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Going Down Memory Lane–On the BC Rail Track…

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The Vancouver Courier should be congratulated for having the bright courage and journalistic integrity to publish a column written by freelance journalist Bob ‘The Hammer’ Mackin.

Mackin, for the upcoming anniversary of the end of the ‘Basi-Virk’ trial, wrote a piece wherein he noted my work on the BC Rail/’Basi-Virk’ file. He also noted the exceptional work of Bill Tieleman, who really paved the way for the rest of us to follow-up on the BC Rail scandal and ensuing trial.

So, while I await the ‘okay’ from my lawyers on the Brian Kieran piece (yes, still..), here is the Mackin column.

It’s the story which defines the provincial government, to this day, and clearly demonstrates how they long-ago lost all moral authority to govern this province. With Premier Clark at the helm, more so.

Again, kudos to Bob Mackin and the Courier.

While others sleep…..

Author: Date: Friday, October 14, 2011 
Category Provincial · Tags

Comments

34 Responses to “Going Down Memory Lane–On the BC Rail Track…”
  1. Zoltan says:
    October 14, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    Alex, is it a critiria to wear a wedding band, to be Ambassador to England.

    Reply
  2. Robbie says:
    October 14, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    Memories, light the corners of my mind . . .

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxRpq_6kjg8&feature=related

    Reply
  3. George says:
    October 14, 2011 at 11:19 AM

    My utmost respect to Bob Mackin writing this article…

    Glad to see both you and Bill T getting recognition for the heavy lifting that the MSM has refused to do…

    Perhaps this train is finally back on the track… kudos to Bob, Alex and Bill, thank you gentlemen…thank you ..

    Reply
  4. froth says:
    October 14, 2011 at 1:06 PM

    Good on ya Bob Mackin! Well written and again the challenge is on for BC Christy to open up a public enquiry into the BC Rail fiasco.

    Reply
    • AGT says:
      October 14, 2011 at 1:28 PM

      Fat chance. Unless the NDP are elected, the real story of BC Rail will only otherwise be told if Basi and Virk ever break their silence.

      The BC Libs never will and the BC Cons will be pressured to leave it alone.

      Reply
      • George says:
        October 14, 2011 at 2:03 PM

        Here is a thought…

        perhaps Alex should get on that speakers list at the OccupyVancouver…. originally I say this tongue in cheek… but..

        I wonder how many of us would show up with signs…to protest.. I just might be up all night making signs…anyone else care to join me??

        Reply
  5. Bruce says:
    October 14, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    I believe that ,that article is a must read, for any one who believes in honest Government. But one could hardly say Honest, and Liberal, Campbell, Clark in the same breath. What do they say a” oxzy moron”.
    But moron would explain the above mentioned politicals. But it is nice to see You and Bill get top billing. Cheers

    Reply
  6. Hopeful Citizen says:
    October 14, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    Hi Alex,
    You know how much I appreciate the journalistic integrity of people like you, Harvey, and Rafe. I have forwarded the Courier piece to everyone I know. My only question is about the effectiveness of public inquiries. Is this pretty much the only tool the public has? I seldom see any meaningful change or real accountability result from them. They are shrugged off, debated away, dismissed, or ‘accepted in their entirety’ and then life goes on the same with little or no change to prevent future recurrences. Even winning court cases or judicial orders may be ignored when it involves government and/or their supporters. What might a BC Rail inquiry yield beyond the very old-fashioned ideal of principle? (how jaded I sound?!)

    Reply
  7. George says:
    October 14, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    Just to be clear folks… to protest the sale of BC Rail…

    I might even get some AGT shirts printed up….all aboard !!!

    with Alex’s permission to use his name of course..

    Reply
    • AGT says:
      October 14, 2011 at 6:21 PM

      I’m not doing it. But you’re very kind.

      I speak to community and business groups. Thus type of rally, I find entirely unpalatable. I expect it will be tame, the potential for a riot is considerable.

      Reply
  8. joe says:
    October 14, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    There are no words to describe my disgust at these sleazy f@cking liberals,what really makes me mad is they got away with it. My mla Pat Bell must have known all the dirty dealings yet he sat on his as@ like a trained little puppet . Pat you are just as guilty as Campbell and the rest of your liberal scumbag slimey lowlifes. I hope you at sometime feel very ashamed of yourself,but thats doubtful you being a loathsome liberal afterall

    Reply
  9. Kelln says:
    October 14, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    As Alex said, you will not get any form of a functional inquiry or look at the dirty corrupt dealings inter-weaved all throughout the B.C. Rail case unless Dix is the premiere 18 months from now.

