XPost: bc.politics, van.general, vic.general   
   From: NøCøns@our.House   
      
   Remember the chief electoral officer with Elections BC who changed the rules   
   on the anti-HST   
   petition to try to disqualify so many signatures?  Yeah, well, so do the   
   grateful BC 'Liberals'   
   who have just rewarded him richly - with our tax dollars.   
      
   Different leader . . . . same arrogant, tax-abusing BC 'Liberals   
   /Conservatives.  ( . . . .   
   new name pending).   
   _________________________________________   
   Times Colonist - June 2, 2011   
      
   B.C. Liberals appoint clerk with $250K salary, despite objections   
      
   The B.C. Liberal government pushed through a lifetime Clerk of the Legislative   
   Assembly   
   appointment Thursday, despite objections from the NDP that the job should have   
   been posted   
   publicly and agreed upon by all MLAs. The job pays a $250,000-a-year salary.   
      
   The clerk, who essentially acts as the chief executive officer of the   
   legislature, overseeing   
   its various rules and procedures as it makes laws, is supposed to be a   
   non-partisan office.   
      
   George MacMinn, the current clerk, is retiring after almost 54 years.   
      
   Premier Christy Clark chose his replacement, acting chief electoral officer   
   Craig James,   
   without agreement among MLAs.   
      
   James had a controversial tenure with Elections B.C. and was the source of   
   frequent criticism   
   and death threats by Fight HST forces for his decisions on the anti-HST   
   citizen petition and   
   recall campaigns.   
      
   The Opposition NDP, and one independent MLA, tried to shoot down the move   
   Thursday, but the   
   Liberals used their majority in the House to ram through the appointment.   
      
   NDP leader Adrian Dix expressed outrage at the Liberal “arrogance” and its   
   so-called “divine   
   right” to appoint jobs in secret. An important position like the clerk should   
   have been filled   
   through a bi-partisan effort, such as the Legislative Assembly Management   
   Committee, and posted   
   publicly for British Columbians to consider.   
      
   “What disrespect for the institutions of the Legislature,” said Dix.   
      
   “This is the arrogance that comes when you’ve had a majority of 77-2 to start   
   with. You make   
   all the decisions. This is the arrogance that a new Premier is taking to   
   democratic   
   institutions in this province, and I don't think people agree with it.   
      
   “I think most people in B.C. would say that if you’re going to fill this job,   
   you should let   
   people know the job is available, and you should give people the right to   
   apply for it.”   
      
   Government house leader Rich Coleman said the new clerk was appointed through   
   a succession   
   plan, which is similar to how other clerks have been named in the past.   
      
   “I think this was right to do it this way, we have 95 years of experience on   
   the people we’ve   
   appointed... they’re qualified and this is how we’ve traditionally done it in   
   British Columbia   
   and I have no problem continuing the tradition,” said Coleman.   
      
   Opposition house leader John Horgan listed a number of other jurisdictions,   
   such as Nova   
   Scotia, Newfoundland, Manitoba, Quebec and New Zealand that publicly post   
   clerk’s jobs.   
      
   The NDP said they don’t necessary oppose James, who would likely be a   
   front-runner for the job   
   no matter how it was filled, but disagree with the government hiring process.   
      
   “I do not believe that this does anything to elevate this institution,” said   
   Horgan.   
      
   “In fact, we will be mocked and ridiculed by those in my constituency for the   
   way this has been   
   handled not because of the individuals, not because of the position, but   
   because in everyone   
   else’s daily lives the notion of just being given a job because you’re there   
   is just not on.   
      
   “It doesn’t happen at the 7-Eleven. It doesn’t happen in the mill. It doesn’t   
   happen in the   
   public service of British Columbia.”   
      
   Coleman rejected the suggestion the job be posted publicly and said a   
   government follow   
   tradition in naming the clerk on its own.   
      
   “It’s been done that way for 100 years,” he said.   
      
   _______________________________________________________________   
      
   "We'd all like to vote for the best man, but he's never a candidate."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)