Thank You & Bye For Now

Dear friends,

Its time to say thank you and bye for now...

When I started this blog in the fall of 2009, it was a message in a bottle. A lot has happened since then and none of it would have come about without those of you who chimed in.  To all of you, thank you very, very much!

There's been an inquiry in the Senate of Canada and it looks as if the Canada Revenue Agency will eventually require more transparency from federally-registered charities. Also, the feds have stopped spending millions of our tax dollars on PNCIMA, a "marine planning" initiative funded by an American foundation (with some $29 million paid to B.C. enviro groups). Unfortunately, the B.C. government seems to have picked up where the feds left off, but that's another story....

As for David Suzuki and Tides Canada, they never did answer my questions. But at least the David Suzuki Foundation has removed 23 of the 26 press releases & web-pages which I had noted to contain inaccurate or false information. Tides Canada is apparently being audited by the C.R.A.

As some of you may know, I haven't made a lot of money since I started doing the research that I've compiled at this blog. In fact, I haven't made any apart from what I've been paid recently as honorariums for talks. Its time for me to get a paying job. Hopefully, it will be something at the interface of company and cause, somewhere that I can make a living and make a difference too. (Any leads?)

There are many people that I wish to thank ...

With all my heart, I thank my family whose love, support and understanding knows no bounds. In particular, I thank my daughter, Zoé for her patience, inspiration and encouragement, especially in the first few years when I wasn't getting anywhere.  "Its clever but its cheating," she once told me. As other parents will know, a daughter's words have a way of sticking.  I also thank Anne Krause, my mother, a former school teacher. She painstakingly proof-read and edited all of my letters to David Suzuki.

For the privilege of testifying to your committees, I would like to thank the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources and the Finance Committees of both the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada.

Rob Scagel, a veteran of B.C. forestry, has given me feedback and input that has improved my efforts tremendously. Thanks, Rob - and congratulations on the new baby granddaughter!

A huge thanks to Mayor Gerry Furney of Port McNeill, Ralph Sultan, MLA for West Vancouver and Brian Peckford, former premier of Newfoundland. Nothing would have been accomplished without you.

I would also like to thank everyone in journalism who has taken time to hear me out. If I have learned anything through all of this, its the importance of investigative journalism, how dangerously under-funded it is, and how difficult it is for journalists these days. 

At the risk of getting into trouble for leaving someone out, there are a few people in the media that I must thank because they helped me get started during 2008, 2009 and 2010:  Timothy Renshaw, Nelson Bennett and Joe MacKay at Business in Vancouver, Grant Warkentin, formerly with the Campbell River Mirror, Dan MacLennan at the Courier Islander, Theresa Bird, formerly with the North Island Gazette, Tom Fletcher at Black Press, Charlie Smith at The Straight, Jon Ferry at The Province, Kevin Libin at The National Post and Margaret Wente at the Globe and Mail.

A very special thanks to everyone at CBC and Radio-Canada who have had me on their show: Brent Bambury, Rosemary Barton, Mark Kelley and the teams at As It Happens and Phare-Ouest. (I sure hope I didn't forget anybody!). Many people told me that CBC wouldn't give me a fair hearing. I never doubted that CBC would prove them wrong.

In particular, I would like to thank Terence Corcoran, the editor of The Financial Post, who published my articles when no one else would.  Please join me in thanking The Financial Post/The National Post for the space that they have provided. My articles are posted there (The Girl Who Played With Tax Data). I am hoping that I will get to add a few more pieces to that series.

Last but not least by any means, thank you to everyone who has taken time to visit this blog or follow me on Twitter (@FairQuestions). Whether we agree or not, a big thanks to everyone who shared thoughts and ideas.

In closing, I would like to leave you with.... you guessed it, a series of questions.  As readers of this blog will know, I have tried to look at the science and the money behind campaigns against two important Canadian industries: salmon farming in B.C. and the oil industry in Alberta.  Its time to go beyond the funding and have a constructive conversation about the future of the environment movement and eco-activism in Canada. Where do we want to be 10 years from now? What are the priority environmental problems that need to be addressed?  What is the role of the various conservation strategies such as parks & protected areas, market intervention, regulation & enforcement, etc.  How should environmental activism be funded if not by billion-dollar, American foundations? Maybe we need a meeting about the future of the environmental movement and eco-activism in Canada.  Just a thought...

I'll be in Inuvik next week where I'm invited to speak at the Inuvik Petroleum Show. I have one more post, maybe two, that I'll put up when I'm back from Inuvik. After that, who knows.... maybe I'll be back some day with 'fair questions' about a whole 'nother topic....

Have a great summer everybody!

Sincerely,

Vivian

Comments

[Teah]

Thank you for your endeavours in bringing the truth to the Canadian public - you've made a difference that I believe has and will continue to assist in providing a new path for future positive change for Canadians!

[Sally G]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! The world needs people like you will fight the fight, talk about the FACTS - not interpretation of facts, and be willing to be bullied by those who don't like to hear the message. You are in inspiration to us all in a fight for a better informed and a balanced world. It is a shame you have to give up the fight for now because there is no money in it - and I am sure we all understand the need to be able to live!

It is sad that the organisations you expose with the raw truth would have misconstrued any payment you received as 'bribery' and 'buying your words' - while they continue to do exactly that!

Thank you for fighting the fight - you have achieved enormous success in 3 short years and I think Canada is a better informed place for it. I hope you will still have the opportunity to speak out to people even as you find full time work - your message is one everyone needs to hear - you can't argue with the facts!

[Anne Riegen]

Thanks Vivian, for your tireless work. You have made a difference, and put the gears in motion to make a different down the road.

Cheers,

Anne R.

[Greg Renouf]

Thank you for all of your hard work Vivian. You have been an inspiration to me, and to my work trying to expose these people. Today is a big loss for the truth...

[annon987]

Great Work. New topic could be the impact of Human Potential Movement workshops on governments in BC & Canada and environmentalism - include discussion on charity status of Hollyhock and Haven Inst. How much has our government spent sending employees and political leaders to these types of workshops see studies by Dr. Margaret Singer.

[Margie]

I just recently found your site while looking for both sides of the story about the salmon farming industry. It is equally difficult to find the 'other' side of the story about the oil industry in Alberta. (Fortunately I know a bit about the oil industry, as my husband has worked in it for over 40 years.)
I appreciate all the work you have done to research and thoughtfully document all the things you have found. I'll be coming back here regularly to read your archives!

[Catherine Bayne]

Thank you, Those of us fighting the Industrial Windfarm scam have thought of you as an ally for putting Suzuki under a microscope.

We will watch for you to reappear like a superhero from time to time when fair questions need to be asked about foul deeds.

[Karen S]

Thank you so much for placing the needs of Canada at the forefront of your efforts for so many years. I am sure there was a profound impact on your family and friendships. It is disappointing that there are so few individuals who care enough to speak out as you have, and to speak out intelligently. There is an old saying, "Don't confuse the issue with facts....". Seems that is the lifeblood of so many movements that operate under the guise of environmental sustainability. The often stated comeback to exposing self-interest groups/companies is "Oh, so you think this is a conspiracy? I don't believe in conspiracy theories...". Hmm, how about good old economics 201 or Finance 201. Not a conpiracy, just the great industrial revolution moving forward to create more financial resources for fewer and fewer. Pretty basic, money talks and the general population always has been and always will be gullible and naive. A strong leader is not necessarily working in the best interests of the people (or the environment). eg. Hitler, Napoleon. Anyway, I digress. You have put in so many hours and achieved incredible results. I hope you are proud of the work you have done! Thank you so much!!!