tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81649155247590269732024-03-05T01:33:30.114-08:002010 Gold RushNews and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.comBlogger541125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-80660958515901665942014-04-01T00:41:00.007-07:002014-04-01T06:35:57.451-07:00Exclusive: Russia buys Vancouver landmark in hostile takeover <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russian clowns fooling around at Science World in 2010 (Sochi 2014)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">The Russians are coming (back), the Russians are coming (back)!</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Four years after Science World was temporarily transformed into Sochi World during the 2010 Winter Olympics, the Russian Federation government is set to buy the Vancouver science museum for good. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A management source indicated the Russians had executed a hostile, $50 million takeover of the False Creek East property, financed entirely by state-owned oil and gas giant Gazprom. All 100 employees received layoff notices. It is expected they will be replaced by temporary foreign workers from Vladivostok.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“They just walked in last week and gave us notice to be out April 15,” said Avril Duren, one of the curators. “They insisted in giving us the bad news in memos printed in cyrillic; we had to use Google Translate to figure out what was going on. I can sympathize with Ukrainians in Crimea.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The government of President Vladimir Putin plans to showcase Russian space and military innovations in the main gallery, with an emphasis on Gazprom's evolution. Art, culture and sport will have a gallery of its own. It will also contain the world's first hall of fame for oligarchs, to celebrate their contribution to building the new Russia.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The Omnimax Theatre will be programmed to show Russian cinematic works like the classic Battleship Potemkin and 2013’s Stalingrad, the highest-grossing film in Russian history. There will be special showings of Russian medal winning performances from the Sochi 2014 Olympics and Paralympics, plus repeats of the opening and closing ceremonies. The giant, crying Russian bear from the closing ceremony will be on display outside Science World through the end of summer. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“We feel Vancouver is the ideal city in North America from where we can begin to re-educate the west about Russia’s aspirations of greatness, its desire to spread the wings of the Russian eagle so as to give the world a giant Russian bear hug and never let go,” read a statement prepared by the Russian foreign ministry. “The good feelings created by the Sochi Games ignited a Russia-wide rediscovery of ourselves, it overflowed into Crimea and is ripe for sharing with our friends in the west.” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A restaurant serving Russian fare, such as borscht, caviar and salads, will include a bar specializing in the finest imported vodka. A vodka distillery will be built on site. The building will serve as a hospitality centre during the Gazprom-sponsored 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup to help promote the 2018 World Cup in Russia. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Opening day is scheduled for June 12, Russia’s national holiday. The planned opening day two-for-one promotion for heterosexual couples is sure to grab headlines and attract the attention of Canadian human rights watchdogs.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“Great... a potemkin village near the Olympic Village,” laid-off staffer Duren said of the Russian government plans. "Where are students supposed to go on science-related field trips now?"</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Science World opened in 1985 as the Expo Centre to act as a preview for the following year’s Expo 86 world’s fair on transportation and communication. After the fair, the geodesic dome became the permanent home of the Arts, Science and Technology Centre. Leaks in the roof were fixed and a new low-energy decorative lighting system was installed.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In 2012-2013, Science World attracted 631,617 visitors and program participants and counted $10.774 million in revenue, $9.351 million expenses and a net surplus of $1.088 million. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Russia's junior acting assistant vice deputy of foreign affairs, Deney Duraka, is scheduled to make the plan official at a news conference just before noon on April 1st. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-66409617632707892012013-10-18T16:49:00.002-07:002013-10-20T18:06:21.232-07:00Who went to the Preem's Prom?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Premier Christy Clark broke from tradition on June 7 with a <a href="http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/06/premier-introduces-new-executive-council.html" target="_blank">Cabinet Naming Ceremony </a>at Canada Place. In case you missed it, the entire 54-minute, 37-second extravaganza is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ6DF9bhLXQ&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">available on YouTube</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preem's Prom at the prow of Canada Place (Government of B.C.)</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Normally, the members of executive council are announced the same day as they are sworn-in by the lieutenant-governor. The cabinet roster has traditionally been a well-kept secret until the swearing-in ceremony. When <a href="http://www.ltgov.bc.ca/lg/biography/default.html" target="_blank">Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon</a> finally made the formal appointments on June 10 at Government House in Victoria, the identities of those pledging the three-part oath of allegiance, office and confidentiality had been known to the public for three days. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That means the ministers were not ministers under-oath for the entire weekend. Any communication any one of them may have had with a lobbyist would have gone unreported.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So who went? That is a good question. The attendance list was not released, but the <a href="http://docs.openinfo.gov.bc.ca/D54633713A_Response_Package_OOP-2013-00348.PDF" target="_blank">list of invitees</a> was. See it below. I pored over the 80-page document and made some lists of my own. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For instance, there could have been a reunion of people whose names were attached to the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2008/12/29/Railgate/" target="_blank">BC Rail </a> privatization scandal. There were eight key figures from the 2003 controversy on the invite list: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">CN chair <a href="http://www.mcleangroup.com/staff/david.html" target="_blank">David McLean</a>, ex-Premier/<a href="http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/united_kingdom-royaume_uni/offices-bureaux/biography-biographie.aspx" target="_blank">Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom</a> Gordon Campbell, lobbyist/strategist <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/03/28/Patrick-Kinsella-Arizona/" target="_blank">Patrick Kinsella</a>, ex-lobbyist/Campbell aide<a href="http://alexgtsakumis.com/?p=4128" target="_blank"> Jamie Elmhirst</a>, ex-BC Rail director <a href="http://billtieleman.blogspot.ca/2012/06/corporate-ceo-jim-shepard-rides-to.html" target="_blank">Jim Shepard</a>, ex-Finance Minister <a href="http://therealstory.ca/tag/gary-collins" target="_blank">Gary Collins</a>, ex-Deputy Minister/<a href="http://pacificcarbontrust.com/who-we-are/our-team/chris-trumpy/" target="_blank">Pacific Carbon Trust chair</a> Chris Trumpy, and ex-BC Liberal Party executive director <a href="http://alexgtsakumis.com/?p=4354" target="_blank">Kelly Reichert</a>. (No, Dave Basi and Bob Virk are not on the list.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">B.C.'s captains of industry were on the invitation list. Same with movers and shakers of the Vancouver real estate scene and holders of lucrative liquor licences. The B.C. Liberal campaign's inner-circle and some of Clark's closest friends and relatives gathered. The guest list included owners of the Vancouver Canucks, B.C. Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver Canadians and even some of the folks who are Liberal members but whose allegiance to the party was hidden from viewers when they appeared in that <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/04/19/Liberal-Infomercial-Citizens/" target="_blank">pre-campaign infomercial. </a>(Surrounding a beaming Clark in th</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">e photo above are Ryan Beedie, Liberal MP Joyce Murray, Mayor Richard "Shutterbug" Stewart of Coquitlam, Industry Minister James Moore, federal cabinet regional affairs director Colin Metcalfe and ex-Conservative cabinet minister Stockwell Day.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">B.C. Federation of Labour's Jim Sinclair and B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union's Darryl Walker were invited. They would rather have been front-row-centre at Adrian Dix's premiership swearing-in, but that obviously didn't happen because of the Liberals' surprise win over the NDP in the May 14 election. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Representatives of 13 industrial lobby groups, a half-dozen corporations and a federal Crown corporation donated money to fund the ceremony. How much? B.C. Trucking Association disclosed that it paid $2,500. Watch this space in the coming weeks to find out who else donated what.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">Donors:</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.pfla.bc.ca/" target="_blank">Private Forest Lands Association</a> (Robert Bealing), <a href="http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/" target="_blank">Port Metro Vancouver</a> (Alan Baydala), <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/default.aspx" target="_blank">Microsoft </a>(Barb Berg), <a href="http://www.notaries.bc.ca/" target="_blank">Society of Notaries Public of B.C.</a> (G.W. Wayne Braid), <a href="http://www.eminata.com/" target="_blank">Eminata Group</a> (Randy Cox), <a href="http://www.domtar.com/" target="_blank">Domtar</a> (David Cunningham),<a href="http://www.roadbuilders.bc.ca/" target="_blank"> B.C. Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association </a>(Jack Davidson), <a href="http://www.bcinteractive.ca/" target="_blank">B.C. Interactive</a> (Lance Davis), <a href="http://www.icba.bc.ca/" target="_blank">Independent Contractors and Business Association</a> (Phil Hochstein), <a href="http://www.cleanenergybc.org/" target="_blank">Clean Energy B.C.</a> (Paul Kariya), <a href="http://www.bchotelassociation.com/" target="_blank">B.C. Hotel Association </a>(John Kearns), <a href="http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/" target="_blank">B.C. Real Estate Association</a> (Jim McCaughan and Cameron Muir), <a href="http://www.bccassn.com/" target="_blank">B.C. Construction Association </a>(Manley McLachlan), <a href="http://livehappywater.ca/" target="_blank">Happy Water </a>(Ralph McRae), <a href="http://www.capp.ca/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers</a> (Geoffrey Morrison),<a href="http://www.riotintoalcaninbc.com/" target="_blank"> Rio Tinto Alcan</a> (Richard Prokopanko), <a href="http://www.newcardealers.ca/homepage.aspx" target="_blank">New Car Dealers’ Association of B.C. </a>(Blair Qualey), <a href="http://www.bcmea.com/" target="_blank">B.C. Maritime Employers’ Association</a> (Greg Vurdela), <a href="http://www.crfa.ca/" target="_blank">Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association</a> (Mark Von Schellwitz), <a href="http://www.bctrucking.com/" target="_blank">B.C. Trucking Association</a> (Louise Yako).</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/members/obc-1990/jim-pattison/" target="_blank">Jimmy Pattison,</a> Telus’s <a href="http://about.telus.com/community/english/investor_relations/corporate_team/executive_team/darren_entwistle" target="_blank">Darren Entwistle</a>, Washington Group’s <a href="http://www.seaspan.com/corporate_team/kyle_washington.php" target="_blank">Kyle Washington</a>, Canaccord founder <a href="http://www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/members/obc-2003/2003-peter-brown/" target="_blank">Peter Brown</a>, ex-SNC-Lavalin chair <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/lessons-i-learned-from-snc-lavalins-woes/article13466724/?page=all" target="_blank">Gwyn Morgan</a>, Lululemon founder <a href="http://www.forbes.com/profile/chip-wilson/" target="_blank">Chip Wilson</a>, East West Petroleum’s <a href="http://davidsidoo.com/" target="_blank">David Sidoo</a>, Fiore Financial’s <a href="http://www.endeavourmining.com/new/Advisor.asp" target="_blank">Frank Giustra</a>, Belkorp chair <a href="http://www.belkorp.com/default.asp?webpage=276" target="_blank">Stuart Belkin</a>, publisher/refinery proposer <a href="http://blackpress.ca/executive.php" target="_blank">David Black</a>, Rogers’ CEO <a href="http://www.forbes.com/profile/philip-lind/" target="_blank">Phil Lind</a>, Kinder Morgan CEO <a href="http://www.kindermorgan.com/about_us/about_us_ian_anderson.cfm" target="_blank">Ian Anderson</a>, Future Shop founder <a href="http://www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/2012-recipients-hassan-khosrowshahi-vancouver/" target="_blank">Hassan Khosrowshahi</a>, and Rocky Mountaineer founder/NPA bagman <a href="http://www.rockymountaineer.com/en_CA/about_us/message_from_the_president/board_of_directors" target="_blank">Peter Armstrong</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Polygon’s <a href="http://www.polyhomes.com/about/company/management" target="_blank">Michael Audain</a>, Beedie Group’s <a href="http://www.beediegroup.ca/team" target="_blank">Ryan Beedie</a>, Bosa Group’s <a href="http://www.bosaproperties.com/about-bosa" target="_blank">Dale Bosa</a>, <a href="http://www.fairchildgroup.com/index.php" target="_blank">Fairchild Group’s</a> Thomas Fung, <a href="http://www.ledcor.com/who-we-are" target="_blank">Ledcor’s</a> Dave Lede, Concord Pacific’s <a href="http://terryhui.com/" target="_blank">Terry Hui</a>, Westbank’s <a href="http://www.biv.com/section/BIV&template=topic?t=1576&topic=Ian%20Gillespie" target="_blank">Ian Gillespie</a>, “Condo King” <a href="http://www.rennie.com/" target="_blank">Bob Rennie</a>, and Wall Financial’s <a href="http://www.shannonwallcentre.com/developer.html" target="_blank">Peter Wall</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pro sports franchise owners and executives:</span></span></h3>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://canucks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=39758" target="_blank">Vancouver Canucks</a>: Francesco, Paolo, Roberto, Luigi and Elisa Aquilini; Vancouver Canadians: <a href="http://www.ecuad.ca/about/governance/board" target="_blank">Jake Kerr</a>; B.C. Lions: <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/ErrorPage/Default.aspx?Url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eparl%2Egc%2Eca%3A80%2Fcommon%2Fsenmemb%2Fsenate%2Fisenator%5Fdet%2Easp%3Fsenator%5Fid%3D2868%26sortord%3DN%26Language%3DE%26M%3DM&UrlReferrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Eca%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Ddavid%2520braley%2520senator%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D2%26ved%3D0CDgQFjAB%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%2Eparl%2Egc%2Eca%252Fcommon%252Fsenmemb%252Fsenate%252Fisenator%5Fdet%2Easp%253Fsenator%5Fid%253D2868%2526sortord%253DN%2526Language%253DE%2526M%253DM%26ei%3DDXdkUqjEGvDeyAH58YHIBw%26usg%3DAFQjCNEXs9ncRG%5F2hgMRHSpCPi%5FjRGKZ1w%26sig2%3DxLu7CZOUMNAOgHjWSyv4dg%26bvm%3Dbv%2E54934254%2Cd%2EaWc&StatusCode=404&Encoding=ISO-8859-1" target="_blank">Sen. David Braley</a>, Dennis Skulsky, Wally Buono, Jamie Taras; <a href="http://www.whitecapsfc.com/history" target="_blank">Vancouver Whitecaps</a>: Greg Kerfoot, John Furlong, Bob Lenarduzzi, and Rachel Lewis.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lobbyists:</span></span></h3>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Progressive Group’s <a href="http://www.progressivegroup.ca/our-team/cynthia-burton-shore/" target="_blank">Cindy Burton</a>, Bluestone Group’s <a href="http://contributions.electionsbc.gov.bc.ca/pcs/SA1SearchResults.aspx?FilerSK=(ALL)&EDSK=0&FilerTypeSK=0&Contributor=Mark%20Jiles&PartySK=0&ED=(ALL)&FilerType=(ALL)&Filer=(ALL)&Party=(ALL)&DateTo=&DateFrom=&DFYear=&DFMonth=&DFDay=&DTYear=&DTMonth=&DTDay=" target="_blank">Mark Jiles</a>, <a href="http://www.ascentpublicaffairs.com/" target="_blank">Ascent Public Affairs'</a> Kimanda Jarzebiak, Counterpoint Communications’ <a href="http://www.counterpoint.ca/team/bruce-rozenhart/" target="_blank">Bruce Rozenhart</a>, Hill & Knowlton’s <a href="http://hkstrategies.ca/expert/steve-vander-wal/" target="_blank">Steve Vander Wal</a>, <a href="http://www.wpcgroup.ca/about-wpc/the-wpc-team/" target="_blank">Western Policy Consultants’ </a>Mike Bailey, <a href="http://www.glpa.ca/" target="_blank">Gary Ley Public Affairs'</a> Gary Ley, <a href="http://fleishman.ca/about/our-team/" target="_blank">Fleishman Hillard’s</a> Anna Lilly, Canadian Pacific’s <a href="https://twitter.com/mike_lovecchio" target="_blank">Mike LoVecchio</a>, Earnscliffe’s <a href="http://www.earnscliffe.ca/team-bio/bruce_young" target="_blank">Bruce Young</a> and <a href="http://www.earnscliffe.ca/team-bio/adam_johnson" target="_blank">Adam Johnson</a>, <a href="http://www.goabc.org/news/" target="_blank">Guide Outfitters’</a> Scott Ellis, and Wazuku Advisory Group's <a href="http://www.wazuku.ca/#!brad-zubyk/c1ivp" target="_blank">Brad Zubyk</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Liquor licensees and food folks: </span></span></h3>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130101/BIV0109/121239993/-1/BIV/liquor-bid-promised-60-million-in-taxpayer-savings" target="_blank">ContainerWorld’s Dennis Chrismas</a>, B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices’ <a href="https://twitter.com/iantostenson" target="_blank">Ian Tostenson</a>, <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/brewery-that-supported-bc-cabinet-minister-gains-millions-on-disputed-tax-break/article5514847/" target="_blank">Pacific Western Brewing’s Kazuko Komatsu</a>, Cactus Club’s <a href="http://www.cactusclubcafe.com/tag/richard-jaffray/" target="_blank">Richard Jaffray</a>, Keg Restaurants' <a href="http://www.kegincomefund.com/viewpage.cfm?PageID=2" target="_blank">David Aisenstat</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ABLEBC" target="_blank">Alliance of Beverage Licensees of B.C. Ian Baillie</a>, Earls’ <a href="http://www.earls.ca/about-us/our-history" target="_blank">Stan Fuller</a>, <a href="http://www.markjamesgroup.com/" target="_blank">Mark James Group’s</a> Mark James, <a href="http://www.markanthony.com/" target="_blank">Mark Anthony Brands’ Anthony von Mandl</a>, and White Spot Restaurants’ <a href="http://www.whitespot.ca/news/interviews/bc-business-interview-warren-erhart-white-spot-president-and-ceo" target="_blank">Warren Erhart</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friends of the Party and/or Friends of the Premier:</span></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ontario import strategist <a href="http://twitter.com/tweetsfromdon" target="_blank">Don Guy</a>, campaign manager <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeBCL" target="_blank">Mike McDonald,</a> ex-deputy chief of staff/<a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/05/13/BC-Libs-Quick-Wins/" target="_blank">Quick Wins memo author</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kimhaak" target="_blank">Kim Haakstad</a>, communications director <a href="https://twitter.com/SamuelOliphant" target="_blank">Sam Oliphant</a>, Alberta import strategist <a href="http://rodlove.com/" target="_blank">Rod Love</a>, Government Communications deputy minister and bridesmaid <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2011/09/02/Clark-Aide-Wrote-Riot-Report/" target="_blank">Athana Mentzelopoulos (and her husband Stewart Muir</a>), Ministry of Justice lawyer/leadership campaign volunteer director <a href="https://twitter.com/DougEastwood" target="_blank">Doug Eastwood</a>, regional director <a href="https://twitter.com/bcburley" target="_blank">Bruce Burley</a>, party fundraiser/new deputy chief of staff <a href="https://twitter.com/chelcad" target="_blank">Michele Cadario</a>, ex-Liberal MP/withdrawn MLA candidate <a href="https://twitter.com/sukhdhaliwal" target="_blank">Sukh Dhaliwal</a>, ex-Liberal MP/cabinet minister <a href="https://twitter.com/SuzanneAnton/status/333368015225753602" target="_blank">Herb Dhaliwal</a>, Liberal/Vision Vancouver strategist <a href="https://twitter.com/diamondisinger" target="_blank">Diamond Isinger</a>, lobbyist <a href="https://twitter.com/KuchVan" target="_blank">Steve Kukucha</a>, pollsters/ex-assistant deputy minister <a href="https://twitter.com/dpinbc" target="_blank">Dimitri Pantazopoulos</a>, Campaign Research principal <a href="https://twitter.com/NickKouvalis" target="_blank">Nick Kouvalis</a>, Vision Vancouver director/advisor <a href="https://twitter.com/daeaves" target="_blank">David Eaves</a>, strategist <a href="https://twitter.com/Emile_BC" target="_blank">Emile Scheffel</a>, social media advisor <a href="https://twitter.com/davedotca" target="_blank">Dave Teixeira</a>, ex-Liberal leader <a href="https://twitter.com/GordonFDWilson" target="_blank">Gordon Wilson</a> and his wife/ex-Liberal MLA <a href="https://twitter.com/JudiTyabji" target="_blank">Judi Tyabji,</a><a href="http://cifflp.com/team/" target="_blank"> B.C. Housing chair Judy Rogers</a>, North Delta campaign co-manager <a href="http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2013/2013-05-24.asp" target="_blank">Tim