It apparently applies to votes but not money.
You see while Danny says we must punish Loyola Hearn - Norman Doyle - and Fabain Manning - he turns his head and ignores our province paying a lobbyist who feels the Prime Minister keeps his promises to Canadians.
Here's an example - as we already know - Conservative strategist and Summa VP Tim Powers has been hired as a lobbyist for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro on the Lower Churchill development and an east-west energy grid. CLICK HERE
Tim Powers was commenting to a CTV reporter in March - after the federal budget - on a poll showing Harper was making gains in Quebec. That is the budget which seen our province take a big hit on equalization based on the pre-election promises by Harper.
The CTV Story included the following:
Conservative party strategist Tim Powers says that while Quebecers, like many other Canadians, might not be enthralled with Harper personally, they appreciate what he's accomplished.
"You're seeing that reflected in the polls," Powers said. "They see that Harper's kept his promises to them."
Tell me something Danny - why is it we have hired this fellow to lobby for us on such a significant file - the Lower Churchill?
Why is Danny punishing our Conservative MP's but not the strategists that spin their message?
Why is your punishment select and inconsistent?
Why does your ABC strategy not extend to Conservative Lobbyists?
6 comments:
Everything around here in politics reeks with corruption. The only thing that changes is the flavour of the party, everything else remains the same. So How Do we Change Things?
We all know that the power really stays in the same hands and the money from that power enters the same bank accounts. A few people here and there get added to the small economic cycle that has been created in this province. Those FEW are all drunk with the Power they hold over us and our Resources and their bank accounts are being padded every day from the wealth that those rogues hold over our resources and the way that they see those resources developed and exported out of this province. Shame on Those Rogues!
Sue,please let me get the story straight! This chap is a Newfoundlander and Labradorian, he works for CTV and other News Medias while being paid by the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and he thinks the Prime Minister keeps his promises to Canadians. And to boot he has been hired as a lobbyist for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro on the Lower Churchill development and an east-west energy grid. Am I correct in my intrepretation so far? If I am this province's politicians are far more corrupt than I thought?
It is nothing better for the other side than having the Foxes guarding the henhouses, isn't it?
Of course, that is if you are on the side vying for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador's resources. That side has always been the Canadian side.
Sue,
It really bugs me to see all those anonymous comments posted to your blog. If someone has something to say that they feel is worth saying, then they should be willing to sign their name to it; otherwise, i.m.o., they should keep their mouth shut.
Lloyd C. Rees
You see Sue I had nothing to do with the corruption of our politicians. I was a loyal follower, as were all of my family members, and I thought that our elected politicians were doing what they were supposed to be doing, that is looking after the best interest of their electorate and the resources that fell under their jurisdiction. I was truly unaware until a few years ago when I heard your booming voice on the VOCM Radio apprising your fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians on what was coming down the chute on the Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro Corporation with regard to the proposed privatization of that Crown Corporation, which you and your group stopped for the betterment of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. That is when I opened my eyes and felt that I had to do something about what was going on in this province. At least I had a voice and I used it.
I use to treat my elected politicians like demi-gods and thought that they were there to serve us honestly and forthrightly. I never knew there was such an occupation as a LOBBYIST until I started to learn about the corrupt manner in which governments run the affairs of the Nation. That is when I started to ask questions. And I am so darn glad that I did ask questions, questions that all of the electorate of Newfoundland and Labrador should be asking if they want to become informed as to what really is going on, since there is an awful lot of skulduggery going on with regard to our resources and that is the prime reason that the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has not being able to move forward with a large scale Macro economy.
When you have people/lobbyists undermining things, without the people of this province really knowing who is doing what, how can we keep a handle on our provincial affairs? Some of the people whom Sue has named we have never heard of them before.
It is very unfair to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador that Ottawa lets these things happen. And most of what is going on is at Ottawa's behest, especially when it comes to resources which have to be dug out of the ground here and sent off to keep some jurisdiction in Central or Western Canada operating or rivers which have to be re-rooted to supply hydro-electric energy to the hungry heartland.
