It's really nice to get home and hear some positive news for a change... unfortunately I was out of the Country during the week of Fall Flavours but I did talk to a lot of friends and operators and everyone seems very happy and hopefully they will build on this event and I'll make sure I don't miss it next year.... by coincidence I was in Nantucket during their annual "Restaurant Week" which has turned into a major tourist week. Almost all of the many restaurants on Nantucket Island had 3 course "table d'hôte" specials on their menu for $45 which was a bargain compared to their normal pricing which is near triple our PEI restaurant prices. I think PEI Fall Flavours was a great idea and I really believe it could be something that our Tourism industry could really build on...Kudos to everyone involved!
Fall Flavours proves big hit
DOUG GALLANT
The Guardian
Response to the inaugural Fall Flavours event has surpassed all expectations, organizers said Friday. Tracey Singleton, director of marketing and development for Tourism Charlottetown, said several of the key Fall Flavours events have sold out and the demand for tickets for the remaining events is high. “Response has been overwhelmingly positive,’’ Singleton said. “Tonight’s (Friday’s) roving feast is sold out, the organic harvest meal is sold out, and the events at the Culinary Institute of Canada are sold out. Right now we’re getting a lot of last minute inquiries. We’re expecting very good crowds for the rest of the weekend.’’ Singleton said the comments she’s heard from visitors have been very encouraging. “They love the décor downtown,’’ Singleton said. “They’ve also commented on how everybody seems to be in synch, our restaurants, our galleries, our craft shops. Everybody is singing from the same book. People are completely blown away by it.’’ The Hotel Association of Prince Edward Island Inc. has also applauded the efforts of Tourism Charlottetown for its initiative to launch another festival. “The concept of Fall Flavours is another feather in the cap to Charlottetown and adds to the list of successful events presented by Tourism Charlottetown,’’ said association president Elaine Thomson. “Festivals and events are a crucial component to the development of the Island’s tourism sector,’’ Thomson said.Organizers believe the success of Fall Flavours in year one bodes well for the future. “It’s been a huge success for an event in its first year,’’ Singleton said. “It solidifies our thought that there was a huge demand out there for culinary tourism. This event is ideal for people travelling at this time of year. Chef Michael Smith has been an amazing ambassador for this event and a huge draw.’’ Fall Flavours wraps up Sunday but there are a number of major events slated to take place before that happens. One of the biggest events of the week, Farm Day In The City, takes place Sunday. Organizers anticipate it could draw 10,000 people.“We believe this will be the largest barbecue ever held on P.E.I. there will be lamb, pork, chicken, beef and veggies.’’ Smith will prepare and serve piping hot potatoes with special sauces from the Cuisine Machine. A big farmer’s market will top it off with P.E.I. farmers and processors selling, promoting and offering demonstrations about their wares to the public. There will be local musicians, kids interactive activities, a pumpkin fair, fresh pressed apple cider and Food Bank fundraisers. Today’s events include the Culinary Boot Camp featuring Chef Rob O’Connon at the Culinary Institute of Canada this morning at 9 a.m., which is already sold out; the P.E.I. Studio Tour, an Islandwide event that starts at 10 a.m. and runs to 5 p.m.; a book signing event at The Confederation Court Mall with Chef Smith and other Island authors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Dipped in Chocolate with the Island Chocolates Company Ltd. at The Chocolate Factory in Victoria from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
When's it going to stop....soon I hope..
It's getting pretty had to know what to think these days. Prices on everything continue to rise but it seems harder to get the extra revenue to match it. When do you ever hear that the prices are going down??? I feel extremely bad for our seniors and others on fixed income as I'm afraid some of them may be taking it out of their savings. Pretty soon we're going to see a lot of small businesses that depend on fuel and electricity start to feel the pinch of these increases and they will probably have to lay people off or wind up operations. At some point raising electricity prices work against Maritime Electric as their consumers cut back or aren't operating anymore so in reality the hikes may defeat their purpose. Wouldn't it be nice if Maritime Electric asked their shareholder to take a pause on their expected financial returns until our economy starts to take a turn for the better...
Maritime Electric applies for rate increase
Thursday, October 2, 2008
CBC News
P.E.I.'s electric utility is looking for a rate increase of more than seven per cent for residential customers, and even more for business customers.
Under the application to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission, rates for commercial customers would go up 7.47 per cent, and 8.25 per cent for large industrial customers. The rate change would be effective for 2009.
"This has been a tough year for many of our customers," Maritime Electric CEO Fred O'Brien acknowledged in a news release Thursday.
"Customers' bills continue to be impacted as electricity costs are influenced by volatility in the market, increases in fossil fuels and increases in overall energy supply costs."
The requested increase is actually lower than had been expected. Maritime Electric buys 87 per cent of its energy from New Brunswick Power, and almost half of that is in short-term contracts tied to the price of oil.
Maritime Electric applies for rate increase
Thursday, October 2, 2008
CBC News
P.E.I.'s electric utility is looking for a rate increase of more than seven per cent for residential customers, and even more for business customers.
Under the application to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission, rates for commercial customers would go up 7.47 per cent, and 8.25 per cent for large industrial customers. The rate change would be effective for 2009.
"This has been a tough year for many of our customers," Maritime Electric CEO Fred O'Brien acknowledged in a news release Thursday.
"Customers' bills continue to be impacted as electricity costs are influenced by volatility in the market, increases in fossil fuels and increases in overall energy supply costs."
The requested increase is actually lower than had been expected. Maritime Electric buys 87 per cent of its energy from New Brunswick Power, and almost half of that is in short-term contracts tied to the price of oil.
Simple..Fill Out The Forms...and get your money...
Funny, I read a similar story in the Guardian and here is the comments made by Minister Brown which seem to be missing in the CBC story. This is what Brown told the Guardian "the reason why some of the immigrants are not getting their money back is they have not completed the proper documentation, which proves they’ve lived in P.E.I. for more than a year." “They sign a good faith deposit form that says ‘this is the information you shall provide’ and if you provide this information we will return the deposit,’’ said Brown, adding hundreds of immigrants have received their money back. “If we start just giving money back, without the proper documentation, we could be audited.’’.......“I asked staff, ‘what is going on here?’ I’m concerned about this. I don’t want Prince Edward Island’s reputation tarnished in any way here. If these immigrants deserve their money back they will be given their money back, simple and easy. I am not going to hold any money back from immigrants that come to this country.’’ Obviously the Minister has taken the right approach and has given an undertaking to the Immigrants "Do your paperwork and you'll get the money you're owed back"...pretty simple and the right thing to do to protect our Island image....
Immigrant investors demand their money
Thursday, October 2, 2008
CBC News
Twelve Chinese immigrants staged a sit-down protest Wednesday in a downtown Charlottetown provincial government building, saying they are owed money they provided for investment.
The 12 came to P.E.I. under the Provincial Nominee Program, which provided visas for immigrants who could put up $200,000 for investment in Island companies. One of the conditions of the program was that if the immigrants stayed on Prince Edward Island for at least a year, they would be entitled to get back $25,000.
"Before they moved to the Island, they were told that as long as they lived on the Island for one year they would get money back," said Jinhui Gao through an interpreter.
"It seems that the government is trying to extend the conditions or whatever and not give them back the money."
The 12 arrived at the offices of Charlottetown Business Development Inc. in the afternoon, and were cleared out of the building by Charlottetown police shortly before 6 p.m.
Gao said he tried without luck all day Tuesday to get his money from officials with the Business Development Inc., so he returned Wednesday with other immigrant investors facing the same roadblocks.
Protestors will return
The group said they would be back Thursday morning.
"They are going back to the office," said their interpreter, "and if they dont get the right answer from the people they are going to go to Premier Robert Ghiz."
Gao said he felt he had no choice but make a public scene. He said another group of immigrants had the same problem getting their money back in May, and they too had to fight with government before finally getting paid.
The Provincial Nominee Program has been under scrutiny in the last week over questions of who received money in a rush of applicants in the five months before the program shut down on Sep. 2. None of those most recent applicants are yet on P.E.I.
Richard Brown, the minister responsible for the program, told CBC News he was calling his staff together Wednesday evening to discuss what happened. CBC News could not reach the minister after that meeting.
Immigrant investors demand their money
Thursday, October 2, 2008
CBC News
Twelve Chinese immigrants staged a sit-down protest Wednesday in a downtown Charlottetown provincial government building, saying they are owed money they provided for investment.
The 12 came to P.E.I. under the Provincial Nominee Program, which provided visas for immigrants who could put up $200,000 for investment in Island companies. One of the conditions of the program was that if the immigrants stayed on Prince Edward Island for at least a year, they would be entitled to get back $25,000.
"Before they moved to the Island, they were told that as long as they lived on the Island for one year they would get money back," said Jinhui Gao through an interpreter.
"It seems that the government is trying to extend the conditions or whatever and not give them back the money."
The 12 arrived at the offices of Charlottetown Business Development Inc. in the afternoon, and were cleared out of the building by Charlottetown police shortly before 6 p.m.
Gao said he tried without luck all day Tuesday to get his money from officials with the Business Development Inc., so he returned Wednesday with other immigrant investors facing the same roadblocks.
Protestors will return
The group said they would be back Thursday morning.
"They are going back to the office," said their interpreter, "and if they dont get the right answer from the people they are going to go to Premier Robert Ghiz."
