It was under stunning clear skies and a view of fresh snow on the North Shore Mountains Clark made the statement that most British Columbians welcome hearing.
Of course, it’s in reference to the Conservatives terribly shortsighted and frankly dangerous decision to close the Kits Coast Guard Base,which was re-opened this morning. And good on Clark for saying so – for once, I agree with the premier. ( Yes, shocking I know. )
Now lets talk about how we can apply this bit of wisdom to the rest of today’s news : the Loukidelis report and the sketchy plan for the Massey Bridge government managed to whip up in record time.
The Loukidelis Report
Forgive my incessant questions,but how much did taxpayers pay for these 71 pages? Because basically Loukidelis simply reviewed what incidents prompted the report, what Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham had recommended – in some cases, several times over years- and advised the government to follow them.
I’m not kidding. Denham has been telling government this for a very long time. In reports, in letters and in the media. But oh no, government had to appoint someone else to tell them pretty much the same thing: Don’t triple delete, comply with FOI’s, etc etc.
The gem is that Loukidelis also advises penalties for document destruction to evade an FOI – his suggestion is up to and including dismissal, but he also suggests government might consider making it an offense to do so.
Funny thing about that… and I have still yet to see this mentioned anywhere in any news clipping of this... that improperly destroying documents actually was an offense until the Liberal government removed it in May of this year– right before Tim Duncan blew the whistle on Georges Gretes intentional deletion of emails in response to an FOI.
That removal of the offense act from the legislation, means that staff would not face charges for improperly destroying documents. And that means no deterrent.
What makes it even more ridiculous,is that the Commissioner has recommended Duty to Document legislation in three separate instances since 2013, and government has ignored every request.
Why? We still don’t know,but thankfully now that Clark believes it is never too late to reverse a mistake, she’ll immediately call for Duty to Document legislation,and she’ll re-instate the Offense portion of the act her government removed, so people who intentionally destroy documents can be charged for doing so. And critics will be watching for this in January. ( But we won’t be holding our breath! )
The next Billion dollar boondoggle: Massey Bridge announcement
Of course,what do you do when you have a report coming out that you really don’t want to talk about because it brings up all sorts of nasty little incidents your government was on the hot seat for? You announce a press opportunity so contentious that hopefully it will deflect any attention from what you really don’t want to talk about.
And that’s exactly what happened today with both the Loukidelis report and the boondoggle bridge competing for press attention at the same time this morning.
Yes indeed, a 10 lane mega bridge paid for by tolls – because clearly we residents south of the Fraser love paying tolls right? – and a business plan created out of thin justifications for what is going to be another exercise in bad government decision making.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane to 2006 when then Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon announced the regions transportation plans for the next decades. This is pretty much the oldest thing I could find quickly on that: http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=0c3cc174-0094-4fc2-92d7-44e23b60736a&sponsor=
Twinned tunnel part of Victoria’s long-term plan
BY THE VANCOUVER SUN
The provincial government’s long-term road-building plans include a second mega-project on the scale of the $3-billion Gateway Program, studies done for the Gateway plan show.The second project would include twinning the George Massey Tunnel under the south arm of the Fraser River between Richmond and Delta, expanding Highway 99 on both sides of the tunnel from four lanes to six, and building a new four-lane expressway to connect Highway 99 with the Trans-Canada Highway.
However, there are no immediate plans to build it.
The Gateway Program calls for the Port Mann Bridge over the Fraser to be twinned, widening of the Trans-Canada Highway on both sides of the bridge and building new truck routes on both shores of the river.
The longer-term plan — dubbed “the H99 project” by British transportation consultants Steer Davies Gleave, who did the major studies for the Gateway plan — “is still in the early stages of development for possible future long-term implementation,” their report notes.
The report — not yet public but obtained by The Vancouver Sun — says the H99 project is similar to the Gateway plan “in that it assumes a widening of both the Fraser River crossing, in this case the new bore next to the existing George Massey (Deas) Tunnel, and widening of a length of the existing highway to both the north and south of the crossing.”
The project is on the back burner in part because it would put pressure on traffic bottlenecks to the north, requiring expansion of the Oak Street and Knight Street bridges into Vancouver or a new bridge into Burnaby.
