By Dan Hilborn
Published May 25, 2005
A federal election will likely be held this year, and nowhere is that more evident than in the ranks of the Liberal Party of Canada, which is working hard to keep its minority government intact until after Justice John Gomery finishes his commission of inquiry into the federal sponsorship scandal.
Recently, with the assistance of former Burnaby-Douglas Liberal candidate Bill Cunningham, who now serves as senior advisor and executive director of the federal government's ministerial regional office in Vancouver, the Burnaby NOW was able to obtain a 20-minute interview with one of the key figures in Ottawa - B.C.'s former NDP premier Ujjal Dosanjh, who now serves as the minister of health for the nation.
The interview, which focused on the issues facing the health-care system in Canada, was conducted prior to the attempt from the Conservatives to topple the minority government with a non-confidence motion against the government.
- - -
Ujjal Dosanjh knows that many Canadians are worried about the future of their health-care system, but the new Minister of Health in the beleaguered Paul Martin government is confident that the country is on the right track.
And while Dosanjh acknowledges that longer wait lists have become "the symbol of our problems," he also said that recent surveys have found that people who use the health-care system have a higher degree of confidence in the care they receive than those who don't use the system.
"There are problems, but the system is sound," Dosanjh said. "Over 73 per cent of people in contact with the health-care system believe the system functions well. Those not in contact are generally more apprehensive. They hear the anecdotes of what didn't work. In fact, it's rare when emergency issues are not dealt with early."
Fairly or otherwise, Dosanjh believes that most Canadians are judging the health-care system on wait times and, in that vein, his government is pledging to take several steps to reduce the time it takes to receive required surgeries in five key areas - cardiac care, cancer, eyesight, joint replacement and diagnostics testing such as MRIs.
Then, under the proposed revisions to the federal budget, the Liberals plan to give an extra $41 billion to the provinces over the next 10 years, including $5.5 billion specifically targeted to reduce wait times.
By the end of this year, the government and its Wait Times Alliance hopes to set benchmarks for appropriate waiting times for the above-noted surgeries, and then achieve "significant progress" on reaching those goals by March 31, 2007.
Helping to reach those objectives will be additional expenditures on equipment, developing a better home-care system, a national pharmaceutical strategy and the integration of more foreign doctors into Canada.
Another issue in health care is the interpretation of the Canada Health Act and the ability of the government to uphold the five principles of health care that are enshrined in the document - public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability and accessibility.
"There are only two prohibitions in the act," Dosanjh said. "One is against user fees for physician or doctor services and the other is against using your own money to jump the queue.
"There are those who believe that privatizing delivery or allowing people to use their own money will cure the ailment in our health-care system. But Romanow found there is no evidence that private health care is any less expensive or more efficient." (Ray Romanow is a former NDP premier of Manitoba who chaired the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, which reported its findings to Parliament on Nov. 28, 2002.)
Dosanjh said there are two outstanding issues across the nation in regards to enforcing the Canada Health Act. The first is an issue with the province of New Brunswick over abortion funding, and the second is a dispute with B.C., Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia on the funding of private diagnostic or MRI clinics.
"I have said that I will enforce the Canada Health Act," Dosanjh said, noting that discussions began early this month at the deputy minister level to see how compliance can be reached.
Dosanjh also promised stricter regulations on the drug approval process. "We want to make sure we have active surveillance after a drug is marketed and strong standards beforehand," he said. "We want more transparency and we'll inject an aspect of public input to the approval process.
"It's going to be difficult," Dosanjh said of his proposed drug policy. "We want to bring in laws that provide conditional approval, not open approval. We want mandatory reporting on adverse reactions so that we can take action when they occur. In the past, the process was shrouded in secrecy. I operate on the principle that people have the right to know. If you have confidential information, you have to satisfy us why you want it kept confidential. In the past, it has been clear to us that some companies would not share all the information with us."
Finally, Dosanjh spoke of the sponsorship scandal and his unqualified support for Prime Minister Paul Martin.
"I am very pleased and satisfied with the prime minister's action," Dosanjh said. "He terminated Alfonso Gagliano and established the commission of inquiry and then he retained a lawyer to pursue the corporations responsible. Police are investigating and charges are pending and I think he's taking the right steps and it's only fair to allow Justice Gomery to complete his job.
"The prime minister has done the courageous thing. He could have left it to the RCMP," Dosanjh said. "Yes, we're suffering some collateral damage, but the prime minister is a man of integrity who wants to get to the bottom of this and he knows it will only strengthen us in the long run.
"Today, you have the NDP working with the federal Liberals to make the budget provide more programs than it had. There's more health care, more child care, the Atlantic Accord and it is a very progressive budget to which we have added the NDP's tuition reduction, more foreign aid, affordable housing and money for the environment.
"We were already doing work in those areas. Now, we'll be doing those things a little more aggressively."
And on the day this interview was conducted, Dosanjh was still projecting an air of confidence that the federal Liberals would be able to ride out the storm that was threatening to dissolve the 38th Parliament and continue governing, at least until the Gomery Commission had finished its work sometime later this fall.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Neville Bros. to headline Blues Fest
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 25, 2005
One of the biggest blues bands in the world is coming to beautiful Deer Lake Park to headline the sixth annual Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival on Saturday, Aug. 13.
The Neville Brothers, who have been plying their homespun style of New Orleans rhythm and blues for more than 40 years, have confirmed that they will headline an all-star cast of internationally acclaimed bands at this year's festival.
"They are one of my favourite bands of all time," gushed Robert Kerr, executive director of the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, the official organizers of the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival.
"I've seen them play about four or five times," Kerr said. "They're such a great band, they cover the genre from soul to R and B to blues. They're all magical players with great voices.
"They're even bringing their children into the band, so it's a multi-generational thing."
And even though the band only officially came together in 1977, the Neville brothers themselves have been among the leading lights in the world of rhythm and blues for almost five decades - when Arthur Neville wrote Mardi Gras Mambo, a song that went on to become the unofficial theme music for the annual Louisiana carnival.
The band is made up of four brothers - Arthur, Charles, Aaron and Cyril - with a rotating cast of children, uncles, cousins, friends and acquaintances just to keep things interesting.
They first rose to international prominence in 1966 when Aaron Neville penned the smash R and B hit Tell It Like It Is - a song that has been remade dozens of times by artists in almost every different musical style imaginable.
News that the Neville Brothers will be coming to Burnaby put a huge smile on the face of Burnaby NOW publisher Brad Alden, who watched the band perform live in their hometown just four weeks ago.
"I've been a big fan of this band for at least 15 years," said Alden, who attended last month's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival after receiving the tickets as a birthday present from his wife.
"Having the Neville Brothers close the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is a New Orleans tradition," Alden said. "They are always one of the last acts on the last day. They're also unlike any band I've ever heard before. They're the tightest musicians, and they play an eclectic mix ranging from New Orleans soul to funk to music with a Creole and Cajun flavour.
"I will be front and centre when they play at Deer Lake," the Burnaby NOW publisher promised.
Kerr gave full credit to Coastal Jazz artistic director Ken Pickering for bringing the Neville Brothers to town, but he noted the beautiful outdoor venue of Deer Lake Park was an easy sell.
"When you describe the venue to performers, they are quite keen to see it, but the reality of the site really sinks in when they play there," Kerr said. "We've been getting some great feedback from the artists who have played Deer Lake over the past five years, and word is really starting to get out."
Other confirmed acts for this year's festival include:
- Johnny Clegg, the British-born, African fusion star who will perform the music of Juluka and Savuka, two of the biggest bands in the African fusion-pop music genre.
- Lhasa, a Montreal-born chanteuse who earned a Juno nomination for her first album, La Llorna, before disappearing to Europe where she joined the circus.
- Mem Shannon and The Membership are another group that hails from New Orleans, but with a funked-out, rock-and-roll flavour.
- The Wailin' Jennys are three of Winnipeg's best-known female singer/songwriters, who first came together two years ago for a one- time-only performance at a local record store.
Performers that will be featured on the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival second stage will be announced in the near future.
Alan Scales, event services coordinator for the Burnaby parks and cultural services division, said work on the natural outdoor amphitheatre has been ongoing ever since the first blues festival brought Robert Cray to the beautiful park setting in 2000.
"Certainly, all the work we did last year has led to us being able to bring additional concerts to the venue this year," Scales said, noting the Black Eyed Peas will perform on July 22 and Jack Johnson will be there on Aug. 14, one day after the Blues Fest.
"Last year we put in three terraces to really improve the sight lines, and we did some drainage and environmental work to help create a true bowl amphitheatre shape," Scales said.
With the addition of a hardened surface underneath the portable stage area and better east-west access across the site, Scales is confident Deer Lake Park will be able to comfortably fit 9,000 fans into the Blues Fest, making it the largest multi-use outdoor venue in the region.
"Deer Lake Park is truly unique in the region. There is no other venue that comes close to the gorgeous views and natural sightlines. There's just nothing more beautiful out there that can house this size of a show."
Tickets to the sixth annual Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival will go on sale tomorrow, May 26, through the website, www.burnabybluesfestival. com, or from Ticketmaster at 604-280- 4444.
Published May 25, 2005
One of the biggest blues bands in the world is coming to beautiful Deer Lake Park to headline the sixth annual Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival on Saturday, Aug. 13.
The Neville Brothers, who have been plying their homespun style of New Orleans rhythm and blues for more than 40 years, have confirmed that they will headline an all-star cast of internationally acclaimed bands at this year's festival.
"They are one of my favourite bands of all time," gushed Robert Kerr, executive director of the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, the official organizers of the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival.
"I've seen them play about four or five times," Kerr said. "They're such a great band, they cover the genre from soul to R and B to blues. They're all magical players with great voices.
"They're even bringing their children into the band, so it's a multi-generational thing."
And even though the band only officially came together in 1977, the Neville brothers themselves have been among the leading lights in the world of rhythm and blues for almost five decades - when Arthur Neville wrote Mardi Gras Mambo, a song that went on to become the unofficial theme music for the annual Louisiana carnival.
The band is made up of four brothers - Arthur, Charles, Aaron and Cyril - with a rotating cast of children, uncles, cousins, friends and acquaintances just to keep things interesting.
They first rose to international prominence in 1966 when Aaron Neville penned the smash R and B hit Tell It Like It Is - a song that has been remade dozens of times by artists in almost every different musical style imaginable.
News that the Neville Brothers will be coming to Burnaby put a huge smile on the face of Burnaby NOW publisher Brad Alden, who watched the band perform live in their hometown just four weeks ago.
"I've been a big fan of this band for at least 15 years," said Alden, who attended last month's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival after receiving the tickets as a birthday present from his wife.
"Having the Neville Brothers close the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is a New Orleans tradition," Alden said. "They are always one of the last acts on the last day. They're also unlike any band I've ever heard before. They're the tightest musicians, and they play an eclectic mix ranging from New Orleans soul to funk to music with a Creole and Cajun flavour.
"I will be front and centre when they play at Deer Lake," the Burnaby NOW publisher promised.
Kerr gave full credit to Coastal Jazz artistic director Ken Pickering for bringing the Neville Brothers to town, but he noted the beautiful outdoor venue of Deer Lake Park was an easy sell.
"When you describe the venue to performers, they are quite keen to see it, but the reality of the site really sinks in when they play there," Kerr said. "We've been getting some great feedback from the artists who have played Deer Lake over the past five years, and word is really starting to get out."
Other confirmed acts for this year's festival include:
- Johnny Clegg, the British-born, African fusion star who will perform the music of Juluka and Savuka, two of the biggest bands in the African fusion-pop music genre.
- Lhasa, a Montreal-born chanteuse who earned a Juno nomination for her first album, La Llorna, before disappearing to Europe where she joined the circus.
- Mem Shannon and The Membership are another group that hails from New Orleans, but with a funked-out, rock-and-roll flavour.
- The Wailin' Jennys are three of Winnipeg's best-known female singer/songwriters, who first came together two years ago for a one- time-only performance at a local record store.
Performers that will be featured on the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival second stage will be announced in the near future.
Alan Scales, event services coordinator for the Burnaby parks and cultural services division, said work on the natural outdoor amphitheatre has been ongoing ever since the first blues festival brought Robert Cray to the beautiful park setting in 2000.
"Certainly, all the work we did last year has led to us being able to bring additional concerts to the venue this year," Scales said, noting the Black Eyed Peas will perform on July 22 and Jack Johnson will be there on Aug. 14, one day after the Blues Fest.
"Last year we put in three terraces to really improve the sight lines, and we did some drainage and environmental work to help create a true bowl amphitheatre shape," Scales said.
With the addition of a hardened surface underneath the portable stage area and better east-west access across the site, Scales is confident Deer Lake Park will be able to comfortably fit 9,000 fans into the Blues Fest, making it the largest multi-use outdoor venue in the region.
"Deer Lake Park is truly unique in the region. There is no other venue that comes close to the gorgeous views and natural sightlines. There's just nothing more beautiful out there that can house this size of a show."
Tickets to the sixth annual Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival will go on sale tomorrow, May 26, through the website, www.burnabybluesfestival. com, or from Ticketmaster at 604-280- 4444.
Burnaby results disappoint city's NDP
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 21, 2005
While the New Democratic Party of B.C. regained its footing and won back many of its former political strongholds across the province on Tuesday night, there was no such resurgence in Burnaby.
The fact the NDP won only one of the four seats in a city that was once considered a bastion of the left wing in the Lower Mainland has sent a wake-up call to party organizers.
Patrice Pratt, the campaign organizer of Gabriel Yiu's unsuccessful run in the Burnaby-Willingdon riding and a former president of the B.C. NDP, said the demographics of the city are changing, and the public's apparent loss of interest in politics is having an adverse effect on their chances.
"The demographics have changed," Pratt said Thursday morning. "We are becoming a little Yaletown. When you look at Metrotown with its new apartments and condos, there is an interesting group of people who choose to live in that urban development.
"They are people who often have cellphones and no land line, and they are inaccessible as far as a politics is concerned. You can't get a hold of those folks."
Overall, Pratt said the NDP phone canvassers in Willingdon were only able to make contact with about 25 per cent of the voters in the urbanized riding. Compounded by a low voter turnout and the presence of a wild-card candidate such as Democratic Reform B.C. deputy leader Tony Kuo - whose 904 votes was more than double the margin of victory for the eventual winner, Liberal John Nuraney - and Pratt said the party may have a tough road ahead to regain its former status.
"Burnaby in the past has been a working-class neighbourhood. People would move here when they couldn't afford Vancouver," she said. "But that's not the case anymore. Now those people are moving to Surrey, and look at how well we (the NDP) did in Surrey.
"But we still have to find out what happened in Burnaby. Saying we lost ground is one way of putting it, but having no contact is another description of what happened.
"But at this point it's all speculation. We have to figure out how to get to voters in the 21st century. Perhaps we need figure out a text messaging system or how to operate with cellphones."
Meanwhile, at city hall, NDP-affiliated mayor Derek Corrigan said he was also surprised by the party's inability to win more than one seat in Burnaby.
"Of course it's a disappointment," said Corrigan, who is now the longest continually serving NDP politician in the city.
"I certainly was supportive of the candidates running for the NDP, and I had been disappointed by the lack of action on behalf of the city by the Liberal MLAs.
"But, that being said, Burnaby is a bellwether riding, and in all four constituencies, they generally reflect the trend in electing the government. So it's not particularly surprising to me that Burnaby would have fallen onto the side of the government when they carry a fairly significant majority of the overall vote."
One positive factor for the NDP was the return of its volunteers, the mayor said.
"Many of the people who left the NDP came back, and they came back in force. That was the real bright light in this campaign," Corrigan said. "But it was clear to me that the Liberals had the NDP outgunned financially by a significant amount.
"And the most disappointing thing to me was the incredibly biased media coverage, particularly by the Sun and The Province," said Corrigan, who noted that he cancelled his subscription to the morning tabloid because of its election coverage.
And despite the disappointments on the provincial scene, the NDP is still well represented at all other levels of government in Burnaby. Both of the city's members of Parliament, plus eight of nine seats at city council and six of seven seats on the school board, are currently filled by card-carrying members of the NDP.
Published May 21, 2005
While the New Democratic Party of B.C. regained its footing and won back many of its former political strongholds across the province on Tuesday night, there was no such resurgence in Burnaby.
The fact the NDP won only one of the four seats in a city that was once considered a bastion of the left wing in the Lower Mainland has sent a wake-up call to party organizers.
Patrice Pratt, the campaign organizer of Gabriel Yiu's unsuccessful run in the Burnaby-Willingdon riding and a former president of the B.C. NDP, said the demographics of the city are changing, and the public's apparent loss of interest in politics is having an adverse effect on their chances.
"The demographics have changed," Pratt said Thursday morning. "We are becoming a little Yaletown. When you look at Metrotown with its new apartments and condos, there is an interesting group of people who choose to live in that urban development.
"They are people who often have cellphones and no land line, and they are inaccessible as far as a politics is concerned. You can't get a hold of those folks."
Overall, Pratt said the NDP phone canvassers in Willingdon were only able to make contact with about 25 per cent of the voters in the urbanized riding. Compounded by a low voter turnout and the presence of a wild-card candidate such as Democratic Reform B.C. deputy leader Tony Kuo - whose 904 votes was more than double the margin of victory for the eventual winner, Liberal John Nuraney - and Pratt said the party may have a tough road ahead to regain its former status.
"Burnaby in the past has been a working-class neighbourhood. People would move here when they couldn't afford Vancouver," she said. "But that's not the case anymore. Now those people are moving to Surrey, and look at how well we (the NDP) did in Surrey.
"But we still have to find out what happened in Burnaby. Saying we lost ground is one way of putting it, but having no contact is another description of what happened.
"But at this point it's all speculation. We have to figure out how to get to voters in the 21st century. Perhaps we need figure out a text messaging system or how to operate with cellphones."
Meanwhile, at city hall, NDP-affiliated mayor Derek Corrigan said he was also surprised by the party's inability to win more than one seat in Burnaby.
"Of course it's a disappointment," said Corrigan, who is now the longest continually serving NDP politician in the city.
"I certainly was supportive of the candidates running for the NDP, and I had been disappointed by the lack of action on behalf of the city by the Liberal MLAs.
"But, that being said, Burnaby is a bellwether riding, and in all four constituencies, they generally reflect the trend in electing the government. So it's not particularly surprising to me that Burnaby would have fallen onto the side of the government when they carry a fairly significant majority of the overall vote."
One positive factor for the NDP was the return of its volunteers, the mayor said.
"Many of the people who left the NDP came back, and they came back in force. That was the real bright light in this campaign," Corrigan said. "But it was clear to me that the Liberals had the NDP outgunned financially by a significant amount.
