SOLICITOR GENERAL JOHN LES APPROVED KINSELLA GAMING LICENCE

Posted on by Laila

An interesting ‘Media Release’ came across the desk this afternoon… perhaps it would be more appropriately titled: ” As the Worm Turns”, because this continues to read like a bad soap opera. Why is it that when you hear the words allegations of conflict and improper lobbying, they are always followed  by the same peoples names?

Nanaimo – John Les’ ministry approved a lucrative gaming licence for Patrick Kinsella’s business partner Glen Todd during John Les’ troubled tenure as Solicitor General, Nanaimo NDP candidate Leonard Krog revealed today.
 
“Mr. Kinsella met repeatedly with former Solicitor General John Les and then suddenly Glen Todd, Kinsella’s partner in a horse racing business, got a licence for an off track betting operation. Given Mr. Kinsella’s record of undisclosed lobbying this raises significant questions,” said Krog.
 
“Did Mr. Kinsella lobby for this licence during his many meetings with the minister?  Was Kinsella’s relationship with Mr. Todd properly disclosed as required under the licensing rules? Is Mr. Kinsella a partner or investor in this operation?  This is another deal Campbell should come clean on.”
 
Kinsella’s meetings with Les were the subject of an investigation initiated by Krog in his role as MLA. The Lobbyist Registrar abandoned the investigation after Kinsella refused to cooperate. The Lobbyist Act has no enforcement provisions.
 
Glen Todd is Patrick Kinsella’s partner in one of BC’s largest horse racing operations and their stable is a top earner in the BC racing season. Under agreement with the government and horse racing partners, purses are supplemented by off-track betting earnings.
 
“While pursuing the license Glen Todd donated almost $80,000 to Campbell’s party,” said Krog. “And we all know Mr. Kinsella’s longtime, influential role with the BC Liberals. That’s all the more reason for Campbell to come clean on this licence approval.”
 
The ministry branch responsible for gaming licenses refused to disclose licence application documents to NDP researchers, citing privacy considerations

PATRICK KINSELLA, JOHN LES and GAMING TIMELINE

October 7, 2005 – scheduled meeting between Patrick Kinsella, BC Lottery Corporation CEO Vic Poleschuck and BCLC chair Rick Turner.
 
November 1, 2005 – scheduled meeting between Kinsella, BCLC CEO Vic Poleschuk and chair Rick Turner.
 
February 9, 2006 – scheduled meeting between Kinsella and Solicitor General John Les.
 
February 27, 2006 – scheduled meeting between Kinsella and BCLC CEO Vic Poleschuk.
 
August 31, 2006 – meeting between Kinsella then BCLC CEO Vic Poleschuk and then BCLC chair John McLernon.
 
November 29, 2006 – scheduled meeting between Kinsella and BCLC CEO Vic Poleschuk.
 
April 24, 2007 – scheduled meeting between Kinsella and BCLC and CEO Vic Poleschuk.
 
May 2, 2007 – scheduled meeting between Kinsella and then Solicitor General John Les.
 
Spring 2007 – Derby license proceeds.
 
Late 2007 – Derby License approved.
 
Source: Ministerial calendars, BCLC FOI

 
Glen Todd Donations to BC Liberals 2005-2008: $79,952 (source: Elections BC)
 

10 thoughts on “SOLICITOR GENERAL JOHN LES APPROVED KINSELLA GAMING LICENCE”

  1. Piu piu, every time the wind shifts a little the stench from Victoria comes right in our windows. Gordie and his cronies certainly play cozy. Next thing we’ll find out they’ve been chiseling charity funds. Oh no, that was the other bunch of sleazeballs, the Stormtroopers of Nice, the Non Democratic Party, whose (undoubtedly) left handed, disabled lesbian of color candidate won’t be getting my vote either.
    Third alternative badly needed in BC.

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    1. I hear you Dave!

      I have always had an issue with her new policy targeting minorities and women. I do agree we need more women in politics and a diverse representation, but that being said? I think it sucks, I know a lot of women like me who feel the same way, and this is my catch point for the NDP. I would never want something just because of my sex, colour or sexual orientation! I think the best person for a riding is the one who will represent those citizens in a manner befitting that position- regardless of the afore-mentioned designations.

