” This is an important day for British Columbia.It’s a day and a decision that had been some time in the making.” ~ Premier Gordon Campbell, November 25th, 2003

Yes sireee – it  certainly was an important day wasn’t it?  The day Premier Gordon Campbell announced the ” BC Rail Investment Partnership” to the people of BC- although at the time, I’m certain that he had no idea where this decision and announcement would one day lead.

And here we are now, mere days before what will surely become known as one of the greatest losses for the province of BC -  July 14th, the day a clause in the BC rail sale contract allows the transfer of extremely valuable lands to CN for the princely sum of $1.00. ( Yes, I did say $1.00)

The lands run between North Vancouver and Squamish, and we all know what that means with the completion of the Sea to Sly highway( that is NOT a spelling error).  Waterfront real estate potentially worth millions if not billions in future land value. ( http://lailayuile.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/the-key-to-the-bc-rail-sale-lays-in-premier-gordon-campbells-beginnings-in-real-estate-and-land-development/)

Just for fun, let’s take a look back at that announcement, and  make two lists. One list is for the promises  that did come to bear and  the other list is for those which did not.  I wonder which will be longer… I’ve taken the liberty of inserting comment in red,where I see fit.

“ This is an important day for British Columbia. It’s a day and a decision that has been some time in the making. ( just when was that decision made, sir?)

It started with a northern transportation conference project in November of 2002. We had a provincial congress in 2002 which MPs, MLAs, northern mayors and representatives attended. The northern mayors were quite clear and explicit in their recommendations. Mayor Colin Kinsley of Prince George ( The same guy who is now the face of Enbridge)  brought those recommendations to the congress. He said: “We urge the provincial government to find innovative solutions that are consistent with the spirit of its commitment not to privatize B.C. Rail but to look for public-private partnerships. Our recommendation would be for the province to retain ownership of the rail bed and rail tracks and their partner to offer rail freight and passenger services.” ( wow, they didn’t want it privatized either?)

Today, because of the work of those mayors and community leaders, because of the work of some exceptional public servants, because of the work of our northern caucus and our MLAs and because of the leadership of Judith Reid,( I hear she’s a hard gal to find- at least if you are in the legal biz)  I am pleased to announce a new investment for the province of British Columbia.

It’s an investment that will open up our province and revitalize our rail services into a major new engine of economic growth. It’s an investment that will unleash the full economic promise of the north.(Ha!) It will transform Prince George into a major new continental gateway.( there’s a gateway there? Double Ha!) It’s an investment to establish a new northern corridor of economic opportunity that will expand the port of Prince Rupert and establish a new North American gateway to Asia and create a new service corridor for our agriculture producers in the Peace and in the Prairies. ( Enbridge seems to be the new solution for this one)

It’s an investment that responds to the call of the north – that northerners be able to respond to northern opportunities. It will strengthen our resource and tourism industries and provide for a sustainable, long-term future for the northern part of British Columbia. This is an investment that will revitalize rail services for communities and their customers. It will deliver new infrastructure, new jobs and new promise for every region of this province. ( Still with me?)

Today the province is launching a partnership with CN that will generate an immediate billion dollars of investment for the people of British Columbia. Under the new partnership, CN will have the rights to operate the B.C. Rail network. The British Columbia Railway Company, a provincial Crown corporation, will own the right-of-way, the rail bed and the tracks. They will remain legally protected under public ownership through legislation.

In return, CN will provide in excess of a billion dollars of investment, not just in our rail infrastructure, but in our communities, our economy and our future. That investment will retire B.C. Rail’s $500-million debt. It will protect taxpayers from financial losses that have cost $860 million in the last 15 years. ( but what is the Basi-Virk hearings costing us now? )

To put that into context: $860 million is almost twice the write-down that was required for B.C.’s fast ferries. It was clear that we had to find a new way forward for our rail infrastructure in British Columbia. The interest savings alone will amount to about $30 million a year.

Our new operating partner, CN, will assume responsibility for maintaining the rail network and rolling stock. B.C. Rail is currently spending about $40 million a year on maintenance. That’s the equivalent of $3.6 billion over the potential term of this lease, which is 60 years with a potential extension for 30.

For the first time ever, communities up and down the rail corridor will receive direct municipal tax revenues instead of grants in lieu. That means an additional $8.3 million a year for communities, more than four and a half times current levels of our grants in lieu. Again, if you look at this over the 90-year term, that’s about $750 million over the potential term of this lease.

Here are some explicit examples. In the city of North Vancouver currently they receive approximately $5,500 a year in taxes, grants in lieu. They will get $256,000 a year when this new partnership pays its full tax.

The district of North Vancouver currently receives $156,000 in grants in lieu. That will go up to $716,000. In the Peace River district currently they get $59,000 a year in grants in lieu. They’ll get $1.3 million in taxes. Squamish-Lillooet: $46,000 in grants in lieu. They will go up to $497,000.

In Taylor taxes will double. In Tumbler Ridge taxes will double. In 100 Mile taxes will go up five times. In Quesnel taxes will go up three times.

It’s important for us to note that when we look at this, if we look at the initial investment as well as the ongoing investments from the private sector in our rail infrastructure in our communities, that represents a total benefit to the people of British Columbia in excess of $5 billion over the term of the lease. This partnership will generate direct investments in the rail system.

I’m joined today by Hunter Harrison, the CEO for CN, who will have more to say about some of the service improvements that CN expects to make. But here are some of the highlights.

There will be 600 new centre-beam cars will be added to the infrastructure. ( did this ever happen?)  That responds to the needs of shippers in the province of British Columbia. Rates will be reduced by an average of seven per cent for interline shippers. Transit times from Prince George to Vancouver will be 30 per cent faster, saving shippers time and money. Even more importantly, B.C. Rail customers have new direct access to an integrated transcontinental network of rail services which reduces shipping time and costs to the U.S. and beyond.

A new Chicago express will be established. It will start in Prince George and will reduce transit times by about 35 per cent or two days to the eastern U.S. That will make our industry more competitive.

CN’s rail upgrades at the port of Prince Rupert will help support a major new expansion of our province’s northwest gateway, offering shipping times one and a half days closer to Asia. The Dawson Creek high subdivision will reopen to serve our grain shippers. A new regulatory protection for B.C. Rail customers will ensure the long-term integrity of the network with no route closures for at least five years.

The partnership will also provide direct investments in jobs and opportunities across the north – a first step. The Province is committing $135 million to a new northern development initiative to be managed by northerners. It will be used to support investments in forestry, energy development, pine beetle recovery, transportation, tourism, mining, Olympic opportunities, small business and sustainable economic development.

A new head office for the northern development initiative will be located in Prince George. It will be funded by an ongoing $25 million endowment.

To put this in context, there’s a total in the northern development initiative of $135 million; $25 million of that will create an ongoing operating fund that will actually fund the new head office in Prince George. The endowment will be used to fund operations, to develop research that meets northern economic needs. The northern development initiative board will be established through legislation.

