Surrey police board ousts Chief Norm Lipinski as head of force!

Now our former Police Chief

I hear people saying Surrey is the wild wild west.  The gang shootings and extortion have escalated.  The City of Vancouver is smaller in area and has just a few more people than Surrey.  Vancouver has 1,452 sworn police officers.  Surrey has 685 sworn police officers.  We have no dog squad, no gang squad and no helicopters.  Our city is not safe and it's because we were forced with a police force with no business plan and a Police Chief who kept on lying to the mayor!  Let's hope this mess gets fixed.

Here is the press release from the Province of BC stating the Surrey Police Service will make Surrey safer:

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023PSSG0060-001173

This is from the Vancouver Sun:

Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski has until Thursday at 4 p.m. to resign or be terminated without cause from his position, Postmedia has learned.

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Lipinski was placed on leave following a meeting on Monday morning with the Surrey police board. He turned in his badge and left police headquarters, according to a source who did not want to be identified because they are not authorized to speak on the matter.

Members of the police board were not available to comment and it is not clear why Lipinski is being forced out. Postmedia was also unable to confirm how much money Lipinski could receive as compensation if he resigns or is terminated.

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Lipinski has been the first chief of the new municipal force since 2020.

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Surrey Police also wouldn’t comment, stating that was up to the police board as the employer of the chief.

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“It’s not for SPS to comment on,” Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said.

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The former chief has over 45 years of experience in policing. Prior to joining the SPS, Lipinski served in several senior roles, including as a deputy chief of the Delta Police Department, as a deputy chief of the Edmonton Police Service, and as an assistant commissioner of the RCMP.

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SPS was started by former mayor Doug McCallum and opposed by current Mayor Brenda Locke.

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Locke ran and won on a campaign to stop the policing transition away from the RCMP to a municipal force. However, the city was forced to continue the transition by the province. Locke took the province to court, but ultimately lost the case after the courts dismissed her petition for a judicial review in 2024.

The BC Conservatives have a new leader

The BC Conservatives have just elected Kerry‑Lynne Findlay as leader, and I’m proud to say I voted for her. If Caroline Elliott had won, I would have respected that too — we live in a democracy, and the majority decides. We’ve had dinner with Kerry and her husband, Brent Chapman, several times, and I’ve always known her to be thoughtful, steady, and respectful. Brent is recovering from cancer. He's had a difficult few months. They are a lovely couple.

Twelve years ago, Brent posted something racist on social media. It resurfaced when he ran for provincial office. It wasn’t right — and he has acknowledged that. But it was also a long time ago. People grow. People learn. What matters is what they do after the mistake.

I watched every leadership debate. Kerry acknowledged that one of the candidates was married to an indigenous woman and it could be a conflict of interest in the debate of DRIPA. Not once did I hear Kerry say anything racist or hateful. That’s why I’m shocked to see such vicious comments online. The internet can bring out the worst in people.

As for Brent’s past remarks about Muslims, he and Kerry have since met with Muslim groups and worked to repair the harm. That matters. Owning a mistake and taking action to make things better matters.

My hope now is simple: that Kerry‑Lynne can bring the party together.  She has real experience unifying people — she did it as Conservative Whip in Ottawa — and I believe she can unite the party here in BC.

Open House at Bayview

In January, my brother-in-law moved to Bayview Seniors Center, a brand new facility for Dementia patients.  It's in White Rock one block away from City Hall.  It has a beautiful view of the water from the third floor.  Yesterday they had an open house.  

A nice gift for everyone who visited.  

Very nice music 

The food was amazing! One chef I met worked on cruise ships!

Nice bar!   I had a red wine and it was very good. 

We are very happy with the care he is receiving.  The staff is wonderful and caring.  Richard is very happy.

Cruising out of the Port of Vancouver?

Anyone going on a cruise from Canada Place, this is a wonderful option.  I have friends who live in Langley and stay downtown the night before a cruise.  I have never done this but I can see the advantage.  My cousin and his wife left on a cruise on the day of the Vancouver Marathon!  Not a good day to get downtown.  

Alberta, what's up?

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith isn’t leaving Canada, and she hasn’t said she wants to — but she has added a question to the October 2026 ballot asking Albertans whether the province should begin exploring a path toward a future separation vote. This doesn’t separate Alberta; it simply measures public sentiment after a court struck down a citizen‑led petition for failing to consult First Nations. Other leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby, have warned the move could create uncertainty, but for now nothing changes — Alberta remains fully part of Canada, and any next steps would require more consultations, more court rulings, and more votes.