Gao said he felt he had no choice but make a public scene. He said another group of immigrants had the same problem getting their money back in May, and they too had to fight with government before finally getting paid.
The Provincial Nominee Program has been under scrutiny in the last week over questions of who received money in a rush of applicants in the five months before the program shut down on Sep. 2. None of those most recent applicants are yet on P.E.I.
Richard Brown, the minister responsible for the program, told CBC News he was calling his staff together Wednesday evening to discuss what happened. CBC News could not reach the minister after that meeting.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Whoa Up there Jimmy Boy...you could be investigating your own people..
Jimmy boy, did you ever hear the old expression, "be careful what you wish for" as the bulk of these PNP's were given out under your own Government's watch to some well connected Tories using Tory lawyers and Tory accountants. The other thing Jim is these PNP's actually work and have been good for PEI Business, creating jobs and investment. Another benefit of the program is the increase of immigrants into our Province which is long overdue. We used the program (approved then by your Tory Government) when we set up Central Truss in Cornwall and without the support of the program I doubt it if we would still be operating as this time. Yes there will always be a few bad apples in the pie but do we need to be grand standing on an issue that the RCMP will deal with in an orderly fashion. Maybe if our legislators would spend more time thinking about going forward as opposed to always pointing the finger at the other party maybe people would start to show some respect for their Politicians.
Tory MLA wants legislature committee to probe provincial immigrant program
TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
A provincial government immigrant program that aimed to connect foreign money to P.E.I. businesses should be probed by the public accounts committee, says committee chair Jim Bagnall. A complaint filed with the RCMP by a local business owner alleging fraud took place in the Provincial Nominee Program has raised questions about the program. The complaint to the RCMP, coupled with internal rumours of possible discrepancies in the way the government corporation approved businesses for eligibility in this program, makes it an issue public accounts should look at, Bagnall said. “Any time there’s talk of public funds being mishandled, then it should be an issue for public accounts to look into,” he told The Guardian on Friday. “We’re talking $200-$400 million and there’s a lot of questions going around right now as to the way this money was being handled. So my concern is that it may be something that public accounts would want to have a look at.” But that decision will have to made by the committee as a whole. The P.E.I. Provincial Nominee Program was put in place for immigrants to have their Canadian visa applications expedited if they could offer some business or employment benefit to a province. The program has several aspects, one of which involves a partnership agreement struck between immigrants and local businesses. The immigrant agrees to purchase $200,000 worth of shares in local company. Some of that money is paid back to the immigrant after a period of time, a portion of it goes to legal and broker’s fees and some of the money stays within the local company. Last year over 800 immigrants utilized this program. This year, 1,877 immigrants came to P.E.I. through this program, and as a result over $280 million was retained by local businesses until Sept. 2 when the federal government ended the Provincial Nominee Program. Bagnall said he believes the program will likely be discussed during the public accounts committee meeting on Tuesday. “I’m seeing a lot of controversy spinning around in the last few days so it’s probably going to be a topic of discussion at our committee,” Bagnall said. “The committee does have the power to ask the auditor general for an investigation to have it be looked into. So that could happen.” Auditor General Colin Younker said he’s not currently investigating the program but added that could change. “We’re always doing ongoing planning so we may and probably will at some point in time,” he said. He said he would be keeping an eye on comments and concerns raised publicly about this issue. “We always look at what the comments are if programs might have interest to the legislature and to the public,” Younker said. “It’s what goes into consideration as part of our planning.” When asked if any concerns have been raised with him about the nominee program, Younker replied: “I’m not going to answer that question. There is one in front of the RCMP.”
Tory MLA wants legislature committee to probe provincial immigrant program
TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
A provincial government immigrant program that aimed to connect foreign money to P.E.I. businesses should be probed by the public accounts committee, says committee chair Jim Bagnall. A complaint filed with the RCMP by a local business owner alleging fraud took place in the Provincial Nominee Program has raised questions about the program. The complaint to the RCMP, coupled with internal rumours of possible discrepancies in the way the government corporation approved businesses for eligibility in this program, makes it an issue public accounts should look at, Bagnall said. “Any time there’s talk of public funds being mishandled, then it should be an issue for public accounts to look into,” he told The Guardian on Friday. “We’re talking $200-$400 million and there’s a lot of questions going around right now as to the way this money was being handled. So my concern is that it may be something that public accounts would want to have a look at.” But that decision will have to made by the committee as a whole. The P.E.I. Provincial Nominee Program was put in place for immigrants to have their Canadian visa applications expedited if they could offer some business or employment benefit to a province. The program has several aspects, one of which involves a partnership agreement struck between immigrants and local businesses. The immigrant agrees to purchase $200,000 worth of shares in local company. Some of that money is paid back to the immigrant after a period of time, a portion of it goes to legal and broker’s fees and some of the money stays within the local company. Last year over 800 immigrants utilized this program. This year, 1,877 immigrants came to P.E.I. through this program, and as a result over $280 million was retained by local businesses until Sept. 2 when the federal government ended the Provincial Nominee Program. Bagnall said he believes the program will likely be discussed during the public accounts committee meeting on Tuesday. “I’m seeing a lot of controversy spinning around in the last few days so it’s probably going to be a topic of discussion at our committee,” Bagnall said. “The committee does have the power to ask the auditor general for an investigation to have it be looked into. So that could happen.” Auditor General Colin Younker said he’s not currently investigating the program but added that could change. “We’re always doing ongoing planning so we may and probably will at some point in time,” he said. He said he would be keeping an eye on comments and concerns raised publicly about this issue. “We always look at what the comments are if programs might have interest to the legislature and to the public,” Younker said. “It’s what goes into consideration as part of our planning.” When asked if any concerns have been raised with him about the nominee program, Younker replied: “I’m not going to answer that question. There is one in front of the RCMP.”
Thursday, September 25, 2008
No worries here...but some hard work left.
When the campaign started I said no problem with MacAulay and Murphy, closer in Malpeque and a race in Egmont. Thanks to the Tory Minister's faux pas on Wayne Easter and the smart way Wayne handled it that race is over in favour of Wayne. The race in Egmont is still close but I understand Keith is working hard and it is interesting that the most recent Provincial poll showed strong Liberal Provincial support in the West and this may carry over for the Liberals. This seat will be decided on what voters really think the inevitable results will be Nationally and if they smell a Tory majority for Harper then the seat may go blue. Big name visits won't really make any difference here on PEI but hard work will... best of luck to all the candidates..
Lack of big names not worrying P.E.I. Liberals
TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
Although P.E.I. hasn’t seen any big-name Liberals since the federal election was called, the Island’s four Liberal candidates aren’t worried. For one thing, some big names are on their way.Former Liberal leadership hopeful and hockey great Ken Dryden is set to come to the Island next Tuesday, and leader Stéphane Dion is also supposed to visit next week, party officials say. But in the three weeks since the election was called, the Conservatives have already sent a steady parade of national candidates to P.E.I.Government House Leader Peter Van Loan and former Environment Minister Rona Ambrose have come to rally support for local candidates. Industry Minister Jim Prentice is scheduled to visit Friday. Even Prime Minister Stephen Harper came for a night — and is rumoured to be back again in the final week of the campaign. But Malpeque MP Wayne Easter says the fact Harper didn’t take questions from the media or the public while here took all virtue out of his visit. “Why did he bother coming? Does he think Prince Edward Islanders haven’t got questions for him?” And other national Conservatives brought here to glad-hand with local Tory hopefuls over the past few weeks are unknown to Islanders, Easter added. “Most of them are cabinet ministers, but who’s ever heard of them before?”Charlottetown Liberal MP Shawn Murphy agreed. “The Conservatives might be bringing people here, but no one here knows who they are,” Murphy said.Nonetheless, the fact that more high-profile Liberal candidates haven’t been here has been making a number of coffee shop speculators curious.It’s simply due to scheduling difficulties and does not mean P.E.I. is being ignored by the national party, local party organizers told The Guardian. For example, Dion was scheduled to fly into P.E.I. last Monday. But when former premier Bennett Campbell’s funeral occurred on the same day, Dion’s tour to the Island’s wind turbines was cancelled. But even with the impending national visits, all four local Liberals say they’re not looking to the big names to get themselves elected. They’re focusing on the doorsteps. “Certainly they’re welcome to come and I appreciate that they give us that effort, but I always to get to as many doors as I can and that’s always the No. 1 priority,” said Egmont Liberal candidate Keith Milligan. “Things like rallies and gatherings are secondary in importance on the campaign trail because people want to see you, they want to talk to you and they want to discuss the issues.” Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay agreed, adding the practice of flying well-known candidates around the country is relatively new. “What I have to do in an election is campaign on what I did and what I hope to be able to do — they’re voting for me, not them.” “Besides,” Murphy joked, “we’re high-profile enough, don’t you think?”
