September 29, 2003 FERRY SERVICE LABOUR NEGOTIATIONS …€¦ · increase annual hours for full-timers to 2088 from 1827. That will allow the compa-ny to function with fewer staff

September 29, 2003VOLUME 1, ISSUE 23

IN THIS ISSUE

New Westminster debate 2

Leadership race update 4

Appointment directory 6

Political futures calendar 7

The quick and the dead 8

Editorial index 10

Buried stories 11

Statwatch 14

Pollwatch 15

Stockwatch 18photo SEAN HOLMAN

FERRY SERVICE LABOURNEGOTIATIONS REVEALED!

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S e p t e m b e r 2 9 , 2 0 0 3P u b l i c E y e m a g a z i n e

Early in September, B.C. Ferry andMarine Workers Union representa-tives sat down with B.C. Ferry

Services Inc. to renegotiate their collectiveagreement. Those negotiations are current-ly taking place under the cover of a mediablackout. But Public Eye magazine hasobtained a union summary of the ferry ser-vice’s opening offer. And that summarymakes for a very interesting read.

TAKE THIS JOBAND CONTRACT IT!

The power to painlessly contract outunion positions seems to be at the top of thecompany’s wish list. Right now, labouraccounts for 51 percent of the ferry service’soperating costs. And that number needs tocome down if the company wants to becomefinancially self-sufficient.

One way of doing that is by replacing thefirm’s $20 an hour onshore administrativestaff, parking attendants, ticket sellers andcoffee shop workers with cheaper privatesector hires – something the ferry servicehas been itching to do since becoming a pri-vate firm.

Under the current collective agreement,however, the firm can’t layoff union mem-bers who lose their jobs because of out-

photo SEAN HOLMAN

sourcing. So, even if the company brass didreplace its onshore staff, they’d have to findnew jobs for those workers in other areas ofthe ferry service – turning the wholeprocess into a pointless no-cost-saving exer-cise. And that’s something the companywants to change.

But getting the union leadership toagree will be extremely difficult. Accordingto University of Victoria labour law expertKen Thornicroft, “basically what the nocontracting out provision is designed to dois preserve bargaining unit employment.So, to the extent that the employer can sim-ply contract out existing work – and even ifit has to pay some severance or give somenotice – the ultimate result is a shrinkingof the bargaining unit. And very few tradeunion organizations would be willing toaccept that sort of thing because, in asense, they’re signing their own death war-rant.” After all, employers are a lot morelikely to listen to organized labour if amajority rather than a minority of theirworkforce is unionized.

However, if that concession does make itinto the proposed collective agreement, itmay find a surprising amount of supportamong the rank-and-file. Some shipboardstaff members think their onshore counter- continued on page 4

CLOSINGSTATEMENTS

MCMARTIN’S TAKE ON THEFINAL LEADERSHIP DEBATE

On Tuesday, the official New Democratleadership debates wrapped up in NewWestminster. To get a sense of how thingswent, Public Eye magazine phoned uppolitical analyst Will McMartin who gra-ciously took some time out from a latenight, pork-chop dinner to speak with us.The following is an edited transcript ofthat interview.

PUBLIC EYE Comparing tonight’s debateto the first one in Vancouver, what are yourgeneral thoughts?

continued on page 3

THIS SHIP AIN’T BIGENOUGH FOR THE TWO

OF US!parts are overpaid. And that means theymay be willing to ratify a deal that keepstheir own positions financially afloat whileselling the union’s landlubbers down theriver.

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ALL WORKERS ARENOT CREATED EQUAL

The firm also wants to switch unionmembers from a single to a graduated payrate system. That means employees work-ing the same job will no longer be paid thesame amount. Instead, their paychequewill be based on a combination of merit andtime worked. New hires, for example, willreceive 70 percent of the maximum rateallowed for their position. A year later thatnumber will be increased by 10 percent ifthe employee receives a satisfactory jobreview – the same for the next year and theyear after that.

According to former ferry workers’ unionpresident Trevor Oram, it won’t take muchfor the company to get that concession pastthe bargaining table. After all, most rank-and-file members have already put in thehours needed to max out their pay under agraduated system. So it won’t effect them.And those are the people who will be ratify-ing the new collective agreement – not thefirst-time employees and summertimeworkers who will see their rates reduced by30 percent.

And besides, paying new hires lessmakes a certain amount of business sense.“I’ve been here for 32 years,” says Mr.Oram. “Certainly, somebody who’s beenhired off the street doesn’t do my job as wellas I do. Not even close to it. And there arepeople out there who might find it accept-able (to pay that person less). The degree isdebatable. But the notion isn’t necessarilyanathemas to the labour movement. Afterall, (the ship’s officers component of) theunion went for it,” during the previousround of collective bargaining.

But ratifying that concession might notbe a good long-term idea for the union.According to Prof. Thornicroft, under agraduated system “You’ve got two people,side-by-side, doing exactly the same job.And one person is getting one wage rate.And the other person is getting a lot lower(rate). And that doesn’t do anything formorale. Not to mention the problem that itcreates for the union down the line becausethe people at the lower end of the scale will,at some point, say to them, “What the Hellhave you done for me recently? How areyou protecting my interests?’”

MASTERS OF THEIR DOMAINThe summary also indicates the compa-

ny is looking for a greater level of controlover the workplace environment. If the

ferry service gets its way, appointmentswill be determined by merit rather thanseniority. The firm will have exclusive con-trol over the use and pay of staffing poolemployees – workers who can be called onto replace those who don’t show up. And itwill be able to write its own rules coveringflex-time and split-shifts – not to mentionthe right to determine whether employeesget a paid meal break.

All of which leads Prof. Thornicroft toconclude that this is “a contracting strip-ping (proposal) where the company is try-ing to take away provisions whereby theemployer has to recognize some sort of obli-gation to consult with the union when itcomes to staffing decisions.”

He adds that unions are historicallyopposed to giving up these provisionsbecause “there are concerns that, if thecompany has too much control overstaffing, there will be favouritism. They’reconcerned that this (control) will be used topunish people who are a little too forceful inasserting their rights under the collectiveagreement…So I would be surprised if theunion wasn’t opposed to this sort of thing.Because it’s not like the employer is tryingto take away extraordinary provisions. Theemployer is really trying to turn back theclock visa via what is commonly found incollective bargaining agreements.”

NO MOREMARCHING DOUBLE TIME

Lastly, the employer is seeking somedirect cost-saving under the new collectiveagreement. For starters, it wants toincrease annual hours for full-timers to2088 from 1827. That will allow the compa-ny to function with fewer staff members,saving on benefit costs. At the same time,rates will be cut so company paychequeswon’t increase, reducing hourly wages by12.5 percent.

The ferry service is also laying siege tothe collective agreement’s overtime rules.Under the current agreement, employeesare paid double-time in half-hour incre-ments. That means if a ferry is seven min-utes late coming into dock, everyoneonboard gets paid half-an-hour at double-time pay. Ouch! So the ferry service wantsto reduce that cost by paying overtimeemployees time-and-half in one minuteincrements. And that’s going to be anextremely contentious issue at the negoti-ating table.

PUBLISHER & EDITORIALDIRECTOR

Sean Holman

DESIGN CONSULTANTVictor J. Crapnell

CORRESPONDENTPeter Hargreave

SENIOR COLUMNISTGeorge Gibault

COLUMNISTKevin Aschenbrenner

Public Eye magazine (ISSN 1705-7019) is pub-lished by Public Eye Mediaworks every Monday(excluding holidays and special editions) and dis-tributed via email and FAX to more than 2,000major opinion-leaders and decision-makers acrossB.C. Public Eye magazine's staff is committed toproducing unbiased, investigative reports andcommentaries that provide our readers with afair analysis of headlining issues before theybecome headlines. To reprint material publishedin Public Eye magazine please contact our edito-rial department. The opinions expressed in thismagazine are not necessarily those of Public EyeMediaworks. All material copyright © 2003Public Eye Mediaworks.

Address: Post Office Box 8064, Victoria, B.C.,V8W 3R7, www.publiceyeonline.com Editorial:[email protected], (250) 598-9792Advertising: [email protected],(250) 885-8610

continued on page 20

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IF ONLY SHE WAS A MISTERLooks like Carole James just hit her

head on the party’s glass ceiling. A numberof members seem to think the NewDemocrats have had one too many femaleleaders. Some say Ms. James is looking alittle too much like Alexa McDonough andAudrey McLaughlin – two former federalleaders whom some blame for the party’slackluster performance during the last fourelections. And others worry that, if Ms.James becomes leader, British Columbianswon’t be able to tell the difference betweenher and Green Party of British Columbiasupremo Adriane Carr. Meanwhile, in arelated story, Liberals scientists are hardat work develop new technology that willmake every Liberal backbencher lookexactly like Gordon Campbell. No word yeton what impact that will have on the nextelection.

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THISFormer cabinet minister and king of the

highways Harry Lali is said to be support-

ing Steve Orcherton. That support mayearn Mr. Orcherton a couple delegates inYale-Lillooet – Mr. Lali’s old constituency.But it’ll be a vote-limiting factor every-where else. After all, Mr. Lali isn’t the mostbeloved New Democrat in the province.And he didn’t earn any points when hedescribed retiring interim Oppositionleader Joy MacPhail as “a great tactician,but a lousy strategist.”

SOLIDARITY FOREVERBut apparently that’s not going to stop

the party’s youth wing from lining upbehind Mr. Orcherton. As first mentionedby commentator David Schreck, the formerbackbencher is being supported by a major-ity of its automatic delegates. Could therevolutionary vanguard be far behind?

TIELEMAN OUTS HIMSELFSpeaking of which, Georgia Straight

columnist Bill Tielemen is reporting thathe’s endorsing former New Democrat cau-cus chair Leonard Krog in his race to

become party leader. At one point, Mr.Tieleman was rumoured to be considering arun for the leadership himself.

AND NOWFOR THE MAIN EVENT

The official New Democrat leadershipdebates wrapped up in New Westminsterthis week The next stage of the campaignbegins on Oct. 3 when constituency associ-ations start meeting to elect conventiondelegates.

WEB EYE FORTHE STRAIGHT GUY

Last week, Leonard Krog’s online cam-paign headquarters got a snazzy makeovercourtesy of former Parksville municipalcouncillor Chris Bradshaw. Regular PublicEye magazine readers will recall Mr.Schreck was the original architect behindMr. Krog and Craig Keating’s Websites.Mr. Keating is also promising an updatedInternet presence sometime in the nearfuture. I’m sure its nothing personal David.

