The following news story comes from "allNovaScotia.com" and it casts our Province in shunning out Nova Scotia's businesses from bidding on PEI work and if we keep up this closed shop parochial type thinking then we're going to find PEI firms being shut out of Nova Scotia work... but I think there's even more to this story in that the PEI Tourism geniuses (well they do run our golf business) are thinking along some other lines...
Yes PEI Tourism hit a home run with Regis & Kelly by doing it "in-house" but let's hope they're not crazy enough to "open their own advertisng shop"... it's easy to think you're invincible once you're hit the "homer" but it only takes a "Cirque" project to strike out... I like the concept of working with the smaller firms but why they would want to preclude Halifax agencies like "Extreme or M-5" or other big agencies puzzles me... in my business the Government's construction tenders are public tenders and lots of times major firms like PCL and Bird show up and occasionally win some in our local market but lots of times we show up and win some in their markets... I can certainly understand why they want the "personalized" attention of a smaller firm on this kind of contract but they should at least accept proposals from anyone who shows up with an interest in bidding... if they don’t want to accept the lowest price then set up a open scoring system and at the very least openly "score" them on their abilities before they preclude them... and for our taxpayer's interests PLEASE don't get crazy enough to "Open your own Shop" as another way of creating jobs...
I’d hate to wake up tomorrow and find out the our Government “opened” their own advertising agency and they hired the folks from Tourism Charlottetown to run it... because that’s exactly what we've got in “Golf Links PEI” an unnecessary agency that’s costing our taxpayers millions of dollars every year!!!! PLEASE "Mr. Vessey" don't let them do it....
P.E.I. Shuns Big Halifax Ad Agencies
allNovaScotia.com
By Andrew Macdonald
Oct 18-10
Halifax ad agencies have lost an opportunity to gun for the P.E.I. government's tourism campaign -because they are too big. according to Brenda Gallant who directs the Tourism Department's marketing division on the Island.~
The news comes right on the heels of P.E.I.'s hugely successful hosting of the popular American
morning show Regis & Kelly.
Instead of canvassing among the full service ad agencies - like Extreme Group or M-5 - the Robert Ghiz government wants a smaller boutique operator, or an individual who would provide account services and then tender out for things like media buying and producing commercials and other ads.
Grey Worldwide, a Toronto outfit, has had held the circa $600,000 contract to manage P.E.I. multimillion dollar tourism campaign since 2005. Its contract was extended for one year and expires this month.
When Grey took over it replaced Cossette Atlantic.
Many observers believed Extreme or M-5 would be in a position to compete for a new contract.
That's because Colour would be in a conflict, as it runs the Nova Scotia tourism campaign, and
Target does the same job for Newfoundland.
Gallant said yesterday a decision on hiring a new outfit or person could be made by the end of next week. She previously said the tender disqualified firms like Extreme or M-5 and other full service firms.
She said a smaller operator will be able to work hands-on with P.E.I.'s Tourism Department. The move is not, however, expected to save money.
One model which was also considered, was taking the tourism campaign in-house - something that could possibly happen in Nova Scotia, given the Darrell Dexter government is cash-starved.
The N.S. contract runs until November, but there are renewal options with existing contract Colour.
Over at the Dartmouth office of M-5, Jim Megann, its Nova Scotia director, said P.E.I.'s decision to reject the ad agency model should not be a big concern to the industry.
"The agency model has certainly stood its test of time, and while I wish P.E.I. the best in that
endeavour, I don't think it signals anything negative towards agencies," he said in a recent interview.
Paul LeBlanc, founder and co-owner of Extreme, notes Grey was not involved with the Regis & Kelly show, which the "Gentle Island" hosted for a week or the Island's popular music festival. Those programs were drafted in-house.
"The kind of exposure they got from that - you can't buy. And I would suggest if they do it every year they should replicate that," said LeBlanc.
But he said it's a lesson that agencies have to respond to changing times, as marketers feel that
agencies don't or shouldn't have all the answers to growing brands.
"An agency absolutely must change. Agencies in the world must change given the change that
consumers have had (with things like social media)," said LeBlanc.
He added: "Agencies still need to be the custodian of the brand."
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Beating a "dead" horse...
We've all heard the old expression "you're beating a dead horse" and that is just exactly how I feel every time I ask the question "what is our government doing in the golf business?" and for the life of me I can't figure out why they want to continue losing millions of dollars in operating revenues each year... and why they can't see that every year they hold on to the courses the values continue to go down... my guest is the $30,000,000.00 they think the 4 Provincial courses are worth might fetch them about half that if they tossed in the financing or if it was just a straight cash sale I don't think they could get $10,000,000.00, but who cares anyway...
What's more troublesome is that the private golf operators in the Cavendish market were up by close to 15% this summer because of the good weather but I have it from a good authority that the Provincial courses were down at least 10%... these lousy Provincial course numbers reinforce my belief that Golf Links PEI squandered $1,500,000.00 on Big Break Mill River which gave us absolutely "no return".... visits this year by American golfers who they were targeting with this hair brain scheme were down by over 30%....
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that there's not much future in the current golf industry as there's very little interest in the game from our younger generation and if you don't believe me just ask the next teenager you meet... but on the other hand why should I be complaining when I can be golfing at Dundarave for $300.00 a year... there’s also the expression “why are you trying to beat a dead horse?” so I may as well enjoy the golf while I can at our taxpayer’s expense...
Golf no longer driving P.E.I. tourism
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
CBC News
There were fewer golfers on P.E.I. last summer, despite the fact there were more tourists and the province has been heavily promoting golf.
Good weather didn't help either. Golf rounds sold for the year up to the end of August were down one per cent.
"It is a little baffling as to why exactly the numbers are flat," John-Anthony Langdale, president of Rustico Resort, which includes both a hotel and golf course, told CBC News Tuesday.
"While we were up in the hotel, the numbers on the golf course didn't reflect the increase in occupancy."
Statistics gathered across the province show this to be the case across the Island. Perhaps even more odd is that golf rounds moved in the opposite direction of room nights sold. When compared to 2009, overnight stays by tourists were up in July and down in August, but up overall. For golf, the situation was reversed: numbers were down in July but up in August and down overall.
Barry MacLeod, chief operating officer for the marketing agency Golf PEI, blames economic conditions.
"It's been a year where we're still feeling the effects of the recession," said MacLeod, "especially from our bigger markets like Toronto and Ottawa, which have traditionally been really good strong markets for us."A look at where people were staying bears out this theory. Occupancy of hotels, inns, and B&Bs were flat, while campgrounds posted a 3.6% gain.
Some luxury services have also suffered. David Gibler of Maritime Luxury Limousine said a few years ago he spent a lot of time driving around large groups of Ontario golfers with money to spend.
"There has been a steady decline of these individuals," said Gibler.
"I'll generally get these guys for maybe four days in a row, and I pick them up for golf and bring them to dinner, and bring them out at night and put them to bed and do it all again the next day. And there's been a real lack of them this year."
Marketing not paying off
The underperformance of P.E.I.'s golf product is particularly disappointing in light of recent investment by the province. Two years ago the province spent close to $1 million marketing golf, promoting the Island on the Golf Channel to try and tap into the U.S. market.
MacLeod said while American golfers are now aware of P.E.I., the recession is still holding some of them back. In particular, the cost of airfare is keeping them closer to home.
"They're used to seeing a lot lower prices than we are used to seeing," he said.
"If we're offering a package for five nights, four rounds, which is $725, and they go online and the airfare price is like $920, they're paying more for airfare than they are for a package. So that presents a challenge."
MacLeod said Golf PEI is working on offering more golf packages that include airfare. He's also banking on the hope the economy will improve, allowing the province to cash in on its marketing investment.
What's more troublesome is that the private golf operators in the Cavendish market were up by close to 15% this summer because of the good weather but I have it from a good authority that the Provincial courses were down at least 10%... these lousy Provincial course numbers reinforce my belief that Golf Links PEI squandered $1,500,000.00 on Big Break Mill River which gave us absolutely "no return".... visits this year by American golfers who they were targeting with this hair brain scheme were down by over 30%....
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that there's not much future in the current golf industry as there's very little interest in the game from our younger generation and if you don't believe me just ask the next teenager you meet... but on the other hand why should I be complaining when I can be golfing at Dundarave for $300.00 a year... there’s also the expression “why are you trying to beat a dead horse?” so I may as well enjoy the golf while I can at our taxpayer’s expense...
Golf no longer driving P.E.I. tourism
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
CBC News
There were fewer golfers on P.E.I. last summer, despite the fact there were more tourists and the province has been heavily promoting golf.
Good weather didn't help either. Golf rounds sold for the year up to the end of August were down one per cent.
"It is a little baffling as to why exactly the numbers are flat," John-Anthony Langdale, president of Rustico Resort, which includes both a hotel and golf course, told CBC News Tuesday.
"While we were up in the hotel, the numbers on the golf course didn't reflect the increase in occupancy."
Statistics gathered across the province show this to be the case across the Island. Perhaps even more odd is that golf rounds moved in the opposite direction of room nights sold. When compared to 2009, overnight stays by tourists were up in July and down in August, but up overall. For golf, the situation was reversed: numbers were down in July but up in August and down overall.
Barry MacLeod, chief operating officer for the marketing agency Golf PEI, blames economic conditions.
"It's been a year where we're still feeling the effects of the recession," said MacLeod, "especially from our bigger markets like Toronto and Ottawa, which have traditionally been really good strong markets for us."A look at where people were staying bears out this theory. Occupancy of hotels, inns, and B&Bs were flat, while campgrounds posted a 3.6% gain.
Some luxury services have also suffered. David Gibler of Maritime Luxury Limousine said a few years ago he spent a lot of time driving around large groups of Ontario golfers with money to spend.
"There has been a steady decline of these individuals," said Gibler.
"I'll generally get these guys for maybe four days in a row, and I pick them up for golf and bring them to dinner, and bring them out at night and put them to bed and do it all again the next day. And there's been a real lack of them this year."
Marketing not paying off
The underperformance of P.E.I.'s golf product is particularly disappointing in light of recent investment by the province. Two years ago the province spent close to $1 million marketing golf, promoting the Island on the Golf Channel to try and tap into the U.S. market.
MacLeod said while American golfers are now aware of P.E.I., the recession is still holding some of them back. In particular, the cost of airfare is keeping them closer to home.
"They're used to seeing a lot lower prices than we are used to seeing," he said.
"If we're offering a package for five nights, four rounds, which is $725, and they go online and the airfare price is like $920, they're paying more for airfare than they are for a package. So that presents a challenge."
MacLeod said Golf PEI is working on offering more golf packages that include airfare. He's also banking on the hope the economy will improve, allowing the province to cash in on its marketing investment.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Share the risk...
It's not very often I agree with Jim Bagnall but I must say here that I have to agree with him somewhat, particularly as it relates to how Tourism Charlottetown got themselves bound into a 3 year contract without having some type of escape clause based on the first year's results... on who's responsible I doubt if it was then in coming Minister Vessey as most of the negotiating would have been done long before the event, when he wasn't the Minister... it was probably a group of people, vented by the Board... and had I been a Board member I probably would have entertained something new like "Cirque" as they are very successful in other markets, but I don't know if I could have been sold on a three year deal without some performance check points. I also don't know if an audit will produce anything new other than confirm the actual amount of the loss and that it didn't work, but it would certainly help to recommend how to avoid getting "trapped" into these types of situations in the future...
Bottom line is the "promotion business" is a lot like the "development business" and you have to take risks to be successful... an example of that is back during the Development Plan our government supported start-ups like Benner Ski and Paderno... at the time they both seemed a little farfetched for most Islanders, that we could manufacture skis and pots here... well Benner Ski failed miserably and the government lost some money but on the other hand Paderno has flourished into a solid business enterprise and that investment has easily recouped the Benner losses through jobs and taxes, that still bring returns to all Islanders... you're not always going to have winners but if you don't try new events like "Cirque" then you're never going to keep consumer's attention and maintain or grow your enterprise....
The bigger issue with Tourism Charlottetown is why they want to be a business enterprise taking all the risk... I'm more for situations like the Cavendish Beach Music Festival (a private operator) where government gives them some seed money and they take the risk and if things don't work out then they're on the hook, not the taxpayer... and if they make some money good for them as they'll probably spend it back in our community anyway... so if we're going to have agencies like Tourism Charlottetown, wanting to promote different ideas and venues to attract people here, then why can't they find promoters to share the risks as opposed to always trying to run it themselves... if they can't find anyone private to "run" with their ideas then it's usually a good indication that it's a poor idea in the first place... governments and their agencies should stick to sponsoring and promoting ideas and let others take the risks in delivering them...
