Auditor General John Doyle stated they are creating; "the appearance of profitability where none exists ... they are creating a burden on ratepayers in the future"

BC Hydro and smart meters are back in the news again.  It has always been my belief that the main reason for smart meters being pushed on us by government had little to do with saving energy; instead the push was to have an increased revenue source. 

After all, the BC government does drain revenues, from BC Hydro, which are then lost in a black hole called General Revenue.

To give what I believe is clarity to the push for Smart Meters, lets sandwich the comments of Energy Minister Rich Coleman (Surrey Leader) -- along with the words of a BC Hydro Media Advisor (Kamloops Daily News) ... and those of a Corix employee (Kamloops Daily News) -- between two news stories from the CBC in 2011:

CBC NEWS -- Oct 27th, 2011

B.C.’s auditor general says BC Hydro has deferred $2.2 billion in current expenses that he says sooner or later, Hydro customers will have to pay for.

 

SURREY LEADER -- January 31st, 2013
Energy Minister Rich Coleman says smart meters won't be forced into homes over the next few months but he denied reports the province has reversed its policy and will let objectors opt out of having the wireless devices.  "We're going back to talk to our customers ... We'll not force any customer to take a meter."

 

KAMLOOPS DAILY NEWS -- February 1st, 2013
... after Liberals Rich Coleman and Gordon Hogg said meter opponents won’t be required to take the devices — a Corix employee showed up at Wendy Johnson’s Oak Hills home and insisted smart meters are being ordered for all B.C. homes.

“He said ‘Ma’am, we’ve been ordered to put meters on every house.’ He turned around and put on the meter,” Johnson said.

Ever vigilant to comments I make on social media, about his government, Kamloops South BC Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger was there to respond

BC Premier Christy Clark - Families First?

With regards to the pathetically partisan / self congratulatory advertising the BC Liberal government is running, using $15 million of our tax dollars. While the following, from the Competition Act applies to businesses only, it is the spirit of what is written in to the act that is of interest to me.  It is also something the BC Liberal Party brass has never given a second thought, or concern about.

False or Misleading Representations:
The Competition Act provides criminal and civil regimes to address false or misleading representations. Section 52 of the Act is a criminal provision.

It prohibits knowingly or recklessly making, or permitting the making of, a representation to the public, in any form whatever, that is false or misleading in a material respect.

I wonder if they have ALSO read this section?

False or Misleading Representations:
Paragraph 74.01(1)(a) of the Act is a civil provision. It prohibits the making, or the permitting of the making, of a representation to the public, in any form whatever, that is false or misleading in a material respect.

Ever vigilant to comments I make on social media, about his government, Kamloops South BC Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger was there to respond:

Kevin Krueger:  Have you been to the web-site which the ads refer job-seekers to? Probably not. Do you know or care that the B.C. Liberals have built an economy which has added hundreds of thousands of jobs for British Columbians? Or that we have vastly ramped up skills training in B.C.?

Alan Forseth:  Yes I have actually been there Kevin --- and there is much self-congratulatory rhetoric there ... along with of course useful and helpful information.

Where I have the biggest issue is the out and out lies being told about the fiscal record of this current government --- its tax policies that have negatively impacted and affected middle-class families struggling to make ends meet -- and the impossibility (given ever-rising annual deficits) that it can possibly deliver a balanced budget next year.

This has been the worst partisan advertising -- rivaling even that done by the NDP in the dying days of their government -- and to ad insult to injury, its is we that taxpayers who are funding this BS advertising.

Shame on your government!

Kevin Krueger: Your continual disparaging of British Columbia's economic success is false and destructive. Name a non-socialist economist in Canada who agrees with you! We have the lowest income taxes in Canada, and with Alberta, the most robust economy in the country, which is world-leading. Ontario is running a $14 billion deficit this year; B.C.'s deficit will be eliminated on March 31. Most western countries are running deficits, Al. You should stop your fear mongering and deception.

Alan Forseth:  On this we will just have to agree to disagree Kevin ...

I am part of the shrinking middle class that continues to see nothing but increased government costs whittling away at resources that should instead be used for not just necessities, but even a little entertainment and relaxation. Those things, for low and middle class British Columbian's, are getting harder and harder to do, under the BC Liberal watch.

