The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
Two o’clock p.m.
Prayers by Pastor Tim Osiowy, Gateway Christian Ministries, Prince George.
This being the first day of the third meeting of the Thirty-ninth Parliament of the Province of British Columbia for the dispatch of business, pursuant to a Proclamation of the Honourable Stephen L. Point, Lieutenant Governor of the Province, dated the 27th day of January, 2011, the Members took their seats.
The Honourable Stephen L. Point, Lieutenant Governor of the Province, having entered the House, took his seat on the Throne and was pleased to deliver the following gracious speech:
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members of the Legislature:
As we open this session of the 39th Parliament, we pause to honour the memory and contributions of British Columbians who have passed since this Assembly last convened.
Members mourn the loss of former members of this Assembly: Sindi Hawkins, Carl Liden, Eileen Dailly, Dean Smith, Karen Sanford, Dr. Howard McDiarmid and former Lieutenant Governors Colonel Robert G. Rogers and Dr. David C. Lam.
We recognize the sacrifices made by Corporal Darren Fitzpatrick; first responders Jo-Ann Fuller and Ivan Polivka; and air tanker pilot Tim Whiting.
We recognize the contributions of business and community leaders: Chester Johnson, Jack Ebbels, Audrey Paterson, Justice John C. Bouck, Lorne Greenaway, Jim Bohlen, Dorothy Stowe and Virginia Greene as well as civic leaders George Hawksworth, Alan Herbert Emmott, Kathleen Grouhel, Ruth Layne, Gerry Trerise, Garry Watkins, Lela Irvine, Larry McNabb and Jack Volrich.
We acknowledge the passing of John Babcock, Nodar Kumaritashvili, and Leonard James Gibbs.
We recognize former judge and B.C. Conflict of Interest Commissioner H.A.D. (Bert) Oliver and the 62 members of the B.C. Public Service who have passed since we last met.
We join First Nations communities in honouring the memory of Grand Chief Archie Charles and William Abner Thorne.
Exactly one year ago to this day, Canadian history was made when Alexandre Bilodeau won Canada’s first Olympic gold medal on Canadian soil.
It was a moment that captured our nation, raising us up with a renewed pride in our country and igniting the Canadian spirit as never before.
In the weeks that followed, the world was introduced to British Columbia and Canada. Canadians got to know each other as well. Each time the Maple Leaf was flown, each time O Canada was sung, we grew closer together.
That renewed pride was a gift from our athletes. They inspired us and taught us what it meant to dream big and to reach higher as individuals, as a province and as a country.
To each of them we say thank you.
Thirty-four British Columbians were part of the Canadian Olympic Team and 22 B.C. athletes were part of Canada’s Paralympic Team.
British Columbians beamed with pride as those athletes achieved their dream of competing at the highest level at home.
We all sang a little louder when Maelle Ricker was the first B.C. athlete to win gold and the chorus built for all our British Columbia Olympic medallists: Ashleigh McIvor, Chris Le Bihan, Denny Morrison, Duncan Keith, Scott Niedermayer, Brent Seabrook, Shea Weber and Roberto Luongo.
Our Paralympian medallists Lauren Woolstencroft, Jim Armstrong, Darryl Neighbour, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet, Josh Dueck, Lindsay Debou and Karolina Wisniewska amazed us with their tenacity, strength and skill.
Canada’s Olympic performance inspired a generation. In the coming days the Province will honour each of British Columbia’s medal winners in a special way. We not only thank them, but we owe our thanks to their families, friends, coaches, trainers and sponsors who helped them along the way.
We owe our thanks to thousands of individuals and organizations who came together to organize what is now regarded as the most successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in history.
We thank Jack Poole for his focus on what the Olympics could do for all of us. We recognize the commitment of the entire VANOC board of directors and of John Furlong and his exceptional team of professionals. They deserve our gratitude, as do the sponsors and all who had a hand in making our Olympic dream come true. No one will forget the thousands of blue-jacketed volunteers who were the face and shining personality of the Olympics and of our country.
For the first time in Olympic history, Four Host First Nations welcomed the world as full partners and were an integral part of our Olympic success. They too deserve our thanks.
We owe thanks to the workers who ensured that for the first time in Olympic history, every venue was completed nearly a year ahead of schedule. We thank the doctors and nurses and health professionals who exceeded all expectations in caring for the athletes and our visitors. We thank the public safety officials who ensured that we could celebrate excellence and enjoy our cities and our triumphs safely and with joy.
