Vancouver Courier

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Closure fear fulfilled

Shame! Almost immediately upon closing the Kitsilano Coast Guard station, the very thing that British Columbians feared has come to pass: the completely unnecessary death of an innocent person.

Coincidence may cost votes

People in Ottawa must think British Columbians are stupid. What a coincidence that, after they inform us they have to close the Kitsilano Coast Guard base to save money, we hear two things.

I would like to know what Prime Minister Stephen Harper thinks of Senator Patrick Brazeau's public comments at a Tory fundraising event last week, at which Brazeau criticized the Idle No More movement and Chief Theresa Spence's fast.

Bully minister inappropriate

It is more than a little ironic, and unfortunately, not surprising, that Premier Christy Clark has not spoken up to condemn Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman's bullying behaviour around the Surrey casino project.

Installers considered trespassers

Following is an open letter to Gary Murphy, chief project officer, Smart Metering Program:

Minister's casino interference inappropriate

Bogus jobs ads should stop

This is from the BC Liberal's election platform during the 2009 election: "We voluntarily stop non-essential government advertising four months before the provincial election."

Decision-maker had no right

Under the circumstances, Eric Foster should not get a vote regarding the BC Liberal decision not to renew Auditor General John Doyle's contract. How screwy is that?

Spence request reasonable

The whole world has been watching Chief Theresa Spence slowly starve to death because Stephen Harper is too stubborn to meet with her. Meanwhile, the country was being torn in two. This is not how Canadians behave. What was the prime minister afraid of? Her request was reasonable.

Too much control relinquished

Why on earth would you allow a foreign government to take control of any of Canada's resources?

Jobs plan aim questionable

I'm just wondering how awarding the contract for a replacement Sea Bus to a Netherlands company fits into the BC Jobs Plan that the premier is touting at every opportunity.

Unlegislated tax rate sets bar low

Wow! Tax increases by stealth. Lowest personal income taxes in the country? NOT! This government really is number one in setting the bar as low as it can go.

Tricky authorities win tax windfall

While reading the news release from the Canada Revenue Agency regarding the termination of the HST and the return to the PST/GST system, including the roll-back of personal tax exemptions to 2010 levels, I noticed they said the government of B.C. had legislated it.

Call RCMP in on dirty tricks

I'm wondering where the RCMP are in this [Toxicity killing our democracy, Nov. 20 Opinion, TIMES]? Is it not illegal to use taxpayers' money to conduct a BC Liberal Party operation? Using publicly financed computers and on our time? If it's not, it should be.

Uninvited mother cuts votes

Unbelievable! Amanda Todd's mother Carol was not permitted to attend the anti-bullying summit because she wasn't "invited." Yet Premier Christy Clark felt compelled to mention her daughter by name.

Wait for full discussion

First Nations haven't been consulted any more than with the rest of us about the China-Canada FIPA.

No benefits in China treaty

What do we do with a federal government that appears to be acting in the best interests of a foreign power and their workers, rather than our own?

Unions pay for bureaucrats

I'd like to know how it is not the ultimate in hypocrisy for the provincial government to insist that all the unions (teachers, nurses, public servants) who are now negotiating new contracts accept a net zero agreement while 34 ministerial employees have received an average 10per cent increase in the past year, and one received a 20-per-cent increase.