The Almighty Dunderdale - Why are we having an Election?

This election has been the most contrived - the most interfered with poll of the people since Joey Smallwood days.

Polling misinformation, changes midstream at the Electoral office, unknown rules as you go at the Electoral office, threats to public servants, people being approached because they have a particular candidates sign on their line, "discussion" with councils, heads of Government agencies and senior officials quit but remain on the government website, and then of course the issue of the day for PC candidates "you need to be on the government side".

Then there is a review of the Media Coverage - unbalanced in content and choice of coverage.

There is no doubt in this - I have watched television, print and radio news and special items and monitored the social media. I can say without any partisan influence that this has been the worst coverage in a very long time.

The worst I have seen has come from Dave Cochrane CBC - but then again he seems determined to try and promote himself more than the candidates themselves.

Dave - where is Ed Byrne working these days - what are his thoughts on the constituency allowance fiasco? Find Loyola Sullivan - tied up with one of the fisheries companies in the province - as the longest sitting member on the committee - why did he continue to keep the auditor general out. No that question was reserved for Kevin Aylward. Why not ask Kathy Dunderdale about her position when sitting in Opposition? For instance Dunderdale was part of the conversation in the House of Assembly regarding an unelected Premier doing resource deals. Or better yet the position of bringing forth all details of the Muskrat deal with Emera in the same way that was demanded for Voisey's Bay. Further why not bring the whole thing into the House of Assembly? Then there is the position of Dunderdale when in Opposition where the Lower Churchill would not be done without redress on the Upper Churchill. No none of this.

Cochrane should also reveal who the "experts" are that told him the MQO poll was valid. None of that.

On point was a joke - every time a Liberal sat down it was talking about the polls, or something Dumeresque said, and then the presence of Tim Powers on the panel. All a joke - not at all funny. How about we talk about policies being proposed by all parties. Then there was Dave asking Kevin Aylward about the party debt and how he could ask people to vote for him when the fiscal house of the party was not in order. What?

Then VOCM and things like Jerome Kennedy coming on as "Minister of Health", to talk about a platform item in the Blue Book - he even gave the page number that it was on. This is one example.

How many PC candidates have used the line "need to be on the government side" not only on talk shows but in campaign literature. The most disappointing of the candidates using this line is John Noseworthy - the former Auditor General. I'm sorry John but if this is what you have to resort to for a platform - the people of this province need to know you are not the hero of the legislative spending scandal.

Then there's Dennis O'Keefe - who last week when trying to get all parties in line for City promises - said he was not involved in the election. Only to have him come out and start campaigning with PC candidate Shawn Skinner this week. And this is apparently okay when public servants have been "advised" not to participate in the election - not even to stuff envelopes.

What of the head of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing? He quit right? Why is his face and message still on the website? No problem there right?

So do we really wonder why people don't want to vote? Why vote? Media reporting another Tory majority prior to voting day. Why spend the money? Why not just throw 48 appointed PC's in the House of Assembly and let them destroy what little bit we have left. Let Dunderdale tell fishermen and plant workers about "welfare" she better do it because a public servant can't use that word right? Why spend the money on an election? How about we all stop paying tax - and let the lot of them spend their own money. Apparently they have lots they keep telling everybody that they will give this district this amount and this place this service. Oh that's right they are talking about our money. If somebody else formed government would they be allowed to spend it?

Water Supplies

The talk has been water supplies since the unfortunate accident at Bay Bulls Big Pond. Questions regarding roadways surrounding the pond and the seemingly obvious option to move the road or increase barrier protections.

I wonder often where the local media are. Windsor Lake is my choice for discussion. The road is on the lake and is treacherous in the winter. It's not in good shape even in the summer.

Please bother to take a drive out Portugal Cove Road and notice the garbage in the ditches, making its way into the lake on a daily basis.

Also think of the traffic and type of traffic. There is a quarry right across the road - and the dump trucks are flying past the lake on a daily basis.

Go have a look. The there is the oil traffic - the trucks bringing fuels to the communities of of the northeast - including of course the beautiful Bell Island.

It is a joke! There will be an accident here and there will be pollution - which will affect the intake.

For any of you traveling the Portugal Cove Road on a regular basis must have all experiences a big dump truck barreling down the road north of the airport and dragging you to get to the single lane beyond. There will be an accident here also. If something is not done somebody will be killed.

These are all preventable circumstances and should be immediately rectified by the appropriate authorities.

As for St. John's City Council - have a good look guys and gals as you ponder a George Street facade revival. You must change the road around Windsor Lake and you must take care of it.

In either case for all - take a drive by the lake and go visit the communities beyond. They are beautiful. If you have never been to Bell Island - that is your loss. Take the time to traverse by ferry to one of the most historic, relevant, and picturesque communities you will ever visit. It's a great place for a unique birthday party for children and their parents. Take the time to visit the mining museum.