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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Loyola Hearn & John Efford - Two of a Kind.



"Take it or leave it." - Federal Liberal cabinet minister John Efford attempting to pressure the province of Newfoundland and Labrador into accepting an Atlantic Accord deal that would have included a cap tied to Ontario's fiscal capacity (the same sort of cap now introduced in the federal Conservatives budget).

John Efford conveniently retired from politics within months of that comment and did not run in the following election.

"The province is losing nothing now, We have until 2012 with the Atlantic Accord benefits uncapped..." - Loyola Hearn attempting to sell the new Harper budget (including a fiscal cap) to Newfoundland and Labrador on March 20 2007.

Already there are calls for Loyola Hearn's resignation in the wake of the federal budget and his clear support for it. During an interview Hearn also went on the offensive blaming the provinces for not agreeing to the plan his PM hoped to put in place and warned premier williams that any anti-election campaign he might have in mind "works both ways". That sort of threat might not have been a politically astute move in reference to a sitting premier who is supported by nearly 75% of the electorate. It might just backfire and help rally the troops against Mr. Hearn. Time will tell.

At least Conservative member Norm Doyle had the intelligence, just days before the federal budget was delivered, to announce that he wouldn't be running in the next election. Tell me Loyola, is your cushy cabinet position really worth the price of selling out your people? I hope so because I doubt you'll be sitting in that after the next election.

Simply put, Stephen Harper and his government members broke a written promise made to several premiers of Canada. Whether anyone agrees with the premise of removing non-renewable resource revenues from equalization calculations or not, it doesn't take away the fact that the Prime Minister lied to the premiers of the provinces in writing and he is being supported in his lies by MPs who were elected by the people of those provinces.

It's one thing to go door to door in an election campaign and smoothly lead people to believe you are concerned with their issues. All politicians do that. They all use words like, "I'll take that under advisement" or "I fully support that concept and once elected I'll see what I can do". They all do that but they don't all put a clear cut promise in writing, sign on the dotted line and have that written promised delivered to the premiers of 3 provinces, one of whom was the head of the federation of provinces at the time.

While the common approach taken by candidates is reprehensible, the approach taken by Stephen Harper and supported by his MPs is nothing less than treason.

Canada is a federation. It is based on the concept that all the proivinces are partners and that the leaders of each province (the first ministers) play a pivotal role in the federation. What do the recent actions of Stephen Harper, Loyola Hearn and the other members of the Conservative governement who support an out and out lie to the premiers of the provinces. What does it say that this government made written committment in order to get elected and then broke that committment in order to ensure that they would get re-elected?

Loyola Hearn isn't the only one who should resign. The entire Conservative government should be forced to resign in shame, much the same way U.S. president Richard Nixon resigned during the Watergate scandal in the 1970's.

If they don't resign of their own accord serious consideration should be given to removing them all from office and perhaps even laying charges in connection with the elections act, or has the Country gone so far down hill that buying votes has become not only legal but acceptable?

If you would like to let Loyola Hearn know how you feel about his stand on the equalization issue you can email him at: Hearn.L@parl.gc.ca

97 comments:

Anonymous said...

Artfull dodger said....

I would urge Loyola to stay on long enough for us to fire him, after all, what in God's name has he done?

Regards,

Artfull Dodger

Patriot said...

Harper's infamous letter prior to the last federal election promised:

100% removal of non-renewables - bull!

He promised to look at lowering Marine Atlantic rates - They went up!

He promised a 650 person military contingent for 5 Wing - Where are they and why weren't they even mentioned in this budget?

Loyola while in opposition said he was fighting for custodial managment on the Grand Banks - Now he doesn't even want to talk about that option!

The Harper govt. refuses to pay for use of the Gander airport by the military (over 50% of the traffic and service cost there). they would rather see the place die.

Cuts to literacy programs, cuts to womens programs, cancellation of the court challenges program that would allow the oppressed to fight government wrong have all be put in place by the current governemnt.

Fallow Field legilsation that would allow us the same negotiating power as places like Alberta was simply brushed aside by the current government and we were left with no way to ensure that oil companies had to develop major finds rather than just sitting on them for decades.

Thanks Mr. Harper and thanks for standing up for your people Loyola. With representation like that we should be a ghost town before the next 50 years of confederation come to pass.

Anonymous said...

Artfull Dodger said.....

I'm left to wonder just what we in this country would come to expect if the conservatives were to win a majority!


Regards,

Artfull Dodger

Anonymous said...

Here we have Loyola and Manning planning to vote for a budget that denies a clear committment that was broken. Adding insult to injury, they are voting for the buying off of Quebec voters.

Equalization is designed to allow all provinces to provide relatively equal levels of service at relatively equal levels of taxation.

Quebec has been one of the provinces screaming about the fiscal imbalance and not having enough money to provide services to its people while Ottawa has surpluses.

Now that they have gotten billions in this budget payoff the plan is to use nearly a billion of that, not to improve services as it should be, but to lower taxes in Quebec. Do the math and the only conclusion is that every tax payer in Canada is paying to subsidize a tax cut in Quebec!!

Thanks Loyola, you can count on my vote for dog catcher. That's the only job you're fit for.

Anonymous said...

Here is one that did vote for Harper.

As conservatives "Cannot"say ,a promise made is a promise kept.
Mr Harper ,here is one that will do whatever he can,not to vote Conservative in the next election.I strongly hope for your sake that your shopping spree does work for your party ,because the people of Labrador,and Newfoundland,will not be made fools of twice.
What must be relised now by the people of Newfoundland and Labrador ,is the need for a political party that will do nothing but strive to get what it can for the people of this Province.If buying votes is this open in Ottawa ,then let us do the same and sell our seven seats to the highest bidder and get back what is ours.
Until then ,we should just turn our chins up at Ottawa and just refuse to participate in a process that is staked agaisnt us."No Representation.NO Taxation"It's just that simple.

As Always,Lost-In-Exile

Anonymous said...

I'm sure Loyola Hearn is real worried about what you yokels think of him.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

I'm sure Loyola Hearn is real worried about what you yokels think of him.

March 21, 2007 8:08 PM

"I Can Guarantee ,Sir,that Mr Hearn will Worry About What I Think,come next election!!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Artfull Dodger said....

I am sure that Loyola Hearn, and for that matter any MP or MLA worth his salt has people monitoring blogs and call in shows to gauge the mood of the electorate. Any MP or MLA who feels he is above taking notice of what the electorate has to say shall be doing so at his own peril!

Anyone who believes otherwise is either nieve or a fool! Which are you Anonymous poster number 6?



Regards,

Artfull Dodger

Anonymous said...

When we go to the polls on election day, we do not go thre to elect politicians to toe the party line for Ottawa, we go to elect politicians to do what is right for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and its people.

Though that is not how our politicians have behaved for the past 58 years since we have been part of the Federation of Canada. Newfoundland and Labrador's politicians have done what was right for their pocketbooks and Ottawa's, and not what was right for their electorate's and by doing so they have obeyed Ottawa and toed the party line for it and destroyed their province's chance to have become a province with a "have status". I have to say for the biggest part of my voting life, I was not completely aware of that aspect, and as a result I was hoodwinked into going to the polls and electing politicians for the wrong reason. I think that is a crime for which some entity should stand trial.

We have become very sick of our politicians not acting on behalf of this province in a way that they should have propelled the province forward into a powerhouse in Canada. The country of Canada with its structure has meant death for a well-endowed resource province like Newfoundland and Labrador. We are psysically dead, since there have been no economies created here and as a result no jobs.

Our Seven politicians should stand firm, cross the floor and sit as Independents.

Anonymous said...

Canada's structure is causing it to slip into oblivion as a Federation. If a meeting isn't convened to talk about this structure soon, I can see Canada falling apart within the next 5 years.

How can the people of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador accept the status quo as it exists today? The writing is on the wall, it is quite simple, we can't.

Anonymous said...

I think you, SIR, are the naive one. You honestly believe that gov't gives a rat's arse over these blogs??

Sure they read them....we all need a good laugh now and then.

Anonymous said...

It is not the blog, it is the message in the above piece of communication that matters. If the person had the latitude to have that message written in an article that could appear in some National Newspaper like the Globe and Mail you would be singing to a different tune. Unfortunately the National newspapers are not available to everyone to publish their opinions, so until such as time as they are we will have to be satisfied with putting our messages in blogs.

Anonymous said...

For those nay sayers in here who think this sort of article is just about NLers whining check out these excerpts from a news article out of Nova Scotia and tell me if you would like everyone who questions the feds to just shut up and toe the line.

Harper stoops to conquer

By JIM MEEK

On the gold-medal podium stands Quebec Premier Jean Charest, with a $700-million equalization windfall in his wallet and an electorate to woo. Charest, savouring the triumph, promised Tuesday to lower personal income taxes if the people of Quebec possess enough common sense to re-elect him next Monday.

Jeering from the sidelines were the budget’s unlucky trio of obvious losers: Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan. All are now victims of a calculated insult – the effective federal clawback of resource revenues under the new equalization scheme.

This is a clear repudiation of John Hamm’s campaign for fairness, which culminated in the 2005 agreement giving Nova Scotia a just share of future offshore revenues. Saint John of Pictou County’s moneyed legacy has now been attacked by Harper. And I wonder if the former premier will give up his plum federal position in protest.

(You probably missed the Hamm appointment, which was announced on the eve of the Christmas weekend. Your former premier now chairs the board of Assisted Human Reproduction Canada, a federal agency.)

