More Breaking News

Puerto Rico as you have all probably heard by now - is essentially bankrupt - on fiscal life support - in need of massive bailout. It is considered impoverished.

Newfoundland and Labrador on the other hand is designated as a "have province". That puts us ahead of the provinces collecting equalization.

 In the 2017-2018 year, the following provinces will receive equalization payments:

• Quebec ($11.081 billion)  (please note this amount) program designed to suit them.
• Manitoba ($1.820 billion)
• Nova Scotia ($1.779 billion)
• New Brunswick ($1.760 billion)
• Ontario ($1.424 billion)
• Prince Edward Island ($390 million)

Back to Puerto Rico

Outstanding debt: 70 billion
Population: 3.4 million
$20,588 per person 

Unemployment 10%

Newfoundland and Labrador
Outstanding debt: 13 billion
Population: 528,000 
$24,621 per person

Unemployment 15%

This does not include the 13 billion dollar boondoggle Muskrat.

Both Puerto Rico and Newfoundland and Labrador see migration to the continental parts of their countries - both permanently and for temporary work.

Puerto Rico and Newfoundland and Labrador are losing population.

Puerto Rico's aging demographics are much healthier than Newfoundland and Labrador's 

We must also consider that Newfoundland and Labrador receives as all provinces do - transfer payments for programs such as health and education not so much for Puerto Rico.


There is a three-pronged problem here.

The first is the understanding or lack thereof of the Equalization program. I have discussed this briefly in a previous post.

The second is that even the reasonable or equitable (to some degree) parts of equalization - leaves us essentially bankrupt because although we have the resources to generate tax, royalties, revenues - we have mismanaged the resources so badly that what equalization considers we should generate from resources - we don't actually generate from them. (oil revenues unfair part)

The third problem is the absolute ignorance deliberate or otherwise of our politicians - refusing to actually understand the mess we are in.

And these same people continue to permit spending on Muskrat Falls.

The people of Puerto Rico just like the people of Newfoundland and Labrador love where they live and want to stay. However both jurisdictions are likely to see significant migration to their respective "mainlands" simply to survive and thrive.

Note to Labradorians - my use of the word "mainland" does not refer to you. I recognize the difference.   



 

We can't stop Muskrat now!

You know the old saying If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it.

We are the proverbial people spoken about.

Lie 1

We need the power

Lie 2

This is the cheapest alternative

Lie 3

We need to get around Quebec

Lie 4

Holyrood will be eliminated

Lie 5

It will cost 7-8 billion dollars

Lie 6

We need it for industry

Lie 7

We will own the transmission line to the Island

Lie 8

Ed Martin quit/retired

and now the biggest whopper of them all

Lie 9

We can't stop Muskrat now

For each and every lie above we had head-bobbing from ignorant MHA's and Ministers, we had a media in report but not research mode, and we had and have leaders who lead us down a garden path.

Each and every one of these lies was repeated, reported, repeated, reported, and repeated and reported.

Each and every one without a modicum of real and unfettered independent investigation.

The first big whopper - "we need the power" was one leader and the last big whopper  "we can't stop Muskrat now" from our current leader.

Both of them have tried to back up the statements with "input" from experts. The current expert Stan Marshall - riddled with government exempt conflict - has proclaimed "this is a boondoggle" but "we can't stop it now".

The first part of his statement "this is a boondoggle" is something that should be used in the Captain Obvious Hotels.com commercials. The second part "we can't stop it now" is coming without real proof or true independent review - that should be demanded by the people.

We suspect there has been/is some form of corruption going on. We know for certain incompetence has been abound and continues. We know we were lied to. Any reasonably minded person would say - it is time to stop the boondoggle, forensically audit the boondoggle, review the results publicly, and then look at all options.

Not here though. Lie repeat. Lie repeat. Lie report repeat.

It is unfathomable.

 

A lie told often enough becomes the truth. Vladimir Lenin
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/v/vladimirle132031.html

A lie told often enough becomes the truth. Vladimir Lenin
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/v/vladimirle132031.html

Triple D - Danny's and Dwight's Dominoes

The title includes both Danny Williams and Dwight Ball - as Williams started the Muskrat mess and Ball seems determined to finish it.

The domino affect for Newfoundland and Labrador of this disastrous, ill-conceived, potentially corrupt project is astounding.

1. the astronomical debt burden on taxpayers and ratepayers
2. the questionable engineering to date on the project
3. the unquestionable loss of population that will occur
4. the unquestionable decimation of disposable income for a significant percentage of people
5. the unquestionable destruction of small/medium sized businesses relying on disposable income
6. the unquestionable increase in unemployment (already at third world levels)
7. the unquestionable reduction in essential services - as government seeks to find savings
8. the unquestionable increase in poverty - particularly seniors on fixed income and children
9. the unquestionable rise in taxation that will have to be introduced should energy subsidies occur
10. the unquestionable giveaway of more resources to try an offset 1-9 above

This project will be successful as the driving factor for out-migration and those remaining will have to shop at Costco or Walmart to survive - thereby eliminating and NL or even Canadian company existence.

Many of our abnormally high aging population will be left here as their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren move to more economically stable province, States or countries.

Rural Newfoundland and Labrador will be decimated at a greater pace. 

Health care, education, and social safety nets will not be maintainable at today's level - let alone advance.

Crime, drug addictions, and suicides will - in my opinion - be on the rise.

Meanwhile the fat-cats will be enjoying the wealth attained through the destruction of our province.
The fat-cats don't care - for the most part that's why they're fat-cats.
More seniors homes and long-term care will be needed as they cannot live at home with assistance from their children (who are gone) - yet there is no money to do this.

As younger taxpayers/ratepayers leave Newfoundland and Labrador the taxation and revenue needed to fulfill debt obligations will be shared among fewer people.

This is the catastrophic position we are in.

Ball - for his part - will not stop Muskrat and conduct a forensic audit and truly examine all options. Muskrat has consumed him and many of his colleagues. Ball - instead - will hold out on making a decision - any decision - as is his norm. This will cost us - our province.

