Another Week, Another BC Liberal Scandal: Eric Foster’s Folly
Well, wasn’t that a great opening of the year, Christy?
Honestly, I’m astounded that the MSM, STILL (!!!) haven’t asked where the Premier is and why she won’t directly answer for how something like ‘Doylegate’ could happen or why Eric Foster is hiding.
Gordon Campbell twice did phone interviews from vacation destinations (Maui and Los Angeles). As have Dianne Watts (Maui), Carole Taylor (Los Angeles), Ujjal Dosanjh (India), and Glen Clark (United States).
All were either pressed for comment in the midst of crisis or called voluntarily (Watts and Glen Clark) and within one day returned media calls.
The Foster story broke A WEEK AGO, and all we’ve heard is whining from a knuckle-dragging MLA, and spin from the Premier’s latest PR flunkie.
Not a word from Christy Clark. Typical cowardice of someone who wouldn’t know leadership if it sat on her. Only Gregor Robertson has demonstrated similar milksop tactics in avoiding responsibility or comment.
On a related note, I continue to sigh with the BC Conservatives. Superb news releases this week.
They must read this blog. The key point here is how can anyone defend a renovation of Eric Foster’s constituency building at FIFTY PERCENT of assessed value??? That’s rank insanity. They would have been better off to add another fifty grand and build a new building! Why is it only the BC Conservatives that have fixated on this???
And then John Cummins opened his mouth and I, well, sighed. Oh, what could have been…
And in the fall out from this continuing scandal, I’m told the BC NDP continue to lie about what they knew regarding ‘Doylegate’ and when they knew it.
Again, without betraying confidences, I repeat, that the Opposition knew about John Doyle being on the chopping block as far back as SIXTY DAYS AGO. I told those who confided in me that they should go after the government back then, in order to save Doyle.
But it appears that Adrian is happy to have the BC Liberals do his dirty work for him. Because it’s obvious that Mr. Doyle shares my philosophy: No mercy for any of them. You think the Premier-in-waiting wants Doyle on his government’s derriere? Think again. But it shows you that the NDP are not different at all. They will play the same shameful games. I’m wrong? Great, then Shane Simpson and Adrian Dix should apologize for lying at Monday’s press conference and David Schreck should stop whining away about it. You got caught, by me, fess up.
Leadership?
What kind of leadership is that? Wait until you can score maximum political points and avoid suffering with an impartial watchdog? No! The NDP had an obligation to protect the taxpayer FIRST! Doyle has honoured the people of this province with diligence and honesty.
He deserved better than this.
We deserve better than this.
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I’m back Monday, when I will show you, in detail why Bob Mackin remains one of the best investigative journalists in the country (best in this province by far) and why only through his work have we discovered that the BC Place Stadium renovation deserves a public inquiry. It easily eclipses any nonsense about FastCat ferries, etc.
Until then, safety first.
Hug a child, read a book, and mix a colourtini or three…
Be well.
Haven’t written in a while. Just home after cancer surgery.
But BC health Minister and Fraser Health are complete idiots!
How they have mismanaged health care completely lacking any compassion is just evil. Look at the latest regarding the hospital parking finally coming out! Just evil lacking any compassion.
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/cancer-patient-fights-unfair-hospital-parking-fees-1.1109724
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Hey Jon! Let me know how you’re doing and if I can help you out in any way.
agtsakumis@gmail.com
Take care of yourself, pal.
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But we have the “lowest” taxes in Canada!!! Just a further example of the poison this group is. Call it anything you want money out of your pocket is money out of your pocket.
To put extra expense on people trying to recover from and beat horrible illness is just too much.
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My wife is a cancer patient. While undergoing Radiation therapy at the BCCA on 10th I just parked up on 13th or 14th for free. Many not so fit folks would find this a severe hardship and I concur the parking fees around hospitals is absurd. I went through $16 on Wednesday while she got chemo in Richmond. I will not park there again as I am fit enough to walk a few blocks and save the parking fees.
I have had quite a few chats with various folks I’ve met at various cancer agencies in the last 3 months since my wife was diagnosed. These folks suffer enough with the disease they have to battle, why do we heap parking fees on top of all the other trials faced by many. I can’t help but feel empathy for many who are suffering and seem to get not much help from our elected officials.
Jon Evan, may you have a successful treatment and a healthy recovery.
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And many blessings to your wife as well.
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Hello,
I work in parking & transportation for a quasi-government agency.
You do realize that there are 36% taxes on parking, right? Of that $16, the parking operator (hospital in this case I assume) kept $11.80 – Translink and the feds got the rest.
If it was the hospital, chances are they need the parking revenues to support other initiatives for which they have lost funding. In my case, cost of parking operations only eats up 36% of my gross revenues – the rest goes elsewhere in the organization (it’s no wonder the private sector keeps wanting in).
Oh, and last year cost of a structured parking space was $20,000 to $25,000. To properly fund that, parking rates would be $50+/day.
Good luck on kciking the disease – perserverence will prevail.
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Thanks for a note of sanity, David. The days of driving our cars wherever we want and simply dumping it where it’s convenient to us vanished with the third million person to be born in this province.
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Re: If it was the hospital, chances are they need the parking revenues to support other initiatives for which they have lost funding. In my case, cost of parking operations only eats up 36% of my gross revenues – the rest goes elsewhere in the organization …”
I still find it despicable that the health authorities (and government which condones this behaviour) are arguably gouging people for parking to offset the lack of funding for other services. People using these facilties have enough problems as it is without this extra financial burden.
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We’d save ourselves a lot of grief over this with a simple solution – MSP should be covering parking fees for families of ICU patients or for patients who are going undergoing long-term treatment. The excuses for why we don’t are purely ridiculous, and Margaret McDiarmid clearly can’t read, nor does she understand her role as the minister responsible for public health care delivery.
It says right in the Canada Health Act the aim of the Act itself is to prevent any financial barriers to accessing care. McDiarmid is either incompetent or stupid (or both). She should resign for her callous comments; SHAME ON HER.
Make long-term care patient parking part of MSP premiums or just cover it elsewhere.
All the best to you, Jon, and R.Isaak, same to you and your wife.
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I’ve been paying $30 a day a Children’s while my wife or I stay alternating nights with our son. 2 slices of pizza was $13 and change at the cafeteria. I can easily afford it, but there’s many in the same circumstances that can’t. I was talking to one guy today with a premature baby that’s been there for a couple of months while the little one fights through surgeries and for his life.He can’t work right now and as he’s quite young his savings are drying up. But we have thousands for office renovations and millions for misleading advertising. What a freaking bunch of disgusting excuses for humans. I hope the “observers” read this and get a dose of conscience or just a slight prick to whatever tiny bit of moral fiber they have left – if any – and think about the misery they’ve caused to families. “Families First” my rosy red ass.
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A caveat – the care and staff at the hospital is astounding and I can’t say enough about how wonderful they’ve been. Right down to the nurse who came in on her day off to check how my boy was doing or the doctor that stayed 3 extra hours past their quit time to make sure the tests were taken care of.Caring and selflessness, taken to an extremely high standard by wonderful warm people. I don’t begrudge the money I spend for parking, coffee or food if it stays at Children’s, but if it goes into the black hole of a top heavy “administration” , then I have a problem. Or renos. Or ads.
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Rest assured, it goes back into the black hole of a top-heavy administration. Thanks goodness for caring staff where you find ‘em, because there are a lot of problems there, and it’s affected patient care for many years. I know.
