Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Graphic jumps into lead on PNP, CBC lags way behind
By Stephen Pate
NJN News
The Guardian has been doing an improving job of covering the PNP Immigrant Scam; however, this week the Eastern Graphic and publisher Paul MacNeill made a giant leap ahead of everyone with the exclusive coverage of Richard Brown aide Gordon Cobb’s resignation. CBC is not engaged yet and we still wonder why.In one story, the Eastern and West Prince Graphic, both owned by MacNeill’s Island Press, blew the lid off the the Robert Ghiz cover story about the PNP. We expect the new Liberal Big Lie real soon: Mr. Cobb didn’t work on the file, we never hired him and who is Gordon Cobb anyway?
Guardian learns manners and freedom of speech
Happy to report the Guardian printed two comments today without any rough shod editing, Hotel project may move to new locale and Primary industries must lead economic recovery, pre-budget forum told
How lovely to have things return to their former state of grace.
CBC reports Minister broke the law
Allan Campbell says Eastlink submitted an unsolicited proposal to provide rural high-speed internet service. (CBC)
By Stephen Pate
NJN News
January 1, 2008
with story from CBC
CBC reported December 30th, 2008 - No RFP required for Internet deal: minister which means Minister Campbell has broken the law on PEI.
The CBC did not report the illegality of the no tender contract or even question the Minister’s statement which is somewhat unusual. Their story just blandly reports the Campbell’s claim as though he is correct with no research or other opinion.
Rural Development Minister Campbell is reported as saying “There was no need to issue a request for proposals for high-speed Internet service to rural areas of P.E.I., the province’s rural development minister says, because all the major service providers had already submitted proposals.”
The rookie minister is obviously unschooled in public sector procurement policies, the law and the specific laws of Prince Edward Island. Some of the CBC readers apparently know more than Campbell.
According the the PEI Public Purchasing Act and Regulations sections 3 and 4, all goods and services for the Province must be purchased by public tender. Contracts valued at greater than $50,000 must be advertised across the region to comply with Maritime Procurement agreements. NAFTA requires international bidding on contracts worth $8 million such as the Aliant telecom sweetheart deal.
Media see the light on PNP Immigrant Scam
By Stephen Pate
NJN News
December 30, 2008
For months Liberal Millionaires Club, NJN News and “This Hour has 5 & 1/2 Minutes” have been reporting and calling the PNP Immigrant Scam the biggest political scandal in PEI’s history.
It’s nice to see the Guardian agree with us today Nominee program 2008 News Story of Year.
On Friday November 21, 2008 Guardian Editor Gary MacDougall took offense at the characterization. He pulled our comments off the Guardian website, stopped printing PEI Disability Alert letters to the editor or had those letters heavily censored. Read the rest of this entry »
Spinfree EXCLUSIVE: PNP $400 million liability?
By Paul MacNeill
The Eastern Graphic
December 22, 2008
Paul MacNeill, publisher Eastern Graphic
The Ghiz government has exposed the Island to potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in financial liability by pushing through 1,877 immigrant investor files last summer. At the same time it ignored the recommendations of its own consultant and warnings from a senior federal bureaucrat that those investors may never win entry into Canada.
The liability revelation is contained in documents written by a Charlottetown consulting company with expertise in corporate strategies, capital growth, regulatory frameworks and commissioned by Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Richard Brown.
Earlier this fall The Graphic requested a copy of the report under the provincial Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The province has yet to release it.
However, this paper has obtained a copy of the report written by Serge Serviant of the EmaNote Corporation as well as other documentation. A memorandum to Minister Brown states the primary purpose for the creation of the report is “to meet the requirements of preventing abuse or privilege under the law.” Read the rest of this entry »
Five and 1/2 Minutes off for Christmas
“This Hour has Five and ½ Minutes” will not be published this week due to the holiday.
The spirit of Christmas is in family and Christian charity, the spirit of giving to others especially those less fortunate than ourselves.
May we all have a Merry Christmas and renew that spirit in our lives.
In recent stories we commented on Wayne Thibodeau of the Charlottetown Guardian. Yesterday we learned that Wayne has been dealing with a serious family health issue which is the reason for his absence. We humbly apologize to Wayne for those comments. We hope and pray that the situation gets better.
Merry Christmas to all.
Stephen Pate
NJN News Network
Would the reporters who didn’t take PNP $$ please stand
By Stephen Pate,
PEI Disability Alert
Would the reporters, editors, owners and other media people who have accepted PNP funds please stand up now and get it over with? That would include wives, children and close relatives in or not within numbered companies.
Last night on CBC Compass I was dismayed when Jack McAndrew admitted he and his wife had accepted PNP money. That meant the whole Compass political panel – Paul MacNeill, John Jeffery, and Jack – had accepted a political grant from either the Tories or the Liberals.
135,000 Islanders did not qualify for PNP money the same as our three journalists. We do qualify for EI, Old Age Pension and other granting programs across the board. They are not gifts. The PNP money is dirty money unless you got it and then it looks real clean.
Here is a comment on the Guardian site this morning (not ours or anyone we know)
“The story is getting less coverage that it deserves because too many reporters accessed PNP and want this story to just go away. I can’t believe compass had three of them commenting last night when all three admitted accessing funds. How can reporters fairly comment when they are the story?”
Is there no reporter on PEI who can report this story who isn’t compromised by the story itself?
This Hour Has Five & 1/2 Minutes – November 4, 2008
The new episode is up.
Highlights
Obama and Civil Rights
Headlines – Ghiz in China, Currie burns his way through Prince and Kings Counties
Take this job and shove it – please Minister Gail Shea
Pete from Peakes on millionaires
and more
Fun, sharp and the show to watch.
Send us your comments.
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.
Child’s Play
Trying to explain Chinese investment to children
