Enterprise Saskatchewan: Agency making a mockery of freedom of information legislation; gov’t stalling on Uranium Development Partnership records

Enterprise Saskatchewan has joined the ranks of other government institutions that are making a mockery of the province’s freedom of information legislation.

An access to information request dated Nov. 13, 2008 was submitted to Enterprise Saskatchewan asking for copies of the agenda and minutes for the Sept. 23, 2008 and Oct. 2008 meetings of the Enterprise Saskatchewan board of directors. The request was denied.

And what was the reason? The agency’s Jan. 15, 2009 response states:

“You may recall that in February 2008, individuals who were to sit of the Board of Directors of Enterprise Saskatchewan (ES) were appointed by Minister’s Order to the ES Advisory Committee in order for the group to start working on the ES mandate prior to proclamation of The Enterprise Saskatchewan Act.

“Effective July 29, 2008, all of the documentation and approvals were completed to proclaim The Enterprise Saskatchewan Act, and to appoint the interim advisory committee members as the statutory ES Board of Directors as set out in the ES legislation.

“Accordingly, access to the records you have requested is denied pursuant to subclause 17(1)(f) of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act which permits an exemption to be applied for agendas and minutes of the Board.”

In other words now that the Enterprise Saskatchewan board has the ability to hide behind the Act that’s exactly what it intends to do. Clearly this is one bunch that does not want the public to know its business.

The agency’s decision failed to consider section 8 of the Act, which is mandatory and states: “Where a record contains information to which an applicant is refused access, the head shall give access to as much of the record as can reasonably be severed without disclosing the information to which the applicant is refused access.”

The board’s deputy chair, Gavin Semple, said in the agency’s Sept. 2008 progress report that an important role for Enterprise Saskatchewan “is to increase transparency and accountability through public reporting.”

Unfortunately, this means there will only be more documents like the progress report, a selective, sanitized version of events created for public consumption. The board’s pledge for greater transparency, however, does not extend to disclosing its meeting agendas and minutes, records which present the most accurate and direct snapshot of what transpired. Without them the public is left with a gaping hole, an incomplete picture of what the board is doing and how it’s operating.

During its time as an interim advisory committee the Enterprise Saskatchewan board conducted four meetings: March 31, 2008; April 24, 2008; May 22, 2008; and June 19, 2008.

An access to information request dated April 25, 2008 was made to the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation (EI) for the agenda and minutes of the Mar. 31 and Apr. 24 board meetings. The ministry received the request on Apr. 29, 2008.

EI dragged its heels for six months before finalizing the request on Oct. 27, 2008 when it released a handful of records from each meeting. The excessive delay violated of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act but no one seemed to care because significant delays in processing requests continue to be experienced.

An access to information request dated Sept. 19, 2008 was submitted to EI for copies of the agenda and minutes for the May 22, 2008 and June 19, 2008 meetings of the Enterprise Saskatchewan board. The ministry received that request on Sept. 24, 2008.

More than four months have passed and EI – now known as Enterprise Saskatchewan – still hasn’t finalized the request. This is two months more than the law allows.

Two other applications past due are a Sept. 30, 2008 request for records related to the Regulatory Modernization Council (stacked with friends and contributors of the Saskatchewan Party) that the province announced on Sept. 17, 2008 to recommend regulatory reform and business services priorities and forward them to the Enterprise Saskatchewan board, and a Nov. 19, 2008 request for records pertaining to two of Enterprise Saskatchewan’s 18 sector teams: energy and minerals.

Then there is the case of the mysterious Uranium Development Partnership (UDP) that Enterprise Saskatchewan Minister Lyle Stewart and Crown Investments Corporation Minister Ken Cheveldayoff announced on Oct. 20, 2008. The UDP is mandated to identify, evaluate and make recommendations on Saskatchewan-based, value added opportunities in the uranium industry.

The 12-member panel is chaired by Dr. Richard Florizone, a nuclear physicist and Vice President of Finance at the University of Saskatchewan. At least ten of the members appear pro-nuclear, several of which have connections to a company [Bruce Power] that is interested in bringing nuclear power to Saskatchewan. Oh yes, and Bruce Power CEO Duncan Hawthorne is a member.

An access to information request dated Oct. 28, 2008 was submitted to Enterprise Saskatchewan for copies of the UDP’s mandate or terms of reference, the group’s work plan and the minutes for any meetings that the group held since being established.

A subsequent application, dated Dec. 30, 2008, was submitted asking for copies of the agendas and minutes for any meetings the UDP conducted from Oct. 29, 2008 to Dec. 30, 2008.

On Jan. 19, 2009, two letters arrived from Enterprise Saskatchewan, one dated Jan. 13, 2009 and the other Jan. 14, 2009.

The Jan. 13 letter advised that, pursuant to section 11 of the Act, the request was being transferred to Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan (CIC) as they have a greater interest in the records being sought – which is exactly what is supposed to happen in such cases.

The Jan. 14 letter, however, is a different story. The agency advised that the mandate of the UDP is publicly available so a copy was attached free of charge. But the other records – the work plan and minutes for any meetings that were conducted – according to the agency “do not exist in Enterprise Saskatchewan.”

The letter goes on to say that Ministers Stewart and Cheveldayoff are working together on uranium and nuclear matters and that staff of CIC “are currently providing expertise and support to both Ministers in this regard.” The suggestion is then made that CIC should be contacted for follow-up. Enterprise Saskatchewan didn’t bother to transfer the file to CIC. The agency stalled for a ridiculous 76 days only to say in the end that the records requested weren’t in their possession. They obviously knew, though, that CIC was providing the support so why wasn’t the request transferred?

On Jan. 16, 2009 an email was sent to Enterprise Saskatchewan’s access and privacy coordinator asking for an explanation why it took 76 days to determine that the records weren’t in their possession and why the application wasn’t transferred to CIC. There has been no response.

Section 11(1)(a) of the Act states: “Where the head of the government institution to which an application is made considers that another government institution has a greater interest in the record, the head: (a) may, within 15 days after the application is made, transfer the application.” Enterprise Saskatchewan failed to apply this clause and stalled for more than two months before responding.

On Jan. 18, 2009 an application was submitted to CIC for a copy of the UDP work plan along with copies of the agenda and minutes for any meetings that may have been held from Oct. 20 to Oct. 28, 2008.

The partnership is slated to provide a final report to the government by March 31, 2009. It would come as no surprise if CIC were to deny access to or stall the release of any other records before then.

Saskatchewan Party government’s culture of secrecy deepens as AEEL denies access to four freedom of information requests on labour related issues

When it comes to access to information and the province’s freedom of information legislation the Saskatchewan Party’s 2007 election promise to “provide Saskatchewan people with more transparency and accountability than any previous government” has turned out to be not worth the paper it was written on. You don’t have to go much farther than the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour (AEEL) to see evidence of that.

On Jan. 27, 2009, it was learned that AEEL has, in one fell swoop, denied access to four requests made under The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for records relating to various labour issues.

According to letters signed by AEEL deputy minister Wynne Young on Jan. 19-20, 2009, access to records in their entirety has been denied to the following:

– Copies of any reviews or analyses that have been conducted by or for the Government of Saskatchewan since May 1, 2008 of The Trade Union Act and The Labour Standards Act.

– Copies of any briefing notes and memorandums, including any attachments, from Feb. 1, 2008 to Nov. 30, 2008 regarding the essential services legislation.

– Copies of any memorandums, including any attachments from Nov. 7, 2007 to Dec. 31, 2007 regarding or relating to essential services legislation.

– Copies of any briefing notes, letters and memorandums, including attachments, from Oct. 1, 2008 to Dec. 23, 2008 regarding or relating to the minimum wage regulations and the amendment to allow workers age 15 and older to obtain employment in hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, hospitals and nursing homes.

In all four cases sections 16 & 17 of the Act, which pertain to Cabinet documents and advice from officials, are cited as the reason for denial.

It appears, however, that AEEL violated the Act by failing to apply section 8 to any of the applications. This part of the legislation is mandatory and requires: “Where a record contains information to which an applicant is refused access, the head shall give access to as much of the record as can reasonably be severed without disclosing the information to which the applicant is refused access.” AEEL did not do this.

These blanket denials would be extremely disturbing in any case, but seem especially more so in this one when you consider that AEEL Minister Rob Norris has spent a considerable amount of time trying to sell a skeptical public on his government’s controversial changes to the province’s labour environment. Withholding information and adopting a bunker mentality would only seem to serve in reinforcing the general suspicion that the Brad Wall government has something to hide.

