The Premier is having troubles of his own.
Check the latest at the Daily News here, here and here.
The Canadian Press version is here.
The root of his problem comes from someone asking a simple couple of questions:
What did you know?
When did you know it?
More people should ask those questions.
11 January 2007
Why Loyola left
They had a deal Sully could live with on Equalization.
Danny was of a different mind.
Instead of being a meeting to formally agree, this one will likely be the scene for another Danny tirade. Don't be surprised if he stages some storm-out to avoid having his fellow Premiers rip him a new one for his petulant, self-interested posturing.
Just like the last time.
Notice the date, though.
February 7.
Hmmmmm.
Would be convenient to use a problem with Equalization where Danny supposedly stands alone against the rest of the Premiers and the Prime Minister as an excellent excuse to call an election.
And, as Danny knows full well, he doesn't have to recall the House to drop the writ.
Danny was of a different mind.
Instead of being a meeting to formally agree, this one will likely be the scene for another Danny tirade. Don't be surprised if he stages some storm-out to avoid having his fellow Premiers rip him a new one for his petulant, self-interested posturing.
Just like the last time.
Notice the date, though.
February 7.
Hmmmmm.
Would be convenient to use a problem with Equalization where Danny supposedly stands alone against the rest of the Premiers and the Prime Minister as an excellent excuse to call an election.
And, as Danny knows full well, he doesn't have to recall the House to drop the writ.
10 January 2007
Fishery Products back on the block
CBC News is reporting that talks are underway - again - that might see Fishery Products International Limited's (FPIL) groundfish assets in Newfoundland and Labrador sold off.
As in the last go 'round, two of the potential buyers are Barry Group and Ocean Choice, owned by the Penney Group.
A third proposal is expected from FPI management.
As noted on Bond Papers last May, the goal of the provincial government's changes to the FPI legislation was actually to make it easier to break up the company and sell off the assets. The FPI bill gave cabinet the authority to approve any sale of FPI assets. Under the original Act, a sale of assets would have required a change to the legislation, meaning it would had to come before the legislature for public debate.
As in the last go 'round, two of the potential buyers are Barry Group and Ocean Choice, owned by the Penney Group.
A third proposal is expected from FPI management.
As noted on Bond Papers last May, the goal of the provincial government's changes to the FPI legislation was actually to make it easier to break up the company and sell off the assets. The FPI bill gave cabinet the authority to approve any sale of FPI assets. Under the original Act, a sale of assets would have required a change to the legislation, meaning it would had to come before the legislature for public debate.
Here's why our weather is warmer
Forget global warming, El Nino and cow flatulence.
Newfoundland and Labrador is experiencing milder than usual weather because the weather office is back in Gander.
Iintergovernmental affairs minister John Ottenheimer is quoted as saying "[w]e are committed to examining opportunities where the federal government and the province can benefit from an increase in federal jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador...", after he reminded us that the weather office thing was a Conservative party commitment during the last election.
Unfortunately, Minister Ottenheimer forgot that almost exactly one year ago, the chief Conservative party representative in Newfoundland and Labrador reminded us all that the weather office was the sum total of the commitment.
After all, as Hearn noted, federal jobs that come merely from our tax dollars aren't sustainable.
Newfoundland and Labrador is experiencing milder than usual weather because the weather office is back in Gander.
Iintergovernmental affairs minister John Ottenheimer is quoted as saying "[w]e are committed to examining opportunities where the federal government and the province can benefit from an increase in federal jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador...", after he reminded us that the weather office thing was a Conservative party commitment during the last election.
Unfortunately, Minister Ottenheimer forgot that almost exactly one year ago, the chief Conservative party representative in Newfoundland and Labrador reminded us all that the weather office was the sum total of the commitment.
After all, as Hearn noted, federal jobs that come merely from our tax dollars aren't sustainable.
And it isn't even sweeps week
CRA polling doesn't start up again until October, but already the publicity machine on The Hill is cranking out happy news.
Like this one from the innovation minister's department on a regional trade mission to Florida. It's a general one that says - in so many words - about the same thing as this one from December 14, 2006 and this ministerial statement from December 5, 2006.
It's all great to hear that local companies are making inroads in overseas markets, but how many times can we say essentially the same thing?
Is someone trying to qualify for a Tobin Award - most news releases from a single event or incident?
From the headline - "Florida More Than a Vacation Destination" - some people would likely mistake this for an account of the Premier's favourite place during the winter months.
