Thursday, January 31, 2008

A REPORTER WHO'S NOT AFRAID TO WRITE ABOUT THE IRVINGS!!!!


irving
Originally uploaded by Oldmaison
chrisarsenault_arsenal


I had my picture taken with Chris a couple of hours before I was arrested by the Saint John Police Force.


policeIMG_2092Pictures 071Pictures 041IMG_4921



Too bad they deleted the picture from my camera. < around 200 pictures were deleted by the Saint John Police Force >

I added some pictures with his story -

Enjoy --


Hey Charles,

I though you might be interested in this story on the irvings; it is not available online so your blog would be the first to run it in New brunswick.

adios
chris
www.chrisarsenault.ca


An Inside Look at the Irvings

Chris Arsenault. Canadian Dimension. Winnipeg: Jan/Feb 2008. Vol. 42, Iss. 1; pg. 33, 4 pgs

Leland Thomas doesn't want a natural-gas pipeline to destroy a natural park near his home in Saint John, New Brunswick.


Pictures 403



For the last year, the retired veterinarian and a group of Saint Johners calling themselves the "Friends of Rockwood Park" have been organizing public forums, petition drives and meetings with their political representatives to oppose the proposed pipeline, which they say would cause environmental problems along with ruining some of the city's only green space.


Pictures 393



But the Friends of Rockwood Park are in a bind; they're having a hard
time communicating their message to the public because every
English-language daily newspaper in New Brunswick is owned by Irving family interests - the same people proposing the pipeline.


IMG_6638



The Only Show in Town

Along with the newspapers, the Irving family, valued at u.s. $5.9
billion and ranked 129th on the Forbes magazine billionaires list in
2007, owns more than 300 companies in the province with interests in forestry, construction, food processing, transportation, energy
refining, retail and distribution.

"I don't know anywhere else where a corporation owns everything," Leland


Thomas told Canadian Dimension. "I don't know anywhere else where one company, one family, has this kind of dominance on the business world."

The Irving group of companies directly employs around eight per cent of the province's 750,000 residents, according to figures from Kim Kierans, director of the journalism school at the University of King's College in Halifax.

Brunswick News, the holding company for the Irvings' media interests, employs some 650 people and, with the exception of three weekly papers the Saint Croix Courier, the Sackville Tribune Post and the recently opened Carleton Free Press - the company owns all provincial newspapers.

This includes the three largest English-language dailies located in
Moncton, St. John and Fredericton, along with eleven English weeklies, seven French week lies and a significant radio and Internet presence

Don't Bite the Hand that Feeds You

In 2006, the Senate Committee on Transport and Communications issued a damning report on the Irvings' monopoly, stating: "This situation is, as far as the Committee could determine, unique for developed countries."

According to Erin Steuter, a professor at Mount Allison University
in Sackville, who has studied the monopoly, "Journalists know not to
bite the hand that feeds them and anything critical of the employer is
considered completely unacceptable."

The Irvings' monopoly, or "media-industrial complex," to quote the
Senate report, has become such a lightning rod for controversy, even the provincial Conservative party - hardly an enemy of big business - is speaking out.

"The Grandson of the Irving family [Jamie Irving] is now running the
Saint John Telegraph-Journal" said Conservative leader Jeannot Volpe in an interview with cd. "The Irvings are proposing some major projects in the city and now there is a direct link between the family and the industrial base," said Mr. Volpe, adding that New Brunswick is unique in having a media monopoly directly attached to an industrial empire.



jamieIMG_5456




Along with the natural-gas pipeline set to destroy Rockwood Park, the Irvings are proposing a new, $7-billion oil refinery for Saint John.



IMG_5415



The new refinery, with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day, would increase industrial emissions in New Brunswick by 25 per cent, making it impossible for the province to meet its Kyoto targets. The editorial boards of all three Irving city dailies support the project.



LNG-3



Inka Milewski, science advisor to the Conservation Council of New
Brunswick, thinks a lack of reporters who understand the science of
climate change is the biggest problem with coverage of the proposed refinery in Irving papers. She doesn't believe there are direct orders from Irving family members demanding reporters slate coverage in favour of the project. Editors certainly choose to support
the new refinery out of free will.




IMG_6638



However, it is unlikely those editors would have been
given their positions had they held differing views. Like other
observers, Milewski thinks, "there is no capacity for Irving media
outlets to really dig into these issues."