New Westminster leadership debatecontinued from page 2

WILL MCMARTIN It was a much morepolished performance by all of the candi-dates. Clearly, by touring the province andhaving ten or eleven debates under theirbelt, the candidates collectively felt moreconfident in their message. They felt morecomfortable speaking in front of an audi-ence. And felt more comfortable, clearly,with each other. And the candidates seemmore engaged. And it was an entertainingevening, in terms of the presentation of thecandidates. But, unfortunately, they hadn’tgained much ground in terms of the contentof their message. They were still signingfrom the same hymn book.

PUBLIC EYE Now let’s take a look atsome of the front-running individual candi-dates. What did you think of CaroleJames’s performance tonight?

WILL MCMARTIN There was a dichoto-my between the Carole James that was

talking – when she was asked a question orwhen she was giving her closing address oropening address – and the Carole Jameswhen other people were speaking. I don’tthink there was a more dynamic candidatewho spoke tonight. She was on message.She was enthusiastic. She really lit upwhen she was speaking. But, when theother candidates were speaking, she wentinto a very strange slumber – almost intoanother land. She was totally disengagedfrom the other candidates.

PUBLIC EYE Why do you think that was?

WILL MCMARTIN It may be just becausethis was her twelfth debate and she’s heardit all before. But the impression I got wasthat she was focusing on her own message.She appeared to be very scripted. If youwant a polished candidate, who’s on mes-sage and has no surprises, it’s CaroleJames. She looked like a candidate ofrather mediocre ability with a very profes-

sional organization behind her.

PUBLIC EYE What was her message?

WILL MCMARTIN I didn’t write downanything memorable. Whatever she said atthe first debate was the same as what shesaid tonight. Primarily platitudes. That’sthe way it struck me. One of the problemsthat came through in this debate, havingonly attended the first one, was that thecandidates had nothing new to say. Andnobody broke new ground. Nobody brokeout of the mold. And her performancetonight was a question of greater self-confi-dence, a realization she had to connect withthe audience and display passion. But asfor the content of the message, there wasnothing memorable.

PUBLIC EYE Anything else about Carole?

WILL MCMARTIN One last thing. All themale candidates were in suits and jackets.She had a bright red jacket on. And not

continued on page 5

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only did she standout as the only femalebut she had colour. And you noticed hermore when she was speaking. She wasdressed in red and quite animated. Butthen you also noticed when she wasn’tspeaking where she was drifting off toanother land, waiting for her turn to speak.

PUBLIC EYE What about Nils Jensen?

WILL MCMARTIN Quite a turnaround.The debate appeared to tire him out again.He was somewhat less vigorous at the endthen he was at the beginning. But, at theend, no matter how much he had tired, hewas still miles ahead of where he was atthe first debate. He truly seemed interest-ed in the audience. He truly seemed inter-ested in what he had to say. He trulyseemed interested in what the other candi-dates had to say. And he displayed somepassion and some knowledge. If I had neg-atives to offer it would two. First again, thelocal stuff he says about being elected inOak Bay three times and being water com-missioner really is tiresome. And I’m notsure how it relates to a New Westminsteraudience of New Democrats. He’s a Crownprosecutor. And New Westminster is a bluecollar town. I mean there was a tremen-dous number of union members out theretonight. And Jensen’s not a natural politi-cian. He didn’t pick up on the fact that, if hehad ever had a physical job in his life –even as a teenager – that might have beensomething better to talk about then being awater commissioner in Oak Bay. The sec-ond thing is, he made a funny reference atthe end to the impending defeat of theOntario conservatives. And this may justbe my observation. But the audience didn’tseem to appreciate the comments. Or atleast they didn’t go with them where hewant to go. He seemed to indicate that theimpending Liberal victory in Ontario was avictory New Democrats in B.C. should cele-brate. And again you sort of raise your eye-brow and go, “Does he still see himself as aLiberal?” But tonight, a much better per-formance. He was clearly, by no means, theworst candidate tonight. He didn’t riseabove anybody. None of the candidates did.They were all sort of bland, vanilla candi-dates. But Nils, as an outsider, has modi-

Leadership debate

continued from page 4

fied his message about change. He doesn’tseem to be the anti-union guy he mighthave been perceived as before. He’s reallysoftened that message. And he had a couplereferences tonight to supporting labour tra-ditions. So the idea that Nils Jensen’s cam-paign is based on severing ties with labourjust isn’t there anymore.

PUBLIC EYE What does seem to be themain theme?

WILL MCMARTIN The future! Whateverit is, that’s where the New Democrats haveto go. He didn’t really offer too manydetails.

PUBLIC EYE Which is funny, because ofhis exceptionally detailed campaign plat-form.

WILL MCMARTIN Well, a lot of candi-dates tonight acknowledged borrowingthings from one another. Jensen acknowl-edged borrowing an idea from Orchertonand gave him credit. And the funny thingwas, they rotated in the order theyanswered question. Jensen and Orchertonsat beside one another. And during thisparticular round of questions, Jensen wentfirst. And he actually credited Orchertonwith the idea. Then it went to Krog. Andthen it went to James at the other end ofthe table. And it worked its way back toOrcherton. And then he stood up and tookcredit for the idea again – whatever it was.And it was something to do with creating ashadow cabinet before the election. Andthis is one of the salient features of thecampaign so far. Nobody has said hisvision’s wrong, my vision’s right. They allagree with one another on everything.

PUBLIC EYE There’s a homogenization ofthe message?

WILL MCMARTIN Of course. Yes.

PUBLIC EYE Let’s turn to another candi-date – Craig Keating.

WILL MCMARTIN Where all the othercandidates seem to have grown during thecampaign, he’s treading water. He seems tobe caught in quicksand. Once again, hespeaks extemporaneously, without notes.But he says nothing. It’s almost a contentfree message. Which is disappointing. Hehas two things in his favour. His age. He’sby far the youngest candidate. And second-

ly, his height. He’s much taller than anyother candidate. He uses none to his advan-tage. He’s also a professional. Similar toJensen I suppose. And we heard a referenceto his wife working in the DowntownEastside. She’s a physician. But there wasnothing for people to connect with. I don’tsee New Democrats looking at CraigKeating as the future. That puzzled me.And I’m surprised he’s not positioning him-self as the future. But he speaks withoutnotes. He stands up. And he was the firstcandidate tonight to take his jacket off, fol-lowed by Krog. But he just didn’t say any-thing. I don’t think he connected with theaudience. I think the audience looked athim and went, “No.” There are probablypeople there tonight who are 30 or 40 yearNew Democrats. Maybe even CCFers. AndI think they looked at him and said, “Whois this guy?” I think he could have donevery, very well in this campaign. And Iwould have to say he’s just not going to beranked among the serious contenders atconvention.

PUBLIC EYE And there’s nothing he cando about that?

WILL MCMARTIN Well, he’s got to sitdown and do some serious analysis of hiscampaign so far. He toured the provincewith the other candidates. But has heachieved anything? And I think the objec-tive answer has to be no. So I would suggesthe do two things: come out with some real-ly dramatic policy announcements thatmay capture people’s attention – may cap-ture some media attention. And the secondthing is, try to get some endorsements.

PUBLIC EYE Any other thoughts onKeating?

WILL MCMARTIN No. He looked to melike he might finish ahead of (Peter)Dimitrov and Mehdi (Najari). But he does-n’t look serious anymore.

PUBLIC EYE What are you thoughts onLeonard Krog?

WILL MCMARTIN Krog is the brightestof the bunch. Everybody else is going 40miles an hour and he’s going 80 miles anhour. Sometime it gets him in trouble. He’svery bright. He’s got experience. He dis-played one thing at the first debate that he


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Public Eye magazine’s appointment direc-tory tracks political personnel changesacross the province. If you have anappointment you wish to include in thedirectory, please contact our newsroom [email protected].

HACKS, FLACKSAND POLITICOS

Steve Vander Wal, executive assistant toHealth Services Minister Colin Hansen, ismoving up in the world (that is the provin-cial legislature). Mr. Vander Wal, who alsopreviously worked for federal Liberal cabi-net minister David Anderson, has beenappointed ministerial assistant toAdvanced Education Minister ShirleyBond. He takes over from IvonneMartinez who is leaving for Toronto. Areplacement for the irreplaceable Mr.Vander Wal has not yet been found. But aninternal search is on for someone with leg-islative experience.

Caucus research officers Bill Hepburnand Dean Wautier have left the base-ment. Mr. Hepburn has been appointed act-ing executive assistant to Agriculture, Foodand Fisheries Minister John van Dongen.And Mr. Wautier has been appointed act-ing executive assistant to Energy andMines Minister Rich Neufeld.

JUDGES AND LAWYERSVancouver lawyer Leonard Doust hasbeen appointed the special prosecutorinvestigating allegations Desolation SoundOysters Ltd., a company partly-owned byTransportation Minister Judith Reid’s hus-band Keith Reid, violated the provincialFisheries Act.

Justice Peter Lowry, a B.C. SupremeCourt judge, has been appointed to theCourt of Appeal of B.C. Prior to becoming amember of the judiciary, Justice Lowry wasa partner with Campney & Murphy. Hereplaces Justice Carol Huddart, who haselected to become a supernumerary judge.

Davis and Company civil litigation lawyerMalcolm Owen Maclean has beenappointed a provincial court judge.

Justice Malcolm Macaulay is reappointedas judge member and chair of the SupremeCourt Rules Committee for a three-yearterm. Justice Brian M. Joyce is reap-pointed as judge member and chair of theSupreme Court Rules Committee for athree-year term. Master Douglas CharlesBarker is reappointed as master memberof the Supreme Court Rules Committee fora three-year term.

MUNICIPALTalkative Saanich mayor Frank Leonardhas been elected president of the Union ofB.C. Municipalities. He replaces Kamloopscouncillor Patricia Wallace.

CORPORATEFormer Canadian Cable Television associa-tion president and chief executive officerJanet Yale has been appointed executivevice-president government and regulatoryaffairs for Telus Corp.

AGENCIES, BOARDSAND COMMISSIONS

Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s daughterFrance Chretien-Desmarais and formerInternational Union of OperatingEngineers and Concert Properties Ltd.director Tony Tennessy have beenappointed as the federal government’s rep-resentatives on the board of directors of theVancouver Organizing Committee for the2010 Olympic Games.

Olympic gold-medal speed skaterCatriona Le May Doan and formerWestcoast Energy Inc. chairman MichaelPhelps have been appointed as theCanadian Olympic Committee’s represen-tatives on the board of directors of theVancouver Organizing Committee for the2010 Olympic Games.

Kristen Erikson is appointed to theForest Appeals Commission for a term end-ing Nov. 21, 2003.

Bruce Devitt is appointed to theEnvironmental Appeal Board for a termending Sept. 21, 2005. Philip Wong is re-appointed to the Environmental AppealBoard for a term ending Sept. 21, 2005.

Michael Chan, Sheldon Stoilen, DavidSargent are appointed to the RegisteredNurses’ Association of British Columbiaboard of directors for a term ending Aug.31, 2004.

