Cornwall ON – So is Traci Trottier now working illegally in the US? Generally a work visa is necessary in the US for anyone to perform, and they are not quickly acquired?
Ms Trottier has been very busy from being escorted by police from Corus to signing with Seawayradio.com to jumping in spite of her contract to work for the US station over the border that loves to grab Canadian sponsors without having to pay any fees or licenses like the rest of we Canadian media. All that in less than six weeks!
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Um, I know of other people who have worked for this station from Canada with a dedicated phone line. Please don’t jump to conclusions.
I think its appalling that someone can commit to and sign a binding contract with a radio station with no intention of ever performing as per the contract. In business, and this was a business contract, if we don’t perform then for sure we’ll get sued! Dedicated phone line or not, if what Traci Trottier is doing is illegal as per Homeland Security or US Customs and Immigration then I hope Ms.Trottier gets whats coming to her! You cannot go through life promising to do one thing and then do the other! Thats dishonest!
If it was binding CFN could hold her in breach.
Hi Smee, we’re in the process of doing exactly that.
Wow. That kinda speaks volumes of a person if they sign a contract then don’t fulfill it. Very dishonest. Very un-ladylike as well. Not very smart I’m thinking either. Radio is a SMALL world. Very small.
A Canadian can work in the USA so long as she is working for a Canadian Company and being paid IN Canada. This is part of NAFTA. There was a case about 8 months ago where a guy from Canada who owns a paper plant in Hanawa Falls, NY was stopped from going over once a week to check on his investment until DHS saw the paperwork that he indeed was being paid by his Canadian Company and not the american counterpart. Martz Radio does this with a Canadian office and US office. All Canadian staff are paid in CANADA and all American staff are paid in the USA.
Pull the trigger admin! It’s stunning what a move like this can cause to business like your’s.. and as far as I’m concerned, this kind of behavior is uncalled for.. either do what you say or pay the consequences.. especially if you signed to them..
Kind of like Harper should disappear as well..
A Canadian not being paid by a Canadian company is not allowed to be “heading to state side” to take the job of an American without a visa or permit and those are not so easy to get and generally take more than a week or two.
Just like a US station manager isn’t really allowed to take his gear and do remote broadcasts in Canada.
Actually “admin” it is allowed. If a job is not being taken away from an American or Canadian, depending on what side you are talking, it is entirely allowed. Furthermore if someone syndicates a radio program to one radio station, there is no issue either. If you are going to take on Traci Trottier for working illegally, then also take on Wayne Thompson, former morning man at Variety 104 who is working weekends on Mix 96 and did mornings there for a year after leaving. Take on Frank, the sales guy over at 96.5 who did afternoons there for years, via ISDN line from their sales office on Tollgate Road. Take on 96.7 FM, 102.9 and 98.7 who do the same out of their Brockville offices as well. Don’t forget 94.7 that does traffic reports in French and English for Montreal, from their station in Chateauguay, NY. Most of the on-air talent there are Canadians working remotely. There are stations that do this in Welland, Ontario, in the Soo, It’s legal and allowed. Now if you are really serious about going after Ms Trottier for breach of contract, file the paper work and make that a real story. Endless talk on a blog is not going to resolve your issue.
I know her and she is a Piece of work indeed.
She has taken a job of an american citizen. She came to work here in Massena yesterday, it is indeed a violation. So what if she is paid in canadian by a canadian company. If thats the case..Stay in canada and call in via remote. It does takes months even years to get a visa to work in the US, if you cross the border and come in and work, then no matter how you are paid your working here. The ability to work in the US is through a Green Card, you either need to marry an american citizen, or to apply for a visa through the Lottery system, which can take years to get and it is a limited number. I am sure with what our job situation is here, and the lack thereof, that she indeed take a job away from a “local” person who could do just as well. Its really appalling to think she has the gaul to so blantly post it on her Facebook page and fly it out there as she is doing nothing wrong. I would be curious to see what American customs. US immigration and the IRS would have to say about that.
For the record the Stephens company that owns that station is not a Canadian company. Nor is Ms Trottier American. Nor is she married to an American.
Alan there’s nothing illegal about working remotely. There are issues when it comes to crossing the border. For example I am allowed to travel to the US, but US agents have warned me not to do sales calls or any work in the US. I can call US businesses from Canada and solicit them, but I can’t do such on US soil.
I would suggest you post this Jamie…If anyone has any questions or concerns or comments…I can be easily reached via my email. Cheers…Traci
“Traci Trottier: I would suggest you post this Jamie…If anyone has…”
Traci, I think you suck, you are not a woman of your word, you had your chance, and now deal with whatever may happen.. because you brought this all on yourself.. I would never hire you just based on this whole fiasco because hell, I would want employees that actually do what they say instead of breaking contractual agreements and doing what they want instead.. In this world, it used to be, “Your word is your bond”, and obviously, your word means nothing to anyone anymore, least of all yourself!! You should be ashamed!!
Not ashamed at all. Working legally from Canada for a great company. Again…instead of cowardly posting input…email me – I would love to chat.
