tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post6421194967861375301..comments2023-10-25T07:29:40.789-02:30Comments on UNCLE GNARLEY: TOM OSBORNE NEEDS A FISCAL AXE AND THE COURAGE TO USE ITDes Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02566013585647491614noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-41243364385597230552018-11-18T16:24:27.504-03:302018-11-18T16:24:27.504-03:30Of course it should be all public. How can it be a...Of course it should be all public. How can it be a public inquiry if it is not public. And again, the people have to demand that, irrespective of what govt. has to say. Of course, I miss lots of the inquiry and judge Leblanc and comments. The only comment I heard in that regard was, in camera, and not open to the public, was regarding the WMA that is before the QC courts at the present time, which is understandable. But nice that you reported Maurice on Ashley's article, to keep everyone in the loop in what is happening or may happen says average Joe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-87563046058451476432018-11-18T15:54:37.190-03:302018-11-18T15:54:37.190-03:30Excerpt below is from Ashley Fitzpatrick's art...Excerpt below is from Ashley Fitzpatrick's article (on The Telegram website):<br /><br />Here she quotes Leblanc from yesterday's hearing:--<br /><br />And Leblanc seems to be suggesting that government either approve or curtail "how public" parts of his inquiry is to be.<br /><br />“Now this is a public inquiry. To me, at this point in time, what might be the expectation is everything we do with Astaldi which is, from what I can see is probably about a third of the cost overrun of this particular project or a third relates to what work they were doing. I’d like to know how in the world we could have what I call — and what the government has asked for— a public inquiry, that we’re going to basically conduct quite a lot of the time in phase two potentially in camera, without the public having the ability to scrutinize that. That is very problematic for me,” he said. “And I’m not sure whether the government has put its mind to this or whatever, but it’s not just my problem as far as I’m concerned. There are people who set these terms of reference and I think they need to look at it. And if they’re serious and they want this done, then they have to understand that it may well be in the public eye potentially, and I’m assuming the government has considered that.”Maurice Adamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-14228346748845027082018-11-18T14:04:31.712-03:302018-11-18T14:04:31.712-03:30You put it in plain language,AJ,that expresses the...You put it in plain language,AJ,that expresses the view of ordinary people who follow this fiasco and the impact to our province for the next 50 years. Treating the enablers with kid gloves is an affront to any justice being served. Strung, hung, quartered and dried is a punishment well used by the British for high crimes, but we know is no longer on the books. But your point is well taken as to the seriousness of the misdeed. Serious financial crimes are noted as those exceeding 5000 dollars ( the Hickman issue, resolved just this week , got dragged out before the courts for 16 years, 30 RCMP involved in investigation and several audits of 85 banker boxes of material, the creditor losing 93 million dollars, and then a slap on the wrist for those in Nfld involved). With Muskrat,the difference between true least cost and the current cost of MFs of 12.7 billion is more like 10 billion dollars gone and wasted. And these yahoos show no remorse, shift the blame,and many see nothing done wrong, and would do the same all over again! Surely this Inquiry needs to address the scope of the misdeed in dollar value. There are reputable companies who can assess our least cost reliable power for this Inquiry. To allocate 30 million for this inquiry without doing this is nothing but a farce. Judge Leblanc should not want a judicial farce as the outcome. Surely his TOF and scope will permit a full and proper Inquiry.<br /><br />PFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-36029676934972388322018-11-18T13:24:35.389-03:302018-11-18T13:24:35.389-03:30An extra zero slipped in there somehow. Meant to ...An extra zero slipped in there somehow. Meant to write $20M. $1000/day x 250days x 81 puts us in that ballpark.<br /><br />I did browse PB-320 but so much was redacted I think I need better insider knowledge to fill in the gaps. If you have that insight and can give us a coles notes set of issues/questions/allegations, please do. It may even help guide MFCCC questioning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-74965546327573578832018-11-18T09:34:02.196-03:302018-11-18T09:34:02.196-03:30Yes, no problem to repeat my view PF, but will jus...Yes, no problem to repeat my view PF, but will just say in brief terms, that I agree with you, MA, Bruno, WA, and anyone else that goes back to the beginning, and says only idiots would go all the way to Labrador for the little bit of power we needed, and that had no resale value for the additional power. World class my ass..is my motto. Yes, and that's where the inquiry has to focus, on the comparison of the two options, taking into account the cost of oil for holyrood was hogwash, and our demand for power is decreasing, not increasing, especially if we apply a little CDM. Thebuggers need to hung out, to be strung, hung, quartered and dried says Joe blow for this GD mess. Designed or not to get at the heart of the problem, we must tell judge Leblanc that the people demand that he bring his focus more clearly to root out those two fundemtal flaws of the enderous boondoggle, that we did not need the power and it was not the least cost option. Maybe he needs an expert to tell us how much power we needed and when, and not rely on Nalcor's , yahoos, and lackeys baloney and self interest hogwash. AJ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-66685655942579247482018-11-18T09:01:11.453-03:302018-11-18T09:01:11.453-03:30I agree with Bruno ---- the inquiry is not designe...I agree with Bruno ---- the inquiry is not designed to get at the heart of the problem.