St. John's South - Is there an election?

Tom Osbourne is not somebody I would consider to be "unbeatable" however with the current state of the Liberal and New Democratic parties - apparently he is.

This idea of sticking names on a ballot to give people a choice is garbage. My district is St. John's South and best I can tell - there is a coronation here as well.

I have received nothing from the NDP or Liberal candidates - not a visit - not a brochure - not a notice regarding my polling information.

In fact I received more during the nomination process between two PC's (Tom Osbourne and Hubert Ryall) than I have for the actual election.

Tom has sent out two brochures and my polling information - and if I needed it a ride to vote. Nothing from the other two.

Now from the standpoint of my Liberal contender Rex Gibbons - I know all I need to - not to vote for the privatization agenda again.

On the Liberal website this quote is used from Rex:

" On October 9th, I invite the voters of St. John's South to surprise the pundits again, and return me to the House of Assembly."

Now there's something to vote for! Rex you were elected because Clyde was popular.

On Rex's personal website - this statement - apparently an endorsement by leader Gerry Reid:

As MHA for St. John's West from 1989 to 1997, Rex contributed tremendously to public life. His leadership skills were respected and admired as he took on the role of Minister responsible for Mines and Energy, including other Natural Resource sectors, for about two years during that same period.

Yes Rex was great - people like you and I had to fight him for over 2 years to stop him from privatizing Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Not only is Rex bad news - but apparently leader Gerry Reid thinks he's a leader with great policy ideas.

Clyde Bridger is my NDP candidate - I am told by that website that he is a union activist who likes to take pictures - bike - and backpack.

There is not an election in my district - there are names on a ballot. There is no real choice for me - but I do have the right to spoil my ballot - because I am going to the polls.

Danny is a bully - very dictatorial - and loves power. It's really too bad that voting Liberal would actually be worse - would be further to the right.

See you tomorrow as we assess the damage.

Vote against "giveaway" mentality and

I am entitled to my entitlements...

This morning I found out a Liberal is running in my district. Joining Tom Osbourne - incumbent and Clyde Bridger for the NDP is Rex Gibbons.

Well St. John's South - you now have the opportunity to get rid of the remaining vestiges of the "giveaway" mentality.

It is time to tell Rex Gibbons again that attempting to privatize Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro was not only a bad idea (and still is) - but it would have dramatically increased our electric bills - denied the province of hundreds of millions of revenues - and eliminated a great asset owned by our children and one which has become the core of our new energy corporation.

It is time for Rex to retire - and the policies he espouses should retire with him. His take on energy is not only naive it is dangerous - as it would continue to turn over our resources to billion dollar multi-nationals with less than maximum return to us - the people.

It is time to send the Liberal Party a message - that if they want to attract new ideas and people - the front-line must move to the back. If the party is to be rebuilt for 2011 - then Rex Gibbons - Walter Noel - Scott Andrews - Danny Dumaresque - John Efford - Roger Grimes and Norm Whelan have to relinquish the stranglehold they have on its future. You see when the Party President and Campaign Chair have to run - the Libs are no longer membership driven - they are desperate to return to the "glory days" of Clyde Wells and Brian Tobin for their own satisfaction. When you think about it - would Danny Williams want it any other way? For as much as Danny has become a folk hero the Liberals have become a folk villain.

This is not a case of taking one for the party when it is down - this is "it's my party" and nobody else is allowed to come. They will cling to their pathetic grasp of power by the fingernails - until finally it is all gone. They will take the party down further rather than relinquish their self-appointed titles (including the leadership). For them watching new people take the helm is painful - they should take that out on Tobin - not the party or the people.

St. John's South is in a wonderful position to say - we reject your giveaway mentality and we reject a party that is a social club for a few wannabes and hangers-on.

Rex Gibbons will not get my vote.

I have never heard from Rex - that privatizing Hydro - would have been a bad idea - have you?

