A Chronicle of My City - Vancouver Diary

Haiku to a Naked Vancouver Polar Bear

2006-01-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

Old man swimming nude
Out to sea and back again
Live for the moment

Hey, what’s with the unclad old-timer at the Polar Bear Swim? Has he no shame? With my wife and son, I watched a naked 60-something guy run into Vancouver’s English Bay and enthusiastically do about 50 breath strokes, before returning to terra firma and posing, in all his glory, for numerous photos.

DIAGNOSIS #1
He’s nuts.

DIAGNOSIS #2
He knows how to celebrate life, and doesn’t give a darn what anyone thinks.

In any event, I wish I were a little more like him - not much, just a little.

I'm pleased to report that our dog Shasta jumped in and was rightly awarded a Polar Bear pin.

TODAY’S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

Flying patio umbrella leaves windy West End in the dark

Vancouver -- Wild winds wreaked havoc on Vancouver Island and the South Coast yesterday as an intense low-pressure system moved across the province. In Vancouver's West End, a flying patio umbrella caused a power outage that affected an estimated 7,500 residents yesterday morning.

Test for sliding Canucks

ST. LOUIS -- The Blues should be the perfect holiday-hangover tonic for the Canucks.

The once-proud St. Louis franchise owns the worst record in the league, with just nine wins. And at the Savvis Centre, which draws about one-third-of-capacity crowds these days, the Blues are a miserable 4-12-3.

Overall, they've given up 46 more goals than they've scored. So, the Canucks should be licking their chops. Except the shame-faced Canucks enter tonight's game holding their heads no higher than any of the Blues.

Vancouver Council Meetings to Get Serious

2005-12-17T19:01:00.000-08:00

Although Sam Sullivan wasn't my first choice for mayor, I must admit that he has been displaying some common sense lately. His recent suggestion that live entertainment at Vancouver city council meetings be discontinued was a breath of fresh air.

In a recent interview with the Vancouver Courier, he said, "It's my intention to recommend to the council that we not continue with that particular program. I would like to have the cultural affairs department [at city hall] make some recommendations on how we might best utilize those funds."

Good idea Sam. I don't know why no one else had the nerve to state the obvious until now. Council meetings are already slow and unfocused enough. They don't need scheduled distractions.

The city should support the Vancouver arts community however possible. Barber shop quartets and stand-up comics in council chambers, however, just aren't appropriate.

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

Games funds slow to arrive
Organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics were forced to take out a $5-million line of credit this year because the federal government did not contribute enough to cover venue construction costs.

Heart surgery at St. Paul's a world's first
VANCOUVER A scar barely 10 centimetres long, about the width of a hand, marks Katalen Pataky's chest. Although it remains unseen, it reveals a secret -- that Pataky underwent groundbreaking heart surgery just seven weeks ago.

Mayor hands out kudos in wake of lowest crime rate in Greater Vancouver
Mayor Lois Jackson credits individual police officers and senior staff members for Delta recording the lowest crime rate in Greater Vancouver. The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics released a report, Police Resources in Canada, 2005, Thursday which put Delta at the head of the class.

Gurmant Grewal Adds Madcap Diversions to Canadian Politics
Vancouver - Funnest City on English Bay
Vancouver Police: Not Pubic Relations Experts
Engine 374 Pavilion - Vancouver's Best Kept Historical Secret
I Like Mine Wild!
Canadian Government's War on International Education
Canadian Government Shoots Canada In The Foot - Same Old Story
STV: So Thoroughly Vexed
The Capitol 6 goes the way of its neighbors.
Selling the Farm in the Fraser Valley: Job Creation or Self Mutilation?

Gurmant Grewal: Gone or Regrouping?

2005-12-05T22:17:00.000-08:00

Well, like hula hoops, pet rocks, and the Three Stooges, the Gurmant Grewal story couldn’t last forever. Citing the great taping scandal of 2005, the Conservative MP said he won't be seeking re-election.

In a letter to Stephen Harper, he said "I am writing today to advise you that I will not be a candidate for the Conservative Party in the riding of Newton-North Delta in the coming election." He went on to say "Due to certain still unresolved issues, which I believe my political opponents would use against me and our party in the coming election, I have reluctantly decided to take this course of action."

I don’t think Gurmant Grewal will be out of the game for long. His MP wife Nina is the ace up his sleeve and it’s time to reshuffle the deck. I predict that he will use Nina to continue networking while he plans a quick comeback.

It would be a real stretch to think that Gurmant and Nina maintain even the slightest degree of professional political separation. After all, they are, well, married. Gurmant has a history of publicly coaching Nina, as well as negotiating for her. Of course, he shares his ideas with her over the dinner table.

If Svend J Robinson can bounce back so quickly, Gurmant surely can, too. As Svend pointed out, the House of Commons has been a second home to a number of even more colorful characters over the years. Hurry back Gurmant. It’s already getting boring!

Vancouver's Spectacular Off Season

2005-12-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

One of the best things about Boot Camp is that it gets us out into different parts of Vancouver, regardless of the weather. This has reconfirmed my belief that Vancouver is more beautiful in the winter than most cities are at any time of the year.

I highly recommend Queen Elizabeth Park in November. The colors of the autumn leaves are rich and varied. As leaves fall, more views are opened up. On a clear day, the view of the city and the North Shore mountains is great, especially when there is snow.

Recently, we were at Spanish Banks on a rare snowy day. We regretted not having a camera because the scenery was dazzling, wherever we looked. The sky was bright blue and the mountains were frosted with fresh snow. In Pacific Spirit Regional Park, we trotted past a shady brook surrounded by snow-capped bushes and stumps.

Today, we strolled the banks of the Fraser in Richmond, while big wet snowflakes dressed the ground in a fresh white coat. Various buds and flowers were poking through the thin layer of snow.

In most parts of Canada, winter is associated with brown lawns, lifeless gardens, cold, wind, and ice. In Vancouver, it's just a brief interlude, more like a very late autumn or an early spring.

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

Federal tourism agency opens here Monday
Months of political wrangling over the location of Canada's most important tourism marketing agency will end Monday when the Canadian Tourism Commission officially opens its new head office in downtown Vancouver.

Provincial jobless rate hits 30-year low
British Columbia's booming economy produced more than half the new full-time jobs in Canada last month.

Robinson faces his toughest fight
OTTAWA - Svend Robinson's extraordinary skills as a siphon of public attention was obvious from the day he, as a young MP in 1980, sneaked a large pop bottle into the House of Commons at a time when consumer advocates revealed that the new 1.5-litre glass containers might explode at any moment.

Boot Camps: Vancouver's Dirty Little Secret

2005-11-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

You've heard the stories about the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Abu Grabe Prison, and now reports that the CIA is maintaining secret prisons in eastern Europe and Asia to interrogate al-Qaida suspects. Then, there are the allegations that the Canadian government occasionally ships its citizens off to Syrian prisons for a little tenderizing. Judging from the latest media reports, the art of torture seems to be enjoying a revival.

You have always thought, however, that you were safe from systematic physical brutality in our quiet little city of Vancouver, right? Nothing really bad ever happens in Vancouver, right? Wrong, my friend; dead wrong.

Recently, I have uncovered a nest of "boot camps" operating overtly in the Vancouver area. These boot camps are managed by people who appear to be youthful, healthy and energetic. They attract new recruits by promising improved physical fitness. This promise seems so appealing that recruits actually pay money to join.

Then, reality hits them. They soon realize that nothing short of torture is used to achieve results. Don't believe it? Let me explain, gentle but naive reader.

Without my prior knowledge, Yvonne registered us in one of these boot camps five weeks ago. Three times a week, we are now at the physical and psychological whims of our trainers.

One of the more dastardly techniques they use is the "crunch." This actually seems like a versatile term that refers to anything that makes us feel that our inner organs are being crunched by a large vise. Their favorite approach is to put us on our backs and demand that we repeatedly raise our shoulders, legs and hips simultaneously.

They also enjoy forcing us to run for unbelievably long periods of time. As we run past them, gasping like dogs, they heckle at us with remarks like "Tight abs" or "Just one more." Tight abs? Hell, we are lucky if our abs will just stay under the Spandex!

Boot camps apparently avoid detection by continually changing locations. Every day, we are instructed to meet at a new rendezvous point. One day, it’s Kits Beach. The next, Spanish Banks, or Vanier Park, or Queen Elizabeth School.

Even worse, we are forced to participate rain or shine. Recently, we were lying on our backs in the rain. We were in the middle of the usual crunches when a seagull flying overhead "made a deposit" on one of my comrades. Instead of shooing the bird away, our trainer just laughed. Is this humane treatment? Let’s just say that I haven’t heard anything about seagulls at Guantanamo Bay or Abu Grabe. Our boot camp seems to have a monopoly on that little trick.

The trainers make light of our predicament by continually offering glib comments, usually under the guise of humor. This appears to have a motivating factor on the "campers." After all, when your shoes are full of water and you are doing push-ups in the wind and rain, with your nose stopping an inch from a visibly injured earthworm you recently did sit-ups on, you will seize on any shred of support you can find.

Strangely, people seem to find themselves enjoying these boot camps. It might be a cult sort of thing. It could be due to the fact that we feel more fit after every workout. Some people might even have a dream of getting back to their ideal weight. Whatever the reason, some campers voluntarily return after completing their first term.

Personally, I have seen my blood pressure improve since becoming a camper. Inwardly, I remain smug with the knowledge that this is actually improving my health. It might even help me avoid a stroke or heart attack in the future. Those trainers can do what they want to me. I’ll be laughing last, at a ripe old age.

Tourism Industry in Vancouver has Missed the Boat

2005-10-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

In case any faithful visitor(s) noticed that I haven't posted lately, I apologize. I've been particularly busy over the last month or so.

Among other things, we went to London. It was my first visit there and I was pleasantly surprised. Although London is no paradise, it wasn't as congested or old-fashioned as I had expected. I found it interesting that the pubs and restaurants we visited seemed to be managed in a modern, business-like manner, even though some of them were in buildings that were hundreds of years old. The restaurant in a church crypt reminded me of the cafeteria at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

What really impressed me, however, was the cosmopolitan atmosphere. It's not just that there are a lot of people from other countries. In some parts of the city, foreigners seemed to be in the majority. Near Piccadilly Circus, we stood in a line of foreigners to be served $7 ice-cream cones by foreign workers. That's the beauty of the British system. They have foreigners serving foreigners. I don't know where all the Londoners are but they must be enjoying themselves.

While in London, I attended a workshop, which was attended by agents from around the world. There were people from Nigeria, Slovenia, Russia, and many other exotic places. These were language travel agents who arrange outbound study abroad trips for clients from their countries. They told me about all of the students they have been sending to London. Many were actually looking for new destinations because London is becoming saturated with students from their regions. If that workshop were held in Canada, many of those agents would not have attended because their visa applications would have been rejected.

Spending some time in London really opened my eyes to the huge financial and social benefits a country can enjoy if it has a fair and efficient immigration system. Tourism is a huge business in England but not just because it's a good place to visit. In many ways, Vancouver is a lot nicer than London. The fact is, however, that a family from Moscow or Warsaw probably couldn't get Canadian visas. Some might try but they are almost sure to be disappointed.

Our government defends our dysfunctional immigration system by claiming that we need to be protected from refugees and terrorists. Let's face it. They can't tell a terrorist from an insurance salesman anyway. Given a choice, I'd let some more tourists in and take my chances on the terrorists.

Vancouver Council Meetings to Get Serious
Gurmant Grewal: Gone or Regrouping?
Vancouver's Spectacular Off Season
Boot Camps: Vancouver's Dirty Little Secret
Vancouver Residents Should Have Access To Vancouver Golf Courses
You Don't Want Wal-Mart in Vancouver
10 Vancouver Headlines in 2010
Thank You Vancouver!
Warriors Want Rifles Back

Vancouver Residents Should Have Access To Vancouver Golf Courses

2005-07-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

We went for a nice brisk walk around Vancouver's Fraserview Golf Course today. Other than the traffic noise from Marine Drive, it's a great trail around a gorgeous golf course. I especially appreciate the spongy trail surface, which helps joggers avoid shin splints. Although Fraserview is a 15 minute drive from home, we go there often.

We also frequent Langara Golf Course, which is closer to home. Like Fraserview, Langara is surrounded by a good trail that is heavily utilized by joggers and walkers. I suspect that more people at Langara use the trail than the golf course.

Then, there is McCleery Golf Course. Like Fraserview and Langara, it is owned and operated by the city of Vancouver. Unlike other city-owned golf courses, McCleery does not have a trail. In fact, people walking along the Fraser River are greeted with "Do Not Enter" signs when they get to McCleery Golf Course. It's a shame to use a valuable public asset like McCleery Golf Course for only one purpose.

I think the public should have access to public golf courses. Hopefully, someone with more spare time than me will some day establish a "Give the public access to public property" movement.

