Predictions

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Predicting the Election!

I gave you my guess.... and today got a prediction for Loman Ayers.....

Here's what Loman thinks will happen.....
NDP --26
Lib -- 14
PC --11
IND -- 1

Write in with your prediction .... for the Province and for our region if you want...
With or without your name....

It should be interesting to see what people expect....

A good RDA....

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SWSDA and Mr. Anderson and Rod Rose have made that expression an oxymoron.

Hard to imageine a good RDA that either Mr. Rose or Mr. Anderson are involved with..... frankly hard to imagine the likes of many who are now involved.......

What would a good RDA do ..... in my humble opinion.... it would stop inserting itself into the development process as the power broker and help individuals and groups in their development efforts learn ahow to do it sfor themselves.


Of course, that's not what happens now.... Mr.Anderson has inserted himself into libaries, public access initiatives and or the internet, support for volunteers, employment of the unemployed and on and on.... it just doesn't seem to have an end.... I heard this week that the expansion of the library in Shelburne has been delayed while municipalities decide what to do... because SWSDA wanted to include an office for itself as part of the expenasion.

Yarmouth County

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Anyone want to comment on election in Yarmouth and prospects.... ???

For example....

If Hurlburt wins again and the Conservatives end up not even being the official opposition.... what will that do to Yarmouth's power base in the Province?

If Mooney wins.... and Liberals form the Official Opposition, who becomes the MLA in Cabinet from Yarmouth and area?

And... last but not least.... if David Olie wins... shock... bewilderment.. amazement.... would he get a Cabinet seat?

Share your views with the rest of the great unwashed...... it could be interesting.....

And regardless of who wins.... what impact do you think that will have on increased transparency and accountability?

Gone and Done It!!!

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Yep..... made a choice! One of the best things about living in a free country!

Wanna know who got my vote.... Naw..... SECRET..... that's the other nice thing about our country .... it permits the voters to vote for change or continuation of governments and/or representatives without fear of retribution... Great system..... if you use it!

Anyway, I've got a Sterling Belliveau sign and a Darian Huskilson sign on my lawn until the vote is over..... Sorry Eddie..... right now I want RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT ..... and to do that means the PCs have to lose.... BIG TIME!

Here's my projection of the vote..... using the same principals as I do at the race track.... I guess..... based on very little.....

NDP 27 seats
Liberals 18 seats
Conservatives 7 seats

Any other guesses.....

HI HO! Hi HO! Its off to vote I go!!!!

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ADVANCE POLLS ... TODAY....

Going to take advantage of the advanced polls today... don't want to miss the opportunity to cast my ballot and I want to encourage all of you dear readers to exercise your right, privilege and responsibility to cast your ballot to determine who will be given the mantle of responsibility for leading our civil affairs.

VERY IMPORTANT... BUT CAN BE TOUGH.

In my case, I am caught on the proverbial horns of a dilemma..... I know.... I know the old saying.... "that's why God gave economists two hands"..... ;) On the one hand this... on the other hand that....!!

Sterling Belliveau our present MLA has always responded to my requests and met with me without hesitation and listened attentively.... the result on one occasion was his request to the Auditor General to do an audit of SWSDA.... gotta respect that..... and his leader Dexter is a thoughtful, articulate responsible soul who has been diligent and respectful of the citizen community, even as he sat in opposition for those long, lean years. I have concerns about ideologues in all parties and I know that NDPers have their share of them.

I have watched Darian Huskilson wage a lonely battle with SWSDA in his efforts to protect the interests of the folks in Shelburne County as a member of SWSDA, Chair of Team Shelburne and Mayor of Lockeport. He has done so, while the previous Wardens Scott and Nickerson appeared to be doing everything they could to frustrate his efforts. ( During one Municipality of Shelburne meeting I even heard Nickerson indicate after Mr. Huskilson had left that she thought it was rude of Mr. Huskilson to appear before MOS Council while he still appeared to have oil on his hands.) Unfortunately, not one member of Council sitting at the table (including Ms Scott who was Chairing the meeting) demanded that she retract the statement or apologize. His party Chief MacNeil I know less well but I have been listening to him attentively too. I have concerns about the old time Liberals in the party who hanker for the old days when friends could be rewarded out of public coffers.

