The Enbridge 1,2,3,4,5; the BCMA and the LDB: Christy Clark’s Alphabet Soup–Another Fine Mess…
1) What could possibly be more obvious that Christy Clark is totally unqualified to be Premier, than her govt’s complete inability to understand the Enbridge issue–and her REFUSAL to intervene on principle. With these absurdly obvious 5 points released today, Minister Terry Lake is literally ADMITTING that there will be a leak, spill or breakage of the line and wants great environmental safeguards. EXCUSE ME? That’s why I’m absolutely against this damn pipeline anyway. And yet the Premier is, and again, hiding on the issue. It’s really simple folks. The five point plan is nonsense. Alberta will whine, but eventually give up more money as they know if they don’t deal with the Dummy now, Dix will surely be impossible to handle. But frankly, I’m with the NDP on this one. The Enbridge proposal is so obviously wrong, it defies logic to be defending it. I’m all for getting the tar sands bitumen to port–SOMEHOW, there are many, less troubling ways available. But it’s Clark’s lack of leadership that’s at issue here. No real proposals, no serious thought, no realistic answers. The Premier of Alberta Alison Redford hammering Christy’s lack of a position? Ezra Levant on national TV, ripping her for being wishy-washy? All true and all legitimate criticism, but once again, Clark can’t lead because she doesn’t know how. The secret trip and associated shenanigans with her visit to Alberta’s capital are still reverberating throughout Edmonton and here in Victoria. What a joker she is! Aren’t you proud?
2) What the hell is going on between the British Columbia Medical Association (BCMA) and this govt??? How many swindles are we to be subjected to?! Let’s do some quick math:
In the new agreement with the BCMA…
- PMA contains $4 Billion in annual funding x 4 year term = $16 Billion!
- BCMA voting conducted and counted in private by Allan Seckel–of BC Rail fame, who is now running the BCMA.
- Decisions and all public communications regarding the PMA will be controlled by the Physician Services Committee, chaired by Seckel, working with his BC Rail friend Graham Whitmarsh.
Section 6.3(c) of the PMA).
“This will improve the efficiency and efficacy of joint communications by the parties.” LOL! Are these jokers kidding?
Who’s interests are being served by the $16 Billion PMA to an organization that is nothing more than a lobby group–but NOT NECESSARILY for doctors? You don’t have to be a member and the BCMA don’t release specific stats on the number of doctors that are members. Worse yet, this govt only recognizes the BCMA, at the exclusion of paramedics, anesthesiologists, etc.
Disgraceful!
3) How on earth can this govt not hang its collective head in shame? Exel, a bidder that was revealed to have CABINET LEVEL influence in the privatization of the LDB is one of the short listed companies. Rather than be disqualified, in this govt’s rationale, they should be sent through to the next round. And who else? Container World, owned by Dennis Chrismas, long time backer of the BC Liberals. As I reported before, watch what happens: Container World will win and then be bought out by Exel six months later. Game, set, Kinsella…
4) So…guess where the Premier had dinner to start her weekend–after another embarrassment, except this time in Edmonton? Well, she and Pamela Martin (in a beautiful pink dress) were spotted by one of my humble organs, dining at the exclusive and ultra-posh Terminal City Club. Throughout the dialogue Clark was heard to pepper conversation with her brother Bruce’s name. He’s apparently doing a great deal to ready the party for election, including communicating with Sara the Gum on all sorts of matters. The Premier was loud and animated and their conversation could be heard across the room. Two RCMP guards waited patiently outside while Pammy and Dummy dined. Honestly, can you imagine anyone from Bennett on down to Campbell being so indiscreet? No? Me neither. What an embarrassment.
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It’s already Tuesday, so we’ll push off the BC Rail razzle-dazzle off to Wednesday and give you double shot that will include the left wing radicalization of Vancouver by Vision–and how this will significantly hurt us for decades.
While the NPA sleeps…
STAY TUNED…I still have the Campbell BC Rail post to do. I promise you’ll love it!
Be safe out there.
Here’s the answer to Enbridge, IMHO .. if this is such a federal gold mine, why don’t they simply run the pipeline over to the Hudson’s Bay or Lake Superior instead? The land East though the Prairies is mostly flat and wouldn’t cause such a challenge to build .. but make sure the line snakes it way past the Parliament buildings in Ottawa first before it hits any shipping port. If Ontario has such a huge deficit they really could use the jobs!!
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Bang on, Janos, especially when you consider the future of the tar sands in Saskatchewan. They can share a pipeline east or even a refinery or two. Keep the jobs and oil in Canada, temper the production to meet domestic needs and export only excess. China is not buying up tar sands companies because Canada is a good place to invest, they are only interested in China’s future. Who is looking out for Canada’s future?
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Totally agree with you, Robert ..here we are two strangers who collectively can come up with an alternative game plan that makes sense. It really isn’t that hard, Chrusty!!
Here is another diddy that is showing who gets what ..
