“There is no other rational explanation for the fact that the police also acquired (either voluntarily or through search warrants) documents from Mark Marissen, the head of the Martin campaign in B.C. (as well as the husband of deputy premier Christy Clark), from Bruce Clark, the head fundraiser for the Martin campaign in B.C. (as well as the brother of Christy Clark), and from Eric Bornman, the operations manager for the Martin campaign in B.C”, writes Barbara McLintock. The linkage between the right wing agenda of this B.C. government of Gordon Campbell and that emerging out of the federal Paul Martin Liberals has been increasingly clear for many months now, I think, and is only made more obvious by the personality linkages between these two elements as well, exposed here in this investigation, whatever the Premier might “publicly” say about not encouraging it. That, I suggest, is a false scent he is merely attempting to drag across our perceptions. Outside of the criminal issues that may be at back of and in the works of this, what is emerging to be a right wing coup to assume power within the Liberal Party, at all levels,( that threatens and was a motivating factor in the rush to marriage between the PCs and Canadian Alliance), it is clear that powerful business and rightist political forces, and now possibly even rank criminal elements, are at work dismantling decades of policies designed to improve the lives of ordinary citizens in this country. And they are set upon a course to shamelessly reconfigure state policy even more in favour of the rich and powerful, siphoning off these precious economic and policy resources to provide tax cuts and increased profits to the wealthiest in the business class amongst us, and through agreements such as NAFTA, to drive us deeper into integration with the United States, on their terms. Regrettably, this process is already well advanced, and as a consequence of the inattentiveness and involvement of ordinary citizens in sufficient number and of sufficient vigour, is proceeding apace with gathering momentum. Even more unfortunate is the fact, that once this right wing, Big Business dominant regime is in place, and the role of the state, its policies and resources are fully realigned in harmony with the U.S.’s to serve this New World Order, once “the great unwashed” do twig onto it and decide, as they clearly eventually will, I think, to change it, it is going to likely take a social upheaval of serious, possibly even “revolutionary” proportions to do so. What would have been relatively simple only a few short years ago to halt and reverse, is as a consequence of, I suggest, media collaboration and official obfuscation, and the unfortunate “lack of understanding and will” of the street level citizenry, set to evolve into a really nasty, and possibly brutal business. Criminal influence in government? It’s been there for a long time now. We just haven’t been paying due attention.

What surprises me in the Basi affair is how quick everyone seems to be to rush to conclusions. In the middle of an ongoing police investigation it is more than a little premature to suggest Gordo has the full story any more than the media does. In fact, it would be somewhat improper if he did. The objective of an investigation is to answer "unanswered questions". But that is not going to happen overnight in a 20 month investigation. As ever, McLintock reports what is known well; but the delicious speculation about Martin connections, fed/prov intersections and the rest might be better left until the warrants are unsealed and such charges as may be appropriate have been filed. Or, even better, until there is a trial for some offence or another.

This whole issue deserves at least the same treatment that Glen Clark or Mike Harcourt received when they were premiers. I didn`t see the media holding back their appetite for speculation then, so why start now? Maybe many are quick to rush to conclusions because of the lying, deceptive, secretive government that we have had to stomach over the past 2 1/2 years- I think it is called revenge.

i seem to remember gordo saying at somepoint that the b.c. liberal party had no affiliation with the federal liberals. does anyone remember this ? does it matter anymore?the problem with voters is that they generaly have very poor memories.unless the media constantly remind them, as was the case when the ndp was in power. the b.c. liberals don`t have that problem. the silence coming out of the b.c. ledge is defening. v. palmer said that there is probably less than half the number of reporters in the ledge now compared to when the ndp was in power. makes you think.

Hi, I find it amazing that this Basi character is able to accumulate so much wealth (assets) with a relatively modest (reported) income. Maybe when the smoke dies down, he can pass on some financial advice to the public.

