"Paranoia" or "Fillin der Boots"

fibre optic now - lower churchill next
The starting line-up for the Cable Porkers

"Danny is too big" and "Newfoundland and Labrador is too small" - so conflict should be expected and accepted. This theory is dangerous - arrogant - and patently false! Either Danny is paranoid and must keep the "power" contained in a small box or the boys are fillin er up.

The problem here is our Premier (#99) has moved his business partners and senior executives of Cable Atlantic to the boardroom of government. The question is why?

Sue's Blog has significant concerns about the fibre optic deal and believes it should be cancelled. The entire plan of "creating competition" should be vetted in public and then - if we agree with the scheme - the whole works should go to RFP's.

What Sue's Blog is watching very closely is the Crown Jewel (Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro).
Energy - wind - oil - gas - uranium - and most importantly hydro is in the hands of Danny's buddies. 15 million pales in comparison to the fortune to made in energy.

Let's look at Danny's starting line-up.
# 33 - forward for the Cable Porkers - Dean Macdonald - Chair of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - Churchill Falls Labrador Corporation - Lower Churchill Development Corporation - Gull Island Power Corporation - the Premier's Business Advisory Board - the Province's panelist for the CNLOPB appointment -Past Partner with Danny in Cable Atlantic and then on to Rogers - CEO and shareholder of Persona.
#66 - defence for the Cable Porkers - Ken Marshall - Board of Directors - Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - related to Steve Marshall, Danny's former Law Partner - VP and General Manager Rogers Atlantic Region.
#44 - Goalie for the Cable Porkers - Paul Hatcher - Premier's Advisory Board - COO Persona Communications - past Vice President and General Manager Cable Atlantic.
#77 - Player/coach for the Cable Atlantic Porkers - Gilbert Bennett - VP of the Labrador Hydro Project (responsible for the development of the Lower Churchill) - Former Director of Network Development Cable Atlantic.

Cheerleaders for the squad :
Andy Wells - Mayor of St. John's - Danny's choice (to the point of wasting taxpayer dollars in court) for the head honcho of the CNLOPB
Ray Dillon - President of the St. John's Board of Trade - District Manager of Rogers Business Solutions.
Premier's junior league on open line programs since yesterday:

Shawn Skinner
Trevor Taylor
Harry Harding
Dean MacDonald
Ross Wiseman
Paul Oram
Cathie Goudie
Dave Denine
Clyde Jackman
Charlene Johnson
More to come...

Anyway the boys got their eyes set on energy - this must stop - this is a little more than Danny wanting to have "good people" at his side.
Dean MacDonald has more influence than any Cabinet Minister ofr Government back-bencher. Certainly more access to everything the government is doing - more than any bureaucrat. This has to stop - if the boys want to do business with government - get out of the backroom.
These people cannot be permitted to export our future - imagine the contracts and goodies available on the Lower Churchill Development - Billions of Dollars worth...

Then there is the secret team player - Our Brian - Brian Tobin lists himself as a Director of Persona in his new role as Chairman of Consolidated Thompson which has an iron ore property in Quebec.
Yesterday Dean said that he was once a Liberal (federal) a few elections ago - yup he and Danny supported Tobin and supported his bid to be Prime Minister. These people are opportunists and chameleons - blue when needed - red when needed - and orange if needed.
It is based on access to money and power. So Dean - come clean on your "Liberal" connections.

This special addition is for Trevor, Minister of Funds for Friends - who described Dean MacDonald as an employee of Persona (since corrected by Dean) - Here's a quote from MacDonald in a mediacaster interview:
"You know, I like the risk, I like the kind of commitment and satisfaction of feeling like you're building something and creating something. Business is a lot like sport. A lot of it is about trying to set goals and objectives and reach them. When you're in an ownership position, that's a real high, that's a real driver and motivator for you is trying to achieve those goals and objectives and feeling like you have some control or impact. It's sometimes hard to have that same kind of buzz when you're an employee."

I'm watching the natural gas development - where Hydro's support is needed. You want some gas Dean? No problem