Tuesday, February 28, 2006

IS THE PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD ACTING BEFORE THE VERDICT AGAINST THE POOR???


L-forked, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

A few people asked me to post this one. As Bernard Lord speaking out for the poor? I believe this is just an acting job by the board.

I can't see anyone going against the Powerful Irving Family!

I believe the gun will come down hard on the poor. Just watch and see!

Power rate goes up but welfare rate stays the same. Many New Brunswickers are going to be force on the streets if the rates goes up? Here's the story -

Last updated Feb 28 2006 11:03 AM AST
CBC News

The Public Utilities Board has raised questions about a substantial contract NB Power has with Irving Oil, but is having a hard time getting answers about it.

NB Power buys electricity from Irving every winter, sometimes at prices above what NB Power can generate for itself. The Public Utilities Board wants to know why that is, but so far has been told only that the answer is confidential.

The utility wants to raise power rates for industrial and household users on April 1. It is basing the rate increases on projected financial shortfalls next year. The PUB is holding hearings into NB Power's rate request, and asking detailed questions about the corporation's financial dealings.

* FROM FEB. 16, 2006: Utility may be forced to explain Orimulsion boondoggle

Irving Oil owns a natural gas generating station that produces electricity, which is bought by NB Power no matter the price.

NB Power says it has an arrangement with Irving to buy all the power produced by the plant each winter between November and March. It doesn't matter if NB Power needs the electricity, or if the utility could produce the power more cheaply at one of its own plants.

The Irving's Saint John power plant is medium sized and capable of generating about 40 per cent of the power of the nuclear generator at Point Lepreau.

NB Power originally agreed to winter purchases from the unit as a convenient way to manage high New Brunswick consumption patterns between November and March, but since the contract was signed, natural gas prices have soared.

NB Power executives have testified the contract leaves the utility no choice but to buy from Irving for those five months, but that was called into question when evidence surfaced that NB Power also pays Irving up to $29 million a year in a capacity charge for the plant.

Capacity charges are usually paid only if a customer is unsure if it wants to buy electricity. The customer makes the payment to reserve generating capacity just in case.

PUB member Ken Sollows says the revelation of the capacity payments to Irving suggests NB Power is not necessarily obligated to buy power from the plant, and the utility should be free to generate its own power more cheaply. "I'm left wondering if those contracts don't actually allow us to just pay the capacity cost and simply schedule the plant not to run," said Sollows.

NB Power's distribution company, DISCO, pays the cost of the contract, but the contract itself is between NB Power's genration company, GENCO, and Irving. Unlike DISCO, GENCO is not subject to regulation and the PUB has not been allowed to see the contract even though board members believe it may be costing New Brunswick rate payers millions.

* FROM FEB. 21, 2006: Lawyers squabble over $70-million typo

The Irving power deal has become an issue at the rate hearing because early this winter natural gas got so expensive, power from the Irving plant cost much more than NB Power's own production at Coleson Cove. Despite that, NB Power spent millions on the Irving electricity.

Sollows says he doesn't believe NB Power's contract with Irving really forces it to buy overpriced electricity, but Irving has not consented to let the board look at the contract, so nobody knows for sure. "It really does leave me questioning whether we could cut maybe $90 million out of your fuel price estimate," he said.

Board chairman David Nicholson said the Irving deal needs to be reviewed, but NB Power executives were unable to answer even simple questions about it.

Even NB Power's two lawyers said they haven't seen the Irving contract, except the secrecy provisions, and couldn't comment on whether the utility really has to buy from Irving or not.

"I personally have not reviewed the NUGs [contracts with private power producers], I don't know if Mr. Hashey has," said NB Power lawyer Terry Morrison.

His co-counsel David Hashey, added: "I've seen the cofidentiality clauses in them. I've only been supplied with the confidentiality clause when I asked to see that."

But NB Power does buy from Irving, spending $100 million on electricity this year alone, a transaction that so far has not been subject to any public scrutiny.

