"she says she pioneered a new approach in forestry that freed her staff to be out in the field looking after forests instead of tied to desks monitoring things for forestry companies."

Too bad that WCB did not share this "new approach." Maybe then all those deaths in the forest this year could have been avoided.

Joyce Murry was dreadful as BC Minister! She doesn't give a damn about the environment and to say she is a wee bit 'green', is like calling Gordon Campbell a social activist.

I doubt she will get in, but if she does, she will be just another fence post with hair to sit in the back benches!

Ms. Murray has wonderful glowing literature, however, I am deeply troubled by the difference between Ms. Murray the Campbell minister and the present candidate.

Paul Who? He only appears at election time and I fear would make a perfect backbencher in a radical right wing Harper gov't that makes the BC libs actually look liberal.

In New West the only choice who can do no harm is the NDP candidate. She may actually do some good.

Joyce is going to get killed this time around, she was the worst minister the province has even seen . Her and arrogant little twit rapper M&M wannabe son of hers. She did nothing about ST Mary's hospital closing, when
polled over 82% of residents in New West opposed the closing, they gave the entire property to developers for almost nothing. She still couldn't figure out how she lost, on the environment she allowed all the cut backs and basically did nothing.

I remember in one interview when she was being questioned about hunting etc, she said and I quote
"BC has allot of wildlife as far as I can see" She is moron on so many levels, I see an NDP win with Dawn Black, the NDP only lost by 122 votes in 2004 and now with Joyce its almost in the bag. She is a good career politician, good at saying yes to her leaders and being obedient no matter the cost.

Another example of Liberal misinformation is the so-called poll that Joyce Murray is using to say that she is leading in the riding. Sean Holman reported recently on The Public Eye website that the 'polling firm' who conducted the poll is owned by Murray's campaign manager. So much for credibility.

Only a Liberal (BC or otherwise) would gut the environment and then claim to be a champion of environmentalism. A report - "Please Hold. Someone will be with you." - on Joyce Murray's gutting of the Ministry of Water Land and Air Protection is available online (http://www.wcel.org/wcelpub/2004/14099.pdf), and shows how she presided over a 30% reduction of ministry staff, and the dismantling of environmental regulations.

The report shows that Murray's Environmental Management Act served to "dramatically reduce the number of waste discharge permits,
and hence the number of inspections" for waste discharges into the environment.

As the minister responsible for protecting the environment, Murray presided over a number of legislative changes that gutted environmental regulations and oversight. The 'Forest and Range Practises Act' is a good example. The report shows that, "Under the new regime,
government merely sets broad objectives, and how they are achieved on the ground is left pretty much up to the companies themselves."

Among the changes passed by Murray's government were "removing environmental scrutiny of logging plans; removing environmental oversight of biodiversity objectives in forest planning; eliminating Forest Practices Code requirements for stand management plans following logging."

Another passage in the report states that, "Under the new Government Actions Regulation government cannot take actions to protect water quality or endangered species from logging unless it first determines that the action is consistent with “maintaining or
enhancing an economically valuable supply of commercial timber”."

And the list goes on. Murray's campaign statement that "Joyce Murray is genuinely committed to sustainability" is a blatant mis-statement of fact, clearly intended to mislead the electorate about her record as part of the Campbell Liberal government.

But then, what do you expect from Liberals? They've been lying to us for decades, to get elected.

It's so desperately sad that these political hucksters will use the environment as promotional advertising for their career moves ... but when it actually comes to environmental protection, the best they can do is to start on about buying and selling green credits.

For taking this name in vain, they should get a smite from You Know Who (if there is one).

Let's see. Gordon Campbell comes to Joyce and say's "cut 34% on the environmental spending." Who does she work for now? Am I missing something? Oh, she could have quit as environmental minister over it, and these same finger pointers would have been pointing to someone else, to no avail.

Again, we have to ask, who benifits? Gordon Campbells, corporate buddies? Yes. Of course! And this provincial electorate (of only 12.5% of B.C., population, I might add) voted him in twice. All rich people have to do to keep their power with Campbell in power is vote for him. Thats how low the voter turnout was. Ridiculous. We have no one to blame, but ourselves on this.

