Questionable Period

ThePeople'sCourt
NoLedgeVille

Well, it looks like there really will be no legislative session in British Columbia this fall because our esteemed Premier, Mr. Gordon Campbell, and his BC Liberal government have decided to ignore their own legislation.

It's kind of a 'Now You See Us, Now You Don't' deal.

Or, put another way, "If We're Not Here The Opposition Can't Ask Us Questions" gambit.

But none of this means that we can't ask questions ourselves, and, boy, do we have a few.

So here goes......


Question: Mr. (absent)Speaker: Given that the Govenment made a commitment, in its Throne Speech of 2003, to have an offshore oil and gas industry up an running by the year 2010, could the (also absent)Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources please update British Columbians on the status of that commitment?

Answer: None........

Question: Perhaps, then, the (really absent)Minister could update us on the research that has been done to date to ensure that this drilling will be done in, to use the government's own words, 'an environmentally and scientifically sound' manner?

Answer: Silence......

Question: Alright then. Could the (super absent)Minister inform us of any and all (or even a single) peer-reviewed publication relating to research that was undertaken regarding this environmentally and scientifically sound drilling, and that includes any and all (or even a single) peer-reviewed paper that was generated by the 'Northern Coastal Information and Research Program' given that its website states:

"Final reporting is required to the provincial Ministry of Energy and Mines, which funded the project. The B.C Offshore Oil and Gas Team is kept apprised of news and progress and its scientific director is one of the advisors on the program's Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee."

Answer: Nothing from nothing means nothing.....

Question: That is most unfortunate. Perhaps then the (super duper absent)Minister could tell us the accumulated budget of the 'Oil And Gas Team' cited above whose job, at least as it was described by the Globe and Mail, was to act as:

"A B.C. government "swat team" is devising detailed policies for oil and gas drilling near the Queen Charlotte Islands, hoping to entice energy giants to exploit offshore riches."

Answer: No flack-hacks even whispering in anyone's ear.......

Question: Does six million dollars a year ring a bell? Thank-you Mr. (supremely absent) Speaker.




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For more information from the side that is not supported by millions upon millions from oil industry lobbies, astroturf groups, and government swat teams, please visit the Oil Free Coast Website.

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