Investment advisor expands on why we should Occupy the Bell Centre

When I picked up a copy of La Presse recently and saw Montreal investment dealer David Ipperciel’s proposal to “Occupy the Bell Centre” I was really intrigued.  I have found the salaries being paid to professional athletes revolting for some time. In the case of the Canadiens, I was shocked to see former GM Bob Gainey trade for  past his prime $7.3 million a year  forward Scott Gomez and then give Mike Cammalari ($6 milllion) and Brian  Gionta ($5 million) annual contracts beyond their worth. Yes, as my good friend Abe Hefter from CJAD always reminds me, “Gainey got Gomez in order to attract free agents like Cammalari and Gionta.”

David Ipperciel

Even if Gomez scored 30 goals, I’d have a problem with the salary he is making. Pierre Gauthier, Gainey’s successor and the man most likely truly responsible for us being saddled with Gomez, gave defenceman André Markov a three year $17 million contract last summer when there was no clear indication if his bad knee could  hold out. As of today, he has yet to play a game all season.

True, this is owner Geoff Molson’s money.  He spent $500 million to buy the Habs. It is a business. Nobody is forced to  buy tickets or souvenirs or watch the team play on television. Professional sports is entertainment. People do not complain about Daniel Radcliffe or Julia Roberts making $20 million per movie.

Here is a translation Ipperciel sent me of his piece in La Presse:

I work in the financial sector in Montreal and feel that much attention is directed towards our industry following the Occupy Wall Street movement.  Being of a generous nature, I would like to share this attention with others.

I propose a new movement: Occupy Bell Centre. People complain about the high level of salaries in the financial sector, far above the average pay.  However, the income of professional athletes is clearly higher than those of my peers.  How dare they extract such compensation!  After all, they only play a game, often in an unruly way...  Worse yet, half the teams perform below the median of their league!  How can they justify their astronomical salaries in those conditions?

Many will quickly point out than the financial sector of Wall Street had to be bailed out (not in Canada, but who’s noticing).  To those, I must recall that every penny paid out by the US government to the financial sector through the TARP program was reimbursed.  At the end, the program did not take away money from the American taxpayer.

On the other hand, professional sport teams are able to build arenas with the help of public funds, and often benefit from tax rebates or exemptions.  In contrast, the financial sector is one of the biggest contributors to government tax receipts, through corporate or personal tax, topped by a special payroll tax targeted specifically to them.

We can also expect to see new financial regulations implemented soon (Bâle, Volkner Rule).  In the hockey world, the legitimacy of violence is still being debated.  In this context, Occupy Bell Center is probably not a bad idea. 

Or why not Occupy Capitol Hill?  The governments have been important contributors of the financial crisis.  In the US, minimal targets for low income families were imposed by Congress to Fannie Mae and other agencies, in order to boost home ownership.  This helped develop the subprime market which led to the debacle.  The Chinese government manipulated the yuan’s exchange rate, which encouraged over-consumption all over the world, and launched the risk-seeking frenzy that followed because of the lower rates that it generated.  The Federal Reserve contributed by keeping rates too low for too long.  And more important, European governments exacerbated the crisis with their unrestrained accumulation of debt, threatening our social democracy.  Let us join in this popular indignation by occupying all these places!

I spoke to Ipperciel some more about his article. He agreed his tongue was planted firmly in cheek.

“No, I don’t think an Occupy Bell Centre would work,” he conceded.  “The whole ‘Occupy’  movement attracts sympathy because of its vagueness, so that everybody can relate.  An Occupy   Bell  Centre would have a more specific demand ( such as lower salaries which would bring a more polarized debate.  In any case, I was being facetious.  People are quick to denounce the big salaries of financiers.  If the salaries are too big, then why not criticize anybody else with a huge salary, like professional athletes?