And I'll say it one more time. Who is Joyce Murray working for now????? What a biased, politically motivated article. I'm not impressed, more like embarrassed to see more of the same with so many other articles.

Well, I guess a good, tight horse race moves paper and ink in the media, so its good for them... at everyone elses expense. (Yawn)

Dawn Black is likely the best one running in this riding, but I can't say for sure, I haven't followed them and as such, I can't offer an opinion on who is best suited there, but I can only say that 2 Green MP's would do a world of good in getting environmental concerns on the map.

quote: "but when it actually comes to environmental protection, the best they can do is to start on about buying and selling green credits." Sorry, but they are doing just a little bit better than that, and they are no threat to take power in any big way.

For all of you NDP lovers out there, Jack performed well last night. He did what he needed to do, and just for the record, the Greens aren't the problem for the NDP. Its the PC's. And if anyone truly cares about Canada's sons and daughters, they might want to seriously think about where Harper would take us internationally... especially a western separatist... scary.

Re: correction PC's is Cons... they've shed their snake skin so many times...

I agree that Ms. Murray's record is disgraceful.I only hope the NDP candidate can win the riding, not the Conservative.

I read of a frightening prospect today, namely:

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER STOCKWELL DAY ! Yikes.

Day is currently external affairs critic, which makes him first in line for the ministerial job.

Day's a guy who's counting on "Armageddon" in the middle east, and presumably would want to "do his bit" to help set up the world for this event. Day also expects to fly bodily skyward in "the rapture" to meet his maker somewhere or other (Heaven is located on Mars, perhaps?)

How would a guy like Day contribute to Canada's Middle East policy if he was in charge of External Affairs? I don't think Palestinians will be better off.

The more I contemplate a Harper gov't (and he's now in potential majority, not just minority territory), I'm beginning to think people like Joyce Murray may, unfortunately, be among the least of our worries...

I am sick of the polls, polls are for strippers, remember last year the MSM was talking about a conservative win, well I don't believe it, Harper was a cold fish last night, he was like a empty puppet afraid to say or respond to anything real.

And all the crap about the notwithstanding clause, sorry but the conservatives are full of Focus on the Family members and other fringe groups that have been lobbying like crazy.

Check out this quote regarding justice critic Vic Toews. Remember to get the vote out and not let these nuts into the henhouse.

"I don't necessarily agree with everything that Bishop Henry says in respect of the suppression of homosexuality -- that's his position -- but just generally speaking in respect of the issue of same-sex marriage, I appreciate that the Catholic church has made no bones about where it stands on this issue," says Toews.

In a pastoral letter, Henry said "the State must use its coercive power to proscribe or curtail" homosexuality, adultery, prostitution and pornography, because all are harmful to the family. "Fundamentally," the bishop told the Western Catholic Reporter, "what the government has to do is uphold public morality and it shouldn't be bashful in terms of doing so."

Stuart (and everyone else):
With no intended disrespect (and, its only my opionion, but), Rome and its church lost me when they killed all of the apostles and their followers, and then institutionalized the religion for more tax, and what happened afterwards, was no prize. Its called the dark ages, and that snakepit cult hasn't changed one bit.

Popes are still walking around like they've got Peters blood in them, having leaders bow down to kiss his ring, like its kissing the ass of Christ himself. Sorry If I'm just a little bitter with the mockery. Its just a little hard to take a billion person cult seriously. You know, its funny how religions that have so little going for them think they have so much. Prosperity? I see bankruptcy that fits their past and present morality, so...
I appreciate your comments on any politicians who do take them seriously, however. It says it all. Is there a holy puritan superiority complexed Christian cult movement in the Cons out west? Without a doubt. The prospect of having Stockwell day as minister of international affairs is likely the ugliest thought of my day. Oops! Just thought about global warming again. Oops! Just thought about Canadian troops dying for a U.S. war. Wups! Just thought about a Conservative majority.