Trudi Brown, Derek Brindle, Dr. VictorWaymouth, Dr. Arshad Pirani and SheilaJager are appointed to the Hospital AppealBoard for a term ending Sept. 19, 2004.

Alice Downing and Dennis Mitchell areappointed to the Northern HealthAuthority for a three-year term. SheelaghGarson’s appointment to the authority isrescinded effective Sept. 30, 2003.

Dr. Michael Charles Cooper, Dr.Emlene Murphy, Eric John Laity,Helen Low and A.E. Anderson areappointed to the Health Care and CareFacility Review Board for a term endingMarch 30, 2004.

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Public Eye magazine’s political futurescalendar tracks events impacting those inthe public eye. Italicized entries indicatenew events. If you have an event you wishto add to the calendar, please contactPublic Eye magazine’s newsroom at [email protected].

September 29 - October 2 Oil and GasConference at Dawson Creek.

September 29 European Commissiondecides whether to approve Alcan Inc.’stakeover of Pechiney SA.

September 29 Prince Edward Island elec-tion call.

September 30 Public hearing on Deltabylaw limiting the size of homes on agricul-tural land.

September 30 Health SciencesAssociation region 4 annual meeting at thePlaza 500 Hotel, Vancouver.

September 30 Hospital Employees’ Unionmembers have their work hours increase to37.5 hours from 36 hours a week.

September 30 Collective agreement foremployees at the Highland Valley CopperMine expires.

Late September Industrial, Wood andAllied Workers of Canada coastal workersin a position to strike.

Late September Surrey city funding forfoot patrols in Whalley ends.

Late September U.S. CommerceDepartment releases new anti-dumpingduty.

Late September Earliest date U.S.department of commerce policy bulletindefining market-based timber pricing sys-tems adopted as official policy.

Late September Nineteen-memberOlympic transition team board filled.

Early October Retail B.C. summit atWosk Centre, Vancouver to discuss how toget the most out of the Olympic Games.

Early October New graduated licence reg-ulations, which include an extended learn-er and novice stage, take effect.

October Stroke Recovery Month.

October Prince George Northern SportsCentre proposal ready.

October Federal Finance Minister JohnManley presents his economic update.

October Groups which submitted propos-als for the redevelopment of the formerWoodward’s building making presentationsto a committee overseeing the redevelop-ment project.

October Provincial government focusshifts to hiring managers with leadershipand communication skills instead of thosewith technical skills.

October Federal government forum on thecreation of a biometric national identitycard.

October Federal/provincial action planwhich will spell out plans for streamliningsecurities laws across the country andintroducing a new passport system thatwould allow companies to register and filedocuments in their primary jurisdictionand have those filings accepted across thecountry.

October Immigration ministers meet inVictoria.

October Vavenby sawmill operationsbegin.

October 1-7 Breastfeeding week.

October 1-2 The Council of Senior CitizensOrganizations of B.C. sponsor a conferenceon seniors’ health, housing and incomeissues in Vancouver.

October 1 Kamloops MLA Kevin Kruegger

attends meeting with Forest Minister Mikede Jong to discuss rebuilding Louis Creek’ssawmill.

October 1 Provincial Green Party sponsorsa speech by Green Party of New Zealand co-leader Ron Donald in Burnaby on theimpact of privatization.

October 1 British Columbia SchoolTrustees Association metropolitan branchmeeting in Richmond.

October 1 Public forum on B.C. Rail priva-tization in Prince George.

October 1 New U.S. security rules intend-ed to defend American borders against ter-rorist activities take effect.

October 1 Alberta government decision tostop on-site inspections of reclaimed oil andgas sites take effect.

October 1 Nursing-home rent hikes forB.C. seniors come into effect.

October 2 The Fraser Institute sponsors apolicy briefing with B.C. Salmon FarmingAssociation executive director Mary EllenWalling on aquaculture.

October 2 Federal Liberal fundraiser atthe Westin Bayshore, Vancouver. PrimeMinister Jean Chretien in attendance.

October 2 Working Forest Day of Action.

October 2 Quirinus van Dongen makes hisfirst court appearance.

October 2 Ontario voters go to the polls.

October 2 Keep Public Lands in PublicHands day of action protesting the provin-cial government’s Working Forest initiativeand its Forestry Revitalization Act.

October 3-4 British Columbian SchoolTrustees Association South Coast branchmeeting in Powell River.

continued on page 8

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THE QUICKSOLICITOR-GENERAL RICH COLE-MAN You got to know when to hold ‘em,know when to fold ‘em, know when to walkaway and know when to run. And evident-ly Solicitor-General Coleman does. Lastweek, rural mayors were ready to eat himalive over provincial government plans todownload policing costs onto communitieswith less than 5,000 people. So Solicitor-General Coleman did the sensible thingand announced that no changes would bemade until 2007.

THE DEADDEPUTY MINISTER TO THE PRE-MIER KEN DOBELL Last week, at a con-ference marking the tenth anniversary ofthe B.C. Freedom of Information andPrivacy Act, Mr. Dobell told attendees hedeletes most of his emails and rarely keepsnotes. The reason: concern FOI requests bythe media could end up turning those docu-ments into front page news. Judging by thereaction to that explanation, Mr. Dobellshould also consider avoiding making pub-lic statements.

In fairness, though, he does have apoint. Civil servants and their mastersneed to be able to discuss proposals withoutworrying the press will prematurely turnthem into publicly-debatable policy. Andperhaps the media should be more respon-sible in how they report on those discus-sions. But, if the Liberals want to have themost open and accountable government inCanada, they need to realize the mediaisn’t just another special interest group. Itis, like it or not, part of the public. And thatmeans Mr. Dobell and his colleagues can’tkeep frustrating the media’s God-takenright to investigative every little banalthing government does.

October 3-5 British Columbian SchoolTrustees Association North West andNorthern Interior branch meetings inSmithers.

October 3-12 Okanagan Wine Festival.

October 3 Provincial New Democrat con-vention delegate selection begins.

October 3 Briefing submission deadline forthose wishing to participate in an expertpanel examining potential gaps in scientificknowledge about the impact of offshore oiland gas activity on the B.C. marine envi-ronment.

October 3 Salute to labour at theOperating Engineers Hall, Burnaby.

October 3 The Vancouver Board of Tradesponsors a speech by Lignum Ltd. chair-man and chief executive officer Jake Kerrat The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver onprovincial forest policy

October 3 Health Sciences Associationregion 1 annual meeting at the CoastWesterly Hotel, Vancouver.

October 4 Threatened strike date forUnited Food and Commercial WorkersUnion deli and meat cutters working atSafeway Inc.

October 4-5 British Columbia SchoolTrustees Association Mainline-Cariboobranch meeting at 108 Mile Resort.

October 6 The Lower Mainland Coalitionfor Social Justice sponsors a demonstrationagainst the provincial Liberals and privati-zation at Canada Place, Vancouver.

October 6 Richmond School Board receivesstaff report on downhill skiing and snow-boarding policy.

October 6 The Vancouver South-BurnabyNew Democrat constituency associationsponsors an evening with former federalNew Democrat leadership candidate PierreDucasse at the Golden Swan Restaurant.

October 6 Supreme Court of Canada fallsession begins.

October 6-9 Provincial legislature in ses-sion.

October 7-8 Meetings between B.C. andAlberta cabinets in Calgary.

October 7 Recommended start date forpublic meetings on Vancouver bylaw thatwould require landlords to get the city’s per-mission before destroying or converting sin-gle-room accommodation.

October 7 The Vancouver Board of Tradesponsors a speech by Canadian PolicyResearch Networks president and founderJudith Maxwell at The Sutton Place Hotel,Vancouver on early childhood development.

October 8 The Vancouver Board of Tradesponsors a speech by B.C. Hydro Corp.chair and chief executive officer Larry Bellat the Hyatt Regency Vancouver.

October 8 Provincial oil and gas lease auc-tion.

October 9-13 The Community JusticeCentre sponsors a provincial conference onlaw enforcement and restorative justice inCourtney.

October 9 or 21 Vancouver city councilvotes on bylaw that would require landlordsto get the city’s permission before destroyingor converting single-room accommodation.

October 9 Local Government ManagementAssociation Kootenay Boundary chaptermeeting at The Uplander Hotel, Rossland.

October 9 Health Sciences Associationregion 7 annual meeting at the SheratonGuildford Hotel, Vancouver.

October 10 The I.W.W. Squeegee Councilsponsors a mass squeegee picket protestingthe provincial Liberals in Vancouver.

October 10 Deadline for Doman IndustriesInc. to restructure its debt.

October 10 Public seminar on trends inlocal government service production andimplications for managers at the Universityof Victoria.

October 13 Kelowna community group-hug.

October 13 U.S. International TradeCommission issues judgment on whether

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S e p t e m b e r 2 9 , 2 0 0 3P u b l i c E y e m a g a z i n eduties on Canadian wheat imports shouldbe made permanent.

October 14-16 B.C. Aboriginal FisheriesCommission post-season meeting in Meritt.

October 14 The Community Alliance forPublic Education sponsors a speech by B.C.Federation of Labour president JimSinclair at the Quw’utsun Cultural Centre,Duncan.

October 15-31 Expert panel assembled bythe Royal Society of Canada stages threeworkshops to examine potential gaps in sci-entific knowledge about the impact of off-shore oil and gas activity on the B.C.marine environment.

October 15 Health Sciences Associationregion 6 annual meeting at the HealthScience Association office, Vancouver.

October 15 Bank of Canada meeting.

Mid-October District of Mission releasesreport to address questions and concernsregarding its official community plan.

Mid-October Telethon for forest fire disas-ter victims.

Mid-October Asia Pacific EconomicCooperation conference in Thailand.

October 16-17 Local GovernmentManagement Association Rocky Mountaincchapter meeting at the Park Place Lodge,Fernie.

October 16 The Institute of PublicAdministration of Canada sponsors a con-ference on the lessons from Severe AcuteRespiratory Syndrome at the ShadboldtCentre for the Arts, Burnaby.

October 16 The Vancouver Board of Tradesponsors a speech by Deputy Prime MinisterJohn Manley on U.S. relations.

October 16 Surrey-Newton MLA TonyBhullar goes to trail on charges of obstruct-ing police and uttering a threat.

October 17-21 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting in Bangkok.

October 17 The Vancouver Board of Tradesponsors a speech by Premier GordonCampbell on Olympic opportunities.

October 17 Health Sciences Associationregion 3 annual meeting at theWestminster Quay, Vancouver.

October 18 Co-op Housing Day.

October 20-26 Waste Reduction Week.

October 20-23 Provincial legislature insession.

October 20 Health Science Associationregion 2 annual meeting at the HarbourTowers Hotel, Vancouver.

