Opposition leader renews calls for premier to fire former deputy
WAYNE THIBODEAU The Guardian
Conservative MLA Jim Bagnall looks on as Opposition Leader Olive Crane questions Auditor General Colin Younker at a meeting of the public accounts committee in Charlottetown Thursday. Guardian photo
Premier Robert Ghiz is endorsing the actions of Brooke MacMillan by refusing to fire him, Opposition Leader Olive Crane says.
During a legislative standing committee hearing on Thursday, Crane renewed her calls for Ghiz to fire MacMillan, who is head of the Liquor Control Commission.
She also renewed her calls for a public inquiry into the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Auditor General Colin Younker said MacMillan was in a conflict of interest when he accessed thousands of dollars in funding from the PNP while he was a deputy minister.
Ghiz agreed and ordered MacMillan to pay the money back, which the auditor general confirms he did.
But the controversy surrounding MacMillan continues to dog the provincial Liberal government.
“What’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong and I’m sorry but Mr. MacMillan has to be fired,” Crane told reporters following the standing committee hearing.
“If you broke all the rules and if you gave someone — and I’m going with what the auditor general has confirmed and what’s in treasury board guidelines — if you gave your friend 16 (PNP) units do you pay those units back too? This is serious. It has to do with public trust. It has to do with accountability.”
That accountability, added Crane, lies at the feet of the premier.
“Under treasury board guidelines, which covers deputy ministers, it clearly states the authority goes right back to the premier. The premier is the person that’s ultimately responsible for choosing his or her deputies as well as dealing with authority around accountability.”
Crane tried to convince Liberal MLAs, who make up the majority on the public accounts committee, to agree to her request to have the premier appear before the committee to answer questions about MacMillan’s involvement in the PNP. The Liberals defeated her motion by a vote of six to one.
Crane also wanted former Innovation Minister Richard Brown to return for a second appearance before the committee. Again, Liberals defeated her motion by a vote of six to one.
Crane also moved a motion to hear from Allan Rankin, clerk of the executive council, but Liberals also denied that motion by a vote of six to one.
Crane was the only MLA to support the call to bring the high-powered politicians and bureaucrats before the legislative standing committee.
“What’s the point?” said a dejected Crane after her three motions were defeated.
The Liberal MLAs appeared disgusted by Crane’s line of questioning, sometimes shaking their heads as the Opposition leader peppered the auditor general with question after question about MacMillan’s involvement in PNP.
Crane spent nearly an hour questioning the auditor general, almost all of it having to do directly with MacMillan.
Liberal government house leader Robert Vessey accused Crane of launching personal attacks against MacMillan.
The controversy around the Provincial Nominee Program is not going away and now the auditor general is suggesting he may launch a whole new investigation into the program. The timing for that investigation couldn’t be worse for the governing Liberals.
Younker said he may include a further investigation in his 2011 report, which will be released in the spring of 2011 — less than six months before the next provincial election.
“We may have an interest in doing some more work in other areas in the future,” said Younker.
“Not for the 2010 report, but possibly for the 2011 report.”
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bannie ============== from chtown, pei writes: the truth needs to come out,get it over
with,give the public the truth they want.
it is a real mess,sorry now or no chance
later
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Behind the Plow from PEI writes: The View from Here.................
1. Ms Olive Crane is doing credible work as is our Auditor General...........
2. When every motion is put forward and is defeated by the Liberal majority on this Accounts committee, one should draw a conclusion that either the Auditor General is incompetent or the Liberal members are???......The Auditor General is trying to do his job without any support from the current Government ............It doesn't get any more corrupt than this........Hear no evil see no evil......Keep digging the hole deeper Ghiz and the Gang............One Term and the closer it gets the better it looks............Grass Roots day.........You are all then just a memory and not a good one.........
3. My bet..........Big things to hide..........I wonder how many PNP units were given to the Ghiz inner circle of friends in High Places.........This must be protected at all costs.........their will be fall guys you watch it happen!!!!
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PEICPR from PEI writes: What are we gaining from any of this? The government, the media, is anyone really getting to the bottom of the PNP controversy? What exactly is Olive expecting to find at the public accounts committee? Is this her new election platform? The other committee members, why aren't they communicating their reasons for stonewalling? If they oppose to every motion put forward, why don't they offer an explanation, a rationale, an alternative.