There are two specific goals that we’ve set. First, $60 million will be allocated to four regional funds. That’s $15 million for each of four regions: the Peace region, the Prince George region, the northwest and the Cariboo-Chilcotin region. Each of those regions will have advisory boards that will recommend on how those $15 million will be invested. There will be no strings on the investment. The investment framework is suggested, but the regional advisory councils will be making those recommendations.

On top of that there will be $50 million available for cross-regional initiatives. Those cross-regional investments will be meant to stimulate jobs and opportunities, again within the framework.

What we are trying to do in establishing the northern development initiative is provide the people of the north with the tools they need to make the decisions they need to build an economic future that responds to their particular assets.

Additional investments will be made to establish Prince George as a continental gateway to the north. We want to revitalize Prince George to full economic potential.( so why is it in such bad shape?) We believe we can realize that with a number of additional investments.

First, I’m announcing the Province will direct $4 million to the Prince George airport expansion to support its $10 million terminal and runway improvements. That expansion in itself will create 75 direct jobs at the airport over three years and 300 jobs for the region.

As our operating partner, CN will establish a new B.C. north division office in Prince George, along with a new $1 million state-of-the art wheel shop at the B.C. Rail mechanical complex in Prince George. It will serve the needs of CN’s western Canada operations. It will bring jobs home to British Columbia from the west and from south of the border.

CN will work with the city of Prince George in its plans for the redevelopment of its downtown yard. Under that plan, surplus land will be made available for commercial development in the downtown core, including a portion of the land being donated to the city to expand Cottonwood Park. The smaller rail yard that will be required by CN will reduce the city’s costs to build a new crossing of the Nechako River.

As we open up Prince George, as we create new opportunities in the central region of the north, the Province will also invest in our northwest gateway to Asia. Today I’m announcing that the province will commit $17.2 million towards a major expansion of the port of Prince Rupert, in addition to direct investments by CN.

That funding will go to support the containerization of the port and the development of a new terminal. The port’s redevelopment will create up to 500 direct jobs in the northwestern part of this great province. It will attract new customers wanting to take advantage of Prince Rupert’s faster shipping times to Asia. It will create new customers in Asia wanting to have faster shipping times to the centre of our continent. It will open up our northern corridor from Alberta on the east to Rupert in the west in a way that creates jobs and opportunities all across the north.

We will continue working with the federal government to ensure it contributes its share toward fully realizing the vast potential of the region.

As we look at the potential for this partnership, we also recognize that there are communities in the southern part of the B.C. Rail infrastructure that are wondering about their future. The mayor of Squamish, Ian Sutherland, has made clear his city’s commitment to secure B.C. Rail’s surplus lands for the city so they can help facilitate redevelopment of the Squamish waterfront and downtown core. Obviously, as we move towards 2010, Squamish sees an incredibly bright future for it. ( I bet they do…)

I’m proud to say today that because of the work that Judith Reid has carried out with the city of Squamish I’m able to announce that the province will be transferring 71 acres to the city for that downtown redevelopment. By allowing Squamish to move forward with its revitalization plan, we hope this agreement will help offset the transition costs which will occur as some rail positions are relocated to Prince George.

Squamish has asked us to look at the transfer of an additional 80 acres of land, and we will do that.( which land is that now?)

It is the intention of the Province to work with First Nations and communities and industry up and down the line to ensure that the land that is excess of demand for rail services is made available for economic development to meet local needs and create local opportunities. ( this is  interesting )We will work with First Nations and local communities over the next 18 months to put these lands in community hands at the most advantageous value. We’re going to do the same for communities up and down the rail lines.

Squamish, like many other communities in British Columbia along the B.C. rail line, was very concerned that we look at the rail as a potential for tourism development. I am pleased to tell you today that as the new operating partner for the province, CN and B.C. Rail will be issuing requests for proposals for new passenger tour trains between Vancouver, Whistler and northern British Columbia.

Those services will create hundreds of jobs. Already, three potential routes have been identified: Vancouver to Whistler, Whistler to Prince George to Jasper, Whistler to Prince George to Prince Rupert, Prince Rupert to Prince George to Jasper. There are substantial opportunities that are available.

There will also be investments made for our First Nations. There are 25 First Nations along the B.C. Rail corridor, each with a unique set of interests and each trying to build their own future. We want to make sure that they share in the social and economic benefits of this partnership. So the province is committing $15 million for the B.C. Rail First Nations benefits trust. It will support economic development, educational advancement and cultural renewal. ( Some people use another word for this kind of ” payment”)

This fund could be used for aboriginal business and joint partnerships, funding to protect and promote First Nations languages and to support initiatives for aboriginal youth apprenticeships.

The trust will be administered by a board to be established, again through future legislation, and appointed in consultation with First Nations. In addition, the Darcy to Lillooet and Takla shuttle services will continue.

Today I’ve had the opportunity to highlight for you some of the benefits that we see this new partnership will provide. The value of the partnership will be far, far more than the initial proceeds. By restoring the health and viability of the economic lifeline of our northern communities, the B.C. Rail investment partnership will mean new jobs, new growth, new opportunities in every community and every region and every industry of this province. It responds to the call of the north for new investment. It frees the north to establish and to follow a new path of its own choosing to a brighter future. That future starts today. “ 

http://www.gov.bc.ca/premier/media_gallery/speeches/2003/nov/announcement_of_bc_rail_investment_partnership_2003_11_23_55570_o_1.html

” That job belongs to the Fringe Media” ( and may I add,the rest of us Railgate “cult” members)

Norman Farrell usually has wonderfully concise and readable pieces on his blog Northern Insights, and today is no exception. Today he takes a look at the roles of  non-traditional media and citizen journalists, versus traditional reporting of news – and how this plays into what we hear and see about the B.C.Rail scandal. Here’s a teaser:

” Harvey Oberfeld is a retired news guy now expressing opinions without limits from editors or advertisers. His blog, “Keeping it Real. . .” is a sometimes amusing, always readable collection of thoughts informed by a long print and TV news career. Harvey believes that reporters, as agents of the public, should maintain uncomfortable warmth on lower extremities of the plutocracy. He understands the perilous symbioses between politicians and media members and worries that some reporters in B.C. have grown too comfortable with their subjects…”

Come on, don’t take my word for it, check it out yourself  at: http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/07/harvey-olberfeld-is-retired-news-guy.html

Newton neighbourhoods still rife with prostitutes,drugs and crime – despite city’s Newton Revitalization Plan

It has been  just over one year since I spent the afternoon taking Susana da Silva and her cameraman on a driving tour of Newton. 

One year.

In response to increasing frustration among home and business owners in the neighbourhood regarding the cities lack of action, I decided enough was enough and called the CBC to suggest they cover the story of the degradation in Newton. They took up the story immediately.