Bagnall slams Tourism Department for Cirque failure
Published on October 19th, 2010
Opposition Tourism critic Jim Bagnall is questioning the role of the Department of Tourism in the current financial challenge facing Tourism Charlottetown.
Bagnall wants to know why the organization is looking for a $1-million bailout to cover the losses from this summer’s Cirque du Soleil performances.
“I want to know what role Tourism Minister Robert Vessey and his deputy, Melissa MacEachern, played in the contract process which has already guzzled $250,000 of taxpayers’ dollars, plus $450,000 from ACOA and is likely to cost us another $1 million,’’ Bagnall said Monday.
The Opposition tourism critic noted that during the spring session of the legislature, he raised concerns in the house about “unanticipated costs’’ related to the production contract.
“We warned government then that we were hearing major concerns about the contract, that it had not been properly scrutinized before being signed, but minister Vessey got into a big huff, refused to look into our concerns and criticized me for having the audacity to even raise the issue.’’
Bagnall charged ticket sales have nothing to do with the current financial crisis facing Tourism Charlottetown.
“I’m just not buying that,’’ he said, noting that Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, executive director of Tourism Charlottetown, said in June that ticket sales were going well and the phone was ringing off the hook.
“This is about this government handing over money to a corporation and not bothering to read the contract. They did the same thing when they poured close to $1 million to prop up the Alanis Morissette concert the year before.’’
Bagnall said Vessey’s refusal to look into the Opposition’s concerns was a costly mistake.
“Not only will we end up paying the $1 million to bail them out but who knows how much it is going to cost Tourism Charlottetown to get out of the $6-million, three-year contract it made with Cirque du Soleil.’’
Bagnall wants to know who was responsible for signing the three-year deal.
“Why sign a three-year deal on a show that hasn’t even proved to be successful? I don’t know who was calling the shots but I do know that Island taxpayers will be paying for their mistakes.’’
Bagnall said the Opposition will be tackling the issue in the upcoming session of the provincial legislature.
“We will want to see who’s signatures are on that contract. We will be questioning the lack of oversight on the contract process and we will be calling for the results of the independent review into Tourism Charlottetown.’’
Bottom line is the "promotion business" is a lot like the "development business" and you have to take risks to be successful... an example of that is back during the Development Plan our government supported start-ups like Benner Ski and Paderno... at the time they both seemed a little farfetched for most Islanders, that we could manufacture skis and pots here... well Benner Ski failed miserably and the government lost some money but on the other hand Paderno has flourished into a solid business enterprise and that investment has easily recouped the Benner losses through jobs and taxes, that still bring returns to all Islanders... you're not always going to have winners but if you don't try new events like "Cirque" then you're never going to keep consumer's attention and maintain or grow your enterprise....
The bigger issue with Tourism Charlottetown is why they want to be a business enterprise taking all the risk... I'm more for situations like the Cavendish Beach Music Festival (a private operator) where government gives them some seed money and they take the risk and if things don't work out then they're on the hook, not the taxpayer... and if they make some money good for them as they'll probably spend it back in our community anyway... so if we're going to have agencies like Tourism Charlottetown, wanting to promote different ideas and venues to attract people here, then why can't they find promoters to share the risks as opposed to always trying to run it themselves... if they can't find anyone private to "run" with their ideas then it's usually a good indication that it's a poor idea in the first place... governments and their agencies should stick to sponsoring and promoting ideas and let others take the risks in delivering them...
Bagnall slams Tourism Department for Cirque failure
Published on October 19th, 2010
Opposition Tourism critic Jim Bagnall is questioning the role of the Department of Tourism in the current financial challenge facing Tourism Charlottetown.
Bagnall wants to know why the organization is looking for a $1-million bailout to cover the losses from this summer’s Cirque du Soleil performances.
“I want to know what role Tourism Minister Robert Vessey and his deputy, Melissa MacEachern, played in the contract process which has already guzzled $250,000 of taxpayers’ dollars, plus $450,000 from ACOA and is likely to cost us another $1 million,’’ Bagnall said Monday.
The Opposition tourism critic noted that during the spring session of the legislature, he raised concerns in the house about “unanticipated costs’’ related to the production contract.
“We warned government then that we were hearing major concerns about the contract, that it had not been properly scrutinized before being signed, but minister Vessey got into a big huff, refused to look into our concerns and criticized me for having the audacity to even raise the issue.’’
Bagnall charged ticket sales have nothing to do with the current financial crisis facing Tourism Charlottetown.
“I’m just not buying that,’’ he said, noting that Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, executive director of Tourism Charlottetown, said in June that ticket sales were going well and the phone was ringing off the hook.
“This is about this government handing over money to a corporation and not bothering to read the contract. They did the same thing when they poured close to $1 million to prop up the Alanis Morissette concert the year before.’’
Bagnall said Vessey’s refusal to look into the Opposition’s concerns was a costly mistake.
“Not only will we end up paying the $1 million to bail them out but who knows how much it is going to cost Tourism Charlottetown to get out of the $6-million, three-year contract it made with Cirque du Soleil.’’
Bagnall wants to know who was responsible for signing the three-year deal.
“Why sign a three-year deal on a show that hasn’t even proved to be successful? I don’t know who was calling the shots but I do know that Island taxpayers will be paying for their mistakes.’’
Bagnall said the Opposition will be tackling the issue in the upcoming session of the provincial legislature.
“We will want to see who’s signatures are on that contract. We will be questioning the lack of oversight on the contract process and we will be calling for the results of the independent review into Tourism Charlottetown.’’
Monday, October 18, 2010
"OMG"... I can't wait for next year!!!!
"OMG"... for those of you who are not facebook followers or "text" freaks I'm sure that "OMG" stands for "OH MY GOD!!!!" and that's exactly what I thought when I read this story.... now I always like to be on the glass half full side but I'm thinking someone just threw my empty glass into the fireplace and although I don't know what the glass throwing tradition is all about (I think it comes from a "Greek" tradition).... why this story is just surfacing now seems "Greek" to me... now the Province is going to hire a Consultant from Halifax to figure this out and wasn't it just last week they fired a Advertising Agency from Halifax because they were too big... I have no idea where I'm going with this but Tourism has hired a number of consultants to give them advice on their golf course investments but they still continue to lose "millions" there every year... so I guess we'll all be waiting for another "big show" next year...
Cirque show has Tourism Charlottetown in debt
Group wants out of contract
Monday, October 18, 2010
CBC News
Tourism Charlottetown is asking for a million-dollar lifeline from the province, in part to cover losses from poor ticket sales to a new Cirque du Soleil show over the Canada Day weekend.
The group announced the show for Summerfest in March, and in the days leading up to the festival, the outlook was good.
"Ticket sales are going very well, phone ringing off the wall for the last number of weeks as people realize now we have this," said Tourism Charlottetown executive director Myrtle Jenkins Smith in June.
"It's just been building every day since Cirque du Soleil has arrived, so we're very, very optimistic."
The Cirque show was meant to revitalize a festival that had run into trouble. Under the name Festival of Lights, it had been a financial success for years, but also had a reputation for attracting drunken crowds to the downtown. In 2009 organizers began revamping the show with more family-friendly acts but ticket sales flopped both years.Cirque du Soleil was meant to revitalize Charlottetown's Canada Day festival. (CBC)
Traditionally, the Canada Day weekend event covers about half of the annual costs for Tourism Charlottetown. The organization is now looking for a loan from the province to pay its bills.
"That target is moving around. It will be in the $1 million range. It could be a little bit less, it could be a little bit more," president Doug Newson told CBC News Friday.
"If we get the short-term financing that we need, it will certainly go to meet some payables."
Tourism Charlottetown is now trying to escape from the three-year, $6-million deal with Cirque du Soleil.
"We've realized that the risk and the exposure with that type of event is something that we just can't continue," said Newson.
"At this point in time we are in negotiations with Cirque to probably get out of the next two years of the contract."
The province has hired a consultant from Halifax to do a review of Tourism Charlottetown. Newson hopes the recommendations from that review will put the organization on the path to financial stability.
Cirque show has Tourism Charlottetown in debt
Group wants out of contract
Monday, October 18, 2010
CBC News
Tourism Charlottetown is asking for a million-dollar lifeline from the province, in part to cover losses from poor ticket sales to a new Cirque du Soleil show over the Canada Day weekend.
The group announced the show for Summerfest in March, and in the days leading up to the festival, the outlook was good.
"Ticket sales are going very well, phone ringing off the wall for the last number of weeks as people realize now we have this," said Tourism Charlottetown executive director Myrtle Jenkins Smith in June.
"It's just been building every day since Cirque du Soleil has arrived, so we're very, very optimistic."
The Cirque show was meant to revitalize a festival that had run into trouble. Under the name Festival of Lights, it had been a financial success for years, but also had a reputation for attracting drunken crowds to the downtown. In 2009 organizers began revamping the show with more family-friendly acts but ticket sales flopped both years.Cirque du Soleil was meant to revitalize Charlottetown's Canada Day festival. (CBC)
Traditionally, the Canada Day weekend event covers about half of the annual costs for Tourism Charlottetown. The organization is now looking for a loan from the province to pay its bills.
"That target is moving around. It will be in the $1 million range. It could be a little bit less, it could be a little bit more," president Doug Newson told CBC News Friday.
"If we get the short-term financing that we need, it will certainly go to meet some payables."
Tourism Charlottetown is now trying to escape from the three-year, $6-million deal with Cirque du Soleil.
"We've realized that the risk and the exposure with that type of event is something that we just can't continue," said Newson.
"At this point in time we are in negotiations with Cirque to probably get out of the next two years of the contract."
The province has hired a consultant from Halifax to do a review of Tourism Charlottetown. Newson hopes the recommendations from that review will put the organization on the path to financial stability.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Truth In Numbers....
Here's the most recent numbers on unemployment in Canada and PEI “leads the Nation” so I can only imagine how the spin doctors at Innovation PEI will respond to this news by trying to make it positive... they may need the help of their Tourism counterparts who released numbers today that showed golf was only down 1% year to date.... but if you dig deep into the Tourism numbers you would see that golf was up 373.3% in April (our unusual early spring) and April's numbers were factored into these "year to date figures" to make it sound better I guess?
Bottom line is golf was down about 6% on average and probably much higher at our Government owned courses and my guess is our unemployment figures are just catching up to our loss of the positive PNP program that our Tory Opposition has driven into the ground... here's a copy of the most recent PEI Tourism Indicators http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/current_tourism.pdf
Prince Edward Island hit with significant job losses in September
Published on October 12th, 2010
The Canadian Press
September unemployment by provinces
OTTAWA — Canada’s national unemployment rate was 8.0 per cent in September. Here’s what happened provincially (previous month in brackets):
— Newfoundland 13.5 (14.0)
— Prince Edward Island 13.6 (11.2)
— Nova Scotia 9.0 (9.0)
— New Brunswick 9.8 (9.6)
— Quebec 7.7 (8.2)
— Ontario 8.8 (8.8)
— Manitoba 5.4 (5.6)
— Saskatchewan 5.5 (4.8)
— Alberta 6.2 (6.5)
— British Columbia 7.5 (7.3)
Bottom line is golf was down about 6% on average and probably much higher at our Government owned courses and my guess is our unemployment figures are just catching up to our loss of the positive PNP program that our Tory Opposition has driven into the ground... here's a copy of the most recent PEI Tourism Indicators http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/current_tourism.pdf
Prince Edward Island hit with significant job losses in September
Published on October 12th, 2010
The Canadian Press
September unemployment by provinces
OTTAWA — Canada’s national unemployment rate was 8.0 per cent in September. Here’s what happened provincially (previous month in brackets):
— Newfoundland 13.5 (14.0)
— Prince Edward Island 13.6 (11.2)
— Nova Scotia 9.0 (9.0)
— New Brunswick 9.8 (9.6)
— Quebec 7.7 (8.2)
— Ontario 8.8 (8.8)
— Manitoba 5.4 (5.6)
— Saskatchewan 5.5 (4.8)
— Alberta 6.2 (6.5)
— British Columbia 7.5 (7.3)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Downe on Tax Evaders... and for good reason!
Pretty interesting story in the Financial Post today by Diane Francis and it shows just how hard our local Senator Downe is working on behalf of all Canadians... all monies recovered from this process, which will be a substantial sum, comes back into Government's general revenues and reduces our taxes. He makes a very valid point that if we are ever going to track these cheaters down then the Canada Revenue Agency are going to have to step up their efforts in doing so.... great work Senator Downe...
Canada: sucker nation for tax cheats
Diane Francis, Financial Post, October 7, 2010
In 2008, stories broke in the international media that a whistleblower in Liechtenstein had sold information in 2006 to various tax departments in the US, Australia and others about alleged tax evasion. Canadians were cited.
In question and answer period in the House of Commons, Canada’s government said it doesn’t pay for such information. But the US, Australia, Germany and others had already swung into action and have imposed jail sentences and huge fines.
