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Phillip Dobson's avatar

In 1990 I had a serious problem with a property deed. The provincial government owned a right of way across the property that my fledgling business occupied, and the problem only surfaced when I needed to draw down the mortgage to build the plant. My lawyer tried everything to get rid of the impediment, but the NB government couldn't decide what department owned the right of way, and for six months I fought off the bank and creditors while the civil servants diddled. Finally, desperate, and thinking it would do no good, I called the number that the government advertised as a solution to business problems... 1-800-McKenna. It was early on a Friday morning, and I was stunned when after one ring a voice said..."McKenna!"

The following Thursday I exchanged a $3,000 cheque for the right of way and the minister of Natural Resources, Hubert Siemans, personally delivered the required release to my banker and everyone was paid. Eleven years later, the company employed over 200 people and had foreign sales of $20M.

Frank McKenna was and is a deal-maker, and he changed the way New Brunswick business thought of government. Before and since McKenna the most frightening words an entrepreneur could hear were: "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help!" Of course, I am quoting Ronald Reagan, another mover and shaker, but not in Frank McKenna's class.

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Mike MacBride's avatar

He put the 'New' back in New Brunswick.

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