Things that BC Liberal MLA Terry Lake hopes you won't become aware of --- BC Liberals backroom manipulators remain hopeful as well

Today Kamloops North Thompson  BC Liberal MLA Terry Lake is quoted as saying; "What we do see is, as we get closer to election, is that people are understanding what the BC Conservatives are all about ... "

MY hope is that people do indeed fully understand what the BC Conservatives are all about ... what we stand for ... and what we hope to bring to the political stage in British Columbia.  They are the things that Terry Lake hopes you won't become aware of --- and BC Liberals backroom manipulators hope that remains the same.          

That's because BC Conservative beliefs, principles and policies are totally opposite to how the BC Liberals have in reality governed:

BC Conservatives believe in clearly defined public policies and programs that are affordable and effective and for which delivery is accountable to all the people of British Columbia.  We are entitled to full knowledge of services rendered and their costs

BC Conservatives believe in managing the government to the highest standards of integrity and transparency

BC Conservatives believe that governments at all levels are responsible to serve and respect all individuals and their families

BC Conservatives believe that Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA's) are primarily responsible to represent the interests of their Constituents

BC Conservatives believe in a rigorous system of law and order focusing on the rights of victims and the protection of the public

And BC Conservatives believe in smaller government resulting in more liberty and personal property rights, the encouragement of new enterprise and individual achievement striving towards excellence and prosperity

MEANTIME ... what would be our "understanding" of how BC Liberals do things?

With BC Liberals we have had cost over-runs on a number of projects ... the BC Liberal government has raised rates on the Medical Services Plan ... while managers and CEO's of government agencies and crown corporation have given themselves raises and bonuses, rates for ICBC, BC Ferries, and BC Hydro have all been jacked up.  WHY?

Remember that the BC government was going to will allow for naming rights to BC Place Stadium; Telus put in a bid for tens of millions of dollars and then the government rejected it.  WHY? 

Auditor General John Doyle holds the BC Liberals to account for spending waste -- then all of a sudden he is not going to have his contract renewed -- then he is -- then maybe he will be.  WHY? 

This government continues to stagger to the finish line of this electoral term --- and only a miracle will see them win re-election for another term

On February 26th, 2011, Christy Clark was elected leader of the BC Liberal Party, making her Premier of the province ... she was then sworn in as British Columbia's 35th Premier on March 14th, 2011 ...

On May 12th, 2011 she was elected MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey MLA in a by-election ... and on May 30th, 2011 Christy Clark then took her legislative seat as MLA ...

SO ... how many days has the government she leads conducted the people business in the legislature since then?

Dome of the BC Legislature in Victoria

Between April 27th, 2011 and June 2nd, 2011 Christy Clark had the government in session for 20 days ... between October 4th, 2011 and November 24th, 2011 the legislature was in session for 23 days ... and ... between February 14th, 2012 and May 31st, 2012 the government was in session for another 48 days.

Since Christy Clark was elected as the leader of the BC Liberal Party -- and therefore the Premier of the province of British Columbia -- the legislature has been in session a total of 91 days. 

That's just three months.

Christy Clark has been premier for 21 and a half months; government has been in the legislature, doing the peoples business, for just 3 of them.

Given events of the past few weeks with controversy over whether Auditor General John Doyle would be given a second term ... the erratic spending of 10's of thousand of dollars on a constituency office by BC Liberal MLA Eric Foster in Vernon - Monashee ... and the complete mishandling, by the Liberals, of whether BC Liberal MLA John Slater was to have the opportunity to run again for the party ... I'm not surprised its only been 90 days.

This government continues to stagger to the finish line of this electoral term --- and only a miracle will see them win re-election for another term.

A decade of government under the NDP saw reckless spending and numerous scandals. And a decade of government under the BC Liberals has really seen much the same.

Now the question is; will the people of BC turn to, and consider, the option of electing a BC Conservative government led by John Cummins?

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops ... with the thoughts, and questions, of one conservative. 

PLATO: “In a city of good men, people would probably vie with each other in order not to rule.”

PLATO: "In a city of good men, people would
probably vie with each other not to rule"

It's interesting to see the top search that are directing traffic to the Conservative Thoughts blog.  Four of them of course are on the latest trouble for the BC Liberals with FosterGate  and Auditor General John Doyle in the news -- and the one of direct interest to people here in Kamloops with Peter Sharp seeking BC Conservative nomination in the South Thompson riding.

