Interesting comments about what's happening over the ICBC scandal. It's totally dropped off the radar of the mainstream media. There are no less than 5 investigations into conduct. These comments from BC Mary's Legislature Raids are quite informative. One might speculate about whether individuals involved in Organized Crime have been able to get in on some of the ICBC stuff, since high end SUV's & trucks are the vehicles of choice for a lot of them. You see them driving around. It's pretty noticeable in certain areas. Organized crime is everywhere in BC, most people have no idea how extensive their reach us and how "legit" many of them present.
Express Collision Shop Said,
Speaking of organized crime. Whistleblowers have it tough in BC. I just got off the phone with a friend and lawsuits and threats are rampant in the past few weeks. It seems that these threats are all being made to the whistleblowers and trade association that are helping expose this ICBC mess. The RCMP, media, lawyer's and the Competition Bureau have been notified of all threats.
The investigation has found that this mess is getting larger by the day. Many of the vehicles that were talked about being high end SUV's and trucks and sports cars maybe the tip of the iceberg. There are some really nice vintage, antique, classic cars under investigation now. Were not talking about $40-$70 thousand dollar vehicles here, these are worth a hell of a lot more than that. "Zero Tolerance For Fraud.
****
Another interesting thing is I know of other lawsuits being filed against folks for blowing the whistle on various bad things happening in other sectors. Also a lot of intimidation, coercion and other nasty stuff. I know some of the media involved are also having legal action taken against them, but that may be karma, since some of them have allegedly violated sources who came forward in good faith. It also might be the case that the police authorities are advising the media to stop reporting on certain cases, there is a lot of information making it into the public domain these days when citizens are making comments, things that often should be getting reported to the investigating police.
At this stage of the game, I would advise anyone of thinking of going to the media not to do it, there is absolutely no certainty over who is trustworthy these days and I include anyone related to the NDP in that. They know a lot of stuff they are not bringing forward, they pick & choose what fits their agenda. If people have any direct involvement, or evidence about anything, go to the police investigating complaints, or in some cases, initiate your own police complaint.
As many whistleblowers learn the hard way, when they start making waves internally, asking questions, or have too much knowledge about what's happening within certain organizations, they're in for a rough ride and character assassination & defamation of character are part of the offenders' modus operandi (m.o.). This reinforces silence and fear amongst other staff. Those are the simplest reasons why so many of these corrupt organizations continue with these heinous and often illegal practices for so many years. Workers who know, or stumble on the truth, are afraid to speak up and when they do, they and their families are the ones who suffer, while the "bad guys" continue on their merry way, often being promoted and continuing to prosper and take advantage of insider privilege. This in itself also convinces some "good" people that its the path of least resistance to start getting in on the action, thus continuing to reinforce the organizational dysfunction and sometimes criminal activities taking place within. Most people aren't in a position where they can be fired and out of a job with one day's notice. And that happens more than most people know. And the employers' often just get away with it all. If you're a unionized worker in BC, Employment Standards are not in force for you. Many people don't know that. It's part of the Liberal changes. CCPA wrote a great report on that, called Negotiating Without a Floor.
And, the Labour Relations Board contains Liberal appointees from both employer and labour sides. The LRB will use their authority to get around taking direct complaints from unionized workers as well. And, its' really unclear how successful harassment complaints are at arbitration, many unions won't even let those get to that point, some won't even let their own workers file harassment and discrimination complaints.
****
But, How Bad Is the Record has some other thoughts on his blog:
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Whistleblower Threats
There is a very interesting developement on BC Marys' blogsite The Legislature Raids about how whistleblowers from some quarters in the ICBC Scandal have been threatened. A person who calls themself Express Collision Shop has reported the threats. He goes on to say that the police have been made aware of these threats.
Now I don't know about the rest of you folks, but I know that threats to anyone for any reason is a criminal offense. And if the RCMP are aware of this, and it is true, it should be reported to the public. I personally have no doubt that what this person says is true. They have been reporting on this case from the get-go and have been quite accurate in what they are reporting. Get the mainstream media on it NOW. This is outrageous.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Fallout from 2006 Canadian Census
This was some news to me. I didn't know that the Canadian government privatized and "outsourced" the handling of the 2006 Canadian census to Lockheed Martin, the transnational aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology corporation and the the largest arms manufacturer in the world. They are also the world's largest defense contract holders and strategically linked to the American government. As of 2005, 95% of Lockheed Martin's revenues came from the United States Department of Defense, other U.S. federal government agencies, and foreign military customers.
Now, what is the fallout... well, our good old Canadian government is now in the process of charging and prosecuting 63 Canadian citizens for refusing to participate in the 2006 Census on grounds that this information is being collected by Lockheed Martin, brought into the United States and now fully subject to the Patriot Act. If this doesn't curl your hair, it should. It continues to rapid and increasing pace in which Canada is being gobbled up by the despots to the South.
