At times, I wonder if mainstream political journalism in BC is written by the uninformed for the uninformed. Gary Mason provided an example to consider when he commented on the latest threat […]
Pretending less is known than we know
At BC’s Public Accounts Committee
An excellent recap of the reasons behind the call for individuals to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to explain extraordinary financial transactions. Sept 15 2014 SSC PAC Corrigan to Ralston https://www.scribd.com/embeds/242109182/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true
Reporters as stenographers
Two years ago, the corporate media published headlines about ferry subsidies. This report, which came during fiscal year 2013, was enough to stir the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation into action. They warned that […]
Profits first, charities second
Not what it seems. I’ve kept an eye on finances of the CKNW Orphans’ Fund. My attention began after the Corus radio station dropped its long time policy – under Griffiths family […]
Nature has inviolate principles, Christy Clark does not
A comment left by Lew on an earlier article deserves to be featured. Here is Christy Clark, the premier of our province, speaking as a radio show host just before leaving to […]
Puffery, misrepresentation or outright lies?
Puffery is an exaggeration or overstatement expressed in broad, vague, and commendatory language. According to Law for Business (Barnes et al., 1991), “The elements of misrepresentation are ordinarily given as: Misrepresentation of […]
BC Ferries costly but not innovative
A report by CBC News says that BC Ferries will equip two Spirit Class vessels to run on LNG. With minor hull improvements, annual fuel savings for the 20-year-old ships are estimated […]
Comforted by false reality
A New York Times article, The Surprisingly Large Cost of Telling Small Lies, quotes a successful English business person about the need to confront truths, even uncomfortable ones, “…telling lies is the […]
Tax evasion at the heart of global economy
The Globe and Mail reported September 19, 2014, after Elizabeth Thompson’s September 18 story at ipolitics: Internal Canada Revenue Agency documents confirm the agency is cutting some of its most highly-trained staff […]
Vapourtax – UPDATED
Nineteen months and one general election have passed since Premier Clark announced “establishment of a new British Columbia Prosperity Fund.” However, we still have no word on exactly how LNG is going […]
Managers justify generous treatment of managers
In 2013, the consulting firm Ernst & Young was hired to review trends in compensation across the BC Public Sector. It is now available through the Legislature’s public documents. Reports of this […]
#bced in my twitterverse
On @globalnews Sandy @Garossino suggested readings of J.Griffin's judgement with findings of bad faith. Start here: http://t.co/Xmw8LmiNYZ — Norm Farrell, IN-SIGHTS.CA (@Norm_Farrell) September 10, 2014 "Democracy has to be born anew every […]
The real news gets ignored – REPLAY
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.
in-sights.ca 
Naomi Klein gets it. The economy needs to be structured for the many, not the 1%. A couple of other…