Sue's Blog

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Where's the New Economic Recovery Plan?

In January of this year Doug House left his position as Deputy Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development to take on a new role for the Premier.
This new assignment was to, over the next year or so, take stock of where the government has gone with its economic development initiatives - particularly in the various regions (secret pools of communities).
In a News Release Danny said the following;

"Now, halfway through our mandate, it is time to take stock of what has been initiated to date, and move to the next phase to ensure our development strategies are being carried out in an integrated, co-ordinated fashion, in line with our original goals."

Okay let's examine that statement.
Danny wants to determine if the development strategies are being carried out....
What development strategies are those?
- to decommission the Stephenville paper mill?
- to leave Harbour Breton hanging for over 2 years until enough people left in order to lower the communties expectations?
- to close Fortune and perhaps Marystown in order to accomodate the federal government's inaction on the fishery?
- to reduce the number of smaller fish processors so the "big players" could run the show?
- to slowly but surely reduce the expectations of Central Newfoundland by allowing the shut down of one machine at the Grand Falls Windsor paper mill?
- to build the airport presence in St. John's and Deer Lake by allowing the elimination of the Gander airport?
- to accomplish a population reduction of another 10,000 people from rural areas?
- to reach agreement with aboriginal groups respecting the development of the Lower Churchill in order to eliminate the educated protest which may occur for giving away our future by exporting the power to other jurisdictions?
- to close enough fish plants and paper operations in an effort to reduce energy need - thereby selling the argument that we do not need the power or the alternative
- to close enough industrial operations to be able to supply a nickel processing facility in the Argentia area?
- to hold up the process of appointing a chair to the CNLOPB until he (Danny) decides what's happening to the gas offshore - the Premier's longtime personal interest?
- to forget about the Tory election promise making custodial control and joint managment of the fishery as top priorities (is it possible that went bye bye with the Accord deal)?
- to get control of the media through whatever means possible (some ended up leavingtheir reporter roles to become communications directors with the government) - threaten them by not giving interviews?

Were all of these the original goals?
When can we see a progress report of House's new undertaking?





No comments: