Flip this House (Utility)

First Posted in 2007 by Sue's Blog

I guess most of the readers are familiar with the various TV shows on flipping houses - where the buyer picks up a property - renovates and or adds an addition and flips it for a profit.

Newfoundland and Labrador has it's own new program now - called Flip this Utility. I cannot for the life of me figure out why CBC or NTV have not picked up the pilot and a couple of completed programs in the can. The least the Telegram or VOCM could do is give the reader and listener some highlights of the new series so we can encourage one of the TV networks to pick it up. I don't expect "Out of the Fog" would be interested.

The program is filled with energy as the hosts and flippers are interesting well known characters - that give it a kind of soap opera appeal - mixed with a tinge of a reality series.

The creator of the series is a well kept secret but I think it's fair to say that Brian Tobin might be the producer and the government of Newfoundland and Labrador acts as a partial financier of the renos.

Te pilot takes place in Newfoundland and Labrador when Tobin was the Premier. He decided after some encouragement by the local cable company that it was time to reno the government's communications contracts. So Tobin without an RFP or tender call picks Cable Atlantic for the investment.

Cable Atlantic picked up the government contract and away they went. Shortly after the owner of Cable Atlantic flipped the property for a tidy profit to Rogers - not a (local) company.

Dean MacDonald - Danny Williams - Ken Marshall - and Brian Tobin are featured predominantly in the pilot and the backdrop is priceless - as one of the flippers - apparently not believing that Tobin's government had done a good job became the leader of the other political party and went on to become Premier.

The second program starts off with one of the flippers of the first property picking up Persona - and while Danny is becoming Premier - Dean Macdonald leaves Rogers - the purchaser of the renovated Cable Atlantic - and starts to work on Personna. Not to be left out Brian leaves as the Premier and he ends up on the Board of the new property to be renovated and does work for the company that picked up the first flip.

The third show features all the same players - but this time the Premier who was a flipper on the first - decides government needs some reno work itself - and Personna who is ready to be the second property - just happen to come together with the same plan. So instead of going out to the market to find another property to invest in - government decides why not just deal with the same gang. No tender of RFP needed.It worked before. Same storyline - local company gets reno...

Now this episode gets real fun as the biggest communications (telephone) company Aliant experiences a real tragedy and has a fire in one of its buildings knocking out cell and telephone services far and wide. Danny - and Dean - recognizing this irony jump all over this to convince us that another reno is essential.

They send out a new character Trevor - to announce all the plans - and poor Trevor is all over the map as to exactly what it is they are doing for the reno and why. He fondly becomes known as the "duct tape man".

Then our Minister of Business Kevin O'Brien jumps in - to be honest witchu - and starts selling the audience on the real value in this property.

The audience is in for great laughs as everyone runs around trying to figure out if they want strands or a whole network or how many fibres they will need and whether or not they will light them. And if they are lit - who will do it. The funniest part is when the neighborhood spokesperson won't reveal who is going to pay what for maintenance and the whole meeting goes up when one of the property owners asks for an administration fee to sort it out.

Once again the appeal to us the audience is that another local property wants to reno and expand. Unfortunately - once again the audience is torn when the property is flipped to another company on the mainland.

Unlike the first flip where the profit details were available - the producer will keep us guessing as the real profit off this one will not be known.

The producer is not talking but the last episode might go something like this - Danny leaves as Premier - Dean takes that job - and Brian picks up a property to reno and appoints Danny to the Board. The new government under Dean will encourage reno's to that asset and will partially finance the upgrades - without a tender or RFP. I haven't heard yet if they will release the results of that flip and the profits which might accrue.

Dunderdale and Jones - the amigos Dean Danny and Brian got your back!

Note to the reader: Please read the entire post and find something you can refute.

When is enough - enough? Never for some who have their hearts set on making money everywhere and anywhere they can.

This is not public policy - it is "me" policy - and we are into it deep.

Dean MacDonald has now returned to Liberal glory having bowed out to support Danny Williams during his kick at the cat. The same Dean MacDonald that ripped the living daylights out of Roger Grimes - when it was convenient to get his PC elected. All the while Brian Tobin is the third amigo - and he can swing where the power goes.

The best part is - how they all set it up - or make excuses for it. They absolutely believe the general population of Newfoundland and Labrador is brainless.

A deal is announced suddenly on the Lower Churchill - Danny suddenly leaves - Danny and Kathy fight it out publicly - Dean returns to being a "public" Liberal - Brian Tobin is named Chairman of the Canadian Venture Corps Advisory Board - and is quoted as saying "Bay St. George is home for me".

So is Brian coming home to be part of the Liberal re-establishment under Dean - as soon as he deals with the current leader?

So the boys will get their Churchill deal - while Kathy will be blamed for the mess - and the guys will regain power by Election 2015 - to start on the next extraction of wealth from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Now we'll have to wait and see if Brian returns home before August of this year. There would be a specific reason for this if he does. Or he may sit back and let "time" pass in Ottawa and be back at the end of the sentence.

Either Kathy and Yvonne are getting what they need here or they are being played like the fiddle - while the boys burn Rome.

Dean MacDonald shoved a sharp political knife through the heart of Roger Grimes when the deal (Churchill) was not being managed by the "right" people. So his buddy Danny comes along and makes a new deal - MacDonald says nothing. Now MacDonald has rejoined the Liberal camp - yet he continues to say nothing on the Churchill deal. Either he agrees with it - giving him no reason to abandon the Tories or he disagrees with it - meaning he would throw Danny under the bus - as not enough time has elapsed to fully allow the giveaway to stick to Dunderdale.

