Minister Hutchings unwittingly questions Muskrat

In a VOCM story today Minister Hutchings is responding to Federal Minister Gail Shea regarding the shrimp quota disaster.

As is usually the case from this PC Government the Minister talks about how good we are doing and what good confederation children we are. In part he says:

...in 2007 there were 187 licensed fish plants; today there are 86, and at the peak in the '80s there were 250. He says the province has stepped in with the fisheries loan guarantee program and a host of others to give harvesters the ability to access capital or to buy out, all of which is consolidation and rationalization.

Yes there we have it. So in short - Look at us - we have downsized, cut, rationalized and sold out - so why can't we have more shrimp?

So this province has lost 164 fish plants, 2 pulp and paper mills, several mines and recently a shoe factory - we need more power? So this province has lost 50,000 people but we need more power? Our population has aged with many of our young families moving to other provinces and countries for work and we need more power for the seniors left behind? All of our houses are modern and energy efficient as are the appliances in them - so we need more power?

Better yet Hutchings alludes to even more rationalization meaning less fish plants - and we need more power?

Muskrat = somebody needs more money and they'll have the suckers of Newfoundland and Labrador pay for it.

Hutchings has no problem speaking confidently about rationalization - he just has a problem being rational. Kindly stop the BS - and while your at it - if you are seeking re-election you might want to tone down the - we are going to shut-down things to do better thing.

Tory Turmoil Continues - Legacy of Williams?

Here we go again. Back to square one. A new leadership process for the Tories begins as it did the last time.

Same group of people who may run.

Each day brings word of one of the list saying no.

Each day brings another Kent musing.

Media covering the same nonsense once again with almost the same panting breath.

The best we have so far is John Ottenheimer has announced he is running. Whoopee!

Is he how we describe renewal? Is he how we get new ideas? Is he the definition of fresh?

Nice fellow - John - despite his agreeing to do many things we have problems with. Is this the result of the Danny Williams leadership legacy?

Surround yourself with weak followers - surround yourself with obedient "colleagues" and voila you get leadership potential deficit.

A real leader surrounds him/herself with strong people - those with ambition and drive - those who strive to learn - listen - and lead.

One would figure there would be clamouring to get the top job after Williams left. He appointed Kathy Dunderdale to be an "interim" leader - while all other potential "new" leaders came to the for. Who did we get? We got lots of mumblings, whispers, and speculation. We had Brad Cabana try to run - but was determined "ineligible". So after all the fumbling, bumbling, and mumbling - Kathy was appointed.

Then Kathy the "interim" left - we should have expected the door to the candidacy locker to be kicked down - charged - and jammed with leadership hopefuls.

I woke-up one day and the media had a dozen or so waiting to come forward. Inside caucus - outside caucus - a retired army general, retired politicians, defeated politicians, a lobbyist, a retired fellow from the west coast, a fish merchant, and a grocer.

Day by day - the media plucked one off the list. We were down to three. Coleman, Bennett, and Barry. Danny did not like Barry and declared who he would not support. Delegate meetings were taking place before the actual campaign started. Bennett was thrown out of the race - Barry was procedurally crippled by the process and all we had left was one. No race again.

So the Premiership was Coleman's - the party had a leader and an election should have been called. Marshall stood in the House of Assembly and basically said his good-byes as he prepared to move over and let Frank take the helm. Sure before the handover occurred the Premiers Office staff went through a gutting putting Coleman's people in before he himself arrived.

Joan Shea quit so there was one seat open. Nope - Frank was not taking that one - so it became obvious that Tom Marshall was leaving his seat and Coleman could run at home.

Before a by-election could be called in St. George's - Stephenville East - the Premier appointed was gone - as quick as he came - with all his staff at the ready in the office he would never take over.

One clear sign of a good leader is that he/she has a reasonable succession plan. Draw your own conclusions.

Regardless, call an election now - your party mess is not our mess and is not the mess of government.

What do Bill, Darin, Keith, Derrick have that Kathy does not?

