Is There A Conflict of Interest Between Politicians and Keeping The CWB Monopoly?

[bobn]

There is no doubt in my mind that the loss of the CWB monopoly could have an effect on the fortunes of one political family. Without the monopoly grain movement would more likley move west than east and possibly put Great Lakes Shippers in serious trouble.

I hope this post doesn't get deleted like the last one on this issue!

http://www.boatnerd.com/news/archive/3-00.htm

http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/special/card/rthonpaulmartin-hoffman.jpg


Rt. Hon Paul J. Martin christened at Port Weller Dry Docks
03/30:
The newest member of the Canada Steamship Lines' fleet, the M.V. Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin was christened Wednesday in a colorful ceremony attended by hundreds at Port Weller Dry Docks at the Lake Ontario entrance to the Welland Canal. The M.V. Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin joins the CSL Niagara as the one of two "SeawayMax" vessels, the largest Canadian ships ever built for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence.
The M.V. Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin is the second of three forebodies to be built by Port Weller Dry Docks as part of a $100 million fleet reinvestment program by CSL. The keel of the third CSL vessel in the contract was laid just minutes before the christening ceremony.
At 225.5 meters (740 feet) in length, 23.75 meters (78 feet) in width and 14.75 meters (48 feet) in depth, building the M.V. Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin required more than 6,000 tons of steel. In this unique shipbuilding project, an entirely new hull was constructed, and joined to the engine-room portion of the M.V. H.M. Griffith. The M.V. Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin is only the second ship to be built to the St. Lawrence Seaway's new maximum-size allowances, and features the most up-to-date self-unloading system available, unloading its cargo at rates up to 5,445 tonnes per hour.
Heralding the arrival of CSL's newest vessel and welcoming it into the fleet, Canada Steamship Lines Vice President, Marketing & Customer Services, Tom Brodeur said, "We can all appreciate the scope of the project today when we see one ship being named and the keel for another being laid. It's a proud and exciting day for Canada Steamship Lines. This vessel is a showcase to all who have been involved in this satisfying project, and a tribute to the men and women of Port Weller Dry Docks."
Noting that more than 300 Port Weller shipbuilders constructed the new forebody, Alan Thoms, President and CEO of Port Weller Dry Docks' parent company, Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering, said, "We're proud of the skill and teamwork of the Port Weller shipbuilders. Their expertise ensured that this ambitious project was completed on time and on budget."
The third vessel in the $100 million contract is scheduled for delivery in 2001, ensuring work for approximately 300 Port Weller Dry Docks employees on a year-round basis for the duration of the contract. CSL holds options on two other ships with Port Weller Dry Docks for delivery in 2002 and 2003.
Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering Ltd. (CSE), one of Canada's premier shipbuilding and repair companies, is the parent company of Port Weller Dry Docks, the only Canadian shipbuilder on the Great Lakes.
The vessel is named for the late Right Honourable Paul J. Martin constructed at Port Weller Dry Docks, St. Catharines, Ont. from an entirely new forebody joined to the engine-room portion of the M.V. H.M. Griffith .
She is the second of three forebodies commissioned at Port Weller Dry Docks as part of a CAN$100 million fleet renewal project by Canada Steamship Lines.
M.V. Rt. Hon. Paul J Martin is identical in size to its sister ship, the CSL Niagara; they are the two largest vessels ever constructed for the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence: a "Seamax"-class vessel .
The vessel's self-unloading equipment is a twin-belt gravity system with a loop-belt elevator. It will unload at a rate of 5,4000 tonnes per hour. The principal dimensions of the M.V. Rt. Hon. Paul J Martin are: Overall length 225.5 metres (740 feet) Beam 23.76 metres (78 feet) Depth moulded 14.75 metres (48 feet) Draught 9 metres (29.6 feet) Deadweight 35,560 tonnes Horse power 9,000 BHP Cargo capacity 40,207 cubic meters Unloading capacity 5,445 tonnes (6,000 short tons) per hour .
The M.V. Rt. Hon. Paul J Martin carries a compliment of 24, consisting of 18 crew and 6 officers. Capt. Steve Pauley, of Port Elgin, New Brunswick, is Master of the vessel. Dave Mellor is Chief Engineer.
She is owned and operated by Canada Steamship Lines Inc., Montreal. With the addition of the M.V. Rt. Hon. Paul J Martin, the number of self-unloading vessels in the CSL domestic fleet is maintained at 11. With a number of ocean-going vessels in addition to its domestic fleet, CSL is the largest self-unloader fleet in the world.

