Flaherty Visits Nova Scotia to Talk Accord Discord.
According to news reports out of Nova Scotia Federal Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, is in that province for meetings over the Atlantic Accord and the impacts his recent budget will have on the economy there.
Reports suggest that the visit may have come about because of the strong reaction in Atlantic Canada over the contents of his recent equalization plan and after unconfirmed reports that East Coast MPs are beginning to revolt inside the party and may well be prepared to turn against their own government.
The Federal Finance Department is being very tight lipped and the Nova Scotia finance department won't even confirm that meetings are taking place. The sudden use of a cone of silence combined with a rare calmness and relaxed demeanor exhibited by outspoken Newfoundland and Labrador Premier, Danny Williams, during national media interviews on Tuesday, have led many to speculate that something may happening behind the scenes. It appears the equalization issue has caused a rift inside the Conservative Party that may be much bigger and more damaging than anyone first imagined.
With the most recent federal polls showing the Conservatives at 30% and the Liberals at 31%, with Premiers Danny Williams and Lorne Calvert attacking the PM in the media and now the Atlantic caucus being assaulted from all sides by their constituents and striking out inside their own party, it’s believed Jim Flaherty’s sudden decision to listen and discuss the issue is an attempt to keep his party from self destructing.
It seems the Atlantic caucus of the Conservative Party of Canada may be revolting against their leadership and if that’s true, it may be very damaging. Their constituents have been up in arms ever since the new equalization formula was released and it was discovered (without the help of the federal government) that Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan stand to lose Billions as a result.
There is no word on how the Conservative MPs in Saskatchewan are reacting behind closed doors but it’s likely they, like their Atlantic counterperts, are being deluged by calls and emails from angry voters.
Since the budget was released Premier Williams has taken a very hard line with Ottawa while Premier McDonald of Nova Scotia has opted for calm discussion of the issue. This type of “good cop/bad cop” routine, similar to the one used by former Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm and Danny Williams during negotiation of the 2005 Atlantic Accord, may again be working to soften Ottawa’s position.
While discussions appear to be taking place, it may all be too little too late.
Much water has passed under the bridge in the few short weeks since the federal budget was released. At this point it’s doubtful that anything short of full implementation of the Harper promise, to exclude all non-renewable resources from the equalization formula, will be enough to appease voters in Atlantic Canada or Saskatchewan. Something that’s not likely to happen.
Mr. Harper and his party took a very big gamble with their last budget and they seem to have lost.
They looked at the numbers, examined their strengths and weaknesses and decided that by pandering to voters in Ontario and Quebec they could afford to lose a few votes in the "other" Provinces and still win a majority government. Now, with support for the Conservatives falling slightly behind the Liberals nationally, by 3% in Quebec and 5% in Ontario, those few seats in Atlantic Canada and out in Saskatchewan have suddenly taken on new importance.
All of a sudden the “other” provinces have become an important part of Canada once again. The question that remains however, is whether or not it's too late for Stephen Harper to mend the fences he’s broken and to find a way to buy back those disenfranchised voters with their own tax dollars. It's likely that ship has sailed.
In an effort to ensure that the pressure remains strong on Atlantic MPs and the Conservative government, a massive public rally has been scheduled in St. John's NL for Friday May 11th at the Confederation Building. Planning for the rally has been underway for sometime and it's expected to be one of the biggest in the province's history.
47 comments:
As screwed up as the parliament of Canada is (with nearly all the seats controlled by Quebec and Ontario) that the smaller province's still have some leverage to force issues like this.
It looks like Harper and his enclave of crooks are finally starting to sweat. Good stuff.
An interesting turn of events. Since the Atlantic Accord was written with both province's included in the same legislation, not separately, any deal with NS will have to include NL. I love it!!
Too little too late!!!
As screwed up as the parliament of Canada is (with nearly all the seats controlled by Quebec and Ontario)
"Nearly all"? What's your definition of "nearly all"?
And is that any worse than "nearly all" the seats in the House of Assembly being "controlled" by Newfoundland, with only four for Labrador?
