Queen Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Sports and Culture as long as it's from her riding

Yes Mike Currie the hoopla is not in King’s County

Today is the big day – the Olympic torch passes on its way to a final big party in Rustico which is – golly gosh Batman – the home riding of Minister Carolyn Bertram.

Bertram was in the Legislature beating the drum this week for patriotism and Island pride in our Olympic contribution of $500,000.

“Our Island communities from east to west are being part of this, communities are excited, and this is a national-international activity that we are
part of, and our athletes are very pleased.,” said Bertram in the Legislature (Hansard)

Like many things said in the Legislature, this was of course stretching the facts since Mike Currie had already complained Kings County was out of the Olympic Torch run.

Sorry Mike, you should move from Cardigan to Hunter River where the real action is.

Why is the government wasting money at the Vancouver Olympics asked MLA Jim Bagnall. The MLA from Kings County, oops wrong place, called it a $500,000 party in Vancouver. Plenty of booze, lots of politicians and politicians and very little to do with athletes and sports.

Of course, that is what the Olympics is all about – a political public relations and advertising event wrapped around sports. We call the Olympic Games an expensive and phony yawn

Reading on in Hansard, we see more of the Hunter River Queen’s constituents are being blessed by the $500,000 Olympics extravaganza.

“But furthermore, we have the likes of Meaghan Blanchard who is going to be on the stage out there at Atlantic Canada House,” says Queen Carolyn.

No offense to Blanchard who is a beautiful, young artist with 4 songs and one demo CD, she is not our best; however, she is from our Queen’s riding and gets the nod.

They could save travel money by using Jenn Grant a successful artist who lives in BC. Send Chuck and Albert and have everyone in stitches from laughter. Or send any one of dozens of great Island artists but of course they are not from Hunter River.

Queen Carolyn has blessed all things musical on PEI through her patronage nominees at Music PEI. Rob Oakie and others on the Board have been using Bertram’s grant money to enrich themselves and their friends, especially those who hail from Bertram’s riding.

Few people will discuss the corruption at Music PEI since their silence ensures some grant money and gigs come their way. Music PEI is a private club with public money. Our stories about the corruption got me kicked out this year but that’s the fun of this job.

“This big party that’s going to be taking place out there, are you going to be dealing with Prince Edward Island shine and Prince Edward Island wines out there? Are you
going to be serving them at this big gala party you’re having?” said Bagnall.

“We’re putting $500,000 into a party out in BC so a few selected people can go and attend this event, and with $500,000 of taxpayers money into it.
My question is: How can the minister justify this in tough times, wasting that money to take to BC out there?”

That’s easy Jim: she’s the Queen of Hunter river with noblesse oblige.

For some official reporting and reactions, check out Huge crowds greet Olympic torch in P.E.I.