Wangersky's Wisdom Waning

Russell Wangersky should know better. He likes to wax poetic. He likes to believe that his columns are of intellectual value. His current column titled: 22 words with a very big bite is not intellectual but is naively romantic.

This is yet another example of Telegram employees giving a pass to politicians regarding Muskrat. 

Since Dwight Ball orated - to an elite corporate community - that his government will conduct a public inquiry on the boondoggle - Telegram employees have been joining in an attempt to calm the seas of public dissent. When I say joining - I don't mean collaborating - I mean they are buying the government spin.

His piece begins with the sentence: "The single dirtiest trick played on electrical customers in this province hasn’t hit home yet. But it will."

Wangersky's assumption that the Muskrat disaster is a dirty trick played on consumers is downplaying the obvious gross negligence, the continued and often deliberate obfuscation, the real engineering concerns, the failure of equipment before the project is even finished, the doubling of the budget, the unending changes to project completion dates, and the number of red flags that demand a forensic audit.  It also negates the real possibility of criminal negligence, fraud, and bribery. 

When the World Bank blacklisted SNC Lavalin and its subsidiaries in 2013 from "bidding on its global projects under its fraud and corruption policy" - while Wangersky proclaims "..dirtiest trick.." - is irresponsible. 

Muskrat Falls stinks to the high heavens - it must be stopped. How do we know that documents are not being shredded as we speak? 

There remains a number of executives at Nalcor who have been there since sanctioning. How is this even possible? How is it possible that we paid a king's ransom for Ed Martin? 

So when Wangersky describes this fiasco as a dirty trick - he brings to mind events like fooling a candidates supporters into showing up at the wrong location. This is not a dirty trick. 

The most offensive and irresponsible part of this column is his concluding thought: "It’s water over the dam. The money’s gone anyway. The best thing we can do is to learn from the mistake, allow for independent oversight and not step in a pile of crap like this again."

I can only conclude that this intelligent and thinking human being must be bored with Muskrat, be suffering writers block, or simply and inexplicably buying the Tobinesque spin delivered by Dwight Ball. 

Learn from this mistake? How? By suffering bankruptcy? It's water over the dam? How does Russell know what we would be responsible for if illegal activities were found during a forensic audit? How does Russell know that the assets could not be used for another deal? He doesn't know. 

The Upper Churchill is a fiasco because of the contractual and economic contracts. The Upper Churchill is significantly successful in it's construction. It was on time and on budget. It stands as one of the best hydro facilities in the world. 

So here's what we learned. What we did right in development of the Upper Churchill - on time and on budget - we completely reversed for Muskrat Falls. The stinging and gross minimal return for Newfoundland and Labrador on the Upper Churchill - we repeat for Muskrat. 

If you went back 20 years and said we are going to repeat the mistakes of Churchill Falls - politicians would have been politically lynched. 

Now that the main stream media in Newfoundland and Labrador have been exposed for their unquestioning support of Danny Williams Muskrat fiasco - the line is "water over the dam"? 

Let's watch the same media as they spin the lines of the current failed administration. Watch as they play dirty tricks and marginalize the critics of this continued boondoggle. Watch as they contort to explain that giving away Gull Island to Quebec is going to be a good thing. 

This Wangersky wisdom we can do without.

  

Frampton finds her Messiah - Media sees an exit

Hook line and sinker comes to mind with the flurry of media reporting positively on the announcement of a Public Inquiry into the Muskrat Falls debacle.

Ironically - they too are taken off the hook for the disastrous, corrupt, misleading, inefficient, and incompetent boondoggle.

Most media here in the province acted as a facilitator for all the Muskrat spin of the Tories and now that the "naysayers", "partisans", and "conspiracy theorists" have been proven right - the media - like the politicians just want it to go away.

The media are wearing a bit of this fiasco and it would be very convenient for them - to have those memories fade.

Was Tobin in for the dinner? Did he help out with this media spin farce? After all the 3 amigos are known for this type of thing.

In either case let's take a review. Pam Frampton's article ends with this sentence:    "All I can figure is that the 29 per cent who support Davis are the same misguided lot still waiting for Danny Williams to return as our one true messiah."  This follows Frampton's own headline, "Hallelujah — Muskrat Falls inquiry’s a go".

Handel would be proud. 

Frampton could have and should have mused about the venue for the announcement and the audience it was personally delivered to. 

The Muskrat frenzy continued in earnest - while chowing down the meal the latest Messiah had prepared for them. For them religion is money - the Messiah is the facilitator of the money - and the Hallelujah is the message that the money will continue. 

Frampton stayed away from the obvious - that is - this type of announcement on a situation that has all the potential of bankrupting the province should have been done in a public forum. 

