News for Youse: Government ads condemned, Women's march planned, and Blade Runner charged

by The Georgia Straight Staff on February 14th, 2013 at 8:51 AM

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Government ads dominate question period NDP Leader Adrian Dix said yesterday that the government will spend $16.4 million on a partisan ad campaign that will be ramped up in advance of the May election—something that Gordon Campbell refused to do; Jobs Minister Pat Bell replied that NDP governments spent more than that on ads every year from 1993 to 2000.

Adrian Dix chooses ex-BCIT president Veteran civil servant Don Wright has stepped down as president of the B.C. Institute of Technology. That's so he can become deputy minister to the premier and oversee the public service if the B.C. NDP wins the next provincial election.

Former Liberal MLA won't return Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater has told CKNW that he will not rejoin the B.C. Liberal caucus and support next Tuesday's budget.

Women's march in Downtown Eastside The 22nd annual Women's Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women begins today at noon at the corner of Main and Hastings streets.

Prime Minister comments on RCMP controversy In the wake of a devastating Human Rights Watch report on the Mounties' treatment of aboriginal women in northern B.C., Stephen Harper has called on anyone with information to file complaints to the police.

Report says RCMP harassment not systemic The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP says "data examined does not support the assumption that the RCMP is experiencing a systemic problem with workplace harassment, including sexual harassment". The commission's report is available here.

Blade Runner charged with murder South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius—the Olympic star known as Blade Runner—has been charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his Pretoria home.

Former co-CEO gets out of BlackBerry Former Research in Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie—best known for his efforts to bring an NHL franchise to Hamilton—no longer owns any shares in BlackBerry, according the Globe and Mail.

Warren Buffett buys Heinz Berkshire Hathaway, which is controlled by billionaire Warren Buffett, and 3G Capital are about to take over H.J. Heinz Company in a deal valued at US$28 billion (including Heinz's debt).

Matt Cooke cleared in Karlsson case Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke's skate cut the achilles of the Ottawa Senators' Norris Trophy–winning defenceman Erik Karlsson. But Cooke won't be disciplined after league officials reviewed the incident.

Storage Wars death explained A Ventura County medical examiner has revealed that Storage Wars star Mark Balelo died of carbon-monoxide poisoning. His death was ruled a suicide.

Comments

1 Comments

DavidH

Feb 14, 2013 at 10:44am

The advertising debate is a classic example of what's wrong with our political system. The NDP throws a rock. The BC Liberals throw one back. Is that really a "draw"? Don't think so.

The NDP has recommended a fundamental change in the process, which is to funnel all government ads through an independent body. Presumably, this would prevent BOTH parties from spending huge amounts of taxpayer dollars on partisan advertising in future.

Did Pat Bell comment on that idea? Did he support the idea (already in force in Ontario)? Reject the idea? Nope, he just threw another rock.

Act like a grown-up Mr. Bell. Here's an idea for your speech writers:

"Like the current government, the BC NDP also spent a lot of money on advertising that could be construed as partisan. So, we don't think they should hold themselves up as symbols of virtue.

"However, setting that partisan issue aside, I agree with the NDP position that advertising should be reviewed in advance by an independent body. That makes sense for the taxpayers of BC."

See how easy it is to be honest, instead of partisan and corrupt?