Opposition Parties seek Opposition Movement

The opportunity is there for the Opposition parties in Newfoundland and Labrador - to make a difference.

The people of this province are upset that Muskrat is being rammed down their throats by people who are drunk on power and obsessed by it.

The people of this province are upset that the Auditor General is once again being hindered - leaving us to wonder who is making and how they are making decisions on the expenditure of billions of dollars.

The people of this province are upset that the Public Accounts Committee has not met in public for 6 years despite the fact that each party had at least one MHA taken off to a prison cell for criminal behavior regarding the use of public funds.

The people of this province are upset that Chief Justice Green's report on the whole mess and accountability has been essentially trashed - while each party points fingers here or there.

The people of this province are upset that kissing up to Stephen Harper by a weak Premier has resulted in continued cuts by the feds. When they are not cutting they are increasing costs for people travelling on the Island's Trans Canada Highway - the Marine Atlantic Ferry.

 The people of Labrador need a highway - a real highway before the Island based government strips yet more valuable resources - in return for temporary employment.

The people of the province are upset that industry continues to downsize or close - paper mills and fish plants.

The people of rural communities are upset that they are being forsaken for the temporary wealth of St. John's Metro from non-renewable offshore resources owned by the feds.

The people of this province are upset that Search and Rescue and Fisheries science are being diminished and tinkered with - like we are second class participants in (Con)federation.

The people of this province are upset that shipbuilding is not king in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The people of this province are upset that speaking out against a policy of the DunWill government may mean personal consequences. (This is the same crew that were hyped on Whistle Blower legislation) Ha ha ha ha.

The people of this province are upset that Vickie Kaminski seems to spend more time apologizing for continued incompetence, errors, and trouble with our health care system - than doing what she was employed to do - clean it up.

So what then are the Opposition doing?

While Michael is noticeable and relevant on some Health Care issues - they are traditional core NDP positions and do not require a great deal more than repetition. The caucus has one wanna be leader who appears to fancy himself a Jack intellectual. He definitely has the arrogant bit down and definitely believes that people look way up to him.

The Liberals remain fractured with some hoping for a Messiah and others believing they might have a leader already. They might - but that leader must demonstrate it. He must - above all - lead; that's going to take competent and willing staff - exceptional research and then ultimately standing for something.

As a result they are all waiting for the people to cause the opposition they need - in order that a partisan bandwagon may form.

This is exactly what Len Simms was the beneficiary of when the Power of the People took it to Clyde on privatization.

Right now it appears that Opposition members wait for some event organized by a labour group, professional body, or by like-minded citizens and then ask to be invited.

There are some journalists in the province stepping up to the plate and many well-known public figures are weighing in. Ordinary citizens who are not currently consumed by fear that speaking out will make them a "target" of government - are doing their part. The only problem for the Opposition parties is that - as yet - they have not come together.

The opposition parties appear frustrated that there is no pack to follow - so they take a wait and see approach. Right now - we need courageous Opposition members and leadership - in the same way we needed it during the Upper Churchill fiasco.

There is no doubt that Premier Dunderdale is out of her league as it relates to open public debate and therefore hides behind her power.

There is no doubt that decisions are not being made using the best possible information as Dunderdale's government hides behind a curtain and thwarts established processes such as the PUB.

There is no doubt that the Dunderdale government utilizes the skills of a human resource like Ross Reid to control messaging and democracy.

There is no doubt that fear is the optimal choice of persuasion when your mouth can't utter an informed position.

There is no doubt that arrogance is rampant within the regime and that most backbenchers are puppets - hanging on to the best gig they will ever get.

There is no doubt that the PC's claim that all who oppose them are partisan naysayers - is weakened everyday - as more and more well known Tories fall among the aforementioned group.

Right now - sadly - it also appears there is no doubt that the Opposition parties are seeking an opposition movement - that they can follow.

As I write this - I know from experience that all of them would just like me to shut-up. Let's see what punishment they dish out this time. Or as Ches Crosbie may put it - how are they planning to piss on me at every opportunity - when I'm not in the room.

I can assure the reader that the seals are leaving more than cods gutless. Keep clapping and flapping.

What if OCI said ICU Hebron and the little fishies went bye bye

I wonder if one of Ches Penney's companies would take a look at building a module for Hebron?
I wonder if the Government would assist to make that happen?
I wonder if the plant workers from Marystown could be appeased or at least some tradespeople?
I wonder if all that happened would government grant OCI the right to export the unprocessed fish?

Does anybody know?

I want the Auditor General to have a better look at the books. I want the whys and the processes - do you?

