Well it looks like the summit held by the leaders of the 10 provinces and 3 territories ended in much the way everyone figured it would. No consensus and an even more pronounced rift between the so called "have" and "have not" parts of Canada. Not surprising really, like I’ve said many times, Canada isn’t so much a country as a collection of colonies who’s members are tied to Ottawa by the rope around their throats, namely the taxation and equalization systems.
Here’s a novel idea for resolving the fiscal imbalance and ensuring that all Province’s get what they deserve, cut Ottawa off. That’s right, every Province and Territory should just collect it’s taxes (both the provincial and so called federal share), keep its resource and industrial revenues and tell Ottawa to bugger off.
Sure this may sound cruel and inhumane to small areas like the Territories where there isn’t a big tax base or places with very low revenues from other sources but there’s a solution to that as well. The answer is to form a sort of co-op with all the Provinces working together to ensure that the small players are taken care of. I know, it may sound like that would put us back in the same boat as the current transfer/equalization mess but not really.
Think about it. What the Premiers are at odds about right now is the 11 billion extra the feds have sucked from our wallets, not the money that was used but the overage if you will. Add to that the billions and billions wasted by Ottawa every year and it’s easy to see that the co-op idea is not the same thing at all.
I’d be willing to bet that By dissolving the federation this new co-op could create a fund to assist its weaker members and each member still wouldn’t burn up a quarter of what Ottawa pulls out of them now.
Face it, Canada is not working period. Not for the rich and not for the poor. The Premier’s conference this week proves that fact. When you have the leaders of all parts of the Dominion fighting among themselves for a fair share of their own money just so they can go to Ottawa and present their case it says a lot. When you see those leaders shaking in fear because the result will leave Ottawa to make a decision on its own it says a lot. When Ottawa is bilking the people of the Provinces and Territories for billions beyond what even they can waste, it says it all.
Here’s a novel idea for resolving the fiscal imbalance and ensuring that all Province’s get what they deserve, cut Ottawa off. That’s right, every Province and Territory should just collect it’s taxes (both the provincial and so called federal share),
ReplyDeleteThere is, by definition, no "federal share" of provincial taxes.
keep its resource
All provinces always keep 100% of their resource revenues.
and industrial revenues and tell Ottawa to bugger off.
What are "industrial revenues"?
The answer is to form a sort of co-op with all the Provinces working together to ensure that the small players are taken care of.
Provinces would never transfer funds to other provinces or territoriries.
Add to that the billions and billions wasted by Ottawa every year
Please itemize some of these billions in waste. Thank you.
I’d be willing to bet that By dissolving the federation this new co-op could create a fund to assist its weaker members and each member still wouldn’t burn up a quarter of what Ottawa pulls out of them now.
So, abolish the federal government. Where does NL get the $1.3-billion in transfer payments it receives this year, then?
When you have the leaders of all parts of the Dominion fighting among themselves for a fair share of their own money just so they can go to Ottawa and present their case it says a lot.
Yes, it says that's always the way it's been, and always will be, until the provinces discover that there's more to being provinces than having their hands out to the federal government.
There's only one taxpayer, and she's getting tapped out.
When you see those leaders shaking in fear
Shaking in fear? IT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT! Some will get what they are looking for in terms of cash; the rest will get an enemy in the form of Ottawa to run against in their next provincial election.
because the result will leave Ottawa to make a decision on its own it says a lot. When Ottawa is bilking the people of the Provinces and Territories for billions beyond what even they can waste, it says it all.
Define "bilking"?
Ottawa doesn't collect any significant revenues from provinces and territories, other than for a few services that the provinces contract to the federal government.
You asked the writer to Itemize some of the billions in waste.
ReplyDeleteAll one has to do is read some of the Government Watchdog sites, such as Probe International, Transparency International and Odious Debts. Thank God for such organizations.
