Another reason why we need to drop IPG, save the $1.2 million and fix the roads.

At least if promoting the city is done from city hall than we have access to freedom of information requests and accountability through proper civic governance.

With IPG as it is it is a subsidy to the connected business class to pump us full of BS and connected propaganda and is full of potential for conflicts of interest.

Was Oland getting paid from both places? Was this a breach? By the dates above she did not fulfill her condition of employment the day she attained her position at IPG…..

“IPG Executives are not required to make a financial disclosure.”

That is the second time within 24 hours that we are getting a story from the City that something does not have to be done.

First there is the matter of the Mayor’s Exec Assistant … it is exempt and does not have to be posted BS …. so who cares, any position at City Hall should be advertised so that a competitive selection can be made.

Now we have the matter that IPG, as a separate body to the City does not have to make a financial disclosure. Again, legally probably quite true, but they should. It is a corporation whole owned by the City of PG and as such, if the City wants to be open, they should not be hiding behind the fact that they do not HAVE to do it. It simply is good, open business practice.

This town has just taken 10 steps backwards towards the hicksville status. How anyone can stand this as a Councillor, I do not understand.

This is just the beginning. Running a campaign that cost over 81k to get elected mayor of a town this size comes with a price. You are going to see a lot of positions go private or to people who don’t have to apply for them, you will see contracts going to companies that have little to no competition. Contracts and positions will be tailor made to fit people and companies this mayor wants to do business with and no one else. I predict this mayor will not last her 4 years if the first few months is any indication of her secret agenda and payola.

“How anyone can stand this as a Councillor, I do not understand” .. just look for the next pay raise and that is why they can stand it. Keep your mouth shut and we will all make out like bandits. If any of them were worth a pinch of salt they would have spoken up already if they thought things are heading in the wrong direction.

I think she quickly stepped down as soon as Ben started asking questions about why she was still a director of Commonwealth.

Yes, politics and corporations have never been about greed, power and over inflated egos, irri. As soon as politicans start standing behind thier campaign promises then maybe people will start to be less suspicious of there motives. Politics has become more of NOT electing someone rather than electing the person you believe in. That is a direct result of the politicans themselves for causing an air of untrust towards them. So when one does get elected they have to work hard to win the people trust. green has not even come close to that, in fact, she is going the opposite direction. So until I see real change at city hall, some actual transparency in dealings, some fair decisions that don’t appear to be payola or payback, I will not give her the benefit of the doubt. She needs to earn the trust, the elections mean nothing as far as the character of the individual. Actions speak louder than words, and greens actions are hurting my ears.

Irri …. nice try …

I have been neutral since the election …. but there are indictors that things are going off the rails way too early, and they are indicators which point ot a lot more deep problems ahead.

This City is one which has been going further in the wrong direction of secrecy at a time the working world, especially the working world of public institutions has been demanding and getting more openness.

Remember, the Mayor said it heself … it is time to have a discussion ….. well, a discussion behind closed doors is not a discussion in world.

You are trying to shut down discussion unless it goes one way …. well, I am sorry to say, your idea of “an open and honest discussion” as they say, is totally out of tune with what it should be and whaat it needs to be for change for the better to happen.

So we have an executive with known ties to people who have a vested interest in the downtown and suddenly there is a rumour that the focus of the organization that she is in charge of is changing to concentrate more on the downtown.

I am not saying there are any improprieties but the fact that these connections exist shows the need for disclosure. Without this there will be talk of conflict of interest, real or imagined, no matter what IPG does.

“Let those without sin (or able to hold up to the scrutiny given to every decision, thought, action on this site) throw the first stone.”

None of us are without sin ….. so don’t even bother bringing up that notion. It is totally meaningless and intended only to stop debate.

I live in this city and have for a long time ….. when I hear the same issues over and over again for years and then I hear someone run for election (and it is not just this current crew) and promise an improvement and there are no steps taken to make those improvements, then I know we have been had again. Sure, some or all actually think they can do something, and then discover that they can’t.

Well, time for an “open and honest” discussion about the real state of the union, not at the end of three years of office but at the beginning.

So, don’t shut it down, encourage it, as long as it is civil, at least for the moment.

The Mayor does have a business downtown. Heathre Oland was on a Board of Directors that was pointed out constitutes a conflict of interest before she took the job. 6 months later, the “name was taken off”. When did she actually hand in her resiggnation?

Interstingly an MLA has to disclose possible conflicts of interest and have those intersts run though a trust or other fashion.

Let us face it, when you run for public office or for similar civic positions, you will be under close watch. Get used to it.

“The mayor was duly elected by having the most votes using accepted campaign pratices. Like it or not, she is the mayor until someone else is elected in her place”

And this gives her the right to do what?

From my end of things, this has given here a duty of due diligence. THAT is what I look for in the first place wth anyone who is at or close to the top of any organization.

As with conflict of interest, where there may not be a conflict in fact, it is the mere appearance that there may be a conflict which makes an action a conflict of interest.

So it is with due diligence. A person or company may be practicing due diligence in fact, but if it is not apparent that due diligence is being practiced, then due dilignce is not being practiced. It must be readily apparent.

Maybe your test is just not as stingent as mine. Sorry, but this is the public service we are talking about. This is not some private business. The standard of practice cannot just be common standards but must be best standards.

You said it yoursel Irri, “It seems to be all about pandering to the lowest common denominator instead of trying to be more and be better.”

You got it all wrong. It IS ALL about trying to “be more and be better”.

Irri’s comment is akin to Vic Towes saying if you are not with us on this bill then you are with the child pornographers.

Irri – Tell that to the people who volunteer on committees for their neighbourhoods/community. Tell that to the people who write to City Hall or write letters to the editors. Tell that to the people who actually stand up and try to fight because they feel unjust or railroaded. Tell that to the neighbourhoods that have been fighting for their way of life. Two current neighbourhoods I can think of are the Crescents (over Coyotes) and the other is Haldi Road. Go tell them your thoughts….

There are many people who post here that are active in their community and good citizens that do help to make their community better. You do not like it then do not read it…”Opinion250″ Please read what it says “Opinion” You have yours and others have theirs, but please do not say “It seems to be all about pandering to the lowest common denominator instead of trying to be more and be better” And you have done what lately?

Green has been going against her campaign promise: Transperancy –
1. Lack of hidden agendas and conditions, accompanied by the availability of full information required for collaboration, cooperation, and collective decision making.
2. Minimum degree of disclosure to which agreements, dealings, practices, and transactions are open to all for verification.
3. Essential condition for a free and open exchange whereby the rules and reasons behind regulatory measures are fair and clear to all participants.

Without Transperancy one does not attain trust………

“This town has just taken 10 steps backwards towards the hicksville status.”

I guess that means that it is just a matter of time before there is a Marshall on the city’s payroll. Might even be a Marshall Marshall:-)

“I apologize for having an opinion and stating it,” .. you are forgiven.

So is Commonwealth Campuses building any campuses on spec these days?

UNBC engineering campus.

CANFOR trades campus.

Grant Business School Campus.

Northern Hotel Management Campus.

Good school of thought Gus…

Off the subject I know…I thought Commonwealth was to be putting in a walk-in clinic?