Fraserview Golf Course
7800 Vivian Drive
Vancouver

McCleery Golf Course
7188 MacDonald Street
Vancouver

Langara Golf Course
6706 Alberta Street
Vancouver

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

Mayor thinks tall ship festival will return
Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell thinks the Sea Vancouver Festival will be back next year, despite the event's financial problems.

The festival has filed for bankruptcy protection and still owes performers and suppliers more than $200,000.

B.C. considers pesticides to fight West Nile virus
The B.C. government is prepared to use pesticides to keep West Nile virus out of the province. The government has issued a call for suppliers of malathion, a chemical used to kill mosquitoes. The Ministry of Health is seeking suppliers with up to 500 litres of malathion available on demand.

Everyone's Raving About The RAV
Gurmant Grewal Adds Madcap Diversions to Canadian Politics
Vancouver - Funnest City on English Bay
Vancouver Police: Not Pubic Relations Experts
Engine 374 Pavilion - Vancouver's Best Kept Historical Secret
I Like Mine Wild!
Canadian Government's War on International Education
Canadian Government Shoots Canada In The Foot - Same Old Story
STV: So Thoroughly Vexed
The Capitol 6 goes the way of its neighbors.

You Don't Want Wal-Mart in Vancouver

2005-07-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

After spending two years designing a green building that would use one-third of the energy it takes to run a regular store, Wal-Mart's project has been vetoed by Vancouver City Hall.

Why? Because the city councillors, in their wisdom, have decided that you don't want a Wal-Mart in Vancouver. The fact that the majority of Vancouver residents already shop at Wal-Mart didn't sway the councillors' stolid determination to keep Wal-Mart out of Vancouver, along with gypsy moths and nuclear weapons.

This wouldn't have been your typical department store. Windmills would have generated power. Underground wells would have heated and cooled the building. Skylights would have replaced lamps.

Nonetheless, city councillor Anne Roberts still doesn't want a Wal-Mart in Vancouver. "A Wal-Mart flies smack in the face of what we've been trying to do." She said. Just what is Anne Roberts trying to do? Perhaps she is trying to nurture small, inefficient stores that offer a poor selection of goods at high prices?

I'm not for Wal-Mart or against it. I don't have a right to tell you where to shop and neither does Vancouver City Hall. When Adam Smith described the "invisible hand" over 200 years ago, he pointed out a very simple but important fact that our luddite councillors don't understand. A market-based economy forces people to think about what other people want. These people then go to a lot of effort to please their fellow humans. This can result in efficiency and productivity rivaled only by Mother Nature herself.

If Vancouver councillors really must censor stores – and I don’t think they should - why not start with pawn shops that fence stolen property, or perhaps stores that sell cigarettes to kids? If Vancouver residents don’t want a Wal-Mart, they won’t shop there.

10 Vancouver Headlines in 2010

2005-07-12T22:24:00.000-07:00

Larry Campbell Won’t Run for Second Term as Premier
RCMP Budget Overrun: Backlog of Gurmant Grewal Investigations Blamed
Chucky Cheese Opens University Location: UBC President Welcomes Additional Revenue
BC Ferries Chief Blames NDP Fastcat Fiasco and Fuel Prices for Fare Increases
ICBC Reports Record Profits/Staff Bonuses
BC Ferries Profits Soar This Year
ICBC Blames Speeders for Higher Insurance Rates
Marpole Declared "Traffic Calmed Area" – Oak Street Boasts Speed Bumps and Go-Arounds
Premier Claims ICBC Deal is Not Privatization "It’s just a 999-year lease"
Third BC Ferry This Month Runs Aground: Liberals Blame NDP Fastcat Fiasco

Thank You Vancouver!

2005-07-07T21:08:00.000-07:00

The other day, two of our Mexican students left their bank cards and all of their cash on a Vancouver SkyTrain. Their travel agent reported this to me from Mexico. He was concerned because the students were suddenly destitute.

Not knowing what else we could do, I suggested calling the TransLink lost & found department. The next day, the agent informed me that the students had indeed called TransLink and had recovered all of their belongings, including the cash.

"I suppose this could only happen in Vancouver" he said. Well, I think he is pretty much right. Such a thing might happen regularly in Tromso Norway, Yokohama Japan, or perhaps even Buriram Thailand. How long, however, would a wallet last sitting on a bus seat in other large cities like Paris, Milan, or Houston? The chances of it getting to the lost & found department would be slim, at best.

I often think that big cities like Rio, New York, and Mexico City must have been great places to live before they developed pollution and crime problems. Today, the terrorist bombings in London forever changed the lifestyle in that city. I hope Vancouver hangs onto what innocence it still has.

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

ADDITIONAL SECURITY AT SKYTRAIN STATIONS
TransLink officials say they have stepped up security across the Lower Mainland in the wake of the blasts that killed dozens of people on the London transit system on Thursday.

BRITISH BOMBINGS RESONATE IN B.C.
Anxious family members in B.C. are getting word about loved ones in London, following Thursday's series of explosions that killed dozens of people and injured hundreds more in the British capital.

OLYMPIC CONSTRUCTION COSTS SOARING
Concerns are being raised about the costs of venues for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver because of rising labour rates and material prices.

Warriors Want Rifles Back

2005-06-30T21:47:00.000-07:00

According to the Vancouver Sun, the RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team seized 14 Norinco M305 rifles and 10,400 rounds of ammunition from a van occupied by members of an aboriginal warrior society today. The "dramatic police takedown" happened right on the Burrard Street bridge.

The self-described "warriors" said they've been unfairly targeted by police, who have incorrectly labelled them "radicals" and "extremists". The Sun quoted warrior David Dennis as saying "[The RCMP] want to undermine our credibility and create an image in the minds of the public that we are gangsters."

Well, let's take a look at the weapon. The Norinco M305 is a cheap Chinese-made M14 clone. It's a semi-automatic sniper rifle with detachable magazine. Anyone capable of changing magazines efficiently can "throw a lot of brass." Although the M305 is revered by hard-core gun enthusiasts, some think it causes its owners to adopt a lazy "spray and pray" mentality. That's why the warriors had over 10,000 rounds of ammunition for 14 rifles.

Norinco, the company that manufactures the M305, also produces anti-missile systems, tanks, and night vision gear. The Bush administration has banned the importation of all Norinco products into the US. The Norinco M305 might sometimes be used by hunters but it was designed to kill people.

Thank God the cops confiscated these weapons. I hope they don't ever give them back!

