Dear Canada,
The absolutely disgraceful events at Beaumont Hamel this year highlight once again the fake embrace of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.
Jim Winter expressed my feelings precisely in his letter to the Telegram.
He along with many of us want an apology. I will go a step further and say I want a do-over.
I have a really difficult time every year when Canada Day celebrations overtake Memorial Day. When Canada so politely places us into the event schedule in Ottawa for half an hour or so.
It is Memorial Day not Memorial Morning. It is time we take our culture and history seriously and stop relegating ourselves behind the birthday of Canada in which we were not a part.
A real consequence of that devestating loss of our men on that day is the loss of our country and subsequent joining in with a group of provinces that would always consider us an afterthought. Those men were young leaders and innovators with real courage to forge a future for our beloved Newfoundland and Labrador.
When I was a child 45 years ago Memorial Day still kept some of its prominence but slowly and surely it is disappearing into the Canadian mosaic - whatever that is. In our county of multiculturalism - it is ironic that Newfoundland and Labrador's culture is one that is being sacrificed.
The provincial politicians and their Canadian masters are showing how little they really feel in their hearts about who we are and where we come from. Since confederation it has been the reason we have given away so much.
The non-renewable constructed auto-sector manufacturing has always been more important to Ottawa than our renewable culturally essential fishery here at home.
The by-passing of our coastal sector to that of the original coast of Nova Scotia has meant refining, ship-building, and Navy and Coast Guard activities are removed from our potentials.
Our renewable energy sector has been sacrificed for the "green good" of the nation instead of a necessary growth industry for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Danny Williams - the self-proclaimed proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian has all but insured our demise with the disastrous Muskrat Falls deal with Emera.
The Rooms had a significant ceremony for the 100th anniversary of the Battle - however it was dignitaries - we could all see it later.
Maybe this statement on Veterans Affairs Canada says it all:
"Anyone attending the July 1st ceremony at the Beaumont- Hamel Newfoundland Memorial site in France to mark the 100th anniversary of Canada’s participation in the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel must register online by Tuesday, May 31, 2016."
Our local politicians have dropped the ball on the whole fiasco at Beaumont Hamel and have taken the Canadian line regarding the major slight on our history. But that just demonstrates the lack of real understanding and appreciation of our culture. It just demonstrates ignorance and shallowness. They are the ones who don't tear up at the Ode but rather see it as part of political protocol representative of their titles.
Pathetic - really pathetic - and if we do not do something soon - we will chewed up entirely and become part of Atlantica - (Ottawa's pet project).
Don't let any of these pompous underperforming egotistical "leaders" take away who we are. If any of them had the courage and strength of the boys and men we lost - we would be sitting pretty now in a place that would survive forever.
Showing posts with label fishery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fishery. Show all posts
Monday, August 08, 2016
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Minister Hutchings unwittingly questions Muskrat
In a VOCM story today Minister Hutchings is responding to Federal Minister Gail Shea regarding the shrimp quota disaster.
As is usually the case from this PC Government the Minister talks about how good we are doing and what good confederation children we are. In part he says:
...in 2007 there were 187 licensed fish plants; today there are 86, and at the peak in the '80s there were 250. He says the province has stepped in with the fisheries loan guarantee program and a host of others to give harvesters the ability to access capital or to buy out, all of which is consolidation and rationalization.
Yes there we have it. So in short - Look at us - we have downsized, cut, rationalized and sold out - so why can't we have more shrimp?
So this province has lost 164 fish plants, 2 pulp and paper mills, several mines and recently a shoe factory - we need more power? So this province has lost 50,000 people but we need more power? Our population has aged with many of our young families moving to other provinces and countries for work and we need more power for the seniors left behind? All of our houses are modern and energy efficient as are the appliances in them - so we need more power?
Better yet Hutchings alludes to even more rationalization meaning less fish plants - and we need more power?
Muskrat = somebody needs more money and they'll have the suckers of Newfoundland and Labrador pay for it.
Hutchings has no problem speaking confidently about rationalization - he just has a problem being rational. Kindly stop the BS - and while your at it - if you are seeking re-election you might want to tone down the - we are going to shut-down things to do better thing.
As is usually the case from this PC Government the Minister talks about how good we are doing and what good confederation children we are. In part he says:
...in 2007 there were 187 licensed fish plants; today there are 86, and at the peak in the '80s there were 250. He says the province has stepped in with the fisheries loan guarantee program and a host of others to give harvesters the ability to access capital or to buy out, all of which is consolidation and rationalization.
Yes there we have it. So in short - Look at us - we have downsized, cut, rationalized and sold out - so why can't we have more shrimp?
So this province has lost 164 fish plants, 2 pulp and paper mills, several mines and recently a shoe factory - we need more power? So this province has lost 50,000 people but we need more power? Our population has aged with many of our young families moving to other provinces and countries for work and we need more power for the seniors left behind? All of our houses are modern and energy efficient as are the appliances in them - so we need more power?
Better yet Hutchings alludes to even more rationalization meaning less fish plants - and we need more power?
Muskrat = somebody needs more money and they'll have the suckers of Newfoundland and Labrador pay for it.
Hutchings has no problem speaking confidently about rationalization - he just has a problem being rational. Kindly stop the BS - and while your at it - if you are seeking re-election you might want to tone down the - we are going to shut-down things to do better thing.
Monday, July 07, 2014
Take the PC SMELL TEST
Jobs Jobs Jobs
Let's go back to the theory that a monkey can make a deal to give away natural resources.
Okay where are we?
1. Unprocessed fish
2. Unprocessed ore
3. Energy fuelling industry somewhere else
4. Unprocessed oil
5. Unused gas
6. Pulp and Paper gone gone gone - we are subsidizing what's left.
Where will this get us?
Where is the value to future generations?
Why is our population stagnant?
Why is our population aging quicker?
The PC government were screeching and bawling about natural resource giveaways in 2001-2002.
They never shut-up - Voisey's Bay - not one ounce - Grimes was giving away the Lower Churchill - they said - they moaned about the loss of fish processing. Since? Nothing. Ship it off - dig it up give it away. They talk about all the jobs being created to build the great Muskrat project - the people employed to build it won't be able to afford to pay for the power once it's done. Our great oil resources benefiting refineries everywhere but here - no processing. How about ship building - oh yeah the Tories were hot to trot on that in 2002 - how are we doing?
The media is doing what? They are great at attacking ordinary people - they come at them with a vengeance. They are running around sorting out what the NDP and Liberal policies are - without figuring out what the people who are in control of the government - right now are doing.
The most serious of questions and debate on Muskrat has all been precipitated by bloggers and letters to the editor.
My God - we are more interested in if the Libs and NDP would stop Muskrat than we are in figuring out if we even can.
There is no real critique of the Gil and Ed Executive duo. The geniuses of budgeting and project management.
I know more about when the media are getting together for a political pow wow at a club - or what type of bow-tie to expect - or who is watching what sports team than I gain knowledge from something they are writing about a real issue. I see more tweets regarding who is watching who at media conference - and who gets their names raised publicly by a politician.
So a simple question - if the government said it wanted to demolish Cabot Tower - knock down all the schools and flatten all the hospitals - would you line up for the job?
Does it really matter to you what the job is - or what it means for our future?
And here we are today sizing up Kent, Ottenheimer, and Davis - to what - become a Premier? Really? This after we sized up Coleman,Barry, and Bennett. This after the Marshall Premier pension and the Dunderdale Premier pension and the Williams Premier pension. By the time we are through the already underfunded plans will need to cover almost every Tory sitting - at the Premier's level.
The real fascination for many of the media - is "will Marjorie be attending the next swearing in"? Or will Tony the Tory ever find a kind word for the Liberals? Or the most favorite one - what does Danny think about this or that - who is Danny supporting - is Danny going to get a new hockey team? Is Danny going to rename his subdivision?Or maybe - will Len and Ross get their jobs back after the next election?
We owe our children much more than this.
Something stinks - can you smell it?
Let's go back to the theory that a monkey can make a deal to give away natural resources.
Okay where are we?
1. Unprocessed fish
2. Unprocessed ore
3. Energy fuelling industry somewhere else
4. Unprocessed oil
5. Unused gas
6. Pulp and Paper gone gone gone - we are subsidizing what's left.
Where will this get us?
Where is the value to future generations?
Why is our population stagnant?
Why is our population aging quicker?
The PC government were screeching and bawling about natural resource giveaways in 2001-2002.
They never shut-up - Voisey's Bay - not one ounce - Grimes was giving away the Lower Churchill - they said - they moaned about the loss of fish processing. Since? Nothing. Ship it off - dig it up give it away. They talk about all the jobs being created to build the great Muskrat project - the people employed to build it won't be able to afford to pay for the power once it's done. Our great oil resources benefiting refineries everywhere but here - no processing. How about ship building - oh yeah the Tories were hot to trot on that in 2002 - how are we doing?
The media is doing what? They are great at attacking ordinary people - they come at them with a vengeance. They are running around sorting out what the NDP and Liberal policies are - without figuring out what the people who are in control of the government - right now are doing.
The most serious of questions and debate on Muskrat has all been precipitated by bloggers and letters to the editor.
My God - we are more interested in if the Libs and NDP would stop Muskrat than we are in figuring out if we even can.
There is no real critique of the Gil and Ed Executive duo. The geniuses of budgeting and project management.
I know more about when the media are getting together for a political pow wow at a club - or what type of bow-tie to expect - or who is watching what sports team than I gain knowledge from something they are writing about a real issue. I see more tweets regarding who is watching who at media conference - and who gets their names raised publicly by a politician.
So a simple question - if the government said it wanted to demolish Cabot Tower - knock down all the schools and flatten all the hospitals - would you line up for the job?
Does it really matter to you what the job is - or what it means for our future?
And here we are today sizing up Kent, Ottenheimer, and Davis - to what - become a Premier? Really? This after we sized up Coleman,
The real fascination for many of the media - is "will Marjorie be attending the next swearing in"? Or will Tony the Tory ever find a kind word for the Liberals? Or the most favorite one - what does Danny think about this or that - who is Danny supporting - is Danny going to get a new hockey team? Is Danny going to rename his subdivision?Or maybe - will Len and Ross get their jobs back after the next election?
We owe our children much more than this.
Something stinks - can you smell it?
Monday, May 05, 2014
Rex Murphy - 2 saviors - Williams and Alberta
Everybody needs to make a buck right? I guess we all decide at one point or another if the activity of making that buck just goes too far for our stomachs.
I am sick of Rex Murphy - the native "Newfoundlander" (as you all know he constantly leaves off Labrador in the name of our province) pontificating his views so vigorously so as to leave one believing it's fact.
As you likely know Rex Murphy and other CBC resplendent mouths have caused a bit of a stir lately regarding their speech junkets. Murphy has been called out for appearances in front of the oil and gas elite.
Two things Rex wants you to know.
1. Alberta saved us, and
2. Danny corrected the wrongs of the Upper Churchill
Rex would have other Canadians believe that when our fish crisis hit in the early 1990's - it was Alberta that kept us from hundreds of divorces, thousands of bankruptcies, and a population headed for complete annihilation. He thanked Alberta on our behalf.
First of all Rex - you should concentrate on the Newfoundland and Labrador shaft - wherein the entity responsible for fisheries management failed and our people took a direct hit from that mismanagement. Ottawa - Rex - was the bankrupt, Ottawa - owes this province billions of dollars, and Ottawa - Rex should be raked over your coals for this colossal failure. Yes Rex - tens of thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians lost their livelihoods and dozens of communities failed outright. Yes Rex - it is comparable to Ontario losing 600,000 jobs overnight - however the federal response was so different.