Just today, April 21st Stephen Harper, George Bush and Mexican President Calderon are meeting for the fourth leaders' summit of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the biggest threat to Canadian sovereignty that exists today, unless you count Stephen Harper, George Bush, Dick Cheney in there too.
One cannot fail to see the links to what is happening here in BC as well. As scandal after scandal unfolds: ICBC, Ministry of Children & Family Development, Ministry of Employment & Income Assistance contracts to American corporations to the Legislature Raids & "sale" of BC Rail, the sale of our power & rivers. The corruption that seeps out of Victoria reeks of American influence and a diminished regard for our citizens. Gordon Campbell spends a fair amount of time in the States & meeting with American leaders around the world. All of these public policy decisions are not a coincidence. People like Campbell don't do anything for anyone without having a BIG reward somewhere, where is his? It's time for a vote of non-confidence in Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberal government. If they aren't out soon, like the Conservatives, there will be nothing left to call home, whether that is Canada, or BC.
See Murray Dobbin's excellent latest article, Americanize Me? No Thanks in the Tyee for more about it all.
Here's a little excerpt:
Most recently it was a secretively signed agreement called the Civil Assistance Plan, which "allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency."
Good government. There is much, much more dire data about where the U.S. ranks on many social and economic scales. The cause of most of it is the catastrophic decline in democratic governance, the virtual abandonment of any serious social or regulatory role for government under George Bush and the Republicans. At no other time in the past century has the U.S. had people in power so dedicated to the dismantling of democratic governance.
When governance is hijacked by the likes of Bush and Brown there is only one possible outcome: massive, intractable, endemic corruption permeates the whole system. Stories following up on the Katrina catastrophe show that nothing has changed. Billions have been wasted, stolen or remain unaccounted for. The tragedy has been used as a useful crisis to dispossess thousands of New Orleans' poorest residents, privatize the education system and ensure that the wealthy get the benefit of public money.
Now, what is the fallout... well, our good old Canadian government is now in the process of charging and prosecuting 63 Canadian citizens for refusing to participate in the 2006 Census on grounds that this information is being collected by Lockheed Martin, brought into the United States and now fully subject to the Patriot Act. If this doesn't curl your hair, it should. It continues to rapid and increasing pace in which Canada is being gobbled up by the despots to the South.
Just today, April 21st Stephen Harper, George Bush and Mexican President Calderon are meeting for the fourth leaders' summit of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the biggest threat to Canadian sovereignty that exists today, unless you count Stephen Harper, George Bush, Dick Cheney in there too.
One cannot fail to see the links to what is happening here in BC as well. As scandal after scandal unfolds: ICBC, Ministry of Children & Family Development, Ministry of Employment & Income Assistance contracts to American corporations to the Legislature Raids & "sale" of BC Rail, the sale of our power & rivers. The corruption that seeps out of Victoria reeks of American influence and a diminished regard for our citizens. Gordon Campbell spends a fair amount of time in the States & meeting with American leaders around the world. All of these public policy decisions are not a coincidence. People like Campbell don't do anything for anyone without having a BIG reward somewhere, where is his? It's time for a vote of non-confidence in Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberal government. If they aren't out soon, like the Conservatives, there will be nothing left to call home, whether that is Canada, or BC.
See Murray Dobbin's excellent latest article, Americanize Me? No Thanks in the Tyee for more about it all.
Here's a little excerpt:
Most recently it was a secretively signed agreement called the Civil Assistance Plan, which "allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency."
Good government. There is much, much more dire data about where the U.S. ranks on many social and economic scales. The cause of most of it is the catastrophic decline in democratic governance, the virtual abandonment of any serious social or regulatory role for government under George Bush and the Republicans. At no other time in the past century has the U.S. had people in power so dedicated to the dismantling of democratic governance.
When governance is hijacked by the likes of Bush and Brown there is only one possible outcome: massive, intractable, endemic corruption permeates the whole system. Stories following up on the Katrina catastrophe show that nothing has changed. Billions have been wasted, stolen or remain unaccounted for. The tragedy has been used as a useful crisis to dispossess thousands of New Orleans' poorest residents, privatize the education system and ensure that the wealthy get the benefit of public money.
Canadian Health News
Canadian Government & the Marijuana Game
Health Canada is on the hot seat over its’ handling of medical marijuana, which became available in 2003. It’s reported that individuals with medical prescriptions owe over $500,000 for marijuana received. There are 739 registered users in Canada, who have a variety of health issues, including cancer, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Health Canada provides licenses to certified users, who've been prescribed cannabis by their doctors, and allows them to grow their own, have someone grow it for them, or buy directly from the department. Although people can receive prescriptions from their doctors, and receive the drug from the grower of choice of the Canadian government, Prairie Plant Systems Inc. (based in Flin Flon, Manitoba) marijuana is not covered under medical services plans as a prescription drug.
