Archive for October 2008
Current, former ministers summoned to talk about immigrant program
Liberal majority on the committee blocked Opposition Leader Olive Crane call former deputy ministers
The Guardian
TERESA WRIGHT
The current and former ministers of the department that oversaw the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) are being summoned to appear before the public accounts committee as it moves forward in an investigation of the program.
But the decision to call only Innovation Minister Richard Brown and former minister Mike Currie to appear before the committee was not unanimous.
In a move reminiscent of the 2005 Polar Foods inquiry, the Liberal majority on the committee blocked attempts by Opposition Leader Olive Crane Thursday to call the current and former deputy ministers of the department and bureaucrats who administered the Provincial Nominee Program to appear before the committee.
A similar situation happened in 2005 when public accounts was probing the Polar Foods controversy. The then-Conservative majority on the committee blocked the Liberal Opposition from calling shareholders of Polar Foods and top provincial bureaucrats to testify.
Wind energy plan will affect many
The Journal Pioneer
Editor,
I attended the recent monthly meeting of the Summerside City Council to support the opposition to the site selection of the proposed wind farm development in St. Eleanor’s.
I would like to inform those who live in these neighbourhoods you are going to be directly effected by this development.
Residents of North Drive and Decker Road will have 400-plus ft. wind turbine in their back yard. Residents of Gavin Estates may not yet have a turbine in our backyard, but we will hear and see the flicker from two of the four that are proposed – it will be louder than the noise from the highway.
Brown, MacMillan need to answer PNP questions
By Paul MacNeil
Eastern Graphic
Now that the Public Accounts Committee has the go ahead from the auditor general to launch a parallel investigation of the controversial Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the question becomes whether Liberals will co-operate or stymie the committee’s work.
During the Polar Foods debacle – a controversy with similar themes of government abuse – the then Liberal opposition pushed to have not only Mike Currie, the minister responsible, testify, but also Kent Scales who at the time was head of PEI Business Development Inc.
Top 8 story on YouTube – This Hour Has Five & 1/2 Minutes
“This Hour Has Five & ½ Minutes” was the #8 news video on YouTube October 29, 2008
Comments from viewers were
“Smooth job, keep up the good work”
“Bravo”
“Ha ha! Awesome”
“It was great. I laughed and laughed”
“Take me off your mailing list”
New Promo
Catch “This Hour Has Five & ½ Minutes” and know the buzz.
Don’t give away our wind energy
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editor:
We are about to give away the only uptapped natural resource on P.E.I. – wind energy. The deal is being cut by an inexperienced premier with billionaire businessmen who are capable of getting the upper hand. In my opinion, we will lose our future independence for some short-term cash.
The federal government and provinces control their natural resources and it makes them rich. Oil, gas and timber are controlled provincially. The federal and provincial governments control mining and minerals. Other than P.E.I., all provinces control electrical energy.
Not only do these resources produce billions of tax and royalty revenues, their control is strategic. We are only tenants in our own province when other countries control the natural resources.
P.E.I. is about to give away that resource, for future benefits yet to be negotiated. We will have the resource stolen from under our noses.
This Hour Has Five and 1/2 Minutes – did you see them?
This Hour Has Five & 1/2 Minutes - don’t miss them
Pilot episode
-
- Headlines – like never before
- Premier Ghiz says don’t worry be happy
- UPEI Priceless – remix
- Pete from Peakes – commentary
- Alanis Morissette – what’s going on behind the scenes
Not Just the News – the whole story
This Hour Has Five and 1/2 Minutes
Wind power remains a volatile issue
Editor: the Ghiz government is on media and damage control on wind energy issues. Private meetings, fancy press-releases…hold onto your wallets they want to steal the wind energy for their rich friends. Why don’t Islanders own the wind energy? That was the original plan.
ERIC MCCARTHY
The Journal Pioneer
O’LEARY CORNER – Donald Harper says his property in Norway used to be peaceful. That changed after a V-90 wind turbine was erected near his home.
“I’m not very happy about it. It’s not a nice thing to have around your home,” he told energy minister George Webster last night.
Harper was among about 140 West Prince residents who attended a meeting at O’Leary Corner to express their opposition to wind energy development in their communities.
