COMMENT: B.C.'s polarized political climate turning voters off
With MLAs back in their seats this week, it’s a good time to remind B.C.’s political leaders that a “trust deficit” has broken out between British Columbians and their elected officials. Last week’s Ipsos Reid poll had some startling numbers in it: not a single party leader polled better than their party on the question […]
Clark/Good: Like an Orphan’s Club charity event
The weekend promos had heightened the anticipation; what I thought would be the Davis Cup of Politics--BC’s top-rated talk show host Bill Good vs. the province’s top ranked politician, Christy Clark--would take to the air in Vancouver Monday. Maybe not the match of the year, but hopefully some hard-hitting serves and returns,...
COMMENT: Open government isn't about selling access at BC Liberal “power lunches”
IntegrityBC chastised the BC Liberals today for leaving the impression that they're selling access to Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Labour Citizens' Services and Open Government, through her presence at a $50 a plate Liberal fundraising lunch tomorrow in Surrey. “There's something incredibly oxymoronic about the minister...
COMMENT: How to repair Rossland's breached trust, Mr Mayor?
Dear Mayor Greg Granstrom, There hasn't been a revolt. You're still the mayor and, much as the city would benefit from someone new, CAO Victor Kumar is still the CAO. Trust was broken and very bad process was used to achieve a dubious goal, but it's time we moved on. To move on, however, we should first ask ourselves: what ...
The BC Liberals and the new prison: Same crap, same people, different motives
One should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity, in particular when it comes to politicians and government – case in point, the BC Liberals…As you heard here first, Christy Clark made the announcement yesterday that the Osoyoos Indian Band has been selected as the party who wins the opportunity to host a new ...
IHA offers Castlegarians an apology
An open letter to the community of Castlegar; Interior Health would like to apologize to the residents of Castlegar and area for not properly informing you of the temporary closure of the emergency department last Saturday. Interior Health has contingency plans in place when facing a service interruption like this, which includes notifying community officials, […]
Old Age Security review a crisis of misinformation
Stephen Harper dropped a bombshell in Switzerland recently, and the repercussions are being felt across Canada. In his keynote address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Harper said that Canada needs to find savings in the Old Age Security benefit because our aging population is growing more expensive to service. "Our...
Bow down Canadians, corporations are king
Two recent stories out of Ottawa underline the ongoing political and economic assault on ordinary Canadians. More Canadians are now working for low wages than at any time in decades, continuing a trend that began in the early 1990s, and Stephen Harper has announced major changes to retirement benefits — including delaying Old...
Local MP Atamanenko slams Harper's Old Age Security review
Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior, is angered by the Harper government's recent announcement that the Conservatives are looking at making changes to the Old Age Security pension. The government claims that the present system is becoming unsustainable because of the aging demographics of Canadians. Harper's surprise...
CBC programming to highlight “new” standards?
You heard it here first...and hopefully last! I’ve been thinking--always a dangerous and sometimes a quite cheeky intellectual exercise--and I’ve come up with a few new program suggestions for CBC’s next television season … featuring a “Revised” Program Standards Policy...
