The Crown corporation responsible for the province's transmission lines is hiring a consultant with a background in Russian energy policy and the democratization of post-Soviet countries to analyze California's power planning initiatives, directly awarding her a contract worth up to $80,000.
Under the government's procurement guidelines, contracts worth $25,000 or more must be put through a competitive bidding process unless certain conditions are met - such as only one contractor being qualified to do that work.
But a British Columbia Transmission Corp. spokesperson told Public Eye those guidelines don't apply to Crown corporations and that Olga Beznosova is being given that contract because of her academic credentials and her previous work for BCTC.
According to her LinedIn profile, Beznosova has a master's degree in public policy and management from the University of Pittsburgh and is working on a doctorate in political science at the University of British Columbia. Her specialty: "Russian energy policy, politics of authoritarian states, and democratic transitions."
Beznosova also states on her personal Website she has produced reports on "human rights policies, globalization and security issues related to the Roma minority in Hungary and other eastern European countries, " as well as having contributed to a research proposal on the "taxonomy of terrorists groups."
In September 2006, the transmission corporation hired her as a part-time consultant in "strategic planning, corporate performance measurement and energy policy."
Before that, Beznosova - who has an undergraduate degree in physics - worked for six months as a researcher for NATO's parliamentary assembly and for five months doing a similar job for Women Waging Peace, a network that connects female peacemakers around the world.
Now she's been tasked with analyzing California's electricity and transmission planning initiatives for BCTC, as well as state legislative and regulatory activities.
A corporation spokesperson has labeled that work, which will also include reviewing industry publications and corporate strategic planning, as "standard business activity."
But it comes at a time when the corporation and the Campbell administration are angling to sell clean energy to The Golden State, with the government announcing in its February 2010 throne speech that it would "seek major transmission upgrades with utilities in California and elsewhere."
The transmission corporation has stated in a notice posted on the government's procurement Website it's directly awarding the work to Beznosova because of her credentials, as well as her experience with BCTC's "unique business model," "strategic planning process" and "performance measurement program."
The contract will last up to 12 months and is "intended to complete work currently underway before a full-time policy analyst can be retained."
When pressed about why the corporation wasn't soliciting other bids for that work, a spokesperson stated Beznosova's combination of experience and qualifications allows her to "quickly step in" to the job.
Limited time offer?
Paragon Gaming Inc. might not have much time left if it wants to meet a commitment to develop a new charitable bingo facility for Vancouver's Community Gaming Management Association.
That commitment dates back to 2003 when businessmen Gary Jackson and Len Libin were trying to win city council approval for the Edgewater Casino - a temporary casino at the Plaza of Nation.
In exchange, the association and its member charities agreed to support the introduction of slot machines there.
A British Columbia Lottery Corp. spokesperson said last week "it is our understanding that Paragon intends to fulfill" that commitment - which the Las Vegas-based company inherited when it purchased the Edgewater in October 2006.
But, according to what appears to be memorandum of agreement dating from November of that year, the association expected the lease for its old charitable bingo facility to terminate on December 31, 2010 at the latest.
As a result, the association and the Paragon Gaming division operating the casino promised to "work together in good faith" to develop a replacement for Planet Bingo or a "suitable interim location for the business of the CGMA" within that "time limitation."
The agreement also states the association will lease or lease-to-own the new facility - which will be freestanding or connected to Edgewater Casino's permanent home.
Paragon Gaming - which did not respond to repeated requests for comment by our Tuesday afternoon deadline - will close Edgewater when its BC Place mega casino opens in mid-2013.
The Community Gaming Management Association has declined comment.
The agreement, which was obtained by Public Eye, appears to have been signed by an Edgewater Casino ULC representative but has not been signed by the association's representatives.
Sean Holman is editor of the online provincial political news journal Public Eye (publiceyeonline.com). He can be reached at [email protected].