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/bc-pegs-tax-benefit-from-northern-gateway-pipeline-at-67-billion-163513796.html
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My prediction is that Alberta oil will soon be going south to Texas after Keystone II is approved. There is nothing like US concern about “oil security” (read “national security” ) to sell US voters on a pipeline from Canada.
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Bravo!!
” but make sure the line snakes it way past the Parliament buildings in Ottawa first before it hits any shipping port. If Ontario has such a huge deficit they really could use the jobs!! ”
This gave me a good chuckle =)
May I share your post with my face book group ‘Pipe Up Against Enbridge’ ?
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Ms Alberta, said No. Miss BC,said we want more money.
Is this just a big joke Alex?
Thanks Mr White.
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Frankly, yes. It certainly seems that way to me.
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On principle I do agree with this position. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. If BC has to take a ton of risk then they should get a big cut of the action. BC also has to look at the alternatives as the oil could be shipped over rail and truck to the coast without BC having much say in the risks as that is allowed today. If the pipeline negotiations get bogged down in a cat fight all the red tape might make rail and truck tankers look like a cheaper and less onerous alternative leaving BC in the dust.
What I don’t feel comfortable with is CC’s negotiating skills as it appears this is way above her and her adviser’s pay grades. She appears to have her strategy ass backwards with the options scratched out between her and Pamela on the back of the picture of the kid who came with the Gucci wallet Pamela just purchased at Holt Renfrew. Too many bad cooks with no chef.
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Gucci wallets don’t come with such pictures.
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Haha…….. only the knockoffs
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Yes. CC is a “broken clock”.
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It is not economical to ship tarsands crude by rail or tanker truck. If it were, it would happen (why else spend 6 billion on a pipeline to do it?). Too much poor quality crap at low price going too far.
Cheers!
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I’m not convinced of that…I’m speaking to two professors at UBC and Queens respectively, who have different opinions.
More to come on that.
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Actually, STP-McKay thermal oilsands in Alberta has just contracted CN Rail to deliver bitumen to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Southern+Pacific+hires+Rail+bitumen+Gulf+Coast/6850841/story.html
And CP Rail/BNSF are now shipping ~25% of the daily 500,000+ crude oil production from the Bakken field in North Dakota.
http://www.energyandcapital.com/articles/the-bakken-rail-industry/2338
CN is also touting its “Pipeline On Rail” shipping platform.
http://www.cn.ca/en/shipping-north-america-crude-by-rail.htm
In fact, both CN and CP have been looking at shipping Albertan bitumen to the west coast. All CN needs to do is construct a ~$300 million tanker farm in Prince Rupert.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/cn-cp-eye-shipping-oil-to-west-coast/article563560/
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Rail would certainly circumvent native land claims, though the ocean concerns would still exist. If a southern route is safer, run the tankers through Roberts Bank.
Rail also would remove the extra revenues coming our way via pipeline construction and right-of-way rental. (I guess we’d make a bit off taxing the port workers and the extra staff needed to run the trains and maintain the rails and machinery.)
Rail gets rid of the need to use the toxic thinners that are needed in pipeline shipping. This is a $ saving as well.
If the oil HAS to go, I say do it by rail.
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Some say that one of the reasons Obama is delaying Keystone is to buy his buddy Buffet who is shipping oil by rail some extra time and revenues.
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More conspiracies…c’mon, you’re better than that…
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The reason Obama has put a hold on Keystone XL is because he knows approving effectively ends any minute chance he has of being reelected.
Although you’re right, Buffett and his newly purchased railroads do benefit from any pipeline delays.
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Obama’s done.
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I wouldn’t be so sure of that.
If Romney was more of an common guy like Dubya was, then Obama would be done. But as long as Mitt can be portrayed as a billionaire elitist, then Obama has a chance, regardless of his pitiful performance the last four years.
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If Obama can’t win Virginia, Maine, Ohio and Florida, he’s done.
Just watch.
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The war of words between the two premiers in a word: contrived. What a sadly scripted display after CC’s clandestine meeting to set this up.The harder CC pretends, the worse it will get for her when she ultimately “loses.” Not only do environmentally conscious people not care about the money, BC Liberal money does not translate into a better quality of life for British Columbians. There is no way to spin a win for the BC Liberals out of this vaudeville act.
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Let me tell you.
I spoke to someone very close to Redford. She’s not bullshitting at all. She’s turned on Christy, big time, because negotiating major agreements shouldnt happen in the headlines.
Typical Clark–federal Liberal style. Remember Chretien dealing with Quebec? Or Martin on transfer payments?
Same story–PATHETIC.
