The Open and Accountable Tory Times

We should have a new online paper called the "Tory Times".

Everyday the examples of secrecy, incompetence, and avoidance of elections should be headlined.

Today we should deal with falling oil prices. I predict the election will come before the budget - if the prices stay down. What will the PC's do with the financial mess we are in?

The Humber Valley Paving Contract remains a mystery as the "open and accountable" Davis government will not call a much needed inquiry into the mess. Labrador paving deadlines continue to fall to the wayside while the Minister believes everything is wonderful.

Minister Manning - continues to run away from the opportunity to be elected by the people - while John Crosbie continues to try and "con"vince us this is okay. Amazing the levels of entitlement some people feel and believe.

The Muskrat Falls fiasco hums along - while the failing CEO continues to collect a cheque - a very big cheque.

Whatever is going on at Ocean Pond?

How many lawsuits are we currently involved in and with whom?

Paul Davis says he IS listening to the people so he changed the changed name of the former Department of Justice. He apparently is NOT listening to the people who want an election.

Where is the contribution list for the Premier's leadership campaign?

What is going on with the roving transformer?

Let's keep an eye on the Tory Times which has an "unelected" "mandateless" Premier guiding an unelected Minister of some department - supposed to be similar to Justice - who is determined to run only when her hometown is available. That is to say Davis has a preferential candidate - who he is introducing as a Minister - prior to her election - in some pathetic effort to tell the people of Placentia - St. Mary's what to do.

Call an election Premier Davis and see if you can get a mandate of your own.

Trevor Taylor running for Tory leader?

Well the Tories should be ecstatic - looks like Trevor Taylor might be getting ready to throw his hat in the ring.

Taylor really lost it today in his Telegram opinion column READ HERE

Trevor decided that a frank discussion on the state of politics in Newfoundland and Labrador was in order.

His column takes many shots at the current crop of politicians in our province. He says of Liberal leader Dwight Ball: "Dwight Ball, while a nice guy, is not seen as a leader who is going to inspire the six or eight strong individuals he needs to step forward to form his first line." 

A leader - Trevor - is somebody who is willing to step up and take on the hard tasks and do so without unnecessary drama and bravado. A leader - Trevor - is somebody who can bring people together from all sides of the political spectrum and make it work for the people. A leader - Trevor is somebody who does not quit in the face of adversity and finds a way to rebuild and connect. Dwight Ball is exactly that - and everything you are not.

Trevor expounds on "Cabinet Material" like somebody who knows what that is. Taylor was in Cabinet and accomplished what? Then Trevor quit. Then Trevor quit. Now Trevor complains.

He threw the entire backbench of the Tories under the big blue bus and is awaiting the coming of the next savior. Another man - like his leader Danny Williams - who quit. Or maybe like his leader Kathy Dunderdale - who quit. They are after all like him - they quit.

Considering your sage commentary - I expect your purported truth, wisdom and common sense is exactly what you will offer fellow Tories - by running for leader.

You remain a partisan sniper - who knows the political wilderness for your party is just around the corner. Now have the guts and step to the plate - and show us what you believe makes a real leader.

The recycled failed Tory Cabinet is exactly what you need to fix. What does it take to be a Cabinet Minister or leader Trevor? Why not show us.

Former Premier Roger Grimes - Perspective on Policies and Politics

 Talk with Sue - Special Guest next week - Former Premier Roger Grimes


Many things have happened over the past year - not the least of which is the resignation of the first woman to be elected Premier of our Province. She resigned last week - suddenly and without much notice - and hers was a majority government.

Muskrat Falls debate rages on.

Bill 29

The Liberal and Tory leadership races.

New Premier Tom Marshall.

The resignation of Jerome Kennedy.

Natural resource development.

Budgetary issues. Debt and deficits and the unfunded pension liabilities

Health Care

Auditor General's Report

The massive change in political polling results.

The defection of sitting MHA's.

The state of the NDP and ruling Tories.

The changing tide for the Liberals.

The new Liberal leader.

As we get settled in to 2014 - what's in store for us?

Roger Grimes has agreed to talk about it all - a perspective from a man who once held the top job and the responsibility of the office.

This will be two hours of fascinating discussion that you won't want to miss.

Tuesday -  February 4th from 6-8 on the Island and from 5:30 to 7:30 in most of Labrador the former Premier will be my special guest - live on Talk with Sue.

You can join the show live and enter the chat room - where you can pose some questions.

Cabana's rules Cup runneth over - oh oh here we go again

Some years ago - I was enquiring about the membership rules of the Liberal Party. The reason was innocent enough - I wanted to know what would happen to party members of the provincial Liberal party as many of them were in the middle of condemning the federal party under Paul Martin during the equalization war.

Anyway in that party I was told - you can be a member of the provincial and federal Liberal party at the same time - or you can be a member of the provincial division only - HOWEVER - you are not permitted to be a member of any other political party - Provincial or Federal.

This I was told as the parties jointly raise cash - share election and policy stuff - back and forth.