So Bill 29 is getting inspected  - but why unelected Premier Marshall?

Was elected Premier Kathy Dunderdale so vicious that you and your colleagues could not stop her?

Thousands of people yelling and screaming protest on Bill 29 - and you unelected Premier Marshall and your colleagues just ignored that? But why?

It took the loss of the first woman elected Premier of our province and who had a majority government for you and the other fellas to say - maybe we should review this.

On the strength of that - why after we were on rolling blackouts for obvious reasons of incompetence - did you not fire Ed Martin?

On that note - if you are going to "review" Bill 29 - why not "review" the Muskrat Falls deal?

Every identifiable Tory willing to speculate has been hauled out as a potential candidate for your upcoming (whenever) leadership contest. The only one left is Brian Peckford - can you manage to politically resurrect him - in your spin to demonstrate real interest in taking over the 20% party?

Is Dunderdale's seat being held for a new Townie leader and yours unelected Premier Marshall for Bill Barry?

The same old twitter backbench rats continue to attack and mock citizens. They continue on the same old path.

Then there is this - the people and the media are to blame for the loss of our Premier Dunderdale. "She was not understood" "people did not know her like we did". Sure - your the ones who booted her out. "She was not a good communicator" - yet you now are reviewing Bill 29 - not trying to re communicate the virtues of the Bill.

I've been around politics long enough to know that the PC's are in real trouble and are in panic mode. Even PC's - Bill Barry - thinks a revolution is needed - for him to even support you. So the one and only leadership candidate basically thinks the party needs to be blown up (figuratively speaking) in order for it to survive.

Tell me what do Darin King, Steve Kent, Derrick Dalley, or Keith Hutchings think they have that Kathy does not? Oh no never mind - the glass ceiling thing again.

One final question - if Bill 29 is changed - will the changes be retroactive?

As the unelected Premier overseeing the internal election of another unelected Premier - please remember you should not proceed with any major deals or developments. Time to go to the electorate - not PC's in a panic.

Dunderdale's supporters pulled the plug

I watched yesterday - as most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians did - Premier Kathy Dunderdale resign.

It was not a sad time for me - I did not like her leadership style or the policies she rammed down our throats.

The resignation speech was - in part - a list of "accomplishments" of her government - all the wonderful things. If this was the case - why would she resign? Why are the polls reflecting that close to 80% of the people do not want her leadership or her government?

What I heard yesterday was a continued drone of - "communication" problems. Was she a great communicator? No - however that is not the reason the vast majority of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians do not support her or her government.

It does not matter who communicates Bill 29 - we don't want it.
It does not matter who communicates the Muskrat Falls deal - we don't want it.
It does not matter how she relates the coziness with Stephen Harper - we don't like it.
It does not matter who makes excuses for not holding an inquiry on the death of Burton Winters - we want one.
It does not matter who communicates the CETA deal - the people are not satisfied with the amount of information provided.

It's not the messenger - it is the message.

In this regard - all the tired Cabinet behind her - should have gone with her. Are they delusional? Do they think if they get the one line spinner type like Brian Tobin or the bully type like Danny Williams - the policies they are trumpeting would be any more acceptable? What ever happened to the simple reasoning? Is it in anyway possible that the people do not like the policies and deals of this government?

On Muskrat - they fired everything at us - more expert communicators and communications than any person should have to suffer. They did not and do not have the peoples' support for this deal.

And by no means was she going to throw any of the backroom antics out into the open. We are to believe that Kathy Dunderdale ran back from Florida to resign - cause - she wanted to?

If the so-called supporters of Dunderdale want to patronize this woman by saying you are doing wonderfully my dear - but it's just the way you say it - or do it  or the way you look - the I guess the Premier should really examine her choice of "friends".

For me it's this - the people do not like what you are doing with the province. In that respect we do not support your Cabinet who were involved in the decisions.

