Budget 2015 is an embarrassment. It is an acknowledgement of abject failure in the running of provincial finances.
The Tories just love to remind people regularly about the past Liberal governments and point to this and that.
So for the next week or so I will blog on what the PC's said when in Opposition. It will of course be relevant to this years budget.
Budget 2003 Loyola Sullivan expressed this point of view:
Mr. Speaker, when the government brought down its election budget just two
weeks ago, they justified quadrupling the deficit and increasing the Province's
debt to well over $11 billion by saying they were only listening to the will of
the people.
In that same breath, the Minister of Finance said she plans to
privatize the provision of long-term care in Corner Brook Mr. Speaker, the Romanow Commission into Canada's health care system
recently reported that the overwhelming majority of Canadians do not want a
private health care system. My question for the Premier is this: Why is it that
his government is prepared to listen to the people in order to justify its
election budget, but is not prepared to listen to the people when it comes to
privatizing health care? Could it be that government is only interested in
listening to the people when it suits their political agenda? (emphasis added)
Good question Minister Sullivan. Now let's see if we can get Steve Kent or the Premier to answer it.
Let's all remember that this current government has enjoyed a wealth of revenues from oil and minerals that previous governments did not have. Let's all remember the majority of that wealth came from deals made by the previous Liberal administration.
This budget must be defeated.
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Friday, May 01, 2015
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Somewhere Over the Budget
"Somewhere Over The Budget" "What a Wasted World"
a Newfoundland and Labrador Lament
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow,
They'll learn much more than we'll know
And I think to myself
What do they think of their world
Someday I'll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the Tories are far behind me
Where trouble melts like Muskrat drops
High above the Holyrood chimney top
That's where you'll find me
Oh, somewhere over the budget way up high
And the dream that you dare to, what oh what did they do?
a Newfoundland and Labrador Lament
Somewhere over the budget
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
now will go Bye Bye
Somewhere over the budget
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
now will go Bye Bye
Somewhere over the budget
Blue backbenchers fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really don't come true ooh oh
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Wake up where the Tories are far behind me
Where trouble melts like Muskrat drops
High above Holyrood chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Oh, somewhere over the budget backbenchers fly
And the dream that you dare to,
Oh why, oh why can't I?
Well I see trees of debt and red ink too,
I'll watch them saddle me and you
And I think to myself
What a wasted world
Well I see skies of blue
And I see clouds of blue
And the light during the day
I like the dark
And I think to myself
What a darknl world
The colors of the Muskrat so clear in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends clasping hands
Saying, "What did they do?"
They're really saying, oh we're screwed.
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really don't come true ooh oh
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Wake up where the Tories are far behind me
Where trouble melts like Muskrat drops
High above Holyrood chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Oh, somewhere over the budget backbenchers fly
And the dream that you dare to,
Oh why, oh why can't I?
Well I see trees of debt and red ink too,
I'll watch them saddle me and you
And I think to myself
What a wasted world
Well I see skies of blue
And I see clouds of blue
And the light during the day
I like the dark
And I think to myself
What a darknl world
The colors of the Muskrat so clear in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends clasping hands
Saying, "What did they do?"
They're really saying, oh we're screwed.
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow,
They'll learn much more than we'll know
And I think to myself
What do they think of their world
Someday I'll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the Tories are far behind me
Where trouble melts like Muskrat drops
High above the Holyrood chimney top
That's where you'll find me
Oh, somewhere over the budget way up high
And the dream that you dare to, what oh what did they do?
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
Minister Marshall is a Genius right?
Economic Update:
It's not as bad as we thought.
Projected deficit only half billion dollars.
Budgetary projections based on overestimating deficit and then re-estimating less of a deficit.
How about this Minister Marshall - look into your Muskrat Ball and project the following - based on your policies today:
In 20 years the debt will be ___
In 20 years the deficit will be ___
In 20 years the cost of residential power will be ___
In 20 years our population will be ___
In 20 years our unemployment rate will be ___
In 20 years the public pensions will be a) bankrupt b) underfunded c) healthy
In 20 years the percentage of our population over 65 will be ___
In 20 years how many more communities will be lost ___
In 20 years the fishery will be controlled by ___ people
In 20 years we will have ___ paper mills
In 20 years we will have ___ communities in Labrador still without power from Labrador hydro resources
In 20 years will we have an oil or gas refinery - using our own resources?
In 20 years will it be determined that you and the PC Dunderdale Government have done more to advance Nova Scotia than for Newfoundland and Labrador?
In 20 years will we have a shipyard?
There are no consequences to you if you are wrong - but the consequences to the next three generations can be profound.
I watch you and your colleagues banter and play in the House of Assembly like you are having a private poker game - playing with your own money. I watch the partisan tripe and manipulation of facts. I watch you and your colleagues answer from script and ignore the real situation. It looks like a game of monopoly wherein the consequences are a bruised ego - not the failure of a province.
I watch the backbenchers do whatever is necessary to get a crack at a Cabinet post. A giant carrot wielded by the Premier to keep herself in power.
When you were elected to govern in 2003 - do you believe that all governments that came before you did a great job? Did Tory governments before you leave us in a better place? Guess not - you continue to complain about it today. They were all telling the truth like you - right? They were all doing what was in our best interest like you - right? They were all building a bright future like you - right? Or do you believe that you and your colleagues have been the only competent, unselfish, and successful public servants?
The problem is Minister Marshall - if you - the Premier and the other PC's think you have the market on brains and integrity cornered - you are doing us a disservice and you should really pack it in and move on.
This situation becomes worse when you continue to be the only potential to even carry the portfolio (based on Premier's appointments) - what does that say about your colleagues?
It's not as bad as we thought.
Projected deficit only half billion dollars.
Budgetary projections based on overestimating deficit and then re-estimating less of a deficit.
How about this Minister Marshall - look into your Muskrat Ball and project the following - based on your policies today:
In 20 years the debt will be ___
In 20 years the deficit will be ___
In 20 years the cost of residential power will be ___
In 20 years our population will be ___
In 20 years our unemployment rate will be ___
In 20 years the public pensions will be a) bankrupt b) underfunded c) healthy
In 20 years the percentage of our population over 65 will be ___
In 20 years how many more communities will be lost ___
In 20 years the fishery will be controlled by ___ people
In 20 years we will have ___ paper mills
In 20 years we will have ___ communities in Labrador still without power from Labrador hydro resources
In 20 years will we have an oil or gas refinery - using our own resources?
In 20 years will it be determined that you and the PC Dunderdale Government have done more to advance Nova Scotia than for Newfoundland and Labrador?
In 20 years will we have a shipyard?
There are no consequences to you if you are wrong - but the consequences to the next three generations can be profound.
I watch you and your colleagues banter and play in the House of Assembly like you are having a private poker game - playing with your own money. I watch the partisan tripe and manipulation of facts. I watch you and your colleagues answer from script and ignore the real situation. It looks like a game of monopoly wherein the consequences are a bruised ego - not the failure of a province.
I watch the backbenchers do whatever is necessary to get a crack at a Cabinet post. A giant carrot wielded by the Premier to keep herself in power.
When you were elected to govern in 2003 - do you believe that all governments that came before you did a great job? Did Tory governments before you leave us in a better place? Guess not - you continue to complain about it today. They were all telling the truth like you - right? They were all doing what was in our best interest like you - right? They were all building a bright future like you - right? Or do you believe that you and your colleagues have been the only competent, unselfish, and successful public servants?
The problem is Minister Marshall - if you - the Premier and the other PC's think you have the market on brains and integrity cornered - you are doing us a disservice and you should really pack it in and move on.
This situation becomes worse when you continue to be the only potential to even carry the portfolio (based on Premier's appointments) - what does that say about your colleagues?
Friday, March 29, 2013
Our Secret Society - Who is the head Puppeteer?
Bill 29
Untendered Contracts
90 million $$$$ ????
Land deals
Resource giveaways
The Miracle Budget
Finding 1 billion in a month
The political hum in the air is undeniable - it is very stinky.
It stinks to the high heavens.
So the PC caucus need not know about the secret commercially sensitive $90 million dollar talks?
Will these MHA's vote for a budget when they are not privy to all the details?
