SNUGS AND OTHER TRIANGLE PHENOMENA...

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SNUGS..... IF YOU'VE NEVER ENJOYED ONE... YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MISSING!!

For those who've never had the pleasure..... a "SNUG" is a small rectangular room, slightly smaller than a jail cell, where clients of the Triangle can meet and imbibe without being seen by the prying eyes of reporters, competitors, taxpayers and others in the Ale House.

While the snugs do provide privacy from snooping eyes the walls do not go all the way to the ceiling so noise from the patrons and band would still be a factor..... inside a snug!

One of our commenters reports on the use of the Triangle as a favourite watering hole for politicians during the day; however, I saw none there at the hours normally recorded on Mr. Anderson's "receipts". What I saw between 10:00 and 12:00 Thursday night, were mostly 30 something clients and in fact the population changed even more dramatically with many of the male clients leaving and more female 30 somethings arriving. By midnight, some 80 percent of Triangle Ale House patrons were women!

So there..... another attempt to make sure our readers are the best informed taxpayers in South West Nova.

SOMEONE ASKED!

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A reader asked..... How is what appears as an expose of the SWSDA CEO's expenses at the Triangle Ale House, relevant to transparency and accountability of a municipal body like SWSDA? (See previous post from Friday.)

That is a really relevant question......

Here's why I posted and wrote the Triangle Ale House post the way I did.

First of all .... most travel expenses of an organization like SWSDA are taken from the "core funding" provided by the nine municipalities that contribute to SWSDA's operations.

Core funding is a particularly precious resource... because it pays for the key human resources applied to socio-economic development in our region and the support facilities, equipment and activities that permit the people we hire to do their jobs on our behalf.

Wasting those resources, limits the potential and actual effectiveness of your organization and your ability to deliver the services that provide the raison d'etre of the organization.

On a day to day basis, sound management, scrutiny and effective administration of SWSDA's core budget is the responsibility of SWSDA's staff from the lowest paid employee all the way to the CEO. They do it through their internal administration systems and with the supervision normally provided by good managers.

In SWSDA's case, final responsibility for financial management and oversight lies with the Board of Directors, who as a group, rely on the Chair and the Executive of the Board as set out in SWSDA's bylaws.

More importantly, Board Members have a further personal legal responsibility of "due diligence" i.e.... paying attention to what's going on!

Part of that responsibility is called "fiduciary responsibility" ... and falls on the shoulders of every Board Member.... not just those who are municipal representatives...

Indeed, municipal representatives sent by Council to be members of SWSDA's Board ..... have a further fiduciary and due diligence responsibility to the Municipal Council that sent them and the electors who elected them to protect and properly apply the resources our communities invest in SWSDA to be applied to our local socio-economic development.

That responsibility I would argue extends to gathering information about SWSDA's activities and ensuring that Council and in turn, taxpayers are sufficiently informed about what SWSDA is doing so that citizens can provide their informed views and wishes to Council respecting the operations of SWSDA.

A good example of this ..... is the threatened lawsuit and supposed indebtedness of the Municipality of Shelburne and in turn taxpayers of Shelburne to SWSDA that Mr. Anderson often raises at meetings and in his interviews with the media.

In this case, between 1999 and 2008 when Pat Nickerson and in turn Paulette Scott were Co-chairs of SWSDA, they each had an absolute personal responsibility to the Council and taxpayers of the Municipality of Shelburne to advise us if Mr. Anderson's statements were true and to see to it that these statements stopped, if they were not true. Both however claimed that they were sworn to secrecy and that they could not share information given to them by SWSDA staff unless they were specifically allowed to do so... talk about the the tail wagging the dog!

That responsibility for advising the public and protecting the interests of the Municipality now lies squarely on the shoulders of our new Warden and SWSDA Board member, Sherm Embree.... not an enviable position to be in if you want to make what may be painful changes while cultivating new relationships.....

SORRY FOR THE CIRCUITOUS ROUTE TO AN ANSWER ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL EXPENSE CLAIMS AT THE TRIANGLE ALE HOUSE .....

The Triangle Ale House expenses are a prime example of expenditures that should have been questioned and justified to the satisfaction of staff, the Chair, the Executive, the Board and individual members of the Board of Directors.

HAD THEY BEEN .... THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN REJECTED AND.... the estimated $25,000 could have been used to hire staff or lever additional funds for investments in our communities.

Given my visit Thursday night ..... I see no reason that would justify spending an estimated $25,000 in taxpayers scarce development funds as travel expenses over the past nine years in the Triangle Ale House in Halifax at eight, nine, ten and eleven o'clock at night.

In my view, it is not an environment that is conducive or appropriate for important meetings or discussions about development in Shelburne or Yarmouth county municipalities or in Clare. Is the Triangle Ale House the image we want seared in the brains of potential investors or guests who are interested in our region....? Much as I love the Irish.... I doubt it!

WHO WAS ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH AND ARE THEY STILL NOT PAYING ATTENTION.... YOU TELL ME!

Ye Old Triangle Ale House

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Well Worth the Visit!

Let's see... where do I start..... A rough tally of travel claimed expenses for SWSDA's CEO in the fiscal year 2005/2006 shows that the Triangle Ale House was often frequented by Mr. Anderson, often late in the evening, ..... always at taxpayers' expense..... presumably in his efforts to promote the socio-economic development of Clare and/or the other eight municipalities in Yarmouth and Shelburne Counties.

I've attached photos contributed by their patrons that I got from the Triangle Ale House web page to help you get an idea of the venue.

A quick tally of Mr. Anderson's receipts provided as a result of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia's Order, shows expenses at this one establishment of more than 10% of Mr. Anderson's reported travel expenses (not counting airfares or expenses attributed to projects like the Boys School) during that 12 month period.

Between April 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006 taxpayers paid some $2,000 in sales and pencilled-in tips (often of 30-40% or more) at this one establishment - the Triangle Ale House.

Assuming that Mr. Anderson has spent at the Triangle Ale House.... on average the same amount each year since its establishment nine years ago.....

How much would taxpayers in South West Nova .... have contributed the Old Triangle Ale House? ...... More than $20,000 for the wares and services provided to Mr. Anderson mostly in the late night hours of the evening.

Assuming an average of 25% tips .... would mean that South West Nova taxpayers would have provided wait staff at the Ale House with nearly $5,000 in gratuities.

Having never been to the Triangle Ale House before, last night I ventured forth while in Halifax to see if I could learn why this establishment plays such an apparently important role in the promotion of the development efforts of Shelburne and Yarmouth municipalities and Clare.

