Prime Time Crime

British Columbia

Greed, Corruption or Incompetence

General Crime Vancouver

Raid On BC Ministerial Offices

Greed and Corruption

Quebec

Alex G Tsakumis          Bill Tieleman

Public Eye          Real Story

Domestic violence report

VICTORIA - The BC Coroners Service held an inquest, the province spent $250,000 on risk-assessment training, and the government convened a panel to examine 29 deaths and make recommendations.  (CP)   REPORT:  Domestic violence prevention and reduction in BC   .pdf

Cover-up feared

VICTORIA - The provincial government's $30M payout to Boss Power Corp stinks.  Taxpayers are paying compensation to the company because the government bungled its ban on uranium mining.  (Courier-Islander)   MORE:  Coleman apologizes    Lingering mess   Uranium caper leaves many questions   $30M to settle    Rich Coleman 

LRB ruling

VICTORIA - BC teachers can keep drawing full salaries and don't have to fill out report cards as part of their "controlled strike" during contract talks with the provincial government, a labour tribunal has ruled.   (CBC)  LRB   BCPSEA     LRB salary & befits  .pdf

Tree planting boss charged

REVELSTOKE - The owner of a tree-planting company accused of treating workers like slaves has been charged with fraud-related crimes after a WorkSafe BC investigation into his company's camps.  (CTV)

Probation

VICTORIA - A former BC health official has been sentenced to two years' probation for his role in the corruption-plagued process to develop the province's eHealth program.   (CTV)   MORE:  Probation, fine for fraud   Taxpayers did not cover legal fees  Strict punishments working

BC launches 8,000 lawsuits

VICTORIA - A BC Supreme Court lawsuit filed this week is one of almost 300 cases launched every month by the provincial government in order to recover health-care costs of the person injured.   (CP)

OC part of fish trade

VANCOUVER - Organized crime has infiltrated the black-market trade of salmon caught for aboriginal food and ceremonial purposes, apparently diverting it for sale on the open market, an inquiry into the Fraser River fishery has heard.  (CP)   PREVIOUS:    Cohen Commission  

Clark's Liberals spend $2.4M cleaning house

VICTORIA - The provincial government is dishing out more than $2.4M in severance payments to the 13 public servants and staffers let go after Premier Christy Clark took office.  (CTV)   MORE:  BC severance by 'the rules'   Christy Clark's inner circle    Christy Clark 

No jail for corrupt Doc

VICTORIA - One of three men facing corruption charges linked to BC's e-health project has pleaded guilty, but Dr. Jonathan Burns won't be facing jail time. .  (CP)  MORE:  Charges laid   RCMP investigation 

BC's new home warranty, isn't

VICTORIA - A couple from Chilliwack, BC, say they are out almost $80,000 to repair structural defects in their house despite paying for new-home warranty coverage they believed would protect them.  (CBC)

Hundreds of BC dams in need of repair

VICTORIA - The BC government says an investigation of small dams across the province has turned up four small dams that required immediate repairs and hundreds more that also need work.    (CBC)

Metro transit stations crime

VANCOUVER - Broadway-Commercial and Surrey Central have more violent crime than any other transit stations in the region and Stadium has the most drug offences, according to an exclusive analysis of transit police data by The Vancouver Sun.  (Vancouver Sun)  SkyTrain

6 years for Public Trustee

VANCOUVER - A former BC government case worker who defrauded mentally incompetent clients for financial gain was sentenced to six years in jail in a North Vancouver courtroom.    (CTV)  PREVIOUS:  Rogue public service employee

White supremacist allegations

VANCOUVER - Police allege that the two Vancouver men belong to the BC-chapter of Blood and Honour, a white supremacist group with members all over the world.  (CTV)

'Honest mistake'

VICTORIA - The head of the Vancouver Island Health Authority says hiring the husband of a key adviser to Premier Christy Clark without advertising the job was “an honest mistake.”   (CP)    How government attracts 'top' bureaucrats  

Surprise

VANCOUVER - Between 2000 and 2009, BC’s population grew 12%, while municipal operating spending, adjusted for inflation, grew by 46%, according to the fourth annual BC Municipal Spending Watch.  (Vancouver Sun) REPORT:  BC Municipal spending watch 2011  

Caught on camera

VANCOUVER - The BC government is hoping new regulations for scrap dealers will curb rampant metal theft, but an undercover CTV News investigation revealed that dealers in cities with similar laws don't always follow the rules.  (CTV) MORE:  Scrap dealer skeptical    New metal theft bill   Metal theft legislation introduced

Another government monopoly

VANCOUVER - Last year (fiscal 2010/2011) the big booze retailer Liquor Distribution Branch of BC (LDB) lost money.   (Tyee)  MORE:   BC's 5 looniest liquor laws

Conflict of interest claims

VANCOUVER - The Ministry of Social Development is looking into reports that senior managers at Community Living BC (CLBC) are "moonlighting" by giving out home-share and care contracts to relatives and friends.  (CTV)   PREVIOUS:   Bonuses to be renamed   Halt to bonuses   Crown CEO fired  

Dam goes to environmental review

PEACE RIVER - The proposed Site C dam in northeast BC has a new projected price tag of almost $8B, and has moved to the first stage of an environmental review.   That jumped to $6.6B by 2010.  (CBC)    

Air experts

VICTORIA - The government's Public Affairs Bureau, responsible for all its communications and media management, employs more than 200 people and has an annual budget of more than $26M.  (Victoria Times Colonist)    PREVIOUS:  Air guitar playing  YouTube 

