Let me preface this post by stating that it is the right of a Lieutenant Governor or Governor General to cause an election to be called at any time. Secondly an election would follow a successful vote of non-confidence in a government. These are long-standing parliamentary practises.
Newfoundland and Labrador also has a fixed election date. It is to occur on the 2nd Tuesday of October in the 4th calendar year following the most recent general election. This because of a new law in 2004. The only exception to this is if a Premier resigns before the end of the third year of the term - also enacted in 2004.
This means the fixed election date is replaced with a date not to exceed 12 months following the actual resignation date of the Premier. Once that election is held - regardless of the month, week or day - the election following will revert back to the fixed election date.
Okay let's take the Tory interpretation of this exception.
The Tories would have us believe that they have until they decide to hold a leadership, elect a leader, and swear the person in as Premier before the 12 month clock starts ticking.
Let's say a Premier resigns on October the 5th of the third year of the term. If we take their current actions as a benchmark - it would take them 8 months to select a leader. That would bring us to June of the last year of the term. Then let's say they were quick and swore the new leader in as Premier in June. What they claim is they would have 12 months past June to call an election - in other words 8/9 months later than the fixed election date.
The Tories would have us believe that the law they fondly nicknamed the Roger Grimes law was meant to give an "unelected" Premier even more time in office? Of course not. The whole point the Williams lead government was making is that you can't let an "unelected" Premier run the show - an election must be called. They used the words "unelected" and "illegitimate" Premier to describe Roger Grimes - but at that time it was only political rhetoric. Once the Tories took office - they made it real, legal, and binding regardless of which party formed a government.
The only meaning for the word "afterward" in section 3.1 (the section wherein there is an early resignation of a Premier) could only be related to a fixed date. That date is the resignation date of the Premier. The House of Assembly Act deals with sitting members of the House and the administration of our legislature and government - it has no interest - nor should it - with a Party's business and administration. It deals with Government and is not partisan.
The Act says without debate 12 months - that is a fixed number of months. The Act was giving a time frame relative to another fixed point in time. As the call for nominations and a party leadership process is a movable and a partisan time-frame - it certainly cannot be used as the fixed time frame from which the 12 months follow.
They must call an election by January 24th of 2015 and from there the Elections Act provisions will guide the date options of the election and the rules of the election.
Seriously people - do the people who made the laws - our MHA's - understand the laws they made? They want your vote in order to make more laws - think about that.
Showing posts with label terry french. Show all posts
Showing posts with label terry french. Show all posts
Sunday, September 07, 2014
Thursday, September 04, 2014
Perversion of Democracy! Media complicit?
With the latest news regarding the futures of Charlene Johnson - Minister of Finance and Terry French - Minister of Justice - the electorate must demand the call of an election.
Where to start - that's the problem here. The ignorance of or deliberate avoidance of the intent of the House of Assembly Act - passed by the Tories. A very significant part of this law deals with the early departure of a Premier.
When one reads the House of Assembly debate regarding this law - one can only conclude that the latest an election call would be is February/March of 2015. The intent was clear. If the governing party - responsible for the introduction, tabling, then supporting the passage of the law were planning to abuse the Act - why make the change? Why indeed. The Act does not provide for the bungling of or deliberate manipulation of the provisions of 3.1 and it certainly does not say anything about bad polls.
Kathy Dunderdale resigned in January of this year - and the party should have immediately called nominations for leader and settled in on a 2 month process to (s)elect a new leader. Instead they have been prolonging the process in a manner that achieves a full unentitled term.
The media has been irresponsible in their ignorance or avoidance of this situation - and as a result this so-called pillar of democracy has been absent. It is their job - their profession - to report, review, research, and present these real issues to the public.
Adding to the perversion of our "democracy" is the continued spending of taxpayer dollars by a caretaker Premier/s. Tom Marshall - is spending like the leader of a newly elected and wildly popular governing party. None of this is real. His view on power and democracy is nothing short of arrogant. He is spending and committing billions of dollars for generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. In my opinion - I think it's safe to say that the Tories under Marshall/Dunderdale/Williams will continue to govern for at least the next decade whether re-elected or not.
The spending on pensions, pay and benefits packages, infrastructure, education, health, and resource developments are commitments that will go on in some cases for years and in others for decades - long after their government is gone.
It can be argued that all governments must make some multi-year commitments - usually however it is under a legitimate term and legitimate leadership. This has been over since the New Year.
They will double our debt obligations in a province where they have not grown population and private sector industry. They will double our debt obligations in a province that is aging faster than any other.
Ironically as another 2 Ministers remove themselves from office - the biggest headline is Danny is going to give us an extra year of the Ice-Caps. Yay...
Note to "Journalists" - Get off your arses and provide the public with real information instead of the leaning drivel of another fellow in a bow-tie who appears thankful that the Tories will provide him with a delegated convention - so as to ward off the boredom of an open leadership process.
Where to start - that's the problem here. The ignorance of or deliberate avoidance of the intent of the House of Assembly Act - passed by the Tories. A very significant part of this law deals with the early departure of a Premier.
When one reads the House of Assembly debate regarding this law - one can only conclude that the latest an election call would be is February/March of 2015. The intent was clear. If the governing party - responsible for the introduction, tabling, then supporting the passage of the law were planning to abuse the Act - why make the change? Why indeed. The Act does not provide for the bungling of or deliberate manipulation of the provisions of 3.1 and it certainly does not say anything about bad polls.