Gateway Program executive director Mike Proudfoot said Wednesday the Highway 99 plan is one of many proposals for the region.
“That would be part of our longer-term strategy,” he said. “The Gateway Program corridors are the priority ones.”
Do read the entire link, because it’s always fun to look back to what was originally planned and where we are now. The tolling strategy for the region planned then, is far different than what we see now and of course now both the Golden Ears Bridge and the Port Mann are not meeting usage/revenue projections by far.
So of course it makes sense to build another monster bridge with 10 lanes paid for by tolls. I’m sure the tourists heading to the ferry terminal are going to love that.
Why aren’t we twinning the bridge?
Why did that plan, which would now include seismic upgrades and maintenance to the current tunnel I’m told by a well connected source, disappear in favour of this bridge? Richmond politicians long favoured that option – check out this link to comments by Malcolm Brodie and Harold Steves : http://www.yourlibrary.ca/community/richmondreview/archive/RR20060218/news.html
For one reason only. To allow bigger ships passage up the Fraser River. Port of Metro Vancouver recently approved the Surrey Coal Transfer Facility, which would load thermal coal coming from the US directly onto 80 Panamax ships every year. http://www.thenownewspaper.com/news/359159251.html
A revised proposal to build a new coal export terminal on the Fraser River in Surrey has received approval from Port Metro Vancouver.
The port authority on Monday issued an amended project permit to Fraser Surrey Docks that approves the company’s altered plan to load coal directly onto ocean-going ships, rather than first barging coal to a transfer site at Texada Island as originally planned.
The terminal would bring up to four million tonnes per year of U.S. thermal coal by rail through White Rock, South Surrey and Delta, adding one extra coal train per day.
“We’re very pleased with the port’s decision,” said Fraser Surrey Docks CEO Jeff Scott.
Coal opponents predict the project will never be economical, although it has reduced its expected operating costs with the move to loading directly to ships.
The shift away from barge loading removed one of the objections of opponents – that coal dust from open barges would be more prone to wafting out into neighbourhoods and the environment.
It also increased the project cost to $42 million because of the need to install a taller ship loader.
An estimated 80 Panamax-size ships would haul coal out each year, instead of 640 barge loads.
The province has been leaving Richmond out of the loop on this project for some time and Mayor Malcolm Brodie has been vocal about his displeasure over this. Interestingly enough, he wasn’t at the press conference today and some speculated on social media he hadn’t been invited. But hey, it’s never too late to reverse a mistake that was made…right?
Wrong.
Sometimes, you can go back and reverse a mistake that has been made…but as Harper learned the hard way, it’s better to avoid making them in the first place.
Rod McIsaac? He’ll never get a second chance.
Nor will Nick Lang,or Paige,or any of the other kids we failed. Those ‘mistakes’ should never have happened.
And that’s why this statement matters. Because sometimes,Ms. Clark, it is too late to fix things that sadly, can’t be fixed.
*I’ll be taking it easy over the Christmas season, but will still be around and will likely share some more relaxing, inspiring posts with you too.
See you soon!
Westcoast Views with Laila Yuile 
Political staff, Loukidelis wrote, are subject to a code of conduct and government policies on technology use and records management and should be required to certify in writing awareness of responsibilities under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, “including the duty to assist, and are aware of applicable records management policies and rules, particularly those relating to transitory records.” – Bob Mackin – The Tyee
Anyone want to take a bet that Tim Duncan would pass with flying colours and George Gretes would never have been hired by Mike de Jong except by Today’s BC Liberals (or is that where he is now?)
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“The project … would put pressure on traffic bottlenecks to the north, requiring expansion of the Oak Street and Knight Street bridges into Vancouver or a new bridge into Burnaby.”
One sentence explains how one group of Liberal friends can dine at the public trough indefinitely.
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Of course…lol… but in all seriousness, there is no valid reason other than the super sized coal ships for the bridge to be built. Ten lanes?
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Two comments;
1) Where is Jordan Bateman and the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation on spending $3+ Billion on the Massey Bridge? The cost of this project swamps any of TransLink’s projects and we don’t even get to vote on it.