"And the most disappointing thing to me was the incredibly biased media coverage, particularly by the Sun and The Province," said Corrigan, who noted that he cancelled his subscription to the morning tabloid because of its election coverage.
And despite the disappointments on the provincial scene, the NDP is still well represented at all other levels of government in Burnaby. Both of the city's members of Parliament, plus eight of nine seats at city council and six of seven seats on the school board, are currently filled by card-carrying members of the NDP.
Raj Chouhan takes Edmonds
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 21, 2005
Patty Sahota spent most of Tuesday night waiting for a miracle that never came.
Raj Chouhan, her NDP rival in Burnaby-Edmonds, had long ago declared himself the winner, but the newly appointed Liberal minister of state for resort development refused to concede.
And so, as the official numbers showed a widening gap, and as her team of volunteers packed up their belongings and headed for home, Sahota quietly shuffled between a secluded back room and the busy lobby of her election office.
At 10:30 p.m., when NDP leader Carole James took to the airwaves to celebrate the resurgence of her party, Sahota watched in silence.
When premier Gordon Campbell gave his formal victory speech at about 11 p.m., Sahota again stood silently amid a throng of her supporters as a stream of tears trickled down her face.
"You know what? It's not over yet," she told the various reporters who had gathered at her office. "We still have six more polls and three more advanced polls to count."
Finally, around midnight, when many of Sahota's volunteers had gone home and her longtime friend, Forest Minister Mike de Jong arrived to lend his support, the diminutive first-time MLA finally steeled up the courage to acknowledge what every television station, radio commentator and her rival had already declared. Sahota was the lone Liberal MLA from Burnaby not to win re-election on Tuesday night.
"The good news is the B.C. Liberals have been re-elected and Premier Campbell is back," said Sahota. "But it appears in Burnaby- Edmonds that we have fallen a little short. There's a margin of about 400 votes right now, and the NDP candidate, Raj Chouhan, ... I wish him well."
In fact, the final tally from Elections B.C. shows that Chouhan won by a margin of 586 votes - the biggest vote spread in any of the four Burnaby ridings and the only positive result for the NDP in a city that was once considered a socialist stronghold.
When asked why she was the only Liberal in the city to lose her seat, Sahota said the NDP "put a lot of resources in here" to support their candidate, the director of organizing for the Hospital Employees' Union.
"The demographics have changed a lot in the last four years. It could have gone either way tonight," she said.
After conceding, Sahota expressed confidence in what the future might hold for her. "You know, a lot of doors will open. That's the neat thing in life," she said. "But this has been great. It's been great to serve the people of Burnaby for the past four years. But I've got to take a big breath right now."
Across town, at the NDP victory party at the Operating Engineers hall, Chouhan was feted as the man of the hour by a throng of well- wishers and volunteers from throughout the city.
"The people I met on the doorsteps, they knew it: They'd had enough of Gordon Campbell," he said to cheers from the crowd.
Chouhan thanked his wife, children and sister, along with the "loyal, sincere" team of volunteers that helped put him in office. "My team, I'm so proud of it, it's unbelievable the kind of work they do," he said.
Chouhan's team had been working since 6:30 a.m., with about 200 volunteers out on the streets and in the polling stations. "I only won because of you, thank you," a beaming Chouhan said.
But he warned their work has only just begun. "Even though we have won the election tonight, we have a big fight ahead of us," he said. "We will keep Gordon Campbell and his cronies accountable for the next four years."
Then, with a grin, he gave all his supporters an invitation they were clearly happy to take up: "Let's party!"
To the accompaniment of an enthusiastic drummer, supporters broke into dancing, hoisting Chouhan on their shoulders and circling the floor as others watched and cheered.
But, while the mood was festive, Chouhan acknowledged that he was personally disappointed by the fact the NDP was only able to regain one seat in Burnaby.
"I was hoping for a clean sweep," Chouhan said.
Chouhan was also unable to explain why the NDP was unable to make gains in the three other Burnaby ridings, when many other traditional NDP seats around the province returned to the fold.
"I have no idea," he said.
"I would say with the kind of team we had, I knew we would win. We also knew it would be a tight race," Chouhan said. "The people of Burnaby-Edmonds felt very neglected for the past four years. They want to be heard in Victoria, and I heard that message. The NDP is now back. We've got 33 seats and that's a big leap, and the Liberal government now has to be accountable.
"I look forward to having a strong voice to stop the privatization of health care and to stop the erosion of our education system," he said.
In one of his first duties as an MLA, Chouhan vowed to oppose the "child labour legislation" enacted by the B.C. Liberals during their first term in office.
"The Liberals now allow children under the age of 15 to work without proper regulations," he said. "Before, you used to need the approval of two parents, a principal and the director of employment standards.
"Now, just one parent can approve a child working. I think it's a shameful act," Chouhan said.
- with files from Julie MacLellan
Published May 21, 2005
Patty Sahota spent most of Tuesday night waiting for a miracle that never came.
Raj Chouhan, her NDP rival in Burnaby-Edmonds, had long ago declared himself the winner, but the newly appointed Liberal minister of state for resort development refused to concede.
And so, as the official numbers showed a widening gap, and as her team of volunteers packed up their belongings and headed for home, Sahota quietly shuffled between a secluded back room and the busy lobby of her election office.
At 10:30 p.m., when NDP leader Carole James took to the airwaves to celebrate the resurgence of her party, Sahota watched in silence.
When premier Gordon Campbell gave his formal victory speech at about 11 p.m., Sahota again stood silently amid a throng of her supporters as a stream of tears trickled down her face.
"You know what? It's not over yet," she told the various reporters who had gathered at her office. "We still have six more polls and three more advanced polls to count."
Finally, around midnight, when many of Sahota's volunteers had gone home and her longtime friend, Forest Minister Mike de Jong arrived to lend his support, the diminutive first-time MLA finally steeled up the courage to acknowledge what every television station, radio commentator and her rival had already declared. Sahota was the lone Liberal MLA from Burnaby not to win re-election on Tuesday night.
"The good news is the B.C. Liberals have been re-elected and Premier Campbell is back," said Sahota. "But it appears in Burnaby- Edmonds that we have fallen a little short. There's a margin of about 400 votes right now, and the NDP candidate, Raj Chouhan, ... I wish him well."
In fact, the final tally from Elections B.C. shows that Chouhan won by a margin of 586 votes - the biggest vote spread in any of the four Burnaby ridings and the only positive result for the NDP in a city that was once considered a socialist stronghold.
When asked why she was the only Liberal in the city to lose her seat, Sahota said the NDP "put a lot of resources in here" to support their candidate, the director of organizing for the Hospital Employees' Union.
"The demographics have changed a lot in the last four years. It could have gone either way tonight," she said.
After conceding, Sahota expressed confidence in what the future might hold for her. "You know, a lot of doors will open. That's the neat thing in life," she said. "But this has been great. It's been great to serve the people of Burnaby for the past four years. But I've got to take a big breath right now."
Across town, at the NDP victory party at the Operating Engineers hall, Chouhan was feted as the man of the hour by a throng of well- wishers and volunteers from throughout the city.
"The people I met on the doorsteps, they knew it: They'd had enough of Gordon Campbell," he said to cheers from the crowd.
Chouhan thanked his wife, children and sister, along with the "loyal, sincere" team of volunteers that helped put him in office. "My team, I'm so proud of it, it's unbelievable the kind of work they do," he said.
Chouhan's team had been working since 6:30 a.m., with about 200 volunteers out on the streets and in the polling stations. "I only won because of you, thank you," a beaming Chouhan said.
But he warned their work has only just begun. "Even though we have won the election tonight, we have a big fight ahead of us," he said. "We will keep Gordon Campbell and his cronies accountable for the next four years."
Then, with a grin, he gave all his supporters an invitation they were clearly happy to take up: "Let's party!"
To the accompaniment of an enthusiastic drummer, supporters broke into dancing, hoisting Chouhan on their shoulders and circling the floor as others watched and cheered.
But, while the mood was festive, Chouhan acknowledged that he was personally disappointed by the fact the NDP was only able to regain one seat in Burnaby.
"I was hoping for a clean sweep," Chouhan said.
Chouhan was also unable to explain why the NDP was unable to make gains in the three other Burnaby ridings, when many other traditional NDP seats around the province returned to the fold.
"I have no idea," he said.
"I would say with the kind of team we had, I knew we would win. We also knew it would be a tight race," Chouhan said. "The people of Burnaby-Edmonds felt very neglected for the past four years. They want to be heard in Victoria, and I heard that message. The NDP is now back. We've got 33 seats and that's a big leap, and the Liberal government now has to be accountable.
"I look forward to having a strong voice to stop the privatization of health care and to stop the erosion of our education system," he said.
In one of his first duties as an MLA, Chouhan vowed to oppose the "child labour legislation" enacted by the B.C. Liberals during their first term in office.
"The Liberals now allow children under the age of 15 to work without proper regulations," he said. "Before, you used to need the approval of two parents, a principal and the director of employment standards.
"Now, just one parent can approve a child working. I think it's a shameful act," Chouhan said.
- with files from Julie MacLellan
Federal candidates prepare for election
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 18, 2005
As the provincial election came to a close on Tuesday, things were heating up in Ottawa, where the city's two rookie NDP members of Parliament and their rivals were anxiously awaiting Thursday's non-confidence vote in the Liberal government.
Not surprisingly, the NDP members want the government to continue working, while the city's two newly nominated Tory candidates want the government to fall.
Peter Julian, the MP in Burnaby-New Westminster, and Bill Siksay in Burnaby-Douglas both said the government needs to pass the budget, which they believe has been greatly improved by their party's proposed amendments.
"Rather than making the main focus of the budget corporate tax cuts, as it was originally, the NDP has pushed the Liberals to the wall and we now have a much better budget with more for the homeless, more for the environment, ways to deal with the crisis in post-secondary education, plus $100 million in support for workers who lose their jobs," Julian said.
"I've knocked on a couple thousand doors in the past month or so, and people in my riding are very clear, they do not want an election," Julian said. "I could count the number of people who said they think we should have an election right now on the fingers on one hand.
"That doesn't mean that people aren't appalled. People see that the Liberals have basically been spending public funds on themselves to enhance their party fundraising. ... But, in our community, folks are patient and understand Gomery needs to finish his work and then they'll judge. I think that's a mature way of responding."
Siksay, contacted on Monday night before Belinda Stronach defected to join Paul Martin's cabinet, sounded slightly less optimistic that the government would win Thursday's non-confidence vote.
"If it (an election) doesn't happen this week, it'll likely happen soon," Siksay said. "I am prepared to keep working here. My colleagues and I haven't been playing the kind of game that the other parties have been playing. We're doing the job we were sent here to do, and we'll continue on that path."
But the two Burnaby NDP constituency associations will host a joint nominating meeting on Friday night.
If the government loses Thursday's non-confidence vote, the federal election could be held as early as June 27.
Last weekend, the Tories nominated George Drazenovic to run in Burnaby-Douglas for the second election in a row, and Pitt Meadows school teacher Marc Dalton won the Conservative nomination in Burnaby-New Westminster.
While the two Tories expressed support for their embattled party leader, Stephen Harper, neither candidate sounded fully convinced that the Conservatives could win a snap election call.
"I'd like to see Parliament work, I really would, I just don't see it working right now, so where does that leave us?" asked Drazenovic, who said the Liberals are currently spending money at the rate of about a billion dollars per day.
"At this rate, Paul Martin will bankrupt the country. This is not the financially prudent man we once knew, and that bothers a lot of voters, myself included. We didn't vote for a government that spends our money recklessly," said Drazenovic, who now works as chief financial officer for an energy technology firm trading on the Nasdaq exchange.
Similar concerns were echoed by Dalton, president of the riding association in Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission.
When asked if the government should be voted down this week, Dalton replied: "Yes and no. Yes, I'd like to see the Liberals out, and no, I just finished the (nominating) campaign and I personally could use some more time."
That double-minded view of a snap election is reflected in an online survey being conducted by Conservative MP Paul Forseth from New Westminster-Coquitlam.
As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, Forseth's survey had 57 per cent of respondents saying they'd vote for the NDP or Liberals, while only 40 per cent expressed support for the Conservatives.
Published May 18, 2005
As the provincial election came to a close on Tuesday, things were heating up in Ottawa, where the city's two rookie NDP members of Parliament and their rivals were anxiously awaiting Thursday's non-confidence vote in the Liberal government.
Not surprisingly, the NDP members want the government to continue working, while the city's two newly nominated Tory candidates want the government to fall.
Peter Julian, the MP in Burnaby-New Westminster, and Bill Siksay in Burnaby-Douglas both said the government needs to pass the budget, which they believe has been greatly improved by their party's proposed amendments.
"Rather than making the main focus of the budget corporate tax cuts, as it was originally, the NDP has pushed the Liberals to the wall and we now have a much better budget with more for the homeless, more for the environment, ways to deal with the crisis in post-secondary education, plus $100 million in support for workers who lose their jobs," Julian said.
"I've knocked on a couple thousand doors in the past month or so, and people in my riding are very clear, they do not want an election," Julian said. "I could count the number of people who said they think we should have an election right now on the fingers on one hand.
"That doesn't mean that people aren't appalled. People see that the Liberals have basically been spending public funds on themselves to enhance their party fundraising. ... But, in our community, folks are patient and understand Gomery needs to finish his work and then they'll judge. I think that's a mature way of responding."
Siksay, contacted on Monday night before Belinda Stronach defected to join Paul Martin's cabinet, sounded slightly less optimistic that the government would win Thursday's non-confidence vote.
"If it (an election) doesn't happen this week, it'll likely happen soon," Siksay said. "I am prepared to keep working here. My colleagues and I haven't been playing the kind of game that the other parties have been playing. We're doing the job we were sent here to do, and we'll continue on that path."
But the two Burnaby NDP constituency associations will host a joint nominating meeting on Friday night.
If the government loses Thursday's non-confidence vote, the federal election could be held as early as June 27.
Last weekend, the Tories nominated George Drazenovic to run in Burnaby-Douglas for the second election in a row, and Pitt Meadows school teacher Marc Dalton won the Conservative nomination in Burnaby-New Westminster.
While the two Tories expressed support for their embattled party leader, Stephen Harper, neither candidate sounded fully convinced that the Conservatives could win a snap election call.
"I'd like to see Parliament work, I really would, I just don't see it working right now, so where does that leave us?" asked Drazenovic, who said the Liberals are currently spending money at the rate of about a billion dollars per day.
"At this rate, Paul Martin will bankrupt the country. This is not the financially prudent man we once knew, and that bothers a lot of voters, myself included. We didn't vote for a government that spends our money recklessly," said Drazenovic, who now works as chief financial officer for an energy technology firm trading on the Nasdaq exchange.
Similar concerns were echoed by Dalton, president of the riding association in Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission.
When asked if the government should be voted down this week, Dalton replied: "Yes and no. Yes, I'd like to see the Liberals out, and no, I just finished the (nominating) campaign and I personally could use some more time."
That double-minded view of a snap election is reflected in an online survey being conducted by Conservative MP Paul Forseth from New Westminster-Coquitlam.
As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, Forseth's survey had 57 per cent of respondents saying they'd vote for the NDP or Liberals, while only 40 per cent expressed support for the Conservatives.
Black Eyed Peas to play Deer Lake
Lively City column by Dan Hilborn
Published May 18, 2005
One of the hottest rock bands on the continent will be coming to Burnaby on July 22 for an outdoor summer concert in the newly refurbished Deer Lake Park amphitheatre.
The Black Eyed Peas, the hip hop/rock band with the new hit song Where is the Love, will play the first of what is expected to be three House of Blues concerts in the park, in addition to the seventh annual Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival.
Tickets go on sale Friday for the Black Eyed Peas, but be prepared for a quick sellout. There are only 9,000 tickets available for the show, and they sell out quickly.
The Aug. 14 House of Blues concert with Jack Johnson and the Animal Liberation Orchestra and Matt Costa has already sold out.
Alan Scales, event services coordinator for the Burnaby cultural services division, said Deer Lake Park will be able to accommodate more music this year, after a series of upgrades to the outdoor venue over the past several years.
In addition to the Black Eyed Peas and Jack Johnson, Burnaby is hoping to host a third House of Blues concert this summer, in addition to the annual Vancouver Symphony Orchestra free concert on Aug. 12 and the blues festival on the following day.
MYZTERY CD RELEASE
A Christian rock band whose lead guitarist used to play with Bryan Adams will be holding a free CD release concert at the St. Francis de Sales Church hall in South Burnaby on Saturday, May 28.
Myztery takes its name from the mystery plays that were popular religious teaching tools in the 15th century. A press release describes their shows as presenting a combination of "inspiring Christian music with abstract, ethereal and soundtrack-like qualities with special lighting effects, interpretive dance, colourful costumes and a variety of theatrical masks and set designs."
The band features founder and Burnaby native Peter Mason, a solo recording artist who studies religious history, keyboard player Cyndie Grozelle and lead guitarist Vic Gagnon, who once played in a band with Bryan Adams.
Some of the instruments that will be on stage include a Kinnor harp - "the kind King David played" - psaltery, lyre, dulcimer, mandolin and ethnic drums.
Myztery will play at St. Francis de Sales Church hall, 6610 Balmoral St. - behind the Tim Hortons on Kingsway - at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 28.
Published May 18, 2005
One of the hottest rock bands on the continent will be coming to Burnaby on July 22 for an outdoor summer concert in the newly refurbished Deer Lake Park amphitheatre.
The Black Eyed Peas, the hip hop/rock band with the new hit song Where is the Love, will play the first of what is expected to be three House of Blues concerts in the park, in addition to the seventh annual Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival.
Tickets go on sale Friday for the Black Eyed Peas, but be prepared for a quick sellout. There are only 9,000 tickets available for the show, and they sell out quickly.
The Aug. 14 House of Blues concert with Jack Johnson and the Animal Liberation Orchestra and Matt Costa has already sold out.
Alan Scales, event services coordinator for the Burnaby cultural services division, said Deer Lake Park will be able to accommodate more music this year, after a series of upgrades to the outdoor venue over the past several years.
In addition to the Black Eyed Peas and Jack Johnson, Burnaby is hoping to host a third House of Blues concert this summer, in addition to the annual Vancouver Symphony Orchestra free concert on Aug. 12 and the blues festival on the following day.
MYZTERY CD RELEASE
A Christian rock band whose lead guitarist used to play with Bryan Adams will be holding a free CD release concert at the St. Francis de Sales Church hall in South Burnaby on Saturday, May 28.
