Methinks the LIEbranos and their SANB cohorts can't play dumb about Dominic Cardy Mr Higgs and Butter Tarts N'esy Pas?

https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies




David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos

Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 49 others

Methinks the LIEbranos and their SANB cohorts can't play dumb about Dominic Cardy Mr Higgs and Butter Tarts now N'esy Pas?

https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2018/12/methinks-liebranos-and-their-sanb.html

http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2018/01/yo-dominic-cardy-how-can-you.html

#nbpoli #cdnpoli

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-harbour-election-nb-social-media-pressure-1.4954467

Tories accuse Elections NB of secrecy in Saint John Harbour court challenge

41 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.

David R. Amos

Surprise Surprise Surprise

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-harbour-election-court-ogden-vanbuskirk-1.4954928

"'Leaked' document in Saint John Harbour court challenge won't be public 'for now,' judge rules

PC candidate's lawyer who allegedly obtained notes of Elections NB lawyer won't be removed from case"

David R. Amos

Methinks Mr Cardy must have heard professional politicians say that they cannot comment on a matter before the court N'esy Pas?

Aaron Allison

Cardy should be a Back Bencher, I'm very surprised he passed the Vetting process. PC were hard up I guess

David R. Amos

@Aaron Allison Apparently so

Roy Kirk

Mr. Ogden, fair comment. An aggrieved party.
Mr. Cardy should be dumped from cabinet for commenting.

And Elections NB should act as proactively as it can, within the law, to be seen to be open and transparent as to any mistakes it may have made.

David R. Amos

@Roy Kirk "Mr. Cardy should be dumped from cabinet for commenting. "

I agree

David R. Amos

Methinks many folks don't trust the system thats why they don't bother to vote N'esy Pas?

 
Matt Steele

Elections N.B. seem to be more interested in circling the wagons , and covering for themselves , than they are at finding the truth . Elections N.B. needs to be held accountable for this farce !

David R. Amos

@Matt Steele True

 
Marguerite Deschamps

"New Brunswick's chief electoral officer, Kim Poffenroth..." - Altogether now: "Another of those Francophone U de M holding a cushy government job!" - Jerks!

Tim Raworth

@Marguerite Deschamps Its funny how CBC lets you get away with calling people Jerks

David R. Amos

@Tim Raworth I concur

SarahRose Werner

The Tories have control of the government. Instead of the education minister resorting to social media, wouldn't it be more sensible for a more appropriate minister to deal with this through more appropriate channels? Cardy's acting as if the Tories lost the election and have no other recourse.

Roy Kirk

@SarahRose Werner I'm not sure that it is a good idea to have any government minister using official channels to interfere with elections NB

David R. Amos

@Roy Kirk Methinks Mr Cardy does not know when it is wise to say nothing N'esy Pas?

 
Eric Plexe

Politicians who attempt to interfere in the electoral process fail a basic intelligence test.

David R. Amos

@Eric Plexe Methinks Mr Cardy would pretend that he does not understand you if he even admitted reading what you posted N'esy Pas?

Robert Brannen

It is rather rich of Cardy and Ogden to be making accusations of secrecy against Elections NB seeing that the lawyer for PC candidate Ogden appears to have an issue with disclosure.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-harbour-kelly-vanbuskirk-ogden-lowe-elections-nb-1.4952095

David R. Amos

@Robert Brannen Methinks many folks now know what J.P. Lewis and Dominic Cardy knew in 2015 and that is every Attorney General in Canada knew I had yet to encounter an ethical politician, judge, lawyer or cop and nothing has changed since N'esy Pas?

Robert Brannen

If Mr. Cardy has any influence with the Department of Education, perhaps he could have someone associated with that department give Mr. Higgs some lessons on the history and workings of the Westminster Parliamentary System.

David R. Amos

@Robert Brannen Methinks everybody knows that Mr Higgs and Mr Cardy have no interest in such things particularly when they are running low on butter tarts N'esy Pas?

 

 

Doug Leblanc

Sounds like either election fraud and criminal activity or incompetence and lack of transparency or much about nothing. Without the truth, we do not know. Why should the Chief Returning Officer have secret information that she is not sharing with the other party and the public. Without fair elections we have no democracy.

David R. Amos

@Doug Leblanc Methinks Mr Cardy et al know that I made it my business to prove that Democracy and Justice are myths and nobody cared N'esy Pas?

 

herbie derbie

Dominic Cardy will ruin the Tories the same way he ruined the Ndp. The man only wanted a job and the people of Fredericton fell for his lies...

Pierre LaRoches

@herbie derbie NDP had the biggest voter turnout in their favour ever with Cardy as leader. Now they are back to being nobodies again.

David R. Amos

@herbie derbie Methinks many would agree that they voted for the colour of his coat not Mr Cardy N'esy Pas?

  

Adam Moore

The Chief Returning Officer for the Province needs to step-up and do the right thing. After reading the report there are dozens of irregularities that took place in the riding of Saint John Harbour during this past election (9 people voted in Harbour who lived outside the riding, double votes, etc.). Kim Poffenroth needs to instruct the Elections NB lawyer to drop his privilege claim against the Tory lawyer and allow the report to be made public. If not, she needs to resign. After all she is there to serve the public and the citizens of Saint John Harbour are not being served fairly or transparently. If anyone has violated the Elections Act it is the ENB lawyer, Fred McElman as he instructed an audit of the election documents without a court order. Judge McLellan, please remove Fred McElman as breaking privilege as he has had the report as of the middle of November. He has violated the Elections Act, not Kelly VanBuskirk.

David R. Amos

@Adam Moore Welcome to the Circus

  

David R. Amos

Methinks folks should ask Minister Dominic Cardy why I am laughing N'esy Pas?

Marguerite Deschamps

@David R. Amos, I'm laughing at Cardy with you, but probably for different reasons.

David R. Amos

@Marguerite Deschamps Methinks even you can't play dumb about Dominic Cardy Mr Higgs and Butter Tarts N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@David R. Amos A little Deja Vu for you to review

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/progressive-conversative-headquarters-sale-fundraising-1.4484153

Cash-strapped PCs selling party headquarters in Fredericton

22 Comments

 
David Amos

Strange just today Dominic Cardy was bragging to me they have lots of money to spend on Butter Tarts

Methinks the PCs are gonna lose the electin bitime with him as Mr Higgs' Chief of Staff N'esy Pas?

  






Michael Hunt

I'm really heart broken over the PC's (crooks) situation .

David Amos

@Michael Hunt Me too I feel for them but I just can't bring myself to reach. I am too busy rolling on the floor laughing thinking about Dominic evil cat named Puffin stealing young Hammish's birthday butter tarts.

 Roy Nicholl

We looked at this building when it was an office before the PCs bought it.
It was overpriced then and is even more so now.

David Amos 

@Roy Nicholl Why does that not surprise me? Everybody knows that the Liberals, the NDP and the PCs ain't all that worldly wise when it comes to managing money yet they want to watch out for the assets that belong to everybody else.

Everybody must remember when Mr Higgs turned over control of all the bureaucratic pensions etc to private banksters? How many lawsuits has that nonsense it generated thus far?

Everybody knows the liberals promised to fix it elected last time. They just stalled the pensioners for awhile then told them to keep on suing.

Everybody knows in the end the taxpayers will be struck with bill for all the greedy lawyers' legal fees N'esy Pas?







Dianne MacPherson

The PCs can always do a GOFUNDME page !!!!

David Amos

@Dianne MacPherson LOL

 
Harold Fitzgerald

The People have a choice this election

David Amos

@Harold Fitzgerald The folks have choices in every election. However the longstanding family traditions of the people who do bother to vote dictate that they be largely ignored.

Methinks that after the swing voters have listened to the spin of the corporate media and the pollsters they pick either the Red Coats or the Blue Coats to rule over the rest of us N'esy Pas?

 
Shawn McShane

Liberals and Conservatives are just a bunch of tired and grumpy old men with no new ideas except to criticize when ever the other party tries to do something good for N.B. Here is a new idea - QUIT VOTING FOR THEM.

David Amos

@Shawn McShane Everybody knows the score why holler? I never did vote nor did about 40% of the rest of us. However if you think the NDP or the Greens or the PANB are any better you are dreaming. They all play follow the leader.

 
John Jude

Ugly, tainted building. I hope any buyer takes them to town and gets it for a steal.

Shawn McShane

@John Jude

At the very least remove the window shutters.and touch up the white paint.

David Amos

@John Jude I think it is a pretty decent property but overpriced considering the economy.

Methinks the local neo conservatives (They are PCs in name only) are accidental wiseguys to unload it before their hero Mr Trump causes the next nosedive of the stock market. Then they can but a far better shack for peanuts N'esy Pas?

 
Alfred Watson

Liberals are just a bunch of tired and grumpy old men with no new ideas except to criticize when ever the other party tries to do something good for N.B. Here is a new idea - just like the Santa at Macy's , restore some good will and credibility and if by chance you have even one stunning idea that can move the province forward , SHARE IT, otherwise your headed for extinction , which isn't really good for anyone.

David Amos

@Alfred Watson Gallant like Trudeau "The Younger" ain't tired or old but their puppet masters certainly are. Methinks they will both win the next elections. However I truly hope they get minority mandates with lots of different parties and many Independents to argue with in the Houses where the rights and interests of the common folks are never protected or served N'esy Pas?.

 
pete prosser

Conservatives are just a bunch of tired and grumpy old men with no new ideas except to criticize when ever the other party tries to do something good for N.B. Here is a new idea - just like the Santa at Macy's , restore some good will and credibility and if by chance you have even one stunning idea that can move the province forward , SHARE IT, otherwise your headed for extinction , which isn't really good for anyone.

David Amos

@pete prosser I have something to share Methinks the folks in the "Place to Be" should ask me during the ext election who is Jesse and what does his company Viafura do for the politicians N'esy Pas Premier Gallant and Mr Higgs?

 
Paul Bourgoin

Political parties such as the Conservatives and the Liberals represent the people of New Brunswick but Corporate Funding is the meat on their electorate table. Everyone knows that New Brunswick Provincial Politicians never bite the hand that feeds them but they kiss the Ring that leads them. This is how New Brunswick's economy benefits those who don't pay taxes, are the first in line for subsidies, and the list goes on while Joe Public living in the poorest Province struggles to make ends meet while their children leaves New Brunswick seeking greener pastures in the other Canadian provinces!

David Amos

@Paul Bourgoin WOW if only you could read my reply that CBC just blocked. I give up on their malice for the day Tis time for bed

Tories accuse Elections NB of secrecy in Saint John Harbour court challenge

Dispute over Saint John Harbour riding result returns to court Friday

Connell Smith · CBC News · Posted: Dec 20, 2018 4:52 PM AT 

Education Minister Dominic Cardy accused Elections New Brunswick of secrecy as his party challenges the Saint John Harbour election result. (CBC)

Some New Brunswick Tories are ramping up social media pressure on Elections New Brunswick even as their court challenge of the Saint John Harbour election result remains before the Court of Queen's Bench.

Progressive Conservative candidate Barry Ogden and Education Minister Dominic Cardy took to social media this week to accuse the provincial elections agency of secrecy and call for the release of any documents related to the race in the riding.

The party is contesting the outcome of the Sept. 24 election race in which Liberal Gerry Lowe edged out Ogden by 10 votes.

The Tories allege some people may have voted twice in the election, that people from other ridings may have voted in Saint John Harbour and that there were clerical errors.