      I say, qualifications, not orientation. The reason more women don’t run for positions like MLA is because mothering and politics don’t easily mix without an extensive support system. Hence, mostly older women and childless women end up running.

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  2. No big deal, like everything else bad in BC the NDP invented it. Remember Nanaimo before, BingoGate and then who could forget the two extras from the Sopranos who were televised on tape nightly on Global (or whatever they called themselves then) exiting the card club in North Burnaby. Weren’t they supposed to get a Vegas style destination casino replacing Port Moody for leaning on the construction trades to build Glen Clark’s deck cheap!? Or something like that.

    Oh that’s what is weird, no mention of this sort of thing on GlowBall, much less nightly re-plays and re-caps. Oh right, selling influence, or giving out gambling, liquor licenses, railroads and such to your buds or your buds’ buds is only wrong if you are NDP – it you are a BC liaR Party member it is just free enterprise in action………………..

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  4. “Glen Todd is Patrick Kinsella’s partner in one of BC’s largest horse racing operations and their stable is a top earner in the BC racing season. ”

    If we are going to “horse” around here then let’s throw another name into the pot to stew along with Patrick Kinsella and Glen Todd.

    Click on these links and do some searches for “Kinsella”, Todd will be there, but so too will be another name.

    Line 15

    Stallion Register

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    1. Well, well, well….. isn’t THIS an interesting development? Thank you Al, for stopping by with those links, BUT, can you please enlighten everyone to why this name is pertinant to the situation ?
      /// Brad Auger/// Glen Todd /// Patrick Kinsella – Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds. A lot of horses and a lot of money there. So what?

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  6. Isn’t it obvious that there is no relationship beyond their love of horses other than it took three of them to buy one horse and sell it, together.

    That’s the problem with the internet, wrong assumptions can be made based solely on a person’s name ending up being listed side by side with a BC Rail court room NO COMMENT “celebrity” response from valid questions being asked by the public of their elected MLAs.

    If the BC Liberals would just come out of their closet and deal with their relationship of whom they have been working with (to start the economy rolling after an NDP government having been resoundily thrashed), then everytime the public asked a direct question there would be no mystery attached to their actions.

    But…. they didn’t

    The companies from whom the duo, or is that now trio (in your assumption), have purchased horses from, so that they may earn a highly lucrative income from gambling on-my-horse-is-faster-than-your-horse mentality with the BC Lottery Corporation motto of “Don’t play beyond your limit”, is a highly respected British Columbian company that is a major contributor to the well being of this province and its name shouldn’t be appearing here, so I respectfully suggest that you delete all mention of anyone’s names other than that of Mr. Patrick Kinsella….. which is before the courts….. so says Wally Oppal. And he should know, or at least his DMA should know.

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    1. Dangerous Dan McGrew/ Al :

      Why do you think that I asked you to ” please enlighten everyone to why this name is pertinant to the situation ? I did not assume there was, is a trio, because personally, I couldn’t see a connection, and unless you had/have information that someone else doesn’t have, you are the one who needs to provide clarification as to the relevance since you are the one to bring this to the attention of readers here.

      And posting using multiple pseudonyms calls into question your own motives for doing so, I would say. While posters usually do use such covers, they do not often change them midstream.

      I respectfully suggest that if you have an issue with this press release from the NDP, and the questions that are asked regarding the relationships that may or may not exist, that you take it up with the NDP press officer who released this information, or Leonard Krog.

      One would likely think that anyone who has done business with Mr. Kinsella or his company, may be called into scrutiny by the NDP at this point until such time that the very ineffective lobbyist registry is brought up to snuff by our dear premier, and the Liberals start answering some questions.

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  7. “If the BC Liberals would just come out of their closet and deal with their relationship of whom they have been working with (to start the economy rolling after an NDP government having been resoundily thrashed), then everytime the public asked a direct question there would be no mystery attached to their actions.

    But…. they didn’t”

    And any logical person would assume that they would be perfectly clear about the WONDROUS deals they have hatched except for the fact that they obviously have many things they prefer the public to not understand. People like Gordo prefer to brag about things unless they are embarrassing or could lead to criminal charges or public disgust.

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