Like this one from the innovation minister's department on a regional trade mission to Florida. It's a general one that says - in so many words - about the same thing as this one from December 14, 2006 and this ministerial statement from December 5, 2006.
It's all great to hear that local companies are making inroads in overseas markets, but how many times can we say essentially the same thing?
Is someone trying to qualify for a Tobin Award - most news releases from a single event or incident?
From the headline - "Florida More Than a Vacation Destination" - some people would likely mistake this for an account of the Premier's favourite place during the winter months.
Another jihad in the offing
Will Gander get the same level of attention in the meantime as Deer Lake?
Update: Of course, Gander is not in the district of a provincial politician accused of double billing her constituents - and the rest of the province's taxpayers - for expenses.
Update: Of course, Gander is not in the district of a provincial politician accused of double billing her constituents - and the rest of the province's taxpayers - for expenses.
Outmigration details
Statistics Canada figures for the third quarter of 2006 show that outmigration from Newfoundland and Labrador that quarter was the third highest quarterly decline since 1993.
Latest NL Executive Council fashion accessory
Do they have to pay for it or are these covered on an expense claim?
09 January 2007
Did Danny say this?
Yes.
Last week.
Announcing that John Hickey would be relieved of his cabinet duties over accusations he has filed duplicate expense and travel claims to the House of Assembly totalling over $3700.
The local constabulary has opened a file.
Williams response - contrary to a longstanding tradition designed to protect the integrity of government and the administration of justice - was to restore Hickey to cabinet and begin an orchestrated spin campaign involving Williams himself, Hickey and Kathy Goudie, another member of the legislature accused of submitted duplicate claims.
Last week.
Announcing that John Hickey would be relieved of his cabinet duties over accusations he has filed duplicate expense and travel claims to the House of Assembly totalling over $3700.
"I have done what I have done because, as the premier of the province, if I have a person in my cabinet [with] any kind of cloud over at all, [I must] either ask them to resign or move them aside until that cloud passes or is dealt with."This week, the Auditor General issued a public report, recommending the matter be referred to the police.
The local constabulary has opened a file.
Williams response - contrary to a longstanding tradition designed to protect the integrity of government and the administration of justice - was to restore Hickey to cabinet and begin an orchestrated spin campaign involving Williams himself, Hickey and Kathy Goudie, another member of the legislature accused of submitted duplicate claims.
Doing the right
In Labrador, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have demonstrated they the can do right in addition to desiring it.
The bills so nice they claimed them twice
Roger Grimes and Ralph Wiseman - both former members of the legislature - are right on this one: ultimately the submission of claims is the responsibility of the person making the claim.
If members of the House of Assembly didn't submit duplicate claims for the same service, there wouldn't be any double billing.
Looking at the Hickey and Goudie reports, and allowing for the peculiarities of the Auditor General's reporting, though, it's difficult to say that Goudie and Hickey didn't appreciate that by submitting two separate claims using two different means of documentation for the same service that they were doing something that was definitely not kosher.
Premier Danny Williams has tried to apply another frame to these most recent accusations as part of his effort to tamp down the scandal that has now embraced his own ministry directly.
Curious to see experienced reporters accepting the Premier's explanations before they saw the details of what is alleged to have occurred. It'll be more curious if they stick to the same interpretation now that they have seen more information.
Among the curiosities in the latest portion of the House of Assembly spending scandal:
- A member of the legislature reimbursed for a meal dated three months before she was first elected.
- Two members of the legislature submitting different claim forms for the same service and being paid for both. Sometimes the payment was on the same day; sometimes the payments came weeks apart.
- Credit card receipts or debit receipts submitted for meal claims showing one amount; the restaurant invoice submitted for the same meal on a separate invoice showing a different amount.
- One member receiving double payment of per diems for meals and accommodations normally paid when the House is in session, for dates when the House was not sitting.
- Double claiming $775 in donations to various groups, one donation being for $500.
- A member claiming three days of per diems and receiving double payment ten days apart.
- A member submitting two separate claims for a $500 donation using two different receipts and a cancelled cheque as supporting documentation. The dates on each of the three supporting documents shows a different date for the donation.
If members of the House of Assembly didn't submit duplicate claims for the same service, there wouldn't be any double billing.
Looking at the Hickey and Goudie reports, and allowing for the peculiarities of the Auditor General's reporting, though, it's difficult to say that Goudie and Hickey didn't appreciate that by submitting two separate claims using two different means of documentation for the same service that they were doing something that was definitely not kosher.
