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Briefly: Vancouver taxpayers (and, ultimately, B.C. taxpayers)

Will British Columbians get to see Eby’s real mandate letters?

Briefly: Supreme Court of Canada decided cabinet mandate letters are protected from disclosure, after B.C. government lawyers intervened in Ontario’s Supreme Court challenge.

Bob Mackin

British Columbia has a new cabinet, but the Nov. 18-sworn NDP ministers do not have their mandate letters.

Premier David Eby said they are delayed while his single-seat majority NDP forges an alliance with the two Green MLAs.

B.C. Premier David Eby (left) and Ontario Premier Doug Ford at the 2024 Premiers’ meeting in Halifax (Canada’s Premiers/Flickr)

Eby said after the Government House ceremony that the post-Oct. 19 election priorities are housing affordability, healthcare, community safety and economic growth.

“That is the consistent set of priorities for every single minister for the detailed mandate letters,” Eby told reporters, without setting a date for publishing the letters.

Will it be a case of one set of mandate letters for cabinet eyes only and another version for public consumption?

Under the freedom of information law, a CBC reporter unsuccessfully sought Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s marching orders for his ministers after the 2018 election. The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario intervened and ordered their release. But Ford’s government appealed.

Last February, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Ontario’s cabinet mandate letters would stay secret because releasing them would reveal the substance of deliberations of cabinet, which relies on confidentiality.

The judge who wrote the majority decision, Justice Andromache Karakatsanis, was the cabinet secretary under Ontario Premier Mike Harris from 2000 to 2002. Vincent Gogolek, the former executive director of the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, called it a win for government secrecy.

Three B.C. government lawyers intervened in the case. They filed their statement with the Supreme Court the week after Eby became premier in November 2022.

B.C. officially took no position specific to Ford’s mandate letters, but agreed with Ontario, “that statutory protections for cabinet information and documents should be widely construed.”

“The [Ford cabinet] mandate letters were not publicly disclosed or prepared for the public’s consumption as a public relations document, and there is evidence that they were handed out at a cabinet meeting and appeared on the cabinet meeting agenda,” said the B.C. government submission.

In 2001, Gordon Campbell was the first B.C. premier to issue mandate letters. Campbell also briefly held open meetings of the BC Liberal cabinet.

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Briefly: Supreme Court of Canada decided cabinet

Kenny Chiu on comeback trail, aims to take back seat from Trudeau Liberal Bains

Briefly: Foreign interference led to Conservative MP’s 2021 defeat

Bob Mackin

Conservative Kenny Chiu wants to return to Ottawa as the Steveston-Richmond East MP in 2025.

The 2019-elected Chiu was upset in the 2021 election by Liberal rookie Parm Bains, whose campaign benefitted from supporters of the Chinese Communist Party.

An invitation to a Nov. 23 lunch in Steveston said Chiu is recruiting new party members, volunteers and donors to his nomination campaign. Chiu supported Pierre Poilievre’s winning leadership campaign in 2022.

Kenny Chiu at David Lam Park during the June 4, 2024 Tiananmen Square Massacre memorial (Mackin)

Before the 2021 election, Chiu proposed a registry of foreign agents, supported the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement and voted to declare China was committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims. China retaliated by adding him to its sanctions list.

Documents tabled in September at the Hogue Commission on foreign interference from the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections said the People’s Republic of China government gave “the impetus and direction” for the successful campaign to defeat Chiu and his party in the 2021 election. Investigators, however, said they did not have enough evidence to file Canada Elections Act charges for undue foreign influence, intimidation, unregistered third party or use of foreign funds.

Also named on the invitation for the Ember Kitchen event is Richmond Coun. Chak Au, who is seeking the Conservative nomination for the new Richmond Centre-Marpole riding. Trudeau Liberal rookie Wilson Miao upset incumbent Conservative Alice Wong in the Richmond Centre riding in 2021.

Au, first elected to Richmond city council in 2011, was courted by the BC Liberals before the 2017 provincial election, but ran for the B.C. NDP and lost to Linda Reid in Richmond-South Centre. He donated $700 to the B.C. NDP and $1,288 to the federal Conservatives in 2023.

