P.E.I. businessman clarifies controversial volunteer ad NATHAN ROCHFORD The Guardian
None of the volunteer positions being advertised for the Cavendish Beach Music Festival are associated with private businesses, the president of Murphy Group of Restaurants said Wednesday.
Kevin Murphy stressed that point after newspaper ads asking for volunteers to work at the mid-July country music event came under criticism in recent days.
Murphy said the ad was misinterpreted.
He said the Murphy Group of Restaurants is only one of 13 vendors servicing the festival and all of the people working the concert will be paid employees.
“Everyone serving food are paid employees, our staff,” he said. “That’s always been the case. We always pay our staff. That’s been the case for 28 years.”
Murphy said the volunteer work being done is associated with Oak Acres Children’s Foundation, the charity selected to be the recipient of the profits brought in through sales at the beverage tent.
The Oak Acres camp near Murray River is a registered charity which operates six camping sessions per summer for children who are selected to attend by the province’s guidance counsellors.
Approximately 480 children are able to enjoy the camp each year at no cost.
Murphy added that all the volunteers recruited will be working in the beverage tent on behalf of the charity.
“That’s the only volunteer element with the festival,” Murphy said. “That message didn’t get out for some reason.”
Murphy added he intended to amend the misinformation and was in the process of contacting government to clear up any confusion.
People who volunteer will be able to see or hear many of the country acts, meet some of the stars, receive a festival souvenir T-shirt, and get discount vouchers to dine at a number of Murphy-owned restaurants.
When the ad appeared in The Guardian, it made no mention of the charity nor explained the reasons behind the request for volunteers. The ad resulted in a number of critical comments, including the P.E.I. Federation of Labour which questioned using free labour for a private business.
It also resulted in a critical blast Tuesday from Opposition labour critic Mike Currie who condemned the ad, stating that in tough economic times, no private business should be soliciting free labour.
“(Tourism) Minister Valerie Docherty, her department and this government are the major financial supporters of this event, to the tune of over $1.2 million and it is insulting to P.E.I. taxpayers to see a private company involved in this concert soliciting free labour, particularly at a time when the economy is declining and jobs are scarce," said Currie.
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Michael R from Charlottetown, PEI writes: I'm glad to see the real story finally get printed. The Murphy Group Of Restaurants employee's over 600 people. They don't try and rip off people. They run a very successful business and it shows as they have been operating in Charlottetown for more then 25 years. They offer a wide variety of restaurants to meet everyone's needs! Both Kevin and Danny Murphy do a lot of work when it comes to charities. So they provide great establishments to which YOU eat at, provide employment, and do a great amount of charity work. MGR is a great benefit to the Island! People have to stop looking for things to complain about and start looking at the big picture. I hope the beverage tent raises a lot of funds for Oak Acre Camp, it's a great cause!
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Spin Doctor from PEI writes: He must have hired some PR firm .
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Transplant from PEI writes: Copy/pasted from last weks article...
Murphy Group vice-president Chris Wright says the restaurant business operates on a tight profit margin, so planning to use volunteers allowed the company to bid low on the contract.
We're in business to make money, Wright told CBC News. We put our best foot forward to try and get this contract.
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Truthy from pei writes: I listen to CBC last Friday morning.The V.P.never once mention Oak Acres.Something smells.I hope Kevin /Danny you were not informed of this idea.
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Quiet Observer from Charlottetown, PEI writes: The truth doesn't require a spin doctor.
The Murphy Brother's give a huge amount back to PEI in sponsorships and donations. We are lucky to have local people as successfull businessmen - the give back. How many non-PEI owned businesses come even close? None.
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happycamper from pei writes: I am pleased Kevin Murphy cleared up the issue and impressed the Guardian printed the real story (CBC didn't bother).
But I am confused. . . What was the purpose of the last two paragraphs in the news story?
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Tired from PEI writes: Sorry but I find this explanation a little hard to swallow.
If this was always the explanation then why did Mr. Murphy wait until one week later to clarify. It seems it took a while to come up with something.
Oak Acres is the camp that Danny Murphy uses as a charity to run all of the charitable events he and his wife host in their home etc. Great tax write off.