We thank the more than 12,000 torchbearers and over 1,000 communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast who gifted all Canadians with the opportunity to be part of both the Olympic and Paralympic flames.
All British Columbians and indeed all Canadians should be proud of the contributions they made towards not only the Olympics, but our outstanding global reputation.
Perhaps the defining character of our Olympics was a comment by a veteran Olympic broadcaster who said he never felt safer at any Olympic Games — and he never saw a single weapon.
That says a lot about the society each of us has helped to build over the past 150 years. It says a lot about British Columbians.
British Columbia reached new heights with the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. A new decade of international opportunity and economic and social development lies before us all.
Its success was possible because of a foundation built on economic competitiveness, sound fiscal management, a commitment to quality health and education programs and services to support those most in need. It was built by individual British Columbians in every part of this province. It was built with vision and commitment to one another and to the future.
We now gather together on the eve of transition to new leadership. Both the government and the opposition will select new leaders in the days ahead. With change there is always excitement and opportunity to discover new paths ahead and new means of achieving our shared goal of a better future for all.
This is a time when British Columbians are encouraged to discuss new ideas about making our province an even better place.
Through this period, government will ensure a smooth and orderly transition while continuing to deliver the quality services that are important to all British Columbians.
Tomorrow’s budget will meet statutory requirements while providing maximum flexibility for future decisions by the new executive council and this legislature. As laid out in government’s three-year plan, spending priorities will continue to be focused on health and education.
To allow for the completion of successful leadership selections by both the government and opposition, the government will seek approval from this House of an interim supply that will allow for the ongoing operation of government business.
On February 26, a new Premier-designate will be chosen. The Premier-designate will be sworn-in shortly thereafter and another chapter in British Columbia’s history will begin.
At a time when Canada is seen as a beacon around the globe for its economic stability, its social character and its unwavering strength, British Columbia is recognized as a leader within Canada.
Across the continent and in many parts of the world, British Columbia is looked upon with envy.
The past decade has renewed our confidence about what we can do when we work together.
We have begun building a New Relationship with First Nations that recognizes First Nations’ inestimable contributions to our province’s cultural and economic history and works to close the health, educational and economic gaps that exist between First Nations and non-First Nations.
Since 2001, B.C.’s businesses large and small have helped create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, so today in B.C. well over two million people have jobs that support their families and add to the quality of life in their communities.
Working with non-profits, federal and local governments, today we continue to house more homeless, offer more direct health and social services and provide more direct support to vulnerable children and families than at any other point in history. More needs to be done.
British Columbia is a globally recognized leader in climate action that protects future generations without sacrificing the needs of today.
British Columbians take great pride in our rich parks system. We now have more protected area than any other province in Canada, an area equal to the size of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI combined. Everyone has a favourite B.C. park. They are an important part of British Columbia’s identity and history that is recognized around the world.
This year we will celebrate BC Parks system’s 100th Anniversary. One hundred years ago Strathcona Provincial Park became the first in a long list of parks that have shaped our culture and reflected our respect and appreciation of our natural environment.
Our celebrations will serve to remind British Columbians of how fortunate we are and how important it is that we follow stewardship practices that protect those parks for the future. Renewed interpretive programs will highlight the incredible opportunities that lie within BC Parks in every part of the province.
We will also complete the commitment made with the State of Montana to sustain the environmental values in the Flathead River Basin in a manner consistent with current forestry, recreation, guide outfitting and trapping uses.
The Memorandum of Understanding and cooperation signed by British Columbia and witnessed by interested First Nations and American Tribes has been described by Prime Minister Harper and President Obama as an “historic” agreement to sustain the environmental values in this area. We look forward to implementing this agreement with our partners and paralleling steps taken recently in the United States Congress and by the State of Montana.
Our province is now recognized as a clean, renewable energy powerhouse and we have established an enormous competitive advantage with some of the lowest electricity rates in North America.
British Columbia is recognized as North America’s leader in public private partnerships, working with the private sector to build affordable and innovative public infrastructure — housing, hospitals, transit, highways and bridges.
We have led the country with the creation of seven new universities and the largest expansion of postsecondary education in the history of B.C.
Today our workers pay the lowest provincial personal income taxes in Canada and our businesses will soon pay the lowest corporate taxes in the G7.