Williams is running around complaining about infrastructure St. John's is "unfairly" imposing on him - and taking potshots at Dobbin - another "leader" of the business community.

Ball's biggest concern about seeking leadership, winning leadership, seeking elected office as the Premier - is whether or not the Townie big corporate community would accept him and take him seriously. He is working extremely hard to win their approval.

In my opinion - Williams for his part is unwilling to accept criticism - of any type and will parade around like a litigation happy snapping turtle.

The current crop of MHA's and. Ministers are primarily incompetent as it relates to policy areas such as energy, education, and health - to name but a few.

The government backbenchers are as probing as our media was during the Muskrat cheer-leading days.

The Official Opposition is in free-fall having promoted and backed the Muskrat fiasco - including Kent who opportunistically found another source of grand public servant pay - as leadership hopes or return to Ministerial  prominence was fading like the caplin stock. Leadership potential is about as good as chicken left on the counter for 2 days.

The NDP is nowhere in sight - as it finishes its dismantling to start anew. Now that the union workers have completed a fair chunk of the Muskrat fiasco - it might be okay now to throw out a few jabs.

The Danny dominoes were lined up when the Liberals took power - and the dominoes are now falling quickly after Dwight pushed the first one.

As I said in my last post - time is NOT on our side.

Our Secret Society - Who is the head Puppeteer?

Bill 29
Untendered Contracts
90 million $$$$ ????
Land deals
Resource giveaways
The Miracle Budget
Finding 1 billion in a month


The political hum in the air is undeniable - it is very stinky.
It stinks to the high heavens.

So the PC caucus need not know about the secret commercially sensitive $90 million dollar talks?

Will these MHA's vote for a budget when they are not privy to all the details?

Will these Tory Backbenchers stand up and really be counted or will they act as they are being treated - like garbage littering the seats at the peoples house?

Little Miss Bluffitt these days seems to be aloof to polls and commentary on her government. She has risen above the criticism and is going to do what's best for us - as if we are 4 year olds wanting to cross the street.

"I cannot govern by polls" she says with a flip of the head and the shrug of a shoulder. The same woman who heads a herd of non-scientific poll fixers, riggers, party puppets?

The strings are becoming more and more apparent as days go by. The upper echelon of the PC party must be getting ready to pounce or getting ready to leave as the next election draws near. I suppose that will depend on if they got their fair share of the public pie.

Eliminate the justice system?

It matters not who is in control of project management at Muskrat - it matters not if we are told a thing about the billions she and her posse is spending of our money.

So who's getting another little piece of education pie this time? Are we once again trying to keep the population as uneducated as possible?

And yet still 48 members of the House of Assembly - no cuts - no political staffers worried about getting the blue slip.

Based on those oil projections driving Muskrat Falls - and the oil projections driving our deficit - we had better bring this government down - sooner rather than later. If enough protest and speak out - she will have to go. Democracy must be restored - let your voice be heard.

She is a liar.

Dunderdale uttered the following in the House of Assembly on March 21-2013

PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, only the Leader of the Liberal Opposition would have the face to get up here and talk about somebody calling in to a radio poll, when they in their time in government had two full-time people in the Premier's office whose only job – Tom Hann and Sue Kelland-Dyer, let me remind people of the Province – was to call in to Open Line to carry the party line, Mr. Speaker, and to influence people of the Province. Now, Mr. Speaker, that is the truth.

The tip of the iceberg - what does the woman say in private settings and meetings? Well everybody will soon find out. Pure desperation!

Come out from under the protection of the House of Assembly - where all things you say about private citizens are not able to be dealt with in the courts - and repeat the messages.

Don't forget those other points and observations you make - when in "appropriate" company.

To the boys in the backroom - Keep those Solid Gold ideas flowing...

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.

Putin - Harper - Dunderdale - Same Thing?

So three young women protesting the Putin regime in Russia have been found guilty of hooliganism. They have been sentenced to two years in jail.

Harper must be envious - if only he could get this much control. Don't be surprised when he does exactly that - as this is proper order in society.

Time to wake up - really - governments afraid of students, scientists, peaceful protesters, and average citizens will make sure they are intimidated, prosecuted, sued and otherwise harassed to bring them in line.

Do you really believe we are that far behind Putin? Think again. While we are at it - how about attempted control of the media? Harper is great at that - comparable to his buddy Putin.

As for our own government - well they are out and out opposed to transparency - freedom of speech - and open debate. They must control anything and everything relative to information and policy. They now want to make sure that when you contact your MHA about a problem - personal and private - it must go through scanning at the partisan level.

Putin - Harper - Dunderdale three very bad peas in a pod clinging desperately to power - afraid of people - but legislating control. We are certainly regressing and that can only be to satisfy dictatorial politicians and the corporate masters they serve.

Good Morning MHA's - NEW POLL HEALTH - NL Dead Last

Good Morning to our MHA's - and after another long night of debate let me give you some Carnation Breakfast to wake you up.

Secondly - I better get this information out before Steve Kent shuts down the House or perhaps all documents are barred by Bill 29.

So Vickie Kaminski is headlined in the Telegram today "Best way to gain confidence is performing well".

Read this NEWS

Star exclusive poll shows Saskatchewan most satisfied with health care, Newfoundland the least

If you live in Saskatchewan, chances are you’re pretty satisfied with health care. In Newfoundland — not so much.

And in Ontario, you’re happy with family doctors, but much like the other provinces, you feel emergency services could use some work.

A new poll exclusive to the Star shows wide-ranging satisfaction with health care across the provinces, with Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick scoring highest, and Nova Scotia and Newfoundland falling behind.

In Saskatchewan, 26 per cent of respondents were “very satisfied” with health care, and in Manitoba and New Brunswick it was 25 per cent.

In Newfoundland, only 10 per cent were very satisfied, followed by 13 per cent in Nova Scotia.
“Saskatchewan, which is sort of the birth place of medicare, has the highest satisfaction ratings with health care,” said Lorne Bozinoff, president of Forum Research, which conducted the poll.