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The Liberals were never focused on what is best for the prvince….only how many public assets they could steal and only to pay themselves handsomely. The most corrupt and mendacious govt. ever!!
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All of this aside, best wishes for a speedy recovery Jon.
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No wonder she hasn’t appeared, this wouldn’t be a good photo op!
Foster should definitely resign from the selection committee and probably from his seat for outright lying!
I see the Liberals have a new set of ads telling how great they are doing at balancing our budget. OH YA, more lies at our expense!
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Just complete and total lies. It’s abominable lying.
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I made a complaint to the Advertising Standards Canada about the BC Government’s claims about having the lowest personal income tax in Canada… Patently untrue considering territorial governments’ personal taxes are way lower. But you wouldn’t know that unless you were able to read the infintessimally small disclaimer at the bottom of their ads. That, and it only applies to incomes less than 120K.
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How richly observant of you. You’re the third chap in as many days to make such a discovery and point it out to me.
Bless you for doing so. This govt does indeed, have a tremendous capacity for slight of hand (my charity is on display as it’s late and I’m tired.
Again, thank you for pointing this out. Please keep us all posted on if anything else materializes with respect to your timely and appropriate complaint.
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At their BC Jobs Plan site, they have that covered with “BC has the lowest provincial personal income taxes in Canada for individuals earning up to $120,000 year in 2012.” Did they just add ‘provincial’? I don’t know.
One fun thing I did discover at the site is the “Be the Finance Minister for the Day,” simulator tool. Perhaps Christy has been so quiet because she is playing with it.
We love to be critical here — and there’s so much deserved criticism to dish out — but using this tool can give you an appreciation for the tough decisions a responsible government needs to make.
Go ahead: play God for a few minutes and see if you can balance the budget. I did… but I’m sure I ticked off a lot of people! (Teachers and students are happy, though. LOL!)
http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/my-b-c-budget/
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I tried this several times and they won’t take the complaint. Political or election advertising is specifically excluded in the Code and they define political advertising as advertising appearing at any time regarding a political figure, a political party, a political or government policy or issue, or an electoral candidate.
So the greedy media outlets are free to publish demonstrable government lies.
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I read Bob Mackins blog the other day where he claims the last two Liberal screw ups are coming from within the party right. in other words Christy is away, lets stir up the pot and make life worse for her so the poll numbers keep falling. The Party brass have given her to February to turn things around, if not she gets the boot. New leader, delay the election, its all in the plans, they need to hold on for as long as possible.
I believe this election may be the first where blogging and the internet will play a more important role than the MSM. Keep up the good work all those on this site.
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I’m not convinced this will work.
Then again, without Christy in the mix, anything’s possible. Adrian just isn’t staying anywhere close to 50% and the NDP backroomers are very nervous.
The good news for them is that no one has called Dianne Watts. In my opinion, she’s the only one that could beat Dix, but it would also require a removal of deJong and Coleman, etc.
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Grant G. is singing a similar tune, without specific evidence, claiming that the right wing of the party is tanking things deliberately.
I have no evidence to the contrary, but the law of organizational-behavior parsimony keeps coming to mind…don’t ascribe to conspiracy that which can be explained by incompetence.
I fail to see how Foster could have engineered this as part of some nefarious plot to dethrone the Premier.
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It’s total hooey.
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Coleman and his ilk are like a malignant tumor in the BC Liberals and government. Hopefully, the next election will remove such people from power.
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Dianne Watts isn’t known out of the lower mainland and I don’t believe she could win against Dix plus she isn’t as crystal clean as you might hope . Surrey politics is mired in dirty politics also .
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You’re dreamimg in technicolour.
That’s a pile of horse manure.
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Surrey isn’t mired in dirty politics, It’s being run quite nicely, but there’s always going to be wrinkles.
She’s a happy camper, and many Surrey citizens are quite approving of how she is running the city with her cohorts.
She would be absolutely insane to dump all that to try and save the BC Liberals. A nutty move even after the provincial election to cave in to those who hope she would The Chosen One to save the province from the awful evil Socialists.
It’s not even the leadership that’s the problem the Party’s Provincial Council, their top level HQ staff and their way of thinking in terms of the riding associations and volunteers needed to gutted and thrown out too.
A complete rebuild from the frame up right down to sandblasting the paint.
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That’s precisely what I told her over two years ago.
She’d be nuts to step in and rescue anyone.
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Exactly. That entire caucus has sat silent (other than whistling past the graveyard) and not lifted a finger to oust the crooks and liars in their midst. They don’t deserve rescue and certainly not on the part of someone as honorable as Ms. Watts.
Besides, Jesus himself couldn’t turn this one around.
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She’s done an amazing job with Surrey since she became mayor and I think if she decided to go with provincial politics, people would stand up and listen to what she has to say. But yes, she’d be nuts to step in and rescue anyone.
I have mad respect for Dianne.
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As much as she appears to be a good person and a competent mayor I get the feeling Surrey has not done enough to stem the violence in town. I get the feeling the words Shooting and Surrey are synonymous in greater Vancouver.
When you turn on the news in the morning and hear there was a shooting overnight it feels like 70 percent of the time it ends up being in Surrey. Not sure if it’s just me. .
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I’m not sure if you’re aware that violent crime in Surrey has plummeted under Watts.
She works very hard to get the RCMP to move on innovative programs that prevent crime, not add to it.
I used to live in Surrey under Doug MacCallum. Now THAT was a shooting gallery.
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Then again, look at this morning’s headlines.
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Jerome: You’re comment brings to mind the cliche character, a soldier, stranded on a island somewhere in the pacific not knowing the war has been over for years.
Check this out from 2010: http://www.worldmayor.com/contest_2010/world-mayor-2010-results.html
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Correct. Fourth best Mayor in the world is an accomplishment very few will ever know.
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Do ya think Mayor Beetlejuice aspires to crack the top five of the World Mayor Project? Top 10? Short list? Long list? We’d be a much happier planet — no?
Beetlejuice? Comedy horror fantasy film. Directed by, uhmm, the name’s on the tip of my tongue. Uhhhm, Ballem? Burton? Something like that.
And then on the provincial scene there’s Creepy Frickin’ Clark, Count Cummins and Damien Dix. What at trio of truly terrifying characters! It’s enough to make one’s blood run cold.
It’d sad state of affairs when BC’s Provincial political scene and it’s largest city’s municipal political scene both fall under the genre of “comedy horror fantasy”
And the real scary part? All of the outtakes that are indubitably hidden away.
A huge call out to AGT, Ian Reid, Bob Mackin, Norman Farrel, Harvey Oberfeld, Laila Yuile et al. (please add others I have missed) for looking around behind the scenes for us.
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Sorry, Alex, but outside of Surrey, or maybe even the Lower Mainland, Ms. Watts is not known, except by the political class. But, let us say that Ms. Watt does become BC Liberal leader before the next election and then wins over Mr. Dix – will that not mean that all the BC Liberal corruption can then be swept under the carpet and we shall never know what went on with Basi/Virk and BC Rail? Will an inquiry be started into the Jordan River lands that Mr. Coleman allegedly had put into his brothers hands? What about IPPs and their connection to the BC Liberals. And, on and on. You can bet that the back room crowd who are quietly touting Ms. Watt for leadership has benefited from all the corruption. Woe to us if she came on as BC Liberal leader and premier for there is no hope that the sleeze and slime would be cleaned up.
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Pay attention:
1) Watts is NOT governed by any backroom manipulators from the BC Liberals. She pays no heed to any of them. In fact, her group has a well-known dislike for Pat Kinsella etc.
