Campbell's Plan to Privatize Your Privacy: Infrastructure Outsourcing for BC - Part 1

The word is out that in January 2009, Campbell & his Liberal puppets are set to privatize the rest of BC citizen's personal, private and confidential information by signing a multi-million dollar, multi-year contract with EDS Advanced Solutions. Hewlett Packard (HP)-Electronic Data Systems (EDS) is a global, transnational information technology corporation based in Texas.

This privatization will see the operation and maintenance of the BC government mainframe computer servers under the management of HP-EDS. Before you're tempted to give a big yawn and a "who cares" you should know that this means that any personal and private information that is held by the BC government about you and anyone else you know, all government documents, health care numbers and information, social insurance numbers, e-mails and communications with government.

Ever been on welfare in BC? Or had a child protection report made about you and your family? Been in jail? Charged with a crime? Been to Small Claims, or the Supreme Court? Ever registered a business with the province of BC? How about your Vital Statistics? Refugee and Immigration status? Do you have any government student loans? Any complaints you've made to government? Ever made any submissions to a government panel? Or had any other dealing with the BC government where information might have been collected about you, from you, or one of your loved ones?

Well, if GC and his neoConLibs get their way, all of that information will now be heading off into the hands of HP-EDS and whoever else they're connected to. There is a tangled little web of business partnerships in the IT world.

History of HP-EDS

According to industry reports, HP has been buying up all sorts of different IT sector businesses over the last few years. In October 2007, they bought Atos Origin, who was implicated in the loss of a memory stick containing passwords for a government computer system - the Gateway website, which provides access to services including tax returns and child benefits. That happened in November 2008, a small piece of a very large pattern.

HP Acquires Atos Origin Middle East Group to Broaden Systems Integration Business

From 2000 onward, EDS has held billion dollar contracts with the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) and the US Department of the Navy to set up an Intranet. There were wide reports of problems with those contracts, related to "delays and controversies over its scope... [that have] caused financial and logistics problem for EDS. In early 2004, Michael Jordan, who had become EDS chairman and chief executive officer in March 2003, said the company had gotten the project under control but acknowledged that the contract was "a mess" (due to a lack of leadership, oversight and accountability at EDS and NMCI).”

In spite of years yo-yo-ing of quarterly losses, gains and flatlining for shareholders, they continued to get big US & UK government contracts. In the 2007 fiscal year, EDS was reportedly #2 in the Information Technology services, behind IBM. EDS reported $22.7 billion in revenue for the 2007 fiscal year.

So, question, if they're so successful, why did EDS sell the corporation to HP for $25 per share, or only approximately $13.9 billion in the second half of 2008? I ain't no economist, but that sounds like a really good deal for HP and something doesn't smell right about that.

Wonder how much liquidity EDS lost in equities, investments and bad mortgages from 2007 to 2008? That's the only sensible explanation for this acquisition and merger. Considering their corporate headquarters are in El Presidente Bush's home state of Texas it's probably not a stretch to say EDS was involved in the sub-prime crisis, like many of the other "good ole Boys" who've been caught with their pants down and empty coffers.

Since EDS held the highest of security clearance and contracts to build an Intranet for the US Department of the Navy, I think we should be asking ourselves how close are they to the US Administration, both the previous one and the current one?

HP (Hewlett Packard) only just acquired EDS in May 2008, with the re-organization, inevitable slash and burn of staff taking place and some interesting industry comments about their tactics to get rid of staff. One might also note that a number of EDS staff have been sacked in the UK over the massive privacy breaches that have occurred there. Hey, why not kill two birds with one stone, very efficient.
HP-EDS haven't even gone an entire fiscal year yet as a combined transnational corporate entity, not enough time to try to straighten out some of the international messes created by EDS on other contracts (UK). So, now, they want to take on BC’s infrastructure.

HP and EDS Try a Tieup

In its largest acquisition since it bought Compaq, Hewlett-Packard has agreed to buy Electronic Data Systems for $13.9 billion
Business Week. May 13, 2008.

More tomorrow on EDS.

Disaster & Emergency Planning: What is the BC Government Doing to Prepare?

That old saying a picture is worth a thousand words is so apt.

When looking at the images of the devastation from Hurricane Ike and from the earthquake in China I think that while Campbell and his flunkies & MLA's, all with their shiny, dazzling raises have all this time on their hands (where a fall session in the BC Legislature should have been) that the people of BC have a right to have our government provide us with a written and detailed emergency plan should we experience some sort of devastating natural disaster, or, man-made event.

Our provincial Powers That Be have not seen fit to be able to remotely keep to any responsible schedule for seismic upgrading of our children's schools, in a region that falls on a major earthquake fault line and which has seen earthquake and tsumani activities in the past.

Province dragging its feet on seismic upgrades for schools, says NDP
Last Updated: Wednesday, September 3, 2008 | 7:32 PM ET
CBC News

Of the hundreds of schools targeted for upgrades, 80 were deemed high risk and declared a priority. The deadline to upgrade those schools was 2008.

"We're standing here today with less than a fifth of those schools being completed," she said. "This is a government and a premier who has not a thought about finding a 43 per cent [pay] increase for his ministers, but he can't find the money to fast-track seismic upgrading."

Seismic upgrades in the province need to be fast tracked, according to Tracy Monk with Families for School Seismic Safety, the group that lobbied the government for a comprehensive upgrading strategy.

Monk said international disasters such as the massive earthquake in China this summer should act as an impetus for faster change in B.C.

Shirley Bond responds on seismic upgrading at B.C. schools

Education Minister Shirley Bond speaking on Sep 6, 2008

... there was a magnitude 4.9 quake west of Vancouver Island at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday. It was the second tremor of that size in the past day in the area — which had been relatively quiet after a cluster of similar quakes last week.

Three years ago, our government announced a $1.5-billion, 15-year commitment to seismically upgrade British Columbia's public schools. We remain committed to that plan, easily the most comprehensive by any government in this province's history.

To date, we have finished upgrades at 25 schools. Work at 27 more is underway. Seismic upgrades have been approved at another 22 schools. We have invested nearly $400 million to date and we are making steady progress on our long-range plan to make B.C. schools safer. This is on top of the 67 new and replacement schools that we've built since 2001 that are modern, safe, seismically sound buildings.

Saturday September 13, 2008.

Vancouver Sun database shows many schools awaiting seismic repairs

Of the nearly 300 schools in B.C. considered to be at highest risk in the event of an earthquake, only 14 have had repairs completed. At 18 high-risk structures, upgrades are underway, and the rest of the 300 schools are waiting for their turns.

Database: How safe is your child's school

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If the non-mainstream media is to be believed, in addition to our impending global economic nuclear meltdown (thanks to our irresponsible, reckless and greedy neighbours to the South) we here in North America are close to being subjected to some new, domestic and cataclysmic events, which we can't fully conceive of. There are lots of speculations on what they will be, but that's all they are thus far.

As we can see, the Republicans, in the decrepit and pitiable visage of John McCain, are already carrying out their machinations to prevent the American election from taking place. I've been reading the chatter about these pending events for months now, but seeing it play out now in the mainstream media brings it to the surface in a way that is difficult to ignore. Indeed, what the alternative media, who are being mercilessly being attacked and taken down by operatives, report is that there is going to be a massive domestic 9/11 type event that will enable the Bush regime (and those behind him) to suspend the American presidential election, declare martial law and ensure that the Bush regime remains in power. Sound far fetched, watch this video from a recent Daily Show with Jon Stewart and ask whether it is outside of the realm of possibilities of a government that that is trillions of dollars in debt, with no idea where all the $$$ has gone.

See Jon Stewart clips: 08/09/23 - Clip 1, Clip 2 & 3 (with Bill Clinton)

Marcy Kaptur: A truly inspiring and courageous voice in the darkness of the United States:

VIDEO: Marcy Kaptur - an Ohio congresswoman puts a beatdown on Bush Bailout

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If this all seems farfetched and unrealistic, far away from the concerns and issues of us here in BC, ask yourself these question:

Do the actions of Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals come across as someone, or a party, that is concerned with getting voted in again?

Is there something that Campbell knows that we don't?

Is there some reason why we have no idea what emergency and disaster plans OUR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT has made to decrease injuries and fatalities for our citizens in the case of emergency?

Human Rights, Justice & Dignity for BC's Children NOW!

