Opinion

Come Clean, Premier Campbell

HST questions for BC Liberals after censored documents released draw unbelievable answers.

By Bill Tieleman, 7 Sep 2010, TheTyee.ca

campell-hansen-hst.jpg

Premier Campbell and Finance Minister Hansen rolling out the HST.

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"Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix." -- Harry Truman, U.S. president 1945-53

The B.C. Liberal government has got a secret.

Actually, many secrets -- all of them about who knew what and when regarding the sudden imposition of the Harmonized Sales Tax on July 23, 2009 -- just two months after a provincial election when the B.C. Liberals strongly denied the HST was being considered.

As of last week -- thanks only to Freedom of Information requests filed by the Victoria press gallery that took over a year to obtain -- we now do know that B.C. Finance Minister Colin Hansen received a lengthy briefing note on the HST on March 12, 2009 that said the HST could lead to five years of higher unemployment and lower economic growth.

Yet Hansen and Premier Gordon Campbell said in July 2009 that the HST was "The single biggest thing we can do to improve B.C.'s economy."

And we know that three senior staff in the Public Affairs Bureau -- the government's highly politicized communications branch -- were copied on a March 25 email between four finance ministry staff about the possibility that B.C. would get questions about the HST after it was reported that Ontario would implement its own HST.

"We have prepared a note for the minister on this," the email that was sent to PAB officers Rena Kendall-Craden, Gordon Keast and Sherri Patterson states.

But there's far more we don't yet know -- thanks to the government censoring key parts of the FOI dozens of times.

Truth blanked out

One censored email dated March 18, 2009 -- before the Ontario HST announcement -- was sent by Glen Armstrong, the then-acting assistant deputy minister of finance, to Doug Foster, finance's director of strategic initiatives.

"Doug, we have a BN [briefing note] with the Minister on harmonization." Then a section is blanked out, followed by: "I'd like an update from you on what you know so we can send up some supplementary information. It's an important piece."

Other subsequent emails between Armstrong and Foster are completely blanked out by the government as allegedly privileged information.

Then, after the Ontario HST announcement, comes a March 27, 2009 email from Armstrong to finance ministry tax policy advisor Paul Flanagan:

"We will have to update the BN for the Minister based on the MOU [Ontario-federal memorandum of understanding]. We should think about any questions/clarifications we have for the feds re: new rules so we can provide an update next week."

Once again a section that appears eight lines or longer is blanked out.

Then on April 6, 2009 Armstrong sends another email on the subject of "harmonization" to three finance staff -- but an opening section of up to 10 lines is censored, followed by: "Can you pull something together for discussion after my holiday?"

Other emails released by FOI show correspondence back and forth with federal finance officials in Ottawa about HST details before the election.

Censors' sorry excuses

Government staff censoring the documents cited three sections of the FOI Act for not releasing full details.

Those sections which allow withholding information are:

"Section 13: Policy advice or recommendations

"Section 16: Disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations or negotiations

"Section 17: Disclosure harmful to the financial or economic interests of a public body"

Given that the HST has already been imposed, there's no reason to censor the documents -- and Campbell and Hansen could release the information immediately, if they wanted to.

It's obvious they won't -- unless forced to by public pressure -- because it will only make them even less convincing in their already tattered HST tale.

Hansen on the record


And the now-released HST emails sent prior to the election show that Hansen clearly misled the B.C. legislature and public when he answered questions from NDP opposition finance critic Bruce Ralston in finance ministry estimates debate on Nov. 23, 2009.

Ralston asks: "There was no discussion either by the minister or his officials of the implementation of an HST. Is that the minister's position then?"

Hansen: "That is correct."

Ralston even goes further, giving Hansen another chance to clarify.

Ralston: "I understand that the minister has made his position very clear -- no discussion with any of his officials, no public comment, no decision taken between January and May. Was there any discussion at any point with the premier about Ontario and its implementation of the HST, the investment climate and the reasons why British Columbia might want to reconsider its position?"

Hansen: "No."

Ralston: "And by discussion, I mean personal contact, face-to-face, or any exchange of memos at the deputy minister level or through the email network or anything. There's simply no discussion at any level between the minister of finance, his officials and the premier and his office and his officials about the HST between January, when it was first raised publicly in Ontario, and the end of May. Is that the minister's position?"

Hansen: "That is correct."

