BREAKING NEWS: Christy Clark Campaign Derailing Over BC Rail? The History and the Histrionics

It’s been an amusing last few weeks listening to Christy Clark.

She has been offering up half-measures and platitudes all the while, consistently ducking questions about BC Rail–her Achilles Heel and the one issue that will plague her–particularly after you read this post.

But desperate politicians adopt desperate measures.

Last week, as the pressure grew, she even refused interviews and hunkered down with her crew to sort out what to do. They have been wringing their hands in angst over the revelations on this blog as a result of ‘The Basi Files’, and have NOT been pleased with CKNW’s Mike Smyth, who has turned up the heat in Christy’s old spot in the afternoon (and in his column in ‘The Province‘ newspaper). Smyth, who doesn’t suffer fools has been waxing rhetorical with a whole slew of questions about Clark’s involvement in the sale of BC Rail that she MUST answer in order to salvage her political career.

You see, if she loses the leadership contest, she will have significantly burned through a substantial portion of the last half of her stockpiled political capital.

The first half, I watched Clark obliterate, as she provided one gaffe over another when running for the NPA mayoral nomination in 2005. Mind, significant membership fraud didn’t help either (I still don’t know what Surrey voters, some of whom had only just arrived to Canada, were doing on her lists).

Rest assured, Clark has a habit of putting her foot in her mouth when the pressure is on. Sam Sullivan took full advantage of that, as have George Abbott, Kevin Falcon and Mike Dejong.

As was evidenced this week, she can’t take the heat without resorting to the guttersniping she learned with the Martinites. Why? Because she’s never really been tested and despite favorable reviews by lazy media pals, she’s desperate. Clark has survived in politics on using a convenient network, employing smash-mouth strategy, having an attitude and being beautiful. The fact her ex-husband once had a kingdom of sycophants (that include many BC Rail major players) didn’t hurt either.

Sad that any modern woman, whatever that means anymore, would be so supportive of an empty shell.

So, it’s all or nothing. This is it for Clark. If this doesn’t work, she will be riding the political bench for a long time–or until the federal Liberals retire someone in a safe federal seat in Vancouver and she can bank on the remains of her ex-husband’s national network and her notoriety as a talkshow host (why do you think she keeps referring to NW on the campaign trail). After all, as she also constantly reminds us, she has a son to feed.

But it’s ultimately her narrative that will sink her.

What drives this woman to venture from one public lie to another? Her son needed a Mom first, so she left government–only to seek public office less than a year later. She tells us she loves being a talkshow host, but left right after being re-signed to a very lucrative, multi-year deal.

There is never any finish to this woman. In her zeal to satisfy her unbridled ambition, founded on sand, she never completes one task before starting another.

Perhaps a brief retrospective, might provide some clearer answers.

Think about it. Why did Gordon Campbell, a man whose misogynistic bravura is legend, appoint to the lofty rafters as Deputy Premier, a very young, life-inexperienced, politically novice woman from the Fraser Valley (over more qualified candidates), whose previous employment was limited to low-level political appointments? She never finished a single university degree she pursued. As I understand it, from Clark friends and foes alike, she has spent the entirety of her life chasing her father’s pipe dream–high public office. Although, much like most politicians of her father’s day, including her father, style mattered more than anything. Substance was over-rated.

Clark learned well and quickly, but it turns out the material was all wrong.

Was effervescence ever front bench material? If it were, Bill VanderZalm would still be Premier.

So what was Gordon Campbell thinking? Only he knows for sure, but the words of a woman who also once fancied herself as a chosen one, might shed light on the culture of entitlement within which Christy Clark dwells.

For as much as I loathe her elitism and detachment, former Prime Minister Kim Campbell got it right when she said, “style without substance can be a dangerous thing.”

And Campbell provided us that in elevating his pet pupil Clark–an apotheosis that is the quintessential epitome of favouring style over substance. In the smaller world of civic government, this can be an asset, as evidenced by the shadow-dancing, doctrinaire charlatan currently sitting as Vancouver’s Mayor.

Thus, it’s funny how when tested, even the politicians most people consider invincible, melt away, at a shocking dissipation rate.

To be sure, Clark is one of them. First elected in the Fraser Valley ‘Bible Belt’ wave of NDP discontent, she was a natural: young, quick, intelligent enough and utterly photogenic.