Will these Tory Backbenchers stand up and really be counted or will they act as they are being treated - like garbage littering the seats at the peoples house?
Little Miss Bluffitt these days seems to be aloof to polls and commentary on her government. She has risen above the criticism and is going to do what's best for us - as if we are 4 year olds wanting to cross the street.
"I cannot govern by polls" she says with a flip of the head and the shrug of a shoulder. The same woman who heads a herd of non-scientific poll fixers, riggers, party puppets?
The strings are becoming more and more apparent as days go by. The upper echelon of the PC party must be getting ready to pounce or getting ready to leave as the next election draws near. I suppose that will depend on if they got their fair share of the public pie.
Eliminate the justice system?
It matters not who is in control of project management at Muskrat - it matters not if we are told a thing about the billions she and her posse is spending of our money.
So who's getting another little piece of education pie this time? Are we once again trying to keep the population as uneducated as possible?
And yet still 48 members of the House of Assembly - no cuts - no political staffers worried about getting the blue slip.
Based on those oil projections driving Muskrat Falls - and the oil projections driving our deficit - we had better bring this government down - sooner rather than later. If enough protest and speak out - she will have to go. Democracy must be restored - let your voice be heard.
She is a liar.
Dunderdale uttered the following in the House of Assembly on March 21-2013
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, only the Leader of the Liberal Opposition would have the face to get up here and talk about somebody calling in to a radio poll, when they in their time in government had two full-time people in the Premier's office whose only job – Tom Hann and Sue Kelland-Dyer, let me remind people of the Province – was to call in to Open Line to carry the party line, Mr. Speaker, and to influence people of the Province. Now, Mr. Speaker, that is the truth.
The tip of the iceberg - what does the woman say in private settings and meetings? Well everybody will soon find out. Pure desperation!
Come out from under the protection of the House of Assembly - where all things you say about private citizens are not able to be dealt with in the courts - and repeat the messages.
Don't forget those other points and observations you make - when in "appropriate" company.
To the boys in the backroom - Keep those Solid Gold ideas flowing...
Untendered Contracts
90 million $$$$ ????
Land deals
Resource giveaways
The Miracle Budget
Finding 1 billion in a month
The political hum in the air is undeniable - it is very stinky.
It stinks to the high heavens.
So the PC caucus need not know about the secret commercially sensitive $90 million dollar talks?
Will these MHA's vote for a budget when they are not privy to all the details?
Will these Tory Backbenchers stand up and really be counted or will they act as they are being treated - like garbage littering the seats at the peoples house?
Little Miss Bluffitt these days seems to be aloof to polls and commentary on her government. She has risen above the criticism and is going to do what's best for us - as if we are 4 year olds wanting to cross the street.
"I cannot govern by polls" she says with a flip of the head and the shrug of a shoulder. The same woman who heads a herd of non-scientific poll fixers, riggers, party puppets?
The strings are becoming more and more apparent as days go by. The upper echelon of the PC party must be getting ready to pounce or getting ready to leave as the next election draws near. I suppose that will depend on if they got their fair share of the public pie.
Eliminate the justice system?
It matters not who is in control of project management at Muskrat - it matters not if we are told a thing about the billions she and her posse is spending of our money.
So who's getting another little piece of education pie this time? Are we once again trying to keep the population as uneducated as possible?
And yet still 48 members of the House of Assembly - no cuts - no political staffers worried about getting the blue slip.
Based on those oil projections driving Muskrat Falls - and the oil projections driving our deficit - we had better bring this government down - sooner rather than later. If enough protest and speak out - she will have to go. Democracy must be restored - let your voice be heard.
She is a liar.
Dunderdale uttered the following in the House of Assembly on March 21-2013
PREMIER DUNDERDALE: Mr. Speaker, only the Leader of the Liberal Opposition would have the face to get up here and talk about somebody calling in to a radio poll, when they in their time in government had two full-time people in the Premier's office whose only job – Tom Hann and Sue Kelland-Dyer, let me remind people of the Province – was to call in to Open Line to carry the party line, Mr. Speaker, and to influence people of the Province. Now, Mr. Speaker, that is the truth.