THE PRESS GALLERY AT THE NEW BRUNSWICK LEGISLATURE SAYS NO TO BLOGGERS!!!!


Picture 022, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

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Is it the weather or is it hatred???
Good question?

Maybe someone has an answer for happened to me at the Legislature a few hours ago?

Some people seem to be in a bad mood or have a very bad attitude.

A couple of days ago, I received an envelope in my mailbox.

Inside was $100.00!!!

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I said to myself - What the hell is this???

The money came with a note telling me to apply for a media pass at the Legislature.

Well? I knew this was a waste of time but if an individual went out of his way to send me $100.00?

Why not?

So where should I begin?

The Sargeant At Arms? I don’t believe so because he labeled me as a security risk.

With a media pass? I could take all kinds of pictures of different MLA’s in the hallways.

I could attend the news conferences and maybe asks a few questions?

I knew that Alan White was the former head of the Media Gallery at the Legislature.

I found out the new guy was Daniel McHardie.

The first thing that went through my mind was - Ohhh boy??? An Irving Employee!!!! He’s a reporter from the Moncton Irving Transcript.

Charles 04_07_05 021

This should be real good!!!...lol…

The media gathers in this building so I walked through the doors.

In the past, I would be greeted by a nice Commissionaire and I would asked for an individual and there would be no problem.

On many occasions, I would asked for a lady at the Hansard Office and minutes later I was on my way out the door but not this time.

Once inside there were four commissionaire in a booth!

I’m not kidding!!!! FOUR OF THEM!!!!

They looked at me as of saying to themselves - What the hell does he want?

One Commissionaire quickly got up and told me in a very hatred way - You’re not allowed in here!!!!

I stay calm and say- What? You mean all New Brunswickers are not allowed in here?

He angrily told me to wait outside!!!!

I was really confuse??? If I’m outside? How can I locate the individual I wish to chat with?

I knew where the orders came from to treat me like dirt but also knew that I was dealing with New Brunswickers and not Quebecers.

q2

I asked - Since when these new rules came in action?

He mentioned- Dan Bussieres!!!

q1

I was very concern of this new rule because many New Brunswickers do come in this building for information!

He told me that all New Brunswickers will have to make an appointment!

I said - Appointement?

All I want is some info???

A couple from the Premier’s staff office walked by and I said - Hello!!

Just like the Commissionaires they gave me a dirty look and continue their little walk.

Ok…I’m in a area where the attitude of hate is very much alive and I’m stuck in the middle.

Thank God! The Commissionaire was located in a booth because I’m certain he would have grabbed me and there the situation would have gone totally out of control.

I one again asked for Daniel McHardie but they wouldn’t call to ask if the guy was there or not?

I went for my camera.

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A female Commissionaire in the booth whispered - He got a tape recorder!!!

The Commissionaire angrily asked me if I had a tape recorder with me?

All it was for a camera but they truly believe that I had a tape recorder???

Why would I have a tape recorder anyway?

I remember when I was working with that racist supervisor from Gulf Operators. < Irving Company >

gulf

I was told to carry a tape recorder. I will never carry such a device with me.

These people were very paranoid and I wonder what was the reason?

They seem friendly during my six months protest but no more!

charles

Could they have been told by someone that I should be treated like dirt???

I don’t go kindly being degraded in front of others but I played along with their childish game.

I asked for the phone number of Daniel McHardie.

He refused to give it to me.

I was confuse because I believe this was sort of the information booth like the Legislature or the Centennial Building.

Charles 04_07_05 015

These four Commissionaires weren’t going to give me no info whatsoever!

I asked again - How do I get the info I want?

New Brunswickers are no longer allowed to walk in here for info?

At the end, he hastily gave me a phone number.

Once at a phone, I called the number but it told me that the number I’m trying to reach is no longer in service.

I had a problem, I got to contact this Irving’s reporter but the Commissionaires won’t help me so what do I do now?

I contacted the Legislative building and the woman recognizes my voice. < I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing …lol > She couldn’t helped me either.

