Credit Check

By only

Tuesday May 8, 2007

-10 ALCOA Corp. makes a hostile bid for ALCAN. Corporations do this sort of thing everyday but this is relevant to BC. ALCAN operates a large aluminum processor in Kitimat where they are planning a controversial power-generating dam. Borrowing a plot from The Producers , ALCAN has figured that they can make more money generating power and shuttering the plant than they would by expanding it with cheap power. We care because many residents and politicians have asked people to trust ALCAN, to recognize their 50 years of good citizenship, and let them dam the river. Once ALCOA takes over, good citizenship takes a ride on BC Rail to oblivion.

+ 5 DY-NO-MITE. The company founded by Alfred Nobel wants to build an explosives factory near Prince George. Nobel used his profits from Dyno Nobel to fund the Nobel Prizes.

- 5 The Plaza Of Nation’s glass roof has finally come down. The owners have no plan to replace the roof. Cut to scene next year: “Boo, hoo. We’re not making any money with our open-air concert bowl. You have to let us build condos here.”

+ 5 The Impact Of The Olympics On Community Coalition has given VANOC a D-. This is all well and good but a poor review from the ITOCC is like the Fraser Institute suggesting that something be privatised or the Centre For Policy Alternatives suggesting that more money be given to public services.

+10 An appointee of George Bush says that Vancouver’s homelessness is a disgrace. Has he looked at the US lately? “San Francisco, Miami and St. Louis have all seen reductions in the 30 to 50 per cent range. Officials in Portland, which has a population comparable to Vancouver, report a 70 per cent drop in homelessness in only two years.” Wait.. what?

Today + 5 This Year +117