Ha, you don’t deserve to talk to me in any formal manner, same as you don’t deserve to ever be employed by me or anyone else for that matter since you obviously break your bond… I deal with honest, good people… I don’t have time to deal with the likes of you… so Ill continue to post my commentaries, and regardless of being behind an assumed alias, which I have the right to do, I am in no way a coward… you however were and are… To be stand up and to put your money where your mouth is would have been the right thing to do, but instead, you did what you did… I don’t care if you are working for a Canadian company or a US company, this is all aside from the fact that you put yourself there by screwing other people in the process, that says a lot!
Traci you did break your contract. Even if there exists some loophole you’ve broken your word.
You hurt a local company that tailored a show to your needs when nobody wanted you. Maybe the real reason why you were escorted out by police from Corus should come out? The gig you’ve violated your contract with came to you because of our interest; because of our promotion of you.
We tried to come to a reasonable solution even taking a meeting with them about possibly having you do two shows even though you told me you didn’t want to do remotes anymore and that “your kids” were the most important thing in your life.
You also hurt the sponsors that signed up for your show with us.
And we won’t even go into the threatening emails you sent tossing in names of prominent Cornwall residents and threatening with your police contacts.
Speaking of which I do believe you were warned not to contact me which is exactly what you’re doing here.
So Traci – we’ll see how the courts handle this mess. I’m far too busy trying to build strong things in our community rather than work for a company that tries to leach off of it.
I think the more people see the “real Traci Trottier” the more likely the rumours being spread around will die down, and people can judge you as you should be; as a liar, a cheat, and someone that would leave people in the lurch for a bright penny.
Jamie, you should go see all those prominent people with those emails, I’m sure they wouldn’t want their names being used by Traci in any negative manner… Dish out some of Traci’s own medicine to her.
And Traci, its easy to sit there and come down on others for being cowardly when you put your own name in the mud and now have no bother using your real identity.. But your own cowardly actions for not backing up your word and supporting a local company you were supposed to go work for are what put you in this position, and you have the gall to talk to me about being a coward? I see the character you portray, and you’ll have no “poor you” sympathy from the likes of me for what you did… as far as I’m concerned, you should just go to the US and leave here.. we don’t need the likes of you..
I remember the days when a handshake was enough. Now, a signed contract means nothing anymore.
Not going anywhere…Cheers.
I think its a terrible example she is setting for women in the media and for working mothers. It undermines what we work so hard for. To be respected in the community and to be taken seriously..
willie you cannot stop a person from making a living just by a peice of paper, She is in her rights to choose another place of business. Been through that myself once or twice.
Unless Jamie is really lucky he and the CFN is just going to spend a lot of money
WARNING BUSINESSMEN/WOMEN & OTHER CITIZENS: BEWARE OF TRACI TROTTIER, HER WORD MEANS NOTHING! BOYCOTT HER RADIO PROGRAM ON MIX96.1!
I can see some very expensive (lawyers getting even richer) law suits that could result from these posts. If I were an honest lawyer, which I’m not, I’d advise my client to STFU and hope the issue dies quietly.
Furtz what I’ll say is sometimes you have to make a clear example of a situation so that perhaps one other person in life doesn’t get screwed over. A lawsuit, even in small claims can take up to a year to work it’s way through the system which is why some sleazy types push the envelope.
Sometimes going through that process makes the world a better place.
We live in a society with far too little accountability where people think they can trample over others on a whim as though the world is owed to them no matter who is hurt.
LOL
Don’t take any crap Jamie, release the bulldog on this matter! Traci, there is nothing of any form of cheers that I send you..
I don’t see the value in trashing personalities within the business. It creates fear amongst other personalities who have previously been able to survive professional disagreements without publicity. It looks petty to outsiders. Insulting other DJ’s, reporters, scribes is not the same as editorial comment or investigative news. Beating them at their own game is more traditional and mature and has a better pay off. What would Edward Murrow do, is what we should ask ourselves when pressed.
I agree completely with that Jamie. My concern has more to do do with some of the comments. I have had the personal and painful experience of being sued by a very wealthy ex-politician for a letter I wrote to a local paper. Nothing I wrote was untrue, but the cost to defend my statements was way beyond my ability to pay. It took years to pay off my debt. I learned the hard way that if you don’t have deep pockets, be very careful of what you publish.
Furtz the legal system is in interesting creature, but one I have extreme faith in. I’m very very lucky to have extremely good legal support either locally or if need be from my past in the film and sports industry. The best thing one can do is document everything and never react emotionally as Justice rarely is emotional.
The other thing is that when anyone sues somebody they are open to a process called “Disclosure” where the people they are suing have the right to investigate those suing them. I probably have a lot less problems with that than Ms. Trottier.
Justice also grinds very very slowly. My condolences on your experience. Again, the law works in mysterious ways sometimes.
The biggest flaw in the legal system is that the average person cannot afford it. Libel lawyers run at about $200/hr.
lol I wish! My big guy runs $450 per hour! Of course if you win you get to ask for your legal fees. And of course collecting can also be an issue so you always have to be very careful who and how you sue as you can win in court and end up eating your own legal bill.
Yeah, that was about ten years ago, and I didn’t have a big-time Toronto Lawyer. In any case, the system is set up for the wealthy to play in.