Health Canada is reported to have paid their producer over $10 million since 2003 and said it plans to stop providing licenses to individuals who can grow their own medicine at home, thus forcing all medical users to buy their supplies directly from the government. Recipients, who are often impoverished, unable to work, on disability and cannot afford to pay the high price charged by Health Canada, which apparently applies a 1500 percent mark up on the product provided by Prairie Plant Systems. Complaints have also been made about the quality of the product grown by the government’s grower, with THC content at 12.5, which is below street sold marijuana. Many of these ill citizens have had to return to the black market for their medication, while Health Canada turns their names over to collection agencies. Some are able to obtain medical marijuana products from Compassion Clubs with the support of their doctors.
Health Canada is on the hot seat over its’ handling of medical marijuana, which became available in 2003. It’s reported that individuals with medical prescriptions owe over $500,000 for marijuana received. There are 739 registered users in Canada, who have a variety of health issues, including cancer, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Health Canada provides licenses to certified users, who've been prescribed cannabis by their doctors, and allows them to grow their own, have someone grow it for them, or buy directly from the department. Although people can receive prescriptions from their doctors, and receive the drug from the grower of choice of the Canadian government, Prairie Plant Systems Inc. (based in Flin Flon, Manitoba) marijuana is not covered under medical services plans as a prescription drug.
Health Canada is reported to have paid their producer over $10 million since 2003 and said it plans to stop providing licenses to individuals who can grow their own medicine at home, thus forcing all medical users to buy their supplies directly from the government. Recipients, who are often impoverished, unable to work, on disability and cannot afford to pay the high price charged by Health Canada, which apparently applies a 1500 percent mark up on the product provided by Prairie Plant Systems. Complaints have also been made about the quality of the product grown by the government’s grower, with THC content at 12.5, which is below street sold marijuana. Many of these ill citizens have had to return to the black market for their medication, while Health Canada turns their names over to collection agencies. Some are able to obtain medical marijuana products from Compassion Clubs with the support of their doctors.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Whistleblowers at ICBC: Can you say 'Tip of the Iceberg'
ICBC concerns never reached the top: report
Management unaware of repaired vehicles sold without disclosing history
Jeff Rud and Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist
Published: Thursday, April 17, 2008
Concerns about activities at an ICBC research and training facility in Burnaby were raised as far back as 2006 but never reached the company's CEO or senior management, according to a document tabled yesterday in the legislature.
A letter from ICBC chairman T. Richard Turner to Solicitor General John van Dongen, tabled yesterday, reveals that "concerns about activities at the Research and Training facility were raised on three separate occasions in 2006 and 2007.
"At the time the issues were identified, they were not escalated to the CEO or to a member of the executive committee," Turner wrote.
The six-page letter provides a summary of the investigation into the ICBC centre, including a detailed chronology. That investigation began after employees presented concerns about the facility's operations to an ICBC Special Investigations Unit officer.
**
Hmmm, I have to call BS on this one. Several managers bought cars and the CEO has hightailed it out at the first hint of problems. The investigators might want to find out if the employees who “presented concerns” are still employed by ICBC, or whether they later ended up receiving disciplinary letters for trumped up charges, were harassed, were fired, or quit. It’s kind of funny, managers and others who cheat and swindle to get sweet deals on cars don’t like it when peon’s start yapping about things like that. And, CEO’s and executives don’t like peons who blow the whistle on their “superiors” either. Maybe the RCMP should go back, hmm, like 7 years.
One of the key things the BC Liberals did was get rid of the CEO of ICBC, Nick Geer
& install their own guy, Paul Taylor. A post from another blog:
#11. In 2004, Nick Geer, former President and CEO, left
ICBC. Supposedly a mutual thing. Uh huh. Why on earth
would we want this guy in charge of our public car insurance?
He only turned ICBC around and had it in the black. He also
thought the citizens of B.C. should be protected by low rates
for car insurance, good service and coverage. He was also
skeptical about a little thing called privatization. Man, we
wouldn’t want to get used to that kind of fore thought in
our government officials, it gets in the way of the money to
be made by the Liberals buddies, the private insurance companies.
Hmm, wonder how much it cost them to get rid of Geer?
***
RCMP to start ICBC investigation
CBC News. April 17th 2008.
George Hancock, spokesperson of the United Auto Trades Association, a group representing auto body and glass shops in B.C., hopes the RCMP investigation will have a broad scope.
"We believe that some of the relationships that ICBC enjoys with organizations in the industry are a little bit too cozy and probably not in the best interests of the people of British Columbia."
Management unaware of repaired vehicles sold without disclosing history
Jeff Rud and Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist
Published: Thursday, April 17, 2008
Concerns about activities at an ICBC research and training facility in Burnaby were raised as far back as 2006 but never reached the company's CEO or senior management, according to a document tabled yesterday in the legislature.
A letter from ICBC chairman T. Richard Turner to Solicitor General John van Dongen, tabled yesterday, reveals that "concerns about activities at the Research and Training facility were raised on three separate occasions in 2006 and 2007.
"At the time the issues were identified, they were not escalated to the CEO or to a member of the executive committee," Turner wrote.
