CameUpWithTheDirtyTricksOnHisOwnVille
Apparently, according to Martyn Brown, when it is not actually done by he who is arranging it.
Or some such codswallop.
To be absolutely clear, that is my opinion only, and it is based on Keith Fraser of The Province's account of an exchange between David Basi's attorney Michael Bolton and Mr. Brown while the latter was being cross-examined Tues June 15/10:
......Bolton noted his client’s role in arranging for government supporters to call in to radio talk shows and ask “softball questions” for the premier.
He said Basi was “particularly effective” at those activities and others, which have been characterized as “political dirty tricks” by critics.
Brown said he saw nothing wrong with the phone calls, as long as Basi wasn’t making the calls himself.
“He had very good interpersonal skills,” he (Brown) said of Basi. “He was keen on what you could call stakeholder outreach. My understanding is that [former finance minister Gary] Collins had a lot of confidence in his ability to do that appropriately.”.......
Oh, and please note also that ratf*cking now has a new name.....'stakeholder outreach'.
Which is fine also, apparently, as long as it is done 'appropriately'.
Unbelievable.
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Need a Segretti primer and/or refresher?......The Wiki version is actually not half-bad.
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25 comments:
We are no longer represented by a democracy. Campbell's government is a Corporation and beholden to its stakeholders and not the citizens. Who are the "stakeholders"? Read the list of who made financial contributions to the Liberal party. Those are the "stakeholders" of BC. And what do corporations do for their stakeholders? It makes money for them...
Just to make your day RossK, a Horsemen lawyer was in Court room 54 today, for I was there.
I've left a comment over at BC Mary's.
Sort of reminds me of the lawyer that the AG (Wally Oppal) sent in to the Pre-trial proceedings.
Brown said he saw nothing wrong with the phone calls, as long as Basi wasn’t making the calls himself.
And who was "Bob from Burnaby"?
Funny, BC Mary didn't publish my report to her.
Anon-At-Top--
Agreed.
And with respect to RailGate, here, in my opinion, are three of the biggest such 'stakeholders':
David McLean/CN Rail
Peter Armstrong/Rockymountatin Railtours.
CIBC (World Markets Divsion)
OK?
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NVG--
Looking forward, very much, to your report.
Was the experience itself fun/enjoyable?
(you can also send your report here, too, if you like)
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Cazart Gary E, excellent point!
In fact, if I remember correctly, wasn't it the fact that Robert/Bobby Virk did such a great job as the faux 'Bob from Burnaby' one of the reasons he was feted during the 2001 election campaign and then hired soon thereafter by....who was that again?
Ha!
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Tuesday, June 15, 2010
It was in the pre-trial stage that we learned that AG (Wally Oppal) had hired Stuart Chase to sit in on the proceedings, and this afternoon, while I steadfastly maintained my position at "B5", so too for the fellow next row closer to the Judge, and to the left of me at A4 (as if we were on a spreadsheet). A4 said that these were the best places to watch the proceedings from, because "you can see the sweat on the brow of Mr. McCollough".
At precisely 9:56am lawyer McCollough walked into Court room #54, donned his overcoat cape, talked with few, prepared himself to take the podium no more than seven feet away.
The three defendants sat on a raised bench, on centre, glassed in on the back and the sides, and to the right of the podium, which virtually wipes out anyone from sitting in the public gallery for four rows back.
First of the accredited reporters came in with Keith Fraser saddling up and onto A1 and another reporter slid onto A2. Same thing happened at B1 and B2. Neal Hall occupied C13, Ian Mulgrew took over C 10.
Madame Justice Mackenzie tends to be five two ten minutes late, therefore when the designated time to start the trial is 10:00....... and she was late this morning. Nothing happened till 10:05
As to the lawyer being hired..... well that was the fellow in A4, for I noted after the morning coffee break that he had two newspapers beside his briefcase, with the title of "The Lawyers Weekly". It was after the afternoon coffee break I decided to break the ice with A4 and ask what he was doing here, the reply came back, RCMP aka the Horsemen. The RCMP? And reading the Lawyer Weekly..... "Oh," he says.... "Yes, I'm a lawyer too."
