Tuesday, 26 December 2017
Methinks LIEbrano lawyers brag way too much for their own good N'esy Pas Mr Gallant?
---------- Original message ----------
From: Brian Gallant <briangallant10@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2017 03:37:58 -0800
Subject: Merci / Thank you Re: I bet Mean Little Mikey Murphy is
wondering how I read his Tweets N'esy Pas Premier Gallant?
To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
(Français à suivre)
If your email is pertaining to the Government of New Brunswick, please
email me at brian.gallant@gnb.ca
If your matter is urgent, please email Greg Byrne at greg.byrne@gnb.ca
Thank you.
Si votre courriel s'addresse au Gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick,
svp m'envoyez un courriel à brian.gallant@gnb.ca
Pour les urgences, veuillez contacter Greg Byrne à greg.byrne@gnb.ca
Michael B Murphy
QC
The AG report doesn't end it politically but is of great assistance
to the Premier in saying it is. There is no proof he ordered it and clearly was
powerless to stop it. Mr Gallant is making memories. Bye
0 replies 1
retweet 2 likes
One time there were protests on the lawn of the legislature and
people were screaming bad things about me (all untrue). I got back into the
building after talking. Gordy said "Minister we're making memories"
1 reply 1
retweet 3 likes
Like Oswald I believe he acted alone. Thousands wouldn't but I do.
There is no written direction for him to have done this. Once Gilman decided the
Premier was powerless to stop him.
1 reply 1
retweet 1 like
In any event Gilman suddenly himself decided to fast track it after
presentation to the Premier. The premier's office inquired about his decision
the next day. Why would he be allowed such authority? So off he went
1 reply 3
retweets 2 likes
This is why it's so amazing to me that he suddenly deviated from
habit and solely fast tracked such a huge system. Why caution to the wind when
his trade mark was caution?
2 replies 1
retweet 4 likes
Gilman was an extremely capable person and if anything overly
cautious and counselling to a hot tempered Health Minister bent on change
yesterday
1 reply 1
retweet 1 like
But the ultimate fast tracking did cause the end of the career of
former CEO Gordon Gilman who was my assistant deputy minister of Health and
appointed by me as CEO of Facilcorp.
1 reply 0
retweets 0 likes
The fast tracking of such a huge shift in property tax assessments is
not something that goes unnoticed. In Govt. The cabinet don't read about it in
the paper one day and say "hmmm, imagine that"
1 reply 3
retweets 0 likes
It is enough for Mr Gallant to say he is vindicated. It is enough for
Mr Higgs to say why did he allow it if he didn't order it
1 reply 0
retweets 0 likes
The property tax fiasco report by the Auditor General found no
"smoking gun" on the Premier but some insinuations and unanswered
questions
Jordan O’Brien like Gordon Gilman is going to end up with his picture
on a milk carton sooner than later. Attorney General should not be political.
Hearing may very well completely clear Mr Gallant. Or not
2 replies 2
retweets 2 likes
We had Orilmulson hearings after multiple investigations to clear up
discrepancies. The Attorney General of the day said it was "necessary"
0 replies 4
retweets 5 likes
I have heard judges say 1000 times "well we will hear from the
witness anyway". Mr Rousselle is an Attorney General to remember....
3 replies 5
retweets 4 likes
MacPherson left the question in the air.It might not have been B
Gallant but if this were in court no judge would prohibit the next
witness
1 reply 4
retweets 3 likes
Gilman after 35 years of success in the civil service woke up one day
without directions and fast tracked the disaster.
1 reply 3
retweets 4 likes
Attorney General Rousselle says no to witnessses to clarify. The guy
just doesn't understand his role. It's not political but he is
1 reply 4
retweets 2 likes
Now a former assessor comes out saying of the directions against
assessors' advice this would explode. So Gilman ignored this too?
1 reply 2
retweets 1 like
The govt laid the blame for the property tax fiasco at the feet of
former CEO Gordon Gilman. He was my super cautious ADM.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/property-tax-new-brunswick-assessor-quit-craig-macdonald-1.4433326
Former property assessor felt 'ethical' need to quit after tax scandal
Craig MacDonald knew his career was over Feb. 9 after receiving 'infamous' email
By Rachel Cave, CBC News Posted: Dec 05, 2017 3:51 PM AT
Craig MacDonald quit his government job as a residential
assessor over the property tax assessment scandal. (LinkedIn)
A former residential property assessor for the province says he was so troubled by events that led to the property tax scandal and its impact on New Brunswick homeowners, he quit Service New Brunswick on Friday as a matter of personal integrity.
"I have never had to leave for ethical reasons in such a sharp way before," Craig MacDonald told CBC News, days after leaving his full-time permanent government job. "It felt like I needed that."
'Yet we were forced to conform to confounding standards and practices put in place by leaders who've never assessed a home in their lives.' - Craig MacDonald, former property assessor
In a personal essay titled Quitting for Character that MacDonald posted to his LinkedIn account, he said he knew Feb. 9 that his career was over.
"That was the day the infamous email arrived in my inbox informing us that fictitious home improvement values would be added to property assessments," he wrote.
"This would sharply increase the amount owing on tax bills by removing (or limiting) the home owner's right to benefit from an assessment spike protection program.
"What was worse, these values would be added without verification and without informing New Brunswickers."
'It was wrong'
MacDonald said his co-workers could see a disaster coming, well before a record 18,000 New Brunswick homeowners challenged their property tax assessments.
"We were a beleaguered group of corporately ignored, but experienced and well-educated assessment professionals," he wrote.
- 'It doesn't make sense': Large property tax hikes defy law
- Eye in the sky speeds up property reassessments across New Brunswick
"No one was better at consistently and clearly throwing up (very) red flags to every fatal flaw we saw.
"Yet we were forced to conform to confounding standards and practices put in place by leaders who've never assessed a home in their lives."
"It was wrong. It was not good."
Going to implode
MacDonald said he and other low-level assessors as well as mid-level managers knew it was a mistake to fast-track the modernization program that included new calculation models for determining property values.
"You know it's going to implode," MacDonald said. "You know this modernization is going to fall off the track but all the senior management felt very locked in step."
He said part of the problem was that the pendulum had swung too far away from "old school" methods, such as visiting houses in person.
When he started five years ago, he said, assessors like him were assigned to cover territories with about 8,000 homes.
"We all had our own neighbourhoods. We all take care of them. If there's new construction, we go visit.
"Now it's very much desktop."
Assumed it came from the premier
MacDonald said he respects the work of New Brunswick's auditor-general, Kim MacPherson, who spent several months poring over internal communications as she investigated what went wrong with the property assessment system.
MacDonald says he hopes Auditor General Kim MacPherson's recommendations will be followed. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
MacDonald said that may be true, but he also thinks she is accurate in her observation that staff did believe it was coming from the top.
And because they believed that, MacDonald said, there was a widespread feeling that blowing the whistle wouldn't help.
"The top of assessment is telling us that the premier is directing him," MacDonald said. "Well, where do we go, right?"
"The auditor-general said very clearly in her report that all of us were under the assumption that the premier was involved.
Property assessors assumed the order to
fast-track a new assessment system came from Premier Brian Gallant,
MacDonald says. (CBC)
Not enough accountability
MacDonald said he's hopeful that new leadership at the department will help fix the problems within.
Stephen Ward has been promoted to acting
executive director for valuation for Service New Brunswick, a move
MacDonald says is positive for the department. (CBC)
"We're kind of pleased with him. We're excited," MacDonald said, describing Ward has having substantial experience in assessment.
MacDonald said he expected more serious consequences for Charles Boulay and Rene Landry, who he saw as the upper chain of command.
Charles Boulay has been named by Auditor
General Kim MacPherson as the senior person to approve the plan to add
fake renovations to property tax bills. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Rene Landry was director of modernization in
charge of executing fast track but was transferred inside Service New
Brunswick to its project management division. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Landry, who had been director of modernization in charge of executing it quickly, was transferred inside Service New Brunswick to its project management division.
"We all thought they might have more severe consequences other than getting other jobs in the government," MacDonald said.
"But at the end of the day, they're not in assessment services anymore."
Follow the recommendations
MacDonald said he felt compelled to speak his mind because he thinks Service New Brunswick can do better in future.
He said he's not trying to bash any branch of government but wants to make the point that there needs to be changes in the assessment program to better protect the public.
Perhaps the most important lesson I learned from my late father, was
that if I wanted to become the best version of myself, I had to come to
terms with what is right and what is good.
And what's more, I had to be willing to speak out, and even take action, if those core values/ideals were challenged. My identity depended upon it. That day came on February 9, 2017. This was the day the infamous email arrived in my inbox informing us that fictitious home improvement values would be added to property assessments. This would sharply increase the amount owing on tax bills by removing (or limiting) the homeowner's right to benefit from an assessment spike protection program. What was worse, these values would be added without verification and without informing New Brunswickers.
I immediately sent an email raising concerns surrounding equitability and ethics. After all, my employer didn't just hire me to tell them what they wanted to hear - or maybe they did? In a reply, I was promptly told to stop using "inflammatory language" and that, "not all things are so black and white". I'm not sure what response I expected... but, it wasn't that.
The former assessor said he'd like to see a high level person to whom
all assessors can report their concerns, and he'd like more clarity
around who is in charge and where the orders are coming from.And what's more, I had to be willing to speak out, and even take action, if those core values/ideals were challenged. My identity depended upon it. That day came on February 9, 2017. This was the day the infamous email arrived in my inbox informing us that fictitious home improvement values would be added to property assessments. This would sharply increase the amount owing on tax bills by removing (or limiting) the homeowner's right to benefit from an assessment spike protection program. What was worse, these values would be added without verification and without informing New Brunswickers.
I immediately sent an email raising concerns surrounding equitability and ethics. After all, my employer didn't just hire me to tell them what they wanted to hear - or maybe they did? In a reply, I was promptly told to stop using "inflammatory language" and that, "not all things are so black and white". I'm not sure what response I expected... but, it wasn't that.
MacDonald wants people to know that assessors worked hard to mitigate the problems with modernization and if they hadn't, the mistakes would have been much worse.
"I do think there's hope," said MacDonald.
"We need to be really accountable and intentional about following the recommendations that were set out for us [in the Auditor-General's report.]"
Regret for what happened
A few weeks before leaving his position, MacDonald said he visited a home and reduced its assessed value, virtually on the spot.
"The system put him to $120,000 because that's what the model said it was worth," he told CBC News.
"But we went in and as soon as I walked through the front door, you knew it was $90,000."
"The whole house was caving in. You had to use pliers to turn on light switches. It was not a good scene so we dropped it to $90,000.
