Author: Jordan Bateman

The Freedom Party of Austria has been around for decades, built on its anti-immigration focus. Its members and leaders have openly flirted with racism, neo-Nazism and other disgusting, far-right nonsense.

Today, the Freedom Party is considered a reliable ally of Vladimir Putin and Russia. And, in 2017, it partnered with the centre-right People’s Party to form government. Under the deal, Freedom politicians got several cabinet posts, including defence, interior and foreign posts. Its leader became vice-chancellor.

From the Financial Times: “The Freedom party is notorious beyond Austria for its historical links with pan-German nationalists, anti-Semitic voices and airbrushing the country’s Nazi past. When the party joined a government in 2000, Austria was ostracised by its EU neighbours.”

This is another example of proportional representation allowing dangerous, extremist parties to get their hands on the levers of power.

Yet another reason to Stop Prop Rep! www.icba.ca/stopproprep

Pass this post on to your friends and family – David Eby’s draconian, anti-free speech rules won’t allow us to advertise it, but individuals can spread it as much as they like. Let’s make sure every British Columbian sees it.

Tales of Prop Rep Horror #12 – “The Ungovernable”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #11 – “Czech the Commies at the Door”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #10 – “Second Place Prime Minister”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #9 – “No Kings in North(-ern Ireland)”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #8 – “How Swede It Isn’t”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #7 – “Rise of the Dictators”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #6 – “Indonesian Indecency”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #5 – “Beware the Greeks!”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #4 – “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! NO! NO! NO!”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #3 – “From Russia With Blood”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #2 – “The Pain in Spain”
Tales of Prop Rep Horror #1 – “The Puzzle of Brussels”

 

This piece, authored by eight business association leaders, first appeared in The National Post on Oct. 25, 2018. It was written by:

• Bob Masterson, President and CEO, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
• Gary Leach, President, The Explorers and Producers Association of Canada
• Chris Gardner, President, Independent Contractors and Businesses Association
• Chris Bloomer, President and CEO, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association
• Tom Whalen, Interim President and CEO, Petroleum Services Association of Canada
• Tim McMillan, President and CEO, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
• Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association
• Wendy Zatylny, President, Association of Canadian Port Authorities

The LNG Canada announcement that its liquified natural gas project at Kitimat, BC will move forward is a great story for Canada and shows how complex and important Canadian resource development is to our country. It also shows that our current environmental impact assessment process works to protect our precious natural environment.

But, stories like this will become few and far between, especially if the impact assessment process proposed in the current Bill C-69 is passed and implemented. Middle-class Canadians across the country who are hoping for similar projects and the many direct and indirect job opportunities that flow from them should know that Canada is developing a reputation as a high-risk place to do business. Bill C-69, if passed in its current form, will make this reputation much, much worse.

We cannot afford to introduce the additional uncertainty created by Bill C-69. Well-paying Canadian middle-class jobs are at stake. In a global business environment that is increasingly unpredictable, it is critical that our regulatory systems balance economic growth with environmental protection and that our elected government create the conditions for that sustainable growth.

Bill C-69, as drafted, suggests neither of these. It will lead to greater uncertainty in the assessment and review processes. It requires assessment and decisions based on broad public policy questions that are beyond the scope of individual projects. It introduces longer timelines, and vague criteria that will increase the risk of legal challenges. It gives the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada broad discretionary powers, further increasing uncertainty for major infrastructure projects.

The federal government wants to take the National Energy Board and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency – a regulator and an agency that thoroughly and credibly reviewed and approved the LNG Canada project (and other major projects) – and replace them with brand new entities. The effect will be to erase a rich history of decision-making precedents and proven processes in order to start from scratch.

This will create significant uncertainty for projects – projects that are essential to delivering economic growth and quality of life for all Canadians. We believe in the value and importance of proper environmental impact assessment processes that are robust and science-based, and in the value of sustainability in our operations. Bill C-69 does not assure these – it does not achieve a proper balance between the environment and the economy.

Communities, businesses and families all over the country are feeling the strain. Projects, jobs, and investment are being re-directed to countries with greater predictability in regulatory processes and clearer expectations for investors – meaning those investors are no longer investing in Canada.

Let’s change Bill C-69. We can revitalize our reputation as a great place to do business. It is essential that we do so for the long-term livelihood and prosperity of all Canadians.

The Canadian Senate has an opportunity to put Bill C-69 on hold and to work with stakeholders from across the country to ensure a federal regulatory review process that works for all stakeholders. We urge the federal government to hit pause on Bill C-69 and take the time to get it right.

