News Item: The provincial Crown is seeking the return of up to one million pages of documents disclosed to defence lawyers in the Basi-Virk political corruption case. B.C. Supreme Court Associate Chief […]
How about an ‘Inquiry on the Cheap’
Inaction Report – police still investigate police despite years of review
Consider the connections between the headline about rules on disclosure and other stories involving RCMP. Constable Geoff Mantler might prefer the British system that would have authorized him to arrest and charge […]
We need the rest of the story
The Province of BC paid $6 million to lawyers representing Basi and Virk. Does the public have the right to see an itemized invoice and full disclosure about purposes of the payment? […]
Justice denied
A reader pointed us to a recent BBC News report about a British politician convicted of financial fraud. Please compare this legal action to outrageous conduct witnessed in the Basi Virk trial […]
What’s a little crime among friends and associates
Liberal leadership candidates, especially Mike de Jong and Christy Clark, do not see evidence or indicators of wrongdoing in the sale of BC Rail and they are untroubled by bribery and corruption […]
Mike de Jong deserves a new job, now
Sometimes Ian Mulgrew mails in a shoddy effort: on Basi/Virk, for example. Other times he is thoughtful, incisive and on target: Dsziekanski and the RCMP, for example. Today Mulgrew is on track. I […]
One segment of the economy is growing quickly
http://rafeonline.com/2010/08/cartoon-by-gerry-hummel-2/ BC leads Canada in striving for an economy based on inequality but, at least poverty mostly affects the poor and minorities, not the rest of us. Also, read Northern Insights’ Striking […]
Wood carver John Williams, R.I.P.
Seven seconds to the death of a deaf wood carver River Otter Rustics Globe and Mail report The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society
Think media is bad now, wait until the CBC is crushed
New Style Public Broadcasting FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting, a volunteer group, advocates for Canadian content in radio and TV broadcasting. The group is worried about the Harper Government’s intentions. Rightly so. Commercial broadcasters […]
Radical, dude!
When politicians do not want to answer specific questions, they are taught to change the subject. Mike De Jong in particular wants the subjects to stay away, far away, from examinations of […]
Gangland violence made worse by government delays
Six people were killed in a gangland slaying at a Surrey highrise in October 2007. Two were uninvolved bystanders. Outraged by the deaths of two innocent men, 16 months later, Gordon Campbell […]
Prince of the racist radical right, or just a moron?
An American friend wondered if I planned to write about recent words of Fraser Institute ‘Senior Fellow’ Tom Flanagan. The University of Calgary professor, Harper advisor and right wing activist spoke with […]
Mean streets found in British Columbia
The Economist writes about Canada and the persistence of poverty amid plenty : One of the keenest slashers was British Columbia, which despite being one of the richest provinces has one of the […]
Homicide by cop
I’ve been arguing here about the need for improved police oversight and accountability. Despite leading all provinces of Canada in in-custody deaths, British Columbia has de-emphasized reform. Talks for renewal of the […]
Worthy of your support
I commend the British Columbia Civil Rights Association to all who care about justice, civil rights and institutional accountability. The organization is supported by members, donors and foundations such as the the […]
Is Canada’s legal system worthy of respect
If lawyers, courts or the Attorney General had regard for public education about their mystic world, they would emerge from warm sinecures to explain how our justice system works, if indeed it […]
Police reform in British Columbia is stalled
The Harper Government removed Paul Kennedy from leadership of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP and replaced him with a real estate lawyer and political operative who has no police management […]
Tales from a police state
If you are not following the Toronto Star’s coverage of what a billion dollars gets when provided, along with carte blanche, to men with big hats and empty heads, you should be […]
Striking it richer – updated
Published Nov 6/2010, updated Nov 10/2010. A repeating argument made at Northern Insights is that Gordon Campbell’s government cares too much for its wealthy supporters and too little for the province’s neediest […]
Who protects us from the protectors?
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” […]
in-sights.ca 
Blair Fix at _Economics from the Top Down_ also wrote two very good papers on the converion of housing into…