“Then it varies considerably across the country.”

Bozinoff attributed the low overall score in Newfoundland to a shortage of specialists, such as cardiologists and pediatricians, and poor ratings for laboratories, possibly due to lack of access.
“That’s probably driving the dissatisfaction, the low satisfaction numbers, in Newfoundland overall,” he said.

A total of 75 per cent of respondents in Manitoba, 72 per cent in New Brunswick and 71 per cent in Saskatchewan were either very satisfied or satisfied with health care. In Ontario it was 66 per cent.
The survey found Ontario is above average for satisfaction with family doctors, specialists, diagnostic labs and hospitals, but fell behind the average on pharmacists and dentists.

The most highly rated health-care service in the survey was pharmacists, with an average of 63 per cent of respondents saying they were “very satisfied.” In Quebec, it’s 71 per cent, but in Ontario it’s 58 per cent.

The lowest satisfaction ratings went to walk-in clinics and emergency room services, which scored a national average of 21 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively.

Emergency services were the poorest received across the country. In Ontario 17 per cent of respondents were very satisfied with the emergency room, while Saskatchewan was the only province to top one-fifth of respondents. Newfoundland, Quebec and Manitoba ranked lowest at 9 per cent.
Hospitals scored highest in Prince Edward Island at 31 per cent, followed by Ontario and Saskatchewan with 26 per cent each. Newfoundland was last at 8 per cent.

Satisfaction with walk-in clinics was also highest in P.E.I. at 28 per cent, followed by Nova Scotia and New Brunswick at 24 per cent.

Family doctors were best received in Ontario and Saskatchewan, with 40 per cent of respondents very satisfied. The lowest scores go to P.E.I. at 29 per cent, and Newfoundland and Alberta at 32 per cent each.

In general, the survey found Canadians over 65 were more satisfied with hospital services, walk-in clinics, family doctors, pharmacy services, dentists and emergency services.

The poll results are based on an interactive voice response telephone survey of 3,932 randomly selected residents aged 18 or older across Canada. It was conducted on May 30-31st, 2012.

Results based on the total sample are considered accurate, plus or minus 1.56 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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.

Dunderdale a Bully and a Bluff

There are two things I can be certain of with Premier Dunderdale; first she will bully her own people and local business and she will cower to Ottawa and national/multinational corporations.

Today in the House of Assembly and on some "we dont' debate on Twitter" tweets our Premier attacked the official opposition and the nation's third party for failure to stop the closure of the marine rescue sub-centre. Meanwhile she - as the leader of the Government and her federal choice for Parliament are actually failing to prevent this closure.

Dunderdale looked weaker today than she ever has, huffing and puffing her misdirected steam at Opposition MHA's while the girth of the bobbing heads on her backbench grew.

Dunderdale is afraid of Harper and afraid of big corporations - on the counter side our Premier has no problem roughing up locals like fishermen, local businesses or municipalities.

As a big fish in the little sea - she is all powerful - aggressive - punitive - and threatening.

As a little fish in the big sea of Canada - she is gutless - timid - weak - and afraid.

Premier Dunderdale will take on local bloggers with a gusto - she will demean Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who dare to challenge the Muskrat Falls fiasco - including former political leaders, energy experts, lawyers, environmentalists, and academics. On the other hand she bows down to the knowledge of Premiers, business leaders, and experts from other provinces and pretty much kisses the feet of Stephen Harper. The Prime Minister who has mistreated this province and lied to its people and leaders - gets more respect and decency from Dunderdale than she shows her own constituents - Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

You Ma'am are a disgrace. You Kathy Dunderdale are a bully and a bluff!

Darin King - Twit of the Twitter - Condemns his Own Party!

Yesterday in the House of Assembly - Darin King proved - once again that he is full of it - wit -twit twitter.  


Below is a partial transcript of what Mr. King was saying during debate on Interim Supply, Bill 2.


Let’s be clear, members in this House do not debate through Twitter, contrary to popular believe. I have said that, Mr. Chair, I do not engage very often but I did engage a couple of nights ago to say that if you have important questions on the fishery or sealing – because I would love to talk about all of that today – that this is the place to do it. Not only is it the place to do it, you have an obligation and a responsibility, when you put your name on the ballot to get elected to represent the people, you have a responsibility to raise those issues on the floor of the House of Assembly, I submit to you, and I invite you to do that today.


This is not a joke people - he actually said this. What did the media do? Nothing!


When the House of Assembly was held hostage by his government for months - they did not open it - what happened? Well the Minister of Natural Resources was debating the Muskrat Falls deal 140 characters at a time - and on some occasions a host of Tory Ministers and backbenchers were on Twitter debating with other politicians, bloggers, and other Tweeters from the province. 


Then he says that MHA's who put their name on a ballot have the responsibility to raise issues on the floor of the House of Assembly. No - you don't say Minister - that is what the population was telling you when your government would NOT OPEN the HOA. 


With a straight face King rose in the HOA and said that rubbish. Worse he was not challenged and berated by a media who knew the difference. 


So Mr. King I believe you just taught Mr. Kennedy a lesson. And as Kennedy so loves novellas and poetry - might I recommend Of Mice and Men or perhaps Bobby Burns' "To a Mouse". 


So if the media is going to declare that issues as important as Muskrat Falls are over - perhaps they could stop the nonsense and deception being delivered by our Ruling Party.


Further - making this worse is the fact that when the Tories were twitting away - while the House was closed - the same media was reporting as NEWS - that the government members were now debating on Twitter. 


While you're at it - let's get to the bottom of the fishery - 140 characters at a time. 

The Covered Building Holds all the Secrets

Have you driven by the people's building yet? You know the (Con)federation building.

Have you noticed all the sheets draped over it?

Outside of changing the bricks to Tory blue - the sheets are holding another meaning.

Since (con)federation in 1949 and the initial Joey's ownership years that followed - the WillDun administration must be the most secretive and unaccountable government.

