More Breaking News

Puerto Rico as you have all probably heard by now - is essentially bankrupt - on fiscal life support - in need of massive bailout. It is considered impoverished.

Newfoundland and Labrador on the other hand is designated as a "have province". That puts us ahead of the provinces collecting equalization.

 In the 2017-2018 year, the following provinces will receive equalization payments:

• Quebec ($11.081 billion)  (please note this amount) program designed to suit them.
• Manitoba ($1.820 billion)
• Nova Scotia ($1.779 billion)
• New Brunswick ($1.760 billion)
• Ontario ($1.424 billion)
• Prince Edward Island ($390 million)

Back to Puerto Rico

Outstanding debt: 70 billion
Population: 3.4 million
$20,588 per person 

Unemployment 10%

Newfoundland and Labrador
Outstanding debt: 13 billion
Population: 528,000 
$24,621 per person

Unemployment 15%

This does not include the 13 billion dollar boondoggle Muskrat.

Both Puerto Rico and Newfoundland and Labrador see migration to the continental parts of their countries - both permanently and for temporary work.

Puerto Rico and Newfoundland and Labrador are losing population.

Puerto Rico's aging demographics are much healthier than Newfoundland and Labrador's 

We must also consider that Newfoundland and Labrador receives as all provinces do - transfer payments for programs such as health and education not so much for Puerto Rico.


There is a three-pronged problem here.

The first is the understanding or lack thereof of the Equalization program. I have discussed this briefly in a previous post.

The second is that even the reasonable or equitable (to some degree) parts of equalization - leaves us essentially bankrupt because although we have the resources to generate tax, royalties, revenues - we have mismanaged the resources so badly that what equalization considers we should generate from resources - we don't actually generate from them. (oil revenues unfair part)

The third problem is the absolute ignorance deliberate or otherwise of our politicians - refusing to actually understand the mess we are in.

And these same people continue to permit spending on Muskrat Falls.

The people of Puerto Rico just like the people of Newfoundland and Labrador love where they live and want to stay. However both jurisdictions are likely to see significant migration to their respective "mainlands" simply to survive and thrive.

Note to Labradorians - my use of the word "mainland" does not refer to you. I recognize the difference.   



 

Our politicians are Lying - Lying - and Lying again!

Everybody loves to see ex-pats return home to Newfoundland and Labrador.

It's the one excitement we get - compared to the pain and anguish of outmigration and the family consequences it brings.

Follow this:

A 35 year old leaves home - the fishery is no longer viable in his/her community. The person moves to Ontario or Alberta for work. At first the family stays behind - they can't sell their home - it's not worth anything anymore. As the months drag on with no prospects of the fishery recovering -those months become years and the family is suffering from the continued absence of a parent or spouse.

That 35 year old is now 38 and is either going through a divorce or is in the process of moving the family to Alberta or Ontario in an effort to save the relationship.

If divorce happens - the family is split - one spouse is trying to keep the homestead going in Newfoundland and Labrador within a community that can not hang on without the fishery. The children will be shuffled across the country - while both spouses seek a new relationship and perhaps a new family.

If the family moves - other family members are left behind. Grandpa and Grandma who planned to live with their children in older years now move into a government subsidized home. Aunts, uncles, and cousins lose touch and lose the all important sense of family that's felt in a rural community.

So far we have the taxpayer and the future generation gone - left behind are retirees that will require more government assistance in order to replace what would have been provided by the family.

Worse the children who have moved away with the parents are no longer going to grow into Newfoundland and Labrador taxpayers and their grandparents needs; medical, transport, and care will be paid for by children of those who have stayed.

So the 35 year old who moved to Alberta and Ontario is lost to our tax base - as they spend productive tax years in another province. They pay for seniors care in Alberta or Ontario and nothing to the care of seniors in this province.

Eventually the 35 year old retires having spent 20 years of productivity somewhere else. Driving the economy of Alberta or Ontario. Driving the population and tax growth. Driving more seats in the House of Commons.

At 65 the person repatriates to Newfoundland and Labrador. They are on retirement income and in a very different tax bracket. As that person gains chronic and then debilitating illnesses - the taxpayer of Newfoundland and Labrador take on the health and drug costs. The taxpayer of Newfoundland and Labrador take on the cost of homecare or residency in a personal care home. The person who left at 35 did not contribute to the tax base for these essential services. That is left to the young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who remain home to work.

As the oil goes and continued resource giveaways come home to roost - young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians cannot afford the tax necessary to maintain essential health, transport, and education services. Off they go - to upper or western Canada while Newfoundland and Labrador slips into economic distress - the Greece of 2041.

Upper Churchill will save us? No it won't and that's why politicians won't and can't deal with the truth.

Canada is like a starving vampire - and the only blood it thirsts is the life-blood of Newfoundland and Labrador - and so far we are keeping it satisfied.

“When truth is replaced by silence,the silence is a lie.”
Yevgeny Yevtushenko

Danny's heart in the USA Newfoundland's Diaspora gather in Fort Mac

The USA is still touting Danny Williams as the poster boy for private health care while questioning the Canadian system. 

When a candidate for the Alberta PC leadership needs help - Danny is called in to rally the population - our people. 

Two of these points make clear that the Dunderdale/Williams teams were less than successful in reversing outmigration and bettering our health care system. 

Headline in USA TODAY

Opposing view: Despite flaws, U.S. health care the best...

Similarly, when Canadian Human Resources Minister Belinda Stronach needed treatment for breast cancer, she had it done at a California hospital. And, when then-Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams needed to have a leaky heart valve repaired, he had it done at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Florida. 

These high-profile patients were following in the footsteps of tens of thousands of patients from around the world who come to the United States for treatment every year.