Don’t ruin Confederation Trail
Editor: We agree with this writer. The Confederation Trail was a project that thousands of Islanders worked since 1989. It is an important part of our lives.
The easements he has granted will last for centuries. What right does Premier Ghiz have to give it away to this rich friends?
If he wants to run on the platform of selling off PEI to his rich friends, call an election. Otherwise back off. As my mother would say, Mr. Ghiz you have unmitigated gall.
The Confederation Trail is ours not his.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Editor:
As a frequent user of the Confederation Trail, I want to add my name to the growing list of irate people over the construction of power lines along the Confederation Trail.
Last weekend, I joined hundreds of Islanders and people from other parts of Canada and other countries, who took part in the Island Marathon. Many spoke to me about the beauty of running the section on the Confederation Trail from Tracadie to the Brackley Point Road. I asked them how they would feel if the trail had power lines constructed carrying 138,000 volts of electricity beside the trail. I informed them about the 29 kilometres of power lines that are to be constructed along the trail in Prince County. They were shocked.
PEI Job Opportunities for the next decade
100s of lawyers needed
The Ghiz government has gotten into full swing with it’s bold economic policies. We’re expecting great wealth to be created over the next 5 to 10 years.
To make sure you are ready for the boom, we are listing the top ten job opportunities for the new era.
200+ job opportunities
Law, criminal lawyer – can prosecute rich Liberal Millionaires for criminal fraud
Accountants, tax – able to protect $500 from Canada Taxation and Revenue
Teachers, English – Grade XIII required
Interpreters, Chinese to English and vice versa
Even more accountants are needed
Liberals are worried – they aren’t all crooks and are loyal
Premier Robert Ghiz, the boy who would be king?
Most Liberals on PEI are horrified at the Liberal Immigrant Scam. First they didn’t get in on it and second it’s pretty ugly looking.
One Liberal who has a love hate on for Robert Ghiz is entrepreneur Tim Banks who takes a shot at Ghiz today for the cabinet incompetence. (See note if the link doesn’t work). Of course they’re incompetent, they just got off jobs as executive assistants, car loans officers and care workers. But Ghiz is no genius either: his best job before Premier was water-boy to Prime Minister Chretien.
I’d say that’s bad advice from Banks who knows lots about management. Ghiz will need all the loyalty he can get when the Public Accounts Committee, RCMP, Auditor General and the Federal Auditor General weigh in on the slime and scum on Rochford Street. Those boys and girls better stay thick as thieves, even if they are the gang that can’t shoot straight.
Myrtle Jenkins Smith on her way to first $1 million
Myrtle Jenkins Smith, almost at her first million
Liberal party organizer and business person Myrtle Jenkins Smith is on her way to her first $1 million dollars in the Liberal Millionaires Club. CBC Compass reported today that the Province of PEI forgave OUTSIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL INC.the $300,000 loan for the Alanis Morissette music concert.
Smith, a partner in Outside Music with Mark Carr-Rollitt, has been the recipient of Liberal Government patronage of more than $500,000 since the election prior to the Morissette show. This puts her tally now at $800,000.
The patronage wasted on Smith and others in the Liberal Millionaires Club is a barrier to reform of the PEI Disability Support Program.
Premier Ghiz insensitive to rural PEI
At a news conference in North Cape on Friday, Oct 17, 2008 regarding the construction of wind generating stations, Premier Robert Ghiz is quoted as saying, “Essentially, tax payers are not making an investment whatsoever”.
This shows Mr Ghiz’s complete lack of sensitivity and lack of knowledge about what this wind development means for rural PEI.
Don’t worry humming Premier Ghiz
Don’t worry, be happy.
Ghiz about to give away wind for trinkets
We are giving away the only known natural resource on PEI, wind energy. The deal is being cut by an inexperienced premier with billionaire businessmen who are capable of getting the upper hand. We will lose our future independence for some short term cash for the deficit.
Most provinces and the Federal Government control natural resources and it makes them rich. Oil, gas, and timber are controlled provincially. The federal and provincial governments control mining and minerals. Other than PEI, all provinces control electrical generation.
