543 replies to this topic

[Rob Randall]

There should be an update on this mess in a few minutes.

[Torrontes]

So we must conclude that Professor Plecasumb did it in the Legislatureibrary with the lead pipe.

 

Fixed it for you.

 

Still don't understand why there are ladies powder rooms in the conservatory? 

[Mystic-Pizza]

Yeah, it's still playing on C-Fax but CTV ran a live stream video of it as well.

 

From what I have heard so far, the two fellows that were removed from the parliament buildings seem quite legit in their innocence, and their is no question that the process that removed them was mishandled and done in poor taste and was meant to humiliate them. I mean come on! A week has gone by and still neither of them have been told WHY they were removed.

 

They literally have no idea why they were escorted out because because nobody has even told them. It's ridiculous. 

Edited by Mystic-Pizza, 26 November 2018 - 12:47 PM.

[N E Body]

Hmmmm... I hear the sound of knives being unsheathed.

[Torrontes]

Hmmmm... I hear the sound of knives being unsheathed.

 

Reminds me of the bridge scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. 

 

 "Tis but a scratch", says the Black Knight (Plecas).

 

"Running away, eh? You bastards! Come back here and take what's coming to ya! I'll bite your legs off!"

[Daveyboy]

Unfortunately, this is too similar to the Health records firing of 7 people that was done in an incompetent manner back in 2012.  Poorly investigated and rushed to judgment that debacle ended up in the suicide of an innocent person and affected the other individuals for life.  It took 5 years before the government apologized for its role.

[Mystic-Pizza]

Unfortunately, this is too similar to the Health records firing of 7 people that was done in an incompetent manner back in 2012.  Poorly investigated and rushed to judgment that debacle ended up in the suicide of an innocent person and affected the other individuals for life.  It took 5 years before the government apologized for its role.

And even then Christy refused to allow her government to take any responsibility for putting the poor man into the psychological state in which lead him to suicide. It was essentially a "CAMERA APOLOGY" and nothing more. That man's blood is on her hands to this very day, along with any of her ministers that were involved with it.

Edited by Mystic-Pizza, 26 November 2018 - 01:29 PM.

[Awaiting Juno]

The bigger shame is the lack of lessons learned from the MoH fiasco.

[Rob Randall]

Comment of the day:
 

Richard Zussman
‏@richardzussman

Speaker Darryl Plecas just answered my question about the investigation by saying due diligence is needed in investigations and I should do due diligence of my own. Then he went into his office. No more answers

 

[Bingo]

 

Still don't understand why there are ladies powder rooms in the conservatory? 

 

Gunpowder?

[PraiseKek]

Right now today the speaker could answer questions openly about this in the legislature without any fear of being sued for libel. It'd have to be in the actual house not in the lobby. If anyone involved here were actually serious about getting to the bottom of this then that's what they'd do.

[G-Man]

Cannot be sued for libel is true but legislative privilege does not mean you can say whatever you want and have it have no impact. It becomes part of the public record and certainly could be used in any proceeding in court beyond libel. 

[tjv]

so $218k for head of security of a building?  Wow!!!  I wonder if the head of security for a massive private building makes that much?

 

Meanwhile I've seen positions advertised on the provincial level with bachelor degrees required and a salary of $65k and the private sector would pay double that

 

Ditto for the Clerk of the of legislative assembly for $308k.  From what I have read of the job description it sounds like a Senior Office Manager, maybe a little higher.  I wonder what a similar position would pay at a large law firm with 300+ lawyers would make like Fasken or BLG.  Most of the lawyers there wouldn't make that

[Torrontes]

You are underestimating the importance and scope of these roles. The Sergeant-at-Arms has a ceremonial role, an operational role with respect to the legislative proceedings, heads up security for the legislature precinct (including terrorism, protests, demonstrations, etc.), security for members and staff, and acts as property manager. The Clerk is like the Corporate Secretary of the Legislature, providing advice on legislative procedure to the Speaker, election of the Speaker, responsible for all agendas and records management for the Legislature and committee meetings, protocol arrangements, etc.. Certainly not simply a "Senior Office Manager" as you suggest.