NS 4 - NL 0 Please Premier Dunderdale may I ask a question now?

If this was the score of a hockey game - many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians would be disappointed. Unfortunately this is not a game or a short-term result - this is Nova Scotia politicians and corporate leaders giving us a severe trouncing on public policy and long-term vision.

Tourism

Well Marine Atlantic has crucified us again by increasing the cost for our Trans Canada Highway across the gulf - effective in February.

Over 2 million visitors in Nova Scotia in 2010.

1/2 million visitors to Newfoundland and Labrador 2010.

Ship Building

Nova Scotia 25 billion dollars Federal Contract 12,000 jobs - for over 25 years

Newfoundland and Labrador (Marystown) 0 dollars Federal Contract 0 jobs

Energy

Muskrat Falls

Nova Scotia gets all the cheap power long-term industrial and energy jobs

Newfoundland and Labrador pays for it and also sees its rates go up as much as 100% short-term construction jobs

Fishery: on the way to the Maritimes - watch

We have no reason to feel cheated right?

I would like to ask Premier Dunderdale - when is it appropriate for us to ask questions or criticize?

Choo Choo - Confederation a locomotive of Destruction

Where is the train?

Where are the fish?

Where is the forestry industry?

Where is our population?

Where is the ship building?

Where is the hydro-power?

Where are the minerals?

Where is the industry?

Just as soon as the last drop of oil is gone - a have not province will sound good.

Systematic destruction of our country, her people, and future.

At least the electronic time capsules might be available to generations after we are long gone - maybe.

Kathy and Peter - will we say SOLD THE SHOP?

Penashue is not only a failure he is a disgrace. I knew that he might be favourable to some decent advances for aboriginal peoples - he did not however have to sell off the rest of us to achieve that.

Between Dunderdale and Penashue our province may suffer the worst treatment by the federal government since confederation.

Both of these individuals appear extremely arrogant, ignorant, and less than patriotic. Both seem self-indulgent and full of self-importance at the expense of the people they were elected to serve.

As an MP representing Labrador there is no doubt Penashue should deliver for the people of the Big Land but as a member of the Federal Cabinet he is expected to protect the province's best interests.

As the MHA for Virginia Waters Dunderdale has committed to represent the people of that district - as the Premier she is charged with protecting this province and her people from the Canadian wolf.

The two of them together are overseeing the theft of natural resources, the reduction of services, and generally the diminishing of our province by the feds.

1. Muskrat Falls for everybody else by paid for by us.

2. The shipbuilding contract to Nova Scotia - in line with the giveaway of our power to them.

3. The loss of the marine communications sub-centre.

4. Loss of Fisheries money for science.

5. Loss of public service jobs.

6. ACOA reduction.

and as you know the list goes on.

This at a time when Quebec is compensated for upset by HST funds and more seats in the House of Commons. This at a time when Ontario is rewarded with more and more seats while our voice diminishes even more.

What a complete and utter failure these people are and it has and will continue to hurt this province.

They make a mockery of public service and democracy.

All this under the Johnny come lately media. 

Not much sense to complain about Ross Reid and Len Simms now - Sue's Blog pointed this cavalier patronage out DURING the election.The media have yet to deal with Len Simms not being removed from the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing website after he resigned and throughout the campaign.

We don't stand a chance.

Ross Wiseman sent out to Ease the Pain - in yet another attempt to COVER-UP

Well who knew? Ross says everything is A-Okay in Newfoundland and Labrador. Hard to know how long he was on the air - after I spoke of the shipbuilding fiasco. 

Amazing to what lengths a fellow Newfoundlander and Labradorian will go to cover-up ineptness and the loss of our resources to benefit another province. 

I can assure you they have no pride and do not give a damn about what happens here. 

If either of the shipbuilding contracts goes to Nova Scotia the Emera deal must be stopped.

If either of the shipbuilding contracts goes to Nova Scotia our politicians should be fired out. 

We will actually have to take to the streets or allow a few millionaires to rob us blind. 

The purpose of Wiseman's call was to talk to us about how good we have it. Just because we lost two paper mills and lost the fishery - and we are about to giveaway Muskrat Falls - we should all be happy. 

Just because we will be fuelling the Nova Scotia economy instead of our own - we should all be happy. What about Old Harry or the Romaine River?

We continue to be the only place that loses population and loses most of our youth to other provinces. 

Ross Wiseman - bury your head in shame. History will do it if you won't.

Ross Wiseman your job is not to spin to protect your party and yourself - your job is to advance our province for our people.