Crowhurst</a>, Lululemon public relations/Liberal Women's Networker <a href="https://twitter.com/erinhochstein" target="_blank">Erin Hochstein</a>, Lawson Lundell lawyer <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20121218/BIV0117/312189998/-1/BIV/local-private-college-countersues-after-closure" target="_blank">Murray Campbell and wife/fellow Clark supporter/Private Career Training Institutions Agency of B.C. registrar Karin Kirkpatrick</a>, ex-B.C. Lion <a href="https://twitter.com/davedbenefield" target="_blank">Daved Benefield</a>, strategist/gambling investor </span><span style="font: 11.8px Times; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2005/02/01/GovLoveGambling/" target="_blank">Jacee Schaefer</a>, aide/wife of CBC reporter Stephen Smart <a href="https://twitter.com/rebsmacscott" target="_blank">Rebecca Scott</a>, ex-Liberal MLA </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="http://2010goldrush.blogspot.ca/2012/05/mischievous-bloy.html" target="_blank">Harry Bloy</a>, Chilliwack riding president <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinBC" target="_blank">Collin Rogers</a>, justice reviewer/Liberal supporter <a href="http://billtieleman.blogspot.ca/2012/02/premier-christy-clark-appoints-geoffrey.html" target="_blank">Geoff Cowper</a>, Canadian Bar Association president/Liberal supporter <a href="https://twitter.com/deancrawfordvan" target="_blank">Dean Crawford</a>, ex-Liberal Party of Canada B.C. president <a href="https://twitter.com/billycfl" target="_blank">Bill Cunningham</a>, ex-Conservative vice-president/Liberal turncoat <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBesler" target="_blank">Ben Besler</a>, Coquitlam-Maillardville riding president <a href="https://twitter.com/RanRinBC" target="_blank">Randy Paolo Rinaldo</a>, Aga Khan Council for Canada president <a href="https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/the-vancouver-power-50-2011-malik-talib-amin-mansoor-lalji/" target="_blank">Malik Talib</a>, ex-Young Liberals of Canada B.C. president/B.C. Pharmacy Association public affairs officer <a href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/205/300/liberal-ef/06-12-05/www.ylc-jlc.ca/executive_e.aspx@id=15058" target="_blank">Coco Lefoka</a>, ethnic outreacher <a href="http://therealstory.ca/2013-03-01/bc-liberals/todays-liberal-scandal-from-qp-to-damage-control" target="_blank">Lita Nuguid</a>, Vancouver Canucks' photographer <a href="http://jeffvinnick.com/Portfolio/News/11/" target="_blank">Jeff Vinnick</a>, CKNW sex show host <a href="https://twitter.com/back2thebedroom" target="_blank">Maureen McGrath</a>, 99.3 the Fox morning drive host <a href="https://soundcloud.com/993thefox/the-jeff-oneil-show-vs-2" target="_blank">Jeff O'Neil</a>, ex-Rock 101 morning drive host <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen_dyrgas/5874156451/in/set-72157603992182876" target="_blank">Bro Jake & Family</a>, strategist <a href="https://twitter.com/elizsamuels" target="_blank">Elizabeth Samuels</a>, plus Clark's </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">brothers </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2011/10/24/Christy-Clark-Inner-Circle/" target="_blank">Bruce</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/johnmrclark" target="_blank">John</a>, her </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ex-husband/aide </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://twitter.com/marissenmark" target="_blank">Mark Marissen</a> and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> son </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Christy+Clark+politician+first/8303089/story.html" target="_blank">Hamish Marissen-Clark</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">Allegedly average people, as seen on the Liberal <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/04/19/Liberal-Infomercial-Citizens/" target="_blank">election infomercial</a>: </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://adrianlu.com/" target="_blank">Adrian Lu</a>, <a href="http://webcast.westwoodcc.ca/" target="_blank">Joey Lu</a>, <a href="http://www.bcyl.ca/11780" target="_blank">Jackie Hollis</a>, David Fraser and <a href="http://www.marzolf.ca/rmarzolf.html" target="_blank">Rick & Julie Marzolf</a> (Also invited: "</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Celebrity endorsers" ex-Conservative MP </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.stockwellday.com/" target="_blank">Stockwell Day</a> and </span><a href="http://www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/members/obc-2010/2010-brad-bennett/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Brad "G</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">randson of W.A.C. and Son of Bill" </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/members/obc-2010/2010-brad-bennett/" target="_blank">Bennett</a>; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Producers <a href="http://www.hoganmillar.com/" target="_blank">Don Millar and Eric Hogan</a>).</span></div>
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Who<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/177048432/See-who-went-to-the-Preem-s-Prom?secret_password=o57l0w6mvkuhrna60ll" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View See who went to the Preem's Prom on Scribd"> went to the Preem's Prom</a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-8874486746203807142013-10-17T12:34:00.001-07:002013-10-17T12:34:41.829-07:00Exclusive: Park Board steamrolling ahead with eviction, say six dissenting associations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Court documents filed by Vancouver’s six dissenting community centre associations say the Park Board is proceeding to “evict” them before the court has decided on their bid for an injunction to stop the OneCard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vancouver.ca/images/cov/feature/onecard-photo-douglas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Get your OneCard today!" border="0" src="http://vancouver.ca/images/cov/feature/onecard-photo-douglas.jpg" style="width: 150px;" title="Get your OneCard today!" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Controversial OneCard</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Park Board terminated Joint Operating Agreements on Aug. 29 with volunteer boards at Hastings, Kensington, Kerrisdale, Killarney, Riley Park Hillcrest and Sunset community centres effective year-end. That was in reaction to the Aug. 20 filing of a B.C. Supreme Court petition aimed at blocking the citywide impositio</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">n of the OneCard membership system. The six associations, who are fighting the Park Board plan to centralize control of the 22 community centres, say they have a right to sell the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ir own memberships. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Justice Bruce Cohen reserved judgment after the Sept. 17-18 hearing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The six associations now say the Vision Vancouver-controlled Park Board is looking for other not-for-profit groups to replace them and staff transition teams have been formed to prepare for the Jan. 1, 2014 Park Board takeover.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Oct. 15 court filing by Dean Davison, the lawyer for the six community associations, says the community associations have invested millions of dollars into the community centres and the programs “and as a result have legal ownership of a great deal of property and assets at the community centres." The six associations want the court to declare the community centres are "held on constructive trust by the Park Board for the plaintiffs."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"The Park Board is also currently taking steps to take over the programs on Jan. 1, 2014 when ownership of the copyrighted material (in the brochures which promote the programs) and the decades of goodwill is still a matter that must be dealt with by the court," according to the association's filings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The plaintiffs applied Oct. 4 for an injunction to stop the Park Board from terminating the Joint Operating Agreements with the community associations and a declaration that the Joint Operating Agreements remain in effect and an interim injunction forcing the Park Board to perform its obligations under the JOAs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A three-day hearing is scheduled for Oct. 22, but Park Board wants it adjourned to Nov. 18. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The filing by city lawyer Jason Twa claims: "The Park Board has taken no steps to interfere with the plaintiffs joint operation of community centres during the currency of the JOAs, notwithstanding that it has issued notices of termination. Until the terminations of the JOAs are effective the Park Board continues to jointly operate community centres with the plaintiffs."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Twa claims </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">more time is needed to prepare a defence because </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">park board and civic archives must be searched for documents dating back to the 1930s about "historic financial and other contributions that the plaintiffs have made to the development, construction and renovation of community centres and related facilities dating as far back as the 1930s." </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"It will be a considerable undertaking for the Park Board to search for, locate, review and gather such documents," according to the Park Board filing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, only two-and-a-half months remain until Jan. 1, 2014. </span></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-56633455583939873832013-10-15T19:06:00.001-07:002013-10-15T19:31:51.985-07:00Exclusive: Meet the other Quick Wins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Governments are intricate webs of offices, boards and committees that quietly go about much of their business away from the public eye.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the many such groups in British Columbia’s government is called the Procurement Council, an arm of the <a href="http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/ocg/pgo/pgo.htm" target="_blank">Ministry of Finance</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I obtained, via Freedom of Information, agendas and minutes for this group of bureaucrats involved in finding suppliers of goods and services to government. These documents were an instant source of curiosity and hilarity when I noticed numerous references to <i><b>Quick Wins</b></i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You may have heard of the <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/06/12/Quick-Wins-Docs/" target="_blank">BC Liberals' Quick Wins scandal</a>: Aides to Premier Christy Clark conceived the <a href="http://2010goldrush.blogspot.ca/2013/03/quick-wins-scandal-report-soft-on-clark.html" target="_blank">Multicultural Outreach Strategy</a> in late 2011/early 2012 and their "playbook" included a list of so-called "Quick Wins" to score points with ethnic voters. The document, released by the <a href="http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/ocg/pgo/pgo.htm" target="_blank">NDP</a>, was evidence that Liberal aides violated the government's code of conduct by spending the public dime while doing party work on government time. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It is now under RCMP investigation. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Procurement Council documents show that there were other Quick Wins being contemplated elsewhere in the B.C. government around the same time. Procurement Council minutes mention the Enterprise Contract Management Solutions working group conceiving a list of 25 Quick Wins</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The specific list wasn’t disclosed in the documents I obtained, but “Quick Win #1” was. That was a specific proposal to consider raising the $25,000 threshold for competitive tendering on government contracts to $50,000 “to allow for a simpler selection process":</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Tamara McLeod advised that any increase in the thresholds would require a rational and defensible justification. The ECMS Working Group (Janet McGuire and,Jenny Hutchison) will do some quantitative analysis research to support the increase, including on the administration costs connected with preparing and soliciting RFPs.”</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/ocg/fmb/manuals/CPM/06_Procurement.htm" target="_blank">Provincial procurement rules</a> state government contracts estimated to be worth $25,000 to $75,000 (or $25,000 to $100,000 for construction) “must be awarded using a competitive process.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Opportunities can be posted on <a href="http://www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca/open.dll/welcome" target="_blank">BC Bid</a> or at least three quotes must be obtained.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Loopholes exist for direct awards to maintain security or protect life and health, in case of unforeseeable emergency, if a supplier is uniquely qualified supplier or the contract is with another government body. Contracts under $25,000, the rules say, "should be competed to the extent reasonable and cost-effective." Notice that the word is "should" (instead of "must").</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The th</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">reshold remains $25,000. A representative of the Finance Ministry, who refused to permit publication of his name, told me: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“The enterprise contract management solutions working group is tasked with finding ways to streamline<span style="font: 12.0px Times;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and standardize contract management across all ministries. </span>Any proposals put forward by this working group regarding possible changes to government core policy would require Treasury Board and Cabinet approval prior to implementation.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Could change be on the way? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bcliberals.com/media/BCL%20booklet%20FINAL%20online.pdf" target="_blank">The BC Liberals’ 2013 election platform</a> promised to increase small business procurement by at least 20% and: </span></span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Streamline RFP processes for government procurement to ensure small businesses can compete for government contracts on a more level playing field.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Limit RFP paperwork for government to a maximum of two pages for contracts under $250,000 so that small businesses can apply and compete.</span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On Aug. 29, the government appointed veteran bureaucrat George Farkas (the assistant deputy minister in the Management Services Division) to lead the "Small Business – Doing Business with Government" project. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Keep an eye on Farkas and the red tape-cutting Liberals to see if that $25,000 threshold does get raised after all. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Increasing the number of no-bid contracts might streamline government operations and please some small businesses, but it could also elevate the risk of waste and cronyism. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/176444813/Procurement-Council-Agendas-and-Minutes?secret_password=2bb849kc7nhx8ld5n9o7" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Procurement Council Agendas and Minutes on Scribd">Procurement Council Agendas and Minutes</a></div>
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News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-27836919123136645452013-10-15T19:04:00.003-07:002013-10-15T19:05:14.486-07:00Caps off for successful student philanthropy project <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A fledgling students’ group at <a href="https://www.capilanou.ca/" target="_blank">Capilano University</a> in North Vancouver has raised more than enough money to house the family of a sick child at <a href="http://www.rmhbc.ca/" target="_blank">Ronald McDonald House</a> for a year.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CapUWeDoRHH" target="_blank">Ronald’s Helping Heroes</a>, a directed study project in the School of Business, hoped to raise $27,375 by Oct. 18. The sum represents 365 nights at $75 per, the cost of housing a family at the Angus Drive property. As of 7 p.m. on Oct. 15, they had raised $28,683. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The project was the brainchild of Sian Hebden and Kimia Tajbakhsh, who did fundraising and cooking three times a week at Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver over a two-month period last semester to more than satisfy the requirement of a one-day leadership class assignment. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“We could've gone to the SPCA and walked dogs or fed the homeless, but Kimia and I decided we wanted to do more than that. We started researching charities, we decided we wanted to do something to help children who were sick and Ronald McDonald house fits that,” Hebden said. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The group has gone classroom to classroom wearing pyjamas, some branded with Ronald’s Helping Heroes, and elicited donations from fellow students, faculty and staff. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“We're trying to create what is known as a changemaker campus, we're trying to really build a community here of changemakers, people that go out and do projects,” Hebden said. “We want to create things that go outside the four walls of school and reading textbooks. We think it's important to </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">engage in the community.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Oct. 18 deadline coincides with the annual <a href="http://www.weday.com/we-day-events/we-day-cities/vancouver/" target="_blank">We Day</a> inspirational conference/concert at Rogers Arena. One of the members of Ronald’s Helping Heroes is scheduled to speak to the full house of Lower Mainland schoolchildren about the project. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“In an organization there are approvals that have to happen, there hasn't been any drama, these kids are focused on getting it down in five weeks,” said instructor and convenor Carolyn Stern. “They've learned the process of how things get done.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stern has been teaching at Capilano for 13 years and student projects normally “stay within the department or stay within the faculty.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“I've never seen a student group get an office. They've been given this office to use for this project but they have bigger plans.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The website, including an explanatory video, is the start of that under the<a href="http://capuwedo.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1086246" target="_blank"> Cap U We Do</a> name. And donations are still accepted. </span></span></div>
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News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-72921486558210766572013-10-13T16:33:00.001-07:002013-10-13T16:33:20.529-07:00B.C. charities can thank public employees (and, ultimately, taxpayers)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Office philanthropy takes many forms. From the ad hoc passing of a hat to an all-out, team effort to raise funds around an event.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It turns out, the province's public employees have a formal conduit for their efforts. It's called the <a href="http://www2.gov.bc.ca/myhr/content_hub.page?ContentID=134630fa-7179-a38b-3c19-5e208592ac81" target="_blank">Provincial Employees Community Services Fund</a>. The 1965-founded, registered charitable foundation is little-known outside government circles. It campaigns from September to December and is chaired by Lynda Tarras, who heads the Public Service Agency.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Through Freedom of Information, I received the financial statements for 2010 to 2012. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In 2010, it raised $2.039 million for charities from authorized payroll deductions and cash contributions. A year later, $1.9 million. In 2012, it raised $1.839 million.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It’s a small sum compared to the province’s roughly $44 billion budget and is almost as much as the $1,582,126 pay packet of the highest-paid public employee, B.C. Investment Management Corporation CEO Doug Pearce.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There are large donations to some of the big, well-known charities, such as BC SPCA ($53,492.59), Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. and Yukon ($39,759.94), and Canadian Cancer Society ($22,832.59).</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There is a veritable grab-bag of charities benefitting from public dollars, including: David Suzuki Foundation ($2,890.62), Vancouver College Ltd. ($75), Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada ($469), Helping Homeless Cats Society ($1,420.10), Canadian Luge Association ($279.80), and Dominion of Canada Rifle Association ($156). </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was encouraged to see $183.82 given to Transparency International Canada Inc. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As they say, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">it’s the thought that counts. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The annual financial report and full list of donations is below.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A Happy Thanksgiving to all. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/175828347/Provincial-Employees-Fund-FOI" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Provincial Employees Fund FOI on Scribd">Provincial Employees Fund FOI</a></div>