Lorne Calvert, the premier of Saskatchewan, revealed the electoral math behind the equalization revisions and other budget measures. "Everyone in the country is concluding that what the prime minister was doing in the budget yesterday was trying to win himself an election," Calvert said. "Where does he need to win seats? He needs to win seats in Central Canada, Ontario and Quebec."

If Calvert’s got it right, Harper’s trying to get elected on a pretty standard Canadian formula. But the man is still an innovator in the ruthlessness of his style and execution. Indeed, the directness of the budgetary insult to Nova Scotia takes your breath away – leaving more oxygen in the atmosphere to slow global warming. (Finally, a green policy that works.)

In short, Harper really does seem to be flicking a finger at Calvert, and at Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, and at our own Rodney MacDonald. Make no mistake about Monday’s budget, then: He did mean to get us, and he did mean to insult us.

To understand why, just look south.

If you do the forensics on President George Bush’s 2004 electoral campaign, you’ll see a man who was worried about one thing – his base vote.

The pundits and the intelligentsia were darned sure that Bush lost every debate he held with John Kerry, the Democratic contender. That’s because Bush pitched his hawkish message – on foreign policy, for instance – to his voters and his voters only. And he didn’t particularly care if Kerry could pronounce the names of foreign capitals or find Goa on the map.

You can’t run an ideological, right-wing political campaign that way in Canada – but you can target certain demographic groups, and certain provinces, and certain premiers. And let the rest simmer in the stew of resentment.

In doing this, Harper has adapted the Bush playbook – not adopted it.

So in Atlantic Canada, New Brunswick is a favoured province for Harper, as is Prince Edward Island. Island Premier Pat Binns has already praised the budget, while the prime minister has always had relatively strong "personal numbers" in political surveys in New Brunswick. Let’s not forget, either, that these two provinces resented the offshore petroleum wealth – real or imagined – of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

In short, Harper knew that the politics of "clawing back" the "richer" Atlantic provinces could work like a charm in the "poorer" ones.

Never underestimate the power of resentment in politics.

Or the power of self-interest.

Harper understands this game well, which is why his budget has offered something for environmentalists and students and soccer moms, but nothing for aboriginals or the jobless poor or the arts.

Here again, the calculation is ruthlessly efficient: In general, poor people don’t vote, natives don’t represent an effective swing vote, and artists don’t vote for Tories.

Divide, conquer, triumph!

Anonymous said...

How much are these two alike? (I know this is silly but...) just look at the pictures included with this article. Efford and Hearn even look alike. Same suit, tie, flags in the background and if you put a pair of glasses on Hearn well Hmmmmm....

Anonymous said...

Oh you are right..they look alike so they should be treated alike. You are such a loser....get a life.

Why anyone would WANT to be a politician in NL is beyond me. The Newfie Mob turns on a dime.

Oh and by the way, New Brunswick and PEI have nothing to be jealous about when it comes to NL and NS. I have lived in all 4 provinces and I'd take NB or PEI anyday.

(Wait for it.......here will come the "why don't you move there then" comments)

Anonymous said...

Oh my god, the feds are putting the boots to Danny Williams once again.

From CBC:


Newfoundland and Labrador Housing sent letters to residents March 16 saying Canada Post had informed it that letter carriers would no longer be delivering mail to the houses "due to dog feces" around the property. The letter asked each resident to clean the area around their door and added that "more serious" action would be taken if the problem continued.
Yessir. Blame Ottawa.

It is time, for once and for all, to solve the fecal imbalance.

(What a disgusting place St. John's must be to live in....ugh)

Anonymous said...

Of course you would, both of these provinces and Nova Scotia have been existing on Newfoundland and Labrador's resources for 58 years. Any place with a better economy is a much better place to live. Also all three of these provinces have had a lot more Federal dollars pumped into them because they have been enjoying a big dose of Federal Regional office monies pumped into them by Ottawa, which make their economies much more vibrant than Newfoundland and Labradors which get little of that money, and at least two of the province have a lot of Armed forces monies pumped into because of the bases situated there.

Plus Imperial Oil of Nova Scotia and Irving of New Brunswick has the right to refine the Oil out of Newfoundland and Labrador's Oil Fields, at least, the ones which are pumping right now.

Anonymous said...

Artfull Dodger said....

Here is hoping Patriot will delete posts put forth by anononymous posters who are clearly trolling the blog for angry responses.


Regards,

Artfull Dodger

Patriot said...

Hi Artful Dodger,

Sorry but I won't delete emails from these fools. I usually remove any with highly profane language but I prefer to leave messages like the anons you mention simply because it helps demonstrate what many of us have said before, NLers are treated like second class citizens in this country.

You are right in saying they are just trolling for angry responses but the best thing is to simply ignore them. Use their comments to confirm their ignorance and our people's mistreatement and don't let them get in the way of the real discussion of the issues, which is what they want.

Anonymous said...

Artfull Dodger said....

Understood, just thought it needed to be said.

Incidentally, your correct in saying that it is best to ignore these inflammatory remarks.


Regards,

Artfull Dodger

Anonymous said...

I just heard the Federal Finance Minister O'Flarherty say that he wanted a fair system for equilization.

How is it that the Ottawa government doesn't want a fairer system for the way it distributes Federal Regional Offices and Military Bases for Canadian provinces. Can you imagine the billions of dollars that are sent to the provinces, which have all of the Federal Regional Offices and Military bases. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador gets very little of those monies, since we have very little of that type of installation. Can you imagine the billions of dollars that go into the economies of the other provinces from Newfoundland and Labrador's resources. I can't think of any of the other province's resources that comes back to this province.

Anonymous said...

I'd say everyone who is pissed about this situation should email Hearn and Manning directly and give them a piece of their minds. Hearn's email address is:

hearn.L@parl.gc.ca

and Mannings is:

Manning.F@parl.gc.ca

These two need to realize they were sent to Ottawa to represent the province not to help Ottawa give it to our province up the A$$

Anonymous said...

I just heard the Federal Finance Minister O'Flarherty say that he wanted a fair system for equilization.

How is it that the Ottawa government doesn't want a fairer system for the way it distributes Federal Regional Offices and Military Bases for Canadian provinces. Can you imagine the billions of dollars that are sent to the provinces, which have all of the Federal Regional Offices and Military bases. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador gets very little of those monies, since we have very little of that type of installation. Can you imagine the billions of dollars that go into the economies of the other provinces from Newfoundland and Labrador's resources. I can't think of any of the other province's resources that comes back to this province.

Therefore if you add up what Ottawa's spends in the other provinces that it doesn't spend in Newfoundland and Labrador and you add unto that figure the benefits the other provinces reap from the resources of this province, plus the fact that Ottawa has Fish quotas in its possession which it uses economically, plus an 8 per cent equity in Newfoundland and Labrador's Hibernia Oil field, you can see a big difference.

Why does Ottawa not see that Newfoundland and Labrador get a fairer share of the Canadian pie? If it did, you can be assured that we probably would not need equilization.

Anonymous said...

If you're really pissed and are in the St. John's area Hearn's constituancy office is at 835 Topsail Road. If you aren't in the area but want to tell his people how you feel anyway, the phone number is: 1-709-772-4608

Let's get the phone ringing and his parking lot filled with fighting NLers.

Anonymous said...

Of course it's best to ignore posts like the ones mentioned above.........but you can't!!

I've never known a Newfie to keep his trap shut about anything!

Anonymous said...

Of course it's best to ignore posts like the ones mentioned above.........but you can't!!

I've never known a Newfie to keep his trap shut about anything!

Anonymous said...

Recent news report from CBC:

N.L. Tory MPs to Williams: Simmer down

CBC News

Conservative MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador are warning Premier Danny Williams that he's straining relations with Ottawa, and not doing himself any favours when it comes to working with the federal government...

I'd suggest that the Tory MPs simmer down. At this point who really gives a rats ass if they think relations might be straigned? What good have unstraigned relations done for us in the past 58 years? This whole F*&%ing country is a joke and its time we stopped taking the S*&t and stood up!!!

Anonymous said...

And the lies continue to spread. The following comment dame from Stephen Harper on a BC radio program this morning:

"Everybody is getting what they asked for, everybody's getting a fair share, that addresses the priorities in these various regions."

How many ways can you say LIAR?

WJM said...

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador gets very little of those monies,

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador gets one of the highest shares of any province, given the population.

Can you imagine the billions of dollars that go into the economies of the other provinces from Newfoundland and Labrador's resources.

Don't "imagine"; quantify. What are these billions?

I can't think of any of the other province's resources that comes back to this province.

Wood and hydro from Quebec; fish from NS, Quebec, and Nunavut.

Therefore if you add up what Ottawa's spends in the other provinces that it doesn't spend in Newfoundland and Labrador and you add unto that figure the benefits the other provinces reap from the resources of this province, plus the fact that Ottawa has Fish quotas in its possession which it uses economically,

What do you mean, "uses economically"?

plus an 8 per cent equity in Newfoundland and Labrador's Hibernia Oil field, you can see a big difference.

Did Ottawa have that equity given to it?

No.

If you count one side of the ledger, YOU HAVE TO COUNT THE OTHER.

Why does Ottawa not see that Newfoundland and Labrador get a fairer share of the Canadian pie? If it did, you can be assured that we probably would not need equilization.

Anonymous said...

When sunrays crown thy pine-clad hills, and summer spreads her hand,

When silvern voices tune thy rills,
we love thee, smiling land.