Why or why not?
WJM, the man (and I use the term loosley) with a thousand questions. Or is that $hit disturber of the blogosphere?
Face it Wally, your nothing more than a shill for the scumlords of Kanukistan.
Like a bad smell, we wish you would just go away.
to last anon: wjm asked a couple of questions. Is there any need to insult and name-call him? He asks plenty of questions that rightfully so should be asked, especially when it comes to Labrador. Why wouldn't he. Unfortunately, not very much gets answered with actual evidence or links to back up peoples' points. As a matter of fact more people who are from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador should be concerned for Labrador's interest as well, seeing that it is a massive part of the province - but mostly because there are people there who have needs, and are frustrated with the way they have been ignored. It should not be just a concern for anyone who is from Labrador. More people should be acknowledging or voicing concerns with Labrador's issues.
This is not the time to be fighting amonst ourselves - haven't you all realized this is futile and used by the feds to prey upon us.
Getting back to Harper, he's a slimball and will attempt to fix us up with some 'Deal' to shut us up. Now is the time not to shutup and really give it where it hurts him most. We have to stop taking handouts and lead ourselves from here on end - Ottawa or no Ottawa. It's all about Quebec, now and forever will it be about that province. Sepration all the way..any exception to this would be treason!
For starters that's a fantastic article. Myles has some pretty darn good writings skills.
I love seeing the PC's squirm, but that's the kind of thing that happens when intelligence is replaced by arrogance. Looks good on them.
Now to the last anon, WJM is a knob, simple as that. He is being paid by the govenment of Canada to read and disrupt this kind of blog. Yes with our tax dollar!!! Ottawally regularly posts, and because of his lack of skill and intelligence, all he can come up with is questioning every post. Same old thing every time. Just take a look at his other posts.
It's pathetic. He regularly attempts to bog down any discussion by asking stupid questions over and over. Oddly enough is you answer a question, he'll just ask more. Look at the question he posed in his post,
***** Nearly all"? What's your definition of "nearly all"? *****
What kind of stupid question is that? Even below standard for him. It's time for Wally to take his low class, half a$$, spy job somewhere else.
Linked on my site Blogging Nova Scotia at the following link:
http://bryan-henry.blogspot.com/2007/05/flaherty-visits-nova-scotia-to-talk.html
Thanks for the update
Decima poll Conservatives and Liberals in a statistical dead heat.
Great Article Patriot:
As with the comment made by "DP".Yes,the time has come for us to relise that fighting amongst ourselves "MUST STOP".
For too long the enemys of Newfoundland and Labrador (Namely Canada)have exploited the weekness of the Province to get what they need for thier constituants in thier riding .ChurchillFalls is a Prime excample.
How can a Governemnet that says it is fair to "ALL" partys involved allow crimes to continue agaisnt the people of labrador and the "Thieving" of "THIER" resources.
Newfoundlander's and Labraorian's must relise that only until they send thier representives ,to Ottawa will they have the little voice that the "Overlords" of Canuckistan have intended them to have .
I said it before patriot ,and I'm saying it again.Only until you embarres thease "Heartless Nazi's"and thier party of self-rightouse hypocrite's will you get any action.
Canada ,like America runs on one thing.Money .And,when you start costing them money by letting the world know how this shit hole country works ,then you 'll get the respect that is owed to you.You can't treat thease people with the kindness and warmth that Newfoundlander's and labradorians are known for .Look at the last 58 years in this country .Thats all the excample you need.
We shall send our support to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador on the 11th day of May.
God Bless .
As Always,
He is being paid by the govenment of Canada to read and disrupt this kind of blog.
No, he isn't.
all he can come up with is questioning every post.
Have you ever heard of the Socratic Method?
Oh, sorry, that was a question, wasn't it?
Oops. Sorry again.
I mean: I guess you have never heard of the Socratic Method.
What kind of stupid question is that?
