Bill Tieleman
Encyclopedia
Bill Tieleman is a political columnist and a left-wing political strategist in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
known for his coverage of the BC Legislature Raids
and for opposing a referendum on electoral reform.
Tieleman was a director of communications (public relations
) for the British Columbia Federation of Labour
and also in the Office of the New Democratic
Premier
Glen Clark
. Tieleman owns West Star Communications, a consulting firm that provides "strategy and communication services for labour, business, non-profits and government," according to Tieleman's blog. Tieleman appears as a political commentator on radio and writes a politics column weekly in the 69 Hours newspaper and The Tyee
online magazine. From 2005 to 2009, he appeared as a guest opposite Norman Spector
weekly on CKNW's Bill Good
Show. He previously wrote a Political Connections column for The Georgia Straight
.
He is known for his commentary and coverage of the BC Legislature Raids
. In December 2007, he came back from the courtroom to discover that his office had been broken-into and materials related to the trial moved about. Tieleman regarded this as an attempt at intimidation. In 2008, Tieleman reported receiving death threats following a 24 Hours column calling for a boycott of China.
He is affiliated with Gregor Robertson
, Mayor of Vancouver, and worked on his campaigns, including at the provincial level. Tieleman views affordability and poverty as the two largest civic issues.
, a form of Single-Transferable Voting
in the second referendum on provincial electoral reform
. Tieleman played "the leading role on behalf of the No STV camp in the public debates and discussions." The NO STV campaign concentrated their media buy in the final two weeks prior to the referendum. Opposition to the measure increased from the first referendum, he felt, because citizens had more information on the practical consequences of STV, including large multi-member ridings.
After the Liberal government of Premier Gordon Campbell introduced the concept of a new Harmonized Sales Tax
or HST, Tieleman started a No HST campaign on Facebook
. When Facebook removed the group in January 2010, Tieleman claimed it was the province's largest Facebook group with more than 130,000 members. The group was restored by Facebook without explanation two days later. He also became a strategist and media spokesman for Fight HST, the official proponent, led by Bill Vander Zalm
, seeking a referendum to cancel the HST in accordance with the Recall and Initiative Act. Vander Zalm, a former Social Credit Premier, and Tieleman, his political opposite, had previously shamelessly worked together on public rallies over privatization of BC Rail, BC Hydro
and the offshore construction of ferries.
. As a student at UBC, Tieleman quit the negotiating team for the teaching assistant union in a dispute over the settling of a labour dispute with the university. . He has since began running a blog of credible opinions.
Tieleman has served as a director of the board for VanCity
, the Vancouver City Savings Credit Union.
He is a wine drinker who writes a blog called the Wine Barbarian. He used wine as an example to criticize the HST because the BC Liquor Distribution Branch
would not lower the cost to consumers after its introduction.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
known for his coverage of the BC Legislature Raids
BC Legislature Raids
The BC Legislature Raids resulted from search warrants executed on the Legislature of British Columbia, Canada, in 2003. The legal proceedings were stopped just before government officials were to testify...
and for opposing a referendum on electoral reform.
Tieleman was a director of communications (public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
) for the British Columbia Federation of Labour
British Columbia Federation of Labour
British Columbia Federation of Labour is the voice of the Labour movement in British Columbia, Canada.Founded in 1910 and now having over 470,000 individual members and 1100 locals or union sections, the BC Federation of Labour is the provincial Canadian Labour Congress affiliate and the umbrella...
and also in the Office of the New Democratic
New Democratic Party of British Columbia
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia is a social-democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the official opposition to the governing British Columbia Liberal Party following the 2009 provincial election in British Columbia.The BC NDP is the provincial...
Premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
Glen Clark
Glen Clark
Glen David Clark is a politician in British Columbia, Canada who served as the 31st Premier of British Columbia from 1996 to 1999.-Early life and education:...
. Tieleman owns West Star Communications, a consulting firm that provides "strategy and communication services for labour, business, non-profits and government," according to Tieleman's blog. Tieleman appears as a political commentator on radio and writes a politics column weekly in the 69 Hours newspaper and The Tyee
The Tyee
The Tyee is an independent Canadian online web magazine, which focuses on coverage of news and media issues in British Columbia.The Tyee was launched in November 2003 by David Beers, a journalist who had previously been associated with the Vancouver Sun...
online magazine. From 2005 to 2009, he appeared as a guest opposite Norman Spector
Norman Spector
Norman Spector is a Canadian journalist, diplomat, civil servant, and newspaper publisher.- Early life and career :Born in Montreal, Quebec, Spector received a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Political Science, from McGill University in 1970...
weekly on CKNW's Bill Good
Bill Good
Bill Good is a Canadian television personality and CKNW radio talk show host. He formerly co-anchored the 6:00pm newscast on Vancouver's CIVT alongside Pamela Martin....