When spread thy cloak of shimmering white, at winter's stern command,

Through shortened day and starlit night, we love thee frozen land,

When blinding storm gusts fret thy shore and wild waves lash thy strand,

Through spindrift swirl and tempest roar, we love thee, wind-swept land,

As loved our fathers, so we love,
Where once they stood we stand,
Their prayer we raise to heaven above,

God guard thee, Newfoundland.

- Ode to Newfoundland -
Sir Cavendish Boyle, 1914

Anonymous said...

You guys don't even know what you are upset about.

How many ways can you say LOSERS?

Anonymous said...

WJM: "YES" Ottawa uses FISH QUOTAS strategically for economic purposes.

No other province was coerced into giving up its resources to another part of Canada like Newfoundland and Labrador did. Those resources were FISH, HYDROELECTRICITY, IRON ORE, OIL, and NICKEL. Take all of these raw resources and add to it the different levels of processing that get applied and and the economies and jobs that get created out of this province and you will find that the figures are astronomical.

No other province, other than Newfoundland and Labrador, would allow the Mother Government to adorn all the other provinces with infrastructure like Federal Regional Offices and the staff that go along with it, plus Federal Military bases and sit by with its mouth closed and not utter a word about it. All one has to do is look across the waters at Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and see the infrastructure put there by Ottawa that brings billions to those province every year.

If the balance sheet were compiled as to who contributes what amount to who, it would take all the surplus that Ottawa has built up in the EI fund to pay off Newfoundland and Labrador. Sorry to disappoint you WJM. One doesn't have to be too smart to add up what has gone out of here and what has come in and then look at our $23,000 debt for every man, woman and child and come up with a roundabout figure. It is simplistic accounting.

Anonymous said...

I don't think Nova Scotia will agree with you on that one.

Anonymous said...

All you have to do is figure out the number of Federal Regional Offices and Military bases in Nova Scotia, there are many other quirks as well as a result of Nova Scotia being the chosen area for the Atlantic region and compare to those figures to what the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has received. Put a dollar figure on it and it will blow your mind the inequities that you will find that exist between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, and then there is New Brunswick which is another story. If you wish you can do the accounting on that province as well and compare it to Newfoundland and Labrador.

WJM said...

WJM: "YES" Ottawa uses FISH QUOTAS strategically for economic purposes.

What do you mean, "economic purposes"?

What are/were some of these "economic purposes"?

Those resources were FISH, HYDROELECTRICITY, IRON ORE, OIL, and NICKEL.

Hydro, iron ore, and nickel, are under EXCLUSIVE PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION.

The province has given up NOTHING.

Take all of these raw resources and add to it the different levels of processing that get applied and and the economies and jobs that get created out of this province

"economies that get created"?

Do you know what an economy is?

and you will find that the figures are astronomical.

How do you know they are astronomical?

You must already have them, to know that.

What are the figure?

No other province, other than Newfoundland and Labrador, would allow the Mother Government to adorn all the other provinces with infrastructure like Federal Regional Offices and the staff that go along with it, plus Federal Military bases and sit by with its mouth closed and not utter a word about it.

No other province has uttered more words about it, despite having one of the highest levels of federal employment per capita of any province in Confederation.

All one has to do is look across the waters at Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and see the infrastructure put there by Ottawa that brings billions to those province every year.

Why do you only compare to NS and NB?

Why not to Ontario, Quebec, or any of the western provinces, which all have lower per-capita federal employment than Newfoundland and Labrador (with the exception of MB, which is roughly the same from time to time)?

If the balance sheet were compiled as to who contributes what amount to who,

DONE!

http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/11-010-XIB/00207/feature.htm

Per-capita, NL contributes the second-lowest amount to federal coffers of all provinces.

And per-capita, NL receives the third-highest amount of federal spending.

One doesn't have to be too smart to add up what has gone out of here and what has come in

Then it should be no problem for you, then. Please do it. I'd love to see your numbers.

WJM said...

All you have to do is figure out the number of Federal Regional Offices and Military bases in Nova Scotia, there are many other quirks as well as a result of Nova Scotia being the chosen area for the Atlantic region and compare to those figures to what the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has received. Put a dollar figure on it and it will blow your mind the inequities that you will find that exist between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, and then there is New Brunswick which is another story. If you wish you can do the accounting on that province as well and compare it to Newfoundland and Labrador.

So.... it's not that NL is getting shafted within Canada, it's just petty jealousy of Nova Scotia... is that it?

Anonymous said...

I am not being jealous at all, I want equality for our people. WJM what a crazy and childish question for YOU to ask, a person who supposedly hails from this province and is supposedly working out of an office in Ottawa, OR that is according to information that was once published on this blogsite. If that is the case, what other evil deeds would Ottawa allowed to be perpetrated on this province. Scott Reid told us we would suffer for the Atlantic Accord and we truly are. I am wondering if you are one of the plagues that was set upon us.

WJM - It is just that I expect the same from Ottawa for this province as what the other provinces receive. Should I not? Plus I am aware that we contribute more to this country than most of the other provinces with the resources that we have passed over. I do not need to go over the resources that Newfoundland and Labrador passes over to Canada and name them anymore, I am sure most people who read this blog are quite aware of what they, nor do I need to go over the infrastructure that the other provinces have received from Ottawa that we haven't. So why shouldn't we expect to be treated the same? Our people have the same needs as do Nova Scotians, New Brunswickers or Ontarians, so why does Ottawa treat us like outsiders? Is it because the other provinces are too covetous and want it all. Anyway according to the Prime Minister that is the reason why we didn't get what the Prime Minister promised the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the exclusion of non-renewable resources in the equilization formula in this Budget. Or is it because the politicians from the other provinces know full well that Newfoundland and Labrador's politicians do not fight for anything for Newfoundland and Labrador, so whatever goodies come up to be placed anywhere, the politicians of this province will not be in the loop fighting for it anyway?

Anyway shouldn't Newfoundland and Labrador expect to receive the same benefits or equivalent benefits as Nova Scotia or any other province, the benefits might not be in KIND but at least they could be benefits that would be of equal value that could help this province's economies by bringing jobs to this province like the Federal Regional Offices and Military Bases do for Nova Scotia.

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha Ha ,this Guy Kill's Me. More Divide and Conquer.

( PSSSSSSTTT!!! ) , WJM,In the Bigland they might call it Bullshit ,here in Ontario we call it Propaganda)

Anonymous said...

Would you please write your statement in English? Honestly I cannot understand one word you wrote.

You obviously are one of the people that MACCLEANS spoke of.

Anonymous said...

I think that the language in this room really shows what alot of Historians had said about the final days of canada.Finally the end is near and the legacey of Pierre Trudeau shall finally come to pass.
Many had said that this federation would come to this ,and by the looks of it ,they are not far from the truth .
I truely hope that Newfoundland and Labrador will now come to relise that they are "NOT" ,and "CANNOT" get ahead in this Federation.The time has come to save what we can for the separation and to help those that want the same thing as us .

http://www.blocquebecois.org/fr/publications-english.asp

Any help giving it to them will be appreciated.It's just alot easier this way instead of having the feds steal it from us so "THEY" can have tax breaks.Instead of fighting them guys ,help them get what they want.

As Always,Lost-In-Exile

Anonymous said...

I see what Prime Minister Harper did with his $4 billion largesse package of our hard earned tax payers dollars for Quebec passed out in this week's Budget to be not much different than the Sponsorship Scandal monies that the Liberals passed over to Quebec just a few years back. It appears to me that both of these largesse packages have kindred spirits.

Ottawa is destroying Canada by trying to save Quebec. There have been billions of dollars spent on Quebec's desire to separate from Canada. These hard earned Canadian Tax payers dollars could have been spent on the many needs of Canadians.

I, for one, do not want to see another Newfoundland and Labrador tax dollar spent, nor another resource go out of this province to keep that sore festering. I hope and pray that Ottawa will let Quebec decide its own fate without throwing more of our hard earned tax dollars at it, if it decides to STAY that will be great, but if it decides to GO that also will be o.k. with us. With the status quo every province is in limbo, especially Newfoundland and Labrador.

Anonymous said...

Not only are our hard earned tax dollars wasted in trying to keep Quebec in Canada, but everytime Quebec gets itchy to separate billions of dollars of foreign investement disapper off Canada's balance sheet.

It is indeed time for Canada to stop catering to that never ending sore and let Quebec decide for itself whether it wants to stay or wants to go. Once they have the unimpeded referendum, with no interference by Ottawa, then is the time when Quebec will be happy, and its happiness will not occur until that time. So keep out of that situation Ottawa and let it happen. You are killing all the other provinces by interfering.

I can almost assure you that once the referendum is passed, and no matter what the outcome, Quebec will not want to sever its ties with Canada, because Quebec is the only province that has security within Canada. I firmly believe Quebec's eternal brooding is a ruse and a way for Quebec to get more tax payers monies out of Canada.

WJM said...

I am not being jealous at all, I want equality for our people.

What's the inequality?

Scott Reid told us we would suffer for the Atlantic Accord

Oh?

When did Scott Reid say that?

Hint: He didn't.

It is just that I expect the same from Ottawa for this province as what the other provinces receive. Should I not?

What don't we get that other provinces do?

Certainly not federal jobs: we have more federal jobs, per capita, than any other province but three.

Plus I am aware that we contribute more to this country than most of the other provinces with the resources that we have passed over.

How are you "aware" of that?

How much resources have other provinces "passed over"?

You can only say that we have contributed "more", if you know the amounts in all cases. Otherwise, you are making things up.

So, which is it? Do you know the raw facts, or not? If you know them, please share them. Thank you.

