Anybody remember April 4th 1995?
I do!
My personal life was never the same again!
On that day in the heat of a debate with Clyde Wells on VOCM Open-Line over the privatization of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - the Premier lost it.
He was sick of me and my attempts to change his mind on that policy decision. His caucus was revolting if we are to believe the comments made my Walter Noel and other Liberals who have distanced themselves since from the policy. The current Chief Justice was is no mood to answer questions about that giveaway at that time. Maybe he's in the right post now - he won't be questioned nearly as much by the average person.
Anyway here's the story.
Clyde appeared as a guest on Open-Line and was taking questions from people on the privatization issue. I called - and he was not in the mood for me - so during the mini debate Wells said "..and for anybody to sit back with no responsibility and just spend their time bitching and complaining as you do..".
Oh I was close then - the transfer of this Crown Jewel to the social and corporate elite - of which he considered himself included - would be such a coup. Then he had the audacity to tell ordinary Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that they could buy shares in the privatized company - when they already owned it.
So he was getting personal - you see that's a personal defamatory comment - and it was not true. So my lawyer wrote him a letter - ironically that letter came from the offices of Danny's old law-firm - and asked for a public and personal apology.
Here's what Premier Wells had to say:
Dear ---
I acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 25, 1995 written on behalf of your client Ms. Suzanne Kelland-Dyer.
I recall the incident to which you refer and as nearly as I remember the words that you quoted were in fact the words that I spoke. I have to confess that I regret the comment and would only explain that it was made in the context of a history of some unfair and provocative criticism by Ms. Kelland-Dyer but was, nevertheless, an intemperate reaction at that time. It was not a comment that was appropriate for a Premier to make and I apologize to your client for doing so.
I appear on that radio programme reasonably frequently and on the next occasion that I do I will mention the incident and express an apology as you have requested. Please express my apologies directly to Ms. Dyer.
Sincerely,
(signature) Clyde Wells
So there it is - and here we go again - another Premier - annoyed with my probing of the HOA scandal or more likely my consistent questioning and probing of energy issues - more particularly the Lower Churchill - makes an intemperate comment. Twelve years later another "leader" intimidating in an effort to shut me up.
Part of the reason I reflect on the incident with Wells is to demonstrate to people like Randy Simms who apparently finds these sorts of happenings amusing - entertaining - he does say his show is "infotainment". Mr. Simms you have no idea the cost to self-employed individuals when the wrath of a Premier is brought down on you in a public forum. Randy even went so far as to suggest that it was good because I want people to visit my blog. Very good Mr. Simms, whether 1 or 1000 people view my blog daily - does not do anything for me - it is not commercial - I make no money from it. I would hope that it provides some provocative thoughts and stories of interest to those who want to read it.
You see Randy there is a price to pay for taking on the establishment - try unionizing your station and you might find out. While the official policy of all political parties in this province today reflect the position I and many others fought for in the 90's (not to privatize NLH) the bridges that were burned taking on the money still exist today. You don't take millions from salivating corporate lips and not suffer any consequences. And it is Williams who now explains that the corporate community in our province is "small" right? They all know each other right?
There still exists a bitterness in our corporate and political community over the loss of that privatization and from a young woman's perspective (back in 1995) it was and is damn scary.
When Randy Simms or David Cochrane are willing to put RRSP's on the line - personal bank accounts and assets - and give up 2 years of productive working time to fight a battle - so that our precious Newfoundland and Labrador does not have to suffer anymore "hindsight" messes - let me know. Then I can accept your chuckles at my expense.
The Derricks of the world that insist publicly that I am working for somebody (political) while I am taking on the issues important to the people - are incapable of having the heart and vision necessary to drive us forward and leave this place to our kids.
NAPE members have expressed to me the fright they felt when Danny put the threat over them all. Just imagine the wrath a multi-millionaire with complete power can exercise over an individual - be it from his purse or the public purse - and his buddies (the corporate gang) can place their tentacles around my virtual neck and strangle the economic life out of me. You still think it's fun Mr. Simms?
My better bet was to leave Newfoundland and Labrador after hydro privatization was stopped because the hangover was tremendous. I was in fact a person with employment leprosy. That still exists today only a little bit more. My problem is I love this place and her people.
