Bios
Monte Paulsen
Monte Paulsen is investigative editor of The Tyee, where he has written hundreds of articles.
He debates Canadian politics every Monday morning with Globe and Mail columnist Norman Spector on CKNW's The Bill Good Show.
And he is a regular contributor to The Walrus, where his feature, Far from Home, won a national magazine award. He has also contributed to Vancouver Magazine, BC Business, and The Globe and Mail among other publications.
Paulsen helped The Tyee win a 2009 Edward R. Murrow award and contributed to the Grand Forks Herald's 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. He's worked as a senior fellow at The Center for Public Integrity. And Rolling Stone magazine named an investigations team he headed in Detroit as one of "Ten things that don't suck about the media."
He is also co-author of "Beyond the Deep: The Deadly Descent into the World's Most Treacherous Cave" (Warner Books, 2002).
Stories by Monte Paulsen
'We're Just Getting Started': Facebook Activist
Christopher White, founder of Facebook group that sparked weekend rallies, on his cyber-allies, his politics, Michael Ignatieff, and more. A Tyee interview.
$50 Million Private Plan to Help Homeless Unveiled
Street to Home's funds should be added to existing government commitments: NDP.
Prorogation Provokes Online Uprising
Fast-growing Facebook group is organizing rallies nationwide.
The Trouble with Tracey
One year ago she burned to death in her shopping cart. What's been done to save the next Tracey from a similar fate?
'Let Donolo Let Iggy Be Iggy!'
Listening in on BC's Grits this weekend, as they gathered in Whistler to drink and argue about how to revive their falling party.
Welcome to the 'Burbs, Meet the New Homeless
Their ranks are growing in cities like Surrey, as the working poor slip their grip.
Layton and Donnelly Woo the HST Haters
New Dems' by-election strategy is to pin the much maligned tax on Harper.
The Curious Case of the Missing Tory
We tried to interview Diana Dilworth, who wants to win the New West-Coquitlam by-election. We really did try.
A Beacon for Ending Homelessness
How the province transformed a Hastings Street hotel from hell to haven. Second in our Homeless Report Card 2010 series.
A Homeless Report Card for British Columbia
The Tyee asked experts to assess progress on the issue, and assign some grades.
Milltown Tax Mutiny
As pulp mills withhold taxes from tiny communities, BC's municipal officials brace for legal ruling.
BC Preparing New Law to Apprehend Homeless
Act would violate Charter warn civil liberties advocates.
BC Key to Harper's Dream of Majority
Five tight battleground ridings are poised to tip towards Tories.
Why I'm Moving to British Columbia: Green Leader
Elizabeth May admits her party lacked an election strategy last time, vows a new approach.
Rail Fix: Two Tracks to Langley
If BC is to join the new era of train travel, it must plan for passenger rail on a regional basis, and protect potential new rail corridors. Last of four.
Ottawa Halts Vancouver Train
As if ignoring high-speed and discouraging US rail investment were not enough, the Harper government now blocks even slow-speed rail. Third of four.
Obama's Billions Bypass BC
A decade of disinterest has cost Vancouver passengers the benefit of U.S. billions targeted for track improvements north of Seattle. Second of four.
The Myth of High-Speed Rail for BC
No key player -- not Obama, Harper, Campbell or Washington State -- is on board with high-speed rail to Vancouver. Part one of four.
Follow Election Results on Tyee's Twitter and The Hook
Breaking news and analysis, up to the minute.
Who Is Gordon Campbell 3.0?
Chatting with the polished puzzle who seeks a third term as BC's premier.
Six Seats the BC Liberals Will Fight Hard to Keep
Boundary-Similkameen, Kootenay East, and ones in Surrey, Coquitlam and Vancouver.
To Win, New Dems Must Pry Loose These Six Seats
Comox Valley, Saanich South, Stikine, North Van-Lonsdale and two in Burnaby.
Why the NDP Has a Shot
BC Liberals hold more safe seats, but 'green suburban swingers' could lift New Dems into power.
Do It Yourself Home Lauded by Housing Minister Coleman
He also sees 'shared equity' as a way to make houses more affordable.
Rennie's Remedy: Taller, Cheaper
Condo king says cut unit costs by adding floors, capping developer profits.
Basement Suites in the Sky
Lock-off suites could help young families own condos and create rental housing for singles.
'We Need Rental, Today': Toderian
Vancouver's planning boss on the downturn, fixing the rental unit shortage, and a key charter change.
No Money Down Mortgages Still a Good Idea? This One Works
Helping renters buy homes, leave social housing, makes space for others.
Homes that Cost Less than Rental
How a Toronto developer creates 'cost-effective' condos sold to families making as low as $32,000.