Our transportation network is connecting North America to established and emerging economies in Asia while opening new markets for all our enterprises abroad.
Our citizens have among the longest life expectancies in the world, and our scientists are global leaders in areas such as cancer, spinal cord injuries, HIV/AIDS and genome research.
For all the natural resources that our province has been blessed with, it is the people who live here that have defined our quality of life. People who work and invest in our resource industries — mining, forestry, fisheries, agriculture and energy.
It’s British Columbians who have created our hightech industries — in film, digital media and new technologies — and who are our great explorers in life sciences and research in our universities and colleges.
It is our health professionals and social service professionals who have pushed back the frontiers of illness and injury as they move to their destination of creating a healthier society. It is our public servants, our excellent teachers and educators and thousands of parents and support staff who give our children the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
First Nations leaders have ushered in the New Relationship and made decisions in the name of progress to provide new social, educational and economic opportunities to their people.
It is our workers who persevere through scorching heat and freezing cold to build and maintain a transportation infrastructure that is the backbone of our economic and social lives.
Our small business owners work day and night, yearround to provide jobs for their employees and a future for their families.
It is our children who say ‘inspire me and I shall dream the next dream.’
It is our families who are raising those children and who are determined to make sure that they inherit a province filled with even more opportunities than what this generation has been blessed with.
For the last decade British Columbians have lifted this province to new heights for the benefit of future generations.
But even as we look back we know that British Columbia’s best days lie ahead.
New leadership, new vision and new ideas will urge us forward as we enter the second decade of the 21st Century. Our advantage as being Canada’s Pacific Gateway continues to grow. Our young people will energize us all and map a course which captures their imaginations and calls us all forward.
B.C. is a modern, inclusive, multicultural society that welcomes newcomers to contribute, that encourages free enterprise and is ready to compete globally.
Our abundant natural resources and the strengthening New West Partnership provide unsurpassed promise for all who live here and in other parts of Canada.
This is a place where others dream of living and where still more can’t wait to visit.
We in this House are among the fortunate few who call B.C. home and who are called to serve. We have the privilege of public office and the responsibility to forge a new dialogue about public ideas and public solutions for the problems that vex us all and that hold us in thrall. Together we stand on a foundation of principle that has always supported our dreams and provided all of us who live here with an unsurpassed quality of life.
Our values are reflected in our actions. Let us all in this House commit to reflect the best of British Columbia.
Let us give to future generations rather than taking from them.
Let us demand more of ourselves than we demand of others and set a better example to all those who have bestowed upon us the honour of public service.
Civil dialogue, open discussion and respectful debate should characterize all our deliberations in this House and beyond these walls.
Let us all bring honour to this House, and to all who went before, by the quality of our debate and discourse.
And remember, in this great province, in this great country: “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
The best lies on the horizon for British Columbia.
His Honour the Lieutenant Governor was then pleased to retire.
Mr. Speaker reported that, in order to prevent mistakes, he had obtained a copy of His Honour’s Speech.
On the motion of the Hon. B. Penner (Attorney General), Bill (No. 1) intituled An Act to Ensure the Supremacy of Parliament was introduced, read a first time, and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.
On the motion of the Hon. R. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Ralston, it was Ordered —
That Linda Reid, Member for Richmond East Electoral District, be appointed Deputy Speaker for this Session of the Legislative Assembly.
On the motion of Mr. Ralston, seconded by the Hon. R. Coleman, it was Ordered —
That Claire Trevena, Member for North Island Electoral District, be appointed Assistant Deputy Speaker for this Session of the Legislative Assembly.
On the motion of the Hon. R. Coleman, seconded by Mr. Ralston, it was Ordered —
That Harry Bloy, Member for Burnaby-Lougheed Electoral District, be appointed Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole for this Session of the Legislative Assembly.
On the motion of the Hon. B. Penner (Attorney General), it was Ordered —
That the Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed, being first perused by the Speaker, and that he do appoint the printing thereof, and that no person but such as he shall appoint do presume to print the same.
