Category Archives: BC Politics

Not a Creature is Stirring Inside House of Labour

BC Politics, Vancouver

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The labour movement in British Columbia is in big trouble.
There’s a war going on within the BC Federation of Labour which pits the once-proud International Woodworkers of America — led for 16 years by Jack Munro, at a time before the softwood lumber dispute, when the IWA was a major player in a burgeoning, $2.5 billion Canadian forest industry — and the house of labour, not just in British Columbia but across Canada.
The crux of the dispute lies both within the union — the internecine war that has been going on for months, illustrated in this story (see ‘A New Low for IWA Canada’, January 29) — and without.


“The Canadian Labour Congress has imposed sanctions on the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada, after one of its locals signed a deal with a private contractor in defiance of a CLC motion calling on the union to ‘cease and desist from further voluntary agreements related to Bill 29 in British Columbia.”

A joint Canadian Union of Public Employees / Hospital Employees Union bulletin, published on January 6th, provides further background.

Continue reading Not a Creature is Stirring Inside House of Labour →

State of the Union Address: Campbell’s Poetic Injustice

BC Politics

A rejuvenated economy,
Campbell promised way back when.
But unemployment rises still
And Collins tell us, “all is well”.
Compassionate British Columbian,
Campbell said that’s what he’d be.
Then saves all his compassion for
Big biz and industry.
Campbell says no child left behind.
To help improve our schools.
Then traps them in a money bind,
Cash drained and strapped by rules.
Campbell said he’d cut our tax bill,
So we could keep our cash.
Then slashes taxes for the rich,
So they can grow their stash.
Environmental care he takes
Throughout his mining policy.
And gives his biz polluting pals
An enviro reg-free-hand.
Campbell says jobs are a major goal
For our economy.
Alas, they’re in a deep black hole
With our democracy.
(With thanks to Madeleine Begun Kane for the idea)

The Lonely Life of the Independent MLA
“I’ve gotten used to eating alone”

BC Politics

NETTLETON What can MLA Elayne Brenzinger expect after her bolt from the provincial Liberal party? The Tyee’s Chris Tenove asks the last guy to do it, Paul Nettleton.
Allan Warnke, a former Liberal MLA who messily split with the party in 1996, says that Liberal leader Gordon Campbell has demanded absolute loyalty from MLAs since becoming leader in 1993. “If you showed any independent thought or critiqued a policy,” Warnke says, “you got into trouble right away.”

Furore in Victoria as Liberal MLA quits party

BC Politics

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The coalition of right-of-centre politicians that Gordon Campbell cobbled together to defeat the New Democratic Party government in 2001 has begun to develop chinks in its armour.
Backbench MLA Elayne Brenzinger quit the B.C. Liberal caucus Monday, accusing Premier Gordon Campbell of ruining the province, destroying communities and disregarding the concerns of the Liberal caucus.
Province newspaper legislative columnist, Michael Smyth, reported in Tuesday’s paper that Premier Gordon Campbell admitted that he may have angered his now ex-colleague by telling her to “fuck off” at a caucus meeting, and referring to her as “a bitch”. Good role-modeling, Gordo.
Vaughn Palmer, in today’s Vancouver Sun, reports that the Premier’s office has begun a smear campaign to discredit Brenzinger.
Effective today, March 9th, CanWest Global has made The Vancouver Sun, The Province and all CanWest Global newspaper sites available to subscribers only (CanWest Global is the first media company, that I am aware of, to deny linkable access to individual newspaper stories; nothing like shooting yourself in the foot … good work Asper brothers …).