Then there is this one:

Former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams traveled to Fort McMurray this week to support Alberta PC leadership candidate Gary Mar and to give the candidate a boost in support from Newfoundland’s diaspora in the northern Alberta community.

The retired Newfoundland Premier’s support may be one of the former Calgary MLAs most significant endorsement in northern Alberta…

Don’t you love the word diaspora?

Historically: the dispersion of the Jews after the Babylonian and Roman conquests of Palestine.

Currently: Newfoundlanders and Labradorians fleeing their homeland for work. Or the scattering of our people after the Canadian conquest with the help of our useless politicians. 

New Energy

50 reasons to Leave Canada Let's see if Harper can find More

It's been a real blast - let's remember next Memorial Day while they are blowing off the celebratory Fireworks in Upper Canada. Lest we Forget! Who will answer the roll call tomorrow? Not the spineless jellyfish standing next to Harper and Dunderdale.

1. Loss of Cod Stocks

2. Loss of Fishers

3. Loss of Fishers families

4. Loss of Hundreds of Communities

5. Loss of Hundreds of Thousands of people

6. Loss of ownership of offshore resources (both fishery and oil/gas)

7. Loss of Railway

8. Loss of  dozens of fish plants

9. Loss of Upper Churchill water rights and power

10. Loss of Lighthouses

11. Loss of Airline

12. Loss of Airports

13. Loss of Bases

14. Loss of Paper mills

15. Loss of Culture

16. Loss of Flags

17. Loss of coastal Ferry Services

18. Loss of Food Fishery

19. Loss of Pork industry

20. Loss of Independence

21. Loss of Cobalt (exported)

22. Loss of Bakeries

23. Loss of many Independent Grocers

24. Loss of many Independent large Retailers

25. Loss of Bottling plant

26. Loss of Community hospitals and clinics

27. Loss of traditional seal fishery

28. Loss of Zinc (exported)

29. Loss of Copper (exported)

30. Loss of Iron Ore (exported)

31. Loss of Gold (exported)

32. Loss of Silver (exported)

33. Loss of Fluorspar (exported)

34. Loss of Sawmills

35. Loss of Helicopter Company

36. Loss of Capelin Stocks

37. Loss of Nickel (exported)

38. Loss of Currency

39. Loss of Banks

40. Loss of Military installations

41. Loss of Air Space

42. Loss of Manufacturing plants

43. Loss of Shipping Routes

44. Loss of Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and Flemish Cap

45. Loss of fisheries supply companies

46. Loss of Wild Salmon industry

47. Loss of Schools

48. Loss of Inshore Fishery (traditional gear)

49. Loss of our Pride and Identity

50. Loss of our Youth - seeking jobs elsewhere.



Send me more of your memories - and the losses we have suffered since Confederation.

Fish what fish?

Your eyes are already glazed over right? It's fish and you don't want to hear about it anymore. Well stop! Wipe out your eyes and really start understanding what is taking place here.

Not dealing with the fishery is akin to you having no interest in your ancestry, your culture, your reason for being here. Not much sense in celebrating tourism commercials if you have no interest in who you are and where you come from.

The tourists who visit this province have more interest in our fishery and the strong historical and current attachment to this renewable resource than we do. This is not right - and politicians  - all stripes - both federal and provincial are to blame. They have inundated us with study and commission and study and commission for as long as I can remember - yet all we hear is bad news as it relates to the fishery. The latest now is the culmination of the "passionate" review process started under the fellow who just quit. Now we have a Minister who - for political reasons - is avoiding releasing information. Clyde Jackman knows this information is going to be more bad news for the fishers and more ingratiating of the big corporates' interests.

It is not convenient for an election - and that's what it boils down to. Political expedience. Where will Jackman draw a pension from?

I listened to Siobhan Coady this morning talking about her visit to the Province with Scott Brison and heard her make mention of a meeting where Gus Etchegary spoke of the fishery. After articulating the obvious - that Gus was passionate about the fishery - she claimed the same passion. Excuse me? What exactly is Siobhan Coady going to do about the plight of the fishers, the tens of thousand of people who left Newfoundland and Labrador (after being displaced in the sector), or the communities that are dieing as a result of the fishery disaster? Best I can tell - nothing really - same old same old. I can confirm that Siobhan like those before her are passionate about keeping their job - and keeping the pension that comes with it. Until I see anybody taking seriously the fact that we are losing over 500 million a year from the groundfish destruction - or at least until they fight as hard as the MP's from the Prairies who year over year get relief and funding for farmers - I will not show them any respect or believe a word they say.

Can you guess how many times fishermen have been used during elections to ensure a victory for one party or the other? Held hostage as Ursula suggested is mild language. The rural outports have been battered and battered while the mighty oil and St. John's expects continued growth and a booming real estate market. The fat-cat bankers responsible for gouging you and me on every transaction to pay for the costs of corporate corruption - sit bank in their chairs and declare everything is okay.

What a disgrace we are - as we let these two-bit politicians make a career and "earn" a pension from ineptitude, gutlessness, and political expedience. The fish were supposed to be renewable right?

St. John's as with other regional hubs are booming because people from the outports have to move out of their communities to try and salvage something. But this is an oil economy and it is not forever - in fact at the moment it is pretty defined (in time). So even now the irony is that good old St. John's is utilizing the misery of the outports to force a population base made up of those who travel in leaving their communities, elderly parents, and their devalued possessions behind.

This is a social experiment for some like Dr. Doug House who has been for the past two decades moving us from a "resourced based economy" to an "information based economy".  He under Clyde Wells and right on up through and at the University - remember the "economic recovery plan"? Sitting in an academic ivory tower pontificating "reasoned" thoughts. Hogwash!