If you read the many reports found on those sites, like I have just mentioned, you will see how the billions of dollars are spent unwisely and with so much destruction. You will see how Government turns a blind eye to how Big Business conducts its dirty and evil business. You will see how Government turns a blind eye to how these big Corporations destroy makind's environment all around the world.
In some cases whole river systems, which support millions of people, have had poisonous chemicals wasted into their waters, which destroyed the drinking water and livlihoods of many citizens, that have depended wholly on the river systems that were destroyed.
If you read Probe International you will find out all about the rivers destroyed, the stories are printed on the Probe International site. You will see how Canadian Aid Money is spent, not the way, we, as ordinary Canadians, think it is spent. How that money is delved out to patronize large Canadian Corporations, with very little of it going to aid. You will be privy to everything you probably didn't know. And, oh yes, our beloved Canadian big Corportions are part of all of that big mess, and so is our beloved Canadian Government. You can read all the dirt on Governments and Corporations from these watchdog sites mentioned to your hearts content, and I know you will get nauseously sick while you are doing so,I did, and the reason why is because it is horrific reading.
WJM, I have to give you credit. I can't even imagine how much time you put into reading articles and comments posted online (and surely elsewhere) AND being contrary enough to the point that you can break down and argue with every sentence a person might put together. Most people feel at odds with the world to some degree but you're the champ, hands-down. You win.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - WJM might be a very well read person of blogs, and WJM certainly is, there is no doubt about that. But WJM is certainly not very well versed on the spendings of Ottawa, if WJM truly believes what WJM espouses in postings to the blogs, WJM has no idea at all. WJM follows Ottawa with too much blind faith, or maybe WJM is paid to do so. I have read on certain blogs that WJM works for Ottawa to do this type of work. I am not sure about that because I only read it on a blog. In my opinion some of Ottawa's spendings can only be described as atrocities, when dollars get spent the way Ottawa spends them. Ottawa sometimes spends as, we know, very unwisely. I will name two unwise spendings of billions right here, you do not even need to read the Watchdog Report to find out about those, the sponsership monies in Quebec is one, and the Gun Registry monies is the second, we all know about them, but these monies are civil when you read about some of the monies mentioned in those Watchdog reports. Again read those reports for yourself Anonymous before reporting to the blogs. When so much needs to be done in this country with infrastructure and so many people need medical spending, even both those two spendings are a crime. If both of you are paid by Ottawa to peruse blogs and dispute for it what appears on them, well then I exect no differnt, because then that is your job, that is how you make your living. And, no doubt, you are well paid. But by following Ottawa with such blind-faith you are making it bad for every province and its people who pay good taxes to Ottawa, even the people in your own towns. It is pretty serious stuff when people, like Patriot, are trying to bring Ottawa to it senses on its deficiences, and then there are people like you who choose to make it bad for all of us. PLEASE READ THE WATCHDOG REPORTS!
ReplyDeleteI cannot for the life of me see why Alberta should give a DIME of it's oil money to poor provinces whose population constantly drains Canada's social programs. Oh! Let's fish for a few months then sit on our arses and drive our quads and party the rest of the year on UI.
ReplyDeleteAs an Albertan stuck in Newfoundland for 2 years (yes, I'll be leaving soon)I cannot believe the abuses I have seen here. People actually BRAG to me about the sweet deal they get by being a seasonal worker. Even people from here get upset by the sheer numbers of abusers. And if something goes wrong ...well government better fix it "bye"!!.
It's pathetic and I don't blame the other provinces one bit for not throwing money at this place.
Annoynamous
ReplyDeleteUi is no more than hush money. The real money which is required in nL is in the form of infrastructure like completion of the TCH/TLH, a nationl power corridor, funding for fisheries science, a tangible military presence in NL, South shore highway instead of a seasonal third world ferry system, Lower Churchill development, just tot name a fww of the initiaties the rest of Canada enjoys.
What NL needs is a hand up not hand outs. But that would cost to much and the political capital isn't to bne had here hence we get paid lip service.