Myztery takes its name from the mystery plays that were popular religious teaching tools in the 15th century. A press release describes their shows as presenting a combination of "inspiring Christian music with abstract, ethereal and soundtrack-like qualities with special lighting effects, interpretive dance, colourful costumes and a variety of theatrical masks and set designs."
The band features founder and Burnaby native Peter Mason, a solo recording artist who studies religious history, keyboard player Cyndie Grozelle and lead guitarist Vic Gagnon, who once played in a band with Bryan Adams.
Some of the instruments that will be on stage include a Kinnor harp - "the kind King David played" - psaltery, lyre, dulcimer, mandolin and ethnic drums.
Myztery will play at St. Francis de Sales Church hall, 6610 Balmoral St. - behind the Tim Hortons on Kingsway - at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 28.
Campbell promises $10 million for lake project
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 14, 2005
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell gave Burnaby voters 10 million more reasons to cast their ballot for the B.C. Liberals in the May 17 election.
In his second visit to the city in less than a week, Campbell was flanked by all four of his local candidates when he promised $10 million for the dredging and rejuvenation of Burnaby Lake.
"Burnaby Lake is one of the Lower Mainland's truly great environmental and recreational assets," Campbell said while standing on the recently refurbished Piper Spit boardwalk Thursday morning.
While exact details of the dredging project still need to be finalized, Campbell's announcement means the city can finally move forward with a long-planned $29-million project to remove up to 400,000 cubic metres of sediment from the 36-hectare lake.
Campbell also offered to work with Simon Fraser University, the Burnaby Lake Rowing Club and the Canoe and Kayak Club to build a national training centre at the lake.
Contacted at city hall, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan said the city had been lobbying the provincial government for the funding since 2003, and he was pleased to see the Liberals finally come onside with the revitalization project.
"I'm really pleasantly surprised that they made this commitment today, even if it is electioneering," said Corrigan, noting that he was not invited to the formal announcement.
Corrigan also said that he received a similar funding commitment from NDP leader Carole James less than 24 hours earlier.
When asked if he was surprised by the timing of Campbell's commitment, Corrigan responded: "In a sense, if you're cynical, you're not surprised. And if you're practical, we could have been on this project if we could have gotten the support earlier on.
"I'm just glad I've got bipartisan agreement on this now," he said. "Carole James committed yesterday that they (the NDP) would support this, and I had given up on the Liberals supporting this."
But Campbell, who compared the Burnaby Lake dredging announcement to his government's 2003 decision to spend $79 million to purchase and preserve 2,200 hectares of Burns Bog in Delta, said the funding was only made possible because of the booming economy.
The project, which should be completed in time for the 2009 World Police and Fire Games, also meets two of his government's "five great goals" for the future - sustainable environmental management and healthy living.
"This could be one of the premier sport facilities in Canada," Campbell said, noting the project will restore the 2,000-m rowing course that was initially built at the lake in time for the 1972 Canada Summer Games.
And he gave credit to the city's four MLAs - Harry Bloy, Patty Sahota, Richard Lee and John Nuraney - for being "persistent in their pursuit of this plan."
In addition to the dredging, the project includes an upgrade to a large GVRD water main under the lake.
Just hours after the Liberal announcement, the NDP issued a press release that promised their support to the dredging project and some other uses for the planned rowing facility.
"Party's plan would look at creating dragon boat facility to reflect Burnaby's multicultural diversity," said the NDP press release.
"I couldn't believe what I heard from the Liberals today, because it wasn't that long ago that Gordon Campbell personally rejected funding this important project," said Burnaby-Willingdon NDP candidate Gabriel Yiu in the press release.
Published May 14, 2005
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell gave Burnaby voters 10 million more reasons to cast their ballot for the B.C. Liberals in the May 17 election.
In his second visit to the city in less than a week, Campbell was flanked by all four of his local candidates when he promised $10 million for the dredging and rejuvenation of Burnaby Lake.
"Burnaby Lake is one of the Lower Mainland's truly great environmental and recreational assets," Campbell said while standing on the recently refurbished Piper Spit boardwalk Thursday morning.
While exact details of the dredging project still need to be finalized, Campbell's announcement means the city can finally move forward with a long-planned $29-million project to remove up to 400,000 cubic metres of sediment from the 36-hectare lake.
Campbell also offered to work with Simon Fraser University, the Burnaby Lake Rowing Club and the Canoe and Kayak Club to build a national training centre at the lake.
Contacted at city hall, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan said the city had been lobbying the provincial government for the funding since 2003, and he was pleased to see the Liberals finally come onside with the revitalization project.
"I'm really pleasantly surprised that they made this commitment today, even if it is electioneering," said Corrigan, noting that he was not invited to the formal announcement.
Corrigan also said that he received a similar funding commitment from NDP leader Carole James less than 24 hours earlier.
When asked if he was surprised by the timing of Campbell's commitment, Corrigan responded: "In a sense, if you're cynical, you're not surprised. And if you're practical, we could have been on this project if we could have gotten the support earlier on.
"I'm just glad I've got bipartisan agreement on this now," he said. "Carole James committed yesterday that they (the NDP) would support this, and I had given up on the Liberals supporting this."
But Campbell, who compared the Burnaby Lake dredging announcement to his government's 2003 decision to spend $79 million to purchase and preserve 2,200 hectares of Burns Bog in Delta, said the funding was only made possible because of the booming economy.
The project, which should be completed in time for the 2009 World Police and Fire Games, also meets two of his government's "five great goals" for the future - sustainable environmental management and healthy living.
"This could be one of the premier sport facilities in Canada," Campbell said, noting the project will restore the 2,000-m rowing course that was initially built at the lake in time for the 1972 Canada Summer Games.
And he gave credit to the city's four MLAs - Harry Bloy, Patty Sahota, Richard Lee and John Nuraney - for being "persistent in their pursuit of this plan."
In addition to the dredging, the project includes an upgrade to a large GVRD water main under the lake.
Just hours after the Liberal announcement, the NDP issued a press release that promised their support to the dredging project and some other uses for the planned rowing facility.
"Party's plan would look at creating dragon boat facility to reflect Burnaby's multicultural diversity," said the NDP press release.
"I couldn't believe what I heard from the Liberals today, because it wasn't that long ago that Gordon Campbell personally rejected funding this important project," said Burnaby-Willingdon NDP candidate Gabriel Yiu in the press release.
Doctor crashes Campbell's press conference
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 14, 2005
A doctor who has been unable to practise medicine since moving to British Columbia 10 years ago crashed the premier's press conference at the Ledgestone townhouse development last week, but he did not receive the promise he sought.
Dr. Parvinder Birdi, a 37-year-old general practitioner who was educated in India, wants the provincial government to commit to allowing more foreign-trained doctors to practise the profession.
"Currently, there are only six residency positions to train international medical graduates as general practitioners in B.C.," Birdi told the Burnaby NOW.
The disgruntled doctor said the NDP issued a press release earlier in the campaign that committed to opening a total of 25 residency seats for foreign-trained doctors - 20 in general practice and five in medical specialties - but the B.C. Liberals have yet to confirm their intentions, Birdi said.
"For me I don't think there's been any change. I'm still unemployed," Birdi said during the premier's press event.
Later, Birdi told the Burnaby NOW that Ottawa has agreed to fund $75 million to certify foreign professionals across the country over the next five years, and all that's needed is an agreement with the province on how that money will be spent in B.C.
Educated as a general practitioner with a specialty in family practice, Birdi said he has two years of postgraduate training and practiced medicine for three months before moving with his wife to Canada. He currently does "clinical training" at a walk-in clinic at Main and Marine Drive to keep his skills honed, but works at "odd jobs" to help support his family.
Birdi also lamented the difficulties in trying to find any kind of work. "I've tried other jobs, but I couldn't find another - it's not like medicine. When you go to other places they want experience, even for a cashier," he said.
Published May 14, 2005
A doctor who has been unable to practise medicine since moving to British Columbia 10 years ago crashed the premier's press conference at the Ledgestone townhouse development last week, but he did not receive the promise he sought.
Dr. Parvinder Birdi, a 37-year-old general practitioner who was educated in India, wants the provincial government to commit to allowing more foreign-trained doctors to practise the profession.
"Currently, there are only six residency positions to train international medical graduates as general practitioners in B.C.," Birdi told the Burnaby NOW.
The disgruntled doctor said the NDP issued a press release earlier in the campaign that committed to opening a total of 25 residency seats for foreign-trained doctors - 20 in general practice and five in medical specialties - but the B.C. Liberals have yet to confirm their intentions, Birdi said.
"For me I don't think there's been any change. I'm still unemployed," Birdi said during the premier's press event.
Later, Birdi told the Burnaby NOW that Ottawa has agreed to fund $75 million to certify foreign professionals across the country over the next five years, and all that's needed is an agreement with the province on how that money will be spent in B.C.
Educated as a general practitioner with a specialty in family practice, Birdi said he has two years of postgraduate training and practiced medicine for three months before moving with his wife to Canada. He currently does "clinical training" at a walk-in clinic at Main and Marine Drive to keep his skills honed, but works at "odd jobs" to help support his family.
Birdi also lamented the difficulties in trying to find any kind of work. "I've tried other jobs, but I couldn't find another - it's not like medicine. When you go to other places they want experience, even for a cashier," he said.
James takes aim at health care in Burnaby
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 14, 2005
A young woman from Burnaby was thrust into the media spotlight Wednesday morning when she joined NDP leader Carole James and Burnaby North candidate Pietro Calendino at a press conference that claimed a lack of cleanliness at Burnaby Hospital is putting patients' lives at risk.
Robin Lowe said she is still suffering the effects of an infection she contracted after she entered Burnaby Hospital on April 18 for what should have been a simple one-day appendectomy operation.
"I want to focus on the hospital's state of cleanliness, which I found appalling," said Lowe, who described herself as a former Green Party supporter. "Our bathroom in a post-op room was filthy. ... The toilet was never cleaned.
"I was so afraid of developing a worsening infection that my trips to the bathroom consisted of cleaning the door handles, the taps and the toilet before I used them," she said, adding that she was put into a room with two men and had to ask her friends and family to change her bedsheets during her stay.
"My life was put at risk simply to save this province money," she said.
Lowe said that she does not blame the cleaning staff for the problems she encountered.
"My problem is not with the skill of the staff," she said. "These were low-paid workers who were not well trained."
When Lowe questioned one female cleaner why she was sweating profusely while she performed her duties, she learned that same person was responsible for cleaning four wards each day.
When Lowe complained to the nurses, she was told that there is little they could do to have emergency spills cleaned up because of a hospital policy that requires staff to call a central dispatch phone number in order to take care of non-routine cleaning needs.
Lowe said that she agreed to speak at the NDP press conference because she is not convinced that the Green Party has a plan for the future of health care.
"I was lying in a hospital bed watching TV and I didn't hear the leader of the Green Party talking about health care," she said. "Nobody was talking about fixing our health-care system except Carole James."
Meanwhile, James insisted the NDP would "not tear up" any contracts with private housekeeping firms that work in B.C. hospitals and instead would demand that those companies uphold the standards in their existing contracts.
"I think the cleaning staff needs to be regulated," James said. "I want to open the contracts to public scrutiny and hold the companies responsible.
"Unlike Gordon Campbell, I am not going to rip up contracts," she said.
James also said that Lowe's complaints are part of the greater problems in the health care system that include longer waiting lists, and the closure or elimination of beds during the past four years.
James noted that city lost 234 extended care beds plus 25 per cent of the acute care beds that used to be at Burnaby Hospital, while city residents "fought tooth and nail" to ensure the emergency room at the hospital stayed open.
Meanwhile, an official with the Fraser Health Authority said that cleaning standards at Burnaby Hospital have steadily improved since the service was contracted out to Sodexho MS Canada Ltd. on April 1, 2004.
Simrita Johal said that all bathrooms in area hospitals are cleaned once per day, and bedsheets are changed every two or three days on average, and immediately if they become soiled.
"Definitely, if a person is staying in a multibedded room with three or four patients, absolutely the bathrooms may become filthy over the course of the day. But I'm not sure if that's what happened in this case," she said. "I don't know if she even contacted nursing staff. If she did and if the bathrooms still weren't cleaned, then absolutely we would look into it."
Johal also said that it is possible that the bathroom was cleaned early in the day, but became soiled before Lowe used it.
Johal also said that the health authority has no formal record of Lowe's complaints during her stay, and said officials can only react to problems when they are made aware of them.
"If people have concerns about anything - about cleanliness in the hospitals or about the care they receive - they should call us," she said. "We're always looking for improvement based on feedback from patients."
In March, the six B.C. health authorities signed a contract with Westech Systems Inc. to conduct an impartial third-party audit of cleanliness standards in the hospitals that will include "unscheduled and unannounced" visits by auditors, and public release of the results of their survey.
Published May 14, 2005
A young woman from Burnaby was thrust into the media spotlight Wednesday morning when she joined NDP leader Carole James and Burnaby North candidate Pietro Calendino at a press conference that claimed a lack of cleanliness at Burnaby Hospital is putting patients' lives at risk.
Robin Lowe said she is still suffering the effects of an infection she contracted after she entered Burnaby Hospital on April 18 for what should have been a simple one-day appendectomy operation.
"I want to focus on the hospital's state of cleanliness, which I found appalling," said Lowe, who described herself as a former Green Party supporter. "Our bathroom in a post-op room was filthy. ... The toilet was never cleaned.
"I was so afraid of developing a worsening infection that my trips to the bathroom consisted of cleaning the door handles, the taps and the toilet before I used them," she said, adding that she was put into a room with two men and had to ask her friends and family to change her bedsheets during her stay.
"My life was put at risk simply to save this province money," she said.
Lowe said that she does not blame the cleaning staff for the problems she encountered.
"My problem is not with the skill of the staff," she said. "These were low-paid workers who were not well trained."
When Lowe questioned one female cleaner why she was sweating profusely while she performed her duties, she learned that same person was responsible for cleaning four wards each day.
When Lowe complained to the nurses, she was told that there is little they could do to have emergency spills cleaned up because of a hospital policy that requires staff to call a central dispatch phone number in order to take care of non-routine cleaning needs.
Lowe said that she agreed to speak at the NDP press conference because she is not convinced that the Green Party has a plan for the future of health care.
"I was lying in a hospital bed watching TV and I didn't hear the leader of the Green Party talking about health care," she said. "Nobody was talking about fixing our health-care system except Carole James."
Meanwhile, James insisted the NDP would "not tear up" any contracts with private housekeeping firms that work in B.C. hospitals and instead would demand that those companies uphold the standards in their existing contracts.
"I think the cleaning staff needs to be regulated," James said. "I want to open the contracts to public scrutiny and hold the companies responsible.
"Unlike Gordon Campbell, I am not going to rip up contracts," she said.
James also said that Lowe's complaints are part of the greater problems in the health care system that include longer waiting lists, and the closure or elimination of beds during the past four years.
James noted that city lost 234 extended care beds plus 25 per cent of the acute care beds that used to be at Burnaby Hospital, while city residents "fought tooth and nail" to ensure the emergency room at the hospital stayed open.
Meanwhile, an official with the Fraser Health Authority said that cleaning standards at Burnaby Hospital have steadily improved since the service was contracted out to Sodexho MS Canada Ltd. on April 1, 2004.
Simrita Johal said that all bathrooms in area hospitals are cleaned once per day, and bedsheets are changed every two or three days on average, and immediately if they become soiled.
"Definitely, if a person is staying in a multibedded room with three or four patients, absolutely the bathrooms may become filthy over the course of the day. But I'm not sure if that's what happened in this case," she said. "I don't know if she even contacted nursing staff. If she did and if the bathrooms still weren't cleaned, then absolutely we would look into it."
Johal also said that it is possible that the bathroom was cleaned early in the day, but became soiled before Lowe used it.
Johal also said that the health authority has no formal record of Lowe's complaints during her stay, and said officials can only react to problems when they are made aware of them.
"If people have concerns about anything - about cleanliness in the hospitals or about the care they receive - they should call us," she said. "We're always looking for improvement based on feedback from patients."
In March, the six B.C. health authorities signed a contract with Westech Systems Inc. to conduct an impartial third-party audit of cleanliness standards in the hospitals that will include "unscheduled and unannounced" visits by auditors, and public release of the results of their survey.
Kuo proves the sky's the limit
Backrooms column by Dan Hilborn
Published May 14, 2005
Tony Kuo, the Democratic Reform B.C. candidate in Burnaby-Willingdon, went to some unusual heights to get his message across to voters on Thursday afternoon.
Kuo hired an airplane to fly a giant banner over the riding while he conducted his regular afternoon sign-waving campaign with a long line of supporters on Willingdon Avenue.
The plane, which was dispatched out of Pitt Meadows airport, flew around for about two hours with a decidedly conservative and surprisingly non-controversial banner proclaiming: "Vote Tony Kuo!"
Shayne Gordon, the former B.C. Liberal riding association president who now works as director of communications for Kuo's often off-beat campaign, said his candidate has become "a little more diplomatic" since the early days of the campaign.
"When you strip it down to the bare bones, he's a pretty intense man," Gordon told the Burnaby NOW. "I actually would really like to see him get elected. I know it's a longshot, but I think he'd be a real breath of fresh air."
Kuo, the deputy leader of DRBC, has made headlines ever since he broke down and cried when the federal Liberal party refused to let him run for the party in last year's national election. Kuo became equally upset last fall when the B.C. NDP also refused to accept his nomination papers.
RANKIN PAYS UP
Burnaby city councillor Lee Rankin made himself a few new friends in time for Mother's Day after he handed over a $100 cheque to the Marguerite Dixon transition house.
The 51-year-old city councillor made the payment two weeks ago after he lost a bet to Burnaby NOW news editor Julie MacLellan over who could post the fastest time in the 21st Sun Run.
Rankin finished in a respectable time of 66:17, after making the mistake of drinking a cup of coffee before the race started. MacLellan, who underwent an intensive 12-week training program prior to the run, finished in a time of 56:01.
Rankin, who notes that he is 17 years older and many pounds heavier than the recently buffed-up journalist, said he was happy to give the cash towards such a good cause.
Adele Wilson, executive director of the only women's transition house in Burnaby, said the money was spent on "direct services" for women and children - gifts and flowers for Mother's Day.
"Moms don't celebrate Mothers' Day too much when they come into the house," Wilson said.
HEALTH AND THE PATRIOT ACT
It had little impact on the provincial election campaign, but the long reach of the USA Patriot Act was felt by the Fraser Health Authority last month.
The local health authority quietly removed a warning about the new U.S. security laws from its website last month when questions about the unusual posting were first raised by this reporter.
The warning was attached to a survey of eating habits that was posted on the FHA website from late March to April 26, confirmed FHA spokesperson Don Bower.
