
Yesterday the local media was all a gaga over the efforts of the lobby group, The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce to harang the Province into implementing the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
I was wondering where Hughie was? I searched and scoured the news and could find no quotes from Hughie, not an inkling as to where he stood on the issue of implementing the HST here in Manitoba. Afterall, Premier Greg Selinger and the Minister of Finance, Rossann Wowchuk are both on the record as saying the HST in Manitoba is a no-go.
Well today I found it!
It's on page A7 of the Freep, third last paragraph in the story, "Business still pushing for blended sales tax." Here:
"Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen said Tuesday there is no sense convening such a group, since the NDP had already made up its mind."
The group to which Hughie was referring to was the one proposed by Dave Angus (President of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce) - an all-party committee to consult the public on the issue. In other words, the Chamber's attempt to co-opt all the local politicos into a venue where the blue suits can grandstand throughout the winter, whining about how they need to pass on more costs to the consumer. Kind of like the pissing match that's going on right now in front of the CRTC where CTV, Canwest, Rogers, MTS, Shaw, and others are scheming up ways to further raid our pocketbooks.
Still Hughie doesn't address the issue of the HST. (i.e., where does Hughie stand on the issue?) One has to wonder if the reporter asked him? If so, what was his response, if not, then why? Why not ask him? OK, OK, OK, he's been asked before, but why not ask and report on it again given that the issue has been given new life because of the efforts of the Chamber?
No matter though. That's actually an aside.
What's really interesting - now remember, Hughie has just waived the white flag on the matter of having a public committee on the HST because the NDP has, "already made up its mind" - what's really interesting is on the very next page there's a another story on Hydro and the unsubstantiated allegation's of the "very ethical NY consultant" about Hydro going into bankruptcy and subjecting Manitoban's to power blackouts. You know, the consultant who won't release her report, or even let anyone know who she is, or let her work be reviewed by her peers, or allow the name of the firm which she works for to be published. Yeah. that one.
Anyway, here's Hughie, "The only way to resolve this is a truly independent review, and we haven't got one."
Hughie was referring to the assignment of the Office of the Provincial Auditor to review the allegations of the Nameless One. The Office is currently headed up by Carol Bellringer. Carol was on the Board of Directors for Manitoba Hydro, for a couple of months when the Nameless One was allegedly working on risk management issues for Manitoba Hydro. According to Hughie, this should disqualify her from participating in the review.
Now Carol is no spring chicken......Ok. That didn't come out right. She has experience. She became a CA in 1982 and was the Provincial Auditor of the Province of Manitoba from 1993 to 1996. There can be no doubt that over the years she has had to handle situations likes this. And, given that Hughie (word of the night) is clamouring for the Office of the Auditor General (i.e., the vary same Carol Bellringer) to conduct a "sweeping review of the child welfare system" - well, one has to wonder if Hughie is just making this up as he goes along.
First, Hughie waves the white flag on the HST because the NDP has made up its mind. Then, gets the review of Hydro, but doesn't like Carol Bellringer. Even though the NDP has made up its mind that Carol is the one for the job. Then wants Carol Bellringer to do a "sweeping review of the child welfare system". Even though the NDP has apparently made up its mind that a review by the Office of the Auditor General isn't required, and Hughie doesn't appear to have confidence in Carol.........
Wow.
Is there any wonder why one can have no confidence in this screwball.
I love this dude.






