MORE OF THE BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION !

More of the BC Liberal party government corruption.
The premier and his clown troupe are lucky they live in a civilized society or they would be dealt with accordingly - strung from the nearest trees!

How stupid is Gordon "the Liar" Campbell - we will soon find out. He is ignoring the anger of over 80% of the people and thinks that he can run and hide and let big business fight his battles !!! How dumb thou are Campbell. How did you get your MBA - "green shield stamps" for extended attendance ????

The day of reckoning is in sight and the people of British Columbia have had enough of corruption of the BC Liberal government - VERY POORLY LED by Gordon "the Liar" Campbell.

RECALL IN THE FALL for lying and treacherous cowards.

Thanks - just had to get it off my chest.

Greasy Les Leyne is up to his old tricks again

I can`t believe the Victoria Times Colonist actually pay him to write garbage, I won`t bother with the link, you might as well read the BC Liberals web site.......

Gordon Campbell is unfit to Govern!

http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/2010/08/gordon-campbell-unfit-to-govern.html

Someone is lying

Either George Copely is lying or Stephen Harper is lying...

Read the shocking story here

http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/2010/08/george-copely-or-stephen-harper-is.html

Iwanna Job....Pro HST Group

Iwanna Job asks: "Does anyone have that list of names?"

Laila Yuile provides a complete list of BC Chamber of Commerce members. Part-way down her page you will find web locations for the other Pro HST interveners.

You find her commentary at:
http://lailayuile.wordpress.com

Regarding the Council of Forest Industries, the Mining Association, and Coast Forest Products Association:

Since most revenues for these organizations are generated from foreign sales, virtually no reduction in their prices will benefit BC citizens....not that they have any intention of doing so.

These guys have been very instrumental in exporting both our raw subsidized resources and any associated manufacturing jobs.....decimating many resource communities in the process.

As for the Independent Contractors and Business Association, their illustrious leader has been vigilant in his attempt to eliminate social benefits in this province except those for business.

That's why you have to read the Interpretation Act

It specifies what 'must' means...and Craig James ain't following it. He doesn't get to set the timeline and, as in all things legal, time is, as they say, 'of the essence.'

And that IS a professional opinion.

He's out to lunch...an incompetant time server of a public servant with less than half the sense he was born with - why do you think he got the interim job? Because he's so used to kissing ass.

The BC Liberals don't give a shit about the rule of law; never have; never will: If De Jong were doing his job as Attorney this would NEVER have happened and if it did, he'd have had to step in and prevent it with a writ of Mandamus.

Even Geoff Plant (remember the Crown Counsel kerfuffle?) had enough sense to understand that he is more than just another cabinet minister.

To borrow a phrase from Bill O'Reilly, 'This thing sucks!'

Have you had a nice summer?

I'll take your take on it West

As I certainly won't be reading the Act. Enough on my plate already, you understand.
Your description about "incompetent time server of a public servant" made me laugh. That pretty much sums up my feelings on most politicians.
I agree with your "time is of the essence" in legal matters. That fits right in with my bitch about the judge shutting down the B & V case for two months. What a crock that is. Still drawing his taxpayer funded paycheque no doubt during that extended downtime.
My summers been very busy at work and quiet at home. I've hardly even been able to get worked up at BC Ferries this summer (except for a couple of times) over all the usual things they did that made me see red. The systems running the best I've seen for many years. Honest.
Hope your summers well and Cheers

Happy

Anyone can be a passive member of a union. It's when you are an active member that you maintain democracy. Come to think of, that's what Van der Zalm and the Fight HST people were ...ACTIVE!.

Recall or General Strike

Democracy is virtually dead in BC. It would be great to see it reappear.

Here is the list Iwannajob

I found this website that lists those businesses that are participating in the lawsuit. Go and check it out. It has all their names and inks to their site.

http://standupbc.wordpress.com/democracy/

Our votes are not heard. Well, maybe the way we will spend our money will get the attention. Boycott these businesses with your money - whatever left after paying your taxes. Little things can make a HUGE difference.

