Surrey Mayor wants a toll on everything

Why does this not surprise me? Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts says heavy tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges are unfair and claims that we need a system that’s fair and equitable. Her solution? Toll everything. Why does this not surprise me? Here’s the person who came out in support of the gas tax now wanting a free for all tax on everything to fund their ever growing expense budget. Seems like she’s adapted a George Bush spending policy since their economic summit. Scary how similar Dianne Watts and Christy Clark are on so many issues.

One North Shore resident wrote in to the Vancouver Province and said: Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts should stick to spending her own residents' money and stop trying to sell more tolls in other areas. They’re absolutely right. Lions Gate bridge had a toll back in it’s day. Just like the Coquihalla. I was actually pleasantly surprise to see the toll had be removed from the Coquihalla this summer now that it has been paid for.

Obviously a new Port Mann bridge needed to be built. The original plan was to twin the bridges but Gordon the Glutton Campbell wanted a King Ramses monument to his era of insider insanity and scrapped that plan for one mega bridge that would cost more than twice as much money. Amazing how politicians like to spend other people’s money and pat themselves on the back as they do so.

I will point out that not only did they fail to make the extra lane on old the Port Mann bridge a counter flow lane, even though they have opened up half of the west bound traffic on the new bridge, the old bridge still sees cars lined up for miles trying to cross two lanes in the morning while three lanes of the old bridge remain empty. Charging anyone a toll for lining up for hours to cross two lanes of traffic in the morning is insane.

Yes the Port Mann needs a modest toll. A smaller toll for a longer period of time would be more prudent. Tolling everything is just another fiscally irresponsible tax grab that should not even be considered. Surrey council needs to get in control of their spending and their expense accounts.

Another insanity is the ever increasing cost and tax burden of Transit. Not having turnstiles like every other city on earth is insane enough. Today on the news it was talking about a red button bus drivers press every time a passenger gets on without paying. They say it was pressed over a million times. Are you kidding me? Fair evasion on Sky Train where there are no turnstiles is bad enough but on a bus where a driver let’s them walk right past? This is insane. Once again we see tax payers subsidizing criminal activity.

Jim Brown’s case cries out for public scrutiny

Ian Mulgrove from the Vancouver Sun just wrote a powerful article about Grant Wakefield, the person who complained about Coquitlam RCMP officer Jim Brown’s bizarre BDSM pictures Brown posted on the Internet. As a result of his complaint, Wakefield's home was searched, his computers seized and he was charged criminally with defamation.

The Mounties said this case was a criminal libel investigation over allegedly defamatory online comments made about RCMP officers, including Brown. Yet the accuracy of Wakefield’s claims has not been tested and that issue is not expected to form part of the judgment. If someone is telling the truth, that is not defamation. For that fact not to be considered means this is not a court of law.

“This is a case that cries out for public scrutiny,” added Michael Bozic, the lawyer for the civil liberties association. “The continuing secrecy around this file is unacceptable,” David Eby, executive director of the BCCLA, said outside the court. “We shouldn’t have to go to court to get this information. Why do we have the police seizing the computers of people who offend police officers? Why can’t the police use the civil trial process like everyone else?”

Sun lawyer Scott Dawson reinforced that message in his submission. “Citizens want to know the RCMP are not using state powers to silence those whose information is critical or embarrassing to the force,” Dawson said.

I agree that this case cries out for public scrutiny. I agree the continued secrecy around the file is unacceptable. I agree citizens want to know the RCMP are not using state powers to silence those whose information is critical or embarrassing to the force. I also agree that Jim Browns BDSM pictures are just the tip of the iceberg. Two names in the article need to be investigated: Robert Pickton and the Big Red Machine.

Jarrod Nicol pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking, again

Jarrod Francis Nicol, 36, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison after pleading guilty to trafficking cocaine in September 2008. Jarrod is Central Saanich Police officer Dillon Sahota's son in law.

