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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Newfoundland and Labrador Declares War on Canadian Government

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier, Danny Williams, launched an ad campaign today in newspapers across Canada. The campaign is intended to depict Prime Minister Stephen Harper as a fraud.

The full page and half page ads will appear in publications such as the Globe and Mail and depict a white maple leaf on a red background containing the words, “Is this what Canada stands for now?” The ads also identify the lies told by Harper along with the words, “There is no bigger fraud than a promise broken”. Words similar to those used by Harper over and over again during his campaign for Prime Minister.

The words, used so successfully by Harper to convince Canadians to elect him over Paul Martin in the last federal election, now provide ammunition for what will surely be a long and hard fought battle. A battle that is expected to ratchet up as speculation of a federal election continues to permeate the halls of Parliament Hill.

In brochures distributed to households during his campaign, Harper promised that a conservative government would keep all non-renewable resource revenues out of the equalization formula and that he would not implement a fiscal cap. Something the governments of several provinces see as a necessity to ensure survival and their ability to finally move toward becoming sustainable and self sufficient provinces.

As one observer recently put it, “Non-renewable resources should not be factored into equalization because they are not a product than can be manufactured or renewed to support an economy in the long term. They are not like a salary from a permanent job.”

“It’s the equivelent of someone losing their employment and resorting to selling the furniture in the house in order to survive until the next job comes along. If that money is taken away from them, denying them the ability to use it while working to find other employment, that's a real problem because once the furniture is gone it’s gone with nothing to keep them alive."

The ad campaign asks, "If we can't accept at face value the promise of our Prime Minister, then who can? A promise made should be a promise kept and as Mr. Harper pointed out, there is no greater fraud than a promise not kept."

Harper meanwhile continues to tell anyone who will listen that the recent budget meets his obligations to all Canadians. While Mr. Harper denies the claims of several premiers, including Williams, it’s clear from the public record that he has indeed not kept the promises he made. Promises delivered both verbally and in writing to the premiers and citizens of at least 3 provinces.

Harper’s contention is that the budget does not affect the Atlantic Accord contracts signed with Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador by the former Liberal government, however his promise in reality was to remove all non-renewable resources from the equalization formula for all provinces and this was not done.

The battle is clearly heating up as Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador take a strong stand. While the latter two provinces are governed by conservative leaders they are clearly not toeing the party line on this issue and appear ready for an all out battle.

Many people in Newfoundland and Labrador have thrown their support fully behind Premier Williams, who prior to this event sat at about 75% in public opinion polls. Many have demanded the resignations of the province’s 3 conservative members of Parliament.

On Tuesday conservative MPs Norman Doyle, Fabian Manning and Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn all voted in favour of their party’s budget and against the wishes of the people of their province. An act many may view as an act of treason during a time of virtual war.

Instead of standing with the people who elected them Doyle, Manning and Hearn have opted to back Stephen Harper and the conservative party of Canada. Manning and Hearn went so far as to say that any attacks by the province could make things difficult in dealing with Ottawa in the future. This veiled threat, real or imagined, doesn’t seem to be carrying much weight with most voters in the province however because many people in Newfoundland and Labrador seem to believe that the Parliament of Canada is so out of touch with the province that they are missing one key point entirely.

Perhaps the comments of a local political insider, who spoke with this writer earlier today put it best, "Nobody cares. The people here are sick and tired of decades of indifference. All the so called “good relations” we’ve had with Ottawa over the years haven't done one damn bit of good for us so if they want to play hard ball they can bring it on.”

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hold on tight folks!!

It looks like someone is finally willing to take on this corrupted and lobsided system of government we are subject to in Canada.

Bring it on!!!

Anonymous said...

It is certainly long overdue that we give Canadians the information that they were lacking over the past 58 years. Canadians should know of the resources, both renewable and non-renewable that were brought to the Canadian table and have been used selfishly by Canada without, Newfoundland and Labrador being given any Thanks. And to boot Canadians need to be informed of their country having gained one of the two most strategic locations in all of Canada.

Anonymous said...