2) She is NOT being touted by that group as they are sold on Christy. The other group, quietly helmed by Kevin Falcon’s people, want Stock Day.
3) You have no clue of Watts’ star power across the province. I do. I speak to people from all over the province ON A DAILY BASIS. She’s not only known, but revered. Her Mayor’s council (she initiated it) was a clever way of attaining such exposure, while actually doing some good.
4) Watts has told me personally and repeated it for anyone to hear, that she believes a public inquiry into the Basi-Virk matter is A MUST.
5) Watts believes that IPPs are truly ‘Rape of River’. She neither supports them now, nor did at any time in the past.
6) Watts will NOT run for BC Liberal leader, EVER. She believes the brand is soiled–period.
Get your facts straight before you appear here, please.
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Voted fourth best Mayor in the world.
On November 19, 2011 she was elected to a third term as mayor of Surrey with 80% of the vote.
Very impressive!
Damn that felt good. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anything nice to say about a Canadian politician.
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Yes, correct.
After the NDP covertly put up Ross Buchanan, whose shameful campaign was directed by Laila Yuile. The lies about Dianne were about four or five per day.
After the first week, I declared their pathetic efforts a comedy skit, and checked in only once or twice again, just to ensure my funny bone was working.
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Good on 80% of Surrey’s voters then too, for seeing through the low quality political bullshit rampant throughout Canada these days.
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I hope that you will accept my apologies for my nasty reply. You did not need that sort of abuse. In my defence, please realize that, outside of the political class, and outside of the lower mainland where I live, Dianne Watts is an unknown.
Should you be able to sit in any Tim Horton’s at coffee time you would find that Ms. Watts name would not come up. Christy Clark, yes. Adrian Dix, maybe. Ms. Watts, sorry. We don’t all live in Surrey.
Maybe in the interim between this coming election and the 2017 version she may make a move and become known province wide, to all of us. But, right now, we peasants who vote know her not.
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No apology necessary. I deleted your comment because it was offensive to me and readers here. Also, vulgarity is acceptable only for emphasis.
What I found completely idiotic, is that you referred to my comments as promoting Watts and then you had to close with the errant, mindless contenton that I’m just another right winger pumping for a decent right wing candidate.
Once again, with that comment as with your new one above, you demonstrate a breathtaking ignorance.
1) I am a small ‘c’ conservative.
2) I don’t promote political philosophies. I promote good candidates. I endorsed both George Heyman and Joe Trasolini in their respective political battles. They’re both NDP.
3) Watts is not a right winger. She’s not left, but not a right winger either.
4) Watts, I repeat, IS NOT an unknown across the province. Polling that was done prior to the BC Liberals leadership campaign showed that. If she’s not a topic of conversation in your coffee shop, WHO CARES? I’ve been to coffee shops from Prince George to Burnaby, and Victoria to Spuzzum. They know Watts, and very well.
5) If you are going to add to the 35 comments you’ve made on this blog over time, then be civilized, or you simply won’t see them again.
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Would that be called a ‘Colemanectomy’?
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LMAO!!
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I was thinking of the “transplant”procedure used “down there”, but on second thought, I’ll put that one away…
Some things are just too gross to use in analogy…
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The nervous backroomers should allow the confident, well-spoken, knowledgeable, honest and balanced frontroomers to show them how it is done….I bet voter turnout would increase to boot.
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Precisely.
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Absolutely.
It’s what I’ve been telling a few idiots in the BC Liberals until I gave up trying to convince them that the people who what to do can get things done.
The current crop of misfits in the BC Liberal HQ backrooms couldn’t even figure out correctly how to talk to the voters properly during a door to door.
They wouldn’t last a good evening’s canvass.
Trust me, it can be as much as a workout as a typical Alex Tsakumis type hit the bag in the gym with the fists session.
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That’ll be happening at precisely 11:45am tomorrow!!!
With pleasure!
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Just over 4 months left of this most inept and dis-honest liberal gov’t. The thing is…can my nerves handle that much time?
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Perhaps Christy Crunch and her crew will entertain you and soothe your nerves with their screw-ups like her ‘tipsy’ New Year’s greeting, radio interviews about looks and nudity, highly questionable renovations, etc. I actually find these things amusing and stress relieving, knowing that the day of reckoning is coming soon.
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Canada’s entire governmental system needs to be renovated.
As is, I consider it Mickey Mouse at best.
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Sometimes it is goofy.
But we’ve had our Cinderella times too.
As I mentioned to some friends in the States who were coming up here in the late 1980s, I told them about this Premier we had that lived in a castle located in a place called Fantasy Gardens.
They were quite puzzled. They asked if he greeted people.
I said “Sure he did, in reference to British Columbia, he used to say:
“Hi kids, welcome to the Theme Park!”
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Politicians can be easily replaced and quickly, so a few living in a fantasy world isn’t a big concern for me.
These days though, Canada’s governmental community comes across to me as saturated with politicians living in a fantasy world.
This I consider to be “really” damaging to Canada’s best interests and therefore mine.
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If I ran B.C. I would have a total and transparent audit done on exactly where we are. I would then have it put into simple terms that every person above the age of 13 could understand. I would then take out full pages in all print media, and run TV explanations as well. I would then explain to the people what we have to do to fix the mess and the hardships we will have to endure.
Damn the torpedoes and political expediency.
But will people do without, pay more and sacrifice if they feel that it is for the provinces good? Or just leave.
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Uh oh! No government advertising. Remember?
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Good point. This of course would be a one time, one day type thing with a link to a site that citizens could access. And it would be the last media spending done. It’s a fine line and while it’s all mushy and grey now, it used to be like this. If there was an emergency the premier/PM got free air time to address the people. An election? They campaigned and paid for it themselves. A poll to see if we want the HST? Oh wait we’ll just sneak that in. When was the exact date and who, federal or provincial, was the 1st party to decide spending public money this way was kosher? There should be a law preventing our money from being spent this way.
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NO govenment advertising means NO government advertising. None.
We’ve been through that with Christy Clark.
So absolutely NO government advertising. Not even a one day thing.
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Wasn’t that CC in the tee-pee with Chief Spence?
And on another note why we should be so proud of the unelected Premier.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/11/long-before-milf-interview-christy-frickin-clark-laughed-her-way-through-questions-on-her-looks-and-nudity-in-this-radio-chat
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When you think about it there are a lot of similarities between CC and Chief Spence. They are both photo op hounds, it’s all about them, they only talk to friendly press, they hide and deny when caught, they have their “friends” look after the public purse, they throw out the auditor, they have no clear agenda, they often make no sense and so on. Could it be that CC is looking for advice on how Spence had the press arrested by the police for asking questions so she could implement the same thing in BC before the election ?
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As predicted and with nothing else to offer, Clark is probably on a crash diet, tanning sessions, spa visits, botox treatments, and etiquette training. After all, there’s an election on the horizon and we all know what a great campaigner she is!
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perhaps the boob is having plastic surgery so she can crush bigger beer cans?
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Um, c’mon. You’re better than that.
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sigh! yes, I am better than that! but, it really rankles when this dimbulb opens her mouth and inserts both feet especially when she is supposed to be a leader with the honorific, honourable. I shall go now and sit in the time out corner and reflect on my words.
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Don’t be too hard on yourself.
I’ve sat in the same corner before.
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I remember that corner.
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Also “walked the last mile” towards the Principal’s office once..
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Still waiting to hear what your personal conversation with Foster revealed. Not that you could believe much of what he said, but this whole thing with his constituency office renos seems to have faded quicker than Walmart curtains.