The unemployment rate remains at double digits and our population is declining and aging. Politicians answer to that we are growing our Gross Domestic Product.

The federal representatives in Parliament have been useless and their excuse has always been "we get up there and we can't get anywhere". Geez people you figure now they might already know the predictable outcome before they ask for your vote. Okay let's spell it out - 7 seats and 2% of the population in a country where everything from parliament to the senate to federal programs are based per-capita.

Regardless of what I think about Danny Williams - he did have the political support to do something real about it. The people were willing to stand behind whatever moves he had to make. I hoped in deliberate ignorance he may actually use that willingly given power and fix at least the fishery. I can't say I am surprised he quit - I knew he would - but somewhere in me I really wanted him to do what was right.

Your eyes are glazed over because politician after politician from this Province has failed and despite the studies and the commissions - all they have consecutively done is - piece by piece rip away at this tremendous resource. The social experiment - predicted that if you do the demise in chunks - you will limit the people who may protest the demise of our way of life, those idyllic communities, and that significant revenue.

The politicians, senior bureaucrats and union all have been responsible in this giveaway. Make no mistake - Ottawa has bartered away our stocks for the benefit of population rich provinces - the province has bartered away our industry to corporate interests that do not operate to benefit Newfoundland and Labrador - rather to benefit shareholders (most of whom live offshore).



We must stop rewarding failure and not fall into the trap set for us - that eyes glazed over means - we do not care. 

Doubling our population with the Tories and convenient Liberal policies regarding Labrador.

Doubling our population

$1000 and a chair in daycare ought to do it!!

If the Premier wants to double the population of this province he had better rethink his policies regarding Labrador resources.

If we doubled our population to a million - how would we energize the houses?
To double our population we would have to substantially increase industry and business - how would we energize that?
If this type of industrial development is going to occur - how are we attracting them - with our hydro-power?

There is no doubt Labrador could triple its population relatively quickly - just enact a law that hydro-power will not be exported and let industry know if they want to use that resource they have to come here to get it.

Williams might also be pleasantly surprised when he realizes that necessary infrastructure in Labrador would come quicker if industry moved in. Further the resources in Labrador - renewable power - is likely to keep industry here longer than non-renewables such as oil and gas.

After making a statement like that to the media - the media MUST ask him about his energy plan (pamphlet).

Convenient Liberal policy on Labrador Resources

Listening to Karen Oldford - Liberal candidate Labrador West - on Bill Rowe now - she has seen the light - we should use Labrador power to attract industry there. You don't say Karen - because the Liberal team for the past 15 years did not see it that way. Always good to jump on a "Sue's" bandwagon when the policy flies. Was not that long ago that your buddies were trying to privatize Newfoundland and Labrador hydro - then after the people stopped it - your buddies - ie. Danny Dumaresque seen the light. Remember too Karen that both Brian Tobin and Roger Grimes were looking at exporting power to Quebec.

Let me tell you what I've learned about Liberal Policy - they don't like to acknowledge where it came from - they love stealing it - after the work has been done to promote it - then they drag out a bunch of Johnny come Lately's to espouse it. Looks good on you. The same way medicare came to be - so goes the Liberals.

I remember Karen Oldford saying - when she chose the Liberals over the NDP in the bye-election - she looked at the Liberal policy before making a final decision. Hey Karen, what are you looking at now for Energy Policy? The Liberals would not do an energy plan - and never held public consultations for that purpose.

Whatever sells - whatever gets us elected is the order of the day.

I for one am sad to see the Labrador Party pull back - though I understand the purpose - the only thing the party supporters should do now is get a written commitment from the Liberals and the NDP as to what the energy policy will be regarding the Lower Churchill.

What is an opportunist??? Whose knocking on your door???

Fix This!

While your sniffing perfume - changing underwear - hanging paintings - scratching your lotto tickets - having a puff or a swallow - or making excuses for your spending habits - find a way to fix this!

(numbers are rounded to the nearest 100)

............................1988..................................2006

Total Population 575,000...............................509,700

Years of Age

0-19.....195,500...............................111,700

20-39....195,700...............................132,400

40-59....111,400...............................166,100

60 +......72,500................................98,500

Add to that the estimate of population for 2007 is 506,500

Primary and secondary education costs record level - with 83,800 less students (0-19)
Health costs at record level - with 70,000 less people

People to have the $1000 babies are down 63,300 since 1988 (20-39)

The next generation following to have $1000 babies down 83,800 since 1988 (0-19)

The people who are generally in the middle to late career age up 54,700 since 1988 - and the ones leaving now to find work or joining their adult sons and daughters who have left after graduation.

People who are at the beginning to middle career years down 63,300 since 1988.

60+ up 26,000 people - including retirees who without pension indexing are continuing to have their disposable income deteriorate - and their quality of life diminished.

The fishery was destroyed by Ottawa's mismanagement - yet nothing is done. And now we want to turn our superior hydro energy over to Ontario - the Maritimes - Quebec - or even the New England States. They do not need more industry and their populations are growing.

Now let me make your day!

Here is a headline from today's Globe and Mail online:

Thirty-somethings drive 2005 birth rate to seven-year high...

and this paragraph from the story:

The number of births dropped to a 55-year low in 2000 but, except 2002, has risen every year since — largely because most babies were born to parents belonging to the echo generation (the children of baby boomers) had entered their prime childbearing years as of 2001.

Unfortunately for Newfoundland and Labrador - the thirty-somethings have left or are leaving and the generation following is diminishing to record lows. The price of oil can go to $100 bucks a barrel - and the only thing that will do is stave off our extinction - unless we start doing other things right.

