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Friday, March 12, 2010

HRM's absurd obsession with secrecy

City refuses to release four-pad arena management contract

Posted by Tim Bousquet on Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 3:40 PM

For the past two days I've been trying to get details of HRM's contract with Nustadia, inc. for management and operation of the new four-pad arena going up on Hammonds Plains Road. But word has come down from high that I can't have those details, because a clause in the contract requires that both parties---that is, both HRM and Nustadia---must agree to any public release of the terms.

This is beyond absurd. We have a $50 million facility going up, which will no doubt cost taxpayers millions more each year in operational expenses, but the actual amount is a state secret.

Secrecy breeds distrust, and in this case, the taxpayers should have a boatload of distrust. I'll say it out loud: there's potential for out-right bribery on a project of this scale.

Beyond that, taxpayers should be immensely concerned about Nustadia, because the company has famously botched a similar contract with the city of Guelph, Ontario. The HRM-Nustadia should be open to the widest possible public review.

That's not possible when the entire contract is secret.

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I was involved in something similar years ago with the Feds going across the country building, yes, golf courses! Well, it turned out that the contractors and suppliers were all set up beforehand to pig out on the largesse. With suitable kickbacks and other goodies no doubt.

I suggest you might want to look at the larger picture, that is, how many rec centers or similar projects underway and receiving Federal Pork. Then try to crosscheck on how many are signing long term maintenance deals with NUSTADIA or other Fed blessed companies.

There are rec projects underway in Bridgewater and Liverpool, is Nustadia in the mix? What other NS cities? Good places to start.

Also, if possible, try to see how many of the major contractors are common to these projects.

Sounds like the quid pro quo was: "Yes, you get federal money but on condition these contractors get the contracts."

Good luck, you might have a Big Slimy Fish on the line, an election breaker!

mummichog, A stout-bodied killifish of the Atlantic coast.

Posted by mummichog on March 18, 2010 at 4:31 PM | Report this comment

Hard to argue with what you say. Secrecy does breed distrust, especially with the handling of public money. Easiest way out of this is to simply come clean. If nothing is wrong, shouldn't be a problem, eh?

Posted by Brewnoser on March 17, 2010 at 4:02 PM | Report this comment