This government and this opposition party are ineffective.
When will Islanders get the answers they need to finally move on from this political scandal?
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Rob Mceachern from Priests pond, Pe writes: Mr. Younker, did you get units?
Great suggestion to investigate further, but to whom would you provide your findings.
The Public can clearly see that Public Accounts Committee is a bunch of lemming under direct orders from young ghiz and his brilliant flock of manadarins. The Public is not getting answers.
We certainly more investigation but you are not the guy anymore, you should appear with a gag on.
We need answers and we also need to add some teeth to committee members to Have any questions they ask, answered. Or change the name , this is not Pubic Accounts.
Please young ghiz, wake up and stand up.
Thank You
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Public Inquiry now from pei writes: Ms Crane,
We are beginning to see cracks. You are convincing the AG to re-look at things.
Your hard work is paying off little by little. It is still a long road yet, but keep going.
I know it must be hard with the smug looks tehse liberal members are throwing your way, but islanders see through their smug looks.
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Sharon from PEI writes: Good job Olive! I'm very impressed with your perseverance to get to the bottom of this horrible example of dishonesty in the Ghiz government. I hope the PNP issue doesn't dissolve like so many of the previous government fiascos.
It can't be easy to be the odd person out on these votes, but keep up the good work. The voters are noticing that you are on their side.
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bill from pei writes: robert ghiz --- can you spell accomplice ?
what about the other politicians who know the truth and are hiding it ?
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the truth will set you free from pei writes: If only the Liberals would allow islanders to get the answers they deserve on this and be accountable to the people who elected him we could improve the program, regain our respect and rebuild our international reputation as a decent place to move to. Ghiz has single handedly done more to disgrace our province with this cash for friends program then we will ever know. Opportunity come from investment and we are now on the bottom of the pile as a place to invest because our government is seen as dishonest. Without a full disclosure we will remain tarnished.
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bill from pei writes: to all politicians --all parties
you are part of the problem ---
OR
-part of the solution
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For Once from pei writes: Step up and do the right thing Mr.Ghiz and listen to Olive here.....
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F. HILL.HILLBILLY from PEI writes: I can;t for the life of me figure out why MR.GHIZ is protecting macmillan.Its clear as glass that theres a conflict of intrest.keeping the guy in a gov;t position is only tarnishing the premiers credability .
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run udown from Charlottetown, PEI writes: So the Liberal MLAs on PAC-
APPEARED DISGUSTED BY CRANE'S LINE OF QUESTIONING, SOMETIMES SHAKING THEIR HEADS....
Well well well now it seems some people are in for a really big surprise. Wow! I mean---- Wow!
Is there film footage on this stuff? I would love to see it. Maybe some of the yet to be surprised Libs stayed stupidly vigilant in their wrongdoing but I would love to see the actual footage for those who have a few brains in their heads.
There must have been a few finally finally catching on-- the sneering grins fading to fearful frowns as Younker said he would do more PNP reporting.
Yeah the 5th Floor boys told you Liberal MLAs this would all be over by Christmas just like last Christmas. Right? How many generals, kings and presidents have spun out that line for wars that went on for years, men dying and dying and dying for the greed and lies of others.
Yeah let's see these Liberal faces, turning from cockiness about how brilliant Ghiz was to the fearful calculations about dusting off the old resumes in 2011.
You were all elected in 2007. You are not even going to get your pensions.
Sure, suck up to Ghiz for a Cabinet Post, the big car, the big office, and the big feeling way of doing things. For a few months anyway.It just means even bigger election defeats in 2011.
It is still pretty polite but this is our very own little PEI civil war, Liberal turkeys! You have shown no respect for your critics and opponents and that is why we are going to----
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Quiet Observer from Charlottetown, PEI writes: I tip my hat to Olive Crane. She has the fortitude and dtermination to get to the truth.
The Liberals on that committee, and all the way up to the Premier's Office and showing that there is a huge cover-up here.
If you have nothing to hide, you hide nothing. Period.
Olive, keep pushing. Keep this in the limelight until the next election. Then, once we get rid of Ghiz & company, then things can be made right.