Fish for the Future 2005

2005-06-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

Although we live in Vancouver, we usually find ourselves in Richmond on weekends. It seems that there is always something to do in Richmond. This weekend was no exception.

We stopped in at "Fish for the Future 2005", a modest educational event at London's Landing in Steveston. The affair didn't look like much at first glance. There were a few display booths and some kids fishing from the dock.

We thought we would check it out for a few minutes before going out for lunch. We ate lunch very late that day.

As soon as we walked in, we were drawn right into the excitement. We saw all sorts of fish and bugs, all of which are indigenous to the area but some that we had never seen before. We tried fly-casting for the first time and it was a ton of fun. We learned a lot about fish. Tom, an enthusiastic volunteer thrust some rods into our hands and showed us how to use them. They even let us keep the gear.

What really impressed me about the event was the friendliness of the volunteers. Wherever we went, volunteers shared their knowledge of fishing and the great outdoors. I’m not usually much of an extrovert but I talked my head off at that event.

I found myself drawn in by the unbridled zeal of the people. They have a terrific hobby and they are not afraid to share it with other people. As Randy the fly-casting instructor put it, "If more folks fish, we’ll get better information about where the good holes are." Of course, Randy knows that more people fishing will mean fewer fish for him. His generous nature allows him to overlook that detail though.

As a kid, I thought about little other than fishing. I read about it, dreamed about it, and did it whenever I could. Then, I grew up and let life get in the way. The Fish for the Future folks have really rekindled my interest though and I can’t wait to get out on the water again.
Kudos to Rodney Hsu and his team of dedicated volunteers. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for them spend an entire Saturday with dry lines.

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

MORE CARS, LONGER RUSH HOUR
A new TransLink report says Vancouver's afternoon rush hour has increased by about an hour in the past five years, starting just after 1 p.m. and ending after 6 p.m.

ROUND 1 OF WAL-MART HEARINGS
Vancouver city council chambers were packed for the first night of the public hearing on the proposal for the city's first Wal-Mart store.

ON-ICE SLUGFEST TRIGGERS BACKLASH
A Prince George city councillor is leading the campaign to stop the Battle of the Hockey Enforcers from happening in the northern B.C. city this summer.

Gurmant Grewal Adds Madcap Diversions to Canadian Politics
Vancouver - Funnest City on English Bay
Vancouver Police: Not Pubic Relations Experts
Engine 374 Pavilion - Vancouver's Best Kept Historical Secret
I Like Mine Wild!
Canadian Government's War on International Education
Canadian Government Shoots Canada In The Foot - Same Old Story
STV: So Thoroughly Vexed
The Capitol 6 goes the way of its neighbors.
Selling the Farm in the Fraser Valley: Job Creation or Self Mutilation?

One Too Many Refugees in Vancouver?

2005-06-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

After a seven-year fight to remain in Canada, Renee Boje has finally been ordered to return to the United States. The Vancouver resident had claimed refugee status because she feared she would suffer "cruel and unusual punishment" at the hands of U.S. authorities who charged her with a drug offence eight years ago.

A refugee is generally considered to be a person who is afraid to return to his or her country for fear of persecution. A California police officer who charges a grow-op suspect is simply upholding he law – not persecuting someone. The same goes in Canada.

Whether a law is fair or not cannot be determined by an individual. If Renee Boje insists on growing pot, she should move to a place where marijuana cultivation s legal. Otherwise, she should be prepared to do time. That seems like such a simple concept. I wonder why it took seven years to figure it out. Even now, Renee Boje is still in Vancouver. Hmm, could there be something wrong with the Canadian immigration system?

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

GREWAL CLEARED IN AIRPORT PACKAGE AFFAIR
B.C. Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal has been cleared of wrongdoing in two investigations launched after he tried to get Ottawa-bound passengers at the Vancouver airport to carry a package for him.

NEW B.C. CABINET NAMED
Premier Campbell has unveiled his new cabinet in Victoria, with half his 46-member Liberal caucus receiving cabinet posts.

Vancouver's Homeless Action Plan: Billion-Dollar Band-Aid?

2005-06-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

The Homeless Action Plan has been given the unanimous approval of Vancouver city council. While I'm in full support of social housing, I have a few questions.

Are there really 8,000 homeless people in Vancouver?
The plan calls for the construction of 8,000 social housing units over the next 10 years. I know there are many people sleeping in alleys and parks, but 8,000? I don't think so.

Why call it the Homeless Action Plan?
Assuming there isn't really an army of 8,000 homeless folks wandering Vancouver streets, this program seems aimed more at general housing improvement for Vancouver's less fortunate residents. If that's the case, why not call it something more descriptive, like the Housing Improvement Plan?

Why the city of Vancouver?
Although a budget hasn't been formalized, this project will clearly have a huge price tag. I tried multiplying 8,000 by the estimated $130,000-per-unit cost but my calculator doesn't display enough digits. Maybe that's why they haven't been able to whip up a budget.

Shouldn't the provincial and federal governments contribute? Frankly, I don't understand how Vancouver can afford a project of this magnitude.

Is this the best use of our money?
As I understand it, most people aren't homeless because there are not enough houses and apartments. It's not as if there is a zero vacancy rate in Vancouver. The real underlying reasons for homelessness are more complicated than that.

Some homeless people are children who have fled from abusive parents. Some have mental health problems. Others are addicts. We won't solve these problems by building apartment units. We have a systemic problem that needs to be addressed in a comprehensive manner.

Yes, more social housing would be good. How about more social workers, though? How about more doctors, educators, daycare workers? I hope the councillors leave some money in the budget for the real problems.

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

Deal reached in truckers' strike
VANCOUVER – There is an end in sight to the bitter dispute between dump truck drivers and contractors over rising fuel costs &8211; that has stalled construction projects across the Lower Mainland.

A tentative agreement was reached early Thursday morning, ending a marathon bargaining session under the guidance of veteran labour mediator Donald Munroe, who was asked to intervene on Monday.

BAIT CAR VIDEO SHOWS HIGH-SPEED CRIME SPREE
Police auto theft investigators have released what they call the most "chilling" bait car video they've ever seen – showing a car thief high on crystal methamphetamine and armed with a handgun.

