I agree 100%. The demise of the NDP was manufactured by the press and business. Im sure there was some planning to the timing and initiation of this " lawsuit " as well. This is how they do it.

it's true that the NDP, and any other socially conscious political party, must make an effort to at least placate, if not genuinely understand and engender, business interests, if they want to advance a "social agenda." In other words, you can't please all the people all the time, but perhaps a spirit of compromise will rule the day. it's unfortunate that the timing is what it is on this thing, since it seems like people are naturally suspicious of privatization, especially as it's been handled by the Campbellites, and it could be a real sticking point in the upcoming campaign. On the other hand, perhaps we're all cynical enough to realize that no matter which party forms the government, at any level (municipal, provincial, federal), there will be a higher degree of patronage and even influence peddling in many (if not all) government processes than any of us would like. Will that stop us from voting NDP in the middle of a potential privatization scandal? Will it stop us from voting Liberal after 4 years of privatization, drunk driving, funding shortfalls and union busting? I suppose it depends how much we pay attention to the media!

I agree the right wing media is increasing the anti NDP comments right on schedule.I agree with the above.

I am more then a little suspicious of the timing who is this judge and why has it taken so long and why will this court case be happening in the final months of the election? This is one nice little gift for our drunk driving premier and his house of liars! Even the spin about job creation is based on lies anyone who doubts this should go to Stats Canada or Schrecks web page the links are there to check his facts.

I think this is an unfortunate story. Anyone can file a lawsuit any time, and if all the unproven allegations contained in lawsuits were made news, the papers would be full. And the public wouldn't be much enlightened either. Allegations are not news. If they're proven in court, then that's news.

I think the real underlying story here is one that goes back to the 19th century's railway scandals -- essentially, when you let businesspeople have access to public goodies, corruption almost *inevitably* arises. And it can taint politicians from across the spectrum just as much as well-meaning private interests. I'll leave it specialists to sort out who's gaming who in the centuries-old game of featherbedding between governments and businesspeople, but we need to introduce a new principle for 21st-century democracy, wherein government interferes in free markets no more than necessary -- but equally, public goods and systems are owned and operated by the *public,* not the "more efficient" buccaneers of Bay Street. In short, what should guide good governance now is just this: THE SEPARATION OF COMMERCE AND STATE. Sorry to yell, but it seems important...

The timing of this isn't the least surprising - I'm sure much still awaits and lurks in the shadows for Carole James in the months ahead and I hope she calls on the gods of feistiness and braveness of heart to help her. She is going to need them. It is true the NDP have got to define themselves more clearly and quit nudging the party towards the safety of middle earth . My God, the issues are there, it's time to seize them.

That "NDP decade of devastation" that Campbell loves to refer to was as Coyote so aptly put "a media/business manufacturing of a climate of hysteria." A device that the BCliberals continue to employ as their modus operandi through false creations of crisises and false claims of mismanagement and lack of sustainability in order to remove obstacles and close down facilities that stand in the way of a political agenda based on the selling and the controlling of the land and assets of BC.

If it had been such a devastating decade, why were there so many hospitals, schools, senior residences,law courts, civil liberties offices, women's shelters, etc. left at the end of it, left for the Campbell crew to board up and put a final end to? Why were there so many negotiated contracts left for the Campbell government to tear up? Why were there so many conservation officers left for the BCliberals to cut? So many parks left for the BC liberals to refuse to caretake adequately? Why were there so many more nurses, teachers, and health workers left to be terminated by the present government? Gee, we even had BC Rail, BC Hydro and BC Ferries in our own grasp - they, too were left at the end of that "devastating decade." There were mistakes made but we had much left that was proudly ours. But no longer. Oh, to have a little of that "devastation" back. To have "our province" back before these scheming rogues got hold of it.

Under DeceiveBC, what has happened to our province is unbelievable - almost as unbelieveable as Gordon Campbell's attempt to paint himself as the Tommy Douglas of Pharmacare. It is all painfully laughable, almost unbearably so.

If Campbell is smart he will stay clear of this fiasco. It would be easy to point to the NDP and suggest that this process was mismanaged, but the reality is that this issue has been proceeding through the courts for years now and the Liberals have had plenty of opportunity to address it. Barb draws a comparison between BC Online and the Internet Portal project suggesting that one is the forerunner of the other. Although that is not technically correct, it is very interesting to see that more than a few people involved in BC Online tender process seemed to have landed very nicely on their feet as a result of the tens of millions spent to date on the IPP under Campbell. No matter who is in power, a public monopoly passed through private hands winds up greasing a few on the way.

I hope you didn't pay McLintock for this. She should sell this to the Province, where I expect to read such crap.

PS Whether you paid for it or not, I am disappointd that you published it.

Good grief, let's shoot the messenger. If this is going to blow up I would rather have heard of it here first than be surprised by it in the Sun. And it does make one important point. Public private partnerships are problematic - be they Liberal or New Democrat

Hey Lynn you ask some good questions. Indeed why were some negotiated contracts torn up by the liberals when they came into power? Possibly because they were such sweetheart contracts given out to the unions by the NDP that they would have eventually bankruptted the province. You ask why so many services have been cut. Maybe in the wake of the NDP's policy of tax and spend a fiscally repsonsible government had to come in and make some hard decisions. In a time of fiscal restraint everyone has to tighten their belts. Lets see, what about BC Hydro, BC Rail, BC Ferries, three paragons of government subsidized business that cost the people of BC much more each year than they made. It is sickening to think how much tax money was spent propping up these poorly run government companies, at least with private ownership they will not be drain on the pocket book and will even contribute to the tax base. As for parks every year more and more people want more and more out of our park system but scream blue murder when user fees are imposed to help cover the costs. BC is the last province to put in place user fees, something that should have been done long ago, you use it you can help pay for it otherwise it becomes much to expensive to maintain.

"THE SEPARATION OF COMMERCE AND STATE. Sorry to yell, but it seems important..." advocated by EC, though a classic right wing position, I actually don't entirely disagree with. Though let it be said, even given EC's likely interpretation of that, the first to start crying will almost certainly be "Business", when the "featherbedding" subsidies, grants, tax breaks and other forms of "government" assistance with marketing and product development etc dries up. A well funded public trough for the private sector, is what a "business friendly environment" is all about. So there is a need to be real here, about precisely what we are talking about, when we speak so "circumspectly" about "feather bedding", and who benefits.

