Thursday, January 15, 2009

The WTBA's New Policy Guy

The Western Business and Taxpayers Association(WTBA), Canada's latest and greatest Western Separatist group, has had some trouble establishing its Executive Committee. Ernie Slump stepped down in December, and Sheldon Johnson's resignation from their Policy Chair Position was confirmed earlier this month.

The WTBA's new Policy Chair, Rob Allen, is an interesting fellow with an interesting CV. For example, he says that he has graduated from "Canterbury University". Where is that exactly? There are 3 possibilities.

There is the University of Canterbury, in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. There is the Canterbury Christ Church University, in Canterbury, Kent, England. And there is Canterbury University, incorporated in the Republic of Seychelles.

In an effort to determine which of these institutions Mr. Allen attended, I contacted the WTBA's always helpful executive director David Crutcher, who informed me that Rob Allen had gone to school in "Cheshire UK", which is where Canterbury University claims to have been established in 1974.

Here's what wiki says about Canterbury University:


And here's a story in the U.K Guardian that mentions Canterbury University:



And here's another one from The Guardian:




The term that comes up a lot in association with Canterbury University is "diploma mill", and even mentioning such unaccredited entities on your CV would be illegal in at least 10 U.S. states.
H/t PJL

12 comments:

Reality Bites said...

A fake diploma for a fake group that pretends it's about separation but is merely a sad attempt to bilk the stupid out of membership fees.

Kurt Phillips said...

Having tried to lie about us and our views, it doesn't surprise me in the least that Crutcher and the WTBA would try to snooker people into believing they have any cred. Crutcher and the WTBA are pond scum.

Reality Bites said...

I find it interesting that the policy chair of a separatist group boasts of his membership in the federal Conservative party.

If this group actually was anything but a money-making scam I don't imagine the CPC would be too happy, but since it's all about stealing money from innocent dupes, not actually accomplishing anything, I imagine they're OK with it.

Let's face it. Their founder has been associated with Craig Chandler in his previous ventures. No one but the scum of the earth has anything to do with that bastard.

Kurt Phillips said...

In fact Mr. Rob Allen is also connected to Chandler through his membership in the Progressive Group for Independent Business.

kinderkare said...

While not vouching for Mr. Allen, look at the following link:
http://online.degree.net/accredited-unaccredited-state-approved-diploma-mill/t-canterbury-university-1310.html

Several of the posts identify that this University was not a degree mill, but in fact a recognized, though seemingly now defunct school. It was unaccredited, but then many well-known schools are also unaccredited. One poster states that this school is recognized by the U.S. State Dept. as a legit school.

I appreciate some of the comments "Reality" has posted in the past, but "Bigcity" is just re-hashing a tired, anti-western vitriole, as he tried to smear me in his earlier posts. I have tried to engage in reasonable dialogue on important issues, but regretably, all I see is the same 'ol same 'ol ad hominem crap attacking anything and anyone "un-canadian" that moves west of the 4th meridian.

Sad, sad.

Kurt Phillips said...

If you're right, kinderkare, Canterbury University was an accredited institution based on the sources from the forum you've provided the link too. It was accredited by the United Congress of Colleges, which is an accreditation mill:

http://www.credentialwatch.org/non/agencies.shtml

kinderkare said...

I don't see any accreditation reference for Canterbury on your link. If you could find one I'd like to see it. What Bigcity missed when he said there were only 3 possibilities is the 4th possibility that it was defunct and not one of the previous 3. Bigcity then says that listing this school would be against the law in many U.S. states...smearing Allen as engaging in illegal behaviour for a school that he hasn't positively identified!

Lets face it, he didn't graduate from Harvard. But isn't there something a little more newsworthy? Like Bouquet's piece, this is just anti-Western diatribe

bigcitylib said...

Kinderkare,the 1st link takes you to the wiki page that 1) tells you it isn't accredited and 2)that it was established in Hyde Chesire, where Mr. Crutcher says Allen "attended" school. The one in the Seychelles (see link) also says that it was origonally established in Hyde Cheshire.

bigcitylib said...

And, Kindercare, if you follow your original thread it seems that the Canterbury school of business was forced in 1988-ish to incorporate in the Seychelles because of changes in UK laws designed to weed out diploma mills.

And, as to why write about this now? Well, the WTBA will probably fade in and out of the media spotlight as political developments unfold. It would be nice (as occasionally happens)that any reporter working on a story about them comes here first.

Also, I think Harper just today referred to Quebec Seperatists as "enemies of Canada". What's sauce for the goose...etc.

kinderkare said...

There must have been about a dozen actual western separatist political parties to date. No news on them? I guess their websites & leaders must have been "bullet-proof".

I tend to think media coverage tends to build or give creedence to any group.

Does your quote from Harper mean you actually AGREE with him? Whoaaa.

kinderkare said...

Hey Bigcity,

This is a legitimate story about how someone benefited from a degree mill in Canada:

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2009/01/05/phony-degrees-put-osgoode-law-school-on-high-alert/

Notice that the phony actually stood to benefit from their "crime", which makes it newsworthy.

Unknown said...

Rob Allen have a great look wearing his mans suit