Stan Marshall? Not at this cost!

Oh come on media - where are you?

After such a big miss on the energy monolith - one might expect for the media to be on their toes.

After a complete miss on Muskrat and all the information freely provided by citizens was ignored - the damning truth was forced on them and all of us.

In comes Stan Marshall - instant messiah treatment oozed out of dull swords of ink painfully reminiscent of the coming of Danny Williams.

Stan Marshall's appointment was swift with few details. One available was Marshall would accept the same as Ed Martin but with no severance option.

Time went by and no contract.

Then the contract appeared to be stalled in negotiation.

Marshall won. We lost.

His employment is in complete conflict.

There are no excuses - no spinning - no exceptions that make this okay.

The media has disappeared. The media will not take Marshall on the same way they avoided Williams.

Martin's contract dealt with Conflict of Interest. Here is the clause:

3 (c) The Executive shall not acquire, directly or indirectly, an interest in any firm, partnership, association, entity or corporation, the business or operations of which would in any manner, directly or indirectly, compete or conflict with the business of operations of Nalcor and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Executive nor any family member (this term having the same meaning as defined in Newfoundland and Labrador's Conflict of Interest Act, 1995 shall directly hold any shares in the Fortis Inc. group of companies including Newfoundland Power excepting however interests acquired in a publicly traded corporation through retirement mutual fund(s) investment vehicles.

Marshall's contract deals with Conflict of Interest. Here is the clause:

4 (a) The Executive shall not acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, an interest in any firm, partnership, association, entity or corporation, the business of operations of which would in any manner, directly or indirectly, compete or conflict with the business or operations of Nalcor, NLH or a company considered to be a subsidiary of Nalcor in accordance with Section 13 of the Energy Corporation Act, with the exception to the foregoing being that the Executive may own 5% or less of the shares of a publicly traded company;

Here's the deal - Marshall is allowed to be in a potential conflict of interest. This defies all logic and pith and the purpose of same.

Unfortunately but understandably Marshall nor his family want to be interfered with as that relates to personal financial affairs. Unfortunately this means Mr. Marshall does not qualify to sit as the head of our Crown Corporation.

When a government starts making exceptions to Conflict of Interest guidelines, laws, and intent we are already on the wrong side of right.

We have experienced too much of this. We need change.

Marshall - despite his professional qualifications - has decided not to relinquish his other interests - same for his family - some of which conflict.

Marshall should resign or should be replaced.

In our desperation to replace Martin - we must not be forced to forego conflict of interest protection - regardless the candidate. 

Tomorrow we delve into this contract and terms further.