Lack of big names not worrying P.E.I. Liberals
TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
Although P.E.I. hasn’t seen any big-name Liberals since the federal election was called, the Island’s four Liberal candidates aren’t worried. For one thing, some big names are on their way.Former Liberal leadership hopeful and hockey great Ken Dryden is set to come to the Island next Tuesday, and leader Stéphane Dion is also supposed to visit next week, party officials say. But in the three weeks since the election was called, the Conservatives have already sent a steady parade of national candidates to P.E.I.Government House Leader Peter Van Loan and former Environment Minister Rona Ambrose have come to rally support for local candidates. Industry Minister Jim Prentice is scheduled to visit Friday. Even Prime Minister Stephen Harper came for a night — and is rumoured to be back again in the final week of the campaign. But Malpeque MP Wayne Easter says the fact Harper didn’t take questions from the media or the public while here took all virtue out of his visit. “Why did he bother coming? Does he think Prince Edward Islanders haven’t got questions for him?” And other national Conservatives brought here to glad-hand with local Tory hopefuls over the past few weeks are unknown to Islanders, Easter added. “Most of them are cabinet ministers, but who’s ever heard of them before?”Charlottetown Liberal MP Shawn Murphy agreed. “The Conservatives might be bringing people here, but no one here knows who they are,” Murphy said.Nonetheless, the fact that more high-profile Liberal candidates haven’t been here has been making a number of coffee shop speculators curious.It’s simply due to scheduling difficulties and does not mean P.E.I. is being ignored by the national party, local party organizers told The Guardian. For example, Dion was scheduled to fly into P.E.I. last Monday. But when former premier Bennett Campbell’s funeral occurred on the same day, Dion’s tour to the Island’s wind turbines was cancelled. But even with the impending national visits, all four local Liberals say they’re not looking to the big names to get themselves elected. They’re focusing on the doorsteps. “Certainly they’re welcome to come and I appreciate that they give us that effort, but I always to get to as many doors as I can and that’s always the No. 1 priority,” said Egmont Liberal candidate Keith Milligan. “Things like rallies and gatherings are secondary in importance on the campaign trail because people want to see you, they want to talk to you and they want to discuss the issues.” Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay agreed, adding the practice of flying well-known candidates around the country is relatively new. “What I have to do in an election is campaign on what I did and what I hope to be able to do — they’re voting for me, not them.” “Besides,” Murphy joked, “we’re high-profile enough, don’t you think?”
A cheesie story... Good Work ADL
As a young boy growing up in Summerside I was very aware of ADL and the positive impact they played in our community. In fact I can remember every summer going with my great Uncle Jim from Boston over to the cheese factory to pick up a "wheel" of aged cheddar and always getting a tour of the plant. My Uncle claimed it was the "best cheese in the world" and I was always amazed at the pride you could see in the plant employees when they showed us around the plant. Over the years I've watched this Company continue to prosper and today’s announcement is proof again that they are always working hard to keep pace with their customers and continuing to grow and invest in our Community... Kudos to the staff, directors and farmers who make us all proud of this great Island Company...
Organic cheese production begins on P.E.I.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
CBC News
Amalgamated Dairies Ltd. in Summerside processed its first vat of organic cheese this week.
It is the first commercial organic cheese in the Maritimes. ADL director of finance Chad Mann said the company is still in the preliminary stages of developing the new product. It will take a few weeks for the cheese to age so it can be tested for flavour and texture.
"We have three or four varieties that we have in mind that we'd like to make with this milk, but we just haven't decided yet which would be the best, depending on the milk characteristics," said Mann.
Mann said the company is also exploring markets for the cheese.
"A lot of it might be into markets that are outside of P.E.I., because you know the demographics here and the consumer base is very limited."
The milk comes from four organic dairy operations, and is collected in a separate truck. It passes through the ADL processing line before the conventional milk.
The four organic dairy farmers are getting a premium for the milk they produce.
Organic cheese production begins on P.E.I.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
CBC News
Amalgamated Dairies Ltd. in Summerside processed its first vat of organic cheese this week.
It is the first commercial organic cheese in the Maritimes. ADL director of finance Chad Mann said the company is still in the preliminary stages of developing the new product. It will take a few weeks for the cheese to age so it can be tested for flavour and texture.
"We have three or four varieties that we have in mind that we'd like to make with this milk, but we just haven't decided yet which would be the best, depending on the milk characteristics," said Mann.
Mann said the company is also exploring markets for the cheese.
"A lot of it might be into markets that are outside of P.E.I., because you know the demographics here and the consumer base is very limited."
The milk comes from four organic dairy operations, and is collected in a separate truck. It passes through the ADL processing line before the conventional milk.
The four organic dairy farmers are getting a premium for the milk they produce.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Time To Give IRAC notice...
For years I've been preaching to send these guys packing...IRAC costs Millions of taxpayers’ dollars to run and what do we all get for it...nothing. Free enterprise works the best and will always keep prices lower. Premier Binns told me he wouldn't touch IRAC as he was afraid that all the small rural gas stations would close if IRAC was disbanded...well they are closing anyway and the silly rules that IRAC have prevent new ones from opening. I know if the Government would make it easier for Companies like Loblaws, Sobeys, Canadian Tire, and Wal-Mart to invest in some new gas bars then they would ultimately drive down prices through competition. New investment would put pressure on the existing operators to provide more service...what could possibly be wrong with having a half dozen new gas bars at $1,000,000.00 a pop be bad for PEI? Think of the construction jobs, the property taxes they would have to pay, and the employment they would create +++ plus lower gas prices... It's time the Ghiz Government relaxed the regulations and red tape that Islanders have to put up with and a good start would be by winding up IRAC....
IRAC cancels eight hour advisory on gas prices
Transcontinental Media
The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) will no longer be issuing news releases at 4 p.m. letting Islanders know what the price of various types of fuel will be eight hours later. That’s the word from Moe Rodgerson, IRAC’s chairman. Regular price adjustments will still be made every two weeks, but only retailers will know in advance of the change. Rodgerson said the system was “unfair” to gas station operators and anyone selling fuel, including heating oil. Situations have arisen where retailers would buy their supplies on the mainland at a higher price a short time earlier, only to find out prices would be going down at the pumps. Customers, who knew of the impending cuts, would hold off their purchases until the new prices were posted, cutting into retailers’ revenues. Home fuel companies have complained about customers who would time their order based on the eight hour difference, and often many distributors would be faced with irate callers, angry they couldn’t get fuel deliveries within hours, just before the lower price change. Earlier the P.E.I. Petroleum Marketers Association had approached IRAC seeking to change the system to weekly pricing. That request was denied. The number of businesses selling gas on the Island is 98, down from 135 in 2000.
IRAC cancels eight hour advisory on gas prices
Transcontinental Media
The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) will no longer be issuing news releases at 4 p.m. letting Islanders know what the price of various types of fuel will be eight hours later. That’s the word from Moe Rodgerson, IRAC’s chairman. Regular price adjustments will still be made every two weeks, but only retailers will know in advance of the change. Rodgerson said the system was “unfair” to gas station operators and anyone selling fuel, including heating oil. Situations have arisen where retailers would buy their supplies on the mainland at a higher price a short time earlier, only to find out prices would be going down at the pumps. Customers, who knew of the impending cuts, would hold off their purchases until the new prices were posted, cutting into retailers’ revenues. Home fuel companies have complained about customers who would time their order based on the eight hour difference, and often many distributors would be faced with irate callers, angry they couldn’t get fuel deliveries within hours, just before the lower price change. Earlier the P.E.I. Petroleum Marketers Association had approached IRAC seeking to change the system to weekly pricing. That request was denied. The number of businesses selling gas on the Island is 98, down from 135 in 2000.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Big Move...
Well the big move over to our new head office took place on Friday afternoon and unfortunately I had the daunting task of having to defend our trophy winning spree at the annual PEI Construction Association golf tournament. It appears the move went well as I noticed some pictures on facebook http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4267994&id=783595392#/photo.php?pid=4267994&id=783595392 (click to open) that should give everyone a sneak preview of the new space. The golf didn't go as smooth even though we were 11 under it was only good for 2nd. The new space is very bright and everyone seems very excited about the space as it has a beautiful lunch room, gym and is quite a bit closer to home for a lot of the staff. It's too bad I missed all the heavy lifting but I guess I'll be unpacking boxes Monday...
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Who Got The Money...
Please tell me that when you find out that they actually only sold about 2,500 tickets surely the Province will ask for 75% of our taxpayers money back. What kind of experience did these promoters have and who are they that the Government would just hand over $100,000.00 to them with no performance criteria on the numbers? Here's a few comments from CBC viewers,
"Just out of curiosity, wouldn’t you know right away exactly how many tickets were sold....how were they sold if they can't seem to come up with the exact count? Something is not right, if you invested $100,000 dollars in a Business venture with an Organization you must have had a lot of faith in them??"
"The question which really should be asked is how many tickets were sold, not how many attended. Many of those in attendance were there on complimentary tickets passed out either by the organizers or one suspects by government officials looking to ensure a larger crowd."
P.E.I. undecided on Alanis investment
Thursday, September 18, 2008
CBC News
The P.E.I. government is waiting to see the final results from the Summerset Festival in Alexandra to decide if it was a good deal for taxpayers. The province invested $100,000 in the concert, which featured Alanis Morissette. Organizers first said they expected to sell about 10,000 tickets, but say in the end only about 5,000 attended. Deputy minister of tourism Melissa MacEachern said the province is waiting for a final accounting from festival organizers."Our position has been going into it, and the rationale around supporting an event like a fall music festival, was to shore up the fall season," said MacEachern. "We begin the season, for instance, with the Festival of Lights, which has over the years become quite successful. We're looking for something in the fall season that will become eventually successful. So it will be both a qualitative and quantitative analysis. "MacEachern said the government is still waiting for concert organizers to tell them exactly how many tickets were sold, and how many of those were to people from off-Island.