The Grab and Go contest, conducted by the US-based research firm surveymonkey.com, received "slightly better than 100 responses," none of which raised concerns about the Patriot Act, Bower said. The warning advised respondents that their answers - including personal information about their age and e-mail addresses - would be stored in the United States, and possibly accessible to the reach of the U.S. government.
"There has been lots of talk about the Patriot Act and the American government's ability to subpoena information," Bower said just moments after the warning was removed from the website.
"We put that up as a courtesy so folks can make a decision for themselves whether or not they want to participate."
Bower said the health authority received "nothing negative" in any of the responses.
MAD COW COVERUP?
Is it time to close the Canadian border to American beef imports?
That's the question from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian, after the Washington D.C.-based Environment News Service found several former U.S. Department of Agriculture employees who question whether their employee has adequately investigated claims of mad cow disease in American cattle herds.
An April 15 story from ENS quotes retired USDA veterinarian Dr. Masuo Doi as saying at least two 1997 investigations into suspected mad cow disease were not performed properly and the disease may have gotten into the food chain. The allegations are supported by a chief scientist at a USDA laboratory in Georgia, and a former veterinarian and USDA inspector who was fired in 1995.
"Dr. Doi was a veterinarian who said he was haunted by fears the right tests were not done," Julian said. "We've also heard from another inspector who said of there was ever a case of BSE, don't tell anybody."
"This is from insiders who are more familiar with these things than anybody. What I'm saying is we need to close the Canadian border to U.S. beef imports and start an investigation to make sure the beef that comes into Canada is safe.
"I believe the Canadian government has to stand up strongly for Canadian interests, and if there are questions, we need to close our border."
YOUNG LIB FESSES UP
Brock Stephenson, the Burnaby-Willingdon resident who is president of the B.C. Young Liberals, was forced to fess up after he attempted to describe himself as a simple volunteer during the first week of the election campaign.
Stephenson was dressed in the costume of a McDonald's Hamburglar when he showed up to heckle NDP leader Carole James at her first campaign stop of the election, at Burger Heaven in New Westminster.
When he inadvertently told the NDP his name, his opponents did a quick check and found out the young man has a long history of supporting the Liberals.
In fact, Stephenson and a long list of other Young Liberals, including occasional Burnaby NOW letter writers Woosang Lee and Miles Lunn, were formally introduced in the legislature by Burquitlam MLA Harry Bloy on April 28, 2003.
"They represent the people of Simon Fraser University," Bloy said. "They supported the tuition increase, because they know it created more classes and more professors."
A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK
What's happening with the billions of dollars that are tied up in government foundations?
That's the $9 billion question coming from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian this month, after Auditor General Sheila Fraser's annual report pointed to the lack of scrutiny for government foundations as a major oversight.
"In essence, they're playing hide and seek with these funds," Julian said last month.
In her annual report, Fraser said that most of the 11 government foundations in question have never had a compliance audit, while others have contracts that don't even allow the government to inspect their books.
"Even if they've deliberately misused the funds there's no provision to terminate the agreement," said Julian, the NDP critic for the treasury branch. "This is a huge, huge danger here. ... The public interest is not being respected."
Julian noted that he believes there is a need for foundation, such as the Canada Millennium Scholarship Fund, however, he wants them to fall under the purview of the AG office.
Published May 14, 2005
Tony Kuo, the Democratic Reform B.C. candidate in Burnaby-Willingdon, went to some unusual heights to get his message across to voters on Thursday afternoon.
Kuo hired an airplane to fly a giant banner over the riding while he conducted his regular afternoon sign-waving campaign with a long line of supporters on Willingdon Avenue.
The plane, which was dispatched out of Pitt Meadows airport, flew around for about two hours with a decidedly conservative and surprisingly non-controversial banner proclaiming: "Vote Tony Kuo!"
Shayne Gordon, the former B.C. Liberal riding association president who now works as director of communications for Kuo's often off-beat campaign, said his candidate has become "a little more diplomatic" since the early days of the campaign.
"When you strip it down to the bare bones, he's a pretty intense man," Gordon told the Burnaby NOW. "I actually would really like to see him get elected. I know it's a longshot, but I think he'd be a real breath of fresh air."
Kuo, the deputy leader of DRBC, has made headlines ever since he broke down and cried when the federal Liberal party refused to let him run for the party in last year's national election. Kuo became equally upset last fall when the B.C. NDP also refused to accept his nomination papers.
RANKIN PAYS UP
Burnaby city councillor Lee Rankin made himself a few new friends in time for Mother's Day after he handed over a $100 cheque to the Marguerite Dixon transition house.
The 51-year-old city councillor made the payment two weeks ago after he lost a bet to Burnaby NOW news editor Julie MacLellan over who could post the fastest time in the 21st Sun Run.
Rankin finished in a respectable time of 66:17, after making the mistake of drinking a cup of coffee before the race started. MacLellan, who underwent an intensive 12-week training program prior to the run, finished in a time of 56:01.
Rankin, who notes that he is 17 years older and many pounds heavier than the recently buffed-up journalist, said he was happy to give the cash towards such a good cause.
Adele Wilson, executive director of the only women's transition house in Burnaby, said the money was spent on "direct services" for women and children - gifts and flowers for Mother's Day.
"Moms don't celebrate Mothers' Day too much when they come into the house," Wilson said.
HEALTH AND THE PATRIOT ACT
It had little impact on the provincial election campaign, but the long reach of the USA Patriot Act was felt by the Fraser Health Authority last month.
The local health authority quietly removed a warning about the new U.S. security laws from its website last month when questions about the unusual posting were first raised by this reporter.
The warning was attached to a survey of eating habits that was posted on the FHA website from late March to April 26, confirmed FHA spokesperson Don Bower.
The Grab and Go contest, conducted by the US-based research firm surveymonkey.com, received "slightly better than 100 responses," none of which raised concerns about the Patriot Act, Bower said. The warning advised respondents that their answers - including personal information about their age and e-mail addresses - would be stored in the United States, and possibly accessible to the reach of the U.S. government.
"There has been lots of talk about the Patriot Act and the American government's ability to subpoena information," Bower said just moments after the warning was removed from the website.
"We put that up as a courtesy so folks can make a decision for themselves whether or not they want to participate."
Bower said the health authority received "nothing negative" in any of the responses.
MAD COW COVERUP?
Is it time to close the Canadian border to American beef imports?
That's the question from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian, after the Washington D.C.-based Environment News Service found several former U.S. Department of Agriculture employees who question whether their employee has adequately investigated claims of mad cow disease in American cattle herds.
An April 15 story from ENS quotes retired USDA veterinarian Dr. Masuo Doi as saying at least two 1997 investigations into suspected mad cow disease were not performed properly and the disease may have gotten into the food chain. The allegations are supported by a chief scientist at a USDA laboratory in Georgia, and a former veterinarian and USDA inspector who was fired in 1995.
"Dr. Doi was a veterinarian who said he was haunted by fears the right tests were not done," Julian said. "We've also heard from another inspector who said of there was ever a case of BSE, don't tell anybody."
"This is from insiders who are more familiar with these things than anybody. What I'm saying is we need to close the Canadian border to U.S. beef imports and start an investigation to make sure the beef that comes into Canada is safe.
"I believe the Canadian government has to stand up strongly for Canadian interests, and if there are questions, we need to close our border."
YOUNG LIB FESSES UP
Brock Stephenson, the Burnaby-Willingdon resident who is president of the B.C. Young Liberals, was forced to fess up after he attempted to describe himself as a simple volunteer during the first week of the election campaign.
Stephenson was dressed in the costume of a McDonald's Hamburglar when he showed up to heckle NDP leader Carole James at her first campaign stop of the election, at Burger Heaven in New Westminster.
When he inadvertently told the NDP his name, his opponents did a quick check and found out the young man has a long history of supporting the Liberals.
In fact, Stephenson and a long list of other Young Liberals, including occasional Burnaby NOW letter writers Woosang Lee and Miles Lunn, were formally introduced in the legislature by Burquitlam MLA Harry Bloy on April 28, 2003.
"They represent the people of Simon Fraser University," Bloy said. "They supported the tuition increase, because they know it created more classes and more professors."
A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK
What's happening with the billions of dollars that are tied up in government foundations?
That's the $9 billion question coming from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian this month, after Auditor General Sheila Fraser's annual report pointed to the lack of scrutiny for government foundations as a major oversight.
"In essence, they're playing hide and seek with these funds," Julian said last month.
In her annual report, Fraser said that most of the 11 government foundations in question have never had a compliance audit, while others have contracts that don't even allow the government to inspect their books.
"Even if they've deliberately misused the funds there's no provision to terminate the agreement," said Julian, the NDP critic for the treasury branch. "This is a huge, huge danger here. ... The public interest is not being respected."
Julian noted that he believes there is a need for foundation, such as the Canada Millennium Scholarship Fund, however, he wants them to fall under the purview of the AG office.
Bringing back the Typhoon
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 11, 2005
When 1st Lieut. Harry James Hardy, DFC, CD, travelled to the grand opening of Canada's Juno Beach Centre in Normandy two years ago, he was pleasantly surprised by his nation's tribute to the men and women who served in the Second World War.
Among its seven spacious rooms were tributes to virtually every aspect of the final push to victory. There were hundreds of awe-inspiring photos of the fighting men and women, grand displays of the gear and equipment that helped keep them alive, and the stories of the heroes, related both in the written word and in audio tapes of the soldiers' own words.
Even the ceiling was festooned with lifelike models of the airdraft that flew in the Allied effort - Spitfires and Lightnings, Mosquitoes and Swordfish, and Hurricanes and Hudsons.
But as hard as he might look, Hardy could not find the one airplane he most wanted to see - the Hawker Typhoon, which he flew as part of the Canadian Typhoon Wing that helped clear the beaches for the ground troops that stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
And so, for the past two years, Hardy and a small group of the surviving Typhoon pilots went through the painstaking process of finding, building and customizing their own model to donate to the museum.
Last month, Hardy was the guest of honour at a special ceremony at the South Burnaby Legion to dedicate the finished model before it was packed into a crate to be shipped to the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France.
"When I found out the Juno Beach Centre didn't have a Typhoon model, I took them to task," Hardy said recently. "That's when they said, 'If you supply the model, we'll hang it.'"
Hardy flew four different Typhoons during the war and each one was named Pulverizer. The Canadian version of the 9.7-metre airplane was equipped with four 20-mm cannons for strafing and carried two 455-kg bombs.
His first plane ran out of gas and was put down in the mud in Bohain, France. The second Pulverizer flew 60 combat sorties but was badly damaged by tank fire on Christmas Day 1944, forcing Hardy to bail out over the village of Heeze, Holland. (That particular incident, flown in support of the American army fighting the Battle of the Bulge, resulted in Hardy being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.)
The third Pulverizer was also badly damaged but made it back to England where it was repaired, its identification was changed and and a new pilot was found before it was shot down on April 23, 1945. Hardy's final Pulverizer flew until the end of the war.
When D-Day arrived, a total of 450 Typhoon pilots took part in the invasion. One third of those pilots, 151 men, were killed during the battle, including 41 Canadians. Over the course of the entire war, a total of 666 Typhoon pilots and 19 ground crew were killed, including 159 pilots and three round crew from Canada. Their average age was 22-years-old.
Four of those survivors worked on the model - Hardy, Philip Eisner from Nova Scotia, Gordon McDonald from Richmond and Ted Tunstall of Powell River.
The model, complete with a plaque recognizing the efforts of canadian Typhoon pilots and support staff who died in the war and the four veterans who worked on the project, will be dedicated at the Juno Beach Centre on May 8, 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Published May 11, 2005
When 1st Lieut. Harry James Hardy, DFC, CD, travelled to the grand opening of Canada's Juno Beach Centre in Normandy two years ago, he was pleasantly surprised by his nation's tribute to the men and women who served in the Second World War.
Among its seven spacious rooms were tributes to virtually every aspect of the final push to victory. There were hundreds of awe-inspiring photos of the fighting men and women, grand displays of the gear and equipment that helped keep them alive, and the stories of the heroes, related both in the written word and in audio tapes of the soldiers' own words.
Even the ceiling was festooned with lifelike models of the airdraft that flew in the Allied effort - Spitfires and Lightnings, Mosquitoes and Swordfish, and Hurricanes and Hudsons.
But as hard as he might look, Hardy could not find the one airplane he most wanted to see - the Hawker Typhoon, which he flew as part of the Canadian Typhoon Wing that helped clear the beaches for the ground troops that stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
And so, for the past two years, Hardy and a small group of the surviving Typhoon pilots went through the painstaking process of finding, building and customizing their own model to donate to the museum.
Last month, Hardy was the guest of honour at a special ceremony at the South Burnaby Legion to dedicate the finished model before it was packed into a crate to be shipped to the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France.
"When I found out the Juno Beach Centre didn't have a Typhoon model, I took them to task," Hardy said recently. "That's when they said, 'If you supply the model, we'll hang it.'"
Hardy flew four different Typhoons during the war and each one was named Pulverizer. The Canadian version of the 9.7-metre airplane was equipped with four 20-mm cannons for strafing and carried two 455-kg bombs.
His first plane ran out of gas and was put down in the mud in Bohain, France. The second Pulverizer flew 60 combat sorties but was badly damaged by tank fire on Christmas Day 1944, forcing Hardy to bail out over the village of Heeze, Holland. (That particular incident, flown in support of the American army fighting the Battle of the Bulge, resulted in Hardy being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.)
The third Pulverizer was also badly damaged but made it back to England where it was repaired, its identification was changed and and a new pilot was found before it was shot down on April 23, 1945. Hardy's final Pulverizer flew until the end of the war.
When D-Day arrived, a total of 450 Typhoon pilots took part in the invasion. One third of those pilots, 151 men, were killed during the battle, including 41 Canadians. Over the course of the entire war, a total of 666 Typhoon pilots and 19 ground crew were killed, including 159 pilots and three round crew from Canada. Their average age was 22-years-old.
Four of those survivors worked on the model - Hardy, Philip Eisner from Nova Scotia, Gordon McDonald from Richmond and Ted Tunstall of Powell River.
The model, complete with a plaque recognizing the efforts of canadian Typhoon pilots and support staff who died in the war and the four veterans who worked on the project, will be dedicated at the Juno Beach Centre on May 8, 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Campbell dons hard hat to woo city voters
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 11, 2005
His bus may have been 24 minutes late and there was one disgruntled voter in the crowd, but those were the only unplanned aspects to Premier Gordon Campbell's media event in Burnaby on Monday to showcase his four local candidates and promote the economy.
More than 100 hard-hat-wearing supporters, many of them realtors and developers, were on hand when Campbell stopped at the $14-million Ledgestone at Byrne Creek development in the Edmonds Town Centre neighbourhood.
"It is important to remember that during the past four years, housing has led our economic recovery," Campbell said. "Four years ago, we were the worst in Canada. I remember a friend telling me that he was worried that tradespeople were leaving the province."
In a stump speech that sounded almost as much like an advertisement for the home building industry as it was a campaign platform, Campbell reiterated many of the statistics highlighted by Burnaby-Edmonds candidate Patty Sahota in front of another new housing development with a different group of realtors and developers just one week earlier.
The big difference this time was the level of enthusiasm. When Campbell rattled off the names of the four Burnaby area candidates, the audience started clapping and cheering. Many of them chanted "four more years," while one person shouted "eight more years."
Campbell also took several shots at the NDP, claiming the province had "the lowest level of housing starts ever" in the year 2000. "We can't let the NDP kill confidence in B.C.," he said.
Campbell also highlighted several other government initiatives in the city. He said his government added 1,150 new student spaces and invested in a new athletics and health sciences centre at Simon Fraser University, and then added 24 new police officers to the RCMP detachment in Burnaby.
"This is a city with a future and an economy that deserves to move ahead," he said. "Do you want Glen Clark's ex-cabinet members back in government?"
The pro-development crowd roared "no" in answer.
Among the high-profile business people on hand for the event were Adera president Kevin Mahon, who introduced the premier, Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association CEO Peter Simpson, and Phil Hochstein, the executive director of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of B.C.
Mahon trumpeted the changes in the economy since the Liberals were elected. He also said that more than 50 per cent of the development's units sold last weekend when the project first went onto the market, and that's evidence of both a thriving industry plus "true leadership and sound management" on the part of the province.
Hochstein, of the ICBA, said that a project like Ledgestone probably wouldn't have been built during the 1990s because of the lack of confidence in the economy.
"The policies of this government give people faith in the future," he said, before urging the crowd to "vote early, vote often."
Published May 11, 2005
His bus may have been 24 minutes late and there was one disgruntled voter in the crowd, but those were the only unplanned aspects to Premier Gordon Campbell's media event in Burnaby on Monday to showcase his four local candidates and promote the economy.
More than 100 hard-hat-wearing supporters, many of them realtors and developers, were on hand when Campbell stopped at the $14-million Ledgestone at Byrne Creek development in the Edmonds Town Centre neighbourhood.
"It is important to remember that during the past four years, housing has led our economic recovery," Campbell said. "Four years ago, we were the worst in Canada. I remember a friend telling me that he was worried that tradespeople were leaving the province."
In a stump speech that sounded almost as much like an advertisement for the home building industry as it was a campaign platform, Campbell reiterated many of the statistics highlighted by Burnaby-Edmonds candidate Patty Sahota in front of another new housing development with a different group of realtors and developers just one week earlier.
The big difference this time was the level of enthusiasm. When Campbell rattled off the names of the four Burnaby area candidates, the audience started clapping and cheering. Many of them chanted "four more years," while one person shouted "eight more years."
Campbell also took several shots at the NDP, claiming the province had "the lowest level of housing starts ever" in the year 2000. "We can't let the NDP kill confidence in B.C.," he said.
Campbell also highlighted several other government initiatives in the city. He said his government added 1,150 new student spaces and invested in a new athletics and health sciences centre at Simon Fraser University, and then added 24 new police officers to the RCMP detachment in Burnaby.
"This is a city with a future and an economy that deserves to move ahead," he said. "Do you want Glen Clark's ex-cabinet members back in government?"
The pro-development crowd roared "no" in answer.
Among the high-profile business people on hand for the event were Adera president Kevin Mahon, who introduced the premier, Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association CEO Peter Simpson, and Phil Hochstein, the executive director of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of B.C.
Mahon trumpeted the changes in the economy since the Liberals were elected. He also said that more than 50 per cent of the development's units sold last weekend when the project first went onto the market, and that's evidence of both a thriving industry plus "true leadership and sound management" on the part of the province.
Hochstein, of the ICBA, said that a project like Ledgestone probably wouldn't have been built during the 1990s because of the lack of confidence in the economy.
