@GJW

Thats where you are apparently confused,IPPs don`t contribute to public coffers,they(The IPPs) will be a huge net drain on BC tax-payers.....

Except for short term temporary construction they will suck money out,not,I repeat contribute to BCs bottom line.........
There are 2 arguments here,one is the ignored accumaltive enviromental damage of these projects,the second is,why wouldn`t we have BC Hydro(if we were to do them) do these projects,the technology is simple.........

You are obviously new to this argument,We (Campbell) has agreed to pay 3 to 5 times the price for this power than the current market will bear and 3 to 5 times the cost that BC Hydro could produce the power for.
No one gave Campbell a mandate to sell rivers and.......
There is over-riding NAFTA implications involved here.......
Basically under NAFTA (which supercedes the charter and or provincial jurisdiction)once we supply a service involving power/water/utilities etc it will be illegal to stop the service......

I suggest you read Rafe Mair archives or John Calvert`s book :Liquid gold:

But essentialy as it stands now,the private power will be sold to the USA for less money then we BCers will be paying for it.......

So GJW,you will be sudsidizing corporate profits and subsidizing the US electric consumer......

As a result BC Hydro won`t make any money anymore and eventually go bankrupt,the Goverment will sell it and we will no longer have control of our rivers,our power and eventually we will be power power rates the likes of which would be unheard of.........
I suggest a little research before you make your "Carte Blanche" statements.

To "working schmuck".

You wouldn't have to worry about "watching our taxes climb so we can pay your health care bills" if you remembered that this is the government that gave massive tax breaks to business and the wealthy upon taking office. You might remember that all th folks that got the breaks didn't manage to head of the economic meltdown which followed. That economic boom was to be sustained through the same policies that got us here. Well don't blame those wo worked and paid just like you. One "working schmuck crapping on those who once were working schmuck at the short end of the stick are not to blame. Worn out useless right -wing dogma might be a place to start looking. Selling off rivers for resource pimps to make fortunes selling to us might also be a place to start.

Recall

Don't hold your breath.

Recall can't even start for 18 months after an election...only one MLA ever came clost to being recalled...and it's important to remember that it was a BCLIBERAL member who would have been recalled - except he resigned before the hammer could fall.
Please also note 'why' he was recalled - for writing phony letters to the media...ring a bell for anyone, given the 'email' scandal washing over the current bunch in Campbell's cabinet?

from a CBC story in 1998... "British Columbia MLA Paul Reitsma has finally called it quits, just as recall campaigners were claiming victory."

"Reitsma has managed to avoid becoming the first politician in the Commonwealth to be recalled."

"In a written statement Tuesday, Reitsma said he has submitted his resignation. He said it was a privilege to serve the public for 15 years."

"Reitsma was forced to admit he had written a series of letter(s) to newspaper editors and political opponents under phoney names."

"Voters in Parksville-Qualicum were not in a forgiving mood. A recall campaign swept through the riding. They needed 17,000 signatures on their petitions. ...they submitted 25,000 names to Elections B.C"

Environmental Assessment (Impact)

I can't believe they think they can get away with this.

RE: REcall

"Recall can't even start for 18 months after an election"

I'm sure a petition could start now.

At The End of the Day, The LIEbs and NDP are ALL CROOKS!

The LIEberals and their phony e-mails.

The NDP and their phony memos. Remember the phony memo of Adrian Dix to cover up for Glen Clark?

They are all CROOKS!

We need to get rid of them pronto. Shite out all of the BC MLAs permanently!

Even NDP MLA Bob Simpson questions if the NDP can be fixed:

"“I'm aware of the rumblings of ‘Is it time for a Vision B.C.?' ” said NDP MLA Bob Simpson. It is born, he said, out of questions about whether the NDP can be fixed"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/vision-vancouver-mulls-move-toprovincialstage/article1231843/

Everybody, I mean everybody, here must join Vision BC.

Save BC! Viva la Vision BC!

I can't believe they think they can get away with this.

I believe the only way that could be prevented was if we were to interpret the laws that govern the economy as the same laws we all have to be equal in front of according to the constitution. There are no inviolable property rights set out in the consitution, so in fact, if economic decisions created gross inequality among Canadians, I believe the constitution could be be brought in to prevent such economic decisisons, even to the point of interfering with the property rights we are inferring wihtout question, every time this comes up. In this case, a few people of our elected crowd are appropriating shared property and making poor deals with it on behalf of all Canadians. They were never given a mandate to set themselves up in business this way, to sell off our assets for good. They were only authorized to collect taxes so as to run the services we all need. We either have a national state with meaningful boundaries, where decisions are made by Canadians in common and by nobody who is not a canadian, or we don't. Maybe this is the time to call the question: Is this a banana republic, or isn't it? If this is not a country, not a state, then citizenship in it is meaningless, and we could serve a class-action on our government for selling us a packaghe of false goods, a counterfeit country and phony citizenships. I am waiting to hear from someone in a position of trust on the national level on this.