Now Dean claims he would like to lead the Liberals but this is not the time. No instead he will come in under Yvonne Jones now - claim he is Liberal again - help the Liberals lose - and allow the Muskrat Giveaway to take its course. Then he will rise like the phoenix from the ashes and claim Newfoundland and Labrador can not allow any more giveaways as just witnessed under Dunderdale. They have assessed that the province will be ready for another Savior by then. He will then have to put his assets in a "blind" trust and perhaps Danny and Brian could manage that for him.

In the event Dunderdale continues to blow things at a record pace - and Yvonne takes the election - she has already said - she would not scrap the deal - but rather have an independent review. Protects the deal either way.So who is advising Yvonne on the Lower Churchill? Dean perhaps? How convenient.

Just wondering Tom - am I close yet? It's a little much for a real Newfoundlander and Labradorian to swallow.

Brian gave to Danny - Cable Atlantic - Danny gave to Dean Persona - Now Dean needs to give to Brian ???

Minister Susan Sullivan takes on Broadband - Good Luck with That

Yes let's try again Minister Susan Sullivan says of Rural Broadband access.

Let's do something local hey?

So when Tobin is in power he turns contracts over to Cable Atlantic then owned by Danny Williams - who then almost immediately flipped it to Rogers. (local argument gone)

Then Williams comes to power and gives Persona then owned by Dean Macdonald many millions for a new fibre-optic line. Macdonald then flips almost immediately flipped it to East Link (local argument gone).

In the meantime Newfoundland Tel (Aliant) is the loser in both scenarios - and as a result backs away from continued investment in the province.

You see we are a limited population - there is no room for two or three players. If you bring competition into an underpopulated area - you lose the main service provider. It would be the same if the government decided to let another power distributor in to compete against Fortis. The dollars available to be made would be reduced and investment commitments would be lost.

I know we are creating a lot of millionaires - without any real plan to deal with these communications issues.

What a bloody mess, Minister Sullivan - and the lack of infrastructure and investment is starting to show. Wait till the poles have to be dealt with. Wait until the systems fail without proper investment in maintenance.

Meanwhile - business and tourism will continue to stall without a proper plan.

The government says this time the RBI will be better than the GBI (government broadband initiative) - really Minister Sullivan - and you guarantee this how?

Lit and unlit were the terms then Minister of Duct Tape Trevor Taylor used during the GBI fiasco. No control of funds. Complete mess according to the Auditor General John Noseworthy.

What Tory business faithful have their hands out now?

By the way Minister Sullivan - why do the hospitals in the metro area use a SASKATCHEWAN CROWN corporation to provide cable TV to our patients?

If you want to review the past on this flipping PRESS HERE

Eugene Nippard's Worst Nightmare - More Moose - at Taxpayers Expense

More moose for Newfoundland and Labrador - this time from Manitoba and the taxpayers may be asked to pay $500,000 a year for them to travel.

Danny Williams - back from Florida - he didn't come back for you? This is perhaps how Stephen Harper might phrase the return of the Premier into the fold.

To avoid any apparent conflict - the city not Williams and company will ask for the subsidy?

Well Eugene - at least this time the moose will be restricted to Mile One - however the dollars to pay for them will have to come from all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

I bet this gets more probing and press than the Lower Churchill deal with Emera. That's right - we all need to be kept entertained so we will miss the Mack Truck sized holes in a resource deal that Dunderdale has said should never be done by an unelected Premier.

Drowning our sorrows in Moose Drool Brown Ale - might be the only choice left.

The Lower Churchill/Emera Deal - Danny's Legacy - Our Nightmare

I had the "privilege" of attending the Joint Panel on the Lower Churchill development and listened to the NALCOR presentation.

Gilbert Bennett VP - Lower Churchill Nalcor delivered what can only be described as a propaganda manifesto for the Williams/Dunderdale government.

Further I am witnessing Kathy Dunderdale on her feet in the House of Assembly now repeating the propaganda and I am unsure if she actually believes or understands it.

This development is not for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador - it will not be good for Newfoundland and Labrador - and it will disadvantage both residents and businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Let me start with Mr. Bennett - who sits in his position today because I and my fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians stopped the privatization of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. He only joined Hydro in 2005 and guess what - he once worked for Cable Atlantic. The virtues and praises of the company he sings - is only possible because the people not government had a vision for our green energy.

After his prolonged and basic presentation - he took questions from the audience. Unlike the less than thorough report provided by the Telegram I and others in the audience gave him questions that he did not answer or did not answer satisfactorily.

Further - his behavior while I was asking questions was like watching a couple of school children attempting to intimidate a classmate as he and his cohort grinned and giggled and raised eyebrows as I spoke.

Mr. Bennett - number one you work for the people of this province - we are the shareholders of the company you are fortunate to have employment with. Second; for you to in any way try to make light of my questions and commentary is nothing more than a joke. We both know who did what to save the Crown Jewel - Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and the jobs with it.

To my questions:

I asked Mr. Bennett if the deal with Emera was already done - as he was presenting as if it were including the awarding of contracts to Quebec companies like SNC Lavalin. After a bit of dancing he said no. 

I asked Mr. Bennett if he could tell me the difference in the cost of power produced at the Lower Churchill if all the transmission lines to the Island and to Nova Scotia were not built. After screwing around with industry numbers - we got to it and he said it was about half price.

I asked if he was aware that Norway, Iceland, Quebec, Russia, and now Greenland have established aluminum smelters and he acknowledged that he did. I then followed with why Labrador could not establish same and if he was aware of what the power arrangements were in the aforementioned jurisdictions. Mr. Gilbert in a nut-shell said nothing has fallen into our laps and then went on with a convoluted attempt at trying to answer what the other jurisdictions were doing.

I asked him - outside of construction - how many jobs were going to be created in Newfoundland and Labrador on a long-term basis. He answered 35 and 50 respectively. I asked if he knew how many jobs could be produced long-term if an aluminum smelter set up in Labrador - he acknowledged it could be over a thousand.

