Danny needs more Fibre 4

Question numbers 4 and 5 NTV Interview

Fred:

…..preamble…. Over the weekend – to be honest Premier – I’ve heard people say – well maybe he’s not any different than all the rest.

Danny:

That’s too bad – I just find that really sad yaknow – I’m giving yaknow the best years of my life to politics – I don’t take a salary – I’ve given up a lucrative law practice and the hundreds of thousands of dollars of income that comes from that – I’ve passed my assets over to a blind trust – ah yaknow which my family is not even allowed to manage – I work 24-7 day after day – night after night giving everything I have to the people of the province and I’d be saddened and disheartened if that was the perception. There’s nothing I can do about it – yaknow I’m in politics to try and better this province – and hopefully after I leave people will look back and say yah you did a good job – but that of course is a measure of time.

Fred:

So you’re confident that there’s no conflict here and it’s a good deal and you’re not going to pull the plug on it.

Danny:

It’s a it’s a – absolutely not and it’s a very good deal – and I mean when you look at a list of the benefits – I’d need a 15 minute interview with ya just to go through the benefits and the cost savings. I mean – what the Memorial for example and what private businesses were paying in some instances were 10 to 100 times what they would pay for the same service on the mainland – and they were paying that kind of price here – so that alone from a savings perspective is huge – and as well from Memorial’s perspective from a research perspective – it puts them in the game – it puts them on the map – and makes them competitive with other universities.

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First this Premier must get rid of this "you are blessed to have me - so appreciate it" attitude. All women and men who seek public office - give up other activities important to them. A mother and father gives up time with children and spouses - infinitely more relevant than financial activities. Yes Danny - you are giving up some activities for this service - but no different than any other member. This reasoning should not be used in any form of debate or in responding to reasonable concerns of people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

If you feel that certain appreciation levels and gratitude need to be maintained - resign and return to some activity you find more rewarding.

Premier - why do you mention that you have turned assets over to a blind trust - when again these are known rules for your position of trust. If that is bothering you to that extent - resign and take over your assets again. You cannot hold people back from questioning something you or your government are doing because you have to turn your assets over to the trust.

As for your continued claim that you do not take a salary. Forgive me for copying but "Nothing could be further from the truth" - you do take a salary and we pay it - you have said that you take it and turn it over to charity - but that does not mean you do not take or receive it. If you feel by turning part of your salary to charity - you do not really work for the people - you are wrong. If you want to hold that over people's heads - resign. There are elected officials in Canada who give significantly to charity and do not announce it - they simply do it.

As for competition being good for educational institutes - I am sure that is correct - however there is nothing that prevents Persona - Rogers- and/or MTS Allstream by providing that without government money. If they wish to expand infrastructure - fill their boots - nothing stopping them. Further - there is nothing to say that arrangements or deals with other telecom companies would not be as beneficial - if not better. We do not have the contract details nor do we have the other options that were pursued and the results.