The audio file below is a recording of my time with Ian Jessop May 26. We talk about credit rating agencies, provincial debt, contractual obligations, resource taxation and transit funding but we […]
Farrell and Jessop on CFAX1070
Transit referendum result already determined?
The campaign is unfair, the result may be a fraud. A year ago, the 2013 annual report and audited financial statements were in public hands. The independent auditor’s report was signed in […]
Recalling BC pioneers
This item is recycled from the summer of 2010. I was reminded of it after a Twitter exchange about natural resource revenues and the lack of transparency surrounding them. This is not […]
The outrageous special deal for Basi and Virk – REPLAY
First published January 7, 2011: 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 […]
Gordon Campbell making history – REPLAY
First published in December, 2009 History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind.– Edward Gibbon, English historian of Rome (1737 – 1794) Doug McArthur […]
You are not special
A thoughtful message to new graduates: the 2012 Wellesley High School graduation speech delivered by David McCullough, Jr., son of the famous American writer, historian and broadcaster.
"You cain’t pray a lie" – H. Finn
Canadian Press, April 7, 2013: [Premier Christy] Clark told a Vancouver Island economic summit her government’s highly touted September 2011 jobs plan — with its focus on increased trade with China and […]
"Jobs, jobs, jobs" Or, maybe not
. The audio file above is a recording of my time with Ian Jessop May 12. We talk about jobs and natural resources but we don’t deliver BC Liberal talking points like […]
Myth busting
Andrew Nikiforuk wrote advice for Albertans in his recent article Eight Steps to Reform the Broken Petrostate: Behave like an owner: Alberta’s oil and gas resources belong to Albertans. The Tories’ “strip […]
Flawed analysis
Following the passing of Alberta’s Conservative party, Macleans writer Colby Cosh described a drawn-out illness that made the result inevitable. Followers of British Columbia politics will recognize symptoms also found west of […]
Black Press proves its news instincts once again
A spy in the Prince Rupert region provided information that would probably surprise the unscholarly urban dwellers at the Koch brothers’ favourite Canadian policy institution: Fraser institute identifies Conrad Elementary as […]
Give them what they wanted, then give them even more
. In April, listeners to Ian Jessop’s CFAX1070 program heard about how government pays more to facilitate mining than it receives in direct payments for metals and minerals. In the latter part […]
Albertans will choose
//storify.com/Norm_Farrell/natural-resources-different-approaches/embed?border=false//storify.com/Norm_Farrell/natural-resources-different-approaches.js?border=false[View the story “Natural resources, public assets, or corporate?” on Storify]
Two oil economies: Norway and Alberta – UPDATED
Norges Bank Using the Bank of Canada’s average rate of exchange for 2014, the Norwegian oil fund had a value of more than $1.2 trillion CAN as of March 31. The Government […]
Sorry Rachel, math is too difficult for you girls
Alberta Conservative Leader Jim Prentice & NDP Leader Rachel Notley From Malcolm Mayes, Edmonton Journal:
BC schools and school children at risk
After the event that killed thousands, injured tens of thousands and affected millions of Nepalese, a Berkeley seismologist spoke about preparations needed in regions with high seismic activity. Dr. Peggy Hellweg said: […]
The roots of violence
“Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles.” – Gandhi //storify.com/betakateenin/white-people-riots/embed?border=false//storify.com/betakateenin/white-people-riots.js?border=false[View the story “White people rioting over stupid […]
Greenhouse gas emissions
It seems Canada is about to end a long tradition of coordinating greenhouse gas reduction targets with the United States. With much of the densely populated east coast at risk from rising […]
Hard hitting journalism by Black Press
Truncated review processes that assume government should trust and work hand-in-hand with mining proponents, even ones proven to be callous toward civil responsibilities, are certain to result in more ecological mishaps.
Do you care?
This item was first published here July, 2009: Radio talk shows are often wastelands of puffery, babble and prejudice. Well conducted programs, with knowledgeable listeners, occasionally break through with moments of simple […]
in-sights.ca 
The Wall Street takeover of Canada shouldn't come as a surprise. Ex Goldman Sachs executive, Mark Carney, is demonstrating once…