Ontario was in peril - about to lose their bread and butter automotive sector - through no fault of the federal government and through great fault of the private sector - but Ottawa responded and continues to respond to any fart going sideways in Toronto.
The fishery - Rex was a direct responsibility of the federal government - and they failed. The consequence of that has been catastrophic to our province - yet Ottawa continues to deny its responsibility - a constitutional responsibility - and watch our province struggle to survive another confederate mess.
So - Rex - in speaking to the oil magnates of Alberta - first describes that the wonderful and professional conference environment is hardly what he found when he did his first speech in the Lion's Club of Joe Batt's Arm. Then he gets to the heartfelt - intellectually drooling - thanks to Alberta on behalf of all of us. Rex can't stop his adoration of Alberta for saving Newfoundland and Labrador, thousands of our people and thousand of our families. My God - Rex thinks divorces would have been so frequent as to shatter the idea of marriage if we were not saved from by Alberta.
The solution to our fisheries crisis should have been found in our province. The billions should have kept coming from Ottawa until the stocks recovered. Our fishermen/women and plant workers should never have had to leave home to seek gainful employment. The billions we lose every year - as a result of Ottawa's mismanagement should be replaced by Ottawa. Our fishermen/women and plant workers could have been employed using the compensation money that should still be flowing from the feds.
Rex - many of our families have been destroyed BECAUSE they had to leave this province to find work. Families were torn apart, communities devastated, and seniors left without a relative to enjoy.
Alberta certainly gained from our loss. They had access to thousands of skilled tradespeople and workers - that they needed at the time for their booming industry. They got our population - not our seniors - but young men and women and families to build their energy sector. They gained - we lost and continue to lose. Yes many of our people travel back and forth - but many others and their children (now adults) have stayed and increase the population of that province. They have now made Alberta home - generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians gone.
On another occasion - actually it was when Danny Williams resigned as Premier - Rex joined the CBC's national panel to give his two cents worth on the departure. He agreed with Mansbridge that Danny was a fighter. Rex went on to say - that Williams came in - "in the wake of the closure of the fisheries" and with the Emera term sheet "corrected a 50 year grievance that's gnawed at the hearts of Newfoundlanders since the day that Smallwood signed the Upper Churchill" and further described the Williams agenda as limited but large "the offshore - the revenues - fix all the bad deals".
This verbal nonsense leaves Canada with an impression that is not real. The 50 year grievance has not been resolved - and further the deal Williams cut makes Newfoundlanders and Labradorians pay billions of dollars to go around Quebec and this time benefit Nova Scotia. Meanwhile of course - discussions are always on with Quebec and Williams did not eliminate them from the equation. There is Gull Island.
And this question Rex - what did the great "fighter" Danny Williams do to right the wrongs of the fishery?
If Murphy wants to impress the oil elite in Calgary or share a studio with Mansbridge - he should do it talking about something he knows something about - like Toronto. All Murphy has done here is perpetuate the myth that Newfoundland and Labrador is a welfare state relegated to thanking others for survival.
Please take the time and listen to Rex:
Talk about Alberta saving Newfoundland and Labrador - PRESS HERE
Talk about Danny Williams saving Newfoundland and Labrador - PRESS HERE
I am sick of Rex Murphy - the native "Newfoundlander" (as you all know he constantly leaves off Labrador in the name of our province) pontificating his views so vigorously so as to leave one believing it's fact.
As you likely know Rex Murphy and other CBC resplendent mouths have caused a bit of a stir lately regarding their speech junkets. Murphy has been called out for appearances in front of the oil and gas elite.
Two things Rex wants you to know.
1. Alberta saved us, and
2. Danny corrected the wrongs of the Upper Churchill
Rex would have other Canadians believe that when our fish crisis hit in the early 1990's - it was Alberta that kept us from hundreds of divorces, thousands of bankruptcies, and a population headed for complete annihilation. He thanked Alberta on our behalf.
First of all Rex - you should concentrate on the Newfoundland and Labrador shaft - wherein the entity responsible for fisheries management failed and our people took a direct hit from that mismanagement. Ottawa - Rex - was the bankrupt, Ottawa - owes this province billions of dollars, and Ottawa - Rex should be raked over your coals for this colossal failure. Yes Rex - tens of thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians lost their livelihoods and dozens of communities failed outright. Yes Rex - it is comparable to Ontario losing 600,000 jobs overnight - however the federal response was so different.
Ontario was in peril - about to lose their bread and butter automotive sector - through no fault of the federal government and through great fault of the private sector - but Ottawa responded and continues to respond to any fart going sideways in Toronto.
The fishery - Rex was a direct responsibility of the federal government - and they failed. The consequence of that has been catastrophic to our province - yet Ottawa continues to deny its responsibility - a constitutional responsibility - and watch our province struggle to survive another confederate mess.
So - Rex - in speaking to the oil magnates of Alberta - first describes that the wonderful and professional conference environment is hardly what he found when he did his first speech in the Lion's Club of Joe Batt's Arm. Then he gets to the heartfelt - intellectually drooling - thanks to Alberta on behalf of all of us. Rex can't stop his adoration of Alberta for saving Newfoundland and Labrador, thousands of our people and thousand of our families. My God - Rex thinks divorces would have been so frequent as to shatter the idea of marriage if we were not saved from by Alberta.
The solution to our fisheries crisis should have been found in our province. The billions should have kept coming from Ottawa until the stocks recovered. Our fishermen/women and plant workers should never have had to leave home to seek gainful employment. The billions we lose every year - as a result of Ottawa's mismanagement should be replaced by Ottawa. Our fishermen/women and plant workers could have been employed using the compensation money that should still be flowing from the feds.
Rex - many of our families have been destroyed BECAUSE they had to leave this province to find work. Families were torn apart, communities devastated, and seniors left without a relative to enjoy.
Alberta certainly gained from our loss. They had access to thousands of skilled tradespeople and workers - that they needed at the time for their booming industry. They got our population - not our seniors - but young men and women and families to build their energy sector. They gained - we lost and continue to lose. Yes many of our people travel back and forth - but many others and their children (now adults) have stayed and increase the population of that province. They have now made Alberta home - generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians gone.
On another occasion - actually it was when Danny Williams resigned as Premier - Rex joined the CBC's national panel to give his two cents worth on the departure. He agreed with Mansbridge that Danny was a fighter. Rex went on to say - that Williams came in - "in the wake of the closure of the fisheries" and with the Emera term sheet "corrected a 50 year grievance that's gnawed at the hearts of Newfoundlanders since the day that Smallwood signed the Upper Churchill" and further described the Williams agenda as limited but large "the offshore - the revenues - fix all the bad deals".
This verbal nonsense leaves Canada with an impression that is not real. The 50 year grievance has not been resolved - and further the deal Williams cut makes Newfoundlanders and Labradorians pay billions of dollars to go around Quebec and this time benefit Nova Scotia. Meanwhile of course - discussions are always on with Quebec and Williams did not eliminate them from the equation. There is Gull Island.
And this question Rex - what did the great "fighter" Danny Williams do to right the wrongs of the fishery?
If Murphy wants to impress the oil elite in Calgary or share a studio with Mansbridge - he should do it talking about something he knows something about - like Toronto. All Murphy has done here is perpetuate the myth that Newfoundland and Labrador is a welfare state relegated to thanking others for survival.
Please take the time and listen to Rex:
Talk about Alberta saving Newfoundland and Labrador - PRESS HERE
Talk about Danny Williams saving Newfoundland and Labrador - PRESS HERE
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Williams - Barry... Same ting
Bill Barry wants to be Premier. That's nice for him - but what of for us?
The first interview you should watch is On Point with David Cochrance CBC - Press HERE
Let's start with "if everyone in the province wants the same old same old - I can tell 48 people to vote for".
With that one statement Bill Barry eliminated all elected MHA's - from all sides of the House. He does not agree with one of them? Certainly it was a smack at the Party he wants to lead - and maybe that's not a bad thing - but smacking everybody that any of us elected is more than a little scary.
Cochrane did a good job probing some of the obvious questions and therefore the people get a chance to listen to unedited answers. A response to one of the questions regarding political ideology - Barry stated "I am running for the Conservative Party". That statement was very clear and certainly distances Barry from the Progressive Conservatives in this province - who Barry feels are not conservative. "I am a fiscal Conservative" Barry said. Another indicator that his leanings are very/extreme right is when he says only, "I don't consider myself a callous person", he does not say I'm a social Liberal.
Sue's Blog made an initial call on Barry - likening him to Bill Gates - in that both gentlemen appear to love consolidation in their favour and the elimination of competition. They both also like to be in control of who is worthy to receive money and under what circumstances. This comes through again and again in his interview with Cochrane.
As for his comment "most of the crowd in government today - if it's a bucket of shit - most of them wouldn't know it if you hauled it down over their head" - Barry danced like a wounded butterfly to escape what he calls "Billisms".
Barry has his own language - and an ego to match. If Barry was that concerned about governance of the Province since Clyde Wells - then he certainly did not rally the people - speak out - do something to stop all the wastage's.
One of Cochrane's questions netted the following comment, "My life experience and business experience is quite different than would be the norm in the House of Assembly"... On this one I want Barry to elaborate. More particularly his life experience. The idea that Bill's life is quite different than most in the HOA means it is different than the norm of the people who elected them. What in Bill's life is different and not the norm? This particularly - as he has toyed with changing the health and education systems.
We already know Barry blew it on the "Newfoundland Inc." comment - no mention of Labrador - which he corrected in the interview to say Newfoundland and Labrador Inc. Once again it was obvious where Barry would go fiscally - and is one of the real indicators where he would go socially. Businesses - such as the ones he operates are not operated with a social agenda - they are operated to be profitable. The government and it's whole reason for existence may be escaping Barry.
Barry does talk about increasing revenues though royalties and increased activity in offshore exploration - but says nothing about the secondary processing piece - where we use our resources to attract industry with maximum processing output. That is the only way we sustain an economy and grow population. Barry's route would see a continued stripping of natural resources - mostly in the Labrador Inc. part of the equation - for a one time royalty. He sees royalties not industrial development and growth in the secondary processing sector as the way to sustain expenditures. Barry does not get that because it works in his business does not mean it will work to develop and grow a society. If Barry finds a better price for "his" fish - processing or otherwise - elsewhere - then it's gone. Stripping out ores and straight-lining energy out - instead of using the naturally occurring resource to expand industrial processing - seems to be his tune. Ironically this is no different than the government he abhors.
On the political savvy side of the equation - he does not get it. Barry states to Cochrane "I'm not politically smart" - and wears it like a badge of honour. I certainly cannot be accused of wanting politics as usual - but there is no need to deny yourself knowledge - and this appears to be what Barry has done. He says of delegates going to the Tory leadership convention - to go there with an open mind - listen to everybody then decide. Barry clearly does not even understand why most of the delegates would be there. If Barry wanted to do something different - he should be up bellowing for an open voting process - and attract 10,000 people to vote for him.
Bill Barry woke up one morning - the same way Danny Williams did - today I'm gonna become Premier - I'm gonna shake things up - I'm gonna do it my way. Let me take my prowess at making a fortune in the private sector and let me run your government that way. Our unemployment is still way up - we are losing population - we are growing debt and producing deficits - we are making bad deals for the people but great deals for the private elite.
Business as usual - Williams and Barry - same ting....
The two boys are feeling competitive - that's all. That want to use us as their playhouse.
The first interview you should watch is On Point with David Cochrance CBC - Press HERE
Let's start with "if everyone in the province wants the same old same old - I can tell 48 people to vote for".
With that one statement Bill Barry eliminated all elected MHA's - from all sides of the House. He does not agree with one of them? Certainly it was a smack at the Party he wants to lead - and maybe that's not a bad thing - but smacking everybody that any of us elected is more than a little scary.