Serene Williams
Scott Feschuk | March 28, 2007 | 06:21:28 | Permalink
sfeschuk@sympatico.ca

Danny Williams, premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, is in a tight spot familiar to some politicians and all three-year-olds: having thrown a honey of a tantrum, how does one go about topping oneself?
Williams is furious about the fiscal ramifications of the federal budget, but he’s having trouble getting much attention. During his memorable dispute with Paul Martin, the Premier ordered Canadian flags removed from provincial buildings while, if memory serves, simultaneously holding his breath and refusing to eat his peas. Now that was theatre! This time, Williams is… taking out newspaper ads?
Dude.
Do the ads feature a photograph of your naked heinie mooning the Prime Minister of Canada? No?
Dude. That’s lamer than preparing a hobo sack and vowing to run away to join Greenland.
This is all so disappointing. As the parent of two former three-year-olds, I feel compelled to pass along some highly effective tantrum strategies in the hopes that it helps the Premier out of his creative rut:
• Drop to floor in Toys R Us. Wail.
• Remove underpants. Throw underpants. (If you miss target, casually retrieve underpants and throw again.)
• Slide under table at The Keg. Repeatedly holler, “I hate you!”
• Slam bedroom door. If slam doesn’t attract desired result, open door and slam again. Repeat.
• Cry. Hurl toy car at wall. Cry louder when toy car shatters.
• Stand up in House of Commons. Repeatedly ask the Prime Minister to apologize for something or other.
•••

Anonymous said...

War on Canadian Government?? Oh yeah they're scared all right. Puhlease.

You guys are making fools of yourselves.

Anonymous said...

"On Tuesday conservative MPs Norman Doyle, Fabian Manning and Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn all voted in favour of their party’s budget and against the wishes of the people of their province. An act many may view as an act of treason during a time of virtual war."

The Premier should direct some ads locally as well for these three Harperites. footsoldiers no doubt but deserving of the Provincial Government attention as well.

If Premier Williams is serious about this being a federal provincial issue and not a personality clash between himself and Harper then he has no alternative but to go after Mssrs Hearn, Manning and Doyle for their betrayal of the Province's interest by voting for the Federal budget with Harper.

If he doesn't go after the local Federal emissaries then i doubt this is nothing more than another Federal Provincial spat with a Provincial election coming on.

Patriot said...

First of all to:

Serene Williams
Scott Feschuk | March 28, 2007 | 06:21:28 | Permalink
sfeschuk@sympatico.ca

It's hard to take someone like yourself seriously when you keep prefacing your statements with "dude". Talk about someone who needs to grow up.

On to a more important and pertinent comment, to the Anon who noted that Hearn, Manning and Doyle should also be targeted if this was serious and not just a clash with Harper, there has been targeting of them.

The Premier, the opposition leader and the public are calling for Hearn to resign and have (leading up to the vote yesterday) demanded that they all 3 vote against the budget. They haven't and the message has already been delivered that they should not be voted for in the next eletion.

Anonymous said...

Well Mr Higgens ,may I first say, another fine article done.

On the subject matter ,as I have said befor,this is the only way that canada is going to know exactly why the people of the Atlantic provinces are so up-set.I truely believe without question ,that many canadains take for granted that those that do come from thease provinces are nothing more then winer's and welfare recieptant's
.But ,the facts show exactly what each province brings into confederation and who spends what.
True is the fact that the larger provinces do bring in more money because of thier higher populations,but,true is also the fact that thease provinces also spend ,and take more resources from other provinces to generate that income.Churchill Falls and Voisys Bay are ,but two excamples of this kind of politics.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/03/06/transit-harper.html?ref=rss

Could anyone imagine how far One Billion dollars would go for the people of Labrador,and the Trans Labrador Highway.Some in this very forum have made point of why the province does not have money to build such roads Well,unfortunatley ,I hate to bring the example of why, the province doesn't have the money .Just look at the broken promise's.

Having Premeir Williams show canadains excactly what politics is like in this country ,is just what the people need to see.Showing them what we bring in and what is taken should generate the support that Newfoundland and Labrador needs to make the required adjustments.Did it not work Here.

http://www.fairdealfornewfoundland.com/

Only until the dirty Laundry of canada is "AIRED" for the people of the wolrd to see ,will we have the wrongs of the past corrected ,and a path for the future.Until then ,if the powers that be do not wish to have thease in-justices corrected then I say that we simply "DO NOT BELONG IN CONFEDERATION".