Opposition to wind turbines growing, with comments
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 | 5:05 PM
CBC News
Some residents of West Prince are concerned about the proximity of wind turbines to houses. (CBC)
As the government of P.E.I. prepares plans to triple wind-power generation on the Island, grassroots opposition to the developments is growing.
Many of those wind turbines are planned for West Prince, the area that currently has the largest wind energy production in the province. Monday night, about two dozen West Prince residents gathered to discuss strategies for lobbying the province to take more care about where the turbines are placed.
Errol and Bev Howard were at the meeting. They built their dream home in Cape Wolfe eight years ago, and say they never would have imagined having turbines across from their front yard.
“It wasn’t even on the radar as far as we were concerned, because no one had told us what was happening,” said Howard.
“We would never have built here if that had been the case, if we had known that.”
The West Cape wind farm near the Howard’s house will have 55 turbines when it’s finished. The province is planning significantly more growth in wind-power generation. On Friday it announced it was making plans to achieve 500 megawatts of wind power on the Island by 2013, up from the current 150 megawatts.
More than 180 residents of West Prince recently signed a petition asking the province to slow down.
What price do Islanders pay for this?” wondered Miminegash resident George Cousins.
“Is it their landscape? Is it their homes? Is it their future? What price are we going to pay for this development?”
West Prince residents are not alone in their concern. On Monday night Summerside residents successfully called for a delay in the vote on a wind-power facility there. They are concerned that the 400-metre buffer zone between the turbines and houses is not sufficient.
“Where’s there’s major wind farms in Europe, and their setbacks are 1.6 kilometres,” said Darlene Compton.
“We feel with the city wanting to put turbines about 400 to 500 metres from the closest residences, that’s just not acceptable.”
City council asked staff to research the health effects of wind turbines so they can make an informed decision when the matter comes back for a vote next month.
Comments
Srakken wrote:
What the heck is wrong with people? Where do you think they are going to put the Turbines? Middle of Charlottetown? Stop being so damn selfish we are talking about clean green energy here. Guess when our children are struggling with the effects of climate change we will have close minded people like you to thank.
PEI-Mac wrote:
Most of these complainants sound as though they want hand outs or buy outs.
These turbines are a great chance at energy price stability in a world oil price volatility. Something that would be for the greater good of all Islanders. In fact if they want they can put one in my backyard and side yards. Lord knows if I could afford to put one up I would. As for those worried about flying ice an as such, have you looked at these machines in action? Not likely to ever fling much of anything.
doonie666 wrote:
What kind of a-hole developer would put a wind turbine 400 lousy meters away from a residence? What the heck is wrong with people?
Mikaedith wrote:
Oh forget it.
Just tear the wind turbines down and go back to burning coal, tearing up the land, polluting everything, and driving up energy costs.That makes MUCH more sense. Sorry for the green energy, won’t happen again, jerks!
Islander77 wrote:
Wind turbines are a much needed “development” for this province. Anyone who doesnt like the look of them should go check out the tar sands in Alberta, or the Pacific coast site of the Exxon Valdez disaster.
The power generated should be available to Islanders on a priority basis when it becomes cheaper than the status quo. Seeing a wind turbine in the distance would, for me. be a very re-assuring sight.
Kevin01 wrote:
Ever notice it is not the young people against these turbines,it is the middle aged and older folks that won’t be around when the world eventually goes down the toilet from this generations irresponsibility, I guess their view is let our kids and grand kids deal with the toxic and volatile enviroment of the future if we don’t start making changes.
How in the h*ll can a turning blade cause health problems, I hope these people don’t have ceiling fans or oscillating fans in thier homes, it may make them sick, and for the noise, do you have traffic near your homes or do you live in a sound proof bubble, even the wind makes noise when it blows.You people better get your priorities straight and stop thinking of yourselves for once.!
Kaodake wrote:
I think residents have some valid concerns. In Japan, when wind turbines are placed too close to residential areas, ambient noise (the constant low-pitch drone) has been demonstrated to cause health problems for residents.
