EXCLUSIVE ‘BREAKING NEWS’: BC Government Staffer that Leaked Document and Disgraced Harry Bloy Are BOTH Long-time, Prominent Members of Christy Clark ‘Famiglia’
To understand the latest scandal-of-the-minute by the Clark government, you have to understand the players.
Off the top, let’s quickly review why hapless Harry Bloy resigned yesterday. He received a copy of an email from a Ministerial Assistant in Naomi Yamamoto’s office. The email was sent by top-notch Province reporter Cassiday Olivier, to the government requesting specific comment on a generous donor and supporter of Christy Clark and the BC Liberals.
His name is Dr. Peter K. Chung and whose life, until later years, followed the classic American dream: Korean immigrant kid growing up on the wrong side of the tracks in LA. Dad was a preacher, mom was a ‘homemaker’ (or whatever we’ve dumbed that down to now) and young Peter showed an early knack for earning plenty of money and eventually walking the hallways of Harvard.
After founding a complicated web of vocational schools in California, Dr. Chung was successfully sued, as a result of a class action lawsuit, for a series of wrongdoings, including 10,000 violations of California’s business code and “encouraging students to falsify documents so they could obtain federal loans; making misleading statements about employment opportunities; and lying about the school’s accreditation.”
He was also fined $12,000,000, which he strangely, happily admits to never paying and remains defiant that he did nothing wrong.
That was 1993.
His problems followed him north of the 49th and, most significantly, in a lawsuit launched last year by a disgruntled employee, we find this little nugget in one of the affidavits, which purports that the good doctor had uncommon, noteworthy and advanced knowledge of Christy Clark’s educational ethos:
“Leading up to the B.C. Liberal election of 2011, (the) defendant’s management encouraged the plaintiff and his co-workers to vote and support candidate Christy Clark because she would purportedly be advantageous for the defendant’s future in private education and would ensure that the defendant’s employees keep their jobs.”
Now, if you’re a public school teacher and understand that this government has despicably starved the education system in this province for ten years, how does that revelation make you feel?
So, when the reporter Olivier made the request of the government, it appropriately went to the office of Minister Naomi Yamamoto, who is the minister responsible for advanced education.
From here, you’ll start to see a familiar pattern of having the Premier’s closest insiders needing to, once again, cover her oft exposed derriere. The Clark network strikes again–in a brazen attempt to foil the media and have you uninformed.
But that’s why I’m here.
Minister Yamamoto’s Ministerial Assistant sent a copy of the reporter’s request to Harry Bloy. Why? Well, that’s the question everyone in the press has been asking for days now, and I’m happy to provide you all with the anatomy of the answer–in detail.
Ms. Yamamoto is cursed with the services of yet another Clark operative–a long time Clark operative. His name is Rishi Sharma. He is the Minister’s MA. Sharma worked with Bloy on Clark’s leadership campaign as an “advisor.”
So?! ‘Big deal!’ you say?
Read on…
What you don’t know about Sharma is that he has been around and one of Christy Clark’s staunchest supporters since 1999 when he was hired as an ‘ALA’ (Assistant Legislative Aide).
By Dave Basi–after he consulted with his political bosses, Christy Clark and Mark Marrisen. Basi actually rescued him from Office Depot.
That’s right, Basi arranged for Sharma to get that job–but only after permission. Not floored yet? Well, how ’bout this?
Rishi Sharma was one of ‘Basi’s Boys’: a notorious gang of political operatives known for ruthlessly working over entire federal Liberal and BC Liberal constituency associations and unceremoniously dumping entire boards with handpicked federal Liberal candidates provided by their bosses: Mark Marissen and Christy Clark. Bob Virk, to his credit, thought Sharma a lightweight and often wondered about Basi’s support, but it didn’t matter: Sharma always delivered no matter what Marrisen or Clark asked of him. Blind loyalty is, after all, what this Premier is all about. Right?
Absolutely, and Sharma was also Clark’s driver during the 2001 campaign.
Enough? Stop begging for mercy, because you know where this is going–and I’ll show no mercy whatsoever.
Here are Sharma’s Orders-In-Council since accepting Basi’s generosity and being Christy’s campaign driver in 2001.
July 3, 2002 – Public Affairs Bureau (Rescind of appointment)
Oct 22 2004 – Public Affairs Bureau, Mgr. Media Monitoring
Aug 9, 2005 – Mgr, Media Monitoring (Premier’s Office)
July 19, 2006 – Mgr. Media Monitoring (Premier’s Office)
Sept 25 2009 – MA to Minister of Environment (Murray Coell)
Oct 25 2010 – MA to Minister of Environment (Murray Coell)
Aug 30 2011 – MA to Minister of Adv. Education (Naomi Yamamoto)
Not bad, eh? A Clark operative survived and even thrived through the Campbell years.