Gerry Reid will PRIVATIZE NLH

I can state this because Reid is opposing the people of this province investing in oil and gas projects offshore.

I am left to wonder if Reid's "war room" actually even considered that this thinking could be applied to all our resources.

Think about this for a minute - first Reid says Newfoundland and Labrador already owns the oil and gas. In fact we do not - Canada owns it - and we receive royalties based on Canada's recognition that we are the province adjacent to the resource. If we want to own it - we must separate from the federation.

Then Reid says - Danny should not risk the peoples money by taking an equity position - in fact he says if we elect the Tories and let Danny buy equity - he will bankrupt the province.

On that basis - the debt outstanding by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro would also be seen as a risk and have to be eliminated. Reid's thinking would have our Crown Corp sold off to outside investors (Ontario Pension Fund) or perhaps Fortis - and we will take royalties instead of the profits. Taking that further - he would develop the Lower Churchill by giving that development to outside investors and ask for a few royalties in something we actually own. Under Reid's New Liberalism we - of course - could not risk investing our money in such a project.

Williams has many weaknesses in policy - especially in areas such as the fishery - pulp and paper - agriculture - and rural development - and in these areas he does not enjoy broad-based support. Reid chooses to take on the equity position - which does have broad-based support of a people who are sick of giving away our wealth for a few coppers and jobs.

Reid has gone from left of center - to Harper's best economic policy bud. And all of this because the Libs have resurrected policy experts like Rex Gibbons. The Liberal leader has not yet learned that this direction is a political failure. If the party does not wake up and understand that people of this province want more from our valuable resources - Williams will have an unending term of office. This is not what we need and the fishery and rural Newfoundland and Labrador will suffer. But if we elect Reid - everything is gone.

Can't vote Liberal - Energy Policy by Gibbons and Dumeresque

Voting Liberal means returning to the energy policies of Clyde Wells and Rex Gibbons - PRIVATIZATION included and further deters any ownership of oil and gas projects. And worse he tries to dupe the media - or he does not understand the issue at all.


It's no secret that I have policy issues with the Premier. I support his move to acquire equity in the oil patch - but I do not support his failed fisheries policy - failed rural policies - and especially the suggestion that Lower Churchill power be exported. The "pamphlet" he calls an "energy plan" could have been written in a few nights by myself and a couple of energy zealots. Further it is an insult to Labradorians - simple as that.

I also don't like his style - the Führer comment that got him into an outrage - pontificating on hitting below the belt. The Premier says they will do the campaign without getting into "gutter" politics. The truth is - the man threatened civil servants - threatened to sue bloggers - and generally is a bully. He surrounds himself with "experts" as long as they are his buddies or past business partners.

I support his stand on removing non-renewable resource revenues from equalization - but he is doing nothing practical to make "Steve" live up to his promises.

He's just dragged out the joint management of the fishery again and his desire to see Canada take custodial management of the nose and tail of the Grand Banks - but oddly when Loyola Hearn reneged on this promise - he claimed Tom Rideout and the provincial government agreed with changes made to NAFO on surveillance and penalties. Then the whole works of them got rid of FPI - no equity there. This also includes the Liberals who did not want to upset some of the potential for political contributions.

But let's get to it.

Gerry Reid has just added another piece of logic to his "no equity" policy. Now he says Norway just took equity because it needed to kick start it's offshore - in the same way that Canada did when it took equity in Hibernia.

Why then Gerry does Norway continue to take equity position? Why then Gerry does Norway continue to be a major shareholder in Norsk Hydro? How about this?

Norway has produced this year - a "simple" easy to follow "FACT" sheet on the petroleum sector. Here's a sample found in the document.

The government receives a large share of the value created through:

* Taxation of oil and gas activities

* Charges/fees

* Direct ownership in fields on the Norwegian continental shelf (through the State’s Direct Financial Interest, SDFI)

* Dividends from ownership in Statoil

The State’s Direct Financial Interest (SDFI) is an important source of state revenues, in addition to taxes, fees and dividends from its ownership in Statoil. SDFI is an arrangement in which the state owns interests in a number of oil and gas fields, pipelines and onshore facilities. Each government take is decided when production licences are awarded and the size of the state interest varies from field to field. As one of several owners, the state pays its share of investments and costs, and receives a corresponding share of the income from the production licence.

Gerry - regardless of what Rex says - trying to sell the media that crap is bound to come back and bite you.

And Gerry - let me cut this off at the pass - on Hydro...

Just last month - and based on the current and future value of hydro-power the Government of Norway issues this News Release:

The right of reversion – The Government secures public ownership of hydropower

It says in part:

Today, a provisional decree has been passed in the King’s Council with instant effect which is considered to bring the right of reversion in accordance with the ruling of the EFTA Court and the EEA agreement. It is stated that the basic principle of public ownership of the Norwegian hydropower resources at state, regional and local level is being maintained. It will no longer be given licenses for acquisition of waterfalls and hydropower plants to private actors. Such actors can, however, still own one third of public owned hydropower plants, Mr. Enoksen says.

and

I am very pleased that we have reached an arrangement which completely keeps our most important renewable resource on public hands. We maintain public ownership at state, county and municipal level and thus secure all public hydropower owners rights to the hydropower without time limits, Minister Odd Roger Enoksen states.

Voting Liberal means returning to the energy policies of Clyde Wells and Rex Gibbons - PRIVATIZATION - included and further deters any ownership of oil and gas projects. And that goes for Party President and Candidate Danny Dumeresque (another Clyde boy that promoted and apparently still does support the ideology of privatizing hydro).

The smell of "Old Liberalism" cannot be masked by expensive perfume...

What is it with the Liberals? They describe themselves as left of center on their web-page (at least it did until they updated it today)- while going right of Williams and the Tories on energy policy.

The answer is Rex Gibbons - if the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador continue to follow the strategy of this man on energy - the Liberals will fail - politically.

Yesterday Gerry Reid was telling university students that equity in oil projects would not happen under a Liberal government. In defense of this position - Reid said that Alberta does not do it - so if that energy powerhouse does not do it - why should we?

Two answers to that Mr. Reid - and you would see them if Gibbons would stop advising for a little while.

1. Alberta owns it oil and gas resources. We do not. When Alberta develops it can say - you may develop this parcel if we receive this amount in royalties and we get a refinery or other petro-chemical industry in Alberta to process the resource. We are not allowed to refine our own oil until the refineries in Eastern Canada are fully satisfied. Do you understand this? Have you read the Atlantic Accord recently? Rex has - and Rex knows. Rex was the Minister of Energy - he made the deals on oil and he attempted to privatize Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. His policies failed and he has not been re-elected since.

2. Who cares if Alberta or other Canadian provinces do not take equity? I don't - I do not need Alberta to guide us on what we as our own jurisdiction should or should not do. We can have independent policy choices. Further - Reid should know that many other jurisdictions in the world do seek and achieve equity positions - such as Norsk Hydro.

Then there is the Liberal policy on wind development. Once again Rex (Clyde) rares his head and Gerry spews a suggestion regarding private wind generation.

Here is the situation Gerry - if Hydro guarantees to buy the output of such generation then you and me Gerry will pay for it via our electric bill. When that is paid - who do you prefer a portion be returned to - our provinces treasury or let's say the Government of Italy. This creeping in of private sector energy developments is back-door privatization of a resource we own outright. Further Gerry - you should ask Rex what happens when you have multiple players in the generation sector inputting into an electricity grid. You should ask him why Ontario had the big blackout when Quebec did not. You should ask him how we guarantee maintenance with a group of private generators and the cost of not having that control. You should ask him what happened with the joint use of utility poles - and what happens when one group maintains the poles a little more or less than another.