I too find it hard to believe the polls. How is it possible that the Ontario voter suddenly decides to vote for Harper? What reasoning do they use? Can't they see that he is simply appearing moderate? He is a wolf in sheeps clothing, and those stupid sheep in Ontario can't see it.

http://canadianweigh.com/harper.htm

Lets find ways to get this message out, check above link, start to email all Ont and Quebec
agencies, progressive groups etc, the media, government agencies and anyone who you think
this article will hit home with. Lets get the vote out folks, we have to much to lose and to rely on this corrupt media is like sticking your head in the ground. Allot of folks don't vote, if you take a few folks to the polls with you than your ahead of the game.

Jesus was also a leftie , so lets get the message out before its to late, 7 conservatives belong to the US group Foucs on the Family , the group that lobbies hard for BUSH,

Check out the link

http://www.uvm.edu/~ashawley/evolve/wwjd.html#pro-choice

Don't go against God , vote NDP

Dear CRH,
The Tories were optimistic at winning perhaps a minimum of 15 seats in Ontario at the start of this election since they are located in their regional strongholds of SouthWest or Eastern Ontario. Most of these seats are rural or small town ridings like Brant, Barrie, Kitchener Conestaga, Lmabton-Kent, etc that would have gone Conservative if it weren't for the undisciplined and downright scary comments coming from some social conservative MPs or candidates. These caused potential soft Liberal NDP voters to stick with the Liberal incumbent and let the Liberal's win. But Harper has run a well-disciplined campaign this time and should pick up at least 15 seats in Ontario--and likely more like 20 to 30 seats. Though Darrel Bricker thought Harper could as many as 35-40 seats with his speculation in Saurday's Vancouver Sun that the Conservatives could get a figure in the high 50's range to low 60's range in seats in Ontario. So, the Conservatives would gain seats and may be able to form a Minority Government with the expected Liberals meltdown in Quebec, This isn't science fiction--its fact.

Just as scary is the polls in western Canada.

Well, we can be sure that Ms. Murray does want to serve and do good for the community, however, I do not have confidence that she actually knows what is good.

It really bothered me that she was the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection when she had strong ties to Brinkman and Associates, a reforestation company where I believe she was once a partner.

It's too bad, I have been a federal Liberal for several years, but she and Martin have driven me to the NDP.

She sure gets a lot of press in the local New Westminster rag, I was surprised Puchmayer was able to overtake her in the provincial election.

fabian, you are understating the likelihood.

That they may be able to form majority government, is a more accurate estimation, I would think.

Paul Martin's dream of governing Canada in true Liberal style, like a Pearson, Trudeau or even a petite prick like dat last guy, is now in tatters.

Joyce Murray's involvement offers little to improve that gloomy forecast. Calling her green is enough to make me green around the gills.

I'll be voting for my NDP candidate and hoping for at least a strong opposition.

Martin has gone through meltdown.

BTW Brain, I still await your long overdue apology for those lies you wrote last week. See my note to you on "Be An Intentional Citizen".

If you insist in flitting about here on Tyee, please clean up all those unpleasant little messes you leave behind on the various threads.

No kidding Murray has ties to Brinkman and Associates. She and Brinkman are married, and she was (is?) co-owner.

Joyce Murray green??????????

I suppose if you return an empty beverage container for the deposit you are green!!!

Just another example of a pathetic political opportunist.

Ask her if the (federal) Liberals would lift the oil and gas moratorium on BC' West coast!!!

Ask her for her definition of "sustainability" I am sure it will be similar to the other parties- The Brundtland Commission ,,,, while at the same time economies grow at 5% or some such number..... blah, blah, blah ....

A Mea Culpa
I said earlier that Palmer was on "Peter Newsman"'s CBC show. Its Don Newman's show actually! My apologies. With Kevin Newman at Global and Don Newman at CBC, I got a bit confused....A case of two Newmans and...of Two Duffy's as in yesterday's media blow up between Mike Duffy of CTV and John Duffy, a Liberal strategist.

