Two well-known Liberals, including a former Liberal MLA, have been named to the Prince Edward Island Liquor Control Commission.
During a cabinet meeting in early October, Premier Robert Ghiz named Hector MacLeod of Alberton, a former Liberal MLA, as chairman of the commission. He replaces Gordon Coles, whose term has expired.
MacLeod will serve until September 2012.
Chris Higgins of Charlottetown, a well-known Liberal, is also joining the commission. He replaces Joe Richard.
Robert "Bobby" Lord of Fortune Bridge has also been named to the commission. He replaces James Dyment.
Conservative Mike Currie describes the latest appointments to the Liquor Control Commission as blatant patronage.
"The premier had campaigned and was believed at that time to indicate that he was not going to participate in patronage," Currie told The Guardian. "Certainly the list of appointments is getting longer and bolder as time ages on this government."
The appointments are not full-time jobs.
The chairman receives $198 per meeting. He can be expected to attend two to three meetings a month. That means more than $7,000 in pocket cash.
The commissioners receive $141 per meeting. They usually only meet once a month. That means an extra $1,692 annually for both Higgins and Lord.
Premier Robert Ghiz makes no apologies for the appointments. He described them as routine appointments.
"We make hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of appointments," said Ghiz.
"We've got 10,000 members within our party. That's close to 10 per cent of the voting population. Over 50 per cent voted Liberal in the last election, so probably over 50 per cent of the appointments are going to be people who voted Liberal even though we might not know about it."
Ghiz said these people have applied and are qualified to sit on the board. He said his government wasn't able to make the appointments until now because the former Progressive Conservative administration filled all vacancies after losing the last election but before the Liberals took control of power.
It is rare, he added, that appointments are made during that transition period.
The P.E.I. premier said the media is simply singling out certain appointments because they are Liberal.
"For example, we appointed a former Tory MLA to (Charlottetown Area Development Corporation) board, you never called me on that one," said Ghiz. "That was Jim Larkin."
Currie said Ghiz suggested that people could apply and they'd be considered for various boards and commissions.
"I think that's gone out the door. His words were an empty promise," Currie said.
"I think he promised that during the eve of an election and when the election was over and as time went by, he thinks it's forgotten about but I don't think it is."
Appointments 'blatant patronage', MLA charges
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- value for the money
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:42:08
Some people still insist on thinking that because the previous government did IT it is ok for this one to do IT. That's not how changes come about. All governments are quite proficient at explaining away their murky moves in some politico babble that usually satisfies the voters. I think this one simply says get with the program or sit down and shut up . I think political parties running for office should be made to sign a contract with a representative from each of the other parties that states their, the parties, intentions if elected. A document that clearly states elimination of patronage if that is one of their promises, openess with and accountability to the voters, a promise to act with honesty and integrity etc. Perhaps a document such as this in the hands of each of the other parties would help the citizens get what they pay for.
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- Steve
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:40:54
Take a time machine to year 3000....same story.
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- Dick
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:40:27
A quote from Robert Ghiz.....
Over 50 per cent voted Liberal in the last election, so probably over 50 per cent of the appointments are going to be people who voted Liberal even though we might not know about it.
If thats the case....give these appointments to everyday, working class people who need better jobs to feed their kids and make ends meet and not to former politicians who ran in the Liberal government a decade ago or to other people who are involved with the Liberal party in some way!!! This is the exact meaning of patronage and Ghiz is a fool to think otherwise. Everything he does, he has a story or a reason for why it was done. If he was doing things in an honest manner, he wouldn't need to make excuses for everything he does.
The Liberal government STINKS of patronage and under-the-table deals to their friends and family members while the rest of PEI has to suffer and pay high taxes so these crooked politicians can get an undeserved pay-raise. -
- ol guy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:39:31
hope they don't serve booze at the meetings eh chris lol
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- Johnnystorm
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:34:49
Qualified? Come on Ghiz. I worked with Chris Higgins for a number of years. If he meets the qualifications then the only qualifications are to be a ticket seller for the Liberals. Don't insult our intelligence, Ghiz. Call a spade a spade.
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- Stick wit what's best
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:33:05
Just wondering why did Chris get in when what was he working at all this time?? Thought there was something saying he was taking money from the liberals so what happens to that..... I have seen him standing outside of the dinners for the MLA's not having the money to get any tickets to go to the dinner and this is what happens he get a nice cushion seat job!!!!!
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- bill
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:32:16
at minimum wage the meetings must take at least 20 hours each
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- peibossman
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:31:39
liberals or tories...whose the cleanest dirty shirt ?...as ghizzy would say, good question ...
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- Just wondering
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:31:18
What is it that these folks do at the meetings and why do they have to meet so frequently? How long are the meetings? Three times a month seems like a lot of meetings. Are the meetings all day long, or a couple of hours? How many people sit on the commission? Are the positions for a specified period? What qualifications are needed to be appointed? I believe these to be good questions that should be answered, given the cost to taxpayers is so high. If there are only 3-4 people on the commission and each of them gets about $7,000 a month, it is a mighty expensive commission. Something tells me there are likely more than 3-4 people. Just wondering. Perhaps the Guardian would like to print the facts pertaining to the commission, including what it does, how many serve on it and how frequently it actually meets, including the average length of each meeting.
