Based on what the Premier recommended for FPI workers - to consider taking a pay cut - it would be interesting to know his recommendations for the striking workers at Voisey's Bay? Does the Premier suggest they give up their quest for equity in Canada?
Now the Premier will suggest that nickel markets are different from fish markets and he is right - however the healthy position of FPI is no different than the healthy position of INCO - just smaller.
Have a look at the last quarterly report of FPI
The rural areas of our province are being decimated by a government that has no idea which way is up relative to the fishery, forestry, or energy sectors. The words out of Fisheries Minister Rideout yesterday were nothing short of astounding. His agreement/disagreement with the Premier's position on wage cuts is interesting. The Minister noted the lack of performance in the groundfish sector. "duh" Really Tom - first clue the moratorium - the groundfish have not yet recovered - now who should we hold financially accountabe for that? The Premier is going to beat himself to death to protect Andy's appointment but had not even bothered to hold Loyola accountable for promises of shared management and custodial control. The Premier has Loyola where he wants him with respect to income for fishermen and plant workers - just look at what Chuck Strahl is doing for the farmers. And if I have not said it enough - agriculture is a provincial jurisdiction and the farmers are suffering from natural disasters and markets - not federal mismanagement. All this and the Premier will not fight for the fishery.
Something stinks here. Danny can seek amendments to the Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and then proceed in appointing Andy - but one has to wonder why he fought so hard for one individual. You see Danny said yesterday that Andy says it like it is and he has a forthright approach - which apparently Danny appreciates and values. That's interesting - how about the straightforward comments by Beth Marshall or Fabian Manning? There is something more to this than a love of Danny for Andy's rude behavior. Gas Gas and more Gas...
The mining sector - which we are talking about here - is also missing a promise that Harper made to remove revenues from non-renewables from equalization. Although this presents tremendous potential for Newfoundland and Labrador Danny is ignoring it - in favour of supporting his buddy Charest.
Rural Newfoundland and Labrador will die under this regime - unless policy and expert advisors are changed - real soon.
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