Well, along came Christy’s leadership aspirations and the old crew of federal Liberal, scorched-earth operatives (minus charter members Erik Bornmann, David Basi and Bob Virk) came together again–this time for the ultimate political heist.
But what about Bloy you say? Well, he didn’t just appear as one of Clark’s operatives either, as, he too, has been sitting on the Clark horizon line waiting for the chance to reprise his role as the Fredo Corleone of the Clark political famiglia.
Bloy is a long-time friend of Bruce Clark, the Premier’s brother, who was in 2003 a consultant to Pacific Western Brewers (while his sister was Deputy Premier–nice work if you can get it–remember he also consulted for the Washington Group during the BC Rail fiasco). Bruce Clark often sought Bloy’s “advice” on what direction the government was going, as Clark was lobbying the government on changes to tax policy.
Remember too, that this is the same Bruce Clark, who Erik Bornmann, IN A SWORN STATEMENT to the RCMP claimed bribed Dave Basi, which put Clark in the crosshairs of the RCMP, who then searched his bank accounts for ANY sign of such activity. Their investigation was “inconclusive” because they couldn’t find any “relevant” bank accounts (this is the response I received from two of the investigators when I met with them last year).
Bloy, along with Clark’s then Ministerial Assistant and current Deputy Chief of Staff Kim Haakstad, would routinely mine Bob Virk’s office for intel and even went so far as pestering Virk for information on the process of selling BC Rail. When Bloy was once asked by Basi why he was aggressively mining Virk for such intel, Bloy replied that he was trying to give some direction to ‘one of our friends…Bruce Clark. you guys aren’t giving him everything he needs.’
So, for the kids in the class appreciating the background but still wondering what really precipitated the Bloy resignation, here it is:
Bloy and Sharma have been long-time captains in the Christy Clark political family. Neither of them wanted to piss off Dr. Chung, or, more importantly, see the pesky media asking uncomfortable questions of a strong Clark supporter–specifically Dr. Chung, so when Sharma saw the email, he shot it to Bloy (to provide the extra layer of protection–Basi and Virk were good professors, no?), who in turn (as only Bloy would be stupid enough to do), shot it to the head of Dr. Chung’s organization as a preemptive strike against the Province. And the Prezzie of Dr. Chung’s group was fool enough to waive it in front of the same reporter who made the request.
Dumb, dumber, and dumbest. In ascending order to Bloy…
This, at the heart of it, was nothing more than two meatheads shilling for their political boss, the Premier, as they have done for ten years and trying to protect a most valued supporter from scrutiny. Shades of the Soviet Union? You be the judge. The Clark camps mantra: Do anything, say anything, no matter the collateral damage or cost, so long as Christy’s covered. This time they both got caught, but the smarter one survived. They only cheat when they can’t win.
If the Clark government had a stitch of decency, they would fire Rishi Sharma immediately and ask Yamamoto to step down as well. Or she could do the honourable thing and call the Premier, informing her that one of the Preem’s captains was no longer employed with the government. I won’t hold my breath.
Now you (and the rest of the province) know…the real story. And why it took this huge a scandal of releasing sensitive Cabinet level information to one of the Premier’s donors, to get Bloy fired and why the Premier was so soft on him. And why Sharma will likely go unscathed, and why this is the single most corrupt government in the history of British Columbia.
Clark makes Gordon Campbell look like a choir boy.
Don’t you miss him? You should…what a crazy place. Who are the 25% of this God-forsaken province that comprise the IDIOTS supporting such a dishonest party??????
In the last month, we’ve learned that the Premier has been revealed to have been cavorting with a domestic terrorist and a convicted fraud, just to get elected leader and that her campaign cheated to win her the big prize.
Then again, we shouldn’t be at all surprised by Christy Clark’s complete lack of ethics.
Aren’t you all proud?
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Over the weekend, I’ll finally play catch up and give you the real story on the freefall of CKNW.
And then Monday, I’ll begin with more ‘Basi-Virk’.
Stay tuned.
Well I miss Gordon Campbell.
He brought in a successful Olympics, Kevin Falcon, new bridges, Mary Polak, tax cuts, the beginning of the end of the BCTF, the carbon tax SHIFT, and had kept the BCNDP at bay for 3 elections. If that maikes me an idiot, G*d help me.