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- Big Joe
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:29:50
Yes they are Liberals,just more people selected from those who put in applications for these positions. As the Premier stated before the last election that the best people would be selected from all applications. Of course this is what the Premier did a waterworks employee and a course marshall at Crowbush.
Good job Premier more people you can muzzle. -
- Quiet
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:29:36
Where do we, average non-political Islanders, go to apply to sit on these boards?
Can anyone tell me? -
- So
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:29:06
The Tories had their own on the Commission when they were in. Those are good people and will do as good a job as any ont he LCC. Crawl out from under your rock and pick on something else. All is fair in love, war and politics.
These guys deserve an appointment as well as their Tory predecessors. Non issue! -
- Paula
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:24:09
Way to go Chris. Very deserving.
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- Ummmmm
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:23:15
Umm, these people applied for these appointments which were advertised. Were there any Tories who applied? And if so, what is the percentage of Tories against Liberals, or other party members for that matter? It's fine and dandy to accuse someone of patronage, but get all the facts straight first.
And I don't know about this posting, but in any other organization, the chairman doesn't just sit pretty and bang the hammer, there is usually preparation for the meeting, representation on other boards, etc. Funny how The Guardian always seems to paint these types of stories in a strange light, if anyone is partisan here it seems The Guardian is. Anybody take journalism courses among you? -
- pingu
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:20:58
Why not abandon the commission altogether? It serves no useful purpose.
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- JennyLynn
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:20:56
And this govenment ran on a no PATRONAGE platform
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- Lets be clear
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:20:09
These appointments are what they are..patronage appointments to reward mambers of the party for their loyalty. They have absolutely no impact on the direction of the liquor control board. Those decisions are made by people in government and the industry who sell, buy and otherwise profit from the sale of alcohol. So let us just accept this for what it is...patronage... and let the government your tax dollars could be better spent.
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- give me
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:12:39
What is Currie so upset about? Does he not remember the Binns government fired every liberal and hired all of his own voters.
It is almost time to see some changes. -
- Juke
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:12:16
There is no need nor justification to refer to the Ghiz Government as anything but just another old style, corrupt PEI political machine.
This one is particularly sweett though because Robbie had to ask Brookie the liquor boss for the OK on this one.
Imagine that conversation. Robbie saying, Brooooooke, I know you've had a tough time in the media but as you fully know in detail Higgins did a lot of my dirty work esp. back in the leadership race and I need to pay him off..please Broooooooke ..ple- e- e- ase.
Good old ( and old style) Brooke did oblige his buddy and Allan Campbell, as minister, stamped his approval too.
Guardian, Higgins is now in the public eye so let's have a story on how spectacularily unqualified he is for any kind of appointment. He is fair game. He has accepted a public appointment.
It will be deeply shocking and disturbing to Islanders but let's see the truth on the CV of Mr. Chris Higgins. -
- D.J.
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:10:20
Three Liberals replacing three Tory's. C'mon Mike ...you have been around long enough to know how these things work. Did you Tory's ever replace a Liberal with a Liberal ? ...Not Likely...What would ever make you think that the Liberals would replace a Tory with another Tory...Wake up Mike and smell the coffee.
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- Rob
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:09:59
Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds.
So Kevin Murphy only got 1 million dollars granted to him by Brooke MacMillan. Where did the other 99 million dollars in grants go?. -
- Christine
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:08:17
No surprise here. Amazed it took so long for Higgins to get his pay-back.
Arrogance. -
- F. HILL.HILLBILLY
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:02:01
PATRONAGE AT ITS FINEST.
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- YOUR RIGHT !
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:00:00
Political Patronage will NEVER GO AWAY untill Islanders stop CHANGE THEIR VOTE! Untill Islanders like Nova Scotians try something NEW like the NDP!!
It was no Different when the Conservatives were in power! But ISlanders will never Try Anything New!!
Every Election it's either Liberals or Convservatives! And after one or the other get in all Islanders do is COMPLAIN!!
Did you ever hear the old adage, When you continue to do the same thing over and over again you get the same RESULT!! Try something different or put up with SAME OLE ALL OVER AGAIN! UR CHOICE! -
- what is new
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:59:19
why not appoint liberals, they are as deserving as anyone, our system requires the government to make appointments so who they place on boards is completely their decision, Currie having sat in cabinet knows that. The only issue worth reporting is Ghiz's attempt to justify his action. on cue he lies and says the tories made these appointments during the transition of government. if the appointments are for 3 years that means they were made in the fall of 2006, I believe the election was in the spring of 2007. so much for open debate Premier.
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- Shelley .B
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:56:49
Do The Math, understanding what This Article says.
