HST not the lone B.C. Liberal time bomb set to explode

By Michael Smyth, The Province April 8, 2010 6:09 AM (excerpts)

Think things are going badly for Gordon Campbell and his B.C. Liberals right now? Just wait -- you ain't seen nothin' yet. This has already been a brutal week for the Libs with Tuesday's kickoff of ex-premier Bill Vander Zalm's petition drive against the HST.

B.C. RAIL CORRUPTION TRIAL: More than six years after police executed search warrants at the legislature, the trial of former Liberal political staffers facing corruption charges in the $1-billion sale of B.C. Rail is finally set to start May 3.

B.C. PLACE CASINO: Questions continue to swirl about the role Liberal insider T. Richard Turner played in the $1-billion-plus deal to put a retractable roof on B.C. Place and build a hotel-casino complex right next door. Turner has a personal interest in Paragon Development, the firm that landed the casino deal.

JOHN LES PROBE: The former solicitor-general remains under police investigation over allegedly crooked land deals in his Chilliwack riding, back when he was mayor. A special prosecutor on the case has received a lengthy police report, and a decision on charges is expected soon.

E-HEALTH SCANDAL: Lawyers for three government bureaucrats facing 19 criminal corruption charges in the province's e-health program appeared in court Wednesday. The case was adjourned until May, when more damaging fallout is expected.

RECALL: If Vander Zalm's petition drive fails, he can always start up recall campaigns against vulnerable Liberal MLAs. Recall efforts can legally begin Nov. 15. Judging by the way things are going right now, they'll be ripe for the plucking.