I wonder how much Oak Acres receives in a year from all of these charitable fundraisers.
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brotherskeeper from PEI writes: Is the Murphy Group a good company? Of course it is. Do many Islanders earn a living working there? Again, of course. But, that doesn't change the fact that Mr. Murphy's story is completely different from the one his employee was telling earlier. Completely different! This is spin control, plain and simple. Mr. Murphy deserves to have is fingers rapped on this one.
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dmc from pei writes: well thats great and all, but i have to wonder why one of his VP, executives whatever title he ahd, was on CBC earlier in the week saying it was food service and that you would be serving food to celebritys, as that was incentive to volunteer???seems a little convenient to spin it off as an Oak Acres fundraiser...seriously you cant convince me that was the initial intent but the message just didnt get out there, not through the ad, the interviews with his executive or anyone else involved until there was a major backlash...i 100% support both Kevin and Danny as i do believe they are great businessmen who do wonderful work for the Islands needy, but this excuse is a little to convenient
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Pinkertons from PE writes: This is not an amended news story—it’s a new news story. The original CBC article is still available at
Chris Wright is quoted in the CBC news item as saying: ‘We're providing food for the bands and the acts, so … they may get to rub elbows with Reba McEntire or some of the other acts.’ There is no mention whatever of children’s camps and beer tents.
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Where has be been? from PEI writes: Where has Mr. Murphy been? Why did it take over a week for him to give a statement of correction on this report?
And how does Danny Murphy suddenly have something to do with this concert? We were told previously Danny Murpy wasn't involved in Kevin's Restaurant/Hotel Tourism Venture? Could the Murphy Brothers explain please?
I agree with the comments from Transplant and Brotherskeeper. Why was the Murphy Group vice-president Chris Wright so misinformed?
Murphy Group vice-president Chris Wright says the restaurant business operates on a tight profit margin, so planning to use volunteers allowed the company to bid low on the contract.
We're in business to make money, Wright told CBC News. We put our best foot forward to try and get this contract.
Then it was reported that volunteers would receive a Discount for Murphy's RESTAURANTS and maybe get to rub shoulder with the CELEBS!
Murphy said the volunteer work being done is associated with Oak Acres Children’s Foundation, the charity selected to be the recipient of the profits brought in through sales at the beverage tent.
Confusing at best! One would expect a business as large as The Murphy Group
would have more PR Control! And with Kevin Murphy so closely connected to the Dept of Tourism he should have made every effort to avoid any controversy!
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Douglas Rhyder from Charlottetown, PE writes: How did these millionaires earn their money in the first place?
Why is it that they do not know what to do with their wealth while ordinary working men and women find it hard to pay their bills at the end of the month and while more than a billion people live on less than a dollar a day and 3 billion on less than 2 dollars a day?
Capitalism is built on cheap labour and token philanthropy. Is Kevin Murphy donating his money or the labour of his employees to Oak Acres?
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Quiet Observer from Charlottetown, PEI writes: How did these brothers earn their money in the first place? By hard work and being smart enough to open businesses that would do well, and by managing them well.
It disgusts me how people like DOUGLAS RHYDER can let their jealousy of the success of these two men come out of his mouth with such ignorance of facts and reality.
Their success all started with being smart enough to open the first Tim Horton's store on PEI. From there, through running a good business and smart business decisions, they expanded and have become very successful. And THEY DESERVE IT.
They know exactly what to do with their money - they donate hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to charities, communities, event and activities.
Yes, they live well, but they deserve to. They have been smart and are good at what they do, so why shouldn't they live well.
But, most importantly, they give back huge amounts of support to charities, organizations, community groups, etc. every year. Huge!
Lighten up jealous people and try appreciating the good that these successful businessmen do.
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Sick and Tired from PE writes: I see they are trying to cover up the fact that Murhphy's were too cheap in the beginning to pay their volunteers .. now that it's controversial , they change their story... does that really surprise you.
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minimum wage from PEI writes: How many employees of the various Murphy enterprises make minimum wage (or in the case of restaurants, less)? If the answer is more than zero, why doesn't our fearless MP, who wants to raise the minimum wage, suggest at the next family picnic that his brothers might want to raise their minimum pay to at least what he has proposed.