So enter stage right - Danny Williams - and boom - all truths will be revealed. Let's bring the Auditor General in and let him see what everybody else was trying to hide. While former MHA's were being carted of to jail - Williams was busy.

Yes we seen an untendered pile of money go to Dean MacDonald's company, Persona for "good" public policy reasons. I call this "Flip that Utility" - which you can read HERE.

Then we seen Williams - after demonstrating shock and disappointment - over the findings of the Auditor General - promptly call in Chief Justice Greene to study what went wrong and present a report on how to fix it.

Chief Justice Greene in his usual style - expertly reviewed the material - and presented a superior report with recommendations. (He should be a Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada) If that were to happen I could actually say that the federal government had for once made a good decision. In either case, Chief Justice Greene's report spoke specifically about the need for accountability in public accounts.

So Danny - King of the Truth and Accountability - after the worst mess since Sir Richard Squires - proceeded in presiding over government MHA's that did not hold a public meeting in 6 years. Nobody noticed! Excuse me - we had 4 MHA's locked up and nobody noticed that the PUBLIC Accounts Committee was not holding PUBLIC meetings?

Roland Butler the Chair of the Committee and a Liberal - said nothing. Just the other day - the retired Butler said he tried but the Tories would not let him. He's RETIRED and now he's talking.

What of Lorraine? Well the NDP did not have a seat on the Committee - however - the Leader wanted one right? Where are all the News Releases over the past 6 years complaining about the fact that the Committee was not holding public meetings? Is the deal here that if I don't have a seat on the Committee it does not matter? Well no sooner had I wrote this last night than Ms. Michael says in the Telegram today that "When our caucus is represented, I can assure you we will speak very strongly in favour of regular public meetings". I'm sorry Ms. Michael but that is very weak. Why would we have you on it - if you will not speak of it until you are there?

So after the King of Truth exposed the corrupt and criminal behavior of MHA's including his choice for Deputy Premier - Ed Byrne - he proceeded in running a secretive government.

Anybody remember poor Tom Osborne? He was booted from Cabinet by Williams - why? Well as we all recall a bureaucrat did not advise Osborne about error rates in the hormone receptor tests; Osborne has not been in Cabinet since the removal.

Kathy Dunderdale for her part - just experienced a scathing review on accountability by our current Auditor General. Anyway you slice it - it's keeping the public away from how decisions were made on billions of dollars. Open and accountable? Not a chance. What did she say about the negligent behavior of her own MHA's regarding the Public Accounts Committee? Well - apparently she didn't notice either - but now that the CBC has advised her on the operations of a House Committee - she will be drilling down on that.

Let's have a serious discussion here people. We the people are not in control of our own government or the MHA's that we elect. After the most disgusting exposure of corruption and criminal behavior by some of our elected representatives and the not-criminal but very questionable expenditures and behavior of many more - we are allowing them to set up another system that is ripe for abuse.

The PC, Liberal, and NDP had at least one of their MHA's locked in a prison cell - and therefore every party should be super sensitive to anything that may look odd to the people they serve. For 6 years these politicians sat on their hands and said nothing about this very disturbing situation.

How arrogant are they? Well they take the recommendations of a Chief Justice and essentially flush them down a toilet. What do we do? Is it time to meet on the steps of the Colonial Building?

You see what better way to set up a secretive government than by claiming to be the King of Truth and Accountability on the front end?

Waiting for change from these politicians? Boot them out first or make them change the rules first? Which comes first the chicken or the egg? I am going to have to trek from here to the chicken farm by Cochrane Pond to think about it - oh wait that's private property now - right?

Premier Dunderdale is in Contempt - MOCHA any one?

MOCHA Members of Closed House of Assembly


Relax - have a MOCHA moment.


We are working - just not in the House of Assembly.


Simple really - YOU were elected as Members of the House of Assembly.


You refuse to go into the House of Assembly.


Cabinet and the Premier are supposed to answer the questions of the people in the House of Assembly. The people have elected opposition members of the House of Assembly and they have a role to play in our democratic process.


The people expect that the Opposition Members that they elect will have a reasonable opportunity to utilize Question Period. The people expect that Opposition Members may introduce a Private Members Bill. How can any MHA introduce a Private Members Bill if the government as a body supersedes the elected body?


Dunderdale's party had the most MHA's elected so they form government and appoint a Cabinet. This has nothing to do with members as members to perform their MHA duties.


Note to MHA Perry and others promoting the message - that "just because we are not in the House of Assembly does not mean we are not working". Your message is ridiculous - has no validity - and is a poor excuse for avoiding your duties.


Each MHA has the same value and importance and each has the power of their vote, their voice and their participation in the House of Assembly.


When Ms. Perry you were elected as an MHA - you were elected to represent the people of your constituency regardless of your party and the outcome of what party becomes government.


Ms. Perry you may sit in the House of Assembly and vote against government measures all day long - and while your party may boot you from the particular political association - they cannot remove you from the House of Assembly.


All MHA's should be pushing for the opening of the House of Assembly - period.


When government starts dictating the value of the House of Assembly to the point where a Premier could declare there is no reason to open it - she has crossed a boundary - she is in contempt of the people and their vote.


It is an abuse of governmental power to treat this institution with such disregard.


Open the House of Assembly or resign sit back and have a MOCHA.

The Progressive Conservative Party does not own the House of Assembly - the people do.


As an MHA you should demand respect for the House of the people or resign - you are a disgrace.

What next? Should we expect that the House of Assembly has been acquired by the PC Party? Will it now show up as an asset on the balance sheet of the PC Party at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer? 

The man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is justly entitled.  ~Andrew Carnegie

Keeping the Twit in Twitter - What was James McLeod of the Telegram thinking?

Below is a tweet from Mr. McLeod - a reporter with the Telegram.

This is offensive, intrusive, and unnecessary. James the two MHA's were sworn in. 

I will repeat that journalists in this province are going to have to buck up. There are many things I want to know about both MHA's but they are relative to the job they will be doing for us the people. 

