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| '''Erik Bornman''' (b. ]) is a former consultant founding partner of Pilothouse Public Affairs and a current articling student |
'''Erik Bornman''' (b. ]) is a former consultant founding partner of Pilothouse Public Affairs and a current articling student. His political involvement began as a teenager in high school and continued throughout his university years, having been a former President of the ] (British Columbia) as well as holding executive posts with the Liberal Party of Canada in BC. He holds a B.Comm. degree from the University of Victoria and a LL.B. from University of British Columbia. | ||
| ==Young Liberals== | ==Young Liberals== | ||
Revision as of 00:50, 23 March 2006
Erik Bornman (b. 1976) is a former consultant founding partner of Pilothouse Public Affairs and a current articling student. His political involvement began as a teenager in high school and continued throughout his university years, having been a former President of the Young Liberals of Canada (British Columbia) as well as holding executive posts with the Liberal Party of Canada in BC. He holds a B.Comm. degree from the University of Victoria and a LL.B. from University of British Columbia.
Young Liberals
As a former President of the Young Liberals in BC, Erik Bornman helped build that organisation to eventually become one of the strongest voices in the Liberal Party of Canada. Though there have often been competing views and competing personalities as is apt to occur in the political sphere, one thing is certain: Bornman worked hard to ensure young liberals had their voices heard loud and clear and helped build the organisation into the political force it is today.
As an advocate of the "University Model Parliament", in 1999 Bornman commented to Simon Fraser University's student newspaper:
" offers students the opportunity to gain a better understanding of their political affiliations." By interacting with students from their own and other parties, it allows them to gain a clearer picture of Canada's current political arena. He also said that the experience offers him a chance to "get (my) fix as a political junkie."
As a young person, Bornman helped build Pilothouse Public Affairs into a strong government relations firm. In December of 2004, Bornman's name was raised by the media and RCMP in relation to a legislative investigation involving former government aides David Basi and Bob Virk. Bornman was later cleared by the RCMP.
Political Consultant
Bornman was a founding partner with Pilothouse Public Affairs, a respected government relations firm based in Victoria, BC. Pilothouse had a large client base, though media scrutiny came through their role as registered provincial lobbyists for OmniTRAX, the US-based rail company that was bidding for the billion dollar BC Rail deal against eventual winner CN Rail and CP Rail. Although there were allegation of breach of fairness, it is important to note that OmniTRAX were not the successful winners in the tendering process for BC Rail. A second tender was abandoned by the goverment to ensure the integrity of the tendering process not be diluted by possible information leaks or a perception of unfairness. It is still not clear if Mr. Bornman had any role or knowledge regarding the alleged leaks of information.
RCMP Investigation
On December 28, 2003 police executed search warrants at the BC Legislature and the homes and offices of prominent Liberals in connection with an investigation into drug dealing, organized crime, and the BC Rail privatization deal. Several high ranking provincial and federal Liberal Party supporters were served. The principles include David Basi, ministerial assistant to Finance Minister Gary Collins, and Bob Virk, ministerial assistant to thentransportation minister Judith Reid.
Four other search warrants were also executed: at Basi's home; at Bornman's home office; at the Victoria office of Pilothouse Public Affairs, the firm owned by Bornman and former Province newspaper columnist Brian Kieran; and at the home office of Bruce Clark, another federal B.C. Liberal executive member and brother to deputy premier Christy Clark.
The search-warrant "information to obtain" or ITO released by police in September, 2004 claim that Bornman offered provincial ministerial aides Dave Basi and Bob Virk a benefit of assistance with finding jobs with the federal Liberal government in exchange for obtaining confidential information about the BC Rail deals. This has never been confirmed and RCMP have cleared Bornman from the case, though Basi and Virk face multiple charges of fraud, bribery and influence-peddling. Basi also faces separate charges of production and possession of drugs for the purposes of trafficking.
It is claimed that Basi and Virk had given Bornman résumés with "flaws and fabrications" regarding their academic records , and these were forwarded them to Mark Marissen, who sent them on to the prime minister's office unaware they were inaccurate. This allegation has never been proven, nor if this is the case is it proven whether Bornman was aware that there were errors or misrepresentations in the résumés given to him.
Current whereabouts
Recently, Bornman was hired as an articling student at Canada's largest law firm, McCarthy Tétrault (Toronto).