Thursday, February 28, 2013

Calling on Premier Clark: Remove Bully Krueger from BC Liberal Caucus

In 2008, Premier Christy Clark, then a CKNW radio host, promoted Pink Shirt Day with her son Hamish, then 6, and three friends. Clark helped establish the B.C. program. ian lindsay/PNG files

Photograph by: ian lindsay , Vancouver Sun

- See more at: http://www.theprovince.com/life/Ferry+Pink+Shirt+doing+more+harm+than+good+battling/8020667/story.html#sthash.H95zo8Bg.dpuf

Ian Lindsay, Vancouver Sun, 2008

Premier Clark, it is time to remove Kruger from your caucus. Don't dare pretend you are jumping on the Pink Shirt, anti-bullying band wagon while you have this kind of bullying creature hanging around. He is a disgrace to politicians everywhere, but most especially to BC Liberals, most of whom I think must be disgusted and fed up that you would keep such a person in your caucus.

People are looking for strong, decisive leadership from you, Premier Clark. If you know what's right and decent you will turf this guy out of your caucus and people might believe you have what it takes to be a real leader. If you don't, you look like nothing more than a hypocrite and someone who openly supports bullies in your own flock. Talking a good game is no longer enough, you have to walk your talk, because it is action that means something to voters, they've heard enough empty words out of your mouth.

Krueger won't apologize for insults

Conservative opponent Peter Sharp calls for apology after MLA calls Tories 'unmitigated morons'

Kamloops Daily News, February 27, 2013.

Political peers believe outspoken Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger went too far when he referred to B.C. Conservatives as "unmitigated morons" and "scum."

Peter Sharp, the Conservatives' candidate in Kamloops-South, called Krueger a bully Wednesday and demanded he apologize for his comments.

"It was wrong for him to say what he said in the way he said it. He came across as a bully," Sharp told The Daily News.

But Krueger has no intention of apologizing, saying he was standing up for a friend and colleague who was mistreated.

"That's been my reputation all my life," said Krueger.

Krueger fired off an email to the B.C. Conservative Party Tuesday afternoon when a Tory press release called Jobs Minister Pat Bell an "unmitigated disaster."

The press release stated Bell should be suspended over allegations he interfered in a bidding process.

Krueger's response was "Pat Bell is beloved in Prince George, for good reason. There is not one of you scum worthy to tie his shoes — nor tall enough."

He closed by saying, "What idiots you are."

The allegations against Bell are from two B.C. Liberal insiders who claim he acted in bad faith during the bid process for a multimillion-dollar government contract, reported the Vancouver Sun.

Questions have been raised about Bell in connection with the Prince George-based Wood Innovation and Design Centre.

Sharp said Krueger's language is unacceptable for an MLA and insulting to the both the B.C. Conservatives and his constituents.

He wondered what Krueger was thinking when he sent the email in the first place.
"When you're using the official government email address, and using your name and saying you're Kevin Krueger, MLA, what do you expect?" he said.

"I know Kevin, and I know he can be loud and boisterous, but I've always respected him because of his position and I think he did a lot of good things in his time. But that doesn't mean, because he's retiring from politics, that he's going out in a blaze of glory."

Krueger admitted he used stronger language than normal, but doesn't appreciate the attack on Bell, who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of aneurysm.

"I reacted really strongly," he said, adding Cummins' ambition to be premier shouldn't cause him to stoop to such attacks.

"Pat Bell in an extremely honourable man."

And Krueger is confident his actions won't hurt his intended successor in Kamloops-South Thompson Liberal candidate Todd Stone.

"Todd Stone doesn't carry any responsibility for the language I choose," he said.
Stone couldn't be reached for comment, but others running for the riding seat had more than a few words to say about Krueger.

Kamloops-South Thompson New Democrat Tom Friedman said Krueger's remarks are a prime example of the hyper partisanship he expects from the Liberals.

"What we've pledged to do is discuss the issues and make sure we're respectful of each other," he said. "What we've seen from Kevin Krueger is not a good sign for a very positive campaign."

Kathy Kendall, Friedman's Kamloops-North Thompson counterpart, agreed. She said statements like Krueger's turn people off politics.

"It's clearly, clearly inappropriate," she said. "When people hear something like that . . . it turns people off and it's why we have to take a different approach."

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Jon Ferry: Is Pink ShirtDay doing more harm than good in battling bullying?