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To Quiet Observer from PEI writes: The Murphy Group are not the only entity who give generously to Charitable Institutions and Organizations on PEI.
Check out the Contribution that Walmart made to the Isac Walton Children's Hospital Fund Raiser! The Conglomerate that many Islanders enjoy attacking on a regular basis!
Check out the Contributions that Murphy Pharmacies make to PEI Organizations, etc. Paderno also makes large contributes to Island Charities and Institutions.
I applaud the Murphy Group's Contributions to Island Charities but they are not the only Island Business or Firm that contributes generously.
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Hey, Quiet Observer from pei writes: Is that you...Kevin?
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clarify that from pei writes: Tourism and this government are NOT the major financial supporters of this event. The taxpayers are. So what money those working in tourism and in government are putting in is only the same as the rest of us - a small portion of their individual taxes.
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To Quiet Observer from PEI writes: May I suggest East Point for the setting of your commercial? Sunrise, subject with hands on his hips, looking over his left shoulder. Soundtrack by Brahms or Wagner.
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RED NEX from PEI writes: I believe a PR Firm was hired for the answers.
Thats why It took over a week for the retraction.
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The Observer from Stratford, PE writes: Well I have no doubt that Mr. Murphy is generous donor to many Island charities however in this case I have to side with those who are wondering why it took so long for him to clarify his ad and/or the comments on the CBC. If I were him I would have been on the phone to CBC/Guardian to straighten out matters immediately. By taking a week his credibility in this case can only be seen as suspect no matter what he says.
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The Problem from PEI writes: While I have nothing but respect for the Murphy's, the story has changed since the last time and they are trying to save face now.
Quiet Observer forgot to mention it's the customers who contribute to the charities with these companies support. Walmart sucks a dollar out of every customer for their hospital fundraising and then takes the credit for raising the money. They did collect it, but it came from individual everyday people. The Tim Horton's food drive....camp day....on and on. Everyday people makes the charitible donations possible and the company gets the great publicity. Even after all of this the charities are great and the companies deserve credit for their part, but none of it would be possible without the rest of us.
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run udown from Charlottetown, PEI writes: Quiet Observer, here is an option for redemption with your fellow posters on this story. Put up a post calling for a full public inquiry and forensic audit ( every file) on PNP and evrything will be fine. It's OK if you like the Murphy boys but we kind of need to see what your overall sense of justice is all about. Please proceed.
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Get serious from PEI writes: Sinse the taxpayers gave over ONE MILLION DOLLARS to this function, would it be too much to ask for a charitable donation and pay the workers a few dollars. Money is not too abundant these days.
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Old Tory from P.E.I. writes: Name the person who got the $1.2 million. A portion of that, approximately $100,000., should be put in the credit union to retrieve Mr Mitchell's cattle from the cattle rustlers. Now, that would be doing something worthwhile which nobody on PEI seems to want to do, just rip off their neighbours.
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Wats the Difference? from PEI writes: So Wats the Difference if it's the Beer Slinging Maids that aren't getting paid or the Food Slinging Waiters? It's all going in some way or form in a large or small percentage to The Murphy Group Company the Company awarded the Contract! You know the one that didn't factor in wages so he could keep his contract bid low!!!!
It also doesn't detract from the fact that Kevin Murphy saw fit in these dim economic times to summon Islanders to Volunteer their Free Service for no Monetary Benefit other than a 20% Saving Coupon at HIS Restaurant Establishment and an Elbow Rub with one of the Celebs!!!!
No matter which way he chooses to Spin it, it was a Scrooge Move and distasteful Business Practices by one of the Top Tier of our Tourism Industry who just recently was talking about his concern for Islanders! What a Difference a few days make ? And how come it took him SO MANY DAYS to amend the Report???
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Lloyd a fed from PE writes: And I seem to remember Kevin Murphy stand up in the media a few years ago, growling at the government for putting the minimum wage up- I think it was about $6.50 an hour then.
Shame.... that first post, I'm guessing was written by another Murphy exec!
Smells worse than an old pile of lobster shells...
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