Neighbourhood associations and individual complaints had not been getting anywhere with city hall, and the increase in property crimes,(often unreported),prostitution and drug activity had become intolerable to those of us who live in the surrounding areas.

To sum it up, Newton had become the new Whalley.  And unfortunately today, one year after the story broke,  it still is.

The sad news this weekend that a young child had been sexually assaulted in Newton shocked many, and while I cringed at the story in anger, what struck me was the description of the  activities in the area where it took place. The residents are  still experiencing all the same issues covered in the CBC story.

Neighbours in this area of Newton say it is frequented by prostitutes, johns and “shady people”. They say that they have bugged the city for better lighting thinking that it will drive some of the activity away.  In a story with the Province, one teenager said : ” We’ve always had a very scary neighbourhood. I haven’t even felt safe. I’ve seen hookers come go to people’s cars all the time.”

No kidding.  Me too.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news to them, but better street lighting doesn’t keep the hookers away, as many residents in Newton/ Panorama Ridge will tell you.

So  getting back to where I started, what  hashappened in the year since the CBC story I did with Susana da Silva? 

 Let me tell you. ( the following links take you to the mayors response and the audio file  from the story) http://lailayuile.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/newtons-turn-to-be-the-focus/

http://lailayuile.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/price-to-pay-cbc-story-w-susana-da-silva/

Within  a couple weeks of the story, murals went up on the Newton rec centre. Planters filled with flowers and street banners lines the Newton town core area along 72nd, off of King George. And then began the meetings with the Sustainable Communities people and the city. ( Great, now the addicts have a nicer looking area to deal in)

I can tell you with all certainty, there were a hell of a lot of meetings, and even more talk and money spent that in my opinion, went nowhere and were all a complete waste of time. A planner was hired, public information meetings were held for residents to inspire community pride and give information about how to better our neighborhoods. All part of the great Newton Revitalization plan that apparently has gone nowhere. But at least the city can say they did something…

Ha.It’s laughable, it really is.  There has been no change. None whatsoever, and in fact, if one of you reporters out there reading this would like, I’ll take you around to the same areas I took Susana, and you can see that all the scum is still there. You can pretty it up, but that doesn’t hit the core of the issues that make this city difficult to live in.

The prostitutes are still all over, and so are the johns.In fact, I get stalked at  least twice a week on my morning runs by creepy guys looking to get laid before work.In their mini-vans. With car seats. No kidding. Apparently even a woman wearing running clothes who is actually -  duh - running, is worth a try at 5 am.  These are only the ones on the street, not taking into account all the ones working from their rented suites.

The car break- ins continue - reported or not – unabated. The street gutters are littered with broken windshield glass. The Surrey RCMP just issued the regular summer rise in residence break ins warning.

The  outdoor drug activity is blossoming once again with the warmer weather, as is the movement of the indigent population, many of which are sleeping under trees and in shaded areas in our local community parks.

There are panhandlers and addicts who will  harass you if you look like you have money on the streets around Newton town core.

It’s a joke, an insult to residents and an embarrassment to the city of Surrey and the mayor. And the really horrid part of it is that this is not just happening in my area, it’s still happening in Whalley, it is happening in Fleetwood, and many other neighbourhoods.  So, while the mayor entertains royalty, speaks about how wonderful  the development opportunities are, and basically plugs business here every chance she gets, the truth is that residents are losing what , if any, pride in their homes and their neighbourhoods.  I wonder- is that a symptom of  a sick city, or an indicator of a bigger issue?

I do know with all certainty, that IT IS a direct reflection on Dianne Watts and  her councils ability to lead our city forward in a manner that increases the quality of life for residents and businesses, not take away from it. Business parks do not a city make.

Whether or not the horrific crime perpetrated on an innocent child can be attributed to the deplorable conditions of the neighbourhood is unknown. What is known,however, is that the citys superficial rejuvenation plan has not worked, and I suspect if the city alters it’s own bylaws to allow slots into the mix, it will become even worse.   Newton –  a tourist destination ? More like a dead end or rock bottom for many. Time to stop flogging  the public relations  logo ” The future lives here”, because the truth is that Dianne Watts is mayor to the next DTES.

Although there has been much speculation about how the international media will portray the Vancouver during 2o1o, I suspect there is a sleeper of a story here.

My big question is this :  What will  Mayor Dianne Watts have to say to the international media when they see the real face of Surrey –  which is not one to be proud of.

70 things Gordon Campbell still hasn’t told the public about the sale of BC Rail. Or the rest of the government.

First, let me say that my recent blog post titled : “  The Key to the B.C. Rail Sale lies in Premier Gordon Campbell’s beginnings in real estate and land development.”has become the second most viewed post in the two year history of this blog with a total of 22,435 individual and unique views!!

Think about that- over 20,000 people, the majority of them  British Columbians, have found and read this post, and in doing so, I hope have explored the other links on my blogroll which lead to other dedicated individuals that have been ” on the case”  for far longer than myself.

I’ve received letters from many of you who were shocked at the connections and deals detailed within the links in that piece,yet thankful to know it  – and I have to say as well, that it speaks volumes to me that many of you are hesitant to leave public comments, as mentioned in several notes. For some reason, people don’t seem to trust our current leader and his crew… ( Gee, ya think? ) Letters have come in from as far away as Texas and California from British Columbians living and working in the U.S. and the message is a resounding: ” Stay strong and don’t let up!”

This leads me to this mornings post. I would like to thank BC Mary for her seeming ability to never sleep and bring us everything and anything related to the BC Rail deal. If you haven’t read her blog previously, it is a one-stop location with updates that are sometimes posted several times a day. There are links to other independent bloggers, reports,analysis, news stories and guest commentaries by the wonderful Robin Mathews. Check her out at http://bctrialofbasi-virk.blogspot.com/

Also to be mentioned are  political commentator and strategist, Bill Tieleman, who often visits the court while in session to bring eye-witness accounts and his take on the proceedings. Spot on in his analysis, Bill’s office was at one point  the target of a break in where the contents were completely ransacked and a cryptic  message left behind – pointing to some sort of a RailGate connection . You can find all this and more at : http://billtieleman.blogspot.com/ 

Of course, there is The House of Infamy, Vive le Canada  and  The Gazetteer, who seems to be back from his work. And  there are others – all one has to do is read the blogroll of all the above to find one after another, after another interesting link.

Now, back to the 70 things Gordon Campbell STILL has not told the public about the sale of BC Rail, courtesy of one of the best news feature writers in BC ( IMO ) Charlie Smith .  In January of this year, NDP attorney general critic Leonard Krog tabled 70 questions about the now infamous privatization sale of BC  Rail to CN.

To date, I think none of them have been answered.( Correct me if I’m wrong- it’s been a long week!) Check it out for yourself at http://www.straight.com/article-194779/gordon-campbells-privatization-bc-rail-leonard-krogs-70-questions

Happy Canada Day!