Here is the list of issues OUR Premier sent to the party leaders in the last election and the responses.
http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2006/exec/0103n01.pdf
http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2006/exec/01harper.pdf
http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2006/exec/01layton.pdf
http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2006/exec/01martin.pdf
http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2006/exec/01mclellan.pdf
http://www.conservative.ca/EN/1738/34029
http://www.conservative.ca/1091/33828/
http://www.cbc.ca/nl/story/nf_harper_letter_20060109.html
http://www.cbc.ca/nl/story/nf_airport_tories_20060113.html
Oh and by the way NL contributes as much if not more to the Canadian GDP read Clyde wells book he lays it all out even the creative accounting to make NL'ians feel like basket cases when nothing could be further from the truth.
You might also want to read The Independants cost benefit analysis of NL joining Canada.
http://www.theindependent.ca/pdf/Cost_benefit_methodology.pdf
Anonymous - The difference between Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador is Alberta is the primary beneficiary of all of its resources, while Newfoundland and Labrador has to be dictated to by Ottawa on its, Fish, Oil, Minerals and Hydroelectric. All huge resources, two of which are renewable and they go on forever if looked after properly, but none of them benefiting Newfoundland and Labrador to a great extent beneficially. Ottawa has the biggest say in all of them, that is why Ottawa is only too welling to pay out EI for them, it gets better beneficial results for the economies in the rest of Canada and dollars for its own coffers and so much more foreign clout than it otherwise would have had. Non-Transparency is Ottawa's # 1 tool as it allows Ottawa to play with our resources and get paid from our resources below the radar screen.
ReplyDeleteAgain read the Government Watchdog Reports- PROBE INTERNATIONAL, TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL and ODIOUS DEBTS They are what count, as everything becomes clearer when we have the knowledge.
I have read on certain blogs that WJM works for Ottawa to do this type of work. I am not sure about that because I only read it on a blog.
ReplyDeleteWow! The first critical thought I've seen around here!
You were right to be skeptical.
In my opinion some of Ottawa's spendings can only be described as atrocities, when dollars get spent the way Ottawa spends them.
And? The same is true of ALL governments.
The real money which is required in nL is in the form of infrastructure like completion of the TCH/TLH
ReplyDelete90% of the money that has EVER gone into the TLH has come from the federal government.
It's the government in St. John's that hasn't kicked in its fair share. It would have to spend half a billion dollars this year alone to bring the overall cost-sharing to 50/50.
South shore highway instead of a seasonal third world ferry system,
There is nothing — other than topography — preventing the province from building such a highway.
Go to the Philippines or Bangladesh before talking about "Third world ferry system". Coastal BC and coastal Norway have built superb tourism industries around their coastal ferry systems. So could NL, along the Labrador coast and the south coast of Newfoundland, if the provincial government had any vision or imagination.
Which it doesn't.
Lower Churchill development,
Why should the federal government develop the so-called "Lower Churchill", especially given Dan Jong Il's determination to "go it alone"?
just tot name a fww of the initiaties the rest of Canada enjoys.
Which highways, ferries, or hydro projects does the rest of Canada enjoy from the federal government?
What NL needs is a hand up not hand outs.
It also needs to give ITSELF a hand up, not just count on hands up from outside.
Oh and by the way NL contributes as much if not more to the Canadian GDP
And?
read Clyde wells book
Clyde Wells wrote a book?
You might also want to read The Independants cost benefit analysis of NL joining Canada.
http://www.theindependent.ca/pdf/Cost_benefit_methodology.pdf
That document is laughable in so many ways it isn't even funny anymore!
Anonymous - The difference between Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador is Alberta is the primary beneficiary of all of its resources, while Newfoundland and Labrador has to be dictated to by Ottawa on its, Fish, Oil, Minerals and Hydroelectric.
ReplyDeleteWhat does Ottawa have to do with terrestrial minerals or hydro in NL or any other province? Constitutionally, these resources are in EXACTLY the same position as Alberta's oil.
