Intelligent citizens must be entertaining serious doubts about Ms Clark's ability to do this job and

When Premier Christy Clark and aides flew to Calgary on Oct. 1, 2012 for her "frosty" 15-minute meeting about the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline with Alberta's Premier Alison Redford, the airfare was just under $10,000 and British Columbians picked up the bill.
It wasn't a futile trip by any means. Clark had other business to tend in the Stampede City. She was the featured attraction at an evening fundraiser for the BC Liberals in the Calgary Petroleum southwestairlines credit card Club, hosted by Murray Edwards, the billionaire tarsands tycoon who chairs Canadian Natural Resources and is a a part-owner of the Calgary Flames. She also gave a speech the next day to university students.
When asked by reporter about the fundraiser, Clark said: "Well, I had a private dinner when I was in Alberta but I will say this -- there are a lot of people in Alberta who have made big investments in British Columbia."
Clark prefers to fly in style. Between her March 14, 2011 swearing-in through Oct. 5, 2012, records obtained via Freedom of Information show Clark and company embarked on 37 charter jet trips worth $254,299.68.
Government rules state ministers and their staff on government business can charter aircraft only when there is no scheduled service that can meet a minister's schedule, or if the cost of a charter is "economical" compared to scheduled service.
On the noon hour flight from a private terminal on Vancouver International Airport's south side, London Air Services carried Clark, her aide Gabe Garfinkel, press secretary Mike Morton and a person whose name was censored southwestairlines credit card for security reasons (but thought to be an RCMP bodyguard). Deputy minister Neil Sweeney southwestairlines credit card was only on the Vancouver to Calgary leg. His seat was taken by events coordinator Katherine Bergen for the return to Vancouver.
LAS is owned by Brandt Louie, chairman of London Drugs and donor of $22,210 to the BC Liberals since 2005. London Drugs and LAS CEO Wynne Powell chairs the Provincial Health Services Authority southwestairlines credit card and Emergency and Health Services Commission and is a director of the B.C. Health Services Purchasing Commission.
During an Oct. 23, 2012 appearance on CKNW's Bill Good Show, Clark said "There's a protocol to make sure we get the best deal, the best value... It's no different from what other premiers have done."
During his last two full years as premier, Gordon Campbell flew on 17 B.C.-only charter trips, primarily via LAS. Clark's trips have included touchdowns in Olympia, Wash., Couere d'Alene, Idaho and Yellowknife, N.W.T., mostly via Blackcomb Aviation, the company owned by CN Rail chair and BC Liberal Party donor David McLean.
Clark sent an open letter to Redford on Sept. 26, reiterating her five-fold demands southwestairlines credit card on the proposed Enbridge pipeline, ending with "I expect to be in Calgary next week should you wish to discuss this issue further." A speaking engagement with a public policy class at the University of Calgary southwestairlines credit card had been proposed to the university in mid-September by Clark's staff.
"Most citizens would rather have their premier focusing on the systemic challenges with our fiscal situation, addressing child poverty, addressing problems in communities right across B.C., that's not necessarily best done on charter flights southwestairlines credit card in and out to raise funds or to raise political awareness," southwestairlines credit card said NDP house leader John Horgan. "What we need is a government that will roll up its sleeves and address the challenges of the day and that does not require charter jets."
Clark racked southwestairlines credit card up a $38,600 bill on Blackcomb last July when she took four trips, including a one-day, southwestairlines credit card $15,470.07 visit to Premier Brad Wall in Regina and Redford in Edmonton on July 19, 2012 with Sweeney, Garfinkel and the bodyguard.
But even with a charter jet at her disposal, Clark has passed up at least one high profile opportunity to hop on it and go. She cancelled southwestairlines credit card her appearance at the 2012 Western Premiers' Meeting on May 29 in Edmonton a week before the summit and sent Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell instead. She claimed she was needed in the Legislature for budget estimates, but NDP leader Adrian Dix said he would have accommodated Clark to reschedule the committee hearing.
Clark did take one-day trips on Jan. 22, 2012 and April 23, 2012 to Burns Lake and Prince George, respectively, to comfort victims of separate sawmill southwestairlines credit card explosions. At the end of June, she was in Kelowna, only a two-hour southwestairlines credit card drive from flood-ravaged Sicamous. She skipped Sicamous until a July 30-Aug. 1 trip built around a political southwestairlines credit card event.
On July 31, Clark appeared in Golden at the acclamation meeting for Columbia River-Revelstoke candidate Doug Clovechok. Clovechok, a former Calgarian, was the second Liberal candidate nominated for the 2013 election campaign and he hopes to knock off NDP incumbent Norm Macdonald.