October 21 Deadline for entry of provin-cial New Democrat leadership candidates.

October 21 Methanex Corp. quarterly con-ference call.

Week of October 21 Placer Dome Inc.posts third quarter results.

October 22 Deadline for provincial NewDemocrat leadership candidates to declaretheir intentions.

October 24-24 First Nations chief negotia-tors meeting.

October 23 Health Science Associationregion 8 annual meeting at the Prestige Inn& Convention Centre, Vancouver.

October 24 The Vancouver Board of Tradesponsors a speech by Siemens Canada Ltd.president and chief executive officer AlbertMaringer at the Four Seasons Hotel,Vancouver on the Olympics as a technologi-cal showcase.

October 24 Premier’s meeting.

October 27-30 Provincial legislature insession.

October 27 Health Science Associationregion 5 annual meeting at the HiltonVancouver Metrotown.

October 28 The Vancouver Board of Tradesponsors a speech by ZIP Air Inc. presidentand chief executive officer Stephen Miller atThe Fairmont Waterfront, Vancouver oncommercial aviation.

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Patronage system must be changed(EIR=N/A)*22-Sept-03, editorial board, TC...Yes, but how? Via positive thoughts per-haps?

Rural British Columbia needs a shot inthe arm (EIR=3)*22-Sept-03, editorial board, SunLast Saturday, The Vancouver Sun’s edito-rial board promised to deliver solutions tothe problems facing rural communities.And on Monday, they did. And their fiverecommendations were nothing short ofgroundbreaking. “First, Victoria must stopputting infinite value on environmentalconcerns and zero value on wealth and jobcreating...Second, the government must fig-ure out ways of settling unresolved landclaims with aboriginal groups...Third, thelabour cost structure faced by resourceindustries in this province is out of whackwith what our competitors face...Fourth,Victoria will have to come up with an effec-tive marketing plan to let the world knowthat the province is once again open forbusiness.” Boy, it sure looks like those les-sons from the school of obvious policies arepaying off.

A fine case for public auto insurance(EIR=4)*22-Sept-03, editorial board, SunIt’s the rumble in the policy jungle. In one

corner sits The Fraser Institute, armedwith a study which claims, “public autoinsurance causes more deaths and dam-age.” In the other: New Democrat prize-fighter Adrian Dix, bristling with informa-tion which he says proves that study is“silly, misleading and desperate.” Guesswho comes out on top in Mr. Dix’s column.

History must dictate future halibutallocation (EIR=N/A)*22-Sept-03, Fazil Mihlar, SunFazil Mihlar becomes a beacon of conflict-ing signals. Opining on the battle betweencommercial and reaction fishermen overhow much halibut should be allocated toeach group, Mr. Mihlar writes that “theonly fair way to allocate this valuable

* = On the Editorial Index scale, one indicates a strong pro-government position, two is a pro-government column or an articlereporting provincial actions without comment, three is a balanced column., four is anti-government and five indicates a strong anti-government position.

SEPTEMBER 22- 28 INDEX AVERAGE: 3.8*

Every week, Public Eye magazine’s staffanalyzes opinion-editorial columns pub-lished in the province’s three major dailynewspaper (the Times Colonist, TheProvince and The Vancouver Sun) and itstwo alternative weeklies (MondayMagazine and The Georgia Straight).Each column reporting on government orgoverning party actions is assigned anEditorial Index Rank (EIR)* based on itsopinion of those actions. Public Eye mag-azine’s editorial index is an average ofthese numbers. Columns reporting onother aspects of provincial politics are notassigned an editorial rank.

resource is on the basis of the historicalcatch shares of the two fishing sectors. Andthat’s exactly what (the Department ofFisheries and Oceans) should do.” Butthen, just six paragraphs later, he tellsreaders that the federal government shouldgive recreational fishers nine percent of thecatch – four percent above their historicallimit.

B.C. could die of broken Heartland(EIR=3)*23-Sept-03, editorial board, TCCommenting on the ailing heartland econo-my, the Times Colonist’s editorial board fol-lows in The Vancouver Sun’s footsteps andprescribes some remedies to this disease.Number one: the government needs to“make it easier to create jobs.” Numbertwo: local MLAs need to become “morevocal about the needs of the areas they rep-resent.” And number three: “BritishColumbians can help too, be spending someof their vacation time exploring theprovince.”

Portal inches open while costs mount(EIR=5)*23-Sept-03, Les Leyne, TCLes Leyne reports on the gaping financialmaw that has become the provincial gov-ernment’s Internet portal project, noting


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Yawn: that was the media’s collectiveresponse to Ipsos-Reid Corp.’s mostrecent public opinion poll on provin-

cial politics. None of the major dailies pub-lished the numbers. And really, who couldreally blame them? Even Ipsos-Reid didn’tseem excited about the results, accompany-ing the poll release with this stimulatingheadline: “Same old, same old in B.C. poli-tics.” But that’s not entirely true.

For starters, the survey may not haveshowed any movement in the parties’ over-all standings – the Liberals are still pollingin the mid-40s and the New Democrats arestill barely reaching 30 percent. But thesurvey does show some opinion shifts at aregional level. In the heartlands, for exam-ple, Liberal numbers climbed 13 percent-age points to 47 percent – a strong indica-tion that those living in the Interior haveabsolved the government of its CoquihallaHighway privatization sins. According topolitical commentator Robin Adair “People(in the Interior) were sending up warningshots saying, ‘If you don’t back off on this(proposal to lease the highway), I’m goingto take a hard, second-look at you.’ But assoon as the government back off they said,‘Fine.’ And that was the end of it.”

The poll also indicates rising support forthe Greens on Vancouver Island – from 19percent in July to 25 percent in September.Of course, given the small sample size forthis region, it’s difficult to determinewhether that result is a statistical anomalyor an accurate reflection of current voterintentions. But that won’t stop local MLAsfrom using those numbers to argue theNew Democrats are now more vulnerablethen ever before because of vote-splitting.So now might be a good time to capitalizeon that vulnerability by making some news

THE POLL THATWASN’T

taxpayers will “never, ever know the real-bottom-line cost” because “some of the costsfor key portal components are being pushedout to other ministries” and others are“being run under existing service and con-sulting contracts with big global vendors.”

PM-in-waiting remains a blank slate(EIR=N/A)*23-Sept-03, Barbara Yaffe, SunBarbara Yaffe points out prime minister-in-waiting Paul Martin, “is a blank slate,having given only a bare indication of hispolicy priorities.” Ms. Yaffe doesn’t consid-er that a good thing. But it explains whyfederal Liberals love Mr. Martin so much.

Officials must ensure safety of all whouse ferries (EIR=4)*23-Sept-03, editorial board, SunThe Vancouver Sun’s editorial board maynot have wanted B.C. Ferries Inc. to get ridof the sunshine breakfast. But they sure dowant to see the escape shutes on its vesselsreplaced with life rafts.

Martin must make good on westernpromises (EIR=N/A)*23-Sept-03, editorial board, Sun…But, in a disturbing turn of events, theVancouver Sun’s editorial board doesn’t saywhat will happen if those promises go bad.Threatening op-ed pieces perhaps?

Campbell’s wish list for Martin meet-ing (EIR=3)*23-Sept-03, Vaughn Palmer, Sun...And surprisingly, only one of the items onthe list begin with the letter “m” and endwith the letter “y.” According to VaughnPalmer, Premier Campbell wants answersto four questions. Number one: when willthe softwood lumber dispute end? Numbertwo: is federal Environment Minister DavidAnderson retiring sometime soon (andbringing opposition to lifting the offshoreoil and gas ban with him)? Number three:will Martin campaigner Mark Marissen geta job in Ottawa (and bring his partner,Education Minister Christy Clark, withhim)? And four: will the federal govern-ment be revitalizing the country’s agingfleet of forest-fire-fighting aircraft? Aninsightful column.

Coleman’s ‘surprise’ backflip drawsapplause (EIR=5)*23-Sept-03, editorial board, ProvinceMichael Smyth explains why the provincialgovernment backed down on its proposal to

download policing costs onto rural commu-nities. And no, it had nothing to do with thefact Solicitor General Rich Coleman over-heard Mr. Smyth saying he was “about toget ‘fried’” for that proposal. But it hadeverything to do with a threat from small-town mayors and councils that, if theLiberals didn’t back down, those electedofficials would “fight the scheme and makeit an issue at election time.”

Knowledge Network is unraveled(EIR=2)*24-Sept-03, Les Leyne, TCThe provincial government is creating apublic-private partnership to enhance theKnowledge Network. And Mr. Leynereports on that decision, noting that“there’s the potential to do something excit-ing with that (television) license, the onlyquestion is: what? It would be exciting tosee someone grab the idea and run withit...And it will be interesting to see whatthe Liberal government does if the televi-sion industry...decides to take a pass on theopportunity and leaves them holding thebag.” So at least we know it’s a win-win sit-uation from the media’s perspective.

U.S. pipeline subsidy could dash B.C.hopes (EIR=3)*24-Sept-03, Don Whiteley, SunIf American legislators get their way, sub-sidies will ensure the floor price for naturalgas flowing through the proposed Alaskanpipeline doesn’t dip below US$3.25 perthousand cubic feet. And that could cause aconsiderable amount of trouble for theCanadian oil and gas industry. After all,writes Don Whiteley, “no producer in hisright mind would spend money in B.C. orAlberta for gas that floats with the marketwhen they could spend money in Alaska fora guaranteed return.” Which explains whyprovincial Energy and Mines Minister RichNeufeld is hinting he may “hinder theprogress of (the pipeline) coming throughB.C.” if those subsidies are signed into law.

It’s up to Martin to set standards onspending (EIR=N/A)*24-Sept-03, editorial board, SunThe Vancouver Sun’s editorial board callson Mr. Martin to clampdown on spendingby federal officials by ensuring the auditor-general has the funds necessary to do herjob and (get ready for the self-interestedplug) Access to Information laws are

continued on page 12continued on page 19

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S e p t e m b e r 2 9 , 2 0 0 3P u b l i c E y e m a g a z i n eematicians have discovered two plus twoequals four.

Just so you know (EIR=4)*25-Sept-03, Les Leyne, TCMr. Leyne reports the district of Wells islooking for a reversal of the government’sdecision to cut provincial funding to thehistoric site of Barkerville.

First Nations have hand out again(EIR=N/A)*25-Sept-03, Tanis Fiss, TCCanadian Taxpayers Federation aboriginalpolicy change director Tanis Fiss uses theAssembly of First Nations’ request for anadditional $1.2 million in funding as anopportunity to question why the federalgovernment is bankrolling the assembly tobegin with. According to Ms. Fiss, “theAFN, like any other lobby group, should beself-funded. In other words, if the lobbyingefforts of the AFN are valued by the indi-viduals and groups that it represents, thenthose individuals and groups should fundthe AFN – not taxpayers.”