When the government commenced the regulatory review process, Canadians were promised legislation that would restore public trust, introduce new, fair processes, and get our resources to market. Bill C-69 falls short of that promise. We ask the Government of Canada to take the time needed, and work with us to ensure a better future for Canadians.

VANCOUVER – The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) will be in front of a B.C. Court of Appeal judge in Vancouver this morning to make the case for an injunction to pause the proportional representation referendum process until government can make it fair and constitutional.

ICBA wants to overturn an August 28, 2018, B.C. Supreme Court decision to deny an application for an injunction forcing the provincial government to fix its flawed proportional representation referendum process.

ICBA believes the government has rushed the process, failed to consult British Columbians adequately, has placed unconstitutional restrictions on public participation, and is presenting voters with a confusing question that is very difficult to understand. This was reinforced on the weekend when Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, admitted that despite having a degree in political science and being a Minister of the Crown, she does not understand the proportional representation systems she is asking voters to support – nor how the systems work.

ICBA will argue that the referendum questions and process are illegal because they don’t present the public with a clear choice between the current electoral system and a clearly defined and easily understood system of proportional representation – as was the case in the two previous referenda held on this matter in 2005 and 2009.

“The Government has rigged every aspect of this referendum in an attempt to get the answer it wants,” said ICBA president Chris Gardner. “While the provincial government has been using every legal maneuver in the book to delay the case, we believe it is in the public interest to ensure this referendum is conducted in a fair, transparent, and lawful manner, given that it involves such a fundamental change to our democratic system.”

The bar set by the courts to grant an injunction is high, but ICBA has been forced to seek an injunction because the Government has argued it needs more time to prepare its case to defend the referendum itself. The ICBA’s original court challenge – filed in late June – has been delayed to at least early 2019 due to the government’s inability to defend its own rules in a timely fashion.

• WHO: Chris Gardner, ICBA president
• WHAT: ICBA court appeal for an injunction against the government’s prop rep process
• WHEN: Today, Monday, October 29, 2018. The hearing starts at 9:30AM and is scheduled to run to approximately 10AM. Chris will be available outside the court immediately following (likely 10:15AM).
• WHERE: BC Supreme Court, 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver

For more on ICBA’s intended arguments today, click HERE. For our full, initial filing, click HERE.

Getting ready to take your Red Seal Exam in Carpentry and want to refresh your knowledge? We can help!

On November 23 to 25, we are offering an exam preparation course in Victoria aimed at helping you brush up on the theory that you’ll need when you write your exam to become a Red Seal-designated Carpenter. This intensive three-day session is perfect for people who have met the Industry Training Authority (ITA) challenge requirements or who have failed the exam on their previous attempts.

In order to write the exam, you will need to have a minimum of 9,720 hours of workplace experience in the trade, or have completed all four years of technical training plus 6,480 hours of workplace training. You also must have an exam challenge application approved by the ITA.

Have a question? Let us know! Contact training@icba.ca and we’ll be happy to help.

You can register for this or any of our other upcoming courses at www.icba.ca/courses.

Congratulations to ICBA President Chris Gardner for placing 13th on this year’s Vancouver Magazine Power 50 list.

It’s a tribute to the influence of this organization as we hold government to account for decisions affecting construction, responsible resource development, infrastructure and the health of the B.C. economy.

Understanding the Builders’ Lien Act can be challenging. We want to help! Register now for our November 23 breakfast session in Burnaby.

It is essential for anyone working in or closely with the construction industry to have a basic understanding of builders’ liens as they are increasingly being used as a form of security to contractors, subcontractors, workers and suppliers who supply labour and/or materials in relation to the construction of an improvement on or to land.  However, builders’ liens do not necessarily guarantee recovery in full or at all. Understanding this complex area of law and applying recommended best practices will help you to maximize your potential recovery and reduce your liabilities.

Here’s what’s covered:

• An overview of the Builders Lien Act, including a review of the holdback provisions
• The process for filing a claim of lien (who, what, where, when and how)
• The process for cancelling a claim of lien
• The process for enforcing a claim of lien
• Best practices and tips for maximizing potential recovery

And, you’ll earn 2.5 Group B CPD Points from BC Housing! Register for this or any of our upcoming courses at www.icba.ca/courses.

Immediately following the leaders’ debate on proportional representation, The Orca’s Maclean Kay and our own Jordan Bateman took to Facebook Live for a post-game show. Watch here: