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Business, News

Bob Mackin

An adjudicator has ordered the taxpayer-owned operator of B.C. Place Stadium to reveal more information about the promises made to FIFA.

In an Aug. 19 ruling, Jay Fedorak from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) rejected pleadings by B.C. Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) to keep portions of correspondence, a questionnaire and the host stadium contract secret.

PavCo said it feared disclosure of more information to theBreaker.news about the 2026 World Cup would harm law enforcement and public safety, intergovernmental relations and the business interests of FIFA.

The centre-hung videoboard at BC Place, to be replaced in early 2025 (Mackin)

What the adjudicator said

“It is clear that the province has particular goals for these negotiations, and it is possible that premature disclosure of these goals may negatively impact its ability to achieve them. However, regardless of how this might affect the outcome of these particular negotiations, it is not evident that disclosure would also go so far as to damage the conduct of relations between the two levels of government.”

The one area where Fedorak agreed with PavCo was about protecting information that could harm the Crown corporation’s financial interests. But he dismissed PavCo’s wish to keep rental costs secret because PavCo recycled the same failed arguments from previous cases.

“Disclosing terms for one event would not compromise negotiations for another.”

What next

PavCo, which is spending $109 million to renovate B.C. Place to meet FIFA requirements, is required to comply with Fedorak’s order by Oct. 2.

The decision follows a ruling that saw the July 15 release of City of Vancouver’s host city contract with FIFA to theBreaker.news after Mayor Ken Sim errantly claimed it could not be released due to a non-disclosure agreement.

B.C. Place is hosting seven World Cup matches from June 13-July 7, 2026.

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Bob Mackin An adjudicator has ordered the taxpayer-owned

Business, News, Sports

Bob Mackin

The same day that Premier David Eby began the NDP re-election campaign last September, he secretly signed an agreement to give the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation at least $600,000, an undefined quantity of FIFA World Cup 26 match tickets and passes, and a pavilion at the PNE’s FIFA Fan Festival.

The memorandum of understanding was not revealed publicly until June 27 and quietly published a month later on a government website without notification.

None of the details contained in the Sept. 20, 2024 agreement was disclosed to reporters on June 27 at the Musqueam reserve, where Eby and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim posed for photos with leaders of the tribes, collectively known as the MST Nations.

Premier David Eby (left) on June 27 at the Musqueam soccer pitch with Squamish Nation spokesperson Wilson Williams and Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow. (BC Gov/YouTube)

What is and what isn’t in the deal

Besides the money, tickets and pavilion, the agreement states that, subject to FIFA-dictated limitations, the MST Nations wish to collaborate with the governments and FIFA on planning, staging and hosting the World Cup and receive benefits and opportunities in return.

The agreement does not require the MST Nations to pay any costs toward the event. It states Eby, Sim and chiefs are part of a leadership committee to oversee a technical committee involving tribal staff and executive directors from the two governments.

The technical table may establish a working group to lobby the federal government and FIFA for “investments and resources.”

The MOU is not legally binding, except for section 14, the clause to keep information confidential, “whether or not marked confidential.”

Mark your calendar, watch the costs rise

B.C. Place Stadium is hosting seven World Cup matches from June 13-July 7, 2026. The fan festival at the PNE is daily from June 11-July 19, 2026.

Hosting World Cup matches in Vancouver is costing taxpayers $624 million under the most-recent estimate.

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Bob Mackin The same day that Premier David

News, Opinion

For the week of Aug. 17, 2025:

Eight years ago this week, a handful of anti-immigration protesters was greeted by an estimated 4,000 counter-protesters outside Vancouver city hall. There was mainstream consensus that Canada was open to newcomers, to help build the country. 

Fast-forward to 2025. Canadians are rethinking their attitudes toward immigration, driven by declines in healthcare, education and housing affordability. 

Around four-in-10 respondents to a new poll by Research Co say immigration is having a negative effect on the country. More than half those aged 55 and up want less immigration, followed by 40% of respondents aged 35-to-54. 

Research Co president Mario Canseco joins host Bob Mackin.

Plus, the 115th PNE Fair is on until Labour Day. One of the featured attractions is the Sands of Wonder sand sculpture exhibit, featuring world-renowned artists from Taiwan, Ukraine and elsewhere. 

The curator of the PNE exhibit, David Billings, has made a living for 35 years in sand art around the world. The creative director of Sandemons Sand Sculpture Co., is also Mackin’s guest.   

As usual, Pacific Rim and Pacific Northwest headlines and the Virtual Nanaimo Bar.

