Post construction hangovers - Muskrat

Newfoundland and Labrador must have the worst record in the developed world for natural resource projects.

As Labrador rises up - rightfully so - against the poisoning of their people - the Island population is in its usual temporary jobs trance.

Premier after Premier in our history promised new wealth and growth through commitments of change in the development of our resources.

Always with the exception of one - we have been let down - robbed - and depressed as these commitments disappeared.

Each and every time the lure of quick and temporary jobs tempers the outcry of the public that we've given something else away.

Can we actually claim that jobs created during the construction of the Upper Churchill were in any way compensatory for the billions of dollars of lost revenue? As we charge Hydro Quebec 1/5th of a cent per kilowatt hour and they sell it at 100 times that - can we really celebrate the construction jobs?

We have done the same with minerals, oil, fish, and forestry.

The mourning of the Upper Churchill contract has been longstanding. There is no way we would ever let that happen again right? We swore - it would never happen again.

Now it has. The Muskrat Falls project is worse than the Upper Churchill - we will pay for this project - our children and grandchildren will pay for this project. Unlike the Upper - this project is over budget - unsafe and unnecessary.

Only yesterday I seen stories of people complaining about being off the job because Labradorians have the gall to demand a reduction in the poisonous aftermath of the flooding.

There is no justification to keep this going.

Here's what we have:

Danny Williams says great deal - many people say not so fast but were ignored by the media and called traitors, conspiracy theorists and naysayers by the politicians.

Williams leaves and then Dunderdale's job is to keep it moving no matter what. Many people were crying stop and warning the population that this project was bad and should be stopped.

The PC's Liberals and NDP allowed the project to keep going.

The PC's delayed the election to allow more money to be spent while the Liberals and NDP permitted the Tories to get away with it.

The media still not tuned in. Continue to ignore the many voices warning the people that this project would cause irreparable harm.

People were once again lured with well paying construction jobs for short-term personal gain - while these very employees were subjecting their own children and grandchildren to years of financial pain and continue to do so.

The unions did their special interest bidding and completely ignored the damage to the province as a whole. One group of unions would of course cause problems for another set of unions as the province would have to lay-off CUPE and NAPE members and have no money for teachers or nurses.

Labour spokespeople like Lana Payne encouraging the development and making sure the NDP followed suit.

This project needs to be stopped. We must have a complete resolve to the Northern Spur and we must know what the costs are to stop the project. This is not-withstanding the issues Labrador faces with environmental costs.

We need a referendum on this - and we need it now.

Where's the leadership?

Where is the commitment of all our people that we would never ever again let the Upper Churchill happen again?

We are letting yet another 3 generations down - as we bankrupt their future and allow corporate interests rob our resources.

Roll up the Rim to Grim (what will we expose if we roll up the government rim)

1. Why does a Saskatchewan Crown Corporation supply cable television to Hospital Rooms in Newfoundland and Labrador when we have very expensive fibre optic capabilities? Sick people recovering in our hospitals are paying the Government of Saskatchewan money!

2. Outside of Russell Wangersky - why are no journalists absolutely demolishing the deal between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Roebothan McKay Marshall to sue tobacco companies?

3. What qualifications in the oil and gas sector does Miss Elizabeth Matthews have to sit as Vice-chair of the CNLOPB? Why did she cross the floor to join Danny Williams and his team and did she bring any information from the Liberals over with her?

4. If selling energy assets to a Quebec firm is such a good news story (as claimed in the Telegram today by Nalcor spokesperson) why did Sue's Blog have to bring it to the attention of the people in our province?

5. Why are we saving Nova Scotia from its energy problems when we have to pay for it, they compete for industry with us, and they currently have better economic stats that matter. (employment numbers, population)

6. Why is the government not delivering full disclosure of the Emera deal to the people before it is done as promised by Danny Williams?

7. Why does Kathy Dunderdale believe that as an unelected Premier - she should be completing resource deals - when she and most of her MHA's demanded that Grimes not do deals for that reason?

8.Where does John Hickey sit on the request from the NunatuKavut people regarding Muskrat Falls environmental hearings? Does he represent any of these peoples?

9. Why did Danny Williams not secure redress on the Upper Churchill contract either before he quit or before he struck Emera deal - as promised?

10. Is Danny Williams having any influence directly or indirectly on the government and decisions being made - now that he has left office? If so what decisions?