"Just out of curiosity, wouldn’t you know right away exactly how many tickets were sold....how were they sold if they can't seem to come up with the exact count? Something is not right, if you invested $100,000 dollars in a Business venture with an Organization you must have had a lot of faith in them??"
"The question which really should be asked is how many tickets were sold, not how many attended. Many of those in attendance were there on complimentary tickets passed out either by the organizers or one suspects by government officials looking to ensure a larger crowd."
P.E.I. undecided on Alanis investment
Thursday, September 18, 2008
CBC News
The P.E.I. government is waiting to see the final results from the Summerset Festival in Alexandra to decide if it was a good deal for taxpayers. The province invested $100,000 in the concert, which featured Alanis Morissette. Organizers first said they expected to sell about 10,000 tickets, but say in the end only about 5,000 attended. Deputy minister of tourism Melissa MacEachern said the province is waiting for a final accounting from festival organizers."Our position has been going into it, and the rationale around supporting an event like a fall music festival, was to shore up the fall season," said MacEachern. "We begin the season, for instance, with the Festival of Lights, which has over the years become quite successful. We're looking for something in the fall season that will become eventually successful. So it will be both a qualitative and quantitative analysis. "MacEachern said the government is still waiting for concert organizers to tell them exactly how many tickets were sold, and how many of those were to people from off-Island.
Rodd's Deal, inching forward....
A lot of people ask me nearly every day "what's happening with the Rodd's deal" and I don't think anyone has a good answer, even the Rodd group. As most people following the deal know the Rodd's publicly announced last November they were putting their business up for sale. Ernest Young were engaged by the Rodd family to find a buyer and this spring after working out some issues with the Province they put together a small prospective for potential buyers. Unfortunately we were interested in buy the Company through the purchase of shares with us assuming the debt but the consultants were also giving potential buyers the option of bidding on individual properties or the whole lot. We declined to bid as we didn't want to waste a lot of energy trying to figure out what the company was worth and then find out that a few of the properties might be severed from the assets. Sort of like saving up to buy a bicycle when you were young and finally getting there with the money only to find out the wheels were missing? I do understand they received some proposals at the end of August but they are a long way from getting a deal done. One of the big issues standing in the way will be financing as the credit markets have all gone underground (dried up) particularly with anything related to tourism. The Rodd portfolio has great potential but they do need some upgrades and a stronger international branding if they expect to increase their occupancy. The relationship with the neighbouring golf courses and the hotel will be an integral part of making the sale happen. The Province has committed to calling for proposals this fall to lease or sell the courses and the quicker the Province get this process underway the more likely we’ll hear there is finally deal for Rodd's. A number of years ago there was talk that David Rodd was inches away from doing a deal with a REIT (real estate investment trust) but the timing was at the end of the big "reit hay day" and it didn't happen and I'm afraid if the Rodd's and the Province can't find a suitor to close the deal by January 2009 then they will miss another timing opportunity. These are my own comments... "timing is the thing that deals are made on" and if this deal isn't done soon then "hold the eggs"...as there will be no one for breakfast....
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
$800,000.00 Golf Giveaway...give us a Break..
I still don't believe after the failure of The Legends of Golf that the good people at Golf Links PEI would have got the green light from the Minister to sign up a $800,000.00 subsidy to a US Golf Promotional Company. Now add on to this the lost revenue and exposure of the course coupled with the staff travel and accompanying TV ads and we're sure to blow a cool million bucks on promoting something 76 % of all Islanders want us to get the hell out of...sure seems like a vote getting scheme to me...
Film crew teeing up Television series set to shoot at Mill River golf course
BY ERIC MCCARTHY
Transcontinental Media
MILL RIVER — Looking to play a round of golf? Don’t bother trying the Mill River Provincial Golf Course. It’s currently closed to the public from September 14 to 29."It’s shut down for a television series," Julie Whitlock, communications officer for Tourism P.E.I., said in response to a media enquiry Monday. But no one wants to say what type of series is being shot at the public course."It’s a closed set," Whitlock indicated.Rocket science isn’t needed to figure it out, though. In July the Province announced a deal with the Golf Channel which included filming of its popular reality TV show, Big Break on a P.E.I. course. Government has refused to indicate when and where the show will be shot, but Mill River was thought to be the likely spot. The show’s opening sequence, Big Break, in big block letters, as if carved in rock, was set up Monday near the driving range on the Mill River course. It is not known whether the reality show’s contestants who will be vying for exemptions into professional tour events, have arrived yet. The only action on the course Monday seemed to be coming from maintenance personnel and equipment. Signage indicates the course, the par-3 practice greens and the Rodd Mill River Resort and dining room are closed to the public from September 14 to 29. The signage does not indicate why.
Film crew teeing up Television series set to shoot at Mill River golf course
BY ERIC MCCARTHY
Transcontinental Media
MILL RIVER — Looking to play a round of golf? Don’t bother trying the Mill River Provincial Golf Course. It’s currently closed to the public from September 14 to 29."It’s shut down for a television series," Julie Whitlock, communications officer for Tourism P.E.I., said in response to a media enquiry Monday. But no one wants to say what type of series is being shot at the public course."It’s a closed set," Whitlock indicated.Rocket science isn’t needed to figure it out, though. In July the Province announced a deal with the Golf Channel which included filming of its popular reality TV show, Big Break on a P.E.I. course. Government has refused to indicate when and where the show will be shot, but Mill River was thought to be the likely spot. The show’s opening sequence, Big Break, in big block letters, as if carved in rock, was set up Monday near the driving range on the Mill River course. It is not known whether the reality show’s contestants who will be vying for exemptions into professional tour events, have arrived yet. The only action on the course Monday seemed to be coming from maintenance personnel and equipment. Signage indicates the course, the par-3 practice greens and the Rodd Mill River Resort and dining room are closed to the public from September 14 to 29. The signage does not indicate why.
No Surprise Here...Liberals calling Tories liars
It's hard to take politicians seriously when they start calling each other liars. Mr. Easter implies that Harper spent millions on ads here on PEI and that the majority of us bought into it but I'm thinking that most of us just downright find it hard to understand how the "green shift" effects our pocket books. Most people don't believe that if you pay a tax that at some point you're going to get more back. This is the serious flaw in Dion's plan and as good as it may be unfortunately it's a hard sell here on PEI and I suspect elsewhere.
P.E.I. really down on green shift: poll
WAYNE THIBODEAU
The Guardian
There is less support for the Liberal party’s green shift plan in Prince Edward Island than any other province in Atlantic Canada, according to a Corporate Research Associates poll. Pollsters asked 1,507 Atlantic Canadians if they were in favour or opposed to the plan.Only 22 per cent of Islanders said they were in favour of green shift, the lowest in the region. About 26 per cent of Atlantic Canadians support the plan. Meanwhile, 49 per cent of Islanders are against it. That’s tied with New Brunswick for the highest level of opposition in the region. It’s also higher than the regional average.About 43 per cent of Atlantic Canadians were against green shift. Don Mills, president of Corporate Research Associates, says the Conservatives have thus far successfully defined the Liberals’ green shift plan as another level of taxation. “I’m not saying this is a bad plan, personally, by any means,” Mills told The Guardian. “But the Liberals have done a horrid job at trying to educate people to what the policy is all about.” The Liberals’ problem, said Mills, is one of credibility. “They keep saying ‘we’ll raise your taxes over here, but we’re going to lower them over there and everything is going to be fine.’ There’s not many people who will buy that argument from a politician.” Timing is also bad for the Liberals, as they party tries to sell a plan that’s going to raise the price of diesel and home heating oil when both are already at record prices. The Liberals maintain that there will be millions of dollars in tax cuts to offset those increases. “We just had a big bump up in energy prices and now you want to talk about adding more on to that at this moment - not good timing for the Liberals, obviously.” Malpeque MP Wayne Easter says green shift is a package of tax reductions. He said the problem is the Liberals have to do a better job of selling its plan, which he said will put more money into the pockets of Islanders — not less. “Keep in mind the Conservatives spent millions of dollars of their own party money on ads over the summer. They spent probably hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayers’ money with those papers coming into everybody’s kitchen lying about the program, lying about what green shift is,” said Easter. “Canadians and Prince Edward Islanders have been misled by Stephen Harper and his Harperites. The Corporate Research Associates poll of 1,507 residents was conducted Aug. 5-28. It is considered accurate within plus or minus 2.5 per cent 95 times out of 100.
