TUESDAY, March 12, 2013
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In politics, ethnic strategy is nothing new
T
HE B.C. legislature session ends this week. It can’t come quickly enough for Premier Christy Clark and the B.C. Liberals. This is also the week we see the rest of the fallout from the ethnic quick-wins controversy. A disgruntled former B.C. Liberal caucus staffer handed the NDP opposition an internal memo setting out a strategy for ethnic outreach that strayed into forbidden territory, suggesting that ethnic-friendly government events could be staged and participants’ names collected and turned over to the party. “This secret plan clearly demonstrates the Liberals are deliberately folding
TOM FLETCHER Our Man in
VICTORIA government resources and staff into their party’s campaign machinery, despite rules that forbid this,” thundered NDP house leader John Horgan. “We’ve seen this before, with the Liberals’ efforts to run a secret committee to subvert the public process around Burnaby Hospital, and in the attack website created by caucus staff and launched by the Liberal party.” Casual observers might see this as a
DIANA LENA MCDELL April 1, 1950 – March 2, 2013 Diana passed away on March 2 after a brief, courageous battle with cancer. Diana was born in Eindhoven, Netherlands and emigrated to Canada in 1957 with her family. The family settled in Sarnia, Ontario where Diana was schooled and lived until marrying in 1970 when she moved to British Columbia. During her youth In Sarnia, she enjoyed a variety of sports, but excelled in particular, in longdistance swimming. She is survived by her husband Byron, son Cary (Kristy), daughter Deena (Jannik), and the new joy in her life, their grandchild Elena. Also, mourning the loss are her mother Mary, brother Ed, sister Mary Anne (Jim), as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives in Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. Diana was predeceased by her father Ted. Diana spent most of her working life with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation in Kamloops and concluded her career as the manager of the Customer Support Centre. As a manager and leader, Diana was passionate about her work. She valued and respected her colleagues and worked to build relationships and trust. She embraced change and focused on teamwork and cooperative effort.
disturbing new development in misuse of public resources. It’s disturbing, all right, but it’s hardly new. The “attack website” Horgan refers to is a case in point. While a website targeting NDP Leader Adrian Dix was being cooked up in the B.C. Liberal bunker, a similar effort was being developed in NDP research down the hall. This partisan message detailed all the worthwhile things that could be done with the government’s $15-million advertising budget singing the praises of the government’s “jobs plan.” But, this one carried the logo of the NDP caucus, so it was within the rules. The average
person, seeing two groups of staff on the public payroll, each slagging the other, might not detect much of a difference. The biggest headline from the leaked memo was its reference to generating “quick wins” for the election campaign by staging apologies for historic racial injustices. It mentioned how former premier Gordon Campbell delivered a solemn apology in 2008 for the decision to turn away a ship carrying Sikh refugees from Vancouver harbour — shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. What does a modern provincial premier accomplish by apologizing for a federal immigration decision
made in 1915? Why would another premier now feel the need to apologize for a federal “head tax” imposed on Chinese immigrants from 1885 to 1923? The answer is obvious. Again, don’t expect much to change with an NDP government. Asked last week if he would stage an apology for the head tax, Dix delivered a well-rehearsed history lesson that made it clear he is anxious to do so. Welcome to politics in an urbanized, globalized media culture. It’s more important to put on a show than to do the right thing. Hospitals are announced three times before they’re built, then announced
WESLEY “IVAN” BLACKSTOCK Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, great great grandfather Wesley “Ivan” Blackstock passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 in Kamloops BC. He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 71 years Magdalene “Lena”, daughter Valerie (Murray) McDougall, granddaughters Brenda Plested, Laura Walls, and Tammy (Tom) McGlynn, grandson Matthew (Lisa) Neilson, great grandchildren Reanna (Justin) Flundra, Josh Plested, Whitney Plested, Sarah Neilson and Christopher Neilson, and Adam Walls, great great grandchildren Corbin and Kaydin Flundra, many nieces and nephews, and so many wonderful friends. Ivan was predeceased by his parents Wesley and Ethel Blackstock, son Garry Blackstock and sisters’ Joyce Cummins and Isabel Bartrop.