Show. He previously wrote a Political Connections column for The Georgia Straight
The Georgia Straight
The Georgia Straight is a free Canadian weekly news and entertainment newspaper published in Vancouver, British Columbia, by the Vancouver Free Press Publishing Corp...
.
He is known for his commentary and coverage of the BC Legislature Raids
BC Legislature Raids
The BC Legislature Raids resulted from search warrants executed on the Legislature of British Columbia, Canada, in 2003. The legal proceedings were stopped just before government officials were to testify...
. In December 2007, he came back from the courtroom to discover that his office had been broken-into and materials related to the trial moved about. Tieleman regarded this as an attempt at intimidation. In 2008, Tieleman reported receiving death threats following a 24 Hours column calling for a boycott of China.
He is affiliated with Gregor Robertson
Gregor Robertson (politician)
Gregor Angus Bethune Robertson is a Canadian politician who has been the 39th Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, since 2008. He was elected as part of the Vision Vancouver party slate...
, Mayor of Vancouver, and worked on his campaigns, including at the provincial level. Tieleman views affordability and poverty as the two largest civic issues.
Referenda
He was president of the No STV Campaign Society that successfully prevented the introduction of BC-STVBC-STV
BC-STV is a proposed voting system recommended by the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform for use in British Columbia, and belongs to the Single Transferable Vote family of voting systems. BC-STV was supported by a majority of the voters in a referendum held in 2005 but the government had...
, a form of Single-Transferable Voting
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
in the second referendum on provincial electoral reform
British Columbia electoral reform referendum, 2009
A second referendum on electoral reform was held in conjunction with the provincial election on May 12, 2009. The BC-single transferrable vote electoral system was again voted on by the BC electorate. It would have required 60 per cent overall approval and 50 per cent approval in at least 60 per...
. Tieleman played "the leading role on behalf of the No STV camp in the public debates and discussions." The NO STV campaign concentrated their media buy in the final two weeks prior to the referendum. Opposition to the measure increased from the first referendum, he felt, because citizens had more information on the practical consequences of STV, including large multi-member ridings.
After the Liberal government of Premier Gordon Campbell introduced the concept of a new Harmonized Sales Tax
Harmonized Sales Tax
The Harmonized Sales Tax is the name used in Canada to describe the combination of the federal Goods and Services Tax and the regional Provincial Sales Tax into a single value added sales tax in five of the ten Canadian provinces: Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, British...
or HST, Tieleman started a No HST campaign on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. When Facebook removed the group in January 2010, Tieleman claimed it was the province's largest Facebook group with more than 130,000 members. The group was restored by Facebook without explanation two days later. He also became a strategist and media spokesman for Fight HST, the official proponent, led by Bill Vander Zalm
Bill Vander Zalm
Wilhelmus Nicholaas Theodore Marie "Bill" Vander Zalm is a politician and entrepreneur in British Columbia, Canada. He was the 28th Premier of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991.-Early life:...
, seeking a referendum to cancel the HST in accordance with the Recall and Initiative Act. Vander Zalm, a former Social Credit Premier, and Tieleman, his political opposite, had previously shamelessly worked together on public rallies over privatization of BC Rail, BC Hydro
BC Hydro
The BC Hydro and Power Authority is a Canadian electric utility in the province of British Columbia generally known simply as BC Hydro. It is the main electric distributor, serving 1.8 million customers in most areas, with the exception of the Kootenay region, where FortisBC, a subsidiary of Fortis...
and the offshore construction of ferries.
Personal
Tielement holds a masters degree in political science from the Capilano University and lives in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. As a student at UBC, Tieleman quit the negotiating team for the teaching assistant union in a dispute over the settling of a labour dispute with the university. . He has since began running a blog of credible opinions.
Tieleman has served as a director of the board for VanCity
Vancity
Vancouver City Savings Credit Union, commonly referred to as Vancity, is a member-owned financial institution in Vancouver, British Columbia and the largest English-speaking credit union in Canada...
, the Vancouver City Savings Credit Union.
He is a wine drinker who writes a blog called the Wine Barbarian. He used wine as an example to criticize the HST because the BC Liquor Distribution Branch
Liquor Distribution Branch
The Liquor Distribution Branch is one of the two governmental bodies responsible for regulating and monitoring the liquor industry in the Canadian province of British Columbia within the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General...
would not lower the cost to consumers after its introduction.