The other part of her speech - was what could be termed the human part - the emotional part. In this she thanked her family - as we all should thank our families. The part about sacrifice I can do without as many professions and jobs - particularly those involved in protecting and saving lives - make that sacrifice for their entire careers - 50 years of it in some cases. Next up was the "women's" advancement discussion. As a woman - I can say she did nothing whatsoever for me as it relates to advancing women in politics. She was one of the most extreme partisan politicians I can remember. If you were a woman and supported her and her government - yes you would be looked upon favourably. If you were a young PC or a man who supported her and her government - you would be looked favourably upon. If you were a woman who was critical of her government and policies - she had no problem slicing and dicing you - and remember - she had the power to abuse it.

If she would like to confirm that she at no time discriminated against a woman because they were publicly critical of her government and policies - then I will challenge it.

All in all - I found Premier Dunderdale to be arrogant, out of her depth on many issues, too delighted with her power, and generally incompetent.

Do I care about how she looks or how she speaks (outside being relatively literate for the position), or that she is a woman? No. I care about how she conducts herself while in such a position, the decisions she makes and how she treats the people who put her there.

I care that the Premier and her government spent many hours of public media condemning those who disagreed with her policies and deals. The use of the words partisan, naysayers, and conspiracy theorists to describe the population one serves are not the words I want to hear from a "leader".

On the continued media thread that communication is the big problem here - that's assuming we - the people - are all not able to really see the benefits of something unless it is communicated by the likes of a John F. Kennedy? It is quite likely that when the vast majority of a population cannot see the benefit of one deal or another - it's because - it's not beneficial for them.

A politician - like all people - can be thanked for service - however to place them on a pedestal above many in a population who serve in some capacity or another is wrong. Yesterday the Premier quit her job. Her choice. It says a great deal however about the commitment to finish the job you started. Imagine if other professions could or would do that - imagine the mess we would have.

Her Cabinet and caucus who supported her leadership and policy choices did nothing much to prevent the resignation - that we can see anyway. So the wannabe new Premiers and their supporters spent most of the day blaming the people and or media for "not understanding her".Yesterday they wanted us to feel bad for causing her to leave.

The majority of people may not have supported her - but the majority of people could only replace her on election day. The Premier's supporters pulled the plug. It's important to add that they pulled the plug for polling results that were achieved through the policy choices of the entire Cabinet.

DFO destroying Fisheries Science Documents

So where are we on this bit of news? Please read below a News Release by The Green Party of Canada.

Have we lost any research from our waters?

Is Minister Keith Hutchings all over this?

Green Party condemns destruction of world-renowned Department of Fisheries and Oceans libraries

On Tuesday, December 10th, 2013 in

The dismantling of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans library system has taken a dramatic turn, with thousands of valuable books and scientific documents, some dating back to the 19th century, being sent to the dumpster over the past week.
The Green Party of Canada today voiced its condemnation of this reckless destruction of scientific resources. “Consistent with their policy of muzzling scientists, the Conservatives have now moved on to trashing libraries,” said Elizabeth May, Green Leader and MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands. “This administration seems to be deliberately undermining our ability to make good policy decisions by limiting access to scientific evidence.”
Some 40,000 documents from the now-defunct Eric Marshall Aquatic Research Library at the University of Manitoba are currently being relocated to a federal library in the Green Leader’s own riding. “Some of the library’s materials won’t be destroyed, but it is impossible to say just how much we’ve lost,” said May.
“This is the latest in the methodical destruction of fisheries and marine ecosystem intellectual resources,” said Janice Harvey, Fisheries Critic for the Green Party. “The same thing happened last year at the St. Andrews Biological Station, the oldest federal research facility in Canada.”
In addition to a state-of-the-art library facility with thousands of scientific documents, The St. Andrews Biological Station lost its ecotoxicology unit, whose scientists were at the forefront of research into the ecosystem effects of toxic chemicals used in the farmed salmon industry in the Bay of Fundy.
To date, the Harper administration has already shut down or consolidated an additional twelve library systems, serving departments ranging from Natural Resources to Parks Canada.

The CRA Poll will be 2015 Result

The latest CRA poll - I believe - will end up representing the election result in 2015.