Affordable Housing: Five Myths
Betting on 'market correction'? Home prices would have to plunge 55 per cent to fit average family income.
Fixing the Crazy Cost of Housing
Ordinary people in BC can no longer afford ordinary homes. First in a series searching for solutions.
'Stop Gap Housing' Idea Could Make Big Dent in Homelessness
Vancouver mayor 'definitely interested' in temporary villages for hundreds.
50 Ways to Help the Homeless
A practical guide to what the experts say can, and must, be done. Second of two.
How to End Homelessness
Can Vancouver's new mayor deliver on his promise to house everyone? Yes we can. First of two.
'No Risk to Taxpayer' Vows Olympic Village Builder
City claims taxpayers' interests trump public's right to know about $100 million loan.
Progress Housing Homeless? Ladner, Activists Wildly Disagree
Crunching the numbers behind the claims in Vancouver.
Election's Big Winners and Losers
These get our votes. Please add your own.
What Did Voters Say Today?
Catch our fresh election night analysis on The Hook.
RCMP Quietly Funded Study Critical of Insite Effort
Tory minister cited report in effort to close safe injection clinic.
Turning Down Dion
NDP candidate Michael Byers on why he chose a tough riding, and declined to run elsewhere for the Liberals.
Harper Evolved? May Doubts It
Riding the campaign train with Green leader.
Canwest No Longer Suing Tyee
Media giant drops libel suit for Mair column.
Layton Leads (on Facebook)
Tyee helps track buzz in the online world of 'social media.'
Get on The Hook!
The Tyee's new politics superblog launches today. Nice timing, eh?
Canada's First 'Community Court': Can It Help Addicts?
Goal is fast justice, better options for offenders.
Michael Geller, New Blood for NPA
Vancouver's reigning party stumbled, says developer who seeks one of its council slots.
Dhaliwal's Bid for Vision Slot Marks Political Shift
Indo-Canadian wants 'to bridge communities' in Vancouver.
Hanging Out in Beijing
BC activist Nicole Rycroft on why she dangled a 'Free Tibet' banner -- and herself -- from atop a Beijing billboard.
Candidates Stampede to Vision
Already, 28 contenders vie to join slate for Vancouver election.
Mayor Sam's Unspent Cash
Will Vancouver mayor disclose his war chest?
It's Gregor Robertson's Vision
He leads fired up party into Vancouver civic race. Can he mend COPE rift?
De Genova to Boost Louie?
Al De Genova to throw second-ballot support to another Vision Vancouver candidate. 'No deals' all say.
Ladner Seizes NPA Crown
After 15 years on council, Mayor Sullivan turns out fewer than a thousand supporters.
Ladner's Fiery Final Push
Calls Mayor Sullivan a 'divisive' wielder of fear with slim support.
Sailing at Highway Speeds
High-tech 'flying yachts' will soon break the 50-knot barrier.
Watch the Debate Online
VIDEO: De Genova, Louie, and Robertson spar at May 21 debate hosted by The Tyee and 24 Hours.
Hot Button Bill: Libs Rush to Change Election Laws
Diverse foes say Bill 42 would crimp free speech, hurt poor voters.
A Welfare 'Savings' Boomerang
Campbell's cuts ended up costing BC taxpayers billions, studies suggest.
BC's Homeless Death Toll: 56 or More in Two Years
Tally of homeless deaths released to Tyee by chief coroner.
VANOC Antes up for Shelter
Street youth grant is 'chump change': critic.
Ladner Takes On Sullivan
Mayor Sam changed the game. Now everyone wants to play.
We Tried to Count the Homeless
Why today's homeless number is an undercount.
Vision's Three Would-Be Kings
Vying to run for mayor are a mixed bunch with diverse slices of Vancouver.
COPE's Cadman 'Likely' to Run for Mayor
Predicts split left will hand Sullivan another term.
Vision Braces for Voter Crush
Party to hold confab for 10,000 in hall that seats 700.
Minister Nixes Probe into Mayor's Non-Profit
Nanitch Society made $5,136 donation to Vancouver's NPA.
BC's Worst Drug Hotel Is About to Empty Out
The violent hell of Backpackers Inn. Where does it move next?
Evicted and Shuffled into SROs
Hot real estate market uprooting working class tenants in Vancouver.
Harper Budget Stiffs Homeless
Ignores Vancouver mayor's idea to boost rentals.
Homeless Hell Hole Below Science World
'Worst' of many 'really rough spots' says city's outreach worker.
Unspent Millions in Housing Fund
Most of small payout from $250 million goes to burn facility.
Bad Numbers for 'Civil City'
Vancouver's citizen security project way off its goals.