The Hon. G. Campbell (Premier) moved that the Select Standing Committees of this House for the present Session, be appointed for the following purposes:
1. Aboriginal Affairs;
2. Education;
3. Finance and Government Services;
4. Health;
5. Public Accounts;
6. Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills;
7. Crown Corporations;
8. Children and Youth;
which said Committees shall severally be empowered to examine and inquire into all such matters and things as shall be referred to them by this House, and to report from time to time their observations and opinions thereon, with power to send for persons, papers, and records, and that a Special Committee be appointed to prepare and report with all convenient speed lists of members to compose the above Select Standing Committees of this House under Standing Order 68 (1), the Committee to be composed of the Hon. R. Coleman (Convener), Ron Cantelon, Joan McIntyre, Eric Foster, John van Dongen, Maurine Karagianis, Bruce Ralston, and Shane Simpson.
Motion agreed to.
By leave, the Hon. R. Coleman moved —
That effective immediately, the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia be amended as follows for the duration of the Third Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament, which commenced on February 14, 2011:
1. That Standing Order 2 (1) is deleted and the following substituted:
Sittings
[Bold]Daily sittings.
[Bold]2. (1) The time for the ordinary meeting of the House shall, unless otherwise ordered, be as follows:
Monday: Two distinct sittings:
10 a.m. to 12 noon
1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m
Tuesday: Two distinct sittings:
10 a.m. to 12 noon
1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 1:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday: Two distinct sittings:
10 a.m. to 12 noon
1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
2. That Standing Order 3 be deleted and the following substituted:
[Bold]Hour of interruption.
[Bold]3. If at the hour of 6:30 p.m. on any Monday and Tuesday, 7:00 pm on Wednesday, and 6:00 pm on Thursday, the business of the day is not concluded and no other hour has been agreed on for the next sitting, the Speaker shall leave the Chair:
On Monday until 10 a.m. Tuesday
On Tuesday until 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday
On Wednesday until 10 a.m. on Thursday
On Thursday until 10 a.m. on Monday
subject to the provisions of Standing Order 2 (2) (b).
Motion agreed to.
And then the House adjourned at 2:35 p.m.
HON. BILL BARISOFF, Speaker
Wednesday, February 16
Ms. D. Black to introduce a Bill intituled Recall and Initiative Amendment Act, 2011.
Wednesday, February 16
1 Mr. Krog to ask the Hon. B. Penner (Attorney General) the following questions:—
1. It is now clear that the guilty plea by former ministerial assistants Dave Basi and Bob Virk was contingent on the decision by the government to foot the full tab for their legal fees, and this has led to a concern they used $6 million in taxpayer dollars to secure a guilty plea to sweep the BC Rail corruption trial under the rug — how does the government explain that?
2. Why did the BC Liberal government try to hide this information for a week?
3. The Attorney General originally stated that the decision to let Basi and Virk off the hook for their legal costs was made by him based on a recommendation made by his Deputy Minister — but later noted he had nothing to do with the decision. Why did the Attorney General issue contradictory statements and which one is the correct version? What evidence can the Attorney General provide to support that claim?
4. We have been told that taxpayers are on the hook for millions of dollars for Basi and Virk’s legal fees — what is the exact final total? Will the government release the amount paid for legal services provided by the Special Prosecutor’s office? What is the final total of the entire trial?
5. Has any such deal ever been struck before for civil servants who plead guilty for breaching public trust, and committing fraud? Can the government provide a single example of this kind?
6. This plea bargain agreement with Basi and Virk now sets a precedent for all future and current government staff. Did the government consider the precedent set by this decision?
7. The Attorney General claimed that the defendants had no money to cover these costs despite evidence of property holdings that appears to contradict this claim — can the Attorney General produce documents showing that the government conducted a full review of the defendants’ ability to pay in arriving at this conclusion?
8. Can the Attorney General explain the different standards applied to the legal fees owed by Basi and Virk than the approach taken by the government with respect to erroneous claims by welfare recipients, for example?
9. Will the BC Liberals provide full disclosure into the details of the indemnification deal, and release all materials relating to the plea bargain?
10. The guilty plea statement by Basi and Virk — a plea that we now know came in direct response to the government’s commitment to cover all legal costs — indicates that the two BC Liberal assistants acted without the knowledge or consent of BC Rail and the Evaluation Committee. The statement does not, notably, state that Basi and Virk acted without the knowledge or consent of their ministers Gary Collins and Judith Reid — why not?
11. The plea statement only states that Basi and Virk “did not obtain the consent of their superiors to demand or accept these personal benefits”. Does this statement mean that while Basi and Virk did not obtain permission to accept bribes, they could have received instructions or encouragement by someone in the BC Liberal government to strategically leak confidential BC Rail bid information?