It is time for some serious discussions to take place about the administration, competence and accountability of the leadership of the Ministry of Children & Family Development. The Representative of Children & Youth, Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond wrote a letter directly to MCFD Deputy Minister Lesley Du Toit and MHSD Deputy Minister Cairine McDonald regarding the placement of children in need of protection into unsafe homes under the Child in the Home of a Relative program (CIHR). In this letter, Ms. Turpel-Lafond clearly outlined substantial risks that were posed to the safety and wellbeing children placed by the government into family homes.

It is entirely insubordinate, questionable and inappropriate that Ms. Du Toit and Ms. McDonald have disregarded and evaded their direct responsibility in answering the questions of the independent Representative of Children and Youth. It is, however, not surprising in light of Ms. Du Toit's lengthy history of passing the buck, or simply ignoring the voices and questions of stakeholders throughout the child welfare system.

Ms. Du Toit, vastly in over her head and never having worked a day in her life in BC’s child welfare system, was handpicked and grossly overpaid (in both salary and perks) by Gordon Campbell to completely dismantle the child welfare system in BC. That is what she is getting paid to do whether that is a good idea, or not, whether children and others are harmed or not. From the time of her open tenure in this role, she has made it clear she has no commitment to the province and will simply collect her salary and leave for her home country at the end of her contract. Unlike all of us, she will not be faced with the aftermath that will occur for generations.

Community Living BC is a real world example of the damage of devolution and the malevolent intentions and forces behind it, remember, Doug Walls is Gordon Campbell's relative by marriage. It was doomed to failure from the outset, with many government reports, stakeholders and consultants saying so. Now, only a few short years later, MCFD is now in the process of resuming full responsibility for Community Living Children’s Services. Ask yourselves as taxpayers and shareholders in the BC government, WHERE IS THE MONEY FROM CLBC? Why must the BC government spend more unknown dollars to repair and re-organize a failed re-organization? Does that not speak to a complete and chronic lack of effective leadership under which the children, youth and families of BC have suffered enough? Stakeholders around the province have been giving the BC government advice for years on this whole thing, which has been met with silence, arrogance and disregard.

Full Financial and Organizational Audit of MCFD, CLBC & Aboriginal Agencies

We believe that the Office of the Auditor General of BC should conduct a complete audit, including a comprehensive financial audit of the funds the BC government has expended toward the devolution of services to Community Living BC and now the re-uptake of the Children’s Services division.

We also believe that it is in the public interest to perform a complete audit on the funds the BC government has expended toward devolution of child welfare services to Aboriginal agencies, as well as a review and audit of the progress to date of the devolution of Aboriginal child welfare.

Finally, we would call on the Auditor General of BC and the Representative of Children and Youth to conduct a joint audit of the complete funds and work expended by the BC government and the Ministry of Children & Family Development on Accreditation initiatives over the last seven years.

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It is offensive and insulting to the people of BC, that Ms. Du Toit continues to hide in her ivory tower, rewarding special contracts to friends to create “feel good” reports that ignore the harm occurring in BC, and sticking her head in the sand about the devastation and destruction of some of our most vulnerable and needy children in BC.

In light of the fact that both of these senior bureaucrats will likely be receiving compensation increases under Gordon Campbell’s ill-conceived beefing up of the salaries of Deputy Minister’s, ADM’s etc. citizens and voters in BC have a right to receive a substantive report on what actual work Ms. Du Toit and Ms. McDonald have completed and produced over the course of their work in their positions within the BC government, along with their job descriptions.

Page 3 of the 2007/08 Measures on Executive Compensation are quite clear what standards and expectations are in place for the current fiscal year. A quick review is quite clear that MCFD’s leadership can’t even come close to meeting those expectations. And thus far, a total record of the compensation we are paying Ms. Du Toit or Ms. McDonald and their minions has been difficult to find.

Passing the buck onto frontline child protection workers for decisions to place children is a tired and false straw man. All decisions about placement of children are carried out by social workers, with their supervisors and managers. Under this current government, they would rather place children in risky homes than spend the money to put children in care, or put them in Kith & Kin, or Out of Care homes and offer adequate income and support services to relatives who need more help than the measly pittance they are provided on CIHR. I’d like to see most of us take on abused and neglected kids, even if we love them, for the bargain basement prices the BC government offers to keep kids out of more expensive foster care. Many of the families taking children in live in poverty and substandard conditions themselves. I’m quite sure the Representative will find the incomes of most of the families will be low and even under the poverty line.

Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance BC Employment and Assistance Rate Tables

Child in Home of Relative
Age Group Maximum Rate
Birth to 5 years $257.46
6 to 9 years $271.59
10 to 11 years $314.31
12 to 13 years $357.82
14 to 17 years $402.70
18 years $454.32

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Has Ms. Du Toit ever looked at the autopsy photographs of all of the children and youth in BC who have died since her watch began? How about Minister Christensen, or the big guy himself, Gordon Campbell? These circumstances are where the buck stops. Children and youth hurt and die when the child welfare system fails to operate with competence, ethics and integrity. It is not rhetoric to say that a fair and just society must position the safety of children over money.

While we’re on the topic of child deaths, why is it that the BC Coroners Service has been incapable of providing statistical reports of child and youth deaths and causes from 2004 to 2008? Since an entire Child Death Review unit exists, wouldn’t it be of the highest priority for this unit to provide information that is in the public interest? While we’re reviewing the work and results of the DM’s of MCFD, it seems like a logical thing to review the work produced by the senior managers of the BC Coroners Office and Child Death Review Unit as well, because in looking at the information they have made available to the public, nothing much has been done by this office since 2004. That might not be such a coincidence though, since the director of the Child Death Review Unit used to be the Northern region’s Director of Child Protection in MCFD.

At no point in the last seven years has MCFD been in worse shape, both organizationally and in carrying out its mandate, to protect and serve children, youth and families. BC's child welfare system has become a national embarassment and disgrace. This is directly related to the leadership and governance of MCFD at all levels, far beyond the responsibilities of the many frontline workers who are leaving in droves, unhealthy, unable to work, or function and discarded like garbage.

For a government that fancies itself as using a business model to organize itself, I suggest it is time to begin utilizing a private sector perspective on the work and conduct of senior managers and bureaucrats in the BC government. In the private sector, if you have chronic staff morale and illness and are losing staff at an unprecedented level, if you, as a leader, are incapable of responsible, ethical and effective fiscal management and you cannot produce any concrete results from your work, you are FIRED. Period.

As citizens and taxpayers in BC, we are all shareholders in the corporatized neo-conservative environment that is the BC government under the Campbell reign of terror, corruption and incompetence. We will replace this government in May 2009, however unless a major housecleaning of the senior bureaucracy and management also happens, little change or improvement will occur.

If the public were able to see the lack of education, training and experience of many middle and senior managers and bureaucrats under the BC Liberals, they would understand why the incompetence has become so entrenched, structural and institutionalized and why so many citizens continue to suffer as a result of the worst sitting government in BC’s history. When the BC Liberals are out for good, the true extent of the damage they have caused will be known to all, and the hole at the bottom of the empty cookie jar will be exposed once and for all. The legacy will last for at least a generation and beyond if we do not correct ourselves immediately.

We are calling on the leadership of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the BC Public Service Agency, the BC government and Treasury Board to dramatically increase core and infrastructure funding to MCFD, Community Living BC and all Aboriginal child welfare agencies so that all children, youth and vulnerable persons in need of protection can be served in the public good.

Consider this our submission to the 2009 BC Budget consultation.

BC Liberals Suck

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Circles of Care: Community Child Protection
A Participatory Research Model Strengthening Restorative Local Governance in Support of South African Children’s Rights
(Cook, P. & Du Toit, L. 2004, 59pp) IICRD & CYCAD's Final Project Report prepared for The CIDA Child Protection Research Fund (CPRF)
· Click here to download the "Circles of Care"
Final Research Report
· "Circles Of Care" Mid Term Research Report

July 2008 - Media Release Re: Executive Compensation
July 21, 2008

BC government rewards public service executives’ ‘performance’ – while children and families languish on waitlists

A Discussion Paper on Community Living: Exploring Solutions.
BC Government & Service Employees Union (BCGEU).

Laugh of the Day: Tina Fey Parodies Sarah Palin on SNL Premiere

Tina Fey & Amy Poehler parody Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the opening skit of Saturday Night Live.