Undercover investigation

VANCOUVER - After initially denying its involvement in the animal trade, officials of the Canada to Asia Business Network, when confronted with emails and video evidence obtained by The Province, said they would seek legal counsel on the legality of the animal-trade business.  (Vancouver Province)

Treasurer allegedly stole

COURTENAY - Courtenay resident Gloria May Rickson minded the books for the Comox Valley Raiders from 2005 to 2009.   (CTV)

BC's most expensive public servants

VANCOUVER - There are a lot of BC public servants who earn six-figure salaries - more than 13,000 of them, in fact.   PREVIOUS:  BC public service has been good for us   Vancouver Sun: BC public sector salaries  

Living wage hits $18 an hour

VANCOUVER - Working people in Metro Vancouver need to earn more than $18 an hour in order to meet the most basic costs of raising a family, a new report says.    (CBC)   REPORT:  Working for a living wage 2010   Poverty shouldn't be a life sentence  .pdf  

Your information is safe with us

VICTORIA - The BC government is trying to reassure British Columbians their health information is safe following an auditor general's report that found serious weaknesses in security at the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. (CBC)  REPORT:  PARIS system for community care services   ,pdf   Health authority slammed again   Security of health records questioned  

We're the government we can use fine print

VICTORIA - The BC government is coming under fire for a tax hike critics say was hidden in the budget.  (CTV)   MORE:  BC joins birth control class action lawsuit   $120M in grants

Shoddy bookkeeping

VICTORIA - Auditor-General John Doyle's latest verdict on the BC Liberal government's bookkeeping can be reduced to a single word: "Unacceptable."   (Vancouver Sun)  

Summary financial statements 2010/11   Issues with financial statements  

Selling BC to create jobs

BC Data website

Surprise

BC's top paid public sector executives

Ensure coroner independence  

BC coroners service  

Monkey business  

BC Ferries current board  

CTF releases tax changes for New Year

Seniors rewarded for a lifetime of paying taxes

Energy minister removed from cabinet

We work for the BC government  

Campbell faced caucus revolt  

BC Liberals change leadership vote process

New BC Ferries CEO  

BC Ferries board of directors

HST conversation

Scrapping of the Harmonized Sales Tax   

HST results by the numbers  

BC rejects HST  

HST in BC  

HST  

Review of taxes needed

Enemies of the state  

Recall campaign  

Campbell to step down  

BC Liberals 'self-destructing'  

Time for term limits

NDP still trying to sell James to NDP  

James & NDP not ready for primetime

BC NDP faces crisis  

$5B price tag for axing HST   

I'm leaving anyway

BC taxes up 15%

Campbell giveth, Campbell taketh away

Ministers not only ones in reshuffle 

Buying time

Non-binding HST referendum next year

Credibility deficit  

Another twist in the history of bad government

HST circus  

Premier gets failing grade  

Ok, you can have some of your money back

BC cuts personal income taxes by 15% 

Sheer desperation

Cabinet shuffle 17 Liberal ministers

Campbell won't punish minister for comments  

'Astounding'  

Rating lowest of any BC premier, ever  

'Traditional' oops

Canada's most unpopular premier

Take this you ungrateful voters  

Real estate bubble  

Doom and gloom predicted  

Families paying more and getting less

Fight HST  

HST is here to stay

Elected majority can do what they want

Anti-HST petition succeeds, BUT

Anti-HST petition approved by Elections BC

Elections BC official let go

NDP accepting HST

BC HST claims make a grim fairy tale

Liberals' woes go from bad to worse

Bad hire for BC Liberals

Premier's defiance revives talk of turfing him

2010: Aspects of Financial Management

Liberals are not prudent mangers of funds

Petition ruled legal

Majority would sign petition to unseat their Liberal MLA  

At risk minister quits BC cabinet  

MLA at risk over HST 

No HST rebate for BC  

BC Liberals battered in losing battle over HST  

Liberals admit HST will cost families  

NB voters wary of all political parties

Spending outpacing real growth

Bridge tolls increase  

Rebirth of democracy in province of dictators

Pursuing accountability

BC gov't inflates social housing figures

BC Liberals have very low expectations

Outlook good for anti-HST petition  

BC Liberals now half as popular as NDP

Ontario's 1st Nations HST exemption deal almost done

Vancouver wants power to tax region's residents

Homeowners face hikes

Plan for rental housing turns into lightning rod

Utility taxes to increase 54%

Restaurant industry prepares battle

Businesses slowly becoming converts  

New HST hits

Some items on HST hit list   Arrogant ploy  

BC to harmonize sales tax and GST

BC accused of reneging on gaming cash

Sales Tax Harmonization .pdf

Budgeted deficit first of four

Resource industries save big with HST

Get ready to be spun dry on looming HST

HST to hit consumers the hardest

Landlords to be hit by HST  

Worst is over, except for taxpayers

Call for audits

Being bribed with your own money

More harmonizing than harmony

BC throne speech

BC's finances are in trouble

Inefficient organization 

Homes to take an HST hit

Chinese community rallies against HST

Is Gordo the best BC can do

Failing the public’s smell test

Accusations of deception

BC budget 2009   Colin Hansen

No gov wage roll backs

Resource revenues have plumed

BC budget 2009

Civil servants, except MLAs, to have wages frozen

HST wasn't in the cards before vote, honest

Turf them all

HST will end the dreams

Smart money is on NDP Manitoba getting HST

HST will raise the cost of living

New HST hits

Tax grab offends

Aug 2009 Speech from the Throne  .pdf

DTES needs to be destroyed

VANCOUVER - Council has put plans on hold for allowing higher buildings in the Downtown Eastside, in response to pressure from groups concerned about the fate of slum dwellers (Vancouver Province)