Premier Danny Williams has tried to apply another frame to these most recent accusations as part of his effort to tamp down the scandal that has now embraced his own ministry directly.
Curious to see experienced reporters accepting the Premier's explanations before they saw the details of what is alleged to have occurred. It'll be more curious if they stick to the same interpretation now that they have seen more information.
Among the curiosities in the latest portion of the House of Assembly spending scandal:
- A member of the legislature reimbursed for a meal dated three months before she was first elected.
- Two members of the legislature submitting different claim forms for the same service and being paid for both. Sometimes the payment was on the same day; sometimes the payments came weeks apart.
- Credit card receipts or debit receipts submitted for meal claims showing one amount; the restaurant invoice submitted for the same meal on a separate invoice showing a different amount.
- One member receiving double payment of per diems for meals and accommodations normally paid when the House is in session, for dates when the House was not sitting.
- Double claiming $775 in donations to various groups, one donation being for $500.
- A member claiming three days of per diems and receiving double payment ten days apart.
- A member submitting two separate claims for a $500 donation using two different receipts and a cancelled cheque as supporting documentation. The dates on each of the three supporting documents shows a different date for the donation.
08 January 2007
Afrighting the ear
Lumber World has been running a radio spot on VOCM for way too many months now extolling the virtues of Bruce brand hardwood flooring.
There's some reference to Shakespeare and "trodding the boards", presumably to attach the hardwood flooring to some sort of elegance, grace and education.
Unfortunately this is a good example of a truly hideous radio spot where both the writing and the voicing wind up affrighting the ear of any listener with half a clue.
Not only is there a meaningless hodge-podge of some Shakespearean dialogue, one portion of which sounds like the prologue of Henry V, but the guy pretending to be an actor obviously has no idea what he is reading.
The word is Agincourt - pronounced "aazhincour". This guy pronounces it as if it were Jethro Bodean's way of saying "again".
Just so you get the point, here's Derk Jacobi's performance, from the 1989 Branagh version. No one's expecting the VOCM guy to deliver a performance worthy of one of the finer actors around, but at least we could expect that he could get the pronunciation right.
There's some reference to Shakespeare and "trodding the boards", presumably to attach the hardwood flooring to some sort of elegance, grace and education.
Unfortunately this is a good example of a truly hideous radio spot where both the writing and the voicing wind up affrighting the ear of any listener with half a clue.
Not only is there a meaningless hodge-podge of some Shakespearean dialogue, one portion of which sounds like the prologue of Henry V, but the guy pretending to be an actor obviously has no idea what he is reading.
The word is Agincourt - pronounced "aazhincour". This guy pronounces it as if it were Jethro Bodean's way of saying "again".
Just so you get the point, here's Derk Jacobi's performance, from the 1989 Branagh version. No one's expecting the VOCM guy to deliver a performance worthy of one of the finer actors around, but at least we could expect that he could get the pronunciation right.
No one said you'd asked for it, Jerome
We just said Danny would offer you the job.All Jerome Kennedy [right] did on Monday was confirm that Danny Williams hasn't approached him - yet - about taking an appointment to cabinet.
Ok.
At a Monday news conference, the Premier did admit he'd considered making Kennedy an offer, presumably that Kennedy couldn't refuse. But Danny Williams said he hadn't spoken to Kennedy.
Yet.
And then there's Dr. Fitz
Odd to hear a story on CBC Radio this morning discussing the activities of His Excellency the High Commissioner in Ottawa.
Fitz was left outside the office cooling his jets, reduced to offering to walk with the PMO staffer to his next appointment if need be.
Such is the impact Danny's man has on The Hill.
If they haven't already started, CBC Radio should expect angry e-mails flying from the Blackberrys at the Premier's publicity departments and threats of legal action from Fitz's legal counsel.
Fitz is nothing if not touchy.
Sources tell CBC News that FitzGerald — who taught courses at Memorial University before being appointed last year as what he at the time described as the province's eyes and ears in Ottawa — has not had a significant impact during his eight months on the job.The audio version had a bit more detail, noting, for example, that after Stephen Harper's trip to Dannyland in October, His Excellency was despatched to the Langevin Block to set things right with the Prime Minister.
Sources say FitzGerald does not have much traction with Ottawa mandarins, and lacks the power to negotiate on behalf of the province.
Fitz was left outside the office cooling his jets, reduced to offering to walk with the PMO staffer to his next appointment if need be.
