A few days ago - Sue's Blog wrote a piece on Danny's appointment to Alderon. In that blog I also mentioned others who also ended up under the employ of that mining company.
One of the individuals was Gary Norris former Public Servant - and most recently he held the post of Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to the Cabinet.
From there came a call from Polemic and Paradox - Peter Whittle - that this was a conspiracy piece and challenged the integrity of one Gary Norris.
What my blog did do was list a series of facts. What one draws from the facts is entirely up to the reader.
Gary Norris is now a VP of a publicly traded company operating in Newfoundland and Labrador. His resume is listed under the companies website.
The questions that come to mind for me are the following:
1. Did Gary Norris at any time during his public employ meet with any representative/s of Alderon?
2. Did Gary Norris at any time during his public employ advise the Cabinet or then Premier Danny Williams on matters of mining or energy legislation.
3. Did Gary Norris ever recommend and legislative or public policy initiative that would have been beneficial to a private sector company involved in natural resource development? (that does not assume the legislation would have been inappropriate)
4. Did Gary Norris apply for the job with Alderon - or otherwise did Alderon come looking for Gary Norris? If the latter - how would Alderon been familiar with Gary Norris?
5. Did former Premier Danny Williams ever talk to Alderon executives about Gary Norris for possible employment?
The following questions are also applicable for Todd Burlingame who also ended up at Alderon after a stint with Nalcor as part of the negotiating team for Muskrat Falls.
These are reasonable questions and may or may not be answered as the private sector sees fit. I guess we should also look at rules surrounding former executive level bureaucrats and their entry into the private sector.
When so much power is in the hands of one - rules must certainly be the equalizer.
Showing posts with label IOC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IOC. Show all posts
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Keep the Train Running Choo Choo - Brian - Danny - Dean
Let's see if we can follow a path.
I really appreciate these routes from here to there.
Today comes the announcement that former Premier Danny Williams has accepted an appointment as Special Advisor to the Chairman of Alderon Iron Ore Corporation.
In this case he follows his Former Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to the Cabinet - Gary Norris who announced his retirement when? Well that was announced on November 30th 2010 and took effect December 3rd of 2010.
He had been appointed to the position by Danny on May 30th 2007.
Danny's Retirement Announced on November 25th of 2010 effective December 3rd of 2010.
Well just so happens that Gary Norris had also landed at Alderon - yes he in fact is the Executive VP - Government and Community Affairs - Alderon.
Now Gary Norris held the position of Deputy Clerk - under Brian Tobin - then as Clerk under Beaton Tulk then was moved out of the office by Roger Grimes when he became Premier.
Now Alderon also has another familiar name - Brian Dalton - he is on the Board of Alderon - and of course is the President and CEO of Altius Minerals. Then of course:
Altius entered into an agreement with respect to its Kamistiatusset ("Kami") iron ore project in November 2009 as part of its merchant-banking like approach to co-found a new public company to explore the project and western Labrador region. The agreement resulted in the restructuring and financing of Alderon Resources Corp. (ADV:TSX-V) who in December 2010 fulfilled its option agreement terms with Altius to earn 100% interest in the Kamistiatusset iron ore project (“Kami”) by issuing Altius 32,285,006 payment shares of Alderon (representing approximately 37% of the issued Alderon common shares). Altius also retains a 3% gross sales royalty relating to any potential future mining operations.
Now Brian Dalton did this: The royalty was created in June 2005 following 2 years of successful exploration in the CMB when Altius and its partner, Fronteer Development Group, restructured their exploration alliance as part of a longer-term business strategy to create a new pure uranium company - Aurora Energy Resources Inc. (TSX:AXU). The agreement structure and launch of Aurora effectively converted Altius property ownership into an equity stake in the new uranium company and an underlying royalty covering Aurora's Labrador properties. By October 2007 Altius had sold its entire equity stake in Aurora for gross proceeds in excess of $200 million, while still retaining its royalty position over the properties.
Now Aurora then appointed Dean MacDonald to it's Board of Directors - problem was Dean was also the Chair of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. The appointment lasted 48 hours. Dean resigned - funny that.
Meanwhile back at the ranch there was a fellow called Todd Burlingame - who up until 2011 was sitting as the Manager of Environment and Aboriginal Affairs for Nalcor including during the Joint Review Panel. Well guess what? Mr. Burlingame is also now on the payroll of Alderon and was appointed the same day as Gary Norris.
Mark J. Morabito Executive Chairman Board of Alderon - described Burlingame and Norris this way: “Our Executive VP of Environmental and Aboriginal Affairs is Todd Burlingame,” Morabito adds. "His last big permitting project was the Lower Churchill hydro project, 3,000 megawatts and right in the same area with all the same stakeholders. Gary Norris was the former head of the Newfoundland civil service; he’s our VP of Government and Community Affairs."
Next of course we will follow then the path of Canadian Imperial Venture Corporation, Brian Tobin, Consolidated Thompson, Dean MacDonald, Persona, Cable Atlantic - and all the Labrador projects you can suffer.
Also we have to see what all were up to when in November of 2011 Province to Participate in Asian Conference in Support of Mineral Exploration and Investment Opportunities
Participating companies include Alderon Iron Corporation, Altius Minerals Corporation, Century Iron Mines, Grand River Ironsands, Labrador Iron Mines, and New Millennium Iron Corporation.
By the way is Dean going to run for the leader of the Liberal Party or will he try and influence from another position within the party? Gotta keep the train going. Brian Choo Choo - Danny Choo Choo - and Dean Choo Choo. What kind of train do you think they might be operating?
I really appreciate these routes from here to there.
Today comes the announcement that former Premier Danny Williams has accepted an appointment as Special Advisor to the Chairman of Alderon Iron Ore Corporation.
In this case he follows his Former Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to the Cabinet - Gary Norris who announced his retirement when? Well that was announced on November 30th 2010 and took effect December 3rd of 2010.
He had been appointed to the position by Danny on May 30th 2007.
Danny's Retirement Announced on November 25th of 2010 effective December 3rd of 2010.
Well just so happens that Gary Norris had also landed at Alderon - yes he in fact is the Executive VP - Government and Community Affairs - Alderon.
Now Gary Norris held the position of Deputy Clerk - under Brian Tobin - then as Clerk under Beaton Tulk then was moved out of the office by Roger Grimes when he became Premier.
Now Alderon also has another familiar name - Brian Dalton - he is on the Board of Alderon - and of course is the President and CEO of Altius Minerals. Then of course:
Altius entered into an agreement with respect to its Kamistiatusset ("Kami") iron ore project in November 2009 as part of its merchant-banking like approach to co-found a new public company to explore the project and western Labrador region. The agreement resulted in the restructuring and financing of Alderon Resources Corp. (ADV:TSX-V) who in December 2010 fulfilled its option agreement terms with Altius to earn 100% interest in the Kamistiatusset iron ore project (“Kami”) by issuing Altius 32,285,006 payment shares of Alderon (representing approximately 37% of the issued Alderon common shares). Altius also retains a 3% gross sales royalty relating to any potential future mining operations.
Now Brian Dalton did this: The royalty was created in June 2005 following 2 years of successful exploration in the CMB when Altius and its partner, Fronteer Development Group, restructured their exploration alliance as part of a longer-term business strategy to create a new pure uranium company - Aurora Energy Resources Inc. (TSX:AXU). The agreement structure and launch of Aurora effectively converted Altius property ownership into an equity stake in the new uranium company and an underlying royalty covering Aurora's Labrador properties. By October 2007 Altius had sold its entire equity stake in Aurora for gross proceeds in excess of $200 million, while still retaining its royalty position over the properties.
Now Aurora then appointed Dean MacDonald to it's Board of Directors - problem was Dean was also the Chair of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. The appointment lasted 48 hours. Dean resigned - funny that.
Meanwhile back at the ranch there was a fellow called Todd Burlingame - who up until 2011 was sitting as the Manager of Environment and Aboriginal Affairs for Nalcor including during the Joint Review Panel. Well guess what? Mr. Burlingame is also now on the payroll of Alderon and was appointed the same day as Gary Norris.
Mark J. Morabito Executive Chairman Board of Alderon - described Burlingame and Norris this way: “Our Executive VP of Environmental and Aboriginal Affairs is Todd Burlingame,” Morabito adds. "His last big permitting project was the Lower Churchill hydro project, 3,000 megawatts and right in the same area with all the same stakeholders. Gary Norris was the former head of the Newfoundland civil service; he’s our VP of Government and Community Affairs."
Next of course we will follow then the path of Canadian Imperial Venture Corporation, Brian Tobin, Consolidated Thompson, Dean MacDonald, Persona, Cable Atlantic - and all the Labrador projects you can suffer.