A Media Culture of Self-Censorship

This isn't to say coverage in Irving newspapers is completely static or
monolithic: the Moncton Times and Transcript runs a decent column by Ginette Petitpas-Taylor, chairperson of the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women; the excellent Janice Harvey spins a weekly piece for the Saint John Telegraph-Journal and the Fredericton Daily Gleaner syndicates Gwynne Dyer. But when it comes to covering the vast and often controversial Irving Empire, Irving papers simply aren't up to the task.

"Time and time again, we have seen that the media are really not very good at reporting on their corporate owners," said Isabel Macdonald, spokesperson for the New York-based watchdog Fairness and Accuracy in

Reporting (FAIR). Macdonald cites an example when nbc News was planning a story on consumer boycotts: "an organizer was asked [by an NBC reporter] to name the largest boycott going on today; and it was against General Electric - NBC'S parent company." When this news came out, "

The NBC producer said 'we can't do that' and the network dropped the story," Macdonald told CD.

Irving dominance over New Brunswick dates back to 1924, when the family patriarch, K.C Irving, bought his first gas station in Saint John; K.C. owned a station in Bouctouche NB prior to entering the St. John market, but most observers consider the St. John station the beginning. From there, K.C. built up a network for business, striving for full-spectrum industrial and commercial dominance.


IMG_5480IMG_5481_edited




Today the empire includes:IrvingOilLtd.,J.D.Irving Ltd., Midland Transport, Kent Building Supplies, Ocean Steel and, of course, Brunswick News.

The Irving companies are privately held, not publicly traded like most
major corporations, so information on their activities is more difficult
to obtain. In the fashion of law-abiding gangsters, the Irvings use
their media muscle to exert dominance and attain profit on behalf of
family. And sometimes, they financially and politically bludgeon their
enemies in broad daylight.

[HERE] Magazine: Case Study in Corporatism



nb



On October 18, 2007, [HERE] Magazine (the Irving-owned New Brunswick equivalent to Toronto's NOW and Vancouver's Georgia Straight) hit a new low - even for a rag. The magazine (where this reporter used to work as a columnist), with a circulation of about 37,000 in Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton, ran a cover story entitled, "Why not choose natural gas?" The story broke all of [HERE]'s own style guidelines.



Pictures 114



It was ghostwritten, whilst all their other stories had author bylines.
Moreover, it clocked it at 302 words; according to the magazine's
editorial guidelines, the low limit for a cover story is 1,000 words.

The story reads like a 1950s advertisement for nuclear power or
something hosted by The Simpsons' Troy McClure. "Ever wonder where natural gas comes from?" asks the opening sentence. Oh, please, do tell!


Apparently, "The history of natural gas extends to the ancient peoples
of Greece, Persia and India." It's always good to keep literary
infomercials in their historical context. The article only quotes one
person: the marketing manager for Enbridge Gas New Brunswick.

"The Irvings just run press releases as their own stories," said Dr.
Steuter.

And, as for [HERE]'s hard-hitting conclusion, well, the media-relations professional lets the reader decide: "Why not consider natural gas, an environmentally friendly fuel?" The Irvings are, of course, trying to build more natural-gas pipelines and a new liquefied natural-gas (LNG) terminal.

No Sex, Please: We're New Brunswickers

[HERE] had been an alternative magazine, a youthful - often lousy - mix of piss and cider vinegar up until 2004, when the Irvings forced it to sell out. Initially based only in Saint John, the publishers tried to
move into the Moncton market. That's when the Irvings started the Metro Marquee.

"I got brought on as a sex columnist at the Marquee when they opened to compete with [HERE]," said Heather Narduzzi in an interview. When the Metro Marquee started generating some ad revenue, Narduzzi says the Irving family took a closer look at the paper's content. The Metro Marquee was terminated in favor of [HERE]'s brand once the Irvings took control of both papers on October 28, 2004.

"My editor, Alec Bruce, called me to his office and showed me a memo, which he said came directly from the Irving family themselves," Narduzzi told CD. "My editor read out the subject: 'Platonic Relationships.

Please have Heather switch her column IMMEDIATELY to a relationship column. Not sex. No more sex. Think celibate!'"

From a purely business perspective, it would make sense for [HERE] to publish a sex columnist; the irreverent and informative musings of syndicated fancy-pants Dan Savage are the only reason many people pick up these sorts of "urban weeklies." But the Irvings know they have no competitors in this or other markets, so they don't have to dilute their social conservatism to cater to customers.

Narduzzi quit after that meeting with her editor. "I decided not to
write about relationships, because I would be talking out of my ass,"
she says.

