http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/david-coon-nb-liquor-1.3783527
David Coon calls NB Liquor's legal threat to
commissioner 'Looney Tunes'
Green
Party leader says this is an example on why commissioner Anne Bertrand should
have broader powers
Philip Drost
Philip Drost is a reporter with CBC
New Brunswick.
Related
Stories
- 'Completely unfair': NB Liquor threatens information commissioner with lawsuit
- Right to information 'a central tenet of democracy,' expert says
- Liberals to introduce changes to right to information law
Green Party Leader David Coon says
NB Liquor's legal threat to the province's information commissioner over
her damning report is "extraordinarily bizarre."
NB Liquor sent Anne Bertrand, the
province's independent information and privacy commissioner, a letter from an
outside law firm after receiving her report.
Bertrand's office has since also
hired outside counsel.
"This is just Looney
Tunes," said Coon, the Fredericton South MLA, on Thursday.
"This is a public body, and
they're spending money on outside lawyers to initiate legal action. It doesn't
make any sense."
- NB Liquor threatens to sue information commissioner over report
- NB Liquor lawsuit may undermine confidence in accessing information
- Changes coming to New Brunswick's right to information law
NB Liquor refused to give
information to CBC News about its growler program under the right to
information act, which was then appealed to Bertrand's office
Bertrand filed her report into
her investigation last week.
Coon told Information Morning
Fredericton on Thursday that Bertrand is facing legal action for simply
doing her job right.
He said Finance Minister Cathy
Rogers, who is the cabinet minister responsible for NB Liquor, needs
to step in and tell the liquor corporation to stop.
NB Liquor refused to give
information to the CBC about its growler program, which led to a report from
information commissioner Anne Bertrand. (CBC)
"It's time she sent clear
direction to NB Liquor that says back down, give up any thought of pursuing
legal action, and comply with the recommendations of the right to information
commissioner," said Coon.
"This is a public agency of
government, it's not private enterprise."
Coon said the battle is bigger than
just one right to information request.
He said right to information is
fundamental to the healthy functioning of a democracy, and anyone can make use
of it.
"It doesn't matter who is
asking for the information, or why they're asking for it," said Coon.
"There are lots of times when
people may find there is information they need to seek."
Changes
to act
Brian Harriman, the president and chief executive officer of NB Liquor, has questioned the value of paying someone to handle right to information requests. (CBC)
Coon said there are some
changes he would make to the right to information system. He said the
commissioner needs to have more power.
"The right to information
commissioner needs to have the authority to order information released. Right
now she can only make recommendations," he said.
Coon also said the last time changes
were made to the act, more information got excluded as it became classified as
advice to a minister.
"Originally the notion was, and
it's quite fair, that a public servant giving advice to a minister on a matter
should be protected," said Coon.
"But now just about anything
under the sun can be attached to advise to a minister including consultant
reports and background material and research gets thrown into that and it's
really narrowed what one can get when making right to information
requests."
Information Morning - Fredericton
David Coon - RTI Fight
13:17
The provincial government has said
they will be making changes to the right to information law this fall.
Coon said he isn't sure what
those changes may be, but thinks it could be just "basic
housekeeping."
Last year, Liberal
cabinet minister Victor Boudreau suggested the money used to answer
right to information requests could be better spent on front-line services.
NB Liquor's president has also been
critical of the province's information law.
Harriman has said the money
being spent on outside lawyers may be worth it if it forces change in how
the right to information law is used.
With files from Information Morning
Fredericton
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eddy watts
(Harriman) "has questioned the
value of paying someone to handle right to information requests". Are we
in Zimbabwe???? 1933 Germany??? Does Harriman think he is Vladamir Putin?
Absolutely pathetic...shameful.
- 23 hours ago
reginald churchill
@eddy watts ..............you're
correct with your comment .When one looks at what's going on in New Brunswicks
government one would think that it was 1933 Germany
- 23 hours ago
Phil Peters
@eddy watts
Secrecy has value to powerful individuals. Information is something you collect to use against others. They understand these notions very well in how that relates to them. It is also why we know little and are spied on and data mined to no end. Our governments are PR exercises and, quite frankly, you can't spin a very good narrative if you can control what people know about your dealings. The thing most precious is to hide where parties actually get their support from and who they are working for.
Secrecy has value to powerful individuals. Information is something you collect to use against others. They understand these notions very well in how that relates to them. It is also why we know little and are spied on and data mined to no end. Our governments are PR exercises and, quite frankly, you can't spin a very good narrative if you can control what people know about your dealings. The thing most precious is to hide where parties actually get their support from and who they are working for.
- 22 hours ago
Phil Peters
@reginald churchill
Felt more that way when the previous government had their hired thugs pointing guns at NBers on the side of the road, no?
To me this feels more like Enron-- an entrenched culture of corruption at NB Liquor. It's origin can be traced to patronage appointments of people who feel they are owed a lot.
Felt more that way when the previous government had their hired thugs pointing guns at NBers on the side of the road, no?
To me this feels more like Enron-- an entrenched culture of corruption at NB Liquor. It's origin can be traced to patronage appointments of people who feel they are owed a lot.
- 22 hours ago
Shawn McShane
@Phil Peters We know where parties
actually get their support and who they are working for. So do you. You said to
me: "maybe 8% of what government does is influenced by democratic choice.
The panel agreed that the governance was more in line with being a plutocracy
(rule by the rich for he rich)."
So Mr. Peters oh wise one...what can we do about it?
So Mr. Peters oh wise one...what can we do about it?
- 21 hours ago
Phil Peters
@Shawn McShane
From within the polarized two party system? Probably not much. It's probably why Bernie Sanders, as a populist (rule for the many) and publicly funded figure, vying for the leadership one one of those two parties was resisted so repulsively from within the DNC. Sanders could have run as an independent, but that could have easily resulted in another Ralph Nader moment where the Republicans win a three way split. There really isn't room for other ways of doing things today's limited political sphere. It's going to be unfettered state run capitalism for the rich or bust. Faced with this knowledge we ought to question very basic things about capitalism. Movements promoting beneficial philosophical change are the only things that ever change things for the better.
Sanders campaigned largely on returning more of the proceeds of this unfettered capitalism to the middle class by a series of New Deal equivalent actions. That's pretty mild, but it was still not acceptable. Those were hugely popular action in the post war era, including with Republicans. Inequality was the thing he identified as one of the drivers of loss of power and loss of quality of life. He's by no means the only one with ideas on how to do this. The former US economic tzar Robert Reich has written a lot on this too. Noam Chomsky has been critical of movements that are only one person deep and short lived, though.
To answer your question loosely, what we need to do is to all become very focused on the relevant questions around what our motivations ought to be and not be distracted. Enabling individual success and the height of personal achievement aren't the proper motivations for governments. IMHO. It leads to undemocratic results that winners too often easily justify to losers.
