Council of the Federation

The Council of the Federation was established in PEI 2003 by the Premiers. All provinces and territories are members. They are meeting in Newfoundland and Labrador this weekend for the Annual Conference.
Why do they have corporate sponsors?
By the way one of the largest ones is INCO.
Our premiers can't get together without corporate backing? hmmmmmm
The following is from the website !


The Council of the Federation was created by Premiers because they believe it is important for provinces and territories to play a leadership role in revitalizing the Canadian federation and building a more constructive and cooperative federal system.

The Council of the Federation’s objectives are to:

• Promote interprovincial-territorial cooperation and closer ties between members of the Council, to ultimately strengthen Canada;
  
  
• Foster meaningful relations between governments based on respect for the Constitution and recognition of the diversity within the federation;
  
  
• Show leadership on issues important to all Canadians

So our Premiers are being sponsored by:
INCO
Aliant
ING
Trans Canada
AMGEN
Rogers
Molson
Labatt
Fortis
PAL

These are our heads of government paid by us to do their work. Do you think the SPONSORS might be lobbying just a bit.
Knock it off boys, just represent your provinces!
And Danny has a problem with the mining giant? You'd never know it.

We are over-run with Seals

My stomach turned this morning as I listened to Randy Simms counseling the population of Harbour Breton to leave. "Maybe it's time to give up."
I wonder Mr. Simms if the seals have landed ashore and started to remove the guts of our people instead of the cod. This is no joke and your flippancy is disgusting. But then again you’re ok Jack.
You are voluntarily relinquishing your culture, economy, and heritage instead of fighting what is wrong and making it right. What makes you so weak in spirit and in character? What makes you haul down your neighbors while celebrating a growing economy in Mount Pearl?
If you really are wondering what the problem is in Newfoundland and Labrador look no further than the mirror. What is it you said this morning? Ryan and others were going after the Premier's salary; the others were Sue Kelland-Dyer which you and your ilk have been told to avoid uttering. This is not an open-line; it is a festival for the government's PR policy.
The deal is this Mr. Simms before you feed your own to the wolves - The federal government is responsible for the mismanagement of the fishery and therefore must pay for it. You’re coddling of the Doug House rural plan is either ignorance or deliberate. If it is deliberate, what's in it for you? If it's ignorance become educated.
It absolutely amazes me that a population already famous for voluntarily giving up its own sovereignty is now prepared to eradicate itself.

If we don't kill off some seals - hard to know whose belly will be taken next.

My Subjects are Wanting

So the Governor General Michaëlle Jean is visiting the Island this week. Hard to know whether to curtsy or cry. Did anybody else hear the interview she did with Ingrid on "on the go", CBC last week?
She wanted to let us know that she understands we are the poorest province in Canada - but we are rich in our people. Do we contribute to paying her staff? Is it possible they can complete research which better reflects our situation in Canada? In a voice that wishes to compete with Diana Krall, she politely sideswiped our existence with a Grammy whisper.
Hey you - another reminder of our insulting friends from Upper Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador is rich, that is rich in its resources. The richness of our culture, heritage, and people is being decimated while our leaders, you know who you are HEARN, are cow-towing to the mainland flattery or flaherty (same thing).
I cannot listen to this ignorance from Central Canada anymore. The only royalty I'm interested in is the one that comes from any given resource.
It's funny you know I had the feeling, while our Premier was hanging on her every word with as much grace as a townie can muster, the fish were multiplying in the ocean at her very presence. Fortune was about to be graced with gold bars, emeralds, and diamonds, and have not would be no more. The people who were loaded in a U Haul, booting it to the cattle boat, stopped - turned around and went back to Harbour Breton. Our students' debts were forgiven by her Excellency in an act of kindness and generosity. The people who had lost their jobs and were heading for a flight to Alberta, threw the suitcases out the window, went to the local shop that grandpa owned, (Costco) and purchased brilliant hats with feathers from a pigeon recently shot with a pellet gun in St. John's.
Her words cascaded over our agony like iodine on my finger with a fish hook stuck in it. She calmed me, actually I think its called shock - she shocked me into the truth as I watched an apathetic crowd giggle to themselves in the presence of Ed and Eve at the garden of Hedon- ism.
Listen Michaëlle please ensure when you grace Labrador with your presence that the speech writer and/or you are educated on our history. I have always ignored pedestals and I will never put an adult on one - that leads to idolization of what by its nature is imperfect (humans).
You are a fortunate Canadian with an interesting background visiting the country of Newfoundland and Labrador bartered by your boss, her Royal Highness, and raped by your employer, Canada.
If you would like to help, find Loyola tell him he's from the Southern Shore and to get back home out of it, he's not old enough to be playing with the big boys and their influence is unwelcome.
I have a pair of jeans I can lend you and a make work program suitable for a Governor General. Instead of moving rocks from one side of a Canadian mound to another you can dig some nickel out of the poorest province in Canada. Should you run out of energy you can pick up some of ours next time you visit Quebec. Or we can send you an odd barrel of oil for Ontario to process.