The six-page letter provides a summary of the investigation into the ICBC centre, including a detailed chronology. That investigation began after employees presented concerns about the facility's operations to an ICBC Special Investigations Unit officer.
**
Hmmm, I have to call BS on this one. Several managers bought cars and the CEO has hightailed it out at the first hint of problems. The investigators might want to find out if the employees who “presented concerns” are still employed by ICBC, or whether they later ended up receiving disciplinary letters for trumped up charges, were harassed, were fired, or quit. It’s kind of funny, managers and others who cheat and swindle to get sweet deals on cars don’t like it when peon’s start yapping about things like that. And, CEO’s and executives don’t like peons who blow the whistle on their “superiors” either. Maybe the RCMP should go back, hmm, like 7 years.
One of the key things the BC Liberals did was get rid of the CEO of ICBC, Nick Geer
& install their own guy, Paul Taylor. A post from another blog:
#11. In 2004, Nick Geer, former President and CEO, left
ICBC. Supposedly a mutual thing. Uh huh. Why on earth
would we want this guy in charge of our public car insurance?
He only turned ICBC around and had it in the black. He also
thought the citizens of B.C. should be protected by low rates
for car insurance, good service and coverage. He was also
skeptical about a little thing called privatization. Man, we
wouldn’t want to get used to that kind of fore thought in
our government officials, it gets in the way of the money to
be made by the Liberals buddies, the private insurance companies.
Hmm, wonder how much it cost them to get rid of Geer?
***
RCMP to start ICBC investigation
CBC News. April 17th 2008.
George Hancock, spokesperson of the United Auto Trades Association, a group representing auto body and glass shops in B.C., hopes the RCMP investigation will have a broad scope.
"We believe that some of the relationships that ICBC enjoys with organizations in the industry are a little bit too cozy and probably not in the best interests of the people of British Columbia."
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Trial by Media: When Speculation Turns to Libel
Lots of Support for Merritt Mom
CKNW. 4/15/2008
Friends in Merritt say support is strong for a local woman grieving the loss of her three young children.
The hunt for the killer continues.
The prime suspect is their father, 40 year old Allan Schoenborn.
Friends who set up a trust fund at a Merritt bank for Darcie Clark won't say how much money has been collected.
But they say donations have been coming in from all over BC, and from places like Winnipeg and Yellowknife as well.
**********
Unless I missed a whole lot, such as the completed RCMP investigation, charge assessment, Crown recommending criminal charges, a trial and conviction, media outlets have vastly overstepped themselves & committed libel by openly publishing and broadcasting that Mr. Schoenborn is a “killer.”
It is a hallmark of our criminal justice system and a defendant’s rights (once charged by the Crown) that they are innocent until proven and judged guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case, Mr. Schoenborn is known to suffer from mental illness, it is not a fait accomplait that he actually committed the crime, that he is guilty of anything, or that he would meet the test for being criminally responsible, if he were to have committed any crime. Things are very often not what they seem and because of the shocking and horrifying nature of the deaths of these children, it is easy to understand the thirst for justice, but it cannot include libelous actions on the part of anyone.
Ask yourself, what would you feel like if you were accused, tarred & feathered & found guilty in the court of public opinion and the media before your side could ever be learned. What if you weren't guilty? What if someone else did this to your children? One only has to pick up true crime stories to see that sometimes the most unexpected people do the most unexpected things. Facts and evidence are what count and what matter.
As we can see from the statements made by law enforcement officials below, the media has done a disservice from the start and misinformation has been published, distributed and transmitted about several facts of importance in this case from the very beginning. That should concern everyone, because someday it could be you, or someone you love. How many people's lives have been torn apart by false accusations of abuse? Many.
***
Suspected killer of 3 children in B.C. has violent past: documents
RCMP warn suspect could have reached Alberta already
Last Updated: Monday, April 7, 2008 | CBC News
Police on Monday said earlier media reports that Schoenborn had been found dead in the trailer home along with his three children were wrong.
**
Police release new photos of father of slain Merritt children
Last Updated: Friday, April 11, 2008 |CBC News
Excerpt:
Timeline still uncertain
It's still not clear how long the children were dead before their mother called police.
Linteau said the "time and cause of death" is not something police are willing to release at this time.
"We've never actually released that information. The only thing we have been saying is that contrary to some media reports that she was only gone a few minutes or 10 minutes, we can confirm that information is false," said Linteau.
Linteau did confirm the children's mother, Darcie Clarke, left the home, and Allan Schoenborn was in the trailer alone with his children for a period of time before police were called on Sunday.
Linteau would not reveal how long the children had been dead before their bodies were found, but at a news conference Thursday, RCMP Asst. Commissioner Al Macintyre said it was "considerably earlier" than was reported by Clarke just after 2 p.m. Sunday when Merritt RCMP were called to the mobile home.
At the same news conference, Macintyre would not comment on whether Clarke has been ruled out as a suspect, but later said, "Personally in my heart, I don't see the mother as a suspect. I could be proven wrong afterwards because something else will have been learned or determined."