From the May 20, 2010 Vancouver Province, Keith Fraser noted this from the Trial with a Question to Martyn Brown from McCullough:
"McCullough also questioned Brown about why Stuart Chase, a government employee, was sent to monitor the pre-trial hearings of the Basi-Virk case.
He demanded to know why the government needed someone to monitor the case if its position was that they could not comment while the matter was in court.
Brown replied that the government needed to be kept briefed and "the court process itself regrettably became very politicized on a daily basis. It was very difficult to know what we were going to be asked.""
Source: http://www.canada.comnews/premier+told+aide+accused+political+corruption+keep+mouth+shut+lawyer/3053845/story.html
I wonder if the reason for A4's presence is the same?
For those who haven't attended Court Room 54, there aren't 150 seats, the public seating area is 6 deep by 13 wide.
The Public Address system is mediocre at the best of times, and as the lawyer (Bolton) wanders away from his podium, to hand out document evidence to be read by Martyn Brown, and then commented on by Mr. Brown, so too does the sound level. When will the Court system adopt a button microphone for roving lawyers?
There's constant questions from Madame Justice MacKenzie to the Defense Lawyer to clarify his question to the Witness, either because the question is actually two questions in one, and she wants them to be answered one at a time; or the question wasn't heard properly by Madame Justice MacKenzie, now this may sound like we're back at the Public Address system again as noted above, but no, the problem here is that although there is a designated court stenographer present, and creating the legal and binding copy of the proceedings, the Judge is busily typing on her laptop computer her version of what is taking place in her courtroom.....#54.
NVG - excellent.Now that things are settling here at home, I hope to make it to the trial next week, perhaps even tomorrow.
RossK, hope you don't mind, but I thought I would bump this comment from the Savary thread here for those interested in seeing the membership of the Young Presidents Organization. I hope to have more new on the Savary angle shortly!
From the Savary Post : http://pacificgazette.blogspot.com/2010/06/railgate-goes-boating-to-savary.html
" Not at all hard to find the Young Presidents Organization, as is it's accurate name, although most refer to it as the Young Predidents Club.
Start with the top BC liberals, and then their offspring, colleagues and close personal associates.And of course, one not need be a Liberal to join, but there does seem to be a large contingent of them among the membership.
Here is a link to a large series of photos showing the Young Presidents Club Olympic opening celebrations... Among the guest is of course Gordon Campbell.... and who else is among those pictured? Look to see who you might recognize....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/claytonperry/sets/72157623344371447/
Here is a link to another event in Vancouver, at some sort of team building drumming workshop that members of the YPO attended.
See anyone you recognize in the photos?
http://www.drumcafe.ca/bc/colligo.htm
And if anyone is interested to see what this island paradise where the " alleged" meeting took place, check out Global BC Tv's video section, as Savary was featured on their " Small Town BC" feature for Sunday June 13th.
Interesting timing on that..."
Lawyer Bolton asked Martyn Brown if he recognized the name Ian May from the BC Shippers. "No". Mr. Brown said he is so busy with meeting new people that within three to six months he has no recollection of meeting them.
I checked on the internet looking for Ian May and it turns out he works with the Western Canadian Shippers Coalition.
http://www.trucknews.com/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000198034&type=Print%20Archives
"Sep 2005 -
Violence mars B.C. labour dispute
By: James Menzies"
AND
"The damage to Vancouver's reputation as a reliable conduit for goods is real and only the future will show us the full extent of that damage," Ian May of the Western Canadian Shippers Coalition told the Canadian Press.
In fact, some shippers that began routing their goods through U.S. ports have publicly stated they plan to continue doing so - at least until the port of Vancouver demonstrates some long-term stability.
