A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Today, as the Canadian military begins to arrive in Newfoundland to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Igor, 4 days after the storm has passed. I'd like to express the thanks of Newfoundlanders across the island for the assistance of these fine men and women (no doubt a large percentage of whom are from this beautiful place). Our thanks for their efforts goes without saying, but once again we see the effects of Ottawa's political decisions impacting our province. Not to maintain a military presence here in the province is inexcusable.

As military assets are being sent in from other parts of Canada it's once again clear that it only makes sense for Canada, if it does indeed consider NL to be a part of the Country at all, to station a sizable contingent of personnel and equipment from all branches of the service here in this isolated outpost on the North Atlantic.

This is a place that not only makes up Canada's Eastern most Ocean border approaches but, due to its location, is prone to major weather events. Thankfully most of those events are not as terrible as the most recent one. Ottawa's continued refusal to ensure a military presence here, on the border of the nation itself, says a lot about its attitude toward Newfoundland and Labrador as well as its motives for where military bases ARE maintained.

Something else that says a lot are the images of Igor's aftermath. They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Newfoundland and Labrador - Canada's Forgotten Province

In what can only be described as a stroke of magnificent luck, earlier this week I found myself to be in possession of a very rare and cherished commodity, some free time.

This wonderful thing doesn’t come my way very often and after basking in its glow for a reasonable, yet limited, amount of time I found myself pacing the carpet and wondering what I to do with myself.

It was at that precise moment that my darting eyes fell upon a crumpled copy of a report written by the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy that had been resting on the bookshelf for quite some time.

In a moment of weakness and desperation I decided to dust it off and give it a good read.

I don’t know whether that was a good idea or not.

I recall initially reading the report quite some time ago, and may have even commented on its contents at the time, but on re-reading it my long standing concerns about Newfoundland and Labrador’s position in Canada came flooding back like a tidal wave.

What had moments ago been a sea tranquility in my modest living room suddenly turned into an angry ocean roar between my ears. My blood pressure threatened to explode a very large vein in the middle of my forehead as my hand once again turned page after page.

Not to worry dear reader, it may not be a comfortable medical situation but it’s one that I’ve been all too used to experiencing over my years of doing what I do.

Never the less, here is the essence of what I read and what once again raised my Newfoundland temper.

The study, which was undertaken by the Harris Centre, covers the time period from 1981 to 2005 and as the final report clearly points out, when it comes to successive governments in Ottawa, regardless of their political stripe, their direction is always one of moving away from maintaining any presence in Newfoundland and Labrador and leaving Canada’s tenth province to sink or swim on its own.

The report clearly shows what so many in the province have said for a long time.

Where it differs from most of the coffee shop or kitchen table chatter is in clearly referencing the official numbers and statistics that prove the point.

An example of Ottawa’s abandonment of Newfoundland and Labrador can be found in the number of military personnel stationed in the province.

The report shows that even while supplying Canada with about 8% of its military personnel and roughly an equivilent percentage of its Afghan casualties, when it comes to maintaining a presence in Newfoundland and Labrador the numbers are far different.

The report states, “In 2005 there were approximately 86,000 military personnel in the Canadian forces (regular and reserve)…Surely strategic considerations should dominate...locational decisions. However consider…it (Newfoundland and Labrador) is the most easterly part of Canada; it has 17,500 kilometres of coastline; and it is adjacent to the North Atlantic Ocean and the huge area of associated waters that fall within the 200-mile limit. Moreover, its land mass is approximately three times larger than the three Maritime provinces combined. It has an apparent abundance of land that could be used for military training and exercises and ice-free ports on the south coast; in fact, Argentia was used as a major American naval base during World War II and several decades thereafter…”

“…since 1981 the number of (military) personnel has never exceeded 2,500…As of 2005, there were only approximately 1,400... Of those 1,400, the majority, approximately 900, were reservists. Thus, in 2005 only 500 regular military were stationed in the province. That is only 0.8% of Canada’s 62,000 regular forces.

The picture doesn’t get any better when you look at the federal presence on the civilian side of the equation either.