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For the week of Aug. 17, 2025:

Business, News

Bob Mackin

A critic of Metro Vancouver is calling the regional government “beyond tone deaf” for spending another six figures on a display at the PNE Fair, which begins Aug. 16.

After the media preview tour of fair attractions, theBreaker.news noticed crews setting up the Metro Vancouver exhibit on Aug. 14.

Metro Vancouver confirmed that it is spending $450,000 on the exhibit during the 15-day fair, which runs through Labour Day.

“They’ve been spending tax dollars like it’s going out of style over the past number of years,” said Daniel Fontaine, a New Westminister city councillor. “For an organization that is facing, effectively, a financial crisis, given what’s happening at the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, spending over $400,000 on this type of promotion is just beyond tone deaf.”

Metro’s strategy

Jennifer Saltman, the senior media relations strategist, told theBreaker.news that Metro Vancouver’s spending at the PNE “covers materials, equipment, labour, staffing, performers and the sponsorship fee. The sponsorship fee, which is $98,000, includes promotion and use of the site where the activation is set up.”

Metro Vancouver claims the exhibit is more cost-effective than open houses and advertising campaigns in promoting the regional government’s waste reduction, water conservation and affordable housing programs.

“Metro Vancouver is not receiving free tickets or paying for tickets to concerts or on-site events,” Saltman said.

Why it matters

Metro Vancouver is under fire for hiking taxes to pay the $3 billion cost overrun at the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant construction site in North Vancouver and high salaries and expenses for politicians and managers.

NDP Premier David Eby has refused to order a public inquiry into the sewage project.

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Bob Mackin A critic of Metro Vancouver is

Business, Miscellany, News, Sports

Bob Mackin

FIFA, which projects US$13 billion in 2023 to 2026 revenue, is looking for 3,000 people to volunteer their time to work in Vancouver during the 2026 World Cup.

theBreaker.news has confirmed that the head of Vancouver’s FIFA 26 secretariat billed taxpayers $128,500 during four of the first five months of 2025.

Documents obtained under freedom of information show that Jessie Adcock invoiced Vancouver city hall $39,300 in January, $37,500 in March, $33,750 in April and $18,000 in May.

FIFA vice-president Vic Montagliani (left), FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Vancouver host city committee lead Jessie Adcock, Oct. 15, 2024 at B.C. Place Stadium (FIFA)

Neither Adcock nor Natasha Qereshniku, the communications lead for the FIFA secretariat, responded to explain the relatively smaller amount of Adcock’s May invoice.

City’s $300/hour organizer

Through her company, Adcock Capital and Advisory Services, Adcock received $469,804 for all of 2024. That is higher than the $397,354 published in the April-released, annual statement of financial information. Qereshniku previously explained that payments for November and December 2024 were made after the 2024 accounting close-out.

Adcock’s contract was originally set Jan. 8, 2024 at $300-per-hour for an average 25 hours a week and a $270,000 cap through October 2024. However, the deal was quietly extended in July 2024 through the end of the World Cup wind-down phase in September 2026.

Who is Adcock

The former HSBC executive spent eight years in senior roles at city hall from 2013 to 2021, heading the technology and development and licensing departments.

She took a break in 2015 to run unsuccessfully for Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party in the Port Moody-Coquitlam riding. She joined the federal bureaucracy in 2022. First as CEO of the Canadian Digital Service, then as senior assistant deputy minister of the Treasury Board Secretariat and senior advisor to the chief information officer.

More big bucks

Meanwhile, the secretariat’s volunteer program lead Alyssa Reyes will be paid $146,000 over 14 months.

FIFA paid president Gianni Infantino almost US$3 million in 2024.

West Vancouverite Victor Montagliani is a vice-president of FIFA, by virtue of being president of CONCACAF. FIFA’s North and Central American and Caribbean zone reported paying Montagliani almost US$2.9 million in 2023

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Bob Mackin FIFA, which projects US$13 billion in

Miscellany, News, Sports

It’s Vancouver’s number one annual sports festival and the setting could not be any better than Kitsilano Beach.

theBreaker.news caught up with KitsFest co-founder Howard Kelsey on Aug. 10 — the last day of 2025’s four-day festival. 

Kelsey is already beginning to plan for 2026. 

 

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It's Vancouver's number one annual sports festival

News, Opinion

For the week of Aug. 10, 2025:

What a time to turn 20 for the 2005-founded Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University. 

Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada is testing relationships on both sides of the longest, undefended border on the planet. At a time when Canada and the United States need to work together. 

Laurie Trautman is the director of the Border Policy Research Institute and co-chairs the border issues working group with the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region. 

Trautman joins host Bob Mackin from Bellingham, Wash. on this edition of thePodcast, to talk Trump, trade, transportation, security and soccer. 

