Kent strips Nova Scotia Government! He has hidden concerns about Muskrat Falls?

The debate continued in the House of Assembly last night and I must say some interesting things came to light.

Steve Kent got up to speak to a Bill and spent almost his entire time disparaging the NDP government in Nova Scotia.

On Twitter he added the following:

The NDP approach: By end of fiscal year, Nova Scotians will have paid 45% more HST than four years ago. More than $500 million.

The NDP approach: A more than 30% increase in corporate taxes in four years of NDP government, while economy remains stagnant.

The NDP approach: Personal taxes in Nova Scotia increase 25% in four years, while population shrinks.

The NDP approach: Unemployment in Nova Scotia remains high, while personal income taxes grow 6.8% in 2013 and 2014

So this man who appointed Kathy Dunderdale to be Premier does not seem to be worried about Dexter's NDP approach.

Williams thought Dexter's position on Muskrat was very responsible, very forward thinking, after-all he agreed with Williams.

Dunderdale does not look uncomfortable with NDP Premier Dexter here:

or here:

and  then these comments in Hansard during the Muskrat discussion in 2012.

MR. KENNEDY: It might be helpful if I could make a suggestion to the Leader of the Third Party that she have a conversation with Premier Dexter. He could probably educate her on the benefits of this project, not only to the people of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, but to the people of Atlantic Canada and Canada as a whole. 


PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, we have Navigant, we have Manitoba Hydro, and we have the consumer advocate and his expert. We have Dr. Wade Locke who sometimes, I admit, is the second coming from the other side of the House, other times he is the devil incarnate, so it depends on what day of the week. We have a lot of respect for Dr. Locke. Mr. Speaker, we had the late Jack Layton. We have Jack Harris, we have Premier Dexter, we have the federal Government of Canada, and now we have Dean MacDonald. How many more (inaudible)?

and then this diddly by Minister Kennedy

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am not aware of the Premier of Nova Scotia abruptly cancelling any meetings. I do know that the Premier of Nova Scotia, the NDP Premier, is very supportive of the Lower Churchill and Muskrat Falls Project.

Mr. Speaker, I was present at the meetings. We had a very good discussion about the status of the Emera-Nalcor agreements. We talked about the project in general. I can tell the Third Party opposite that the NDP in Nova Scotia are very committed to this project and it shows that Premier Dexter possesses some of that visionary scope that is possessed by this government.(emphasis added)

and this where Minister Kennedy takes instructive reminder:

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The President of Nalcor and the President of Emera were both present at this meeting. It was a wide-ranging discussion, Mr. Speaker, about the benefits of this project. Premier Dexter emphasized for us, Mr. Speaker, the importance of Muskrat Falls power to his province. Even though there could be power available from Quebec, Mr. Speaker, Nova Scotia does not want to be held hostage by Quebec anymore than this Province. What Muskrat Falls allows us to do, Mr. Speaker, is build that alternate route that will allow us again to develop our resources to their fullest potential.

You know there are many other examples of praise and accolades for the NDP Premier of Nova Scotia by our PC Government.

Now - MHA Steve Kent - speaking on the government side - rips the daylights out of this "visionary" NDP Premier.

Kent has now presented one of the best reasons to question - once again - the Muskrat Falls deal.

Kent's description of the NDP in Nova Scotia likens them to the most inept, irresponsible, and finacially backward government in Canada today.

If that is the case - their support of the Muskrat deal - and the deal itself must be questioned - right Mr. Kent? 

  
 

Poll on Muskrat/Emera Deal Disastrous?

The Premier's comments yesterday to the media may have revealed poll results we have not seen.

While answering the question posed by CBC's David Cochrane - as to why she thought the polls were down for the PC's - Dunderdale referred to what appeared to be negative issues.

Dunderdale listed the fisheries closures, search and rescue, federal cuts, and MUSKRAT FALLS.

The Premier also mentioned that they won the biggest poll - the election last fall.

Then the Premier added that tough decisions or things not going great are bound to cause poll fluctuation but that she did not govern by polls.

Which is it I wonder?

Then as if explaining how or why Muskrat might be negative - Dunderdale claimed there was a lot of "propaganda" around on the project.

The Premier seemed more than certain that the Emera/Nalcor proposed project on Muskrat was currently suffering a negative reaction from the public.

Where are the polls on this project?

There was no problem with polls during the election - including these "freebie" polls by MQO spouting very disastrous numbers for the opposition parties.