I do not need to go over the resources that Newfoundland and Labrador passes over to Canada and name them anymore, I am sure most people who read this blog are quite aware of what they

Are they? Please, make the pan-Canadian comparison so that we can all judge for ourselves.

nor do I need to go over the infrastructure that the other provinces have received from Ottawa that we haven't.

Infrastructure such as what?

No province has received as much federal highways money, for instance, as a percentage of all money spent on highways, as NL.

So why shouldn't we expect to be treated the same?

How are we not?

Anyway shouldn't Newfoundland and Labrador expect to receive the same benefits or equivalent benefits as Nova Scotia or any other province,

How do we not?

this province's economies by bringing jobs to this province like the Federal Regional Offices and Military Bases do for Nova Scotia.

You have this wierd thing about using the word "economies" in the plural.

What's with that?

Anonymous said...

Why shouldn't we expect to be treated with infrastructure the same way as any other province?

Military bases Federal Regional offices bring huge revenues to the other province. There is no reason why such infrastructure can be placed in Newfoundland and Labrador to assist the economies of this province.

Why hasn't the 650 military personnel been placed in Goose Bay. That was the number of personnel that was promised to this province by the present government?

Anonymous said...

I see what Prime Minister Harper did with his $4 billion largesse package of our hard earned tax payers dollars for Quebec passed out in this week's Budget to be not much different than the Sponsorship Scandal monies that the Liberals passed over to Quebec just a few years back. It appears to me that both of these largesse packages have kindred spirits.

Ottawa is destroying Canada by trying to save Quebec. There have been billions of dollars spent on Quebec's desire to separate from Canada. These hard earned Canadian Tax payers dollars could have been spent on the many needs of Canadians.

I, for one, do not want to see another Newfoundland and Labrador tax dollar spent, nor another resource go out of this province to keep that sore festering. I hope and pray that Ottawa will let Quebec decide its own fate without throwing more of our hard earned tax dollars at it, if it decides to STAY that will be great, but if it decides to GO that also will be o.k. with us. With the status quo every province is in limbo, especially Newfoundland and Labrador.

Anonymous said...

I am not being jealous at all, I want equality for our people. WJM what a crazy and childish question for YOU to ask, a person who supposedly hails from this province and is supposedly working out of an office in Ottawa, OR that is according to information that was once published on this blogsite. If that is the case, what other evil deeds would Ottawa allowed to be perpetrated on this province. Scott Reid told us we would suffer for the Atlantic Accord and we truly are. I am wondering if you are one of the plagues that was set upon us.

WJM - It is just that I expect the same from Ottawa for this province as what the other provinces receive. Should I not? Plus I am aware that we contribute more to this country than most of the other provinces with the resources that we have passed over. I do not need to go over the resources that Newfoundland and Labrador passes over to Canada and name them anymore, I am sure most people who read this blog are quite aware of what they, nor do I need to go over the infrastructure that the other provinces have received from Ottawa that we haven't. So why shouldn't we expect to be treated the same? Our people have the same needs as do Nova Scotians, New Brunswickers or Ontarians, so why does Ottawa treat us like outsiders? Is it because the other provinces are too covetous and want it all. Anyway according to the Prime Minister that is the reason why we didn't get what the Prime Minister promised the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the exclusion of non-renewable resources in the equilization formula in this Budget. Or is it because the politicians from the other provinces know full well that Newfoundland and Labrador's politicians do not fight for anything for Newfoundland and Labrador, so whatever goodies come up to be placed anywhere, the politicians of this province will not be in the loop fighting for it anyway?

Anyway shouldn't Newfoundland and Labrador expect to receive the same benefits or equivalent benefits as Nova Scotia or any other province, the benefits might not be in KIND but at least they could be benefits that would be of equal value that could help this province's economies by bringing jobs to this province like the Federal Regional Offices and Military Bases do for Nova Scotia.

March 22, 2007 8:59 PM

Anonymous said...

Well I for one will be emailing Loyola Hearn and commending him for having some backbone and working for THIS COUNTRY.......not just one province.

Anonymous said...

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has been left out of Ottawa's largesse for 58 years. Despite this province's resources such as Fish, Hydroelectricity energy, Minerals and Oil that support economies in other parts of Canada, more so than they support economies in Newfoundland and Labrador; and despite the basic infrastructure we received, with no Federal Regional offices or Military bases, and the fact that each man, woman and child is indebted to the tune of $23,000 because of it. After saying all that, does that not indicate that Newfoundland and Labrador has been left out of receiving anything from the Ottawa goody bag for 58 years? Plus that $23,000 is more than twice that of next poorest province.

We were the only province that was forgotten in the past by the looks of things, and we still are and we are up to our necks in debt because of it. With all of those resources, we should be up to our necks in Gold.

WJM said...

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has been left out of Ottawa's largesse for 58 years.

No, it has not.

Despite this province's resources such as Fish, Hydroelectricity energy, Minerals and Oil that support economies in other parts of Canada

If hydro and minerals do that, it's only because we let them: Only the province has control over those resources.

After saying all that, does that not indicate that Newfoundland and Labrador has been left out of receiving anything from the Ottawa goody bag for 58 years?

No, it doesn't, because, as usual for Newfoundland separatists, you refuse to look at both sides of the balance sheet.

Plus that $23,000 is more than twice that of next poorest province.

The federal debt is the same, per-capita, in every province.

If the total per-capita public debt, for all orders of government combined, is higher in NL, it's because our provincial and municipal governments have run up their own credit cards.

We were the only province that was forgotten in the past by the looks of things

There are a lot of provinces that look on the 90-cent federal highways dollars in NL with envy.

and we still are and we are up to our necks in debt because of it. With all of those resources, we should be up to our necks in Gold.

Why?

What do resources have to do with anything, especially given that on the Canadian scene, our resource industries are not all that large?

Newfoundland's in particular, not considering Labrador, have not been much to brag about until the offshore oil came along.

Anonymous said...

WJM said...

I am not being jealous at all, I want equality for our people.

What's the inequality?

LIE says, "Well ,lets start with the lack of roads and lack of accesibilty to resources in Labrador"

WJM said...

Scott Reid told us we would suffer for the Atlantic Accord

Oh? When did Scott Reid say that?

LIE says "Ill tell you when he said that you stupid shit ,on CBC ,in front of the entire country "to bad you don't get cable in
your version of reality.WJM,try mental health at your local community health center.OH I forgot .The feds have cut
that back.

WJM said "You can only say that we have contributed "more", if you know the amounts in all cases. Otherwise, you are making things up.

So, which is it? Do you know the raw facts, or not? If you know them, please share them. Thank you.


"If the balance sheet were compiled as to who contributes what amount to who,DONE!

LIE says ,hey WJM ,why not try using your own source.It clearly shows it .

"http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/11-010-XIB/00207/feature.htm"


There is always room for talk folks and there is always room for debate ,but when the room fills with the foul smell of "DUNG" then
we truely know that the time has come to end the conversion.OH well back to the "top secret Newf bat cave Hide out"Were the evil
Newfies plan the destruction of all the good in the world ,known as canada of course.

Mr "Patriot" ,may I please ask that you have the common sence to use your discretion and block this from your Blog.I understand
that you belive that all are welcome to thier point of view ,but this is gone past the point of common sence and has fallen to
the level of what i would call "stupid"

To all my fellow country-men ,please excuse me for this poor excuse for a Post.Like all people i suppose i to have my weak moments.


As Always,Lost-In-Exile

Anonymous said...

Yes, indeed, WJM's sole purpose on this blogsite is to take other posters writings, namely the writings of disgruntled Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are trying to put the truth forward on what happened in Newfoundland and Labrador for this province to be so poor off in a country that is so rich, despite the fact that Newfoundland and Labrador has so many resources. But those resources were not used for Newfoundland and Labrador's benefit, instead they were used primarily to create industries and economies in other parts of Canada, may I say, under the stress and duress of those other provinces crying out for those resources. The recipient provinces, of our resources, not only had their voices crying for Newfoundland and Labrador's resources, but the voices of the National Media and National Government also joined in chorus with them, and as a result all of our resources were exported out of this province for the benefit of others.

Also Patriot - WJM copies the writings of others to this blogsite and pastes them back on your blogsite and corrupts what is being said by asking a question. We can only answer with the truth which is what was written in the first place. He also makes sure that he will take up maximum space by putting triple spaces between each sentence; this tactic serves only to corrupt and makes your blog disinteresting. If this person under the initials of WJM really works for Ottawa, that, of course, is part of his/her mandate, that is why this person is supposedly getting paid by Ottawa to corrupt this bog, and again, Newfoundland and Labrador does not get its message out. Mission accomplished by Ottawa? It is all part of the spin cycle under which big governments operates; it has been a practice since the Nixon era. We cannot be fooled by this trickery. We are battling this type of trickery on all provincial fronts. One only has to harken back to what Prime
Minister Harper promised Newfoundland and Labrador regarding the non-renewable resources. While campaigning for the Prime Minister ship, Mr. Harper asked the question does Ottawa want Newfoundland and Labrador to remain a 'have province' forever despite its resources? But what did Prime Minister Harper do after elected? Of course he went back on what he said. He made all the statements containing the information that he knew was true and he knew that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians wanted the rest of Canadians to be apprised of, ALSO those statements that Prime Minister Harper made are in print in many places, THEN Prime Minister Harper went back on his words, no different than any other Prime Minister of the 58 years that we have been part of Canada.

Anonymous said...

An enlightening Excerpt from Bond Papers:


“With no energy plan in place, no gas royalty regime in place, no Hibernia South, no Hebron and now no exploration activity — when are we going to see this industry develop?”