MacDonald said it was unfortunate that the homeowner spent $322 of his own money on a private home inspection in an effort to persuade SNB that its calculations were wrong.
"That day really affected me deeply because this guy, he doesn't have internet at home. He doesn't have internet on his phone. He's not well off, right?"
"Just the fact that he felt he had to spend that money when all it would take was for me to do assessment old school, not from the air, and just go to his house," MacDonald said.
"As soon as I walked in, I dropped it."
New chapter
MacDonald said it took him nearly a year to leave Service New Brunswick because he had to find new employment.
He is a divorced father of two children.
He said he wants New Brunswickers to know that assessors had their backs but could only do so much.
"All the assessors have families to feed too," he said. "They can't just quit. "I couldn't ethically work there but it took me 10 months to find something that worked for me and my family.
"The dedication and professionalism that I saw, how tight we became in the past two years — we were fighting for New Brunswickers to make sure it wasn't worse."
"If we weren't documenting all this stuff and in meetings explaining what needs to change …"
MacDonald's voice dropped off.
"They sure are listening now."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/service-nb-officials-premier-brian-gallant-genesis-1.4391829
Senior officials put Brian Gallant at 'genesis' of assessment scandal
Premier's office disputes accuracy of documents claiming Gallant initiated decision to rush new technology
By Robert Jones, Posted: Nov 08, 2017 7:00 AM AT
Senior Service New Brunswick assessment officials, from
left, Alan Roy, Charles
Boulay and Stephen Ward, helped construct a timeline of the assessment
controversy in April that traced its 'genesis' to a presentation to
Premier Brian Gallant. (Robert Jones/CBC)
An internal Service New Brunswick document obtained by CBC
News shows senior civil servants who were asked to explain what went
wrong with a new property assessment system this year put Premier Brian
Gallant at the "genesis" of a decision to "fast track" the project.
The document, obtained by a right to information request, was drafted in early April for a Service New Brunswick board of directors meeting and was released to CBC News late last month.
The paper, titled "Fast track project Genesis moments" claims the decision to abandon a multi-year implementation plan for a new property assessment system in favour of quick deployment was initiated on the afternoon of May 6, 2016, the same day Gallant was shown the new technology, known as Pictometry.
"The term fast track was born following a Pictometry presentation to the Premier during the Open House at the new created Digital Lab," reads the briefing paper prepared for the board. "In the afternoon, the CEO of the time requested to accelerate this initiative."
Gallant has denied any role in pushing for the accelerated adoption of the troubled new assessment system and on Tuesday his office questioned the accuracy of the newly released document, saying the premier and Gordon Gilman, the CEO of Service New Brunswick at the time, had no discussions with each other at all that day.
"The Premier did not discuss the presentation with Mr. Gilman," wrote
Gallant's spokesperson Jonathan Tower in an email to CBC News. "It
should also be noted that Mr. Gilman was not present at the
presentation."
Still, the latest document is the third obtained by CBC News that mentions the premier in attempting to explain why "fast track" began.
A Service New Brunswick memo sent to employees in June 2016 said Gallant had directly "requested" Gilman accelerate the project after witnessing its capabilities at that May 2016 demonstration.
In addition there was a separate PowerPoint presentation made for Service New Brunswick employees, also obtained by CBC News, that called fast track a "response" to a "demand" made on the agency after the premier's briefing.
But while it was unclear who wrote those earlier two documents connecting the premier to the fast-track initiative, emails obtained by CBC News show the latest was pieced together and reviewed by some of the most senior assessment officials involved in government.
Those included Service New Brunswick chief executive officer Alan Roy, former executive director of assessment services Charles Boulay, current acting executive director Stephen Ward and former director of assessment modernization Rene Landry.
"Hi Alan," reads one email from Boulay to Roy that is copied to both Landry and Ward about what they had dubbed the "key moments" document. "Here are the draft notes ... for next week's presentation to SNB's Board of Directors."
Tower said it is untrue Gallant ever requested Gilman to accelerate
the implementation of the new assessment system and said the timeline
Service New Brunswick executives put together about the controversy is
error ridden.
Tower cited a claim there was a "Ministerial Statement" about Pictometry the day after the presentation to the premier, which was a Saturday.
"The house wasn't sitting and there was nothing posted to the newswire," wrote Tower.
Service New Brunswick did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday on why the agency says fast track was "born" the same day the new assessment system was shown to the premier or why in a separate document it claims he "requested" it.
Last spring Gallant told reporters Service New Brunswick accelerated the adoption of the new assessment system on its own initiative.
"These ideas that it was blessed by the Premier's Office — pushed by the Premier's Office — completely unfounded," he said in April.
Putting the new assessment system on a fast track was supposed to allow Service New Brunswick to find $350 million in hidden property values this year that the province and municipalities could then tax.
Instead, it ran into significant problems in the spring when it
generated thousands of inflated assessments and tax bills on properties.
Service New Brunswick managers were caught making up renovation amounts
on some homes to justify some of the larger increases.
More than 8,000 landowners have so far won assessment reductions worth more than $300 million in the wake of the controversy, so far forcing the province to rebate $6 million in tax revenues it collected on behalf of itself and municipalities.
Thousands of other disputed assessments are still being evaluated, and Auditor General Kim MacPherson is investigating the origins of the scandal. She has promised a report later this month.
The document, obtained by a right to information request, was drafted in early April for a Service New Brunswick board of directors meeting and was released to CBC News late last month.