From within the polarized two party system? Probably not much. It's probably why Bernie Sanders, as a populist (rule for the many) and publicly funded figure, vying for the leadership one one of those two parties was resisted so repulsively from within the DNC. Sanders could have run as an independent, but that could have easily resulted in another Ralph Nader moment where the Republicans win a three way split. There really isn't room for other ways of doing things today's limited political sphere. It's going to be unfettered state run capitalism for the rich or bust. Faced with this knowledge we ought to question very basic things about capitalism. Movements promoting beneficial philosophical change are the only things that ever change things for the better.
Sanders campaigned largely on returning more of the proceeds of this unfettered capitalism to the middle class by a series of New Deal equivalent actions. That's pretty mild, but it was still not acceptable. Those were hugely popular action in the post war era, including with Republicans. Inequality was the thing he identified as one of the drivers of loss of power and loss of quality of life. He's by no means the only one with ideas on how to do this. The former US economic tzar Robert Reich has written a lot on this too. Noam Chomsky has been critical of movements that are only one person deep and short lived, though.
To answer your question loosely, what we need to do is to all become very focused on the relevant questions around what our motivations ought to be and not be distracted. Enabling individual success and the height of personal achievement aren't the proper motivations for governments. IMHO. It leads to undemocratic results that winners too often easily justify to losers.
- 20 hours ago
Shawn McShane
@Phil Peters "Whenever the
people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.
Whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied
on to set them to rights." - Thomas Jefferson
So our challenge is to make sure "the people are well-informed" so that we can set things right. That is why the government doesn't like Freedom of Information requests. We should be very angry. CBC needs to report the truth and that goes all the way to Trudeau.
So our challenge is to make sure "the people are well-informed" so that we can set things right. That is why the government doesn't like Freedom of Information requests. We should be very angry. CBC needs to report the truth and that goes all the way to Trudeau.
- 19 hours ago
David Raymond Amos @Shawn McShane How can you be well informed as to who to trust when you cannot trust the Crown Corp commonly known as CBC/Radio Canada particularly when its ignores its non partisan mandate and refuses to even report who is is running for public office five times in a row???
The real question will the CBC also block this comment as per their MO? They should not I am posting in my true name and the link I provide is to CBC's own website. Correct Alex Johnston?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276« less
- 14 hours ago
David Raymond Amos
@Phil Peters As a man who has run as
in 5 elections thus far an Independent I strongly disagree with your opinion on
Independents. I have said many times (even during a televised debates that CBC
did not report about) when the question was asked of me that there is no
democracy when the votes within a party are whipped. Listen to me say it at the
just before the 50 minute mark of this debate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cFOKT6TlSE
BTW I crossed paths with Bernie Sanders the Independent Congressman and the "US economic Tzar" Robert Reich in 2002 when he was teaching at Harvard with Iggy and seeking the Democrats' nomination to run against Mitt Romney while I was suing Tom Riley the Attorney General of Massachusetts, the high priest Cardinal Law, 3 US Treasury Agents and legions lawyers about money within two lawsuits. I also to name but a few that you just mentioned.truat that crossed paths bigtime with Reich's old boss Prez Obama, Ralph Nader, their old buddy Noam Chomsky and his lawyer pal Paul Saba in 2004 before I ran in the election of the 38th Parliament
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cFOKT6TlSE
BTW I crossed paths with Bernie Sanders the Independent Congressman and the "US economic Tzar" Robert Reich in 2002 when he was teaching at Harvard with Iggy and seeking the Democrats' nomination to run against Mitt Romney while I was suing Tom Riley the Attorney General of Massachusetts, the high priest Cardinal Law, 3 US Treasury Agents and legions lawyers about money within two lawsuits. I also to name but a few that you just mentioned.truat that crossed paths bigtime with Reich's old boss Prez Obama, Ralph Nader, their old buddy Noam Chomsky and his lawyer pal Paul Saba in 2004 before I ran in the election of the 38th Parliament
- 1 hour ago
Phil Pete
@Shawn McShane
Thomas Jefferson said that at a time when he supported slavery. It takes a philosophical change for anything to get better. Also, Some of Jefferson's contemporaries were smart enough to sign onto a Constitutional founding document that completely protected the interests of the ownership class. That's why he can sound so confident in allowing people to think they can right things. History has shown us that people seeking rights had to, unfortunately, be gunned down in numbers before a stronger movement emerged. It was like that with race and labor, i.e. The redress comes only after strong movements to defeat the entrenched philosophy.
Thomas Jefferson said that at a time when he supported slavery. It takes a philosophical change for anything to get better. Also, Some of Jefferson's contemporaries were smart enough to sign onto a Constitutional founding document that completely protected the interests of the ownership class. That's why he can sound so confident in allowing people to think they can right things. History has shown us that people seeking rights had to, unfortunately, be gunned down in numbers before a stronger movement emerged. It was like that with race and labor, i.e. The redress comes only after strong movements to defeat the entrenched philosophy.
Barbara Canuski
Right to Information laws are in
place to give the taxpayer/media a legal right to see how their tax dollars are
being spent. NBLCC's decision to disregard the Betrand's recommendations means
NBLCC is in violation of the Act. It is now up to government to order NBLCC to
comply. Leadership is needed on this but sadly is lacking.
- 1 day ago
David Raymond Amos
@Phil Peters David Coon is a player
like all the rest
- 13 hours ago
David Raymond Amos
@Barbara Canuski FYI Ticked off
NBers are my amongst favourite people. If you are not ticked off then you are
not paying attention and you are suffering through government you deserve..
- 13 hours ago
Phil Peters
@David Raymond Amos
What's the game you are referring to?
What's the game you are referring to?
- 1 hour ago
David Raymond Amos
@Phil Peters Politicking Read my
other response to you If and when CBC allows it
- 1 hour ago
Phil Peters
@Mike Smith
You should try and see this as if it was the Cons perceived to be doing it to Liberals as practice for you. I think the issue is non partisan and it helps that it comes from a third party to make it look less partisan.
I actually am not defending the Liberals as much as I am countering the Cons supporters arguments here most of the time. I do it because I find them to be often offensive and, in the spirit of the pot calling the kettle black, inappropriately unconscionable.
The Liberals and the Cons I would put in the same boat. The material difference to you is that there are virtually no undying Liberal supporters who post here who give us the opportunity to reply to. When one comes here its like going to RedState in the US blogosphere. It's far right and it's that crazy at times.
You should try and see this as if it was the Cons perceived to be doing it to Liberals as practice for you. I think the issue is non partisan and it helps that it comes from a third party to make it look less partisan.
I actually am not defending the Liberals as much as I am countering the Cons supporters arguments here most of the time. I do it because I find them to be often offensive and, in the spirit of the pot calling the kettle black, inappropriately unconscionable.
The Liberals and the Cons I would put in the same boat. The material difference to you is that there are virtually no undying Liberal supporters who post here who give us the opportunity to reply to. When one comes here its like going to RedState in the US blogosphere. It's far right and it's that crazy at times.
- 1 hour ago
Phil Peters
@Barbara Canuski
It has nothing specific to do with money. You must be trying to hit a nerve by saying that. Not everything is about corruption and investigating wrongdoing. It is about information access-- all sorts of information. The stuff that shows intent and reasoning. That's the sort of thing that can lead us to understand the hows and whys of decision making which, it must be said, has become alarmingly opaque. Who knows where recommendations originate any more and how they come to be government policy?
Gotta admire David Coon. He continues to be the bright spot in NB politics. If he led a party made up of capable like him it would be our best choice for progressive change by quite a wide margin. Calls it like it is every time.
It has nothing specific to do with money. You must be trying to hit a nerve by saying that. Not everything is about corruption and investigating wrongdoing. It is about information access-- all sorts of information. The stuff that shows intent and reasoning. That's the sort of thing that can lead us to understand the hows and whys of decision making which, it must be said, has become alarmingly opaque. Who knows where recommendations originate any more and how they come to be government policy?
Gotta admire David Coon. He continues to be the bright spot in NB politics. If he led a party made up of capable like him it would be our best choice for progressive change by quite a wide margin. Calls it like it is every time.
- 23 hours ago
Mike Smith
@Phil Peters
What MLA are you?
What MLA are you?
- 22 hours ago
Mike Smith
@Phil Peters
How do you know it has nothing specific to do with money? NBLCc has not provided the information requested. It may very well have everything to do with money, quite likely the loss of a lot of taxpayers money
How do you know it has nothing specific to do with money? NBLCc has not provided the information requested. It may very well have everything to do with money, quite likely the loss of a lot of taxpayers money
- 22 hours ago
Barbara Canuski
@Mike Smith Believe it or not, but I
am not an MLA, politician or anything like that. Just a really ticked off NBer
who is baffled by this decision of NBLCC.
- 21 hours ago
Mike Smith
@Barbara Canuski
Oh I believe you. I asked the question of Phil Peters who defends the Liberals even when they are absolutely unbelievably wrong
Oh I believe you. I asked the question of Phil Peters who defends the Liberals even when they are absolutely unbelievably wrong
- 20 hours ago
Phil Peters
@Mike Smith
David Coon's comment? Because I read the article. If I skipped the article and read the comments I could surely assume he was talking about getting into number crunching to see if things added up at NB Liquor. His comment is actually about a larger reality that Cons catching the Liberals in some scandal. I know that's hard to believe for a lot of people, but this guy is actually not being partisan here. It's a governance issue.
David Coon's comment? Because I read the article. If I skipped the article and read the comments I could surely assume he was talking about getting into number crunching to see if things added up at NB Liquor. His comment is actually about a larger reality that Cons catching the Liberals in some scandal. I know that's hard to believe for a lot of people, but this guy is actually not being partisan here. It's a governance issue.
- 19 hours ago
Marc Martin
@Mike Smith
What do you care ? Aren't you living in Mexico with your imaginary company ?
What do you care ? Aren't you living in Mexico with your imaginary company ?
- 18 hours ago
Murray Brown
The President of NB Liquor thinking
the corporation doesn't need to submit to a right to information request is
just plain wrong. And it's astounding to see a government minister (Victor
Boudreau) agreeing with his wrong-headed reasoning. There are plenty of
employees qualified and intelligent enough to respond to these request and
frankly, it's their job to do so. The info is readily available (as long as the
corp, or dept is properly maintaining their records), and because of technology
it should be even easier to obtain. The cure for this conundrum is would be a
full investigation by the Auditor General of NB Liquor. Then we'll see how long
it takes them to find their records, when required by law to do so.
- 1 day ago
@Phil Peters
That’s where you’re wrong… the AG just doesn’t do financial audits, they do performance audits… those are the ones that make up bulk of AG’s report each year, those are not financial audits… A performance audit is when auditor is trying to determine if programs are operating as intended and if the correct process and procedures are in place. In public policy there is always a give and take between “doing the right thing” and “doing things right”…. AG’s tend to focus on if things are being “done right”, are the procedures and processes that are in place being followed… government’s sometimes focus on “doing things right” (by this I mean what they consider right or in accordance with their own policy goals – less concerned with how things get done only that what they want to do gets done). So when the AG does an audit of say the New Brunswick Art Bank, the recommendations surrounded upgrading the software that they use to manage their database and improving their reporting and communication procedures - they related to risk management, not spending, because poor procedures surrounding risk management could put public assets at risk
That’s where you’re wrong… the AG just doesn’t do financial audits, they do performance audits… those are the ones that make up bulk of AG’s report each year, those are not financial audits… A performance audit is when auditor is trying to determine if programs are operating as intended and if the correct process and procedures are in place. In public policy there is always a give and take between “doing the right thing” and “doing things right”…. AG’s tend to focus on if things are being “done right”, are the procedures and processes that are in place being followed… government’s sometimes focus on “doing things right” (by this I mean what they consider right or in accordance with their own policy goals – less concerned with how things get done only that what they want to do gets done). So when the AG does an audit of say the New Brunswick Art Bank, the recommendations surrounded upgrading the software that they use to manage their database and improving their reporting and communication procedures - they related to risk management, not spending, because poor procedures surrounding risk management could put public assets at risk
- 18 hours ago
@Murray Brown I agree with the post,
but also agree that the mentioned 'cure' is not the one that makes sense.
Operating 'above the law' is the same as saying 'breaking the law'. Which means
we need to look at what the punishments are for breaking that law, which I
assume are non existent.
To answer a question above, what needs to be done now is for people to talk and suggest what the liberals need to have in their legislation, not sit and wait for it. If a crown corporation breaks the access to information law, then we need to know what punishments can be meted out.
Should Mr. Harriman be fired? From what I've seen from NB Liquor of late leaves a lot to be desired. In this case he almost seems to be outrightly bragging about not ceding to the access to information request.
CBC made a good point in that some other provinces made it so that IC can demand groups comply. Hopefully that will be in the legislation, otherwise, whats the point?
It also raises the usually ignored issue of governance of crown corporations. A crown corporation should not be allowed to sue without the authority of the legislature.
To answer a question above, what needs to be done now is for people to talk and suggest what the liberals need to have in their legislation, not sit and wait for it. If a crown corporation breaks the access to information law, then we need to know what punishments can be meted out.
Should Mr. Harriman be fired? From what I've seen from NB Liquor of late leaves a lot to be desired. In this case he almost seems to be outrightly bragging about not ceding to the access to information request.
CBC made a good point in that some other provinces made it so that IC can demand groups comply. Hopefully that will be in the legislation, otherwise, whats the point?
It also raises the usually ignored issue of governance of crown corporations. A crown corporation should not be allowed to sue without the authority of the legislature.