Nicol was previously convicted in 2001 for trafficking cocaine and the production of marijuana and was convicted earlier this year of possessing heroin and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking in 2009. Dillon Sahota’s son Gopal Sahota, Jarrod’s brother in law, was one of Jarrod’s co accused in that 2009 bust. One of the residences searched in that bust was a home Jarrod was living in that was owned by Dillon and Julia Sahota.

Ken and Greg Brotherston: the family that murders together…

Police say 57-year-old Rick Green followed a couple who had been fighting into the parking lot of the Country Rose pub a week ago. Encouraging the woman to go back inside, witnesses say he told the man to “get in his car and leave.” That’s when Gregory Brotherston, the man arguing with his girlfriend, assaulted the 57 year old man who has died of his injuries.

It is claimed that Gregory Brotherston hit the 57 year old man once with an open hand and the man then "fell and hit his head". I’m sorry but that does not pass the test of believability. Who said that anyways? We know it wasn’t the victim because he was in a coma and has since died. The girlfriend who the dirt bag was arguing with and is no doubt afraid for her safety? I'm sorry but that is not credible testimony.

What is credible is Gregory Brotherston’s past history. May 2008, Greg’s father Kenneth Brotherston Sr. roared up to the West Shore RCMP detachment with a dead body in the back of his four-by-four pickup truck.

Court heard that an agitated Brotherston told a dispatcher he'd had an altercation with a guy with a gun, and put him in the pickup because he'd beaten him. Officers recognized the still-warm body of Taylor, who'd been in and out of trouble and had been released from jail three days earlier. Taylor had been choked to death, his neck broken in three places.

Brotherston was taken into custody. Two days later, his sons, Ken Jr. and Greg, turned themselves in to police. Initially, all three were charged with the first-degree murder of Taylor. At the end of a preliminary inquiry, all three were committed to stand trial for second-degree murder. After hearing the trial, Dillon determined that Brotherston was acting in self-defence and that his sons had merely been protecting their father. According to who? The father and two sons accused of committing the murder? Unfortunately the victim wasn’t able to testify because he was dead.

Yet his body was covered with multiple superficial blunt-force injuries, his body contained drag marks, there were huge cuts on his face, his nose was broken and he had head injuries. "There is no doubt he suffered a tremendous amount of punishment."

The court heard neighbor Ayla Hagreen's call to 911. "Someone's really hurt," she said, telling the dispatcher she heard men fighting, women screaming, things breaking and someone yelling, "leave him, leave him." Three on one, beating the life out of the guy is not self defense. Someone dying because they hit their head after they were hit once with an open hand is not believable.

The question that needs to be asked is what was Ken Sr. doing in a drug house anyways? The court heard that his sons were heavily addicted to drugs and that their victim was a dealer. One source claims the person he murdered was harassing them for money they owed him. The father testified the person he murdered wanted money from them. For what? For the drugs he sold them? Why that’s a nice upstanding family. So tell me, is Greg Brotherston still heavily addicted to drugs? Please advise. The familty that murders together stays [in Hell] together.

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Update: The Victoria Times Colonist is reporting that Greg Brotherston has been charged in connection with a home invasion at a Langford mobile home park on Oct. 6. Yesterday he was charged with Break and enter, assault with a weapon,uttering threats and robbery of William Corlett age 78. Brotherston's lawyer claims his client adamantly denies the attack despite the fact that the victim states he recognized his client as a man he had met a week or two earlier.

At the mobile home park on Wednesday, Corlett said he was awakened about 5 a.m. by a man who held a knife to his throat and demanded money. "He had my wallet and there was no money in it. He wanted the PIN numbers for my debit cards."Corlett said his attacker hit him several times. Corlett, who rides a scooter and requires homecare health services, said he recognized his assailant as a man he had met about a week or two earlier. The RCMP have confirmed the charges against Greg Brotherston. The question that needs to be asked is has Greg Brotherston over come his serious drug addiction? Yes or no.