As you read the tweet - just think of other things that could have been inserted.

TelegramJames James McLeod
 

"Bennett swears on a bible. Kirby does not use the bible."

"Talk with Sue" gets explosive tonight as we take on The Muskrat Falls deal!

At 8 pm Tonight "Talk with Sue" takes on the Muskrat Falls deal. The newest talk show in Newfoundland and Labrador will be explosive tonight. 

Listen to what Joey said, what Joey orated, what Joey promised, what Joey articulated on the Upper Churchill and what he promised on the Lower Churchill.

Let's blow the top off the Muskrat Falls deal and look inside - whether the Premier likes it or not.

Let's look at the whys - the lies - and the ties to this this deal. 

PRESS HERE TO GO TO THE SHOW

If the PC government does not want to talk - so be it. The people will.

Don't miss this revealing and frank discussion on the Muskrat Falls deal. Join the conversation - you might just find yourself outraged by this current crop of MHA's!

Renouvellement de la Politique Québécoise (this takes guts and makes sense)

I am sure most of Canada looked at Quebec after the federal election and scratched their heads. What was all that about? They threw out most of the Bloc, continued to punish the Liberals, and yes continued to find Harper too un-Canadian. They elected a group of youngsters, university and college kids under the NDP banner. They left some incumbents standing to make sure Quebec's interests were covered by most parties.

Canada and its media looked on and tried to figure out - how did that happen? Was it Jack Layton? Well - yes it was - in some part - as Jack is a native son and is progressive regarding social policy. Jack is also now the leader of the official opposition.

So Quebec now dominates the caucus of the official opposition which in some part counters the ownership of Government by Ontario. Quebec has sent a message to all politicians in that province - do not get too comfortable - you are replaceable. Quebec has looked to the future and said - let's bring in the rookies - the youth; let's take advantage of the vote mob and bring fresh new ideas to the table.

Let's engage the future generations of Quebec and involve them in the protection and service to Quebec - change that is required to move ahead and not stagnate.

The pundits - the critics were out in full force - essentially making fun of absentee candidates and those who were not bilingual, too young, not established, and most importantly not yet owned. That's exactly the point - Quebec rejected the establishment, the worn, the politically corrupt, and traditional voting patterns.

I look at the House of Assembly in Newfoundland and Labrador - my home province - and am jealous of the Quebec political renewal. I look at the bourgeois population of the peoples House and am tired and bored. I know the new kids on the bloc representing Quebec in Ottawa - despite being rank amateurs in the politics of politics - are far more inspiring than the entitled MHA's we are subjects of.

Look at the nodding heads sitting behind Ms. Dunderdale or other Cabinet Ministers; do they inspire you? Do you get a sense of independent thought from any of them? Do you experience chills as they stand up and make predictable Members Statements? Their hands are "rubbed raw" from clinging to Danny's shredding coattails. They speak on important matters such as the Lower Churchill with passion only seen in the dead eyes of a drowned cod.

Quebec said no to; Crosbie begets Crosbie - Ottenheimer begets Ottenheimer - PC begets Kevin O'Brien - High School Principal begets yet another nodding head - all waiting to jump to their feet and cheer if the Premier says something - anything sounding similar to an insult to Jones or Michael.

Quebec demonstrated one very important philosophy - Democracy.

This is not about getting rid of the sovereignty debate - that is still alive and very healthy at the provincial level. It is about renewal. It is about Quebec. It is about a lively and unpredictable voting population that will keep politicians under their employ; as long as they say.

I would be willing to throw the whole works out for a bunch of new people - un"established" in the partisan sense of the word. I would love to see all MHA's replaced with students, fishers, miners, small business owners, and single parents - diverse and new. People who are truly representative of people and have the ability to have thoughts and ideas unencumbered by intrusive life-long senior bureaucrats still pushing failed and unwelcome policies.

In Quebec - this summer will be about the culture, the language, the pride, and the aspirations of a country - their own. In Newfoundland and Labrador we can look forward to unseasonably tanned politicians dragging themselves from funeral to BBQ without missing a beat and expect the people they come close to standing beside rush to get the camera to capture the moment they came close to shaking the hand of our legislative elite.

You feel comfortable with the Lower Churchill development? Why? I know Stephen Harper will be delighted to take away that cheap, renewable, reliable power and watch as Newfoundland and Labrador pays an enormous price - both short and long-term. I know Stephen and Peter will be happy to deliver to Nova Scotia and perhaps even Ontario. Stephen Harper enjoyed making a promise he will actually keep to our people - as it will represent something that diminishes our future.

You think it's time for a renewal in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Something is really rotten - it's not a dead Muskrat

Something is rotten in Newfoundland and Labrador - it`s not a dead Muskrat - but if allowed to fester it will eat away at everything that`s possible for the future of our children.

I have seen plenty of corruption, lies, deceit, and self-serving maneuvers in politics - but in my adult life - nothing comes close to this.

If this rot is not questioned and exposed it will ruin us and it will significantly enrich elite market prostitutes, substantially enrich self-serving - don`t give a damn about anybody else - local companies - and improve the lot of clapping seals for their ignorant, I want a Cabinet Post, blind agreement by lazy self-serving louts we call PC MHA`s.

1. Announcement of a Term Sheet with Emera to develop Muskrat Falls. Newfoundland and Labrador people knew nothing of this prior to the announcement.

2. Danny Williams leaves politics - unexpected - and almost immediately after he announces the Term Sheet. No real answers given for the departure - just sniffles and tears and he proclaims undying love for Newfoundland and Labrador.

3. Kathy Dunderdale appointed interim Premier - which most - including media took to mean she would be the caretaker while the PC Party chose a new leader.

4. Rumors that Kathy might run for the post began to circulate raising expectation that she would step down and pick another non-leadership hopeful to the post.

5. Kathy then says she is not interested in running for the position - and expects that those that are might have to vacate Cabinet posts.

