Sunday 25 December 2022

Ex-PC president denies patronage behind appointment to government board

 

Ex-PC president denies patronage behind appointment to government board

Don Moore's appointment is the latest in a cluster of appointments going to supporters of the party in power

Don Moore was named to the board of Service New Brunswick in June by the PC government of Premier Blaine Higgs — the latest in a cluster of appointments going to supporters of the party in power.

Moore would not do an interview but said in an email that he responded to an online posting. 

"I applied to an open role on the [government] website using my resumé," he said.

"A few months later I was appointed to the position. I am happy to be serving our province in this capacity." 

But Liberal MLA Chuck Chiasson, who questioned other PC appointments in the legislature in May, said he was skeptical.

Appointing PC supporters

"Surely that's what they're going to say, but I'd like to know who else applied for that job and what their qualifications were," he said.

"I would be very curious to see how many other applicants there were and I would curious to see some of the resumés of those applicants, and how they compare to his." 

Moore, who was party president for just under a year in 2017, is the latest PC insider to be named to a provincial board since Higgs took office last November:

  • In May the government appointed Mel Norton, a former Saint John mayor and 2016 PC leadership candidate, as chair of WorkSafe New Brunswick. Labour Minister Trevor Holder said Norton was chosen through an independent process.
  • The same month, the PC party's official representative Marven Grant and former PC MLA Kirk MacDonald were appointed to the New Brunswick Insurance Board.
  • John Correia, a former co-chair of the PC party's fundraising operation, was appointed to the board of NB Liquor in April and to the board of Cannabis NB in June.

"They're certainly having a field day appointing their friends and supporters to boards and commissions," Chiasson said on Monday.

As PC party president in 2017, Moore told CBC News it was impossible to avoid choosing acquaintances for important jobs in New Brunswick.

'A small province'

He was defending Higgs's choice of the spouse of a PC leadership candidate to review logistical problems with the party's leadership race the previous year.

"Let's not kid ourselves," Moore said at the time.

"This is a small province. We all know each other. … Are we ever going to get that 100 per cent true independence? Maybe, maybe not. There's always going to be a connection of somebody to something."

Don Moore, who was New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative party president for just under a year in 2017, is the latest PC insider to be named to a provincial board since Premier Blaine Higgs took office in November. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

A short biography with the announcement said Moore had more than 25 years of experience "in the business, information technology and academic sectors" managing development and technology projects. 

Service New Brunswick board positions are not full-time jobs.

A spokesperson for Service New Brunswick said board members are paid a per diem of $250 for meetings of four hours or less and $500 for meetings of more than four hours. They can also claim expenses.

Other board positions pay differently. NB Liquor board members get a $155 per diem, plus meals and mileage, for attending meetings. The per diem for WorkSafe board members is $200. 

Moore says he landed an appointment to a government board through a normal hiring process. (LinkedIn)

In 2012, Higgs, as finance minister, signalled his distaste for partisan patronage appointments. He refused to publicly endorse then-PC premier David Alward's appointment of cabinet minister Margaret-Ann Blaney as CEO of Efficiency New Brunswick.

Higgs said at the time the decision was Alward's and he was obliged to accept it. The Liberals couldn't "criticize things that each of us do," he said, "and none of us feel good about it."

In May this year, he defended the appointment of Correia, noting he'd been on the NB Liquor board when the PCs were in power before, only to be removed by the Liberals after they took power in 2014.

"He was removed despite the board wanting him to stay, because he was a valued member of that board," Higgs said.

"He did his homework. He studied the rules. … But you know why he couldn't stay? Because he was a friend of mine."

Higgs said Correia's background in retail business was a good fit with NB Liquor. 

"I know it might come as a novel concept to many to have someone who knows business be on a board," he said. 

Liberal supporters rewarded with appointments

He also accused the Liberals of rewarding their supporters during their four years in power, including with paving contracts and long-term leases for Cannabis NB stores. 

"If we want to open this box about a few of these positions, versus the Pandora's box we saw from the Liberal government in the past, I'm willing to take that on and lay it all out there for the world to see," the premier said.

