Perception is Not Reality in Newfoundland and Labrador

Many Canadians have come to see Newfoundland and Labrador as the place where the people are “always whining and looking for more.”

The “whining” part of that statement is a bit of a stretch but the fact that the people of the province want something “more” is right on the money.

Speaking of money, it’s often the financial quarrels the province has with Ottawa that capture the headlines but money is only the most obvious symptom of a far deeper problem. One that’s existed since long before the province entered confederation.

The real problem is one of a total lack of respect and understanding.

Long before Newfoundland and Labrador entered the federation it was, and continues to be, seen as a poor little colony with no value outside of its resources, as a source of cheap manual labour or as fodder for countess low brow jokes.

Consider that Newfoundland and Labrador’s resources, most notably a world renowned fishery that sustained the place for nearly 500 years, was taken over by Canada in 1949 and, less than 50 years, completely decimated through neglect, mismanagement and corruption. At the time of the fishery collapse the headlines spoke of over fishing but in reality this once great renewable resource was traded away to foreign fleets in exchange for trade agreements that primarily benefited Ontario and Quebec manufacturers.

In the 1960’s the province developed one of the largest hydro electric projects in the world, at Churchill Falls, but was prevented by Quebec from selling power to the rest of North America because the federal government refused to step in and stop Quebec from blocking distribution at its border. A similar problem exists today with the development of the lower Churchill project and there is no sign that attitudes have changed in Ottawa or Quebec.

There has never been any respect shown to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and that reality exists to this day.

Recently Prime Minister Harper is reported to have said to the province’s premier that he was not concerned if the premier waged an anti-conservative campaign against him in the next election because, “I don’t need Newfoundland to win an election”.

Even the Heritage Minister, Josee Verner, and other federal representatives, insist on making slight after slight to the proud people of the province on a regular basis.

With the anniversary of the founding of Quebec City being celebrated this year Minister Verner is publicly referring to Quebec City as the oldest city in Canada, a position documented in official literature from her Department.

Verner recently referred to Quebec City as "the first Canadian city". Her predecessor, Bev Oda, called Quebec "Canada's oldest urban settlement" and the department's 2007-2008 Report on Plans and Priorities named Quebec City, founded in 1608, as "Canada's oldest city” yet historical records show that European ships frequented St. John's harbour a hundred years before the founding of Quebec City and according to the Canadian encyclopedia, Europeans had already begun to settle around St. John’s harbour by 1583.

Is there any act more reprehensible and disrespectful than to revise history in at the expense of one member of the federation in an attempt to pander to the voters of another and truth be damned?

Unfortunately the lack of respect that exists towards Newfoundlanders and Labradorians is not limited to government officials and political figures.

When the government of Newfoundland and Labrador went after big oil for more resource royalties media pundits referred to the Premier as a dictator yet when Alberta did the same thing the pros and cons were discussed in the media in a rational manner.

When aid is given to western farmers it’s seen as being the right thing to do yet when Newfoundland and Labrador fishermen received support, after Ottawa decimated and then closed the cod fishery, putting more than 10% of the province’s population out of work and destroying communities that had existed for hundreds of years, the aid package was viewed across Canada as a “handout”.

The disrespect shown to Newfoundland and Labrador, and to each and every one of its residents, is like a virus that has permeated the federal political mind space and infected the public at large.

This virus has grown to a point where it’s now common for many Canadians to take part in this virulent form of disrespect with pleasure. The proof of this is evident in every “newfie” joke and every “stupid newfie” comment used on a daily basis right across the Country.

When Quebec threatens separation the nation’s ears perk up and federal coffers fly open. When an individual in Newfoundland and Labrador mutters the idea under their breath they are begged to leave and to take the burden of support off the rest of the nation.

The fact that Newfoundland and Labrador has been responsible for pouring billions into the Canadian economy since being dragged into the federation makes no difference.

The fact that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have laboured to build office towers and to man mills, factories and mines across the Country and in doing so helped build the nation is simply dismissed.

The fact that Newfoundland and Labrador citizens account for 5 times the number of Canadian forces personnel than the population would suggest they should is not even a consideration.

The fact that Newfoundland and Labrador, after years of financial crisis, entered Canada with a budgetary surplus and over the past 60 years has been forced into a position where it now has the largest per capita debt in the nation is seen as a provincial failure with no refection on the nation.

