Title: Mark Hume discusses corruption probe in B.C. politics

Date: Wednesday July 22, 2009
Time: 12:00PM PDT

Mark Hume of The Globe and Mail British Columbia bureau takes questions on the political corruption trial that is reaching all the way to the office of Premier Gordon Campbell.

Update, July 22, 2009:

A journalist with another organization, explaining reluctance to participate in online comment forums:

I’m not interested in sparking some sort of “discussion” that invariably features “anonymous” commentators on blogs, who engage in character assassination and spew uninformed myths and drivel in the guise of serious debate.

Preferring civil discussions most of the time, I think that is not unreasonable. However, I suspect for some seasoned members of mass media, drivel aggravates much less than reasoned arguments about journalistic failures.

Regardless, congratulations to Mark Hume and The Globe and Mail for providing this two way experience in communication. Most of the ground covered was familiar but one comment by Hume was uncompromising:

At this point I don’t really think the Premier can answer questions about this with any credibility. What we need is to see the government record….the emails and documents surrounding the BC Rail deal, and the evidence gathered by police during their investigation. The best hope to clear the air is that this case goes to trial.

The Globe and Mail BC Bureau opened the Liberal’s closet door and started rattling the skeletons. Gary Mason is on top of this story and today writes All right, Campbell, time to talk about the e-mails. He says, “Government’s handling of this matter is disgraceful and shows nothing but contempt for the concerns of B.C. citizens.” Don’t miss it.