The Chairman gets $198 Per Meeting and can be Expected to attend 2 to 3 meetings a-MONTH.. That Means, IF he goes to TWO Meetings a Month that Equals, $396 a Month. $396 x 12 = $4752 a Year. IF he goes to THREE Metings a Month That Equals $1188 a Month. That Equals $7128 a YEAR. $1188 x 12 = $7128 a Year.
Contact information for the PEI Liquor Commission is found at www.peilcc.ca You can contact them to ask what are job responsibilities of The Liquor Board Members. What qualifies a person to be appointed' as Chairman of the Board.
As long as Islander's continue the assinine Flip-Flop Voting back and forth between Libbers and Cons- Islander's Will continue to be made fools of. UNTIL Islanders Start Supporting and Voting for another political party like the NDP, you will continue to see (what's left of) Democracy crumble away on PEI.
In 2 Months it will be the Year 2010. It's Time Islander's get with the rest of the modern world. You are your own worse political nightmare. Your responsible for You, Your Children, Your Family repeatidly being made fools of, while putting, Your Own & Your Children's, Your Families Futures, Safety, Well Being and What's left of Your, Democratic, Civil, Human & Legal RIGHTS at further risk. -
- Blatant!
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:50:50
Blatant! Mike Currie you are a good one to talk! Politics is a kids game. Instead of giving Islanders the respect of a legitimate vote, politicians have to now buy their votes with favors and paybacks. It's pathetic. It's nice to see we are slowly moving away from that with Robert Ghiz. Not entirely, but slowly.
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- Worker
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:49:50
Mr Currie you are not being reasonable. If someone has to drive from west prince to charlottetown to attend ameeting it would take at least 1.5 hours each way. That is 3 hours for a round trip. That is 3 hours longer than someone from charlottetown. What have you got against people from west prince securing some form of employment? We have to drive longer and opportunities are fewer.
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- John B.
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:47:53
Patronage... Yep, He is lining his own pocket with tax payers monies and now denies ever saying what all Islands heard as one of his so called Promises before he was elected.. This MY fellow Islanders is just 1 more of Robert Giz' empty promises and he has too big of shoes to fill or maybe the shoes are getting too tight.. This is not his father nor anywhere close... Time to get rid of all the empty wish wash of this political party... As for the $$$ per meeting,What other common Islander gets this much money to attend a meeting?? Out rageous. $ 50.oo maybe, but $198.00 and possibly 3 meetings a month.. or the $ 141.oo for 1 meeting... No ,These amounts are totally unacceptable , in this day and age when others are pinching pennies and unable to heat their homes and eat propertly because of the cost of everything..... Not every Islander were born with a golden spoon in our hand... Nor do we automatically get a cheque from the gov. to pay our bills... Not that some of those cheques are big. But some are for sure when that same person could be out working everyday to provide for theiir family or them self. Take a good look, the * wow is me* line up is long... While many others are honest and hard workers barly getting our own bills payed and still haveing to pay out of our salary for these others who could and can be working to provide for themself. Lack of respect for their fellow Islanders and Themself to ever go in to the office looking for Gov, assistance...
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- speedy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:46:42
So what else is new? Governments never change there ways.
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- woodsman
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:45:38
This man made so many broken promises but he never kept one outside the boundary of charlottetown and let me you we will not forget when the next election rolls around--the only seats the liberals will win are in the Ch,town area and that will be from the political appointed patronage pets --there is enough of them---
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- bill
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:44:47
currie may not have noticed patronage before
he has every right to be upset if he just found out -
- bill
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:29
Mr. Currie many people i know, including myself, trust neither liberal nor conservative politicians, their associates their party members nor loyal supporters.
Then you are stupid enough to add more fuel to the fire -
- Hillbilly
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:00
Worst. Premier. Ever.
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- onlooker
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:38:36
I don't think that political patronage will ever go away. That being said, I'm not really surprised by these appointments, along with all the other ones that have taken place since the Liberals took over. It would be a blatent lie to say the Conservatives are smelling like roses on this one either. A lot of political support comes with the promise that if person A pulls a lot of punches to get person B elected, then down the road person B rewards person A for his/her hard work. Its only common sense!
With that in mind, the issue with this whole story is that the Liberals platformed on getting rid of patronage. No one forced Premier Ghiz or former Premier Binns to make such a claim, but in the end Ghiz decided it was an important point. It's too bad that he forgot about this after the fact and has completely gone against what he promised! It's not a story that patronage still exists, the story is in the fact that premier Ghiz has gone against his word and the word of the entire Liberal party... -
- Question?
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:37:28
Reminds me of the Binns era...question is though, can either of these guys cut hair?
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- John Rory
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:36:27
So....what does Mike Duffy have to say about this ?? He could fly in to investigate and noone would even notice the extra expense.
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- HIC CUP
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:35:23
Its almost enough to drive one to
drink! -
- Red
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:34:09
PEI was pretty gullible, last election..were they not.
You voted for him, now your stuck with him.