P.E.I. really down on green shift: poll
WAYNE THIBODEAU
The Guardian
There is less support for the Liberal party’s green shift plan in Prince Edward Island than any other province in Atlantic Canada, according to a Corporate Research Associates poll. Pollsters asked 1,507 Atlantic Canadians if they were in favour or opposed to the plan.Only 22 per cent of Islanders said they were in favour of green shift, the lowest in the region. About 26 per cent of Atlantic Canadians support the plan. Meanwhile, 49 per cent of Islanders are against it. That’s tied with New Brunswick for the highest level of opposition in the region. It’s also higher than the regional average.About 43 per cent of Atlantic Canadians were against green shift. Don Mills, president of Corporate Research Associates, says the Conservatives have thus far successfully defined the Liberals’ green shift plan as another level of taxation. “I’m not saying this is a bad plan, personally, by any means,” Mills told The Guardian. “But the Liberals have done a horrid job at trying to educate people to what the policy is all about.” The Liberals’ problem, said Mills, is one of credibility. “They keep saying ‘we’ll raise your taxes over here, but we’re going to lower them over there and everything is going to be fine.’ There’s not many people who will buy that argument from a politician.” Timing is also bad for the Liberals, as they party tries to sell a plan that’s going to raise the price of diesel and home heating oil when both are already at record prices. The Liberals maintain that there will be millions of dollars in tax cuts to offset those increases. “We just had a big bump up in energy prices and now you want to talk about adding more on to that at this moment - not good timing for the Liberals, obviously.” Malpeque MP Wayne Easter says green shift is a package of tax reductions. He said the problem is the Liberals have to do a better job of selling its plan, which he said will put more money into the pockets of Islanders — not less. “Keep in mind the Conservatives spent millions of dollars of their own party money on ads over the summer. They spent probably hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayers’ money with those papers coming into everybody’s kitchen lying about the program, lying about what green shift is,” said Easter. “Canadians and Prince Edward Islanders have been misled by Stephen Harper and his Harperites. The Corporate Research Associates poll of 1,507 residents was conducted Aug. 5-28. It is considered accurate within plus or minus 2.5 per cent 95 times out of 100.
Great Work Everyone...
It takes a lot of work by everyone to be the tops at anything and in this case every Islander seems to be helping out but I suspect that some people at the Department of Environment, Superior Sanitation, and all our retailers are a huge part of our success. Kudos to everyone for helping out with our environment...
PEI leads Canada with highest plastic bag recycling rate in North America
The Guardian (September 16, 2008) – Prince Edward Island has the highest plastic bag recycling rate in North America - 57 per cent, says a press release from Inteplast, the largest plastic bag manufacturer in Atlantic Canada.“Today, All other provinces are now scrambling to catch up,” said the release.In 1988, Inteplast introduced an experimental, closed-loop bag-to-bag recycling program, said the release.Inteplast's recycling system sees Inteplast-made plastic shopping bags used, and then collected from retailers. They are then sent back to Inteplast where they are remade into new plastic shopping bags and returned to retailers for use. “The bag-to-bag program has been an outstanding success in dramatically decreasing the number of bags going to landfill,” says the company. “Since 1988, 100 MILLION POUNDS OF PLASTIC have been recycled in Inteplast's closed-loop bag recycling system. That's about 6 million pounds in PEI.”"This closed-loop recycling system is environmental stewardship at its finest," said Terry Ricketts of Inteplast.. "From just a handful of stores participating in 1988, we now have the cooperation of all of the major grocery retailers in the Region - Atlantic Wholesalers, Co-op Atlantic Stores and Sobey's. Some 200 stores across Atlantic Canada, including 17 in PEI, now offer at-store bag recycling.” Other provinces in Canada have followed Atlantic Canada's lead. In the early 1990s, British Columbia put in place a network of progressive retailers willing to participate. Over the next 15 years, other provinces have followed suit with Ontario only now beginning to introduce the program."The people of PEI can take considerable pride in that they lead the country on plastic bag product stewardship," said Duncan Cross, Environment and Plastics Industry Council (EPIC) Municipal Representative. "Those who are uninformed claim that these bags are used once and then end up in landfill. That couldn't be further from the truth.
PEI leads Canada with highest plastic bag recycling rate in North America
The Guardian (September 16, 2008) – Prince Edward Island has the highest plastic bag recycling rate in North America - 57 per cent, says a press release from Inteplast, the largest plastic bag manufacturer in Atlantic Canada.“Today, All other provinces are now scrambling to catch up,” said the release.In 1988, Inteplast introduced an experimental, closed-loop bag-to-bag recycling program, said the release.Inteplast's recycling system sees Inteplast-made plastic shopping bags used, and then collected from retailers. They are then sent back to Inteplast where they are remade into new plastic shopping bags and returned to retailers for use. “The bag-to-bag program has been an outstanding success in dramatically decreasing the number of bags going to landfill,” says the company. “Since 1988, 100 MILLION POUNDS OF PLASTIC have been recycled in Inteplast's closed-loop bag recycling system. That's about 6 million pounds in PEI.”"This closed-loop recycling system is environmental stewardship at its finest," said Terry Ricketts of Inteplast.. "From just a handful of stores participating in 1988, we now have the cooperation of all of the major grocery retailers in the Region - Atlantic Wholesalers, Co-op Atlantic Stores and Sobey's. Some 200 stores across Atlantic Canada, including 17 in PEI, now offer at-store bag recycling.” Other provinces in Canada have followed Atlantic Canada's lead. In the early 1990s, British Columbia put in place a network of progressive retailers willing to participate. Over the next 15 years, other provinces have followed suit with Ontario only now beginning to introduce the program."The people of PEI can take considerable pride in that they lead the country on plastic bag product stewardship," said Duncan Cross, Environment and Plastics Industry Council (EPIC) Municipal Representative. "Those who are uninformed claim that these bags are used once and then end up in landfill. That couldn't be further from the truth.
Do We Get Our Money Back?
Taxpayers gave the organizers $100,000.00 to deliver 10,000 people from out of Province and now the organizers say they had 5,000 but most people I've talked to say 2,500. In any event the organizers didn't deliver what they pitched to the Province so are they going to come clean and return back some of taxpayers’ money? The other outstanding question is who are the organizers and what credentials did they have that our Government turned over $100,000.00 to them without some guarantees on attendance? I'm all for tourism promotion but why $100,000.00 to a private promoter????
Small crowd at P.E.I.'s Alanis concert
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
CBC News
About half as many concertgoers as expected turned out for the Alanis Morissette concert in P.E.I. Saturday, but both fans and organizers were still happy with the event.
Organizers were hoping for 10,000 at the event, but say there was only 5,000. They are blaming short notice for the low ticket sales, but said it was a good test of the new concert site at Vista Bay in Alexandra, east of Charlottetown.
"It's the first year, it's a big site and you know you're selling tickets right up to showtime really," said organizer Mark Carr-Rollitt.
"We've seen that the Vista Bay site is a fabulous site for a concert."
Carr-Rollit said the site could hold up to 50,000 people.
Saturday's show featured Metric, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Good Charlotte and Haywire along with headliner Alanis Morissette. The site was originally proposed for the Black Eyed Peas concert in 2006, but it was moved to Charlottetown when local residents complained about the disruption. Locals were given free tickets as a goodwill gesture this time around.
Eighty-two-year-old Wanda MacLennan said she enjoyed having a concert down the road.
"We enjoyed every minute of it and I hope it happens again next year," said MacLennan.
Fan Patrick Flanagan also enjoyed having some space to move around.
"I went to the Stones a few years ago in Halifax, there was like 57,000 people there. I couldn't even move then, so this is a little more freedom," he said.
The organizers would like to stage a regular fall festival on the site and the province likes the potential. It provided $100,000 to support Saturday's show. Tourism PEI said it's looking for a fall festival to build on because it brings in visitors at a slow time.
"I think there's a ton to build on," said Carr-Rollitt. "We've proven that it can be done."
Organizers don't expect to make any money this year.
Small crowd at P.E.I.'s Alanis concert
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
CBC News
About half as many concertgoers as expected turned out for the Alanis Morissette concert in P.E.I. Saturday, but both fans and organizers were still happy with the event.
Organizers were hoping for 10,000 at the event, but say there was only 5,000. They are blaming short notice for the low ticket sales, but said it was a good test of the new concert site at Vista Bay in Alexandra, east of Charlottetown.
"It's the first year, it's a big site and you know you're selling tickets right up to showtime really," said organizer Mark Carr-Rollitt.
"We've seen that the Vista Bay site is a fabulous site for a concert."
Carr-Rollit said the site could hold up to 50,000 people.
Saturday's show featured Metric, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Good Charlotte and Haywire along with headliner Alanis Morissette. The site was originally proposed for the Black Eyed Peas concert in 2006, but it was moved to Charlottetown when local residents complained about the disruption. Locals were given free tickets as a goodwill gesture this time around.
Eighty-two-year-old Wanda MacLennan said she enjoyed having a concert down the road.
"We enjoyed every minute of it and I hope it happens again next year," said MacLennan.
Fan Patrick Flanagan also enjoyed having some space to move around.
"I went to the Stones a few years ago in Halifax, there was like 57,000 people there. I couldn't even move then, so this is a little more freedom," he said.
The organizers would like to stage a regular fall festival on the site and the province likes the potential. It provided $100,000 to support Saturday's show. Tourism PEI said it's looking for a fall festival to build on because it brings in visitors at a slow time.
"I think there's a ton to build on," said Carr-Rollitt. "We've proven that it can be done."
Organizers don't expect to make any money this year.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Blue Majority Maybe....