Frampton then waded into the latest polls on the politico and marched right up on the pulpit and decreed that 29% of people who support Paul Davis must be the same "misguided" ones who supported Danny Williams. 

That is laughable - the "misguided" ones? Is that the percentage who supported Danny Williams - or was there a tremendous number of more "misguided" people at the time? You are making fun of them? 

I'd say it's a tad likely that the media were as enthralled with that Messiah as the "misguided" ones you speak of.

Frampton's jubilation regarding the reactionary - too little to late - non-detailed - Tobinesque announcement that happened to be given to an elite Muskrat skinned audience - is naive. It is not an acceptable response of a journalist, a political commentator, or a columnist.

There were so many questions that needed - no begged - to be asked.

1. Why is it too late to stop the project? - details please
2. Why not begin with a forensic audit? - details please
3. How does any of this protect the indigenous people? - details please
4. Why is the Premier using a political fundraiser to announce a Public Inquiry?
5. Why did the Premier change his mind on the timing of the Inquiry? details please
6. What are the plans with Gull Island and Quebec? details please
7. Why are you not stopping the project until Inquiry is complete - considering the continued and serious questions regarding the North Spur - and the potential to uncover corruption or fraudulent activity? details please

and so many more...

The fact that a significant number of Newfoundland and Labrador media fall in the category that Frampton calls "the misguided lot still waiting for Danny Williams to return as our one true messiah" - albeit more focused on the Galway messiah and Costco's second coming - demonstrates one reason as to why we are in this mess now.

Ball needed an exit, Frampton needed to believe that in some way her much too late need to question the Muskrat boondoggle - played some role in getting an Inquiry called, the Muskrat elite needed reassurance, and the media generally just want the past to go away.

Next up - James McLeod and his call to so-called naysayers, partisans, and conspiracy theorists to prove their love of Newfoundland and Labrador - followed by Wangersky's learn from our mistakes lecture.



 

Dunderdale's Tribalistic Box

When the current Government of Newfoundland and Labrador look out across the land they are not expecting to find signs of intelligent life. They treat the population with disdain and with an arrogance unbecoming their collective intellect.

Russell Wangersky's opinion piece in the Telegram yesterday is well worth a read and some considerable thought.

"Drunk on power" speaks of the current political fiasco in the US starring Governor Christie and compares the actions of causing traffic disruption for political reasons to our government paving roads in Tory districts. There are some other comparisons and I encourage you to read it.

I'm going to go a step further. This government is no doubt engorged with partisan zealots who have one mission - keep themselves in power. There are others who mistakenly believe they work for multinational corporations - not the electorate. Then there are the ones like Ed Martin and Gilbert Bennett. Ed just thinks hey I'm the CEO "the buck stops with me" (your right and too many of them for my liking) so I'm the CEO yeah I am - got awards to show for it. The province might be dark - but I'm the bright light of energy planning. The man spends money like it belongs to really generous, not so cautious, frankly negligent shareholders and Board members.

Gilbert Bennett the crossover Cable Atlantic guy is very arrogant to ordinary citizens who want to question his decisions. I'd swear that when I appeared in front of the Environmental Assessment hearings on Muskrat - he acted like he was still working for Danny Williams in the private sector - not me - or us - collectively as people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

There is no doubt that Dunderdale's PR and Policy handlers spend more time studying human behavioral patterns that they do putting out real and complete information. The study of which rural community to obliterate - or which plant to let close - or service facility to eliminate - and in what order - is far more important than being creative, industrious, and forward thinking.

The bad news comes in dribs and drabs so that not too many people will be upset at a given time - while the "good" news of re-announcing spending initiatives are mass released based on polling periods or as an offset to bad news.

The fact that the money they are spending is ours and they are only choosing what to spend it on - appears to escape the partisan zealots who act like it's coming from their personal bank accounts. That more so as they attempt to train the electorate that support for their government or for that matter Harper's zealots is the only way to cash-in. We are faced with - vote for me to be on the Government side. Then we witnessed the separate and inappropriate behaviors of Peter Penashue and Kevin O'Brien.

In my opinion this Williams Dunderdale government has and continues to confuse the Newfoundland and Labrador people's trustworthy nature with a lack of intelligence. There is no doubt that we have suffered and do suffer the consequences of abuse of that trust by many politicians.

