BC's Chief BC Supreme Court judge has blocked the latest attempt to explain why the legal fees of two convicted criminals, linked to the BC Rail scandal, were paid by the province. Auditor General John Doyle has been seeking access to documents currently covered by lawyer-client privilege. They involve taxpayers spending six million dollars to end … [Read more...]
Auditor General back in court over BC Rail documents
December 3, 2012 by
Final arguments are being heard in an attempt by BC's Auditor General to find out why taxpayers had to pick up six million dollars in legal fees for Dave Basi and Bobby Virk. Auditor General John Doyle is seeking a court order for access to documents from Basi, Virk, and another lawyer currently protected by solicitor client privilege. The province … [Read more...]
Conflict commissioner steps back from BC Rail probe
November 13, 2012 by
Amid growing pressure, conflict commissioner Paul Fraser has excused himself from the BC Rail probe, and called in his counterpart from Saskatchewan to carry out the investigation. Last week independent MLA John van Dongen demanded a probe by the conflict commissioner, sending Fraser extensive files about whether Christy Clark was in a conflict … [Read more...]
MLA says conflict commissioner must step aside in BC Rail case
November 9, 2012 by
Another twist in the BC Rail saga this afternoon. Independent MLA John van Dongen is asking conflict of interest commissioner Paul Fraser to step aside from an investigation into Premier Christy Clark. This after learning that Fraser's son, John-Paul Fraser, works for the government's communications branch. "The public is entitled to have … [Read more...]
Cracked rail blamed for massive Skytrain delays
September 5, 2012 by
We now know the cause of big delays on Skytrain early this morning. Skytrain spokesperson Jennifer Siddon says you can blame a cracked rail, just east of Metrotown station. Technicians spotted it during routine maintenance overnight. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to finish the work before start of service. So we did have some single tracking in … [Read more...]
John van Dongen gets access to more BC Rail documents
July 11, 2012 by
BC Conservative MLA John van Dongen is continuing his mission to connect Premier Christy Clark to the controversial sale of BC Rail. Van Dongen has been granted access to transcripts of some of the court hearings in the case. "We'll review these transcripts and see what they tell us in terms of information that may or may not be helpful … [Read more...]
Premier’s new press secretary downplays BC Rail scandal memo
June 30, 2012 by
Nothing to see here. That appears to be the message from the premier's incoming press secretary about a recently-unearthed memo signed by Dave Basi, one of the men who pleaded guilty in the B.C. Rail scandal. Basi claims in the memo, signed before the 2003 raid on the legislature, that fellow accused Bobby Virk allegedly told him that Christy … [Read more...]
2003 Dave Basi memo raises more BC Rail questions
June 25, 2012 by
One of the two men convicted in the BC Rail case is confirming, an October 2003 memo leaked online through a local blog was written by him. But, as Dave Basi told Simi Sara, there's not much else he can say. Basi says he can't talk about the case because of the deal reached to write off the $ 6 million in legal fees paid for him and … [Read more...]
John van Dongen puts the Premier on the hot seat over BC Rail memo
June 25, 2012 by
One time BC Liberal MLA and now BC Conservative party member John Van Dongen says the BC Rail memo raises lots of questions. Talking earlier with Simi Sara on CKNW he says the memo fits with other evidence forwarded to him by the special prosecutor's office just last week. Van Dongen says the memo also substantiates concerns he has been … [Read more...]
Business council cautions against prolonged CP Rail strike
May 26, 2012 by
The Business Council of BC has joined the chorus calling for a quick end to CP Rail strike action. President Greg D'Avignon points to a dramatic effect on the province's exports, saying last year, B.C. moved more than $ 33 billion in goods. "The concern is really threefold. One is, when you get delays, there are incurred costs for shipping. The … [Read more...]
