Harper Enemy of the State? Premiers must take Action

I always begin my posts on the Prime Minister by reminding the reader that Stephen Harper is a liar. No doubt that causes problems in our nation - not the least of which is setting a very bad example for young Canadians.

Now our "leader" is threatening our country. How? Well this man who sits atop the Canadian political heap is shovelling sh-t (figuratively speaking) and tossing it on the masses below.

Once again this ne'er-do-well is saying no to yet another First Ministers meeting.

Canada consists of provinces and territories and under confederation agree to a federal presence in areas of joint service delivery, national security, and to a certain degree matters of law. Under such terms provinces and territories agree to a federal taxation base provided by personal and corporate interests. Considering the monies raised to allow a country to exist are garnered from these sources - it is necessary and only reasonable that these parties are directly involved in the allocation of those funds.

Harper's insistence on running a one-man state and his determination to design Canada in his vision continues to jeopardize both the national economy and sovereignty. Make no mistake the international corporate giants do have his ear - while the electorate does not. This is a recipe for disaster. Harper's obvious desire to be a CEO should be achieved in private not public service.

The Premier's for their part are starting to wear some of the blame here. It is unacceptable to be ignored by the federal government and therefore the provinces and territories must take action to correct this problem. The whining of these individuals to the media has not and will not achieve regular meetings with Harper.

As Quebeckers go to the polls my instinct tells me that this is a real problem for Charest and will become a bigger problem as the dog days of summer continue to the fall. This in turn may cause additional and constitutional problems as we head into the winter of our discontent.

The people of Canada elect their respective provincial governments and they fully expect these politicians to represent their interests in the federation. If they fail in doing so - the people look to the media for proper questioning of the situation. I cannot think of anything more important in Canada right now than the state of communication, collaboration, and cooperation between the PMO and the Premier's. This means a first Ministers meeting must occur at least on an annual basis.

Currently the aloof Harper is winning the battle without having to raise a sword. This is not acceptable.

The Premiers, media, and federal MPs have the responsibility to deal with this situation or run the risk that Harper's spoiled honey will stick to them.

RIM - Time for Stock Innovation

Okay - I do like my Blackberry and PlayBook. I like the fact that this is a Canadian Company.

You have fallen on hard times - time for some more innovation.

How about you offer shares with the sale of your products.

Buy a Playbook for $200 get 20 shares. Let us in - let average Canadians in on the action.

People buying your products now are afraid - it's risky - are you going to be there in a month.

For the risk - offer shares.

Market your innovation, your history, and your maple leaf.

Surely the shareholders that remain would go for something that has a real chance of recovering value.

You want a chance to show your stuff again - you need time - you need shareholders.

Come on Research in Motion - get mobile - and share a Cinderella story with fellow Canadians. Go from Province to Province and meet with people. Do the BBQ circuit. Time for the Nerds to let loose and seek support from those of us who use your technology and support it.

More taxpayer dollars up in Smoke? Make the Call!

Here is the situation:

B.C., New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island are retaining a national legal team to help them prosecute Canadian tobacco companies.

Why are these provinces teamed together?

The provincial governments believe that because of the many common elements of the claims, combining forces with other provinces and co-ordinating legal resources will bring their cases to trial faster.

What is the cost?

Is it cheaper for each province?

So what is Newfoundland and Labrador doing?

Ask Dunderdale or Williams. What is the cost of our legal team that includes the law firm of Roebothan, McKay, Marshall - the law firm previously headed up by Danny Williams?

Will they tell us the compensation terms of our legal team?

Where are the questions? Why are they not being asked? 

All the media has to do is "make the call". It costs absolutely nothing to "make the call". 

Perhaps Manitoba could confirm for us "independently" if the way are approaching this lawsuit is the lowest possible alternative.

First 5 Questions for the Muskrats

1. If there are overruns of 50% as Manitoba Hydro suggests may happen who pays for them?

2. When did Nalcor/Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro first realise there was a shortage of energy?

3. Did Nalcor/Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro seek new industrial customers/partners for Lower Churchill power in Labrador - if so who and what were the results. If not why not?

4. Why are all independent reviews guided by Nalcor's numbers and projections?

5. Where will Nalcor/Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro raise funds to develop Gull Island?

More to Follow

The saddest story of all...