    I really hope the house of cards comes crashing down sooner rather then later, our shown and hidden debt levels continue to soar and our economy continues to slide… er I mean our province is managed with near perfection by the only true business stewards in the province – the B.C. Liberals.

    ;)

    Reply
  10. nonconfidencevote says:
    October 15, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    My Gawd ! Has it only been a year since the Basi Virk “Trial” wrapped up? Seems longer….Anywho.
    I shake my head at the blatant disreguard for the voters and taxpayers of this province.
    Gordon Campbell slithers off to a posh job in London AND recieves the Order of BC. Whats next, the Order of Canada?
    Eric “briber” Bornmann slithers off to the Province of Ontario to be accepted by the Bar as a member in Good Standing and will (no doubt) continue his brand of “lobbying” . My only fervent hope is that this rodent extrodinaire bribes the hand that feeds him. We havent head the last of him….
    Patrick ‘puppet master” Kinsella continues his back room “lobbying” scheming with apparent impunity to all forms of legal punishment
    Mssr’s Basi and Virk “legally bound and (more importantly) gagged” ride off into the sunset with millions of dollars of taxpayers hush money…

    Sooooo, essentially.
    If you Lie, Cheat, Bribe, Steal and keep your mouth shut. You too may recieve the Order of BC, and no punishment.

    Thats quite a lesson to teach all those budding kids with political aspirations…..
    95% of politicians seem to be to more than vacuous, sociopaths intent on financial gain and ego gratification.

    Voter apathy results in pathetic choices…….

    Reply
  11. Vancouver Real Estate = Drug Money says:
    October 15, 2011 at 1:35 PM

    Vancouver Real Estate = Drug Money

    Why the Fiberals and the thieves that they support, along with the hoards of organized crime associates and members, may never go to jail in British Colombia. The reality is, for all those that have supported this decade of corruption, and even those that did not, the economic consequences of tuning British Colombia into nothing more than a Funk Hole for international organized crime and corrupt politicians, are coming home to roost. The economy is dead, with no honest business nor industry wanting to have anything to with British Colombia, the province whose larges industry is the illegal drug trade and money laundering. And now the acolytes of dishonesty that blindly supported crime and corruption, watch as their business go under, the property values nose dive into pennies on the dollar and that lovely view is enjoyed homeless outside in the rain. There is no business future in British Colombia, except of course for the Robber Barons that are used to sucking the life blood out of third world slums. Free crack pipes and heroin for everyone.

    Reply
  12. Mike Boileau says:
    October 16, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    What does it take to have logic prevail in a case such as this? I suppose I’m asking, who is responsible for the charging and prosecuting the likes of Christy Clark for leaking Cabinet Confidences to those involved in the bidding process?
    On another note; Here we have Christy Clark as a Liberal Premier, with all of those people who were involved in the Basi/Virk legal fee payout, refusing to fund any of the groups that have standing at the Missing Women’s Inquiry. So, Criminals who plead guilty get their legal bills paid by the taxpayer but people representing Victims of heinious crimes get nothing……………Hmmmmmmmm.

    Reply
  13. BC Forever says:
    October 16, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    I think the BC Rail fiasco will be a small blip compared to how history will show the Liberal’s ruining of BC Hydro.
    I truly feel we have only scratched the surface on that issue and the financial implications to “BC Families” will be forever.
    Interesting following the ‘smart meter’ money trail to executives, their families and former government staffers. The companies that were awarded multi-million dollar contracts have ties DIRECTLY to the Liberals. Will the shame ever cease?

    Reply
    • AGT says:
      October 17, 2011 at 10:02 AM

      You know, it’s funny you should mention this. I was speaking with my friend Rafe Mair after a recent lunch and we were lamenting the same thing. IPP/’Rape of River’ has made MILLIONAIRES out of some bastards that STILL brown-nose their way through BC Liberaland. It’s frightening. The amount of money we’re on the hook for is huge–and a disgrace.

      Reply
  14. Alexander says:
    October 17, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    wow , good on Randy Hawes, speaking out against his government, is this the start of some defections from the B.C. Liberal’s???
    sure starting to look that way, the queen bee must be fit to be tied

    Reply

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