Q and A
1. Q. Why Irving?
A. Because the Irving group of companies is greedy, cavalier, rapacious, and undemocratic. Unlike many companies and organizations in our community, the Irving group of companies undertake activies with an anti-competitive, vindictive attitude. What to find out what we mean? Try starting a newspaper in New Brunswick…even just a fun, local-issues paper like [here] once was.
2. Q. Why “greed”?
A. The Irving group of companies has produced a every expensive perception that they are good “corporate citizens.” The companies’ tightly-managed publicity campaigns are the only voice sanctioned in mainstream discussion in New Brunswick. We hope that people so personally and intimately impacted by Irving’s activities keep in mind why companies, including Irving, undertake projects that appear to be in the public interest: to make more, and faster, profit. Companies do not act with any other intention than to expand and increase profit. Irving’s public profile is a carefully managed tool to attain their greater goal: profit.
3. Q. Why now?
A. Irving companies have long had undue influence on political decisions in Saint John, and elsewhere in New Brunswick. We have been compelled to act now because of Irving’s increased overzealous and anti-democratic activities. Citizens of New Brunswick have reacted like never before to the same issues with which we are very concerned:
- Huge investment in regressive technology: a second oil refinery in our already environmentally devastated city.
- The Post-Secondary Education report that suggests that UNBSJ be fundamentally changed, transforming our degree-granting university into a polytechnic school which would serve Irving’s, and others businesses’, need for skilled labour. We will not allow our eductation system to be molded to the desires and (stated or simply understood) requirements of business or industry.
- Lack of environmental responsibility.
- Union busting and general anti-labour activities.
- Aggressive control of the media.
- So much more!
4. Q. But doesn’t the Irving group of companies donate lots of money to worthy causes in Saint John and elsewhere?
A. That depends how you define “lots.” But no matter what “lots” means to you, we’re not really sure what proportion of Irving’s undoubtedly spectacular profits are dedicated to carefully chosen local causes: the Irving companies are privately-held, and family-owned. They choose to not disclose their financial information. Irving profits do not get distributed to share holders who can demand detailed financial information. The profits go to, well, the Irvings.
What we do know is that when an Irving company choses to make a financial donation, it is carefully managed, well publicized, and always has the goal of keeping public opinion in the favour of “Irving.” Who still calls Taylor Island its real name? We all now know it as the “Irving Nature Park.”
5. Q. But without Irving, where would all the people that work for Irving make their living?
A. No one would argue against the many skilled and well-paid jobs in New Brunswick that Irving’s activities generate. But we believe that good jobs are possible without the environmental detestation, undemocratic influence, media domination, anti-competitive activities, and plain bullying for which Irving is well and accurately recognized.
6. Q. I think Saint John and New Brunswick are better off with Irving’s activities, and the amount of political power the companies wield. How do I get my point of view addressed here?
A. The position you describe is the orthodox opinion and is reproduced in just about all of the mainstream media. Please write a letter to the Telegraph Journal and tell them your opinion: it will probably be published (see our posting titled “Why negative Irving attitude?” from December 24th, 2007, for example).