I agree smee. Time to stop beating the dead horse.
Yes Furtz, that’s where my “A” lawyer practices from. 🙂 I agree with you, the system doesn’t favour those that can’t afford one way or another to have access to good legal support. That’s a huge problem here in Cornwall, and of course in other places. There really is no outlet to justice unless you can write a cheque.
I have confidence that all newspaper editors (even on-line newspapers) have bags of money to squander on legal assistance. I’m sure your business has suffered greatly on the financial side with Traci Trottier dishonoring her contract with you. Write the cheque and make her pay for everything. Her credit deserves to go down the tubes!
Oh how I long for the simpler times. Your word and a handshake was your bond. Oh how I long for the days when the likes of Carl Fisher read the news locally. Things were so much different. It’s a pity that
in this day and age there is so much mistrust and greed not to mention dishonesty.
The LOL posts show a real level of professionalism….I admire that….
In the days when your word and handshake was bond men were also allowed to punch each other in the face without people screaming assault and battery and probation. Regarding $200 dollar an hour lawyers – you are aware you can use the McGill Law Library for free? ps never insult ex-politicians – the current ones however you can hold their feet to the fire all day long.
Nice Broken Tooth Sam, I wasn’t aware of that but that will be interesting in the future to know that if ever needed. 🙂 And I agree, we are raising a society of wussies today, gone long ago are much of the freedoms we actually had.. When things were as they were, words were what they meant, etc..
Pat, I agree. Traci LOL’ing at this is exactly the kind of demeanor she portrays, irresponsible, un-caring, etc.. Not a stand up character at all, and she knows it, but will laugh it off thinking this will just disappear or something.. totally carefree attitude..
*lol* at all youh and shake types. I bet a good portion use to work in the local mills with a contract and would strike when the opportunity arose just to get what you wanted. If you believed smooch in a handshake why did you not walk in and tell Come Desmeules a hand shake would suffice no contract necessary.
What Traci has done is prove to a blind village that she has the ability to look after herself, and not get caught up with the typical can’t do mentality.
It has been my experience in the area that business presents itself like the last saviors. The rates are and they often use reasoning as “You will never make that kind of money here” “This is Cornwall not Toronto”.
I have to wonder if people working in the city have ever seen or been successful outside the walls of Cornwall. It is a sad truth but Grimalot said it well in another item. “Mark MacDonald takes first shot in battle for Cornwall Ontario Mayor’s Race” written by CFN.
Hey Sam, why don’t you come up and see me sometime?
I think that she is doing a great job and deseves this gig, she obviously jummped the gun and should not have agreed to your contract Jamie, but its time to let this die. I am sure you all have better things to do then hack her up.
Lisa the only one hacked has been our company and our sponsors. I’m sure the courts will take care of both Ms Trottier and Mix96, and I’m sure the damages will reflect the actions and judgments of those involved. Why you would want to give a free pass to anyone that does what Ms Trottier has done in the manner she’s done?
Nobody deserves to be treated in the manner that she has treated our station, and what a horrible example it’d be to allow such behavior a free pass as a business, or as a person. She hasn’t shown an ounce of remorse and both she and Mix 96 have lied as well as violated a very simple contract, and one that’s not uncommon in the entertainment business. As a matter of fact the reason there are “no compete” clauses it to avoid this exact situation.
You must either be a close friend of hers or one of her relatives.
Remind me if I ever have a business to never hire Lisa either…
Grimalot, Don’t hire Linda.
Yes, what she did caused lots of damage to your company…
I think you should let your legal consultants take care of this issue for you. You should be focusing your energy on more important things like: CFN and Seaway Radio. Allowing these kinds of comments to be posted on here (you, your staff, public & traci) might harm other relationships you have with Cornwall businesses (existing and future).
And btw, what does it matter if Lisa has any type of relationship with Traci? It’s honestly none of your business since everyone else here can hide behind a pseudonym (including myself). We could all be close friends or relatives.
Jamie, what you have here is working, and one thing that is often forgotten is that people can judge the CFN or Seaway Radio by their perception, and not necessarily by true facts.
Hopefully everything works out for the best… Take care Jamie.
Hi Roland,
What you’re saying is true, and a few other people have emailed or called today. So I’m going to bow out of this topic as of this post. We may run other stories if they warrant it, but at this point hopefully some of the rumours have been clarified, and I can see customers without having to contradict some of the lies floating around out there as I did today since this horrible episode was started by Ms Trottier.
I’ll let the courts sort out the rest.
Thank you for your post, your concern, and for viewing The Cornwall Free News.
I do not know or have ever met Ms. Trottier so I am unbiased in reading this thread.
With all due respect to those that were wronged by ms. Trottier’s decision to not respect her contract with seaway radio and with putting emotions aside, can someone please explain to me as a Variety 104 listener, why anyone would want to listen to a .com radio station? Traci was the best DJ on radio and if she chooses to up herself by going to another fm station good for her! I believe she wasn’t even going to be on daily? What’s with that?
BUT I am curious to know why my favorite DJ had to be escorted from the building…is there something we should know about her before I give her too many accolades?