Such is the impact Danny's man has on The Hill.
If they haven't already started, CBC Radio should expect angry e-mails flying from the Blackberrys at the Premier's publicity departments and threats of legal action from Fitz's legal counsel.
Fitz is nothing if not touchy.
He didn't say that before
Danny's threatening to stay around as long as it takes to sort out the House of Assembly mess.
It's not like he said that before.
No. This is a new promise to stay as long as it takes.
Don't think of it as used.
Shop-worn even.
Think of it more like a previously-loved comment.
Only driven by a little old premier once a week during a scrum during the latest jihad against foreign infidels:
Yeah. Right. Like that happened.
Of course, Danny Williams is fond of bitching about the burden he carries and mused out loud - after getting back from the latest trip to Florida for the weekend - about retiring so he doesn't have to slog away 24/7on behalf of his ungrateful subjects for the betterment of the province.
Heck, Danny's frustration got so bad before Christmas, he even announced his retirement to VOCM, albeit about four years in advance.
So we can all rest assured Danny Williams will be here for another term or four until Hebron is sorted out and the House of Assembly is fixed.
or he will be gone after the next election.
or not.
It's not like he said that before.
No. This is a new promise to stay as long as it takes.
Don't think of it as used.
Shop-worn even.
Think of it more like a previously-loved comment.
Only driven by a little old premier once a week during a scrum during the latest jihad against foreign infidels:
"I can tell Exxon Mobil that I will be in this office when this project gets done … If that takes 10 terms, and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador want to re-elect us time and time again, we'll stay here till this is done," he said.That's what he said in April, after the Hebron talks collapsed and Danny promised that in retaliation he was gonna "take ExxonMobil out."
"They won't wait us out."
Yeah. Right. Like that happened.
Of course, Danny Williams is fond of bitching about the burden he carries and mused out loud - after getting back from the latest trip to Florida for the weekend - about retiring so he doesn't have to slog away 24/7
Heck, Danny's frustration got so bad before Christmas, he even announced his retirement to VOCM, albeit about four years in advance.
So we can all rest assured Danny Williams will be here for another term or four until Hebron is sorted out and the House of Assembly is fixed.
or he will be gone after the next election.
or not.
AG Noseworthy changes rules as he goes
In the most recent accusations under the House of Assembly spending scandal, Auditor General John Noseworthy has once again changed the rules under which he is conducting his review.
In the original four cases, the AG levelled accusations without having completed even the most basic investigations. Each of the four accused met for a handful of minutes - less than 10 for Ed Byrne - and were asked to explain claims without being shown the claims in question. Noseworthy claimed at the time his legislation prevented him from showing the documents to anyone outside his office.
In the second round of accusations, Noseworthy met with the accused member of the House after making the accusations public. Noseworthy only got around to calling the MHA involved after he filed a report.
Now with the double-billers, Noseworthy met with at least one of them, show him the questionable claims and - solely on the basis of that meeting - is now deleting one of the fellows from the report.
In one instance, the member was paid for the same incident based on the receipt and the VISA bill. Why were they filed separately? It could indeed be an innocent clerical error by inexperienced staff.
Then again, it could be something else.
There is no reason to delete anyone from a report.
Rather, by fully disclosing the details, the AG could help us understand what happened.
Unfortunately, we have an AG who is acting as a law unto himself. The rules get made up as Noseworthy likes and, when it gets right down to it, his work seems to fall far short of any reasonable standard of performance by anyone in a comparable position.
Unfair? Unreasonable? Slipshod, even?
Yes. Without a doubt.
And today's revelations just add another straw to the already snapped spine of the camel bearing the calls for a public inquiry into the whole mess.
In the original four cases, the AG levelled accusations without having completed even the most basic investigations. Each of the four accused met for a handful of minutes - less than 10 for Ed Byrne - and were asked to explain claims without being shown the claims in question. Noseworthy claimed at the time his legislation prevented him from showing the documents to anyone outside his office.
In the second round of accusations, Noseworthy met with the accused member of the House after making the accusations public. Noseworthy only got around to calling the MHA involved after he filed a report.
Now with the double-billers, Noseworthy met with at least one of them, show him the questionable claims and - solely on the basis of that meeting - is now deleting one of the fellows from the report.
In one instance, the member was paid for the same incident based on the receipt and the VISA bill. Why were they filed separately? It could indeed be an innocent clerical error by inexperienced staff.
