Harper Enemy of the State? Premiers must take Action

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Drunk Driving Ex-Premier Cooks Expense Claims?

On June 24th Sue's Blog posted the following:

If one wants to get Stephen Harper's attention, respect, and support do three things:

Drink and Drive, increase taxes for ordinary Canadians and be at your lowest political popularity .

For all the anti-crime, longer prison sentences, and making criminals pay - Stephen Harper apparently will have no problem appointing a convicted drunk driver to the lofty post of High Commissioner to Britain.

Media reports today suggest that Harper is ready to announce the Gordon Campbell position.

Mug Shots Hawaii 

At two times the legal alcohol limit in Hawaii - former BC Premier Gordon Campbell - looks happily under the influence in his mug shots.

So if that qualification for such a title is not enough - add the fact that when the Premier resigned - he did so after he mislead the people on his party's plans relative to the previous election on HST. His popularity plummeted among the voting public.

Well done - so I guess Harper believes in rehabilitation - and if they complete a program - they too can become a foreign official.

For instance perhaps all those rioters in BC could follow the path of Campbell and rise to the top of society in just a few short years. 

And best of all - because Harper is appointing a former Liberal - the convict appointment will be non-partisan.

So for those families who have had their lives changed forever by a drunk driver - what do you think?

For Stephen Harper - breaking the law, misleading the electorate, or just lying are great attributes for high posts.

_________________________________________________________

So Liar Harper went ahead with this appointment - clearly sending a "tough on crime" message - and now word comes that High Commissioner Campbell has expense issues in his new post.

"Foreign Affairs Canada has altered an online record of hospitality expense claims for the high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Gordon Campbell, citing “clerical errors.”

The revised reports, posted on the department’s website under proactive disclosure rules, cut the top diplomat’s claims in half — from the original $67,296 posted to the current $33,975.
At least six dinners and receptions were either eliminated or reduced after a report on CBC News Network’s Power & Politics detailed how Campbell’s claims were nearly three times more than those of any other Canadian ambassador posted abroad." Please read the complete CBC report HERE

Stephen Harper is a liar and further continues to demonstrate extremely poor judgement at best and preferential treatment of the elite at worst. Throw this bum out. Please Gordon Campbell - resign - you have not learned your lesson yet and the taxpayers continue to pay for it.

RIM - Time for Stock Innovation

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

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

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

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

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

For the risk - offer shares.

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

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

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

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

More taxpayer dollars up in Smoke? Make the Call!

Here is the situation:

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

Why are these provinces teamed together?

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

What is the cost?

Is it cheaper for each province?

So what is Newfoundland and Labrador doing?

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

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

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

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

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

Will Minister Tom Marshall lie? Yes! Will he mislead? Yes!

Minister Tom Marshall appeared on Open-Line Friday of last week. The purpose of the call was to attack through innuendo, misrepresentations, threats, and misinformation - the independent pharmacy owners in the province.

The irony was that he called to correct something Randy Simms (host) said in his preamble.

Quote by Marshall:

Randy, we're negotiating now. There's a chair at the table for CICPO. CICPO refused to show up. Randy, Premier Dunderdale wants lower electricity costs for the people in this province. She wants lower drug costs for the people of this province. People have no choice. If the doctor says they got to have drugs, they got to have them, Randy. And the cost of generic drugs in this country are higher than they are in the US and higher than they are in other OECD countries. And there's got to be a reason for that. And we've looked into it and other provinces have looked into it. And British Columbia and Alberta and Saskatchewan and Ontario and Quebec and Nova Scotia have all taken an approach to reduce the cost of generic drugs to their citizens, to their taxpayers.

First - if the Premier wants to lower drug costs in the province - the first line of attack would be the brand drugs that are increasing in cost every year. The fact is brand name drugs which represent over 70% of the costs of all drugs prescribed and dispensed are going up in costs year over year. The generic drugs which are currently the target of this PC government are going down every year. Further the generic partnership with pharmacy has what has been keeping dispensing fees low and allowing pharmacies particularly small independent rural dispensaries to offer essential extra services.