A legitimate one. "Nearly all" implies almost total. Quebec and Ontario between them have 181 seats, out of 308. That's fewer than 2/3s. That's NOT "nearly all", not in my book.
44/48... that's much closer to "nearly all."
But if representation by population is such a bad thing at the federal level in Canada... (A) what's the solution to this supposed problem? and (B) isn't it also a problem that Newfoundland has "nearly all" of the House of Assembly seats? Why or why not?
Perhaps instead of denouncing questions — I know questioning has been outlawed by Chairman Dan — you might want to at least PONDER a few, once in a while, even if you can't bring yourself to answering any.
How can a Governemnet that says it is fair to "ALL" partys involved allow crimes to continue agaisnt the people of labrador and the "Thieving" of "THIER" resources.
Which resources are being "thieved", and by whom?
Finally someone from outside the province actually gets it.
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/klaus050307.htm
Which resources are being "thieved", and by whom?
Hydro-electric power.And they are being stolen by a governement that doesn't see eqaulity at the federal level.
WJM ,its called being exploited by a majority .What do you call it .
Anon- 05. 03. 07. 2:40 p.m.----- Hydro- electric power wasn't stolen (from Labrador ) It was given away. Maybe you are too young to remember ,Anon . Do some reasearch on this despicable "deal" fom the Smallwood era.
Sorry Anon May 3 - 3:31pm but the power was stolen.
You have to remember the times.
Quebec was just entering into the separation movement and the FLQ were on the rise. Terrorism was not unheard of in Quebec.
The federal government refused to upset Quebec by forcing them to permit a power corridor across their province.
A member of the board for Quebec Hydro also sat on the board for the developers of the Upper Churchill (A clear conflict of interest) and he knew the company was weeks away from bankruptcy. At the last minute (armed with this knowledge) Q-Hydro delivered an offer and told the province to take it or leave it.
With all the money spent and no way out the only option was to accept the contract.
That sounds like theft to me.
Sounds like theft to me too, and a good reason to break this contract.
As for WJM, it would be nice if for once you could add to the discussion, it get's very tiring reading these blogs and having to arrow through your crappy questions. Do you not have the intelligence to conduct a conversation? You can tag it anyway you want but questioning everything that is posted is childish beyond mention. If you don't like what people are discussing here, then move on my son. We could really do without a useless tool like yourself.
We know part of your job is to harass the blogs and yes you are being paid with tax dollars. Why else would you even bother to hang around here. Stick to the circle jerks, where you belong.
It's hard to believe, again several people have just slagged wjm. Who in Labrador would you answer questions from? Instead of insulting him for answering questions that readers cannot seem to answer, then just say you don't know.
I don't know or have never spoke to him, but I see his own research is detailed, backed up and that's the sort of responses one would expect to see from time to time. At least point to, or say a specific source.
You'll have a hard time getting many people on side with your cause if this is the attitude you have. It truly turns people of.
Hydro-electric power.And they are being stolen by a governement that doesn't see eqaulity at the federal level.
Who "stole" that power?
It was under-sold at a time when a Premier was insanely popular, the press was pliant, and the opposition was reduced to three seats and was unable to provide oversight even if they were willing.
Sound familiar?
As for WJM, it would be nice if for once you could add to the discussion, it get's very tiring reading these blogs and having to arrow through your crappy questions. Do you not have the intelligence to conduct a conversation?
You asked a question! You asked a question!
Dinner parties at your house must be fun:
Starrigan: I remember one time in Toronto, there was this guy playing cello in the subway station, and this other guy grabbed his change and flung it at the tires of the subway train.
Guest: That must have been Montreal, right, if the subway had rubber tires?
Starrigan: NO QUESTIONS! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!
You can tag it anyway you want but questioning everything that is posted is childish beyond mention.
Accepting everything without question is far, far worse.
One of the great things about children is that they haven't yet "learned" that you shouldn't ask questions.
If you don't like what people are discussing here, then move on my son.
Who says I don't like what people are discussing?
We know part of your job is to harass the blogs and yes you are being paid with tax dollars.
