POISON don't CUT Christmas trees on side of road

So the Department of Natural Resources is warning all you Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that if you are going to get a Christmas Tree - do NOT cut one on the side of the road. They tell you to measure out 102 metres from the centre of the road and then cut one.

You can however spray poison on everything on the side of the road - so you can see moose better - but you bad people don't dare cut one. Unless of course you have one of those giant whipper snippers that we see wiping out tracts and tearing up the ditches everywhere in the province.

For years Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who use wood for heat have been warned - not on the side of the road. No No No - naughty people. Yet poison away.

If you told people they could cut all trees on the side of the road - then we might not need to poison the land. All that wood that people could have used to heat their homes has been reserved for poisoning and ripping up by commercial operations.

Yes - it is time to warn the people who want a Christmas tree - mind you rules.

Poison a lake, a river, a forest, or a bog - but at no time can you cut a Christmas tree on the side of the road.

Does anybody notice the absurdity of this. Wake-up Minister Dalley - give me a break.

While you are at it - fix your regulations - they represent a paradox. Take some time and read the legislation and regulations you are responsible for as a Minister.

Alderon - Willams - Muskrat Falls

Could Alderon benefit from the Muskrat Falls deal?

Please read excerpt from a Telegram story below and you decide: 

Alderon executive chairman Mark Morabito said Wednesday the province’s proposed Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project is crucial to the company’s $989-million Kamistiatusset project, which the company predicts will create 1,500 full-time jobs — 480 at the mine and concentrator in the Labrador Trough, the rest indirectly through local service and support industries.
“Power’s definitely the biggest issue for us,” said Morabito after Alderon’s annual general meeting Wednesday morning at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John’s.

Could Danny Williams benefit from the Muskrat Falls deal?

Please read the 2 News Releases by Alderon below and you decide:

January 5th 2012
Alderon Appoints Danny Williams as Special Advisor to the Chairman 

March 28th 2012
Alderon Appoints Former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams and Bay Street Lawyer John Vettese to the Board of Directors

Who struck the intitial Term Sheet with Emera?
Who appointed then Interim Premier Kathy Dunderdale?
Who is the "Liberal" that supports the Muskrat Falls deal?
What Premier did the "fibre optic deal"?
What local businessman benefited from that deal?

Either the information above is fake or it is real.

If it is real - speculation on potential beneficiaries of a Muskrat Falls development is not only reasonable but necessary.

Business is speculation it`s what these guys make money doing.

We as people have to determine if this is the best deal for our province and whether or not we want to foot the bill.

We the people must do what is in the best interests of the generations of people to follow.

Everything should be questioned regarding the development of a natural resource owned by the people. Had we done that in the past resource deals like the Upper Churchill fiasco may have been avoided.

Historical Patterns of Arrogance - Rae Drops In

VOCM has posted the following news story:

Despite recent polls showing a surge in popularity for the NDP, federal Liberal Leader Bob Rae believes his party will form the government in 2015. The NDP is now the official opposition and soaring in the polls both federally and provincially. Rae was in Newfoundland this week. Though he doesn't dismiss the polls, he believes the next federal election will reflect historical patterns in voting.
________________________________________________________

So Bob Rae - interim - outgoing - and apparently very arrogant leader of the Federal Liberals - believes that "his" political club will win because we the people historically have voted for it. Never you mind about the NDP says Rae - we have the historical right to power. It's our turn - full stop.

So you and I and anybody who has ever voted Liberal will resurrect the grand old party because we should.

Now that's almost as good as Rae's opinion on the Muskrat Falls proposed project with Emera. He - speaking on behalf of his party - is throwing support behind the deal. Why? Well I don't know - but Rae states, “Newfoundland is rich in hydro-electricity, and it's not right that hydro-electricity should be cooped up in one of part of the country and not be able to be used for Newfoundlanders and in the rest of the country”. This quote provided by CBC in an interview between Rae and reporter Dave Cochrane.

So the main thing for the Liberal leader is that Newfoundland and Labrador resources continue to leave our province to accommodate the growth of other provinces?

Rae should understand there are many resources "cooped up" in other areas of the country and we in Newfoundland and Labrador have not and will not benefit from them. What about all those federal jobs "cooped up" in Central Canada?