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I’m still waiting for a call back.
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Ah yes, the BC Place roof.
http://therealstory.ca/
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“Unavailable for comment” – so that is the current status on the Mooch and the Gooch – CC continues to hide and EF has gone AWOL – nice piece in MacLean’s covers a lot of ethical ground:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/11/the-absentee-b-c-legislature/
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Other than Alex’s, one of the very best pieces I have read this year. Thanks for posting, Tom, and should be recommended reading for every British Columbian.
Happy New Year, Alex. Once again, I cannot thank you enough for all you do to educate and inform.
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Don’t expect politicians to protect public . Even when it’s the opposition
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Think I’ll continue to expect and demand they do so.
Thanks for the suggestion anyway though.
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BC auditor petition-
http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/freeze-the-appointments-or-re-appointments-of-all-legislature-officers
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Another week! you mean another day another scandal. Perhaps their goal is to completely numb the electorate into a new norm.
This is not being picked up yet?
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Aspiring+candidate+raises+alarm+over+threats/7805673/story.html
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Then again, talk about buried on a Friday; how does this story relate to technology Vancouver Sun?
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Our local paper. ‘asked why he didn’t let the English-speaking media know about the threats,…” http://www.richmondreview.com/news/186097671.html
By placing it in the Business Section maybe the Vancouver Sun wanted to avoid upsetting their Asian readers? {Am I allowed to say this or is it politically incorrect? Sorry, if I am off topic. }
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I wanna know why the front runner, who is also Asian, didn’t receive a single threat. Does that mean she’s Triad approved?
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As I understand it, it is only politically incorrect if you mention driving ability … and you didn’t do that.
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bwahahahahahaahhahaa
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Our man Foster from Vernon is an auxilliary RCMP officer. Maybe they put him on the case and he’s running a deep cover operation. Probably explains why he can’t return Alex’s call….
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There you are Lew. He’s just establishing ‘street cred’.
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Nothing like knowing how to get away with thieving because you saw it all the time at your job as a cop. Good skill tranference, eh, Coleman-Foster? Oh yeah, what about giving away all that land on the Island to Western Forest Products for nuttin’ so they can build a resort, eh Coleman. Oh yeah, no conflict there even though his brother is a CEO of some sort with WFP. No, nuthin’ to see here, move along or we’ll arrest yah fer loitering (a $350 fine now that used to be $35 that goes straight to general revenue).
I’m starting a company that builds stockades, and buying stock in feathers, oil and bricks. I suggest you all do the same, as we’re going to be using loads of them in the near future, if I have my way.
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Okay, easy there, cowboy…
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I just lost it there a bit Alex, sorry bout that……but i still like the idea….
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Well , judging from his photos, he certainly looks like he has the Tim Hortons staked out.
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Eric Foster doesnt have the intelligence or the guile to be playing politics re giving Christy ‘the tube” before the election.
As the former Mayor of the thriving metropolis of Lumby, they had to put ‘push’ and ‘pull’ stickers on the front doors of the office so he could get in and out.
He drives around town in his smart car thinking his shit doesnt stink. The classic elected lap-dog, does what he’s told, waiting for his “payoff” for loyal service.
I’ve seen him in action in a few meetings and he is just a yes man. He also worships Les and Coleman – so essentially he is a 2nd tier fool learning the ropes.
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“Push” and “pull” stickers on his office so he could get out……….
Classic.
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NEWS RELEASE
NR-110113CN January 11, 2013
BC CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE SCOTT ANDERSON QUESTIONS BC LIBERAL ERIC FOSTER’S RENOVATION EXPENSES
VERNON—Scott Anderson, British Columbia Conservative Party candidate for Vernon-Monashee, is concerned about serious questions surrounding Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster’s constituency office renovations.
According to Times Colonist reporter Les Leyne, Liberal MLA Eric Foster was the only MLA cited in a confidential management letter from Auditor General John Doyle’s office. Mr. Foster was cited last year over inadequate documentation for a $67,000 renovation of his constituency office.
“Other questions surrounding this issue have arisen, and Mr. Foster should clear them up as soon as possible to avoid a growing public perception that questionable actions may have been involved,” said Anderson. “The citizens of Vernon-Monashee deserve answers, and I trust that Mr. Foster will supply those answers immediately.”
Note to editor: All following numbered paragraphs can be taken as quotes from Scott Anderson
1. According to the BC Assessment office, the current assessed value of the land and office Mr. Foster is occupying at 3209 31st Avenue in Vernon is $187,100 as the following screen shot indicates. Can Mr. Foster explain why he received $67,000 for renovations on a four-year lease when standard leasing practice is for the landlord to pay for renovations and then reflect those renovations in the rent?
2. Can Mr. Foster explain why there is no record of a Vernon municipal building permit issued for renovations on the office building at 3209 31st Avenue within a date range of 1 January 2007 and 1 January 2011 – if the work was done in 2009? $67,000 worth of renovations on a building and land worth a mere $187,000 must have involved a major structural overhaul, and would certainly require a building permit.
3. Was Mr. Foster aware that his landlord Ravinder “Sid” Sidhu, husband of Mr. Foster’s constituency assistant and presumably the recipient of the $67,000, was a long-time financial donor to the BC Liberals, and a long-standing BC Liberal appointee to the Agricultural Land Commission?
4. The office Mr. Foster leased, at 3209 31st Avenue Vernon, is very small and appears not to have undergone massive structural renovations. Exactly what renovations were undertaken? In view of these new revelations and because of the close family and Liberal Party connections between his long-time staff member and landlord, Mr. Foster should make his receipts public immediately to head off any perception of wrongdoing.
5. Can Mr. Foster explain why his initial request for renovation funds was $78,000 even though the undocumented spreadsheet he turned in only indicated $67,000? Why was the extra $11,000 originally included and why was it subsequently dropped?
6. Can Mr. Foster explain why he didn’t lease a different office – one that didn’t require extensive structural renovations? The leasing market at the time was extremely depressed – as it is today – and there were numerous reasonably priced office spaces available that didn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in repairs and renovations.
7. Can Mr. Foster explain why he has now offered to repay the renovation costs? If the renovation costs were subsequently cleared by the Ethics Commissioner, why is Mr. Foster volunteering to repay them now?
8. In view of the fact that the BC Liberals bill themselves as the party of responsible spending, and in view of the fact that the median annual income in the North Okanagan is somewhere around $35,000, can Mr. Foster explain why he believes $67,000 for office renovations is a responsible expenditure of taxpayer funds?
“I want to be very clear that I am not attacking Mr. Foster. I am asking questions that every constituent in Vernon-Monashee and every citizen of British Columbia deserves answers to,” said Anderson. “Mr. Foster has refused to answer questions about his committee’s decision to turf the Auditor General on the basis of committee privilege and the law, but there’s no earthly reason why he can’t answer the above questions and make the evidence public.”
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For more information:
Scott Anderson, BC Conservative Candidate, Vernon-Monashee
Facebook: Scott Anderson, Candidate, Vernon-Monashee
Twitter: Scott Anderson @AndersonforMLA
Telephone:
http://www.bcconservative.ca/
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EXCEPTIONAL!
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Well put!!!! I hope we see some answers soon.
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WOW.Is that a bombshell I hear,as soon as he offered to pay back the money,I smelled a rat,sounds more like a private loan to a friend than a reno.Way to go Scott Anderson.
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Depending how things go here in the next little while, I may find myself moving to the Armstrong area. If that is in Mr. Anderson’s electoral district, and I don’t hear more opposition from the official oppposition than I am hearing now…..I would most certainly consider voting for him.
