There is an interesting topic being discussed re: the Labrador Party - Globe and Mail online - participate and read the comments....
Labrador West is not in good hands with Jim Baker. This PC MHA is toeing the "Danny" line to the peril of Labrador development.
What is this nonsense he speaks about - raising money on the bond markets without customers for Lower Churchill Power - and then excusing the energy plan (pamphlet) failing to provide clean hydro power to other regions in Labrador.
Jim - listen up - whether the customer is a couple of smelters in Labrador or Ontario - it does not matter. Here's the problem - when you ship the power out - even on recall - it is not coming back - industry will go where it is being shipped. Industry will pay a little more for it in Ontario because they will net that cost off the cost of developing supporting infrastructure in Labrador. Then Labrador is left with nothing but whatever revenues St. John's decides to give it for infrastructure they see fit. That's worked really well with the Upper Churchill right?
Here's the choice - make them come to Labrador and use it - and they will - or ship it to places like Ontario where it will be used by industry that will then never come to Labrador - recall or not.
If transmission does not go to other regions of Labrador now - it will not go there in the future as the economies will decrease as industry which could have been attracted to these areas will have already laid roots where the power is exported. Notwithstanding this if you can afford a line to the Island to take off 500 MW's of dirty power - Labrador should not tolerate being left off the grid.
Jim have a look at the line proposed to Newfoundland and see where it stops in Labrador - and you can't take it to the coast? Hogwash! Labrador will be permanently disadvantaged if this energy plan (pamphlet) goes forward.
Labrador West is a success story with industrial projects but there is much more to accomplish both in Lab West and the rest of Labrador. Do not let them export this most valuable resource to other Provinces or States which will use it to power their economies.
And Jim's last argument is the best - Labradorians and Newfoundlanders who oppose this export and lack of transmission in Labrador are just trying to pit one part of the province against the other. Jim - if this plan goes ahead - you will ensure there will never be a united Newfoundland and Labrador.
I wonder Jim - if Danny is so bent on maximising the dollar for the treasury instead of maximising industry in communities adjacent to the power - what will he do when negotiating an extension of the current power contracts for your already existing industry?
There is an interesting topic being discussed re: the Labrador Party - Globe and Mail online - participate and read the comments....
2 comments:
For a united Newfoundland and Labrador, the Lower Churchill Hydroelectric development must be done soley for Labrador.
Do first things first and advertise for industry to utilize the 2800 Mega watts of the clean and coveted energy that will result, and industry will come.
As long as industry hears the rattlings that Ontario might get that energy, industry will waffle and do nothing about it, because industry prefers to maintain and augment what they already have built in Central Canada.
I know Ottawa has a lot to do with this, because of the Kyoto usage that Ottawa is forced to deal with, but that is not a problem of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, this province is fighting to stay alive and in order to do that we need to create industry.
Ottawa please let us use up some of the Kyoto points that are so cherished by the rest of Canada. Kyoto usuage was the prime reason why Alberta was so dead set against Newfoundland and Labrador starting up an Oil industry. It didn't want us to compete with them for the Kyoto usage.
If Premier Williams or Opposition Leader Gerry Reid makes the announcement that the energy will go nowhere but Labrador, well then industry will get the message and sign on for the utilization of the coveted energy to move forward with their industrial developments in Labrador.
Go ahead Premier Williams and Opposition Leader Gerry Reid, please the both of you make the announcement today. It cannot and will not be any other way.
We, the electorate, will not put up with any more giveaways of the resources of either Labrador or Newfoundland. Do what you both were elected to do and that is what is right for the province.
The Canadian government is facing legal action over its failure to meet its Kyoto targets on emissions according to a group known as The environmental group Friends of the Earth Canada.
Canada had signed up to reduce emissions by 6% on 1990 levels, emissions are now 28% above that level.
A target announced by the Canadian government in April 2007, stated it would see emissions cut by 20% on 2006 levels by 2020, would still leave the country 39% over its Kyoto target for 2008-2012, the group said.
Folks which provinces do you think Ottawa will have a bias towards with regard to industry?
My opinion is that Ottawa's bias will favor every other province over the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. That have been so use to getting away with allowing industry in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, that is the way they wish it to remain.
That is one of the reasons our resources have been exported to the other provinces to create industry over the past 58 years. We were too inept to see what was going on from this province since low grade transparancy was practiced. We have to stand firm and demand that we are able to create industry with our resources here as well, the other provinces will have to share the Kyoto pie chart with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
How else are we ever going to create a market economy, if we aren't allowed to utilize our resources here to create industry here? It is folly to think we can do it otherwise.
Our politicians are the people with whom we have entrusted out faith in doing what is right for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. So Premier Williams please do what is right and see that this province gets on track with the other provinces with regard to creating economies.
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