The chair advised my time was up but I was permitted one more question - at which point Gilbert used the raising of the eyebrows and grinny look - I asked if he had a problem? He said no and added gruffly what is your question? I thanked the panel and sat down instead. I had seen enough of this sham of a consultation process and knew if I - who had such a long history with advocacy for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro could be treated with such disdain others would have no hope.

I listened to the presentation and I have to say there were more - 180 degree turns than I had witnessed in a while. When Nalcor and the government wanted to provide the Italian government and company with a "wind"fall by allowing privatization of wind energy - Hydro felt it was the best thing since sliced bread. Now that they "must" push this Emera deal through wind is intermittent and must be backed up - hydro is the best. You don't say Mr. Bennett - I remember the words coming out of my mouth while hydro execs were singing the wind energy tune to satisfy unknown shareholders.

The deal is bad for Newfoundland and Labrador and here is why. The government cannot prove the numbers and projections it is using for power needs on the island. The projections on where energy costs may be in 2016 does not consider hydro's ability to lower costs as our current investments are paid off. The projections are the same incorrect projections used since the late 70's early 80's which would have seen our power supply exhaust in the early 1980's. This has not happened - primarily because of efficiencies, zero growth in population and the hemorrhaging of industry out of the island. I have copies of all of these projections and reports.

The deal is bad for Newfoundland and Labrador because it once again does not use the power to attract industry to Labrador as the basis for development. The government has not provided the media or the public with evidence that they have tried but failed to attract industry. It further takes Islanders off thermal generation but does not take Labradorians off same.

The deal is bad for Newfoundland and Labrador because it has us holding the debt to subsidize power to other provinces - thereby enabling our neighbours to attract industry using our power - while we are disadvantaged.

The deal is bad for Newfoundland and Labrador because it forever puts at risk our control of exporting power by having one side controlled by Hydro-Quebec and the other by Emera (could be sold to Hydro-Quebec).

The deal is bad for Newfoundland and Labrador because it does not foresee or protect the takeover of Emera by Hydro-Quebec - even though this possibility is more real and fiction. That is if Danny Williams was telling you and I the truth when he said Hydro-Quebec would do anything to block us

The deal is bad and incomplete for Newfoundland and Labrador because Danny Williams and his government promised to find redress on the Upper Churchill before any deal on Lower Churchill and this has not been achieved.

This deal is bad for Newfoundland and Labrador because the proper assessments of alternative use for the power have not been competed.

This deal is bad for Newfoundland and Labrador because the permanent jobs associated with such a significant hydro development are well below acceptable standards for good social-economic policy.

The deal is bad for Newfoundland and Labrador because the net permanent job growth is zero. There are currently 85 people working at Holyrood - that goes to 35 loss of 50 - then 50 picked up in Labrador where there currently are zero. The only good thing here is that Labrador picks up jobs.

The deal is bad for Newfoundland and Labrador because we have an offshore company involved in the project on a virtually permanent basis when no such company should be needed. Particularly if we are seeking a loan guarantee.

The deal is bad for Newfoundland and Labrador because federal money/grants will end up going outside the province to support other jurisdictions to control power rates. This after the people fought so hard to stop privatization which would have driven our power rates through the roof the past 15 years. Now government suggests we almost double them?

Then there is this whole business of Harper and Ignatieff followed by a bunch of PC MHA's and Cabinet Ministers including the Premier and Liberals preaching to us that this project is good for Canada. We are going to contribute to the greening up of Canada. Excuse me - this must be lost on the federal leaders but it should be ingrained here. WE ARE ALREADY CONTRIBUTING 5000 MW'S OF POWER TO CANADA FROM THE UPPER CHURCHILL. Newfoundland and Labrador through this export of power represents the largest per-capita export of green energy to other provinces in the country.

The business community - the government boasts - is behind the development. When - has the business community not been behind extracting resources - regardless of whether or not it's the best deal? We have had many lopsided and bad deals on resources in this province before - each and every time business was behind it. That's because their role - particularly publicly traded companies - is not to achieve the best deal for the people - rather they are concerned about making money for their shareholders. Premier - it is your job and the job of your government to do the best deal for the people. 

The Government, Premier, and Opposition leaders are responsible for doing the best deal for our province - not to make the best deal for other provinces. They have their own representatives.

The Liberal Opposition is absolutely falling hook line and sinker for the power price thing. This is put out there so that Kathy and the Willderdale government can come back with a subsidy of a few cents to complete their argument.

The truth is the whole works of them have done nothing to develop the "best deal" for the province and particularly Labrador. If they are unable to do better than this - they should let it flow until somebody has a real vision for the proper development of the tremendous resource.

Neither Gilbert Bennett, Ed Martin or the Premier are able to hold their own under scrutiny of this deal. Bennett and Martin are given direction and they follow it and the Premier or other Premier gives direction- which is incompetant at best and who knows at worst.

Ed martin was just on CBC with Debbie Cooper - now stating permanent jobs are 120? The information you are hearing is to promote this deal at all costs. Clearly it does not matter to those desperate to see it proceed - what has to be done and said to get the deal done.

Who wrote the questions for Debbie Cooper? What information and background did they have to prepare the questions? Would they agree that the questions are limited to the combined knowledge of those writing or asking the questions? Does that mean all questions are not being asked and that the interviewer may not have the knowledge to conduct a free-flow conversation. That being the case who will CBC interview on the other side of the argument? Who will represent all the interests and points of those opposed to the project? How will the viewer know that all sides have been heard?

I know the difference.

Next up the Boards of Directors associated with Nalcor. See you then.