Is there a connection between the Premiers office, the former ministerial asst of Gary Collins and the take over of Dhaliwal's constituency association? Didn't Dhaliwal put a wrench in the gears when he told Campbell and Dobell that if they intended to spend all of the $450 million the feds had given the province for transportation infrastructure throughout BC for the RAV project then the province would have to cover the entire costs of upgrading the #1 Hwy from Salmon Arm to the Rockies. The feds had given the $450 million for transportation infrastructure with the understanding that $150 million was needed to help fund the #1 Hwy upgrades. Despite whining from Victoria and a special trip by Dobell to Ottawa, the feds held their ground. The RAV project's economic feasibility was in question. A 'secret' report produced by the feds regarding the shortcomings and enormous risks of the RAV line becomes public. Dhaliwal's apparent conflict of interest between his limo company servicing the airport and funding for the RAV project becomes news. Irrationality takes over by the local media who fail to point out that those who hire limos are not those who take public transit of any form. Irrationality wins out and a part of Dhaliwal's portfolio responsibilities (involving the RAV line) is handed over to Stephen Owen (who still is wondering what RAV means). Basi and his "boys" are let loose to try and take over Dhaliwal's constituency association and succeed. (Now been reported that there are problems with the membership list for Van. South, Dhaliwal's constituency.) Unfortunately, the search warrant for Basi's office only covers the RCMP's investigation into a drug issue and not any other issue... Did Basi work on Martin's campaign and the campaign to take over Dhaliwal's constituency association on BC government time? What was the reason for Basi's firing? Was the Premier's office involved in bringing down Dhaliwal? By the way, isn't the Premier's chief of staff, Martyn Brown, the same guy who started the "Citizens Voice on Native Land Claims". Isn't this the same Brown who vehemently expressed his disapproval of the Nisga'a Treaty? Wasn't Brown the guy who wanted a $5 million bogus referendum on Native Land claims? Who is Robert Pauliszyn, the other ministerial assistant to Gary Collins? What's his background? Didn't he say that the Chilean private pension fund scheme was what Canada needs? Isn't this the same pension fund scheme that will only see 1/4 of Chilean workers ever getting a chance to collect a pension? Isn't this the same Chilean pension scheme that saw the managers receiving more than $375 million profit while the fund lost more than private government pension fund lost over 10% of its value? Wasn't Pauliszyn the same guy that wanted cigarette taxes reduced by 75% and isn't he that same guy who believes in zero taxes? Is he the one who is the Liberal's finance policy czar? Is he responsible for the policy that saw the Liberal's hand back $2 billion in taxes? Isn't this the same policy that failed to stimulate the BC economy? And what about the 60% reduction in corporate taxes in BC? Did this windfall for corporations induce capital spending? Not!

interesting how the psychological profiles of police, politicians, prison guards and crooks are the same...

I'm llokind forward to the next new year for the liberals.

Who would think on December 28,2003 in the midst of the Holiday,s when most company's are extremely short staffed due to Christmas that Global Canwest would have cameras standing by the closed legislature in place to capture the highly secret investigation and raids in action? Just how secret was this top secret investigation into organized crime marijuana for cocaine to the USA? One would think a joint drug investigation with the USA Involving Government would also include major American news media coverage as well with American tough anti drug laws. Why is their Canadian but no American coverage or acknowledgment of the other half of the said cross border importation of drugs investigation ? Who would think in a top secret drug investigation the police would actually approach a neighbor to the home of Dave Basi and say "please don't tell anybody we raided the home of a top political aid and found a marijuana grow operation" then leave remnants of Marijuana leaves on the doorstep of the home for Global to take pictures of for all the public to see ? I do know Global was quite aware of the accusations i made of fraud within the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance and a illegal act's of Omission of Government business to which has Dave Basi's signature upon them as i supplied extensive documentation to Global Canwest in the weeks prior to the raids. Acts of omission and fraud that has also been verified by a Ombudsman investigation also launched weeks prior to the raids. Why a shift from drugs to BC Rail that a fairness review had already investigated and found to be OK ? A deal for which did forge ahead after the fairness review. Why did Global report the day of the raids that the RCMP had retained their own lawyers in regards to the raids had they also done wrong that required legal advise ? I did supply evidence also of RCMP wrongdoing also an illegal act of omission of Government business being a said RCMP investigation that never took place. Why was it made public both by media and the opposition that Robert Virk was on paid suspension then in Global news reports this week it suddenly is unpaid suspension ? Why would they keep the issues surrounding Robert Virk such a secret while reporting issues surrounding Dave Basi ? Why did the Minister of Transportation Judith Reid resign immediately after the raids? Why does Gary Collins Minister of Finance resign with just months left before election. Christy Clark at the time Minister of Education that wasted tax dollars assessing individual training needs, then forged ahead with funding for trades training that this government would refuse to supply the nessesary tools of the trade in order to utilize the training provided, and payed for at tax payers expense, also resigns after raids. I have many more questions and answers but will leave this for now with just one more question. Would it be a conflict of public interest to have a Brother of a Premier such as Micheal Campbell work for a company such as Canwest Global and expect that Canwest would not in some way protect a family member of one of their high profile employees ? http://ca.msnusers.com/mepic/davebasiillegalactofommissi.msnw?alb umlist=2 http://wcbcanada.com/modules/WCB-BB/viewtopic.php?t=171