Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Charles Demers joins me again. The comedian, author, and activist is on to catch up on all sort of current events. Charlie will be appearing with SFU Urban Studies professor Matt Hern on Thursday the 27th of January at SFU Harbour Centre at 6.00pm. It’s all part of SFU’s history department’s year-long lecture series on the city and its history. They’ll be discussing the question, ‘Vancouver: The Greatest Place on Earth?’ And Charlie would be an ideal person to discuss and debate that question, as he’s the author of one of the best books on the city, Vancouver Special, which was shortlisted for the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize. He’s also the author of a novel, Prescription Errors. Charles Demers appears on CBC Radio’s The Debaters, and was co-host of CityTV’s The Citynews List. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Charlie Demers; Good morning, Mr. Demers.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. In Vancouver, this is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Paul Willcocks joins me again. He’s an editorial writer for the Victoria Times-Colonist, and a long-time observer of political affairs in this province. His website is at www.willcocks.blogspot.com. We’ll discuss the news of the last week, the resignation of Gordon Campbell as premier of the province of British Columbia, as well as the leadership race to lead the BC Liberals, and the state of the NDP, and more. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Paul Willcocks; Good morning, Mr. Willcocks.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. In Vancouver, this is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

It’s Monday afternoon, and the political commentator and analyst Alex Tsakumis joins me again. His popular website at www.alexgtsakumis.com has been discussing the resignation of Gordon Campbell. We’ll talk about that, the race now on who succeeds him, and other political matters. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Alex Tsakumis; Good afternoon, Mr. Tsakumis.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. In Vancouver, this is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Charlie Smith joins me again. He is the editor of the Georgia Straight, Canada’s largest weekly. Theirs is a go-to website for local news in the area: www.straight.com. We’ll talk politics of course, and whatever else is relevant this Tuesday. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Charlie Smith; Good morning, Mr. Smith.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

We look back at the year that was in provincial politics, with the great Sean Holman. He’s one of the best reporters in Victoria, and one of the most respected amongst other journos at the Legislature. His website is www.publiceyeonline.com. It’s indispensible. You can also hear him Sunday mornings on CFAX. And he teaches at the University of Victoria. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Sean Holman; Good morning, Mr. Holman.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

David Schreck joins us again. We’ll discuss the current goings-on politically provincially and beyond. He regularly appears on CFAX with Mike Geoghegan, Friday mornings. His website is www.strategicthoughts.com. He was a special advisor to NDP premiers in the late 1990s and in 2000 to January 2001. He was an NDP MLA from 1991 to 1996. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, on the North Shore this day, David Schreck; Good morning, Mr. Schreck.

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

I’m very pleased to have Sean Holman on the program now. He is the award winning and highly respected journalist based out of the provincial capital, and the publisher and editor of the indispensible Public Eye Online. He also hosts a radio program on CFAX in Victoria, Sundays at 8.00 to 10.00 AM. He has won a Jack Webster Award for his investigative journalism, and has been published in Times Colonist, the 24 Hours paper, the Globe and Mail, and in the last campaign did a stint at the Vancouver Sun. We’ll discuss the provincial election and referendum campaigns thus far. The website is www.publiceyeonline.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Sean Holman; Good morning, Mr. Holman.

Public Eye Online: http://www.publiceyeonline.com

John Twigg is on the line from Campbell River this morning. We’re bringing on John to look at politics in British Columbia and beyond as we head into the summer season. His site, where you can subscribe to his newsletters is http://www.bcpolitics.com. Please welcome once again to THECOMMENTARY.CA, John Twigg; Good morning, Mr. Twigg.

BC Politics: http://www.bcpolitics.com

Joining me now from Victoria is the freelance political columnist Paul Willcocks. He was once publisher of the Victoria Times-Colonist, but since 1996, he’s covered politics and policy for the Globe and Mail, Reuters, and regularly in the Vancouver Sun. You can also read his writing on his own blog, which is at willcocks.blogspot.com. He is the 2003 recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation’s Commentator of the Year Award, and in 2000 was a National Magazine Award finalist. You can also hear him on The Rafe Mair Show each Monday morning. Please welcome to THECOMMENTARY.CA, Paul Willcocks; Good morning, Mr. Willcocks.

Paul Willcocks’s blog: http://willcocks.blogspot.com

Joining me now is the political activist Jamie Lee Hamilton. Jamie Lee’s blog can be found on at http://downtowneastside.blogspot.com/, where you can read about all sorts of opinion and gossip on the local political scene. It’s a must-read. Please welcome back to THECOMMENTARY.CA, Jamie Lee Hamilton; Good morning, Jamie Lee.

Jamie Lee Hamilton’s blog: http://downtowneastside.blogspot.com/