June 17, 1997
(Justice)

Appointments to Public Utilities Board

The Minister of Justice, Chris Decker, today announced the retirement of two part-time Commissioners of the Public Utilities Board and the appointment of four new part-time Commissioners.

The minister paid tribute to retiring Commissioners Gordon MacDonald and Reg Good for their contribution to the Board over the last few years. Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Good had been retired prior to their appointment and brought to the Board a wealth of experience and knowledge. Both Mr. Good and Mr. MacDonald have distinguished records of achievement including, in both cases, service as Chair of the Public Utilities Board. Mr. Decker expressed his best wishes for a healthy and happy retirement, along with his gratitude on behalf of Government for the distinguished service provided by these gentlemen both as part-time Commissioners and in their previous careers with the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities.

Mr. Decker also announced the appointment of Darlene Whalen, William Finn, Fred Saunders and Gary Vey as part-time Commissioners.

Darlene Whalen, a professional engineer, is a program manager of the Co-operative Education Program at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University. Prior to joining the Faculty of Engineering in 1989, Ms. Whalen worked as an engineer with Acres International Ltd. in St. John's, primarily in the area of water resources engineering. In 1992, she served as an interim commissioner with the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities.

In 1996 Ms. Whalen completed a graduate degree in Environmental Engineering and Applied Sciences from Memorial. She is very active in the local professional and scientific communities and was a founding board member of the local chapter of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and the Newfoundland Science Centre. She served as a councillor on the Newfoundland and Labrador Science and Technology Advisory Council from 1989-1994. Ms. Whalen is also the incoming President of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland (APEGN).

John William Finn has a legal practice in Carbonear. His primary areas of practice are civil litigation, criminal litigation (defense and prosecution), real estate, estates, company law, and contracts. Mr. Finn graduated from St. Mary's University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts and completed his law degree from Dalhousie in 1975.

Mr. Finn is a member of the Labour Standards Panel of Adjudicators as well as a member of the Adjudicative Panel pursuant to the Human Rights Code 1988. He was formerly a standing agent of the Federal Crown Prosecutor and a Past Chairman of the Labour Standards Tribunal.

Fred Saunders was born in Carbonear and educated at the U.C. Academy and Memorial University of Newfoundland. He holds a diploma in Management Development from Northeastern University, Boston, Mass.

In 1968 Mr. Saunders commenced a 10 year career with the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities where he held several management and executive positions, including Director of the Motor Carrier Division, Executive Director of the Board, Clerk of the Board and Commissioner.

In 1978 he was appointed General Manager of Day & Ross (Nfld) Ltd. and in 1981 was appointed President and CEO of Day & Ross (Nfld) Ltd. and Sameday Courier (Nfld) Ltd.

Mr. Saunders is presently engaged in Real Estate Sales and Marketing with Royal LePage/Atlantic Homestead.

Gary Vey is presently employed with the Gander International Airport Authority Inc. Mr. Vey was educated at Bishop's College in St. John's. He also holds diplomas from the former College of Trades and Technology in St. John's and from the University of Waterloo.

Mr. Vey is a professional property appraiser and has been involved in small business development and management in rural socio-economic planning and development.

Mr. Vey has served as Executive Director of the Gander Area Development Corporation. In 1995 he was elected as a Member of the House of Assembly for the District of Gander. Mr. Vey has also served as a part-time Commissioner with the Public Utilities Board from 1991 to 1995.

The minister expressed his best wishes to these four part-time Commissioners on their appointments. Mr. Decker noted that Mr. Ray Pollett and Dr. Wallace Read will be continuing on as part-time Commissioners with the Board. Mr. Pollett is Mayor of Corner Brook and Dr. Read is Past President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and former President of the Canadian Electrical Association.

The minister noted as well that the vice-chair of the Board is Leslie Galway, who is a Chartered Accountant and former Member of the Faculty of Business at Memorial University. The Chairman of the Board, David Vardy, is an Economist who has held a number of positions at the Deputy Minister level in the Newfoundland Public Service including that of Secretary to the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council.

Contact: Karen McCarthy, Director of Communications, (709) 729- 3610.