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The Liberals fired the AG so the public would have much less opportunity to know how much the Liberals financially raped BC.
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Agree if there was this quality of politics within the BC Conservatives and removal of the God Squad and John Cummins then maybe there would be something to volunteer within the provincial election.
But this is just one news release from one candidate.
The BC Conservatives are still not there yet.
In a few ways they just simply aren’t there.
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Very good. Should be simple to answer, shouldn’t it?
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Great news release from Mr. Anderson. I hope Mr. Foster is forthcoming with answers to these questions. If not, he should be badgered until he does.
Assuming what Mr. Anderson wrote is correct, the optics for Mr. Foster and the Fiberals are horrible.
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Excellent questions, sir! I too wondered about the cozy connection between Mr Foster and his landlord,who,one presumes, will be the ultimate beneficiary of the reno (paid by taxpayers) when Mr Foster leaves office . We can only speculate given there are no available pictures of the inside of the office to show where the money went to.
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great post alex.
of course the ndp does not want mr doyle he may audit the non profits and service duplication in the downtown east side
hell even jim green could not figure it out however i would bet mr doyle would hence they sit back and say we tried what bs
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Just out of curiosity, harry, I’d love to see an audit of the short-lived Four Corners Bank.
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You and I both. Unfortunately, the real no-good scoundrel in that mess, is now six feet under.
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Not surprising that Foster nor Clark have returned calls or spoken to the media. If they don’t talk about it, it isn’t real. By not speaking on the subject they are avoiding a lot of problems. Neither of them are bright or skilled enough to deal with the press in any meaningful manner. They don’t want to, so they aren’t going to talk with any one about anything. they are just hoping the bloggers, voters, & press will simply forget about it. It doesn’t make for good government but it works for them.
I would not be surprised if we did not hear from either of them until the leg. sits. It isn’t as if the NDP is holding their feet to the fire on this. They should have Carol James or Farnsworth or Horagan front & centre on this, if Dix doesn’t want to do it. They should also be front & centre on the non rehiring of Doyle. A smart politician would want to have a very good auditor general. Then when they receive a passing grade each yr, they can stand before the voters & say, they did their job.
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BC Forever….”As the former Mayor of the thriving metropolis of Lumby, they had to put ‘push’ and ‘pull’ stickers on the front doors of the office so he could get in and out” If I had been eating green peas at the moment I read your post I would have coughed one up through my nose! That is hilarious!!! LOFL!!! Thanks for making me laugh today, I appreciate it!
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I was shocked by the CTV News report about the senior paying $100 a month for hospital parking while undergoing cancer treatment.
Interesting that our B.C. Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid said it was doubtful anything would change and that it would be difficult for health care authorities to absorb parking costs.
“I personally would find it hard to think that parking is part of health care, that covering parking costs would be part of what our health care budget should go toward,” she said.
Would Minister MacDiarmid mind telling the rest of us how many FREE parking spaces she herself has the use of on a monthly basis? Are the Minister’s parking spaces a taxable benefit? Are they completely tax free? Are they paid for by we taxpayers? Let’s hear from Minister McDiarmid again.
Read more: http://bc.ctvnews.ca/cancer-patient-fights-unfair-hospital-parking-fees-1.1109724#ixzz2HiXGFWEs
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Google Maps shows that 3209 31st Ave, Vernon is a Japanese restaurant called Ichiban Sushi – its only on streetview that you can see it as an office.
The $78,000 improvement bill seems to have paid for a complete reno from dinner diner to office space. That works out over a 48 month lease to $1625/month. – anybody know what typical lease rates in Vernon are?
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How do you know what the reno paid for? Do you have any experience in real estate? Have you seen any of the bills? Itemized? What 48 mth lease?
Donyou have any clue how TI’S are ammortized?
Why is it that you appear here with revolving IP addresses and always appear to spike a story with some quixotic defence of anything BC Liberal?
You’re a Liberal and an accountant? I’m not sure what’s worse.
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Alex,
Anything more on Alpha_Bear’s search for building permits?
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Nothing yet.
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Excellent question Bob.
Alpha_Bear’s link to the interactive building permit registry raises some intriguing questions. I have also searched the data base, and concur with him that there does not appear to be a building permit issued for the address in question during the years 2009 and 2010.
The GSC title behind my name is a professional accreditation bestowed by the Canadian Construction Association in the category of “Project Manager” which qualifies me to speak to this topic.
All construction performed within this jurisdiction is subject to the building and plumbing bylaw #4900. The approval of the plans and specifications submitted with a permit application ensures that the proposed construction will meet or exceed the BC Building Code and the BC Fire Code, and should be accompanied by “letters of assurance” (schedules B1 and B2) issued by the engineer of record. The application for permit also triggers the requirement to abide by other bylaws, as the downtown core of Vernon is designated as a “Development Permit Area.” This includes the requirements to meet the “Building Facade Design Guidelines”, “Signage Bylaws” and the “Colour Design Guidelines”. Electrical and plumbing permits are also required.
Interesting to note, permits over the value of $25,000 will also trigger a review of infrastructure requirements, such as civil sewage and water services, as well as sidewalk and off street parking requirements.
The inspection phase to obtain an occupancy permit would include sign off by building, fire, plumbing, and electrical inspectors. The costs for these inspections would be covered by permit fees submitted with the permit application along with appropriate returnable damage deposits.
Note that the building bylaws include monetary fines and possible imprisonment for failure to comply with these bylaws.
Persons that have held a position of Mayor of a village, town, municipality, or city would be aware of these responsibilities.
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To me, the most obvious permit would be the electrical one. New floors, ceiling tiles, windows, paint — maybe even new non-load-bearing walls — could be done without permits.
BUT: as soon as you add new walls, you’re going to want to add new electrical outlets, switches and lights. Probably, you’d have some heating concerns, too. Those are absolutes for a permits and inspections.
The BC Safety Authority is in charge of those, not municipal offices.
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Thanks Sparky,
I’m neither tekky or skilled in renovations, hence the question. Sounds like there should be a ton of documentation to explain where the $78,000.00 went. That is, if it (along with the Basi/Virk documents) doesn’t all go up in a sudden fire caused by left-over restaurant grease.
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You are correct Bob, there should be a ton of documentation.
Even the non load bearing walls that Barry refers to can alter egress corridors that can affect exit signage and emergency lighting requirements. That’s where the Fire Department inspection comes in.
In short, there is a process. If the process is ignored, all there is left is negligence.
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A Lawyer who is Liberal?
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2 reasons to man the pitchforks and light the torches
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Better yet forget the pitchforks and torches and just make sure your voter registration is current and get out there and actually vote if you’re so inclined.
You can stay home and watch the Canucks or the Senators win too if ya want.
or better yet excuse is plan now for that Alaska cruise that leaves in the first part of May.
“Well gee, I wanted to vote, but there’s no voting place aboard the Disney Magic.”
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Why would the taxpayers have to pay for morphing a space from greasy spoon to greasy liberal offices when, as reported here, office space is easy to snag in Vernon. Huh?
If it is all tickety boo, why did imposter Foster feel the need to repay? Huh?
Why isn’t buddy flooding the friendly media with evidence of his innocence? Huh?
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Moreover, TI’s are usually done by the landlord.
Why did we get stuck with the bill???
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Exactly!
I wonder when the current landlord, a liberal operative, purchased the property. Wouldn’t it be interesting if it was purchased just after the last election with a $70,000 down payment? Or, maybe he already owned it but it had a mortgage of about 70 grand.