Until the Gerry Reid's "New Liberalism" stops depending on failed "Old Liberalism" policies - the party will continue to enjoy falling polls. It's time to let new thinking take over from Rex Gibbons - Clyde Wells - and past Minister Walter Noel. There is no perfume they can buy to make these policies smell good.



And as for Labrador energy policy - both the Liberals and the Conservatives fail - and they will get a sense of that as they crawl and slither around Labrador looking for a vote (the right to exploit Labrador to benefit the Avalon).

As I write this - back comes John Efford - dipping his toes in the political ocean - John - even if we can get past all the spending scandal and you were as pure as the driven snow in the administration of your constituency allowance - you are the one who told us to take or leave a lesser deal on equalization.

I close with this observation. If Williams does not win 3 of 4 seats in Labrador - he will not have a real mandate to develop the Lower Churchill under less than "best" terms for the Big Land. This is something I hope Labradorians will consider.

The Weakest Link

It's real easy to beat up on Gerry Reid today - the polls are miserable for the Liberals - to say the least.

As the Leader of the Official Opposition - Gerry's pay is a little more - but he's certainly not compensated for the load placed on his shoulders.

There is no doubt - now - to people who care about the existence of a Liberal Party and who genuinely want to rebuild it - from the bottom up - with complete top-down replacement - that the policies and the people delivering them are not resonating with the voters.

This is not just Gerry Reid - he just wears it. First of all almost half of people who will at least admit they will vote Liberal - will not back their leader - they choose Danny or are undecided. That's a tough one for the party and it's advisers - who chose to place Gerry Reid up-front despite the numbers showing he is lagging behind the party. That was and is a a strategical error in the Liberal campaign. Secondly the Liberal policies (such as they are)are not being supported by Liberals let alone the general population. Thirdly "New Liberalism" is an oxymoron if delivered by Gerry Reid - Danny Dumeresque - Rex Gibbons - John Efford - Norm Whelan - Walter Noel - and Roger Grimes. "New Liberalism" must fall to the party supporters - who clearly want a change in the old "party".

So while Gerry wears the shirt - the rest of them are responsible for manufacturing it.

There are real issues out there to challenge the Premier on - but if the communications director and other staffers and executive - don't see immediate media interest - it is placed on the back-burner. Currently there Liberal leadership seems to take direction from the media - which ultimately traps them into Danny's message. Generally speaking the local "journalists" are frightened to death - disinterested - and/or incapable of doing the necessary investigative pieces needed in a democracy - when the Opposition is weak. There are some exceptions - usually in the Telegram or on the Fisheries Broadcast. Outside of that - we get carnage - school opening - doggy-doo - red herrings - and an update of government News Releases.

The whole cable-gate fibre-optic fiasco would be hammered by Opposition and media alike in any other province. But since Kelvin Parsons made the slip in the House of Assembly of saying - the deal might be alright - while challenging the process - not a word. The Liberal caucus has buried it.

The energy plan that has been promised time and time again - has still not been released - despite the announcement of a wind project - the issuing of a draft on the gas royalty regime - to the major oil and gas players - but not to the public or media. The energy plan still in hiding despite the continuation of Lower Churchill discussions - and work in the field. Without that plan we cannot know what this government believes will be the energy needs for Newfoundland and Labrador for the next 50 years. Therefore the direction for the Lower Churchill is cart before the horse. But the Libs say nothing and worse have not released any suggestions of their own.

The sale of FPI - and the disregard of this government respecting the value of the marketing arm - and it's disposal to Nova Scotia. The joke of a fisheries conference and the continued out-migration of our people caused by the instability in this our most valuable natural renewable resource.

Instead of hammering and hammering on the Stephenville mill or the situation with the Metis - they continue to fall all over the Hebron MOU and the Premier's position with the oil magnates.

Inconsistency in policy by this Premier when it comes to equity positions and demands for processing facilities - goes unchallenged.