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Good to know, Alex. This makes perfect sense. “Playing along” with someone as ill-fated and pathetic as CC would be a dumb move. I did think that the statement by the Saskatchewan Premier, as the other leader to receive a clandestine meeting from CC, fit right in to what I was surmising. Of course, just because Redford is too smart to follow CC’s script or accept a part in her badly written reality show doesn’t mean she didn’t try! lol To see which news stories her ex and her campaign manager selectively tweet is very telling (I should say affirming as it’s pretty obvious long before) what the ‘strategy’ is. Funny, too, how most of the media just follow along. That’s why we value this site. Each day you’re away makes me happy for you and your family but there’s literally nowhere to go read what’s really going on in the province. You now have many of us reading the MSM for entertainment and to compare what ISN’T written but the pickings are slim. Job security and kudos, Alex!
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Thanks.
Trust me, there is no conspiracy between any of them. christy has really but the big one in this.
Please don’t make me give you the lecture about conspiracy theories. I’m currently under attack by that insane asshole Over at the water war crimes site, who I’m considering suing.
Stop with the conspiracies, please.
Christy is totally adrift and you will see soon enough how badly.
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That’s what we count on you for!
You have a lot of readers and commenters so i dont expect you to remember my past comments about human nature, subcultural groupthink in organizations, or politics and campaigning being all about appearances or messaging but that IS the extent of my conspiracy theories. We are all students of BC politics in this regard… and oh how I look forward to being proven out of my depths on this one. 
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C’mon, you’re brighter than that.
You honestly believe there was a snowball’s chance in hell of Alison shilling for Christy?!
Not on your life.
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Yes I do remember Martin and the health transfer payments.
That’s what STARTED the health care mess in BC in the first place.
You can thank the Martinites for that one.
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this one is not going away alex.
CC wants this in the headlines as it serves 2 purposes at once.
1- it deflects the spotlight away from LDB and/or the liberal blunder of the day (and there seems to be a new blunder for each day of the week)
2- it is an issue that will bring people back to the party… as long as she does not voice that she is for or against, and continues to try to blackmail Alberta rather than try to work out a solution.
CC is giving the false impression that she is standing up for BC, problem being that if she does not make a decision before the next election… who is going to vote for a cheerleader who cant even make a major public policy decision, so any support she might gain in the sort term will be fleeting.
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No she’s not! Nobody’s falling for it.
It’s been so badly rolled out, she’s blow tantrums over why the press isn’t falling into her gaze when she says she’s in it for the people. Total bullshit. No one is buying it.
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So, Bruce is working for the party now? I wonder if you could get a FOI to see what he’s making?
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That’s a good question!
What’s worse is if he’s NOT working for the party.
Who’s paying him? He’s not providing such brilliant advice for free, is he?
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FOIs don’t apply to political parties as they are private (not government). If untrue, I’d like to see an FOI from the NDP too.
I figure this. He’s being “paid” by the BC Liberal’s fundraising arm. This was done a few times by the fundraising arm of the BC Social Credit Party. It’s not all that uncommon, the NDP does that too but under different ways and means. It’s conveniently burying the pay out to someone that does not show up in Accounting with the office headquarters. So technically this person is part of the party apparatchik and is a part of the Politburo but is not an employee as would a paid organizer would be.
in regards to the other question..
What brillant advice? Bruce hasn’t had a real job in the private business world for a very long time.
As to how much, anything over $2.00 above minimum wage would be too much to pay out to him.
It’s going to be interesting to see how he handles those ridings that are winnable (under normal circumstanes) that are now cookling off because of Christy and the incumbent MLAs walking out the door.
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Same level of expertise as used in the Trassolini recruitment?
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Yup! Good memory.
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Wasn’t Bruce’s last real job the CEO of Canada Payphone Corporation? One of the major players in this company was Pat Kinsella.
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They were both very involved but Bruce Clark has done many things since then.
Erik Bornmann claims he bribed Dave Basi.
Wouldn’t you like to ask Mr. Clark, under oath, if that’s true?
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Yes, I would love it if he were asked that question, but rather come from me……… I think it should be asked by the lawyer that juggles grenades for fun.
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Actually from what I have seen in the past Bruce might be a good horsetrader, you just dont know what farm he is working for and might never find out.
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or what end of the horse he has expertise with.
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Um…if Bruce is working for the party, I don’t believe those affairs are subject to FOI. FOI only applies to government dealings, not those of “private associations” (which the parties are).
Cheers!
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Christy mentioned to Pamela that Bruce was speaking to Sara with respect to Enbridge.
Really? What about? And why is he speaking to her about it? Is he a pipeline expert?
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That’s a new detail. If a lobbyist is speaking with Dummy’s inner circle then that is a whole different kettle of fish (Bubble bubble toil and trouble..)
Cheers!
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Was this secret dinner at the Terminal Club the night of the Neil
Diamond concert? If so, where did they get the tickets from?
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I don’t know if they went.
And I don’t care. I just like to know how much influence her unelected brother Bruce has in this govt.
He was referred to as a key in the LDB transaction. Clear as a bell, with the Premier being awfully loud about it.
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Pammy went to the Neil Diamond concert for sure…I saw the tweet from Idiotic Ida Chong about it. Said some about tickets from the United Way….
