Recall of Local Government Elected Officials

http://www.ubcm.ca/EN/meta/news/news-archive/2015-archive/september-25-resolutions-debate.html
B93 Recall of Local Government Elected Officials
Endorsed as Amended

Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia amend BC’s Community Charter to include a mechanism enabling voters to recall their local government elected officials, whereby the signatures of more than 50% of registered municipal or ward voters would be required, with the petition being initiated no less than 18 months after the date the local government elected official was sworn in to office, following the same recall timeline currently being used by Elections BC for the recall of Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Overwaitea recalls cukes

by Darren Handschuh CASTANET- Sep 8, 2015 / 8:45 pm

Overwaitea Food Group is recalling field cucumbers purchased from Save On Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Coopers Foods, Overwaitea, and Freson Brothers due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product. This recall applies to fresh field cucumbers sold in bulk, unwrapped purchased from Save On Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Coopers Foods, Overwaitea, and Freson Brothers on or before Sept. 4. Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased affected cucumbers should check with their retail store. The cucumbers have been sold from Save On Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Coopers Foods, Overwaitea, and Freson Brothers stores in Alberta and British Columbia. Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased. Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis. The recall was triggered by a recall by Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce ("A&W") of San Diego, California, and may be associated with an outbreak in the United States.
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http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2015-09-08/eng/1441765384269/1441765388755

CFIA admits it didn't 'connect the dots to get the big picture' on beef recall

By Marty Klinkenberg, Edmonton JournalOctober 2, 2012

EDMONTON - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency conceded on Monday it’s a mistake not to require companies to analyze test results from beef trimmings to to allow inspectors to “connect the dots to get the big picture” about a packing plant’s operations.  Richard Arsenault, the agency’s director of meat inspection, confirmed changes are coming that will require companies to do more than simply test for E. coli. “The requirements for analysis of the data — in other words, what they had to do to look at it at the end of the day, weren’t as rigorous,” Arsenault said. “Well, I wouldn’t use that word. They were fairly rigorous because they had to do all that testing, but in terms of connecting the dots to look for these pictures, they didn’t have a requirement to do that. “We didn’t think that was something that would have been useful. We now know that it is, so that’s why we’re going to change it.” More than 1,100 products from XL Foods have been recalled in the biggest beef recall in Canadian history, and CFIA indicated the recall will likely be expanded. The first products were recalled on Sept. 16, and the list has since been expanded several times. The recall has affected major retailers in Canada and 41 U.S. states, and led the CFIA to suspend the firm’s operating licence and revoking its privilege to export products to the U.S. U.S. inspectors at the border in Montana first detected E. coli in beef trimmings used to make hamburger during random tests on Sept. 3. The CFIA found traces of E. coli the next day, but it wasn’t until 13 days later that a recall was issued — by the company, voluntarily. The CFIA launched an investigation to determine the source of the contamination. As part of that probe, CFIA decided to recall products produced on five separate days between Aug. 24 and Sept. 5, after noting deviations from the company’s documented E. coli control measures and analyzing test data. (more)
List of recalled products - click here
The CFIA website - click here 
Fact Sheet: E. coli O157:H7 Food Safety Facts

MLA Recall Delayed

Written by Glen Morrison  107.5 KISSFM  Monday, 12 September 2011 18:24

It'll be a while yet before a recall is launched against Vernon MLA Eric Foster. Committee spokesman Rod Baziw says they're meeting again October second to set a date to launch their campaign.  "I need a bit of time so I can find out from Elections BC exactly what they require because they keep changing the goal posts." Baziw says the original forms for signing up canvassers have been changed by Elections B.C. meaning the ones already filled out are now invalid.The volunteers would have to collect over 18-thousand signatures over a two month period, to force a by-election.

MLA RespondsTo Recall

Written by Peter McIntyre 105.7 KISSFM Friday, 09 September 2011 15:48

Vernon's MLA takes exception to suggestions he's not doing enough to get more acute care bed funding to reduce overcrowding at Vernon's hospital.  That's one of the criticisms of a group planning to launch a recall campaign against first term Liberal MLA Eric Foster.  Foster says he just completed meetings on the topic today with Premier Clark and health officials. "It is most definitely under discussion. It's not on the back burner. It's on the front burner and I'm not letting it get on the back burner."  Foster also points to the millions of dollars in projects in the local area the last two years, as proof that he's doing an effective job.  "You look at what's happened in the North Okanagan the last two years, the money that's been spent on highways, we've got two brand new schools, a new hospital tower and it just goes on and on." Foster says the citizens are entitled under the law to launch a recall campaign but he disagrees with the reasons stated by spokesman Rod Baziw.  "I've never met Mr Baziw and I don't know if he realizes how these things work but there's a lot of hospital in this province and only so much much money. What I'm trying to do is work hard to secure money for us so we can get some beds open." Foster says lobbying for the funding occupies as much of his time as everything else he does put together.