Besides, there is at least one critical difference that separates right and left wing policies here: The right accepts "the market" as sacrosanct in its pursuit of profit, in that "fear and greed" motivated, yet hallowed "marketplace" environment. The left, on the other hand :), views the "primary" purpose of the economy as being to serve the needs of the people, and not above "prudent" intervention by the state, for so long as "the state" need exist anyway, in pursuit of that "public interest" end.

Essentially, however, given a different "power arrangement" within the, particularly large "corporate sector" of the economy, and the curbing, and hopefully, eventual "withering away" of arbitrary "private ownership/capital power" there, and that particular "private and public corporate" sectors "democratization", drawing trade unions, community interests, consumer and environmental interests into the "board room" management and direction mix, I suggest it is highly likely, there will be a declining need for state intervention to fix the "marketplace fuckups", or to arbitrate the competing class interests capitalism sets in motion by the very nature of its operational dynamics.

So, while I agree in principle with "Earnest Canuck", I do so on a firm "left" foundation, calling for the transformation of the very nature of capitalist society and the capitalist economy. Fundamentally, I call for the "democratization" of the economy, especially its public and private "corporate" sectors, the well-spring of real "power" in society, as the foundation principle for a new, more egalitarian and democratic political system.

On which Earnest Canuck and I, no doubt, are in complete agreement. :) I know he will not want to be seen advocating, or as well, Union Guy and "Wise Up", (another misnomer_, the "undemocratic" economic and political status quo. :)

Though truly, I jest, of course, suspecting that their thinking is more confined to the inside of the box than that.

To Wise Up People: Hard decisions for whom? Certainly not for Campbell and crew . They were honeymooning oh so politico in the Hawaiian sun, while the recipients of those cuts were just getting burned. Is that what you call "everyone has to tighten their belts?" Define "everyone" and then tell me how Campbell personally tightened his belt? Tourist class airfare? Best Western in Athens? One less martini? And how about those "every day is Valentine's day " sweetheart deals Campbell gave to big business? How fiscally responsible was that huge tax cut to the rich? How fiscally responsible was the hefty pay hike to cabinet ministers salaries? And about those contracts, didn't Gordon Campbell promise that he would not tear up contracts? Didn't he run on that promise? Define the word "promise" and then "lie".

As far as "those poorly run government companies " you wouldn't know a success story when you saw one - now the taxpayer is going to pay through the teeth to maintain all three of them but we've lost all the benefits of ownership and all the freedom of enquiry over accountability behind the closed doors of privatization. And parks...well if you go into the woods today you're in for a big surprise - lots of teddy bears but nary a park caretaker or conservation officer to watch over the real gems of this province. (But maybe that's all part of the plan). Hmmm... or maybe they have been eaten by the voracious pine beetle because its sure hard to find one, they're both nearly an extinct species now along with our wild salmon but what do you care ...planet BCliberal is doing so well...( at least that's what the newspapers tell you, right?)

Let's see after all those cuts, after all that suffering, (Well, not by Campbell and affiliates, of course) BC's economy is still snoring, loudly snoring, capital investment is lower than at any time during the NDP, wage rates are falling, consumer savings are dropping and then there's that massive debt but ...oh well, things could never be better. Legislature raids, thousand year leases, fish farm scandals, money to relatives, seniors being shuffled, ever- growing waiting lists at hospitals, our ferries to be built off shore, search warrants, mug shots, liquor store two-step, Coquihalla turn around, ministerial aid drug arrest (three times), tuition up, schools down, and on and on... I really don't think this province can survive much more BCliberal good news.

Ah, Lynn, you are a breathe of fresh air, cutting through the stale air of these "true believer" Liberal (?) Brownshirts, who befoul the air around here with their flatus. Always pleasant to read you. I have many favourites around here-, amongst which you are definitely placed. Regards. :)

Oh dear. It really is painful to watch Carole James attempt to cast herself in the role of "leader of a shiny new and squeaky clean NDP". She was there and closely allied with the NDP throughout the nineties. Why else was she rewarded with a patronage position when she stepped down as head of the BC School Trustees Association? I would love to see a well researched piece published on this site that reveals Carole's political positions as a trustee during her long tenure on the Victoria School Board as well as her activities between leaving the board and gaining the leadership of the party. Ms. James, unfortunately, appears to be part of the same old, same old. Witness the sloppy manner in which she handled the leaked information from the ferry corporation. What could have been a real boost to the NDP was mishandled. There is still a long way to go for the NDP to rebuild itself and then, hopefully, attract some quality leadership to provide a real opposition and alternative to the current provincial gov't. Only then will the past truly become the past for the NDP. wstander - this is a media outlet not a paid political advertisement. Google a defination of the role of "the fifth estate" in society and get over it.

Hey Wise Up People guy. Did you just fall off the back of a truck or has your understanding of reality always been so bent? B.C. Hydro a money loser? I wish we had more losers like that and I certainly don't see why it should be sold to the private sector and, no doubt, fall into the hands of someone preaching manifest-destiny. But just for fun, maybe you could list a few good reasons why Hydro should be privatized seeing that we enjoy some of the cheapest energy in the world from completely renewable water resources and that it's primary focus is the needs of British Columbia first? Would a capitalist or free-enterpriser guarantee the same safeguards? It's quite obvious you haven't chirpped off before in the Tyee. Your revelation that the NDP were tax and spenders would probably elicite the response you seek, had you sent it to a Canwest publication. Most readers here know the auditors agreed with the surplusses in the NDP's final two annual budgets. We are also aware that there have been only deficits since Campbell's Liberals took power in 2001. We also know that since 2001 the province's most wealthy people have enjoyed tax cuts while the majority of people have been burdened with more taxes by Campbell. As for user fees; when the corporations that use our highways, ports, bridges and other public infrastructure begin to pay something even vaguely resembling a user fee you can come back and ask me to pay. Get real, highways weren't built to accomodate millions of dumb recreational drivers who don't have enough brains to know they are poisoning us and wasting commodities by burning gas. (Those idiots have all come along since there was blacktop.) No the infrastructure was developed to assist (subsidize) business costs. Your problem Wise-Up guy, is that you have blinkers on, or you're still dizzy from that fall. Someone must have told you a subsidy looks like a tiny little thing they give to really old or really young people so they think they are being treated special. Politicians love to talk about how great Hydro is because it means that the profits can be used to subsidize rates to ordinary BCers. It makes little old ladies and even big strapping young men happy to pay less because they are shareholders in the public sector corporation and those so-called subsidies are called dividends in teh form of lower rates. Now, if your looking for subsidies, look no further than the lifetime subsidies the Liberals gave CN Rail when it agreed to buy BC Rail. Look at the subsidies the Liberals were going to give private contractors who would have taken over long term operations of the Coquihalla Highways until the public put it's collective foot in the way. Look at the subsidies you and I are going to have to fork out to pay for an upgrade of the Sea-to-sky highway to Whistler when we all know that Whistler business operators will be the only ones to benefit. Sorry Wise guy, but ya gotta splash us with colder water than that if you want us to smarten up.