By Jon Ferry, The Province February 27, 2013

Premier Christy Clark, who helped set up Pink Shirt Day in B.C. in 2008 when she was a hard-charging CKNW radio host, defends it as a day around which people can organize anti-bullying efforts.

PREMIER DEFENDS ATTACK ADS

Now some people, especially NDP supporters, would say the attack ads that B.C. Liberal supporters have been running against NDP Leader Adrian Dix amount to bullying.

The premier is obviously not one of them.

She pointed out that, according to experts, bullying is a “persistent effort to harm another person that gives the perpetrator pleasure.”

But aren’t the Liberals getting pleasure out of persistently harming Dix?

“Well, the B.C. Liberals aren’t doing that, Jon. I mean, I think you need to be really clear in your story about that, that we are not running those ads,” Clark said.

But she could stop them, couldn’t she? “No,” she insisted.

PREMIER DEFENDS ATTACK ADS
Now some people, especially NDP supporters, would say the attack ads that B.C. Liberal supporters have been running against NDP Leader Adrian Dix amount to bullying.
The premier is obviously not one of them.
She pointed out that, according to experts, bullying is a “persistent effort to harm another person that gives the perpetrator pleasure.”
But aren’t the Liberals getting pleasure out of persistently harming Dix?
“Well, the B.C. Liberals aren’t doing that, Jon. I mean, I think you need to be really clear in your story about that, that we are not running those ads,” Clark said.
But she could stop them, couldn’t she? “No,” she insisted.
- See more at: http://www.theprovince.com/life/Ferry+Pink+Shirt+doing+more+harm+than+good+battling/8020667/story.html#sthash.H95zo8Bg.dpuf

VICTORIA/CKNW (AM980)
Sean Leslie | Email news tips to Sean
2/27/2013

He's not apologizing, but he wishes he used different words.

That from Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger today after firing off an e-mail to the BC Conservative Party yesterday calling them "scum" and "morons".
"Well I hardly ever use language like that...and in retrospect...sat down at their computer...read it, and pounded out that rebuke...but I didn't intend it to be public."
Fellow liberal MLA Bill Bennett was asked if Krueger went too far.
"Well I haven't read his email so I don't know everything that he said....I would agree with him on the moron comment."
REPORTER: "haven't you been trying to reach out to Conservatives? how does that help with that effort?"
"Well I think we're past trying to reach out, I don't think there's many of 'em left."
But Liberal caucus chair Gordon Hogg is not happy with Krueger's comments and says the issue "may" be discussed in caucus.
Krueger is not running for re-election.
- See more at: http://www.cknw.com/news/vancouver/story.aspx/story.aspx?ID=1899792#sthash.mLnBC6q1.dp

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Another day, Another BC Liberal bidding scandal

Hmmm, this whole thing is very sketchy. Perhaps the Auditor General's office needs to look into this. I don't understand why someone involved in the bid process would be investigating this. Why does this government have no basic understanding of conflict of interest?

As always with BC Liberals, laying down with dogs results in fleas sometime along the way.

B.C. minister accused of misleading bidders on development

Jobs minister Pat Bell 'breached protocols, broke promises,' complaint alleges

CBC News, Feb 26, 2013.

A CBC News investigation has uncovered serious allegations against the B.C. government and provincial Jobs Minister Pat Bell related to the proposed Wood Innovation and Design Centre project in Prince George.

Bell and the government are accused of promising to influence what was supposed to be an independent bid process in favour of two developers with ties to the B.C. Liberal party. The allegations are contained in a written complaint filed last November by two Prince George businessmen and submitted to Jane Shackell, the lawyer charged with overseeing the fairness of the bid process.

In the complaint, Dan McLaren and Brian Fehr detail their concerns about "breached protocols, broken promises and misrepresentation" by Bell and the government.

McLaren and Fehr allege that in May 2012, government representatives met with them and assured them they would be short-listed for the project if the land needed to build the development was purchased ahead of time.

Did not make shortlist

Records show Fehr then bought the land, but in the end, no company owned by him or McLaren made the short list.

Three companies have been short-listed, but the winning bidder hasn't yet been named. The Wood Innovation and Design Centre, first announced in the 2009 Throne speech, is a $25-million project for downtown Prince George meant to showcase the use of wood for tall building construction.

It will contain a variety of public and private sector tenants, including some classrooms for the University of Northern B.C.

According to regulations, government projects are supposed to be awarded without political interference. But the complainants say they were "duped into the deal," because the outcome was not what they claim they had been promised.

