Email Article
Printer Friendly
Share Article
MHAs fail to disclose personal finances; premier’s blind trust shows irregularities
By IVAN MORGAN
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
All of the province’s 48 MHAs — including the premier — were late filing public disclosure documents on their personal finances with the province’s conflict of interest commissioner, as required by law, The Independent has learned.
From Steve Kent’s driving school to John Hickey’s Labrador farmland, MHAs must disclose their personal assets, liabilities and financial interests. They have 60 days to do so after an election.
Some of Danny Williams’ companies — which he lists as being in blind trust — were listed as “not in good standing” on the province’s registry of companies.
Paul Reynolds, commissioner of members’ interests, says public disclosures by 29 of 48 MHAs are available to the public. He says 17 more statements will be made available in the next week or so, and he will soon have the last two.
Reynolds says he isn’t prepared to explain why they were all late, but he understands why they would be. He would not elaborate.
In the report made available to the public at the commissioner’s office in St. John’s, each MHA lists their personal financial information under categories including assets, liabilities, financial interests, other employment and outside memberships, as well as private interests that the commissioner decides should be excluded from public disclosure.
MHAs missing from the list include Opposition leader Yvonne Jones and cabinet ministers Jack Byrne, Dave Denine, Charlene Johnson, Jerome Kennedy, Tom Marshall, Kevin O’Brien, Paul Oram and Trevor Taylor.
Like most MHAs’ public disclosures, Williams lists property and pension assets that the commissioner has excluded from “individual identification.” The premier lists assets administered through blind trust agreements, including vacant land in Salmonier, Portugal Cove and Holyrood.
He is also listed as a creditor of his former law firm Roebotham, McKay and Marshall, and lists a number of companies in blind trust, including controlling interests in the Willows Golf Course, 10835 Newfoundland Inc., 10718 Newfoundland Inc., and 10981 Newfoundland Inc., as well as significant interest in Fantastic Realty, Lex Holdings, and 10801 Newfoundland Inc.
Listed as a liability was a loan guarantee to Spectrol Energy Services, an international company providing offshore oil inspection services worldwide. Spectrol is also a major contractor for the Hibernia oil project.
On April 8, the provincial government’s online company registry listed 10835 Newfoundland Inc., 10801 Newfoundland Inc., and Lex Holdings as “not in good standing.”
Asked why those companies were “not in good standing,” Elizabeth Matthews, spokeswoman for the premier, says in an e-mail that Williams won’t speak to issues of his blind trust, saying he is confident it’s being handled appropriately.
Steve Marshall, Williams’ former law partner whose firm is listed as the address for some of the companies, says “not in good standing” probably means the registry fee has not been paid for the year. But Marshall said he planned to call Williams’ accountant to verify that.
He says he assumes a cheque for the registry fee will be received “and I would say in very short order you’ll find that that is now in good standing.”
Reynolds will not discuss the premier’s, or any MHAs’ blind trust. Nor will he discuss whether monitoring blind trusts falls under his responsibilities.
He says it is not his responsibility to check whether companies listed by MHAs are in good standing.
When asked if he knows who administers the premier’s blind trust, Reynolds says he has “an indication” of who it is, but would not say.
After looking into the matter, Marshall says he was contacted by a lawyer in Toronto who asked him to verify Williams’ companies were in good standing.
The same day, Marshall contacted The Independent to say he had checked and found the companies were in good standing. He also faxed printouts to the newspaper for verification.
Marshall notes he is a director of Lex Holdings.
“That one better be in good standing,” he says.
As of April 10, Lex Holdings Ltd. was listed as not in good standing.
A rechecking of the government website April 9 showed 10835 Newfoundland Inc. and 10801 Newfoundland Inc. were changed to being “in good standing.”
Other MHAs who were listed publicly showed a host of assets, liabilities and financial interests.
Labrador Affairs Minister John Hickey lists two registered agricultural leases on the Trans-Labrador Highway, Kelvin Parsons lists 270 acres of undeveloped land at McDougall’s Gulch, Elizabeth Marshall lists shares in Fortis Inc. and Toromont — companies her spouse heads.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Patty Pottle lists shares in an inactive corporation called Can Alaska, while Deputy Premier and Fisheries Minister Tom Rideout has shares in Manulife and Clarica.