Group Reignites Recall Effort

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 08 September 2011 13:44

Plans are back on to try and recall the MLA for Vernon-Monashee.  Recall committee spokesman Rod Baziw says with no BC election until 2013, they feel rookie MLA Eric Foster has not shown enough community support.  "That's too long for somebody to be representing the area and not really be helping the citizens."  Baziw is critical of Foster for not yet securing hospital bed funding, something Foster has said he's been lobbying hard for. "I don't see any progress. It's been one year already that we've known the top two floors aren't going to be there."  Baziw says Foster is refusing to represent the citizens of his riding, adding the concerns go deeper than just the HST issue. The recall committee of 20 people will hold an organization meeting on Sunday at 2 at the People Place, when a date for a start could be chosen. The campaign would have to get over 18-thousand signatures of registered voters in the riding (at least 40 percent), over a two month period to force a by-election.  Previous recall attempts against Liberals Ida Chong, Don McRae and Terry Lake failed to get enough signatures. Foster has not yet returned a call to Kiss FM News.

Anti HST Town Hall Meeting

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 27 May 2011 09:28

The proposed changes to the HST will be the subject of a meeting this weekend in Vernon.  Tax opponents Bill Vander Zalm, the former Social Credit Premier,  and Chris Delaney from Fight HST will speak at at town hall meeting at the Schubert Centre this Sunday at noon.  Organizer Rod Baziw says people will be able to ask questions.  "They're going to inform the public exactly what the HST is applied to, not what the government says."  Baziw says most polls he's seen still show a majority against the tax.  He doesn't trust the government to follow through on a promise to reduce the tax to 10 percent by July 2014.  "If they get reelected, they're probably just going to jack it way up."  Baziw plans to continue efforts to recall Vernon MLA Eric Foster, perhaps later this year.
 Bill Vander Zalm & Chris Delaney at Schubert Centre (Kiss FM file photo)

Don't Count Out Recall

Written by 107.5 Kiss FM Friday, 18 March 2011 14:43

The main organizer says a recall campaign against Vernon's MLA is still very much a possibility.  Rod Baziw was reacting to concerns that only four people showed up for a meeting last weekend to sign up volunteers.  Baziw says since then, he's heard up to 30 people are are interested in the effort to unseat MLA Eric Foster.  He says a meeting for anyone interested will be held this Sunday at 2 at the People Place.  If it does go ahead, volunteers will have 60 days to collect over 18-thousand signatures of eligible voter, to force a by-election.  Photo: Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster

Recall Meeting Draws Few

Written by Peter McIntyre   107.5 KISSFM  Sunday, 13 March 2011 19:39

Photo: Eric Foster

There doesn't appear to be a lot of interest in a recall campaign against Vernon's Liberal MLA. A meeting Sunday to signup volunteer canvassers attracted just four people.  Organizer Rod Baziw is not ready to call off the effort, but says they will need more people to pull it off.  He had hoped to start the campaign against Eric Foster on April 1-st.

Costly recall in Oak Bay-Gordon Head

8 March, 2011 by Sacha Peter BC Election 2013:
The Oak Bay-Gordon Head recall campaign financing was made available today, and the recall proponents spent approximately $32,200 on the campaign. The maximum allowable expense was $35,938.72.  You can view the documents here. Approximately $7,900 of it was financed by the Ambulance Paramedics, another $4,000 by the Fight HST campaign itself, and the rest of the contributions were mainly by individuals.

Anti-HST Forces Insist Recall Campaign Against Foster To Go Ahead --Senior organizer steps down, call for canvassers goes out

Kate Bouey 3/8/2011 105.7 SUNFM

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A scramble is on to find more canvassers in an off-again, on-again recall campaign against Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster. The local leader of the anti-HST forces, Tom Holmes, has stepped aside following protests over a decision not to start the campaign against Foster this month, on the first day of spring. Holmes had wanted to wait to see the wording on the June referendum question before deciding whether or not to go ahead. ``My understanding from some of the other canvassers who've called me (is) they knew nothing about this,'' says campaigner Rod Baziw, who has taken replaced Holmes. ``They asked me to step back into the role again as Tom (Holmes) has stepped down.'' He concedes there is not enough time to organize to take on Foster this month but Baziw is still aiming for the campaign to begin in early April. ``We're in desperate need of alot more canvassers,'' says Baziw. ``We have quite a few dedicated canvassers but we need quite a few more from what I've been told by the head of Recall, Chris Delaney.'' Baziw is urging volunteers to meet with him this coming Sunday at 2 pm, at the People Place.