The entitlement of rule according to Rae extends to ignoring the position of the provincial Liberals - who he was actually touring with - by adding  “I think that’s what important is that the provincial Liberals are doing their job because they are the people on the ground who are going to have to be assessing exactly how much it’s going to cost, and how it’s going to be financed.” So his support of the project has not been altered by the work the provincial Liberals are doing? Then who is Rae listening to? What is he basing his support on?

So as yet - I have not been given one "rae"son to follow "historical" patterns of voting - to the contrary I have every reason to reject "historical" patterns of arrogance.

Rae should stop the rhetoric and walk into the heart of Quebec and ask them to open the power corridor - or better yet walk into Newfoundland and Labrador with a promise to promote the big land as an industrial hub for companies producing finished product such as the aluminum giants "cooped" up in Quebec. In that way we use our own resources to achieve maximum gain for us.

The people of this province have every reason to avoid historical patterns Bob - and you should be cognizant of that.

Important Update on Seal Cove Fire

Smoke from a fire still burning behind Seal Cove, Fortune Bay is now enveloping the community.

The wind has shifted and the urgency has increased to put out this fire - now in it's 5th day.

Houses almost not visible as smoke envelops the community.

The Fire still Burns - Seal Cove - Day 5 - Wind has now Shifted

The fire still burns behind the hills in Seal Cove, Fortune Bay - day 5.

The water bomber returned this morning with another expected this afternoon.

This is a stubborn blaze that can still threaten the town.

The wind is now blowing the smoke into the community. It is essential that this fire gets knocked down now. 

Here are pictures of the helicopter today. I am also posting a couple of pictures of the scenery.

Seal Cove, Fortune Bay is one of the most picturesque communities we have - and that's saying something.

If you really want to see the ocean meeting the sky - this is the place to be.

A Lobster Fisherman at Work

Fire Continues at Seal Cove - Fortune Bay

This morning behind the hills of Seal Cove - Fortune Bay the smoke continues to billow as the helicopter continues to assist in the fire suppression efforts.

This is not a fogbank - but rather a smokey horizon.

Two Water Bombers Take on the Seal Cove FB Fire

It's supper hour in Seal Cove, Fortune Bay and at this hour water bombers continue to battle the fire in the hills.

Friday, Saturday, and now Sunday the local fire brigade has been doing it's work alongside forestry workers, helicopter and water bomber pilots.

More pictures from the site an hour or so ago.

A water bomber attacking a fire just beyond the hill.

The Department of Natural Resource Assets at the site.

Water Bomber approaching hills.

The Upper and Lower Jaw of Kennedy's Muskrat

So Jerome Kennedy has become such an expert on the Lower Churchill - he cannot find anyone educated enough on the subject to debate with him.

Delusional! Minister Kennedy does not have the guts to debate the proposed deal on Muskrat with anybody unless that person is chosen by him and in an environment set up by him.

As for no special debate in the House of Assembly - well that's just laughable.

The mouths that are now government never stopped yapping when demanding a full debate on Voisey's Bay and the Inco deal. That is a non-renewable resource - the massive hydro power potential in Labrador is a renewable resource. It is also a resource in its own right as a river.

Kennedy has not answered the legitimate questions on this development and he has not begun to deal with the entire Churchill - Upper and Lower. It is all connected and each development will have an impact on the other.

2041 remains floating - with Kennedy blowing the hot-air to keep it up where people cannot see it.

Markets, Costs, Alternatives, Long-term employment, Labrador benefits, energy requirements, and privatization remain grey areas of speculation.

The costs to our people - particularly the coming generations is outrageous and renders them used in the same way our generation has been with the Upper Churchill fiasco.

If you want to push this mess of a deal - do so for real reasons and tell us what they are.

If you want this deal - stand and debate it.

Don't hide behind a cloak of innuendo, rhetoric, insults and delusions of superior knowledge or intelligence. 

I don't like the cut of your jib - so show us the cut of your jaw in debate. A maul mouth you have proven - but wisdom you have not.

Goodbye Canada and Corruption - Hello Iceland

A lesson from Iceland - I have added bolding to areas of the Story.
You must love the People First approach.
Iceland with half our population and less natural resources - they are doing fine.