McLaren said in the complaint that he now faces foreclosure on the property deal unless he makes a $1.5 million payment.

Minister maintains he acted properly

But the minister insists that everything was handled properly.

"I'm very comfortable with it,” Bell told CBC News.

He also said that, in any case, he was not in a position to make any deals ahead of time, as the complaint alleges.

“To be clear, I do not sit on the project board nor have any authority over it. I would not and could not offer that type of offer to anyone."

Bell does admit he was interviewed by Shackell about the businessmen's complaint.

Shackell’s report, however, found the bidding process had been conducted fairly. But she also acknowledged that there were concerns raised by McLaren and Fehr that didn't fall within her mandate to investigate.

Elections BC records show that Fehr or his company have donated $123,000 to the B.C. Liberals since 2006.

The records also show McLaren has donated more than $2,100 to the BC Liberals over the past eight years and in 2001, he vied against Bell for the Liberal nomination in his Prince George riding.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Your "Values" are Showing BC Liberals: Slashing Funding for the Disabled

Busy week for politics this week, hard to keep up, here are some highlights:

B.C. siphons hundreds of millions from B.C. Hydro, ICBC to balance books

Rob Shaw, Times Colonist, February 20, 2013.

The B.C. government continues to siphon hundreds of millions of dollars out of B.C. Hydro and the Insurance Corp. of B.C., in a bid to balance the provincial budget with profits that don’t really exist, the Opposition says.

B.C. Hydro is providing the government with a $245-million dividend payment, while ICBC will contribute $226 million in 2013, according to Tuesday’s provincial budget documents.

The money appears key to helping government table a $197-million surplus in the next year.

***********************

Just heartless. Don't dare use the b.s. slogan "Families First" again after what you're going to do to people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Also, know this, you cruel BC Liberals, this is going to end up costing much more in the long run for more expensive care and the cost of human suffering.

B.C. plans to slash funding for adults with disabilities

Lindsay Kines / Times Colonist, February 20, 2013.

The B.C. government plans to drastically reduce the average amount of money it spends on adults with developmental disabilities over the next three years, budget documents show.

Adults with fetal alcohol disorder and autism who receive service under the personal supports initiative will see the biggest decline. Documents show the average cost per client in that program dropping from $24,000 to $16,000 this year alone — a 33 per cent decline.

In two years time, the average cost per client in the program will be less than half what it is today, the documents show.

At the same time, the program’s caseload is expected to more than double from 424 to 945.

*********************

Clark campaigning on ‘values’

IAN BAILEY, The Globe and Mail, Feb. 21 2013.

Premier Clark:

“I think citizens look as hard at values as they do at promises. I think this election is going to be about what we value as people, what we value as leaders, what principles define us,” Ms. Clark told reporters a day after delivering the budget.

“It’s values, principles and character that are going to define this election. It’s not going to be promises. British Columbians have been down that road before and I don’t think they want to do down that road again.”

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

With BC Liberal "Friends" Like This, Who Needs Enemies

Love it! Martyn Brown is back muggin' for the camera again. He is probably one of the most effective and powerful adversaries Christy Clark's dwindling party has these days.

This whole myth about keeping corporate taxes low because it will lead to job creation is busted. Corporate tax cuts over the BC Liberal reign of terror have led to the decimation of many of our public services. Many of us are much more poor than we were before this government was in office and richly rewarded their corportate donors.

Even people like Jim Flaherty, the Conservative Finance Minister, have taken to begging and trying to shame his corporate base to stop stockpiling billions made through tax cuts and start creating jobs for Canadians.

Liberal insider tears strip off B.C. budget

Martyn Brown says budget will have NDP 'jumping for joy'

CBC News, Feb 19, 2013.

The B.C. Liberal government likely has the provincial NDP “jumping for joy,” says Martyn Brown, chief of staff to former premier Gordon Campbell, in a scathing critique of the budget during an interview with CBC News anchor Gloria Macarenko Tuesday.

Brown, a longtime Liberal insider in B.C., said the budget had done the NDP’s tax-raising “dirty work” for them.

“The budget basically conceded the tax turf to the NDP,” Brown said.

“I think the only ones jumping for joy today, really, will be the NDP because, effectively, this government has done the dirty work of saying it needs to increase corporate taxes, it needs to increase personal taxes on higher income earners, it’s increasing MSP premiums.”

He said the Liberals basically came up with the very tax agenda that the New Democrats had been suggesting.