I'll need that other glass of wine now Mr. Dicks.

Will Hebron attract the "Homing Pigeons"?

Don't count on it Premier.

Homing pigeons is how Williams likes to describe Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who move away to find jobs.

Every time he says this - I get a little annoyed at his comparison and his false belief that people who have been forced to establish themselves in another province or country - will just pack up and come home should short term opportunity present itself.

That's a natural weakness from somebody who has not been forced to make ends meet - or somebody who goes paycheck to paycheck barely paying the bills - no reserve for investment for pension or otherwise - or somebody who has the lights cut off or telephone disconnected.

Make no mistake many of these people work hard day in and day out - and are those who primarily vacation at home - hunt a moose - catch a few trout or a rabbit. They don't need the advertising from Tom Hedderson to tell them what their vacation realities are. And I suppose - if you must vacation at home - we are lucky enough to have the best place in the world to do it.

A story out of the Edmonton Journal yesterday expresses what some "homing pigeons" feel about the Hebron announcement.

Barry Shortt originally from from Burnt Point said - in part...

He thinks the project will jump-start the Newfoundland and Labrador economy and create more jobs, but he plans to stay put.

"Most of these people travel to Alberta to find work and return when work arises at home," Shortt said. "As for professionals, they settle into a good company and start a family here, so they will probably stay."

Stephen Ennis originally from St. John's said - in part:

... he misses the sense of community in St. John's, but doesn't see the project as a reason to move back home.

He came to Edmonton unemployed, but now has an established career as a plumber-gas fitter and calls the city his home, he said.

"I'm not interested in going back to Newfoundland because you have to look at the opportunities and the position Alberta is in right now"...

Then there is:

Dominic House, 54, came to Fort McMurray from St. Alban's Bay, N.L., in 1979.

"This is home for me, it's where my kids were born and Alberta has been good to me," House said.

His first job was as a truck driver. Eventually, he worked his way up to a job with the human resources department of the same company, he said.

House said he would never think of moving back to the East Coast for a job that would likely be temporary.

"You're looking at a lot of jobs for the construction phase. If you have a permanent job in Alberta, why would you leave?"

And that probably says it all right there. Hebron means numerous construction and building trades jobs for a relatively short period - then it's all relative to supply services and working on the rigs.

Hebron will drive the economy and the revenues are great for the treasury - more particularly the long-term - one anticipates - generous returns as a partner and recipient of royalties.

Getting those "homing pigeons" to return is going to happen when Newfoundland and Labrador establishes long-term industry prospects like we see with the IOC or will see with the processing facility for nickel. It's the jobs that will be around for 25 -50 years that will bring a person home to Newfoundland and Labrador - and that's where energy is key.

We can build the Lower Churchill facilities and while doing so - the engineering and building and construction trades will be booming - but if we don't use the resulting energy to power industry - the exodus begins again.

Quebec - Ontario - Nova Scotia - New Brunswick - and the New England States really don't mind if Newfoundlanders and Labradorians build the project - they only care they can access the reliable - renewable - cost competitive - superior energy - to develop their industries. If that happens - I can predict where our next generation of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will be living.

If our Premier does not get this - there is no Hebron - that will ever stop the out-migration of our people and the continued decimation of rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

Yesterday I heard Kathy Dunderdale express they are gambling on the price of oil remaining above $50 a barrel for the next 20 or so years. I would agree and say our treasury will be the better off for the gamble. If the Minister and Premier want us all to believe that - then they must accept how valuable Lower Churchill power will be over the same period. That's what happened with the Upper Churchill. So while Quebec pumps over 80,000 jobs into their economy last year - while we grow 500 - remember what drives that province. Energy and the industry attached to it.

We must not export Lower Churchill power. Industry must be told they won't pick it up in Ontario - New Brunswick - or the USA - if they want it - they must come to Labrador and use it.

Then and only then Premier will homing pigeons return.

Think about it - if a homing pigeon is currently in Alberta with a guarantee to be fed for 30-40 years - or can fly home for 4 or 5 years - only to return to Alberta again - then don't be surprised at the choice made.

Oil and gas are temporary - finite - the fishery and renewable energy is where the real policy choices have to be made.

When you have the whole of Labrador lined with refineries as Edmonton's east side does - then you can say - we got it - we got it.

Williams Policies Fail as Newfoundland and Labrador still in Tail Spin

As Danny Williams continues to muddle through energy policy which could - if implemented - be our demise - Newfoundland and Labrador still in tail spin.

Despite the glory of pushing Paul Martin into an equalization payday - Williams - a successful businessman cannot seem to correct the economic slaughter of our province.

The Premier and his talking heads (Ministers) would have us believe that we are leading the country in growth - and that we are - we are growing exponentially in shipping out raw resources and the Premier wants to continue this trend.

Don't let him play with statistics - that to you and I - families - and communities means very little.

Let's have a "Closer Look".

Newfoundland and Labrador

Unemployment Rate - 13.6%
We lost 1700 jobs in July
Employment growth of 500 jobs over the past year

Prince Edward Island
Unemployment Rate - 10.5%
No job loss July
Employment growth of 1100 jobs over the past year

Nova Scotia

Unemployment Rate - 8.8%
Lost 3400 jobs in July but...
Employment growth of 4900 jobs over past year

Quebec
Unemployment Rate - 6.9%
Lost 1500 jobs in July but...
Employment growth of 87,400 jobs over past year

Ontario

Unemployment Rate - 6.5%
Gained 11,400 jobs in July
Over 27,000 new factory jobs alone...