That said, great piece Alex. I think you might want to consider joining the BCLibs and running for their leader because the position is going to be, er, more vacant if you get what I mean
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Okay, I get it: you’re hungover.
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No sir.
I get the hint – when I do my bracket poll setup soon I’ll make sure to leave YOU out of the Sweet Sixteen.
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Joe, Joe, Joe…
Firstly, I couldn’t care less what fantasy grid you drop me into or lop me out of.
Secondly, you are dreaming in technicolour with some of your picks. You should call it ‘Grid of Delusion’
Lastly, Falcon signed up the most memberships across BC, correct? That was 18,000 people.
I have a readership in BC that after this month of over 150,000 readers, shattering the previous month by the 14th of this month.
Say only half really like my work and that the others are fair-weather readers, who don’t agree on everything and about 10,000 who can’t stand me but read anyway.
You think I’d lose to anyone on your list?
D-E-L-U-S-I-O-N-A-L J-O-E!!!!!!
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Duly noted.
I’m having 2nd thoughts about this project… I can just see you in the bracket beating everybody else.
Now if only those people could vote…
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You must be one of crustie’s famiglia.
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OMG! TWO FREDOS???????
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
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Lol….I meant josef
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Oh, good. I can take the gun out of my mouth.
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Bloy as the “Fredo Corleone of the Clark political famiglia’.
The dog looked concerned as I started howling after reading that one!
Poor Harry—wanting to play with the ‘Big Boyz’.
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HELL NO!
I want the Christy Clique gone!
Yes, save my friend Sara’s job. She’s NOT Christy Clique.
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Oh dear gawd….can’t you just borrow the blow up doll in the next trailer?
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My friend doesn’t want any longer to be related to things that blow up.
I’m not reverting to being a Polakite unless Polak is the one that stands up to the Christy Clique.
Frankly, I’m entering stage 4 of 5 of the Kubler-Ross model ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model ) of accepting the BCLibs’ odds next year short of dramatic change.
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That’s what I like about you Joe.
You really move fast.
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Thanks, I “AM” a “fast-mover”
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a) My friend SM doesn’t want any longer to be related to things that blow up.
b) Speaking of that, I’m not reverting to being a Polakite unless Polak is the one that stands up to the Christy Clique.
c) Frankly, I’m entering stage 4 of 5 of the Kubler-Ross model ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model ) of accepting the BCLibs’ odds next year short of dramatic change.
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Nothing gets past you, Maverick.
Sorry to hear about Goose.
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From one Joe to another Joe – maybe this will help –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tiOMu_Bf8Q
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LOL!
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I want Gordon Campbell back too. So he can serve his well deserved jail sentence.
He brought in a successful Olympics, – you don’t have to pay for them. We did and the costs both financially and socially are ridiculous
Kevin Falcon – an arrogant smug POS. Proven liar
new bridges – and new tolls for anyone going across the Fraser (Don’t forget how his “donors” benefited)
Mary Polak – I heard she is being recruited by the rocket sciences division at NASA
tax cuts – and huge deficits (oddly, income tax breaks served high income earners WAY better than Joe Lunchpail) How about Carol Taylors gift to the banks? Corporate tax dropped and
the beginning of the end of the BCTF – And starved public education as part of that. I have 2 special needs kids that good old Gordo tossed under the bus.
the carbon tax SHIFT, – since you like this so freaking much, come up across the border and buy your gas here. Are you allowed across the border?
and had kept the BCNDP at bay for 3 elections.- I’m not big on the NDP, but the corruption of that assholes rule is putrid enough to make a maggot retch.
If that maikes me an idiot, G*d help me.
You’re BEYOND idiocy. Please write an apology to idiots everywhere as I am sure they’re insulted.
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Hey, go easy on Joe.
He’s going to be proposing to Alise Mills tomorrow.
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Hey ROFLOL NASA doesn’t do rockets anymore. That’s mostly private sector… X Prize and all of that. Mary Polak would do fine as a Premier… if you want your Rockpile to become The Alamo, BC edition!
Once the BCTF is gone, the left loons will really be without some thunder.
I’m sure all the personal attacks on me really ad substance to your arguments NOT.
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Mary Polak? Are you joking Joe? Let’s not forget the fact that this idiot knows exactly NOTHING. I was glad that Mary Ellen Turple-Lafond cut her a new one when Polak was working for the MCFD. Let’s just say when that happened it made me laugh at this whole ridiculous government.
