Firing the NL Tories for their own good

Back at it. I've been away from the blog for a while and much has happened since I last posted. While I was not blogging - I was following all the news and happenings both in Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.

While I must dedicate many posts to particulars - one theme has been prevalent throughout the couple of months. Our democracy is eroding and only we can prevent it from crumbling entirely.

The Conservatives in Ottawa and the Progressive Conservatives here at home appear to be ruling at their own will and ignoring the people who really control their destiny - us.

Our system of democracy places great power in both the Prime Minister's Office and the Premier's Office - and when the governing party has a majority - that precious power - one which they should be humbled by - seems to make them arrogant and dictatorial.

Both Bill 29 here and Bill C-23 in Ottawa demonstrate that arrogance.

Currently we have a Premier in waiting - Frank Coleman who will be handed the position of Party leader and Premier by acclamation in July. The provincial Tories have not had a leadership contested in 20 years. It's been a placing of the hands - however few - and a passing of keys to the office. The only say we as the electorate have is during a general election or some of the electorate in a by-election. Clearly this is a party not too concerned about people getting a choice of leadership candidates. The delegated convention just showed its hand or slight of it - clearly this process is antiquated and open for significant manipulation.

There is a real media story here and certainly our local journalists should show more interest. This would be in the public interest and serve as a great reminder that the people are not prepared to be fed what the self-proclaimed masters have chosen for them.

How many Cabinet and Caucus members ever met Frank Coleman prior to indicating their support for him? Were delegates chosen prior to any debate process for the candidates? Why did Frank Coleman become involved in the leadership process? What evidence is there that Frank Coleman ever held any interest in public office? We went from Lynn Verge to Loyola Sullivan to Ed Byrne to Danny Williams to Kathy Dunderdale to Tom Marshall and now Frank Coleman without once ever having a choice at a party ballot. This is very convincing evidence that people are being chosen by a few without any real consideration of party members.

Surely the PC's must be sent a political message - get your act together on leadership - open up the process so that any Newfoundlander and Labradorian who wants to vote can - and encourage not discourage a robust campaign with many candidates and plenty of open debate.

Remember also the last Tory leadership that was actually contested in 1995 still only had 2 contestants Lynn Verge and Loyola Sullivan. Prior to that it was 1989 when the leadership contest enjoyed 5 candidates - the eventual winner Tom Rideout. After he was beaten in the general election by Clyde Wells - Len Simms was appointed leader.

The PC's in this province and their backroom have not trusted their membership to choose the "right" candidate for two decades. The chameleon support or "big money" have their hands in all parties. The last leadership of the Liberals seen the people - not a chosen few - elect a leader. This of course is also encouraging as it can be said - that Dwight owes his position to the people not a chosen few. When one is prepared as interim leader to open the field wide and welcome 4 others to the race - one is willing to stand on ones own merit. It also demonstrates that debate and other points of view are welcome.

What we have been left with is a bunch of sitting Tories Cabinet and Caucus who sat on the bleachers choosing not leadership but cheer leading and the uncontested Frank Coleman who says he thinks they all did a fine job. Surely the Tories must do better or we might be faced with a Mulroney/Campbell scenario - where the NL PC's are replaced with a Conservative alternative. I'm sure there's a Peter MacKay like sitting on the Newfoundland and Labrador Tory bench waiting to sure up their importance. Or perhaps the Tories will hang on to a couple of seats in the next election - just enough to really start a renewal and hopefully precipitate a real leadership contest. How many of you think Frank Coleman is staying for a gig in Opposition?

Bas Jamieson and the Mystery Lady

Three of the Jamieson boys were kind of the same - but Bas was a great combo of Don and Colin's memorable personalities.

I grew up hearing about Don - his intelligence, his diplomacy and politics. Colin was my boss at my real first job at Q-Radio - later to become part of the CHUM group.

Bas - however - was Don and Colin rolled into one. He had a wonderful mind and a great broadcasting presence. I got to experience both - and that is what I recall today.

When former Premier ClydeWells and his government were going to privatize Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - I along with a few others became incensed. We knew that Clyde had planned some privatizations due to the economic times of the day - but until he uttered it from his mouth - after the election - did we know it would include Hydro.

