David Raymond Amos@DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others Methinks
a lot of Conservatives in New Brunswick will find it very interesting
that CBC did not block any of my comments this time N'esy Pas? (At
least thus far Hence no need to blog about it yet)
Andrew
Dawson and Donald Arseneault, longtime acquaintances, left their
positions with Canada’s Building Trades Unions, the labour group that
hired Arseneault in 2017. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
A quartet of high-profile former
political insiders from New Brunswick's two main political parties are
going into business together as consultants.
The four partners
in Atlantic Strategies Group, including a former Liberal premier and a
former Progressive Conservative finance minister, say they can fill a
void left by government to help lure employers to the province.
"If
I was to describe it in a sentence, we're privatizing Opportunities New
Brunswick," said co-owner Andrew Dawson, referring to the provincial
government's economic development agency.
"That was the whole genesis of the four of us getting together — to provide those services to the private sector."
'Role to play'
Former
Liberal cabinet minister Donald Arseneault added: "We can't keep saying
government's going to do all that work. We all have a role to play."
The four principals in Atlantic Strategies are:
Shawn Graham, New Brunswick's Liberal premier from 2006 to 2010 and now an international business consultant.
Norm
Betts, a business professor, Progressive Conservative cabinet minister
from 1999 to 2003, and former board member of NB Power.
Arseneault, a Liberal MLA from 2003 to 2017 who held several cabinet portfolios in the Graham and Gallant governments.
Dawson,
a one-time executive assistant to a PC cabinet minister, former
construction union official and businessperson who hired Arseneault as a
lobbyist for his union two years ago.
Dawson and
Arseneault spoke about the company in a 30-minute interview, saying they
will offer clients services such as "business development, strategic
advice, networking."
Betts and Graham could not be reached for comment.
Built 'relationships'
People's
Alliance Leader Kris Austin said he hopes that the new firm will not
lead to some potential investors in the province getting "special
treatment" thanks to the connections the four owners have built up over
the years.
He said the four men have the potential to "sway [decisions] away from the public interest" to benefit some employers.
All four partners signed a letter to the province's integrity commissioner laying out their plans. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Arseneault said he established "a lot of relationships" during a decade and a half in politics.
"If
I can take the experience I've built over the years, over the last 15
years … so be it, if it means moving forward in this province."
Dawson
added: "If a client is just interested in paying somebody to get a
meeting with a politician, that's not something we're interested in."
Former PC finance minister Norm Betts is a partner in the new consulting firm. (Catherine Harrop/CBC)
Even
so, arranging meetings could be "a small part of the big picture,"
according to Dawson, so they're registering as lobbyists provincial and
federally.
The four partners wrote a letter to acting integrity
commissioner Charles Murray last week to outline their plans, promising
to go beyond what lobbying and conflict-of-interest laws require.
"We have no problem being open and transparent about it," Arseneault said.
Murray would not comment Monday on their plans.
Filling a gap
Dawson
said that with Premier Blaine Higgs unenthusiastic about corporate
subsidies and Opportunities New Brunswick recently eliminating 24
positions, the four consultants can fill the gap by advising companies
on setting up shop in the province.
"There was a void there in
the marketplace," Dawson said. "There are services that the private
sector is willing to pay for. If the government proceeds to create the
environment for economic growth, what can we do as private citizens to
facilitate it?"
Former Liberal premier Shawn Graham has been working as an international business consultant. (Gilles Landry/Radio-Canada)
But he said the company would be selective.
"If Malcolm Bricklin were to land here today with his idea, we'd send him away quite quickly."
The
company already has about 10 clients in sectors including energy,
cannabis, health care, labour and transportation. One of them is ARC
Nuclear, a business hoping to manufacture small, modular nuclear
reactors for NB Power.
Though
the province's lobbying and conflict-of-interest laws didn't prohibit
Arseneault's 2017 hiring while he remained an MLA, then-premier Brian
Gallant said the perception of a conflict was a problem.
