Dave Babych appears in BC Liars Pre-Election TV Special

[Sapper]

heres an odd ( ok not really - businuess is seeing whats coming ) story

http://www.biv.com/article/20130408/BIV0109/130409934/corporate-donations-drift-to-ndp-from-major-liberal-backers?utm_source=BIV+Daily&utm_campaign=c2d29d05bf-Daily_Monday_April_84_8_2013&utm_medium=email

Some of the business community's most significant BC Liberal backers have shifted their donations to the BC NDP ahead of the May provincial election.

The latest Elections BC reports reveal corporate donations to the NDP that were authorized by heavy-hitters such as Telus CEO Darren Entwistle, Canucks Sports and Entertainment principal Francesco Aquilini and David McLean, the chair of Canadian National and owner of Vancouver Film Studios.

The Liberals raised $10.1 million in 2012, half of which was from corporations. The NDP's $6.9 million take included $1 million from corporations. The Conservatives raised only $256,000, a fifth of which was from corporate sources.

The Liberals ($2,258,186) and NDP ($1,713,634.83) ended 2012 with surpluses, while the Conservatives reported a $15,870 deficit.

McLean's donations since 2005 total $264,987.50, and all but $9,100 were to the Liberals. He made two April 2012 donations totaling $10,850 to the Liberals through Canadian National Railway and one in the same month for $1,500 from Vancouver Film Studios. But on June 1 ($600) and Oct. 11 ($3,500) he donated via CN to the BC NDP. His Pacific Backlot Services and Vancouver Film Studios also donated $2,500 each on October 30 to the NDP.

The NDP have promised to hold a public inquiry into the 2003 sale of BC Rail to CN, should they come into power. Canadian Pacific Railway quit the tendering process because it alleged the B.C. government leaked insider information to CN.

NDP attorney general critic Leonard Krog said he had no idea McLean made a donation, but that it would make no difference whatsoever to the inquiry process.

"I have repeated, as has Adrian (Dix), over and over again, we are committed to a public inquiry into the sale of BC Rail," Krog told Business in Vancouver. "It's safe to say the essential question will be subject to lawyers in the ministry of the attorney general, all of those things over time. Yes, the optics are not overly helpful, but on the other hand I'm not surprised that various companies have, in fact individuals and powerful people, have given money to the NDP over the last year or two, many of them have attended various fundraisers."

Telus has previously donated more than $400,000 to the Liberals, according to the online database, which stretches back to 2005.

The telecom donated $35,700 in 2012, of which $12,050 went to the NDP. The principal officers for nine of the 11 Liberal donations are listed as lobbyists Kim Logan and David Cunningham. The biggest single donation was $11,130 to the Liberals on December 21, 2012. The corporate officer's names are not listed.

However, the officers for the four NDP donations are listed as Entwistle and Robert McFarlane, Telus' chief financial officer.

Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini gave $210,275 in 2012. Although the Liberals received the majority, he donated $102,500 to the NDP, including $100,000 on December 6. That was double his biggest donation to the Liberals of $50,000 on December 21.

Owners of the BC Lions David Braley ($6,800) and Whitecaps Greg Kerfoot ($7,750) only wrote cheques to the Liberals.

Another first time NDP donor was Brian Fehr, who made four donations, all to the NDP, totalling $58,500, from his BID Group and Nechako Construction. Fehr had donated $122,985 from 2005 to 2011 to the Liberals only, including $5,000 to Premier Christy Clark's leadership campaign.

Fehr claimed Minister Pat Bell promised him a spot on the shortlist for the controversial Prince George Wood Innovation and Design Centre project.

Encana Corporation gave $157,740, of which only $14,140 was to the NDP. The four NDP donations bear the name of Randy Eresmen, who was CEO until January, and chief financial officer Sherri Brillon. The Liberal donations have no names attached. Northern Gateway pipeline proponent Enbridge made $13,320 in donations, of which $6,300 went to the NDP. The NDP donations bear the name of Enbridge president John Carruthers and vice-president Roger Harris, who was a BC Liberal MLA from 2001 to 2005. The company's biggest single donation was $3,500 on October 4 to the NDP.