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News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-82744146572729264072013-10-11T12:03:00.001-07:002013-10-22T23:18:10.797-07:00Four big Massey Bridge contracts up for grabs. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Preparations to replace the aging <a href="http://engage.gov.bc.ca/masseytunnel/" target="_blank">George Massey Tunnel</a> with a bridge are rapidly underway.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure issued requests for proposals on Oct. 1 for four major, long-term contracts, just a week-and-a-half after Premier Christy Clark’s Sept. 20 announcement. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Clark revealed construction of the Richmond-to-Delta bridge would start in 2017, but she did not say in her Union of B.C. Municipalities convention speech what the budget would be or how it would be financed. Does government know all the answers and is it just too afraid to give us all sticker shock? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Companies hoping to win contracts for community relations and consultation, technical advisory, environmental management and owner’s engineer services have until Oct. 24 to file their bids. A rather short three-week window for something so complex. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>(UPDATE - Oct. 22)</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: On Oct. 21, just three days before the bid deadline, the government extended the closing date for submissions by a week to Oct. 31. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Contract values were not disclosed in the tendering documents, but the terms run November 2013 to March 2022. The government has an option to extend each contract until 2024. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The George Massey Tunnel, opened in 1959, carries 80,000 vehicles a day and is Metro Vancouver's third busiest crossing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“The existing four-lane tunnel is congested for 12 hours a day in both directions, with significant impacts for commuters, goods movers and tourists,” according to the RFP documents. “It is the only major Fraser River crossing in Metro Vancouver with a single lane of traffic in the off-peak direction during the daily commute.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The owner’s engineer contract is the most complex, estimated to be 160,000 person hours for structural, traffic, geotechnical, seismic and electrical engineering. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“The contractor shall have extensive engineering experience in the development and delivery of large transportation infrastructure projects, including major bridge structures, in an urban environment,” said the RFP.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A two-year seismic upgrade costing $19 million finished in 2006. </span></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-25087609596137025592013-10-09T21:53:00.001-07:002013-10-09T21:57:37.962-07:00Exclusive: Liquor for lieutenants, suds for sergeants: booze is legal at B.C. RCMP HQ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It took longer than they wanted, but the Mounties finally got their can.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bottle, tap and keg, too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hops and grapes can legally flow at the RCMP’s <a href="http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/biens-property/nouvelles-news/frpdgrc-rcmpprpfs-eng.html" target="_blank">new, billion-dollar British Columbia headquarters</a> tucked amid Surrey’s Green Timbers forest (and its <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mCFwdUImU0" target="_blank">mighty redwood, the larch, the fir, the mighty Scots pine</a>). <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYpqKugEdALDxid3PAIJ95sX_-SNgdMMIWxUpsqohihJR9P49PK6byHYM8be9vUvr8rSTnKaavR9RHBG-joaalwLm2WnvDBFm23xBGU2vA3X1BXbxTuzsLzFpOTsp-1_2yapetY12E6k/s1600/bird_test_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYpqKugEdALDxid3PAIJ95sX_-SNgdMMIWxUpsqohihJR9P49PK6byHYM8be9vUvr8rSTnKaavR9RHBG-joaalwLm2WnvDBFm23xBGU2vA3X1BXbxTuzsLzFpOTsp-1_2yapetY12E6k/s320/bird_test_image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RCMP's $1 billion new B.C. digs (Bird.ca)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In<a href="http://2010goldrush.blogspot.ca/2012/06/will-gendarmes-guzzle-in-green-timbers.html" target="_blank"> June 2012, I revealed how the federal force applied for a liquor licence</a> for a private, on-site bar. The public reaction stemming from the blog post </span>was no surprise. There had been too much bad publicity about cops and booze, from the justice-obstructing <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/disgraced-b-c-mountie-resigns-before-sentencing-1.1223064" target="_blank">ex-Cpl. Benjamin “Monty” Robinson</a> to the detachment-drinking, subordinate-seducing <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/disgraced-rcmp-officer-transferred-to-b-c-1.1209294" target="_blank">Sgt. Don Ray</a>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Surrey City Council gave thumbs down to the full-time bar, but recommended the RCMP be eligible for special events permits only. <a href="http://bc.rcmp.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=1031&languageId=1&contentId=29676)." target="_blank">In April 2013, the RCMP said it filed a new application</a> directly to the provincial government. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last week, I confirmed that B.C.'s <a href="http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb/" target="_blank">Liquor Control and Licensing Branch</a> issued licence number 305469 to the Mounties on June 17. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“The RCMP followed the same process as anyone else, and had to apply for a new licence because their new HQ is in a different community (i.e., from Vancouver to Surrey),” said an LCLB representative on the condition of anonymity. “Minors, other than professional entertainers, are not permitted within the licensed area(s) unless approved by the LCLB.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The licence allows liquor service from noon to midnight for a maximum capacity of 535. The original application was for a maximum 1,198 from 11 a.m. to midnight, Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Spokesman Sgt. Rob Vermeulen claims the RCMP will use it sparingly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“The RCMP has made it clear that there will be no general usage or regular hours in the facility – it will only be used for pre-approved private special functions, such as formal Regimental Dinners, memorial services, levees, and veteran functions and other traditional events,” Vermeulen said. “In the absence of special events or functions, the facility will be used for general meetings, gatherings and ceremonies and alcohol will be prohibited during these instances.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vermeulen said liquor has been served just four times since June 17 at a Vancouver Vets Fall Dinner meeting, an Officers’ Cops Against Cancer fundraising dinner and two bartender training sessions. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“The room has also been used 65 times for scheduled meetings, training sessions, town halls, etc. where a large room was required (no liquor service whatsoever),” Vermeulen said. “The room has also been used numerous times (unscheduled) by groups looking for a meeting room on an impromptu basis (again, no liquor service).”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vermeulen said RCMP members’ dues fund the mess, not government. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, the RCMP has confirmed that the cop found guilty of speeding through a North Vancouver speed trap was on-duty at the time of the Valentine's Day infraction. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Const. Michael Milo Arbulic drove his personal vehicle 60 km-h above the posted 80 km-h speed limit on the Upper Levels Highway around 1 a.m. on Feb. 14. Police chased him for five kilometres and caught up with him in West Vancouver. He wasn’t ticketed nor was his car impounded, on-the-spot penalties for those found speeding 40 km-h above the limit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Judge Steven Merrick imposed a $483 excessive speed fine plus $210, what he would’ve been charged for the impound. Arbulic was a no-show in North Vancouver Provincial Court on Sept. 17; defence lawyer David Butcher appeared on his behalf but refused outside the court to say whether the RCMP paid the legal bill. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Besides confirming Arbulic was in his own vehicle, Insp. Ed Boettcher told me that the RCMP did not pay his legal bill. </span>“Members have options to contribute to a legal fund and access that fund when necessary,” Boettcher said. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Arbulic, 38, is subject to a Code of Conduct investigation. </span>“Internal discipline is subject to the Privacy Act and is only a matter of public record if it goes to a formal disciplinary hearing," Boettcher said.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Arbulic’s driving record includes speeding tickets from July 1998, January 2000 and July 2004. The latter was for excessive speed. </span>Arbulic was one of several cops around B.C. recognized by BCAA, ICBC and the parents of Alexa Middlaer for citing <a href="http://nvan.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=230&languageId=1&contentId=29683" target="_blank">a dozen or more drivers for impaired driving</a>. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-50489397639802493682013-10-02T11:00:00.000-07:002013-10-01T23:59:27.137-07:00Play Now's six-figure fraud <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Remember when B.C. Lottery Corporation re-launched is Play Now sports and poker website on July 15, 2010?</span><br />
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There was a glitzy news conference on Granville Island by the taxpayer-owned legal gambling monopoly. On-again, off-again, on-again gambling minister Rich Coleman did a disappearing act to avoid a media scrum. Did he know something we didn't? Later that day, the website crashed amid an <a href="http://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/news/docs/2011-02-16.htm" target="_blank">embarrassing privacy breach</a>. </div>
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Fast forward to 2012 and Play Now had more problems. This time, it wasn't a malfunction of the system. A briefing note to Coleman disclosed a case of credit card fraud. </div>
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"BCLC security has found a total of 12 fraudulent accounts opened between March 13 and 18, and at least six additional failed attempts to open accounts. A total of $100,329 was loaded into the 12 accounts through 67 different transactions. BCLC locked down all 12 accounts once they were identified. The suspect(s) attempted to load the accounts with about 100 different stolen credit cards and three Interac cards – they were successful with 19 of the credit cards and two of the Interac cards."</blockquote>
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The briefing note makes a possible link to a major Burnaby RCMP fraud and identity theft bust. <a href="http://burnaby.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=867&languageId=1&contentId=24526" target="_blank">The Mounties showed-off the contraband on March 20, 2012</a> and announced charges against Anthony Pavos Stulec, who was found guilty of forgery, theft and fraud.<br />
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Regardless, this incident was a blow to BCLC and its marketing claim that Play Now is not only legal but safe. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-70647999685543863502013-10-01T23:28:00.002-07:002013-10-02T03:26:27.105-07:00Some people had millions of reasons to say "congrats Christy"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">After winning the May 14 provincial election by surprise, Premier Christy Clark's email box runneth over. There were those unhappy with the result. And there were those who were ecstatic. <a href="http://docs.openinfo.gov.bc.ca/D50811813A_Response_Package_OOP-2013-00323.PDF" target="_blank">Read the whole bunch here</a>. </span><br />
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Many of those wishing Clark well had millions of reasons to do so. They had either done business with the government or had benefitted from millions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.biv.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GV&Date=20130416&Category=BIV0103&ArtNo=304169961&Ref=AR&exactW=380" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.biv.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GV&Date=20130416&Category=BIV0103&ArtNo=304169961&Ref=AR&exactW=380" title=" | Times of India Group managing director Vineet Jain (left) with Premier Christy Clark in the front row at TOIFA" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jain (left) and Clark at TOIFA</td></tr>
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<b>Jain's diction:</b></div>
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A May 17 letter from Vineet Jain, the managing director of the Times of India Group is an ideal example of the latter.</div>
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Jain sat beside Clark at B.C. Place Stadium during the Times of India Film Awards on April 6. He was smiling ear to ear for good reason. <a href="http://2010goldrush.blogspot.ca/2013/05/of-times-of-india-and-taxpayers-of.html" target="_blank">Clark gave his company a $9.5 million no-bid contract to produce the Bollywood awards extravaganza</a>.</div>
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Jain wrote: "TOIFA was a rewarding, enriching and memorable experience for everyone involved -- celebrities, dignitaries, guests and the people of British Columbia and I commend your vision and conviction in making this possible." </div>
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BC Liberals called it a trade promotion; the rest of us called it a re-election ploy. It would be nice to know where all our money went and who in Canada and India benefitted. Despite Freedom of Information requests, the Liberals aren't in a rush to show us. Maybe the auditor general or another agency will step in to try and extract the answers. </div>
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<b>Flag on the field: </b></div>
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B.C. Lions president Dennis Skulsky's email starts: "Good morning Premier Clark, Wow it sounds good and feels good to say that." Then he deserves a 10-yard penalty for misspelling the Premier's first name ("Christie"). <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/08/21/BC-Campaign-Finance/" target="_blank">Skulsky, Lions' owner David Braley and others from the CFL club were donors to the Liberal campaign</a>. The government earmarked $2.7 million through B.C. Pavilion Corporation for the Lions to buy the rights to the 2014 Grey Cup. </div>
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<b>Blacktop politics:</b></div>
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Repeat after me: Roads and bridges and tunnels. Promise them and build them. Even if your predecessor did the promising, <a href="http://2010goldrush.blogspot.ca/2013/05/blizzard-of-documents-says-port-mann.html" target="_blank">make sure you show up and look good at the ribbon-cutting</a>. B.C.'s tradition of blacktop politics to win voters' hearts with their own pocketbooks is a surefire formula and allows B.C. Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association president Jack Davidson to keep his members happy. On Sept. 20, <a href="http://engage.gov.bc.ca/masseytunnel/" target="_blank">Clark announced the Massey Tunnel would be replaced with a bridge</a>... but she didn't tell us how much it would cost or how it would be financed. </div>
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<b>Ni hao:</b><br />
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China's Consul General Liu Fei offered greetings from the Chinese government, including Gov. Zhu Xiaodan of Guangdong Province. </div>
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<b>Cheers:</b> </div>
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<a href="http://www.pwbrewing.net/" target="_blank">Pacific Western Brewing</a> owner Kazuko Komatsu sent her congratulations. Her company's products include Pacific Pilsner, Cariboo and <a href="http://www.bcliquorstores.com/product/849398" target="_blank">Scandal Ale</a>. The Prince George company is a <a href="http://contributions.electionsbc.gov.bc.ca/pcs/SA1SearchResults.aspx?FilerSK=(ALL)&EDSK=0&FilerTypeSK=0&Contributor=Pacific%20Western%20Brewing&PartySK=0&ED=(ALL)&FilerType=(ALL)&Filer=(ALL)&Party=(ALL)&DateTo=&DateFrom=&DFYear=&DFMonth=&DFDay=&DTYear=&DTMonth=&DTDay=" target="_blank">well-known donor to the BC Liberals</a> (and wrote some cheques to the NDP, too) and even got a huge <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/backbencher-brewing-dissent-over-beer-makers-tax-breaks/article5744569/" target="_blank">tax break </a>that ruffled big and small brewers. </div>
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<b>You can't be sure:</b></div>
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Shell Canada president Lorraine Mitchelmore's congratulations letter was gutted by government censors. "Not responsive," says most of the letter. </div>
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<b>Mr. Sincerity:</b> </div>
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Then there is this letter from <a href="http://bcfed.ca/about-the-bcfed/executive-officers/" target="_blank">B.C. Federation of Labour </a>president Jim Sinclair. Close your eyes and imagine a grown man at a computer keyboard, with a tear running down his cheek, landing in his moustache. </div>
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Sinclair and the BC Fed were with Adrian Dix and the NDP every step of the way and helped fill the party coffers. Then it all went wrong on May 14 and he had to write a face-saving, pride-swallowing letter on behalf of his members (who didn't all vote NDP). </div>
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"On behalf of the B.C. Federation of Labour, I would like to congratulate you on your successful campaign to be elected to a second term as the Premier of British Columbia," wrote Sinclair. </div>
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Well, it really is her first term. Clark was chosen by her party in February 2011 to serve the remainder of Gordon Campbell's 2009-won third term.<br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/172654576/Christy-s-Congrats" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Christy's Congrats on Scribd">Christy's Congrats</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/BobMackin" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View BobMackin's profile on Scribd">BobMackin</a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-20601337559440436832013-09-29T16:52:00.003-07:002013-09-29T16:54:12.887-07:00#LiquorLeaks wonders: what is the booze review endgame? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Parliamentary Secretary John Yap -- yes, the same <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/06/12/Quick-Wins-Docs/" target="_blank">Freedom of Information-subverting John Yap who quit cabinet amid the Quick Wins scandal</a> -- pushed the button on a <a href="http://engage.gov.bc.ca/liquorpolicyreview/files/2013/09/Liquor_Review_Poster.pdf" target="_blank">glitzy website and social media campaign</a> on Sept. 14 to elicit public opinion on changes to B.C. liquor laws.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The cash-strapped BC Liberal government is desperately seeking to cut costs and increase revenue, and the Liberals think booze can help it tick both boxes. While the Legislature stays dark for the fall because Premier Christy Clark would rather not face Question Period, the ruling party is exploiting the eternally divisive debate over liquor policy to help divert attention from political minefields, like troubled BC Hydro and its imminent rate hikes. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yap will be reporting recommendations by the end of November to Attorney General/liquor minister Suzanne Anton, who is quietly plotting the transformation of the Liquor Distribution Branch into a Crown agency or corporation. Every other province has such a body, either as a standalone organization or merged with its lotteries and gambling monopoly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More changes are coming to LDB. On <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/09/13/BC-Liquor-Exel/" target="_blank">Sept. 13, LDB quietly confirmed that it contracted Sedlak Management Consultants</a> of Cleveland, Ohio to create the business case for moving out of the Vancouver Main Distribution Centre and into a new warehouse somewhere in the Lower Mainland. Sedlak’s website says it has worked closely with BC Liberal-connected Exel -- the same company that <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20120508/BIV0109/120509934/-1/BIV/logistics-giant-targets-lucrative-ldb-contract" target="_blank">lobbied for privatization for seven years</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Eighteen companies responded to the supply chain management expert request for proposals and the list is below. But LDB won’t disclose the names of the two companies on the shortlist with Sedlak and its explanation why is vague. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What is the endgame for this whole exercise, especially the contracting of Sedlak, <a href="http://www.jasedlak.com/SuccessStoryExel.htm" target="_blank">a company that makes no secret of its connection to Exel</a>? Perhaps a second sip of privatization? <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/09/26/BC-Liquor-Privatization/" target="_blank">Read my analysis in The Tyee here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">LDB hires supply chain management expert to help find a new main warehouse location</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Successful Proponent:</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.jasedlak.com/" target="_blank">Sedlak Management Consultants, Inc.</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Unsuccessful Proponents:</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.biztechmasters.com/btm/" target="_blank">BizTechMasters Inc.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.cgi.com/en/canada" target="_blank">CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Inc.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://cgr-consultants.com/" target="_blank">CGR Management Consultants, LLC</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_CA/ca/index.htm" target="_blank">Deloitte Inc.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.devencorenkf.com/" target="_blank">Devencore Company Ltd. dba Newmark Knight Frank Devencore </a>- </span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.ibm.com/ca/en/" target="_blank"> IBM Canada Ltd.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.komintl.com/" target="_blank">KOM International Inc.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.kpmg.com/ca/en/pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">KPMG LLP</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.kurtsalmon.com/CA/home/Transforming-businesses-to-measurably-improve-performance?language=en-us" target="_blank">Kurt Salmon Canada Ltd.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://lidd.ca/" target="_blank">LIDD Consultants Inc.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.metroscg.com/english/" target="_blank">Metro Supply Chain Group</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.protiviti.ca/en-CA/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Protiviti Inc.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.pwc.com/ca/en/index.jhtml" target="_blank">PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.sierrasystems.com/" target="_blank">Sierra Systems Group Inc.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.stantec.com/" target="_blank">Stantec Consulting Ltd.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://www.tompkinsinc.com/" target="_blank">Tompkins Associates, Inc.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">· <a href="http://trybec.ca/?page_id=26" target="_blank"> Trybec Management Services, Inc</a></span></span></blockquote>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-71474220287178737242013-09-27T16:19:00.001-07:002013-09-27T16:19:12.018-07:00One year later: Furlong case fraught with accusations and denials<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One year ago, on Sept. 27, 2012, the world of John Furlong was turned upside down and Vancouverites who followed his rise were shocked. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Georgia Straight published <a href="http://www.straight.com/news/john-furlong-biography-omits-secret-past-burns-lake" target="_blank">an expose</a> by Ontario journalist Laura Robinson that revealed Irish-born Furlong lived in Canada before his oft-stated 1974 arrival in Edmonton. He had been a Catholic missionary volunteering as a physical education teacher of aboriginal children at the Immaculata Catholic elementary school in Burns Lake in 1969 and 1970, before moving to Prince George. Some of those ex-students claimed that he abused them and ruined their childhood. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="449" id="irc_mi" src="http://southgranville.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/patriot-hearts-john-furlong-chapters-indigo-on-south-granville-vancouver-bc-300x449.jpg" style="margin-top: 49px;" width="300" /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As CEO of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics organizing committee, Furlong was the head organizer of the biggest, most-expensive and complex Winter Olympics in history. Furlong was the British Columbian who formally welcomed the world at the opening ceremony on Feb. 12, 2010 and he thanked the world for coming on Feb. 28, 2010 at the closing ceremony. The International Olympic Committee estimated 1.8 billion people watched during the 17 days of Vancouver 2010. Furlong was showered with acclaim before, during and after: honorary university degrees, corporate board appointments and even his name was emblazoned on a SkyTrain car. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Never before -- and, perhaps, never again -- will British Columbia be so united as it was during February 2010 and Furlong was at the centre of it all. He also became a lightning rod for criticism, whether it was VANOC’s secrecy, its adverse impact on some communities and the environment, the cost of it all, VANOC's finances amid the Great Recession and the preventable death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Within hours of the Georgia Straight story hitting the streets and the web, <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2012/09/27/Furlong-Responds-to-Allegations/" target="_blank">Furlong appeared at a news conference in The Landing in Gastown</a>. A building of significance, for that is where the Bid Corporation and Organizing Committee were once located and it is now home of the Furlong-chaired Vancouver Whitecaps and the TwentyTen Group, the marketing company that represents him. He took no questions, but adamantly proclaimed his innocence. The message he wanted to deliver was plain and simple: the acts that he was accused of committing "just didn't happen."</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He did, however, admit to being in Northern British Columbia from 1969 to 1972, facts that were omitted from the book because he felt that period of his life was “fairly brief and fairly uneventful.” A look inside the Prince George newspaper archives, however, says otherwise. <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/07/30/Furlong-Left-Canada/" target="_blank">A front page story in 1972 </a>said he fled Canada because of repeated attacks and threats while volunteering as a soccer referee.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Furlong sued for defamation on Nov. 27. Less than two months later, the <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Mediacheck/2013/01/16/Straight-Defence/" target="_blank">Georgia Straight </a>and <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Mediacheck/2013/01/21/New-Furlong-Allegations/" target="_blank">Laura Robinson</a> responded with defence statements. They emphatically stand behind their work and plead the truth. They also filed expanded allegations; Robinson’s filing included allegations of sexual assault of a former common law spouse. <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/01/24/Furlong-Family-Response/" target="_blank">TwentyTen Group issued Furlong's denial</a>, then silence from the Furlong camp through February and March. He had gone to Ireland with his third wife, Deborah Sharp.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then tragedy struck. <a href="http://www.independent.ie/regionals/goreyguardian/news/tv-producer-from-canada-is-victim-of-headon-crash-29199061.html" target="_blank">Sharp died in Dublin April 11</a> after a head-on car crash near their home in rural Gorey, County Wexford. Police in Ireland continue to investigate.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He re-emerged in July as an <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130708/BIV0108/130709948/-1/BIV/embattled-john-furlong-gets-new-gold-gig" target="_blank">advisor to a penny-stock gold mining company</a> with ambitions for a motherlode in Albania. Then more trouble. Two women who claimed in <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/07/24/Furlong-Sued-By-Students/" target="_blank">July 24 B.C. Supreme Court lawsuits</a> that Furlong verbally, physically and sexually abused them in 1969 and 1970 when they were his students. That action preceded Furlong’s <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/07/29/RCMP-ProFurlong/" target="_blank">long-awaited rebuttal to the Georgia Straight and Robinson</a>. Furlong repeated his denial and an allegation that Robinson carries a personal vendetta against him. Robinson, who is<a href="http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1150054-wong-stand-behind-those-who-dare-to-reveal-the-truth" target="_blank"> raising funds for a mounting legal bill</a>, denies that charge. The rebuttal even said Furlong's lawyer had been advised by the RCMP that there would be no criminal charges because the police found no evidence of abuse. (An RCMP spokesman publicly said the investigation was ongoing.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jason Gratl, the lawyer for the two new complainants, <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/07/29/RCMP-ProFurlong/" target="_blank">wrote an open letter to the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP</a>, claiming the RCMP had not done its job and were showing pro-Furlong bias. Gratl pointed out that the Mounties had a $900 million budget to secure the Olympics and senior officials worked closely with Furlong. Gratl is waiting for action from the RCMP complaints watchdog.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The same day <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/09/23/Furlong-Responds-West-Abraham/" target="_blank">Furlong responded in court with denials to Gratl’s clients</a> in September, a <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/09/23/Furling-Third-Lawsuit/" target="_blank">third lawsuit was filed </a>by a male ex-student alleging Furlong had sexually assaulted him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yet again, you heard or read the important phrase: none of the allegations has been proven in court. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Furlong's public speaking engagements, for which he has charged $20,000 an appearance, evaporated. He did, however, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20121009/BIV0120/310029860/-1/BIV/embattled-furlong-retains-corporate-vote-of-confidence" target="_blank">retain support</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> from Own the Podium, Whitecaps FC, Rocky Mountaineer, Whistler Blackcomb and Canadian Tire to remain on their boards. While </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/BC-Politics/2012/10/06/gordon-campbell-furlong-abuse/" target="_blank">ex-Premier Gordon Campbell stayed silent</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, VANOC chairman Rusty Goepel didn't. On the third anniversary of the Games, Goepel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/archives/story.html?id=9eacbba3-d07a-4129-991f-7ec3460ee37d" target="_blank"> wrote a Vancouver Sun commentary in support of Furlong</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A year has passed since the Georgia Straight story. So what next? When will the time come for the to-and-fro of accusations and denials to end? When will evidence be tested and the truth determined? When will a trial happen? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The B.C. Supreme Court registry and lawyer for the Georgia Straight, Roger McConchie confirm there are no hearings scheduled. (Furlong’s lawyer, John Hunter, and his agent, Andrea Shaw of TwentyTen Group, have not responded for comment.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Said McConchie: “There's been no discovery of any sort, documentary or examination. No examinations for discovery have been scheduled. We haven't had any communication from them on a trial date. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“It's not proceeding on a vigorous pace.”</span></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-25938027422772643662013-09-25T20:45:00.000-07:002013-09-25T21:21:12.201-07:00Raise a reader, rouse an adman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>Extra! Extra!</i><br />
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"Man buys copy of the <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/index.html" target="_blank">Vancouver Sun</a> from British Columbia's Education Minister with a fresh $100 bill donation to the newspaper's vital <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Raise-A-Reader/index.html" target="_blank">Raise-a-Reader</a> literacy charity!"<br />
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<i>Read all about it!</i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There's more to this picture (which was posted caption-less on the <a href="http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/09/news-alert-500000-for-raise-a-reader.html" target="_blank">government's main propaganda website</a>) than meets the eye. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgovphotos/9935958563/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Minister Fassbender sells $100 newspaper!" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/9935958563_80c77d5f00_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admen reunite: Palmer (left) and Fassbender (newsroom.gov.bc.ca)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If you follow B.C. politics, you probably know the man on the right is <a href="http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/40thparl/fassbender-Peter.htm" target="_blank">Peter Fassbender</a>. He's the rookie Surrey-Fleetwood BC Liberal MLA who was re-<a href="http://www.city.langley.bc.ca/images/Councilpics/mayor_2011.pdf" target="_blank">elected Mayor of the City of Langley</a> in 2011 (a post held since July by <a href="http://www.city.langley.bc.ca/index.php/city-hall/city-council/mayor-schaffer" target="_blank">Ted Schaffer</a> who was chosen by the rest of council to serve the rest of Fassbender's term).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151512355893523&set=t.634824137&type=3&theater" target="_blank">Fassbender is a close friend of Deputy Premier Rich Coleman</a>, who installed Fassbender as chairman of B.C. Pavilion Corporation, a post he held through the election.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fassbender hit the streets on Sept. 25 to sell papers with news of a <a href="http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/09/news-alert-500000-for-raise-a-reader.html" target="_blank">$500,000 donation from taxpayers to Raise-a-Reader</a>, via <a href="http://decoda.ca/about-us/board-of-directors/" target="_blank">Decoda Literacy Solutions</a>, a spinoff of the secretive <a href="http://2010andbeyond.ca/" target="_blank">2010 Legacies Now</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The man on the left is <a href="http://www.ddbcanada.com/#/People/FrankPalmer" target="_blank">Frank Palmer</a>, British Columbia's most-powerful and most-successful ad-man. He's the Palmer in <a href="http://edgar.brand.edgar-online.com/DisplayFilingInfo.aspx?Type=HTML&text=%2526lt%253bNEAR%252f4%2526gt%253b(%22PALMER%22%2c%22JARVIS%22)&FilingID=235784&ppu=%2fPeopleFilingResults.aspx%3fPersonID%3d2647145%26PersonName%3dPALMER%2520JARVIS" target="_blank">Palmer Jarvis</a> Advertising, which is now <a href="http://www.ddbcanada.com/#/Work" target="_blank">DDB</a> Canada where he is chairman and CEO. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Before he was a local politician in Langley, Fassbender was a business partner with Palmer at P.J. They go way back. In the 1990s, Fassbender was Palmer's right-hand man. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Palmer, through an Alberta numbered company, 971261 Alberta Ltd., <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/08/21/BC-Campaign-Finance/" target="_blank">donated $2,500 to Fassbender's election campaign</a>, which cost almost $200,000 (nearly double Premier Christy Clark's failed Vancouver-Point Grey campaign). Even while he was running for office, Fassbender remained the <a href="http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2012EMNG0045-001789.htm" target="_blank">chairman of B.C. Pavilion Corporation, the taxpayer-owned company that runs B.C. Place Stadium and the Vancouver Convention Centre. Palmer is also a board member</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Donating a C-note to a newspaper's charity is tame for Palmer. Last year, he dressed up as<a href="http://cdn.strategyonline.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/backpage.nov121.pdf" target="_blank"> rapper Big Frankie P</a> and recorded a track to benefit the National Advertising Benevelont Society, the ad industry's self-help charity. You could say he went from rap to fish-wrap.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Award-winning DDB was among six ad agencies on a pre-approved list of companies that the government called-upon from time-to-time over the last three years. During the most recent fiscal year, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">DDB billed the government $5.4 million and BC Hydro $11.7 million. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130827/BIV0121/308279895/-1/BIV/local-economic-diversity-buoys-ad-sector-optimism" target="_blank">DDB remains one of the government's go-to ad shops; it was included on an expanded, post-election list of 23</a> companies offering traditional, digital, video and polling services</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. <a href="http://strategyonline.ca/2013/02/27/procurement-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/" target="_blank">Palmer's thoughts about procurement </a>appear in Strategy, one of the Canadian industry's trade mags. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here's my Tyee reality check <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/05/13/Mad-Men-BC-Election/" target="_blank">"Mad Men are always election winners"</a> about the ad industry's relationship with the government and the ruling party. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Vancouver ad industry is reliant on government contracts, because it lacks the quantity of private sector corporate head offices that Toronto and Calgary boast. The <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130723/BIV0109/130729974/-1/BIV/bc-spent-364m-on-marketing-in-2012-13-8211-and-lost-10m-on" target="_blank">government spent $36.4 million</a> during the year leading up to the election. The re-elected Liberals would say it was money well-spent. Taxpayers? <a href="http://staff.washington.edu/gray/misc/which-half.html" target="_blank">Not so much</a>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now you know a little more about a photograph on the government website. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-88406810332591400652013-09-24T22:42:00.004-07:002013-09-24T23:17:01.986-07:00Coming in 2016: a value added tax at the urban resort? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sept. 24, 2013 was the anniversary of Premier Christy Clark's announcement that her chief of staff <a href="http://2010goldrush.blogspot.ca/2012/11/exclusive-last-days-of-ken-boessenkool.html" target="_blank">Ken Boessenkool resigned for an "incident of concern."</a><br />