MLA Considers HST Debate

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Sunday, 06 March 2011 19:48

A long Year Of Deep Thought

Vernon's MLA is being challenged to a public debate over the harmonized sales tax.  Tom Holmes--a Vernon resident who's been involved in an effort to recall Eric Foster--wants to axe the tax.  Holmes tells KISS FM, "He says it's good for us. I can find everything that's wrong with it." Foster  says he will consider it, although he's not sure a debate would help the public make their decision. "I support the initiative as good tax policy and good public policy and Mr. Holmes obviously doesn't, so I think all the facts are out there for everybody to see, both ways, so I don't know if there's any real benefit to it (a debate)." Holmes says the strong support of the anti HST petition last year, showed most Vernon Monashee residents don't like the 12 percent tax. "Vernonites said no to the HST in the petition. He voted against his constituents and voted for it saying it's good for us. All he is in a puppet for (Gordon) Campbell. I don't think he put any reasoning behind it at all." New Premier Christy Clark is looking at holding the HST referendum June 24th, instead of the earlier plan of September.  Meantime, Holmes told KISS FM on Friday, a possible recall against Foster has been put off until after the tax vote.

Recall Campaign Against Vernon-Monashee MLA To Be Delayed - Local organizers await wording of referendum question, June vote promised

Kate Bouey 3/4/2011 105.7 SUNFM

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It appears the ``in with spring, out with Foster'' recall campaign against Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster will be delayed. Local anti-HST organizer Tom Holmes says a decision has been made to wait to see the wording of the HST referendum question. ``If it's fair and not ambiguous, as it was initially, then we will hold off,'' explains Holmes. Premier-designate Christy Clark has promised an HST referendum in late June rather than the planned one in September. The local campaign against the tax had attracted over 300 local volunteers and not all are happy with the decision.``Well we've had some people who are disappointed already but I think it would be futile, if the referendum is worded properly..., then what are we fighting for?'' Holmes asks. The campaign against Foster was scheduled to start on March 20th, the first day of spring.

Recall campaign for B.C. MLA dead in the water

By: ctvbc.ca  Date: Thursday Feb. 3, 2011 10:10 AM PT

The campaign to unseat Ida Chong appears to be dead, after collecting just over half of the signatures required to recall the BC Liberal MLA.  Just one day before the Feb. 4 deadline, Fight HST campaigners in Oak Bay-Gordon Head have gathered just 8,818 out of 15,368 signatures needed to trigger a by-election. Last month, Elections BC approved a second recall campaign against Comox Valley MLA Don McRae. That campaign will have until March 11 to collect 19,000 signatures.

Recall campaign begins on Feb. 3 in Kamloops

Published: February 01, 2011 12:00 PM Kamloops This Week:
The campaign to recall from office Kamloops-North Thompson Liberal MLA Terry Lake begins on Thursday, Feb. 3.  Registered canvassers have 60 days, until April 4, to obtain the signatures of at least 15,299 registered voters, which is 40 per cent of the 38,246 voters registered to vote in the May 12, 2009 provincial election.  The proponent of the recall campaign is Chad Byron Moats, who, along with MLA Lake, is restricted to spending no more than $39,788.55.   Moats’ statement of why the recall of Lake is warranted:  “I am proposing the recall of Kamloops-North Thompson member of the legislative assembly, Terry Lake, because he supported the deceptive introduction of the harmonized sales tax. “He refuses to represent the clear wishes of his constituents as expressed in the successful initiative petition to end the tax and return to a provincial sales tax in its previous form. “Instead, he has chosen to represent the interests of the British Columbia Liberal Party and their supporters in big business over those of his voters in Kamloops-North Thompson. “Therefore, the voters of Kamloops-North Thompson wish to recall Terry Lake and elect a member of the legislative assembly who will better represent them. Elections BC has 42 days from the date the petition pages are submitted to the chief electoral officer to verify that those who signed the petition were entitled to do so. If the recall campaign succeeds, Lake’s seat will become vacant and a byelection must be called within 90 days. A similar recall campaign on Vancouver Island faces a Feb. 4 deadline and organizers there have all but conceded defeat as they have failed to garner the signatures required.

