Fish and Chips - Shame on us and shame on you Dunderdale and Harper

The head of Iceland’s Marine Research Institute (Hafro) says that stock measurements indicate the country’s cod stock is getting stronger.

The headline above says it all - in a country where fishing activities remains the single biggest economic activity. So I guess taking real action in the past - regarding foreign fleets and the protection of their livelihood is paying off.

What a sad reflection of Canada and our provincial governments. You think maybe someday we will feel the pride of being our own nation or even just feeling pride - and do what's necessary to protect the future of our children.

Shame on us!

With all due respect to Gus Etchegary, Dr. Phil Earle and others - the time for study and inquiries is over. Sue the federal government for mismanagement, the loss of our fishery, communities and tens of thousands of people. Is McCurdy still trying to get a buy-out package? What a disgrace we will be in the eyes of future generations.

Welcome Summa - Welcome to Democracy

I love a lobbyist under oath. Jack Abramoff super lobbyist appearing before a US Senate hearing. From an NBC story.




Summa appears to be spending time here at Sue's Blog - so I have some questions.

The Tory Strategist and Summa VP Tim Powers - has his fingers in many pies.

Currently Tim is a lobbyist for CTV globemedia. That's great Tim - and you also appear on CTV programming too right - speaking conservatively of course.


Here's the registration basics.

Mr. Timothy Powers
Consultant Lobbyist
Lobbyist number: 13527
Registration number: 13527-29
Effective date: 2007-01-09
It also says on that particular registration document - that your client CTV globe media has subsidiaries which have a direct interest in the lobbying activities.

They are:
CTV INC.
BCE Inc
THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Your work includes:

Any policies or programs with respect to broadcast matters within the Department of Canadian Heritage, Canadian Radio Television Commission, Industry Canada and any other related issue that impacts CTVglobemedia .

Who you may lobby includes:

Prime Minister's Office, Finance Canada, Health Canada, Privy Council Office, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Canadian Heritage, Treasury Board of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

Let's see if I can get this all straight. You sit on television and defend the Conservatives - on the same station you lobby for to the Prime Minister - seems everybody is happy here.

The question is - how do you have such access to the Prime Minister's Office?
Why do you have such access to various government departments?


Remember now this is the Prime Minister that's going to clean all this up - renew democracy. So Harper replaces the Liberal lobby hacks with his own.

Who is this person Timothy Powers? He is not elected is he? He has a job where we sells the ear of the Prime Minister. Wonderful! How about the Conservative MP's - the people we elect and pay - their staff including Minister Hearn and staff - John Fitzgerald the Province's connection to the feds in Ottawa - our Premier - his staff - the Minister of Business - Minister of Energy - Chairperson of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro or the CEO of NLH - all paid for by the people - except the Chairperson - but he got 15 million from government for his communications company - all get off their behinds and do their jobs. Why is it necessary for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to pay some unelected Conservative hack in Ottawa to have "communications" with the PM and Ministers?

What specifically are you paid to lobby for Tim?
Have you been instructed on what to ask the feds for with regard to the Lower Churchill development? Have you seen the elusive energy plan or draft thereof? How much are you paid by our Crown Corporation? Who do you speak on behalf of? What have been the results? What have any of the office holders said to you?

You see as one of the owners of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - I for one want the details. Next time you are on CTV sparring with Scott Reid - give us some answers.

Here's how a reasonably minded person could see this. You hop in a cab - run down to the CTV studios - while there you spin the Prime Minister's message - then you hop back in the cab and run to the PMO and spin CTV's message. You call it lobbying - I call it political prostitution. It would be good to remember Tim this is a democracy - and likely will be more of one when Harper is defeated.

On your issue with the IFAW - why not take the reference to them off the Summa site -if you don't want to recall the services and strategy you provided them. It remains however all over the Internet. Why don't you tell us specifically what advice and strategy you gave them. You are originally from Newfoundland and Labrador Tim - so I assume you know the damage that organization has tried to cause this province and our fishermen.

Of course Hydro is just one client:
Here are some of your others.
How do you get all those interests packed into a cup of tea at the PMO or Privy Council?

The Canadian Transit Company
Oracle
CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS (CICA)
Invista (Canada) Company
and more....

Remember Tim - none of these clients (organizations or companies) are voters - we are - and the access you sell to the PMO's ear is interesting. Is that what it takes to get something done in Canada?

I am not a fan of lobbyists - unless it is unpaid and for the public good.

One last question - how do the "informal" conversations on hydro go? Something like this? I know you and the Premier really can't stand each other - and he's promised to wipe you out of Newfoundland and Labrador - but how about that loan guarantee for the Lower Churchill? Loyola is really not up to meeting with you today and Dean and Ed are tied up so - it's all on me now?

Simm's fair in lobbyist Coverage

Update:
I am pleased - as we all should be - that VOCM open-line lived up to it's name. Host Randy Simms let free speech flow this morning (August 9-07)- and allowed questions on real lobbyists - who we have employed. Kudo's to Randy! Maybe we will be all the more educated for it.


That is what is being practised on VOCM - when we cannot mention the name Summa Strategies Inc. as lobbyists for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and former lobbyists for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

This is public information. This at least can be verified. Summa lists IFAW under their Track Record section - as an organization which has benefited from their services. Further Summa and the Federal Lobbyist Registry confirms that they are employed to lobby on behalf of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.

There is no problem however letting people place innuendo on the air by hosts and others that I "may" be working for somebody therefore my public commentary is purchased. The absolute crap that was permitted on by VOCM by callers - that I am working for one political party or another over the past year. Untrue - but VOCM did not block that. Yet information available on a federal government site and listed on the companies own website is "private".