- 14 hours ago
Phil Peters
@James Reed
I said audit numbers, which is what also happens in performance audits. It's why the AG was complaining that so many things the politicians say were hard to measure as being successful or not because there is no quantifiable number to define that. Without a number the AG is pretty much out of luck. If you' ve been performance audited it all boils down to numbers. As soon as they try and inject their unjustified opinion into it you have a case against anything they use against you and you have to be paid to go away.
I said audit numbers, which is what also happens in performance audits. It's why the AG was complaining that so many things the politicians say were hard to measure as being successful or not because there is no quantifiable number to define that. Without a number the AG is pretty much out of luck. If you' ve been performance audited it all boils down to numbers. As soon as they try and inject their unjustified opinion into it you have a case against anything they use against you and you have to be paid to go away.
- 1 hour ago
Phil Peters
@Murray Brown
Here we go again. The AG audits numbers. Why are some assuming that' s the issue here? The issue is access to information, in this case the wrangling and decision making around the growler program. The AG will not pour through countless e-mails and inform you of what you want to know despite what seems to be common thinking around here. You can do that on your own if you request the information and that is allowed to reach you, a sit should. You can find things out that way that have nothing to do with dollars and cents missing or misappropriated. A very famous case in point was the request to get information surrounding the setting up of an waste incinerator in Northern NB years ago. The information received through a freedom of access request was paramount in exposing things that became politically unacceptable to many--the fact that the province understood that some would be put at risk.
Here we go again. The AG audits numbers. Why are some assuming that' s the issue here? The issue is access to information, in this case the wrangling and decision making around the growler program. The AG will not pour through countless e-mails and inform you of what you want to know despite what seems to be common thinking around here. You can do that on your own if you request the information and that is allowed to reach you, a sit should. You can find things out that way that have nothing to do with dollars and cents missing or misappropriated. A very famous case in point was the request to get information surrounding the setting up of an waste incinerator in Northern NB years ago. The information received through a freedom of access request was paramount in exposing things that became politically unacceptable to many--the fact that the province understood that some would be put at risk.
- 23 hours ago
Mike Smith
@Phil Peters
What makes you support everything Liberal even when it's so obviously wrong. That complete lack of ctitical thinking undermines every word you say
What makes you support everything Liberal even when it's so obviously wrong. That complete lack of ctitical thinking undermines every word you say
- 22 hours ago
Phil Peters
@Mike Smith
I cannot stomach the Liberals. I've said so many times. You have your reasons for saying that. What political allegiance of yours is making you assume I am a supporter of them? Admit it, you assume what you assume because I refuse to allow Cons the luxury to speak like they are the cat's meow around here. If I ever ran in politics it would not be as a right wing party member of our two right of center usual choices.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I have no real allegiances. I can easily see myself agreeing with you if it make sense to me. If you want me as a follower try and make sense to me. Hasn't happened very often yet, though.
I cannot stomach the Liberals. I've said so many times. You have your reasons for saying that. What political allegiance of yours is making you assume I am a supporter of them? Admit it, you assume what you assume because I refuse to allow Cons the luxury to speak like they are the cat's meow around here. If I ever ran in politics it would not be as a right wing party member of our two right of center usual choices.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I have no real allegiances. I can easily see myself agreeing with you if it make sense to me. If you want me as a follower try and make sense to me. Hasn't happened very often yet, though.
- 22 hours ago
Mike Smith
@Phil Peters
OMG, unlimited nonsense!
OMG, unlimited nonsense!
- 22 hours ago
Robert Boudreau
I rarely agree with what Mr..Coon
says, but I do in this case. The liquor corp appears to be hiding something
whether or not they actually are.
- 23 hours ago
Phil Peters
@Robert Boudreau
Rarely? If you rarely agree with him you are on the wrong side of just about every issue he raises because he's been identifying one thing after another that is absolutely unacceptable in the way things are being done. Do you approve of the way the Cons handed over more of the forests to Irving? I'm not asking about the decision, but the way it was done--a last minute gift in the dying days of a party' s tenure. He' s the only guy who made an issue out of it and that called for the cancellation of these type of onerous sweetheart deals that come with the magic property of never being revocable. The liberals just said, there' s nothing that can be done now. Do you not agree him there?
David Coon is the example I would use of a guy who takes his role as an elected member of the LA very seriously. He' s out there in focus groups with kids and involving people in politics. The others are just there filling chairs when they aren't howling like lunatics in partisan fashion to drown out the incessant school yard squabbling.
Rarely? If you rarely agree with him you are on the wrong side of just about every issue he raises because he's been identifying one thing after another that is absolutely unacceptable in the way things are being done. Do you approve of the way the Cons handed over more of the forests to Irving? I'm not asking about the decision, but the way it was done--a last minute gift in the dying days of a party' s tenure. He' s the only guy who made an issue out of it and that called for the cancellation of these type of onerous sweetheart deals that come with the magic property of never being revocable. The liberals just said, there' s nothing that can be done now. Do you not agree him there?
David Coon is the example I would use of a guy who takes his role as an elected member of the LA very seriously. He' s out there in focus groups with kids and involving people in politics. The others are just there filling chairs when they aren't howling like lunatics in partisan fashion to drown out the incessant school yard squabbling.
- 23 hours ago
@Phil Peters I only halfway agree
with that. As an 'independant' Mr. Coon does a good job, he's certainly not the
only one making those kinds of statements. The People's Alliance often say the
same things, as does the NDP. The media typically goes to Mr. Coon the same way
they went to Elizabeth Weir.
And like Ms. Weir, Mr. Coon does little for the Green Party. The Green Party would benefit directly from changing to a proportional representation electoral system, yet like the conservatives he demands a referendum, when he knows that the liberal and conservative voters will kill the rights of voters just like they have in other provinces.
That shows that like Ms. Weir, he is more interested in keeping his own seat than in growing the party and getting a fair electoral system.
All Mr. Coon is saying here is what everybody already knows, its bizarre that you are congratulating him for it.
And like Ms. Weir, Mr. Coon does little for the Green Party. The Green Party would benefit directly from changing to a proportional representation electoral system, yet like the conservatives he demands a referendum, when he knows that the liberal and conservative voters will kill the rights of voters just like they have in other provinces.
That shows that like Ms. Weir, he is more interested in keeping his own seat than in growing the party and getting a fair electoral system.
All Mr. Coon is saying here is what everybody already knows, its bizarre that you are congratulating him for it.
- 14 hours ago
David Raymond Amos
@Mike Archibald Talk of Looney Tunes
and the all knowing wackos are sure to appear. What is truly bizarre is that
one Chucky Leblanc's best blogging buddies is slamming another one of Chucky's
buddies inside their beloved CBC Domain. Now that is truly comical.
FYI At least CBC must know Coon is NOT an Independent. He is in fact the LEADER of a Provincial Party and Deputy Leader of a FEDERAL Party N'esy Pas Mikel???