Time for Foster to clear the air.
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Needless to add that most of your readers as wel a you know that both parties (the NDP and the LIEberas) are worth one another; the same crap, two different piles. How long will it take in this province to go to the polls and have a real choice, not a less adverse selection?
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She’s been found!
Christy Clark Sighted!
Everybody wants to know CC’s opinion on the ex-Mayor of Lumby, current MLA Eric Foster. Turns out she’s in Lumby.
http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/186356362.html
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Okay, now you’re redeemed. I answered your latter question before I saw this.
Couldn’t you have warned me?
You owe me a martini and dry cleaning for one pair of slacks.
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double that, coffee on my lap………
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Gee, too bad the wrong person of the two in the MILF interview got fired. Should have been “that female”. Will we ever get that lucky?
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You will May 16th…
Be here when it happens.
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Hi Alex,
Eric Foster was elected in 2009! The loan-reno was also in 2009! Do you think this was a taxpayer financed election win? Made to look like a reno!
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Hard to say. I need to see the bills.
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Caught the CHBC interview today with Foster. He does not look well, all blotchy faced, couldn’t blink fast enough. I know that strip of buildings in Vermin that he is in, and they are cheap, and more cheap. Good value for our tax dollars at a $67K reno? What a laugh!
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Anyone have a link to that CHBC interview? Always nice to see a deer in the headlights trying to weasel his way out of a tough question.
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Here it is
http://www.chbcnews.ca/video/mla+defiant/video.html?v=2324912491&p=1&s=dd#video
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As I have previously mentioned in this story – I think Eric Foster is a dud. He looked like he was waiting to be strapped into the electric chair (power supplied by LIEberal IPP’s of course) when he appeared on CHBC. He sweats more than Rita McNeils lawn chair.
As for the Conservative candidate, Scott Anderson……..you seem straight forward and intelligent………so answer me a question……why would you align yourself with a couple of old religious nut-bars that run the Conservatives and a leader like John “the second” Cummins ?? I just think you are doing the same thing as the LIEberals when they say “vote for us or get the NDP”. You are just saying “vote for me or get the NDP or LIEberals”. Sorry pal – not good enough.
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Well said!
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Maybe, just maybe, if we had more folks running for the BCCP like what Mr. Anderson appears to be, they just might eventually get into a position to force some needed changes in the BCCP. I’m not saying it could happen or will happen anytime soon but you never know.
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Please, could someone figure out how to fix this. The lying, graft, and fraud in Canadian politics is growing at an expotential rate, and there seems little that can be done. The best analogy I can come up with is to compare them to drug dealers and the taxpayers as police. Every once in a while we get a few off the street, but the ones who replace them are bigger, meaner, and less caring about the law than the last bunch. All parties are guilty, the opposition seems complicit, and the oversight bodies appear to either be paid off, or replaced with someone who is paid off. They all enjoy the status quo, so how are the masses supposed to get our voice back. You Sir, do an incredible job of raising our awareness (a task that I am eternally thankful that you have chosen to undertake), but, awareness itself will not fix the problem. What can be done? I am not. nor do I profess to be a rocket surgeon(I believe that was Don Cherry), but it is hard to miss how bad things are getting. How do we get the accountability back in our Government? Who can make them stand up to their actions? I would appreciate any soothing balm that anyone can put on these wounds. I am beginning to feel like that old joke. Hope is between slim and none. Although slim has not yet left town, it IS starting to pick up travel brochures.
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“Idle No More” — PART DEUX!!
Instead of the natives trying to reclaim their heritage, we will fight for our dignity! Excepting, we must do a better job at picking our leader/ spokesperson … ie. the likes of Jesus Cummins equals Chief Spence .. Alex, might you be “HUNGRY” for a little revolt?
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Always!
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Garry – Our MLAs do not represent their constituents – they represent the Premier’s agenda (the powerful person you cannot vote for). BC voters had the opportunity (twice) to vote for proportional representation (which would lead to additional electoral reforms benefitting voters).
Too bad; not enough voters supported the initiative that would have reduced the Premier’s (and party) powers, and further empowered the voters; which in turn would require the MLAs to represent the voters; instead of the reverse.
I hope we get yet another opportunity – but it might be too much to ask for.
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This seems to be the best place to organize a bloodless coup. Any takers? The Lieberals pulled it off with CC last vote, why can’t we? How can it be done. We better do it soon or we’ll never be able to do it. Now’s the time, who’s with me (and Alex, I hope)!!!!
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Too late. and still wouldn’t mean anything.
The Socialist Hordes are at the door.
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Great! Let’s all welcome them in and make them world-leading comfortable.
Hosting completely incompetent destructive hordes became boring for me less than hour into it.
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Thanks Janos, I was waiting for someone to open the Idsle door so i could drop this in without going too far off topic.
http://bcove.me/jdg1b724
On the other hand it really is not that different from the bunch in Victoria.
Shameful!
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Krog is starting to take pot shots at Virk/ BC Rail, he should go for the full meal deal. Maybe this is him starting to bend, you can’t go half way in once you start down this path.
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/questions-raised-over-former-government-aide-bob-virk-s-land-deal-1.45685
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Absolutely horrid….This just goes to show that the BC Rail theft is crooked……Especially the part that the gov’t can’t go after any FUTURE money that Basi/Virk seem to have hiding in their back pockets. I am outraged that the gov’t won’t provide the needed documents for the AG. These people should be imprisoned for obstruction and fraud!
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You don’t gwt it. Basi and Virk were hiding no money. They didn’t need to. The govt was prepared to give them a most lucrative deal to go away.
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Mr Bateman
feels BC auditor maybe should move on.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/jordan-bateman/bc-auditor-general-john-doyle_b_2448816.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-british-columbia
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I am disappointed at reading your comments agreeing with the termination of the DJ. Why should people be fired because they say something that some people regard as being offensive. Why fire the man? Why not suspend him for a week? His job as an FM Dj is to be entertaining/provide some comedy, perhaps the question should not have been asked. However, Christy was under no obligation to answer. Anyway, Drex has been hired by 99.3 the fox.
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I couldn’t care less about your disappointment because your opinion on this is pure bunk.
FM DJs don’t have the right to be degrading to women by engaging a sitting premier with misogynistic idiocy.
That he’s been rehired by the fools at the Fox is their ignominy, not mine.
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Complete agreement.
What also is missing is the station’s integrity. A station can take months and years to build an audience that the advertisers will buy time into. It takes only minutes or hours to lose it.
The Fox isn’t as good as it used to be. But then again neither is
the once Top Dog NW ’98. Even BCTV is starting to lose a bit.
Once lost, it’s very tough to get it back.
The same can be said in politics too. Once volunteers and supporters walk away from a political party, it will take alot of effort to get them to turn around and come back. The BC Liberals are facing that right now.
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.I’m not sure that one(or two or three for that matter)who spent a bunch of time sitting in a dive bar for the purpose of watching a woman blast ping pong balls out of herself for money(and then takes a fond walk down memory lane with the cronies about it) is well positioned to discuss the topics of misogny or the degradation of women. I was going to throw this up when you all were going on about it in a previous post but resisted. Everyone can be a little rightious sometimes, i think, but ya gotta pick spots. I’ll dump on CC all day long but that dj is paid to be that character and she simply shouldnt have been there under any circumstances.
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What an idiotic comparison.
We went to a strip club as private individuals. In comolete and total privacy, in a setting that would offend no one in attendance. We all knew why we went.