I have spoken a number of times with Eddie Nickerson and shared my views with him about SWSDA as the presumptive PC candidate, member of Barrington's Council and member of the SWSDA Board. Alas, I am not aware of those discussions prompting any action on his part. On the other hand, I have watched his leader Rodney MacDonald make a mockery of the concept of accountability while he dragged the province back to pre-John Buchanan days, increased secrecy, reduced transparency and first-at-the-trough approach to governing. He is a failed experiment and should return to Cape Breton to write his political memoirs while someone still remembers what he did. Unfortunately folks like Chris d'Entremount who I believe is a good man in the wrong party.... get tarred with the same brush... but 10 or 15 years in the hinterland might not be bad for this party.

SOOO.... who will I vote for....?

Can't tell... don't know and probably won't decide.... until I get into the booth.... a bit like going into a good restaurant... looking at the menu.... seeing one thing you definitely don't want and two things you like but aren't sure which would be better.....

Tough, eh? And the pressure's on!!

The Galling Thing!

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Have you ever ..... seen NSARDA's Testimony Before the House Committee on Economic Development?

Ever wonder .... how long this has been going on?

Interested in taking a peek... at Mr. Anderson and Mr. Hurlburt, the dynamic duo, eight years ago and their spin on NSARDA and RDAs?

Go to..... http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/hansard/comm/ed/ed010911.htm

And Hansard has more if you google.... each year it seems .....with more of Mr. Anderson and Ms. Boston.... the tag team.....from NSARDA!

Peeling the Onion

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Here's stuff I didn't know.... what about you?

The Nova Scotia Association of Regional Development Authorities is another body out there using taxpayer money to .... (can't help it.... makes me smile every time I think about it) ....."help local communities" enhance their prospects for socio-economic development..... at least that's what they claim.

For the official self-promotion stuff.... visit their web site at http://www.nsarda.ca/

HOWEVER.... when you read their stuff you should remember that this group has only filed their obligatory financial statements 3 out of the 10 years that they've been around. I've just received a few of them from RJSC.

FYI.... (I know that Frank Anderson ran this group for a number of years but I can't remember which ones....)

Here's their description of the NSARDA from one of their financial statements.

"The society was incorporated on October 25, 1999 under the Societies Act of the Province of Nova Scotia. The objects of the society are to foster inter-regional initiatives among Nova Scotia RDAs, foster cooperation with other development organizations and professional associations; to encourage and support RDA board members and staff; to implement ongoing networking activities for inter-organizational information sharing; to provide a forum for discussion of issues, and to generally elevate the profession within Nova Scotia."

WHEW! These guys sound important to our future.... don't they?

Of course, its cost us a little money over the past decade.... unfortunately, its hard to tell how much because they've managed to avoid filing financials 70% of the time since they were incorporated.

But hold on..... don't get discouraged.... I did get two years of financial statements.... just for you dear readers.... had to pay for them.... but hey.... the things curiosity drives you to... you know!! I've scanned a few pages so you can get a bit of the flavour for this VITAL organization. and you can click on them below to enlarge.

Here's a bit of what I noticed...... right off the bat....

1. It appears that there were no financial statements even prepared in 2004!

2. Primary sources of funding for this bunch are ACOA, Department of Economic Development and .... of all people..... our own RDAs?!?

3. Funding and expenditures appear to have been erratic over the past decade if the three years depicted in these two statements are any indication.

4. If these three years are typical it would appear that funding and expenditures for NSARDA over the past decade is somewhere between $1 million and $2.5 million... wow!

Now let me direct your eyes to a couple things I've noticed on these summary sheets that raise questions for me......

In 2006.....

Insurance $3,250..... what were they insuring.... fishing boats?

Parking $1,346..... for staff?

Professional development and meetings $14,848.... who are they training... the folks we're already paying to train or themselves?

Salaries and benefits $130,073.... how many people does this office have?

Travel $9,513... must be traveling with the SWSDA crew... or did this cover Pat Nickerson and Frank Anderson too?

In 2005.....

Marketing and branding $21,624..... who are they marketing and branding?

Communications $24,134..... funny, I never heard from them... wonder what this paid for?

Professional development and meetings $46,077.... where'd they go for this... Fiji?!?

Salaries and benefits $153,404.... here we are in small rural communities unable to afford key staff in tourism, economic or community development.... just no justice.... or sense!

