Leslie leaves splendour in its wake

My Backyard, Seal Cove - Fortune Bay

Please enjoy the beauty that is this wonderful Fortune Bay Community.

Seal Cove is postcard perfect and the people of the town are genuine, friendly, hard-working, intelligent, and most of all care for each other.

This community is an ideal place for a provincial park and a wonderful place to take the family for a visit.

Pictures of my Backyard.

The Cloud over Newfoundland and Labrador

The Word Cloud

According to Abacus Data a full service research company out of Ottawa Ontario - the "Word Cloud" above represents the frequency of which certain words occurred when Canadians polled were asked to write 3 words that come to mind when thinking about Newfoundland and Labrador.

The larger the word the more frequently it was used. So let's have a look shall we?

1. The really big words: Cold - Fishing - Beautiful - Far

So it would appear Canadians recognize our fishery more than we do - particularly our politicians.

It would also seem that beautiful means the tourism ads are working with respect to that but we may have appeared to come across as too remote.

2. The Big Words are: East - Ocean - Friendly - Remote

Best I can tell Canadians know we are the East of the country despite the media referring to Quebec and Ontario as East.

Once again the word ocean draws people back to a fishing heritage.

Friendly is a given - although more obvious in rural communities.

Remote makes it seem too distant than it actually is from many provinces. 

3. The next size sees the following words enter in: Fish - Rock - People - Isolated - Island

Back to the fishery we go and then that awful term "Rock" which always applied to the Island - speaking of which comes up in this round of words. Clearly the thought that Newfoundland and Labrador is together as one province escapes the image we portray.

Isolated is another term that for most people means negative. Are we isolated because part of the province is an Island or does it also include Labrador because it's North?

There is no doubt that transportation is an issue no matter where in the province you reside or operate a business. Between ferry woes, airline route fluctuations, and highways throughout that are in shameful states of disrepair - the cost of visiting or living here is too high. This is what makes us isolated. Iceland, Greenland, Australia, and many other remote locations are not considered "isolated" and as a result their tourism and industrial results are much better.

4. Now let's look at the tiny words - one's that should be bold and in your face large: Whales, Icebergs, Tourism, Nature, Economy, Seafood, Offshore, Jobs, Scenery, Funny, Canada and Provinces.

These are the attributes we want to sell to the world - yet clearly the message is not getting through. Our economy and the benefits of being "isolated" such as beautiful scenery and nature being overshadowed by words like "rock" and "newfie". Not surprisingly - the only people who truly see this province as part of Canada are our own. We are viewed as an outport of Nova Scotia or worse a field of natural resources extracted for the benefit of others.

For all the comedic talent we clearly possess - either our successful comics and actors are not considered to be Newfoundlanders and Labradorians or the joke must simply be on us.

Finally the words that do not appear at all: Resources, Energy, Have, Churchill Falls, Hydro, Industry, and Intelligent.

This should really drive the point home. We are here and part of Canada for the singular purpose of providing wealth to others. So much for the youngest, hippest, coolest province right Danny?

This is just another cloud over our heads and we need to deal with our less than acceptable terms of Confederation and rid ourselves of inept, self-centred, partisan, and vindictive politicians.

Tourism - yah right! Premier cuts another ribbon while VOCM misses the Mark

According to VOCM this morning - there was an ATV accident in Harbour Breton yesterday. That is not real. No such accident occurred in Harbour Breton. Wrong community - some 60 km's away and on a different finger on the peninsula.

The remote road is not out of Harbour Breton rather Seal Cove - just beyond Hermitage. That remote road is a reminder of our past - it ends where one would have taken a boat to Pass Island - a resettled fishing community.

While we are on the subject. When Kathy Dunderdale shows up to "open" a new aquaculture wharf on Friday July 15th at 9:30 a.m. - in Hermitage - will it be by air or road?

I truly hope the Premier takes the breathtaking Bay D'Espoir highway route - because then poor Tracy Perry might be able to convince her boss that the ROAD is GONE.

You see the Coast of Bays as this area is known by - is a lesson in beauty, a demonstration of nature's perfection, and remote enough to be untouched in its splendour. Bay D'Espoir, Hermitage - Sandyville, St. Alban's Seal Cove, Harbour Breton, Pool's Cove, English Harbour West, Boxey, Belloram, St. Jacques, Mose Ambrose, and by ferry Galtois, Rencontre East, and McCallum are all communities that should be on your "must visit" list.

