The premier attends a conference with some of the the most powerful corporate and government leaders in the western world. And the public is left completely in the dark as to what he might have said or done.
Of course, I'm talking about Gordon Campbell's recent trip to Sitges, Spain to attend the annual Bilderberg Conference.
The June 3 to June 6 event attracted a who's who of the power elite, including Bill Gates, Henry Kissinger, Lawrence Summers, and the chairmen of some of the world's biggest financial institutions and corporations.
Campbell was the only Canadian politician on the published list of attendees.
Was Campbell a speaker on any panels?
If so, did he talk about public-private partnerships, the selloff of water rights on B.C. rivers, or the rush to allow hydraulic fracking in the northeastern part of the province to extract natural gas?
Or did he explain that you can win elections by not talking about controversial tax shifts from business to individuals until after the votes have been counted?
Perhaps he offered assurances to these uber-capitalists that electricity from the Site C dam would be available for companies operating in the Alberta tar sands for the next 40 years?
Or did he just play a round of golf with the boys (and most of the attendees were boys)?
When he zips off to an event like this and refuses to offer citizens an explanation, it's easy to conclude that Campbell is more interested in the welfare of corporations than the concerns of average voters. This might account for why he's in such deep political trouble at home.
In Gordon Campbell's British Columbia, transparency is something you promise in a political platform, but avoid practising while in power.
Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.
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Comments
The Premier is the perfect example of how you can put a friendly face to cover an other wise strongly anti-democratic philosophy that believes might is right and that the world is to be exploited to benefit a select few. They are the true definition of SCUM.
"Because of its secrecy and refusal to issue news releases, the group is frequently accused of political conspiracies. Critics include the John Birch Society, an American economic nationalist advocacy group,[21] Canadian writer Daniel Estulin, British writer David Icke, American writer Jim Tucker, politician Jesse Ventura and radio host Alex Jones. The Bilderberg Group was the topic of a 2009 episode of the TruTV series Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura.[22]"
It is one of the most secretive groups in the world and I'm positive that what is discussed here shapes much of the wests view of the rest of the world.
What is wrong with you? In a previous message you accused Henry Kissinger of being a Hitler National Socialist supporter even though he was jewish and immigrated to the US when he was 11. I give the straight credit they pulled that posting.
Now Prince Bernhard.
You realize of course he was a RAF pilot and actuallly fought the National Socialists during WWII?
Is everybody you disagree with given this label. You have some problems
A leaked attendee list shows the Canadians are:
Campbell, Gordon Premier of British Columbia
Clark, W. Edmund President and CEO, TD Bank Financial Group
Mansbridge, Peter Chief Correspondent, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
McKenna, Frank Deputy Chair, TD Bank Financial Group
Prichard, J. Robert S. President and CEO, Metrolinx
Reisman, Heather M. Chair and CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc.
Other interesting names, too:
http://bilderberg2010.com/dolce-hotel-2010-location-sitges-spain/leaked-...
The sad thing about it (or should I say scarry) is that he could be trying to get a last grab at BC assets possibly a new power project no matter what we can guarantee that he has once again used BC $$ to better himself.
For me I can not believe that the majority of BC people voted him back in, why is it that people are so APATHETIC? Then they cry after they have made a mistake and it is the third time this mistake has been made. All we can do now is follow Manitoba's example and throw him out of government and pray for the least damage.
All in is it possible that many centre right voters in British Columbia are simply too greedy and/or too gullible? Where will former BC Liberal voters go -- now that they cannot stand the party? I'll bet 25% will not vote in the next provincial election.
The more negatives British Columbians here -- Fight HST --Anti--HST We Hate -- this or that thing -- Recall -- why do we hate him/her --- Referendum --- on HST ---- cost $200 million dollars ---What????
---the larger the pool of former 2009 BC Liberal voters will become.
Of course there has to be an exit strategy -- nothing explains this trip -- who paid for Campbell?
Being the sleazeball that he is (Gordo), he must be trying to figure out who can take his place, albeit while taking orders from the man himself.
Gordo, its time to take out your LPs and look for your Jimmy Buffet album because you're going to wasting away in margaritaville pretty damn soon.
Our criminal (DUI) Leader was just reporting to his corporate masters the results of his handy work, and to quell "fears" of this public unrest over the brutal HST.
I'd like to know what has raised Campbell's status to the level of receiving an invitation from the world's most powerful, secretive and arrogant club. What is the interest of these people in British Columbia?
And who does Mansbridge think he is is--claiming to be a national journalist and attending a world conference without reporting back to the millions of Canadians who have admired him for so many years?
Truman Green
"I have a difficult time understanding how Campbell received 46% in the last general election"
The reason is named Carole James.
CBC has already confirmed that Mansbridge paid his own way to the conference .
FIGHT THE HST IT ONLY BENEFITS THE ELITE!/CORPORATIONS!!!
VOTE YES TO EXTINGUISH THE HST!