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.