“And most of that won’t take effect until next January, a year from now, so you won’t feel it in this election year but you sure will feel it in the years to come,” said Brown.

'A lot to do about nothing'

Brown also predicted the budget will be dead before it has much chance to be enacted.
“It’s not going to matter. This budget won’t see the light of day no matter who gets elected. They’re going to have to introduce a new budget. All the assumptions will be re-evaluated in May and all of the spending will be re-evaluated in May. So really, this is a lot to do about nothing.”

Brown, author of the e-book, Towards a New Government in British Columbia, has been highly critical of the two-year-old Christy Clark administration, and for months has been predicting an NDP victory in the May 14 election.

He says he still is pulling for the Liberals to win, but isn’t holding out much hope. “Miracles do happen in politics, but it’s a long shot, to put it mildly,” Brown said.

***************************

Corporate leaders give B.C. Liberals the business

Michael Smythe, The Province, February 20, 2013

Taking heat from business is an uncomfortable place for the Liberals, who constantly claim they're the pro-business party, while insisting the NDP are the ones who would jack up taxes and drive away investment. By doing themselves what they accused the NDP of conspiring to do, the Liberals have surrendered a key line of attack in the election campaign.

Strangely, this pre-election budget also contained little in the way of promised goodies for voters in that looming campaign, leaving many Liberals I consulted Tuesday to privately wonder how Christy Clark plans to save all their skins.

********************

********************************************

CKNW coverage:

Budget raises taxes by $327 million

BC Government tables 2013-2014 budget: highlights

Sean Leslie, 2/19/2013.

The provincial government has tabled its 2013-14 budget, calling for a surplus of $197 million in the coming fiscal year, with some new programs aimed at children and families.

Here are some of the highlights:

--the surplus will be achieved through a mix of tax increases, spending restraint, asset sales and economic growth
--tax hikes will bring in an extra $327 million in the coming year
--the corporate income tax rate rises from 10 to 11 % on April first, one year earlier than planned (raising $205 million)
--there will be a temporary two year increase in the personal income tax rate for individual income over 150-thousand dollars, effective january first, 2014 (raising 50 million dollars), goes up by about 2 percent
--tobacco taxes go up by two dollars per carton on october first (raising 17 million dollars)
--msp premiums go up by about four percent on january 1, 2014 (raising 23 million dollars)
--school property tax credits for light industry are phased out for the 2013 tax year (raising 32 million dollars)
--as promised, no increase in carbon tax, rate to stay the same for next three years...but there is 20 million to provide carbon tax relief for commercial greenhouse vegetable and flower growers ..and farmers will get carbon tax exemptions for coloured fuel
--government says it will hold annual spending increases to 1.5 per-cent over the next three years, while revenue is expected to average three per-cent annual growth
--savings of 1 billion dollars identified in ministries and crown agencies over 3 years
--economy expected to grow by 1.6 per-cent in 2013, 2.2 per-cent in 2014, 2.5 per-cent in 2015
--land sales of more than 100 surplus properties, raising 800 million in the coming fiscal year, 150 million the following year...that represents less than two percent of government's 70 billion dollar portfolio
--there are some new spending measures spread out over the next 3 years
--government is introducing a new bc training and education savings grant worth 12-hundred dollars
--when a child born on or after january 1st, 2007 turns six years old, government will deposit 12-hundred dollars into r-e-s-p (registered education savings plan); no matching contributions are required
--a new early childhood tax benefit to be introduced in 2015, worth up to 55 dollars per month or 660 dollars annually for each child under six.....aimed at low income families, would be phased out for families with net income between 100-thousand and 150-thousand dollars
--76 million over 3 years to improve early learning and child care services and supports
--there will be 52 million dollars in new money over 3 years to cover increased rcmp costs
--60 million in new and reallocated fundeing for the sports and arts legacy fund
--18 million for the new b-c creative futures agency
--13 million over 3 years to support renewal and renovation of 13 provincially owned s-r-o hotels on downtown eastside
--5 million to enhance counselling and treatment for problem gambling
--4 million over 3 years to help agricultural land commission increase oversight of the a-l-r
--total provincial debt forecats to be 63 billion dollars in 2013-14, rising to 69 billion in 2015-16
--key measure of debt-to-gdp ratio will peak at 18.3% in 2014-15, then fall to 18.1% the following year
--fiscal plan has forecast allowance of 200 million dollars and contingency fund of 225 million dollars
--deficit for the current fiscal year ending on march 31st has been reduced from 1.5 to 1.2 billion dollars

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Interesting Times: Annus horribilus for BC Liberals

Next week should be even more spectacular with Premier Clark's BC Liberal government facing a dicey confidence vote on the budget.