Cochrane did a good job probing some of the obvious questions and therefore the people get a chance to listen to unedited answers. A response to one of the questions regarding political ideology - Barry stated "I am running for the Conservative Party". That statement was very clear and certainly distances Barry from the Progressive Conservatives in this province - who Barry feels are not conservative. "I am a fiscal Conservative" Barry said. Another indicator that his leanings are very/extreme right is when he says only, "I don't consider myself a callous person", he does not say I'm a social Liberal.
Sue's Blog made an initial call on Barry - likening him to Bill Gates - in that both gentlemen appear to love consolidation in their favour and the elimination of competition. They both also like to be in control of who is worthy to receive money and under what circumstances. This comes through again and again in his interview with Cochrane.
As for his comment "most of the crowd in government today - if it's a bucket of shit - most of them wouldn't know it if you hauled it down over their head" - Barry danced like a wounded butterfly to escape what he calls "Billisms".
Barry has his own language - and an ego to match. If Barry was that concerned about governance of the Province since Clyde Wells - then he certainly did not rally the people - speak out - do something to stop all the wastage's.
One of Cochrane's questions netted the following comment, "My life experience and business experience is quite different than would be the norm in the House of Assembly"... On this one I want Barry to elaborate. More particularly his life experience. The idea that Bill's life is quite different than most in the HOA means it is different than the norm of the people who elected them. What in Bill's life is different and not the norm? This particularly - as he has toyed with changing the health and education systems.
We already know Barry blew it on the "Newfoundland Inc." comment - no mention of Labrador - which he corrected in the interview to say Newfoundland and Labrador Inc. Once again it was obvious where Barry would go fiscally - and is one of the real indicators where he would go socially. Businesses - such as the ones he operates are not operated with a social agenda - they are operated to be profitable. The government and it's whole reason for existence may be escaping Barry.
Barry does talk about increasing revenues though royalties and increased activity in offshore exploration - but says nothing about the secondary processing piece - where we use our resources to attract industry with maximum processing output. That is the only way we sustain an economy and grow population. Barry's route would see a continued stripping of natural resources - mostly in the Labrador Inc. part of the equation - for a one time royalty. He sees royalties not industrial development and growth in the secondary processing sector as the way to sustain expenditures. Barry does not get that because it works in his business does not mean it will work to develop and grow a society. If Barry finds a better price for "his" fish - processing or otherwise - elsewhere - then it's gone. Stripping out ores and straight-lining energy out - instead of using the naturally occurring resource to expand industrial processing - seems to be his tune. Ironically this is no different than the government he abhors.
On the political savvy side of the equation - he does not get it. Barry states to Cochrane "I'm not politically smart" - and wears it like a badge of honour. I certainly cannot be accused of wanting politics as usual - but there is no need to deny yourself knowledge - and this appears to be what Barry has done. He says of delegates going to the Tory leadership convention - to go there with an open mind - listen to everybody then decide. Barry clearly does not even understand why most of the delegates would be there. If Barry wanted to do something different - he should be up bellowing for an open voting process - and attract 10,000 people to vote for him.
Bill Barry woke up one morning - the same way Danny Williams did - today I'm gonna become Premier - I'm gonna shake things up - I'm gonna do it my way. Let me take my prowess at making a fortune in the private sector and let me run your government that way. Our unemployment is still way up - we are losing population - we are growing debt and producing deficits - we are making bad deals for the people but great deals for the private elite.
Business as usual - Williams and Barry - same ting....
The two boys are feeling competitive - that's all. That want to use us as their playhouse.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
All Seal Seal Seal
For me - it's simple - the comfortable, warm, durable, and practical seal clothing products are the best. From my head to my toes - seal skin hat, jacket, boots, gloves, and even a purse.
When it rains - snows - is windy - or is freezing cold I am comfy warm and dry in my seal skin.
This material is superior to most others and provides a long life of use.
One last thing - there is nothing better than flipper pie - so give it a try.
Below please find a link to some of the shops that carry great seal products.
NAFG North Atlantic Fur Group
Vogue Furriers
Always In Vogue is a High Fashion Retail Store in Canada, that has built its reputation on Quality and Service..we also manufacture a large amount of our merchandise.
Like many other companies that have been in business for a long period of time, we at VOGUE still believe in Quality with exceptional Service. Today's customers,really do not ask for much... They need to know they are getting good value and they expect service if something goes wrong.... That's really not asking a lot. At Always in Vogue we have been making our own products forever!!! That makes us a manufacture and a retailer. It also means we know our product . Thanking all our customers for considering Always in Vogue and we look forward to making new customers all over the World..through our new Web Site.
Bernie Halloran
Slippers 'n Things
When it rains - snows - is windy - or is freezing cold I am comfy warm and dry in my seal skin.
This material is superior to most others and provides a long life of use.
One last thing - there is nothing better than flipper pie - so give it a try.
Below please find a link to some of the shops that carry great seal products.
NaturaL boutique, St John's
Jennifer and Kerry Shears are the owners and operators of Natural Boutique, which is a Newfoundland and Labrador-based business. They are young Newfoundland Mi'kmaq and are very passionate about this province. Natural Boutique is a division of Gros Morne Wildlife Museum and Gift Shop – a popular attraction on the West Coast of Newfoundland. Natural Boutique specializes in high quality nature-based products – from sealskin coats and boots to authentic Inuit-made soapstone carvings. A brick and mortar store is now open in downtown St John’s at 152 Water Street. You can get updates and information by following us on Twitter @NaturalNL or on Facebook at facebook.com/NaturaLboutiqueNLNAFG North Atlantic Fur Group
About Us
Always In Vogue is a High Fashion Retail Store in Canada, that has built its reputation on Quality and Service..we also manufacture a large amount of our merchandise.
Like many other companies that have been in business for a long period of time, we at VOGUE still believe in Quality with exceptional Service. Today's customers,really do not ask for much... They need to know they are getting good value and they expect service if something goes wrong.... That's really not asking a lot. At Always in Vogue we have been making our own products forever!!! That makes us a manufacture and a retailer. It also means we know our product . Thanking all our customers for considering Always in Vogue and we look forward to making new customers all over the World..through our new Web Site.
Bernie Halloran
Slippers 'n Things
About Us
Our inspiration, slippers made by Mary Voisey.
(larger version)
(larger version)
Slippers 'n Things is a small
family owned business, we work hard to please our customers by providing
quality handcrafted products in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, we do
our best to offer excellent customer service and the hospitality
Labrador is known for. We are located at 55 Grenfell Street in Happy
Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.
We carry a excellent selection of traditional hide, sealskin and duffle slippers, mitts and hats made by local artists. We also have an exquisite selection of crafted Labradorite Jewelry and semi-precious gemstones, not to mention a selection photo's and prints. Check out our handmade Labradorite "gifts" such as lazy susan's, trivets, coasters, paper towel holders, serving trays, candle holders, business card holders and more!
We carry a excellent selection of traditional hide, sealskin and duffle slippers, mitts and hats made by local artists. We also have an exquisite selection of crafted Labradorite Jewelry and semi-precious gemstones, not to mention a selection photo's and prints. Check out our handmade Labradorite "gifts" such as lazy susan's, trivets, coasters, paper towel holders, serving trays, candle holders, business card holders and more!
Drop by and check us out we have the
perfect gift for any occasion and many souvenir items. We accept Visa,
Mastercard and American Express, ask us about mail orders. At Slippers
'n Things there is a little something for everyone!
Support the seal industry - support retailers - support sealers
You can be a member of the Canadian Sealers Association - you do not need to be a sealer - you can be a supporter. The fee is only $25 per year! I am getting my membership this week - why not get yours too.
Great local food shops like:
Taylor's
Address: 528 Con Bay Hwy, Foxtrap
Phone:(709) 834-8638
What a great place to buy a gift - local meals packaged up and delivered.
Celebrating 50 years
Yummy food - local fare
The Seafood Shop
Address: 7 Rowan Street St John's
Phone: (709) 753-1153
If there is a great Newfoundland or Labrador shop you'd like to recommend let me know. I will add it to the list.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
DFO destroying Fisheries Science Documents
So where are we on this bit of news? Please read below a News Release by The Green Party of Canada.
Have we lost any research from our waters?
Is Minister Keith Hutchings all over this?
The dismantling of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans library system has taken a dramatic turn, with thousands of valuable books and scientific documents, some dating back to the 19th century, being sent to the dumpster over the past week.
The Green Party of Canada today voiced its condemnation of this reckless destruction of scientific resources. “Consistent with their policy of muzzling scientists, the Conservatives have now moved on to trashing libraries,” said Elizabeth May, Green Leader and MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands. “This administration seems to be deliberately undermining our ability to make good policy decisions by limiting access to scientific evidence.”
Some 40,000 documents from the now-defunct Eric Marshall Aquatic Research Library at the University of Manitoba are currently being relocated to a federal library in the Green Leader’s own riding. “Some of the library’s materials won’t be destroyed, but it is impossible to say just how much we’ve lost,” said May.
“This is the latest in the methodical destruction of fisheries and marine ecosystem intellectual resources,” said Janice Harvey, Fisheries Critic for the Green Party. “The same thing happened last year at the St. Andrews Biological Station, the oldest federal research facility in Canada.”
In addition to a state-of-the-art library facility with thousands of scientific documents, The St. Andrews Biological Station lost its ecotoxicology unit, whose scientists were at the forefront of research into the ecosystem effects of toxic chemicals used in the farmed salmon industry in the Bay of Fundy.
To date, the Harper administration has already shut down or consolidated an additional twelve library systems, serving departments ranging from Natural Resources to Parks Canada.
Have we lost any research from our waters?
Is Minister Keith Hutchings all over this?
Green Party condemns destruction of world-renowned Department of Fisheries and Oceans libraries
The dismantling of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans library system has taken a dramatic turn, with thousands of valuable books and scientific documents, some dating back to the 19th century, being sent to the dumpster over the past week.
The Green Party of Canada today voiced its condemnation of this reckless destruction of scientific resources. “Consistent with their policy of muzzling scientists, the Conservatives have now moved on to trashing libraries,” said Elizabeth May, Green Leader and MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands. “This administration seems to be deliberately undermining our ability to make good policy decisions by limiting access to scientific evidence.”
Some 40,000 documents from the now-defunct Eric Marshall Aquatic Research Library at the University of Manitoba are currently being relocated to a federal library in the Green Leader’s own riding. “Some of the library’s materials won’t be destroyed, but it is impossible to say just how much we’ve lost,” said May.
“This is the latest in the methodical destruction of fisheries and marine ecosystem intellectual resources,” said Janice Harvey, Fisheries Critic for the Green Party. “The same thing happened last year at the St. Andrews Biological Station, the oldest federal research facility in Canada.”
In addition to a state-of-the-art library facility with thousands of scientific documents, The St. Andrews Biological Station lost its ecotoxicology unit, whose scientists were at the forefront of research into the ecosystem effects of toxic chemicals used in the farmed salmon industry in the Bay of Fundy.
To date, the Harper administration has already shut down or consolidated an additional twelve library systems, serving departments ranging from Natural Resources to Parks Canada.
Monday, November 25, 2013
"Seal"ing the CETA
and so the utter ignorance and giveaways continue...Just last week the Premier and provincial Fisheries ad Aquaculture Minister, Keith Hutchings were praising the great tentative trade deal between Canada and the European Union. What a fabulous day for our fishery they claimed with a few federal bucks in our pockets - we should be grateful for their superior negotiation skills.
Newfoundland and Labrador was SO happy - sure who needs the feds to come to our province +for hearings and discussions?
and so for "public moral" reasons the EU ban on our seal products was upheld by the World Trade Organization.
