Nelson Bennett Government Use of ICBC and BC Hydro Funds
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Nelson Bennett's 28 December 2022 article in Business in Vancouver.
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Rushed Bid to Host 2030 Olympics Heavy on Symbolism But Light on Details and Costs.
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Three recent media comments or articles concerning the attempt to gain public financial support for a bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics. See also
July 15: Vancouver 2030 Winter Olympics bid on thin ice: Deputy city manager’s report
July 9: Mayor violated civic code of conduct with misleading Olympic bid Tweets: integrity commissioner
July 9: Another Vancouver Olympics in 2030 would cost taxpayers at least $1 billion, but many costs hidden or unknown
July 7: B.C. NDP sport minister’s letter demands answers about Vancouver 2030 Olympics bid
June 29: Olympics bid inspection trio revealed
June 15: Vancouver 2030 bid podium, so far: No cost estimates, no provincial support, no referendum
June 14: The IOC’s “democracy deficit”: Canadian Olympic officials tell partners to avoid a Vancouver 2030 referendum in local election year
May 25: Sneak peek at the Vancouver 2030 Winter Olympics bid’s unlikely venues: Sun Peaks, Agrodome and Hastings Racecourse
May 7: Vancouver 2030 bid team big on hopes, vague on specifics
May 3: IOC keeps Vancouver visit under wraps, as delegation ponders 2030 Winter Games sites
March 26: Vancouver mayoral candidate proposes 2030 Olympic bid plebiscite
Dec. 12: Analysis: Vancouver 2030 Olympics bid — Who really wants it?
Political Meddling Blamed for Ontario's High Electricity Rates. May 18, 2018.
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Barrie McKenna in the Globe and Mail political meddling for causing the high price of electricity in Ontario; https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-blame-political-meddling-not-ceo-pay-for-ontarios-dysfunctional/
Auditor General Carol Bellringer Moves to Clean Up BC Hydro's Books. January 10, 2018.
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BC Auditor General Carol Bellringer is preparing to become BC Hydro's external auditor, which will put more pressure on the government to allow BC Hydro to conform to national public sector accounting standards. See Les Leyne http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/les-leyne-watching-b-c-hydro-is-a-growth-industry-1.23137605 and Vaughn Palmer http://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-bellringer-anxious-to-plug-into-b-c-hydros-accounts
Finance Minister James Plans To Fix BC Hydro's Accounting Practices. October 25, 2017.
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Andrew MacLeod of The Tyee reports that Finance Minister Carole James intends to fix BC Hydro's accounting practices, but it will take time; https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/10/25/Fixing-BC-Hydro-Accounting/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=251017
ICBC in Crisis -- On 'Path to Insolvency.' August 13, 2017,
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Ariticle by Geordon Omand of the Canadian Press reviews the declining financial condition of ICBC; https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/british-columbias-once-feted-public-auto-insurer-in-financial-crisis/article35978986/ The story was published by the Globe and Mail and Postmedia papers.
Bill Tieleman Highlights Financial Problems Facing NDP Government. June 13, 2017.
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Bill Tieleman, writing in The Tyee, highlights the financial problems facing the new NDP government. At the top of the list are BC Hydro and ICBC; https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2017/06/13/Clark-Leaves-List-for-Horgan/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=130617
Ontario manipulates Electricity Prices. March 4, 2017.
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The Globe and Mail is not impressed by the Ontario government's move to reduce the cost of electricity; http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/lower-electricity-rates-dont-fall-for-premier-wynnes-power-move/article34195391/ and http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/will-kathleen-wynnes-last-ditch-hydro-fix-just-add-to-the-mess/article34182155/ also an editorial by The National Post; http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/national-post-view-kathleen-wynnes-liberals-bail-themselves-out-with-public-money-again
Ontario Increases Electricity Rate Subsidy. March 3, 2017
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On 2 March 2017 the Ontario government announced new measures, including a greater taxpayer-funded subsidy, to moderate the rise of electricity prices; http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-wynne-slashes-hydro-rates-residents/article34183180/
Government Response to Independent Review of BC Utilities Commission. 4 February 2015.
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Justine Hunter of The Globe and Mail interviews Hon. Bill Bennett following release of the Independent Review's report on the BC Utilities Commission; http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/energy-watchdog-needs-more-independence-bc-government-told/article22791687/
BC Government Ignores Utilities Commission and Approves Site C. 11 February 2016.
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Vaughn Palmer of The Vancouver Sun reviews the history of the BC Utilities Commission and Site C; http://www.vancouversun.com/vaughn+palmer+chance+public+review+site/11714172/story.html
BC Utilites Commission Independence and the Site C Decision. 12 January 2015
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Justine Hunter Globe and Mail reports on the government approval of Site C without reference to the BC Utilities Commission; http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-ignored-calls-for-oversight-in-site-c-dam-ruling/article22422910/
BC Budget 2014/15 and Net Income from BC Hydro and ICBC; Vancouver Sun, 19 February 2014.
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Rob Shaw reports on the the government's dependence on the net income from BC Hydro and ICBC. http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Government+grabbing+cash+from+ICBC+Hydro+they+raise+rates+charges/9527548/story.html