It’s a question that has to be asked … now that we have learned those long sought government e-mails were reportedly destroyed in MAY … just weeks ago!
Was the May destruction, if true, part of a deliberate plan to scuttle the Basi-Virk BC Rail trial?
Premier Gordon Campbell, his Ministers, top government officials can’t have it both ways.
For months, they’ve been staving off all questions even remotely touching on the sale of BC Rail … and quite a few that have NOTHING to do with it … saying the matter is “before the courts”.
Well, if it’s before the courts, how can any politician or government official authorize in MAY 2009 the destruction of any e-mail, letter or even napkin note originating during the period in question ..2001-2005… whether or not it had anything to do with any court case or investigation underway.
We have no idea yet whether ANY of the material has any pertinent information to offer. But it is ALL potential evidence!
The loss of that material could very well lead to dismissal of the entire Basi-Virk case, which would probably suit the government fine. So was the destruction of the e-mails … in May … part of a deliberate plan???
It certainly looks at least like contempt of court to me, possibly even criminal obstruction … and, worst of all, if true, it shows a total disdain for the public and the responsibility our elected and appointed officials should have for government and our law-based Parliamentary system.
I hope the RCMP are actively investigating what happened here, and who authorized the destruction of those e-mails whenever it happened .. but ESPECIALLY if the dirty deed was done just weeks ago , as stated in an affidavit before the court.
And the NDP’s suggestion of a Special Prosecutor might be worthy pursuing as well. Maybe the judge should request one!
NOW we can see the relevance of all those questions I raised weeks ago about “normal” procedure for handling such material!!!!
It’s beginning to look like things were very abnormally handled … contrary to policy; contrary to what was previously said, in court, by government lawyers; and maybe even contrary to the law.
Holy crud!
And I’m glad the media are now onto the story in earnest. Hopefully they will stick with it, dig and chase a few politicians and officials down the halls until we know exactly what happened and why.
So I can go back into retirement, at least on this one. 
Harv Oberfeld
37 responses so far ↓
1 genuine // Jul 18, 2009 at 12:20 am
Well Harvey you might just get that Webster yet!And I’m 100%behind you let me know if there’s anything you need ,remember this, it’s expensive to go to court and I’m guessing you have a following here!?
(Response: Thanks ..I actually won two Websters, plus a whole bunch of other stuff .. but even after 38 years in the business, including Vancouver, Victoria and Parl Hill ..breaking new ground and opening formerly closed doors for BC in Ottawa …it’s true I never qualified for Webster Lifetime Achievement or Order of BC .. Must have been all those things I said over the years about those media bosses, corporate sponsors and politicians! LOL!!! h.o.)
2 genuine // Jul 18, 2009 at 12:53 am
That’s the one I meant;Look’s like you’ll be able to count on one now!Your doing a true service and that’s why you were put here!Maybe heroism in journalist’s will finally turn up!,and we’ll all be able to sleep a little better at night!,for the fox is in the hen house!!!!!!
(Response: Doesnt work that way… I ruffled too many feathers!
In fact, I covered Parl Hill when Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, and Jim Munson were also there …can’t remember at tough question ANY of them ever asked. Guess that’s why they’re Senators and I’m not! LOL! h.o.)
3 Mary (not that one) // Jul 18, 2009 at 1:24 am
The Tyee (Bill Tieleman) is reporting that Leonard Krog’s request for a special prosecutor has been referred to the RCMP. I just wish I had more faith in the RCMP at this point.
(Response: Ain’t that the truth! But I think they have so much time and effort in this one, they may not want to just let it go based on a dismissal because the e-mails were destroyed. h.o.)
4 A Dave // Jul 18, 2009 at 2:10 am
Harvey, you have done the people of BC a great service by pushing this story (and BC Mary and the other bloggers too for the dogged work they’ve done). I heard part of Good’s show today with Baldry talking about this. Both were pretty defensive about the lack of coverage, and pretty condescending towards the blogosphere. Bill Good basically said who cares other than a few bloggers? I guess it totally escapes them that the MSM, whatever its faults, still holds great sway over public opinion. If they don’t talk about the issue, then of course it’s going to seem like no-one cares! It’s their job to tell us what’s going on. Guilty by ommission.
As for the theory you put forward: it may be true, but it sure seems like a huge risk (what gov wants to open themselves to obstruction and potentially a special prosecutor?). Then again, if Basi and Virk’s defense allegations are true, then the Libs must be desparate and scared they may be toppled. So the whole thing starts to look pathological. Gordo on the news last night sure looked like a man who is deeply troubled by something… not his usual arrogant, smug self.
