Latest news with #DeBono
Otago Daily Times
25-07-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Some ECE rule changes ‘dangerous'
Early Childhood Education Parents' Council spokeswoman Michelle De Bono is worried about some regulatory changes coming for ECE centres. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Unreported broken bones, a child being thrown in the bin and staff openly contemplating suicide are among the complaints being highlighted by a Dunedin early childhood education campaigner. ECE Parents' Council spokeswoman Michelle De Bono said the complaints were made by parents using a form on the organisation's website. The complaints showed the situation was already concerning enough, but she was worried changes the government was introducing to the sector could make it even worse. The changes — which have come from the Ministry of Regulation — that will be implemented over the coming months would no longer require Early Childhood Education (ECE) services to prominently display information about how to make a complaint to the ministry. ECE centres would also not have to display a copy of the regulations, the current licence certification, and the names and qualifications of staff. "They're literally gutting the licensing criteria." She said while many in Dunedin and nationwide were spoilt for choice when it came to "quality" ECE centres, many others were not so lucky. This was made clear in the 80 complaints her organisation had received and passed on to the Ministry of Education. Mrs De Bono said one parent made a complaint to the ECE centre their child attended when a head teacher put her child in a rubbish bin for swearing. The parent said the centre then shared her identity to the head teacher, leaving them feeling "vulnerable and distressed". A father also reported his son's arm being broken twice within the span of eight weeks while attending their ECE centre. The child's parents requested the CCTV footage, but were told they would not be able to see anything in the video anyway. The father said he felt "that they have neglected my son in taking care of him". A teacher at an ECE centre reported other staff working at their centre had talked about killing themselves on the floor. They said the staff member said "f ... this" and talked about drugs and rape in front of the children. Vapes would fall out of a colleague's pocket while she was working and the woman made obscene gestures at children and told them to shut up, the teacher said. Mrs De Bono said removal of signage meant parents would not be able to easily find out how to go about filing a complaint, and sometimes it would not be appropriate to ask the ECE centre directly for that information. "Those who are fortunate enough to be sending their babies and children to quality centres should be also advocating against these changes because it could all just change with this current government." She said there were "a whole heap of Kiwi parents out there" who were not satisfied and happy, and many others who were afraid to come forward. She said parents should know that sleep checks were going to be changed to every 15 minutes, and there would be no requirement for an adult to be present in the sleep room at all times. "The report has been accepted by Cabinet, and this is happening, and this involves your children and babies." "It's pretty significant, and dangerous — and it seems to be flying under the radar." Mrs De Bono said she encouraged caregivers who were unhappy with the standard of care or education at their children's ECE centre to complain using MyECE's online form. "Complaining about poor-quality practice can help raise the bar for ECE services for all whānau and tamariki," she said. The Ministry of Regulation did not respond to a request for comment.
Otago Daily Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin Airport lashes out at government
Dunedin Airport has accused the government of double-dipping and questionable law-making in a submission calling on it to abandon a move which raises the cost of bringing back international flights. Under the new legislation, airports that intend to start or restart international services will be required to pay for the establishment costs for border services. The new regulations are expected to come into force shortly, but Dunedin Airport's chief executive Daniel De Bono argued it was tantamount to double-dipping from the government, as the costs of processing international travellers would be funded from the existing border processing levies. In the letter to Parliament's regulation review committee, Mr De Bono said: "We cannot comprehend why a government that is focused on economic growth would make new regulations that are targeted at regional airports and severely inhibit their ability to develop international connectivity." Dunedin Airport had international flights from 1995 until Covid-19 hit the industry in 2020. It resumes international flights this month, with a JetStar connection to the Gold Coast. "As with all international routes at smaller airports, the economics are finely balanced," Mr De Bono's letter said. "When negotiating and agreeing terms, Dunedin Airport and JetStar did not anticipate that the government would take steps to impose significant additional costs on the venue. "The wider effect of cost recovery ... is to create a real constraint on regional tourism and economic growth." Mr De Bono said he did not believe the original intention of the Act was to "unexpectedly be used to impose more levies". This would lead to "serious unfairness and unreasonableness" for airports attempting to re-establish international travel and would have immediate effect on Dunedin Airport, he said. Mr De Bono also provided a legal letter from law firm Russell McVeagh. The legal letter also cast doubts on the government's approach. "Our view is that the proposal to now recover costs under the Airports Act is legally unnecessary," it said. "In pursuing options for recovery under the Airports Act, Cabinet and officials appear to be relying on a mistaken view of the law, leaving their decisions open to legal challenge. "It cannot be correct that there is a presumption in favour of using the Airports Act for new international airports simply because it exists." In response, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard told the Otago Daily Times customs screening at airports had been cost-recovered for decades. "Cost recovery is for the actual and reasonable cost of providing biosecurity and customs services. "In relation to Dunedin International Airport, the Ministry for Primary Industries [MPI] has worked hard to ensure the establishment costs are fair and reasonable, including reusing existing equipment where possible. "Under the Airports Act, if an airport chooses to start or re-start international air services, the costs incurred by the MPI and New Zealand Customs to establish a traveller processing capacity (establishment costs) and the processing of travellers (operating costs) can be recovered from the airport." Mr Hoggard said cost recovery for establishing or re-establishing international flights was "reasonable" as "the benefits from these flights are received by the airport and those who use the airport".
Otago Daily Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Airport challenges govt regulations
Dunedin Airport has accused the government of double-dipping and questionable law-making in a submission calling on it to abandon a move which raises the cost of bringing back international flights. Under the new legislation, airports that intend to start or restart international services will be required to pay for the establishment costs for border services. The new regulations are expected to come into force shortly, but Dunedin Airport's chief executive Daniel De Bono argued it was tantamount to double-dipping from the government, as the costs of processing international travellers would be funded from the existing border processing levies. In the letter to Parliament's regulation review committee, Mr De Bono said: "We cannot comprehend why a government that is focused on economic growth would make new regulations that are targeted at regional airports and severely inhibit their ability to develop international connectivity." Dunedin Airport had international flights from 1995 until Covid-19 hit the industry in 2020. It resumes international flights this month, with a JetStar connection to the Gold Coast. "As with all international routes at smaller airports, the economics are finely balanced," Mr De Bono's letter said. "When negotiating and agreeing terms, Dunedin Airport and JetStar did not anticipate that the government would take steps to impose significant additional costs on the venue. "The wider effect of cost recovery ... is to create a real constraint on regional tourism and economic growth." Mr De Bono said he did not believe the original intention of the Act was to "unexpectedly be used to impose more levies". This would lead to "serious unfairness and unreasonableness" for airports attempting to re-establish international travel and would have immediate effect on Dunedin Airport, he said. Mr De Bono also provided a legal letter from law firm Russell McVeagh. The legal letter also cast doubts on the government's approach. "Our view is that the proposal to now recover costs under the Airports Act is legally unnecessary," it said. "In pursuing options for recovery under the Airports Act, Cabinet and officials appear to be relying on a mistaken view of the law, leaving their decisions open to legal challenge. "It cannot be correct that there is a presumption in favour of using the Airports Act for new international airports simply because it exists." In response, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard told the Otago Daily Times customs screening at airports had been cost-recovered for decades. "Cost recovery is for the actual and reasonable cost of providing biosecurity and customs services. "In relation to Dunedin International Airport, the Ministry for Primary Industries [MPI] has worked hard to ensure the establishment costs are fair and reasonable, including reusing existing equipment where possible. "Under the Airports Act, if an airport chooses to start or re-start international air services, the costs incurred by the MPI and New Zealand Customs to establish a traveller processing capacity (establishment costs) and the processing of travellers (operating costs) can be recovered from the airport." Mr Hoggard said cost recovery for establishing or re-establishing international flights was "reasonable" as "the benefits from these flights are received by the airport and those who use the airport".
Associated Press
14-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
ASC issues public interest order against Charles DeBono in response to criminal conviction
CALGARY, AB, Feb. 14, 2025 /CNW/ - The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) has permanently banned Ontario resident Charles DeBono from participating in Alberta's capital market after a criminal court found that he was operating a Ponzi scheme. In June 2022, DeBono was sentenced by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to seven years in jail and ordered to pay restitution of more than $26 million after pleading guilty to one count of fraud over $5,000 and one count of laundering the proceeds of crime under the Criminal Code. Between January 2013 and August 2017, DeBono sought investments in Debit Direct, a company he owned that purportedly provided point of sale debit machines to merchants. Investors were told that they were purchasing debit terminals for small businesses across Canada and that they would receive a portion from each transaction. DeBono raised up to $48 million from more than 500 investors, including over 100 Albertans. The Court found that Debit Direct was not a legitimate business and that DeBono was operating a Ponzi scheme; any returns investors received were paid from other investors' funds. When considering the matter under the Securities Act (Alberta), an ASC panel found that it was in the public interest to issue an order. In its reasons, the panel stated that 'DeBono's misconduct – fraud – was extremely serious, involving hundreds of investors, a large amount of money, deceit, misrepresentation, and misappropriation of millions of dollars for his personal benefit.' The panel noted a 'significant need for strong sanctions to deter DeBono and others from similar misconduct in the future, and to protect Alberta investors and the Alberta capital market from further harm.' On February 12, 2025, the panel ordered that DeBono: must permanently cease trading in or purchasing any securities or derivatives, and that all exemptions contained in Alberta securities laws do not apply to him; must immediately resign all positions he holds, and is permanently prohibited from becoming or acting, as a director or officer of any issuer, registrant, investment fund manager, recognized exchange, recognized self-regulatory organization, recognized clearing agency, recognized trade repository, designated rating organization or designated benchmark administrator; and is permanently prohibited from engaging in investor relations activities, advising in securities or derivatives, becoming or acting as a registrant, investment fund manager or promoter, and acting in a management or consultative capacity in connection with activities in the securities market. The ASC is the regulatory agency responsible for administering the province's securities laws. It is entrusted with fostering a fair and efficient capital market in Alberta and with protecting investors. As a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the ASC works to improve, coordinate and harmonize the regulation of Canada's capital markets.