These aren't very good numbers for Dion and he'll have to step it up if he expects to give the Tories a race. Simply put the debate will now be one of the last opportunities for Dion to turn his image around for the average Joe. If he can't prove to Canadians during the debate that he has what it takes to run the Country then I think he'll have a hard road ahead. Dion has to figure out how to relate to the average Canadian with less of an academic approach and talk about the economics of one’s pocketbook. Although our environment is important there are many other issues particularly the economy that have our electorates attention and he should focus on this in layman’s terms showing some confidence in how he would approach the weathering financial storms ahead. It’s funny how timing is but I think if we had Mr. Martin leading the Liberals this time around they would have a chance...on the local front I hear there were only 65 people at Wayne Easter's kickoff rally which seems very low...also the Tories are convinced they have Egmont sewn up and I'm not disagreeing at this point..
Poll suggests leadership emerging as challenge for Dion
The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Liberal Leader Stephane Dion’s failure to connect with Canadians is emerging as a critical factor in the federal election and a key challenge for the Liberals entering the second week of the campaign, a new poll suggests. A week’s worth of media exposure coupled with TV ads designed to replace Dion’s cool professorial persona with that of a hockey-loving outdoorsman appear to have made little difference, a new Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll suggests. The Liberal effort may have made Dion even less likable to Canadians. The gap between his popularity and that of Prime Minister Stephen Harper — or even NDP Leader Jack Layton — is wider than ever.And in an apparent acknowledgment of declining Liberal fortunes, a senior Tory campaign official said the Conservatives will be shifting their focus more on the NDP, and to a lesser extent the Green party, in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. “The challenge for the Liberals appears to rest squarely on Mr. Dion,” Harris-Decima president Bruce Anderson said Sunday. “If he continues to be the only leading voice of the Liberal party, aside from (his) team, the choice for him is between whether or not to go negative and take the fight to Stephen Harper, or ... improve his likability.” The Conservatives believe Dion’s personal numbers are “driving down overall Liberal ballot support.” The poll, a survey of 1,393 adults across Canada conducted Sept. 10 through Sept. 13, found Dion’s negatives increasing slightly during the first week of campaigning, with little corresponding uptick in positives. In the case of Harper, the survey suggests precisely the opposite: that Canadians ended the week with more positive impressions of the prime minister than negative ones — a sign that a barrage of sweater-clad television ads designed to soften the Conservative leader’s sharp edges have largely worked. At week’s end, 52 per cent of respondents said they had a positive feeling about Harper, compared to 34 per cent for Dion. Fifty-five per cent reported negative feelings about Dion, compared to 40 per cent for Harper. The poll is considered accurate to within plus or minus 2.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Poll suggests leadership emerging as challenge for Dion
The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Liberal Leader Stephane Dion’s failure to connect with Canadians is emerging as a critical factor in the federal election and a key challenge for the Liberals entering the second week of the campaign, a new poll suggests. A week’s worth of media exposure coupled with TV ads designed to replace Dion’s cool professorial persona with that of a hockey-loving outdoorsman appear to have made little difference, a new Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll suggests. The Liberal effort may have made Dion even less likable to Canadians. The gap between his popularity and that of Prime Minister Stephen Harper — or even NDP Leader Jack Layton — is wider than ever.And in an apparent acknowledgment of declining Liberal fortunes, a senior Tory campaign official said the Conservatives will be shifting their focus more on the NDP, and to a lesser extent the Green party, in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. “The challenge for the Liberals appears to rest squarely on Mr. Dion,” Harris-Decima president Bruce Anderson said Sunday. “If he continues to be the only leading voice of the Liberal party, aside from (his) team, the choice for him is between whether or not to go negative and take the fight to Stephen Harper, or ... improve his likability.” The Conservatives believe Dion’s personal numbers are “driving down overall Liberal ballot support.” The poll, a survey of 1,393 adults across Canada conducted Sept. 10 through Sept. 13, found Dion’s negatives increasing slightly during the first week of campaigning, with little corresponding uptick in positives. In the case of Harper, the survey suggests precisely the opposite: that Canadians ended the week with more positive impressions of the prime minister than negative ones — a sign that a barrage of sweater-clad television ads designed to soften the Conservative leader’s sharp edges have largely worked. At week’s end, 52 per cent of respondents said they had a positive feeling about Harper, compared to 34 per cent for Dion. Fifty-five per cent reported negative feelings about Dion, compared to 40 per cent for Harper. The poll is considered accurate to within plus or minus 2.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
$100,000.00 FLOP!!!
On one of my last Department of Tourism blog rants I had made a comment..."Houston, we've got a problem" and now it has come home to roost! Someone down at Tourism gave away $100,000.00 of taxpayers' money to a rock promoter to lure 10,000 off Island fans to PEI. This quote is straight from PEI Tourism's press release "the tourism department believes if 10,000 concert-goers eat, sleep, and drink on P.E.I., the province's investment will pay off ". Well folks only 3,000 fans showed up and I have my doubts if 500 of them came from out of Province so how do you spell "FLOP"... Gentle Island, Big Break, Big Flop... time for a shake up there Robert....see my previous blog http://timbanks.ca/2008/09/houston-weve-got-problem.htmlGood Charlotte rocks Summerset
The Guardian
American rock band Good Charlotte from Waldorf, Maryland rocked the Summerset Music Festival Saturday night in Alexandra while approximately 3,000 fans loved it. The band was among five groups that opened for headliner Canadian Alanis Morissette. One of the bands on the bill was Haywire of Prince Edward Island who made a name for themselves in earlier times. (Guardian photo by Brian McInnis)
Saturday, September 13, 2008
A Big Red Herring...cheque with the Mayor?
I think this is quite a neat trick by our Mayor Clifford Lee and his City Mismanager. They blame the Liberals for not having money the Tories promised them. There’s an old saying “don’t spend what you don’t have” and Cliff and his posse should have thought about that before they spent it. Clifford wants to put it all on our Police Department but I think if there should be any review of how our tax money is squandered at City Hall it should be in the Mayor's office. So how many plum jobs in the recreation dept and public works dept go through the Mayor's office and at what cost? Why did the Mayor sell the land so cheap next to City Hall, as by my estimate alone, he squandered away $1,000.000.00 in missed revenue that taxpayers could have used? What goes on behind the Mayor's closed door? I don't know but I suspect ... yes a FULL REVIEW of the Mayor's office should be done! Some free advice Council, raise our taxes and I’m sure they’ll boot you out…
Here's what one person's comments about this were;
Research what happened in Newfoundland in 1998-02 with provincial members under Premier Brian Tobin - no Auditor General, no accountability. Secret monies were being funneled into the pockets of high ranking gov't officials and politiicians. CharlieTown's City Council is no different, no Auditor General, no accountability.Council runs a $40 million annual budget with public money and NO one is watching or reporting on best practises.And 'important' meetings are held in secret... it smells like the fish on my fingers!!
Charlottetown police to undergo major review
BY TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
By Teresa Wright
The City of Charlottetown is commissioning a full review of the Charlottetown Police Department in an effort to deal with growing demands for more police services, Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee announced Friday. With so many new concerts and special events now being held in the city, tremendous demands are being placed on existing police services, Lee said in a press conference at City Hall Friday morning. “We realize there are ongoing issues in the community with regards to policing that need to be addressed now,” Lee said. “The concerns range from late night disturbances, highway traffic act enforcements, visibility of our police department in all neighbourhoods — these are major issues and trust me when I say city council does take these issues seriously.” An independent, external consulting firm will be hired to conduct the review. It will focus on operational, facility, management, administrative and governance issues, Lee said. It will also look at the financial issues impacting service delivery in the city.Because, despite increased demand for police services, the city cannot afford to hire more police officers, Lee said. In fact, the city of Charlottetown has fewer revenues than it budgeted for. Earlier this week, council met with a group of the province’s MLAs and was told the province would not be granting the city an outstanding sum of $230,000 the mayor says was promised to the city by the Pat Binns government in 2007. This financial loss will not only affect policing, it will affect all the city’s resources, Lee said. “The reality is the city is facing financial challenges across the board,” he said. “They will affect every department with the (city) corporation.” That’s why this police review is being done. It’s one of a number of reviews the city is planning for a many of its other departments over the coming years, Lee said. Coun. Danny Redmond, who chairs the city’s police services committee, said this police review is long overdue. “It has been over 16 years —since the department has been examined,” Redmond said. “We want to find areas of improvement and find positive ways and means to bring about those improvements.” Police Chief Paul Smith said the Charlottetown police department is always looking at ways to provide better services, and he’s looking forward to what this review will find. “This review will help us identify are there things that we’re doing that maybe we can do better or do in a more efficient manner, or are there things that we were doing that maybe we don’t do anymore?” Smith reflected. The review will look at visibility of the police force in town, staffing issues, as well as a big drop in speeding tickets issued this year. In 2008, about half as many speeding tickets were issued as there were to this date in 2007. This in turn, has reduced the income for the city that comes from those tickets, Lee said. “That’s one of the issues that will be looked at through the consultant’s report.” The police review will incorporate interviews with elected officials, civic administration, employees of the police department, the attorney general’s office, the Crown prosecutor’s office, and senior members of the RCMP. The city is putting out a request for proposals for a consulting firm to conduct this review. A draft report, complete with a list of recommendations for council, is expected within three months of the consultant being hired.