Liberal MLA Chuck Chiasson acknowledged that Liberal supporters were rewarded with appointments when the party was in power but claimed 'it was the exception, probably, not the rule, and it seems to be the rule now.'

Higgs wasn't available to comment on Monday.

Chiasson acknowledged that Liberal supporters were rewarded with appointments when the party was in power but claimed "it was the exception, probably, not the rule, and it seems to be the rule now." 

He said the appointments were especially galling given Higgs's previous criticism of patronage.

"If he's running the show and he feels that way, they've obviously thrown that value out the window," said the Liberal MLA. "It's not even subtle. It's blatant."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Jacques Poitras

Provincial Affairs reporter

Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

99 comments
 
 
 

David Amos 
Methinks one favourite heros of many conservative politicians once wrote "Great men are almost always bad men" N'esy Pas?

Who was he?

Survey Says?
 
 
 
David Amos
Methinks Don Moore should have the power to demand that Service New Brunswick finally produce their missing records pertaining to my 1965 Harley before I sue the Crown about it N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
 
Marguerite Deschamps   
"Ex-PC president denies patronage behind appointment to government board". 
 
Who is he trying to kid? Is he trying to convince himself or us?  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps:  Methinks your buddy Lou wants to believe the nonsense but even she is not that dumb N'esy Pas? 
 
 
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: Lou est fou! Lou Dumbell! 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you are being a little redundant perhaps its time for a nap N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
 
Marguerite Deschamps
 Don't kid yourselves, this has been going long, long ago and it's not about to change any time soon. Just like war, the party in power gets the spoils. 
 

Marguerite Deschamps Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Patronage will never be totally eliminated, no matter what. If it's not by elected politicians, it will be by civil servants. And this would be even worse given that they are answerable to n one. 

 
David Amos 
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose N'esy Pas? 
 
 
Marguerite Deschamps  
Reply to @David Amos: Lou est fou. Lou Dumbell! 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you should look in the mirror sometime N'esy Pas? 
 

Marguerite Deschamps 
Reply to @David Amos: and how about you, O brainy one? 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks everybody knows I very proud to be called a fool. The old bard often made them the most clever dudes in his plays. Yorick was my favourite fool yet he never said a word just grinned from the grave. All lawyers I have encountered in real space and time know I am a very serious Court Jester who was born and raised on the the Bay Of Fundy. I would appreciate April Fools Day being named after me someday if only in New Brunswick because that was the day I chased the US Secret Service and a herd of Yankee cops away from my home in my underwear while my little Clan laughed with glee N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
Shawn Tabor
It is good to see that all is normal. Redcoats are complaining, but they will have their turn one day. As the world turns.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Shawn Tabor: Methinks you understand why I am wondering if Don Moore is related to other buddy of Mr Higgs Rob Moore the lawyer who wants MP again N'esy Pas? 
 
 
 
 
 
Roy Kirk
Qualify all the applicants for such positions by having the sit a qualifying examination. Then let those who pass bid for their position by offering the price they'll demand as compensation. Then hire/appoint the lowest price bidders. That'll sort things out! :-) 
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to @Roy Kirk: Methinks thou doth jest just enough N'esy Pas? 
 
 

 
 
Anne Bérubé
How silent you all go when Trudeau appointed 'liberal' judges not so long ago... 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Anne Bérubé: Oh So True  
 
 
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Anne Bérubé: while Peter Mackay appointed all his friends in Nova Scotia and Harper as well, including the shady Vic Toews.  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks we should study Jean Chretien too N'esy Pas?  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Laurie Clark
Hogs at the trough, nothing new here!  
 
 
Greg Smith
Reply to @Laurie Clark: *Higgs  
 
 
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Greg Smith: Higgs or Hogs?   
 
 
Rosco holt 
Reply to @Fred Brewer:Higgs, Hogs are in the same.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Laurie Clark: I concur  
 
 
 
 
 
DJ Redfern
David Amos 
Reply to @DJ Redfern: Methinks Higgs only picks vegetables Anything with a mind need not apply N'esy Pas?
 
 
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @David Amos: then you should apply given that you highly qualify. 
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Aww shucks Methinks you jest N'esy Pas?  
 