<br />Maurice Adamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-40431565377817475632018-11-18T00:09:20.373-03:302018-11-18T00:09:20.373-03:30Agreed,MA, key inquiry issue should be :Did we nee...Agreed,MA, key inquiry issue should be :Did we need the power, and was MFs the least cost reliable power of all reasonable options (not the least cost of just the two alternatives considered)<br /> If Ontario can issue a directive and reduce demand by 2 % a year, could we have done less, instead of forecasting an increasing demand of 0.8 % a year? A decrease of 1, 2 , or 3 % a year represents 17, 34, or 51 MW per year. 34MW a year for 10 years is 340 MW per year reduction,offsetting Holyroods 350MW winter average now, easily achievable by CDM which was completely ignored.<br /> Then too our very favourable wind resource low cost added supply. Nalcor used a concocked too little, too late approach for wind, and then went to the other extreme of 137OMW,(an off the wall stupid, not reasonable approach, so both not rational.<br /> While is it fine to expose the devious goings on, the main issue is what was the real least cost to satisfy the real reduced demand, so to offset Holyrood and oil burning. AJ has summed up this before as the key findings necessary by this Inquiry. Perhaps he can repeat his view.<br />PF <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-75122160231920953682018-11-17T23:05:01.394-03:302018-11-17T23:05:01.394-03:30Yes, not using a lower oil price and less demand f...Yes, not using a lower oil price and less demand for the worst case (the most likely in this case) gives an unlikely result using the sensitivity analysis that ignores the worst case scenario.<br /><br />I am a cynic but this inquiry is toothless and impotent (by design)to get at the root cause of the MF boondoggle. It is smoke and mirrors to hide the fact that the emperor is naked and mad as a hatter!Bruno Marcocchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076165212559914463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-31893038578503930672018-11-17T22:49:35.678-03:302018-11-17T22:49:35.678-03:30Nice thoughts but you all dream in technicolour if...Nice thoughts but you all dream in technicolour if you expect justice from the legal system! In NL in particular let us just say the relationship is cozy and protective between politics and the legal system.<br /><br />In short there will be no remedy from the legal system.Bruno Marcocchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076165212559914463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-87084425599952993902018-11-17T19:37:32.845-03:302018-11-17T19:37:32.845-03:30I think that has been aand still is too much focus...I think that has been aand still is too much focus on the cost estimates.<br /><br />The two main issues were and are 1. Did/do we need the power, and 2. was/is it the lowest possible cost.<br /><br />These, so far, have been only glossed over --- no real, strong, direct, cross and re-direct examination.<br /><br />The truth is that the load forecast (fuel costs), as I understand it, accounts for 62% of the cost [for the island option (?)].<br /><br />Budden, I think it was, recently said that the most recent load forecast said that the expected load growth was 0.1% (compared to Nalcor's 0.8%).<br /><br />What would that do the load AND the fuel cost and hence the CPW comparison?<br /><br />Such things have not been fully fleshed.<br /><br />E.G., Nalcor's sensitivity analysis was siimplistic and totally inadequate.<br /><br />How well has that been fleshed out?<br /><br />A 10% load reduction is useless (when considering that 57 year out load can be 57% higher OR LOWER than forecast and still be within the industry standard !!<br /><br />Now do a sensitivity where load is 30-50 less than forecast and then include and combine that with a much lower oil price forecast. That is the kind of sensitivity (just one example) of what should have been done.<br /><br />These things alone (I suspect) carry more weight when looking at how this process was manipulated so as to ensure sanction.<br /><br />And much more than that is needed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Maurice Adamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-25669428382075586932018-11-17T17:28:56.138-03:302018-11-17T17:28:56.138-03:30Oh yes and Stan kept them all. Pay Astaldi the big...Oh yes and Stan kept them all. Pay Astaldi the big bucks and finish strong. Kept them all because they are good people????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-66544480343853772342018-11-17T15:51:53.326-03:302018-11-17T15:51:53.326-03:30Anony @ 11:12:
I believe NSB is actually a relati...Anony @ 11:12:<br /><br />I believe NSB is actually a relative, not Harrington himself. You should read deeper into PB-320, if you like drama. Anyway, I was referencing Erimus as not providing persons - i never seen them on any supplier list.<br /><br />How did you get $200M from 81 persons - my math gives closer $12M/yr gross - depending on how you average the salary. Either way the cut for being little more than a cheque writer is good.<br /><br />PENG2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-19030451637871264512018-11-17T14:13:08.466-03:302018-11-17T14:13:08.466-03:30Let's do a little Shadow Inquiry homework, whi...Let's do a little Shadow Inquiry homework, while we await the 2nd phase of the General Inquiry. Please contribute your own data and opinions to an important activity, which may help Messers Budden and Hogan hone in on the excesses, driving project expense off the scale.<br /><br />Project cost modelling; Westney as a professional cost engineer knows this subject well.<br /><br />Question; Assuming sanction was an all in reliable estimate, at say $8. Billion, what percentage breakdown Hard to Soft costs should have provided best value to the Owner, (Shareholder)?<br />Back in the day on much smaller buildings projects < $50M, 15%,($7.5M), was usually considered upper limit and feasible. What would you consider a reasonable estimated cost to plan, design, manage, and startup? @ 15% soft cost, it follows that hard costs would need to be contained at around $7B.?Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-15893583705265279242018-11-17T13:09:38.091-03:302018-11-17T13:09:38.091-03:30In view of the indisputable fact that the public h...In view of the indisputable fact that the public has a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent... if this Harrington fellow didn't want his no doubt generous... indeed, likely excessive... salary to be made public, he should not have entered into contracts of which he was remunerated with public funds raised from taxpayers. <br /><br />Simple.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-68056221585888533552018-11-17T12:53:44.967-03:302018-11-17T12:53:44.967-03:30No doubt about that... I suspect this MRF fiasco w...No doubt about that... I suspect this MRF fiasco was also a carefully planned raid on the public purse by a select group of skeets comprising the Williams/Dunderdale/Nalcor cabal. <br /><br />The only way the public might see any redress on what appears to a massive bait-and-awitch scheme perpetrated on taxpayers will be when those conniving bastards are locked up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-13660920611655827042018-11-17T11:12:04.418-03:302018-11-17T11:12:04.418-03:30EPCM consultants are all familiar with the term &q...EPCM consultants are all familiar with the term "chaos is cash". As long as the owner doesn't kick you off the job, new chaos leads to new money. Undoubtedly this mantra was repeated many times within the LCP team.<br /><br /><br />PENG2 - apparently Harrington is affiliated with (part owner maybe) of one of the main agencies supplying staff to LCP. Presumably we'll find out more soon to validate that. As PB477 shows the largest firm having 81 staff on LCP, that's a pretty good cash flow to consider at maybe $200M gross revenue/yr. Who wouldn't like to get a 1-2% dividend on that.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-53316854068175988692018-11-17T07:58:19.119-03:302018-11-17T07:58:19.119-03:30I would bet that Nalcor could have gotten somebody...I would bet that Nalcor could have gotten somebody that was far more qualified and competent in the field of hydro electric projects for the kind of money this guy was paid and that goes to the qualifications and competence of those above him in that organisation who hired and supervised him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-74626333455244592962018-11-16T22:48:03.229-03:302018-11-16T22:48:03.229-03:30
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labra...<br />https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/paul-harrington-project-director-pay-inquiry-muskrat-falls-1.4909731Bottom Feeders Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07148643222872976241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-21847432699564260932018-11-16T21:31:39.098-03:302018-11-16T21:31:39.098-03:30And now here we have this Nalcor embedded contract...And now here we have this Nalcor embedded contractor one MR. PAUL HARRINGTON of ERIMUS CONSULTING LTD, registered address 16 CHEYNE DRIVE ST. JOHN'S... engaged in a desperate attempt to use the courts to keep his salary secret from NL taxpayers, the same group of taxpayers who footed the bill for this HARRINGTON individual's salary. The bloody unmitigated gall of it at all... <br /><br />Here he is pictured here everyone.... see what he looks like in case you happen to spot him at Costco or provincial court somewhere and would like to shake his hand and congratulate him for his major part in the Muskrat Falls fiasco...<br /><br />https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/paul-harrington-project-director-pay-inquiry-muskrat-falls-1.4909731<br /><br />https://opencorporates.com/companies/ca_nl/55572<br /><br /><br />To gaol with those who would deceive the public into penury.<br /><br />Right to gaol with the lot of them... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-78886687643644522062018-11-16T21:30:22.474-03:302018-11-16T21:30:22.474-03:30Bottom @ 20:30:
I never seen Erimus on a recruite...Bottom @ 20:30:<br /><br />I never seen Erimus on a recruiters list - not sure PH company ever placed anyone at LCP, but I could be wrong.<br /><br />Though if you check Nalcor Atippa releases PB-320-2016 and PB-477-2016 you can find some good info<br /><br />PENG2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-9616933959479151512018-11-16T20:37:55.029-03:302018-11-16T20:37:55.029-03:30Is it just me?