Anyway, thanks again, keep at it! There’s absolutely no-one I can think of as more deserving of a lifetime acheivement award than you!
(Response:Thanks ..and I’m still alive…not done yet!
h.o.
5 AJ // Jul 18, 2009 at 4:38 am
Hi Harvey, great article as usual. I guess that stupidity really knows no bounds does it? There should be some checks and balances, I cannot imagine someone giving the OK to delete/destroy those emails, nor can I imagine someone knowing carrying that task out. When it actually happened is moot. May 2009 or any other really isn’t an issue, it should not have happened.
Back to the OT in the cave.
6 DMJ // Jul 18, 2009 at 5:35 am
Was it deliberate? Now there is a question that should worry every BC voter. for if it was, it means that the current government is corrupt, utterly and completely corrupt.
On Brand-X today on the morning show, more than a few callers phoned about BC Rail. According to the chap from CanWest Global, BC Railgate is “not a big deal” and has been ably dealt with. When callers quote various blogs, again (to paraphrase) the same chap claimed that, ” anyone can say anything on a blog because they are anonymous and can’t be sued for libel.”
I think not as the blog owner can be sued. I note you edit for proposes of potential legal action and quite rightly so.
What I find disheartening is the very close relationship between government and media, a very unhealthy relationship.
I view Canadian news on TV less and less, because of the lack of news content; I listen more to all news radio than Brand-X; and I completely distrust the two daily newspapers.
This very sad state of affairs indicates to me that the media has given the ‘green light’ to the current government to do as it wishes without fear of the media asking embarrassing questions.
The blog, good and bad, is now a major source of news of me and many others and the likes of Good, Palmer and Baldry have none but themselves to blame for this.
(Response: I always caution people not to automatically accept what they read in the media..but ALSO on the Internet. In fact, the Internet can be even more dangerous because some sites just lie outright and have no money, so you cant even sue them; some contributors (read the recent one I got from Port Moody Kid) spread what looks like bias and lies, apparently without even checking their facts before writing. BUT when Bloggers ARE informed and their contributors are articulate, great information can be spread so easily, and interesting discussions can take place. h.o. )
7 RossK // Jul 18, 2009 at 7:17 am
A. Dave, above, said:
“As for the theory you (Harvey) put forward: it may be true, but it sure seems like a huge risk (what gov wants to open themselves to obstruction and potentially a special prosecutor?)…”
Point taken.
But what if they were more worried about what would happen, not in court, but rather in a public inquiry, if they had lost the election?
This may seem kind of far fetched now, but don’t forget that in there were a number of polls that had the BC Liberals and the Dippers in a statistical deadheat in late April/early April.
Here is just one example.
.
8 RS // Jul 18, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Kudos to H.O. for sure, but hey — credit where credit’s due — Tieleman has been reporting on this can of worms, well, since forever!
It’s about time the MSM woke up. Keep their feet to the fire H.O., B.T. et al.
9 Norman Farrell // Jul 18, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Bill Good makes a fine living hosting a show that provides anonymous callers a platform without first providing evidence of qualifications to speak. Yet, he and his regulars imply that blogs are largely hysterical sources of misinformation from unqualified libel spreaders.
I suggest that is nonsense aimed at protecting self interest. There are many solid contributions available online and readers can easily eliminate self evident garbage. I can shape my own learning experience on the web quite satisfactorily and much prefer that to hours of talk show radio.
10 davidp // Jul 18, 2009 at 2:39 pm
“Bill Good basically said who cares other than a few bloggers?”
In that case, perhaps Harv could provide us a few good email addresses and phone numbers. Each email and call counts for hundreds of viewers, so with a dozen phone calls we can probably collectively light a fire under their asses.
(Response: Sorry if I disappoint..but Good is not the problem. He’s a commentator, not a reporter. The blame lies first with the newsroom managers/assignment types who do not encourage/demand/provide resources for their so-called senior reporters to pursue this story and dig ..opting instead for the quick Hansardian clip/story of the day. And with the reporters themselves who (for a variety of reasons) too often opt for the quick easy story. If they reported in more depth more often on BC Rail issues, Good would no doubt raise it more often on his show h.o.)