FYI At least CBC must know Coon is NOT an Independent. He is in fact the LEADER of a Provincial Party and Deputy Leader of a FEDERAL Party N'esy Pas Mikel???
- 13 hours ago
David Raymond Amos
@Mike Archibald I got bored waiting
over an hour to see if the CBC moderators would alow my comments to be posted
thonght. So while waiting I did a blog with a true tally of all my comments
since the Governor General's daughter was hired and made me register in my true
name again.. I just gave up on waiting for the CBC people to do their job or
not for tonight. I will check to see what was posted and what was not tomorrow.
In the "Mean" time if this comment is posted feel free to compare
what you can see to what you cannot.
http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.ca/2016/09/this-tally-of-my-comments-in-crown-corp_29.html« less
http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.ca/2016/09/this-tally-of-my-comments-in-crown-corp_29.html« less
- 12 hours ago
Phil Peters
@Mike Archibald
Are any of us in a position to have
our opinions put out in the media? You congratulate him for many things, and
one of them is saying things that make it public an on the record. If he said
nothing then I would be disappointed.
You can't be any more democratic than a plebiscite can you? To call for that when you have a selfish reason to gain is to be the most selfless you can be. If he knows what he wants isn't likely to be voted for, he's actually trusting the process more than his own judgement.
He doesn't want his party to succeed? He's out there trying to personally recruit the best candidates he can find all the time. In the case of his party I think we both agree that its narratives have a place in our discussions. We should all want it to succeed.
You can't be any more democratic than a plebiscite can you? To call for that when you have a selfish reason to gain is to be the most selfless you can be. If he knows what he wants isn't likely to be voted for, he's actually trusting the process more than his own judgement.
He doesn't want his party to succeed? He's out there trying to personally recruit the best candidates he can find all the time. In the case of his party I think we both agree that its narratives have a place in our discussions. We should all want it to succeed.
- 51 minutes ago
Shawn McShane
We shouldn't have to ask for this
stuff, put it out there, you work for us. We are your employers not the other
way around. A democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is
vested in the people.
Doesn't sound like the people want Alcool to use our tax money to sue our information commissioner and fork out more tax money to fund her lawyer. It is loonie.
Doesn't sound like the people want Alcool to use our tax money to sue our information commissioner and fork out more tax money to fund her lawyer. It is loonie.
- 1 day ago
Phil Peters
@Shawn McShane
Yeah, well we don't have a democracy for a system. Dropping a ballot in every 4 years only gets you part of the way there. I know of nowhere where one exists in any form that would live up to the billing of such a desirable thing. We, like so many other places, have some watered down version of something that is there to protect the owners of capital and that has that word in the title. The US was looked at by international government policy experts in 2016 and concluded that maybe 8% of what government does is influenced by democratic choice. The panel agreed that the governance was more in line with being a plutocracy (rule by the rich for he rich). What we have is similar but a bit more British and feudal, because we have the equivalent to a Lord of the manor that supports a surrounding of sharecropping serfs on his holdings by allowing them to work his many controlled endeavors.
Yeah, well we don't have a democracy for a system. Dropping a ballot in every 4 years only gets you part of the way there. I know of nowhere where one exists in any form that would live up to the billing of such a desirable thing. We, like so many other places, have some watered down version of something that is there to protect the owners of capital and that has that word in the title. The US was looked at by international government policy experts in 2016 and concluded that maybe 8% of what government does is influenced by democratic choice. The panel agreed that the governance was more in line with being a plutocracy (rule by the rich for he rich). What we have is similar but a bit more British and feudal, because we have the equivalent to a Lord of the manor that supports a surrounding of sharecropping serfs on his holdings by allowing them to work his many controlled endeavors.
- 22 hours ago
@Phil Peters Switzerland is the only
actual 'democracy' in the world, although at least nordic countries have some
semblance of representation.
In Switzerland at every level of government, the people can force referenda on any issue, even the constitution. So, for example, when hearing stories like this, we could be online forcing a referendum on anything from:
1. Making it law that a crown corporation cannot sue without prior authorization from the legislature.
2. Adding financial penalties to employees of crown corporations when they act 'above the law' or fail to accede to rti requests.
3. Forcing crown corporations to make all such program information public in annual reports so that requests are not needed.
Then, in switzerland, or in half of the US states which have citizens initiatives (or in bc, which forced one on the hst) the government would either introduce the legislation themselves, or a referendum would be held to decide the matter.
That is how a 'democracy' would work, and yes it does exist in the world-and actually has for longer than Canada has been a country.
In Switzerland at every level of government, the people can force referenda on any issue, even the constitution. So, for example, when hearing stories like this, we could be online forcing a referendum on anything from:
1. Making it law that a crown corporation cannot sue without prior authorization from the legislature.
2. Adding financial penalties to employees of crown corporations when they act 'above the law' or fail to accede to rti requests.
3. Forcing crown corporations to make all such program information public in annual reports so that requests are not needed.
Then, in switzerland, or in half of the US states which have citizens initiatives (or in bc, which forced one on the hst) the government would either introduce the legislation themselves, or a referendum would be held to decide the matter.
That is how a 'democracy' would work, and yes it does exist in the world-and actually has for longer than Canada has been a country.
David Raymond Amos
@Mike Archibald Remember when you
tried to debate me anonymously on April Fools Day 2006 within Chucky Leblanc's
original blog after I ran in the election of the 39th Parliament? That blog
still exists for anyone to review.
How about when I called you years later and you deleted your entire blog afterwards. Yet you still go on and on within Chucky's and the CBC's domains EH?
Well lets debate again. First Switzerland is a poor example of an actual democracy when it is in fact a very well armed camp at the same time. Furthermore it has provided guards to protect the Vatican State for hundreds of years and that Sate has no democracy whatsoever.
More importantly.Switzerland provides a haven for Banksters and their secretive crooked clients. Remember when UBS got caught putting pallets of brand new Yankee cash in Iraq for the benefit of Paul Martin, Bob Rae's and Jean Chretien's friends in Power Corp? Then there is the FSB Chaired by Mark Carney Governor of the Bank Of England formerly Governor the Bank of Canada and a former partner of. Goldman Sachs. Need I mention to the all knowing "Mikel" the Bank of International Settlements etc?
I will respond to your other arguments with Phil Peters within ROUND TWO
How about when I called you years later and you deleted your entire blog afterwards. Yet you still go on and on within Chucky's and the CBC's domains EH?
Well lets debate again. First Switzerland is a poor example of an actual democracy when it is in fact a very well armed camp at the same time. Furthermore it has provided guards to protect the Vatican State for hundreds of years and that Sate has no democracy whatsoever.