[TOM4CWB]

Bobn;

Further, what about a conflict of interest between the CWB Monopoly Single Desk campaign, and the CWB Election?

When the CWB Act says nothing about a "Monopoly" anywhere in the CWB Act, how can the Directors keep neutral in this election, when the CWB has so strongly promoted the monopoly.

Further, the CWB is messing with the voters lists.

THe CWB Act states that voters are to vote in districts that they produce grain in, yet when my permit book is taken out in a different district, and I specifically mark down the correct district for these producers in my book, the CWB refuses to record the correct district.

The CWB records them as voters in a district they do not produce grain in, and now they get letters stating they have no right to vote in 2002.

This is interference in the voting process, the CWB can match the land location that is recorded in the permit book with the letter of the interested party and have all the information needed to insure compliance with the CWB Act. Yet the CWB refuses to obey the CWB ACT, and continues to mess up the voters lists.

THis is unacceptable and borders on voter fraud.

At the least these elections must be turned over to elections Canada, and the CWB must be forced to register as a third party intervenior.

If the CWB staffers aren't trustworthy in presenting a fair voters list to the election co-ordinator, what else have they done?

[parsley]

bobn,

I guess a good question to ask is who is the major shareholder of Canadian Steamship Lines?Major shareholders have a lot to lose. Paul Martin's family wll have a few shares, would they? I've heard the majority shareholder in CSL is the Louis Demarais>Paul Demarais family line from Quebec. Is this true?

A little added note of interest...isn't Paul Demarais' son married to Jean Chretien's daughter?

Parsley

[bobn]

parsley,

I don't know how many shares Paul Martin's family has, but given that his late father has a company ship named after him, it would indicate a substantial interest. In any event many of his powerful and moneyed supporters would no doubt come from the shipping industry.

If Paul Demarais' son is married to Jean Chretien's daughter and majority shareholder in CSL is the Louis Demarais>Paul Demarais family line from Quebec., then that makes the conflict of interest problem even greater.
Isn't it interesting how Zar Goodale has risen to Jean Chretien's right hand man taking on job after job and always surviving the heavy onslaught of criticism received? It's worth noting Goodale has never given up the CWB Minister post.

Is the CWB Canada's Area 51? Like in the US the secret might be too big to risk letting out.

TOM4CWB,

I agree that there is also a conflict of interest between the CWB Monopoly Single Desk campaign, and the CWB Election.

I'm not trying to minimize any CWB internal conflicts, but just put a little light on some of the outside players that may be more at work than we can ever know.

[parsley]

Tom4CWB,

Write to Eckersley, who is the CWB Elections Co-ordinator, and ask him the questions, and then post the answers on this site. I think there is a link on the Elections Website for sending queries directly to them.

bobn,
It will be interesting to find out who owns a lot of the barges on the St.Lawrence, and who owns the ice-breakers etc. To see what ships have gone out, including CSL, go to boatnerd.com/passage/shiplist.html

And don't forget:
Mr. Martin reports to the Prime Minister.

Mr. Goodale reports to the Prime Minister.

Parsley

[TOM4CWB]

bobn;

Being a good Liberal has paid handsome rewards in the federal circles for far too many years... Just like the PM's new fleet of jets...

The more I see of Paul Martins performances, the more it appears that an oscar nomination performance occurred between Martin and the PM... it was a setup.

When we have a shortage of grain... this will keep the gov. even more emphasising that they must control the stock levels of grain in western Canada.

Anyone who thinks the CWB monopoly problem is solved... had better give their head a hard shake and do a long double take...

The fight to control our own wheat and barley is just nicely warmed up... and Justice is not smileing with what has happened in the last few rounds...

Make no mistake, we farmers are here to serve the industrial economy... as your look at the shipping industry well explains!!!