Self-Reliance by Becoming Masters of Our Own House
This week, at the opening of the Legislature of Newfoundland and Labrador, the throne speech was geared to set the tone for the upcoming session and its likely to be an eventful one. The speech entitled, “Achieving Self-Reliance by Becoming Masters of Our Own House: Throne Speech 2007”, was heavy on terms like “autonomy”, “economic independence”, “unique culture” and “control over our own destiny”.
In the speech the government laid out the province’s vision and determination to "achieve self-reliance by becoming masters of our own house." It spoke of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians moving forward to strengthen the province’s financial autonomy and noted that "We will achieve this vision for our province by reducing Newfoundland and Labrador’s burden of debt on our children, diversifying our economic base, pursuing a fair fiscal balance between levels of government and reducing our dependence on equalization payments."
In his comments on the speech Premier Williams said that, “the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador has never been more ideally positioned to take control over its own destiny and lay out a path for renewal and economic prosperity.”
"Our people have learned that the best way to achieve self-reliance economically is to take charge of our future as a people," added the Premier. "We have learned that we cannot rely upon those elected to offices outside of this province to deliver what is in our best interest.
He went on to say he plans to, “…harness the desire among Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to cultivate greater financial autonomy vis-à-vis the federal government."
Premier Williams said that his government will affirm Newfoundland and Labrador’s status as a distinct people, not uniform in lineage but multi-cultural, one nation inclusive of many nations living in harmony together. "As equal partners, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal together, we will write a new future for Newfoundland and Labrador, a future of our own design, where mutual understanding, justice, equality and cooperation are the order of the day."
Williams also said this is the time to stand firm and confident in defence of the best interests of Newfoundland and Labrador. "After nearly four years of responsible fiscal management and rewarding investments in economic growth opportunities, never before have we been in such a position of strength to take a strong stand on the national stage. We will be unrelenting in holding Ottawa to its obligations and promises to Newfoundland and Labrador, but at the same time we will use the opportunities and tools at our disposal to grow our own economy and set our own course for a future of self-reliance."
Typically the throne speech and the Premier’s comments are intended for a provincial audience but this one will no doubt be of interest to a much wider audience. While Premier Williams said the intent was not to promote separation from Canada, the message was clearly intended for Ottawa and no doubt came through loud and clear.
14 comments:
I agree with Premier Williams that we have to be the Master of our own House.
We have seen in the past once our resources have gone to Ottawa or the other provinces for their use, we have no power in getting anything back.
They are in their domain, and with 7 seats out of 308 seats in the House of Commons, we have absolutely no say into what we get out of them.
So Premier Williams if you want to be the Master of our House, if we decide to develop the Lower Churchill Energy Project, what you have to do is not send one kilowatt of that power through a Energy Grid to Mainland Canada, but instead keep it in Labrador and have industry come to Labrador to utilize the power there. This province is long over due to have created industry from its resources.
And if you believe all that I have some swamp land for sale.............
Great!! I can' wait for Newfieland to seperate!
All that hand-out money will be used for helping REAL Canadians who will appreciate it.
Great Article Patriot.
As you can see ,from the Posts that are already here ,Prime Minister Williams has hit a nerve
in Ottawa with this throne speech.
As with the anon of April 25, 2007 1:53 PM,I too cannot wait for Newfoundland and Labrador to leave
Canada.But,I'm a bit confused.How are you going to hand out money when you are not going to have any .
If Newfoundland and Labrador are not apart of this shithole country ,who or what is going to be the next victom
of your lies and deciet.
Simply put ,"WHo are you going to RIP-OFF next"and steal from.Must be an easy question for you big Brain
lobbyist's from Ottawa.
Why don't you try and answer that Mr S.Or,are you still busy hiding your tracks ,you "Canadain Bacon Rapped Turd"
Anyway Patriot ,keep them coming .
As Always ,
April 25, 2007 1:53 PM - Yes to what you said and I hope all those resources that are worth billions to Canada, directly and indirectly are reverted back to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. What a deal that will be for this province!
I hope all those resources that are worth billions to Canada, directly and indirectly are reverted back to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Which resources are those?
Definately not you Wallace J McLean! Ottawa can keep you and good ridance.
Wallace J McLean
Wallace McLean, who has worked in Labrador constituency office in Happy Valley-Goose Bay for seven years,
New Brunswick can keep you, too!
Hey look everyone!!!! Ottawally posted a question!!!
"""I hope all those resources that are worth billions to Canada, directly and indirectly are reverted back to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. WJM - Which resources are those?"""
