So now we can be certain - the discussion about bullying, violence against women, and crime in the House of Assembly is apparently just that - talk. Words that MHA's want people to hear them saying.
Understand this - Mark Yetman was stopping rubber discs from going into a net - in front of cheering crowds and apparently to the adulation of some Members of the House of Assembly - while knowing full well he had raped a young woman in her sleep.
and this:
This convict was playing hockey in Newfoundland and Labrador because
of bail conditions not because it's where he wanted to play. He was in Ontario playing hockey with a University and he raped three women. Those are the circumstances which returned him to our province.
He was cheered on by some media outlets, at least one Minister of the Crown, adoring fans and many business sponsors after having been convicted of two other sexual assaults.
From the Ceebees site key sponsors for the team - which included the sexual predator - include Eastlink, BMO, Bud Light, Egg Producers of Newfoundland and Labrador, The Town of Harbour Grace, Esso, Canadian Tire Gas Bar, KIXX Country, Esso, and Rona.
Key questions for these companies who make money from thousands of women who buy their products is: Do you support through sponsorship of a team that includes a sexual predator -violence against women? Will you apologize to the women who were raped and all women? Were the people responsible or involved with procuring sponsorship for the corporate contribution aware that the CeeBees team included a convicted sexual offender - returned to NL in accordance with his bail conditions?
Worse than that - A Town Council supported the team. Taxpayers of the province?
There is NO excuse for dealing with this person in a different way than we deal with all sexual offenders. There is no excuse for positively mentioning the sexual predator's name in the People's House of Assembly.
There is no justification for treating this sexual predator any differently because he is a hockey player and on the team that won the Herder Cup.
Stop this hypocrisy and deal with this issue. If the House of Assembly was so outraged at the treatment of Gerry Rogers by Minister Darin King and Speaker Ross Wiseman - then why is the same House not doubly outraged at the praise given to a sexual predator in the House of Assembly.
Deal with it - if Mark Yetman did not rape three women he would not likely have been back in Newfoundland and Labrador - goal tending for the CeeBees winning team.
Finally - I can only feel bad for the men who were mentioned in the same sentence as him and feel worse for all the fine young men on the team who did not receive a mention.
Showing posts with label Eastlink. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eastlink. Show all posts
Monday, April 29, 2013
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
It's OUR Money - Dunderdale's Top 10
With credit to the Tely 10 list on Muskrat - I have created another.
The one point that has been ignored by Kathy Dunderdale and company is that the money being spent, borrowed, or promised is OUR money.
Now this is not a few million or so to a buddy or former business colleague - this is not a position on the Board of something or another for this one who goes out with that one - this is not a chunk of very cheap land for a politician - this is not for a bit of lingerie - this is not for a wine collection - this is not petty cash for gambling - this is billions of dollars.
The proposed Muskrat Falls deal will consume virtually all of our benefits from oil extraction, fatten up significantly the provincial debt, and unfairly chew into monies for essential public services. This one project could top 10 billion dollars.
When Ed Martin, Kathy Dunderdale, Jerome Kennedy, pontificate on the virtues of the Muskrat - they fail to state the following:
1. We understand that the money we wish to be spent is yours,
2. We understand that we - personally - are not funding the project,
3. We understand that because it's your money - we are open to all questions, concerns, requests for information, and suggestions you can provide,
4. We understand that our role as MHA's (not Ed Martin) is to represent our constituents and not a political party,
5. We understand that the cost to develop the natural resource will be funded by the development itself through sales or usage by export or to corporate entities, and not be a burden to you,
6. We understand that Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro must fulfill its mandate to deliver reliable power at the least cost and must not be impacted by the ambitions of a corporate Nalcor,
7. We understand that we work for you, not Emera, not Nalcor (except Ed Martin), not the Penney Group, not McDonald's, not Eastlink, not OCI, not the country of China, not the province of Nova Scotia, not the country of Canada, not the Woodward Group, not Tuckamore Capital, not Newfoundland Capital Corporation and not Alderon,
8. We understand the responsibility of explaining the deal is ours and that you will tell us when we fall short and we will correct that,
9. We understand that any past problems with Hydro-Quebec will not impede us from moving forward on a new development - if that deal is better than any other we can achieve, and
10. We understand that after we reach a tentative deal - the final decision will be yours.
The one point that has been ignored by Kathy Dunderdale and company is that the money being spent, borrowed, or promised is OUR money.
