[Newsbot]

Title: Liberals fuming as Tories return to gas-plant controversy
Category: Business
Posted By: martin14
Date: 2013-02-20 22:20:47
Canadian

[martin14]

What, did the Libs think everyone was just going to forget ?

[OnTheIce]

As much as I don't like Hudak, I like that he's pressing on this particular issue.

This issue cannot be swept under the rug. We need answers.

[Lemmy]

We need answers, yes; good on Hudak. What we also need is a mechanism to prevent this sort of shit from ever happening again. Too few people seem to have control over the purse strings. Investments of this size and decisions to cancel/alter investments resulting in financial penalty need serious oversight that clearly isn't happening.

[QBall]

Yeah it sucks when the opposition leader wants to hold the government accountable for, what I consider, a criminal act. The nerve!

[saturn_656]

martin14 martin14:

What, did the Libs think everyone was just going to forget ?

McGuinty jumped in the lifeboat and buggered off, but it wasn't as if all the old guard went with him.

His crew has no end of bullshit to answer for and deserve to have their feet held to the fire.

[Lemmy]

Well, wish in one hand and shit in the other; see which one fills up first.

McGuinty's going to walk away with a bag full of money, answering nothing in the process. And until the system is corrected, that'll be true of Wynne and whomever follows her, regardless which party they represent, just as it was true for Harris, Eves, Davis, Peterson, Rae, etc, etc.

[saturn_656]

I don't think anyone will face any real consequences for the multiple disasters caused by the McGuinty government, but at the same time I don't think the Liberals should assume now that McGuinty is gone, all of their misdeeds are going to be swept under the rug (with the aid of the opposition) and forgotten about.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

I don't think anyone will face any real consequences for the multiple disasters caused by the McGuinty government, but at the same time I don't think the Liberals should assume now that McGuinty is gone, all of their misdeeds are going to be swept under the rug (with the aid of the opposition) and forgotten about.

I doubt it. I gotta feeling Wynne was Kim Campbelled.

[Curtman]

I can't say I know much of anything about this story, I just find it interesting in contrast to this non-issue here:

Hydro refuses to say what $223 million bought

$1:

The spending comes from Hydro's push during the past decade to build new dams in northern Manitoba. Part of that preparation involved Hydro sitting down with aboriginal communities potentially impacted by the new dams and working out some kind of flood compensation agreement before they're built.
In theory, it sounds completely reasonable.
As Hydro started to discuss new dams in the north, however, it cooked up a recipe for disaster. It told the bands they could hire lawyers and consultants for the negotiations and Hydro would pick up the tab; the bands could repay a portion of the costs later on.
Oh, and all expenses would be kept completely confidential.
...
She described band members being paid to attend public meetings in her community to discuss the dams. Those same meetings were allegedly full of door prizes such as video game systems, flat-screen TVs and freezers.
The whistleblower even produced a cheque stub for $1,225 that she received from one of the consulting companies that was doing Hydro-related work for her community. She also told the media she was paid $700 on another occasion to attend a two-hour meeting.
Hydro maintains it has never knowingly paid for door prizes or large cheques to attendees. And it may be right -- not "knowingly."
When allegations come forward that a consulting firm paid for by Hydro is out cutting cheques to band members for large sums to attend meetings, Hydro can't simply put its head in the sand and ignore the problem.

It must be wonderful to be the government of this province, when nobody in the opposition demands answers. You guys are riled right up about the same amount of money.

[Unsound]

Is Manitoba Hydro a gov't agency? Or an arms length Crown Corp?

Not saying Manitobans shouldn't be outraged, but it seems to be an important distinction between the two stories.

[Curtman]

I don't know how arms length it is...

Manitoba premier to face budget, hydro issues in new year

$1:

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger will face at least two major challenges in 2013 — addressing a growing deficit and convincing Manitobans that now is the time to build $20 billion in hydro projects.

I'm not sure Manitobans should be outraged about it either. Hydro development is our best shot at becoming a "have" province. It seems like it's just part of doing business in the North, throw a bunch of cash around so you can get things done.

It's way off topic already, sorry about that. Maybe I'll take this thread to the Attiwapiskat - Debeers one.

[Unsound]

Curtman Curtman:

I'm not sure Manitobans should be outraged about it either. Hydro development is our best shot at becoming a "have" province. It seems like it's just part of doing business in the North, throw a bunch of cash around so you can get things done.

You should be, if not ouraged, atleast asking very hardquestions. These are the kind of practices that Canadian companies aren't supposed to take part in in corrupt third world countries, never mind at home. It might seem neccesary, but if it is then we need to work on making it unneccesary.