Developers (who don’t live there) adamantly deny this is the case, and locals continue to get sick.In this way, wind-energy is not completely ‘green’ and cannot be considered to have no environmental impact. It’s a bit like claiming that development of a piece of wilderness for use as a golf course would be ‘green’ and have no local impact. Woodlots and brush areas that support wildlife usually must be cleared to allow turbines to be installed. This is definitely disruptive (particularly for birds).
Care must be taken to ensure that the turbines do not cause un-necessary damage to human and animal habitats (as with any power-generating method). Placing turbines off-shore would be a better (but far more expensive) option.
I am willing to bet that those who condenm residents for their opposition do not live in the affected area.
Maritimer wrote:
I’d be concerned too if I had one of these monstrosities in my back yard. Who wants to have their property value decreased through no fault of their own.
Areas of the island should be designated for windmills in advance of residential construction, not the other way around.
JoAnneMyers wrote:
I think some of you need to re-read the story. I don’t beileve anywhere here stated that these people were against green energy, but against the fact that these big, ugly industrial loud windmills have been placed basically all around them.
Therefore, for those of you who bother to do any research, before you start shooting off your mouths, dramatically reduce their property value, and in fact, have been known to cause health problems.. Now I don’t know about you, but if there was something built up around my home that basically made it half of what it was worth, and could cause me to start having sezuires, and constant headaches, I may be a little petrubed.
For all of you that are saying you would be happy to have these in your backyard..well..lets have your names and addresses, so we can let the company in France, who, by the way, owns all these windmills and makes all the money from them, we can let them know to plop one in your yard. Then lets see how “for” it you are!
I would like all you people to drive up and see where all these “selfish jerks” live and imagine it in your neighbourhood. For all of you concerned about energy… do you know how much oil it takes to generate one of these things..hmm..no?? research is a great thing…How many of you are driving hybrid cars? Got rid of those SUV’s and big trucks yet? taking your bike to work? Oh no, that may be an incovience to you..heaven forbid! Look, I am all for reducing and cleaning up this world, but it has to be done responsibly.
The windmills are going to go up, lets face it, but in peoples backyards…come on…pathectic move I think
CruxoftheIssue
don’t think the wind turbines are ugly at all–frankly, I think they are just about the most beautiful sight I’ve seen in decades. Why?
Well, to me, they represent HOPE. Hope that maybe we CAN have a high standard of living WITHOUT completely killing the planet. Let’s face it, without new technology such as WIND, we are all facing extinction….what’s your property value worth then?
I’d like to repeat Kevin01’s comment:Ever notice it is not the young people against these turbines,it is the middle aged and older folks that won’t be around when the world eventually goes down the toilet from this generations irresponsibility, I guess their view is let our kids and grand kids deal with the toxic and volatile enviroment of the future if we don’t start making changes.
Kevin, you are telling it like it is. This is what I’ve seen from my elders and frankly not much else, when you really get down to it. I think it is incredibly sad that our supposedly Older, Wiser generation is so incredibly short-sighted and selfish. But then again, THEY got us here–we would be stupid to expect that THEY will get us out.
Einstein is reported to have said:
You can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking that created them in the first place.Many of this stubborn set would benefit from a bit of introspective thought on those words. The world HAS changed. Adaptation (and fast) IS REQUIRED. I’m sorry that your golden years are not turning out as you once envisioned, but we are trying to plan for a future WAAAAAAAAAY beyond just you. We are trying to build a new future that bears in mind the LONG-TERM best interests of the MANY over the FEW.
So suck it up. Your forefather’s sacrificed for YOU….maybe it’s your turn to sacrifice for YOUR KIDS now. You should be proud of the opportunity, and any arguement other than that for a reasonable set-back, in accordance with health issues, is despicable.
And to the guy that scoffed that anyone would really want a wind turbine in their backyard: My name is Cindy Einfeld, I live in Tyne Valley and yes, I’ve gotten rid of the SUV. Anyone that wants to put a wind turbine up ON MY PROPERTY has my enthusiastic cooperation!