Has the government done polling on Muskrat? What do you think?

Then the woman who had no problem with the polling numbers during the election - threw in a hint - that perhaps this time - or any time when the PC's are losing ground - the polls may be wrong.

She asked reporters to look at the Alison Redford scenario in Alberta where the polls said she should be in Opposition - yet she is now the Premier.

Considering the dollars needed to do Muskrat between 6 and 8 billion - do you believe there have not been polls done?

Where are the polls on this project? 

One Big Party at Our Expense - Emera/Nalcor

One day after Emera sought rate increases from customers in Nova Scotia - the Executives of Emera - partied hearty - no expense spared.

Even their Premier made the following comments as quoted by CBC - Nova Scotia

"This was a time when they should know that Nova Scotians are very concerned about the impact on their pocketbook of proposed rate increases. I don't think the timing could be any more unfortunate"

"[It] was ill advised and very poor judgment on behalf of the company."

The party was posh and for an elite group of 28 people. The party featured performances by Cape Breton comedian Maynard Morrison, the Halifax Titanic Orchestra, and the Mellotones, a popular band in Halifax.

Needless to say - Nova Scotian's are livid - some of the public commentary includes the following words to describe Emera:

1. corporate blood-suckers
2. greedy corporate elites
3. corporate Welfare Bums
4. bloated executive salaries
5. Emera and NSP....gawd they re like Tony Soprano nobody can control them
6. crime syndicate

That was part one of the story - the second part related to the NDP government allowing this behavior from the private power supplier. 

The story reveals how Premier Dexter hitched a ride with Emera's leased corporate jet - to go where? Well right here to Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The government then reimbursed $2100 to Emera for the Premier's jaunt. 

The public commentary on the NDP has been equally as damning - here are a few examples:

1. Maybe Dexter should cut Emeras budget--he didn't mind doing it to health and education 
2. This just demonstrates that the NDP is yet another corrupt party
3. We really need to get rid of Dexter as fast as we can
4. Dexter has the gloves off now --stand back -- Emera wins in a knockout
5. What a joke this government has become
6. Whatever Dexter....your not winning anyones vote this time...no excuses , we are sick of them
7. Well Darrell, you are also showing "very poor judgement" by ignoring the demand of your electorate to deal with Emera's pack of corporate pickpockets

The public also included significant commentary regarding the privatization of Nova Scotia Power - which occurred around the same time Clyde Wells and government tried to do it here in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The regret is clear and it is easy to determine that the people of Nova Scotia are not pleased. They are also questioning the "leftist" NDP for not doing something about it now - including nationalizing the utility. 

In Newfoundland and Labrador we stopped that fiasco and now Kathy Dunderdale, Danny Williams, and Dean MacDonald want us to become partners with Emera and have the joy of subsidizing more for these corporate elite. 

This is not a project we should entertain or allow. We do not need to find ourselves in the same place Nova Scotian's are living through now. 


The CBC in our province should do a bit of investigation on this story as well. First question - were there any Nalcor officials at the party? 

Emera - are we the Lipstick on the Pig? Ask Premier Dexter

While Nova Scotia PC's were privatizing Nova Scotia Power in the early 1990's we were busy protecting Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro from it. 

We will talk about that more later but now let's look at Dexter's opinion in 2004. 

The NDP although wanting to reverse privatization in the past - realize now they are stuck. Now Dexter sees this deal as helping to correct the the mess Nova Scotia got itself into. So when Dunderdale holds up NDP Leader Dexter as a supporter of the deal with Emera - she should really put it in context. 

In 2004 when Darrell Dexter was NOT the Premier of Nova Scotia - he had an interesting take on Emera.

Provincial NDP Leader Darrell Dexter spoke for many when he said glossing over the utility's shortcomings was like "putting lipstick on a pig."

This was in context to a significant failure of assets. 

NUPGE added the following:

When privatization occurred in 1992, Nova Scotia Power promised solemnly that no layoffs would result. Within three months, the first round of job cuts took place and three other waves of layoffs have occurred since that time.

What's clear in retrospect is that the only winner privatization has produced is Emera Inc.

The company's revenue grew 22% to $951 million for its last full fiscal year and it reported proudly to shareholders that employee levels had declined 7.7% for the year.

That was 2004 - things continued to deteriorate and in 2007 at that time over 30% increases had occurred since privatization and more followed - over 40% + now. 