Shooting at Peace Arch

A Canadian Border Services Agent has been shot today at the Douglas Border Crossing in Surrey. Evidently that border crossing has been closed and traffic is being diverted to the Truck border, Aldergrove or Sumas crossings. Witnesses heard two shots fired around 2:00 PM. Police are stating the suspect has a self inflicted gunshot wound. The CBSA officer was on duty at the Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey when the officer was believed to have been shot by a male suspect who then killed himself. Here's a link to the border web cam to see when it reopens. Kim Bolan ir reporting that is was a female border agent who was shot in the neck by a man reportedly driving a vehicle with Washington plates.

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Update: Police have identified the shooter to be 32 year old Andrew Michael Crews. Crews was a tattoo artist who worked at a parlour in Silverdale, Wash., west of Seattle. He grew up in Las Vegas and recently moved to the area, his co-workers and friends told CTV British Columbia. Lori Bowcock, the Canadian border agent shot in the neck is expected to make a full recovery.

I can’t believe Canadian border agents aren’t armed yet. That is astounding. With all the drugs and gangs crossing the border, not arming the border guards is insane. How are they supposed to defend our border? There’s a plan in place to train and arm the border guards but it still hasn’t happened yet. Astounding.

Rock Machine member dies in Brandon jail

The Brandon Police have confirmed that a 39 year old inmate in the Brandon Correctional Centre was found dead 10:06 AM yesterday morning. Media reports about the death claim the inmate’s name is Jean Paul Beaumont and was a high ranking member of the Rock Machine.

Media reports claim he was the Sergeant at arms for the Winnipeg Rock Machine and had earlier connections to the Hells Angels through the Zig Zag crew before the Hells Angels kicked off the drug war in Winnipeg by murdering one of their own for the Ontario Hells Angels. That event caused several members to leave the Hells Angels and join the rival Rock Machine. Winnipeg has seen a fair bit of gang related violence as a result.

Although I support stiffer penalties for trafficking crack and crystal meth and realize prisons aren’t supposed to be a trip to Disneyland, inmates should not be subject to gang violence in prison. Any violence for that matter. Raping in the showers is not acceptable. Neither is performing a murder for the Hells Angels in prison. [CTV Report]

China’s take over of Canadian oil rights still on the table

Wasn’t it Susan Powter who once said: Stop the Insanity. It’s about time we did. Stephen Harper is still actually considering letting Communist China buy our Canadian oil rights. He just extended the deadline a month. This is insane.

Ever heard of Vietnam? Ever heard of the Korean war? What if Communist China decides to invade another country like Tibet and bring them into bondage? Are we going to supply their tanks fuel to invade other countries? Once we give them our oil rights, we will have to. There was a reason we sent troops to Korea and Vietnam.

Giving Communist China control of our oil is unthinkable. What if Communist China gains control of Canada’s oil and then says, we’re angry at the US and we’re not going to sell them any of Canada’s oil. If we give them control of our oil rights, we will have no say in the matter.



As we speak, China is holding anti American demonstrations. They want to invade an island Japan had before their surrender to the US in the war because it has oil. If Iran did that we would be talking about bombs not giving them control of our oil. As we speak, China recently boycotted a meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Japan to defy Western economic rules. Giving a Communist dictatorship economic power to put sanctions on the free world is insanity at best.

Of the two options, letting the Texans have control of our oil would be a million times better than Communist China. Yet there is a third option. Canada can remain a free and sovereign nation and control it’s own oil. Imagine that.

We can sell oil to China but to give them control of our oil rights is a completely different matter. There are a lot of people in Vancouver of Chinese ancestry. Many of them are here because they disagree with Communism. The Epoch Times is a local and international paper that regularly speaks out against the murder and atrocities committed by Communist China.

As we speak, local officials in the Chinese Communist Party have violently and forcefully evicted people from their homes and property before seizing them in an attempt to make up for local budget shortfalls, according to a report from Amnesty International.

The Epoch Times is reporting that the Chinese state-owned oil company looking to close a record-setting takeover of Calgary-based Nexen is one of China’s most abusive employers, directing its security forces to arrest and imprison Falun Gong adherents. Did you catch that? The company has it’s own security forces that are arresting employees for their freedom of association.

