Leaked info ahead of the Accord

Rod Mickleburgh (Labour Reporter) [00:00:00] You know this, as a, as a reporter, you know. Are you sworn to secrecy or not? Do you betray your sources? But you know, I had a talk with Jack Munro on the Friday before the weekend, that and then the Ferry Workers would be out on the Monday. And he kind of told me what, that there was an arrangement worked out and the deal was that if the BCGEU settled, he’d go to Kelowna. And so I was sitting on this information. I think it was on the Friday that I… And he said, “Oh you know, the money will stay in the education system, there’ll be some consultation.” And this kind of thing. But this is my analysis of it, and I think there’s evidence of it. So that seemed to be settled, and it looked like the whole thing was going to be wound up.

 [00:00:50] But on the Saturday, the Vancouver Sun ran a line story, I think it was by Terry Glavin, that quoted and had a copy of Operation Solidarity demand, demands of the government. And saying the secret negotiations on these demands, this is what they’re demanding. And the cat got in among the pigeons when that story ran, because no one in the Social Credit knew about these secret negotiations either, and cabinet ministers were furious. And Bill Bennett, the phone was ringing off the hook. “Bill Bennett, what, you’re negotiating with these law breakers and illegal…?” Like, you know, “What, what are you doing? These rabble rousers, you’re negotiating with them? You shouldn’t give them the time of day.”

 [00:01:40] And I think that stiffened Bennett’s resolve.