It should be noted as well that in spring 2008 AEEL denied access in two other applications:

– On May 13, 2008 access was denied to the contract and any correspondence between the Government of Saskatchewan and management lawyer Kevin Wilson from Nov. 8, 2007 to Feb. 29, 2008. Wilson was hired to provide advice on the government’s essential services legislation.

– On May 22, 2008 access was denied to the daily appointment and meeting schedules for Minister Rob Norris and Deputy Minister Wynne Young from Dec. 1, 2008 to Mar. 14, 2008.

Finally, in a June 18, 2008 letter to Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce president Dale Lemke, Minister Norris thanked the business lobby group for its support of The Trade Union Amendment Act and The Public Service Essential Services Act and reassured that more changes were coming: “Part of our continued plan for ensuring a fair and balanced labour environment that is competitive with other Canadian jurisdictions will include an examination of our labour legislation.

“You can be assured that as we move forward the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce’s concerns will receive thoughtful consideration. Your thorough work on these matters will be fully considered as we proceed with our mandate. Input from stakeholders such as your organization is vital to ensuring that the best possible legislation can be developed. I look forward to your continued feedback on these important issues.”

What this means is that Norris and his ministry aren’t finished hiding information from the public.

AEEL violating freedom of information legislation; Minister Rob Norris & Deputy Minister Wynne Young failing to respond to legitimate inquiries

“I mean, the act – the acts of government are pretty clear. That’s the law and – and the provisions until changed are to be followed.”
– Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz during testimony at the Allan Walker wrongful dismissal hearing on June 26, 2008.

In a letter published in The Leader-Post on Jan. 26, 2009, Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris defended his government’s controversial essential services legislation. He said the legislation, passed by his government in spring 2008, is necessary. He expects unions and employers to respect the law by working together “in a fair and reasonable manner.” Yet his own ministry, at this very moment, is seriously breaching The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act by refusing to respond to legitimate requests for information on labour related issues, including essential services legislation.

An access to information request dated Oct. 29, 2008 was submitted to AEEL asking for “copies of any reviews or analyses that have been conducted by or for the Government of Saskatchewan since May 1, 2008, of The Trade Union Act and The Labour Standards Act.” The ministry received the request on Oct. 31, 2008.

In a letter dated Dec. 1, 2008 AEEL deputy minister Wynne Young advised that the 30 day response period had been extended an additional 30 days pursuant to section 12(1)(a)(ii) of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act “as there is a large number of requests and completing the work within the original period would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the government institution.”

Wynne said that if there were any questions to contact Gary Brown, the ministry’s access and privacy coordinator.

The deputy minister’s letter represents the only piece of correspondence the ministry has sent since receiving the request 88 days ago. Government institutions have, at most, 60 days to notify an applicant stating whether or not access to a record or part of it will be given.

AEEL has not fulfilled section 12(3) of the Act which states: “Within the period of extension, the head shall give written notice to the applicant in accordance with section 7.”

It has also exceeded the statutory limitations as established under section 7 of the Act. It has, in effect, broken the law.

The ministry is refusing to respond to inquiries about the request.

On Jan. 5, 2009 an email was sent to AEEL deputy minister Wynne Young asking when the ministry would be responding to the request. Wynne has not replied.

On Jan. 14, 2009 an email was sent to AEEL access and privacy coordinator Gary Brown inquiring about the status of the request and asking when the ministry would be responding as per Section 12(3) of the Act. Brown has not replied.

On Jan. 16, 2009 an email was sent to AEEL Minister Rob Norris advising him of the situation. Norris was asked to look into the situation and find out when his staff was going to respond. He was also asked to explain why AEEL staff was failing to answer legitimate inquiries. Norris has not replied.

In the email the minister was also made aware of two other requests for information made to his ministry that are pending. They are in regards to essential services legislation (Dec. 17, 2008) and the minimum age for employment (Dec. 23, 2008). As of Jan. 26, 2009 the requests are 41 and 35 days old respectively. The ministry has not responded to either and has violated Section 7(2) of the Act for failing to give written notice within 30 days after the application is made.

Section 7(5) of the Act indicates that: “A head who fails to give notice pursuant to subsection (2) is deemed to have given notice, on the last day of the period set out in that subsection, of a decision to refuse to give access to the record.”

By virtue of its silence it would appear that AEEL’s intention is to deny access to any of these records, all of which happen to be labour related. Perhaps this explains the ministry’s behaviour.

AEEL’s disregard for the province’s freedom of information law doesn’t end there. In mid-December a request for records concerning essential services legislation was submitted to the Ministry of the Executive Council, who subsequently kicked the file over to Norris’s ministry.

“I am transferring your request to the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour since they have a greater interest in the record that you have applied to see. The Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour are now responsible for processing your application and will update your on the status,” said the Dec. 24, 2008 letter from executive council. Thirty-three days have passed and AEEL hasn’t bothered to respond.

The applicant is not the only one AEEL is refusing to answer inquiries from.

On Jan. 8, 2009 the Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner was contacted for assistance in the matter. As of Jan. 22, 2009 AEEL has apparently not responded to the Commissioner’s inquiries either.

On Jan. 14, 2009 phone calls were made to the information commissioner, the provincial ombudsman and the access and privacy branch in the Ministry of Justice who administers the Act and helps government institutions and local authorities in Saskatchewan comply with it. All three were asked whether they had the power to compel a ministry to comply with the legislation. All of them said no.

What we have here appears to be a provincial law with no enforcement mechanism and a hypocritical Saskatchewan Party cabinet minister whose department is flagrantly abusing the system and is seemingly unconcerned about it.

It would be interesting to know whether Norris and his staff are acting alone or are they taking direction from a higher power -- say, the executive council perhaps?

Peter MacKinnon, Gerald Grandey & Josef Hormes among select few to meet with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty; public shafted on town hall meetings

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty promised pre-budget town hall
meetings across Canada but held only two -- in Whitby-Oshawa (left)
and West Vancouver (right)

‘In the new year, Flaherty will meet with Canadians across the country in town hall meetings, and looks forward to “hearing directly and in person what their concerns are and what their advice is.”’
– Flaherty appoints economic advisory council, CBC News, Dec. 18, 2008

‘Flaherty, who was holding pre-budget consultations with business and academic leaders in Saskatoon Thursday, said the government was listening to the advice of ordinary Canadians as well and would hold town hall meetings.’
– Flaherty turns to private sector for advice, The StarPhoenix, Dec. 19, 2008

‘Meeting with ordinary Canadians is also on his agenda. Town hall meetings will take place in several different cities across the country in the new year.’
– Flaherty establishes economic council, The Canadian Press, Dec. 18, 2008

On Dec. 11, 2008 Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced the launch of the government’s national consultation leading into its fourth budget, to be tabled on January 27, 2009.

In an op-ed that appeared in The Golden Star on Dec. 23, 2008, Flaherty said the government was taking steps “to ensure we consult with as many Canadians as possible.”

“I’m holding a series of roundtable discussions with business leaders, economists, academics, industry leaders, community and labour organizations in cities across Canada from Saint John to Victoria,” wrote Flaherty.

“We’re also organizing town hall meetings in other locations across Canada where I look forward to hearing from Canadians personally.”

The roundtable discussions were with “invited stakeholders” only. Finance officials refused to release the names of the participants.

As for the town hall meetings there were only two, both in Conservative ridings: Whitby-Oshawa and West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country. The rest of the country was ignored.

Flaherty and his staff appeared to have had lots of time, though, to meet with business leaders and lobby groups. The federal lobbyists’ registry in Ottawa reveals a revolving door of oil and pharmaceutical companies, financial institutions, senior executives and consultants representing clients parading through the Prime Minister’s Office, Privy Council Office and Finance Canada meeting with minister’s and their senior officials.

Some of the more recognizable names include J.D. Irving, Limited president, James Irving, Suncor CEO Richard George, Canadian Chamber of Commerce president Perrin Beatty, former New Brunswick premier Bernard Lord, Canadian Bankers Association president Nancy Hughes Anthony, Magna International co-CEO Donald Walker, Air Canada CEO Montie Brewer and CanWest Global CEO Leonard Asper.