Meggsy

Nope.

The rules surrounding petitions are specific too...a petition can only be approved upon application and after the 18 month period has expired - the petitioner then has 60 days from the date the petition permit is issued to collect the signatures of at least 40% of the registered voters on the list in the subject constituency at the time of the most recent provincial general election.

If all this is done properly the chief electoral officer then has 42 days to 'verify' the signatures on the petition - if the 40% threshold holds there will be a bye-election within 90 days of the chief electoral officer completing the verification process - btw, a recalled member CAN run for re-election if he or she so wishes.

Isn’t democracy fun?

G West

"The rules surrounding petitions are specific too...a petition can only be approved upon application and after the 18 month period has expired - the petitioner then has 60 days from the date the petition permit is issued to collect the signatures of at least 40% of the registered voters on the list in the subject constituency at the time of the most recent provincial general election."

ok, I can see that - but there is a loophole in everything, the Liberal's have proven so, even those who get no jail time after undergoing court proceedings and being sentenced for only "one more daY.

so, where's the loophole regarding the petition , would it be technology? can I make an application and get my 30, 000 + signatures in 3 days online?

Nope.

The petition has to be signed by real people; their addresses and signatures are subject to verification and comparison with the voters' list...and that's why, mutatis mutandis, no one has ever been recalled in this province - and, in all likelihood, never will be....sorry.

The best one can do, in my view and given the current rules, is embarrass an MLA or a cabinet minister or, in the case of the CEO, the premier.

YES

"The petition has to be signed by real people; their addresses and signatures are subject to verification and comparison with the voters' list.."

so, a campaign online can start now.

YES

"The petition has to be signed by real people; their addresses and signatures are subject to verification and comparison with the voters' list.."

so, a campaign online can start now.

strange

it post twice :)

If we really knew

DR. PHIL says if the mouth is moving they are telling lies. What would the voters do if they knew the real truth? Or how much of a mess gordo has really made?? Would we sitting here writing these comments or would everyone that is able be standing on the lawn of the parliment buildings demanding those who made the mess fix it out of their own pockets.

Gwest

Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding re the Columbia River Treaty is that the Yanks paid (in installments) for the dams so that they could hold water back during high flow times. Then it is released during low flow times, allowing it to re-used for power generation as it sequentially flows through the six (?) US generating facilities.

I understand there's been changes over time re the buying and selling of power.

Since this is so central to the BC Hydro goings-on, and there seems to be a lack of information - if not disinformation - on it, I think the Tyee should do an aticle on the Treaty.

Re-call legislation - YES!

I find it hard to forgive Rafe Mair for his relentless commentary on Harcourt; however, he is someone others listen to and he is on the side of keeping 'watch' on Campbell. Keep it up, Rafe!

However, if there is a time for recall legislation action, it is now. The BC rail scandal will not go away! Let's make it the center piece for recalling our leader.

On the topic of voting with a conscience, let's be realistic, people examine their dollar before checking their conscience; unfortunately! That's why the present government 'nickels and dimes' the disenfranchised: poor, aged, marginalized women, etc. These groups rely on us to protect them with our vote. Not enough of us remember that on voting day!

No Meggsy

The campaign cannot start until 18 months have elapsed from the date of the May 12, 2009 election. That's the rule.

One can organize and proselytize all one likes online but the petition permit can't be applied for until the 18 month mark. Thereafter when and if the permit is approved the 60 day period to get the petitions signed in ink with addresses and signatures begins...and all the rest, as I explained above.

ME2

My recollection is similar...I agree that the current state of those contracts would be suitable for a revisit..

There will be no recall. BC

There will be no recall. BC Voters have extremely short memories..remember the uproar over the carbon tax last year? Never seems to hurt Gordo.

Until the right is split, we will have the Conservatives who are former BC Reform and Social Credit masquerading as Liberals for a very long time.

The NDP can not and never has won in BC unless the right was split. Only 3 times we have had a non right wing gov since the mid 40's...

It also does not help Ms. James is staying on as she is clearly un electable. The libs will have a new leader for 2013 and win again.

As well the main stream media in BC is so bias for the Libs anyway the people never hear the truth..

The Albertification of BC by Oily-garchs

My sympathies on the recent demise of your grandfather Democracy after a long painful wasting disease while battling energy addictions.

In lieu of flowers, convivially engage in the company of family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.