Just curious

Does Bill get paid for these articles? I think it's all well and good that he's being an activist, but does this rate as a journalistic conflict of interest?

Just curious Tony

Do Vaughn Palmer, Les Leyne and Bill Good, and host of other Canwest contributors get paid and do their comments rate as journalism?

Bill Your Bi-Line On This Article Should Have Read..

Is Gordon Campbell still fit to govern BC?. I think that everyone would agree that he is not. Lies, corruption and complete incompetence are what we are dealing with here folks and for what gain?, Plain and simple Money and lot's of it. Some of it will be in pensions, job offers after he leaves office and maybe even a promotion to a senate position via Harper and friends. That's one of things the media has missed out on is the Feds involvement and who actually cooked up this offer in the first place. Campbell and company don't care and it shows in almost every ministry they try and run (and run badly it seems). I agree with most of the posters we must recall this idiots to (a) restore some democracy in our province and (b) we have to demand that laws be changed to avoid anything like this ever happening again. I am not opposed to taxation but I am opposed to those who lie and corrupt and already fragile system where a lot of people don't vote. In my view the anti-hst campaign will succeed but over time, by then the Liberals will have been removed from office and we will have had some kind of justice in removing these people. I personally would take it a step further and reduce the pensions etc this gang gets after leaving via recall. If an employee gets terminated for just cause should not the same rules apply with government as well?

Where the hell

Where the hell is our mainstream media on the actions of Craig James, acting buffoon of Elections BC. From what I've been able to find out, none of our supposed illustrious reporters have interviewed him. Vaughn Palmer had some sort of encounter which I believe was in the form of a letter by Mr. James. There was an article on CBC's website about a letter Leonard Krog received from Craig James.

This guy is nothing but a public servant and doesn't have the right to hide behind letters he is happy to write that explain virtually nothing. He is thwarting the will of over 700,000 citizens of BC, and it's time he manned up and faced the public. When someone only issues a statement, they only divulge what they wish, not what is pertinent.

In his letter to Krog he writes that he was approached by the legal counsel representing the business associations to hold off on verifying whether the FightHST Initiative met the requirements of getting enough signatures in all the ridings. Obviously this was an intimidation tactic that he fended off. He also states that he got legal advice that he should not present the successful initiative to the standing committee until the courts ruled on business challenge. The question is, whose legal counsel did he get this information from?

The other thing that caught my eye in his letter to Krog was that he praised Krog for being respectful in his query, while many others were being rude and obnoxious, or words to that effect. What did he expect, flowers and chocolates? This guy pokes his finger in the eyes of 700,000+ BCers and still has the gall to demand respect. What a joke.

And finally, I won't accept the MSM's line that they cannot get an interview with Craig James until I see a clip on a news broadcast showing some reporter actually attempting to interview him.

Democracy?? What democracy??

Okay. I "HAVE" to jump in here.
The BC Liberals and the BC NDP are together in bed on this one.
The BC NDP crafted the law and no NDP government after Harcourt's would fiddle with it.
Gordon Campbell promised in 2001 to fix it. Apparently he... forgot.
NEITHER of the two parties want YOU telling THEM what THEY are going to do or not do.
And the BC Conservatives and the BC Green Party is in that same bed.
Kinda reminds me of the movie "Bob,Carol,Ted and Alice." Four parties all in bed, lusting for power so that they can afflict BC with THEIR agendas.

This is where BC Refederation is DIFFERENT. We believe the PEOPLE should CONTROL politicians. Let the politicians run the day to day affairs of the province, but where public concern rises high enough, THE PUBLIC, THE PEOPLE can force a binding referendum on the government.
Is this such a hard concept to grasp?? What is wrong with telling your politicians what to do???
Which other party gives you the FINAL word on anything they do?

Respectful???

Respectful???
Craig James is a public servant - he's charged with running elections BC according to the law – the legislation that spells out the rules and the way they are meant to run.