That's one of my hobbies, not my job!
Does anyone have a hard copy of Premier Danny Williams' speech to the Empire Club, if you know where it is posted, if it is, I would like to be advised of a site where I can read it. I checked the Province's site but it isn't there.
The FLQ threatened to bomb any power lines that ran through QU from the Upper Churchill.
Hydro Quebec was in a conflict of interest by owning shares in BRINCO and were told as much. By sitting in on the Brinco board meetings Hydro Quebec knew that Brinco was close to bankruptcy and changed all of the previous negotiations including removing an escalator clause and adding the extension of 25 years.
Read it for yourself MUN put out a document on the negotiations. It might not be available anymore I think Ottawa made them pull it, but I have a copy and there is a copy on my blog. Or email me and I will send you a copy.
Origins of an impending crisis
http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~feehan/CF.pdf
http://nl-outsidethebox.blogspot.com/2006/01/origins-of-coming-crisis-churchill.html
http://www.theindependent.ca/article.asp?AID=1055&ATID=2
http://www.theindependent.ca/article.asp?AID=974&ATID=2
http://www.theindependent.ca/article.asp?AID=966&ATID=2
The worse thing is it is happening all over again with the Lower Churchill. When will we learn?
Starrigan--- Could your problem be that YOU do not have the intelligence level to enable you to answer WJMs questions??!! Oops, I asked a question!! No can do, eh Starrigan!!!! You CERTAINLY won't be answering that one!!!
WJM said...
Hydro-electric power.And they are being stolen by a governement that doesn't see eqaulity at the federal level.
Who "stole" that power?
WJM ,Im sorry ,you use the word in the wrong sence .You mean who "is Still Stealing"
And , if I can ask a question now WJM, why would a Governement that says it is fair to all concerned still allow Quebec to take advantage of a minority ???
OH and by the way ,WJM, I don't recognise that vote in 1949.Newfoundland and Labrador is an "Occupied Nation"
Can you do a favour when you go to work Friday and kindly tell the Nazi to leave my country .
Thank-You for Reading My Post
PS,WJM,if you could please show some manners and answer my question befor you ask another.That why you might not be looked upon as an instigator of bad conversation.
WJM ,its called being exploited by a majority .What do you call it .
If you could asnswer the question ,PLEASE!!!!
Well looks like WJM is getting a little irritated. Bravo for the gutless anons that are backing him up. Ottawally has already admitted that he uses the Socratic method which is a little more advance that debate club 101 which is to just question everything to bog down debate. No, our the Socratic method is basically asking questions on an issue until the person being questioned contradicts themselves. Which is just as pathetic as Debate club 101. So at least Wally has admitted that he is not here to discuss issues but actually to cause discourse. Thanks for the admission a$$hole. Let's also make it perfectly clear of the role that Ottawally has, he is indeed paid with our tax dollars and does work for the feds. So, again, if you don't like this blog, or think the people who contribute to it are lesser than yourself, then get lost, beat it, take a walk. Explain to us why you continue to hang out here? We are puzzled.
Did I already call you an a$$hole, oh ya, I did. Just wanted to make sure.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO REMIND your friends and relatives living outside of Newfoundland and Labrador of the Public Rally Slated for May 11th, 2007.
The public rally is to show discontent with the Harper government over what organizers call broken promises. Peter Whittle said it's about changes in the Atlantic Accord and the broken promise on equalization. The rally is slated for Confederation Hill, Friday, May 11th. Whittle says the rally is non-partisan.
Does anyone have a hard copy of Premier Danny Williams' speech to the Empire Club, if you know where it is posted, if it is, I would like to be advised of a site where I can read it. I checked the Province's site but it isn't there.
It's interesting how the supposedly open and accountable government of Danny Williams almost NEVER posts the Premier's or Ministers' speaking notes...
The FLQ threatened to bomb any power lines that ran through QU from the Upper Churchill.
So what?
Hydro Quebec was in a conflict of interest by owning shares in BRINCO and were told as much.
