Are you part of The Tyee's critical 1%?

Thanks for reading The Tyee today — we hope this article added to your day in some way. Our team of independent journalists takes pride in doing in-depth reporting and taking time to get it right.

We're able to focus our attention on publishing impactful journalism in the public interest, and publish it for free for all to read, because we have the support of Tyee Builders. Tyee Builders are readers who contribute a bit of money — at a level and frequency of their choice — to support our editorial budget.

This core of supporters — making up about 1 to 2 per cent of our daily readership — enables us to pay our writers, keep our articles free and open to all, and not bombard our readers with annoying ads while you try to read.

Instead of focusing on what kind of articles will attract the most advertising dollars, we can spend time devoted to researching and writing stories that our readers find most valuable and make the most positive impact in our region.

If you'd like to join thousands of readers who help make independent journalism possible, consider joining Tyee Builders. Thank you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders

Help us un-break journalism in Canada

You made it all the way through the article – I hope that means you liked it (or if not ‘liked’ it, gleaned some useful information from it). Tyee articles are known for being quite lengthy, so we appreciate when people spend some quality time with our work.

Listen, I’ll get to the point – the article you just read was made possible because our non-profit newsroom was able to pay a talented journalist to research and write it. And we can only afford to do that because of our business model, which relies on a certain percentage of our readers signing up for our paid membership program called Tyee Builders.

The traditional business model for journalism in Canada has been completely disrupted, and we’re witnessing a slow collapse as corporate newsrooms buy up distressed publications, lay people off, and suck the value out of them before declaring bankruptcy. And it doesn’t help that tech giant Meta has blocked Canadian news on their Facebook and Instagram platforms.

There is another way and we are carving the path.

Between 1 to 2 per cent of people who visit The Tyee contribute financially, but amazingly, that small percentage is enough to fund half of our overall budget. And it means we can operate without a paywall, too. 1 per cent of people giving means 99 per cent of people get access to quality, fact-based journalism from a talented team of journalists who live and work in B.C., Alberta, and across Canada. We think that’s pretty remarkable.

If you’re concerned about the way journalism is heading in Canada and you’d like to do something about it, consider joining Tyee Builders and contributing an amount that works for you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders
Marking 20 years
of bold journalism,
reader supported.
support us subscribe free
Life
BC Politics
BC Election 2013

The Night of the Dancing Penis

Seemed like a good idea at the time. Latest in Tyee's political scandal a day series.

Tom Hawthorn 19 Apr 2013TheTyee.ca

Veteran political reporter Tom Hawthorn is writing about B.C. political history for The Tyee. Find his previous stories here.
image atom
Illustration by Jessie Donaldson.

[This is the fourth in our "Some Honourable -- ahem -- Members" series, depicting the more dubious moments in B.C.'s political history, brought to you by Tom Barrett and Tom Hawthorn, one a day until election day.]

An evening sitting of the B.C. Legislature. Liberal forestry critic Ted Nebbeling grills the minister about his budget. Yawn.

Nebbeling is the middle of a statement when interrupted.

"I don't know what's going on around me," he tells the House, as a live television camera captures a commotion around his desk, "but I have been surrounded by women who want to do something."

The something turns out to be a small plastic novelty toy, which has been wound up and is soon bouncing along the MLA's desk. The hopping tchotchke is a small plastic penis with feet.

It is 8:15 p.m. on July 9, 1997, later to be known as the Night of the Dancing Penis.

The toy was delivered by fellow Liberal Bonnie McKinnon, accompanied by Liberal Linda Reid.

Turns out the two MLAs had been celebrating at a women-only event in the Legislature. Among those in attendance were NDP cabinet ministers Penny Priddy and Joy MacPhail. Afterwards the MLAs returned to the floor of the House to pull a gag on their popular and, it should be noted, gay colleague.

The tittering of partying MLAs was soon replaced by the harrumphing of the press corps.

"Innocent sexual jokes have a place in private," wrote The Province's Michael Smyth, "but are not acceptable in the Legislature or on live television that costs taxpayers $1,000 an hour to produce."

The Globe and Mail asked, "harmless prank, or evidence of a dangerous double standard in the field of sexual harassment?"

Outrage was expressed, the word "toy" appeared in quotations in headlines, and it was dutifully explained to readers and viewers that the fake phallus was presented to Nebbeling as "Dick of the Year." Earlier in the session Nebbeling had heckled a female NDP MLA for speaking in Cantonese.

Apologies were (grudgingly) issued and the incident faded away.

It was also revealed the women had placed the fake phallus on the desk of Dave Zirnhelt the previous year -- only no one in the media had noticed. [Tyee]

  • Share:

Facts matter. Get The Tyee's in-depth journalism delivered to your inbox for free

Tyee Commenting Guidelines

Comments that violate guidelines risk being deleted, and violations may result in a temporary or permanent user ban. Maintain the spirit of good conversation to stay in the discussion.
*Please note The Tyee is not a forum for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, denying its existence or minimizing its risk to public health.

Do:

  • Be thoughtful about how your words may affect the communities you are addressing. Language matters
  • Challenge arguments, not commenters
  • Flag trolls and guideline violations
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity, learn from differences of opinion
  • Verify facts, debunk rumours, point out logical fallacies
  • Add context and background
  • Note typos and reporting blind spots
  • Stay on topic

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist, homophobic or transphobic language
  • Ridicule, misgender, bully, threaten, name call, troll or wish harm on others
  • Personally attack authors or contributors
  • Spread misinformation or perpetuate conspiracies
  • Libel, defame or publish falsehoods
  • Attempt to guess other commenters’ real-life identities
  • Post links without providing context

LATEST STORIES

The Barometer

Are You Concerned about AI?

Take this week's poll