Vanderzalm Calls Vernon `Heart of Democracy' As Recall Battle Looms - Says Liberal government has not listened to voters

Kate Bouey 1/13/2011105.7 SUNFM

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Fight HST leader Bill Vanderzalm has been rallying the troops in Vernon for an expected recall campaign in the next few months against local MLA Eric Foster. An audience of just over 100 people, mainly seniors, listened to Vanderzalm's speech at the Schubert Centre on Thursday in a gathering local organizer Tom Holmes described as a fundraiser for the movement. The ex premier told the crowd that the Liberal government has not been listening to the people. He said the recall campaign against targeted Liberal MLAs is one way to get the government's attention and bring an end to the tax. On the specific campaign against Foster, Vanderzalm called Vernon ``the heart of democracy.''  ``This is where people are individualistic, where they want to come out and fight and do what they believe to be right,'' he added. Vanderzalm acknowledged the focus is on the current campaign against Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong. He maintained that after a slow start before Christmas, organizers there ``aren't doing too badly.'' ``I expect they're well over the halfway mark (in terms of signatures collected) and they've got three weeks to go.'' Vanderzalm visits the Victoria-area riding on Friday.

Recall Spring Start

Written by Peter McIntyre Sunday, 09 January 2011 20:46 107.5 KISFM:

There was some talk that a recall campaign against Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster could start this month, but that's been pushed back. Regional organizer Dan Thorburn says the plan is to start the effort in March or April, after the winter. He says it didn't make sense to hold it during the cold weather months,  or when many 'snowbirds' are away. The volunteers will have to collect over 18-thousand signatures --or 40 percent of eligible voters---to make the recall work.Thorburn says, from what he's heard, Vernon has a high number of people signed up to canvass, around 300.Anti HST organizers Bill Vander Zalm (pictured) and Chris Delaney will be at Vernon's Schubert Centre Thursday at noon to raise funds and awareness for the local recall effort. Opponents say each recall will cost taxpayers 1.1 million dollars, money that could be going to more essential government services like health care and education.

Vander Zalm visit concerns MLA

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: January 08, 2011 12:00 PM

The architects of B.C.’s anti-HST movement are rolling into town, and that’s raising a red flag for the local MLA.  Bill Vander Zalm and Chris Delaney will hold a town hall meeting at Vernon’s Schubert Centre Thursday at noon. The focus is to raise funds and awareness about the recall campaign against Eric Foster.  “I don’t know what their motive is. We’re having a referendum on the harmonized sales tax,” said Foster.  They wanted a referendum and they’re getting a referendum. If it (recall) is not politically motivated, what is it?”  Vander Zalm, who is a former premier, says there is a need to recall Liberal MLAs to ensure the HST is scrapped.  “We are leading the way for a citizen-led democracy right here in B.C.,” he said in a letter to supporters.  “The whole country is watching us. Indeed, people all over the world are following our progress to see if democracy can truly re-assert itself in British Columbia.” No date has been set for an actual recall campaign in Foster’s Vernon-Monashee constituency.  “We’re among the tops in B.C. for volunteers,” said organizer Darren Seymour, adding that about 300 people have already agreed to circulate the recall petition.  “People have had enough and the decision on the HST was undemocratic. People are taxed to the hilt.”  Seymour believes Vander Zalm’s town hall meeting could encourage residents to join the campaign.  “The more energy we can get, the more chance we have of recalling Eric Foster,” said Seymour.  A recall campaign requires the signatures of 40 per cent of registered voters on a petition, and Foster admits Vander Zalm’s visit could generate interest.  “It’s very disruptive. I’m concerned about it but we’re giving people an opportunity to vote on the HST,” he said.

HST Vote

Written by Peter McIntyre Monday, 29 November 2010 09:0110.5 KISSFM

Vernon's MLA is supporting the idea to hold the HST referendum as early as possible.  Eric Foster says the issue has created uncertainty in the economy.  He says " Elections B.C. just can't  write the thing and change it tommorrow,so there's some logistical questions that have to be answered, but I would support having it at the earliest possible date."  Premier Campbell set the vote for next September, but leadership candidate George Abbott has said he would hold it in June.

300% Increase in Fight HST Volunteers - Recall organizing

Kate Bouey 11/26/2010 105.7 SUNFM

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The number of volunteers for the recall campaign against Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster has shot up over the past few weeks. Organizer Tom Holmes says 187 people have now signed on as volunteers. According to a press release, it's a 300 percent increase in volunteers over two weeks. Fight HST forces are still looking for support. A meeting is being held this Sunday, at 1 pm, at the Village Green Hotel.