Vaughn Palmer: So far, 2013 has been an annus horribilus for the B.C. Liberals

By Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun, February 16, 2013.

VICTORIA — The B.C. Liberals began the year needing major momentum to close a substantial gap in public opinion with the New Democrats before election day.

So far, that hasn’t happened. With seven weeks gone already, the year has been marred by a string of embarrassments, fizzles and gaffes for the Liberals.

The lowlights package:

Jan 5. News breaks that the B.C. Liberal members of a legislature selection committee have schemed to deny Auditor General John Doyle a second term. The clumsy revenge move, targeting an independent financial watchdog who has bitten the government multiple times, will blight the governing party for weeks.

Jan. 13. The Liberals launch yet another round of advertising to promote their jobs plan, provoking more backlash from people fed up with tax dollars being used for partisan political purposes.

Jan. 15. The optics are against the Liberals as the Toronto Stock Exchange marks the return to trading of B.C.-based Catalyst Paper. Standing alongside the CEO Kevin Clarke to ring the bell is Opposition leader Adrian Dix, a rare placement for a New Democrat. Missing, though she was invited, is Premier Christy Clark.

Jan. 16. Scrambling to reverse the perception that her party is out to get Doyle, Clark suggests that the Liberal klutzes on the selection committee offer him a two-year extension. This only serves to prolong the agony because Doyle, stung by what he calls a “Mickey Mouse process” will reject the offer.

Jan. 19. Surrey council turns down a $100-million casino project that the province had been promoting. Cabinet minister Rich Coleman and lotteries boss Michael Graydon then blow a gasket in the direction of B.C.’s second city.

But Surrey is not to be intimidated by the bullying minister and his out-of-line Crown corporation head. Over the next few days, Mayor Dianne Watts, Liberal MLA and caucus chair Gordon Hogg and Liberal MLA Kevin Falcon will all say that council got it right, meaning Coleman got it wrong.

Jan. 23. Moe Gill, the Abbotsford councillor and raspberry farmer, exacts his revenge on the governing party for vetoing his bid for a nomination in Abbotsford South. He announces he’ll run as an independent against his former ally, cabinet minister Mike de Jong, in Abbotsford West.

Jan. 24. Premier Clark takes the wraps off her vaunted 10-year plan for labour peace in the K-12 education sector. Some good, albeit overdue ideas. But none of the major players in the sector can take seriously a 10-year plan from a government with mere weeks left in its mandate.

Jan. 29. After months of telling Hydro ratepayers that they have no choice but to accept smart meters, the Liberals back off, sort of, leastways until the election. Another reminder that this $1-billion exercise should never have been denied a proper review by the independent utilities commission.

Feb. 4. Opposition energy critic John Horgan has been going over the latest numbers from Hydro and announces that the Liberals have saddled the giant utility with a surplus of expensive power, setting up a potential loss of $1 billion over the next four years.

Feb. 7. “B.C. Liberal faces tax-evasion charges,” says the front-page headline in The Vancouver Sun, reporting on the sizable legal difficulties of “star” candidate Sukh Dhaliwal. A key backer of Clark’s leadership bid, he didn’t even tell the party about his legal troubles until contacted by reporter Kim Bolan. Still, party headquarters briefly sticks by him until the inevitable public outcry forces a resignation.

Feb. 8. The Liberals discover the downside of spending millions of dollars touting the jobs plan: What if the numbers head in the wrong direction? StatsCan reports that B.C. shed almost 16,000 jobs in January, second worst performance in the country.

Feb. 12. The legislature resumes with the speech from the throne, second of the Christy Clark era. The Liberals stake their hopes on a $100-billion fund that would supposedly be generated from five — count ‘em, five — liquefied natural gas terminals. To reach that place, set your sights on the second star on the right, and fly straight on till morning.

Feb. 13. For the first question period of the session, the New Democrats disclose that the Liberals have bumped the budget for taxpayer-funded partisan ads to $16.5 million, including a scheduled blitz following the coming provincial budget. All of this comes straight from a confidential report given earlier to the Liberal caucus, which is leaking.