I agree with Lise on one point at least, it sure would be nice to have a backround article on Carole James. The NDP will probably get my vote only because they represent the best of what basically amounts to no real choice. The last time I really got excited about electing a party was COPE, they at least have fresh idea's and are willing to take definitive stands on issues. I don't see the NDP as having anything really fresh or inventive to offer, but at least they won't rip the soul out of our social system.

Campbell, Collins and the rest of the miscreants will make the most of this issue, after all they have 30 million to blow on PR. Fly at it, I believe the citizens of BC have had enough smoke and mirrors from the liberals and will not buy into the timing of this latest deceptive manure, I mean, manoeuvre to deflect a litany of Liberal fiascos.

As a good friend of mine says"privatize the profits and socialize the loses".Those at the trough may change but very little changes,just a different group benefiting from the governments generousity.Remember something besides cream always rises to the top.Politicians and their top bureaucrats are the new royalty above mere mortals,until we realize that we have the power and what to do with it nothing will change.

"Clark administration that led the province from 1996 to 2001, arguably one of the most disliked governments in B.C. history." - are you for real? I think we are living through that gov't at the moment. I actually have fond memories of the Clarke gov't - it was the best and last time to get a decent education and not end up paying off your debt for the first 25 years of your working life. I even recall going to get my vision checked without shelling out between $50-$80 (depending on the mood of the "visionary") - but those were the days when ferries ran fast and the NDP ruled the land. As far as conspiracy theories go - I have one to throw in. It is interesting timing to launch this little attention diverting "controversary" as a skeleton in the NDP closet. Possibly a non-existent skeleton - however, Justice Bauman would not consider letting this slide as a tantrum thrown over the one who lost the bid. Hmm... Same judge who fined the HEU - much to Gordo and party's glee - the highest fine and held them in contempt of their contract. Seems like the judge should not exclude any conspiracy theory involving him and his political leanings or the damn good timing to tarnish the great NDP love-in with the public when it comes to messing up with privatization dealings in the hands of the hapless Liberals.

The NDP government under Finance Minister Ramsey's "guidance" sold BC Building Corp Assets, WesTel (BC Rail subsiduary and of course BC OnLine in an effort to reduce its budget deficit. The Auditor General of BC stated that the 'sale' of BC Online to MacDonald Detwiler and Associates (MDA) for $55 million was incorrectly accounted for. The gov't should have deferred $20 million of this amount over the life of the "contract" (10 years). Instead Ramsey used the whole amount of the 'sale' to reduce the oncoming deficit prior to the 2001 election. The NDP embraced P3's, public private partnerships. Ms. McPhail entered into an agreement with Bombardier over the Millenium Line (SkyTrain), however, this deal didn't quite go off as planned. Could all of this P3 activity by the NDP during the Clark era be the reason why the BC Fed, the Building Trades and even CAW were so timid about Translink's desire to get into a P3's (RAV Line)? In fact, Jim Sinclair received the biggest smiles from Translink's CEO Pat Jabobsen and Translinks Board Chairman Doug McCallum when he presented the Fed's approval of Translink's 10 year plan which called for a RAV P3 at a public meeting in early 2004. Could there also be a correlation between the NDP's silence over the 'sale' of Health records to an American company, Maximus and its own desire to enter into P3's and privatization of government assests? Even when many community groups and privacy groups fear the contact will make BC residents private information available to American security agencies! The Greek government after finding itself deeply in debt from the Athens Games and other questionable initiatives is beginning to privatize public assets to reduce its debt and to remain in the EU! Let the Games begin!

Bravo to McLintock for the courage to write about the unmentionables. It sure raises the fur of those still in denial. Harcourt used the same defense...blaming the media. Can they defend Clark when he had seniors arrested, government agents withheld evidence to a court hearing an injunction to remove community members from blocking logging in their drinking water watersheds and then had the audacity to call these people "enemies of the province"? All the while this behaviour was going on, Clark and his Clarkites consolidated BC's Forest Assets into a smaller group of foreign owners and entered into P3's and sold government (public) assets. Up until 2001, I was a long time NDP supporter. I don't watch corporate media TV (Conrad's or Asper's) nor reads the dailies. I didn't vote in 2001 for The Party. Why? The Clarkites had treated the residents of this great province with disdain...go into Hansard...it's quite revealing, not only for what it reveals about the Clark government, but also what it reveals about the opposition Liberals and their criticism of the Clark government's selling of public assets. Sometimes the NDP zeolots just need to spend some time going over the records and do a little critical thinking. By the way, a critical thinking initiative by the Ministry of Education during the Clark years was abandoned. In a two party state, you get Kerry and Bush. It's time for BC to make room for a diversity of ideas and discussion.

Hey Orville that's an interesting point talking about politicians blaming the media. I watched a Peter Mansbridge interview with Billy Clinton the other day. Clinton went on to blame the media for growing public cynicism about politics. Hmmm that's right Bill it had nothing to do with your affair with M Lewinsky that you lied about, or the fact that you admitted to using marijuana but didn't inhale. I mean if he did smoke and didn't inhale he's a complete loser, but it's more likely that he was full of it and did inhale. Yeah I also believe that the media is at least partially responsible for growing cynicism but these people should have a look in the mirror.

" I don't see the NDP as having anything really fresh or inventive to offer, but at least they won't rip the soul out of our social system." wrote The Geek, who also gets it right, in my view. We hope they won't anyway.

But what is especially clear out of the discussion here, from people like PJT, Marysue, Orville and PLG, names I don't recall reading before, though I may have, (seniors moments:)is that a nerve ending of concern about the direction of the NDP was seriously touched in this article and thread. I'm not sure exactly where Lisa is coming from politically, but even her comments were appropriate, in my opinion, directed toward our own, "Don't say anything critical about the NDP." true-believers on the "left".

Orvilled made a particularly accurate observation with his closing statement, "In a two party state, you get a Kerry and a Bush. It's time for BC to make room for a diversity of ideas and discussion."

Amen, to that. Part of the problem on "the left", as well as across politics more generally in the province and the country, for a long time now, has been that the ideas and the discussion have been framed too narrowly. We need to open some windows and look outside the narrow confines of the status quo box more, before the diversity of left ideas and options narrow down to only those "Business" finds acceptable. Being effectively zero.

If that can't be done, and new inspiration found to motivate ordinary, everyday working people, and set them to dreaming about new possibilities, perhaps never before considered to even be possible, then "the left" and this society is seriously on the skids, and hasn't a hope of being turned around this side of "corporatist" fascism-, where we're headed like those rails are greased with snot.

I'm seriously worried about this next election too, and fearful of the signs of those forces being at work to discredit and maintain the direction of the present momentum. But we need to beware of the emergence of that "herd instinct" as well. Working cattle, I learned that, as well as providing safety to the herd in certain specific situations, it can be used to corral you in readiness for the slaughter too. Critical thinking and analysis doesn't seriously pose any threat to the NDP or any other element of "the left". Blindly following "Great Leaders" is the far greater threat, in my experience.

The next election is going to be problematic anyway, even IF we all follow nose to tail. Face the fact. :)

Would somebody with a real understanding of the B.C Hydro deal please put me straight on its composition.My understanding is that the billing process only of that corporation has been sold off for a period of time only and I don't know for how long.My concern is that the company that it was sold too is off shore and was part off the Arthur Anderson/Enron thing.As I understand it none of the assetts of the company have been sold and nor should they be,but privatisation of the billing could make sence although I would like to have seen it kept in B.C or at least Canada. I am a free enterprise kind of guy with an open mind on bothe sides of the political isle,but I must admitt that I get very frustrated when "Government" does not tell the public clearly what its intentions are.Thats why some of the people on this wave length tend to rant and rave,perhaps if we all new the real facts and looked at them outsde the political arena we could rant with authority.

I agree that the media has gained too much power and over use it which inevitably swings opinion. But, it's still my responsibility to do my own research and draw my own conclusions. As for the NDP, our only social-democratic party, I long for the kind of leaders and members of integrity that WERE the party.

Coyote wonders where I am coming from politically.... Pretty much from the same place I believe most Canadians are coming from - firmly in the middle of our fairly narrow Canadian political spectrum. Despite what some people posting on this forum might believe - most of us are 80% on the same page no matter what party we end up voting for in a particular election. Sure, both of the traditionally dominant parties in BC have adherants who would like to demonize the other side but quite frankly elections are made or broken by convincing the likes of me. And I would like a real choice and my main criteria is that there be integrity. I am also really really tired of hearing proponents from either party talk about "the sky falling in" and demonizing everything the other group does or believes in. When you use those arguements the only people you are reaching are those who are already converted. These forums offer a great opportunity for meaningful dialogue but there is much that needs to be waded through to get to it, in my opinion.

Hmmm. Judge Bauman, that name rings a bell...of alarm! A question: Isn't he the judge that was called up on the week-end of the HEU strike??? And, now this! Talk about timing! Talk about "bought"! Perhaps the writer of this article should do a wee bit of research on the judge. If I was the NDP, I'd be demanding another judge sit on the case. Also I take exception to the comment, "arguably one of the most disliked governments in BC history" as way off base. Thanks to media over-kill on every little thing the NDP did as being "diabolical", the public was influenced and manipulated. Compared to the utter contempt and disrespect the Campbell Regime is exhibiting towards the people who pay their wages, not to mention outsourcing of BC jobs to the States and the general sell-out of BC, Glen Clark's sundeck pales into insignificance. By comparison to Gordon Campbell, Glen Clark looks like a boy scout. The winner in the competition for "most disliked" goes to the BC Liberals, hands down!

I do think the NDP needs some shaking up, more inventive ideas, more imagination, more guts and more remembering of it's social soul. It is not perfect but it is rarely given credit for many significant accomplishments that we now take for granted as Shirin noted above.

After writing on these threads for quite some time, what I've noticed is that those of us who voice some allegiance to the NDP, must always cushion our remarks as I did above by "yes, we've made some mistakes"... In fairness let's "for once" hear some BCliberals and Green Party members confess to their mistakes and flaws. Adrienne Carr has said: "We trust business to do the right thing." Now I've asked Green party members to respond to that comment before and never received a response. That statement is either a pretty ominous belief by a party leader or a loopily, naive one that has resounding implications for people who work for companies, buy from companies, or breath the air companies spew. Not to mention "privatization."

As for the BCliberal supporters: Where your party is damn right scary is what you have done to human and civil rights in this province. To me, this is the real heart of darkness of what we are headed for if you are re-elected. It trumps all over issues. You have cut civil liberties offices and funding all over this province. You have decimated the Human Rights Commission. You have reduced the power and funding of the auditor- general's office, which reduces investigative powers. Freedom of information has little freedom of enquiry left in it. It is a minefield to manouevre through in an attempt to keep the public out. Land offices have been moved and access restricted. The United Nations has formally declared it's disgust of the deterioration of human rights in BC and the effect this is having, in particular, on the lives of children and women. Not to mention your complete disregard for democracy and the legislative process when all your members walked out. An example of another legislature in the world pulling that cocky display of arrogance would be hard to come by. In fact, I don't think we found one. This is my question and it is a serious one. Have you read anything about the loss of civil and human rights that were in play in pre-1939 Germany? Do you think the final result of that was created out of a vacuam or do you think that step by step, human right loss by human right loss, the freedom and humanity of all mankind was nearly lost by exactly that - a continuous and deceptive erosion of all rights and liberties?

It seems that Barb is looking for fire with matches in hand. An old parlour trick of the press - print the allegations and let the intended target squirm under the suspicion alone. However, Barb, there's nothing there for the present NDP to squirm over. The 1990s NDP is a dead horse, especially el Clarko. So why bother beating its ghost for christ sakes? I mean, when and if there's a decision on the case, then by all means, let er rip. Meanwhile, it all comes across as just another BC Liberal PR tactic.

I meant to write: "spin the allegations..."

"... firmly in the middle of our fairly narrow Canadian political spectrum." confirms Lisa. Which is where we part company, of course. :)

Actually though, it's only narrow if you accept a narrow definition of that "... Canadian political spectrum.". My vision and that of certainly a goodly number here, as you are by now aware yourself, reaches out a little wider than yours, obviously. Which is okay, of course, but does raise the question in my mind, of what your role is here. Either you are wanting a little more "spice" in your intellectual life, than that provided by your "narrow political spectrum", or mayhaps you are even a closet Liberal (as opposed to "liberal").

It's how my mind works. :)

Again, either or other than, still being okay with me, for I even readily debate with Brownshirts from that same closet; yourself being certainly more skilled than our typical fare, at the very least.

Whatever, you are obviously bored with that "comfortable" but unimaginative centre, or you wouldn't be here, in what has been, this incubator of new ideas and social possibilities.