One day Christy will learn that “loose lips sink ships”. She should go back to holding her secret meetings at the Helijet.
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Ida Chong can’t shut up on Twitter. I noticed the night of the David Foster show she’s tweeting away in the middle of it. Found that very unprofessional for a politician at such a classy event to be so obsessed with letting everyone know that you were there. Another overpaid Christy pumper who will lose next election.
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One of the worst.
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She can’t keep a secret to save her life.
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I wonder if Neil did Walk on Water. If so it probably got some excitement from Pam and Christy
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RCMP guards? Does this dim-bulb actually think that they are her praetorian guard? Who is paying for this stupidity and furthermore does anyone care anymore about what she thinks? I kind of thought that Pam and Sara were going to try and white wash this entire sordid affair.
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if i recall the premeire of bc was assigned a full time rcmp guard when someone committed an act of violence directed at gordon campbells family.
considering he was actually elected and was polling a lot higher than CC (at the time) a guard for CC is just common sense.
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Is it appropriate of a government official to be discussing details of a RFP in progress…. in public….. where everybody can hear?
Does that not taint the process?
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You bet it does.
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Dear Pam and Christy.
Shower…Shower…Shower…
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Now that I’d vote for.
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Vote at where? The Number 5 Orange? The Cecil? Drake?
I”m sure all three would take that act in to boost revenues…
The Penthouse? No, they always go for class acts.
The Patricia might take ‘em for a few night shows though.
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Isn’t it the rest of us great unwashed that need the shower to get the stench out of our nostrils?
Cheers!
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I think I’m gonna hurl…
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Hey, I’m only interested in the cleansing factor.
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The LDB deal needs to be stopped. So close to them being kicked out this should be illegal.
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The dispicable subject matter and behaviour of CC aside, I really got a chuckle over the visual of one of your ‘humble organs’ out and about on the town….great wordsmithing.
as always, Thanks Alex.
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My organs are everywhere.
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Hmmmm……
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Thats what SHE said…..
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Ya, and she said there was nothing “humble” about them – they were “spitting mad!”
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Oh, good grief…LOL
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alex,
our goverment has been reduced to a monty python sketch.
and regretfully it will take decades to fix if ever.
and yes alex i am still politically homeless not even a centalist shelter on the horizon.
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Don’t even believe MacGyver could do a fix on Christy’s screw ups.
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Right to the point Alex and bang on as usual no leadership from the Premiers office.
Good work!
Here’s my take : http://politicalinsider.ca/the-enbridge-project-zero-leadership-from-christy-clark/
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Alex,
Thank you so much for all you are doing for this province.
I have to admit that – as a BC doctor – I am ashamed of the BC Medical Association. You are absolutely right to take them to task.
The BCMA “used to” speak for doctors. It used to speak out for our patients, and to protect the public health care system. No more…
For the last decade, the BCMA has degenerated into a grand PR machine for the BC Liberal government. Listening to the BCMA these days, you’d think that all is well in health care. Unfortunately, our patients know better… because they’re living proof of the problems.
Our public system of medicare is being destroyed.
We don’t need more money going to the BCMA, we need honest leadership that is willing to admit the problems and fix them.
S.O.S. Health Care
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You’re most welcome.
I’ve heard from over three hundred doctors in the last two months since I did my first piece on the BCMA nonsense.
Not one supports them and every last one thinks Seckel should be fired.
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Why Christy didnt make the Enbridge announcement….. (pirated copy of her practicing her speech…)
“well, um, thanks for me being here, this is a big day for all Bitish Columbianisms.
Ya know, Liberals stand for free enterprise and um, we, um, dont want to go back to the nineties when free enterprise cost too much.
Families are what um, is important, ya know, thats um,how we all got here, ya know.
I open my cabinet al the time and i see, when its open, that we arent closed in our cabinet thinking.
We think that families are the um, most important think a, um, family can think about. We hould all do that more with our um families.
I can attestedly assure all Bitish Columbianisms that my cabinets and i are working hard for, um, you. Ya know, we understand that jobs are a big part of working. Thats not lost on us.
We stand behind, and in front, um, ya kow, we all stand togetherlike, on this issue…for um families.
Free enterprise demands us to be righteous for our decisions and um we stand before you today with our hands together,in each others pockets, to um, ya know, stand together without falling.
If you stick with us, we will stick to you as only families can stick.
Socialism has no place in a, um, pipeline.
In closing I want to assure you that our family is free enterprising itself with as much vigor as we can leading up to the next election.”
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that’s too funny (and probably accurate)
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This just reminded me of the scene at the beginning of Canadian Bacon when the president goes to the arms manufacturer to make a speech and makes a complete arse of himself. Hilarious post!
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I think that is brilliant — you actually had me guessing for a moment whether that was an actual transcript. So realish. If only you could mimic her voice too!
Cheers!
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Aha! Crispy’s speachwriter has outed himself!
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As to the dinner out…who else was with them?
