Seems people of all stripes refuse to let the issue of two salaries (we're not talking macdonalds) - one man die. Particularly now, when that man also holds antediluvian ideas about global warming and is about to helm the province's utilities board. That's plain darn scary. From letters to the editor, to media balladeers (Sean Panting on CBC Radio's morning show), to bloggers, the outrage continues.
Here's a few recent:
Danny, Andy... and Randy
Is it a full-time or part-time job? Through no fault of his own, the big cheese in Mount Pearl finds himself dragged into the latest controversy involving Andy Wells.(Jeff Gilhooly with Mount Pearl mayor Randy Simms)
Listen to this audio feature (Runs 5:22)
Andy Wells and the conflicts of interest
By Edward G. Hollett
When it gets right down to it, there simply is no legitimate, defensible reason to let Andy Wells - or any other full-time mayor - hold down the full-time job of chairman and chief executive officer of the public utilities board. ...for full column, see bond papers.
Newfoundland Comedy Hour
By Yana Out East
Then Mayor Andy Wells was given a new job. He will be the head of the Public Utilities Board in March. This lead to a whole new controversy about whether he should resign as Mayor in March, triggering an expensive byelection or staying ... read full column, see yanaouteast.
And of course, the Telegram's letters to the editor page is crammed with people who've just, well had enough:
09/02/08
I am writing with respect to Andy Wells' forum piece on Feb. 2 ("Manmade global warming?"). I think Mr. Wells is a little late in his debate on the validity of global warming. Although, a lot of money and time is still being spent studying the subject, I think it is a waste of time even pondering the topic. In the meantime, there are indeed severe consequences of our atmospheric greenhouse gas overload. These effects need to be addressed right now.
Perhaps not every part of the world will experience global warming, but there is plenty of evidence, common knowledge and proof that our global climates will change or shift, and are already doing so, rapidly, in response to the release of unregulated carbon emissions.
This and among other negative and positive, natural and unnatural contributors, is currently causing climate to quickly change. This accelerated change is something we really do need to stop wondering about and take action against.
We will spend more money and time debating the notion of global warming at the expense of our environment, our economies, and ultimately our lives. However, the real issue is happening right now all over the globe, and people like Andy Wells, our mayor, are wasting time writing ignorant articles like this.It sounds to me like Mr. Wells is facilitating some junk science he found through Google. Do not be fooled.
Dan Ficken
St. John's
09/02/08
I am writing in response to an article written by St. John's Mayor Andy Wells in the Feb. 2, 2008 edition of The Telegram, entitled "Manmade Global Warming?" It is unfortunate that Mr. Wells, in his attempt to learn more about this important issue, has chosen to ignore the science.
The time for doubt has passed. There is now international consensus that climate change is occurring. In their most recent assessment report (November 2007), the UN International Panel on Climate Change, a body of more than 2,500 scientists, the most recognized and respected group of experts on the subject, unequivocally affirmed that our climate system is indeed warming and linked it directly to human activity.
The fact that Mr. Wells is trying to re-open the denial debate is neither productive nor helpful - and surprising, considering that under his own watch the city created its own Climate Change Action Plan in 2006 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Wells' comments are in complete contradiction to the city's plan which states clearly that, "There is little dispute amongst the scientific community that climate change is occurring ... human activities are upsetting the balance of greenhouse gases." (Eaton, City of St. John's, 2006)
The reality is this: based on the best scientific evidence, if the world warms by two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, we can expect to see significant climatic changes that will pose serious impacts to the economy, ecology and health of our society. Delay in acting will only result in lost opportunities and unacceptable costs (economic, social and environmental). As an example of the economic costs associated with not acting, Sir Nicholas Stern, the former chief economist for the World Bank, suggests that the price tag for cutting emissions to acceptable levels would only be in the order of one per cent of global gross domestic product per year; in contrast, failing to act could cost upwards of 20 per cent per year.
The question Mr. Wells should be asking is not if we are impacting the climate, but by how much? And what he will do as mayor and CEO of the Public Utilities Board to better position St. John's and the province to meet and exceed our climate-change commitments?
Nick Burnaby
Sierra Club of Canada,
Atlantic Canada Chapter
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