I waited with interest to see what the headlines would be this morning on the definitive defeat of the PC's in St. George's - Stephenville East.
I was not surprised - which means I was disappointed in our media.
Last night the governing Tories were crushed with a wave of discontent - in the middle of their "exciting" leadership debacle. Last night the polls continued to send a strong message to the government that their time is done. Get out - we no longer support your policies or direction - the electorate seem to be saying.
The numbers in this by-election certainly put an exclamation mark on the feelings of dissatisfaction the people of Newfoundland and Labrador have with this government.
The numbers are as follows:
2011 General Election - Results St. George's - Stephenville East
Eligible Voters: 7959
Votes Cast: 4287
Voter turnout 53.9 %
PC's 49.3%
Liberal 32.7%
NDP 16.5%
Kevin Aylward was the candidate and the Leader of the Liberal Party at the time. A experienced politician - from the district - who actually did a decent job in helping to keep the Liberals in an Opposition position.
2014 By-election - Results St. George's - Stephenville East
Eligible Voters: 7274 (a significant reduction in voting population in three years)
Votes Cast: 3738
Voter turnout 51.4
PC's 25.4%
Liberal 59.1%
NDP 15.5%
A by-election in the last week of summer vacation almost matched the turnout of a fall general election - that's pretty remarkable. It is also remarkable that a Minister's seat was so soundly defeated.
The candidates were solid people in what appears to have been a clean race.
What does this mean for the three Premier wannabes?
1. It was not all Kathy's fault,
2. They are as to blame for the by-election defeat as Kathy and Tom would be,
3. As all are former Ministers of this failing government and have been directly involved in policy choices - that clearly the people do not approve of,
4. The leadership candidates are not making a difference in the mood of the electorate,
5. They should stop spending taxpayer dollars on deals or agreements and call an election.
They have clearly lost the support of the people as the by-elections in Virgina Waters, Carbonear-Harbour Grace and now St. George's - Stephenville East have demonstrated. In their arrogance they continue to spend billions on a project the people DO NOT want, continue to commit billions in multi-year schemes and plans, and continue to govern like they have the overwhelming support of the people.
Their desperation to hang on to every little benefit their elected office provides - and their desperation to get all the contracts nailed down on energy resources reflects a feeling of political entitlement that has nothing to do with the electorate. They are finished.
Whether the election is being delayed for reasons of gross incompetance or mass manipulation of their leadership circus - the people are being ignored. The much touted House of Assembly Act passed by the Tories that included a provision should a leader leave before the end of the third year in office is being blatently ignored. The media is ignoring this.
The headlines in the media this morning do not reflect the gravity of this situation. The headlines were as if the Liberals were a popular government and they won another by-election. The headlines should have been screaming as loud as the people. "It is time to call an election".
Perhaps our media outlets would be best served if they hired "Captain Obvious" as lead journalist.
Showing posts with label Stephenville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephenville. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Monday, June 11, 2012
Minister Jerome Kennedy - Running Interference?
Let's look at the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Mill situation using logic.
Minister Jerome Kennedy is accusing Gerry Byrne MP of escalating the situation. He says that what Byrne is doing is not helpful.
The Premier made her position clear - let the union and company work out their issues.
So when Kennedy stated that the mill was on the "verge of bankruptcy" - he demonstrated hypocrisy and absolutely acted contrary to the Premier's wishes.
First of all - Joesph Kruger the owner of the mill - did not state publicly that the mill was on the "verge of bankruptcy". This means either Kennedy was negligent and out of his authority when he made the statement - or Kennedy was speaking with the full approval of Kruger.
If it is the first - Kennedy has done more harm than anybody else could with respect to the continued operation of the mill and if it is the second - then the Minister is acting as an agent of the company.
If Joseph Kruger wanted to cause a panic in the workforce of the mill - in order to gain an unfair contract - he certainly was backed up by the Minister.
If the mill is - in fact - on the "verge of bankruptcy" then let that statement come from Kruger himself. In that way the bankers, the city, workers, and taxpayers will take note and judge their actions accordingly.
But the Minister was very cute what he said was "based on what we know" the mill is on the "verge of bankruptcy" - leaving the province clear in the event the statement was found to be false or misleading.
If the statement is misleading or false it serves only to pressure employees to accept something/anything in a panic.
If the statement is true then it should have been made by Kruger himself - followed by absolute direction such as entering a process with suppliers, banks, and the union to prevent bankruptcy and determine a long-term viability plan.
Instead the only thing Kruger did was to deliver an ultimatum which essentially said that a deal MUST be reached with the union by this Friday or the mill would close.
In normal circumstances the union may have seen this as a negotiation tactic of a hardball capitalist. But the circumstances were changed by ministerial interference when Kennedy made reference to bankruptcy.
There is no doubt the Gerry Byrne is a political animal from the Tobin era. He was raised by him (politically speaking) - and no doubt has learned how to talk to the electorate - like him. On this issue though what Byrne has offered up is probably helpful - at least to the workers. Byrne was discussing like he usually does - with reports and figures - a topic that is of great importance to his constituents.
I have no idea what Kennedy was doing - but I'm guessing based on the "information available to me" that he was running interference for Kruger. The Minister should know that Kruger is not a part of his electorate.
Minister Jerome Kennedy is accusing Gerry Byrne MP of escalating the situation. He says that what Byrne is doing is not helpful.
The Premier made her position clear - let the union and company work out their issues.
So when Kennedy stated that the mill was on the "verge of bankruptcy" - he demonstrated hypocrisy and absolutely acted contrary to the Premier's wishes.
First of all - Joesph Kruger the owner of the mill - did not state publicly that the mill was on the "verge of bankruptcy". This means either Kennedy was negligent and out of his authority when he made the statement - or Kennedy was speaking with the full approval of Kruger.
If it is the first - Kennedy has done more harm than anybody else could with respect to the continued operation of the mill and if it is the second - then the Minister is acting as an agent of the company.
If Joseph Kruger wanted to cause a panic in the workforce of the mill - in order to gain an unfair contract - he certainly was backed up by the Minister.
If the mill is - in fact - on the "verge of bankruptcy" then let that statement come from Kruger himself. In that way the bankers, the city, workers, and taxpayers will take note and judge their actions accordingly.
But the Minister was very cute what he said was "based on what we know" the mill is on the "verge of bankruptcy" - leaving the province clear in the event the statement was found to be false or misleading.
If the statement is misleading or false it serves only to pressure employees to accept something/anything in a panic.
If the statement is true then it should have been made by Kruger himself - followed by absolute direction such as entering a process with suppliers, banks, and the union to prevent bankruptcy and determine a long-term viability plan.
Instead the only thing Kruger did was to deliver an ultimatum which essentially said that a deal MUST be reached with the union by this Friday or the mill would close.
In normal circumstances the union may have seen this as a negotiation tactic of a hardball capitalist. But the circumstances were changed by ministerial interference when Kennedy made reference to bankruptcy.
There is no doubt the Gerry Byrne is a political animal from the Tobin era. He was raised by him (politically speaking) - and no doubt has learned how to talk to the electorate - like him. On this issue though what Byrne has offered up is probably helpful - at least to the workers. Byrne was discussing like he usually does - with reports and figures - a topic that is of great importance to his constituents.
I have no idea what Kennedy was doing - but I'm guessing based on the "information available to me" that he was running interference for Kruger. The Minister should know that Kruger is not a part of his electorate.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Overpass Syndrome in Reverse - Rural NL taking back the Power
This election is starting to get real interesting. The Overpass syndrome is starting to reverse. Rural Newfoundland and Labrador is starting to move toward "it's our turn", and so it is.
You see the PC's and NDP can fight it out in St. John's Metro while rural districts can win the day by voting Liberal. The platforms are gearing up and policies are coming out. For rural communities and districts the message from the Liberals and leader Kevin Aylward is that it's time for oil wealth to be used to revitalize the rest of the province. It's time to deal with the fishery, the paper-mills, mining, renewable energy, and tourism.
If rural Newfoundland and Labrador wants to reverse the trend of outmigration, chronic unemployment, loss of industry, and diminishing services in health and education - then they vote Liberal and invest the oil wealth outside of St. John's Metro. With six percent unemployment in St. John's Metro and over twenty-five per cent in other regions there are plenty of reasons to take control of the seats in the House of Assembly.
From a Labrador perspective, the Lower Churchill could be focused on industrial development and clean hydro for all the Big Land with revenues generated to be spent primarily on an adjacent basis.
Labrador could reach it's real potential and not continually be hearing - we'll get you next time around. When one thinks that Muskrat Falls is being developed to remove Holyrood and provide Nova Scotia with cheaper power - Labradorians are hard pressed to see that anything has changed. The truth is Labrador should not allow anymore development of its hydro resources unless they get at least 10 permanent jobs a megawatt. Labrador will get the temporary construction jobs regardless of what the deal is - they need a longer term agenda. This is something they might get under the Liberals this time around.
The Tories cannot demonstrate the need for Muskrat - at least not for the need they suggest. The Tories are routinely telling people and groups to go away, stop getting on talk-show programs, stop protesting, do as we say, do not oppose, and if you want anything do not speak against us. The Tories are pointing accusatory fingers when the Liberals promise a needed increase for public service pensioners but do not at all question how they spend and on what. The Tories have abandoned the fishery, abandoned the paper towns, abandoned rural communities, abandoned ordinary Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, abandoned the Big Land, and increased cronyism and the public service by 20 per cent.
Yes the time for the overpass syndrome to be reversed is now - and I believe it may just happen. There's nothing better for arrogance than a swift kick by rural Newfoundland and the Big Land.
You see the PC's and NDP can fight it out in St. John's Metro while rural districts can win the day by voting Liberal. The platforms are gearing up and policies are coming out. For rural communities and districts the message from the Liberals and leader Kevin Aylward is that it's time for oil wealth to be used to revitalize the rest of the province. It's time to deal with the fishery, the paper-mills, mining, renewable energy, and tourism.
If rural Newfoundland and Labrador wants to reverse the trend of outmigration, chronic unemployment, loss of industry, and diminishing services in health and education - then they vote Liberal and invest the oil wealth outside of St. John's Metro. With six percent unemployment in St. John's Metro and over twenty-five per cent in other regions there are plenty of reasons to take control of the seats in the House of Assembly.
From a Labrador perspective, the Lower Churchill could be focused on industrial development and clean hydro for all the Big Land with revenues generated to be spent primarily on an adjacent basis.
Labrador could reach it's real potential and not continually be hearing - we'll get you next time around. When one thinks that Muskrat Falls is being developed to remove Holyrood and provide Nova Scotia with cheaper power - Labradorians are hard pressed to see that anything has changed. The truth is Labrador should not allow anymore development of its hydro resources unless they get at least 10 permanent jobs a megawatt. Labrador will get the temporary construction jobs regardless of what the deal is - they need a longer term agenda. This is something they might get under the Liberals this time around.
The Tories cannot demonstrate the need for Muskrat - at least not for the need they suggest. The Tories are routinely telling people and groups to go away, stop getting on talk-show programs, stop protesting, do as we say, do not oppose, and if you want anything do not speak against us. The Tories are pointing accusatory fingers when the Liberals promise a needed increase for public service pensioners but do not at all question how they spend and on what. The Tories have abandoned the fishery, abandoned the paper towns, abandoned rural communities, abandoned ordinary Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, abandoned the Big Land, and increased cronyism and the public service by 20 per cent.
