To my mind...it is outrageous, that Municipal council members thought, felt, where under the impression, that the most effective way to get the 'ear' of elected Government members ...was to pay to attend a Liberal party function. So, is that the Fiberal plan, to privatize Democracy, ..meaning that only if you give a donation to the Party can you get 'lobbying' access to the government.

...further to read that Kitimat municipal officials received an invite on 'government letterhead' and then were told to pay the invoice to the Liberal Party...is way beyond outrageous - is it not using the offices of government to obtain a private benefit even more than a mere conflict of interest???

...Aside from this, it is good to see from the Vancouver Sun that Carole James is offering interior community democratic control of 'regional investment vehicles' that will be funded from resouce rents..so they build, diversify their regional econmies....something like the Columbia Trust idea!

Bravo, Tyee. It would be interesting to find, out how much taxpayer funded money has gone into BC Liberal coffers, especially in the lead up to this election, as Mr. Campbell deviously grandstanded around this province delivering "no debate" "promised" goodies before the writ was even dropped at our expense. How much, in total, have, WE, THE PEOPLE, funded the BC Liberals election campaign?

So, if as Peter says above, this is an attempt by the BC Liberals to privatize democracy, WE, THE PEOPLE, should take our one share (while we still have it) and vote the bastards out!

such a sad stretch. desperate times require desperate measures.

"Liberal Party executive director Kelly Reichert did not return several calls made this week by The Tyee. Ministers Shirley Bond, Pat Bell, and Tom Christensen also did not respond to calls about fundraisers they attended."

There is an obvious gag order on all Fiberal elected officials pre-election.

This is outrageous. Any bets on the coverage this will get in the Crapwest Fiberal media empire?

As with many of your posts Lynn...I'm 100% onside with you....we need to dig deep in the Fiberal "manure pile" to disover these matters...especially with the cutbacks to the Auditor General's office in the past several years, and the extreme hassles in getting transparent disclosure via the screw-ball Freedom of Info (FOI) system...set up by these privatizing Fiberal "bastards"...well technically they aren't "bastards" because the sure as hell didn't have the brains to invent this dis-ease of 'neo-con' economics...we can credit that to the Chicago School of Economics, etc. .

...but your right ...Campbell pranced around the province before the election writ was issued 'dispensing goodie-two shoes" announcements from his non-debated budget like he was a new -born Santa Claus...was all that travel, lodging, communication by His Highness and his Staff at taxpayer's expense....that needs to be examined and brought into the light ...as those Fiberals prefer the darkness...and scurry away like cockroaches when any light is shine on them.

Question;...why don't we hear anything from the 'sheep' Fiberal backbenchers...why all the focus...on His Highness..??

Remembering a few years back the charging of thousands of dollars for access to Liberal Ministers that was mentioned in the story, can anyone explain why there was not an RCMP investigation into influence peddling by the Provincial Liberal Party. To me it would appear to be a really blatant example.

The corruption of the "crippled" democracy system is deeply rooted and systemic. The problem is, as a general rule, where everything else is equal, and I haven't seen most recent polls, the one that has the most cash to throw around, wins. Another element of that return to old style capitalism.

Now, if only folks can/could tell the difference between the parties, other than one of them doesn't have quite the cash/ deep pockets of the other. And the media isn't helping either, or some of the pronouncements

It isn't going to come down to brass knucks in this election, I don't think. More a highly choreographed ballroom tango.

Signor Coyote, I think you're probably quite right, more tango, than force. But they are not dancing the real thing, they are dancing "tango for export". It's a term for tango without soul, made or exported for public consumption. All the passion stripped away, only fancy moves and pseudo-passion left...where is Al Pacino when you need him ?...I can't think of the name of the movie... he was a retired miltary man that loved to tango...anyway, he could teach them a thing or two.

Good article and comments following. I'd like to know if anyone has any of the original invitations.

I am certainly not a lawyer, but do question whether such a blatent act isn't fraud.
I'd like to know if the invites were shipped out through public servants or through political staff.

I mean the Liberals don't ever make mistakes do they? So it must have been intentional.

So my final question would be are they simply more stupid than most of us thought or is this just a continuation of the deception that has so marked this provincial government- "I won't sell BC Rail, I won't rip up contracts," etc., etc., etc.