Kathy Dunderdale resigned in January of this year - and the party should have immediately called nominations for leader and settled in on a 2 month process to (s)elect a new leader. Instead they have been prolonging the process in a manner that achieves a full unentitled term.
The media has been irresponsible in their ignorance or avoidance of this situation - and as a result this so-called pillar of democracy has been absent. It is their job - their profession - to report, review, research, and present these real issues to the public.
Adding to the perversion of our "democracy" is the continued spending of taxpayer dollars by a caretaker Premier/s. Tom Marshall - is spending like the leader of a newly elected and wildly popular governing party. None of this is real. His view on power and democracy is nothing short of arrogant. He is spending and committing billions of dollars for generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. In my opinion - I think it's safe to say that the Tories under Marshall/Dunderdale/Williams will continue to govern for at least the next decade whether re-elected or not.
The spending on pensions, pay and benefits packages, infrastructure, education, health, and resource developments are commitments that will go on in some cases for years and in others for decades - long after their government is gone.
It can be argued that all governments must make some multi-year commitments - usually however it is under a legitimate term and legitimate leadership. This has been over since the New Year.
They will double our debt obligations in a province where they have not grown population and private sector industry. They will double our debt obligations in a province that is aging faster than any other.
Ironically as another 2 Ministers remove themselves from office - the biggest headline is Danny is going to give us an extra year of the Ice-Caps. Yay...
Note to "Journalists" - Get off your arses and provide the public with real information instead of the leaning drivel of another fellow in a bow-tie who appears thankful that the Tories will provide him with a delegated convention - so as to ward off the boredom of an open leadership process.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Tom Marshall - Misleading the People!
Tom Marshall has made comments recently that really call his integrity into question. It is curious that a former Attorney General, Minister of Justice, a lawyer and current Premier would place his personal professional accomplishments behind party politics - but yet it appears he has.
Yesterday in this CBC interview - Marshall said "There's a premier in place, there's a cabinet in place, there's a caucus in place with a mandate to govern until October 2015"
This is - a deceptive comment that ignores the pith and substance - the meaning and intent of an important law respecting our democracy.
Fixed term elections were put into legislation to IMPROVE the democratic process. A few of us have noted that a loophole exists within the Tory initiated law - yet that concern has been ignored and now the PC Party is taking advantage of it. Below are the relevant sections: As you can see the intent under the "Election on change of Premier" exists to expedite the process of renewing a mandate if a Premier leaves before the end of the 3rd year of a term. This recognizes the need to go back to the electorate once the leader of the governing party exits. This is additionally important as the Premier is a public unelected office. So Marshall's comment - that there exists a mandate to govern until October 2015 - is not true.
We know in the case of Kathy Dunderdale - that her term ended 9 months before the end of the 3rd year in office and we should therefore expect - reasonably - that the PC Party would have a leader elected or selected in short order and then get to an election as soon as possible.
When this Bill was being debated in December of 2004 - the issue of leadership departure was significant.
Kelvin Parsons - at the time said after a leader leaves - it should be like a by-election and an election called within 60-90 day period. Terry French was agreeing with the concept - although felt 12 months allowed more reasonable time for a leader to be chosen and an election called.
Terry French said the following: Mr. Speaker, I believe, like I said from the beginning, that people of this Province, certainly, have the right to elect the Premier. The party should not have the right to select a Premier for this Province. Sure, they have the right to select a leader who will carry them into an election, and, sure, the party has the right to select the person they feel who is best qualified for the job, but then it is the job of the government of the day to put that person out in front of their party and say to the people of this Province: Who do you want? Who would you prefer? This person or that person? I believe this legislation will allow for that.
So what exactly are they up to? Why are the PC's not honouring the intent of the law? It is not our problem that they are mired in disorganization or worse - manipulation. Tom Marshall knows or should know the purpose of the law.
Marshall is dishonouring himself and all sitting PC MHA's by continuing to put off the call of an election - by using a loophole.
Tom Marshall must call an election immediately.
Shame on you Mr. Marshall - you have lowered yourself to protecting your party's interests instead of the people's.
Yesterday in this CBC interview - Marshall said "There's a premier in place, there's a cabinet in place, there's a caucus in place with a mandate to govern until October 2015"
This is - a deceptive comment that ignores the pith and substance - the meaning and intent of an important law respecting our democracy.
Fixed term elections were put into legislation to IMPROVE the democratic process. A few of us have noted that a loophole exists within the Tory initiated law - yet that concern has been ignored and now the PC Party is taking advantage of it. Below are the relevant sections: As you can see the intent under the "Election on change of Premier" exists to expedite the process of renewing a mandate if a Premier leaves before the end of the 3rd year of a term. This recognizes the need to go back to the electorate once the leader of the governing party exits. This is additionally important as the Premier is a public unelected office. So Marshall's comment - that there exists a mandate to govern until October 2015 - is not true.
Duration of House of Assembly
3.
(1) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the Lieutenant-Governor may, by
proclamation in Her Majesty’s name, prorogue or dissolve the House of
Assembly when the Lieutenant-Governor sees fit.
(2)
A polling day at a general election shall be held on the second Tuesday
in October, 2007 and afterward on the second Tuesday in October in the
fourth calendar year following the polling day at the most recently held
general election.
Election on change of Premier
3.1
Where the leader of the political party that forms the government
resigns his or her position as leader and as Premier of the province
before the end of the third year following the most recent general
election, the person who is elected by the party to replace him or her
as the leader of the party and who is sworn in as the Premier of the
province by the Lieutenant-Governor shall, not later than 12 months
afterward, provide advice to the Lieutenant-Governor that the House of
Assembly be dissolved and a general election be held.