I started the day like most- running up the big hill on my running route. I think a lot while I’m running, and it’s where I work through theories about situations or find answers to questions that are bugging me. So there I was  at 5 am, running,sweating and doing the patriotic thing by thinking how great Canada is, when a grossly overloaded van full of Indian women drove by – clearly on their way to spend a long day basically performing slave labour in a blueberry field somewhere.

Ok, so maybe things aren’t so perfect here. 

We have soldiers  who are dying far too often in foreign countries that have sparked an ongoing debate about whether they should even be there in the first place.

Women are still being beaten and murdered by husbands who seem to get only a slap on the wrist for doing so, and  I still can’t figure out why, in such a progressive and developed nation like ours, vast numbers of children are living in abject poverty and go to bed hungry at night. People  do suffer and occasionally die in hospital waiting rooms  for surgeries and treatment that –  because of the overloaded system – take far too long to do any good.

We have seen evidence of corruption in the highest levels of government and law, and  many of natural, pristine  and wild lands are being  scraped, cut and mined to barren vistas. Rarely do those who object get answers to the questions they seek. 

All of these things are as much a part of the country we live in as moose and maple syrup, as maple leaves and hockey. These may not be things we are proud of, as Canadians, but to ignore them is to ignore who we really are as individuals, as a culture and as a country.

Maybe we do need to work on a few( million) issues, but in the grand scheme of things we are still a youthful nation.Issues and concerns like these are akin to the growing pains felt by teenagers.  And as Canadians, we must  rise to these challenges, find our voice and stand strong.

We support the soldiers going off to warzones, who, regardless of  their personal feelings about the situation,( or yours) chose to become a Canadian defender and honour the call of duty. We must embrace and support their families in celebration of safe homecomings, and in sorrow for those who do not. We fly the flag and line the roadways and thank whatever God as we do so, that we live in a  relatively peaceful nation where we are not subject to the same horrors our men and women are protecting others from.

We make it possible for women in trouble to come forward and ask for help, and challenge the faulty laws and mentality that allow such things to continue. We speak about this silent crime, and shame those  who feel the need to act in anger. We donate to food banks, and maybe leave bags of food on the doorstep of a neighbour down on their luck. And despite the failings and waits, there is not one person who is denied medical treatment, at no cost, in our country.  When was the last time most people saw a bill for a visit to the doctor? We can have babies without having to go into debt to pay the hospital bills, and we don’t have to stitch our own hands because there is no insurance. Pretty damn nice,if you ask me.

And do you know what I like best about Canada?

That I can get up everyday, and write about those very conveniently deleted emails that the Liberals claim can’t be retrieved, and I can write about what a bad  environmental record Enbridge has had in the oil industry. I can expose the hidden connections between politicians and businessmen and the real reason the sea to sky highway was done. I can talk about how many  good and very hard-working government employees might get fired for talking about the problems on various run of the river projects and guess what?

No one is going to show up at my house in the night and hold a gun to my head and shoot me for saying what I think – something that does get a lot of people killed in other countries. If I wanted to hang a sign in my window saying ” ” Free B.C.- recall Gordon Campbell !!”  I can do that too.

I can write about all the wrongs being done, every hidden scandal, every political coverup and no one can do a damn thing to stop me. And I will – even when it seems like I’m going it alone - because getting even that one letter from someone who says I made a difference means I’ve done my job and won one small battle.

And how great is it that I, with no history in politics whatsoever, can say: ” I’ve had enough of these jokers – I’m going to get involved and aim to become an MLA and try to do what I can to change things,” – and no one can say no? Really, how many countries can you do that in? That is part of what makes this country so fine.

I don’t worry that men will throw rocks in my face for walking down the street without my face being covered, nor do I worry that military forces will take over my home ,kill my children and pass me around to be raped by so-called soldiers. I have a job, I can wear what I want, do what I like and worship whatever deity I should choose- all because I live in Canada.

So, yes maybe we do need to overcome that image of being a rather passive country, and maybe we should stand up and demand a little ( ok, A LOT ) of accountability from our leaders, but I think  over all it’s a pretty damn good country. I take heart that there are those among us setting some good examples, and my hope is that their vocal leadership will  inspire others to find their voices and put some real, authentic meaning into the  line  ” the true North, strong and free…”

I’m Laila Yuile, and I will always be proud to be Canadian. It’s a pretty damn fine place to call home.

( now scroll down to read  about how Gordon Campbells past experience as a real estate man may have played into some of the provinces biggest deals and projects)

The key to the BC Rail sale lies in Premier Gordon Campbells beginnings in real estate and land development.

One must never forget that  first and foremost, Gordon Campbell is a real estate man – his past and beginnings were as a developer, and at no time  when dealing with him and his administration should that be forgotten.

Not when it comes to forest land deals the province had been criticized for ( Weyerhaeuser /Brookfield Asset Management deals) , nor when it comes to highway construction and road work deals( South Fraser Perimeter Road and Sea to Sky) . But especially not  if  one begins mulling about the ramifications of the $1.00 transfer of land clause  written into the dubious privatization of BC Rail, which is about to occur on or before July 15th 2009.

While reading the June 27th, 2009 post on The Legislature Raids titled ” BC Rail: Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs says Province Wilfully Mislead or Withheld Information About  B.C. Rail ” , something sparked a memory of  an article that talked about the Sea to Sky highway construction. And how the value of  lands along that corridor skyrocketed with the news of the highway construction and the 2010 Olympic bid. And more importantly, how those lucrative properties were obtained.

It was within this chillingly revealing article by Donald Gutstein titled  “Developers are the Olympic Games’ real Winners.” (Georgia Straight, May 31, 2007)  that one finds the connection to the BC Rail sale, and in my eyes, the key reasoning behind that ludicrous $1.00 land transfer clause.

“ Some developers benefited handsomely from taxpayer investment in the $2-billion Canada Line and the $800-million Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre expansion. But the main vehicle for creating developer wealth is the $2-billion (including future debt-servicing costs) investment for traffic improvements between Vancouver and Whistler. True, some of this money would be spent on the Sea-to-Sky Highway even if there were no Olympics. But this work was fast-tracked, meaning that projects in other B.C. regions were shelved.”

~snip~

“During 2002, as Poole and the bid corporation prepared their final proposal, the provincial government was studying various options for improving the link between Vancouver and Squamish. As well as looking at major upgrades to the existing highway, the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Highways reviewed possible routes through the Capilano, Seymour, and Indian river valleys. These alternatives would cost more–from 50 percent to 100 percent more–but the result would be a safer, faster ride.

But these alternative routes went largely over Crown land. How could they help future real-estate sales?

The ministry evaluated all aspects of the routes. One factor leapt off the page: “developable land accessed”. Upgrading 99 Northwas ranked five out of five for this factor, with five being the best, or the most. The other options received a score of one out of five.