For Allan,
Personally, Quebec will deny a majority government to any party right now since the Bloc is at the 48-50% support level. Even the Conservatives--at say 20% support can only dream of winning 2 to 6 seats at the most--with the help on the ground of Jean Charest's Liberal Provincial team around Quebec City and the Eastern Townshops. The Bloc is "blocking" a majority government in Canada and their support is solid in La Belle Province unlike the Liberals or even the more recent CPC surge. However if Harper does go beyond 155 seats--Majority Territory--then I owe you and Rafe an even bigger Mea Culpa.
Hill and Knowlton's prediction site seems to predict a Majority Tory Government at present below based on the recent polls but I have serious doubts. http://predictor.hillandknowlton.ca/

Polls should be banished!

I thought an individual had a right to a secret ballot!

Are we all sheep and vote according to who is decribed in the lead by a poll?

Another story not previously mentioned here: In 1992, then-Premier Mike Harcourt and Washington Governor Booth Gardner signed the Environmental Cooperation Agreement, which committed the state and the province to work together on transboundary environmental problems, including Victoria's sewage. In 2003, Joyce Murray, in effect, broke this agreement by approving a Liquid Waste Management Plan put forward by the Capital Regional District. This plan postpones any secondary sewage treatment for Victoria for at least ten years.

Does she ride a bike? That's where the rubber hits the road (pun intended) and is the difference between real environmentalists and poser wannabees.

Joyce Murray will always be remembered as Gordo's wimp-ass "YES SIR" WALLOP Minister who immediately rescinded the moratorium on Grizzly bear trophy hunting and endorsed the bait-killing slaughter of Golden eagles which was front-paged across Canada and around the world. She will never live that down, and reading her website, it's clear that she knows that all too well, taking pains to minimize her close association with Campbell and his Neocon creeps. Joyce Murray is as green as an oil-slick

Trust me...she ain't green. Commentor-ingkhai...here here...!! Several eagles,and countless numbers of wolves and cougars were killed in an ineffective and unethical effort to recover the endangered V.I. marmot. She and Doug Janz sphereheaded this deplorable and unforgetable act. Your right ingkhai...she will never live this down and the world will never forget this black mark on the government, logging companies, hunting groups, and the marmot recovery program itself...If I were her, I would spend my life attempting to make up to these animals in some way... Trust me...I would be the first to applaude her efforts...

Stump... when Murray was MLA, she had an office about two blocks from her home which no doubt cut her commuting time. Murray has a lot of support in the community. I suspect that Dawn Black will be a spoiler and Forseth will win a fifth term with less than 35% of the vote.

Stuart: put aside your bigotry and learn some facts. Like the St Mary's property was owned by the Sisters of Providence, a Catholic order of sisters -- not the government-- and they were the ones who sold the property. It's only right and proper that they got to deal the property too: the Sisters provided the land, the paritioners built the hospital and put 100 years of charitable mission into it.

I'm sorry that the hospital closed but all of its services were moved to other, more modern and suitable facilities.

Martin, I'm surprised you would try to peddle that thing (above), as a statement of fact. It reads more like the offers I get when the call centres start ringing at dinner.

It was the provincial health ministry that ultimately decided St. Mary's would close by eliminating programs at the hospital.

I don't remember the hospital protesting the government's plan despite there being a huge groundswell of local opposition to the closure.

Freebear: you ask what the definition of sustainability is. Maybe this will help you: a sustainable resource, which is a resource in which the environment and the people are both benefitted. hmm.. what Canadian resource benefits the environment, yet gives people jobs? reforestation perhaps? hmm.. who founded the first and number 1 reforestation (treeplanting) company in Canada? oh, thats right, Joyce Murray and her husband Dirk Brinkman (Brinkman and Associates) did by starting out as hippies planting for peanuts. Believe me, this woman is trying to fight to get more green ideas in government.

What have you done for Canada?

Stuart: I'm gonna have to reinforce what Martin said; learn some facts. And what's with that half quote about the hunting article that you 'remember' that doesnt even say what she was directly responding to?

