Monday, May 10, 2010

 

4 years ago, we dared to ask

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Re-posted from May 30, 2006
Paul Martin, the Liberal Party and the Legislature Raids


Remember Paul Martin? Interesting, the way he's just fading away, as if he never really cared about politics. But he must have cared enormously, as the trial of Dave Basi and Bob Virk should reveal.

Paul Martin, our former Prime Minister, is fading away just like other prominent, upwardly mobile politicians have faded ... a deputy premier of B.C., a B.C. Attorney General, a B.C. Minister of Finance, a B.C. Minister of Transportation ... all of whom were ambitious politicians ... all of them dropping out of government suddenly ... then fading away.

Two of their ministerial aides dropped out, too, but that's easily explained. Their aides were arrested. They stand accused of criminal offences which appear to have arisen out of their day jobs in the B.C. Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transportation. They face charges of accepting a bribe, influence peddling, breach of trust, 2 counts of fraud and, for a while, drug trafficking and money laundering.

So presumably, it was after hours, after their day jobs, that Basi & Virk worked hard on behalf of Paul Martin. Extraordinarily hard. Why? Because they had dreams of joining Paul Martin in the Prime Minister's office.

But we already had Jean Chretien, a competent and popular Prime Minister. Not to worry, eh? Step One was to oust the sitting P.M.

The Basi Boys crow-barred elected Chretien cabinet ministers out of ridings and replaced them with Martin cabinet ministers. All but one B.C. riding was Martinized by expanding Federal Liberal memberships, using a system of block voting, from 4,000 Liberal Party members to 37,000 members in less than a year.

"it is hard not to conclude that the Federal Liberal Party is involved ... the Martin Campaign owes the people ... an explanation," said Greg Wilson, former Liberal Party Executive. "Literally ... 30,000 to 40,000 memberships @ $10 apiece have been sold in the last two years" -- a $300,000 to $400,000. cash boost -- "and we don't know where the cash came from." [Global TV News 31 Dec 03].

It's amazing, the things that happened "in the past 2 years," since the BC Liberals gave British Columbia a change of government. The 2-person Opposition raised questions in the Legislature, but were easily shouted down by the 77 Liberal members of government.

Federally, the Opposition MPs in the House of Commons rose to demand that Paul Martin "assure Canadians his leadership campaign wasn't financed partly by drug money" while another Opposition member called for "heads to roll in the Liberal Party's West Coast organization." [Pot plot found in ex-aides' home. Basi top organizer for Liberals in B.C. 11 Jan. 2004, Montreal Gazette] But "it's entirely a provincial matter," shrugged Paul Martin, and left the nation to fret.

Back in B.C., longstanding Liberal supporters quietly hoped that the publicity brought about by the police raid, would force the party executive to reconsider their strategies. They told Jody Paterson [Times Colonist 9 Jan. 04] of a cadre of cosseted young Liberals, more or less under the guidance of Mark Marissen (husband of the B.C. deputy premier, Christy Clark) and Dave Basi, who toiled on Paul Martin's behalf in B.C. for almost a decade. Paterson said this: "...Let's put aside for a moment the rather striking fact that everyone whose homes and offices were searched 9 days ago are so connected to the federal and provincial Liberal parties that they're on a first-name basis with both the prime minister and B.C.'s premier ... " adding the Liberal party will not emerge unscathed.

Colby Cosh was more blunt: "Long before the police raids, senior B.C. Liberals had gone public with concerns about the party's gradual transformation into an ethnic racket ..." [The National Post March 2, 05]

There were several uncommon warnings: RCMP Sgt. John Ward explained the Ledge. raids the following day, saying that " ... in general, the spread of organized crime just in the past two years [i.e., since 2001] has been like a cancer on the social and economic wellbeing of all British Columbians. Today the value of the illegal marijuana trade alone is estimated to be worth in excess of $6 Billion [annually]. We are seeing major increases in organized crime related murders, beatings, extortion, money laundering, and other activity which touches many innocent lives."

"The rot is deep and ugly ..." wrote Robyn Mathews in the Columbia Journal.

Rich Coleman, B.C. Solicitor General, told the Vancouver Board of Trade that weapons being used by insurgents in Afghanistan were smuggled through Canadian ports and financed by the B.C. drug trade. [Petti Fong, Van. Sun., 31 Jan. 2004]

Then after the first month or so, the media went virtually silent. This silence was the starkest warning of all. It also explains why this Blogspot, as well as "House of Infamy" got their start.

For 29 months, the original Search Warrants remained partially closed, and neither Basi nor Virk came to trial. In a vigilant media, wouldn't this arouse fears, distrust? Month after month, it was as if the Legislature Raid had never happened. Saddam Hussein, arrested on 13 Dec. 2003, has come to trial months ago. But not Basi or Virk.