That brings me to the title of this post "Dunderdale's Tribalistic Box". First and foremost when this government looks to seek independent local expert review, ideas, or opinion - they determine what they think that person's political persuasion is. If that person does not pass the PC BOX test - they are dismissed outright - regardless of their background and professional credentials. They are called naysayers and conspiracy theorists. Demonstrably this government are what they call their critics. Paranoia appears to abound, secrecy is the order of the day, rigging unscientific polls is a matter of a duty for backbenchers, naysayers of alternate thoughts to their own and absolutely conspiracy theorists. In my opinion they would have us believe that the actions of a number of citizens who question the Muskrat Falls deal has caused the population as a whole to move their political support away from them and therefore what is necessary are bunches of News Conferences, mass and expensive advertising, incessant calls to talk-shows, and the production of any number of "independent" reviews. 

The journalists in our province need to step to the plate and begin the process of discovery. They should never allow - unchallenged - the use of the words naysayers and conspiracy theorists - when used by politicians on productive, intelligent, and engaged citizens. It speaks volumes that when the province seeks experts to recheck the work of our employed "experts" that they seek people, corporations, and organizations outside the province. How refreshing it would be to have local experts with opposing views review the work of government - on matters such as the Muskrat Falls development deal or ferry building - or international trade agreements. The American media will chase their politicians down until they expose necessary information - and the ruling side of the House will adopt - from time to time - policies that were hatched on the other side.

This government has been without societal authority to make big decisions for a significant period of time - based on a continuing "crisis" in the polls. When they were in Opposition they had no problem asking then Premier Roger Grimes to make no significant resource deals as he did not - in their opinion - have the support of the people.

Stop confusing misplaced trust with a lack of intelligence. Stop doing things for "our own good" when we clearly do not want it. Stop manipulating the whole picture through ommission of information, propoganda, and cherry picking statistics. Stop politically threatening us or attempting to buy us with our own money.

Above all else remove overpaid executives in Crown Corporations - where it has been demonstrated that the person did not do their job. Further eliminate from Crown corporate Boards people who are not comparable in expertise to Crown corporate Boards in other provinces.

Next post will be on the PUB - What is government doing to it?

Investigative Journalism - let's try this...

CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is running a Special Report called Newburbia. They describe it as this:

CBC Newfoundland & Labrador is exploring Newburbia. Across the northeast Avalon new neighbourhoods are being filled with new houses.

Who is living in these new suburbs, and why? We'll look the daily life of people who live in the suburbs, as well as the issues they face and the future they want to see.

I have been following it and it is an interesting piece.

There are three journalists involved as well as the use of news and other programming.

They have provided times lines from the 50's to now and have interviewed livyers, mayors and other planning and construction professionals as well. In a word - thorough.

The reader can even go online and look at how house plans have changed over the past 50 years.

There are probably some very interesting findings to come on why people move where they move and what quality of life they are seeking from their neighbourhoods.

What I would like to see is a similar commitment to a Special Report called the Upper and Lower Churchill.

Place online the various attempts to develop any part of the Lower Churchill - the deal on the Upper Churchill including any changes over the past 50 years.

Perhaps they could rerun the On Camera productions with Jennifer Davis that dealt with the right to wheel power, the potential for a deal with New York, and the deal that was lost.

The CBC could provide - online - the past proposed deals by Tobin and Grimes and whatever came of them.

They could highlight information about Hydro-Quebec and how they not us have become the powerhouse of hydro development.

They could show how many long-term jobs have been created in Quebec per MW of power and then explain how Quebec ratepayers benefit from developments.

They could attempt to show how HQ has used its revenues in the past to deliver government programs while maximizing their equalization.

The CBC might look at explaining to us what hydro power we already supply to Canada and how that ranks with other provinces and green  energy.

There could also be an extensive piece on how we not HQ got penalized under equalization for power from the Upper Churchill that Quebec not Newfoundland and Labrador benefited from.

The next item could be to examine significant hydro developments around the world that have attracted aluminum smelters and driven industrial development. Tens of thousands of jobs while still making money.

How does Iceland, Russia, Quebec and numerous other jurisdictions use their hydro power to drive population growth and job stimulation?

Considering the Premier continues to use our past with Quebec to promote the Emera deal should we not have the benefit of all the history to decide?

Does this deserve as much attention as Newburbia? You decide.

To listen to Talk with Sue tonight  PRESS HERE 

Danny Dumaresque will be our guest for the Program.

Watching the Muskrat Wriggle - Wangersky defends Media

Russell Wangersky has a piece in the editorial section of the Telegram today titled "Watching the Muskrat". Essentially it deals with critics of the media and its coverage of the proposed Muskrat Falls development. Unfortunately the conclusion is predictable and is able to be quoted by the Premier when next she attacks citizens voicing opposition to the deal. Press HERE to read it.

The first line of the column reads, "Shoot the messenger." As you can surmise - although you should read it for yourself - the messenger is the media. I for one do not require any more messengers. I read, see, and hear enough of them in the Tory caucus, the self-interested corporate community, and the employed spin-doctors. What I want is a genuine attempt to dig out and reveal information on what must be considered the largest renewable resource deal (that the province controls) since the Upper Churchill fiasco.

We can refer to the Upper Churchill as a fiasco now as all hands finally agree it was and is a very crippling deal for Newfoundland and Labrador. As opposed to be emotional about that mess - I choose instead to try and learn from it. Clearly Quebec made an ironclad exceptional deal while we made what could be considered the most naive, emotionally charged, and desperate deal imaginable. So my desire is that we not do it again.

Mr. Wangersky - as many of you know - is a journalist I respect and promote - did not do media critics justice when he lumped all of them in a pile and suggested that critics will shoot the messenger to deflect from their own shortcomings respecting their position. Further along Wangersky also states
"I don’t think it’s correct to say that investigative work isn’t being done. Perhaps it just hasn’t led to what some people want to hear."

That particular statement is weak and unsubstantiated. I as one critic or concerned citizen am concerned that the Premier and her government has been unable to convince me that this proposed deal is anything more than a corporate play which will gouge ratepayers while diminishing our future potential for such a resource. The media that I criticize in my posts are are not those attempting to weigh through the "tonnes" of information - they are those who have little to no interest in understanding enough about this asset to ask relevant questions.

Then Wangersky adds, "The thing that always fascinates me about those who call for more investigative reporting is that, invariably, they’ve never really done any themselves." This is completely unreasonable as most citizens who are attempting to get answers on the deal and call for more investigative reporting are not journalists but are employed in other professions and industries. To say however that these individuals or groups of critics have not researched this deal, the history of the resource, other energy potentials, the workings of Nalcor, other proposed Lower Churchill deals, hydro deals made by other utilities, development financing, potential conflicts, and the findings by the PUB and others, is factually incorrect. What fascinates me is when defending en masse his colleagues he must unjustly belittle those who are filling the information void the media and government has left.

By far the most unjustified and petty comment made by Wangersky was,  "But you’d have to lever yourself out of the comfy critic’s armchair to actually realize that, so it’s easier just to sling out innuendo about “work not being done” instead of actually doing a bit yourself." 

First of all he knows better and he understands that many citizens have provided him and other journalists critical information that otherwise they would not have had. He understands that most of these people are active in their careers (not journalism) and spend very little time in a critic's armchair. He must understand that unlike he and his colleagues these critics are not paid to do this work but rather most do it as a contribution to public awareness, debate, and out of concern. Unfortunately despite the critics commitment to other employment as a going family concern - it is they - not the vast majority of journalists who are paid to do this research that are coming up with most of the meat.

I commend Russell's accomplishments in his field and his latest recognition by the Giller committee. His writing is exceptional but I seek no work of fiction when it comes to something as important as the development of Muskrat Falls.

What Russell did not do is mention any possibility of flaw or inadequacy within his own profession and did not commend any one critic for the investigative work they obviously have done. As a result we have yet another message of shut your mouth or you too may be condemned by media or government.

The one accolade and badge Mr. Wangersky may wear - is one of acceptance by Dunderdale and company and is likely to hear his condemnations of citizens used by the Premier and her caucus to diminish the well researched voices of citizens who have very real concerns about this project.

Russell has any one of those "armchair critics" ever delivered a smoking gun to you or any of your colleagues? 

While the government may be amused at the media and critics going at one another - they should not become too comfortable - the critics will remain absolutely determined not to be silenced for fear of reprisal.

Russell Wangersky - Tom Marshall - Muskrat Falls

Russell Wangersky hits a home run in this weekend's Telegram. The column titled, "Now things are getting nasty", demonstrates yet again the attitude of our elected representatives.

This piece takes on a letter submitted to the paper by Finance Minister, Tom Marshall. More particularly it challenges one specific point Marshall makes. The quote being discussed is: “I suspect Mr. Jones is not really interested in seeing Newfoundland and Labrador reach its true potential by moving forward with large-scale energy developments that are clearly in the best interests of this province.”

The Mr. Jones referred to is Telegram columnist - Brian Jones. Jones has been appropriately and fairly challenging the proposed deal between Emera and Nalcor - to develop Muskrat Falls.

Wangersky finds the statement "out of character" for Marshall who Russell describes this way: "Tom Marshall is usually one of the province’s more moderate ministers. He doesn’t boil over in House of Assembly debates or question period, and when he’s faced with something that he views to be inaccurate, he will usually find a plain and almost soft-spoken way to correct the record."

If you have had direct dealings with Tom Marshall - you may have experienced the same sort of Jekyll and Hyde. I find the Minister does appear pleasant, polite, understanding, and overall level-headed. If you - however - do not come around to his "thinking" or "position" on an issue - he will become aloof, disinterested, and yes as nasty as the best of em.