 
 
 
 
Rj LeBlanc
Power corrupts. Higgs is just another politicians who is giving out " treats " to his political buddies. 
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to @Rj LeBlanc: Methinks Mr Higgs and his cohorts want the liberals to forget the treats they sent me before the last election N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
 
Dan Franklin
If anyone is shocked by this, they haven't been reading their history books. 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Dan Franklin: True 
 
 
 
 
Marc LeBlanc
ughhh.....so tired of this same old same old
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Marc LeBlanc: Methinks that lots of folks would agree that the Circus never gets old as long as the clowns keep playing musical chairs in the legislative buildings N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
David Amos
Surprise Surprise Surprise
 
 
 
Roy Kirk
Perhaps its time to set qualifying exams for such positions. Then those interested can sit the exam and we'll have a fair assessment of the skills and abilities that the candidates bring to the table. 
 
  
David Amos 
Reply to @Roy Kirk: Surely you jest   
 
 
 
 
 
 
David White
No surprise here, Whatever party is in power will be cutting up the cash amongst themselves. 
 
We have become so accustomed to it, we stop punishing these people ages ago or maybe we never started?..probably the latter. 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @David White: Methinks the truly sad part is that they know that they will never be punished because they control the Attorney General N'esy Pas? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bernard McIntyre
Politician's and bureaucrats really believe that the voting public are really stupid when this person makes comments like this that he got this job for what he knows not who he knows. And bears really use charmin toilet paper to wipe their arses when they go in the woods.  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Bernard McIntyre: Methinks politicians and bureaucrats know the awful truth of it all It is the simple fact that whereas apathy rules the day nobody gives a damn N'esy Pas?   
 
 
 
 
  
Laurie Clark
"A former president of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick says he landed an appointment to a government board through a normal hiring process and not through patronage." Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha 
 
 
Donald Smith
Reply to @Laurie Clark: Yeah, Really  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Laurie Clark: Welcome to the Circus
 
 
Daniel White
Baloney! Both parties have done it and continue. Don't try to be holier than thou, premier Higgs for the sake of honesty. You have not gotten away from patronage appointments, no matter which face you use on any given day, period.  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Daniel White: Higgs may be Premier for now but he knows most of the electorate did not vote for him and he owes Kris Austin bigtime for the position he enjoys. Yet he challenges his foes to cause another election. Methinks when the next is dropped both Higgs and Vickers may get a shocking surprise N'esy Pas?  
 
 
 
 
 
Janice small
most patronage appointee jobs the appointee has little to no experience in the job they have been appointed to do..And that’s sad as when have people running some of our Crown Corporation with little to no experience in the job they are appointed to do....And both sides do,,,,NB Liquor,,NB Power,,Cannabis NB,,,,Blue or red, no difference,,going to change it up this they..My wife and I are voting Green ( Coon ) 
 
 
Harold Wood
Reply to @Janice small: You mean the watermelon party (green on the outside, red in the middle.) 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Harold Wood: I all them that as well That is when I am not calling them the Green Meanies
   
 
 
 
 
Andy Davis
It’s illegal for others parties

But for cons, it’s an everyday occurrence

Duh-gy

kenney

harperking

And now this guy

Conservatives:

The bottom of the barrel political party

ABC 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Andy Davis: Methinks all political parties partake of the pork barrel so who cares which one in at the bottom if they hold the keys to the Premier's office N'esy Pas?  
 
 
Andy Davis
Reply to @David Amos: the conservatives do it right in your faces

And are the worst party for this.

N’est-ce pas?  
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to @Andy Davis: Methinks many would agree that the liberals are every bit as bad N'esy Pas? 
 
 
 
 
 
Archie Levesque
So now that it's another party doing it it has become an issue. His logic of "it was the exception, probably, not the rule" doesn't really hold up to scrutiny. Liberals love them some patronage  
 
 
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Archie Levesque: Another case of the " kettle " calling the " pot " black.... Nepotism, corruption, pandering and patronage are all alive and well in good ole NB...... Time to elect a brand new party who will actually do the will of the majority and truly represent the people of this province.  
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Methinks folks should never vote for political parties Independents are the only way to go N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
 
Danny Devo
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Danny Devo: Liberals and Conservatives are truly revolting ! There now I have corrected it for you.. 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Methinks you forgot to mention the PANB, the Greens, the NDP and most importantly the SANB N'esy Pas? 
 