Federal Election Blogging

I'm busy over here during the election, come check this out forward to interested parties:

Vancouver-Kingsway 2008 Election blog

Please get involved in the federal election in your ridings.

Canadians go to the polls on October 14th 2008 and our choice for our next federal government will be crucial on many levels, but most importantly, the survival of Canada as a sovereign nation.

The Old Guard is Falling

It's not exactly surprising news that Campbell has called off a fall sitting of the Legislature. However it is yet another example of what a failure Gordon Campbell is as a leader, as a human being and how he continues to abuse democracy and the public's right to answers and accountability for decisions made by him and his party.

I think the BC public has a right to question Campbell about why he has chosen to fund $4 million to give pay raises to people who primarily didn't deserve the ones they received two years ago. This wasn't a misunderstanding, or a "miscommunication" or whatever tripe and false excuses Campbell wants to make. As CEO of BC, he is a dismal failure, a disgrace and his failings are a betrayal of the public and the citizens of this province.

I met some of the victims of Gordon Campbell last night at a forum on homelessness and housing. One was a woman who clearly had mental health and possibly addiction issues. She made some very good points about what it is like for her to be homeless, how she isn't even "lucky" enough to get housing in one of the Single Room Occupancy hotels (SRO's). She also mentioned that over a hundred people have gone missing from the Downtown Eastside after Pickton went to jail. As Pickton's trial and known victims demonstrated, most of the missing are Aboriginal women.

The other person I met was a 21 year old man named Chris (pseudonym used). He looked much younger than his age, but I'm sure he will surpass that soon. He told me he had been in foster care as a minor. He has Asperger's Syndrome (higher functioning Autism). He also clearly had other mental health issues.

Can you imagine my horror, my embarrassment and shame that he, this child-man, apologized for having a hard time staying connected with our conversation. You see, he has been homeless for four months now and yesterday he wasn't able to find any food anywhere, so he explained his ability to communicate and maintain focus in conversations decreased. He described being abused by foster parents and refused placement by MCFD when he was 18 years old, still a minor. He was articulate, bright and could have a future. If his government cared about him.

Chris is just one of thousands of children and youth who Gordon Campbell has failed. Who he and his government have victimized and abused. When Community Living BC refuses to provide services and the BC Liberal government doesn't fund them in the first place, this is where the Chris' of the world end up. And as he told me, people get raped on the street, they lose their belongings, they go from place to place, trying to find food and violence is a daily event. As he told me, on his way to the event he was punched in the stomache by a total stranger for no apparent reason.

The victims of homelessness aren't theoretical to me, they never have been. I've met too many of them and seen some people become homeless, heard the stories of how people went downhill faster than you can blink. The middle and upper classes and the educated wrap themselves in bubble wrap and think that protects them. I don't care who you are, who you think you are, or what walk of life you come from. Each and every one of us is one serious illness, one addiction (cocaine, gambling, shopping), one missed paycheque away from losing our housing, becoming homeless and on the street. I know this now personally. We are also all one step away from seeing one of our children, or siblings, or parents, or people we know find themselves in these circumstances.

I feel so ashamed at times like these to be a citizen of the "new" BC and Canada. We are surrounded by wealth, greed and gluttony, created at the expense of our weakest and most vulnerable citizens. Our middle class is not moving up, it is dropping down. Many of us will not weather the stock market storm that is about to hit like a tsunami, taking away what we thought would cushion us and what separated "us" from "them," the poor, the homeless, the disabled, the seniors who weren't lucky enough to get pensions, or not enough to live on.

Vancouver City councillor Tim Stevenson told an interesting story about a delegation of Chinese offocials who came to Vancouver and met with him at city hall. The spokesperson reported that the delegation was surprised to see so many homeless people on the streets and asked how many there were in Vancouver. Stevenson told him that a conservative estimate was about 3000 people in the city of Vancouver. This spokesperson, a wise fellow, expressed surprise and said that your city has only 3000 homeless people and your government can't do anything about that. Isn't the irony simply astonishing? China, not exactly a human rights world leader, nailed the failure of the government to do something about the most basic of human rights of it's citizens.

As Canadians, the neo-conservative ideology, public policy and agenda of the Harpers and Campbell's of the world has led us to a very dark place in our history. One in which when we look back will be something we will feel deeply ashamed of. It was the time when our government failed all of us, when it ripped gaping holes in the social safety net. When it jackhammered so there weren't just cracks, but crevasses that our citizens have been swallowed up in. We have lost the compassionate, caring values I remember being raised with. And I am damn sick of it. As are many.

There is change in the air, one need only look at Elizabeth May and the anger and outrage unleashed about her exclusion from the leaders debate in the federal election.
Harper and Layton realized the "error of their ways" and have changed their positions. Game on, May is going to wipe the floor with all of them. This was a colossal and costly mistake on the Conservative and NDP parts. There hasn't been a single time in memory that a federal election has sparked this much publicity and attention and engaged so many young and diverse citizens. I have no doubt, the publicity this has gotten the Green Party has brought in new supporters, members and donations. And, Dion, not to be outdone, very simply and succinctly calls it the way it is:

Speaking Wednesday, Dion reiterated his support for May to be allowed to participate and accused the two party leaders of "hiding themselves behind the consortium."

"She should be there, period," Dion said during a campaign appearance in Mississauga, Ont. "Not only are they not inclusive, but they don't have the courage to explain their positions."

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Liberals cancel fall session of B.C. legislature
Jonathan Fowlie, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The B.C. Liberals have cancelled the fall sitting of the legislature, the government announced Wednesday.

The session had been scheduled to run from October 6 to November 27.

The Liberals held a session last fall, ratifying two treaties and enshrining into law specific targets for the reduction of greenhouse gasses in B.C.

The New Democratic Party has called on the government recently to hold a fall sitting to explain its decision to raise the maximum allowable salaries for public service executives.

The NDP has also called for a fall session to introduce new and tougher legal protections for farm workers.

Liberal house leader Mike de Jong has not yet been reached for comment.

NDP leader Carole James has announced a news conference at 12:30 today to respond.

jfowlie@vancouversun.com

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls Premier Gordon Campbell a liar over BC carbon tax
It's not every day that the prime minister of Canada calls the premier of British Columbia a bare-faced liar.

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End Homelessness, BC Needs Affordable Housing Now Petition

Finding Our Way Home: A Consultation on the Homelessness Crisis in BC

Homeless in Suburbia
Many fleeing Downtown Eastside. Why shelters outside of Vancouver are filling up.
By Monte Paulsen, Published: October 22, 2007. TheTyee.ca

BC Hydro Gouges Us Even More

The BC Liberal appointed B.C. Utilities Commission gave permission for BC Hydro to implement a two-tier method of charging customers for use of electricity. We’re all going to get slammed with this in less than a month, right when our electrical use starts to increase.

BC Utilities Commission

On top of this, we’re heading into what seems sure to be a cold one with increased gas costs from Terasen Gas. And, as many are finding out, the BC Liberals carbon tax is put on every gigajoule of gas used.

“In essence, all Hydro customers get a base amount of electricity at a lower, fixed rate of about 6.15 cents per kilowatt hour. But they will pay about 15 per cent more per kilowatt hour for power consumption above the base amount.

People who use electricity for hot water and home heating are expected to see a significant jump in their monthly bills as a result of the new rate scheme.”

This change is attack on all of us, but specifically those citizens who rent their homes, or those who are poor are being penalized because these individuals and families don’t exactly have a choice in whether their hot water, or heating is powered by electricity, or any other way.

Are you getting the feeling that we don’t matter much to “the Powers that Be?” And we’re just sitting ducks for their greed? Can’t get blood from a stone and there’s lots of citizens feeling the pinch these days and we can’t take much more. Tell me why a Crown agency, BC Hydro, that made of $369 million in income for the 2007/08 fiscal year needs to start snatching more of our hard earned money?

More highlights of the 2008 Financial Report:

- Total domestic revenues were $2,944 million, $158 million higher than the previous year, primarily due to strong demand in the residential and commercial sectors.”

- Energy saved through Power Smart programs surpassed expectations and continued to deliver cost-effective energy over the last fiscal year, producing cumulative energy savings of 2,844 GWh, an increase of 326 GWh over Fiscal 2007. This increased saving is equivalent to powering 32,600 homes for a year.

Oh yah, executive compensation and bonuses for their Majesties, the BC Hydro Executive, who earned a combined $2,072,705 in the 2007/08 fiscal year, including very “healthy” incentive compensation.

