I wonder how the brain trust in the Department of Tourism will quantify the value of Regis Philban literally turning his nose up at Island shellfish.  The co-host of America's 23rd highest rated syndicated show will be on the Island in a couple of weeks, courtesy of Island taxpayers. We're spending a million bucks in the dilusional belief that having Regis and Kelly film four shows here will some how help tourism. Part of government's justification is the opportunity to promote Island seafood. Maybe PEI Tourism should have asked Regis if he likes it before committing a cool million. If they had ...

 Pat Joe Dolan loved his Guinness; he loved a traditional Irish singsong; he loved his family, including his wife Delea, 10 kids, and at any given time an unknown number of stragglers and hangers on. Most of all he loved when those passions merged. When that happened memories were made. I was one of those privileged stragglers, lucky enough to find myself with a front row seat to the joyous spirit that was Pat Joe. It was during a memorable two-week trip to Ireland in the fall of 2007 with Liam Dolan, Pat Joe’s son. Many Islanders know Liam (his brother Tony ...

 It’s not always what you say that is most interesting, sometime what you don’t say is far more telling. And in the case of Charlottetown accounting firm Arsenault Best Cameron Ellis what is of interest is whether the firm red flagged any issues surrounding the controversial Provincial Nominee Program. Arsenault Best Cameron Ellis enjoyed a dual role in the provincial nominee story. On one level it acted as the auditor for Island Investment Development Inc., the provincial body that managed the PNP program. On the other hand it acted as one of seven provincially appointed intermediaries that matched potential immigrants to ...

Despite public apologies for her rude, arrogant and mean spirited personal attacks on Air Canada and Charlottetown Airport employees, the question not answered is did federal Cabinet Minister Helena Guergis receive preferential treatment despite her outrageous behaviour. Certainly seems the junior minister benefited from her so-called VIP status. Airport and Air Canada employees went out of their way to help, which is not uncommon. But in their attempt to placate Guergis did employees allow a security hazard on a plane? If you or I came flying into the airport 15 minutes before departure there is little chance we would get on board. If ...

Egmont MP, and federal Minster of Fisheries and Oceans, was pied by a seal hunt protester as she was preparing to give a speech Monday at the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters.  The minister was not injured, and did deliver her speech after wiping the cream pie filling off her face. ...

 Provincial Tories can’t quite figure out if they are for or against the Olympic Torch passing through PEI. It started when Jim Bagnall wasted – and that’s a generous word - more than 30 minutes of precious question period time trying to score gotcha points on Minister of Tourism Valerie Docherty. Bagnall’s aim was to show that the cost of PEI’s participation is far more than our $500,000 sponsorship. Bagnall contends the real cost is far higher and includes costly junkets to BC for senior bureaucrats and politicians to attend swanky parties. Bagnall might be right. We don’t know because he didn’t ...

     Well, Myrtle Jenkins-Smith probably didn’t convince many of her corporate purity after a CBC Radio interview in which she weakly tried to explain away potential conflict of interest in her new role as CEO of Tourism Charlottetown. Jenkins-Smith has a varied business portfolio. She owns a conference and event management company. It is best known for losing a tonne of taxpayers’ money on the failed Alanis Morissette concert. She and her business partner Mark Carr-Rollit are folding that company to become salaried employees of Tourism Charlottetown. She co-owns two businesses with Stephen Dunne. His primary business is operation of a consulting ...

 Every year provincial politicians line up at the trough and accept without question the annual increase in pay and perks given them by the patronage appointed Indemnities and Allowances Commission. When questioned they squirm out justifications such as the need for regional parity and a desire to increase levels of pay and perks to attract the best candidates. We know that’s a failed opinion. Just look at the continued spectacle Liberal members of Public Accounts are making to keep secret as many details of the Provincial Nominee Program as possible.  Pay has nothing to do with what they are doing, which ...

 The devil, they say, is in the details. The Legislative press gallery should have remembered that old adage before ousting controversial blogger Stephen Pate.    ...

 Richard Collins should keep his promise of three years ago and quit municipal politics for good. That would be the honourable thing to do. ...