Letters call for inquiry into PUC donation to Algoma University
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 by: Jordan Allard
A pair of letters calling for a look into the PUC's donation to Algoma University last year were presented to city council at Monday's meeting and will be reviewed by the legal department at city hall.
In December 2011, the PUC donated $100,000 to Algoma University and two letters penned to city council are calling for an investigation into the contribution.
Letters from Tom Brason and from Helen/Marcel Girard were received as information by council and the legal department will review them before any action is taken.
Brason and the Girard's are upset with the PUC for their financial contribution towards Algoma University's Biosciences and Technology Convergence Centre.
At the time of their donation, it was announced a 40-seat classroom would be named in its honour.
Brason alleges the PUC is misleading people by donating money collected under the pretext of dues required for services.
He compares the situation with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's ongoing conflict of interest trial.
"Mayor Ford has landed himself in hot water by using a staff member's time and his council letterhead to solicit donations for the Rob Ford Football Foundation," said Brason, in his letter to council dated September 4, 2012.
"Now Mr. Ford is up on conflict of interest charges and may lose his job for participating when council decided to vote on showing some leniency based on circumstances."
He goes on to say the PUC donation situation appears to be much more deliberate with a larger amount being withdrawn from city coffers than in Ford's case.
"The PUC encourages us to conserve and save; forces smart meters on us, then they blatantly give our savings away," said Brason. "Besides the likelihood of a conflict of interest there was also a flagrant disregard for monies collected through monthly PUC bills, which provide customers a very detailed summary of where every cent is to go and the PUC accordingly has no authority to use this money on anything other than intended in their course of duties as public servants, much less give it away to a private entity at their discretion."
The Girard's, meanwhile, are alleging a conflict of interest by Brian Curran, CEO of the PUC.
"The fact being this donation is perceived as a conflict of interest on the part of Mr. Curran stems from the fact that, although he did not benefit personally, he benefited in successfully providing funds he was the chair of," said Helen and Marcel Girard.
Both Brason and the Girard's encourage city council and Mayor Debbie Amaroso to pursue an inquiry into the PUC's actions.
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Justin Tetreault 9/11/2012 6:39:54 PM ReportYou can't have a public inquiry of a private corporation. Case closed.
BlackHelix 9/11/2012 7:16:19 PM ReportOMG this again....Justin...this "private" company is OWNED by the city. Owned - as in one owner, single shareholder, sole benefactor, and so on. Who are private corporations accountable to? Their shareholders/owners. Who is the PUC accountable to? Their Shareholder/owner (single NOT plural).
So you're saying that the city can't hold an inquiry into the decisions made by their own company?. That's ridiculous. I really can't understand why no one can grasp this very simple thing....
doggs 9/11/2012 7:48:49 PM ReportBrian Curran ..IS definitely Wrong in using our money that we pay for Water & Light ..To Donate to the University ...The puc bills do not show monies going to donations ...on our bills ..Why are we paying a Debt Reduction on our Bill & Mr.Curran is Donating Monies ???????
Mermaid 9/11/2012 8:30:57 PM ReportThe money for donations and events that PUC sponsers does not come from money collected from utility bills. Secondly, the Debt Retirement charge pays down the debt of the former Ontario Hydro. The whole province pays for that and the money collected on the Debt Retirement is not retained by any Local Distribution Company, as it goes directly to the government along with 80% of what customers pay on their utility bill.
BlackHelix 9/11/2012 8:38:09 PM ReportWhere does it come from then?
Thim 9/11/2012 8:47:09 PM ReportBlackhelix is correct and another concern should be the reaction of our councilors, particularly the two sitting on the PUC board who were supposedly looking after the public's interest "get that Justin".
It's insulting that three members of the PUC with a strong affiliation to Algoma University would have the audacity to pull this off right under our noses, are we a bunch of imbeciles in their eyes and how much clout do they have? Council stuck it's entire head in the sand until now, a year later.
Maybe we should all be calling our council members to see where they stand and why, this is a legal item and not a subject to be decided by opinions.
Tom Brason
inferno 9/11/2012 9:29:50 PM ReportP.U.C. board of directors include: Bruno Barban; Director of University Services and J. Douglas Lawson, PhD Retired, Former President, Algoma University College, Pat Mick, Vice Chair City Councillor, Frank Fata City Councillor, Marchy Bruni City Councillor. Sounds pretty shady!
inferno 9/11/2012 9:41:22 PM ReportForgot to mention, Brian Curran; OFFICER OF THE CORPORATION President (P.U.C.) former President Chair of Algoma University’s Essential Elements Campaign,
sinikka 9/11/2012 10:15:18 PM ReportThere is no merit to these letters whatsoever. It seems to me that perhaps there are some underlying motives for the letters. The puc also made a corporate donation of $10000 to the United Way and $14395 to fund one IntelliVue Anesthetic Gas Monitor for the SAH Operating Suites. Perhaps the girards and mr. brason have more letters to write, lol.
sinikka 9/11/2012 10:15:18 PM ReportThere is no merit to these letters whatsoever. It seems to me that perhaps there are some underlying motives for the letters. The puc also made a corporate donation of $10000 to the United Way and $14395 to fund one IntelliVue Anesthetic Gas Monitor for the SAH Operating Suites. Perhaps the girards and mr. brason have more letters to write, lol.
port 9/11/2012 10:19:16 PM ReportI hear there was a similar donation to Sault College as well by the PUC. Was done quietly after the backlash from the university donation.