Also we have to see what all were up to when in November of 2011 Province to Participate in Asian Conference in Support of Mineral Exploration and Investment Opportunities
Participating companies include Alderon Iron Corporation, Altius Minerals Corporation, Century Iron Mines, Grand River Ironsands, Labrador Iron Mines, and New Millennium Iron Corporation.
By the way is Dean going to run for the leader of the Liberal Party or will he try and influence from another position within the party? Gotta keep the train going. Brian Choo Choo - Danny Choo Choo - and Dean Choo Choo. What kind of train do you think they might be operating?
Monday, August 06, 2007
Who needs MP's or MHA's - Get a Lobbyist
Despite the ignorance of Ryan Cleary and those who continue to quote him - lobbyists have to be registered in Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.
Danny wanted to get rid of the Gary Ansteys of the world so he said we will have the legislature enact "lobbyist" legislation. Apparently that fell short when Dean MacDonald was lobbying for provincial funds for the fibre optic deal nevertheless there is a registry for everybody else.
In either case - seeing how Ryan and flunkies want to lay cards on the table let's see who has been and who is a lobbyist. Working the front-rooms in the back-room trying to get their clients some leverage with governments one way or the other. These are the people who have government's ear.
Who are they? Well many of them are politico's who have sucked up to some leader or party and are deemed to have a "close" relationship with a PM or Premier. Others are just our politicians - retired - who can do more for people after they get out.
For instance back in the Liberal days:
Gary Anstey was federally registered as a lobbyist for:
Kruger
Voisey's Bay
Petro-Canada
FPI
Husky Oil
Hibernia Management and Development
Iron Ore Company
North Atlantic Refiningand the list goes on...
Based on what was accomplished and all the perks and giveaways the people say the Liberals did under Tobin/Grimes et al. he basically wrote the Liberal Policy Book.
And these guys want a chance to do that again. Remember there was no provincial lobbyist registry at that time.
Winston Baker (remember him?)
He was registered as a lobbyist because some company wanted to buy the Newfoundland Dockyard Corporation.
Or how about Ed Roberts ( you know our Lieutenant Governor)
Well he has lobbied on behalf of the St. John's Port Corporation and in the registry was listed as a lobbyist for Mel Woodward's company (Coastal Shipping) from 1997 - 2005.
Then there's our Brian (Tobin) who is up there now lobbying for Rogers. He also lobbied on behalf of SeaRay dealers (boats and yachts) to avoid any retaliation from the US during the softwood lumber dispute. Of course he was also the lobbyist for the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association. (Dean were you ever the head of that?)Brian - the so called Liberal with the really good Tory connections.
And John Crosbie - he lobbied for Texada land Corporation a real estate developer in BC. They bought up thousands of acres of land in an environmentally important area. Residents of the area were in the process of trying to preserve it when the purchase occurred. So I guess Texada needed a hand to sell the property to government - federal or provincial.
And this is just the tip of that iceberg. Where is John Fitzgerald - the fellow we pay to get things done in Ottawa. You know set up meetings etc. - what is he doing? dodging lobbyists?
This is how it works people - your MP's are useless - get a lobbyist. Apparently Tim Powers an unelected spin doctor is seen to have more influence with the Prime Minister than Loyola Hearn our Minister? What about our Minister of Energy - what about Kathy Dunderdale? Can you get a meeting or what? Any chance Dean MacDonald or Ed Martin can get in there?
And what is Tim exactly lobbying for? Does he know what the yet unreleased energy plan says?
This is just the federal scene. Let's really look at who is being paid to influence politicians.
Danny wanted to get rid of the Gary Ansteys of the world so he said we will have the legislature enact "lobbyist" legislation. Apparently that fell short when Dean MacDonald was lobbying for provincial funds for the fibre optic deal nevertheless there is a registry for everybody else.
In either case - seeing how Ryan and flunkies want to lay cards on the table let's see who has been and who is a lobbyist. Working the front-rooms in the back-room trying to get their clients some leverage with governments one way or the other. These are the people who have government's ear.
Who are they? Well many of them are politico's who have sucked up to some leader or party and are deemed to have a "close" relationship with a PM or Premier. Others are just our politicians - retired - who can do more for people after they get out.
For instance back in the Liberal days:
Gary Anstey was federally registered as a lobbyist for:
Kruger
Voisey's Bay
Petro-Canada
FPI
Husky Oil
Hibernia Management and Development
Iron Ore Company
North Atlantic Refiningand the list goes on...