Though, in passing, I would suggest that your claim that no less than 80% of Canadians share that ideological position with you is, in the very least, highly suspect and unproven or provable-, being as there is little other real choice than current capitalism allows in this country. Even if most Canadians actually stated on some unknown poll somewhere, that they describe themselves as "centrist", most people claim to be religious too, they just never go to church or "act" like it-, the latter always being more important than the labels people put on themselves. You would actually, to know for sure, have to spend some considerable time with them to plummet their real ideas and social responses, to accurately be able to define where they are on the political spectrum.

Though, I would concede, most people probably spend little enough time analyzing politics, that out of uncertainty and fear of the unknown, and/or the influence of the dominant prevailing social pressure, and the nature of the class system itself, coming from such sources as the "corporate" media, for one example, that if most people "didn't" think within that narrow, centrist political spectrum, I would be surprised-, in the current environment. Unless you are rich, or even a wannabe, and your class interests, or perceived class interests naturally draw you to the centre or further right. Otherwise, like I said elsewhere, for most folks like most cattle, unfortunately, the great tendency is simply to follow the herd, wherever it wanders. It takes great courage and imagination to do otherwise, and time. Lack of time and opportunity to think is a big problem for people, when it comes to developing your own political point of view. So little time, and so many bills to pay-, and "the system" works mightily to make sure it stays that way.

The "narrow centre" I leave to you. I would rather the wilderness. And a good day. :)

(I wrote an earlier reply to you an hour or two ago, that apparently got eaten by the "internet muse", or mayhaps even censored out. :-) This is the best I could recall it.)

Good thoughts everyone, I remember the time leading up to the last election. God CKNW and Others were ranting and raving everyday and every news cast for the last 3 months up to The election. (Glenn Clarks Porch, Fast Ferries, A decade in decline , bla , bla , bla.)It was Non stop crap for 3 months. Never did the NDP get credit for the good things they did, I called The radio call in and was introduced as the last NDP supporter in BC, I have never seen a media So bought and paid for, I wonder how many stories they ran about Glen Clarks porch ( I wonder if I could find the # online, I bet its in the 100's , what a silly story to spend so much time on) I wonder In comparison how many stories were run about the raid at the BC leg or Gordo being convicted for drunk driving. But don't worry as CKNW said no cabinet minister is under investigation just their Direct assistant who had access to all BC's finances. Okay so either The finance minister and transportation minister are very incompetent to have this going on under Their nose or their in on it. This media is in very few hands and has an obvious agenda.. We need to stop ranting and fight back, Like today the CKNW website is raving at the first quarter Numbers and the booming economy. This is a bunch of crap and we need to tell them this in a Intelligent way. 1) call them on it, refute their numbers, refer them to stats Canada, ask them to Interview other guests, tell them to start being journalists and not cheerleaders, 2) email the programming dep and CC this to it

(the BC CRTC ombudsman) tell them CKNW to stop abusing their license agreements by lying and misleading the public, WE MUST BECOME THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE....GANDHI That’s #1) As far as this latest dribble about Clarke, do not let them start ranting about it, email the CRTC and say that you find this just allegations and improper to publish before the trial is done. 2) We must also get together and support the independent media or create our own. Unless we have a wider voice and take back the airwaves we are doomed to the margins.

Coyote, that was a great, great comment about lack of time. Seems a lot of the world is plotting against us all in that regard, nothing better than stolen moments to think and dream under the apple tree. Thanks also for your words above, I enjoy your postings equally and also find that there are so many interesting people who comment on this site and from which I have learned a lot. Although, I always push the "submit" key with slight trepidation and sometimes get ready to duck. Really, if Lise above is looking for a place to stretch her thoughts the Tyee is one of the best.

The thing I see is that regardless of the "name" of the party, they have all slithered so far to the neo-con right that being "middle of the road" really leaves you in the left!! I'm still bitching about the accidental leaving out of the line in the forestry legislation which linked harvesting rights to jobs and put the corp's in the position of either continuing to employ human persons or having to give up some of the land they control. Slight oversight, I believe we were told. Which left all that land in the hands of the foreign dominated corps while increasing numbers of working stiffs wound up on pogey and when it ran out ..welfare. Which of course Crispy is toasting the way she did the education system. I feel like I'm standing on a hill with the wind whipping up my kilt while I yell Dust off the CCF Manifesto and for chrissakes give me something to vote for and hope for!!! Coyote, you're in fine form tonight. Geek, you're spot on! I drove in from Campbell River today (had to drive out to get the rescued dog spayed because the world doesn't need a dozen more like her). On the way back there was Cubby sitting in the middle of the road, legs splayed like a kid in a bulky diaper, just staring around, daydreaming. Got to within six feet of him, stopped, he just stared at me, not a clue. SO I revved the motor and turned on the headlights and he nearly left his bear bum behind as he scooted off at top speed. Probably still telling mom and sibs about the red monster with the glowing eyes who nearly got him out there on the gravel strip. There's boogers out there, momma, real boogers. About ten miles further on there was a mom with a cubby, and she was heading for the greenery. Cubby was doing her best but there was a ten foot bank going up and all four feet were slipping, rocks and gravel skittering. Mom just reached back, tucked a massive paw under the furry butt and lifted cubby to the top. That's how you do'er baby, bums up! Felt momentarily bad about scaring the first little guy but better he learn about boogers while he's a baby than wind up so tame he becomes a trophy on some arstles wet bar wall next year!

I am no lover of any political party, but this BC Liberal party is very dangerous and Extreme, I have never seen such class warfare and disregard for human rights, if your not Upset your not paying attention. Another 4-5 yr mandate will give them the time they need To finish all structural adjustments to our wonderful province,lets not sit and pontificate Our grand visions of the world and wine at what's happened, we need to take action and fight To keep what belongs to us, no government will come to your rescue, only mass movements effect Social change, I hate the proverbial Canadian winer who does nothing to change things, folks the house is on fire, lets put it out(throw out the BC Fiberals ) once you put out the fire( install the NDP) The NDP is a weak party , once their in you can change it if you get involved, (you could say rearranging the furniture) All the names and crap they we dump on the right, one thing the Right wing has going for it is that’s its not lazy, they have a plan and they act on it, our media And gov is this way because we let it happen...... You have all been promoted to Media Monitors, TV, Radio , Newspapers etc, if you see crap that Is misleading or untrue, call them on it...light your hair on fire, treat the info like a racist Remark, refuse to backdown, use the CRTC and your all your rights as a citizen, it you don't You’re the one who will be left with nothing to fight for. The right does it , do you know How much pressure companies and right wing neo cons put on the radio etc to mute good Stories and info,

Enjoyed your post, Stuart. And agree with it.