The paper, titled "Fast track project Genesis moments" claims the decision to abandon a multi-year implementation plan for a new property assessment system in favour of quick deployment was initiated on the afternoon of May 6, 2016, the same day Gallant was shown the new technology, known as Pictometry.
"The term fast track was born following a Pictometry presentation to the Premier during the Open House at the new created Digital Lab," reads the briefing paper prepared for the board. "In the afternoon, the CEO of the time requested to accelerate this initiative."
Premier denies involvement
Gallant has denied any role in pushing for the accelerated adoption of the troubled new assessment system and on Tuesday his office questioned the accuracy of the newly released document, saying the premier and Gordon Gilman, the CEO of Service New Brunswick at the time, had no discussions with each other at all that day.
The paper claims the quick deployment of the
new property assessment was initiated the afternoon of May 6, 2016, the
same day Brian Gallant was shown the new technology called Pictometry.
(CBC)
Still, the latest document is the third obtained by CBC News that mentions the premier in attempting to explain why "fast track" began.
A Service New Brunswick memo sent to employees in June 2016 said Gallant had directly "requested" Gilman accelerate the project after witnessing its capabilities at that May 2016 demonstration.
In addition there was a separate PowerPoint presentation made for Service New Brunswick employees, also obtained by CBC News, that called fast track a "response" to a "demand" made on the agency after the premier's briefing.
Senior officials involved
But while it was unclear who wrote those earlier two documents connecting the premier to the fast-track initiative, emails obtained by CBC News show the latest was pieced together and reviewed by some of the most senior assessment officials involved in government.
Those included Service New Brunswick chief executive officer Alan Roy, former executive director of assessment services Charles Boulay, current acting executive director Stephen Ward and former director of assessment modernization Rene Landry.
"Hi Alan," reads one email from Boulay to Roy that is copied to both Landry and Ward about what they had dubbed the "key moments" document. "Here are the draft notes ... for next week's presentation to SNB's Board of Directors."
This one-page document details how the property assessment modernization was going to be rolled out. (CBC)
Tower cited a claim there was a "Ministerial Statement" about Pictometry the day after the presentation to the premier, which was a Saturday.
"The house wasn't sitting and there was nothing posted to the newswire," wrote Tower.
Service New Brunswick did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday on why the agency says fast track was "born" the same day the new assessment system was shown to the premier or why in a separate document it claims he "requested" it.
Last spring Gallant told reporters Service New Brunswick accelerated the adoption of the new assessment system on its own initiative.
"These ideas that it was blessed by the Premier's Office — pushed by the Premier's Office — completely unfounded," he said in April.
Fast track caused problems
Putting the new assessment system on a fast track was supposed to allow Service New Brunswick to find $350 million in hidden property values this year that the province and municipalities could then tax.
A slide shows a request to fast track the new property assessment system. (CBC)
More than 8,000 landowners have so far won assessment reductions worth more than $300 million in the wake of the controversy, so far forcing the province to rebate $6 million in tax revenues it collected on behalf of itself and municipalities.
Thousands of other disputed assessments are still being evaluated, and Auditor General Kim MacPherson is investigating the origins of the scandal. She has promised a report later this month.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/property-tax-assessments-fast-track-meeting-1.4063381
'Fast track wouldn't exist without the premier': Assessment controversy continues
Service New Brunswick employees say they were told to 'fast track' property assessment system in PowerPoint
By Robert Jones, CBC News Posted: Apr 10, 2017 7:59 AM AT
Premier Brian Gallant said last week a new agency will be
set up apart from the provincial government to handle property tax
assessments in the future. (CBC)
Justice Joseph Robertson has a number of issues to sort
through as part of his review of the property assessment controversy but
one of the most critical will be to establish why a new system was put
on a "fast track" before it was thoroughly tested.
Last Thursday, Premier Brian Gallant said Robertson would be given authority to get to the bottom of all issues related to the assessment controversy.
"New Brunswickers want to know how this happened," Gallant told reporters.
"This report … will confirm who knew what, when — and what did people do?"
That's welcoming news to Service New Brunswick employees left confused by last week's claims that Galllant's office had little to do with the fast track decision — the opposite of what they have understood to be true for nearly a year.
"It was told to all of us," said one Service New Brunswick employee who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"It was because the politicians got involved. Fast track wouldn't exist without the premier."
Gallant's office denies this but SNB employees say it's not idle office gossip on their part.
It was what they were told by SNB assessment managers beginning last summer.
"That's what [they] told people and it spread," said a second employee.
"It wasn't a secret or anything."
To illustrate that point CBC News was sent a slide from what one employee said was an internal SNB PowerPoint presentation put together early last summer to explain the switch to fast track.
The slide appears to show SNB was telling employees it received a "demand" to accelerate implementation of a new property assessment system following a "BCD" presentation to Gallant. (BCD is an acronym for "Building Characteristic Diagram," an integral part of the new pictometry assessment system.)
The slide indicates the presentation to the premier generated an
exchange, where the premier asked for the program to be in place in half
the time of the estimated three-year plan.
Employees say they had no reason to question they were abandoning long-held plans to move slowly because of political pressure.
But the premier's office tells an entirely different story.
Last week Jordan O'Brien, chief of staff for the premier's office, said it expressed no opinion on fast tracking a new assessment system.
