly examined their seismic and fire safety issues. But even supporters of that controversial initiative thought the report read more like a sales pitch than a scientific paper, according to records exclusively obtained by Public Eye. In an email sent to government in July 3, 2008, an industry advisor with a non-profit wood research institute described the report as a "nicely done literature review." But she cautioned it was "quite 'friendly' to wood, which may cause a negative reaction by steel and concrete interest groups, who stand to lose if this code change is implemented."

Some provincial Liberal political aides "double-deleted" emails in an attempt to keep their communications confidential, Public Eye has exclusively learned. The aides believed "double-deleting" would prevent their emails from being saved by the government's back-up tapes, according to sources familiar with the practice. Here's how it worked: the aides would delete messages from their Outlook inbox and then empty the program's deleted messages folder. It's unclear how widespread "double-deleting" was or whether that practice presently continues.

Earlier, we reported Burrard Thermal's closure could hurt Port Moody's bottom-line. But what about Terasen Gas Inc., which delivers the generating plant's natural gas? In an interview with Public Eye, company communications manager Mike Chisholm said "the impact of the closing of Burrard Thermal is indeterminable at the time because we do not know the specific direction government will give BC Hydro, the magnitude of that direction or the timing." As a result, he couldn't say whether Burrard's shutdown might result in Terasen increasing its rates. Mr. Chisholm confirmed the plant is a "large customer" although he decline to specify how much money that relationship makes for the company.

Look who's been appointed to the Legal Services Society of British Columbia's board of directors! Why it's Marion Wright, who only three months ago unsuccessful ran as the provincial Liberals in North Island against New Democrat incumbent Claire Trevena. Of course, the board resourcing and appointment office doesn't mention that bullet point on Ms. Wright's resume, which also includes chairing the now defunct Vancouver Island Aboriginal Transition Authority and being the Kwakiutl Indian Band's former chief councillor. Former children and family development minister Tom Christensen was also recently appointed to the legal services society's board.

Yesterday, it was announced the provincial government will be strengthening the Lobbyists Registration Act - an initiative The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer dubbed the "Closing the Barn Door After the Horse Has Escaped Act." Which begs this question: will the legislation allow for the investigation of past alleged violations of that act which went un-investigated because of its inadequacies. But Attorney General Mike de Jong wasn't giving away any surprises when we spoke to him this morning.

Last month, The Tri-City News's Diane Stranberg reported closing BC Hydro Corp.'s Burrard Thermal generating plant "would result in an immediate 4% tax hike to Port Moody ratepayers." The reason: "PoMo receives nearly $1.5 million a year for hosting the plant." So now that government has announced it's going ahead with that closure, what does the city's mayor Joe Trasolini think of that decision? "I have had a discussion with the city manager this morning," he told Public Eye. "And I've instructed him to call Victoria, the energy ministry or whoever is responsible for that decision to see how imminent the closure of Burrard Thermal is because it's of huge importance to us."

Will PowerUp Canada executive director Tzeporah Berman be appointed to the provincial government's new green energy advisory task force? After all, according to an email obtained by The Tyee's Garrett Zehr, Ms. Berman described that group - which was first mentioned in the Liberals' election platform - as a "great step and a result of our work." So we asked Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Blair Lekstrom that question on his way into a cabinet meeting.

Yesterday, former attorney general Wally Oppal was on the floor of the legislature to hear the government would finally be fixing its broken Lobbyists Registration Act - a law reporters had harangued him about during the closing months of the second Campbell administration. He shared his thoughts on the announcement with Public Eye.

For those who have been following Public Eye's extensive coverage of forest fire budget, can you see what's wrong with this quote from Premier Gordon Campbell: "We did not know in May, for example, the forest fire budget - which was about $60 million, which is based on a 10-year-average - was going to be exceeded by over $320 million." Could it be that the province should have known that budget would have been exceeded? Or perhaps it's the fact the government stopped using a rolling average as of the fiscal 2004/05 budget? Or maybe it's just all of the above?!

