As Danny Williams continues to muddle through energy policy which could - if implemented - be our demise - Newfoundland and Labrador still in tail spin.
Despite the glory of pushing Paul Martin into an equalization payday - Williams - a successful businessman cannot seem to correct the economic slaughter of our province.
The Premier and his talking heads (Ministers) would have us believe that we are leading the country in growth - and that we are - we are growing exponentially in shipping out raw resources and the Premier wants to continue this trend.
Don't let him play with statistics - that to you and I - families - and communities means very little.
Let's have a "Closer Look".
Newfoundland and Labrador
Unemployment Rate - 13.6%
We lost 1700 jobs in July
Employment growth of 500 jobs over the past year
Prince Edward Island
Unemployment Rate - 10.5%
No job loss July
Employment growth of 1100 jobs over the past year
Nova Scotia
Unemployment Rate - 8.8%
Lost 3400 jobs in July but...
Employment growth of 4900 jobs over past year
Quebec
Unemployment Rate - 6.9%
Lost 1500 jobs in July but...
Employment growth of 87,400 jobs over past year
Ontario
Unemployment Rate - 6.5%
Gained 11,400 jobs in July
Over 27,000 new factory jobs alone...
Manitoba
Unemployment Rate - 4.2%
Lost 1900 jobs in July
Employment growth of 9,100 jobs over past year
Saskatchewan
Unemployment Rate - 4.8%
Gained 1800 jobs in July
Employment growth 5,000 jobs over past year
Alberta
Unemployment Rate - 3.3%
Gained 13,600 jobs in July
Employment growth of 61,000 jobs over past year
British Columbia
Unemployment Rate - 4.1%
Lost 2500 Jobs in July
Employment Growth of 62,000 jobs over past year
Reading these numbers - 2 things come to mind.
The silliness of provinces like Quebec and Ontario talking about Newfoundland and Labrador being greedy on the accord issue - and Williams talking about improving the economy and worse shipping out (exporting) our distinct advantage of clean renewable cost competitive hydro power. The poor man has not figured out why everybody needs power but us. They are attracting industry and they want to use Williams policy of energy warehousing to pluck our power which will deny us industrial growth - and it will decimate our future.
This policy is worse than that of Clyde Wells when he attempted the privatization of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and would be a greater giveaway than the Upper Churchill (if exported).
6 comments:
AS USUAL, EXCELLENT POINTS SUE.
A few of the things that boggles my mind about the proposed Lower Churchill Development are:
1. No Hydro Power for Labrador Coastal communities, especially the North Coast.
2. Just a few construction jobs and maybe 30 to 40 permanent jobs after project is finished for Labrador's people.
3. No industries in Labrador to use that power.
4. The William's Government mainly interested in selling the power and putting the revenue from it into their general revenue account which will be used in areas where they can get the most votes.
5. LABRADOR'S PEOPLE JUST STANDING BY AND ACCEPTING PEANUTS FOR THEIR HYDRO. (The leaders of the special interest groups must be bought and paid for except the Metis. As it stands right now the Metis and anyone that stands with them could be Labrador's Ace in the hole to gain maximum benefits for the BigLand, unless they are mislead again by Danny and friends like in the past)
Just a few construction jobs and maybe 30 to 40 permanent jobs after project is finished for Labrador's people.
30 to 40? That might even be high. What do the stations in northern Quebec employ on-site? They are run by remote-control from Montreal.... just as the so-called "Lower Churchill" would be run from St. John's.
Danny said the other day more decision-making power has to be given to people "outside the overpass". That's his rationale for the Grenfell University thing.
I wonder if he would give more power to people in Labrador?
If so, how?
I find it a little tiresome listening to people speak of Danny as if he were some Roman emperor, a god with absolute power. Danny is no such thing, he is an ordinary mortal, and abused and perverted by politicos, though it might be, we still live in a democracy. If Danny does something irresponsible that is in conflict with common sense and good judgment, it is only because we allow him to do so. If he is given, as seems to be his desire , total control of the Legislative Assembly, this will not be a reflection of his astuteness as much as it will be a reflection of our stupidity. The Labrador people, particularly the Labrador Métis, have it in their power to decide what will or will not happen to the Lower Churchill with respect to its proposed development. So, what's the problem!!!
August 13, 2007 11:50 AM - May I say lloyd ,well said ,Sir!!!
Sue, I, too, am perplexed! Why has Premier Williams figured out that every other province and country needs energy, while we have energy galore right under our noses and our government is stuck in the same place we have always been stuck in. We keep operating in the same direction and that is direction of exporting all of that wonderful energy so that other places in Canada can keep growing their economies, while we suffer here with a very anemic economy? What the hell is really going on? Can we identify that inherent gene tha causes such an ailment of keeping our politicians in the mindset of shipping out our resources for others to thrive while we flounder? It is time that we had that ailment diagnosed.
August 16, 2007 11:23 AM - Here,Here!!!
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