From my continued observation of both Brian Jones and Tom Marshall - I "suspect" if either of them has an hidden agenda, it is Marshall. In fact most all the PC MHA's are behaving in the same way. The difference of course is that Jones is not asking to spend 8 billion dollars belonging to you and I - Marshall is. If the Minister feels the expenditure is a good investment - he and his colleagues have failed to prove that to the majority of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

The PC's will berate, intimidate, insult, and sometimes even sue former Cabinet Ministers, former MHA's,  professionals, bloggers, talk show participants, the media, and the public at large - if they question the logic and viability of this proposed energy deal. This despite our history of poor resource deals and the history of corruption globally when billions of dollars are involved.

You see it is not the job of Brian Jones to sell this Emera/Nalcor fiasco - while it is his and all of our jobs to challenge it. The job of "con"vincing belongs to the government - to date they have failed. I "suspect" that the deal is so bad that it cannot be sold on its merits.

I "suspect" that absent the physical warfare - the Dunderdale administration is reducing itself to partisan tribalism. This is Newfoundland and Labrador not Afghanistan and I "suspect" that one senior official of this government has all kinds of experience in countries that deter open and free debate through ridicule and otherwise interference in the lives of those who challenge them.

I "suspect" that from the Railway to Churchill Falls - generations of these merchants continue to call the shots - and they do not want ordinary people to stand in the way of their wealth building.

I further "suspect" that the government, Nalcor, departments, and the PC Party have done numerous public opinion polls on this deal - where are they? Where's MQO when you need them? I "suspect" they might be just around the corner - with I "suspect" a less-than-scientific poll.

Dunderdale Government must GO! Amendment to Bill 29

Russell Wangersky tells it like it is in the Telegram today.

The secrecy being sought by the Dunderdale government is very dangerous.

It is hard to really describe what has gone on in this province over the past number of years - but somethings clearly stink.

The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador does not belong to any politician or political party - despite what we witnessed not so long ago - the march of political felons to jail.

I want some answers and you should too.

1. I want to know every single detail on the sale of the land from government to a politician and further every piece of information surrounding the issue Rob Antle CBC outlines in his story "The curious case of file MPA/007/2012

2. I want every piece of information available on Alderon, it's Board of Directors - Appointments - significant shareholders and the companies intentions re: Muskrat Falls.

3. I want ALL the information regarding the Emera proposed deal, monies spent by government and Nalcor on the proposed project, and every meeting held with any company regarding the development of Muskrat Falls.

4. I want all information regarding the fibre-optic deal and what has transpired since that project moved forward with our money.

Minister Darin King, in speaking to Bill 29 regarding changes to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act - tried to compare the government not disclosing information to the Opposition parties not disclosing their questions for Question period.

In that the Minister is a knowing fool and is asking us to become fools.

What an embarrassment for these PC MHA's - and for their families when this fiasco of a Bill is fully realized.

Please start to take your politics seriously - and as people we are going to have to force this government out. We must take action (legally) and force these people into resignation.

The ultimate amendment to Bill 29; the Dunderdale Government must go!

Investigation Needed! Fear of Retribution - Dunderdale's Administation

Take these three statements found in the Telegram in 2012:

- St. John’s lawyer Ches Crosbie said he doesn’t want to become a target for speaking on the Muskrat Falls project, but he’s doing it anyway.

“I don’t want to get pissed on by the government,” he said. “Like anyone, I don’t want to make myself a target.”

 - Fisheries Minister, Darin King, having just removed funding from the FFAW explains why.

"I've clearly learned that no matter what we do in this situation, the FFAW is always going to have a criticism to be lobbied at government. "There's no way they're ever going to be working with us for the betterment of the industry."

- Russell Wangersky on a letter the Telegram received wherein the person asked to remain anonymous.

Friday, a letter came in where the writer said “I would like to publish the attached as a letter to the editor but can't do it under my name.” 

Asked for the reasons for requesting anonymity, the writer mentioned concerns about government retribution against family members. 

__________________________________________________________

These are just a few examples of many wherein either people express their fear of government or the Premier and her Ministers describing bloggers, tweeters, and callers to talk-shows as naysayers, political hacks, ignorant, or foolish. 


Darin King on the Fisheries Broadcast yesterday went on to say that criticism (publicly) is not necessary just come sit at the table. Number one that is a lie - to stop criticizing government does not guarantee they will ever sit at a table. Number two - the desire of this Minister and others - including the Premier - that public discourse be halted is very disturbing. Number three - the continued labelling of citizens who criticize by using very negative adjectives or adverbs - in an attempt to shut them up - is the sign of a very weak government that is not confident in its policies.