Also, Brian Curran is apparently resigning his position at the end of the year.
Is anyone able to confirm the above?
mike321 9/11/2012 10:37:26 PM ReportIt is a private company and yes, the City is the one and only shareholder. Thing is, the City gets about $2.5M a year in interest payments that offsets taxes collected. Why would the the City care if the company it owns is supporting both the tax base and local institutions?? Something like $100 or so thousand to support education in the Sault is nothing. The complaing is a waste of time. And if the complaining is to continue, which it will, the charities donated to should be looked at as well...And certain comunity awareness programs regarding electric safety that PUC runs should be cancelled because they cost money...and on and on. Ridiculous.
groundspeed 9/11/2012 10:57:31 PM ReportYes. He is retiring at the end of January and good riddance. Don't forget that the PUC's income does not come from the city taxes it comes from the delivery portion of our Hydro bill. Some of their profit is given to the city to reduce our property taxes. I'm sure the PUC could use the money internally first to provide better service. That should be Mr. Curran's first priority. I'm sure there's a lot of departments in the PUC that are told "there's not money in the budget for that." On the other hand, Essar donates to United Way every year and you don't complain to them that the price of everything steel is too high.
shaddow 9/12/2012 1:43:04 AM ReportMaybe we should also demand that the building of the P U C 'super monstrosity' on Second Line be stopped until, we the taxpayers, make the decision if we want this 'palace' or to have 1/ our water return to what is was, 2/our power rates reduced to a responsible amount and 3/ to start getting way less blackouts than we are getting now. Don't tell us they do not have the money because if they can build a 'palace', give away such monstrous amounts of money, and not spending any money to return our water to what we had - - then they can afford it. And another thing is that the sale of all their excess property, that they will have after the 'Palace' is built should be given to a reduction of every taxpayer account & not fill some unknown 'pockets' through 'donations'. We, the taxpayers, have been screwed enough. Give us a break ...........
jcrecruit 9/12/2012 2:23:24 AM ReportAtypical government misappropriation of funds. Something akin to pork barrel spending, but in this case you get a classroom named after you, or perhaps simply hedging their bets for some future job. The sad irony here is while PUC rates have skyrocketed over 100% since 1999, and many low income owners are barely existing near the poverty line, these folks have the audacity to make "donations". Is this particular branch of government involved in entitlement offing? Is the PUC or city operating in accordance to their fiduciary duty? Here's a novel idea, why don't you roll back rates and give it back to those that gave it to you in the first place. This really ticks me off. Its not enough that they've(the government) have invested millions of (our) dollars in solar/windmill infrastructure that is inefficient and already obsolete(just look at Germany who is world's largest solar purveyor)but they further bevy their ineptitude by paying as much as 8 times per kilowatt(to what we pay) to solar owners for the next 20 years!!! Rest assured the pigs are never far from the trough. The bridge to nowhere has created its headquarters at their new location of 2nd line east. Hmmm..I hear the police services are also in the market for a new and improved location..Ah well wonders will never cease to amaze me, because we the taxpayers are the gift that keeps on giving...
Truck 9/12/2012 8:02:57 AM ReportMaybe if our water didn't taste and smell like pool water...still!!! (It was only supposed to be like that for "a few months") People wouldn't be making such a big deal!! But nobody is happy with the PUC and it's service and this just adds something else to that!
raddy 9/12/2012 8:56:41 AM ReportI so agree with these letters. I still have a "pay down their debt" on my bill and yet they have the funds to give away money at that taxpayers expense. I also heard that PUC is raising their prices again. I have to do my washing at night now to save money and yet they feel free to give out donatations with funds that are not legally theirs? Does this make any sense, if so please explain it.
