Mel Norton silent about trip to Larry's Gulch with David Alward
Saint John Mayor Mel Norton is not responding to inquiries about a trip to Larry's Gulch as a guest of then-premier David Alward in 2013.
The trip included communications experts from at least three private firms.
Norton has never run provincially, but last year he refused to rule out running for the Progressive Conservative leadership after his term as Saint John's mayor expires in 2016. His rhetoric in support of resource development in recent years was similar to the Conservatives campaign message in 2014.
Chris Dever, a spokesman for Saint John, said Norton was invited to Larry's Gulch in his capacity as mayor.
Jason Stephen, the president of the Progressive Conservative Party, was part of the group. He has not responded to an inquiry from CBC.
CBC News attempted to reach nearly every one of the 16 people on the guest list for July 10 to 13, 2013 at the provincially-owned fishing lodge.
Most of those who responded are tight-lipped about the outing.
And no one is admitting that any political or election strategy was discussed in their presence.
The provincial election was then just over a year away in September 2014.
Businessman Glenn Munro was part of the group. He's a managing partner for eastern Canada for the North American Development Group.
Murno says between fishing outings on the tip he was part of casual discussions about getting big projects moving in New Brunswick, but says nothing specific was discussed.
"I'm not a player," said Munro.
"My political stripes are definitely not blue."
Noel Sampson was also part of the outing. Much of the discussion in his presence, he says, focused on energy-related topics such as shale gas, liquefied natural gas and the soon-to-be announced Energy East Pipeline.
Sampson is a consultant with Public Affairs Atlantic in Halifax. He says even with the communications strategists in the group, he witnessed nothing election related.
"You wouldn't have those people doing an election strategy discussion," said Sampson.
"You know they came from different backgrounds with different perspectives. Many of us weren't New Brunswick people."
Sampson, who is based in Montreal and Halifax, does have a cottage on Deer Island and concedes he did do volunteer work during the New Brunswick election — but says he did not come to the province to do it.
Among the other guests was Mark Spiro of Crestview Strategy, whose biography says he has "organized and executed campaigns for both political and corporate clients".
Luc Ouellet was also there. He is managing partner with National Public Relations out of Quebec City. His biography says he specializes in "government relations and crisis management."
Also with National Public Relations — and on the trip — was Stephanie Bell, who is married to Saint John Mayor Mel Norton.
Bell was reached by CBC by telephone but would not discuss the Larry's Gulch trip.