Did the provincial Liberals lie about introducing the harmonized sales tax and blowing their budget deficit target? That's the accusation that's been leveled against them by talk radio and the New Democrats. So The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer asked Premier Gordon Campbell for his response to those accusations, with other press gallery members asking follow-ups.

Consumers and businesses aren't the only ones who need help figuring out how the harmonized sales tax will effect them. Yesterday, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia quietly announced it was looking for a contractor to identify any changes it must make to comply with the new system. The deadline to apply for that work is September 11. The following is complete copy of the relevant portion of the bid document.

Civil service jobs impacts will be announced after the budget is table on September 1, according to the premier's deputy minister. In an email sent to bureaucrat yesterday afternoon, Jessica McDonald stated those impacts will be "kept low and under the original projection of five per cent of our workforce." But the government isn't going to be giving departing civil servants a golden handshake. According to the email, "there are no plans to offer voluntary departure or early retirement programs." The following is a complete copy of that email.

Tomorrow, Public Eye is pleased to announce we'll be launching our new look and feel. The present layout has been in place since we went online five years ago. But, 4081 stories later, we felt it was time for something a bit different. So Art Department Design's Victor Crapnell has come up with a redesign that modernizes Public Eye while retaining its muckraking spirit. Let us know what you think!

Last month, in an interview with The Georgia Straight's Charlie Smith, provincial New Democrat tourism, culture and the arts critic Spencer Herbert said he doesn't look at politics as a lifelong career because "I think if you start thinking that way, you don't take on the risks. You don't take on the hard issues because then you have to play it safe." So, that being said, we asked Mr. Herbert whether he believes that's why his party has been lagging behind in the polls.

Former Saskatchewan premier Grant Devine said yesterday the Campbell administration should cut taxes if it wants to improve its standing among those who will be stung by the harmonized sales tax. Speaking on Public Eye Radio, Mr. Devine stated, "The province is going to save some money because the feds are going to be collecting this. The province is going to get a big rebate from the feds at least once. And the general public is going to say, 'Look, if you're going to have more efficient government and it's going to be less costly for us and there are some financial benefits flowing out here, we all want to get in on it.' And you've got to think politically and economically how you can make this as fair as possible."

Former Saskatchewan premier Grant Devine, whose government was the first to introduced a harmonized sales tax, said yesterday there's both pros and cons to that policy. Speaking on Public Eye Radio, Mr. Devine quipped, "I'm not running for anything so I can tell it exactly as I see it." The pro-side: "There's less expense (administering the tax system) because the feds are picking it up. Obviously, business gets the money back. You're a little bit more competitive regionally and internationally. The rules are the same no matter where you go across the country. So you have a combination of probably more economic activity on the business side, less government expenses because one government is handling it all."

Sunday morning, on Public Eye Radio, former Saskatchewan premier Grant Devine shares his thoughts on the harmonized sales tax. Provincial New Democrat tourism, culture and the arts critic Spencer Herbert discusses the scrapping of Tourism British Columbia. And our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Michael Geoghegan, Bob Russell and Allan Warnke - debate the week that was in provincial and federal politics. You can listen to Public Eye Radio outside of Victoria by logging into CFAX 1070 between 8:00 and 10:00. Or check us out after the show by downloading our podcast. If you have a question for one of our guests, you can email us or leave a comment below.

Yesterday, Finance Minister Colin Hansen told reporters provincial government revenues have eroded by more than $2 billion since June. But, as reported by The Times Colonist's Rob Shaw, "It's unclear what that means for the provincial deficit. Hansen has said the deficit will be 'significantly' larger than the $495 million promised in the February budget. He offered no updated figure yesterday." But could it be that figure is $2.5 billion or higher? Perhaps it could even be around $2.8 billion? And could it also be the government will soon announce that figure?

There are indications the provincial government may be introducing controversial legislation that will allow authorities to detain at-risk youths against their will. And that has civil liberty and youth advocacy groups concerned. The idea dates back to when the New Democrats were in power. In 2000, the party passed just such a bill amidst protests from those groups.