again when they are staffed. Politics is a lucrative career. Former B.C. Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt is one of the additional “outreach” staff handpicked by Clark. The B.C. Liberals retort that the NDP caucus has a similar staffer named Gabriel Yiu, who has taken three leaves of absence to run for MLA and is in practical terms a professional NDP candidate. Yiu is running for a fourth time in VancouverFraserview, having been defeated in 2009 by former West Vancouver police chief Kash Heed. That campaign was notorious for anonymous Chineselanguage pamphlets
claiming the NDP favours legalizing drugs and imposing a death tax on inheritance. This latest scandal might produce meaningful reform. But, the misuse of public money to further the interests of political parties is deeply entrenched.
Tom Fletcher is legislative reporter and columnist for Black Press and BCLocalnews.com tfletcher @blackpress.ca
VIC BRADFORD Jan. 31, 1935 – March 7, 2013 Vic Bradford, 78, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side. He is survived and sadly missed by his loving wife Marion of 57 years. He leaves to cherish his memory, 4 daughters: Darlene (Brian) Mikalishen, Gwen (Ralph) Sloan, Sandy (David) Mikalishen, and Brenda Bradford, along with many grandchildren (Shaun/ Karli, Cary, Kyle/Julie, Josh, Kristyne/Chris, Katelyn, Chelsea/Caleb, and Levi/Rob), great-grandchildren (Preston, Dallas, Cale, Charli, and Taya), nieces, and nephews; his sister Lil (Hector) Ethier, and brother Stan (Marg) Bradford.
But, her most important role in life was to be a mother and wife. She raised her children with devoted love, wise advice, continual support, and massive generosity. She lived life with a positive attitude and character qualities that made it very easy for you to be her friend or colleague and for her husband to be her partner.
Ivan was born on September 23, 1921 in Unity, Saskatchewan. Lena and Ivan were married in 1941 and in 1947 moved to BC. They lived in Saskatchewan, Port Alberni, Clinton, and then Kamloops since 1961. Dad worked in logging for many years and then Weyerhaeuser for 20 years, retiring 27 years ago. He was known for his passion for the outdoors, hunting, fishing, horses and especially loved hunting stories. Ivan was a life-time member of Fish & Game and did volunteer work for several organizations. They moved to Cottonwood Manor in 1995, where he really enjoyed his morning coffee get-togethers. He enjoyed each person he met. Family were the love of Ivan’s life.
Diana’s primary hobbies throughout her life were sewing, a variety of exercise classes, reading, and her favourite, gardening. She was a life-long learner and pursued more knowledge with a passion.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Rod McLaren, Dr. Jonet, Dr. Hopp, Dr. Ackerman and the staff and volunteers, “Special Angels”, at Hospice, for the care they gave Dad. We are so grateful.
Predeceased by his parents Anna and William Bradford; 2 sisters Jessie and Mary; brothers Bob, Albert, Jim and Harold Bradford; sisters-in-law Fanny and Irene; brothers-in-law Allan Fraser and Bill Mattenley.
The family extends thanks to the many friends and colleagues who expressed their love and respect for her and support for the family during her last painful journey. You are greatly appreciated.
If friends so desire, please donate to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home.
Vic was born in Williams Lake and was raised in the Bridge Lake and Barriere area.
A Celebration of Ivan’s life will take place at 1:30 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013 in the Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Drive, with Pastor Dawne Taylor officiating.
He drove low-bed, hauling: heavy equipment, lumber and logs. He eventually owned his own gravel truck which he enjoyed working until his retirement.
A celebration of life will occur on Saturday, March 16 at 11:00am in the Schoening Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com Should friends desire, donations made in Diana’s memory to Kamloops Hospice would be appreciated.
Condolences may be emailed to the family from www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com
A celebration of Vic’s life will be held on Friday March 15, 2013 at 11:00 am in the Kamloops Funeral Home.