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Anon

All expenses paid for hockey night to CRTC guy by Bell

»cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Can ··· 801.html

Newly appointed, vice-chairman of broadcasting at the Canadian Radio-Television and telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Tom Pentefountas placed himself in an awkward situation by spending an evening in Bell's corporate box at the arena that bears its name.
...
Bell says political commentator Eric Duhaime, at the time a QMI Agency analyst, is the one who asked Pentefountas to enter its box.

A QMI source contradicts the company's claim, saying the CRTC executive was brought in by Line Maheux, director of government affairs at Bell.
...
According to ethics experts, Pentefountas didn't break the rules but operated in a gray area.

"There's sometimes a fine line between lobbying and social activities," said Raymond Hudon, a Laval University professor who specializes in lobbying issues.

Private ethics specialist Patrice Ryan said a senior official has a responsibility to be careful about who they meet.

"When you hold public office, you're no longer a normal individual," he said. "It's therefore important to consider gifts and invitations that you receive."

Barely three months after the Bell Centre party, Bell announced its plan to buy Astral. ....


Ah. No issue there.

Next up, Bell brings the new CRTC chair to France for some wine tasting.
Vomio
join:2008-04-01

1 edit

Vomio

Member

It's all about appearances when it comes to this quasi-judicial body.
How can quasi-justice appear to be done after this?

You don't normally see judges on mobsters yachts in this country.

I don't care who invited him on board he was seen there, time to resign gracefully I think.

If he stays he has the Bell smell on him and will lack credibility because of it.

Time to replace him with JF?

Is that a Bell McMuffin?

elwoodblues
Elwood Blues
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Amazing I guess JF's offer of cookies wasn't "rich" enough, he needed a night on the town courtesy of Lord Cope.

andyb
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join:2003-05-29
SW Ontario

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Resign? Are you kidding? He'll probably get promoted.This is government after all

creed3020
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join:2006-04-26
Kitchener, ON

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I can't believe this and fully believe at exactly the same time.

Bell lobbying of the CRTC will stop at nothing. Say TP even resigns, Bell will just start all over with whoever replaces him. There is a line between lobbying and social activities, it's not grey when the outcomes are black and white.

Davesnothere
Change is NOT Necessarily Progress
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join:2009-06-15
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said by Vomio:

....If he stays he has the 'Bell Smell' on him and will lack credibility because of it.

Time to replace him with JF?

Is that a Bell McMuffin?

 
No, it's the 'Big McMezei' !
DanteX
join:2010-09-09

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Bell should be forced to prove how they having control of Media and distribution channels is going to benefit consumers.

elwoodblues
Elwood Blues
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elwoodblues

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said by DanteX:

Bell should be forced to prove how they having control of Media and distribution channels is going to benefit consumers.

You have more choice .... NOT.

The merger is going through, there maybe a few gotchas (that were previously negotiated). Think about this, CTV bought Chum/City when told they have to divest some stations, who pops up the very next morning? Rogers, don't tell me this wasn't planned in the first place.

DKS
Damn Kidney Stones

join:2001-03-22
Owen Sound, ON

DKS to Free Stuff

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said by Free Stuff :

According to ethics experts, Pentefountas didn't break the rules but operated in a gray area.

"There's sometimes a fine line between lobbying and social activities," said Raymond Hudon, a Laval University professor who specializes in lobbying issues.

Exactly. No COI, as he didn't personally benefit. But a grey area. And not illegal, either. Move on. No story here.
DanteX
join:2010-09-09

DanteX

Member

No story here? ya right grey area or not it still stinks of COI. Bell needs to be broken up into separate divisions and regulated.

people need to wake up and realize they are getting raped across the board with prices and services and its because of giants like Bell

Free Stuff
@videotron.ca

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Anon

Anyone ever been in the Bell box? All catered. All you can drink, all you can eat. + other perks.

Hey, I know... Let's bring the CRTC chair to an all you can drink butler catered and sexy waitress served place, pay for it, and then talk Canadian policy.

Even better, let's try and get him to do stuff and say stuff that we can then use for future blackmail Win-Win.

Shhhh. No story. All the Norm.

Crap, there is a big Quebec corruption inquiry going on now that includes stuff like this! You know where the city engineer is bought off to make life hard on new entering construction firms...

I think we have the basis for a corruption scandal within the CRTC.

Guspaz
Guspaz
MVM
join:2001-11-05
Montreal, QC

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Breaking Bell up wouldn't do much good. Even if it levelled the playing field, the newly formed facilities division would charge as much as they could get away with anyhow.

Breaking up Ma Bell in the US didn't do all that much good anyhow. They've more or less all merged back into two companies, AT&T (which has 4 baby Bells) and Verizon (which has 2 baby bells). CenturyLink has the other baby Bell, but they're miniscule ($7b revenue) in comparison to AT&T ($127b revenue) or Verizon ($111b revenue).

AT&T and Verizon don't compete for television, telephone, or internet services. They only compete on wireless, and only then because Ma Bell didn't have a cellular network. The first US cellular network was deployed by one of the baby Bells, Ameritech (now part of AT&T).

andyb
Premium Member
join:2003-05-29
SW Ontario

andyb to DKS

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to DKS
said by DKS:

said by Free Stuff :

According to ethics experts, Pentefountas didn't break the rules but operated in a gray area.

"There's sometimes a fine line between lobbying and social activities," said Raymond Hudon, a Laval University professor who specializes in lobbying issues.

Exactly. No COI, as he didn't personally benefit. But a grey area. And not illegal, either. Move on. No story here.

He got a box seat so how is that not a personal benefit which is a COI.I get moved up to a box seat I sure as hell think thats a benefit.Maybe I'm just not rich enough to understand politics like you DKS.
Reporting meetings means nothing either to bell

"Bell officials met Pentefountas five times between December 21, 2011, and March 17, 2012, with the last meeting coming the day after the announcement of the bid. " All reported.

If you want to see bell flaunt power over the CRTC you just have to read the R&V section for 2011-703

DKS
Damn Kidney Stones

join:2001-03-22
Owen Sound, ON

DKS to DanteX

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said by DanteX:

No story here? ya right grey area or not it still stinks of COI.

In what way? Was there any tangible benefit? If not, it's now COI.
DKS

DKS to andyb

to andyb
said by andyb:

He got a box seat so how is that not a personal benefit which is a COI.I get moved up to a box seat I sure as hell think thats a benefit.Maybe I'm just not rich enough to understand politics like you DKS.
Reporting meetings means nothing either to bell

"Bell officials met Pentefountas five times between December 21, 2011, and March 17, 2012, with the last meeting coming the day after the announcement of the bid. " All reported.

If you want to see bell flaunt power over the CRTC you just have to read the R&V section for 2011-703

Accepting a box seat is not a COI. It may be bad optically, but he did pay for admission to the game himself. The rest is, in relation to the issue, irrelevant.
DKS

DKS to Free Stuff

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said by Free Stuff :

Anyone ever been in the Bell box? All catered. All you can drink, all you can eat. + other perks.

I have never been in the Bell box but I have been in a box seat at an OHL game. OK pizza, I knew the server and the beer was not free. Pop was.
HeadSpinning
MNSi Internet
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Windsor, ON

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said by Free Stuff :

Anyone ever been in the Bell box? All catered. All you can drink, all you can eat. + other perks.

I was in the Bell box at SkyDome (now Rogers Centre) in the early 90's or so. Nothing special.

MacGyver

join:2001-10-14
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After once accepting an invite to a corporate box for a hockey game and the ensuing kafuffle, I quickly learned that one should not accept such gifts in the spirit of business ethics. If CBC can pick some celebrity out of a dark box with their cameras during a game, then I'm sure my face is on a tape somewhere.

I buy my own hockey tickets. However, once through the event gate, anyone could still invite you in to their box as a guest, so caution is still required.

Free Stuff
@videotron.ca

Free Stuff to DKS

Anon

to DKS
said by DKS:

said by Free Stuff :

Anyone ever been in the Bell box? All catered. All you can drink, all you can eat. + other perks.

I have never been in the Bell box but I have been in a box seat at an OHL game. OK pizza, I knew the server and the beer was not free. Pop was.

LOL that must have been in Ontario where they give you pizza-pizza and soft-drinks (cuz they don't call it "pop" in Quebec).

In Quebec, at the Bell centre, even underage kids up in the nose-bleed area's get coupons for free beer. You have mini-skirted Molson girls with nice T & A's shaking it all the time. The rowdiest & loudest get the free beer and Molson T-shirts. Then when the kids go for their free beer, they have a stage setup where even more sexy babes are shaking it, if not sliding up and down a pole, to music loud enough to bust your ear drums. And this is for the kids.

Quebec is not Ontario with "Pizza-Pizza" and "pop" at a hockey game. LOL It's a different land when it comes to this. Whole diff culture when it comes to this. It's a party. It's beer and excitement. It's hockey in Quebec! Of all people here, you should know this.

Reminds me of the first time I walked into the Ottawa arena to see a senators game. It felt like I walked into family farmer night or something. To even get a beer it was a 40-minute wait. It was sterile. No half-naked babes shaking it. There was elbow room. All very sterile.

Some things you just can't compare, DKS. heh... pizza-pizza and "pop" How cute.

Anyhow, what MacGyver said. Is this new CRTC vice-chairman 24 years old and doesn't know wrong from right in business? What about in a position of policy making?

I don't think he should be into policy making if these are the decisions he is currently making.

People are calling this one right.

He hasn't made it a full year as vice-chairman in broadcasting and now it's time for him to go for being schmoozed by Bell. He can call it a life lesson or whatever he wants to call it as he hands in his resignation.

DKS
Damn Kidney Stones

join:2001-03-22
Owen Sound, ON

DKS

said by Free Stuff :

LOL that must have been in Ontario where they give you pizza-pizza and soft-drinks (cuz they don't call it "pop" in Quebec).

Is there a problem with that?

Reminds me of the first time I walked into the Ottawa arena to see a senators game. It felt like I walked into family farmer night or something. To even get a beer it was a 40-minute wait. It was sterile. No half-naked babes shaking it. There was elbow room. All very sterile.

You need half-naked women to go with beer? How sad. And when we have the highest rate of binge drinking and accompanying serious social and health problems in Canada in my community, we really don't need your asinine lectures on how to "enjoy" ourselves.

elwoodblues
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Free beer in Ontario, no no, that would go against our puritan ways and void the "Social Responsibility" the government has deemed important to keep liquor prices high and keep us from drinking ourselves senseless.
MaynardKrebs
We did it. We heaved Steve. Yipee.
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said by DKS:

You need half-naked women to go with beer?

It doesn't hurt.

Free Stuff
@videotron.ca

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Anon

to DKS
said by DKS:

when we have the highest rate of binge drinking and accompanying serious social and health problems in Canada in my community, we really don't need your asinine lectures on how to "enjoy" ourselves.

I doubt very much the CRTC VP of broadcasting was sitting there checking the babes out (and hockey) saying, "Ontario has a binge drinking problem". I somehow really don't think he cared about that in those seats.



And, um, I gave no lecture. Just said what it is in Montreal versus Ontario. You are twisting it.

Davesnothere
Change is NOT Necessarily Progress
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said by MaynardKrebs:

said by DKS:

You need half-naked women to go with beer?

It doesn't hurt.

 
Reminds me of how Vitamins are regarded by many folks - Can't hurt and might help.

BTW, are not half naked women the primary marketing hook used by almost all beer manufacturers ? (and CAR makers, etc....)

THEY put the idea in our heads ! (WE were just innocent bystanders.)

Bell Centre
@videotron.ca

Bell Centre

Anon

Half Naked Molson Babes... MmMmMm

Sometimes I just leaned up against the wall watching the show and ignoring the hockey game (unless it was against Boston) Just can't help it. So sweet...

Have to admit. I like the Bell Centre during a hockey game, even if I can't stand Bell.

Sex sells.

Makes me wonder what else Bell gave the CRTC VP of broadcasting that night...
MaynardKrebs
We did it. We heaved Steve. Yipee.
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to Davesnothere
said by Davesnothere:

said by MaynardKrebs:

said by DKS:

You need half-naked women to go with beer?

It doesn't hurt.

 
Reminds me of how Vitamins are regarded by many folks - Can't hurt and might help.

BTW, are not half naked women the primary marketing hook used by almost all beer manufacturers ? (and CAR makers, etc....)

THEY put the idea in our heads ! (WE were just innocent bystanders.)

Step 1
Go to beer store, buy beer, get babes

Step 2
Return unopened beer cases to beer store, keep babes. Classic arbitrage.

Davesnothere
Change is NOT Necessarily Progress
Premium Member
join:2009-06-15
Canada

Davesnothere

Premium Member

said by MaynardKrebs:

Step 1
Go to beer store, buy beer, get babes

Step 2
Return unopened beer cases to beer store, keep babes. Classic arbitrage.

 
Can we do that with the CARS too ?

elwoodblues
Elwood Blues
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elwoodblues to Davesnothere

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to Davesnothere
said by Davesnothere:

said by MaynardKrebs:

said by DKS:

You need half-naked women to go with beer?

It doesn't hurt.

 
Reminds me of how Vitamins are regarded by many folks - Can't hurt and might help.

BTW, are not half naked women the primary marketing hook used by almost all beer manufacturers ? (and CAR makers, etc....)

THEY put the idea in our heads ! (WE were just innocent bystanders.)

"lifestyle" ads have been banned. No more buff guys and girls playing on the beach and drinking beer. Verboten, might make you drink more.

shrug
@videotron.ca

shrug

Anon

I wonder how much the Vice-Chair of Broadcasting makes that he couldn't afford his own hockey ticket?

That aside, CRTC is advertising that a Vice-Chair of telecom is required.
Vice-Chairperson (Telecommunications) (full-time position)
Salary range: $196,800 - $231,500
Location: National Capital Region

»www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/about ··· avis.htm

Kind of funny that on a $200K salary the Broadcasting Vice-Chair couldn't afford to use his very own tickets.

I wonder what the Vice-Chair (telecom) will get?

Hope we see a job opening soon for a new Vice-Chair of Broadcasting.
johnkim
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what can you expect. The CRTC is always in-bed with the big companies. there is part of the game. the only way to beat the game is to be the game itself.