Who are you, Dawn Black's son or something? Its pretty obvious that you have strong NDP ties and you're trying to make Joyce come off as bad as possible, using ill-lit examples and low blows. You're even an amature at it, unlike you're NDP 'mother' who's been practicing using scandals and low-blows to get votes for the last month.

thefrog:

Joyce Murray’s performance for New Westminster residents was unsatisfactory. Joyce Murray does not need a bunch of posters on a blog to make her look bad, she did it on her own.

That being said, I am sure that she is a warm person, who indeed does want to better her community. But is this not a minimal requirement that we hope everyone running for political office has?

As MLA for New Westminster, she did not appear to strongly voice the concerns of residents about the closure of Saint Mary’s. New Westminster has a significant senior population, and the reasons for closing the hospital were never accepted. She needed to stand up and clearly state her position on the closure, but then publicly present to the premier the wishes of the residents. She did not do this, and she satisfied few. I am a New Westminster resident, who was undecided in opinion of the closure and did not feel that my MLA gave me enough information to be properly informed.

As Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection, her record was disgusting, or at the very least, shortsighted. Closing campgrounds in this day and age is ridiculous. Yes, they are not full all year round, but for the summer months, most campgrounds are filled on the weekends. Charging money for provincial park use is also bizarre. Everyday we try to encourage families to get exercise together and develop an appreciation for the environment. Why put in another obstacle, especially for lower income families? Parks and camping are part of our heritage. Do all campgrounds need to be privately owned with showers? Her moves were part of a larger movement to keep the public away from the forests.

As well, her association with Brinkman and Associated (the tree planting company) and being Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection was “uncomfortable” to say the least. Silvicultural companies do not benefit by “protecting” land from forest companies.

Fish farms? Grizzlies? Need we say more?

the frog….. don’t romanticize, open your eyes.

Trees arent going to stop being used no matter what, so by accepting that fact and moving on to help solve the problem is the only option. I think the forest companies should change the way in which they log, since they dont even use 50% of what they clearcut. The other thing we can do in between that huge shift is replant the area so that years down the line they dont have to cut down new areas, or, hopefully (if we ever do change our ways), never end up clear-cutting at all.

You say "Silviculture companies do not benefit by protecting land from forest companies." - The true intention of the idea of reforestation is not to make money, but to reforest, so, it actually would benefit the environmentalists who started the system in the first place and want to protect the land.

And if you're trying to imply that she's the 'associate' of Brinkman & Associates, you're wrong. Her husband is the core-founder of the company, and the Associate is the person he works with to run it, she doesnt work for the company at all or have anything to do with the "Associate" part of the company name. Whatever opinion you come up with is your choice, but i'm just pointing out that fact.

A little clarity might help, thefrog.

In one post above you praise the efforts of the former hippie and her husband as latter-day Johnny(or is that Joyce), Appleseeds.

Then in your next post you suddenly have her completely removed from the same silviculture company that she helped found with some form of unexplained blind trust-me ensuring no cross-over.

So, just to be clear which one of those posts are you speaking of when you state "I'm just pointing out that fact"?

When I interviewed Ms Murray shortly after she became the Liberal version of the Environment Minister I asked her if this meant she would be the "policeman" in the environment. She made it abundantly clear that the answer was no and that her job was to make it easier for industry to do business. Her record supporting the ministers responsible for fish farms in itself ought to disqualify this woman from public office.

Rafe Mair

Here here Rafe...!!

Not only was her record with the "environment" ministry dubious, her record as the 'manager' of government services was equally disturbing.

Some of the largest and odorous government service contracts awarded to private US-based firms were done on her watch. Can anyone say, "Maximus"?

When asked for a list of government service contracts that had been awarded since the BC Liberals took office, Murray promised to provide, but failed to deliver.

Murray's protestations regarding criticisms by those folks with "political motivation", shows that she is still fighting a provincial election campaign in which she personally lost rather than the current federal election.

Her responses also reeks of the typical response one got from her while she was apprenticing under the watchful eyes of Gordon Campbell. Never acknowledging errors, Murray uses the oldest trick in a debators book, denial!

If elected, Murray will continue to kowtow to those who really wield the power despite her personal beliefs.