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The chief executive officer of Partnerships BC, Larry Blain, is entitled to total annual compensation of almost $600,000, plus expenses, under a bonus scheme established when he joined the Crown corporation three years ago.

Last week, following a Georgia Straight request, Partnerships BC provided a copy of his contract, which was signed on January 3, 2003.

Blain, formerly managing director of RBC Capital Markets, was also a member of the B.C. Liberals' 2001 transition team.

His beginning pay was $320,000, but on May 26, 2005, this was increased to $329,600, retroactive to April 1, 2005.

On top of this base pay, plus $10,000 car allowance, Blain is entitled to a bonus of up to an additional 80 percent, or $263,680. In other words, his total pay could reach $593,280.

Blain's contract refers to a "target" for his bonus.

"You will be entitled to performance pay in the range of 0 percent to 80 percent," the contract reads. "The target performance pay for your position is 50 percent. If you receive a performance evaluation which confirms that you have 'met expectations' and the corporation is confirmed as having 'met expectations,' you will receive the target performance payment."

Blain's severance pay is specified as a "minimum of 1 x previous year's total annual compensation (total salary plus performance pay) and as otherwise outlined in the Public Sector Employers Act." Because financial statements for the current fiscal year, which ends on March 31, won't be released until next fall, Blain's total income for 2005-06 is unknown. As reported earlier in this space, for the 2004-05 fiscal year Blain's pay totalled $499,132, plus $40,524 in expenses.

On the other hand, let's not forget the importance of Partnership BC's mission, which is to save the government money by promoting public-private-partnerships.

According to the corporation's Web site, public-private partnerships are intended "to modernize government to find more efficient and effective approaches to the provision of services and infrastructure in support of health care, transportation and other priority programs in the province."

Among the hokiest aspects of the 2006 provincial election campaign was the Liberals' "Five Great Goals for a Golden Decade". One goal was to "Lead the Way in North America in Healthy Living and Physical Fitness."

Using government funds to buy wide-screen television sets-and providing public places to watch them-doesn't quite seem to fit that goal.

Yet that's what the Campbell Liberals are doing under the $20 million Olympic and Paralympic "Live Sites" program. In a February 26 news release, Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen announced he was putting $2 million into 12 of these sites around B.C.

Just what is a "live site"?"

According to Hansen, as quoted in the release, they're "legacies from the 2010 Olympic games". But they're also places where citizens can take part in various activities-including watching TV.

For instance, the severely deprived Victoria suburb of Oak Bay, which boasts some of Canada's most expensive real estate, will be picking up $5,540 from last month's grants. The funds are for "audio-visual equipment" so citizens can watch the Olympics on TV at two local community centres. As well, the Oak Bay Rotary Club is collecting a trifling $10,000 for new benches, a water fountain, paving, and a park sign.

And the needy members of the Oak Bay Lawn Bowling Club are walking away with a cool $113,704 to expand and renovate their clubhouse. These upgrades, according to the news release, will allow the club to "expand its outreach in the community and provide a public Olympic viewing venue".

So at least that $113K isn't going to new TVs. Rather, it's going to a better place to watch television.

BC Statistics reports that based on the 2001 census, the median family income in Oak Bay was $78,168-or 43 percent higher than the $54,840 median for all of B.C.

To date, the government has poured $13.1 million into 84 of these "live sites". But they're not done yet. There's another $7 million to go, taking the eventual total to $20 million.

Although some of the projects are doubtless worthwhile, provincial taxpayers are also paying for an "Olympic legacy" in the form of a video-replay system and score clock at a Prince George arena-another payment announced in last month's statement. The improvements, the release says, will make the CN Centre "more amenable to hosting events and will allow it to serve as a viewing venue during future Olympic competitions".

More TV watching.

Only municipalities or nonprofit organizations outside Greater Vancouver and the Whistler-Squamish corridor are eligible for this money.

The motivation is clear.

These are nothing more than bribes to British Columbians not getting the real Olympic loot in the Whistler-Vancouver region.

The program suggests a more suitable Great Goal for the Liberals' 2005 election campaign might have been: "Lead the Way in North America in Number of Couch Potatoes."