I contacted someone from the Daily Irving Gleaner but he didn’t have the number either.

I decided that I’ll have to return to the Departmental Building to get my info?

Question? Why is that booth in that building if New Brunswickers are not allowed in there?

I walked in and once again I was confronted with hate!!!!

Thank God for that glass window.

This time around there were only two people present so therefore being degraded in front of two person isn’t all that bad.

Once again, I asked to see Daniel Mchardie.

But once again I was told that they couldn’t help me.

I told the guy that he gave me the wrong number.

I was straight forward and told him that I was told to tell you…

He quickly intervened and said- WHO TOLD YOU????

Well, I never disclosed my information where I get my infos…I told the commissionaire that I have something for Daniel Mchardie and if you don’t wish to help me???

Where do I go now???

I believe that he realizes that I wasn’t going nowhere so he quickly gave in and went inside to get the Irving reporter.

He came out and told me that the guy will be out.

I said- Now??? That’s better!!!!

Daniel Mchardie came out with papers in his hand.

He began to explain to me about the policy to be accepted in the press gallery.

I was surprised that he knew the reason I was there for?

I asked? How did you know? Why do you have those papers with you.

He told me that he’s waiting for a reporter from a Halifax paper who’s wants the same pass as I do.

The papers were the media constitution of the Legislature.

I believe that he knew what I wanted because I told a fellow reporter the story one hour before.

I told the reporter that it was OFF THE RECORD!!! I guess it wasn’t!!! I’ll confront the reporter on a later date.

So the conversation went on for close to 10 minutes but I wasn’t comfortable at all because he was talking loud and the two commissionaires were paying close attention.

I mean…. it wasn’t none of their business but what can you do or say?

I was lucky to have the Irving employee in front of me.

He explained to me that Bloggers are not in the media constitution.

I asked for a copy of the papers but he said that it was the only copy he had.

I suggested that he photo copied the papers so I could read them later but no deal!

I told the head cheese that they should get with the times and allow bloggers in the media gallery.

He told me that someone can bring the proposal at a meeting.

I replied- Fat chance of that with all the Irving employees in there???

He reminded me that Irving employees are a small part of the group.

He mentioned Rogers!!!

ROGERS????? They’re as bad as the Irvings!!! I didn’t say it but I was thinking about it!!!...lol…

At the end, he was telling me that if they allowed a blogger? That would open up the door for all the bloggers!!!

I reminded the guy that I’m closing in on 100,000 visitors to my site. I know that I have 35,000 to do…..lol

While debating the issue with Dan a reporter walked < I won’t mention any name >

He kept on trucking by but came back with this statement – Maybe Charles has a tape recorder on him?

The Commissionaires staring at me, a reporter confronting me…. All this in the hallway????

He again asked me if I had a tape recorder???

I gave in and said- Yes, I do have a tape recorder!!!!

At that moment???? I had anyone attention in the building and I pointed to my head and said - That’s my tape recorder!!!!

I wonder where this tape recorder story started anyway???

I bet when I left the building the first time? The media and the commissionaires must have gotten together and came to a conclusion that I had a tape recorder!!!

WHAT A BUNCH!!!

To everyone who reads this blog???? I never in the past and never will in the future have a tape recorder.

I have a bad enough time with a camera never mind a tape recorder. They must believe that I’m Secret Squirell????

ss4
Sh@t!

When all that was done? I continued my little chat with Dan McPhardie.

I offered to give him the 100 bucks to apply but he wouldn’t take it!!!

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He reminded me that if I do get accepted? I have to be accepted by Daniel Bussiers!

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I told the Irving employee that I know it won’t pass but I was told to give it a try?

When he mentioned constitution of the media gallery in the Legislature? He did mentioned people from weekly papers could apply?

I reminded the guy that I had my own column in the River Valley News for the past six years so therefore maybe I should apply as a person who represents that paper?

Charles 04_07_05 027

He told me that he’ll have to chat with the owner of that paper.

It’s one of a few that’s left in the Province that’s not own by the Irvings!