Up until just a few years I didn't know how governments operated, I was oblivious until you brought it to my attention, and I don't know why I cannot vent my spleen on your blog about the corruption that is allowed to exist while the people of Newfoundland and Labrador languish without an economy and have to be belittled by the Globe and Mail and the likes of Stephen Harper and Company.
The skulduggery needs to be cleaned up. Are you going to see that the task of cleaning up governments is undertaken, Premier Williams or are you going to be no different than any of the other Premiers that we have had to endure in this province for the past 58 years?
By the time the people of Newfoundland and Labrador realized in the past what their politicians' true legacys were, those politicians were usually long gone sitting on the board of directors of the corporations whom they invited to rape our province.
Let us become more aware and stop that practice of compacancy on our, the electorate's part, by checking in on those politicians from time to time to hold them responsible for their actions.
First, let me ask a question. Are there any reporters from the NATIONAL newspapers living and working in Newfoundland and Labrador? Reporting the news from our province to the rest of Canada? Or are we only blessed with local rag reporters, capable of reporting nothing more exciting than ‘A batch of jam, carefully prepared with locally grown berries, from the kitchen of an elderly woman from a local community, has gone bad and had to be thrown away…’ ? Are you, Sue, the only journalist with balls?
I think I speak for many educated people here when I ask ‘Where the heck is the real news?’ Why aren’t the Telegram reporters harassing the Prime minister or his cabinet ministers with the questions you raise? Closer to home, why are they not asking our Premier these questions, harassing him? Or are the editors of these local newspapers all drinking buddies of the Premier, too loyal (or afraid) to rock the boat?
I have lived in the U.K. for many, many years. I am writing this, because I really think the N&L newspaper editors and reporters really should take a look at how news is reported in the U.K. and bring some of that spirit, and apply it, here
The British newspapers have the power to bring political parties to power and to have them thrown out of office. They do this by investigative journalism. They hound the people, they follow the people, and they sleep outside the houses of the people they are reporting on. They do the same with family members of these people. This goes on and on until these people are forced to prove that the accusations made are false and / or make a statement on the subject. Failure to comment is taken as admission of ‘Guilty as Charged.’ They soon fall from favour and leave office. That’s journalism, that’s what the people want to read. That’s what the people want to see. That is what gets the answers to the questions, you and other’s, repeatedly ask. Ultimately, it is for the good of all. Let's not forget, polititions are 'Public Servants'.
Then there is Open Line and Back Talk. Powerful tools. Inefficiently applied. These programs should have high profile guests and question them until the answers are given. Never mind the $100 for news question of the day, or $1000 for NQoftheYear, they could get these results themselves from good, hard hitting interviewing techniques. It’s easy. Ask the premier to appear on the program, and ask him to give a (on the record) straight answer – and keep him there until he does. Ask the former Ambassador for Fisheries Conservation what his redundancy package was worth or how many tons of fish were allocated to foreign governments in ‘You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ deals? How simple does it get? Then again, many, many people in NL only survive because of the Buddy/Buddy system don’t they (another observation from being away) so good jobs in Radio, Newspapers and Government (or almost anywhere else in this Province) come with a price……’don’t bite the hand that feeds you!’ – (trans. ‘gives you the job!’)
Sue, you repeatedly ask for a strong opposition to challenge and question the Premier, and I support that view. A healthy governing administration can only exist with an opposition of strength and commitment to the common good. However, it is the people who bring about the real changes. They do this through freedom of the press. That is why I mention living in the U.K. – copy the British journalists. Let’s have some real, factual news. All we get in our newspapers and on radio news programs is opinions. Has anyone ever questioned that? Start reporting real news and facts and see how the questions the people ask will change.
For this province to be recognised as a force to be reckoned with, these powerful, influential people in public office have to be afraid. Afraid that every word they speak will be written down, investigated and openly challenged – afraid of the journalists, the newspapers and the radio programs. They must be called to answer. No vague ‘politicians’ answer, the truth. Only then will Newfoundland and Labrador be calling the shots in the Canadian Federal arena. We can lower as many flags as we like, as many times as we like, but it is the quality of reporting and journalism that will really cause them to loose sleep at night.
I will be back, there is so much more yet to say. Thank you
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