2) Ministers Fassbender and Stone were in Ottawa recently, meeting with the federal government to discuss infrastructure funding. Is it a coincidence that the Massey Bridge suddenly comes to the front of the line for BC’s infrastructure projects while the region’s mayors are told to work with TransLink, figure out a transit funding programme and, oh yes, prepare for another plebiscite? The provincial government is thumbing its nose at the region’s transit needs, ensuring that its pet projects are first in line for any federal funds
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FRJ–
Regarding Question #1…
We could ask the same question of the good Mr. Bateman regarding the few billion spent on the ice bomb bridge, especially given his involvement in plastic grass-type machinations that helped drive the decision to build the thing.
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Its ironic just how hypocritical BC’s Premier Christy Clark is.
Its bad enough she is slamming through Site C costed at what 8.5 billion(and rising every month),
Now she is going to spend more BC taxpayer’s money on a 10 lane bridge estimated at 3.5 Billion plus,plus,plus.
One caller on the Linda Steele CKNW talk show suggested that traffic bottleneck will just be relocated to and from Oak and Granville Street,both of which which will be massively overloaded,with 5 lanes each way,ie 3 only lane traffic on Oak and Granville St. is like trying to put a 6 ” pipe in a 3″ hole.
Its not common sense just to build a large 10 lane bridge and not plan for road access traffic infrastructure to and from the bridge.
– Another toll bridge is not what we need now at existing the tremendous high toll’s on the two newest bridges.
He suggested that all bridges be tolled,with the tolls lowered to ex $1.00 each way
Alternately a $1.50 just one way only.
-No truck traffic during rush hour times,on any bridges.
-Its another suspected Christy Clark ploy to then dredge the Fraser River (in the area of the Tunnel) for deeper draft ship traffic.
ie hence construction and implementing of another federal/provincial Fraser River new inland deep water port.
– all BC traffic transit systems must be re organised and combined to form one major traffic system under the mayors of the communities involved.
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“It’s never too late to reverse a mistake that was made.” –Christy Clark, December 16, 2015.
Yes it is. Ask Rod MacIsaac’s family.
“I have always been motivated by a commitment to ensure our government is open and transparent. We have taken many steps to enhance our laws, policies and procedures to meet this commitment…” –Christy Clark, December 16, 2015.
According to findings of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC, confirmed by the past Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC and much incontrovertible evidence, that statement is not a mistake, an error, or a difference of opinion. It is a carefully considered deception.
This woman is out of control, while a spineless BC Liberal caucus sits in mute acquiescence.
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http://www.integritybc.ca/?page_id=5742
how bout oversight -Auditor general
track record of contractors-just look at Victoria bridge boondoggle?
the usual contractors?Hmmm
corporate welfare?(P3?)
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What’s needed more than anything – and resisted completely by BC Liberals – is accountability. Premier Clark and Premier Campbell before her have sabotaged independent oversight and there’s one important reason they’ve chosen to do that. It’s a fairly obvious one too.
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What a last gasp this bridge project is. Has Christy not been paying attention to what’s been happening in Paris? Or in Canada for that matter? Atco Power/CaAnadian Utilities/Altagas are all making plans to convert their coal-burning power stations to natgas or other fuels now that the writing is on the wall. The same writing is on the wall in Beijing where the leadership is actually trying to make their air cleaner than it has been, which signals an end to coal imports. Even India and Japan have seen reductions of 20% in their coal imports in the last couple of years, and that despite rising demand. Japan, of course, is restarting its nukes…
No, coal as an export commodity is dead in the next five years. Wyoming certainly hopes to get what it can, but it can read the writing on the wall too – Governor Mike Mead is busy casting about trying to forestall EPA regulations, but carbon credits appear to be his only salvation, and no matter who wins the White House next year, they’ll have to be purchased on an open and increasingly-competitive – read, expensive – market. And Paris may well put paid to that scheme too, depending on the implementation.
Westshore Terminals has been shipping more thermal coal in recent years (compared to the met coals they originally transited), but they’ve had their first cancellation from Cloud Peak who no longer plans to ship thermal coal for export due to low prices. That’s the thin edge of the wedge – Westshore will get more cancellations as Asian demand drops off, carbon credits take what profit there is left out of producers’ hands, and world-wide oversupply drops the price in sympathy with the Baltic Dry Index.