A million a day can't buy clarity on the DTES  

Poor house out of order

$205M homeless money

Money for homeless  

Deals ends lawsuit against DERA

DTES's mysterious non-profit machine 

The greening of Woodward's

Homeless count

BC to pay $8M for 328 homeless beds

13% of BC residents not welcome

Vancouver's crackshack or mansion

Homelessness in Canada

Part of law violates Charter

Welcome to BC

BC impaired driving deaths down

Government can't keep up

Province new impaired driving laws 

Drivers face weeks

Class action lawsuit  

Impaired driving gets 2nd look  

Drunk drivers, high drivers equal

BC Roadside survey 2010  

Suspected drunk driver killed

'Unintended' negative consequences

Staff shortage blamed

Impounding more vehicles than anticipated  

Laws might not require complete abstaining 

More cameras

BC's Red Light cameras map  

Judge grants delay

Welcome to BC

More drivers punished  

Avoiding laws for safety reasons

BC enforces tough impaired laws  

Police begin holiday checkstop program  

Cops recall breathalyzers to recalibrate  

Margin of error

Drunk with power  

New law is overkill  

Lower limit would overwhelm system  

Millions from tougher laws

Everybody is guilty

Toughest laws in Canada  

BC administrative sanctions

Exit sparks calls for independence

BC chief coroner resigns  

Careers in the BC Public Affairs Bureau  

BC government Public Affairs Bureau

Justice delays 

Justice delayed   .pdf   

Property seized

VICTORIA - Five BC residents, including a woman nearly killed by arsenic poisoning and left a quadriplegic, are sharing more than $340,000 as a result of a settlement involving a self-proclaimed holistic healer.  The government says the defendant, Selena Tsui, was not charged in the case after the Crown concluded there was no substantial likelihood of conviction on any criminal charges.  (CP)

RCMP wants cars forfeited

Seizures 'a deep reversal of important rights' 

Cars may be confiscated  

Homes seized before owners convicted  

Civil proceedings

Helicopter seized

BC government's civil forfeiture legislation

Watchdog launches bigger review  

VICTORIA - The tasering of an 11-year-old boy by police this month has spurred BC's children's watchdog to launch a sweeping review into whether officers are needlessly called to group homes for behavioral problems of children in care.  (Victoria Times Colonist)

Police should have responded faster

A fighting chance  

The kid had a knife   

Investigators haven't spoken to Mounties

RCMP watchdog to probe Tasering  

Mountie placed on leave 

Police fire Taser  

11-year-old Tasered following stabbing   

On the hook for $2.2B  

Review of BC Hydro June 2011  

Crown Corp to rise rates regardless

Civil servants to review Hydro  

Customers paid 50% more

Terasen Gas (a Fortis company)

Time for independent review of 'purpose'

BC Hydro net income jumps  

Hydro users hit with higher rate

Risks escalating on maxed-out BC Hydro grid

No compensation

Blast at Kamloops Hydro substation

Power disruptions to continue

Native leaders oppose Gordo's legacy act

BC's private power gold rush

Residents wary

Lucrative move from BC Hydro director to Site C consultant   Energy claims don't compute

Addicted to 'legacy' spending 

2010 to have double backup power

BC Hydro blames grow-ops  

Private power booming

BC Hydro on spending spree

Let's spell f-a-i-r-n-e-s-s

BC Transmission suing residents

BC Hydro

BC Utilities Commission

BC Transmission Corporation

Residential hydro rates to jump by 11%

Crown Corporations  

SCC to hear appeal over BC power deal

BC Hydro rates to explode

Improper PST gas bill tax a big issue

Energy creating incinerator could harm health

Watch for Libs to rein in run-of-river spoilers

Commission says not in public interest

Shockingly dishonest

BC Utilities Commission

Terasen Gas

BC lowers royalty

Government monopoly strikes

Stakeholder theory   Accountability  

Cost   GIGO

Strategic lawsuit against public participation

'Legacy' for premier

Green tax on electricity

Global natural gas glut  

Terasen Gas rate hike approved by BCUC

BCUC

Waste-to-energy plan trashed   

BC Crown corps  

OPG reports net income of $623M for 2009  

Loophole has been good for us

Jack up rates for customer service

Elderly woman's heat cut off

BC government has a spending problem

MLA fined

A BC Supreme Court judge has fined former BC solicitor general Kash Heed $8,000 for violations of the provincial Election Act.  Chief Justice Robert Bauman could have forced a byelection for the violation but decided instead to allow Heed, a BC Liberal, to keep his seat in the BC legislature.  (CBC)  

2011 BSCS 1181  

Kash Heed

Heed cleared, again  

Heed could be booted

'Change of heart' prompted MLA probe  

Millionaire paid  

Reporter off air  

Liberal in criminal probe  

'Breached ethical obligations'

BC Rail prosecutor defends donation

Premier reinstates Heed

Heed resigns again

New municipal election rules

VICTORIA - The BC government says it will implement all 31 recommendations of a task force on municipal election rules, including setting expense limits on campaigns and increasing council terms to four years from three.   (CBC)  

Candidates should make donations public

Tax sleight of hand  

California's big 'No" to BC power 

"AskAway' library service killed  

Value of layers of government

OTTAWA - A newly released federal report says spending on security at the 2010 Winter Games was over budget.  But the department of Canadian Heritage's final figures might not add up.  Their final report on the federal government's involvement in the 2010 Winter Olympics provides a tally of what was spent on essential federal services at the Games.  The total was $686.4M spent by 13 different departments or agencies, including direct spending on security.   (CP)