If this is a private club, whose guests were they?
Who paid for the meal?
If tickets were involved, who paid for those tickets?
As to brother Bruce [of BC Rail/Basi Virk fame, and named in the admitted statement of facts as the beneficiary of, and posessor of, cabinet confidential "consolation prize" information] she has an obsessive dependence upon him to be involved as “the backroom intrigue man”. This is nepotism gone mad and clearly to the detriment of the Party and the Province.
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Just Pamela and Christy at dinner.
Pamela’s husband developer John Haibeck is a member.
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Keith Baldrey just tweeted:
On Global Noon News: Redford vs. Clark. Steel cage. No referee. #bcpoli
This should be good.
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Crusty vs. Redford………waitress vs lawyer……… the waitress just got bitch slapped!
We are doomed.
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While I don’t dispute the characterization, it seems to me that Alberta is in a rather weak position here. They/Enbridge want to build a dangerous pipeline across BC/First Nations territory. Unless Ottawa takes an extreme appropriation action, this will have to be negotiated.
Unless an alternative is chosen (sending it through a route to Vancouver/Burnaby, or to the US via Keystone which will get built, or should I say, completed), if you want to go the Northern route you will have to negotiate with BC/First Nations). And it seems highly unlikely anything can be concluded before the next election anyhow, so it is all posturing. The question is, if you are going to get BC/First Nations’ buy in, what will be the price you have to pay? I’m sure there are some risk analysts sharpening their pencils and working on this down near the Leg. in Victoria.
Cheers!
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Certainly turning into a cat fight.
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Globe and Mail headline today,” Premiers quarrel over pipeline” should read, “Bitches be trippin ova who get da dirty oil munny.”
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After reading this commentary outlining your up and coming blog posts I find this particular tweet to be disingenuous at best.. I think it is Christy’s family that benefits, not mine…
Christy Clark @christyclarkbc
At the Council of the Federation (#COF) as always my priority will be putting BC’s interests first. #bcpoli
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This entire F-N debacle is all “” Stephen F-N Harper “”…… This guy is a class ” A ” …..SOB , you can edit this , not post it what ever the truth is the truth …..It all starts with Harpers loyalties to foreigners
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You’re attack on the Prime Minister is completely asinine totally juvenile and bereft of logic or reason.
He believes in getting the oil out of the ground. And believes in the pipeline. I think that’s wrong. But to suggest he’s driving it is simple ignorance to the facts.
This is being driven by others…an I’ll get to them shortly.
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simple ignorance to suggest Harper is not one of the major players . This whole thing stinks of collusion . Clark is an idiot , simple as that .
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No it’s not.
It’s just the NDP BULLSHIT narrative reaching a feverish peak.
I’ll happily explain in tomorrow’s post.
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Hi Alex,
Thanks for highlighting the corruption at the BCMA. This is an organization that has failed me as a physician but more importantly it has failed my patients.
How is it possible that the BC Health Care Budget has doubled over the last 10 years and yet our patients are waiting twice as long for care? How can the BCMA and the Government pretend that all is well in health care when they continue to squander money and ultimately deny patients access to timely care?
The current system is unsustainable. We don’t need to add more money to the system, we need to manage it better. We need to eliminate the spending on multi-layered bureaucracy and refocus funding on front-line patient care!
Mr. Seckel has already proven his ilk in government. Now he seems intent on continuing the corruption at the BCMA.
Thanks again.
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You’re most welcome.
And thank you for doing what you do for British Columbians.
Yours is an occupation that highlights the most sacred trust between two people: A commitment to the best quality of life possible.
Bless you, and thank you.
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I completely agree with “cry for health care”. The empire building within the health authorities is out of control. Most front line health care workers figured that out long ago. The HA’s are nothing more than patronage dumping grounds for the BC Liberals. It’s shameful beyond description.
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DUMMY ALERT!!!!
christy is on CBC news now @ 2:00PM Power & Politics
She’s fighting for BC…HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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Hey Alex,
On point 3, the LDB thing. Cheer Up!
First Dummy gave you the BCRail scandal that propelled you to fame.
Now she is going to give you another story full of dirty backroom dealing — if not worse — to keep you in new stories for a good time to come. Always gotta look for that silver lining.
Why are we selling an asset for peanuts when it makes — I believe — something like $750 million a year for the government?
Does she really think that being able to bank several hundred million in the current fiscal to bring the 2012-13 deficit down is going to help her and her party look good come May 2013. Just another delusion. Talk about absurd short term thinking to the detriment of long term planning.
I think the plan can only be to leave the NDP in such a sinkhole when they take over next May (note the very short term deal with teachers and that on offer to the rest of the civil service) that people will begin looking back on the “good ole” days of Liberal prosperity and supposed fiscal rectitude by the end of 2014.
Cheers!
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Cheers indeed!