NL is also the primary beneficiary both of its offshore oil and the fisheries adjacent to it.
All huge resources, two of which are renewable and they go on forever if looked after properly, but none of them benefiting Newfoundland and Labrador to a great extent beneficially. Ottawa has the biggest say in all of them,
Ottawa has no say in terrestrial resources such as hydro or mines in any province, other than general regulation under heads of federal jurisdiction. Only the provinces collect those resource revenues.
PROBE INTERNATIONAL - TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL AND ODIOUS DEBTS are the names of some of the Watchdog Agencies that produce reports on the wrongdoings of governments, including Ottawa.
ReplyDeleteTo keep on top of mistakes our government makes, please read these agencies reports. We will be all the wiser for it.
WJM Why is it you are posting from
ReplyDeleteparl203.parl.gc.ca
IP Address 192.197.82.203
Country Canada
Region Ontario
City Ottawa
ISP Canadian House Of Commons
Mainly during working hours. It's almost as if this is you job. To go around and try and quell any negative sentiments towards Ottawa. Is this the route Ottawa has decided to take instead of the failed Sponsorship scandal.
Ottawa now has decided to take the route of disinformation and propaganda to try and hold onto it's tenuious hold on power through an organized campaign to spread disinformation and promote itself.
Some of your posts aren't even consistant. On the one hand you claim to be pro Labrador but on the other anytime someone suggests something to better Labradors lot in life you argue against it. It's almost as if there is a team of spin doctors writing responses and following a preplaned script. Pro Ottawa all the time no matter what.Is this some form of self preservation in protecting your self interests or are you being paid to do a job?
Nl-expatriate - Now we are sifting the grain from the chaff. One party can pull the wool over one's eyes for only so long. Then we stop and ask questions as to what is really going on, when there are so many natural resources and very little economy. We ask questions like whether the general population were stun, unaware or what was the problem. Fifty-seven years have passed, I think we did have the wool pulled over our eyes, but now we have emerged out of the fog. Hopefully from now on we will navigate in the right direction under Ottawa's umbrella. Knowledge is a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeletePlease do not forget to keep tuned into the reports by such Government Watchdog Agencies as Probe International, Transparency International and Odious Debt. These agencies reports will make us all wiser and they will be an aid in planning our course.
Hey nl-expatriate, nice work in exposing that freakshow WJM. I've been wondering why he even bothers to read this blog when he considers the views represented here to be so foolish. Why bother engaging with others if you're not interested in exchanging? Knowing he's a negative-minded employee of Ottawa puts all of his comments and nastiness in perspective.
ReplyDeleteI said it before, several times, why don't we just block this WJM knob. He really has nothing to contribute to the discussion.
ReplyDeleteOld wjm does defend the indefensible at times, and he is a rabid biased Liberal, but I do not think he is a Librano. He does keep some people on their toes, and that is what is needed in this some times one sided debate as to what is good for Labrador. Blogging and doing stuff not in his job description during working hours is not unique to wjm, it could even be in his job description for all one knows, maybe if some one asked the Member for Labrador he could clear things up on that front.
ReplyDeleteThe paragraph below was contained within this week's Odious Debt Report. I think Newfoundland and Labrador should also look to Ireland as a model.
ReplyDeleteQuote from Odious Debts
Looking to Ireland as a model for Africa, Theroux concludes:
"After centuries of wishing themselves on to other countries, the Irish found that education, rational government, people staying put and simple diligence could turn Ireland from an economic basket case into a prosperous nation. . . . the Irish have proved that there is something to be said for staying home."
Unquote from Odious Debts
Is Wallace J. McLean still alive? Or are those hot Ottawa nights keeping him away?
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteOn the one hand you claim to be pro Labrador but on the other anytime someone suggests something to better Labradors lot in life you argue against it.
ReplyDeleteExamples of this being...?