Closer to home at least three Saskatchewan residents were among the privileged few to meet with Flaherty during his closed-door roundtable meeting tour across Canada: U of S president Peter MacKinnon, Cameco CEO Gerald Grandey and Canadian Light Source executive director Josef Hormes.

The registry listings seem to also to indicate that budget consultations were taking place well before the official launch date. Records show that Canadian Federation of Independent Business president Catherine Swift met with two Finance Department policy advisors on Dec. 4 to discuss the 2009 budget. This is in addition to Swift’s participation in the closed-door roundtable meeting with Flaherty held in Thornhill, Ontario on Jan. 9. So this particular lobby group appeared to have at least two kicks at the can while ordinary Canadians got the shaft.

The Viewpoint below was published in The StarPhoenix on Jan. 22, 2009. Following that are the communication logs for the Prime Minister’s Office, the Privy Council Office and Finance Canada beginning Dec. 1, 2008 as found on the federal lobbyists’ registry website.

Lip service paid to pre-budget consulting idea

Joe Kuchta
The StarPhoenix

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Following is the viewpoint of the writer, a resident of Saskatoon.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s pre-budget public consultation appears to have been a sham.

Flaherty said in Saskatoon last month that town hall meetings would be conducted across Canada: “I look forward to hearing from Canadians directly and in person what their concerns are and what their advice is.”

To date, he has held just two town hall meetings -- one in the safe confines of his home riding of Whitby-Oshawa, and other in the West Vancouver riding held by fellow Conservative MP John Weston.

In an op-ed published Dec. 23 in The Golden Star, Flaherty said he wrote to all MPs asking them to consult with constituents on local priorities and to report back to him directly. The same day, Flaherty's communications director, Mike Storeshaw, had a letter in the Toronto Star saying MPs had until Jan. 10 to submit their findings.

Evidence suggests that Saskatchewan MPs did little or nothing during the consultation period to canvass their constituents in any meaningful way.

A search through their websites shows that none made announcements or issued news releases about any pre-budget public meetings. A search of The StarPhoenix, Leader-Post and Prince Albert Daily Herald from Dec. 12 to Jan. 10 turned up no news stories or advertisements involving these MPs holding pre-budget meetings. I live in the riding of Conservative MP Kelly Block. Our apartment building received no mail-outs to advise of any meetings.

So what exactly are MPs reporting to Flaherty?

The only public consultation accessible to everyone was a survey posted on the Finance Canada website. Participants were asked to assign a rating to a series of pre-determined fiscal stimulus priorities: Expedite infrastructure spending; invest in housing; build strong sustainable labour markets and training incentives; support traditional and emerging industrial sectors; improve access to credit; and “other.”

Participants were allowed a maximum 50 words to comment on each topic. Anyone with an innovative idea was given one paragraph to explain it. The form did not ask for a name or address, and was susceptible to manipulation since it was possible to submit more than one response.

The online consultation contained a link to a presentation called Fiscal Stimulus: Budget 2009 Consultations. The document outlined the tools available to the government and the Bank of Canada to support economic growth. These include “monetary policy, measures to support Canadian credit markets, and fiscal policy actions through lower taxes or higher targeted spending, such as infrastructure investment.”

The document makes clear that “In the current environment, fiscal policy should continue to complement monetary policy and measures to support credit markets in order to promote an economic recovery.”

This is contrary to what Flaherty has been telling Canadians -- that his government is open to all suggestions. The report notes that an “effective stimulus should also balance our short term needs with our long term economic plan for prosperity.”

The plan in question is the Conservative government’s Advantage Canada: Building a Strong Economy for Canadians, which Flaherty released in November 2006. The bottom line is that, unless your ideas fit with the Harper government’s pre-determined options and objectives, the survey was pointless.

As part of his national consultation Flaherty conducted closed-door roundtable discussions with “invited stakeholders” in Saint John, Saskatoon, Montreal, Thornhill and Victoria.

The meeting in Saskatoon was on Dec. 18 at the Delta Bessborough. The StarPhoenix reported that 20 people attended, but only six were from Saskatchewan. I contacted Flaherty’s press secretary, Chisholm Pothier, and asked for the names of the participants. The request was denied. Apparently protecting the identity of business leaders and lobby group representatives outweighs the public’s right to know with whom their elected officials are meeting.

The federal lobbyists’ registry in Ottawa, however, has posted the names of at least three Saskatchewan residents who had the special privilege of meeting with Flaherty during his pre-budget tour: Canadian Light Source executive director Josef Hormes, University of Saskatchewan president Peter MacKinnon and Cameco CEO Gerald Grandey.

The rest of us don’t matter.

©The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2009

Prime Minister’s Office communications log for Dec. 1, 2008 to Dec. 22, 2008
(Accessed on Jan. 20, 2009)

Registrant name: John Wright
Corporation: Petrobank Energy & Resources Ltd.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-22
Present: Stephen Harper, Prime Minister
Subject: Energy

Registrant name: Leonard Asper
Corporation: Canwest Global Communications Corp.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-19
Present: Stephen Harper, Prime Minister
Subject: Broadcasting

Registrant name: Pierre Blouin
Corporation: MTS Allstream Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-19
Present: Stephen Harper, Prime Minister; Steven Fletcher, Minister of State for Democratic Reform, Members of the House of Commons; Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, President’s Office - House of Commons
Subject: Economy

Registrant name: David Angus
Client: Canadian Shipowners Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-17
Present: Mark Cameron, Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Strategic Initiatives, Priorities, Planning and Research, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Richard George
Corporation: Suncor Energy Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-17
Present: Jim Prentice, Minister, Environment Canada; Bruce Carson, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister; Prime Minister’s Office; Ian Shugart, Deputy Minister, Environment Canada
Subject: Environment, Energy

Registrant name: Bernard Lord
Organization: Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-17
Present: Jasmine Igneski, Policy Advisor, Prime Minister’s Office; Jasmine Igneski, Policy Advisor, Prime Minister’s Office; Jasmine Igneski, Policy Advisor, Prime Minister’s Office
Subject: Wireless broadband infrastructure - Budget 2009

Registrant name: Donald Walker
Corporation: Magna International Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-16
Present: Stephen Harper, Prime Minister
Subject: Industry

Registrant name: Montie Brewer
Corporation: Air Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Mark Cameron, Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Strategic Initiatives, Prime Minister’s Office
Subject: Defined benefit pension regulations

Registrant name: S. Michael Brooks
Organization: Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC)
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Jasmine Igneski, Economic Policy Advisor, Prime Minister’s Office
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Sean Durfy
Corporation: WestJet
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Mark Cameron, Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Strategic Initiatives, Prime Minister’s Office; Adam Blinick, Special Assistant, Prime Minister's Office; Chris Froggatt, Chief of Staff, Office of the Minister of Transport
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Jean-Marc Eustache
Corporation: Transat A.T. Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Marc Cameron, Director, Policy & Research, Prime Minister’s Office
Subject: Transportation, Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Joe Randell
Corporation: Air Canada Jazz
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Mark Cameron, Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Strategic Initiatives, Prime Minister’s Office
Subject: Defined benefit pension regulations

Registrant name: Jeff Bangs
Client: Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council
Meeting Date: 2008-12-09
Present: Rebecca Thompson, Policy Advisor, Prime Minister’s Office
Subject: Regional Development, Sports, Tourism, Infrastructure

Registrant name: William Murphy
Corporation: McNeil Consumer Healthcare
Meeting Date: 2008-12-02
Present: Sabrina Anzini, Policy, Prime Minister’s Office
Subject: Consumer Issues

Registrant name: Michael Cleland
Organization: Canadian Gas Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-01
Present: Mark Cameron, Director of Policy, Prime Minister’s Office
Subject: Quality Urban Energy Systems for Tomorrow (QUEST), Energy Policy, Energy Sector Sustainability Table (ESST)

Privy Council Office communications log for Dec. 1, 2008 to Dec. 19, 2008
(Accessed on Jan. 20, 2009)

Registrant name: Daniel Friedmann
Corporation: MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-19
Present: Daniel Jean, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Operations, Privy Council Office; Kevin G. Lynch, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
Subject: Industry

Registrant name: Daniel Friedmann
Corporation: MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-18
Present: Kevin G. Lynch, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
Subject: Industry

Registrant name: Jim Facette
Organization: Canadian Airports Council
Meeting Date: 2008-12-16
Present: Jacques Paquette, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office; Rob Wright, Ass Secr to Cab & Deputy Min, Deputy Minister’s Office, Finance Canada; Rob Taylor, Chief of Staff, Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism, Industry Canada
Subject: Airport Rent; Federal Budget 2009