 
 
 
 
daryl doucette
Clive Gibbons 
Reply to @daryl doucette: Most people who have jobs are in it for the money. Why the heck else would you do it? 
 
 
Robert Ship
Reply to @daryl doucette: In 1936, American political scientist Harold Laswell defined politics as "who gets what, when, how "  
 
 
Robert Ship
Reply to @Robert Ship: *Lasswell*  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Robert Ship: Methinks Mr Higgs and his many cohorts who sent me treats before the last election know why I agree with that old Yankee N'esy Pas? 
 
 
 
 
Ronald Parker
 
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Ronald Parker: YUP
 
 
 
 
Lou Bell
The lack of vision and position the province is in now lies solely in the hands of ALL the incompetent patronage appointees from both parties . These appointments are obviously not for what the appointees know. 2nd rate at best creating a 3rd rate province.  
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you must be losing your faith in the integrity of your greedy political pals N'esy Pas?  
 
 
 
 
Mark Eldridge 
Once again a nothing CBC story. Just trying to stir the pot for their never ending left wing agenda. Public broadcaster should do better and stick to the news, not this slanted drivel.
 
 
Greg Smith
Reply to @Mark Eldridge: They frequently point out patronage appointments by the liberal party as well. Both are guilty of it, and all are better informed in knowing this is a regular occurrence. That people don't smarten up and stop voting both of these parties in is our own fault, there are other choices out there.  
 
 
Donald Gallant
Reply to @Greg Smith: Lol. And who would be the other perfect choice parties that would not do the same ? 
 
 
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Donald Gallant: There is only one party....one party who will listen to the people's will and that is the People's Alliance Party..... Time to try something new, we have nothing to lose.. 
 
 
Laurie Clark
Reply to @Mark Eldridge: What slant? That the former president of the PC Party got a nice new appointment? Reporting what actually happened is not a slant! Oh I forgot, you Conservatives ..... 
 
 
Archie Levesque 
Reply to @Laurie Clark: Oh you Liberals ..... same poo different pile 
 
 
Robert Buck 
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Yes like fracking. They flip flopped on that issue. Either you are for fracking or against fracking. PA campaigned on being against fracking now they are elected fracking is ok in some areas as long as it is not in their riding.   
 
 
Rosco holt 
Reply to @Mark Eldridge:Is it because the past conservative appointment panned out so well. Ex: Duffy, Wallin, Brasseau.  
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to @Mark Eldridge: Everyone can see the left wing agenda however you know as well as I that your beloved conservatives are no better just as this article attests.
Remember the old saying that you can't see the forest because of all the trees? Methinks in short order folks may be able to see the forests in Quebec and Maine after the buddies of Mr Higgs have cut all the trees down in NB. it won't be the young ones will be gone out west and the only people making any money and paying taxes in in NB to support old folks such as I will be the over paid politically appointed bureaucrats and the unionized bilingual government employees. Thats kinda special N'esy Pas? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matt Steele 
In would be interesting to know who is currently in Margaret Ann Blaney's old CEO position at Efficiency N.B. ; and if that was a political appointment . With N.B. 14 BILLION PLUS DEBT ; maybe Higgs should be looking at eliminating some of these many govt. positions , and saving the taxpayers some money . N.B. only has around 750,00 people ; how many govt. employees and appointees are needed to run such a small province ? Higgs likes to talk about saving the taxpayers some money , so HOW ABOUT ACTUALLY DOING IT !!! 
 
 
Bernard McIntyre
Reply to @Matt Steele: According to Politician's lots. Main example of N.B MLA'S ,49 pop.757,000. Ont. MMA'S 110 pop. 14.280,000. You can see my point.  
 
 
David White
Reply to @Matt Steele: But the Government is the largest 'make-work' program in NB. Eliminate all those unnecessary make-work jobs and probably half the province will be on the welfare. 
 