Making matters worse is that the Dunderdale government is hiding its intent relative to a trade deal between the EU and Canada which would see our province have to pay an additional 50 million dollars for essential medications - by agreeing to extend the patent protection for the brand drug companies. Canada and the EU are set to go back to the table just after our provincial election and this term forms part of what a proposed deal will include.

The end result of the PC government move is:

1. The price of drugs will actually go up for citizens and taxpayers.

2. Dispensing fees for most people will have to double or the pharmacies will close.

3. Delivery to seniors and those without transportation will cease or there will be a cost for such delivery.

4. Independent pharmacies will have to stop credit programs for prescription drugs - thereby causing people not to buy and take their medications in a timely manner. This non-compliance will cause the emergency rooms of hospitals to experience unsustainable traffic, re admissions to hospital, or worse.

5. The government drug card clients will have to call their MHA or social worker to have the necessary forms completed for continuity of their prescription drug cards, or to complete their annual tax returns (in order to qualify for the card).

6. It will cause independent pharmacies to cease filling "special authorization" drugs until the approval has been given by government. In that instance the patient will have to return to their doctor to have a prescription changed, go without their medication for up to one month until approval for payment has been achieved, or have to return to the hospital.

7. Prescribing errors made by physicians will have to be handled in a different manner. Currently our independent pharmacies are dealing with between 5 to 25 prescribing errors a day. When the mistake is caught by the pharmacist - the patient will then have to return to the doctor or hospital to have the correction made. If the patient wants the pharmacist to deal with the error for them - they will have to pay a fee based on the amount of time it takes for a pharmacy to contact the doctor, achieve contact with that doctor, the faxing of a new prescription, and the paper work required for the government for a change in prescription. Usually this takes the pharmacy between half an hour to 8 hours to achieve.

8. The pharmacy will have to charge for special packaging for patients who take multiple drugs for chronic illnesses.

9. The hours and availability of pharmacies will be reduced to make the necessary savings on human resources and other expenses.

10. Services such as reprinting of receipts for income tax purposes, transferring of files, supplying hospitals with drug reviews for patients (where the hospital already has the records) or communication with the drug card program for patients will have to be additionally charged.

These are but a few of the changes that will be experienced by patients under the government's plan. The most negative result will be the out and out closure of some pharmacies.

Tom Marshall is not telling the truth or he is completely incompetent on this file.

The government including Premier Dunderdale is hiding the truth from the people and the media need to call them out on the Comprehensive Economic Trade Deal (CETA) with the EU.

Marshall goes on to say the following:

We understand that in terms of the true cost of the drug that's been passed on by the pharmacy to the customer, it has markups on it running from 140 percent to 619 percent. They're very high markups. Now that's before you take their cost into, their expenses of operation into consideration. So what happened - this all started, Randy when the pharmacies announced they weren't going to honour the drug card anymore. They were going to make people pre-pay for their drugs and have to seek reimbursement from the government, which was totally unacceptable because people didn't have the money.

First the Minister talks about markups on drugs running from 140 to 619 percent. Where is the evidence of this? Pharmacy cannot change the price of drugs as the provincial government sets them under the provincial formulary. Further Minister Tom Marshall will not address the Dr. Wade Locke report completed on pharmacy - using actual financial data from pharmacies. This is a government who only a few days ago were holding Dr. Locke's opinion and study regarding Muskrat Falls as gospel - yet when it comes to a comprehensive Activity Based Costing study on pharmacy the Minister of Finance deliberately avoids it. This is a lie by omission.

