Premier SILENT on Upper Churchill

because his buddy Charest - could not last the political fallout of a changed contract.
So what's up with Danny these days? He talks of Lower Churchill development - power for 1 million homes in Ontario - his friend Jean Charest - an energy warehouse - and the elusive Energy Plan.

The following are various quotes from our Premier - when he wanted to be Premier.

March 19-2003

Danny

Our iron ore is shipped to Quebec and other countries for processing. Our cheap hydroelectricity from the Churchill is sent to Quebec, where it is used as an enticement for economic development and job creation for Quebecers.

November 20-2002

During debate on a private members bill Kyoto…

Danny

Mr. Speaker, by 2010 the Government of Quebec is forecasting a shortage of power that will leave them unable to meet their commercial obligations. Cheap power is the foundation of their energy plan and their key to economic development. One would think, therefore, that Quebec’s shortage of power would put our negotiating team in the driver’s seat during negotiations on the Lower Churchill. With such obvious negotiating power, Mr. Speaker, could the Premier please tell the people why he did not use the Lower Churchill as a bargaining lever to address the inequities of the Upper Churchill contract? Would the Premier explain why he quit on the objective of every single Government of Newfoundland and Labrador since the deal was signed over thirty years ago?

Mr. Premier, you might be prepared to quit on the Upper Churchill but the people on this side of House (inaudible) are certainly not prepared (inaudible)

MR. WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, the consultation document for the Royal Commission, the Premier’s Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada, says that a significant contributor to our prosperity and self-reliance is exported to Quebec in the form of power and energy from the Upper Churchill project. Mr. Speaker, the Commission in that document asks: What does this inequitable agreement say about our place in Canada?

My question for the Premier: If the Premier is prepared to give up on the Upper Churchill and allow this lopsided agreement to continue for another forty years, what does that say about this Premier and this government and their view of our place in Canada? Are they quitters or are they merely trying to

MR. WILLIAMS: In fact he once said - this is a quote from the Chairman: Regardless of the benefits derived from the Lower Churchill, they cannot even begin to make amends for the Upper Churchill.

I continue to quote, Mr. Speaker: -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. member now to get to his question; he is on a supplementary.

MR. WILLIAMS: It would be another sad day in our history if the benefits of a new deal were not placed before the people of Newfoundland and Labrador in that context.

Mr. Speaker, can the Premier please tell the people of Newfoundland and Labrador: Is the Chair of his Royal Commission wrong or is he more interested in our place in Quebec rather than our place in Canada?

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Okay Premier - let's hear it - what do you have planned to improve the Upper Churchill Contract?
Next Post comparing the Premier's hang-up with IOC's request and his comparitive interest in the Upper Churchill deal.