12. Without evidence to the contrary, the plea statement suggests that in fact the two former BC Liberal ministers were aware of and consented to the actions pursued by their assistants. This entirely contradicts the Premier’s claim that the two staffers acted alone. What evidence can the government provide to prove the Premier’s statement the two staffers acted alone is not entirely false?
13. Which senior BC Liberal officials were involved in the sale of BC Rail and what evidence will now not be heard from key BC Liberal officials that were set to appear on the witness stand on the eve of this plea bargain?
14. What information would the public have learned about the role played by Basi’s boss, former Finance Minister Gary Collins and Virk’s boss former Transportation Minister Judith Reid?
15. What information would the public have learned about the role played by Premier Gordon Campbell, whose chief of staff during both the BC Rail sale and the raid on the Legislature, Martyn Brown, had already been called as a witness? What did Premier Campbell know and when did he know it?
16. Why did BC Rail pay $300,000 to the Premier’s friend, Patrick Kinsella? What instruction did the Premier, through Martyn Brown, receive to “give support to Patrick Kinsella and CN Rail”?
17. Questions have been raised about the role of Patrick Kinsella, the Premier’s chief of staff and the Premier himself in assisting in the sell-off of BC Rail. When will the public be provided an explanation on that?
18. Will the government release publicly all material in the possession of BC Rail or the government relating to the work performed by Patrick Kinsella while under contract to BC Rail?
19. Did Paul Taylor, the Premier’s new Chief of Staff, play a role in the alleged leak of bid information to Pilothouse Public Affairs Group?
20. The plea statement indicates that Basi and Virk improperly disclosed documents to Pilothouse including bid values for CN, CP and OmniTRAX and that Pilothouse principal Brian Kieran recorded these numbers which then were included in a Pilothouse briefing document to OmniTRAX. Was Pilothouse tapping anyone else in government besides Mr. Basi and Mr. Virk for confidential government information?
21. Pilothouse partner Eric Bornman — who was given an immunity agreement by the Crown in exchange for information on Basi and Virk — has reapplied to the Ontario bar. How can the public be assured that all the parties that played a role in the tainted BC Rail privatization deal have been appropriately dealt with?
22. Why did key BC Liberal cabinet ministers like Gary Collins, Judith Reid and Christy Clark all leave government in the wake of the scandal?
23. Will the government release the list of all the legal costs provided to government officials including former ministers Gary Collins, Judith Reid and Christy Clark?
24. What was the role played by current sitting cabinet ministers and possible leadership candidates such as Rich Coleman and Kevin Falcon?
25. After legislative officers were raided in December 2003, it became clear the focus of the investigation was on the BC Rail deal, but the BC Liberal government went ahead with the sale saying there weren’t grounds for concern because no elected officials were under investigation. However the proposed sale of a BC Rail subdivision was then cancelled when government officials learned the accused might have leaked confidential information about that deal. This contradiction — why one sale was considered tainted, but the other not — has never been fully explained by the government, nor was it explored in court. Why was the spur line sale cancelled but not the sale of BC Rail sale? What evidence can the government provide to support their decision to push ahead with the sale of BC Rail?
26. For years the BC Liberals have refused to answer questions that the deal was tainted. Now it appears that his government actually tampered with the fairness adviser’s report to save their political hide. Will the BC Liberals finally admit that their government violated the public trust in the BC Rail sell-off?
27. What other testimony about the unprecedented raid on the Legislature and the corrupted BC Rail sale will go unanswered with the BC Liberal government’s refusal to hold a public inquiry?
28. Will the BC Liberals release publicly all evidence pertaining to the trial including evidence provided to the defence through the disclosure process?
29. In the absence of a public inquiry, will the government commit today to preserving all the documents involved in the Basi-Virk case and the BC Rail corruption scandal until the House is called back for a full legislative session?
30. Can the government commit today to a public inquiry that will examine the indemnification deal and the reasons why the government made the decision to cover all legal costs for Basi and Virk?
31. Will the government hold a public inquiry into the sell-off of BC Rail as soon as the criminal proceedings conclude so that B.C. taxpayers can finally get the answers they deserve?
32. When did the government first learn that the BC Rail deal was the target of an in-depth RCMP investigation?
33. When will the government release all documents — including documents which may not be directly linked to the charges — that relate to government policies or decisions regarding BC Rail?