The Tories have come in the same as last poll when you allow for percentage of error.

The NDP have collapsed and those left of centre swing Liberal/NDP have moved back to their Liberal base.

This is all of course premised on the Liberal Opposition not doing anything so outrageous (as happened with the NDP) as to eliminate themselves. As I have posted before - Dwight Ball's style of leadership is build not burn bridges and his thoughtful approach to policy is inclusive and open not exclusive and secret.

Back to the numbers:

1. The Liberals 52% is representative of the 30% or so solid Liberal support. 15% recaptured from the left leaning Liberals who had parked themselves tentatively with the NDP and 7% of centre Tories who swing based on the mood of the electorate and the current leadership of the Liberal Party.

2. The Tories are currently sitting with their solid PC base and not much else.

3. The NDP are likely to drop a couple of more points yet as they return to their solid base only - with that support going to the Liberals.

4. The Tories have shown they are unable to spend their way out this time and despite exorbitant amounts of warm and fuzzy Muskrat advertising - the population is not convinced that this project is good for Newfoundland and Labrador.

5. There will be a couple of more points coming to the Liberals as the sports fan like undecided - go out and vote for the winning team.

The Liberals chose the best leader at the best time. Dwight Ball will reinvigorate the party, rebuild party coffers, gain business support, promote district association development, unite right and left with solid economic planning, respect and include government employees, engage and involve the municipalities, be proactive on housing, health, education, and seniors issues, attract new industrial interests while maintaining and growing local small business. Ball will also be able to attract quality candidates including some of his leadership rivals. He is a quintessential Liberal.

This does not mean there will not be challenges over the coming 18 months. Ross Reid will try to direct a comeback for the Tories through outrageous spending, brainwashing levels of Tory self-promotion and advertising, and sometime in the New Year present a new potential leader. If the PC's cannot gain significantly by the next CRA poll result - the Tories will be in rebuild for 2019 mode.

Now let's talk about district predictions.

Here is my list of retirees (either before or at the dropping of the 2015 writ):

Felix Collins, Paul Davis, Kathy Dunderdale, Clayton Forsey, Tom Hedderson, Ray Hunter, Clyde Jackman, Charlene Johnson, Tom Marshall, Kevin O'Brien, Joan Shea, Susan Sullivan, Ross Wiseman.

Here is my list of potential floor crossers:

Dave Brazil, Sandy Collins, Tony Cornect, and Keith Russell

Those remaining may run again but only the following has a chance of retaining their seats:

Terry French, Keith Hutchings, Steve Kent, and John Dinn

This is what makes the next prediction very interesting.

I believe that Darin King thinks he is a leader in waiting and I believe that Hutchings and French will be his team of support. The problem is - I believe that - Darin King will lose his seat.

Dwight Ball has made it this far without the team of 10 establishment interests from both the Liberal and PC parties - if he keeps this approach - he will be a people's leader able to do the real job of a Premier. 

As for the 2 independents - Mitchelmore and Kirby - I can see Kirby being comfortable under a Dwight Ball Liberal Opposition and Government - however Mitchelmore presents more as an opportunist who is a Tory one day and an NDPer the next. If he does not go Liberal he will - I predict - lose his seat.

A PC Interim Leader on the way

Listening to our Premier today convinced me that Ms. Dunderdale is on her way out. She is now musing about reflecting, reviewing, revisiting, and reacting to the very loud and disapproving voices of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Dunderdale even mused on a leadership review - a sure sign that this by-election was not just another seat. If the Tories had retained the district - the grumbling government members might have bought the Ross Reid happy message a little longer. The loss of Carbonear - Harbour Grace - coupled with crashing polls - spells an end to her leadership.

So the dance begins - which of the upstarts wants to put the political knife in first? No doubt she's feeling a couple of them already.

I guess the permanent back-up finance Minister could do the Interim Premier bit as well. But with the Tories unable to come up with even an interim Finance Minister (other than Marshall - over and over) the talent pool appears shallow for an interim leader.

