I was recently at a meeting where North Vancouver District Council member Jim Hanson talked about the need for reform of Metro Vancouver governance. He illustrated his comments by comparing wastewater treatment projects in Victoria and North Vancouver. One came in more or less on-time and on-budget; the other is now budgeted at 3.5x the original estimate and may begin operating almost a decade late.
An IN-SIGHTS reader reminded me of the work of Robert Michels, a sociologist best known for creating the Iron Law of Oligarchy: All complex organizations—regardless of how democratic they start—inevitably develop into oligarchies, where power is concentrated in the hands of a few elite leaders. It asserts that bureaucratic, technical, and psychological factors force power to centralize, making true democratic control unsustainable.
The material below the separator line was first posted at IN-SIGHTS in April, 2013. Today, an acquaintance reminded me about Sean Holman’s important work across many years. In the early days of […]
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 […]
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 ask an expert.. Consider The House of EL’s analysis of “thought” as it functions among the AI and business…
If anything could keep sleep-deprived President Trump busy threatening new tariffs it is likely to be Europe’s decision to remove…
Hi Norm, I think you might find this book review, from the New York Review of Books, interesting. I think…
What’s so hilarious about twenty-first century geopolitics? The irrepressible analytical wit of Sarah Paine! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwDGrLRJhQI
Thanks for this article Norm. The BC Greens are breaking new ground this election by promising to introduce a wealth…