We know in the case of Kathy Dunderdale - that her term ended 9 months before the end of the 3rd year in office and we should therefore expect - reasonably - that the PC Party would have a leader elected or selected in short order and then get to an election as soon as possible.
When this Bill was being debated in December of 2004 - the issue of leadership departure was significant.
Kelvin Parsons - at the time said after a leader leaves - it should be like a by-election and an election called within 60-90 day period. Terry French was agreeing with the concept - although felt 12 months allowed more reasonable time for a leader to be chosen and an election called.
Terry French said the following: Mr. Speaker, I believe, like I said from the beginning, that people of this Province, certainly, have the right to elect the Premier. The party should not have the right to select a Premier for this Province. Sure, they have the right to select a leader who will carry them into an election, and, sure, the party has the right to select the person they feel who is best qualified for the job, but then it is the job of the government of the day to put that person out in front of their party and say to the people of this Province: Who do you want? Who would you prefer? This person or that person? I believe this legislation will allow for that.
So what exactly are they up to? Why are the PC's not honouring the intent of the law? It is not our problem that they are mired in disorganization or worse - manipulation. Tom Marshall knows or should know the purpose of the law.
Marshall is dishonouring himself and all sitting PC MHA's by continuing to put off the call of an election - by using a loophole.
Tom Marshall must call an election immediately.
Shame on you Mr. Marshall - you have lowered yourself to protecting your party's interests instead of the people's.
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
The CRA Poll will be 2015 Result
The latest CRA poll - I believe - will end up representing the election result in 2015.
The Tories have come in the same as last poll when you allow for percentage of error.
The NDP have collapsed and those left of centre swing Liberal/NDP have moved back to their Liberal base.
This is all of course premised on the Liberal Opposition not doing anything so outrageous (as happened with the NDP) as to eliminate themselves. As I have posted before - Dwight Ball's style of leadership is build not burn bridges and his thoughtful approach to policy is inclusive and open not exclusive and secret.
Back to the numbers:
1. The Liberals 52% is representative of the 30% or so solid Liberal support. 15% recaptured from the left leaning Liberals who had parked themselves tentatively with the NDP and 7% of centre Tories who swing based on the mood of the electorate and the current leadership of the Liberal Party.
2. The Tories are currently sitting with their solid PC base and not much else.
3. The NDP are likely to drop a couple of more points yet as they return to their solid base only - with that support going to the Liberals.
4. The Tories have shown they are unable to spend their way out this time and despite exorbitant amounts of warm and fuzzy Muskrat advertising - the population is not convinced that this project is good for Newfoundland and Labrador.
5. There will be a couple of more points coming to the Liberals as the sports fan like undecided - go out and vote for the winning team.
The Liberals chose the best leader at the best time. Dwight Ball will reinvigorate the party, rebuild party coffers, gain business support, promote district association development, unite right and left with solid economic planning, respect and include government employees, engage and involve the municipalities, be proactive on housing, health, education, and seniors issues, attract new industrial interests while maintaining and growing local small business. Ball will also be able to attract quality candidates including some of his leadership rivals. He is a quintessential Liberal.
This does not mean there will not be challenges over the coming 18 months. Ross Reid will try to direct a comeback for the Tories through outrageous spending, brainwashing levels of Tory self-promotion and advertising, and sometime in the New Year present a new potential leader. If the PC's cannot gain significantly by the next CRA poll result - the Tories will be in rebuild for 2019 mode.
Now let's talk about district predictions.
Here is my list of retirees (either before or at the dropping of the 2015 writ):
Felix Collins, Paul Davis, Kathy Dunderdale, Clayton Forsey, Tom Hedderson, Ray Hunter, Clyde Jackman, Charlene Johnson, Tom Marshall, Kevin O'Brien, Joan Shea, Susan Sullivan, Ross Wiseman.
Here is my list of potential floor crossers:
Dave Brazil, Sandy Collins, Tony Cornect, and Keith Russell
Those remaining may run again but only the following has a chance of retaining their seats:
Terry French, Keith Hutchings, Steve Kent, and John Dinn
This is what makes the next prediction very interesting.
I believe that Darin King thinks he is a leader in waiting and I believe that Hutchings and French will be his team of support. The problem is - I believe that - Darin King will lose his seat.
Dwight Ball has made it this far without the team of 10 establishment interests from both the Liberal and PC parties - if he keeps this approach - he will be a people's leader able to do the real job of a Premier.
As for the 2 independents - Mitchelmore and Kirby - I can see Kirby being comfortable under a Dwight Ball Liberal Opposition and Government - however Mitchelmore presents more as an opportunist who is a Tory one day and an NDPer the next. If he does not go Liberal he will - I predict - lose his seat.
The Tories have come in the same as last poll when you allow for percentage of error.
The NDP have collapsed and those left of centre swing Liberal/NDP have moved back to their Liberal base.
This is all of course premised on the Liberal Opposition not doing anything so outrageous (as happened with the NDP) as to eliminate themselves. As I have posted before - Dwight Ball's style of leadership is build not burn bridges and his thoughtful approach to policy is inclusive and open not exclusive and secret.
Back to the numbers:
1. The Liberals 52% is representative of the 30% or so solid Liberal support. 15% recaptured from the left leaning Liberals who had parked themselves tentatively with the NDP and 7% of centre Tories who swing based on the mood of the electorate and the current leadership of the Liberal Party.