One area with great “developable land” potential was Britannia Beach, but its ownership was in limbo. West Vancouver investors purchased the Britannia Mine site and 4,000 surrounding hectares in 1989. They struggled from one failed attempt to another to find a way to clean up the site and turn a profit.

Then along came the Olympics, and Britannia Beach’s fortunes changed overnight. Vancouver developer Rob Macdonald came out the big winner. He’s a strong Gordon Campbell supporter, having donated nearly $100,000 to the Liberals since they won the 2001 election. Macdonaldpurchased the offshore company that held a mortgage on the property and pushed for a speedy resolution of the ownership situation. A month after Vancouver was awarded the Games and the Campbell government chose the Sea-to-Sky Highway route, the B.C. Supreme Court turned the property over to Macdonald for an undisclosed amount.

If the Vancouver-Squamish connection had gone inland, Macdonald’s newly acquired property would be worthless. Instead, the highway would go right by his front door.

Macdonald donated more than 90 percent of the land to the province. This was steep slopes that were useless for development and contained “some of the most contaminated land in North America”, according to then–Sierra Legal Defence researcher Mitch Anderson. Let the taxpayers assume responsibility for the cleanup. Macdonald also agreed to contribute a levy of $1.75 million toward remedial work.

Macdonald kept 202 hectares of high-value land for residential and commercial development. He would get further assistance from taxpayers in the form of $27 million for a plant to treat polluted water from the mine, another $99 million for the province to clean up contamination of the lands it got from Macdonald, and millions more from Natural Resources Canada for a visitor centre and mining museum, boosting the value of Macdonald’s commercial property.

~ now  pay attention – here is where BC Rail starts to come in ~

The Squamish First Nation was another big winner in the Jack Poole sweepstakes. In a complicated land swap in 2000, the First Nation ended up with an option to buy land from BC Rail at Porteau Cove in order to create a new reserve and build houses for band members. This had nothing to do with Olympics or highway improvements.

Porteau Cove is one of the very few developable sites between Vancouver and Squamish, a 500-hectare strip on the shores of Howe Sound running south from Porteau Cove Provincial Park to Deek’s Creek.

Developers eyed this land for decades, but it was owned by BC Rail and not for sale. Then along came the Olympics with their highway upgrade, and the land skyrocketed in value. It was now too valuable for band housing. In 2004, the band exercised its option to purchase the land for a reported $12 million. It then signed a deal with Concord Pacific Developments to develop 1,400 homes. Interestingly, two former chairs of Concord Pacific were among the developers on the board of the 2010 bid corporation, along with Poole.

The lots are marketed as being just 25 minutes from downtown Vancouver via the new Sea-to-Sky Highway. If the venture earns just $50,000 for each lot, after putting in roads, sewers, water lines, and public amenities, that’s still a profit of about $58 million to be split between the band and the developer. For its part, the band says it plans to invest the profits in housing and job creation for band members–elsewhere, of course. In Concord Pacific’s case, some of the profits will likely flow back to its Hong Kong owners. ”

Wow.Isn’t that interesting?

Even going back to the date of the deals talked about above, Charlie Smith of the Georgia Straight voiced the same concerns then in this article of March 2004, titled ” B.C. Rail Deal frees Real Estate:

“Consider the facts so far. Prior to the election, the premier told voters that he would not sell the Crown-owned railway. What led him to change his mind?….”

 ~snip~

“CN has contributed $150,000 to the B.C. Liberal party during Campbell’s tenure as leader.” ( recall this is  from 2004)

~snip~

“CN chair David McLean, a Vancouver developer, has been a political supporter of the premier since Campbell was mayor of Vancouver in the 1980s and early 1990s.

McLean was previously chair of Concord Pacific, which also supported Campbell when he was mayor of Vancouver. Concord Pacific developed the north side of False Creek.

McLean also chaired the influential Vancouver Board of Trade in 1993 and supported Campbell’s efforts to replace Gordon Wilson as leader of the B.C. Liberal party.

On November 25, the B.C. Liberal government announced in a news release that it had reached an agreement-in-principle with the District of Squamish to transfer 29 hectares of BC Rail land to the district.

According to the news release, prospective plans for the BC Rail site include developing a full-service marina, a passenger ferry terminal, and cruise berths.

The government also announced that CN will “facilitate” upgrading of the Sea-to-Sky Highway and ensure rail alternatives for the 2010 Winter Olympics. McLean was a director of the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation, which put together a successful bid to the International Olympic Committee.

The major provincial media continue focusing on the activities of political aides at the centre of the story. There has been little coverage of BC Rail’s waterfront property in Squamish.

As the District of Squamish proceeds, there will be no shortage of developers wanting to exploit the potential. B.C.’s biggest players, such as Concert Properties and Concord Pacific, may find such an opportunity irresistible on the eve of the 2010 Olympics.

Executives with both companies were huge supporters of the Olympic bid. Concert Properties chairman Jack Poole is now chair of the organizing committee that is staging the 2010 Winter Games.

The IOC’s endorsement last year set the stage for a real-estate boom along the Sea to Sky corridor. “

This is why I have to laugh when I read that, according to the premier, the reason behind the clause was to protect taxpayers….

” Government has refused to reveal details of the contract until the bureau has completed its review. But a copy leaked on the weekend showed that the government has the power to force CN to buy for $1 any B.C. Rail line land it chooses to abandon. CN is prohibited from abandoning any routes during the first five years of the deal, however.  Premier Gordon Campbell said this clause was put in place solely to protect taxpayers and prevent CN from potentially offloading expensive environmental cleanup costs onto the government. CNwould be compelled to buy such land and perform the cleanup itself if this was the case, the government said.  Campbell said that the agreement with CN makes the company responsible for maintaining all the tracks, railbeds and land on which the railway operates and that the $1 land-sale option simply provides extra protection for taxpayers. 
-  Times Colonist (Victoria), Page A04, 21-Apr-2004  B.C. Rail deal has just one more trestle to cross  By Jeff Rud“

Hmm. Methinks there might be another reason for that clause, don’t you? Clearly one must question the motives behind this clause when you see what connections and relationships were involved in this deal, and the events that have transpired since.

Most of all, when you think about some of the lands available for transfer, you find what has the potential to be some of the hottest and most valuable real estate around.  The Sea to Skyhighway and the Olympics have secured and expanded the opportunities for even more development along that corridor and up into the interior.

With the date of any potential land transfer coming on or before July 15th, the time to ask the premier directly if the transfer  of these B.C. Rail lands for $1.00  is going to happen  is now.

Environmental clean up costs aside, those properties could have a future land value of millions, if not billions of development potential.

Was the real reason for the privatization of BC Rail land development?

I’d say that’s a question only the Premier can answer. And why isn’t anyone else asking?

