the million dollar question

Why?
As happens often in my experience with blogging, writing about one topic invariably opens the door to another.Last week I blogged about the gun registry – in particular, how using domestic violence or spousal murder as a reason for continuing the registry is not only ridiculous, but dangerous. The responses here on the blog were [...]

Sometimes I just can’t keep my mouth shut.

and this would be one of those moments.
 There has been a lot of discussion going on at Bill Tieleman’s blog in response to his post in support of the gun registry in Canada. I’m not going to get into all the details, but suffice it to say that the comments are heated and there are very few people [...]

“BC for Sale” – on Vimeo

My friend, photographer Doug Pyper, posted this video on his site recently, and I felt it was important to post it here again as well.
This video was  produced by ” a couple of independent film makers out of concern and love for British Columbia.”  I posted it during the election,because  it beautifully illustrated exactly why Gordon Campbell is [...]

HandyDART update

I took a look in my email box last night, and decided it was time to clean house and do a little round up and review of issues and stories from the last while. So, over today and tomorrow, there will likely be a series of posts so I can tidy up things a bit.
First [...]

‘General Strike’ talk grows, as British Columbians rally to fight back against the BC Liberals

I was dreaming of my father last night, right before the thunderous rain against my bedroom window jolted me from my already restless slumber.
The dream was a real memory of mine, of something that occurred when I was very young – surely before I was 6 or 7, but without asking him, I can’t put a [...]

Governments ” Bad News Friday” continues tradition with release of report that says: “…the board and executives at B.C. Ferries get paid too much and it’s too easy for officials to earn bonuses…”

It get’s even better.
 B.C. comptroller-general Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland released a report today, on the affairs and status of Translink and BC Ferries. The Sun has the full story HERE.
Among her findings:
TransLink is plagued by “significant operational issues” and has not done enough to manage its finances
(Remember, TransLink CEO Tom Prendergast just  announced his resignation, and will be leaving for [...]

HandyDart dispute adds to growing discontent in the BC labour force

I feel a storm brewing…and it’s not going to be a short one.
We have BC paramedics being forced back to work by a government minister so unscrupulous that he would sell off surgery spots – most likely in violation of the Canada Health Act – while thousands off people are waiting for surgery and treatment.
We have [...]

Bits and Bites, Wednesday November 4th, 2009

You know what?
There is so much to talk about that is making my blood boil that I did not even need to turn the furnace on this morning. So, without the usual chatty preamble, I’m going to start with  the closure of 5 legal aid offices in B.C. 
That’s right, offices in Prince George, Surrey, Victoria, Kamloops and [...]

” 10 arrests in Quebec building industry bust “

Will we ever see a similar headline here in British Columbia?
Quebec police say they have arrested at least 10 people linked to the province’s construction industry.
News of the arrests follows a recent announcement by the Quebec government about the creation of a special squad to crack down on corruption involving the construction sector and public officials.
Read [...]

Demoralized staff, unsafe homes and questionable motives – the issue of Surrey’s ” Monster Homes”makes front page news in The Province

Welcome news greeted me on the front page of the print edition of The Province this morning , one that left me thanking the author of the article, Kent Spencer, and the powers that be for giving this issue some  much-needed attention on a larger scale.  Unionized employees from the city of Surrey have come [...]