The provincial New Democrats could abandon a divisive affirmative action policy that saw 20 ridings reserved for women and minority candidates. The policy was approved at the party's 2007 convention. But it came with an expiration date: the 2009 election campaign. During the election, then party spokesman David Bieber told The Province's Damian Inwood, "It's certainly something we think has worked out quite well. We're certainly pleased."

"I see that Mr. Veniez was fired by a Crown corporation, and it's hard to get fired by a Crown corporation. I don't think people in this riding want the controversial path." That's what West-Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country Conservative parliament John Weston told The Powell River Peak's Laura Walz in response to news former Ridley Terminal Inc. chair Daniel Veniez is considering making a run for the Grit nomination in that riding. "My first response was that voters in this riding at a minimum are interested in avoiding the scandal and disgrace that accompanied recent Liberal representative Blair Wilson, and there's some unfortunate analogies in controversy," he added. So what does Mr. Veniez have to say about those charges?

Earlier, a Central Okanagan spokesperson confirmed the regional district didn't have a community wildfire protection plan in place for the site of the Terrace Mountain fire. The spokesperson said B.A. Blackwell and Associates Ltd. has since been hired to prepared such a plan, which would encompass that site. But, in an interview this morning with Public Eye, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell said, "That fire initiated in the (Tolko Industries Ltd.) tree farm license. And the district wildfire management plan would not have included any of that area. And what the folks in the wildfire management branch have told me is there would have only been a small strip that would have been planned for in that particular fire. So it probably wouldn't have been a benefit had it been done."

British Columbians for BC-STV may have lost the recent referendum on electoral reform. But it wasn't for lack of funding. According to a financing disclosure report filed with Elections British Columbia, the single-transferable vote advocates took in $247,681.49 in donations, as well as receiving an outstanding $100,000 loan from Fair Vote BC. By comparison, the No BC-STV Campaign Society raised $11,625.43 and won. Both organizations also got $500,000 cheques from the government to run their campaigns.

Twelve years ago, provincial Liberal legislators supported New Democrat legislation creating Tourism British Columbia - the Crown corporation that was scrapped yesterday by the Campbell administration. In an interview following that announcement, Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Kevin Krueger told The Vancouver Sun's Bruce Constantineau. "We all like our independence. But even more than that, we also like to deliver the result we're all working for and most people realize this is the best way to achieve that result." Yet, it was that very independence which the Liberals stressed in 1997, questioning the New Democrats' commitment to the value and the corporation's legislated funding mechanism. Under that mechanism, Tourism British Columbia has received a portion of the province's hotel room tax revenues. Here's the record speaking for itself.

The provincial government will be spending to $225,000 to commission reports assessing the economic and greenhouse gas emission impacts of various cap-and-trade system scenarios, Public Eye has learned. "We want to be prepared, from a negotiating standpoint, to be able negotiate the best possible cap and trade system on behalf of British Columbians," explained Minister of State for Climate Action John Yap, referring to the province's participation in the Western Climate Initiative. "And we need to have the best possible information to do that." A bid document for contractors to do that work was quietly posted on August 11. The following is a complete copy of the relevant portion of that document.

Earlier, we exclusively reported the legal services society may have to shutdown its poverty law programs next year - in part, because ultra-low interest rates could impact funding from the Law Foundation of British Columbia. But does the foundation have any idea exactly what that impact will be? "The short answer is no," answered its executive director Wayne Robertson.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s parent firm gave the provincial Liberals some pocket change in the lead up to the recent election. According to the party's Elections British Columbia filing, PG&E Corp. contributed $1,832.25 to the Liberals on March 11. Pacific Gas and Electric, one of the largest natural gas and electric utilities in the United States, has been eyeing the province as a source of "wind-generated and other renewable electric power."

The provincial New Democrats also went into the red in the first five months of 2005. According to the party's Elections British Columbia filing, it had income totaling $5.35 million with expenditures of $6.17 million, resulting in a $820,881.23 deficit. By contrast, the party's 2005 election filing shows it had income totaling $6.27 million and expenditures of $5.26 million, resulting in a $1.01 million surplus.