According to the Harris Centre report, “…there were fewer people employed by the federal government in 2005 than in 1981. The difference between the two is almost 25%. Over the same time, there was also a decline in federal government employment throughout Canada but that decline was 5%, a much smaller percentage reduction…”

The report says that between the years 1993 and 1999 federal employment in Newfoundland and Labrador fell by 30%. Recall that this reduction was undertaken at the same time that the disastrous effects of the federal cod moratorium were also in full swing and the provincial unemployment rate was at 20%.

“Since 1999 there has been no significant recovery in federal employment…However across the Country federal government employment has been increasing…Between 2000 and 2005, total federal government employment in the Country increased by 10%...” the report contends.

One of the key indicators of the federal government’s lack of interest in all things Newfoundland and Labrador can also be seen in the limited presence of senior level employees in the province, in other words employees with the power to make decisions and directly influence government policy on the national level.

The report found that the number of executive positions in the province was almost the same as the number found in Prince Edward Island even though Newfoundland and Labrador has four times the population. On the other side of that equation, Nova Scotia, with just twice the population of Newfoundland and Labrador has four times the number of senior federal staff.

The report contends that these numbers are the result of a federal mindset that sees the entire Atlantic region as a single entity and does not take into account the differing needs of each of the 4 provinces.

Overall, the number of senior positions in Newfoundland and Labrador make up only 1% of the overall number and that figure has been decreasing since ever since 1997.

As sad as these figures are, I’m sure they come as no surprise to anyone living in Newfoundland and Labrador.

One the most unfortunate things about the contents of the Harris report is the fact that since it was written very little has changed for the better. In fact most people will tell you that the number of federal employees in the province has only gotten worse in the intervening years.

Another very unfortunate occurrence, this one on a much more personal level, is that my eye even fell upon this particular document during such a rare period of tranquility in an otherwise hectic week.

Oh well, as they say, neither the good times nor the bad last forever, but the bad ones sure as hell feel like they do.

Defending the Defender

Though Defence Minister Peter McKay is denying the rumors, federal Conservative insiders have leaked information to the media that Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier, will be replaced as Canada’s top military commander when his current three-year term expires in February.

Normally the top post has a set term but until recently many had expected an extension to be offered to Hillier. The prevailing logic being that with a combat mission underway in Afghanistan and with Hillier being so popular among the troops, for his actions to date, removing him from the position would be a step backward and perhaps jeopardize the mission.

Replacing the top military leader in any Country during a time of war is not something most national leaders enter into lightly. The decision is made only as a last resort when it becomes clear that the commander is incapable or inept at performing his duties.

So what is the word coming out of Ottawa and from some senior military analysts regarding Stephen Harper’s reasons for wanting to relieve Hillier of his duties?

1) Hillier made former Minister of Defense, Gordon O’Connor, “look bad” when O’Connor’s department failed to ensure that the families of deceased soldiers were fully reimbursed for the cost of their loved one’s funerals.

2) Hillier is popular with those he leads.

3) Hillier is popular with the Canadian public.

4) Hillier has shaken up the military establishment by promoting achievers and solid performers rather than routinely promoting individuals based on years of service or for political reasons.

5) While his political handlers are determined to source as much military equipment as possible from inside Canada, Hillier has fought to ensure that the men and women in the field are provided with the best equipment available regardless of where it comes from.

So, to recap, Stephen Harper believes General Hillier should be replaced because he stood up for the rights grieving families, is popular, is finding the best people to fill key military roles rather than making politically motivated appointments and is doing his best to protect the troops at a time of war.

I guess from that perspective it’s understandable why Stephen Harper would want to get rid of Hillier. The two men have absolutely nothing in common.

According to military and political insiders Hillier will likely be replaced by Lt.-Gen. Walter Natynczyk. The reason Natynczyk is expected to be the choice of the PM is simple, “…because the prime minister likes him.”

As a final note, for anyone keeping score, upon Hillier’s dismissal one more Newfoundlander will be out of work thanks to ongoing efforts by the federal government. I believe that now puts a very low ball estimate at something well over 60,001 doesn't it?