Freelance reporter Bob Mackin wrote that BC’s Legislature was a scandal waiting to happen and he quoted journalism professor and former Legislative reporter Sean Holman about the significant potential for abuse. Mackin blames excessive secrecy and lack of transparency…
Overrun with dullards, bums, and hacks…
Hunter S. Thompson: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a damned shame that a field as potentially dynamic and vital as journalism should be overrun with dullards, bums, and hacks, hag-ridden with myopia, apathy, and complacence, and generally stuck in a bog of stagnant mediocrity.”
Circular flow of income
Economists write papers on the circular flow of income but they don’t include the flow between politicians, businesses and the public treasury. In BC, it is commonplace. If you are an observer grown cynical – like the writer – you may wonder what secret benefits are to be found in the circular flow of income between Government, the governing party of British Columbia from 2001 to 2017 and the companies they purport to regulate.
Saying no to the Forces of Know
At The Gazetteer, RossK and friends are commenting about reports that Petronas does or does not aim to bail from the land of Sparkle Ponies. In my opinion, discussion of what’s been said or not said […]
Conflict, was ist das?
Conflict of Interest Commissioner has been unable to answer questions posed by journalist Bob Mackin. Of course, Fraser has only a handful of staff members to assist him so communicating with inquiring reporters is nigh impossible. When one man has only a single Executive Co-ordinator, one Executive Administrative Assistant, one Legal Officer and a single research assistant and faces one, two, even three formal opinions to be issued each year, some time saving moves are required.
Good questions
Not-a-nincompoop blogger RossK at The Gazetteer mentioned difficulties faced by Bob Mackin, the province’s preeminent investigative journalist, when Bob digs, and pays, for information the government does not want us to know. […]
Shill, sham and flimflam
The Vancouver Sun added an experienced political reporter when it hired Rob Shaw from the Times Colonist. Now it is time for the Sun to assign Bob Mackin to the pundit’s role, enabling Vaughn Palmer to work for PR firm Hill+Knowlton, where he need make no pretense of objectivity.
Flimflam sham
When conducting hearings on Northern Gateway, the National Energy Board Joint Review Panel denied participation to many and held sessions behind closed doors to limit opposition voices. Its decision favoured multinational industry […]
Battles of unequals
More admissions and allegations came to light this week in John Furlong’s campaign against people who claim to be his victims, writer Laura Robinson and the Georgia Straight, publisher of an atypical […]
BC’s uncomfortable political reality
I noticed this at Bob Mackin’s website and my thoughts match his. So, it is easier to steal Bob’s words than crank out ones of my own that couldn’t be better: On April […]
"Marginalization continued"
Writing in The Tyee, Bob Mackin makes an incisive point about recent work of remittance man Wally Oppal, the loyal BC Liberal go-between when $6-million cash from taxpayers topped up Basi/Virk prosecutor […]
Add to your bookmarks
Keep your eyes on 2010 Gold Rush – News and Views on Vancouver 2010 (And Beyond) From Bob Mackin. On Twitter, follow hashtag #LiquorLeaks as Bob reports on Liberal friends maneuvering to […]
Spread this story and these links
Ian Reid cleverly captures the question to be answered about BC Rail: Why did the BC Liberals want to shut the trial down? What were they so afraid of that they would […]
What’s up at PavCo besides operating losses?
Whispered leaks say that PavCo’s professional managers are arm wrestling with political hacks who want only happy talk reaching ears of the public. Trouble is, good news at PavCo is mostly spin […]
The days grow short
From the brim to the dregs,It poured sweet and clear,It was a very good year.It was a mess of good years. Important contributions from independent journalists illustrate the diseased state of British […]
Would they lie to us?
Nine Months before Olympics, Province Saw Big ‘Shortfall‘, Bob Mackin, The Tyee, November 14, 2011 …When VANOC revealed its post-Games financial report on Dec. 17, 2010, it claimed a balanced budget after […]
Has the game changed or merely the players?
Recently, I was amused by a certain radio news-talk host angrily sputtering in response to callers’ claims that he was partial and passive in political coverage. He replied that, in a very […]
Can we believe anything they say?
Pavco’s convention centre and stadium deals fascinate me. People residing beyond BC’s lower mainland are probably more pissed-off than fascinated. The arrangements clearly demonstrate disaster potential when public and private enterprises work […]
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