Oilweek magazine is running a CP piece on the Council of the Federation. It probably tells the story of our province's woes the best.

On the issue of the east west energy grid this was the comment from the reporter:

Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario are the most vocal proponents of an east-west transmission system. Manitoba and Newfoundland want the grid because of the potential to develop additional exports of cheap hydro power.

Here we are flanking Ontario and Quebec - Manitoba on one side - Newfoundland and Labrador on the other - and the objective is to get that cheap renewable hydro-power to Quebec and Ontario. The two provinces who need industry and have renewable reliable cost effective hydro are preparing to ship that value to Ontario. Neither Premier Doer or Premier Williams are showing the vision - showing a desire to leave a legacy for future generations - instead they are playing into the hands of Ontario which is running out of power from population and industry growth. Let's fix that for them hey?

The same story quotes Williams this way:

The Newfoundland premier said he hopes the huge, 2,800 megawatt development will provide clean power to Ontario and the Maritimes, over new transmission lines.

Understand that when we ship this power we ship our future - population growth potential - industrial potential with it. The only legacy this will leave is a repeat of Upper Churchill mentality. This will be the biggest giveaway of this century - and Williams like Smallwood won't have to worry about it after the deed is done.

In the story - Williams talked about the transmission lines this way:

He said transmission facilities could be built either by private industry, or by the federal and provincial governments.

Charest responded:

However, Premier Jean Charest said that Quebec must be able to maintain jurisdiction over its own energy supplies and transmission facilities, without interference from Ottawa.

“An east-west grid interests us,‘‘ Charest said, adding that Quebec wants to profit from its huge supplies of clean hydro and wind power.

“But it will happen in respect of our jurisdictions. If anyone suggests that we run a line paid by the federal government in Quebec, that‘s not going to happen.‘‘

Charest said Quebec is already building a transmission line to Ontario.

Talk about being snookered - if we spent half the energy looking for industrial developments in Labrador - versus trying to get the power out - Labrador could be booming and our children's future secured.

This is just another demonstration of the superior abilities of Ontario and Quebec politicians when compared to the weak - submissive attitude of Williams.

The real question for our Premier though is why all the interest in secondary processing for non-renewable fossil fuels - when he has no desire to restrict the use of the mighty Lower Churchill resource to industry or processing in Labrador?

And if all that is not bad enough - here's what he has in store for Labrador READ CAREFULLY:

“We would like to have a link down through the island (of Newfoundland) and over to the Maritimes,‘‘ he said.

Williams and Doer snookered by Charest and McGuinty

Sue's Blog has often referred to hydro-electric potential as liquid gold - Sunday the Winnipeg Free Press called it "Black gold on tap".

In either case an interesting strategy is emerging by Ontario and Quebec on these valuable resources to the west and east of them.

The story out of Manitoba talks about the great potential of these untapped hydro resources in that province - similar to Newfoundland and Labrador and the installed capacity of this clean energy in that province. What do you think is being looked at there? EXPORT to Ontario and Quebec - the same way Newfoundland and Labrador is looking at going.

Quebec and Ontario is also pushing for the feds to construct an east west grid so they can capture all the clean energy from our two provinces at Canada's expense - and build industry at ours.

Now BC uses it's hydro for industry - and the economy demonstrates such - Alberta uses it's energy resources for themselves as does Ontario and Quebec - the two other provinces fortunate to have the resource are being used to supply Central Canada - and I would argue the economies of both our provinces reflect that policy.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer and Premier Danny Williams are being intellectually snookered by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Quebec Premier Jean Charest at a level which is - frankly embarrassing. And you bet Energy Probe's Tom Adams is encouraging the export of Manitoba's power too.

Quebec only exports 8% of their power - that's only because they have all the riches from Labrador's Upper Churchill otherwise they would be importing and - Ontario is a net importer as is British Columbia. They all use their power for industrial development.

Make no mistake about it - Quebec and Ontario have a joint strategy - they take what they want from the feds - a national energy grid - and then they take the clean power from Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba with our leaders' blessing.

If this strategy is successful both Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba will suffer through "have-not" status for many generations to come.