If the feds disclose evidence at a future trial that indicates provincial neglect and dereliction in pursuing crimes associated with gambling, what happens to public trust and support for both the BC Liberals and the BC NDP? The only question might be: Why did each of the two main BC parties hang themselves with their own noose?
A private room where customers deliver bags of cash
Liberals believed Dirty Money involved “victimless crimes” so they chose to tolerate illegal behaviour that provided a boost to economic activity. The Campbell/Clark Governments were more interested in gaining political advantage. Families faced with unaffordable housing & others affected when thousands died from illicit drugs would describe it differently. The corruption was anything but victimless.
Ruled by criminals?
Before July 18, 2017, if British Columbia was not ruled by criminals, it was ruled by people who turned blind eyes to criminality. Attorney General David Eby issued a statement that ought to be national news in Canada…
Be opinionated, first be informed
We examine a reader’s comment and find the assertions made fail badly when tested for accuracy.
One class of criminal benefits another
A perfect storm in Toronto and Vancouver housing markets, “a mixture of rising home prices, foreign money laundering, and an unregulated sub-prime lending system most Canadians don’t even know exists.”
When fortunate people cannot afford a low rung on the property ladder, the situation must change. Christy Clark and Rich Coleman may regularly shake hands with the province’s most wealthy residents but, the ground upon which they stand has grown dangerously unstable.
News not fit to print
A Wall Street Journal story, repeated by The Australian and Financial News, other Rupert Murdoch News Corp properties, is apparently not worthy of coverage by Canadian media. I found no reference to […]
Ready, fire, aim
Andrew MacLeod provided the title above in a Thursday Tweet linking to his column in The Tyee. Slots on Ferries a Complicated Bet, Warned Finance Ministry: After Transportation Minister Todd Stone announced […]
Money laundering and casinos, who knew?
CTV Vancouver: Money laundering rampant in casinos, April 10, 2014 Confidential documents are shedding light on a host of suspicious behaviour at B.C. casinos, where patrons routinely carry bags loaded with small […]
New exploration
I’ve been examining the financial elements of legal gambling in British Columbia. Before looking at BCLC annual reports, I assumed the agency’s revenues had grown steadily. In fact, they show a distinctly […]
Gangster love dealing in cash – REPLAY
With BC Ferries planning to create a moving fleet of gaming houses, it’s worth re-reading this Northern Insight article from the summer of 2011.————————————————————– News item: Catherine Pope, reporting for Global News, August […]
Feeding frenzy has begun
Before the 2013 election, Premier Clark’s Liberals were involved in a feeding frenzy, working to grab maximum treasure from public wealth in case voters ended the opportunities.
No doubt about the winner in a contest of one
Ian Reid and Bob Mackin have been the leading journalists examining Paragon Gaming’s past relationship with Pavco. We knew Paragon had an inside track for the proposed casino at BC Place but […]
Something is rotten in the state of PavCo
The government’s fiscal year ends in a few days so here’s a suggestion for more accurate financial reports in BC. Add a separate line item for “Fraud, Theft & Abuse.” That way, […]
Open, accountable government, BC Liberal style
B.C. Lottery Corp. seeks reversal of document order, CBC News, March 15, 2011 “The Financial Transactions Reports Analysis Centre (Fintrac), the federal money laundering watchdog, hit BCLC in 2010 with a $700,000 […]
Some targets are easier to make than others
Forget land costs, interest, management and operating expenses; BC Place still needs $2.5 million a month to break even. That represents amortization of recent renovation costs over 20 years. Of course, the […]
Has the game changed or merely the players?
Recently, I was amused by a certain radio news-talk host angrily sputtering in response to callers’ claims that he was partial and passive in political coverage. He replied that, in a very […]
Online journalists saved the bacon
Gordon Campbell and PavCo’s David Podmore made an announcement in March 2010: Downtown Vancouver is getting a new $450-million casino and hotel complex to anchor its new “entertainment epicentre,” B.C. Premier Gordon […]
Outside noise and the jetsetter toff
No person should be surprised when Community Living British Columbia next puts its large insensitive foot into another sticky situation. Friday, after the CLBC tossed CEO Rick Mowles, Board Chair Denise Turner said about […]
Providing for increased crime and gambling addictions
In a deal negotiated in secrecy by BC Liberal insiders, taxpayers provide the financial muscle for a downtown development housing a mega-casino, built for a company with questionable capabilities and few credentials […]
Gaming the taxpayers with ersatz capitalism
Hired guns Deloitte & Touche prepared an economic impact report for Paragon’s proposed casino at BC Place. The numbers give an optimistic view of financial benefits that might arise but, as with […]
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