Wow, did you see how very clever that was??? He's a sneaky sneaky guy. How may times have you seen mr. jerkoff ask that question in the last year. Seriously knobby, you have to lay off. Try to rub those last few brain cells, that you have together, and actually try to get in to an honest debate about something. Every time you post it's the same blah blah blah questions. You simply take whatever someone states and turn it into a question. It has gotten very tiring and very lame. Is that the limit of your skill? Just questioning the same stuff over and over again is beyond boring.
Here's a suggestion rather than questioning sentences and parts of sentences, why don't you actually formulate a thought on your own. Yes, there I said it, try thinking for yourself. Read what someone has posted, stop, give it some consideration. Maybe formulate an idea or a response and post it. Simple, even a low life weasel like you could do it. I know you can. But doing the questioning every line thing has gotten so lame that it has surpassed the dumbest thing in existence. In fact when I see your posts it just makes me shake my head, I'm embarrassed for you. So please stop being such a no mind jerk off. You'll feel better, yes you will. Come on little fella you can do it .... come on......
Jonathan Kay: Maîtres chez Newf
(From the Globe and Mail)
If only Newfoundland and Labrador could export its premier’s melodramatic rhetoric, the province would be Canada’s richest, instead of its poorest.
Sadly, however, most Canadians are more bemused than impressed by the stunts of hyperpopulist premier Danny Williams, best known for his endless tantrums at Ottawa, and his juvenile decision to lower the Canadian flag during a 2004 spat with Paul Martin’s Liberals about — what else? — the size of the handouts Newfoundland was getting from the rest of Canada.
Williams’ latest headline-grabber was his Tuesday throne speech, read by Lt.-Gov. Ed Roberts. Borrowing a famous line from 1960s-era Quebec premier Jean Lesage (“Maîtres chez nous”), Mr. Williams declared that Newfoundlanders wanted to be “masters of our own house.”
“Our people are proud nationalists who believe it is only by affirming our identity as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that we will realize our goal of economic equality within the federation,” the speech declared. “Our people are ready to take charge of our future and, under [Mr. Williams’s] leadership, our province will achieve self-reliance by becoming masters of our own house.”
That’s all very nice. But if Mr. Williams is so keen on becoming master of his house, why does he spend most of his time playing the surly teenager, endlessly haranguing his parents over the size of his allowance? A “proud nationalist” would be embarrassed by the fact that his province survives only because it receive transfers from Ottawa of $1.67-billion — or $3,296 per person. He wouldn’t be throwing hissy fits, demanding more.
Mr. Williams — and the voters who support him — have got to decide what their political schtick is. Either they’re rugged individualists, proud of their identity and self-reliance. Or they’re professional welfare cases, endlessly harassing the rest of us for more handouts. You can’t have it both ways.
Great article form the Globe and Mail!! Couldn't have said it better myself.
You're right. Great article. In fact it's so good (even though it was in the National Post) that I decided to highlight it on the front page.
It's always good to see upper Canadian idiots like that writer and you anons make fools of themselves.
Patriot ,
I would just like to say that thease people show there true "RACIST" ways when they come here to post .I wouldn't say that it is uncommon for me to see it ,so I'm not really shocked.
Living amongst thease people is a differant thing all together so,I can't say that by reading this article that Im shocked or even suprised.Canada as far as I'm concerned is the most RACIST country that I have had the displeasure of living in.As far as my opinion is concerned anyway.For a country that is so multi-cultarel it has to be far worse then the United States.Why just yesterday they had to send a collegue home because of a racist remark made by a peer.
What really surprised me though was the remark that was made by her and her family when I aproached her.But, after explaining my histroy with her and our place in canada ,she started to see me in a differant light and we had a great talk about "Empire Building" and how countrys like canada ,the united states ,and great Britian do nothing but finacilly exploit people and cultures.
But as they say something good always comes from something bad and at least she understood why I was such a strong nationalist for my home .
She relises now that someone can always talk the talk ,but when it comes to living -up to what you say ,then it's a differant story altogether.liike myself ,she too see's canada in a differant light ,and relises the mistakes that she has made coming here.
Educate the world and they will understand.Tell the truth and the truth shall be shown.Someday canada will be held accountable for the crimes that it has committed agaisnt the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.That day will come.
"Or they’re professional welfare cases, endlessly harassing the rest of us for more handouts. You can’t have it both ways."
Stop the minerals from going out ,turn off the electricity and stop using our air-space.Who's the welfare bum.YUP,another canadain hypocrite ,educated in Ontario.PLEASSSSSSSSSSE ???
"Keep them coming Patriot"the rest of us need the truth told.God Bless.
I hear the governments going to give out free high school textbooks now. Too bad nobody in NL can read them.
But, it is about time they joined the modern world. That was a great idea.......let's make the poorest people in Canada pay for their school books and all their medications.
Great provincial govt you got there.
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