***News alert, news alert, CKNW is saying liberal support is up all over in the latest provincial poll. In fact I cut and paste the full story, the NDP is up in all regions except the lower mainland. Just another half truth.Give Cknw a shout ask why they are not telling us the full story. The increase in support for the BC Liberals comes largely from Lower Mainland voters; 52% would support BC Liberals (up from 40% in August) in contrast to 30% supporting the NDP (down from 43% in August). Outside the Lower Mainland, the NDP still leads in most regions. In total, the NDP have the support of 45% of decided voters, and BC Liberals the support of 32%, with no significant changes in support over the past three months. Support for the BC Liberals has also increased slightly among women (38% would vote BC Liberals, up directionally from 31% in August). Although women still tend to favour the NDP, their support has weakened (41% would vote NDP directionally down from 46% in August).

What is all this nonsense about P3s - governments enter into contracts with private firms to provide goods and services all the time. Should the government be required to do everything in-house, or should it ask for bids when it makes sense to do so. The details of the contracts are always critical - its how you can tell the difference between a good deal and a bad one. And there are ALWAYS unhappy bidders after the contract has been awarded. The key question that Barbara McClintock dodges is whether the BC Online deal with MDA was in the public interest, and whether the public has gotten a fair deal. I believe the answer to both these questions is yes. BC Online provides good service and their prices are not out of line with other similar service providers. And in contrast to the current BC Ferries tendering process, MDA is a BC company, that hires staff here and pays taxes here. It also operates under our laws - not American laws like Maximus is subject to. So aside from an unsuccessful bidder that is still upset about a contract awarded SEVEN years ago, what is this about: politics pure and simple.

The media loves half truths, CKNW for a classic example, Today's story on their website, Provincial polls show BC Liberals numbers up... Really , wow the liberals are on a comeback. But if you go to the polling companies website you will see the entire polling results. In fact the NDP is out front in all regions except the GVRD which it is now behind by 3-6 points give or take. The story should read Liberals still behind in all regions except the lower mainland in which they have had some minor gains. Don't worry I have emailed them and the CRTC , their must be some mistake, The giant CKNW 980 in bed with these parasites, couldn't be

I can't see how anyone can post a message here and say "there is no other alternative than the Liberals and the NDP". Are you living under a rock ? Do you have blinkers on ? What you are really saying is no other party has arrived on my mainstream media oriented radar screen yet. Whilst on one hand you blast the mainstream media for slamming the NDP, you will take their spoon feeding when it is something you might remotely agree with. Carol James is the same old, same old with the NDP, she does not have half the energy of MacPhail and not a quarter of the media savvy. So if you are going to vote for a premier that has no experience you might as well vote for ADRIANE CARR and the GREEN PARTY. Carr has as much experience in Victoria as James does and has NONE of the baggage that comes along with the NDP. So come on you complainers, there IS a political alternative, you just have to work a bit to get the info.

Dear rockerbiff I have nothing against the Greens, but I don't feel we have the time to build the Party, lets face it they have never won a seat and just eat the left wing vote. People Cannot chance having the BC Fiberals for another 4 yrs, the NDP is weak, knows the time To get them in and then take over. Have nomination meetings and vote in Green party members Into the NDP. The Liberal party is full of conservatives , Old Socrates' etc. Why can't the left Not get together. As far as policy's go , the NDP had the most preserved green space and was The only province to meet UN standards for protected areas. In fact out of all parties The Sierra Club gave the NDP the best rating on the environment . Is the NDP perfect, NO, are They the only hope to win at this point. YES. The house is on fire, put it out and then rearrange the furniture.

Dear rockerbiff I have nothing against the Greens, but I don't feel we have the time to build the Party, lets face it they have never won a seat and just eat the left wing vote. People Cannot chance having the BC Fiberals for another 4 yrs, the NDP is weak, knows the time To get them in and then take over. Have nomination meetings and vote in Green party members Into the NDP. The Liberal party is full of conservatives , Old Socrates' etc. Why can't the left Not get together. As far as policy's go , the NDP had the most preserved green space and was The only province to meet UN standards for protected areas. In fact out of all parties The Sierra Club gave the NDP the best rating on the environment . Is the NDP perfect, NO, are They the only hope to win at this point. YES. The house is on fire, put it out and then rearrange the furniture.

The BC Liberal drug trafficing charges against Basi and company are front page news in the Vancouver Province. Can a bogus scandal like the one described in this article hurt the NDP when the Liberals have been mired in real scandal and enriching themselves on the backs of the poor and the middle class?

Hedley, your summary regarding BC Hydro from the 14 appears to be about right. So far (on what we know) the Liberals have only sold off or contracted out the billing work for the public utility. But I would suggest if I had motives other than what I had expressed I too would begin with hiding the money trail and who better than people (Arthur Anderson, Enron et/al, who have experience hiding truck loads of money, some of it, ironically, from BC Hydro. When a politician vows ''I will not sell'' something and then begins cutting up that something and parcelling out key ingredients to financial chop-shops while offering partnerships to companies with all kinds of interrelated ties to its own backroom gurus, you can be pretty sure the politician has an agenda that won't be clarified without some outside encouragement. Hedley , I don't share your free-enterprise views, but I think we both agree, this province needs more than bombastic bullshit, lies and backroom to deals to be viable.

Hey Rockerbiff! How can you herald the Greens who are very much conservative in philosophy??? Their social policies are very much like the BC Liberals. It's appalling that a conservative group like the Greens should be stealing any of the left wing vote. And pay attention to the truths expressed by Stuart: "...the NDP had the most preserved green space and was the only province to meet UN standards for protected areas. In fact out of all parties, the Sierra Club gave the NDP the best rating on the environment..." A vote for the Greens is a really stupid vote if you have any left leaning sentiments.

Mr Jones - it is one thing to write lines on a map and call it green space it is something else to allocate funding to enforce conservation and protection laws. The NDP have constantly paid lip service to the environmentalists and yet fail to actually do what is really needed. How about the development of alternate fuels such as wind and tide energy ? As far as the Sierra Club goes in the last federal election, how can anyone take them seriously after their executive director ran for the NDP in Toronto ? And as far as left leaning sentiments go, and I know this is a challenge for my brothers and sisters on the left, but the Greens are an amalgum of left and right values. There are people on the right and on the left [I am the latter] in the Green Party we work very well together. Howver, the rise of a third party in BC is a challenge for any party, so tell me Mr Jones would you be in favour of changing the way we vote in order to give smaller parties a more accurate slice of the vote OR would you be interested in preserving the status quo ?

