B.C.’s media was rapped on the knuckles today (July 2) by both this blogger and Dr. Dennis Pilon, a respected political scientist from the University of Victoria, for failing to follow up on the BC government’s missing e-mail scandal.
Proud to be the first guest on CFUN Talk Radio 1410 AM’s brand new Simi Sara talk show, I raised once more the many unanswered questions surrounding the loss or destruction of thousands of e-mails between the Premier and members of the cabinet from 2001 to 2005.
Those e-mails could hold important information for the current court case involving David Basi and Bob Virk over events surrounding the sale of BC Rail to CN Rail.
After my earlier Blog “Don’t Let Lost E-Mails Scandal Drop“, about those disappeared provincial government e-mails AND the media’s lack of full or proper follow up, many readers urged me to help keep the light focussed on the topic.
So I did … with the help of Talk 1410 and radio host Sara who is also concerned about the e-mail story …and the media’s failure to really aggressively go after exactly what happened to them.
The other invited guest was Dr. Pilon. For those unfamiliar with him, this is from the University of Victoria’s website:
“Dr. Dennis Pilon received his Bachelor (Sociology/History) and Masters (History) from Simon Fraser University and his PhD from York University (Politics). In 2005/06 he was the Canada Research Chair Postdoctoral Fellow in Canadian Studies at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. Before coming to the University of Victoria in 2006 he taught politics courses at York University, the University of Toronto and Trent University.
His research has focused primarily on issues of democratization and democratic reform in western countries in both contemporary and historical contexts. His published work includes contributions to the Journal of Canadian Studies, the Canadian Journal of Political Science, the Canadian Parliamentary Review and Labour/Le Travail, as well as reports for the Law Commission of Canada, the Centre for Social Justice, and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. In 2007 he published The Politics of Voting: Reforming Canada’s Electoral System (Emond Montgomery), a book that highlights the undemocratic aspects of Canadian elections and the poltical interests that keep them that way.
Over the past decade, Professor Pilon has done considerable public speaking and media work on electoral reform, appearing at numerous public meetings across Canada and in interviews with print, radio and television reporters. He is presently a member of the National Council of Fair Vote Canada, a citizens’ group focused on gaining more proportional methods of voting for Canadian elections, and is a member of the editorial board of Canadian Dimension magazine. He has also acted as a consultant on election issues for various legal firms, political parties, trade unions, community groups, and the Auditor General of Canada.”
Interestingly, both Dr. Pilon and myself independently blamed media management for failing to adequately push their reporters to follow up this story with the same zeal they went after other issues involving former BC premiers, like Bill Vander Zalm, Glen Clark, or Mike Harcourt.
It is quite clear this story isn’t over yet … nor is the focus on the media, who should be pressing for answers to important remaining questions.
And if any of them want a few suggested ones, they can check out my previous blog on this (click link above) for a list of SIX I came up with in a matter of only minutes thinking about it.
Harv Oberfeld
9 responses so far ↓
1 Norman Farrell // Jul 2, 2009 at 4:13 am
Tenacious reporting takes many resources and those are in short supply in today’s profits driven corporate media. Our news organizations no doubt have many excellent journalists who could provide detailed analysis of BC’s political economics if given opportunities.
The media types with highest profiles and those involved in political and economic reporting seem to have little interest in discussing the long term financial significance of changes wrought by Campbell’s Government, whether it be BC Rail, gambling, private power production, the transit mess, PPPs, etc. The Liberals’ lack of accountability, mendacity and obstructionism should outrage media people.
Imagine how Marjorie Nichols or Jack Webster would have kicked these subjects around in early days. Or, Mair, Bradbury and Bell 15 years ago. Webster’s back would have been turned to many of today’s political rascals.
I feel shame from the public persecution and prosecution of Glen Clark over a friend and neighbor doing renovations. Compare that to the multi-billion dollar debacle of the BCR land giveaway and gifts of waterways to generate power for Americans with facilities financed by advance purchase contracts from BC Hydro.
In the face of huge commitments that will affect future generations, our main media figures put more effort into ridiculing “cultists” who express concern.
I look forward to hearing Dr. Pilon. I need to figure out whether or not I should be fitted with a tinfoil hat. But I really wonder, where are the media people – in Rafe Mair’s words – with loaded revolvers looking for targets.
(REsponse: So good to hear from someone who remembers the Golden Age of political reporting in BC ..and those great names behind it all. You’re absolutely right… there are still many good reporters, but they are stymied in getting promoted to the senior beats by too many tired old bored “reporters” who make great knowlegeable commentators, but lack the get up and go, stamina or aggressivity needed day after day to really go after fast moving political shenanigans or do much real investigative digging. h.o.)