He has, purposely, hidden behind an old man’s pathetic suggestion that his position entitles him to ‘respect’.
This is bull shit. Respect is earned, not doled out like pabulum.
Respect has bugger all to do with it - he's spent his career as a public servant kowtowing to politicians in the committee room - why do you think he got the interim appointment?
He has no respect for the rule of law. And that’s a far more important principle.

Real Democracy Does Not Exist

And the PUBLIC is to blame, not the characters who play their roles as politicians.
There is this notion that different 'groups' have the magic bullet, and if we just vote for them, everything will be just fine.
That is all just smoke and mirrors to let us think we have a say in how we are governed. The fact is none of the parties know what they heck they are doing.
2008 has made it strikingly obvious that we, the incompetent, have chosen from our numbers, incompetents to rule over us.
The cold hard truth is, that all governments have been buying our vote with our money, now having spent that they are using our grand kids money and on it goes.
Wake UP! We are all headed for the ditch and WE are the ones driving.

And he's a chicken,

Imagine only releasing the results of the petition in a letter to Vander Zalm? No press release, no press conference. The first successful Initiative in the history of BC and Canada and it rates only a letter to the proponent? Coward....

G West: Resident Legal Expert

It's one thing to read a piece of legislation, and it's quite another to interpret it in a given case or context. G West misses this distinction in rambling on about how clear the statute is.

There's always going to be some degree of discretion in the interpretation of a law. Craig James has exercised his discretion, and because it doesn't suit your ideological bent, James is therefore declared a lackey of Campbell and big business. The always amusing irony in issues involving discretion and interpretation of the law is that when it goes G West's way or Tieleman's way, the guy/gal responsible for the decision is suddenly a hero, a saint of the people, law be damned!

I actually agree with Krog and others, whose sober interpretation of the law leads to a conclusion that James made a mistake. However....

Here's the thing about this particular law. There are various timelines related to when the petition must be submitted, and there are various time limits set out for the process after it gets to committee. But the statute doesn't refer to any time limits for submitting the petition to the committee, only that the chief electoral officer must submit it to the committee.

Technically, James' discretion is therefore legal. Is it ethically right? Is it within the spirit of the law? Maybe these are the more apt questions that needs to be asked.

James is a long-time clerk of the house, well respected on both sides, and I believe as a recent appointee to a role he's not familiar with, he's in a bit over his head on this one. But to suggest that he's part of some conspiracy involving the Premier and big business, that's just BS hyperbole.

I disagree

The relevant section of the Act and the terms of the Interpretation Act are quite clear. I posted them to another Tyee story earlier for anyone who cares to look - otherwise, you can find the relevant material yourself at http://www.qplegaleze.ca/default.htm.

The word "must" does not grant discretion and James, a timid man who is clearly out of his depth in this job, has screwed up big time.

The Attorney General knows it but he doesn't have the beans to do what he ought to do - apply for a writ of mandamus to force James to do the job he's clearly incompetent at performing.

Instead of doing it he whines about not being treated with respect!

Respect is earnied, not doled out like candy at Christmas time.

As for his previoue job experience, I suggest readers make a point to spend some time listening to what goes on at committee - like sausage making, it is not a pretty sight.

He's just another example of someone caught by the Peter Principle and a further example of the 'disrspect' this government has for the electorate and the rule of law.

If James doens't like the heat he has the ability to resign - taking a job you haven't got the knowledge to do is hardly an excuse for someone in his position.

Oh!

And all this time I thougt it was the unions, activists and do gooders that were de-railing the province! (sarcasm)

Respect is earnied, not doled out like candy at Christmas time.

Not like MLA wages and perks - always for a job about to be well done!

Arggh!

"Earnied" - sheesh.

My apologies. That's EARNED.

RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS

The founding fathers of the U.S. enshrined in their constitution "the right to bear arms". This basic "right" was put in place so that, should the government become too powerful the citizens could shoot their politicians and regain control of their country. Do we now know, the urgent need for a long gun registry?

The lawyers seem to run everything, and the judges, went to the same school. We should have elected judges, (lay people) who could hold these legal parasites in contempt of justice. Judges who are capable of making actual decisions without relying on "precedent law". We know that the Government appointed judge will rule for the government as precedent has been set and the lawyers will argue so.