#5  eric foster
#4  BC Liberals
#3  auditor general 2013 john doyle
#2  peter sharp kamloops

and the #1 search phrase is; eric foster constituency assistant

In the case of BC Liberal Vernon - Monashee MLA Eric Foster, his participation, and role in John Doyle not being renewed for another term in his role as Auditor General, is going to be in the news for some time.

Today, BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins had more to ask about the situation.  Here is just part of a news release from the BC Conservative Party today:

Why did renovations in 2009 to BC Liberal MLA Eric Foster's Vernon constituency office cost B.C. taxpayers almost half the assessed value of the land and building combined? John Cummins, leader of the BC Conservatives, asked today.

Cummins also questioned whether Foster knew that the building was owned by the family of a long-time BC Liberal financial donor -- and political appointee to the Agricultural Land Commission.

"We all know of Mr. Foster's recent bad judgement when he continued as chair of the special legislative committee which terminated the appointment of John Doyle as Auditor General, after Mr. Doyle had critically examined renovation expenses at Mr. Foster's constituency office," said Cummins.

A Globe and Mail story on Monday included this quote; it seems a fitting way to wrap this up today.  This story ended with:
Plato had it right: He said that the greatest punishment for being unwilling to rule is being ruled by someone worse than oneself. This is what makes people of good character step forward. “In a city of good men,” Plato mused, people would “probably vie with each other in order not to rule.”

I'm Alan Forseth ... in Kamloops

Foster’s excuse, that he “didn’t know” about the letter, would then seem questionable would it not?

BC Liberal MLA Eric Foster; "I didn't know"

Let's look at this a little more closely:

In the news story ... "Auditor general cited chair of committee seeking to replace him - John Doyle raised concerns over $78,000 renovation of Liberal MLA’s constituency office" ... Eric Fosters says that when the issue over his Constituency Association office came up again in October, he (Foster) said he, "... re-sent the conflict commissioner’s letter to legislative staff."

Here's a rather interesting observation, that perhaps BC Liberal MLA Eric Foster would like to give us clarity on:

The timeline doesn’t make sense.  Why would he resubmit his same info again in October, if he wasn’t aware of the letter that would have been part of the AG’s recommendations?

Here's another observation, and MLA Foster is welcome to correct me if I am wrong in my thinking on this:

I would think that when attending committee meetings, the attending members would NOT see material simply dumped in their laps when they arrive.  Would it not be safe to believe that any material, to be discussed, would always be sent out beforehand.  That way, committee members would have the time to give the material they are discussing, careful and thoughtful consideration. 

They WOULD want to look it over beforehand, and come prepared ... wouldn't they??

Foster’s excuse, that he “didn’t know” about the letter, would then seem to be questionable.

Shouldn't his office have received the material beforehand?

I sure hope that in the interest of good decisions being made by our elected officials, there is indeed consideration of important information to be decided on, ahead of meetings where those decisions are being made.

All of that then, calls in to question what BC Liberal MLA Eric Foster did know ... and when.

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts, and more questions, of one conservative.

Questions -- Questions -- and MORE QUESTIONS about BC Liberal MLA Eric Foster, and the decision NOT to reappoint Auditor General John Doyle

Here's what Victoria Times Colonist writer Les Leyne says, "Liberal MLA Eric Foster is clear on one point — he had no idea while sitting in judgment on auditor general John Doyle’s fate that Doyle’s team had rapped his office earlier for not submitting receipts for a constituency-office renovation." 

OH REALLY??

Eric Foster’s Constituency office in Vernon seems to be pretty basic and very small -- as you can see from this screen shot of Google street level.  Now I'm no carpenter, but one would think that $78,000, or is it $67,000, would practically build a brand new building of this type. 

That's probably one reason why Auditor General John Doyle's office sent up red flags, and:

" ... questioned a $78,000 bill for renovations in Foster’s constituency office in 2009 that was “paid without an appropriate level of review for reasonableness and without adequate supporting documentation,” said the letter.  Foster’s staff only provided a spreadsheet showing $67,000 in work, without invoices or details, auditors noted."

It would seem that Eric is acting like a cornered rat, and acting on the old adage that the best defense is a good offense as we can see in a Globe and Mail story; "MLA Eric Foster demands probe into audit leak"

It is interesting (sadly perhaps) that he’s claiming the renovation expenditures are a “non-issue.”