No, the only reason left to build this bridge is to move traffic – the reason for deepening the channel by removing the tunnel is gone – coal exports will never be shipped out of Fraser-Surrey Docks. And I don’t think “the people” will stand for payments of $180,000 a day on a $3.5B project to a P-3 company to improve their freedom to move.
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Don’t be silly Zalm. The lack of a market has never inhibited her before. It won’t be long before she’s twinning Site C, if that’s possible.
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If Fraser Surrey Docks wants a bridge so they can bring in bigger ships, make them pay for it.
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So, what happened in replacing the Patullo?
This should be the 1st to be done before any undertaking of what is proposed. It’s been one on the list long before the tunnel.
Follow the money.
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Absolutely! Maybe she’ll hive off a couple of lanes of the Massey Bridge. We would never know ‘cuz we’ll never see the plans. (Do you really think you can build one of those without plans?)
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For most governments across Canada, one or two major scandals, especially accompanied by corruption convictions, are enough to send them on sabbatical, but here the BC Liberal government responds to (non-partisan) official condemnation and public outcry to clean up its act by packing a bigger lunch to tide the crony-crew over the next sabbatical; remarkably, the greater the outcry, and thus greater likelihood of earning a well-deserved period of rest, the more blatant the crony-centric intent for that bulging picnic basket.
Most governing parties could only get away (as in, “~car”) with this once in a long while, but here the BC Liberals found themselves having to unpack an embarrassment of IPPs, P-3s, and other rich crony-picnic fare, when the sabbatical many of them were expecting got postponed due to an astonishingly bad NDP election campaign.
Despite Christy’s unrealistic —nay, absurd—project time-frames (some getting pushed farther and farther into the future—like around when the Spawn of Gordo are conquering neighbouring galaxies), the party has to be wondering what hope there is of a repeat default win in 2017. Christy’s reaction to the email-deleting scandal (as it should be called) is trite and smirking; we’ll have to see how much this give-a-shit, “let-them [Canada’s most impoverished children]-eat-cake” attitude indicates what kind of sabbatical picnic we might expect the BC Liberals to pack for themselves. At some point it might become completely unabashed.
Best wishes to you and yours, Laila. Independent journalists like you make sense out of BC Liberal government so perfidious it might otherwise stupefy. You make it believable that fresh winds are really blowing that’ll make this upcoming year one of the best in a long while—and second only to 2017.
Peace,
Scotty
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So, interesting timing on this for the BC Liberals… but this just happened this morning. Breaking news. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gas-plant-charges-1.3369470
“Ontario Provincial Police have laid criminal charges against the former chief of staff as well as the deputy chief of staff in the former Dalton McGuinty government, in a case relating to the gas plant scandal.
Both former Liberal staffers are accused of deleting records tied to the cancellation of two Greater Toronto Area gas-fired power plants that cost Ontario taxpayers an estimated $1 billion.
The OPP said in a news release the charges come after a “complex” investigation into the scandal led by its anti-rackets branch.
David Livingston, 63, of Toronto and Laura Miller, 36, of Vancouver are each charged with:
Breach of trust.
Mischief in relation to data.
Misuse of a computer system to commit the offense of mischief.
More to come “
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Hold on Laila.
You cant critisize Laura Miller for her “alleged” involvement ot the deletions of THOUSANDS of Ontarion govt employee emails. Because it was actually ‘allegedly” done by her boyfriend. He was paid (allegedly) $10,000.00 and given a password allowing access to over 20 employees computors and let into the offices afterhours to delete, delete, delete. emails in a financial fiasco that has cost Ontario taxpayers 1.1 billion dollars .
When the shite hit the fan she quit and moved to BC to whisper in Christy’s ear……
You cant critisize her because Christy Clark said in an interview in 2014 that , “She is a person of utmost integrity……”, and Christy would know.
Stay tuned because the court room drama starts Jan 27th back in Ontario. Merry Christmas Laura.
P.S. Gee, I wonder where the BC Liberals got the idea to delete govt emails????????
Mr Loukadelis should talk to Laura Miller to see if she has any ideas on the subject.
