Energy - Poor Leadership - No Opposition - and soft touch Media

If Danny wants federal money to develop the Lower Churchill - the feds will want something in return. The energy might have to be sold to Quebec and Ontario where the PM's potential majority will come from.

If however, we use the power to draw new industry especially by attracting them from Ontario to Newfoundland and Labrador - the road to a fed/prov partnership may be impassable.

Anybody can sell large amounts of renewable hydro-power - but it takes real business savvy to sell the power in-house. As time passes it should become a little easier for Danny to accomplish that as energy hungry industry is looking for competitively priced - reliable - and renewable sources to control costs. Large industry looks 30-50 years out and like all other expenses like to make deals where there is some certainty.

Danny and gang are not releasing the energy plan - even though it was promised months ago. The idea is to bring it as close to the election as possible leaving very little time for critique. Having said that - the man continues to make deals in our energy sector in the absence of the plan. That makes the plan BOGUS. This is a farce and we have no political parties willing or capable to take him on.

If we are to grow - as a province - how do we do that without an energy source? For the past 20 years we have been juggling power on the Island through the loss of some industry. Stephenville took the biggest hit when the Abitibi mill was lost. That helps to energize the secondary processing facility for Voisey's Bay. The loss and closure of fish plants has also helped to inject power back into the grid.

Danny Williams by suggesting that power from the Lower Churchill will be exported - is managing our death. Sometimes business people are quite good at that - downsizing - realigning - and rationalizing operations. Hey Premier - this is a province. It might be okay to sell Cable Atlantic to Rogers but it is not okay to sell Newfoundland and Labrador to Ontario or Quebec.

Meanwhile the PC backbenchers and even Cabinet Ministers sit around and agree with the course of exporting power. It should be legislated that no hydro-electric power can be exported without approval of the House of Assembly to ensure that debate will be had on any hydro deal. As it is - the legislature does not have to be involved in a development deal on the Lower Churchill.

Unfortunately this comes at a very inopportune time - when the Liberals and NDP are virtually gone away - doing BBQ's and community events despite the important issues on the floor.

Here we are sitting on a bogus energy plan - which essentially should provide an outlook on our commercial and industrial growth for the next 25 - 30 years but we can't see it.

I know Ed Martin the CEO of NLH is great at talking about low hanging fruit to the interested parties in Ontario but what experience does he have in attracting industry to hydro-electric potentials?

Labrador should demand that the best individual be employed to do just that. Do business in Labrador and power is available. Remember infrastructure used by all people comes with industry.

Tell me something - with the fishery where it is - unemployment levels growing - outmigration continuing - more deaths than births - brain drain of our educated youth - the losses in the forestry sector - politicians under police investigation the whole HOA still under AG review - and continued lack of presence by the feds - how is it politicians both incumbents and wannabes get away with talking about BBQ's and wanting to be part of a team?

C'mon media - where are the questions?