Means you could not have a federally Conservative Cabana in a provincially Liberal party.
 
 ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
1. The Party shall be open to all who desire to support the Party and who wish to be known as Liberals. To this end, all individuals who are resident of the Province and are Canadian Citizens, aged fourteen (14) years of age or older shall be eligible for membership in the Party without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or mental or physical disability, provided that they are not members of any other political party.
 You see it appears that most all rules of the libs are entwined fed-prov - prov-fed example below:

2. (a) There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the President, Vice President
(Provincial), Vice President (Federal) Treasurer, Secretary, and Party Leader; all
of whom, except the Party Leader, shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting
of the Party in years which end in even numbers. The Provincial Regional
Directors shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Party in years
which end in uneven numbers.

So will Brad - quit the federal conservative party in order to join the federally managed controlled - undemocratic provincial liberal party?
  
Yes Newfoundland and Labrador if the federal libs do anything anti-Newfoundland and Labrador (common) you can't oppose that and remain a member of the provincial party....so they say.

 

The most important reason Brad Cabana should be able to run for PC leadership

A TAX CREDIT IS AVAILABLE

The Provincial Income Tax Act allows for a credit against Newfoundland and Labrador personal and corporate income taxes payable for a portion of political contributions.

The tax credit available is calculated as follows:

- 75 per cent of the first $100 of total contributions, and

- 50 per cent of the next $450 of total contributions, and

- 33 1/3 per cent of the next $600 of total contributions

For a maximum available credit of $500.

If a political party is unable or unwilling to provide reasonable information to a candidate (rules) - clear and simple and if that same political party has inconsistent policies such as the litmus test for an MHA candidacy is different materially than the policy for running for a leader - they should be unable to offer tax receipts.

If you contribute to a political party and receive a credit in return that involves all of our money regardless of our stripe and the party receives public money. The test for fairness for things such as rules for leadership candidacy must be clear and certainly appear democratic. If it wishes to act as a private club - where rules are changed to suit the executive - then no public money. This is my money and yours - yet we are unable to nominate an individual?

People using arguments about the PC pedigree of Cabana are being partisan to the extreme. If 50 ordinary Newfoundlanders and Labradorians cannot qualify to suggest to a PC convention that they support this fellow or anybody else to run then what should the party expect during the election? How many at an average PC (while in government) convention? 500 - well Cabana got 10% of that number and I am relatively sure they were resident in this province. The PC's and the Liberals do a fine job controlling the conventions - what is troubling them?

If the rules are that you must have been at a convention, showed up at a district association meeting, or somehow convinced somebody on the PC executive that you are PC - then who will be voting for them in the next election. Some 100,000 people should be on the list from the last time.

If you want public funds - then you're mandatory constitution should be fair, open, and accountable.

Then again that is not their strong point - right?

Partisan Politics and the cost to our Children

On a quick break from Cry me a River - I felt compelled to at least start a discussion on the cost of partisanship. There are many forms of partisanship relative to politics - at the "party member" level, at the politicians level, and at the former politician level.

Partisanship at some time in our history meant something a little purer a little more meaningful. That is to say that parties had ideologies relating to public policy and these policies were founded by the grassroots or the people.

Today partisanship means zealotry relative to getting and keeping power regardless of what it means to our future.

This regression into the unreasoned and ignorant following of political parties leaves us very vulnerable to repeat other events in history - which resulted in mayhem, slaughter, and kangaroo courts. Don't get me wrong the things that happened during those times and even now in uncivilized countries - will not play out literally here - but we will suffer negative consequences and more importantly we will rob our own children of their futures.

In Newfoundland and Labrador today - there are no real differences between the Liberals and the Tories. They both want power and both and - despite their patronizing consultation processes - do whatever suits unknown interests (corporate) and nothing for the long term benefit of the people. Ironically the only obvious differences in the past decade have been the Tories wanting to have equity in oil projects and the Liberals did not. What is ironic about this is that the Liberals are taking a Conservative ideology and the Conservatives are taking a more Liberal ideology. This was also true during the failed attempt to privatize Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. On might think this is positive - but alas - they go back and forth on resource developments as well. Both giveaway resources - both slip into - do a deal regardless the price - or worse do things that benefit "friends" of government or even their own pockets.

When a government Liberal or Tory wishes to employ the "best minds in our province" they find themselves restricted to party faithful. Look at the Crown Corporations and government departments whether under Liberals or Tories and see who is appointed to head them. Then there are Boards of Directors and special commissions and studies - look at who heads or sits on them. There is no attempt to get the "best minds in our province" - in fact many of them just simply move away or give up as their skills are better utilized elsewhere.

Then we have the "party members" who have no real say in the formation of ideology - who are simply instructed to malign people on the other side be it as a letter to the Telegram or other community paper, calling the open line programs, or simply showing up at a political event to wave banners and yell and shout predetermined slogans for the cameras attending. They live and breathe for a laying on of hands of the leader of their party. One wink or shake of a hand or hug from a Brian Tobin or Danny Williams means they will defend them at all costs. If you ask them to really discuss the issues relating to their childrens' future and how their party's position may affect their future - the silence is deafening.