It took a year for Canadian Senator Percy Downe to get answers, under Ottawa’s Access to Information Act, to make sure that even if the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) didn’t pay, they were pursuing evaders.
The answer in November 2009 was there was about C$100 million in Liechtenstein bank accounts related to 106 Canadian citizens and the “CRA anticipates that it will reassess approximately C$17 million in taxes, interest and penalties.”
Unsatisfied with the delay in action, the Senator sent another request in November 2009 and this week was told that as of June, 26 cases involving 68 individuals had been completed, including 20 residents of Canada who came forward under the Voluntary Disclosure Program; $5.2 million was assessed in back taxes and penalties but an undisclosed amount was unpaid due to appeals and that no one has been charged with tax evasion.
“Unlike the United States, Germany and other countries that moved aggressively and rapidly to recoup any unpaid taxes that were owed, Canada took another tactic: strong words promising action, but little effort to make recovery of unpaid taxes a priority,” wrote the Senator. “Other countries lay tax fraud charges against individuals for having undeclared bank accounts in tax havens, but not Canada.”
Also annoying is the use of the word “assessed”. “It is merely what the government claims it is owed. The account holders are free to appeal, and until their appeals are exhausted, they don’t have to pay a dime,” he said. “Canadians who use domestic banks pay taxes. Why should these people get a tax holiday?”
Most disturbing is the invocation of the Voluntary Disclosure Program (VDP), a partial amnesty for cheaters. The use of the VDP is contrary to what then Revenue minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn pledged in the House in late 2009. He stated uncategorically that no one among the Canadian holders of Liechtenstein accounts had, or was eligible to come forward under the VDP. He also estimated that the CRA would collect $20 million in taxes, penalties and interest.
Senator Downe intends to pursue this scandal to find out exact details, why the CRA relaxed rules on VDPs and why it has taken so long. “Who is being protected?” he asks.
He is to be congratulated for his efforts. Canadians pay high tax rates and provide a high level of services. People who lie and cheat should be hunted down and punished as severely as other developed nations do. This is no way to run a country and smacks of corruption. Or of outright incompetence: “If the 1,785 Canadian-owned Swiss accounts that have recently been disclosed are reviewed as quickly as the 106 from Liechtenstein, it will take just over 274 years to go through them all based on 26 completed cases in four years.”
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Great Improvements...
This is too funny, Richard digging out a wetland probably with no permit... the only thing missing in the pictures are the Province's gun totting conservation officers looking to have him charged!!! All things aside it is great to see improvements to this important watershed.Watershed improvements restore trout population at Wright’s Creek
The Guardian
Published on October 6th, 2010
Watershed improvements to clear siltation from Wright’s Creek have restored a healthy population of young trout to the watercourse, says P.E.I. Environment, Energy and Forestry Minister Richard Brown.
He praised community watershed groups for playing a vital role protecting and preserving water quality and wildlife habitat on Prince Edward Island.
The minister than praised government for funding local watershed groups, like Wright’s Creek and Andrew’s Pond, to give them the tools and resources they need to enhance and restore the natural resources within their watersheds.
The Wright’s Creek Watershed Environmental Committee is completing its most ambitious year of watershed improvements. Much of the work carried out has been to address the problem of siltation.
Over the past few years, the watershed has been excavated to clean out springs and build silt traps. To date, five springs have been deepened and lined with Island stone and four silt traps have be en constructed.
John Andrew, a member of the Wright’s Creek Watershed Environmental Committee, said the committee is also participating in the City of Charlottetown’s engineering study examining the causes of siltation in Wright’s Creek and Andrew’s Pond. Stantec Consultants will hold a public meeting on the issue Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Malcolm Darrach Community Centre in East Royalty.
“We hope that this initiative will lead to further improvements and restoration of the watershed,” said Andrew.
Area residents are also enjoying the benefits of a new walking trail built along the north side of Andrew’s Pond.
The restoration of Wright’s Creek was funded by the province through the Watershed Management Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Fund.
Published on October 6th, 2010
Watershed improvements to clear siltation from Wright’s Creek have restored a healthy population of young trout to the watercourse, says P.E.I. Environment, Energy and Forestry Minister Richard Brown.
He praised community watershed groups for playing a vital role protecting and preserving water quality and wildlife habitat on Prince Edward Island.
The minister than praised government for funding local watershed groups, like Wright’s Creek and Andrew’s Pond, to give them the tools and resources they need to enhance and restore the natural resources within their watersheds.
The Wright’s Creek Watershed Environmental Committee is completing its most ambitious year of watershed improvements. Much of the work carried out has been to address the problem of siltation.
Over the past few years, the watershed has been excavated to clean out springs and build silt traps. To date, five springs have been deepened and lined with Island stone and four silt traps have be en constructed.
John Andrew, a member of the Wright’s Creek Watershed Environmental Committee, said the committee is also participating in the City of Charlottetown’s engineering study examining the causes of siltation in Wright’s Creek and Andrew’s Pond. Stantec Consultants will hold a public meeting on the issue Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Malcolm Darrach Community Centre in East Royalty.
“We hope that this initiative will lead to further improvements and restoration of the watershed,” said Andrew.
Area residents are also enjoying the benefits of a new walking trail built along the north side of Andrew’s Pond.
The restoration of Wright’s Creek was funded by the province through the Watershed Management Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Fund.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Let's hope for a better scheme than the last...
For the second time today I had a call from the local media asking who might be the buyer of the Summerside Waterfront Mall and for the life of me I couldn't imagine... About 15 years ago we offered $6,700,000.00 for this property as we were working on a deal to expand the former Towers space and convert it to a larger Zellers but the local Crown Agency weren’t interested in working with us... we moved on to buy the Met Mall which we converted into a strip mall... shortly thereafter the retail market moved to North Granville Street and the Waterfront Mall slowly lost its appeal for National tenants most of whom moved to the North of the City... in 2006 Richard Fitzgerald a Dentist from Ireland bought the mall and produced one of the biggest hair brain schemes that ever crossed the Northumberland Strait in the form of 7 storey condos on top of the mall http://www.timbanks.ca/2009/08/hair-brain-idea-or-money-scam.html
I took another tour of this property on September 10th as I heard they were looking at seriously discounting the price... I was shocked at the vacancy rate which was pretty scary and you'd pretty much have to add a magician's shop to the tattoo parlour that's already there to make any sort of retail mall operations work there... but what would I know so I'd like to be the first to wish them luck on their new proposed venture as it's always great to see new investment with fresh vision coming to PEI... let’s hope it’s a better scheme than the last one put forward and that the deal goes through... here’s what the realtors were asking http://waterfrontmallpei.com/ and I'd suggest that it went for significantly less...
Deal reached for Waterfront Mall
Journal Pioneer
Published on September 28th, 2010
Mike Carson
SUMMERSIDE – An offer has been made and accepted for the purchase of the Waterfront Mall in downtown Summerside.
Michael Poczynek, Century 21 Northumberland, said the offer was made over the weekend.
“We have for the last month been working with a party who I’m not going to reveal for his privacy, but we finally have an offer on the table,” he said. “They viewed the mall for the first time on the weekend so it’s sold pending their due diligence period.”
The offer is from an off-Island firm.
Mall Operations Manager Tina Mundy said she is optimistic about the mall’s future.
“It’s all very exciting and it will be very, very good for Summerside,” she said. “What he has shared with me is that the deal came across his desk. He decided to come and see what it was all about and he was really impressed with the mall. He had some great vision and he loved the location.”
I took another tour of this property on September 10th as I heard they were looking at seriously discounting the price... I was shocked at the vacancy rate which was pretty scary and you'd pretty much have to add a magician's shop to the tattoo parlour that's already there to make any sort of retail mall operations work there... but what would I know so I'd like to be the first to wish them luck on their new proposed venture as it's always great to see new investment with fresh vision coming to PEI... let’s hope it’s a better scheme than the last one put forward and that the deal goes through... here’s what the realtors were asking http://waterfrontmallpei.com/ and I'd suggest that it went for significantly less...
Deal reached for Waterfront Mall
Journal Pioneer
Published on September 28th, 2010
Mike Carson
SUMMERSIDE – An offer has been made and accepted for the purchase of the Waterfront Mall in downtown Summerside.
Michael Poczynek, Century 21 Northumberland, said the offer was made over the weekend.
“We have for the last month been working with a party who I’m not going to reveal for his privacy, but we finally have an offer on the table,” he said. “They viewed the mall for the first time on the weekend so it’s sold pending their due diligence period.”
The offer is from an off-Island firm.
Mall Operations Manager Tina Mundy said she is optimistic about the mall’s future.
“It’s all very exciting and it will be very, very good for Summerside,” she said. “What he has shared with me is that the deal came across his desk. He decided to come and see what it was all about and he was really impressed with the mall. He had some great vision and he loved the location.”
Monday, September 27, 2010
Who's on First? Ballem I think...
Well there were a couple of editorials in the Guardian on Saturday talking about the upcoming PC Leadership race and what I don't understand is why these writers just don't come out with their predictions... they seem to just want to skate around what they think will be the real outcome, which is sort of like how some of our politicians like to talk, in circles... what's wrong with just being out there and giving us their view, why be afraid to tony up as I don't think anyone is going to spank them? When the race first started I thought Olive had it locked up as Jamie Ballem was late off the mark but like I said on Twitter I'm now predicting that Ballem will win and just maybe on the first ballot...
Although I have no inside lane in the PC party (as I'm a big liberal) here's what I think the delegates will or should have on their minds.... the Party may not want to hear this but none of the 5 candidates will overcome Ghiz in the next election so they have to consider a leader who "may" (carefully used word here) have to step aside for Ghiz's third crack at it and anyone whose dealt with Olive knows she wouldn't... where on the other hand if Ballem lost to Ghiz the first time out it would be pretty easy to buy him off with an appointment and get a fresh dynamic face against what would then be a third term Premier... and the delegates just have to think back at to where they were with Pat Mella after the 89 election and it's not hard to let Ballem take this bullet
The other thing playing against Olive is the rumour that the PC Party “establishment” is against her and personally I think the idea that there is such a controlling crowd in any party is just nonsense at best... but she did annoy a lot of people over the PNP file which doesn’t even rear its head on top 10 issues facing Islanders and there are a lot of Tories who are now concerned that she won’t “listen” their way... Mike Currie supporting Ballem says a lot!!!
I also think that Ballem was smart to offer up an original “idea” on energy saving not that I think it will work but it sure sounds good, possible and positive, something I’ve not heard coming from the others....
I guess my last comments will be left with the rumour that Olive has all the others on the second ballot but my thinking is the other three are looking for something afterwards and they may get it from the Ballem style of politics but never from the Olive branch... so my bets on Ballem on the first and if there’s a second then he’ll still prevail... at least Ballem is a creditable known identity and if he can’t win a seat next October then it’s no big deal to start fresh for 2015! Who’s on First?
Although I have no inside lane in the PC party (as I'm a big liberal) here's what I think the delegates will or should have on their minds.... the Party may not want to hear this but none of the 5 candidates will overcome Ghiz in the next election so they have to consider a leader who "may" (carefully used word here) have to step aside for Ghiz's third crack at it and anyone whose dealt with Olive knows she wouldn't... where on the other hand if Ballem lost to Ghiz the first time out it would be pretty easy to buy him off with an appointment and get a fresh dynamic face against what would then be a third term Premier... and the delegates just have to think back at to where they were with Pat Mella after the 89 election and it's not hard to let Ballem take this bullet
The other thing playing against Olive is the rumour that the PC Party “establishment” is against her and personally I think the idea that there is such a controlling crowd in any party is just nonsense at best... but she did annoy a lot of people over the PNP file which doesn’t even rear its head on top 10 issues facing Islanders and there are a lot of Tories who are now concerned that she won’t “listen” their way... Mike Currie supporting Ballem says a lot!!!
I also think that Ballem was smart to offer up an original “idea” on energy saving not that I think it will work but it sure sounds good, possible and positive, something I’ve not heard coming from the others....
I guess my last comments will be left with the rumour that Olive has all the others on the second ballot but my thinking is the other three are looking for something afterwards and they may get it from the Ballem style of politics but never from the Olive branch... so my bets on Ballem on the first and if there’s a second then he’ll still prevail... at least Ballem is a creditable known identity and if he can’t win a seat next October then it’s no big deal to start fresh for 2015! Who’s on First?
Saturday, September 18, 2010
I'm Stunned... at this grasp for power!