"Not that I can find any record of," said O'Brien, who maintains the idea of a new system was unknown to his office until last spring.
"To the best of my recollection the premier was at an event in early May last year — was presented this project and they said that they had an option to accelerate it and the premier had me ask some questions on his behalf about whether that was responsible."
Although the premier's office says SNB was the one pushing the idea of accelerating the new assessment system, it had developed no business case to justify a quick switch.
"I wrote an email to the then — CEO of Service New Brunswick saying we would be open to their plan if they had a good business case for it," O'Brien told CBC News last week.
But nothing like that had been prepared by SNB and it was 20 days before one was put together for the premier's office to review and approve.
For those skeptical that speeding up the new assessment system was really SNB's idea, O'Brien said Gallant's appointment of Robertson should be a sign that government has nothing to hide.
"The premier's office involvement was almost entirely by coincidence," insists O'Brien.
"If the premier had not seen a presentation at a public event about the project we would never even have known about it."
Still, the Gallant government wasn't as much in the dark about the new assessment system, as they might claim.
In May 2015 Service New Brunswick Minister Ed Doherty publicly announced the system was in the development stages in an official government press release.
Then in November 2015, Doherty's department elaborated further, giving no hint of wanting to speed anything up.
In its annual report it said the new assessment system was on track and in the second year of what it called a "five-year modernization strategy".
All sides do agree on one issue — the five-year strategy to implement a new assessment system was abandoned for "fast track" following that demonstration for the premier last May.
But there remain significant disagreements about why that happened — a mystery Gallant said will be solved soon enough.
"New Brunswickers will not have to take anybody at their word for very long," he told reporters.
"Justice Robertson is certainly going to do all the due diligence necessary to make sure we shed light on this situation."
Last Thursday, Premier Brian Gallant said Robertson would be given authority to get to the bottom of all issues related to the assessment controversy.
"New Brunswickers want to know how this happened," Gallant told reporters.
"This report … will confirm who knew what, when — and what did people do?"
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That's welcoming news to Service New Brunswick employees left confused by last week's claims that Galllant's office had little to do with the fast track decision — the opposite of what they have understood to be true for nearly a year.
"It was told to all of us," said one Service New Brunswick employee who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"It was because the politicians got involved. Fast track wouldn't exist without the premier."
Gallant's office denies this but SNB employees say it's not idle office gossip on their part.
It was what they were told by SNB assessment managers beginning last summer.
"That's what [they] told people and it spread," said a second employee.
"It wasn't a secret or anything."
A switch to 'fast track'
To illustrate that point CBC News was sent a slide from what one employee said was an internal SNB PowerPoint presentation put together early last summer to explain the switch to fast track.
The slide appears to show SNB was telling employees it received a "demand" to accelerate implementation of a new property assessment system following a "BCD" presentation to Gallant. (BCD is an acronym for "Building Characteristic Diagram," an integral part of the new pictometry assessment system.)
The slide appears to show Service New
Brunswick was telling employees it had received a "demand" to accelerate
implementation of a new property assessment system. (Service New
Brunswick)
Employees say they had no reason to question they were abandoning long-held plans to move slowly because of political pressure.
But the premier's office tells an entirely different story.
Last week Jordan O'Brien, chief of staff for the premier's office, said it expressed no opinion on fast tracking a new assessment system.
'The premier's office involvement was almost entirely by coincidence.' -Jordan O'Brien
"Not that I can find any record of," said O'Brien, who maintains the idea of a new system was unknown to his office until last spring.
"To the best of my recollection the premier was at an event in early May last year — was presented this project and they said that they had an option to accelerate it and the premier had me ask some questions on his behalf about whether that was responsible."
Although the premier's office says SNB was the one pushing the idea of accelerating the new assessment system, it had developed no business case to justify a quick switch.
"I wrote an email to the then — CEO of Service New Brunswick saying we would be open to their plan if they had a good business case for it," O'Brien told CBC News last week.
But nothing like that had been prepared by SNB and it was 20 days before one was put together for the premier's office to review and approve.
For those skeptical that speeding up the new assessment system was really SNB's idea, O'Brien said Gallant's appointment of Robertson should be a sign that government has nothing to hide.
"The premier's office involvement was almost entirely by coincidence," insists O'Brien.
"If the premier had not seen a presentation at a public event about the project we would never even have known about it."
- 'We are going to fix it': Gallant vows changes to property assessment system
- 'I sincerely apologize to all New Brunswickers': Assessment mess prompts overhaul
Government announces new system
Service New Brunswick Minister Ed Doherty has apologized for the property assessment controversy. (CBC)
In May 2015 Service New Brunswick Minister Ed Doherty publicly announced the system was in the development stages in an official government press release.
Then in November 2015, Doherty's department elaborated further, giving no hint of wanting to speed anything up.
'New Brunswickers will not have to take anybody at their word for very long.' -Brian Gallant
In its annual report it said the new assessment system was on track and in the second year of what it called a "five-year modernization strategy".
All sides do agree on one issue — the five-year strategy to implement a new assessment system was abandoned for "fast track" following that demonstration for the premier last May.
But there remain significant disagreements about why that happened — a mystery Gallant said will be solved soon enough.
"New Brunswickers will not have to take anybody at their word for very long," he told reporters.
"Justice Robertson is certainly going to do all the due diligence necessary to make sure we shed light on this situation."
110 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
@Keith Jagger
"This report … will confirm who knew what, when — and what did people do?"