"The policies of this government give people faith in the future," he said, before urging the crowd to "vote early, vote often."
Chouhan carries NDP banner
Backrooms column by Dan Hilborn
Published May 11, 2005
When Raj Chouhan first arrived in Canada 30 years ago, he intended to go the university, earn his master's degree and then find himself a decent job.
But when he answered a help-wanted ad to drive people to work at a variety of Fraser Valley farms, he found himself aghast at the working conditions being forced upon many of the newly arrived immigrants who toiled in the fields.
"I was quite shocked," Chouhan said. "Out in the fields they had no running water and no toilets, and when I started asking questions, I got fired. That aroused my curiosity and I was fired five times in five days from different farms."
Chouhan went on to become a founder of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and a lifetime of labour organizing that has seen him serve as a member of the labour Relations Board since 1992 and on the arbitration bureau of B.C.
"All my life I have been working hard to help people who didn't have a voice and were fighting against injustice," said the NDP candidate, who has worked with the Hospital Employees Union for the past 19 years. "When I see somebody being wronged, I can't sit back and accept it."
And having knocked on hundreds of doors in the riding since February, Chouhan believe he's the only candidate onside with the majority of voters in the number one issue in his riding - health care.
Chouhan said voters in his riding are well aware of the closing of Saint Mary's Hospital in New Westminster, and the impact of Bill 29 which resulted in layoffs and the loss of good-paying jobs for thousands of health care workers, most of whom were women. He also disagrees with an assertion made by local Liberals that the HEU leadership gave their tacit approval to the controversial deal.
"I was there when Campbell called and said we had absolutely no choice. They were imposing that contract," Chouhan told a small but boisterous crowd at an all candidates meeting sponsored by the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion.
The NDP candidate in Burnaby-Edmonds has represented his party at a variety of Punjabi-language all-candidate debates throughout the region and he is often been seen walking directly beside NDP leader Carole James during her frequent visits to the Lower Mainland.
Chouhan, 56, is married with two daughters and volunteers is vice-president of the parent advisory council at Cariboo Hill Secondary.
HOPEFULS IN THE RACE
New candidates have stepped into the arena in the Burnaby- Willingdon riding since we began profiling the hopefuls on April 30.
The new candidates are Green Party hopeful Pauline Farrell and B.C. Marijuana Party standard-bearer John Warrens.
Attempts to contact Warrens through the party's main phone number were unsuccessful, and he was one of the few candidates who did not have a biography on the party website.
Overall, there are 18 candidates vying for five parties, one independent and an unofficial Rhinoceros Party candidate running in the city.
SHE'S SEEING GREEN
When Pauline Farrell was just a teenager, she walked through the front doors of the original Greenpeace office on West Fourth Avenue in Vancouver and volunteered her time to protest against the nuclear tests taking place in the Kamchatka peninsula of Alaska.
Farrell was also one of the first official Green Party members in the province. But, over the years, her membership lapsed and Farrell, who now works as an adult basic education instructor, admits that she has sometimes voted for other political parties.
But this year, Farrell believes the environmental issues are too important to ignore and that's why she's running in Willingdon.
"When I looked around my community and the environment of greater B.C., I guess I saw that there needs to be changes in the way we do things," Farrell said. "We need more cooperative, visionary thinking about the future - a future that takes the environment into account.
"It's not that I believe the other parties have done everything incorrectly. That's not the way I think. The parties that have governed B.C. have done good things, I just believe the Green Party could do better."
Farrell has lived in the Suncrest neighbourhood of the riding with her husband and two children for the past two years.
Published May 11, 2005
When Raj Chouhan first arrived in Canada 30 years ago, he intended to go the university, earn his master's degree and then find himself a decent job.
But when he answered a help-wanted ad to drive people to work at a variety of Fraser Valley farms, he found himself aghast at the working conditions being forced upon many of the newly arrived immigrants who toiled in the fields.
"I was quite shocked," Chouhan said. "Out in the fields they had no running water and no toilets, and when I started asking questions, I got fired. That aroused my curiosity and I was fired five times in five days from different farms."
Chouhan went on to become a founder of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and a lifetime of labour organizing that has seen him serve as a member of the labour Relations Board since 1992 and on the arbitration bureau of B.C.
"All my life I have been working hard to help people who didn't have a voice and were fighting against injustice," said the NDP candidate, who has worked with the Hospital Employees Union for the past 19 years. "When I see somebody being wronged, I can't sit back and accept it."
And having knocked on hundreds of doors in the riding since February, Chouhan believe he's the only candidate onside with the majority of voters in the number one issue in his riding - health care.
Chouhan said voters in his riding are well aware of the closing of Saint Mary's Hospital in New Westminster, and the impact of Bill 29 which resulted in layoffs and the loss of good-paying jobs for thousands of health care workers, most of whom were women. He also disagrees with an assertion made by local Liberals that the HEU leadership gave their tacit approval to the controversial deal.
"I was there when Campbell called and said we had absolutely no choice. They were imposing that contract," Chouhan told a small but boisterous crowd at an all candidates meeting sponsored by the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion.
The NDP candidate in Burnaby-Edmonds has represented his party at a variety of Punjabi-language all-candidate debates throughout the region and he is often been seen walking directly beside NDP leader Carole James during her frequent visits to the Lower Mainland.
Chouhan, 56, is married with two daughters and volunteers is vice-president of the parent advisory council at Cariboo Hill Secondary.
HOPEFULS IN THE RACE
New candidates have stepped into the arena in the Burnaby- Willingdon riding since we began profiling the hopefuls on April 30.
The new candidates are Green Party hopeful Pauline Farrell and B.C. Marijuana Party standard-bearer John Warrens.
Attempts to contact Warrens through the party's main phone number were unsuccessful, and he was one of the few candidates who did not have a biography on the party website.
Overall, there are 18 candidates vying for five parties, one independent and an unofficial Rhinoceros Party candidate running in the city.
SHE'S SEEING GREEN
When Pauline Farrell was just a teenager, she walked through the front doors of the original Greenpeace office on West Fourth Avenue in Vancouver and volunteered her time to protest against the nuclear tests taking place in the Kamchatka peninsula of Alaska.
Farrell was also one of the first official Green Party members in the province. But, over the years, her membership lapsed and Farrell, who now works as an adult basic education instructor, admits that she has sometimes voted for other political parties.
But this year, Farrell believes the environmental issues are too important to ignore and that's why she's running in Willingdon.
"When I looked around my community and the environment of greater B.C., I guess I saw that there needs to be changes in the way we do things," Farrell said. "We need more cooperative, visionary thinking about the future - a future that takes the environment into account.
"It's not that I believe the other parties have done everything incorrectly. That's not the way I think. The parties that have governed B.C. have done good things, I just believe the Green Party could do better."
Farrell has lived in the Suncrest neighbourhood of the riding with her husband and two children for the past two years.
Federal hopefuls line up
Backrooms column by Dan Hilborn
Published May 7, 2005
With the prospect of a federal election looming, possibly as early as this summer, the Conservative Party of Canada has set its formal nominating meeting in the Burnaby-Douglas riding for May 15, just two days before the provincial election.
And the three Tories who vied for the seat in the last nomination race are once again hoping to knock the Liberals out of government and send rookie NDP MP Bill Siksay packing.
George Drazenovic, Al McDonnell and Gary Eyre have all confirmed that they will seek the Tory nomination in the riding that has elected an NDP member since Svend Robinson first came to power in 1979.
Drazenovic, the Tory standard-bearer in 2004, said his key concern is simply to get rid of the Liberals.
"The important stuff for me is simple Liberal corruption," he said. "It's deeper than we thought it was. Paul Martin promised to get to the bottom of it before calling the last election, and he broke that promise and now he's trying to wait for more evidence that will work to his own political advantage."
McDonnell, who ran for the Tories in the 2000 election, said he is the only nominee who truly reflects the right-wing heritage of his party.
"I think a lot of the business community supported Paul Martin last time, but I don't think that'll happen this year," McDonnell said, adding that he believes gay marriage could become the 'sleeper issue' of a possible 2005 federal election, especially among ethnic communities.
Eyre, a contractor who is co-chair of the Spirit of B.C. committee for Burnaby, said his experience and extensive list of community involvements would make him a good candidate for the Tories.
"I think the people of Burnaby are definitely ready for a change," Eyre said. "They've basically had 20 years of non- representation. Conservatives have a chance to form government and it's an opportunity for Burnaby to have an MP in government rather than in opposition."
PUNKS ENTER THE FRAY
Former Green party candidate Joey Keithley, best known as Joey Shithead of the punk rock band DOA, has returned to the fray with a new 20-song compilation CD that takes aim at the current government.
Citizens Rule is an independent disc featuring recordings by DOA, Geoff Burner, Betty Cracker, Joey Only and others that, according to the CD's liner notes, offers "No party line, no special interest, no media spin, one loud and simple message: Screw Campbell."
Distributed by Track Records, the CD costs only $10, and its formal release party will be May 12 at the Anza Club in Vancouver. Download the songs and make a donation to the food bank at the CD's website, www.bcfiberals.com.
RENTER CROWD SPEAKS UP
The Tenant's Rights Coalition is hoping somebody will stand up and ask the candidates a couple of questions about affordable housing during the ongoing provincial election campaign.
And seeing as how it's impossible for this newspaper to attend every single all-candidate's meeting during the next two weeks, we're providing those questions here, so you, the public can have the opportunity to grill the candidates.
The coalition, which speaks up on behalf of low income renters throughout the province, is particularly dismayed about cutbacks to the residential tenancy branch over the past four years. They note that Burnaby is now home to the only residential tenancy office in the entire Lower Mainland, and that 1,900 Burnaby residents are on waiting lists to get into subsidized housing.
So their questions are as follows:
1. Will your government reopen some offices and provide proper staffing so that Lower Mainland renters and landlords in other areas will have the proper access to information, dispute resolution and arbitration? and;
2. What will your government do to provide more subsidized housing for low-income people?
YOUNG LIB FESSES UP
Brock Stephenson, the Burnaby-Willingdon resident who is president of the B.C. Young Liberals, was forced to fess up after he attempted to describe himself as a simple volunteer during the first week of the election campaign.
Stephenson was dressed in the costume of a McDonald's Hamburglar when he showed up to heckle NDP leader Carole James at her first campaign stop of the election, at Burger Heaven in New Westminster.
When he inadvertently told the NDP his name, his opponents did a quick check and found out the young man has a long history of supporting the Liberals.
In fact, Stephenson and a long list of other Young Liberals, including occasional Burnaby NOW letter writers Woosang Lee and Miles Lunn, were formally introduced in the legislature by Burquitlam MLA Harry Bloy on April 28, 2003.
"They represent the people of Simon Fraser University," Bloy said. "They supported the tuition increase, because they know it created more classes and more professors."
MAD COW COVERUP?
Is it time to close the Canadian border to American beef imports?
That's the question from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian, after the Washington D.C.-based Environment News Service found several former U.S. Department of Agriculture employees who question whether their employee has adequately investigated claims of mad cow disease in American cattle herds.
An April 15 story from ENS quotes retired USDA veterinarian Dr. Masuo Doi as saying at least two 1997 investigations into suspected mad cow disease were not performed properly and the disease may have gotten into the food chain. The allegations are supported by a chief scientist at a USDA laboratory in Georgia, and a former veterinarian and USDA inspector who was fired in 1995.
"Dr. Doi was a veterinarian who said he was haunted by fears the right tests were not done," Julian said. "We've also heard from another inspector who said of there was ever a case of BSE, don't tell anybody."
"This is from insiders who are more familiar with these things than anybody. What I'm saying is we need to close the Canadian border to U.S. beef imports and start an investigation to make sure the beef that comes into Canada is safe.
"I believe the Canadian government has to stand up strongly for Canadian interests, and if there are questions, we need to close our border."
A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK
What's happening with the billions of dollars that are tied up in government foundations?
That's the $9 billion question coming from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian this month, after Auditor General Sheila Fraser's annual report pointed to the lack of scrutiny for government foundations as a major oversight.
"In essence, they're playing hide and seek with these funds," Julian said last month.
In her annual report, Fraser said that most of the 11 government foundations in question have never had a compliance audit, while others have contracts that don't even allow the government to inspect their books.
"Even if they've deliberately misused the funds there's no provision to terminate the agreement," said Julian, the NDP critic for the treasury branch. "This is a huge, huge danger here. ... The public interest is not being respected."
Julian noted that he believes there is a need for foundation, such as the Canada Millennium Scholarship Fund, however, he wants them to fall under the purview of the AG office.
Published May 7, 2005
With the prospect of a federal election looming, possibly as early as this summer, the Conservative Party of Canada has set its formal nominating meeting in the Burnaby-Douglas riding for May 15, just two days before the provincial election.
And the three Tories who vied for the seat in the last nomination race are once again hoping to knock the Liberals out of government and send rookie NDP MP Bill Siksay packing.
George Drazenovic, Al McDonnell and Gary Eyre have all confirmed that they will seek the Tory nomination in the riding that has elected an NDP member since Svend Robinson first came to power in 1979.
Drazenovic, the Tory standard-bearer in 2004, said his key concern is simply to get rid of the Liberals.
"The important stuff for me is simple Liberal corruption," he said. "It's deeper than we thought it was. Paul Martin promised to get to the bottom of it before calling the last election, and he broke that promise and now he's trying to wait for more evidence that will work to his own political advantage."
McDonnell, who ran for the Tories in the 2000 election, said he is the only nominee who truly reflects the right-wing heritage of his party.
"I think a lot of the business community supported Paul Martin last time, but I don't think that'll happen this year," McDonnell said, adding that he believes gay marriage could become the 'sleeper issue' of a possible 2005 federal election, especially among ethnic communities.
Eyre, a contractor who is co-chair of the Spirit of B.C. committee for Burnaby, said his experience and extensive list of community involvements would make him a good candidate for the Tories.
"I think the people of Burnaby are definitely ready for a change," Eyre said. "They've basically had 20 years of non- representation. Conservatives have a chance to form government and it's an opportunity for Burnaby to have an MP in government rather than in opposition."
PUNKS ENTER THE FRAY
Former Green party candidate Joey Keithley, best known as Joey Shithead of the punk rock band DOA, has returned to the fray with a new 20-song compilation CD that takes aim at the current government.
Citizens Rule is an independent disc featuring recordings by DOA, Geoff Burner, Betty Cracker, Joey Only and others that, according to the CD's liner notes, offers "No party line, no special interest, no media spin, one loud and simple message: Screw Campbell."
Distributed by Track Records, the CD costs only $10, and its formal release party will be May 12 at the Anza Club in Vancouver. Download the songs and make a donation to the food bank at the CD's website, www.bcfiberals.com.
RENTER CROWD SPEAKS UP
The Tenant's Rights Coalition is hoping somebody will stand up and ask the candidates a couple of questions about affordable housing during the ongoing provincial election campaign.
And seeing as how it's impossible for this newspaper to attend every single all-candidate's meeting during the next two weeks, we're providing those questions here, so you, the public can have the opportunity to grill the candidates.
The coalition, which speaks up on behalf of low income renters throughout the province, is particularly dismayed about cutbacks to the residential tenancy branch over the past four years. They note that Burnaby is now home to the only residential tenancy office in the entire Lower Mainland, and that 1,900 Burnaby residents are on waiting lists to get into subsidized housing.
So their questions are as follows:
1. Will your government reopen some offices and provide proper staffing so that Lower Mainland renters and landlords in other areas will have the proper access to information, dispute resolution and arbitration? and;
2. What will your government do to provide more subsidized housing for low-income people?
YOUNG LIB FESSES UP
Brock Stephenson, the Burnaby-Willingdon resident who is president of the B.C. Young Liberals, was forced to fess up after he attempted to describe himself as a simple volunteer during the first week of the election campaign.
Stephenson was dressed in the costume of a McDonald's Hamburglar when he showed up to heckle NDP leader Carole James at her first campaign stop of the election, at Burger Heaven in New Westminster.
When he inadvertently told the NDP his name, his opponents did a quick check and found out the young man has a long history of supporting the Liberals.
In fact, Stephenson and a long list of other Young Liberals, including occasional Burnaby NOW letter writers Woosang Lee and Miles Lunn, were formally introduced in the legislature by Burquitlam MLA Harry Bloy on April 28, 2003.
"They represent the people of Simon Fraser University," Bloy said. "They supported the tuition increase, because they know it created more classes and more professors."
MAD COW COVERUP?
Is it time to close the Canadian border to American beef imports?
That's the question from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian, after the Washington D.C.-based Environment News Service found several former U.S. Department of Agriculture employees who question whether their employee has adequately investigated claims of mad cow disease in American cattle herds.
An April 15 story from ENS quotes retired USDA veterinarian Dr. Masuo Doi as saying at least two 1997 investigations into suspected mad cow disease were not performed properly and the disease may have gotten into the food chain. The allegations are supported by a chief scientist at a USDA laboratory in Georgia, and a former veterinarian and USDA inspector who was fired in 1995.
"Dr. Doi was a veterinarian who said he was haunted by fears the right tests were not done," Julian said. "We've also heard from another inspector who said of there was ever a case of BSE, don't tell anybody."
"This is from insiders who are more familiar with these things than anybody. What I'm saying is we need to close the Canadian border to U.S. beef imports and start an investigation to make sure the beef that comes into Canada is safe.
"I believe the Canadian government has to stand up strongly for Canadian interests, and if there are questions, we need to close our border."
A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK
What's happening with the billions of dollars that are tied up in government foundations?
That's the $9 billion question coming from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian this month, after Auditor General Sheila Fraser's annual report pointed to the lack of scrutiny for government foundations as a major oversight.
"In essence, they're playing hide and seek with these funds," Julian said last month.
In her annual report, Fraser said that most of the 11 government foundations in question have never had a compliance audit, while others have contracts that don't even allow the government to inspect their books.
"Even if they've deliberately misused the funds there's no provision to terminate the agreement," said Julian, the NDP critic for the treasury branch. "This is a huge, huge danger here. ... The public interest is not being respected."
Julian noted that he believes there is a need for foundation, such as the Canada Millennium Scholarship Fund, however, he wants them to fall under the purview of the AG office.
Musical Day brought the country together
Lively City column by Dan Hilborn
Published May 7, 2005
Music students from Burnaby South secondary were part of an extraordinary nation-wide event when Music Monday came to the Michael J. Fox Theatre.
Students in the school bands joined with dozens and possibly hundreds of other elementary and high school bands from across the country in playing the song, A Little Music, at the same time.
But Burnaby South had more than just the music going on. The high- tech theatre was one of five sites across the country that participated in a live videoconference, with the Burnaby event featuring Vancouver Symphony Orchestra conductor Bramwell Tovey.