Many MHAs’ liabilities are given as “undisclosed financial obligations.” Reynolds says these are primarily mortgages. Inter-governmental Affairs Minister Tom Hedderson and NDP leader Lorraine Michael list rental property mortgages.
Under financial interests, Hedderson lists nominal interest in a local research, technology and development company, and Kent has 100 per cent ownership in Focus Group Consulting, a management and marketing firm, as well as 50 per cent ownership in Focus Driver Training, the local branch of Young Drivers of Canada.
Parsons owns Dockside Realty, Parsons Holding, and Grand Bay Realty. Pottle owns D.J. Gift Shop, the Grace Hotel (in Hopedale, Labrador) and D.J. Properties.
Labour Minister Shawn Skinner has a blind trust agreement for Shera Investments, Shera Holdings, and Elizabeth Enterprises, in which his spouse has some shares.
Almost every MHA listed has at least one private interest Reynolds deems “not to require public disclosure as it has no relevance to the MHA’s office.”
Reynolds says these are mainly mortgages, but can include recreational properties such as cabins and boats.
ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca
Available for public review
Jim Baker
Ed Buckingham
Joan Burke
Roland Butler
Tony Cornect
John Dinn
Kathy Dunderdale
Roger Fitzgerald
Clayton Forsey
Harry Harding
Tom Hedderson
John Hickey
Ray Hunter
Keith Hutchings
Clyde Jackman
Steve Kent
Darin T. King, Ph.D
Terry Loder
Elizabeth (Beth) Marshall
Lorraine Michael
Kelvin Parsons
Calvin Peach
Patty Pottle
Tom Rideout
Bob Ridgley
Shawn Skinner
Dianne Whalen
Danny Williams
Ross Wiseman
Wallace Young, Jr
Not yet available
for public review
Jack Byrne
Felix Collins
Derrick Dalley
Dave Denine
Terry French
Charlene Johnson
Yvonne Jones
Darryl Kelly
Jerome Kennedy, Q.C.
Tom Marshall
Kevin O’Brien
Paul Oram
Sheila Osborne
Tom Osborne
Tracey Perry
Susan Sullivan
Trevor Taylor
Wade Verge
From Steve Kent’s driving school to John Hickey’s Labrador farmland, MHAs must disclose their personal assets, liabilities and financial interests. They have 60 days to do so after an election.
Some of Danny Williams’ companies — which he lists as being in blind trust — were listed as “not in good standing” on the province’s registry of companies.
Paul Reynolds, commissioner of members’ interests, says public disclosures by 29 of 48 MHAs are available to the public. He says 17 more statements will be made available in the next week or so, and he will soon have the last two.
Reynolds says he isn’t prepared to explain why they were all late, but he understands why they would be. He would not elaborate.
In the report made available to the public at the commissioner’s office in St. John’s, each MHA lists their personal financial information under categories including assets, liabilities, financial interests, other employment and outside memberships, as well as private interests that the commissioner decides should be excluded from public disclosure.
MHAs missing from the list include Opposition leader Yvonne Jones and cabinet ministers Jack Byrne, Dave Denine, Charlene Johnson, Jerome Kennedy, Tom Marshall, Kevin O’Brien, Paul Oram and Trevor Taylor.
Like most MHAs’ public disclosures, Williams lists property and pension assets that the commissioner has excluded from “individual identification.” The premier lists assets administered through blind trust agreements, including vacant land in Salmonier, Portugal Cove and Holyrood.
He is also listed as a creditor of his former law firm Roebotham, McKay and Marshall, and lists a number of companies in blind trust, including controlling interests in the Willows Golf Course, 10835 Newfoundland Inc., 10718 Newfoundland Inc., and 10981 Newfoundland Inc., as well as significant interest in Fantastic Realty, Lex Holdings, and 10801 Newfoundland Inc.
Listed as a liability was a loan guarantee to Spectrol Energy Services, an international company providing offshore oil inspection services worldwide. Spectrol is also a major contractor for the Hibernia oil project.
On April 8, the provincial government’s online company registry listed 10835 Newfoundland Inc., 10801 Newfoundland Inc., and Lex Holdings as “not in good standing.”
Asked why those companies were “not in good standing,” Elizabeth Matthews, spokeswoman for the premier, says in an e-mail that Williams won’t speak to issues of his blind trust, saying he is confident it’s being handled appropriately.