The tip of the iceberg - what does the woman say in private settings and meetings? Well everybody will soon find out. Pure desperation!
Come out from under the protection of the House of Assembly - where all things you say about private citizens are not able to be dealt with in the courts - and repeat the messages.
Don't forget those other points and observations you make - when in "appropriate" company.
To the boys in the backroom - Keep those Solid Gold ideas flowing...
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
More $$$$ lost from Health Care - Secret Committee
Another half million dollars down the tube as Newfoundland and Labrador takes 40 days longer to list new generic.
In this case Lipitor - a brand drug to help control cholesterol - came off patent protection in May 2010 - and should have been on our formulary by July 1 of 2010. Atorvastatin the generic version did not make our formulary until August 11 2010. This 41 day delay cost us close to half a million dollars.
More interesting in this case - it may very well have been delayed until December of 2010 - if the Council of Independent Community Pharmacy Owners did not directly advise the Department of Finance of this problem.
That would have cost close to 2 million dollars.
Since that time the situation has not been corrected and we continue to lose millions of dollars.
This is the second example of wastage.
Where are the questions?
Where is the media?
These numbers can be independently verified.
Why are drugs available in our hospitals but not available at the retail pharmacy?
Here is another half million for surgeries to remove excess skin or quicker MRI's.
In this case Lipitor - a brand drug to help control cholesterol - came off patent protection in May 2010 - and should have been on our formulary by July 1 of 2010. Atorvastatin the generic version did not make our formulary until August 11 2010. This 41 day delay cost us close to half a million dollars.
More interesting in this case - it may very well have been delayed until December of 2010 - if the Council of Independent Community Pharmacy Owners did not directly advise the Department of Finance of this problem.
That would have cost close to 2 million dollars.
Since that time the situation has not been corrected and we continue to lose millions of dollars.
This is the second example of wastage.
Where are the questions?
Where is the media?
These numbers can be independently verified.
Why are drugs available in our hospitals but not available at the retail pharmacy?
Here is another half million for surgeries to remove excess skin or quicker MRI's.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
What's the Federal Government searching for on Google? Fishery of Newfoundland and Labrador?
Search words used by Federal Government office (The Government Telecommunications and Informatics Service) following the Budget:
"canada budget effect on dfo in newfoundland"
Is the Premier still looking for details? One way or the other Harper will nail Newfoundland and Labrador.
Penashue tows the well worn Party Line - Follows Hearn and Manning
Well at least we did not have to wait long to see if Penashue would follow Manning and Hearn - yes he did.
Penashue's comment that massive budget cuts were "painful" but "responsible" - is the Conservative line.
With cuts in the Department of Fisheries - recovery of stocks and necessary science for sustainability will be impacted. That cannot really sit well with an aboriginal leader - can it?
As a Labradorian - is Peter concerned that cuts to Defence may spell trouble for Happy Valley-Goose Bay?
The 4 billion dollars budgeted to be eliminated - will mean ramifications to essential services - and Peter supporting that - does not seem to jive.
There is a possibility though - that Peter has made a deal for his people - the Innu - and perhaps the Nation will gain direct benefits from a deal.
The Innu Nation claims to protect its people from outside threats - that does include the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada. The Innu Nation has fought industrialization which impacted their traditional life and lands (Lower Churchill). This was fixed by letting the Nation in on the project.
I prefer to let the Nation speak for itself on these issues: Below are statements taken from the Innu Nation site:
...It also made it mandatory for Innu children to attend school and threatened to stop welfare and family allowance payments to families whose children did not attend class.
As a result, many Innu families had to live in the communities for most of the year, despite their concerns that doing so would threaten their migratory way of life and connection to the land.
Innu parents also felt the school curriculum taught their children more about white North American society than their own and worried younger generations were being alienated from their cultural traditions.
Compounding these concerns were a string of post-Confederation forestry, mining, and other industrial developments that occurred on Innu land, but without Innu permission.
Most dramatic among these was the Upper Churchill Falls hydroelectric project, which flooded thousands of kilometers of land in Labrador, including valuable caribou habitat and Innu burial grounds. Although the Innu people used and depended on much of this area for centuries, the provincial government did not consult them before damming the Churchill River.