Icelandic Economy Bounces Back From Brink

Debt relief put people’s needs ahead of markets

By Marlene Y. Satter

February 20, 2012 •

Iceland’s economy suffered a meltdown in 2008, with its banks defaulting on $85 billion. In 2009 its citizens took to the streets and demanded action from the government against those they saw as responsible for the crisis. The government responded, putting people before markets, and now Iceland’s economy is outgrowing the euro one and, on average, the developed world.

Bloomberg reported that after it was determined in October 2008 that the banks could not be saved, the government intervened. It ring-fenced domestic accounts and shut out international creditors. Iceland’s central bank prevented the sell off of krona through capital controls, and new banks were created that were controlled by the state. Then the government and the state-controlled banks agreed that amounts in excess of 110% of home values would be forgiven on mortgages.

The country’s supreme court also ruled in 2010 that debts indexed to foreign currencies were illegal, which saved households from having to cover losses resulting from drops in the value of the krona.
An Icelandic Financial Services Association report cited by Bloomberg pointed out that the country’s banks have forgiven loans amounting to 13% of Iceland’s GDP. That lessened the debt load of the population.

In addition, the government is investigating, and prosecuting, numerous prominent figures from the meltdown. Currently more than 200 face criminal charges and a special prosecutor has said as many as 90 may be indicted.

Lars Christensen, chief emerging markets economist at Danske Bank in Copenhagen, was quoted saying, “You could safely say that Iceland holds the world record in household debt relief. Iceland followed the textbook example of what is required in a crisis. Any economist would agree with that.”

The result? According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Iceland’s economy is in line to expand 2.4% both this year and next, after growth of 2.9% last year and in the wake of shrinkage of 6.7% in 2009. In contrast, the OECD estimated in November that the euro area will only expand by 0.2% and the OECD area by 1.6% in 2012.

Not only that, but the cost to insure against an Icelandic default is about the same as to insure against a credit event in Belgium. And Icelanders are no longer eager to join the eurozone. Most would rather stay solo. Housing as an element of the consumer price index is only down about 3% from what it was in September 2008, just prior to the collapse.

Fitch Ratings just last week also conceded that Iceland’s approach has worked, raising the country’s rating to investment grade with a stable outlook. At the time it said that Iceland’s “unorthodox crisis policy response has succeeded.”

Thorolfur Matthiasson, an economics professor at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, was quoted saying, “The lesson to be learned from Iceland’s crisis is that if other countries think it’s necessary to write down debts, they should look at how successful the 110% agreement was here. It’s the broadest agreement that’s been undertaken.”

According to Christensen at Danske Bank, “the bottom line is that if households are insolvent, then the banks just have to go along with it, regardless of the interests of the banks.”

ICU OCI - When People of Good Will Disagree

So a Picture is worth a Thousand Words - Good then this will be a short post.

Funny - Minister Kennedy is not this receptive with all citizens who want a chat or give an opinion. That is particularly the case when he does not like commentary against government - except? It's all good - keep on exporting raw energy or whole fish - right?

Ches Penney and Jerome Kennedy Luncheon Carbonear January 27th 2012

 

Not sure what Derrick Dalley is thinking.

Photo was taken by Bill Bowman - The Compass

Gus Etchegary responds to Fisheries Broadcast Host John Furlong

The following is a response from Gus Etchegary 

to the Host of the Fisheries Broadcast - John Furlong 

John, Reading your diatribe on the present state of the fishery finally confirms what we suspected from the early days you came on the scene as host of Fisheries Broadcast. The Ottawa fishery bureaucracy of DFO convinced the hierarchy of CBC to put someone in charge of the broadcast who could discover and make the most inane and stupid comments on the N&L fishery since we joined Confederation. Having heard you occasionally on the Broadcast and being assured by White Hills Communications Branch, those experts in remote Ottawa were certain you would come through in "flying colors".

 Pretending, and somehow believing, you are somewhat of an expert in the fishery of this Province you somehow or other got really confused between the cause of closure of Marystown and Port Union fish plants and the loss of a supermarket in Churchill Square and the narrow-gauged railway that used to operate across NFLD many years ago. On the basis of the statements made on the CBC website today it is clear you have no idea what you are talking about and considering the importance of our fisheries to the survival of N&L, CBC officials had better wake up and replace you with some competent individual as soon as possible. Maybe you did everyone a favor today by exposing your serious deficiencies in performing the job as host of Fisheries Broadcast.