The non-response to the restructuring of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - and what the real potential problems might be. The piece meal privatization of generation projects such as the wind project - which sees Newfoundlanders and Labradorians paying the Italian Government for energy.

To hold a News Conference to say - we will lower fees for your automobile - seems a little shallow when compared to the astronomical decisions which have to be made.

It still amazes me that cling-ons of the Liberal Party - demand to keep control - and do - despite the outright rejection of the voters. This is what happened to the federal Tories and if this continues here - there will be a wipe-out of this Liberal Party.

MHA Roland Butler was just on VOCM talking about matters in his district - when Randy Simms asked him about the poll. He answered "...we can't ignore what the polls are saying..." well yes Roland - unfortunately the Party is ignoring what the polls have been and are saying - that is the problem. Roland also mentioned the polling is done with 400 or so people - no - that's wrong - they alter the numbers every other poll - this time over 800 people were polled. This is something the staffers might have advised him on.

The Liberal Party has chosen to promote its weakest link heading into this fall election - I only hope there are Liberals who are seeking office - who reject this decision and keep their feet firmly on the ground in their chosen districts - and stick to what works for their particular constituency. Remember people - there are and could be some backbench members that will have less of a voice than a strong Opposition member.

Although the numbers for the PC Party are astronomical - Danny is still ahead of his party - that's something neither the Liberals nor the NDP can campaign on. The NDP may hang on to their traditional vote and may even take some from the Liberals - but Lorraine's leadership is limited to maintaining the one seat the Party has kept - primarily because Signal Hill - Quidi Vidi has become a seat of entitlement for the NDP - something which also must change.

I await with interest to see if the hold-up in the St. John's East Tory nomination - is not being held to "Marshall" the cable guy's agenda. Will we see Ken or Steve come forward in the next couple of days? Despite Jerome Kennedy's billing as the star winger - the center-man has yet to emerge for the Ballard - oops I mean William's team.

For Newfoundland and Labrador - the loss in not restricted to the Liberals imploding - it may also include the loss of the Lower Churchill as a key growth potential for Labrador - as the Premier gets drunker on "power".

Time to wipe the Slate clean...

The way I see it - Danny Williams will govern with 48 members the same as he would govern with 28 - 30 - 35 etc.

In fact the Liberals that are there provide no real opposition as they are uninspired - offering minimal solutions - and generally twisting already failed policy directions.

Danny will win the next election - and as people we will need a new government in waiting. We will need new ideas and challenge the status quo - with emphasis on youth and the future of our nation.

Wiping the slate clean of all Liberal incumbents is a great start leaving the party with no choice but to attract new people and finally pass the torch to others. You can only recycle Walter Noel - John Efford - Rex Gibbons - Gerry Reid and Danny Dumeresque so often.

I receive emails from Liberals every week who feel abandoned by the party and no longer welcome to provide input. Although they know come election time their "volunteer" time and services will be sought - they know they hold no real place in the tired party.

Hopefully the Labrador Party can elect 2 or members this time around - funny - but I think they would provide much more effective opposition than the Libs hanging on by their fingernails.

It is not pleasing at all to know that Danny has another 4 years - and there will be many challenges to keep him and the Cable Guys in check but it's nothing the Libs are doing. For the most part the government is being challenged by certain Telegram reporters - bloggers - and open-line contributors.

Consider - when Danny flies away - when he is finished - the remaining group are essentially bob n nods for Williams and not one of them is showing leadership potential. Worse another Cable Guy or Ross Reid could be hiding in the wings to keep Newfoundland and Labrador in the right hands. The NDP refuses to build! The Libs will need to provide new new new - else cable or railway guru 2 will be anointed.

There is no opposition - they take a holiday when Danny does - they ditch and run federally - when Danny says it might be opportune for them to do so and the remainder are the recyclables on the outside. The most press they can generate is when Efford says "he won't rule out" running again. Oh goody....

Hopefully in 4 years the picture will be brighter.