Receivership  

Receivership for Olympic Village   

Vancouver ratepayers on the hook   

Agency selected

CHF BC   COHO Management Services

Olympics were good for us

Scam costs Games $2M

NBC lost on Olympics

Olympic security cost

$1.7B deficit forecast  

Campbell blames climate change 

Olympics come full circle  

Memo to city council   

Olympic Village condos  

China's media: Top 10 scandals at Olympics  

Rioters smash store windows

Hate explains downtown clash with police

Mounties in no win situation

Olympic aversion

VANOC changes tune on scalping

Staggering prices demanded

Website raises worries and prices

Police board bills Vanoc for torch relay costs

Social housing cost

Crony capitalism

Vancouver allowed to borrow

Vancouver's very own Olympic debt

Carnage continues

City seeking bailout

City on the hook

Olympic Village shock

Police to determine if crime committed

Financial woes follow Olympic builder

Broadcasters charge job applicants

Leaked Olympic Village loan info

Secret $100M loan to Olympic developer

City arms with latest gear

Athletes village to get $100M loan

Big lie on Olympic liabilities

BC, feds divided on security costs

Latest piece of body armour

Security experts forced to expect the worst

Games security eyed exemption

Terror, mentally ill, cost overruns

VANOC demands big $$

Homeless put in hotels

Street people won't be hidden

Campbell vows to clean up Vancouver

Gordon Campbell

Vanoc threat

You can't underestimate an overrun

Vanoc venues budget 'too small'

The road to 2010

More 2010 Olympic budget woes

VANOC officials refuse to detail staff fund

2010 protests

Downturn could trim Olympics dividends

Olympic Village way over budget

Rooftop garden growing along with costs

Border cops fear hookers

2010 Olympics expected to break the bank

Day vows efficient border crossings

We all ready have unacceptable delays

2010 border problems dismissed

Cost of athletes' centre triples

Fortress BC

Ottawa to audit VANOC's books

Taxpayers will ante up $2.5 billion

Show us your plan, Ottawa tells Van OC

No 'binge shopping' for RCMP

Olympic security bubble

Surprise - 2010 security over budget

Smokers not welcome in Vancouver

Games security chief stepping down

Financial gaps could compromise security

Mounties warn $175m budget is seriously low

Cost of 2010 venues cuts into city budget

Games trademark law excessive

Olympic Mountain guidebook

The law says don't try to make money

Olympic-sized land deal 'a winner'

2010 price tag leaps

2010 sponsor in 2002 scandal

Bribery and influence peddling scandal

Native warriors admit to flag theft

How times have changed

Feds wasted big sums at Athens Olympics

'Cover-up' in Britain's Olympic bid

London Olympics soaks up Lotto funds

London Olympic budget rises

2012 London Olympics

London Olympics budget climbs

2010 games in crisis

Security flap follows Olympic flag theft

Harper replaces 3 Olympics directors

A boondoggle in the making

Hagen defends handling

Ballooning costs

Convention centre cost just keeps on rising

Review of the VCCEP  .pdf

BC land title system is safe & secure

VICTORIA - The Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) reinforced today the safety and security of the province's land title system which has been in place since 1870. (LTSA Press release) 

BC government can't guarantee you own your home

Rising real estate fraud makes title insurance essential

Phantom bidding report slammed

SCC overturns real estate fee ruling

Sub-contractor abusing law

BC new builders lien act

Realtor snaps house

BC Real Estate Association

Homeowners burned by soaring property taxes

BC cities spend too much

Con artists sell homes without owners knowing

New federal rules force realtors to seek IDs

Ottawa requires property info

City council votes no

VANCOUVER - City council gave a resounding “No” to expanded gambling in the city on Tuesday.  All 10 councillors endorsed a motion by Mayor Gregor Robertson not to allow an expanded Edgewater Casino in a development being proposed by BC Pavilion Corp. (PavCo) on land it owns west of BC Place Stadium.  (Vancouver Province)     

Council rejects expansion   

Plans shelved

Casino will open floodgates to crime  

Appointed watchdog won't investigate

Paul Fraser

Watchdog will not look at lobbying complaint

Watchdog blames legal technicality

Insider

How to built a casino

River Rock Casino

Warning letter

Edgewater casino expansion 

Renovation going ahead regardless of casino's fate

A matter of choices

Boisterous public hearing    

Suburban mayors worried  

Casino could bring in millions    

Casino inside BC Place

BC PavCo   

Gordon Campbell     T. Richard Turner

Rich Coleman    Kevin Krueger  

Paragon Gaming  

Same story, different names

VANCOUVER - In 1996, then-NDP education minister Art Charbonneau fired the North Vancouver School Board for failing to control costs and letting a deficit spiral out of control.  Sound familiar?  Cries of "underfunding" of the system have been echoing throughout BC for decades, no matter which political party has been in charge, and especially in Vancouver.   (Vancouver Sun)  

New direction  

Dodo time for school boards   

Poor choices  

School board could have avoided shortfall  

Why cut costs when you can cut service    

No wonder private-school enrolment is rising

Liquor, drug consumption widespread

VANCOUVER - The consumption of liquor and drugs on Vancouver’s docks is prohibited but widespread, says a report (.pdf) by labour arbitrator Vince Ready.  The Labour Relations Board (LRB) has dealt with “just a handful of discipline cases related to drug or alcohol at the workplace,” he wrote.  (Vancouver Sun)  

Tough times for labour & management

Who can change the longshoremen's behaviour

Women face 'poisoned' workplace

Dockworkers background checks delay

Full disclosure

International Longshore & Warehouse Union Canada

Official's wife granted city contracts

PRINCE RUPERT - Documents obtained by a citizen of Prince Rupert show the wife of the city's top official was awarded $109,000 in city contracts.  (CBC)   MORE:  City defends its contract