'For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
 The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
 The pangs of despis'd love, the law's delay,
 The insolence of office, and the spurns that patient merit of the unworthy takes ...?'
Hamlet

gone

gone are some 100,000(?)jobs, schools, social sevices, truth, honeesty, medical services,voters confidence, BC rail sold using lies, now libraries are going too. Our natural resources and the jobs -gone. More taxes so more pay check is gone. its a long list.

ruling proves excess energy production

" The ruling could call into question the viability of the B.C. government's policy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 33 per cent below 2007 levels by 2020. That promise, and a long term goal of an 80 per cent reduction by 2050, was put into law last year with passage of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act."
...
"For years the opposition NDP has questioned the Campbell government's energy plan, claiming independent hydro projects that harness some of the province's rivers – known as run of river projects – pose hazards to the environment, and sports fisheries.

The ruling delivered a quick blow to independent power producers (IPPs), with shares for Plutonic Power Corp. plunging about 24 per cent yesterday, falling $1.00 to $3.08."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/green-premiers-agenda-hits-snag-as-energy-plan-rejected/article1234352/

Power?

Power is about controlling resources.
Whoever owns the 'run of the river' controls the H2O. When we get reactors producing Hydrogen, oil and hydroelectric will be relegated to the history books as the natural disasters that they truly are but the water will remain owned by something other than 'us'.
Corporations now own or are eyeing remaining resources, and few are outside their reach. Its evolutionary, they are the new empires and will and in some cases do replace nation states. This fact does guarantee change. I think we can safely say farewell to the illusions that our borders provide and assume LIB & NDP or whomsoever will usher in this era with enthusiasm.
If and indeed when 'we' lose the control of our fresh water at the source the 'we' we refer to will not exist. I didn’t like the last changes to our anthem anyway.

Attorney General is a Joke

Campbell was under fire for implementing the dirty rail deal as Basi & Virk finger Campbell and now the evidence their lawyers asked for in 2003 has been knowingly destroyed. Why has it taken so long to get this far as government was fully aware it's leader was under fire for wrong doing. Surely the legal system in BC can't be this slow as it is as it didn't even exist when it comes to Liberal Government.

There are no excuses for accidental deleted emails as the entire legal system in this province is a "Joke" along with Campbell's dictatorship and his various Ministers of Corruption.

Mr. Campbell needs to step down and a full blown investigation needs to be implemented as there is no accidental deleting evidence when legal profession requestioned the deleted emails years back.

Deliberately holding up the case and then the deleted evidence is just conformation that the low down Liberals will do anything illegal to further incriminate Campbell and his party. I wonder why the emails talked about as I'm certain the rail deal isn't the only dirty deal that went down as always felt Rave deal was no better.

Maybe the Feds can loosen up a little cash for the RCMP so they can further investigate government as Martin's government held the pursue strings to the investigation and now there is Harper.

Just that it has taken this long to get this far is proof the Liberals and Feds are dilberating obstructing justice. And how much more proof do we need as this is truly unbelievable Campbell is still in office and that the evidence wasn't handed over years ago.

Just thing if you were a rich investor just get your self voted in and when you go ripp off billions you never let it get to court? And these guys thought they were so smart and here Campbell is the one holding all the cards, justice that is.

And Pointer

22% of the population voted for Campbell but if I have it right its the top 30% that hold the majority of cash. So apparently the haves aren't buying into the Liberals agenda as more and more big earners find themselves watching their bottom drop out. As was just talking with my sister who has just sold her home and lost several hundred thousand as she calls it bubble burst as we laughed of the rumor of recovered economy as banks pick up the new reduced mortgages as home owners pay the price.

So is it a big turn on for the rich having a premier who people don't trust? How can the rich trust the premier not to stick it to them? If anything the numbers show even the haves, have had enough of the Liberals dirty dealing and the high risks and broken promises.

More trouble ahead for the Hypocrite, as Campbell gets in office by exposing the NDP of wrong doing and promises accountability and transparency and if that isn't unbelievable I don't know what is.

The minute Campbell's Government Aids were arrested and implicated BC's Premier in the dirty deal is when the Gordon should have stepped down and a full investigation should have been implemented until premier cleared of any wrong doing. As Coleman tips off Liberals and vital evidence implicating Campbell and Ministers is left out along with others implicated in rail deal.

Instead British Colombians are left wondering where the evidence went 6 years later when the real questions are where did Justice go, all questions the judge should be asking. Because if that isn't a crime I don't know what is as its a Justice System gone Wrong.

And what has this got to do with the environment, rivers and streams and everything as the government isn't to be trusted with something so precious as its not like cash where you can suck up the loses as there is no saving up for better days as there is no return on contaminated rivers and a polluted environment.