Two largest BC newspapers white-washing for Liberal government?

From Sean Holman at Public Eye Online:

Vancouver’s two major newspapers are sponsoring a government-run centre that will tell international media covering the 2010 Winter Olympics about how the province is dealing with homelessness issues in the city’s troubled Downtown Eastside. Media observers say The Vancouver Sun and The Province should investigate the veracity of the information that will be presented by the centre, not sponsor it.

“That’s shocking,” said University of Victoria journalism professor Lynne Van Luven, when told about the free advertising. “I don’t think that either major paper in a city as plagued with social problems as Vancouver should be engaging in that sort of venture.”

“They should be, in fact, standing away from it and looking at it and writing stories about it and trying to find out if it indeed is whitewashing the homeless problem or if, in fact, this BC Housing gambit is actually legit,” she continued.

And that’s a view shared by Klaus Pohle, a specialist in media ethics at Carleton University’s school of journalism.

“It’s a conflict of interest. Newspapers shouldn’t be in the business of promoting anything like that. They should be reporting it. And, if they do report on it (now), it becomes suspect because they’re involved in it,” he said.

“If this centre turns out to be a bust or whatever, they’re not going to report on it honestly because they’re part and parcel of it. There can’t be arms-length reporting of something in which you’re involved.”

(see full story here)

More proof Liberals and NDP lied about Olympic benefits

Vaughn Palmer of the Vancouver Sun highlights the report on the economical benefits of the Olympics by the Sauder School of Business at the University of BC.

Co-author Tsur Somerville:

“We do not find support for the argument of host city backers that the Olympics delivers positive economic benefits.”

Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell has in the past promised $10.7 billion worth of economic growth, 244,000 jobs and the public bought it hook, line and sinker. (see column here)

Idiotic Judicial decision of the day

A guy kidnaps his ex-wife, handcuffs her in her own home, the police say that the neighbour who called 9-1-1 right away may have saved the woman’s life and what does the guy receive as punishment? 18 month conditional sentence, 3 year probation and a court order to leave the province. (see story here)

The RCMP pays for polling?

The RCMP were found to have not violated privacy rights when it gave  personal information to a private polling company to contact registered gun owners in an attempt find out how they felt about the gun registry.

I disagree with the privacy commissioner’s opinion on this but why in the hell were the RCMP polling in the first place? (see story here)

When bureaucrats have too much time on their hands and too much money to spend

Another waste of taxpayers money to do with the Olympics is a handbook devised by some over paid/under intelligent Vancouver City staff bureaucrat. This maroon (with directions from his/her higher ups) came up with a ridiculous 128 page etiquette guide on how greet foreign guests during the Olympics. (see manual here)

A couple of gems from it:

-”It is important to wear clothing that fits properly. “Never dress in clothes that are too tight. They make a slim person look gaunt and a large person look heavier.”

-”Hair should be kept tidy yet stylish.”

-”Avoid wearing short socks. If they are too short, they may show bare leg when you sit down. Wear knee-high socks or stockings that reach above the calf. Socks should match the pant colour.”

-”Smile ‘gently’ and with sincerity. Be careful not to overdo it. False smiles can look artificial and never-ending smiles may invite suspicion.”

Also: see previous post on CBC’s sock puppet contest here