Of course, I was looking for signs that supported Mr. Anderson's choice of this location for so many of the purported meetings held late in the evening with unidentified collaborators .... on our behalf....!

Here's what I found.... a crowded, noisy venue with 50 to 75 thirty to forty-something year olds casually dressed and out having a good time, normally in groups of 4 or more! (See photos at the start of this posting.

With a loud live band playing almost continuously... sound levels between the crowd and the band were loud enough that it meant you had to wave your arms to attract a waiter, because he/she could never hear any normally audible plea for service.

For the most part.... a location where you need to get within earshot of the person you are speaking with so they can hear you over the din generated by the ambient noise of glass and bottles clinking, laughter, music and animated, excited testosterone and hormone-driven conversations. At around 10:00 I saw no food being served nor any sign that food was an important part of the menu at that time of the evening..... although I did see bouncers carefully ushering a number of patrons to the door.

Overall ...... I still haven't figured out why anyone would reportedly tip so much at this location since there was no particularly redeeming trait that I could associate with the Ale House as an environment for conducting business or a location that provided business services of any kind......

I looked for anyone I might recognize.... but sadly saw no one I knew.... and after searching the walls, I am confess that I found no photos of anyone I recognized from Shelburne or Yarmouth Counties.... or Clare.

But..... my biggest disappointment was that I didn't have a tape recorder, camera or video camera with me so that I could have given readers a better idea of what I found at the Old Triangle Ale House.... maybe next time!

In the interim, I did get to figure out how receipts work there and will give you a look see if I get a chance later today......

Following Up.....

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Well dear reader, yesterday was interesting. Spent the day in Halifax talking to people and reading documents. Heading back to Shelburne this morning. Starting off a little late.... went to a noisy Ale House last night to see what the draw was... Guess which one.....


Yep...... the infamous Triangle Ale House....

Noisy little place, even on a Thursday evening.

Very informative.....more about all this in this afternoon and the coming days.

Discovered a few things about the Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission, Yarmouth Port Authorityand Nova Scotia Association of Regional Development Authorities.... remember, the one I wrote about yesterday.

Can hardly wait to get home.....

Amazing!!

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Going to the Registry of Joint Stocks Today!

My posting of a couple days ago about other organizations that the SWSDA Board and Mr. Anderson were involved with has produced an avalanche of leads and questions and comments. In the last day or two I've received more emails from Clare and Yarmouth then ever before... some eager to get published others more recalcitrant .... but whole new streams of information and leads .... every day this new blog medium amazes me more and more .... its ability to create networks that used to take years .... in just days and hours ... it is still bewildering to old guys like me (and a little like the magic of compound interest !)

Yesterday I was projecting ...... reaching 17,000 page views... for this little blog started three weeks ago.

This morning when I checked my statistical report we had reached 19,375...... and mid-week has traditionally been slower than Fridays or Mondays......!!

Guess all those new folks in Yarmouth and Clare are telling friends to take a look.... Thanks folks....

Nova Scotia Ombudsman Investigates SWSDA

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BTW..... Understand from my new Yarmouth friends and sources that SWSDA finally fessed up and admitted that they were being investigated by the Ombudsman.....

Mr. Anderson's version of the three hour interview with investigators I am told..... had a positive twist. Indicating that investigators had a better understanding of the questions discussed after their interview of Mr. Anderson, he assured the assembled Board of Directors that he was sure things would be fine........

Isn't that what he said about that foolish attempt by yours truly to gain access to his travel expense claims..... Yeh..... believe he told the SWSDA Board that his high-priced lawyers said the courts would never agree that SWSDA was a municipal body. (;-)

That's when he wrote to the Municipalities and told them that any requests for information from yours truly should simply be referred to Mr. Anderson and he would take care of things......

Did I understand my sources correctly? Did Mr. Anderson say that Holly Boston, CEO of the Nova Scotia Association of Regional Development Authorities (NSARDA) was there too and helped to clarify some of the questions investigators had?

Doesn't make sense! Can't imagine Ombudsman's investigators interviewing two witnesses at a time.... not the way they operate..... or interview...... Don't think they would have interviewed the Holy Bond lady at same time... opps.... meant Holly Boston lady.

Since SWSDA being investigated for its activities I am curious as to why they would even interview NSARDA.

Of course as a publicly funded organization it too may bear some scrutiny. I mean with all of its funds from public sources someone should ask why this society (the mother of RDAs) has only filed financial statements with the RJSC three times in the last ten years and why it hasn't filed a financial statement in two years.

AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT..... Why Neal Conrad the guy in charge of funding RDAs in this province has not monitored their activities more closely. Does he get copies of their unfiled financial statements? How does he monitor the public funds granted to this organization?

Psst..... Did You Hear What Happened in Yarmouth....?

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THEY GOT HUNGRY AND WENT HOME!

Word from sources in Yarmouth is that the SWSDA Board meeting was cut short yesterday .... because there was no free food and drinks!

My sources say that by noon .....they'd had enough..... because those two Shelburne County-based party poopers Louise Halliday and Elizabeth Acker had put forward and passed the motion at the last SWSDA Board meeting to do away with the public trough at future SWSDA meetings (at least the one with fancy finger foods, sweets, dainty sandwiches, crudites, fruit, yogurt, drinks of all kinds, etc.). Good for you Ladies!

It may also be because of the grilling and demand for answers and action I am told by my new friends in Yarmouth that Rod Rose was getting from Shelburne County Board members Sherm Embree, Louise Halliday, Elizabeth Acker, Deputy Mayor and super sleuth Lonnie Townsend (who I gather did a terrific job pinch-hitting for Darian Huskilson who is stirring up his own pot).... didn't hear about any of the questions raised by Cecil Brannen... but assume he weighed in too..... can someone confirm?

So now I turn to you dear reader.... to fill in the gaps as I search for more news about SWSDA's current affairs in Yarmouth, Shelburne and Clare.... opps.... did I say affairs.... I meant .... dealings.... darn, did it again....I really meant .... arrangements...... aw, forget it.... you know what I meant..... didn't you?

Yessir.... this faithful cub reporter and expanding band of SWSDA Accountability Readers from Shelburne, Yarmouth and Clare are sharing and looking for any information we can get about what transpired at the SWSDA Board meeting yesterday.... can you help you ask.....? You're darn tootin you can!

Copies of any documents.... provided at the meeting would be nice if you can get your hands on them.