It’s misogynistic and degrading to watch strippers strip, is it? You need your head examined.
Juxtapositioning that with throwing a misogynistic epithet at a sitting premier–that includes the tearing down of the short form of ‘Mother’, during any kind of interview is about as asinine a comparison as I’ve ever read or heard.
Congratulations.
Being paid to be a character is one thimg. But suggesting that what he did is at all kosher just simply tells me that such an observation can only come from someone that is incapable of rationally navigating the issue.
Again, congratulations.
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As a fellow ‘crony’ I rather enjoyed that walk down memory lane. I may never see the Pyramids or the Hanging Gardens of Babylon but I’m glad I saw that. And I’m not the Premier.
Idiotic indeed.
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Complete agreement.
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Hey Alex go listen to Christy on CFOX back in her CKNW days. Now take a look at how much money Howard Stern got with Sirius. IF Christy is comfortable dragging the premier title into those conversations then thats entirely up to her and her handlers. Good on the fox for hiring whats his name, geasers dont have to listen if they dont want.
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You need mental help.
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BC legislature front lawn closed til spring.(after election possible.?)no Protests.?
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It’ll stop more than a “closed” front lawn to stop protests. Maybe Christy should just stay on vacation until May 14th.
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HAH! She’s been on “vacation” for the last 18 months !
God help us if she actually DOES SOMETHING in the Legislature…….
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Thankfully not. The protestors once finished with the front lawn should at least come back and use a Toro 18″ gas lawn mower to mow our front yard lawn and keep the planters and flowers trimmed.
If you use it, pack out what you pack in, and leave it as it was when you arrived.
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Maybe it’s just to protect the lawn from damage until winter (rainy) season is over?
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Man i hate these sleazy filthy corrupt liberals,this kind of bullshit NEVER stops with these bastards. I hope one day when they are old they actually realize what kind of scum they really are,lieing,promise breaking,rude,sarcastic,lowlife pathetic excuses for human beings. Shirly Bond included
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Wait till you see what’s inside that orange box that has “Adrian Dix, Premier” written on it in blue.
The fun begins in June.
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If Foster paid $78K for a reno, then monthly rent, and the usual utilities and office supplies plus advertising and mail outs; how did he pay the constituency staff he inherited from Christensen? He would only have received a pro-rated amount for the fiscal year he was in office. They must work cheap.
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link to CHBC interview with Eric Foster yesterday, January 11:
http://www.chbcnews.ca/video/rallies+peaceful/video.html?v=2324903233&p=1&s=dd#stories
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Wow Foster chould chew an apple through a tennis racket with those equine chompers !
The Bugs Bunny routine didnt work. He’s still an evasive shifty weasel.
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Jerome Auriat is incorrect…Diane Watts is most certainly known outside of the lower mainland.
I received a phone call from the Libs the other evening looking for support in the spring election. when I stated that I had voted Liberal in the past, but would not be this time because Christy Clark was premier. the silence at the other end of the phone line was palpable…I am sure the caller had gotten the same response previously, and seemed almost apologetic when I stated that I was not an NDP supporter, and probably would not vote period. Alex, I have always exercised my license at the ballot box. Sadly, I do not see that I can this time.
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You’re obviously a man of great principle. Frankly, I don’t know anyone who could vote for Christy. There will be pockets of change. Wilkinson in Quilchena and one or two others that represent REAL change. But I can’t believe there is anyone who believes anything deJong or Coleman have to say. Bond or Bell? Bennett or Foster?
Gimme a break.
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That is EXACTLY my problem as well.
Coleman, deJong, Bond et al. and all their backroom boys (and girls) have to go too before I will consider the Libs again.
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So a liberal “front” account/website called BCReport tweets that Dix could be up on “contempt of parliament” because he discussed the John Doyle issue after the newspaper ads ran, implying a breach of sommittee secrecy.
As I recall it was John Les who broke the news that the committee was not unanimous, providing a greater level of insight than Dix provided.
But don’t let it stop the Liberals from flinging ridiculous charges around.
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They are ridiculous people. And nasty, too!
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add cannibalistic and parasitic. They eat their own.
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“contempt of PARLIAMENT” – in Victoria???
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It’s a formal phrase.
And it’s just not gonna happen. Absurd.
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You’d think the appropriate formal phrase would be “Contempt Of Legislature” not “contempt of parliament.”
Maybe “contempt of parliament” is what’s confusing the LIEberal boneheads in Victoria – they might be thinking they’re in Ottawa!
And, Alex, you’re right – the contempt allegation is absurd and it never will happen – it’s just another juvenile LIEberal bullshit attempt at political brinkmanship gone wrong.
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It’s because of parliamentary procedure. It governs all official fora, legislative chambers, and parliaments.
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Good God, Canada is a huge country with only 30 million people or so living among it.
It also happens to be abundantly wealthy.
So why all the problems throughout it?
Immature population that produces immature politicians maybe?
Certainly appears that way to me.
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Jay…. your observations, while honest, miss the real issue.
A toothless criminal code that for almost a generation has “wrist slappped” anyone convicted of a white collar crime such as fraud has created a vile new politician.
A politician that isnt interested in improving the community.
But a politician that is only interested in either
a) lining their pockets at the publics expense or
b) Lining their friends’ pockets at the publics expense
c) Slothing at the public trough in order to recieve an undeserved pension
d) a combination of a,b,or c
Time to rewrite the criminal code to toss these avaricious convicted scum in prison with rapists, murderers and bank robbers( my apologies to all the violent criminals), for a minimum of 10 years per offense.
THAT would do wonders in focussing their attention.
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“THAT would do wonders in focusing their attention”
You mean when Bubba comes out of the prison shower and knows which someone who was a politician used his soap?
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Bubba in the shower……The true definition of “hard” time….
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Non, sure, you may have hit the nail on the head more directly than I, however I think we said basically the same thing using different words.
Elected politicians and parties are in essence a reflection of the citizens that vote for them, yes?
The BC Liberals were voted into power 3 consecutive times.
I consider the BC Liberal party to be extremely immature politically speaking, therefore I feel I have no choice but to consider the majority of BC’s citizens to be extremely immature, politically speaking.
Very well stated comment though. Thanks for sharing it.
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I watched the attempt to interview Eric Foster on the evening news, friday. I could not believe it. The guy is an idiot. I have seen 8 yr olds do a better job of trying to get out of tight spot. The people of Vernon must have a very shallow gene pool if this is the best they could come up with. Then they made him the head of a committee. The guy barely looked like he was in charge of himself. He evaded the questions asked of him or he would revert to some sort of phrase regarding confidentiality, couldn’t talk about that.
I would suggest if they are that hard up for politicians in Vernon, that they have to elect that guy, any kid who is old enough to run for public office ought to give it a go. They will certainly do a better job, have a better sense of what is needed in their community, and could answer questions better than Foster could. So kids, if you are looking for a new job or any job which has a decent salary run for the mla position in Vernon, just run as an independant & get your friends to run your caimpaign. Any body will be better than Foster.
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Where are you Christy? Your oh so faithful and loyal followers wait with great anticipation to hear your pronouncements from on high on oh so many issues. Where are you? Hopefully not at Gordo’s hangout in Hawaii. You know how that ended. By the way, where are you, un-elected premier?
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According to Sean Leslie on his show, CC is back on the job tomorrow.
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Well, who better than the BC Liberals top man in the BC MSM to tell us when his pal will be ready to give him further orders and speaking notes.
Of course, I mean Shane Mills.