Registrant name: David Angus
Client: Canadian Shipowners Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-05
Present: Simon Kennedy, Deputy Secretary, Deputy Secretary to Cabinet, Plans and Consultation, Privy Council Office
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Vicky Sharpe
Organization: Sustainable Development Technologies Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Daniel Jean, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
Subject: Environment

Registrant name: Mark Quinn
Client: Nisga Lisims Government
Meeting Date: 2008-12-03
Present: Niel Bower, Assistant Secretary to Cabinet, Social Development Policy, Privy Council Office
Subject: Aboriginal Affairs, Finance

Registrant name: Manabu Nishimae
Corporation: Honda Canada Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-01
Present: Richard Dicerni, Deputy Minister, Industry Canada, Industry Canada; Robert Wright, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada; Louis Ranger, Deputy Minister, Transport Canada; Cassie Doyle, Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada; Simon Kennedy, Deputy Secretary to Cabinet, Privy Council Office
Subject: Industry

Finance Canada communications log for Dec. 1, 2008 to Jan. 16, 2009
(Accessed on Jan. 20, 2009)

Registrant name: Chuck Rachlis
Client: UCB Pharma Canada
Meeting Date: 2009-01-16
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Chuck Rachlis
Client: UCB Pharma Canada
Meeting Date: 2009-01-14
Present: Kei Moray, Senior Chief, Strategic Projects, Business Income Tax
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Randall Williams
Organization: Tourism Industry Association of Canada
Meeting Date: 2009-01-08
Present: Derek Vanstone, Chief of Staff, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Tourism, Infrastructure

Registrant name: Eric Ostfield
Client: Ernst & Young LLP
Meeting Date: 2008-12-30
Present: Brian Ernerwein, General Director, Tax Policy Branch
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Leslie Noble
Client: EnergySolutions, LLC
Meeting Date: 2008-12-23
Present: Derek Vanstone, Chief of Staff, Office of the Minister
Subject: Environment, Energy, Industry

Registrant name: Peter George
Organization: McMaster University
Meeting Date: 2008-12-22
Present: James Flaherty, Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Environment, Industry, Science and Technology, Automotive Research

Registrant name: Gerry McCaughey
Corporation: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
Meeting Date: 2008-12-19
Present: Louise Levonian, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Tax Policy
Subject: Tax/liquidity and capital deployment

Registrant name: Claire M. Morris
Organization: Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-19
Present: Rob Wright, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: University Research, Science and Technology, Infrastructure, Education and Higher Education

Registrant name: Claire M. Morris
Organization: Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-19
Present: Denis Gauthier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development and Corporate Finance
Subject: Education and Higher Education, Science and Technology, Infrastructure, University Research

Registrant name: Peter Brenders
Organization: BIOTECanada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-18
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisor, Ministers Office
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: S. Michael Brooks
Organization: Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC)
Meeting Date: 2008-12-18
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Senior Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Josef Hormes
Organization: Canadian Light Source Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-18
Present: Jim Flaherty, Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Science and Technology

Registrant name: Peter MacKinnon
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Meeting Date: 2008-12-18
Present: Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, Finance Canada
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Peter MacKinnon
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Meeting Date: 2008-12-18
Present: James Flaherty, Minister of Finance
Subject: Science and Technology, Education, Industry, Health

Registrant name: Peter MacKinnon
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Meeting Date: 2008-12-18
Present: Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance
Subject: Health, Industry, Science and Technology, Education

Registrant name: Vicky Sharpe
Organization: Sustainable Development Technologies Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-18
Present: Denis Gauthier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Innovation, Industry, Environment

Registrant name: Nanci Woods
Client: Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-18
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Pre-Budget Consultation

Registrant name: Pierre Beauchamp
Organization: Canadian Real Estate Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-17
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister of Finance; Mary Martin, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: David Humphreys
Client: Canadian Real Estate Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-17
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisor, Finance Canada
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Teri Kirk
Client: Imagine Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-17
Present: Mary Martin, Senior Policy Advisor, Finance Canada; Amy Ringdahl, Senior Policy Advisor, Finance Canada
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Bernard Lord
Organization: Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-17
Present: Mary Martin, Policy Advisor, Minister’s office
Subject: Wireless broadband infrastructure - Budget 2009

Registrant name: Peter MacKinnon
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Meeting Date: 2008-12-17
Present: Lynn Yelich, Minister Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD); James Flaherty, Minister of Finance; David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Finance Canada; Derek Vanstone, Chief of Staff, Finance Canada; Ted Menzies, Parlimentary Secretary, Finance Canada
Subject: Industry, Education, Health, Science and Technology

Registrant name: Ross Creber
Organization: Direct Sellers Association of Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-16
Present: Mary Martin, Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Jim Facette
Organization: Canadian Airports Council
Meeting Date: 2008-12-16
Present: Rob Taylor, Chief of Staff, Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism, Industry Canada; Rob Wright, Ass Secr to Cab & Deputy Min, Deputy Minister’s Office; Jacques Paquette, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office
Subject: Airport Rent; Federal Budget 2009

Registrant name: James Lorimer
Client: Direct Sellers Association of Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-16
Present: Mary Martin, Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: David MacKay
Organization: Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers
Meeting Date: 2008-12-16
Present: James Flaherty, Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Agriculture, Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: W. Jack Millar
Client: Direct Sellers Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-16
Present: Mary Martin, Executive Assistant, Minister’s Office
Subject: Application of GST Direct Sellers Mechanism

Registrant name: Eric Ostfield
Client: Ernst & Young LLP
Meeting Date: 2008-12-16
Present: Brian Enerwien, Assistant Deputy Minister, Taxation
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Douglas Richardson
Client: Canadian Light Source Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-16
Present: Derrick van Stone, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Finance
Subject: Science and Technology

Registrant name: Montie Brewer
Corporation: Air Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Derek Vanstone, Chief of Staff, Finance Canada
Subject: Defined benefit pension regulations

Registrant name: Gordon Dunning
Organization: Canadian Life and Health Insurance Corporation (Assuris)
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Sandra Dunn, Chief, Financial Sector Stability; Rob Stewart, General Director, Financial Security Policy Branch; Jeremy Rudin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Financial Sector Policy Branch
Subject: Consumer Issues, Financial Institutions

Registrant name: Sean Durfy
Corporation: WestJet
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Derek Vanstone, Chief of Staff, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Jean-Marc Eustache
Corporation: Transat A.T. Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Derek Vanstone, Chief of Staff, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Consumer Issues, Transportation, Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Monique F. Leroux
Corporation: Fédération des Caisses Desjardins du Québec
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Jeremy Rudin, Sous-ministre adjoint, Finance Canada
Subject: Financial Institutions

Registrant name: Joe Randell
Corporation: Air Canada Jazz
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Derek Vanstone, Chief of Staff, Finance Canada
Subject: Defined benefit pension regulations

Registrant name: Nora Sobolov
Organization: The Lung Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-15
Present: Rob Serpe, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Lung Health Framework, 2009 Federal Budget

Registrant name: Perrin Beatty
Organization: Canadian Chamber of Commerce (The)
Meeting Date: 2008-12-12
Present: Rob Wright, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Pre-Budget consultation meeting

Registrant name: S. Michael Brooks
Organization: Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC)
Meeting Date: 2008-12-12
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Senior Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: S. Michael Brooks
Organization: Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC)
Meeting Date: 2008-12-12
Present: Kevin McCarthy, Senior Policy Advisor. Minister’s Office
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: S. Michael Brooks
Organization: Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC)
Meeting Date: 2008-12-12
Present: Louise Levonian, Assistant Deputy Minister (acting), Tax Policy
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Gerald Grandey
Corporation: Cameco Corporation
Meeting Date: 2008-12-12
Present: Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance
Subject: Industry, Mining

Registrant name: James Irving
Corporation: J.D. Irving, Limited
Meeting Date: 2008-12-12
Present: Kevin McCarthy, Senior Policy Advisor, Finance Canada; Adam Chambers, Executive Assistant, Finance Canada; James Flaherty, Minister; Chisholm Pothier, Press Secretary, Finance Canada; Ted Menzies, Parliamentary Secretary, Finance Canada; Rodney Weston, Member of the House of Commons
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Andrew Boddington
Client: AIG Commercial Insurance Company of Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-11
Present: David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister
Subject: Financial Institutions