“I really have no problem in principal against the high salaries of professional athletes.  I say in principal, because in practice, professional teams have become experts in blackmailing governments for handouts, whether for building a new amphitheater, or tax credits.  I’m sure you can come up with examples in hockey or Formula One. Would the salaries of these professionals be as high without government aid?  Probably not.  What they attract  -or extract- from their talent or the perceived attractiveness of their product, they entirely deserve.  They are not putting a gun to anyone’s head to buy their tickets or watch them on TV.  They deserve what they get from fans. 

"I just have a problem with what they get from government.  From what I understand, the Montreal Canadiens have paid for the Bell Centre without government aid, and they pay full taxes every year on it.  So whatever salary they pay to their team is their business, as they must remain competitive.  As for Scott Gomez, they made a bet, and do not seem to have gotten a good return on their investment.  As a citizen, I have no problem.  As a fan, I can’t be too happy.  But that  is the nature of the game.  Regarding the whole pro hockey scene, we should all be outraged as long as there is government involvement, using our tax money to make millionaires even richer? Come on!  The funny thing is that the Americans - supposedly capitalists - seem more prone to this than Canadians - supposedly socialists. Go figure."

Bravo David!   

Here is a look at Occupy Wallstreet Montreal.

Fantastic TNT G!ee High School Showdown in Montreal

The team from Bialik High School in Côte Saint-Luc, with a superb Michael Jackson Medley, took first place on November 13 at the second annual TNT JFK G!ee High School Showdown. It took place before a capacity crowd of 750 at the Eric MacLean S. J. Centre for the Performing Arts of Loyola High School in N.D.G.,   bringing in $102,000 for  The “Just For Kids” Foundation. The latter raises funds to purchase new, high-priority equipment for The Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH).

Bialik in action (photos by Rob Taussig of The Suburban).

The Bialik team of Michaela Elhadad, Samantha Leibgott, Jacky Shiff, Jordana Singer, Alizee Znaty, Levana Znaty,  Rachel Korman, Brandon Schwartz,  Sarah Shtern and Niki Sochaczevski performed an original arrangement by recording artist Kurt Schneider.  Team coordinators Diane Dupuis Kallos (affectionately known as DDK) and Samantha Druzin were assisted by John Dodge on vocals and Andree Aiza Styles with the choreography. Dodge shortened the song and recorded the music track.



The St. George's Glee team.



 Defending champions St. George’s School of Montreal came in second, with their version of Van Halen’s Jump. Team members Zac Bensoussan, Sara Diamond, Rachel Kirstein, Michaela Kovic, Polly Mendel, Alex Cohen, Andrea Kaplin, Olivia Kostin-Cohen, Matthew McPherson and Patrick Park were expertly guided by drama and theatre teacher Candace Grynol. Despite the fact she is on maternity leave this year, Ms. Grynol has been on campus and will continue to be all year to operate the highly successful St. George’s Glee Club. Since its creation two years ago, the club has held much anticipated multi-sellouts shows each May. Work is already well underway for the May 2012 presentation.  Staffers Aaron Stamboulieh (resident computer boss) and Stephanie Blum (science teacher) lent Ms. Grynol helpful hands.

Royal Vale High School of N.D.G. finished third  after an energetic performance to the tunes of Freedom- All Stars,  Price Tag by Jessie J and Everything is Everything by Lauryn Hill. Team members Kaya Benskin, Katara Dopwell, Ranee-Inez Henegan-Comeau, Ryan Vottero, Keamar Browne, Thayda Grey, Kanika McKenzie and Janessa Williams were guided by Bariyah Wright, Jodie Thompson and Selana Lobo.

Kuper Academy in  Kirkland, Lindsay Place High School in Pointe Claire, LaurenHill Academy in St. Laurent, Selwyn House  and The Study in Westmount and Trafalgar School for Girls in Montreal were the other school competing. Each school was required to raise at least $1,000. Bialik brought in $,7,340.  Dupuis Kallos was recognized with an outstanding leadership and fundraising achievement award. She personally raised $1,300

Royal Vale celebrates.