Travel $10,332.... there they go again... almost looks like they spend all their time on the road.... have you figured out what they do yet?

PAGE VIEW UPDATE!

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FLASH! FLASH!

YARMOUTH YESTERDAY - 4,880 PAGE VIEWS IN A MONTH
BARRINGTON YESTERDAY - 1,955 PAGE VIEWS IN A MONTH

Good Reviews of SWSDA Projects

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A week ago I invited readers ".... 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?", I said.

Gee folks.... you aren't being fair....

Surely with more than $150 million in cash and kind over the past 13 years we could write a little bit of positive stuff....

Isn't anyone going to write?

One writer today was critical of our blog because he thought comments by readers were increasingly rumour-based....

To that writer.... here's a renewed invitation to provide factual information about all the good things SWSDA has done over the last 13 years that could not have been done by the folks in our communities if they had gone directly to government departments and agencies themselves.

Surely, someone can come to SWSDA's aid.....

Since FY 2005/2006 SWSDA has spent some $15 million dollars of our tax dollars... COLD, HARD CASH....all in the cause of development in our communities .... under the watchful eyes of our representatives on their Board of Directors.

Hey!! ... staff.... Board Members.... municipal, provincial or federal governments..... anyone? Got something good to say or show for the money?

FOX RUNS HENHOUSE.....!!

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NEW FOIPOP APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT!

In a world that often provides little to smile about, I got a letter yesterday from SWSDA that did just that when it announced that .....

Frank Anderson had been designated by Rod Rose "As the responsible officer..." for freedom of information and directed that all future FOIPOP requests be sent to Mr. Anderson's attention. Don't believe me.... see Mr. Anderson's letter above .... as usual.... click to enlarge....

For those who weren't paying attention.... my freedom of information request was for Rod Rose's travel expenses!

HEAR YE, HEAR YE....READER CONTEST!

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READERS HAVE SAID THEY WANT ANSWERS!!!

And.... I want to accommodate inquisitive minds if I can.....

All of you saw the headline on today's post about only 4 of the 14 Board members of SWSDA indicating that they were interested in Board Training about their responsibilities......

Soooo.... question is..... who are the "Magnificant Ten" who believed they didn't need training.... aren't you dying to find out?

If you wanted to find out..... how would you..... ???

Here's where I'm looking to your creativity to identify this batch of rocket scientists.... people who claim to be representing us... but insist on meeting in private and in secret!

Guess they just don't want to demonstrate their knowledge and good judgement in front of too many people>...!!

AND WE HAVE PRIZES.....

FIRST PRIZE - You get a copy of all the reports about SWSDA activities that our Directors have never written or submitted to the people they represent!

SECOND PRIZE - You get to make recommendations to Mr. Anderson on how to recoup our lost $40 K in core funding.

Here are the names of Board members with their email addresses should you choose to write and ask them if they signed up for the training... and if not , why not.... should be interesting.... he said with a devilish smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eye.........

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

STOP THE PRESSES!

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SWSDA MINUTES

April 15,2009 minutes of SWSDA Board meeting now available at http://www.swsda.com/index.php?p=know

Headlines:

SWSDA Poll of Directors shows .... Only 4 out of 14 Directors Want Training .... Remember.... you heard it here first!

SWSDA Budget Cut $40,000 ...... CEO briefed Board of Directors ..... Province cut core funding because SWSDA met expectations! How weird is that?!? I really am not laughing at SWSDA.... well maybe I am.... but only a bit..... still shaking my head..... wait... gotta pick myself up off the floor....

Little wonder Mr. Anderson wanted Province to reconsider .....

WOW! Gives a whole new meaning to the word preposterous...... Can hardly wait to get Provincial response to my FOIPOP request for copy of Performance Review and methodology....

Anyway.... read the minutes... they are better than cartoons these days....!!

Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants

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Comments just received from one of our readers indicating that the focus of the previous post was inappropriate..... not entirely sure what you would see as appropriate but ...

For that reader and others.... here is the standard disclaimer SWSDA's Auditors cover their audit statements with. Just click on it to enlarge.

I believe this reflects what the intent of an audit is.... and it goes beyond .... simply counting money .... and delves into accounting for the use of money and protecting its use.

I would draw your attention to:

a) the last two sentences in paragraph one;

b) paragraph two and in particular and the last three sentences.