However, the feds say they are doing everything they can to assure a permanent resolution is reached.
A task force was set up Aug. 8 to bridge the gap between container haulers and their employers.
"The Port of Vancouver is of vital interest to the local and national economies," said industry minister David L. Emerson."
http://www.ctl.ca/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000197486&type=Print%20Archives
BC Rail is sold, and why don't I remember this happening in 2005?
Thanks NVG and Laila--
I've gotta climb in the bloody giant cigar tube today.
Will try and get something up later.
Another story Brown didn't know came to light this morning - to wit: That Blair Lekstrom wasn't still the minister of energy.
No kidding!
"...although there is a designated court stenographer present, and creating the legal and binding copy of the proceedings, the Judge is busily typing on her laptop computer her version of what is taking place in her courtroom.....#54."
And who will see her laptop full of notes...any retired justices on the list? Maybe a politician or three?
What she's doing is wrong...if she needs notes, she can refer to the Steno - that's what she's there for.
Laila I checked out your link for the young libs Owelympic thingy.
Funny there is no picture of Mr. Campbell with Mr. Ignatieff, but Mr. Day a not very liberal fellow in my estimation is featured...
Maybe someone who knows the players better than me could let us know if there are any federal liberals in those photo's.
Another thing the visible minorities although present look very unrepresented in that collage, or maybe that is just my perception?
For those who can't attend to Court Room #54 there are things that have been said, and not reported on by the MSM, nor by blog writers who have also been in attendance. There's just so much happening.
For instance, today, much was made of two columns written by Vaughn Palmer in regards to the Indemnity Clause. Witness Brown said yesterday that the clause equated to about $300 million, and before the first question could be asked today on a different topic by M. Bolton to Mr. M Brown (it gets confusing here because both contestants have the same initials) he, Mr. Brown, upon reflection overnight, thought that the numbers weren't right and he didn't want to be accused of misleading the jurors.
He was off the mark in his estimation, well off the mark, so much, that Bill T. jokingly said during one of the coffee breaks that the BC Liberals will likely have to raise the HST one per cent to cover the indemnity to pay off CN Rail. I think he was joking, but if it were true, those who haven't considered signing the HST, just might push the numbers well over a million.
According to the Public Accounts which were introduced by M. Bolton this morning (written by the BC Liberal Government with the Auditor General INSISTING on the Indemnity clause to CN Rail being listed as a liability).... 2008 was $505 million, 2009 was $550 million.
Its these Public Accounts that were the focus of two of Vaughn Palmer's column of which both have been entered as evidence. Imagine, this is an after the fact situation, an observation written by a third party, that is now the focus of the Courts.
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G West - Mr. Brown didn't know about the new Energy Minister, neither has he heard about the landslide in Oliver, nor the reason as to why there was a cabinet shuffle. And for good measure, the Chief of Staff didn't participate in the process of selecting new Cabinet material, which leaves you-know-who to fill his shoes.... Lara Dauphinee. Mr. Brown hasn't been at the helm for almost a month now.
As I've written on BC Mary's, has there been an OIC reflecting that change, that is Mr. Brown is not available as Chief of Staff, and who are his chosen PAB reporting to, eh.
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"A BC Rail time bomb is still ticking for B.C. taxpayers
More than five years after Premier Gordon Campbell announced "$1 billion in cash" for the Canadian National takeover of BC Rail, the province is still on the hook for a potential payback to CN of half a billion dollars."
By The Vancouver Sun April 21, 2009
Vaughn Palmer
Source: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=106ef17b-3f69-4946-8132-4ce69f85d065&k=60220&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+canwest%2FF262+%28Vancouver+Sun+-+WestCoast+News%29
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AND for this following one you'll have to scroll down once you've gone to the "Source" to find this title:
"CN, Liberals finally pry BC Rail okay out of competition bureau"
Vancouver Sun
Tue Jul 6 2004
Page: A3
Section: News
Byline: Vaughn Palmer
Column: Vaughn Palmer
Dateline: VICTORIA
Source: Vancouver Sun
Source: http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/viewfromtheledge/default.aspx
Gotta go to work on Thursday; Court's not in session on Fridays. This next item has been cc: BC Mary
Not wanting to put a damper on an easy trial here for the defendants, there's one problem that has cropped up that hasn't been considered by keeners who have cross referenced 8000 pages of disclosed documents.