Federal disaster aid is too little, toolate (EIR=N/A)*25-Sept-03, Betty Hinton, Sun…And that’s exactly what you’d expect aCanadian Alliance MP to say.

Let’s get to the point on policing costs(EIR=4)*25-Sept-03, editorial board, SunWhen it comes to cutting policing costs, TheVancouver Sun’s editorial board tellsSolicitor-General Rich Coleman to play theman, not the puck. Instead of downloadingthose costs, the board says the Liberalsshould be pushing local governments tofind savings by regionalizing municipalpolice services.

Martin gives hope to the NDP’s Layton(EIR=N/A)*25-Sept-03, Susan Riley, SunFederal Liberals hope Mr. Martin willboost their fortunes during the next elec-tion. And that’s a sentiment shared bymany New Democrats. Mr. Riley points outthe prime minister-in-waiting’s right-wingvalues could push some left-leaningLiberals into voting NDP.

Fire experts have some advice forCampbell (EIR=3)*25-Sept-03, Vaughn Palmer, SunMr. Palmer reports on the Western

Silvicultural Contractors Association’s for-est fire prevention proposal, which includesa recommendation to finance the cleanup offuel levels on the forest floor by promotingit as a potential business opportunity.According to the Sun columnist, thiscleanup work “could generate marketableresources (including timber and other woodproducts), create jobs and deliver revenuesto government.”

Arnie and California RecallCampbell’s Promise (EIR=5)*25-Sept-03, Bill Tieleman, StraightPolitical analyst Will McMartin argues, viaBill Tieleman proxy, that the provincialgovernment should live up to its promise tomake recall elections easier.

Say no to dedicated tax initiatives forcities (EIR=4)*25-Sept-03, editorial board, ProvinceLast week, the Union of B.C. Municipalitiesexecutive recommended delegates votedown a resolution calling for a five percentliquour tax to fund shelters and detox cen-tres. The reason: local governments should-n’t have to pay for services that are sup-posed to be funded by the Province. AndThe Province’s editorial board agrees.

Outgoing NDP leader pulls off a pair ofpolitical victories (EIR=4)*25-Sept-03, Michael Smyth, ProvinceMr. Smyth reports on soon-not-to-be NewDemocrat leader Joy MacPhail’s two mostrecent victories. The first: arranging to be akeynote speaker at the Union of B.C.Municipalities annual convention (a privi-lege she’s previously been denied becauseof her unofficial Opposition status). Andsecond: revealing Transportation MinisterJudith Reid’s husband is being investigatedfor alleged Fisheries Act infractions (some-thing the provincial government failed tomention).

In other words: Taxes shouldn’t fundlobbyists (EIR=N/A)*25-Sept-03, Tanis Fiss, ProvinceSame message. Same writer. Differentpaper.

1 (EIR=5)*25-Sept-03, Russ Francis, MondayRuss Francis hammers the provincial gov-ernment for hammering one of hisfavourite journalistic tools: the Freedom of


amended so spending records for cabinetminister offices can be investigated.

Liberals continue backdowns – up to apoint (EIR=3)*24-Sept-03, Vaughn Palmer, SunAfter surveying the government’s recentreversals, Mr. Palmer predicts the Liberalswon’t change course on their decision toprivatize B.C. Rail “nor should one expectthe government to restore funding to theVictoria land titles office. The incrementalexpansion of the private sector in liquorsales will probably continue.” However,“the health care sector does strike me as alikely venue for a major backdown.”

East is East; West is West, maybe withMartin they’ll meet (EIR=N/A)*24-Sept-03, editorial board, ProvinceThe Province’s editorial board hands Mr.Martin another wish list – this one basedon recommendations made by the CanadaWest Foundation (a think tank that just sohappens to count CanWest GlobalCommunication Corp. bigwig David Asperas one of its directors).

Safe-injection critics blind to back-alley reality (EIR=2)*24-Sept-03, Jim McNulty, ProvinceJim McNulty takes on those who wouldcriticize the new injection site, throwingthis knockout punch in the third para-graph: “the (59 other sites around theworld) have proven successful in reducingoverdose deaths, disease, crime and gener-ally improving afflicted neighborhoods.”

Best classroom is home (EIR=N/A)*24-Sept-03, Susan Martinuk, ProvinceSelf-empowerment guru Susan Martinukwrites that parents should “become activeparticipants in creating a positive learningenvironment – both at school and home,”rather than blaming the state for failing toeducate their children.

B.C.’s small towns win another one(EIR=4)*25-Sept-03, Les Leyne, TCWhat happens when you add the govern-ment’s decision not to download communitypolicing costs together with its decisionsnot to lease the Coquihalla or close theKamloops land title office? Well, accordingto Mr. Leyne, you get a pattern that shows“the Liberals are treading more and morelightly in the heartlands as May 2005nears.” In other heartstopping news, math-

1 3

S e p t e m b e r 2 9 , 2 0 0 3P u b l i c E y e m a g a z i n eInformation request. Mr. Francis points outthe Liberals have cut the information andprivacy commissioner’s budget by 35 per-cent, despite promising to establish “themost open and accountable government inCanada.” Never get between a man and histoys.

4 (EIR=5)*25-Sept-03, Russ Francis, MondayMr. Francis takes a pot shot at the govern-ment’s new Web portal, noting one pagemisspells Hazelton.

A 95-per-cent failure rate (EIR=N/A)*26-Sept-03, editorial board, TCThe Times Colonist’s editorial board takesthe hoary federal gun registry issue out ofthe attic, gives it a few swift kicks for goodmeasure and puts it back in storage for thenext slow news day.

Negotiation beats confrontation(EIR=3)*26-Sept-03, editorial board, TCThe Times Colonist’s editorial board almostmakes a couple interesting points aboutFirst Nations negotiations before landingon this one: “Reliance on the courts to set-tle future conflicting claims and disputesbetween aboriginals and resource compa-nies can only delay final treaties further.The courts can protect native claims, butsettling their geographic boundaries cancome only through negotiation. Even so,the courts should provide a pressurerelease that could avoid the kind of violentconfrontation in which no one wins.”

Coastal forest contract desperatelyneeded (EIR=N/A)*26-Sept-03, editorial board, SunThe Vancouver Sun’s editorial board callson unionized forest workers to sign a “con-tract that allows the industry to reducecosts between 20 and 30 percent by imple-menting flexible work rules.”

Paul Martin comes a-courting – butnot too ardently (EIR=N/A)*26-Sept-03, Norman Spector, SunNorman Spector writes that, if Mr. Martinreally wants to reduce feelings of alienationin this province, the simple solution is pro-viding B.C. with more power not morerespect. Along the way, Mr. Spector pointsout Mr. Martin must be careful not to gettoo close to the provincial government lesthe be painted by the federal NewDemocrats as a Campbell Liberal.

Local politicians get a buzz off ‘PM thePM’ (EIR=N/A)*26-Sept-03, Vaughn Palmer, SunEvidently, it will be hard for Mr. Martin tolive up to the expectations he’s createdamong British Columbians (so says Mr.Palmer).

Thumbs down (EIR=5)*26-Sept-03, editorial board, ProvinceThe Province’s editorial board gives a dis-approving look at Premier Campbell’sattempt to turn “the eighteenth AIDS walkat Stanley Park last week into a photo up.”

Promises, promises (EIR=N/A)*26-Sept-03, Jim McNulty, ProvinceMr. McNulty is the latest in a long-line ofcolumnist to ask the following questions.Number one: why didn’t Mr. Martin doeverything he’s promising now while hewas in government? Two: will he reallydeliver on those promises? And three: whatexactly are those promises anyway?

Liberals missed boat, MacPhail firesbroadside over oyster farm probe(EIR=5)*26-Sept-03, Michael Smyth, ProvinceMr. Smyth continues reporting on Ms.MacPhail’s allegations that the provincialLiberals cover-up an investigation intoMinister Reid’s husband and his shellfishfarming practices.

B.C.’s relationship with Ottawa is get-ting better (EIR=1)*27-Sept-03, Les Leyne, TCMr. Leyne takes Mr. Martin’s appearanceat the Union of B.C. Municipalities conven-tion as an indicator Mr. Campbell’s goal ofimproving the provincial government’srelationship with Ottawa is paying off.

Focus on the Family places its faith inheterosexual marriages (EIR=N/A)*27-Sept-03, Darrel Reid, SunFocus on the Family president Darrel Reiddefends traditional marriages and thosewho want to see them preserved.

Martin’s promises should get laughs(EIR=N/A)*27-Sept-03, Michael Campbell, SunAlone among the columnists, Mr. Campbellwrites something new about Mr. Martin.Referencing the prime minister-in-wait-ing’s promise to shrink the size of the feder-al debt as compared to the over-all economyfrom 40 to 25 percent, the Vancouver Sun

columnist points out Mr. Martin “wouldhave to cut spending by $12.5 billion annu-ally or $62.5 billion in-total to meet his tar-get. Gee, that sounds likely.”

Sour gas wells being dug too close tohome (EIR=5)*27-Sept-03, Stephen Hume, SunStephen Hume gets straight to the point,criticizing the provincial government andthe oil and gas commission for refusing toreconsider approving a sour gas well nearOld Hope Road. Mr. Hume points out that“nobody knows what long-term exposure totrace quantities (of the hydrogen sulphidein sour gas) will cause, but some researchsuggests there are neurological implica-tions even at low exposures.”

Campbell goes the news route atUBCM (EIR=3)*27-Sept-03, Vaughn Palmer, Sun…And so does Mr. Palmer, cataloguing thepremier’s announcements at the Union ofB.C. Municipalities convention. Thoseannouncements included promises to holdan “open, independent and thorough” post-mortem on the devasting forest fire seasonand a symposium on new ways to fight thepine beetle infestation. Mr. Campbell alsotold delegates he would be sending a com-mittee of MLAs out to review the province’sprotected areas. And he mentioned B.C.Hydro Corp. had been given the go-aheadfor 16 green technology projects.

Note to Dobell: FOI is part of democra-cy (EIR=5)*28-Sept-03, Jody Paterson, TCJody Paterson pounces on Ken Dobell,deputy minister to the premier, forattempting to make his section of theprovincial government immune to Freedomof Information requests.

Gov’t angers doctors again, this timeby cutting labs’ fees (EIR=3)*28-Sept-03, Michael Smyth, ProvinceMr. Smyth reports on the B.C. MedicalAssociation’s decision to sue the provincialgovernment for cutting private medical labfees by 20 percent.