You mean.... the same conflict of interest that Danny wants through "equity"?
Read it for yourself MUN put out a document on the negotiations. It might not be available anymore I think Ottawa made them pull it
Who in Ottawa?
What makes you "think" that?
At the last minute (armed with this knowledge) Q-Hydro delivered an offer and told the province to take it or leave it.
What happened to "leave it"?
With all the money spent and no way out the only option was to accept the contract.
The province was stupid to allow construction to proceed.
That sounds like theft to me.
Not to me, not when Hydro-Quebec fronted the money that built the project.
That's called buying, not stealing.
And , if I can ask a question now WJM, why would a Governement that says it is fair to all concerned still allow Quebec to take advantage of a minority ???
Which minority is Quebec taking advantag of?
OH and by the way ,WJM, I don't recognise that vote in 1949.
Why not?
Newfoundland and Labrador is an "Occupied Nation"
Occupied by whom? Are there tanks in the streets where you live?
Can you do a favour when you go to work Friday and kindly tell the Nazi to leave my country .
What Nazi?
Thank-You for Reading My Post
You're welcome. (But why the hyphen and caps in "Thank-You"?)
PS,WJM,if you could please show some manners and answer my question befor you ask another.That why you might not be looked upon as an instigator of bad conversation.
What's a "bad conversation"? Which question?
WJM ,its called being exploited by a majority .What do you call it .
What's called being exploited by a majority?
If you could asnswer the question ,PLEASE!!!!
Questions usually end in question marks.
Well looks like WJM is getting a little irritated.
No from where I sit, it doesn't.
So, again, if you don't like this blog, or think the people who contribute to it are lesser than yourself, then get lost, beat it, take a walk. Explain to us why you continue to hang out here? We are puzzled.
The premise of your question ("you don't like this blog, or think the people who contribute to it are lesser than yourself") is faulty, so I won't dignify it with an answer.
Did I already call you an a$$hole, oh ya, I did. Just wanted to make sure.
If nothing else, you're thorough!
I listened to Don Newman's CBC Politics show tonight. Premier Danny Williams was one of the guests. I can't believe when Premier Williams mentioned the monies Quebec received and the rest of the provinces didn't receive, Don replied to Mr. Williams by asking the question: Are you not bringing up National Unity here? This is shocking to me, since we share a boundary in this province with Quebec and as a result of that boundary we are suppressed in our economic growth by Quebec with regards to what can be done with the Hydro Projects and Minerals there in Labrador. Will this ever change for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and for Labrador in particular? Will we ever be able to move forward when we can't even brooch the subject on National TV? Why do we forever have to whisper when such subjects come up? There is definitely something drastically the matter with this situation. It has to be talked about, we cannot pussy foot around with this matter any longer. It must be put on the table for discussion. I bet you not 2 per cent of the Canadian population is aware that a situation exists such as this one with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. The situation is destroying the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and it is the primary reason we have not been able to build economies here. Can you imagine if Labrador was profiting from the Upper Churchill Hydroelectricity Project in the same way that Quebec is benefitting? It must be fixed. It is strangling this province.
You can listen to this interview by going to the following site: www.cbc.ca/politics and click on Thursday's show. Danny's interview starts at 46:15
IT IS A MUST HEAR:
www.cbc.ca/politics and click on Thursday's show. Danny's interview starts at 46:15
Artfull Dodger said....
Quote from a previous post
"I listened to Don Newman's CBC Politics show tonight. Premier Danny Williams was one of the guests. I can't believe when Premier Williams mentioned the monies Quebec received and the rest of the provinces didn't receive, Don replied to Mr. Williams by asking the question: Are you not bringing up National Unity here?"
Newman is just another member of the smug a$$hole clubhwx.