Like a virgin version of Michael Corleone in The Godfather, the Irvings made Ms. Narduzzi an offer she couldn't refuse.

Serving the Customer or "Getting Served"?

According to Harvey Sawler, a biographer who croons for the Irvings like someone on their payroll, the family has done so well because they always, always, put the customer first: "Look after the customer and they'll look after you," was said to be the mantra K.C Irving stamped into the organization's corporate culture. When it comes to New Brunswick's media, the customer is perpetually stuck at the back of the restaurant, but there's nowhere else to eat in town.

"The public is getting frustrated with this monopoly," said Conservative leader Volpe. "How are citizens expected to have their voices heard if the media doesn't want to hear the message?"

While Canada's Senate, the provincial Conservative party and a host of academics, commentators and citizens have railed against the monopoly, no one has done anything much about it. And, as for the friends of Rockwood Park, "we've been stopped," said Thomas. The gas pipeline will proceed.



Pictures 385Pictures 367Pictures 381Pictures 379Pictures 384

FREDERICTON TRAIN STATION - THE IRVINGS TO LEAVE FREDERICTON IN A GOOD NOTE????


IMG_5566_edited
Originally uploaded by Oldmaison
I never blogged this one.

I was told a couple of weeks ago that the Irvings will give the Fredericton Train Station to a new owner.

Guess what the Irvings are going to do???

They are going to fix the roof with their own money!!!

Can this be true??? I'll believe it when I see it!!!

Ohhhh???? The sad part is the Irving's lobbylists will still be around so they can tell the Liberals what to do!!


IMG_5864_edited

THE SQUIRRELS PROBLEM IN FREDERICTON ON LIVE AT FIVE IN A FEW MINUTES!!!!


IMG_7146
Originally uploaded by Oldmaison
IMG_7147

Must be a slow news day???? The issue of the Liquor Store would be more important!!!!

AND I GOT A COLD??????


cold
Originally uploaded by Oldmaison
IMG_7095

THE AVERAGE JOE IS NOT ALLOWED AT THE ECMA IN FREDERICTON!!!!! BUREAUCRATS SNOBS ONLY????


IMG_5692
Originally uploaded by Oldmaison
EMCAs offer no rock star treatment for Fredericton residents, says fan
Last Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2008 | 1:05 PM AT
CBC News
A music enthusiast says fans will be taking second billing when the 20th annual East Coast Music Awards hit Fredericton in February.

Johanna Bertin said she had wanted to attend the ECMAs for years and when she found out that the 2008 gala would be in Fredericton she knew she was going to buy tickets.

Bertin said she was among the first to reserve tickets but the best seats were already gone.

Many of the seats in the Aitken Centre have been reserved for nominees, sponsors and representatives from the music industry, said Steve Horne, executive director of the music awards.

"The ECMAs combine a music industry festival with a music conference — I think that's important," Horne said. "I think everyone is there to celebrate — that every seat will be a good seat."

But Bertin said she's disappointed that 2,000 of the 3,500 available seats weren't up for grabs by the general public.

Continue Article

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/01/31/ecma-seats.html

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

WORKER KILLED AT LNG PLANT IN SAINT JOHN!!!!


LNG-3
Originally uploaded by Oldmaison
Boy!!!! It was very hard for this blogger to hold this piece of news!!!!

I recived this email earlier this evening.


----- Original Message ----
From: "??????@?????"
To: oldmaison@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 7:12:19 PM
Subject: lng

Hey I just got a call from a friend of mine and his friend is a ??????anyway he told me he had to get off the phone because he was waiting for a call to go to the lng plant because there has been an accidental death on the job - A male - BUT PLEASE PAY ATTENTION """THIS IS NOT CONFIRMED I just thought I'd give you the heads up just in case it is your the actual first outside person to know this information and you can prove it with the time and date of this email (((((but please don't just yet)))) lol From what he told me ,,,,This happened about 5 pm or a little after.....Lets see how long before it reaches the airwaves hhmmm...


Well? It was on Global News Tonight but not on ATV News!!! I wonder how the Irvings will cover this sad news in the morning???
.


IMG_5409


What's going on in there anyway? Cranes falling all over the place at the LNG Plant!!


dock2


and now a worker gets killed??? If this goes on in the Plant? What's going to happen in the City of Saint John??

I'm going to go over the line here for a minute and predict it's a worker from Gulf Operators.