No, it was not.

Several finance ministry officials -- possibly some sitting beside Hansen to provide answers -- and several PAB staff all knew that wasn't true.

And the only way voters ever found out was through much-delayed FOI requests -- at no point did Hansen come forward after that debate to correct the public record.

End the cover-up

Hansen continues to insist he wasn't aware of any HST discussion prior to the election -- that he doesn't recall reading the HST briefing note staff prepared for him.

Unbelievable.

What's more, when the Freedom of Information and Privacy Association and the NDP filed separate FOI requests to obtain any finance ministry discussions about the HST prior to the election they were both told there were "no responsive records" to release.

Again, now we know otherwise and both FIPA and the NDP have filed complaints with the Freedom of Information Commissioner.

When it comes to covering up the true story of how the HST was imposed, the B.C. Liberal government is now left wearing a fig leaf in a hurricane.  [Tyee]

28  Comments:

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  • G West

    1 year ago

    Hansen and Campbell

    Lying is second nature for these Katzenjammer Kids - either that or they aren't sufficently competent to run a peanut stand.

    Take your pick.

    No wonder Campbell's gone to ground. He'll no doubt let Hansen twist in the wind as long as he can as he searches desperately for a way to get out from under this mess.

    Is there no one else in caucus with the intestinal fortitude of Blair Lekstrom?

  • Camero409

    1 year ago

    RESIGN

    The whole caucus should resign. They have all been in on the lies since the famous 2001 election promise "We will not sell BC Rai" and other lies. None have any ethics or moral standards. They march to the Free Enterprise/Commuinist drum. No Guts any of them and I include Lekstrom. He's just saving his ass for the the run of the LIbERal leadership.

  • Camero409

    1 year ago

    Sorry meant "We will not sell BC Rail"

    Mean't to say "We will not sell BC Rail".

  • demotto

    1 year ago

    Criminal charges

    Criminal charges must be laid against Campbell and Hansen under Section 181 of the Criminal Code which states "Every one who willfully publishes a statement, tale or news that he knows is false and causes or is likely to cause injury or mischief to a public interest is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years."

  • jim1966

    1 year ago

    Campbell And Co.

    They just don't care, nope they don't. They don't care about truth, respect and most of all they care even less for dignity. Most people are disgusted with this government and some are eagerly awaiting the beginning of the recall campaign in mid November. Sad and pathetic is I can think of when I think of the BC Liberals. Just as an add on almost 1 million people in BC are either struggling or living in some sort of poverty, do you think that Campbell and Co even care?, I don't. Last time I looked government worked and represented the people that voted for them, Campbell and Co seem to have the deluision that they are somehow above this repsonsibilty, this is where they made their biggest blunder, arrogance and decpetion are the only methods this government has ever used and will continue to do so if we allow them to. Just a thought.....

  • Fiat lux

    1 year ago

    The Campbell gang is under

    The Campbell gang is under orders by the owners of their and the federal fascists, I mean conservatives, to sell off as much as possible of the country, to our "wealth creating foreign investors" and their domestic members.

    Why does anybody think Campbell was invited to the ultra secret meeting of the international gangsters, the Bilderbergers ?

    This whole racket has been in the plans for 30 or more years, since the present criminal economic theory was forced on humanity, combined with deregulated money creation from the air to take control of the Earth.

    Campbell will resign as leader in Nov, the new leader, to be elected some time next year, has most likely been decided by the owners of the party. The blackmail against the public, by the corporate mafia , threatening all kinds of dire consequences if they elect an NDP government, has already started, e.g, in the Black Press papers, the party may even change its name to come back and win in 2013.

    These gangsters are not amateurs and know exactly what and how to do.

    Ed Deak.

  • offended

    1 year ago

    Get rid of fixed election dates

    Fixed election dates turn a government into a dictatorship; there is no recourse to throw the bums out, efficiently, before the end of their termed mandate.

    The Liberals count on this.

    Will the NDP get rid of fixed election dates?

  • Skywalker

    1 year ago

    All so very predictable.

    I really doubt there is anyone in this bunch of Campbell rogues who is worth keeping. We'll see where the next chink in the Campbell armor appears. If the mainstream media tries to protect and preserve this bunch of rogues then they too will suffer the consequences. Few people put any faith in the MSM so it won't take much more for them to write off Canwest and Global and their little minions.