So? What can a person do? Nothing!

The Irvings have control of the news media and there’s not much we can do about it!

I reminded the young reporter that maybe I will reapply as a blogger in 10 years from now???

Charles 04_07_05 055

You know? Maybe New Brunswick will be up to par?...lol

The conversation came to an end.

So? I learned that New Brunswickers are not allowed in the Departmental Building near the Legislature. So why bother having a booth in there?

Just for the record? I was thinking of taking a picture of the booth but I would have been maybe arrested.

Yes, spring better come soon because some people sure have a bad attitude!!!!

Ch-Com-2

Maybe one day New Brunswickers could read other stories beside the Irving's newspapers?

media

K.C. IRVING STILL ACTIVE FROM THE GRAVE???

Response to """ I truly believe he is restless where ever he is now""".

MAYBE K.C. IRVING HAD ADHD????
please post this as a reminder as to who started all this mess...

father and sons....

It’s ok to hate what someone does and continues to do but not to hate the people doing it…

this article was pulled from Globe & Mail probably the following year of 1993

kc

MORE TROUBLE ON THE GROUND OF THE NEW BRUNSWICK LEGISLATURE!!!

A very interesting confrontation just happened to me. Stay tune for more on this issue this evening. It's a long one!!!!

I might add that this time around? It doesn't include the Quebec Secutrity staff! I'll take that back. It does indeed include the Quebec Security staff.... Check this blog for more info tonight....

Never a dull moment with this Activist in the Capital.

q1
Charles 04_07_05 063
Charles 04_07_05 053

My hero the Iceman might be gone from the New England Patriots....


adam, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

adam1

Click here

target="_blank">Charles
Blog

Monday, February 27, 2006

THE IRVINGS OWN EVERYTHING IN RED AND MAYBE MORE????


Picture 013, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

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TIM HORTON'S - THEY'RE BACK!!!!!!


Picture 011, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

WHEN YOU GO AGAINST THE IRVINGS? YOU MUST GO UNDERCOVER!!!!


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Pretty hard not to spot the hat!!!...lol

GOD'S TWO MINUTES!!!

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BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD,
WHOSE CONFIDENCE IS IN HIM. HE WILL BE LIKE A
TREE PLANTED BY THE WATER THAT SENDS OUT ITS
ROOTS BY THE STREAM.
( JEREMIAH 17:7-8 *NIV )

Dear Charles,
Now it is written, WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO PLEASE GOD, BECAUSE ANYONE WHO COMES TO
HIM MUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS AND THAT HE
REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM.
( HEBREWS 11:6 )

Now when you think about it, life would be very difficult
without our faith! King David wrote, THE LORD IS MY
STRENGTH AND MY SHIELD; MY HEART TRUSTS IN HIM,
AND I AM HELPED. MY HEART LEAPS FOR JOY AND I
WILL GIVE THANKS TO HIM IN SONG. ( PSALM 28:7 )
Therefore; HOW PRICELESS IS YOUR UNFAILING LOVE!
BOTH HIGH AND LOW AMONG MEN FIND REFUGE IN
THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS. ( PSALM 36:7 )

So Charles, remember that; WE LIVE BY FAITH
AND NOT BY SIGHT ( 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 ) For those who
do it is written, YOU WILL KEEP IN PERFECT PEACE HIM
WHOSE MIND IS STEADFAST, BECAUSE HE TRUSTS
IN YOU. Therefore; TRUST IN THE LORD FOREVER, FOR
THE LORD, THE LORD, IS THE ROCK ETERNAL. Amen.
( ISAIAH 26:3-4 )

With My Love & Prayers,
your servant Allen
[ Prayer Requests---Contact Us---Bible Study---*Donations* ]
[ Audio---Subscribe---Change of Address---Unsubscribe ]
at: http://www.godsminute.org
Apostle Paul Ministries, P O Box 55996, Hayward, CA 94545
(c) Copyright 2006 by Apostle Paul Ministries