Russell Wangersky is his piece says: 

"The fear of retribution is not new: whether it’s a reality or not is hard to know for sure. I know businessmen I’ve talked to in the province — and I’ve said this before — who are willing to talk a lot about Muskrat Falls in private, but who will never speak publicly.

And there have been cases where the province has removed people from positions for making comments the government didn’t approve of." 

Russell is one of the few journalists we have left in the province - however - he too questions the reality of retribution. Maybe it's time for Russell and his colleagues to truly investigate this hypothesis and determine once and for all whether this is the case or not.

I am certain it is - as I personally - have been and continue to be on the receiving end. 


The Dunderdale administration was trained like seals by Premier Williams on the art of attacking citizens and media who dare criticize. While the terribly weak MHA's who bless Danny Williams for their good fortune - continue to behave as told - in order to hang on to the best gig they will ever have; the media should not be so intimidated - that is unless there's something we don't know about their bosses.

The talk-shows on VOCM are NOT what they used to be - the rules are different - and they control the flow of what is debated or discussed. It is NOT a free for all. What Steele and the shareholders of Newfoundland Capital Corporation (headquartered in Nova Scotia) should understand - is that if this intimidation of intelligent citizens continues - the programs will be left with - Tony - Margorie - and Jack - accompanied by Tory Ministers and backbenchers praising the statue of Dunderdale or the inverted M archway heading into the promised Dannyland.

Is Emera deal based on a False diagnosis and Limited treatment options?

In today's Telegram - Russell Wangersky addresses an important point. "Covering all the bases" deals with assumptions and reviews.

Last week Sue's Blog asked the following question?

"Why are all independent reviews guided by Nalcor's numbers and projections?"

Be it Manitoba Hydro or Navigant - in completing an "independent" review - they were restricted by defined options and defined assumptions.

I have no doubt that I and many other interested individuals - if tasked with the same body of work - would come back with the same conclusions.

If you have inaccurate assumptions going in you may have an inaccurate finding coming out.

Then based on the possible inaccurate conclusions you then present two possible options for resolving what may be non-existent problem.

Wangersky's column starts to deal with this mess.

Let's compare this to a health issue. A patient presents to a physician with a distended stomach. The physician proceeds to measure the stomach - touch the affected area - and question the patient on how they are feeling.

From there the physician says you have a tumor and here are your two options. We can cut it out - or we can radiate. The physician then spends significant time explaining the potential risks and side-affects of each treatment. From there the patient is asked to make a decision.

The patient instead asks the doctor to get a second opinion. The physician sends to a second and third physician the conclusions and treatment options. The other doctors are advised that no other treatment options can be considered and the original findings of a tumor have to be accepted based on the tests of the original physician.

The following problems exist:

1. The diagnosis was based on a limited number of tests and therefore may not be sufficient to determine the real cause of the distended stomach.

2. The treatment may be inappropriate as the problem and causes were incorrectly diagnosed.

3. Even if the diagnosis of a tumor was accurate - limiting the choice of treatment options does not allow another doctor to recommend a treatment that may be superior to the other two and may in fact cause less distress and provide a better health outcome for the patient.

This is exactly the problem we have here.

Sue's Blog - does have a recommendation for an independent review - Stay tuned for next post.

Willderdale Government and Sensational Distractions

Russell Wangersky continues his justified written assault on "tobacco gate" today in the Telegram. He stirs up more questions and comparisons that causes one - who wants to believe in the Willderdale government - to necessarily plug their nose and ears and place a blindfold over their eyes.

Several media outlets have continued to semi-probe the Matthews appointment to the CNLOPB - leaving PC supporters including Ministers like Shawn Skinner to come up with ridiculous excuses to justify the move. Pass out those plugs and blindfolds again.

Since Williams resigned unexpectedly and hurriedly almost immediately after a proposed deal was cut with a publicly traded company (Emera) to develop Muskrat Falls - bits and pieces of sensationalism have cropped up - almost on a weekly basis.

1. The Cabana Fiasco - kept the media hopping for weeks as if somebody really relevant had stepped forward. (That has nothing to do with Brad's CFA status - rather the fact that he is a rookie relative to Newfoundland and Labrador affairs). A guaranteed pass apparently into the "new" Liberals club.

2. The Dumeresque Enlightenment on the resale of Upper Churchill power - pointing an already complicit finger at the PC's - while he himself was involved with a) the attempted privatization b) responsible for a deal that made the already inept Churchill Falls deal with Hydro-Quebec even worse.

3. The almost "pee in one's pants" return of the great one as he inserted himself hypocritically into the Humber West by-election.