Now this is not a few million or so to a buddy or former business colleague - this is not a position on the Board of something or another for this one who goes out with that one - this is not a chunk of very cheap land for a politician - this is not for a bit of lingerie - this is not for a wine collection - this is not petty cash for gambling - this is billions of dollars.
The proposed Muskrat Falls deal will consume virtually all of our benefits from oil extraction, fatten up significantly the provincial debt, and unfairly chew into monies for essential public services. This one project could top 10 billion dollars.
When Ed Martin, Kathy Dunderdale, Jerome Kennedy, pontificate on the virtues of the Muskrat - they fail to state the following:
1. We understand that the money we wish to be spent is yours,
2. We understand that we - personally - are not funding the project,
3. We understand that because it's your money - we are open to all questions, concerns, requests for information, and suggestions you can provide,
4. We understand that our role as MHA's (not Ed Martin) is to represent our constituents and not a political party,
5. We understand that the cost to develop the natural resource will be funded by the development itself through sales or usage by export or to corporate entities, and not be a burden to you,
6. We understand that Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro must fulfill its mandate to deliver reliable power at the least cost and must not be impacted by the ambitions of a corporate Nalcor,
7. We understand that we work for you, not Emera, not Nalcor (except Ed Martin), not the Penney Group, not McDonald's, not Eastlink, not OCI, not the country of China, not the province of Nova Scotia, not the country of Canada, not the Woodward Group, not Tuckamore Capital, not Newfoundland Capital Corporation and not Alderon,
8. We understand the responsibility of explaining the deal is ours and that you will tell us when we fall short and we will correct that,
9. We understand that any past problems with Hydro-Quebec will not impede us from moving forward on a new development - if that deal is better than any other we can achieve, and
10. We understand that after we reach a tentative deal - the final decision will be yours.
Monday, April 09, 2012
Is Dean trying to finish the job for Danny and Brian?
Dean = Chairperson of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro under Brian Tobin
Dean = Quits as Chair of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro under Grimes
Dean = Reappointed as Chair of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro under Williams
Reward offered by Sue's Blog - find a comment where Danny Williams says anything negative about Brian Tobin.
Despite the stated circumstances surrounding the insertion of Danny Williams into PC Leader - that is "Liberal" mismanagement of the economy for over a decade - Williams always focused on Roger Grimes - not Tobin. This does not make sense of course - as the Tobin era did most of the spending - including a significant amount respecting a potential deal with Hydro-Quebec to develop the Lower Churchill.
Dean also had no problem cutting a deal with Hydro-Quebec on guaranteed winter availability - which gave more power to the Quebec Crown utility under the Churchill Falls - Labrador Corporation. This was as a result of a failed attempt to develop the Lower Churchill with Quebec under Tobin and Bouchard.
The deal is that Williams becomes Leader of the PC's after Tobin leaves as leader of the Liberals.
Then Williams becomes Premier and re-appoints MacDonald as Chair of Hydro.
Apparently Williams only had problem with Grimes dealing with Quebec but had no problem with Bouchard/Tobin negotiations. No problem with the money spent on that - including the PR costs. MacDonald also had no problem with further control going to Hydro-Quebec.
Insert Danny and all of a sudden MacDonald goes from being a Tobin Liberal to supporting a Williams PC government. Find a place where MacDonald has any negative comments toward the leadership of Danny Williams.
Now Williams is gone and Dean is once again a Liberal - one exception - the Danny deal on Muskrat Falls.
It is "assumed" that Dunderdale would suffice to ram the Emera deal through - with Dean the "Liberal" applauding the project.
Once rammed through - it is assumed that Dean will enter and win the Liberal leadership and go on to take the "bad" Dunderdale out. You will note that Danny is only commenting on the Emera deal not the overall performance of the Dunderdale administration.
Dean's job will be to follow the Tobin and Williams regimes and make sure some honey flows from the provincial coffers. Tobin to Williams (contract to Cable Atlantic) later sold to Rogers and Williams to MacDonald (contract to Persona) later sold to Eastlink.
Hydro Chair Dean MacDonald's Comment to the Independent Newspaper in 2004 regarding going around Quebec:
“Absolutely,” he says. “One of the things we’ve done in the past is locked into discussions with only one partner (Hydro-Quebec) … I think we’d do ourselves a great disservice if we think there’s only one way to skin this cat.
“We’re interested in doing the best job we can in terms of returning benefits to the province, whether its with Quebec, or Ontario, or someone south of the border, or whoever.”
What was up in 2004 Dean?
What's up with Tobin on the Emera deal? No comment? No protecting the Liberal position?
We have previous Tories from a Premier to Cabinet Ministers questioning the Emera deal but nothing from Tobin?
Danny develops Term Sheet with Emera then hastily leaves while rumours regarding Dean becoming Liberal leader surface.
In an effort to achieve maximum accountability and transparency I would like to know the complete portfolios of Tobin, Williams, and MacDonald and which of the investments would benefit from the Emera deal and ultimately a privatized hydro with a development for Gull Island.
The three amigos - what's the real deal?
Dean = Quits as Chair of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro under Grimes
Dean = Reappointed as Chair of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro under Williams
Reward offered by Sue's Blog - find a comment where Danny Williams says anything negative about Brian Tobin.
Despite the stated circumstances surrounding the insertion of Danny Williams into PC Leader - that is "Liberal" mismanagement of the economy for over a decade - Williams always focused on Roger Grimes - not Tobin. This does not make sense of course - as the Tobin era did most of the spending - including a significant amount respecting a potential deal with Hydro-Quebec to develop the Lower Churchill.
Dean also had no problem cutting a deal with Hydro-Quebec on guaranteed winter availability - which gave more power to the Quebec Crown utility under the Churchill Falls - Labrador Corporation. This was as a result of a failed attempt to develop the Lower Churchill with Quebec under Tobin and Bouchard.
The deal is that Williams becomes Leader of the PC's after Tobin leaves as leader of the Liberals.
Then Williams becomes Premier and re-appoints MacDonald as Chair of Hydro.
Apparently Williams only had problem with Grimes dealing with Quebec but had no problem with Bouchard/Tobin negotiations. No problem with the money spent on that - including the PR costs. MacDonald also had no problem with further control going to Hydro-Quebec.
Insert Danny and all of a sudden MacDonald goes from being a Tobin Liberal to supporting a Williams PC government. Find a place where MacDonald has any negative comments toward the leadership of Danny Williams.
Now Williams is gone and Dean is once again a Liberal - one exception - the Danny deal on Muskrat Falls.
It is "assumed" that Dunderdale would suffice to ram the Emera deal through - with Dean the "Liberal" applauding the project.
Once rammed through - it is assumed that Dean will enter and win the Liberal leadership and go on to take the "bad" Dunderdale out. You will note that Danny is only commenting on the Emera deal not the overall performance of the Dunderdale administration.
Dean's job will be to follow the Tobin and Williams regimes and make sure some honey flows from the provincial coffers. Tobin to Williams (contract to Cable Atlantic) later sold to Rogers and Williams to MacDonald (contract to Persona) later sold to Eastlink.
Hydro Chair Dean MacDonald's Comment to the Independent Newspaper in 2004 regarding going around Quebec:
“Absolutely,” he says. “One of the things we’ve done in the past is locked into discussions with only one partner (Hydro-Quebec) … I think we’d do ourselves a great disservice if we think there’s only one way to skin this cat.
“We’re interested in doing the best job we can in terms of returning benefits to the province, whether its with Quebec, or Ontario, or someone south of the border, or whoever.”
What was up in 2004 Dean?
What's up with Tobin on the Emera deal? No comment? No protecting the Liberal position?
We have previous Tories from a Premier to Cabinet Ministers questioning the Emera deal but nothing from Tobin?
Danny develops Term Sheet with Emera then hastily leaves while rumours regarding Dean becoming Liberal leader surface.
In an effort to achieve maximum accountability and transparency I would like to know the complete portfolios of Tobin, Williams, and MacDonald and which of the investments would benefit from the Emera deal and ultimately a privatized hydro with a development for Gull Island.
The three amigos - what's the real deal?