Registrant name: George Boddington
Client: Blair Franklin Capital Partners
Meeting Date: 2008-12-11
Present: Kevin McCarthy, Policy Advisor, Minister’s office
Subject: Government Procurement

Registrant name: Peter Brenders
Organization: BIOTECanada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-11
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Brock Carlton
Organization: Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Meeting Date: 2008-12-10
Present: Kevin McCarthy, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Minister of Finance
Subject: Infrastructure, Budget 2009

Registrant name: George Christidis
Client: MBNA Canada Bank
Meeting Date: 2008-12-10
Present: David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Financial Institutions

Registrant name: Nancy Hughes Anthony
Organization: Canadian Bankers Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-10
Present: Kevin McCarthy, Senior Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Financial Institutions

Registrant name: Marlo Raynolds
Organization: Pembina Institute
Meeting Date: 2008-12-10
Present: Rob Wright, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Budget recommendations

Registrant name: Peter Robinson
Organization: David Suzuki Foundation
Meeting Date: 2008-12-10
Present: Robert Wright, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Carbon Pricing

Registrant name: Montie Brewer
Corporation: Air Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-09
Present: Rob Wright, Deputy Minister of Finance, Finance Canada
Subject: Defined benefit pension regulations

Registrant name: Fred Green
Corporation: Canadian Pacific Railway
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: Jeremy Rudin, Associate Deputy Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Nancy Hughes Anthony
Organization: Canadian Bankers Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: Tiff Macklem, Associate Deputy Minister & G7 Deputy for Canada, Ministry of Finance
Subject: Financial Institutions

Registrant name: Fitti Lourenco
Client: Canaccord Capital Corporation (CCC)
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Financial Institutions

Registrant name: Fitti Lourenco
Client: AIG United Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Financial Institutions

Registrant name: Randy McLeod
Corporation: BP Canada Energy Company
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: Ian Shugart, Deputy Minister, Office of the Deputy Minister, Environment Canada; Rob Wright, Deputy Minister, Office of the Deputy Minister, Finance Canada; Cassie Doyle, Deputy Minister, Office of the Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada
Subject: Environment, Industry, Energy

Registrant name: Kevin Meyers
Corporation: ConocoPhillips Canada Limited
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: Rob Wright, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada; Denis Gauthier, ADM, Economic Development, Finance Canada; Cassie Doyle, Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada; Ian Shugart, Deputy Minister, Environment Canada
Subject: Energy, Aboriginal Affairs, Alaska Pipeline, Infrastructure

Registrant name: Lou Riccoboni
Client: Air Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Lou Riccoboni
Client: AIG United Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Financial Institutions

Registrant name: Lou Riccoboni
Client: Canaccord Capital Corporation (CCC)
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Financial Institutions

Registrant name: Dan Seekings
Client: Denali - The Alaska Gas Pipeline
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: Rob Wright, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Energy, Taxation and Finance, Industry

Registrant name: Dan Seekings
Client: Conoco Phillips Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-08
Present: Rob Wright, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Energy, Taxation and Finance, Industry

Registrant name: Nancy Hughes Anthony
Organization: Canadian Bankers Association
Meeting Date: 2008-12-05
Present: Louise Levonian, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Tax Policy Branch
Subject: Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: George Christidis
Client: MBNA Canada Bank
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Kevin McCarthy, Senior Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Financial Institutions

Registrant name: Marc Desmarais
Organization: Genome Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Denis Gauthier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development and Corporate Finance Branch
Subject: Government funding for genomics research

Registrant name: Martin Godbout
Client: Genome Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Denis Gauthier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development and Corporate Finance Branch
Subject: Government funding for genomics research

Registrant name: Dawn Graham
Corporation: Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisory, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Health, Taxation and Finance, Intellectual Property, Consumer Issues, Science and Technology, Industry

Registrant name: Dawn Graham
Corporation: Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: David Rancourt, Policy Advisory, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Science and Technology, Industry, Consumer Issues, Taxation and Finance, Health, Intellectual Property

Registrant name: Mark Jones
Corporation: AstraZeneca Canada Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister of Finance; David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Office of the Minister of Finance
Subject: Science and Technology, Industry, Intellectual Property, Health, Consumer Issues, Taxation and Finance

Registrant name: Ronnie Miller
Corporation: Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Consumer Issues, Science and Technology, Health, Taxation and Finance, Industry, Intellectual Property

Registrant name: Ronnie Miller
Corporation: Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office
Subject: Taxation and Finance, Consumer Issues, Science and Technology, Industry, Health, Intellectual Property

Registrant name: Jérôme Silvestre
Corporation: sanofi-aventis Canada Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Amy Ringdhal, Conseillère en politiques, Cabinet du Ministre des Finances
Subject: Science and Technology

Registrant name: Jérôme Silvestre
Corporation: sanofi-aventis Canada Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: David Rancourt, Conseiller en politiques, Cabinet du Ministre des Finances
Subject: Science and Technology

Registrant name: Catherine Swift
Organization: Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisor, Finance Canada
Subject: Budget 2009

Registrant name: Catherine Swift
Organization: Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Alana Heath, Policy Advisor, Finance Canada
Subject: Budget 2009

Registrant name: Erin Wall
Client: Science World British Columbia
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Leif Malling, Director, Corporate Integration, PPP Canada, Finance Canada
Subject: Tourism, Science and Technology, Infrastructure

Registrant name: Russell Williams
Organization: Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: David Rancourt, Policy Advisor, Finance Canada
Subject: Health, Intellectual Property, Science and Technology, Taxation and Finance, Industry, Constitutional Issues

Registrant name: Russell Williams
Organization: Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies
Meeting Date: 2008-12-04
Present: Amy Ringdahl, Policy Advisor, Finance Canada
Subject: Health, Industry, Intellectual Property, Constitutional Issues, Taxation and Finance, Science and Technology

Registrant name: William Murphy
Corporation: McNeil Consumer Healthcare
Meeting Date: 2008-12-02
Present: Jim Flaherty, Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Consumer Issues

Registrant name: Erin Wall
Client: Calgary Zoo
Meeting Date: 2008-12-02
Present: Leif Malling, Director, Corporate Integration, PPP Canada, Finance Canada
Subject: Tourism, Infrastructure

Registrant name: Betty DeVita
Corporation: Citibank Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-01
Present: Jane Pearse, Director, Financial Institutions Division
Subject: Assistance being provided to financial services organizations to enhance liquidity

Registrant name: Betty DeVita
Corporation: Citibank Canada
Meeting Date: 2008-12-01
Present: Jeremy Rudin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance Canada
Subject: Assistance being provided to financial services organizations to enhance liquidity

Registrant name: Manabu Nishimae
Corporation: Honda Canada Inc.
Meeting Date: 2008-12-01
Present: Cassie Doyle, Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada; Richard Dicerni, Deputy Minister, Industry Canada; Robert Wright, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada; Simon Kennedy, Deputy Secretary to Cabinet, Privy Council Office; Louis Ranger, Deputy Minister, Transport Canada
Subject: Industry

Bruce Power: pro-nuclear campaign begins with full-page ads in Saskatchewan newspapers

Bruce Power’s full-page Saskatchewan news ad

The pro-nuclear propaganda machine has been set in motion. Ontario-based Bruce Power, which is looking into the feasibility of building a power plant in northern Saskatchewan, has taken out full page ads in newspapers in that part of the province to help peddle its plans. To date at least five newspapers have published or distributed the expensive sales pitch:

– Lloydminster Meridian Booster on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, Page A13

– The Battlefords News-Optimist on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, as an insert

– The Saskatoon Sun on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, Page 13

– The Prince Albert Daily Herald on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, Page 14

– The StarPhoenix on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, Page A5

The four paragraph message promotes the company’s feasibility study that was released at a news conference, which was closed to the public, in Saskatoon on Nov. 27, 2008.

“We have completed our study and believe nuclear energy could provide Saskatchewan and neighbouring jurisdictions with clean power for generations to come,” the ad states.

“This opportunity could create significant economic benefits with 1,000 jobs for 60 years and also help clean-up the air we breathe.”

Naturally they’d say that. They’re trying to sell something. Forgotten along the way is the questionable ethics of having Bruce Power conduct the study in the first place since they are owned in part by uranium giant Cameco Corporation.

Bruce Power’s strategy seems clearer now than ever – play up the jobs and the supposed economic benefits and the troubling questions will get pushed to the background. A little assistance from the province’s conservative media and business lobby groups won’t hurt either.