Feb. 14. The Liberals mark Valentine’s Day by discounting speculation about a less-than-loving atmosphere in their caucus room. Will the government be able to muster a majority for every vote in the house? Not to worry, say caucus leaders.

But the premier herself was sufficiently concerned to reach out to disaffected independent MLA John Slater and ask him to vote with the government.

Her hand-picked party brass had declared Slater unfit to run for office for the Liberals. “But can we count on your support on the budget?” Slater rebuffed her. “I can’t do a flip-flop like that,” he tells Cassidy Olivier of the Province.

So ended another discouraging week for the premier and her team. And just 12 more to go until the voters have their say.

vpalmer@vancouversun.com

Saturday, February 16, 2013

LDB real estate sell off: Something hinky this way comes

It can't be just me, but there is something hinky about this. My best guess is they've already got a BC Liberal insider lined up to buy the real estate at a great price (hmm, maybe one of the previous bidders?) and something in the works for where they will move to. My spidey senses are just tingling over this and they are NEVER wrong.

Minister says relocating Liquor Distribution Warehouse doesn't have to do with money
Shane Woodford, CKNW(AM980), 2/16/2013

“It’s not entirely about the money,” says the minister responsible as the province looks at relocating the Liquor Distribution Warehouse in Vancouver.

Rich Coleman says the current building is not tall enough [Ed. WTH???]and the operation could become more efficient in a new updated facility.

But Coleman also admits the real estate it is sitting on is worth a few bucks and the Province might look at selling it after the move.

Asked if they have a new location locked down Coleman said:

"No we will ask the real estate market to give us some options as to what is out there we are hoping to find something that is already purpose built rather than having to wait but we don't know what the market is yet. We wanted to make a decision on the move first and then now we will go to the market and have them make a proposal to us."

The BC Government and Employees Union says the Province just wants to sell the land and use the dollars to balance the government books.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

BC Liberals plan to spend $16.6 million of taxpayer funds on ads for their party

Yes, many of us are being bombarded by the taxpayer-funded BC Liberal election advertising every which way we turn - on Facebook, on Youtube, on online sites.

When I think of the kids going to bed, or school hungry, the developmentally disabled people who have had care cut back, or group homes closed down, or any of the other more important things $16.4 million could be spent on it makes me sick.

Leaked documents show Liberals plan more election ad spending
Sean Leslie, CKNW (AM980), 2/13/2013

The NDP says a leaked government document shows the Liberals are planning to spend more money on advertising in the lead-up to the spring election than previously disclosed.

Opposition leader Adrian Dix says the document that was presented to the Liberal caucus last month outlines 16.6 million dollars in Jobs Plan advertising, up from the previous estimate of 15 million.

"The purpose of the campaign according to the government document is to help quote decrease the credibility gap of the government. 16.4 million, yes it's an ambitious goal Mr. Speaker."

But Premier Christy Clark defends the commercials, saying they are directing people to the BC Jobs Plan Facebook site.

"As a result of some of the work that we've been doing, over a million people have gone to visit the Facebook site and that Facebook site is there to connect people with jobs."

The Liberals say they're still spending less on advertising than the NDP did in the 1990's.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Psyche! NDP is getting their ducks in a row

Just love the bold move of Adrian Dix in lining up Don Wright to be the deputy minister to the premier and head of the B.C. civil service three months before he wins the election.

Being the head of the Public Service Agency (PSA) is a crucial role in government. Many can only hope that Wright will take a good look at what is floating around in PSA and do some spring house cleaning to get a fresh start for a new government.

Dix names choice for head of civil service three months ahead of election

Justine Hunter, The Globe and Mail, Feb. 13 2013.

The president of the B.C. Institute of Technology is stepping down to help prepare the province’s New Democratic Party for a possible transition to government.

If the NDP win the May 14 election, Don Wright will serve as the deputy minister to the premier and as the head of the civil service.

It’s a key appointment choice, but an unusual tactic to announce three months in advance of the election. In naming Mr. Wright’s potential role now, Mr. Dix is building on efforts to counter his critics who argue that a return to NDP government would destabilize the province at a time when the economy is fragile.

A former forest industry executive and a senior member of the Business Council of B.C., Mr. Wright has built a reputation as a non-partisan, working in both the private and public sector. He has also taught economics at Harvard University.

In an interview, NDP Leader Adrian Dix noted there is no guarantee of a job for Mr. Wright.

“I’m somewhat superstitious about these things,” he said. “It is up to the voters. But it’s our duty to be ready.”