I think Darin, Terry, and Keith have a plan - the boys kind of see themselves as the male version of Susan, Joan, and Kathy. Just imagine their glee when the girls leave the roost.

Our Premier seemed really confused when interviewed today on the by-election loss - looked to the sky and wondered how they got to this place.

Muskrat, Abitibi, Fishery, Ferries, Roads, Come by Chance, and spending like drunken sailors comes to mind. Then there's the secrecy, arrogance, and dismissal of local small businesses. Yes that's right I almost forgot - 65 of them spread throughout the province - speaking to hundreds of people each - every day. Lastly there is this continued confusion about who our Premier works for - Danny? Nova Scotia? Emera? Ed Martin? or Stephen Harper?

I believe the Premier is going to have a snowy walk moment any day now and either Roving Tom is going to fill-in or the boys aforementioned will start implementing their plan.

"Seal"ing the CETA

and so the utter ignorance and giveaways continue...Just last week the Premier and provincial Fisheries ad Aquaculture Minister, Keith Hutchings were praising the great tentative trade deal between Canada and the European Union. What a fabulous day for our fishery they claimed with a few federal bucks in our pockets - we should be grateful for their superior negotiation skills.

Newfoundland and Labrador was SO happy - sure who needs the feds to come to our province +for hearings and discussions?

and so for "public moral" reasons the EU ban on our seal products was upheld by the World Trade Organization.

Oh and so now it's our morality - we immoral lot here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

So will we watch Kathy Princess Warrior Dunderdale pull support from CETA or will she continue on the road of giveaways and gross compromise?

Let's hear the news Premier - you gonna yell and scream? Are you going to say the predictable " we are appealing"?

The giveaways continue - the unfair treatment of Newfoundland and Labrador continues - the weakness of our Premier in negotiations continues; yet she has no problem beating the financial crap out of longstanding local small businesses.

Please let this madness end before 2015 - please quit Premier Dunderdale - our future can't survive another day of your DEALS.

Dunderdale gives up fishery for loan guarantee on Muskrat?

In my opinion the Premier traded the fishery for a loan guarantee on Muskrat in November of 2012 - something she said she would not do.

The media - did a fine job talking about Dunderdale's fine negotiating skills. Really?

Where's the journalism now?

Now it's a win for Newfoundland and Labrador - when in November of 2012 it was extortion?

Kathy Dunderdale quote from NTV news story in May 2013:

The premier and the prime minister signed the terms for the loan guarantee in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Nov. 30, but the deal almost fell apart the night before. Dunderdale says at the last minute Harper demanded concessions in the fishery to get the loan guarantee. He wanted the province to give up minimum processing requirements at local fish plants as part of a free trade deal with the European Union, known as CETA.
“The prime minister wanted a quid pro quo for the loan guarantee, and you know what I told him to do with the loan guarantee: no quid pro quos,” Dunderdale said. “You (Harper) promised it to the people of the province, you said that the only requirement was that it have a sound business plan.
“Well, we’ve produced it, you give us the loan guarantee, and don’t talk to me about the fishery at the 11th hour.”
Dunderdale says Ottawa continued to push for the concession until the Victoria Day long weekend when International Trade Minister Ed Fast came to the province. Again, she said no, making it clear there would be no trade-off between Muskrat Falls and the fishery.
“There is no linkage between those two things,” she told reporters after her speech. “That has been a point we’ve been making since November. The loan guarantee stands on its own.”

The caveat was:  But the fishery issue isn’t quite off the table yet. Dunderdale said she would consider giving up the minimum processing requirements if the public and industry want that, and if the province gets something in return, such as better access to the European market or an early retirement program. But for now, her position is to keep the rules as they are.

_________________________________________________________

What Ottawa was looking to have tariffs lifted for the fishery it would be in return for lifting minimum processing requirements. In my opinion Dunderdale was trying to make herself look tough - saying that there would be no quid pro quo and the loan guarantee stood on its own. The more likely truth is that Harper won the day in November and gave the Premier time to make it palatable. Time to get the message and spin right - and time to get people on side who could back her position. The EU was not expecting a lift on processing without a lift on tariffs - give me a break. I choose to use my mind - not to have it spun like a web.

