Are you part of The Tyee's critical 1%?

Thanks for reading The Tyee today — we hope this article added to your day in some way. Our team of independent journalists takes pride in doing in-depth reporting and taking time to get it right.

We're able to focus our attention on publishing impactful journalism in the public interest, and publish it for free for all to read, because we have the support of Tyee Builders. Tyee Builders are readers who contribute a bit of money — at a level and frequency of their choice — to support our editorial budget.

This core of supporters — making up about 1 to 2 per cent of our daily readership — enables us to pay our writers, keep our articles free and open to all, and not bombard our readers with annoying ads while you try to read.

Instead of focusing on what kind of articles will attract the most advertising dollars, we can spend time devoted to researching and writing stories that our readers find most valuable and make the most positive impact in our region.

If you'd like to join thousands of readers who help make independent journalism possible, consider joining Tyee Builders. Thank you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders

Help us un-break journalism in Canada

You made it all the way through the article – I hope that means you liked it (or if not ‘liked’ it, gleaned some useful information from it). Tyee articles are known for being quite lengthy, so we appreciate when people spend some quality time with our work.

Listen, I’ll get to the point – the article you just read was made possible because our non-profit newsroom was able to pay a talented journalist to research and write it. And we can only afford to do that because of our business model, which relies on a certain percentage of our readers signing up for our paid membership program called Tyee Builders.

The traditional business model for journalism in Canada has been completely disrupted, and we’re witnessing a slow collapse as corporate newsrooms buy up distressed publications, lay people off, and suck the value out of them before declaring bankruptcy. And it doesn’t help that tech giant Meta has blocked Canadian news on their Facebook and Instagram platforms.

There is another way and we are carving the path.

Between 1 to 2 per cent of people who visit The Tyee contribute financially, but amazingly, that small percentage is enough to fund half of our overall budget. And it means we can operate without a paywall, too. 1 per cent of people giving means 99 per cent of people get access to quality, fact-based journalism from a talented team of journalists who live and work in B.C., Alberta, and across Canada. We think that’s pretty remarkable.

If you’re concerned about the way journalism is heading in Canada and you’d like to do something about it, consider joining Tyee Builders and contributing an amount that works for you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders
Marking 20 years
of bold journalism,
reader supported.
support us subscribe free
Opinion
BC Politics

Premier Clark and the Lieutenant Governor: What Really Happened

Mystery surrounds Clark’s 90-minute meeting with the LG. Here’s the inside scoop.

Steve Burgess 30 Jun 2017TheTyee.ca

Steve Burgess writes about politics and culture for The Tyee. Find his previous articles here.
Clark-CKNW.jpg
There is always talk radio. Photo by City Caucus, Creative Commons licensed.

[Editor’s note: Steve Burgess is an accredited spin doctor with a Ph.D in Centrifugal Rhetoric from the University of SASE, situated on the lovely campus of PO Box 7650, Cayman Islands.]

Just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the BC Liberals lost a confidence vote in the legislature. Soon after, Premier Christy Clark went to visit B.C. Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon at Government House in Victoria. While media waited outside and and a news helicopter hovered overhead, the meeting stretched on for 90 minutes, much longer than anticipated.

Now the Tyee has received an unofficial transcript of the conversation between Clark and the lieutenant-governor.

Lieutenant-governor: Welcome, Premier Clark.

Clark: Good to be here, Your Holiness.

Lieutenant-governor: Your Honour will suffice.

Clark: Nice place you got here. Shame if anything were to happen to it.

Lieutenant-governor: Premier, you have lost the confidence of the House.

Clark: Sure, sure but listen — I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse.

Lieutenant-governor: I refuse.

Clark:...

Lieutenant-governor: So if there's nothing further...

Clark: What if I told you this building is surrounded by ninjas?

Lieutenant-governor:...

Clark: No? OK, what if I told you I have three kilos of plastic explosives strapped to my waist? Dissolve the legislature or so help me...

Lieutenant-governor:....

Clark: So. How about this weather, huh?

Lieutenant-governor: If we can move this along...

Clark: Oh look, a cribbage board! Fancy a game?

Lieutenant-governor: Premier...

Clark: Hey, I brought along my high school yearbook! Here I am in Grade 10. Did my own lighting for that shot. Here I am on the chess team. My strategy was to outspend my opponent. Say, do you play?

Lieutenant-governor: Premier, are you stalling?

Clark: Look, it’s just that if I can stay premier for another 45 minutes I qualify for this huge Air Miles bonus...

Lieutenant-governor: There will be no new election.

Clark: Pretty please? I’ll even help people. For real this time.

Lieutenant-governor: I will soon be visited by NDP leader John Horgan.

Clark: Ooh, I’ve had that nightmare too. I always wake up screaming, sheets soaked in sweat. Last time it happened Horgan was rattling chains, saying, “Mankind is my business.” Catchy. I told him I’d put that in the new Throne Speech. Then I was visited by the Ghost of Supreme Court Decisions Past...

Lieutenant-governor: I will be asking Mr. Horgan to...

Clark: Lend you five bucks? Don’t bother. Cut out the middle man and go straight to his union buddies.

Lieutenant-governor: ...I’ll be asking him to form a government and... Madame Premier, where are you going?

Clark: Just going to take a quick bubble bath. It’s been one hell of a day. We’ll talk later, OK?

Lieutenant-governor: SECURITY.... [Tyee]

Read more: BC Politics

  • Share:

Facts matter. Get The Tyee's in-depth journalism delivered to your inbox for free

Tyee Commenting Guidelines

Comments that violate guidelines risk being deleted, and violations may result in a temporary or permanent user ban. Maintain the spirit of good conversation to stay in the discussion.
*Please note The Tyee is not a forum for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, denying its existence or minimizing its risk to public health.

Do:

  • Be thoughtful about how your words may affect the communities you are addressing. Language matters
  • Challenge arguments, not commenters
  • Flag trolls and guideline violations
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity, learn from differences of opinion
  • Verify facts, debunk rumours, point out logical fallacies
  • Add context and background
  • Note typos and reporting blind spots
  • Stay on topic

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist, homophobic or transphobic language
  • Ridicule, misgender, bully, threaten, name call, troll or wish harm on others
  • Personally attack authors or contributors
  • Spread misinformation or perpetuate conspiracies
  • Libel, defame or publish falsehoods
  • Attempt to guess other commenters’ real-life identities
  • Post links without providing context

LATEST STORIES

The Barometer

Are You Concerned about AI?

Take this week's poll