In April, Plutonic Power Corporation Inc. stated its vice-chairman and chief executive officer Donald McInnes had "misspoke" when he claimed his company hadn't donated to the provincial Liberals. After all, Elections British Columbia filings showed Plutonic had contributed $51,906 to the party between May 2006 and December 2008. And that number increased by $35,300 in the first five months of 2009, with Mr. McInnes personally contributing an additional $3,500 to its coffers on January 21 and $7,500 on March 25 according to the Liberals' most recent financial report.

The provincial Liberals' spent significantly more money during the campaign then they raised in the first five months of 2009, according to a financial report released today by Elections British Columbia. The party's election filing shows it had income totaling $9.50 million and expenditures of $12.11 million, giving the Liberals a $2.60 million deficit. By contrast, the party's 2005 election filing shows it had income totaling $11.58 million and expenditures of $10.47 million, giving the Liberals a $1.10 million surplus.

The provincial government is looking to find $3.6 million in cost-savings from agencies contracted to do work for the ministry of children and family development, Public Eye has learned. In an unusual joint letter, the Jennifer Charlesworth, executive director of the federation representing many of those agencies, and the ministry's top bureaucrat Lesley du Toit announced their two organizations would be working together to identify those "efficiencies."

Former federal Liberal candidate Sheila Orr said yesterday Oak Bay mayor Chris Causton is considering running for the party nomination in Victoria. Speaking on Public Eye Radio's rabble-rousing panel, Ms. Orr stated, "To be frank with you, I signed his nomination papers. So he's obviously thinking about it. And I think he would be great. And the fact he's looking at it is of great interest to me."

David Eby said yesterday a possible shutdown of the legal services society's poverty law programs could clog up British Columbia's court system. Last week, Public Eye exclusively reported those programs - which provide legal aid for the poor's day-to-day struggles - will require additional funding to continue in fiscal 2010/11. And if that funding isn't forthcoming, the former Pivot Legal Society lawyer said the results of closing services such as LawLINE could be "devastating."

Last week, federal Liberal parliamentarian Ujjal Dosanjh called for an cross-border conference to address the collapse of the Fraser River's sockeye salmon run. But, in an interview on Public Eye Radio, former fisheries and oceans minister David Anderson said, "If we want successful salmon summits, we have to start bringing in the Russians, the Japanese, the North Koreans and others."

Sunday morning, on Public Eye Radio, former Pivot Legal Society lawyer David Eby discusses the possible shutdown of government-funded poverty law programs. Former federal fisheries and oceans minister David Anderson shares his thoughts on the collapse of the Fraser River's sockeye salmon run. And our rabble-rousing panel - Don Anderson, Eleanor Gregory, Sheila Orr and Bob Russell - 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 8:00 and 10:00. Or check us out after the show by downloading our podcast. If you have a question for one of our guests, you can email us or leave a comment below.

On Thursday, former Ridley Terminal Inc. chair Daniel Veniez told us he's considering running for the Liberal nomination in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, which is currently held by Conservative MP John Weston. But why choose that riding - a constituency he doesn't live in - over any other?

Less than two months after he was fired as the chair of the Crown corporation that runs the Prince Rupert bulk commodity terminal, veteran Tory Daniel Veniez is gearing up for a possible election bid - as a member of federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's team. The former paper-and-forest executive and self-described "bag carrier" for three Mulroney-era ministers, said in an interview Thursday that he's leaning toward running for the Grit nomination in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, which is currently held by Conservative MP John Weston.

Yesterday, Central Okanagan communication coordinator Bruce Smith wasn't able to say why the regional district didn't have a community wildfire protection plan in place for the site of the Terrace Mountain fire. But Mr. Smith came back with an answer today. "Yes, it was as a resulting of staffing, financing and we were also working on the fire district community wildfire protection plans," he said.

Yesterday, we exclusively reported Central Okanagan's regional district didn't have a community wildfire protection plan in place for the site of the Terrace Mountain fire. But when we asked whether the lack of a plan impacted the severity of the fire, a district spokesperson referred us to the ministry of forests and range. So we took that question to the man in charge of that ministry, Pat Bell, and here's what he had to say.

