An observer might look at the gigantic hole in the ground between Argyle and Market Streets, feel the blasting for excavation and see the bulldozers loading up dump trucks to haul away the rock and think, “that new convention centre is really moving along.” That observer would be wrong. In fact, the city has not […]
Scott Ferguson
Posted inNews + Opinion
No amount of spin can hide ticket scandal facts
It’s now cover your ass time, as everyone connected to the ticket scandal attempts to shift blame off themselves and put it on someone else. Fred MacGillivray says its Scott Ferguson’s fault. Scott Ferguson says it’s Fred MacGillivray’s fault. Darrell Dexter says it’s the city’s fault. Peter Kelly says no way is it the city’s […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
City embarrasses itself with Metallica fiasco
In a bizarre and inexplicable move, this past week the city of Halifax attempted to force the promotion company for the July 14 Metallica concert on Citadel Hill to pay the $359,550 bill for the Common concerts fiasco. With the advice and encouragement of Scott Ferguson, president of provincial crown corporation Trade Centre Limited, Halifax […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Possible Metallica cancellation: City picks wrong target in attempt to recoup concert costs
Harold MacKay is right: He doesn’t owe the city of Halifax one cent. But city administrators are demanding $359,550 from his wife’s company, MacKay Entertainment, before agreeing to provide city services to the July 14 Metallica show on Citadel Hill. The city oversees and regulates police, fire, licensing and other aspects of the concert; without […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Percy Paris praises Scott Ferguson’s improper behaviour
How hard up is economic development minister Percy Paris for a new convention centre? So hard up that he’ll shove any impropriety on the part of Trade Centre Limited officials—financial, ethical, what have you—down the memory hole. Monday, I detailed how Scott Ferguson, president of TCL, had been warned by the TCL auditor to stop […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Both Peter Kelly and Scott Ferguson should resign
In March, almost as soon as the concerts funding scandal came to light, city hall’s head bureaucrat Wayne Anstey resigned. Now, with city auditor general Larry Munroe’s report revealing the backstory, the question of blame needs to be raised again. Should mayor Peter Kelly resign over his involvement in the funding scheme? Absolutely. Kelly was […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
City officials contemplate suing Trade Centre Limited
Two city officials are implying there’s a simple solution to the $359,550 bill related to concerts scandal: Don’t pay it. That course of action, suggested by both city auditor Larry Munroe and city councillor Gloria McCluskey, threatens to create an epic legal battle between the city and Trade Centre Limited, a provincial crown corporation. But […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Concert report slams Peter Kelly, Wayne Anstey, Fred MacGillivray and Scott Ferguson
Halifax auditor general Larry Munroe released his report on the concert loan scandal Tuesday. Mayor Peter Kelly, the city’s former chief bureaucrat Wayne Anstey and former and current Trade Centre Limited presidents Fred MacGillivray and Scott Ferguson are particularly implicated. The report names names, assigns blame and provides explosive new details about how city and […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Merch rep says Harold MacKay still owes $63,000 for Black Eyed Peas show
On Monday it was announced that Metallica will perform on Citadel Hill on July 14. The promoter is none other than Harold MacKay, whose Power Promotional Events company put on the failed Black Eyed Peas show at the heart of the city’s concert loan scandal. Power Promotional Events has since gone out of business; the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Scott Ferguson’s explanation for concert loans doesn’t wash
This morning, I was a guest on the Jordi Morgan show on News 95.7. During the show, Morgan’s producer was able to reach Trade Centre Limited president Scott Ferguson on the phone, and I was able to ask Ferguson a few questions. Among other things (which I’ll get into in another post), Ferguson said that […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Province rolls out convention centre details
The debate is over: it is abundantly clear that the NDP government has decided to move forward with the proposed convention centre complex in downtown Halifax. Those opposed to the proposal, myself included, have lost the debate. The details of the proposal were spelled out this afternoon via a press conference at the World Trade […]