Another industry executive, who also didn’t want to be named, pegged the payroll loss of a rig, such as the Eirik Raude, at more than $1 million per month.

“It’s grossly disappointing.”

The executive also levelled criticism at Premier Danny Williams, saying he has set back the province’s offshore industry by 25 years.

That process started, said the executive, with the loss of the Hebron project and Hibernia South, and continues with the lack of a natural gas royalty regime to kick-start gas exploration by companies like ConnocoPhillips.

“As far as everyone is concerned globally, we’re not open for business. No one wants to deal with him,” said the executive.

“All he does is fight. The business community here is sick of it.”

In the House of Assembly, Danny Williams dismissed the executive's comments as cowardly, since the individual did not wish to be named.

If the individual had let his name be used, what are the odds Williams would have laucnhed into a personal attack on the guy?

No takers on that bet?

Anonymous said...

An enlightening Excerpt from Bond Papers:


“With no energy plan in place, no gas royalty regime in place, no Hibernia South, no Hebron and now no exploration activity — when are we going to see this industry develop?”

Another industry executive, who also didn’t want to be named, pegged the payroll loss of a rig, such as the Eirik Raude, at more than $1 million per month.

“It’s grossly disappointing.”

The executive also levelled criticism at Premier Danny Williams, saying he has set back the province’s offshore industry by 25 years.

That process started, said the executive, with the loss of the Hebron project and Hibernia South, and continues with the lack of a natural gas royalty regime to kick-start gas exploration by companies like ConnocoPhillips.

“As far as everyone is concerned globally, we’re not open for business. No one wants to deal with him,” said the executive.

“All he does is fight. The business community here is sick of it.”

In the House of Assembly, Danny Williams dismissed the executive's comments as cowardly, since the individual did not wish to be named.

If the individual had let his name be used, what are the odds Williams would have laucnhed into a personal attack on the guy?

No takers on that bet?

Anonymous said...

Premier Danny Williams has not set back this province's off shore Oil industry at all.

At the moment the world economy is slowing down, this bull stock market is 6 years old, four years is the average for any bull stock market, everything has an age limit and this one is getting long in the tooth and is overdue for a big correction.

When the correction is here, and over with, and the world economies are poised to take off again, then is when the Big Oil Companies will be knocking at the doors of anyone who has Oil. Bi Oil can pretend that they are not interested, since they know there is plenty of time, so let Premier Danny Williams sweat it out and probably worry that Big Oil might not come back. Don't do it Premier even if they don't come back our Oil will be there for future generations. And don't listen to former Liberal bureaucrats, a couple of them have blogs to scold you and coerce you into passing everything over to Big Oil without any equity for Newfoundland and Labrador. These people have two things in mind themselves and their pocketbooks. They don't give one iota about the ordinary Newfoundlander and Labradorian and how we are going to get ahead. The "me syndrome" has been prevalent in Newfoundland and Labrador amongst politicians and bureaucrats for far too long.

You know damn well that a place as secure as Newfoundland and Labrador, which has oil, will be where everyone will want to be. There are no fears of coups or kidnappings here or at least at this moment in time. Just yesterday Iran kidnapped 15 British Royal Navy personnel in the waters off Iran and Iraq, no doubt, the reason in the first place for these soldiers to be in the Gulf had all to do with Oil. Oil is the reason for the turmoil in the Middle East in the first place. The developed world protects or cares about no place unless Oil is part of the equation, for instance, bring your thoughts back to Rwanda. Do you remember the slaughter of approximately Tootsies? There was no Oil to protect there only human life, so NO great need to stick their necks out and protect anything or anyone. Oil is the WORD, the Truth and the Light.

Anonymous said...

A CORRECTION WAS MADE IN the POST OF MARCH 24, 2007 1:15 PM


Premier Danny Williams has not set back this province's off shore Oil industry at all.

At the moment the world economy is slowing down, this bull stock market is 6 years old, four years is the average for any bull stock market, everything has an age limit and this one is getting long in the tooth and is overdue for a big correction.

When the correction is here, and over with, and the world economies are poised to take off again, then is when the Big Oil Companies will be knocking at the doors of anyone who has Oil. Bi Oil can pretend that they are not interested, since they know there is plenty of time, so let Premier Danny Williams sweat it out and probably worry that Big Oil might not come back. Don't do it Premier even if they don't come back our Oil will be there for future generations. And don't listen to former Liberal bureaucrats, a couple of them have blogs to scold you and coerce you into passing everything over to Big Oil without any equity for Newfoundland and Labrador. These people have two things in mind themselves and their pocketbooks. They don't give one iota about the ordinary Newfoundlander and Labradorian and how we are going to get ahead. The "me syndrome" has been prevalent in Newfoundland and Labrador amongst politicians and bureaucrats for far too long.

You know damn well that a place as secure as Newfoundland and Labrador, which has oil, will be where everyone will want to be. There are no fears of coups or kidnappings here or at least at this moment in time. Just yesterday Iran kidnapped 15 British Royal Navy personnel in the waters off Iran and Iraq, no doubt, the reason in the first place for these soldiers to be in the Gulf had all to do with Oil. Oil is the reason for the turmoil in the Middle East in the first place. The developed world protects or cares about no place unless Oil is part of the equation, for instance, bring your thoughts back to Rwanda. Do you remember the slaughter of approximately 800000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus back in April of 1994 in Rwanda? There was no Oil to protect there only human life, so NO great need to stick their necks out and protect anything or anyone. Oil is the WORD, the Truth and the Light.

Anonymous said...

You are kidding yourselves......
and regurgitating what your "leader" has been spoon-feeding you.

Big Oil will not come knocking. You will now have to go to them. You guys have .005 of 1.0 % of the world's oil resources. You are a very , very, small fish in a massive pond.

You had a great chance and you blew it.

That's not to say you won't get any offers again...but it does mean that the deal that you could have had with Hebron is long gone.

And the sad part is.....very few in the province even knew what a great deal Hebron was, because it was never released.

WJM said...

LIE says, "Well ,lets start with the lack of roads and lack of accesibilty to resources in Labrador"

1) Which Labrador resources are "inaccessible"?

2) To whom are they "inaccessible"?

3) Whose fault is it that Labrador still doesn't have a Trans-Labrador Highway? In your answer, please make reference to the fact that 90% of the money that's ever been spent on the TLH has come from the federal government. You may also wish to reference the fact that for most of the post-Confederation history of Labrador, the province has been run by Premiers who have actively been opposed to building a road connecting Labrador to Quebec.

LIE says "Ill tell you when he said that you stupid shit ,on CBC ,in front of the entire country "to bad you don't get cable in your version of reality.

When? What was the date of the broadcast?

Or, just maybe, it didn't happen at all?

If you can't come up with the date of the broadcast, that's what I'm inclined to beleive.

WJM,try mental health at your local community health center.OH I forgot .The feds have cut that back.

Why would the feds be cutting back local community health centres? They aren't under federal jurisdiction.

LIE says ,hey WJM ,why not try using your own source.It clearly shows it.

"http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/11-010-XIB/00207/feature.htm"


No, that source shows NL GETTING more out of Canada than Canada gets from NL.

See Table 2? Canada gets $4,741 per person in NL in federal revenues. That's the second-lowest contribution among the provinces, second only to NB.

And see Table 3? Canada SPENDS $9,356 per person in NL. That's the third HIGHEST among all the provinces.

That's a net benefit of $4,615 MORE, per person, paid out in NL, than NL pays in to Canada. That's the third-HIGHEST "profit margin" for any province, by being part of Canada.

Where in that document does it tell you that Newfoundland is being drained by Canada?


As Always,Lost-In-Exile

"LIE" - perfect initials!!!

WJM said...

Yes, indeed, WJM's sole purpose on this blogsite is

...to question dubious statements of fact and spurious arguments.

to take other posters writings, namely the writings of disgruntled Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are trying to put the truth forward

Go ahead.

Put the truth forward.

No one is stopping you; least of all me.

on what happened in Newfoundland and Labrador for this province to be so poor off in a country that is so rich, despite the fact that Newfoundland and Labrador has so many resources.

So does every other province, except that PEI doesn't have much in the way of terrestrial non-agriculatural resources.

But those resources were not used for Newfoundland and Labrador's benefit,

Again the passive voice.

"Were not used" BY WHOM?

Also Patriot - WJM copies the writings of others to this blogsite and pastes them back on your blogsite and corrupts what is being said by asking a question.

Questions are important. More people should be asking questions. Hard questions.

If you don't want to be questioned, don't post. For that matter, never converse with anyone about anything. They might ask you to repeat yourself, clarify yourself, or provide more information. They might call you out on a logical fallacy. If questions are problematic for you, become a monk or a nun, take a vow of silence, and withdraw from society. That is the only way you will be happy.

We can only answer with the truth which is what was written in the first place.

And that would be what?

He also makes sure that he will take up maximum space by putting triple spaces between each sentence; this tactic serves only to corrupt and makes your blog disinteresting.

No, it only serves to make it readable.

this person is supposedly getting paid by Ottawa to corrupt this bog,

"supposedly", according to whom?

WJM said...

Myles, a follow-up question from your original post:

If they don't resign of their own accord serious consideration should be given to removing them all from office and perhaps even laying charges in connection with the elections act

In connection with WHICH section of the Elections Act?

Anonymous said...

It's good to see someone like WJM who isn't afraid of asking questions.

Most of what's posted here is drivel and non-substantiated ravings.

Anonymous said...