1 4


BANK OF NOVA SCOTIAECONOMICS Canada’s real gross domes-tic product growth is forecast to increase1.9% this year and 2.7% next year. Pre-taxprofits are forecast to increase 8% this yearand 9.5% next year. Employment is fore-cast to increase 1.9% this year and 0.7%next year. The unemployment rate toincrease 0.2 percentage points to 7.8% thisyear and 0.2 percentage points to 8.0% thisyear. The current account balance isexpected to decrease $5.4 billion this yearto $18.0 billion and decrease a further $8billion next year to $10 billion. The mer-chandise trade balance is expected todecrease $2.8 billion this year to $55 billionand decrease a further $7 billion next yearto $48 billion.

CANADIAN INSTITUEFOR HEALTH INFORMATION

IMAGING EQUIPMENT Canada has 4.7MRI scanners per million people. By com-parison, B.C. has 4.3.. Canada has 10.3 CTscanners per million people. By compari-son, B.C. has 10.6.

CB RICHARD ELLIS, INC.RENT Vancouver ranks 67th in the worldand 4th in Canada with current total officeoccupancy costs of $35.67 per square footannually.

GLOBAL FOREST WATCH CANADAFORESTS Forty percent of Canadianforests have been fragmented by industrialactivity while 60% - almost entirely in thenorthern boreal region – remain intact.

GOVERNMENT OFBRITISH COLUMBIA

SUICIDES In 2002, the number of suicidesin the province was up 13% over the previ-ous year to 532 deaths or 12.7 suicides per100,000 people.

INDUSTRY CANADAINTERNET Forty-nine percent ofCanadians using Internet from home have

broadband connections. By comparison,60% percent of British Columbians usingInternet from home have broadband con-nections, the highest level in Canada. Fifty-eight percent of Canadian businesses and56% of small business have broadband con-nections.

ORGANIZATION FORECONOMIC CO-OPERATION

AND DEVELOPMENTEDUCATION Canadian 15-year-old stu-dents placed fifth overall in internationaltests in reading, math and science. Thosestudents placed second in reading, fifth inmathematics and fifth in science.

EDUCATION Annual expenditure perCanadian student is $1,403 above the coun-try mean but $2,476 below the U.S. at$7,764.

EDUCATION Public expenditure onCanadian primary and secondary educa-tion as a percentage of total public expendi-ture was 1 percentage point below thecountry mean at 7.9%. Public expenditureson education as a percentage of the grossdomestic product was 0.2 percentage pointsbelow the country mean at 3.3%.

EDUCATION For every teacher there are17.8 Canadian secondary students, thehighest ratio among the western countries.

EDUCATION For every 1,000 studentsthere are 55.5 Canadian primary and sec-ondary school teachers, 15.9 below thecountry mean and 6.6 below the U.S.

EDUCATION The average expected yearsof schooling for Canadian children underthe age of five is 16.6, 0.3 years below thecountry mean and 0.2 years above the U.S.

EDUCATION Girls outperformed boys inthe reading test by 32 points, the same asthe country mean but 29 more than theU.S. point spread.

EDUCATION Girls outperformed boys inthe math test by 10 points and in the sci-ence test by 2 points.

EDUCATION By the time they reach 30years old, 77.1% of 15-year-old girls expectto be highly-skilled, white-collar workers.By comparison, 64.6% of boys expect to beworking in those positions, a 12.5 percentpoint gap. Only Ireland (12.8 percentagepoints), Belgium (14.6 percentage points),Latvia (15.5 percentage points), Denmark(17.2 percentage points) and Russia (21.5percentage points) have a bigger ambitiongap.

MANPOWEREMPLOYMENT In the fourth quarter,23% of Canadian employers expect toincrease their staff – 13 percentage pointsless than the previous quarter. Fifteen per-cent expect to decrease their staff – 9 per-centage points less than the previous quar-ter. And 59% expect no change – 3 percentpoints more than the previous quarter.

EMPLOYMENT In the fourth quarter,25% of Western employers expect toincrease their staff – 2 percentage pointsmore than the national average. Fifteenpercent expect to decrease their staff – thesame as the national average. And 57%expect no change – 2 percentage pointsmore than the national average.

EMPLOYMENT In the fourth quarter,27% of Lower Mainland employers expectto increase their staff – 4 percentage pointsmore than the national average. A seven-teen percent expect to decrease their staff –the same as the national average.

ROYAL BANK FINANCIAL GROUPECONOMY Canada’s real gross domesticproduct growth is forecast to increase 1.4percentage points to 3.5% next year. Bycomparison, the U.S. growth is forecast toincrease 1.2 percentage points to 3.9% nextyear.

STATISTICS CANADAABORIGINAL PEOPLES SURVEY In2001, 56% of the non-reserve aboriginalpopulation reported their health was excel-lent or very good. By comparison, 65% of

Public Eye magazine’s Statwatch tracksrecently released economic and socialindicators.


1 5


Which party would you support? Source: Red = Christie Jung Inc. Blue = Ipsos-Reid Corp. White = Mustel Group poll.

CANADIAN BUSINESSMAGAZINE

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Among thecountry’s 32 major metropolitan areas,Kelowna was named the best place to dobusiness in B.C. and the 11th best place todo business in Canada. Abbotsford was the16th best place in Canada. Victoria was thefifth worst place to do business in Canada.And Vancouver was the worst place.

CANADIAN FEDERATIONOF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS

CONFIDENCE The CFIB QuarterlyBusiness Barometer Index, which reflectshow well business owners expect their ownfirms to perform in the next 12 months,was 107.7 in September, up 2.9 points sinceJune but down 1.6 points when comparedwith the same month last year. In B.C. theindex was 110.2 in September, up 7 pointssince June, the highest level among theprovinces.

CONFIDENCE Thirty-eight percent ofCanadian small businesses expect theirgrowth to be stronger over the next 3months, 45% expect it to be about the sameand 28% expect it to be weaker. Forty-ninepercent of Canadian small businesses

expect their growth to be stronger over thenext 12 months, 36% expect it to be aboutthe same and 15% expect it to be weaker.By comparison, 60% of British Columbiansmall businesses expect their growth to bestronger over the same period, the highestlevel among the provinces. Twenty-threepercent expect it to be about the same and17% expect it to be weaker.

CONFIDENCE Twenty-nine percent ofCanadian small businesses expect theirfull-time employment will increase, 9%expect it will decrease and 62% expect nochange. By comparison, 30% of BritishColumbian small businesses expect theirfull-time employment will increase, 9%expect it will decrease and 61% expect nochange. Fifteen percent of Canadian smallbusinesses expect their part-time employ-ment will increase, 7% expect it willdecrease and 78% expect no change.

IPSOS-REIDPOLITICS If a provincial election wereheld tomorrow, 45% of British Columbianswould vote Liberal, 31% would vote NewDemocrat, 17% would vote Green, 4%would vote Unity and 4% would vote foranother political party. In the LowerMainland, 48% would vote Liberal, 31%would vote New Democrat, 14% would voteGreen, 4% would vote Unity and 3% wouldvote for another political party. OnVancouver Island, 34% would vote Liberal,

Public Eye magazine’s Pollwatch tracksrecently released public opinion numbers.

35% would vote New Democrat, 25% wouldvote Green and 6% would vote Unity. In theInterior/North, 47% would vote Liberal,27% would vote New Democrat, 16% wouldvote Green, 3% would vote Unity and 7%would vote for another political party.

POLITICS Thinking of Gordon Campbell,9% of British Columbians strongly approveof his performance as premier, 29% moder-ately approve, 18% moderately disapproveand 41% strongly disapprove. In the LowerMainland, 12% strongly approve of his per-formance, 30% moderately approve, 17%moderately disapprove and 38% stronglydisapprove. On Vancouver Island, 4%strongly approve of his performance, 24%moderately approve, 20% moderately dis-approve and 52% strongly disapprove. Inthe Interior/North, 7% strongly approve ofhis performance, 31% moderately approve,18% moderately disapprove and 40%strongly disapprove.

POLITICS Thinking of Joy MacPhail, 16%of British Columbians strongly approve ofher performance as New Democrat leader,37% moderately approve, 16% moderatelydisapprove and 16% strongly disapprove.In the Lower Mainland, 16% stronglyapprove of her performance, 36% moderate-ly approve, 18% moderately disapprove and16% strongly disapprove. On Vancouver

SEP-03 AUG-03 JUN-0 3 JUN-03 MAY-03 APR-03 APR-03 MAR-03 FEB-03 JAN-03 DEC-02 DEC-02 OCT-02 SEP-02 AUG-02 JUN-02 JUN-02 MAY-02 APR-02 MAR-02

LIB 45% 47% 43% 41% 44% 47% 43% 44% 50% 41% 44% 43% 40% 43% 48% 48% 47% 45% 46% 48%

NDP 31% 28% 36% 36% 28% 31% 30% 30% 31% 34% 31% 33% 29% 28% 26% 25% 30% 27% 23% 28%

GRN 17% 12% 6% 10% 18% 8% 19% 19% 10% 18% 17% 12% 15% 19% 14% 18% 12% 20% 14% 16%

REF 6% 4% 6% 3% 5% 7% 6% 4% 6%

SOC 2% 2% 2% 1% 2%

UNY 4% 1% 15% 1% 5% 1% 8% 3% 3% 5% 5% 5% 4% 3%

Other 3% 4% 6% 5% 5% 3% 6% 4% 3% 7% 9% 4% 6% 5% 5% 4% 9% 5%


1 6


HEALTH ECONOMY GOV’T ENERGY EDUCATION 1ST NATION ENVIRO RESOURCE

JUN-03 26% 16.7% 14.2% 0.0% 6.5% 0.0% 3.0% 6.4%

APR-03 32.6% 18.1% 13.2% 0.0% 5.4% 0.5% 2.2% 5.3%

FEB=-03 33.3% 17.3% 11.8% 0.0% 5.7% 0.2% 1.8% 3.4%

DEC-02 35.6% 17.7% 12.1% 0.0% 4.7% 0.9% 2.3% 4.7%

OCT-02 36.2% 18.6% 10.0% 0.2% 7.6% 1.2% 3.0% 5.0%

AUG-02 30.4% 22.4% 15.2% 0.0% 3.2% 1.2% 1.3% 5.6%

JUL-02 37.3% 20.1% 14.3% 0.0% 4.4% 2.0% 1.7% 6.6%

JUN-02 38.5% 18.2% 14.2% 0.0% 5.8% 0.9% 1.6% 7.9%

APR-02 26.9% 23.9% 19.8% 0.0% 3.6% 4.4% 1.7% 8.4%

FEB-02 33.9% 23.9% 15.2% 0.0% 11.1% 0.6% 1.6% 3.8%

DEC-01 27.8% 27.8% 9.8% 0.2% 5.0% 1.0% 2.3% 8.0%

OCT-01 22.2% 28.0% 8.7% 0.0% 4.9% 0.4% 1.5% 6.9%

SEP-01 29.1% 23.8% 10.5% 0.9% 3.1% 1.4% 2.0% 10.2%

JUN-01 32.4% 20.6% 10.6% 0.4% 3.8% 1.2% 4.6% 2.5%

APR-01 25.6% 18.5% 21.1% 0.4% 3.4% 0.9% 4.2% 4.6%

What is the most important issues facing British Columbia? Source: Mustel Group.