Rockerbiff, there may be people in the Green Party who see themselves as ''left'' or ''right'', depending on their understanding of where they fit on the ever-shifting sands of opportunity and need, but when you accept conservative social policies in order to have your environmental goals given greater prominence on a political platform, you end up compromising the well being of one group or cause that needs all the help it can get for the potential of perhaps addressing another group or cause. Some say compromise is the great fixer in politics -you give a little here to gain a little there- but that really doesn't do much for your abandoned cause or its adherents. No doubt, you can argue that compromise is the noble gesture. I can also argue it's a sellout of one set of values for another. As someone who identifies with the left, I'd be very interested in where the ''right'' within the Green Party wants to go on on issues like the right of workers to form their own union on the strength of a majority of them signing union membership cards as opposed to being forced to vote after an employer has had several weeks to try to intimidate his or here employees into not going union. As a person who claims to be 'left'' how can you accept a policy that mirrors that of Gordon Campbell's Liberals? ***I would have no problem stating (as you asked Mr. Jones) that I can support a better (representative) election process so that the votes to marginal parties do translate into seats if the number warrant it, rather than preserving the status quo. However, that question has nothing to do with Mr. Jone's comments, which I would suggest clearly point out the folly of progressives crawling between the sheets with social regressives. Hey, don't take my word for it. Look at the bodies scattered across the political landscape from the last battle between progressives and regressives in the old Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, where the ghosts of those with even a modicum of understanding about social issues and needs are floating like flotsam or jetsam in a now stagant backwater. Fiscal conservatives will always win out in such a compromise because they value their money (and it's ability to maintain a status-quo) more than you value causes you see as secondary to the Green agenda. I know that if you put oil and water in a bottle and shake the hell out of it, for a time it appears the two substances actually blend together, but it's really only a temporary illusion.

Excellent piece, Allan. To me, the Green party presents itself as often above reproach to questions asked as to where that knitting together of left and right values will ultimately lead eg. (still no response from the Greens to Carr's statement "that we trust business to do the right thing.") That statement has highly significant ramifications to citizens, workers and consumers. If you expect us to believe that you are a party that holds it's leader and your policies accountable to public scrutiny and questioning then these issues will have to be addressed. As Allan states so well above - where will your path of compromise lead?

Again the NDP may not have been perfect but neither are you Greens. The New Democrats certainly paid more than lip service, so give them credit for what they did do. Just a few: 1)First in North America to reach UN goal of 12% parks and wilderness. 2)moratorium on fish farms and grizzly hunting. 3)created Tatshenshini and 345 protected areas. 4)cut chlorine discharge from pulp mills by 80%. 5)2.5 billion trees planted. 6) removed 10,000 km of damaging logging roads. 7) protection of GreatBear rainforest 8) toughtest forest practices rules in North America. 9) new law to protect fish bearing streams.

The only reason I included that list is that it is always somehow conveniently overlooked - so certainly more than lip service was paid, that's what we have now - as logging trucks compete with the proliferation of SUV's on the road. I hardly recognize the landscape that borders our rambling highway under bcliberal "stupidstewardship." (If it wasn't for the marijuana along the 101 there would be no greenery left to behold!) Despite NDP imperfections, despite there is much more yet to be done, those grand old Douglas firs prevailed then and graced us with their presence. No longer.

Always amused by Rockerbiff's implicit and explicit "we" language. Struggles with specific ideas. Likewise amused by his belief a "leaders" job is to elect the party - come hell or difference of opinion apparently. In addition to the Carr quote (I guess either the "right or left" side of his/her political views of convenience take over and suggest silence).. has equaly a tough time fielding questions about the Green party's former leadership (and senior party members), glaring indictments of Harris as chief bully and executive officer style. Disciples don't have any problem with that do they Rockerbiff.

I joined the GPBC just after Adriane Carr became leader, prior to her leadership I had held the GPBC as a bunch of radicals, mor than likely thanks to the antics of the previous leader. At this stage in its development one of the main responsibilities of a leader is to bring the party in to the mainstream, one thing neither federal nor BC provincial leader accomplished in over 20 years. Using this as a measure of success, yes I am encouraged as to where the party has gone since I joined, both leaders are taking their respective parties in to new territories. As a former "active" member of the NDP I can see the GPBC going in directions that neither the Liberals nor NDP are willing to go and that for me personally is what keeps my interest in the party. The GPBC came out in strong support of the HEU and the ferryworkers, we even marched on May Day, so I can't see where the criticism of not supporting unions comes from and on a personal note I am a former VP of a CUPE local - the GPBC supports the rights of workers to collective bargaining, but also supports the right of all workers. The environmental record of the NDP has to be balanced with the other hand hidden behind their back - how about the increase of raw log exports, the decrease of pharmacare coverage, not to mention a thorough neglect of native land claim issues, exemplified in the largest military build up on Canadian soil [Gustafsen Lake] and who brought us the Olympics ? Need I go on ?

Rockerbiff, surely you can do better than that. ''A thorough neglect of native land claims issues''! For the first time since colonial governor James Douglas tried to at least protect BC natives from the onslaught of white immigration with the introduction of reserves and treaties, (albiet-not great deals with much of it lost when he retired), it was the provincial NDP government that signed off the Nisgaa agreement, the first and only one ever fully negotiated rather than imposed on natives in B.C. Six years later our Liberal government has driven relations between natives and non-natives back into the dark ages and your still blaming Glen Clark.*** But then, as a former CUPE local vp, perhaps you were too busy trying to keep your school districts members away from a rational collective agreements with the NDP government in those days. Yes, I realize it was about democracy and all, but when about four dozen CUPE locals took about four dozen individual positions on issues that were of provincial scope, only to threaten chaos if the government didn't satisfy them all, one could perhaps understand why you didn't keep up to date on native land claims. But before I leave that issue, let's go back to the Gustafsen Lake incident you blame on the NDP. I have no trouble agreeing with your assertion that it was a large military build up, but I would rather describe it as what it was - a police (RCMP) conspiracy aimed at intimidation, that backfired. While the province is, no doubt, responsible for the action of its contracted police force (RCMP), and its naivity in allowing police an open chequebook, there were, in my estimation, clearly national and international objectives in play by police and other agents at Gustafsen Lake that the province really didn't have much part in. Ottawa ( and our pro-government media, in this case) was at least as and likely more responsible for much of the bullshit and lies that Canadians were fed about our Oka-west. ***One final point: if you want to talk environment, use environment examples. You implicitly acknowledge the NDP's environmental record isn't too bad, when you suggest it has to be balanced by failings in other areas, and then you madly leap from forestry to health to native rights before settling on the Olympics turd. At the very least you might have stayed on the environment issue. After all, it's about the only issue that unites Greens, that is until Adrianne Carr told the world she has faith that corporate Canada will do the right thing. How positively comforting that she has managed to tame that crew all by herself.?