The NDP opposition has been running well ahead of the governing Liberals in the polls, but Mr. Dix has cautioned his supporters that the gap will close before voting day.

He said he consulted with Mr. Wright about his skills and training platform, and first broached the prospective appointment late last year.

“He was my number one choice,” Mr. Dix said. “He will lead a non-partisan public service.”

Saturday, February 09, 2013

Oh what a tangled web we weave: BC Liberal party vetting process failed voters

Update on Dhaliwal story. He has now resigned, but what I am quite unclear about is when did the BC Liberal party find out he was facing the tax evasion charges. Here is a bit of a timeline.

From 2006 to 2011 - Dhaliwal was a Member of Parliament.This time frame is included in the allegations against him for tax evasion.

Aug. 24, 2011 - Dhaliwal was “served personally” with a notice of requirement to file taxes and allegedly did not comply with order.

Oct. 15, 2012 - The charges under the Income Tax Act were sworn by a Surrey justice of the peace against Dhaliwal.

Two weeks later, the B.C. Liberals announced that Dhaliwal would be their candidate for Surrey-Panorama in the upcoming provincial election.

Nov. 26, 2012 - Dhaliwal made a first appearance on the charges in Surrey Provincial Court.

Dec. 17, 2012 - Dhaliwal had an arraignment hearing.

"On or about Dec. 23, 2011, [he] did unlawfully direct, authorize, assent to, acquiesce in or participate in Genco Consultant’s failure to file a completed Corporate Income Tax Return or T2.” This is what the indictment states. This is the same for 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

While all of this is certainly a very big problem for Dhaliwal, the bigger questions that remain are for the BC Liberal party. So, here are the questions I have for the BC Liberal brain trust.

Is it not part of your vetting process for candidates that you ask them if they are facing any kind of charges, under any kind of legislation?

Would this not be a prudent question to ask candidates you want to send out to represent your party?

How would a ball this big get dropped? Is the zeal for a "star" Indo-Canadian candidate that strong that they would overlook such a thing until caught?

On what exact date did the BC Liberal party "leadership" (and that is being generous) learn about these charges? And if it was when he was being vetted, or at any point before all of this became public, who made the decision to keep him as a candidate?

And, the most important question for voters now: Are there any other BC Liberal candidates facing charges that the BC Liberal party leadership may have decided to turn a blind eye to before May 14th when voters go to the ballot boxes?

Kim Bolan's story reports the following:

B.C. Liberal campaign director Mike McDonald said in an email that Dhaliwal “has made us aware of issues concerning a company in which he is a director and will be keeping us up to date with his progress.”

“He disclosed the matter and has assured the party that he is working to resolve it as expeditiously as possible and fully intends to fulfil any and all obligations,” McDonald said, without providing details of when the party was informed by Dhaliwal.

Here is some footage from Global BC TV's coverage of the story:

Thursday, February 07, 2013

When you lay down with dogs you get up fleas: BC Liberals Fail Vetting Candidates

So, the BC Liberal party, in vetting candidates, didn't think Dhaliwal facing charges for tax evasion warranted ruling him out as a candidate for this election? Obviously Dhaliwal is innocent until otherwise proven, but wouldn't a prudent political party rule him out until these charges were resolved?

Perhaps we, the voting public, should be asking the BC Liberals how many other candidates are facing charges and for what?

As the unfolding drama and disgrace of Senator Patrick Brazeau is making clear, political parties better be really careful who they have running under their banner, because the whole party becomes tarnished in the eyes of voters and citizens when you have unsavoury characters carrying on.

B.C. Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal faces tax-evasion charges

Party announced candidacy of former MP Sukh Dhaliwal two weeks after charges sworn

By Kim Bolan, Vancouver Sun February 7, 2013

B.C. Liberal candidate and former MP Sukh Dhaliwal is facing six charges under the Income Tax Act for failing to file returns for a company of which he is president, The Vancouver Sun has learned.

The charges were sworn by a Surrey justice of the peace on Oct. 15, 2012 according court records obtained by The Sun.

Two weeks later, the B.C. Liberals announced that Dhaliwal would be their candidate for Surrey-Panorama in the upcoming provincial election.

“British Columbia is at a crucial point in history, and the B.C. Liberals are the best option for our province’s economy,” Dhaliwal said as he announced his candidacy on Oct. 31.

“Offering families low taxes, a clear plan for growth and the fiscal capacity for strong systems of support are values that I firmly believe in.”