Bruce Power says it is “committed to being open” about their plans and will be “distributing over 50,000 copies of the document in the coming weeks.”

In the spirit of openness will the company be revealing how much it paid for the ads; the price tag for sending out over 50,000 copies of its study; and the amount of money it intends to spend on future advertising campaigns?

The feel good ad is silent on the cost of building a nuclear facility and how much taxpayers will be expected to cough up in infrastructure upgrades, not to mention who will cover any cost overruns. Then there’s the issue of decommissioning the plant once it’s no longer usable. Who’s going to pay for that?

The ad also avoids talking about the public’s reasons for opposing nuclear power which were outlined in an update the company released on Aug. 6, 2008.

The report provided details on a poll conducted in July 2008 by POLLARA Research and Communications on behalf of Bruce Power. The firm surveyed “more than 800 Saskatchewan residents on a number of energy related issues.”

The poll revealed that 52 per cent of Saskatchewan residents support nuclear power, down from 55 per cent reported in a nation-wide poll released in Feb. 2008 by the Canadian Nuclear Association.

Bruce Power did not release the wording of the questions asked by POLLARA or a detailed breakdown of how people answered or where in Saskatchewan they lived. Bruce claims they’re open but won’t release this information.

The update said the public’s top five reasons for opposing nuclear power are: safety, environmental impacts, health, waste and a general opposition to the technology. These findings, however, weren’t reported in the study and no reason has been given why.

The update also noted that Bruce Power’s Saskatchewan Feasibility Study Team said the company “would examine the possibility of establishing a clean energy hub to generate electricity and hydrogen through wind and solar” and that “this will be included in the feasibility study.” But for some reason this information isn’t in the report.

In its Nov. 27, 2008, news release the company said that, in December 2008, it “will release additional information on an assessment being conducted in collaboration with the Canadian Hydrogen Association (CHA) considering the role next generation nuclear, hydrogen, wind and solar could play in the province.” It’s three weeks into the New Year and there doesn’t appear to be any sign that this information is forthcoming.

The feasibility study suggests a region spanning from Lloydminster, including the Battlefords and Prince Albert, as the most viable host for a nuclear facility. Well, this would explain why these cities, along with Saskatoon, were targeted for the media blitz. No doubt this is just the beginning of the onslaught.

Public consultation takes back seat to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s closed-door pre-budget roundtable discussions with Canadian business leaders

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty with Economic Advisory Council

Budget 2009 Consultation Presentation - Slide #2

Budget 2009 Consultation Presentation - Slide #6

Budget 2009 Consultation Presentation - Slide #12

Budget 2009 Consultation Presentation - Slide #16

Stephen Harper’s Conservative government is selling its pre-budget consultation as the widest in recent memory.

On Dec. 11, 2008 Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced the launch of the government’s national consultation leading into its fourth budget, to be tabled on January 27, 2009.

“The Government is open to innovative new ideas that would help shape the plan for economic recovery in the 2009 budget,” said Flaherty in a news release.

As part of its consultation the government created a Web page where Canadians can fill out a questionnaire and submit to federal Finance Department officials. The online consultations ended midnight Jan. 9, 2009.

In addition to the online consultations, Flaherty is meeting with individuals and groups. He is hosting roundtable discussions with invited stakeholders in five cities across Canada:

– Saint John, New Brunswick (Dec. 12, 2008)
– Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Dec. 18, 2008)
– Montréal, Quebec (Jan. 6, 2009)
– Thornhill, Ontario (Jan. 9, 2009)
– Victoria, British Columbia (Jan. 12, 2009)

“It is important that we hear the views of all Canadians on how to build on the actions our Government has already taken to help Canada weather the economic storm,” said Flaherty.

The question is though, how many ordinary Canadians are actually getting the chance to talk to Flaherty or government officials directly in any meaningful way? So far it doesn’t appear to be many. The focus of the government’s attention seems to be on the business community and what it has to say.

On Dec. 12 Flaherty was the guest speaker at a breakfast hosted by the Saint John Board of Trade.

According to the Saint John Telegraph-Journal, Flaherty was encouraged to come to Saint John by the city’s new Conservative MP, Rodney Weston. Flaherty’s communications director Chisholm Pothier and Weston worked together in former premier Bernard Lord’s office and are close friends. [PM visits to talk economy (Telegraph-Journal, Dec. 15, 2008)]

Flaherty talked about the state of the Canadian economy. He said that Canada should brace for a federal budget deficit this month and that the government will use both fiscal and monetary measures to counter the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

After the address Flaherty headed into his first of five closed-door pre-budget consultation meetings across Canada.

The Telegraph-Journal reported that according to one of the participants, J.D. Irving, Limited president Jim Irving, the closed-door session went well.

They talked about speeding up infrastructure projects including water and sewer projects in Saint John, as well as stimulating the housing industry and developing green energy.

Irving said they also discussed issues facing the forest-based industries, including upgrading skills, reducing energy costs, and value-added products.

“We’re encouraging him to make the decisions very rapidly,” he said.

The article notes that about 16 people attended the closed-door consultation with the minister.

The government did not release the guest list, but it is reported to have included Atlantic Provinces Economic Council president Elizabeth Beale, David Ganong with Ganong Bros., New Brunswick Forest Products Association president Mark Arsenault, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters New Brunswick Division vice- president David Plante, lawyer Nathalie Godbout representing Enterprise Saint John and a representative of the Canadian Banking Association, along with Irving. [Brace for deficit, federal finance minister says (Telegraph-Journal, Dec. 13, 2008)]

Later in the day Flaherty joined Irving for a photo opportunity and a tour of the Irving Paper Mill on Bay Side Drive in Saint John. [Finance Canada media notice, Dec. 11, 2008]

Irving belongs to one of Canada’s richest families. Canadian Business magazine’s annual list of the country’s wealthiest people placed the family second in its 2008-09 edition with a net worth of $7.11 billion. The family’s business interests include oil, forestry products, gas stations, media and transportation.

Irving seems to also enjoy considerable access to politicians and their staff. Records with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada show that from Sept. 5, 2008 to Nov. 28, 2008 Irving met with various federal government officials ten times. These included visits to Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea, Defence Minister Peter MacKay twice, Industry Minister Tony Clement twice and his predecessor Jim Prentice twice.

David Ganong is a director of the powerful business lobby group the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE).

In an interview with the Telegraph-Journal Ganong said he wants the federal government to pay companies cash for purchases now instead of giving tax credits later. He said Flaherty should consider giving companies that have made big expenditures the money upfront, instead of capital cost allowances and investment tax credits on revenue that get applied over a number of years.

His proposal is based on a ‘pay me now instead of later’ way of thinking.

Ganong pitched the idea to Flaherty when he met with the minister and a number of other business representatives and industry groups in the pre-budget consultation meeting.

Flaherty and his staff did not respond to ideas at the meeting but took notes, Ganong said.

He conceded his plan would need some massaging; companies could be required to spend the money on further investment, he said, and only companies with solid business plans should be afforded the deal.

Other groups have requested the government make changes to tax credits. The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, an industry lobby group, want Flaherty to make scientific research and experimental development credits refundable, since companies facing a downturn in profits now may have made investments ahead of their earnings performance. [Pay up front: Ganong (Telegraph-Journal, Dec 18, 2008)]

The next stop on Flaherty’s road show of private meetings with business leaders and lobby groups was in Saskatoon from Dec. 16-18, 2008.

As part of his national consultation Flaherty’s trip to Saskatoon included a meeting with provincial and territorial ministers of finance and treasurers on Dec. 17. The gabfest was hosted by Saskatchewan Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer. The politicians convened the night before for a private dinner at the upscale John’s Prime Rib restaurant near the Delta Bessborough Hotel where the meetings were scheduled.

Gantefoer said accelerated and expanded infrastructure investment by the federal government was the No. 1 priority for the province. [Economy top job for gov’t (StarPhoenix, Dec. 17, 2008)]

On Dec. 18 Flaherty held a closed-door pre-budget consultation meeting with business and academic leaders. He told reporters later that the government was listening to the advice of ordinary Canadians as well and would hold town hall meetings. [Flaherty turns to private sector for advice (StarPhoenix, Dec 19, 2008)]

According to The StarPhoenix Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) president Allan Earle was upset that his organization wasn’t included in the private meeting.

While the association had a representative attend a meeting of infrastructure ministers in Vancouver earlier in the week, Earle said it’s important municipalities also have their say with the finance minister on what might be in the federal stimulus package.