But once youth turned to middle age–while the beauty remained, everyone started looking for something more. If you consider the constant stream of on-air blunders while at CKNW and provide a brutally honest assessment, it doesn’t take much to conclude, that Clark is no brain surgeon. How many times can you get the composition and structure of the American government wrong and tell people you studied politics at SFU? How can you enter into interviews with the likes of former Gary Filmon Chief of Staff and respected pollster Greg Lyle and make yourself an ass. During the lead up to the 2008 election, Clark, whose then husband Mark Marissen had straddled the hobbled ride of Stephane Dion, shamelessly promoting the Liberals on air engaged Lyle with a stunning nugget. After Lyle told her he predicted “about 140 seats for the Conservatives,” Clark chimed in with, “so you think they’ll get a majority?” This from a woman who tells us she wants to lead British Columbia, but doesn’t bloody well know the 308 seat Canadian parliament requires a 155 seat win for a majority.

Clark, it is evident, is not a particularly bright bulb. Oh, certainly, she’s quick on her feet and has grown confidence as she committed the most brazen act of journalistic tourism in B.C. history. She was never a particularly good broadcaster, but CKNW packaged her–as is their job, and in the absence of ANY competition, she became tolerable, even enjoyable.

But Clark always sought the brass ring, knowing full well, that with people like fixer, BC Rail figure and prominent Campbell backer Patrick Kinsella around her and often her guide–who has told me and others that he landed her the job at NW, she knew the chances of any scandal should not stick. She once told a friend of mine, “I’m going to be the first woman Prime Minister,” to which he replied with considerable fear, “of Canada?” That was twenty years ago. But it shows you the breathtaking ambition of Clark–absent of credentials, all predicated on sass and perfect teeth. It never occurred to her that she might one day have to face the music.

But that day is here.

Her brother Bruce Clark has spent years on Howe Street, in no small part, inadvertently (?) laying the groundwork for the support his sister enjoys from the very same people that were Gordon Campbell’s financial backers. One of her political godfathers’ Patrick Kinsella, a very good friend of the Premier’s, is also in her corner. She is overwhelmingly backed by almost all of Gordon Campbell’s team. And yet the mainstream press haven’t ONCE pointed this out. Nor that these same people were key players in the now smoldering BC Rail sale scandal.

So let me help:

Here is a list of top Christy Clark’s CURRENT leadership backers/workers/strategists….and BC Rail central figures:

Mike McDonald: (Gordon Campbell staffer, married to Jessica McDonald, former Campbell staffer. Mr. McDonald is alleged to have engaged in dirty tricks with Dave Basi–stacking call-in shows, membership padding, etc.) is a key Clark strategist.

Patrick Kinsella: (Gordon Campbell loyalist, 2005 BC Liberal Campaign Chair, responsible for reviewing the BC Rail sales contract for both the government and CN) is a key Clark strategist.

Bruce Clark: (found by the RCMP to have been in possession of the draft RFP of Roberts Bank line, given to him, as it was revealed in ‘The Basi Files’, by Dave Basi himself on the instructions of Gary Collins) is a bagman for his sister, having raised significant dollars and is a long-time pal of Kinsella. Bruce Clark is currently serving as a strategist for his sister Christy Clark.

Ann Wicks: (a Northern priorities consultant during the BC Rail lead up) is a prominent Clark backer and currently the Managing Director of the Board Resourcing and Development office for the Government of British Columbia. The Board Resourcing and Development office was established in 2001 to bring professional processes to the area of board governance in the public sector. Board Resourcing and Development is responsible for establishing corporate governance guidelines for the recruitment, nominations, and appointments process to over 300 agencies, boards and commissions.

Jamie Elmhirst: (a PR consultant to OmniTRAX through the BC Rail sale and former Ministrial Assistant to then Environment Minister, and prominent Clark backer, Joyce Murray) is a hands-on operative for the Clark campaign.

Kim Haakstad: (a long-time assistant to Christy Clark, and spinner extraordinaire, was her MA during the BC Rail sale) is currently running messaging interference for the Clark campaign.

Every single last one of these people, were either named during the BC Rail investigation or subsequent ‘Basi-Virk’ trial as significant players.  While Clark, for reasons which she has yet to explain, refuses to answer any specific or hard questions about BC Rail, only to perpetuate the problem.