Manitoba

Unemployment Rate - 4.2%
Lost 1900 jobs in July
Employment growth of 9,100 jobs over past year

Saskatchewan

Unemployment Rate - 4.8%
Gained 1800 jobs in July
Employment growth 5,000 jobs over past year

Alberta

Unemployment Rate - 3.3%
Gained 13,600 jobs in July
Employment growth of 61,000 jobs over past year

British Columbia

Unemployment Rate - 4.1%
Lost 2500 Jobs in July
Employment Growth of 62,000 jobs over past year

Reading these numbers - 2 things come to mind.

The silliness of provinces like Quebec and Ontario talking about Newfoundland and Labrador being greedy on the accord issue - and Williams talking about improving the economy and worse shipping out (exporting) our distinct advantage of clean renewable cost competitive hydro power. The poor man has not figured out why everybody needs power but us. They are attracting industry and they want to use Williams policy of energy warehousing to pluck our power which will deny us industrial growth - and it will decimate our future.

This policy is worse than that of Clyde Wells when he attempted the privatization of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and would be a greater giveaway than the Upper Churchill (if exported).

SCHOOL'S OUT day 4

Denise Pike Liberal candidate Bellevue

Bill Rowe said it right she's acting like an MHA now.

I see - where's Percy?

Denise if you were not looking for a vote - what would you be doing now?

and where's Percy?

Has Denise Pike taken over the duties of Percy? I did not hear Percy on.

Denise is on full MHA emergency alert - where's Percy?

Bizarre



Juan O'Quinn PC Candidate Lewisporte - heard him on the air the other day - and best I can tell he wants to be paid for being passionate about Newfoundland and Labrador - and the fact he has put himself into the draft for Danny's team.

Funny Juan - there are usually three open-line programs on VOCM a day - and plenty of very significant issues - not the least of which are - outmigration - fishery - the Lewisporte ferry services - the loss of a goods distributing company - yet I don't remember you calling to voice your deep concerns and passion about them.

The picture kind of says it all for the Tory candidates - The leader clung to a tree with the rest dragging on his coat-tails.

Newfoundland and Labrador is one big Flea Market

As Danny babysits the oil and gas sector - he gives away our wind - and the lucrative FPI fisheries marketing arm.

It should be unacceptable to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to have the Italian government have partial ownership of a wind farm while we ask for no equity involvement. This is the beginning of a very bad policy. You see we have to be in on the front end - as Norsk Hydro has done with oil and gas. We are backpedaling now trying to get in on the offshore action - while we stupidly go forward with new wind development with no equity and no energy plan.

It seems to me that SNC Lavelin - currently holding training programs in Labrador related to the Lower Churchill development - knows more about what the Premier plans for that project that we do.

While we are at it - what happened to the draft royalty regime on gas - distributed to the oil companies but not the people of the Province. The media has yet to deal with that issue.

The there is the NAFO fiasco - where major changes are being proposed which if adopted could further harm our control of the fishery. We had to be informed of those changes by a retired civil servant from Ontario - while our millions of dollars of expertise didn't make a peep. As for the Fisheries Minister or Leader of the Opposition - not a speck of concern - nothing. They are - after all - on a 5 month campaign trail to get YOUR VOTE.

What of FPI? Well the historically successful marketing arm of the company is about to be sold to a Nova Scotian company with the Icelanders coming in on the rest. Nothing - no leadership here either. Newfoundland and Labrador is like a giant flea market - with everybody coming around to take a look and buy bits and pieces of us. Did you ever hear one of those stories where somebody buys something from a flea market for a buck - only to find out later from an appraiser that the item is valued in the thousands of dollars. This is an indication that the original owner of the goods had no clue of the value of some items. Well Danny you are turning out to be the vendor of our giant flea market while Lorraine Michael and Gerry Reid are like nosy neighbours - watching what you do - but doing nothing themselves.

When Danny Williams is the best of our lot - and he supports the export of reliable - cost competitive - renewable hydro - from Labrador - we are in a sorry state. When he continues to present himself as the defender of Newfoundland and Labrador - but can offer no more of a solution than to prevent the election of Conservatives in a federal election - we are in a sorry state - When our Premier therefore assists career politicians Judy Foote and Oliver Langdon to bail from the provincial fisheries fiasco and head on up to Ottawa for a second pension - we are in a sorry state.

Then we have the backroom of Ross Reid - Doug House - and Dean MacDonald influencing policy privately - while our role is simply to follow Danny with pom-poms. The Premier is roaming around Newfoundland and Labrador in his hamper-pamper-camper with his flunkies in Cabinet and Caucus following him in the US BUS - enjoying his ability to trounce on Opposition by distributing our own money like Santa Claus. Should we have pity - no - the Liberals have done the same when in office - I think Tobin used helicopters. What we should demand is better candidates - we should be rejecting this lot outright.

What we should realize is that our excitement over getting any provincial money is just a reflection of how poor the policies of these politicians have left us. In other words - keep the people desperate and they will be joyful over crumbs.

Meanwhile not one of these lot have been able to stop our young educated people and their families from leaving. Not one of them is able to deal with the collapse of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Not one of them is showing any vision - when there is a fire sale on hydro-electric power. Not one of them has any guts as Danny let's Stephen away with broken promises costing us billions - when Danny lets Stephen walk away from fallow field legislation - while the Liberals idea is reduced to say nothing about FPI and capitulate to the oil companies. And where is the NDP? Good question.

News Break FPI FPI FPI

Looks like the FPI deal may be further off than thought. The company has just issued a News Release postponing the annual and special meeting of shareholders to seek approval for the sale of assets to Ocean Choice and Highliner Foods from August - 07 to an unspecified date before October 31-07.