I do not believe the cuts will impact the Innu Nation or Peter's people - it will however continue to hurt Newfoundland and Labrador. This will be very interesting - and educational.
Penashue's comment that massive budget cuts were "painful" but "responsible" - is the Conservative line.
With cuts in the Department of Fisheries - recovery of stocks and necessary science for sustainability will be impacted. That cannot really sit well with an aboriginal leader - can it?
As a Labradorian - is Peter concerned that cuts to Defence may spell trouble for Happy Valley-Goose Bay?
The 4 billion dollars budgeted to be eliminated - will mean ramifications to essential services - and Peter supporting that - does not seem to jive.
There is a possibility though - that Peter has made a deal for his people - the Innu - and perhaps the Nation will gain direct benefits from a deal.
The Innu Nation claims to protect its people from outside threats - that does include the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada. The Innu Nation has fought industrialization which impacted their traditional life and lands (Lower Churchill). This was fixed by letting the Nation in on the project.
I prefer to let the Nation speak for itself on these issues: Below are statements taken from the Innu Nation site:
...It also made it mandatory for Innu children to attend school and threatened to stop welfare and family allowance payments to families whose children did not attend class.
As a result, many Innu families had to live in the communities for most of the year, despite their concerns that doing so would threaten their migratory way of life and connection to the land.
Innu parents also felt the school curriculum taught their children more about white North American society than their own and worried younger generations were being alienated from their cultural traditions.
Compounding these concerns were a string of post-Confederation forestry, mining, and other industrial developments that occurred on Innu land, but without Innu permission.
Most dramatic among these was the Upper Churchill Falls hydroelectric project, which flooded thousands of kilometers of land in Labrador, including valuable caribou habitat and Innu burial grounds. Although the Innu people used and depended on much of this area for centuries, the provincial government did not consult them before damming the Churchill River.
I do not believe the cuts will impact the Innu Nation or Peter's people - it will however continue to hurt Newfoundland and Labrador. This will be very interesting - and educational.
Monday, June 06, 2011
Will the missing Cod find their way to the Base in Goose? Ask Harper and Dunderdale!
You can see how the Stephen Harper government will support Newfoundland and Labrador.
Department of Fisheries budget cut by $53 million.
Department of National Defense axing 2,100 positions.
Are you impressed with Premier Dunderdale's support of Harper?
The only reason Stephen Harper will give a loan guarantee on the Lower Churchill is to ensure Newfoundland and Labrador loses more of its valuable resources to other provinces. Just like the first 5,000 MW's to Quebec - we lose.
Stop the Emera deal and tell Kathy Dunderdale NO in October.
Department of Fisheries budget cut by $53 million.
Department of National Defense axing 2,100 positions.
Are you impressed with Premier Dunderdale's support of Harper?
The only reason Stephen Harper will give a loan guarantee on the Lower Churchill is to ensure Newfoundland and Labrador loses more of its valuable resources to other provinces. Just like the first 5,000 MW's to Quebec - we lose.
Stop the Emera deal and tell Kathy Dunderdale NO in October.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
How will early shutdown of Hibernia affect budget plans???
Hibernia will shut down in February for about 4 weeks. This is 7 months before schedule.
What will this mean to our upcoming budget? Can Minister Marshall provide a mini-statement.
This from Bloomberg online
What will this mean to our upcoming budget? Can Minister Marshall provide a mini-statement.
This from Bloomberg online
The work was moved up from September, Hibernia Management & Development Co. spokeswoman Margot Bruce-O'Connell said today in a telephone interview. The so-called turnaround includes regulatory inspection and recertification of equipment that can't be conducted while the field is pumping oil, she said.
The field's output has been hampered since Jan. 2, when a fuel valve failed in a generator and reduced power needed for production. Daily oil output in January averaged about 120,000 barrels, down from about 180,000 previously, she said.
Shuttering the field offshore Newfoundland in mid-February will help ``mitigate the impact of reduced production that we have right now as a result of the problem with one of Hibernia's generators,'' Bruce-0'Connell said. She declined to comment on the cost of the maintenance work.
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