Friday, October 17, 2008
Headlines we need to see
KROG BLASTS CAMPBELL GOVERNMENT FOR FAILING TO CO-OPERATE IN BC RAIL CASE
Leonard Krog, as Opposition justice critic, knows that certain added bonuses will automatically go to CN at the 5-year anniversary on July 12, 2009. It's important for the public to know what that's about and whether we approve or not ... but the problem is: the deal is still secret. The trial will open these documents. Krog knows that the government and/or the Special Prosecutor have a few other documents necessary to the Defence team. He is the logical person to stand up and speak for the people of B.C., demanding that the Crown and/or the Campbell government do their part to get the BC Rail trial moving.
See: Hansard Debates
February 28, 2007 - Afternoon sitting
Volume 15, Number 3
Oral Questions
CALL FOR PUBLIC INQUIRY
INTO SALE OF B.C. RAIL
L. Krog: Yesterday the Attorney General refused to answer questions about the role his government played in the B.C. Rail scandal investigation. We know that there were leaks of confidential commercial information. We know that the Roberts Bank spur line deal was cancelled and taxpayer dollars were wasted. We know that criminal charges have been laid against B.C. Liberal political staffers. We know that the B.C. Liberals took massive political donations from CN. We know that several cabinet ministers sat on the committee charged with overseeing negotiations, but now none of those cabinet ministers will talk about their role and what they knew.
Will the Attorney General commit today to hold a public inquiry into the sell-off of B.C. Rail as soon as the criminal proceedings conclude so that B.C. taxpayers can finally get the answers they deserve?
Hon. W. Oppal: I'll reiterate the advice given to us by the special prosecutor through the Deputy Attorney General, and that is: it is not appropriate to comment publicly on any allegations made in this case that is before the court.
As a former judge of the Supreme Court, I can tell you, the members of this House, that there is a very grave danger of prejudice to a fair trial by continually discussing this issue, and the member there well knows that. The member who asked that question is a member of the bar, and he should know better than to ask that question.
Mr. Speaker: Before we continue, Member, yesterday the member for Malahat–Juan de Fuca was advised of the sub judice of the proceedings which are taking place, so I am going to advise you of the same.
Member continues with a supplemental.
L. Krog: Yes, thank you, hon. Speaker. I won't ask the question directly, but I will say, through you to the Attorney General, that this is a situation that cries out for a public inquiry. The taxpayers of British Columbia deserve a public inquiry, and I am again asking the Attorney General to commit to this House that as soon as the criminal proceedings are concluded, there will be a public inquiry held so that B.C. taxpayers get the answers they deserve about this matter.
Hon. W. Oppal: It would be totally inappropriate for me to comment and speculate as to what may take place in the future after a trial.
Mr. Speaker: Member for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant. Is this a new line of questioning?
J. Kwan: It's a question for the Premier.
Mr. Speaker: Continue.
J. Kwan: I am sorry to hear that the Attorney General doesn't understand that a public inquiry into this matter is essential for everyone in British Columbia.
Mr. Speaker: Member, we have to be very careful where we're going here. I think, with the advice of the Attorney General, that we have to be very, very careful, and I'm advising you once again.
Continue.
J. Kwan: I fully understand that. My question is not about the court case. My question to the Premier is: will the Premier not show some leadership? Will he not commit to a full public inquiry after the court case into the B.C. Rail scandal? Or does the issue or the principle of double standard apply, and that trumps public interest?
Mr. Speaker: Member, this is the same line of questioning. I think we have to take a certain amount of advice from the Attorney General, in the fact that he was a Supreme Court judge and in the fact of where we're going. We can't go down the same line of questioning, because we are in an area that I think is going to cause some grief, as the Attorney General has said.
Does the member have something different that doesn't infer anything to do with the court case?
M. Farnworth: To the Premier: will he call a public inquiry, once all court cases and proceedings are over, into this matter?
Mr. Speaker: Next question.
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Another headline I'd like to see:
LEONARD KROG LIGHTS BONFIRE UNDER BC CABINET, DEMANDING ACTION ON THE BASI-VIRK / BC RAIL CASE
Dream story: Leonard Krog is dedicating his remaining months in the Legislature to demanding that the Campbell Government supply the documents requested by the Defence lawyers. On behalf of the people of B.C., Krog will passionately demand that they stop stalling and get the trial into action. He will travel every corner of B.C., and at every opportunity, will tell citizens the awful truth.
See YouTube - MLAs Scott Fraser & Leonard Krog on the BC Rail
Scandal
21 Jul 2008 ... MLA Scott Fraser along with MLA Leonard Krog discuss the latest on the Basi/Virk BC Rail scandal, in light of the attempted cover up by the ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIbF4J5impc - 59k -
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One more dream headline ...
BC RAIL TRIAL BEGINS
Grateful Province celebrates Leonard Krog Day
Why not?
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Or (just kidding) ...
BASI SPILLS BEANS, COOKS CAMPBELL'S GOOSE
In which Dave Basi goes back through his busy schedule and tells everything he knows about BC Rail from the day he was hired by Gary Collins. Go Basi go! And he does. He tells us whose big fat idea it was, to sell BCRail. Basi explains how the premier thought it was OK to double-cross the voters who believed him when he said "Elect me and I will never sell BC Rail." How did he work that one out, Dave?
Basi tells us how BC's railway sale was offered ... Who directed the search for buyers ... Who set the terms ... What reason Basi had for arranging his boss' dinner at Vila del Luppa with a prospective buyer. Basi admits that Collins did offer Omnitrax a Consolation Prize (i.e., Roberts Bank). Ha. Then Basi carefully explains why it was necessary to keep the final BCR agreement secret. And lots, lots more.