Dhaliwal made a first appearance on the charges in Surrey Provincial Court Nov. 26 and was arraigned Dec. 17. The case was before a Surrey judge three times in January. And it is again in court today to fix a date.

The charges relate to his position as president of Genco Consultants Inc., of which his wife Roni is listed in corporate documents as secretary. There are no other directors listed.
Genco was founded on Nov. 26, 1999 as a numbered company, according to the B.C. corporate registry, adopting its current name in 2001.

The two page indictment says Dhaliwal violated section 238 (1) of the Income Tax Act when “on or about Dec. 23, 2011, [he] did unlawfully direct, authorize, assent to, acquiesce in or participate in Genco Consultant’s failure to file a completed Corporate Income Tax Return or T2.”

There is a separate count with identical wording for each of the years 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Each count also says that Dhaliwal was “served personally” with a notice of requirement to file on Aug. 24, 2011.

Dhaliwal provided an emailed response to The Sun late Wednesday.
He said Genco “is a joint venture with other companies.”

“This is not a company that I had direct day-to-day operational responsibilities, but as a director, do have responsibility for overseeing the overall operations,” he said. “I am working to resolve this issue as soon as possible, and am fully co-operating with the process. I am confident that this will be resolved in short order and I will fulfil any and all obligations.”

B.C. Liberal campaign director Mike McDonald said in an email that Dhaliwal “has made us aware of issues concerning a company in which he is a director and will be keeping us up to date with his progress.”

“He disclosed the matter and has assured the party that he is working to resolve it as expeditiously as possible and fully intends to fulfil any and all obligations,” McDonald said, without providing details of when the party was informed by Dhaliwal.

Dhaliwal was an MP from 2006 and 2011, during four of the years that the Canada Revenue Agency alleges he failed to file returns for his company.

The maximum penalties under the act for the offence are a $25,000 fine and a year in jail. Vancouver lawyer Ravi Hira said Wednesday that convictions under the Income Tax Act can result in a record under the Criminal Records Act.

“Every person or corporation that makes income or has income in Canada, net income, must file a tax return. If you fail to file a tax return, the minister or a representative of the minister can demand of the individual … or, if it’s a corporation, of a person who’s in charge of the corporation, to file a return,” Hira explained.

“In this case, it is alleged that the demand has been made of a person in charge of the corporation pursuant to section 231.2. If a return isn’t filed pursuant to a demand, then the person is committing an offence. The offence is an offence under the Income Tax Act. It carries, on summary conviction, a minimum fine of $1,000, and a fine that cannot exceed $25,000 and it can also have up to one year imprisonment.”

Dhaliwal had been a Liberal MP for Surrey Newton-North Delta for five years when he was defeated in 2011 by Jinny Sims, of the NDP.

Dhaliwal, 52, has made his mark in politics at all three levels of government.

Back in 1999, he signed up thousands of members for the Surrey Electors Team — then the dominant municipal party in Surrey — when Liberal MLA Kevin Falcon was SET’s campaign manager.

Then he entered the federal arena as an organizer and candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada.

He also organized provincially for Premier Christy Clark’s leadership bid in 2011.
Dhaliwal has also attracted controversy.

While a federal MP, he wrote a reference letter on official House of Commons stationary for convicted international drug smuggler Ranjit Singh Cheema. The letter was addressed to the California judge sentencing Cheema after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to import 200 kilograms of heroin. Cheema was gunned down in Vancouver last year shortly after getting out of prison.

kbolan@vancouversun.com

Sukh Dhaliwal Charges Page 1 by
Sukh Dhaliwal Charges Page 2 by
Genco company summary by The Vancouver Sun

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

A little Election humour from David Eby's camp

Weird, we didn't know Premier Clark was going to run in Point Grey again. After she won the by-election she was pretty open about not being too interested in running in the riding again and appeared to be shopping around for another riding to run in.

Maybe the brain trust behind her campaign think this is a slam dunk riding for the BC Liberals since it was held by Gordon (Sell Everything that isn't Nailed Down) Campbell for so long?

Funny thing is, the voter profile in Point Grey has changed a lot over the last decade and Eby will resonate with a lot more voters this time around.

There is also the problem of some really bad poll numbers related to public perception of Clark and Dix personalities. Check out the video below, which discusses the findings of the poll in which Clark was described as "arrogant" and "out of touch" among other things.

This is going to be THE riding to watch for BC's #May14Election