Earlier this week, there was a big ceremonial hoopla ‘passing of the torch’ that went down. No, I’m not talking about the pope. This one happened in St. John’s at Confederation Building. So now you know it wasn’t nearly as exciting as the pope, either.
A lot of people were in attendance, though. Not as many as for the pope, but a few, none-the-less. Of course, it was people with “Honorable” before their name, for the most part. A couple common folk probably snuck in, but no one cares about them.
I’m talking, of course, about the day John Crosbie stepped aside as Lieutenant-Governor and passed the crown to Frank Fagan. Now, if many of you are like me, you’re saying, “Frank who?”
“Fagan.”
“Who?”
“Exactly.”
Now, I’m not trying to discredit the work that Mr. Fagan has done in his lifetime – I’m sure in its own right, it was very successful and worthwhile. In fact, I’m almost bold enough to say it was perhaps groundbreaking or life changing on some level or another.
I suppose that conclusion is reached, somewhat, with the hope that those in the right to do so wouldn’t enlist the services of someone otherwise, for such a great honor.
I’ve just never heard of the man until now. Again – nothing against him, I’m sure it’s completely my fault and I should be ashamed of myself for being so uncultured and oblivious to the real issues of the day.
It’s now I’d like to point out, though, that a good number of you reading this probably have no idea who Sheldon Cooper is either, but yet, I’m not judging any of you.
Mr. Fagan is now the 13th Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. This week he started his job of doing what the Government tells him to do, no matter who they are or what colour they wear, and hosting dinner parties where people dress up in penguin suits and drink fancy champagne and eat delicacies that are probably so far removed from Newfoundland and Labrador it would cause Joey Smallwood to … well … you know.
Other than that, Fagan has to give out a few awards, give a speech once a year that he doesn’t even write, and kill time living in a big fancy house with staff to wait on him hand and foot and bring in a nice little salary to boot.
Oh, and of course, if the Queen ever comes to town, it’s his job to pick her up at the airport.
All-in-all, Fagan, and Crosbie before him, is costing the Governemnt of Newfoundland and Labrador a bit of cash to keep around. Sorry – scratch that. Fagan is costing you and me a bit to keep around.
In a province where they’re talking cuts up the ying yang, and slashing EAS offices and Education programs like it’s nobody’s business, I tend to think I found another place that could see a few cuts – or a few cut-offs.
Now, obviously Fagan is just settling in, so it would be unfair to get rid of him right away. How about this: we keep him around long enough to get his stamps, then show him the door.
Based on the job description he came into, I don’t think it’s hard to justify a Shortage of Work on his ROE.
— Rudy Norman