2. The Tories are currently sitting with their solid PC base and not much else.
3. The NDP are likely to drop a couple of more points yet as they return to their solid base only - with that support going to the Liberals.
4. The Tories have shown they are unable to spend their way out this time and despite exorbitant amounts of warm and fuzzy Muskrat advertising - the population is not convinced that this project is good for Newfoundland and Labrador.
5. There will be a couple of more points coming to the Liberals as the sports fan like undecided - go out and vote for the winning team.
The Liberals chose the best leader at the best time. Dwight Ball will reinvigorate the party, rebuild party coffers, gain business support, promote district association development, unite right and left with solid economic planning, respect and include government employees, engage and involve the municipalities, be proactive on housing, health, education, and seniors issues, attract new industrial interests while maintaining and growing local small business. Ball will also be able to attract quality candidates including some of his leadership rivals. He is a quintessential Liberal.
This does not mean there will not be challenges over the coming 18 months. Ross Reid will try to direct a comeback for the Tories through outrageous spending, brainwashing levels of Tory self-promotion and advertising, and sometime in the New Year present a new potential leader. If the PC's cannot gain significantly by the next CRA poll result - the Tories will be in rebuild for 2019 mode.
Now let's talk about district predictions.
Here is my list of retirees (either before or at the dropping of the 2015 writ):
Felix Collins, Paul Davis, Kathy Dunderdale, Clayton Forsey, Tom Hedderson, Ray Hunter, Clyde Jackman, Charlene Johnson, Tom Marshall, Kevin O'Brien, Joan Shea, Susan Sullivan, Ross Wiseman.
Here is my list of potential floor crossers:
Dave Brazil, Sandy Collins, Tony Cornect, and Keith Russell
Those remaining may run again but only the following has a chance of retaining their seats:
Terry French, Keith Hutchings, Steve Kent, and John Dinn
This is what makes the next prediction very interesting.
I believe that Darin King thinks he is a leader in waiting and I believe that Hutchings and French will be his team of support. The problem is - I believe that - Darin King will lose his seat.
Dwight Ball has made it this far without the team of 10 establishment interests from both the Liberal and PC parties - if he keeps this approach - he will be a people's leader able to do the real job of a Premier.
As for the 2 independents - Mitchelmore and Kirby - I can see Kirby being comfortable under a Dwight Ball Liberal Opposition and Government - however Mitchelmore presents more as an opportunist who is a Tory one day and an NDPer the next. If he does not go Liberal he will - I predict - lose his seat.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
A PC Interim Leader on the way
Listening to our Premier today convinced me that Ms. Dunderdale is on her way out. She is now musing about reflecting, reviewing, revisiting, and reacting to the very loud and disapproving voices of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Dunderdale even mused on a leadership review - a sure sign that this by-election was not just another seat. If the Tories had retained the district - the grumbling government members might have bought the Ross Reid happy message a little longer. The loss of Carbonear - Harbour Grace - coupled with crashing polls - spells an end to her leadership.
So the dance begins - which of the upstarts wants to put the political knife in first? No doubt she's feeling a couple of them already.
I guess the permanent back-up finance Minister could do the Interim Premier bit as well. But with the Tories unable to come up with even an interim Finance Minister (other than Marshall - over and over) the talent pool appears shallow for an interim leader.
I think Darin, Terry, and Keith have a plan - the boys kind of see themselves as the male version of Susan, Joan, and Kathy. Just imagine their glee when the girls leave the roost.
Our Premier seemed really confused when interviewed today on the by-election loss - looked to the sky and wondered how they got to this place.
Muskrat, Abitibi, Fishery, Ferries, Roads, Come by Chance, and spending like drunken sailors comes to mind. Then there's the secrecy, arrogance, and dismissal of local small businesses. Yes that's right I almost forgot - 65 of them spread throughout the province - speaking to hundreds of people each - every day. Lastly there is this continued confusion about who our Premier works for - Danny? Nova Scotia? Emera? Ed Martin? or Stephen Harper?
I believe the Premier is going to have a snowy walk moment any day now and either Roving Tom is going to fill-in or the boys aforementioned will start implementing their plan.
Dunderdale even mused on a leadership review - a sure sign that this by-election was not just another seat. If the Tories had retained the district - the grumbling government members might have bought the Ross Reid happy message a little longer. The loss of Carbonear - Harbour Grace - coupled with crashing polls - spells an end to her leadership.
So the dance begins - which of the upstarts wants to put the political knife in first? No doubt she's feeling a couple of them already.
I guess the permanent back-up finance Minister could do the Interim Premier bit as well. But with the Tories unable to come up with even an interim Finance Minister (other than Marshall - over and over) the talent pool appears shallow for an interim leader.
I think Darin, Terry, and Keith have a plan - the boys kind of see themselves as the male version of Susan, Joan, and Kathy. Just imagine their glee when the girls leave the roost.
Our Premier seemed really confused when interviewed today on the by-election loss - looked to the sky and wondered how they got to this place.
Muskrat, Abitibi, Fishery, Ferries, Roads, Come by Chance, and spending like drunken sailors comes to mind. Then there's the secrecy, arrogance, and dismissal of local small businesses. Yes that's right I almost forgot - 65 of them spread throughout the province - speaking to hundreds of people each - every day. Lastly there is this continued confusion about who our Premier works for - Danny? Nova Scotia? Emera? Ed Martin? or Stephen Harper?
I believe the Premier is going to have a snowy walk moment any day now and either Roving Tom is going to fill-in or the boys aforementioned will start implementing their plan.
Friday, September 06, 2013
Election Act may allow PC's to avoid the Polls - if Kathy departs this October.
The Sir Robert Bond Papers says:
"Rumours have started to circulate that Kathy Dunderdale will toss her teddy bear in the corner in October. Maybe. Unless the Tories change the House of Assembly Act to reverse the changes they made a decade ago, they’ll be forced to go to the polls within 12 months of her departure. That might have made sense once, but with the mess they currently have , there’s no guarantee the Tories would be able to run a successful election that quickly."
Actually Ed Hollett may be wrong - the Act is weak and says the following:
"Rumours have started to circulate that Kathy Dunderdale will toss her teddy bear in the corner in October. Maybe. Unless the Tories change the House of Assembly Act to reverse the changes they made a decade ago, they’ll be forced to go to the polls within 12 months of her departure. That might have made sense once, but with the mess they currently have , there’s no guarantee the Tories would be able to run a successful election that quickly."
Actually Ed Hollett may be wrong - the Act is weak and says the following:
Election on change of Premier
3.1
Where the leader of the political party that forms the government
resigns his or her position as leader and as Premier of the province
before the end of the third year following the most recent general
election, the person who is elected by the party to replace him or her
as the leader of the party and who is sworn in as the Premier of the
province by the Lieutenant-Governor shall, not later than 12 months
afterward, provide advice to the Lieutenant-Governor that the House of
Assembly be dissolved and a general election be held.
You will note that the party has to have an election to get a new leader first; that can take them up to a year before the election. In that time an interim leader can be appointed (not elected) and caucus can make many changes to try and turn the tide.
For sure the interpretations on this will vary - however - there is certainly significant wiggle room. Section 3.1 has two conditions that must be achieved; election of a new leader and then 12 months to call a general election.
I'm sure the PC's have looked at this and we will know their interpretation soon. I'd say Kathy is gone and perhaps Terry French will provide interim leadership. My guess is Darin King is gathering his leadership gang together as I write this blog.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Minister Hedderson briefed by Dow Chemical?
I am sure many of you heard Minister of Transportation, Tom Hedderson either on a talk show or in the media this week displaying his educational prowess regarding Tordon 101.
This of course was in response to the public outcry over the province's current spray program.
He talked about litres of blueberries and Vitamin A as he painted a rosy picture of a pesticide.
He then suggested that when the province had banned use in domestic gardens - it was not as a health precaution but rather it was excessive and really unnecessary use.
Now if as the Minister suggests there are no health risks when applied by "professionals" then why was the Minister worried about excessive or unnecessary use? Is the Minister stepping in as "big brother"? If there are no health risks and you can eat it smell it and otherwise have it sprayed around hunting, fishing, and recreational areas what's the problem with peoples' yards?
I figured the briefing notes that some Ministers actually request and read - must have been stellar.
I figured that bureaucrats up and down the line from various departments must have been working on this material.
Now imagine my complete disappointment that the briefing notes were available to everybody. They were originally prepared by Dow Chemicals.
If you have the time and interest just visit the following two sites and read for yourself about the blueberries and Vitamin A. They sound so familiar - I thought Dow Chemical must be transcribing our Minister's commentary.
Press Here Document 1
Press Here Document 2
Now it also includes information like the poison sign above and the following text:
MAY CAUSE SKIN AND EYE IRRITATION
HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED
MAY BE HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN
DO NOT GET IN EYES
AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN AND CLOTHING
AVOID BREATHING SPRAY MIST
DO NOT INHALE FUMES
HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED
MAY BE HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN
DO NOT GET IN EYES
AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN AND CLOTHING
AVOID BREATHING SPRAY MIST
DO NOT INHALE FUMES
So after I discovered that our elected officials were relying on information provided by the chemical company itself - I was a little disturbed.
Then there was my favorite note:
NOTICE TO USER: This pest control product is to be used only in accordance with the directions on the label. It is an offence under the Pest Control Products Act to use this product in a way that is inconsistent with the directions on the label. The user assumes the risk to persons or property that arises from any such use of this product.
So needless to say I had to look further for information not derived from the chemical company itself. I would strongly recommend that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians read the following information provided by "Beyond Pesticides" a group described as:
Beyond Pesticides (formerly National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides) works with allies in protecting public health and the environment to lead the transition to a world free of toxic pesticides. The founders, who established Beyond Pesticides as a nonprofit membership organization in 1981, felt that without the existence of such an organized, national network, local, state and national pesticide policy would become, under chemical industry pressure, increasingly unresponsive to public health and environmental concerns.
Press Here Document 3
Press Here Document 4
The group consists of volunteer professionals such as medical doctors, Ph.D's, and lawyers and is staffed by exceptionally experienced and credentialed individuals. To read more about their expertise and compare it to that of the Minister's please review the following:
Press Here Document 5
I think I will continue to do my own research on the potential health and environmental dangers of this pesticide and not rely on the words of the chemical company that produced it.
Who will you trust?
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
A Day in the House of Assembly - no longer for the People
For those of you who have not been in the House of Assembly for awhile - now might be the time to check on your employees.
I know many of you watch on television and see bits and pieces on the news but you need to sit in the public gallery.
When the House is televised you generally get a view of a person asking or answering a question. When you are in the House you get the full scope of the behavior.
The government members - who are your employees - would not last a day in any other workplace. They would be summarily dismissed and would soon not be hired by any employer.
The rancor of debate is normal and you might see that in a particularly feisty case in court but you would never see the rest of the behavior in any workplace.
As the government members stood on their feet last night you seen their face in the camera and you heard the words they were told to say. You would have listened to protestations of "we are only here to serve the people and do what's best for the people".
The people who were not on camera were laughing and giggling, making faces, showing pictures on their iPads, texting, reading the paper, moving from seat to seat, whispering and pointing to their employers in the gallery and generally attempting to bully anybody they could.
The job they were doing - passing legislation - was the furthest thing from their minds - in fact most - based on their commentary - knew nothing about the legislation they were passing, and less than that about the subject area and potential impacts.
Joan Burke's job apparently - apart from distributing candy for their late night party - is to constantly say kirby.com giggle giggle kirby.com hehehehe. Then when she had a spare moment she became Darin King's BFF and the two delighted in sliding their fingers across the iPad. At one point the Premier, Joan, Darin, and Charlene were holding their bellies with laughter. What were they laughing at? Well - just like bullies - they were whispering and pointing - using hand gestures - and trying their hardest to make somebody feel unwelcome or unimportant.
Tom Marshall's job appears to require a better chair - perhaps a La-Z-Boy - where he can really stretch out and disengage.
Kevin O'Brien was the man of the hour last night - sitting stoically next to the Minister of Health - as the two displayed ignorance I have never witnessed in my life time. The Opposition members both NDP and Liberal would say something and then Susan would lean her ear into Kevin and await the hasty explanations put forth from the guru of pharmacy. He kept looking into the gallery - to watch the responses from actual pharmacy owners as he mislead the camera and caucus colleagues.
Squeaking from the back bench was this obscure person - who seems desperate to want to make the starting line-up and acts like he would do anything to get there. He went so far as to put his own prescription requirements out for the public to assess - so be it.
Practically all of them felt comfortable in attacking people in the public gallery - knowing they were not allowed to respond. They pointed to the people in the gallery and called them names, attacked their character, belittled their accomplishments, and generally attempted to intimidate them. This was all under the protection of the rules of the House of Assembly.
Finally there are the muted head-bobbers - who as if they understood a pecking order - contributed nothing more than literally nodding their head up and down in approval for 10 hours.
Terry French and Clyde Jackman are an unfortunate duo - who have reduced themselves to making personal attacks on people who cannot respond; both are also competant campaigners who know how to praise enough people to keep them elected.
It is safe to say that Dale Kirby and Yvonne Jones are the MHA's who are targeted most on the floor - by government members who behave like bullies. You see the bullies cannot stand on brain power - they stand on intimidation by numbers.
These MHA's in the House of Assembly looked up to the public gallery and advised their employers what they should or should not do and what they are allowed and not allowed to do - as if they had the power to control them.
Make no mistake about the following conclusion. Democracy in Newfoundland and Labrador means that you elected the Dunderdale government and as such they believe you gave them absolute power to do as they wish - when they wish. The government will dictate what public discourse is appropriate - when and how many times - on all issues.
Their one line of debate is; they are elected. They were elected - in their view - to proceed unimpeded by any opposition - legislative or public and any interference to that by anybody will be met with the full force of their governmental power.
They feel free to advise legitimate corporate entities on who they should employ and who they should not. They feel free to instruct the number of times one might appear on a talk-show - before they determine it is unacceptable. They have no problem advising experts in one field or another that despite their expertise - it is the government that has the power and really facts or knowledge don't enter into it. They feel they have a right to dictate what a group can or cannot do to express their position to government. They feel free to tell business owners in Newfoundland and Labrador that the owners have no right to speak but they will negotiate with the companies employees. (more on this in a separate post)
Simply put - these are people who do not understand or do not care about a democratic process which is open and accountable. The people report to them - they do not answer to the people. The only time this government and its members will answer to the people is 12 hours every 4 years. The Ross Reid led strategic political plan - can be and should be likened to strategies employed in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosova, and the Ukraine. Ross spent much time moving these regions along - is it possible he learned more from them than he taught about political systems and the power of a government?
I add that many of the people I sat with in the public gallery until 1 o'clock last night and over the past two days - left - shaking their heads, disgusted, disappointed, and with a resolve to share what they experienced. Were they disappointed with a decision that impacted their business, their communities, and most importantly the people they serve? Yes - but that they can deal with that. What they will not accept are insults, mistreatment, disrespect, innuendo, and lies. In this the government made it's largest mistake.
P.S has MQO put out any "gratis" polls of late?
Over the next week or two I will be posting on the events in the House, the fallout, how you will be impacted, and the erroneous and/or false statements made by government members and Ministers.
I know many of you watch on television and see bits and pieces on the news but you need to sit in the public gallery.
When the House is televised you generally get a view of a person asking or answering a question. When you are in the House you get the full scope of the behavior.
The government members - who are your employees - would not last a day in any other workplace. They would be summarily dismissed and would soon not be hired by any employer.
The rancor of debate is normal and you might see that in a particularly feisty case in court but you would never see the rest of the behavior in any workplace.
As the government members stood on their feet last night you seen their face in the camera and you heard the words they were told to say. You would have listened to protestations of "we are only here to serve the people and do what's best for the people".
The people who were not on camera were laughing and giggling, making faces, showing pictures on their iPads, texting, reading the paper, moving from seat to seat, whispering and pointing to their employers in the gallery and generally attempting to bully anybody they could.
The job they were doing - passing legislation - was the furthest thing from their minds - in fact most - based on their commentary - knew nothing about the legislation they were passing, and less than that about the subject area and potential impacts.