But what about her participation?

She claims she has never been charged or accused of wrongdoing. This might be true but no one has ever suggested she committed a crime. This is CLASSIC political deflection, which most in the mainstream press seem content to swallow whole.

But not here.

Perhaps Ms. Clark can explain the questions of what she knew, how early and what direction she gave regarding the selling of BC Rail to CN, in what has been revealed by ‘The Basi Files’ as a corrupt process. Surely to God, this ‘family values” maven believes in YOUR right to know–after all it was your FAMILIES that really owned BC Rail and it was sold in a process that was clearly  loaded.

Maybe I can help again.

For the first time, in an exclusive to this writer, please find below diary excerpts of Erik Bornmann while he was a PR consultant for OmniTRAX. Bornmann, an admitted briber of public officials was the star witness for the prosecution in the ‘Basi-Virk’ trial. The Crown’s case against Basi and Virk was substantially hinged on Bornmann’s testimony. The below excerpts were submitted into court before Madam Justice Bennett and Madam Justice MacKenzie.

Consider each date is an excerpt. And please note how EARLY Christy Clark was involved, in the process of the provincial government’s steering of BC Rail to CN. A government of which she was Deputy Premier.

May 21/2002:

Call: Kim Haakstad (MA Deputy Premier) RE: BC Rail

May 30/2002:

Lunch with MA – Deputy Premier (Kim Haakstad) RE: OmniTRAX meeting.

Discussion with MA/Deputy Premier RE: Christy Clark mtng. and prep of OmniTRAX info.

May 31/2002:

OmniTRAX mtng. @ VCR Cabinet Offices with Christy Clark

October 19/2002:

Dinner: MA Deputy Premier (Kim Haakstad)

(Also) Northern Priorities consultant Ann Wicks…

December 12/2002:

Discussion w/ MA to Deputy Premier Christy Clark RE: BC Rail status.

January 08/2003:

Mtng with advisor to Deputy Premier Christy Clark RE: BC Rail/CN

Then the following is an April 2003 ‘Activity Report’ excerpt from Erik Bonrmann to OmniTRAX. This was submitted to OmniTRAX along with a detailed billing sheet/invoice.

In the subject line, Bornmann supplies only the one priority for that month.

“BCR briefing with Deputy Premier Christy Clark”

And then the below is a September 2003  ’Activity Report’ from Jamie Elmhirst to OmniTRAX.

In the subject line, just these words.

“Briefed Christy Clark by phone and prepared and delivered (BCR) briefing package to her prior to CABINET DISCUSSION (emphasis added)“

But later in the same year Vaughn Palmer of The Vancouver Sun, reported that, Christy Clark stood in the legislature and declared:

“…that she had not taken part in either cabinet deliberations or voting in the house on the BC Rail deal.”

“Out of an abundance of caution,” she explained, adding that she had ”received advice from the conflict commissioner.”

Her husband, Mark Marissen, had done some consulting work for the company that shepherded the bidding process. His contract was for a separate matter, not connected to the BCR deal.

Did she lie to the legislature?

So Christy, the next time you stoop so low as to call any diligent writers–looking for the truth, “kooks on the internet”, perhaps you might explain your relationship, while at least Deputy Premier, with both Jamie Elmhirst–who now works for you, and Erik Bornmann, a former member of your political possee and admitted briber of public officials. After all, Erik Bornmann claimed that your brother Bruce Clark bribed Dave Basi, which prompted the RCMP to secure a number of search warrants requesting your brother Bruce Clark’s bank records in 2004.  This was raised in BC Supreme Court as part of a defence disclosure request in the spring of 2007.

And why was your MA Kim Haakstad meeting Erik Bornmann about BC Rail. You were Minister of Education…not Transportation…

You are running to be leader of this province, Christy. These must-answer questions shouldn’t have you reaching into a bag of insults, but rather, standing to face the music on BC Rail, once and for all, as a participant in a full public inquiry.

No one is accusing you of anything illegal. But when you say you acted ethically, why not back that up?

No wonder reports are beginning to filter out that Clark has no strategy outside the Lower Mainland and that her campaign is failing.

Desperate politicians commit to desperate measures.

Be Sociable, Share!

•