WJM ,is nothing more then a Governemnet mole working for Ottawa.If he has so much to say and do why isn't he over at his own Blog shouting the truth.
"Lie's and the Lieing Liar's That Tell Them" A good read for thease guys.How truely sick one must be,too side with Ottawa,and then blame his own people for the mishaps of a "OCCUPIED" nation.I never belived in the death Penalty befor I read your work Mr WJM.To bad I cannot say the same after I have read it.

Anonymous said...

WJM,....A house divided against itself cannot stand - Abraham Lincoln

When you finally decide to stand with your people,instead of agaisnt them ,maybe your part of the province will get somewere .

As Always,Lost-In-Exile

Anonymous said...

Anon of March 24, 2007 4:49 AM

You call it drivel because you finally have noticed that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have figured out how Ottawa/Canada works, and as a result, instead of lauding us you are deriding us. You should be very happy for anyone who sees the trickery that has gone on around them, instead of deriding, you should be applauding. What a funny bunch of people, in whose web Newfoundlanders and Labradorians became entangled and trapped in 58 years ago.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading Eric Reguly's Column in today's, March 24, 2007 Globe and Mail, page B2 Report on Business Weekend especially the statement he made that 'PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS are awash in cash and cheap debt. There is more money than targets.

I SAY - What a time to be looking for capital for some venture! Premier Williams I hope you read it.

There is no problem financing anything in this country, especially if you have a venture that could be a no risk deal.

Anonymous said...

I decided to post the article to which I referred in the posting of March 24, 2007 8:29 PM.

If the deal which is refrreed to in the article below can be financed, I think the Lower Churchill Energy will be a walk in the park. Premier Williams, it must be done with Labrador in mind, not an East West Collection Grid. Labrador needs industry for development.

QUOTE
With Chrysler, Magna's driving a dangerous road

ERIC REGULY

E-mail Eric Reguly | Read Bio | Latest Columns
If I were a Magna International shareholder, I'd be scared. The falling profit and halved dividend are one thing. The interest in the rusting lump of iron called Chrysler is quite another. The rumours won't go away. They are in fact intensifying. Yesterday, an American analyst was unequivocal: Magna and a private equity partner, name undisclosed, have offered to buy Chrysler for as much as $4.7-billion (U.S.).

No comment from Magna. But chairman Frank Stronach has confirmed Magna flunkies aren't visiting Chrysler's headquarters just because Michigan in winter is a welcome respite from those endless Caribbean cruises. Is Frank crazy enough to buy a company that racked up an operating loss of €1.1-billion ($1.5-billion) last year, is drowning in pension and retiree benefit expenses, and is hampered by a fleet of gas-swilling dinosaurs, like the Dodge Durango? The answer, sadly, is yes.

Magna may be the world's third-largest auto parts maker, but bumper boy loves making cars. Go to the Magna website and you don't see a picture of a minivan seat or a dashboard; you see a picture of a sexy Saab 9-3 convertible, assembled in a Magna Steyr plant in Europe. Magna Steyr also pieces together BMW and Mercedes sport utility vehicles and some Chrysler products, including minivans and Jeeps. It probably regrets making the frames for the Smart car, a sales dud that has lost billions for Mercedes since the two-seater was launched in 1998.

There is no doubt Magna wants to move up the value chain and assemble more and more vehicles. Magna has a research and development arm and a fledgling design shop. One former Magna executive says making entire cars, not just bits thereof, is Mr. Stronach's big dream. Then along comes Chrysler, unofficially on the auction block because its German owner, DaimlerChrysler, can't make the sorry beast work.

Print Edition - Section Front
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Talk swirls over Magna's Chrysler bid
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The week in numbers
Go to the Business section
Mr. Stronach is no dummy. If there's any time to buy a distressed asset, it's now. Private equity funds are awash in cash and cheap debt. There is more money than targets. Chrysler has reportedly attracted the attention of private equity heavyweights Cerberus Capital, Blackstone Group and Centerbridge Partners. Any of them would be moronic to buy Chrysler on their own -- financial buyers don't know how to make transmissions and hubcaps. They would need a strategic partner. Magna, which derives about 15 per cent of its business from Chrysler, knows Chrysler well. Magna would be doubly valuable because it has a close relationship with DaimlerChrysler.

Which brings us to the second point. DaimlerChrysler is unlikely to make a clean break from Chrysler, as General Motors was unable to make a clean break from Delphi even though it no longer owns the bankrupt parts maker. There's a good chance DaimlerChrysler would retain some equity in Chrysler, plus stay on the hook for a dollop of employee pension costs and the like. If it didn't, the company would be next to impossible to sell. With DaimlerChrysler and private equity at his side, Mr. Stronach might be able to swing a sweet deal -- a lot of control for not a lot of investment.

But what about the Frank dictum that Magna should never go in competition with its customers? In theory, Magna's ownership of Chrysler would ensure that Ford and GM would strike Magna off their suppliers' list. This is unlikely to happen in practice. While Ford and GM don't want Chrysler to thrive, they don't want it to collapse either. If Chrysler goes down, Chrysler's suppliers would suffer. Since many, perhaps most, of Chrysler's suppliers do business with Ford and GM too, industry-wide damage would result.

While Magna could use the presence of Daimler and private equity to minimize its downside risk, it could also get outsmarted and find itself greatly exposed to a financial and operational horror story. Magna would have few synergies with Chrysler, limiting the scope for profit margin improvement. It would have to deal with unions and dealerships, many hundreds of which would have to be bought out and closed. The pension and retiree benefits and health care liabilities alone could sink Chrysler unless strong profit returns. These plans are underfunded by about $22-billion.

The big question, though, is the health of the product lineup. Chrysler is losing market share as its SUV-heavy fleet confronts buyers who want more fuel-efficient cars. Its new line of smaller offerings, the Compass and the Patriot, are not flying out of the showrooms. The company will thrive only if its products thrive. Magna is a parts maker and an assembler, not a designer and marketer. Frank Stronach may love cars. He usually gets his way. The board should remind him of the expression "beware what you wish for."
ereguly@globeandmail.com
UNQUOTE

WJM said...

If he has so much to say and do why isn't he over at his own Blog shouting the truth.

He is! ;) I'm over at labrador.blogspot.com.

That's labrador.blogspot.com

And whaddya know; there's a great big blob of truth there right now. Enjoy!

I never belived in the death Penalty befor I read your work Mr WJM. To bad I cannot say the same after I have read it.

Ummm... Myles? Just to let you know; I have saved that posting to my hard drive for evidence. Thanks.

WJM said...

A house divided against itself cannot stand - Abraham Lincoln

Then it's time for Newfoundlanders to stop with the divisions against Labrador.

When you finally decide to stand with your people

My people? Which people are you referring to?

instead of agaisnt them ,maybe your part of the province will get somewere

LIE, I have preserved your previous message for posterity.

Anonymous said...

Seems to me the question is not why has Newfoundland been held down so long.......rather it's.....what kind of people ALLOW themselves to be held down so long??

You have a long history of whining and crying and not so much of doing anything else. If you want the country's perception of you too change, then why do you keep perpetuating it?

Anonymous said...

To Anon of March 25, 2007 9:46 AM


Can't you see that is exactly what Premier Danny Williams is trying to do but it is impossible under the country called Canada. Despite the fact that all of our resources have gone to Canada to create economies, it is impossible to get anything back out of it. We have been the greatest GDP contributor to Canada for many years, but it does not equate into economies or jobs for us.

We are in a similar situation to the slaves of the world, once they were captured, it was too difficult to rise out of the grip of their Masters, no matter how hard they tried. It is a similar situation to Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. No matter how hard our Premier tries, the Master does not want to release us into an economy like Alberta's. There should be no controls over Newfoundland and Labrador's resources, we should have the same rules as any other province, but that is not the case here in this province. We have to beg for a little bit, while even a Corporation like Bombardier, gets the monies thrown at it, while it sits and waits to be able to build a few planes a few years down the road. This is a province, with many resources, and one of the most strategic locations in Canada, and we have to flounder under Ottawa's rule. Premier Danny is not whining, he is bargaining for a better life for his people, and because we are Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, you people put the worse spin on it and say we are whining. How in the hell do we get a better deal if we don't shout long and hard and to let Canadians know the mess that has been created here with the bureaucracy of Ottawa? But Canadians turn their heads, no differently, than did the Slave Masters who also had a captured prey. Despite the fact that all of our resources have gone to Canada to create economies, it is impossible to get anything back out of it. We have been the greatest GDP contributor to Canada for many years, but it does not equate into economies or jobs for us.

You see how impossible it isfor Newfoundland and Labrador to change things under the rule of Canada. Prime Minister Martin gave us the out clause for our non-renewable resources in the equilization formula. When Premier Harper got into power his government reneged on it. The same situation occured back in the 1980s, Prime Minister Mulrooney gave us the Atlantic Accord, and when the Liberals got in power the next year, they reneged on that deal that was given. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador, with its many resources and its 7 seats is DOOMED in Canada. There is no way we can move forward.

Those damn Prime Ministers did what they did to make the next government's job a little bit more impossible. Newfoundland and Labrador should not be treated in that manner and this situation should be taken to the World Courts to have it ruled on. This is ABSOLUTELY wrong.

Anonymous said...

A little on the dramatic side aren't we?? Slaves?

Come on.

Anonymous said...

"No Not at all"!

It is you who has to come on. Please read a little, you will find out a lot. Believe me it is there for the reading.

Anonymous said...