I go away for a couple of days and POW... breaking news Buy Maritime Electric!!!! I'm still stunned at the headlined and obviously the Tory candidate that suggested this is "totally stunned" and in my thinking is one of the crazies ideas ever floated by a potential party leader here on PEI... I'm reckoning with these kind of promises Mr. McCardle should garner about 63 votes out of the potential 3,000 candidates... the sad thing is that there are a few in the Liberal party that are of the same mentality so thank God that they didn’t appoint Allan Rankin to a Commission that had control over Maritime Electric or we’d all be singing the “blues” with acoustical guitars... I’ll certainly have more to say on this subject but I’m off to the “Bush” to experience another well oiled public corporation at work losing money...
Buy Maritime Electric: Tory candidate
Thursday, September 16, 2010
CBC News
A candidate for P.E.I.'s Progressive Conservative leadership is calling for the province's privately owned electrical utility, Maritime Electric Co., to become a Crown corporation.
Fred McCardle says a provincially owned utility could keep power rates down.
"As leader of the Progressive Conservative party and as premier of P.E.I. after the election of 2011, the province of P.E.I. will purchase the shares of Maritime Electric and end this charade of rate hikes that's crippling our economy," McCardle said at a leaders' town hall meeting Tuesday night.
On Thursday, McCardle said he didn't know how much it would cost to buy the company from Fortis Inc. It is regulated by the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission.
He said he's confident government ownership would lower rates.
"We can't attract industry," he told CBC News. "These rates have people, senior people, they're threatened by losing their homes over this power rate."
The most recent rate hike from the utility happened over the summer, with monthly electricity bills for the average household increasing by $20 to $25.
Government purchase of Maritime Electric is not a new idea. In 1994, then-Liberal premier Catherine Callbeck tried to buy up all the company's shares and nearly succeeded.
McCardle's suggestion has reignited the debate among other leadership candidates.
"Electricity rates are too high," said Olive Crane, another leadership hopeful.
"To purchase the shares of Maritime Electric though, at this time, when you think the Ghiz government has us in a deficit situation … it's really not possible."
Leadership vote Oct. 2
Jamie Ballem, a former Tory energy minister, agreed the system needs to be changed, but not by buying the utility.
He said Maritime Electric should continue to distribute power, and the government-owned P.E.I. Energy Corporation should take over purchasing that power.
"The energy corporation could go out and be the agency that buys the power. Goes to the best market," said Ballem. "Let us, let the government or the public agency turn around and sell the power to Maritime Electric for the best rate."
At least 3,000 delegates are expected at the Progressive Conservative leadership convention on Oct. 2.
Buy Maritime Electric: Tory candidate
Thursday, September 16, 2010
CBC News
A candidate for P.E.I.'s Progressive Conservative leadership is calling for the province's privately owned electrical utility, Maritime Electric Co., to become a Crown corporation.
Fred McCardle says a provincially owned utility could keep power rates down.
"As leader of the Progressive Conservative party and as premier of P.E.I. after the election of 2011, the province of P.E.I. will purchase the shares of Maritime Electric and end this charade of rate hikes that's crippling our economy," McCardle said at a leaders' town hall meeting Tuesday night.
On Thursday, McCardle said he didn't know how much it would cost to buy the company from Fortis Inc. It is regulated by the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission.
He said he's confident government ownership would lower rates.
"We can't attract industry," he told CBC News. "These rates have people, senior people, they're threatened by losing their homes over this power rate."
The most recent rate hike from the utility happened over the summer, with monthly electricity bills for the average household increasing by $20 to $25.
Government purchase of Maritime Electric is not a new idea. In 1994, then-Liberal premier Catherine Callbeck tried to buy up all the company's shares and nearly succeeded.
McCardle's suggestion has reignited the debate among other leadership candidates.
"Electricity rates are too high," said Olive Crane, another leadership hopeful.
"To purchase the shares of Maritime Electric though, at this time, when you think the Ghiz government has us in a deficit situation … it's really not possible."
Leadership vote Oct. 2
Jamie Ballem, a former Tory energy minister, agreed the system needs to be changed, but not by buying the utility.
He said Maritime Electric should continue to distribute power, and the government-owned P.E.I. Energy Corporation should take over purchasing that power.
"The energy corporation could go out and be the agency that buys the power. Goes to the best market," said Ballem. "Let us, let the government or the public agency turn around and sell the power to Maritime Electric for the best rate."
At least 3,000 delegates are expected at the Progressive Conservative leadership convention on Oct. 2.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Funny CBC Headline....
This headline "Storm keeps thousands from festival" kind of strikes me funny that this so called "storm" (Earl) kept people away from the festival... I think the headline "CBC keeps thousands from festival" would be a better way of putting it as the folks at CBC Radio had most Islanders scared to come out of their bunkers over the weekend.... surely the next time they could tame it down a bit for the older crowd as their coverage was a little overdone....
Storm keeps thousands from festival
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
CBC News
Only about 100 people attended the Acadian Festival in P.E.I.'s Abram-Village Saturday, as people battened down the hatches for Tropical Storm Earl.
The festival normally attracts thousands, president Jeanette Blacquiere told CBC News.
"Some of our campers left early because probably they wanted to be home at a time like that," said Blacquiere.
"Of course people who come from outside the area didn't show up either, so we had very little attendance on Saturday."
Crowds were much better on Friday and Sunday, she said, and final numbers will be tallied in the next few days.
Storm keeps thousands from festival
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
CBC News
Only about 100 people attended the Acadian Festival in P.E.I.'s Abram-Village Saturday, as people battened down the hatches for Tropical Storm Earl.
The festival normally attracts thousands, president Jeanette Blacquiere told CBC News.
"Some of our campers left early because probably they wanted to be home at a time like that," said Blacquiere.
"Of course people who come from outside the area didn't show up either, so we had very little attendance on Saturday."
Crowds were much better on Friday and Sunday, she said, and final numbers will be tallied in the next few days.
Friday, August 27, 2010
What A Joke... maybe a "dinosaur award"...
For those of you in the public who were to busy with real things to do and didn't have a chance to delve into the Bowels of IRAC to listen to the gas bar hearings then here's what the Gas Dealer's Dale Mader had to say... “What about the people that live at either end of the Island?”... well Dale, in the real world of free enterprise they would more than likely drive into a bustling community like Tignish or Souris to get their gas and if you really think about it a new gas bar in Stratford is not going to make a bit of difference and you don't have to be a rocket scientist like those political flunkies at IRAC to figure that out. Just think about this. At one point during the "Hearings" there were at least 8 lawyers, 3 commissioners (a couple of which earn over $100,000 a year) and at least 4 Commission staff talking about the silliness of "proving the necessity" of a gas bar before someone is allowed to build one... IRAC is almost an industry on its own for high priced lawyers and political appointments.... there was not one single soul "from the public" who voiced their concerns about these new proposed gas bars being allowed to open... I'm thinking that the Captain of the Don't Get Ahead Gang (Allan Rankin) should draft Dale Mader on to his Team or at the very least put him up for this year's very allusive "dinosaur award".... Why shouldn't the people of Stratford have another gas bar option and why shouldn't Islanders get some benefits of lower gas prices when competition is allowed to prevail.. remember Mr. Mader is being paid by the existing gas bar operators to prevent competition so what else would you expect him to say...
Regulation serves Islanders well, P.E.I. gasoline retailers say
The Guardian
August 26th, 2010
The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has been doing a good job for Islanders, says a representative for the P.E.I. Gasoline Retailers Association.
Dale Mader made the remark in response to APM president Tim Banks’ criticism of IRAC on Monday during the final day of a hearing on two applications to open gas stations in Stratford.
Mader said regulation has been around for a long time and IRAC has been following the mandate the provincial government gave it.
“I think the process has served Islanders very well for many years,” he said.
During his appearance before the commission, Banks called IRAC a red tape regime, said it was making a mockery of free enterprise and should spend less time policing things it can’t control, like gasoline prices.
But Mader said Banks’ vision of free enterprise would work great in an ideal world, which doesn’t exist on P.E.I.
“The petroleum market is not an ideal world.”
Nova Scotia sells 10 times as much gasoline as P.E.I. while Quebec and Ontario sell tens of billions of litres more than Island stations, which sell about 200 million litres a year, he said.
Mader said people should be able to buy gas with a reasonable amount of convenience and there would be clusters of them in populated areas with none in rural areas if there wasn’t regulation, he said.
“What about the people that live at either end of the Island?”
Free enterprise could put rural stations out of business and the commission’s role is to do what’s best for Islanders, he said.
“The government has made it clear, I believe, that the Island should be treated as one Island community.”
During his appearance at the hearing, Banks said a lot of rural stations have closed despite
regulation in the industry.
Mader agreed a lot of stations have closed, but said a lot more would close without regulation because of the low volume of gas sold on P.E.I.
“The market on P.E.I. has not been growing.”
In the case of new applicants, like the ones for the Stratford stations, IRAC needs to consider the effect they would have on existing retailers because the market isn’t growing, he said.
“The bulk of what they achieve, by their own admission, will come from existing retailers.”
Mader said the free market isn’t always ideal and while regulation isn’t necessarily in place to keep businesses afloat, it is there to make sure Islanders can fill up near where they live.
“The regulation is probably more directed to make sure all Islanders, no matter where they live, have access to gasoline.”
Regulation serves Islanders well, P.E.I. gasoline retailers say
The Guardian
August 26th, 2010
The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has been doing a good job for Islanders, says a representative for the P.E.I. Gasoline Retailers Association.
Dale Mader made the remark in response to APM president Tim Banks’ criticism of IRAC on Monday during the final day of a hearing on two applications to open gas stations in Stratford.
Mader said regulation has been around for a long time and IRAC has been following the mandate the provincial government gave it.
“I think the process has served Islanders very well for many years,” he said.
During his appearance before the commission, Banks called IRAC a red tape regime, said it was making a mockery of free enterprise and should spend less time policing things it can’t control, like gasoline prices.
But Mader said Banks’ vision of free enterprise would work great in an ideal world, which doesn’t exist on P.E.I.
“The petroleum market is not an ideal world.”
Nova Scotia sells 10 times as much gasoline as P.E.I. while Quebec and Ontario sell tens of billions of litres more than Island stations, which sell about 200 million litres a year, he said.
Mader said people should be able to buy gas with a reasonable amount of convenience and there would be clusters of them in populated areas with none in rural areas if there wasn’t regulation, he said.
“What about the people that live at either end of the Island?”
Free enterprise could put rural stations out of business and the commission’s role is to do what’s best for Islanders, he said.
“The government has made it clear, I believe, that the Island should be treated as one Island community.”
During his appearance at the hearing, Banks said a lot of rural stations have closed despite
regulation in the industry.
Mader agreed a lot of stations have closed, but said a lot more would close without regulation because of the low volume of gas sold on P.E.I.
“The market on P.E.I. has not been growing.”
In the case of new applicants, like the ones for the Stratford stations, IRAC needs to consider the effect they would have on existing retailers because the market isn’t growing, he said.
“The bulk of what they achieve, by their own admission, will come from existing retailers.”
Mader said the free market isn’t always ideal and while regulation isn’t necessarily in place to keep businesses afloat, it is there to make sure Islanders can fill up near where they live.
“The regulation is probably more directed to make sure all Islanders, no matter where they live, have access to gasoline.”
Thursday, August 26, 2010
"Dog Party" winners....
Great to see the "Dog Party" finally get a win after 27 years and it's probably because Terry is getting older and couldn't be bothered to throw one of the others off the boat when they were being dead weight... hopefully this smell of victory will help him pick up his golf game as I'm getting a little tired of carrying him in our partners game.... seriously guys, GREAT VICTORY!!!Charlottetown sailing team wins Nova Scotia regatta
The Guardian,
Published on August 25th, 2010
Nathan Rochford
Published on August 25th, 2010
Nathan Rochford
This year's Chester Race Week marked a special milestone for Terry McKenna and his eight man sailing crew.
For the first time in 27-years of competing in the annual regatta held in Chester, N.S., McKenna and his crew came in first.
Which, according to McKenna, is no easy feat.
"You have to be at the top of your game," McKenna said.
He added without the help of his three brothers David, Paul and Mark as well as the rest of the crew Doug Wright, Jamie Hill, Don Garrett and Ron Switzer, he wouldn't have seen the same success.
"Every one of my crew members played an integral part in us winning the regatta," he said. " It's never one person. It's everybody."
And McKenna would know. He's been sailing since he was eight-years-old.
"It's kind of in the family," he said, adding Chester Race Week isn't the only regatta he sails in.
He also competes in the Charlottetown regatta and one in Lunenburg, N.S.
However, Chester Race Week is the largest he competes in with roughly 150 boats from across Atlantic Canada and parts of the eastern United States involved.
"When we won the regatta we were really pleased," McKenna said. "We've been doing this a long time."
But this year things just seemed to fall into place.
"You have to have a good crew and the weather conditions were optimal for us," he said. "We were in a groove and we just kept going."
The placing is based on how many points a team has after a week of racing. The more times a team places first, second or third the more points they have.