Based on what was accomplished and all the perks and giveaways the people say the Liberals did under Tobin/Grimes et al. he basically wrote the Liberal Policy Book.
And these guys want a chance to do that again. Remember there was no provincial lobbyist registry at that time.
Winston Baker (remember him?)
He was registered as a lobbyist because some company wanted to buy the Newfoundland Dockyard Corporation.
Or how about Ed Roberts ( you know our Lieutenant Governor)
Well he has lobbied on behalf of the St. John's Port Corporation and in the registry was listed as a lobbyist for Mel Woodward's company (Coastal Shipping) from 1997 - 2005.
Then there's our Brian (Tobin) who is up there now lobbying for Rogers. He also lobbied on behalf of SeaRay dealers (boats and yachts) to avoid any retaliation from the US during the softwood lumber dispute. Of course he was also the lobbyist for the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association. (Dean were you ever the head of that?)Brian - the so called Liberal with the really good Tory connections.
And John Crosbie - he lobbied for Texada land Corporation a real estate developer in BC. They bought up thousands of acres of land in an environmentally important area. Residents of the area were in the process of trying to preserve it when the purchase occurred. So I guess Texada needed a hand to sell the property to government - federal or provincial.
And this is just the tip of that iceberg. Where is John Fitzgerald - the fellow we pay to get things done in Ottawa. You know set up meetings etc. - what is he doing? dodging lobbyists?
This is how it works people - your MP's are useless - get a lobbyist. Apparently Tim Powers an unelected spin doctor is seen to have more influence with the Prime Minister than Loyola Hearn our Minister? What about our Minister of Energy - what about Kathy Dunderdale? Can you get a meeting or what? Any chance Dean MacDonald or Ed Martin can get in there?
And what is Tim exactly lobbying for? Does he know what the yet unreleased energy plan says?
This is just the federal scene. Let's really look at who is being paid to influence politicians.
When you try to take the feet out from under a citizen lobbying on behalf of people -unpaid - and in public - you should really remember who the real lobbyists are. You live in really big houses but they are made of glass.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
I'm for the Labrador Party
As I listened to one employee of the iron ore company express reasoned support for Ron Barron of the Labrador Party in the upcoming by-election in Labrador West - I was genuinely jealous. In a positive way of course.
I would love to see Mr. Barron pull it out and become the first Labrador Party MHA - it would be a great victory for Labrador. A party not affiliated with any of the federal lot and not the typical Tory - Liberal townies or Islanders leading policy direction.
It would be a real plus for Labrador if they elected 4 LP MHA's in the next general election. It would turn the House of Assembly on its behind and force the legislature to consider the "big land" in everything it does.
If it is true that St. John's and environ will boom from oil - it is safe to say that Lab West will lead the way in tremendous economic growth over the next couple of decades for virtually every other resource. Labrador will become the hub of growth and it is only right that the region enjoy the benefits of resource development.
When I think of our future - I think of Labrador - and the sooner that is generally known the better. It will help to break down the barriers built by the political Island mentality toward this great place.
I can only imagine Question Period in the HOA where everybody gets to see the politically unfettered questions from Labrador. The logic of investing heavily in Labrador - from transportation infrastructure to secondary processing of resources - will become clear. That in turn will make the province much stronger - economically and culturally.
This time I hope Labrador wins.
I would love to see Mr. Barron pull it out and become the first Labrador Party MHA - it would be a great victory for Labrador. A party not affiliated with any of the federal lot and not the typical Tory - Liberal townies or Islanders leading policy direction.
It would be a real plus for Labrador if they elected 4 LP MHA's in the next general election. It would turn the House of Assembly on its behind and force the legislature to consider the "big land" in everything it does.
If it is true that St. John's and environ will boom from oil - it is safe to say that Lab West will lead the way in tremendous economic growth over the next couple of decades for virtually every other resource. Labrador will become the hub of growth and it is only right that the region enjoy the benefits of resource development.
When I think of our future - I think of Labrador - and the sooner that is generally known the better. It will help to break down the barriers built by the political Island mentality toward this great place.
I can only imagine Question Period in the HOA where everybody gets to see the politically unfettered questions from Labrador. The logic of investing heavily in Labrador - from transportation infrastructure to secondary processing of resources - will become clear. That in turn will make the province much stronger - economically and culturally.
This time I hope Labrador wins.
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