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It was another great day for euphemisms. Let's have two.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bcchamber.org/about/staff.html" target="_blank">John Winter</a>, the CEO of the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce, is lobbying for the resurrection of the Harmonized Sales Tax. Except he’s not calling it that. Nosiree. It’s a Value-Added Tax. Get it? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">According to Barbara Yaffe in the <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Chamber+Commerce+seeks+alternative/8950893/story.html" target="_blank">Sept. 24 Vancouver Sun</a>: </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Winter says the chamber is not trying to resurrect an HST debate, which he calls 'a nonstarter' in this province. 'What we are proposing is a way to leave our HST angst behind and move B.C. forward into tax dialogues.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"By not taxing business inputs, a VAT would allow B.C. to grow its prosperity by encouraging entrepreneurs, innovators and job creators."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In a <a href="http://www.straight.com/news/john-winter-hst-key-strong-economy-bc" target="_blank">June 8, 2010 Georgia Straight</a> editorial ("HST is key to a strong economy in B.C."), Winter used the terms in the same sentence. </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">“Experience in Atlantic Canada and other jurisdictions confirms that shifting to a value-added sales tax like the HST paves the way for increased capital spending on machinery, equipment, structures, new technologies, and other productive assets.”</span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The HST was imposed on British Columbians by Premier Gordon Campbell on July 1, 2010. It was announced July 23, 2009, just over two months after the BC Liberals won an election in which they vowed to be disinterested in giving B.C. a VAT. <a href="http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2009PREM0017-000141.htm" target="_blank">In the July 23, 2009 government news release</a>, the HST was described as a VAT.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">"More than 130 countries, including 29 of the 30 OECD countries, along with four Canadian provinces, have adopted taxes similar to the HST, called value-added taxes, which reimburse most businesses for the tax they pay on their inputs."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The HST was phased out March 31, 2013 after<a href="http://www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/news/nr-ref-2011-6-1/" target="_blank"> almost 55% of those who voted opted to extinguish the tax</a> and return to the Provincial Sales Tax. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Winter, by the way, knows a different kind of vat. He had a three-decade management career with Molson Brewery, including presidency of its Western Canada division. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Also on Sept. 24, <a href="http://www.site10a.com/whats-new/2013/09/urban-resort" target="_blank">Paragon Gaming unveiled its plans for "Vancouver's Urban Resort." </a> This, two-and-a-half months after I broke the story in Business in Vancouver about financially troubled Paragon inking a <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130710/BIV0120/130719998/-1/BIV/paragon-rolling-the-dice-again-on-bc-place-casino" target="_blank">revised deal with B.C. Pavilion Corporation to lease land next to B.C. Place Stadium</a>. The original $6 million a year toward the $514 million stadium renovation will now be $3 million if the complex gets built. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yes, this Las Vegas company doesn’t want us to call it the proposed, $535 million new home of Edgewater Casino or a hotel/casino complex. Especially after Vancouver city council threw a curveball and quashed its bid to expand the 75-table, 600-slot machine casino to 150 tables and 1,500 slots in April 2011. Instead, it gave Paragon the go-ahead to move the existing licence to land for lease beside B.C. Place Stadium. Paragon's original $6 million-a-year, 70-year lease was cut to $3 million in a deal agreed to in March 2013. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqKk0nmFYAKNVZMS94S6N_fJJ73raB1mGYPj5fqw6QPR-Gh-9f4Q" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="rg_i" data-src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqKk0nmFYAKNVZMS94S6N_fJJ73raB1mGYPj5fqw6QPR-Gh-9f4Q" data-sz="f" height="136" name="-uE69bE3v9DP8M:" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqKk0nmFYAKNVZMS94S6N_fJJ73raB1mGYPj5fqw6QPR-Gh-9f4Q" style="height: 185px; margin-top: 0px; width: 272px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2011-proposed casino/hotel complex</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paragon revealed the architect's drawings for the casino complex.... er, urban resort... and its investors <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1XWmNsz4VQ#t=1284" target="_blank">at a Sept. 24 news conference</a>. Evidently my invitation was lost in the mail. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I did some digging and found the company's CEO Diana Bennett and president Scott Menke registered a company called Paragon Holdings (Vancouver Resort) ULC on Aug. 8. They are the only directors of the company. Bennett and Menke are also the sole directors of Paragon Gaming Training School Ltd. Their Paragon Development is not to be confused with <a href="http://www.richmondreview.com/news/223985541.html" target="_blank">Paragon Development Inc. of Richmond</a>, whose directors are Julie Chan and Terry Lai. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The corporate registry doesn’t yet show executives of Paragon backers 360 Vox or Dundee Corporation as directors of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paragon Holdings (Vancouver Resort) ULC.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2013-proposed urban resort... yeah, urban resort</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Montreal-headquartered, <a href="http://360vox.com/financial-reports" target="_blank">TSX-V-listed</a> <a href="http://360vox.com/" target="_blank">360 Vox</a> is the umbrella for Enchantment Group Hotels, Resorts and Spas, Sotheby's International Realty Canada, Blueprint Global Marketing and 360 blu. Its asset management portfolio includes Fairmont Hotels including the Empress in Victoria,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Olympic in Seattle, Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, Royal York in Toronto and Queen Elizabeth in Montreal. 360 Vox is also the project marketer for the CityCenter development in Las Vegas and developer of two resorts in Dalian, China and three hotels in Cuba. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Those Cuban properties are the subject of 360 Vox's <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/15/3629543/canadian-golf-project-in-cuba.html" target="_blank">$25.5 million lawsuit filed in Florida against the PGA of America</a>. Vox 360 claimed PGA cancelled its licensing deal in December 2012 to use the PGA Village Cuba and PGA </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">National Golf Academy Cuba names. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.dundeecorp.com/" target="_blank">Dundee Corp.</a> owns 18% of 360 Vox and both companies are chaired by <a href="http://www.dundeecapitalmarkets.com/en/Investor%20Relations/Officers/Ned%20Goodman.aspx" target="_blank">Ned Goodman</a> who, <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/ned-goodman-i-sleep-like-a-baby/article7805720/" target="_blank">according to the Globe and Mail, sleeps like a baby</a>. Dundee, by the way, owns 58% of oil and gas exploration, development and production company Dundee Energy Ltd. and it owns 83% of Blue Goose Capital Corp., which bought the 14,052-acre <a href="http://www.diamondsranch.com/" target="_blank">Diamond S Ranch</a> in <a href="http://www.lillooetnews.net/article/20130508/LILLOOET0101/305089994/-1/lillooet/historic-diamond-s-ranch-sold" target="_blank">Pavilion, B.C.</a>, for $14.8 million. Blue Goose, according to <a href="http://www.dundeecorp.com/pdf/Annual-Report-2012.pdf" target="_blank">Dundee's annual report</a>, is “focused on the production of clean protein.” (That’s another euphemism for another day.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://vancouvernotvegas.ca/" target="_blank">Vancouver Not Vegas</a> coalition leader Sandy Garossino was not feeling enthusiastic about Paragon's euphemism. The casino development is not welcome and will be vigorously opposed, she said. Vancouver Not Vegas has already filed a petition, seeking a B.C. Supreme Court order to overturn city council's decision to allow the relocation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“The people of Vancouver and Vancouver city council roundly rejected the first time this mega casino was proposed. Now we have the appearance of a smaller casino but there still has been no disclosure, there are still too many questions unanswered," Garossino said. "This is really an attempt to do an end run around city council. It makes no economic sense to do such a substantial development around a casino as small as the existing Edgewater is, it’s not going to anchor a development on a scale as being advanced here. We’re very skeptical this is the reality Vancouver is eventually going to have.” </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yes, here comes another great casino debate about an urban resort.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Which is really just a value-added casino.</span></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-7350194083108839332013-09-20T22:42:00.001-07:002013-09-20T22:45:41.622-07:00Sportsweekend: A peek at ViaSport, a scion of 2010 Legacies Now <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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" 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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">A weekend special for those of any age who play, coach, referee, support, sponsor or watch amateur sports in British Columbia. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A look at how <a href="http://www.viasport.ca/" target="_blank">ViaSport</a>, the B.C. Sport Agency Society, is funded by taxpayers. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What is today ViaSport was hived-off from <a href="http://2010andbeyond.ca/#/home" target="_blank">2010 Legacies Now</a>, the <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130611/BIV0302/306119985/-1/BIV/legacies-now-questions-forever-about-diverted-tax-dollars" target="_blank">mysterious quasi-non-governmental organization</a> born during the bid phase for Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics but continued through the Games as a funnel for community grants. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">2010 Legacies Now <a href="http://alexgtsakumis.com/?p=9409" target="_blank">burned through a quarter-billio</a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="http://alexgtsakumis.com/?p=9409" target="_blank">n of your dollars</a> over a decade without publishing a detailed list of who got how much. Its chair emeritus, Judy Rogers, is in no hurry to explain. (She hasn’t responded to my queries, but I would be g</span>lad to hear from her.) 2010 Legacies Now's central operations morphed into what is called <a href="http://www.liftpartners.ca/en/who-we-are/board-of-directors" target="_blank">Lift Philanthropy Partners</a>, a nebulous "venture philanthropy" outfit. </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">After the Games, Legacies Now spun-off its sport division to the newly created B.C. Sport Agency Society which was branded ViaSport and absorbed many of the functions of <a href="http://sportbc.com/" target="_blank">Sport BC</a>, the umbrella for the province’s amateur sport system. </span></div>
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<a href="http://sharksite.ca/kidsport/chapters/cariboo/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2010_legacies_now.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignright size-full wp-image-287" height="155" src="http://sharksite.ca/kidsport/chapters/cariboo/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2010_legacies_now.jpg" title="2010_legacies_now" width="207" /></a><a href="http://www.viasport.ca/sites/all/themes/viasport/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Home" border="0" height="101" src="http://www.viasport.ca/sites/all/themes/viasport/logo.png" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">VANOC executive vice-president of sport <a href="http://sirc.ca/2010beyond/documents/bios.pdf" target="_blank">Cathy Priestner Allinger</a> organized ViaSport, whose first full-time chair was Moray Keith and CEO Scott Ackles. <a href="http://2010goldrush.blogspot.ca/2012/12/moray-keith-drives-away-from-viasport.html" target="_blank">Keith resigned in late 2012</a> and Priestner Allinger became interim chair. With a change of government anticipated, <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130326/BIV0302/303269982/-1/BIV/ackles-out-as-viasport-remakes-itself-again-bauer-in-with-bchl" target="_blank">Ackles’s job was terminated in March 2013</a>. Priestner Allinger said she was not interested in the CEO job, but that was before she was passed over for the athletic director position at the University of B.C. (Scottish Swimming boss <a href="http://ubyssey.ca/sports/ashley-howard-profile-ubc-athletics244/" target="_blank">Ashley Howard </a>got the gig in May.) Lo and behold, <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130625/BIV0302/306259939/-1/BIV/viasport-doesn-8217-t-go-far-to-pick-new-boss-new-canuck-hoop-hopes" target="_blank">Priestner Allinger was appointed CEO</a> by the ViaSport board that she helped choose; <a href="http://www.viasport.ca/sites/default/files/PDFs/NR-Board_CEO_June19.2013.pdf" target="_blank">Caley Denton</a>, the VANOC ticketing executive, was installed as the chair. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Below is a May 31, 2012-dated Transfer Under Agreement between the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and ViaSport to provide financial assistance for ViaSport to implement the Province's Five-Year Sport Strategy. Included is a financial report. You will not find any information like this on the ViaSport website. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Schedule A, running from May 28, 2012 to March 31, 2013, states the government’s priorities for the funding are to foster participatory programs, high performance programs for "training to train" through "training to win" stages; and event hosting that supports sport, economic and community development.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Goals include increasing overall sport participation by 20% by 2015-2016 (above the 2008-2009 baseline data), increase active coaches and officials within each funded sport, enhance services through the <a href="http://teambc.org/abouttbc/resourcemanual/2012/08-Integrated%20Performance%20System.pdf" target="_blank">Integrated Performance System</a> and lead the sport sector by aligning with the spirit of health and education initiatives. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">ViaSport received four payments under the TUA: $885,000 (June 7, 2012); $7,905,360 (Sept. 19, 2012); $100,000 (Jan. 24, 2013); and $820,000 (March 6, 2013).</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">For 2012-2013, its net budget was $21,239,000 plus $1,292,000 spent by the Ministry’s Sport Branch. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The biggest chunk of funding, $4,891,168, was earmarked to Provincial Sport Organizations, as part of the $10,090,050 participation envelope. High performance was budgeted $7,867,950. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/169797547/ViaSport-funding-documents" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View ViaSport funding documents on Scribd">ViaSport funding documents</a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-23511036093231622912013-09-19T09:13:00.004-07:002013-09-19T11:31:44.721-07:00Exclusive: EasyPark sues to recover missing $200,000<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While it awaits the result of a criminal investigation, city-owned parking lot management company EasyPark is suing a Vancouver couple to recover more than $200,000 that it alleges was stolen by an ex-employee.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">EasyPark’s Sept. 17 British Columbia Supreme Court notice of claim says Dan Chiu Keung Wong’s job was to empty ticket machine cash boxes into secure cash boxes, deliver the portable cash boxes to EasyPark’s secure treasury and report and account for all the cash boxes delivered.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But EasyPark claims that Wong stole funds from the cash boxes between 2008 and August 2012 and “altered or otherwise doctored the records of EasyPark to conceal his mishandling of the cash boxes, the portable cash boxes and his theft of the misappropriated funds.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Dan was not authorized to and, as part of his employment with EasyPark, did not have the ability to open any of the cash boxes or the portable cash boxes,” said the lawsuit, filed by lawyer Peter Roberts of Lawson Lundell. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">EasyPark sued Dan Wong and his wife Angela Miu Kam Wong on Sept. 4, 2012 to seek return of the misappropriated funds plus interest. EasyPark received judgment on Sept. 16, 2013 against the couple for $203,037.95 plus $2,189.64 interest. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The 1948-founded EasyPark, a non-profit public authority legally known as the Parking Corporation of Vancouver, manages 41 facilities with 10,836 parking spaces.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The claim says the Wongs bought a house on Jan. 4, 1993 on 3568 Tanner Street in Vancouver and jointly owned the property until June 22, 2005 when Dan Wong transferred his half interest to Angela Wong for a nominal $1 “and natural love and affection.” Since June 23, 2005, Angela Wong has been the only owner of the property, which has an assessed value of $787,200. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The claim says the Wongs intentionally transferred the property to “defeat, delay, hinder and defraud” both Dan Wong’s existing and future creditors.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EasyPark chair Ransford</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">EasyPark claims Dan Wong “had accrued significant debts to creditors, including the Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank of Canada” and filed for bankruptcy on Jan. 30, 2006. He was discharged on Oct. 3, 2007. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">EasyPark wants the court to treat Dan Wong “as if he were still the legal and beneficial owner of the property” and grant an order for a certificate of pending litigation on the title of the property. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Wongs have not responded in court to the latest filing and the allegations have not been proven in court. A telephone message for the Wongs was not immediately returned.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Dan Wong's Nov. 26, 2012 response to the Sept. 4, 2012 EasyPark lawsuit, he admitted he was employed by the company from January 2006 to Aug. 17, 2012, but denied misappropriating or converting the alleged misappropriated funds for his own use. That filing also said he was separated from Angela Wong.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">EasyPark's Aug. 26, 2013 application for judgment against Dan Wong said the company retained KPMG Forensic to audit EasyPark records and determined there were $203,037.95 in "non-routine variances" between Jan. 1, 2010 and Aug. 18, 2012. "These non-routine variances in cash were 'most likely collected by Mr. Wong'," said the application.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Aug. 26, 2013 EasyPark application said that "during the course of Dan's examination for discovery on June 27, 2013, an objection was raised to several relevant questions asked of him." </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the 10 objections raised was to this line of questioning by EasyPark's lawyer: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Mr. Wong gave evidence of a gambling problem. He was asked whether he ever borrowed money from friends, relatives or third parties for the purpose of gambling." </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">EasyPark’s board chair told me in an interview that a criminal complaint was filed with the Vancouver Police Department. “Hopefully the police will deal with it to the full extent of the criminal law, but it’s in their hands,” said Bob Ransford.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">VPD social media/media relations officer Sandra Glendinning said: "We will not speak to incidents that are currently under investigation, and we will not identify people who have not been formally charged."</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ransford said “procedures have been improved and tightened up” for employee background checks and money-handling at EasyPark. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“This is an isolated case as far as we can tell,” Ransford said. “You want to know if there was any collusion or potential conspirators or other instances where this happened. There was a fair bit of audit work to rule that out.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Technology is moving us further and further away from the use of cash, and I think that’s a good thing, both from an efficiency point of view and controls." </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Note to readers:</b> <i>Do you have proof of significant fraud or theft in public-owned companies or government offices at any level? Only credible tips are welcome. <a href="mailto:2010goldrush@gmail.com" target="_blank">Please contact me here. </a></i></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-66051744771475794222013-09-17T16:34:00.005-07:002013-09-18T13:01:12.717-07:00Vision Vancouver: openness promise made, promise broken<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
George Affleck to the rescue.<br />
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The former CBC reporter and producer, who runs a public relations agency called Curve Communications, was elected as an NPA city councillor in the 2011 election. Almost two years on, he has seen from the inside what those of us in the media have experienced on the outside.<br />
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Vancouver city hall, under the Vision Vancouver majority and leadership of Mayor Gregor Robertson, has become a closed shop. It has adopted the same corporate communications system for dealing with the media that exists under the proroguing Conservatives in Ottawa and the no-fall-Legislature-sitting BC Liberals in Victoria. This ranges from late replies to calls or emails from reporters seeking basic facts to the now-glacial Freedom of Information process that defaults to secrecy. No longer are we allowed to call a senior bureaucrat for an interview or even basic information. All requests must go through a central channel. Rarely are senior managers made available for interviews anymore. Instead, we get a crafted-by-committee paragraph or less statement that, sometimes, doesn't come close to being relevant.<br />
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Former city councillor and mayoral candidate Peter Ladner summed it up <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130326/BIV0319/303269939/-1/BIV/city-8217-s-communication-breakdown-frustrating-open-government-fans" target="_blank">in this Business in Vancouver column</a>. So did <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/09/17/Faux-Open-Government/" target="_blank">Stanley Tromp in The Tyee</a>, who took a critical look at the ludicrous theatre that surrounds the open data movement, of which City of Vancouver claims to be a champion. As I like to say, it's nice to know where all the fire hydrants are, but how much did they cost taxpayers, who supplied them and how did they get the contract?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Affleck: motion for openness</td></tr>
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What is the reason why those in power feel the need to keep citizens in the dark and feed them excrement? The phenomenon of the permanent campaign. It's all about controlling the message and manufacturing consent. Those in power want to keep power. They use every available communications tool to control the message and prevent the slightest of embarrassment, every single day. And they do it on your dime. Their ultimate goal is to convince just enough of you to vote for them on election day, so that they can continue the cycle and satisfy those interest groups that donated to their cause.<br />