He pushed Arseneault to give up the job or face expulsion from the Liberal caucus.
Jacques
Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick
since 2000. Raised in Moncton, he also produces the CBC political
podcast Spin Reduxit.
David Amos Methinks many people are laughing as hard as I am right now N'esy Pas?
Junkman George
Reply to @David Amos:
If only it wasn't so sad, and likely expensive.
David Amos
Reply to @Junkman George: Methinks this nonsense just adds to the Circus N'esy Pas?
David Amos
I trust that everybody knows why this is my favourite quote today
"What in the world are we doing here?" asked Andrew
Dawson, a former assistant to Lord, at the party's annual meeting last
fall. Dawson ran unsuccessfully to become party president, complaining
about the lack of policy workshops at the event.
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
Now Dawson should why Higgy don't want him around
Party president Erika Hachey told members in a letter
Monday morning that there weren't enough valid letters from party
members to meet the threshold to trigger the next step in the process.
"I have determined that the requirements have not been satisfied," she wrote.
"The leadership review process has not been triggered."
Elizabeth Gardner
Good old boys club!
I wouldn’t trust Andrew Dawson. Pocket padding is what this sounds like.
David Amos
Reply to Elizabeth Gardner
They don't trust each other
Ray Bungay I sure hope someone in Government is guarding the hen house!!
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Bungay: Dream on
Anthony Lyons I wound trust none of them
David Amos
Reply to @Anthony Lyons: You are wise
Mack Leigh
Be afraid, NB Taxpayers ! Be very afraid ! Hold on to your wallets.
David Amos
Reply to @Mack Leigh: YUP
Marc Tremblay Eww...
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Tremblay: I second that remark
Ray Bungay
Reply to @David Amos: x3!
Mack Leigh Methinks the NB taxpayers are about to be fleeced !!
David Amos
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Methinks its just more of the same old same old N'esy Pas?
Roland Stewart Yup, I believe every word. LOL
David Amos
Reply to @Roland Stewart: Methinks you jest just enough N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Content Deactivated
Money , Money, Money , Moneahhh ! Following Trump template . ACOA must be announcing BIGLY money available !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Yea Right
Lou Bell
Content Deactivated
Oh OH !! Atcon coming back ?????
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you seem rather bitter about something N'esy Pas?
Marguerite Deschamps
If
all the smart people on here would put half the effort they put in here
deprecating and instead would get together to create a consulting firm
like these guys, then maybe something positive might come out of it.
Joseph Vacher
Reply to @Marguerite
Deschamps: how can you respect someone who stole 50 million dollars from
NB tax payers. they belond in jail for the crimes they committed, and
the ones they are p[planning to commit
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Cry me a river
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps:
Their past actions speaks volumes and it does not bode well for the NB
taxpayers....Quite evidently by their collective history there will not
be a shred of integrity , ethics or strength of character in the lot..
Junkman George
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps:
For this type of thing to bear fruit you need to be "connected". If you
carefully notice all the bases are covered, both Liberal, and
CONServative.
This is going to cost us LARGE, and we won't be able to shake it, some might say "the fixx is in".
David Amos
Reply to @Junkman George: Methinks thats par for the course N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps:
We are still at EH?
In PC leadership fight, Higgs's opponent is the legacy of Bernard Lord
Premier’s style is at odds with his PC predecessor on caucus consensus, local control
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jul 27, 2023 6:00 AM ADT
Brian Robertson Oh look!
New Brunswick has it's very own swamp.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Brian Robertson: no need to look very far; right here consistently opining on these topics!
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps:
I'm not anti anything.
My message is one of unity and creating a future for the common good.
I emphasize what we have in common.
You and your ilk strive to create a separate future that favors a select few.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Brian Robertson: then tell us what steps you have taken in order to create a future for the common good. Do tell!