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And about that tax on the common man the carbon tax… What does this do exactly other than place a nasty burden on the taxpayer? Or support bloated government spending?
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Nothing….
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Let’s see here…. Your hero was polling at less than 12% BECAUSE OF REPEATED LIES AND A LEGALIZED (yet to be determined) VERSION OF THEFT OF PUBLIC ASSETS to his friends and donors. Google the lies of Gordon Campbell and READ THE UNDISPUTED EVIDENCE of a morally corrupt piece of excrement.(and my opinion has softened on him)
You can’t vote here, but your damned fingers are in territory that is NONE OF YOUR DAMNED BUSINESS, fiddling in another country’s affairs and trying to influence where you have no place at the table, although I sincerely doubt few get beyond thinking comic relief.
Good luck with Alise accepting the ring. Mary’s going to be crying for weeks.
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If Mary Polak becomes Premier, I’m leaving on a year long vacation to ANYWHERE BUT HERE.
Thank god this scenerio will never happen anywhere but in Josef’s conveluted head!
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Gee, does anyone here think that maybe Joe is just a troll?
You know, one of those internet guys who has no friends in the real world, so he makes illogical statements on blogs just to stir up shit and then sits back and gleefully whacks off to all the attention he’s getting from his imaginary on line pals?
“From one Joe to another Joe” didn’t work – try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrRb5hIbRr4
If this doesn’t work, I guess Thorazine will be the last resort.
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If I was a liberal supporter I would be embarrassed…
Dam
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As a relative newcomer to BC from elsewhere in Canada, I have a question: Has the provincial government been corrupt right from Day 1 (the day BC joined Confederation), or was there a turning point along the way?
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2001 was the turning point. Gordon Campbell’s friends turned the BC map into a Monopoly board.
Christy Clark is simply finishing the game…
The most corrupt government in Canada, operates out of Victoria.
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There IS a history of corruption in B.C. politics, such as corrupt Liberals in the 1940s (lawyers and bribes?) and corrupt Socreds in the 1950s (kickbacks on forest licences) and the Bennett-Doman scandal followed by Vander Zalm in the 1980s and then a variety of screwups by the NDP in the 1990s (eg Raiwind Power in Pakistan) but I agree with Alex that nothing comes near to what the Campbell Liberals did after 2001.
Someone should write a book eh, but there may be just too much info to adequately report on. Some scams we may never know. about.
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Gordo started earlier than that.
I understand that during and after he was mayor of Vancouver, he and Jack Poole (think: Poole Construction & Daon Developments) aquired 99 year land leases on city-owned land at dollar store prices in order to build non-market housing for the working poor, in what was then a very tight market. Care to guess how much lower than market the rents were?
One of these properties is a highrise on the southwest corner of Seymour & Drake. Another is a condo-style complex on the south side of east 1st. shortly before you get to the freeway access.
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Correct on all counts.
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It’s amazing why the MSM couldn’t /can’t see the small snowball starting its descent down the hill above, and understand the physics of exponential sizing as gravity excellerates the said snowball. Amazing stuff Alex!
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D.G.B. the MSM is bought and paid for by the handlers/supporters of the present occupants in Victoria. Advertising revenue trumps reporting for the MSM. The added bonus is the number of fired/retired/spouses working in the Ledg. that are a ‘firewall’ for any negative reporting by their respective mates/spouses.
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Sooo true! Unfortunately.
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Help me out, Alex. Why is the Official Opposition not demanding an investigation? Clearly the MSM isn’t going to. You’re on fire (in a good way!)
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Most disappointingly, Adrian is playing possum, preferring to watch the BC Liberals collapse on their own.
This is leadership?
Cummins was great for about a week and then back to turtling.
This is leadership?
Pfft!
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So I noticed. John’s people are too worried about the NDP “threat” This is not behavior that I expect from someone wanting to supplant the Liberals. The NDP have released a few requests asking for answers as hve the Conservatives, but you are the only popular figure trying to bring these “contemptables” to account.
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alex i am curious, what would you have dix or cummins do?
they have been asking the questions that have put telus,email-gate and some other stories int he news, what realistically can they do further than that to harm the liberals if the main stream media wants to turn a blind eye?
they dont have the authority (yet) to call an inquiry into anything that has been happening, so is it not really up to the media to get the story to the people and let them put pressure on the government?
the internet is spreading the word from the various blogs, recall was tried and failed. are we not just in a holding pattern until the next election at this point unless some liberal mla’s suddenly find some morals?
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They should be human quote machines.