I have been watching some of the t...Is it just me?<br /><br />I have been watching some of the testimony at the Muskrat Falls Inquiry.<br /><br />I’m trying to decide if it is harder to get a simple yes or no answer out of a politician, or an engineer?<br /><br />It’s too close to call!<br /><br />Even yesterday Justice LeBlanc had to ask Robert Thompson to please just answer the yes or no questions without a long winded explanation!<br /><br />I get reminded of the line, “Baffle them with bullshit!”<br />Bottom Feeders Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07148643222872976241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-50542655663691250142018-11-16T20:30:43.715-03:302018-11-16T20:30:43.715-03:30Paul Harrington actually owns Erimus Consulting.
...Paul Harrington actually owns Erimus Consulting.<br /><br />Erimus Consulting has also placed numerous “embedded contractors” on the Muskrat Falls project.<br /><br />So he is getting commissions off of all of the personnel his firm has placed.<br /><br />He has has his own Nalcor e-mail and is listed as a Nalcor manager.<br /><br />He is one of three independent contractors who are suing the Government of NL not to release contractor pay.<br /><br />There is little doubt that both he and his firm has made millions of dollars off of Muskrat Falls.<br /><br />Conflict of interest anyone?Bottom Feeders Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07148643222872976241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-47663410667556944762018-11-16T19:34:39.843-03:302018-11-16T19:34:39.843-03:30Robert @ 11:14:
The list of awarded contracts and...Robert @ 11:14:<br /><br />The list of awarded contracts and dates is available on Nalcors website - security and medical services showing as being awarded before sanction 9why medical and security if no work ongoing?). My memory (as I said in 2015) there were a number of earthwork contracts also let with work setting up the site ongoing prior to sanction. Impossible that so many major contracts were let within days of sanction if sanction was not already predetermined.<br /><br />A google for MF sanction has a statement from DW on sanction day at the Confed Building ceremony that when they put this together a 'couple years ago' - this was telling. Also at the same ceremony, EM said trucks would roll within days on the site - awful quick mob.<br /><br />Nothing new, just now people are reading more carefully since they are not on the band wagon anymore.<br /><br />PENG2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-14183165801359557342018-11-16T17:33:08.333-03:302018-11-16T17:33:08.333-03:30My first line of questions to the Project Manager;...My first line of questions to the Project Manager; What were the events leading to a cost blowout, (bust), of the budget approved at sanction? When did you recall this occurred? Did you get approval from the Owner, (Shareholder/Gov), to commit increases to the Budget? How many times did you subsequently go for additional funds? Was there any consideration of aborting the project? Should be interesting.Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-51153001324610613302018-11-16T17:28:51.652-03:302018-11-16T17:28:51.652-03:30Jim Keating - came on as VP of the oil and gas por...Jim Keating - came on as VP of the oil and gas portfolio maybe a decade ago. Also had something like "corporate affairs" added to his title for a while. As a VP he presumably had considerable exposure to all things Muskrat though little direct accountability. <br /><br />He and Stan went to the native circle event in Goose Bay a year or so ago - Jim had a bit of a breakdown talking about the flooding on Mud Lake (this was before the investigation relieved Nalcor of blame). He never seemed to have any role after that and then the Nalcor oil and gas division was spun out of the organization or whatever it was.<br /><br />He would also be a career oil and gas guy going back to Hibernia who likely knows all the senior LCP team contractors. <br /><br />No idea where the Inquiry is headed with him or what is so commercially sensitive in his limited dealings with the project. Maybe he did more than was apparent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com