4. The awarding of the tobacco lawsuit to Danny's former and maybe current business buddies and former partners in his old law firm - including the Phoenix rising from the ashes piece as the "Firm" moved into new offices - after an investigation found nothing on cause of the fire and rendered it "undetermined".

5. The release of the Fisheries Report - designed apparently to show us the way forward on that Ottawa battered and fried resource. The provincial Minister Clyde Jackman claimed the report was useless and not what they were looking for - particularly in an election year. Then we had everyone from Earl McCurdy to Lorraine Michael to Derek Butler weighing in on it.

 6. The fibre optic deal - with another of Danny's former business buddies - Dean MacDonald got the go over by the Auditor General - and apparently has us left stranded and unlit.

 7. Of course the Elizabeth Matthews nomination by the Willderdale government to be the Vice-Chair of the CNLOPB. That has the whole gang singing her praises - as beautifully and choreographed as if a maestro was hiding behind curtain number one.

 All of these things have kept us a safe distance from the real issue before the people now and one which won't cost us $200,000 a year but may risk the future of several generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - the proposed deal on the Lower Churchill. These billions and billions of dollars of potential - the hundreds of millions and thousands of hundreds of thousands ... you know what Joey meant - is sitting unprotected - unquestioned - not debated - in hopes of slipping this Legacy of Shame through.

If you really want history to repeat itself - continue your blind journey into this abyss - and while Emera shareholders and likely Hydro-Quebec delight in the folly - your children and grandchildren will have to make the U-Haul journey across the rails to roads ruts and take an inadequate ferry service to the great Canada beyond - and Labradorians will be left still unserviced providing economic nutrition needed to strengthen Atlantic Canada.

The Liberals, the NDP, and the media must stop this unimpeded Williams parade into this devastating energy giveaway - by truly engaging the people in debate and discourse designed to ensure we are not marching ourselves into decades of regret and moaning over what could have been. Those in power in the sixties could have stopped the Upper Churchill and those in power now must stop the Emera deal.

Snap Crackle Pop - the public is awakening - it is our Newfoundland and Labrador

Shawn Skinner has answer for Elizabeth Matthews - CNLOPB needs communications help. NTV

Ed Martin has answer for Emera Deal - Canada is going to be 14,000 MW's short of power by 2030. NTV

Shawn Skinner and Trevor Taylor have answers for untendered, unaccountable, taxpayer burdened deals - redundancy. Telegram, NTV, CBC

If CNLOPB requires communications help - hire a communications director. 

Sean Kelly, APR, FCPRS Manager, Public Relations CNLOPB - what does he do?

Ed Martin - if Canada is going to be so destitute of power by 2030 - the best thing for Newfoundland and Labrador to do - is keep our energy in Labrador and pick up all those energy craved industries needing a place to plug into.

Shawn and Trevor - I can make a real good redundancy argument here and it has to do with an extra 40 MHA's who do not have a voice of their own and only act as redundant repeaters of briefing notes which are not read. Newfoundland and Labrador on the strength of obvious redundancies in caucus should only be paying for a couple of Cabinet Ministers, the Premier, and the ex-Premier (for communications help).


Don't forget to visit the CBC website and see the comments made on the Elizabeth Matthews story.

While I am at it - make sure you follow Mike Connors on twitter for the best on the spot Twittering around.

Don't miss Tobacco lawsuit  Russell Wangersky's articles in the Telegram

The government continues arrogant behavior and continues to ignore the voice of the people.

Puck passers for Danny have not figured it out yet. Do they realize yet - a day is a long time in politics - just give us a few months. Can't control all the media all of the time - social media is proving its value.

Emera deal must be and will be stopped.

Simon is Right - Russell is Right - Bill is Right

There must be a Public Inquiry into the whole House of Assembly Affair. Sue's Blog is going to call it the - PPP Politicians Plundering the Public and in some morbid respects public - private - partnership.

The issue of PPP is out of control and needs a real hearing. Russell Wangersky is correct when he writes the politicians want this to go away too quickly - especially the Premier.

Bill Rowe is right when he says that Marshall and Williams not taking the $2875 is either elitist or another attempt to cover - "sucking and blowing" at the same time is an appropriate analogy for those two intelligent people trying to skirt the scandal by saying they didn't take the cash.

Simon Lono is absolutely right when he says a Public Inquiry is the only way to go - to "clean the House".

Here are three astute people and are people who have been around politics in one way or another for many years. They know that fundamentally some politicians are going to have to be wiped out and exposed for this PPP mess to truly go away and deter it from happening again.

In our democracy we have a multi-party system - this is designed to bring light to positions so they may be fully exposed - debated - and resolved. When our democracy is faced with all parties being involved in questionable activities at the same time - the role of Opposition must fall to the media and the people - if not we are in a banana republic.