A comment on EVERY scandal and problem-du-jour.
Email blasts and quick hit teams. The BC Conservatives were going great and then no more press blasts or public statements on the various scandals.
Terrible.
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Doing politics differently is still alive and well in the Victoria NDP even though they changed the leader, so there has yet to be a question about what Clark talked about when she met India’s Consul-General, and not a peep about her winning the leadership thanks largely to dubious bulk signups in the Indo-Canadian community.
The NDP are playing it safe – they have a lead in the polls so don’t want to rock the boat, and they probably do not want to be rid of a leader they know they can beat in the next election so there’s not been a single call from them for Clark to resign.
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“…not a peep about her winning the leadership thanks largely to dubious bulk signups in the Indo-Canadian community”
Unless AGT is completely wrong about Dix’s own signup practices (which I doubt), that’s one stone he’d better not throw.
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The only thing I didn’t report on the mass, ILLEGAL sign ups for Dix, was the Indo family name that committed to such acts, because the son is a good friend of mine, who I think will make a good public servant.
Sometimes, even I’m conflicted. Plus, there was a death in the family during the week I did that piece and I jut didn’t like rubbing them the wrong way like that.
But please don’t tell anybody that I’m not a heartless asshole. You’ll ruin my image.
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What about talking to the media about what is going on? It wouldn’t be hard for either Dix or Cummins to publicly speak to reporters. Get their staff to do this as well. Number two: To sit there and go after each other is counterproductive regardless of personal misgivings. Thaese can be addressed at a later date when the Libs are sent packing.
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So Alex, I noticed in the link about Blackcom Aviation, that the big Liberal Donor and supporter, Chairman of CN Rail, David McLean happens to own the Airline. Both his sons, run the airline. Now, I just happen to notice that one of his son’s until very recently was also on the board of directors of the VPD. Given the time line of when he was appointed or selected for the board, he was probably appointed back in the days when el gordo was running the province. Thinking out loud for a moment. One can only assume that he was appointed due to the family & liberal connections and not just based on merit. May be a nice guy, educated and all, young business man, but seeing who his father is, one can only wonder.
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Jason McLean was indeed a provincial appointment. The McLeans and the Campbells are extremely close.
He is a trained lawyer and former Board of Trade Chair.
NOT ONE appointment he has ever had was based on merit. Not one. He is a charter member of ‘The Lucky Sperm Club’.
And he enjoys every minute of it.
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As would I (probably) if I hadn’t been indentured to the Wally Gage Benevolent Fund. Back in those days, when you had to WORK to pay for your education, you couldn’t WAIT to get out and earn a buck. Twentyone/two years of penury was about all you could take!
Oh, how I wish I could have sailed through on an expense paid vacation to become a doctor, lawyer, Indian Chief. Or political appointee.
On second thought, I’d rather be me.
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Maybe it’s time to make an appointment… and hold those lucky eggs up to a flame – candle them to see what’s there, and as necessary, fry up some million egg omlettes!
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Alex — Please help me understand why the McLeans are supporters of CC. Is it only the fed liberal connection? It seems odd to me that Christy’s crew was leaking docs to Omnitrack (CN’s competitor in the BC Rail deal) and yet the CN Chair is supporting Christy. I am missing something?
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Yes, the key piece: ONE prominent member of her inside political circle of influence was also leaking intel directly to David McLean.
His name is Patrick Kinsella. He was double dipping: consulting for both CN and BC Rail. McLean and Clark are from two opposite sides of the federal Liberals, however, federal Grits often have NO SHAME and will cavort with each other so long as the publicly-funded gravy train is filled the the rim and the ladle is solid gold–they’ll take that too. Everyone eats!
BTW, here’s one of my favorite jokes about a gravy ladle…..
John invited his mother over for dinner. During the meal, his mother couldn’t help noticing how attractive and shapely the housekeeper was. Over the course of the evening, she started to wonder if there was more between John and the housekeeper than met the eye. Reading his mom’s thoughts, John volunteered, “I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, my relationship with my housekeeper is purely professional.”
About a week later, the housekeeper came to John and said, “Ever since your mother came to dinner, I’ve been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don’t suppose she took it, do you?” John said, “Well, I doubt it, but I’ll write her a letter just to be sure.”
So he sat down and wrote:
“Dear Mother, I’m not saying you ‘did’ take a gravy ladle from my house, and I’m not saying you ‘did not’ take a gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.” Several days later, John received a letter back from his mother:
Dear Son, I’m not saying that you ‘do’ sleep with your housekeeper, and I’m not saying that you ‘do not’ sleep with your housekeeper. But the fact remains that if you were sleeping in your own bed, you would have found the gravy ladle by now.”