 “Thanks to the astounding popularity of the Emmy and Golden Globe winning television show Glee, teens throughout North America are embracing the Glee phenomenon by performing their own Glee music/ dance routines” said Ali Greenberg, chairperson of  the TNT JFK G!EE High School Showdown. “So we decided to create a platform for the kids to have their own glee-like competition.

 JFK is comprised of approximately 200 volunteers across four chapters throughout the island of Montreal, each one hosting an exciting fundraising event within the community each year. Now in its milestone 25th year, JFK has purchased over $7.5 million worth of equipment that the MCH might not have otherwise been able to procure within its own budget limits.

This was a highly entertaining afternoon, hosted by Virgin Radio hosts Cousin Vinny and Tony Stark. Andrea Collins, another on-air personality, was one of the judges.

Total Entertainment coordinated  the music while  drummer-vocalist Paul Lizzi kept everyone hopping in between school performances,   The Royal Vale Bollywood Troupe, a group of Grade 3 elementary students, brought the house down while the Pack Boys showed the audience why they won silver at the 2011 Canadian Hip Hop championships.

Cousin Vinny and Stark proved to be excellent auctioneers, starting the bidding at $100 and getting $1,000 for a signed and framed script by the actual Glee TV show cast.

Lisa Steinberg, the president of the executive of Just For Kids, stated that monies raised will go to the hospital’s “Rest Assured” campaign, benefiting the Anesthesia Service. Steinberg sent a very important message at the start of the event when she asked everyone to rise who ever had a child as a patient at the hospital or ever visited the hospital for any reason. Few people remained in their seats at this point.

Congrats to Greenberg, Steinberg and other stellar volunteers who made this event happen: Jill Aberman, Amanda Chicoine, Steven Eisenberg, Fran Goffman, Barbara Kurtzman Phillips, Sandra D’Elesio Lanno, Lynda Lubin, Tina Maniastis Troulis, Randi Milstein Cohen, Jill Morganstein Kimmel, Marla Oringer, Eden Polansky Flomen, Bridget Sachs, Jo-Ann Toulch, Ying Wang and Jillian Zrihen.  At the JDF office,  managing director Debbie Shapiro is the glue that keeps the operation rolling.

Will CRTC approve English talk radio application for Montreal?

The Canadian Radio-telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is expected to rule on a number of applications for two vacant dials on the Montreal AM band, 690 and 940, by the beginning of December. There were plenty of interveners at the hearings held recently. Industry insiders believe that TSN 990 will move to 690 and benefit from a stronger signal; Cogeco Media’s proposed all-traffic station will get 940 and  Radio Fierté, a French-language music and talk station targeted towards Montreal's gay community  will land on 990.

That being said, those who attended the CRTC hearings do believe that a talk radio proposal being steered by Paul Tietolman, Rajiv Pancholy, Nicolas Tetrault, Steve Kowch and Jim Connell could end up being  a surprise choice over all-traffic. Tietolman et al want a companion French talk station and word has it the CRTC might even be willing to open up a new dial that was not even in the mix to begin with.

Eighty per cent of anglophones and allophones surveyed by Leger Marketing say they want a second  English language news and talk  radio station to listen to on the AM dial,  the  Tietolman group maintains. “Montreal  English language radio listeners have been suffering from the lack of choice and diversity in  English news/talk radio for two and a half years,” he said. Currently, there is only one station providing news/talk programming. There is actually more choice in markets smaller than Montreal's English language market.”