Feedback from anyone who was at the meeting.... I'd be happy to protect the source and keep their name out of the limelight if that is their preference....

Manila envelopes or packages with information can be sent to Ed Cayer, PO Box 995, Shelburne, B0T 1W0 or information can be sent by toll free fax to (877) 786-4704 or by email to aacayer@gmail.com.

Call, write to or stop anyone on the street that you know who was at the meeting and ask them for information about the SWSDA proceedings ... or just send it to this blog as a comment!

In the meantime, as the trickle turns into a torrent (wishful thinking on my part of course), I will report and post any news I can get my hands on.

As you know dear reader, we always find out ...... if we persist!

It needn't be but is..... for the time being..... so won't you help us keep the flames of public accountability and informed public involvement and participation, active and burning..... ?!?

If you live in Clare, or any of the communities in Yarmouth or Shelburne counties ask someone you know... REMEMBER..... SWSDA IS A MUNICIPAL BODY MANAGED AND DIRECTED BY ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS, DOING PUBLIC BUSINESS WITH PUBLIC MONEY.... YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

That's not only my opinion...... IT IS ALSO THE VIEW OF THE NOVA SCOTIA SUPREME COURT AS DETERMINED BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JUSTICE HOOD IN HER DECISION OF NOVEMBER 28, 2008!

Mr. Anderson claims that SWSDA is a Nova Scotia RDA.... maybe they should adhere to the Act.... here's where you'll find it..... its a good read because it shows you how little SWSDA respects and follows the requirements of the Act.... take a look and let me know what you think. http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/statutes/regioncd.htm

And then there's YARCO!

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Yarco is a Yarmouth private company that Richard Hurlburt described as "just a partnership" in an interview with a Daily News reporter a few years ago.

Wanta know who the partners are?

What was that rumble.... I just heard about subsidized water and sewage lines to some of YARCO's speculative land holdings.....??!!??

PROFILE - YARCO HOLDINGS -

as of: 2009-05-27 03:57 PM
Company/Society Name:
YARCO HOLDINGS
Registry ID: 1916899
Type: Partnership/Business Name
Nature Of Business:
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
Status: Active
Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
Registered Office:
390 MAIN STREET, Yarmouth NS Canada B5A 1E9
Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 580 Yarmouth NS Canada B5A 4B4

PEOPLE

FRANK ANDERSON, Partner, 1772 LAKE GEORGE ROAD SOUTH OHIO NS B0W 3E0
RICHARD HURLBURT, Partner, 21 LAKE GEORGE ROAD SOUTH OHIO NS B5A 4B2
RODNEY DOUCETTE, Partner, 2837 HIGHWAY #1 PORT MAITLAND NS B5A 4A5
PAUL HURLBURT, Partner, 3742 HIGHWAY 340 CARLETON NS B0W 1L0
MARTIN J. PINK, Recognized Agent, 390 MAIN ST YARMOUTH NS B5A 1E9
P.O. BOX 580 YARMOUTH NS B5A 4B4

ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS COMPANY OR ITS PLAYERS AND LINKS TO OTHER CORPORATE ENTITIES AND/OR IMPACT OF ITS ACTIVITIES ON PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS?

Players Look Familiar

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You will likely have read the story in SCT

( http://www.shelburnecountytoday.com/ ) about the apparent YAIC financial problems. A quick review of the Registry of Joint Stocks Profile is revealing..... So I've provided it below.

Here's what you should note....

1. The similarities in the SWSDA Board membership and this group and others in the area......like revolving chairs!
2. The number of years where YAIC did not even bother to file the mandatory Financial Statement with the Registrar..... Missing Financial Statements 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 .... seven of the last ten years!
3. The Manager of YAIC is...... Mr. Anderson.

PROFILE - YARMOUTH AREA INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

as of: 2009-05-27 03:19 PM

Registry ID:
3029570
Type: Society
Nature Of Business: ??
Status: Active
Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
Registered Office:
233 WATER ST. YARMOUTH NS Canada B5A 1M1
Mailing Address:
PO BOX 131 YARMOUTH NS Canada B5A 4B1

PEOPLE

ROD J. ROSE, Director, 23 ELM STREETYARMOUTH NOVA SCOTIA B5A 2P8
ALDRIC B. D'ENTREMONT, Director, 12 CHEMIN DE L'ALLEEWEST PUBNICO NOVA SCOTIA B0W 3S0
GREG SHAY, Director, 64 CROSBY ROAD LAKE GEORGE NOVA SCOTIA B0W 3E0
PHIL LEBLANC, Director, 514 BRUNSWICK STREETYARMOUTH NOVA SCOTIA B5A 4M8
CALVIN D'ENTREMONT, Director, 15 OLD CHURCH ROADLOWER WEST PUBNICO NOVA SCOTIA B0W 2C0
TREVOR A. CUNNINGHAM, Director, 31 TRANQUILITY CRESCENTDAYTON NOVA SCOTIA B5A 4A9
NORMAN A. POTTIER, Director, 8299 HIGHWAY #3 TUSKET NOVA SCOTIA B0W 3M0
PHIL MOONEY, Director, 507 BRUNSWICK STREET EXTENSIONYARMOUTH NOVA SCOTIA B5A 4N1
DANIEL W. MACISAAC, Director, 52 MAIN STREETYARMOUTH NOVA SCOTIA B5A 1A6
GERARD H. BOUDREAU, Director, 679 HIGHWAY 340SOUTH OHIO NOVA SCOTIA B0W 3E0
MURRAY E. GOODWIN, Director, 173 BEVERIDGE ROADMELBOURNE NOVA SCOTIA B0W 1B0
ROGER E. KING, Director, 17 OAK DRIVEYARMOUTH NOVA SCOTIA B5A 2R5
MARTIN J. PINK, Director, 19 CAIE CRESCENTYARMOUTH NOVA SCOTIA B5A 1N9
TREVOR A. CUNNINGHAM, TREASURER, 31 TRANQUILITY CRESCENTDAYTON NOVA SCOTIA B5A 4A9
NORMAN A. POTTIER, SECRETARY, 8299 HIGHWAY #3TUSKET NOVA SCOTIA B0W 3M0
ROGER E. KING, CHAIRPERSON, 17 OAK DRIVEYARMOUTH NOVA SCOTIA B5A 2R5
PHIL LEBLANC, VICE-CHAIRPERSON, 514 BRUNSWICK STREETYARMOUTH NOVA SCOTIA B5A 4M8
RAYMOND B. JACQUARD, Recognized Agent, 381 MAIN STREETYARMOUTH NS B5A 4B1, PO BOX 117YARMOUTH NS B5A 4B1