In Richmond’s 2022 civic election, Au topped the polls for the eight city councillor seats with 16,515 votes.

Au has gained attention for attending many events over the years involving Chinese consular officials and their supporters. One of them was an October 2021 ceremony at Jack Poole Plaza to promote the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

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Briefly: Foreign interference led to Conservative MP’s

WATCH: Helicopter logging in Stanley Park

The latest phase of the $18 million Stanley Park logging operation lifted-off Nov. 19.

Two helicopters from Black Tusk Helicopter Inc. are using the Prospect Point Picnic Area as a temporary landing and refuelling site. Their job is to pick-up logs felled on the cliffs above the Stanley Park Seawall, between Third Beach and Prospect Point. The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation says they will fly only between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Park Board said the logging is necessary due to the Hemlock looper moth infestation and wildfire fears. Contractor B.A. Blackwell and Associates estimated the pest affected 160,000 trees in the park.

In the Stanley Park Preservation Society’s unsuccessful court bid to halt the logging, a lawyer for city hall said another 30 hectares will be logged this fall and winter.

Blackwell estimates it will chop down 6,000 trees — of which 2,000 are greater than 20 centimetres in diameter. Last fall and winter, Blackwell subcontractors took down more than 7,200 trees.

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The latest phase of the $18 million

A baker’s dozen facts about the new NDP cabinet

Briefly: B.C. Premier David Eby trades health and energy ministers. Meanwhile, solicitor general now B.C.’s transportation and transit czar.

Bob Mackin

Two years after he assumed the British Columbia premiership from John Horgan, David Eby named his post-election cabinet on Nov. 18 at Government House in Victoria.

Premier David Eby takes the oath of office on Nov. 18 (BC Gov/YouTube)

The NDP cabinet totals 28 (24 ministers and four ministers of state), plus another 14 parliamentary secretaries in the 47-seat caucus.

Some highlights of who is in and who is out.

1: There’s a new JEDI in town

New Finance minister Brenda Bailey (Vancouver-Granville South) is the old Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation minister. Rookie Diana Gibson (Oak Bay-Gordon Head) takes over from Bailey.

2: Minister of State for Rest of B.C.

Brittny Anderson (Nelson-Creston) is Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities, the only cabinet member for the interior.

3: Dirt Ministry Rookies

Environment and Parks: Tamara Davidson (North Coast-Haida Gwaii); Forests: Ravi Parmar (Langford-Juan de Fuca); and Water, Land and Resource Stewardship: Randene Neill (Powell River-Sunshine Coast).

4: Minister of Getting On-Time, On-Budget

Bowinn Ma (North Vancouver-Lonsdale) was transferred from Emergency Management and Climate Readiness to Infrastructure, a new ministry described as: “Responsible for major capital project planning, procurement and delivery for things such as schools, post-secondary institutions, court houses, correctional facilities and health facilities.”

Every major transportation, healthcare and utility development in the province is either late, over budget or both.

Ma’s riding happens to be the site of B.C.’s biggest public infrastructure problem, Metro Vancouver’s $3.86 billion North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant — which will cost another $3 billion and is scheduled to be delivered 10 years late in 2030.

5: Steveston standing

Kelly Greene is the last NDP MLA in Richmond, which relies on dikes to protect from floods. First elected in 2020, she succeeds Ma as the Emergency Management and Climate Readiness minister.

6: Comeback

Lana Popham (Saanich South) is out of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, and back to Agriculture and Food after the defeat of Pam Alexis (Abbotsford-Mission).

Popham’s portfolio includes the Buy BC program that promotes B.C. food and beverage products. While she signed the oath book at the Nov. 18 ceremony, Popham was flanked by bottles of Perrier.

“All Perrier products are bottled at source in Vergèze in south or France before being shipped to Canada,” says the Perrier website.

7: Minister of FIFA

Spencer Chandra Herbert (Vancouver-West End) becomes the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, responsible for the FIFA World Cup 26 in Vancouver.

During his time in opposition, Chandra Herbert was the NDP critic of the B.C. Pavilion Corporation, which runs B.C. Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre. Now he is in charge of the province’s two biggest tourism magnets.

8: Bye-bye, Brenda?

Mike Farnworth is no longer Solicitor-General.

His biggest headache in recent years was the Surrey policing saga. Despite the protests from Mayor Brenda Locke, he mandated Surrey switch from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service. It’s one of the reasons why the NDP has only four seats in Surrey after the election.

Now he’ll get letters from Locke about the late Pattullo Bridge and Surrey-Langley SkyTrain projects.

9: Crime-fighting duo

Ex-Mountie Garry Begg and his 22-vote victory in Surrey-Guildford earned him a promotion from caucus whip to solicitor general. He’ll be aided by former Vancouver Police officer Terry Yung (Vancouver-Yaletown), now minister of state for public safety.

10: Minister of Site C

After seven-and-a-half years in the Ministry of Health (including the pandemic), Adrian Dix (Vancouver-Kingsway) becomes the Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions.

It’s a straight-up portfolio trade with Josie Osborne (Mid-Island-Pacific Rim), now Minister of Health. The standalone Mental Health and Addictions portfolio is folded into health.

Dix famously lost the 2013 election for the NDP after he announced his opposition to the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion.

Mining gets its own ministry, under Jagrup Brar (Surrey-Fleetwood).

11: Task master

Ravi Kahlon (Delta-North) adds Municipal Affairs to his Housing portfolio. Before the election, Kahlon imposed new laws on local governments, demanding they deregulate and accelerate housing construction. He also removed the requirement for most development public hearings.

12: What’s it all worth?

MLAs are paid a $119,532.72 base per-year. Eby gets a 90% top-up ($107,579.45), while Ministers get another $59,766.37. Ministers of State ($41,836.46) and Parliamentary Secretaries ($17,929.91) also receive higher pay.

13: In case you’re wondering

theBreaker.news thePodcast guest Alan Mullen and host Bob Mackin correctly predicted six cabinet appointments each during the special Nov. 17 edition of the podcast.

Click and listen here.

Mullen is expected to officially claim the title when Raj Chouhan is returned as speaker.

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Briefly: B.C. Premier David Eby trades health

Vancouver company to produce $20 million FIFA Fan Festival at new PNE venue

Briefly: For FIFA 26 fan fest, Vancouver hires local company Brand Live, whose credits include annual fireworks, 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. events

Bob Mackin

Vancouver city council is expected to rubber-stamp Brand Live Management Group as the producer of the $20 million FIFA Fan Festival at Hastings Park during the 2026 World Cup.

A report to the Nov. 27 meeting of the Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities recommends the city negotiate with Brand Live a fixed-price of contract of almost $1.48 million plus a variable component of 7.5% for additional project planning and delivery costs.

The PNE’s Freedom Mobile Arch amphitheatre construction site in August 2024 (Mackin)

Brand Live’s credits include the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks, Canada Together Canada Day festival at Canada Place, events for the Whitecaps and Lions, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 Fan Zone at Larwill Park.

The report from the city’s chief procurement officer, Alexander Ralph, said that Brand Live offered the “best overall value” proposal after a two-stage process that began last spring.

Six companies were shortlisted from the 33 that responded. Brand Live and three others submitted proposals to the final stage by Sept. 4.

Second Dimension International Ltd., Patrick Roberge Productions Inc. and IMG were the unsuccessful bidders.

FIFA host cities are required to provide an official public viewing area during the tournament. The PNE grounds are expected to be open for all 39 days of the tournament and host watch parties for thousands of fans.

The festival’s centrepiece is expected to be the PNE’s $135 million Freedom Mobile Arch amphitheatre, a project that has more than doubled in price.

During the two-year term, Brand Live is expected to provide “a turnkey solution for the creative concept, programming content, infrastructure, equipment, mobilization/build, operational delivery and overall management of the FIFA Fan Festival.”