McKenna and his team competed in 10 races and kept in the top three in all but two races.
For the first time in 27-years of competing in the annual regatta held in Chester, N.S., McKenna and his crew came in first.
Which, according to McKenna, is no easy feat.
"You have to be at the top of your game," McKenna said.
He added without the help of his three brothers David, Paul and Mark as well as the rest of the crew Doug Wright, Jamie Hill, Don Garrett and Ron Switzer, he wouldn't have seen the same success.
"Every one of my crew members played an integral part in us winning the regatta," he said. " It's never one person. It's everybody."
And McKenna would know. He's been sailing since he was eight-years-old.
"It's kind of in the family," he said, adding Chester Race Week isn't the only regatta he sails in.
He also competes in the Charlottetown regatta and one in Lunenburg, N.S.
However, Chester Race Week is the largest he competes in with roughly 150 boats from across Atlantic Canada and parts of the eastern United States involved.
"When we won the regatta we were really pleased," McKenna said. "We've been doing this a long time."
But this year things just seemed to fall into place.
"You have to have a good crew and the weather conditions were optimal for us," he said. "We were in a groove and we just kept going."
The placing is based on how many points a team has after a week of racing. The more times a team places first, second or third the more points they have.
McKenna and his team competed in 10 races and kept in the top three in all but two races.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Great News For Local Business....
This is great news and nice to see these guys persisting through these tough times as it's not easy trying to run an operation with this kind of pressure always in the back of your mind... let's wish them continued success....
P.E.I. auto dealership honking with joy
August 23rd, 2010
Jim Day
There is cause to honk for joy at Island Chevrolet Cadillac.
The Charlottetown dealership officially has settled a lawsuit with General Motors of Canada paving the way for ongoing operations, says co-owner Paul Mifsud.
“We are not in risk of losing our franchise,’’ Mifsud said Monday.
“We are certainly here to stay.’’
Island Chevrolet Cadillac last year joined a group of Canadian General Motor dealerships that sued the auto giant for millions in damages for alleged contract breaches and sought a court injunction to stop GM from terminating their franchises.
Eleven long-time southern Ontario dealers and Island Chevrolet Cadillac filed a statement of claim in Ontario court in late November alleging that GM ended their franchise agreements in a “highhanded, oppressive and patently unfair’’ manner. They alleged GM breached a contract that the company promised to renew as long as the dealerships met certain performance expectations.
The dealers said at the time they wanted a permanent injunction to prohibit GM from ending their agreements and a declaration entitling them to remain open for at least another five years.
Mifsud did not disclose any details of the settlement. He said only that the deal is good news for Island Chevrolet Cadillac and the dealership’s 34 employees.
“It’s quite a celebration,’’ he said.
“We’re having lunch catered for them (staff) today...we have a lot of happy faces here.’’
P.E.I. auto dealership honking with joy
August 23rd, 2010
Jim Day
There is cause to honk for joy at Island Chevrolet Cadillac.
The Charlottetown dealership officially has settled a lawsuit with General Motors of Canada paving the way for ongoing operations, says co-owner Paul Mifsud.
“We are not in risk of losing our franchise,’’ Mifsud said Monday.
“We are certainly here to stay.’’
Island Chevrolet Cadillac last year joined a group of Canadian General Motor dealerships that sued the auto giant for millions in damages for alleged contract breaches and sought a court injunction to stop GM from terminating their franchises.
Eleven long-time southern Ontario dealers and Island Chevrolet Cadillac filed a statement of claim in Ontario court in late November alleging that GM ended their franchise agreements in a “highhanded, oppressive and patently unfair’’ manner. They alleged GM breached a contract that the company promised to renew as long as the dealerships met certain performance expectations.
The dealers said at the time they wanted a permanent injunction to prohibit GM from ending their agreements and a declaration entitling them to remain open for at least another five years.
Mifsud did not disclose any details of the settlement. He said only that the deal is good news for Island Chevrolet Cadillac and the dealership’s 34 employees.
“It’s quite a celebration,’’ he said.
“We’re having lunch catered for them (staff) today...we have a lot of happy faces here.’’
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Not Enough Wind In His Sails....
Well this should make the race interesting but I doubt if it will be that close... there are only two real candidates here that have any chance of tweaking the delegates interest and that would be Crane and Ballem... my guest is Crane has a big head start and will likely win but the late entry of the "old guard" shows there is some dissention within the Tory party especially when you see Mike Currie backing Ballem... I'll predict that Crane will win on the second ballot as Ballem doesn't have enough wind in his sails to power up the party.....
Ballem joins P.E.I. Tory leadership race
CBC
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Jamie Ballem put to rest days of speculation Wednesday by confirming that he has joined the race to lead the Progressive Conservative Party of P.E.I.
Calling it the "hardest decision I've ever had to make," Ballem said he waited until almost the last minute to file his nomination papers, getting them in just before the deadline on Friday.
"It's been back and forth. One day I was absolutely going, the next day not. It was never a case of, 'Can I do the job?' or 'Do I want the job?' but really, 'Where can I make the best contribution?"
Ballem is a familiar face in Prince Edward Island politics. He was an MLA from 1996 to 2007 and served as environment minister under former premier Pat Binns. He lost his seat in the 2007 elections and soon after opened an energy company to promote the development of wind power.
Ballem said he has the experience to run the party and the province, and would make economic development his top priority.
"How can we get businesses and our kids to come back home? How can we provide them with opportunities?" he said Wednesday. "I think that's what we have to do. We have to build the economy, we have to diversify as much as we can."
Ballem's bid means Island Tories will have five leadership candidates to choose from; Jamie Fox, Olive Crane, Fred McCardle and Peter Lewellyn are also running in the leadership race.
Some party faithful have already hailed Ballem as just what the party needs. Mike Currie, an MLA who many pinned as a potential candidate himself, has thrown his support behind Ballem.
"I've always found him to be honest,… dedicated to rural P.E.I. He'll listen. Those are the values I believe in, and I support him."
Another of Ballem's supporters is his mother, Myrtle. At first she didn't want him to get back into politics, but she said she eventually came around. "I was very proud of what he did when he was in power," she said. "I said, 'You left your mark. Is there any more to be done?' and he said, 'There's a lot more to be done.' So I back him."
Ballem's late entry into the race means he will have to work hard to catch up on the campaign trail. The party's leadership convention takes place in early October.
Ballem joins P.E.I. Tory leadership race
CBC
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Jamie Ballem put to rest days of speculation Wednesday by confirming that he has joined the race to lead the Progressive Conservative Party of P.E.I.
Calling it the "hardest decision I've ever had to make," Ballem said he waited until almost the last minute to file his nomination papers, getting them in just before the deadline on Friday.
"It's been back and forth. One day I was absolutely going, the next day not. It was never a case of, 'Can I do the job?' or 'Do I want the job?' but really, 'Where can I make the best contribution?"
Ballem is a familiar face in Prince Edward Island politics. He was an MLA from 1996 to 2007 and served as environment minister under former premier Pat Binns. He lost his seat in the 2007 elections and soon after opened an energy company to promote the development of wind power.
Ballem said he has the experience to run the party and the province, and would make economic development his top priority.
"How can we get businesses and our kids to come back home? How can we provide them with opportunities?" he said Wednesday. "I think that's what we have to do. We have to build the economy, we have to diversify as much as we can."
Ballem's bid means Island Tories will have five leadership candidates to choose from; Jamie Fox, Olive Crane, Fred McCardle and Peter Lewellyn are also running in the leadership race.
Some party faithful have already hailed Ballem as just what the party needs. Mike Currie, an MLA who many pinned as a potential candidate himself, has thrown his support behind Ballem.
"I've always found him to be honest,… dedicated to rural P.E.I. He'll listen. Those are the values I believe in, and I support him."
Another of Ballem's supporters is his mother, Myrtle. At first she didn't want him to get back into politics, but she said she eventually came around. "I was very proud of what he did when he was in power," she said. "I said, 'You left your mark. Is there any more to be done?' and he said, 'There's a lot more to be done.' So I back him."
Ballem's late entry into the race means he will have to work hard to catch up on the campaign trail. The party's leadership convention takes place in early October.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
It Appears We're Missed The Boat...
If anyone wonders why I keep harping about why our Government should have unloaded our golf courses three years ago should read the following article.... it appears we've missed the boat...
Golf clubs suffer in recession as membership dwindles
By Jon Swartz,
USA TODAY
August 3, 2010
For $6,000 a year, Tom Bennett enjoyed the privileges of being a member of an exclusive, private golf course in northeast New Jersey. He golfed pristine grounds and reveled in socializing with other duffers.
But last year, Bennett ended his six-year membership at the private Stanton Ridge Golf and Country Club in Whitehouse Station, N.J.
"Cost was part of it, but service had fallen and upkeep was suffering because membership was down, a death spiral if you will," says Bennett, 48, who runs a financial-management consulting firm in California but still owns a house at the club.
"The recession (hurt) membership, and that affected the social aspect," Bennett says. "With fewer people and dues, the club didn't do as good a job taking care of non-golf parts of the course." As Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and other members of golf's royalty prepare to tee off at the PGA Championship — the fourth, and final, major championship of 2010 — in Wisconsin next week, the business of golf faces an economic outlook that is sinking like a downhill putt.
Recession-battered golf courses aren't just coping with lighter crowds. Some are edging perilously close to bankruptcy. Courses from Florida to Arizona, where golfing was once a daily exercise, face major cutbacks or foreclosure.
Myrtle Beach, S.C., a once-booming 70-mile strip of beachfront property nicknamed "Golftown, USA," has been hit especially hard: Where there were about 125 golf courses in 2006, there are now around 100.
"It's just a shakeout of golf," says Donald Wizeman, CEO of Myrtle Beach Golf Association, which produces a website for golfers traveling to Myrtle Beach. "The real estate market is so depressed here."
Things are just as bleak in Arizona. Eight golf courses in the Phoenix area have gone through foreclosure or bankruptcy since commercial properties started facing serious financial problems in 2008, according to IonDataExpress.com, a real estate analysis firm. Many more are reducing their hours this summer, says Tom Stine, co-founder of market researcher Golf Datatech.
Billy Peterson, general manager of the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., worries that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could worsen matters for courses in the region.
The root of the problem is stark: Most people just can't afford the luxury of a $100 to $400 round of golf, nor do they have the time — several hours — to complete an 18-hole round. Businesses are cutting back on golf-related expenses for executives. Travelers who once plunked down gobs of cash to golf in exotic locales are passing up golf vacations.
The cumulative effect has squeezed revenue at private golf courses and country clubs.
Today, golf is in the deep rough. Consider:
•The number of golfers fell about 3% nationally in 2008 from 2007, while the number of "core golfers" — those who play eight or more rounds a year — fell 4.5%, according to the National Golf Foundation (NGF).
•Private-club memberships stand at 2.1 million — 900,000 below the peak of 3 million in the early 1990s. (There are 27.1 million golfers in the U.S. now, down from 30 million in 2005, the NGF says.)
•Golf rounds played nationally to date this year are down 3%, according to Golf Datatech.
•Sales at private golf courses and country clubs — which include membership fees, equipment, merchandise and food, for example — were down 3% last year, and things are expected to be worse this year, says Sageworks, a company that tracks private businesses' sales.
Consequently, as many as 15% of the roughly 4,400 private clubs nationwide reported serious financial challenges, and at least 500 are scrambling to raise their cash flow, according to a recent survey by the NGF.
Private clubs lost an estimated 5% to 15% of their members last year, costing clubs, on average, $187,000 in annual dues, says Jim Koppenhaver, president of golf-consulting firm Pellucid.
He cautions that at least 400 — and worst case, 1,000 — private clubs will have to close, convert to public play, or be absorbed into healthier clubs before "some semblance of balance returns to the private club market," he says.
Last year, 140 of the nation's roughly 16,000 golf courses closed, while 50 new courses opened, the NGF says.
"The U.S. is clearly in a correctional phase," says Greg Cory, a longtime golf consultant who worked on 75 to 100 projects a year during the go-go days of the 1990s. He has not handled a domestic job the past three years.
"The big challenge is (for) courses driven by real estate, which represented about 65% of new construction in the peak development years," Cory says. "When the homeowners/members cease to support the course because of demographic shifts and increasing costs, how do you capitalize on the value of the land?"
A generational gap?
Golf's current state is a disquieting fall from the early 1990s, when Baby Boomers in their 20s and 30s took up the game. The number of golfers in the U.S. soared then to 25 million from 20 million, presaging a dizzying escalation in golf course construction.
But that very buildup went too far, Cory and others say. When the economy and the real estate market cratered, it hastened the downturn of an industry already faltering.