  • lynn

    1 year ago

    Criminal charges for criminals

    "I really doubt there is anyone in this bunch of Campbell rogues who is worth keeping."

    Not a one, Skywalker...and that goes for the MSM's "news for dummies" crew as well.

    And demotto, right on and good call!

  • vikanadian

    1 year ago

    our provincial liberals are the proverbial scum of the Earth

    they know the drill. deny deny deny. hansen is absolutely repulsive. he doesnt remember reading the HST briefing?! that is a complete mountain range of horse shit and everyone knows it. i really hope that all of the information currently censored is made public. its reprehensible that these pigfuckers are getting away with this blatant mockery of the system.

  • Van Isle

    1 year ago

    I can see and hear it now,

    I can see and hear it now, the BS machine will geared up to crank-out on how wonderful Hansen and Campbell have been for the BC economy, and "now they'll have to resign for the good of the Province and it's future" or something to that effect. Hang on to your hat folks, the excrement will free-flowing out of the bowels of PAB and the Liberal machine. Of course the mass-media will repeat what they're told to say too'

  • mariner

    1 year ago

    New Government to replace the disgraced, dishonest BC Liberals

    New government to replace the BC Liberals is the way to go.

    To avoided a majority government would be a big improvement - a coalition which includes both independent MLA's, Green and any other party that just happens to get sufficient votes to field MLA's. It would be a slower pace of progress, but the work done wouldn't be done for the big businesses or a "particular party" - but more for the good of british columbia.

    Now is the time to put an end to the greedy, selfish ways of big businesses. The (businesses) enjoy the privileges and and services of British columbia and as such, should PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF INCOME TAX. If they don't want to pay tax then stop them from the privilege of doing business in BC. Start our own Bank of british columbia, patronize the Credit Unions more, support the local small businesses.

    Time for serious change in British Columbia - we need the toady, two faced, lying, dishonest greedy SOB's BC Liberals out - ASAP.

    Thank you

  • Fiat lux

    1 year ago

    You can't get rid of the

    You can't get rid of the real governmen, behind the phony governments like the BCLibs and the Harper CRAPP, as long as the criminal theory of neoclassical market economics is being taught exclusively in our universities.

    All past empires and dictatorships have been built on religious theories and the present economic system, the glorification of the biggest crooks and their power based on imaginary money, is just another religion.

    Campbell, Harper et al, are getting their scriptural justifications for the legalization of crimes from and through outfits like the Fraser Institute, demanding the sale of all public properties and no taxation on big business.Campbell cut some $4. billion from business taxes in his first week in office and has been selling off BC ever since on their orders.

    Ed Deak.

  • notdarkyet

    1 year ago

    Seriously

    For the most part I am an NDP supporter so of course there is some bias here.

    But I don't think I have ever been angrier at a government.

    This is not policy decisions that we can oppose or support. This has to do with the very heart of our democratic system.

    They lied about BC Rail. They lied about ripping up contracts. They lied about the HST.

    Policy decisions can come and go. Taxes can rise and fall and rise and rise. We get that.

    But this government is deceitful. And arrogant. And in the back pocket of big business.

    When workers call for a general strike you would think war has been declared. Big business shuts down (their form of general strike) and not a whimper.

    It makes me sick.

    And what scares me more is that our apathetic electorate will allow this group of outlaws in again.

  • johnny saigon

    1 year ago

    DELETED FOR LEGAL CONCERNS

    EDITED. CONTAINED ACCUSATIONS NOT VERIFIED BY TYEE OR OTHER MEDIA SOURCES. -- TYEE EDITOR

  • morechatter

    1 year ago

    Deny, Deny, Deny

    It is getting a little boring and can hardly wait for things to move on, like where the province is headed say in the next fifty or so years. Especially if folks keep living in denial about things that could go wrong. It can't be much of a surprise that Campbell is on the wrong end and is soon going to leave the party in disgrace especially to Tyee readers it should rather be "I told you so" and "Right on instead". I'm waiting in eager antiscipation for Mr. Teilman's take on BC Rail as it is a story that still stays untold and like the never ending story it is the court case with no end.

  • CanadianLatitude

    1 year ago

    Will the NDP get rid of

    Will the NDP get rid of fixed election dates?
    ==========

    Until they have a leadership change we won't have to worry about this as they will never get elected.