The Economic Reality of Separatism: What a Professional Investor Sees That Danielle Smith and Separatists Ignore

The following is based on an interview with a professional investor who has 35 years of market experience, a CSC designation, and a direct line to a VP at one of the world's largest oil companies.  Where statements reflect her personal analysis, opinion, or forecast, that is indicated.

The Quebec Precedent: 700 Companies Fled and Real Estate Collapsed

My source was in Ottawa during the 1995 Quebec referendum.  She traveled into Quebec and saw the devastation firsthand.  House fires sale signs covered every block. Businesses displayed closed or closing out sale signs.  Her subsequent research confirmed what she witnessed.

The economic impact was severe and documented.  Some 700 companies left Quebec to relocate to other Canadian provinces during the period of separatist threat.  The uncertainty caused bond yields to spike, stock markets to suffer, and business investment to freeze.  Property values in Quebec were depressed.  Capital fled until reined in by high interest rates. The financial system's solvency was severely tested.

The recovery took years. Quebec passed a Balanced Budget Act in 1996 specifically to strengthen its financial credibility after the crisis.  The province's demographic weight within Canada dropped from 24.6 percent to 21.9 percent over the following decades.

My source's warning is direct.  In her personal opinion, Alberta cannot waste 12 years recovering from a mess that was entirely self-inflicted.

Alberta's Oil Reserves: 50 Years and Counting Down

Alberta holds approximately 158.9 billion barrels of proven oil sands reserves, the fourth-largest in the world.  At current production rates, this represents roughly 50 years of supply.   The Alberta Energy Regulator confirms these figures.

However, this assumes sustained prices and demand.  In her personal opinion, if global markets shift, those reserves become stranded assets.  She notes that many countries are already exploring alternative fuels at a scale that is literally mind blowing.

The Currency Problem: What Separation Actually Requires

If Alberta separates, it would need its own currency.  In her personal opinion, that currency would likely be tied to a commodity such as oil.  But as global energy transition accelerates, that currency would have no backing.  Her analysis is clear.  Alberta would be left with oil it cannot sell, resources the world no longer wants, and an economy built on a product with an expiration date.

The Leadership Vacuum: Why Alberta Needs Direction Now

My source's core concern is leadership.  In her personal opinion, Alberta needs extremely strong leadership in the next two decades to guide the province away from fossil fuels.  It will not be easy. But it has to be done.

Instead, in her personal opinion Danielle Smith is cutting corporate taxes to benefit oil companies, promoting separatism to extract concessions, and making Alberta vulnerable to exactly the economic collapse witnessed in Quebec.  She is not planning for the future. She is cashing out the present for the benefit of her oil industry backers.

The Cheating Claim: How the Referendum Is Rigged

My source believes the separatists are cheating.  The referendum question is a trap.  The approved question asks whether Alberta should remain a province or commence a legal process to hold another referendum later.  This is not a direct vote on separation. It is a vote on whether to have a vote, framed as a choice between staying and leaving.

Jeff Rath, legal counsel for the separatist group Stay Free Alberta, called it exactly what it is. "Danielle Smith deals a referendum question from the bottom of the deck."  Over 300,000 Albertans signed a petition for a direct vote on separation and were promised that vote.  Smith replaced it with a referendum on having a referendum.

Conclusion: Cheaters Cannot Win

My source says she rarely posts.  She is not a political partisan.  She is a professional investor who has seen what separation does to real people, real homes, and real portfolios. She knows the math.  She knows the markets.  In her personal opinion, if Alberta separates, ties its currency to oil, and fusion or alternative fuels render that oil obsolete, the province will have nothing.

She is warning me not to tell people to skip this vote.  But the question is rigged.  Yes means you want to stay and start leaving at the same time. No means you do not want to stay.  There is no way to vote that says "I want Alberta to remain in Canada."  Every answer serves Smith's agenda.

Still, she knows that if people who want to stay just stay home, they may repeat the Brexit mistake.

Dirty politics

 

When False Narratives Collide With Real Leadership: Why This Moment Matters

Anyone who knows me knows I’ve been deeply frustrated with our NDP provincial government for quite some time. The list is long, but two issues in particular still sit heavy with me.

The first is the way they changed legislation to force the policing transition on Surrey. We’re all living with the consequences of that decision, and none of it feels like good governance. The second is the ongoing tension between DRIPA and private property rights — another policy area where the government’s approach has created confusion, conflict, and uncertainty for everyday British Columbians.