On a side note - Kathy Dunderdale is the Premier of the province. Her job is to represent the province regardless of who may come calling. Showing up at a staged political event for the Conservative Party of Canada did nothing for Newfoundland and Labrador or her position. Her role should be to seek all she can from all major parties and their leaders. Her demonstration of odd partisanship with a party that differs significantly in ideology and with a leader that caused so much monetary damage to her own province and people is neither statesperson-like nor intelligent. This alone confims for me that she is unable to reliably or competantly complete a project the size of the Lower Churchill.

Ditto for Ms. Jones and Miss Michael.

Is there any way Russell Wangersky could take up the role of investigative journalist for this project?

Williams/Dunderdale Government shows Transparency in Policy

Below is the question found on the VOCM website today.

Do you think the province was right in contracting out the Labrador ferry service to two companies from the mainland? Why or why not?

Now let's examine this:

TOBACCO LAWSUIT = NO TENDER = PREMIER WILLIAMS FORMER LAW FIRM

FERRY SERVICES LABRADOR = TENDER = NO PARTISAN PREFERRED OPTION

   

FIBRE OPTIC CONTRACT = NO TENDER = PREMIER WILLIAMS FORMER BUSINESS PARTNER





 THAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY TRANSPARENT POLICY TO ME!

Reason for Apathy in Politics

Senator Lavigne guilty of fraud, breach of trust

11/03/2011 1:28:51 PM

CBC News
An Ontario Superior Court judge has found Senator Raymond Lavigne guilty of fraud related to false travel expenses and breach of trust for having his staff do work at his home.

On the fraud charge, Judge Robert Smith found Lavigne guilty of defrauding the government of $10,120.50.

He determined that Lavigne "knowingly submitted false claims" for reimbursement of expenses for car travel between Ottawa and Montreal. Smith found that Lavigne made claims for costs he had not incurred.

He was overpaid in some reimbursement claims, "thereby affecting the government's pecuniary interest."

Since he was barred from the Senate in 2007, Lavigne has cost taxpayers more than $700,000. 

Bev Oda et al

There's a case against the government for breach of privilege after it refused to hand over detailed cost estimates of its anti-crime agenda, and a minister may have misled MPs, House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken said Wednesday in a ruling reasserting Parliament's authority.

Milliken ruled there was a "prima facie breach of privilege" -- in other words, enough evidence to send two separate motions back to MPs to decide the next step.

One motion complained the government is refusing to give financial information to the House and the other alleged International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda may have misled a Commons committee.

For the first time dealmaker Karlheinz Schreiber sits down in front of television cameras to answer questions about his secretive past and about his relationship with former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Schreiber goes on the record to tell Linden MacIntyre about the $300,000 the former Prime Minister received from him, where that money came from and the fallout, both public and private, that ensued from it.

The program illustrates why their relationship was so controversial and why numerous questions about it have remained unanswered until now.  

The sponsorship scandal tainted members of the Liberal Party and politics in Quebec. In its aftermath, there have been a few convictions and in Parliament, there came a call for the politicians to find ways to govern with accountability.

It all started with rumours and whispers about a fund that had been set up in the wake of the 1995 referendum on Quebec sovereignty to help promote federalism. The money was supposed to be used to raise Canada's profile in Quebec.

• DETAILS: Gomery Report's major findings

But it wasn't clear how the money was handed out: there were no application forms for this fund that was supposed to help pay the costs of social and cultural events and programs. There were rumours that the money was little more than a vehicle to reward loyal Liberal supporters.

By the early spring of 2002, then prime minister Jean Chrétien was forced to address the issue. The Globe and Mail – under the Access to Information Act – tried to find out why the government paid $550,000 to advertising firm Groupaction Marketing for a report that could not be found. No one at Public Works or the company could explain it.

No evidence of remorse: prosecutor CBC

Jim Walsh, a former Liberal cabinet minister in Newfoundland and Labrador, has been sentenced to 22 months in jail for his part in a spending scandal that rocked the province.  

The other former politicians who have already been convicted of fraud-related charges in the spending scandal include:

• Wally Andersen, former Liberal, who received 15 months jail time.
• Randy Collins, former New Democrat, who will be sentenced Jan. 15.
• Ed Byrne, former Progressive Conservative, who was sentenced to two years, less a day.

One member of the Nova Scotia legislature and three former provincial politicians face criminal charges following an investigation into constituency expenses. 

Independent MLA Trevor Zinck and former members Richard Hurlburt, Russell MacKinnon and David Wilson all face charges of fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust. 

Zinck also faces two counts of theft over $5,000. 

British Columbia's premier was fined $913 US (about $1,350 Cdn) Monday after pleading no contest to a drunk driving charge in Hawaii. 

Gordon Campbell was not in the court for the hearing. He was represented by a lawyer, who paid the penalty on his behalf. 

"Mr. Campbell is sufficiently embarrassed and ashamed for what he did, as well he should be," said Maui District Judge Reinette Cooper.

The premier was also ordered to take part in a 14-hour substance abuse program, and undergo an assessment for alcoholism. His lawyer said Campbell has already completed both in Canada. 

Maui police arrested Campbell Jan. 10 as he returned from the home of friends. They said he was speeding and swerving on the highway. Campbell's blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, according to court records. 

The federal Opposition Liberals are condemning the hundreds of patronage  

appointments handed out by the Conservative government over the past two years.

Liberal MPs Wayne Easter and Alexandra Mendes handed out "patronage awards" to various Conservative MPs, ministers and senators during a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday.

The MPs said Prime Minister Stephen Harper keeps appointing Tory insiders to plum positions despite his campaign pledge to end such practices.

"The message is clear: If you run for the Conservatives, work for the Conservatives and give to the Conservatives, they will reward you with paid gigs backed by taxpayer dollars," Easter said.

Easter cited 386 job appointments since 2008 that went to Tories, which he said represented about a fifth of federal appointments since the last election. 