Can Obama Keep Hope Alive?
Now the knives are really out.
Idea #12: Zone for Affordable Housing
BC has far too few affordable homes. Whistler has none. Councillor Tim Wake warns: "Plan early, or react later."
Mayor Sam Says He Was Defamed
Sullivan's lawyer sent accusatory letter to councillor opponent.
Province to Look at Sullivan Donation
Mayor evades media as BC registrar investigates Nanitch Policy Society.
10,000 Homeless in BC
Abbotsford tops list of boomtowns plagued by poverty.
Sullivan's Society Hides NPA Donors
Nanitch's other directors claim no knowledge of $5,136 gift to Non-Partisan Association.
Vision Discloses Interim Fundraising
Developers made largest donations, unions gave less than three per cent.
Coleman 'Committed' to 12 Towers
Housing minister pledges that if Vancouver fast tracks permits, province will provide money to build more than 1,100 new homes.
Vision Pushes Ban on Big Campaign Cash Sources
Council to debate ban on corporate and union donations.
Vancouver Election Spending Out of Control
Prone to fraud, few limits, and a whopping $30 spent per vote. A Tyee special report.
Homeless in Suburbia
Why shelters outside of Vancouver are filling up.
Christian Activists Join Homeless Fight in Vancouver
Main Street squat heads to court.
Panel Rejects BC Mine Project Worth $8 Billion
Northgate's Kemess North mine would turn lake into toxic dump.
Endless Summer (Strike)
Ten other cities have settled with civic workers. Why can't Vancouver?
Coleman's Gambit
Riverview and Little Mountain sales a risky bid during a housing crisis.
If Strike Hits Cities, It'll Stink
Trash pick-up, festivals, Olympics prep and economy will suffer.
Vancouver Drops Olympics Housing Pledge
Promise was 'non-binding' NPA votes.
Olympic Partners Said to 'Fudge' Housing Claims
Critics, and a Tyee review, cast doubt on figure of 1,109 'new units.'
Homeless to Housed in One Day
BC's new way of finding people shelter will fail if new housing isn't built.
Shovelling with Mayor Sam
Stalled homeless units finally jarred loose. Pols scramble for credit.
Inside BC's Mining Boom
Why billions are pouring in for copper, coal, uranium.
Squinting to Confirm a New 'Earth'
Does exoplanet Gliese 581 c exist? Could it support life? UBC team key to finding out.
Report Slams Run-up to Olympics
Coalition cites broken pledges on housing, green goals.
Province Snaps Up Poverty Hotels
Plan to protect housing catches insiders off guard.
The Greatest 'No' on Earth
'Five Ring Circus' focuses on rising anti-Olympic protest.
Poverty Hotel Buying Binge
Fast turnover of SRA hotels has Vancouver housing activists 'on red alert.' A Tyee special report.
Activists Plan 'Safe Site' for Drug Smokers
Billed as way to get addicts 'off streets, out of view.'
Seven Solutions to Homelessness
Each is working somewhere else, and will save money and lives here.
Mayor Sullivan's Big Ambitions
He wants a 'Civil City' but critics see devil in details.
Study Finds 30,000 Vancouver Students in Overcrowded Classes
'Worst in province' for secondary schools, says union.
Soldiers on US Borders: What Could Go Wrong?
Start with the killing of Esequiel Hernandez Jr.
Globe Defends Polling Techniques
Number, content of questions without bias says paper's managing editor.
Globe and Mail Poll Called 'Unethical' by Expert
Portrayed as authoritative, the sensitively timed survey said to be highly biased in approach.
No Shows Common for BC Liberal Candidates
Halfway through the election, BC Liberal candidates have ducked debates in about half of BC’s ridings.
Company Grabs Mining Rights to Premier’s Land
Campbell’s waterfront home swept up in rush to exploit the Libs’ loosened mining laws.
Tahltan Resistance to Mining, Drilling Grows
Iskut band joins Telegraph Creek protest and rebuffs Shell execs.
'We Can't Eat Oil, Gas and Minerals'
A TYEE SPECIAL REPORT: PART II Revolt against pro-business Tahltan chief shines light on ambitious development plans in B.C.'s north.
The Seizure at Telegraph Creek
TYEE SPECIAL REPORT: PART 1 Tahltan elders decry ‘sell out’, oppose successful chief, call for slower development.
Just Seeing Neighbourly
Residents of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside took cameras into their own hands to challenge perceptions.
Martin, Man of Mystery
Paul Martin has had his eye on the Prime Minister's Office for decades. Yet no one seems to know what he'll do with it.
Age of Oil is Over
And ending fast, within 50 years or less. Besides war, what's our response?