Vancouver is one of 16 host cities for the 48-nation tournament. Seven matches are scheduled for B.C. Place Stadium from June 13-July 7, 2026. The B.C. NDP government said last spring that it could cost taxpayers $581 million in operational and capital costs to subsidize FIFA, one of the world’s richest sporting organizations.

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Briefly: For FIFA 26 fan fest, Vancouver

News, Opinion

thePodcast: South Vancouver park neighbours say FIFA not welcome

For the week of Nov. 24, 2024:

The FIFA World Cup 26 is coming to Vancouver and 15 other cities in 18 months.

But, for one neighbourhood in Vancouver, it is starting in January 2025.

That is when the heart of Memorial South Park is scheduled to close, so it can be transformed into a practice facility for teams assigned to play at B.C. Place Stadium in June and July 2026. A decision announced, without public consultation, in the middle of last July.

Guests Cindy Heinrichs and Beth Ringdahl of Friends of Memorial South Park tell host Bob Mackin why they don’t want city hall and the park board to hand control of their community park to FIFA.

Plus, how did guest Alan Mullen and host Mackin do in predicting Premier David Eby’s new B.C. cabinet? Hear which picks they got right.

Plus Pacific Rim and Pacific Northwest headlines.

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theBreaker.news Podcast

thePodcast: South Vancouver park neighbours say FIFA not welcome

00:00 / 00:19:50

November 24, 2024

For the week of Nov. 24, 2024:

Liberal enviro minister flew 9,000 km to Azerbaijan in a bid to put a cap on pollution

Briefly: More than 66,000 people registered for United Nations climate party in oil and gas-rich republic.

Bob Mackin

Four senators appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among Canada’s participants at the annual United Nations climate change convention in Azerbaijan.

Formally known as 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change — or COP 29, for short — 66,778 people from 3,704 states and organizations have registered to attend the Nov. 11-22 event in the capital Baku.

Trudeau Liberal environment minister Steven Guilbeault and his pollution cap (Instagram/Guilbeault)

By comparison, only 3,975 participants from 70 states and organizations chose the less-polluting virtual option.

Senators Mary Coyle (Nova Scotia), Rosa Galvez (Quebec), Joan Margaret Kingston (New Brunswick) and Pierre Jacques Daphond (Quebec) are representing Canada. Galvez is there officially as the president of ParlAmericas, the association of 35 legislatures in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Trudeau Liberal environment minister Steven Guilbeault is leading Canada’s core, 72-member delegation at the conference, more than 9,000 kilometres from Ottawa. Guilbeault came to announce a $2 billion financing scheme for countries affected by climate change. He is accompanied by Deputy Minister Jean-François Tremblay, Assistant Deputy Minister of International Affairs Michael Bonser, Catherine Anne Stewart, Canada’s Climate Change Ambassador, and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse.

Within Guilbeault’s delegation are Chief Climate Negotiator Jeanne-Marie Huddleston and 12 others with “negotiator” in their job title. One of them, Hannah Romses, is the negotiator for gender and action for climate empowerment.

Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Premier Andrew Furey is on the secondary, 298-member list of Canadians with Deputy Minister Valerie Annette Snow. So are Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz, Deputy Minister Sherri Lee Ann Wilson and Assistant Deputy Minister Tristan William Sanregret.

British Columbia’s government is not represented, because the conference is so soon after the Oct. 19 election. But a membership director of B.C.’s Young New Democrats, Eric David Froese, is on the non-governmental organization list with members of the evangelical Care of Creation Inc.

Climate Action Network Canada registered 13 people to attend in-person, including former B.C. NDP leadership hopeful Anjali Appadurai of the Padma Centre for Climate Justice.

Environmental Defence Canada Inc. is sending six.

University of B.C.’s five-member contingent includes Associate Dean of Forestry Guangyu Wang and Associate Law Professor Carol Liao.

Major Canadian oil, gas and infrastructure companies are registered, including CNRL, Enbridge and AtkinsRealis, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin.

In total, there are 638 references to Canada in what the UN calls the provisional list of participants.