This is a part of the problem with this confederation. One province has the federal government in it's back pocket by virtue of the fact that it considers itself above all the rest (distinct), and will use this and the fact that it has a large number of seats to dangle before the liberal/conservative parties in order to get it's own way. Harper is merely the latest installment of the "what can I do to cowtow to Quebec" club. I would not be the least bit shocked if Harper would find some way to recognize Quebec's claim to the border between it and Labrador if it would reward 'Steve' with enough seats for a majority.
I hate to say it, but as long as this type of thinking is prevelent in Canada, we in this province will need to have a large supply of vaseline on hand in order to make it bearable when taking it up the rump!
WJM said
"Not to me, not when Hydro-Quebec fronted the money that built the project.
That's called buying, not stealing."
are you saying that Hydro-Quebec paid 100% of project costs? If not what percentage? What are your sources of this information.
Premier Williams in his speech to the Economics Club of Toronto said that he wrote an article to the Globe and Mail to rebut some of the tripe that was written in that paper after the fiasco with the wrong figures presented by Ottawa on the equalization debacle. Guess What! The Globe and Mail would have nothing to do with printing the article presented by Premier Williams. If that is not control over the printed National Media by the Globe and Mail, maybe you can give me an explanation on what you might call it.
It seems that the National Newspapers have so much control over the printed medium that the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is unable to get its story out there. It is not that nobody from this province isn't writing anything to rebut what is being said, the fact is articles have been written and presented but they have been refused by the National Press. I would have thought an article authored by the Premier of this province would have been printed. So, therefore, the truth cannot reach the Nation's readers, if the National papers refuse to print our stories. Now that is a sad state of affairs for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, isn't it?
Premier Williams should take that to the highest body of the land that would oversee such corruption. I truly thought that we had freedom of the press.
Having an independant stand on the matter ,I would compare Newfoundland and Labrador to say India of the early colonial times.I can't believe that Governement ,especially Ottawa ,has taken the stance that it has with this Province.I can honestly say with-out prejudice ,that we as Canadains should be lucky that we do not have a separtist governement in Newfoundland.I believe whole heartly that if Canada has a Province that does need one it would be Newfoundland and Labrador .
When a friend pointed your Blog out to me Mr Higgons ,and what was going on here I was very skeptical about the inforamtion that was being presented to me .
Not only am I shocked ,but I am very surprised by the conduct of some people .
I truely wish you the best of luck getting your messege out and with all your endovours.
Mr Clement Ducieppe ,GIAC,CISSP,Sec+
are you saying that Hydro-Quebec paid 100% of project costs? If not what percentage? What are your sources of this information.
Exact percentage, dunno, since I'd need to know what the rest put in. The $100-million in HQ mortgage bonds salvaged the project when it looked close to collapse. Read Smith, Kierans, Fullerton, among others.
If that is not control over the printed National Media by the Globe and Mail, maybe you can give me an explanation on what you might call it.
Why shouldn't the Globe and Mail have control over the, well, the Globe and Mail?
What is scandalous or shocking about that?
It seems that the National Newspapers have so much control over the printed medium
Newspapers are, by definition, a "printed medium". Very good! You are learning.
What's stopping Danny from submitting that article to other newspapers? Or publishing it on his website?
Premier Williams should take that to the highest body of the land that would oversee such corruption.
What "corruption"? And what body is that?
I truly thought that we had freedom of the press.
If people believe that a newspaper should be REQUIRED to print a letter from a politician, and that that constitutes "Freedom of the press", then Dannystan is in worse shape than even I thought.
Why wouldn't the Globe and Mail print Premier Williams' rebuttal to the liying erroneous figures that were calculated and allowed to be printed, then circulated and kept in the public domain for a week concerning the $11 billion mistake that occurred in the equilization package for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Canadians were under the impression that the province was going to get an extra $11 billion over 13 years.
As far as Canadians are concerned that is what we are getting, they have not yet been apprised of the new figure. I think that is very corrupt for the Globe and Mail not to have allowed the Premier's article to have been printed in which he was giving his assessment of the situation. Why was the Premier denied the right to have his article published?
Obviously if what is said to have occured did happen, well then as far as I am concerned Freedom of the Press doesn't exist for the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.