Joan Burke's job apparently - apart from distributing candy for their late night party - is to constantly say kirby.com giggle giggle kirby.com hehehehe. Then when she had a spare moment she became Darin King's BFF and the two delighted in sliding their fingers across the iPad. At one point the Premier, Joan, Darin, and Charlene were holding their bellies with laughter. What were they laughing at? Well - just like bullies - they were whispering and pointing - using hand gestures - and trying their hardest to make somebody feel unwelcome or unimportant.
Tom Marshall's job appears to require a better chair - perhaps a La-Z-Boy - where he can really stretch out and disengage.
Kevin O'Brien was the man of the hour last night - sitting stoically next to the Minister of Health - as the two displayed ignorance I have never witnessed in my life time. The Opposition members both NDP and Liberal would say something and then Susan would lean her ear into Kevin and await the hasty explanations put forth from the guru of pharmacy. He kept looking into the gallery - to watch the responses from actual pharmacy owners as he mislead the camera and caucus colleagues.
Squeaking from the back bench was this obscure person - who seems desperate to want to make the starting line-up and acts like he would do anything to get there. He went so far as to put his own prescription requirements out for the public to assess - so be it.
Practically all of them felt comfortable in attacking people in the public gallery - knowing they were not allowed to respond. They pointed to the people in the gallery and called them names, attacked their character, belittled their accomplishments, and generally attempted to intimidate them. This was all under the protection of the rules of the House of Assembly.
Finally there are the muted head-bobbers - who as if they understood a pecking order - contributed nothing more than literally nodding their head up and down in approval for 10 hours.
Terry French and Clyde Jackman are an unfortunate duo - who have reduced themselves to making personal attacks on people who cannot respond; both are also competant campaigners who know how to praise enough people to keep them elected.
It is safe to say that Dale Kirby and Yvonne Jones are the MHA's who are targeted most on the floor - by government members who behave like bullies. You see the bullies cannot stand on brain power - they stand on intimidation by numbers.
These MHA's in the House of Assembly looked up to the public gallery and advised their employers what they should or should not do and what they are allowed and not allowed to do - as if they had the power to control them.
Make no mistake about the following conclusion. Democracy in Newfoundland and Labrador means that you elected the Dunderdale government and as such they believe you gave them absolute power to do as they wish - when they wish. The government will dictate what public discourse is appropriate - when and how many times - on all issues.
Their one line of debate is; they are elected. They were elected - in their view - to proceed unimpeded by any opposition - legislative or public and any interference to that by anybody will be met with the full force of their governmental power.
They feel free to advise legitimate corporate entities on who they should employ and who they should not. They feel free to instruct the number of times one might appear on a talk-show - before they determine it is unacceptable. They have no problem advising experts in one field or another that despite their expertise - it is the government that has the power and really facts or knowledge don't enter into it. They feel they have a right to dictate what a group can or cannot do to express their position to government. They feel free to tell business owners in Newfoundland and Labrador that the owners have no right to speak but they will negotiate with the companies employees. (more on this in a separate post)
Simply put - these are people who do not understand or do not care about a democratic process which is open and accountable. The people report to them - they do not answer to the people. The only time this government and its members will answer to the people is 12 hours every 4 years. The Ross Reid led strategic political plan - can be and should be likened to strategies employed in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosova, and the Ukraine. Ross spent much time moving these regions along - is it possible he learned more from them than he taught about political systems and the power of a government?
I add that many of the people I sat with in the public gallery until 1 o'clock last night and over the past two days - left - shaking their heads, disgusted, disappointed, and with a resolve to share what they experienced. Were they disappointed with a decision that impacted their business, their communities, and most importantly the people they serve? Yes - but that they can deal with that. What they will not accept are insults, mistreatment, disrespect, innuendo, and lies. In this the government made it's largest mistake.
P.S has MQO put out any "gratis" polls of late?
Over the next week or two I will be posting on the events in the House, the fallout, how you will be impacted, and the erroneous and/or false statements made by government members and Ministers.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Dale Kirby and Terry French - Who has a REAL job?
Last Wednesday in the House of Assembly Dale Kirby asked
Terry French a question regarding legislation on replacement (scab)
workers. French responded in a manner not becoming a Minister but very telling
of his own character.
Here is the quote:
MR. FRENCH: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is referring
to a couple of incidents, but the hon. member has two jobs, as we all know here
in the House, and he is an academic in his real job. So, Mr. Speaker, to
speak to him being an academic, I would like to challenge him to read some of
the work that some of the academics have done throughout this country and
throughout the world, and he will quickly discover that there is a great divide
on the usefulness of replacement worker legislation...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
As many of you already know - I am not always in agreement
with Dale Kirby - however I respect his profession and his work.
Currently Dale Kirby is the MHA for St. John's North and
that is a REAL job. In the past and at present Dale Kirby does not NEED
to be a politician to be gainfully employed. It's not likely the best gig he
will ever have. That is refreshing to a voter.
You on the other hand Mr. French are looking like a career
politician more and more each day. That is a problem. How and why did you go
into politics? If you were in Opposition today - what else would you be
doing?
You Mr. French want the people of the province to provide
you with a job and pension as a politician. This is not so good - particularly
when you consider the situation of public service pensioners. In my opinion Mr.
French - this is the best gig you will ever have and that is worrisome.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Tourism - yah right! Premier cuts another ribbon while VOCM misses the Mark
According to VOCM this morning - there was an ATV accident in Harbour Breton yesterday. That is not real. No such accident occurred in Harbour Breton. Wrong community - some 60 km's away and on a different finger on the peninsula.