34. Has the investigation into the sale of BC Rail uncovered evidence that other government policies or decisions may have been illegally or inappropriately affected? If yes, will the government release all such documents — including documents which may not be directly related to the charges?
35. Did the BC Rail Steering Committee discuss the potential for the BC Rail deal to collapse if only one bidder remained in the bidding process?
36. Will the government release all minutes for meetings of the BC Rail Steering Committee?
37. Will the government release all documents produced for the BC Rail Steering Committee?
38. Did members of the Steering Committee or other members of the government caucus meet with or communicate with any of the proponents or their representatives during the process to sell BC Rail?
39. Did the Premier or any of his staff meet with or communicate with any of the proponents or their representatives during the process to sell BC Rail?
40. Can the government explain why then-Solicitor General Rich Coleman briefed the Premier before the search warrants were executed?
41. Can the government explain why then-Solicitor General Rich Coleman briefed the Premier’s Chief of Staff Martyn Brown immediately after the warrants were executed and before alerting the public?
42. Why was Martyn Brown given the go-ahead to fire Dave Basi immediately, prior to any charges being laid?
43. How can the government defend the propriety of the Solicitor General’s actions against the charge that in briefing the Premier and his top political staffer, this government put its political interests ahead of the public interest?
44. Why was provincial government staff allowed to organize for the federal Liberals in the Legislature using taxpayer resources?
45. What steps did the Premier take to ensure that the BC Liberal Party did not benefit from illegal activities by staff?
46. Will the government release the tapes and/or transcripts of phone conversations between the Premier and government ministers that were gathered during the criminal investigation into the sale of BC Rail?
47. Given the government’s own forecasts for significant coal mining activity, why were projections based on coal export growth deliberately left out of revenue calculations for the BC Rail line?
48. Did the government consider cancelling the sale of the BC Rail freight division?
49. Will the government release any and all correspondence with the RCMP and BC Rail about rescinding the sale of the BC Rail freight division?
50. If the government considered cancelling the sale of the BC Rail’s freight division, was compensation considered for any proponents?
51. What discussions took place concerning the issue of whether CN Rail had paid too much or too little for the BC Rail freight division?
52. What was the estimated value of former BC Rail assets in 2003, before they were sold? What is the estimated value of those former BC Rail assets now?
53. Did CP Rail express concerns about the clear breach of fairness in the process to sell BC Rail prior to their letter of Nov. 21, 2003?
54. Did the government — including any and all government ministers, the BC Rail steering committee, the government caucus and/or its advisors or technical specialists — ever discuss the consequences of OmniTRAX dropping out of the bidding process prior to or following the withdrawal of CP Rail?
55. Did the government consider the potential consequences of a small number of proponents or a single proponent during the sale of BC Rail for its goal of “maximizing value to the province”?
56. Did the government consider the potential negative political ramifications of a small number of proponents or a single proponent during the sale of BC Rail?
57. What was discussed at the Dec. 12, 2003, meeting held at Vancouver restaurant Villa del Lupo between the Minister of Finance and senior executives from OmniTRAX, the second-place finisher in the bidding process for the government-owned BC Rail?
58. Will the government ensure that tapes and transcripts resulting from the surveillance of the Minister of Finance’s meeting with OmniTRAX officials are made public?
59. Did the Minister of Finance meet with other proponents during the transaction process?
60. Was it the Minister of Finance who ordered confidential government information to be leaked to a lobby firm representing OmniTRAX?
61. If it was not the Minister of Finance who ordered confidential government information to be leaked to a lobby firm representing OmniTRAX, was the Premier’s Office or any other government official responsible for this order?
62. Will the government release the “meeting minutes, presentations and other documents” referred to in the Charles River Associates report on the BC Rail bidding process?
63. Did Charles River Associates review meetings, conversations or communications outside the official process — particularly those including ministers and ministerial aides — in their analysis of the fairness of the BC Rail transaction process?
64. Will the government release all documents including emails, reports, interview transcripts relating to the two information leaks referenced in the Charles River Associates report?
65. Can the government provide concrete evidence for their claim that the information leaks referenced in the Charles River Associates report did not materially affect the sale of BC Rail?
66. Will the government provide the full list of files and issues in the purview of or involving David Basi, Aneal Basi and Bob Virk between June 2001 and December 2003?