P.P.S. Can we hire the OPP to look into BC Rail?
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From earlier this year. http://www.vancouversun.com/business/vaughn+palmer+liberals+stand+behind+their+executive+director/9697817/story.html
And Miller has given the Toronto Star a statement already: http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/12/17/two-mcguinty-aides-charged-in-gas-plants-computer-probe.html
Clark is to make a statement- Miller stepped down last night,is on leave.
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Hmmmm, Dalton McGuinty resigned in disgrace because of this scandal.
Laura Miller skeedaddled outta Ontario to BC and……irony of ironies. Govt employee email deletions seemed to have followed her?
WTH?
What would it take Christy to swap her “Cowardly Lion heart” for “an ounce of integrity” ?
An OPP raid of the Legislature? Gordo stepped down after the RCMP raid and trial started to get ugly….
One can hope
Is Miller on Paid leave?.
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Why are the NDP all but invisible on just about everything we/you/us write about? Accountability cuts both ways: for evil to be done good people only need to do NOTHING. And they excel at that. Time to turf both parties, don’t you think? One steals, lies and cheats, the other sticks their thumbs into their orifices and tries to be small. Regardless of your politics, we deserve better.
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Matthew Henry: “None so deaf as those that will not hear. None so blind as those that will not see.”
If you aren’t hearing the Opposition talking, you aren’t listening:
http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5a4f5762764be8d25ebe9e4b3&id=8a5c29263b&e=fe708259d0
http://www.andrewweavermla.ca/category/media-releases/
http://adriandixmla.ca/blog/category/news/
http://davidebymla.ca/news/
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The opposition has been great on many files,particularly recently. They did not oppose the removal of penalties for document destruction vigourously though when they had the chance – Doug Routley objected in committee once but let it go when overruled. I wrote about it twice before they issued the press release but I suspect that was intentional because it was the NDP that brought forward the Tim Duncan revelations.
Where they have failed miserably is in blasting the LNG tax regime… then voting in favour of it.Failing to oppose the surrey Fraser coal exports via Texada, now to be shipped down the Fraser, And in failing to take an official stance on Site C until it was too late. They even failed to do so in the leg this fall when it was debated. They may not be huge issues.. but to a public looking for an alternative,things like this matter and the Libs will use it against them as they already have.
Where people need to do their job is finding those links you’ve listed Norm, and where people like us need to weed through the truth and lies.
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Much more than that….’we’ are political junkies. We seek this stuff out. Too much is concealed and NOT found by the opposition but, even if they did that job, is that enough? Not for the hoi poloi. They don’t hear. They don’t see. They don’t know. Rafe, LY, the TYEE all emerged because the normal way wasn’t working. Well, the leg is NOT working either. If the NDP don’t find a way, someone else will. We are overdue. The opposition keeps doing what doesn’t work! How stupid is that?
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How stupid? Stupid as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Oh well, I guess one can hope.
Speaking of over and over again – the same thing is happening to my Medical Services Invoice, except this month its up 6.9%. That hasn’t happened since…..last year!
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I nominate JDC as leader of the “Isolationist Integrity Coalition” or “ICC” ( pronounced “ick”).
I’ll volunteer my time as press agent.
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NOW you’re talkin’….WE ARE ICKY!!!! (but can ‘isolationists’ coalesce?)
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Norm! You show a clip of VP? Refer to two NDP blogs!!?? THAT is not going to get the job done! And I am NOT the problem because I seek. But the average citizen knows more about prosports! It is time our politicians took off the powdered wigs and stepped outside the legislative and traditional boxes. It is the era of ANONYMOUS fer Gawds sake. We have to step up.
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Your criticism is too harsh. MSM in BC conspire to keep the NDP out of the news except when they think it will be embarrassing; it is thus much more difficult for the NDP to get out their message, and to hold the government to account. Speaking of which, you might have noticed this BC Liberal government is allergic to sitting in the Assembly, and so the NDP has few opportunities to “get the job done” there, too.