Love, Mom.
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LOL!!!!
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Wonderful…but mainly because it strikes me as something my own mother would have done/said!
And thanks for the clarification. I have to stop thinking logically when considering how the BC Libs and their federally cousins work. Looking forward to more.
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Hi Alex,
Good grief! does it never end.? It would seem the good Dr. is a perfect match for the liberals, you can see why they would want to keep him in the loop, and the meteoric rise of Mr. Sharma is something to behold.
I hope the Conservatives and NDP are keeping hard copies of your blog for future reference, as so far they or the media have done a very poor job of keeping the public informed.
Every day this week your blog has been a carbon copy of a “Yes Minister” script.
For the benefit of the 25% still supporting these dunces, “Yes Minister” is a satire (= funny) based on an inefective politician and a manipulative ministerial assistant. Does this look familiar.? It’s neither a documentary or educational programming.
Rant over Alex, this is getting to be too much.
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sheesh,the hemlock has not worked,i can only hope another try?
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ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!
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Good Michael Smythe column in the Province. He must read your blog…
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Mike’s a very good guy and works hard at keeping the government’s feet to the fire.
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Alex,
was it wrong for me to have beermailed C. Clark last night post pub crawl to fire her and demand she call an election immediately?
They say alcohol and the internet don’t mix but it felt strangely OK….
have a great weekend!
Ms. K
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That made me strangely warm somehow…
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Well, I had every intent of addressing the holiday with various extracts from some Irish poems, tales, sayings etc., but had to cancel on the idea of wishing a Happy S***t P*****k’s day, knowing from previous experience that it may be seen as trying to inculcate these innocent minds into the stifling deprecations of *****tianity. Instead, I am happy to report that over at SDA is a story of a school teacher in Massachusetts who insisted on renaming said holiday (not an official holiday you understand) to O’Green’s Day! A month earlier (Feb. 14) the same lady decided that the unofficial holiday should be known as “Caring and Kindness Day” , isn’t that nice?!!!!!! That way it wouldn’t detract from the “Wearin’ o’ the Pink” day.! Anyhow, hope everyone was Irish for a day!
Nonetheless, being as this expresses more the occult or mystic side of the Irish experience and imagination, how about this warning of “….. tales of faery lights that shone on the darksome bogs and glensides to lure men to folly and destruction”.
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Sir Lawrence! HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY, buddy!
That woman was revealed to be part of the Occupest movement. There is no other explanation for being that stupid.
Maybe she hasn’t been occupied for awhile. It always helps….
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I have some Big Pink for her… always willing to be of service.
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Good Lord!
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It would only take a wee leprechaun and the promise of a pot o’ gold!
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AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Priceless.
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Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!
Good one Larry.
I hear from reliable sources in the leprechaun community that they are pissed with Crusty for telling all those fairy tales – she’s infringing on leprechaun territory!
In the real world, Crusty “Wearin’ o’ the Pink” from me, would be about as probable as her capturing a leprechaun – especially these days.
Her luck has run out!
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It’s funny how the comments stop when the Canucks game starts, with a couple of posts after the first period and pick up again after the game ends.
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My commenters are mostly average joes and josies; good honest hard working folks that love intelligent conversation. And hockey! LOL!
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Alex, your work seems to be paying off. New poll has the BC Christy Party down by 14 pts.
http://therealstory.ca/2012-03-17/bc-politics/new-poll
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As one well-known member of the MSM put it to me in an email yesterday:
“Do you realize how many people read you? We have people in the news room that hate your guts but really respect your work. I can’t remember the last time I heard that about anybody and I’m in this almost twenty five years. We get emails and calls every week from people all over the province that demand we cover your stories. I think you just might be the only independent news source in the Lower Mainland. You’re influence on Christy’s downfall is huge. Well done Alex.”
Which makes me proud, but on the other hand, will force me to start using spellcheck…LOL!
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The public has been very manipulated by msm…..this is highly entertaining and informative.
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ha ha ha ha thats hilarious.
It takes an independant blogger to get these lazy pricks in the media to do their jobs……Because the public is demanding it ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahaaha
And the media moan and wail because their subscriptions and viewers are leaving in droves. Cant see the forest for the trees. Or in this case, the “Scandals for the Lies”. Time for them to turn their backs on the all mighty advertising dollar and report the truth? GASP! What a concept.
I wont hold my breath.