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Don't believe me? Denise Rudnicki is Canada's expert on the permanent campaign and how it is ultimately a detriment to democracy. <a href="http://j-source.ca/article/inside-governments-message-making-machine" target="_blank">Here's one of her shorter pieces</a>: <i>Inside the Government's Message-Making Machine</i>.<br />
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Spending on communications has tripled at Vancouver city hall over the last seven years. The stakes are high. Vision Vancouver genuinely wants to see the Greenest City 2020 strategy that it imposed come to fruition in 2020. That means it wants another two election victories in 2014 and 2017, to go along with the 2008 and 2011 majorities.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robertson: promised transparency</td></tr>
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Vision Vancouver might just succeed. It has created a formidable machine that appeals to those on the left, centre and right. It is where political donations from big unions and big business go. Without an effective opposition (NPA and COPE are still licking their wounds from 2011) the ruling party needs only to stay afloat in the daily news cycle until voting day, Nov. 15, 2014. Lo and behold, folks in neighbourhoods throughout the city are pushing back at Vision's habit of rubber-stamping rezoning and development of condos and bike lanes. <a href="http://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/citywide-rally/" target="_blank">A citywide protest march on city hall, called #OurVancouver, is planned for Sept. 24.</a><br />
<br />
When he was sworn-in on Dec. 8, 2008, Mayor Gregor Robertson promised to "ensure transparency, accountability and public debate at city hall."<br />
<br />
"I will not let you down on making city hall more open and accountable," <a href="http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/inauguraladdress/inauguralrobertson.htm" target="_blank">Robertson said in his speech, which you can read here</a>.<br />
<br />
It is now 2013. Robertson has not delivered openness. He has let Vancouverites down.<br />
<br />
Here is Affleck's motion. Watch out for the Vision Vancouver spin.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Media Access to City of Vancouver Staff</span></b> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Whereas the City of Vancouver values openness and transparency;</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Whereas media has an important role in communicating the actions of the City of Vancouver, and are crucial to ensuring informed, engaged citizens;</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Whereas the budget allocated to the Communications Department has increased from $1.25 million to $1.94 million, and staffing has increased from 9 to 20 positions over the past four years;</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Whereas local media have raised concerns regarding open access to officials, timely interviews with officials, and the ability to receive information on city policies;</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Whereas city departmental staff are professional, have good judgement and are generally very knowledgeable in their fields of expertise;</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Whereas past policy permitted city hall staff to communicate directly with members of the media at the discretion of their direct managers with no noticeable negative effects;</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Therefore be it resolved that provide a report to Council within three months which will explain:</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">1) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Current policy relating to media access to Department Heads in the context of current global best practices;</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">2)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Clear and concise policy around timely access to information by media; and</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">3)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">How the commensurate workload of the Communications Department could be monitored with the view of cutting costs in that department as part of continued efforts of the Shared Services Review. </span></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-5881027065037104232013-09-15T15:41:00.001-07:002013-09-15T21:12:39.684-07:00Russian LNG behemoth coming to B.C. in 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.gazprom.com/about/" target="_blank">Gazprom</a> is coming to British Columbia. </span><br />
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Not to buy liquefied natural gas -- <a href="http://engage.gov.bc.ca/lnginbc/" target="_blank">Premier Christy Clark’s much-ballyhooed elixir</a> for the future of the <a href="http://www.taxpayer.com/blog/bc--debt-clock-launch-a-success" target="_blank">debt-laden province</a> -- but instead to sponsor the biggest sport final in Canada since the 2010 Winter Olympics' men's hockey gold medal match.</span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<a href="http://www.gazprom.com/f/1/global/i/gazprom_logo_140_en.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Gazprom" border="0" class="png" height="157" src="http://www.gazprom.com/f/1/global/i/gazprom_logo_140_en.png" title="Gazprom" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On Sept. 14 in the <a href="http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/football/1016012-putin-on-hand-as-gazprom-sign-four-year-deal-to-become-fifa-sponsor" target="_blank">Winter Olympic city of Sochi</a>, as Russian president Vladimir Putin looked-on, the <a href="http://en.rian.ru/news/20130914/183441305/Russias-Gazprom-Signs-FIFA-Sponsorship-Deal.html" target="_blank">world’s biggest LNG company inked a deal to become the official oil, gas and fuel sponsor of FIFA</a>, soccer’s world governing body. </span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #0225a3; font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">The agreement runs 2015 to 2018 and is connected to Russia’s hosting of the <a href="http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/russia2018/index.html" target="_blank">2018 World Cup</a>. </span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The <a href="http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/index.html" target="_blank">2015 Women’s World Cup</a>, FIFA’s second-biggest tournament, is coming to Canada June 6 to July 5, 2015. <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130321/BIV0120/130329981/-1/BIV/fifa-women-8217-s-world-cup-coming-to-vancouver" target="_blank">The championship final will be played at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver</a>. </span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That means Gazprom’s logo will be seen on the pitch-level advertising boards and executives of Russia’s l</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">argest corporation will have the opportunity to enjoy a level 3 hospitality suite. The 2015 Women’s World Cup will be the biggest yet, with 24 nations represented, and matches in six Canadian cities. </span></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/76/2015_FIFA_Women%27s_World_Cup_logo.svg/175px-2015_FIFA_Women%27s_World_Cup_logo.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Tournament logo" border="0" height="185" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/76/2015_FIFA_Women%27s_World_Cup_logo.svg/175px-2015_FIFA_Women%27s_World_Cup_logo.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/76/2015_FIFA_Women%27s_World_Cup_logo.svg/263px-2015_FIFA_Women%27s_World_Cup_logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/76/2015_FIFA_Women%27s_World_Cup_logo.svg/350px-2015_FIFA_Women%27s_World_Cup_logo.svg.png 2x" width="175" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Gazprom claims 18% of the world's natural gas reserves and to be the producer of 14% of the world’s LNG. Gazprom was once poised to export Russian LNG to the U.S., but the advent of fracking meant the U.S. didn’t need it. The Kremlin-ba</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">cked company has staked its future on a pipeline to China. Gazprom signed an agreement to supply China National Petroleum Corporation on Sept. 5 at the <a href="http://www.g20.org/docs/summit/summit_2013.html" target="_blank">G20 Summit in St. Petersburg</a>. <a href="http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/5938" target="_blank">Witnesses included Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping</a>. Gazprom is also in talks to export Russian LNG to South Korea and Japan.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Clark will lead another <a href="http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2013-2017/2013PREM0091-001365.htm" target="_blank">trade junket to China, Japan and South Korea</a> to flog B.C. LNG from Nov. 21-Dec. 3. (<a href="http://strategy.sauder.ubc.ca/head/Papers/tc09.pdf" target="_blank">Academic research shows</a> trade missions don't actually increase trade, but that's another story for another day.)</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">What happens to the investment of both private and public money in B.C. to develop an LNG industry if Gazprom meets China’s needs and if the Chinese find ample reserves of their own? What happens if Gazprom also finds buyers in South Korea and Japan? </span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The word "shutout" comes to mind.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-4787728669982460982013-09-13T17:45:00.003-07:002013-09-13T17:48:07.222-07:00Exclusive: PNE day-by-day attendance revealed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
The <a href="http://www.pne.ca/thefair/index.html" target="_blank">Pacific National Exhibition's 2013 Fair </a>-- its 103rd to date -- was not marred by weather, but instead power outages at Hastings Park on the middle Saturday and the last Thursday. In fact, those were two of the worst days for attendance at the Aug. 17-Sept. 2 Fair, according to statistics that are published below for the first time.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://www.pne.ca/images/graphics/pnelogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="PNE - Pacific National Exhibition" border="0" height="76" src="http://www.pne.ca/images/graphics/pnelogo.png" width="320" /></a>What you already knew: The grand total over 15 days was 712,049, a decrease from the 763,689 a year earlier (when the fair was 17 days long) and far short of the 800,000 goal set by organizers. (By comparison, the centennial fair in 2010 drew 937,485.) PNE vice-president of finance Roger Gil told me gate revenue has not been reconciled, but will be reported to the board of directors for its next meeting. (PNE board meetings are held behind closed doors, despite it being a public body.)<br />
<br />
What you didn't know: A power outage delayed the opening of gates on Aug. 24 so the attendance for the middle Saturday of the Fair -- traditionally one of the biggest days -- was a disappointing 48,874. Another power outage happened in the evening on Aug. 29. The day's weather was mixed -- partly cloudy, sometimes rainy -- but only 26,363 came through the turnstiles. That was the worst-attended day of the entire Fair. Organizers were hoping for more because Aug. 29 was the day Vancity credit union debit and credit cardholders were admitted for $5 each.<br />
<br />
The best-attended day was the third day -- Tues. Aug. 20 -- with 76,902 fairgoers. Why was that? Well, Port Metro Vancouver sponsored free admission to all comers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There was also a free two-hour promotion on Aug. 27, to make-good for the Aug. 24 power outage. That Tuesday's total was 64,580.<br />
<br />
Tickets and parking at the 2013 Fair were both cut from $20 to $16 each and kids under 13 were free. The touring <a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/1996/12/genghis-khan/edwards-text" target="_blank">Chinggis Khan</a> exhibition, the only brand, new marquee attraction at the Fair, was an extra $3. There was no price break at the gates during the middle weekend of the civic fair, which was in competition with the free admission, civic-sponsored <a href="http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park-125.aspx" target="_blank">125th anniversary of Stanley Park</a>. The PNE drew 48,874 on Aug. 24 and 53,048 on Aug. 25. It is not known how much the free festival at Stanley Park impacted the PNE's revenues, but it certainly was not a business-wise move by the Vision Vancouver-dominated city council. The true anniversary of Stanley Park could have been observed on Sept. 27, the date it was opened in 1888.<br />
<br />
The PNE fairgrounds were closed on Aug. 19 and 26 to cut costs.<br />
<br />
Next year's fair runs Aug. 16-Sept. 1, 2014.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col width="69"></col><col width="149"></col><col width="107"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; font-weight: bold; padding: 0 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Day</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; font-weight: bold; padding: 0 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Date</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; font-weight: bold; padding: 0 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Attendance</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Saturday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 17, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">29,976</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Sunday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 18, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">31,129</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Monday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 19, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">0</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Tuesday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 20, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">76,902</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Wednesday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 21, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">36,039</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Thursday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 22, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">36,594</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Friday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 23, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">45,547</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Saturday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 24, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">48,874</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Sunday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 25, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">53,048</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Monday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 26, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">0</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Tuesday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 27, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">64,580</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Wednesday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 28, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">33,499</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Thursday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 29, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">26,363</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Friday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 30, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">41,126</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Saturday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">August 31, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">66,222</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Sunday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">September 1, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">67,588</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">Monday</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">September 2, 2013</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;">54,562</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col width="149"></col><col width="107"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-left: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; font-weight: bold; padding: 0 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> TOTAL</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; color: black; font-family: calibri,arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 110.0%; font-weight: bold; padding: 0 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"> 712,049</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>What do you love or hate about Vancouver's annual PNE Fair? Did you go to the 2013 Fair? Leave your comments below or<a href="mailto:2010goldrush@gmail.com" target="_blank"> email me here</a>.</i><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-58629793652283968912013-09-12T16:08:00.002-07:002013-09-12T17:22:22.548-07:00Exclusive: Ballem bashes media, promotes city trash manager<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">On Sept. 11, Vancouver city manager Penny Ballem sent a memo to staff to defend acting sanitation manager Mike Zupan from reports in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/10/city-of-vancouver-sanitat_n_3903704.html?utm_hp_ref=vancouver" target="_blank">The Province</a> about the hiring of a Hells Angel as a trashman. A day later, Zupan was promoted to manager of sanitation operations. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">That’s the way Penny rolls.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">This, despite an <a href="http://2010goldrush.blogspot.ca/2013/09/exclusive-mutiny-festering-as-internal.html" target="_blank">internal staff report that I published</a>, which shows widespread anger among the sanitation department rank-and-file over bad management. The staff survey even includes allegations of rule-breaking and nepotism!</span><br />
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While Ballem mentions in her memo that civic hiring practices are “aligned with legislation,” one can reasonably wonder if they’re also aligned with the interests of the public. Specifically, are reasonable efforts undertaken by city hall to ensure that those hired by the city can be trusted to do the public’s work, on the public’s dime, regardless of their past? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ballem writes that the city has unspecified "safeguards and controls in place" to prevent organized crime from being affiliated with the city and that "we have no evidence of any involvement of organized crime in our organization. We are in close touch with (Vancouver Police Department) and they have not indicated any concern in this regard."</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The city's <a href="http://former.vancouver.ca/policy_pdf/AE02501.pdf" target="_blank">corporate hiring policy</a> states that only so-called “positions of trust” -- involving contact with vulnerable people, security and safety of people and assets, regulation and inspection or handling cash -- require police record checks, credit record checks and enhanced reliability checks. Evidently, that didn't apply to garbage collector Ronaldo Lising.</span></div>
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<img align="right" alt="Penny Ballem" height="267" src="http://www.justaid.ca/images/pennyb.jpg" width="200" /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">See Ballem’s full memo below, followed by the memo announcing Zupan’s promotion (and an important note to readers at bottom). </span></div>
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<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">________________________________________</span></span></div>
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<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">From: City Managers Broadcast Account</span></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">
</span>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 3:02 PM</span></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">To: All Staff (COV) - DL</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Subject: COV Broadcast: Message from the City Manager</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Dear Colleagues across the City of Vancouver,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am writing to all our staff today in regards to an article in today’s edition of the Province newspaper. This article is a follow up to one that ran on August 26 regarding the employment of a particular individual in Sanitation who is allegedly affiliated with the Hells Angels. In my response to the media in August, I indicated that we would be carefully reviewing that situation. We hire hundreds of regular and auxiliary staff every year across the City departments, Boards and Agencies. As we have indicated previously, we take the integrity of our hiring process very seriously and we continue to work to improve this very important function in our organization. The issue of organized crime being in any way affiliated with any organization is a serious risk and we have many safeguards and controls in place to prevent that from happening and we have no evidence of any involvement of organized crime in our organization. We are in close touch with VPD and they have not indicated any concern in this regard.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our hiring practices are aligned with legislation – Human Rights Code, Labour Relations Code, Privacy legislation and related regulations and case law – and we have a very diverse and talented work force of which we are very proud.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">However I am very concerned and dismayed about the unsubstantiated and irresponsible allegations and innuendo reported in the media today which is allegedly coming from our staff (and some of our retired staff) regarding Mike Zupan, our Acting Manager of Sanitation. I want to be very clear that Mike Zupan has the full confidence of this organization and there is absolutely no evidence that he had any previous relationship with Ronaldo Lising. His work with the City of Vancouver over the last 20 years has been exemplary.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sanitation is an area where there is much change ahead, some of which is imposed on us through legislation while other elements are part of our overall goals for zero waste. We have an excellent leadership team which is working with many other parts of the organization to move changes along in a constructive, transparent way, and in a way which meets the needs of our citizens as well as our staff. I know I can count on all of you to keep focused on our goals and work together productively toward serving our public which is why we all work for the City. Thank you. pb</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Penny Ballem, MD, FRCP</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">City Manager</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">City of Vancouver</span></div>