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I was shocked and appalled that the premier did not deliver this message herself, instead hiding behind Terry Lake. Sickening, sickening stuff – this will be one of the defining differences between the Liberals and the NDP, who have taken a clear stand on this issue. More importantly, it will be an issue that determines how we use our province well into the foreseeable future.
And despite all that – she hides behind a minister. Sickening.
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Ummm, a) there is nothing wrong with letting the minister responsible have the spotlight (esp. when it is a messy issue) and
b) if Dummy took the stage she might actually have said something like the (not so) parody provided above by BC Forever. If you missed it first time, go back and look. It really could be what she would have said.
Cheers!
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No doubt about it, but this is a major issue of national importance. She should have been the one running the box.
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Running the box?
Like they do on Howe Street?
The Crash Test Dummy’s entire political tenure revolves around her running her box!
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You are something else…
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Christy is on CKNW saying im standing up for BC! No one else is going to stand up for BC but me! Blah I am so sick of this sociopath.
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Christy has blown the Enbridge matter so badly, there are no words to describe the nightmare she’s created for herself–and the province!
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Let me complete your unfinished word. I believe “tm” is missing where there is a space
.
Just curious. It seems this is all just playing for time to see if somehow somone else is going to call the shots (whether the NDP government to come saying NO or Ottawa pushing it — but I don’t see how they get around the Native land claims issues).
I’m not sure there is any “good” position to take — other than no way, no how. Or promote the alternate route that is already in place with the crude going to Vancouver/Burnaby (although not so thrilled by that either, but at least they seem to have everything in place already — however, one big earthquake and you got not a leak, leaks all over the place that will be uncontrollable).
What are the views out there on what would be the best approach to take?? Alex? If she has “blown” it, what should she have done? Just say NO?
Not so cheerful.
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Firstly, she should be saying a flat ‘No!’ to a pipeline by Enbridge–at least! Their record is shoddy and that proposal is extremely dangerous; rife with potential disaster scenarios. Secondly, she should NOT be negotiating in the media!!! This is sheer INSANITY! She should have called for a summit in Victoria or flown to Edmonton, with federal and provincial negotiators and ironed out a deal–but one that encompasses the highly sensible position (surprisingly–pleasantly so!) taken by the BC Conservatives–what’s the long-game here? We need a framework on ALL types of deals such as these.
Lastly, she shouldn’t be waffling on doing HER JOB! What kind of a COMPLETE IDIOT claims that another Premier should be negotiating our deal for us???
Christy is so out of her league that words cannot describe the stupidity she demonstrates through this process.
FOR SHAME! Someone put this woman out of her misery and launch a mutiny! For the good of the province! We are being humiliated by her!!!
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Not only that, she has antagonized our neighbors. She loves a fight and this is right up her alley. However, anyone in her position should have some diplomacy, but she has learned, as you say, at the hands of Martin and Chretian. This definitely should have been done in a private setting, but Snookie does love the limelight. Hopefully she has ticked off Harper enough that there will be no farewell gift for her when she finally goes. She is such an embarrassment – who would have voted for her – oh, right, we didn’t.
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It is abundantly clear that the BC Fibs are tacking left, again. Good luck with that as far as forming govt goes, but it just might save them from a rout. With Sun News now dumping on Chrispy they will completely lose whats left of the conservative vote, so it actually makes a little sense to see if they can save their left flank and wind up in opposition. It is interesting to see that Sun is now giving Mr Cummins some airtime. That alone speaks volumes.
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Do we need to re-visit the Rowell-Sirois Report? Do our politicians know what that is?
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Good God. So much squabbling day in day out throughout Canada.
At this pace, it’ll take a thousand years for Vancouver, BC and Canada to again be world-class.
Politicians: get together, prioritize the issues, brain-storm, agree on the best route to take and take it. In other words, earn your pay. We, the citizens of Canada, are bored of (and embarrassed by) watching you all run around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off. We are also most DEFINITELY sick and tired of paying you to do so.
Your behaviour reflects our country. If you have no answers then fuck off to make room for those that might.
For Christ sakes anyway.
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Oil and Natural Gas are the best justification for the amalgamation of BC and Alberta into one superpower province!. The prospect of Redford as first premier is the second best!
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Uhm B.C. and Alberta are about as far apart ideologically as Texas and California.
If all we are looking for is economic gain why doesn’t B.C. Join Bahrain??,
Our history, ethnic make up, and ideals are very different than Alberta.
“Their not quite our sorts dear”, to quote an earlier premier.
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The thought of Pammy and Christy dinning together to discuss anything but Fluff is mind-boggling
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it does explain why pammy got hired though.
CC needed someone to dine with that she could talk to and not feel stupid and ill informed.
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I was involved in some negotiations some time back in which a member of the opposing side was overheard making the comment, “If you can’t beat ‘em with brains baffle them with bullshit. This was preceeded by an hours-long diatribe that ventured off on so many tangents you’d think you were dealing with an octupus.
