RailGate Relations.....Assumptions 'R Us.

FalseAssumptions
MakeAnAssOutOfYouAndMeVille



Les Leyne made some 'interesting' assumptions in his Victoria Times Colonist column published yesterday.

Here's one of them:

"If nothing else, the (four year, $297,000) contract (with Patrick Kinsella) and the justification explain why B.C. Rail was such a dead loss as a business enterprise. The management was so completely bereft of business smarts they had to hire outside help to tell them how to get along with their only shareholder."

But does it actually demonstrate a management completely 'bereft of business smarts'?

Well, first of all, how do we know that the BC Rail management even had a choice? And second, if they did, how do we know they were not following Vito Corleone's advice by 'holding their friends close and their enemies closer'.

Which brings us to two more assumptions from Mr. Leyne's column, both framed in the form of questions:

"On what planet does that scenario make any sense? Since when do Crown corporations need government relations advice?"

Look.

The BC Rail/Kinsella 'contract' began in 2002.

And at that time, anybody who was paying any attention at all could see that the Campbell government's PR machine had already started to crank things up to clear the tracks for the great dismantling. Thus, with that in mind, one could just as easily turn Mr. Leyne's assumptions on their head and conclude that the hiring of Mr. Kinsella made a whole lot of sense on a whole lotta levels (not to mention planets) given that such advice might be critical for the Crown corporation's very survival.

Or death.

Depending, of course, on your point of view and/or your assumptions regarding the true intent of the good folks who were close to the Mr. Campbell's government at the time.

OK?


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