 
Laurie Clark
Reply to @Bernard McIntyre: So you get 1 MLA for every 15,448 people. Come over here to the Island where we have 27 MLAs for 150,000 people, yup that's right, 1 for every 5555 people. They claim to have a lot of work to do! Politics is a joke!  
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @David White: Oh So True 


David Amos   
 
Reply to @Laurie Clark: Methinks you should say hey to all the MLAs and MPs on the Island for me after you notice Wayne Easter's name mentioned on the first page of this old document N'esy Pas?

https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/Integrity-Yea-Right

David Amos  
Reply to @Laurie Clark: Say hey to them for me will ya?  
 
 
David Amos  
Reply to @David Amos: Oh My My   
 
 
 
 
 
Gabriel Boucher
"This is a small province. We all know each other. … Are we ever going to get that 100 per cent true independence? Maybe, maybe not. There's always going to be a connection of somebody to something."
I'm sorry, but that age old excuse just doesn't stand up. There are over 770,000 people living in NB. Knowing all of them, or even a measly 1% is impossible. That statement makes me very suspicious about his appointment in office, or even how he views patriarchy as a whole.  
 
 
Robert Buck
Reply to @Gabriel Boucher: Taking a play out the Federal Liberal play book on that one. Re: Dominc LeBlanc and all his friend's getting appointed. 
 
 
David Amos   
Reply to @Robert Buck: Methinks the Conservative Sir John A. MacDonald was the first Canadian Fed to use that play book N'esy Pas?  
 
 
 
 
 
Dianne MacPherson
Over the years we've had some absolutely 'useless'

people sitting at the table/s making decisions......and it showed

'Patronage' appointments will always be with us no matter the Politics.

As a voter I want to see accountability in whatever Dept. they represent;

that would be a first and would take some of the sting out!!!!! 
 
 
David Amos   
Reply to @Dianne MacPherson: Vote accordingly and hope for the best   
 
 
 
 
 
Kyle Woodman
"This is a small province. We all know each other. … Are we ever going to get that 100 per cent true independence? Maybe, maybe not. There's always going to be a connection of somebody to something."
This logic is flawed in that you never see non partisan or partisan Green, NDP or PA people appointed to these boards. It's always either a Liberal or Conservative partisan hack. I guess these self serving folks only know people from either the liberal or conservative side of the coin. Maybe they should appoint from outside the box for better results. 
 
 
Jared Henderson 
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: to be fair here...the Green's PA and NDP never form government lol...gotta be in charge for those headaches to end up on your plate 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Methinks you forgot Bernie Lord creating a new Crown Corp then giving the NDP lawyer Elizabeth Weir one heck of an appointment as its CEO in 2005 which Margaret-Ann Blaney later enjoyed until the liberals merged it with the the biggest cash cow of them all for political appointments. Its commonly known as NB Power N'esy Pas?  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mac Isaac
"...it might come as a novel concept to many to have some one who knows business to be on a board..." seems to be a trope used by people like Higgs but doesn't really answer the question I , and probably many others have, which is: How successful was he as a businessman? and a corollary to that question is: If he was so successful as a businessman, what is he doing looking for a patronage appointment to government coffers?
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Mac Isaac: Good point  
 
 
 
 
 
Andrew Clarkson
Its was a tight race to see who got the position, Don Moore or Victor Boudreau!  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Andrew Clarkson: I heard Boudreau thought the job was beneath him
 
 
 
 
 
Ken Dwight
Wait till the Irving execs start getting jobs in positions of power. 
 
Wait now.... 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Ken Dwight: Exactly 






Mario Doucet
After what Dominic LaBlank has done while an elected MP who cares about patronage anyway, it's all good. 
 
 
Randy Stuart  
Reply to @Mario Doucet:It's most certainly good for them,..... power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. 
 
 
David Amos  
 
Reply to @Randy Stuart: The same dude also said "Great men are almost always bad men"

Methinks many historians would agree that Lord Acton was every bit as corrupt as the rest N'esy Pas?

 
David Amos  
Reply to @Randy Stuart: Methinks I should not find it strange that I can't tell the truth about Lord Acton in a website run by the Crown N'esy Pas?  
 

 

 

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