Maybe that's also why Finance Minister Mike de Jong offered a boat anchor to his caucus colleague.  This news story from the Globe and Mail also says the De Jong had;

... little sympathy, saying the public should have access to details of how MLAs spend public money. “I have long spoken for the need for more transparency and increased public accountability for the dollars that are spent by MLAs and cabinet ministers,”

Again ... Liberal MLA Eric Fosters claims the renovation expenditures are a “non-issue.” 

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK? 

He certainly hasn’t substantiated that beyond a sloppy spreadsheet.  According to Les Leyne’s second op-ed, “sources say” that receipts were eventually submitted, but I’d sure like to see them.  I think BC voters also deserve to see them.

A government isn’t open and accountable by saying they are … they are open and accountable through their actions

Have you ever heard of the Labour, Citizen’s Services and Open Government Ministry?  I doubt many have --- it is a rather weird and bizarre grouping to put together don’t you think?

Regardless, it’s the Open Government portion of the name that interests me, and if you go to the Ministry’s website, you’ll find the following:

Information Access Operations service mandate is:

“To lead and deliver optimal services on behalf of the Province of British Columbia, in fulfilling the obligations under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA); the Document Disposal Act (DDA) and the Core Policy and Procedures Manual (CPPM) Chapter 12 for the management of records within the provincial government’s control and/or custody. The IAO is committed to fostering strong, meaningful relationships and offering innovative services to its beneficiaries while exemplifying transparency and accountability”.

I added the underlining to the above quote from their website, including the last four words … “exemplifying transparency and accountability’

Isn’t it rather curious for Christy Clark’s BC Liberals to use that selection of words, to talk about being ‘open’ … ‘transparent’ … and ‘accountable’? 

Perhaps, more accurately, words to describe how this government operates should instead by … Hypocrisy … Insincerity … Disingenuous … and Misleading come to mind.

This is not the individual back-bench MLA’s who are part of Christy Clark’s government … NO … this is the Cabinet Ministers, the Premiers Office … and the Premier herself who dictate this is how our provincial government operates.

Harsh words, perhaps, but fitting I believe.

BC POLITICS … the week that just was

Christmas is fast approaching … but before it does, I will still have one more week, maybe two, of political stories that made the news in BC.  Let’s jump right in starting with more news of John Martins bid to be the BC Conservative candidate in Chilliwack Hope …

Good to see John Martin running (Letter to Editor)

… one only has to view … the Legislature to become repulsed with this Christy Clark government (I believe that the recent decision of Barry Penner, who has a reputable reputation, acknowledged by all parties, was his intent to distance himself from it and resign). There is light in this sordid tunnel of two traditional parties each …  involved in corruption, dishonesty, lack of integrity  … arrogance and denial

Justice system’s weak third leg

Auditor General John Doyle released his latest report on corrections … You have likely heard about the overflowing B.C. jail system, where even segregation inmates are now being doubled up … as Doyle’s report sets out, nine out of 10 convicted adult offenders aren’t in custody. They’re on house arrest or probation, many with court-ordered conditions to report their whereabouts, stay away from their victims, stay sober and complete various rehabilitation programs … many are violent … currently 24,000 of them, an all-time high … an increase of 28 per cent in the past six years.

Conservative leader calls for sped-up review process on Enbridge pipeline

… recommends that only Canadians should be allowed to testify at those hearings, not outside interest groups.  "Canadians should be heard, but these hearings cannot go on indefinitely. Most importantly no one group or community should have a veto on the development of a project that is so important to British Columbia … stated he appreciates the concerns of local communities, and that stringent regulations must be in place to ensure the project “is done in an environmentally safe and secure manner … blasts the provincial Liberal government for not making its support of the project clear ...

The report Krog and Bond were referring to was just about future indemnity on legal costs

Are you old enough to remember the story of the little engine that could --- or have you seen the Walt Disney movie "Dumbo", where the work train is taking circus animals to the next town?   

Up the hill it goes saying … "I think I can … I think I can”.  Once to the top, it then heads down saying "I thought I could … I thought I could …”

I bring this up because the whole BC Rail and Basi / Virk Trial is rearing its ugly head again … and at the end of the day this may be a mantra that goes round and round in Christy Clarks head ... albeit with slightly different words.