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Looks like I’m going to spend tomorrow afternoon email blasting every NDP mla and all those would-be BC Conservatives to get up off of their complacent fat backsides and start screaming about this. I want something done about this NOW, not two years or ten years from now. I’m sick and tired of living with this corrupt banana republic bunch and their mafia queen. It makes me want to puke thinking my hard earned tax dollars are being squandered on these jackasses who are so intent on cheating everyone in this province >:(
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Morn’n Alex…it looks like someone at The Province paper has been visiting your site…found below the Telus story….
http://www.theprovince.com/business/Telus+exceeds+criteria+Place+naming+deal+Government+report/6319932/story.html
Nice to see them pick up YOUR story/work…at least they could have credited the source. Mind…maybe we should be celebrating as it appears they are ever so slowlyyy waking up!
Great work!
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Thanks, yes, Mike is doing a fine job in asking the questions that needs to be asked.
Notice that Rishi Sharma is not being fired. In the old days, when some ethical standards existed, Sharma would have had his ass handed to him.
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So why was ICBC on the list of possible sponsors / names for BC Place. Government paying government with our $.
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CORRECT! Glad I’m not the only one to talk about that!!! Outrageous!
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I went to a jr hockey game in the saddle dome in Calgary. I did not notice one Alberta government entity advertising on the boards.
Here – what do we see? (or have we seen – they might not all advertise all the time) BC Lotto, ICBC, BC Ferries, BC Hydro.
So we’re using our money (either in the form of tax or the premiums and user fees paid to BC Hydro, etc.) to a captive audience, comprised of us in support of a supposedly “free” enterprise.
What is wrong with this picture?
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http://therealstory.ca/2012-03-13/bc-politics/ten-more-reasons-the-telus-deal-collapsed
LOL!
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Ian Reid is one of my favorite people.
Absolutely love the guy, even on the rare occasion when he’s wrong. LMAO!
This link above has to rank as one of the best online offerings on the BC Libs I’ve ever read.
CLASSIC!
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“Hello Christy, this is Pat. I wanted to talk to you about the naming rights at BC Place.
Pat, why call me? That is a bad sign!
Good idea, boss! I’ll run with it!”
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http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2011TRAN0008-000064.htm
well look at that, the guy resposible for so many of the misleading pro liberal radio adds is being appointed to boards by the liberals.
nope, no corruption here. ROFL
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As one member of BC Liberal caucus recently put it to me: “Hockstein is a fucking joke. He’s so over-the-top no one takes him seriously anymore.”
‘Nough said…
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WHITEROCKJ says: ” … misleading …”
What exactly do you find “misleading” about the ads?
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how about sponsoring radio adds during the recall in victoria warning people not to give their personal information to recall canvasser’s because they might use it for other things.
heres a clue… elections bc gives the voters list to the the people running the recall… they allready have that information.
but hey, its not like he was trying to scare people by leaving that part out right?
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WHITEROCKJ says: ” heres a clue… elections bc gives the voters list to the the people running the recall… they allready have that information.”
Really? The way I understood it, the canvassers had to gather that information from those signing the petition. From:
http://www.asianjournal.ca/dec%2010_10/news_round20.html
“ … stoprecall.ca” encourages voters not to sign the petition because doing so “means giving your name, your signature, and your phone number to people you don’t know.”
“That is a ludicrous statement given that Elections BC requires this information and given that canvassers are required by law not to use the voters’ information for any other purpose but Recall,” said Vander Zalm.”
And we all know, in BC, all use of all information is lawful … because if it wasn’t it would be unlawful.
BTW: The BC libs called my phone number for the 7th time this month yesterday … but at least I know they are lawfully annoying me.
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http://www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/referenda-recall-initiative/recall/faqs/
A10. Will I have access to the voters list?
Yes. The proponent and the MLA are provided with lists of individuals who were registered voters for the electoral district on General Voting Day during the last general election. The Recall Voters Lists show the names and addresses of voters who are currently registered and names of voters who are no longer registered voters.
you understood wrong, the only information the canvasser’s did not have when they went to peoples door was thier phone number (used by elections bc to confirm people actually signed). not surprising, as i pointed out that there were misleading radio advertisements.
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I know I’m flogging a very dead horse here, but the pdf of the focus group sessions on Smythe’s column (http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/85747854?access_key=key-yxe91my236mwjpntcjw) says: total cost of the project is fixed at $458 million. (page 8)
If the cost was fixed, why can’t we recoup the additional $100 million that the ugly dead spider cost us?