This statement also points to pharmacy and says - they were going to have people unable to get their essential prescription drugs - this is absolutely false and further is exactly the opposite of what is true. It is the government everyday that prevents people from getting medications. Patients are released from hospital with prescriptions they cannot fill because the government prevents retail pharmacies from determining the validity of a special authorization - so instead it goes into government pharmacists in a bureaucratic setting. This in turn causes delays - up to one month - where people who on income assistance or fixed incomes such as seniors - cannot get their medications because the government has not approved them. In this case local independent pharmacies put it on account for the individual so that they can take their medications immediately thereby preventing re admissions into hospital or a trip to the emergency room. Our pharmacies never let patients leave without their drugs for reasons of inability to pay. This is one significant difference between the large corporate chains and our members.

Next the Minister uses this line:

They want to go to court, I think that's wonderful. Go to court and let it come out what the proper margins out, okay let it come out what the rebates are, let it come out why the true cost of the drugs are not being passed on and while the true cost of the drug to the pharmacy is not being passed on, we want to sit down with the pharmacists and we have sat down with the pharmacists and what we're trying to do is come up with an agreement. 

So the Minister of Finance thinks its wonderful that the CICPO wants to go to court. Well that's a mouthful in and of itself. Yes anything instead of meeting, talking, collaborating, and developing a superior policy. Then Minister Marshall - a lawyer - pretends that the issue being brought to court has something to do with generic drug pricing. The court case deals with two issues: a) whether or not the government had the right to alter a provider agreement unilaterally and second whether the "object" of PANL legislatively is valid. So once again he lies to or misleads the people regarding this very serious issue. Further the information he is seeking above is already available to him from the Dr. Wade Locke report. He once again says they are negotiating with pharmacists not pharmacies. This continued misrepresentation does not negate the fact that government signs provider agreements with corporations (legal entities) not pharmacists. If that is not the case then Wal-Mart, Shopper's Drug Mart, Lawton's and Costco could not be doing business with government.


Minister Marshall then takes the public down another twisted version of the facts:

And we've looked into it and other provinces have looked into it. And British Columbia and Alberta and Saskatchewan and Ontario and Quebec and Nova Scotia have all taken an approach to reduce the cost of generic drugs to their citizens, to their taxpayers.

Let's start with the fact that all provinces are using different models for remuneration and different approaches on the restructuring of generic drug costs. Ontario, which is what is law in Newfoundland and Labrador as it relates to generic pricing is the worst. It has caused the most damage to rural independent pharmacies and where ATM's are replacing the community pharmacy - in some cases now it will be LPN's. In Ontario now three independent pharmacy owners are running for the PC Party of Ontario in large part because of what the Liberal Ontario government has done with pharmacy and health issues generally. And here we have the PC government adopting failed Liberal policy out of Ontario.

Further in Ontario - consultations were had with the Ontario Pharmacists Association, the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores (CACDS) the Independent Pharmacists Association of Ontario and the Ontario Community Pharmacies Coalition. That is hardly a comparative for our province where the Premier and her Minister's keep saying we will only talk to PANL.


Then let's talk about British Columbia where a deal was struck between the Government, the BC Pharmacy Association and the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores. Once again broader consultation was held and a different remuneration formula was reached. Unfortunately - in BC as in Newfoundland and Labrador - the chains were pandered to while independent pharmacy was left behind. Lastly, at least the Government of BC acknowledges that no agreement reached with either the Pharmacy Association or the CACDS is binding on any individual business.

Then take the most ridiculous of Minister Marshall's comparisons - Quebec. In Quebec a pharmacy can only be owned by a pharmacist. This negates the concerns of independent owners as the government can only negotiate with them - large corporate interests are not permitted to own the dispensary. If Minister Marshall would like to entertain this idea - we would be more than happy to deal with that.

In Saskatchewan the government also reached an agreement between the Pharmacists' Association of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores - once again admitting that the strong lobby by the giant retailers and chains is unduly influencing policy development. But at least they admit it. In Newfoundland and Labrador they will not admit to the discussions with CACDS because to do so would mean the CICPO would have a rightful place to put it's arguments forward separately.