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
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"
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.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
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.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Don't miss this Blueberry Festival
Six weeks before the next provincial election - a blueberry happening of major proportions is occurring - be sure not to miss it.
It's taking place P.O. Box 220 Oxford Nova Scotia - the mailbox of Oxford Frozen Foods Limited and now the mailbox of Eastlink Persona Holdings Inc.
Now up until Thursday of last week Eastlink Persona Holdings Inc. was named 4402511 CANADA INC.
This is important because the CRTC last Friday posted the following request:
Ottawa, 24 August 2007
The Commission has received the following applications. The deadline for submission of interventions/comments is 13 September 2007.
1.Across Canada Application No. 2007-0791-1
Persona Communications Corp. (Persona), on behalf of itself and Bragg Communications Incorporated (Bragg), filed two applications that would authorize 4402511 Canada Inc. (4402511 Canada), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bragg, to acquire ownership and control of Persona and its wholly-owned subsidiary Northern Cablevision Ltd. (Northern). One application is seeking authority to transfer the shares and effective control of Persona to 4402511 Canada and a second one is seeking authority to transfer the effective control of Persona’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Northern, to 4402511 Canada.
Persona is the licensee of cable distribution undertakings in Sudbury and Timmins, Ontario, Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador and Delta and Sechelt/Gibsons, British Columbia, and of a radiocommunication distribution undertaking in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. 4402511 Canada is committed to operate both undertakings under the same terms and conditions as those in effect under their current respective licences. Persona also owns some 600 Class 2 and Class 3 broadcasting distribution undertakings across seven provinces.
Northern is the licensee of a cable distribution undertaking in Grande Prairie, Alberta. 4402511 Canada is committed to operate that undertaking under the same terms and conditions as those in effect under the current licence.
The Commission is consequently inviting comments on the particulars of these applications, as well as on the potential effects that approval of these applications would have on the broadcasting industry as a whole.
Applicant's address:
P.O. Box 12155, Station "A"
17 Duffy Place
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
A1B 4L1
Fax: 709-754-3883
E-Mail: dmacdonald@personainc.ca
And today - just a couple of days later - the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador signs the fibre-optic contract that gives great additional value to Persona - right upon the sale of the company.
And was it the great deal talked about?
Who knows?
The government issued a -
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT
between
Persona Communications Corporation and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador - not the consortium talked about during the whole debate on the potential conflict between the head of Persona - Dean MacDonald and our Premier.
From the details provided - MTS Allstream - Rogers and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador are owners/users of numbers of strands on a network - that Persona will build and own - referred to as the Atlantic Cable Facility.
Indefeasible Right of Use Agreement (IRU) - The IRU granted between Persona and the Provincial Government is for an initial term of 20 years, with the right to renew.
Does this mean we own the strands for 20 years?
Who has the right to renew - at what cost?
I thought we would own them!
Then there is this:
All fibre strands are "dark", that is, the equipment necessary to use the fibres will be the separate responsibility of government. Persona will make available, should the Provincial Government request it, space, electricity, back-up power, air conditioning, etc. at any of its equipment shelters along the fibre route.
How much will it cost to have use of the Persona equipment?
Will that form another agreement - value adding to Persona again?
Then this:
The Provincial Government has an initial 10-year period in which maintenance will be provided at Persona's cost. After this period, the actual average annual cost will be determined and shared amongst the IRU parties based on a sharing formula, with Persona performing the work for an administration fee based on 25 per cent of the costs.
Well now - after 10 years and after Danny is gone - we have maintenance costs - which we cannot know - because we don't have the sharing formula - we don't know what percentage of this we "own/lease/rent".
And to top it all off we add value again to Persona by contributing to an administration fee equalling 25% of the maintenance cost (?).
And last but not least this:
Persona and the IRU parties will share in the cost of catastrophic failure of the cable. For instance, should a break occur on the underwater portion, a ship would be retained to raise the cable and repair it. Costs will be shared on a formula based on the number of strands each party owns in the segment that failed.
We have no clue what portion of what segment we own - we are not told - but we could be responsible for close to an entirety of a catastrophic failure - even though we are not the owners of the facility - we are IRU's for 20 years. Once again adding to the value to Persona.