The most interesting sentence in this Release is:

"Negotiations between FPI and these two companies are ongoing, and there is no certainty that definitive agreements and transactions will result."

CLICK HERE FOR THE NEWS RELEASE

ATTENTION POLITICIANS - TIME TO COME OFF THE BBQ CIRCUIT...MAYBE IT'S JUST GOING HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ELECTION.

Who do You work for???

Last week when I called Back - Talk to talk about energy - Iceland - and Newfoundland and Labrador - Randy asked me who I worked for. For readers of Sue's Blog - can you figure it out?

Government - Federal or Provincial - no
so let's start from there.

Exxon Mobil - not unless they like the criticism

Voisey's Bay - no they do not like my thinking

Petro-Can - no way

The Fish Merchants - not a chance

The Provincial PC's - you're kidding right.

The Provincial Liberals - uh huh they love me talking about the party moving to oblivion.

The Provincial NDP - I don't think so - they don't like my comments about the NDP.

So who is it?

Loyola Hearn?
Stephen Harper?
Stephan Dion?
Jack Leyton?
The Bloc?

Who?

Persona?

Who?

You will quickly determine that I unlike all those who are asking - work for the people for $0 - when I am blogging or am on open line - unlike all the cluttered and frenzied politico's - I work for nothing. We pay the politicians - when they come on - you are paying them - and when the wannabes come on they want your vote so you can pay them. Randy Simms when he talks about public issues is paid - he is not doing it for nothing. Bill Rowe and Linda Swain are paid when they talk about public issues. Ryan Cleary when he writes falsehoods about me or innuendo's he is paid. Reporters are paid. Broadcasters are paid. Dean Macdonald is paid when he gets on to defend Persona's 15 million dollar check from your wallets as taxpayers. The Premier is paid - Gerry Reid is paid - Lorraine Michael is paid - Earle McCurdy is paid - Carol Furlong is paid - Debbie Forward is paid - Andy Wells is paid - Keith Coombes is paid - Wade Locke is paid - Axel Meisson is paid - retired politicians are still being paid - when I get on the air and when I do the 30 or so hours a week I put into my research to prepare public commentary I do not get paid. The exact opposite is true - the questions I ask and statements I make to try and prevent this Province from being taken again and again and again - means certainly I will never be paid.

I have never heard Randy or Bill or Linda or any reporter ask anybody ever - the questions he asked me today. So why were the questions asked? My defense of the Province and her people is questioned because those who have an interest in screwing us or are interested in keeping power want my credibility challenged. There are people hired - some with your money who transcribe or record everything I say. They are paid. If somebody really sticks up for this province and asks the right questions - the people who own the Province will try and intervene. They do not want to lose control and they do not want the people of the Province asking for more.

Unfortunately big business and politico's - especially those in power - do not want anything I ask or state to stick - that might harm them or those who support them. My support must come from the people - the reward I receive is not financial it is only the phone-calls and emails I receive everyday from people who love this Province.

So when Randy asked mt to prove a negative - that is that I am not in secret conflict - I am asked to prove I am innocent. Wait now - what country is this? Where is the media? Tell me when anybody else was asked these questions on open-line?

Can I award government contracts?
Can I spend government money?
No!

The only influence they fear is influencing the people - especially around election time - that is the last time I was asked these questions. The people are supposed to accept what those in power are telling them and the policies they come up with are best for them. That is why we lead everybody in outmigration and have more deaths than births. That is why our fishery was destroyed and Upper Churchill contract was signed. Just a few short years ago - Hydro was being privatized - it cost me 3 years of my life and I was not paid - but the people who spent over 20 million of your dollars to try and convince you and put together the deal were paid.

It is a sad place we live in when real public service is questioned while the boys and girls run off with your money and resources. It is a sad place indeed when those people being investigated by the RNC about the HOA scandal and all the politicians who sat there and booted the Auditor General out were not questioned like I was today. At least not in public.

What does this say about us? I asked that question when the Premier threatened to sue me just a few short months ago. I was never told what it even was about. If they shut Sue up - what is the reward to the people? How does it help? These are the questions you should be asking.

As for Ryan Cleary - the "journalist" that made the statement - I will deal with him all on his own. Coming soon to this blog.

SCHOOL'S OUT day 4

David Crosbie has thrown his hat into the ring for nomination in the St. John's East District. I think Randy did the man a disservice by discussing his political DNA - as somehow being relevant. Maybe that was the info-tainment Randy talks about. It's like turning on Entertainment Tonight and examining how Tom Cruise picks his nose now that he's married to Katie Holmes.

In either case - the fellow who describes himself as a businessman - revealed his first weakness when he stated that this is the first time he had talked to Randy on the show. Here we go again - unless they want a political job - they do not have enough interest in the public goings on to have ever voiced an opinion on open-line before.


In either case let's get to the meat of what the fellow thinks.

1. We have to concentrate on our core strengths and values.

2. Outmigration is not only Newfoundland - we need well paying permanent jobs in this province - and that does not happen overnight.

3. These are interesting times.

4. Nobody has our culture.

5. We should have the best environment.

Concentrate on our core values and strengths - okay what are they?

Outmigration will not stop overnight. When will it stop and how will you contribute to well paying permanent jobs?

These are interesting times. Huh?

Nobody has our culture - what culture is he referring to? The fishing communities? The Aboriginal culture? We are certainly close to losing rural Newfoundland and Labrador - so is it the culture of giveaways or mass outmigration?

We should have the best environment - yes so we should - that is why Crosbie needs to answer the following:
What do you think of the government under Danny's leadership allowing the use pristine ponds for tailings?