More importantly.Switzerland provides a haven for Banksters and their secretive crooked clients. Remember when UBS got caught putting pallets of brand new Yankee cash in Iraq for the benefit of Paul Martin, Bob Rae's and Jean Chretien's friends in Power Corp? Then there is the FSB Chaired by Mark Carney Governor of the Bank Of England formerly Governor the Bank of Canada and a former partner of. Goldman Sachs. Need I mention to the all knowing "Mikel" the Bank of International Settlements etc?
I will respond to your other arguments with Phil Peters within ROUND TWO
- 47 minutes ago
· David Raymond Amos
David Raymond Amos
·
@Mike
Archibald ROUND TWO
1. A mindless Crown Attorney tried that trick
with mean old me in Federal Court (Docket 3 T-1557-15) and failed bigtime.
Anyone can sue anyone for libel (and demand a jury as well) without permission
from the Crown. The beef is between the dude who happens to be the CEO of NB
Liquor and the woman who happens to be a Privacy Commissioner. However the
taxpayer should not have to pay their private lawyer fees.
2..
Your point makes no sense to mean old me. Hence I see nothing to argue other
than to say if you catch a crook they should be FIRED and prosecuted.
3.
That is the way it supposed to be already.DUHHH???
Page
is closed to commenting.
Phil Peters
@Mike Archibald
I agree that plebiscites are what is most democratic. In this day and age of rapid information sharing I really question why we need to send the winner of a popularity contest to speak for us in a system that then struggles to tame these men and women.
Keep in mind that in a true democracy every man would essentially get a chance to be ruler. It can never go that far. We ought to have a wider choice of philosophical thinking, though. I think we are not well served, even in Nordic countries, because of strong movements to the right that have pushed all global governments and parties further away from what used to be the center in many countries.
Switzerland, for all its qualities, owes its well being to secrecy and avoidance of war, I would say. it has made them uniquely well placed to be bankers and lenders to countries who don't have those to interests.
I agree that plebiscites are what is most democratic. In this day and age of rapid information sharing I really question why we need to send the winner of a popularity contest to speak for us in a system that then struggles to tame these men and women.
Keep in mind that in a true democracy every man would essentially get a chance to be ruler. It can never go that far. We ought to have a wider choice of philosophical thinking, though. I think we are not well served, even in Nordic countries, because of strong movements to the right that have pushed all global governments and parties further away from what used to be the center in many countries.
Switzerland, for all its qualities, owes its well being to secrecy and avoidance of war, I would say. it has made them uniquely well placed to be bankers and lenders to countries who don't have those to interests.
- 42 minutes ago
Mac Isaac
Whether or not it's true, the Liquor
Corporation is giving the appearance of hiding information that it (the NBLC)
doesn't want made public. Threatening legal action is, in my opinion, beyond
the scope of NBLC's President's mandate. After all, the Corporation is a Crown
agency; in other words it's not that President's personal bailiwick. It belongs
to the people of New Brunswick. As such, whether or not Mr. Harriman believes
he's within the rights of the NBLC, he must yield to the Government of New
Brunswick's rule of law and THAT rule of law includes the R.T.I. Act!
- 23 hours ago
Mike Smith
What are the Liberals so desperately
trying to hide? Threaten to shut down the access to information program?
Really? You can make this stuff up! Insane!
- 22 hours ago
Colin Seeley
@Mike Smith
The payroll and bonuses and fees the consultants .
Follow the money.
The payroll and bonuses and fees the consultants .
Follow the money.
- 22 hours ago
Mac Isaac
@Mike Smith ENOUGH Mike!!! You must
be as well aware as the rest of us that Harriman was NOT appointed to his
position by any Liberal, let alone Premier Gallant. If you're going to cast
aspersions, cast them where they belong...on former Premier Alward and HIS tory
crooks!
- 21 hours ago
Colin Seeley
@Mac Isaac and the difference would be what ?
- 20 hours ago
Mike Smith
@Mac Isaac
Nonsense. It's the Liberals trying to shut down the access to information act. Wake up!
Nonsense. It's the Liberals trying to shut down the access to information act. Wake up!
- 20 hours ago
reginald churchill
@Mac Isaac .......... Liberals ,
toys what's the difference, If you filled a room with both of them and said
that the crooks could leave you'd have an empty room
- 19 hours ago
Leonard Jones
If Mr. Harriman is unable to fulfill
the requirements of his role, then perhaps he should step down. It is now
obvious that he has something to hide.
- 23 hours ago
David Raymond Amos
@Leonard Jones I thought you were
dead?
- 19 hours ago
David Raymond Amos
@Leonard Jones BTW I agree with your
ghost. Enjoy
http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.ca/2016/09/liquor-liebranos-lawyer-lawsuits-and_29.html
http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.ca/2016/09/liquor-liebranos-lawyer-lawsuits-and_29.html
- 17 hours ago
Jonas Smith
One has to wonder why we keep
electing politicians that allow this type of tomfoolery to keep happening. We
need a politician with conviction and someone not interested in being
reelected. I for one weep for the future.
- 23 hours ago
Rose Michaud
The Right to Information Act does
need a bit of work, the frivolous requests (meant to be punitive because
someone isn't happy with a decision even when they have already been provided
with the information and they didn't like it) or really broad scope requests,
these ones are wastes of money. But real ones, like this are a necessity, and
the info is required to be released by law. NBLiquor thinks they are above the
law and they are the ones now wasting the money.
- 23 hours ago
What is NBLCC hiding? Maybe they
need to be investigated for wrong doing. Gallant wants to make changes to the
information act, Why? Does he want something hidden as well, and with these
changes will they allow Gallant to hide the Auditor Generals findings when she
is finished the Atcon audit, I see a much bigger picture here, dont you?
- 23 hours ago
Mike Smith
@Stephen Wood
Good post. I think exactly the same thing. This was all designed to try and shut down access to information to hide something big
Good post. I think exactly the same thing. This was all designed to try and shut down access to information to hide something big
- 22 hours ago
I suspect there is little they can do. They can't simply fire Mr. Harriman without getting sued by him for wrongful dismissal. I could be wrong, but I'm expecting stronger access laws, because with the economy in the crapper, its only stuff like this which the government can make any kind of claim to acting responsibly. If they can't even control their own crown corporations, then thats a huge sign of incompetence. Maybe they can't control the world economy or even the regional economy, but if they can't even control stuff which directly has to do with government operations, well, thats a pretty big mozza ball hanging off their face. But like I say, we'll have to wait and see.
- 13 hours ago
Mike Smith
I think this whole thing is a
Liberal scam.
First NB Liquor says access requests are to expensive and threatens to sue the Commissioner
At that point Gallant should have fired Harriman and protected the public's right to open and transparent Governnent
What happens unread is Gallant and Boudreau both saying the access
to information program is too expensive and threaten to close it down! Absolutely unbelievable!!!!
Open and transparent government is a basic tenant of democracy. NB needs recall legislation for instances like this when politicians are trying to run roughshod over public.
This is no doubt as a result of recent access to information requests that exposed $217 million spent promoting French in NB in the last 16 months.
First NB Liquor says access requests are to expensive and threatens to sue the Commissioner
At that point Gallant should have fired Harriman and protected the public's right to open and transparent Governnent
What happens unread is Gallant and Boudreau both saying the access
to information program is too expensive and threaten to close it down! Absolutely unbelievable!!!!
Open and transparent government is a basic tenant of democracy. NB needs recall legislation for instances like this when politicians are trying to run roughshod over public.
This is no doubt as a result of recent access to information requests that exposed $217 million spent promoting French in NB in the last 16 months.
- 22 hours ago
reginald churchill
@Mike Smith .............. Things
like this also took place in 1933 Germany and we all know what happened there
- 22 hours ago
Mike Smith
@Mike Smith I should have said what happens "instead"
- 22 hours ago
@Mike Smith I don't know what
'unread' means, but while I agree about the importance of access to
information, I got the opposite idea from the announcement. We'll see what
changes are brought in, but the way it was worded I suspect they are talking
about expanding the access to information law. I don't know what 'housekeeping'
Mr. Coon is referring to, it seems kind of stupid to talk about how everything
is now connected to 'advice to a minister' and therefore protected, but then
say that just 'housekeeping' is needed.
Mr. Boudreau's comments don't fill one with optimism I agree, I laughed out loud when he talked about the 'independance of the IC', as though any of us have trouble with her!
However, he is not government. Gallant already has his back to the wall having raised ten different taxes, and now pretty much having to announce a carbon tax as well. Combine a few of these 'looney tune' scenarios' and thats the kind of thing that voters remember at election time.
But like I said, I got the impression that they were going to give her more authority, certainly not 'shut it down' which politically is like putting a gun in your mouth. If he thinks New Brunswick is the same as Canada as that he's as safe as Trudeau, he doesn't know his new brunswick history very well.
Mr. Boudreau's comments don't fill one with optimism I agree, I laughed out loud when he talked about the 'independance of the IC', as though any of us have trouble with her!
However, he is not government. Gallant already has his back to the wall having raised ten different taxes, and now pretty much having to announce a carbon tax as well. Combine a few of these 'looney tune' scenarios' and thats the kind of thing that voters remember at election time.
But like I said, I got the impression that they were going to give her more authority, certainly not 'shut it down' which politically is like putting a gun in your mouth. If he thinks New Brunswick is the same as Canada as that he's as safe as Trudeau, he doesn't know his new brunswick history very well.
- 13 hours ago
James Lebreton
One word.....corrupt!
- 21 hours ago
Mike Smith
@James Lebreton Corrupt to the core
People should remember that when
ever there is BIG money involved ,often there is corruption, greed and
dishonesty . When was the last time NBLCC was checked or investigated for any
thing? Just might be time now folks, what do you think?
It's actually hilarious that this is
happening during International "Right to Know Week" - another black
eye for New Brunswick - Access to information, right to information officers or
what ever they go by in jurisdictions across Canada and the world have been
talking about citizens right to information all week - and guess what
jurisdiction they've been using as a prime example of the hurdles the media and
citizens face accessing information form government - good old New Brunswick.
Seriously, the timing of this mess could not have been worse for the province,
most weeks this is just a local story... this is actually now getting play
across the country.... I think the I heard a Privacy Commissioner from another
province talking about it yesterday on the news.
- 23 hours ago
@James Reed Whereabouts? I've been
'checking' media and haven't even heard of such a thing. You'd think 'The
Current' would maybe have a feature on it instead of yet another 'bash Donald
Trump' segment.
New Brunswick gets way too much of that kind of attention, I wonder if the government even cares about that stuff anymore. Fairvote has had New Brunswick as the poster child of an unrepresentative voting system for decades now, and of course the Senate committee painted a bullseye on new brunswick as a basket case when it comes to a media monopoly-of course thanks to those 'irving connnections' they made sure nothing was done about it except to warn other provinces 'don't do this'.
Hopefully the CBC here in NB will use your info to continue the story.
New Brunswick gets way too much of that kind of attention, I wonder if the government even cares about that stuff anymore. Fairvote has had New Brunswick as the poster child of an unrepresentative voting system for decades now, and of course the Senate committee painted a bullseye on new brunswick as a basket case when it comes to a media monopoly-of course thanks to those 'irving connnections' they made sure nothing was done about it except to warn other provinces 'don't do this'.
Hopefully the CBC here in NB will use your info to continue the story.
- 2 hours ago
Gone are the days of political
appointments leading NB Liquor, but something like this would never have
happened with a political puppet in place - they would have never made a move
like this without the OK from the Premier's office... Coon is right, this is
'Looney Tunes'... this is seriously crazy - we have a Crown Corporation
threatening, and that's exactly what that letter from the lawyer was, a
government watchdog with legal action for doing their job.... Boudreau may muse
about how money may be better spend on front line services, but at the end of
the day the law as it now stands is still the law - seriously, the government
doesn't have to take its self to court to change the legislation, they can just
change the legislation if they see fit. That being said, just to be clear - NB
Liquor is not threatening the Commissioner with legal action because they think
the law imposes an undue burden on them... the threat of legal action has
nothing to do with the merits of the legislation, read the letter the lawyer
sent her, they are threatening her with legal action based on what they call a
"slanderous" report and accuse her of "acting in bad
faith"... they are attacking her actions and motives, not the legislation.
Even if both sides don't agree on the interpretation or application of a
particular piece of legislation it rarely ends up with one party accusing the
other of sander.
- 23 hours ago
@James Reed A lady in the paper I
think got it right. I think this was (in part) a big show to scare people off
of making access to information requests. If what you learn about it means your
criticisms could have you being sued by a crown corporation with almost
bottomless legal resources, then most people may think 'why bother'? Imagine if
this were the CBC reporter or some member of the public getting sued by the
government for 'slander'.
- 2 hours ago
Norma Christie
Good for Mr. Coon. Harriman does not
take calls from citizens. I tried when I had an issue recently. He never seems
to be in his office and is always 'away'. Someone should look into his
attendance at his workplace. I would not let him sell marijuana either.
- 22 hours ago
They put a tarp over the sign at
their corporate headquarters, so I'd say they're expecting LOTS of backlash.
Makes you wonder why they think making a big fuss about all of this is really about...what are they hiding?
Makes you wonder why they think making a big fuss about all of this is really about...what are they hiding?
- 22 hours ago
@Grant Logan *Makes you wonder why
they think making a big fuss about all of this is really worth it...
- 22 hours ago
Mike Smith
Once the Auditor General finishes
the Atcon audit, a full forensic audit of NB Liquor is in order.
- 21 hours ago
This is how we teach the youth of NB
democracy and ethics. Keep you the good work.
- 22 hours ago
Mike Smith
NB deserves so much better than the
Gallant Government. Bumbling from cluster to the next. It's shameful
- 21 hours ago
Sean Onuaillain
If Victor Boudreau wants to save
money to put into direct services he and his deputy minister should fire one or
two of their three assistants.
