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Rich Coleman defends his comments in the Surrey casino decision
VANCOUVER/CKNW (AM980)
Shane Woodford | Email news tips to shane.woodford@corusent.com
1/31/2013

The Deputy Premier is also finally talking after his scathing criticism of Surrey city council and then abrupt turn around over the South Surrey casino decision.
 
Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts blasted Rich Coleman in an open letter for his comments.
 
While fellow Liberal MLA Gordon Hogg said Coleman calling Surrey councillors during the casino process was inappropriate.
 
Coleman was asked if he has talked to either party since.

"I have talked to Gordie and explained that I answered questions and he accepted that and he sort of apologized for his comments to me personally with regards to Dianne no I have not that is not my role."

Question "Do you regret what you did?"

"I did my job as a Minister and I have no regrets."

Coleman was asked if he got a talking to, after first blasting Surrey council, then in a statement pulling an abrupt u-turn.

"All of that was my doing I think that you know the challege was for a couple of our folks who were up until two o'clock in the morning and worked months and months on it they may have said somethings out of frustration and I wanted to make sure that people understood that we weren't going to live with that frustration."

Coleman says it was appropriate for him to call the councillors as he knew them and they had questions for him.

"This was only a conversation about moving of a license from one area of Surrey to another you should recognize that the zoning was dione by Surrey three or four years ago and Surrey are the ones that said to the Lottery Corporation that is the only place we will accept a casino in our community and that is where we would like you to go to work and then we went through the process and they turned it down, I accept the turn down."

Requests to confirm the apology were put in to MLA Gordon Hogg who did not return CKNW's calls.


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  • 35
  1. Jartann posted on 01/31/2013 04:37 PM
    Coleman should have been calling these councillors, as should anyone else who had a point of view. At one time freedom of expressoin was considered a basic right in Canada-not now. Musnt' hurt anyone' s feelings or else you may just hear from the BC Human Rights Tribunal who will wage a war on you with "so called" scarce public funds.
    1. cherylb_2696 posted on 01/31/2013 08:01 PM
      @Jartann He didn't call to express his views. Has nothing to do with freedom of expression. He called, as the Minister responsible, with a threat that if they didn't let the casino through they would not get any opportunity in the future. He should be charged for that. People in positions of power don't pull that crap.
    2. cherylb_2696 posted on 01/31/2013 08:01 PM
      @Jartann He didn't call to express his views. Has nothing to do with freedom of expression. He called, as the Minister responsible, with a threat that if they didn't let the casino through they would not get any opportunity in the future. He should be charged for that. People in positions of power don't pull that crap.
  2. HUGH F posted on 01/31/2013 04:41 PM
    And political interference is against moral and ethical standards. Do you spend all day Jarts dreaming up buffoonish statements?
    1. JD_9814 posted on 02/01/2013 09:51 AM
      @HUGH F Colman intentionally created a conflict of interest with the apparent intention to manipulate a public vote. Jartann knows better,but thinks that people in BC are undiscriminating - that is the fatal flaw of the entire Liberal Party; they think they can once again pull the wool over the public's eyes.
  3. bctaxpayer posted on 01/31/2013 04:50 PM
    Chubby you are lucky that Watt's didn't, take your head off and give you a spanking.Chubby you were in the wrong.Next time watch your head.
  4. taxed to death posted on 01/31/2013 05:04 PM
    "Arrogant" grain fed corpulent sow! Rich note to self...keep the sppon away from mouth and put a lock on the fridge...your heading for a major jammer after you lose the election...The guy is just so arrogant, you wonder who the f&*K he thinks he is
    1. RegA [deleted] posted on 01/31/2013 05:37 PM
      @taxed to death Wasn't he an ex-cop? Ricky was accepted because he was easily institutionalized and when told it is right, it is, also a failed bully, and when given a badge or a provincial ministry, the arrogance really comes to the front. In recent police events, I think lying also comes to the front of the heep of deficits. He has to go! Maybe Kinsella will give him a security job? Christy would receive accolades and likely 3 or 4 points in the polls, if she sacked him. Don't just move him, sack him. You can bet your sweet bippy Christy gets shivers, when she hears his name in the hallowed halls of the ledg. Go NDP go.
  5. Jartann posted on 01/31/2013 05:32 PM
    Reading the comments of Hugh F, bctaxpayer and taxed to death, it is clear that they are well qualified to be the official village idiots in their communities. And, training is available at BC NDP headquarters.

    The casino decision was political, the councillors are politicians, and Coleman is a politician, and yet some politicians being involved is "political interference" and some is not. I would prefer that politicians go on the record on issues like this. As opposed to Adrian Dix, who is basically saying nothing, refuses to answer a direct question and basically just wants to have everyone sit around a table and talk things over. And then, he will get the Auditor General to decide.

