Patronage Appointments: 18 Plum Jobs in 7 Months

Pattern Emerges: Conservatives Appoint 16 Cronies to Transport-Related Federal Positions Within Months

July 30, 2012

OTTAWA – Since December, the Conservative government has named at least 18 insiders, party donors and failed election candidates to lucrative federal positions. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, institutions like Port Authorities and Canada Post are burdened by plum job appointees that often lack the experience and skill set for their executive positions.

What is clear is that these are not isolated incidents but a pattern. Olivia has repeatedly spoken out against this abuse in Parliament. Here a list of recent patronage appointments.

June 2012

Peter Singh: a lawyer that got recently named to the Board of Directors for the Oshawa Port Authority where he waived through the controversial ethanol plant approval. He donated to Conservative MP Chris Alexander’s campaign in April 2011.

Norm Mackie: Connected to Conservative MP Colin Carrie, he is a Conservative donor (in 2004 and 2008 to riding association level; in 2011 to Colin Carrie’s campaign). Appointed to the Oshawa Port Authority as a director. Also voted in favour of the ethanol refinery.

April 2012

Jeremy Guy Dube: Failed Conservative candidate in the 2008 election for Acadie-Bathurst. Party donor and most recently active as a political consultant in Ottawa, getting contracts from the Conservative government worth several ten thousands of dollars. Appointed to the Belledune Port Authority’s Board of Directors 2012-04-05.

Jeremy E.M. Adams: He was the former campaign manager for Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s provincial leadership bid in 2004. Previously in key positions within Premier Mike Harris’ government for health and economic policy – he has no experience with infrastructure. His recently got named Director of the Toronto Port Authority.

Chris Kluczewski: He was an executive member of Jim Flaherty’s riding association and is an avid PC and Conservative donor. Recently appointed director for the Oshawa Port Authority.

Elmer P. Derrick: As the Gitxsan Hereditary Chief, he supported the Northern Gateway oil pipeline against his tribe’s wishes. The agreement that he negotiated with the oil company did not include compensation for possible spill effects. In championing the Northern Gateway pipeline, he is helping the Conservative government’s agenda. He was recently appointed as a director of the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

Sarah Margaret Kirby: Business partner and protégée of Stewart McInnes, former Mulroney Conservative minister. She recently go appointed to the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada.

Gary F.Valcour: Until recently, he served as the president of the Whitby-Oshawa Conservative riding association – Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s riding. Also a major party donor. He was rewarded with the position of director for the Oshawa Port Authority.

Robert D. Poirier: He has been a major fundraiser for the Conservatives since 2005. For example, he hosted a high-scale fundraiser with Industry Minister Tony Clement at Toronto’s posh Albany Club. He recently got named director for the Toronto Port Authority.

March 2012

Alain Sans Cartier: Heavily affiliated with the Conservative Party, having served as an assistant to Mulroney Minister Jean Corbeil and as a key organizer during Jean Charest’s 1993 leadership bid for the Progressive Conservative Party. He also served as the former cabinet director for right-wing Quebec party ADQ’s minister Mario Dumont. Worked as a liaison between the Conservatives and the ADQ. Appointed to Canada Post’s Board of Directors.

Mark Clare Pearce Wright: He was the former executive assistant to Conservative MP Joe Comuzzi. His wife ran as a Conservative candidate in the 2011 election in Thunder Bay-Rainy River. Appointed to the Quebec City Port Authority Board of Directors.

Eric Dupont: He hired Brian Mulroney as a legal consultant and mentor to help drive the commercialization of a patented drug for his Big Pharma company. He was recently appointed a director of Quebec City Port Authority.

Jennifer Brunsdale Clarke: She was the unsuccessful Conservative candidate for Vancouver Centre in the 2011 federal election. She held a fundraiser for Conservative Vancouver South MP Wai Young. Recently was appointed a director of the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

Andrew Paterson: He was a major donor to the provincial and federal Conservative party. As the owner of a $1 billion-plus grain family business, he successfully allied with the Conservatives for the abolition of the Wheat Board, now reaping the windfall. As a reward, he was appointed to the Board of Directors at Canada Post.

Pierre Rivard: As a lawyer, he successfully defended Conservative Minister Josée Verner, now a senator, in a legal battle with her former business partners. He was rewarded with the position of a director for the Belledune Port Authority.

Jean-Sebastien Harvey: He was an executive of the Conservative riding association of Jonquiere-Alma. Recently he was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Alma-Saguenay Port Authority.

December 2011

Bernard Genereux: Former Conservative MP who lost his position through defeat in the 2011 election, also a significant party donor, appointed to the Board of Directors of Quebec City Port Authority 2011-12-15.

Colin D.Watson: Re-appointed as Director of the Toronto Port Authority 2011-12-15 despite conflict of interest behaviour and investigation. A major donor in Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s riding, close friends with the CEO of Porter Airlines which services Toronto City Airport and belongs to the Toronto Port Authority.

 

 

 

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