The rough patch predates the tabloid-tinged travails of Tiger Woods. Golf's popularity has been steadily declining for more than a decade. Woods boosted golf's popularity and ratings on TV, but that didn't translate to an increase in golfers.
A host of issues, both practical and societal, bedevil private courses, says Hud Hinton, CEO of Troon Golf, which manages 160 golf facilities worldwide, 51 of them private.
Once havens for well-to-do scions of the community, private clubs now face withering competition for the money and time of younger consumers, Hinton says. The under-40 crowd works harder and prefers to spend their limited leisure time with family members at facilities with fitness rooms and spas — accoutrements often lacking at private courses, he says.
"It's become a Catch-22," Hinton says. "There are a number of clubs that need facilities to appeal to a younger demographic, but they just don't have the capital to build them."
Many teens and twentysomethings also prefer doodling on an iPhone, iPad, Wii or Facebook over playing golf six to seven hours. "In this era of instant gratification, that's too long," Wizeman says. "Kids play video games indoors and can excel. Golf is outside and hard."
What's more, participation in tennis, yoga, pilates and weightlifting over the past few years is up — reflecting the popularity of physical exercise that is less expensive and time consuming, according to national organizations representing those activities.
Jennifer Reuting, a 26-year-old tech entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, wanted to take up golfing as a way to network with other business executives. But the price tag for membership at an exclusive club there — $100,000 a year — was too much.
David Carlson, 27, a public-relations specialist in Chicago, says time constraints preclude him from playing more.
Compounding the industry's woes is the decision by some lenders to shut off funding to golf properties "under any circumstances," says Roger Garrett, head of the golf-properties group at Phoenix-basedbrokerage firm Insight Land and Investments.
Indeed, the trio of lenders that once provided the majority of financing for golf courses nationally — GE Capital, Textron Financial and Capmark Financial Group— "have closed their doors" to buyers, Garrett said.
Wilson Gee, who owns four golf courses — three of them public — in the Phoenix area, says gaining private members the past two years has been "non-existent." Gee calls the industry's current slump the "worst" he's seen in his nearly two decades in the business. "Phoenix used to be an extreme example (of golf's problems because it has so many courses). Now it's nationwide."
"Golf is very expensive. It requires a lot of discretionary income, which is hard for a family to deal with," Gee says.
Deals, deals, deals
There is an upside to golf's dip. In their aggressive bids to retain or draw consumers, private and public golf courses are more willing than ever to lower greens (playing) fees or waive fees for new members.
Private courses in the Phoenix area are offering deals and more deals to attract golfers.
Greens fees at tony Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, in the heart of Phoenix, are just $39. A summer pass is $250. Plenty of Internet specials can be had at its website, www.azbiltmoregc.com.
Troon North Golf Club in nearby Scottsdale is now offering $400-per-summer memberships.
Last year, the private The Golf Club of Cape Cod in Massachusetts decided to freeze its $85,000 initiation fee because the club had trouble attracting new members. As a result, it gained 43 members, who must pay the fee within three years or leave, says Charles Passios, chief operating officer of the club.
PGA National Resort & Spa, a complex of five private golf courses in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., is offering preview memberships that, for up to 60 days, let you use the private club with an option to join.
"Golf membership is a luxury, so you have to seriously think about it during tough economic times," says Kathy Blazer, general manager of the members club. Nonetheless, she says memberships at its private clubs are up.
"It's still the game of golf," says Blazer, who notes that many of the club's 3,500 members are traveling on vacation less and spending more time at the facility. "Once you start playing it, you fall in love with it."
Despite its woes, the sport remains a huge draw on TV and a hit among advertisers. Only the NFL topped the PGA Tour in advertising sold on network and cable TV last year, according to Nielsen. (The PGA Tour declined to say how much.) The tour's aggregate TV audience is doing swimmingly because of more hourly coverage on ESPN, the three major networks and the Golf Channel.
What's more, prize money is slightly up this year ($275 million). The PGA Tour has added 15 title sponsors since 2009, including Travelers Insurance and Zurich Financial Services. And the tour's charitable contributions — a key indicator of its financial health — should be $116 million to $118 million in 2010, topping last year, says Ty Votaw, executive vice president of communications and international affairs for the PGA Tour.
At the same time, the real estate meltdown, an oversaturated domestic golf course market and an iffy lending climate have prompted course designers to eschew the U.S. and build courses overseas in hot spots such as China, South Korea, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South America, says Chad Ritterbusch, executive director of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. The organization represents 185 golf-course designers in the U.S. and Canada.
"You have countries around the globe whose standards of living have increased in recent years, and continue to rise," he says. "Golf course development tends to mirror standard-of-living increases and tourism."
Future golf courses may have fewer holes to save costs and appeal to the time constraints of younger golfers, he says.
"Golf has to think out of the box," Ritterbusch says. "It has to adapt to the times."
Here's the article http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-08-03-golf03_CV_N.htm
Golf clubs suffer in recession as membership dwindles
By Jon Swartz,
USA TODAY
August 3, 2010
For $6,000 a year, Tom Bennett enjoyed the privileges of being a member of an exclusive, private golf course in northeast New Jersey. He golfed pristine grounds and reveled in socializing with other duffers.
But last year, Bennett ended his six-year membership at the private Stanton Ridge Golf and Country Club in Whitehouse Station, N.J.
"Cost was part of it, but service had fallen and upkeep was suffering because membership was down, a death spiral if you will," says Bennett, 48, who runs a financial-management consulting firm in California but still owns a house at the club.
"The recession (hurt) membership, and that affected the social aspect," Bennett says. "With fewer people and dues, the club didn't do as good a job taking care of non-golf parts of the course." As Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and other members of golf's royalty prepare to tee off at the PGA Championship — the fourth, and final, major championship of 2010 — in Wisconsin next week, the business of golf faces an economic outlook that is sinking like a downhill putt.
Recession-battered golf courses aren't just coping with lighter crowds. Some are edging perilously close to bankruptcy. Courses from Florida to Arizona, where golfing was once a daily exercise, face major cutbacks or foreclosure.
Myrtle Beach, S.C., a once-booming 70-mile strip of beachfront property nicknamed "Golftown, USA," has been hit especially hard: Where there were about 125 golf courses in 2006, there are now around 100.
"It's just a shakeout of golf," says Donald Wizeman, CEO of Myrtle Beach Golf Association, which produces a website for golfers traveling to Myrtle Beach. "The real estate market is so depressed here."
Things are just as bleak in Arizona. Eight golf courses in the Phoenix area have gone through foreclosure or bankruptcy since commercial properties started facing serious financial problems in 2008, according to IonDataExpress.com, a real estate analysis firm. Many more are reducing their hours this summer, says Tom Stine, co-founder of market researcher Golf Datatech.
Billy Peterson, general manager of the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., worries that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could worsen matters for courses in the region.
The root of the problem is stark: Most people just can't afford the luxury of a $100 to $400 round of golf, nor do they have the time — several hours — to complete an 18-hole round. Businesses are cutting back on golf-related expenses for executives. Travelers who once plunked down gobs of cash to golf in exotic locales are passing up golf vacations.
The cumulative effect has squeezed revenue at private golf courses and country clubs.
Today, golf is in the deep rough. Consider:
•The number of golfers fell about 3% nationally in 2008 from 2007, while the number of "core golfers" — those who play eight or more rounds a year — fell 4.5%, according to the National Golf Foundation (NGF).
•Private-club memberships stand at 2.1 million — 900,000 below the peak of 3 million in the early 1990s. (There are 27.1 million golfers in the U.S. now, down from 30 million in 2005, the NGF says.)
•Golf rounds played nationally to date this year are down 3%, according to Golf Datatech.
•Sales at private golf courses and country clubs — which include membership fees, equipment, merchandise and food, for example — were down 3% last year, and things are expected to be worse this year, says Sageworks, a company that tracks private businesses' sales.
Consequently, as many as 15% of the roughly 4,400 private clubs nationwide reported serious financial challenges, and at least 500 are scrambling to raise their cash flow, according to a recent survey by the NGF.
Private clubs lost an estimated 5% to 15% of their members last year, costing clubs, on average, $187,000 in annual dues, says Jim Koppenhaver, president of golf-consulting firm Pellucid.
He cautions that at least 400 — and worst case, 1,000 — private clubs will have to close, convert to public play, or be absorbed into healthier clubs before "some semblance of balance returns to the private club market," he says.
Last year, 140 of the nation's roughly 16,000 golf courses closed, while 50 new courses opened, the NGF says.
"The U.S. is clearly in a correctional phase," says Greg Cory, a longtime golf consultant who worked on 75 to 100 projects a year during the go-go days of the 1990s. He has not handled a domestic job the past three years.
"The big challenge is (for) courses driven by real estate, which represented about 65% of new construction in the peak development years," Cory says. "When the homeowners/members cease to support the course because of demographic shifts and increasing costs, how do you capitalize on the value of the land?"
A generational gap?
Golf's current state is a disquieting fall from the early 1990s, when Baby Boomers in their 20s and 30s took up the game. The number of golfers in the U.S. soared then to 25 million from 20 million, presaging a dizzying escalation in golf course construction.
But that very buildup went too far, Cory and others say. When the economy and the real estate market cratered, it hastened the downturn of an industry already faltering.
The rough patch predates the tabloid-tinged travails of Tiger Woods. Golf's popularity has been steadily declining for more than a decade. Woods boosted golf's popularity and ratings on TV, but that didn't translate to an increase in golfers.
A host of issues, both practical and societal, bedevil private courses, says Hud Hinton, CEO of Troon Golf, which manages 160 golf facilities worldwide, 51 of them private.
Once havens for well-to-do scions of the community, private clubs now face withering competition for the money and time of younger consumers, Hinton says. The under-40 crowd works harder and prefers to spend their limited leisure time with family members at facilities with fitness rooms and spas — accoutrements often lacking at private courses, he says.
"It's become a Catch-22," Hinton says. "There are a number of clubs that need facilities to appeal to a younger demographic, but they just don't have the capital to build them."
Many teens and twentysomethings also prefer doodling on an iPhone, iPad, Wii or Facebook over playing golf six to seven hours. "In this era of instant gratification, that's too long," Wizeman says. "Kids play video games indoors and can excel. Golf is outside and hard."
What's more, participation in tennis, yoga, pilates and weightlifting over the past few years is up — reflecting the popularity of physical exercise that is less expensive and time consuming, according to national organizations representing those activities.
Jennifer Reuting, a 26-year-old tech entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, wanted to take up golfing as a way to network with other business executives. But the price tag for membership at an exclusive club there — $100,000 a year — was too much.
David Carlson, 27, a public-relations specialist in Chicago, says time constraints preclude him from playing more.
Compounding the industry's woes is the decision by some lenders to shut off funding to golf properties "under any circumstances," says Roger Garrett, head of the golf-properties group at Phoenix-basedbrokerage firm Insight Land and Investments.
Indeed, the trio of lenders that once provided the majority of financing for golf courses nationally — GE Capital, Textron Financial and Capmark Financial Group— "have closed their doors" to buyers, Garrett said.
Wilson Gee, who owns four golf courses — three of them public — in the Phoenix area, says gaining private members the past two years has been "non-existent." Gee calls the industry's current slump the "worst" he's seen in his nearly two decades in the business. "Phoenix used to be an extreme example (of golf's problems because it has so many courses). Now it's nationwide."
"Golf is very expensive. It requires a lot of discretionary income, which is hard for a family to deal with," Gee says.
Deals, deals, deals
There is an upside to golf's dip. In their aggressive bids to retain or draw consumers, private and public golf courses are more willing than ever to lower greens (playing) fees or waive fees for new members.
Private courses in the Phoenix area are offering deals and more deals to attract golfers.
Greens fees at tony Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, in the heart of Phoenix, are just $39. A summer pass is $250. Plenty of Internet specials can be had at its website, www.azbiltmoregc.com.
Troon North Golf Club in nearby Scottsdale is now offering $400-per-summer memberships.
Last year, the private The Golf Club of Cape Cod in Massachusetts decided to freeze its $85,000 initiation fee because the club had trouble attracting new members. As a result, it gained 43 members, who must pay the fee within three years or leave, says Charles Passios, chief operating officer of the club.
PGA National Resort & Spa, a complex of five private golf courses in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., is offering preview memberships that, for up to 60 days, let you use the private club with an option to join.
"Golf membership is a luxury, so you have to seriously think about it during tough economic times," says Kathy Blazer, general manager of the members club. Nonetheless, she says memberships at its private clubs are up.
"It's still the game of golf," says Blazer, who notes that many of the club's 3,500 members are traveling on vacation less and spending more time at the facility. "Once you start playing it, you fall in love with it."
Despite its woes, the sport remains a huge draw on TV and a hit among advertisers. Only the NFL topped the PGA Tour in advertising sold on network and cable TV last year, according to Nielsen. (The PGA Tour declined to say how much.) The tour's aggregate TV audience is doing swimmingly because of more hourly coverage on ESPN, the three major networks and the Golf Channel.