====================================================================

GIVE TO THE LORD THE GLORY DUE HIS NAME; AND
COME BEFORE HIM. OH, WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE
BEAUTY OF HOLINESS!
( 1 CHRONICLES 16:29 )

Dear Charles,
If you haven't gone lately, why not attend the Church of
your choice today, and join with others as they worship our
Heavenly Father! For it is only right that we worship and
sing to Him as well! After all it is written that we should;
SING TO THE LORD, ALL THE EARTH; PROCLAIM
HIS SALVATION DAY AFTER DAY. ( 1 CHRONICLES 16:23 )

So; COME, LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN; LET
US KNEEL BEFORE THE LORD OUR MAKER. FOR HE IS
OUR GOD, AND WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF HIS PASTURE,
AND THE SHEEP OF HIS HAND. ( PSALM 95:6-7 )

Therefore; Charles, let us also; PRAISE GOD IN HIS
SANCTUARY; PRAISE HIM WITH THE SOUND OF THE
TRUMPET; PRAISE HIM WITH THE LUTE AND HARP!
PRAISE HIM WITH THE TIMBREL AND DANCE; PRAISE
HIM WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS AND FLUTES!
PRAISE HIM WITH CLASHING CYMBALS! LET EVERY-
THING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE THE LORD.
(PSALM 150:1, 3-6 )

So again I say, why not attend your Church today, and;
COME LET US SING TO THE LORD! LET US SHOUT
JOYFULLY TO THE ROCK OUR SALVATION. Amen!
( PSALM 95:1 )

With My Love & Prayers,
your servant Allen
[ Prayer Requests---Contact Us---Bible Study---*Donations* ]
[ Audio---Subscribe---Change of Address---Unsubscribe ]
at: http://www.godsminute.org
Apostle Paul Ministries, P O Box 55996, Hayward, CA 94545
(c) Copyright 2006 by Apostle Paul Ministries

NB POWER SPARES BIG INDUSTRIES BUT NOT THE POOR IN NEW BRUNSWICK!!!! WILL IT COME DOWN TO THIS???


liberty, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Can you just imagine if this was 100 or 200 years ago? The power rate will go up but only to the poor in New Brunswick.

So therefore the rent will be higher but the Welfare rate will not rise.

What the heck is going to happen? How are the thousands of poor people going to survive???

You tell me???

DOES ANYONE CARE IF THE PIPELINE GOES AHEAD IN ROCKWOOD PARK????


pipe, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Charles,

Yes I am one of those ones disgusted and I have been involved; called written, phoned, went to meetings, attended council for hours.

Where is everyone else? Ten of thousands is what we need!

Very disappointed in the people who don't join us and make a statement and not let the billionaires and politician make bargains with their wealthy friends.

Our Mayor seems to be enjoying himself on our dollar!

WITH BERNARD LORD AS PREMIER??? THE DRUGGING AND THE KILLINGS OF OUR CHILDREN WILL CONTINUE!!!


aa, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.


Saint John teens trying hard drugs: survey
Last updated Feb 27 2006 09:02 AM AST
CBC News
Saint John high school students are ingesting everything from narcotic painkillers to ecstasy and cocaine, according to a two-year drug-use survey supported by AIDS Saint John and Health Canada.

The two groups hired young people to interview their peers about drug use, and are using the information to educate parents and the health-care system about what can be done about the problem.

Researchers say the project was spurred on by figures from AIDS Saint John on intravenous drug use. Seven years ago, its needle exchange took in only 750 needles. That number has shot up to more than 100,000 projected for this year.

Leanne Laracey is one of the researchers involved in the project. She says most parents don't have solid facts about what kinds of drugs are out there.

"It's not just marijuana, and maybe some acid. Kids are really getting into heavy drugs like dilaudid; a lot of young people are abusing pharmaceutical drugs."

Project co-ordinator Julie Dingwell led the project, and says students in Saint John can even get their hands on ecstasy and cocaine.

Dingwell is also the executive director of AIDS Saint John. She says aside from educating parents, project results will be used to help further address problems of drug use among young people.