Former mayor gets 9 months

VERNON - Former Vernon mayor Sean Harvey  was led out of a BC courtroom in handcuffs after being handed two nine-month jail sentences for cheating his former business partner out of nearly $70,000. (CanWest)     PREVIOUS:  Ex-mayor pleads guilty

District knew of risk, report says

VANCOUVER - Not enough preventive measures had been taken to head off the 2005 landslide death of a North Vancouver woman, the BC Coroners Service has revealed.    Despite precautionary recommendations spanning decades to prevent such a slide, little was done. (Vancouver Sun)

Emerson appointed to plum Crown position

VICTORIA - The BC Liberal government has appointed David Emerson as CEO and board chair of the BC Transmission Corporation, a Crown corporation that works with BC Hydro to supply electricity across the province.   (CBC)   MORE:  Emerson names new BCTA chairman

Breach of trust admitted

VANCOUVER - A former caseworker with the BC public guardian and trustee office who named himself a beneficiary on a client's will and misappropriated another client's property will be sentenced in February.  Bryan Michael Tickell, 29, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of fraud and one count of breach of trust by a public officer.  (Vancouver Sun)

Big cities controlling little ones to protect their green zone

VANCOUVER - "People in Vancouver and Burnaby shouldn't have the right to take away the property rights of people in Maple Ridge," said Maple Ridge Mayor Gord Robson, whose city has 9.5% of Metro Vancouver's green zone.  (Vancouver Province)   MORE:  Hands off greenbelt

Langley land deal goes down in secret

LANGLEY - Dickson Pit, a 38-hectare tract of public land in Langley, has been quietly sold for just $2 million to a member of a wealthy local family.   The sale was approved in secret by Langley Township council and has not been announced publicly.  (Vancouver Province)   MORE:  Newspaper ad solicited buyers

City hall pays $1.7M in severance

VICTORIA - The City of Victoria has paid $1.7 million in severance to non-union city staff dismissed without cause in the last three years.  From December 2004 to September 2007, severance packages were given to 13 Victoria staff.  But only five full-time positions were eliminated.  Departments were restructured and many duties were reassigned.  (Times Colonist)

Unfair carbon offsets policy

VICTORIA - Frustration with BC’s carbon offsets policy of diverting public money into private projects has prompted calls for an end to the practice from school trustees across the province.  (Epoch Times)

Pacific carbon trust must go

Strange business of Carbon Offsets

Pacific Carbon Trust

Climate Debate  

Probe widens   John Les

Chilliwack broke rules on land reserve

More than 60 properties improperly subdivided

Campbell back Les

Carole Taylor  

Taylor joins law firm as senior advisor  

Taylor hired by bank

BC Carbon Tax is not revenue neutral   

Terasen changing name to FortisBC  

Gas prices soar nationwide   

Fuel taxes in Canada  

Sales taxes in Canada  

Cost for clean green 

Ex-BC finance minister lands law position

Keep quiet

Campbell softens his kick to taxpayers

Prosecutor finds inadequate evidence to charge MLA

Kinsella can't avoid court spotlight for long

9 lobbying allegations

Insiders laughing all the way to the bank

Alleged lobbyist should co-operate

Lobby loopholes need quick fix

Lobbying watchdog throws in the towel

Coleman cleared of conflict

Conflict commissioner clears Coleman

Questionable Chilliwack land deals

Les oversaw the police while police investigated him

Panel raps BC's 'social condition'

BC Progress Board

Minister's brother in firm granted tree farm deal

Lobbying

Arrogance

Freeze the carbon tax, board of trade says

Liberals take another run

Liberals cancel fall session of the legislature

BC government announces pay raises

BC bureaucrats land massive pay raise

Premier named school for project

VSB chairman defends upgrade of school in premier's riding

Can MLAs be kept honest?

Resignation highlights the need for reduced secrecy

Solicitor general resigns over investigation

Les faces 2nd probe

'I have never been questioned by the RCMP'

'I have nothing to hide'

Rich Coleman

BC's Conflict of Interest Commissioner

Who crowned Gordo?

Cops probe city-hall corruption allegations

Memo outlines officials' concerns

Agency couldn't halt subdividing

Former bureaucrat still advises on applications

Kootenay land up for sale

AG asked to probe land transfer

Documents link Les to land deals

Didn't know of Les probe: Campbell

Developer has high hopes for Jordan River community

A quick tour of the issues

Forests minister objects to sale of timber lands

BC Ministry of Forests and Range

Western Forest Products Inc.'s

What's that smell in BC?

No hurry to put teeth into BC lobbying legislation

BC unregistered lobbying

Spilled government gravy

Auditor-general slams BC's finance records

Doyle 'surprised' by attacks over report

Rich Coleman

140 public sector CEOs top $200,000

BC Executive compensation disclosure

Absolute discharge

Organizer won't co-operate with probe

BC's registrar of lobbyists

Kinsella's refusal

Work for payday loan firm wasn't lobbing

BC Solicitor General resigns

Kinsella linked to lobbying effort

Company denies lobbying

Senior BC aides in new controversy

Links to the 6 pdf documents

Lobbyists numbers game

Federal lobbying watchdog has no right to investigate violations

Lobbying law not high on priority list

No effective checks and balances on insiders

Hansen tries to skate over the bottom line

Conflict of interest probe

Auditor-general rips government over land deal

BC Auditor-General

Summary - Kenneth Dobell   .pdf

Removing Private Land from Tree Farm Licences   .pdf

Work for payday loan firm was lobbing

Ken Dobell

Case puts a murky activity under spotlight

Dobell still a lobbyist

Dobell: Lessons of a lobbyist

Insider did not consider himself a lobbyist

Dobell charged

Dobell agrees to plead guilty

Campbell adviser admits breaking rules

Mr. Fixit

Premier's pal taking heat for contract

'Which hat is Ken wearing?’