In Canada the chain drug stores and mass retailers are dictating provincial policy and it is leading to reduced and inferior services in rural communities. In our province with our geography and relatively small population - this means destruction to our rural communites and inner-city neighbourhoods. Minister Marshall and Premier Dunderdale had the chance to make a difference and derive policy based on local business and rural communities - instead they have chosen to follow the mess found in other Canadian provinces. This is not leadership - and there are not enough lies in the world to cover this up.

Finally Minister Marshall refers to the following:

Okay, they had a meeting set up with Minister Kennedy. Minister Kennedy was in the House. They walked out. They left about five minutes before Minister Kennedy came in. So don't give me that. 

The truth about this meeting will be addressed by those attending this meeting. Minister Marshall and I were not there so we cannot speak directly to it. Those who were in attendance will publicly discuss what happened to this meeting and why it did not occur. safe bet though that with pharmacy owners travelling anywhere from 1 km to 800 km's to attend the meeting did not leave under the circumstances the Minister has described. Either the Minister is misinformed or is lying.

Before attending the SOS RALLY Look at This! It's more than just Pride - It's Lives

 

Have a look at the map above - this is the area covered by the Search and Rescue Centre in Halifax. Are MP's able to view a MAP?

It is not only unacceptable for Newfoundland and Labrador lose a sub-centre - it should actually be home to the main Search and Rescue Centre currently located in Halifax. 

Before you go the rally today on the waterfront - please read the information below taken from the Federal Government website. 

Further - as you read it - you will notice we lost a rescue centre from Torbay in the 1970's as it was all sent to Nova Scotia. The sub-centre was supposed to make up for that. Now they want it all - when geography does not bear it out.

Is the sub-centre in Quebec City being closed? 

Newfoundland and Labrador either wins this fight - or we get out. Do not let the Harper Conservatives insult or harm us anymore. 

Who do you think is most at risk - from a marine perspective? 

Nobody has the right to place our people at increased risk!

How about we take over forest-fire communications for Ontario, or flooding response communication in the Prairies? Why don't we take over the Search and Rescue Centre for British Columbia? There should be no reason that we can't control marine rescue for the Great Lakes and shut down Trenton.

The following is the information is taken from the federal government website. 

The Halifax Search and Rescue Region (SRR) is bounded on the east at 30 degrees West Longitude, on the west at 70 degrees West Longitude, to the south at approximately 42 degrees North Latitude and to the north at 70 degrees North Latitude.  This area comprises all of the Atlantic provinces, the eastern half of the province of Québec, the southern half of Baffin Island and an area of the western North Atlantic extending to 30º west, an area of approximately 4.7 million square kilometres.  With over 29,000 kilometers of coastline, eighty percent of the region is covered by water.

The 1970's saw changes that provided better support for people in distress.  Air resources were now located in Gander Newfoundland, and Summerside Prince Edward Island.  Halifax became the sole RCC with the closing of Torbay, although the Coast Guard established Marine Rescue Sub-Centres (MRSC) in St. John's and Québec City, Québec.  Aircraft began dropping pumps in aid of vessels taking on water in 1970; in January of that year, the Motor Vessel USEN #1 was the first successful recipient of a pump.  The year 1970 saw the number of cases rise to a total of 963 

The operations of the SAR fleet account for most of the Canadian Coast Guard SAR Program costs. On average, 65-75% of the budget for SAR is spent on the fleet. A further 8% is spent on capital projects. Rescue Co-ordination accounts for 16% and the management, monitoring and administration of the program accounts for the remaining 8%.

Rescue Co-ordination Centres and Maritime Rescue Sub-Centres

The Canadian Coast Guard jointly staffs three Rescue Coordination Centres (JRCCs) with the Canadian Forces. The JRCCs are located at Victoria, British Columbia, Trenton, Ontario, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Canadian Coast Guard also operates two Maritime Rescue Sub-Centres (MRSCs) at Quebec City, Quebec, and St. John's, Newfoundland. The function of a MRSC is to reduce the JRCC's workload in areas of high marine activity. These centres are staffed by SAR Co-ordinators who operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round. The maritime area for which the Canadian JRCCs/MRSCs are collectively responsible for is more than 5.3 million square kilometres.
The JRCCs/MRSCs are responsible for the planning, co-ordination, conduct and control of SAR operations. JRCCs/MRSCs have highly trained staff, detailed operational plans and an effective communications system. Once an JRCC/MRSC is notified that a person(s) is in danger, the SAR Co-ordinator begins to organize the rescue. All available information about the person(s) in danger is gathered and recorded and the positions of potential assisting resources in the area of the incident are determined. SAR Co-ordinators are trained to evaluate various situations and send the most effective resources to deal with a particular incident. In complex and major incidents, many resources are often sent or tasked to assist.

To fulfill our mission, our objectives are to:

• Save 100% of lives at risk.
• Reduce the number and severity of SAR incidents.
• Minimize loss of life, injury, property damage and risk to the environment.
• Support and involve the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.
• Maintain the highest professional standards.
• Provide national leadership and effective SAR Program management.
• Provide international SAR leadership.
• Maximize SAR system efficiency through innovation.
• Promote volunteerism.
• Increase awareness of the SAR Program.
• Assist in the development of the National SAR Program.
• Foster co-operative SAR agreements.
• Provide humanitarian aid and civil assistance where possible.

These objectives will help us provide an effective SAR service for all those at risk in the maritime environment in Canada.

If you can Drink and Drive - Harper wants YOU - How to get Harper's Respect

If one wants to get Stephen Harper's attention, respect, and support do three things:

Drink and Drive, increase taxes for ordinary Canadians and be at your lowest political popularity .

For all the anti-crime, longer prison sentences, and making criminals pay - Stephen Harper apparently will have no problem appointing a convicted drunk driver to the lofty post of High Commissioner to Britain.

Media reports today suggest that Harper is ready to announce the Gordon Campbell position.

Mug Shots Hawaii 

At two times the legal alcohol limit in Hawaii - former BC Premier Gordon Campbell - looks happily under the influence in his mug shots.

So if that qualification for such a title is not enough - add the fact that when the Premier resigned - he did so after he mislead the people on his party's plans relative to the previous election on HST. His popularity plummeted among the voting public.

Well done - so I guess Harper believes in rehabilitation - and if they complete a program - they too can become a foreign official.

For instance perhaps all those rioters in BC could follow the path of Campbell and rise to the top of society in just a few short years. 

And best of all - because Harper is appointing a former Liberal - the convict appointment will be non-partisan.


So for those families who have had their lives changed forever by a drunk driver - what do you think?

For Stephen Harper - breaking the law, misleading the electorate, or just lying are great attributes for high posts.

You want to debate the Emera project Kathy? Ed? Shawn? Are you sure?

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?

Now are we all willing to take a look at the chart above produced by  EDC?

When we talk about sending out raw energy versus refined product - in the case of oil and gas and in the case of using hydro-power for industry - we might start to recognize some very strange things. That is - strange to Premier Dunderdale, Minister Shawn Skinner and the rest of the geniuses on the hill.

Just curious Newfoundland and Labrador - how is it that New Brunswick is ahead of this province in exports? We do all realize the resources we have - right? Oil, gas, fishery, hydropower, forestry, iron ore, nickel, and others. Now what do we have to show for it in value? Look at New Brunswick - they don't have our oil, our 5000 MW's, our fishery, not even minerals in such quantities and quality such as iron ore and nickel.

You want the answer?

The opening of the Saint John LNG regasification plant in September 2009 will provide a significant boost to exports in both 2010 and 2011, as production ramps up and industrial production in New England recovers. However, most of the increase in energy export earnings this year will be due to higher prices for refined petroleum products, as the price of crude rises to an average of USD 77/brl in 2010 from USD 62 in 2009.

Oh my - we have the oil right? They refine it right? What we need to do now - according to Ed Martin, Shawn Skinner, and Premier Dunderdale is to ship them some more cheap reliable renewable power. That should help them pick up some more industrial development - maybe they can refine and process more resources. Anything else the gang would like to give them?

WE GOT IT - WE GOT IT  yep we got it all right. So are we allowed to refine our own oil and gas yet? No that's right it actually belongs to Canada - we can have royalties which Ottawa can then strip back - and oh yes - that's right New Brunswick and Quebec would have to exceed their refining capacity in order for us to be able to. Or is it that Irving controls that roost?

Well then in the name of growing a strong Atlantic Canada - the least we could do is throw some of that unrefined energy (that is we don't plug it into anything here) over to Nova Scotia - with any luck the Minister of Natural Resources of Newfoundland and Labrador can be hailed as the fellow who helped Nova Scotia along with it's lagging exports.

While we are at it - that much bashed (by Canada lovers) Iceland - the home to 250,000 souls - as Shawn Skinner would say - is looking at exports exceeding 5 billion - a billion of which for seafood - the majority of which is ground fish. Very healthy Atlantic cod stocks. You got to love the nice exports of aluminum. They are humming away - plugging in every industry they can attract with hydro power. Their exports are up 21% in January over the same period last year.

Not to worry because Newfoundland and Labrador has the fish right? Well no - we are third behind British Columbia and Nova Scotia - oh yeah that's right - the king cod is lost in Ottawa somewhere and we are missing a billion dollars a year. Shawn get that power to Nova Scotia quick - with our fisheries planning they are going to have to increase processing in that province - just as soon as our people are forced out.


BRITISH COLUMBIA:

• Canada’s top exporter of fish and seafood, valued at $882.8 million.
• Exported 162,834 tonnes (t) of fish and seafood products.
• The three most valuable species exported by this province were farmed Atlantic salmon (49,543 t valued at $330.9 million), herring (3,470 t valued at $57.6 million), and crab  (5,862 t valued at $54.5 million).

NOVA SCOTIA:

• Canada’s second leading exporter of fish and seafood, valued at $809.7 million.
• Exported 111,454 t of fish and seafood products.
• The three most valuable species exported by this province were lobster (23,065 t valued at $353.8 million), scallops (4,946 t valued at $88.4 million), and snow/queen crab (8,519 t valued at $72.8 million).

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR:

• Canada’s third leading exporter of fish and seafood, valued at $720.5 million.
• Exported 167,691 t of fish and seafood products.
• The three most valuable species exported by this province were snow/queen crab (31,571 t valued at $270.3 million), shrimp/prawn (52,384 t valued at $191.1 million), and mackerel (22,981 t valued at $37.2 million)

Now if we really try we can help out our "have not" partners in Ontario - they are planning to lead export growth driven by the automotive sector. How did that happen? Oh yeah we "bailed out" that sector after corporate fraud just about crushed the markets - from the USA outwards. They could really use our power and with any luck - we can help them get back to the "have side".

Maybe Ontario can get to experience a 12.4% unemployment rate instead of that backward 8%  or even worse Iceland's 7%.

Ed Martin called the Lower Churchill "low hanging fruit" in Ontario - I guess he meant it.

You wonder why - I sit and scratch my head - at our government's insistence at getting the power out of  Labrador at all costs? This valuable resource that means industrial advantage - only if we keep it here. If Ed Martin is right and Canada will be short 14,400 MW's of power by 2030 - this Lower Churchill power should be kept in Labrador at all costs. Just curious Ed - why is so much more power going to be needed? Increase in Canadian population and industry? How much of that growth are you predicting for this province? Oh - you must not be predicting growth for here - you did not say we would be short - that means we would have to attract significant industry which would attract back home significant Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that left to find WORK.

I would like to see our exports increase significantly in the fourth quarter - I have dozens of politicians available to be shipped to your jurisdiction. Any takers?