The fact is our the renewable fishery is all important to the survival of rural N&L at the present time and will be just as important to the survival of St. John's when the non- renewable oil and minerals are exhausted. It's so important, during this crucial period, for our present N&L Government to provide the real leadership needed to forcefully persuade the federal Government to rebuild the resource. Your confused outburst today on our CBC website illustrates conclusively that you are not the person to convey to the public or anyone else the urgency of rebuilding and sustainably managing our vital fisheries. John, a moratorium on our groundfisheries was declared in 1992. For your information there is no sign whatever of its recovery to date. In your position you should have been using every opportunity on the Broadcast to make Canadians aware of the contrast between the well-managed fisheries of Norway, Iceland and other countries and those in N&L in particular where fisheries mismanagement by Ottawa has caused its collapse. Wake up John, its 2012.

Anyone with real knowledge of our fisheries is aware of the continuing overfishing on a diminishing groundfish resource, the declining crab and shrimp stocks and the fact that DFO have abandoned their fisheries management responsibility. Our science capability has been gutted and further financial cuts are due along with serious reductions in the number of fishery scientists and other technology personnel, research survey vessels and the important annual surveys that are so essential. Foreign NAFO members and EU Free Trade negotiators have exchanged documentation to facilitate expanding foreign activity inside 200 miles. These Free Trade negotiations regarding fisheries, now taking place, are a major issue and should be publicized. Seismic blasting , pollution of valuable fishing grounds and the loss of important fishing areas on the Grand Banks are also issues that must be dealt with along with contents of the MOU.

Surely, John those matters should be of more concern to the  host of Fisheries Broadcast, than the loss of the railway fifty years ago and the closure of the Churchill Park supermarket. CBC, you have received a strong signal for a change in delivering  Fisheries Broadcast. Unless Mr. Harper's directive to CBC takes precedence.

Message to Premier Dunderdale from the Peanut Gallery

“The criticism can sometimes be relentless, and from a small handful of people, but they tend to be very loud and scathing, and personal, and mean”

These words from Kathy Dunderdale during a recent media interview.

These small handful of people - which she points out does not include the official opposition - are bothering the Premier.

Relentless: Yes that is due to the House of Assembly being closed. There is no role for the people - the electorate if their legislature is not operating.

Relentless: Yes in that the Premier is unable to defend policy positions that will affect generations to come.

Relentless: Yes in that the Premier is - herself - a hypocrite - in that she personally attacks those who legitimately oppose her.

What is Criticism? Why are there severe judgements, comments, or unfavourable reviews of the Premier's policies?

This is not hyper criticism - this is not just a fault-finding mission - or an act of unjust or unreasonable criticism.

We are people - intelligent people - who are able to use our own minds and our own knowledge to form an educated opinion.

What the Premier demonstrates is fear - fear of being challenged or tested. She is guilty of hyper criticism and desperately trying to find fault with those who fairly criticize her in her professional capacity.

I know very little of Kathy Dunderdale's personal life and am not interested in knowing it. The Premier's commentary presumes she knows something of the personal lives of her critics. In this respect I would hope that these are just statements of ignorance or rumour and not from misusing a data-base.

The problem this Premier has is two-fold. Clearly the thought of a "loud" "relentless" democracy is not what she signed up for - too bad wrong country if that's the case and second - her inability to articulate and defend her policies leaves her vulnerable - which she attempts to correct with insults and not education.

As an employee of mine the Premier should understand that when she says that the job is humbling - it might help to look up the word first - prior to such an utterance.

As an employee of mine and yours - she should understand that her "favorite" people are not to receive partisan preference.

Her job entails that she listen to criticism fairly and with an open-mind as she is responsible for making very important decisions regarding resources we all own. I am a shareholder of Nalcor and I have a right to say that Ed Martin is not doing a good job - and is not putting the best interests of the people first.

I have a right to criticize an energy deal - when I am certain - that I know more than she does on the issues. Perhaps - I suggest again - she should debate some of her critics - and see how she feels about a subject when ordinary Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are talking instead of failed senior bureaucrats.
 
I further suggest to the Premier that she tries the private sector for employment and let others meddle in her affairs in an effort to have her fired. She might then feel the wrath of the power brokers she so relies on.