In my opinion - the fishery did get traded for the muskrat loan guarantee - and the Premier did nothing to make sure that the "public" wanted in - she just bagged McCurdey and the seafood processors. 

Dunderdale is - in my opinion - either a participant or pawn.

The question the media should get an answer to now - was the EU expecting to have minimum processing requirements lifted without also agreeing to lifting tariffs? My belief and logic says no. This was a straight exchange. Dunderdale needed more time to get the necessary people on side.

What irony that Sullivan's man in Dunderdale's Cabinet just got put into the Department of Fisheries.

Timing is everything...

Election Act may allow PC's to avoid the Polls - if Kathy departs this October.

The Sir Robert Bond Papers says:

"Rumours have started to circulate that Kathy Dunderdale will toss her teddy bear in the corner in October.  Maybe.  Unless the Tories change the House of Assembly Act to reverse the changes they made a decade ago,  they’ll be forced to go to the polls within 12 months of her departure. That might have made sense once, but with the mess they currently have , there’s no guarantee the Tories would be able to run a successful election that quickly."

Actually Ed Hollett may be wrong - the Act is weak and says the following:

Election on change of Premier

      3.1 Where the leader of the political party that forms the government resigns his or her position as leader and as Premier of the province before the end of the third year following the most recent general election, the person who is elected by the party to replace him or her as the leader of the party and who is sworn in as the Premier of the province by the Lieutenant-Governor shall, not later than 12 months afterward, provide advice to the Lieutenant-Governor that the House of Assembly be dissolved and a general election be held.

You will note that the party has to have an election to get a new leader first; that can take them up to a year before the election. In that time an interim leader can be appointed (not elected) and caucus can make many changes to try and turn the tide. 

For sure the interpretations on this will vary - however - there is certainly significant wiggle room. Section 3.1 has two conditions that must be achieved; election of a new leader and then 12 months to call a general election. 

I'm sure the PC's have looked at this and we will know their interpretation soon. I'd say Kathy is gone and perhaps Terry French will provide interim leadership. My guess is Darin King is gathering his leadership gang together as I write this blog. 

Paul Davis - your department needs a Geography lesson

After the disaster that was the traffic slowdown (2 to 3 hours) just east of Gander - Minister Paul Davis advised that people livyers and tourists alike check his department's website before travel - in order to determine if there will be delays in their trip.

Let's hope that we don't confuse everybody by providing information that is factually incorrect.

Below please find such a notice. You will note that the bridge is on Route 10 not 90 - you travel route 90 Salmonier Line from the TCH or route 10 Southern Shore Highway (it all should be one route) but the bridge is on Route 10 - several communities away from Route 90. Route 90 from the TCH does not extend to 112 km's. The official notice is incorrect.

So at this point one mess leads to another mess.

90	Northeast Trepassey Bridge on Route 90 South from the TCH 112.7km. Bridge deck repairs. (Project #24-13PSR C)	Ongoing	Aug. 09, 2013 07:51 AM
Comments:	Bridge repairs ongoing. One way traffic controlled by signage. Be prepared for frequent stops and slowdowns. Crews and equipment working in roadway and on shoulders. Speed limit reduced. Drive with care and caution, be prepared to stop and expect short delays while work ongoing for the next week.

Lobbyists and Dunderdale - Who Pays the Price?

What the Generic Giveth the Brand Taketh Away 

On the heels of the Dunderdale's government decision to lower prices of generic drugs - two brand houses are reaching in and taking that money back.

As of April 02-12 Pfizer (Brand Company) has raised the prices of 40 some drugs.

As of April 01-12 Merck Canada (Brand Company) has done the same with about the same number.

Joining them in price increases on April 01-12 are: Brand Companies - Novartis, Purdue, Abbott, Axcan, NovoNordisk, Jannsen-Ortho and Astra.