Mermaid 9/12/2012 9:36:51 AM ReportFor the LAST time, the Debt Retirement charge doesn't pay down PUC debt. It goes directly to the Government of Ontario to pay down the debt of the former Ontario Hydro. Everyone in the province has that on their bill, as LDC's collect it on behalf of the government. And, PUC doesn't control the electricity rates. They are also set by the Ontario Government. No utility company in the province controls those rates and everyone pays the same rate across the province.
jcrecruit 9/12/2012 10:47:34 AM ReportMermaid..the simple point is this donational money did not come from Curran's personal piggy bank. These are not pennies from heaven. Have you ever operated a business? These are excess operational funds after all expenses paid. The City of Sault Ste Marie is a corporation, in other words a business. Their business is what? Tax collecting..first and foremost. Most governments try to exhaust their Budget, in order to requisition more "tax" funds for the following year. You never hear about a surplus of funds do you? Yes electrical rates are set by the OEB, but this does not give PUC liberty in disbursing surplus funds to whomever or whoever the board deems most meritous. So these excess funds should be earmarked as overages or over charges. In other words "we are being charged to much"..get it. How in the world are people going to heat their homes/apartments during a cold winter (at double the rate), when their net after tax monies are used to pay the PUC's "donational" monies. Government employees are paid on average more than 30% than those in the private sector. Further government employees do not supplement the nations GDP. They are a negative statistic to the nation's bottomline in funding their obligations. Just like the lottery corp or the casino is nothing more than an additional tax grap for government coffers dressed in guise of a not-for-profit company. It's all bunk, and I am tired of it. So pull your head out of the sand and stop trying to make their lies sound truthful.
Mermaid 9/12/2012 12:27:40 PM ReportWell, firstly the PUC sold two parts of their company off in 2011, including PUC Telecom which has nothing to do with the "utility". What they choose to do with that money is completly separate and unrelated to what customers pay on their bills. Secondly, I am a working mother, I operate a business on the side, I am working towards a second Degree and - shocker here - I also pay a PUC bill. I don't appreciate the tone of your reply which would suggest I am ignorant to some of the facts you pointed out. In fact I believe I've done more research into the issue as I don't like to form impulsive and flagrant opinions. You have your interpretation and opinion and I have mine. Good day.
jcrecruit 9/12/2012 2:12:58 PM ReportOntera? where in the above article is Ontera mentioned. What does that have to do with anything? Obviously you are being coached by someone, or are an insider. Ontera is another government entity. So a municpal government "selling" (if you want to call it that) to a provincial one hardly denotes outside (private) interests which you are obviously trying to suggest by your banter. Same trough with multiple spigots. Bottomline taxpayors' money. The irony here is you're calling it "their" money..really. Here's something for you to look up CanFR. Canadian Financial Reports. Most governments bodies do not provide this, but in it you'll find what they really hold in cash and assets. Call it their rainy day fund or get out of jail card. But if you understand it you'll be amazed at what governments have amassed at the expense of its constituents. And yet they always demand more, because there is no money in the kitty. And The sheeple continue to simply reply bahhhh!
Thim 9/12/2012 3:51:24 PM ReportJcrecruit has done a great job explaining the issue and I applaud them for it.
Mermaid, when I wrote rwo open letters to the Mayor on this subject back last December I made the same case as now but council turned a blind eye.
In those letters, as now, I was pointing out that there was too much evidence of (1) misappropriation of customers money and (2)a conflict of interest, that council had no choice under the circumstances but conduct an investigation...period.
Maybe while we're at it add a (3)as any money leaving the public coffers like this should be appproved by council.
The PUC is responsible to the citizens of Sault Ste Marie, they don't have the authority to give our money away to private organizations at their whim and on their own.
We've a pyramiding situation here with the City donating a few million, the PUC under them donating a couple hunded grand so where does it stop? What's it take to get donations anyways, run for positions within the city and dominate a board?
We'd better give our heads a shake and take some responsibility ourselves as taxpayers.
Tom Brason
Mermaid 9/12/2012 8:48:07 PM ReportWhatever...
Good thing your insinuations that I am unintelligent and ignorant don't bother me. I respect everyones opinion and don't feel I need to put anyone down while expressing mine.
shaddow 9/13/2012 5:24:29 AM ReportMermaid - I feel you give the impression that you are a insider or involved in this P U C fiasco in some way. You also seem to have a ego & insecurity problem, when you speak to some of the other people on here with the attitude they are insinuating things about you. Only a person with a guilty complex would use - poor me. Relax before you make things worst. Maybe I pick up on some of the things you say because I am a open minded female.
Thim 9/13/2012 9:48:25 AM ReportAdditionally, council must approve all such spending by any group or committee under their umbrella, keeping a tight rein in preventing any individual or rogue expenditures that may not be in the best interests of taxpayers.
I'm under the impression that council was neither contacted or aware of this expenditure until it appeared in the news. If this legal proceedure was violated, why didn't council react? Maybe they should explain.
Mermaid, I'm sure that you can rhyme off several groups you wouldn't want donations going to...get it?
Note: Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of SooToday.com. Keep discussions civil and on topic. Refrain from obscenity and don't post anything that your grandmother would be ashamed to read. Those who do not abide by these guidelines will have their membership revoked without notice. If you see an abusive post, please click the link beside the post to report it.