Vaughn Palmer, a year after the raid, called it "a case that raises all sorts of questions in the political realm without much hope that they would be answered any time soon." Without much hope? In a free and democratic society, that's a very strange comment from a respected journalist.

"The case is massive," says Michael Smyth (The Province, 2 Mar '04), "Lawyers with clients named in the warrants have been given between 200 and 300 pages of search-warrant material on a strict non-disclosure basis ... less than 20% of all the warrant material, so ... more than 1,000 pages of evidence that's being kept from the public. It's 1,000 pages that has both the federal and provincial Liberal parties shaking in their tasseled loafers ..."

Lawyers may be happy, but the public is left to fear the worst, wondering if an organized crime syndicate has taken over British Columbia. Perhaps even the judiciary? Do these dark forces explain how precious public assets were sold off? Is this why B.C. legislation is being passed, which would keep essential information secret? With $6 billion a year in marijuana sales alone, in B.C., isn't it fair to ask if this explains the money allegedly spent on electoral maneuvers which carried Paul Martin into the Prime Minister's Office?

There are people who could tell some parts of the truth of it: Sheila Copps, Herb Dhaliwal, former Liberal MLA Allan Warnke, and a number of past Liberal executive members who were forced out of various B.C. riding associations. Basi and Virk could explain. [In the same way that a former Attorney General, Alex McDonald, told the truth about Dave Stupich who, said Alex, was unfairly prosecuted; Alex was never sued by the dark forces he named.] Keith Martin and David Anderson should have consented to an in-depth media interview but apparently they decided to keep their heads down.

But we dare not let the press remain quiet. Or as manipulative as they were in the sundeck case.

If we do tolerate that, there goes honour. There goes public policy. There, warns the U.N., goes sovereignty if organized crime isn't checked hard, and checked early.

I'd like to end Part I of this commentary by reminding readers of this puzzling event, asking as they read this: why didn't the police stand back, put the ship under round-the-clock surveillance, then arrest the gangsters who showed up to take delivery of the drugs? Just asking. Just something else to wonder about.

MARTIN'S FAMILY VESSEL RAIDED FOR DRUGS
Halifax Daily News, July 1, 2004
83 kilograms of cocaine were found during a random search of the vessel

HALIFAX -- An underwater camera is credited with what's described as the fluke discovery of an attempt to smuggle millions of dollars in cocaine on a cargo ship named after the prime minister's wife and operated by the company he once controlled. Authorities suggest organized crime is behind an attempt to transport cocaine using the Sheila Ann, a ship operated by Canada Steamship Lines , the company Prime Minister Paul Martin transferred control of to his three sons last year.

Two duffel bags stuffed with 83 kilograms of cocaine were found early Wednesday during a random search of the vessel , which was carrying coal from Venezuela to Sydney for Nova Scotia Power. The camera discovered the drugs in a grate attached to the bottom of the ship , resulting in what customs agents call a "cold hit'' _ a seizure that is essentially a fluke, neither the result of criminal intelligence nor informants. "The security is not good ... there are not enough officers in Sydney to search a vessel,'' said Susan Horne, president of the Customs Excise Union in Nova Scotia, which represents customs officers. Members from the Halifax customs office were called in to assist in the search, but since Canada Customs does not have its own divers, Horne said private scuba divers were contracted to remove the bags. Once it was determined the bags contained cocaine, the unarmed customs officers at Port of Sydney called in police . "It's for their own security,'' said Horne. ``We don't know who put those drugs on. . . . Would someone be coming to the vessel that might be trying to retrieve those drugs? ''

A thorough search of the vessel followed, producing no other contraband and the Sheila Ann was allowed to leave port Wednesday evening.The RCMP reportedly estimated the street value of the cocaine at between $12 million and $14 million . Martine Malka, a spokeswoman for Canada Steamship Lines, said the packages must have been smuggled in from Maracaibo, Venezuela, the vessel's last stop before Sydney. She said four bolts holding the underwater grate to the bottom of the ship were removed sometime before the vessel docked, then replaced after the packages were hidden inside. "This cannot be done through the ship,'' Malka said. ``The only way this could have been done is by divers underwater.'' Horne agreed and said the drugs were almost certainly destined for Canada , as they would have interfered with the crew unloading coal in Sydney and would surely have been noticed. They were stuffed inside the grate where water is taken in to fill the ship's ballast for stabilization during the on- and offloading of cargo.

How the drugs made it onto the ship undetected is unclear , said Horne. "The ship's owner has committed to work to improve security for the vessel,'' she said. Michel Proulx, spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency, said it's not unusual for legitimate companies to be exploited by organized crime for the movement of contraband. Proulx said no charges were laid against the vessel or its crew. After handing over control of the company, Martin made it known he would not be involved in any dealings with it and would not be commenting on its affairs .

The Customs Excise Union says the random discovery points to a lack of marine security along Canada's coast.

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Comments:
An extremely interesting piece, obviously you will not be going to the Senate to sit beside CTV's Jim Munson or Mike Duffy.