11 SharingIsGood // Jul 18, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Hi Harvey,
As I truly wish to be open and not beholden to any group of politicians, I do not belong to any political party. I have been following the news in BC (print, radio, TV ) for many years, and I have been using the Internet for news for about 15 years. While I find that all sources seem to follow the bias of their owners/management, I find the Internet offers me the ability to instantly research a topic or assertion while I am reading or viewing what is in front of me. I find the main stream media reporting in BC to be clearly reprehensibly biased . TV is the worst, because the visuals are there with the words. It is not infrequent that I have noticed, in my view, a sneer on the faces and in the voices of Good, Baldry and Darling when using the word NDP. To me, their disdain is obvious, and I wonder how much of an effect this has on viewers.
Further to the above, nearly every time BC TV and radio stations have had negative news to report about the current BC Liberal government, they dredge up negative “news” (as old 10-20 years) about the NDP. When talking about the cost over-runs of the convention centre, we hear about the Fast Ferries. When news about the hush hush BC Rail deal comes out, we hear about the deck that a neighbour built for a neighbour for which Clark was acquitted. Pre-Glen Clark, I provided the free labour to build decks 2 of my neighbours (and many other home renovation/improvement tasks) expecting nothing in return. A deck isn’t a railway, and the casino license application was not assisted in any way by Clark. We witnessed day after day of front-page and lead story news about the deck, and even though he was not guilty, Clark stepped down. It is interesting to me that Jimmy Pattison ( the poster boy of the Socreds and the hero of Expo ‘86) has found Clark to be a reliable and valuable man of great integrity.
This new revelation of the May erasure of the emails was not published on TV until well into the news hours on any of the three (CBC, CTV, and Global) . One station (well-ahead of the email disclosure piece) broadcast a 3-4 minute story about the rescue of a hawk that had been serrendipitously found trapped between two buildings . I now find that, after but one day, the huge revelation about the erasure of emails seems to have left the TV news completely. (I tell you, I nearly wore my thumb out last night clicking between the stations looking for anything about the story). Throughout the many years of this BC Rail trial, the great bulk of the reporting in the papers has found the story buried fairly deeply with tiny headlines that minimize the importance and often don’t really match the information within.
I could go on and on with examples, but I wish to end by noting that when the main stream media have positive reporting about the Campbell government, they don’t report the similar positives that the NDP had to their credit. The manipulations in reporting is as clear as the cleft in the late Micheal Jackson’s chin.
12 BC Liberals Suck // Jul 18, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Being one of those bloggers “real journalists” often like to dis and bash, I’ve developed a thick skin about it all. I know of where the ire comes – corporate media flunkies and hacks write and comment on and influence public opinion on what their corporate masters want.
There is no diversity (is MSM unaware of people of colour?), little effort to really get into the nitty gritty of the issues, to serve in the tradition of what someone like Harvey represents, the better days of journalism.
I agree there is a lot of crap out there on the Net too, I’ve probably put some out myself, but my readership numbers tell me that people are hungry for other opinions and perspectives on the issues of concern to citizens in BC. That’s also a source of angst and consternation to the dying media empires of old. Newsflash – getting corporates hacks to blog too isn’t gonna save ya’, because they’re saying a lot of the same irrelevant, self-serving stuff they do in print.
As a “citizen journalist” I am my own editor. I write about what I want, when I want, how I want. My creativity, outrage and desire for social justice and human rights in BC can be channeled into blogging.
I’m quite sure the BC government would love to sue me. If they do, it will be one of biggest mistakes of their collective lives. Because I am one of those people who knows where many skeletons and bodies lie.
I blog because I believe in BC. This administration is so far beyond corruption most of us cannot conceive of what they are all about. But we are living it and I believe that evil is being done to us and our future generations and people need to know about it. Because in many ways, with shining exceptions, we can no longer count on the mainstream media to do it’s job – to tell the truth, to inform us, to help hold those who govern us responsible and accountable for their service to us – the people of BC.
BTW, Harvey, you must know this by now, those who go out on the limb, poke the beast in the eye and tell the truth are rarely rewarded in the ways they deserve to be. There are costs, but also other rewards for being a truthteller.
(Response: Well said. But I believe those who stay true to their journalistic values get the two biggest rewards: respect and appreciation from most of the public . h.o.)
13 genuine // Jul 19, 2009 at 1:22 am
AG Tsakumis,has an immense respect,for baldry,I’m wondering why?
