Timing, Timing, Timing

Gee, who would have thought it? The Premier called for expressions of interest on development of the Lower Churchill and Ontario and Quebec answered the call. I didn’t realize these guys would be interested, did you?

Sorry about the sarcasm, I just couldn’t resist. In all seriousness, I’m glad these players came to the table. We knew they would of course. They had too. Quebec wants the revenue, Ontario NEEDS the power, Newfoundland and Labrador wants the development (and revenue of course) and Ottawa has to start getting rid of fossil fuel generating plants.

It may not be a marriage made in heaven, far from it, but even a marriage of convenience can work if you try hard enough.

I have to say, Danny Williams must be the luckiest guy on the planet! First he walks into politics without a day of experience, at the precise time that the population is fed up with a government that has been in power in the province for far too long. He wins a solid victory, but some would say that timing was the key factor. Some say, (no insult intended Danny), that a monkey could have beaten Roger Grimes at that point in history. I don’t know if I fully agree with that statement. A Gorilla perhaps, but a common monkey, I doubt it. His TIMING was perfect.

After being in office for a short time, Mr. Williams wins an offshore oil deal that has made other provinces drop their collection plates and drool. Bye the way, for the uninitiated, that’s how you know it’s a good deal. If the other provinces weren’t yelling screaming and complaining I’d be worried. After all, when was the last time you heard another province whining that they wanted the same deal Newfoundland and Labrador got?

How did Danny pull off this wonderful stunt? I’ll grant you that he fought, and I give him all the credit in the world for that, but lets face it, again his TIMING was perfect. He was facing off against a minority government who made promises during a close election and was forced to fulfill them afterwards. Can you say TIMING boys and girls?

Now Mr. Williams is faced with expressions of interest in development of the lower Churchill, at a time when the word Kyoto is hanging over the world landscape like a giant cloud of greenhouse gas. All you hear in Ottawa these days is Kyoto this and Kyoto that.

With the demands of Kyoto on the minds of politicians from coast to coast, it’s no surprise that the Churchill project is in the spotlight. Again, Danny just happens to be in the driver’s seat. Yes, Mr. Williams has to be the luckiest guy alive. TIMING, TIMING, TIMING.

He’s currently more popular than a dog at a flea convention. Danny, if you’re out there reading this, please don’t bother stopping by for the weekly poker game at the house. I don’t believe I have enough cards in the deck to deal with you.

Timing, they say, is everything. I don’t know if that’s true. It is definitely a very important thing, but is it everything? Hard work and a vision sure don’t hurt. I am starting to think Mr. Williams may have those. At least I hope he does, but I’ve been fooled by politicians before.

Maybe it’s the aura of success around him. Maybe it’s his smooth style. Maybe it’s the way he stands his ground when confronted. I don’t know, it might even be the six pack I had for lunch, TIMING again. I don’t know, but I am starting to think we may have another dynasty on our hands.

The liberal dynasty of Joey Smallwood dominated our political landscape for decades and if Mr. Williams keeps falling in S&^T and coming out smelling like roses, he too may be around for a very long time.

I just hope he makes better deals than some of the ones Mr. Smallwood fell for. So far he has proven that he can get the job done, let’s see if that continues.

If it does, we may end up being 500,000 of the second luckiest people in the world.

Newfoundland and Labrador has had to fight for decades for everything we have gotten, good and bad. Maybe our generation will be able to make some changes this decade that will help set our course straight. It’s an interesting time to be alive. TIMING IS EVERYTHING….. (almost).

Patriot