Newfoundland and Labrador has taken a stand before regarding our energy assets. As a people we stopped the privatization of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. This one move has saved the province's treasury and her people hundreds of millions of dollars. Further it allowed then incoming government of Williams to have a company to build on.
Do not forget that feat - it saved us from another Upper Churchill like giveaway of resources.
We are now faced with it again.
There has not been one politician that has explained why these tremendous energy resources in Labrador are not being developed to fuel industry in Labrador.
That is the most obvious choice. Transmission is reduced - or at least is used to fuel Labrador development.
Yet Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and the New England States can find every reason to try and get our power for their own development of industry.
This does not make any sense.
Industry would come to Labrador if the deal was - you can use our energy resources if you set-up in Labrador. It has been used by many northern countries before us and it works.
Let's look at the equation:
cost of development + cost of transmission + cost of marketing + cost of maintenance + cost of administration + profit (mark-up) = what it would cost other jurisdictions to use our energy
cost of development + minimal transmission + maintenance + reduced marketing + reduced profit based on establishment of permanent long-term jobs in Labrador = reduced cost to industry to use our power
If Nova Scotia or Ontario or Quebec or New York can use our power at an exponentially higher price to attract industry why can't we use it ourselves?
Your government, politicians, leaders are telling you they do not believe in the future of Newfoundland and Labrador - they are telling you they are not up to the job or incapable of doing what their counterparts on the mainland can do.
If they are reduced to just selling raw power (giving away resources) then you have to ask if they even did that right. The answer to that is NO. They will leave our energy access vulnerable to be taken over by Quebec. Don't pooh pooh this idea too quickly. Takeovers are common and remember what Williams asked you to believe - that Quebec would do anything to stop Newfoundland and Labrador. Have a look at Hydro-Quebec's history. Sue's Blog will do so over the coming weeks. These are the same people who went after the lifeblood of New Brunswick. Williams was much more protective over those assets than he is of ours. And don't forget he has shut down access to critical information out of Nalcor.
This is a very bad deal - I think short of turning the key to the Province of Quebec - we could not have signed anything worse.
Stop this deal.
2 comments:
"Industry would come to Labrador if the deal was - you can use our energy resources if you set-up in Labrador. It has been used by many northern countries before us and it works."
I absolutely agree; don't mind your critics Sue, your common sense approach will win in the end. You also do such a great job in researching the facts.
We are so lucky to have you supporting what is right.
I agree with Norm. I've heard it said you were the person that stopped Wells from letting Fortis take over. Good on you. Keep it up.
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