A hearing before Justice Hugh McLellan on Friday will examine whether Ogden's lawyer, Kelly VanBuskirk, will be removed from the case after accusations he came into possession of privileged solicitor-client notes belonging to Elections NB lawyer Fred McElman.

• Saint John Harbour Progressive Conservatives allege at least 40 voters recorded twice

• Hearing into Saint John Harbour election result halted over alleged improprieties

McElman formally requested VanBuskirk's removal Wednesday, saying the Saint John lawyer has violated the code of conduct of the New Brunswick Law Society by using privileged information prepared for the legal team on the other side of the case.

Social media pressure

But as the Friday hearing approaches, Ogden and Cardy pressured Elections NB via social media.

"What is Elections NB trying to keep secret?" asked Ogden in a Facebook post Wednesday evening. "Elections NB needs to come clean. Tell the people of Saint John what they know so faith in democracy can be restored."

Saint John Harbour PC candidate Barry Ogden, right, and campaign chair, Peter Josselyn, allege irregularities in the Sept. 24 race won by Liberal MLA Gerry Lowe (CBC)

On Twitter, Cardy accused Elections NB of suppressing information in a race where every vote counts.

"In the era of fake news, with democratic institutions under suspicion and attack, Elections New Brunswick is drawing fire on itself, and risks undermining the foundation of our democracy," he said. "If we can't trust the people who run our elections, can we trust anyone?"

Cardy went on to call on chief electoral officer Kim Poffenroth to release all documents and reports on the Saint John Harbour race.

The pressure on Elections NB comes even while the issue is still before the courts and could still potentially be resolved in the party's favour.

But in an interview Thursday, Cardy said his comments are not specific to the Saint John Harbour race.

"Having an election administration try and assert privilege to conceal documents relating to problems in an election, that's a problem for Elections New Brunswick, not for the court. It should never have got to this point, they should not be doing this," he said

Ogden told CBC News on Thursday he now has no faith in Elections NB.

"We believe that there are voting irregularities, and we strongly believe that. And these are the people that should be looking for it, and they're just distracting from the truth."

'This could get messy fast'

Earlier this week, VanBuskirk made the unusual move of issuing a press release publicly calling on Elections NB to release information about alleged irregularities in the Saint John Harbour race, going so far as to list the time and place for the court hearing where he would make his argument.

J.P. Lewis, a political science professor at the University of New Brunswick, said the situation presents a "small test" for Premier Blaine Higgs who, as party leader, could be seen as directing the barrage against Elections NB.

"This could get messy fast," said Lewis. "I'd be curious [to see] how this continues to escalate in terms of becoming a fight between the government and an integral... and well respected institution."

New Brunswick's chief electoral officer, Kim Poffenroth says 'let the legal proceedings take their course.' (Roger Cosman, CBC)

In an email statement, chief electoral officer Kim Poffenroth said New Brunswck's Elections Act requires a court order to inspect or produce election documents.

"I respectfully submit it is important for everyone to allow the legal proceedings to take their course," she said.

About the Author

 

Connell Smith

Reporter

Connell Smith is a reporter with CBC in Saint John. He can be reached at 632-7726 Connell.smith@cbc.ca

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Cash-strapped PCs selling party headquarters in Fredericton

The Regent Street building could be all yours for just $479,000

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jan 12, 2018 6:30 AM AT 

The Progressive Conservatives' head office in Fredericton. (Jacques Poitras/CBC News)

Inside the Fredericton head office of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick, there's a countdown clock on the wall tracking the days, hours, minutes and seconds that remain until the next provincial election.

It symbolizes Tory anticipation of the precise moment — Sept. 24 of this year — when the party has a chance to oust Premier Brian Gallant's Liberal party from power.

But the clock's also ticking for the PC party itself, which is facing a cash crunch ahead of this year's campaign.