Additionally dear reader.... you may be interested in bringing the following manuals to the attention of SWSDA's Board and managers.....Both are prepared by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants I believe..... . Very interesting.

20 Questions Directors of Not for Profits should ask about Governance .... http://www.cica.ca/download.cfm?ci_id=44495&la_id=1&re_id=0

20 Questions Directors of Not for Profits Should ask about Fiduciary Responsibility

http://www.cica.ca/download.cfm?ci_id=50029&la_id=1&re_id=0

Supervision and Accountability

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Effective Management....

Sound management in any organization requires checks and balances.... that goes without saying..... and most importantly, supervision. In the case of the reported $2 million dollars in travel, meeting and conference expenses of SWSDA, one would hope that the systems in place provide the necessary supervision to protect taxpayers' interests.

Traditionally, one of the mechanisms used by all organizations is to have travel expenses approved before or after the expenditure is made. In the case of SWSDA and the 147 pages of travel expense claims I've received from Mr. Anderson I was unable to discern any prior or post approval process, or validation of expenses claimed. Another method used is to require "evidence" that the expenditure was made for the items claimed. That generally includes providing original and official receipts showing the payment made.

As an illustration I have copied my tab at the Triangle Ale House last week and included it in this posting. On the left is the real receipt.... and on the right is an invoice leading up to the receipt once I've paid and or had my credit card processed for payment.

The receipt on the left is the one that is generally required by organizations when approving claims for travel/entertainment expenses.... it is the proper receipt showing what the establishment received in payment for the tab. The one on the right is inadequate and would not generally be accepted by most organizations since it does not provide evidence of what was paid but solely of what was claimed as having been paid..... big difference! Click on it to enlarge and see for yourself!

So here's the question ..... if you were supervising someone who submitted travel and expense claims to you would you insist on the receipt on the left or the tab on the right? ..... If you were responsible for verifying expense claims within an organization, what would you feel comfortable relying on as evidence of what was actually paid?

..... So here's the problem.... as far as I can tell.... Mr. Anderson does not have anyone within SWSDA verifying and/or approving his expense claims..... or the justification of the expenditure. Moreover, by lumping in travel, conferences and meetings all together in the chart of accounts as SWSDA has done in its financial statements, it is impossible to manage expenditures for travel and entertainment against meaningful approved budgets.

Of the 147 pages of expense documentation provided some 115 are amalgams of chits of paper receipts and tabs provided by Mr. Anderson to support his claims. The actual claim on the monthly claims sheets provided by Mr. Anderson provide no detail beyond "See attached receipts".... and a total amount that is added to the claim..... no identification of the reasons for the supposed expenditure is provided. In providing these, Mr. Anderson and/or his solicitor copied these to sheets of paper. Below you will see an illustration of these typical "receipts" provided by Mr. Anderson when he files the expense claims he makes and approves for himself. Again, click on them to enlarge.

Could this be a problem?

LOOKS LIKE CHANGE IS COMNG.....

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AND... WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

What happens to the stranglehold that Conservatives and Liberals have on local politics and power if one becomes a rump party and the other the Official Opposition.

Where will the power base be in Yarmouth and surrounding areas to bring about change... and of the old network... what I refer to as the "YARMOUTH BROTHERHOOD" (Cuz' ... there sure aren't (m)any Sisters involved)..... What becomes of them?

Anyone out there know?

Shelburne Park As it Was!

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For those of you who are interested in seeing what was sold by SWSDA for a reported $1 million plus a mortgage for $1.75 million here's a web site that provides a bit of detail.

http://www.targetnovascotia.com/IPPDF/ShelburneComPark.pdf

How its Done!

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Here's a Sample!

Below please find a copy of one of the cover sheets submitted as part of the 147 pages of travel and entertainment expense claims made to SWSDA by Mr. Anderson in FY 2005/2006. The blacked out portions were made by Mr. Anderson and/or his solicitor before the copies of Mr. Anderson's travel and entertainment expenses were provided to me. Just click on image to enlarge. Here are my questions:

1. Who approved this claim?
2. What currency was used?
3. What are notations about NSBI about?
4. Who was entertained, what was the purpose and what was accomplished?
5. Why is Pam's Room on here?
6. What are conversion rates if applicable?
7. What was daily meal allowance and how was it calculated?
8. Was daily meal allowance deducted from entertainment claims?