We all know good examples of this - we have all heard the Danny is the best thing, Brian is the best thing, Joey is the best thing - ever to happen to Newfoundland and Labrador. Regardless of the circumstance and issue and even in the face of something being obviously wrong - these followers will call open line and say there is nothing wrong with expropriating the entire community of Grand Falls - Windsor don't fault Kathy for that she is doing a great job. The absolute zealot Liberals who went as far as threatening me during the failed attempt to privatize Hydro - are still there within the party and determined to privatize this Crown jewel.

"Thank God for John Crosbie" is one of my favorite ones or Tony on a Danny Williams this Danny Williams that. Justifying Danny Williams private choice on his health is one thing but justifying on behalf of Danny that this was okay from a leader of people 95% of which have no such option is just plain wrong. If there is a problem with the health system that causes the Premier of our province to not only leave the province but in fact leave the country to get the "best" health care available then it would be at least incumbent on this leader to fix our system for the people he serves.

It gets so bad that when I blog something negative about a Tory policy I have Liberals smacking me on the back and saying go get em. Problem is when I then explain that the Liberals have done the same thing or worse - they write me notes saying I should go away. To me what is important is the future of my children and yours. They have no option or say on today's decisions and they are relying on us to make the right choices for them. If you are a parent you do not let your children go out and play in traffic - or walk alone at night - or engage in drug use or smoking - yet many allow the government of the day to do something directly detrimental to their future - in the name of being partisan.



Joey Smallwood allowed the loss of what will be tens of billions of dollars by the time the Churchill ends (if ever). You have Tory MHA's now that are selling away the future of their children with this atrocious Emera deal without ever understanding enough about it to make an informed choice. But what Danny said must be right. They are allowing the economic destruction of their home? They are thinking partisanship.

There are partisans that will not be able to get through this blog without closing the page - vowing to themselves never to return. What makes a born and bred Labradorian allow the continued plundering of Labrador resources for unknown entities or for general government coffers - knowing full well that this means their own communities will suffer the loss and that their own children will have to go to Alberta, Ontario, or the Island to work? That is called partisanship. What makes a Tory or Liberal MHA vote along party lines when their own community will be negatively affected - be that the fishery, the forestry, the hydro resource, or air ambulance? That is partisanship. For the extreme look at a Joan Burke and Susan Sullivan and ask how they suffered through the loss of their paper mills while Danny's is still up and running. Then there is the Stephenville airport and on and on it goes. This is partisanship.

Danny Williams gained 2 billion from Paul Martin - still waiting to see the net on that - then proceeded to lose 10 billion with the only punishment being the lowering of flags or the smacking on the arse of Fabian Manning. Boy that really hurt. Partisanship allows people to say - he was a fighter - he was a fighter. We lost people we now are absolutely losing the long-term benefits of our non-renewable oil resources. Danny Williams had the political support to really fight that destruction to our revenue base - he quit - made up with Stephen Harper, hastily announced a deal on the Lower Churchill and then slunk back into the private sector. What happened to the fishery, the forestry, equalization, and the health care system? What happened to his self-proclaimed passion. Through it all - Tory's who are not too pleased with Kathy still come back and preface their criticism with "I'm not saying anything bad about Danny - he was the best we ever had", sure he was the one that left Kathy in control. This is partisanship.

Then there is the audacity of Danny Williams and his crew and Clyde Wells and his crew to launch personal attacks - either on their own or through partisan minions - on ordinary citizens who dare utter a criticism or question the wisdom of the anointed one. We all know this has happened and some of us have been the recipients of it. Here's the problem - for some if the Liberals do it to somebody that's okay if you're a Liberal but unacceptable if it is a Tory that does it and vice versa. This type of personal and professional attack on a person who is raising a concern genuinely - is not acceptable by either party - lest it is partisanship.

Partisanship even goes to the absurd when you hear Tory partisans speak - one might say - cruelly to Brad Cabana and question his party lineage when they are supporting a government where the only thing Ross Wiseman had to do is cross the floor. Everybody knows this is wrong but partisanship tells them that they must defend the indefensible. To make the bad joke worse - it is Wiseman's assistant that goes to the Cabana home to "talk some sense" into this fellow who has the nerve to think there is one democratic bone within the private club of the provincial progressive conservatives.

Worse than all of this is the lack of concern by the political partys' brass that the majority of people do not want to cast a vote anymore. They could care less as long as the ones who they can coerce actually are a majority of those who vote. This is partisanship and the thirst for power. If we as people cannot force the political partys to develop policy from the grassroots - then  they simply should be rejected. We as a people then must absolutely demand that certain policies be put in place if they are to receive the sacred vote.

If this partisanship continues - this province will fail and there will be no future for yet another generation of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.