Police said Clarke is in a safe location "undergoing care," but they will not reveal if she is still at the local hospital or somewhere else, or if she is under police guard.
CKNW. 4/15/2008
Friends in Merritt say support is strong for a local woman grieving the loss of her three young children.
The hunt for the killer continues.
The prime suspect is their father, 40 year old Allan Schoenborn.
Friends who set up a trust fund at a Merritt bank for Darcie Clark won't say how much money has been collected.
But they say donations have been coming in from all over BC, and from places like Winnipeg and Yellowknife as well.
**********
Unless I missed a whole lot, such as the completed RCMP investigation, charge assessment, Crown recommending criminal charges, a trial and conviction, media outlets have vastly overstepped themselves & committed libel by openly publishing and broadcasting that Mr. Schoenborn is a “killer.”
It is a hallmark of our criminal justice system and a defendant’s rights (once charged by the Crown) that they are innocent until proven and judged guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case, Mr. Schoenborn is known to suffer from mental illness, it is not a fait accomplait that he actually committed the crime, that he is guilty of anything, or that he would meet the test for being criminally responsible, if he were to have committed any crime. Things are very often not what they seem and because of the shocking and horrifying nature of the deaths of these children, it is easy to understand the thirst for justice, but it cannot include libelous actions on the part of anyone.
Ask yourself, what would you feel like if you were accused, tarred & feathered & found guilty in the court of public opinion and the media before your side could ever be learned. What if you weren't guilty? What if someone else did this to your children? One only has to pick up true crime stories to see that sometimes the most unexpected people do the most unexpected things. Facts and evidence are what count and what matter.
As we can see from the statements made by law enforcement officials below, the media has done a disservice from the start and misinformation has been published, distributed and transmitted about several facts of importance in this case from the very beginning. That should concern everyone, because someday it could be you, or someone you love. How many people's lives have been torn apart by false accusations of abuse? Many.
***
Suspected killer of 3 children in B.C. has violent past: documents
RCMP warn suspect could have reached Alberta already
Last Updated: Monday, April 7, 2008 | CBC News
Police on Monday said earlier media reports that Schoenborn had been found dead in the trailer home along with his three children were wrong.
**
Police release new photos of father of slain Merritt children
Last Updated: Friday, April 11, 2008 |CBC News
Excerpt:
Timeline still uncertain
It's still not clear how long the children were dead before their mother called police.
Linteau said the "time and cause of death" is not something police are willing to release at this time.
"We've never actually released that information. The only thing we have been saying is that contrary to some media reports that she was only gone a few minutes or 10 minutes, we can confirm that information is false," said Linteau.
Linteau did confirm the children's mother, Darcie Clarke, left the home, and Allan Schoenborn was in the trailer alone with his children for a period of time before police were called on Sunday.
Linteau would not reveal how long the children had been dead before their bodies were found, but at a news conference Thursday, RCMP Asst. Commissioner Al Macintyre said it was "considerably earlier" than was reported by Clarke just after 2 p.m. Sunday when Merritt RCMP were called to the mobile home.
At the same news conference, Macintyre would not comment on whether Clarke has been ruled out as a suspect, but later said, "Personally in my heart, I don't see the mother as a suspect. I could be proven wrong afterwards because something else will have been learned or determined."
Police said Clarke is in a safe location "undergoing care," but they will not reveal if she is still at the local hospital or somewhere else, or if she is under police guard.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Information & Privacy Rights in BC
One thing citizens need to know is that they do have rights where their privacy is concerned when information is collected against them. BC is governed by the
Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act. First step, go to the Information & Privacy website, if you want info about yourself from the BC government, choose public Each Ministry has an Information & Privacy division.
Find the form, identify the information you require. It's a good idea to ask for "any and all" case notes, communications, which includes e-mails and name the actual parties involved. In the case of child protection complaints, or third party information, that will be severed from what is issued. However the files can form part of a civil action against whomever, in addition to the document disclosure (discovery) you can request from the other side. The same all holds true of private businesses, who you apply for information under the:
Personal Information Privacy Act
If information is held by the BC government, citizens can request a correction of the information held on themselves.
Right to request correction of personal information
29 (1) An applicant who believes there is an error or omission in his or her personal information may request the head of the public body that has the information in its custody or under its control to correct the information.
(2) If no correction is made in response to a request under subsection (1), the head of the public body must annotate the information with the correction that was requested but not made.
(3) On correcting or annotating personal information under this section, the head of the public body must notify any other public body or any third party to whom that information has been disclosed during the one year period before the correction was requested.
(4) On being notified under subsection (3) of a correction or annotation of personal information, a public body must make the correction or annotation on any record of that information in its custody or under its control.
Process
First step in doing that is to the parties involved, CC-ing the information & privacy managers of that Ministry. If that does not rectify the situation, you can proceed with a formal complaint to the Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner. It's important to follow the process, as these parties really don't like taking complaints (or sometimes releasing information that is in the individuals, or public's good).
