The Hook: Political news, freshly caught
Liberal friend got free Olympic tix
A video game investment firm headed by a B.C. Liberal donor received more than $20,000 of free Olympic tickets. Read more…
Do You Agree with BC’s Decriminalization Rollback?
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Do you have a special story to share from your own backyard? Read the results of that poll here.
BC government releases Olympic ticket recipient list
People using taxpayer funded tickets to the men's gold medal hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Victoria included Premier Gordon Campbell, music producer David Foster and television personality Vicki Gabreau. Read more…
Olympic bus driver widow says husband worked 12-hour days
The Olympic Bus Network driver who suffered a fatal heart attack at the wheel on Feb. 22 had been working 12-hours days to "pick up the slack" when other drivers missed shifts, according to his widow.
Jeanette Roberge also told Vancouver's 24 hours that while she was treated well by the bus company, no one from VANOC called to offer condolences. Read more…
No fire drill at Olympic stadium
B.C Place Stadium workers were ill-prepared if the Olympic flame went out of control.
"No [fire] drill has been conducted for over 2 years," stated minutes of the stadium’s Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee. "This test needs to be conducted... The employer is in violation." Read more…
Minister says he's not 'pissing around' on Hydro hotel tab
Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Blair Lekstrom is yet to provide documentation that the intention was always to pay B.C. Hydro back for his stay at the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver during the Olympics, despite saying last week his staff would have those records.
Reminded of the matter today, Lekstrom said, “If somebody thinks I'm pissing around, doing something, I mean that's what you're implying, you're dead wrong. That's all I've got to say to you.” Read more…
WorkSafe worried about BC Place cauldron, roof
WorkSafeBC stopped short of declaring the indoor cauldron at B.C. Place Stadium safe for the Winter Olympics Feb. 12 opening ceremony. Read more…
Hydro spent $46,000 on burgers and beer for Olympics suite
B.C. Hydro spent $46,600 on food and drinks at its General Motors Place luxury suite during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Read more…
Vancouver to cough up another $32 million for Olympic Village housing
Vancouver is poised to spend an extra $32-million to hold on to just half the housing legacy promised by boosters of the 2010 Winter Games. Read more…
Ministry promised to pay Hydro back for hotel room: Lekstrom
B.C. Hydro originally paid for cabinet minister Blair Lekstrom's hotel room in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games because the Crown corporation had rooms available, the minister said today.
“They had a block book of rooms that I was able to utilize a room for, making it very clear that we would fund that, so that's how that billing happened,” said Lekstrom. Read more…
Minister's hotel stay on Hydro tab raises questions: union
The union representing B.C. Hydro workers is calling on energy, mines and petroleum resources minister Blair Lekstrom to explain why the public utility paid for his stay at a luxury hotel during the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Read more…
Furlong may pen book about Olympic experience
John Furlong says he's ruled out a political career following his stint as CEO of the Olympic organizing committee, but there's a strong possibility he'll write a book about his experience. Read more…
Gary Lunn racks up $180K in travel expenses
Records show Canada's minister of state for sport racked up a $10,213.49 Olympic hotel bill from Feb. 4 to March 1 in Vancouver and Whistler -- an average $392.83 a night. Read more…
Government hides price tag for harbour rings
The B.C. 2010 Winter Games Secretariat claims disclosure would harm law enforcement, financial interests of a public body and public safety. Read more…
MLAs were advised on accepting Olympic gifts
MLAs with an official role in an Olympic event would not have to disclose free tickets or other related benefits as gifts, according to guidelines issued by the office of British Columbia's conflict of interest commissioner, Paul Fraser. Read more…
VANOC sells assets, tallies budget
"There is no way we're going to be exactly balanced to the penny, we're either going to be a little bit below or a little bit better," deputy VANOC CEO Dave Cobb said Sunday. "We're very confident now we will be better." Read more…
Poet Slams VANOC Paralympic transportation system
In two blog posts for the Literary Review of Canada, Priscila Uppal said the earliest Greyhound bus to Whistler was often late, which meant missing the start (or all) of an event, and that Greyhound didn't appear to be ready to accommodate people in wheelchairs. Uppal is the poet-in-residence for the Canadian Athletes Now Fund during the Olympics and Paralympics
She blamed the problems on VANOC's decision not run the Olympic bus network, which forced those without cars to rely instead on Greyhound. Read more…
Whistler market, claiming Olympics hurt sales, may sue landlord
The post-Olympic era is being written in the courts as Sea to Sky businesses look to receive compensation for their Games-time losses. Read more…
Olympics killed year’s worth of business, says heliski firm suing VANOC
One of Sea to Sky’s heliskiing operations is suing VANOC and the Integrated Security Unit (ISU), claiming that security procedures forced the heli-ski operator to close for the entire 2010 winter season. Read more…
Smidgen of 'Olympic bounce' for Premier Campbell: poll
BC Premier Gordon Campbell’s popularity wasn’t boosted much by the recent Olympic Games where he played prominent host. Read more…
Who had best seats for Olympic hockey gold?
So who were those in the luxury suites at General Motors Place (aka Canada Hockey Place) for Sidney Crosby’s golden goal on Feb. 28 that gave Canada its 14th Winter Olympic championship of the Vancouver 2010 Games? Read more…