Trafficking Bald Eagle parts – Charter right or not ?

This caught my attention online this morning, a story from the Vancouver Sun: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/First+nations+claims+charter+right+trade+eagle+parts/1737804/story.html

“ By Jane Seyd,

A first nations man convicted of illegally trafficking in eagle parts is appealing his case, saying he has a charter right to trade the bird pieces. The case of James Carl Joseph will likely be one of the first in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland to examine whether first nations members have a right protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to trade in eagle parts that have been deemed illegal under the provincial Wildlife Act.

The trading of eagle parts came to light in 2005, with the discovery of 50 butchered eagle carcasses on Tsleil-Waututh Nation land in North Vancouver….. ”

“Most recently, Joseph, identified as one of the key players in the trafficking ring, was found guilty of seven offences under the Wildlife Act following a seven-day trial in Surrey provincial court.He has yet to be sentenced.

According to court documents, Joseph traded ceremonial eagle parts with first nations band members in the United States. Joseph used a carving workshop attached to a relative’s house on Tsleil-Waututh Nation land to stash the eagle bodies and dismember them.

Conservation officers believe between 500 and 1,500 birds were killed illegally by poachers in various areas of the south coast and brought to North Vancouver for processing.

Judge Jim Jardine of the Surrey provincial court found Joseph guilty on seven charges, including illegally trafficking in wildlife parts and unlawful possession of dead wildlife. He was found not guilty of six other charges, including exporting wildlife parts.

Earlier this year, another first nations man on Vancouver Island was found guilty of four offences of trafficking wildlife after failing to convince a judge with his Aboriginal rights argument. “

Personally,I’m not aware that this local band has a ancestral history of processing bald eagle parts for sale to the U.S. One would think if they did, they would have challenged the courts prior to this.

My understanding is that the bald eagle is revered and respected in many Indian cultures across the US and Canada, and although the feathers have been traditionally used for ceremonial purposes, as well as the regalia worn by dancers, it was never something that was slaughtered for parts for sale or trade. I did come across come internet chatter that says since the Bald eagle has been a protected species in the US, the fuel for feathers down there has been driving activities like these illegal poaching incidents.

As I get older, I see the need for preservation of the history of the many cultures. That being said, new ways to reflect the changing times must be considered. And of course, things like the slaughter of so many eagles  for their parts wouldn’t happen if there wasn’t a market driving it.

Some people say that it is time for traditions like the use of eagle feathers and other parts  in regalia and ceremonies to be gone, and in the US, some have started using fake feathers, or  feathers from other birds like turkeys that have been handpainted to look like eagle feathers. Personally, if the population of whatever animal is healthy enough to sustain a few kills every year, than I have no issue with a controlled and limited harvest. As well, it should be considered that there are many eagle feathers to be found on the ground in areas where eagles nest and over winter – these could be collected for distribution with no harm or foul to anyone if the law allowed it. Currently, it does not  discriminate between a feather found on the ground, or a feather from a poached bird.

No easy solutions to keep everyone happy on this one, but until the laws are challenged and altered( or not) to reflect otherwise, they must be followed – by one and all, regardless of the claimed “right” to commit what is currently illegal activity in Canada.

Premier Gordon Campbell must halt the transfer of any more BC Rail assets before July 2nd!!!

***** UPDATED  JUNE 26TH, 3 PM.

 It has been brought to our attention that perhaps the actual date that may be used for the purposes of activating any clause could be as early as July 2nd, 2009.

Here is some info on the 5 year clause, dating back to 2004 :

 ” Government has refused to reveal details of the contract until the bureau has completed its review. But a copy leaked on the weekend showed that the government has the power to force CN to buy for $1 any B.C. Rail line land it chooses to abandon. CN is prohibited from abandoning any routes during the first five years of the deal, however. 

Premier Gordon Campbell said this clause was put in place solely to protect taxpayers and prevent CN from potentially offloading expensive environmental cleanup costs onto the government. CN would be compelled to buy such land and perform the cleanup itself if this was the case, the government said.  Campbell said that the agreement with CN makes the company responsible for maintaining all the tracks, railbeds and land on which the railway operates and that the $1 land-sale option simply provides extra protection for taxpayers. 
    -  Times Colonist (Victoria), Page A04, 21-Apr-2004  B.C. Rail deal has just one more trestle to cross  By Jeff Rud 

While in this quote the premier seems to have such noble  thoughts at hand, let me point out that this clause  would have the potential of handing over millions – if not billions- of dollars of land from North Vancouver to Squamish to CN for the ridiculous sum of $1.00.

 Property with future  development potential along some of the hottest waterfront areas around that in the end – even after cleanup of toxic soil etc- would stand to net the owner some massive profits.  Puts an entirely different perspective on that $1.00 offload, doesn’t it?

There have also been rumblings for some time now, that the sales agreement in the privatization deal between BC Rail and CN, contains a clause that allows the province of BC to take back possession of the railway if CN has failed to honour all terms of the agreement.

To my knowledge, the speculation surrounding the repossession clause has not been confirmed by anyone- not the media, not the premier nor the two companies in question – however, it also has not been denied. A sizeable portion of the released documents were redacted- meaning portions were blacked out .

 The only place I have seen it written publically is within the postings on The Legislature Raids, and in the comments section following those posts.

 Of course, there is a very simple method of  determining if this is truth or if it is  simply mere speculation – The premier must confirm or deny it. To date this has not occurred. And why not? This was a government entity that was sold. Do the people of this province not have the right to ask to see what kind of a deal this was?

 Why is it that I have a feeling this won’t happen without some legal wrangling?

A reader of  The Legislature Raids, sent the following letter to BC Mary, which was to be printed as a letter to the editor of her local paper:

” Dear Mr. Editor:

I am writing this in the hope that it may help unlock the logjam surrounding documents, emails, phone calls and other forms of communication regarding the sale of BC Rail. This has been going on for far too long now, it is costing the taxpayers of this Province hundreds of millions of dollars in lawyer’s fees alone. It has to stop.

One has to wonder why the government has done everything in their power to keep the sales documents from public view, it is after all the sale of public property, and we do have a RIGHT to know what has been/is being done to us, and in our name. This “sale” took place nearly 5 years ago, and we still don’t know what the sale entails?! Perhaps the government is waiting for a specific occurrence, before making just how much taxpayers have lost in this deal, apparent.

July 14, 2009 is the critical date. The date when one of two things may happen:
1. CN Rail will take possession of all BC Rail waterfront lands from North Van to Squamish for the princely sum of $1.00. Yes, you read that right, a dollar. What are those lands REALLY worth? Why would the Premier even consider something like that, and still call himself a businessman?

2. There is a rumour about that date that will be extraordinarily easy for the Premier to disprove by producing all documents relating to the sale…this is the date of possible repossession of BC Rail by the taxpayers of BC. Once this date passes, there is absolutely nothing taxpayers can do about the largest giveaway this Province has ever seen.