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already fired from PEI writes: Olive, Olive. When Macmillan was moved out of government into the cushy job at liquor, that was the firing ... The heat will have to be turned WAAAAAY up - as in did BM break the law? - to get him out of this one.
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bill from pei writes: the 7.5'ers form the liberal gov't othe 1990's are still around--if any of those got any pnp units---GUESS WHAT !!!???
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downtown Doug from PE writes: Let's get this straight, people keep placing the word Liberal in front of the PNP money activity. I understood this happened within the past government as well. I think ALL PNP recepients should be identified and to when they received their monies.
If there is fraud... then let's call a spade a spade and get on with dealing with everyone. This should be interesting. By the way, I think charges should have been laid. If I took money from my employer... putting it back after I was caught would not make things right... it just brings to question if there were other people who knew about it and were in on it.
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A Count Able from pei writes: Olive, those who are aware applaud your continued efforts. They also see through the facade of those enabling this cover-up.
We won't forget.
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shurting from Cornwall, PE writes: There is no point in the Auditor General launching a new inquiry into the PNP unless he is going to do a thorough review, no holds barred, honest and open. Citizens are still concerned with the preferential treatment of some, despite the best efforts of the past president of the liberal party to put a positive spin on the economic benefits of the program. He has probably got a shopping center to sell you as well, problem is he dosen't own it. But this government owns the mess of the PNP. The major concerns being what happened to the approx. 70% of the total funds paid out in fees to the lawyers, accountants, intermedriaris and head hunters? What will happen when those hundreds and hundredss who have paid good money to immigrate to Canada give up the notion and ask for their money back? No..the program was pure and simply underhanded from the get go and those responsible have laid a heavy burden on the people of PEI. They must be held accountable. Carry on Ms. Crane and Mr. Rodd.. we need transparency in government.
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Amused from peI writes: MacMillan obviously knows to much and Ghiz is protecting him as well as himself. Think about it, fire MacMillan and then MacMillan spills everything. I am pretty sure Ghiz doesn't want that because just maybe it will come out that Ghiz's wifes name will surface.
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Joe Martell from Charlottetown, PE writes: Kudos to Olive Crane! Likewise to Colin Younker. If these Liberal marionettes continue to inexplicably refuse the release of further information, perhaps there's another route.
I'm sure suggesting another auditor's report on PNP in 2011 went down Liberal throats like a broken glass milkshake.
I wonder what's next out of the boy-king's office...maybe someone now wants a new auditor before then!
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willowdove from PE writes: Very impressive work Olive. Keep Digging!! Thankless job I'm sure however you are making progress.
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Hypocrits! from PE writes: Two words for Olive and her band of hypocritical supporters: Pat Dorsey, Peter McQuaid
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wondering about it from pei writes: After a while I start to get tired of pipsqueak politicians who focus on petty political issues for gain rather than dealing with the many economic and social issues the Province has.
Its easy to rail away at partisan politics, but its really hard to provide real solutions to real problems. We need people of stature and statesmanship working for us in Government and we continually get second rate hacks in both parties.
Maybe its what we deserve but I think a lot if it stems from the media who can't seem to hold these jokers to accountability for their inability to provide solid solutions to the important items on the PEI agenda.
It makes much better press to apply standards more fitting to the National Inquirer than those followed by talented professional print and visual journalists.
There are real problems in PEI in health, real problems with criminal and drug related activities, real problems with creating an environment for development, real problems in education, real problems with poverty, agriculture, the fishery and the list goes on and on.
But these are difficult problems to address so pipsqueaks gravity towards the non issues, so we end up with a bunch of politicians and journalists that remind me of successive Montague councils that get mired in personalities.
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Was Thinking the Same... from PE writes: I had that thought myself Hypocrits! People have pretty short memories when it comes to this PNP debacle. The Tories were around when the program started, oversaw it for years, but were ousted before the general public knew of the program. Those two names you mentioned are the tip of the iceberg. Trust me there were just as many Conservatives benefiting from this program, it just so happens it was long before the tap ran dry...