On another matter it was nice to see the Globe&Mail today raising the issue of the three appointed Liberal staffers who were charged following raids on the legislature.

Now it would be really nice if judge Dohm might once again look at it and take the same stand he did when he was overseeing the Glen Clark charges in 2000.

Lift the damned secrecy so that British Columbians get a good look at why RCMP raided our legislature for the first time ever under this government.

Dohm's actions so far leaves a lot of people wondering if some political parties aren't held to different standards by the courts.

Dohm's actions so far leaves a lot of people wondering if some political parties aren't held to different standards by the courts. Says Allan

I think you answered your own question Allan. Glen Clark was crucified in the press for having a small cottage deck built. Quite humourous when compared to the significant allegations the Fiberals face. BC Rail, organized crime, influence peddling, Doug Walls and his forgiven $400K debt .... the list goes on. What's even more troubling is the Crapwest camera crews were outside Clark's home before the police.

The level of corruption and contempt the current provincial Fiberals have shown the electorate, coupled with the mainstream media bias is enough to make one vomit. We can only pray that the foul smelling tentacles of the Fiberal beast have not penetrated Elections BC.

"Tango for export", that was the colloquialism I was looking for. :-)

No passion. No serious political and economic analysis to share or offer up to folks; no real understanding. Like you say, only the technical , soulless twirls and shuffling of feet.

It's like no one really believes in what they are doing and saying-, only everybody going through the motions.

I hate being so damned negative, which is not really my nature, because I'm actually a really up guy, but it seems like the only really appropriate response-, at this time. Which may be what there has to be more of actually, before we get to that place where there's enough angry folks that will turn it around.

But then, there is some wry irony to be found in the situation, of course, as there always is. I mean, like it's certainly not the first time I've put a half-hearted X on a ballot. :-)

That's been "the democracy" most folks have lived with all their lives, likely, certainly working class folks; always simply choosing the lesser of evils.

I was out on a jaunt really early this morning, at the crack of dawn, prowling around my meadows and riparian woods, come back all sweaty and had my old man's nap. Now, I really must finally have a shower and shave here, before it gets too much even for me. :-)

Mrs Coyote is casting me that certain disapproving look. (Not the first time I've seen that either :-)

There are clues that the electoral process has been reworked. Huge increases in Liberal memberships with many people not knowing they had signed on.

Remember the dead dog who was a Liberal Party member?

Remember the riding of Esquimalt Juan de Fuca which was reorganized for Keith Martin?

And Herb Dhaliwal, a Chretien Cabinet Minister, who was crow-barred out by the Basi Boys?

Of course, those are federal Liberal ridings. And we know, don't we, that such things could never happen in the provincial membership. Don't we?

Although it's fair to ask why the trials of Basi, Virk, Basi and the others are being kept so quiet, and keep being set aside until after the B.C. election.

BC Mary is demonstrating that she understands the fuller dimensions of the problem, I think. There is a tendency to pooh-pooh ALL conspiracy theories, myself included, but there is a level at which, if it looks, walks and talks like a duck, as they say, chances are...

Besides, just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean there isn't a conspiracy out to get me. :-)

How are ya doing, Mary?

I always get a good read outta yer stuff. :-) I think there is a conspiracy afoot too. :-) And I ain't shittin' ya.

They don't even all have to be having formal meetings together, with a chairman and Robert's Rules of Order. They just all know what side their interests are on, and do what needs to be done to cover their own asses, which helps cover each others. Indeed, there's a thing or two "regular" folks could learn from watching the mothers.

They move in the same circles, party together, sit on the same boards, are members of the same Clubs, golf together, and drink shared liquor, maybe even women. (Which now and again can even include a "labour leader" are two. Always in a minority, mind.)