Mr WJM , ...........Do you honestly expect to troll and to make re-marks ,such as this ,...http://www.thiscanada.com/2007/02/21/sheep/

To stand beside thease people and not be subject to such remarks.That's like me going to Quebec on St-Jean-Baptiste day and waving a canadain flag.Its not our fault that your country cannot live up to what it stands for .I would love to hear your comment's on Term 29 of the terms Of Union.But,I guess that would be out of your scope wouldn't it .As far as any comments that I have made regarding your post's.I "FIRMLY" stand beside them .If you feel that you need to save any remarks that,"YOU"feel were made on my behalf.I strongly suggest that you better have the "Technical Expertise" to prove it in a canadain court of law befor you have legal matters considered.If I were to make such comments in the context that you are taking them I would simple hide behind a "PROXEY".I know for "FACT" that the IP of this node can be traced to Ontario and ,Sir,I can just as easliy find yours.But if you wish to implie certain re-marks out of context,I want you to know that I would welcome the chance to see scum such as yourself in a court of law

You Sir ,are scum .And if you wish to have action taken ,in remarks that I have made,go right ahead.This is one Newfoundlander that won't back down from a fight by any Individual who I feel is threatening my home ,my nation,or it's values.
But,Mr WJM ,we all know who you are .We all know why you come here.And I want to say at this time that this is the last time that i will justify any post ,directed to any remarks that you post towrds anything in this Blog.As far as I know.You are nothing more then a CSIS Bear trap getting attebtion by puoring gas on an Open fire.But,its truely nice to see what thease goverment officals truely stand for .Laying traps on the internet ,hoping to justify what money you will get for your next budget.I hope you and your kind "ROT" in a hell that is far worse then I could imagine for you.
Me on the other hand ,I'm gone to http://secondlife.com/. At least here we "cannot" be charged and traps cannot be layed by crooked government stooleys ,trying to get a bigger cut of the budget dollars.

As Always,Lost-In-Exile

Anonymous said...

OH, and here is My ISP for your legal advisor.I welcome the chance to see you in court.

www.execulink.com

As Always,Lost-In-Exile

WJM said...

Mr WJM , ...........Do you honestly expect to troll and to make re-marks ,such as this ,...http://www.thiscanada.com/2007/02/21/sheep/

Where are my comments on that page?

I would love to hear your comment's on Term 29 of the terms Of Union.

There's not much to comment about there.

Anonymous said...

http://www.thiscanada.com/2007/02/21/sheep/

Editor says:
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Somewhere in Newfoundland and Labrador, under a slimy rock, is a miniature flock of sheep. So small that their combined brain mass and intellectual powers would be exceeded by a single-celled organism.
They think of themselves as their province’s patriots. In reality they are only sheep, or perhaps rodents lured by the notes of their Pied Piper, Mother Mendacious. Writing drivel, especially the most uninformed and erroneous drivel, is their specialty.
It’s just a few Newfies, but they must be amongst the most stupid in their province because their “leader”, one “Sue” who writes here and on other blogs, professes to be a “CA”. I wonder if it stands for “can’t add’, because this mendacious little dingbat seems to have forgotten to attend the Business and Economics 101 lectures in her course. Woe is us, she proclaims. Let’s develop Churchill Falls and keep the output for ourselves, cutting off any use by Quebec, Ontario or, for that matter, any other part of Canada.

Is there just the teensiest, weensiest chance that these two (and other) “dissenters from your opinions” are correct, and that you and your rag-tag group of rear-view mirror addicts are merely nutbars? I’ve glanced at WJM’s site, and had the chance to talk this gentleman, he seems to have his head screwed on correctly. He has an agenda or political bent, but everyone does. What’s the problem?

My ,My ,the tangled web Of Lies that we tell.(Enough said)

Anonymous said...

It will always be a battle a day between those who want maximum change and those who want to maintain the status quo.
Gerry Adams

Anonymous said...

I never in my life read a bunch of nonsence like that which was posted by the Anon of March 25. 2007 3:33 PM. What kind of creature are you to write such foolishness. Just read what you wrote, it is the craziest couple of sentences that I have ever read. You are the one writing drivel, it isn't Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. We are trying to get our point across on how Canada has used our resources and as a result left us destitute, with no way of correcting it.

Oh my God, really I never such craziness in my whole life. This person doesn't seem to have the sence of a one celled animal, and I am sure the person doesn't.

Besides it the truth what is written by the Newfoundlanders and Labradorians on this blog and it can be confirmed. We know what has gone on and for once in our life we are not scared to write about it. And besides we want the situation fixed, or give us back our country Canada.

Anonymous said...

How true Anon of March 25, 2007,5:09

Ottawa has had too much latitude with Newfoundland and Labrador's resources to service other parts of the country. As a result it has left us way below par with the rest of Canada.

Anonymous said...

"We know what has gone on and for once in our life we are not scared to write about it".


Why were you so scared before??

If I were you I'd be scared now as your King, oops I mean Dictator, oops I mean Premier, seems to threaten lawsuits on anyone with a voice in the province.

I'd be very scared if I were you.

Anonymous said...

Hey guys ,whoa ,whoa ,......This is in regards to what was posted by WJM ,on this Blog.

http://www.thiscanada.com/2007/02/21/sheep/

It was not written by me ,just copied and pasted over to this site to show the conection betweeen the gentlemen that calls himself WJM and the company he keeps .I was merely trying to confirm a point in regards to his attuide and beliefs.It in no way reflects my personal belief in the slightest.Sorry for the mix-up.

WJM said...

Mr WJM , ...........Do you honestly expect to troll and to make re-marks ,such as this ,...http://www.thiscanada.com/2007/02/21/sheep/

Where are my comments on that page?

And I said ,if you associate with the devil ,then you should be treated like him.What is "SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND"

WJM said...

the conection betweeen the gentlemen that calls himself WJM and the company he keeps

Connection? Company? I have no idea who writes that blog, and have never, to my knowledge, met the person.

Anonymous said...

Another enlighteing excerpt from a modern day fish merchant who is only out for his self interest in that he has dealings with an NOIA.

NL'ians want to have their cake and eat it to is the Federal propaganda campaign and it is selling well in ON/QE.

Truth is Harpers fiscal imbalance fix is nothing more than blatant sponsorship and the catch phrase should really be.

Let them eat cake!

Because they won't be able to swallow once they cut their own throats and buy in.

Hearn's comment Two can play at that game threatened the NL people so we will be forced to buy in to our own detriment.

Anonymous said...

I love the One off spin Ottawa is espousing around the country.

What about the one of Province Quebec which has their own Pension plan, Tax collection, Immigration, Nation status, Child care 5$, Seat at UNESCO, Tax reprieve on the Upper churchill revenues, etc etc

Then there was the Alberta 5 billion to kick start the tar sands and the reprieve on equalization claw backs.

PEI's Tax reprieve and infusion of dollars after the military base was closed to alow a IT and aero space industry to start up.

Cornwalace UN training centre.

Saint Lawrence Sea Way 5 Billion todays dollars.

PEI Confederation bridge.

How can our own oil and gas on our continental shelf be a one off deal anyway.

Anonymous said...

Anon March 24th 07 5;49 P.M.------- Your remarks to WJM-- Bonechilling and extremely disturbing. What is wrong with you? You are full of hatred , it seems. Why? Just because WJM makes sense and will call out people such as you, who are so close-minded, you are not even open to the ideas, opinions, rights or truths of others? Think about it Anon. How would you feel if this disturbing post were directed at you? This does not even stand to reason Myles. How can you allow this obvious remark of hatred on your blog? This has gone too far and needs to be addressed in a proper manner. This Anon could at least be human, or civilized enough to apoligize to WJM.

Anonymous said...

With all due respect Mr Higgins ,but I do belive ,Sir ,that I to am entitled to my entitlements .
And ,Mr WJM not only wanted ULR's to web sights that I do not agree with

http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/11-010-XIB/00207/feature.htm"

I simply placed information from His Friends web blog on your website and now all this !!!!Let Me Be the First to 'Apologise' for being "SO ForWard"!!!!

Anonymous said...

Anon of March 25, 2007 10:58 PM
I think you need to revisit the post by Anon of March 24th 07 5;49 P.M. There is absolutely no mention of WJM in that posting. Please get your Anons straight.

Anonymous said...

Oh, and before I forget, it seems that WJM caught out Anon’s self-serving .pdf much better than I did, especially on EI where there’s $16 billion inflow to NL&L net of employee and employer premiums. I can’t wait until my MP gets the current Nfld, Ont and Quebec data to me. I only found (at least) $20 billion after 3 or 4 minutes of reading.

Editor says:
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:37 pm

. Is there just the teensiest, weensiest chance that these two (and other) “dissenters from your opinions” are correct, and that you and your rag-tag group of rear-view mirror addicts are merely nutbars? I’ve glanced at WJM’s site, and he seems to have his head screwed on correctly. He has an agenda or political bent, but everyone does. What’s the problem?

ANON Says:

Im Sorry ,Sir,I don't mean to KICK a Dead Horse ,But I seem to Find all Kinds of referance to Mr WJM on this Gentlmens Blog.And all I did was mention the company that he Keeps.!!!! ,

http://www.thiscanada.com/2007/02/21/sheep/

As Always ,Lost-In-Exile

WJM said...

What about the one of Province Quebec which has their own Pension plan, Tax collection, Immigration... Child care

Any province that wants those things can have them.

Tax reprieve on the Upper churchill revenues

NLHydro revenues have the same "tax reprieve".

Then there was the Alberta 5 billion to kick start the tar sands and the reprieve on equalization claw backs.