 

As regards compensation, and by way of comparison, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Ontario Legislature makes ~$145K, and the Clerk makes ~$240K. Would a CAO at a large law firm make that much? Yes. Would partners at a large national law firm make more than that? Yes, considerably more.

[Cassidy]

What a massive cluster, so typical of B.C. politics.

Guilty or innocent, these two guys are going to continue to publicly state they have "no idea what this is about" until such time as the RCMP make some sort of official comment.

 

Nobody I know trusts a single word out of Plecas's mouth currently.

 

Plecas will either (deservedly) crash and burn into complete oblivion if he's wrong, or he'll be celebrated for getting rid of a couple of miscreants (albeit far too messy a process for such an auspicious institution) if he's right.

 

Either way the complete lack of information from anybody almost a week after the over the top perp walk is inexcusable.

[Bingo]

What a massive cluster, so typical of B.C. politics.

Guilty or innocent, these two guys are going to continue to publicly state they have "no idea what this is about" until such time as the RCMP make some sort of official comment.

 

Nobody I know trusts a single word out of Plecas's mouth currently.

 

Plecas will either (deservedly) crash and burn into complete oblivion if he's wrong, or he'll be celebrated for getting rid of a couple of miscreants (albeit far too messy a process for such an auspicious institution) if he's right.

 

Either way the complete lack of information from anybody almost a week after the over the top perp walk is inexcusable.

 

Maybe Mueller can pop over once he is done, and sort out this witch-hunt. 

[tjv]

You are underestimating the importance and scope of these roles. The Sergeant-at-Arms has a ceremonial role, an operational role with respect to the legislative proceedings, heads up security for the legislature precinct (including terrorism, protests, demonstrations, etc.), security for members and staff, and acts as property manager. The Clerk is like the Corporate Secretary of the Legislature, providing advice on legislative procedure to the Speaker, election of the Speaker, responsible for all agendas and records management for the Legislature and committee meetings, protocol arrangements, etc.. Certainly not simply a "Senior Office Manager" as you suggest.

 

As regards compensation, and by way of comparison, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Ontario Legislature makes ~$145K, and the Clerk makes ~$240K. Would a CAO at a large law firm make that much? Yes. Would partners at a large national law firm make more than that? Yes, considerably more.

This isn't the secret service or CSIS here.  As I recall that bomb threat was handled by municipal police, there is no evidence that I remember that security at the legislature played any major roll (they are security guards nothing more, I knew someone who worked there).  Are you telling me the BC Legislature has their own police force?  A project manager as you called him at UVic salary starts at around 65k a year

 

Sounds like the Sergeant at Arms in Ontario is grossly overpaid as well.

 

This clerk is not providing CAO services, maybe not senior office manager.  The point is what are equivalent salaries in the private sector.  He's not a lawyer with a law degree!  Has he got an MBA?  What are his qualifications?

 

A partner at Fasken makes an average of 257k a year, the guy at the legislature makes more than an experienced lawyer and those guys work LONG hours and are under huge pressure!!!  https://www.paysa.co...moulin--partner

 

Where I'm going with this is government is really a joke, a guy who weeds and mows laws at the City can make the same money than a City project manager with a bachelors degree.

[Torrontes]

Interesting to see what was spent on travel by these two in the year ending March 31, 2018: $51,349 by James; $23,079 by Lenz. What, more trips to Kenya for James?

 

Also, James appears to make more than senior deputy ministers, such as the Deputy Minister of Finance and the Deputy Attorney General. That doesn't seem to be good HR policy.

 

Perhaps these figures are at the cause of Plecas' concerns.

 

https://www2.gov.bc....ly-payments.pdf

[Torrontes]

The Speaker is paid $162K, which is equivalent to a Minister's compensation, being a 50% premium to the basic compensation for a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) - currently $108,105.35.

 

No wonder he was so keen to get the position after toiling on the backbenches. Also, they have a nice pension plan based upon best 3 year average.

[Cassidy]

What these guys get paid has absolutely nothing to do with what's going on.

 

Who cares what they get paid? ... it's got nothing to do with the topic at hand.