Premier David Alward's Progressive Conservative government is courting trouble unless it halts the growing numbers of patronage appointments, according to a political scientist.

It's been a steady parade of Progressive Conservatives getting provincial government appointments since the Alward government took power last fall.

Don Desserud, a political scientist at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, said the Tories should put a halt to all the patronage appointments.

"In terms of the public's expectations this is not exactly what they thought was going to happen and therefore there is going to be disappointment," Desserud said. 

When the Tories were on the opposition benches, Alward and his senior MLAs hammered the Liberals for their patronage appointments.

But the Alward government has not backed away from the trend.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is being accused of old-style patronage for naming an aide to ex-premier Danny Williams to the offshore oil and gas regulator.

Natural Resources Minister Shawn Skinner shrugged off the criticism Thursday, saying Elizabeth Matthews, former communications director for Williams, is a "great" choice for vice-chairperson of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board.

Opposition parties and environmental observers pounced on the fact Matthews has no obvious environmental or offshore qualifications.

Skinner didn´t deny that lack of experience. Instead, he stressed that Matthews is a communicator who understands the inner workings of government policy.

A former Newfoundland and Labrador cabinet minister has vowed to repay tens of thousands of dollars used to pay for wine, art and other items.

Paul Dicks, a finance and justice minister in former Liberal governments, said in a statement Thursday he will voluntarily pay back sums cited last month in a scathing report by Auditor General John Noseworthy.

Noseworthy found that Dicks had claimed $59,753 in artwork during the 1998 and 2000 fiscal years, and had also claimed over a number of years alcohol purchases — including imported wine — totalling $34,145. 

Dicks's alcohol purchases, none of which involved meals, were by far the largest charges of their kind in Noseworthy's review of 15 years of constituency allowance claims.

The audit found Dicks claimed jewelry, books and a Cartier pen through his allowance. Dicks was one of nine politicians found to have used constituency allowance funds on personal items.

May 31, 2005

---

Premier announces establishment of Business Advisory Board

Identifying the challenges and optimizing the opportunities in the business community are key to the future success of Newfoundland and Labrador, said Premier Danny Williams today as he announced the establishment of the Business Advisory Board. The board will provide advice to the Premier and government regarding matters of economic development and business in the province.

"The establishment of this board will complement the Department of Business and will perform the important function of advising government of the trends of today’s economy and the future possibilities for our economy," said Premier Williams. "I am very pleased that some of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most dynamic, experienced and successful business people have agreed to participate on the Business Advisory Board. Membership consists of a wide cross-section of regions and industries such as IT, tourism, communications and the service industry."

The newly established Business Advisory Board will report to the Department of Business and will meet throughout the year and provide advice and recommendations to government.

 (one of the appointments)  

Dean MacDonald
In August 2004, Mr. MacDonald became President and Chief Executive Officer of Persona Communications Corp., a privately-held company with national outlets in cablevision and Internet services. In the past, Mr. MacDonald has served in the capacity of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Rogers Cable Inc. and President of Cable Atlantic Inc., where he was a Director and minority shareholder for 18 years.

So then what happened - well there was the fibre-optic cash - that the Auditor General just questioned. That was after the two, Dean and Danny under Cable Atlantic benefitted from another government contract when Brian Tobin was in office. 

After both contracts the companies were sold/merged with mainland firms.

Then there are the lies and lies - broken promises etc.

Harper - equalization

Williams - paper mills

Harper - Income Trusts 

Williams - redress the Upper Churchill

Harper - elected senate

Williams - openness and accountability resource developments

Harper - no more patronage

Williams - transparency

Shawn Skinner 2011 same as Trevor Taylor 2007 both bad deals

"...will have the assurance of a redundancy of fibre optic networks connecting the province to the mainland" 

Trevor Taylor 2007 News Release

"...but in the event of a catastrophe … it would be possible for us to import electricity” 
Shawn Skinner 2011 Telegram Today


Now its all about redundancy and the importance of having mainland supply for backup. Think about what the Ministers are saying. Same message from Trevor and Shawn and the same arguments created by the Dean MacDonald's and Danny Williams of the world.

Our province should have had security of supply decades ago and it would have been self-reliance. Labrador should be fully powered by hydro - with redundancies - domestic built in - same way for the Island. Now it is make the shocking deal with Emera - necessary - in the same way they made the shocking deal with Persona necessary.

It`s all about getting money into shareholders hands - and not for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. If the media did some fact checking they would find other similarities with the two deals - like why tenders were not called and why our people were and are the ones holding the debt - and how long these two investments would take to pay themselves off.

This is not an energy plan and like the fibre optic deal it is going to cost us a fortune for particular shareholders to make a load of cash. I have not spent 20 years of my life dealing with energy issues in this province - for the sake of criticizing - I have done so to avoid catastrophic deals which in the end will ruin the future for yet more generations to come.

The choice is Emera or Newfoundland and Labrador. Which will it be?

You are all kidding right? THIS IS A GIVEAWAY

Here we are entering what could be a 6 billion dollar project and Shawn Skinner tells us we will know the details when they finish negotiations. No media questions on that.

Here we are entering into a deal that could see our energy bills go up significantly. No media questions?

What is the purpose of Emera? What do they bring to the table? What are we giving up and for how long? No media questions!

We continue to ship out our hydro advantage. Why? Because our politicians do not possess the skills or in the alternate do not have the interest in attracting industry to Labrador. Mr. Hickey thinks the boom in employment will be great does he? Yes of course he would - another generation of politicians willing to ship out raw resources in return for jobs while the project is erected. Meanwhile who cares about the fact the Labradorians will have to follow their power to jobs on the mainland.

Iceland - poor Iceland right? They have recovered from that massive American fraud that caused the collapse of the banks and markets. Not only have they survived they just picked up and will enjoy a new silicon plant.
They have managed with half our population and a tenth of our resources to attract smelter after smelter but none for Labrador right?