Nicolas Tetrault and Paul Tietolman

Added Pancholy, another managing partner: “A new English news/talk voice will create employment opportunities for many established, creative broadcast talent as well as "new emerging talent" who currently have been deprived of working on radio because of a lack of opportunity.  By approving our request to launch both 690 AM and 940 AM, Montreal will have more choice, new employment opportunities will be created, and Montreal will finally have an  English radio station that will broadcast news and talk programming live 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

The Tietolman group had assistance in its presentation from Leger Marketing,  one of the most reputable market research companies in North America.  According to Christian Bourque,

• 80 per cent of Montreal anglophones are interested and even very interested in the type of talk radio project Tietolman et al are  proposing.
•    65 per cent are very interested to listen to a new radio station that would present on air head to head debates with strong public personalities from politics to economics and important issues of the day.
•  60 per cent of anglophones in Montreal expressed a clear interest and intention to listen to Talk 940 for controversial and provocative debates on air.
•   62 per cent of anglophones clearly state that they would listen outspoken personalities with strong honest opinions.
• 81 per cent of anglophone and allophone Montrealers have clearly stated their intentions to listen to a new talk information radio station on 940AM.

There is no question that the presence of Kowch and Connell on their team adds credibility. Kowch ran two of the largest news talk radio stations in the country for 14 years CFRB in Toronto and CJAD in Montreal. 

“The  English community needs more than just one voice on the AM dial to inform and stimulate opinions about the issues of the day,” Kowch says. “It isn’t that the other station isn’t doing a good job, no one is questioning their integrity and reputation. But the lack of competition breeds complacency .  English talk radio in Montreal, well, it is what it is; and there is no reason to change or to be better when you’re the only game in town. What they do or say on air goes unchallenged.  Of course,  there is the CBC;  but their local Montreal based programming is limited to morning and afternoon drive. We don’t believe the status quo is good for Montreal’s  English community. We believe the addition of 940talk will win back listeners to AM radio.”

To be successful, the 940 Talk format would  create stimulating fresh programming, hosted by new emerging talent to bring back the audience and attract new listeners to the AM band.

Steve Kowch

“We will be fearless in our approach to covering the news; providing investigative reports to shine the light on corruption and scandals to protect the rights of all Montrealers no matter their age, cultural heritage, language,  religion, sexual orientation or politics,” promises Kowch. “Our talk shows will provide a platform to debate and express opinions on all the major issues of the day. And we will be there for our listeners live, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help them during major emergency situations like civic unrest, serious traffic situations and severe weather. We will cover these events in real time. Providing people with the information they need to stay out of harm's way.”

Connell refers back to 1998, when the ice storm paralyzed parts of Quebec for days and even weeks, toppling CJAD’s transmitter towers. “The  English community had a safety net,” he says.  “At the time there was a second  English news talk radio voice, the former CFCF renamed CIQC. But this summer, when the tail end of  Hurricane Irene passed through the Montreal area one weekend there was no safety net. Currently there is a serious problem in Montreal! Nobody in the local population was served adequately by radio during Hurricane Irene. Let us never forget  Hurricane  Irene wasn't a surprise visit. Environment Canada issued warnings she was heading to Montreal. Both the English and French stations had plenty of time for contingency plans to replace the music and taped shows with live storm coverage.  The lack of competition, the lack of choice and the lack of diversity of radio voices resulted in a very stressful and nervous time for hundreds of thousands of Montrealers.”

Tietolman believes  that stations in both official languages, communicating with each other, will allow, for example, the French language news and talk station to provide the French point of view to anglo and allophone listeners, and vice versa. “Anglophones, allophones and francophones in Montreal don’t live in a vacuum,” Kowch says.  “They are neighbours and as such care about what goes on in each other’s communities. We will help them share their thoughts with one another. 940talk will dig beneath the headlines. Shine a light on corruption, wrong doing and scandals through regular special investigative reports and programs.

Connell says the station  will also support and develop the future generation of broadcasters and broadcast journalists. They pledged to allocate a program block once a week with content managed and produced and delivered on air by radio and broadcast journalism students from Montreal area CEGEPS,  colleges and universities. “Talk 940 believes future stars of talk radio will also be found on the internet;  bloggers with huge followings and people hosting podcasts,” Kowch said. “We just need to search them out and put them on the radio.   