One of Clovechok's campaign advisers southwestairlines credit card is veteran southwestairlines credit card Alberta Conservative strategist Rod Love. Love is coordinating a Jan. 17 $125-a-plate Calgary fundraiser at the Delta Bow Valley Hotel that features appearances by B.C. Deputy Premier Rich Coleman and Community Development Minister Bill Bennett.
With this fund raising in Calgary it's just another reason to make a law that political campaign funds can come only from BC voters. Not from any company, corporation, unions, southwestairlines credit card or organization. And BC voters cannot give on behalf of anyone else or organization either.
Justifying the costly southwestairlines credit card travel to a party fundraiser by putting in a 15 minute meeting with Redford as the primary reason is just what I would expect from Christy Clark. Enjoy it while you can Christy because it will all be over soon and you can go back to what you do best - flapping your gums.
I don't mean that to be a flippant question; you seem like a thoughtful person southwestairlines credit card and you clearly have problems with the current head of your party and the premier. It can't simply be a matter of dollars and cents for you. Surely most
Intelligent citizens must be entertaining serious doubts about Ms Clark's ability to do this job and represent and govern the province well. Why aren't more party members speaking out about her obvious shortcomings southwestairlines credit card the way you have?
What's southwestairlines credit card next? BC Liberal candidates knocking on doors around Calgary? Ya never know, they may get a better reception than in BC. Any money that is donated in Alberta to the BC Liberals; is that tax deductable? If it is, would the average Albertan taxpayer be happy to subsidize another provinces political party?
One cannot expect to solve the out of control criminal problems of state by asking the system to regulate itself. That is precisely like asking the police to investigate their own crimes, and we all agree that is an abject failure.
Join a protest seeking human justice; join the tax revolt; barter with others; help those less fortunate; southwestairlines credit card do not support the state by voting; educate others about state crimes and state lies; explain state excesses southwestairlines credit card and the propaganda techniques it uses through institutional forces to make you act against your own interests; fight in court every traffic ticket; stop supporting corporate monsters; buy local; walk instead of drive; carpool; do not use credit or borrow from the banks; do not cross picket lines; and learn some history about power, propaganda, southwestairlines credit card and the law .... want some more suggestions?
igbymac - I particularly like the suggestion to get out of the car and walk. It is something everyone would benefit from and a good way to start connecting with people at a speed we are comfortable traveling. ANYONE can take this wee step and it will be a refreshing change if you are a constant driver.
I don't understand why Canadian politicians think they are entitled to these sorts of entitlements. The Prime Minister of Great Britian flies on commercial airlines and so does the Prime Minister of Australia. And all those pudgy cabinet ministers in Ottawa should be forced to walk to work. It might clear their heads.
On threehundredandeight, Eric Grenier points out that if natives had turned out to vote in the last federal election Harper wouldn't have his majority and wouldn't have been able to ram through those omnibus bills that have made them so upset.
...Then why ask Frank? Not being a true believer I am surprised that all I keep reading, that is suppose to be the NDP position, is from liberals and greens. Since all NDP policy must at some point be debated at a convention - at least that is how it used to be - I can see all these folks wanting to get the NDP to reveal its election platform before we get into the main event. That billion dollars the fat cats want to spend to prop up Christy has to focus on some thing. Still why should the NDP play their game.
It is always a bit of a crap shoot when choosing who you vote for. The best party for me would be the one I controlled southwestairlines credit card but that won't happen so it is always the lesser of the evils. If I can't stomach any of them - and the jury is still out - I might not vote.
$18,000 over a number of months for airfares to save a an MP the 5 hour car ride home for all the times the NS legislature convened compared to $250,000 for the premier to attend a fundraiser for the Liberal party in Calgary. Ha Ha Ha - give me a break!
I'm not even 60, and I can't handle driving a car for 5 hours without becoming a danger to myself and others. Give me a break! Everyone has their own tolerances. Not everyone southwestairlines credit card was cut out to be a cab driver.
Yes, Dannyboy, I goofed a bit with my not writing $10,000 for just one of Ms. Clark's flights to Calgary (of typing $250,000). It was time for me to go to dinner and I got a bit distracted from my typing by talking with my family, but you get the point. My apologies.
I responded to your mistaken observation. Further comment would be a waste of time for me. I have better things to do and I'm a firm believer in the notion that it is pointless to argue on the Internet. Like the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still 'retarded'!
All the "interpretations" of what is meant are coming from BC Liberal, Greens, and some of the media.