----------------------
Want to bet it doesn't? By design!
"I will appoint someone to find me guilty of this heinous crime perpetrated on the good people of this province" Not.
These are the same people handing out tax concessions to corporate interests who need it far less then individuals.
"This report … will confirm who knew what, when — and what did people do?"
----------------------
Want to bet it doesn't? By design!
"I will appoint someone to find me guilty of this heinous crime perpetrated on the good people of this province" Not.
These are the same people handing out tax concessions to corporate interests who need it far less then individuals.
@William Roberts Trust that Justice Joseph Robertson and I have a number of issues to sort through as well.
Greg Miller
No end to the well earned
disgust for this government and it "picture boy" premier. If the voting
public hasn't had their fill by now--it's time to relocate to another
province!
@Greg Miller I very disgusted that CBC (blocked) my comment first thing this morning Go figure
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/whistleblower-protect-property-tax-assessment-ombud-1.4061368
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/whistleblower-protect-property-tax-assessment-ombud-1.4061368
Property tax scandal underscores importance of whistleblower law, ombud says
5-year-old Public Interest Disclosure Act takes on new importance, says Charles Murray
By Jacques Poitras, CBC News Posted: Apr 10, 2017 6:00 AM AT
Ombud Charles Murray says the Public Interest Disclosure
Act prevents a whistleblowing civil servant from being punished with a
firing, demotion or lack of promotion. (CBC)
New Brunswick's ombud says he's surprised that some of the province's political leaders have apparently forgotten there's a whistleblower law to protect civil servants who report bad behaviour.
Charles Murray says the five-year-old legislation is rarely used, but it's taking on new importance in the property-assessment scandal, given that Premier Brian Gallant says he learned key details after they were leaked to the media.
"I think it's relevant every day in terms of all kinds of discussions," Murray said.
"But it's become specifically relevant in this case because the indication from the premier is that even top members of government were unaware of certain facts until someone had stepped forward."
- Province needs to take political ownership of property tax controversy
- Tories call for premier to resign over property tax scandal
On March 31, Gallant acknowledged that Service New Brunswick's invention of fictitious renovations came to light thanks to an unknown tipster he referred to as a "whistleblower."
"Thank goodness that we had somebody that stepped up and sent that information," Gallant said.
The law, the Public Interest Disclosure Act, establishes legal protections for civil servants who come forward with information about "gross mismanagement," actions that violate provincial law, or actions that are dangerous to the public.
'A whistleblower in this province has to be fairly courageous and has to take things on faith.' - Charles Murray, ombud
It lets a civil servant discuss the situation confidentially with a designated person in their department or with the ombud, who can then investigate, launch an inquiry or go to the police if there's a potential criminal act.
And it prevents the civil servant from being punished with a firing, demotion or lack of promotion.
"It basically seeks to value and encourage people to do the right thing and protect them from repercussions on the job if they do," Murray said.
- 'It may go into fraud': Higgs says inquiry may not be enough after property tax mess
- Premier's office gave go-ahead to fast track new assessment system
On last week's CBC political panel, People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin repeatedly pressed Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs on what Austin believed was the lack of such a law.
"There should be whistleblower legislation," Austin said.
"I'm not questioning that at all," Higgs said. "I don't disagree."
In fact, the law was adopted by the PC government that Higgs was part of, something Higgs never pointed out during the panel.
Higgs did at one point say, "I have some of the clauses that are currently there," but didn't comment further on the law and never corrected Austin.
Only 'a handful' each year
The act doesn't encourage civil servants to leak information to the media. The fact that's what happened in the Service New Brunswick case suggests civil servants still aren't confident the law will protect them, Murray said.
He wouldn't say whether his office has been contacted by any Service New Brunswick employees about the assessment controversy because he never confirms or denies he's investigating a particular issue.
"But in general we don't receive a lot of whistleblowers each year," he said. "It's a handful."
Murray said he has no budget to promote the law and civil servants may think it's "a paper tiger" because it hasn't been used much and hasn't demonstrated its value.
Favours stronger law
He also said in a small province like New Brunswick, and a small city like Fredericton, where most civil servants are based, people may fear being identified.
"The culture in New Brunswick benefits from the close ties we have with each other, but in whistleblower legislation, that acts as a deterrent for whistleblowers to step forward," he said.
Murray wants the law toughened with a "blind contact" provision to allow someone to contact his office through an intermediary so that even he doesn't know who it is.
"A whistleblower in this province has to be fairly courageous and has to take things on faith."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/central-figure-property-assessment-scandal-appealed-own-assessment-1.4439854
Premier Brian Gallant did not appeal his property
assessment but his chief of staff, Jordan O'Brien, did. (Brian
Gallant/FacebookPremier Brian Gallant's chief of staff, Jordan O'Brien, may have been in on the origin of New Brunswick's "fast track" assessment debacle, but property records show he avoided being burned by it himself after successfully fighting a $14.42 property tax increase on his own house.
"My wife and I observed that several homes similar to ours on our street had sold and/or were listed for sale at prices lower than our assessment," O'Brien wrote in an email to CBC News to explain how he came to dispute his own tax treatment last spring.
"We accordingly completed the request for review form citing this information and submitted it."
O'Brien's challenge was eventually successful. In September, Service New Brunswick lowered the assessed value of his Fredericton home by $23,500 and cut his tax bill by $338.52, even though taxes on it had only gone up $14.42.