Although its president Peter Leitch donated $1,205 for the year to the Liberals, the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of B.C. donated $7,000 to the NDP on October 1.

Great Canadian Gaming made 11 donations worth $7,835, solely to the NDP, though vice-president Howard Blank made three totalling $1,315 to the Liberals. Prince George's Treasure Cove casino is listed as making two $10,000 donations to the NDP on the same day, December 12.

Progressive Strategies lobbyist Patrick Kinsella stayed loyal to the Liberals, donating $51,652 and nothing to the NDP. Kinsella sold his nearly $6 million Shaughnessy mansion in March, just over a year after buying a $1.15 million house in Scottsdale, Arizona. His colleague, Mark Jiles, donated $6,577 to the Liberals.

Dennis Chrismas, owner of ContainerWorld in Richmond, donated $1,250 to the Liberals last year. His biggest was $500 on February 29 – two days before he met with liquor minister Rich Coleman to discuss the announced privatization of the Liquor Distribution Branch's warehousing and distribution. ContainerWorld was among the four shortlisted bidders, but bidders were informed on September 28, just two business days before final presentations, that the privatization was cancelled.

SNC-Lavalin chair Gwyn Morgan donated $50,000 to the Liberals for the second consecutive year. Morgan put $10,000 into Clark's leadership campaign in 2011 and was on her transition team.

BMackin@biv.com

@bobmackin

[Bure1994Mclean]

Why is Pamela Martin still there after her role in the ethnic-vote scandal?

[Bure1994Mclean]

Actions of former NDP members turned leaders also relevant. How's that scandal-plagued Dix doing avoiding debates?

[Common sense]

As for Christy wanting a 1 on 1 with Dix, she knows she isn't doing so well in the polls and the only way for her is up and there simply is no reason for Dix agree to this and let her back in the game at this point; after-all

[Lancaster]

As far as I know there will come a point where the leaders of all parties will come together in a debate prior to the election. The NDP are far and ahead of the Liberals at this point in terms of public opinion, and are almost assured a victory in the upcoming election if they keep it status quo. As for Christy wanting a 1 on 1 with Dix, she knows she isn't doing so well in the polls and the only way for her is up and there simply is no reason for Dix agree to this and let her back in the game at this point; after-all if you have a commanding lead in a hockey game and the other team's tough guy is trying to coax your tough guy into a fight to get his team back into it do you do it? Not a chance.

[EmployeeoftheMonth]

There is no difference whether Campbell was on vacation or not when he DUI. He could have been on vacation somewhere in B.C. He is still representating this Province as leader and it's citizens. While on vacation, he could be conducting government business or being kept informed about it. If some in here are going by that thinking then what if he had killed someone while drunk? Just a tragedy, bad decision on his part. Now if it was someone from NDP that had been on vacation and DUI, you would be the same ones not only calling from him/her to re-sign, but also they be criminally charged to the fullest extent of the law and you wouldn't be using the excuse of being on vacation as you are for Campbell.

[canucks_dynasty]

There is no difference whether Campbell was on vacation or not when he DUI. He could have been on vacation somewhere in B.C. He is still representating this Province as leader and it's citizens. While on vacation, he could be conducting government business or being kept informed about it. If some in here are going by that thinking then what if he had killed someone while drunk? Just a tragedy, bad decision on his part. Now if it was someone from NDP that had been on vacation and DUI, you would be the same ones not only calling from him/her to re-sign, but also they be criminally charged to the fullest extent of the law and you wouldn't be using the excuse of being on vacation as you are for Campbell.

[Gross-Misconduct]

So just to be clear...

You'd rather have Adrian Dix who is a known cheat and liar (criminal?) while he was in office (representing BC and it's citizens at the time) during 1990s to represent BC as the premiere.

[Dazzle]

Troll much?

Like how you put words into my mouth.

Wetcoaster is the one who is saying the drunk driving isn't a big deal because Mr. Campbell was on vacation. On vacation or not, it's a big deal. I think he's completely out to lunch.