Also I'm sure BC's greatest senator-in-waiting Mark Marissen will not be buying you roses.

Keep up the good work, and remember that famous line from the movie Lawrence of Arabia . . . NO PRISONERS!

The GREAT SATAN
 
"Lawyers may be happy, but the public is left to fear the worst, wondering if an organized crime syndicate has taken over British Columbia."

What's there to wonder about? It has happened and the organized crime syndicate is called the BC Liberal Party under Capo Gordon Campbell, with consigliere Mike Dejong, Enforcer Kevin Falcon, court jester Kevin Krueger and money counter (ac)Count(tant) Colin Hansen.

As with most mobs the odd associate is currently threatened with charges etc. like John Les and Kash Heed. But the proceeds of crime are sufficient to pay for the best in legal representation and more mob bosses die of old age or gunshot wounds than in jail.
 
Terry Robertson has made a public apology, paid his fees back to the government and Harper Grey has promised not to make any further political contributions.

Compare this to how Bill Berardino has ignored his obvious conflict.

Shame on Berardino
 
What? Good olde Bill is not "entitled to his entitlements"? On a pond does not the scum rise to the top and suck up all the oxygen that other pond creatures need to survive?
 
Slush fund = sleaze fund = Liberal campaign monies
 
The sale of the Sun and Province to The National Post effectively destroys any hope of ideological reform of media in BC.

The Sun and Province now bastions of neo-con "thought" will likely become even more reactionary instruments of The Fraser Institute under the new ownership of the National Post Empire.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Canwest+agrees+sell+newspaper+chain+Paul+Godfrey+group+billion+deal/3010391/story.html
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and ...

CanWest/Global under the Aspers was a neo-conservative organization that largely viewed itself above the regular strata of BC society, thus it ignored with a few exceptions its political and ideological opponents. (Glenn Clark and his deck)
CanWest generated its "truth" and simply neglected to report on contrary positions.
In BC that has meant if you were not part of the plan you were not reported on, therefore you just don't exist. (Carole James and the NDP)

Under new National Post ownership, CanWest's reporting may change from its traditional passive elite distain to aggressive reaction.
The Sun and Province could soon evolve into a more offensive organ of the right and likely follow a path similar to Fox News in the US. (Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Sara Palin)
Journalists and pundits currently surviving inside the old CanWest Empire would be put through an ideological litmus test and if found wanting in their commitment to doctrines of Adam Smith/Milton Friedman free enterprise will be separated from the organization.

This new media empire, re-staffed by true believers, would soon find any position to the left of the Fraser Institute's or the Chicago School's view of economic and social utopia unacceptable and subject to attack. (Barack Obama)
This kind of reactionary media can certainly exist inside a democracy but in the absence of any substantial media with contrary or moderating views it creates potentially explosive situations.
If 50% of the people in British Columbia are deprived of any contrasting voice or an outlet of expression you have opened the door to dissent of a whole new order.

Ultimately the citizens of BC will decide CanWest's survival, just like it will determine the survival of the Campbell regime, but the question is by what process and action will their decision be made?

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Canwest+agrees+sell+newspaper+chain+Paul+Godfrey+group+billion+deal/3010391/story.html
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Great Satan, I think you are confused as the National Post, started by Convict Black and the Sun and Province were already all under Assperson ownership. The only thing that has changed is that Torstar (publishers of the Toronto Star and other papers) has bought all of the Canned Waste bird cage liners from coast to coast.

It could be an improvement, as the Star is a much better paper than any of the Canned Waste fleet of dead trees. But if you think having a province's daily papers all owned by the same corp is bad, having one group controlling almost every paper in the nation is even more frightening.

I wish that the Assperson empire had been broken up - in an ideal world the Times-Colonist, Sun and Province would be owned by different and competing interests. But of course the "Worst Place on Earth" (for governance) outside of North Korea isn't any sort of ideal world.
 
I think this pretty much says it all - what "media" is really there for, and who it's there to serve:

"There's no doubt that this chain of papers has the ability to offer advertisers the ability to get a consistent message across the country," he said. "We have to take greater advantage of this fact. We can't operate in silos, we have to operate as a unified chain."~~Paul Godfrey, president and CEO of the National Post.

Mr. Godfrey, for my part...don't be looking for me to support any of your papers, or advertisers, in any way, shape or form. Disgusting.
 
I'd like to make one slight correction to this article. It mentions federal Liberal party membership rosters expanding to 37,000 members. This year there was a document released by the LPC's national membership committee that places the party's members in 2003 at 96,173. That means that more than one in six Liberal party members in 2003 resided in BC. In contrast,by 2008, membership in BC had shrunk to 3,630 members meaning that only one in eighteen members of the national party resided in BC. Interestingly enough, in the 2004 federal election, only one in eighteen Liberal MP's came from BC. It was noted that some ridings had more party members than Liberal voters.
 
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