From the ProPublica story, The Rise of Corporate Impunity, “[Eric] Holder, who is now the U.S. attorney general, seemed to lament the position government enforcers had found themselves in. ‘I am concerned […]
Numbers tell a story
When special interests buy a government – updated
Before BC Liberals were first elected in 2001, they promised natural resource producers to materially cut the public share of values extracted. They kept their promise and producers filled party coffers in […]
On resources with Ian Jessop, Apr 17
Baksheesh, bustarella, schmiergeld, kuroi kiri
Reprinted from November 2013. What’s in a name? Shakespeare said, “That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.” Organizations that aim to safeguard assets create effective […]
Resources giveaway
Some denounce redistribution of wealth from rich to poor but fall silent when public wealth transfers to the rich. After Telus, Teck Resources Limited ranks as the largest BC company, by sales. […]
Of business, by business, for business
British Columbia’s revenue from natural resources totalled $4 billion in fiscal year 2001. The Bank of Canada inflation calculator shows the equivalent in current dollars is $5 billion. Natural resource revenue received […]
Citizens, wake up please
I mentioned in a comment on another article that I’ve heard reports from people doing business with the province who say they are encouraged to kick-back part of what they are paid […]
Deception and financial fakery for friends
A few days ago, I wrote Cronies, henchmen and the future and noted a loss of government revenue derived from natural resources, even though production and commodity prices have risen dramatically in the […]
Cronies, henchmen and the future
It’s 21 weeks before the BC provincial election and the government’s hired guns are working overtime, adding to the pile of IOU’s Liberals expect to settle by further payments of public assets. […]
BC Liberals’ startling success
Many commentators claim BC Liberals are incompetent and ineffective. While true in ministries such as Justice and Children and Family Development, Liberals have been successful in the centerpiece of their strategic plan. […]
Vertical integration of Chinese forest industry
The Wall Street Journal reports the China Investment Corp. will acquire a substantial stake in Island Timberlands, which owns about 254,000 hectares of forest land, mainly on Vancouver Island. Soon, we may […]
Finding fibre for China
Timber panel eyes logging protected areas, Wendy Stueck, The Globe and Mail, Jun 12, 2012 “A committee looking for ways to boost B.C.’s dwindling store of timber is looking at logging protected […]
BC Jobs Plan working, in China
In the last year, the Pacific Northwest (BC, WA, OR) exported well more than $1 billion worth of raw softwood logs to China. Shipments for 2011 were more than in the preceding […]
Climate Benefits of Natural Gas Overstated
Climate Benefits of Natural Gas May Be Overstated, by Abrahm Lustgarten ProPublica, 2011 The United States is poised to bet its energy future on natural gas as a clean, plentiful fuel that […]
in-sights.ca 
This Just In https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/general/microsoft-to-use-2-8-million-gallons-of-lake-michigan-water-in-2026-for-mt-pleasant-project/ar-AA1ML7Mw Too bad about Lake Michigan. Where did you say hundred of thousands of gallons of data…