Monday, May 17, 2010
BC Rail: What the news media is saying about the most important trial in BC history, which begins today
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BC Mary comment: I wish I could say that my country has paid attention to British Columbia's loss of the nation's 3rd largest railway. But it hasn't. If they don't pick up the BC Rail story soon, and run with it, Canada will stand shamed before the world.
Here are the URLs by which readers can access what I have found, but many on the list are simply repeating The Canadian Press story, even including its errors.
The Province in Vancouver comes off best, with Keith Fraser reporting.
Vancouver Sun, the flagship of CanWest newspapers, comes off poorly -- merely using Keith Fraser's work, and nothing more. This is particularly sad if Neal Hall of Vancouver Sun has nothing in print today. It was Neal Hall who rejected an application for accreditation which would have allowed Robin Mathews (like any other court reporter) to record, for accuracy, the Basi-Virk court proceedings.
I'd like to break a confidence here, to share with Neal some information about the man he rejected as "not a working journalist"... but I won't. As a reporter, Neal might try searching Robin Mathews' credentials, and learn to say, "Sorry, sir I would like to correct my previous error."
Nothing at all from BC's #3 daily newspaper, the Victoria Times Colonist, either. Maybe later.
By Keith Fraser
The Province - 17 May 2010
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Finally+truth+behind+Rail+deal/3036138/story.html
duplicated in Vancouver Sun, but with excellent mug shot of Bill Berardino
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Finally+truth+behind+Rail/3036949/story.html
The Province
Quote: "The Crown's witness list in the Basi-Virk trial reads like a who's who of BC politicians, top government ..."
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Rail+corruption+saga/3036141/story.html
http://www.theprovince.com/business/Liberal+government+lies+return+haunt+Gordon+Campbell/3036143/story.html
Check their side-bar for other previous stories. The Province is trying!
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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/05/17/bc-bc-rail-trial-begins.html
Quote: The Crown alleges David Basi and Virk leaked sensitive documents to one of the bidders in that sale, and took money and benefits in return. But the defence alleges the two were only following the directions of their political masters.
That has steered this trial into the sacrosanct world of the provincial cabinet, and the documents and emails of high-level civil servants and cabinet ministers are expected to play a key role in the trial.
_______________________________________________
Leading political scientists says [sic] liberals can't afford any more bad press [sic ... ha ha, like the BC Liberals have ever had any bad press in BC??]
News 1130 - May 17, 2010
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/55749--leading-political-scientists-says-liberals-can-t-afford-anymore-bad-press
_______________________________________________
Leg raid trial starts Monday
CKNW - May 16, 2010
4 lines about the trial
5 lines about the NDP
http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1230539
_______________________________________________
BC Rail insider trading trial to start
Vancouver Review - May 17, 2010
http://www.vancouverreview.ca/bc-rail-insider-trading-trial-to-start/
_______________________________________________
Hi Mary,
Congrats on the start of the trial! Jake and I read about it in the Globe this morning. Jake did his current events article [for school] on the trial, proudly mentioning his grandmother's blog. It's certainly a great achievement!
See you,
Fraser
_______________________________________________
Opinion 250 - May 17, 2010
http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/16350/3/b.c.+rail++trial+starts+today
_______________________________________________
CTV - May 17, 2010
________________________________
BC Rail political corruption trial to start today
By Neal Hall
Vancouver Sun - May 17, 2010
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Basi+Virk+political+corruption+trial+start+today/3038457/story.html
Quote: Some last-minute court matters Monday morning have delayed the trial, which was to start at 10 a.m. with the Crown's opening.
But minutes ago the trial judge, B.C. Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Anne MacKenzie, brought in the jury and told them to return at 2 p.m.
The judge has imposed a publication ban on the proceedings, preventing the media from publishing anything heard in the absence of the jury.
The judge is expected to give the jury some opening instructions on their role in the trial, to be followed by the opening outline of evidence to be called by the Crown during the trial, which is expected to last six to eight weeks.
The jury, when selected April 28, heard the names of 40 witnesses the crown plans to call, including former cabinet ministers and the premier's former chief of staff, Martyn Brown.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/basi-virk-trial-to-start-after-morning-delay/article1570792/?cmpid=rss1
Mark Hume and Dave Ebner
Globe and Mail - Last updated May 17, 2010
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/basi-virk-trial-to-start-after-morning-delay/article1570792/?cmpid=rss1
Vancouver — The long awaited trial of Dave Basi, Bobby Virk and Aneal Basi which was supposed to start Monday morning has been delayed by last minute legal wrangling.
The jurors selected to hear the political corruption case had no sooner been seated in the Supreme Court of British Columbia than the judge dismissed them for several hours.
Madam Justice Anne MacKenzie thanked the jurors for their commitment to the case, but said the court wasn't ready to proceed.
"We have some issues to resolve before I give my opening instructions," she said before asking the jury to leave until recalled.
The jury is expected back at 2 p.m.
Issues argued in court during the jury's absence are subject to a publication ban.
{Snip} ...
___________________________
Winnipeg Free Press - May 17, 2010
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/judge-tells-jurors-in-bc-legislature-raid-trial-proceedings-delayed--93947539.html
___________________________
The Province - May 17, 2010 updated
___________________________
Timeline: Basi-Virk trial the culmination of saga that began in 2003 with police raid
Vancouver Sun - May 17, 2010
Lori Culbert with files from Neal Hall and Ian Mulgrew
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Timeline+Basi+Virk+trial+culmination+saga+that+began+with+2003+police+raid/3038765/story.html
Recommended, despite some errors.
________________________________________
More later ...
___________________________
BC Mary comment: I wish I could say that my country has paid attention to British Columbia's loss of the nation's 3rd largest railway. But it hasn't. If they don't pick up the BC Rail story soon, and run with it, Canada will stand shamed before the world.
Here are the URLs by which readers can access what I have found, but many on the list are simply repeating The Canadian Press story, even including its errors.
The Province in Vancouver comes off best, with Keith Fraser reporting.
Vancouver Sun, the flagship of CanWest newspapers, comes off poorly -- merely using Keith Fraser's work, and nothing more. This is particularly sad if Neal Hall of Vancouver Sun has nothing in print today. It was Neal Hall who rejected an application for accreditation which would have allowed Robin Mathews (like any other court reporter) to record, for accuracy, the Basi-Virk court proceedings.
I'd like to break a confidence here, to share with Neal some information about the man he rejected as "not a working journalist"... but I won't. As a reporter, Neal might try searching Robin Mathews' credentials, and learn to say, "Sorry, sir I would like to correct my previous error."
Nothing at all from BC's #3 daily newspaper, the Victoria Times Colonist, either. Maybe later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally, the truth behind the BC Rail deal
By Keith Fraser
The Province - 17 May 2010
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Finally+truth+behind+Rail+deal/3036138/story.html
duplicated in Vancouver Sun, but with excellent mug shot of Bill Berardino
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Finally+truth+behind+Rail/3036949/story.html
Who's Who in BC Rail corruption saga
By Keith FraserThe Province
Quote: "The Crown's witness list in the Basi-Virk trial reads like a who's who of BC politicians, top government ..."
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Rail+corruption+saga/3036141/story.html
Liberal government lies return to haunt Gordon Campbell
By Michael Smythhttp://www.theprovince.com/business/Liberal+government+lies+return+haunt+Gordon+Campbell/3036143/story.html
Check their side-bar for other previous stories. The Province is trying!
_______________________________________________
BC Rail corruption trial to hear from top officials
CBC - May 17, 2010http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/05/17/bc-bc-rail-trial-begins.html
Quote: The Crown alleges David Basi and Virk leaked sensitive documents to one of the bidders in that sale, and took money and benefits in return. But the defence alleges the two were only following the directions of their political masters.
That has steered this trial into the sacrosanct world of the provincial cabinet, and the documents and emails of high-level civil servants and cabinet ministers are expected to play a key role in the trial.
_______________________________________________
Leading political scientists says [sic] liberals can't afford any more bad press [sic ... ha ha, like the BC Liberals have ever had any bad press in BC??]
News 1130 - May 17, 2010
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/55749--leading-political-scientists-says-liberals-can-t-afford-anymore-bad-press
_______________________________________________
Leg raid trial starts Monday
CKNW - May 16, 2010
4 lines about the trial
5 lines about the NDP
http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1230539
_______________________________________________
BC Rail insider trading trial to start
Vancouver Review - May 17, 2010
http://www.vancouverreview.ca/bc-rail-insider-trading-trial-to-start/
_______________________________________________
Jake and BC Rail
Hi Mary,
Congrats on the start of the trial! Jake and I read about it in the Globe this morning. Jake did his current events article [for school] on the trial, proudly mentioning his grandmother's blog. It's certainly a great achievement!
See you,
Fraser
_______________________________________________
BC Rail trial starts today
Opinion 250 - May 17, 2010
http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/16350/3/b.c.+rail++trial+starts+today
_______________________________________________
Basi Virk corruption trial opens
CTV - May 17, 2010
________________________________
BC Rail political corruption trial to start today
By Neal Hall
Vancouver Sun - May 17, 2010
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Basi+Virk+political+corruption+trial+start+today/3038457/story.html
Quote: Some last-minute court matters Monday morning have delayed the trial, which was to start at 10 a.m. with the Crown's opening.