6. Speculation abound that Jerome Kennedy, Tom Marshall, Kevin O`Brien, Tom Hedderson among others were considering the run.

7. One by one these people dropped out while Dunderdale`s name continued to be thrown out - with her approval no doubt. Then came the question again - when would she relinquish the Premier's chair to make her bid.

8. Next the slow progression of unknown promotion of Dunderdale - culminating in Kathy standing without her caucus in an understated announcement that she would seek the leadership of the PC`s. Claiming the support was overwhelming - she had to graciously accept her popularity.

9. Along comes Brad Cabana - who? That's right Brad Cabana - first everybody laughed - but as the party fought his candidacy Liberals and NDP and some longtime - no longer in the loop Tories - started crying foul.

10. The media of the Province - like starving wolves -forgot everything else and packed around Cabana like the next coming until finally the charade was over and Brad found his way over to the Liberal party - waiting with open arms for anybody to want them.

11. No need for Kathy to step down now. No now there would be a coronation for the woman who did not want to be queen.

12. Then there was the fisheries fiasco - yet again another report - that initially government held back - more controversy - then decided to release - and then reject - kind of - maybe - we will see.

13. The fishermen and plant workers of our province begging for a buy-out - a retirement package - anything to save a bit of pride - while all independence is squat out of them.

14. Then the kicker - Danny and Kathy were fighting and word leaked out deliberately that Danny was not going to attend his own tribute - a rift. That certainly put to bed any speculation that Kathy was doing Emera for Dan right? Media did not bite enough so - deliberately leaked out - the rift was bigger than first thought and now the new PC's under new leadership was Harper's best friend.

15. Meanwhile back at the PC ranch Tommy Williams plodded on - still organizing the convention that his brother was not attending. Sure! That makes sense right? Rumors starting to circulate that provincial PC's and federal Conservatives were now going to get the "family" back together. What family? The PC's are not Conservatives right?

16. Meanwhile - Beth Crosbie daughter of John Crosbie - decided she didn't after all want her turn at the trough and let Jerry Byrne - brother of Jack take his turn - while the rumors circulated that this caused a rift between John and Danny.

17. Then Fabian was down every second day passing out money for wharves, roads, airports, whatever it took for the stund Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to forget his betrayal to the people. Everywhere you looked Fabian was there with another cheque - apparently from his own pocket right? No this was Fabian under Harper giving us our own money - money stolen under a lie by Harper. Thus the ABC campaign.

18. Rumors that Fabian, Loyola S, and John Ottenheimer would be seeking election for the Conservatives. Played up like they were making the ultimate sacrifice "lest we forget" as Danny has on the Christmas card in poor taste. Fabs leaving the Senate, Loyola giving up the ambassador for fish, and John walking away from the Nalcor Board as chair.

19. Jerry Byrne presenting himself in St. John's East as the candidate to build a bridge between Ottawa and our province. What bridge? What is he talking about?

20. Danny mumbling on about issues "not Elizabeth" were causing the ill feelings and even that he could no longer get the cell phone numbers of Cabinet Ministers. At this point they are feeling extra confident that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were stund and they could say and do what they wanted.

21. Elizabeth Marshall senator, wife of Stan Marshall - head of Fortis - comes riding in to chair Fabian's campaign - saying she was right when she did not support Danny's ABC campaign and the other seals now saying they were happy that the "family" was back together again.

22. Danny, the passionate tearful "we got it" Premier states he's no longer interested in the ABC campaign because he is not the Premier anymore - as if that makes a difference to somebody who is really passionate about their province. So he's out of the equation despite the fact he asked every Newfoundlander and Labradorian to follow him down the ABC path as a matter of critical importance to the very heart and future of our province. The most important issue of our lives - he claimed. Nah don't care about that anymore cause I'm not the Premier. He's is calling you and me fools - that's what it amounts to and so far we sit and take it.

23. Rumors that the loan guarantee may be coming now that there is a new relationship between the province and Ottawa has developed. But what of Quebec - the voting grounds of Harper for his majority?

24. Oh but wait Old Harry pops up - Quebec and Ottawa signing an accord on oil offshore that Newfoundland and Labrador apparently contests belongs to this province. Oops. Then there is the Romaine river and the piece about the secret deal between Nalcor and Hydro-Quebec seeing power go to isolated Quebec communities while Labrador communities drive diesel - even after Muskrat Falls is developed.

25. The whole issue with Emera is under-reported secret, commercially sensitive and the driving deal - the new Premier almost possessed with it's deliverance. Throne Speech, Industry speeches - Dunderdale sell sell sell that power. Nothing else matters - get the deal done.

26. Gone from Term Sheet to deals with Quebec company SNC Lavalin like there's no tomorrow.

27. Stephen wants a majority in Ottawa and two to three seats this time in Newfoundland and Labrador might do that for him. So a loan guarantee is coming and Fabian and Loyola - in debt to Harper for the posh positions agree to do the deed.

28. Nobody knows who is involved in Emera - if there are personal enrichment's here worth hundreds of millions of dollars and society should by now realize the extent that some people will go for money.

29. The deliverance of Newfoundland and Labrador - for power to other provinces so they may enjoy cheap power while the people of this province pay for it. The absolute ignoring of Labrador yet again in another giveaway.

30. The deliverance of a majority to Stephen Harper - favour returned by the Benedicts of our province.

31. The deliverance of Old Harry to Quebec along with millions of contracts for Quebec firms and workers from the Muskrat development.

32. The deliverance of hundreds of millions to shareholders (unknown) of Emera. Then the potential takeover of Emera by Hydro-Quebec - permanently barring our independence.

33. The PC MHA's that tore Fabian limb from limb - kiss and make-up as they are told they are now allowed to do. A disgrace to our forefathers - the fighting Newfoundlander and Labradorian.

34. The absolute destruction of rural Newfoundland and Labrador communities letting more of us beg for a living from the richest piece of geography in North America.