BC Hydro and Power Authority (April 1, 2007 – March 31, 2008)

http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/psec/documents/execcompdisclosure/BC_Hydro_and_Power_Authority.pdf

Oil and Gas Commission

The Oil & Gas Commission Executive has done well for themselves too

Hydro gets OK for two-tier power rates
Those who use more electricity face higher prices
Scott Simpson, Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, September 02, 2008

BC HYDRO RELEASES FISCAL 2008 ANNUAL REPORT
July 17, 2008

VANCOUVER – BC Hydro today announced its financial results for Fiscal 2008, including a consolidated net income of $369 million for the year ended March 31, 2008.

2008 Annual Report: Reporting on Triple Bottom Line Performance

BC Citizens for Public Power

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Another little tidbit:

B.C. appoints special prosecutor to handle assault charge against minister's brother

Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist
Published: Tuesday, September 02, 2008

The province's Criminal Justice Branch has appointed a special prosecutor to handle the assault case against a Victoria police sergeant after learning that he is the brother of B.C. cabinet minister Ida Chong.

The branch of the Attorney General's Ministry stated in a news release Tuesday that it was unaware of the relationship when it approved one count of assault against Sgt. George Chong on Aug. 25. The charge relates to an off-duty incident in Victoria on June 22.

More BC Liberal Friends & Insiders: Tired of this Yet?

Tom Sandborn offered up a good story on the BC Liberals yanking job placement contracts for income assistance clients from WCG.

More of the Same, Insert Different Name

This is all just about more BC Liberal friend and insider deals. The patronage and shell games are just so tired, sordid and ugly.

Robin Adair, former CHEK TV government affairs reporter was a busy little Liberal campaigner. In 2001 he campaigned for Shirley Orr, and paid lobbyist for WCG International Ltd. on privatizing and outsourcing income assistance programs. And lucky Adair, became WCG's vice-president of communications and government relations after they landed the multi-million dollar contract from the BC Liberals.

Robin Adair & Ian Ferguson, CEO of WCG knew each other through the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and I’m sure through other Liberal connections.

Marisa Adair, Robin’s wife, also just happens to be Campbell’s Executive Director of Communications Services for the Resource Sector. According to Public Accounts for 2007/08 Ms. Adair was paid $106,553 for her communications expertise.

Elections BC reports that from 2005 to 2007 Ian Ferguson & WCG have contributed $20,620 to the BC Liberal party. According to the NDP, since 2001 WCG has donated has donated $95,000 to the BC Liberals. I guess it was well worth it for the millions they’ve collected from the BC government for the pathetic Jobwave programs.

Robin Adair only contributed a modest $400 to the BC Liberals in 2007, but that investment has paid great dividends for him and the little missus.

Ah, it pays to have friends in high places though don’t it? If only we were all so lucky.

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From the BC Lobbyist Registry:

Lobbyist: Adair,Robin In-House
Lobbyist Organization: WCG International Consultants Ltd

Topic: Social Assistance
Subject Matter: Represent JobWave Program for WCG

Terminated, no start or end date to lobbying activity.

Here’s a nifty little document I found poking around, it gives the salaries of Ministers, DM’s, Order in Council and “other” Liberal appointees for the 2007/08 fiscal year:

Public Accounts 2007/08: Consolidated Revenue Fund – Detailed Schedule of Payments

Marisa Adair

ORDER IN COUNCIL 226
Statutory Authority: Public Service, s. 15
The Schedule to the General Appointment Order, 2006, OIC 656/2006, is amended by adding:

Marisa Adair, Executive Director, Communications - Resource Sector;

In the 2007/08 fiscal year, the BC government spent $30.9 million with WCG for Jobwave programs. He’s also been appointed again to the Board at Camosun College on July 31st 2008 so I guess he’s landing on his feet fine. Looks like WCG is quite the family business, quite a few Ferguson’s on the team. I guess they’ve made out like bandits on the BC Liberal gravy train. Too bad it’s at the expense of the citizens of BC. Employment programs were handled by BC government employees before Campbell and his underlings privatized it to WCG, costing taxpayers much more than what it cost originally and a whole lot of jobs for decent civil servants.

Other Adair Consulting gigs:

The provincial government has awarded Shaw Communications Inc. a $77,000 contract to produce and air two televised town hall meetings on the impact of offshore oil and gas development.....

"Former CHEK TV legislative reporter Robin Adair, a government relations consultant with WCG International Consultants Ltd. and Victoria Chamber of Commerce vice-president, was subcontracted by Shaw to find and schedule panelists for the show...."

So, if Mr. Adair is already a government public relations consultant and he is being subcontracted by Shaw to stack the panel for the government while being paid with govt' money awarded to Shaw, is this an example of P3 cubed?

****

Liberals to JobWave: You're Fired
$8 million job training contract cancelled; work goes to B.C. competitor.
By Andrew MacLeod. Published: August 29, 2008. TheTyee.ca
http://thetyee.ca/News/2008/08/29/JobWave/

Brar Targets Job Program Sale
NDP critic raises concerns about timing, client privacy.

**********
Here’s an interesting little tidbit for those following the mysterious circumstances surrounding Victoria Police Department Chief Paul Battershill’s resignation connecting more dots.

From an old Public Eye Online report:

Planting rumours
Following Geoff Plant's announcement he wouldn't be running for re-election, there was much discussion as to what the attorney general would be doing in the future. Would Mr. Plant become a member of the academy, like New Democrat Andrew Petter? Or would he be joining the judiciary, others asked? Well, the answer is none of the above. It appears Mr. Plant has become a partner with Heenan Blaikie LLP. Heenan Blaikie, which once employed former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, is currently best known as the retirement home for fellow first among equals Jean Chretien.

The Bigger they are, the Harder they Fall

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won out. There have been tyrants and murderers and they always seem invincible but they always fall, always.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Start your Engines Ladies & Gentlemen, Ready, Set, Revolution

Upping the Ante While Rome Burns

Some edited comments from Bill Tieleman's Article:

Outrageous pay raises to senior BC Liberal government bureaucrats redefines Gordon Campbell arrogance
Bill Tieleman’s 24 Hours Column

Tuesday August 12, 2008

***
Listen up: I am issuing a personal challenge to all media artists, activists, writers, bloggers and journalists out there to break out and start using their mad skillz, gifts and talents to help expose the mofos to our citizens and help win BC back for all of us. It is OUR province and we want it back. We can do this, it is within our reach and we have the ability to do this together.

Where Were You When Evil Came to BC And What did You Do to Help Stop It?

I’ve been thinking a lot about the BC Liberals latest actions as our government and I’m really at a loss to understand when “our” government became evil. They aren’t just ideologically driven, greedy and corrupt, they have now shown us in so many ways their real face, the mask has shifted and the Evil that is within is showing loud and clear. Like many people I keep thinking, well, they must have sunk us to our nadir, we have no further to go. They can’t possibly become more depraved, more lacking in conscience, or any kind of common sense, or humanity. But then they do and more people hurt and are destroyed by a government that is soulless and truly evil.

So what brought this darkness on? This “negative” vibe? Well, it’s their actions over the last while really. While we’ve all been trying to kick back and relax and enjoy a summer, of a year that is sure to be one of the hardest many of us will know, Gordon Campbell and his henchmen have been scurrying around, figuring out new ways to crush us and take even more money for their insiders and twisted allies.

On July 18th 2008, the BC Liberal government decided to create even more barriers for developmentally disabled adults and their families (if they are fortunate enough to have any family) in receiving support and intervention services from Community Living BC. With a secretive Order in Council the BC government, specifically MLA’s Rich Coleman (MSHD), Tom Christensen (MCFD) and Murray Coell (MAE&LMD) brought in an amendment to the Community Living Authority Act, which says the following:

"For the purposes of the definition of "developmental disability" in section 1 of the Act, intellectual functioning that, when tested according to one or more standardized intelligence tests by a qualifying practitioner, attains a score of 70 or less is a prescribed criterion."

What this does is creates even more doors to those who require these services to survive. These people are real. It’s the young man who “graduates” to adulthood from 20 homes in foster care, no education, abused in every way possible and diagnosed, or undiagnosed fetal alcohol syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, PTSD, who scored 72 on his IQ test because he was in a good foster home the night before he took his test. Oh, and he doesn’t know his family and isn’t connected with his Indian band either. Where do you think he ends up? This is the girl who is diagnosed with mild mental retardation. She’s been sexually abused, raped and developed problems with alcohol and crack. She’s got depression, anxiety, had electric shock therapy and doesn’t know how to take care of herself. And she’s on her second child. Her family can’t take any more so she is on her own too.