Where is the media here? What are they doing? Unusual trade volume of the Emera stock just days before deal is announced - where are the questions?

Who are the major shareholders of Emera? We know we are driving their economic progress out of Nova Scotia - but what of our own? Where is the media?

Then there is the biggest question of all. Is it possible that Hydro-Quebec could takeover Emera? If one can actually admit that in fact this could happen - how are we protected against this? Remember now we will be paying through the nose for Danny's desire to avoid Quebec because HE and his CABINET including current unelected Premier Kathy Dunderdale could not get redress on the Upper Churchill - which he said he would do. If there were no redress there would be no further development. Danny QUIT people - now why? And yes it was a surprise to the media - but where are the questions? He shows up for a by-election - yet no question on why he came back - when that is something he advised past Premiers not to do. Where are the questions?

 DO WE ALL REMEMBER THE LACK OF AN ESCALATOR CLAUSE IN THE UPPER CHURCHILL AGREEMENT?

Nobody foresaw that correct? None of the geniuses that have now recycled themselves here and there - from Lieutenant Governor to Open Line Host. Yet right now we are seriously avoiding the fact that Hydro-Quebec can go after Emera - it is a publicly traded company.

The winners there are Emera shareholders and once again the people of Quebec.
 
We are talking about flippers right?

The AUDITOR GENERAL just points out the mess of the fibre-optic fiasco and where are the questions? You know the deal where Danny's buddy Dean gets a ton of government money - and he was a local guy right? The ink was not dry on the government check and it was flipped to a Nova Scotia company. Tobin gave a contract in a similar way to Cable Atlantic when that was local under Danny - what happened? Flipped to Rogers.

There are no questions being asked - when this should be the most scrutinized deal in our history. WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

Why are the media so silent? Why are people so silent?

You are kidding me right?

Ottawa will give Loan Guarantee on Lower Churchill

Holding our collective breath? Ottawa will give a loan guarantee on the Lower Churchill development because Nova Scotia (Emera) therefore Peter Mackay wants our power for their own gain.

Imagine the headlines Nova Scotia MP and substitute ABC Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador convinces his boss Stephen Harper that this project is good for Canadian Unity and a "green" project to boot.

This proposed project is "green" alright - if we allow it to happen.

This will be another "pull the wool over the trusting eyes of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians" moment.

If you were a Nova Scotian and you could get security of energy supply from a renewable and have Newfoundlanders and Labradorians pay for it - what would you think?

I predict an escalator bound Kathy Dunderdale waving her arms in the air saying you know "we got it -we got it".

This means much more to Danny (passionate Newfoundlander and Labradorian) Williams than a legacy - we just need to figure out what is driving this Solid Gold idea. 

Canada has us believing we are a "have" province and they used Williams to deliver their message. Sue's Blog will post something on this later today.

Now for the cynics that think Quebec might block it - nah - I predict the takeover of Emera will follow shortly thereafter meaning we will be completely controlled by Hydro-Quebec and those fortunate Emera stockholders will experience the thrill of a flip - like when Danny flipped Cable Atlantic or when Dean flipped Persona.

 

Personal Enrichment or Enrichment of Society (you choose)

 PASS ON TO A PENSIONER YOU KNOW!

Let's look at list of illustrious leaders and determine if they or we have benefited more from their years in "Public Service".

Joey Smallwood - oversaw the giveaway of the Upper Churchill and recruited and retained many foreign crooks who took us for a ride. He did give us the "baby bonus" - the "highway" such as it was and is particularly in Labrador and wonderful confederation (wherein he dispensed of our fishery).

What do you think - has he helped your children and grandchildren? Has he harmed their futures with his decisions on natural resources?

Then there is Frank Moores - well he did spend the pensioners money (put it in general revenues and built infrastructure with it) no plan to repay it though - so now pensioners living in poverty. Where did he end up? Well until shortly before he died  - was an extremely well paid lobbyist on the federal scene - then there was the airbus and schreiber Mulroney thing. Screwed up the Lower Churchill a few times and was also the one who purchased Upper Churchill rights from Brinco at outrageous prices and without any retribution on the bad deal. It almost cost us a bankruptcy.

What do you think - has he helped your children and grandchildren? Has he harmed their futures with his decisions on natural resources?

How about "Our Brian" number 1. Brian Peckford Well he was the giant (cucumber) who Sprung into action on our behalf and developed alternate industry. He stopped spending pensioners money but did not refund the unfunded liability left by Joey and Frank. He blew a deal on the Lower Churchill with the Power Authority State of New York (PASNE) - because he wanted to fight Trudeau on the constitution. We lost the development deal (if CBC would rerun the program) that was probably the best ever potential to develop the Lower Churchill. As we were drifting into debt - good ol' Brian 1 claimed he could not do the bad things necessary to do so he quit. Ended up making a fortune in the mining sector in British Columbia (living well). Wonder if he made any of those contacts while in office?

What do you think - has he helped your children and grandchildren? Has he harmed their futures with his decisions on natural resources.

Then comes Clyde Wells our constitutional genius and the man responsible for the "Economic Recovery Commission" or the continued enrichment of Dr. Doug|House for results which are non-existent. Then of course to fix our debt - he was going to sell off at bargain basement price Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - had it happened future of Labrador was lost. Light bills would be up 50% we would still have virtually the same debt but without money making asset which has since become NALCOR. He is now a Judge (semi-retired). Clyde managed to get an actuarial done of the state of pensions.


What do you think - has he helped your children and grandchildren? Has he harmed their futures with his decisions on natural resources.