And all of this comes on the wake of CRTC announcing the request for Personna to be sold to Bragg Communications under a wholly owned subsidiary - and a few days after 4402511 CANADA INC changes it's Corporate name.
What is the value to Dean MacDonald personally from this transaction?
What value has been added to this pending sale based on the contract with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador?
Remember what was said when we all asked why a Request for Proposals was not issued by government for a new fibre optic arrangement. It was said and widely reported by government and Dean MacDonald that all parties that could be involved were.
That's strange - because on the heels of the sweetheart deal with Persona - Bragg Communication has no problem getting involved - in fact they are going to buy Persona - to get in on the action.
And back to that mailbox - Oxford Frozen foods sells quite a few blueberries.
Blueberries can be pretty potent when left to ferment - and then any politician can get drunk with power.
Anybody other than me find it ironic that the new fibre-optic facility is called Atlantic Cable? That's original - the last one the boys sold was Cable Atlantic. I wonder is this just an inside joke?
It's taking place P.O. Box 220 Oxford Nova Scotia - the mailbox of Oxford Frozen Foods Limited and now the mailbox of Eastlink Persona Holdings Inc.
Now up until Thursday of last week Eastlink Persona Holdings Inc. was named 4402511 CANADA INC.
This is important because the CRTC last Friday posted the following request:
Ottawa, 24 August 2007
The Commission has received the following applications. The deadline for submission of interventions/comments is 13 September 2007.
1.Across Canada Application No. 2007-0791-1
Persona Communications Corp. (Persona), on behalf of itself and Bragg Communications Incorporated (Bragg), filed two applications that would authorize 4402511 Canada Inc. (4402511 Canada), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bragg, to acquire ownership and control of Persona and its wholly-owned subsidiary Northern Cablevision Ltd. (Northern). One application is seeking authority to transfer the shares and effective control of Persona to 4402511 Canada and a second one is seeking authority to transfer the effective control of Persona’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Northern, to 4402511 Canada.
Persona is the licensee of cable distribution undertakings in Sudbury and Timmins, Ontario, Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador and Delta and Sechelt/Gibsons, British Columbia, and of a radiocommunication distribution undertaking in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. 4402511 Canada is committed to operate both undertakings under the same terms and conditions as those in effect under their current respective licences. Persona also owns some 600 Class 2 and Class 3 broadcasting distribution undertakings across seven provinces.
Northern is the licensee of a cable distribution undertaking in Grande Prairie, Alberta. 4402511 Canada is committed to operate that undertaking under the same terms and conditions as those in effect under the current licence.
The Commission is consequently inviting comments on the particulars of these applications, as well as on the potential effects that approval of these applications would have on the broadcasting industry as a whole.
Applicant's address:
P.O. Box 12155, Station "A"
17 Duffy Place
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
A1B 4L1
Fax: 709-754-3883
E-Mail: dmacdonald@personainc.ca
And today - just a couple of days later - the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador signs the fibre-optic contract that gives great additional value to Persona - right upon the sale of the company.
And was it the great deal talked about?
Who knows?
The government issued a -
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT
between
Persona Communications Corporation and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador - not the consortium talked about during the whole debate on the potential conflict between the head of Persona - Dean MacDonald and our Premier.
From the details provided - MTS Allstream - Rogers and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador are owners/users of numbers of strands on a network - that Persona will build and own - referred to as the Atlantic Cable Facility.
Indefeasible Right of Use Agreement (IRU) - The IRU granted between Persona and the Provincial Government is for an initial term of 20 years, with the right to renew.
Does this mean we own the strands for 20 years?
Who has the right to renew - at what cost?
I thought we would own them!
Then there is this:
All fibre strands are "dark", that is, the equipment necessary to use the fibres will be the separate responsibility of government. Persona will make available, should the Provincial Government request it, space, electricity, back-up power, air conditioning, etc. at any of its equipment shelters along the fibre route.
How much will it cost to have use of the Persona equipment?
Will that form another agreement - value adding to Persona again?
Then this:
The Provincial Government has an initial 10-year period in which maintenance will be provided at Persona's cost. After this period, the actual average annual cost will be determined and shared amongst the IRU parties based on a sharing formula, with Persona performing the work for an administration fee based on 25 per cent of the costs.