Many have mentioned Martyn Brown's performance as a Chief of Staff, and of those to follow in his footsteps, but think on this. Witness Martyn Brown cannot turn to a Deputy and ask for more information before he responds to a question from a Lawyer, whether it be a Special Prosecutor or a Defense Lawyer. He must wrack his brain for an explanation as to whether or not he recognizes a document. His usual response is: "I don't remember"; "I can't recall"; "No, I've never seen that before". "I can speculate" (and he's allowed to do so by the Court).
His usual overall answer is that its been almost eight years since the BC Rail raid began, and since then, many, many, many (his words) other issues have come, and gone. His retention for a name may last three months, and then he's moved on.
While WE have been pouring over the 8,000 pages daily, held in trust online at BC NDP headquarters, the BC Liberals have as good as shredded them from their minds. The BC Liberals don't go back and look, to refresh their minds, because they KNOW that the testimony must be done from MEMORY.
As a test as to how knowledgeable, even a micro-manager such as Gordon Muir Campbell is, you needn't look any further than to one more of Vaughn Palmer's columns. Keep in mind, that if Campbell is called to Court room #54, he'll be alone in the Witness chair and be drawing upon his memory banks, and do you really think he has been boning up on this hot little topic called the BC Rail Raid on the Legislature over the past eight years????:
"Premier, adviser do the interesting stuff off camera"
"Questions about Heed fiasco lead to long consultations
By Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun June 2, 2010"
"Opposition leader Carole James led off the annual legislature debate on the budget for the office of the premier Tuesday by putting Gordon Campbell on the defensive over his handling of the Kash Heed fiasco.
The back-and-forth over Heed occupied an hour or so in the main legislature committee room. But that was by time expired on the clock. Campbell's answers occupied much less time, because he spent almost as much time framing them as he did delivering them.
A typical exchange went as follows: James poses question. Campbell enters into lengthy consultations with his deputy minister Allan Seckel, sitting on his left side. Seckel, like a lawyer instructing his client, does most of the talking. Premier occasionally takes notes. Sometimes the consultations extend to a second deputy minister,....."
Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Premier+adviser+interesting+stuff+camera/3101103/story.html
His newest and brightest Deputy Minister will not be at his right hand to do his bidding in Court room #54
I'll have a peek through the OIC files to see if there have been any changes reflecting the new status of Martyn Brown as the Premier's Deputy for practically nothing.
The fact he didn't know about Lekstrom's resignation and the appointment of a new energy minister is so unbelievable as to be laughable.
My understanding of the exchange when he tried to claim Lekstrom was still minister of energy in court today is that a pall of silence and consternation fell over the whole court room...and for very good reason.
North Van G,
The thing is the "Question, pause, consult, pause, Answer" pattern of the Premier's estimates is a 'strategy'. It's not the normal pattern of answering.
In fact Campbell, in the early years leapt in like a playful puppy, answering any and all questions as fast as he could. He was the little boy in the front row, waving his hand saying "I know, I know, pick me."
It was only after his over eager answers to a string of BC Rail questions caused big, big legal problems three or four years ago that he changed strategy. Or was made to change strategy.
The new strategy is called ragging the puck.
The truth of the matter is this, I believe Brown remembers everything. He may not know the details but he knows the truth is not that he doesn't remember. As a senior civil servant told me today, "He's paid to remember this shit. he knows exactly what went down and when because he did most of it." That person went on to say, "Come on. It was a billion dollar deal that broke a very prominent election promise and then was the object of a major police raid and investigation. You can bet he remembers everything down to the colour of the carpet in the rooms he was meeting in."