As for the committing fraud. Aren't people entitled to make mistakes? It's a different story if someone from the BC Liars make a mistake like the recent ethnic scandal. Their fake, half ass apology, which they didn't mean, nor did Christy even suggest or want to do. But according to you, they apologized and that's good enough for you. Going back to Dix. Not defending what he did, at all. It was wrong. I suppose that Dix misplacing or losing his Skytrain ticket even further supports that Dix hasn't changed and is not to be trusted. Don't tell me the BC Liars are squeaky clean and haven't commit fraud or corruption in their 12 yrs of power. I don't care what some report says that clears Christy of any wrong doing in BC Rail. Unless it was independant report, which i'm pretty sure it wasn't. BS she wasn't involved.

[Dazzle]

So just to be clear...

You'd rather have Adrian Dix who is a known cheat and liar (criminal?) while he was in office (representing BC and it's citizens at the time) during 1990s to represent BC as the premiere.

[canucks since 77]

Absolutely right. (Well the first part is. You're assumption is pretty ridiculous waiving on stupid.) He's a rep for the province and the optics of it are bad. It still however has nothing to do with him doing his job.

Of all the things you could call him on for being a mediocre at best Premier the drunk driving thing that you're trying to pry in is bunk. Why not call him on ripping up union contracts after explicitly saying he would not? That imo was one of the worst moves that douche made. Seriously...watching you try to make an argument is like trying to watch a 2 year old eat spaghetti. You know there's an easier way for them to do it but you're not sure they know it.

[canucks since 77]

So just to be clear...

You'd rather have Adrian Dix who is a known cheat and liar (criminal?) while he was in office (representing BC and it's citizens at the time) during 1990s to represent BC as the premiere.

[EmployeeoftheMonth]

Your being a little obtuse today. He means that the man makes dangerous mistakes. In that I agree with him.

[Lockout Casualty]

Not being obtuse at all. I agree that it's a mistake as well. That's the whole thing...nobody has said that it wasn't a mistake. I know you have a problem when people have a conflicting point of view to yours but we're in agreement on the fact that drunk driving is wrong...but you call me obtuse because I also think that it has nothing to do with him being premier. I even point out that there's so many things one could bring up about that arse clown that actually do have to do with him being premier. Enjoy your spaghetti?

I have a problem with blind support no matter what it is or who it's for. Trying to one up wrong doings is a sure sign of that.

[Watermelons]

The Liberals and the NDP both suck.

It's just a matter of which one will suck less.

Past NDP governments sucked a lot more than the current Liberal one has.

[EmployeeoftheMonth]

Most of the criminal code has nothing to do with being premier directly. Failing to make the right decision as black and white as choosing to driving under influence, putting one's self before the public at large by doing so, and in general lacking respect for the law... that seems to have a lot to do with being a leader. I think this should be brought up right along the many other things one could bring up about that arse clown.

[Gurn]

What gets me about the "I was on my vacation/personal time" bit is I remember Mr. Campbell getting up in the legislature and asking for Ujall Dosanjh's resignation because U. D.'s son got into a bar fight in Ontario. Hypocritical maybe?

But as stated by other posters this was hardly the only or worst thing done by Mr Campbell.

That said unless the majority of british columbia demands better from all their politicians we are screwed.

[Wetcoaster]

What gets me about the "I was on my vacation/personal time" bit is I remember Mr. Campbell getting up in the legislature and asking for Ujall Dosanjh's resignation because U. D.'s son got into a bar fight in Ontario. Hypocritical maybe?

But as stated by other posters this was hardly the only or worst thing done by Mr Campbell.

That said unless the majority of british columbia demands better from all their politicians we are screwed.

[Lockout Casualty]

I agree that it seriously calls his judgment into question but had nothing to do with his job. There are so many better arguments that show how piss poor of a premier he was.

[Gross-Misconduct]

I suppose that is where we differ. A crappy person rarely makes a good elected representative.

It saddens me to think the first election I'm eligible to vote in is where a fraudster is ousting a liar. I don't even know if I should bother, since NDP is going to win and I damn sure wouldn't vote for the Liberals.