Let's see if Williams is the man Clyde was and apologize to private citizens for displaying them publicly in a negative light - because he does not like the tough questions.
The problem the boys have these days - is that there is nothing to take - the latest objective appears to be - just shup her up - so then they can get down to business. I am an intelligent woman and had I applied all my energies and time for my own personal benefit - Williams likely would have had a corporate equal.
11 comments:
You will appreciate, of course, the vast difference in the situation that obtained then and the one from this past week.
The comment made, I would argue, was in fact not defamatory by any stretch and certainly not one that would have resulted in a judgement in your favour had it gone to court.
That said, when your lawyer made a representation on the issue, you received what surely you would acknowledge was an unequivocal retraction of the comment and an acknowledgement that such a remark was inappropriate for a Premier to make. The apology was on top of that.
In the same fashion, I doubt that you will find anywhere in this province's history since Confederation, and perhaps from before 1924, when any first minister made the comments uttered by the current Premier directed against individuals.
You certainly would not find any comment of the type made the next day to the effect that there are people in our society who need to be watched.
Your judgement of what would have happened in court is your judgement. I have acknowledged the man apologized and asked whether Williams would be an honourable man and do the same.
The statements made by Williams - I would agree are a little more scary - you did not have to worry about Wells yourself - so hard to say.
The comment on people needing to be watched - I absolutely agree is beyond anything I have heard in our democracy.
Both men however used intimidating statements to achieve - some objective.
Sue Sitting from my armchair this is a transcript of my perception of what happened to such a vibrant and intelligent woman.
Sue - I see your problem quite explicitly just from reading your blog. You my dear, a very intelligent lady, have been choked off from making a living right here in your own province by the Newfoundland and Labrador Establishment and its politicians. I see the Establishment, to include not only people from the business world and politicial world, but also some from the legal profession as well.
Sue, when you were successful, in overturning the proposed privatization of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, in other words when you and your group scuttled the Establishment's plan of putting a few more million into their pockets, through the privatization of that deal, while at the same time screwing the province of Newfoundland and Labrador out of the millions that go into the NL provincial coffers every year from the dealings of that Crown Corporation, you were blacklisted. Now Sue you are viewed as a Pariah or Traitor. AND since that is how you are viewed by the Establishment for scuttling their chance of getting those millions into their pockets by privatizing our crown jewel, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, payback to you Sue, my dear, has been and will be from THAT FATEFUL day forward, the day when the privatization deal was scuttled, it will mean and has meant that you will be and has been an economic refugee in your own beloved Newfoundland and Labrador forever and a day. The Establishment is a wicked group here in Newfoundland and Labrador. They are the ones who have kept this place and its people impoverished since the beginning of time in this beloved province of ours, since they cream every thing off the top for themselves and leave the dregs for the masses. That’s called corruption without a conscience.
It is quite plain that you Sue have had the people and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador foremost in your heart forever. You have such a love for this province and its people that its transcends all borders. Please do not let us down Sue, hopefully everyone's eyes will be wide opened soon and each and every one of us will have figured out that bloody Establishment and their mentality. How come Ottawa hasn't picked up on it and had it corrected long before this. After all Newfoundland and Labrador is a province with so many resources, that very shortly all Canadians will have seen what transpired and Ottawa's/Canada's reputation will be tarnished for what it has let happen to such a wealthy resource rich province.
well done sue! i love your political commentaries. please dont be intimidated by such nonsense. it's too bad we dont have a few dozen more like urself,ed and simon. be interesting to see how long it would take our dear premier to wind up in a straight jacket, there's probably one in use right now on someone a lot less scary.
Sue,
I applaud your efforts to bring an end to the corruption in this province. It is wicked what the establishment has done to this place, and continues to perpretrate on the people of this province.
There are others of us who have also been on the receiving end of this establishment's corrupt behaviour, and the costs have been all too like your own I would guess. Yet we have to continue fight because these people can't be allowed to win. Yes, the fight is scary. Yes, it is expensive, in more than just the financial costs, which are crippling, but fight we must.
The alternative is to let a bunch of evil, corrupt people continue to ride roughshod over ordinary people just because they can.