The along comes "Our Brian" 2 Brian Tobin -  The Premier of gab and celebration - he celebrated us out - did nothing for the fishery and tried to sell the last of our power resources to Quebec with a fizzled out seal-coat wearing event in Labrador. back and forth he went from here to Ottawa - to the extent where he did not pick up on Elizabeth Marshall's (then Auditor Generals) cries of I need to audit the House of Assembly books. We all know what happened there. Seems he missed the fray of women's panties and perfumes - art and wine - booze and money - gambling addictions and all other sordid little things such as a couple million dollars worth of pins and tokens. So he oversaw and enabled it to continue as he headed up the denial of Marshall into the records of the HOA. How's "Our Brian" 2 doing these days? Seems he went on to greater things and at last report was set to gain  millions in the sale of a mining company. How do you get from A to B. Brian refunded some pension money - but nothing for indexing.

What do you think - has he helped your children and grandchildren? Has he harmed their futures with his decisions on natural resources.

Then there was Danny - gained 2 billion lost who knows what of that when the market collapsed - then he lost 10 billion in fight with Harper that managed to get Fabian Manning to the Senate, Loyola Hearn to Ireland as an Ambassador, and Loyola Sullivan as the fisheries and seal guru in Europe. Left without finishing a deal on the Lower Churchill - and lined us up for another Upper Churchill fiasco  - the largest giveaway of this generation. He lead the way in health care by having his own surgery done in the United States - while crucifying health care at home. He has absolutely blown the fisheries file and did nothing to seek compensation for the billion annual loss to that sector. Most recently we have learned - that as Sue's Blog predicted - he did approve money to his buddy for fibre-optics which has not panned out for us - but apparently was quite good for Dean MacDonald when Persona was flipped to East Link. How's he doing - You can figure that out. He was however the leader in patronage and was well known for shutting up his critics through intimidation and was by far the best manipulator of the media. What did he do for the pensioners? He told them to take a flying leap.

What do you think - has he helped your children and grandchildren? Has he harmed their futures with his decisions on natural resources.

Now what's next - you really need to think about this - long and hard and maybe seek a better option.

Fighting the shadow - which is the establishment.

Every time Sue's Blog posts - somebody gets annoyed at the political or establishment level. The big corps and the shareholders do not want an interference with their plundering of our future - so a few may get richer and richer. The politicians - controlled by lobbying influence - or worse - simply want me to go away. They wished I did not speak and certainly did not have an open discussion on what is public money, resources, and policy. They are not spending their own personal money they are spending ours. They are not negotiating the sale of their house but rather resources that are owned by the people for the benefit of the people.

Invariably one of them gets a Solid Gold idea and sends shots across my bow. They do not care how they do it or who they harm - they simply just do it.

For four years now they have been rid of me and apparently do not like that I am back. All they have accomplished is the gathering of four years of information and data - that the public does need to know and discuss.

This time when they take a smack - just is well they threw it at themselves. I'm not staying quiet - in fact I am just gearing up. The people deserve open and frank dialogue on issues and resources that affect them. For those of you that do not believe intimidation is alive and well - just means you have not crossed them - in any significant way.

These bullies will come at you whatever way they can. They directly interefere with your employment and anything else that power and money wants. You have heard government employees in the past talk about how they feared speaking up or whistle blowing. This has not changed and that is why we end up with travesties such as the Mount Cashel affair, the Breast Cancer Inquiry, and no doubt some of things John Noseworthy - the provinces Auditor General has in his report issued today or economic catastrophies like the Upper Churchill. I'm sure Cabana just got a little taste as somebody showed up at the door of his house - because he wanted to run for the leadership of a party - which was inconvenient for the party brass.

During the privatization of hydro attempt - when I was still a relatively young woman - I was slandered, telephoned, and "spoken to" - and even today the proponents of that idea and the business people who wanted to make a killing on your assets - continue to hold against me - that I fought that proposed giveaway.

These Solid Gold ideas need to be overhauled and these people need to understand - you can try and silence your critics or those who stand in the way of elite shareholders getting all that they can pocket - but not this time.

The idea that tens of millions - hundreds of millions - billions might be just a government policy away - does not mean you should count those chickens before they hatch. And by the way - as most Newfoundland and Labrador adults have said "grow up out of it".

For the readers any stories you want to pass along - you can do so anonymously, I'm sure there's a good few out there. Remember now - be a team player. That's what Fabian Manning did - he's in the Senate or Beth Marshall - when after Danny demoted her through interference - shutup and was a good tory - she's in the Senate. You should see what it takes to hold a politcal job. Get some popcorn and enjoy the feature.

cable atlantic, persona, danny, dean, and brian 1st Fibre Optic 2nd Lower Churchill???

 
Have a look at John Noseworthy's Auditor General Report  and scroll below what Sue's Blog posted when the deal was first done. How about the Lower Churchill Deal - designed for a flip???

ORIGINAL POST 2007

I guess most of the readers are familiar with the various TV shows on flipping houses - where the buyer picks up a property - renovates and or adds an addition and flips it for a profit.

Newfoundland and Labrador has it's own new program now - called Flip this Utility. I cannot for the life of me figure out why CBC or NTV have not picked up the pilot and a couple of completed programs in the can. The least the Telegram or VOCM could do is give the reader and listener some highlights of the new series so we can encourage one of the TV networks to pick it up. I don't expect "Out of the Fog" would be interested.




The program is filled with energy as the hosts and flippers are interesting well known characters - that give it a kind of soap opera appeal - mixed with a tinge of a reality series.

The creator of the series is a well kept secret but I think it's fair to say that Brian Tobin might be the producer and the government of Newfoundland and Labrador acts as a partial financier of the renos.

Te pilot takes place in Newfoundland and Labrador when Tobin was the Premier. He decided after some encouragement by the local cable company that it was time to reno the government's communications contracts. So Tobin without an RFP or tender call picks Cable Atlantic for the investment.