Also Mr. Crosbie you referenced the province - by name - at least 5 times - and each and every time you said Newfoundland. The name of the province is Newfoundland and Labrador. I think Labrador still has some railway operations. Let's hope the DNA does not apply.

Now onto George Joyce the Liberal candidate in St. John's West. Best I can tell - and listen up Sheila - if the Tories give him a high school his job would be finished. Now that's impressive.

As for "be honest witchu" Minister Kevin O'Brien and his visits to all the festivals while travelling in the us bus alongside the hamper-pamper-camper - do your job and find out how we are being screwed by the feds on the latest NAFO disaster - or find out why Highliner is waiting to gobble up some of the FPI assets in part to attract a takeover bid. What happened to our great marketing arm of FPI? Was that good business Minister? Enjoy the hot dogs and hamburgers and then take a trip with our Tourism Minister in a kayak up the river of rural devastation.

Liberal Policy could see Lower Churchill developed the same way as the Upper Churchill

Liberal oil and gas development policy if applied to other energy resources could see the Lower Churchill developed under the same terms as the Upper Churchill.

Here's what I mean - Yesterday Linda Goodyear - Liberal candidate for Conception Bay East Bell Island - repeated what most Liberals MHA's - including Gerry Reid - have already articulated - it's time to get on with Hebron. When asked by host of Open Line Randy Simms what about "no more giveaways" Goodyear explained that Hebron was already discovered and it is not fair to change the rules now.

Let's extrapolate from that policy and insert the same thinking to the Lower Churchill development. Hydro Quebec and Quebec took the original risk on the Upper Churchill - the Lower Churchill is just another "well" already discovered in the 1960's - so why change the rules now?

Here's the deal - everybody says if we had only known that oil prices were going to triple - we might have thought of an escalation clause for the Upper Churchill contract. In other words if the market circumstances changed substantially - we could have reaped billions more for the people of the Province. The Labrador highway would be finished - there would be major infrastructure developed in Labrador - which in turn would have attracted more industry to that region to utilize the power.

The Liberal Party should acknowledge that oil has since tripled again - and this time we are not locked into a permanent contract with no ability to improve our lot - so this time we are invoking our "escalation" clause.

The Party's inability to see this tells me and should tell the voter that giveaways would continue for the sake of quick development and long-term agony.

Just a note to Linda Goodyear - as she talked about the possibility of getting some post-secondary trades training on Bell Island - I remembered the bitter fight we had when Roger Grimes - Brian Tobin - and Vince Withers made the decision to close the campus on the Island. I stood with the people of Bell Island but we lost the fight. She needs to ask the incumbent Liberal MHA's what they think about her idea.

If Applebaum is our Ambassador - it's really time for you and I to pack our bags!

Premier Williams


Is this right?

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are going to raise money to send a retired DFO official from Ontario around Canada to tell the country what the current DFO and federal officials are proposing to do with NAFO and how this may hurt our industry.

Applebaum discovered some alarming NAFO information - but make no mistake he was until 10 years ago - a DFO official. This man also refuses to acknowledge interference by International Trade or Foreign Affairs. He calls the bartering of our fish for other deals on auto plants or wheat sales a myth. He also does not believe custodial management on the nose and tail of the Grand Banks and Flemish Cap is possible.

Without being willing to say why these things keep happening - we cannot fix the problem.

Perhaps the Ministers responsible for fisheries in 3 or 4 provinces should travel the land. Perhaps these people we already employ should be forced to know what's going on around them. Perhaps Rideout should tell us what happened in the meeting between Applebaum and the province. Perhaps Rideout can tell us why our people in the Canadian NAFO delegation did not pick up on these problems until Applebaum wrote a letter.

And now we know what the problems are - please tell me there are some local experts who have written endless reports on the fishery - the senior staff of Fisheries and Aquaculture - bureaucrats at the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs - Provincial - who are able to make our case. My god Danny - where are all the fish experts now? You want joint management!

There's something bloody awful about having to send Applebaum around the country on this issue. Where is your outrage at the feds pulling this type of stunt and your outrage that our people did not pick up on the problems themselves?

Steve 6 - Danny 0
Fallow Field legislation
Equalization
Custodial Management
Labrador Highway
NAFO amendments
New Defense Presence in Labrador

How many times can you get Norm Doyle - Loyola Hearn - and Fabian Manning unelected?
Instead you are pulling out a Joey stump - from the "pamper camper" while everything burns around you. You are drunk with power - time to sober up.

Fisheries Broadcast represents the fishery ...

better than all our elected politicians - fish merchants - and industry unions combined. If not for the Broadcast - the fishery would be completely off the sonar. John Furlong puts the tough questions to all parties and properly let's us the listeners make up our own mind.

Despite the attempts of politicians the FFAW and merchants to keep the fishery a secret - the Broadcast continues to bring the news - good and bad to the public. With respect to our federal and provincial lot of politicians and senior bureaucracy - all of which we pay - I have never seen such a cover up of planned resettlement - outmigration - and giveaway of this precious and renewable resource. We - the people - are not supposed to know.

Two things this morning - first the link to the Broadcast - where you can listen to John's interviews with Applebaum and Bevin on the latest NAFO fiasco and a story in the Globe and Mail where the writer describes us this way:

On the domestic front, after fighting against consolidation in the industry for decades, those shell shuckers in the Newfoundland and Labrador government have approved a preliminary agreement for the sale and breakup of FPI Ltd. (FPL-TSX). Some of those assets will likely come High Liner's way.

Thanks to a Sue's Blog reader for pointing out the Globe piece.

Thanks to the Fisheries Broadcast and John Furlong for keeping our history - culture - and future in the public eye. I recommend that all Sue's Blog readers consider adding the Broadcast to their daily regimen of news.

