Harper and Williams Play He Said, She Said
Much has been said by federal and provincial leaders regarding the latest budget out of Ottawa and its handling of equalization. While the Prime Minister claims to have kept his word to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, Premier Danny Williams believes he and his people, and by extension, the people of Canada were lied to and deceived in some way. Perhaps even that the Prime Minister perpetrated some sort of fraud on the Canadian public.
The result of this has been a back and forth game of "He said, She said."
No matter what sort of spin might be placed on this by various government spokespeople, analysts and the media there can only be one truth in any situation, but what is it? Perhaps the following can clear the issue up.
Why should Newfoundland's possibility of achieving levels of prosperity comparable to the rest of Canada be limited to an artificial eight year period (the atantic accord)?
Remember in particular that these are in any case non-renewable resources that will run out. Why is the government so eager to ensure that Newfoundland and Labrador always remain below the economic level of Ontario?
The Ontario clause (cap) is unfair and insulting to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and its message to that province, to Nova Scotia and to all of Atlantic Canada is absolutely clear. They can only get what they were promised if they agree to remain have not provinces forever. That is absolutely unacceptable.
What is at stake is the future of Atlantic Canada, an unprecedented and historic opportunity for those provinces to get out of the have not status that has bedevilled them for decades.
- Stephen Harper, Nov. 2004
I believe the answer is clear.
16 comments:
What were they thinking about in Ottawa 58 years ago to have mishandled a gift that could only be described as a "Pot of Gold.
Ottawa, when it received the province of Newfoundland and Labrador received a land mass that had untold resources of all kinds, a strategic location that ended up being the bookend of the Canadian country. Why didn't the Mother Government take the time to figure out how they were going to exploit those resources with the beneficiary province, Newfoundland and Labrador, in mind?
I would like for any of you with an opinion to express it here on this blog. I am completely shocked at what happend to Newfoundland and Labrador. Are there any more of you out there who share the same opinion?
I hope Harper and his followers are keeping a close eye on the situation and I hope he calls an election soon.
Quote today from an Ontario paper,
"Stephen Harper, whose recent budget was calculated to preserve Charest's majority, has learned the hard way that Quebeckers punish transparent efforts to buy their votes, whether it's with a Grit sponsorship scandal or the billions of dollars in equalization payments Harper sent Charest's way."
I hope we see the end of you in the next election.
We should get out of this bloody country. This is a case of one PM and one lie but it's been going on for nearly 6 decades no matter who is in power in Ottawa.
The time to talk is over and the time to plan an exist strategy is here.
Artfull Dodger said....
Harper has no problem reneging on promises when it suits his purpose, that has been shown on income trust and it has been shown on the Atlantic accord agreement. Harper is cozying up to any portion of the country that has the numbers to put him in with a majority, and if that day should come, many more promises will fall to the wayside, that is assured. I would not trust Harper as far as I could throw my house!
The conservatives are not the progressive conservatives, that distinction needs to be understood. Many card carrying conservatives are of the far right persuasion. They want to see more privatization and less government. Don't be at all surprised if our system of health care is next to be nibbled away at by a possible majority Conservative government.
Regards,
Artfull Dodger
With Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada received a large land mass with no other impediment on its Eastern side other than a large acerage of Atlantic Ocean frontage that included a Fish Nursery that has been referred to as one of the largest and most prolific in the World, with so many different species of fish! Minerals galore, Nickel, Cobalt, Copper, Iron Ore, Gold, etc., etc.! Hydroelectricity Energy that was one of the largest, if not the largest project at the time, in the world. Oil!
Good Grief how could a Government as astute as the Canadian Ottawa Government make such an error in judgement as it did when it received the land mass, that is now referred to as the province of Newfoundland and Labrador? I do believe, myself, that it was not an error in judgement, it was well orchestrated, they knew darn well how they were going to delve out Newfoundland and Labrador's riches. The Ottawa Government was not, and is not, an inept government, I will not give them the benefit of the doubt. They had every thing figured out long in advance of this province joining Canada, how Ottawa was going to appoint those resources to its other provinces, to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador's detriment.
How could the Mother Government, Ottawa, go so far off base in its moral judgement? Has anyone figured it out?
If the only thing that Canada had received with the snagging of the territory of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1949 had been the location, it would have WON the jackpot. But, like you say, with all the other riches that came with that territory, it WON the Pot of Gold. It was Eureka for Canada! But instead they have treated us so poorly, they figured out, I think, that we would take the bad treatment for ever without aking for our just share. Canada/Ottawa has had a free ride on Newfoundland and Labrador's resources for 58 years, it is now time that we were treated by Ottawa fairly, squarely and equitably. We should be with what we brought to the Canadian table... we have long earned our keep.
It's simple. All you need to do is research on colonial history and you'll see perfect examples of how NL is being treated in Canada. We are not a province we are a colony and nothing more to Ottawa.
I guess the 3.9 billion sent to Quebec to buy the provincial election didn't get Harper the polling numbers he wanted. Now the feds are at it again.
This is from the Globe and Mail today:
The Harper government is set to make a major funding announcement in Montreal today to help the aerospace industry, hoping for a political boost in a province that will be key to a Conservative victory in the next federal election.
...
The new program to be announced today would provide $900-million in industry assistance over five years, according to Radio-Canada. The money would largely favour Quebec because many of the giants of the industry, such Bombardier...
