STEPHENVILLE - FIGHTING NEWFOUNDLANDERS
Something is up with the old Stephenville Mill - and it does not favour the workers or the families of that region. Sue's Blog has kept a close eye on the situation - and many times has posted potential opportunities for the Stephenville facility on this web-site.
I heard the Minister of Natural Resources speaking the other day and she said "everything possible has been done" to find another operator for the mill. I said then - and I repeat now - that is a ridiculous and ignorant statement. In this world of extremely high and volatile energy prices - Newfoundland and Labrador - with its abundance of clean and renewable energy should be attracting industry from all sectors. Instead we treat our energy like any other natural resource - we plan the giveaway - through - export. In fact the Italian Government will get more attention with a 25 MW wind farm than the Port au Port Peninsula.
We do have some access to Upper Churchill Power if there is a buyer. Why don't we have buyers? That is and remains the failure of the province - despite - hundreds of junkets - to attract growing and expanding industry.
We are now talking about the wholesale giveaway of the Lower Churchill - to jurisdictions that will use it to grow industry. Lately - the buzz-words have been - enough power to heat a million homes. They are words - chosen carefully to fool you and me. They do not want to say enough energy to power 5 - 15 industrial plants - . This would raise the ire - and properly so - of Labradorians who get virtually nothing from the immense natural resources found in that region.
Now to Stephenville - where is the power coming for the nickel processing plant in Long Harbour? We have lost a number of fish plants and the Stephenville mill - so maybe that will do it - right? Wrong! The only thing saving our hides right now for domestic power needs - is the fact that we are failing economically. We are losing business, fish plants, mills, and people - so the predicted shortfall of power predicted for the 1990's has not occurred. Thank god for the fisheries collapse! This is disgusting and manipulative thinking - and is being used by government to downsize our province.
If one took an objective look at the global energy situation and bothered to educate themselves on what industry is doing to respond to escalating and volatile energy prices - coupled with global and domestic environmental targets and treaties - such as Kyoto - one would have to conclude that Newfoundland and Labrador is the place to be in the future.
Instead our Premier - talks about a pitcherless plant and about being - the youngest and coolest province.
Hey Danny - you are behaving like a twit - the youngest and coolest province? Have you any idea of our grand history or does it begin for you at the time of confederation? How about the youngest and coolest nation - with full control of our resources on-land and offshore?
You may be naive Danny - or maybe you are just lying.
The Stephenville local asked for a copy of the Nazir Report you sent them back pages of blacked-out secrets. The Town Council is beside itself trying to sort out who's in the backroom with you or the front room with the people. You are using local officials to do your bidding. They have to deal with airport issues and hospital concerns on top of the loss of the mill.
Recently you gave a break to industry on power costs - how did you do that?
Here's the truth of it Premier - you are able to do that - because we still own Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Where were you when Clyde was trying to give it away? Quietly sitting by making your business deals - and supporting the sale - as was Dean MacDonald. Well at the same time - the people of Stephenville and that entire region were playing a key leadership role in the public protest which saved NLH.
You are a johnny-come-lately and now you expect to rule by divine right. You will bully - threaten - pick-on - make a spectacle of - ridicule - and/or diminish people who ask you questions and challenge your thinking. Good on ya - you can't do it any other way. The skills required to guide a province - or nation - and her people are not the skills required to run a private business where you are the head honcho - as opposed to a publicly traded corp - where you answer to shareholders. Well right now you are answering to shareholders - the people - and you are not doing a good job.
I don't mind the cheerleaders - the same pom-pom holders who chewed gum and jumped up and down for Tobin. I believe the people in this province recognize the truth and know the difference and your time is running shorter than you thought. Hence the rush for your name to be on the trophy of the Lower Churchill development. That feather in your cap will top the glee you and Dean feel on winning the Danny Cup or when you won the right - by a million - to name Mile One.
Right now the people of Stephenville and the Port au Port Peninsula need to find an answer - and Kathy Dunderdale up waving her hand in the gallery of the House of Commons is not going to do it. Kevin O'Brien standing by her side - beside himself - as he feels the power surge through him - on having been chosen by you.
