Years ago, Premier W.A.C. Bennett said the NDP “couldn’t run a peanut stand.” The BC Auditor General’s report on the province’s 2023-24 financial statements may reinforce that opinion. The Auditor General qualified his opinion of the province’s financial statements for the seventh time in the last seven annual Public Accounts released by the NDP…
Auditor General Michael Pickup submitted a report to the BC Legislature titled Summary Financial Statements Audit: Supporting the Role of MLAs. It is to assist understanding of the province’s annual financial statements. This will seem like old news…
In my years of political observation, I have come to realize that elected officials individually have little opportunity to influence public policy. At senior levels of government, power has concentrated in the offices of the first minister. In local governments and school boards, In local governments and school boards, power is held largely by professional administrators. Public input is tolerated by the power holders, but not welcomed…
This Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act proves that what happens in the BC Legislature today is theatre. Expensive theatre. We are not governed by elected representatives; we are ruled by the individual chosen as Premier and the people surrounding the first minister.
Events unfolding in Ottawa revive memories of January 2021 when Trump followers tried to subvert the democracy America has practiced for generations. Urged on by Republicans, hateful mobs repudiated civil behaviour and rejected the rule of law. Now, encouraged by Conservatives, similar protesters have taken centre stage in Canada.
Had BC Hydro executives chosen to, the annual report and financials could have been released one to two months ago. Much of the report is boiler plate that is substantially reused each year and key business information is created internally within days of period end…
Are citizens of British Columbia protected from massive financial fraud? Frankly, we have little protection…
If the Horgan Government and the LAMC allows Auditor General Bellringer to direct a re-examination of the Legislative Assembly’s financial records, that is a clear sign, they’ve made a choice to sweep yet more scandalous behaviour under the carpet.
Despite indulgent remuneration provided the BC Legislature’s senior executives — including sums paid secretly — financial problems at the institution have continued for more than a decade.
In comments on the preceding article, a subject emerged that was apart from the beginning one but is worthy of separate examination. This is another iceberg type situation: much does not meet […]
I noticed this at Bob Mackin’s website and my thoughts match his. So, it is easier to steal Bob’s words than crank out ones of my own that couldn’t be better: On April […]
One-percenters making changes. Anonymous reader provides interesting links in the comment section after a shuffling of deck chairs among Bilder-burglars. It’s also worth bringing to the top because Paul Fraser has been […]
Ian Reid is reporting that thousands of pages of BC Rail documents are newly released under FOI rules. All but five are blank. The word ‘five’ is not a misprint but I […]
A short while back, on behalf of BC bloggers, I strutted about influence: Everyone knows that the mainstream media, with near unanimity, has supported Gordon Campbell and his government through thick and […]
In August 2007, three officers of the Sûreté du Québec disguised themselves and joined crowds gathered at a summit of political leaders in Montebello. Protest leader Dave Coles noticed three bandana-clad “burly” […]
By George Monbiot, guardian.co.uk Why do our paranoid, anti-fun police seem to think they run the country?Morality policing here is starting to rival Saudi. At protests and festivals, we need to reassert […]
Attorney General Mike de Jong expressed concern about “. . . a growing disconnect between the justice system and the people.” No doubt, he is talking about citizen discomfort over his own […]
A news report about Yao Wei Wu: A 44-year-old man is recovering from numerous injuries in a case of mistaken identity by the Vancouver Police early Thursday morning, while they were investigating […]
Let’s hope they know more about managing investigations of crime than they do about managing public relations. July 23, Thomas Braidwood issued his report recommending severe restrictions on the use of conducted […]
Among the special advantages granted to billionaires? They can create monopolies which politicians will both subsidize and protect. Are domestic…
You mention investing. Anybody remember Canada Savings Bonds? Seventy years ago it offered people worried about becoming destitute pensioners a…
A huge fan of long-eclipsed Russian military glory, Mr. Putin expected Ukraine to collapse in 3 days. Three years ago.…
One thing I think people forget is - it became a good idea to invest in real estate as an…
in-sights.ca 
Blair Fix at _Economics from the Top Down_ also wrote two very good papers on the converion of housing into…