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The following story would list the charges including Theft over 5 Billion Dollars, Fraud, and Obstruction of Justice and the article would be accompanied by a photograph of the principles in cuffs doing the "perp walk!" The story would go on to explain that the prosecution was planning to delay the trial for at least ten years to ensure complete discovery of evidence, while the accused were to held, without bail, in an outdoor enclosure in Beacon Hill Park, without the benefit of using tents.
PREMIER CAMPBELL TO TESTIFY AT BC RAIL TRAIL
Reaction from Campbell administration insider Berardino:
Special Prosecutor Bill Berardino moves to prevent the Premier from testifying....
: October 18, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. Dream headline and story
Carol James committed to inquiry
Carole James begins her campaign early with a commitment to start a full inquiry into the BC Rail scandal on the first day after the NDP is elected. James also committed to bring in outside jurisdictions including the US authorities to conduct the all-encompassing effort to unravel the truth about the raid on the legislature. James said there would be no rock unturned and the inquiry will have full powers to lay charges against anyone involved in unlawful acts. When asked how deep this inquiry will go, James said that all parties will be interviewed including the priemer, caucus (past and present), government staff (past and present), prosecutors and judges (past and present), rcmp members involved from the top down, all lobbing companies involved, the companies involved with the sale, and anyone else that might scurry out from beneath those rocks. It looks like Carole James is informing the public that the NDP is ready and willing to clean up the corruption in government.
Premiere Gordon Campbell could not be reached for comment as he is on vacation in Hawaii. But a spokesman for the premieres office said that even if the premier was in the country he could not comment because it’s before the courts.
The voters may be the ones to decide if corruption is eliminated or not.
: October 18, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. Thanks for the laughter, Koot ... oh, sorry, you say you were dead serious? Oh.
OK, then, here's another one which I feel is a seriously good idea:
BASI SPILLS BEANS!
And the story would begin with his Day Book scheduling ... well, you know. One damn thing after another. The way I see it, if Big Basi (not Little Basi) would explain what happened, it would be his ticket back into a normal life. And BC might finally get a handle on what went wrong with BC Rail.
.
First on the Agenda: is a public Enquiry into the BC Liberal's secret billion dollar sale of BC Rail to major donors to their party.
: October 18, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. PREMIER CAMPBELL RESIGNS TODAY
Says he wants to spend more time with his ... um, errr ... family. In South America.
.
: October 18, 2008 at 8:05 p.m. Unfortunately, in our world, ruled by criminal organizations, he does seem to have a deal with the prosecution, only it is upside down and backwards, where he is rewarded if he co-operates with the obstruction of justice, or so it seems to this observer.
How does a guy raise a family and live in middle class comfort at the least, under the cloud of this type of criminal charges for so many years? Many educated people can't find suitable employment with a clean record. Can a guy get a job (requiring any kind of trust/bonding) when charged with this kind of criminal offense, or is he working in agriculture or a sawmill (hah, nobody works in a sawmill on the Island anymore, do they)? No one would want someone accused of bribery etc handling money or business, would they?
I didn't notice him being rousted for trying to live in a tent in Beacon Hill Park! How can I forget Gary Mason's description of the Basi's seemingly comfortable and cozy buccolic lifestyle, laying around with the wife late in the morning in upscale digs?
It would seem to me he must be getting paid for his efforts/silence and who pays his gold plated legal team - legal aid? I would gladly say nothing to nobody about anything if I could live in comfort with my own team of lawyers provided for anything requiring counsel. Nice work, if you can get it!
Unfortunately, in our world, ruled by criminal organizations, he does seem to have a deal with the prosecution, only it is upside down and backwards, where he is rewarded if he co-operates with the obstruction of justice, or so it seems to this observer.
How does a guy raise a family and live in middle class comfort at the least, under the cloud of this type of criminal charges for so many years? Many educated people can't find suitable employment with a clean record. Can a guy get a job (requiring any kind of trust/bonding) when charged with this kind of criminal offense, or is he working in agriculture or a sawmill (hah, nobody works in a sawmill on the Island anymore, do they)? No one would want someone accused of bribery etc handling money or business, would they?
I didn't notice him being rousted for trying to live in a tent in Beacon Hill Park! How can I forget Gary Mason's description of the Basi's seemingly comfortable and cozy buccolic lifestyle, laying around with the wife late in the morning in upscale digs?
It would seem to me he must be getting paid for his efforts/silence and who pays his gold plated legal team - legal aid? I would gladly say nothing to nobody about anything if I could live in comfort with my own team of lawyers provided for anything requiring counsel. Nice work, if you can get it!
"Upon the advice of my trusted campaign manager who has been inundated with a need to come clean on his alledged failures to register as a lobbyist, in a timely manner, the latest incursion being paid to act on behalf of Ottawa-based Treadscapes Development Inc..
Let me make this perfectly clear, at no time did he act as a negotiator in a deal between a developer and the Highways Department of the BC Liberal government where they required us to remove the Coquihalla toll booth plaza so that a massive all-season resort featuring downhill skiing, an 18-hole golf course, and 3,300 dwellings near the former Coquihalla Highway toll plaza be consumated, even though environmental concerns were raised about the endangered Coldwater River system.
We removed the toll plaza because the cost of the Coquihalla highway has been fully paid for by the public, give or take a $100,000 renovation (April 2008) and $300,000 to demolish (October 2008)."
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: October 18, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. << Home