Oh and so now it's our morality - we immoral lot here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
So will we watch Kathy Princess Warrior Dunderdale pull support from CETA or will she continue on the road of giveaways and gross compromise?
Let's hear the news Premier - you gonna yell and scream? Are you going to say the predictable " we are appealing"?
The giveaways continue - the unfair treatment of Newfoundland and Labrador continues - the weakness of our Premier in negotiations continues; yet she has no problem beating the financial crap out of longstanding local small businesses.
Please let this madness end before 2015 - please quit Premier Dunderdale - our future can't survive another day of your DEALS.
Newfoundland and Labrador was SO happy - sure who needs the feds to come to our province +for hearings and discussions?
and so for "public moral" reasons the EU ban on our seal products was upheld by the World Trade Organization.
Oh and so now it's our morality - we immoral lot here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
So will we watch Kathy Princess Warrior Dunderdale pull support from CETA or will she continue on the road of giveaways and gross compromise?
Let's hear the news Premier - you gonna yell and scream? Are you going to say the predictable " we are appealing"?
The giveaways continue - the unfair treatment of Newfoundland and Labrador continues - the weakness of our Premier in negotiations continues; yet she has no problem beating the financial crap out of longstanding local small businesses.
Please let this madness end before 2015 - please quit Premier Dunderdale - our future can't survive another day of your DEALS.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Dunderdale gives up fishery for loan guarantee on Muskrat?
In my opinion the Premier traded the fishery for a loan guarantee on Muskrat in November of 2012 - something she said she would not do.
The media - did a fine job talking about Dunderdale's fine negotiating skills. Really?
Where's the journalism now?
Now it's a win for Newfoundland and Labrador - when in November of 2012 it was extortion?
Kathy Dunderdale quote from NTV news story in May 2013:
The premier and the prime minister signed the terms for the loan guarantee in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Nov. 30, but the deal almost fell apart the night before. Dunderdale says at the last minute Harper demanded concessions in the fishery to get the loan guarantee. He wanted the province to give up minimum processing requirements at local fish plants as part of a free trade deal with the European Union, known as CETA.
“The prime minister wanted a quid pro quo for the loan guarantee, and you know what I told him to do with the loan guarantee: no quid pro quos,” Dunderdale said. “You (Harper) promised it to the people of the province, you said that the only requirement was that it have a sound business plan.
“Well, we’ve produced it, you give us the loan guarantee, and don’t talk to me about the fishery at the 11th hour.”
Dunderdale says Ottawa continued to push for the concession until the Victoria Day long weekend when International Trade Minister Ed Fast came to the province. Again, she said no, making it clear there would be no trade-off between Muskrat Falls and the fishery.
“There is no linkage between those two things,” she told reporters after her speech. “That has been a point we’ve been making since November. The loan guarantee stands on its own.”
The caveat was: But the fishery issue isn’t quite off the table yet. Dunderdale said she would consider giving up the minimum processing requirements if the public and industry want that, and if the province gets something in return, such as better access to the European market or an early retirement program. But for now, her position is to keep the rules as they are.
_________________________________________________________
What Ottawa was looking to have tariffs lifted for the fishery it would be in return for lifting minimum processing requirements. In my opinion Dunderdale was trying to make herself look tough - saying that there would be no quid pro quo and the loan guarantee stood on its own. The more likely truth is that Harper won the day in November and gave the Premier time to make it palatable. Time to get the message and spin right - and time to get people on side who could back her position. The EU was not expecting a lift on processing without a lift on tariffs - give me a break. I choose to use my mind - not to have it spun like a web.
In my opinion - the fishery did get traded for the muskrat loan guarantee - and the Premier did nothing to make sure that the "public" wanted in - she just bagged McCurdey and the seafood processors.
Dunderdale is - in my opinion - either a participant or pawn.
The question the media should get an answer to now - was the EU expecting to have minimum processing requirements lifted without also agreeing to lifting tariffs? My belief and logic says no. This was a straight exchange. Dunderdale needed more time to get the necessary people on side.
What irony that Sullivan's man in Dunderdale's Cabinet just got put into the Department of Fisheries.
Timing is everything...
The media - did a fine job talking about Dunderdale's fine negotiating skills. Really?
Where's the journalism now?
Now it's a win for Newfoundland and Labrador - when in November of 2012 it was extortion?
Kathy Dunderdale quote from NTV news story in May 2013:
The premier and the prime minister signed the terms for the loan guarantee in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Nov. 30, but the deal almost fell apart the night before. Dunderdale says at the last minute Harper demanded concessions in the fishery to get the loan guarantee. He wanted the province to give up minimum processing requirements at local fish plants as part of a free trade deal with the European Union, known as CETA.
“The prime minister wanted a quid pro quo for the loan guarantee, and you know what I told him to do with the loan guarantee: no quid pro quos,” Dunderdale said. “You (Harper) promised it to the people of the province, you said that the only requirement was that it have a sound business plan.
“Well, we’ve produced it, you give us the loan guarantee, and don’t talk to me about the fishery at the 11th hour.”
Dunderdale says Ottawa continued to push for the concession until the Victoria Day long weekend when International Trade Minister Ed Fast came to the province. Again, she said no, making it clear there would be no trade-off between Muskrat Falls and the fishery.
“There is no linkage between those two things,” she told reporters after her speech. “That has been a point we’ve been making since November. The loan guarantee stands on its own.”
The caveat was: But the fishery issue isn’t quite off the table yet. Dunderdale said she would consider giving up the minimum processing requirements if the public and industry want that, and if the province gets something in return, such as better access to the European market or an early retirement program. But for now, her position is to keep the rules as they are.
_________________________________________________________
What Ottawa was looking to have tariffs lifted for the fishery it would be in return for lifting minimum processing requirements. In my opinion Dunderdale was trying to make herself look tough - saying that there would be no quid pro quo and the loan guarantee stood on its own. The more likely truth is that Harper won the day in November and gave the Premier time to make it palatable. Time to get the message and spin right - and time to get people on side who could back her position. The EU was not expecting a lift on processing without a lift on tariffs - give me a break. I choose to use my mind - not to have it spun like a web.
In my opinion - the fishery did get traded for the muskrat loan guarantee - and the Premier did nothing to make sure that the "public" wanted in - she just bagged McCurdey and the seafood processors.
Dunderdale is - in my opinion - either a participant or pawn.
The question the media should get an answer to now - was the EU expecting to have minimum processing requirements lifted without also agreeing to lifting tariffs? My belief and logic says no. This was a straight exchange. Dunderdale needed more time to get the necessary people on side.
What irony that Sullivan's man in Dunderdale's Cabinet just got put into the Department of Fisheries.
Timing is everything...
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Politicians are Seals We are Cod - Extinct?
What's happening with the land that used to be the Salmonier Prison Camp?
How does anybody get an acre of land in the St. John's metro for $300 an acre?
How does somebody get ownership of a river or the power it produces?
How does one miraculously get a time record setting land use change at City Hall?
How does one move so smoothly from a top public service or elected position to a corporation seeking things from the government?
How does one get to cheat and break the Elections Act and then immediately run again for office?
How do corporations that violate the Elections Act waltz around continuing to operate without punishment?
How do heads of these same corporations not suffer legal consequences for breaches of the law?
How do fish corporations in Newfoundland and Labrador continue to get permission to offload raw resources for their profitability while causing loss of jobs in the jurisdiction they harvest the resources from?
Where is all our money?
Why is the Auditor General's report not followed completely?
Why are political party bag men allowed to hold publicly paid positions - resign from them to politic - then return to those same highly paid positions?
Why indeed!
Why is Nalcor permitted to fund charities - then celebrate itself - like it's a private corporation?
What questions do you have?
How does a young man die on the ice - and no Inquiry, though needed, is called?
My stomach is still turning - I still have sleepless nights - they are still gutting us.
How does anybody get an acre of land in the St. John's metro for $300 an acre?
How does somebody get ownership of a river or the power it produces?
How does one miraculously get a time record setting land use change at City Hall?
How does one move so smoothly from a top public service or elected position to a corporation seeking things from the government?
How does one get to cheat and break the Elections Act and then immediately run again for office?
How do corporations that violate the Elections Act waltz around continuing to operate without punishment?
How do heads of these same corporations not suffer legal consequences for breaches of the law?
How do fish corporations in Newfoundland and Labrador continue to get permission to offload raw resources for their profitability while causing loss of jobs in the jurisdiction they harvest the resources from?
Where is all our money?
Why is the Auditor General's report not followed completely?
Why are political party bag men allowed to hold publicly paid positions - resign from them to politic - then return to those same highly paid positions?
Why indeed!
Why is Nalcor permitted to fund charities - then celebrate itself - like it's a private corporation?
What questions do you have?
How does a young man die on the ice - and no Inquiry, though needed, is called?
My stomach is still turning - I still have sleepless nights - they are still gutting us.
Monday, October 08, 2012
Fraud, Theft, Lies, and Giveaways - Politics 101
Lately we have suffered the consequences of a massive meat recall in Canada.
So many products recalled it was hard to keep track.
Health care in Newfoundland and Labrador cut at the front lines and always some problem relative to privacy of personal information.
Housing is in a mess leaving families and children homeless.
Failing submarines and over budget - unethical purchasing of F-35's.
Election fraud and deception abound in the House of Commons and in the House of Assembly, MHA's jailed for fraudulent collection and use of taxpayer dollars.
The transportation infrastructure in our province is crumbling, horrific highway in Labrador the rutted Avalon peninsula and failing aged pavement on the South Coast. The ferries are always down disconnecting people and communities and the Marine Atlantic crossings continue to eat away at our ability to attract tourists or move goods.
Search and Rescue downsizing or inadequacies failing to save lives while our oceans are littered with oil being dumped at will by passing vessels.
Federal - Provincial relations ruined by a Prime Minister who lies at will and refuses to hold a first Ministers conference.
Politicians diminishing access to information on how they are spending our money - then asking for your vote to continue.
Our aging corrections facilities now at a third world level - while one politician seemingly without discourse closing the only open facility for low-risk offenders in Salmonier.
Politicians handing their buddies contracts worth tens of millions without tender and further gaining access to public resources and land at prices not available to the average citizen.
Water problems in many communities persist while waste management policies have failed leaving our pristine woods full of junk metal, dirty diapers, and chemicals.
Foreigners developing personal properties with closed access to waters and beaches which are crown owned. Provincial parks - privatized and leased to particular people - some now unrecognizable and inaccessible to many.
The science needed to protect our fishery destructed by a federal government that managed the resource into commercial extinction.
All of the things noted above are what a government is supposed to do. It is the role of our elected representatives to insure that public safety, food safety and supply, transportation, recreation, education, health services, national defence, successful resource management, clean water, and our environment are taken care of through the tax dollars we provide.
Somewhere along the line - particularly over the past decade Conservatives have redefined their role in governing our country and province.
The Conservatives who believe in free enterprise and condemn anything with social in its economic heading have become the party and members that spoon feeds multimillionaires and large corporate interests. They have become the trough that feeds the hungry pigs every time they grunt for more.
Do not confuse this with small-medium sized business owners who make their way as best they can while employing and paying taxes in our province. These are the good ones.
What I am referencing are the private and publicly traded monstrosities that want to make money by using our natural resources without proper return to the shareholders - you and I. The same ones that cry "free enterprise and profit" to the top of their lungs while providing employment and selling their companies using our resources to state-owned China.
I refer to those "persons" who have to continually satisfy their global shareholders by taking more, processing less, and employing as few as possible.
It is time that we as the shareholders of mines, energy, fish, forest, and water take back control and demand to be satisfied as a society.