Lobbyist failure

Former BC minister won't face conflict of interest investigation

BC Libs deny they're selling access to government

Public cooling on GW hoax

Gordo hangs on

BC motorists seeing green

High gas prices fuel government windfall

Science by intimidation

Big costs get short shift

Energy, economy kick environment to 3rd

Idling in the slow lane

Elite out of step with rest of nation

Infestation releases carbon

Beetle tree kill releases carbon

Beetle eats Canada's carbon plan

BC govt. opens carbon trading to public view

BC unveils cap-and-trade act

Bill 37-2008: Carbon tax act

BC gas prices to rise with carbon tax

The new road to serfdom

'We all must do our part'

Scale of emissions from shipping 3 times higher

Hydro rate increases

BC's climate action team unveiled

BC sets out tough targets for emissions   Bill 44

Estimated cost of hydro-self-sufficiency

Campbell's take on climate change

Carbon-tax advocate joins climate team

Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap & Trade) Act

Carbon tax screws BC's North

India coal plant will spew 26M tons per year

Carbon Tax $50B a year

Vancouver set to host carbon trading registry

Carbon tax frowned on by BC residents

Pricing Carbon Saving Green

Tax cut would balance $50B carbon tax

Selling carbon tax similar to anti-smoking

Recipe for disaster  

BC introduces carbon tax

Think gas is pricey now?  It'll get worse

Extra fuel-tax  

BC carbon tax grab

BC budget hikes fuel cost with new carbon tax

Power upgrades to cost consumers

BC Transmission Corporation

Carbon tax called political suicide

Polling firm to find out what you'll buy

BC cost of living about to go up

BC premier signs treaty

International Carbon Action Partnership

BC Energy Plan 'fundamentally flawed'

BC Energy Plan

BC's billion dollar giveaway

Green levies to increased energy bills July 1

Think tank question's Hydro commitment

BC carbon footprint trampled by all the world

High flying governments can get too cocky

3 premiers say they'll go with BC

Bureaucrats & politicians inflicting tax schemes

'Revenue neutral' can be taken two ways

Another gas tax in BC to combat climate change

No charges to be laid

SURREY - A special prosecutor has decided no charges are warranted stemming from an investigation of an Abbotsford land deal involving Harry Oppal, brother of Attorney-General Wally Oppal, the government announced  (Vancouver Sun)   PREVIOUS:  Province enquiry leads to disclosure of probe   Investigation targets Oppal's brother

Accused thief seeks creditor protection

VANCOUVER - A former government employee charged with defrauding the RCMP's stock-fraud section of thousands of dollars is so badly in debt that she recently went to court to seek protection from her creditors.  Police did not release the accused's name but court records obtained by The Sun indicate she is Michelle Jennifer Aubie, 32, of Vancouver.  (Sun)

Review finds no misconduct

VICTORIA - An independent review by consulting firm, KPMG, has found no misconduct on the part of Insurance Corp. of British Columbia president Paul Taylor when he was a deputy minister.  (CBC)   MORE:  BC Rail lobbyists contracted Finance officials

Special prosecutor for probe

VICTORIA - A special prosecutor has been appointed to look into allegations of misconduct involving a former senior official with the BC Ministry of Health who handled hundreds of millions of dollars in health contracts.  (CP)   PREVIOUS:  Health investigation required   RCMP asks BC to withhold audit results

BCTF sues member for sick-leave cash

VANCOUVER - A former North Vancouver teacher whose "profound" fatigue kept her on extended sick leave was working as an instructor for a fitness club while collecting benefits, according to a lawsuit by her union.  (Vancouver Province)

2 BC officials under audit quit

VICTORIA - Two senior government officials whose financial dealings were being audited both quit their jobs this week.   (Vancouver Sun)  PREVIOUS:  Audit targets two bureaucrats

Public guardian's office faces scrutiny

VANCOUVER - The head of the provincial office entrusted with the finances and legal affairs of children and mentally incapable adults says his office will undergo a sweeping review of hiring practices after money went missing and a former case manager was arrested and charged with breach of trust. (Vancouver Sun) Public Guardian and Trustee

Sweetheart deals with BC public sector

VICTORIA - Late in the life of the previous government, the New Democrats decided to set the record straight about the full costs of the contracts they'd been signing with public sector unions.  (Vancouver Sun)   PREVIOUS:   SCC ruling will cost BC billions   SCC rules collective bargaining a right   Health services & Support - Facilities Bargaining Assn. v. BC 2007 SCC 27

ICBC joins the increase flood

VANCOUVER - ICBC says it wants to increase rates for BC drivers an average of less than $30 per year to cover the rising cost of claims.  (CBC)