Double standard. The question is WHY?

Here are the LINKS

IFAW and SUMMA

Summa and Hydro

Summa and IFAW

Summa and Hydro

Harper's Talking Head - Hydro's Lobbyist in Ottawa

MORE SUMMA NEWS

What's up Danny?
Timothy Powers - Vice President Communications Summa Strategies and Stephen Harper's talking head - has been hired by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to lobby Ottawa on the Lower Churchill. (You know the guy who spars with Liberal Scott Reid on the national networks)

Yep - Timothy along with Summa Consultant Lobbyist Katie Green of Ontario are helping us out with the Lower Churchill development and the east-west power grid.

Well fine team there Dean and Danny - how does that work - Steve's talking head who defends the Prime Minister for screwing Newfoundland and Labrador on equalization - is giving us a hand with the Lower Churchill.

Then there's Katie Green from Ontario - she's gonna help us how? Let me see - convince Ottawa to build an east west power grid so that Ontario can get our power?

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is paying for this?

and if all this was not enough the two of them and Chair of Summa Doug Young have all been involved with lobbying Ottawa for the IFAW - against our seal harvest.

What a joke Premier - what else don't we know? Who is writing the Energy Plan - did Summa have any input there too?

The best part - Tim gets paid whether he's successful or not.

For those Sue's Blog readers who like the details CLICK HERE TO SEE the Lobbyist Registry Information in Ottawa.

Below is a portion of Tim's registration - one of his registrations:

Registration type: Consultant Lobbyist
Lobbyist number: 13527
Registration number: 13527-34
Effective date: 2007-03-09

A. Lobbyist and Firm Information

Prefix: Mr.
Last Name: Powers
First Name: Timothy
Preferred Language: English

Position Title: Vice President, Summa Strategies
Name of Lobbyist's Firm: Summa Strategies
Business Address of the Lobbyist:
City: Ottawa
Province or State: Ontario
Country: Canada

B. Client Information

Name of Client: Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

Name of Principal Representative: Ed Martin
Address 1: P.O Box 12400
C. Other Beneficiaries

None

D. Subject-matters: Areas of concern

Areas of Concern: Aboriginal Affairs, Energy, Environment, Fisheries, Industry, Infrastructure, Regional Development

E. Subject-matters: Particulars

Categories Particulars

Policy or Program Assistance related to the Lower Churchill Project. Development of National East-West energy grid.

F. Government Institutions

Name of department or other government institutions: Prime Minister's Office, Environment Canada, Finance Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, National Energy Board, Natural Resources Canada

G. Government Funding

Is your client funded in whole or in part by any government or government agency? No

H. Contingency Fees

Payment is contingent on the success of the undertaking: No

I. Communication Techniques

Techniques of communication that you have used or expect to use in the course of the undertaking: Arrange one or more meetings, Meetings, Written communications, whether in hard copy or electronic format, Telephone calls, Informal communications
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice section G
HUH?
I think that answer must have been in error Tim.

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro has its loans guaranteed by the province and is listed as an agency of Government.

Hydro Patronizes Company who lobbied for the IFAW

Sue's Blog readers know the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is no friend of ours. Their blatant use of our seal hunt to fill their coffers should be unacceptable to us all. That's why we have choices. When a Crown Corporation does business with a company - they should check the firm out.

In this case Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro should have checked Summa Strategies Canada.

Here's what they do:

Summa Strategies Canada Inc. provides strategic consultation and government relations and the development and management of public policy.

If we need public relations - research and development of public policy - or strategic consultation - perhaps we should employ people in Newfoundland and Labrador - especially with respect to energy issues. In either case the province has chosen Summa out of Ontario.

Well Summa also lists the IFAW as a client. Great - the company who has been involved in strategic planning for an organization planning to end the seal hunt - will get a contract from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Not acceptable - we have control of this. There are other companies including Newfoundland and Labrador companies that can do this work. Even if government should want to hide these discussions and are planning to woo the people with energy policy messaging - they can use somebody else in Canada.

It makes us look foolish - don't you think.

So Dean MacDonald let's see if you can do something with this fiasco.

Click Here to visit Summa

First fall-out from DFO's report on Seal Population

Seal Harvest takes first blow - partially as a result of DFO musing...

As we fully anticipated - the money making (protesters) of the Canadian seal harvest are taking advantage of DFO's public musings on a possible reduction of the seal quota.
First off the mark is the IFAW on the heels of a decision by Belgium to ban all seal imports.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM--(CCNMatthews - Jan. 25, 2007) - In a landmark unanimous vote for conservation today, the Belgian Parliament has banned the import of all seal products.

"We applaud the Belgian Government for taking this historic step and reducing the demand for seal products derived from a cruel and unnecessary commercial seal hunt," said Lesley O'Donnell, IFAW EU Director.

"We hope the Belgian example will encourage other European nations to adopt their own national bans, closing the door on the trade in seal products."

Across Europe there is a groundswell of opposition to Canada's commercial seal hunt.

The German Parliament voted unanimously on a motion urging the government to ban seal products, just one month after the EU Parliament passed a Written Declaration in support of an EU-wide trade ban.

"There is a clear message being sent to the Government of Canada," said Olivier Bonnet, IFAW Director, Canada.

"It is time the Canadian Government stopped propping up an industry which has no future.

"In light of this ban, and the Government's own scientific data showing the current hunt is unsustainable, the commercial seal hunt must end."