Latest news with #Monette
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Leadership issues dominate opening session of teachers' union AGM
Manitoba teachers want answers about how their top union officials plan to bring about stability at their Portage Avenue headquarters after 'a rough year.' More than 330 delegates are registered to take part in the 106th annual general meeting of the Manitoba Teachers' Society this week. Formal proceedings kicked off Thursday morning with an impromptu debate related to the organization being without a permanent executive director to oversee the day-to-day operations of supporting 16,600 members. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES The Manitoba Teachers Society building in Winnipeg. Three different people have served in that role over the last 18 months, a period during which MTS has grappled with infighting and low morale among support staff, as well as multiple workplace investigations. 'It's time that we have a properly appointed leader of this organization,' Cale Dunbar of the Brandon Teachers Association told hundreds of colleagues packed into a conference room in downtown Winnipeg. 'This room is the highest authority — in all of our bylaws, we are the body that controls the future of MTS — and I think everybody in this room has a right to know what's happened and what's going to happen to make sure that we have an executive director quickly, moving forward.' Dunbar requested the multi-day meeting agenda be amended to include an in-camera session to discuss leadership matters on the final morning of the four-day event. The AGM runs Wednesday through Saturday at the RBC Convention Centre. Speaking in support of his motion, the Brandon-based teacher said it had been 'a rough year' for the union and its reputation due to 'staff turmoil' and media coverage of it. MTS hired a third party at the start of the school year to conduct a workplace audit to respond to complaints about office culture, harassment and morale issues. A summary of Richter Consulting's findings and recommendations have been shared with administrative staff who are represented by Teamsters Local 979. 'The process is moving in the right direction…. We look forward to continuing to work with MTS leadership after the AGM to build a healthier work environment,' Teamsters Canada spokesman Christopher Monette said in a statement. Monette said turnover in management has helped ease tensions. Executive director Danielle Fullan Kolton announced her resignation in December after a 13-month leave, around the same time as the chief financial officer and another high-ranking manager. MTS president Nathan Martindale also revealed he would not be seeking re-election during the winter break. Teamsters said seven of 13 grievances it has filed since 2023 have been resolved through arbitration. 'Additionally, members who filed individual grievances will be receiving a formal apology letter from the organization,' Monette said. Dunbar told the AGM that teachers have questions about internal operations and allowing them to ask them in private is most appropriate. Members know little other than a search committee to find a new executive director was formed, he noted. His motion passed with overwhelming support, but not without Dunbar being questioned about his intentions and the point of holding such a session. There have been two different temporary executive directors since Fullan Kolton went on leave in November 2023. Glen Anderson, the latest interim leader, declined to comment on the ongoing search to replace him, saying the matter is with the provincial executive, better known as PX. PX is made up of a president, vice-president and members-at-large who are elected by the membership. Teacher-delegates will cap off their 2025 annual general meeting with elections Saturday to replace seven departing PX members. The union's outgoing president is returning to the front lines of his profession to teach elementary schoolers in Winnipeg in the fall. Martindale said in an interview that it is 'an exciting time' for the union because a leadership shakeup is on the horizon. 'It's a sign of an engaged membership that we have multiple people running for all the different spots,' he said. The union leader said he could not disclose any details about hiring or the results of a recent third-party probe into labour concerns raised by MTS employees, many of whom field teacher complaints about their workplaces and advocate for them. Martindale said those matters have been discussed by PX in private. An internal workforce survey, which was conducted by Teamsters in 2023, found most of its members who run day-to-day operations at MTS felt their office was not a psychologically safe place and was being run by incompetent managers. Sixty per cent of respondents disclosed they feared sanctions from their bosses. Eight in 10 of them said they considered the then-executive team to be 'inept in conflict resolution.' Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. After those results made headlines, a group of local union executives penned an unusual letter to PX on March 7, 2024 to urge it undertake an inquiry to expose whistleblowers. Multiple signatories — Jonathan Waite, Jamie Shuhyta and Mervat Yehia — are currently mounting campaigns for PX. Waite, who is based out of the Seine River School Division, is running for president. He is up against Garden Valley teacher Joel Swaan and Lillian Klausen, who is currently at the helm of the teachers' society's francophone counterpart. All of the three nominees are experienced union representatives. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
01-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
B.C. judge orders Monette Farms from Swift Current, Sask. to pay $12-million fee to adviser in ranching deal
A British Columbia judge says Saskatchewan farming magnate Darrel Monette must pay the $12 million he promised to an adviser in a multimillion-dollar ranching deal in 2021. David Dutcyvich owns Vancouver Island-based 3L Developments Inc., which advised Monette in the ranching deal, the judgment said. Born on a farm in Saskatchewan, Dutcyvich moved to B.C. as a teen and started working as a logger. He went on to create Lemare Lake Logging and then, from those profits, form 3L Developments, now part of a related group of companies through which he carries out development, ranching and agricultural activities. Monette is the owner of Monette Farms Ltd., a ranching and farming operation with holdings in Saskatchewan, B.C., Manitoba and the United States. In a news release March 31, he said that the company, based in Swift Current, Sask., about 245 kilometres west of Regina, is appealing the ruling. Justice Emily Burke's 50-page ruling on March 25 from the Supreme Court of British Columbia details the complex maneuvering behind the multimillion-dollar deal involving cattle and thousands of hectares scattered across 16 ranches in the province's interior. For all its complexities, Burke's decision came down to deciding which of the two multimillionaire farmers was telling the truth about what was or wasn't said on a day in May 2021 when the two men took a helicopter ride near Kamloops to tour the ranches. Burke chose to believe Dutcyvich's account of what happened. "Mr. Dutcyvich said he had a brief early morning conversation with Mr. Monette just prior to the helicopter tour, during which he advised Mr. Monette that his work was essentially done and he expected his $12 million when the deal closed," Burke wrote. "Mr. Monette says this conversation did not occur." B.C. cattle country The dispute began in 2020 when the Blue Goose Cattle Company in Vancouver wanted to sell its ranching interests in B.C. The shares in Blue Goose Cattle were owned by Blue Goose Capital, which is a subsidiary of the Dundee Corp., a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Blue Goose Cattle owned 16 separate ranches with more than 18,200 hectares and 14,000 cows. It started negotiating the sale with LBJ Capital Inc., based in Okotoks, Alta, about 45 kilometres south of Calgary. As part of its due diligence, LBJ hired Dutcyvich and his company, 3L Developments, to review the deal. "He is an 81-year-old, self-made, successful businessman," Justice Burke wrote. According to Burke's decision, Blue Goose wanted just over $100 million for its holdings. Dutcyvich's deal with LBJ was to see if the price was fair, and if he could get it lower, he would get a portion of anything under the $100 million asking price. "For example, as Mr. Dutcyvich explained, if he was able to reduce the purchase price by $20 million, Mr. Dutcyvich and 3L Developments would receive $10 million," Burke wrote. The judgment details how Dutcyvich's chief financial officer at 3L Developments reviewed the company's private financial statements, while Dutcyvich did on-the-ground inspections to ultimately value the holdings at $76 million. He concluded that Blue Goose had claimed to have more cows than it did, moved equipment between ranches to fudge the amount of assets, and would have a problem with its land leases as property was being returned to First Nations peoples. After providing LBJ Capital the advice, the company and Blue Goose entered into a preliminary deal in June 2020 to sell the package for $76 million. This would net Dutcyvich a $12 million fee — half the $24 million difference from the original $100 million asking price. Monette Farms enters the picture As it happened, LBJ Capital was unable to close the deal and by the fall of 2020 Blue Goose decided it wouldn't deal with the company. "At this time, unknown to Mr. Dutcyvich and 3L Developments, it appears that the defendants, Darrel Monette and Monette Farms, were making arrangements to have some measure of involvement with LBJ," Burke wrote. "Mr. Monette disputes this. However, I find that the evidence supports this involvement." Monette was involved in conference calls in late 2020 involving LBJ and Dutcyvich, Burke wrote. In January 2021, Blue Goose cut its dealings with LBJ. In March, Monette and Dutcyvich first met in person, which is when Dutcyvich said Monette first asked for help. Burke wrote that the crucial conversation about Dutcyvich's fee happened on the helicopter ride to tour the ranches, in the first or second week of May 2021. "As part of this conversation, Mr. Dutcyvich said to Mr. Monette: "You know the deal, my fee is $12 million … are you going to pay me?" Mr. Dutcyvich testified that Mr. Monette replied "yes," he would pay the fee," Burke wrote. "When cross-examined on why he took no more steps to confirm the payment owed by Monette Farms, Mr. Dutcyvich said that he took Mr. Monette at his word when he said he would pay Mr. Dutcyvich for the work. He liked and trusted Mr. Monette, and so he didn't feel the need to pursue him." In October 2021, Dundee Corp. announced it had closed the sale of its Blue Goose Capital Corp. shares to Monette Farms. Justice Burke had harsh words for Monette in her conclusion. "The defendants' duplicity throughout sought to minimize and deny the work undertaken by the plaintiffs, and I do not accept those claims. As argued, Mr. Monette appears to be reluctant to pay for those who assist him on his path to accumulate his very significant wealth, and the court will not assist him in those endeavours." In the March 31 news release, Monette and Monette Farms wrote "we completely reject and disagree with the findings of the judge and will be appealing the decision to the BC Court of Appeal immediately."
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ski resort reports declining Canadian visits
Though the winter has provided a bright spot for the Titus Mountain Ski Area and snow sports enthusiasts throughout the region, there apparently has been a slight decline in the number of Canadian visitors. There have been two key issues regarding Canada in recent months that potentially have had an impact on the number of Canadians crossing the border and spending time — and tourist dollars — in the North Country: The proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods and the change in hours of two border crossings in the area. On Jan. 6, the Chateaugay and Trout River, border crossings started new hours and are only open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., which means Canadians wishing to visit Titus Mountain must travel further to enter the United States if they don't cross during that window of time. According to Titus Mountain's Director of Operations Bruce Monette III, he has heard that some visitors from Canada have indeed experienced issues traveling from Quebec with the borders closing at 6 p.m. and making it difficult for them to come enjoy a day of skiing. 'We haven't heard much feedback from the Canadians regarding the tariffs,' Monette said, adding that he has noticed less visitors from our neighbors to the north. 'Our Canadian traffic is slightly down, but we are not sure if that is because of the tariffs, or the border crossing situation.' Although there is no way to know the real reason for the apparent decline in visitors from Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Feb. 2 addressed the tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump and urged Canada's citizens to unite and spend domestically instead. 'Now is the time to choose Canada ... It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites and tourist destinations our great country has to offer,' he said in an address to Canadian citizens. According to the U.S. Travel Association, tariffs on Canada could impact Canadian visitation to and spending in the United States. 'Canada is the top source of international visitors to the United States, with 20.4 million visits in 2024, generating $20.5 billion in spending and supporting 140,000 American jobs,' reads a report on its website. 'A 10% reduction in Canadian travel could mean 2.0 million fewer visits, $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 job losses.'