• Companies still made largest political donations, ahead of ban 
• Corporate political donations in N.B. prove need for ban, says ex-elections head 
• Gallant government agrees to ban corporate, union political donations

Indeed, the very office where the clock is located, at 336 Regent St., a few blocks from the New Brunswick legislature, is up for sale.

The party is looking to unload the property as it gears up for an election campaign in which it will be allowed to spend up to $1.1 million, money the party doesn't have at the moment.

Tory documents filed with Elections New Brunswick show the party had just $20,260 in cash on hand as of June 30, 2017.

The election clock at the PC head office in Fredericton. (Jacques Poitras/CBC News)

That compares to the $2,018,278 that the governing Liberals had at the same time, almost 100 times more than the PCs.

Liberal filings also indicate their party had no debt.

The PCs, meanwhile, owed $346,626 midway through 2017, including $233,060 from a 2013 loan that relied on the Regent Street office as collateral.

It's not clear if the party is selling the building to pay down its debts or to secure cash to fund its election campaign. Party officials did not respond Thursday for requests for an explanation.
The Tories acquired the property in 2008.

'Charming features'

The real estate agent is Richard Bragdon with Exit Realty in Fredericton. Bragdon was also the unsuccessful federal Conservative candidate in Tobique-Mactaquac in the 2015 election. Bragdon did not respond to an interview request Thursday.

The listing describes the two-storey structure as a "beautiful heritage home/office space" that could be used as offices or converted into two apartments.

The building has many "charming features," the ad says, adding, "These properties don't come along very often."

The PC party is asking $479,000 for the property, which would clear the party's debts and leave about $133,000 in profit.

The Liberals own a building at 715 Brunswick St., a converted house that it uses as its party headquarters. The party carries no debt or mortgage on the property.

PCs can't keep pace

The Progressive Conservatives, which form the official opposition in the legislature, have not been keeping pace with the governing Liberals in their fundraising.

In 2016, the same year PC members were writing cheques for candidates running for the party leadership race, the party itself raised $467,718. The Liberals raised $868,426.

The Gallant Liberals used their financial might to run attack ads against PC leader Blaine Higgs. (Legislative Assembly)

In the first half of 2017, the last period for which records have been filed, the Liberals raised $659,485, more than double the PC haul of $297,655.

The Liberals have already been using their money advantage: last fall they launched a series of ads attacking PC leader Blaine Higgs. Registered political parties can spend $200,000 per year on advertising outside election periods.

Corporate Donations

One potentially lucrative source of funds, corporate donations, is now off-limits to the Tories, thanks to a legislative manoeuvre last year by Higgs.

The Liberal government introduced legislation in March 2017 to reduce the maximum donation to political parties from $6,000 to $3,000, a cap that would have applied to individuals, corporations and unions.

During debate on March 30, just six days after the PC party held its big annual fundraiser, Higgs moved an amendment to the Liberal bill to ban corporate and union donations altogether.

The Liberals decided to support the amendment, tweaking it to take effect June 1, 2017 — one day after their own $500-per-plate fundraising dinner.

The PCs reported $147,732 in corporate donations in the first half of 2017, while the Liberals reported just $17,026.

Green Party leader David Coon said the PC move against corporate donations feels like an 'accident'. (CBC)

At the time the Liberals decided to vote for the PC amendment, Green Party leader David Coon suggested Higgs hadn't been expecting it to pass.

"It kind of felt like an accident, but I'm still trying to process what happened, and I think the Official Opposition may be in the same position," he said.

Elections New Brunswick estimates that, based on its formula, parties that run candidates in all 49 ridings this year will have a maximum spending limit of $1,124,582 this year.

Corrections

• An earlier version of the story said registered political parties can spend $35,000 a year on advertising outside election periods. In fact, the amount has been raised to $200,000.
  Jan 12, 2018 11:50 AM AT

 

About the Author

 

Jacques Poitras

Provincial Affairs reporter

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. 

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