For the first time in my life, these concerns pushed me to do something I never expected: I joined a political party.

Why I Chose to Support Kerry-Lynne Findlay

Kerry-Lynne Findlay is running for leader of the BC Conservatives, and I’ve supported her because I believe she brings experience, steadiness, and integrity to a moment when our province desperately needs all three. I want a leader who understands the law, respects democratic processes, and doesn’t bulldoze communities with top‑down decisions.

That’s why Friday’s article by journalist Rob Shaw hit me like a punch to the gut.

Rob Shaw reported that Kerry-Lynne was being investigated by Elections Canada over an allegation from the last federal election. Yet according to Kerry-Lynne, she has never been informed of any such investigation. Rob Shaw is a BC Legislative journalist who writes for Glacier Media and reports on CHEK-TV. I know it was published by him, but I don't know if it was ever reported on television on any Canadian network.

As always, readers should confirm political reporting with trusted, reputable sources. But the timing and tone of this story raise questions that deserve scrutiny.

Leadership Should Be Earned — Not Undermined

The results of the BC Conservative leadership race will be announced at 4 p.m. on May 30. I will support whoever the party elects — that’s how democracy works, and I respect the process.

But I can’t pretend I’m not worried.

False or misleading reporting, especially so close to a leadership vote, has the power to distort outcomes, damage reputations, and mislead voters. It’s not just unfair to the candidate — it’s unfair to every member who wants to make an informed choice.

I’m disgusted by the idea that a leadership race could be influenced by unverified allegations or political sabotage. British Columbians deserve better than that. We deserve campaigns built on ideas, not innuendo.

What This Moment Says About Our Politics

This isn’t just about one article or one candidate. It’s about the health of our political culture.

When governments rewrite laws to force outcomes, when media narratives overshadow facts, and when internal party rivalries spill into public smear campaigns, people lose trust. And once trust is gone, it’s incredibly hard to rebuild.

I joined a political party because I want to be part of that rebuilding. I want leaders who rise above cheap shots and focus on the real issues affecting families, communities, and the future of our province.

Whatever happens on May 30, I hope the truth cuts through the noise — and that integrity wins out over manipulation.

What' s been happening with our food!

I always read ingredients before I buy food.  I try to keep away from all trans fats, salt and additives.  I saw this on Facebook!  Bagels with fake blueberries!   Blueberries are my favorite fruit.  We have four blueberry trees in our garden.  These are for sale at Costco.  I have not seen them, but I don't walk through the bakery department as it's too tempting.

This was posted on Facebook from a patient who is at Langley Memorial hospital:

Yesterday I had a conversation with a doctor at the hospital that has been workong for an extremely long time. We had a great conversation about the food here and she basically reiterated to me a lot of the things I have been saying about taking the food here and returning to cooking whole foods.

I've also heard it from several nurses, some who are now retired.

Essentially patients were healing and exiting the hospital system quicker when they were being fed a proper nutritious meal.

This flying in frozen food and utilizing processed foods to fill the gaps doesn't do anything to speed up the healing process, in fact it slows it down tremendously.

Sadly a huge chunk of our supermarkets are set up the same way.

A prime example is Costco recently introduced blueberry bagels with fake blueberries.

The way I like to explain how bad our food has become is to look at Superstore. Theu have a bunch of food aisle to walk up and down. Eventually you end up in the health food aisles. If there is a health food aisle, what's the food in the other aisles?

It's typically processed food filled with chemicals produced by companies with a profit first model. When you start to analyze who owns these companies it's typically cigarette manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies.

They have been slowly buying up the food companies, and when they do the ingredients start to change.

It's slowly making us all sicker and sicker

I know first hand how sick it makes you. I used to weighed 382lbs, and when I lost weight and dropped down to around 200lbs I felt like I was reborn. I felt 25 years younger, my brain felt 25 years younger and I started doing things better than I was even doing 25 years earlier.

Part of the reason I ended up in the hospital is, I ran short on cash and wasn't able to eat properly. My body started to slide into a deficit really quickly.

I feel like most of you reading this are also becoming aware of how bad our food is now.

Somehow we need to go back to either growing our own foods as a community, or focusing our support to local organic farmers and ranchers who do more of a traditional way of hearding animals.

It wasn't that long ago we did this.

In the meanwhile I'm still working on getting the food system at the hospital fixed.

Ain't nothing gonna stop me