You cannot keep taking and taking ,until the jar is empty.The people of Newfoundland and Labrador must relise that if they are to stay in confederation then "drastic"steps need to be taken in order for the survival of the province and its culture.Its either take the correct stpes or simply "Die".We all have choices in life to make.Some are easy and some are tough.But ,we have to stop thinking of ourselves now and think of what kind of enviroment are we building for our children.Do we as a nation wish to bring them into an enviroment ,were it's acceptable to simply say ,"AW,What the Heck,Let's Just Let It Go"

I thank God that we have one man that hasn't taken that attuide,and thank God again that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador have the common sence to put this man were he belongs,in the Premiers Seat.

As Always,Lost-In-Exile

Anonymous said...

Williams is such a baby.

Anonymous said...

There is something serioulsy wrong with you people.

I mean it....you are all a bunch of freaks. Listen to yourselves!

Anonymous said...

May I say Folks from a "Proffesional " point of view ,that I strongly suggest that no one use the email address given here .
And Mr Higgens if you could Please,Sir,kindly have it removed but leave the Post.
I must say ,Sir, that if professional misconduct could ever be judged ,you would have my vote with this tactic.

( Please feel free to remove this post as well )

Thank you!!!!

Anonymous said...

Anons of March 28, 2007 4:31 PM, March 28, 2007 4:31 PM and March 28, 2007 4:32PM - YOU ARE THE BABIES AND THE FREAKS, NOT NEWFOUNDLANDERS AND LABRADORIANS. WHAT NEWFOUNDLANDERS AND LABRORIANS ARE DOING NOW IS WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE 58 YEARS AGO. AFTER ALL WE GAVE CANADA OUR LIFE BLOOD WHEN WE JOINED.

YOU BABIES AND FREAKS DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT, IF ANYONE HAS, IT SHOULD BE NEWFOUNDLANDERS AND LABRADORIANS.


According to Canada. Com article Prime Minister Harper made the following Gaelic proverb in his promise to Newfoundland and Labrador: "There's no greater fraud than a promise not kept."

Harper used that quotation in campaign literature he distributed throughout Newfoundland and Labrador when he was leader of the Opposition.

In the brochures, Harper promised that a Conservative government would keep all non-renewable resource revenues out of equalization and not implement a fiscal cap.

"It was a promise that he made in the pamplet," said Wednesday's advertisement. "He stood on two election platforms and said it to our face. He wrote it in letters over and over again. It was a simple, unequivocal promise.

"And he broke it."

Anonymous said...

Here ,Here !!!!

WJM said...

Could anyone imagine how far One Billion dollars would go for the people of Labrador,and the Trans Labrador Highway.Some in this very forum have made point of why the province does not have money to build such roads

Yet the province has had the money to build totally unnecessary exhanges all across Newfoundland.

Why's that?

Did it not work Here.

http://www.fairdealfornewfoundland.com/


Gee... I wonder why the guy who ran that site hasn't started up the campaign?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

"On Tuesday conservative MPs Norman Doyle, Fabian Manning and Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn all voted in favour of their party’s budget and against the wishes of the people of their province."
=========

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070320/budget_provinces_070320?s_name=&no_ads=

Hearn, the federal fisheries minister, said the budget allows Newfoundland to stick with the status quo while giving it time to negotiate a better deal in future. He added that he and the two other Newfoundland MPs are "always looking for something better for our province."

Now that's laughable. I guess 100% non-renewable natural resources being excluded wasn't good enough for Hearn. Instead, he and twiddle dee and tweedle dum are looking for something better. To them, 50% less is better. Duh!!

Anonymous said...

News quote today from Loyola Hearn:

Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn, Newfoundland's voice in federal cabinet, brushed off Williams' complaints as a "sideshow" that won't help the province.

In the house of commons he also said, "Newfoundland ended up better in this than anyone."

Now there's a traitor for you!!!

Anonymous said...

Artfull Dodger said....

Loyola Hearn is very much entitled to his opinion. I wonder how many of Loyola Hearn's constituents will share that opinion when the next federal election rolls around!

Note to Loyola: If Harper promised you anything (ie: some little plum patrionage position) in the event that you do not win back your district in the next election....get it in writting. Whups, that doesn't seem to hold up well now does it!

Regards

Artfull Dodger

Anonymous said...

WRONG!

Quebec ended up with a better deal than anyone... like they always do.