14 Norman Farrell // Jul 19, 2009 at 3:42 am
I know that we all view and read news with our own filters and what one perceives as bias is not so to another. But, I fail to understand why clear failures of ethical principles in public administration can ever be given a free pass, no matter what your economic philosophy. I can understand a person believing that BCR is better owned privately while another preferred it as a publicly owned utility. But partisans of both right wing or left wing should demand ethical conduct in whatever course is taken.
It surprises me when the news commentators on radio say maybe the “fix was in” for the sale but that doesn’t matter much if CN was best positioned to complete the sale anyway. The choice to rationalize and justify a corrupt process is nonsense and any ethicist could point that out in an instant.
My unhappiness with the BC Liberals comes from their repeated ethical failures. Campbell promised the most open, accessible and accountable government in history. It has been the opposite. That is an appalling example of the Campbell Government’s moral dishonesty. Promising to not sell BCR before an election and selling it afterward is another. Canceling labor contracts that he promised to honor is a third. I blogged about this some time ago here:
http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/05/you-cant-handle-truth.html
15 SharingIsGood // Jul 19, 2009 at 5:46 am
Norman, I admire your eloquent writing. You have clearly stated the essence of my issues with this government. On top of the ethics breaches that Campbell has amassed, our premier and his cabinet’s actions/directives need to be fully scrutinized in full light. This expression is not out of fashion with me: “Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.” Citizens have already lost enough faith in government; it is time for faith to be restored. It is time for open, accessible and accountable government. It is time for democracy to function.
I will visit the northernlights blog for more.
16 davidp // Jul 19, 2009 at 3:22 pm
“Sorry if I disappoint..but Good is not the problem. He’s a commentator, not a reporter. The blame lies first with the newsroom managers/assignment types who do not encourage/demand/provide resources for their so-called senior reporters to pursue this story and dig”
Right. So who do we contact? The news corporations can be pressured by public opinion if we contact them. We need to know where to push the buttons.
(Response: Frankly I don’t think today’s corporate bosses care about anything more than ratings/profit. Fairness/quality journalism doesnt really matter as much anymore to the owners, in my view, ..unlike the old days. The key is the ratings/sales …if people turn off, stop listening, watching, reading … only THEN will they change. h.o.)
17 Norman Farrell // Jul 19, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Partly, it’s short term vs long term business strategies. The Griffiths family ran BCTV and Western Broadcasting with long term goals. They spent money on good people and let them build assets over time. BCTV created what was undeniably one of the best news groups anywhere, comparable to the largest markets in North America.
Beancounters in charge today only care how the last quarter’s results compare to the preceding ones. They don’t care about 5 years from now, they care about the next 3 months. The tyranny of quarterly reports is ruining large business everywhere. It’s what caused countless executives to start faking results. They knew, like in Pyramid schemes, the whole thing eventually blows up but for those in for the early ride, the rewards are sweet.
BCTV was so strongly branded by those great people of other years that the Global station survives as market leader through viewer habit. As soon as another broadcaster fires the beancounters and assembles the best local news team in town, Global’s rating will tank.
Harvey is right that today’s bosses don’t care about quality journalism but I have faith that viewers still do care. Trouble is, every station sings from the same songbook. CBC occasionally does some really excellent work so the industry lobbyists go to Ottawa and ask for funding cuts to the public broadcaster. Harper obliges because that’s why he’s there.
18 A Dave // Jul 19, 2009 at 11:42 pm
“The key is the ratings/sales …if people turn off, stop listening, watching, reading … only THEN will they change.”
OK, but that’s exactly what’s been happening for the past 5 years, viewers/readers are fleeing the networks and big papers in droves. CanWest is bleeding money and their stock is worth 1o cents now. Yet, they haven’t changed at all. Friday’s Global news had a 3 minute segment on toys in Happy Meals, it was basically a free extended commercial for McVomits that was passed off as “news”. It was picked up on the wire and probably played in every major market in N. America.
I think our cynicism is well-deserved. And the break-up of CanWest’s virtual monopoly is just around the corner given their money problems/impending bankruptcy. It will be interesting to see what happens then…
19 AJ // Jul 20, 2009 at 2:41 am
Hi Harvey, your response to davidp is right on the money so to speak. That particular mindset is driving a large part of industry today. The bottom line is the bottom line. Be it the so called news industry, the telecommunication industry (Telus et al), the aviation industry (Air Canada, Nav Canada), the rail industry (CP, CN et al). The bottom line is paramount. Don’t let anything get in the way of the bottom line.