Several thousand New Brunswick homeowners in 12 communities were clobbered with inflated property assessments and tax bills this spring after Service New Brunswick rushed the implementation of a new digital "mass appraisal" system into place two years ahead of schedule.
The roll-out was poorly executed and a record 18,000 property owners challenged their tax bills. By the end of July, Service New Brunswick had found 4,361 inflated assessments and tax bills with 9,411 objections still to be processed.
Taxes on properties that needed to be fixed were found to be an average of $680 too high.
Mysterious figure
O'Brien is a major but still mysterious figure in the origin of that assessment and tax controversy.
Last month he was named by Auditor General Kim MacPherson as one of two men involved in discussions that led to the new system being rushed into service, although he denies being the cause.
MacPherson was unable to determine whether O'Brien or Gordon Gilman, the former CEO of Service New Brunswick, was behind the ill fated idea but did conclude it had to have started with one of them since it began immediately after the two spoke on the phone.
"It was the conversation between the chief of staff and the former CEO that led to fast track," MacPherson told a pair of Legislature committees about her findings in late November.
Emails on the public record show O'Brien knew one of the expected outcomes of rushing a new assessment system into place would be increased tax revenue from homeowners and others as it unearthed hidden property values and raised assessments accordingly.
"Let's do it," he wrote to Gilman in May 2016 after being shown projections of how taxes would climb on properties being evaluated in a new way.
Objected quickly
Still, when the new assessment system pegged his own house for a $14.42 tax hike O'Brien was quick to object.
Property values have generally been in decline in O'Brien's neighbourhood and he said a house close to his was for sale at below its assessed value when his tax bill arrived. That convinced him his assessment should be falling, not inching up.
"The house two doors down from ours has an attached garage and a paved driveway (our house has neither) and was listed for well below its assessed value," he wrote.
The house O'Brien referred to did eventually sell for $30,800 below its assessed value but few residents in the area seemed to know to take advantage of that development to protest their own bills.
O'Brien had the assessed value of his
Fredericton home lowered by $23,500 and his tax bill cut by $338.52,
even though taxes on it had only increased $14.42. (CBC)
Those included owners of one house the new assessment system hit with a $575 tax increase and another that suffered a tax hike of $232.
Seven other homes on O'Briens street hit with assessment and tax increases received no relief.
O'Brien's decision to challenge his bill effectively followed the advice of Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs, who last March urged all property owners to challenge even small increases in their tax bills.
Higgs ignores own advice
Liberal cabinet ministers ridiculed that idea as "irresponsible" and "fear mongering," and although all the publicity did contribute to a spike in objections, ultimately almost 90 per cent of New Brunswick landowners who had a property tax increase ignored Higgs's call — including Higgs.
The new assessment system upped the value of Higgs's Quispamsis home and caused his tax bill to jump $212, but he decided against challenging the amount.
Information Morning - Saint John
The ongoing property tax scandal
00:00
09:39
"Had there been a significant change he would have, but there was not and so he did not," said Bob Fowlie, spokesperson for the office of the official opposition.
Also filing no tax challenge was Premier Gallant, although his Dieppe house sits on one of the most poorly assessed streets in the province.
Gallant's property tax bill jumped $362, one of the largest among MLAs. Thirteen of his neighbours successfully challenged their own tax hikes, including seven with smaller increases than Gallant but he, like Higgs, took no action.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/spin-reduxit-year-in-review-1.4465199
Spin Reduxit: The year in review and looking ahead to 2018
Hosts Daniel McHardie and Jacques Poitras take on the year's big political stories
CBC News
Posted: Dec 28, 2017 2:45 PM AT
Spin Reduxit is CBC New Brunswick's political podcast and analyzes the latest issues coming out of the legislature. The Year in Review and Looking Ahead to 2018 Edition was published this week.
______________________________________________________________________________________
The latest Spin Reduxit podcast looks back at the biggest stories of the year and ahead at the election year to come.
One of the biggest stories of 2017 was Parlee Beach.
- The secret history of Parlee Beach water testing
- Visitor numbers down at Parlee Beach
- 'What's causing the pollution?': Residents skeptical of new water tests
Water quality at the beach came under scrutiny after a CBC News investigation determined the water was unsafe for swimming on many days in 2016.
The New Brunswick government worried about
protecting the reputation of Parlee Beach and the Shediac economy when
it developed a unique water-testing system for the beach in 2000. (Paul
Hantiuk/CBC)
Figures released by the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture showed fewer people stayed at the campground and visited the beach. Sales of vehicle entrance permits dropped to 17,110 from 23,569.
Next story on the list is New Brunswick's property assessment scandal.
Service New Brunswick's new digital property assessment system, launched last fall, produced inflated property tax bills for thousands of landowners across the province.
Rather than catching and fixing those mistakes, the department made up renovation amounts on some homes to justify the inflated values the new system wasn't properly detecting.
New Brunswick Auditor General Kim MacPherson
found Service New Brunswick mostly to blame for a property tax foul-up
this year but she couldn't determine if Premier Brian Gallant played a
significant part in the scandal. (Maria Burgos/CBC)
- Auditor general presents report on property assessment mess Thursday
- Some victims of property-tax manipulation wary, despite slashed bills
- Gallant's chief of staff, a key player in the assessment scandal, appealed his own tax hike
MacPherson said she "could not determine" if Premier Brian Gallant himself ordered the fast-tracking, though she found a May 2016 presentation of the new system and a followup call by Gallant's chief of staff Jordan O'Brien "contributed to SNB's perceived sense of urgency."