It is highly ironic that the “left wing socialist” NDP cares more about human rights violations in Communist China that Stephen Harper does. If this deal goes through, Stephen Harper will be remembered as the worst Prime Minister in Canadian history. He will be a traitor to the free world.

Chairman Harper or Chairman Mao? Right now it’s hard to tell.

Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party [Video]

Ban, Ban, Everywhere a Ban

Years ago there was a popular song that was part of the sixties era which said Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Don’t do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign? Now we’re seeing ban, ban, everywhere a ban. Don't say this, don't say that, can’t you read the ban? I’m referring to excessive publication bans in court. They are illegal.

I remember reading a story about an American reporter who was in Vancouver researching the Robert Pickton trial. They were speaking with one witness who answered a few questions then went on to explain, all of this is under a publication ban. If you print any of this you would be breaking the ban and go to jail. The American journalist found it strange. That’s not the way they do things in the United States. They have a First Amendment.

So why is that? Let’s break tradition and use some logic. How could publishing some of the evidence heard in court during the Pickton trial in any conceivable way, inhibit his right to a fair trial? One could conceive that if the media has published some information that the judge ruled was inadmissible, and the jury heard it, that could conceivably bias the jury and taint Pickton’s right to a fair trial. But that’s not what we’re talking about here.

We are talking about reporting to the public, evidence submitted in court that the jury heard. If the jury read a newspaper that reported that evidence, it would in no way taint Pickton’s right to a fair trial because the jury had already heard it. Those kinds of publication bans do not protect the accused’s right to a fair trail. They are a violation of Free Speech and are therefore illegal.

The whole concept of putting a reporter or blogger in jail for telling the truth is rather absurd. The judge who made the illegal publication ban should be the one going to jail. That is what I mean when I say it appears we are walking down a road that resembles Big Brother not a Free Republic. All the Pickton publication ban did was protect the Hells Angels which is exactly what Wally Opal did in the not so public inquiry.

I’m still trying to find a copy of the publication ban in Giles' case. Oh you can’t publish a publication ban. Of course we can. The purpose of a publication ban is to inform the public that such a ban exists. Without publishing the publication ban, the public has no idea it exists or what it covers.

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Update: OK this is how it has been explained to me: Obviously there are different kinds of publication bans. Young Offenders: You’re not allowed to publish the name of a young offender. Makes sense. Sexual assault: You’re not allowed to publish the name of the victim of sexual assault. Makes total sense.

I’m told Giles’ publication ban falls under 648 of the criminal code which normally sates you can’t publish any evidence or submissions when the jury is absent. Which is totally what I was saying in my original example. If a jury is present, publishing that evidence in a newspaper would in no way inhibit a person’s right to a fair trial. Simply because if the juror read the paper, it would have already heard that evidence in court.

A 648 ban is for when the jury is not present. That makes total sense. It also has a time limit. It expires when the jury has rendered a verdict or sooner if the judge says so. That brings us to the BC Rail publication ban. It’s expired so all evidence in that trial is now publishable so let’s get at it.

My next question is the Pickton publication ban. I’ll have to find out what kind of ban that was and if it has expired like it’s supposed to so we can circumvent Wally then limp fish Opal’s public cover up of that case. It says the Pickton ban was under 537(1) and 539 of the Criminal code.

Oldhan's Bail ban says: Criminal Code of Canada, s. 517 The evidence, representation made and the reasons given at a show cause (bail) hearing shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way until a preliminary hearing is held and the accused is discharged, or if the accused is ordered to stand trial, the trial has ended.

Vancouver Rain

After Giles’ court appearance today I checked out Stanley Park and Granville Island. Finally the rain has returned. I was actually beginning to miss it. There’s nothing more Vancouver then getting out and about on a rainy fall day. Taking the passenger ferry to Granville Island in the rain is where it’s at. Soon enough and all that Vancouver rain will be fresh snow on the local mountains.

There’s nothing more magical then driving up the mountains on a rainy day in winter and crossing over the freezing point where all that rain turns to snow. Returning to the rainy city after leaving that paradise is like waking up from a pleasant dream.