But minutes ago the trial judge, B.C. Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Anne MacKenzie, brought in the jury and told them to return at 2 p.m.
The judge has imposed a publication ban on the proceedings, preventing the media from publishing anything heard in the absence of the jury.
The judge is expected to give the jury some opening instructions on their role in the trial, to be followed by the opening outline of evidence to be called by the Crown during the trial, which is expected to last six to eight weeks.
The jury, when selected April 28, heard the names of 40 witnesses the crown plans to call, including former cabinet ministers and the premier's former chief of staff, Martyn Brown.
__________________________________
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/basi-virk-trial-to-start-after-morning-delay/article1570792/?cmpid=rss1
Basi-Virk trial to start after morning delay
Mark Hume and Dave Ebner
Globe and Mail - Last updated May 17, 2010
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/basi-virk-trial-to-start-after-morning-delay/article1570792/?cmpid=rss1
Vancouver — The long awaited trial of Dave Basi, Bobby Virk and Aneal Basi which was supposed to start Monday morning has been delayed by last minute legal wrangling.
The jurors selected to hear the political corruption case had no sooner been seated in the Supreme Court of British Columbia than the judge dismissed them for several hours.
Madam Justice Anne MacKenzie thanked the jurors for their commitment to the case, but said the court wasn't ready to proceed.
"We have some issues to resolve before I give my opening instructions," she said before asking the jury to leave until recalled.
The jury is expected back at 2 p.m.
Issues argued in court during the jury's absence are subject to a publication ban.
{Snip} ...
___________________________
Judge tells jurors proceedings delayed
Winnipeg Free Press - May 17, 2010
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/judge-tells-jurors-in-bc-legislature-raid-trial-proceedings-delayed--93947539.html
___________________________
Basi Virk trial delayed
By Keith FraserThe Province - May 17, 2010 updated
___________________________
Timeline: Basi-Virk trial the culmination of saga that began in 2003 with police raid
Vancouver Sun - May 17, 2010
Lori Culbert with files from Neal Hall and Ian Mulgrew
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Timeline+Basi+Virk+trial+culmination+saga+that+began+with+2003+police+raid/3038765/story.html
Recommended, despite some errors.
________________________________________
___________________________
Comments:
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Great links Mary. I was wondering, does my new found knowledge of 'cut and paste' officially qualify me as a working journalist by Mr Hall's standards?
# posted by 
: May 17, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.
: May 17, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.
Somehow I get the impression that Jake's Report may the most fulsome of them all!
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Interesting to me that OurPressGang member Spanky#2 finally expanded on the Prosecution's Witness List today....And....Surprise!....The former Deputy Premier's brother's name is on it....
Imagine that!
.
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Interesting to me that OurPressGang member Spanky#2 finally expanded on the Prosecution's Witness List today....And....Surprise!....The former Deputy Premier's brother's name is on it....
Imagine that!
.
.
The jurors selected to hear the political corruption case had no sooner been seated in the Supreme Court of British Columbia than the judge dismissed them for several hours.
Madam Justice Anne MacKenzie thanked the jurors for their commitment to the case, but said the court wasn't ready to proceed.
"We have some issues to resolve before I give my opening instructions," she said before asking the jury to leave until recalled.
The jury is expected back at 2 p.m.
Issues argued in court during the jury's absence are subject to a publication ban.
Somebody please tell me the Seattle Times or Denver Post or another newspaper that doesn't have to observe the publication ban has reported on whatever went down in the jury's absence.
What ACJ Mackenzie has just said to the jury is:
"We're keeping a whole lot of stuff we don't want you to know about away from you."
I hope there's enough IQ in the jury to realize that, and be suspicious.
And it underscores all the more the need for US and UK-based papers to be in attendance.....
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Madam Justice Anne MacKenzie thanked the jurors for their commitment to the case, but said the court wasn't ready to proceed.
"We have some issues to resolve before I give my opening instructions," she said before asking the jury to leave until recalled.
The jury is expected back at 2 p.m.
Issues argued in court during the jury's absence are subject to a publication ban.
Somebody please tell me the Seattle Times or Denver Post or another newspaper that doesn't have to observe the publication ban has reported on whatever went down in the jury's absence.
What ACJ Mackenzie has just said to the jury is:
"We're keeping a whole lot of stuff we don't want you to know about away from you."
I hope there's enough IQ in the jury to realize that, and be suspicious.
And it underscores all the more the need for US and UK-based papers to be in attendance.....
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