I'm sorry "I was naive" is not going to cut it. Right now you are leading this province and you need to find a solution - it is your responsibility - and considering your continuous accolades to yourself and your own abilities - this problem in Stephenville should be easy to fix.
For instance the problem in Stephenville and region could be resolved if the Premier and the MP's can convince the federal government to place a federal crown corporation in Stephenville. I am sure we can manufacture money for the Canadian Mint with the same quality as Manitoba.
Has Kathy Dunderdale or Kevin O'Brien and/or the Premier raised this possibility with Ottawa? If so what was the response? If not then I suggest to you Kathy - that everything that can be done has not been done.
News Release
October 20-06
CEP 1093 President upset with MHA and Government
Defeatist Attitude
Mr. Len McKay, President of Local 1093 representing the former mill workers of Stephenville cannot fathom local MHA Joan Burke's continued lack of support "Stephenville Restart Program" proposed by interested new Consulting Firm.
"Why does Minister Burke continue to be so negative and downplay the potential of breathing life into the full site asset and rather favour the chopping up of the facility for some yet unannounced small business ventures", said McKay.
On talk show radio the Minister questions, for example the appearance of now a 5th interested party from India, when she attended a meeting in April with Mr. Byrne and Union officials at which time they advised us of 2 Asian companies being interested as well as another party that wished to remain anonymous.
"As the MHA for our region that encompasses the Mill, Joan Burke has not been vocally supportive from day one on such an important issue" added McKay. "It's long overdue for her to be loud and supportive, as was Anna Thistle for Grand Falls - Windsor" he stated. "Or is this non-action locally meant to further serve Abitibi's wish list from Government for its Grand Falls - Windsor operation and possible secret agenda to provide a second paper machine that Gord Oldford is constantly whining for. If so, this price tag will certainly cost Government more than the consulting fee that they refuse to invest in Stephenville" McKay said.
As a prime example of lack of Government cooperation in this Union's attempt to restart the mill, we today received a copy of the "Nazir Report" that was completed in June (without union knowledge) that we had to apply for under the Provincial "Freedom of Information Act".
This is supposed to be an Act of transparency, however the report is unreadable because of the "magic blackout pen" used on it.
McKay also questions Minister Burke's remarks on VOCM specific to the cost of hiring the consultants. This credible firm has potential operators in hand now and are proposing positive results. Both Ministers Burke and Dunderdale refer to Nazir Report being done, but do not share the cost figures of this report and supply us only with a useless blacked out document.
Mr. McKay statement by saying, "The people of the region will hopefully provide new, loud, and supportive voices for both seats, with candidates that are awake and active for a fresh change."
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This Blog will continue to post all matters pertaining to the Stephenville situation until the people and families of that region have a long-term viable solution. This includes employment at comparable rates to the mill operations and competitive benefits. Yes the people need to be involved in every aspect of government's consideration and resolution to the loss of the mill. Guess what Joan - you are responsible for finding a solution - because you asked for the job. If you are prepared to give-up - then vacate your seat for another who will tirelessly continue the job of replacing the industrial loss with an equitable situation.
Defeatist Attitude
Mr. Len McKay, President of Local 1093 representing the former mill workers of Stephenville cannot fathom local MHA Joan Burke's continued lack of support "Stephenville Restart Program" proposed by interested new Consulting Firm.
"Why does Minister Burke continue to be so negative and downplay the potential of breathing life into the full site asset and rather favour the chopping up of the facility for some yet unannounced small business ventures", said McKay.
On talk show radio the Minister questions, for example the appearance of now a 5th interested party from India, when she attended a meeting in April with Mr. Byrne and Union officials at which time they advised us of 2 Asian companies being interested as well as another party that wished to remain anonymous.
"As the MHA for our region that encompasses the Mill, Joan Burke has not been vocally supportive from day one on such an important issue" added McKay. "It's long overdue for her to be loud and supportive, as was Anna Thistle for Grand Falls - Windsor" he stated. "Or is this non-action locally meant to further serve Abitibi's wish list from Government for its Grand Falls - Windsor operation and possible secret agenda to provide a second paper machine that Gord Oldford is constantly whining for. If so, this price tag will certainly cost Government more than the consulting fee that they refuse to invest in Stephenville" McKay said.