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite
Deschamps: Methinks everybody knows I am running for public office again
and planning to file 3 more lawsuits against the Crownin short order.
Everybody also knows that have you done nothing other than whine and cry
on behalf of the SANB within a Crown Corp's website N'esy Pas?
Matt Steele One
thing is for sure ; former politicians ALWAYS return to the taxpayer
funded trough so that they can fill their pockets even more with
taxpayer cash . It is surprising that Jack Keir and Frank McKenna are
not in on the deal as well . Some things just never change in N.B. .
David Amos
Reply to @Matt Steele: What makes you think they are not?
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Matt Steele:
Perhaps they are both " Silent " partners ??
Rod McLeod Cha-ching! These guys just scored some serious money.
David Amos
Reply to @Rod McLeod: Methinks Mr Higgs still holds the reigns of power and the province's cheque book as well N'esy Pas?
Joseph Vacher Sean Graham back in power in NB :( this will not, and can not, end well
David Amos
Reply to @Joseph Vacher: You should know
Joseph Vacher
Reply to @David Amos: everyone should know
Robert L. Brown The only word i would have for this bunch is DISGUSTING
David Amos
Reply to @Robert L. Brown: I wholeheartedly agree
Ben Haroldson Lot
of union execs not much interested in helping the working man anymore.
Matter of fact, double dipping has become common practice in the union
executive. At one time it was the #1 ta boo. Gr eed is rif e evrywhere.
David
Peters
Reply to @Ben Haroldson:
Unions work hard in undermining low skill, cheap labour by pushing minimum wage laws.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @David
Peters: Most unions are more interested in keeping the dues flowing
(just what the company wants), And are real timid, to a fault about
using work stopages.
David Amos
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Oh So True
Evan Day Lol.
Hilarious. So they're basically setting themselves up to compete with
Opportunities NB. The happy benefit for them is lining their own
pockets. I very much doubt they're doing this for the good of New
Brunswick.
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @Evan Day:
The inside info they all have garnered over the years wouldn't be a
reason why they decided to start a firm would it?
Joseph Vacher
Reply to @Evan Day: sean graham .... lol enough said
David Amos
Reply to @Evan Day: Welcome to the Circus
Junkman George
Reply to @Evan Day:
Give that man a prize.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: he comes the klown!
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks everybody knows who the Clowns are I am merely the Court Jester N'esy Pas?
Archie Levesque Best laugh I've had in awhile. Who else are they going to bring on board? Vic Boudreau? Brian Gallant?
David Amos
Reply to @Archie Levesque: Me Too
JJ Carrier No Rayburn?
Robert L. Brown
Reply to @JJ Carrier:
David Amos
Reply to @JJ Carrier: Who cares?
Marguerite
Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: if only he was still here. Van Horne cared!
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite
Deschamps: Methinks you must have heard about my conversation with Van
Horne's granddaughter a few weeks ago because of her support of the
Green Party candidate running against your SANB buddy Dominic Leblanc
N'esy Pas?
David Peters An exposè into how much NB taxpayer's are paying for 'consultants', with lots of details, would be interesting.
David Amos
Reply to @David Peters: YUP
Stephanie Haslam Any
doubt that there is any discernible difference, between these two, old
mainstream parties can be laid to rest. It will be very interesting to
see what comes out of this alliance. Here is a quote for the day-- make
of it what you will: "Cronyism is ugly. It hurts the economy, it’s
unjust, and corrupts the core of democracy. “The damage that cronyism
has inflicted on the economy is considerable,” Samuel Gregg writes in a
new piece for Public Discourse. “[C]ronyism also creates significant
political challenges that, thus far, Western democracies are struggling
to overcome.” https://blog.acton.org/archives/85492-just-how-bad-is-crony-capitalism.html
David Amos
Reply to @Stephanie Haslam: Methinks you should check my work N'esy Pas?
No comments:
Post a Comment