PNP deal seemed too easy: businessman
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008
CBC
A P.E.I. businessman who received investment money from a potential immigrant through the Provincial Nominee Program says the process seemed too easy.
‘I didn’t probably spend more than 45 minutes total.’— Peter Metaxas
Peter Metaxas owns SEC Heat Exchangers in Vernon River, a company that buys and sells heat exchangers around the world.
Metaxas said he was advised in late summer to get some of the immigrant investor money available under the federal-provincial program, which ended on Sept. 2.
He received one payment, $42,000, from an immigrant who wants to move to Canada. In total, the immigrant put up $200,000 for the right to come here, pending health and security checks.
Other recipients included an agent, who got $45,000, a lawyer, about $6,000, and the government, $2,500. Some of the money was a deposit, returned if the immigrant stayed on P.E.I. for a year and learned English.
Metaxas said he never met the agent or the investor, and he was surprised at how easy the process was.
“It’s not like someone just said, ‘Knock, knock. Here’s some money.’ But I didn’t probably spend more than 45 minutes total — maybe an hour and a half if you included my travelling time to the lawyer — to get [about] $40,000,” he said.
Will follow plan
Metaxas said he will spend the money according to a business plan drawn up by his accountant. He doesn’t know if anyone from the program will ever check to make sure that happens.
Metaxas believes the program could be a good economic stimulus for P.E.I., but he would be more comfortable if the investors had more of a role.
The immigrant partner section of the Provincial Nominee Program underwent a drastic change in September, requiring up to $1 million from potential immigrants.
In the three months leading up to that change, the province processed 1,800 applicants. In previous years, the program typically attracted a few hundred immigrants.
P.E.I.’s auditor general has announced an investigation of the PNP, one that could go back to its inception in 2001.
Viewer comments
Try Me Extortion Force wrote:
How’s this for a conspiricy theory for you,
Ghiz did not replace the mid and high level burocrats and as such they were mainly card carrying PC supporters. The program becomes changed as it is winding down soon and the PC’s see it as a way to turn the people against the Liberals by gving everyone and their dog easy access to the cash, barely any waiting periods hundreds of millions just thrown out everywhere, some I can almost guarentee you is easily give to shell companies. How many companies/bussiness’s are there really on PEI that can justify this amount of capital injected into them in such a short time frame?? Not that many to justify 400 million or so. So the cash is gone under the changed Liberal plan given out to the companies by PC supporters, the PC supporters then canvas the web, this comments section The Guardians comments section and other web sites stating things such as, I voted Liberal last election but man after this PNP program I will never vote Liberal again, this is corruption at it’s finest, the Liberals have really done it this time. I would never have thought about voting PC but after this blatent Liberal scandal I will never vote Liberal again. All in a ploy to destroy the Liberal party’s public image and insure a PC victory next election. I believe there is more to this story and that there is a very blatent trail out there. The federal election was around the time this program was done and the cash was all gone. Something is fishy here and I think the smell is comming from somewhere else all the while trying to appear to be comming from the obvious. And just for everyone’s knowelge I am not a carrier of either party and I have voted for representatives of both parties the NDP and sometimes I have destroyed my ballot.
redfox47 wrote:
his whole PNP program reeks to the High Heavens. How many more people received large amounts of money and their lawyer and political friends as well?
What I don’t understand is how does PEI benefit from this program. Was the money used to stimulate the economy, provide jobs for Islanders, enhance the Island or what?. From this man’s story (and probably a whole lot more like him) he hardly had to do anything, his road was already paved in advance. He must have had some political connections as ordinary Islanders were not aware of the program (they were hiding it all for themselves) and even if they did, they would not have been able to access it very easily,
Richard Brown has a lot of explaining to do and if the former Consverative government were also guilty of mismangement, they should be questioned and held accountable as well.
The latest incident of trying to sell Pres Elect Obama’s Senate seat by the crooked Governor of Illinois is a prime example of how power can corrupt and how crooked some politicians are.
I just wonder what will be revealed when they complete the Audit. How can Richard Brown prevent them from calling on provincial employees that administered the program. Where does he get the power to do that?
An article in The Guardian mentions how quickly governments fall when they are perceived as being arrogant. If there is unlawful activity with this PNP program, the monies should be returned and put in the Island Treasury to help Islanders with health care and heating bills.
The Government wasn’t long to shut down the Corporation website where we could see who actually were the owners of the business etc. It sure looks like they are trying their best to cover things up. They won’t last too long in power if they are found with their greedy fingers in the cookie jar. They already blew over $400 thousand of tax payers money in a concert that nobody wanted anyway. Concerts don’t help the ordinary Islander, just the bars, restaurants and hotel industries. So why does the tax payer have to pick up the tab when the concert bombs. If Island business wants to be all gung ho about bringing in a concert, let them put some money up towards it. If it’s a go, then they can get their money back and if it’s a bust, they run the risk of losing their investment. I highly doubt if they want to invest or lose any of their money.
The Itchy Beaver wrote:
Some suggest the Deputy Mininster got money the same day he applied…
As far as the agent, look into Norman Cleary Consultants for a bankroll that was choked by Chinese water torture…
QEH did okay as Norman and his front man from Halifax did the ‘community thing.’ Too funny !!
Mick Stagger wrote:
Who was the middleman..and what did he have to do to get that money??what was his political affilation?