I'm smelling nice again; Escape shaving baum by Calvin Klein, and Sage and Lemongrass "organic" underarm deodorant. Don't be afraid. :-)

This must be under investigation by the RCMP. This is criminal.

redrivergirl is right. The RCMP should be investigating. Sgt. Peter Montague (once approached by Campbell to run for the Liberals) went way out of his way (to California, yet!) to find a vacationing judge dimwitted enough to charge Glen Clark for accepting a bribe, wholly on the word of a pugnacious drunk. It was over a balcony my son could have built for $3000. Clark overpaid for that balcony! That neighbour of his should have been taken out and flogged! Then there was the fast ferry so-called fiasco. People are so damn gullible, it makes me sick! What? Did they think we could get the old style ferries built for anything like under a $ billion? The first ferry was not that good. The second was better, and each one after that. Boeing makes 5 planes for billions before getting one that works the way they want it to. GM does 12 cars at millions before they get one that will be mass- manufactured. Four ferries were not unreasonable for the price. But Campbell's sale of BC Hydro and BC Rail for tuppence? The sale of our LAND? Where the hell is the outcry? Where the hell are the police? People are as stupid as that vacationing judge.

Remember who that vacationing judge was? It was B.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice Patrick Dohm.

Remember who has presided over all court hearings for David Basi, Bob Virk, Aneal Basi? Again, it's Patrick Dohm, who has largely sealed this scandal away from the public at least until May 30. That could mean after Gordon Campbell's government is re-elected.

Remember too: R.C.M.P. Sgt. John Ward who spoke right over the heads of our leaders on 29 December 2003 to warn British Columbians directly that we shouldn't be surprised by the raid on the B.C. Legislature, because Organized Crime had crept into all levels of society ... "critical mass" he called it ... costing the provincial economy $6 Billion a year.

Don't get me started.

news flash! coyote and mary think there's a conspiracy out there. virk and basi, deepest levels of gov't. liberals being funded by drug money. rcmp complicit. what a scoop. get one of the tyee journalists on it. bring down the oligarchy!

A more recent story than what the Gomery inquiry is looking into.

I am as astonished as you Marysue that there is no outcry. Instead, we are allowing, "His Highness", as Peter aptly calls him above, to campaign to the invited only, to not tell reporters his daily agenda, where and when he is going next, to not take questions from the public and to not allow the public near him. And there are actually people who will vote for him. Amazing. I hope someone has kept the "government" invitations as allan says, it would have a certain well-deserved irony since lately Mr. Campbell hides so well behind those little invitation cards.

And where did the Clark episode originate? In Gordon Campbell's constituency office with an anonymous allegation. And instead, as Judy Tyjabi says in her book, of being ignored as most anonymous allegations are, this one was thoroughly followed up by Montague, who once considered running for Campbell's Liberals. The then attorney-general, Mr. Ujjal Dosanjh, provided special resources for the investigation as well as beginning to organize his own campaign for the leadership of the party. And now Mr. Dosanjh has become a federal Liberal. It's all probably just coincidence, right?

I have one question regarding the story...at the beginning of the story you say that one of the cities involved is Fort St. John. However, later in the story you have a whole paragraph on Fort St. JAMES willingly buying tickets.

As a resident of Fort St. JOHN, I have talked with the mayor and he says the council of Fort St. JOHN hasn't bought tickets to any Liberal events.

Is the reference to Fort St. John a typo?

Yes, St. John was a typo. It's been fixed now.

This type of fraud is the hallmark of the BC Liars. We don’t get to hear this in the Global Canwest media monopoly. Why:

Because it is a profiteering corporate dictatorship owned by Liberals that routinely spikes stories that tell the truth and disciplines journalists who are doing a good job–all to protect their elite spoiled greedy special interests.

I’m getting quite ticked off with the total lack of a free press here. This type of fraud should be front page/newshour top story, and public inquiries should be taking place. But nope. can’t have that level of honesty here. Might threaten the corporate dictatorship’s political puppets from getting re-elected.

Hmmmm.. Why isn't this story being picked up by the major press this morning? It seems like a big enough story.......?

Why isn't this story being picked up by the major press? Did you really ask that phayes?

Well, why not EMail the experts themselves and ask them why not. You can reach Mike Smyth and Vauhgn Palmer by EMail, you just have to look it up their CanWest site. In the past I have received replies from both of them.

Oh, it's a "big enough story" all right. That's why it isn't being picked up by the castratii in the "major press".

B.C. Mary.. your posts make me smile even as they make my old blood boil...Lynn, you're right, as you so often are.