Here's what one person's comments about this were;
Research what happened in Newfoundland in 1998-02 with provincial members under Premier Brian Tobin - no Auditor General, no accountability. Secret monies were being funneled into the pockets of high ranking gov't officials and politiicians. CharlieTown's City Council is no different, no Auditor General, no accountability.Council runs a $40 million annual budget with public money and NO one is watching or reporting on best practises.And 'important' meetings are held in secret... it smells like the fish on my fingers!!
Charlottetown police to undergo major review
BY TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
By Teresa Wright
The City of Charlottetown is commissioning a full review of the Charlottetown Police Department in an effort to deal with growing demands for more police services, Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee announced Friday. With so many new concerts and special events now being held in the city, tremendous demands are being placed on existing police services, Lee said in a press conference at City Hall Friday morning. “We realize there are ongoing issues in the community with regards to policing that need to be addressed now,” Lee said. “The concerns range from late night disturbances, highway traffic act enforcements, visibility of our police department in all neighbourhoods — these are major issues and trust me when I say city council does take these issues seriously.” An independent, external consulting firm will be hired to conduct the review. It will focus on operational, facility, management, administrative and governance issues, Lee said. It will also look at the financial issues impacting service delivery in the city.Because, despite increased demand for police services, the city cannot afford to hire more police officers, Lee said. In fact, the city of Charlottetown has fewer revenues than it budgeted for. Earlier this week, council met with a group of the province’s MLAs and was told the province would not be granting the city an outstanding sum of $230,000 the mayor says was promised to the city by the Pat Binns government in 2007. This financial loss will not only affect policing, it will affect all the city’s resources, Lee said. “The reality is the city is facing financial challenges across the board,” he said. “They will affect every department with the (city) corporation.” That’s why this police review is being done. It’s one of a number of reviews the city is planning for a many of its other departments over the coming years, Lee said. Coun. Danny Redmond, who chairs the city’s police services committee, said this police review is long overdue. “It has been over 16 years —since the department has been examined,” Redmond said. “We want to find areas of improvement and find positive ways and means to bring about those improvements.” Police Chief Paul Smith said the Charlottetown police department is always looking at ways to provide better services, and he’s looking forward to what this review will find. “This review will help us identify are there things that we’re doing that maybe we can do better or do in a more efficient manner, or are there things that we were doing that maybe we don’t do anymore?” Smith reflected. The review will look at visibility of the police force in town, staffing issues, as well as a big drop in speeding tickets issued this year. In 2008, about half as many speeding tickets were issued as there were to this date in 2007. This in turn, has reduced the income for the city that comes from those tickets, Lee said. “That’s one of the issues that will be looked at through the consultant’s report.” The police review will incorporate interviews with elected officials, civic administration, employees of the police department, the attorney general’s office, the Crown prosecutor’s office, and senior members of the RCMP. The city is putting out a request for proposals for a consulting firm to conduct this review. A draft report, complete with a list of recommendations for council, is expected within three months of the consultant being hired.
Boston Tea Party..."only in Summerside."
I'm kind of on Mr. Reid's side here and I suspect he's right that the Town hasn't got a right to enforce this tax but I'm sure most people in Town would know who is bullying him by threatening to cut off his power. We don't need any more taxes shoved down the throats of our tourists and surely not to pay for the big white $40,000,000.00 elephant.
Mulberry Motel won’t charge tax
Owner says history backs him up
MIKE CARSON
Transcontinental Media SUMMERSIDE – Accommodation owners and operators in Summerside are questioning the legalities of the city driven two per cent room tax levy implemented in April of this year. Don Reid, owner/operator of the Mulberry Motel said the history behind the levy bylaw shows it is the industry that collects and spends the levy fees — and not the municipality. Reid describes himself as a “non participant” in the two per cent tax levy and has not collected the fee since it came into effect in April.Reid said eight years ago, the Charlottetown-based P.E.I. Hotel Association looked for support for a room tax levy. Two years later, the Province contracted consultant Gerry Gallant to undertake a study into a two per cent accommodation levy. “He said, in a virtual one-liner, for the tourism industry to implement a two per cent levy would be detrimental to the industry,” Reid said.Reid said since that time the P.E.I. Hotel Association has been able to amalgamate several individual tourism-related groups to form Tourism Charlottetown. He said now there was a vehicle in place to bring the City of Charlottetown online to create the levy bylaw. The Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I. came on board and the Province passed legislation empowering the P.E.I. Hotel Association to move on the levy. Other areas of the Province, including Summerside, were included in this process.Reid said the big difference between Summerside and Charlottetown is the City of Summerside collects the tax and spends it on the new Credit Union Place whereas in Charlottetown the industry collects the levy and uses it for tourism promotion. Reid pointed to Ontario as having a system of room levies that could work in Summerside. He said the province had an eight per cent sales tax on accommodations which was used for marketing. The province forgave that eight per cent and allowed the industry to collect a three per cent levy, which they merge with other funding sources to promote tourism. He said this move is giving tourists a five per cent reduction on the room taxes they pay when visiting that province. He said on Prince Edward Island, the total room levy is 17.7 per cent — five per cent federal, ten per cent provincial and now the two per cent municipal tax. Reid said if the province would forgive the 10 per cent provincial tax and allow the local industry to promote tourism, it could be accomplished at a rate of five per cent, lowering the overall tax rate to 12.7 per cent and giving tourists a five per cent reduction in room costs.The city is not taking Reid’s decision lightly and is threatening to cut off the water and electricity to Mulberry Motel on Sept. 19 unless he complies with the bylaw. Reid said he has support from other accommodations operators and the group is looking for a meeting with the city to resolve this issue.
Mulberry Motel won’t charge tax
Owner says history backs him up
MIKE CARSON
Transcontinental Media SUMMERSIDE – Accommodation owners and operators in Summerside are questioning the legalities of the city driven two per cent room tax levy implemented in April of this year. Don Reid, owner/operator of the Mulberry Motel said the history behind the levy bylaw shows it is the industry that collects and spends the levy fees — and not the municipality. Reid describes himself as a “non participant” in the two per cent tax levy and has not collected the fee since it came into effect in April.Reid said eight years ago, the Charlottetown-based P.E.I. Hotel Association looked for support for a room tax levy. Two years later, the Province contracted consultant Gerry Gallant to undertake a study into a two per cent accommodation levy. “He said, in a virtual one-liner, for the tourism industry to implement a two per cent levy would be detrimental to the industry,” Reid said.Reid said since that time the P.E.I. Hotel Association has been able to amalgamate several individual tourism-related groups to form Tourism Charlottetown. He said now there was a vehicle in place to bring the City of Charlottetown online to create the levy bylaw. The Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I. came on board and the Province passed legislation empowering the P.E.I. Hotel Association to move on the levy. Other areas of the Province, including Summerside, were included in this process.Reid said the big difference between Summerside and Charlottetown is the City of Summerside collects the tax and spends it on the new Credit Union Place whereas in Charlottetown the industry collects the levy and uses it for tourism promotion. Reid pointed to Ontario as having a system of room levies that could work in Summerside. He said the province had an eight per cent sales tax on accommodations which was used for marketing. The province forgave that eight per cent and allowed the industry to collect a three per cent levy, which they merge with other funding sources to promote tourism. He said this move is giving tourists a five per cent reduction on the room taxes they pay when visiting that province. He said on Prince Edward Island, the total room levy is 17.7 per cent — five per cent federal, ten per cent provincial and now the two per cent municipal tax. Reid said if the province would forgive the 10 per cent provincial tax and allow the local industry to promote tourism, it could be accomplished at a rate of five per cent, lowering the overall tax rate to 12.7 per cent and giving tourists a five per cent reduction in room costs.The city is not taking Reid’s decision lightly and is threatening to cut off the water and electricity to Mulberry Motel on Sept. 19 unless he complies with the bylaw. Reid said he has support from other accommodations operators and the group is looking for a meeting with the city to resolve this issue.
Monday, September 8, 2008
You May Not...but Larry might...
Well Miss May if you can't get on the big stage with the "old boys" we have Larry McGuire down here who I'm sure would love to stage a debate with you or anyone who'll listen. In fact the two of you would be quite entertaining and maybe we could start up "Political Idol" and get you both some free press... keep up the great work Miss May, keep threatening to sue, stick it to the man, and keep up the name calling as it's lends creditability to your cause???