Well now - after 10 years and after Danny is gone - we have maintenance costs - which we cannot know - because we don't have the sharing formula - we don't know what percentage of this we "own/lease/rent".
And to top it all off we add value again to Persona by contributing to an administration fee equalling 25% of the maintenance cost (?).
And last but not least this:
Persona and the IRU parties will share in the cost of catastrophic failure of the cable. For instance, should a break occur on the underwater portion, a ship would be retained to raise the cable and repair it. Costs will be shared on a formula based on the number of strands each party owns in the segment that failed.
We have no clue what portion of what segment we own - we are not told - but we could be responsible for close to an entirety of a catastrophic failure - even though we are not the owners of the facility - we are IRU's for 20 years. Once again adding to the value to Persona.
And all of this comes on the wake of CRTC announcing the request for Personna to be sold to Bragg Communications under a wholly owned subsidiary - and a few days after 4402511 CANADA INC changes it's Corporate name.
What is the value to Dean MacDonald personally from this transaction?
What value has been added to this pending sale based on the contract with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador?
Remember what was said when we all asked why a Request for Proposals was not issued by government for a new fibre optic arrangement. It was said and widely reported by government and Dean MacDonald that all parties that could be involved were.
That's strange - because on the heels of the sweetheart deal with Persona - Bragg Communication has no problem getting involved - in fact they are going to buy Persona - to get in on the action.
And back to that mailbox - Oxford Frozen foods sells quite a few blueberries.
Blueberries can be pretty potent when left to ferment - and then any politician can get drunk with power.
Anybody other than me find it ironic that the new fibre-optic facility is called Atlantic Cable? That's original - the last one the boys sold was Cable Atlantic. I wonder is this just an inside joke?
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Amazing Persona and the Magic Hat
That always sounded like a magic act to me. And presto - now you see em now you don't.
I wonder if that's what happened to the Dean Macdonald "this is a local company" cable operator?
One thing for sure - this company with it's partners in the great "Newfoundland" fibre optic trek - apparently needed money to make the "second" line project viable.
The thing that bothers me most about this magic trick - is the company that ended up buying out the Amazing Persona.
Here's the News Release
What's up with this?
You see - if you think back and remember what was said regarding the contribution of public money to the fibre optic project - Macdonald and Williams along with Minister Taylor explained the money was needed because there were no other possible partners to go in on the deal. They had the only possible partners in the deal - so government money was needed.
Now let's be logical - East Link - Bragg Communications can afford to buy out the entirety of the Amazing Persona but what? Could not afford to be a partner in the fibre-optic project? I think not!
So what is the truth?
Where does this leave the Auditor General's review - considering a portion of it would be to review Persona's need for Government money?
Which companies are involved in the fibre-optic project now? Which one received government money? Is there an official consortium yet? Does it have a name?
The sale made the whole thing look more questionable to me - who will go after the answers?
Are MTS and Rogers still involved?
Will their interests in the project be bought out?
Did the government money help the sale potential of Persona?
I wonder if that's what happened to the Dean Macdonald "this is a local company" cable operator?
One thing for sure - this company with it's partners in the great "Newfoundland" fibre optic trek - apparently needed money to make the "second" line project viable.
The thing that bothers me most about this magic trick - is the company that ended up buying out the Amazing Persona.
Here's the News Release
What's up with this?
You see - if you think back and remember what was said regarding the contribution of public money to the fibre optic project - Macdonald and Williams along with Minister Taylor explained the money was needed because there were no other possible partners to go in on the deal. They had the only possible partners in the deal - so government money was needed.
Now let's be logical - East Link - Bragg Communications can afford to buy out the entirety of the Amazing Persona but what? Could not afford to be a partner in the fibre-optic project? I think not!
So what is the truth?
Where does this leave the Auditor General's review - considering a portion of it would be to review Persona's need for Government money?
Which companies are involved in the fibre-optic project now? Which one received government money? Is there an official consortium yet? Does it have a name?
The sale made the whole thing look more questionable to me - who will go after the answers?
Are MTS and Rogers still involved?
Will their interests in the project be bought out?
Did the government money help the sale potential of Persona?
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