Joshua Peters wrote:
I have been to/seen/heard these windmills in action… The sound they emit is not troublesome. And, although it is of my own prerogative, I believe they are quite beautiful to look at. There are very few health concerns related to the building of these machines, at least no more then having live hydro wires outside of the house… Or pesticides poured on the farmers field next door…
These complaints are almost exclusively from those who have an issue with the sight lines of the machines… To that I can only say, that yes, they may be ugly, but so are power-lines, roads, and other pieces of technological progress; however, unlike the aforementioned items these machines will in the long run help preserve the natural environment. Just remember, that for every wind farm not being built, some other community (perhaps, even yours eventually!) will have a nice big coal burning power plant… Or even better, a nuclear power plant.
Coal Burning Power Plant….. Or (some would say) ugly, clean, profit-raising energy wind turbines????
To me, the choice is pretty obvious. Go back to horse and buggy, those god damn roads and power-lines are hideous.
CanoeMeister wrote:
From what I understand of the article, I support the major concerns raised by residents. As much as I am all for ‘green’ technologies, we have to remember that they are not a cure-all panacea. There are drawbacks to any solution. The largest one with wind turbines, is the consistent noise pollution they produce. Just think to how annoying a loud fan or propeller-driven plane can be. Now, increase its size exponentially and remove the off switch.
Asking the housing buffer be extended from 400 to 1600 meters is not unreasonable.
Peace, Friendship, Respect – (Guswenta)
Cannon wrote:
I know people living in what may become one of the areas affected by windmills and I can assure you it’s not the sight of them that people are worried about. Noise pollution is a serious consider. The noise emitted is listed at 45 decibles and research indicates 40 decibles will wake a person from a deep sleep.
Flicker is another concern. Windmills may look pretty on a nice sunny day, but I’m not so sure the reported flashing lights, reflected off the blades, will be very enjoyable for the residents or people driving along the main highway where these are to be located. Green energies are great, but people and animals must also be taken into consideration before construction.
JoAnneMyers wrote:
I respect everyones opinion..I mean, you would have to be an idiot not to see the benifits of green power. As I believe that these people do. But why are their not stiffer regulations on where these things are being put?
Thats all well and good to be mother earth rahrahrah..put windmills in my back yard.. I don’t care how it affects my property value…haha, yes, until you needed that money to fade into your “golden years” . By defintion of Golden years.. is that old people who really don’t matter anyway??? I don’t think they got the earth in this state on purpose people….really, so lets leave the finger pointing on the playground where it belongs. By the way, I am 33 and have done ALOT of research on these windmills. Green, yes they are…Green as you think… no they are not.
TomDooley wrote:
Interesting comments. I want to add my two cents if I may.
The windmills in question are 600 kW units. The windmills at the Eastern end of PEI are 3000 kW. Therefore it takes 5 turbines of the smaller kind to produce the same power. This makes a bigger visual impact. The smaller units turn at a faster speed. This increases the noise coming of the blades. Multiply the noice by 5 for the smaller units compared to the bigger units.So lets not make blanket statements about windmills when talking about setbacks etc. Yes we need regulations but lets be sensible.
I am more concerned that the Government has given Maritime Electric the power to decide who is eligible to bid on these windpower developments.
Maritime Electric refuses to put transmission lines below ground. This is a real shame. Think of the beautiful vistas we could have if these ugly power lines were put underground.
Northsider wrote:
As mentioned by another reader, the solution may very well be to place the turbines offshore in a manner which increases density of installation so as to absorb the additional costs. But lets stay away from the flyways of migrating birds, and any prevailing currents!
Committee will explore immigrant investor fund
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 | 9:58 AM
CBC.ca
P.E.I.’s public accounts committee will proceed with its own investigation into the Provincial Nominee Program, and how hundreds of millions of dollars of immigrants’ money was handled.
‘Robert Ghiz campaigned on accountability and openness.’
— Opposition MLA Jim Bagnall
The program, which ran from 2001 to Sept. 2 of this year, was designed to boost immigration to the province and raise capital funds for local business. In recent weeks, questions have been raised about where and how that money was invested, and regarding the involvement of government MLAs.
Read the rest of this entry »
Ghiz lost in space – P.E.I. on the right path, Ghiz
And if we’re lost
Then we are lost together,
Blue Rodeo
The reality on PEI is we are highly dependant on how the rest of Canada and the United States is doing. If Canada is in a recession, will Ottawa bail out this spendthrift government of 135,000 people?