To attract younger and new listeners, Talk 940  would have a prominent  presence on  the platforms where these younger demos get their information  and share it with followers on social media. “We believe that to develop new listeners and encourage them to listen to AM radio, Talk 940 must give on air exposure to the on line bloggers, podcasters and print journalists who don’t  currently have access to the Montreal airwaves,” Kowch says.

The impressive story of radio station entrepreneur Tim Martz

Tim Martz

For many years, Tim Martz and I have corresponded by telephone and email. A former Montreal who now runs his radio empire from the warm climate of San Francisco, he does make frequent visits here to visit his staff at offices in Vermont and Pointe Claire. Multiple attempts were made to meet. Finally, Martz’s local sales boss Tim Thompson brought us together for lunch.
Let me say right from the start how impressed I am with Martz. He is the owner of 947 Hits FM and Wild Country 96.5 FM. His company also handles local sales for  Burlington, Vermont’s two top FM radio stations, Star 92.9 and The Buzz 99.9.
Martz is an interesting case study. He was born and raised in Kitchener and moved here at the age of 13 when his dad Don became the sales manager and ultimately general manager of CFCF TV and  Radio and CFQR. After graduating from McGill, he attended Northwestern University in Chicago and earned his MBA. For the next 15 years he worked in the area of mergers and acquisitions before moving into radio, buying, creating and selling stations. Twenty five years ago he established a small station in Presque Isle, Maine on the border of New Brunswick. “I learned pretty quickly at that time that having a US station across the border from Canada allowed you to broadcast there, without having to follow CRTC rules,” he said.
Thirteen years ago he bought what was known as Yes FM in Ogdensburg, New York and relaunched the station at 947 Hits FM. While the studio and transmitter was moved to Malone, New York, a significant presence was established in Montreal via a sales and promotions office in Pointe Claire headed by radio veteran Marty Lamarr  and a non-stop array of local appearances. “It is great not having the CRTC telling you what to do,” he said. “We can air French and bilingual commercials, for instance, something our competitors cannot.”
If 92.5 Star  FM and The Buzz were smart, they would give Martz and Thompson the mandate to engage the services of one or two local on air personalities. There is no question there are Montreal fans of both stations. If they were to add the words “also serving Montreal” and have someone providing a few hits a day on what is new in the big city it would absolutely translate into more listeners.
I guess only time will tell.

Bombardier makes smart move with Travolta

Montreal-based Bombardier, the world’s leading business aircraft manufacturer, has welcomed John Travolta as a brand ambassador for its Learjet, Challenger and Global jets. Travolta made an appearance at the company’s California headquarters a few weeks back and as I just learned, he then flew here to share his good news with local staffers.

A Bombardier press release tells us this:

Recognized worldwide as an accomplished actor and film producer, John Travolta is also a licensed jet pilot and an advocate for corporate aviation. With a busy schedule of filming, publicity and charity work, he embodies the persona of the true business traveler - making him an ideal representative for Bombardier Business Aircraft.

“John is both a film icon and knowledgeable aviator,” said Steve Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “He also recently added the Challenger aircraft to the impressive list of 11 different jets he is qualified to fly, an aircraft that offers him the ability to meet his passion for aviation and demanding business travel requirements all in one. We are thrilled to have him as our brand ambassador.”

Here is Travolta’s appearance at Bombardier’s Burbank, California headquarters. I have not been able to secure anything from his stop at the Dorval plant just a day later:

With an acting career spanning over 30 years,  Travolta has starred in 60 films and has been honoured with a number of prestigious film awards and award nominations. He has received two aviation awards – the American Institute of Aeronautics Foundation Award for Excellence in 2003, and the Living Legends Ambassador of Aviation award in 2007. He currently holds 11 pilots licenses for both commercial and business jets.