It's also important to be able to have some evidence as to why the information is incorrect.
Accountability
There are vast breaches of information & privacy rights in this province, this article even points out how the government is breaching it's own legislation and sending a "hit list" of people (mostly journalists) who have requested information which is deemed "sensitive" or potentially "embarassing" for the government. As many know, this government is accountable to no-one and there are mistakes made concerning the rights of the public in dealing with governmental organizations all of the time, then they are hidden, covered up, documents also go missing.
This is the Whistleblower piece of the Act, I'm not sure it has any relevance, but it is included. Almost all legislation concerning employment is not really in force in BC these days. As has been demonstrated, the Campbell government aren't big fans of these little things called contracts, as Bill 29 proved.
An interesting FOI request would be how much taxpayers money has been spent in legal fees for cases, such as fighting Bill 29 all the way to the Supreme Court, or even all the civil cases that have been filed against the BC government. Let's just say they've spent A LOT of OUR $$$.
Whistle-blower protection
30.3 An employer, whether or not a public body, must not dismiss, suspend, demote, discipline, harass or otherwise disadvantage an employee of the employer, or deny that employee a benefit, because
(a) the employee, acting in good faith and on the basis of reasonable belief, has notified the minister responsible for this Act under section 30.2,
(b) the employee, acting in good faith and on the basis of reasonable belief, has disclosed to the commissioner that the employer or any other person has contravened or is about to contravene this Act,
(c) the employee, acting in good faith and on the basis of reasonable belief, has done or stated an intention of doing anything that is required to be done in order to avoid having any person contravene this Act,
(d) the employee, acting in good faith and on the basis of reasonable belief, has refused to do or stated an intention of refusing to do anything that is in contravention of this Act, or
(e) the employer believes that an employee will do anything described in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).
Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act. First step, go to the Information & Privacy website, if you want info about yourself from the BC government, choose public Each Ministry has an Information & Privacy division.
Find the form, identify the information you require. It's a good idea to ask for "any and all" case notes, communications, which includes e-mails and name the actual parties involved. In the case of child protection complaints, or third party information, that will be severed from what is issued. However the files can form part of a civil action against whomever, in addition to the document disclosure (discovery) you can request from the other side. The same all holds true of private businesses, who you apply for information under the:
Personal Information Privacy Act
If information is held by the BC government, citizens can request a correction of the information held on themselves.
Right to request correction of personal information
29 (1) An applicant who believes there is an error or omission in his or her personal information may request the head of the public body that has the information in its custody or under its control to correct the information.
(2) If no correction is made in response to a request under subsection (1), the head of the public body must annotate the information with the correction that was requested but not made.
(3) On correcting or annotating personal information under this section, the head of the public body must notify any other public body or any third party to whom that information has been disclosed during the one year period before the correction was requested.
(4) On being notified under subsection (3) of a correction or annotation of personal information, a public body must make the correction or annotation on any record of that information in its custody or under its control.
Process
First step in doing that is to the parties involved, CC-ing the information & privacy managers of that Ministry. If that does not rectify the situation, you can proceed with a formal complaint to the Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner. It's important to follow the process, as these parties really don't like taking complaints (or sometimes releasing information that is in the individuals, or public's good).
It's also important to be able to have some evidence as to why the information is incorrect.
Accountability
There are vast breaches of information & privacy rights in this province, this article even points out how the government is breaching it's own legislation and sending a "hit list" of people (mostly journalists) who have requested information which is deemed "sensitive" or potentially "embarassing" for the government. As many know, this government is accountable to no-one and there are mistakes made concerning the rights of the public in dealing with governmental organizations all of the time, then they are hidden, covered up, documents also go missing.
This is the Whistleblower piece of the Act, I'm not sure it has any relevance, but it is included. Almost all legislation concerning employment is not really in force in BC these days. As has been demonstrated, the Campbell government aren't big fans of these little things called contracts, as Bill 29 proved.
An interesting FOI request would be how much taxpayers money has been spent in legal fees for cases, such as fighting Bill 29 all the way to the Supreme Court, or even all the civil cases that have been filed against the BC government. Let's just say they've spent A LOT of OUR $$$.
Whistle-blower protection
30.3 An employer, whether or not a public body, must not dismiss, suspend, demote, discipline, harass or otherwise disadvantage an employee of the employer, or deny that employee a benefit, because
(a) the employee, acting in good faith and on the basis of reasonable belief, has notified the minister responsible for this Act under section 30.2,
(b) the employee, acting in good faith and on the basis of reasonable belief, has disclosed to the commissioner that the employer or any other person has contravened or is about to contravene this Act,
(c) the employee, acting in good faith and on the basis of reasonable belief, has done or stated an intention of doing anything that is required to be done in order to avoid having any person contravene this Act,
(d) the employee, acting in good faith and on the basis of reasonable belief, has refused to do or stated an intention of refusing to do anything that is in contravention of this Act, or
(e) the employer believes that an employee will do anything described in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Yah, That's showing Her, er, um...