- 22 hours ago
Mike Smith
@Sean Onuaillain
Boudreau could even stop spending so much promoting French and use that money for front line services
Boudreau could even stop spending so much promoting French and use that money for front line services
- 21 hours ago
Mack Leigh
@Mike Smith
Yeah, but he needs the money for his BIG campground in Shediac !! You know the one that they are now destroying once protected wetlands to build on.
Yeah, but he needs the money for his BIG campground in Shediac !! You know the one that they are now destroying once protected wetlands to build on.
- 14 hours ago
Colin Seeley
NB needs to privatize and allow free
trade of all Canadian made goods across its borders.
In the age of the Internet there is no longer a need for a crown corporation that limits consumers choices and free trade.
Make this an election issue.
In the age of the Internet there is no longer a need for a crown corporation that limits consumers choices and free trade.
Make this an election issue.
- 1 day ago
Phil Peters
@Colin Seeley
Why not just legalize the sale of alcohol? Let anyone buy and sell alcohol. Why should we protect any business for a private interest that would buy it from us? Your solution, I think, still allows monopoly type control and all sorts of political gerrymandering of markets and rules. I understand we pay for schools with booze and lottery tickets, but on the whole it would be better to derive that from something more in line with how we want our society to be.
Why not just legalize the sale of alcohol? Let anyone buy and sell alcohol. Why should we protect any business for a private interest that would buy it from us? Your solution, I think, still allows monopoly type control and all sorts of political gerrymandering of markets and rules. I understand we pay for schools with booze and lottery tickets, but on the whole it would be better to derive that from something more in line with how we want our society to be.
- 21 hours ago
Colin Seeley
@Phil Peters
your society you say ! wow.
your society you say ! wow.
- 20 hours ago
@Colin Seeley I think what there
needs to be are national standards on taxes on alcohol, so everybody competes
'equally' across those borders.
Or perhaps having NB Liquor act as a distributor, because in other provinces monopoly distribution results in higher prices.
But overall I tend to agree. There is no reason convenience stores cannot sell booze, in fact the province has already admitted they can by authorizing them in rural areas.
And actually, many have pointed out that like sex and drugs, its our 'obsession' with keeping them from kids which causes a lot of problems like binge drinking. In France they drink wine at pretty much any age. Its idiotic to think that somebody is physically different the day before their birthday, then a day later when they are 'of age' they are considered adult enough to handle it. Its actually an insane way of looking at the world if you think about it.
Or perhaps having NB Liquor act as a distributor, because in other provinces monopoly distribution results in higher prices.
But overall I tend to agree. There is no reason convenience stores cannot sell booze, in fact the province has already admitted they can by authorizing them in rural areas.
And actually, many have pointed out that like sex and drugs, its our 'obsession' with keeping them from kids which causes a lot of problems like binge drinking. In France they drink wine at pretty much any age. Its idiotic to think that somebody is physically different the day before their birthday, then a day later when they are 'of age' they are considered adult enough to handle it. Its actually an insane way of looking at the world if you think about it.
- 13 hours ago
Mike Smith
If NB Liquor and Harriman don't
immediately drop this lawsuit. Gallant must demand Harrimans resignation and
immediately provide the information requested. Anything less is intolerable
- 21 hours ago
Sam Brown
Just a distraction from the real
problems NB is facing....
Good Day
Good Day
- 22 hours ago
It wouldn't surprise me if the
Gallant government introduces another retrograde step by increasing the cost
people need to pay for an information request. If the government (at all levels)
were more open and transparent, there would be little or no use for Access to
Information legislation. But, instead of moving in that direction, this
government may be about to do just the opposite. Too many information requests
are also denied out of hand because third parties that are mentioned object to
the release of the information. This too is wrong. If a company is involved in
a public process, whether that be negotiating a contract or whatever, all of
the information should be available to the public so that we, as citizens, can
decide if it was a good deal. The water rate 'NO-gotiations" conducted
between the City of Saint John and the Irvings are one example of where a
private company shut down the process because it didn't want its 'NO-gotiaton"
strategy revealed. Of course there were no negotiations. It took 14 years to
get the deal and Irving got exactly what it wanted, when it wanted it.
- 21 hours ago
Mario Doucet
The problems associated with this
Acadian government run much farther than this, when your entire focus is on
language rights at the expense of everything else what would you expect? The
singular purpose of all policy is based on promoting bilingualism, in other
words converting all English NB to French. You have heard exactly what Gallant
intends to do, he makes no secret of the intent.
- 15 hours ago
Mack Leigh
@Mario Doucet
Totally agree !! We are a captured people and this is indeed a take over. Too bad most people seem to have no clue as to what is really happening in this province and are content to keep their heads in the sand.
Totally agree !! We are a captured people and this is indeed a take over. Too bad most people seem to have no clue as to what is really happening in this province and are content to keep their heads in the sand.
- 14 hours ago
Roland Godin
@Mario Doucet
You keep insisting in removing English as a langue officielle, why don’t you want English to be promoted, I think I understand your argument, if you remove English as an official language no more bilingualism...eh.
You keep insisting in removing English as a langue officielle, why don’t you want English to be promoted, I think I understand your argument, if you remove English as an official language no more bilingualism...eh.
- 13 hours ago
@Mario Doucet Dude, are you crazy??
Have you looked at the legislation this government has brought in? Virtually
none of it has to do with language. The government didn't even want to have
anything to do with the busing issue so they pawned it off on the courts.
- 12 hours ago
Roland Godin
@Mack Leigh
Effort spells the same in both official languages, interesting...eh.
Effort spells the same in both official languages, interesting...eh.
- 10 hours ago
Roland Godin
Sorry Monsieur Coon, you seem to
make an effort to reach us from the rational cognitive side of the brain, nice
effort however we mostly vote with a colour crayon which is a reaction from the
muscle brawn side of the brain...et voilà .
- 22 hours ago
Stephen Long
@Roland Godin priceless
- 18 hours ago
@Roland Godin Calling something
'looney tunes' doesn't seem an effort to reach peoples rational cognitive side
of the brain. It kind of seems like a term more suited to that other part of
the brain you made up:)
- 12 hours ago
Mack Leigh
What are these Liberals up to now
??? It smells and smells really bad when they state that changes are coming to
the Right to Information Act. What do they not want disclosed ?? Also why is
there no CBC report on the fact that the Francophone Teachers have withdrawn
their legal suit against the province because their " Demands " have
been met ??? Does this mean that Gallant Liberals are handing over another 11
million dollars ?????
- 15 hours ago
Marc Martin
Coon who ? ........He's right lets
give her more rights so that we don't need any MLA
anymore....seshhh..seriously..
- 18 hours ago
@Marc Martin Yah, because an MLA is
so helpful in resolving access to information requests!
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