Yes the time for the overpass syndrome to be reversed is now - and I believe it may just happen. There's nothing better for arrogance than a swift kick by rural Newfoundland and the Big Land.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Renewable Energy is the only future left - they have taken the rest
Oil is here - Oil is gone
To be competitive in today's world you must have an advantage.
Newfoundland and Labrador is rich in natural resources - unfortunately either by giveaways or mismanagement we have lost the industrial edge we were geographically gifted with.
Our non-renewable ores were shipped out without processing fuelling the economies of Ontario, Quebec, and even Manitoba. The rich iron ore from Bell Island was shipped out to Nova Scotia for processing and do you believe Labrador has gained properly from its iron ore?
The Upper Churchill was developed by an astute Quebec and is a major reason Hydro Quebec is an "energy giant" today. The fishery (best in the world) was taken over by Ottawa a few years after confederation and was destroyed by Ottawa in a few short decades. The forestry resources were given away and advanced industrial development on the paper mill side was non-existent.
The boom in metro is at the cost of rural communities and is only as a result of oil. Where are the real oil jobs? What of our oil do we refine or process into goods?
Politicians of all stripes have contributed to the mess we have today - short-term prosperity for Newfoundland and Labrador - long-term prosperity for others who process what we own.
We lost at least 40,000 people to the fisheries moratorium and numbers of plants while decimating rural communities. Who owns what is left of our fishery now? Is it still being plundered (shellfish) and when will that collapse?
We are down to one paper mill when we should have kept at least two. Politicians made fine work of that planning - there was grest opportunity in Stephenville but it was squandered by politicians who did not have foresight and certainly no vision. What we do now in Grand Falls-Windsor and Stephenville is manage the loss. Can we bring in a Costco or Walmart a Canadian Tire or Sobeys or Kent - that is the mantra. Maybe haul a few government agencies or divisions to (decentralize). Where is the new money in this - it is simply hauling the same money around and in this case giving to mainland companies so that reinvestment happens outside Newfoundland and Labrador instead of local companies reinvesting here. What happened to our airports?
About the only thing we have managed to hang on to is renewable hydro - and only because the people waged a three year battle against the policy. Now we are set to start giving it away again. We need this energy to attract industry. Industry goes where the power is and we are making sure that it is everywhere but our province.
We will give it to Nova Scotia to either use themselves or transport to other provinces or states to use there. Nothing in Labrador! Labrador who relies on Quebec and thermal generation for power. What a joke.
We must stop this Emera deal and start again - go back to an energy plan which uses that raw resource to generate industrial growth right here. If we go ahead with the Emera deal we will have escalating costs for our own domestic power and have nothing to offer industry which will follow our power out of the province.
We continue to have excessively high unemployment, our rural communities continue to be decimated and Labrador continues to be raped of its tremendous resources without any real return. This must stop.
Where is the vision of government - does it rest with senior faceless bureaucrats who quite often move on to the same private industrial sectors they help through policy? Is it politicians too lazy to read - to understand - or are they incapable of real vision. Do we ever really know who stands to gain personally from decisions they have played a part in?
Then there is Ottawa - Danny gains 2 billion (gets hit with the stock crisis) net??? and then loses 10 billion in the change-up of equalization while Quebec the (have-not) province continues to receive the most equalization.
When you take on the establishment the banks, brokers, investors, basically private sector greed there is a price to pay. Personally and professionally they attack you until you starve. They run political parties like they are their own assets. They move saviors in and out and ensure that their policies continue to move forward.
When they go after the last of our hopes for the future - we must take a stand - and that we will do. Premier Dunderdale and her Cabinet take note - this will not happen without thorough discussion and consultation and it will be done to benefit us not to ruin our future.
I ask the backbenchers of the Tory government - do you want to be responsible for a giveaway as great as the Upper Churchill?
And while we are at it why does the a crown corporation of Saskatchewan deliver tv service to hospital rooms in Newfoundland and Labrador
To be competitive in today's world you must have an advantage.
Newfoundland and Labrador is rich in natural resources - unfortunately either by giveaways or mismanagement we have lost the industrial edge we were geographically gifted with.
Our non-renewable ores were shipped out without processing fuelling the economies of Ontario, Quebec, and even Manitoba. The rich iron ore from Bell Island was shipped out to Nova Scotia for processing and do you believe Labrador has gained properly from its iron ore?
The Upper Churchill was developed by an astute Quebec and is a major reason Hydro Quebec is an "energy giant" today. The fishery (best in the world) was taken over by Ottawa a few years after confederation and was destroyed by Ottawa in a few short decades. The forestry resources were given away and advanced industrial development on the paper mill side was non-existent.
The boom in metro is at the cost of rural communities and is only as a result of oil. Where are the real oil jobs? What of our oil do we refine or process into goods?
Politicians of all stripes have contributed to the mess we have today - short-term prosperity for Newfoundland and Labrador - long-term prosperity for others who process what we own.
We lost at least 40,000 people to the fisheries moratorium and numbers of plants while decimating rural communities. Who owns what is left of our fishery now? Is it still being plundered (shellfish) and when will that collapse?
We are down to one paper mill when we should have kept at least two. Politicians made fine work of that planning - there was grest opportunity in Stephenville but it was squandered by politicians who did not have foresight and certainly no vision. What we do now in Grand Falls-Windsor and Stephenville is manage the loss. Can we bring in a Costco or Walmart a Canadian Tire or Sobeys or Kent - that is the mantra. Maybe haul a few government agencies or divisions to (decentralize). Where is the new money in this - it is simply hauling the same money around and in this case giving to mainland companies so that reinvestment happens outside Newfoundland and Labrador instead of local companies reinvesting here. What happened to our airports?
About the only thing we have managed to hang on to is renewable hydro - and only because the people waged a three year battle against the policy. Now we are set to start giving it away again. We need this energy to attract industry. Industry goes where the power is and we are making sure that it is everywhere but our province.
We will give it to Nova Scotia to either use themselves or transport to other provinces or states to use there. Nothing in Labrador! Labrador who relies on Quebec and thermal generation for power. What a joke.
We must stop this Emera deal and start again - go back to an energy plan which uses that raw resource to generate industrial growth right here. If we go ahead with the Emera deal we will have escalating costs for our own domestic power and have nothing to offer industry which will follow our power out of the province.
We continue to have excessively high unemployment, our rural communities continue to be decimated and Labrador continues to be raped of its tremendous resources without any real return. This must stop.
Where is the vision of government - does it rest with senior faceless bureaucrats who quite often move on to the same private industrial sectors they help through policy? Is it politicians too lazy to read - to understand - or are they incapable of real vision. Do we ever really know who stands to gain personally from decisions they have played a part in?
Then there is Ottawa - Danny gains 2 billion (gets hit with the stock crisis) net??? and then loses 10 billion in the change-up of equalization while Quebec the (have-not) province continues to receive the most equalization.
When you take on the establishment the banks, brokers, investors, basically private sector greed there is a price to pay. Personally and professionally they attack you until you starve. They run political parties like they are their own assets. They move saviors in and out and ensure that their policies continue to move forward.
When they go after the last of our hopes for the future - we must take a stand - and that we will do. Premier Dunderdale and her Cabinet take note - this will not happen without thorough discussion and consultation and it will be done to benefit us not to ruin our future.
I ask the backbenchers of the Tory government - do you want to be responsible for a giveaway as great as the Upper Churchill?
And while we are at it why does the a crown corporation of Saskatchewan deliver tv service to hospital rooms in Newfoundland and Labrador
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Quebec uses subsidies to save and upgrade a paper mill...
Here we go again - "the Quebec Program" is successful in saving and updating the pulp and paper industry in that province.
Kruger will invest 200 million while Quebec will contribute $20-million non-refundable subsidy from the province, a $30-million energy-efficiency grant from Hydro-Québec and a $50-million loan from Investment Quebec.
In this way - Quebec has saved many high paying industry jobs - a renewed industry with the latest technology - and achieve significant energy efficiencies. The de-inking plant reduces the plants energy consumption of power by 46 MW's - and that 20% reduction equals almost 25,000 households.
The Company News Release says:
and
This is great news for Trois-Rivières - now Danny et al how about Stephenville and Grand Falls-Windsor?
Kruger will invest 200 million while Quebec will contribute $20-million non-refundable subsidy from the province, a $30-million energy-efficiency grant from Hydro-Québec and a $50-million loan from Investment Quebec.
In this way - Quebec has saved many high paying industry jobs - a renewed industry with the latest technology - and achieve significant energy efficiencies. The de-inking plant reduces the plants energy consumption of power by 46 MW's - and that 20% reduction equals almost 25,000 households.
The Company News Release says:
Mr. Bernard Routhier, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Kruger, emphasized that this project will allow the company to improve its competitive position while offering its customers papers with high recycled fiber content. “Almost half of the fiber currently being used in our mills’ manufacturing processes is recycled. This project, in addition to our other recent initiatives, allows us to improve our environmental balance sheet even more,” says Mr. Routhier.
and
The project will create 200 full-time jobs with a total payroll of $50 million during construction, while purchases of goods and services are estimated to be $125 million.
This is great news for Trois-Rivières - now Danny et al how about Stephenville and Grand Falls-Windsor?
Monday, February 19, 2007
Just a shift away from pension...
Former Stephenville mill workers ask Minister Clyde Jackman what's going on!
Mr.Clyde Jackman
Minister of Environment
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St.John's NL.
A1B 4J6
Mr. Jackman;
This is Ken Thibeau the First Vice President of CEP Local 1093 in Stephenville.
Our executive and our general membership of displaced mill workers would like you to advise and update us on the status of the Stephenville Mill environmental cleanup and decommissioning.
Abitibi Consolidated registered their undertaking plan with your department on August 7th 2006 and you announced the release of the project on October 6th 2006. According to their 23 page submission, the decommissioning was scheduled to commence in 2006 with the Phase II ESA to be done from July to October of 2006.
Presently there is no indication at the site that the environmental remediation has begun. Surely if this was the private property of an average citizen pressure would have been applied by your department long ago to have this work completed. In particular, considering the vast amount of contamination of various types at the former mill site, we assumed you would give this issue more priority. We had provided former Minister Byrne with a 2 page listing of known site pollution in April of 2006.
Therefore I shall expect your prompt response on this urgent issue for our Members!
Yours truly,
Ken Thibeau
First Vice President
CEP Local 1093
Stephenville NL.
Mr.Clyde Jackman
Minister of Environment
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St.John's NL.
A1B 4J6
Mr. Jackman;
This is Ken Thibeau the First Vice President of CEP Local 1093 in Stephenville.
Our executive and our general membership of displaced mill workers would like you to advise and update us on the status of the Stephenville Mill environmental cleanup and decommissioning.
Abitibi Consolidated registered their undertaking plan with your department on August 7th 2006 and you announced the release of the project on October 6th 2006. According to their 23 page submission, the decommissioning was scheduled to commence in 2006 with the Phase II ESA to be done from July to October of 2006.
Presently there is no indication at the site that the environmental remediation has begun. Surely if this was the private property of an average citizen pressure would have been applied by your department long ago to have this work completed. In particular, considering the vast amount of contamination of various types at the former mill site, we assumed you would give this issue more priority. We had provided former Minister Byrne with a 2 page listing of known site pollution in April of 2006.
I should not have to remind you, but I will, that our Union Membership is under a contractual right to 2 year re-call until October 28th 2007 and that 1 shift of work would enable some of our members to achieve a semblance of a retirement pension. In this regard we have an arbitration case pending against Abitibi at great expense to this Local union. However, if your department and your government continues this apparent collusion and cooperation with Abitibi by allowing this delay to continue beyond the expiration of our contractual rights, our efforts and incurred expense will be in vain.
Therefore I shall expect your prompt response on this urgent issue for our Members!
Yours truly,
Ken Thibeau
First Vice President
CEP Local 1093
Stephenville NL.
Friday, February 09, 2007
More Abitibi assets going to the block....
Now listen-up just in case our Minister of Business - Minister of Natural Resources - the Premier - the Leader of the Opposition - and Anna Thistle - miss it...
I can certainly see that happening - WAKE UP!
Abitibi is looking at selling it energy related assets:
READ THIS from the Fort Frances Times
MONTREAL —Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.’s drive to profitability could lead it to transfer the electricity generation assets of nearly half its mills in the coming years to a new joint venture being set up to hold the newsprint company’s Ontario hydroelectric plants.
Maybe more of our hydro-resources can be owned by Quebec right???
Are you out there? Are you listening? Do you care?
From what I have witnessed regarding the pulp and paper sector - the politicians are "not all over it" - and apparently very "naive".
“Over time, I think we’ll look not only at the Quebec assets but all assets in the company as possible enters into the new Abitibi Hydro.”
I can certainly see that happening - WAKE UP!
Abitibi is looking at selling it energy related assets:
READ THIS from the Fort Frances Times
MONTREAL —Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.’s drive to profitability could lead it to transfer the electricity generation assets of nearly half its mills in the coming years to a new joint venture being set up to hold the newsprint company’s Ontario hydroelectric plants.
Abitibi announced last month it will own 75 percent of the venture, to be called the ACH Limited Partnership, with the remainder owned by the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec.
“Over time, I think we’ll look not only at the Quebec assets but all assets in the company as possible enters into the new Abitibi Hydro.”
Maybe more of our hydro-resources can be owned by Quebec right???
Are you out there? Are you listening? Do you care?
From what I have witnessed regarding the pulp and paper sector - the politicians are "not all over it" - and apparently very "naive".
“Over time, I think we’ll look not only at the Quebec assets but all assets in the company as possible enters into the new Abitibi Hydro.”
Thursday, February 08, 2007
A former mill worker - replies to the Premier...
The CEP Local 1093 has sent a copy of this letter for posting.
As always Sue's Blog will accept and post letters on the important mill issue.
Dear Danny,
First of all, let me thank you for the other knife in my back! It goes well with the knives I've received from Abitibi Consolidated, the Town Council, the Townspeople and other people from your caucus! Was I surprised at your cowardness, no! Was I disappointed, yes! I've had 4 people confront me since your little show on VOCM, Feb.6, 2007. Throwing it in my face again and again and again! Am I mad, yes! Royally pissed off! I still have to live in this town buddy and I'm trying to raise my family here, but people like you make it very hard to survive when you spread lies! Yes Danny, lies! Not politically naive, but lies!!!!
May I remind you of your press release dated Dec. 9, 2005 which was posted on VOCM for a little while until it got hauled off.
"Abitibi-Consolidated was entertaining a new proposal from the union yesterday, and Premier Danny Williams had made a pitch to company brass to accept it."
"Natural Resources Minister Ed Byrne says the union has put it's best foot forward."
You can correct me on this one because I'm going on memory until I can find it in the archives, but I remember you saying something along the lines of.... "when we give Abitibi what they want, they raise the bar. It's like sand shifting under your feet." Again, correct me if I'm wrong on that one!!
You sir, of all people, know that Abitibi had no intentions of running the mill in Stephenville! All they wanted was the deal from the union so they could take it to their other mills! Using words in their documents such as "notwithstanding", "supercede", and then finally "replace". They would tell us, "that's not what we meant", but you're smart enough to know that it doesn't matter what they meant, what matters is what's on the paper when it's signed! Then it's a legal binding document, with no recourse but to put up with it! Abitibi always was the trend setter in the industry! When negotiations came around, it was always Abitibi who started and when it was over , the other paper companies would follow suit! Much the same as Stora Enso did with their employees after Abitibi failed to obtain that deal from us! They went after it and they got it! Since that time many employees have left that company and financially hurt Stora Enso bought another mill in Brazil for $425 million. Go figure that one out!
The whole time you guys were negotiating with local management, Abitibi's spokesperson Seth Kursman was telling the world that the mill was shutting down! "As far as we're concerned, the mill in Stephenville will shut in October." That is what he was saying and yet negotiations were still going on at the local level. They wanted to save $15 a ton, which amounted to about $3.2 million a year! Our document to the company saved them that without them having to put in a single cent! It obviously wasn't about dollars and cents but about breaking the contract! Something you know a lot about!
In closing, I would like to say that you are not a very trustworthy man and I hope that Stephen Harper tells you that he was being politically naive when he made that deal with you, because I haven't seen anything good come out of you since you've been in office! Nothing on my plate but taxes and misery and for what! Wait lines in hospitals are longer than ever, people from this area having to drive to Deer Lake to catch a flight to go to work and risk the chance of having an accident on our poor highway from Stephenville to Corner Brook! What good is $2.2 billion if you're not going to spend it! Why don't you do something good for a change for the people of OUR province, and I mean everyone in the province, not just a select few! Do your job, stop promoting Alberta and start promoting Newfoundland and Labrador!
Thank you for your time!
Brian Prosper
Former mill employee and current member of the union executive!
Copy of Story on VOCM PRESS HERE
As always Sue's Blog will accept and post letters on the important mill issue.
Dear Danny,
First of all, let me thank you for the other knife in my back! It goes well with the knives I've received from Abitibi Consolidated, the Town Council, the Townspeople and other people from your caucus! Was I surprised at your cowardness, no! Was I disappointed, yes! I've had 4 people confront me since your little show on VOCM, Feb.6, 2007. Throwing it in my face again and again and again! Am I mad, yes! Royally pissed off! I still have to live in this town buddy and I'm trying to raise my family here, but people like you make it very hard to survive when you spread lies! Yes Danny, lies! Not politically naive, but lies!!!!
May I remind you of your press release dated Dec. 9, 2005 which was posted on VOCM for a little while until it got hauled off.
"Abitibi-Consolidated was entertaining a new proposal from the union yesterday, and Premier Danny Williams had made a pitch to company brass to accept it."
"Natural Resources Minister Ed Byrne says the union has put it's best foot forward."
You can correct me on this one because I'm going on memory until I can find it in the archives, but I remember you saying something along the lines of.... "when we give Abitibi what they want, they raise the bar. It's like sand shifting under your feet." Again, correct me if I'm wrong on that one!!
You sir, of all people, know that Abitibi had no intentions of running the mill in Stephenville! All they wanted was the deal from the union so they could take it to their other mills! Using words in their documents such as "notwithstanding", "supercede", and then finally "replace". They would tell us, "that's not what we meant", but you're smart enough to know that it doesn't matter what they meant, what matters is what's on the paper when it's signed! Then it's a legal binding document, with no recourse but to put up with it! Abitibi always was the trend setter in the industry! When negotiations came around, it was always Abitibi who started and when it was over , the other paper companies would follow suit! Much the same as Stora Enso did with their employees after Abitibi failed to obtain that deal from us! They went after it and they got it! Since that time many employees have left that company and financially hurt Stora Enso bought another mill in Brazil for $425 million. Go figure that one out!
The whole time you guys were negotiating with local management, Abitibi's spokesperson Seth Kursman was telling the world that the mill was shutting down! "As far as we're concerned, the mill in Stephenville will shut in October." That is what he was saying and yet negotiations were still going on at the local level. They wanted to save $15 a ton, which amounted to about $3.2 million a year! Our document to the company saved them that without them having to put in a single cent! It obviously wasn't about dollars and cents but about breaking the contract! Something you know a lot about!
In closing, I would like to say that you are not a very trustworthy man and I hope that Stephen Harper tells you that he was being politically naive when he made that deal with you, because I haven't seen anything good come out of you since you've been in office! Nothing on my plate but taxes and misery and for what! Wait lines in hospitals are longer than ever, people from this area having to drive to Deer Lake to catch a flight to go to work and risk the chance of having an accident on our poor highway from Stephenville to Corner Brook! What good is $2.2 billion if you're not going to spend it! Why don't you do something good for a change for the people of OUR province, and I mean everyone in the province, not just a select few! Do your job, stop promoting Alberta and start promoting Newfoundland and Labrador!
Thank you for your time!
Brian Prosper
Former mill employee and current member of the union executive!
Copy of Story on VOCM PRESS HERE
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Now back to the important issues...The Merger...
Danny said yesterday he thinks the merger of Abitibi and Bowater may be a good thing - and Kathy Dunderdale said the union says it does not expect the merger will affect Newfoundland and Labrador.
Let's look at what industry analysts are saying:
These two quotes from the Globe and Mail online:
"It's more a cost-reduction story than a revenue-enhancement story."
The Bowater-Abitibi merger should "theoretically reduce capacity and improve the real price of newsprint," Mr. Rowland said.
The article talks about the real concerns in the pulp and paper sector - competition with China - quality and changes in paper products and reduction in demand.
There is no question that BowaterAbitibi - if the regulatory bodies approve the merger - will be reviewing all assets in the new company. If the analysts are correct and the objective is to reduce capacity - we should be out of the gate early.
Considering one of the two new headquarters will be in Quebec - we can expect the lobby to keep capacity there will be intense - equally true of Ontario.
We need to start our lobby efforts now - for both Stephenville and Grand Falls - Windsor. Next week is too late - and burying our political heads in the sand will not help.
There are positives in both mills that we should be promoting - and government should be pro-active and not re-active as it relates to discussions with the company. With all the by-elections on the go - particularly in Port au Port - you had better get some action and commitments from all the candidates. They are all just keeping their heads low and hoping the announcement will just fade to the background.
Get some real answers now - before it is too late. We must have our research done - we have to know what our competition in Quebec and Ontario are planning to offer.
Let's look at what industry analysts are saying:
These two quotes from the Globe and Mail online:
"It's more a cost-reduction story than a revenue-enhancement story."
The Bowater-Abitibi merger should "theoretically reduce capacity and improve the real price of newsprint," Mr. Rowland said.
The article talks about the real concerns in the pulp and paper sector - competition with China - quality and changes in paper products and reduction in demand.
There is no question that BowaterAbitibi - if the regulatory bodies approve the merger - will be reviewing all assets in the new company. If the analysts are correct and the objective is to reduce capacity - we should be out of the gate early.
Considering one of the two new headquarters will be in Quebec - we can expect the lobby to keep capacity there will be intense - equally true of Ontario.
We need to start our lobby efforts now - for both Stephenville and Grand Falls - Windsor. Next week is too late - and burying our political heads in the sand will not help.
There are positives in both mills that we should be promoting - and government should be pro-active and not re-active as it relates to discussions with the company. With all the by-elections on the go - particularly in Port au Port - you had better get some action and commitments from all the candidates. They are all just keeping their heads low and hoping the announcement will just fade to the background.
Get some real answers now - before it is too late. We must have our research done - we have to know what our competition in Quebec and Ontario are planning to offer.
Monday, January 29, 2007
BOWATER-ABITIBI to MERGE.....
New Company to be called AbitibiBowater
Bowater has agreed to merge with Abitibi-Consolidated - they have a combined enterprise value of 8 Billion Dollars
Now of course Bowater used to own the Kruger operation in Corner Brook.
This may be an important merger for all workers in this sector in Newfoundland and Labrador.
What are the plans for the merged group - the international Bowater has significant assets in Ontario and Quebec - now what does the future hold for Newfoundland and Labrador?
Minister Dunderdale what is your take on this?
Important bulletinfor pulp and paper workers in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Bowater has agreed to merge with Abitibi-Consolidated - they have a combined enterprise value of 8 Billion Dollars
Now of course Bowater used to own the Kruger operation in Corner Brook.
This may be an important merger for all workers in this sector in Newfoundland and Labrador.
What are the plans for the merged group - the international Bowater has significant assets in Ontario and Quebec - now what does the future hold for Newfoundland and Labrador?
Minister Dunderdale what is your take on this?
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Go West young Women and Men - the East has nothing to offer you...
There's something about an "appearance" - you know like the "appearance" of conflict in the fibre optic deal. These appearances can very quickly turn into reality - well some of them are reality - but those that are not should never be presented as if they are.
The Premier is batting a thousand this week with his "u-haul constituency tour" to Alberta. The first thing he'd like to point out is:
“I personally see Alberta as the land of opportunity,” said Williams. “I really, honestly think that Canada should be looking and realizing that Alberta is going to be the province that’s going to lead us into the future and we should wrap our arms around this opportunity.”
There is a place for you Premier - and Newfoundland and Labrador clearly is not it. A businessman like yourself - held back by a weak economy that cannot support jobs for its young graduates. May I offer a suggestion - move to Fort McMurray and start a Cable Alberta - take your sidekick Dean MacDonald with you and then you can become real oilmen - right on the frontier. You can wrap your arms around it - and perhaps Albertans can pay for your "branding" and "marketing" of that province - because the people of Newfoundland and Labrador should not pay for it. When I say the man has no vision - I mean just that - Alberta is going to lead us into the future? I don't know what does the future hold? Green - renewable power - renewable resources like the fishery, forestry, fresh water etc. Funny I thought Newfoundland and Labrador was going to lead the way in the future.
Just stop and think for a minute people - can you envision Jean Charest over in Davos at the World Economic Forum explaining to corporate and political leaders of the world - that they need to embrace Alberta because they will lead Canada into the future?
And then the man - while on the trip we are paying for - says:
Williams said he’s not in Alberta to persuade people to return to Newfoundland.
“I’d love to have them all home,” he said. “However, the projects and the jobs are not there yet. We’re building our economy.”
What exactly are you telling the business community you are trying to attract? Our skilled people can stay in Alberta because we can't afford to have them in Newfoundland and Labrador. We are building our economy?????
Listen up Danny:
1. The person you have hired to build that economy is Dr. Doug House. He has been rebuilding our economy since Brian Peckford. Its been over 25 years of economic recovery plans with this individual. When do you expect we will recover?
2. While on a "business" junket - you do not say that we cannot afford our own graduates and talent - especially to the audience you wish to attract.
3. Your fascination with Alberta is unhealthy - and while there are some similarities we have a broader base of resources and more renewables than they do.
4. "I'd love to have them all home", I'll tell you what - you leave and let them come home. Why do we have you hired? Remind me! Oh I get it - this is the "I'm gonna be brutally honest witcha" - game. When you are unable to develop an economy you bail out and say "wait and see". Smallwood said it before you - Moores said it before you - Peckford said it before you - Wells said it before you - Tobin said it before you. We have been "economically recovering" now for over 50 years.
Then if all this garbage was not enough - what positive news did Williams offer?
Williams added he’s very happy to see that Fort McMurray now has a direct flight to Newfoundland, allowing some workers from his province to return home more often to spend time with their families.
Oh yes that's great - our people have convenient holiday opportunities to visit their families. And then there's the "we need immigrants for our fishery" bit. Have you checked out the cost of flying to Labrador from the Island or vice-verse. You think you might be able to get around Alberta cheaply?
You are a failure and your presentation is embarrassing. Yes go west young Women and Men of Newfoundland and Labrador - until this Premier is gone. While he's here he would like you to embrace Alberta.
For the Story from Global National Press Here
The Premier is batting a thousand this week with his "u-haul constituency tour" to Alberta. The first thing he'd like to point out is:
“I personally see Alberta as the land of opportunity,” said Williams. “I really, honestly think that Canada should be looking and realizing that Alberta is going to be the province that’s going to lead us into the future and we should wrap our arms around this opportunity.”
There is a place for you Premier - and Newfoundland and Labrador clearly is not it. A businessman like yourself - held back by a weak economy that cannot support jobs for its young graduates. May I offer a suggestion - move to Fort McMurray and start a Cable Alberta - take your sidekick Dean MacDonald with you and then you can become real oilmen - right on the frontier. You can wrap your arms around it - and perhaps Albertans can pay for your "branding" and "marketing" of that province - because the people of Newfoundland and Labrador should not pay for it. When I say the man has no vision - I mean just that - Alberta is going to lead us into the future? I don't know what does the future hold? Green - renewable power - renewable resources like the fishery, forestry, fresh water etc. Funny I thought Newfoundland and Labrador was going to lead the way in the future.
Just stop and think for a minute people - can you envision Jean Charest over in Davos at the World Economic Forum explaining to corporate and political leaders of the world - that they need to embrace Alberta because they will lead Canada into the future?
And then the man - while on the trip we are paying for - says:
Williams said he’s not in Alberta to persuade people to return to Newfoundland.
“I’d love to have them all home,” he said. “However, the projects and the jobs are not there yet. We’re building our economy.”
What exactly are you telling the business community you are trying to attract? Our skilled people can stay in Alberta because we can't afford to have them in Newfoundland and Labrador. We are building our economy?????
Listen up Danny:
1. The person you have hired to build that economy is Dr. Doug House. He has been rebuilding our economy since Brian Peckford. Its been over 25 years of economic recovery plans with this individual. When do you expect we will recover?
2. While on a "business" junket - you do not say that we cannot afford our own graduates and talent - especially to the audience you wish to attract.
3. Your fascination with Alberta is unhealthy - and while there are some similarities we have a broader base of resources and more renewables than they do.
4. "I'd love to have them all home", I'll tell you what - you leave and let them come home. Why do we have you hired? Remind me! Oh I get it - this is the "I'm gonna be brutally honest witcha" - game. When you are unable to develop an economy you bail out and say "wait and see". Smallwood said it before you - Moores said it before you - Peckford said it before you - Wells said it before you - Tobin said it before you. We have been "economically recovering" now for over 50 years.
Then if all this garbage was not enough - what positive news did Williams offer?
Williams added he’s very happy to see that Fort McMurray now has a direct flight to Newfoundland, allowing some workers from his province to return home more often to spend time with their families.
Oh yes that's great - our people have convenient holiday opportunities to visit their families. And then there's the "we need immigrants for our fishery" bit. Have you checked out the cost of flying to Labrador from the Island or vice-verse. You think you might be able to get around Alberta cheaply?
You are a failure and your presentation is embarrassing. Yes go west young Women and Men of Newfoundland and Labrador - until this Premier is gone. While he's here he would like you to embrace Alberta.
For the Story from Global National Press Here
Friday, January 26, 2007
Abitibi's shivering in its boots...
Abitibi's shivering in its boots...
Wouldn't you be if the Premier or Minister of Natural Resources threatened to take away your timber?
First of all - I have been a long time supporter of the loggers and paperworkers in this province and attended some pretty rowdy demonstrations - and yes even spoke from the back of a pick-up in Grand Falls-Windsor.
I have done whatever I could to speak openly about the plight of our paper mills - encouraged growth in Labrador in the mill or paper industry sectors. Long before Danny wanted to be Premier - I was belting out the lack of policy and planning in our forestry sector.
There was a time we had to fight the problem of land-use with good people from the west coast who knew we had to find better ways to manage our forests and find a balance between the environment and woods harvesting.
I am disappointed in the union at Grand Falls - they were not there when their brothers and sisters in Stehenville on the Port au Port Peninsula lost their jobs. I remember Grand Falls saying that they were not prepared to lose a machine to help save Stephenville. They sat silent while the Minister of Natural Resources - Kathy Dunderdale - and MHA's Hodder and Burke did nothing to encourage the hard work of the remaining local in Stephenville - to attract another operator.
Tonight I turn on the Evening News (CBC) and see the local rep making the case for Grand Falls - as Abitibi ups the stakes at that operation. Save 10 million or else!!! As far as I know the fight would have been much easier had the locals stood together - the successive government's of Grimes and Williams were successful in a divide and conquer strategy.
Having said that the workers at the mill - their families and communities in Central Newfoundland need our support - but this time we should be fighting for the life of Grand Falls-Windsor and the rebirth of Stephenville. They require our help as the government does not wield a big stick when threatening to do something to Abitibi should they shut down an operation.
I wonder is Kathy Dunderdale being "politically naive" when she makes a threat such as pulling timber licenses. We know the Premier was when he said the Stephenville Mill would not close "under his watch". We also now know the Premier was bluffing when he threatened to expropriate the mill. Make no mistake - Abitibi knows they are bluffing and Weaver's got Danny's number and probably the number of many Liberals as well. Unlike oil and gas - the pulp and paper sector is hurting and they are all looking to become more efficient. There are however opportunities in this sector in areas of new and emerging technology - new products and research.
I don't know how the internal guts of the union locals are working or how they worked during the Stephenville fiasco but I can suggest that all the workers and their families should fight and fight hard for the pulp and paper industry in our province - because the threats and stated commitments of our government have proven to be rhetoric - and not at all on the radar of our federal politicians.
I can tell you this that while Abitibi makes its plans at headquarters in Quebec - they are counting on Premier Williams to deliver that Lower Churchill Power to them in Ontario and Quebec - where the remainder of the pulp and paper sector will reside if we do not take real action.
Think about this come election day. Hi Randy "I'm a first time caller" and I'm running in ? district for the ? Party. Ask yourself - where were they while the Province needed people to speak up on issues of extreme importance to our kids and grand-kids not to mention our parents and grand-parents. Or better what Jerome Kennedy said after he lost Signal Hill - Quidi Vidi - he pointed out to Randy he wouldn't be calling anymore now.
All of us have lives and all of us are busy - but if you believe that any of these people have any more time than you or I do - to contribute on a regular basis on issues of general importance to the Province - they are not ready for public office and do not deserve your support.
Come on people do we really need to lose more industry to Quebec - Ontario - Alberta - Iceland - Norway - or even China?
You really have to think - ask the tough questions - why didn't you fix the problem when you were in government? Make no mistake the Stephenville Mill was in trouble when Grimes was there - I have had people ask me if I did anything about it. Sure - but it was not my call - it was the call of people like then Minister Kelvin Parsons and others who might be coming to your door over the next week or so.
While Danny's in Alberta - where is Charest?
Let's Start here...
Here is a quote from the Premier on the Lower Churchill to the editor of the Corporate Knights magazine:
Newfoundland and Labrador are set to develop the Lower Churchill’s hydro potential. Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams told me, “I recently [May 2006] wrote to the Premier of Ontario about [Lower Churchill], which will be online by 2015 and can provide 2,800 MW, enough to light up a million and a half homes in Ontario. We have some of the best wind regimes in the world; our projections indicate that by as early as 2009 we could have 300 MW, another 400 MW by 2013, with the potential of tens of thousands of MW of wind energy available through Labrador. Between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, we can provide [Ontario] with all the clean energy that you’re going to need over the next several decades.”
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This is one of the many places Danny and myself part ways.
Sometimes it's just in the attitude. It's having a vision - selling it - and doing what's necessary to bring it to reality.
Sometimes it's being in the right place at the right time. It's knowing where that is and making sure your included.
Sometimes it's knowing what your brand is - not what a group flicks up on a design program. It's believing what you have is unique - in demand and valuable.
While Danny is in Alberta visiting his Newfoundland and Labrador constituents - people who have left from years of failed government policy - Jean Charest is in Davos Switzerland highlighting Quebec (the nation within a nation) to the world. He is doing this to avoid having to make the U-Haul out west to visit Quebecers who have emigrated.
What is Charest doing there?
Well he (the Government of Quebec) is a selected participant at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2007.
Selected Participants representing Canada are:
Jean Charest - Premier of Quebec - Canada
David Emerson - Minister of International Trade - Government of Canada
What is Charest participating in? The agenda follows below but Charest is focused and he's getting media and industry attention.
Here is part of a CanWest story on Charest's participation.
Wednesday was the first day of annual meetings in Davos where corporate and political leaders meet with academics and representatives of civil society.
''It is unthinkable that we can solve the problem of climate warming without the United States,'' Charest said, recalling that in the 1980s, emissions of sulphur dioxide, falling in Quebec lakes in the form of acid rain, were a major pollution problem.
It took the U.S.-Canada Acid Rain Treaty, signed by then-prime minister Brian Mulroney and then-president Ronald Reagan, to set the stage for the American Clean Air Act of 1990, he recalled.
At discussions in Davos on Wednesday, climate change was described as ''the biggest market failure of all time.''
Charest said the Clean Air Act offers market mechanisms that could be applied to deal with the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.
''We are very much at the beginning of a market mechanism in the reduction of greenhouse gases,'' he said, adding that the success in dealing with acid rain shows this approach can work.
''Clear objectives are the first ingredient necessary for success,'' the premier said. ''If there are no clear objectives, human nature being what it is, people will procrastinate.''
Charest noted that in his state of the union message Tuesday, U.S. President George W. Bush, ''for once'' spoke of greenhouse gases and ''seemed to remember what is at stake.''
The premier said in the discussions in Davos he has attended, American corporate leaders have shown they do not share Bush's view that cleaning up greenhouse gases could harm the U.S. economy.
''The American people have been much more sensitive to the issue than the federal American government,'' he said.
''Several American states have made commitments,'' he added and Quebec will working with the New England governors and the other four Eastern Canadian premiers at a meeting next month in Quebec City on climate change.
''In Quebec we have taken the offensive,'' he said. ''We have taken a leadership role on the issues of sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gases.''
And that extends to his government's commitment to develop clean renewable hydroelectricity, which Hydro-Quebec will offer for sale to Quebec's neighbours, he said.
Environmentalists have questioned whether damming the Rupert River to generate electricity for export is an ecological solution.
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation Wednesday, Charest called Quebec the California of the North, comparing his government's environmental efforts with those of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Charest is sipping champagne with World political Leaders - World super Industries and significant numbers of NGO's.
He is meeting with the elite of the elite in business and Hydro Quebec and through it Quebec is planning the next 25 years of growth based on hydropower - including the Lower Churchill in one way or another.
The Premier says he wants Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to be a super Energy Company and the Province to be an Energy Warehouse. With Danny's lack of vision and determination to export all the power from the Churchill through or to Quebec - we remain a pimple on the arse of Central Canada.
The agenda for the forum:
Date Title
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Legal Landscape around Climate Change
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Global Economy
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Regional Agenda - Middle East
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Regional Agenda - USA
24.01.2007 Update 2007: Exploring Identity and the Communication Disconnect
24.01.2007 Update 2007: Beyond Web 2.0 -- From Content to Collective Knowledge?
24.01.2007 Update 2007: Addressing Global Fault Lines
24.01.2007 Update 2007: Leading in a Networked World
24.01.2007 Update 2007: CNBC Debate - Make Green Pay
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Regional Agenda - Asia
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Regional Agenda - Latin America
24.01.2007 Opening Buffet
24.01.2007 The Shifting Power Equation: Business
24.01.2007 The Shifting Power Equation: Technology and Society
24.01.2007 The Shifting Power Equation: Geopolitics
24.01.2007 The Shifting Power Equation: Economics
24.01.2007 The Shifting Power Equation: Exploring the Implications
24.01.2007 Opening Reception
24.01.2007 Welcome to the Annual Meeting
24.01.2007 Opening Address by Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of Germany
24.01.2007 Opening Plenary: The Shifting Power Equation
24.01.2007 Democracy Beyond Elections
24.01.2007 Why Do Brains Sleep?
24.01.2007 Getting the Message across with a Story
24.01.2007 The Security Implications of Climate Change
24.01.2007 The Rise and Fall of Empires
24.01.2007 Living in the Urban Age
24.01.2007 The Age of the Avatar and Multiple Identities
24.01.2007 Museums Look to the Future
24.01.2007 The Geopolitics of Demographics
24.01.2007 AIDS 2025
Date Title
25.01.2007 The World Electronic Community (WELCOM) Interactive Platform
25.01.2007 Iraq: Uniting for Stability
25.01.2007 Meet the Artists
25.01.2007 Robotics Unleashed
25.01.2007 Future Series: Building the Skills of Tomorrow
25.01.2007 What the Mind Teaches Us about Education
25.01.2007 Relationships and Self-Esteem
25.01.2007 The Comprehensive Response to Terrorism
25.01.2007 The Challenge to Moderate Islam in South-East Asia
25.01.2007 When Emerging Market MNCs Buy Abroad
25.01.2007 Dialogue in the Dark
25.01.2007 Ensuring Future European Growth
25.01.2007 Energy 2007: Generating Local Solutions
25.01.2007 Demystifying Productivity and Growth
25.01.2007 Joint Swiss-US Economic Commission: The Challenges Confronting World Trade Liberalization
25.01.2007 Depression
25.01.2007 Rules for a Global Neighbourhood in a Multicultural World
25.01.2007 Who Will Run the Internet?
25.01.2007 Stem Cells
25.01.2007 Japan: Beyond the Recovery, But What's Next?
25.01.2007 Introducing the Open Forum 2007
25.01.2007 The Big Re-think: Managing 21st Century Challenges
25.01.2007 Investing for Stability
25.01.2007 Journalism Is Dead - Long Live the Journalist
25.01.2007 Early Warning and Crisis Preparedness
25.01.2007 CNN Connects: Our Networked World
25.01.2007 Do State-Owned Enterprises Tilt the Playing Field?
25.01.2007 Managing India's Youthful Tide
25.01.2007 Making Sanctions Part of the Solution
25.01.2007 Regulation and Financial Market Competition
25.01.2007 Future Series: Making Tribal Dynamics Work
25.01.2007 CEO Salaries: How High Will They Go?
25.01.2007 From Private Giving to Social Investing: the New Philanthropreneurs
25.01.2007 Reveal Your True Colours
25.01.2007 The Scent of Success
25.01.2007 India and the Global Services Economy
25.01.2007 Dialogue in the Dark
25.01.2007 The Next Wave in Banking - the Unbanked
25.01.2007 Climate Change: A Call to Action
25.01.2007 Creating New Body Parts
25.01.2007 What Kind of World Does China Want?
25.01.2007 China, Japan, and Korea - Managing a New Power Centre
25.01.2007 Checkmate
25.01.2007 Future Series: Visualizing a Successful Enterprise
25.01.2007 Enough Is Enough - Israel and the Palestinian Territories
25.01.2007 Reverse Engineering the Brain
25.01.2007 Stopping the Spread of Nuclear Weapons
25.01.2007 Energy 2007: The New Era of Petropolitics
25.01.2007 What's on the Mind of Asia's New Business Giants?
25.01.2007 Billions in Development Aid: What Are the Results?
25.01.2007 China as a Global Partner - A Conversation with
25.01.2007 The M&A Landscape: Developing the 2007 Heatmap
25.01.2007 Dinner and Jazz
25.01.2007 Whither European Identity?
25.01.2007 The Art of Investing in Art
25.01.2007 The Future of the Dollar
25.01.2007 Science and Spirituality
25.01.2007 The Global Playing Field for Intellectual Property Rights
25.01.2007 The Role of Religion in International Relations
25.01.2007 Classic Clarets
25.01.2007 Can Markets Save the Planet?
25.01.2007 The Changing Military Calculus on the Korean Peninsula
25.01.2007 How Red Is Your Tape?
25.01.2007 Me, Myself and My Identity
25.01.2007 Governing the Multifaceted Citizen
25.01.2007 Emerging Nutrition Markets
25.01.2007 Pricing China's Demographic Trends
Date Title
26.01.2007 The World Electronic Community (WELCOM) Interactive Platform
26.01.2007 Who Will Shape the Agenda?
26.01.2007 A Conversation with President Lula da Silva of Brazil
26.01.2007 Is Freedom Overrated?
26.01.2007 Dialogue in the Dark
26.01.2007 The Procreation Choice
26.01.2007 CEO Series: Collaborate to Innovate
26.01.2007 In China, Does Big Equate to World Beater?
26.01.2007 Housing Deflation: What's That Hissing Sound?
26.01.2007 Privacy: Your Life as an Open Book
26.01.2007 Who Funds Research and Innovation?
26.01.2007 Engineering Nature's Power Solutions
26.01.2007 Finding a Stable Future for Iraq
26.01.2007 Technology for a Healthy Future
26.01.2007 How Cities Drive Innovation
26.01.2007 Wisdom of Youth
26.01.2007 Simple Solutions to Complex Problems
26.01.2007 Hedge Fund Transparency
26.01.2007 Africa's Emergence as a Vital Strategic Interest
26.01.2007 Sustaining China's Next Stage of Development
26.01.2007 Science and Development
26.01.2007 CEO Series: Globalization at a Crossroad
26.01.2007 BBC World Debate: Climate Change
26.01.2007 New Blood for Industrialized Societies
26.01.2007 The Human Lifespan
26.01.2007 Emerging Markets: Whose Standards Apply?
26.01.2007 ASEAN's Economic Roadmap
26.01.2007 Mexico and US Immigration Politics
26.01.2007 India's Reform Agenda
26.01.2007 The Responsibility of the Moderates
26.01.2007 Sustainable Energy Consumption: Does Anyone Care?
26.01.2007 African Agriculture: Ready for a Revolution
26.01.2007 Derivative Markets, Mounting Worries
26.01.2007 Investment Fund Activism
26.01.2007 Making Brazil Grow Better
26.01.2007 Managing Risk in Megaprojects
26.01.2007 Fighting Low-Profile Diseases
26.01.2007 Executive Pay and Performance
26.01.2007 The Gulf States as an Emerging Financial Hub
26.01.2007 The G20 Agenda - A New Power Equation
26.01.2007 How Much Should the Industrialized World Spend on Healthcare?
26.01.2007 Nuclear Fusion: An Energy Source for Tomorrow
26.01.2007 The Gulf Cooperation Council Countries and the World: Scenarios to 2025
26.01.2007 Dialogue in the Dark
26.01.2007 Pioneers and Pitches: The Next Big Thing
26.01.2007 Relationships and Self-Esteem
26.01.2007 The Next Limits to Growth
26.01.2007 A Business Manifesto for Globalization
26.01.2007 Strategies for a New Power Equation
26.01.2007 Is Bigger Better in Private Equity?
26.01.2007 The User Takes Charge of Content
26.01.2007 Energy 2007: Advancing the US Energy Agenda
26.01.2007 CEO Series: Finding Future Talent
26.01.2007 Future Series: The Future of Urban Mobility
26.01.2007 A Conversation with H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan
26.01.2007 The Battle against Cancer - A Progress Report
26.01.2007 Scaling Innovation in Foreign Aid
26.01.2007 Hurricanes, Heatwaves and High Seas
26.01.2007 Rebalancing Risk in Financial Markets
26.01.2007 The Price of Becoming Old
26.01.2007 Latin America Broadens Its Horizons
26.01.2007 A Conversation with President Calderón-Hinojosa of Mexico
26.01.2007 Delivering on the Promise of Africa
26.01.2007 Managing Access to Oil: The Risk of the 21st Century
26.01.2007 Convergence on the Move
26.01.2007 ASEAN's 40 Years - A New Future
26.01.2007 Building Sustainable Post-Conflict Environments
26.01.2007 Wealth, Passion and Succession
26.01.2007 Dinner and Jazz
26.01.2007 Turkey's Political Future
26.01.2007 The Singles Economy
26.01.2007 Globalization and the Middle-Class
26.01.2007 Health in the City
26.01.2007 Time for Tough Choices in Latin America
26.01.2007 Cultural Leaders Dinner
26.01.2007 The Influence of the Gaming Generation
26.01.2007 Who's the Teacher
26.01.2007 The State of US Leadership
26.01.2007 Eclectic Fine Wines
26.01.2007 Combating Counterfeiting and Criminal Syndicates
26.01.2007 Entering a New Age of Human Space Flight
26.01.2007 Russia's More Muscular Diplomacy
26.01.2007 Western Europe's Eastern Neighbours
26.01.2007 Nobel Nightcap
Date Title
27.01.2007 Voices from Iran
27.01.2007 What Is Today's American Dream?
27.01.2007 The Global Economic Outlook 2007
27.01.2007 The Future of the Middle East
27.01.2007 The City: Managing Rapid Urbanization in Developing Economies
27.01.2007 Future Series: Designing Sustainable Cities
27.01.2007 Managing Hyper-growth Corporations
27.01.2007 Building Health Systems in Developing Markets
27.01.2007 Checkmate
27.01.2007 Genetic Screening: Seeing the Future?
27.01.2007 The Commodities Boom - Structural or Cyclical?
27.01.2007 Can Central Banks Manage Global Financial Risks?
27.01.2007 CEO Series: Surviving Information Epidemics and Managing Reputation Risks
27.01.2007 A Blueprint for Human Settlement of the Solar System
27.01.2007 Modern Russia: Strengths, Challenges and New Prospects - A Perspective from the Government
27.01.2007 The Fate of the Universe and the Search for Life
27.01.2007 Modern Russia: Strengths, Challenges and New Prospects - A Perspective from Business
27.01.2007 Presentation of the Crystal Award
27.01.2007 Buffet Lunch
27.01.2007 Future Series: Living in a Connected World
27.01.2007 Is the Multicultural Society an Illusion?
27.01.2007 CEO Series: Energy Strategy as a Competitive Advantage
27.01.2007 Combating Corruption
27.01.2007 Pandemics: Monitoring a Risk in Hibernation
27.01.2007 China Gets Innovative
27.01.2007 The Impact of Web 2.0 and Emerging Social Network Models
27.01.2007 The Emerging Strength of Emerging Markets
27.01.2007 Global Challenges
27.01.2007 Religion: Source of Peace or Cause of Violence and War?
27.01.2007 Closing Plenary
27.01.2007 Frozen Trade Talks and the Need for Progress
27.01.2007 New Frameworks for Tackling Digital Piracy
27.01.2007 Brands: Today's Gods?
27.01.2007 Concert
27.01.2007 Concluding Remarks on the Open Forum 2007
27.01.2007 The Gala Soiree
That's the agenda - do you think there may be anything of value to Newfoundland and Labrador here?
Selected Participants representing Canada are:
Jean Charest - Premier of Quebec - Canada
David Emerson - Minister of International Trade - Government of Canada
What is Charest participating in?
Here is a quote from the Premier on the Lower Churchill to the editor of the Corporate Knights magazine:
Newfoundland and Labrador are set to develop the Lower Churchill’s hydro potential. Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams told me, “I recently [May 2006] wrote to the Premier of Ontario about [Lower Churchill], which will be online by 2015 and can provide 2,800 MW, enough to light up a million and a half homes in Ontario. We have some of the best wind regimes in the world; our projections indicate that by as early as 2009 we could have 300 MW, another 400 MW by 2013, with the potential of tens of thousands of MW of wind energy available through Labrador. Between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, we can provide [Ontario] with all the clean energy that you’re going to need over the next several decades.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is one of the many places Danny and myself part ways.
Sometimes it's just in the attitude. It's having a vision - selling it - and doing what's necessary to bring it to reality.
Sometimes it's being in the right place at the right time. It's knowing where that is and making sure your included.
Sometimes it's knowing what your brand is - not what a group flicks up on a design program. It's believing what you have is unique - in demand and valuable.
While Danny is in Alberta visiting his Newfoundland and Labrador constituents - people who have left from years of failed government policy - Jean Charest is in Davos Switzerland highlighting Quebec (the nation within a nation) to the world. He is doing this to avoid having to make the U-Haul out west to visit Quebecers who have emigrated.
What is Charest doing there?
Well he (the Government of Quebec) is a selected participant at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2007.
Selected Participants representing Canada are:
Jean Charest - Premier of Quebec - Canada
David Emerson - Minister of International Trade - Government of Canada
What is Charest participating in? The agenda follows below but Charest is focused and he's getting media and industry attention.
Here is part of a CanWest story on Charest's participation.
Wednesday was the first day of annual meetings in Davos where corporate and political leaders meet with academics and representatives of civil society.
''It is unthinkable that we can solve the problem of climate warming without the United States,'' Charest said, recalling that in the 1980s, emissions of sulphur dioxide, falling in Quebec lakes in the form of acid rain, were a major pollution problem.
It took the U.S.-Canada Acid Rain Treaty, signed by then-prime minister Brian Mulroney and then-president Ronald Reagan, to set the stage for the American Clean Air Act of 1990, he recalled.
At discussions in Davos on Wednesday, climate change was described as ''the biggest market failure of all time.''
Charest said the Clean Air Act offers market mechanisms that could be applied to deal with the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.
''We are very much at the beginning of a market mechanism in the reduction of greenhouse gases,'' he said, adding that the success in dealing with acid rain shows this approach can work.
''Clear objectives are the first ingredient necessary for success,'' the premier said. ''If there are no clear objectives, human nature being what it is, people will procrastinate.''
Charest noted that in his state of the union message Tuesday, U.S. President George W. Bush, ''for once'' spoke of greenhouse gases and ''seemed to remember what is at stake.''
The premier said in the discussions in Davos he has attended, American corporate leaders have shown they do not share Bush's view that cleaning up greenhouse gases could harm the U.S. economy.
''The American people have been much more sensitive to the issue than the federal American government,'' he said.
''Several American states have made commitments,'' he added and Quebec will working with the New England governors and the other four Eastern Canadian premiers at a meeting next month in Quebec City on climate change.
''In Quebec we have taken the offensive,'' he said. ''We have taken a leadership role on the issues of sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gases.''
And that extends to his government's commitment to develop clean renewable hydroelectricity, which Hydro-Quebec will offer for sale to Quebec's neighbours, he said.
Environmentalists have questioned whether damming the Rupert River to generate electricity for export is an ecological solution.
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation Wednesday, Charest called Quebec the California of the North, comparing his government's environmental efforts with those of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Charest is sipping champagne with World political Leaders - World super Industries and significant numbers of NGO's.
He is meeting with the elite of the elite in business and Hydro Quebec and through it Quebec is planning the next 25 years of growth based on hydropower - including the Lower Churchill in one way or another.
The Premier says he wants Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to be a super Energy Company and the Province to be an Energy Warehouse. With Danny's lack of vision and determination to export all the power from the Churchill through or to Quebec - we remain a pimple on the arse of Central Canada.
The agenda for the forum:
Date Title
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Legal Landscape around Climate Change
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Global Economy
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Regional Agenda - Middle East
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Regional Agenda - USA
24.01.2007 Update 2007: Exploring Identity and the Communication Disconnect
24.01.2007 Update 2007: Beyond Web 2.0 -- From Content to Collective Knowledge?
24.01.2007 Update 2007: Addressing Global Fault Lines
24.01.2007 Update 2007: Leading in a Networked World
24.01.2007 Update 2007: CNBC Debate - Make Green Pay
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Regional Agenda - Asia
24.01.2007 Update 2007: The Regional Agenda - Latin America
24.01.2007 Opening Buffet
24.01.2007 The Shifting Power Equation: Business
24.01.2007 The Shifting Power Equation: Technology and Society
24.01.2007 The Shifting Power Equation: Geopolitics
24.01.2007 The Shifting Power Equation: Economics
24.01.2007 The Shifting Power Equation: Exploring the Implications
24.01.2007 Opening Reception
24.01.2007 Welcome to the Annual Meeting
24.01.2007 Opening Address by Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of Germany
24.01.2007 Opening Plenary: The Shifting Power Equation
24.01.2007 Democracy Beyond Elections
24.01.2007 Why Do Brains Sleep?
24.01.2007 Getting the Message across with a Story
24.01.2007 The Security Implications of Climate Change
24.01.2007 The Rise and Fall of Empires
24.01.2007 Living in the Urban Age
24.01.2007 The Age of the Avatar and Multiple Identities
24.01.2007 Museums Look to the Future
24.01.2007 The Geopolitics of Demographics
24.01.2007 AIDS 2025
Date Title
25.01.2007 The World Electronic Community (WELCOM) Interactive Platform
25.01.2007 Iraq: Uniting for Stability
25.01.2007 Meet the Artists
25.01.2007 Robotics Unleashed
25.01.2007 Future Series: Building the Skills of Tomorrow
25.01.2007 What the Mind Teaches Us about Education
25.01.2007 Relationships and Self-Esteem
25.01.2007 The Comprehensive Response to Terrorism
25.01.2007 The Challenge to Moderate Islam in South-East Asia
25.01.2007 When Emerging Market MNCs Buy Abroad
25.01.2007 Dialogue in the Dark
25.01.2007 Ensuring Future European Growth
25.01.2007 Energy 2007: Generating Local Solutions
25.01.2007 Demystifying Productivity and Growth
25.01.2007 Joint Swiss-US Economic Commission: The Challenges Confronting World Trade Liberalization
25.01.2007 Depression
25.01.2007 Rules for a Global Neighbourhood in a Multicultural World
25.01.2007 Who Will Run the Internet?
25.01.2007 Stem Cells
25.01.2007 Japan: Beyond the Recovery, But What's Next?
25.01.2007 Introducing the Open Forum 2007
25.01.2007 The Big Re-think: Managing 21st Century Challenges
25.01.2007 Investing for Stability
25.01.2007 Journalism Is Dead - Long Live the Journalist
25.01.2007 Early Warning and Crisis Preparedness
25.01.2007 CNN Connects: Our Networked World
25.01.2007 Do State-Owned Enterprises Tilt the Playing Field?
25.01.2007 Managing India's Youthful Tide
25.01.2007 Making Sanctions Part of the Solution
25.01.2007 Regulation and Financial Market Competition
25.01.2007 Future Series: Making Tribal Dynamics Work
25.01.2007 CEO Salaries: How High Will They Go?
25.01.2007 From Private Giving to Social Investing: the New Philanthropreneurs
25.01.2007 Reveal Your True Colours
25.01.2007 The Scent of Success
25.01.2007 India and the Global Services Economy
25.01.2007 Dialogue in the Dark
25.01.2007 The Next Wave in Banking - the Unbanked
25.01.2007 Climate Change: A Call to Action
25.01.2007 Creating New Body Parts
25.01.2007 What Kind of World Does China Want?
25.01.2007 China, Japan, and Korea - Managing a New Power Centre
25.01.2007 Checkmate
25.01.2007 Future Series: Visualizing a Successful Enterprise
25.01.2007 Enough Is Enough - Israel and the Palestinian Territories
25.01.2007 Reverse Engineering the Brain
25.01.2007 Stopping the Spread of Nuclear Weapons
25.01.2007 Energy 2007: The New Era of Petropolitics
25.01.2007 What's on the Mind of Asia's New Business Giants?
25.01.2007 Billions in Development Aid: What Are the Results?
25.01.2007 China as a Global Partner - A Conversation with
25.01.2007 The M&A Landscape: Developing the 2007 Heatmap
25.01.2007 Dinner and Jazz
25.01.2007 Whither European Identity?
25.01.2007 The Art of Investing in Art
25.01.2007 The Future of the Dollar
25.01.2007 Science and Spirituality
25.01.2007 The Global Playing Field for Intellectual Property Rights
25.01.2007 The Role of Religion in International Relations
25.01.2007 Classic Clarets
25.01.2007 Can Markets Save the Planet?
25.01.2007 The Changing Military Calculus on the Korean Peninsula
25.01.2007 How Red Is Your Tape?
25.01.2007 Me, Myself and My Identity
25.01.2007 Governing the Multifaceted Citizen
25.01.2007 Emerging Nutrition Markets
25.01.2007 Pricing China's Demographic Trends
Date Title
26.01.2007 The World Electronic Community (WELCOM) Interactive Platform
26.01.2007 Who Will Shape the Agenda?
26.01.2007 A Conversation with President Lula da Silva of Brazil
26.01.2007 Is Freedom Overrated?
26.01.2007 Dialogue in the Dark
26.01.2007 The Procreation Choice
26.01.2007 CEO Series: Collaborate to Innovate
26.01.2007 In China, Does Big Equate to World Beater?
26.01.2007 Housing Deflation: What's That Hissing Sound?
26.01.2007 Privacy: Your Life as an Open Book
26.01.2007 Who Funds Research and Innovation?
26.01.2007 Engineering Nature's Power Solutions
26.01.2007 Finding a Stable Future for Iraq
26.01.2007 Technology for a Healthy Future
26.01.2007 How Cities Drive Innovation
26.01.2007 Wisdom of Youth
26.01.2007 Simple Solutions to Complex Problems
26.01.2007 Hedge Fund Transparency
26.01.2007 Africa's Emergence as a Vital Strategic Interest
26.01.2007 Sustaining China's Next Stage of Development
26.01.2007 Science and Development
26.01.2007 CEO Series: Globalization at a Crossroad
26.01.2007 BBC World Debate: Climate Change
26.01.2007 New Blood for Industrialized Societies
26.01.2007 The Human Lifespan
26.01.2007 Emerging Markets: Whose Standards Apply?
26.01.2007 ASEAN's Economic Roadmap
26.01.2007 Mexico and US Immigration Politics
26.01.2007 India's Reform Agenda
26.01.2007 The Responsibility of the Moderates
26.01.2007 Sustainable Energy Consumption: Does Anyone Care?
26.01.2007 African Agriculture: Ready for a Revolution
26.01.2007 Derivative Markets, Mounting Worries
26.01.2007 Investment Fund Activism
26.01.2007 Making Brazil Grow Better
26.01.2007 Managing Risk in Megaprojects
26.01.2007 Fighting Low-Profile Diseases
26.01.2007 Executive Pay and Performance
26.01.2007 The Gulf States as an Emerging Financial Hub
26.01.2007 The G20 Agenda - A New Power Equation
26.01.2007 How Much Should the Industrialized World Spend on Healthcare?
26.01.2007 Nuclear Fusion: An Energy Source for Tomorrow
26.01.2007 The Gulf Cooperation Council Countries and the World: Scenarios to 2025
26.01.2007 Dialogue in the Dark
26.01.2007 Pioneers and Pitches: The Next Big Thing
26.01.2007 Relationships and Self-Esteem
26.01.2007 The Next Limits to Growth
26.01.2007 A Business Manifesto for Globalization
26.01.2007 Strategies for a New Power Equation
26.01.2007 Is Bigger Better in Private Equity?
26.01.2007 The User Takes Charge of Content
26.01.2007 Energy 2007: Advancing the US Energy Agenda
26.01.2007 CEO Series: Finding Future Talent
26.01.2007 Future Series: The Future of Urban Mobility
26.01.2007 A Conversation with H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan
26.01.2007 The Battle against Cancer - A Progress Report
26.01.2007 Scaling Innovation in Foreign Aid
26.01.2007 Hurricanes, Heatwaves and High Seas
26.01.2007 Rebalancing Risk in Financial Markets
26.01.2007 The Price of Becoming Old
26.01.2007 Latin America Broadens Its Horizons
26.01.2007 A Conversation with President Calderón-Hinojosa of Mexico
26.01.2007 Delivering on the Promise of Africa
26.01.2007 Managing Access to Oil: The Risk of the 21st Century
26.01.2007 Convergence on the Move
26.01.2007 ASEAN's 40 Years - A New Future
26.01.2007 Building Sustainable Post-Conflict Environments
26.01.2007 Wealth, Passion and Succession
26.01.2007 Dinner and Jazz
26.01.2007 Turkey's Political Future
26.01.2007 The Singles Economy
26.01.2007 Globalization and the Middle-Class
26.01.2007 Health in the City
26.01.2007 Time for Tough Choices in Latin America
26.01.2007 Cultural Leaders Dinner
26.01.2007 The Influence of the Gaming Generation
26.01.2007 Who's the Teacher
26.01.2007 The State of US Leadership
26.01.2007 Eclectic Fine Wines
26.01.2007 Combating Counterfeiting and Criminal Syndicates
26.01.2007 Entering a New Age of Human Space Flight
26.01.2007 Russia's More Muscular Diplomacy
26.01.2007 Western Europe's Eastern Neighbours
26.01.2007 Nobel Nightcap
Date Title
27.01.2007 Voices from Iran
27.01.2007 What Is Today's American Dream?
27.01.2007 The Global Economic Outlook 2007
27.01.2007 The Future of the Middle East
27.01.2007 The City: Managing Rapid Urbanization in Developing Economies
27.01.2007 Future Series: Designing Sustainable Cities
27.01.2007 Managing Hyper-growth Corporations
27.01.2007 Building Health Systems in Developing Markets
27.01.2007 Checkmate
27.01.2007 Genetic Screening: Seeing the Future?
27.01.2007 The Commodities Boom - Structural or Cyclical?
27.01.2007 Can Central Banks Manage Global Financial Risks?
27.01.2007 CEO Series: Surviving Information Epidemics and Managing Reputation Risks
27.01.2007 A Blueprint for Human Settlement of the Solar System
27.01.2007 Modern Russia: Strengths, Challenges and New Prospects - A Perspective from the Government
27.01.2007 The Fate of the Universe and the Search for Life
27.01.2007 Modern Russia: Strengths, Challenges and New Prospects - A Perspective from Business
27.01.2007 Presentation of the Crystal Award
27.01.2007 Buffet Lunch
27.01.2007 Future Series: Living in a Connected World
27.01.2007 Is the Multicultural Society an Illusion?
27.01.2007 CEO Series: Energy Strategy as a Competitive Advantage
27.01.2007 Combating Corruption
27.01.2007 Pandemics: Monitoring a Risk in Hibernation
27.01.2007 China Gets Innovative
27.01.2007 The Impact of Web 2.0 and Emerging Social Network Models
27.01.2007 The Emerging Strength of Emerging Markets
27.01.2007 Global Challenges
27.01.2007 Religion: Source of Peace or Cause of Violence and War?
27.01.2007 Closing Plenary
27.01.2007 Frozen Trade Talks and the Need for Progress
27.01.2007 New Frameworks for Tackling Digital Piracy
27.01.2007 Brands: Today's Gods?
27.01.2007 Concert
27.01.2007 Concluding Remarks on the Open Forum 2007
27.01.2007 The Gala Soiree
That's the agenda - do you think there may be anything of value to Newfoundland and Labrador here?
Selected Participants representing Canada are:
Jean Charest - Premier of Quebec - Canada
David Emerson - Minister of International Trade - Government of Canada
What is Charest participating in?
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Future Musings..and some thoughts about Port au Port
The LNG...hmmmm...all that gas talk - there is so much to reveal - carry on can't wait for the announcement.
and
what really happened to the Stephenville Paper Mill - for as much as Danny walked away from a commitment and broke a "promise" - the mill issue could have been resolved under the Liberals for less cash.
The people of Port au Port have a tough call - this time the union workers,local business, and citizens should look at giving the NDP a shot at representation.
The other 2 have put the region in peril - from the regional airport - the port - and the mill - Stephenville needs a real voice.
I love the Port au Port Peninsula - one of my favorite places - but it's getting the run around from 2 parties who have done very little to keep the region growing.
When you vote this time - I recommend you look very closely and go with your head and heart on Port au Port's side - instead of listening to the party that finished your mill off and the party that put it on life support.
and
what really happened to the Stephenville Paper Mill - for as much as Danny walked away from a commitment and broke a "promise" - the mill issue could have been resolved under the Liberals for less cash.
The people of Port au Port have a tough call - this time the union workers,local business, and citizens should look at giving the NDP a shot at representation.
The other 2 have put the region in peril - from the regional airport - the port - and the mill - Stephenville needs a real voice.
I love the Port au Port Peninsula - one of my favorite places - but it's getting the run around from 2 parties who have done very little to keep the region growing.
When you vote this time - I recommend you look very closely and go with your head and heart on Port au Port's side - instead of listening to the party that finished your mill off and the party that put it on life support.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
On this you have my Support
When it comes to dealing with the oil giants - Williams is on the mark. They are greedy beyond capitalist expectations - and are usually run by arrogant individuals. The negotiators and senior employees of these corporations make more in bonuses personally - by low-balling governments (owners of the resource) - in one year than most people in this province would make over 100 years.
Further it is important that industrial benefits and royalties reflect the reality of global economics at the time of agreement.
For those who wish to see the letter from government to the CNLOPB press HERE.
The response from Liberal Leader Gerry Reid was predictable and political. There are real examples of inconsistency with the Danny Regime - and even more evidence that he is a bully. He has failed miserably in the Pulp and Paper Industry - the Fishing Industry - and in the development of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. The Premier is totally inconsistent with respect to wind development - hydro development - and the promise of an energy plan. These are significant issues which need alternate policy choices and real leadership with a vision.
Unfortunately the Libs are offering little as an alternate choice. The Official Opposition offers nothing on the energy side as they believed an energy plan was not relevant let alone essential - they had Abitibi Stephenville in their hands to fix - but let the election get in the way. The Official Opposition appear to be all over and nowhere at all regarding the fishery - outside a constituency comment here and there. The saddest of all is the Great Liberal Party is grabbing headlines via Grimes and Efford - while Dumaresque claims the party tent is getting larger. While it is nice to see the boys kiss and make up - the tent is hardly getting bigger - I'm sure the size of it is actually smaller with a group of opposition critics - who still believe they are Ministers - smothering any growth with stagnant air under a leaking canvas.
Kudo's to Williams for allowing the Minister of Fields and Farms to speak on oil and gas - this might be a sign of growth in his personality - more likely it's the Peckford Syndrome kicking in - somebody - in this case Sue's Blog points out the Premier controls certain Ministerial files - and then he - to prove that wrong - will do exactly the Opposite.
International Finance reports from Bloomberg
demonstrate exactly why Premier Williams should stand firm. Here's a quote from the Story:
Newfoundland is trying to maximize benefits and capitalize on high oil prices, which reached a record of $78.40 a barrel in July, said Martin Molyneaux, a Calgary analyst with FirstEnergy Capital Corp. Crude prices have dropped about a third in the past six months and Newfoundland risks driving the oil companies away, he said.
``If I was the government of Newfoundland, I wouldn't be playing too hardball with these guys because there are lots and lots of alternatives'' to investing in Newfoundland, said Molyneaux in a telephone interview. He rates Hibernia owner Petro-Canada of Calgary as a ``top pick'' and owns an undisclosed number of shares. ``You don't want to push too far because these companies have a long history of walking away when things get ridiculous.''
You see a Calgary analyst and Petro-Canada shareholder - telling us what's best for us - is suspect at best - and typical "they are stupid Newfs" at worst. So on the issue of oil and gas - keep up the fight Premier - take em for all their worth.
And just before I post - Danny Dumaresque just finished on Open-Line with Randy Simms - and most everything he said respecting the Premier and his failures are true - but he too fell into the trap of continuing the condemnation of bullying the oil companies. Sad really and the very reason the voters will reject the Liberal candidates. The Opposition does not have alternative policy except - handle the oil companies with kid gloves. John Efford - Roger Grimes - and Walter Noel should not be responsible for rebuilding the Party - in fact it will not work. Unless you mean what you say - and treat people with respect - there will be no grand recovery by October. There's no doubt the caucus are consummate politicians - take what they can - promise what they have to - and deliver as little as possible - in order to garner votes and support. It's time now to respect what the electorate want - a real choice - a new vision - and a clean sweep of the house.
There are two clear indications of what people are saying to the Liberals. One - Danny is making mistakes and is doing little to rebuild our provinces rural economy - he lost support but it went to the undecided column.
Two - they are unprepared to go another round with the old Liberal Cabinet - without the infusion of new blood and a very different policy platform.
Further it is important that industrial benefits and royalties reflect the reality of global economics at the time of agreement.
For those who wish to see the letter from government to the CNLOPB press HERE.
The response from Liberal Leader Gerry Reid was predictable and political. There are real examples of inconsistency with the Danny Regime - and even more evidence that he is a bully. He has failed miserably in the Pulp and Paper Industry - the Fishing Industry - and in the development of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. The Premier is totally inconsistent with respect to wind development - hydro development - and the promise of an energy plan. These are significant issues which need alternate policy choices and real leadership with a vision.
Unfortunately the Libs are offering little as an alternate choice. The Official Opposition offers nothing on the energy side as they believed an energy plan was not relevant let alone essential - they had Abitibi Stephenville in their hands to fix - but let the election get in the way. The Official Opposition appear to be all over and nowhere at all regarding the fishery - outside a constituency comment here and there. The saddest of all is the Great Liberal Party is grabbing headlines via Grimes and Efford - while Dumaresque claims the party tent is getting larger. While it is nice to see the boys kiss and make up - the tent is hardly getting bigger - I'm sure the size of it is actually smaller with a group of opposition critics - who still believe they are Ministers - smothering any growth with stagnant air under a leaking canvas.
Kudo's to Williams for allowing the Minister of Fields and Farms to speak on oil and gas - this might be a sign of growth in his personality - more likely it's the Peckford Syndrome kicking in - somebody - in this case Sue's Blog points out the Premier controls certain Ministerial files - and then he - to prove that wrong - will do exactly the Opposite.
International Finance reports from Bloomberg
demonstrate exactly why Premier Williams should stand firm. Here's a quote from the Story:
Newfoundland is trying to maximize benefits and capitalize on high oil prices, which reached a record of $78.40 a barrel in July, said Martin Molyneaux, a Calgary analyst with FirstEnergy Capital Corp. Crude prices have dropped about a third in the past six months and Newfoundland risks driving the oil companies away, he said.
``If I was the government of Newfoundland, I wouldn't be playing too hardball with these guys because there are lots and lots of alternatives'' to investing in Newfoundland, said Molyneaux in a telephone interview. He rates Hibernia owner Petro-Canada of Calgary as a ``top pick'' and owns an undisclosed number of shares. ``You don't want to push too far because these companies have a long history of walking away when things get ridiculous.''
You see a Calgary analyst and Petro-Canada shareholder - telling us what's best for us - is suspect at best - and typical "they are stupid Newfs" at worst. So on the issue of oil and gas - keep up the fight Premier - take em for all their worth.
And just before I post - Danny Dumaresque just finished on Open-Line with Randy Simms - and most everything he said respecting the Premier and his failures are true - but he too fell into the trap of continuing the condemnation of bullying the oil companies. Sad really and the very reason the voters will reject the Liberal candidates. The Opposition does not have alternative policy except - handle the oil companies with kid gloves. John Efford - Roger Grimes - and Walter Noel should not be responsible for rebuilding the Party - in fact it will not work. Unless you mean what you say - and treat people with respect - there will be no grand recovery by October. There's no doubt the caucus are consummate politicians - take what they can - promise what they have to - and deliver as little as possible - in order to garner votes and support. It's time now to respect what the electorate want - a real choice - a new vision - and a clean sweep of the house.
There are two clear indications of what people are saying to the Liberals. One - Danny is making mistakes and is doing little to rebuild our provinces rural economy - he lost support but it went to the undecided column.
Two - they are unprepared to go another round with the old Liberal Cabinet - without the infusion of new blood and a very different policy platform.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Hydro Quebec - Moving to improve Pulp and Paper sector...
It is really hard to keep up with Hydro Quebec - probably because we have and are doing nothing to use energy for economic growth.
This News Release affects the Pulp and Paper sector which - as in Newfoundland and Labrador - is important to Quebec.
Attention News Editors:
Hydro-Québec awards ERCO Worldwide $2.5 million for energy efficiency projects
MONTREAL, Jan. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - Under its energy efficiency programs for
large-power customers, Hydro-Québec will provide ERCO Worldwide, a division of
Superior Plus LP, with $2.5 million in financial assistance for 50 energy
efficiency projects.
These projects are designed to improve the energy efficiency of the
electrolysis process used in the production of sodium chlorate. Sodium
chlorate is an industrial salt used to produce chlorine dioxide, the key
ingredient in an environmentally preferred pulp bleaching process. The
electrolytic cells now in use will be replaced with new high-performance cells
to reduce electricity consumption. The projected power savings for the
50 projects will amount to 50 GWh per year, the equivalent of the average
annual consumption of about 3,000 Québec households. In terms of greenhouse
gases, these savings will represent the equivalent of 17,500 tonnes of CO2 per
year.
ERCO Worldwide is a major producer of sodium chlorate for the North
American pulp and paper industry and a world leader in chlorine dioxide
generator technology. In addition, ERCO's Buckingham plant produces sodium
chlorite for water treatment and food processing markets throughout North
America.
Hydro-Québec plans to invest $1.3 billion by 2010 with a view to reaching
annual electricity savings of 4.7 TWh as targeted in its Energy Efficiency
Plan.
Well Stephenville Grand Falls and Corner Brook - have a real look at what that Crown Corporation is doing for Quebec's Industrial Sector.
This News Release affects the Pulp and Paper sector which - as in Newfoundland and Labrador - is important to Quebec.
Attention News Editors:
Hydro-Québec awards ERCO Worldwide $2.5 million for energy efficiency projects
MONTREAL, Jan. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - Under its energy efficiency programs for
large-power customers, Hydro-Québec will provide ERCO Worldwide, a division of
Superior Plus LP, with $2.5 million in financial assistance for 50 energy
efficiency projects.
These projects are designed to improve the energy efficiency of the
electrolysis process used in the production of sodium chlorate. Sodium
chlorate is an industrial salt used to produce chlorine dioxide, the key
ingredient in an environmentally preferred pulp bleaching process. The
electrolytic cells now in use will be replaced with new high-performance cells
to reduce electricity consumption. The projected power savings for the
50 projects will amount to 50 GWh per year, the equivalent of the average
annual consumption of about 3,000 Québec households. In terms of greenhouse
gases, these savings will represent the equivalent of 17,500 tonnes of CO2 per
year.
ERCO Worldwide is a major producer of sodium chlorate for the North
American pulp and paper industry and a world leader in chlorine dioxide
generator technology. In addition, ERCO's Buckingham plant produces sodium
chlorite for water treatment and food processing markets throughout North
America.
Hydro-Québec plans to invest $1.3 billion by 2010 with a view to reaching
annual electricity savings of 4.7 TWh as targeted in its Energy Efficiency
Plan.
Well Stephenville Grand Falls and Corner Brook - have a real look at what that Crown Corporation is doing for Quebec's Industrial Sector.
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