I wrote the following article in 2011. It demonstrates how little has changed. On the day George Abbott became the first Education Minister to speak at a convention of the teachers’ union […]
Beat reporters left the building
In 2010, the small city of Bell, CA was front page news nationwide. Over 17 years, the city manager and other municipal officials bilked tax payers out of millions of dollars. The […]
Next we sell off naming rights for schools – REPLAY
This article first published September 2011 remains timely. Private business promoters aim to eliminate public enterprises through privatization, contracting out and outsourcing. They promote the myth that delivery of services by private, often […]
The price we pay
Trailer – THE PRICE WE PAY – a feature documentary by Harold Crooks from Filmoption International on Vimeo. Playing in Vancouver as part of the VIFF, International Village #9, October 4 – […]
Government serves insiders and elites
Plutocrats It is clear that BC Liberal strategy is to reward insiders and elites. That’s been shown in countless ways, particularly since Christy Clark took office as Premier in 2011. Shortly after […]
How the Legislature works, or does not work
Sean Holman, after 9 years investigative reporting on provincial politics, became a full time faculty member of Mount Royal University’s Communications department. Losing Sean and Public Eye Online was unfortunate for British […]
The Explainer explains
Surveying corporate media coverage of the education dispute, I noted a column by Vaughn Palmer that displays his particular usefulness when BC Liberals want information distributed. Here is an excerpt from Palmer’s A […]
Food for thought
Site C Dam: Food for Thought from Peace Valley Environment Assoc. on Vimeo. Produced by Damien Gillis of The Common Sense Canadian.
More Liberal devastation
A report released today shows that B.C. Liberal hikes to ferry fares are causing economic damage across the province, say the New Democrats. “This new report does the work the government should […]
Planned degradation of public education
Principal reports on devastating budget cuts to parent population. Such honesty needed for all of BC. #bced #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/aYeROVmdPh — Karen Richard (@KarenRichard14) September 10, 2014 The first comment here reminded me […]
UBC Professor of Law Joel Bakan speaks
“I see a lot of sense in the BCTF’s insistence on eliminating E80 from the package for consideration in binding arbitration… “As is true of any negotiation, the respective bargaining positions of […]
Lies and Liberals, an inherent match
In November 2001, after NDP MLA Joy McPhail reported a government plan to increase medical service plan premiums, Canadian Press quoted Liberal Health Minister Colin Hansen, “Joy MacPhail needs a new Deep […]
Dignity not in anti-union Liberal playbook
Recognizing that workers have the right to bargain collectively as part of their freedom to associate reaffirms the values of dignity, personal autonomy, equality and democracy that are inherent in the Charter. […]
Qu’ils mangent de la brioche
Yeah, folks. If you’re inconvenienced and frustrated by empty public schools, Premier Photo Op may have a solution. She tried it, she likes it. And if you can’t afford the tuition, do […]
CBC dominates the Websters
I bet Jack Webster’s spirit twitches when the $175 a plate bun toss named for him recurs and this town’s higher purpose people gather to honour worthy journalists, not all of whom […]
Captives of industry
Regular readers are aware that British Columbia’s natural gas industry provides surprisingly little return to the province by way of royalties for depleting non-renewable public assets. In the last two fiscal years, […]
Yes, red tape may interfere with business
Mount Polley operator was raising height of tailings dam at time of breach, Wendy Stueck, Globe & Mail, August 15 2014 “Crews were working to raise the tailings dam at the Mount […]
When you buy yourself a government, you expect results
From RossK, The Gazetteer, Mines Are Sparkle Ponies Too?….Who Knew? But here’s something that even we, the purveyors of all that is neither established nor credible, missed from Ms. Clark’s October 2012 […]
August 11 with Ian Jessop
. More responsibilities but lower budget. From effigis.com Practice for photo-op with Polish shipyard workers Abbotsford company that beat the Mars bomber out of a provincial firefighting contract…
Investment decisions: industry or education?
Education and Economic Growth, by Philip Stevens and Martin Weale, Education and Economic Growth, Philip Stevens and Martin Weale, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, London, England. “There are two very […]


The Wall Street takeover of Canada shouldn't come as a surprise. Ex Goldman Sachs executive, Mark Carney, is demonstrating once…