Central Okanagan's regional district didn't have a community wildfire protection plan in place for the site of the Terrace Mountain fire, Public Eye has exclusively learned. But a district spokesperson has said that didn't impact the region's response to the blaze, which forced the evacuation of thousands from their homes.

The federal Liberals have approached British Columbia Technology Industries Association chair Jonathan Wilkinson about running for the party in North Vancouver. But, speaking with Public Eye, the Rhodes Scholar and former QuestAir Technologies Inc. president and chief executive officer said he's not interesting in making a bid for public office in the short-term.

In their effort to get a harmonized sales tax exemption for camp fees, Scouts Canada may have thought provincial Liberal backbencher Harry Bloy would be an ally. But the Burnaby-Lougheed MLA seems to be remaining publicly silent on the issue.

British Columbia's boy scouts may "be prepared" for many things. But the provincial government's harmonized sales tax wasn't one of them. Last week, we told you the new regime would increase camp fees for sites run by charitable and religious groups by seven percent, putting an end to their provincial sales tax exemption. And that increase could have a "devastating effect" on Scouts Canada in British Columbia, according to the group's honourary solicitor Bruce Hallsor.

British Columbia's poor might soon have a tougher time getting free legal aid for their day-to-day struggles. Public Eye has exclusively learned the province's legal services society may have to shutdown its poverty law programs next year. The reason: according to an internal memo by society executive director Mark Benton, a higher-than-projected provincial deficit could threaten the agency's government funding for fiscal 2010/11, which was forecasted to be $68.5 million.

Today, federal Green leader Elizabeth May told the Saanich News's Keith Vass she is "definitely, definitely leaning strongly" toward running in Saanich-Gulf Islands. But, following an interview with Ms. May, The Vancouver Sun's Barbara Yaffe reported it was a done deal.

North Vancouver lawyer Jay Straith said today might run for the federal Liberal nomination in that riding. But only if the election isn't held in the fall. Speaking with Public Eye, Mr. Straith said, "If it's a fall election it just isn't going to work. I don't know if (Don Bell) is going to run again or not. But logic would have it that if the election is roughly within a year of the last election, I think the previous MP might be better placed to have a shot at it. But when you get outside of that window - maybe not so much. That's basically what it comes down to." North Vancouver is presently represented by Conservative parliamentarian Andrew Saxton.

Former federal Liberal Saanich-Gulf Islands candidate Briony Penn has said she won't be supporting Green leader Elizabeth May in her bid to win that riding. Speaking with Public Eye, Ms. Penn, who had backed the Greens prior to becoming a Grit, said, "Before Elizabeth declared her intention, I had supported Renee Hetherington who is running in the nomination race for the Libs in the riding. And I'm still going to support her through her nomination race because she's a great person and I'm not going to drop her like a hot potato."

Earlier, we reported Glen Sanford had ended his "short-term project" as the provincial New Democrats' caucus communication director. And now we can tell you who's replacing him: in an email distributed yesterday, caucus executive director Mary O'Donoghue announced communications officer Sara Goldvine had been promoted to that post. The following is a complete copy of that email.

British Columbians must stand up and speak out if they want the fees for charitable and religious camps to be exempt from the harmonized sales tax. In an interview with Public Eye, BC Camping Association president Hartley Banack said, "I don't really see how there can be any other real or meaningful change unless it comes as a wellspring from the end user - which is the client or customer - saying to the provincial government as an individual this is wrong because it's going to hit me."

The Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation has found a means to make six-storey wood-frame buildings - which are now permitted in British Columbia - more earthquake resistant. But that method, which was tested last month, will add to the construction costs for such buildings.

On Sunday, former local politicians Greg Deck and Alvin Stedel warned the harmonized sales tax could drive British Columbians near Alberta to do more cross-border shopping, an analysis shared by the president and chief executive of the eastern province's chamber of commerce. In an interview with Public Eye, Ken Kolby said, "You may, in fact, see some leakage, I think, of some of your retail purchases to Alberta." But that's good news for Wild Rose Country.