The tangled web of provincial/federal deceit and untrammelled horse puckies is so engrained in "politics", I'm not sure we could untangle it and get "democracy". I mean the Fiberals really aren't the least bit Liberal, they're a bunch of Socred and Reform professionals.

I can't help but snicker each time Michael Campbell the purported "economist" or his brother Gordon's Dry Gin talk about how we have to pay huge money to get the most well qualified people interested in running for public office. Look at the pack of flabby-assed witherdicks we've got in both Victoria and Ottawa.

Those are not the best qualified, they are not the best minds, they are only hacks and flacks who enjoy the taste of boot polish on their tongues.

The best in this country turn their backs on politics because they know if they were to run they would win. THen they'd have to sit down with the arstles, maybe even eat lunch with them. That thought keeps them busy elsewhere.

Judge Patrick Dohm doesn't frighten me as much as what Judge Wally Oppal is doing. How many other "honourable" judges are tainted? How do we get any kind of justice?

The cop who dared state right out that organized crime was firmly entrenched in this province probably kissed any promotion good bye but then in all probability so did the cop who dared find a huge cache of drugs hidden in one of our PM's (son's) freighters.

Both those guys remembered, probably from what their mothers taught them in childhood, what "honour" is, what "duty" means. Must have been learned at their mother's knee (or some other low joint) because we haven't seen evidence of either in public life in so long it is sad.

Congratulations to The Tyee. You certainly picked the right logo and mascot..you're swimming upstream against a horrendous flood of bullshit,sheepshit,coonshit,ratshit and the puke spewing from the mouths of politicians.

Let's get this straight. Conspiracy, eh?

I think "Conspiracy" means duct tape plastered firmly across the mouth ... a stereotype intended to prevent further discussion. Fat chance.

Conspiracy: an agreement between 2 or more persons to commit an unlawful act. Or to accomplish a lawful end by unlawful means. Britannica.

I prefer the term Oligarchy.

Oligarchy: government by the few, especially despotic power exercised by a small and privileged group for corrupt or selfish purposes. Britannica.

So it's fair to ask that, before anyone shouts "Conspiracy theory!" they show where the offending words fit into the definition of a conspiracy.

I think that, within the definitions, British Columbia has an Oligarchy.

The idea that when you win the election, you get to scoop resources to your own and to your friend's advantage is not a new one. They are too stupid to govern. They do not understand their obligation to all. The Provincial Libs are really the Socreds in drag, grabbing a less offensive name by taking over the Liberal Party. How ironic that the Federal Liberals have really sunk to the level of the ancient Socreds and their insider land speculating and we now have the Provincial and Federal Liberals truly united in common ethics (their view, politics is a lottery where the winner takes all he can.)

Just heard this story on CKNW, is the mainstream press starting to pay attention?

The BC Liberals certainly shouldn't be confused with the federal edition,but oh, my,my,is that IRONY wafting through the air?Power at all costs politics knows no IDEALOGICAL lines.Arrogant power CORRUPTS arrogantly,a tiny little bit at a time,until you get so confident that you get TEQUILA smart,and think you're bulletproof.Use taxpayer money to fun re-
election,small scale who will know?The smallest of cuts can ultimately cause FATAL infection.Feed the infection,KILL this BC Liberal govt.Tell a friend to tell a friend.

Are we to believe the District of Kitimat was so stupid as to attend an event that they hadn't a clue who was organizing it? Are they in the habit of sending out cheques to pay for invoices without seeing who they are payable to? Or did they pay and wait for an election and therefore be able to stir up a mini shit storm?

just a thought....

Dear Steveoverhere;

Para 5, sentence 2:

Not stupid. They just believed what they were told. Turned out they were being lied to. Who knew?

Fool me once, shame on you...

Mr. Bailey - goverment's been privatized, hadn't you heard? (Everybody knows!)

I read someplace that the Liberals were refusing to release the travel records of the Ministers involved.

I think if the party paid for their travel and accomodation the only thing to complain about is the moonlighting, why they weren't doing their jobs while they were on the clock, so to speak.

But if the taxpayers paid for that, then the demand for donations was essentially a demand for bribes to do their jobs.

I think that might be quite illegal, certainly totally unethical. And, of course, scummy as hell.

Can anybody answer that question yet? Who paid the Ministers travel and accommodation bills on these trips to the interiour?