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Speak Up

Well, ol' Monkeytown is still abuzz after the rock star-like appearance of the former prez, Bill Clinton, this week. The silver-haired smoothie had the audience of more than 5,000 people in the palm of his hand for his 45-minute speech. Sleuth was just as interested in the crowd itself, which included several captains of industry, as well as business and government movers-and-shakers.

On his way out of the Coliseum, Sleuth was particularly struck by one long-legged beauty; her heels were taller than Frank McKenna and her skirt was somewhat shorter. The crowd outside the Coliseum couldn't help but watch and wonder who the men and women slipping into a stretch limousine after the Clinton speech were, especially the blonde who stood about eight feet tall.

The plates on the limo, WOODS, had many thinking that was the clue to the mystery. Alas, the limo merely belonged to Woods Limousine Inc. of Halifax and they're not in the business of discussing who their clients are. A mystery continues.

***

Sticking with Clinton, Sleuth hears the entire entourage accompanying him, which included some stern looking Secret Service officers and other assorted handlers, stopped into Little Louis' Oyster Bar & Restaurant before the big speech. Quite a coup for one of Moncton's best-loved eateries.

And Frank McKenna is no slouch when it comes to putting on a party. Among those spotted at Frank's soiree Monday night for outgoing U.S. ambassador to Canada David Wilkins was everyone from former Ontario Premier David Peterson to Chrétien-era spin-meister Peter Donolo to Liberal thinker Tom Axworthy.

There was much speculation at the party on who would replace Wilkins. Someone quipped that Oprah Winfrey would be good. Naw, huffed another, "She would find Ottawa winters too harsh."

***

Sleuth loves to drive around Metro to get an idea of what's happening. On a recent journey out Elmwood Drive he turned into Royal Oaks and wanted to reminisce about the good old days. Those days included curler extraordinaire, Russ Howard, at the Brier eloquently preaching the virtues of owning in Royal Oaks. It seems the days of drilling rig owner Ron Goguen being a real estate developer may be numbered as Sleuth hears a deal has been recently brokered by a Halifax realtor to sell all of the remaining real estate except the prized Royal Oaks Golf Course itself.

***

Sleuth then took a drive up St. George Boulevard and noticed the Chrysler Building looked a little deserted. The car manufacturer announced earlier this fall it was closing the Atlantic distribution centre in Moncton.

But Sleuth now hears it won't be empty for long, as a deal is imminent in which a well-known Moncton window manufacturer will centralize all their far-flung activities under one roof and make this building their headquarters. Moving from Rideout Street to St. George Boulevard is not really that far.

***

Sleuth loves concert gossip and he picked up a doozy this week from our friends over in P.E.I. The Island government has confessed it forked over $400,000 to the promoters of a doomed rock concert held this September in Alexandra, P.E.I. The show was headlined by Alanis Morrissette but attracted only 3,000 fans, far short of the 10,000 expected.

It seems the promoters went to the provincial government the day before the show, begging them to cancel it due to poor ticket sales. But the province, fearing the black eye the concert business would get from such a last-minute cancellation, decided the show must go on.

Months later, the promoters have paid back $100,000 of the funding, but the government now admits the taxpayers are on the hook for the remaining $300,000.

One more competitor to Moncton bites the dust . . .

***

Sleuth has some hot tips on pending appointments by the Progressive Conservatives in New Brunswick.

Marie-Claude Blais, who has risen like a rocket in the party in recent months, is rumoured to be in line to become the new executive-director of the N.B. PC Party. Blais is a Moncton lawyer and ran against Mike Murphy in Moncton North. Many in the party see her as a future bright light as a candidate.

Another Metro Moncton name, Dallas McCready, is rumoured to be in line to become new PC Leader David Alward's chief of staff. McCready was an advertising consultant and marketing manager and a close adviser of former premier Bernard Lord.

***

And finally . . . While roaming around the Conseil Economique du Nouveau Brunswick annual dinner in Moncton last Saturday, Sleuth noted that the winter storm did not deter hundreds from attending from all corners of the province.

Premier Shawn Graham was there, as well as several cabinet ministers and MLAs. Who was a no-show? Was there a Progressive Conservative MLA in the audience? No Percy Mockler, no Paul Robichaud, no Jeannot Volpé, and perhaps most surprisingly, no PC Leader David Alward.

Alward speaks passable French and you would think the PCs would love to take the opportunity to press the flesh with some of New Brunswick's most prominent francophones. The party just may need their support in the next election, eh?

* Have you heard some juicy gossip? Do you know the latest rumours? Sleuth wants to know. Send your best info to sleuth@timestranscript.com, fax it to (506) 859-4904 or drop it off to Sleuth c/o Times & Transcript, 939 Main St., Moncton.