When did Alberta have "reprieve on equalization claw backs"?

PEI's Tax reprieve and infusion of dollars after the military base was closed to alow a IT and aero space industry to start up.

Does that mean you want bases to be closed, so you can have the same deal? Which bases do you want closed?

Saint Lawrence Sea Way 5 Billion todays dollars.

Without which the iron ore mines in Labrador would have lost a major competitive advantage.

PEI Confederation bridge.

What about it? A private company floated it as a PPP. PPP is a four-letter word in Nationalist-Communist Dannystan.

How can our own oil and gas on our continental shelf be a one off deal anyway.

Try pumping the same oil twice! Good luck with that.

WJM said...

Im Sorry ,Sir,I don't mean to KICK a Dead Horse ,But I seem to Find all Kinds of referance to Mr WJM on this Gentlmens Blog.And all I did was mention the company that he Keeps.!!!!

I make all kinds of references Danny Williams all the time, too; I have met him exactly once. Does that mean I "keep" his company?

Anonymous said...

WJM - Please explain how one can pump the same oil twice! I can not figure out how that can be. Please be more explanatory.

WJM said...

Please explain how one can pump the same oil twice! I can not figure out how that can be. Please be more explanatory.

You can't. Who said you can?

Anonymous said...

News Article out today:

Williams calls on N.S. help to oust Harper government

Offshore court case takes too long, N.L. premier says

By STEPHEN MAHER Ottawa Bureau

OTTAWA — Danny Williams will work to force Prime Minister Harper out of office rather than join Nova Scotia in a lawsuit to force the federal government to stick to the terms of the offshore accords.

"We may look at the possibility of legal recourse, but the swifter action is to challenge him from an electoral perspective," Mr. Williams said in a telephone interview on Friday.

"The best thing that could happen to these two provinces, indeed for the rest of the country, is that this man gets defeated."

Mr. Williams has called on Newfoundland’s three Tory MPs to leave the Harper government in protest, an invitation they have declined.

He said Friday that Nova Scotia’s man in cabinet, Peter MacKay, and Nova Scotia’s other Tory MPs ought to do the same thing.

"What’s more important?" he said. "You’re a Nova Scotian or a Newfoundlander and Labradorian. These are huge issues to our provinces. They’re really important in the long term. Why would you side with the group that may be around for six months, as opposed to going back and living in your province, holding your head up high and saying, ‘I stood my ground and, win or lose, at least I stood with my people?’ "

Nova Scotia’s Tory MPs are standing behind their prime minister but working behind the scenes to make life easier for Premier Rodney MacDonald. On Thursday, they convinced federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to give Nova Scotia a one-year extension to choose between the offshore accord and the new, richer equalization formula.

In a news release Friday, Mr. MacKay praised the move.

"As a Nova Scotian, I am proud of the government’s flexibility in offering the province the time to choose for itself the system which best suits its needs," he release said.

Mr. MacKay also pointed out that the $830-million advance payment the Liberals made to the province when the accord was signed in 2005 is not threatened by the accord.

"It’s important to note that if Nova Scotia opts for the new system, it doesn’t have to give up its accord," Mr. MacKay said. "In fact, the accord will be fully respected and continue to provide benefits to Nova Scotia."

Under the new equalization system, Nova Scotia’s offshore revenues are still protected from an equalization clawback, but a cap has been imposed on how much the province can get. If offshore resource revenues rise sharply between now and the end of the deal, in 2020, that could cut down on the amount of money Nova Scotia receives.

The cap affects Newfoundland immediately because its resource revenues are much greater.

Facing this cap, Mr. Williams is trying to rally support for a fight with Mr. Harper. Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert is onside and Mr. Williams would like Mr. MacDonald to join in.

"I’ve indicated to Rodney exactly where I am, exactly what I’m doing," Mr. Williams said. "There’s a real opportunity for all of us to band together here and indicate our dissatisfaction. Court cases take a long time. And I don’t think the provinces can afford lengthy periods of time here. The quick and effective political solution is not to support the people who’ve wronged you."

WJM said...

WJM: "YES" Ottawa uses FISH QUOTAS strategically for economic purposes.

What do you mean by "uses FISH QUOTAS strategically for economic purposes"?

Can you provide some concrete, specific examples of this?

Thanks in advance.

No other province was coerced into giving up its resources to another part of Canada like Newfoundland and Labrador did. Those resources were FISH, HYDROELECTRICITY, IRON ORE, OIL, and NICKEL.

How was the province so "coerced"?

How did it give up jurisdiction over oil, when it never had it?

How did it give up jurisdiction over hydro, iron ore, or nickel, when those resources are, and always have been, 100% under provincial jurisdiction?

Take all of these raw resources and add to it the different levels of processing that get applied and and the economies

Why do you keep using "economies" in the plural? And how does someone set out to consciously "create" an economy?

and jobs that get created out of this province and you will find that the figures are astronomical.

NL, until Voisey's Bay nickel and offshore oil came along, was near the bottom of all the provinces in terms of mineral production. Even now, it's at best in the middle of the pack. Without Labrador's resources, NL's resource production is very modest.

No other province, other than Newfoundland and Labrador, would allow the Mother Government to adorn all the other provinces with infrastructure like Federal Regional Offices and the staff that go along with it,

NL is more so "adorned" than all but three other provinces. Only the three Maritime provinces have a higher per-capita federal presence than NL.

plus Federal Military bases and sit by with its mouth closed

Which bases have been closed?

All one has to do is look across the waters at Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and see the infrastructure put there by Ottawa that brings billions to those province every year.

Why do you only compare NL to NB and NS?

Why don't you compare NL to ALL other provinces?

One doesn't have to be too smart to add up what has gone out of here and what has come in and then look at our $23,000 debt for every man, woman and child and come up with a roundabout figure. It is simplistic accounting.

I guess so, but you can't be very smart: you have still failed to provide this "simplistic accounting".

Why's that?

It's your point. Why don't you try and prove it?

Go ahead. No one's stopping you.

WJM said...

All you have to do is figure out the number of Federal Regional Offices and Military bases in Nova Scotia, there are many other quirks as well as a result of Nova Scotia being the chosen area for the Atlantic region and compare to those figures to what the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has received. Put a dollar figure on it and it will blow your mind the inequities that you will find that exist between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador,

Why do you only make the comparison to NS?

Why not to Ontario? Or Alberta? Or BC? Or Saskatchewan? Or Manitoba? Or Quebec? Or Canada as a whole?

WJM said...

Why shouldn't we expect to be treated with infrastructure the same way as any other province?

How is NL not treated equally?

Military bases Federal Regional offices bring huge revenues to the other province.

Military bases do not exist for the purpose of bringing revenues to provinces.

There is no reason why such infrastructure can be placed in Newfoundland and Labrador to assist the economies of this province.

Military infrastructure does not exist for the purpose of "assisting economies", whatever that's supposed to mean. (Why do you keep using "economies" in the plural? Do you know what an economy even is?

Why hasn't the 650 military personnel been placed in Goose Bay. That was the number of personnel that was promised to this province by the present government?

Ask that government.

WJM said...

WJM - It is just that I expect the same from Ottawa for this province as what the other provinces receive. Should I not?

Sure you should. Now, explain: how does this province NOT get what other provinces receive?

In your answer, be sure to make reference to the fact — and it is a fact — that NL has a larger per-capita federal presence than all but three provinces.

Plus I am aware that we contribute more to this country than most of the other provinces with the resources that we have passed over.

How are you "aware" of this?

What resources have been "passed over"? And to whom?

What is the value of them? And what is the comparable figure for every other province?

I do not need to go over the resources that Newfoundland and Labrador passes over to Canada and name them anymore, I am sure most people who read this blog are quite aware of what they, nor do I need to go over the infrastructure that the other provinces have received from Ottawa that we haven't.

What about highways in NL? Unlike in every other province, the federal government spend 90% of the highways money in NL from the 1950s until the 1970s, and a hefty portion even thereafter. Why don't Newfoundanders complain about that inequity?

Our people have the same needs as do Nova Scotians, New Brunswickers or Ontarians, so why does Ottawa treat us like outsiders?

For the population, there are more federal jobs in NL than there are in Ontario.

Anyway shouldn't Newfoundland and Labrador expect to receive the same benefits or equivalent benefits as Nova Scotia or any other province,

NL does, and then some: NL gets more out of the federal government than most other provinces, in terms of transfer payments to the government, federal civil service jobs, and transfers to individuals.

benefits that would be of equal value that could help this province's economies by bringing jobs to this province like the Federal Regional Offices and Military Bases do for Nova Scotia.

The purpose of federal jobs, and especially military bases, is not to "help economies".

And really: why do you keep using "economies" in the plural. A place only has one economy.

Anonymous said...

My God open your eyes WJM, if you can't see how we weren't treated equally with the same amount of infrastucture as the rest of the Canadian provinces, you do need to take off your blinders.

Also how can you pretend that the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has the same dollar value of Federal Regional Offices, when Nova Scotia has 17 Federal Regional Offices and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has one-half a unit. Nova Scotia has a number of Military bases with thousands of personnel and we have 333 military pesonnel stationed in our province. I am comparing Newfoundland and Labrador to Nova Scotia here, but I can take the other provinces and what they have received from Ottawa will also blow your mind EVEN FURTHER as it relates to the inequities that exist.

WJM - Is there anything equal in that equation I related to you with Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia?

If you take Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia you will find that there are much larger inequalites between them and Newfoundland and Labrador than you will find between Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. I rest my case.