Shocking Testimony in Gag Law Trial
December 3, 2008 - 9:01am
The NDP and Unions as Political Bedfellows: Veteran Insider Tells All (full story: Vancouver Sun)
VICTORIA - The B.C. New Democratic Party's relationship with organized labour is under examination in court this month, thanks to some telling testimony from a long-time denizen of NDP campaigns.
The case involves the challenge to the election "gag law," the B.C. Liberal attempt to rein in advertising by unions and other third parties in the run-up to provincial elections.
In the effort to provide a rationale for the law, its defenders sought and obtained an affidavit from Brad Zubyk.
The thread title is pretty histrionic. There's nothing shocking about this testimony, nor about the fact that enemies of labour would use it in their crusade against the NDP and the unions.
As for the Vancouver Sun article, the last two paragraphs not only belie this silly topic, but reveal the true aim of this hypocritical campaign to suppress free speech:
Zubyk's testimony in this complicated case in B.C. Supreme Court won't surprise anyone who has followed the labour-NDP link closely over the years.
But the details do help illustrate why the Liberals moved to curb third-party advertising, while rejecting all calls to end their own heavy reliance on financial support from business and corporate interests.
Does anyone know the actual name of the Supreme Court case that this Zubyk affidavit involves?
Thank you for posting. This article should be widely shared so all know of Zubyk\'s treachery.
This is also a reminder of the nature of the people the NDP has entered into coalition with. Hope everyone played safe at the rallies tonight.
I'm reminded of an excellent article in Slate a few years ago, which proposed a sarcasm mark.
I appreciate that this kind of forum is not the best place to attempt sarcasm - and sacasm itself is often the sign of a weak mind, though when attempted by highly paid TV news/comedy troops can be effective, witness the December 2nd Rob Riggles segment of The Daily Show [about 6:55].
Sorry for any offence.
The only thing shocking here is that "da fella" was the only person in Canada who didn't know that NDP is officially affiliated with the labor movement.
________________________________________________________________________________________________ Our Demands Most Moderate are/ We Only Want The World! -James Connolly
uncle
Help me out here and please forgive my ignorance.
I was watching the news tonight and learned the charter decision on this was handed down... limiting the duration to 28 days.
My initial reaction was that this would allow the corporations in support of the Liberals to push more money in. I was very surprised to find it was the Gordon Campbell Liberals who instituted the law in the first place.
Colour me stupid but why would it be to the union's benefit to have this law in place ?
My assumptions must be missing some crucial pieces of information. When I look south of the border; all I see is big money telling the folk what to think for months and months prior to an election. What is different in Canada ? I can't believe I was agreeing with Wally Opal on this and surely someone can steer me straight.
I have a nasty suspicious mind but this is just too weird for me.
Hurry up and answer please :-)
I was just reading the comments on CBC's online article and I don't want to make a post that I would regret later.
Unbiased:
You have to think back to 2005 when the BCTF, Nurses, BCFED etc completely broadsided Campbell with their ads about his record from 2001 to 2005. Frankly they didn't go far enough, not ever mentioning the fact that we have a convicted criminal as a premier now. But thats all hush hush now. Anyways, when the BCNDP were in power the business community did exactly what you're thinking might happen this time around.
Back then, the BCNDP proposed limiting 3rd party advertising and were roundly condemned for it, by Campbell. But after the beating he took in 05, he figured he better secure his backside and push for a gag law.
But just like the HEU thing where he ripped up collective agreements, once again the courts have spat in his face again. And if you believe Wally Oppal about the advertising, I can only suppose that you are a new voter or something. There is no threat of the amount of money spent in the states being spent here. More and more with time, the smell and rot of the Campbell government is permeating the province. The information coming from the hearings about the BC Rail trial prove it.
But relax, unbiased I have faith in the people of BC that inspite of Campbell's atrocious record on accountability and transparancy, despite the failure of the P3 model for the port mann, despite the DUI in Maui, despite his ADD effort when it came to the environment, despite the fact of all that and more.... the good people of BC will give him yet another mandate. Call me cynical, but watch.
Thank you for clearing it up .
I didn't remember the broadsiding of Campbell in 05.
And I agree. The good people of BC have not yet had their fill of him.
I personally am not yet convinced that the gag law is a bad idea. Knowing now that the NDP also advocated for it previously makes me wonder. The unions may have enough money but who wants to see a war of money going down. And I think the unions may just be slitting their own throats with this one.
I didn't remember the broadsiding of Campbell in 05.
And I agree. The good people of BC have not yet had their fill of him.
I personally am not yet convinced that the gag law is a bad idea. Knowing now that the NDP also advocated for it previously makes me wonder. The unions may have enough money but who wants to see a war of money going down. And I think the unions may just be slitting their own throats with this one.
Who ever, what ever tried to stop someone from having their say I say O Canada you rein supreme with your wonderful Constitution and my rights therein. However if you wish to keep your opinion to yourself me and the rest of Canadians would gladly do without it. Yeah Canada your the best and your justice system is tops as judges go unwaivering despite the attempts of Government to suppress speech. I'm certain Campell's own constituents are giving him the gone over as it will be a very, very close race?
Apparently the BC Liberals are fighting to the court decision overturned.
And Carole James is about to transform before our very eyes as she captures enough seats in the next election to make things a whole lot more interesting as the dictator finds a pit bull with a thirst for justice and tolerence of indifferences he now has to answer to as 8 years in the legislature have given her some savy. Can Scampbell pull it off and win the race? Not for long as his past is also nipping at the surface and its so long Mr. Scampbell and many will be happy to see you go.
I thought the days of Labor movements in Canada were a thing of the past. Wrong? They are front and center and one of the most relevant issues of the day as the worker is finding themselves on the short end of the stick it to me I'm just the little guy. And whats your local politicians say about the worker? Well as a government we are doing the best we can be expected given the circumstances to insure the little itty bitty worker is passed over therefore we have billions and billions to help corporations and banks which helps you? And its never going to be the same yet the focus is maintaining the status quo I guess like everyone else we also have lessons to learn. Now government just has to convince the poor guy who can't find a job and his EI is running out that Harper had the worker in the bail out plans as family faces foreclosure and its getting tougher and tougher to pay the bills and feed the kids.
And in this province you got CanWest up the ying yang and people want to hear the news and hear the opinions not be fed them as even VANOC has advertising all pre booked so its going to be even tougher to have your say.
However people will broaden their horizons by looking for sources on the web and other sources so they can get the big pictures and a better understanding of the problems and issues they are faced with and how the elected offical stands on these issues along with their party members. So enough of the suppressing the news and speech as when it comes to the suppressed voice this province is the out to lunch bunch who think they can keep it in the news or better yet out of the news as they spend billions of taxpayers dollars on advertising doing just that.
Also wonder how much this group of Politicians spends on their lunches as I'm certain that's one of their biggest stressors of the day "What to have for lunch," much like the unemployed who are also really stressing out about what they are going to feed their familes. How much do you think politicians lunches cost taxpayers and its time to roll back the rim or better yet those high raises Campbell gave himself and the rest of the gang along with those expensive accounts the tax payers pick up and often goes with out lunch?
Am I being oversensitive or did I just misunderstand your words mybabble.
However if you wish to keep your opinion to yourself me and the rest of Canadians would gladly do without it.
Just asking.
Oh. OK. oops.. I get it now.
This from the CBC website.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/04/06/bc-ndp-spendi...
"The Liberals raised $7.9 million last year, while the New Democratic Party brought in $2.9 million, the records show."So if the NDP are that far behind in revenue why would they want to allow the LIBs to spend their greater moneys on the advertising ?