Seems to be this is the mantra of the Libs. Let’s give them so much crap they won’t be able to keep up. Teachers, BCCL, LDB, Secret Meetings, Exhorbitant Management salaries, etc. There have been so many issues of late which would have, in the past, been huge newsmalers on their own, let alone collectively.
I just have a feeling we’ve been getting a huge smokescreen.
on Enbridge? I’m not sure. We’ve been concentrating on a lack of committment from Christy, but what’s going on behind the scenes?
And how much involvement does Bruce still have with the CN folks? Any thought on CN coming to the Enbridge rescue to move the oil, in a highly-orchestrated bunch of BS, so that everyone accepts the oil (bitumen) being moved (sold out) to China?
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Alex,
How can the BCMA justify its continued existence in this form. When they entered their exclusive agreement with the Government they became contractually obliged to represent the interests of all physicians (let’s put aside the fact that the physicians apparently have no say whether or not the BCMA represents them).
This latest referendum, however, smacks of their hypocrisy. Of the 11,000 physicians in the province, about 4,000 have actively chosen not to be members of the BCMA even though the full value of membership dues is collected from each and every one of them. In the referendum over the new contract wth government, the BCMA refused to allow these dues paying non-members the right to vote, effectively silencing over one third of the provinces physicians. In fact, the number of non-member physicians (4000) exceeds, by a fair margin, the number of physicians who supposedly voted in favour of the deal (2832). Wow, 2832 out of a total of 11,000 phsicians voted in favour of a deal and the BCMA claims a marvelous victory when the 4,000 physicians that they excluded from voting would likely have carved out an entirely different result had they been given a chance to voice their opinions.
One final note – what kind of organization in charge of distributing $4 billion dollars of public money annually gets to have a referendum where the votes are returned to and counted at the discretion of the CEO, whose reputation and future employment with the organisation depends on the vote going a particular way? Let’s ask Alan Seckel and Graham Whitmarsh the next time we talk to them. Wait, was that a hanging chad I just saw?
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Where is Adrian Dix on this?
The BCMA is pissing away $4 billion of our tax dollars annually and counting votes like a software hacked Diebold machine, yet I haven’t heard Dix say a word about what he’d do about disbanding these bandits, getting rid of all the unnecessary layers of expensive useless administrators and using the saved money for the front line doctors to provide good srvice to their customers.
Doesn’t seem that hard to me Adrian – show us your balls!
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Just thinking of the Dub-ya days. “Hey let him go with all his stupid statements. They’re laughing at him and waiting for his next f–k up. We can get all kinds of shit done while nobody is watching.” “You know you’re right Mr Cheney.”
Venture north, and ditto for Christy “the dummy”. While everyone is watching her, what are they not seeing? And Dip shit gets the payoff for allowing herself to be the “joke” of the province with an appointment later on.
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I don’t know where to start. CC and the back room dealings with her brother. BC liberals – a Monty Python sketch? At least Monty Python’s Flying Circus was funny.
As for Christy trying to negotiate with Premier Redford, she is out of her league. She is outclassed and out of her league. Hell, I don’t think CC could beat a 5th grader in a debate or on that TV Show.
The pipeline issue wouldn’t be so bad if Obama had allowed it to go to the refineries in the States. I’m sure if it was feasible to build a refinery somewhere in Alberta, they would be talking about it.
I guess we should all stay tuned for the next column by AGT and the next blunder by CC and her merry band of liberals.
BTW – I was at the opening ceremnonies for the BC Summer Games. Ida Chong spoke there. She was just terrible, pathetic and full of typical political rhetoric. Even when she tried to talk/speak to the young athletes she was horrible. The best speakers at the opening ceremonies was Mayor Watts of Surrey and a Native Elder.
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No surprise.
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Why are we building oil pipelines. WE should be building water pipelines.1/3rd of the US counties are in severe drought.(Global Warming?)Water is going to be the most valuable resource this century.
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Complete agreement.
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Screw the Fraser Institute…this website has the real think tank!
FUN FACT: for each 500 mL bottle of water, at least that much oil has been used to manufacture and ship it.
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As expected, with Clark’s abysmal and embarrassing performance on the Enbridge file, those in the rest of Canada and especially Alberta, are finally finding out what we in BC are stuck with and must contend with on a daily bases on a multitude of critical issues. If nothing else, this should gain us some degree of sympathy and compassion on the national scene.
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Indeed.
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Hey!
Crash Test Dummy!
I’ve got your alphabet soup right here!
http://vi.sualize.us/alphabet_soup_funny_photography_off_picture_68ux.html
And here!
http://catmacros.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/alphabet-soup/
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It is shamefull but I can’t think of one leader that would make Canada a proud and prosperous nation once again. Brian Peckford, the ex priemier of Newfoundland certainly would get the votes of most Canadians though.
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And he’s retired here in BC on one of the islands, while assisting the BC Conservatives…interesting…
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He is in Qualicum, he is seen around quite often
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Oh really? I stand corrected. I read in the Post that he was on one of the islands. Thanks for this.