Just a few of the many.....

Got Questions? ...... Got Answers? ...... Got Comments?

Will it take a change in government?

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When Will Enough be Enough?

Now we know from these postings that :

A. Mr. Anderson's expense and entertainment claims raise a number of questions, especially respecting the estimated $32 Thousand dollars spent in just two watering holes in Yarmouth and another $20 or $25 Thousand dollars spent in the Triangle Ale House in Halifax over the years;

B. SWSDA's own audited financial statements indicate that SWSDA has spent some $2 million dollars on travel, meetings and conferences;

C. SWSDA has liquidated property in Shelburne in just nine months with a replacement value of $50 million;

D. SWSDA has received more than $4 million in cash, promissory notes and other assets as a result of their acquisition and sale of these two properties - just in the last couple of years;

E. SWSDA's Board has authorized the launching of a lawsuit against the Municipality of Shelburne for a reported $2.3 million; and,

MUCH MORE.....

Questions

Why..... has nothing been done to correct this situation?

Where .... do we turn to within government to straighten this out?

What..... needs to be done to make this organization accountable?

Who.... will assume responsibility and get the job done?

When.... can we expect appropriate action?

SWSDA Receives $3,925,000 Plus Interest From Shelburne!

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IN LESS THAN NINE MONTHS ---

MORE THAN $4 MILLION FROM SALE OF SHELBURNE ASSETS!

Today's posting will deal with the $1,175,000 in cash plus interest that SWSDA received from the sale of the Boys School....AND

The link with the $2,750,000 received in cash, promissory notes and assets from the sale of the Base

and what happened to that money......

Watch for it!

Last Week's Posting Re-Cap

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30 -PUNCHLINES - WEEK OF MAY 24 - MAY 31

To help readers manage the current volume of postings and get to the past stories they want to see I've begun a weekly re-cap of the previous week's postings. To get to any of these stories just click on the appropriate week identified on the left hand side of this blog and then scroll down.

1. "Snugs" and other Triangle Ale House Phenomena

2. Someone asked..... who's responsible about the threatened lawsuit of the Municipality of Shelburne by SWSDA for $2.3 million and the estimated $2o,000 in expense travel claims at the Triangle Ale House

3. Description of Triangle Ale House with photos and Mr. Anderson's travel and expense account there over the past decade

4. Following up... about coming article respecting Yarmouth Port Authority, Nova Scotia Association of Regional Development Authorities and Yarmouth Area Industiral Commission

5.Amazing Feedback about other organizations that the SWSDA Board and Frank Anderson are involved with

6. Nova Scotia Ombudsman investigates SWSDA

7.Psst.... did you hear about SWSDA Board Meeting

8. And the there's YARCO.. Anderson/Hurlburt land ownership partnership

9. Players look alike... about SCT story on YAIC

10. Someone asked about the South West Shore Volunteer Services organization

11. Consequences.... about accountability related to travel and entertainment expenses

12. Odd Expenses comment from Reader

13. Reply to comments I can't post....about failure of public officials

14.Just like Christmas... about waiting for SWSDA Board meeting results

15. Answers to comments about grounds for SWSDA lawsuit against Shelburne taxpayers

16. Looking for answers ... about Australian solutions to ensure accountability

17. For your information about SWSDA Accountability Readers

18. Odd Expenses.... bills that don;t seem to fit and Exhibitions accounts in SWSDA bills

19. Want to write... about addresses of SWSDA Board members

20. Almost forgot... about another law ignored.. RDAs owning property

21. A word of Caution... about reading list of projects SWSDA lists for themselves

22. No B.S. about anonymous reader who supports SWSDA

23. SWSDA project review... an opportunity for people to identify all the good things SWSDA has done for socio-economic development in our area.

24. Last chance... about contacting Board members to get views aired at SWSDA Board meeting

25. Economic Performance review.... about getting a copy

26. Depression is merely.... about likelihood that those responsible will do the right thing

27 SWSDA Meeting ... questions I'd like answered

28. Ask and ye shall receive... about a reader who wanted to re-read positive comments posted by another reader about SWSDA.. and all about B.S.

29. Those were the days... about travel and entertainment expense standards for promoting and working on development ... then and now

These are last week's punch lines.... and now this week's stories.... follow