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Steve from PEI writes: Hypocrits: there is not enough space on here to list the Liberal PNP people
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Blinders Off from PE writes: I find a lot of these findings as fishy as the next person, but don't be duped into believing the Liberals are the only party at fault here. A room full of Conservative powerheads got their fix from this program and got off easy since they're no longer in the public light. Keep in mind Ghiz had nothing to do with establishing the rules of this program and came into office in the last quarter of the program's existence. Although not popular in these comments, I don't blame him! And when it comes time to hit the polls again he could very well get my vote, unless of course he's facing off against a superstar opponent like Olive Crane or Jimmy Bagnall.
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bill from pei writes: crane should lead by example --i am sure she won't though
she could publish the names of party members and supporters who received and/or passed out out pnp units--members, family, lawyers within the party or always around it (guess who)
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bruce from pei writes: It is really too bad that the media and the opposition are spending all their time on this subject. The main focus of this opposition is to bring this government down no matter what it takes. If youn think for one minute that Olive Crane really cares about what happened with this PNP file give your head a shake.Her main focus is to try and and the public with the help of the media to think that this government is crooked and that everyone who is associated with it should be in jail, for she and her band of merry ones are the good guys and they have never since time began , done anything that was questionable. It was the conservative government of which Olive Crane was a part of during the Pat Binns era, who the public accounts hearing,defeat the then members of the Liberal opposition, when they wanted to get the AG to look futher into Polar Food scandal . So lets hope that, Olive remembers that what goes around comes around .
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Deedee from PEI writes: Hear!Hear! I agree wholeheartedly with Hypocrits from PE. While Brooke MacMillan was not found to be in conflict of interest, he did pay back the funds he received. Did Pat Dorsey or Peter McQuaid pay back the thousands they got? You can't have it both ways Olive. From what I hear in the political grapevine there are some high profile Conservatives who are not happy that Olive is stirring this pot as much as she is. They know that PNP money was mishandled by the Conservative gov't before the Liberals were elected.
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woodsman from pei writes: Pray-tell---why are are we sending out young people to fight and die in another country in the name of domorcracy when we dont have it here--terrible excample liberals
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GO OLIVE ! T A from PEI writes: Great work Olive. Keep it up. Keep putting the coals to the Fire!
I think the NDP should get more involved and work with the Conservatives.
The Liberals have two choices either put the information summoned forward or deal with it daily untill the next election.
Islanders are not going to shove it under the Rug. It is more than apparent that Islanders are very determined to get to the bottom of the PNP. The only question is whether it's going to be now or later?
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Native Islander from city, pe writes: It is time to call in Linden MacIntyre at Fifth Estate. He would get to the bottom of this!
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Still? from PE writes: The further back they go the more they'll dig up on the Conservatives and how they mismanaged the program during the Binns tenure. I can see why the Liberals want to move on though as nothing productive will ever come from this and it is a constant waste of taxpayers money. The program served its purpose. Brooke paid back his money. Pat Dorsey and Peter McQuaid did not. So the NDP is really the only party who can cry foul here. But why would anyone, who wants their vote to count, vote for them? Heaven forbid we go for real change in this province...
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shame on them from pei writes: It is almost impossible to shame people like this because of their sense of entitlement.
They swing between bullying arrogance and snivelling duplicity, depending on what serves their needs. The public has lost all faith in them.
The dimmest light on PEI can sense opportunism in the PNP fiasco. They didn't do anything that evil - maybe they even had businesses to grow.
But MLA's did took advantage of their position to exploit PNP to put a fat cheque in their ar$e pockets and in their friends' pockets, too. At least that's what I read. They should not have been allowed to do so. They broke trust.
And now they refuse to identify themselves, to give an account of how much money they took, or even to explain their rationale. They are craven and now they are hiding.
All of which demonstrates their contempt for their supporters and neighbours, the gullible rubes who trusted them.
And when Leader of the Opposition Crane tries to out them, six to one the Liberals vote no with their middle fingers.
The PNP fiasco is worse than the Polar Foods mess because the managers sho scuttled the PF enterprise were stupid and incompetent. But MLAs availing themselves of PNP money is just tawdry malfesiance, and they know it.
Good for Olive Crane for pushing this file. Make then insult decency. Get them on record. Get them on record three times. Someday a historian will write about this sorry little episode and our students will shake their heads.