John Horgan has acknowledged this uneven playing field, and is taking every measure to ameliorate the unfair, and often untrue, MSM-coverage of the NDP, but of he isn’t whining about it; rather, he’s been talking about the importance of finding out what the BC Liberals are trying to hide by their collusive relationship with MSM, and about suspicious tactics like deleting emails and frustrating FOI requests. In this he’s had to be mindful of MSM’s habit of smearing whomever the BC Liberals tell them to smear. So far they’ve tried to make hay out of Horgan’s long career in politics (y’know, that he’s a lefty back-room dealer, or too old and out-of-touch), and that he’s intemperate, both pretty lame attacks since there are many career politicians in the BC Liberal party—wisely avoiding the comparison of records with Horgan’s, and also ticklingly ironic because the fighting stance MSM warns about is exactly what voters found wanting in the NDP’s last campaign, and which Horgan is amply capable of remedying.
We don’t need to counter smearing and jeering with the same. John Horgan has been making intelligent criticism of the BC Liberal energy policy, for example, because he knows the file in great detail and doesn’t need to get into a pissing match.
Finally, and again to emphasize how heavily the playing field is tilted against the NDP, you might consider that, in addition to ordinary political debate democracy needs to function, our NDP has to deal with an extraordinarily perfidious government that’s rigged every bureaucracy to conceal and affect stuff that looks, for lack of ethical scruple, like it’s probably illegal. It’s a task most other Official Oppositions do not have to contend with, an extra, forensic load the NDP has no choice but to bear until it can win government and set the forensics onto the proper course, carried out by the proper agencies.
You could also attend party functions where virtually everyone “steps up”— naturally, MSM doesn’t cover it.
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One wonders if its the media ignoring the NDP? Or other concerned citizens. The nmedia are a sad sorry shadow of their former selves and they only have their corporate masters to blame.
Lets face it. Global TV and the local fish wrappers know where the majority of their advertising dollars come from. They arent about to bite the hand that feeds them.
I can stand at Georgia and Burrard, naked, screaming Christy is “guilty” of various “rumored’ things and all the media will show is “crazed man bites dog” story IF even that.
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JDC: You said, “Why are the NDP all but invisible…” and then complain when shown evidence they are not.
We have two opposition parties and both regularly draw attention to issue mismanagement. However, our Legislature barely sits so the place designed for political debate cannot function as it should. The Assembly has become like Harper’s National Energy Board: a rubber stamp for furthering the interests of economic elites and the most influential.
Since the parliamentary forum does not function, we should be relying on the media. As Edmund Burke said,
“There are three estates in Parliament but in the Reporters’ Gallery yonder there sits a Fourth Estate more important far than they all. It is not a figure of speech or witty saying, it is a literal fact, very momentous to us in these times.”
Unfortunately, in pro-media’s political reporting, we get minions of the same economic elites and the province’s most influential. They’ve grown to be friends, perhaps servants but not foes, of the powerful. (Palmer, “Bob Plecas is a friend of mine.”) Postmedia proudly advertises their “partnership” with resource industries; they don’t bother to say they are also partners with BC Liberals.
Eventually, the currently governing party will sink under the weight of its own corruption and incompetence and the NDP or the Green Party will bring renewal. The mainstream media might then resume its work as the Fourth Estate.
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Erudite, Norm, but missing the point. That was evidence like heresay. That was only evidence that you saw it. The public needs information in the face like a ten pound salmon, NOT buried in the sand and kelp of NDP blogs and VPs all-but-innvisible show. The legislature does not work. The mainstream media does not work. Both corrupted on purpose. Both neutered by design. And The TYEE, LY, Island Tides are valiantly trying to make the ‘ignored’ medium relevant when the contrary is so obviously true. If I had the answer, I’d do it. But I don’t. Nevertheless, I know futile and impotent when I see it. That is what is hitting me I’m the face like a fish. Time for new measures, Norm. Time for change in all things.
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Good one.
The NDP havent exactly been burning down the barn with all the Liberal “fuel” they’ve been handed over the past year……..even when the Legislature sits.
Oh. And the Mt Polley disaster( 30 second video clip on the 6pm “news”) was a “no fault” accident……….I’m sure the voters up north were real happy to hear no one is to blame.