Pictures 104IMG_0208


My sympathy goes out to the family!!!!


Picture 136

NEW BRUNSWICK HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN ACTION!!!!


IMG_8889
Originally uploaded by Oldmaison
IMG_8890



This afternoon, I decided to take a walk up the hill and visit the workers on strike at St.Thomas.



IMG_7075



Once there, I noticed I was coughing a lot.

Yes, this cold of mine have been with me way too long.

Once I caught my breath, I continue my walk till St.Thomas.

I noticed the media is still covering this issue.

Erin O'halloran from ATV News was there filming the striking workers.



IMG_7073IMG_7074



I had a difficult time stopping coughing.

I chatted with a few strikers and noticed the Chalmers hospital not far away.




IMG_7093IMG_7106



I really hate going in there because it takes so long!!

My cousin suggested that I should seek from professional help because I had this darn cough for way too long!!!

I arrived there at 3:20pm!!



IMG_7111



I was quickly directed to a room where two health care workers took over.

One guy check the temperature in my ear and blood pressure.

While the other worker took some info from me.

The health Care worker asked me if I was allergic to anything?

I quickly replied- Nahhh..... just politicians!!!

The other health care worker shot back- You forgot to add the Saint John Police Force!!!..lol



Pictures 055




Well, I had a fan of the blog in the room and that was a good thing.

I was told that I might have to wait for a couple of hours.

I was directed to the waiting room.

Good old Bert was there. The poor guy hut his leg. He's not a bad guy!!!!

We joked that he always get hurt when he's sober!!!



IMG_7112IMG_1248




Sitting in the corner was a woman and she was reading AN IRVING PAPER!!!!!

Well, It’s very difficult for a person with true ADHD to stay in a waiting room in silence.

It’s an impossible task!!

Being Charles? That Irving paper started a conversation and talk I did!!!

YAK YAK YAK!!!!!...I went on!!!!

I would always warned the poor woman that I was just passing the time.

The poor girl hurt her back and there was no escape!!!lol..

We chatted about all kinds of issues from French Immersion to Autism!!!

Finally the girl got a huge smile on her face once my name was called!!

It took around one hour and a half!!!!!!



IMG_7115



I was directed to a small room and the curtain was shut!!

It bothered me to stay still in a room all alone so I put my music on. I grabbed a magazine and look at the title??



IMG_7116



After a while, I opened the curtain.

Right in front of me was the front desk with all the health care workers and trust me!!!

They were busy!!!

I decided to lay back and watch our health care workers in action.

Different stripes walked by from nurses, doctors, nurses Aid, cleaners and many other titles that I wouldn’t know.

Everyone was moving fast and they knew exactly what their job was.

I wish I could have taken some pictures from where I was sitting. You just have to trust me on this one!!!

They chatted among themselves in a very short order and carried on with their work.

It was a show and the action was right in front of me!!!

I would say that 90% were female workers.

They were professionals in their line of work.

For a minute, I believe that I was forgotten?

One worker came to me and put me on a machine so my lungs would be cleared.

A female doctor came along gave me a check up!!!

Another worker came along and took some blood.

Seconds later, a worker told me to blow in a small bottle!!

I blew 88%!!! Not bad for a smoker eh??

Afterwards, a worker bought me over for an X-ray!!

I was greeted by a very friendly female health Care worker and she X-Rayed my lungs.



IMG_7118



I was again re-directed to the small room and I waited while the health care workers were moving very fast right in front of me.

My God? They’re good!!!!

The female doctor came along and invited me to see my X-Ray!

This was the first time I ever seen my lungs.



IMG_7119IMG_7120




She gave me a prescription for a few items and out the door I went!!!

You know what?

Over three hours in a hospital is not bad?



IMG_7121



I had a major check up on my body and everything was ok!

It didn’t cost me one single cent.

How long would I have to wait if I did a tune on a vehicle??

The longer you wait? The more it would cost!!

My God? I believe we are spoiled rotten!!!

Yes, I learn one thing from my experience at the Dr. Chalmers hospital.

This was just one area of the hospital I seen so I can just imagine what’s going on in the whole building?

Forget that!!! What about every hospitals in New Brunswick?

We have a group of professionals who are working very hard for the health of New Brunswickers.

They move and they move fast!!!!

It was an amazing sight!!!!

The only individual that I felt sorry for was the poor woman who was force to listen to my stories. Poor Girl just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time!!!..lol

I hope her back is better!!!!!

New Brunswickers should be proud of their health care workers!!!