However - many millions and billions that are being funnelled to these big corporates and multimillionaires from our tax dollars and natural resources needs to be hauled back. It is time we asked for real vision for resource development and demanded proper use of our tax dollars for things that are essential to life and our future.
Conservatives don't want big government but they don't mind big tax dollars and massive debt loads to fuel the greed of corporations and individual elite and they don't mind turning everything we own as a society over to their buddies at the cheapest possible cost.
The proposed Muskrat Fall deal is the epitome of the Conservative ideology. It is the reason the government is trotting out the business elite to demonstrate support while we as citizens of the province and owners of the resource fail to see the benefits of the development.
If these elected Conservatives wanted to serve the corporate elite and the wealthiest people in our society - they should work their way to the top within a corporation, they should apply to be employed in the private sector, or they should spend their own money to invest. They work for us and it's about time we reminded them of that. They are spending our money and developing our resources. They are putting us in debt. They are refusing information to us about expenditures of our tax dollars - while more than happy to meet with corporate executives about the giveaway of our resources.
So many products recalled it was hard to keep track.
Health care in Newfoundland and Labrador cut at the front lines and always some problem relative to privacy of personal information.
Housing is in a mess leaving families and children homeless.
Failing submarines and over budget - unethical purchasing of F-35's.
Election fraud and deception abound in the House of Commons and in the House of Assembly, MHA's jailed for fraudulent collection and use of taxpayer dollars.
The transportation infrastructure in our province is crumbling, horrific highway in Labrador the rutted Avalon peninsula and failing aged pavement on the South Coast. The ferries are always down disconnecting people and communities and the Marine Atlantic crossings continue to eat away at our ability to attract tourists or move goods.
Search and Rescue downsizing or inadequacies failing to save lives while our oceans are littered with oil being dumped at will by passing vessels.
Federal - Provincial relations ruined by a Prime Minister who lies at will and refuses to hold a first Ministers conference.
Politicians diminishing access to information on how they are spending our money - then asking for your vote to continue.
Our aging corrections facilities now at a third world level - while one politician seemingly without discourse closing the only open facility for low-risk offenders in Salmonier.
Politicians handing their buddies contracts worth tens of millions without tender and further gaining access to public resources and land at prices not available to the average citizen.
Water problems in many communities persist while waste management policies have failed leaving our pristine woods full of junk metal, dirty diapers, and chemicals.
Foreigners developing personal properties with closed access to waters and beaches which are crown owned. Provincial parks - privatized and leased to particular people - some now unrecognizable and inaccessible to many.
The science needed to protect our fishery destructed by a federal government that managed the resource into commercial extinction.
All of the things noted above are what a government is supposed to do. It is the role of our elected representatives to insure that public safety, food safety and supply, transportation, recreation, education, health services, national defence, successful resource management, clean water, and our environment are taken care of through the tax dollars we provide.
Somewhere along the line - particularly over the past decade Conservatives have redefined their role in governing our country and province.
The Conservatives who believe in free enterprise and condemn anything with social in its economic heading have become the party and members that spoon feeds multimillionaires and large corporate interests. They have become the trough that feeds the hungry pigs every time they grunt for more.
Do not confuse this with small-medium sized business owners who make their way as best they can while employing and paying taxes in our province. These are the good ones.
What I am referencing are the private and publicly traded monstrosities that want to make money by using our natural resources without proper return to the shareholders - you and I. The same ones that cry "free enterprise and profit" to the top of their lungs while providing employment and selling their companies using our resources to state-owned China.
I refer to those "persons" who have to continually satisfy their global shareholders by taking more, processing less, and employing as few as possible.
It is time that we as the shareholders of mines, energy, fish, forest, and water take back control and demand to be satisfied as a society.
However - many millions and billions that are being funnelled to these big corporates and multimillionaires from our tax dollars and natural resources needs to be hauled back. It is time we asked for real vision for resource development and demanded proper use of our tax dollars for things that are essential to life and our future.
Conservatives don't want big government but they don't mind big tax dollars and massive debt loads to fuel the greed of corporations and individual elite and they don't mind turning everything we own as a society over to their buddies at the cheapest possible cost.
The proposed Muskrat Fall deal is the epitome of the Conservative ideology. It is the reason the government is trotting out the business elite to demonstrate support while we as citizens of the province and owners of the resource fail to see the benefits of the development.
If these elected Conservatives wanted to serve the corporate elite and the wealthiest people in our society - they should work their way to the top within a corporation, they should apply to be employed in the private sector, or they should spend their own money to invest. They work for us and it's about time we reminded them of that. They are spending our money and developing our resources. They are putting us in debt. They are refusing information to us about expenditures of our tax dollars - while more than happy to meet with corporate executives about the giveaway of our resources.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Regional Cooperation = Robbing Newfoundland and Labrador
The word "regional" flows from the lips of our provincial Tories much too loosely.
First of all I must remind each and every one of you accepting a salary from us and stating that for that salary you represent us - that your job is NOT regional growth.
Nova Scotia - New Brunswick - Prince Edward Island and Quebec "region' have their own politicians as well as federal representatives.
Regional to us has meant - the giveaway of the Upper Churchill, the giveaway of fisheries stocks, the giveaway of our people, the giveaway of our secondary processing of minerals, and the giveaway of refining for our top grade oil.
Regional cooperation has not returned resources and people from other provinces including the "region".
We have sent our people to Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island for work. What do they do? Well they process and refine fish, oil, gas, and minerals in these provinces.
We have sent 5000 MW's of power to Quebec at outrageous prices and in return they have created tens of thousands of jobs that we cannot qualify for.
We do not have the transportation infrastructure that other provinces in our region do. In fact our transportation has seen the elimination of railway, inadequate ferry service to Canada, and inadequate search and rescue assets.
We do not have the population growth and size of other provinces and yet we continue to export raw resources and minerals.
Now they want cooperation in order they may take even more hydro resources. We will subsidize power going to Nova Scotia. Why? They (Ottawa included) feel that Muskrat Falls is a good project so we can do OUR SHARE in the reduction of greenhouse gasses. Listen up - the 5000 MW's 5 BILLION Watts that we send from the Upper Churchill is the largest per-capita contribution to greening up in Canada. It is now time to do what we do for us.
We cannot be a "have province" in a region of "have-nots" that have more jobs, people, and infrastructure that we do. Where is our equivalent population growth or where is the lowering of our average age?
How about our cooperation on our fisheries resources?
What did we ultimately get in return? What did we give up? What other provinces benefited from the giveaway of fish stocks to foreign nations? How many communities have we lost?
Tourism numbers - how many tourists in the other provinces in our region? How many do we see?
Regional cooperation has always been a one way benefit and it has not been for us.
Tell me - what have we received from our historic cooperation (giveaway) of our resources? Nothing other than loss of communities, resources, and people.
Then there is Labrador - what can I say? Missing one gold plated highway, search and rescue resources, two smelters, four refineries, and hydro power for all communities.
First of all I must remind each and every one of you accepting a salary from us and stating that for that salary you represent us - that your job is NOT regional growth.
Nova Scotia - New Brunswick - Prince Edward Island and Quebec "region' have their own politicians as well as federal representatives.
Regional to us has meant - the giveaway of the Upper Churchill, the giveaway of fisheries stocks, the giveaway of our people, the giveaway of our secondary processing of minerals, and the giveaway of refining for our top grade oil.
Regional cooperation has not returned resources and people from other provinces including the "region".
We have sent our people to Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island for work. What do they do? Well they process and refine fish, oil, gas, and minerals in these provinces.
We have sent 5000 MW's of power to Quebec at outrageous prices and in return they have created tens of thousands of jobs that we cannot qualify for.
We do not have the transportation infrastructure that other provinces in our region do. In fact our transportation has seen the elimination of railway, inadequate ferry service to Canada, and inadequate search and rescue assets.
We do not have the population growth and size of other provinces and yet we continue to export raw resources and minerals.
Now they want cooperation in order they may take even more hydro resources. We will subsidize power going to Nova Scotia. Why? They (Ottawa included) feel that Muskrat Falls is a good project so we can do OUR SHARE in the reduction of greenhouse gasses. Listen up - the 5000 MW's 5 BILLION Watts that we send from the Upper Churchill is the largest per-capita contribution to greening up in Canada. It is now time to do what we do for us.
We cannot be a "have province" in a region of "have-nots" that have more jobs, people, and infrastructure that we do. Where is our equivalent population growth or where is the lowering of our average age?
How about our cooperation on our fisheries resources?
What did we ultimately get in return? What did we give up? What other provinces benefited from the giveaway of fish stocks to foreign nations? How many communities have we lost?
Tourism numbers - how many tourists in the other provinces in our region? How many do we see?
Regional cooperation has always been a one way benefit and it has not been for us.
Tell me - what have we received from our historic cooperation (giveaway) of our resources? Nothing other than loss of communities, resources, and people.
Then there is Labrador - what can I say? Missing one gold plated highway, search and rescue resources, two smelters, four refineries, and hydro power for all communities.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Define Moratorium
Moratorium - A SUSPENSION of Activity
So that's where we are? A suspension of activity?
This suspension of activity has caused the loss of over 40,000 people from our province.
This suspension of activity has caused the death or near-death of some rural communities.
This suspension of activity has caused the loss of relationships and breakup of families.
This suspension of activity has caused the closure of secondary related business and industry.
Moratorium sounds so - clinical - and in some ways hopeful.
This word is not appropriate for the loss of our cod fishery/ground stocks.
This word does not do justice in defining the catastrophic damage caused due to "suspension" of activity.
Somehow Canada - Ottawa - the Feds - have convinced many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that it's our fault or at the least we are partially to blame.
Listening to Canada - or federal politicians from other provinces make this claim - is - what I can expect. Listening to our own politicians and experts making the same claim is sickening.
So how did Canadian and Newfoundland and Labrador politicians get away with the largest socio/enviro mess ever seen in this country?
1. Announce a moratorium in 1992 and claim that stocks will recover - should have been fixed by 2002. (DID NOT HAPPEN)
2. Announce programs to bridge the gap for fishermen, plantworkers, and communities (DID NOT begin to COVER LOSS)
3. Increase Fisheries Science (DID NOT HAPPEN)
4. Retirement Packages (DID NOT HAPPEN)
5. Then they slowly got us used to words like rationalization, down-sizing, and right-sizing - carefully explaining to us that the fishery was never meant to handle that many people. (BUNK)
6. From there we went to dumping FPI and eliminating marketing.
7. They closed one plant - most other plants and workers shut-up - they feared they would be next.
8. They have and continue to pit one community against another.
9. Downloading federal fishery support services to the province.
10. Pit offshore against inshore - recreational against commercial.
11. Use municipal politicians by offering pavement, arenas, tourism dollars, and water/sewer.
12. Commit to one study after another to delay any real action.
13. Pit urban residents against rural residents.
14. Promote and focus on non-renewable oil assets.
15. Above all - convince us - we were greedy, we took all the fish, and we destroyed ourselves.
16. Marginalize people like Gus Etchegary and Phil Earle.
17. Eliminate the people left with EI changes.
18. Give all fish to kingpins.
19. Over utilization of other stocks.
All of this while the FACT remains that management was the responsibility of the federal government. They were negligent. As a result we were harmed. Therefore we need compensation. 1 billion a year until the stocks return.
The Ministers of Fishery we have had federal and provincial are too gutless, ignorant, or complicit to do what is needed.
So that's where we are? A suspension of activity?
This suspension of activity has caused the loss of over 40,000 people from our province.
This suspension of activity has caused the death or near-death of some rural communities.
This suspension of activity has caused the loss of relationships and breakup of families.
This suspension of activity has caused the closure of secondary related business and industry.
Moratorium sounds so - clinical - and in some ways hopeful.