2 SharingIsGood // Jul 2, 2009 at 9:39 am
Thanks for not letting this die, H.O.,
From my perspective, this BC Rail story should be a big national story. Harvey, why do you think it is not making headlines at the CBC? Why haven’t we heard Mansbridge or Stroumboulopoulos on this?
In terms of the reporters “lacking the get up and go, stamina, or aggressivity”, I believe there is more to their non-reporting than that. These reporters have access to information here and other places like BC Mary’s and Tieleman’s blogs and The Tyee. They are sent stories and leads and links. They need only Google a few key words and they get more than enough info to follow down solid stories to their sources.
Instead of reporting, we often have had reporters attending the BC Rail trial (and other places) and then continually report what they have seen and heard as a non-news item. They often go even further to make the new news appear meaningless by calling attention to the “misdeeds” of the BC Liberals’ chief opponents. They still continue to treat the afore- mentioned (Norman Ferral’s post) deck as though it was serious crime.
Personally, I think it is the editors and the executives who are filtering, demoting and firing those who do not report the news the politically correct way. What do you think, Harvey; and can you rattle some cages and get more people involved than Dr. Pilon? Pilon is a good start, but democracy demands more than this. …SIG
(Response: I agree it goes beyond the reporters to their management. They certainly don’t seem to be doing anything to inject new blood and new enthusiasm into provincial reporting … and then they wonder why the numbers of readers, listeners and viewers under 55 years old are dropping off! h.o.)
3 genuine // Jul 2, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Ive said this a few times now its a constructed effort by both federal and provincial goverments to stymie the facts and figires by not revealing information ,just look at the gold thats gone missing in jan we just found out about it now?I heard john baird saying on a radio interview ,that he liked the way campbell did things,and calls him every night on the phone to learn how it’s done ,well from the looks of things they are learning quickly!Don’t forget we are the testing grounds for such outrageous tactics,therefore we must stop them here dead in there tracks !Go Harvey go ! and thanx a million. And the response I got from that sorry excuse we call the opposition for an injunction was we can’t afford it ! Well me thinx we can’t afford not to !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 BC Mary // Jul 3, 2009 at 12:05 pm
It’s good to read these comments.
Just wondering: is it some sort of disease which has affected the B.C. Opposition, just as much as it has affected the B.C. news media?
5 Leah // Jul 3, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I’ve spoken to two people by phone regarding an injunction (until the documents are produced clearly showing no wrongdoing, illegal or conflicting actions, and until the people give their permission to continue on)…one at an NDP constituency office, the other at the NDP Leg Caucus office. The first said “we cannot do that”…the second…”thanks for your opinion, but we can’t do that.” My next question was – if the Official Opposition can’t/won’t do their job, why are we paying you? Click. None of the letters I’ve sent have generated more than the usual canned responses.
I certainly hope the NDP has more up their sleeves than their arms…but I won’t hold my breath waiting to find out.
Harvey, in your opinion, is there another way we can go about this?
(Response: I’m no expert on injuctions … the media just report them when individuals or groups seek them. I personally don’t think an individual seeking one would carry much weight with the court … a group could do apply, but doing it without a lawyer (costly) would be extremely difficult. But again, I’m no expert on the subject. h.o.)
6 A Dave // Jul 3, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Sad that the NDP is so out of touch on this issue. Isn’t Bill Tielman an NDP advisor?
BC Mary and company: I don’t know if you’ve already tried or not, but perhaps two other groups that might be willing to put together an injunction would be Pivot Legal Society, and/or (since it involves a giant land transfer and therefore will potentiall have a huge environmental impact) Sierra Legal Defense Fund. I’m sure they would be interested enough in this issue to give you some legal guidance or outline some options.
At the very least, I guarantee you won’t get an auto-response. Grrrr!!!
7 genuine // Jul 6, 2009 at 2:45 am
the union of bc chiefs should be up in arms and call for an injunction! After all some of their land is being given away ,thus the reason for the reconciliation legislation,man how stupid can we be to let them get away with this scam?I’m so sick of this I’m considering a move,if the media doesn’t start reporting on this crap were done , I seriously believe that ! Is it time to give up?july 14th is coming up fast what to do ?Go to the streets?They’ll make us look like fools were as the real crooks will be made to look good!Thanks to the crooked views of a new twisted and corrupt media,if I’m wrong again I ask,prove it!
8 flashplayer // Jul 6, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Perfect!
9 Mike // Jul 9, 2009 at 4:53 pm
After reading these posts and thinking about the state of our Political Opposition in BC, I come to one conclusion….The NDP must put a real Character in as leader. Someone who is knowledgable, loud and boisterous, not afraid to stand up and bellow at every injustice and , from time to time, say things that will get HIM, yes “HIM” kicked out of the Legislature. (See: Dave Barrett). Then, and only then will the mainstream media pay attention to these issues like the missing e-mails and other important issues to BCers.
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