Cable Atlantic picked up the government contract and away they went. Shortly after the owner of Cable Atlantic flipped the property for a tidy profit to Rogers - not a (local) company.

Dean MacDonald - Danny Williams - Ken Marshall - and Brian Tobin are featured predominantly in the pilot and the backdrop is priceless - as one of the flippers - apparently not believing that Tobin's government had done a good job became the leader of the other political party and went on to become Premier.

The second program starts off with one of the flippers of the first property picking up Persona - and while Danny is becoming Premier - Dean Macdonald leaves Rogers - the purchaser of the renovated Cable Atlantic - and starts to work on Persona. Not to be left out Brian leaves as the Premier and he ends up on the Board of the new property to be renovated and does work for the company that picked up the first flip.

The third show features all the same players - but this time the Premier who was a flipper on the first - decides government needs some reno work itself - and Persona who is ready to be the second property - just happen to come together with the same plan. So instead of going out to the market to find another property to invest in - government decides why not just deal with the same gang. No tender of RFP needed.It worked before. Same storyline - local company gets reno...

Now this episode gets real fun as the biggest communications (telephone) company Aliant experiences a real tragedy and has a fire in one of its buildings knocking out cell and telephone services far and wide. Danny - and Dean - recognizing  this irony jump all over this to convince us that another reno is essential.


They send out a new character Trevor - to announce all the plans - and poor Trevor is all over the map as to exactly what it is they are doing for the reno and why. He fondly becomes known as the "duct tape man".



Then our Minister of Business Kevin O'Brien jumps in - to be honest witchu - and starts selling the audience on the real value in this property.

The audience is in for great laughs as everyone runs around trying to figure out if they want strands or a whole network or how many fibres they will need and whether or not they will light them. And if they are lit - who will do it. The funniest part is when the neighborhood spokesperson won't reveal who is going to pay what for maintenance and the whole meeting goes up when one of the property owners asks for an administration fee to sort it out.

Once again the appeal to us the audience is that another local property wants to reno and expand. Unfortunately - once again the audience is torn when the property is flipped to another company on the mainland.

Unlike the first flip where the profit details were available - the producer will keep us guessing as the real profit off this one will not be known.

The producer is not talking but the last episode might go something like this - Danny leaves as Premier - Dean takes that job - and Brian picks up a property to reno and appoints Danny to the Board. The new government under Dean will encourage reno's to that asset and will partially finance the upgrades - without a tender or RFP. I haven't heard yet if they will release the results of that flip and the profits which might accrue.



Utility Flip - coming soon - from your local cable provider.

To "have" or not to "have" that is the question

We have a problem here. This "have" status that we are relishing is nothing more than a mathematical equation that Ottawa created to punish Newfoundland and Labrador over our bad behavior.

The equalization formula has changed and we are now "have" because the mathematics of the new equation says we are. Translated - we lose a ton of money and we are now a "have" province. Broadcasting, commentating, reporting, or investigative can somebody please in the media examine this issue.

What is "have" now - what did it used to be?

How much money are we losing for being a "have" province?

Since Danny started his campaign against Ottawa how much money have we lost?

The 2 billion we gained; what happened exactly to that money and how much did we lose because of the way we spent it?

How are we a "have" province when our unemployment level remains in the mid teens - currently 14.3 per cent?

How are we a "have" province when our infrastructure is so deteriorated?

How are we a "have" province when during the time of this crossover we lost two paper mills, fish plants, industry?

Let's look at two comparisons - the Americans feel they are in the throws of a recession  when their unemployment level remains in the single digits and Iceland the proud independent country of less than 300,000 people - that just took a significant hit as other European countries who suffered from the stock market crimes - has an unemployment rate of 8 percent in the middle of the worst economic disaster they have faced.


Then let's look at the opposite - Quebec remains a "have not" province and actually receives greater equalization than any other province and their unemployment rate sits at 7.6 per cent - houses half the federal government - still sits with tremendous industry much developed on the back of our Upper Churchill power - still have their paper mills and a tremendous aerospace presence.

Ontario the newly become "have not" province has an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent, houses the other half of the federal government, industry over industry and those which Canadians have just bailed out of the stock crisis such as the auto giants. The land of we have the best of everything and the largest population.

Seriously people - and please some reputable journalist have a go at this - this "have" status only represents one thing. Danny Williams was unable to convince Harper to live up to his promise on non-renewable resources related revenues (be able to remain in the province) - so that once the oil resource is depleted we will something to show for it and have infrastructure which would allow our continued survival.

The formula which made us a "have" province and Ontario a "have not" has done exactly the opposite. We will continue to lose and when the oil is gone we are finished. Ontario will still continue to shine under it's favorite child status.

So on the provincial level - what are we doing? Nothing - the irony is that tremendous loss of revenues because Harper did what he did has made Danny a hero. Why? He lost the fight - and that's okay - the problem is he quit the fight. There is no doubt that Harper lied - but what did we really do about it?

They are now proposing to giveaway the Lower Churchill in order to drive a short term economy. This will result in nothing more that the further ruination of our future. There are no long term gains in this - we will lose and we will find ourselves subservient again to Hydro Quebec.

Danny Dumeresque - continues to talk about the giveaway and the bad deal regarding recalled power - and that is accurate but what he fails to tell you is that when he and the Liberals with hydro under Dean MacDonald gave away management authority of the Churchill Falls Labrador Corporation (Upper Churchill) to Hydro Quebec - so even though Newfoundland and Labrador owns two thirds and Hydro Quebec one third - Hydro Quebec - in many significant areas of planning and management - has the ability to block us. Funny there was no problem changing the terms of the Upper Churchill contract then.

As people we must protect what we have left and we and the media need to take a critical look at what we are being fed. We must be able to debate these issues openly and honestly and we need the media to concentrate more on journalism and less on reporting and editorials.