The harmonized sales tax could mean increased costs for apartment renters, according to the executive director of the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre. In an interview yesterday morning on Public Eye Radio, Martha Lewis said electricity and maintenance fees - which were exempt from the provincial sales tax - will increase by seven percent under the new regime. And apartment owners could trying passing those increases onto their tenants.

The harmonized sales tax means British Columbians will be paying seven percent more for many goods that were exempt from the provincial sales tax it's replacing. And some worry that could drive those living near Alberta to do more cross-border shopping. "Every time there's some change in the taxation and a more visible tax on the B.C. side compared to the Alberta side, it adds reasons for people to make that trip," said former Dawson Creek councillor Avlin Stedel on Public Eye Radio, referring to the eastern province's sales tax free status. "We even lose people that go to Alberta to buy their gasoline because it's so close and they don't have any carbon tax there."

Sunday morning, on Public Eye Radio, Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre executive director Martha Lewis discusses the impact of the harmonized sales tax on apartment renters. Former Radium Hot Springs mayor Greg Deck and Dawson Creek councillor Alvin Stedel talk about how the tax could harm communities near the Alberta border. And our rabble-rousing panel - The Times Colonist's Dave Obee, Marcella Munro, Bob Russell and Allan Warnke - debate the week that was in provincial and federal politics. You can listen to Public Eye Radio outside of Victoria by logging into CFAX 1070 between 8:00 and 10:00. Or check us out after the show by downloading our podcast. If you have a question for one of our guests, you can email us or leave a comment below.

Earlier, we reported the provincial restaurant industry - which has said it will be negatively impacted by the provincial Liberals' harmonized sales tax - includes a number of major party donors. Among them: David Aisenstat, whose brother John is also the Liberals' policy chair. So what does the chair think about that tax? Well, when contacted by Public Eye, he declined comment, referring questions to Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association Western Canada vice president Mark von Schellwitz. "I really don't really want to step on Mark's toes on that," the party executive member said.

Yesterday, we exclusively reported many parents will be spending more money to send their children to summer camp thanks to the government's new harmonized sales tax. But concerned camp leaders might not have the opportunity to speak with Campbell administration about that increase until September. Speaking with Public Eye, Fellowship of Christian Camps northern representative Paul Bailey said, "At this point in the year, our focus is pretty strongly on running our summer programs. And we meet throughout the off-season. So to organize at this point and do the research and come up with a really good response - this is a very difficult season to be doing that in. But I would imagine, at our September meeting, we would take time to look into it and try to find some answers."

The provincial government has more computers than employees - 39,000 to 32,000. So it's "returning surplus systems" as part of several cost-saving measures internally announced last month. The government will also be moving some offices to consolidate rental space. It has put a freeze on purchases from the branches that manage the government's property and technology. And it's asking bureaucrats to choose between their cell phones and Blackberries, discarding one if they have both. The following is a complete copy of that announcement, which posted on July 23.

Many parents will be spending more money to send their children to summer camp thanks to the government's new harmonized sales tax, Public Eye has exclusively learned. And camp leaders worry families without deep pockets won't be able to afford the increase. In the past, the fees for camps run by charitable and religious groups have been exempt from the seven percent provincial sales tax. But Nancy Adams, the Girl Guides of Canada's British Columbia treasurer, said when the harmonized sales tax comes into effect in July 2010, that exemption will end.

The provincial government hasn't promised to protect vital funding for public libraries. But library representatives have promised the government they'll negotiate those funding issues out of the media and behind closed doors, later appearing to adopt a more conciliatory tone in public. Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender was clearly heard making that promise last week while meeting with Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid behind just such a door, his voice carrying into the hallway.

Last month, Western Management Consultants Inc. announced it was looking to "fill a number of exciting new positions" on behalf of an unnamed "Provincial Crown Corporation with offices in Metro Vancouver" - including directors responsible for media and government relations, as well as finance and administration. And which corporation might that be, you may wonder? Well, that would be the Transportation Investment Corp., which was created after the Campbell administration's bid to build the Port Mann/Highway 1 Project via a public-private partnership collapsed.