There are many viewpoints out there - many partisan - but many more reflect the disgust over the PPP. We must get to the bottom of this - and the public should make educated choices when voting - this cannot be done without all the information.

Some of the politicians have run for cover - with many more about to do the same.

Chief Justice Greene - with the stated mandate cannot get to the bottom of it.

The RNC with only some of the file cannot get to the bottom of it.

The Auditor General cannot call public witnesses nor release some of the information we need.


We need to hear from all MHA's and others from 2000 - 2007.
Call to the stand Beth Marshall (AG in 2000) - question her on the findings and why she requested to audit the books of the House of Assembly.

You must understand that when she was blocked - those who blocked the Office of the Auditor General are now administratively responsible for costing us millions in overpayment's - special investigations (forensic audits) - the cost of the Chief Justice (special review) - the cost of the RNC and its investigations. All of it may have been prevented if Beth Marshall had been permitted to audit in 2000.

On that note - all MHA's from 2000 should be called to a stand and publicly tell us why they voted for legislation that effectively removed the Auditor General.

Bring back Tobin - make him talk on a stand - under oath.
Bring back Furey - Dicks - Shelley - Byrne and yes Loyola Sullivan - make them talk under oath.
Bring back Lloyd Snow - Tom Lush - Lloyd Matthews - bring them all back.

If we do not hear all of the unfettered evidence from our elected officials - we will never know the truth and we will not deter similar behavior.

The 2004 PPP is the same - the IEC rendered that proposal (#) be approved and every MHA gets the $2875. We know that 2 did not take it - one sat on the IEC and was the former AG that supposedly wanted to bring these types of things to light - and the other is the Premier who claims he wants it all cleaned up.

What we have here are the politicians blocking the use of our taxpayer dollars to investigate them. After the fortune they have cost us to date - under their control - shouldn't we have the same right to answers under our rules?

Let me use this example:

We all remember the vote in the House of Assembly to boot Fraser March our of the position of Citizens Representative - we know there were some expenses that were questionable. They were not questionable enough to have the AG file a 15.1 on him. That's the part of the Act where the AG feels a recommendation for further investigation is warranted.

15.1 's have been issued for:

Ed Byrne
Wally Anderson
Randy Collins
Jim Walsh
Percy Barrett
John Hickey
Kathy Goudie

All but one of these MHA's were sitting in the House of Assembly when they fired Fraser March.

Then John Hickey upon being exonerated from any criminal wrong-doing forgets his incompetence which caused the numerous cases of double-billing and comes out swinging at Roger Grimes. Give me a break John - you are still responsible for too many cases of double billing - all that has changed is that you are incompetent - not corrupt.

Let me say that again - John Hickey you are incompetent not corrupt. Now sue me!

Now the 2006 budget is overspent - and nobody is going to deal with it.

I do not care what rules are put in place "on a go forward basis" it will not be a real deterrent to this type of activity - unless some measurable consequences come to all MHA's that were either incompetent or corrupt.

All MHA's are in a position of conflict regarding the calling of such a Public Inquiry - because it is they that will be examined. For instance - if you had a bank robber and those who watched it - participated in it - knew about it - determine whether or not they should be charged and face trial - we could close the courts.

All the MHA's say they are really concerned about this situation and being "under a cloud" of suspicion - when they are innocent - funny not one of them have said - let's have a Public Inquiry - and that way I can be removed from the pack of others guilty of incompetence or corruption.

The Liberals asked for a Public Inquiry on the fibre-optic deal yet will not demand a Public Inquiry over this - I can assure Gerry Reid the people who will not get out and vote are not deterred by the fibre-optic fiasco - they are deterred by an inability to vote for a perceived dirty house - and it's all about perception right?

Danny will do everything other than an Inquiry which will bring into the limelight more of his own members than he wants - and then there's also the reason he did not take the cash. Let's find out if Beth Marshall and Danny Williams tell the same story.

Let's see who is really serious here! Let's see which organizations will call for the Inquiry.

NAPE?
CUPE?
Federation of Municipalities?
Federation of Labour?
FFAW?
St. John's Board of Trade?
Canadian Federation of Taxpayers?
the Media?
how about the people?

The St. John's Board of Trade can go lie down out of it - if it's calling for the reduction of taxes - when it does not demand to know what the dollars went to and why.

The public service Unions are not that mad over the $2875 if they are not interested in what really took place.

And John Hickey - remember this - you were allowed to stay in Cabinet while after you double-billed expenses and were under investigation by the RNC. If all you had to do was pay back the money - will you stand and demand that Fraser March be returned to Office? Go on hypocrite - show your stuff! Do you think you look any less ridiculous as your former colleague Kathy Goudie because she cried and you yelled?