***Mar 2006 Focus pg 1-32 - Focus Magazine

Leading edge dentistryDown to Earth dentistsDr. Benjamin Bell & Dr. SuAnn Ng• General & Cosmetic• Minimal exposuredigital X-rays& 3-D imaging• Invisalign orthodontics• Affordable implantplacement• IV sedation• Non-invasive laserdentistry• All ages welcome250.384.8028www.myvictoriadentist.ca#220 - 1070 Douglas St(TD Bank Bldg)Following the moneyeditor’s letterLESLIE CAMPBELLDemocracy is a sham when donations rule.As you read through this edition, you’ll likely note an underlyingtheme—a yearning for our institutions to be moredemocratic, to provide “the people” with greater power. Wewant to know what goes on behind the scenes so we can judge forourselves whether those running the show are acting wisely and responsibly,unbiased by money and friends.Rob Wipond’s article addresses this theme very directly with somecandidates in the upcoming provincial election, asking them how theywill “re-democratize” governance. Among many other recommendations,some mentioned the need to reform campaign financing. Rightnow in BC—unlike in most other provinces or at the federal level—there are no limits on donations to political parties.I want to apologize in advance about all the numbers about to comeat you. But they do paint a clear picture of a system at odds with democracy.Money should not be able to so blatantly buy political influence.Donations for 2012 are not yet available, but in 2011 the Liberalsraised about $8 million from 6729 donors. That works out to an averagedonation of about $1200. Almost two-thirds of the total came fromcorporations, which I’ll tell you more about momentarily.In that same one-year period, the BC NDP raised close to $3 millionfrom 26,053 voters averaging $111 each.The Green Party only raised $75,626 from 1046 donations for anaverage of $72 per donation. The BC Conservatives received $104kfrom 369 donations for an average donation of $283.Which corporations gave the Liberals all that money? Last month’sfeature by Alan Cassels got me looking into donations from pharmaceuticalcompanies (see his update this month on page 8). Most ofthe big drug firms are donors to the Liberals. Between 2008 and 2011they include: Pfizer ($21k), Merck Frost ($13k), GlaxoSmithKline($19k), Novartis ($19k), AstraZaneca ($6k), and Eli Lilly ($4.5k).Canada’s Research Based Pharmaceuticals, an association representingover 50 drug companies, donated over $18k.But it’s the resource sector that shows the most generosity to theLiberals. For instance, in the forest sector between 2008 and 2011,Brookfield Asset Management (parent company of Island Timberlands)provided $95k; Western Forest Products $72.5k, Weyerhauser $35.5k,Timberwest $87k and Catalyst $59k. No wonder forestry regulationshave been relaxed.Can we really expect the BC Liberals to be totally unbiased aboutthe pipelines set to advance across our province when they have accepteddonations amounting to $453k from energy heavyweight Encana—orEditor: Leslie Campbell Associate Editor: Rob Wipond Publisher: David BroadlandSales: Bonnie Light, Rosalinde ComptonADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTIONS: 250-388-7231 Email focuspublish@shaw.caEDITORIAL INQUIRIES and letters to the editor: focusedit@shaw.caWEBSITE: www.focusonline.ca MAIL: Box 5310, Victoria, V8R 6S4Subscriptions (tax included): $33.60/year (12 editions); $56/2 years (24 editions)Copyright © 2013. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without writtenpermission of the publisher. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher of Focus Magazine.Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 400511454 April 2013 • FOCUS