Anonymous said...

Gee, a politician broke a promise. That's shocking.

Williams has never broken a promise? Oh wait...that's right...he's perfect :)

I better not question the Messiah of Newfoundland.

Anonymous said...

WJM said...

Could anyone imagine how far One Billion dollars would go for the people of Labrador,and the Trans Labrador Highway.Some in this very forum have made point of why the province does not have money to build such roads

Yet the province has had the money to build totally unnecessary exhanges all across Newfoundland.

Why's that?

Did it not work Here.

http://www.fairdealfornewfoundland.com/

Gee... I wonder why the guy who ran that site hasn't started up the campaign?

March 28, 2007 11:59 PM

Here's another example of divide and conquer.Guess Harper will be looking to this guy for advise on Labrador,and Newfoundland.And,we wonder why they find it so easy to come to this Province and divide it's people.
Then this individual feels that coming here to voice his rag tag opinion makes him worth while to listen ,too.
WJM, can you say "BAIT ME ",God ,what a "HACK"!!!!!!

"When a Person is Surrounded By Fool's.It is not Long Befor They Too Acquire Bad Habit's" -Albert Einstein.

As Always,Lost-In-Exile

PS : Please Don't be Insulted ,WJM, I don't want The Blog Site Moderator To Have to Keep this Post for your collection!!!!

Anonymous said...

Artfull Dodger said....

It seems this person is a professional contrarian as far as anything "Newfoundland" is concerned.

The problem with such characters is that they can pretty much be counted on to be....well....contrary.

I've basically learned to pass over any of this person's post's simply because the response is predictable and....well....contrary.


Regards,

Artfull Dodger

Anonymous said...

Kinda like your Premier eh?

Hey! maybe it's him!

Anonymous said...

I hate that our Premier has to do this to get Stephen Ceasar to listen up. I wish there were another, more diplomatic approach. I mean, how much did these ads cost the taxpayer? Will it even have any effect?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Kinda like your Premier eh?

Hey! maybe it's him!

March 29, 2007 6:29 PM

Any person that hasn't been corrupted by "Greed And American" values can easily see that the problem does not sit on side with Newfoundland and Labrador.Only when canada's free ride of raping Newfoundland and Labrador comes to light,do they start to"cry"how un-canadain of us,while Quebec get's Billions,and Billion's from the people of this Province .

I still firmly believe that It's retribution from "Canada "for,Our lack of interst in Confederation.

But ,as Daniella said...

"I hate that our Premier has to do this to get Stephen Ceasar to listen up."

I can honestly say that I can see what you want ,but I wouldn't ask you to hold your breath for it.
I have watched over half my family pass away ,wanting ,the benefits of confederation to come to our great province .as each generaion slowly died off ,I relised that everything from Term 29 to the Peomise of a better life ,was nothing more then a wasted lie ,by a corrupt Government ,with only one thing in mind.The complete "Genocide" of our way of life and our culture.There is no room in canada for two distinct culture's.The separatist in Quebec have made that point clear.Its up to us to get out now ,with what we have ,so we can survive after they do leave.There is no way you can stop "Self-determination"

The USSR,and Yugoslavia are but two excample's of this.


As for Mr Harper ,he is a true Tactition.He knows what he has to do to get his party in power in canada,and if that includes "Busting" a few heads in Newfoundland and Labrador ,then so be it.Besides,there are barely enough of us left to "KILL OFF",not like Quebec.

As Always,Lost-In-Exile

Anonymous said...

Anon of March 28, 2007 3:42 PM

THE ONLY WAY FOR NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR TO GET ITS POINTS ACROSS IS TO EITHER TAKE DOWN THE FLAG OR TAKE OUT ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS.

A fair parent will always treat its sibling equitably, but there are some parents who are not fair, and this is where Newfoundland and Labrador's story begins. Newfoundland and Labrador brought a vast number of resources to Canada and passed them over, either to Ottawa or to the siblings, and as a result those siblings built economies on the back of Newfoundland and Labrador's resources. When the parent Ottawa had lurcrative Federal Regional Offices and Military bases to be meted out to be strategically placed around the country of Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador was always the sibling which was overlooked. I hope you get the picture here, Newfoundland and Labrador gave its resources away, it got overlooked with Federal largesse and as a result it became the runt of the litter with very little infrastructure and very little economies.