Traditional Totem poles in Stanley Park.



Statue of Robbie Burns, Harry Winston Jerome, the Celtic Cross and the mermaid. Only it turns out the Stanley park mermaid isn’t a mermaid it’s a woman in a scuba suit symbolizing our dependence on the ocean. In more ways than one. For food and for oxygen.









Figurehead of the SS Empress of Japan.



Subtle hints of wildlife. Geese, loons, herons, swans, and raccoons.













Between Lost Lagoon and Second beach there’s a clearing with a group of huge bamboo plants. I love bamboo in a pot. It’s very Zen. These plants are huge. Over 20 feet tall and thick. This is Vancouver. This is our home. Even in the rain. Giles isn’t from here. He doesn’t belong here either.

David Giles in Vancouver court

Well Skeletor was sporting his orange jump suit for his video appearance in Vancouver court today. When he sat down on the video I shuddered. That guy is really butt ugly. He has those dark sunken eyes and hollow cheeks that totally look like Skeletor’s skull. Only now he has those puffy pouting droopy lips that almost frown just like a hobo clown. Giles is finally facing a consequence for his actions for the first time in his life.

Evidently he doesn’t enjoy celebrity status in jail any more. Almost everyone is making bail except for him and Kevin Van Kalkeren. The valiant Martha Devlin is representing Crown Counsel on this case again. It appears that Giles and Van Kalkeren haven’t made an application for bail yet. It’s quite possible there is evidence already submitted that is under a publication ban that would explain why they haven’t applied for bail yet. We won’t know until after the trial is over. That’s when publication bans are supposed to expire.

However, I have a huge concern with these continued over reaching publication bans. That is not the way they do things in the US and is not the way they interpret the First Amendment which is very similar to our Charter of Rights. Not reporting evidence is bad enough. Not reporting what was done or accomplished is insane. Some keep saying how our injustice system has improved. Frankly, I’m not seeing it.

Despite my sarcasm and cynicism, I’m not the kind of guy that wishes miss fortune on anyone. This case is different. Giles has hurt a lot of people and hasn’t given a rat’s ass. Trafficking all that cocaine that ends up as crack on the street destroys lives and communities. Then there’s all the murders of rival drug dealers. It’s a dirty business and David Giles has been deeply involved in it for many years.

Before the spies start attending all the court appearances, I’ll tell you now I’m not going to be able to attend much of the trial. I have a full time job and I’m really going to enjoy the outdoors this winter.

I would however, like to ask for some assistance piecing together the dates as to when Giles was where. We know he was from Halifax and was a member of the Thirteenth Tribe which patched over to become the Halifax Hells Angels. We know some of the early members of that chapter were charged with living off the avails. I’m wondering if Giles was a member of that chapter at that time.

We know Jeff Lynds confessed to murdering Randy Mersereau fall of 1999 for the Hells Angels. Where was Giles then? We know David Carol was actively involved with the Halifax chapter at that time and was also very involved with the Hells Angels in Quebec. He’s hiding on the lam.

Someone claimed Giles never was in Quebec but something he said on a wiretap submitted in court implied otherwise. Does anyone know when and where Giles was in Quebec? We know the Halifax chapter was invited to the Lennoxville Massacre and were later accused and acquitted of being involved in that murder. Where was Giles then?

I did post some satire a while back about tension between Team Giles and Team Bryce. Some commenter adamantly denied it but it turns out there is a lot of truth to that conflict that goes back even before Juel Stanton’s disclosure. Ya gotta admit, Bryce races nitro motorcycles. That’s a lot more impressive than Giles the hobo clown. I guess the suspension of his driver’s license for the DUI will be served concurrently with his current incarceration waiting trial. He doesn’t need a driver’s license now so he doesn’t.

Anyways, today in court they just set a date to set a date for trial. The next brief appearance will be 10:00 AM November 29, 2012. I would encourage concerned citizens to check it out. You can see for yourself how the mighty Skeletor has turned into a broken hobo clown. It’s nice to see the judicial system finally work. In the end truth will prevail.