Opinion

John Edward MacDonell is the longest serving chief of staff for a minister of National Defence in Canadian history. Over seven years, he was the right hand of Peter MacKay during the Stephen Harper government, with six of those at DND.

Newfoundland and Labrador has made a common sense decision on the distribution of cannabis in that province. It has opted for a private sector distribution model, breaking away from the ill-considered public sector monopolies being set up in Ontario and New Brunswick.

Since I arrived in Halifax more than 30 years ago, the occupant at 2063 Gottingen Street was for most of that time the Sumarah brother’s Argyle TV. Then, briefly, Carrot Co-op hung its banner there.

Charlene Brophy is a force of nature. She’s the CEO of Fonemed — Newfoundland and Labrador’s wildly successful telemedicine company — and the best sale agent the company could have. Passionate, energetic, smart and visionary, Charlene has grown the company to 200 employees with revenue growth last year (2016) in the $10-20 million.

Rob Steele built his entrepreneurial career in auto-related industries throughout the 1990s. Steele Auto Group is now the largest and most diversified auto group in Atlantic Canada with 900 employees and 17 dealerships in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, and represents auto 22 brands.

In case you missed it, the federal government has delivered another solution looking for a problem. EI parental benefits will be extended over 18 months at a lower benefit rate of 33 per cent of average weekly earnings to a maximum of $362 per week.

I had a meeting with a government official this week. For this column, it doesn’t really matter who, or what department, or even the issue. My inspiration for today’s spleen venting comes from comments which very well might have been uttered by hundreds of government officials at any given moment.

Kyle Racki co-founded Proposify with Kevin Springer in Halifax in 2013. Proposify is software designed to assist agencies create custom proposals for clients online.

Jonathan Torrens is probably best known currently for his roles of J-Roc in the popular television series Trailer Park Boys and CBC’s current comedy Mr. D.

Jim Spatz is the Chairman and CEO of Southwest Properties Limited, one of Atlantic Canada’s leading real estate developers.