35. All of these bums anticipate that we the people are stupid, messiah worshiping idiots - that will bring their pathetic politically and morally corrupt arses to the promised land of wealth. By their behavior they would sell their own mother to achieve it. These bumbling incompetents - standing on their feet talking about the Lower Churchill like they had any clue - leading the people of the this province to ruin.

36. They all have the balls to sell their own people out - not one of them has the balls to do what's right!

37. The media - where are they? Questions regarding a deal or no deal? Questions of an unelected Premier doing a resource development? Questions on Emera? Danny's resignation? The secrecy of a deal - when they demanded Grimes tell it all on Voisey's Bay? The artificial rift? How could Tommy still be in when Danny is out? He can't get cell phone numbers??? Where's the investigation? Where are the questions? 

Good luck to you all.  This time we are going to need "God Guard thee Newfoundland and Labrador".

There are good PC MHA's on the Hill and they need to Act on Churchill

- got a message from Sarah - who if she's reading this needs to attach her email so I can return her message -

Here's the test of a good project for a natural renewable resource development - unlike what Steve Kent leads you to believe on person-years of employment - it relies on full benefits forever.

You see the proposal here does offer employment - just like its predecessor the Upper Churchill - it has to the infrastructure is massive. That's where the benefits stop and the giveaway begins.

First: financing for the project -oh yeah you and me and escalating power bills.
Who is doing that financing and how much will they make? What will you and I pay for the privilege of shipping out our wealth and Labrador's potential for industrial development?

When developing hydro-electric power - one must consider the environmental impacts of such a development and whether or not that impact can be justified by socio-economic benefits. There must also be consideration for what the power is being developed for and whether or not at the end of that assessment - that Labrador particularly will continue to benefit from not only power sales but permanent jobs from industry plugged into the power. All advanced societies develop hydro developments for that purpose. NOBODY gives away this power potential without first advancing significant industrial developments and a reduction of fossil fuels in the development region and reducing the cost to domestic consumers (you and me). That is the model which we know as Hydro-Quebec. Make no mistake - they are the most progressive and successful energy company in the world. This is measurable amounts due from the Upper Churchill development.

Newfoundland and Labrador has significant energy potentials - natural gas, oil, wind, wave, tidal, peat, and of course hydro-electric both small and large scale projects.

Which ones do we prefer to export? All of them if we have enough hydro-electric power - which we do - unless these PC Cabinet Ministers go ahead with this legacy of shame.

Wind is something like aquaculture - still developing - still with problems...
Wind also needs to be backed up by reliable sources - which makes it great for export - that is we can ship it while it is producing. We cannot rely on it for domestic uses - it is not as reliable as hydro-electric and it is more expensive. There are also real concerns as to where these costs will be going and also that most developments are by the private sector - which is not preferable for energy domestically as it is an essential product. That is why we continue to own Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.

We have failed if we do not accomplish the following:
1. Employment - virtually all by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with emphasis on Labradorians.

2. Newfoundland and Labrador retain ownership of the resource and project.

3. Hydroelectric power the entire province particularly all of Labrador for domestic purposes.

4. 90% of energy produced from large scale projects such as the Lower Churchill be used to fuel industry in the region where it is produced.

5. Offset environmental effects using every means possible.

6. Achieve federal support for the project as partners - wherein we utilize federal funds for financing - similar to the Hibernia arrangement - with the exception that we do not pay it back - but accept it as partial payment for the lost ground fish resources.

Wind energy to be developed should be exported at market prices as well as other non-renewable potentials. Wave and tidal power potentials should be researched and developed by Nalcor for future growth and export potentials.

I will further explain to PC mha's the following - not difficult - the fuel that drives hydro-electric power is free - it is water - the fuel that drives thermal generation is not free and volatile, oil gas coal. Which one should we use for our domestic and industrial use? The answer is very simple.

Wind although arguably a good source of renewable energy does have problems with reliability, storage, and continued infrastructure costs. One must also remember how many turbines it would take to generate 700- 1000 megs of power needed for an aluminum smelter. In either case you have to back it up with another source.

This is just the beginning of the assessment and we will have to explore fully the role of the proposed partners, the gouging expected by the private sector. The vulnerability to Quebec as the proposed partner, Emera is a publicly traded company and open to takeover - hostile or other.

The examination of what it will mean to the future of our province - particularly Labrador as we continue to export and giveaway our best industrial advantage.

Then for getting nothing, giving it all away, and ruining our potential - we as consumers will see astronomical increases in our light bills. The same thing was anticipated when we proposed to sell Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.

Last but not least - Labrador communities will remain unconnected and reliant on either Hydro-Quebec or thermal generation for domestic power - while Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, maybe Ontario and New England States get their hands on our cheap renewable hydro power - that for some reason they can find industry to use.


Back to the basic equation - Hydro development costs + transmission + loss of energy through transmission + maintenance + marketing + administration + profit = affordable power that Nova Scotia can attract industry with.

While Hydro development costs + minimum transmission + virtually no loss of energy through transmission = more than affordable power - deliverable in Labrador to industry that our incompetent politicians cannot attract.

Without a doubt - this is a giveaway - the same as the Upper Churchill except this one will be more expensive for us. This would be a legacy of shame that these PC MHA's would have to live with as their grandchildren ask the whys.

Liberal MHA's eventually took Clyde Wells on and advised the Premier that the sale of Hydro was not acceptable. Now these PC's must look within and do the right thing - before they leave public life.

Without a doubt this is not a good deal and there will be no excuses for those who would allow this to happen this time.

Social Experiment #2 Danny wants to Lose Labrador?

When Clyde Wells employed Doug House - he knew what he was getting - and he knew what way to utilize his skills. Over a million dollars later I expect we have another Premier doing the same thing.

Here's one theory:

Labrador just might deliver what Danny Williams wants - 0 seats - or if one seat - it must be in an area where he's likely to receive support for his plans for Lower Churchill Power. That is in an area where if all the power is exported - they will make specific direct financial gain for their peoples.