“Certainly there are infrastructure projects from our smallest villages to our largest cities in the province that really do need some addressing, and we would have liked to be able to speak to that face-to-face,” Earle said.

A spokesperson for Flaherty said the budget consultations are national, not focused on the region they are held in, and are about hearing from individuals from various sectors. In Saskatoon, six of 20 participants were from the province.

Flaherty said the comments he heard at the meeting were similar to the input from provincial and territorial finance ministers he met with the day before, including the importance of infrastructure spending. [Projects may be fast-tracked (StarPhoenix, Dec. 19, 2008)]

So out of Saskatchewan’s current population of 1,015,985 people only six had the pleasure of meeting Flaherty in person. And just who were the 20 participants at the meeting the government won’t say. On Jan. 5, 2009 a request was made to Flaherty’s press secretary, Chisholm Pothier, for a list of those that were invited and those that attended. The request was denied.

“There’s an expectation of privacy around those meetings so we don’t release lists. But in general these meetings include various combinations of academics, businesspeople, special interest type stakeholders such as environmentalists or aboriginals, labour reps, NGOs, that kind of thing,” Pothier said in an emailed response.

SUMA weren’t the only ones shut-out of the minister’s Saskatoon roundtable discussion. Contrary to Pothier’s claim that labour reps are included in the meetings, it appears that several major labour organizations weren’t invited to the one in Saskatoon. The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), CUPE Saskatchewan and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) have indicated they weren’t asked to attend. So who was there to represent workers? This is incredible given that Statistics Canada has reported that the Canadian economy lost 71,000 jobs in November and a further 34,000 in December. You’d think that labour would be at these meetings.

In Saskatoon on Dec. 18 Flaherty announced the establishment of an Economic Advisory Council. The Council includes Canadian business and academic leaders who will provide advice to the Government as part of the Minister’s national consultation on the 2009 budget, and on an ongoing basis afterward.

The group of 11 members is comprised mainly of wealthy business executives. Five of them: Geoff Beattie (Thomson Reuters), Paul Desmarais Jr. (Power Corporation), George Gosbee (Tristone Capital), Mike Lazaridis (Research In Motion) and Annette Verschuren (Home Depot Canada) work for member companies of the aforementioned Canadian Council of Chief Executives whose president and CEO Thomas d’Aquino seems to enjoy unparalleled access to the corridors of power.

A search of the federal lobbyists’ registry shows that from July 10, 2008 to Nov. 29, 2008 d’Aquino met with various government officials a total of 38 times. Some of the visits include two to the Prime Minister’s Office, four to the Privy Council Office, three to Finance Canada, two to the Bank of Canada, three to Industry Canada, and a whopping 22 to meet with officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

Other members of the new Council include multi-billionaires Jim Pattison (Jim Pattison Group) and Jim Irving (J.D. Irving Ltd.).

Apparently it isn’t enough that Irving got the opportunity to meet with Flaherty in the closed-door pre-budget consultation in Saint John, and then show the minister around his family’s paper mill, but now he gets sit on the Council and provide further input.

The Council is not a representative group. No labour representation, no Aboriginal reps, no one from the social or non-profit sector whatsoever. Thus, the groups most likely to be affected by the recession have no voice on this panel. Instead, it’s stacked with individuals whose companies could potentially benefit from the advice they give and the access to power they will get.

In an interview with CBC News on Dec. 19 the Council’s chairperson, former B.C. finance minister Carole Taylor, confirmed what was already obvious – that the group was there to provide Flaherty with a business perspective.

Taylor said one of her group’s responsibilities is to ensure that economic policies that sound good in theory would work in practice.

When asked why there were no bank economists or civil servants in the advisory group, Taylor said, “We are just one piece of this — I hope a valuable piece, an important piece — but we are the business piece.”

Sometimes government policy runs into obstacles upon implementation, she said.

“So my impression is that Minister Flaherty wants to jump-start this by going immediately to those who have been successful business people for years and years and say — ‘This is what I’m thinking about.’

“What do experienced business leaders think needs to happen right now? Are some of these ideas just theoretical and … won’t work on the ground?” [Economic council to offer Flaherty business perspective, chair says (CBC News, Dec. 19, 2008)]

Flaherty said he wants the new council to give him advice on areas such as taxation, spending, economic stimulus and credit in preparation of the budget.

The Conservative government is considering further tax cuts in that document to help boost an economy in recession, Flaherty told reporters.

“It is an option,” he said. “There are two basic ways of stimulating the economy further. One is tax reductions; the other is additional spending in areas like infrastructure. They’re both on the table.” [Flaherty turns to private sector for advice (StarPhoenix, Dec. 19, 2008)]

The Council held its first meeting on Dec. 23, a closed-door session, with Flaherty at his regional office in Toronto.

Clearly one of the goals is to try and do an end run around government policy (i.e. administrative red tape) and Flaherty is looking to the country’s business elite to tell him how to do it.

On Dec. 23 a number of newspapers in smaller communities across Canada published an op-ed by the finance minister. One of those was The Golden Star in Golden, B.C. a town of about 5,000 people.

In the article Flaherty said the government was taking steps “to ensure we consult with as many Canadians as possible:

“I’m holding a series of roundtable discussions with business leaders, economists, academics, industry leaders, community and labour organizations in cities across Canada from Saint John to Victoria.

“We’re also organizing town hall meetings in other locations across Canada where I look forward to hearing from Canadians personally.”

Flaherty also said, “I have written every Member of Parliament asking them to consult with the people in their communities in the coming weeks on their local priorities and report what they hear back to me directly. I encourage all Canadians to contact their MP for further information.

“I want to hear from all Canadians directly as well. This is your federal government, and each and every Canadian should have the opportunity to contribute their ideas. That’s why we launched an on-line consultation, and I’m asking everyone for their input. If you can, please take the time to get involved by visiting www.fin.gc.ca and click on ‘Budget 2009 Consultations.’”

Upon closer examination it appears that some of what Flaherty promised would happen either hasn’t or is falling short of expectations.

It’s already been established that some of the country’s largest national and provincial labour organizations weren’t invited to Flaherty’s closed-door roundtable discussions. By all accounts these meetings have been limited to mainly corporate executives or business and industry lobby groups. Flaherty’s office refuses to release the names of the participants at the meetings.

With respect to town hall meetings the minister’s office has thus far announced only two: one in the safe confines of Flaherty’s home riding of Whitby-Oshawa on Jan. 8 and the other on Jan. 12 in the riding held by Conservative MP John Weston (West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country).

If Saskatchewan is any indication MPs are doing little if anything to canvass the views of their constituents.

A search through the websites of Saskatchewan’s Conservative MPs showed no evidence of any news releases, announcements or events for pre-budget consultations with residents in their ridings. In fact, it appears that a number of MPs haven’t bothered to update their websites for weeks and, in some cases, even months.

A search through back issues of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post for the Dec. 12, 2008 to Jan. 10, 2009 time period turned up no public notices or announcements of pre-budget consultation from MPs in Saskatchewan’s two most populous cities.

An advertisement for Blackstrap MP Lynne Yelich did appear in the Jan. 9 StarPhoenix but was promoting her 8th Annual Blackstrap Winter Tour Open Houses scheduled for Jan. 10. When contacted on Jan. 9 her office confirmed that the event was basically a come and go social and that the MP would have little time for any lengthy meetings.

According to a letter to editor by Flaherty’s director of communications, Mike Storeshaw, published in the Toronto Star on Dec. 23, “the Minister personally wrote the more than 300 MPs from all political parties asking them to canvass the views of citizens, businesses and non-profit groups in their respective ridings. He has also further asked for a written submission of each MP’s findings by Jan. 10, so all can be given proper consideration.”

If Saskatchewan MPs didn’t conduct any meaningful pre-budget consultation in their ridings what on earth could they possibly report? It should be noted that the author of this blog lives in the federal riding of Saskatoon – Rosetown – Biggar held by Conservative MP Kelly Block. No mail outs of any kind were received by residents at this location a 48-unit apartment complex in downtown Saskatoon.

As for the on-line consultation at the Finance Canada website it was pathetic and seemed to be designed to provide government officials with a pre-determined outcome. It was also susceptible to abuse and manipulation. There appeared to be no problem completing and submitting more than one questionnaire. The author of this blog successfully submitted two using the same computer on separate days.