Like so many have said in the past, "NL gets a few pennies of their own oil revenue and its a government hand out but for companies like Bombardier and others in Quebec/Ontario it's just business as usual"
Get this comment from Finance Minister Jim Flaherty:
"Premier Jean Charest has the right to use equalization money from Ottawa to cut taxes in Quebec", says federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
“It’s within the mandate of the Constitution,” he said. “I think perhaps the timing created more controversy that anything else.”
Correct me if I'm wrong everyone but isn't equalization supposed to be used to allow poorer provinces to provide the similar levels of service at similar levels of taxation? How does that equate to tax breaks?
Never mind that they already have the lowest cost university tuition in Canada, some of the best hospitals and subsidized day care that costs just $7 a day.
Add lower taxes to that mix and if the current trend continues, while Atlantic Canada dies out in the cold the Quebec government can start giving away free luxury condos to the homeless.
So much for EQUALization
"Yes" that is what equalization money is for to allow poorer provinces the ability to provide similar levels of service at similar taxation levels.
But here we go again, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest debt in the country, over $23,000 per man, woman and child which is twice that of the next poorest province, Nova Scotia, and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has nowhere near the services that are provided in the province of Quebec, yet billions of dollars got pumped into the province of Quebec by the Federal Government in the Federal Budget table and passed a couple of weeks ago, plus today another $900 million got announced for industry in Quebec by the Feds; and to boot Quebec is the main beneficiary of the Hydroelectric Energy produced in Labrador by the Upper Churchill Project and, if I am not mistaken, most of the processing of the iron ore taken from Labrador gets processed on the Quebec side of the border. Why Quebec is treated so differently than the province of Newfoundlanda and Labrador is beyond my understanding?
Is there anyone out there who can answer that question for me, since we are supposed to be living in a fair and equal country?
if I am not mistaken, most of the processing of the iron ore taken from Labrador gets processed on the Quebec side of the border.
You are mistaken.
Artfull Dodger said...
Well folks, it would be interesting to see what the Conservatives would have done for Newfoundland & Labrador vis a vis the Atlantic Accord if it had the potential in seats that Quebec has.
Regards,
Artfull Dodger
"the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest debt in the country, over $23,000 per man, woman and child "
You are ment to be kept poor and downtrdden,so you can't fight back.
WJM said...
if I am not mistaken, most of the processing of the iron ore taken from Labrador gets processed on the Quebec side of the border.
You are mistaken.
April 02, 2007 6:51 PM
And ,by the sounds of it my friend ,so are you .The loot from Voiseys Bay is divided by the governement in a three way equal split.Prove me wrong or right.
"to boot Quebec is the main beneficiary of the Hydroelectric Energy produced in Labrador by the Upper Churchill Project "
Actually Quebec recieved "1.601 BILLION,US dollars" last year from the Churchill.
"NL gets a few pennies of their own oil revenue and its a government hand out but for companies like Bombardier and others in Quebec/Ontario it's just business as usual"
And why in the name of God is Newfoundland and Labrador doing in confederation with thease crooks.We hold out cursing the Americans while our own fellow canadians rob us and steal what our forfathers fought for .And we still stay.
"The party won 2,562 votes, or 0.96% of the popular vote. Its best showing was in Conception Bay East & Bell Island riding, where it won 876 votes, which was 14.5% of the total."
We had a chance to send a messege to Ottawa and we were cowards.Like the Ol'man say's "no one allowed them to take it but us"
And we only have ourselves to blame .
Federal government takes out radio, newspaper ads challenging Nfld premier
Published: Monday, April 2, 2007 | 7:42 PM ET
Canadian Press: ALEXANDER PANETTA
OTTAWA (CP) -
The federal Conservatives are hitting back at Newfoundland's premier with radio and newspaper ads that accuse him of running a misinformation campaign over the federal budget.
The federal response to Danny Williams - who has virulently criticized the budget and who last week took out an attack newspaper ad against Ottawa - will begin running Tuesday. An internal government memo obtained by The Canadian Press says the ads will carry the message that Newfoundland comes out financially ahead from the recent federal budget.
The memo also includes talking points for Tory MPs when speaking about the federal-provincial imbroglio.
Newfoundland and Nova Scotia are upset because the budget only allows them access to a newer, more generous equalization program if they give up the Atlantic Accord on offshore oil revenues.
"Canada's new government promised to protect the Atlantic Accord and it kept its promise," the suggested talking points say.
"Premier Williams is wrong when he says that there is a cap on the Atlantic Accord. . . Danny Williams is misleading the people of his province in his malicious ad campaign."
Anything Williams can do....Harper can do better.
And ,by the sounds of it my friend ,so are you .The loot from Voiseys Bay is divided by the governement in a three way equal split.Prove me wrong or right.
1) Voisey's Bay isn't an iron ore mine.
2) Divided by which government?
3) Three-way equal split amongs which three parties? You're the one asserting you; you're the one who has to prove it true, not me.
Actually Quebec recieved "1.601 BILLION,US dollars" last year from the Churchill.
What is your source for this statistic?
Artfull Dodger said...
Re: the federal government propaganda ads to counter the Newfoundland & Labrador ad.
The feds have deep enough pockets to wage a propaganda war, no surprise there.
Expect a full court press by these people to spin the story to the rest of Canada, in the CPC's favour. Weasel words are the order of the day, we have seen this from Hearn already.
The CPC see their polling numbers improve while they continue to throw money a provinces such as Quebec, the latest gift being for the aerospace industry which is predominately in ...you guessed it...Quebec!
This government is really no different than the Martin government when it comes to buying votes in Quebec. This is the same CPC government that campained on integrity.
Harper is willing to do whatever it takes to garner votes for a majority government, then we will see the CPC vision for Canada!
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