Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Alex G. Tsakumis joins me now. His is a very popular blog in this part of the world and beyond. He’s the founder and co-founder of many successful business ventures, a long time commentator and columnist in and on various media. His website is at www.alexgtsakumis.com. His political experience is vast, and he also served as an aide and advisor to then premier Bill Vander Zalm. He is a lifelong member of the Conservative Party of Canada, and has served two terms on the board of Vancouver’s Non Partisan Association. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Alex Tsakumis; Good morning, Mr. Tsakumis.

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.

Once again, I’m joined by the award-winning journalist, Sean Holman. He’s one of the most highly respected journalists amongst journalists in Victoria, covering the legislature. He is the editor of Public Eye Online, a must-read for anyone following BC politics. www.publiceyeonline.com is the website, where one can read the articles he writes, as well as stream video clips of scrums and interviews. Mr. Holman also hosts Public Eye Radio, Sundays 08.00 to 10.00AM on CFAX. 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/

With one week until election and referendum day, we continue our campaign coverage here at The Commentary by checking in with the veteran journalist and broadcaster John Pifer. You can read his “Johnny on the Spot” column regularly in the daily commuter paper, Metro. Please welcome to THECOMMENTARY.CA, John Pifer; Good morning, Mr. Pifer.

Metro: http://www.metronews.ca

We’re now under two weeks before election and referendum day, and so to look at everything political, I’m joined now by the political commentator Bill Tieleman. You can read him Tuesdays and Fridays in the new free daily 24 Hours, and hear him every Monday morning on CBC Radio’s BC Political Panel. Mr. Tieleman is a former communications director for former premier Glen Clark, and the president of West Star Communications. He is also one of the registered sponsors for KNOWSTV, one of the groups lobbying against the STV proposal that’s up for a vote on May 17th. Their website is www.knowstv.ca. Please welcome to THECOMMENTARY.CA, Bill Tieleman; Good morning, Mr. Tieleman.

KNOWSTV: http://www.knowstv.ca

24 Hrs.: http://www.vancouver.24hrs.ca