Other cities participating in the videoconference included Montreal, Ottawa and St. John's, Nfld.
THE MUSIC MAN TRULY IMPRESSES
My 12-year-old, trombone-playing son and I had a great time at the Royal City Musical Theatre production of The Music Man, which wrapped up its run at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster last weekend.
It was the first time I'd taken in an RCMT production, and frankly, I was blown away by the awesome show. From the opening scene, where the backdrop changed half a dozen times, to the wondrous voices of their talented cast, the entire event was a spectacle.
Peter Jorgenson was terrific in his role as Harold Hill, the fast- talking shyster who woos the folk of River City, while Burnaby's own Mandana Kamazi gave an exuberant portrayal of Maud Dunlop.
Of course, our favourite moment in the show was when the town's newly suited marching band broke out into the chorus of Seventy-Six Trombones.
Next spring, the company will present Peter Pan: The Musical as its 17th show at the Bell Centre for the Performing Arts in Surrey.
A SCOTTISH POET
One of Great Britain's most promising new authors will be at the Burnaby Writers' Society ReVisions reading at the Myles of Beans coffee house on May 18.
Jen Hadfield received a Scottish Arts Council bursary to complete her first collection of poetry, titled Almanacs. In 2003, she received an award from the British Society of Authors to spend a year living in residence in Canada, where she was expected to write and give readings from coast to coast.
She'll be on stage at 8 p.m., May 18 at the cafe, 7010 Kingsway. For more information on the Burnaby Writers' Society, contact Sheila at 604-522-7272 or by e-mail her at srfearless@shaw.ca.
THRASHING ABOUT
Burnaby NOW practicum student John Kurucz expects to be hitting the road this summer with his 'heavy music' band Gross Misconduct, which originally came out of Nanaimo.
Kurucz, a recent graduate of the Langara journalism program, said the band has been together for about six years.
At the end of May, they have their first summertime gigs booked in Kamloops and Kelowna, and on June 18 they'll liven up the Astoria Hotel in Vancouver.
"We have a pretty limited audience," said Kurucz, who bangs on the drums at a steady rhythm of about 180 beats per minute. Other members of Gross Misconduct are Dave London on guitar and lead vocals, Jesse Brint on guitar and backing vocals and bassist Ryan Shepard.
CIRCUS FOR THE KIDS
Burnaby native Peter Boulanger and his Underground Circus will be among the featured performers at the Vancouver International Children's Festival taking place in Vanier Park from May 16 to 23.
Boulanger, the son of Burnaby NOW arts columnist Annie, and his wife Ninon Parent are the creative genius behind the Lower Mainland's only fulltime circus troupe, and they will be joined in this show by his guitar-slinging brother, Bernie.
The Underground Circus' new show is titled Backstage Circus and it will offer festival-goers a behind-the-scenes look at what might happen during the creation of a circus act.
Other children's festival performers include the Kahurangi Maori Dance theatre from New Zealand, the National Acrobats of Taiwan, and musicians Tom Chapin, Al Simmons and Charlotte Diamond.
REDHEADED SONGSTRESS
I had a chance to hear New Westminster native Camille Miller's new CD, Carnarvon Street, this week and was thoroughly impressed by her incredible voice and fine music-writing abilities.
Produced by the British-based Sugar Shack Records, the 10-song first release shows great potential for this young singer/ songwriter. She's been getting repeated airplay and many accolades on the influential Radio Bandcouver program on Coop radio, 102.7 FM at 9 p.m. Friday nights, and she's clearly one of the best up-and coming musicians in the Lower Mainland scene.
You can hear this redheaded songstress perform live every Wednesday night in The Orange Room, 620 Sixth St., New Westminster. And I'll bet she'll even have a few of her CDs available for sale, too.
MYZTERY CD RELEASE
A Christian rock band whose lead guitarist used to play with Brian Adams will be holding a free CD release concert at the St. Francis de Sales Church hall in South Burnaby on Saturday, May 28.
Myztery takes its name from the mystery plays that were popular religious teaching tools in the 15th century. A press release describes their shows as presenting a combination of "inspiring Christian music with abstract, ethereal and soundtrack-like qualities with special lighting effects, interpretive dance, colourful costumes and a variety of theatrical masks and set designs."
The band features founder and Burnaby native Peter Mason, a solo recording artist who studies religious history, keyboard player Cyndie Grozelle and lead guitarist Vic Gagnon, who once played in a band with Bryan Adams.
Some of the instruments that will be on stage include a Kinnor harp - "the kind King David played" - psaltery, lyre, dulcimer, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitars, a fretless bass, electric piano, synthesizer, a variety of ethnic drums, wind instruments, cymbals, and other percussion instruments.
Myztery's Flood of Mercy Tour comes to St. Francis de Sales Church hall, 6610 Balmoral St., - behind the Tim Horton's on Kingsway - at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 28.
ENTERTAINING EDMONDS
The Edmonds Entertainers are returning to the stage when they present Musical! A Grand Tour on May 18 and 19.
The group of singers and actors from the Edmonds community centre, including one who is 84-years-old, will perform their favourite songs and dances from Broadway during the show.
Musical! A Grand Tour will be presented at 7 p.m., May 18 and at 2 p.m., May 19 at the community centre, 7282 Kingsway. Tickets are $7 adults or $3.50 for children under 12, and are available at all Burnaby community centres, or by calling 604-525-1671.
FULL FIGURES ON STAGE
A feminist play with a twist is coming to Shadbolt Centre this month when the fill figure theatre company presents the "f" word written by Susan Bain on May 19, 20 and 21.
The play stars Tammy Bentz, Sharon Heath and Courtenay Dobbie as three neighbours who come to terms with their ideals, their work and the imminent birth of a child.
Described as having "snappy songs, hilarious situations" and "clever, witty dialogue" the play won an Award of Excellence at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Best of the Fest Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
For tickets, contact the Shadbolt at 604-205-3000.
CALL FOR ARTISTS
Artists who want to participate in one of the most fascinating events on Burnaby's cultural calendar are being sought for the Night of 2005 Lights Lantern Festival taking place in Deer Lake Park on Sept. 17.
The Night of Lights is a collaboration between the City of Burnaby and the Public Dreams Society, that celebrates the dramatic qualities of fire and light.
In addition to a lantern procession and drum circle, the Night of 2005 Lights features fire dancers and other performers who create whimsical and fascinating installations.
Artists with a project, piece or other idea that would fit into the fiery theme are asked to call Patti Macdonald at 604-205-3003.
Published May 7, 2005
Music students from Burnaby South secondary were part of an extraordinary nation-wide event when Music Monday came to the Michael J. Fox Theatre.
Students in the school bands joined with dozens and possibly hundreds of other elementary and high school bands from across the country in playing the song, A Little Music, at the same time.
But Burnaby South had more than just the music going on. The high- tech theatre was one of five sites across the country that participated in a live videoconference, with the Burnaby event featuring Vancouver Symphony Orchestra conductor Bramwell Tovey.
Other cities participating in the videoconference included Montreal, Ottawa and St. John's, Nfld.
THE MUSIC MAN TRULY IMPRESSES
My 12-year-old, trombone-playing son and I had a great time at the Royal City Musical Theatre production of The Music Man, which wrapped up its run at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster last weekend.
It was the first time I'd taken in an RCMT production, and frankly, I was blown away by the awesome show. From the opening scene, where the backdrop changed half a dozen times, to the wondrous voices of their talented cast, the entire event was a spectacle.
Peter Jorgenson was terrific in his role as Harold Hill, the fast- talking shyster who woos the folk of River City, while Burnaby's own Mandana Kamazi gave an exuberant portrayal of Maud Dunlop.
Of course, our favourite moment in the show was when the town's newly suited marching band broke out into the chorus of Seventy-Six Trombones.
Next spring, the company will present Peter Pan: The Musical as its 17th show at the Bell Centre for the Performing Arts in Surrey.
A SCOTTISH POET
One of Great Britain's most promising new authors will be at the Burnaby Writers' Society ReVisions reading at the Myles of Beans coffee house on May 18.
Jen Hadfield received a Scottish Arts Council bursary to complete her first collection of poetry, titled Almanacs. In 2003, she received an award from the British Society of Authors to spend a year living in residence in Canada, where she was expected to write and give readings from coast to coast.
She'll be on stage at 8 p.m., May 18 at the cafe, 7010 Kingsway. For more information on the Burnaby Writers' Society, contact Sheila at 604-522-7272 or by e-mail her at srfearless@shaw.ca.
THRASHING ABOUT
Burnaby NOW practicum student John Kurucz expects to be hitting the road this summer with his 'heavy music' band Gross Misconduct, which originally came out of Nanaimo.
Kurucz, a recent graduate of the Langara journalism program, said the band has been together for about six years.
At the end of May, they have their first summertime gigs booked in Kamloops and Kelowna, and on June 18 they'll liven up the Astoria Hotel in Vancouver.
"We have a pretty limited audience," said Kurucz, who bangs on the drums at a steady rhythm of about 180 beats per minute. Other members of Gross Misconduct are Dave London on guitar and lead vocals, Jesse Brint on guitar and backing vocals and bassist Ryan Shepard.
CIRCUS FOR THE KIDS
Burnaby native Peter Boulanger and his Underground Circus will be among the featured performers at the Vancouver International Children's Festival taking place in Vanier Park from May 16 to 23.
Boulanger, the son of Burnaby NOW arts columnist Annie, and his wife Ninon Parent are the creative genius behind the Lower Mainland's only fulltime circus troupe, and they will be joined in this show by his guitar-slinging brother, Bernie.
The Underground Circus' new show is titled Backstage Circus and it will offer festival-goers a behind-the-scenes look at what might happen during the creation of a circus act.
Other children's festival performers include the Kahurangi Maori Dance theatre from New Zealand, the National Acrobats of Taiwan, and musicians Tom Chapin, Al Simmons and Charlotte Diamond.
REDHEADED SONGSTRESS
I had a chance to hear New Westminster native Camille Miller's new CD, Carnarvon Street, this week and was thoroughly impressed by her incredible voice and fine music-writing abilities.
Produced by the British-based Sugar Shack Records, the 10-song first release shows great potential for this young singer/ songwriter. She's been getting repeated airplay and many accolades on the influential Radio Bandcouver program on Coop radio, 102.7 FM at 9 p.m. Friday nights, and she's clearly one of the best up-and coming musicians in the Lower Mainland scene.
You can hear this redheaded songstress perform live every Wednesday night in The Orange Room, 620 Sixth St., New Westminster. And I'll bet she'll even have a few of her CDs available for sale, too.
MYZTERY CD RELEASE
A Christian rock band whose lead guitarist used to play with Brian Adams will be holding a free CD release concert at the St. Francis de Sales Church hall in South Burnaby on Saturday, May 28.
Myztery takes its name from the mystery plays that were popular religious teaching tools in the 15th century. A press release describes their shows as presenting a combination of "inspiring Christian music with abstract, ethereal and soundtrack-like qualities with special lighting effects, interpretive dance, colourful costumes and a variety of theatrical masks and set designs."
The band features founder and Burnaby native Peter Mason, a solo recording artist who studies religious history, keyboard player Cyndie Grozelle and lead guitarist Vic Gagnon, who once played in a band with Bryan Adams.
Some of the instruments that will be on stage include a Kinnor harp - "the kind King David played" - psaltery, lyre, dulcimer, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitars, a fretless bass, electric piano, synthesizer, a variety of ethnic drums, wind instruments, cymbals, and other percussion instruments.
Myztery's Flood of Mercy Tour comes to St. Francis de Sales Church hall, 6610 Balmoral St., - behind the Tim Horton's on Kingsway - at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 28.
ENTERTAINING EDMONDS
The Edmonds Entertainers are returning to the stage when they present Musical! A Grand Tour on May 18 and 19.
The group of singers and actors from the Edmonds community centre, including one who is 84-years-old, will perform their favourite songs and dances from Broadway during the show.
Musical! A Grand Tour will be presented at 7 p.m., May 18 and at 2 p.m., May 19 at the community centre, 7282 Kingsway. Tickets are $7 adults or $3.50 for children under 12, and are available at all Burnaby community centres, or by calling 604-525-1671.
FULL FIGURES ON STAGE
A feminist play with a twist is coming to Shadbolt Centre this month when the fill figure theatre company presents the "f" word written by Susan Bain on May 19, 20 and 21.
The play stars Tammy Bentz, Sharon Heath and Courtenay Dobbie as three neighbours who come to terms with their ideals, their work and the imminent birth of a child.
Described as having "snappy songs, hilarious situations" and "clever, witty dialogue" the play won an Award of Excellence at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Best of the Fest Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
For tickets, contact the Shadbolt at 604-205-3000.
CALL FOR ARTISTS
Artists who want to participate in one of the most fascinating events on Burnaby's cultural calendar are being sought for the Night of 2005 Lights Lantern Festival taking place in Deer Lake Park on Sept. 17.
The Night of Lights is a collaboration between the City of Burnaby and the Public Dreams Society, that celebrates the dramatic qualities of fire and light.
In addition to a lantern procession and drum circle, the Night of 2005 Lights features fire dancers and other performers who create whimsical and fascinating installations.
Artists with a project, piece or other idea that would fit into the fiery theme are asked to call Patti Macdonald at 604-205-3003.
NDP promises child-care cash
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 7, 2005
NDP leader Carole James came to Burnaby on the morning after the B.C. leaders' debate to boost the campaign of Burquitlam candidate Bart Healey and make a promise on child care.
Speaking at the Village Day Care near Burnaby Mountain secondary on Thursday morning, James claimed that the B.C. Liberals are diverting federal child-care dollars into other programs.
In a press release issued just hours after her Burnaby appearance, James said that Ottawa gave B.C. $94 million for child care in 2004/05, but Victoria spent only $40 million on that service.
James then vowed to spend every penny of the $650 million promised to B.C. for child care over the next five years in its intended target.
"This funding will increase child-care space by 20 per cent, reduce wait lists and make child care more affordable for ordinary families," James said in the statement.
But Stan Hagen, the Liberals' minister of children and family development was quoted on CKNW radio saying the B.C. government expects to successfully complete negotiations with Ottawa on a new child-care deal by the end of the year.
In addition, the Liberals' platform document posted on their website says 32,0000 more child-care spaces are now eligible for provincial funding and 10,000 more children are eligible for child- care subsidies.
The Liberal plan was vehemently attacked by Green Party candidate Richard Brand during an all-candidate meeting last week. Brand said the Liberals have cut funding for early childhood education and the federal money is being used to help make small businesses more viable - specifically to subsidize family day-care centres.
James also said the NDP child-care program would create 15,000 new spaces around the province that would be built on five principles - high quality, affordability, accessibility, accountability and with a commitment to children's development.
Published May 7, 2005
NDP leader Carole James came to Burnaby on the morning after the B.C. leaders' debate to boost the campaign of Burquitlam candidate Bart Healey and make a promise on child care.
Speaking at the Village Day Care near Burnaby Mountain secondary on Thursday morning, James claimed that the B.C. Liberals are diverting federal child-care dollars into other programs.
In a press release issued just hours after her Burnaby appearance, James said that Ottawa gave B.C. $94 million for child care in 2004/05, but Victoria spent only $40 million on that service.
James then vowed to spend every penny of the $650 million promised to B.C. for child care over the next five years in its intended target.
"This funding will increase child-care space by 20 per cent, reduce wait lists and make child care more affordable for ordinary families," James said in the statement.
But Stan Hagen, the Liberals' minister of children and family development was quoted on CKNW radio saying the B.C. government expects to successfully complete negotiations with Ottawa on a new child-care deal by the end of the year.
In addition, the Liberals' platform document posted on their website says 32,0000 more child-care spaces are now eligible for provincial funding and 10,000 more children are eligible for child- care subsidies.
The Liberal plan was vehemently attacked by Green Party candidate Richard Brand during an all-candidate meeting last week. Brand said the Liberals have cut funding for early childhood education and the federal money is being used to help make small businesses more viable - specifically to subsidize family day-care centres.
James also said the NDP child-care program would create 15,000 new spaces around the province that would be built on five principles - high quality, affordability, accessibility, accountability and with a commitment to children's development.
Starring in her own reality TV show
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 7, 2005
Burnaby finally has its own reality TV show. The Knowledge Network, based out of Discovery Park, has taken the latest trend in television in an effort to tackle one of the greatest scourges of modern public health - cigarette smoking.
Kick Butt is a new five-episode reality television series that follows five young people, including a film location manager from Burnaby, as they try to kick the nasty habit.
"When I first saw the call for auditions in the Women in Film newsletter, I thought to myself 'Wow! This would be neat. Someone to help me quit smoking,'" said Cheryl Uphill, one of the lucky subjects chosen to be part of the series.
And so last Jan. 19 - a day known as Weedless Wednesday across Canada - Uphill and her four co-stars began a three-month program to try to quit smoking, while allowing a professional television crew to film the whole ordeal.
"I remember when they asked why I wanted to quit and I told them that I had lost my father a year ago," Uphill said. "During the audition I realized, this time, I could do it for my dad above."
Of course, Uphill had other, personal reasons for wanting to quit smoking, too.
"I had been coughing a lot," she admitted. "I was also teaching karate - I'm a black belt in Shotokan - and I work out and go to tournaments, so I just felt that smoking didn't fit well with my martial arts.
"But mostly, I was smoking and it bothered me. That was the catalyst I used."
The first episode introduces the viewer to the five subjects - Cheryl, Jessika, Shauna, Bryn and Steve - plus Dr. David Aboussafy, a smoking cessation psychologist whose job was to help prepare the five quitters for the task unenviable ahead of them.
While Uphill doesn't want to give away the ending - the final episode was filmed just two weeks ago - she does admit that trying to quit was never easy.
"I used the show as one big support system," said Uphill, who admits she'd tried quitting in the past, with no real success.
In addition to the huge incentive of having attempt to quit documented in a television series, Uphill said she used every device in the book in the hopes of successfully achieving her goal.
"They gave us huge amounts of information," she said. "And I tried everything they threw at me."
the long list of stop smoking methods that Uphill tied included the drug Zyban, acupuncture, a psychologist, a nico-inhaler, a visit to stop-smoking hypnotist Romane and naturopathic medicines.
"I will say it was the first time I hadn't gone through withdrawal when I tried to quit, because I had prepared myself beforehand," she said.
And, as for the finished television show, Uphill said the producers captured both the good and bad times of trying to quit smoking. "There's funny things that happen, and there's sad things, too. The show will give a general mix of the ups and downs and around the corners of our lives," she said.
Uphill also admits that her good physical condition also helped her prepare for one of the more sensitive aspects of quitting smoking, especially for women - an expected weight gain.
