so declares Randy Simms this morning on open-line.
Phew- that's a relief - it was getting onerous asking questions. Why would we want to have these answers? No need - the DEAL is perfect. I'm glad somebody got a copy of the deal - now Randy can tell us all what is in it. I'm assuming he has a copy - as he has announced the end of the debate.
How many strands did we buy?
What percentage of the consortium does each party own?
What is the name of the consortium?
Is the company registered in Newfoundland and Labrador?
How many communities will be hooked up in the "trans-gulf" project?
When was the deal first pitched?
Was there 4 or 5 meetings as Dean MacDonald says or 8 meetings as Trevor Taylor claims?
What was Task 1 in the EWA Report?
Were there anymore tasks let's say Task 4?
Why are the feds not in this deal?
Why were anciallary benefits to Persona not considered when determining if Persona needed the 15 million from the taxpayers?
Is Dean MacDonald in violation of the Lobbyist Act?
Were Persona Officials the only ones to have direct contact or meet with the government as Dean MacDonald says or did MTS Allstream have a meeting like Trevor Taylor says?
Where are the financials and spreadsheet on the deal?
Will we be lighting our dark fibre and if so when and at what cost?
What maintenance are we responsible for?
If a new provider comes into Newfoundland and Labrador over the next 5 years - will the government give them 15 million dollars worth of free access to our strands - to compete against Aliant - Persona - MTS Allstream - and Rogers?
Did Brian Tobin meet with any government official or politician on this deal?
Why - if the Province (taxpayers) are investing 28% in the project are they not 28% shareholders in the consortium?
Why was there no RFP?
Why was there no Tender Call
Why didn't the government insist that this second infrastructure connect to Labrador?
Why didn't this deal look at expanding 911 to the entire province?
When will the Auditor General be reviewing the deal? What will he examine?
I look forward to Randy discussing the answers to these questions in upcoming shows - then I can put it to bed.
7 comments:
No matter which political stripe one is Sue, these are very pertitent questions and I think they need to be answered. Also it is not up to an Open Line Show Host to declare that the debate is over. Sue , I think this fiber optic deal could very well be a good one, but I do want to see a Spreadsheet that gives us the accounting of what the people of NewfoundlandLabrador can expect for its input of $15 million dollars. That should have been done in the first place. It is bad accounting and bad politics to not do so.
If there had been more questions asked of our government leaders on deals made in the past, maybe things would be different in the province of NL than they are at the moment. I think when we do not hold our government accountable that is when we get the worst deals. Nobody was ever held accountable in the Government of NewfoundlandLabrador. The time has come; and, you, Sue, are trying to do what you can about it. Keep up the Great, but Thankless work.
Why is the province insisting that the federal government pay for a Labrador line?
And if Aliant is such a horrible company, why is the province looking to them to put cell towers up along the TLH?
I agree WJM...
that's all I can say...
It's shameful
Here is an option Sue.
http://www.cbncompass.ca/index.cfm?iid=2063&sid=16110
The fibre optics bambozzle is not over. There's lots of questions. I agree with Sue.
I was in Toronto in June 2005 for an international conference. I was surprised that the name of the Skydome was changed to the Rogers Centre. Hmmm. Now where would Rogers have gotten all that money to buy the Skydome?
Also, just over a year ago, I called Rogers customer service from my hometown of Corner Brook. I was getting flyers in the mail from a national electronics store (there's a branch in Corner Brook) that advertised Rogers cell phones. But there is no Rogers cell phone service in Corner Brook.
Rogers staff told me that the Rogers phones were not available in Corner Brook area because the Rogers cell phone service was coming to western NL later. I called back again in about 6 months and asked Rogers staff the same question. They said, "Not yet, but soon."
I wonder if the fibre optics deal between the Govt of NL and Rogers/Persona/All-Stream is somehow connected to the soon-to-arrive Rogers cell service in western NL? Or do I have wrong information?
Also, do I understand correctly from the CRTC that Aliant is compelled by law to share its phone line service (e.g. long-distance service) with other carriers, such as YAK, Sears long distance, Zellers long distance, etc.? If so, would not the three players in the fibre optics deal with the Govt of NL have to share THEIR fibre optics lines (for high-speed Internet) with other carriers, too? Would they have to share with Aliant?
If that is true, I have not heard this mentioned as part of the govt deal. I need more information. Sue is making sense to me, so Randy should keep the discussion going on Open Line.
My final question is -- with all due respect to Danny Williams -- if he is such a brilliant lawyer, could he not see this fibre optics bamboozle coming at him like a freight train before he gave it the green light? There must be another way to turn this into a win-win situation...
Even if the deal is accepted, construction probably won't start till after the Oct 2007 provincial election. If Danny refers to the deal in pre-election speeches, it will only cause voters' eyes to roll -- or glaze over. A better scenario is for a public inquiry. Let everyone talk themselves hoarse with questions. Then, let the good old Auditor-General come in on his horse -- like John Wayne -- and straighten everything out. No political party wins. The South Coast gets fibre optics lines. The three corporate amigos make some more money, and Danny gets a somewhat battered, tarnished political trophy which he takes back to the Cabinet room, closes the door and whispers softly, "We got it, we got it.."
After that, Randy doesn't bring up the deal on Open Line ever, ever again.
I have some questions for you.
Is the fibre deal or isn't the fibre deal going to
-Create competition
-Improve redundancy
-Give the south shore access
-Give the Prov gove cheaper HS access
-Help win the next CDN idol
-Good for NL
-Good value for money
-Enable our people to unite
-Improve access
-Promote encourage business
-Improve quality of living
First any deal for a second infrastructure provides positive potential. The question here is related to process and best value for our money.
Having said that here are my answers.
Create Competition? Yes - in what sectors I am unsure - it will depend on how the strands are used and where they are used. This project is dark fibre.
Improve redundancy - yes if users subscribe and pay for both systems and if the new consortium reaches an agreement with Aliant.
Give the South Shore Access - unsure if that's part of the current Persona project or this one - and I have not seen the map - have you?
Give the province cheaper HS access?
I don't know that - how do you know that - we are not using our strands.
Help win the next CDN idol?
You're kidding right?
Good for NL?
Not sure if this deal would be as good for the province as another one obtained by RFP or tender and without a need for our 15 million. It would be much better for us if we took a 28% equity(ownership)position
I don't know how many strands we are getting? Do you?
Enable our people to unite?
Unite how? Electronic? NO because we have not hooked into Labrador.
Improve access?
Improve access how? What access?
Promote - encourage business? All infrastructure will do this - promote business - not likely it appears Government is financing competition contrary to policy - and it might send the wrong patronage message. A more open process would have achieved more.
Improve quality of living? For who? Where is the map?
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