Make no mistake, our criminal negligence and societal failure toward these individuals is All of our problem. And it should be our concern for these people and for us. But instead of creating more solutions, our “esteemed” leaders have again, very secretively and quietly set out to enrich their handpicked Deputy Ministers, Assistant DM’s and senior bureaucrats again by offering gigantic pay raises like nothing any of us will ever see in our lifetimes.

Obscene is the word being bandied about by other journalists and it really is an apt word if one examines the definition:

1. offensive to morality or decency; indecent; depraved: obscene language.
2. causing uncontrolled sexual desire.
3. abominable; disgusting; repulsive.

· Offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty.
· Inciting lustful feelings; lewd.
· Repulsive; disgusting
· So large in amount as to be objectionable or outrageous:

On August 1st 2008, the BC Liberals set out a “Revision to the Public Service Executive Pay Framework” that told the public:

Effective Aug. 1, 2008, the maximum payable salary to deputy ministers increased from $221,760 to $299,215 and from $243,936 to $348,600 for the deputy minister to the Premier. The maximum achievable salary for assistant deputy ministers increased from $160,000 to $195,000. The salary holdback component, which is based on specific performance measures linked to leadership on building the corporate human resources of the Province, will increase from five per cent of salary to 10 per cent of salary for both deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers.

This little tidbit was released in the usual “dead zone” of late Friday afternoon on August 7th!!! I think the Legislature would have been rockin’ in an entirely different way if taxpayers knew that when BC’s 150th Birthday was being celebrated with such zeal in Victoria on BC Day.

As Sean Holman reminded us, in his story, Meanwhile, down at the Trough, it was only in June 2006 that the BC government reviewed and “increased the maximum payable salary for deputy ministers "from $203,500 to $221,760 and from $223,850 to $243,936 for the deputy minister to the Premier." And they said it would be another four years, what’s the rush now.

As citizens of BC we have a right to know what these folks have done to sing for their supper already, let alone this disgusting act of treason to the rest of the citizens in BC, especially those being failed in the most heinous and negligent way by these same Ministries these folks head. Pick a ministry, or a portfolio, there is a wake of disaster, failure and the pall of death and dying throughout the province, sectors and industries due to the neo-liberal policies of the BC Liberals and I think the public is about done.

And really, if we look at the Executive Compensation by the BC Public Service, especially the Measures, there isn’t a reason in the world for any of these folks to get a dime more out of us. Since there are somewhere between 20- 33 Deputy Ministers, and scads of ADM’s, perhaps as many as 80 (there are variations in numbers of both) scattered throughout our government, why don’t we have full disclosure of their complete compensation packages? The Summary Compensation Table is missing quite a few names there and we deserve to know what they’re making now and what they’ve done to deserve it.

I guess I’ve been trying to figure out my outrage, why the stink of betrayal wafts so deeply from Victoria and my complete and utter contempt for those who suck us all dry. What I’ve come up with is the horror of seeing the dream, hope and fortune of living in BC (and Canada) turning into an epic nightmare. For generations, my family has been born, lived, worked, and contributed to making our province and nation one of the best places on earth. Not in the BS self-serving re-branding that is the Liberals way. In the real way, in the way that we could all be proud to be from and live in BC and share in it’s bounty and move forward into the future together. Now I’m not so naïve as to think everyone has always had it good and the BC Liberals started poverty, etc. However, they have sunk to depths I did not know possible for a sitting government. Not dissimilar to the Bush-Cheney American government. I somehow think that is not a coincidence. Geopolitics are at the heart of what’s happening in BC and Canada. But, this BC government elite chooses the ways to rape, pillage and how to divvy up the spoils amongst themselves and I guess they’re going for the gusto to reward their faithful flunkies while they have the chance.

I say since Gordon Campbell will be reviewing Jessica McDonald’s work performance to assign her new wage, which could give her a raise of $100,000. And Ms. McDonald in turn will be reviewing deputy ministers, hordes of ADM’s and others in the provincial government to determine whether they warrant a pay raise of $77,000, we the public should get a chance to weigh in on that. I think we know better than anyone how these “top decision-makers and leaders” have been doing. We can see it on our streets, in our courts, our child protection and community living systems, in the homeless shelters, the mothballed pulp mills, hospitals, facilities, forests and dying towns. Let’s see the proof and work product and we’ll make the decision, deal, or no deal. It’s our money anyways.

While I drift to sleep tonight, I will be praying for all those boys and girls, women and men who are out there, alone and with nothing and no-one to care about them, their safety and wellbeing. I will also reflect on the evil that has caused their pain and marginalization. Because once we have seen evil, stared it in the face and seen it for what it is, there is no going back. The only thing we can do when we’ve met evil is to get rid of it. Nothing else will work. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live in a province where we lead the country in child poverty for five years in a row, where more and more people become homeless, and our government moves to restrict support to mentally handicapped people, among the many other ways they are failing all of us. I can think of a dozen better ways to spend $4 million of our hard-earned dollars than upping the salaries of folks who have no defined job description, no known work product, no proven results, unless you count all of the ways that the BC Liberal government has made sure our province is no longer a place for anyone but the elite to succeed, or prosper.

The Definition of Evil

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
e·vil Audio Help - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ee-vuh l] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked: evil deeds; an evil life.
2. harmful; injurious: evil laws.
3. characterized or accompanied by misfortune or suffering; unfortunate; disastrous: to be fallen on evil days.
4. due to actual or imputed bad conduct or character: an evil reputation.
5. marked by anger, irritability, irascibility, etc.: He is known for his evil disposition.
–noun
6. that which is evil; evil quality, intention, or conduct: to choose the lesser of two evils.
7. the force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin.
8. the wicked or immoral part of someone or something: The evil in his nature has destroyed the good.
9. harm; mischief; misfortune: to wish one evil.
10. anything causing injury or harm: Tobacco is considered by some to be an evil.
11. a harmful aspect, effect, or consequence: the evils of alcohol.
12. a disease, as king's evil.
–adverb
13. in an evil manner; badly; ill: It went evil with him.
—Idiom
14. the evil one, the devil; Satan.

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Big pay hikes for B.C.'s top bureaucrats Friday, August 08
Lindsay Kines, Victoria Times Colonist. Published: Friday, August 08, 2008.

Leyne column: Plenty of cash for the top bureaucrats
Les Leyne, Victoria Times Colonist. Published: Friday, August 08, 2008

B.C. bureaucrats get huge pay raise

Consequences from Campbell's Obscene Pay Hikes
David Schreck. Strategic Thoughts. August 9, 2008.

How We'll Make this "Our" Election in May 2009

A rant from comment's on Bill Tieleman's blog

There is a lot that we can do leading up to and at election time.

There is a BIG problem with the NDP. Namely, they don't even seem to know what the hell they stand for at this point. There are great and smart people and very hard working MLA's and others in the party. However, their executive leadership run their caucas not unlike the Liberals, inner circle Silverback bullies. It's old & tired and the world has changed. Get over it and transform, or your party is dead.

There really is no mistaking the swing of the NDP either. Here is an excellent video interview with John Shields and and Bryan Evans that discusses the neo-liberalism of the state and how the NDP have also lost their edge (and voter support) due to their swing to the neo-liberal side. As they state, the left has a fractured (and I would say poorly defined, or non-existent) agenda that fails to offer an alternative to the clear cut agenda and platform of the right (the Liberals). Unless of course the real objective is to lose the next election? Then this will be a successful strategy.


So, what to do? Here are some suggestions:

The leadership of the NDP wise up and stop muzzling the smartest and most effective among you. MLA's, speak up. I know there is pressure to stay quiet, voters will respect you more if you stand up and speak out on the crap going on.

Parties and Candidates: Start to define your platform & what your MLA's have done to earn their keep since they've been in. Tell the people what you stand for. They will not vote for you if you keep silent about why you offer an alternative. There is a provincial election in 9 months, where the hell are you all? A few organizers from the BC Fed & the unions are not going to win this election.

Campbell has no problem taking credit and getting photo ops all over the place. It's called "impression management" the left has to get better at it. Use the internet. There are brilliant multi-media artists on the left, start creating political art and sending it around BC.