Vancouver and Seattle are FIFA World Cup co-hosts next year: Will they be ready to welcome the world?

As usual, Pacific Rim and Pacific Northwest headlines and the Virtual Nanaimo Bar.

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For the week of Aug. 10, 2025:

Business, News

Bob Mackin

A video on WeChat shows British Columbia’s highest-profile foreign diplomat — who represents Canada’s biggest adversary — breaking the news of his departure to supporters of the Chinese Communist government.

People’s Republic of China Consul-General Yang Shu addressed the sombre room of Canadian Alliance of Chinese Associations (CACA) leaders in Richmond. CACA is an umbrella group for more than 100 pro-China business and cultural societies in B.C.

Seated with former chair Chen Yongtao to his right and current chair Chu Yuanzheng to his left, Yang spoke in Mandarin and encouraged them to be “civilian ambassadors.”

Who’s there

Also in attendance: “dollar store king” Johnny Fong, Dawa News publisher Zaixin Ma, ex-CACA chair Xue Xiaomei and ex-vice chair Maria Xu. Yang was accompanied by staff from the consulate, including Chen Qingjie, director for the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, which runs activities for the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) United Front propaganda and influence program.

The video appears to have been shot five days before Yang’s Aug. 2 farewell letter on the consulate website.

What Hogue said

In the final report of the Foreign Interference public inquiry, Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue said China relies on proxies, individuals and organizations so that it can be “the most active perpetrator of foreign interference targeting Canada’s democratic institutions. The PRC views Canada as a high-priority target.”

Who’s next

Zhi Zeng, the vice-consul general, made his first appearance Aug. 3 as the acting consul general during a tribute banquet to Norman Bethune, the late Canadian doctor that Mao Zedong hailed as a revolutionary hero.

Expect whoever becomes Yang’s permanent replacement to exploit the Canada-U.S. trade war for the CCP’s gain.

Global Affairs Canada’s May 2025 directory showed 24 diplomats stationed at the Vancouver Chinese consulate. By comparison, the United States had 17 diplomats.

The directory did not list support staff or contractors.

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Bob Mackin A video on WeChat shows British

News

Bob Mackin

B.C. Emergency Health Services took one patient to hospital on Aug. 3 in stable condition after the Harbour Princess ran aground off West Vancouver’s Point Atkinson.

Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria told theBreaker.news that it received the call at 11:30 a.m.

“JRCC Victoria dispatched a hovercraft from Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Station Kitsilano 1 and the CCG Ship Laredo Sound, along with CCG auxiliary boats 1 and 2,” said public information officer Capt. Pedram Mohyeddin. “The Vancouver Police boat Larry Young was also dispatched to the area in addition to the many civilian boats that answered the mayday.”

Before 12:21 p.m., the Harbour Princess had been towed away from eastern Point Atkinson and was moving with its own power.

Seen and heard

The captain of the Harbour Princess told a CCG radio dispatcher that 56 people were on board and two were injured.

theBreaker.news found the Harbour Princess and rescue vessels off the foot of 31st Street in West Vancouver at 12:30 p.m. The hovercraft soon departed southward.

Patient transfer

Four ambulances and a supervisor met the hovercraft at West Spanish Banks in Vancouver and transported the patient to hospital, according to Jenny Peng of Provincial Health Services Authority.

Harbour Princess returned under its own power, but with escort vessels, to dock in Coal Harbour.

More on the Harbour Princess

Part of the Harbour Cruises charter fleet, the 1983-built vessel is 150-feet long, seats up to 180 passengers and can hold 275 standing.

Harbour Cruises has not immediately responded for comment.

Its website advertises three-hour brunch cruises on weekends, launching at 10:30 a.m., for $79 to $149 each.

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Bob Mackin B.C. Emergency Health Services took one

News, Opinion

For the week of Aug. 3, 2025:

On British Columbia Day weekend, a time to enjoy the parks, forests, mountains, lakes and rivers of B.C. Where 95% of land is owned by the province.

The Public Land Use Society is concerned about the NDP government bypassing the First Nations treaty process and the Legislature to make land management deals that cut public access to public land. It already happened at the popular and picturesque Joffre Lakes.

Public Land Use Society executive director Warren Mirko is Bob Mackin’s guest on this edition of thePodcast.

As usual, Pacific Rim and Pacific Northwest headlines and the Virtual Nanaimo Bar.

CLICK BELOW to listen. Or go to TuneIn, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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For the week of Aug. 3, 2025:

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About Us

theBreaker.news and theBreaker.news Podcast: your source for news, opinion and analysis about British Columbia issues, institutions and influencers.

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