CALIFORNIA QUAKE BRIEFLY TRIGGERS B.C. TSUNAMI ALERT
A major earthquake off the California coast caused a short-lived tsunami scare and evacuation on Tuesday night – from the California-Mexico border to the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

Vancouver Diary Archives

Park 90 Feet Over Robson Street?
Vancouver Police Department - Nurturing a Culture of Corruption
Everyone's Raving About The RAV
Gurmant Grewal Adds Madcap Diversions to Canadian Politics
Vancouver - Funnest City on English Bay
Vancouver Police: Not Pubic Relations Experts
Engine 374 Pavilion - Vancouver's Best Kept Historical Secret
I Like Mine Wild!
Canadian Government's War on International Education
Canadian Government Shoots Canada In The Foot - Same Old Story

Park 90 Feet Over Robson Street?

2005-06-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

Someone has finally done something to encourage the development of the garden on the roof of the Vancouver Public Library. Josef Wosk is donating $25,000 a year over the next 10 years to the Vancouver Public Library Foundation. This will be seed money to stimulate a fund that will hopefully raise enough cash to develop the rooftop. The whole project could cost up to several million dollars.

Currently, the garden can only be accessed via a ladder, so the public is not allowed to see it. Although the architect Moshe Safdie had planned a public garden, there wasn’t enough money in the budget at the time the library was built.

It would be great to listen to a reading while watching the sun set from the top of the library. Here’s hoping!

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

First Nation prepares for forest jobs battle

VANCOUVER – The leader of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation on Vancouver Island says B.C.'s newest forest giant is killing jobs and trampling on aboriginal timber rights. Toronto-based Brascan bought Weyerhaeuser's coastal operations at the end of May for $1.2 billion.

Dickenson in command

Veteran QB delivers as Lions rally to beat 'Riders in pre-season opener

REGINA - The B.C. Lions' best quarterback in the first half Sunday was Casey Printers and all he did was hold for the kicker, which tells you how ineffective were the guys actually throwing passes.

But Dave Dickenson, who proved in the first half only that he could take a hit, dominated much of the second and propelled the Lions to a 37-23 victory against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in B.C.'s first 2005 Canadian Football League pre-season game.

Vancouver Diary Archives

Vancouver Council Meetings to Get Serious
Gurmant Grewal: Gone or Regrouping?
Vancouver's Spectacular Off Season
Boot Camps: Vancouver's Dirty Little Secret
Tourism Industry in Vancouver has Missed the Boat
Vancouver Residents Should Have Access To Vancouver Golf Courses
You Don't Want Wal-Mart in Vancouver
10 Vancouver Headlines in 2010
Thank You Vancouver!
Warriors Want Rifles Back
Engine 374 Pavilion - Vancouver's Best Kept Historical Secret
I Like Mine Wild!
Canadian Government's War on International Education
Canadian Government Shoots Canada In The Foot - Same Old Story
STV: So Thoroughly Vexed
The Capitol 6 goes the way of its neighbors.
Selling the Farm in the Fraser Valley: Job Creation or Self Mutilation?
Ilanaaq - Inuit Symbol, Olympics Logo, or Son of Pacman?
The PNE - Alive & Well In Its Old Home

Vancouver Police Department - Nurturing a Culture of Corruption

2005-06-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Police Department is sparring with the BC Police Complaint Commissioner and we are footing the bill.

The RCMP conducted an investigation of the Vancouver Police Department after several complaints were filed by the Pivot Legal Society. Dirk Ryneveld Police Complaint Commissioner asked Vancouver's Police Chief Jamie Graham not to get involved in the investigation. This would seem to be a must, since it was Grahams’ department being investigated.

Instead of facilitating the investigation, like a professional civil servant should, Graham and his subordinates resisted almost every step of the way. It wasn’t enough, however, to deride the investigation and refuse to cooperate. Graham actually had the nerve to conduct his own so-called investigation. The only purpose of this investigation seems to have been to defend the Vancouver Police Department from the findings of the Police Complaint Commissioner’s investigation.

Here’s the kicker. Graham’s "counter-investigation" cost approximately $200,000. Could this be one reason the Vancouver Police Department is the city’s highest spending department? Could this sort of thing that contributes to the Vancouver Police Department’s reoccurring budget overruns?

Jamie Graham is not being paid to defend a few undisciplined police officers who behave like thugs. His job is to manage an efficient police department staffed by honest cops who behave in a professional manner. If he spent more of his time doing that, investigations would not be necessary.

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

Mediator Appointed in Trucker Dispute
Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon has appointed a facilitator in a strike by Lower Mainland dump truck drivers, and is urging the drivers to go back to work.

Everyone's Raving About The RAV

2005-06-09T21:04:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been decided. The Richmond - Airport - Vancouver Rapid Transit Project (RAV Project) will be constructed with the cut-and-cover method of tunneling. An underground boring technique was originally planned but it turned out to be too expensive.

A lot of business owners along the RAV route are peeved and I can't blame them. I suppose it will be a heck of a mess along Cambie Street during construction. It seems unlikely that shoppers will be attracted to a huge construction site like that.

The RAV line construction won't be fun for commuters either. Cambie Street is my favorite route to work. I'll have to use Oak or Granville during construction, along with a bjillion other people.

I'm definitely still pro-RAV though. The RAV Project is a rail-based rapid transit line will link central Richmond, the Vancouver International Airport, and Vancouver along the Cambie corridor to the emerging transportation hub at Waterfront Station. Visitors to Vancouver will now be able to get from the airport to downtown hotels without being taken on "the scenic tour" by taxi drivers. There will be fewer cars and buses going back and forth between Vancouver and Richmond. Less traffic, less smog, and less noise - sounds good to me. Bring it on!

The only thing I'd like to know is why they are using one of Vancouver's busiest and most beautiful streets instead of the Arbutus Corridor. Hello! The train tracks are already there.

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

Study says B.C. leads West in crystal meth use

VANCOUVER – A new study says B.C. has the highest rate of crystal methamphetamine use in Western Canada.

A report, due to be released Friday to a special meeting of provincial government ministers and U.S. representatives, shows about 190,000 people in B.C. have tried the drug in the past year.

Richmond teen who faked attack will not be charged

VANCOUVER – The 17-year-old Richmond Sikh who made up a story about being assaulted and having his hair cut off by five white men will not be charged.

Richmond RCMP said Wednesday that the youth, who cannot be named, will participate in a restorative justice program within his community. That means the youth will likely have to perform community service.

B.C. tobacco law goes on trial in Supreme Court

OTTAWA – The Supreme Court of Canada began hearing arguments Wednesday for and against a B.C. law that could force big tobacco companies to cough up tens of billions of dollars to provincial health-care coffers.

B.C.'s Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act would allow the province to sue tobacco companies to recoup the health-care costs of treating smokers.

Haiku to a Naked Vancouver Polar Bear
Vancouver Council Meetings to Get Serious
Gurmant Grewal: Gone or Regrouping?
Vancouver's Spectacular Off Season
Boot Camps: Vancouver's Dirty Little Secret
Tourism Industry in Vancouver has Missed the Boat
Vancouver Residents Should Have Access To Vancouver Golf Courses
You Don't Want Wal-Mart in Vancouver
10 Vancouver Headlines in 2010
Thank You Vancouver!

Gurmant Grewal Adds Madcap Diversions to Canadian Politics

2005-06-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

Gurmant Grewal is in trouble again. The colorful Newton-North Delta Member of Parliament has a history of unusual behavior, sometimes making somewhat bizarre allegations about his acquaintances. Lately, however, the zaniness knob has been turned up.

In 1995, he said that a provincial Liberal had offered him a deputy minister position if he would drop out of the nomination race in Delta North. Hmm, that sounds familiar.

In 1996, Grewal claimed that Liberal official Sandy Powar uttered death threats to him. Powar denied the allegation. Although he was charged, the charge was eventually dropped.

Last month, Federal Immigration Minister Joe Volpe asked the RCMP and Federal Ethics Commissioner to investigate Grewal after it was alleged that Grewal had asked his BC constituents to post bonds of up to $100,000 in exchange for his help in obtaining temporary visas.

Last week, Grewal alleged that the Liberals offered him rewards to switch parties in an effort to keep their minority government going. After widespread speculation that the tapes Grewal made of his meetings with the Liberals were doctored, it was announced today that he is going on stress leave.

It was also announced on June 6 that Grewal is under investigation by Air Canada. It is alleged that he approached passengers at Vancouver International Airport asking them to take a package to Ottawa. Airline security regulations require passengers to be on the same plane as their luggage.

I didn’t know that someone could be "under investigation by Air Canada." I didn’t even know that Air Canada had investigators. I can’t imagine what they look like – perhaps Lieutenant Colombo with a fancy cap and silver bars on his shoulders? What happens if the investigation uncovers an airline policy violation - economy class for three to five years?

Anyway, if the Liberals, the Federal Ethics Commissioner, the RCMP, and even Air Canada are all after his hind side, it’s no wonder Grewal is on stress leave.

TODAY'S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

NHL players, owners head back to table Talks to end the NHL lockout resumed Tuesday in New York.
Negotiators from the NHL and the NHL Players' Association reportedly agreed to meet Wednesday and Thursday, too. The hope is they can flesh out the economic model that will eventually form the basis of new collective bargaining agreement. The NHL and NHLPA have failed to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement since the players were locked out last Sept. 15 by commissioner Gary Bettman, who, ultimately, resorted to cancelling the 2004-05 season on Feb. 16.

New traffic strategy saving lives in B.C.
VANCOUVER – The RCMP says their new traffic strategy is reducing serious injuries and deaths in B.C. For the past few years, officers have focused more on impaired drivers and seat belt infractions than speeding.

Vancouver - Funnest City on English Bay

2005-06-06T20:54:00.000-07:00

It's true that we don't have as many summer diversions these days. The Great Canadian Open Sandcastle Competition in White Rock was a victim of its own success. Large crowds and rising police costs resulted in its cancellation. Ditto for the Great International World Championship Bathtub race, which now ends in Nanaimo instead of Vancouver.

The Indy 500 ran out of gas, the Grizzlies migrated to Nashville, and the Canucks went golfing. Even Canada Day was cancelled. Last year, the only July 1st fireworks were at the Canadians game.

With our terrific summers, though, do we really need organized events? Who has the time? There is a ton of stuff to do on our own in Vancouver and some of the best activities are free.

Anyway, there are still some events for those who can drag themselves away form the beaches and golf courses this summer. Here are a few:

Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
Dates: June 17, 18, 19

Bard on the Beach 2005
Dates: June 2 to September 25

Senses (Song and Dance Concert)
Dates: May 13 - Jun 22

Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Dates: June 24 to July 3

Sea Vancouver (Featuring the Tall Ships)
July 6-10, 2005.

Festival Vancouver 2005
Dates: August 1 to 14

HSBC Celebration of Light (Fireworks)
Dates: Jul 27 & 30, August 3 & 6

28th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival
Dates: Jul 15 - Jul 17

TODAY’S VANCOUVER HEADLINES

Calls for charges against Richmond teen who alleged attack

VANCOUVER – Some members of the Sikh community in British Columbia want to see
charges laid against a 17-year-old Sikh youth who said five white men jumped him, ripped
off his turban and cut off his hair two weeks ago.

They say hate crimes are a serious matter, and incidents such as this could diminish the
response to real hate crimes against Sikhs.

Grewal takes stress leave

The Tory MP at the centre of a taping scandal is taking a stress leave after Air Canada launched an investigation of an incident at the Vancouver airport.

An anxious Gurmant Grewal was seen asking several passengers if they could carry an important package for him to Ottawa.

Conservative sources said Monday that Grewal was scrambling to send them full copies of the tapes that triggered a political controversy.

Vancouver Police: Not Pubic Relations Experts

2005-06-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

In the recent past, there have been a number of incidents which apparently involved police violence and dishonesty. In this day and age, it's shameful that the Vancouver police refuse to accept the possibility that some of their members behave unprofessionally. BC's number one cop Rich Coleman seems to automatically defend the Vancouver Police Department and its officers, regardless of evidence against them.

Duh, Rich, give the public some credit. We've figured it out. Now that the cat's out of the bag, why don't you start doing what you are paid for, instead of defending the very people who are undermining our justice system?

If honest police officers in Vancouver want the respect they deserve, they should ask their supervisors to deal with rogue police officers in an objective manner. Failure to do this tarnishes the reputation of the entire police force.

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Two men banned from trading
The B.C. Securities Commission says two men are banned from stock-market trading for running a scheme that cost 1,400 investors almost $27 million.
James Nelson McCarney of Vancouver is banned from trading in securities for 20 years.

Lawyer, investor avoid paying award in stock-trading case
Two Vancouver men are free from paying a huge liability award after they successfully appealed a court ruling in a massive stock-trading case.
Lawyer Barry Holmes and investor Alfred Rempel were two of four people found liable in a stock-trading scheme created by notorious fraud artist Michael Mitton.

Engine 374 Pavilion - Vancouver's Best Kept Historical Secret

2005-06-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

The other day, Yvonne and I explored Yaletown a little. We grabbed some sushi at one of the numerous Japanese restaurants and had an impromptu False Creek picnic.

Wandering around after lunch, we found ourselves at the Roundouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Yvonne saw the Engine 374 Pavilion and insisted on going in. I resisted a little because I was on a schedule and I know what a time trap the 374 Pavilion can be.

Sure enough, we found ourselves involved in an enthralling conversation with a volunteer. This gentleman is more than an avid Vancouver historian. He is part of Vancouver's history. He can talk endlessly and knowledgeably about the development of Vancouver's roads, transit system, buildings, and bridges. Among other things, I learned that the BC Electric "Inter-Urban" Railway had been taking commuters from Abbotsford to Vancouver as far back as 1910. Too bad we don't still have that train.

Although the pavilion isn't much more than a glorified garage for Canada's first transcontinental locomotive, the people in it know all about the old days. It's absolutely the best place to learn about the history of Vancouver. It's also free. I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about Vancouver's roots.

Engine 374 Pavilion is located on the corner of Davie Street and Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver. Ironically, the new Richmond • Airport • Vancouver Rapid Transit Project (RAV Line) will go right past the pavilion's front door.

Engine 374 Station Society
Suite 1700 - 808 Nelson St
Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2H2
Tel.: 604-684-6662
Fax: 604-685-8993

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Tainted Salmon on Market
The provincial fisheries ministry admitted Friday it is investigating the sale of fish eggs believed to be the source of malachite green found in chinook salmon raised at a B.C. fish farm.

Bridge over troubled water
Province and local council at loggerheads over expansion proposal
LOWER MAINLAND - The gloves are coming off in the fight over the provincial plan to twin the Port Mann Bridge and widen Highway 1.

Burnaby council adopted a staff report this week recommending it inform Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon of its "strong opposition" to twinning the bridge, pointing out that the plan does not conform to the livable region strategic plan of the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

I Like Mine Wild!

2005-06-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

Now, there's one more reason to eat only wild salmon. Not that I didn't already have enough reasons.

I've never liked the idea of hundreds of thousands of domesticated salmonidae mingling with the flora and fauna of our delicate underwater ecosystems. All that drug-laced excess food and salmon poop must mess things up a bit.

80% of farmed salmon aren't even native to British Columbia. They are Atlantic salmon. These are big bruisers that grow more quickly than BC salmon. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the total annual escape from BC pens, including chronic "leakage" of smaller fish (which is not reported), could exceed 50,000 fish, annually. No wonder Alaska doesn't allow fish farming.

Then, there are the sea lice. A University of Alberta research team reported "Sea lice production from the farm we studied was four orders of magnitude - 30,000 times - higher than natural. These lice then spread out around the farm". They latch onto passing salmon as they migrate. When salmon are badly infected, the sea lice eat the flesh of the fish faster than the fish can eat. The result is that they literally eat the salmon alive. I've seen salmon jumping out of the Harrison River like their pants are on fire. They seem to be trying to remove the sea lice by whacking their bodies against the water's surface.

I've heard that fish farms use chemical additives to change the color of the fish flesh. Presumably, they also use a lot of antibiotics and pesticides. Now, traces of a chemical suspected of causing cancer have been discovered in salmon at a BC fish farm. It called malachite green, a chemical once used as a fungicide in hatcheries. It has been banned from the food chain in Canada since 1992.

Sure, traces of a cancer-causing chemical in fish from only one farm shouldn't be cause for national hysteria. The thought of malachite green doesn't make me hungry though. I think I'll stick to wild salmon thanks.

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Police watchdog recommends audit of Vancouver force

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Police Department has come under fire from B.C.'s Police Complaint Commissioner.

Dirk Ryneveld says the department's handling of several complaints filed by the Pivot Legal Society is "troubling" and wants the solicitor general to conduct an audit of the department.

Boot Camps: Vancouver's Dirty Little Secret
Tourism Industry in Vancouver has Missed the Boat
Vancouver Residents Should Have Access To Vancouver Golf Courses
You Don't Want Wal-Mart in Vancouver
10 Vancouver Headlines in 2010
Thank You Vancouver!
Warriors Want Rifles Back
Fish for the Future 2005
One Too Many Refugees in Vancouver?
Vancouver's Homeless Action Plan: Billion-Dollar Band-Aid?

Canadian Government's War on International Education

2005-06-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

After my last post, Darren suggested that I should mention my sources. I don't usually have time for such things, especially when I'm on a rant. Just for Darren, however, I'll list some sources:

Also, for the reading enjoyment of any insomniacs in the crowd, here is the most recent letter I've written to an embassy. It is followed by a form letter from the embassy. After that, silence.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Canadian Embassy - Visa Section19 Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Chao Yang District Beijing 100600 PRC
Telephone: +86(10) 6532-3031
Facsimile: +86(10) 6532-1684.
Email: beijing-immigration@international.gc.ca

To Whom It May Concern:

Re: Group from Tianjin Xinhua High School, File No.: V050501440
Group from Tianjin Foreign Languages School, File No.: V050501673

I have been informed that the Temporary Resident Permit applications for two of our summer groups were not approved. The file numbers are V050501440 and V050501673.

I was surprised and disappointed that these groups were rejected. They consist of schoolchildren who are not accompanied by their parents. These children are unlikely to overstay their status in Canada. A similar group from the same city studied here last year and the students all returned on schedule. Upon request, I can provide documentation to prove this.

The students who came last year had a pleasant and productive visit. We had hoped to establish this program as an annual tradition that would bring long-term benefits for Canada, as well as China.

This year, to ensure that everything went well, we carefully prepared the Temporary Resident Permit applications and submitted them earlier than usual. It is possible, however, that we overlooked an important detail. I would be grateful if you would explain why our groups were rejected. This information might help us prepare better applications in the future.

The news of this rejection came as a blow to everyone in our school. Our activities coordinators had carefully planned after-school excursions for the students. Dozens of Vancouver families had been looking forward to having a youngster from China in their homes. We have been recruiting teachers specifically for these students.

These groups would have brought approximately CAD$100,000 directly to Canada. That is equivalent to almost one year of work for three of our teachers. Perhaps more importantly, many of the well-educated children from these groups will never again attempt to come to Canada as students, tourists, or immigrants.

The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, recently noted that "international competition for talented international students is fierce." He was correct. The students our country rejects usually go to alternative countries, such as New Zealand, Australia, or the United Kingdom.

Consequently, it is important for people like me to understand what went wrong in a situation like this. I hope that you will be able explain what happened, so that we can plan better the next time. Any practical advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your help.