  • morechatter

    1 year ago

    Liberals dazzle voters

    Hanson should wear plenty of deodorant under that bear suit so no one knows your sweating it. But if some catch on and all else fells deny, deny, deny. It works like a charm until someone puts freedom of info to the test and finds liberal finance minister and premier were not telling like it is. It will just continue on as the Liberals can't dazzle you with their brilliance they will dazzle you with their lies.

  • Cool Hand

    1 year ago

    Johnny Ho Chi Minh City

    EDITED FOR LEGAL CONCERNS -- TYEE MODERATOR

    Hell, I can do better than that. I have just found tangible evidence from the Ministry of Finance website confirming that at least $30 billion, yes that's BILLION, was also made payable to the Minister of Finance in the past fiscal year.

    Kickback city. That's gotta be the news story of the year!

    PS. Must be another full moon out tonight. :D

  • samuidave (not verified)

    1 year ago

    As far as I am concerned

    anyone who supports Campbell is an enemy of BC. Elect me and I will see this regime is hauled before the criminal courts within 180 days. That is to start. ;)

  • crankypants

    1 year ago

    Liberal disease

    It appears that many of the people associated with the BC Liberal Party have come down with some mysterious disease. First Martyn Brown, during his testimony at the Basi-Virk-Basi trial, and now Colin Hansen have developed memory problems.

    Maybe all BC Liberal MLAs and all their associates should be quarantined for the next four years to protect the rest of the citizens of BC from getting this dreaded affliction. Unfortunately, since we do not know exactly how this disease is transmitted, they will all have to be kept incommunicado for the entire term of this quarantine.

    If the policies of the BC LIberal Party weren't so devastating to so many people in this province, one could almost think they have been watching continuing episodes of This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Unfortunately, such is not the case.

  • Grania

    1 year ago

    Court

    There must be some way to take these two, at least, to court and have the blacked out areas of these documents...OUR documents...made public. I wonder if Pivot could help the anti HST group to do this?

  • freebear

    1 year ago

    There is not enough soap

    to wash the 'dirt' of Premier Campbell and his cronies!

  • freebear

    1 year ago

    "The Alzeimer Party"

    I do not recall (in the Fall Ha ha!)!

  • Karen D.

    1 year ago

    Bilderburg

    So, Bilderburg organizers, how do you like your man so far?

  • sherrysmith

    1 year ago

    NDP

    I agree with above poster who said NDP would never get in without a Leadership change. I was raised by a coal miner who was CCF and took me to hear Tommy Douglas, Ed Broadbent, and Dave Barrett. They were spell binding speakers who spoke from the heart and you knew they were for the common people. The NDP are totally lost Federally as well and Jack needs to step down as well. The party is non existent unless they reform with an injection of committment and fire that has been lost. It upsets me when the Zalm comes in and totally upstages the NDP's Carol James who no one listens to anyway. Sorry, but that's the truth. Someone like Leonard Krog or similar would be better. I have been NDP for a long time but I am really disappointed that these current leaders care more to hang on to their roles and paychecks rather than do what's best for those who have supported them forever. Sherry Smith

  • johnny saigon

    1 year ago

    Deletion Of My Post By Tyee Editor ...

    ... this excuse was given for censoring my post: DELETED FOR LEGAL CONCERNS. EDITED. CONTAINED ACCUSATIONS NOT VERIFIED BY TYEE OR OTHER MEDIA SOURCES. -- TYEE EDITOR

    ... please allow me to retort ...

    ... since when is verification from "other media sources" required by the tyee to post a comment about the finance minister? funny, i didn't see that requirement in the rules when i registered to post here. and in fact i attached a link to my post with actual evidence that backed up my comments. further, what do "other media sources" have to do with the information i posted? how can "other media sources" verify the information if they don't know about it?

    ... and Cool Hand said: "... yes that's BILLION, was also made payable to the Minister of Finance in the past fiscal year."

    ... maybe so, cool hand. but was that billion paid to the minister of finance by way of a vancouver, bc law firm that doesn't represent the minister of finance in any known capacity. i don't think so ...

  • Frank

    1 year ago

    Campbell's 4th term

    Since nobody likes Carole James, except me, I look forward to seeing what new moves Campbell will make in his 4th term to make life better for business and harder for workers.

    As for past NDP leaders who were great speakers, unlike Carole James, how any elections did they win?

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