Senior Mountie found in contempt of Parliament
Jack Aubry, Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, April 10, 2008
OTTAWA - The RCMP's deputy commissioner, who has been found in contempt of Parliament, will not face any penalties such as jail time or financial fines, even though MPs believe she deliberately misled a parliamentary committee, the chairman of the all-party public accounts committee says.
Liberal MP Shawn Murphy, who received unanimous support Thursday from the House of Commons for a motion of concurrence on a recent committee report that found George in contempt, said MPs are satisfied with the "public rebuke" of the high-level officer even though harsher penalties are allowed under the legislature's arcane rules.
"It is now up to the commissioner to decide how to deal with the matter. We didn't want to over-dramatize it but we did want to send a message that this was not acceptable," said Murphy.
RCMP's deputy commissioner, Barbara George.
The parliamentary procedure began in February when the 12-member public accounts committee voted unanimously to recommend George be cited for contempt, asserting she deliberately misled MPs. The committee members had taken issue with George's testimony, in which she told MPs with "absolute finality" she did not have "anything whatsoever to do" with allegations a Mountie investigating the misappropriation of RCMP pension funds was removed from the file.
George was given the opportunity to explain during a two-hour appearance before the committee in December after e-mails and other testimony later contradicted her. George, however, has vehemently denied she misled the committee.
In line with the committee's recommendations, Murphy's motion stated: "no further action" should be taken against George since being found in contempt by the House of Commons "is in itself a very serious sanction."
Meanwhile, in a statement released shortly after the motion was passed, the RCMP said it was aware of the motion and "takes this very seriously." Noting the contempt finding is "unprecedented in recent history," the force said it is considering the matter "to determine any appropriate action on the part of the RCMP."
An RCMP spokesperson said the force did not expect to make any further statements on the matter on Thursday.
MPs have commented George's mistake was in her refusal to apologize once the committee had ruled.
George is currently on leave but is still an RCMP_employee.
Involving mismanagement, nepotism, questionable expense claims and contracts, the RCMP_pension scandal has tarnished the reputation of the police force ever since the story broke in 2003. A federal investigation concluded last year that former RCMP_Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli harmed the public trust by allowing the controversy to drag out over the years.
Zaccardelli denied there was any cover-up while George was the only senior Mountie suspended in connection with the scandal.
The 200 edition of "House of Commons Procedure and Practice", as edited by Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit, said the "Canadian approach" to such contempt cases features a "reluctance to invoke the House's authority to reprimand, admonish or imprison anyone found to have trampled its dignity or authority."
The book said there have been "very few cases" in Canadian practice where the House has recommended a punishment.
© Canwest News Service 2008
******************
Yet another high level bureaucrat who gets off "scot free" from any meaningful consequences, what a message it sends, we told her... and everyone else that pesky little things like ethics, policies and procedures and speaking to the Parliament of your country don’t mean a thing to those of us who are “above” anyone else. Or, is she the mark for someone else? Hmmm. In any event, this is all just foolish. Now I wonder what happened to people who stepped up & blew the whistle, Mr. Lewis being the primary? Oh yah, one got FIRED. Isn’t there something really wrong with this picture? Oh and by the way, what exactly was done with the RCMP pension plan? If it was the rest of us, we’d be out the door, but not in our fair Canada, she’s back. So I guess a a case couldn't be made so … back to the trenches. Or, just took her lumps for brass like a good girl, or to make life easier.
*********************
The Commons public accounts committee is holding an emergency in-camera session today after testimony yesterday on Parliament Hill about corruption, cronyism and cover-ups at the force’s highest levels concerning the RCMP pension plan.
Five RCMP officers and a whistle-blower who lost her job accused the force’s senior management, led by former commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli, of corruption, and of derailing an investigation into the misappropriation of funds from the Mounties’ pension plan. One MP, Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj, said in an interview that the Liberals will be calling for a public inquiry into the allegations.
Last night, officials said the Mounties’ acting commissioner, Beverley Busson, announced deputy commissioner Barbara George had stepped down as head of RCMP human resources, as well as the senior executive committee. At the same time, an RCMP deputy commissioner has resigned her post as head of the forces’ human resources department.
http://totalrecoil.wordpress.com/category/rcmp/
Boohoo. Can you hear my violin.
Mountie felt ‘condemned’ before hearings
Jessica Leeder, Ottawa (Globe and Mail) - A high-ranking Mountie who could be cited for contempt of Parliament says she has been misunderstood by a parliamentary committee that has been misled by RCMP whistleblowers.
Deputy Commissioner Barbara George testified under oath before the House of Commons public accounts committee three times last year in an effort to counter allegations she tried to block an investigator looking into the force’s pension scandal from probing her department and exploring whether she herself was involved.
Ms. George said once she learned of the close relationship between the Mounties who blew the whistle and committee members (Staff Sergeant Ron Lewis, for example, told The Globe and Mail he wrote the questions Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj used to grill Ms. George at committee hearings) she began to feel attempts to clear her name at subsequent hearings would be futile.