Many of the Pfizer drugs that will go up in price next week are drugs commonly needed by seniors and others with chronic illness.

With money to spare in the provinces treasury anticipated by changes to generic pricing - the Brand Drugs are taking advantage and getting more cash.

Unfortunately the Brand Houses do not fund independent pharmacies through rebates so now we lose money and have nothing going back into community health services.

The brand drug companies are the strongest lobbyists in the country and yes they lobby our government.

This is a direct attack on local independent companies by our government and a gift for Shoppers Drug Mart and Brand companies. 

Shoppers CEO predicts DOOM for Independents

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is about to serve a central Canadian company - local businesses on a platter.

With 100 million local dollars invested in the provincial economy - independent pharmacies have been told by their government that they don't matter.

As witnessed in the House of Assembly - PC Cabinet members and backbenchers chided these local owners with calls to show their T-4's and state where they take vacations.

The general assertion of government is that independents are filling their pockets with rebates.

Despite the lies and misleading statements by these politicians - Shoppers Drug Mart's CEO is backing up what the independent stores  have been warning against.

In the Globe and Mail yesterday Domenic Pilla spells it out clearly for all to see.
 

“We are facing the single worst commercial environment that the drug sector has ever faced … But who is in the absolute best position in Canada to weather that – in some cases to take advantage of that? It’s Shoppers Drug Mart.”

He said that as the country’s largest drugstore chain, Shoppers is best positioned to navigate the road ahead, with economies of scale to help it lower its costs.

And he wants to buy competitors as reduced government reimbursements start to squeeze smaller rivals, he said. “That’s a freight train accident waiting to happen. How it will happen and how quickly it will happen ... is something that is still to be told.” 

His estimated that Shoppers pharmacies probably could add another 30 per cent more prescription files without having to invest in fixed costs. “That would make acquisitions for us very accretive.”

Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development might want to look long and hard in the mirror today - as he personally participated in the likely destruction of local investors. 

As Shoppers talks about chewing up local businesses - it does so while saying they don't have to invest a cent in fixed assets. The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is clearly stating their position on local business and investment. 

To top it all off the monies lost to the treasury - particularly monies needed for health - will far outweigh any potential savings to the government from their new generic drug pricing model. 

Further the services provided by these independents - that will be lost from the policy will cost the government tens of millions more. 

Particularly puzzling is the government's insistence that these independents sit at a table with Shoppers employees and come to a common position. What might that be? We the independents agree to turn over our investments to you as cheaply as we can? 

The buffoonery in the House of Assembly underscores the actual ignorance or complicit behavior that will in the end ruin local business, diminish front-line health services, and drive the costs of those services through the roof. 

Bravo - why not stand in your place and take a bow.

Closer to home - Fish Lobbyist

Newly minted Conservative MHA Keith Hutchings - he was just a provincial lobbyist for the Association of Seafood Producers - ending 2007-01-12. He was lobbying on behalf of these employers to the Workplace Health and Safety Commission. Do voters know this? Does Trish Dodd and the Injured Workers Association know this?

When on with Randy Simms - Simms asked tell us a bit about yourself - he did not say -I am or was just a paid lobbyist for the Association of Seafood Producers. In that wonderful fishing district of our province - and Keith who claimed that the fisheries collapse is tough but you know aquaculture is the way of the future. Gee - where did he get that theory from?

Does the fact that he lobbied for the Seafood Producers Association have any bearing on his opinions round the caucus table?

Why not ask people we elect or who want to be elected - who were they working for. Why not ask those people we pay?

You see the red-herring of a blogger not identifying who they work for - is just that - raise the invalid - to hide the valid.

You see Keith worked for Loyola Sullivan when he was PC leader - did he ever work for the WHSC? Loyola - whose brothers are involved with Seafood Producers!

I guess Keith had great contacts within government.

Once again - I ask - what are the MHA's for or the MP's - get a lobbyist.

Maybe the Independent and Ryan Cleary could do some research on what a lobbyist is - who they work for - how much they are paid - and what they are lobbying for.