One protester from the Halifax Coalition against poverty said the following:

"We are also fighting today against Atlantica. [Nova Scotia Power parent company] Emera's interest in Atlantica is in creating an unrestricted trade zone. The corporation wants government deregulation over issues such as power rates and environmental regulations and trade. To export natural gas and power to a larger market and to drive up the cost to maximize their profits. We know that further deregulation will have only negative effects on low-income Nova Scotians.

"Our demands are basic for this government and to this corporation.

"We demand that Nova Scotia Power be returned to public ownership and that there be no more power rate increases!

"Friends, we all know that a 30 per cent raise in our power rates is not an empty figure -- it means not having heat, lights or being able to cook our food properly.

"Fighting here is personal; we are all fighting for a basic right. We fight against the erosion of public resources and the rise of corporate control.

Said another protester, "Nova Scotia Power has increased rates three times in the last five years. How many Nova Scotians have received corresponding pay raises in that same period?"

Kennedy makes Dangerous Statement in HOA

In the House of Assembly today - Minister of Natural Resources - Jerome Kennedy made a very dangerous statement.

In response to several questions on the proposed Emera deal on Muskrat Falls - he defended the deal - in part - by saying the "the Premier of Nova Scotia supports the deal".

I will remind the Minister that the Premier of Quebec supported the Upper Churchill deal.

What relevance at all does the Premier of Nova Scotia hold with respect to developing Newfoundland and Labrador's resources?

Further the project is not being done with the Government of Nova Scotia - it is with a private corporation.

It would appear to any reasonably minded person that the Premier of Nova Scotia would be supporting that which he felt would be good for Nova Scotia - not Newfoundland and Labrador.

The last time we had another jurisdiction's Premier support a hydro deal was - in fact - the Upper Churchill. My guess is all Quebec Premier's have felt the same since.

To the contrary how have all other Newfoundland and Labrador Premiers felt about the Upper Churchill deal?

Today Minister Kennedy made one of the most dangerous and idiotic statements to date on this development.

Privatization of Healthcare via Premiers

Stephen Harper is a fundamentalist.

Stephen Harper likes privatization.

Stephen Harper scared Canadians - most of us believed he wanted private health care.

Stephen Harper "con"vinced enough Canadians that he had changed his ways.

Stephen Harper is a liar.

Stephen Harper has just announced a take it or leave it offer to provinces for health care funding.

Stephen Harper knows that this will cause hardship that can be eased (wink) through privatization.

Stephen Harper knows that provinces disagree on the future approach to universal health care.

Stephen Harper knows that Quebec's funding is entirely different than that of all other provinces.

Stephen Harper stands poised to attack universal and equal health care.

Stephen Harper does not believe in patient-centric care.

Stephen Harper does not believe in patient up care.

Stephen Harper believes in private corporate down care.

Stephen Harper is quite manipulative.

Stephen Harper employs exceptional strategists.

Stephen Harper is entertaining proposals from European Brand Drug Companies.

Stephen Harper is entertaining CETA - which will cost us Billions in Prescription Drug Costs.



Question is will the Premiers allow this to happen?

Labrador being nailed by Newfoundland politicians again!

Labrador being nailed by Newfoundland politicians again - this time it will cost us all big time.
Read the information: PRESS HERE

Nova Scotia announces development of it's Hydro Electric Resources?

Who's resources are being developed here?


Nova Scotia families and businesses will benefit from  35 years of clean energy and more predictable, stable prices under an agreement announced today, (November 18) by Premier  Darrell Dexter.


The deal will give the province access to power from Muskrat Falls in Newfoundland and Labrador by way of a subseacable to Cape Breton and ensure Nova Scotia gains economic benefits, including thousands of jobs from the construction of the six-billion dollar project.


Premier Dexter says through this partnership, Nova Scotia is taking a major step forward as an international leader in renewable energy.


"This is an historic day for Nova Scotia, and all of Atlantic Canada," said Nova Scotia premier Darrell Dexter. "Through this partnership, Nova Scotia is taking a major step forward as an international leader in renewable energy.”

Where are the stated benefits for Labrador and Labrador industry?

Where are the stated benefits for Labradorians currently on thermal generation or supply from Hydro-Quebec?

This is a disgrace - this is a legacy of shame! 
PC MHA's including Labrador's representatives are pounding their chests over this?

There will be no excuse for this giveaway - and as usual most of the people involved with the deal if it goes through - will either move away, or say they did not know that this might happen or that might happen.