For god’s sake will somebody flick that Churchill switch.

Has Kelvin Parsons registered as a lobbyist?

Let me introduce this properly. Below is the latest News Release from our provincial Liberals. Come on ladies and gentlemen of what should be our peoples party, what are you doing?
KELVIN!!!!!!!!!!OIL COMPANIES ARE HIGH MAINTENANCE!!!!!!!!!!

Parsons expresses concern for oil and gas

industry warning
July 6, 2006

Kelvin Parsons, MHA for the District of Burgeo & La Poile and Opposition Critic for Natural Resources, says he is more fearful than ever that a significant downturn in the province’s oil and gas industry may be just ahead.

Parsons was responding to a media report that the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC) is now warning of a sharp decline in activity in the oil and gas industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. APEC also reportedly served up harsh criticism to the provincial government for failing to reach a deal on Hebron-Ben Nevis and in not ensuring continued growth of the oil industry through major projects like Hibernia, Terra Nova and White Rose.

"This should be another major tipoff to the premier that our industry will inevitably swing into a slump and perhaps a long-term recession if he does not make some headway with the Hebron-Ben Nevis negotiations in the near future," states Parsons. "Piece these musings from APEC with the urging from the Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association at its recent conference that the province should resume talks, then I think it’s fair to say that the oil and gas industry in our province is heading for stormy waters.

"As the Opposition, we have also been counselling the premier to reconsider his face-off on Hebron-Ben Nevis and head back to the table where some form of communication can at least take place." The Liberal MHA points out that with a new minister now heading the department of Natural Resources, it is most critical that she be quickly brought up to speed and take an active role in advancing this file so that growth and opportunity are not lost.

"Right now, there is still some momentum left in this industry and with the right leadership, it can continue to provide the significant benefits that we need to fuel our economic growth as a province."

Ok, now Kelvin is concerned about us biting off our nose despite our face. Kelvin, notwithstanding the fact that we are supposed to be Liberal you are lobbying on behalf of mega-corporations instead of our people and our resources. What Danny is doing with the oil companies is not bad, we just went over $75 a barrel. Kelvin do you know who the Patrons are of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council? In the event you do not here are some of them!

ALIANT INC.

BMO BANK OF MONTREAL

CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE

EMERA INC.

ERNST & YOUNG

FORTIS INC.

INFORMETRICA LIMITED

MCCAIN FOODS LIMITED

NORANDA INC.

PETRO-CANADA

PROGRESS CORP.

RBC ROYAL BANK

SCOTIABANK

TD CANADA TRUST

THE SHAW GROUP LIMITED

ULTRAMAR LIMITED

Is there any chance that any of these might have an interest in Hebron moving forward regardless of the benefits to Newfoundland and Labrador? Which of these patrons are elected or paid to deliver the best possible deal for our people?

I have a suggestion! Kelvin, do some more research, real research instead of relying on external reports with a different agenda than that of elected officials. Listen to our people, our experts and come up with beneficial policy proposals and progressive critique.

One example: when we negotiate this deal on Hebron include a clause which states that when a company has to pull off the site for repairs or problems under their control, and the province suffers a loss to predicted income from that oil or gas resource, the company must pay the greater of the price per barrel at the time of cessation or the price of oil at the moment of recommencement - for the equivalent of oil not recovered during the down time. In this way we will guarantee that our resources benefit us in the way they should.

Do something productive like find out what Doug House is up to and how the provincial economic plan is coming. Try to save a few communities or give them something to believe in. Show some leadership. We do not need to coddle oil companies, think-tanks, and/or their corporate patrons.