Union says 240 rail jobs to be axed WebPosted Jul 22 2004 01:33 PM PDT PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - The union representing BC Rail workers says its concern about job losses has been confirmed. Union spokesman Bob Sharpe says CN Rail plans to lay off about 240 unionized employees. CN took over BC Rail's freight operations in a $1 billion deal with the province. Sharpe says the job cuts are contained in operating plans released to the union. The layoffs will hit railway workers across the system – from North Vancouver to Prince George. "It looks like what our original vision of what would happen is going to take place here," Sharpe said. "And there's going to be some substantial job loss. We're looking at about 28 per cent of our unionized workforce being out of work here." Sharpe says another 360 seasonal workers will also be scaled back. He says the union is meeting with CN to negotiate compensation packages for laid off workers. It's not known when the job cuts take effect. CBC Vancouver
From: "Doug Cummings" And on July 24th a headline in the Vancouver Sun said two major lumber shippers were chartering ships to move their lumber from B.C. to eastern U.S. as the railroads did not have the cars or staff to handle the traffic. Almost all lumber in B.C. comes from mills located on BCOL (or, what was BCOL) or CN. One of CN's promises when they wanted to take over BCOL was a dedicated lumber train from Prince George to Chicago. They took over on July 15th. By the 24th - a matter of only 9 days later - they had driven the traffic away so it is now going to go by sea.
Two former government aides charged WebPosted Dec 22 2004 06:33 AM PST VICTORIA - A year after the raids at the B.C. legislature, two former B.C. Liberal ministerial aides have been charged with fraud, breach of trust and demanding benefits in connection with government business. David Basi Dave Basi and his brother-in-law Bob Virk each face six charges. LINK: Charge information document They're both accused of demanding or accepting benefits including money, meals, travel and employment opportunities in connection with the bidding process for B.C. Rail. Bob Virk (at right) They're also accused of fraud and breach of trust. Basi and Virk are charged jointly with two counts of fraud of more than $5,000. And they're accused of recklessly putting at risk the bidding process for B.C. Rail by leaking confidential information to interested parties. "We believe these allegations are unfounded. Mr. Basi will be vigorously defending these charges," says Basi's lawyer Michael Bolton. Police raid legislative offices last December INDEPTH: B.C. Raids Following the raids, Basi was fired from his job as an aide to former finance minister Gary Collins, and Virk – an aide to former transportation minister Judith Reid – was suspended with pay. FROM SEPT. 10, 2004: Documents detail allegations thatled to legislature raids A third government employee has also been charged, and has been suspended. Aneal Basi is charged with one count of fraud and one count of breach of trust by a public officer, for allegedly laundering money accepted by David Basi who is his cousin. Attorney General Geoff Plant says these charges are serious. And he says the government has done what it had to do – try to respond appropriately. All three men are free on bail and will appear in court next month. FROM SEPT. 15, 2004: Drug charges laid against Basi The raids grew out of a separate police drug investigation, and Basi also faces drug charges involving marijuana. He is scheduled to make a court appearance in Victoria on Jan. 26 to enter a plea on th drug charges. CBC BC link to story - http://tinyurl.com/6bz3r
This BC Rail story is going to go on and on. Interestingly we have elections this May in our province and I know this story will continue to drive the head lines and affect our Premier who isn't really loved by all - he's another slash and burn guy. For example, one of his election promises was not to sell BC Rail. This broken promise keeps resurfacing like an angry white shark.
Is there any chance this whole process will be undone, and the railroad saved? Or are these results now final? Boxcab E50
Done deal. And want to guess who got the most burned by it? The answer: the people of BC. BC Rail was a "socialistic" rail, the people of BC owned it hence the promise not to sell it. It provided services that didn't appear to be financial sound as measured by "traditional" business methods, but if you used a social agenda as a measurement it was very successful. The Royal Hudson is a perfect example. On the books, the Royal Hudson broke even and that was about it; at least that is how it showed on the BC Rail books. But if instead of using that measuring tool, one instead said - "okay the Royal Hudson broke even," but it brough in millions of more dollars to the province by all of the out of province visitors coming to ride on it, especially Americans. So the social cost of the Hudson was a very much plus factor. Because the people of BC benefited from the services sold to all the visitors to our city and province. So the Royal Hudson made lots of money for the province - the people of BC. When it was time to get rid of it, guess which measurement was used to inform the public of its usefulness? One reason I say the people of BC have been burned (and I'm just repeating what is in the media) is that the income from the coal in North Easter BC was not factored into the deal. Now CN is making a lot of money in coal sales from the Tumbler Ridge mining area.
You folks really were "taken to the cleaners" as we sometimes say down here. Somebody really was able to sneak in a fat deal. BTW- I was one of those people who had been brought in by the Royal Hudson. It's no more. So that reason for me to come is no more. Boxcab E50