And they all do.
But what are the alternatives? They answer truthfully and maybe some go to jail. They lie and there's so many docs floating around that courtroom that perjury is likely. So they can't remember. it's the Bob Halderman strategy.
Just checked. Brown's OIC is still in force - it has neither been rescinded nor replaced. He's still the deputy to the Premier - but apparently he's stopped reading, listening and paying any attention to the business of the job he's being paid to do - I guess you could say the job is on autopilot for the duration.
So, who's in charge?
My guess - Allan Seckel.
Definitely the Haldeman strategy....
Question is...How many Kalmbachs out there are getting very, very nervous and asking the bosses what they should do now...
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NVG--
Regarding the indemnity thing....Norman Farrell and I have done quite a lot on that recently.
We are now potentially on the hook for ~$600 million.
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...Apologies for getting behind a bit in trial goings on - stuck in the science geek bunker and I can't get out!....
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I yie i..... I'm no singer Rossk but if I understand, correctly, of what M. Bolton was saying with his question to Martyn Brown this Thursday afternoon, on CIBC World Market's participation in the sale of BC Rail to CN Rail...... I yie i.
M. Bolton reminded the court of CIBC World Market position when the year was 2003 and CN Rail needed cash and of course headlines around the world, especially in the United States of America, were all blazing out the evils of Enron:
"Canadian bank settles Enron case
$2.4 billion payout is so far the biggest in long-running debacle
updated 6:06 p.m. PT, Tues., Aug 2, 2005
NEW YORK - Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has agreed to pay $2.4 billion to resolve investors’ claims it helped hide losses at Enron Corp., marking the biggest individual settlement since the energy trader collapsed in a massive accounting fraud."
SNIP
"In 2003, CIBC agreed to pay the Securities and Exchange Commission $80 million to settle an investigation into wrongdoing connected to Enron. The settlement consisted of $37.5 million in repayment of Enron-related gains, a $37.5 million penalty and $5 million in interest.
A number of top executives at the Canadian bank also agreed to settle charges they were personally involved in helping to mislead investors through a series of complex structured finance transactions."
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8801056/
Words to search with: cibc world markets Enron $2.4
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And who did the BC Liberals hire to act on their behalf in the sale of BC Rail..... CIBC World Markets.
Another Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Imperial_Bank_of_Commerce
Covers Controversies
2003: Enron
Second paragraph names names of three Executives
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/public-sector-salaries/basic.html?appSession=862159204704501
2010
Public Sector Salaries
First Up DM to GMC
"I want the court to know I have not been following the news" - Martyn Brown
Martyn Brown shocked Court room #54 with his lack of knowledge that Blair Ledstrom neither the Minister of Energy, nor the fact that Ledstrom is no longer part of the Caucus of the BC Liberals.
He made the point to the Court to prove that he didn't want to taint his testimony by having read the latest news after his Oath.
I can only hope that other Crown Witnesses, those who are to follow in his footsteps as a Witness and who have not yet sworn an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, have kept themselves aloof (the local gentry and professional classes) to the negative powers of the Press.
If they haven't, then what does that say about those that Martyn Brown associates with?
And what if Martyn Brown is called back to the Witness stand later, based on other Witnesses testimony to corroborate his testimony against theirs? He'll still be under Oath.
Will Martyn Brown continue his divorced news celibacy relationship once he steps down from the Witness stand this week?
And if he does, of what use will he be to the Gordon Campbell Government; of what use will he be providing to the taxpayers who foot his salary?
Come to think of it what use will those other 39 Witness be to their employers unless of course they take a ten month vacation, starting now.
Hopefully the Oath contains a Confidentiality Agreement to ensure that he doesn't talk to anyone of his testimony and what he remembers, to anyone, especially his fellow workers in the Premier's office.
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