67. Did the government order an internal investigation into every file that Mr. Basi touched while he worked as a top political aide to the Minister of Finance — and if not, why not?
68. Did the government order an internal investigation into every file that Mr. Virk touched while he worked as a top political aide to the Minister of Transportation — and if not, why not?
69. Will the government provide an explanation as to why Dave Basi was fired immediately — prior to any charges — while Bob Virk was only suspended?
70. Can the government provide assurances and evidence of the statement made by the then-Finance Minister in December 2003 that Dave Basi “was not involved in the budget process, never has been” and “was not involved in the drafting of legislation or policy development.”
71. Will the government conduct a review of every decision made to remove land from the ALR while Mr. Basi worked in the Campbell administration?
72. Will the government provide a full enumeration of all government activities and files that involved Dave Basi and/or Bob Virk and the principals and staff of Pilothouse Public Affairs?
73. Is the government aware of any other potential or ongoing investigations that involve Basi, Virk, or Pilothouse and any other minister, ministry or public body — and if so, what are they?
74. Will the government provide a full enumeration of the roles played in this investigation — or any other related investigation — by Mark Marissen, husband of then-Deputy Premier Christy Clark, and Bruce Clark, the brother of the then-Deputy Premier?
75. What materials did the Special Prosecutor withhold from the defence that were the subject of the February 27, 2007 defence application?
76. Will the government provide a full enumeration of all government activities associated with Pilothouse Public Affairs?
77. Will the government provide a full enumeration of all government activities associated with K&E Public Affairs?
78. Why did the government allow Erik Bornman of Pilothouse Public Affairs to continue his lobbying activities after he had informed Bill Berardino that he had bribed Dave Basi?
79. Why did the government allow Brian Kieran of Pilothouse Public Affairs to continue his lobbying activities after he had informed the RCMP that he had tried to bribe Dave Basi?
80. Can the government assure British Columbians that lobbyists Erik Bornman and Brian Kieran no longer have access to senior government staff?
81. Why did the BC Liberal Party continue to accept money in 2004 from lobbyists named in the original warrants, long after the raids on the Legislature?
82. Why won’t the BC Liberal government allow an all-party review of the Lobbyists Registration Act in order to have greater accountability over who is influencing government and how?
83. When did the Attorney General and Premier first become aware that the lead RCMP inspector was the brother-in-law of Kelly Reichart, Executive Director of the BC Liberal Party?
84. How did Kelly Reichart learn that Erik Bornman had been granted immunity in exchange for providing information about David Basi and Bob Virk?
85. When did the Attorney General and Premier first become aware that information related to the investigation was leaked to Kelly Reichart and was subsequently leaked by Mr. Reichart to principals in the investigation?
86. Does the Attorney General agree that the actions of Mr. Reichart risked compromising the investigation?
87. Why does Mr. Reichart continue to serve as the Executive Director of the BC Liberal Party?
88. Given that one of the government’s objectives for the BC Rail transaction was “ensuring integrated North American access to preferred markets and carriers for interline rail shipments”, why would the government attempt to sell the Roberts Bank Spur line separately, following the withdrawal of CP Rail?
89. Is it true that in November 2003, Dave Basi advised OmniTRAX that the then-Minister of Finance had authorized a consolation prize OmniTRAX in exchange for that company staying in the bidding process?
90. Was this consolation prize the BC Rail Spur line?
91. How much was the consolation prize valued at?
92. Was OmniTRAX offered any Delta ALR lands for expansion of the port as part of this consolation prize?
93. If it were not for the alleged criminal actions of high-ranking aides, would the government have proceeded with the sale of the BC Rail spur line?
94. Does $900,000 represent the total cost to taxpayers of cancelling the sale of the spur line, or did the final tab come in even higher than that? What was the final tab?
95. What was the estimated value of the spur line in 2004, when the sale was put on hold?
96. What was the estimated value of the spur line when the sale was totally cancelled in February 2006?
97. What is the estimated value of the spur line now?
98. Why won’t the government exercise its rights under article 10.2 of the Revitalization Agreement to inspect all of CN’s maintenance records for the former BC Rail line?
99. When will the government investigate the rash of tragic derailments since 2004 in order to shed light on this safety scandal?
100. Why has the government refused to provide evidence for its claim that the government discussed safety and maintenance with the proponents during the negotiations to sell BC Rail?
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