To be honest I thought a Newspaper with the ranking of the Globe and Mail would have allowed a Premier of a Province to write a rebuttal to something as serious has the the article that got printed in the Globe and Mail that contained mistakes. Goodness Gracious why wouldn't the Globe and Mail have allowed something as serious as an article riddled with erroneous accounting and printed in the Globe and Mail to be taken to task by our Premier? Did the Globe and Mail commit a mistake there by not allowing Premier Williams' article to be printed? I would have thought that the Globe and Mail believed in fairness and honesty.
AGAIN I am completely befuddled that the Globe and Mail Newspaper turned down Premier Williams article for printing. Until the Globe and Mail tells us why and unless that why contains good reason, I will not change my mind on that Newspaper.
To the last anon poster, that type of treatment of NL's is common on the mainland, especially Ontario. I'm not sure if you have spent anytime there but if you had you wouldn't be surprised with their attitude. Treating NL's with disdain is commonplace. It doesn't surprise me in the least.
AGAIN I am completely befuddled that the Globe and Mail Newspaper turned down Premier Williams article for printing. Until the Globe and Mail tells us why and unless that why contains good reason, I will not change my mind on that Newspaper.
Have you asked the Globe and Mail? You should do so.
And while you're at it, you should also ask Danny why he hasn't released The Letter The Globe And Mail Doesn't Want You To Read.
To the last anon poster, that type of treatment of NL's is common on the mainland,
Why do you distinguish between "NL" and "mainland"?
Most of NL, and virtually all of L, IS the mainland.
In the timeless words of Marc Lalond after Alberta became a have province from not having their Non-Renewable resource revenues clawed back through the Social and Health transfers called equalization.
"No Have-Not province will ever be allowed to become a Have province again"
Paraphrased
Scott Reid Paul Martin's communications director basically said the same thing.
Excerpt from
http://www.aims.ca/equalization.asp?typeID=4&id=469
"Two other pieces of Alberta's experience are relevant. First, when equalization was introduced in the late 1950s, Alberta was not wealthy and received equalization. But the formula then did not allow the clawing back of natural resource revenues by the federal government. That, plus the province's rich resource endowment, gave it the leg up it needed to become self-supporting and, eventually, a huge net contributor to the cost of running Canada."
Harper Said:
"Nova Scotia should be able to realize the benefits of the offshore to jump-start its economy just like my province, Alberta, was able to do with petroleum revenues," Harper said then. "If Alberta had been subject to these kinds of clawbacks, I tell you it would still be a have-not province today."
Harpers Promise which he made to three premiers in writing on 6 different occasions in two different elections.
http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2006/exec/01harper.pdf
Equalization the way it is set up now with claw backs of Non-Renewable resources revenues against Health and Social transfers is nothing more than a federally imposed Provincial welfare wall designed to keep the colonies dependant upon the empire and hence less likely to secede.
The proposed CAP is nothing more than an Empirical strategy to keep the colonies at a lesser fiscal capacity than the Empire Ontario.
I can see a time frame like with the Atlantic accord of 8-16 years to get your fiscal house in order and develop your economy and infrastructure or preconditions that a certain amount must go towards debt, economic development or infrastructure but a CAP in perpetuity is just colonialistic.
The fact of the matter is canada as a democracy is systemicaly flawed and the colonies of Ontario will never be allowed to get ahead until there is some form of equality implemented into our political system. They will just keep redesigning the system to suit themselves.
Why can't the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador have a letter published in the National Newspapers as a rebuttal to something written about us that we would like to rebut. Isn't the province of Newfoundland and Labrador a part of that National Network? So wouldn't we be considered local as it relates to the National papers? After all we are not a province of Africa, we are a province of Canada in which the National papers of which I am referring to are established. So why wouldn't these National Newspapers allow the Premier to utilize a space in their papers for rebuttal of an article(s) they printed? I want an answer.
And please refrain from posting a nasty answer. It is no need to print nastiness. A simple answer will do.
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