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tom from pei writes: Appeared disgusted, and sometimes shaking their heads. Haha they sound like a bunch of 12 year old girls with bad attitudes. Olive for premier. And I am a card carrying liberal.
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Milton Steed from Charlottetown, PEI writes: Hypocrits!, if you see Dorsey or McQuaid anywhere near Crane or her team please put up a post telling us all. I hear she keeps them as far away as she can! She can't suggest disciplining them because they are no longer in the provincial system. But the more I see her the more I believe she wil find a way to deal with those 2 cads as well.
If you want action on Dorsey call Shawn Murphy MP for a full public inquiry on PNP. Complain about Ghiz and Dorsey ( federal deputy) at the same time. See what Shawn has to say! And see if Olive Crane bursts into tears if Dorsey gets some rough justice.
We have a high level crisis on PEI and basically old style partisan shots do not apply, Mr. Hypocrits! Olive is doing the best anybody could against a bi-partisan conspiracy of cheaters and liars!
Olive Crane is exactly right about pushing for both Ghiz and Brown to appear before PAC for further questioning on PNP. If these two gentlemen were real leaders.. or real men for that matter.. they would stand up and account for themselves. These two characters made many false and misleading statements on PNP and if they were smart they would speak up truthfully to cover themselves legally, at the very least.
I have seen many cabinets on PEI over the last fifty plus years and the Robert Ghiz cabinet is the worst I have ver seen. The Liberal MLAs on PAC are totally disgraceful. It is one thing to do your master's bidding; it is quite another to denigrate other people trying to do their job.
I tore up my Liberal memebrship cards months ago and I am not happy I had to do it. Then Ignatieff proved to be a disaster, Shawn Murphy tried to cover up for Ghiz on PNP, and my own MP Wayne Easter just voted to kill the long gun registry. I do not know what to do federally now either.
I am old now. I loved Pierre Trudeau. Alex Campbell and Joe Ghiz. Robert Ghiz gives me the opposite feeling that Joe used to offer me. All I have left politically now is this PNP fight and because it involves corruption, racism, and cover up I am going to fight this one while I still have breath to breathe.
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PEI Menace from Charlottetown, PE writes: Keep up the pressure Olive! They will have to come clean eventually.
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TA from pei writes: Premier Ghiz, do the honorable thing, and open the books relating to the PNP program. If you do, you have 2 years to recover from this fiasco. If you don't, this ball and chain will pull you and your MLAs off the political map. Are there any honorable MLAs who will act on behalf of their constituents and do the right thing? Times are changing and you will be held accountable.
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no fifty thou here from pei writes: MacMillan is probably a lot better prepared financially for job loss than some others that are getting hard hit.
One of the problems with the way this current government does business is in believing that society only needs highly-educated innovative minds. Kind of like architects that can lay the blueprints for a house but can't hammer a nail straight. It appears that this government believes that anyone making fifty thou or less a year won't be intelligent enough to catch on to political tricks, that the less-educated and the less financially secure will eat any manure that's tossed to them. This government knows some of us will go hungry to stay warm and some will freeze to stay fed. It looks like they think we are hungry enough to dine on any severely skewed facts they choose to toss out. Silence, ladies and gentlemen, speaks volumes.
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Big Joke from PEI from PEI writes: Re: Hypocrits! from PE
That is 4 words :) I always knew liberals were bad with numbers!
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Amused from peI writes: This is to hypocrits, did you see the Conservatives hiding these people, NO you didn't. They have been accountable and brought forward the names of their people.
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Keep Digging from PE writes: It would be wonderful to have this Province a true Gentle Island instead of being a Potato Republic. Let's CLEAN it up.
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Plum from PE writes: As I remember Brooke and the boy king were neighborhood pals going to the same schools, partying post secondary fraty types and aspiring political types, working the system.
Ghix will not fire his pint sharing/sock hop pal - they have been through too much together and spoil the laughs for future reminising.
No one is proud of Ghiz for perpetuating this type of scandle.
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Gerry from pe writes: Keep up the diligence Olive. Regardless of who received PNP units, Liberals or Conservatives, expose them. At least you are respected as a politician with integrity. Don't let us down.
Time to house clean and get rid of the trough which so many are being fed from.