The remote road is not out of Harbour Breton rather Seal Cove - just beyond Hermitage. That remote road is a reminder of our past - it ends where one would have taken a boat to Pass Island - a resettled fishing community.
While we are on the subject. When Kathy Dunderdale shows up to "open" a new aquaculture wharf on Friday July 15th at 9:30 a.m. - in Hermitage - will it be by air or road?
I truly hope the Premier takes the breathtaking Bay D'Espoir highway route - because then poor Tracy Perry might be able to convince her boss that the ROAD is GONE.
You see the Coast of Bays as this area is known by - is a lesson in beauty, a demonstration of nature's perfection, and remote enough to be untouched in its splendour. Bay D'Espoir, Hermitage - Sandyville, St. Alban's Seal Cove, Harbour Breton, Pool's Cove, English Harbour West, Boxey, Belloram, St. Jacques, Mose Ambrose, and by ferry Galtois, Rencontre East, and McCallum are all communities that should be on your "must visit" list.
The South Coast is like a few Gros Mornes but without the political attention. I must say that former MHA Oliver Langdon did a great job in infrastructure for the area but sadly Ms. Perry you are going to have to work harder. Your district should be a tourism mecca - that should include sightseers, adventure tourists, photo tourists, and families. I can't imagine why Europeans, Asians, and Americans are not flocking to this idyllic place. With all money Newfoundlanders and Labradorians dump in Florida as "snowbirds" - I can't imagine why Floridians are not sunbirds coming north to enjoy a comfortable summer in this pulchritudinous land.
Here's the problem - Prince Edward Island can attract a million tourists a year with "Anne" and french fries - while Newfoundland and Labrador attracts half that amount - something is not working! Look at the tourism infrastructure on the tiny French IslandsSaint-Pierre and Miquelon and look look across the water at the South Coast.
We have the Northern Lights, Fjords, Whales, Icebergs, a coastline almost the length of the eastern USA, untouched nature, tremendous flora, fauna, and geology. You will note that Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia gets more national media attention than the thousands of coves in our province. We all know that transportation is not acceptable.
Perpetual Ferry Problems
No Train
Reducing Airport infrastructure everywhere but St. John's
Roads and Highways rutting, deteriorating, and disappearing.
Do we get it yet? We are to be avoided - and Canada will help that thought in anyway it can.
Tourism - yah right! Our "Voice of the Common Man" can't even get our communities and places right.
While you are at the ribbon cutting Premier - please see if you can find a reason to let's say get a National Park for the south-coast. See you there.
While we are at it - what is "Snook's" opinion on the cost of travel between Newfoundland and Labrador - I know Upper Canada has always liked to push a divide between our people. It's cheaper for any Newfoundlander or Labradorian to travel half way around the world than visit each other. "RRight On".
The remote road is not out of Harbour Breton rather Seal Cove - just beyond Hermitage. That remote road is a reminder of our past - it ends where one would have taken a boat to Pass Island - a resettled fishing community.
While we are on the subject. When Kathy Dunderdale shows up to "open" a new aquaculture wharf on Friday July 15th at 9:30 a.m. - in Hermitage - will it be by air or road?
I truly hope the Premier takes the breathtaking Bay D'Espoir highway route - because then poor Tracy Perry might be able to convince her boss that the ROAD is GONE.
You see the Coast of Bays as this area is known by - is a lesson in beauty, a demonstration of nature's perfection, and remote enough to be untouched in its splendour. Bay D'Espoir, Hermitage - Sandyville, St. Alban's Seal Cove, Harbour Breton, Pool's Cove, English Harbour West, Boxey, Belloram, St. Jacques, Mose Ambrose, and by ferry Galtois, Rencontre East, and McCallum are all communities that should be on your "must visit" list.
The South Coast is like a few Gros Mornes but without the political attention. I must say that former MHA Oliver Langdon did a great job in infrastructure for the area but sadly Ms. Perry you are going to have to work harder. Your district should be a tourism mecca - that should include sightseers, adventure tourists, photo tourists, and families. I can't imagine why Europeans, Asians, and Americans are not flocking to this idyllic place. With all money Newfoundlanders and Labradorians dump in Florida as "snowbirds" - I can't imagine why Floridians are not sunbirds coming north to enjoy a comfortable summer in this pulchritudinous land.
Here's the problem - Prince Edward Island can attract a million tourists a year with "Anne" and french fries - while Newfoundland and Labrador attracts half that amount - something is not working! Look at the tourism infrastructure on the tiny French IslandsSaint-Pierre and Miquelon and look look across the water at the South Coast.
We have the Northern Lights, Fjords, Whales, Icebergs, a coastline almost the length of the eastern USA, untouched nature, tremendous flora, fauna, and geology. You will note that Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia gets more national media attention than the thousands of coves in our province. We all know that transportation is not acceptable.
Perpetual Ferry Problems
No Train
Reducing Airport infrastructure everywhere but St. John's
Roads and Highways rutting, deteriorating, and disappearing.
Do we get it yet? We are to be avoided - and Canada will help that thought in anyway it can.
Tourism - yah right! Our "Voice of the Common Man" can't even get our communities and places right.
While you are at the ribbon cutting Premier - please see if you can find a reason to let's say get a National Park for the south-coast. See you there.
While we are at it - what is "Snook's" opinion on the cost of travel between Newfoundland and Labrador - I know Upper Canada has always liked to push a divide between our people. It's cheaper for any Newfoundlander or Labradorian to travel half way around the world than visit each other. "RRight On".
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