"Once we've completed our evaluation we're certainly going to share that information with hundreds of contacts. And I think also just as important it will tell us where our next project needs to be."

Researchers will present their findings to the public at a meeting at the Saint John YMCA Monday night.

MAYBE K.C. IRVING HAD ADHD????


Picture 036, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

I was in a certain location this morning and I came face to face with this picture.

What a way to start my day!!...lol....

But really? A person must respect K.C. Irving because we got in this world the same way but this individual really had the drive.

Can you imagine the energy he had to become an Billionaire?

Maybe K.C. Irving had ADHD????

My God? This guy is still alive!!


frank, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

With Don Knotts death? I was searching old actors and this guy is still alive. He's born in 1915. Does anyone remember this guy????


cast_mrdrucker

Sunday, February 26, 2006

ESCAPING THE COLD WINDS IN FREDERICTON!!!!


Picture 111, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

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YOU SURE WON'T SEE THIS SIGHT IN THE LOCAL BARS????


Picture 032, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

One idea for Bernard Lord would be to remove these ATM machines where the VLT's are located.

As we speak? The money machines are bigger than the VLT'S! Look at this picture!!!

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CAN PAT LYNCH TEAM SPELL????


Picture 012, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

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AN ARTICLE BY A FREELANCE WRITER FROM SUSSEX!!!!


irving3, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

Shipwrecking an industry Last year the federal government gave J..D. Irving Ltd. some $55-million to close down the Saint John Shipbuilding yard, one of the largest and most technologically advanced shipyards in Canada.


This yard still contains its equipment, its services and highly skilled workers are still available to build ships in this yard.

The problem is that as part of its deal with the government, J..D. Irving agreed not to build ships at the facility for 20 years.

A dummy's guide to energy in New Brunswick


If you're the Irvings, you make your profit at home in New Brunswick and spend it somewhere else! Why spend it at home? It's not as if New Brunswickers need jobs.




>by John Steeves
February 24, 2006

In the field of New Brunswick energy policy, it's more and more difficult to separate the good guys (if there are any) from the villains.

Take the case of the snafu involving the giant Coleson Cove electrical generating plant, just west of Saint John.

Coleson Cove was originally designed to burn Bunker C industrial grade petroleum. The main supplier of the Bunker C was Irving Oil.

Always in the search for cheaper ways to provide electricity to New Brunswickers, the good folks at NB Power came up with a plan. They spent millions of dollars refurbishing Coleson Cove with a new fuel supply in mind. Instead of using expensive Bunker C, the redesigned Coleson Cove would use a low-grade fuel called orimulsion, a fuel available only in Venezuela.

And while it's probable the orimulsion would still be delivered to New Brunswick in Irving-owned ships, Irving Oil would no longer be the actual supplier. NB Power officials personally went to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, to work out the details of the supply contract.

Everything seemed idyllic until the refurbishment was almost complete.

Suddenly, Venezuela balked, saying there was no contract and the South American nation had no intention of supplying orimulsion to the New Brunswick power utility.

NB Power responded with threats of a billion dollar lawsuit, saying that, even without a signature, the deal was legally valid. NB Power also argued that a favourable court decision would be enforceable in the United States because Venezuelan assets, such as those owned by CITGO Corporation, could be seized.

More recently, NB Power realized that throwing more money into legal bills makes little sense and the Crown Corporation quietly dropped the suit.

So Venezuela seems to be the villain in the piece for not honouring the verbal deal. And in the scenario so far, NB Power seems to have naïvely based its plans on an unsigned contract.

Then, earlier this month, Irving Oil came back on the scene, playing the role of the “guy in the white hat.” Irving implied that it can supply Coleson Cove with a fuel that will, in fact, be cheaper than orimulsion. No details of what this fuel would be were released.

Everything would have fallen into place… bad Venezuela, naïve power corporation and good Irvings… except for a news release issued earlier this month by Irving Oil in the United States.

