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Flip flop fails to impress

Oct 7th, 2014 by

Cover of 2013 Petronas annual report

Cover of 2013 Petronas annual report

The Christy Clark government’s back down on LNG, as evidenced by the throne speech, is an admission that Ms Clark and her colleagues misled the public in the 2013 election and is an unmitigated disgrace.

As we all remember, Ms. Clark, found herself badly behind in that election. Something had to be done. She turned to Brad Bennett, son of and a grandson of former BC premiers. He, and his chamber of commerce enthusiasm, were just what the doctor ordered.

A story was concocted and there is no other word for it because it didn’t just come out of thin air. In fairness, I don’t know if Mr. Bennett played a role in this.

The story – LNG was going to be a $1 trillion industry in British Columbia, bring $100 billion into a so called prosperity fund, pay off all our debts, and ensure BC prosperity for all time. All we need do was re-elect Christy Clark and Co. This was, as said by many of us at the time, arrant bullshit. There was absolutely no reason to believe any of this. Continue Reading »

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Posted in General | 6 Comments »

A Pot Pourri

Oct 2nd, 2014 by

Art Sterritt. Photo by David P. Ball.

Art Sterritt. Photo by David P. Ball.

Learning that a substantial donation has been made to UBC for Alzheimers research brought to the attention of the public that former premier Bill Bennett is in an advanced stage of the disease. This is something that friends have known for some time. Wendy and I had dinner with Bill and Audrey just before Bill was diagnosed and after he had driven us to our hotel we each remarked that something was very different. He simply did not seem to be the same Bill Bennett.

Bill was, in my view, a first class premier. He will, as time passes, be rated in the top two or three. He also is a friend of mine. We are about four months apart in age and of course it shakes me a lot to realize where he is now and how lucky I am.

What a bitter irony it is that his old antagonist, Dave Barrett, is in exactly the same position at about the same age. These two men, who for 10 years battled it out in the legislature, now find themselves stricken by the same deadly disease. Continue Reading »

Posted in General | 2 Comments »

Dianne Watts, You Seemed So Smart

Sep 29th, 2014 by

Surrey Mayor Diane Watts: Leaping from frontlines of city building into backbench backwaters?

Surrey Mayor Diane Watts: Leaping from frontlines of city building into backbench backwaters?

But then you decided to run for the Tories. Big mistake.

I thought that Dianne Watts, the about to be ex-mayor of Surrey, was a smart person.

Her decision to seek a federal seat for the Tories in next year’s election puts paid to that idea.

That Watts is a very capable person is beyond question. She probably has as good a political resume as one could possibly find. At one time rated the number four mayor in the entire world, she has a reputation for sound government, which by all accounts, is much deserved.

I question her smartness, not her capability.

I have written about this before, but I’m afraid I can’t quit until we, the somnolent public, finally understand how undemocratically our government is run. Continue Reading »

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Posted in The Tyee | No Comments »

Scots wha’ Hae

Sep 21st, 2014 by

Gordon Brown. Photo from Wikipedia.

Gordon Brown. Photo from Wikipedia.

Like millions of Canadians, I consider myself a Scot.

Notwithstanding the fact that my maternal grandfather, last name Leigh, came from a distinguished English family – his grandfather was an editor of Punch magazine and has his name carved on the famous table – I tended to go with his wife, my Gram, who was Jane Macdonald (small “d” please) from Cape Breton Island. Her family descended from the Clearances and never lost their Scottishness. Gram spoke Gaelic at an early age and went to her grave still angry at the Campbells for the massacre of the Macdonalds at Glencoe in 1692.

The Mairs come from Banffshire via New Zealand where they had gone in the early 1800s, my branch coming to Vancouver in 1913.

I watched the Scottish referendum with considerable interest. I have visited Scotland often and have spent many an hour tromping over the Western Highlands with a fly rod in hand. I love the country and every part of it. I have visited the Outer and the Inner Hebrides; I have visited Orkney and Shetland; I have wandered the Lowlands and I’ve spent considerable time playing golf at their famous courses. Continue Reading »

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Posted in General | 1 Comment »

Let’s be “Ready” next time

Sep 19th, 2014 by

Vince Ready photo by CBC.

Vince Ready. photo by CBC.

Who is this cat Vince Ready, anyway? He seems to drift in and out of labor disputes, like the magic fairy, touching things with his wand and all is well!

Don’t get me wrong. I have enormous admiration for Mr. Ready. For many years he has been a positive factor in labor disputes and obviously has the confidence of both labor and management.