I think I can … I think I can … keep the whole Basi / Virk mess hidden

I thought I could … I thought I could … keep the whole Basi / Virk mess hidden

How far back does this whole thing go?  Years … and years … AND YEARS. 

This Week in BC Politics … a News Wrap-up

Halloween is just around the corner … and as if right on time, there have been some scary stories coming out of Victoria, and in the news media regarding Christy Clark's BC Liberal party … about BC Hydro … and about the Teachers College.

Here are some of the stories that made the news this week … and that you may have missed.

Barinder Sall guilty plea bargain in Kash Heed election overspending case: $15,000 fine, 1 year probation, 200 hours community service, no jail time

BC Liberal MLA Kash Heed's 2009 election campaign manager Barinder Sall avoided a jail sentence Friday afternoon but was fined $15,000, put on one year's probation and ordered to perform 200 community service hours in the Vancouver-Fraserview election overspending case.  Sall admitted to six violations of the Elections Act in a guilty plea bargain deal that saw serious Criminal Code obstruction of justice charges dropped that could have seen him sentenced to up to ten years in jail …

Les Leyne: Wallace's words ring true, 40 years on

… he said: "There have been changes indeed in this chamber and ... the House should know that the change which I appreciate most lies in the fact that I now have a much easier time in caucus."  Jeered about switching teams, he said he'd be happy to let his constituents decide … after winning as a Socred with 52 per cent of the vote, he ran in Oak Bay as a Conservative and won 52 per cent of the vote again.  Back to his debut as a Conservative. Wallace said his new party's priority was to raise the standard of living for the poor, the sick, the disabled and those on fixed incomes….

BC Hydro Spend-Today, Pay-Tomorrow Ripped by Auditor General

Doyle is worried that BC Hydro is using American-style accounting practices to defer billions of dollars of debt to future years … neither the BC Government nor BC Hydro seems to have a plan to pay down those deferred costs.  Doyle says the government… is forcing BC Hydro further and further into red ink, and it will come back to haunt future rate payers …  BC Hydro is using smoke and mirrors to appear profitable, while actually pushing off costs into the future. This is extremely troubling …

BC Liberals imploding under Premier Christy Clark's leadership and fears of impending doom

… they fear the surging strength of BC Conservative leader John Cummins in traditionally safe seats, including in the Interior, Okanagan and North.  Cummins is now at 12 per cent, up two points since May …. Cummins is also creating a viable network of constituency associations and attracting former Reform Party Members of Parliament to his cause, with Jim Hart and Paul Forseth seeking nominations while Randy White chairs a key election committee.

Bits and Bits, from here and there, as we end this week

The following comments, from a city councilor in Northern BC, should be required reading for those seeking to represent us – at whatever level of government.

1) Being elected to represent citizens of ( XYZ ) is a privilege, not a right.
2) Even if I feel strong about it, what does the majority of ( XYZ ) think about it.

3) We work as a group to move the city forward, but were each elected for our own separate reasons.

From a CBC News story:

It’s not unusual for a politician to stroll through the halls of the B.C. legislature, but when it’s new B.C. Conservative party leader John Cummins, it turns a few heads.  Cummins, recently an MP and not yet elected as an MLA, was attending the first working day of the new legislative session as an observer.

"I think it was important to be here for the first couple of days," Cummins said.  The Conservatives have steadily grown in popular support since Cummins took the helm of the revived party in May.  "Everywhere we go, people are interested in what we have to say," Cummins said.

From BC Auditor General John Doyle’s summary report:

“My audit opinion for the 2010/11 fiscal year contains one audit reservation, indicating that the financial statements are not in compliance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This is one of the three audit reservations that featured in my 2009/10 opinion."

Oh ... but wait a minute … it does actually make sense after all.

How can anyone think that a having new Municipal Auditor General (MAG), imposed on municipalities by the provincial government, will be anything more than a way to deflect from the BC Liberal governments own poor management of taxpayer resources???

Kamloops city councilor John DeCicco was quoted in a Kamloops Daily News story saying, "It's going to be given to us whether we like it or not. The resolution is to disagree, but for the UBCM executive to work with the province on it ... concerns we had ... costs for small municipalities ... shouldn't be a burden."

He also indicated another big sticking point with the whole concept and idea; the related costs for this new position, and the costs to do the audits.

"Who's going to pay for it? It starts from the province, but it goes down to you and I”