The release explains that Irving Oil and Venezuela are, in fact, business partners. On February 1, Irving purchased 55 per cent of the ownership of the marine terminal at South Portland, Maine from Venezuelan interests. The other 45 per cent of the terminal is still owned by the Venezuelan-controlled CITGO group.

This deal south of the border has led to some local speculation that the mystery fuel Irving can now supply is, in fact, a mixture of orimulsion from Venezuela and waste sludge from Irving's giant refinery in Saint John. After all, even though the Venezuelans were unwilling to honour a verbal contract with NB Power, they might be willing to supply the same product to Irving, a long-time buyer of that nation's petroleum and now a partner at the terminal in Maine.

Whatever the case, it raises the question of whether the Irvings are wearing the “white hats” after all.

There's another interesting feature to the news release.

For instance, it mentions that Irving terminals “are supplied by a modern fleet of double-hulled tankers including the MT New England 2006, the MT Great Eastern 2005, the MT Acadian 2005, the MT Nor'easter 2005 and the MT Irving Canada 1981.”

The four ships constructed in 2005 and 2006 are apparently “sister ships.” Only one, the Acadian, is registered with Transport Canada at the Port of Saint John. (At it turns out, all four are owned by a Dutch company, VROON, and are under permanent lease to Irving Oil. And, while the Acadian is registered in Canada, the other three carry the flag of the Marshall Islands, in the south Pacific). All four ships were built at the Hyundai dry dock, in South Korea.

So, whether technically owned by VROON or by Irving, these are Irving ships.

But wait a minute!

The Irvings just collected $55-million from the federal government as compensation for shutting down its own shipbuilding facilities in Saint John. If the company needed ships, why didn't they build them at home? After all, it's not because the ships were too large for the Saint John facility. The same Transport Canada data indicates that the Irving Canada was built in 1981 in Saint John even though that ship is slightly larger than the newer vessels.

In response to that question, one Irving apologist told me that the answer is simple: There was no way the ships could be built in Saint John as cheaply as in Korea.

So it was good business. Make your profit at home in New Brunswick and spend it somewhere else! Why spend it at home? It's not as if New Brunswickers need jobs. Or that the Irvings feel some sort of responsibility as good corporate citizens to buy locally.

John Steeves, a former Senior Program Editor with CBC National Radio News, is a freelance writer in Sussex, N.B.

30-INCH GAS PIPELINE COMING NEAR YOUR HOME!


pipe, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.


Charles...I was wondering if you would be kind enough to blog this on your web site?,,,


30-INCH GAS PIPELINE
COMING NEAR YOUR HOME!

YOU CAN HELP FIGHT THE PIPELINE ROUTE THROUGH CITY AND PARKS

1.) Please call, fax, write or email the following people and tell them you are totally opposed to the proposed
route through our City and our Parks, and that the only route acceptable to us is undersea in the bay.

- Lorna Patterson, National Energy Board, 444 7th Avenue SW, Calgary AB T2P 0X8
Phone 1-800-899-1265 / Fax 1-403-292-5503 / Email lpatterson@neb-one.gc.ca

- Stephanie Moore, Maritime Northeast Pipelines, 1801 Hollis Street, Suite 1600,
Halifax, NS B3J 3N4 (request copy of their Final Report of Jan/06-describes route!)
Phone 1-800-223-1716 / Fax (902) 420-0253 / Email smore@duke-energy.com

- Honourable Trevor Holder, Minister - Environment & Local Government
PO Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1 Phone 657-2335 / Fax 642-2588
Email trevor.holder@gnb.ca

- Premier Bernard Lord, PO Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Phone (506) 453-2144 / Fax (506) 453-7407 / Email premier@gnb.ca

2.) Call Friends of Rockwood Park and volunteer to help: (phones, petitions, on-foot message delivery, fund-raising,
photocopying, in-kind donations, etc.) Please call 652-3597....also call 635-4102.

Tune in "Talk of the Town" 9AM - 11AM Monday to Friday CFBC 930 on AM dial for the
"Latest Developments!"