The questionnaire for the general public was limited to a multiple-choice survey. Participants were asked to rank six carefully worded pre-determined priorities:

– Expedite Infrastructure Spending

– Invest in Housing

– Build strong sustainable labour markets and training incentives

– Support traditional and emerging industrial sectors

– Improve Access to Credit

– Your Idea: If you believe Budget 2009 should have a different stimulus priority, assign a ranking to this box. You will be able to explain this priority on the next screen.

Participants were allowed to make a 50-word comment on one or more of these options. Anyone with an innovative idea had one lousy paragraph to explain it.

The questionnaire asked only for the respondent’s age range, income level, education and province of residence. It also required them to pick a description from the following list: business person, disabled, employee, farmer, homemaker, interest group representative, professional, public servant, retired, self-employed. (Without this information, the questionnaire cannot be submitted.)

The Web page contained a link to a related document, an 18-slide presentation called Fiscal Stimulus: Budget 2009 Consultations. It would be interesting to know how many people actually clicked on the link and read the report because it basically set the ground rules of what the government considered to be acceptable forms of economic stimulus.

The document states after slide #6:

“The Government and the Bank of Canada have a number of tools at their disposal to support economic growth.

“These include monetary policy, measures to support Canadian credit markets, and fiscal policy actions through lower taxes or higher targeted spending, such as infrastructure investment.

“The Government and the Bank of Canada have been actively using all of these tools. In the current environment, fiscal policy should continue to complement monetary policy and measures to support credit markets in order to promote an economic recovery.”

Following slide #17 the document lays out four criteria the government says “are important considerations in designing effective stimulus policies:

– Timely – stimulus when it’s needed.

– Maximum impact – stimulus that delivers.

– Flexible in size and duration -- smart stimulus.

– Consistent with Canada’s long-term economic goals – stimulus that fits the plan.”

The “plan” in question is the Conservative government’s Advantage Canada: Building a Strong Economy for Canadians, a long-term, national economic plan released by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on Nov. 23, 2006.

The news release called it “a new national objective to eliminate Canada’s total government net debt in less than a generation and further reduce taxes for all Canadians.”

The bottom line seems to be that unless you support Advantage Canada the pre-budget questionnaire might prove pointless because any suggestions that don’t fit the Harper government’s objectives will likely be dismissed.

This would also seem to explain why the public was limited to ranking a handful of pre-determined options in the survey.

The finance minister’s third closed-door pre-budget roundtable discussion took place on Jan. 6 in Montreal at the McGill Faculty Club and Conference Centre.

The Gazette reported little about the meeting only to say that Flaherty was in Montreal “to consult with Quebec business leaders and politicians about what actions they’d like to see taken by Ottawa in the budget to cope with the slowdown.”

Flaherty’s speaking points remained unchanged telling reporters that increased infrastructure spending, tax cuts for individuals and companies and access to credit are among the options being considered, with the latter being “the No. 1 concern.” [Ottawa pledges return to surplus The Gazette, Jan. 7, 2009)]

It should be noted that The Gazette endorsed the Harper Conservatives for re-election in the Oct. 14, 2008 national election.

The Canadian Press, meanwhile, confirmed that one participant at the meeting was the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The federation’s Ontario director Kevin Gaudet said the group urged Flaherty at the meeting to balance the budget and cut financial aid to troubled industries.

“We’d like to see the federal government do everything it can to balance the budget,” Gaudet said in an interview with Businss News Network, a Toronto-based cable TV channel.

“We’d like to see the government, in order to help balance the budget, avoid the type of corporate welfare payments that it’s been looking at doing . . . for organizations like the Detroit Two auto companies (GM and Chrysler), forestry and an alphabet soup of others.”

There was no word on whether any labour organizations were invited to attend the meeting to speak on behalf of workers.

The same article reported that Flaherty met privately on Jan. 5 with Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, Canadian Bankers Association president Nancy Hughes Anthony, regulators and senior bankers regarding access to credit for consumers.[Flaherty says government, banks working to ensure people get loans (The Canadian Press, Jan. 6, 2009)]

The fourth roundtable meeting was held in Thornhill, north of Toronto, on Jan. 9 at the Le Parc Conference and Banquet Centre.

At a press conference just before the meeting Flaherty told reporters that Canadians should expect more “substantial job losses” this year.

According to the Toronto Star the minister said he has been listening to Canadians about what the budget should include, naming infrastructure spending and tax cuts as the two most often-heard recommendations he has received. [Harper calls unemployment rate “troubling” Toronto Star, Jan. 9, 2009)]

This should come as no surprise given that these are among the only options Flaherty ever seems to talk about.

The Toronto Star did not report who was at the meeting and the Globe and Mail only said that Flaherty was “meeting with business leaders.” [Prepare for ‘substantial’ job losses, Tories warn Globe and Mail, Jan. 10, 2009)]

At least one participant is known for sure: the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), who issued a news release earlier in the day saying they’d be attending and would be bringing a list of priorities for Flaherty to act on.

The CFIB is calling on Flaherty to:

– Avoid deficits;

– Decrease spending;

– Avoid expensive bailout packages;

– Overhaul Employment Insurance (EI);

– Develop a long-term personal income tax cut plan, and;

– Focus on wide-ranging economic policy for small- and medium-sized businesses, such as finding ways of easing succession for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

The fifth and final pre-budget consultation took place on Jan. 12 in Victoria, B.C. at the University of Victoria Cadboro Commons Conference Centre.

The Canadian Press reported that Flaherty attended a closed-door meeting with business leaders. There were more than 20 people at the meeting, including B.C. business, tourism and forest industry official. Once again no names were provided. [Flaherty says ‘extraordinary’ action needed to overcome global recession (The Canadian Press, Jan. 12, 2009)]

Victoria Times-Colonist provincial affairs columnist Les Leyne noted that Flaherty spent three hours the night before huddled in a private meeting with Economic Advisory Council chair Carole Taylor and some members of her council. Leyne said Taylor has “spent the last month presiding over meetings with a selection of Canada’s business elite” to help draw up a “national game plan.” [B.C. influences 'extraordinary' budget (Times-Colonist, Jan. 13, 2009)]

The Council’s plan and the information given to Flaherty remain confidential and no one is saying who attended the meetings.

The finance minister is not the only one conducting private meetings. It seems that Prime Minister Stephen has held at least four since the pre-budget consultation process began on Dec. 11.

At the Delta Hotel in Winnipeg on Dec. 19 Harper “held a closed-door meeting with a select group of Manitoba business leaders. He did not allow for questions from the media.” [Museum goes from dream to reality (The Canadian Press, Dec. 20, 2008)]

On Jan. 9 Harper was at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal where he participated in “a closed-door meeting with a dozen business leaders.” Among the attendees were Power Corp., head Paul Desmarais Jr., and Bombardier Inc.’s Pierre Beaudoin. [Harper promises ‘comprehensive’ economic action (StarPhoenix, Jan. 9, 2009)]

Like billionaire James D. Irving, Desmarais Jr. seems to have the privilege of not only being a member of Flaherty’s Economic Advisory Council, but he also gets the added bonus of taking part in other high-level meetings.

Harper then attended a business roundtable meeting in Vancouver on Jan 12. This time he was accompanied by other members of the Conservative caucus. The event was held at the party’s regional office. A similar meeting was also conducted in Calgary on Jan. 13.

Calgary Herald’s Jason Fekete reported that George Gosbee, CEO of oilpatch brokerage and investment bank Tristone Capital, and a member of the Economic Advisory Council, is participating in the Calgary meetings with Harper. [Calgary to guide PM on budget (Calgary Herald, Jan. 13, 2009)]

Gosbee, who is also a member of the CCCE, joins a growing list of advisory council members that are attending private meetings with senior politicians that appear to be separate from the Council’s deliberations.

Lastly, farther down on the list of importance were are series of closed-door meetings held across Canada before Christmas by Transport and Infrastructure Minister John Baird with provincial, territorial and municipal representatives on accelerating infrastructure investments; and a 3-city tour by Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Diane Finley with key stakeholders and members of the community to discuss issues surrounding Canada’s response to the current economy.

The federal government’s public consultation lacks sincerity and is clearly taking a back seat to what’s going on behind closed doors. Flaherty’s economic stimulus message hasn’t changed since the process began over a month ago: increased infrastructure spending, tax cuts and access to credit. It almost makes you wonder why he bothered with consultations at all.