What's more, prize money is slightly up this year ($275 million). The PGA Tour has added 15 title sponsors since 2009, including Travelers Insurance and Zurich Financial Services. And the tour's charitable contributions — a key indicator of its financial health — should be $116 million to $118 million in 2010, topping last year, says Ty Votaw, executive vice president of communications and international affairs for the PGA Tour.
At the same time, the real estate meltdown, an oversaturated domestic golf course market and an iffy lending climate have prompted course designers to eschew the U.S. and build courses overseas in hot spots such as China, South Korea, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South America, says Chad Ritterbusch, executive director of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. The organization represents 185 golf-course designers in the U.S. and Canada.
"You have countries around the globe whose standards of living have increased in recent years, and continue to rise," he says. "Golf course development tends to mirror standard-of-living increases and tourism."
Future golf courses may have fewer holes to save costs and appeal to the time constraints of younger golfers, he says.
"Golf has to think out of the box," Ritterbusch says. "It has to adapt to the times."
Here's the article http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-08-03-golf03_CV_N.htm
Friday, July 9, 2010
"Big Break" Golf Sale
The following is an article that I wrote for my regular column Fish to Fry in Atlantic Business Magazine which came out yesterday as an insert in the Globe and Mail... I titled this month’s article "Big Break" Golf Sale and most of my readers in Atlantic Canada probably won't get the "pun" in my mentioning the "Big Break”... our Province threw away $1,500,000.00 on a scheme that netted them no results as our Provincial golf business is down over 8% this year already and it's a shining example why Government shouldn't be in business... if you would like a free subscription to Atlantic Business magazine you can sign up at http://www.abmonline.ca/info/subscribe/ and you can view my past articles on line at http://www.abmonline.ca/author/tbanks/
“Big Break” Golf Sale
by Tim Banks
Atlantic Business Magazine
August issue
The other day I passed a bright new heavy duty dump truck hauling a new asphalt spreader on a new low deck equipment trailer. I turned to see who this impressive gear belonged to and saw the PEI government’s logo front and centre. I called up one of my road-building buddies to taunt him about the competition only to learn what I saw was only a sample of what’s in the province’s arsenal.
Seems I’ve been too busy competing against Crown Agencies like the Charlottetown Area Development Corporation to notice our elected officials trying to become private enterprises – a mandate they weren’t elected to follow.
Our provincial government is into meat packing, apartment rentals, campgrounds and golf courses to name a few enterprises, all likely bleeding money without factoring in any capital return. I’m sure if we examined the origins of each of these endeavours, we might find a case for fiscal support from government among them. But my instincts suggest job creation from a patronage perspective was the prevailing factor above any long-term financial responsibility.
Look at Brudenell and Mill River golf resorts - each originally developed by government to foster Island tourism. Fair enough. But as golf became more popular, Crowbush Resort was added to reinforce PEI as Canada’s golf destination. Then Dundarave (at a cost in the excess of $10 million) somehow got added to what is now “Golf Links Prince Edward Island”, our very own public business enterprise, a decision that should’ve raised major red flags for taxpayers. Golf Links believes “their” courses are worth over $30 million. But they’re consistently losing $1.5 million a year without getting any capital return. In the real world a lender would have locked the gates long ago.
Their business solutions are not working and government courses are no longer leaders but competitors to more than 25 private operators they encouraged into the industry.
I’ve ventured into situations making investments that haven’t always worked out but was forced to face reality and cut my losses. With today’s ballooning public deficits it’s time government considered doing the same.
In the 1990s, Joe Ghiz was faced with tough decisions regarding a broken Crown corporation, Georgetown Shipyards, losing 600,000 taxpayers’ dollars annually. The shipyard had 40 employees, no business and was run by a politically appointed board. Ghiz sold the entire business to the Irvings for $1.
Employees cried foul, townsfolk talked devastation, the opposition had a field day and Islanders questioned how government could give away millions in assets to the wealthy Irvings who “would likely move the entire operation to Saint John.”
Well the world didn’t end, Joe got re-elected and eighteen years later the rebranded East Isle Shipyards employs 120, the Irvings have invested millions in capital improvements and Holland College operates a successful welding institute working closely with the shipyard. Joe’s brilliance turned that “buck” into a cool $30 million return that continues growing for Islanders. He was brave enough to give away a losing proposition knowing the entrepreneurial Irvings would stop the bleeding.
There is a serious lesson to be learned here.
Joe’s son Robert is now Premier and many think his tackling of health care and education will be his demise. But my money is on this young gun to come through with the tough creative changes we need our government focused on and I’m sure he’ll be re-elected. I’m hoping he’ll soon tackle issues he campaigned on, like our money-losing golf courses, to prove that tough decisions aren’t necessarily the end of the world as the media likes to play it. I like hearing the Premier talk about “short term pain for long term gain” particularly if he can pass this message on to bureaucrats, local governments and fellow Premiers.
I’d like to see a provincial golf course blow out sale or possible lease opportunity. Governments should stick to their core duties; education and health. They should sell assets outside of this core, putting them into the hands of entrepreneurs who will run them well, then use the profits to reduce debt, and put an end to continual increases in taxes and other various fees.
A government focused not on operating businesses but on increasing efficiency of core services would be fresh, welcome thinking.
I hope the next time I see that government asphalt spreader it’s on sale and my buddy is buying it so he can provide competitive prices to government instead of them trying to put him out of business.
“Big Break” Golf Sale
by Tim Banks
Atlantic Business Magazine
August issue
The other day I passed a bright new heavy duty dump truck hauling a new asphalt spreader on a new low deck equipment trailer. I turned to see who this impressive gear belonged to and saw the PEI government’s logo front and centre. I called up one of my road-building buddies to taunt him about the competition only to learn what I saw was only a sample of what’s in the province’s arsenal.
Seems I’ve been too busy competing against Crown Agencies like the Charlottetown Area Development Corporation to notice our elected officials trying to become private enterprises – a mandate they weren’t elected to follow.
Our provincial government is into meat packing, apartment rentals, campgrounds and golf courses to name a few enterprises, all likely bleeding money without factoring in any capital return. I’m sure if we examined the origins of each of these endeavours, we might find a case for fiscal support from government among them. But my instincts suggest job creation from a patronage perspective was the prevailing factor above any long-term financial responsibility.
Look at Brudenell and Mill River golf resorts - each originally developed by government to foster Island tourism. Fair enough. But as golf became more popular, Crowbush Resort was added to reinforce PEI as Canada’s golf destination. Then Dundarave (at a cost in the excess of $10 million) somehow got added to what is now “Golf Links Prince Edward Island”, our very own public business enterprise, a decision that should’ve raised major red flags for taxpayers. Golf Links believes “their” courses are worth over $30 million. But they’re consistently losing $1.5 million a year without getting any capital return. In the real world a lender would have locked the gates long ago.
Their business solutions are not working and government courses are no longer leaders but competitors to more than 25 private operators they encouraged into the industry.
I’ve ventured into situations making investments that haven’t always worked out but was forced to face reality and cut my losses. With today’s ballooning public deficits it’s time government considered doing the same.
In the 1990s, Joe Ghiz was faced with tough decisions regarding a broken Crown corporation, Georgetown Shipyards, losing 600,000 taxpayers’ dollars annually. The shipyard had 40 employees, no business and was run by a politically appointed board. Ghiz sold the entire business to the Irvings for $1.
Employees cried foul, townsfolk talked devastation, the opposition had a field day and Islanders questioned how government could give away millions in assets to the wealthy Irvings who “would likely move the entire operation to Saint John.”
Well the world didn’t end, Joe got re-elected and eighteen years later the rebranded East Isle Shipyards employs 120, the Irvings have invested millions in capital improvements and Holland College operates a successful welding institute working closely with the shipyard. Joe’s brilliance turned that “buck” into a cool $30 million return that continues growing for Islanders. He was brave enough to give away a losing proposition knowing the entrepreneurial Irvings would stop the bleeding.
There is a serious lesson to be learned here.
Joe’s son Robert is now Premier and many think his tackling of health care and education will be his demise. But my money is on this young gun to come through with the tough creative changes we need our government focused on and I’m sure he’ll be re-elected. I’m hoping he’ll soon tackle issues he campaigned on, like our money-losing golf courses, to prove that tough decisions aren’t necessarily the end of the world as the media likes to play it. I like hearing the Premier talk about “short term pain for long term gain” particularly if he can pass this message on to bureaucrats, local governments and fellow Premiers.
I’d like to see a provincial golf course blow out sale or possible lease opportunity. Governments should stick to their core duties; education and health. They should sell assets outside of this core, putting them into the hands of entrepreneurs who will run them well, then use the profits to reduce debt, and put an end to continual increases in taxes and other various fees.
A government focused not on operating businesses but on increasing efficiency of core services would be fresh, welcome thinking.
I hope the next time I see that government asphalt spreader it’s on sale and my buddy is buying it so he can provide competitive prices to government instead of them trying to put him out of business.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
"Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"... same old tune!!
What an eerie feeling heading into the bowels of IRAC last night to finish off another silly IRAC hearing... it was quite a show yesterday and I'm sure Freddie Fender would have been able to hum a few more bars of the "blues" at the end of the night had he been there...
The foolishness all started around 9:30 am when the 2 lady appellants were looking to have the hearing extended two weeks so they could review a few worthless documents that the City's solicitor gave them earlier in the week.... so the Commission had a big Pow-Wow and decided to give the ladies a few hours to review the documents and rescheduled the hearing for 1:30 pm at which time it gave me the opportunity to head over to our law firm and commence a civil action against the two ladies for filing such a frivolous claim... and to my surprise (and I didn't say delight) the document server actually served notice to the appellants a few minutes before the hearing recommenced which certainly was a little tacky... but it shouldn't have been a surprise to the ladies as I had previously let them see a draft of the action at our office a few weeks previous to the event but they "milked" it up and put on quite a front for "natural justice"... had they not tried to continue to "postpone" the process we probably would not have commenced the action.
In any event the show continued and the ladies presented their case that our proposed hotel was going to cause snow removal problems, block the sun from the front of their homes at certain periods, and that the City was in a conflict (or more like a conspiracy) as the City owns 15% of Charlottetown Development Corporation so they "must" be in a conflict... they didn't have anyone to support their claims or they didn't provide any new evidence other than pass over a few of my blog posts where I beat up on IRAC... as if that was some startling new revelation as I've been pounding away at that for years and I'm obviously not getting anywhere when the current Government sends in what I believe is a socialist or communist (I really can't make up my mind) to be the new Vice Chair...
After the ladies were done the City gave a rather good explanation as to how the application process took place and it was clear that the City took every effort to see the rules were followed... the notice of the project was mailed out to 72 property owners within the neighbourhood for their comments... the application then went through a Heritage Board process and meeting... then the application went to Planning Board for approval... and then professional City staff provided a full report to City Council who, like all the others, unanimously approved the application for our development.. by the time the City's expert gave her testimony it was time for supper so a good deal of time was spent by IRAC staff figuring out the complexities of how to reconvene the meetings for 7:00 pm when the Mall doors might be closed...
In any event I got to come back that evening and get some clarification from the City's development officer that there is absolutely "no bylaw" relating to "shadowing" a building which seemed to be of some interest to the Commissioners... I also had an opportunity to give APM's side of our approach in trying to develop a project in the Downtown Core that is in keeping with the objectives of the City's Official Plan and provides Jobs, Investment and Choice to our Community...
Well it may have been all for not as I got the big stare down and lecture from The Right Honourable Vice-Chair Singer Songwriter Allan Rankin that I was "out of line" in defending my right to invest in my Community and he was heading for the Supreme Court... it's the same old tune from The Don't Get Ahead Gang http://www.allanrankin.com/songs/onesong.php3?number=19 and maybe Wes the Cat and I can write them a new tune....
The foolishness all started around 9:30 am when the 2 lady appellants were looking to have the hearing extended two weeks so they could review a few worthless documents that the City's solicitor gave them earlier in the week.... so the Commission had a big Pow-Wow and decided to give the ladies a few hours to review the documents and rescheduled the hearing for 1:30 pm at which time it gave me the opportunity to head over to our law firm and commence a civil action against the two ladies for filing such a frivolous claim... and to my surprise (and I didn't say delight) the document server actually served notice to the appellants a few minutes before the hearing recommenced which certainly was a little tacky... but it shouldn't have been a surprise to the ladies as I had previously let them see a draft of the action at our office a few weeks previous to the event but they "milked" it up and put on quite a front for "natural justice"... had they not tried to continue to "postpone" the process we probably would not have commenced the action.