It’s scary that this boy trying to be a man, with no experience other being a greeter for Prime Minister Chretien, is leading our Province through the most difficult financial crisis since the Great Depression. SP
WAYNE THIBODEAU
Transcontinental Media
While other provinces are talking about raising taxes, cutting public services or running deficits to weather the looming global recession, Prince Edward Island’s economy is performing better than expected, says Premier Robert Ghiz.
Ghiz said his province should be able to cut its forecast $36.6-million deficit but the Prince Edward Island premier wouldn’t say by how much.
He made those comments in Montreal Monday where Canada’s premiers and territorial leaders were meeting to discuss the current economic crisis.
N.S. government sets criteria for immigration refunds under tainted program
Published: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 | 9:26 AM
Canadian Press: THE CANADIAN PRESS
CBC.ca
HALIFAX, N.S. – The Nova Scotia government is allowing immigrants who came to the province under a tainted business mentorship program to apply for refunds.
The program – which has been sent to the RCMP for review by the province’s auditor general – attracted more than 800 immigrants who paid fees of about $130,000 in return for middle-management job placements.
Apply here to get PNP refunds from lawyers and accountants
Did your lawyer and accountant gouge you?
Island lawyers and accountants were reportedly charging $5,000 to write your cheque under the PNP program. Yes, $5,000 after they charged $70,000 more than their underpaid counterparts in Nova Scotia.
The total legal and accountant fees for each unit on PEI were running to $120,000 which was four times the NS fees.
Michael Wright a crooked lawyer stole $1.7 million from his clients, usually old people and charities to finance his high lifestyle, Daily Mail
Did your lawyer or accountant charge $5,000 each time they wrote a cheque? Considering it probably took 10 minutes for the computer to print the cheque and sign it, that would be…let me see…$30,000 per hour.
CBC in depth – P.E.I.’s $400M question
Was there insider dealing in the Provincial Nominee Program, or is it just bad optics?
Last Updated: Friday, October 10, 2008 | 3:21 PM
CBC.ca
It started with one curious businessman: a packet of documents dropped anonymously into his mailbox has raised serious questions about the biggest business investment program in the history of Prince Edward Island.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), signed by the province and the federal government in 2001, operated without controversy up to the time it ended on Sept. 2, 2008. The agreement allowed people interested in immigrating to Canada to put up money for a new or existing P.E.I. business, and move to Canada if they passed health and security checks.
Read the rest of this entry »
CBC comments – $125M from immigrant program went to P.E.I. government
pilldude wrote:
This is typical of the PEI government. I grew up there but I’m glad I don’t live there now. The money is likely paying salaries to employees in that fancy new building on University avenue.
Instead of trying to improve the economy, the only thing PEI can do is create public sector jobs with federal transfer money.
knightrider2000 wrote:
I would have to agree with you Pilldude about what your saying because its true about the government. Instead of improving the economy they just want to do ntohing about it and only help there own As*es.
Well i hope something is gonna be done about it like putting the wages up to like $10-$11 an hour and they can afford it because they just got this substancial amount of money from this program.
CBC – $125M from immigrant program went to P.E.I. government
Related stories
PEI Disability Alert reported Hiding the deficit on October 9th, 2008 the Liberal Government intended to hide the deficit with the Immigrant investment money. This admission comes as no surprise.
Last Updated: Monday, October 20, 2008 | 7:10 AM
A program meant to promote immigration and raise funds for private business on P.E.I. has also provided $125 million directly to the provincial government.
‘We use the funds to run the program.’
— Innovation Minister Richard Brown
The Provincial Nominee Program ran from 2001 to Sept. 2 of this year. Under the plan, immigrants put up $200,000 and could move to Canada pending health and security checks. Not all of the money goes to business investment. Some of it goes to agent and lawyer fees, and some to deposits.
Is it ethical or not?
By Tony Carroll
Letters to the Editor
Eastern Graphic
October 8th, 2008
Dear Editor,
The Immigration Investment Program will be remembered as one of the biggest scandals in Prince Edward Island history.