Then again, it could be something else.
There is no reason to delete anyone from a report.
Rather, by fully disclosing the details, the AG could help us understand what happened.
Unfortunately, we have an AG who is acting as a law unto himself. The rules get made up as Noseworthy likes and, when it gets right down to it, his work seems to fall far short of any reasonable standard of performance by anyone in a comparable position.
Unfair? Unreasonable? Slipshod, even?
Yes. Without a doubt.
And today's revelations just add another straw to the already snapped spine of the camel bearing the calls for a public inquiry into the whole mess.
07 January 2007
Provincial political round-up
1. Early election? Responding to a question from reporters, Premier Danny Williams is quoted in the Saturday edition of the Telegram that he has not ruled out the possibility of an election before the planned date in October.
Williams said he had no intention of catching the opposition parties by surprise and would call the House of Assembly back to amend the elections rules if an early election was needed.
That's an odd statement since the changes Williams introduced in 2004 do two things:
First, they allow an election can be called at any time.
Second, in the event of an election before the planned date, the subsequent election would be fours years later. Given that, if the Premier did seek an election writ before October (likely time: called by the end of February with voting before Easter), the next election after that would be in October 2011, exactly as it would occur anyway.
Liberal leader Gerry Reid and New Democrat leader Lorraine Michael both criticised the idea of an early election. Both said there was no need of going short and that an early election would forestall the Auditor General's review of the House of Assembly. Michael said an early election would go against the spirit of Williams' own amendments in 2004.
2. More AG news on Monday. Auditor General John Noseworthy will hold a news conference on Monday to discuss double billing by members of the House of Assembly.
3. Kennedy will run. St. John's lawyer Jerome Kennedy [left. Photo: cbc.ca] announced this weekend he will be seeking the Tory nomination in Carbonear.
Local political scuttlebutt has it that Kennedy intended all along to run in his old hometown seat but was talked into the Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi by-election by Danny Williams.
As Bond Papers already suggested, don't be surprised to see Kennedy appointed to cabinet well before the next election. A cabinet shuffle could come any time before the end of February as the Premier gears up for the next election.
In related news, the provincial Tories placed newspaper ads over the weekend calling on interested people to contact party election chairman Ross Reid about their potential candidacy in any of the seats currently not held by the Progressive Conservatives. Several other seats are expected to vacated by current members of the legislature who won't be seeking re-election.
Williams said he had no intention of catching the opposition parties by surprise and would call the House of Assembly back to amend the elections rules if an early election was needed.
That's an odd statement since the changes Williams introduced in 2004 do two things:
First, they allow an election can be called at any time.
Second, in the event of an election before the planned date, the subsequent election would be fours years later. Given that, if the Premier did seek an election writ before October (likely time: called by the end of February with voting before Easter), the next election after that would be in October 2011, exactly as it would occur anyway.
Liberal leader Gerry Reid and New Democrat leader Lorraine Michael both criticised the idea of an early election. Both said there was no need of going short and that an early election would forestall the Auditor General's review of the House of Assembly. Michael said an early election would go against the spirit of Williams' own amendments in 2004.
2. More AG news on Monday. Auditor General John Noseworthy will hold a news conference on Monday to discuss double billing by members of the House of Assembly.
3. Kennedy will run. St. John's lawyer Jerome Kennedy [left. Photo: cbc.ca] announced this weekend he will be seeking the Tory nomination in Carbonear. Local political scuttlebutt has it that Kennedy intended all along to run in his old hometown seat but was talked into the Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi by-election by Danny Williams.
As Bond Papers already suggested, don't be surprised to see Kennedy appointed to cabinet well before the next election. A cabinet shuffle could come any time before the end of February as the Premier gears up for the next election.
In related news, the provincial Tories placed newspaper ads over the weekend calling on interested people to contact party election chairman Ross Reid about their potential candidacy in any of the seats currently not held by the Progressive Conservatives. Several other seats are expected to vacated by current members of the legislature who won't be seeking re-election.
06 January 2007
Brokeback Mountain of Crap
Bill Rowe's column in this week's weekend Telegram is noteworthy for two reasons:
First of all, he repeats a story not realising that it is actually used by the less enlightened as a backhanded insult to both Loyola Sullivan and others from the Southern Shore. Rhyming off the times tables is not a mark of genius in any part of the world - except Bill Rowe's corner, apparently. The astute people from Da Shore apparently understand that far better than the townie columnist.