Island, 23% strongly approve of her per-formance, 43% moderately approve, 9%moderately disapprove and 13% stronglydisapprove. In the Interior/North, 12%strongly approve of her performance, 33%moderately approve, 16% moderately dis-approve and 18% strongly disapprove.

RESPONSIBILITY When BritishColumbians were asked if provincial com-panies were doing a good or poor job ofdoing business in a socially responsibleway, 65% said good and 30% said poor.When asked how much influence theythought they could have on whether or nota company does business in a sociallyresponsible way, 49% said a greatdeal/some and 51% said not very much/noinfluence.

ROGERS MEDIAHEALTH PLANS Seventy-four percent offull-time Canadian employees belonging toeither a workplace-sponsored retirementsavings or health benefits plan say theywould be willing to take measures, such asaccepting generic drug substitutions, tohelp control costs of their health plans.Forty-eight percent say they would pay or

increase their deductible.

FOREST INDUSTRIALRELATIONS

MOST SERIOUS ISSUE When askedwhat they thought was the most seriousissue facing B.C., 23% percent said healthcare, 13% the economy, 8% the forestindustry, 8% unemployment/jobs/security,5% education, 4% the government, 4% for-est fires, 3% Premier Gordon Campbell, 2%health/health issues, 2% taxes, 2% environ-ment/pollution, 2% same sex marriage/gayrights.

COASTAL FOREST INDUSTRY Whenasked to describe the economic state of thecoastal forest industry, 56% said poor, 23%average and 7% good. Fifty percent thinkthe economic situation in the industry isgetting worse, 32% think its staying thesame and 6% think its improving. Thirty-two percent think the industry is less com-petitive relative to other major timber pro-ducing regions of the world, 37% think it’sabout as competitive and 12% think itsmore competitive. Eighty-eight percentthink it’s important that the industry becompetitive with other major timber pro-

ducing regions. Seventy-seven percentthink coastal forest labour cost should be inline with other major producing regions.Eighty-three percent think it’s importantfor the industry to address the fact thatB.C.’s coastal forest industry is the highestcost producer of timber and has the highestlabour costs compared to all other majorproducing regions in the world. Seventy-seven think it’s a priority for industry lead-ers to address the issue of high labour costswith the union representing forest workers.

COASTAL FOREST INDUSTRYTwenty-one percent think it’s a good ideafor the union to go on strike. Seventy per-cent think it’s a poor idea.

COASTAL FOREST INDUSTRYSeventy-eight percent think a strike willonly hurt the industry and the provincialeconomy even more and they must contin-ue to negotiate. Twelve percent think sincethe union has been unable to reach anagreement with employers they have norecourse but to strike.

1 7


ABORIGINAL PEOPLES SURVEYAmong non-reserve North American Indianadults aged 15 and over, 32% said theycould speak or understand an aboriginallanguage. Less than 15% said they wereable to speak an aboriginal language verywell or relatively well.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX The nation-al consumer price index was up 0.2% to120.1 between July and August. The indexwas up 2% between August 2002 andAugust 2003.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX The con-sumer price index in B.C. was up 0.3% to120.9 between July and August, the secondhighest increase in the country. The indexwas up 1.9% between August 2002 andAugust 2003.

ENVIRONMENT From 1981 to 2000,carbon dioxide emissions per capita inCanada increased at an average rate of0.25% a year, largely the result of anincrease in the nation’s standard of living.However, during the same period, the coun-try’s eco-efficiency, defined as the ratio ofeconomic output for every unit of carbondioxide emissions, improved at an averageannual rate of 1.3% from 1981 to 2000.

INVESTMENT Foreigners sold $2.6 bil-lion worth of Canadian securities in July.During the first quarter of 2003, foreignersbought $16 billion worth of Canadian secu-rities – a 74.8% increase over the sameperiod last year.

INVESTMENT Canadian direct invest-ments abroad were down 6.3% to $380.9billion in the second quarter of 2003, thelowest level since the second quarter of2001. Foreign direct investments inCanada were up 1.4% to $357.7 billion dur-ing the same period.

LEADING INDICATORS The compositeleading index grew 0.5% in August to183.4, equaling its revised gain in July.

LIFE EXPECTANCY In 2001, Canadianlife expectancy at birth for both sexesincreased 0.7% to 79.7 years. During thesame period, British Columbian lifeexpectancy at birth for both sexes increased3.3% to 80.6 years – the sharpest increaseamong the provinces.

continued from page 14Statwatch

the Canadian population reported theirhealth was excellent or very good.

ABORIGINAL PEOPLES SURVEY In2001, among the adults, 19% of the non-reserve aboriginal population reportedarthritis or rheumatism. By comparison,11% of the Canadian population reportedthe same condition. Similarly, 12% of theaboriginal population reported high bloodpressure, compared with 8.7% of theCanadian population and 11.6% of the abo-riginal population reported asthma, com-pared with 10.3% of the Canadian popula-tion.

ABORIGINAL PEOPLES SURVEY In2001, among adults, 8.3% of the non-reserve North American Indian populationreported they had been diagnosed with dia-betes compared to 5.3% in 1991.Just 2.9%of the Canadian population reported theyhad been diagnosed with diabetes.

ABORIGINAL PEOPLES SURVEY In1996, 52% of aboriginal youth aged 20-24had incomplete secondary school as theirhighest level of schooling. By comparison,48% had incomplete secondary school astheir highest level of schooling in 2001.Twenty percent reported boredom as themost common reason for leaving schoolearly.

ABORIGINAL PEOPLES SURVEY In1996, 32% of non-reserve aboriginal peopleaged 25-34 had completed post-secondarystudies. By comparison, 52% had completedpost-secondary studies in 2001. Numbersfor Canadians also increased from 52% to48% during the same period.

ABORIGINAL PEOPLES SURVEY In1996, 5% of young aboriginal people hadcompleted university compared with 8% in2001. For other types of post-secondaryeducation (including college and trades),there was an increase from 27% to 30%during the same period.

ABORIGINAL PEOPLES SURVEY In2001, 17% of non-reserve aboriginal peoplelived in crowded conditions. This was downfrom 22% in 1996. By comparison, 7% ofCanadians lived in crowded conditions in2001. continued on page 18

MANUFACTURING Canadian seasonallyadjusted manufacturing shipments in Julywere up 1.7% to $43 billion. By comparison,British Columbian shipments were up 1%during the same period to $2.7 billion.

PAYROLL Average Canadian weeklyearnings for all employees were down 0.3%to $687.4 between June and July. By com-parison, average British Columbian weeklyearnings for all employees were down 1.2%to $674.74 during the same period – thesteepest decline among the provinces.

PAYROLL Average seasonally adjustedCanadian weekly earnings for all employ-ees were up 1% in July when comparedwith the same month last year. By compar-ison, British Columbian weekly earningsfor all employees were up 0.2% in Julywhen compared with the same month lastyear.

PAYROLL The number of seasonallyadjusted Canadian employees was down0.1% to 133.7 million between May andJune. The number of British Columbianemployees was down 0.1% to 16.3 millionduring the same period.

PAYROLL The number of seasonallyadjusted Canadian employees was up 0.2%in July when compared with the samemonth last year. By comparison, the num-ber of British Columbian employees wasdown 0.7% - the steepest decline among theprovinces.

PENSIONS Canadian employer pensionplan assets were down 4.7% to $518.2 bil-lion in the first quarter of 2003.

RETAIL SALES Canadian retails saleswere up 0.8% to $26.6 billion between Juneand July. By comparison, BritishColumbian retail sales were up 1.8% to$3.4 billion during the same period – thesecond lowest increase among theprovinces.

RETAIL SALES Canadian retail saleswere up 5% between July 2002 and July2003. By comparison, British Columbianretail sales were up 3% during the sameperiod.

RETIREMENT The media age of retire-ment for Canadian workers was down 1.2

1 8


years to 60.8 when the five-years ending2001 is compared with the five-years end-ing 1996. The retirement age for public sec-tor workers was down 2.1 years to 57.6. Bycomparison, the retirement age for privatesector workers was down 1.5 years to 61.7.

TRAVEL Canadian trips abroad weredown 0.1 percent between June and July.Trips to the U.S. were down 0.5% and tripsto other countries were up 3.1% during thesame period.

TRAVEL Canadian trips abroad weredown 0.6 percent between July and thesame month last year. Trips to the U.S.were down 1.1% and trips to other coun-tries were up 4.3% during the same period.

VEHICLE SALES Canadian seasonallyadjusted motor vehicles sales were up 3.7%to 145,496 units in July over the samemonth last year. By comparison, BritishColumbian sales were down 3.6% to 16,547units during the same period – the onlyprovince in Canada to report a decline.

VEHICLE SALES Canadian seasonallyadjusted motor vehicle sales were up 12.6%between June and July. By comparison,British Columbian motor vehicle sales wereup 22.2% during the same period – thehighest increase in the country.

WHOLESALE TRADE Canadian whole-sale trade was up 1.1% to $36.2 billionbetween June and July. By comparison,British Columbian wholesale trade was up1.0% to $3.4 billion during the same period.

WHOLESALE TRADE Canadian whole-sale trade was up 3.7% between July 2002and July 2003. By comparison, BritishColumbian wholesale trade was up 2.3%during the same period.

continued from page 17Statwatch

COMPANY 19-SEPT CLOSE 26-SEPT CLOSE CHANGE

Acetex 5.40 5.25 -0.15

Ainsworth Lumber 7.606.75 7.05 -0.55

Allied Hotel Properties 0.31 0.31 0

B.C. Gas 44.50 44.40 -0.10

Canfor 10.67 9.90 -0.77

Creo 14.55 13.98 -0.57

Doman Industries 0.35 0.35 0

Finning International 32.69 31.90 -0.79

Great Canadian Gaming 12.90 13.05 0.15

International Forest Products 5.65 5.10 -0.55

Intrawest 18.35 19.00 0.65

Lionsgate Entertainment 4.24 3.98 -0.26

MacDonald Dettwiler & Assoc. 21.59 21.49 -0.10

Methanex 13.14 12.60 -0.54

Norske Skog Canada 4.09 3.75 -0.34

Placer Dome 19.03 17.85 -1.18

PMC-Sierra 14.12 12.88 -1.24

Riverside Forest Products 12.86 12.75 -0.11

Slocan Forest Products 9.10 8.75 -0.35

The Spectra Group 0.85 0.85 0

Teck Cominco 17.95 17.75 -0.20

Telus 25.10 24.60 -0.50

TimberWest Forest 12.15 11.79 -0.36

West Fraser Timber 35.50 35.99 0.49

Westcoast Energy 25.19 25.16 -0.03

The threat of a strike drove forest companystocks down last week. The hardest hit wasInternational Forest Prodcts Ltd., which

Public Eye magazine’s Stockwatch tracksmarket numbers for the province’s majorpublic companies and employers.

saw its value drop 9.7 percent. Even CanforCorp., which recently received a strong buyrating from one analyst, took a hit, falling7.2 percent. On the upside, there was none.Most other B.C. stocks remained in neutralor negative territory.