ACTIVITIES

Annual Renewal , 2009-05-08
Filed Financial Statement , 2009-05-07
Annual Statement Filed , 2009-03-18
Annual Statement Filed , 2008-05-15
Annual Renewal , 2008-04-03
Annual Statement Filed , 2007-04-26
Annual Renewal , 2007-04-03
Filed Financial Statement , 2006-08-25
Annual Renewal , 2006-05-09
Annual Statement Filed , 2006-05-09
Annual Renewal , 2005-04-14
Change of Directors , 2005-04-14
Change of Directors , 2004-04-02
Annual Renewal , 2004-03-16
Filed Financial Statement , 2004-03-16
Appoint an Agent , 2004-03-09
Change of Directors , 2003-07-03
Address Change , 2003-06-17
Filed Financial Statement , 2003-06-17
Appoint an Agent , 2003-06-17
Reactivated , 2003-06-17
Default for Non-Payment , 2003-06-01
Special Resolution , 2003-04-07
Change of Directors , 2002-05-30
Change of Directors , 2002-04-29
Memorandum Altered by Resolution , 2002-04-26
Annual Renewal , 2002-04-03
Change of Directors , 2002-03-01
Annual Renewal , 2001-03-22
Change of Directors , 2000-05-16
Annual Renewal , 2000-04-18

Incorporated, 1999-04-27

Do we have the same governance and management problems here as with SWSDA?

Someone Asked?

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Shelburne County Today had a story about this organization a few months ago, indicating that none of the members of the Board were aware that they were members of the Board or that this organization existed ..... or what it did.....

Know about any other phantom organizations.... let SAP (SWSDA Accountability to the Public)know.

Interested to know more? Ask SCT.....

PROFILE - SOUTH WEST SHORE VOLUNTEER SERVICES SOCIETY -

as of: 2009-05-27 01:23 PM

Registry ID: 3100350
Type: Society
Status: Active
Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
Registered Office:
3588 HWY 3 BARRINGTON PASSAGE NS Canada B0W 1G0
Mailing Address:
PO BOX 237 BARRINGTON NS Canada B0W 1E0

PEOPLE:
CHARLES R LEBLANC, Director 400 WEDGEPORT RDLOWER WEDGEPORT NS B0W 2B0
RONNIE LEBLANC, Director, 19 MILLIE ROADMETEGHAN NS B0W 2J0
ALAN LOMBARD, Director, 909 LITTLE BROOKLITTLE BROOK NS B0W 1Z0
TREVOR CUNNINGHAM, Director, 31 TRANQUILITY CRESCENTDAYTON NS B5A 4A9
PHIL LEBLANC, Director, 514 BRUNSWICK STREETYARMOUTH NS B5A 4M7
ROGER E. KING, Director, 17 OAK STYARMOUTH NS B5A 2R5
JAMES R ROSE, Director, 23 ELM STYARMOUTH NS B5A 2P8
ROBERT G REDDING, Director, 5 FALLS LANESHELBURNE NS B0T 1W0
DARIAN M HUSKILSON, Director, 120 SOUTH STLOCKEPORT NS B0T 1L0
CECIL W BRANNEN, Director, 3 WOODLAND STCLARK'S HARBOUR NS B0W 1P0
LOUISE HALLIDAY, Director, 653 BEAR POINTBEAR POINT NS B0W 3B0
SHERMAN EMBREE, Director, 1784 EAST SABLE RIVER ROADSABLE RIVER NS B0W 2J0
PHIL MOONEY, Director, 507 BRUNSWICK STREETYARMOUTH NS B5A 4M8
ELIZABETH ACKER, Director, 180 MOWATT STREETSHELBURNE NS B0T 1W0
DARIAN M HUSKILSON, TREASURER, 120 SOUTH STLOCKEPORT NS B0T 1L0
CHARLES R LEBLANC, SECRETARY, 400 WEDGEPORT RDLOWER WEDGEPORT NS B0W 2B0
JAMES R ROSE, CHAIR, 23 ELM STYARMOUTH NS B5A 2P8
FRANK R. ANDERSON, Recognized Agent, 233 WATER STREETYARMOUTH NS B5A 1M1
PO BOX 131YARMOUTH NS B5A 4B1

ACTIVITIES

Annual Renewal , 2009-03-30
Annual Statement Filed , 2009-03-30
Filed Financial Statement , 2009-03-30
Annual Statement Filed , 2008-08-11
Annual Renewal , 2008-04-29
Filed Financial Statement , 2007-08-03
Reactivated , 2007-05-07
Default for Non-Payment , 2007-05-02
Annual Renewal , 2006-03-10
Annual Statement Filed , 2006-03-10
Incorporated , 2005-03-30

CONSEQUENCES!

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In comments from AnnR she writes that this blog should focus on "big" issues pointing out that she is or was in Northern Labrador where they all know about accountability... and suggesting that tips for some over-worked and underpaid wait staff member are not an appropriate focus.

For those of you not familiar with the recent scandal in Newfoundland that AnnR is referring to here is a recap courtesy of CTV of Justice Pike's statement when he was sentencing former Conservative Minister Byrne. \

"When officials enrich themselves or others in circumstances such as this, there is an undermining of the confidence in the democratic system," Pike said in sentencing Byrne to two years less a day. "The need for denunciation is so pressing that incarceration in custody is the only suitable way to express society's condemnation of the offender's conduct."

In January, the 45-year-old former leader of the Progressive Conservative party pleaded guilty to fraud over $5,000 and influence peddling related to his expense account.

Gee, AnnR ..... sounds to me like the folks who were supposed to be monitoring and vetting the good Minister's expense accounts were not doing their job... looks like officials and Judges in Newfoundland thought that was sufficient to move them to action.....

This blog is about transparency and accountability which I find lacking in SWSDA.... my blogs about these things are simply to give examples and ask questions that I think should have been asked by Board Members, Municipalities and Federal and Provincial agencies.

Odd Expenses Comment by AnnR

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Dear Ann,

Oh how I hate to write.... but I must. Especially since I really disagree with your analysis and conclusions. ..... First, Mr. Anderson claimed mileage, hotel and daily food allowance expenses from SWSDA for January 30/31 ostensibly to attend meetings.

Questions!

1. Mr. Anderson produced no receipt for a hotel on January 30/31... although he claimed an expense for it. He did produce a receipt for January 26... but that was for the Yarmouth Exhibition Group who were booked in at the hotel as was Mr. Anderson from January 26 to 29 inclusive.