The left has to start using the web more. If the mainstream media won't let you in, you can appeal to the populace through the Internet. Some blogs are literally read by thousands of people. And blogging is one way to get around Bill 42. Why don't the NDP MLA's have blogs? Newsletters are fine, but inadequate in this day & age. You aren't just fighting for your riding, you must fight for your whole party. And this goes triple for independents, and greens. An effective media campaign could make you a household name in your community.

For citizens: get involved in politics, fundraise, join a party, nominate someone who is a real leader. Which means they have an actual record of service and action on behalf of a broad base of constituents (ie. not just real estate developers, or business owners, corporations, or union buddies etc.).

Citizen journalists: blog away about your MLA's. Don't slander, or libel them, just give people a clear idea about where they've stood, how they've voted and what they've done, or not done to support _all_ of their constituents.

It is tiresome to continue reading about splitting the vote. One of the reasons we're in this mess is because of the partisan and polarized political climate (sorry for the alliteration). I don't care if you're an independent, a green, NDP, or Liberal. What voters _should_ care about most is whether the candidate in their riding has a history of service in the riding, a credible, history of ethical conduct and action. No more bloody career politicians. That's one of the reasons why it's become such a dishonourable profession.

Finally, we must get a more diverse of people interested in voting, young people, older people, people of colour, GLBT. People are uninterested in continuing to vote for rich, white middle aged men and the obedient and quiet women who are allowed in the door in both parties.

The left needs to get the word out and tell everyone the grocery list of how the Liberals have harmed us all, for generations to come. That's why we started our blog in the first place. Most citizens get their media from CanWest and they believe what they are told.

Let's call this the "Commonsense election." Because that's what this is. It's a return to politics "by the people, for the people." All I know is, if you have vermin in your house, you exterminate them because they are disease ridden and bring sickness to your home and your family. That's what we're doing, only on a bit of a different scale. And for all of those vermin who've been living off the spoils of our House, you are history in the next election, better get yourself some work lined up, because your name will be mud if you've done harm to the people.

Find out here how your MLA has voted on issues of importance to your riding and make sure your friends and neighbours get this information too:

http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/hansindx/38th4th/members.htm

The Privatization of Welfare in BC

There are many in the Province who are well aware that the BC Liberals have been in the process of privatizing the income assistance system over the past 7 years in office. It has often been incremental and under the radar of most people.

When the citizens of BC look back in years to come to see where things went so horribly wrong, they will not have too hard a time figuring it out. They need solely to look at Gordon Campbell and his merry band of scalawags, pickpockets and scoundrels to see how we lost it all and why we are suffering so, some of us more than others.

The latest scandal in the making – the impending privatization of the welfare system (aka income assistance). Interesting to note that the BC government has NOT announced their new $17.9 million contract with Haley Ltd. a multi-national company that specializes in information technology that will “upgrade” and introduce a new integrated case management system to “modernize” the social welfare system. In case you weren’t sure, in the parlance of globalization, “modernize” is synonymous with privatize.

Those working in the system have known for several years now (7 to be exact) that they were being phased out and slowly the system was being sliced, diced and privatized. Through the Machiavellian “evolution” of “alternative service delivery” the system shifted from the mandate of providing income assistance to those who need it, to routinely denying people access to basic human rights. As we all know, the sky high and rapid increase in homeless citizens has reached epic proportions in BC, with estimates that there are approximately 20,000 people in BC homeless. This includes children, youth, families, the mentally ill, addicted, the disabled, seniors and many others. And, amidst the “economic boom” and highflying spin of 2010, BC leads the country in child poverty for the 5th year in a row! This is directly related to Gordon Campbell and his government’s policy shifts and systemic changes and it hurts us all. Wait until we get the bill for the Olympics.

Make no mistake, this government hasn’t been interested in “welfare reform,” in increasing accountability, improving the service delivery system, or “modernization.” This is simply yet one more pathway to lining someone’s pockets (the money never stays in BC) and tying BC to a multi-national corporation that will do whatever the hell they want with “our” people, their personal and private information and their lives.

It hasn’t been enough to exclude and introduce so many barriers to accessing income assistance that about 75% of homeless respondents identify that as the number one reason they are homeless, now, the BC Liberals are looking to find ways to exclude even more people.

In the Ministry of Employment & Income Assistance (MEIA) they did away with caseloads, where some of the most marginalized, disabled and vulnerable people in society now have to navigate automated phone trees to talk to someone, none of whom know anything about their situation. Imagine what that is like, if you have a mental illness, are disabled, or are an abused wife and mother fleeing a violent husband. Or a victimized refugee, or person who doesn’t speak English.

One should also relate the latest offense to the public interest, the (secret, closed door) Order in Council (OIC-, that changes the provincial policy of CLBC to enshrine the human rights violation of preventing developmentally disabled citizens from accessing support services if their IQ is over 70 within the larger context of this welfare privatization. With all of the changes and barriers that have been implemented, the homeless, the deaths, the BC Liberals have not been able to get "the numbers" on the "welfare rolls" down enough. They need to find other ways. These actions also flow directly out the Court of Appeal in the Fahlman case, that ruled that using IQ 70 as a determining factor in gatekeeping CLBC services is arbitrary and struck that down. This issue should be back in court, or the BC Human Rights Tribunal before anyone blinks an eye. This is clearly discrimination against the provision of services to people with disabilities and an arbitrary decision on how the Crown agency will mete out services. This includes health and employment. If you can't get CLBC services, you can't access their employment services as a PWD and possibly receive employment.

You know all those developmentally disabled children, youth and their families thay have not received any services from CLBC, while the top 5 senior executives made $900,000 in compensation, including incentive bonuses - that's all part of this too. If you don't keep a waitlist for services you have no record of citizens who meet the criteria for service. No paper trail and a "clean" slate so when the adults only hope of getting income assistance and the pittance more for disability is privatized. And, once the welfare kiosks are set up in the mall, I'm sure they will be rather challenging for many citizens to manage, the disabled, amongst those. And, if this wasn't all enough, instead of actually funding services to needy individuals and families, the BC government & CLBC are jointly funding employment programs to disabled folks to move them out of educational programs and into employment. Not a bad idea of course, however, when people's basic human rights and needs aren't even being met, the spending of public funds in this way is unconscionable.

Cynically, one might surmise that a move toward even more technology and less human contact will help get the numbers down even more. No more of those human vagaries to deal with, those hardworking and caring people in the welfare offices who creatively find ways and solutions to help people get income assistance and stay on it. Once the welfare kiosks are set up in the malls, or wherever they put them, there won’t be anymore need for the human factor that is sometimes the only thing standing between life and death. Citizens will simply have to fill in the appropriate box and they either qualify, or they don’t. Hmmm, wonder how many will now be excluded and what will happen to them?

Haley counts the following as among its’ strategic partners: Oracle, SAP, IBM, Microsoft and Lagan. And you’ll have to excuse our apprehension and even fear about the fact that a multi-national corporation, allied with a number of other powerful transnational corporations, now based in Washington, DC will have unrestricted access to the most confidential and private information about every citizen in BC. Most citizens do not know that the BC government database contains virtually every single citizen’s name and highly confidential information about them, whether they’ve been on welfare or not. Your date of birth, social insurance number, medical number, refugee status, whether you’ve had a child protection file, how long that was open, and everyone attached to you as family member.

The immensity of the prospect that all of our private data will be flowing into the United States may be overlooked, or unknown to most of us (that which hasn’t already gone there). As one of those of a growing contingent worried about the increasing speed at which our civil liberties, privacy and sovereignty as a nation are eroding this is a truly frightening new development that impacts our entire province and every single citizen. This isn’t simply about our welfare system being privatized, I would go one step further and say this privatization scheme is rapidly moving “us” all one step closer to the North American Union (NAU) and it certainly ties in with the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP).

This doesn’t sound like much of a stretch at all when we see that Oracle, Microsoft, IBM and Siebel Systems (also affiliated with the BC government) are all members of Infragard, the corporate infrastructure elite that works with the Department of Homeland Security “for the exchange of knowledge, experience and information related to the protection of our nation’s critical infrastructure from both physical and cyber threats.” One look at Infragard’s event calendar for the past three years and big questions come to mind about what kind of threat these folks are preparing so vigorously for and if things are so bad, why aren’t citizens of all nations being told?