All company stocks displayed as listed on the TSE except Great Canadian Gaming(CDNX) and PMC-Sierra (NASDAQ)

1 9


Leadership debate

continued from page 5also showed tonight – and this is entirelysubjective on my part. But he seems to bethe only person that has genuine passionabout what he says. When he talks aboutbeing a New Democrat, he seems really sin-cere about that. To me, if New Democratsare looking at somebody who representsthe past and social values and TommyDouglas and the Regina Manifesto, Krog isyour guy. If you also want someone who’squick witted and very intelligent, he fillsthat bill too. The only difficult is, his intel-ligence and cleverness gets him in trouble.Sometimes he’s a step ahead of the audi-ence. And you wonder if the audience does-n’t feel sometimes that he’s not connectingwith him. I think he connects with themmost of the time. But then there’s a clangerin there where the audience looks at oneanother and says, “Did he really say that?”

PUBLIC EYE So when it comes to Krog:same as the first performance and basical-ly good.

WILL MCARTIN Yeah. I don’t think he’slost any ground in these debates. If this isthe performance he’s given in all 12debates, he has somehow become the safechoice. There’s 12,000 members of theNDP. And you have to think that if they’relong-time, dyed-in-the-wool NewDemocrats, then they must feel pretty safethat Leonard Krog shares all their values.Leonard Krog is not talking about takingthe NDP in a new direction by any means.This is a reaffirmation of traditional val-ues. And when I say a safe choice, not onlydo you get a reaffirmation of values but youalso get a smart bright guy who, in a battleof wits against Gordon Campbell, has abetter then even chance of winning.

PUBLIC EYE Anything to report onOrcherton?

WILL MCMARTIN He exceeded myexpectations at the first debate. And I was-n’t expecting much. I got the same thingtonight. I wasn’t expecting much and that’swhat I got. He’s capable. Again, he clearlyknows his audience. He knows the con-stituency he wants to represent. And that’slabour. To hear him tell it – and he’s veryconsistent – the NDP lost the faith of the

party rank-and-file and B.C. voters bysomehow, in the Glen Clark years, turningto the mushy-middle. And I don’t know ifanyone outside the Orcherton householdwould make that analysis. Most peoplethink the NDP was reduced to two seats fora myriad of factors. But being mushy mod-erates was not one of them. That diagnosismay resonate with blue collar union people.It may resonate with old-time constituen-cies in the NDP. But I do think he’s tryingto appeal to a very limited base. And I don’tthink he has any growth potential after thefirst ballot Whatever he gets on the firstballot is it.

PUBLIC EYE And what about the othercandidates?

WILL MCMARTIN Medhi and Dimitrov –once you’ve seen their sticht, it’s the same-old sticht. And Dimitrov made a coupleboneheaded comments that had peoplerolling their eyes.

PUBLIC EYE You can’t just say that andnot explain what those were.

WILL MCMARTIN Well, I don’t knowhow to translate this one, but he was com-paring himself to a tough, old owl whowould fight Gordon Campbell. And I thinkthe image of an owl fighting GordonCampbell was something that escapedmost people, including the candidate.Although, he looked kind of like an owl.Maybe his childhood was spent as an owl?And the second one was where he stereo-typed men and women, which you don’t doin the NDP. He was saying that his candi-dacy and leadership would bring out thebest of the masculine qualities – which istoughness and perseverance – and then allthe female qualities – which is compassionand whatever. And I was out in the back ofthe hall. And all the people who were outthere just looked at each other and gasped.It was so bizarre. And there’s the possibili-ty that Dimitrov – who’s not a stupid guy –may finish last. It’s going to be a battle ofthe also rans.

PUBLIC EYE So what’s your overall senseof the race now?

WILL MCMARTIN Well, I would have tosay that, based on tonight’s performance, Ihave to say that Keating has dropped out ofmy top three. What a disappointment.Doesn’t seem to have any growth.

Buried storiescontinued from page 11

that might boost Liberal support on theIsland.

In addition, the Ipsos-Reid results con-tinue to identify Premier Gordon Campbellas the one potential chink in the Liberalwar machine’s armour. Fifty nine percentdisapprove of his performance as premier.And that’s more than a little surprisinggiven the enormous amount of positivepress Premier Campbell managed to earnthis summer.

After all, this was the man who wonVancouver the 2010 Winter Olympics. Thiswas the man who reversed the govern-


Krog has solidified his frontrunner sta-tus I guess. And you have to say that Jamesis a manufactured candidate. And she has asuperficiality about her. She’s a candidate.She’s not a leader, an experienced politi-cian or a policy-wonk. I don’t think shethinks quickly on her feet – primarilybecause I don’t get the sense she has agreat deal of knowledge. What she has is abunch of stock phrases and lines which sherepeats with a great deal of passion – farmore passion tonight then when she was inthe first debate.

But again, when she’s finished, it’s likethe switch goes off. She slumps in chair.And she gazes at the ceiling. I don’t knowwhat that means! I’ve never seen a candi-date totally disengaged with the audience.There was no eye contact. There was nolooking at the other candidates. It was like,“I’m finished. And now I can rest until I’masked another question again.” It was oneof the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen.

And you’ve got to think there’s anotherperson who will make it a threesome. Andit’s between Orcherton and Jensen I sup-pose. It looks like Krog and James aregoing to duke it out. I mean, I talked to afew people tonight who were there from theB.C. Fed(eration of Labour) and it lookslike people are sitting on their hands.CUPE is probably behind James. Maybethe GEU too. I don’t know for sure. Andthere’s a few other people who are lookingaround. But there’s been no overwhelmingcommitment from the Fed to a single enti-ty. And nothing major by any of the otherbig unions. So this thing is still a long wayfrom being decided.

2 0


“We look at overtime as a penalty,” saysMr. Oram. “The employer looks at it astheir God-given right to actually work peo-ple long hours and not really compensatethem. The point is, most people don’t wantto work overtime. If I’m working on a 12-hour day, the last thing I want is work 18.And when I’m working an eight-hour day,it takes me 40 minutes to drive back home.And the last thing I want to do is continueputting in time worked for these guys andgive up my entire life for them. So it’s apenalty. And they seem to think its somesort of bonus.”

Add that together with a reduction indirty money and travel time and a proposalto have employee pension plans determinedby the type of work they do, and the ferryservice could have a significant fight on itshands – or not. Union president JackieMiller ran under a platform that promisedno-concession bargaining. And that prom-ise is what got her elected. But, when pushcomes to shove, Ms. Miller may be morewilling to live up to that commitment thenthe union members who voted her intooffice.

Mr. Oram points out that, “When I start-ed (working for the ferries) in 1971, therewas no collective agreement, there was noright to strike and there was no grievanceprocedure. We were a bunch of young fel-lows who were 21, 22 and 25. So here youhave these low-paid, badly-treated, testos-terone-loaded bunch of young men with nomortgages and no families and guess what?These are a terrific group of people to hitthe bricks.”

“Fast-forward 30 years and our averagepopulation is 47-years-of-age, they’ve allgot mortgages and they’ve all got kids. And

if they don’t have mortgages, those kids aregoing to university. They haven’t gone on areal strike in years. And they’ve got one ofthe best collective agreements on the coastthat pays for everything from soup to sand-wiches. So the conditions are very differentnow then they were 30 years ago. And thenotion that we’ll somehow end up going onstrike and toppling the government is juststupid.”

And, based on the company’s openingoffer, the ferry service has already figuredthat out

continued from page 3Bargaining

Buried storiescontinued from page 21

ment’s decision to lease the Coquihalla.And then came the forest fires – a devastat-ing catastrophe which had Mr. Campbelljumping out of helicopters, showing sincer-ity and actomg like a wartime leader (or asclose as a premier can get). And yet his per-sonal approval rating is still in the toilet.

A well-placed Liberal insider predictsthat will change, noting “over the next two-and-a-half years, Campbell will take a lead-ership position on the national stage withPaul Martin, the new prime minister,which will have people saying, ‘Maybe hecan do some important things to improvefederal-provincial relations.’ And, duringthis next cabinet shuffle, people may besaying, ‘Interesting. He really made somereally bold moves. Obviously, he must havethe confidence of the people he’s moving inand not feel that he’s going to create insur-mountable problems if he moves someoneout.” And those leadership-oozing meas-ures will help the premier boost hisapproval rating (in theory).

But even if that doesn’t happen, it’s dif-ficult to tell how much of a problem Mr.Campbell personal popularity will be forthe provincial government. “I think thetruth of the matter is, Gordon Campbellhas never had a comfortable relationshipwith the media which project him to thegeneral public,” says Mr. Adair. “Now, thatbeing said, I think he’s fulfilled a fairly use-ful role for the B.C. Liberals. He can with-stand the brunt of criticism but, as the pollsindicate, the popularity of the party ismaintained. It’s something (former BritishPrime Minister) Margaret Thatcher did.People who liked Thatcher loved her. Butthere was lot of people who didn’t likeThatcher. But they kept voting her partyinto government.”

But history lessons won’t stop NewDemocrats from trying to take advantage ofMr. Campbell’s popularity numbers tobring the Liberal giant down. According tocommunications consultant Bill Tieleman,who is supporting front-running party lead-ership candidate Leonard Krog, “In 96, wetattooed (Mr. Campbell with a negativeimage) while he sat still for it. And wepainted him into a pretty good corner. Asmuch as I don’t like negative politics, youhave to go after the weakest link. And he’sthe weakest link. So I would presume that,after this (New Democrat) leadership con-

vention, the new leader will put a prettyheavy emphasis on Campbell’s politics.”

However, former New Democrat presssecretary Adrian Dix isn’t sure that’s agood idea. “I think there’s an argumentthat (the New Democrats) shouldn’t neces-sarily run a strongly negative campaign. Ifthey show themselves to be credible, com-fortable and happy in their skin, thenthey’re going to do well.”

But if that acutally happens, it certainlywon’t be “Same old, same old” in B.C. poli-tics.”

Documents

September 29, 2003 FERRY SERVICE LABOUR NEGOTIATIONS …€¦ · increase annual hours for full-timers to 2088 from 1827. That will allow the compa-ny to function with fewer staff