Yet Prince Edward Island Liberals are treating it like it is a petty annoyance that will just not go away. Robert Ghiz stated that he was “concerned about how it would look for companies owned by MLAs to receive money from potential immigrants”
I find it funny that Robert Ghiz was only concerned about how this “looked” but not the ethics of the situation.
Premier announces billion dollar wind plan
Editor – with no public consultation, no guarantee of royalties nothing other than the assurance some European companies want our energy, has Premier Ghiz has given away our energy future?
The Newfoundland government fought the federal government, oil companies and mining companies for decades to make sure its citizens were not on welfare forever. What is the deal for PEI’s citizens? SP
STAFF
Transcontinental Media
NORTH CAPE – A 500 megawatt wind power development plan will help provide energy security and price stability to Islanders reducing the province’s dependence on imported power, Premier Robert Ghiz announced Friday.
At an afternoon news conference, the premier outlined provincial wind development policy in a paper called “Island Wind Energy, Securing Our Future: The 10 Point Plan.” It is the first step toward the goal of having 500 megawatts of wind energy produced on Prince Edward Island by 2013.
50,000 videos 9 million viewers
October 16th, 2008
Thursday we passed our 50,000th viewer on YouTube.
The Disability Alert story has been seen by 9 million readers and viewers.
That doesn’t even touch the secondary sites that re-publish the videos and articles.
Those are both phenomenal achievements measured only in your interest and enjoyment. Thank you very much for your support for returning again and again to these pages.
Thanks to Michael LeClair and Trish Clarkin who help so much with the videos and many other things. Thanks to all the volunteers and those unnammed and unsung heros, to the media who cover our stories and to my family for putting up with me writing so much.
I do this to help those who cannot help themselves due to life’s little gift of disability and for no other reason or gain.
There is so much more to do and we’ll have fun doing it.
I am humbled and encouraged by your support. Thanks again.
Note: counts refer to story counts, clicks, and views not unique viewers and readers since many people return to our sites.
Premier Ghiz lost Liberal seat up west
Kipling: Man Who Would Be King, sex, power and money lead to defeat, humility is called for
They say winners in politics only get what the incumbant party loses. This week’s election is proof of that.
There aren’t many Canadians in love with Stephen Harper but Stephane Dion gave him the win by bringing in complex new taxes based on obscure and complex principles before the election. What was he thinking? Obviously, he is not a man to be trusted in a crisis to come to the right conclusion. He had lots of good advice to drop it but his ego or stupidity kept him on the wrong course.
On PEI, Premier Robert Ghiz had the death wish in Prince County. He has been abusing West Prince since the election. Just to seal the loss for the Liberals, during the end of the campaign Ghiz sent Wes Sheridan to announce no support for Summerside Raceway.
Who does blind trust protect?
By Tony Carroll
Eastern Graphic
Tuesday October 14th, 11:21 PM
In order for there to be fairness, there needs to be a full disclosure of facts. This is why organizational behaviourists have begun to focus new attention on informational justice – how organizations control and disclose information to its stakeholders. It has been shown that when there is a lack of perceived informational justice, people perceive organizations with lower trust. Consequently, one can assume that if an organization or its leader has information pertaining to others – a full disclosure of facts would increase others’ sense of trust in them.
…his election motto – “putting Islanders first for a change.” He only forgot to tell us which Islanders.
Federal investigators needed
Stephen Pate
West Prince Graphic
October 14, 2008 10:27 PM
The current investigation into the Immigrant Investor scam on PEI is not likely to yield the truth or justice unless it is beefed up. The people and Province of Prince Edward Island and Canada should not be tarnished with the greedy acts of a small number in their midst.
The Provincial Auditor General and local RCMP are not be up to the task. They need to bring in national RCMP resources and the office of Sheila Fraser, Canada’s Auditor General. They should be involved since the scandal involves federal programs and the scope is beyond local resources.
And justice for all
White collar crime, where people steal without robbing banks, may be attributed to the example of our community leaders. Premier Robert Ghiz and his government have set the worst example in modern Island history of looking out for their own interests. When the police investigate, some of them may go to jail.
The talk is “the politicians have a license to steal.”
It’s no wonder the average person sees white collar crime as an option in their lives. Read the rest of this entry »
Tim Banks bites back
Tim Banks, at the cottage working on his blog?
