CRY FOR HELP — NDP leader Adrian Dix put a new twist on the standard appeal for money at a party fundraiser in Oak Bay this week. He compared his style with that of Dave Barrett, the colourful premier from 1972 to 1975.
“If Dave were here tonight, the paper would be flying around, the people would be laughing and you’d say: ‘That guy is so good, he doesn’t need my help.’
“When I speak, people think: ‘I gotta help that guy.’ ”
POPULAR WINNER — Terrace lottery winner Bob Erb’s story is fairly well known by now. He won $25 million and made a name for himself by giving a fortune away to friends, neighbours and total strangers. The beneficiaries include a marijuana legalization campaign that is now a million dollars richer.
Skeena MLA Robin Austin recounted another detail to the legislature about the win. The manager of the gas station where he bought the ticket accidentally punched in more than Erb asked for, but Erb said not to worry and took the extras.
Austin said it was one of the accidental extras that turned out to be worth $25 million.
Erb’s NDP pedigree was also noted: His uncle was Tommy Douglas’s health minister in Saskatchewan in 1959 and introduced the bill that created public health care there.
GRAPPLERS UNITED — The government and the opposition agreed on one thing this week: Eliminating wrestling from the Olympics is a dumb idea that needs to be taken down.
Sports Minister Bill Bennett and Premier Christy Clark are writing to inquire why the IOC put the sport on the hit list. Bennett said B.C. has a strong wrestling program, and he wants to see it continue.
NDP MLA Mike Farnworth tabled a motion asking the house to condemn the decision. He said B.C should demand the Canadian Olympic Committee vigorously oppose the move.
SWEET TWEET OF NOTHING — It’s pretty common knowledge that most politicians don’t have a clue what’s being broadcast from their own Twitter accounts. Staffers keep the tweets flowing, even if they don’t make a lick of sense.
“Second day of the spring session. Expect above-average movement in the backfield,” came a tweet from the account of Ralph Sultan, Liberal minister of state for seniors.
Confused, reporters asked Sultan what sage wisdom he was trying to convey.
“God only knows,” Sultan muttered in the hallway. “I’ll have to look into it.”
Whoever is running Sultan’s Twitter feed closed off the week with:
“Someone thinks I need dance lessons — John Braithwaite Centre’s Seniors Music Jam is on my schedule for 2.00 p.m.”
SWEET TWEETS PART 2 — And then there are the politicians who clearly run their own Twitter feeds.
“One more great candidate!” tweeted Energy Minister Rich Coleman on Friday. “Peter Fassbender runnung for BCLiberals. Gay.”
Coleman followed up with this correction:
“Apologies for the tweet... meant to say Yay!!! Very excited to have Peter as a member of our team! So excited I didn’t spell check.”
— With files from Les Leyne and Rob Shaw
