Last month, Mary Polak said she was "perplexed" about an accusation that her ministry has stopped responding to recommendations made by the government's independent child protection watchdog.
But, according to records exclusively obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request, the watchdog privately raised that issue with the children and family development minister's top bureaucrat two months before going public with it.
In a letter sent to the bureaucrat on Nov. 26, 2009, children and youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond wrote, "I have yet to receive a formal ministry response and summary of actions regarding the recommendations in RCY reports since 2007."
The representative then advised Polak's deputy she would be publicly reporting on that issue when she next met with MLAs belonging to the legislature's select standing committee on children and youth.
Nine days later, the deputy - Lesley du Toit - sent this response: "I am pleased to know that you will be reporting to the Standing Committee. This is indeed the group to whom you are meant to report and I am uncertain as to why you would need to notify me of your intent."
So why was Polak "perplexed" when the representative did just that on Jan. 27, 2010?
Speaking with Public Eye, the minister stated she knew about du Toit and Turpel-Lafond's letters.
But, after having a breakfast meeting with the representative on Nov. 23, 2009, Polak said she came away with the impression Turpel-Lafond "felt things had significantly improved in terms of sharing information since I had become minister."
"She left me no reason to believe that that reporting of hers [to the committee] would be as negative or that she would be saying what she did. She left me no reason to be believe that," added Polak.
As for whether her ministry hasn't been responding to recommendations in the representative's reports, Polak said she would need to look into the issue.
Although she added there "tends to be a splitting of hairs over what is a formal report or response and what isn't. And, secondly, there are times when - quite frankly - (Turpel-Lafond's) been wrong."
A government spokesperson later emailed Public Eye to say the ministry has formally responded to all but three of the representative's reports.
And, according to Polak, the ministry will be responding to two of those reports now that Turpel-Lafond has presented them to the standing committee.
Turpel-Lafond's office declined to directly respond to the government's version of events.
But, in a prepared statement, the representative said, "People told me this job wouldn't be easy, but bringing public accountability and improved performance to the ministry is the purpose of my office."
"If I take 'no' for an answer, how will that help British Columbians understand if the system is working right for kids?"
You reap what you paint
The Vancouver Fire Department is removing an "inappropriate" mural installed inside the Downtown Eastside's fire hall following an inquiry by Public Eye.
The large mural, which was put up by the firefighters, shows the Grim Reaper carrying a scythe with the words "The Skids" on its blade, which ends in a dripping hypodermic needle.
"It's not the end of the world but we can see it from here," reads the caption underneath the mural, which can be seen from the street.
It's a message at odds with the provincial government and the City of Vancouver's efforts to revitalize the Downtown Eastside and showcase government programs that have been launched to address homeless issues in that neighborhood.
When contacted about the mural last week, fire department spokesperson Steve Laleune said it has "been there so long that we even forget it's there" - later referring to it as being "like part of the furniture."
But Laleune acknowledged, "It's probably something we need to deal with today."
An hour later he phoned back with news the mural had been covered and a work order would be submitted to remove it.
"It's inappropriate. It doesn't represent the Downtown Eastside at all," he stated.
Laleune said the mural was among several that were painted at some city's fire halls 15-years ago to illustrate their then-nicknames - in this case, "The Skids."
At the time, the spokesperson continued, that mural - which wasn't part of a department-approved program - "was maybe acceptable."
"It's a bit of black humour is what it was," Laleune explained, adding, "It's a badge of honour to be down here and work this area - they are one of the busiest halls."
That being said, though, "it definitely is not acceptable from the city's standpoint now. And my chief went a little red in the face" when he found about Public Eye's call.
"The whole area has changed dramatically in the last two or three years since we've been working with people rather than against them," he continued, adding the fire halls now have different city-designated names.
Locals get global advice
Just a month after leaving the civil service, the premier's former deputy minister will again be working for the province's taxpayers, Public Eye has learned.
According to a notice of intent quietly posted on the government's procurement Website, PavCo will be directly awarding HB Global Advisors Corp. - Jessica McDonald's new employer - a three month contract worth up to $45,000.
Under that contract, HB will to advise the Crown corporation - which is responsible for running BC Place and The Vancouver Convention Centre - "of properties and lands that may be consolidated into its portfolio for current and future use of its operations."
In an email, the corporation's chief financial officer John Harding confirmed McDonald is part of the HB Global Advisors team that will be working on that contract.
However, he noted PavCo has been using Heenan Blaikie LLP as a corporate services advisor "for many years." HB Global Advisors is Heenan Blaikie's consulting arm.
The corporation's notice of intent states PavCo didn't publicly tender that contract because: "the contractor has extensive technical and business experience in negotiations for land usage, valuations, leases, transfers, and purchases, and also of environmental and planning regulations."
Earlier, we reported McDonald received an undisclosed transition agreement which saw the government pay for her be trained in Ontario as a corporate director - spending more than $10,000 for around seven days of courses.
Sean Holman is editor of the online provincial political news journal Public Eye (publiceyeonline.com). He can be reached at [email protected].