"I'm a fairly lean person and that's one thing that scared the crap out of me," she said. "I could have aimed to become just a part-time smoker, but I told myself 'No. I am a nonsmoker now.'
"Sure, I've gained weight. I've gained over 10 pounds, but it's healthy and I'm fine with it," she said triumphantly.
Kick Butt, a made-in Burnaby reality TV show, airs on the Knowledge Network, Shaw Cable 5, on Tuesdays at 8 p.m., and repeats on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m., and Sundays and Mondays at 11 p.m.
Published May 7, 2005
Burnaby finally has its own reality TV show. The Knowledge Network, based out of Discovery Park, has taken the latest trend in television in an effort to tackle one of the greatest scourges of modern public health - cigarette smoking.
Kick Butt is a new five-episode reality television series that follows five young people, including a film location manager from Burnaby, as they try to kick the nasty habit.
"When I first saw the call for auditions in the Women in Film newsletter, I thought to myself 'Wow! This would be neat. Someone to help me quit smoking,'" said Cheryl Uphill, one of the lucky subjects chosen to be part of the series.
And so last Jan. 19 - a day known as Weedless Wednesday across Canada - Uphill and her four co-stars began a three-month program to try to quit smoking, while allowing a professional television crew to film the whole ordeal.
"I remember when they asked why I wanted to quit and I told them that I had lost my father a year ago," Uphill said. "During the audition I realized, this time, I could do it for my dad above."
Of course, Uphill had other, personal reasons for wanting to quit smoking, too.
"I had been coughing a lot," she admitted. "I was also teaching karate - I'm a black belt in Shotokan - and I work out and go to tournaments, so I just felt that smoking didn't fit well with my martial arts.
"But mostly, I was smoking and it bothered me. That was the catalyst I used."
The first episode introduces the viewer to the five subjects - Cheryl, Jessika, Shauna, Bryn and Steve - plus Dr. David Aboussafy, a smoking cessation psychologist whose job was to help prepare the five quitters for the task unenviable ahead of them.
While Uphill doesn't want to give away the ending - the final episode was filmed just two weeks ago - she does admit that trying to quit was never easy.
"I used the show as one big support system," said Uphill, who admits she'd tried quitting in the past, with no real success.
In addition to the huge incentive of having attempt to quit documented in a television series, Uphill said she used every device in the book in the hopes of successfully achieving her goal.
"They gave us huge amounts of information," she said. "And I tried everything they threw at me."
the long list of stop smoking methods that Uphill tied included the drug Zyban, acupuncture, a psychologist, a nico-inhaler, a visit to stop-smoking hypnotist Romane and naturopathic medicines.
"I will say it was the first time I hadn't gone through withdrawal when I tried to quit, because I had prepared myself beforehand," she said.
And, as for the finished television show, Uphill said the producers captured both the good and bad times of trying to quit smoking. "There's funny things that happen, and there's sad things, too. The show will give a general mix of the ups and downs and around the corners of our lives," she said.
Uphill also admits that her good physical condition also helped her prepare for one of the more sensitive aspects of quitting smoking, especially for women - an expected weight gain.
"I'm a fairly lean person and that's one thing that scared the crap out of me," she said. "I could have aimed to become just a part-time smoker, but I told myself 'No. I am a nonsmoker now.'
"Sure, I've gained weight. I've gained over 10 pounds, but it's healthy and I'm fine with it," she said triumphantly.
Kick Butt, a made-in Burnaby reality TV show, airs on the Knowledge Network, Shaw Cable 5, on Tuesdays at 8 p.m., and repeats on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m., and Sundays and Mondays at 11 p.m.
Candidates spar over sign vandalism
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 4, 2005
The four B.C. Liberal candidates in Burnaby held a news conference on Monday morning to point to the growing problem of vandalism against election signs.
Standing amid a pile of damaged signs, MLAs John Nuraney, Harry Bloy, Richard Lee and Patty Sahota gathered at a city-owned property near Burnaby Central secondary to claim that their signs are being targeted by vandals.
"This is my third election and I've never seen such devastation before," said Nuraney, who noted that about 70 Liberal signs were torn down on one night over the weekend, resulting in about $2,000 total damage to signs in the four city ridings.
"This does not augur well for our democracy," Nuraney said. "This is not the kind of message we want to teach our children. We live in a democratic country and these kinds of things only happen in socialist militant countries.
"Another astonishing factor is it's only the Liberal signs that were destroyed," Nuraney said.
On Global TV News on Monday night, the four NDP candidates in Burnaby said their signs have also been damaged, and they questioned the Liberals' motives in holding the press conference.
The comments also prompted DRBC deputy leader Tony Kuo to issue his own news release chastising the Liberals for ignoring the real issues in this campaign.
"Do the four B.C. Liberals in Burnaby have no shame in trying to get media sympathy for their loss of lawn signs," said a press release issued by Kuo just three hours after the press conference.
"How come did they not cry for sympathy in the pain and suffering for all the cuts in the Burnaby Hospital, all Burnaby schools and all Burnaby senior citizen care homes. Are lawn signs more important than seniors, students and lives," Kuo asked in the release. "Stop the crocodile tears by this pathetic Burnaby B.C. Liberal candidate team. Get your priorities straight."
Sign damage has been a recurring problem during election campaigns in Burnaby for many years and, in the lead-up to the 2001 provincial vote, the NDP and Liberal candidates in Burnaby North - Lee and Pietro Calendino - held a rare joint press conference to ask the public to leave the signs alone.
Published May 4, 2005
The four B.C. Liberal candidates in Burnaby held a news conference on Monday morning to point to the growing problem of vandalism against election signs.
Standing amid a pile of damaged signs, MLAs John Nuraney, Harry Bloy, Richard Lee and Patty Sahota gathered at a city-owned property near Burnaby Central secondary to claim that their signs are being targeted by vandals.
"This is my third election and I've never seen such devastation before," said Nuraney, who noted that about 70 Liberal signs were torn down on one night over the weekend, resulting in about $2,000 total damage to signs in the four city ridings.
"This does not augur well for our democracy," Nuraney said. "This is not the kind of message we want to teach our children. We live in a democratic country and these kinds of things only happen in socialist militant countries.
"Another astonishing factor is it's only the Liberal signs that were destroyed," Nuraney said.
On Global TV News on Monday night, the four NDP candidates in Burnaby said their signs have also been damaged, and they questioned the Liberals' motives in holding the press conference.
The comments also prompted DRBC deputy leader Tony Kuo to issue his own news release chastising the Liberals for ignoring the real issues in this campaign.
"Do the four B.C. Liberals in Burnaby have no shame in trying to get media sympathy for their loss of lawn signs," said a press release issued by Kuo just three hours after the press conference.
"How come did they not cry for sympathy in the pain and suffering for all the cuts in the Burnaby Hospital, all Burnaby schools and all Burnaby senior citizen care homes. Are lawn signs more important than seniors, students and lives," Kuo asked in the release. "Stop the crocodile tears by this pathetic Burnaby B.C. Liberal candidate team. Get your priorities straight."
Sign damage has been a recurring problem during election campaigns in Burnaby for many years and, in the lead-up to the 2001 provincial vote, the NDP and Liberal candidates in Burnaby North - Lee and Pietro Calendino - held a rare joint press conference to ask the public to leave the signs alone.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Cuts come back to haunt Liberals
By Dan Hilborn
Published April 30, 2005
If one impression emerged during the all-candidate's meeting hosted by the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, it was that many of the families, friends and employees of the agency are still angered by the cutbacks imposed by the B.C. Liberal government during the past four years.
The crowd may have been small, but the questions were tough and to the point during the two-and-a-half-hour meeting on Thursday night at BACI's Still Creek education centre.
And while only two of the city's four B.C. Liberal MLAs were on hand to face the heat - John Nuraney and Richard Lee attended, Harry Bloy and Patty Sahota did not - they did their best to respond to every complaint and criticism from the fewer than 100 people in attendance.
Other candidates on hand included the NDP's Pietro Calendino in North, Gabriel Yiu in Willingdon and Raj Chouhan in Edmonds plus the city's Green Party candidates, Susan Deveau in Edmonds and Richard Brand in North. The Democratic Reform B.C. party candidates were not invited.
But most of the questions were directed at the two Liberals, such as the opening salvo of the night, which asked why recent statistics have revealed that homelessness in the Lower Mainland has doubled in the past three years.
"I have always believed that homelessness is a stain on us, a stain on our society and a stain on our government," said Nuraney. "There is absolutely no reason for anyone to be homeless in this day and age. But how do we reach them?"
Nuraney said Premier Gordon Campbell recently convened a task force to discuss the issue of homelessness with local governments, and committed $137 million in the last budget to the issue.
Yiu said much of the homeless problem may be related to the consolidation of decision-making power in the premier's office and the massive cutbacks to the social assistance budget in 2002.
Deveau said the Green Party believes everyone is entitled to clean air, water, a home and a meaningful life.
The social service cutbacks of the past four years were a major concern, and Calendino said the Liberals instituted a $2 billion tax cut on their first day in government that forced an equal-sized reduction in services to people.
Lee said the restructuring of B.C.'s social service system was necessary after the NDP. "I believe a strong economy is really important," Lee said. "Without investment our society cannot just keep borrowing to pay for social services."
Kevin Lusignan, who has two children with disabilities, caused a stir when he asked Nuraney what the government could do to restore dignity to his family's life. "People are treated like they're on welfare," he said.
"It is most unfortunate that front line workers do not understand the need for civility," began Nuraney, before Lusignan interjected and claimed the MLA did not understand the question.
"The government sets the policy and tells them to come in for an unnecessary review," Lusignan claimed. "The fact is, there is no cure for Down Syndrome." Nuraney said if he was reelected, he would help the family.
Deveau said everyone, including government employees, deserves to be treated with respect. "Staff have seen their benefits cut and wages reduced. How can they love what they do?" she asked.
Calendino said front line workers "have to do what the government tells them to do" and then promised the NDP would eliminate the annual review for people on disability assistance, and the two-out- of-five-year limit on receiving benefits.
Gerry Juzenas, a self-advocate, client and volunteer at BACI, complained about the low social assistance benefits. "How can you improve that and make life a little better?" he asked.
Nuraney said the government actually increased benefits for people on social assistance, and intends to keep raising them as long as the economy stays buoyant. "I certainly hope with the strong economy we have we'll be able to improve and give more money to people with disabilities," said the MLA.
The candidates also sparred over their party's daycare proposals.
Yiu said the NDP believes in a five pillar plan for child care that includes quality care, universal access, affordability for all, with a developmental focus and accountable to an independent auditor.
Lee angered his Green rival when he said the Liberals have made 32,000 more day care spaces eligible for government assistance. "It seems to me that support for child care centres has been increased," said the Liberal.
But Brand said the numbers were misleading. "The number of qualified early childhood education instructors has decreased and family child care centres have been offered a grant to make their businesses more sustainable," he said.
Al Petersen, a member of the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations, gave the longest speech of the night when he talked about his recent experience in hospital and then asked about school and hospital closures, the privatization of medical services, tearing up union contracts and the BC Rail deal. His question was: "how can we trust you?"
"The budgets for health care and education have really increased quite a bit," said Lee, noted that total funding for health and education rose from 62 per cent to 68 per cent of the total budget during the Liberal's term.
"If the gentleman had open heart surgery two months ago, then he is doing really well and that shows our health care system is in good shape," said Nuraney.
John Daly, a union member and longtime supporter of BACI, asked what the candidates would do to ensure an "improved and stable working environment" for people in the community living sector.
Chouhan, an HEU organizer who came to Canada 30 years ago to found the Canadian Farmworkers Union, said the NDp would restore free collective bargaining, and include workers in the decision making process.
And Nuraney said 82 labour agreements were "satisfactorily resolved" and B.C. experienced fewer strikes during the Liberals' term. "It seems to me that labour management relations have been fairly good under our government," he said above the shouts of the only truly loud heckler of the evening.
Published April 30, 2005
If one impression emerged during the all-candidate's meeting hosted by the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, it was that many of the families, friends and employees of the agency are still angered by the cutbacks imposed by the B.C. Liberal government during the past four years.
The crowd may have been small, but the questions were tough and to the point during the two-and-a-half-hour meeting on Thursday night at BACI's Still Creek education centre.
And while only two of the city's four B.C. Liberal MLAs were on hand to face the heat - John Nuraney and Richard Lee attended, Harry Bloy and Patty Sahota did not - they did their best to respond to every complaint and criticism from the fewer than 100 people in attendance.
Other candidates on hand included the NDP's Pietro Calendino in North, Gabriel Yiu in Willingdon and Raj Chouhan in Edmonds plus the city's Green Party candidates, Susan Deveau in Edmonds and Richard Brand in North. The Democratic Reform B.C. party candidates were not invited.
But most of the questions were directed at the two Liberals, such as the opening salvo of the night, which asked why recent statistics have revealed that homelessness in the Lower Mainland has doubled in the past three years.
"I have always believed that homelessness is a stain on us, a stain on our society and a stain on our government," said Nuraney. "There is absolutely no reason for anyone to be homeless in this day and age. But how do we reach them?"
Nuraney said Premier Gordon Campbell recently convened a task force to discuss the issue of homelessness with local governments, and committed $137 million in the last budget to the issue.
Yiu said much of the homeless problem may be related to the consolidation of decision-making power in the premier's office and the massive cutbacks to the social assistance budget in 2002.
Deveau said the Green Party believes everyone is entitled to clean air, water, a home and a meaningful life.
The social service cutbacks of the past four years were a major concern, and Calendino said the Liberals instituted a $2 billion tax cut on their first day in government that forced an equal-sized reduction in services to people.
Lee said the restructuring of B.C.'s social service system was necessary after the NDP. "I believe a strong economy is really important," Lee said. "Without investment our society cannot just keep borrowing to pay for social services."
Kevin Lusignan, who has two children with disabilities, caused a stir when he asked Nuraney what the government could do to restore dignity to his family's life. "People are treated like they're on welfare," he said.
"It is most unfortunate that front line workers do not understand the need for civility," began Nuraney, before Lusignan interjected and claimed the MLA did not understand the question.
"The government sets the policy and tells them to come in for an unnecessary review," Lusignan claimed. "The fact is, there is no cure for Down Syndrome." Nuraney said if he was reelected, he would help the family.
Deveau said everyone, including government employees, deserves to be treated with respect. "Staff have seen their benefits cut and wages reduced. How can they love what they do?" she asked.
Calendino said front line workers "have to do what the government tells them to do" and then promised the NDP would eliminate the annual review for people on disability assistance, and the two-out- of-five-year limit on receiving benefits.
Gerry Juzenas, a self-advocate, client and volunteer at BACI, complained about the low social assistance benefits. "How can you improve that and make life a little better?" he asked.
Nuraney said the government actually increased benefits for people on social assistance, and intends to keep raising them as long as the economy stays buoyant. "I certainly hope with the strong economy we have we'll be able to improve and give more money to people with disabilities," said the MLA.
The candidates also sparred over their party's daycare proposals.
Yiu said the NDP believes in a five pillar plan for child care that includes quality care, universal access, affordability for all, with a developmental focus and accountable to an independent auditor.
Lee angered his Green rival when he said the Liberals have made 32,000 more day care spaces eligible for government assistance. "It seems to me that support for child care centres has been increased," said the Liberal.
But Brand said the numbers were misleading. "The number of qualified early childhood education instructors has decreased and family child care centres have been offered a grant to make their businesses more sustainable," he said.
Al Petersen, a member of the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations, gave the longest speech of the night when he talked about his recent experience in hospital and then asked about school and hospital closures, the privatization of medical services, tearing up union contracts and the BC Rail deal. His question was: "how can we trust you?"
"The budgets for health care and education have really increased quite a bit," said Lee, noted that total funding for health and education rose from 62 per cent to 68 per cent of the total budget during the Liberal's term.
"If the gentleman had open heart surgery two months ago, then he is doing really well and that shows our health care system is in good shape," said Nuraney.
John Daly, a union member and longtime supporter of BACI, asked what the candidates would do to ensure an "improved and stable working environment" for people in the community living sector.
Chouhan, an HEU organizer who came to Canada 30 years ago to found the Canadian Farmworkers Union, said the NDp would restore free collective bargaining, and include workers in the decision making process.
And Nuraney said 82 labour agreements were "satisfactorily resolved" and B.C. experienced fewer strikes during the Liberals' term. "It seems to me that labour management relations have been fairly good under our government," he said above the shouts of the only truly loud heckler of the evening.
Liberals ride on housing boom
By Dan Hilborn
Published April 30, 2005
Housing starts in Burnaby have reached levels not seen since the early 1970s, and Edmonds MLA Patty Sahota said credit has to be given to the B.C. Liberal policies of the past four years.
"When we were first elected, we said we'd revitalize the economy," Sahota said in the company of local realtors and developers outside a five-unit townhouse project being built in the 5200 block of Victory Street.
"Today, this housing complex is an example of how the economy is being revitalized, not just in Burnaby but all around the province," Sahota said. "People are investing and coming back to B.C., and it's important to note that our government has a lot to do with it.
"The economy, as you know, is doing really well in the province. Housing starts are up to their highest level in Burnaby since 1971, and B.C. as a province is leading the nation in economic growth for the first time in a long time."
In a press release, Sahota noted that Burnaby had 2,326 housing starts last year, a level of growth not seen since 1971 and the second-highest total of new homes built in the city since 1962.
Her positive outlook was echoed by the project's developer, Bimaljit Singh, and local realtors Roger Dhir, Ron Basra, Doris Gee and Phil Moore.
"We've seen a drastic turnaround in our business since the Liberals were elected," said Moore. "That was the turning point, and for our industry it has been very positive."
Dhir, of Royal Pacific Realty, said that all aspects of the economy are benefiting, including organized labour.
"Thanks to the proper management in Victoria, we're in business," Dhir said. "Just look at the framers. They used to earn $2.50 a square foot, now they make $5.50. They're all making money."
Singh said he used to build single family homes, but diversified into multifamily projects such as the $2-million project on Victory Street because of his confidence in the economy.
"This is a small project, but it's keeping people busy and creating more jobs," said Singh, who noted that his business keeps 52 different subtrades busy, each of which has four or five employees.
Sahota also said B.C.-wide housing starts grew almost four times faster than elsewhere in Canada, and predictions indicate that B.C. may be the only province with continued growth in 2005.
She also said that for every housing start, two jobs are created, bringing $27,000 in spin-off activity to the province. Overall, Burnaby approved $514 million in building permits last year, up from $196 million in 2001.
But Burnaby mayor Derek Corrigan, one of the most high-profile NDP members in the city, said it was categorically unfair to give the provincial government full credit for an economic boom that is being felt around the world.
"The Liberals have as much to do with the economy as they did with the tsunami in Southeast Asia," Corrigan said. "For them to be going out and telling the public that four million people in B.C. have determined the economy of North America and Asia is ridiculous. It defies common sense."
Corrigan said credit for the economic boom more properly belongs to the growing economic clout of China and India.
"All of us are capitalizing on the opportunities we have from a buoyant world economy, particularly a buoyant Asian economy as a result of China going through a huge industrial expansion. I also think the housing starts we've seen in Burnaby and around the region are probably because this region is a highly desirable place to live, and that hasn't been created in the past four years."
Corrigan even questioned whether the Liberals have done anything at all to benefit Burnaby.
"The real issue for me is what has Patty done for Burnaby? I know she's actively represented Victoria's interest, but I can't think of any point where she's represented Burnaby's point and won a victory," the mayor said. "We've had the closure of a courthouse, the closure of a house for sexually exploited children and, when you look at the redevelopment of Edmonds, it's done entirely by the city.
"I just can't understand how the media just keeps eating this stuff up," he said. "If the economy goes into the toilet, will they be saying it's the Liberals' fault that Asia is having a collapse. No, they won't. It's ridiculous."
Published April 30, 2005
Housing starts in Burnaby have reached levels not seen since the early 1970s, and Edmonds MLA Patty Sahota said credit has to be given to the B.C. Liberal policies of the past four years.
"When we were first elected, we said we'd revitalize the economy," Sahota said in the company of local realtors and developers outside a five-unit townhouse project being built in the 5200 block of Victory Street.
"Today, this housing complex is an example of how the economy is being revitalized, not just in Burnaby but all around the province," Sahota said. "People are investing and coming back to B.C., and it's important to note that our government has a lot to do with it.
"The economy, as you know, is doing really well in the province. Housing starts are up to their highest level in Burnaby since 1971, and B.C. as a province is leading the nation in economic growth for the first time in a long time."
In a press release, Sahota noted that Burnaby had 2,326 housing starts last year, a level of growth not seen since 1971 and the second-highest total of new homes built in the city since 1962.
Her positive outlook was echoed by the project's developer, Bimaljit Singh, and local realtors Roger Dhir, Ron Basra, Doris Gee and Phil Moore.
"We've seen a drastic turnaround in our business since the Liberals were elected," said Moore. "That was the turning point, and for our industry it has been very positive."
Dhir, of Royal Pacific Realty, said that all aspects of the economy are benefiting, including organized labour.
"Thanks to the proper management in Victoria, we're in business," Dhir said. "Just look at the framers. They used to earn $2.50 a square foot, now they make $5.50. They're all making money."
Singh said he used to build single family homes, but diversified into multifamily projects such as the $2-million project on Victory Street because of his confidence in the economy.
"This is a small project, but it's keeping people busy and creating more jobs," said Singh, who noted that his business keeps 52 different subtrades busy, each of which has four or five employees.
Sahota also said B.C.-wide housing starts grew almost four times faster than elsewhere in Canada, and predictions indicate that B.C. may be the only province with continued growth in 2005.
She also said that for every housing start, two jobs are created, bringing $27,000 in spin-off activity to the province. Overall, Burnaby approved $514 million in building permits last year, up from $196 million in 2001.
But Burnaby mayor Derek Corrigan, one of the most high-profile NDP members in the city, said it was categorically unfair to give the provincial government full credit for an economic boom that is being felt around the world.
"The Liberals have as much to do with the economy as they did with the tsunami in Southeast Asia," Corrigan said. "For them to be going out and telling the public that four million people in B.C. have determined the economy of North America and Asia is ridiculous. It defies common sense."
Corrigan said credit for the economic boom more properly belongs to the growing economic clout of China and India.
"All of us are capitalizing on the opportunities we have from a buoyant world economy, particularly a buoyant Asian economy as a result of China going through a huge industrial expansion. I also think the housing starts we've seen in Burnaby and around the region are probably because this region is a highly desirable place to live, and that hasn't been created in the past four years."
Corrigan even questioned whether the Liberals have done anything at all to benefit Burnaby.
"The real issue for me is what has Patty done for Burnaby? I know she's actively represented Victoria's interest, but I can't think of any point where she's represented Burnaby's point and won a victory," the mayor said. "We've had the closure of a courthouse, the closure of a house for sexually exploited children and, when you look at the redevelopment of Edmonds, it's done entirely by the city.
"I just can't understand how the media just keeps eating this stuff up," he said. "If the economy goes into the toilet, will they be saying it's the Liberals' fault that Asia is having a collapse. No, they won't. It's ridiculous."
Taxi dispute resolved
By Dan Hilborn
Published April 30, 2005
The impromptu walkout by drivers at Bonny's Taxi came to an end on Monday night when the two sides reached an agreement on how to share a 8.87 per cent fare increase.
Hamid Bahrami, spokesperson for the driver's action committee, said the two sides met for about an hour on Monday after which they agreed to a $70 per shift lease fee, up $5 per shift from the previous agreement.
"They are happy and we are happy and all the drivers have gone back to work," Bahrami said. "We'd also like to thank all the people for their support."
Amrik Mahil, operations manager for the company, said he is glad to see the drivers back at work.
"There was no problem, just a misunderstanding," Mahil said. "It's exactly what we said."
Mahil also said that the public often has misconceptions about how cab companies work.
"People in Burnaby should be calling Bonny's at all times. It's against the law to call Yellow Cab," he said.
Published April 30, 2005
The impromptu walkout by drivers at Bonny's Taxi came to an end on Monday night when the two sides reached an agreement on how to share a 8.87 per cent fare increase.
Hamid Bahrami, spokesperson for the driver's action committee, said the two sides met for about an hour on Monday after which they agreed to a $70 per shift lease fee, up $5 per shift from the previous agreement.
"They are happy and we are happy and all the drivers have gone back to work," Bahrami said. "We'd also like to thank all the people for their support."
Amrik Mahil, operations manager for the company, said he is glad to see the drivers back at work.
"There was no problem, just a misunderstanding," Mahil said. "It's exactly what we said."
Mahil also said that the public often has misconceptions about how cab companies work.
"People in Burnaby should be calling Bonny's at all times. It's against the law to call Yellow Cab," he said.
'Tourism' becomes a local issue
Backrooms column by Dan Hilborn
Published April 30, 2005
Former Liberal riding association president Shayne Gordon has stopped beating on his old friends and is turning his vitriol against a familiar foe this week, with a press release that takes aim at a local NDP candidate.
Gordon, who now works for Democratic Reform B.C., issued a press release this week that calls local TV commentator and Burnaby- Willingdon NDP hopeful Gabriel Yiu a "tourist" in his own riding.
Written on behalf of DRBC candidate Tony Kuo, the release says the NDP has nominated a "tourist who has never lived in Burnaby."
Yiu admits that he and his wife are still discussing their plans should he win the election, and the deciding factor will likely revolve around their children's schooling.
"My main concern is about our kids," said Yiu, whose daughter attends public school in the next door riding of Vancouver- Fraserview. "My eldest child is in Grade 5 and she's got a lot of friends. To move her completely to a new school is a major concern."
And speaking of moving around, a little birdie called last week to let me know that Gordon did not take the most direct route from the B.C. Liberals to DRBC. Apparently, Gordon had a brief fling with the Conservative Party of Canada in the Burnaby-Douglas riding during last year's federal election.
NEW MUSEUM COMING TO CITY?
Could a new Asia-Pacific Museum of Trade and Culture, announced by B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell on Sunday, actually be built in Burnaby?
It will if Burnaby-Edmonds MLA Patty Sahota has her way.
Sahota, whose family operates the Aspen Group lumber business in the interior of the province, said the proposed museum would celebrate, strengthen and unleash the power of B.C.'s rich cultural diversity.
"I'm going to make a friendly suggestion and I'll advocate for that to be located in Burnaby," said the newly appointed Minister of State for Resort Development. "The selling point is that we have so much dioversity here. If you walk around Burnaby you'll find people from all around the world. Fifty per cent of the population are immigrants."
In a press release applauding the museum proposal, Sahota quotes local forestry pioneers Jack Uppal of Goldwood Industries and Jim Gillis of Haida Forest Products as being favour of the idea.
Gillis' family has been involved in the B.C. forest industry for over 100 years and has been partners with the Ghog family, owners of Aspen Group, since 1989, said the press release.
DOA ENTERS THE FRAY
Former Green party candidate Joey Keithley, best known as Joey Shithead of the punk rock band DOA, has returned to the fray with a new 20-song compilation CD that takes aim at the current government.
Citizens Rule is an independent disc featuring recordings by DOA, Geoff Burner, Betty Cracker, Joey Only and others that, according to the CD's liner notes, offers "No party line, no special interest, no media spin, one loud and simple message: Screw Campbell."
Distributed by Track records, the CD costs only $10, and its formal release party will be May 12 at the Anza Club in Vancouver. Download the songs and make a donation to the food bank at the CD's website, www.bcfiberals.com.
TRAC WANTS TO KNOW
The Tenant's Rights Coalition is hoping somebody will stand up and ask the candidates a couple of questions about affordable housing during the ongoing provincial election campaign.
And seeing as how it's impossible for this newspaper to attend every single all-candidate's meeting during the next two weeks, we're providing those questions here, so you, the public can have the opportunity to grill the candidates.
The coalition, which speaks up on behalf of low income renters throughout the province, is particularly dismayed about cutbacks to the residential tenancy branch over the past four years. They note that Burnaby is now home to the only residential tenancy office in the entire Lower Mainland, and that 1,900 Burnaby residents are on waiting lists to get into subsidized housing.
So their questions are as follows:
1. Will your government reopen some offices and provide proper staffing so that Lower Mainland renters and landlords in other areas will have the proper access to information, dispute resolution and arbitration? and;
2. What will your government do to provide more subsidized housing for low-income people?
HE'S A COSTUMED CRUSADER
Brock Stephenson, the Burnaby-Willingdon resident who is president of the B.C. Young Liberals, was forced to fess up after he attempted to describe himself as a simple volunteer during the first week of the election campaign.
Stephenson was dressed in the costume of a McDonald's Hamburglar when he showed up to heckle NDP leader Carole James at her first campaign stop of the election, at Burger Heaven in New Westminster.
When he inadvertently told the NDP his name, his opponents did a quick check and found out the young man has a long history of supporting the Liberals.
In fact, Stephenson and a long list of other Young Liberals, including occasional Burnaby NOW letter writers Woosang Lee and Miles Lunn, were formally introduced in the legislature by Burquitlam MLA Harry Bloy on April 28, 2003.
"They represent the people of Simon Fraser University," Bloy said. "They supported the tuition increase, because they know it created more classes and more professors."
MAD COW COVERUP?
Is it time to close the Canadian border to American beef imports?
That's the question from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian, after the Washington D.C.-based Environment News Service found several former U.S. Department of Agriculture employees who question whether their employee has adequately investigated claims of mad cow disease in American cattle herds.
An April 15 story from ENS quotes retired USDA veterinarian Dr. Masuo Doi as saying at least two 1997 investigations into suspected mad cow disease were not performed properly and the disease may have gotten into the food chain. The allegations are supported by a chief scientist at a USDA laboratory in Georgia, and a former veterinarian and USDA inspector who was fired in 1995.
"Dr. Doi was a veterinarian who said he was haunted by fears the right tests were not done," Julian said. "We've also heard from another inspector who said of there was ever a case of BSE, don't tell anybody."
"This is from insiders who are more familiar with these things than anybody. What I'm saying is we need to close the Canadian border to U.S. beef imports and start an investigation to make sure the beef that comes into Canada is safe.
"I believe the Canadian government has to stand up strongly for Canadian interests, and if there are questions, we need to close our border."
A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK
What's happening with the billions of dollars that are tied up in government foundations?
That's the $9 billion question coming from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian this month, after Auditor General Sheila Fraser's annual report pointed to the lack of scrutiny for government foundations as a major oversight.
"In essence, they're playing hide and seek with these funds," Julian said last month.
In her annual report, Fraser said that most of the 11 government foundations in question have never had a compliance audit, while others have contracts that don't even allow the government to inspect their books.
"Even if they've deliberately misused the funds there's no provision to terminate the agreement," said Julian, the NDP critic for the treasury branch. "This is a huge, huge danger here. ... The public interest is not being respected."
Julian noted that he believes there is a need for foundation, such as the Canada Millennium Scholarship Fund, however, he wants them to fall under the purview of the AG office.
Published April 30, 2005
Former Liberal riding association president Shayne Gordon has stopped beating on his old friends and is turning his vitriol against a familiar foe this week, with a press release that takes aim at a local NDP candidate.
Gordon, who now works for Democratic Reform B.C., issued a press release this week that calls local TV commentator and Burnaby- Willingdon NDP hopeful Gabriel Yiu a "tourist" in his own riding.
Written on behalf of DRBC candidate Tony Kuo, the release says the NDP has nominated a "tourist who has never lived in Burnaby."
Yiu admits that he and his wife are still discussing their plans should he win the election, and the deciding factor will likely revolve around their children's schooling.
"My main concern is about our kids," said Yiu, whose daughter attends public school in the next door riding of Vancouver- Fraserview. "My eldest child is in Grade 5 and she's got a lot of friends. To move her completely to a new school is a major concern."
And speaking of moving around, a little birdie called last week to let me know that Gordon did not take the most direct route from the B.C. Liberals to DRBC. Apparently, Gordon had a brief fling with the Conservative Party of Canada in the Burnaby-Douglas riding during last year's federal election.
NEW MUSEUM COMING TO CITY?
Could a new Asia-Pacific Museum of Trade and Culture, announced by B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell on Sunday, actually be built in Burnaby?
It will if Burnaby-Edmonds MLA Patty Sahota has her way.
Sahota, whose family operates the Aspen Group lumber business in the interior of the province, said the proposed museum would celebrate, strengthen and unleash the power of B.C.'s rich cultural diversity.
"I'm going to make a friendly suggestion and I'll advocate for that to be located in Burnaby," said the newly appointed Minister of State for Resort Development. "The selling point is that we have so much dioversity here. If you walk around Burnaby you'll find people from all around the world. Fifty per cent of the population are immigrants."
In a press release applauding the museum proposal, Sahota quotes local forestry pioneers Jack Uppal of Goldwood Industries and Jim Gillis of Haida Forest Products as being favour of the idea.
Gillis' family has been involved in the B.C. forest industry for over 100 years and has been partners with the Ghog family, owners of Aspen Group, since 1989, said the press release.
DOA ENTERS THE FRAY
Former Green party candidate Joey Keithley, best known as Joey Shithead of the punk rock band DOA, has returned to the fray with a new 20-song compilation CD that takes aim at the current government.
Citizens Rule is an independent disc featuring recordings by DOA, Geoff Burner, Betty Cracker, Joey Only and others that, according to the CD's liner notes, offers "No party line, no special interest, no media spin, one loud and simple message: Screw Campbell."
Distributed by Track records, the CD costs only $10, and its formal release party will be May 12 at the Anza Club in Vancouver. Download the songs and make a donation to the food bank at the CD's website, www.bcfiberals.com.
TRAC WANTS TO KNOW
The Tenant's Rights Coalition is hoping somebody will stand up and ask the candidates a couple of questions about affordable housing during the ongoing provincial election campaign.
And seeing as how it's impossible for this newspaper to attend every single all-candidate's meeting during the next two weeks, we're providing those questions here, so you, the public can have the opportunity to grill the candidates.
The coalition, which speaks up on behalf of low income renters throughout the province, is particularly dismayed about cutbacks to the residential tenancy branch over the past four years. They note that Burnaby is now home to the only residential tenancy office in the entire Lower Mainland, and that 1,900 Burnaby residents are on waiting lists to get into subsidized housing.
So their questions are as follows:
1. Will your government reopen some offices and provide proper staffing so that Lower Mainland renters and landlords in other areas will have the proper access to information, dispute resolution and arbitration? and;
2. What will your government do to provide more subsidized housing for low-income people?
HE'S A COSTUMED CRUSADER
Brock Stephenson, the Burnaby-Willingdon resident who is president of the B.C. Young Liberals, was forced to fess up after he attempted to describe himself as a simple volunteer during the first week of the election campaign.
Stephenson was dressed in the costume of a McDonald's Hamburglar when he showed up to heckle NDP leader Carole James at her first campaign stop of the election, at Burger Heaven in New Westminster.
When he inadvertently told the NDP his name, his opponents did a quick check and found out the young man has a long history of supporting the Liberals.
In fact, Stephenson and a long list of other Young Liberals, including occasional Burnaby NOW letter writers Woosang Lee and Miles Lunn, were formally introduced in the legislature by Burquitlam MLA Harry Bloy on April 28, 2003.
"They represent the people of Simon Fraser University," Bloy said. "They supported the tuition increase, because they know it created more classes and more professors."
MAD COW COVERUP?
Is it time to close the Canadian border to American beef imports?
That's the question from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian, after the Washington D.C.-based Environment News Service found several former U.S. Department of Agriculture employees who question whether their employee has adequately investigated claims of mad cow disease in American cattle herds.
An April 15 story from ENS quotes retired USDA veterinarian Dr. Masuo Doi as saying at least two 1997 investigations into suspected mad cow disease were not performed properly and the disease may have gotten into the food chain. The allegations are supported by a chief scientist at a USDA laboratory in Georgia, and a former veterinarian and USDA inspector who was fired in 1995.
"Dr. Doi was a veterinarian who said he was haunted by fears the right tests were not done," Julian said. "We've also heard from another inspector who said of there was ever a case of BSE, don't tell anybody."
"This is from insiders who are more familiar with these things than anybody. What I'm saying is we need to close the Canadian border to U.S. beef imports and start an investigation to make sure the beef that comes into Canada is safe.
"I believe the Canadian government has to stand up strongly for Canadian interests, and if there are questions, we need to close our border."
A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK
What's happening with the billions of dollars that are tied up in government foundations?
That's the $9 billion question coming from Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian this month, after Auditor General Sheila Fraser's annual report pointed to the lack of scrutiny for government foundations as a major oversight.
"In essence, they're playing hide and seek with these funds," Julian said last month.
In her annual report, Fraser said that most of the 11 government foundations in question have never had a compliance audit, while others have contracts that don't even allow the government to inspect their books.
"Even if they've deliberately misused the funds there's no provision to terminate the agreement," said Julian, the NDP critic for the treasury branch. "This is a huge, huge danger here. ... The public interest is not being respected."
Julian noted that he believes there is a need for foundation, such as the Canada Millennium Scholarship Fund, however, he wants them to fall under the purview of the AG office.
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