So - we had to make a noise - we had to be heard. We needed to let people know how shortsighted this was and that Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro was a Crown Jewel.

I began really listening to open-line programs then to see if anybody was going to speak up. Clearly this was not going to happen unless somebody (outside politicians) raised the issue publicly.

I remember picking up the phone and calling VOCM - not sure if it was open-line or the night line - big gulp - then a producer picked up the phone. He asked what my name was and I chose to remain anonymous. I was frightened to death. I knew what I wanted to say - sort-of - but I was shaking. Sweat on the brow - Bas announced that line #1 was up - and that was me. We had a good chat - and he made me feel comfortable. He told me I did alright as a first time caller and to call back again to talk about the Hydro issue.

At that time the VOCM talk shows were really the voice of the common man. There was no inundation of politicians and people lined up on the phone in the order they called and Bas got through the list.

I called several times over the following weeks - remained anonymous - but as Bas was - he had to give me some sort of nickname. I became the "mystery lady". Well the mystery lady and Bas had some pretty significant chats about Hydro and politicians started to perk their ears up. As a host Bas was fantastic - he challenged then listened - with patience - to hear a reply. He took the information in almost moment by moment and within short order - Bas - demonstrated a knowledge of Hydro that the majority of PC Ministers don't have yet.

Bas's memory and analytical thinking were crisp and his broadcast personality and diplomacy took the fear out of people who might otherwise not have weighed in. He was challenging - but with great restraint - as he tested the theories on Hydro that were now coming from all directions. He made me think - every time I finished a call. I would check my facts - review more material - and be eager to share it with him - and through him have a wonderful conversation with thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

I was joined on the line after a few months by Greg Malone, Cy Abery, and Hydro workers (who remained anonymous). Everybody was getting engaged - we even managed to drag in the Opposition Party - at that time Len Simms and LynnVerge - were at the forefront. As more and more people became involved Bas treated them all with respect and patience as the debate on Hydro waged on. The more heated it became the more diplomatic Bas became and because of that others felt comfortable weighing in. He was the best host of a talk show we had ever seen and likely to see. His job was to get the information out - and challenge rhetoric - so the people - his audience - could make an educated decision on the issue.

Bas did not hold back when he needed to get through the nonsense and he did not distinguish between a Cabinet Minister or a caller from the Big Land. Everybody felt their opinions and positions on the Hydro debate held value - that's because Bas made sure it was that way.

The real difference between Bas and others who came before and after his hosting was his driven desire to let everybody get involved - he loved it when the population used their democracy as it should be used. He loved it when the politicians got bees in their bonnets and reminded them that they serve the people - and the people have the right to speak and be heard.

Eventually myself and Greg Malone got together and formed Power of the People and gathered other like minded individuals together to fight the privatization full-on. I knew Greg - as most did - from the Wonderful Grand Band and his artistic accomplishments - but I came to know more as we met on the Hydro issue. Bas in his usual way - encouraged Greg to call and bring his passion and knowledge to the debate. I think Bas knew he had two feisty ones on his hands - but managed to bring the best out of us both. Greg had a more calm demeanor - while I (the younger Sue) was filled with impatience and somewhat intolerant of the politicians and their spin. Bas however - got the best out of Sue - and eventually I became Sue - after I needed to identify myself as we - the Power of the People - were granted an meeting with Premier Wells to have our say directly.

The decision not to privatize the Crown utility was the right one and has netted the people billions of dollars both in value and lower utility rates than would have been in the years that followed. Bas Jamieson was the social catalyst that allowed the full debate to occur. Bas Jamieson was the reason  the people - not the politicians - won the day. His intelligent, kind, diplomatic, and patient and social persona allowed democracy to work at its best.

The decision was left to the people because Bas was the consummate professional - and we - the people - were the winners.

Obviously Bas had a long distinguished career that entailed many more broadcasting feats and his voice is one I will not forget. I wonder what he would have done if Twitter was the rage when he was doing the show? My guess is we might have heard "there's more brains in a can of rabbit" more than a few times - as partisan backbench Tories put out the fluff.

Thank you Bas and thanks to his family for sharing this gentleman - who truly made a difference in all of our lives.