20 tf // Jul 20, 2009 at 7:40 am
Harvey – your writings have prompted a conspirary theory in my imagination.
The rail lines and surrounding land runs along many of our water sources (soon to be more valuable than oil) and could be related to the privatization of BC rivers. Once the land is privately owned, what happens to the natural resources found on that land?
See – http://www.pbs.org/now/science/bolivia.html
To quote – “Savvy businessmen have been buying up water sources across America, hoping that one day our most precious resource will become their route to riches. Already, a few multinational companies have cornered the water market in countries like France and England, reaping billions in profit.”
Tell me this is too far-fetched ~
(Response: I don’t think buying land along a shoreline makes that river yours … but I don’t know what happens if you buy all the land around a lake .. do you own the lake too?) and although the government allows run of the river projects (so did the NDP by the way) they don’t actually sell the river itself. h.o.)
21 DMJ // Jul 20, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Today, Monday, the trial heat has has notched up a point or two, with the judge now demanding emails from Campbell & Co.
This must be damaging for Campbell, as if the Emails are not produced, could he then be charges with contempt of court?
If DUI could not have stopped Gordo’s political career, could a contempt charge do so? Imagine two photos – drunk in a line-up Hawaii and in handcuffs going to jail for contempt.
Only in BC you say? – Pity!
We do live in extremely interesting times!
22 Gary E // Jul 20, 2009 at 9:28 pm
In Bc at least, you can only own that part of the land up to the “high water mark. So if you own all the land around a lake then you control access.
23 sharingisgood // Jul 20, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Both the feds and the province have been working on legislation to grant private control to accessing parts of rivers and streams. If you control something, it is defacto ownership.
24 Gary E // Jul 21, 2009 at 5:40 am
SIG. Can you help me out here? Where can we access draft legislation on this. Can it done on the net?
25 Crankypants // Jul 21, 2009 at 7:43 am
I am glad that the judge has ruled that the provincial government must turn over the emails in question. This is great if they still exist. I would think it would be prudent for the RCMP would obtain a search warrant to serve on EDS to get anything they have in their possession that may relate to this decision. She has given the government 28 days to comply, but is it binding on EDS. As a matter of fact, maybe they should have a second raid of the legislature’s computer system to make sure that there are no pertinent copies of said emails still floating around on their servers etc.
Although this ruling is good, it does not address the fundamental issue of who ordered these emails be destroyed and when the order was issued. We still need answers on this matter. After all the government in power at any given time is only doing the bidding of the citizens of British Columbia and must be held accountable to these citizens, not to themselves and their party.
I was dismayed with the television coverage on this ruling. The early news on Global had absoulutely nothing, nor Global’s National. Ditto for CTV’s news broadcast at 6:00pm. Global’s late news did mention the ruling that lasted about 15 seconds with the barest of details. No interviews with the Premier or any other politicians. CKNW did play an interview with the Premier by Laura Famanoff(I hope I spelled her name correctly), which shed very little information. She did press Mr. Campbell for some telling answers but got little in response. If the same zeal was shown by one of the previously mentioned television stations, then maybe we would have at least seen the body and facial reactions that went along with his responses.
26 davidp // Jul 21, 2009 at 3:10 pm
http://thetyee.ca/ — has an article about Railgate, as well as many other investigative stories. They’re more valuable than traditional, corporate media these days.
27 Henri P // Jul 21, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Gary E // Jul 20, 2009 at 9:28 pm said
In Bc at least, you can only own that part of the land up to the “high water mark. So if you own all the land around a lake then you control access
———————————————————–
Gary, how then will the fishes get to the water?
(Joke)
(Response: Via a Toll “roe” .. h..o)
28 blaffergassted // Jul 21, 2009 at 7:14 pm
(They have to go through the Troll Booth.
Just like the rest of us…)
But seriously, I’m glad to see this story gaining some traction. The G&M has fascinating comments today.
29 SharingIsGood // Jul 21, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Gary E, You asked:
“SIG. Can you help me out here? Where can we access draft legislation on this. Can it done on the net?”
Answer: A Tyee article gives a good beginning to understanding as much as we can: the Harper and Campbell governments are both notorious for attempting to slide these things under the radar. For Harper, however, it is more difficult because he has a minority government that is held accountable in the House of Commons. The Harper government actually answers some questions presented to them. In BC, we have a government that believes it is merely, “Question Period, not Question and Answer Period”
Here’s the headline and first 2 pragraphs in the article (that is linked below):
“Campbell Wants to Repeal Waterways Access Law: 1882 Act protects citizens’ right of access to rivers, lakes, ocean inlets.