Every time a political figure, entertainment superstar or fundraising organizer speaks of embarking on a “coast to coast” tour, from Vancouver to Halifax it is a slap in the face to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Though the headlines may scream it, the biggest issue Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have with the Canadian federation is not a financial one, but one of respect.

Financial issues are but one aspect of the underlying problem, one that unfortunately garners the biggest headlines. It’s a reality that can only be attributed to the need by some to feed the Canadian stereotype of Newfoundland and Labrador as a place where everyone is “always whining and looking for more”.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s "ABC" Campaign Back on Track

After meeting with Stephen Harper in Ottawa Newfoundland and Labrador premier, Danny Williams, went before the media this week to let the public know that his ABC (anyone but Conservative) campaign, “…is back on.”

According to Williams, during last week’s first minister’s meeting Stephen Harper indicated that a written response to the province’s request for settlement of the 11 billion dollar equalization dispute would be sent to his office this week. Williams also said Harper informed him that he (Williams) “…will not be happy with the decision”.

Though the Prime Minister’s formal response has yet to arrive, premier Williams says Mr. Harper’s words have led him to end the truce that has existed for the past few weeks and once again begin moving forward with a campaign to defeat federal Conservative candidates in the province during the next election.

While speaking with the media Williams told reporters that during a private meeting between himself and Prime Minister Harper back in December, when Williams provided the PM with some options to end the feud, the PM responded that he, “didn't need Newfoundland and Labrador to win an election”.

Harper's office has since denied the PM said that.

At this point there appears to be no middle ground for the two leaders and it’s expected that over the coming weeks and months the war of words will ratchet up as the Commons heads into a new year and a new round of confidence votes.

Billion Dollar Aid Plan or Billion Dollar Election Campaign?

This week the federal government, or more precisely the leading federal party, once again opted to play petty politics with the people’s lives rather than address the needs of the public.

On Thursday, in an effort to head off the provincial premiers, Stephen Harper announced a billion dollar fund to help displaced workers in the manufacturing and forestry industries.

The rising Canadian dollar and an economic slowdown with Canada’s biggest trading partner, the U.S., has forced many mills and factories to either let workers go or shut down completely. In response, the Harper government has announced a plan that is not only ludicrous in its approach but politically underhanded as well.

The plan would see nearly a billion dollars divided among the provinces to aid displaced workers in the one industry towns hit hardest by closures. Unfortunately, the plan is not only short sighted, it’s completely blind.

According to the federal government the funds are to be used to retrain workers, but for what?

Many of the displaced workers, though not all, are already well trained in the trade of their choice. Many mill workers, for example, are pipe fitters, electricians, truck drivers, etc. Many are also well into their forties or fifties. Is retraining really the best use of funding when you consider that in one industry towns there are not likely to be any other jobs to train for?

10 million is to be provided to each province with the remainder divided on a per capita basis. A simple means to address a complex problem and clearly a method that was determined to appease the larger provinces rather than address the problem itself.

No consideration was given to the fact that less money will flow to smaller provinces even though the loss of several hundred jobs in a small province can have an equivalent, or even larger, impact than the loss of thousands in a larger one. No thought was given to the fact that this method of distribution will see provinces like Alberta, with a booming economy, receive more of the funding than a place like Newfoundland and Labrador or New Brunswick, provinces that are more severely impacted by mill closures.

To top it all off Harper has decided to use a desperate situation as a political cattle prod with the opposition parties. By tying the funding to the upcoming federal budget vote this cold hearted and politically advantages move is clearly designed to make the opposition parties either a) support his budget and not force an election or b) allow Harper to campaign by saying his opposition prevented him from supporting the unemployed.

This is very reminiscent of the game played by former Prime Minister Paul Martin when he tied the Atlantic Accord contracts with Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador to a federal budget bill. It was a move intended to gain political support for his government, one that almost ended in the contract being lost long before the current PM walked all over it.

Harper may want to watch his step if he hopes to take a page from the Paul Martin playbook on this. There’s a saying in political circles that voters have a short memory, but it would do Stephen Harper some good to remember that Paul Martin’s underhanded approach didn’t save his hide in the end when it came to the election.

I’m not a proponent of government stepping in to prop up failing industries that clearly have a poor business model. This is not one of those cases. It’s not like the history of Bombardier for example. This time it’s about helping thousands of unemployed people get over a hurdle in their lives that must surely be devastating.

The problem is that the entire plan is poorly thought out, over simplistic in its implementation and intended, not to really help anyone except the Harper government by stomping on the backs of those who so desperately need support.