It is time for mainstream news media to begin digging and printing what they know. Newspapers across this Province have forgotten who they’re ultimately designed to serve, the people. You’re our eyes and ears in the legislature at the very least. Collectively you are failing us; above all, you’re failing yourselves. “

 I agree wholeheartedly.

Until such time that these rumours can be confirmed or determined as false, readers of the wonderfully detailed blog, The Legislature Raids, have asked that Leonard Krog and the NDP file an injunction to stop the transfer of any more assets from BC Rail to CN, until the legality of what has already transpired can be determined, as she urges all others concerned about the sale of BC Rail to follow suit.

Leonard Krog, critic for the attorney-general:
e.mail address: leonard.krog.mla@leg.bc.ca

Carole James, leader of the Opposition:
e.mail address: carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca

BC Mary has also contacted the premier on this matter with the following email :

Dear Mr Campbell:

email address: premier@gov.bc.ca

On July 14, 2004, your government signed agreements selling BC Rail to CN.

Those documents have been kept secret. This is not right. The BC Rail Revitalization Agreement and the BC Rail Privatization Agreement must be opened to the public before the crucial 5th anniversary.

Time is of the essence because rumours say:

* that the 5th anniversary of the signing activates a clause providing a one-time-only opportunity open to the people of BC to repossess their publicly-owned railway if CN has failed to honour all terms of the agreement,

* that the 5th anniversary of the signing activates a clause granting CN ownership of BCRail lands for the sum of $1.

There may be other clauses of grave concern.

It is wrong to prevent the public – who are the previous owners of Canada’s 3rd largest railway – from seeing the documents and playing a responsible role as citizens of a democratic society. You must open the documents to public scrutiny without further delay.

BC Mary
The Legislature Raids
http://bctrialofbasi-virk.blogspot.com/

I would suggest to anyone who has been following the BC Rail saga, and to anyone shocked, angered and disturbed by the soon the infamous deleted emails, that they voice their concerns vocally to their local MLA, to Carol James, to Leonard Krog and to the Premier. 

If the dubious sale, the resulting investigation and the seemingly never-ending pre-trial Basi-Virk hearings do not give the public enough reason to call for am independent  review of this government’s ethics and practices, I don’t  know what would.  Premier Gordon Campbell has promised British Columbians a transparent government, one that values accountability and ethical decision making, but I’ve yet to see any of that demonstrated in actual practice. 

BC Mary has suggested that July 14th be deemed ” BC Rail Day” , and I second that motion. It is time that the people of BC were heard. We have been far too quiet for far too long about this government.  It is time to speak your minds and demand answers.

Perhaps the best way to demonstrate  this interest would be to  organize a rally on the steps of the  courthouse on that day to commemorate the anniversary of the day BC Rail was sold.

Bits and Bites – SPECIAL B.C. RAIL EDITION – Wednesday June 24th, 2009:

 ~  In a shocking revelation heard in B.C. Supreme Court yesterday, George Copley (Lawyer for the Premier and Cabinet) said that the  4 years of emails requested by the defence as evidence in the BC Rail case, cannot be found and may have been erased - despite the fact that the law requires them to be kept for 7 years. The back – up tapes are gone.  The government alleges that nothing remains, and certainly for the Premier and other government officials whose communications had been requested, it could not have been a more convenient, or timely, disappearance… ~ 

Full stories from Mark Hume ( Globe and Mail) and Bill Tieleman( 24 hours and The Tyee )

Imagine a court case so replete with allegations of  government corruption and  corporate misconduct that some people are beginning to compare to Watergate.

A court case with the very real potential of exposing an entire administration to the minute examination of the courts.  Accusations of bribes, backroom deals, secret handshakes and whispered meetings have revealed long-standing and deep political connections and influence between corporate movers and shakers and high ranking politicians.

Sounds like a real political thriller, no? When you go back to what started it all, the circle is complete. I’m talking about the privatization of BC Rail, which some call the most corrupt deal the province has ever seen. (  for the most complete all-in-one rundown of the case and it’s players read this article by Bill Tieleman:” Railgate : A to Z “

Let us not forget that it was a drug and organized crime investigation that led to a raid on the BC Legislature right before New Year’s Eve in 2003, where boxes and other materials where taken away by RCMP. An excerpt from this piece by Robin Mathews tells the  tale:

“…A 20-month investigation by Victoria police and RCMP began to move like a juggernaut.  First a drug investigation, it became a commercial crime investigation, too, and then it landed in the legislature. 

The investigation became so hydra-headed RCMP gave it the name “every-which-way”.  A key contact point in the legislature was, apparently, wire-taps on the telephone used by Dave Basi, powerful aide to the Gary Collins, Minister of Finance.

And, then, on December 28, 2003, search warrants were put in action to “raid” offices of the B.C. legislature, many homes, and offices in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.  A year later Dave Basi, Bob Virk, and Aneal Basi were charged variously with counts of fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering.

On a BCTV program, December 29, 2003, Keith Baldrey recorded that “Bob Virk [is] in Transportation….  Transportation is  … responsible for the BC Rail initiative and Finance had a larger role … than most … and that’s again where Dave Basi comes in.”

Almost all the other people visited or searched as a result of the warrants – many connected to both the Gordon Campbell and federal Liberals – have had the search warrants involving them all-but blanked out, as protection.  Christie Clark, minister of education and deputy premier, was in line to have her home raided it is alleged.  But it is alleged that Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm reasoned with police to have them telephone in advance and make an appointment to visit. Thoughtful of him.

The “something” that happened obviously galvanized the Campbell forces.  The BC Rail sellout had hit what might be a network involving drug crime, breach of trust by public officers, bribery, money laundering, and perhaps much more. All of it might, perhaps surround, involve, connect to, and be part of – who knows? – the corrupt sale of BC Rail…”

 Those two  BC Liberal government aides  who where charged with breach of trust and fraud – Basi and Virk –  for ( allegedly) giving confidential government documents to a lobbyist representing a bidder in the BC Rail sale, have spent the last few years waiting for the lawyers to wade through thousands of documents in the pre-trial stage.

Which brings us to where we are now – the missing and presumably erased emails, some of which belonged to Premier Gordon Campbell and were to be used as evidence in the trial. NDP public safety critic Mike Farnsworth says that the fact the emails are ” missing” is suspicious, and was quoted in this CBC story as saying: ” Either it’s just gross incompetence or a deliberate attempt to pervert the course of justice.”

The defence  lawyer for Dave Basi asserts that the emails would in fact, clear his clients name, and would prove that his client was acting on orders from higher up – a likelihood I  fully support after having read through some of the 8000 documents released to the NDP earlier this year on a FOI request. 

Remember the incriminating notes in the notebooks of Yvette Wells that I blogged about back in March ? A gem that speaks volumes to the backroom politics and dubious nature involved in the entire deal…….