Statement of operations 2011   .pdf

Solicitor General loses driver's licence

John van Dongen

BC safety minister suspended from driving   

Speedy Van Donegen

ICBC didn't follow rules

ICBC scandal severance pay

ICBC chop shop employees get severance

Lawsuit may shine light on scandal

'Scapegoat' launches suit

Your role: pick up the tab

Probe reveals corruption

Investigation results released

ICBC fix-and-sell schemes

ICBC boss quits amid scandal

Paul Taylor

ICBC boss to quit post

'Unrelated' resignation unbelievable

ICBC sold rebuilt write-offs

ICBC rate hikes finance bogus staff bonuses

GVRD eyes AirCare showdown

Auto insurance in Canada 2011

RCMP not recommending charges

Culture of entitlement at ICBC

ICBC sold rebuilt write-offs

Politicians couldn't resist the money

ICBC management working on their bonus

ICBC reports 132% rise in net income

ICBC doubles net income

Auditor's objectivity questioned

Salary boost for federal officials

Think twice about four more years

Tax-paid trips

New job with the feds?  Take a free trip  

Federal employees get extra week off

Shameless spending spree

A real promise: to stay in the red

Free bus passes costly for transit workers

Taking action on Literacy Training

Mounties launch investigation

ICBC managers got paint jobs at shop

ICBC boss quits amid scandal

ICBC's 'expert' witness

Government takes $778M

Government looting ICBC, says NDP

Hospital downplays patient complaints

VANCOUVER - The head of the Lions Gate Hospital says published complaints from patients are overblown accounts of isolated incidents made worse by ongoing renovations.   (Vancouver Province)  Waiting to see a doctor for 12 hours and then being billed for a doctor that never came isn't overblown. - Chris

Hospital report card: BC 2008

$800M wouldn't cure ills

Health authorities arouse suspicion

Abbott refuses to allow hospitals to be named

BC Health Authorities don't want you to know

Health system fails to stack up

Euro-Canada health consumer index 2008

Health care system near collapse

Corpus Sanchez

Report underscores health-care problems

Hospitals axe care, beds

Care home owners confirm workers took nude photos of seniors

Care home staff fired for taking photos

New probe launched into elder care home

Seniors left in dirty diapers: complaint

Abuse at seniors' home 

Mom blames hospital for baby's death

CNA forecasts strong health system

Study puts cost of waits in billions

Wait times have huge cost

Centre for Spatial Economics

'It could have been prevented’

Hospital delay upsets patients' group

Woman dies after 21 hour wait

A doctor deficit

BC Province's doctor shortage

Nurses foresee a greater role

Nurses call for bigger health care role

Health-care unions get $85M

Nurses' settlement will cost taxpayers

BC Liberals 'not inclined' to open up about $100M trust

VICTORIA - The B.C. Liberals have rebuffed two requests to include the $100-million New Relationship Trust under freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation.  Both requests came from David Loukidelis, the province's information and privacy commissioner.  (Vancouver Sun)  

BC retreats on information law

BC Bill 23: (public inquiry act)

Freedom of Information & Privacy Association

BC backs off bid to pursue Costco

Costco ready for court fight with Victoria

Costco fights bid for list of BC shoppers in AB

Conflict questions plague land panel

More money

BEIJING - Premier Gordon Campbell defended the government's decision to and senior provincial staff huge raises, saying without them BC couldn't remain competitive.  (Vancouver Sun)

BC gives top bureaucrats raises

Campbell, BC ministers getting big pay hikes

Greed hurts

$800,000 per lucky MLA

Liberals endorse 29% pay hike for MLAs

MP salary hike raises ire ahead of PSAC strike

BC MLA's

BC Bill 37-2007 remuneration and pensions act

Government mined judges' tax data

Federal judges seek another pay hike

Tories to raise judges' wages

25% More for Judges would be an Injustice

Spaceship Canada

City councillors question contributions

VANCOUVER - The gloves came all the way off yesterday in Vancouver's bitter debate over campaign contributions as city councillors traded veiled barbs over undisclosed donations.  (Vancouver Province) 

City Hall for sale part 1

City Hall for sale part 2

City Hall for sale part 3

City staff to get 25% raise

Councillors vote themselves "fired" cash

Vancouver's city manager in scandal

BC Ferries broke the law

VICTORIA - BC Ferries offered refunds on expired prepaid trip tickets after an investigation by the province's consumer watchdog showed it was breaking the law in certain cases by refusing to do so, internal documents show.  (Victoria Times Colonist)  

Ferry pain just starting  

Hahn retiring   

TransLink toll success  

Golden Ears Bridge  

Greenest City 2020  

Bleeding edge    

Blame high fares

Award overturned on appeal

BC ferries have been good for us

Last 'fat' cat shipped out

Fast Ferry Scandal  

PacifiCats    

Another government success

TransLink increases debt

Taxpayers take another hit

Regulator is not independent or credible

BC College of Teachers

BC Teachers Federation

Teachers' governing body a mess

BC Crown Corp charging into the light

Minister's aide resigns over meddling

Crown Corp has been good for us  

We are a Crown Corp

BC bans gift cards with expiry dates

Taxpayers to pay

SOCAN

Buskers face billing

Crown Corp compensation

Council takes 1% wage rollback   

Vancouver latest to leave Labour Relations Bureau

The people always pay

Revenue shortfall

$600,000 down the drain

BC isn't Smart anymore

BC Crown corporations

Agencies and commissions 

We want more money

You are the source of TransLink funding  

TransLink wants more tax/fee power

David Hahn's pay  .pdf  

Fact finder on the BC College of Teachers  .pdf  

BC Public Accounts 2010/11  .pdf   

Cut exec wages 

Officials paid too much

TransLink has significant operational issues

3 VPs let go

TransLink CEO resigns

Changes recommended for Ferries, TransLink

Public-funded pleasure cruise

CEO defends his $1M salary

HST to put TransLink in a hole

President and board dismissed

Tourism BC

Tourism BC folded

$1M for BC Ferries CEO 'shocking'

TransLink  Canada Line   Golden Ears Bridge

Canada Line border of directors

2009 TransLink Board of Directors

’We can ignore the review’