Best wishes,

Kenneth D. Gardner, President

Their Response

Dear Kenneth D. Gardner,

Please be advised that a visa decision cannot normally be changed once it is taken. This office is unable to provide information or details regarding the reasons for a refusal other that the information contained in the refusal letter.

If there is new information not previously considered or if you believe circumstances have changed since the decision was made you can file a new application and pay the processing fee. A different officer will review this new application. However, if there is no change in the applicant's situation, then it is unlikely that the application will result in the issuance of a visa.

Please know that although an invitor may provide documentation in support of an application of a friend, relative, or business contact, the decision of the visa officer is ultimately based on the applicant's circumstances, and not on any personal or financial guarantees that an invitor or others may be prepared to offer on that person's behalf.

Please do not send repeat correspondence, as we will not be able to respond.

Regards,

Visa and Immigration SectionCanadian Embassy, Beijing

My Response

Thank you for your prompt response.

Unfortunately, I have not had an opportunity to see the refusal letters. I would be very grateful if you would inform me of the reason for refusals.

Best wishes,

Kenneth D. Gardner, President

TODAY'S HEADLINES

VANCOUVER MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO OVERSEAS SEX CHARGES
The first person in Canada scheduled to be tried under the new so-called sex tourism law has avoided trial by pleading guilty to 10 counts of sexual assault.

MAYENCOURT DEFEATS STEVENSON BY 18 VOTES
More B.C. election results are in and Liberal Lorne Mayencourt has been declared the winner in Vancouver-Burrard.

NEW CLINIC COMES UNDER FIRE
A new "boutique" health-care centre in Vancouver is re-igniting the debate over private clinics.

The Copeman Healthcare Centre began taking calls Wednesday morning from people interested in joining the clinic for an annual membership fee. Founder Don Copeman says the $2,300 fee will give patients more access to their doctor.

"Most importantly they have about four times the amount of time per patient than you would see in a typical family practice."

Copeman says the centre will bill the public health-care system for any services the Medical Services Plan covers.

Canadian Government Shoots Canada In The Foot - Same Old Story

2005-05-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend, approximately 100 language travel agents converged on Vancouver from all over the world. These agents make their living helping upwardly mobile students arrange study abroad programs. Each of these foreign students tends to spend over $30,000 per year in Canada. This is nice, clean foreign revenue, that doesn't involve mining, clear-cut logging, or drag-netting that are usually associated with British Columbia exports.

Some of these students take a shine to Canada and eventually apply for permanent residency. This allows our government to cherry-pick skilled workers, without having to educate them. Others bring foreign investment to our province.

Unfortunately, our government insists on protecting us from these rampaging hoards of wealthy, educated, polite students. Approximately half of the agents I spoke to expressed concern about our government's misguided policies.

One person told me about the group of Grade Six students she had brought to Saskatoon from Mexico. One - and only one - of her kids had her visa application rejected by the Canadian embassy in Mexico City. She said the girl "cried her eyes out for a week." Why was this little girl not permitted to visit Saskatoon for a couple of weeks? Were the immigration officials concerned that she wold rob a bank? Perhaps this 12-year-old Mexican schoolgirl would work illegally and take a job away from a hard-working Canadian?

Last year, approximately 90 Chinese students applied for a short-term summer program at our school. The Canadian embassy took months to process their visas. Eventually, they refused half of the applications because the students "did not have time to complete their programs". For some reason, the other students were allowed to come to Canada. The students who were lucky enough to come to Vancouver enjoyed their visit, spent quite a lot of money here, and returned to China happily.

Despite the visa rejections in 2004, the group organizers pressed ahead and put together a group of 136 students and teachers for this summer. Learning from last year's unfortunate and apparently irrational events, they applied for the visas much earlier. Today, our wonderful embassy in Beijing refused the group. Although I don't see anything that Canada can gain from this decision, I can clearly see the downside.

Firstly, our immigration officials have bluntly refused to accept approximately $200,000 of employment for Canadian citizens. I calculate that as about five good jobs for one year. More importantly, though, they have just kicked 136 prospective future overseas investors and skilled workers in their proverbial faces.

Will any of those 136 well educated people ever visit Canada again for any reason? Probably not.

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Logan climbers rescued
Erik Bjarnason will have all of his fingers amputated after suffering severe frostbite in a vicious storm that trapped him and two other North Shore climbers atop Mount Logan in the Yukon.

Still no sign of tourist missing on Grouse
GROUSE MOUNTAIN - An air of disappointment and frustration hung over Grouse Mountain Sunday evening as an exhaustive three-day search for missing 36-year-old David Koch began winding down with still no clue to his whereabouts.

STV: So Thoroughly Vexed

2005-05-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

It's been almost two weeks since the BC-STV (British Columbia Single Transferable Vote) referendum and folks are still talking about it. Personally, I don't think most people even understand how it works. I must admit that I haven't really taken the time to fully comprehend it myself.

I do understand that it allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. The question is, how many voters are informed enough to actually have a strong opinion about a number of candidates? Most voters make their decision based on the number of campaign signs they pass on the way to the mall. How can they be expected to evaluate a number of candidates?

To illustrate my point, let's look at the referendum itself. Polls indicated that approximately 85% of the eligible voters didn't understand how the STV worked. 96% of voters, however, completed referendum ballots. We came within 4% of the votes required to adopt a new election system that almost no one understands. That seems like something that would happen in the US.

Let's keep our traditional system for now. At least we know how it works.

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Chinese railroad worker honoured
A former Chinese railroad worker who came to Canada in 1881 and worked on building the CPR has been honoured with an interchange in Kamloops.
Cheng Ging Butt represents all the Chinese workers who came to Canada more than 100 years ago and worked hard to build the railroad.

Victoria diocese loses suit
A Washington state jury has slapped the Catholic diocese of Victoria with an $8.2-million US judgment in a lawsuit involving a shaky land deal and one of its former bishops.

Buono's problems just beginning
Dave Dickenson and Casey Printers had just finished explaining the merits of a two-headed quarterbacking monster for the first time this season, when Wally Buono walked into the office of Lions president Bob Ackles to deliver a report on the proceedings.

Vancouver Residents Should Have Access To Vancouver Golf Courses
You Don't Want Wal-Mart in Vancouver
10 Vancouver Headlines in 2010
Thank You Vancouver!
Warriors Want Rifles Back
Fish for the Future 2005
One Too Many Refugees in Vancouver?
Vancouver's Homeless Action Plan: Billion-Dollar Band-Aid?
Park 90 Feet Over Robson Street?
Vancouver Police Department - Nurturing a Culture of Corruption