Canada’s main list of 72 registered officials is small, compared to China (190), Israel (221), United States (247) and Russia (900).

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November 21, 2024

Briefly: More than 66,000 people registered for

News, Opinion

thePodcast: The late John Horgan, in his own words

For the week of Nov. 17, 2024:

A special edition featuring the past and the future of British Columbia politics.

On Nov. 12, B.C. lost 36th premier John Horgan to cancer. One of the most-popular figures in B.C. history was 65.

Nov. 18 is the second anniversary of Horgan transferring the premiership to David Eby and it is the swearing-in of Eby’s post-election cabinet.

On this edition of thePodcast, hear Horgan’s farewell speech to the Legislative Assembly from Feb. 9, 2023. (Begins at 01:11.)

Alan Mullen, who was chief of staff to former Speaker Darryl Plecas from 2017 to 2020, joins host Bob Mackin to remember Horgan and fearlessly predict who is in and who is out of Eby’s new cabinet. (Begins at 32:09.)

Plus, this week’s Pacific Rim and Pacific Northwest headlines.

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

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theBreaker.news Podcast

thePodcast: The late John Horgan, in his own words

00:00 / 01:15:11

November 17, 2024

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:

For the week of Nov. 17, 2024:

News

A dozen tributes to the late John Horgan

Briefly: British Columbia’s 36th premier, John Horgan, died Nov. 12. Tributes flowed for the former NDP leader from across the political spectrum.

Bob Mackin

The 36th Premier of British Columbia, John Horgan, lost a battle with cancer on Nov. 12 in Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital.

Horgan was 65. He is survived by wife Ellie and sons Evan and Nate.

An NDP MLA for 18 years, including more than five years as premier, Horgan became Canada’s ambassador to Germany in 2023. He took sick leave last June due to thyroid cancer.

Funeral plans are to be announced.

John Horgan on 2020 election night (BC NDP/Flickr)

Horgan touched many people, across the political spectrum.

Following are a dozen tributes.

John Horgan believed in the power of public service. He saw it as a privilege, as a way to help others and to make our country better. He loved British Columbia. As Premier, he had a tenacity, passion, and dedication for his work that very few could match.

Former B.C. Green leader Andrew Weaver:

John embodied everything about the word Honourable as he served as our Premier. You will be missed but your legacy of leadership will live on forever.

B.C. NDP Premier David Eby:

John Horgan’s death leaves us with heavy hearts. John loved this province and its people. He sought to build a better, stronger British Columbia for everyone.

Former BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark:

Public life takes every ounce of your attention, of your heart, and of your time. There is no doubt that Horgan’s commitment to British Columbia and his dedication to public service have left an enduring legacy.

Conservative Party of B.C. leader John Rustad:

John was not just a colleague in public service but a man of genuine warmth and integrity. Despite our political differences, I always held a deep respect for him as a person.

His approachable nature and willingness to engage in open dialogue were qualities that I admired greatly. He had a way of making everyone feel heard, regardless of their stance or background.

BC United leader Kevin Falcon:

While we were political opposites, I did enjoy my personal rapport with him. We enjoyed our legislative battles, but also our lighthearted jokes in the hallways. Our collective Irish heritage may have worked in our favour.

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West:

He was a friend to our community, and a role model of public service.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim:

John led with integrity and his commitment to the people of this province, his compassion, and his sense of humour will be deeply missed.

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon:

When I was elected, my son was struggling with me being away. Premier John Horgan showed up unplanned to play Pokémon and to tell him why he needed me in Victoria. He cared for his colleagues families as much as he cared for families across B.C.

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke:

He was a leader that had the uncanny ability to connect with people regardless of political stripe. John will be remembered as a true friend to Surrey.

Former BC Lions’ coach and general manager Wally Buono: :

Premier Horgan was a great leader, kind, and loved the people of British Columbia!!! All of B.C. will miss his big smile. Blessings my friend!!

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith:

Premier Horgan dedicated his career to public service with a steadfast commitment to his province and its people. His contributions and legacy will be remembered.

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November 14, 2024