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Change orders approved by the board would legal cover the contractor in case of a lawsuit.
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http://www.vancouversun.com/news/certified+schools+open+China+Abbott/6321289/story.html
Oh George………weren’t you supposed to be finding a mediator here in BC?
Maybe he forgot what his job was. More international students………………..oh joy………just what the system needs.
He couldn’t find Gandhi so maybe a Chinese party official?
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Ha ha — great, more international students with fake ‘straight A’s’ to come over and bump Canadian kids from spots at university — money talks…
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I hope Mr. Dix wakes up soon,THIS IS EXACTLY WHY THE NDP LOST THE LAST ELECTION AND CAROLE JAMES LOST THE LEADERSHIP…….just keep sitting on your asses and do nothing it works wonders eh
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COMPLETE AGREEMENT!
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This release from the government today is extremely troubling …I would be interested to hear your take on this Alex.
“This is a real win-win for Chinese students and B.C.’s K-12 system.”
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2012EDUC0026-000314.htm
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It’s simple: the Campbell government didn’t want our children to be able to afford anything in Vancouver, West Vancouver or Richmond.
Clark is extending that ban to the entire Lower Mainland.
Mission Accomplished. Abbott is a FOOL!
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Abbot and pals are out selling curriculum that BC teachers designed and produced. Hope teachers clue up on this.
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I hope so too!
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they know………..remember the Union has already lost a great deal of its power to the Ministry of Education over the last 10 years ( in spite of the media hype to the contrary ) – the MInistry has been calling all the shots- that’s why “non-militant” teachers have become “militant” over the last few weeks and now are willing to “fight the Mussolini-like control” ( allegedly that lovely man was one of christy’s earlier inspirations- go figure)
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Maybe Abbott is re-gifting a Trojan Horse filled with useless fluff produced by BC teachers.
But, I’m not sure we should be so eager to export an atmosphere of entitlement to China.
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Your readership numbers are very impressive Alex. The MSM are probably glued to your site 24/7. Looks like your doing a great job of filling the gap following the demise of Public Eye on-line. All the best Alex. Please keep up the good work.
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Thanks, will do.
Not sure about the high compliment about Public Eye. For it’s time, particularly in the beginning, I would rank it with some of the best journalism this province will ever see. But then Sean changed, and so did PEO.
I have refrained from commenting publicly because I am thoroughly conflicted between the deepest, personal admiration I have for Sean, his exceedingly wonderful wife, the immense sacrifices he made to speak truth to the lies of this government–that have devastated the province, and his incessant back-stabbing of me to various mainstream journos.
For me, loyalty is returned as it is served. But I couldn’t do it to him, so I simply wish him well and hope he’s not teaching his students at U Vic to be cowards–in the mold of most members of the current Victoria Press Gallery. Sean had an opportunity to drive right into the belly of the beast and he sat there instead preferring to rest on previous laurels and talk about Campbell’s home value on the Sunshine Coast.
It’s demonstrative of the problem with the MSM today: they get worked up about the most inconsequential things because they want advertisers–any and all, to appear. In the good days, when we really had a press, it was the reverse: you put out good product and money came. CanWest really destroyed this and their angel of death was Dennis Skulsky, that biased, miserable little pig that’s now running the Lions.
Anyway, I suppose I’ve gone off a little here, but I guess I’m just really frustrated because right now Holman could be pummeling these bastards.
Then again, most of them were his pals from young Liberal days. Thus the soft glove on Christy on his way out.
Thanks again.
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Wow!
What a respectful, emotional yet focused bit of writing about the PEO & Sean – and doing the right thing!
Right on so many levels – raising cowards indeed!
Thank you Alex.
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Really excellent piece Alex – though I must say that personally – I am long past sick of these people–though they are instant fodder for some great articles from you.
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Hi Alex,
I found Adrian Dix`s email here it is adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca Just finished sending him an email, along with the link to this page. I told him that he, or his staff should do some grunt work, by going through this blog. Also told him there are a lot of people who would like to see the NDP go after the Liberals, and Clark. Tthe people have a right to know what is going on. And for his party to show some balls and make a stand. There are too many instances of corruption going on, for the NDP to just be sitting there. Yes, it will be ugly, but if he wants the job, show us something. Maybe some of the other people here can e-mail him as well.
Thank you for all that you have done
Regards,
Kerry McAllister
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Where the h3!! is Adrian Dix in all of this? He’s doing the same thing as Carole James when she lead the NDP and that’s absolutely nothing. Time to grow a pair and hammer the Liberals over this issue.
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