    The good news for Surrey is that it will remain the crime free paradise it has become, and has avoided the risks of all the major crimes that will break out due to the construction of a casino, entertainment centre, hotel and convention centre. Diane Watts for premier-according to the media she is the greatest thing since the wheel was invented. But then, they have been wrong before.
    1. bctaxpayer posted on 01/31/2013 05:45 PM
      @Jartann Only a a.. hole like this illiterate writer has had his head where the sun don't shine tooooooooooooooooooooo long.
    2. RoseH_1028 posted on 01/31/2013 06:08 PM
      @Jartann These people aren't worth responding to. They never have anything constuctive to say, only name calling and and personal attacks. Did someone mention "buffoon". As far as the casino in Surrey, people with nothing else to do got on the bandwagon to lobby against it. It said 5000 people were against it. How many were for it. What is the population of Surrey. Sounds kind of fishy to me. Some didn't want it ther because it would bring crime. Really. There is absolutely no truth to that.
      It is Surrey's loss.
  6. BY_7463 posted on 01/31/2013 05:35 PM
    So the Nuffy Boy is speaking. What's happened?????? The brain trust of the LIE BERALS have told the puppet what to say???????????? Sure make you wonder.
  7. cherylb_2696 posted on 01/31/2013 07:59 PM
    I don't believe Coleman. He says that Hogg apologized to him for both his casino comments and the SMART Meter comments. Until Hogg corroborates the story i will continue to not believe him.
  8. cherylb_2696 posted on 01/31/2013 07:59 PM
    I don't believe Coleman. He says that Hogg apologized to him for both his casino comments and the SMART Meter comments. Until Hogg corroborates the story i will continue to not believe him.
  9. DeceitinDrugsD posted on 01/31/2013 08:56 PM
    How would anyone believe him, after what he did to
    VanDongen?

    Coleman has worn out his time doing nothing in the legislature.

    Time to put him out to pasturein Aldergrove.
  10. RegA [deleted] posted on 01/31/2013 09:35 PM
    All together now! "We can't wait for the spring election, and we shall ALL see what the people want". I noticed some of you not singing, mind you, it was only a few, very few! Good Luck, Liberals.
  11. Garp posted on 01/31/2013 09:43 PM
    Jartann, readers and don't allow complex truths interfer with your though process. Anyone with a different mind is simply a nitwit.


















    Jartann, why let the truth get in the way of a good deception. Of course Colman should call and put pressure on municipal counsellers - what fool would disagree with that? and if anyone dare to disagree - demean their opinion. BC needs to re-elect people like you, so that democratic thought doesn't interfer with efficiency.
    1. JD_9814 posted on 02/01/2013 09:48 AM
      @Garp you need to clean up your editor!
  12. joes_2868 posted on 02/01/2013 09:01 AM
    kEN280: The readers consultant, a man with a briefcase 50 miles away from home!
    Ken, the readers need your input on this.
  13. RonE_1902 posted on 02/01/2013 10:48 AM
    Mr,Coleman I wish you the very best in the next election, but I do not think you will be re-elected.

    Your performance regarding the Surrey Casino is an example of unwarranted meddling in municipal politics. Your account is very different than the obvious and telling the truth would be the best.

    Voters deserve the truth.
  14. joes_2868 posted on 02/01/2013 01:18 PM
    RoseH_1028: Excellent commentary! I wonder if it will sink into the three stooges who replaced Glen Clark, Dan Miller, and Ujjal Dosanjh, namely, KEN280, THE READERS CONSULTANT WITH A BRIEFCASE 50 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, BCTAXPAYER, AND MR. EGO OF B.C., TAXED TO DEATH, HIMSELF.

    Also Rose, notice that polls are only polls, and the pollsters themselves, admit, some of the taxpayers polled, don't even show up to vote on election day.

    You are so right, when the majority of the replies are from NDP supporters trying to do damage control.
  15. joes_2868 posted on 02/01/2013 01:24 PM
    RegA: The only ones not looking forward to an election is the opposition NDP. They, the executive NDP big shots have done their research, and they know that the magic number they need to form government is 49% plus of the majority vote and there is not enough time left.

    Most taxpayers have done their consumer affairs on the record of NDP governments and just that alone proves that they have a long hill to climb.

    You are right about one thing, RegA, your NDP MLA Nicholas Simons will be re-elected.
  16. joes_2868 posted on 02/01/2013 01:26 PM
    Cherylb_2696: And what? You really think the readers believe you?
  17. joes_2868 posted on 02/01/2013 01:38 PM
    Jartann: These protestors in Surrey are also the same ones that go to a travel agency to book a holiday in Las Vegas, yet they would never admit to that.

    Then they wonder why their property taxes keep climbing but refuse over 6 million in property taxes from a casino.

    Included in these protestors, are people that would even apply for employment at the casino.

    They are brain dead, because this proposal was just not a casino. It included a major hotel full facility complex as well as meeting rooms.

    A good place for business to have seminars at. 8% room tax on rooms, and 10% on liquor sales all going back to the B.C. taxpayer via the government.


    Like Bruce Allen says, when the last NDP government was destroying B.C., he could not find one person that said they voted NDP. Bruce said, someone had to.

    These included the likes of KEN280, THE READERS CONSULTANT,A MAN WITH A BRIEFCASE 50 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, B.C.TAXPAYER, AND OF COURSE MR. EGO OF B.C. HIMSELF, THE ONE AND ONLY TAXED TO DEATH.

    Ken280, the readers consultant, a man with a briefcase 50 miles away from home does listen to Bruce Allen's commentaries.
    1. HUGH F posted on 02/01/2013 11:11 PM
      @joes_2868 I've listened to Bruce Allan's commentaries as well as I've heard farts. They both stink.
    2. HUGH F posted on 02/01/2013 11:11 PM
      @joes_2868 I've listened to Bruce Allan's commentaries as well as I've heard farts. They both stink.
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