This word is not appropriate for the loss of our cod fishery/ground stocks.
This word does not do justice in defining the catastrophic damage caused due to "suspension" of activity.
Somehow Canada - Ottawa - the Feds - have convinced many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that it's our fault or at the least we are partially to blame.
Listening to Canada - or federal politicians from other provinces make this claim - is - what I can expect. Listening to our own politicians and experts making the same claim is sickening.
So how did Canadian and Newfoundland and Labrador politicians get away with the largest socio/enviro mess ever seen in this country?
1. Announce a moratorium in 1992 and claim that stocks will recover - should have been fixed by 2002. (DID NOT HAPPEN)
2. Announce programs to bridge the gap for fishermen, plantworkers, and communities (DID NOT begin to COVER LOSS)
3. Increase Fisheries Science (DID NOT HAPPEN)
4. Retirement Packages (DID NOT HAPPEN)
5. Then they slowly got us used to words like rationalization, down-sizing, and right-sizing - carefully explaining to us that the fishery was never meant to handle that many people. (BUNK)
6. From there we went to dumping FPI and eliminating marketing.
7. They closed one plant - most other plants and workers shut-up - they feared they would be next.
8. They have and continue to pit one community against another.
9. Downloading federal fishery support services to the province.
10. Pit offshore against inshore - recreational against commercial.
11. Use municipal politicians by offering pavement, arenas, tourism dollars, and water/sewer.
12. Commit to one study after another to delay any real action.
13. Pit urban residents against rural residents.
14. Promote and focus on non-renewable oil assets.
15. Above all - convince us - we were greedy, we took all the fish, and we destroyed ourselves.
16. Marginalize people like Gus Etchegary and Phil Earle.
17. Eliminate the people left with EI changes.
18. Give all fish to kingpins.
19. Over utilization of other stocks.
All of this while the FACT remains that management was the responsibility of the federal government. They were negligent. As a result we were harmed. Therefore we need compensation. 1 billion a year until the stocks return.
The Ministers of Fishery we have had federal and provincial are too gutless, ignorant, or complicit to do what is needed.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Striking a Balance Bill 29? Logic tells us otherwise!
Over the past week we have heard Government MHA's suggest that "frivolous and vexatious" requests are part of the reason they have to change access to information laws.
It is commonly agreed that more information will be kept secret and some information harder to get because of the amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Bill29).
Ministers stood on their feet and dragged out samples of such requests - and while this is not the norm - they pointed out they were compelled to stop such wastage of taxpayer money.
Here's the other side of the balance: Newfoundland and Labrador has suffered many more fraudulent and bad resource deals than it has suffered "vexatious and frivolous" information requests - and the cost to the taxpayer has been far more severe from the bad and/or fraudulent and/or corrupt deals.
The billions of dollars essentially robbed from our people - be it fish, energy, minerals, forests, or cash far outweighs the few thousand dollars suffered from "frivolous and vexatious" access to information requests.
So what does the government do? Well they tighten information to protect business. Yes that says it all about fairness and balance.
We as a people should conclude that there is something to hide - as not to do so would be illogical and open us up to another 50 years of bad resource deals.
I have a request of our media - please research and present all the losses we have suffered from bad and/or corrupt business deals and compare that dollar value to the amount lost from "frivolous and vexatious" access to information requests.
While we are at it - which caused more harm to the tenuous trust we have in government; the few "frivolous and vexatious" requests presented or the marching of 4 former MHA's to jail?
Yes we should strike a balance regarding access to information - but Bill 29 is not that balance. It is a lopsided - one way - ticket to hiding information. What has been the result of that approach in our past?
It is commonly agreed that more information will be kept secret and some information harder to get because of the amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Bill29).
Ministers stood on their feet and dragged out samples of such requests - and while this is not the norm - they pointed out they were compelled to stop such wastage of taxpayer money.
Here's the other side of the balance: Newfoundland and Labrador has suffered many more fraudulent and bad resource deals than it has suffered "vexatious and frivolous" information requests - and the cost to the taxpayer has been far more severe from the bad and/or fraudulent and/or corrupt deals.
The billions of dollars essentially robbed from our people - be it fish, energy, minerals, forests, or cash far outweighs the few thousand dollars suffered from "frivolous and vexatious" access to information requests.
So what does the government do? Well they tighten information to protect business. Yes that says it all about fairness and balance.
We as a people should conclude that there is something to hide - as not to do so would be illogical and open us up to another 50 years of bad resource deals.
I have a request of our media - please research and present all the losses we have suffered from bad and/or corrupt business deals and compare that dollar value to the amount lost from "frivolous and vexatious" access to information requests.
While we are at it - which caused more harm to the tenuous trust we have in government; the few "frivolous and vexatious" requests presented or the marching of 4 former MHA's to jail?
Yes we should strike a balance regarding access to information - but Bill 29 is not that balance. It is a lopsided - one way - ticket to hiding information. What has been the result of that approach in our past?
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Puerile Petition Peturbation
Here we go again with yet another triple P confusion.
Private Public Partnership - you know where everybody cooperates for the good of all.
Instead we have Puerile Petition Perturbation!
Jerome Kennedy a Minister of the Crown and Ross Wiseman Speaker of the House of Assembly are extremely proud of their "gotcha".
They actually spent our money and time torturing Dale Kirby about the numbers of names on a petition. Who cares what the petition is about right? These juvenile ninnies have real work to do and I demand they get to it. They are after all under our employ. They do not serve at the pleasure of the Premier - as they do not get the job at all if we do not elect them.
We are up to our necks in bad news, downsizing, federal trouncing, and industrial annihilation - not to mention our spinning heads as these same people try to justify the Muskrat Falls proposed fiasco.
In one gate - out another - approaching a new gate, running away from another. Gates and locks on the doors of information make this administration one of the least transparent and accountable governments ever.
Kennedy appears intimidated by Kirby and pays significant attention to him. If this were in Kennedy's chosen venue - the courts - I think his objections would suffer overrules on a regular basis.
The Speaker - Ross Wiseman has sat through days of ignorance and misinformation spewing from the government side - yet no action taken. He is an opportunist that spends the majority of his time examining which side his bread is buttered on and whether or not that is likely to change.
Ross would have had to find himself in contempt as he trotted - baggage in hand - from the Liberal to PC side of the House. The fact that he finds himself in the Speaker's chair with a substantial salary speaks either to his inability as a Minister or as a dutiful puppet for the government.
Beauchesne's - sure Ross - whatever helps you accept your deceptive and self-serving behavior.
On yet another day of federal jobs lost - don't waste my time and money on this garbage.
Kennedy really needs to grow up and do the job we pay him to do - this does not include a testosterone match with a colleague from the NDP.
Private Public Partnership - you know where everybody cooperates for the good of all.
Instead we have Puerile Petition Perturbation!
Jerome Kennedy a Minister of the Crown and Ross Wiseman Speaker of the House of Assembly are extremely proud of their "gotcha".
They actually spent our money and time torturing Dale Kirby about the numbers of names on a petition. Who cares what the petition is about right? These juvenile ninnies have real work to do and I demand they get to it. They are after all under our employ. They do not serve at the pleasure of the Premier - as they do not get the job at all if we do not elect them.
We are up to our necks in bad news, downsizing, federal trouncing, and industrial annihilation - not to mention our spinning heads as these same people try to justify the Muskrat Falls proposed fiasco.
In one gate - out another - approaching a new gate, running away from another. Gates and locks on the doors of information make this administration one of the least transparent and accountable governments ever.
Kennedy appears intimidated by Kirby and pays significant attention to him. If this were in Kennedy's chosen venue - the courts - I think his objections would suffer overrules on a regular basis.
The Speaker - Ross Wiseman has sat through days of ignorance and misinformation spewing from the government side - yet no action taken. He is an opportunist that spends the majority of his time examining which side his bread is buttered on and whether or not that is likely to change.
Ross would have had to find himself in contempt as he trotted - baggage in hand - from the Liberal to PC side of the House. The fact that he finds himself in the Speaker's chair with a substantial salary speaks either to his inability as a Minister or as a dutiful puppet for the government.
Beauchesne's - sure Ross - whatever helps you accept your deceptive and self-serving behavior.
On yet another day of federal jobs lost - don't waste my time and money on this garbage.
Kennedy really needs to grow up and do the job we pay him to do - this does not include a testosterone match with a colleague from the NDP.
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
The Joy of Industrial Collapse - Dunderdale/Harper Alliance
I can only sit in amazement as I watch politicians attempt to turn another fiasco into a blessing.
One mill down - ah that's alright - in fact it's better for the region.
Two mills down - ah that's alright - we will attract more by not having the mill here.
Three mills down - sure that's a hat trick - great all round.
One fish plant goes - fine makes the other ones stronger.
Two plants down - rationalization is occurring - Great!
Three plants down - marvelous let's do more aquaculture.
Four plants down - now we are getting somewhere.
Five plants down - well you knew that would happen.
Six plants down - perfect St. John`s and Mount Pearl are booming!!
Now with all this industry gone - we will surely need more power - don`t you see it?
While we are at it - let's downsize Search and Rescue surely this must be good.
Or better yet let's back out of 70 billion in federal shipbuilding work because Kiewit is too busy - that's good news right?
How about cuts to the Canada Food Inspection Agency in Newfoundland and Labrador - great - marvelous!
Cuts to DFO - fisheries science - yay!
How about the loss of Veteran's Affairs office in Corner Brook - rolls right along with the mill. Perfect!
How about ACOA and the federal parks - downsize - rightsize - marginalize Newfoundland and Labrador - hip hip hooray!
How about cuts to the community access programs - Yes that is wonderful news for rural towns!
Now let's focus on EI - yes that will help Newfoundland and Labrador.
Or maybe the (un)equalization formula - made in Quebec to punish Newfoundland and Labrador.
So what's next? Old Harry?
Can't wait the future looks very bright indeed.
We can be the hippest, coolest, youngest province to become non-existent.
Stop being so negative - emphasize all these positives!!
One mill down - ah that's alright - in fact it's better for the region.
Two mills down - ah that's alright - we will attract more by not having the mill here.
Three mills down - sure that's a hat trick - great all round.
One fish plant goes - fine makes the other ones stronger.
Two plants down - rationalization is occurring - Great!
Three plants down - marvelous let's do more aquaculture.
Four plants down - now we are getting somewhere.
Five plants down - well you knew that would happen.
Six plants down - perfect St. John`s and Mount Pearl are booming!!
Now with all this industry gone - we will surely need more power - don`t you see it?
While we are at it - let's downsize Search and Rescue surely this must be good.
Or better yet let's back out of 70 billion in federal shipbuilding work because Kiewit is too busy - that's good news right?
How about cuts to the Canada Food Inspection Agency in Newfoundland and Labrador - great - marvelous!
Cuts to DFO - fisheries science - yay!
How about the loss of Veteran's Affairs office in Corner Brook - rolls right along with the mill. Perfect!
How about ACOA and the federal parks - downsize - rightsize - marginalize Newfoundland and Labrador - hip hip hooray!
How about cuts to the community access programs - Yes that is wonderful news for rural towns!
Now let's focus on EI - yes that will help Newfoundland and Labrador.
Or maybe the (un)equalization formula - made in Quebec to punish Newfoundland and Labrador.
So what's next? Old Harry?
Can't wait the future looks very bright indeed.
We can be the hippest, coolest, youngest province to become non-existent.
Stop being so negative - emphasize all these positives!!
The Romance is Over - NL on Death Watch
As I sat down the other morning - looked at the beautiful blue sky and dancing ocean - something happened.
I was listening to CBC Radio to a story about Quinlan's fishplant in Bay de Verde. Primarily it was regarding the import of workers from Thailand to process crab.