2. If Mr. Anderson was booked with the Yarmouth Exhibition Group January 26, 27, 28, and 29, why are the taxpayers in Shelburne who are funding SWSDA picking up bills for drinks, food, taxis and tips when it appears SWSDA business was only on January 30/31?

You know Dear AnnR... I agree with you that it makes perfect sense to attribute costs to funding sources when possible and they may overlap.... in that case allocating expenses clearly and fairly is important to avoid double-dipping and attribute costs to the right party.

However, I can assure you that had you submitted a claim like this to me and most of the managers I know, for your reported "Education Conferences " in another Province, I would have asked for clarification, justification and probably rejected all of the extra expenses claimed when you were not there working for the company that pays your wages.... in Mr. Anderson's case - SWSDA.

My next question would have been to our finance and personnel staff to identify how much to dock your salary for the days when you were not working for my organization but clearly for someone else.... in Mr. Anderson's case that may be difficult because we still don't know who Mr. Anderson works for besides SWSDA!

As I see it Dear AnnR, these are not insignificant issues and reflect badly on the quality of the administration of an organization, demonstrating once again SWSDA's abject failure to adequately supervise and manage staff.

You are of course entitled to your opinion.... but I believe you are woefully wrong.

Here's What I Suggest.....

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At today's SWSDA Board Meeting .... I hope members will ask some of the questions we've raised and demand answers!

Of course, expecting answers today may be a bit much to compel SWSDA to answers questions about activities that span many years.

So... here's my attempt at finding solutions!

1. Advise SWSDA that ....

a) they have until the AGM in June to open the doors, initiate action to cure SWSDA's ills and answer the questions to the satisfaction of Team Shelburne;

b) should SWSDA fail to take appropriate action by the AGM, Team Shelburne's next meeting in June will entertain a motion to contact the New Minister of Economic Development to request that a new RDA be established immediately for Shelburne County;

c) Shelburne County Municipalities will bring motions to each of their respective Councils seeking:

i) approval of the withdrawal of their municipal guarantees from SWSDA ; and,
ii) the provision of authority to advise SWSDA, the Registry of Joint Stocks, ACOA and the Department of Economic Development of the withdrawal of their municipality from SWSDA;

2. All candidates running in the provincial election on June 9 be advised of the position of Shelburne County municipalities;

3. All candidates be asked to make public statements respecting their position and their party's position on the creation of an RDA for Shelburne County.

A Reply to Comments I can't Post

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Dear Commenter,

Thanks for your comments.....

I keep writing about things... hoping that folks will finally require those responsible to assume their responsibility for supervising staff, managing resources and administering public activities properly.

Transparent and accountable organizations do this best and so I keep fighting to open the doors at SWSDA, showing what happens when you don't.

And you are right, failure on the part of publicly funded organizations, charged with the conduct of public business by public officials, to be open to scrutiny by the public .... may lead to the kind of fraud, corruption and self-serving conflict of interest you describe and attribute to a number of people associated with SWSDA's activities.

Wow, sure am scratching my head..... but I can't and won't post accusations of wrongdoing and criminal activity without solid evidence .... for a couple of reasons.... tempting as it might be....

First, it wouldn't be fair to those being accused.

Second, it would leave me personally open to accusations of libel and slander because, even though I would not have made these accusations myself, I would be seen by the courts as responsible for the comments if I published them.

Here's what I suggest. Contact any of the following folks if you do have evidence. Suggest you do it in writing. It make take a while but be persistent. And, all have facilities for safe-guarding your identity.

Your local RCMP Office

The Nova Scotia Ombudsman

Revenue Canada

the Auditor General of Nova Scotia and Canada

and/or any government agency that provided funds for the activitiy in question.

Just Like Christmas Eve!

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Getting Ready for Bed.... but will undoubtedly find it hard to get to sleep in eager anticipation of the SWSDA Board Meeting tomorrow. Feel like when I was a kid waiting for Santa to arrive!

I guess I'm the eternal optimist.... hoping that others will do the right thing and I won't have to escalate this pressure.... Can't be good for Yarmouth, Clare or Shelburne County.... We need positive publicity.... just finding it hard to find things to be positive about!!

Will someone please send a note to the blog as soon as the SWSDA meeting is over and tell those of us in the great unwashed public who are not "non-voting" members, what transpired at the meeting?

Thanks,

Ed

Answers to comments.....

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One comment asked what happened to questions asked of Penny Smith..... Municipality has 30 days to respond before I bump it up to the FOIPOP Office. First response from municiplaity came from Kirk Cox within days of my request.... and Municipality is preparing response to me .... In the meantime they have asked SWSDA (Frank Anderson) for any information SWSDA has..... I'm not holding my breath and have asked Sherm Embree to ask the same question at the SWSDA meeting tomorrow.

Second comment sounded politically motivated indicating that Darian was no better than the others where SWSDA was concerned. Fact of the matter is, Darian has made a number of efforts to make SWSDA responsive and responsible. His party leader called for an audit of SWSDA some two years ago and recently re-confirmed the party's position. Sterling Belliveau of the NDP wrote to the Auditor General asking for an audit of SWSDA about four months ago. The only party who have done nothing are the Conservatives. All three candidates in our riding have been members of the SWSDA Board and are intimately knowledgeable about SWSDA's operations..

Looking for Answers?

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Looking for a fresh attitude on government, accountability and citizens rights? Look at what our cousins the Australians have done and are doing by going to this site ...... Their commitment to these fundamental issues and values is clear from their efforts over the past 25 years. http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/democratic_rights_freedoms.html

For Your Information!

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You are sharing this blog with people in seven countries including Canada, the United States, Singapore, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Belgium and South Korea.

In the United States folks are reading this blog in 15 states including, Virginia, Maine, Arizona, New York, Texas, North Carolina, New Hampshire, California, New Jersey, Florida, Massachusetts, Georgia, Delaware, South Carolina and Maryland.

In Canada readers can be found in 37 communities across the country with the top ten after Shelburne ranked in the following manner: Halifax, Yarmouth, Barrington, Edmonton, Bridgewater, St. John, Moncton, Wolfville, Ottawa and New Glascow

Odd Expenses?!?

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In the 147 pages of Mr. Anderson's expenses are some odd receipts/notations.

1. A receipt for January 26 and 27 made out to Mr. Frank Anderson, Exhibitions Association of NS, Yarmouth Arriving January 26 and departing January 29, 2006 with all additional pages of the bill from the Westin missing for the 28th and 29th of Janaury 2006. On January 26, three rooms are charged to Mr. Anderson's account and on January 27, seven rooms are charged to his account.