The British Columbia Federation of Labour has suspended the province's nurses' union from its executive council and activities. Federation officers, including president Jim Sinclair, delivered the news to the British Columbia Nurses' Union during a meeting yesterday, Public Eye has learned. That meeting follows Canadian Labour Congress finding the union has been trying to recruit licensed practical nurses who are already represented by other labour groups - a practice known as raiding. The nurses' union was represented at that meeting by Len Rose, one of its executive councillors.

On Tuesday, the provincial government announced it had been in contact with other countries and the military concerning British Columbia's forest fire crisis. But has the government been in contact with 2009 World Police and Fire Games participants about helping out with that crisis? After all, as of last month, more than 10,000 police and fire officers had registered to come to those games - which got underway on July 31. The answer: "No we haven't," said fire information officer Alyson Couch. "We haven't gone that route yet. We're still in talks with other countries whom we have agreements with. What the firefighters that are there are trained in is structural firefighting - so it's quite different from what we do. So, at this point in time, we haven't gone there...And I don't know if we ever would."

Earlier, we reported government ministries have been asked to keep their professional services contracts to a minimum and make every effort to have their work done in house. That's not great news for capital city consultants. And here's some more: according to an article for the June edition of Canadian Government Executive magazine by public service initiative writer/researcher Karoline Piercy civil servants have suggested a number of public policy improvements via the government's intranet, including "establishing an internal talent bank to reduce the need for external contractors."

Former attorney general Wally Oppal is back making rulings from the bench - but not as a judge. Public Eye has learned Mr. Oppal, who was recently defeated by independent candidate Vicki Huntington in Delta, is coaching the Vancouver Police Department's basketball team at the 2009 World Police and Fire Games. The games are being hosted by British Columbia until August 9.

Last week, Premier Gordon Campbell said British Columbia is facing the "highest levels of wildfire risk in memory," with The Vancouver Sun's Rebecca Tebrake reporting today his government has already spent $110 million fighting those blazes. But premier would have been aware of that risk six months ago if he had been reading Public Eye. In response to our exclusive analysis showing the government would likely blow its $62 million direct forest fire fighting budget, New Democrat critic Bob Simpson warned, "We know we are very close - it could be this season, it could be the next season - to a catastrophic fire event."

When Public Eye investigated the government's statement its top Olympic bureaucrat left the civil service by "mutual consent," we got a copy of her unusual $300,000-plus severance deal. But when the New Democrats filed a similar freedom of information request, the government gave the opposition nothing.

In 2005, Premier Gordon Campbell hired his former deputy minister Ken Dobell to advise him "negotiations and discussions related to elimination or modification of the countervailing duties and anti-dumping duties on softwood lumber." And now, four years later, Mr. Dobell is working on the same file for the British Columbia Lumber Council. On June 22, he signed-up as a lobbyist for the council, registering to contact 11 government agencies - including the premier's office - about the softwood lumber trade agreement. Fancy that!

Former Unity leader Chris Delaney is leaving open the possibility of running to be leader of the provincial Conservatives. Speaking on Public Eye Radio, Mr. Delaney said, "I'll never say never because you just don't know...But there will have to be support for it. And that's not because of some big ego thing. It's because I look at it and say, 'If there isn't a will for this third party, why waste your time.'"

Provincial Conservative deputy leader Chris Delaney has said he would support launching a recall campaign against provincial Liberal legislators. This, after the Campbell administration announced it would be introducing a harmonized sales tax. And his party may support that campaign as well.

Sunday morning, on Public Eye Radio, provincial Conservative deputy leader Chris Delaney discusses the right-wing reaction to the Campbell administration's harmonized sales tax. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' resource policy analyst Ben Parfitt discusses the government's forest fire fighting policies. And our rabble-rousing panel - Eleanor Gregory, Bob Russell, The Times Colonist's Rob Shaw and Allan Warnke - debate the week that was in provincial and federal politics. You can listen to Public Eye Radio outside of Victoria by logging into CFAX 1070 between 8:00 and 10:00. Or check us out after the show by downloading our podcast. If you have a question for one of our guests, you can email us or leave a comment below.