The South Coast is like a few Gros Mornes but without the political attention. I must say that former MHA Oliver Langdon did a great job in infrastructure for the area but sadly Ms. Perry you are going to have to work harder. Your district should be a tourism mecca - that should include sightseers, adventure tourists, photo tourists, and families. I can't imagine why Europeans, Asians, and Americans are not flocking to this idyllic place. With all money Newfoundlanders and Labradorians dump in Florida as "snowbirds" - I can't imagine why Floridians are not sunbirds coming north to enjoy a comfortable summer in this pulchritudinous land.

Here's the problem - Prince Edward Island can attract a million tourists a year with "Anne" and french fries - while Newfoundland and Labrador attracts half that amount - something is not working! Look at the tourism infrastructure on the tiny French IslandsSaint-Pierre and Miquelon and look look across the water at the South Coast.

We have the Northern Lights, Fjords, Whales, Icebergs, a coastline almost the length of the eastern USA, untouched nature, tremendous flora, fauna, and geology. You will note that Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia gets more national media attention than the thousands of coves in our province. We all know that transportation is not acceptable.

Perpetual Ferry Problems
No Train
Reducing Airport infrastructure everywhere but St. John's
Roads and Highways rutting, deteriorating, and disappearing.

Do we get it yet? We are to be avoided - and Canada will help that thought in anyway it can.

Tourism - yah right! Our "Voice of the Common Man" can't even get our communities and places right.

While you are at the ribbon cutting Premier - please see if you can find a reason to let's say get a National Park for the south-coast. See you there.

While we are at it - what is "Snook's" opinion on the cost of travel between Newfoundland and Labrador - I know Upper Canada has always liked to push a divide between our people. It's cheaper for any Newfoundlander or Labradorian to travel half way around the world than visit each other. "RRight On".

Water Supplies

The talk has been water supplies since the unfortunate accident at Bay Bulls Big Pond. Questions regarding roadways surrounding the pond and the seemingly obvious option to move the road or increase barrier protections.

I wonder often where the local media are. Windsor Lake is my choice for discussion. The road is on the lake and is treacherous in the winter. It's not in good shape even in the summer.

Please bother to take a drive out Portugal Cove Road and notice the garbage in the ditches, making its way into the lake on a daily basis.

Also think of the traffic and type of traffic. There is a quarry right across the road - and the dump trucks are flying past the lake on a daily basis.

Go have a look. The there is the oil traffic - the trucks bringing fuels to the communities of of the northeast - including of course the beautiful Bell Island.

It is a joke! There will be an accident here and there will be pollution - which will affect the intake.

For any of you traveling the Portugal Cove Road on a regular basis must have all experiences a big dump truck barreling down the road north of the airport and dragging you to get to the single lane beyond. There will be an accident here also. If something is not done somebody will be killed.

These are all preventable circumstances and should be immediately rectified by the appropriate authorities.

As for St. John's City Council - have a good look guys and gals as you ponder a George Street facade revival. You must change the road around Windsor Lake and you must take care of it.

In either case for all - take a drive by the lake and go visit the communities beyond. They are beautiful. If you have never been to Bell Island - that is your loss. Take the time to traverse by ferry to one of the most historic, relevant, and picturesque communities you will ever visit. It's a great place for a unique birthday party for children and their parents. Take the time to visit the mining museum.

Clyde Jackman - huh?

What was it the Minister said this morning? Sue agrees with the roads!!!!

I know he made one thing clear - they are the government and they will decide the fate of Lower Churchill Power - not the people - no debate.

He did not answer the big question - why export power?

There will be no future without power.

As for Grenfell - my question was for the students. What would they prefer money be spent on?

Then there was the irony of Brent Quilty's campaigner - wondering why Sue does not SEEM to support Grenfell. Number one - my point was - what do the students want. Second as for money on the East Coast versus elsewhere - I am stronger than Wiliiams and Jackman on that one.

Labrador Power for Labrador industry - or Labrador Power export for general revenue and some token projects.

Back to Clyde - he's a little upset that I pointed out his clothesline in Toronto and pitcherless mints on a stick logo has netted 500,000 tourists - while Anne of Green Gables keeps knocking the daylights out of our industry - PEI with 750,000 to 1,000,000 tourists a year.



Then there was the annoyance of having to hear the employment numbers.

Repeat Performance

The Minister of Tourism has now announced he is happy with Tourism Numbers - Here again the Tourism Picture Book:

A Picture Book for Minister of Tourism Tom Hedderson


+




+



+




= 500,000 tourists to Newfoundland and Labrador every year.
_____________________________________________________________________________________






+
= 1 million tourists to PEI every year.



Please ask yourself this - PEI with a fifth of our population and a geography we can all bike across - how is it they double our tourism.



Look at our Tourism potential and ask yourself - what are we doing wrong? Geography second to none from the Big Land to the Island what is it we do not have?