Green party leader excluded from TV debates
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Green party Leader Elizabeth May has been shut out of the televised election debates after every party but the Liberals shunned her inclusion. TV network officials hinted that one or more of the other party leaders would otherwise pull out of the showcase election event, set for Ottawa on Oct. 1 and 2. “The (network) consortium approached the parties to explore the possibility of including the Green party in all or part of the leaders’ debates,” spokesman Jason MacDonald said. “However, three parties opposed its inclusion and it became clear that if the Green party were included, there would be no leaders’ debates. “In the interest of Canadians, the consortium has determined that it is better to broadcast the debates with the four major party leaders, rather than not at all.” The nationally televised event is run by Canada’s private networks as an umbrella group that decides who takes part. The consortium includes CBC, Radio Canada, CTV, Global and TVA. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has said he would welcome the chance to debate May on TV. But Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Monday that May’s inclusion would in essence allow a second Liberal candidate to participate. He said May’s platform is similar to Dion’s and that she will ultimately endorse the Liberals. “Elizabeth May is not an opponent of Stephane Dion,” Harper said at a campaign event in Richmond, B.C. “She is his candidate in (the Nova Scotia riding of) Central Nova, and I think it would be fundamentally unfair to have two candidates who are essentially running on the same platform in the debate.” May threatened to go to court over Monday’s decision, accusing the TV networks of “old boy” tactics as she squarely blamed Harper for her exclusion. “I think Mr. Harper’s role was determinative,” she said in an interview. “He was the only one making the (public) case that I was not allowed to participate. “In the interest of fairness ... and a full and fair election, the Green party will seek the guidance of the Federal Court in terms of ... how manipulated the public airwaves can be by the objection of a prime minister who doesn’t want to face me in the debate.” In the past, the courts and federal radio-television regulator have washed their hands of the matter, saying it’s up to the broadcasters to decide who can participate in an event that can change the course of election campaigns. The Green leader has stepped up pressure on the networks ever since an Independent MP joined the party, giving the Greens a temporary toehold in the House of Commons. “I believe the consortium has been overly influenced by hints, and threats without actually having public statements on the record from any national party political leader that they would actually refuse to participate in the debates if I was included,” May said. NDP Leader Jack Layton was hustled away by handlers when reporters tried to clarify if he had threatened to pull out. “I’m looking forward to debating the prime minister,” was his only comment. A statement from Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe stressed that he would attend the debates with or without May, although his preference is to limit participation to the four major parties represented in the Commons. Most Canadians will find her exclusion “deeply anti-democratic, whether they plan to vote Green or not,” May fumed. Especially galling, she said, is the fact Duceppe is allowed in even though voters outside Quebec can’t vote for his party.“They can vote for the Green party in all 306 ridings across Canada. They want to know where we stand.” She says Harper’s bid to freeze her out has more to do with concern that the Greens could eat into Conservative support. It’s also the latest in a string of actions that suggest Harper’s distaste for women’s full equality and a dislike of feminists in particular, she charged.
Green party leader excluded from TV debates
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Green party Leader Elizabeth May has been shut out of the televised election debates after every party but the Liberals shunned her inclusion. TV network officials hinted that one or more of the other party leaders would otherwise pull out of the showcase election event, set for Ottawa on Oct. 1 and 2. “The (network) consortium approached the parties to explore the possibility of including the Green party in all or part of the leaders’ debates,” spokesman Jason MacDonald said. “However, three parties opposed its inclusion and it became clear that if the Green party were included, there would be no leaders’ debates. “In the interest of Canadians, the consortium has determined that it is better to broadcast the debates with the four major party leaders, rather than not at all.” The nationally televised event is run by Canada’s private networks as an umbrella group that decides who takes part. The consortium includes CBC, Radio Canada, CTV, Global and TVA. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has said he would welcome the chance to debate May on TV. But Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Monday that May’s inclusion would in essence allow a second Liberal candidate to participate. He said May’s platform is similar to Dion’s and that she will ultimately endorse the Liberals. “Elizabeth May is not an opponent of Stephane Dion,” Harper said at a campaign event in Richmond, B.C. “She is his candidate in (the Nova Scotia riding of) Central Nova, and I think it would be fundamentally unfair to have two candidates who are essentially running on the same platform in the debate.” May threatened to go to court over Monday’s decision, accusing the TV networks of “old boy” tactics as she squarely blamed Harper for her exclusion. “I think Mr. Harper’s role was determinative,” she said in an interview. “He was the only one making the (public) case that I was not allowed to participate. “In the interest of fairness ... and a full and fair election, the Green party will seek the guidance of the Federal Court in terms of ... how manipulated the public airwaves can be by the objection of a prime minister who doesn’t want to face me in the debate.” In the past, the courts and federal radio-television regulator have washed their hands of the matter, saying it’s up to the broadcasters to decide who can participate in an event that can change the course of election campaigns. The Green leader has stepped up pressure on the networks ever since an Independent MP joined the party, giving the Greens a temporary toehold in the House of Commons. “I believe the consortium has been overly influenced by hints, and threats without actually having public statements on the record from any national party political leader that they would actually refuse to participate in the debates if I was included,” May said. NDP Leader Jack Layton was hustled away by handlers when reporters tried to clarify if he had threatened to pull out. “I’m looking forward to debating the prime minister,” was his only comment. A statement from Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe stressed that he would attend the debates with or without May, although his preference is to limit participation to the four major parties represented in the Commons. Most Canadians will find her exclusion “deeply anti-democratic, whether they plan to vote Green or not,” May fumed. Especially galling, she said, is the fact Duceppe is allowed in even though voters outside Quebec can’t vote for his party.“They can vote for the Green party in all 306 ridings across Canada. They want to know where we stand.” She says Harper’s bid to freeze her out has more to do with concern that the Greens could eat into Conservative support. It’s also the latest in a string of actions that suggest Harper’s distaste for women’s full equality and a dislike of feminists in particular, she charged.
Larry, Larry, Quite Contrary...
Teresa, I think Larry told you a bold face lie...Larry thought Lawrence should have worked for him against Robert Ghiz and now he is simply trying to get back at Lawrence... and if anything, this foolish stunt by Larry will probably get Lawrence more votes. Poor Larry just doesn’t get it and he'll probably lose his deposit...but entertain a lot of folks in the process. Does this mean Larry will be looking to get in on the National TV debate???
McGuire running in Cardigan as independent
TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
A familiar face in Island politics will soon be joining the federal race in Cardigan.Larry McGuire, a retired teacher and brother of Egmont MP Joe McGuire, plans to run as an independent federal candidate in Cardigan.Once he registers as an official candidate, McGuire will face off at the polls against 20-year veteran Liberal MP Lawrence MacAulay and political newcomer Sid McMullin, running for the Conservatives. McGuire said he wanted to join the race after hearing the many concerns of Cardigan riding residents. “People are concerned in Cardigan about rural P.E.I. to a great extent,” he said.“I didn’t jump into this lightly. I’ve been quite active since the last provincial election and I really want to take a stand again and do what I can to stop the bleeding in rural P.E.I.”McGuire created a firestorm of controversy during a Liberal nomination convention in which he was running in 2006, when he suggested that “fat-cat, well-heeled Tories” would be moved out of their provincial government jobs and Liberals put at the top of the list if a Liberal government was elected in P.E.I.After this public statement, Liberal Leader and now Premier Robert Ghiz refused to sign his Liberal nomination papers for District 7. So, he ran as an independent in Morell-Mermaid. McGuire says he believes his experience in last year’s provincial election helped him gain an understanding of the issues facing rural P.E.I. But he said the main reason he decided to throw his hat into this race was the Liberal green shift proposal. “The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was this proposed carbon tax by the Dion Liberals,” he said.“People who are the most vulnerable are the ones being taxed, and taxing home heating fuel was just - well, I couldn’t stand by and have this tax go unchallenged.” McGuire said he’s got a campaign team almost in place and he plans to unveil his platform of policy initiatives over the coming weeks. He refuted any suggestion he was running merely to unseat long-time MP MacAulay out of bitterness for MacAulay not having supported his provincial campaign. “No, you can’t take politics personally. I’ve moved on from that years ago it seems,” he said. “I think the people in Cardigan are looking for a choice. The Conservative candidate has had a year and a half to campaign and he’s still invisible. Lawrence has had 20 years in and I think he’s lost touch with the people.“I’m in this to win it,” McGuire said.
McGuire running in Cardigan as independent
TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
A familiar face in Island politics will soon be joining the federal race in Cardigan.Larry McGuire, a retired teacher and brother of Egmont MP Joe McGuire, plans to run as an independent federal candidate in Cardigan.Once he registers as an official candidate, McGuire will face off at the polls against 20-year veteran Liberal MP Lawrence MacAulay and political newcomer Sid McMullin, running for the Conservatives. McGuire said he wanted to join the race after hearing the many concerns of Cardigan riding residents. “People are concerned in Cardigan about rural P.E.I. to a great extent,” he said.“I didn’t jump into this lightly. I’ve been quite active since the last provincial election and I really want to take a stand again and do what I can to stop the bleeding in rural P.E.I.”McGuire created a firestorm of controversy during a Liberal nomination convention in which he was running in 2006, when he suggested that “fat-cat, well-heeled Tories” would be moved out of their provincial government jobs and Liberals put at the top of the list if a Liberal government was elected in P.E.I.After this public statement, Liberal Leader and now Premier Robert Ghiz refused to sign his Liberal nomination papers for District 7. So, he ran as an independent in Morell-Mermaid. McGuire says he believes his experience in last year’s provincial election helped him gain an understanding of the issues facing rural P.E.I. But he said the main reason he decided to throw his hat into this race was the Liberal green shift proposal. “The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was this proposed carbon tax by the Dion Liberals,” he said.“People who are the most vulnerable are the ones being taxed, and taxing home heating fuel was just - well, I couldn’t stand by and have this tax go unchallenged.” McGuire said he’s got a campaign team almost in place and he plans to unveil his platform of policy initiatives over the coming weeks. He refuted any suggestion he was running merely to unseat long-time MP MacAulay out of bitterness for MacAulay not having supported his provincial campaign. “No, you can’t take politics personally. I’ve moved on from that years ago it seems,” he said. “I think the people in Cardigan are looking for a choice. The Conservative candidate has had a year and a half to campaign and he’s still invisible. Lawrence has had 20 years in and I think he’s lost touch with the people.“I’m in this to win it,” McGuire said.
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