It was interesting to watch his involvement in the teachers strike. Now he was here, now he wasn’t. When it didn’t seem to be an appropriate moment – and it was his decision – he withdrew from the scene. When it was right he reappeared and the matter got settled. Continue Reading »

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Posted in General | No Comments »

Rafe: Christy Clark should try being more leader, less cheerleader

Sep 18th, 2014 by

BC Premier Christy Clark dons Canucks jersey during 2013 election campaign (Andy Clark / Reuters)

BC Premier Christy Clark dons Canucks jersey during 2013 election campaign (Andy Clark / Reuters)

Nowhere in the appalling record of the Liberal government in Victoria has its shortcomings been more obvious than at the very top. Premier Christy Clark has been a terrible leader whose pronouncements get more and more embarrassing as time passes.

However, she so dominates the government that one is hard-pressed to think of even the names of her cabinet ministers, which doesn’t say much for their abilities or courage to speak out on issues.

Tsilhqot’in move merited praise…BUT the proof is in the pudding

I recently applauded Premier Clark for making formal contact with the Tsilhquot’in First Nation. I did this because she was right to do so. What she has said since makes me wonder if she really understood what she was supposed to be doing. That she understands the obvious politics in what she has done is clear but there is no evidence that she and her government comprehend what must now be a clear policy. We wait and see with hope, if not much confidence. Continue Reading »

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Posted in The Common Sense Canadian | 1 Comment »

Mulroney Knocks Harper? Oh This Is Rich!

Sep 15th, 2014 by

Brian Mulroney in 1993: Almost wiped out the Tories.

Brian Mulroney in 1993: Almost wiped out the Tories.

And ruminations on the federal election we must soon endure.

This is about the federal election and our province, but first…

One almost hates to pay any attention to the man. Brian Mulroney, a certified fudger of facts to his own advantage, has now taken on almost everybody within his range.

God knows I have no love for Prime Minister Stephen Harper. I wouldn’t support him for Lions Bay dogcatcher. But Brian Mulroney really is the last person who should be critical.

Let’s deal quickly with Mulroney’s castigation of the late Pierre Trudeau. Cabinet minutes from 1990 unearthed in March show he blamed Trudeau for the failure of the 1987 Meech Lake accord, Mulroney’s attempt to get Quebec on board the Constitution by recognizing it as “a distinct society.” Blaming Trudeau for the flop is, of course, arrant nonsense. Continue Reading »

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Posted in The Tyee | No Comments »

The void

Sep 12th, 2014 by

Chris Young of the Yankees after walk-off home run vs. the Rays.

Chris Young of the Yankees after walk-off home run vs. the Rays.

Uncle Rafe’s first sports analysis 2014–15, or, what to do during the “void”.

The “Void” is that time between the end of the World Series and the beginning of spring training. For me, a shut-in, the question arises as to what I shall do during that period.

The options, of course, are many. Most would likely suggest watching hockey and there will be support for basketball. Football of course runs right through this, if you like the NFL and most people do.

Golf is still there although not in great abundance until the spring and there is always soccer somewhere and from time to time some rugby. And, of course, basketball.

First, before I outline my options, let me tell you about my undying love
for baseball. Continue Reading »

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Posted in General | 1 Comment »

We won! I think

Sep 9th, 2014 by

A vacant teacher's desk is pictured at the front of a empty classroom is pictured at Magee Secondary school in Vancouver. Photo by Jonathan Hayward, CP

A vacant teacher’s desk is pictured at the front of a empty classroom is pictured at Magee Secondary school in Vancouver. Photo by Jonathan Hayward, CP

The government has won the teacher strike.

I use the word “won” advisedly because this is an ongoing struggle which is a long way from over. What they have won is this particular battle.

Why do I say this?

The teachers are now backed into a corner. There is no face-saving way out. The government has simply said they will not budge and they will not consent to any sort of arbitration.

This leaves only one road out. Legislation which will come ere long. Continue Reading »

Posted in General | 8 Comments »

A nest of adders

Sep 5th, 2014 by

B.C. Teachers Federation president Jim Iker (left) speaks to teachers during a work stoppage by teachers outside Charles Dickens Elementary in Vancouver on May 26, 2014. Photo by Wayne Leidenfrost, PNG

B.C. Teachers Federation president Jim Iker (left) speaks to teachers during a work stoppage by teachers outside Charles Dickens Elementary in Vancouver on May 26, 2014. Photo by Wayne Leidenfrost, PNG

I have not commented on the teacher’s strike for the very good reason that I can’t think of much to say. To start with I have no children or grandchildren in the system. They’re all too old for that now. I did, however, have a special needs grandson who went through the school system complete with teacher’s aides. I do know something about the system from that point of view.

The history of teacher negotiations in the province of British Columbia is a long, sad one. It all started. you might remember, with teachers negotiating with individual school boards. This led to a process known as “whipsawing” where the teachers would use a settlement with one school district to bludgeon the next one down the line.

One must be very careful here not to allow prejudices to seep in and there are lots of prejudices for both sides of this ever increasing and ever useless debate. Continue Reading »

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Posted in General | 3 Comments »

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