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I have been following the story on the doctors and the BCMA. I truly believe that lucrative administrative positions are eating up excessive amounts of taxpayer dollars (not limited to the healthcare system).
My question is, for an organization receiving billions of taxpayer dollars such as the BCMA, where is the transparency? How come I cannot find who the board members are and the salaries they receive? Who makes the decisions and how is this massive amount of money allocated? Doctors salaries are published, but administrative salaries are not. Why are BCMA salaries and expenses such a big secret?
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We must be vigilant and press Alan Seckel for answers, as he was so forthcoming when it came to his role in the coverup of the BC Rail sale.
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I notice the Christy supporters are taking a run at you in the Province news paper you must be telling the truth and the Liberals don;t like it. Like they say the truth hurts
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That’s strange. I just read this morning’s Province and didn’t see anything in the letters section. Or do you mean on line?
Please provide the link. I haven’t had a good laugh yet today. I’ll save it for the post-lunch Tanqueray and tonic and thoroughly enjoy myself. Did they attach names? Gosh, I hope so.
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http://www.theprovince.com/news/bc/Strong+language+neutral+stance+Christy+Clark+proposed+Enbridge/6978093/story.html
I think he is talking about the comments section for this piece!
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Yeah, it’s the same person that I banned from here long ago. The claim that I don’t allow challenging comment is laughable.
And it’s only one commenter, as far as I can see. Too funny.
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Power to the People!
http://www.nsnews.com/news/OPINION+Liberal+Clark+lets+them+cake/6985648/story.html
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I believe Dan is referring to the comments posted below Michael Smyth’s opinion piece. There are some nasty exchanges between supporters and detractors. I’m thrilled that people are actually paying attention. Good on you,Alex.
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Yeah, but it’ only one or two commenters making claims about me, and from behind the warm blanket of anonymity.
If they feel they are so sure about me and what I represent, use your real name. What are you afraid of?
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There’s a rah-rah Christy letter in the Chilliwack Progress as well. “Premier has clear plan for future” is the headline.
The writer, Roop Virk, wonders why the provincial media is giving Dix an easy ride, not asking tough questions of him.
This may be a blanket letter that will be seen in other community papers this week, as there is no R. Virk listed in this area. White Rock, yes.
“… what is it going to take for the media to stop being so angry about the past that they can’t start to talk about the future of our province and its economic health?”
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Saw that as well but his Facebook tells it as it is ..
Firstly, Alex has used the word shill here many times over and just so we are all on the same page, may I offer ..
Shill
A shill, plant, or stooge is a person who publicly helps a person or organization without disclosing that he has a close relationship with that person or organization. Shill typically refers to someone who purposely gives onlookers the impression that he is an enthusiastic independent customer of a seller (or marketer of ideas) for whom he is secretly working. The person or group who hires the shill is using crowd psychology, to encourage other onlookers or audience members to purchase the goods or services (or accept the ideas being marketed). Shills are often employed by professional marketing campaigns. Plant and stooge more commonly refer to any person who is secretly in league with another person or organization while pretending to be neutral or actually a part of the organization he is planted in, such as a magician’s audience, a political party, or an intelligence organization (see double agent).
** ref – wikiword
Mr Virk promotes himself as a mortgage/ real estate marketing specialist. I do note that he is an alumni of the same school as ‘I almost made it’ Kevie Falcon.
Further in his contacts, there are numerous area realtors as well as the smokin’ bullit .. none other than Ms Enbridge herself .. good ol’ DUMMY!!
Growing up in these areas should have taught Mr Virk (is he a relative of you know who?) that, ala MLA John Les, you may not be found guilty by association but you sure give the PERCEPTION to it and that can’t be washed off with just ordinary soap!!
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He also planted it in our other paper the Chwk Times.
http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/business/Time+start+asking+tougher+questions/6979093/story.html
While I do not neccessarily disagree with some of his statements, he has obviously put his saddle on the wrong horse!!
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Actually, apart from demonstrating that he is perfectly capable of expressing himself like an idiot, Roop Virk also shows that he knows nothing of economics.
It wouldn’t matter, in a down economy, if the interest rates jumped a point or shot up ten?
What a moron! Just another member of the Clark Indo-Canadian sycophants. Pathetic.
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Upon further research, I see that yes, Chilliwack does have a Roop Virk. He ran for council in 2008 and is listed as a mortgage specialist.
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If you listened carefully to Dr lake, after he listed Clark’s 5 conditions, the Liberals have only said they would CONSIDER the pipeline. Note the weasle word. When pressed and asked if he would
commit to the deal, he deflected the question.Even If they get what they want (the demands are full of holes like swiss cheese) there is no quarantee they would support the project. Subtext is everything here.
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Quite agreed.
The whole thing is just one contrived, desperate effort to refire the Premier’s broken engine.
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http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/08/02/matt-gurney-maybe-christy-clark-is-unpopular-because-her-plan-is-awful/
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