I have never seen this level of all pervasive corruption in any western democratic society as I have seen here.
Ottawa needs to come down on this place like a ton of bricks, before there is nothing and no one left here. The figures are simply astounding, yet nothing is done to stop these people.
I imagine the sponsorship scandal would pale into insignificance if the Prime Minister and the federal government knew exactly what has gone missing from here over the years.
Keep up the good work Sue. You are not, and never have been, alone.
Whenever the establishment threatens, you know they're getting afraid their comfortable, corrupt lifestyles are at risk.
I'm amazed they're so blatant about it all and they're still getting away with it all. (But not for much long, eh? More power to the internet!)
Well, it isn't actionable by any understanding of defamation laws in this country.
It is also hard to construe it as a threat in any way shape or form, irrespective of what your title says.
It was an intemperate remark and you got an apology. Pleople say lots of things in the heat of the moment which are not threats.
You also are obviously free to represent it as you see fit including giving it the incorrect and defamatory characterization that the Premier threatened you in 1995. He clearly did no such thing.
You likewise draw an erroneous conclusion when you give these comments some sexist attribute. Three of the four mentioned were males. In the 1990s, you were one of several vocal opponents of privatization.
Yet for some reason you seem to draw the conclusion that the whole business, including comments made, are about you and that since you are female, this whole business somehow revolves around that. Believe whatever you want but the facts do not support your conclusion.
Sue, for some time now I've been reading the Newfoundland blogs, considering statements and then ultimately making judgements about those who blog. When I first started reading what you had to say, I felt such a crushing wave of emotion and information coming from your writing that it overwhelmed me for a while. After thinking about it, I realized what it was about your writing that disturbed me: it reminded me of myself and a time of horrible turmoil I've more or less put on the back burner to simmer. Sue, lets be honest here, you are a woman, being a woman myself I know more than any man leaving a message here this one vital truth about our gender: There is no one more patient, organized, vigilant and focused than a woman on a noble mission. Give em hell Sue. I know you will. As for me, that pot on the back burner I mentioned earlier, lets just say it contains some damning ingredients belonging to more than a few scoundrels in some high places in Newfoundland. Perhaps one day, if it's meant to be, we will be introduced and chat a while. If not, then know that there is more than one pissed off woman on a noble mission. Bless you in your cause.
Ed, I suppose you feel the things you say are important in their own little way. I imagine you derive a feeling of triumph to some extent when expressing the words others want to see you write. That fence you are walking on is so thin and difficult to navigate when the wind starts rolling in off the cold North Atlantic, isn't it? Such finesse, at least until that fence you're on needs mending. It's as clear as a spotlight on a dark night that you are afraid of what Sue has to say and I think we all know why don't we?
I hope we get the chance to have the chat. I have only just begun. I think perhaps Chuck Furey and Doug House know that. I will get to talk about what a real plan B is - right Chuck?
And then the story of the file that went missing...
Then there was the lawyer who suggested it was best for my family to leave the province - can you imagine the shock I felt at twenty something - hearing that?
There are many "daisies" yet waiting to bloom - and then there is the lefty...
Was it worth it???
Being the one to stand up for what is right.
Would you recommend someone else coming forward with information on the Gov actions, although not "corrupt" their actions are very negative to its own people, present and future. That bringing their actions to the forefront would possibliy be very damaging to ones personal and business life, enough to force someone to leave the province they love. When the governments actions were not in the best interest of the province but in the best policital interest of a few elite within the cabinet.
Some say best to stay quiet, to survive the Premier’s reign. I've never agreed with that attitude. Your post has made me rethink that position, to consider the indirect consequences. Thinking long and hard...I am.
Seawolf - was it worth it?
Yes - not personally but to see the options it has left future generations - I have kids.
The only way people can do this without being harmed personally is with numbers. We have to protect our own. One of the most difficult comments I heard from many people is - keep up the good work Sue - but I can't get involved.
That comment "but I can't get involved." is even more prevalent with the Premier's recent comment's/intimidations. The lack of opposition, of viable option for change, keeps important events quiet. I can only hope that the people of this province will realize just how damaging the Premier's actions and comments really are, both on the Provincial and International scene.
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