Now, here is where is gets really confusing..... if Mr. Anderson was there on SWSDA business why is he only charging SWSDA for one night's accommodation?

On the other hand, if I assume he was there only one day on SWSDA business (since he's only charging SWSDA for one night), why is he charging SWSDA for accommodation for January 30/31, 2006 and not as reflected in the receipt at the Westin for January 26, 2006.

It gets better.... On January 26, 2006 Mr. Anderson has a receipt from the Triangle Ale House for $80.48 plus a handwitten tip of $20.00 for a total of $110.48 apparently charged to SWSDA as a SWSDA business expense when he wasn't there on SWSDA business on Janaury 26, 2006.

Without putting too fine a point on the confusion... here's where real questions arise. On January 25, 26, and 27 he claims taxi receipts of $8.00, $10.00, $10.00, $10.00, $8.00, $10.00 and $10.00 .... and on January 28, 2006 he claims $46.00 for what looks like drinks and or food at the Westin Hotel plus a handwritten tip of $8.00 for a total of $54.00 while apparently on Exhibition business.

And, the coup de grace... Mr. Anderson bills SWSDA for mileage on January 30/31 to Halifax return to Yarmouth of $192.18 when he really appears to have been there primarily on Exhibition Business! Or... was he? Who can tell?

WANT TO WRITE?

-------- Inquiring Minds Need a Reminder--------- ;-)

Here are some of the folks on the Board and their email addresses.....Should you wish to write..... Suggest you copy and paste somewhere where you can refer to it .... often and easily

Ironic that I had posted it under the title "a little housekeeping"....

Sherman Embree – warden@municipalityofshelburne.ca
Elizabeth Acker - cessam@ns.sympatico.ca
Cecil Brannen – chh@eastlink.ca
Darian Huskilson – townoflockeport@ns.sympatico.ca
Louise Halliday – mobwarden@eastlink.ca
Bob Redding - rgr@reddingdrane.ca
Rod Rose – rod.rose@ns.sympatico.ca .... or..... rrose@swsda.com
Roger King – roger@cassanet.com
Phil Mooney – mayor.mooney@yarmouth-town.com
Charles LeBlanc - cleblanc@munargyle.com
Trevor Cunningham – trevor@district.yarmouth.ns.ca
Phil LeBlanc – imofoods@ns.sympatico.ca
Ronnie LeBlanc – If anyone has Ronnie LeBlanc’s email please send it in to the group.
Alain Lombard - alan.lombard@RBC.com

BTW.... Here's a copy of an email I sent out yesterday to Neal Conrad who is responsible for RDAs within the Department of Economic Development.

Dear Mr. Conrad,

Below is a note from the Minutes of the March Board meeting of SWSDA. " Nova Scotia Economic and Rural Development - A request to Mr. Conrad, NS Economic and Rural Development for a re-examination of SWSDA’s performance review. Cc. Robert Maillet (ERD), Stephane Cyr (ACOA) and Mel Coombs, (Community Economic Development, ACOA)."

1. Please provide a copy of the review in question. 2. Please provide a copy of your response to this reported request from SWSDA. 3. Please provide a comparison of SWSDA's performance review to the average for other RDA's in the Province. 4 Please provide a copy of your methodology and identify who did the review. 5. Please provide information about the consequences on SWSDA of the performance review of SWSDA. 6. If my request requires a FOIPOP application and payment of the FOIPOP fee, please let me know at your earliest convenience so that I can make the application, pay the fee and publicize your demands on my blog. 7. Failing acknowledgement of this email and/or a response from you within three working days of this email I will assume that I must file a FOIPOP application and will do so.

Yours very truly,
A. A. "Ed" Cayer

Almost Forgot... another law ignored!

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In February 1999 the Province of Nova Scotia issued a manual to help municipalities understand their responsibilities under the recently amended and consolidated Municipal Government Act. It included a number of bulletins that you might find interesting that relate to RDAs. Basically they all said.......

"Please note that the Regional Community Development Act does not authorize regional development authorities to own real property so transfer of real property to a “RDA” is not an option."

See Bulletins 1, 2 and 4 at: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/muns/manuals/pdf/mga/mga_info_bulletin.pdf

Question: Why would SPDA be allowed to transfer its assets and land to SWSDA (whose Board was stacked with 8 Representatives from municipal governments) a few months later. I believe Pat Nickerson the Warden for the Municipality of the District of Shelburne was on the SPDA Board at the time and also was Co-chair of SWSDA.

More importantly, why would the Department of Economic Development whose Minister was responsible for the Regional Community Development Act, quarterback the illegal transfer of the Boys School to an RDA in 2005.

A Word of Caution

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NO B.S. PLEASE!

Here's an example of SWSDA Project claims that won't be credited to them. From their list of projects between 1996 and 2000 comes the following listed as a SWSDA project....

".... supported initiatives to develop the former CFS Shelburne facility (VirtuaLighthouse/911/Beacon Initiative/Regional School Board/Ocean Products International)"

Let's get the record straight.... SWSDA had nothing to do with any of these initiatives .... just ask anyone who was around at the time..... Statements that SWSDA "supported initiatives related to the former..." SPDA are outrageously meaningless distortions of history.

SWSDA Projects Review

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I have been critical of SWSDA in this blog and have been chided by one writer about being negative.... So here's an opportunity to describe all of the good things SWSDA has done... Send the documented information in about SWSDA's socio-economic development impacts in our communities that local businesses and agencies could not have done simply by going to the funding agency directly and I will gladly print them. Deal?

So here's where you can start with the monies flowed through SWSDA.

+/- $70 million in cash PLUS +/- $70 million in property.

1. SWSDA receives core funding from our municipalities and based on that support, it gets additional core funding from the provincial and federal governments.

2. In addition, SWSDA has developed an approach to development whereby they directly administer a lot of project and program funding from all three levels of government.

3. SWSDA also receives assorted grants, loans, mortgages, etc. from the three governments.

4. Finally, SWSDA is also the beneficiary of land and facilities provided at no cost or very little cost by the federal and provincial government. A good example are the two property packages provided in Shelburne - The Shelburne Boys School and the former Naval Base with a combined replacement value set at about $50 million.

So here's the question to you dear reader.... can you identify the socio-economic impact of the $150 million dollars in cash and kind (more or less) that have flowed through SWSDA over the past decade and a half?

To provide assistance, here is the SWSDA web site with the projects referred to by one commenter... http://www.swsda.com/index.php?p=projects

Here you can review all of the projects SWSDA claims going back to 1996 and if you don't know the answer, I invite you to contact SWSDA and/or their purported beneficiaries and ask them. Please do not make unsupported claims... they will be challenged or refuted and may not be published.

LAST CHANCE!

-------- SWSDA BOARD MEETING TOMORROW MAY 27, 2009---------


Note to Readers.....

Today is probably the last chance you and other concerned citizens have to write to your representative on the SWSDA Board before their meeting tomorrow!

If you have concerns about the manner in which SWSDA operates, is governed or provides accountability to taxpayers for its activities and use of resources..... now is the time to act!

Take a minute and send an email or call your Warden or Mayor ... explain your support for the active and accountable management of SWSDA's staff and their activities by the Board on behalf of taxpayers.

Three measure of success.... EFFECTIVENESS & EFFICIENCY ALONG WITH DUE REGARD TO ECONOMY.... No more.... no less.

Economic Development Performance Review

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Don't know if you noticed .... in SWSDA's March Board meeting minutes a reference to Economic Development's performance review of SWSDA. I have asked Neal Conrad for a copy and other information.

Interested? ..... If .... when I get a response and/or copy I will post to this blog....

Want a copy?... Want it Posted? ....

If you do...... Please write to Economic Development, Neal Conrad, nconrad@gov.ns.ca,

Others you can write to in support of my request......include:
rmaillet@gov.ns.ca, stephane.cyr@acoa-apeca.gc.ca, and mcoombs@acoa-apeca.gc.ca . Appreciate if you send me a copy of your request too at aacayer@gmail.com

Thanks....love it when we work as a team to get answers.....

"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm."

... Illegitimi non carborundum... (Don't let the bastards wear you down......)

Please take a look at Timothy's comments on the May 27 meeting Post!

Depressed about the prospects might be an understatement.....

However, I'm a "the glass is half full kind of guy".... someone once was nice enought to call me a pragmatic idealist..... I guess they were right because I still believe that "right will out".

In any event Dear Readers.... I'd be very interested in your thoughts on whether the SWSDA Board, non-voting members, civil servants, politicians and/or citizens will do the right thing and clean up this mess.... What do you think....? Post your comments here and let the rest of the world see what you think and what the odds are.....

SWSDA Meeting of the 27th of May

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If I were able to, here are some of the questions I would ask at the next SWSDA meeting. Would one of the voting or non-voting members do me a favour and pose some of these questions.

1. Who else pays Mr. Anderson's salary and why?

2. How much do they pay him?

3. What services does he provide for them as opposed to SWSDA?

4. Who approves Mr. Anderson's travel expense claims? Does anyone else share in reimbursing Mr. Anderson's travel expense claims? If others do, who are they and why do they?

5. Which lawyers has SWSDA employed in the past five years and for what purposes?

6. How much was each lawyer paid and out of which funds were they paid?

7. What contracts have the MacDonnell Group or their affiliates gotten from SWSDA or SWSDA managed projects over the last decade?

8. What is the total value of those contracts?

9. Which ones were tendered and who was on the contract selection committee and who signed the contracts?

10. How much cash did SWSDA actually receive from the sale of the former Naval Base in March/April 2008 and since?

11. How much is SWSDA still owed for the purchase of the Base besides the mortgage?

12. What does the municipality of Shelburne owe SWSDA for expenses SWSDA claims it incurred at the Base? Produce an audited statement of these expenses.

13. What is the legal basis for this indebtedness of the Municipality of Shelburne to SWSDA? Produce evidence.

14. What revenues has SWSDA collected from its take over, operation and sale of the Shelburne Park between 1999 and the present?

15. What revenues has SWSDA received from the Municipality of Shelburne since 1999 to the present in support of SWSDA's operations of Shelburne Park?

16. What funding has SWSDA received from Federal, Provincial and private sources since 1999 for activities, programs and projects at the Former Naval Base?

17. What other revenues has SWSDA derived from the former Naval Base including, but not limited to, rentals, auctions and sales of property, mortgages, loans, deposits of any kind, options to purchase and/or sell?

18. Who has authority to approve and or sign legal instruments, contracts, mortgages and other financial and/or contractual documents at SWSDA and how many signatures are required?

19. Are there policies and/or regulations with limits on expenditures for entertainment and alcohol?

20 .If there are, provide copies.

21. If there are not, why aren't there?

22. Provide a written justification with evidence and documentation explaining why meetings will now only be held in Yarmouth.

23. Is SWSDA prepared to receive a delegation of concerned citizens and hold a public forum respecting the future accountability and transparency of SWSDA operations?

24. Why should Shelburne County continue to support SWSDA and not seek to have the Minister create an RDA for Shelburne County?

25. If SWSDA loses the Contempt hearing in October, how much additional money will SWSDA have to provide and when? Where will that money come from?

26. How much in legal fees has SWSDA budgeted for the two day contempt hearing on the Boys School Fund?

27. Did SWSDA actually spend both the maintenance fund and the proceeds of the sale of the Boys School before the Fraudulent Conveyance trial took place in December 2007?

28. Did SWSDA continue to spend and charge expenses against the Boys School property sale revenues and maintenance fund account for nine months after the Boys School was sold?

29 If it did, why did it?

30. Is this Contempt claim against SWSDA because SWSDA has reduced the amount deposited as ordered by the courts by the amount SWSDA has spent between June 2007 when the property was sold and March 31, 2008, nine months later?

31. Is it true that SWSDA has not paid interest on the Team Shelburne Funds for nearly two years?

32. If it is, why hasn't SWSDA?

33. If the public gets to review Mr. Anderson's travel expense claims for other years beside FY 2005/2006, will SWSDA again be embarrassed?

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

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You can find the supportive SWSDA comments at Corenet 2 - Vegas ... just scroll down and to it and hit comments at the end of the Corenet 2 - Vegas posting....

For ease of reference I have named the comment writer B. S. because of his/her support of business services...... makes it easier and is more appropriate don't you think?

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Dear " I am not a SWSDA employee or affiliate".

I am taken by two things in your comments. First, the length of the name attached to your comments when people want to refer to you and your acute interest in supporting the privacy of the "business services" SWSDA purports to support.....

Soooo.... if you don't mind, to better reflect who you are and your interests I have decided to refer to you simply as "B.S."... get it.... "business services"? Sound fair...I think its so much more appropriate than calling you "Anonymous, I am not a SWSDA employee or affiliate".