Jack Aubry, Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, April 10, 2008
OTTAWA - The RCMP's deputy commissioner, who has been found in contempt of Parliament, will not face any penalties such as jail time or financial fines, even though MPs believe she deliberately misled a parliamentary committee, the chairman of the all-party public accounts committee says.
Liberal MP Shawn Murphy, who received unanimous support Thursday from the House of Commons for a motion of concurrence on a recent committee report that found George in contempt, said MPs are satisfied with the "public rebuke" of the high-level officer even though harsher penalties are allowed under the legislature's arcane rules.
"It is now up to the commissioner to decide how to deal with the matter. We didn't want to over-dramatize it but we did want to send a message that this was not acceptable," said Murphy.
RCMP's deputy commissioner, Barbara George.
The parliamentary procedure began in February when the 12-member public accounts committee voted unanimously to recommend George be cited for contempt, asserting she deliberately misled MPs. The committee members had taken issue with George's testimony, in which she told MPs with "absolute finality" she did not have "anything whatsoever to do" with allegations a Mountie investigating the misappropriation of RCMP pension funds was removed from the file.
George was given the opportunity to explain during a two-hour appearance before the committee in December after e-mails and other testimony later contradicted her. George, however, has vehemently denied she misled the committee.
In line with the committee's recommendations, Murphy's motion stated: "no further action" should be taken against George since being found in contempt by the House of Commons "is in itself a very serious sanction."
Meanwhile, in a statement released shortly after the motion was passed, the RCMP said it was aware of the motion and "takes this very seriously." Noting the contempt finding is "unprecedented in recent history," the force said it is considering the matter "to determine any appropriate action on the part of the RCMP."
An RCMP spokesperson said the force did not expect to make any further statements on the matter on Thursday.
MPs have commented George's mistake was in her refusal to apologize once the committee had ruled.
George is currently on leave but is still an RCMP_employee.
Involving mismanagement, nepotism, questionable expense claims and contracts, the RCMP_pension scandal has tarnished the reputation of the police force ever since the story broke in 2003. A federal investigation concluded last year that former RCMP_Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli harmed the public trust by allowing the controversy to drag out over the years.
Zaccardelli denied there was any cover-up while George was the only senior Mountie suspended in connection with the scandal.
The 200 edition of "House of Commons Procedure and Practice", as edited by Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit, said the "Canadian approach" to such contempt cases features a "reluctance to invoke the House's authority to reprimand, admonish or imprison anyone found to have trampled its dignity or authority."
The book said there have been "very few cases" in Canadian practice where the House has recommended a punishment.
© Canwest News Service 2008
******************
Yet another high level bureaucrat who gets off "scot free" from any meaningful consequences, what a message it sends, we told her... and everyone else that pesky little things like ethics, policies and procedures and speaking to the Parliament of your country don’t mean a thing to those of us who are “above” anyone else. Or, is she the mark for someone else? Hmmm. In any event, this is all just foolish. Now I wonder what happened to people who stepped up & blew the whistle, Mr. Lewis being the primary? Oh yah, one got FIRED. Isn’t there something really wrong with this picture? Oh and by the way, what exactly was done with the RCMP pension plan? If it was the rest of us, we’d be out the door, but not in our fair Canada, she’s back. So I guess a a case couldn't be made so … back to the trenches. Or, just took her lumps for brass like a good girl, or to make life easier.
*********************
The Commons public accounts committee is holding an emergency in-camera session today after testimony yesterday on Parliament Hill about corruption, cronyism and cover-ups at the force’s highest levels concerning the RCMP pension plan.
Five RCMP officers and a whistle-blower who lost her job accused the force’s senior management, led by former commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli, of corruption, and of derailing an investigation into the misappropriation of funds from the Mounties’ pension plan. One MP, Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj, said in an interview that the Liberals will be calling for a public inquiry into the allegations.
Last night, officials said the Mounties’ acting commissioner, Beverley Busson, announced deputy commissioner Barbara George had stepped down as head of RCMP human resources, as well as the senior executive committee. At the same time, an RCMP deputy commissioner has resigned her post as head of the forces’ human resources department.
http://totalrecoil.wordpress.com/category/rcmp/
Boohoo. Can you hear my violin.
Mountie felt ‘condemned’ before hearings
Jessica Leeder, Ottawa (Globe and Mail) - A high-ranking Mountie who could be cited for contempt of Parliament says she has been misunderstood by a parliamentary committee that has been misled by RCMP whistleblowers.
Deputy Commissioner Barbara George testified under oath before the House of Commons public accounts committee three times last year in an effort to counter allegations she tried to block an investigator looking into the force’s pension scandal from probing her department and exploring whether she herself was involved.
Ms. George said once she learned of the close relationship between the Mounties who blew the whistle and committee members (Staff Sergeant Ron Lewis, for example, told The Globe and Mail he wrote the questions Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj used to grill Ms. George at committee hearings) she began to feel attempts to clear her name at subsequent hearings would be futile.
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