Steve Marshall, Williams’ former law partner whose firm is listed as the address for some of the companies, says “not in good standing” probably means the registry fee has not been paid for the year. But Marshall said he planned to call Williams’ accountant to verify that.
He says he assumes a cheque for the registry fee will be received “and I would say in very short order you’ll find that that is now in good standing.”
Reynolds will not discuss the premier’s, or any MHAs’ blind trust. Nor will he discuss whether monitoring blind trusts falls under his responsibilities.
He says it is not his responsibility to check whether companies listed by MHAs are in good standing.
When asked if he knows who administers the premier’s blind trust, Reynolds says he has “an indication” of who it is, but would not say.
After looking into the matter, Marshall says he was contacted by a lawyer in Toronto who asked him to verify Williams’ companies were in good standing.
The same day, Marshall contacted The Independent to say he had checked and found the companies were in good standing. He also faxed printouts to the newspaper for verification.
Marshall notes he is a director of Lex Holdings.
“That one better be in good standing,” he says.
As of April 10, Lex Holdings Ltd. was listed as not in good standing.
A rechecking of the government website April 9 showed 10835 Newfoundland Inc. and 10801 Newfoundland Inc. were changed to being “in good standing.”
Other MHAs who were listed publicly showed a host of assets, liabilities and financial interests.
Labrador Affairs Minister John Hickey lists two registered agricultural leases on the Trans-Labrador Highway, Kelvin Parsons lists 270 acres of undeveloped land at McDougall’s Gulch, Elizabeth Marshall lists shares in Fortis Inc. and Toromont — companies her spouse heads.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Patty Pottle lists shares in an inactive corporation called Can Alaska, while Deputy Premier and Fisheries Minister Tom Rideout has shares in Manulife and Clarica.
Many MHAs’ liabilities are given as “undisclosed financial obligations.” Reynolds says these are primarily mortgages. Inter-governmental Affairs Minister Tom Hedderson and NDP leader Lorraine Michael list rental property mortgages.
Under financial interests, Hedderson lists nominal interest in a local research, technology and development company, and Kent has 100 per cent ownership in Focus Group Consulting, a management and marketing firm, as well as 50 per cent ownership in Focus Driver Training, the local branch of Young Drivers of Canada.
Parsons owns Dockside Realty, Parsons Holding, and Grand Bay Realty. Pottle owns D.J. Gift Shop, the Grace Hotel (in Hopedale, Labrador) and D.J. Properties.
Labour Minister Shawn Skinner has a blind trust agreement for Shera Investments, Shera Holdings, and Elizabeth Enterprises, in which his spouse has some shares.
Almost every MHA listed has at least one private interest Reynolds deems “not to require public disclosure as it has no relevance to the MHA’s office.”
Reynolds says these are mainly mortgages, but can include recreational properties such as cabins and boats.
ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca
Available for public review
Jim Baker
Ed Buckingham
Joan Burke
Roland Butler
Tony Cornect
John Dinn
Kathy Dunderdale
Roger Fitzgerald
Clayton Forsey
Harry Harding
Tom Hedderson
John Hickey
Ray Hunter
Keith Hutchings
Clyde Jackman
Steve Kent
Darin T. King, Ph.D
Terry Loder
Elizabeth (Beth) Marshall
Lorraine Michael
Kelvin Parsons
Calvin Peach
Patty Pottle
Tom Rideout
Bob Ridgley
Shawn Skinner
Dianne Whalen
Danny Williams
Ross Wiseman
Wallace Young, Jr
Not yet available
for public review
Jack Byrne
Felix Collins
Derrick Dalley
Dave Denine
Terry French
Charlene Johnson
Yvonne Jones
Darryl Kelly
Jerome Kennedy, Q.C.
Tom Marshall
Kevin O’Brien
Paul Oram
Sheila Osborne
Tom Osborne
Tracey Perry
Susan Sullivan
Trevor Taylor
Wade Verge
ADVERTISEMENT
Featured Photos
Sandy Morris, Paul “Boomer” Stamp, Greg Malone, Ron Hynes and Glenn Simmons of the Wonderful Grand Band.
» view all featured photos
» view all featured photos
Divisions
Featured PhotosWeb Specific Content
RSSContact Information
The Independent News Ltd.P.O. Box 5891, Stn C.
St. John's, NL, Canada
A1C 5X4