Stormy seas over execs packages

Public-sector is not private-sector 

Public sector gravy train  

Gravy train ride

Executive compensation disclosure

BC gov't defends salaries

Fatcat ferries headed to middle east

$450M fast ferries sold for $50M

Watch for Libs to rein in run-of-river spoilers

BC's bid for Olympic labour peace

Liberal funded by business, NDP by unions

Elections investments

TransLink & BC Ferry Services   .pdf  

Subsidizing draining TransLink funds

BC Ferries' traffic dropped

Ferry Advisory Committee

Public on the hook

Municipal management costs soar

If you pay fortunes you get fortune hunters

TransLink execs ride gravy train

Numbers

TransLink's spin

First Nation suing TransLink

Katzie First Nation

If you do it, we will tax it

Info denial raises concern

Mayors want a cut of the pie

TransLink threatens service cuts

BC teachers fined $500,000 for illegal strike

Appointed TransLink raises property taxes

TransLink releases 2009 property tax rates

BC Ferry price hikes

BC stalled in traffic

Politicians shunned

Transportation performance of provinces

BC large-scale projects feel shock of credit crisis

TransLink facing $3M deficit

TransLink spending like it is 2040

SkyTrain billions better spent on trams: Study

Appointed TransLink board strikes again

Give us your money or Vancouver is doomed

What can TransLink tax?  Well, whatdaya got?

Appointed TransLink board wants

Taxpayers on hook for millions for ousted politicians

TransLink board pitches another plan

Fixes delayed again

Pattullo Bridge

TransLink to be sued

TransLink travels to New Jersey for CEO

Mayors won't raise taxes to bail out TransLink

Appointed TransLink board looks at self-evaluation

Closed meeting pay hikes

TransLink board

Board gets 500% raise

TransLink unaccountable

Transportation future looks a lot like Hong Kong

Less than meets the eye, and light on details

Interest-free loan

TransLink's $1.5B real estate empire

TransLink to become landowner - or is that godfather?

TransLink looking at real-estate revenues

Tired of being taxed

Appointed board to decide taxes

TransLink looking at another property tax hike

BC should axe loophole in freedom of info act

Remember when public servants didn't come with an enlarged sense of financial entitlement?

SkyTrain gates may cost more than they're worth

BC's $14-billion transit bonanza

New TransLink board short on expertise

TransLink board members

$14 Billion

Appointed TransLink only to tax a little, this year

'Watch what happens'

Bill 43 - 2007 Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority

Bill 43 = higher taxes, higher fares

TransLink hijacked

TransLink reports financial surplus

Two hour limit

More appointments for TransLink

Bus accidents jump 43%

Bus-only lane ineffective

Union says it will sue

Surprise! Tax hikes to fund transit upgrades

Province unveils TransLink redesign

Hydro increase 'just a forecast'

Surcharge on gas power bills will fund green plans

Translink halts some spending plans

Crackdown on transit crime

TransLink shake-up in the works

Drive-in hit with $20,000 parking tax

TransLink's tax sends people packing

'Free Money' for 224,813 in British Columbia

Vancouver mayor: We need more image money

City staff suggest new coat of arms

Waterfront soccer stadium gets initial nod

Sharpen your slogan skills

Same game, different name

Electricity rates in BC likely to surge

BC's power is 'running short'

Expected TransLink shortfall raises talk of tolls

Parking tax gets green light

Don't tinker with TransLink parking tax-scrap it

Passengers settle

VANCOUVER -  James Hanson was asking a BC Supreme Court judge Thursday to approve a class-action settlement with BC Ferries that will see about $141,000 split between more than 40 people who escaped the Queen of the North after it struck an island in March 2006. Two passengers died in the sinking.   (CP)

Small award

Court denies psychological harm

Girls settle lawsuit

Transportation minister finds he's powerless   Kevin Falcon

BC Ferry board of directors

BC ferries staff bonuses as routes are cut

Ferries will not study impact of rising fares

BC Ferries annual report

Ferries directors get pay increases

Ferry Rates increase April 1

BC Ferries to hike fares up to 25%

Fare hikes approved by commissioner

BC Ferries drug testing policy

Trial aims to solve mystery

WorkSafeBC orders BC Ferries to reinstate Captain

WorkSafeBC

WorkSafeBC compensation

'No basic concept of navigation'

TTC gives green light to drug tests for key staff

BC Ferries wary of decline in number of passengers

Ferry fares boosted for 2nd time in 4 months

BC Ferries seek more surcharges

BC Ferries, president placed under scrutiny

Human error, safety system blamed

Report sparks storm

Information on ferry sinking to stay under wraps

Ferries ordered staff to 'remove & destroy' records

BC Ferries searching for log book

PR was a priority after ferry sinking

A storm of safety problems

Ferries won't answer The Province's questions

Lack of training linked to BC ferry sinking

Ferries union can't dodge inquiry into sinking

Prohibitive court costs

Shockingly empty BC ferry report

Stranded on ferry

Northern Adventure

Residents grounded again

Ferries suspends Northern Adventure after 'human error'

Ferry out of service indefinitely

Can employers test for pot?

Enforce your own drug policy, BC Ferries told

Report says ferries going to pot

Ferries boss calls for drug tests

Inexperienced crew member alone at helm

Ferry union vows to defend fired crew members

Queen of the North

Three Queen of the North ferry workers fired

Human error blamed for sinking

It's too early'

Lost ferry's toll on North Coasters

Rescue an 'eerie' experience

Accounts conflict in ferry probe

Ferry sinks, passengers taken to Harley Bay

Ferries safety to get independent audit

Ferries seeks aid for replacement vessel

Ferry crew named in lawsuit

BC Ferries

BC Ferries Board of Directors

BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union

Documents reveal BC Ferries' safety problems

BC Ferries not accountable enough: report

Divisional Inquiry: Queen of the North sinking

'It was surreal'

Prime Time Crime

Recent Headlines