In any event the show continued and the ladies presented their case that our proposed hotel was going to cause snow removal problems, block the sun from the front of their homes at certain periods, and that the City was in a conflict (or more like a conspiracy) as the City owns 15% of Charlottetown Development Corporation so they "must" be in a conflict... they didn't have anyone to support their claims or they didn't provide any new evidence other than pass over a few of my blog posts where I beat up on IRAC... as if that was some startling new revelation as I've been pounding away at that for years and I'm obviously not getting anywhere when the current Government sends in what I believe is a socialist or communist (I really can't make up my mind) to be the new Vice Chair...
After the ladies were done the City gave a rather good explanation as to how the application process took place and it was clear that the City took every effort to see the rules were followed... the notice of the project was mailed out to 72 property owners within the neighbourhood for their comments... the application then went through a Heritage Board process and meeting... then the application went to Planning Board for approval... and then professional City staff provided a full report to City Council who, like all the others, unanimously approved the application for our development.. by the time the City's expert gave her testimony it was time for supper so a good deal of time was spent by IRAC staff figuring out the complexities of how to reconvene the meetings for 7:00 pm when the Mall doors might be closed...
In any event I got to come back that evening and get some clarification from the City's development officer that there is absolutely "no bylaw" relating to "shadowing" a building which seemed to be of some interest to the Commissioners... I also had an opportunity to give APM's side of our approach in trying to develop a project in the Downtown Core that is in keeping with the objectives of the City's Official Plan and provides Jobs, Investment and Choice to our Community...
Well it may have been all for not as I got the big stare down and lecture from The Right Honourable Vice-Chair Singer Songwriter Allan Rankin that I was "out of line" in defending my right to invest in my Community and he was heading for the Supreme Court... it's the same old tune from The Don't Get Ahead Gang http://www.allanrankin.com/songs/onesong.php3?number=19 and maybe Wes the Cat and I can write them a new tune....
Monday, June 28, 2010
Well Said Holman.... and Pamela to...
Not the eyes, it's the '000s that count
THE MEDDLER
ALAN HOLMAN
The Guardian
26/06/10
The provincial debt and the provincial deficit are like Pamela Anderson's eyes - nobody pays any attention to them.
Well, almost nobody. Nerdy accountants and bankers will enthusiastically examine them - the debts and deficits, that is. Who knows, they might also be keen observers of Ms. Anderson's eyes, and one wouldn't be surprised if they occasionally lowered their sights a bit.
While few on the Island, and seemly none of the politicians, give two hoots about the provincial debt (now nearing the two billion dollar mark) it should come as no surprise that during one of his rare visits to the Island, the governor of the Bank of Canada felt obliged to mention it.
While Mark Carney didn't feel it was his place to offer advice to the provincial government, he did say that all governments should recognize the need to have sustainable budgets and sustainable debt loads. As the man who sets the interest rates in Canada, Mr. Carney, knows better than most that in times of low-interest rates, such as right now, large debts maybe sustainable, but this can quickly change if rates increase, as they inevitably will.
One look at the financial carnage that occurred in the past two years in America and parts of Europe illustrates the negative impact of unsustainable debt. Major financial institutions, iconic corporations (General Motors) and even independent countries, Iceland and Greece, have suffered extreme setbacks that will take years, if not decades, to overcome. In Canada, we escaped the worst of the crisis, though the auto industry and other industrial manufacturers, mainly in southern Ontario, were stung pretty badly.
On the Island, the only visible effects of the financial crisis last year was a slight drop in tourism numbers and a dramatic drop in lobster prices because the export markets dried up. A spinoff effect of this has been the collapse of the Island boat-building industry.
P.E.I. is experiencing an era of record low-interest rates, but it has also rung up a record high provincial debt. With only 140,000 people, and not a lot of industry, Prince Edward Island has a narrow tax base, and sustainability is an issue we ignore at our peril. With a debt of some $2 billion, a rate increase of 25 basis points would add $5 million to the provincial budget. A rate hike of only one per cent would mean the province would have to find an additional $20 million a year just to service the debt.
Since Mr. Carney's visit last week there has been little or no comment about his cautionary remarks on our critically important debt load. But the province's decision to spend $1 million to try to increase tourist traffic by inviting the television stars Regis and Kelly to perform on the Island has seen The Guardian full of letters to the editor on that subject. Many of the letters decried the government decision to fund the television program and most suggested other ways to spend the money. There were also letters supporting the government's move. But there were very few to suggest the government shouldn't have spent the money in the first place.
In retrospect, with exception of the already mentioned fishing industry, Prince Edward Island may have actually benefited from the recent financial crisis. Much of our aerospace industry is involved in the overhaul and refurbishing sectors which tend to see an increase in sales as companies cut back on new purchases. The Island also has a number of companies that service the construction industry and Canada's construction industry was a major benefactor of the federal government's stimulus funding.
Last summer we saw streets and highways throughout the Island in a constant state of upheaval as new or replacement sewer mains were installed and road surfaces were upgraded. A number of Island villages now have wonderful new sidewalks where none were deemed necessary until the stimulus money flowed out of Ottawa. It looks like the construction activity will be much the same this summer. But in the fall, the stimulus program ends.
When it comes to government money, Islanders are spenders, not savers. This won't change in the near future. Also there will be a provincial election in October, 2011, and it's doubtful the government will curtail its spending during an election year. But what will change is the source of the money being spent, and in spite of Mr. Carney's warning, an increase in the provincial debt is the likeliest scenario.
Alan Holman is a freelance journalist living in Charlottetown. He can be reached at: acholman@pei.eastlink.ca
THE MEDDLER
ALAN HOLMAN
The Guardian
26/06/10
The provincial debt and the provincial deficit are like Pamela Anderson's eyes - nobody pays any attention to them.
Well, almost nobody. Nerdy accountants and bankers will enthusiastically examine them - the debts and deficits, that is. Who knows, they might also be keen observers of Ms. Anderson's eyes, and one wouldn't be surprised if they occasionally lowered their sights a bit.
While few on the Island, and seemly none of the politicians, give two hoots about the provincial debt (now nearing the two billion dollar mark) it should come as no surprise that during one of his rare visits to the Island, the governor of the Bank of Canada felt obliged to mention it.
While Mark Carney didn't feel it was his place to offer advice to the provincial government, he did say that all governments should recognize the need to have sustainable budgets and sustainable debt loads. As the man who sets the interest rates in Canada, Mr. Carney, knows better than most that in times of low-interest rates, such as right now, large debts maybe sustainable, but this can quickly change if rates increase, as they inevitably will.
One look at the financial carnage that occurred in the past two years in America and parts of Europe illustrates the negative impact of unsustainable debt. Major financial institutions, iconic corporations (General Motors) and even independent countries, Iceland and Greece, have suffered extreme setbacks that will take years, if not decades, to overcome. In Canada, we escaped the worst of the crisis, though the auto industry and other industrial manufacturers, mainly in southern Ontario, were stung pretty badly.
On the Island, the only visible effects of the financial crisis last year was a slight drop in tourism numbers and a dramatic drop in lobster prices because the export markets dried up. A spinoff effect of this has been the collapse of the Island boat-building industry.
P.E.I. is experiencing an era of record low-interest rates, but it has also rung up a record high provincial debt. With only 140,000 people, and not a lot of industry, Prince Edward Island has a narrow tax base, and sustainability is an issue we ignore at our peril. With a debt of some $2 billion, a rate increase of 25 basis points would add $5 million to the provincial budget. A rate hike of only one per cent would mean the province would have to find an additional $20 million a year just to service the debt.
Since Mr. Carney's visit last week there has been little or no comment about his cautionary remarks on our critically important debt load. But the province's decision to spend $1 million to try to increase tourist traffic by inviting the television stars Regis and Kelly to perform on the Island has seen The Guardian full of letters to the editor on that subject. Many of the letters decried the government decision to fund the television program and most suggested other ways to spend the money. There were also letters supporting the government's move. But there were very few to suggest the government shouldn't have spent the money in the first place.
In retrospect, with exception of the already mentioned fishing industry, Prince Edward Island may have actually benefited from the recent financial crisis. Much of our aerospace industry is involved in the overhaul and refurbishing sectors which tend to see an increase in sales as companies cut back on new purchases. The Island also has a number of companies that service the construction industry and Canada's construction industry was a major benefactor of the federal government's stimulus funding.
Last summer we saw streets and highways throughout the Island in a constant state of upheaval as new or replacement sewer mains were installed and road surfaces were upgraded. A number of Island villages now have wonderful new sidewalks where none were deemed necessary until the stimulus money flowed out of Ottawa. It looks like the construction activity will be much the same this summer. But in the fall, the stimulus program ends.
When it comes to government money, Islanders are spenders, not savers. This won't change in the near future. Also there will be a provincial election in October, 2011, and it's doubtful the government will curtail its spending during an election year. But what will change is the source of the money being spent, and in spite of Mr. Carney's warning, an increase in the provincial debt is the likeliest scenario.
Alan Holman is a freelance journalist living in Charlottetown. He can be reached at: acholman@pei.eastlink.ca
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
There Should Be More People Concerned...
In February the Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce had a Business Roundtable to discuss key issues facing our Community. When it was my turn to put forward my concerns I expressed the importance of becoming pro-active on a couple of fronts one of which is just starting to rear it head and that is the possibility of the ferry link at Wood Islands being terminated. I suggested that the Chamber strike a Committee to "get ready" for what could be a devastating blow to our Tourism industry, our service businesses and the local Eastern PEI economy. You only have to look at Digby and Yarmouth Counties in Nova Scotia and you can quickly see the devastation to the local economy with the closing of some of the ferry and airline services to these communities. I get a sense that the Federal Government are thinking of cutting funding the Wood Island service to Pictou and I think it is incumbent on us all to quickly develop a strategy plan to support this valuable link to our neighbouring Provinces.... I often suggest to friends and colleagues who are planning on a Maritime vacation to consider taking the Link here and take the ferry back (or vice-versa) and most who do always consider the trip as one of their vacation highlights... after reading the following story maybe it's time our business community starting thinking about a support strategy for this great link to our Province before it disappears... it's not only the workers who should be concerned.
Ferry review concerns workers
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
CBC News
Five years of funding for the ferry service expired in March. (CBC)
A one-year review of Northumberland Ferries, which operates between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia, has workers concerned about the future of the service.
A $27-million, five-year contract with the federal government expired in March. Ottawa is now providing one year worth of funding while it reviews the operation and just how necessary it is.
Captain David White has devoted 46 years of his life working for Northumberland Ferries. He's crossed the strait between Wood Island and Caribou countless times but says he still gets a rush from it.
"To me, it's been my livelihood. It's been a good job for me," said White.
"Also I feel that we provide a necessary service to the community of P.E.I. and Nova Scotia."
Local MP Lawrence MacAulay helped broker the last deal for Northumberland Ferries, when serious cutbacks were proposed for the service, but avoided at the last minute.
"I do fear it and I understand only too well what it would do the economy," said MacAulay.
"It would hurt Charlottetown and it would be a bad blow to eastern Prince Edward Island, not only for workers on the ferry but much more than that. I think the tourism industry [would be hurt]."
MacAulay says he will fight to make sure that doesn't happen.
The review is weighing heavily on Tina MacDonald's mind. She's been with the company for 26 years.
"We never have that security with subsidies, I guess, that we would like to have in place," said MacDonald.
"That would be a big thing to have that locked in there, and know you have that security with the government."
The government review will continue through to March of next year.
Ferry review concerns workers
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
CBC News
Five years of funding for the ferry service expired in March. (CBC)
A one-year review of Northumberland Ferries, which operates between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia, has workers concerned about the future of the service.
A $27-million, five-year contract with the federal government expired in March. Ottawa is now providing one year worth of funding while it reviews the operation and just how necessary it is.
Captain David White has devoted 46 years of his life working for Northumberland Ferries. He's crossed the strait between Wood Island and Caribou countless times but says he still gets a rush from it.
"To me, it's been my livelihood. It's been a good job for me," said White.
"Also I feel that we provide a necessary service to the community of P.E.I. and Nova Scotia."
Local MP Lawrence MacAulay helped broker the last deal for Northumberland Ferries, when serious cutbacks were proposed for the service, but avoided at the last minute.
"I do fear it and I understand only too well what it would do the economy," said MacAulay.
"It would hurt Charlottetown and it would be a bad blow to eastern Prince Edward Island, not only for workers on the ferry but much more than that. I think the tourism industry [would be hurt]."
MacAulay says he will fight to make sure that doesn't happen.
The review is weighing heavily on Tina MacDonald's mind. She's been with the company for 26 years.
"We never have that security with subsidies, I guess, that we would like to have in place," said MacDonald.
"That would be a big thing to have that locked in there, and know you have that security with the government."
The government review will continue through to March of next year.
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