“ Yvettee Wells  was the  Executive Director of the Crown AgenciesSecretariat at the time of the sale. The Secretariat is responsible for the accountability of  crown corporations, so keeping that in mind, it could be said that she was basically the person to oversee the accountability of the entire BC Rail sale  in her position. She would very much have been the “go-to” person of preference to reference anything to do with the ongoing negotiations.

Her notebooks were released because of the relevance of the information within them to the entire BC Rail deal, and they do not disappoint. Among all the hundreds of pages that I read through, the following excerpt clears any question as to the fairness of the bidding process for me. 

“dilema :

          - don’t want to mislead other bidders

           – don’t want to tell them CN are getting other info -  don’t want them to do work, spend $

           - don’t want them to drop out b/c if can’t resolve issues- we may go back to other bidders.

           -  CN got data from CIBC that they shouldn’t ” 

October 22, 2003 notes

It may be argued that these notes are nothing, but if the woman in charge of overseeing the deal is making notes about how to play some of the  bidders to keep them happy and hide the fact that CN was given information that they shouldn’t have, it is not a far off reach to believe Basi and Virk were operating on orders from higher up.

Which makes me wonder exactly what was contained in those missing emails from the Premier and co ? What little gems would those emails have revealed ?

 And speaking of the Premier, what does he have to say about the timely and suspicious disappearance of potential evidence that by all rights, should have been protected by law for 7 years?

 ”The records that should be kept under the law have been kept,” & “I don’t know even what they are referring to,” -  Vancouver Sun

“Emails are kept appropriately across government when it is a document that has specific relevance to, you know, government’s activity. It’s maintained,” – CBC

“I’m not going to be talking about that,” – Globe and Mail

“Campbell’s office said the premier would not be commenting while the case is before the courts.” – The Province

Ha!

However, in admitting the emails were missing and perhaps  even deleted intentionally, the government may have opened an even bigger can of worms, because such an action like this would not and could not have happened without an order from someone with a sizable amount of authority.  

 Going back pver the past 5 years, to the investigation that started it all and all the pre-trial allegations and revelations that have happened since , who in their right mind would delete these records?

Think about it.

Consider the potential ramifications if the contents did reveal  that the accused were acting on orders from within the goverment when handing over confidential documents…

 It could mean the end to several political careers and the kind of scandal that  follows a person for life. Government corruption at the highest levels. Bribery. Deceit. The revelations that those entrusted with the administration of the provinces assets have been conning us all along.

I’ll leave you with this excerpt from Gary Mason’s column in the Globe and Mail.

“ As big a scandal as the raid on the legislature was, the destruction of these e-mails could be much bigger.

It all depends on where the search for the person who gave the order to have the files wiped out takes us.

And a search there must be.”

( for the complete history and ongoing developments including court dates, links and rousing, thought provoking editorials, etc - head on over to the only complete resource blog documenting everything surrounding the sale of BC Rail – The Legislature Raids

Jammin’ 4 Jay Music Event – A fundraiser that makes a difference

If you are a looking for something to do next weekend, why not check out a fantastic fundraiser hosted by firefighter Greg Drew ?  Jammin’  4 Jay 2009, which is taking place on June 27th from 1pm to 1 am. You can’t get a better deal for $25.00, which entitles you to a finger licking, rib  sticking BarbQ dinner and nonstop entertainment all day, and all night long…. and all the funds raised go to the Jammin’4 Jay Charitable society to raise awareness with teens on the dangers of driving with excessive speed. 

 Greg offers presentations to schools and other organizations and hopes to educate kids by sharing the story of Jay’s accident and subsequent death, and the devastating impact his loss had on both family and friends.

I met Greg Drew back in 2007 when I won the CKNW Talk Show Idol contest on CKNW 980. He was kind enough to join me on the final show to share with listeners his nightmare- one that is many parents worst fear. That call in the night, the policeman at your door.

Never has one persons story affected me so deeply, and with  such lasting impact.  His son Jay died as a result of a motor vehicle accident  in which excessive speed was a factor. I visited with Greg at his home in Langley before the show, and I touched the car Jay was trapped in so completely that to this day his shoes remain wedged under the dash because  is not possible to remove them without cutting the remains of the vehicle apart.

Greg now uses the wreck, as well as his story, in his presentations that eventually, he would like to bring to every  highschool in BC.

 I watched this grown man cry in anguish, both during the show and at his home, andcried with him. His pain was tangible as I hugged him in farewell. It left me chilled, and still does.

 As most of you know, my daughter graduated this year, and I have a 16 year old son who will be learning to drive this summer. As we enter the summer vacation season, I would urge all of you to sit and watch this short video with your teens beside you. It is powerful, it is exceedingly sad, and it will leave an impact on both of you.

Then take that son or daughter of yours, and go have some fun  together at Jammin’ 4 Jay 2009  http://www.jammin4jay.com/

The Jammin’ 4 Jay Music Event

Saturday, June 27, 2009
1pm – 1am

The Jammin’ 4 Jay Music Festival is the focus of the society’s fundraising efforts. But is more than that.

There is live music & entertainment from Canada and around the globe. In addition to our wonderful lower mainland musicians – we have had performers from Australia, Vancouver Island, Prince George and the Yukon.

This year’s line-up includes:

• 1pm: Open Mic
• 4pm: Taylor James
• 5pm: The Roadhouse Juice Daddies
• 6pm: The Higgins
• 7pm: In Harm’s Way
• 8pm: A.J. Woodworth Band
• 9:15pm: HarpDog Brown
• 10:30pm: Janis Joplin Tribute – Just About Janis
• 11:45pm: The Twisters with Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne

The Twisters featuring Kenny Blues Boss Wayne will close the night with a big bang! Just About Janis, Janis Joplin Tribute, featuring Jason Buie on guitar, Brian Scott on bass, Marko Iberra on drums and the Talented Cathy-Ann Wells as Janis, will blow you away!!

AJ Woodworth is a young sweetheart with a torchy voice that will melt the hearts of everyone, this girl is on the Country side of things who love to Rock.

Harpdog Brown will be backed by John Hunter on the tubs, Greg Kennedy on the bass, and Yukon Slim on guitar, people this is the rhythm section Harpdog played with back in 83-85…it don’t get any better than this….these guys think as one.In addition to the live music there are pony rides, crafts, face painting, stilt walking, juggling, beach volleyball and 60 yard golf hole throughout the afternoon.

With the purchase of your ticket we provide a BBQ dinner and a full range of entertainment for all listeners.

Camping over night is encouraged
Camping is available after 10am on Saturday on a first-come-first-served basis. Bring either your RV or tent. Bring your lawn chair, blankets, bug spray and warmer clothes for the evening. Sorry, no pets allowed.

Find ticket information, directions, times and other details here.

Contact us today to purchase your tickets.