So here goes....

Dear B.S.,

(Now doesn't that sound better?)

Anyway, now that other readers have posted comments on your comment let me share with you some of my thoughts and ask for clarification about your comment and the points you attempted to make.

I am glad that a busy "BUSINESS OWNER " like yourself would take the time to write to present your point of view and delighted that you think that my blog holds"... some merits in accountability."

As a business owner B.S., you should "... find it extremely inappropriate to publicly disclose such information as itemized expense statements of private expenses" .... and unless you do something illegal, or something that may compromise a public servant working on public issues... you should never have to divulge your private information... except to Revenue Canada!

Of course, that is unless B. S. .... it involves expenses wining and dining public servants or having civil servants use public money to entertain other civil servants, politicians or business people to curry favour... without providing proof of the expenses, identifying who you entertained or what the purpose of the expense was....

And then of course B.S., you know that Revenue Canada frowns on abuse and dramatically limits "entertainment expenses", whether they include public servants or not.

Now B.S...... here's where you and I might disagree when you claim that this is private information about marketing, networking and unique business expenses "... that the average public can not understand."

a) What kind of marketing, networking and unique business expense is involved in the purchase of crystal from the duty free shop in Austria while our Nova Scotia Crystal is going into receivership?

b) What kind of unique business is discussed over six scotchs and six drambuies.

c) Tell me about the need for secrecy about expensive drinks and dinners in Ale and Steak Houses with $40 and $50 tips late at night? Or drinks tallied up to the public trough at 11:55 on New Year's eve at the local watering hole? And I've only scratched the surface in 2006, from one organization, for expenses so far that clearly exceed $25,000.

Over the thirteen years that Mr. Anderson has run SWSDA assuming an average of $25,000 per year as was the case in 2006, Mr. Anderson's total PERSONAL travel expense claims could be in the order of $325,000 or more.... just for Mr. Anderson... and just from SWSDA's core funding. Wow.... imagine what we could do with that in Shelburne County to support small business!

So, I disagree with you on that point dear B.S..... I think the average public does understand what you call "the unique business expense." This is not rocket science..... Really!

I am glad you ensure that you are "... very well informed..." dear B.S. and I agree, I wouldn't want you to "... do your homework here." It would not be appropriate and I am not sure the public is that interested in the business you claim to own.... unless it involves the use of public money.....

Again dear B.S., I must confess that I have to agree with you that SWSDA is "... one of the few organizations that exist, solely to help our community." Unfortunately, in my judgement they are not doing a very good job of it.

This blog is about trying to get them to get at least the basics right... that includes appropriate ACCOUNTABILITY, governance and supervision of the organization's activities, use of public funds and conduct of the RDA's work.

Remember B.S., everything I have posted about SWSDA comes from documents they have issued themselves. Not one fact has been altered or proffered as evidence that SWSDA, their CEO, lawyers, accountants, Board or Team Shelburne have not provided or are not included in court documents open to the public.

And, I have growing book cases of material to draw on.... stuff derived from dozens of FOIPOP applications of ACOA, NRC, SWSDA, municipalities, Economic Development, Municipal Affairs, the RJSC, the court system and others.... all showing dear B. S. that SWSDA is not effective, efficient or operated with "due economy". Much of it showing contradictory claims by SWSDA.....about things like the expenses on the Boys School.

My hope is to change that.... or failing bringing about the appropriate changes in SWSDA... Getting municipalities in Shelburne County to demand and get our own RDA..... One that is accountable, transparent in its operations and appropriately directed by accountable representatives of the residents of Shelburne County.

So Dear B.S..... you asked what I am doing.... that's what I am doing.... and I want to take this opportunity to thank you for helping me do it..... I encourage you to continue helping in this effort... Without the help of folks like you it would be nigh impossible.

Yours very truly,

Ed

Those Were the Days....

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Almost thirty-three years ago to the day, I remember days before my departure for Halifax, briefing my acting replacement as Director of Central and Southern Africa Programs for the Canadian International Development Agency.

A week later, I reported for work in the Bank of Montreal Tower in Halifax. I'd been recruited by the Deputy Minister, requested by the Provincial Minister and seconded for a year by the Federal Minister to the Provincial Department of Development as Executive Director of Policy and Planning - all within a three month period. Whew! What a change of environment!

With my new responsibilities for 70 staff members who ran the Province's Infrastructure, Engineering, Business and Industry, Federal/Provincial Programs (pre-ACOA, DREE) and Planning Divisions we worked long hours with other governments, industry, investors, communities and others to further the economic future of the Province and its people.

For those with long memories, you will recall that those were busy days in Nova Scotia with the development of policies on a host of issues including the development of industrial parks and dry docks within the Province, Super Port development at the Strait of Canso, Hawker Sidelley announcing its retreat from the Halifax shipyard, the Premier holding press conferences waving his first samples of oil from the offshore for all to see, and the sudden arrival of Ken Rowe and others as a new breed of entrepreneurs, pushing government to support their new business efforts. We also decentralized and established regional offices of the department to provide closer development support to communities across the Province....

And, throughout this time, I approved the travel and entertainment claims of my five Directors as did the Director of Finance for the Department while my travel claims were approved by my Deputy Minister as well as the Director of Finance.... and .... I know my Deputy's travel expenses were approved by our first Minister George Mitchell and then Minister Sandy Cameron. While there is a bit more latitude in both the Federal and Provincial systems today.... its really not much more. The exceptions of course are Crown Agencies ... and in our case, apparently SWSDA.

My travel to Calgary to meet with Bill Hopper the President of Petro Canada and two days of official briefing by Petro Canada's senior staff about oil and gas development involved no entertainment expenses on the Province's part and our small team relied on our daily meal allowances for our sustenance.

My..... how times have changed. Certainly did not seem like a hardship then... and we got all that information about our offshore oil and gas out of those folks without plying them ... or ourselves .... with one single drink.... imagine!

IT DIDN'T SEEM UNREASONABLE THEN TO EXPECT THIS IMPORTANT WORK TO BE CONDUCTED IN OFFICES AND BOARDROOMS... NOT RESTAURANTS AND BARS....

IS IT UNREASONABLE NOW TO EXPECT PUBLIC BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED IN A BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT?

HECK... EVEN FORMER PRIME MINISTERS MUST NOW REALIZE THAT MEETINGS IN FIVE STAR HOTEL ROOMS... STILL MAKE ENVELOPES STUFFED WITH CASH LOOK NEFARIOUS!