Right on, Allan. I am often amused, more often puzzled at how those who want to blame the NDP for every goddam thing that has gone wrong in the past two decades hop back and forth between saying they were completely lame and then as good as holding them responsible for the collapse of the economy of Japan. I guess I'd like to know how the NDP managed to convince Enron to deliberately screw up the finances of California so they "had" to renege on paying their Hydro bill...between the collapse of the japanese economy and the failure of the USA to pay for electricity this province was so hard hit it's a miracle anything survived at all. To say the NDP did nothing about native claims and rights is to tell an outright lie. More was accomplished in a few years than had been in the previous century and the current crop of crud artists has consistantly and systematically slashed at those advances. The Nisgaa agreement was the first one in Canada which gave First Nations people any meaningful representation and the first thing the drunk did was try to cancel it. And what did the Green's do about that nasty bit of racist bullshit? The companies Ms. Carr is so certain will do "the right thing" are even now ignoring the Delgamuuth decision and logging on land on which claims have been made and acknowledged...and that, my not so swift friend, is outright fekkin theft! To expect the business interests to do anything voluntarily is about as naive as still believing in the tooth fairy. The Greens are just another ploy of the neo-con bastards to split the non-right vote.

Anne Cameron's reference to the "ploy of the neo-con bastards to split the non-right vote" raises a really interesting point. When Gary-Farrell Collins sings the praises of the Green party as he did last June, the left should shudder, but perhaps most of all the Greens themselves. They're about to become a pawn, some willing, some not, in a very dirty game. More than ever the public should demand complete transparency concerning financial contributions to political parties as a necessary protection against the dangers inherent in compromising sell-outs between parties. When a party receives a high level of campaign contributions in comparison to their number of party members wee small sirens should go off in our heads.

However, with due warning, if you ask for transparency in politics, what you will probably receive is the hidden. How fast can the money be hid and where will it be hid most invisibly? Isn't that what the raid in our legislature is all about?

But then again I'm probably wrong... because according to the legislative reporter on Global TV,( that bastion of investigative reporting ), the legislative raid was really all about making mountains out of molehills...well, he's probably right but... some mole, some hill.

Lynn, love your "bastion of investigative reporting" ... too true...and from where I sit it looks more like a rat hole than a mole hill...

Sorry, to intrude again, I promise I'm off this thread after this - I just wanted to make clear why Mr. Baldry, Global's legislative reporter should be believed: 1) This "is" after all BelieveBC, "just close your eyes and tap your heels three times, Dorothy" and believe, simply believe... everything you read and hear. 2 )Mr. Baldry in his mountain-molehill comment just days ago is not only demonstrating crack investigative skills but also crack precognitive ones as well. He has determined so early in the game that despite there being only a minute amount of information revealed and before a trial has even begun that really, this is only just another mundane molehill. How comforting! how soothing! Nothing to worry about here it's back to "business" as usual in BC. 3)These are, after all, real professionals we're dealing with here, why the mainstream media in BC has perfected the skill of diminishing the size of mountains into molehills to near art form status. Fish farm scandals, Doug Walls scandal, BC Rail, BC Ferries, the huge deficit, they and more, much more, are all just mere molehills!

But a sundeck - now that's a mountain of truly evil proportions. Something really worthy of investigation. Build a deck and they will come. Hordes of them. They will arrive at night and using those same precognitive powers they will be there even before the RCMP arrive. Then cameras in tow, they will emerge from the shadows, sniffing out the pure evil emanating off your cedar planks of and wait for you to open your door. And I guess as the above article reveals - they are back ...'cause gee whiz they know a mountain when they see one.

lynn, keep on intruding.

Glen Clark's ghosts. I quess they are ghosts because nothing materialized. As for the liberals I believe their nightmare has begun: police raids, public resignations , public revulsion. I doubt they were the 3P's they were promoting? The liberals have been our nightmare for the last 3 years. Time to wake up BC. Hear the alarm May/05. And remember: there are no such things as ghosts.

liberals should be wary of their own "clarks' ghosts"

They can begin worrying about those ghosts with their tour around the province purportly to ask people on what to spend the "surplus" budget on. What a joke. That's just an election ploy to boast, etc. But it ain't no surplus. It's blood money. The Liars play the common masses off like chumps, a factor in on an accounting sheet, a market to be manipulated. Well, they ate up their crap the last time around, maybe they'll do so again. In which case, they'll be precisely what the Liars see them to be. Kinda like a battered housewife syndrome. BC needs a transition house for the common electrate - perhaps this will be C. James' most effective angle?

Clarks ghosts , give me a break. Maybe they mean Christy Clarks, gee I wonder why her Family is so important now. Now that the chips are starting to fall on the leg investigation. Could it be family members trading info on the BC Rail Deal , who knows. If we are going To talk about Ghost the liberals have an entire cemetery. Did anyone catch CKNW on Friday night. BC Ferry boss David Hahn called in, he said that BC Jobs and tax revenue for BC were not a Issue in granting ferry contracts, he finds what he perceives as the lowest bidder for Shareholder value, who gives a ship what happens to BC citizens, I have a few shareholders To appearse.

Clarks ghosts , give me a break. Maybe they mean Christy Clarks, gee I wonder why her Family is so important now. Now that the chips are starting to fall on the leg investigation. Could it be family members trading info on the BC Rail Deal , who knows. If we are going To talk about Ghost the liberals have an entire cemetery. Did anyone catch CKNW on Friday night. BC Ferry boss David Hahn called in, he said that BC Jobs and tax revenue for BC were not a Issue in granting ferry contracts, he finds what he perceives as the lowest bidder for Shareholder value, who gives a ship what happens to BC citizens, I have a few shareholders To appearse.

How to spend the surplus? How are we going to pay the $6 Billion in deficit accumulated by the BC Liberals? The NDP gave them a surplus budget in 2001 and the BC Liberals turned it into the biggest deficit in BC history. The NDP had to clean up the $2 Billion deficit left behind by the Social Credit.

I love having the last word....

Last!

ghosts are everywhere or aliens unknown believe we need to have all buildings and houses ananlyzed a little more in depth you think im crazy but, maybe we should check a little more indepth a bout things canadien have alot more of them over here