The "shock" value is they could not find 20 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to take the employment - rate of pay $12/hr.
Here are my questions:
1. How much does it cost to bring 20 Thai workers to Canada?
2. How much does it cost to house and feed them?
3. Where is the FFAW on this story?
4. What is up people?
So I gulped hard and listened to another story about an Otto Young from Twillingate and how he has essentially turned an old beauty salon and couple of outbuildings into cabins for tourists looking for icebergs and scenery.
It also talked about Otto's later in life discovery that he was a model boat builder and artist. Very folksy, charming, and romantic - it really turned my stomach.
Yes that's right - it made me feel ill.
There is nothing charming, quaint, or pleasantly poetic about a place - my country - Newfoundland and Labrador becoming extinct.
I am actually tired - exhausted - from fighting for the survival of one of the greatest food baskets in the world - our fishery.
The story about Otto would have normally warmed my heart and promoted feelings of pride - but today - after a month where we've seen a half dozen fish plants were eulogized - it just rubbed me very wrong.
I watch Darin King - the latest political clone of ineptness - blabber on and on about nothing and everything. I - Darin - am a Minister - and may yet be the next Premier - thinks he.
The ladies, Kathy - Joan - and Susan are like a trio of hen peckers on a partisan journey of retribution. They have the power to destroy and so far a fine job is being done.
Kathy was muttering something the other day about Harper and the fact he represents all Canadians whether they voted for him or not. Well Kathy - if he took a page from your book he would learn he is not being vengeful enough.
So now we are on death watch for the Corner Brook mill - time for the violinists to begin.
The same old garbage will spew - it is not the end for Corner Brook - we will recover - we will recover.
Meanwhile as more industries are lost weekly - the apparent need for power increases?
We must take our collective ostrich head out of the sand and boot these people out. We are going to leave nothing but debt and leave our children and grandchildren destitute.
Our culture so rich and unique - disappearing - under the watchful eye of the House of Assembly.
I was listening to CBC Radio to a story about Quinlan's fishplant in Bay de Verde. Primarily it was regarding the import of workers from Thailand to process crab.
The "shock" value is they could not find 20 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to take the employment - rate of pay $12/hr.
Here are my questions:
1. How much does it cost to bring 20 Thai workers to Canada?
2. How much does it cost to house and feed them?
3. Where is the FFAW on this story?
4. What is up people?
So I gulped hard and listened to another story about an Otto Young from Twillingate and how he has essentially turned an old beauty salon and couple of outbuildings into cabins for tourists looking for icebergs and scenery.
It also talked about Otto's later in life discovery that he was a model boat builder and artist. Very folksy, charming, and romantic - it really turned my stomach.
Yes that's right - it made me feel ill.
There is nothing charming, quaint, or pleasantly poetic about a place - my country - Newfoundland and Labrador becoming extinct.
I am actually tired - exhausted - from fighting for the survival of one of the greatest food baskets in the world - our fishery.
The story about Otto would have normally warmed my heart and promoted feelings of pride - but today - after a month where we've seen a half dozen fish plants were eulogized - it just rubbed me very wrong.
I watch Darin King - the latest political clone of ineptness - blabber on and on about nothing and everything. I - Darin - am a Minister - and may yet be the next Premier - thinks he.
The ladies, Kathy - Joan - and Susan are like a trio of hen peckers on a partisan journey of retribution. They have the power to destroy and so far a fine job is being done.
Kathy was muttering something the other day about Harper and the fact he represents all Canadians whether they voted for him or not. Well Kathy - if he took a page from your book he would learn he is not being vengeful enough.
So now we are on death watch for the Corner Brook mill - time for the violinists to begin.
The same old garbage will spew - it is not the end for Corner Brook - we will recover - we will recover.
Meanwhile as more industries are lost weekly - the apparent need for power increases?
We must take our collective ostrich head out of the sand and boot these people out. We are going to leave nothing but debt and leave our children and grandchildren destitute.
Our culture so rich and unique - disappearing - under the watchful eye of the House of Assembly.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Fishery - the One Billion Dollars Solution
If you can first put aside the learned hatred of everything fish for one moment - then we might start pulling on the same oar.
Ottawa is responsible for the collapse of the fishery as they control the management of the stocks and fishing grounds.
20 years after a moratorium slated to last 10 years - we are collapsing further.
This is not the time to downsize or rationalize - we will not have an industry left. All we will witness is GDP and that will be attributable to unprocessed fish being gouged by a few corporations.
Now is the time to seek a real solution.
We have lost a billion a year since 2002 when the moratorium was supposed to be over. That did not happen.
Because of that we have lost twice that - as we have also lost transfer payments (per-capita) - due to population loss - that pays for transportation, health, and education.
We have also lost communities, investment, families, depreciated asset value, and future industrial potential.
If we demand that Ottawa - pay up - 1 billion x 10 years = 10 billion so far and counting.
Why are we rationalizing?
Why are we downsizing?
Because we have lost our fishery!
That is not acceptable.
We need our fishermen for science, research, and industrial planning.
We need our plant workers to work on new product lines.
We need these people and our provincial government to work on markets.
Is this a reasonable ask?
Of course it is - the feds bail out agriculture year over year to preserve food security, communities, families and that industry. Remember that the feds are not even responsible for drought, floods, market woes, and foreign subsidization for our competitors. They still pay - year over year.
Of course it is - the feds bailed out Ontario when the auto-makers collapsed and industry suffered in Central Canada. Billions and billions. They were not responsible for that occurrence.
They are responsible for the loss of the ground-fish stocks and are responsible for not protecting the fishing grounds. They are responsible for bartering our fish stocks away to foreigners so that other provinces would get manufacturing and industrial investment.
Instead our politicians are sucking their thumbs and doing nothing to correct this problem. We have suffered a grave injury and we are entitled to compensation.
Instead our politicians are looking for ways to boot people out of the fishery with a package.
Instead our politicians are looking to downsize and rationalize.
There is no rationalization - there must be compensation.
Then 25,000 of our people per year could be doing something beneficial - to help rebuild stocks, develop product and markets, and foster growth in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
Why is it that Newfoundland and Labrador is not demanding what is just?
Why do we keep letting the feds off the hook?
Why are we allowing not only the continued loss of stocks but downsizing science, SAR, and other critical assets to this industry?
Why indeed!
Ottawa is responsible for the collapse of the fishery as they control the management of the stocks and fishing grounds.
20 years after a moratorium slated to last 10 years - we are collapsing further.
This is not the time to downsize or rationalize - we will not have an industry left. All we will witness is GDP and that will be attributable to unprocessed fish being gouged by a few corporations.
Now is the time to seek a real solution.
We have lost a billion a year since 2002 when the moratorium was supposed to be over. That did not happen.
Because of that we have lost twice that - as we have also lost transfer payments (per-capita) - due to population loss - that pays for transportation, health, and education.
We have also lost communities, investment, families, depreciated asset value, and future industrial potential.
If we demand that Ottawa - pay up - 1 billion x 10 years = 10 billion so far and counting.
Why are we rationalizing?
Why are we downsizing?
Because we have lost our fishery!
That is not acceptable.
We need our fishermen for science, research, and industrial planning.
We need our plant workers to work on new product lines.
We need these people and our provincial government to work on markets.
Is this a reasonable ask?
Of course it is - the feds bail out agriculture year over year to preserve food security, communities, families and that industry. Remember that the feds are not even responsible for drought, floods, market woes, and foreign subsidization for our competitors. They still pay - year over year.
Of course it is - the feds bailed out Ontario when the auto-makers collapsed and industry suffered in Central Canada. Billions and billions. They were not responsible for that occurrence.
They are responsible for the loss of the ground-fish stocks and are responsible for not protecting the fishing grounds. They are responsible for bartering our fish stocks away to foreigners so that other provinces would get manufacturing and industrial investment.
Instead our politicians are sucking their thumbs and doing nothing to correct this problem. We have suffered a grave injury and we are entitled to compensation.
Instead our politicians are looking for ways to boot people out of the fishery with a package.
Instead our politicians are looking to downsize and rationalize.
There is no rationalization - there must be compensation.
Then 25,000 of our people per year could be doing something beneficial - to help rebuild stocks, develop product and markets, and foster growth in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
Why is it that Newfoundland and Labrador is not demanding what is just?
Why do we keep letting the feds off the hook?
Why are we allowing not only the continued loss of stocks but downsizing science, SAR, and other critical assets to this industry?
Why indeed!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Dunderdale Mentality Revealed after CBC Investigation
The CBC investigative report on Search and Rescue protocols employed during the search for Burton Winters may have ultimately revealed a mentality endemic to the Dunderdale administration.
CBC reports today that the Dunderdale government is only now looking for copies of the military audio recordings - despite the government's claim they completed a review of the failed search and rescue.
One must wonder if that detail is something Kathy Dunderdale did not want to face if a meeting scheduled with Burton's grandmother and former search and rescue coordinator Clarence Peddle - proceeded.
The Dunderdale administration believes that it has ALL the information on ALL decisions despite the loud and clear voices of competent citizens on many issues - that they do not.
The Dunderdale government has claimed to have done its "review" and "due diligence"on an number of files:
1. Fishery
2. Muskrat Falls
3. Pharmacy
4. Paper Mills/Industry
5. Health
If the above examples are held alongside the province's review of the Burton Winters failed search and rescue - one might conclude that Dunderdale and company do not want ALL the information.
One might also conclude that Dunderdale is deliberately keeping at bay experts in all these areas if those experts are not under the direct control of government.
This is an extremely dangerous mindset and one that raises the question - WHY?
Ordinary citizens, the media, and organizations must continue questioning the Dunderdale government in order to prevent catastrophic errors made by people who are too ignorant, arrogant, or complicit to make the best choices for our future.
CBC reports today that the Dunderdale government is only now looking for copies of the military audio recordings - despite the government's claim they completed a review of the failed search and rescue.
One must wonder if that detail is something Kathy Dunderdale did not want to face if a meeting scheduled with Burton's grandmother and former search and rescue coordinator Clarence Peddle - proceeded.
The Dunderdale administration believes that it has ALL the information on ALL decisions despite the loud and clear voices of competent citizens on many issues - that they do not.
The Dunderdale government has claimed to have done its "review" and "due diligence"on an number of files:
1. Fishery
2. Muskrat Falls
3. Pharmacy
4. Paper Mills/Industry
5. Health
If the above examples are held alongside the province's review of the Burton Winters failed search and rescue - one might conclude that Dunderdale and company do not want ALL the information.
One might also conclude that Dunderdale is deliberately keeping at bay experts in all these areas if those experts are not under the direct control of government.
This is an extremely dangerous mindset and one that raises the question - WHY?
Ordinary citizens, the media, and organizations must continue questioning the Dunderdale government in order to prevent catastrophic errors made by people who are too ignorant, arrogant, or complicit to make the best choices for our future.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Dunderdale and Company - Partisan? Disinterested? Incompetent?
The attitude of disinterest, boredom, annoyance and/or anger of many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians toward the fishery, fishermen, and plant workers is a mistake.
The politicians from all parties have played a very partisan and dangerous game with the people of our province as it relates to this resource and bureaucrats both provincially and federally have made it worse by juggling death versus dealing with the continued problem.
The fishery is our history and should be our future - but in order for that to be the case a number of things have to happen.
1. Our history in the fishery must be fully and publicly disclosed and discussed so that all people in our province can learn to respect, value, and protect this vital renewable resource.
2. An injury has occurred and our province - communities and people - are the injured party. We need to assess the injury, determine the party/ies that caused the injury, value the injury, and then do what is necessary to achieve compensation for the injury.