Listen to the full discussion and subscribe to Spin Reduxit from the CBC Podcasts page or subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.
Follow Daniel McHardie and Jacques Poitras on Twitter.
---------- Original message ----------
From: Newsroom <newsroom@globeandmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2017 12:22:41 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks the big political story this year should be CBC FAILING
ITS MANDATE AGAIN BUT BIGTIME THIS TIME N'esy Pas Premier Gallant?
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---------- Original message ----------
From: Serge.Cormier@parl.gc.ca
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2017 12:22:20 +0000
Subject: Réponse automatique : Methinks the big political story this year should be CBC FAILING
ITS MANDATE AGAIN BUT BIGTIME THIS TIME N'esy Pas Premier Gallant?
To: motomaniac333@gmail.comVeuillez noter que le bureau est présentement fermé pour le temps des
fêtes. Nous serons de retour le 8 janvier, 2018. Merci.
******************************
Please note that our office is currently closed for the holidays. We
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---------- Original message ----------
From: Wayne.Long@parl.gc.ca
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2017 12:22:20 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks the big political story this year should be CBC FAILING
ITS MANDATE AGAIN BUT BIGTIME THIS TIME N'esy Pas Premier Gallant?
To: motomaniac333@gmail.comHi there,
Thank you for your email. We will be out of the office from Monday
December 18th/2017 to Monday January 8th/2018 and will have limited
access to email. If this is urgent, please contact the Constituency
Office at wayne.long.c1a@parl.gc.ca or 506-657-2500. We will do our
best to respond promptly to your email upon our return.
Wishing you a happy holiday season,
Office of MP Wayne Long
Saint John-Rothesay
---------- Original message ----------
From: Pat.Finnigan@parl.gc.ca
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2017 12:22:21 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks the big political story this year should be CBC FAILING
ITS MANDATE AGAIN BUT BIGTIME THIS TIME N'esy Pas Premier Gallant?
To: motomaniac333@gmail.comThank you for your message. Please note our offices will be closed
until January 8.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Merci pour votre message. S.V.P noter que nos bureaux seront ferm?s
jusqu'au 8 janvier.
Je vous souhaite un joyeux No?l et une bonne ann?e!
Ashley Lloyd
Parliamentary Assistant ?Adjointe Parlementaire
Office of Pat Finnigan?bureau de Pat Finnigan
Member of Parliament for?d?put? de Miramichi-Grand Lake
Room 870, Valour Bldg. ?salle 870, ?difice de Valour
House of Commons ?Chambre des communes
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
T: (613) 992-5335 ?F: (613) 996-8418
---------- Original message ----------
From: Karen.Ludwig@parl.gc.ca
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2017 12:22:20 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks the big political story this year should be CBC FAILING
ITS MANDATE AGAIN BUT BIGTIME THIS TIME N'esy Pas Premier Gallant?
To: motomaniac333@gmail.comThank you for writing the office of Karen Ludwig, Member of Parliament
for New Brunswick Southwest. Please know that we have received your
email, and someone from our office will be in touch with you shortly.
Please note that our office is closed for the holidays from December
22nd at 12 pm-January 2nd at 9 am.
Happy Holidays!
Office of Karen Ludwig, M.P.
New Brunswick Southwest
49 King Street
St. Stephen, NB
E3L 2C1
Tel: 1.888.350.4734
karen.ludwig@parl.gc.ca
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2017 08:22:15 -0400
Subject: Methinks the big political story this year should be CBC FAILING ITS MANDATE
AGAIN BUT BIGTIME THIS TIME N'esy Pas Premier Gallant?To: "Jacques.Poitras" <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, "terry.seguin"
<terry.seguin@cbc.ca>, "daniel.mchardie"<daniel.
"serge.rousselle" <serge.rousselle@gnb.ca>, Serge.Cormier@parl.gc.ca,
nmoore <nmoore@bellmedia.ca>, "jeremy.keefe" <jeremy.keefe@globalnews.ca>,
newsroom <newsroom@globeandmail.ca>,"Alaina.Lockhart" <Alaina.Lockhart@parl.gc.ca>, "TJ.Harvey" <TJ.Harvey@parl.gc.ca>, tj <tj@burkelaw.ca>, kelly <kelly@lamrockslaw.com>, "Wayne.Long" <Wayne.Long@parl.gc.ca>, "Karen.Ludwig" <Karen.Ludwig@parl.gc.ca>,
"Pat.Finnigan" <Pat.Finnigan@parl.gc.ca>, "Rene.Arseneault" <Rene.Arseneault@parl.gc.ca>, "Matt.DeCourcey" <Matt.DeCourcey@parl.gc.ca>, COCMoncton <COCMoncton@gmail.com>, leader <leader@greenparty.ca>, "elizabeth.may" <elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca>,
"Alex.Johnston" <Alex.Johnston@cbc.ca>, "sylvie.gadoury" <sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.
"hon.melanie.joly" <hon.melanie.joly@canada.ca>, "Robert. Jones" <Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>, "Paul.Harpelle" <Paul.Harpelle@gnb.ca>
Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>
http://davidraymondamos3.
Tuesday, 26 December 2017
Methinks LIEbrano lawyers brag way too much for their own good N'esy
Pas Mr Gallant?
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