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She’s having a ‘makeover’…
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That’s also what I’ve heard but that remains to be seen. No more wine into the night; no more cheeseburgers; no more nachos. Lots of coaching. More aggressive in some spots, softer on others.
They have a plan: And typical of LIBERALS–it’s got nothing to do with substance.
Let’s see if she sticks to it. It’ll be interesting.
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” No more wine into the night; no more cheeseburgers; no more nachos”
So… a hunger strike?
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LOL! I don’t know what else she likes to eat.
And I don’t care. I’m just telling you what I’m told from inside her circle.
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CC’s hunger strike will be called “Waddle no more!!”
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She’s always had a nice kaboose.
I’d miss it!
It’s loaded with brains…
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No butts about that.
Looks like when you see someone walking in front of you with two bulldogs in a blue plastic bag.
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Lipstick on a pig!
I wish I still lived in Abbotsford so I could vote for Wooden shoe JVD.
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Yup, me too!
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YOU loose all credability when you stoop to her level ansering like that.
Seriously, keep it professional!
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Read it again.
It was a play on the previous comment. Get it? Brains located in derriere? I lose credibility when I point out she’s dense?
Um, okay.
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Consider too that they are way behind in getting nominations completed. Some may be salvageable, but many would be winnable if someone else other than Christy Crunch was leader and Premier.
If I were them, I would ensure the ridings which have a BC Liberal MLA who isn’t running again are nominated, then go to the ridings held by the NDP. The ridings where there is a BC Liberal MLA who is running again can just be declared nominated without having the ridings pay for a “nomination meeting” which is nothing more than a coronation.
If they had smart leadership at the Party level, all of the nominations would have been completed by the end of November, so that right now (Janauary) the candidate can do a walk about and with those who are new, actually sit down with the riding association and figure out what to do next.
It does take time to get things ready, it’s far more than just getting campaign office space (with renovations!) and putting a box of pencils on a cheap table
Can imagine the BC Liberals in many ridings will be hard pressed to convince party members to volunteer for the campaign.
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makeover #1- i will call an election right away and change the way things are done
proven to be false
makeover #2- families first
proven to be false
makeover #3- jobs plan creating tons of work for the people of BC
proven to be false
makeover #4- sound fiscal manager, just look at the liberals record
proven to be false
what will the next makeover be??????
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Crusty the gourmand is having a makeover???
Is she going for a foot reduction – two feet instead of four???
Less chance of her stepping in more shit or putting her foot in her mouth!
But, will there be enough time for her handlers to teach her how to walk upright inside the “centre ring” at the upcoming three ring circus election?
One question – how will she bend down to the trough to gorge after her self-inflicted apotemnophilia?
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I think we should all support CC in her attempt for a makeover. As such, CC if you are reading this, I strongly recommend that you do not click on the link below.
http://tinyurl.com/cqfr95l
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Interesting…
I’ve had the foie gras burger in Montreal. Very tasty. As is the Qualicum scallop burger, but in Victoria. It’s out of this world.
But the beat burger I’ve had in Canada is right here in Vancouver. The bacon, cheddar, mushroom and egg burger at the Gramercy Grill should be declared a narcotic. It’s beyond belief.
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IL Giardino is shutting down.Last chance for Italian
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If I want good Italian, I’ll go to ‘The Poor Italian’–great food, reasonable prices. “The Garden,” as it is referred to by us (former) regulars was a great restaurant but it’s now the refuge for those who don’t know good Italian food. It’s slipped significantly in the last ten years.
Regardless, Pino Posteraro has the best Italian restaurant in Canada (Cioppino’s in Yaletown) but it’s bloody expensive. You could walk away with a bill the size of half a mortgage payment or more, and that’s with little effort.
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Peter and family at The Moderne Burger on West Broadway also make a quality burger – the double patty bacon mushroom cheddar & swiss a good one to try.
On the other hand, for those gourmands in the crowd, who believe more is always better than good, a trip South to The Heart Attack Grill might be in order.
Quadruple Bypass Burger anybody?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gENjXb-p9Q
Nightline from ABC News : The Heart Attack Grill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=hqf_SIQ3JAk&feature=endscreen
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I haven’t been to see Peter and Kathy for years. No particular reason, just trying to eat healthier. They have a WONDERFUL little place, it’s like stepping into the 50s. The burgers are terrific–as are the fries. They’ve got a great formula going. Although…the are one upped, by Romer’s. Any place I can get garlic fries when I want them is okay by me. Bottom line is, I don’t eat out much anymore, nor are burgers my choice. When I go out it’s for sushi or Chinese. Twice a week I go for a quick Pho. That’s about it.
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I’m trying to eat healthy as well, and I’m keeping my restaurant outings to a minimum, although I did go to Moderne Burger last week – it was the first time in 4 years.
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You can put lipstick on a pig, but that pig is still a pig. I use that phrase as a metaphor, I am not calling CC a pig, but she does like to feed at the trough. I’m feeling growly today.
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I understand Tim, and you’re right, you just can’t train someone to hide who they really are. They can learn to mask it for a little while but the real person comes through in short order. Her handlers will exert pressure on the msm and will do their best to keep her away from the press but that only works until the next crisis and if she still stays out of sight, then that becomes the story. It certainly won’t get her through a pressure-filled election campaign.
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Hey, if you’re going to be a MILF, you may as well be a magnificent one, in a complimentary sort of way.
But seriously, they can coach her on presentation and lifestyle adjustments and skills, but once the softball questions come to an end and she has to attempt to defend the multitude of wrongdoings and her government’s ineptitude, I would think she would wither. Christy isn’t bright enough or composed enough to deal with snap questions.
Now no doubt they will continue to shield her, but eventually, with the campaign coming, she has to come out in the open. Will the MSM put the pressure on? Don’t count on it, and not unless Dix forces response to the issues.
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Do you really expect CC to engage in any election debates? Either in public or on tv? I expect her to come up with some lame excuse that she believes it’s necessary and proper for her to engage ppl directly. The MILF is unaccountable.
If she does show up for any election debates I would hope she gets checked for an earpiece.
ALL hail premier MILF!
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Those lieberals just don’t get it. A make over. Its like painting an old building with lots of problems. Once the building inspector comes in & has a good look & issues their report, no one will buy.
It isn’t about how she looks or speaks, its about the record. Its about the debt, its about the lack of clean hospitals, its about the giving away of B.C. Rail, its about the cover up, its about the lack of money for disabiled people, its about those lousy stupid meters, its about the corruption, its about “firing” the A.G. Nothing is going to fix any of these issues unless the issues are actually addressed.
The way to fix things, is to say, O.K. I was involved in the b.c. rail thing. Here are all the documents, have at it. I will hold an enquiry. I’ll adjust the taxes in B.C. so we have enough money to feed kids, have decent hsopitals, etc. That isn’t going to happen so Christie, have a nice time at the spa but it isn’t going to change anything.
WE all know people who dress nicely, are very attractive, but when they open their mouths its all hot air and nastiness.
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Excellent comment e.a f..
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I believe there are some of you who believe that the majority of the blogs written here are nothing but a lot of whiners. The truth is our politicians are more apt to do the bidding of the few rich people of this province/ country. When they get voted into office they tend to cater to where the money is comming from, not realizing the majority of it comes from joe taxpayer. Where their bonus is comes from the private sector, that is from where there is back room deals and under the counter money to be made. My point is how do the tax payers get their politicians to get things done that we voted our politicians in to do? Most politicians are side lined by the money they can make under the table hence politicians have lost sight of the real reason they got voted in for.
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