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bye the way from Ch'town, pei writes: Olive, you should have asked your old boss ,Binnsey all these questions . What your doing now is proper , but for the wrong reasons .to thine own heart be True!!!
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Dick Buttkiss from Charlottetown, PE writes: Way to go Olive Crane....keep up the good work and never let this rest. The public has a right to know all about this PNP mess. Its obvious that the Liberals are covering up their mess by not allowing another investigation. Once the Liberals lose the next election, we'll be able to get to the bottom of things.
This is the type of stuff that our PEI government should be doing....protecting the public's interests and getting to the bottom of government scandels and corruption. I want my government to work for the people of PEI and to be honest and hard working. I want my government to do what makes the most sense for the people of PEI. I'm sick of corruption and back-door dealings that goes on and only hurts us Island taxpayers in the long run while the politicians fill their pockets and their friends pockets as well. Its not right!!! there is no place for that kind of corruption in PEI politics.
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Mike from PE writes: Hypocrits....at least pat Dorsey and Peter McQuaid were not elected.
The Tories were at least smart enough not to let their MLA's do it while they were elected.
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Who takes the fall? from Charlottetown, PEI writes: The first rule of politics is that everyone under the top guy is expendable.
Somehow Brooke is an exception.
It makes you wonder what Brooke has on Bobby, doesn't it?
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Fed Up from PEI writes: Perhaps members of the public should be on this committee and not politicians. Maybe then we'd get some answers.
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Sandi Cumalong from Charlottetown, PE writes: I myself called our accountants *firm* asking if I can get units because I was on the understanding it was for small business, as a small business owner I called, I was told that I was not in the category for units, as told to me I had to be in Tourism, either having cottages, or small gift shops etc, so I was not going to apply in order to be turned down, I then got word a construction company got units, I was thinking how in the world does a construction company do anything for tourism so I called back and asked again why? I heard this company got money(units) and I work on RV's and Motorhomes and that would be more in the tourism industry then construction, I was then told that I would get a call back from this accounting*firm*, they didn't call so i called them back and was told I had to hold or be above $100,000.00 so I didn't fall into this category either (small business remember). So now my doors are closed,,,,and what I want to know is if I have $100,000.00 in my account why would I need the units? and now that my business is closed with NO help from units I want to know where and whom got the units ?? make it public!!
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flo from stratford, pei writes: keep up the good work olive crane.push them till they tell the truth.it is juat wrong what our government has done and is trying to hide .sooner or later we will get the truth.really just think for a minute. why should these so called big wigs get this pnp money .what about us ordinary joes?
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enough already from charlottetown, pe writes: this will land me in hot water....somebody please tell me what was wrong with pnp...over 400 million dolllars spent in PEI...is the problem from all the posters is that they didnt get any? guesss what they did? jobs, spending investment, increased tax base..for what cost? what of your money was spent...ok some admin dollars....but think about what else gives $400million plus on that cost...enough already...spend some time getting another program in place
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Lets be clear from Charlottetown, PE writes: no matter what the Conflict of Interest Commissioner or the Premier say.To all the nay sayers and partisan commentors, let us keep one thing in mind. The concern about the mismanagement of the PNP was not brought to the forefront by anyone in either political party but by concerned citizens who were worried about the abuse of the public process and the fradulent use of government programs for the benefit of a select few. There was also glaring conflicts of interest that were not being and have not been addresses. For MLAs and Deputy Ministers to be the the in line to partake in the government sponsored programs is reprehensible. Our government officials knowingly pushed the boundaries of the PNP until it went bust. For anyone to try and justify the activities of one party or the other is foolhardy and insulting to the average citizen of PEI. What people want is an open ,honest and transparent government where the citizen takes precedence over greed and corporate profit. Islanders will not stop until these matters have been addressed. So stop protecting your vested interest and think more about the future of your grandchildern and the kind of world you would like them to live in.
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To Lets Be Clear from PEI writes: KUDOS ! Couldn't have said it better!
Bravo! Just hope those who REALLY NEED to (Our Government) also heard you.
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bill from pei writes: liberals . conservatives. politicians of all stripes, lawyers for political parties. thieves, liars, sociopaths,--all not welcome at my door
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