Need a dam anyone? Lets start building before the proper environmental permits are in place……
Nothing to see here….move along
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I said I don’t have an answer and I do not. But I have a suggestion: WE form a VIRTUAL opposition. We form a party that DOES not run, it simply holds the government accountable by way of lawsuits. The Libs (because they are in power) to be sued first for negligence and dereliction of duty re children in care. They say it takes a village…so we form a virtual one and sue on the children’s behalf.
Make no mistake: we sue the party, NOT the government behind whose skirts they hide. The second party in our system is neutered. Ergo: not liable.
We are to be non partisan. I see holding the NDP accountable, too. Greens, even, should they form the government. Rafe has been doing it. LY does it. The Tyee and Island Tides does it but they have chosen the pen as their sword. Maybe we choose the law as ours? Face it, we are all critical of government but we choose NOT to be too oppositional when the ones we hate the least get in. THAT mentality eliminates unbiased criticism.
If I am to criticize Limp Dix and the Dysfunctional Horgans, I should at least propose an alternative . Here it is, Scotty and Norm (et al): we form an NGO called the Opposition Party and it holds the bastards feet to the fire by way of the courthouse rather than the shuttered and muted legislature.
No. I am not a lawyer. Don’t be so cynical.
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That’s one heck of an idea JDC… Because you are right, every party has to be held to account. The NDP has to be for sure.Are they the better alternative to the Libs? Yes- look at the mess that’s going on right now. It’s a free for all, money being handed out everywhere and yet they can’t find any money right now for MCFD, which has to wait until budget next year and even then no firm commitment on amount and timing.
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So get some charismatic type to be the chair, I’ll volunteer to be on the first board if you and your sanest six or seven others step up. We need a battery of idealistic lawyers to volunteer their time. Well pick two or so suits a year to pursue and we’ll sue em. There are limits of course to whatever we can do but it is not like these dorks are not giving up plenty of targets. We don’t need meetings. Email will do. And….well….that’s enough. Let the new board fill in the blanks.
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I think you’ve just scared the dickens out of everyone..lol..
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Yeah, the sanity requirement may be intimidating. Unrealistic, perhaps. And seven of them? Too many….? There’s you, me, JA, noncon, JJ, Les, NVG and, if we relax the standards, maybe Norm and Scotty. Rafe could be titular figurehead. I dunno….is there a sane one in that bunch?
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Certainly seems to me that world-class province is to adults what household is to toddler.
So although I’m greatly disappointed by the BC Libs, BC NDP and BC Cons, I won’t be judging them too harshly anymore. To me, expecting world-class leadership from any of them would be like expecting a group of peewee hockey players to lead the Canucks to a Stanley Cup win.
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The new bridges into Vancouver with highway expansion in Richmond or Burnaby are long overdue. With no improvement to City roads to access the route can I suggest that South Vancouver be paved over to be the parking lot It is during rush hour. Again a lack of vision by government planners. As many people have said about the Port Mann crossing “Mrs. Smith s grade 3 class did a wonderful job designing that bridge. ” Merry Christmas to all
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While I agree that the Deas Tunnel needs replacement. And I agree a new, wider bridge will alleviate the north and dangerous SOUTH bound traffic congestion. It will only help at that location.
The Knight st bridge will still bottleneck, the east west connector will still bottleneck, Granville, Oak, Marine dr. will ALL bottleneck.The new bridge will just get you to those traffic jams faster.
Heading south after a long day at work will be a pleasant experience for a while but it never lasts.
I wonder what the toll will be? $5 a trip? Cant wait for the screaming to begin.
Reality people. Try driving in London , Paris, etc.and see what tolls are all about.
The spinelss gastropods at MetroVan should just get on with it and make ALL the bridges $1. Everyone driving pays and those that drive across more bridges pay more….Its that complicated.
But then again we are talking about MetroVan political appointees and trough feeders who are about as popular as a lice infested tax audittor at a hair salon.And they cant understand why.
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Dear Scotty. You are right. I am wrong. It is not the NDPs fault. Poor dears. They are good. Liberals bad. That the opposition is beaten, stymied and ineffective is made OK because the bad guys cheat and lie. What was I thinking? So, I will continue to root for the sweethearts vs the bullies. Like JJones said, “root for the peewees vs the BroadStreet Bullies”. But don’t you ever wonder why we always lose?
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Skip it.
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