Perhaps the media would offer some time for those Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have been speaking publicly about policy issues long before some of her Cabinet thought they would like to try politics as a career.

I am not being paid by the taxpayer or electorate - the Premier is.

I would suggest she grow up - but I would prefer that she wise up.

Upper Churchill 2041 - should be a course at Memorial and mandatory for all MHA's

The 2041 panacea has giggling Tory newcomers and moaning incumbents giddy.

In 2041 all the pain will be gone right?

No in 2041 our children and grandchildren will be saddled with yet another mess from the Upper Churchill fiasco and if Dunderdale has her way another mess from the Lower Churchill. 

The financial contract will be over in 2041 - that is the deal to sell power from CFLCo to Hydro Quebec at prices that cause us great pain - less than a cent. 

CFLCo will still be owned - in part - by Hydro Quebec and they will carry on ownership of assets. 

Further the water rights do not end in 2041 - rather in 2060 with an option to carry on for another 99 years up to 2159. We'll probably have power solved by then.

Please take the time to read the:

THE CHURCHILL FALLS ( LABRADOR ) CORPORATION LIMITED (LEASE) ACT, 1961

AND WHEREAS the Lessee has applied to the Government for the grant, pursuant to sub-clause (2) of Clause 9 of the Principal Agreement, of such exclusive right and concession for a term of ninety-nine years renewable at the option of the Lessee for a further period of ninety-nine years, in respect of the area or areas covered by said Assignment Agreement upon which the said option was exercised;

How about this one?

Renewal

        2. Subject to all of the provisions of this Lease, the Government will on the written request of the Lessee made before the expiration of the term hereby created, if there shall not at the time of such request be any existing breach of the covenants, terms and conditions of this Lease on the part of the Lessee, grant to it a further lease of the rights and liberties leased and demised by this Lease for the further term of ninety-nine years from the expiration of the term created by this Lease subject to payment of the same royalty and containing the like covenants and conditions as are herein contained, except the covenant for renewal.

The Lessee is the CFLCo (1/3 owned by Hydro Quebec)

The Lessor is the People of Newfoundland and Labrador  

Then there is Dean MacDonald - and his giveaway of further rights on the management side of CFLCo. We are buried for generations to come. Do not let this happen to the Lower Churchill. Stop the Emera deal! 

One sure way to beat Partisan

Since Sue's Blog started the discussion on partisanship - I have had many responses. Some of you want to know practical ways to end it.

The very first thing we do as voters is ensure that any new politician we elect understands this - you will not be elected to a second term and thereby deny you that pension - if you do not put your constiuents and communities first.

Those of you who live in districts where a long-term politician is in place - assess if they have represented your communities first and the party second. If not - throw them out.

If you live in a district with significant fishing dependence - throw him/her out. Think it's safe to say that they have not represented your interests.

Advise your MHA - if they have not represented your interests - not to bother to run federally. With a likely federal election very soon (after the budget) those who depended on Danny might come out with a new line - such as "this is a good time to mend fences and have our voice heard in Ottawa". Try not to laugh and politely ask them to find a new career.

If they come to your door with the normal array of prepared material - challenge them to explain how they are going to challenge Ottawa to fix equalization. We want our 10 billion dollars back. Ask them how they are going to reduce uneployment to below double digits. Don't stand for - I will take your concerns to the table. Ask them what table? Ask them what they will do for you really.

Ask them the following question if they are Tory or Liberal or NDP - how open is your party when choosing of a leader?  I will write more on that in my next post.

Try to engage youth in your district and ask them to become involved and listen to their hopes for the future. Ask what they think and ask why they have not been involved in the past.

Ask the candidate the following two questions:

1. What will you do to force Ottawa to fix the ferry service.

2. What will you commit to doing to make air travel between Labrador and Newfoundland and reverse affordable to encourage a new level of understanding between the Island and the Big Land.

Over the coming months we will come up with more questions together. Please post or email me with questions you think should be answered by those seeking our vote.

Important to take a stand on resource development rules...

VOCM and Tely polls...

VOCM question today:

Do you think government should release all the information it has on the Hebron deal?

Just before noon today - 59% no - 36% yes - 4% not sure...

The Tely question August 24th:

Should details of the MOU signed between the province and industry partners to develop the Hebron-Ben Nevis oil field be released to the public?

Final Results - 74% yes - 19% no - 7% undecided.

There is decidedly more wiggle room in the VOCM question - "all the info government has" versus the "MOU" details for the Tely.

It depends of course on how many times the same individual votes - party stacking - etc. Maybe the government is doing one of its own. Can we see the results if that is the case? If not will the government commit to doing a scientific poll on the idea - with - of course - a simple question?

It is very important that we make clear as a people that we want to be involved in the process - as it will include more wind deals - mining deals - and the Lower Churchill deal. If we give Danny a carte blanche mandate to negotiate and sign off as he sees fit - we are deliberately being ignorant - and trusting that one man cannot make mistakes or that no man or woman would ever do anything wrong through error or other circumstances.

I listened to Liberal candidate Gerry Tobin - Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans - talk about the Hebron MOU last week - and he suggested that the MHA's of the Official Opposition be allowed to view it in camera. Okay then what?

That's as bad as government's current lack of openness and accountability. Let's say the Libs see it - in confidence - and find something - what do they do? Advise in secret? This is almost as arrogant as Danny. How about this? Release it for the people to see and judge accordingly. Then let all parties put forth their problems and kudos for the MOU and the policy choices - and if opposed put forth what they would do under the same circumstances.

Williams held his News Conference in the wrong Venue

As Sue's Blog has already posted - I support and have supported the Premier regarding his position on Hebron.

Now - unfortunately all positive feelings on the MOU for the development - have been removed and replaced by my feelings of contempt of an individual who believes he is above even his own principles.

When Williams stated that this resource development would not be brought to the floor of the House of Assembly for debate and ratification - he and he alone placed himself squarely in the college of Stephen Harper - Paul Martin - Loyola Hearn - and John Efford. Premier you are now misleading your own people.

During the Voisey's Bay negotiations and subsequent Statement of Principles you stated that such deals must go to the peoples House - whether the deal or good or bad - you felt anybody could miss something and maybe the wisdom of 48 could prevent serious errors or loopholes.

You are now saying that because a deal or MOU is brokered by you - the same should not apply. Not only is this arrogant but it borders really close to a dictatorship (one man rule)mentality.

What I can say now is this - neither you or nor Gerry Reid are sincere when stating resource deals should be brought to the HOA for debate and ratification because neither of you tabled legislation during your tenures to assure this.

I will take Lorraine Michael at her word and therefore she stands as the lone voice of democracy and principles of openness and accountability.

Listening to Paul Oram on VOCM open-line this morning was nauseating as he tried to justify Williams being above all others - therefore the checks and balances of our elected institution should not apply. Paul Oram - as an individual grown man - should really stand back and listen to what he actually said this morning - and try to find where he left his common sense - and rethink hero worship of a human being.

Gerry Reid is no better than Williams - both used the concept of bringing resource deals to the HOA for purely political gains as opposed to doing it because it's right.

It is time that government introduced and passed this legislation to ensure that any leader falsely believing they are above error or scrutiny are put back in their place in a thinking democracy.

If this is how Williams is going to respond to openness and accountability - he should have booked a space at the Basilica or the Cathedral for the announcement.

The voter must now really reflect on what or who they vote for. If you elect Williams now - in great majority - we give him the continued right to rule by decree - and worse carry on with the Lower Churchill development in the same atmosphere as the Upper Churchill fiasco. He should not be permitted to hold himself above everybody else or even more scary - believe he actually is.

These Tory Puppets should think long and hard about supporting let alone praising this stance.

What a sad day - following what should have been a celebratory occurrence for the people and the Province.

The Premier by allowing the closure of the Stephenville Mill - changing his mind on the status of the Metis - and now this refusal to place the MOU before the House of Assembly - is choosing to keep company with the Prime Minister (Steve) right Dan?

Resource Policy switcheroo...

The Premier is inconsistent with resource policy.

Let's look at the situation. We will begin with Voisey's Bay - and Williams insistence that the contract guarantee that ore would be processed in the province. We all agreed with that and the contract does provide. The idea is - if you want to use the resource you must establish secondary processing here. The basis of that demand from the previous Liberal government was the size and quality of the ore body. We knew the economics allowed such a facility to be built.