Now for the sibling, Newfoundaland and Labrador, to protest against the ill-treatment of Mother/Ottawa is impossible. There is no court which Newfoundland and Labrador can have its case heard, only the Parliament of Canada. With Newfoundland and Labrador owning just 7 Members out of a 308 Member Parliament that system is impossible to get its problems across and if it could, it would get nowhere because all the siblings are enjoying what rightfully belongs to Newfoundland and Labrador and they don't want to share anything that Mother Ottawa decides to hand out.

Now tell me what other avenue does Newfoundland and Labrador have to air its dirty laundry, other than to take down the flag or to take out advertisments in the National Newspapers.

If you are going to answer this post, please do so by giving me the avenues that were opened to Newfoundland and Labrador, other than the avenues that it has resorted to.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the above statement. The Newfoundland voice is lost, as is all maritimers for the most part. There is only what, 31 seats to be had for maritime representation. Even if all the maritimes aligned we still would have no voice. as for other options, well here's one: GET MOBILIZED. There are other ways besides politics to create social change, ie. marches, protest, demonstrations, boycott etc.. The maritimes has put to much trust in politicians to sort out these critical issues, then we grind our teeth in the bad taste of the results. And what are these results? broken promises from ottawa, ghost towns, people forced to migrate for work, a feeling of resentment from other Canadians viewing us as second class "welfare" citizens. Then we watch the people we vote to represent us, handle every issue with kid gloves and a warm hand on a PM's backside. Change comes from ground level, it will ultimately come from the people, not the politician.

Do I think Danny Williams made the right tactics by smearing the PM? Why not, its worth a try i guess, nothing else works. Will this work? probablly not.

And for these messages stating that there is "something seriously wrong with you people". well I think you summed it up perfectly by making a distinction between two seperate groups (you and us)..... And yes.. there is something seriously wrong... a man should never be forced from his home, and forced away from his family. period.

Anonymous said...

I meantioned the ad to all my friends and family in my email list who live in Alberta, Ontario, Sask. and BC.

They have no clue what I am talking about. Nice waste of money Mr. Williams.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
I meantioned the ad to all my friends and family in my email list who live in Alberta, Ontario, Sask. and BC.

They have no clue what I am talking about. Nice waste of money Mr. Williams.

I'm in Ontario ,and I cut "MINE" out and saved it.I plan on having it "WRAPPED" in plastic and saved for my Grandchildlren.So,when they ask what happened to there culture,I can take it too them and say "See this was one of our leader's that tried to help us befor we went "Extinct." See how great the country of canada is .
Then little Johnny can see how ruthless this kind of "MULTICULTRISAM ' truely is.

Everybody ,but thier own.What a joke of a country we got involved in.We would have been better off with a Free trade deal with the American's ,only canada bitched and whined about that as well .

I can only say though ,if that the Americans had done this too "CUBA" ,the whole world would be shouting "racist america."But,because canada sucks the arse off the UN and takes the "TRASH" of the world .The Genocide of a small culture like Newfoundland and Labrador can go unheard.

Justice in this shithole country is the biggest whitwash I have ever seen.Then canada keep's "mentioning" the crimes that Germany committed in WW2,when it is just as guilty of doing the same .But,because they hide behind this "Lets Help Our Fellow Man "B%$@S*%#", the world see's them as the savoir of the planet.While in fact they become "Filthy RICH" off of this help.Canada has "NO" right in the slightest to even critise America or George Bush!! I know what I fear and it's not sitting south of the canadain border.It's sitting north of it in a city called Ottawa.

As Always,Lost-In-Excile!!!

Anonymous said...

Better have that ad wrapped in something.......it DID cost $250,000.00!

Personally, mine will go into the bathroom in case I run out of toilet paper.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Better have that ad wrapped in something.......it DID cost $250,000.00!

Personally, mine will go into the bathroom in case I run out of toilet paper.

March 31, 2007 5:28 PM

With everything else of value that Ottawa has given you .Just enough to wipe(KISS thier), your,UH HUM, ......own back side with !!!

Anonymous said...

Ottawa hasn't given me anything---I'm a Newfoundlander remember??
Therefore, how can Ottawa possibly give me anything??

Just like Danny hasn't given me anything either.