By Andrew MacLeod, 23 Feb 2009, TheTyee.ca ”
“The premier of British Columbia, Gordon Campbell, wants the federal government to repeal a major piece of legislation that helps protect the environment.
“The attack, which comes at a time when the federal government is already trying to weaken the act in question, at first appeared inconsequential. It rated just one sentence deep in Feb. 16’s 40-page speech from the throne. (snip)”
http://thetyee.ca/News/2009/02/23/Waterways/
30 SharingIsGood // Jul 21, 2009 at 9:45 pm
GaryE, further to my answer to your question above, After reading the Tyee article, you will be able to scroll down in “ALL” comments and find 3 or 4 concurrent postings by kootenay (23-02-2009) . They are well worth the read. I recommend the article and just about all of the comments to anyone who cares about our rivers and our environment in BC.
31 genuine // Jul 21, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Absolutely scandalous,this guy’s setting up all his duck’s in a row!he has 4 year mandate’s,no government should be able to repeal laws,or make law’s that go beyond their term, unless there is a referendum, especially when it comes to the sale of our assets ! Then maybe we,could stand a chance for democracy!All we have now is democrazy!
32 Norman Farrell // Jul 22, 2009 at 4:05 am
Title: Mark Hume discusses corruption probe in B.C. politics
Date: Wednesday July 22, 2009
Time: 12:00PM PDT
Mark Hume of The Globe and Mail British Columbia bureau takes your questions on the political corruption trial that is reaching all the way to the office of Premier Gordon Campbell.
33 Gary E // Jul 23, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I don’t miss too many articles in The Tyee SIG. But boy did I miss tha one. Thanks for the enlightenment.
34 SharingIsGood // Jul 23, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Yes, Gary, that Tyee article is a very good one. It is articles tlike that that have allowed The Tyee to win awards and gain readership while CanWest continues to crash. I imagine if CanWest/Global had just read the Tyee articles and then sent television reporters out to actually film news stories and documentaries based on those articles, they would not have had to sell off that Victoria TV station.
There are so many things happening on Vancouver Island (and the rest of the province), if I had but one of their trained camera crews, and their editing equipment, I believe that even I might have been able to keep that station going. They lost viewership because they didn’t repect their audience. Like Campbell, the management at CanWest shows contempt for the people of BC.
35 SharingIsGood // Jul 23, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Hey Harvey,
Did you happen to catch Vaughn Palmer today. He wrote something of value! His quotes from Hansard are very revealing. Perhaps you are helping to make a difference.
http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=e93f2ff3-79fc-486d-a436-f32b972bc22e
(Response: Yes, I saw that. I hope the Premier did too! And Michael Smyth has repeated my earlier contention ..that the destruction of evidence could lead to a dismissal of the entire case ..which would suit the government just fine. h.o.)
36 SharingIsGood // Jul 23, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Yes, I caught that Micheal Smyth article, too. I am curious as to what transpires today with Kinsella. In my books, the distruction of that evidence would constitute a criminal act; but if that can’t be proven, I would think that a Contempt of Court jailing could take place. Campbell has already shown contempt for the citizenry, I wonder how Judge Bennet would react given Campbell has stated in the Legislature that he has done everything possible to safegard the emails. I don’t know how these things are done in the world of premiers and MLAs, but judges throw deadbeat dads in jail for failure to comply. I think it is time that politicians are held at least as accountable as the citizenry.
37 S.P. // Jul 24, 2009 at 8:02 pm
SIG,
I would humbly like to take your statement a bit farther. Campbell has not only demonstrated contempt for the citizenry of this province but previously has shown contempt for the law.
We live here, in a society today, where driving under the influence of the drug alcohol, has been illegal for some time. The average, responsible person, on vacation in another jurisdiction, would comply with this life experience; even if it was legal in that jurisdiction to operate an automobile under the influence.
I have been to Hawaii many times and have been drinking many times while there. BUT, I have never broken the law by driving there while under the influence.
By driving under the influence of drugs in another jurisdiction, Campbell has demonstrated a behavior that he has practiced repeatedly over the years here. This one driving infraction was not an isolated incident, we can all be sure of that.
Sorry, a little OT…..
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