3. Based on the compensation arrangements the province must move forward to develop plans for recovery, science, enforcement, community, environmental and the future.
4. Further these plans must be broken down to include; immediate actions, medium term actions, and long term actions. One to fifty years would be appropriate.
5.The province must desist making new arrangements with "processors" that want to export raw material and must move toward harvesters co-ops and redevelop a marketing division for products either processed or unprocessed of this resource.
The "rationalization" of the fishery which government and others claim is occurring is nothing more that a desperate response to a disastrous situation which has yet to be dealt with properly. Each and every week we are hearing of the closure or downsizing of plants and facilities and communities losing their primary employer.
This is not a sustainable answer to what will bring economic disaster.
Dr. Phil Earle and Gus Etchegary are not sounding the very loud alarm bells for no reason and these retired individuals are not as passionate as they are without reasoned concern. They are as worried as you should be.
The moratorium of our stocks began in 1992 - this caused a massive upheaval in this resource sector and we lost about 80,000 people from our workforce and most from our province altogether.
We should have experienced significant recovery by 2002 and should have been on our way to sustained recovery. This according to the people responsible for managing the resource.
We all know this did not happen and now we are in 2012 - with no reasonable end in sight.
To alleviate the loss of our ground fish sector - we increased the catch of our shellfish. We all know this is not a good thing and eventually will cause further catastrophic consequences.
Despite the catch increase in other species - thousands of people were removed from this fishery and no doubt hundreds of our rural communities have suffered.
Throughout this mess - the kingpins of the fishery needed to maintain and grow profits - so fisheries policy has revolved around keeping them afloat. The latest of course is to give them stocks without the necessity to process. This has resulted in further losses to the people in general but the continued wealth building for those already so endowed.
If you can get your head around the problem it equates to a loss of a billion dollars a year plus the loss of people, loss of communities and devalued assets.
Try and consider the following. Let's say you lost your job in St. John's or Metro - no doubt you would feel the pinch and be worried about your next paycheck - just like the people displaced on the Burin Peninsula. Let's add that you had been at the same job for 20 or so years and have invested in things like a house or property. If you went to sell that asset in St. John's Metro you would enjoy an increase in the value of your asset upon sale. Now for one moment put yourself in a rural community that has just lost it's only significant employer - and then you needed to sell your house. You would suffer major losses as the equity you built would disappear - as the market was no longer there for resale.
Also consider that with the low unemployment rate in St. John's Metro - you may be able to find another job to make ends meet - while the person in the rural community would not have that option. In your case you may be able to keep your home - or sell for a profit and downsize - whereas the person in the rural community would have to sell their property, move and not even have the option to rent out their home - NO Market.
Some of the more fortunate ones in the affected community may be in a position to retire - thereby staying in their own home - that is if they are not still indebted. Let's say they can stay in their own home and actually live another 20 or so years. What services will remain where they live? What will they do with no family remaining in the community? None of these issues are a problem in St. John's Metro - YET.
You see the losses resulting from a collapsed fishery will hurt us all. The worst is yet to come - if we do not fix the problem.
This is only the tip of the iceberg.
For those who are still in their productive work life - the choice will be to move away and find work elsewhere. Where will they pay tax? What will happen with their children? Will they ever come back? Will we lose a significant number of our next generation? If we do - who will pay for the seniors left behind? Who will pay for the increase in personal care home usage? Who will pay the medical bills of an aging population besieged with chronic illnesses - more prevalent in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Then factor in all the boomers who moved away 20 years ago when the fishery first collapsed. Many of these people will return home upon retirement after having paid all their taxes to another province. That places an increased burden on a taxation system that did not receive the benefit of their taxes for the past 20 years. How will these shortfalls be covered?
What about resettlement? You know that government is always looking at that when their finance gurus are explaining the problem mentioned above. Are we going to resettle 100 or more communities? How much will that cost? Where will they move to? If we pick 5 regional centres and move them all there - what will be the increased burden on those cities or towns?
If not resettlement how does government pay for the upkeep of thousands of kilometres of roads - deteriorating badly? How does government afford to keep reasonable health services in those communities?
Now let's talk about the taboo - OIL - what happens when that oil is gone? When will it be gone? What will happen to our cities and regional towns? We have lost two mills, mines, and may lose our last mill. We will have no oil sector and the fishery will be dead.
I will guarantee one thing - if the future plays out as discussed above - the leaders - our politicians of the present day will not be around. They may retire in Florida on the lucrative pension we provide them. They may move to a - then recovered Ontario. Their children will be provided for. Kathy Dunderdale may huff and puff every time her choices are questioned - but she WILL have a pension.
Our biggest problem is that our politically based system is very similar to a quick-buck corporation - concentrate on the now - the next few years - the next election. Unfortunately they see this as their job instead of being the keepers of our future.
If we build Muskrat now - there will be lots of jobs now and make them look good. Unfortunately there are no measurable numbers of long term jobs but there is certainly measurable long term debt. So while the shareholders of Emera will enjoy increased profits through guaranteed returns - we the owners, the taxpayers and ratepayers will suffer.
Our system of immediate political rewards, needs, and votes is also costing us at the Federal level. Right now - I am convinced that Stephen Harper can strip our province of every benefit of "con"federation - and Dunderdale will let it happen as long as the loan guarantee carrot exists.
We need vision and we need it now.
We need leadership and we need it now.
We need a plan and we need it now.
We need action and we need it now.
These games - childish political games - played by incompetent, disinterested, and/or partisan people with an need to satisfy the next polling period - will destroy us.
These politicians who through their own words, excuses, and frustration cause you and me to detest the fishery with them.
You think you can afford to not care about the fishery? Think again.
The politicians from all parties have played a very partisan and dangerous game with the people of our province as it relates to this resource and bureaucrats both provincially and federally have made it worse by juggling death versus dealing with the continued problem.
The fishery is our history and should be our future - but in order for that to be the case a number of things have to happen.
1. Our history in the fishery must be fully and publicly disclosed and discussed so that all people in our province can learn to respect, value, and protect this vital renewable resource.
2. An injury has occurred and our province - communities and people - are the injured party. We need to assess the injury, determine the party/ies that caused the injury, value the injury, and then do what is necessary to achieve compensation for the injury.
3. Based on the compensation arrangements the province must move forward to develop plans for recovery, science, enforcement, community, environmental and the future.
4. Further these plans must be broken down to include; immediate actions, medium term actions, and long term actions. One to fifty years would be appropriate.
5.The province must desist making new arrangements with "processors" that want to export raw material and must move toward harvesters co-ops and redevelop a marketing division for products either processed or unprocessed of this resource.
The "rationalization" of the fishery which government and others claim is occurring is nothing more that a desperate response to a disastrous situation which has yet to be dealt with properly. Each and every week we are hearing of the closure or downsizing of plants and facilities and communities losing their primary employer.
This is not a sustainable answer to what will bring economic disaster.
Dr. Phil Earle and Gus Etchegary are not sounding the very loud alarm bells for no reason and these retired individuals are not as passionate as they are without reasoned concern. They are as worried as you should be.
The moratorium of our stocks began in 1992 - this caused a massive upheaval in this resource sector and we lost about 80,000 people from our workforce and most from our province altogether.
We should have experienced significant recovery by 2002 and should have been on our way to sustained recovery. This according to the people responsible for managing the resource.
We all know this did not happen and now we are in 2012 - with no reasonable end in sight.
To alleviate the loss of our ground fish sector - we increased the catch of our shellfish. We all know this is not a good thing and eventually will cause further catastrophic consequences.
Despite the catch increase in other species - thousands of people were removed from this fishery and no doubt hundreds of our rural communities have suffered.
Throughout this mess - the kingpins of the fishery needed to maintain and grow profits - so fisheries policy has revolved around keeping them afloat. The latest of course is to give them stocks without the necessity to process. This has resulted in further losses to the people in general but the continued wealth building for those already so endowed.
If you can get your head around the problem it equates to a loss of a billion dollars a year plus the loss of people, loss of communities and devalued assets.
Try and consider the following. Let's say you lost your job in St. John's or Metro - no doubt you would feel the pinch and be worried about your next paycheck - just like the people displaced on the Burin Peninsula. Let's add that you had been at the same job for 20 or so years and have invested in things like a house or property. If you went to sell that asset in St. John's Metro you would enjoy an increase in the value of your asset upon sale. Now for one moment put yourself in a rural community that has just lost it's only significant employer - and then you needed to sell your house. You would suffer major losses as the equity you built would disappear - as the market was no longer there for resale.
Also consider that with the low unemployment rate in St. John's Metro - you may be able to find another job to make ends meet - while the person in the rural community would not have that option. In your case you may be able to keep your home - or sell for a profit and downsize - whereas the person in the rural community would have to sell their property, move and not even have the option to rent out their home - NO Market.
Some of the more fortunate ones in the affected community may be in a position to retire - thereby staying in their own home - that is if they are not still indebted. Let's say they can stay in their own home and actually live another 20 or so years. What services will remain where they live? What will they do with no family remaining in the community? None of these issues are a problem in St. John's Metro - YET.
You see the losses resulting from a collapsed fishery will hurt us all. The worst is yet to come - if we do not fix the problem.
This is only the tip of the iceberg.
For those who are still in their productive work life - the choice will be to move away and find work elsewhere. Where will they pay tax? What will happen with their children? Will they ever come back? Will we lose a significant number of our next generation? If we do - who will pay for the seniors left behind? Who will pay for the increase in personal care home usage? Who will pay the medical bills of an aging population besieged with chronic illnesses - more prevalent in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Then factor in all the boomers who moved away 20 years ago when the fishery first collapsed. Many of these people will return home upon retirement after having paid all their taxes to another province. That places an increased burden on a taxation system that did not receive the benefit of their taxes for the past 20 years. How will these shortfalls be covered?
What about resettlement? You know that government is always looking at that when their finance gurus are explaining the problem mentioned above. Are we going to resettle 100 or more communities? How much will that cost? Where will they move to? If we pick 5 regional centres and move them all there - what will be the increased burden on those cities or towns?
If not resettlement how does government pay for the upkeep of thousands of kilometres of roads - deteriorating badly? How does government afford to keep reasonable health services in those communities?
Now let's talk about the taboo - OIL - what happens when that oil is gone? When will it be gone? What will happen to our cities and regional towns? We have lost two mills, mines, and may lose our last mill. We will have no oil sector and the fishery will be dead.
I will guarantee one thing - if the future plays out as discussed above - the leaders - our politicians of the present day will not be around. They may retire in Florida on the lucrative pension we provide them. They may move to a - then recovered Ontario. Their children will be provided for. Kathy Dunderdale may huff and puff every time her choices are questioned - but she WILL have a pension.
Our biggest problem is that our politically based system is very similar to a quick-buck corporation - concentrate on the now - the next few years - the next election. Unfortunately they see this as their job instead of being the keepers of our future.
If we build Muskrat now - there will be lots of jobs now and make them look good. Unfortunately there are no measurable numbers of long term jobs but there is certainly measurable long term debt. So while the shareholders of Emera will enjoy increased profits through guaranteed returns - we the owners, the taxpayers and ratepayers will suffer.
Our system of immediate political rewards, needs, and votes is also costing us at the Federal level. Right now - I am convinced that Stephen Harper can strip our province of every benefit of "con"federation - and Dunderdale will let it happen as long as the loan guarantee carrot exists.
We need vision and we need it now.
We need leadership and we need it now.
We need a plan and we need it now.
We need action and we need it now.
These games - childish political games - played by incompetent, disinterested, and/or partisan people with an need to satisfy the next polling period - will destroy us.
These politicians who through their own words, excuses, and frustration cause you and me to detest the fishery with them.
You think you can afford to not care about the fishery? Think again.
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