As a prime example of lack of Government cooperation in this Union's attempt to restart the mill, we today received a copy of the "Nazir Report" that was completed in June (without union knowledge) that we had to apply for under the Provincial "Freedom of Information Act".
This is supposed to be an Act of transparency, however the report is unreadable because of the "magic blackout pen" used on it.
McKay also questions Minister Burke's remarks on VOCM specific to the cost of hiring the consultants. This credible firm has potential operators in hand now and are proposing positive results. Both Ministers Burke and Dunderdale refer to Nazir Report being done, but do not share the cost figures of this report and supply us only with a useless blacked out document.
Mr. McKay statement by saying, "The people of the region will hopefully provide new, loud, and supportive voices for both seats, with candidates that are awake and active for a fresh change."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Blog will continue to post all matters pertaining to the Stephenville situation until the people and families of that region have a long-term viable solution. This includes employment at comparable rates to the mill operations and competitive benefits. Yes the people need to be involved in every aspect of government's consideration and resolution to the loss of the mill. Guess what Joan - you are responsible for finding a solution - because you asked for the job. If you are prepared to give-up - then vacate your seat for another who will tirelessly continue the job of replacing the industrial loss with an equitable situation.
3 comments:
I am not surprised by the way the government is handling the situation with potential buyers of the paper mill in Stephenville. The bottom line is that there was never any real intention to keep it going, from the government, they just did not want to look bad in the eyes of the local voters. The only chance we had came in April, 2005 when Abitibi announced a one machine operation in Stephenville and one machine in Grandfalls. When the Government said "no" to this, the Stephenville operation was doomed, which was confirmed in July,2005 after another 3 month operational review.
I cannot put the full blame on the present government, although they did have the final say in this situation. Previous Liberal Governments did nothing to help the Stephenville operation. Legislation was put in place that would make stephenville a money losing operation, with help from senior Abitibi management from Grandfalls, eventhough it is the much more superior mill in terms of production, labour costs and shipping rates. What it comes down to, the asset that was put in Stephenville for the benefit of this community after the American base closed, may see it's way to Grandfalls to replace the obsolete #7 paper machine. This is the reason the present government does not want to entertain the idea of another operator running the mill. It would put their well laid out plans in jepordy for the Grandfalls operation.
There has to be a reason why our local politicians, municipal and provincial, are allowing this to occur without a fight. Is it for personal reasons, or do they know of other well laid out plans for the buildings after the equipment is gone from Stephenville. When I look around Stephenville and see the things that were taken away or downsized to benefit other regions of the province, I doubt there is much going to happen that will benefit Stephenville for the long term.
While working at the mill in Stephenville prior to the last election, I heard our fearless leader (Gord Oldford) say, "we have them right where we want them now." I thought at the time that it was meant to be in Stephenville's favor---How wrong I was. I don't think Danny ever intended to sign those cheques to help poor Abitibi with the power, that is why he was so generous. As far as Jim Hodder and Joan Burke are concerned, I don't know why anyone would even mention the fact that neither one supports this region. As far back as I can remember, we have never had an MHA who really "worked" for this region. The main thing that any MHA in this area has to do to stay elected is to make sure the unemployment cheques are made available every year.
All this region ever accepted was handouts. Enough work to keep the EI going so the saying goes. Well I have been inm Alberta for 7.5 months and expect to go back to work again soon. I am not one for the EI system. It is just a band aid. I worked at Abitibi for 15 years and drew EI to get by on weeks that I had no work. That went on for about 11 or better years. And yet you hear townsfolk saying those mill workers got it made. How can you get people on side with you when they are so jealous of the supposedly BIG money we made. Sure a handfull of people made good money but they had to be there 6 days a week. 12 hr shifts.
Anyway enough about that. I think we all pull together and see what this broker has to say about purchasing the mill. What have we got to loose?
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