<div style="color: #144fae; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000000;">Cell: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">604.551.XXXX</span></div>
<div style="color: #144fae; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000000;">Fax: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">604.873.7641</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="mailto:penny.ballem@vancouver.ca">penny.ballem@vancouver.ca</a></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">From: ENG All Staff Broadcast</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2013 10:10 AM</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">To: ENG All Staff (COV) - DL</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Subject: Staff Announcement</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am very pleased to announce that Mike Zupan is our successful candidate in the recent competition for the Manager of Sanitation Operations. Mike brings over 20 years of experience in progressively responsible positions with the City to his new role. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mike over the past 1 ½ years since I joined the City and continue to be impressed by his dedication and commitment to moving forward, adapting to change and making things better in the areas in which he is working. For the past 8 months Mike has been doing an excellent job as Acting Manager and has successfully implemented and number of changes in the branch to improve operations, employee engagement and overall morale within the branch. I look forward to continuing to work with Mike in his new role as we continue to navigate the significant changes underway in Sanitation. Please join me in congratulating Mike on his new role.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Albert Shamess</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Director - Waste Management and Resource Recovery</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">City of Vancouver</span></div>
<div style="color: #0225a3; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #144fae; text-decoration: underline;">604-873-XXXX</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000000;"> | <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="mailto:albert.shamess@vancouver.ca">albert.shamess@vancouver.ca</a></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="mailto:albert.shamess@vancouver.ca"><br /></a></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="mailto:albert.shamess@vancouver.ca"><br /></a></span></span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><b><i>IMPORTANT NOTE TO READERS</i></b>: Is Vancouver city manager Penny Ballem on the ball or is she out to lunch? Is Vancouver city hall really a gleaming example of the ideal government workplace, free of corruption or has it gone <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charbonneau_Commission" target="_blank">"Montreal-style"</a> and been infiltrated by organized (or disorganized) crime? If you have proof of organized crime, fraud or other corruption at Vancouver city hall, any of its departments or agencies (or, for that matter, any federal, provincial, civic or aboriginal government office), please <a href="mailto:2010goldrush@gmail.com" target="_blank">contact me here</a>. I also gladly accept confidential, brown paper envelopes (addressed to me) at <a href="http://www.biv.com/contact" target="_blank">this address</a> and <a href="http://thetyee.ca/About/Contact/" target="_blank">that address</a>. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-60263581034623016682013-09-11T08:10:00.004-07:002013-09-11T08:10:44.485-07:00Exclusive: mutiny festering as internal survey claims city sanitation management rot <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vancouver.ca/images/cov/feature/city-waste-collection-services.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="City waste collection services" border="0" height="176" id="feature" src="http://vancouver.ca/images/cov/feature/city-waste-collection-services.JPG" style="display: block;" title="City waste collection services" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vancouver trash workers unhappy, survey shows</td></tr>
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The year started off seemingly well for City of Vancouver’s 1,600 outside workers when the garbage, recycling, street repair and parks and facilities maintenance workers got a <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130117/BIV0109/130119952/-1/BIV/vancouver-8217-s-outside-workers-ink-four-year-agreement" target="_blank">four-year contract </a>with 6.75% in pay raises.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then came word of <a href="http://www.vancourier.com/vancouver-civic-union-steward-question-president-s-absence-1.380954" target="_blank">dissent among the rank-and-file, when the executive of CUPE Local 1004 wanted to suspend the stewards’ council. </a>There were allegations that president Mike Jackson took unauthorized leave and that under his leadership, there were financial irregularities.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It got even worse on April 18 when a worker from another union, for reasons not entirely clear, attempted self-immolation in the CUPE Local 1004 office, destroying furniture, fixtures, equipment and files. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In late May, <a href="http://www.vancourier.com/news/axe-falls-at-city-of-vancouver-outside-workers-union-1.378986" target="_blank">CUPE’s national office intervened and fired the Local 1004 executive</a>, including Jackson. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Province newspaper revealed Aug. 26 that Ronaldo Lising had been hired as a part-time trashman by City of Vancouver, despite a criminal record for drugs, guns and assault offences and membership in the Hells Angels when the RCMP busted the East End clubhouse in 2005. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While the B.C. Civil Liberties Association believes <a href="http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2013/08/27/city-right-to-hire-hells-angels-member-says-civil-liberties-group" target="_blank">criminals who have served their sentence should not be subject to discrimination</a>, a Sept. 10 Province story further questions City of Vancouver hiring practices: who knew what and when and why won't city manager Penny Ballem or the manager who hired Lising, Mike Zupan, explain? The Province story mentions a staff survey, but it doesn’t show you the internal Sanitation Services Department survey.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You've come to the right place, because you can read the report below. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's called "Employee Engagement Notes: Day Shift and Afternoon Shift" and was compiled from table discussions in January 2013 sessions. The report is dated Feb. 19, 2013 and provided to me by a source concerned that city hall's ruling Vision Vancouver party does not care for the men and women who handle the city's waste and work in the least-glorious division of the city. </span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mayor Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver are intent on making Vancouver the <a href="http://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/greenest-city-2020-action-plan.aspx" target="_blank">world's greenest city by 2020</a>, but there are serious questions about how Robertson and co. are managing the city's operations and finances in 2013. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">According to one of the comments, it is a “toxic work environment" in the city's sanitation department. But there is more. Much more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The top 10 selection of comments: </span></span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Maps are 40 years out of date”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Mgmt. needs to follow and enforce the rules consistently”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Tell us the truth; tell us what you know and what you don't” </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Be consistent; stop changing story every week”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Rules are being broken conveniently and it’s ‘encouraged’ to get the work done”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Stop favouritism/nepotism”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Lying, no transparency, no communication, no accountability, no integrity”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"They build resentment they don't build people"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“When leaders pass the buck, you end up passing the buck”</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Dysfunctional environment is the norm, rumours are constant”</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Read the entire report below:
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/167256006/Employee-Engagement-Notes-Day-Shift-and-Afternoon-Shift?secret_password=27n92vxtt290z9lb1lbo" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Employee Engagement Notes: Day Shift and Afternoon Shift on Scribd">Employee Engagement Notes: Day Shift and Afternoon Shift</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_72019" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/167256006/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe><br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-76615782743900347292013-09-07T15:29:00.000-07:002013-09-13T13:27:55.847-07:00Trash talk to envelop B.C. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Get ready for a steady stream of trash talk in British Columbia.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While Metro Vancouver wants to build a $500 million "waste-to-energy" garbage incinerator by 2018, BC Liberal insiders like <a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/09/04/John-Les-Hired/" target="_blank">John Les</a> and<a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/08/14/Pantazopoulos-Lobbying/" target="_blank"> Dimitri Pantazopoulos</a> have been hired as lobbyists by industry players to oppose it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Metro Vancouver’s plan to force haulers to use its mixed waste facilities was defeated when the<a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130906/BIV0109/130909950/0/BIV/metro-vancouver-in-limbo-over-garbage-proposal" target="_blank"> Zero Waste Committee voted 6-5 against a new bylaw on Sept. 5</a>. The plan could be revised if the board strikes a task force. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now <a href="http://multimaterialbc.ca/" target="_blank">Multi-Material B.C.</a>, a society backed by manufacturers and retailers, is pushing municipalities to get on-board as it readies for a May 19, 2014 launch of a province-wide packaging and printed paper collection and recycling program. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://multimaterialbc.ca/sites/all/themes/framework_relish/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Home" border="0" src="http://multimaterialbc.ca/sites/all/themes/framework_relish/logo.png" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In 2011, the provincial government opted to give industry the responsibility for the $60 million to $100 million a year product packaging stewardship program. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">MMBC set a Sept. 16 deadline for local governments to opt-in to its private hauling program or accept a set fee from MMBC to carry on the status quo. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.columbiainstitute.ca/news-events/multi-material-bc-and-local-governments-will-new-industry-run-recycling-system-cause" target="_blank">According to an August repor</a>t by the labour-backed Columbia Institute think-tank, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">"Port Moody calculated a 20% difference between the MMBC financial offer and the cost of delivering services. While not all municipalities have identified the same size gap, shortfalls between MMBC incentives and program costs will leave local governments to either pick up the balance of costs, reduce residential recycling programs, or turn recycling directly over to MMBC, a choice which offers no guarantees that services will be maintained</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"> at established levels.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">"Some municipalities have concerns that the funding gap in MMBC offers could be compounded by what many see as unrealistic standards and punitive penalties for recycling ‘contamination.'"</span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">CUPE B.C. secretary treasurer Paul Faoro told Metro Vancouver on Sept. 5, the “MMBC plan is designed from our perspective for industry, not for local government and not for public interest.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">City of Vancouver sanitation workers, represented by CUPE Local 1004, are buzzing. Some are even worried about the prospects of privatization. A staff report is expected Sept. 9 and an emergency public meeting is to be announced for Sept. 12 to decide the response of the Vision Vancouver dominated city council. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It will ultimately cost consumers, but how much? Will B.C. be struggling with a new and complicated recycling tax? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stay tuned.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>UPDATE (Sept. 11):</b> After city hall closed for the day today, the <a href="http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20130912/documents/spec20130912ag.pdf" target="_blank">agenda was finally published</a>. Unless the plan changes, it will be a closed-door meeting.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">NOTICE OF MEETING </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA</span></b> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Thursday, September 12, 2013 3:00 pm</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Council Chamber Third Floor, City Hall </span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ROLL CALL</span></b></span> </blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>“IN CAMERA” MEETING</b></span><br />
THAT Council will go into a meeting later this day, which is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 165.2(1) of the <i>Vancouver Charter</i>, to discuss matters related to paragraph:<br />
(k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of an activity, work or facility that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the Council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the city if they were held in public.</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, an internal CUPE email from last Friday indicates that the issue to be discussed will be MMBC and recycling. </span><br />
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From: "Justin Schmid" <<a href="mailto:jschmid@cupe.ca"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">jschmid@cupe.ca</span></a>></div>
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To: "Dave Stephens" <<a href="mailto:walnuthill@shaw.ca"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">walnuthill@shaw.ca</span></a>>, "Michael McGahey" <<a href="mailto:mimcgahey@gmail.com"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">mimcgahey@gmail.com</span></a>></div>
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Cc: "Meena Brisard" <<a href="mailto:mbrisard@cupe.ca"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">mbrisard@cupe.ca</span></a>>, "Steve Varty" <<a href="mailto:svarty@cupe1004.org"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">svarty@cupe1004.org</span></a>></div>
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Sent: Friday, September 6, 2013 5:17:48 PM</div>
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Subject: Recycling Update</div>
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Hi Dave & Mike, </div>
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Just wanted to give you a quick update on the MMBC & Recycling issue. </div>
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Peter Judd and I will be coming to do a crew talk on Monday morning to give an update to everyone. </div>
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Just to let you know, we have met with some key politicians on this issue and working to get things moving on this issue as much as we can. </div>
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A report to council will be coming out on Monday and a special council meeting will be held on Thursday next week at which we will be presenting. </div>
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In related news, there was an op-ed piece in the Sun today on the issue and in a couple other papers. I’ll bring some copies on Monday. </div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/story.html?id=8875598">http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/story.html?id=8875598</a></span> </div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/news/recycling-changes-could-ding-taxpayers-1.612869">http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/news/recycling-changes-could-ding-taxpayers-1.612869</a></span> </div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://thenelsondaily.com/news/nelson-and-rdck-battle-new-province-wide-recycling-rules-26284#.Uingp2NrZgU">http://thenelsondaily.com/news/nelson-and-rdck-battle-new-province-wide-recycling-rules-26284#.Uingp2NrZgU</a></span> </div>
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See you on Monday, </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Justin </div>
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_______________________ </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Justin Schmid </div>
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CUPE National Representative </div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">CUPE was a very big funder of Vision Vancouver in 2011. The ruling party took-in $155,300 from CUPE BC, $42,000 from CUPE Local 1004, $36,700 from CUPE Local 15, $10,500 from CUPE Local 391, and $250 from CUPE Local 407. Add it all up and that's $244,750. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">No wonder CUPE can get a private audience with the politicians. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>UPDATE (Sept. 13)</i></b>: Sneaky, sneaky. Vision Vancouver received this <a href="http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20130912/documents/extended-producer-responsibility-for-packaging-and-printed-paper.pdf" target="_blank">13-page staff report dated Sept. 11</a> and held a <a href="http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20130912/icre20130912dec.htm" target="_blank">closed-door meeting on Sept. 12</a>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The report and the decision (but not minutes) were quietly released on the city website on Sept. 13. City council decided to continue to provide recycling services and is going to write a letter of complaint to the provincial government. Vision Vancouver is the same party that promised transparency and to engage citizens. And it has "Vision" in its name. But it did not make this decision in public or with public input.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">IN CAMERA COUNCIL MEETING</span></span></h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">September 12, 2013</span></h1>
<h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">DECISIONS AND REPORTS RELEASED</span></h1>
</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Printed Paper</span></h2>
A. THAT Council authorise the City Engineer to advise Multi
Material BC (MMBC) that the City is interested in continuing to provide
recycling services to the residents of the City of Vancouver consisting
of:<br />
<blockquote>
i. single-family (SF) curbside recycling;<br />
ii. multi-unit residential building (MURB) recycling; and<br />
iii. depot recycling at the Vancouver South Transfer Station (VSTS) and Vancouver Landfill (VL);<br />
</blockquote>
under contract to MMBC subject to negotiation of a mutually agreeable contractual and financial arrangement.<br />
B. THAT the Mayor write the Minister of Environment requesting
the Minister's urgent involvement in resolving the deficiencies in the
Multi Material BC (MMBC) Collection Offer. Specific areas of concern
include:<br />
<blockquote>
- a lack of adequate input from municipalities and the need
for an extension of the September 16, 2013 deadline MMBC has imposed;<br />
- deterioration in the level of service to the public
during both the transitional phase and the ongoing implementation of
the program;<br />
- a projected decrease in the level of recycling rates in
the short-term and no firm requirement or timeline for increased
recycling rates;<br />
- significant operational and financial risks to taxpayers
as a result of both the market clearing price and proposed penalties in
the current contract;<br />
- a lack of access to data about recycling rates.<br />
</blockquote>
C. THAT the Council decision and relevant Administrative Report be released to the public as soon as possible.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-45685033905011446712013-09-06T00:18:00.003-07:002013-09-09T17:06:41.399-07:00Park Ranger keeps mind nimble amid OneCard kerfuffle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxj942Uao3vUqC73cVhDuRuuTLPwHvtbyFTLoyvMqX55urPWc5w47MA2L_Vsy-c3ursWXDtPwb4MIlrngIeavyWPlSRoxN-dkraVc-aBCFC3spXhCc5BCgWCWTanO5iyiCcVBsG6Bw2eA/s1600/parkranger1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
Below are photographs of a Vancouver Park Ranger passing time with a skill-testing newspaper crossword puzzle.<br />
<br />
Vancouver Park Rangers are normally busy in summertime helping visitors enjoy the city's parks. Ambassadors of the flora and fauna.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxj942Uao3vUqC73cVhDuRuuTLPwHvtbyFTLoyvMqX55urPWc5w47MA2L_Vsy-c3ursWXDtPwb4MIlrngIeavyWPlSRoxN-dkraVc-aBCFC3spXhCc5BCgWCWTanO5iyiCcVBsG6Bw2eA/s1600/parkranger1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxj942Uao3vUqC73cVhDuRuuTLPwHvtbyFTLoyvMqX55urPWc5w47MA2L_Vsy-c3ursWXDtPwb4MIlrngIeavyWPlSRoxN-dkraVc-aBCFC3spXhCc5BCgWCWTanO5iyiCcVBsG6Bw2eA/s400/parkranger1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Synonym for controversy...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That is not the photograph of a lazy Park Ranger. The proper word is <i>bored</i>. For this new assignment -- to be the eyes and ears of the Vision Vancouver dominated Board of Parks and Recreation at a half-dozen rebel community centres -- at least one Park Ranger became a modern equivalent of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7z6AKPGDZ4" target="_blank">Maytag Man</a>.<br />
<br />
This Park Ranger has been assigned to a community centre to intervene in a dispute and perform a job that he may actually not be licensed to perform. <a href="http://former.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/parkranger/index.htm" target="_blank">This is what the Park Rangers are qualified to do</a>. Notice the lack of the word "security."<br />
<br />
My source told me the photograph was shot the morning of Sept. 3 at <a href="http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/kensington-community-centre.aspx" target="_blank">Kensington Community Centre.</a><br />
<br />
Kensington is one of the six community centres run by <a href="http://www.myvancouvercc.com/page/the%20situation.aspx#.Uil-DuAgMbk" target="_blank">volunteer associations that are refusing to submit to Vancouver city hall's centralization of power</a> and imposition of the <a href="http://vancouver.ca/onecard.aspx" target="_blank">OneCard</a> universal access card. The other 16 community associations are toeing the line.<br />
<br />
The rebel six pack of community centre associations filed <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/165953024/Notice-of-Civil-Claim-20-Aug-13-1" target="_blank">this B.C. Supreme Court lawsuit </a>against City of Vancouver on Aug. 20. <a href="http://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/statement-from-park-board-chair-on-community-centre-associations-litigation.aspx" target="_blank">City of Vancouver replied with this news release </a>on Aug. 22. The six associations <a href="http://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/statement-from-park-board-chair-on-community-centre-associations-litigation.aspx" target="_blank">were notified a week later by the Park Board that their joint operating agreements will be cancelled</a> on Dec. 31, 2013. Park Rangers were then deployed to keep an eye on things.<br />
<br />
On Sept. 4, I sent a list of questions to Park Board Chair Sarah Blyth and general manager Malcolm Bromley, to find out more about the deployment of Park Rangers. Neither Blyth nor Bromley responded with answers, but I am hoping that this will spur them into action. Because you deserve to know.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrqeX2ZREulyUnzQKcYvsAtq4I9Jdnl9DF63sWUU00JBF12JE8DiB2gP1Yrc9e93b8spyihAMRtRieLVSmGvJn4bkU7zkQa9Qzb9yeaIQkyfVHQbpK8aGkqQ2s9Qo09dcwZcpfkQE0c0/s1600/parkranger2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrqeX2ZREulyUnzQKcYvsAtq4I9Jdnl9DF63sWUU00JBF12JE8DiB2gP1Yrc9e93b8spyihAMRtRieLVSmGvJn4bkU7zkQa9Qzb9yeaIQkyfVHQbpK8aGkqQ2s9Qo09dcwZcpfkQE0c0/s200/parkranger2.jpg" width="136" /></a>I want to find out how many Park Rangers are being deployed to these community centres and at what cost to Vancouverites. I am also curious about the qualifications of the Park Rangers: Is it true that the Board of Parks and Recreation does not require Park Rangers to hold a <a href="http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/securityindustry/index.htm" target="_blank">provincial security licence</a> under the <a href="http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_07030_01" target="_blank">Security Services Act</a>, even though the services they provide include security? <a href="http://www.viu.ca/rmot/pdfs/MicrosoftWord-VancouverParkRangerJobPostingSummer2012.pdf" target="_blank">This job ad</a> says Park Ranger candidates require a driver's licence and first aid certificate. A Grade 12 education is desired. Pay begins at $23 an hour. Not too shabby. Under B.C. law, <a href="http://www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety/posters/assets/pdf/RightRefuseUnsafeWork.pdf" target="_blank">workers have the right to refuse unsafe work</a>.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Park Rangers are members of <a href="http://www.cupe15.org/" target="_blank">CUPE local 15</a>, but president Leanne Toderian and city sector representative Dierdre Bradshaw did not respond either. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is an open invitation to Blyth, Bromley and CUPE local 15 to have their responses published here. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Also, if you're a Vancouver Park Ranger, <a href="mailto:2010goldrush@gmail.com" target="_blank">please contact me confidentially</a>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><b>UPDATE (Sept. 9):</b> Blyth did not respond, but vice-chair Aaron Jasper did. He said Park Ranger deployment to the six dissident community centres was mandated by general manager Malcolm Bromley after incidents on Aug. 20 and 23 at a community centre that Jasper refused to name. Jasper also refused to tell me how much this is costing Vancouverites.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">"In one of the instances the general manager had to intervene and the person was actually escorted off the property by a Vancouver Police officer. and subsequently to that incident a WorkSafeBC investigation was initiated because of a staff complaint of potential harassment and threats to their ability to perform their work," Jasper said. "We have an obligation to provide a safe and supportive working environment. The politics and the disagreement between the associations and the park board is not an excuse for members of the public or association executive members to harass our staff, we make no apologies, I support the general manager's decision to have a park ranger on site."</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">VPD spokesman Const. Brian Montague confirmed there was an incident on Aug. 23 at Hillcrest Community Centre. "There was no allegation of an assault and no evidence indicating that one had occurred. The matter was resolved without charges." </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Riley Park/<a href="http://hillcrestcommunity.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Hillcrest Community Association</a> president Jesse Johl said he witnessed Hillcrest recreation supervisor Peter Fox wave his finger in association treasurer Todd Constant's face. Johl said Constant has been "on top" of the community centre's finances "to the point where we account for everything and as a lot of questions and staff don't like it." </span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bromley attended and told Constant he would be banned from the community centre. Constant reminded the general manager that there was a joint operating agreement between the parties and that he had no authority to ban community centre association executives from the community centre. Johl said the police officer who attended, Const. Savage, did not escort anyone away. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"There was only one witness to the entire event, that was me," Johl said. "Todd was not being abusive, Todd was not being aggressive."</span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But back to the question about the Park Rangers' qualifications. </span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jasper admitted they're not required to be security-certified, but they are deployed "to help assure, there is a safe, secure work environment for our staff." </span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"You're sort of fixating on that aspect, in my mind the issue here is why did the park board general manager feel compelled to take this action," Jasper said. </span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Our park rangers do go through conflict resolution training, they're out there in the public dealing with potentially very volatile situations…. they know what their limits are, so if it's a situation they deem requires a backup they get on the phone, they contact the police. </span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I'm confident they have adequate training. If our park rangers are qualified enough to be out there in the summer months in all sorts of instances across our park system, surely they're OK to be sitting in the lobby of a community centre just monitoring, making sure everyone is conducting themselves respectfully."</span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The last word goes to the Security Services Act, <a href="http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_07030_01#section2" target="_blank">which states, in Section 2</a>: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 14.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"An individual must not engage in any kind of security work, or hold himself or herself out to be so employed or employable, unless the individual holds a valid security worker licence for that kind of security work." </span></div>
</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-43309739275169421532013-08-16T14:45:00.002-07:002013-08-16T14:45:15.863-07:00Hey, Ray! Waddaya say?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Open Letter to <a href="http://vancouver.ca/your-government/raymond-louie.aspx" target="_blank">Coun. Raymond Louie</a> (Chairman, Pacific National Exhibition):</span><br />
<div style="font: 15.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 15.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Hope you’re having a fun and relaxing summer. Certainly you’ll be having fun at the 103rd <a href="http://www.pne.ca/thefair/index.html" target="_blank">Pacific National Exhibition Fair</a> until Labour Day. Glad that gate admission and parking are cheaper by 20%, so more people can afford to go. It's not often that Vision Vancouver gives vehicle drivers a discount.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130813/BIV0120/308139940/-1/BIV/pne-retools-to-boost-flagging-attendance-at-annual-fair" target="_blank">Sorry to hear that it’ll be closed on the first and second Mondays</a>, </span>but let’s hope those are the only days that rain falls in East Vancouver. </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This will be the fifth fair since Mayor Gregor Robertson and the rest of your Vision Vancouver majority mates decided to install you as the chairman of the <a href="http://www.pne.ca/aboutus/board-of-directors.html" target="_blank">PNE board</a>. A controversial decision from May 2009.</span></div>
<div style="font: 15.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font: 15.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<a href="http://www.pne.ca/thefair/images/2013/general/fair-logo-2013.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="style3" height="159" src="http://www.pne.ca/thefair/images/2013/general/fair-logo-2013.png" width="114" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On Aug. 1, city council voted 8-2 to refine the <a href="http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20130801/documents/HastingsParkpresentation.pdf" target="_blank">governance model</a> for Hastings Park and the PNE. You voted in the majority. It seems like a Vancouver pastime to debate the governance of the PNE. Council opted not to make Hastings Park and the PNE a department of city hall or shift responsibility for governance to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation -- even though the Park Board said it was ready, willing and able. Citizens groups (like the <a href="http://www.hastingspark.ca/2013/08/02/pne-to-continue-governing-hastings-park/" target="_blank">Hastings Park Conservancy</a> and <a href="http://friendsofhastingspark.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/successful-media-conference-and-press-coverage-july-31st/" target="_blank">Friends of Hastings Park</a>) wanted the Park Board to take over, but it won't. So you’ll be chairman for the foreseeable future. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I <a href="mailto:clrlouie@vancouver.ca" target="_blank">emailed you</a> a couple of questions on Aug. 1 and called your office and left a voice mail the next day. I haven’t heard back from you about your role in that governance decision. You were in the council chamber, participated in the discussion and voted. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20130801/documents/spec20130801min.pdf" target="_blank">Minutes of the meeting</a> show that you moved the motion on the staff recommendation:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vancouver.ca/images/cov/feature/councillor-2012-louie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Councillor Raymond Louie" border="0" height="200" id="feature" src="http://vancouver.ca/images/cov/feature/councillor-2012-louie.jpg" style="display: block;" title="Councillor Raymond Louie" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chairman Ray</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>THAT Council adopt the implementation plan outlined in the <a href="http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20130724/documents/ptec7.pdf" target="_blank">Administrative Report dated June 18, 2013, entitled “Hastings Park/PNE Governance Review”</a>, for a new governance structure for Hastings Park and the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE).</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">B.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>THAT Council approve funding for consultants, needed to support and resource the implementation plan set out in the Administrative Report dated June 18, 2013, entitled “Hastings Park/PNE Governance Review”, to a maximum of $80,000; source of funding to be the Hastings Park Reserve.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You voted with the majority against Green Coun. Adriane Carr’s amendments, including one that proposed giving Park Board the reins of power. Ultimately, you also voted with the majority to adopt the staff recommendation. It was passed by an 8-2 margin. You remain the PNE chairman.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I notice that the Vancouver Charter, which is the provincial law that governs the City of Vancouver, contains sections <a href="http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/LOC/freeside/--%20V%20--/Vancouver%20Charter%20SBC%201953%20c.%2055/00_Act/vanch_04.xml#section145.2" target="_blank">145.2 (Disclosure of conflict)</a> and <a href="http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/LOC/freeside/--%20V%20--/Vancouver%20Charter%20SBC%201953%20c.%2055/00_Act/vanch_04.xml#section145.3" target="_blank">145.3 (Restrictions on participation if in conflict)</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In a nutshell, the charter says a council member must declare any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter or another interest in a matter that constitutes a conflict of interest. He or she must leave the meeting while the matter is under consideration, and not participate in any discussion, vote or otherwise attempt in any way to influence the vote. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Since you are both an elected councillor <i>and</i> the appointed chair of the PNE, did you ask for or receive legal advice from the city solicitor that allowed you to participate and vote? If so, what was the conclusion? The minutes don’t reflect that you made a declaration of your PNE chairmanship and you certainly didn't leave the council chamber. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Neither city clerk Janice MacKenzie nor city solicitor Francie Connell responded to my query earlier this month. I’m hoping you will. I’d gladly publish it here. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sincerely,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Bob Mackin</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">P.S. I notice the <a href="http://www.pne.ca/aboutus/annual-reports/2011.pdf" target="_blank">2011 annual report </a>is on the PNE website, but where is the 2012 annual report? We're well past the halfway point of 2013.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8164915524759026973.post-45527500908950669672013-07-25T13:15:00.003-07:002013-07-25T13:23:04.496-07:00BC Hydro using $24K fee threat to withhold SNC-Lavalin payments info<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">If you’ve been following Canadian news for the last few years, you probably heard of Montreal-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin and its troubles. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The company has extensive operations in Vancouver, some of which only became apparent when the World Bank blacklisted SNC-Lavalin in April over corruption at infrastructure projects in Bangladesh and Cambodia. <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130418/BIV0118/130419922/-1/BIV/snc-lavalins-bc-operations-on-world-bank-corruption-10-year" target="_blank">Here is my Business in Vancouver story</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I also <a href="http://www.biv.com/article/20130527/BIV0118/130529951/-1/BIV/evergreen-line-contractor-launches-company-wide-whistleblower-amnesty" target="_blank">reported on how SNC-Lavalin announced a company-wide whistleblower amnesty</a>, in an effort for it to root out corruption from the inside. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">SNC-Lavalin was given the contract to build the Evergreen Line, the SkyTrain extension to the Tri-Cities. It also was involved in the Canada Line, Sea-to-Sky Highway project, Canada Line, Bill Bennett Bridge and as one of the last sponsors to sign-on with VANOC for the 2010 Winter Olympics. It has ongoing contracts with BC Ferries and BC Hydro. (Check out <a href="http://lailayuile.com/tag/snc-lavalin/" target="_blank">Laila Yuile's blog</a> for much more on SNC-Lavalin).</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In 2011, its Operations and Maintenance division began a five-year outsourcing agreement for BC Hydro facilities management services. </span></div>
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" 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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">SNC-Lavalin was paid $40,091,145 by BC Hydro for the year-ended March 31, 2012. For the previous two fiscal years, it was paid a combined $76.1 million. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I recently filed Freedom of Information requests to BC Hydro, to get lists of payments made by BC Hydro to SNC-Lavalin and vice versa since 2010. </span></div>
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" style="height: 100px; margin-top: 0px; width: 303px;" width="200" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In response, BC Hydro wants me to pay a combined $23,368.47 to fulfil my stated request -- not including 6 cents a page for photocopying. (BC Hydro's FOI department stubbornly insists on photocopying and mailing or couriering instead of the 21st century method of scanning and emailing. Power Smart and Penny Foolish, perhaps?)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">BC Hydro’s long-winded, pessimistic fee estimate letters are below. Two years ago, Premier Christy Clark issued an edict for open data and information across government. Certainly BC Hydro can follow the leader. Unless it is hiding something for some reason. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">These excessive fees that BC Hydro wants to charge remind me of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (Democrat-Vermont) and his Sept. 30, 1986 statement on the tendency of governments to threaten FOI requesters with big bills, in order to prevent information from being accessed by citizens.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"Indeed, experience suggests that agencies are most resistant to granting fee waivers when they suspect that the information sought may cast them in a less than flattering light or may lead to proposals to reform their practices. Yet that is precisely the type of information which the (Freedom of Information Act) is supposed to disclose, and agencies should not be allowed to use fees as an offensive weapon against requesters seeking access to Government information...."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Needless to say, I will be appealing BC Hydro's excessive fees.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">2010goldrush.blogspot.com
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.</div>Bob Mackinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175253741709996863noreply@blogger.com2