The underground media is adamant that there is going to be a major event this fall and martial law will be declared before 2008 is over. I don’t know about that, but what I do know is that the US government, Canadian and BC governments are moving fast to outsource and privatize Canadian information, new laws and secret deals are being signed with transnational corporations, that are seeing our democratic rights and those of our neighbours’ are being flushed down the toilet faster than we possibly understand. Regime change is close at hand at the American election, at least that is the hope.

The implications are very, very clear. Once this contract starts rolling out, BC’s entire welfare system will be in the hands of a multi-national corporate entity that is based in the corridor of power, in Washington, DC. Ground zero for the Project for a New American Century, the leaders of which openly openly advocate for total global military and civil domination of all nations by an elite group that stands above all and owns all global resources and has ever global citizen at its’ mercy.

This is not some “wingnut” conspiracy theory, it’s happening as you read this. Look at the dramatic and unexplainable increase in oil, the devastation of the world’s food stock, the economic crisis in the United States and the global markets, which is much, much worse than the mainstream media are reporting. All of these dots connect and the picture they make is so frightening and bodes so poorly for all but those who own the resources and sit on top of their piles of money most of us will simply be swept under the wheels of the bus. Collateral damage in the plan for global domination.

It is time for all of us to take a stand here. Write to your MLA, to your MP and tell them you want answers about what the BC Liberals plans are for the income assistance system and for your personal and private information. Whether you've every been on welfare or not, the BC government holds vast records on most of us. Do you feel comfortable with this information flowing so freely across the border. We know we don't, because the Bush regime has made sure that under the Patriot Act, once your information is on American soil, they can do whether they want with it and you will never know. Ask yourself next time you are going to the States and your name is flagged and you are searched, or you are stopped from flying. How did they even get my name and why can't I fly?

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British Columbia Taps Haley and Oracle to Modernize the Province's Social Welfare System
Significant North American Social Services Implementation of Oracle's Siebel Public Sector Client Relationship Management Suite of Products Will Use Haley Office Rules and Determinations Engine for Eligibility Processing and Benefits Delivery

Aid for mentally disabled adults cut if IQ over 70
'Interim' order quietly signed by premier, minister

Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist
Published: Thursday, July 24, 2008

Election Amendment Act (2008), aka the the BC Liberal’s Gag Law.

There are some good articles and discussion taking place with respect to the Election Amendment Act (2008), aka the the BC Liberal’s Gag Law.

They have enough savvy lawyers sucking up taxpayer dollars to know that this would not fly in a court of law, it’s totally unconstitutional.

However being good Canadians, most of us don’t like to actually purposefully break laws, well, I would perhaps qualify that and say
there are those amongst us, say in BC, who aren’t concerned about pesky little things like legislation or moral rightness, but most of us like to toe the line.

In any event, a group of seven of the large unions and the BC Federation of Labour are launching a court case challenging Bill 42 for trying to gag them with regard to advertising during the lead up to the election period.

What is not generally part of this discussion is the disenfranchising aspects of this draconian law. For most of us, presenting “government issued” identification and documents that contain our place of residence to the chief electoral officer at the time of voting is not a problem, nor an issue. But, it is a VERY BIG issue for
the thousands of BC citizens who are now homeless, as far as I’m aware they didn’t lose their right to be citizens of BC and Canada because they are homeless, apparently there was a memo amongst the BC Liberals that this was the case (joke). We should try to get that through an FOI request.

It is also a HUGE issue for those of our citizens who are recipients of income assistance and have had the further misfortune to lose their identification. It is standard operating policies of the income assistance division, which has been subsumed into the Ministry of Housing & Social Development (soon to be re-named the Ministry of Homelessness, Sorrow & Despair for anyone who has to deal with it, work in it or is involved in it’s pending privatization) that these already marginalized citizens will not be given funds to obtain ANY new identification if welfare already has copies on file. And if you’ve ever lost your wallet, as most of us have at some time (or had it stolen), you know how expensive it is to order it all again. It’s certainly beyond most poor people’s ability to afford. Maybe hapless and sure to be short-lived “leader” Rich “it wasn’t a conflict of interest” Coleman might want to show a little moral fibre and flex a muscle or two and ensure that all individuals on income assistance actually have ID in time for the election.

It’s funny, I think the United Nations and International media that will be here for 2010 might be interested in receiving a report about a government that not prevents poor and homeless people from voting, but also creates government policies that ensure that if the poor are lucky enough to even have homes, they won’t fund identification so they can participate in that little thing we like to call “democracy.” The fact that this has to even be discussed in Canada in 2008 is the truest example of the sheer contempt, arrogance and hostility the BC Liberals hold for the citizens of BC and for our most vulnerable and marginalized citizens. To legislate the disenfranchisement of an entire socio-economic class of citizens from participation in democracy illustrates that BC truly has sunk below banana republics the world over. Mugabe and his thugs may have committed lots of intimidation and other deplorable practices in their elections, but he never actually stooped so low as to legislatively prevent citizens from voting. Way to go BC Liberals!!! You’ve sunk us lower than Zimbabwe and a whole lot of other nations that the west likes to think of as “uncivilized.” Funny, some of those nations of the South have some lessons to teach all of us about democracy. And, for the likes of the Honourable Wally Oppal to be part of this tripe, need we say more about what that says about him, a former judge and a man who comes from a community that has had to fight for decades for the franchise. Your community and fellow judges must be proud.

Voting record on Bill 42

It seems pretty clear that THE essential question for those candidates who will run again in May 2009 while they are out campaigning, especially at all candidates meetings and community events, is what was their vote was on the Election Amendment Ac (Bill 42)? And if they voted “yea” then they are automatically disqualified from running, or EVER AGAIN setting foot in the Legislature, the “People’s House.” For some of the more namby-pamby who might disagree with that harsh assessment, think about this: if an MLA voted for this bill, they have failed the first test of politics. They have failed entirely at DEMOCRACY by pledging their support for an unconstitutional, disenfranchising and morally corrupt piece of legislation that has brought shame to the Province of BC at an international level. It’s really as simple as that. If after serving three years (or more for those who have served more terms) they don’t get the basics of Democracy, they have self-selected and taken themselves out of the political gene pool.

What those of us who care about this can do is ensure that our fellow citizens, family members etc. have access to the Voting Records of their MLA’s.
It is all on the Hansard and citizens should know whether MLA’s are voting against their interests. The records can be found right here.

Regime Change

Finally, let’s not be disheartened, it’s time for enthusiasm, excitement and regime change. We’ve got time and with the mad skillz of many of us bloggers, journalists and social justice activists, we can ensure the voting public (what is left of it) has ALL the information they need to know that Gordon Campbell and his merry band of MLA’s, his shallow gene pool of a Cabinet, his insiders, political operatives and corporate hacks have taken each and one of us for a ride, jacked our best resources and that if they get in again, there won’t be a damn thing left for any of our kids and their kids…

There is nothing in the new legislation that present us citizen journalists from “getting the word” out right up to the day of the election (see below).

We’re also facing the echo and impact of an American financial disaster that I suspect will make the Depression look like a cake walk compared to what will be happening to Campbell’s friends to the South. And don’t forget, Campbell and his brethren have privatized A LOT of our resources and services to American and transnational corporations that are about to take a beating they can’t possibly stop. People tend to blame sitting governments for financial disasters and everything else they’ve done which harms the interests of citizens, which many of us are documenting in technicolour detail, we’re in for an interesting lead up to the BC election 2009. No more negativity, We CAN and WILL take back “our House” in May 2009.

Bill 42

How Gag Law May Bite Its Makers
Election free speech without fines? Start your own BC party.
By Robert D. Holmes
Published: July 17, 2008

Identification issue

8 Section 41 (3) is repealed and the following substituted:
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) (b), an applicant may produce to the election official
(a) one document, issued by the Government of British Columbia or Canada, that contains the applicant's name and photograph, and place of residence,
(b) one document, issued by the Government of Canada, that certifies that the applicant is registered as an Indian under the Indian Act (Canada), or
(c) at least 2 documents of a type authorized by the chief electoral officer, both of which contain the applicant's name and at least one of which contains the applicant's place of residence.
(3.1) The chief electoral officer must publish each year, in a manner that he or she considers appropriate, a notice setting out the types of documents that are authorized for the purposes of subsection (3) (c).

