People who have been elected to public office are there for only one reason. Their job is to see to the best interests of all their constituents. This is not happening at the moment with our provincial government.
Shortly after our recent election, perhaps with that in mind, Premier Christy Clark indicated she was looking for all party co-operation. That isn’t happening. True, we have an unusual situation, but surely our MLAs are bright enough to find a fair way to govern and get on with it.
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Wu Xiaohui, the chair of Anbang, the Chinese insurance holding company that bought the Retirement Concepts chain earlier this year, “has been detained by authorities and is unable to perform his duties with the company,” according to the Globe and Mail. His disappearance might have something to do with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign targeting high flying insurers. These companies may also have been caught in China’s attempts to keep foreign currency from leaving the country. The Trudeau government, which OK’d the billion-dollar Retirement Concepts deal and welcomed Anbang to join the Canadian Health Care system, is concerned, but sees no reason to revisit the decision. Ottawa will, however, “keep an eye on further developments.” What kind of an eye I wonder? Unlike Canada, the U.S. was leery of Anbang because of its “murky ownership” and lack of transparency. Canada has the welcome mat out for all foreign investors who want in on our resources and services. Where will it end?
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For years merchants provided free plastic or paper bags to customers. Many now charge for them to encourage the use of environmmentally correct reusable bags. Good idea, but what if, instead of being accused of a cash grab, the stores donated the “bag” money to some charity? Food banks maybe?
Diana French is a freelance columnist for the Tribune. She is a former Tribune editor, retired teacher, historian and book author.