Clyde Wells used Doug House to determine on a regular basis - how a community - mostly in rural areas of the province would react to some government cut-back - amalgamation attempt - loss of a fish plant here or there. He also used him to determine what the fight might be on the privatization of various government entities including Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. (He got that one wrong) He also used the knowledge of Doug House to determine how people were going to react to "education reform". As a sociologist House is known for "unique" socio-economic concepts (as yet I have not seen one work). He in a way is a social scientist who conducts experiments on communities of people.

This time - in his backroom - as a Deputy Minister of Provincial Development Plan (whatever that is) he might have been determining how people in Labrador would react to the "energy plan". That pamphlet falls well short of a real plan - but it is a document that makes statements to bring predictable results.

Same players though - Tobin hovering somewhere and MacDonald as the Chair of NLH - Doug House and a newbie to the social experiment - Ross Reid - who came back to Newfoundland and Labrador after conducting his and others theories in democratizing countries such as Afghanistan.

Danny Williams will not allow to happen what Grimes did allow. Remember Dean MacDonald's very public resignation from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro under the Grimes proposal for developing the Lower Churchill? I could accept the public hissy fit if MacDonald himself under the Tobin regime had not supported a proposal which would have seen Quebec own over 33% of the development. No hissy fit then.

Danny Williams and the gang want to do the Lower Churchill project - and the last thing they need is government MHA's or even a Cabinet Minister from Labrador crossing the floor in protest or putting on a display of disgust similar to the MacDonald resignation. My guess is Danny wants to have have the project sanctioned by Island MHA's and Ministers.

You see Danny is not stunned - he must have known that Labradorians upon viewing the "plan" would be up in arms. I believe he knew he was hanging Hickey out to dry - I believe he knew he was giving Yvonne Jones enough to be re-elected and I believe he suspected that Labrador West would give Baker the boot. Hard to know on Pottle - she may be able to sit in Cabinet and deliver to her district millions in royalties/revenues and also deliver an industry with a private power project in Torngat if I was hearing John Hickey right today.

You think Danny and the gang knew that by stating a transmission line would come across to the Island while not servicing Labrador would get the "predictable" outcry? And just before the election? This document - which could have been written in a week took over 2 years - and did exactly what I believe it was supposed to do - annoy Labradorians. I think Danny will be a happy man if Labrador seats are lost and gains are made on the Island.

You see the man gets on the radio and everywhere that he can be heard and takes cracks at popular Labradorians like Stanley Oliver - who before he is a Liberal - is a Labradorian. He knows he is giving a proud Metis - Chris Montague what he needs to turn the tide. I have to trust he is intelligent and as such knows that he is really bugging Labradorians - even by quasi-suggesting that Pottle might make it to Cabinet.(something he is not doing on the Island) Everywhere else the man is appeasing voters - but not in Labrador.

Multi-millionaires are made by reading the masses and what they can sell them. So far everything seems to be on plan.

Yvonne Jones's Locker

From beneath the Labrador sea an urchin is growing. This invertebrate (creature lacking a spine) appears to be surfacing just enough where we can catch a glimpse.

Dennis Normore upset his boss the other day by suggesting that a Liberal win in Cartwright - L'Anse Au Clair would mean the district could be punished.

Up he shot right from the bottom of the sea - and spoke like Neptune. There shall be none of that he bellowed. Following close behind an urchin - listening to him - decided to butter her bread on both sides. She echoed behind him and added "he is a statesman".

Now poor old Normore still without feet wet - quickly retreated bowing all the way back to the beginning and said "I'm sorry - I'm naive". Geez that last bit sounds familiar. I think Neptune used that one on the Stephenville paper mill issue.

Anyway - singing the praises of Neptune did not make sense coming from the urchin. Her fellow urchins had already declared that Neptune was a "dictator".

Statesman - Dictator nope they don't go together.

Neptune's little clams have all been preaching "I wanna be on Neptune's team" for months now - explaining the reason to vote for me is because: "Our district needs to be on the government side".

Now Normore might have come out and out and said it - but the little clams are alluding to the same thing. So why did Neptune blow some bubbles about Normore - and worse why did the Liberal MHA praise him so.

As the story goes:

One day Neptune saw the water nymph Amphitrite dancing in the island of Naxos and fell in love with her. He promptly asked her to marry him but unfortunately she refused. However, not discouraged by Amphitrite refusal, Neptune sent one of his servants, a dolphin to look for her. The dolphin found her, and pleaded Neptune's cause so persuasively that she changed her mind. As a reward for finding and returning Amphitrite to him, Neptune immortalized the dolphin by placing it in the heavens as the constellation Dolphinus.

Will Jones be that Dolphinus after the next election? Will she help Neptune find and win his true love (power)? and another seat?

Now let's see if they are Serious about FISH IMPORTANT FORUM

Politicians - FFAW Reps - Fishers - Media and the General Public will have the opportunity to hear an address by Bob Applebaum - former Director General of the International Directorate of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Among other responsibilities Applebaum was extremely involved in the Law of the Sea negotiations resulting in the 200 mile zone and involved in establishing the NAFO Convention.

Bob has been retired sine 1996 but has kept a close eye on the continuing strife of what is our fishery and has appeared as an invited speaker to the Senate hearings on the fishery. More recently Applebaum sent a letter of great concern to Minister of Fisheries - Loyola Hearn. The correspondence outlined that NAFO negotiations currently underway may have the outcome of hurting Canada's position within NAFO and partial loss of control of our fish stocks. This talk should culminate in our increased awareness of the European agenda and how proposed changes to the voting mechanisms within NAFO could jeopardize advancements we have made and future protection and prosecution issues.

The public forum is July 23, at Hampton Hall, Monday evening 8 o'clock.

Sue's Blog thanks Gus Etchegary for his continued commitment to this most important issue to our people and our province by arranging this talk and providing the information.

I can't wait to see the 48 members or however many are left there with bells on - showing some level of commitment to why they are here to begin with. There are no BBQ's or come home fairs or regattas without our history - culture - and this renewable fishery.

Save our Youth - their communities - and our Future.