Latest news with #AeconGroup
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Liberal lobbyists line up to influence Holt government
Social Sharing New Brunswick's registry of lobbyists has seen a wave of new filings from Liberal-connected consultants looking to influence Premier Susan Holt's Liberal government on behalf of paying clients. Since Holt took power last fall, two former Liberal premiers, Brian Gallant and Shawn Graham, have taken on new clients seeking to influence government policy. Three former Liberal cabinet ministers and two former advisers have also registered new clients since Holt was sworn in. Progressive Conservative Opposition Leader Glen Savoie highlighted Gallant's Feb. 28 registration to lobby for Aecon Group Inc., a major construction company that has worked on nuclear power and natural gas projects, among others. In his filing, Gallant said he wanted to organize meetings with Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson and N.B. Power CEO Lori Clark to promote Aecon's "corporate brand awareness and capabilities." Holt worked for a job-creation secretariat created by Gallant when he was premier. "Her former boss Brian Gallant said at every turn that perception matters," Savoie said. "So now here he is lobbying his former employee as a lobbyist. What's the perception on that?" Gallant forced out one of his MLAs, Donald Arseneault, in 2017 for taking on lobbying work while sitting as a backbencher. Lobbying rules allowed it, but Gallant said it would be seen as a conflict of interest. Savoie suggested Gallant might help Aecon secure a contract to build a new N.B. Power natural gas power plant in Scoudouc that was announced last December. Holt said she did not know whether Aecon had the contract and said she had never met with the company. WATCH | 'What's the perception on that?': Opposition on Liberal lobbyists Liberal lobbyists take on new clients after Holt election win 1 hour ago Duration 2:39 "Our ministers meet with community groups, not-for-profits, citizens, certainly staff of the government, front-line workers, without lobbyists at all," Holt told reporters. "The presence of a lobbyist does not determine who gets what meeting when. "If a company wants to ask [for a meeting] themselves, or pay somebody to ask for them, it's still treated the same." Asked in that case why a company would need to pay lobbyists, the premier said, "It's a great question. I'm not sure." In a written statement to CBC News, Gallant said he became "an advisor" to Aecon in early 2024, before the Liberals won the election. "Aecon has done work in Atlantic Canada and has the capabilities to do more in the region, including in New Brunswick," he wrote. Aecon did not respond to a request for comment. Gallant's February registration is his first ever in the public lobbyist registry, which has existed since 2017. Former Liberal premier Shawn Graham, a longtime lobbyist, added two new clients to his roster since Holt took power last year. He now represents Fertility Partners Inc., a Moncton clinic, and Global University Systems Canada, a for-profit chain of universities that operates three medical schools in the Caribbean. Graham said in an email his work with Fertility Partners is to help establish a research centre at the Université de Moncton and is unconnected to Holt's recent announcement about funding for one round of in vitro fertilization for New Brunswickers. In his registration for Global University Systems Canada, Graham says he would meet with Health Minister John Dornan about an initiative to "help address the family physician shortage by offering fully funded medical school education to provincial citizens." Graham turned down a request for an interview. Holt said in question period Friday that she itemizes all her official meetings in social-media videos she releases every Monday. She questioned whether there's a link between a Liberal government taking office and Liberal-connected consultants taking on new clients. "You'd have to look at the history to see if that's the case," she said. "I'm sure somebody could probably do the data to see if there's correlation between new registrations and changes in governments." The premier suggested having Liberal connections may actually be a disadvantage, because her office may hesitate over how it might look to help someone with connections. Savoie also flagged Holt's links to Jordan O'Brien, a former chief of staff to Gallant with a long list of current and former lobbying clients. Since Holt was elected, O'Brien has started lobbying for Populus Plus, a health technology company, and the Fredericton International Airport. Last fall, Liberal insider Maurice Robichaud, a former communications adviser to Graham and to an earlier Liberal premier, Frank McKenna, registered as a lobbyist for the Convenience Industry Council of Canada. The organization opposed a Liberal bill to repeal the "cost of carbon adjustor" surcharge on gasoline put in place by the Blaine Higgs government that passes the cost of federal clean-fuel regulations to consumers. The council argued repealing the surcharge would leave gas wholesalers and retailers absorbing the cost instead. A week after Robichaud registered, the Liberals put the bill on hold. Greg Byrne, a former Liberal cabinet minister and one-time chief of staff to Gallant, also registered to lobby for the council, the records show. Robichaud, meanwhile, is also registered to lobby for Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, a wind energy company, and the New Brunswick Pharmacists Association. Another former Liberal minister, Doug Tyler, who also worked in Graham's office when he was premier, filed paperwork last month for two new lobbying clients. He is working for the Northern Group of Companies, a Grand Falls-based asphalt company, meeting with officials including Holt's chief of staff, Katie Davey, "to promote the importance of a safe and modern Highway Network in New Brunswick." He is also representing another Grand Falls company, Greystone, which he says in his filing is a new company in the power line maintenance and restoration business. Donald Arseneault, a Liberal cabinet minister in Graham and Gallant Liberal governments, has registered four new clients since the start of 2025. They include the Energy Alliance of the North, an organization of regional service commissions and First Nations that Arseneault says in his registration is seeking changes to provincial laws so it can bid to launch renewable energy projects to supply N.B. Power. Another of his clients is Groupe Lebel, a company that owns a sawmill in Tobique Valley that "has planned various capital projects and is looking for government financial assistance, along with increased Crown wood allocations," the filing says. The two other new clients are the University of Fredericton, a private institution, and the Northern New Brunswick Airport Authority Inc., which operates the Bathurst airport. Holt promised in last fall's election campaign to "modernize and strengthen the lobbyist registry to enhance transparency and accountability." Holt revealed Friday that her government is ending its $19,000 US a month contract with lobbyists in Washington who were hired earlier this year to lobby the Trump administration and members of Congress on tariffs. She said the contract, which began Feb. 3, had served its purpose. "The relationships and the connections have now been made."
Toronto Star
17-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Metrolinx quietly drops Deutsche Bahn, Aecon from multibillion-dollar GO expansion project
The province's transit agency has dropped Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national rail company, and Canadian construction company Aecon Group from its multibillion dollar GO expansion project less than two years after they were contracted to operate and maintain the GO train network. The two companies were supposed to take over the operations and maintenance of GO rail and UP Express for a 23-year term starting on Jan. 1, though a handover was never announced. Metrolinx Spokesperson Andrea Ernesaks said 'both teams worked closely toward this goal,' but added that 'the parties are working on an amicable settlement to end the partnership.'
CBC
13-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
B.C. First Nation blocks construction on bridge replacement project
A First Nation in B.C.'s Interior is blocking access to the R.W. Bruhn Bridge construction site in Sicamous, B.C., over the alleged exclusion of its workers and businesses from the government-funded infrastructure project. Since 10 a.m., Monday, four dump trucks from the Splatsin Development Corporation (SDC) have been parked at both ends of the bridge, halting construction on the new four-lane replacement. The action was initiated by Splatsin First Nation and SDC in response to what they describe as a pattern of broken agreements by the Aecon Group Inc. and Emil Anderson Construction, the two firms contracted to build the bridge. "This is sort of our only recourse … to set up these blockades to get some attention," said Kukpi7 (Chief) Mike Christian, who also chairs the SDC board. "Our members, you can kind of refer to a lot of them as impoverished. That's why we're fighting back, because every little bit of economic [opportunity] helps." The bridge replacement project is being carried out by Aecon-Emil Anderson Construction General Partnership (AEGP), a 50-50 joint venture delivering the $224-million project for the province of B.C. The work includes the construction of a new multi-use bridge over the Sicamous Narrows, highway widening, and intersection upgrades. Despite being located in Secwépemc territory, SDC says the community has been sidelined from meaningful participation in the project. "This was presented as a two-year opportunity. Instead, they've given us just three months of meaningful work," said Grahame Go, CEO of SDC, in a statement Monday. "What we've experienced instead is corporate opportunism —exploiting our partnership for their benefit and then sidelining us to cut costs." Among the specific grievances outlined by Splatsin are the removal of an Indigenous-operated emergency medical vehicle, the removal of SDC trucks from the site despite a 50/50 trucking agreement with the SDC, and frequent last-minute schedule changes that resulted in job insecurity for Indigenous crews. The nation also says Indigenous workers were sometimes arbitrarily sent home without explanation, and that fuel purchase agreements benefiting Indigenous suppliers were "undermined." Christian said what the community wants is clear: "A signed agreement from the Ministry of Transportation or the two companies that they're going to straighten this issue … stick to the letter of the contract." He says that while this may cause some inconvenience to commuters, traffic is still allowed through a designated detour route. Province 'working closely with all parties' In a statement to CBC News, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit said it is "aware of what's happening at the Bruhn Bridge project." "We recognize the deep cultural roots that Splatsin has to the area," the statement read. "We are working closely with all parties to address the concerns being raised and to resolve the issues as quickly as possible." The ministry added it continues to monitor the situation and encouraged motorists to check DriveBC for updates. Neither Aecon Group Inc. nor Emil Anderson Construction responded to CBC's request for comment by deadline. First Nation says it's a broader trend In its statement, Splatsin said the exclusion it is experiencing is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend of contractors circumventing obligations under B.C.'s Indigenous participation framework. The Neskonlith Indian Band, also a Secwépemc community, issued a statement of support on Friday, saying it shares Splatsin's concerns and frustration over how the B.C. Infrastructure Benefits (BCIB) model has been implemented. "These practices are not only discriminatory but represent a significant setback for the progress and prosperity of our people," Kukpi7 Irvin Wai of Neskonlith wrote. "We are not asking for special treatment … only for fair and transparent access to opportunities that impact our land and our people". Splatsin is calling on the province to enforce its Indigenous Opportunities Implementation Plan and ensure that the principles of reconciliation are upheld. "This partnership was supposed to be about inclusion and shared opportunity," Christian said in the statement. "Instead, it's become one-sided and disrespectful."
Globe and Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Monday's Insider Report: Company leaders sell this gold stock that's up 57% in 2025
Featured below are companies that have experienced recent insider trading activity in the public market through their direct and indirect ownerships, including accounts they have control or direction over. The list features insider transaction activity; it does not convey total ownership information as an insider may hold numerous accounts. Keep in mind, when looking at transaction activities by insiders, purchasing activity may reflect perceived value in a security. Selling activity may or may not be related to a stock's valuation; perhaps an insider needs to raise money for personal reasons. An insider's total holdings should be considered because a sale may, in context, be insignificant if this person has a large remaining position in the company. I tend to put great weight on insider transaction activity when I see multiple insiders trading a company's shares or units. Listed below are three stocks that have had recent buying activity in the public market reported by insiders. Aecon Group Inc. (ARE-T) On April 28, director Eric Rosenfeld invested over $1.1-million in shares of Aecon. He bought 75,000 shares at a price per share of $15.7419 for an account in which he has indirect ownership (Crescendo Partners III, L.P.), raising the holdings to 309,200 shares. On April 28, founder and chairman John Beck purchased 10,000 shares at a cost per share of $15.7402, lifting the holdings in this particular account to 20,000 shares. The cost of this investment exceeded $157,000. Canadian National Railway Company (CNR-T) On May 6, director Susan Jones acquired 1,461 shares at a cost per share of $136.6193, after which this particular account held 5,439 shares. The cost of this purchase totaled roughly $200,000. Martinrea International Inc. (MRE-T) On May 5, chief financial officer and lead for lightweight structures commercial group Peter Cirulis purchased 14,814 shares at a cost per share of US$5.40, increasing the holdings in this specific account to 101,534 shares. The cost of this investment totaled approximately US$80,000. ** Listed below is a stock that has had recent selling activity in the public market reported by insiders. Kinross Gold Corp. (K-T) On May 9, senior vice-president, technical services William Dunford sold 53,000 shares at an average price per share of approximately $20.901, reducing the holdings in this particular account to 24,650 shares. Proceeds from the sale totaled more than $1.1 million, excluding trading fees. On May 9, director Kerry Dyte divested 20,250 shares at a price per share of $20.6704, leaving 20,250 shares in this particular account. Proceeds from the sale exceeded $418,000, not including commission charges. Year-to-date, the share price is up 57 per cent. Be smart with your money. Get the latest investing insights delivered right to your inbox three times a week, with the Globe Investor newsletter. Sign up today.