Moving on to Hebron and the Premier's demand that we achieve an equity position - once again the majority of people agreed and as a result - the Premier's polling remained high - while the Liberals stagnated.

Both INCO (at the time) and the Oil Consortium had other preferences. INCO would have preferred to utilize other processing facilities in Canada and the consortium did not want to give in on equity.

Moving now to the Lower Churchill - first let's be clear - the quality and size of that resource is comparable to that of the oil and nickel - and because it is renewable it is superior. If companies want to avail of the premium energy generated they must come to Labrador to use it. Instead the Premier has no such secondary thoughts here - just revenue.

We could have taken a super royalty or escalating revenues from nickel sales (the price has increased substantially) - we could have taken a super royalty from the oil (the price has increased substantially) - but we wanted more - as we should - they are our resources. The best potential of the three is the Lower Churchill but not a sign of such recognition from Williams.

The idea that recall will save us in the event we find some capability to attract industry - is flawed. The Upper Churchill had recall and yet through 35 years we have found no real need for it other than to sell it back to Hydro-Quebec. The reason for this is simple - once it's left the barn - the door will not open again. The major industry players would prefer to operate in Ontario and Quebec - where they already have infrastructure and presence. If they refuse to show interest in Labrador after the fact - there will be no such development based on power in Labrador. If however they truly believe the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is not exporting the power - they will look at negotiating industrial development there.

As it sits now - heavy energy industry will sit back and wait for Newfoundland and Labrador to pump it out - preferably to Ontario or even New Brunswick or Nova Scotia - and then negotiate with those provinces for industrial development projects.

One Sue's Blog reader - rightly pointed out sometime ago that Iceland had to use the energy in-house because they were a northern Island with markets not readily available. Due to that physical impairment they gained three aluminum smelters - and arguably succeeded where we and our Upper Churchill power failed. We cannot assume that Iceland would not have chosen that path even if they were connected to markets - but one thing is for sure - they prospered from keeping their power home.

If the Premier is serious about his demands with big oil and mining companies - there is no way the man would be exporting renewable - reliable - industry preferred power. Especially at a time when the environment has surpassed health on the priority list of Canadians.

Premier - we do not have an obligation to save Canada from it's fossil fuel woes or big provinces from energy shortfalls. We do more that our fair share now from the Upper Churchill. Your job is to use our resources to build our economy. If you export the power - you seal the fate of this province and will have orchestrated the biggest giveaway in our history.

Liberal Policy could see Lower Churchill developed the same way as the Upper Churchill

Liberal oil and gas development policy if applied to other energy resources could see the Lower Churchill developed under the same terms as the Upper Churchill.

Here's what I mean - Yesterday Linda Goodyear - Liberal candidate for Conception Bay East Bell Island - repeated what most Liberals MHA's - including Gerry Reid - have already articulated - it's time to get on with Hebron. When asked by host of Open Line Randy Simms what about "no more giveaways" Goodyear explained that Hebron was already discovered and it is not fair to change the rules now.

Let's extrapolate from that policy and insert the same thinking to the Lower Churchill development. Hydro Quebec and Quebec took the original risk on the Upper Churchill - the Lower Churchill is just another "well" already discovered in the 1960's - so why change the rules now?

Here's the deal - everybody says if we had only known that oil prices were going to triple - we might have thought of an escalation clause for the Upper Churchill contract. In other words if the market circumstances changed substantially - we could have reaped billions more for the people of the Province. The Labrador highway would be finished - there would be major infrastructure developed in Labrador - which in turn would have attracted more industry to that region to utilize the power.

The Liberal Party should acknowledge that oil has since tripled again - and this time we are not locked into a permanent contract with no ability to improve our lot - so this time we are invoking our "escalation" clause.

The Party's inability to see this tells me and should tell the voter that giveaways would continue for the sake of quick development and long-term agony.

Just a note to Linda Goodyear - as she talked about the possibility of getting some post-secondary trades training on Bell Island - I remembered the bitter fight we had when Roger Grimes - Brian Tobin - and Vince Withers made the decision to close the campus on the Island. I stood with the people of Bell Island but we lost the fight. She needs to ask the incumbent Liberal MHA's what they think about her idea.

How important is Labrador hydro? It is our Future!

Let's have a look at some information provided by Natural Resources Canada.

International Hydroelectricity Comparison
2002

Canada leads the way in the world with 67,100 MW's followed by the United States and Brazil. Of that 67,000 MW's Newfoundland and Labrador is almost 10% of that but with only 2% of the population.

Looking at the graph we can see Newfoundland and Labrador is behind Quebec Ontario and BC - just ahead of Manitoba but then we generate more than all the other provinces combined. With the development of the Lower Churchill we would go over Ontario! Interesting !!!

Then Natural Resources Canada says this:

Traditionally, the cost of generating hydroelectric energy in Canada has been one of the lowest in the world. This allows for low retail electricity prices, to the benefit of residential users and electricity-intensive industries in Canada, such as the aluminum industry. Media reports indicate that the development of new sites would also be fairly low cost.

Now how do we fit into this picture? Where are those aluminum smelters? In Labrador? Where are all those residents? Newfoundland and Labrador? No because we are powering industries in Quebec and through them possibly Ontario - and those industries are vacuuming our population out.

Now if we do the same with the Lower Churchill - we could potentially add to the expansion and growth in Ontario - while producing more hydro than them - while we sit here with outmigration and disappearing communities.

Then Natural Resources Canada weighs in on comparing renewable energy potentials:

The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) made the following statements on behalf of the Canadian electrical utilities and hydro industry:

“ When most of us in the United States and Canada think of renewable energy, we think of emerging technologies like solar, wind, geothermal or biomass. In doing so, we take for granted the predominant form of renewable energy – hydropower…

...While all of these other renewables promise significant long-term opportunity, the pre-eminent renewable generating technology today and for the foreseeable future, is hydroelectricity. Whatever form that support for emerging renewables takes, the fact remains that hydro power is an established renewable technology that offers the environmental benefits associated with emerging renewable competitors at a cost-effective price, with dependable supply, and the added benefit of opportunities for continued expansion. “

Yet we continue to talk about exporting this resource. You are kidding right Danny? Right Gerry? Right Lorraine? That would be the biggest giveaway in our history and would effectively put the last nail in our coffin.

To put it in perspective - if Labrador had industry connected to the Upper Churchill instead of Quebec - our population could have grown by 100,000 - we could have 4 or 5 smelters or other large industrial users - and at the very least sustain the ones we have and had like a paper mill. People would be moving to Labrador to work - not Alberta or Ontario. You know how many industries would plow down the door for 1/4 cent power?

The entire publication by Natural Resources Canada can be found by clicking HERE

The reality is our provincial government has primary responsibilities including the health and education of the citizens and the growth of the population and the economy. If one feels they are unable to keep up with Prince Edward Island in these areas - with all the natural resource wealth we have - they should bow out. If one feels that our major hydro-electric potentials must be exported - essentially that individual or those individuals are managing our demise. There will not be growth when a jurisdiction predicts no growth in energy demand. Everything has to plug in. The industry supplying the jobs - the retail sectors responding to new customers and increased housing for a growing population all require energy.

That is why Nova Scotia - Quebec - Ontario - New Brunswick - and various New England States all want our power. That is why our people continue to move to these jurisdictions to work.

Any individual let alone any leader who really contemplates exporting this power is as ignorant as those involved in the Upper Churchill fiasco.

Zero Unemployment - Canadian workers to Iceland

Go West and North young men and women...

So the Northern Star does it again - Iceland - a country of 300,000 people recruiting Canadians for construction. You see Alberta is not the only boom-town. No the Nordic equivalent of Labrador is doing it without the tar-sands and doing it with resources such as those found in Newfoundland and Labrador - only less...

The news of Canadians travelling to Iceland for work comes from the Embassy - Canada's foreign policy Newsweekly.

Here's a quote:

Thorbjörnsson’s construction projects in Iceland are possible because of the country’s booming economy. “The unemployment rate is next to none and it’s hard to recruit local labor,” he explained.

To persuade Canadian workers to travel to Iceland Thorbjörnsson pays all travel expenses and accommodation, in addition to an above-average salary. Over 100 people from all over Canada have applied for jobs at his company, he said.

Scandia Housing also organizes recreational trips and sightseeing tours around Iceland for its employees and hosts several social events.

Here we go again - this could all be happening here in Labrador. What was that about vision again?

Let me wish the best of luck to the Labrador Party - clean it up in October...