A Few Names...

I'm sure this will get nuked by a Tyee moderator, but just for fun, I thought I'd dig a bit to discover just a few of the organizations who're (heh) ostensibly responsible for the impasse in getting the HST rescinded - as per the overwhelming response of the citizens of BC.

As far as I can tell, each of these individuals (with the exception of Mr. Hoskins to the best of my knowledge) have their own privately held companies - which rely upon the good will and the application of "good faith" in their communities to provide them with the means of their existence.

I personally do not believe these companies or their owners are acting under the auspices of either and that they are effectively the "middle men" who will see *their* costs go down, while the price to the citizens (and their customers)of this province they serve will remain the same; or more likely, go higher.
We're at 6 weeks since this tax has been implemented - have these owners passed on any savings to their customers - as promised?

I suggest all good citizens of BC give these folks a call and (ahem) "give 'em the business".

Kurt Krampl is Chair of Independent Contractors and Businesses Association - and co-founded Airstream Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. of West 4th Avenue in Vancouver. Theoretically, you can de-heat yourself by calling them at 604-436-0099, or faxing them at 604-454-9103.

Mike Watson is Chair of the BC Chamber of Commerce and President of Ignite Management Services, which operates out of 986 Frederick Place in North Vancouver. If you're looking to enable team-honed core competencies to leverage mission-critical projects, Mr. Watsons company can be reached by phone at 604-551-9252.

Wayne Hoskins is President of the Western Convenience Stores Association, which represents such corporate stalwarts such as Mac's, Petro-Can, Canadian Tire and 7-11. (All of whom will surely be lowering prices to accommodate the "savings" we've been promised!) If you're looking to mop up a mess in aisle 3, Mr. Hoskins makes himself available at 778-960-2538 via phone and is faxable through 778-294-1050.

Better yet, why not address your concerns over the HST to the management in those retail outlets directly - since it is they who stand to "pass along the savings".

For more information on taking your concerns over the HST to these companies, I suggest looking at...
http://bit.ly/cqHlIK

and hey - I gave it a try...

You Don't Need Government to Have a Referendum

The Anti-Hst crowd is quickly losing the initiative here. People move on to other things, people forget, people are influenced by well financed advertising campaigns. So now is the time for Mr Vanderzalm to get up and say, 'So this government is afraid to present the anti-hst petition to the legislature. So this government is afraid to put the HST question to a referendum? Fine, we will have a people's referendum. We will ask three questions only and anyone who is eligle to vote provincially will also be eligible to vote in this, the People's Referendum. We will ask three questions in plain English:
1. Do you believe that the BC government should be allowed to bring in the HST tax just two months after they were elected on a platform not to bring it in?

2. If you had the power to vote on whether the HST should be kept or thrown out, how would you vote? Yes, keep it ___ No, throw it out ____

3. If the Government of BC ignored the wishes of the BC People and went ahead with the HST despite it's unpopularity, would you be willing to vote for the recall of the politicians who went against the wishes of the people who voted them into office?

Those are nice easy questions, the volunteers are already in place to have this referendum (non-binding, but very potent) and after a sucessful referendum, how can the Government of BC still claim to represent us if they don't throw out the HST? Give them this opportunity to see the error of their ways. Keep the focus of the referendum on the one issure on which probably 80 to 90 percent of the BC People are agreed. Give the Liberal government the courtesy of a one week time frame in which to respond to the referendum by stating unequivically that the HST is history. Then start the recall campaign. Merry Christmas! The Liberals have decided not to tax you an extra grand or so after all!

Neoliberalismo

at the core of neoliberalism is the idea that working people must shoulder the entire tax burden - the super rich, and corporations get a free ride.

this is class warfare folks -- it started in earnest back in the 80's with Brain Mulroney - NAFTA, SPP, TILMA, deregulation ad nauseam...

so while i applaud the efforts of those in the anti HST crusade -- it's probably too little, too late. the business dicks have pretty much won the class war most Canadians never even knew was being fought against them.