Election Advertising

59 Section 228 is amended by repealing the definition of "election advertising" and substituting the following:

"election advertising" means the transmission to the public by any means, during the period beginning 120 days before a campaign period and ending at the end of the campaign period, of an advertising message that promotes or opposes, directly or indirectly, a registered political party or the election of a candidate, including an advertising message that takes a position on an issue with which a registered political party or candidate is associated, but does not include
(a) the publication without charge of news, an editorial, an interview, a column, a letter, a debate, a speech or a commentary in a bona fide periodical publication or a radio or television program,
(b) the distribution of a book, or the promotion of the sale of a book, for no less than its commercial value, if the book was planned to be made available to the public regardless of whether there was to be an election,
(c) the transmission of a document directly by a person or a group to their members, employees or shareholders, or
(d) the transmission by an individual, on a non-commercial basis on the internet, or by telephone or text messaging, of his or her personal political views; .

Another Liberal Bites the Dust? Maybe Two?

Quite simply, Rich Coleman must resign from the BC Liberal Cabinet and from the BC government. There are no ifs, ands or buts about this. BC cannot afford to have Coleman having this level of responsibility over our resources and assets. He has terribly bungled every file he has been on, which costs the taxpayers of BC.

From Andrew MacLeod’s article in the Tyee:

'Growth Is Coming': Developer Floats Plan for Jordan River

“The land in question was managed for forestry under the Tree Farm Licence system until Forest Minister Rich Coleman allowed Western Forest Products Inc. to remove it in January 2007.

And another one:

Forest Minister's Brother High in Firm Granted Tree Farm Deal

“Forest and Range Minister Rich Coleman has said repeatedly that releasing 28,000 hectares of Western Forest Products Inc.'s private land from management under British Columbia's Tree Farm Licence system was done to help a company that was suffering financially.

While Coleman's decision has received much scrutiny in the media and Auditor General John Doyle is investigating, here's one detail that has so far been largely overlooked: Coleman's older brother Stan is Western Forest Products manager of strategic planning.

Stan Coleman joined WFP in May 2006, when the company acquired the short-lived Cascadia Forest Products Inc. Cascadia was created in 2005 when Weyerhaeuser sold its B.C. assets to Brascan, which later became Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Brookfield also now owns a majority interest in WFP.

The minister's brother worked for Weyerhaeuser in 2004 when the company benefited from another release of private land from management under TFLs. In that case, then forest minister Mike de Jong released the land against the recommendation of ministry staff.

Checking the Lobbyist Registry this is what we’ve come up with for WFP, nothing for
Ender Ilkay, the real estate developers who cashed in on the Jordan River land that was removed from from Crown land:

Gary Ley is registered as a lobbyist for the following companies, wonder how they made out with whatever they were lobbying the government for:

Western Forest Products (Forestry)– Start: 2007-JAN-01; End: 2007-DEC-31
TimberWest Forest Corp (Forestry)– – Start: 2002-SEP-01; End: 2003-DEC-31
647680 BC Ltd. (Mining) – Start: 2003-JUL-03; End: 2004-JUL-03
Lignum Ltd. (Forestry) – Start: 2003-JAN-09; End: 2004-DEC-31

Weyerhauser has had quite a few different lobbyists over the years.

**

BC Liberal MLA Pat Bell, current Minister of Forests should go too.

“Bell followed up by slamming Doyle in a media scrum, calling the report unprofessional and lacking in integrity.”

To attack the Auditor General and his report in this way is so appalling and such a demonstration of unprofessional viciousness that he should no longer be allowed to “represent” the public’s interest anymore. We would be embarrassed if he was our MLA.

But, one thing Bell’s attack demonstrates to taxpayers: you know how when you have to deal with the public service and things don’t make sense, or you experience rude managers etc. That is just a brief taste of what it is like to work in the public service, because people like Bell and Coleman are your boss and set the tone for everything that happens and who gets promoted and it’s one of the reasons people are leaving in droves.
Talk about a lack of integrity.

“Auditor general John Doyle says in his years of performing accountability audits, he has "never, ever seen anything" like Forests Minister Pat Bell's outburst Wednesday over his forest-land report.”

Before accepting the job, Doyle was assured he would have independence and support from both sides of the house and he does not expect recent tensions to affect that."I will continue to operate in a fearless way," he said.

Pat Bell was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Lands on June 16, 2005. He previously served as Minister of State for Mining (January 26, 2004 - June 18, 2005).

Also a special investigator should be assigned to investigate whether Coleman, any of his employees or any employees of Western Forest Product received any little “envelopes of encouragement” to remove the Crown land and then hand it over to real estate developers. You cannot even hope to convince us there is no money trail somewhere and we’re willing to bet that there are people out there who know where that trail is.

From Coleman’s biography:

Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Coleman ran a real estate management and consulting company. He is also a former member of the RCMP and a security specialist.
From 2001 to 2005 he served as Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
(This would be the Coleman who tried to stop an inquiry into Frank Paul’s death so the spectre of racism toward Aboriginal citizens wouldn’t be raised about his beloved police forces?)
Rich Coleman was appointed Minister of Forests and Range and Minister Responsible for Housing on June 16, 2005. As the Forest Minister, he was integral to the negotiations of the Softwood Lumber deal, established the Coast Action Plan and has brought quicker, more practical decision making processes.

One might also wonder whether Mr. Bell’s history and involvement as the owner of logging company and any real estate deals, or Tree Farm Licenses his company has been awarded might also be scrutinized? His reaction is best described as “the best defense is an offense.”

We cannot have Coleman in cabinet anymore, especially on such an important file.
And quite frankly, maybe there needs to be some scrutiny into all of these buildings the BC government has been buying under his leadership. It becomes more and more clear, many members of the Liberals and some of their inner circle gang don’t get up the morning within being paid for the pleasure on our dime. We think the public deserves to know much more about that and I think John Doyle, our credible new Auditor General is the one to help us find some of this out. The rest is for the police. And the folks from Division “E” better know the public is watching your conduct. You’re in up to your necks in the BC Rail/Raid on the Legislature and more and more of us are getting it. And you aren’t immune to accountability either.


**

We also came across this today too, we have to agree and think the public deserves to know the full details of the compensation packages and incentives Mr. Coleman, Mr. Bell and their senior underlings get from the taxpayers.

BC Association of Social Workers
July 18, 2008

BC government rewards public service executives’ ‘performance’ – while children and families languish on waitlists. Is this how our $2.9 billion surplus should be spent?

The BC Association of Social Workers commends the provincial government for moving toward more transparency and openness with the full disclosure of the detailed compensation packages afforded to senior executives in the BC government, health authorities, education sector, Crown corporations and agencies.

We see that the combined salaries of the five executives of Community Living BC (CLBC) surpassed $900,000 in 2007/08. We note with alarm that four out of five senior executives received incentive bonuses. We would like to know exactly what work these executives have done to earn these “incentives” in light of the serious and chronic crisis in service provision that confronts children, youth and families dealing with developmental challenges, an issue that has been well documented in the media and by community living and child welfare communities. We believe it is in the public’s interest and those of the thousands of children, youth and families who have been refused services by CLBC to publicly report on what they have done to earn these incentives, since they are tied to performance of these executives.

Further to this, we consider it highly inappropriate for senior executives in the social service sector and direct government to be rewarded with bonuses when this money would be much better utilized in funding adequate staffing levels of social workers and other frontline workers who provide crucial services to the public.

We now call on the BC government to continue their commitment to transparency, accountability and openness by disclosing the complete and detailed compensation packages offered to BC government Cabinet Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and top senior executives in each Ministry. We look forward to learning what compensation our elected leaders and senior executives in the BC government make in the course of their service to the public and citizens of British Columbia.

Since the BC government has a healthy budget surplus of $2.5 billion, we respectfully suggest that the Province use some of these funds to provide housing to the thousands of individuals who have found themselves homeless and disqualified from accessing income assistance over the past seven years. They should also immediately provide additional funding to BC’s child welfare system so that it will not continue to experience the kind of severe crisis it has over the same period of time.

BC leads the country in child poverty for the fifth year in a row. With a surplus of that magnitude, the BC government can immediately improve the lives and wellbeing of BC's children, youth and families. If we have the money to pay high salaries and perks for senior executives of the public sector, shouldn't we have the money for our children? A society and a government's commitment to caring for its most vulnerable citizens is the strongest indicator of who is valued and who is not. The BCASW believes that all individuals and families, and all social service professional and community sector workers are of value and deserve much better treatment from government.