We came across the item below on Tim Bank’s blog (how does he have the time to Blog?).
We wondered when Banks would wade into the swamp. He criticizes Jim Bagnall for wanting to investigate the PNP program, says he got a grant (or two) under the Tories.
Would Banks be open enough to tell the public how many PNP units he got since the Liberal government came in June 07 and through what companies? Full disclosure includes all his personal and related companies.
Call in the cops and Sheila Fraser
The current investigation into the Immigrant Investor scam on PEI is not likely to yield the truth or justice unless it is beefed up. The people and Province of Prince Edward Island and Canada should not be tarnished with the greedy acts of a small number in their midst.
Sheila Fraser, Canada's Auditor General, she has what it takes
The Provincial Auditor General and local RCMP are not be up to the task. They need to bring in national RCMP resources and the office of Sheila Fraser, Canada’s Auditor General. They should be involved since the scandal involves Federal programs and the scope is beyond local resources.
Immigrant Investing for Dummies, part one
Life is hard enough on this sandbar called Prince Edward Island. We need all the help we can get.
What better help than money from across the continent and oceans.
Let’s get right to it. You want the money and I know how to get it.
Eastern Graphic – Why we applied for the Nominee Program
Paul MacNeil
Eastern Graphic
The Provincial Nominee Program is the story of the day. Serious questions are being raised about the program and its credibility. Serious questions are being raised about whether the program was manipulated to benefit friends of government.
Harness racing money missing: former employee suspected
Last Updated: Friday, October 10, 2008 | 5:16 PM AT
CBC.ca
Harness Racing P.E.I. has called in Charlottetown police to investigate missing money, and a criminal investigation is now focused on a former employee.
Harness Racing P.E.I. started its own investigation after the resignation of an employee in late September. An independent audit showed some money was missing. Neither the police nor Harness Racing P.E.I. will say how much, but they say it is a substantial amount.
Father knows best
My dad was a newsman most of his life. He said a good reporter has to push back from the typewriter.
“Get out of the office and get the story” he’d say when I was writing my columns only from research material.
CBC – Tory MLAs stayed out of PNP: Currie
Last Updated: Thursday, October 9, 2008 | 3:41 PM AT CBC.ca
Mike Currie, MLA Conservative, one Conservative MLA received PNP funds
A survey of Progressive Conservative MLAs has found only one who received any money from the controversial Provincial Nominee Program, says a former Tory cabinet minister.
‘We live in a province where there’s a lot of rumours.’ — PC MLA Mike Currie
Shame on Liberals for blocking investigation
Cynthia Dunsford, Liberal MLA Stratford, one of the Liberals blocking investigation of Immigrant Scam by the Legislature Public Accounts Committee.
October 7, 2008
Liberal members of the PEI Legislature Public Accounts Committee tried to block the investigation of Immigrant Scam today. The Liberal administration scandal and alleged kickbacks to the Liberal Party could be $500 million making it the largest Canadian political scandal and fraud in history.
Immigrant files moved from office
Richard Brown, Liberal Innovation Minister, "There’s nothing sinister going on."
by David MacDonald
david.macdonald@peicanada.com
Eastern Graphic October 8th, 2008
It may have appeared suspicious, but the moving of files relating to the provincial nominee program was nothing more than normal operating procedure, say government officials.
Last Friday, a substantial number of files connected to applicants who applied to the program were moved in an unmarked van from the PEI Business Development office in Charlottetown to a government-owned storage facility in the West Royalty Industrial Park.
Greed and entitlement ruin good men
PEI Premier Robert Ghiz, "some people might find that smelly" CBC Compass October 3 2008
The fees charged to both the investors and the immigrants in the PNP program amount to gouging, profiteering and possibly fraud. Some investors are paying 88% of the investment in fees.
I have personal experience raising private and public (stock market) money in amounts up to $5 million. I have never seen nor would I pay fees like these. With a simple request, lawyers will chop 25% of the fees right off the top since they are usually negotiable. Instead they are tripling their fees because the Liberal government made the rules. The PNP fees are like lambs being led to the slaughter.