Second, Rowe plants so many passionate kisses on Sullivan's penny-pinching arse that one wonders if readers should avert their eyes for having stumbled, innocently but no less embarrassingly on the literary rendering of some school-child's first crush.
Loyola Sullivan was more commonly known as the Rain Man among denizens of the East Block for his ability to recite digits but assign them no deeper meaning than their mathematical value. He was indeed a well-respected politician, as are many and in Sullivan's case the high regard in which he was held was well deserved.
But beyond that and offering us no less than two reminders in two back-to-back sentences that Rowe was once in the same general vicinity as power (As Danny's ambassador to Hy's), Rowe's column gives us absolutely no insight into one of the political events of a year already chock-full of political events that will be long- remembered and oft-pondered.
Why did Sullivan give Danny a political kick in the goolies that evidently sent Danny's teeth a chattering just as it sent tongues wagging across the country? Do not look to Rowe for a possible answer, any more than one might look to him for an explanation of why he voted for the Churchill Falls deal. This is the print version of Rowe's host-talk-caller-listen show.
Such is the sheer inanity of the second half of Rowe's column, that he had the first PIFO Award sewn up until a few mouse clicks revealed the a better work by that other inveterate anony-quoter, Warren Kinsella.
But here's one for William to ponder: if Loyola Sullivan is such a penny-pincher with public funds, how could he sanction overspending $3.2 million of public money through the House of Assembly members accounts from 1998 to 2005, with the bulk of the overspending occurring while he sat both on the house management committee and as finance minister?
First of all, he repeats a story not realising that it is actually used by the less enlightened as a backhanded insult to both Loyola Sullivan and others from the Southern Shore. Rhyming off the times tables is not a mark of genius in any part of the world - except Bill Rowe's corner, apparently. The astute people from Da Shore apparently understand that far better than the townie columnist.
Second, Rowe plants so many passionate kisses on Sullivan's penny-pinching arse that one wonders if readers should avert their eyes for having stumbled, innocently but no less embarrassingly on the literary rendering of some school-child's first crush.
Loyola Sullivan was more commonly known as the Rain Man among denizens of the East Block for his ability to recite digits but assign them no deeper meaning than their mathematical value. He was indeed a well-respected politician, as are many and in Sullivan's case the high regard in which he was held was well deserved.
But beyond that and offering us no less than two reminders in two back-to-back sentences that Rowe was once in the same general vicinity as power (As Danny's ambassador to Hy's), Rowe's column gives us absolutely no insight into one of the political events of a year already chock-full of political events that will be long- remembered and oft-pondered.
Why did Sullivan give Danny a political kick in the goolies that evidently sent Danny's teeth a chattering just as it sent tongues wagging across the country? Do not look to Rowe for a possible answer, any more than one might look to him for an explanation of why he voted for the Churchill Falls deal. This is the print version of Rowe's host-talk-caller-listen show.
Such is the sheer inanity of the second half of Rowe's column, that he had the first PIFO Award sewn up until a few mouse clicks revealed the a better work by that other inveterate anony-quoter, Warren Kinsella.
But here's one for William to ponder: if Loyola Sullivan is such a penny-pincher with public funds, how could he sanction overspending $3.2 million of public money through the House of Assembly members accounts from 1998 to 2005, with the bulk of the overspending occurring while he sat both on the house management committee and as finance minister?
Kinsella wins PIFO award for January
We have barely entered the New Year, just languishing in the splendour of Old Christmas Day in fact, and already we have seen the winner of a new award handed out at Bond Papers.
We call it the PIFO. It will be awarded regularly to the person or persons in the media or politics who succeed in telling nothing more than a penetrating insight into the f**king obvious all the while masquerading as deep thoughts.
The recipient of the first PIFO of 2007, the PIFO for January and, indeed the first-ever PIFO:
Warren Kinsella: blogger, racenteur, National Post columnist (the Sun had its token Lib, eh Sheila) for his recent offering: "Why cabinets get shuffled".
Congrats Warren.
We call it the PIFO. It will be awarded regularly to the person or persons in the media or politics who succeed in telling nothing more than a penetrating insight into the f**king obvious all the while masquerading as deep thoughts.
The recipient of the first PIFO of 2007, the PIFO for January and, indeed the first-ever PIFO:
Warren Kinsella: blogger, racenteur, National Post columnist (the Sun had its token Lib, eh Sheila) for his recent offering: "Why cabinets get shuffled".
Congrats Warren.
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