For starters our bureaucracy has chased the Ontario market through a dozen Ministers and not one of them have had the vision to change. We concentrate on our "mints on a stick" pitcherless plant logo for marketing initiatives.

Then of course there is the "Con" federation Bridge which has increased tourism by 300,000 people a year while our Marine Atlantic does everything possible to keep people out.

Then there is the HST 14% on everything in Newfoundland and Labrador versus a combined PST and GST tax of 10% and only 6% on clothing in PEI.

How can that be?
Well our past Liberal Government threw us into the HST scheme with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia while everybody else opted out including PEI. As a result we would have to get permission from NB and NS to reduce our taxes or we have to give them notice that we are leaving the system.

So Minister Hedderson if you think you and your government are successful in Tourism development - think again. Other countries in the world with similar scenery - wildlife - and environment are enjoying tens of millions of tourists.

And while we are at it - understand the bridge has also increased food processing - potato sales - and improved fish exports. Do any of you have a clue - or are you just stuffed with those BBQ hot dogs?

Picture Book Tourism Story

A Picture Book for Minister of Tourism Tom Hedderson


+




+



+




= 500,000 tourists to Newfoundland and Labrador every year.
_____________________________________________________________________________________






+
= 1 million tourists to PEI every year.



Please ask yourself this - PEI with a fifth of our population and a geography we can all bike across - how is it they double our tourism.



Look at our Tourism potential and ask yourself - what are we doing wrong? Geography second to none from the Big Land to the Island what is it we do not have?

For starters our bureaucracy has chased the Ontario market through a dozen Ministers and not one of them have had the vision to change. We concentrate on our "mints on a stick" pitcherless plant logo for marketing initiatives.

Then of course there is the "Con" federation Bridge which has increased tourism by 300,000 people a year while our Marine Atlantic does everything possible to keep people out.

Then there is the HST 14% on everything in Newfoundland and Labrador versus a combined PST and GST tax of 10% and only 6% on clothing in PEI.

How can that be?
Well our past Liberal Government threw us into the HST scheme with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia while everybody else opted out including PEI. As a result we would have to get permission from NB and NS to reduce our taxes or we have to give them notice that we are leaving the system.

So Minister Hedderson if you think you and your government are successful in Tourism development - think again. Other countries in the world with similar scenery - wildlife - and environment are enjoying tens of millions of tourists.

And while we are at it - understand the bridge has also increased food processing - potato sales - and improved fish exports. Do any of you have a clue - or are you just stuffed with those BBQ hot dogs?

The Little Land of 300,000 people that Could...again

Sue's Blog often refers to Iceland when drawing comparisons with Newfoundland and Labrador in various industry sectors. Today is another one of those days.

Yesterday to the delight of many people and business (for now) - Air Astraeus announced regular direct flights from Newfoundland and Labrador to the UK and return. The mighty Air Canada - did the Canadian thing not too long ago and virtually eliminated the service and moved that flight to Halifax.

So when Canada bails despite the undeniable viable route for business and pleasure travellers - Iceland steps to the plate. Yes this northern "country" of 300,000 people continues to thrive in all significant economic indicators - and has managed to put together a competitive and profitable route between NL and the UK.

Their interest in expanding tourism to our province is great news and smart on their behalf. The beauty of this land and the hospitality of her people continues to draw people from around the world. They come for the icebergs - the whales - the fresh air - clean water - incredible adventure tourism - and the friendliness of the population renowned worldwide.

The real question here is why Canada's namesake airline abandoned an economically successful service? Newfoundland and Labrador is the oil capital of Eastern Canada and industry travellers expressed their displeasure in the decision. Forcing people to go to Halifax or Nova Scotia may be great for the economy there - but it is not reflective of the practical service needed.

It is time for our local entrepreneurs - especially in the regional airline business to see if they can get some money action in this group.

Here for the record is the makeup of this airline group:

ASTRAEUS BECOMES PART OF NORTHERN TRAVEL GROUP

A new leisure group, Northern Travel Holding ("Northern Travel"), has been formed by the Icelandic investment groups, Fons (who will hold 44%), FL Group (34%) and Sund (22%).

Northern Travel has acquired the following travel related investments:

" Sterling Airlines (100%)
" Iceland Express (100%)
" Astraeus (51%)
" Ticket, the Swedish stock-market quoted travel agent (29.3%)
" Hekla Travel, the largest travel agent in Denmark (100%)

It remains ever questionable how industry in Canada works against the development of our rich province. Part of the problem is our patience with the less than fair treatment we get in this country - and part of it is the makeup of Canada's confederation. We must continue to move forward despite it - and around it - if necessary.

As for the airline sector - we must find a way to make Labrador travel affordable and competitive.