And a big Brick to our politicians who either through ignorance or duplicity are keeping the information from us. When you think about the HOA scandal the Mount Cashel cover-up - the latest healthcare disaster - and the wrongful convictions - and remember nothing good ever comes from keeping the truth from us. Speak now or lose this industry and resource for good.

How important is Labrador hydro? It is our Future!

Let's have a look at some information provided by Natural Resources Canada.

International Hydroelectricity Comparison
2002

Canada leads the way in the world with 67,100 MW's followed by the United States and Brazil. Of that 67,000 MW's Newfoundland and Labrador is almost 10% of that but with only 2% of the population.

Looking at the graph we can see Newfoundland and Labrador is behind Quebec Ontario and BC - just ahead of Manitoba but then we generate more than all the other provinces combined. With the development of the Lower Churchill we would go over Ontario! Interesting !!!

Then Natural Resources Canada says this:

Traditionally, the cost of generating hydroelectric energy in Canada has been one of the lowest in the world. This allows for low retail electricity prices, to the benefit of residential users and electricity-intensive industries in Canada, such as the aluminum industry. Media reports indicate that the development of new sites would also be fairly low cost.

Now how do we fit into this picture? Where are those aluminum smelters? In Labrador? Where are all those residents? Newfoundland and Labrador? No because we are powering industries in Quebec and through them possibly Ontario - and those industries are vacuuming our population out.

Now if we do the same with the Lower Churchill - we could potentially add to the expansion and growth in Ontario - while producing more hydro than them - while we sit here with outmigration and disappearing communities.

Then Natural Resources Canada weighs in on comparing renewable energy potentials:

The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) made the following statements on behalf of the Canadian electrical utilities and hydro industry:

“ When most of us in the United States and Canada think of renewable energy, we think of emerging technologies like solar, wind, geothermal or biomass. In doing so, we take for granted the predominant form of renewable energy – hydropower…

...While all of these other renewables promise significant long-term opportunity, the pre-eminent renewable generating technology today and for the foreseeable future, is hydroelectricity. Whatever form that support for emerging renewables takes, the fact remains that hydro power is an established renewable technology that offers the environmental benefits associated with emerging renewable competitors at a cost-effective price, with dependable supply, and the added benefit of opportunities for continued expansion. “

Yet we continue to talk about exporting this resource. You are kidding right Danny? Right Gerry? Right Lorraine? That would be the biggest giveaway in our history and would effectively put the last nail in our coffin.

To put it in perspective - if Labrador had industry connected to the Upper Churchill instead of Quebec - our population could have grown by 100,000 - we could have 4 or 5 smelters or other large industrial users - and at the very least sustain the ones we have and had like a paper mill. People would be moving to Labrador to work - not Alberta or Ontario. You know how many industries would plow down the door for 1/4 cent power?

The entire publication by Natural Resources Canada can be found by clicking HERE

The reality is our provincial government has primary responsibilities including the health and education of the citizens and the growth of the population and the economy. If one feels they are unable to keep up with Prince Edward Island in these areas - with all the natural resource wealth we have - they should bow out. If one feels that our major hydro-electric potentials must be exported - essentially that individual or those individuals are managing our demise. There will not be growth when a jurisdiction predicts no growth in energy demand. Everything has to plug in. The industry supplying the jobs - the retail sectors responding to new customers and increased housing for a growing population all require energy.

That is why Nova Scotia - Quebec - Ontario - New Brunswick - and various New England States all want our power. That is why our people continue to move to these jurisdictions to work.

Any individual let alone any leader who really contemplates exporting this power is as ignorant as those involved in the Upper Churchill fiasco.

What a Nice Picture - But Look Closer

Here's the latest photo-op offered up by Government on the Provincial Website.

Wayne Ruth President of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador accepts a cheque for 20 thousand dollars toward "tidy" towns.

Here's the problem - what tidy towns? The disappearing communities of Newfoundland and Labrador? The disappearing population from those towns? Disappearing wharves and stages? Houses falling down? Or as one person said on the Fisheries Broadcast yesterday when visiting one such community - it looks like a bombed out town. Not tidy!

Not so pretty!
Are their towns tidy?

It's all tidy and neat - for politicians who turn their backs and walk away. Guess we should name the report by Doug House the Tidy Town's Report (vacuumed it of her people on the way out.

When I seen the sign by West Jet near the airport advertising Daily flights to Alberta which says "let the stampede begin" - tidy towns mean little to me. Somehow I can live with a few chip bags and pop tins if the town is bustling with young people and a future. That other stuff we can clean up.

Where is the gas royalty regime and where is the media?

You know you are in trouble when the people of the province do not see a draft of the gas royalty regime formula before - at the same time - or at least a month after the major oil gurus do.

Danny let that little one slip when on Mike Duffy Live a while ago. Another key part of the energy plan revealed or at least partially revealed to the public - after the fact. Wind power contracts - we have not seen the terms. No talking to the Metis on their wind project until after the plan is released. Then there is that stuff about LNG terminals. Uranium - hydro - wind - tidal - wave - new legislation new corporation but no energy plan.

Where is the Opposition?
Where are the various media?

I am not seeing any hard news - while human interest stories - carnage - and prepared news releases and court reports are available.

What's happening in the pulp and paper sector?
What's the latest on out-migration - not just the stats - the story?
The fishery? It's on it's way to be owned by Iceland and Nova Scotia!

There is nothing being asked - our news is reactive and the rest is just reporting.

How is it hundreds of thousands of adults watch tens of thousands of educated youth leave Newfoundland and Labrador and the most they can muster is complaining at the coffee shop?

Then again - the leadership is non-existent!