As part of the $1 billion Olympic protection effort, thousands of visiting policeman, armed forces and security personnel are stationed in or near Vancouver. People have been drawn from all over and […]
Here comes the cavalry
Norm Farrell
Before retirement, I worked in accounting and small business management. I have published commentary about public issues at IN-SIGHTS.CA since 2009.
BCCLA Legal Observers
From a BC Civil Liberties Association website: The Olympics have an unfortunate history of being associated with government activities that repress dissenting voices and “undesirable” populations. In China, dissidents and potential protesters […]
No huddled masses please
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, and I’ll send them right back to you. Martin Macias, new media journalist denied entry to Canada, is not […]
"This won’t change a thing."
A good man and a large family is grieving in Boston this week after a tragedy of the sort every parent fears. Brian Burke, former Vancouver hockey linchpin, lost 21 year-old son […]
Once, there were giants
I have written here repeatedly about British Columbia’s mistaken policy of promoting private production of electricity. BC Hydro is forced to sign long purchase agreements at rates substantially above the likely wholesale […]
Olympics-enhancing drug use expected to rise
A leaked report from the Vancouver 2010 Olympics Integrated Security Unit indicates that authorities are worried about increased Olympics-enhancing drug use by spectators and television viewers. “We have reason to suspect that […]
Judged by those above you
One of the world’s leading global governance think tanks, the One World Trust, issues an annual report rating the accountability of international organizations. Examiners evaluate transparency, participation, evaluation and complaint and response […]
Shoveling something
We hear reports today of a truck fleet doing 500 km round trips, hauling snow from Manning Park to Cypress Bowl. Could this be true? Well, not likely, according to information that […]
The sad reality here is . . .
David Berner publishes a letter from former DTES cop Al Arsenault, he of Odd Squad fame, about drug treatment, or lack thereof. It’s all worth reading but this truth caught my eye: […]
What terrorists should do
Hillbilly Report
As others see it
The Guardian, Vancouver’s Olympics are heading for disaster This titanic act of fiscal malfeasance includes a security force that was originally budgeted at $175m, but has since inflated to $900m. With more […]
What’s six billion ?
This tidy stack of $100 bills equals $1 million $100 million fits on a standard pallet: $1 billion takes 10 pallets: What would $6 billion look like, you ask? Let’s put that […]
Helpful volunteers
Responding to VANOC’s plea for volunteers who are available before, during and after the 2010 Winter Game, a British police auxiliary known as The Space Hijackers offered to assist the Integrated Security […]
A lucrative dirty secret
A percolating story, one mostly ignored by traditional media, is the environmental risk from oil and gas activities in British Columbia’s northeast. We discussed it HERE and HERE at Northern Insights, with […]
Only the news we want to print…
In Careless or Captured?, I questioned Vaughn Palmer’s accuracy in reporting on private power initiatives in British Columbia. This week’s Ontario takes green energy lead while B.C. keeps blowing smoke is an […]
A story of privatization
A friend recommended Irena Salina’s award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century – The World Water Crisis. FLOW – TRAILER
S.I. checks out Vancouver 2010
Games promoters were right about one thing. They said the world press would focus on Vancouver. Here is sportswriter Dave Zirin’s point of view at Sports Illustrated Online: As Olympics near, people […]
Can we be too cynical ?
Gary Mason of The Globe and Mail adds his voice in New RCMP watchdog is toothless: Mr. McPhail’s new job as chair of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP is […]
Where goes journalism
Hugh Cudlipp was one of Britain’s greatest newspaper editors. He is commemorated by an annual lecture delivered at the London College of Communication. In 2010, that was by Guardian Editor Alan Rusbridger. […]
David Eby says . . .
Executive Director of the BC Civil Liberties Association writes a blog that should be read by every person who respects justice. Go there to read the rest of this entry from January […]
I hope Canada hurries up no tolerance based rules. I also hope this country has at least a clue of…