“Business aviation has always made sense to me in that it offers flexibility, privacy, security, and most importantly, timesaving – meaning I have the ability to keep up with my busy schedule and have more time for my family, which is very important to me,”  Travolta said in a statement. “On top of that, I’m a pilot - I love to fly. Bombardier designs aircraft as much for the person flying them as for the passenger. I’m proud to represent their aircraft.”

Bombardier is the business aviation industry’s leading manufacturer. Its portfolio of 11 models of business aircraft, among the industry’s largest and most comprehensive, includes the legendary Learjet aircraft, world-renowned Challenger aircraft and industry-leading Global jet family. Bombardier’s business aircraft are supported by Bombardier Customer Services, a leader in aftermarket service and support with a global service network consisting of 64 maintenance facilities in 27 countries, and ten parts depots on five continents. Bombardier has nearly 190 field service and support staff deployed internationally and is also the only jet manufacturer providing pilot and technical training on its aircraft, with a network of nine facilities worldwide.

When I think of Travolta, I recall being an avid viewer of his very first show – Welcome Back Kotter. He played Vinny Barbarino, one of the so-called Sweat Hogs. The show propelled him into superstardom.

Here is a classic clip of Travolta as Vinny Barbarino:

Here is a recent ABC Welcome Back Kotter Reunion:

Raymond Bachand is one impressive minister

From the time he entered politics, via a provincial byelection on December 12, 2005, I was impressed with the way Raymond Bachand carried himself. Unquestionably, Premier Jean Charest’s decision to recruit the noted businessman and lawyer to run for the Liberal Party in Outremont following the retirement of Yves Seguin was one of his better moves.

Raymond Bachand makes a point to Beryl and I.

Bachand was elected on December 12, 2005 in Outremont in a by-election after the retirement of former Finance Minister Yves Séguin.  After holding the economic development portfolio, he added tourism to his duties  during the minority government mandate from April 2007 to October 2008  before becoming minister of finance and latterly revenue as well.

The polished and charming  64 year is impeccably bilingual, holding masters and doctorate degrees in administration from Harvard Business School. Last spring I had a chance meeting with Bachand during a showing of the phenomenal production of Schwartz’s The Musical at the Centaur. He was in the lobby with his wife chatting with artistic director Roy Surette when  I walked  by. I introduced myself about the same time that former federal cabinet minister Gerry Weiner spotted us and joined the introductions. It turned out my seat was close by the minister and at intermission we ended up at the same resting spot outside as did Weiner. A wonderful non-political discussion ensued. A few weeks later I saw him again when he addressed a local community group at which time I asked if he could spare some time to give me an interview for The Suburban. With his very charged schedule, several dates went back and forth but  editor Beryl Wajsman and I did sit down with Bachand a few days ago  for a nice tête a tête  at his constituency office.  


Please note  that the full interview will appear in the October 26 edition.

Before entering politics Bachand worked in several key positions, including the Ministry of Labour and the premier's Office. While he was a a pro-sovereignty supporter during the 1980 referendum, and an organizer for the “Yes” campaign, he changed positions to  maintain that Quebecers should work inside the Canadian federation. He is the ideal person to convince those individuals who still believe in separation that it is an old time strategy. (Just look at what happened to Gilles  Duceppe and the Bloc Québecois folks!)

Speculation these days points to a spring provincial election.  If that were to be the case, then it is pretty much a foregone conclusion that Premier Charest will seek a fourth mandate. However, according to the letter of the law, the Liberals can stay in power for five years. The only way this will happen is if Charest decides to retire and leave his successor with sufficient time to build an image as an electable premier. Claude Béchard was seen by many as a heir apparent. Sadly, he died earlier this year of cancer. Nathalie Normandeau was in high regard as well, but she recently  stepped down herself. Education Minister and present-day Deputy  Premier Line Beauchamp has also been mentioned as potential leadership material. However, like Normandeau, she can barely speak a word of English. Unquestionably, Bachand  remains the most able for the job – a job though that Charest shows no signs of giving up anytime soon.