First Minister's Photo-Op In the Offing

Canada’s current government has been in office for about two years. Not once in that time has Prime Minister Stephen Harper seen fit to meet with the provincial and territorial leaders at a first minister’s conference. Suddenly with the high Canadian dollar impacting export businesses from east to west Harper has agreed to just such a meeting, but only after several Premiers demanded it. My question is why. Why now, why not earlier and why this particular issue?

It’s not like there weren’t any serious issues or concerns that needed to be discussed before now.

Sometime between now and January the Prime Minister says he will sit down with the first ministers and discuss the impact of the rising dollar. Oddly enough, of all the issues facing the people of Canada, a high dollar is arguably one government can do the least to resolve.

It’s possible to ease corporate tax burdens, lower tariffs or subsidize specific industries, but the value of the dollar is not something political leaders have any real control over. On the other hand, there are a myriad of issues our leaders can and should be addressing but aren’t. These other issues that may not grab headlines or provide the same kind of photo-ops as a soaring loonie but they are issues that hav real solutions. Solutions that would do far more for the Country in the long run than moaning about a high dollar.

Why aren’t the first ministers and the PM trying to resolve the deadlock over an east/west power grid? A grid that would allow provinces to wheel power across the country, without impediment, to areas that desperately need it.

What about the issue of senate reform? Rather than simply talking about abolishing the senate why isn’t the PM spending some time (up front) working with the provinces to find a way of reforming that tired old body and making it do what it was designed to do, provide regional representation to all areas of the Country?

Why, with so many seniors on voting lists across Canada and with more entering their so called “golden years” every day, is nothing being done to help older Canadians live out their lives without having to choose between medications, food and home heat? Millions of older Canadians are doing exactly that. The Old Age Security plan is designed to keep seniors at or below the poverty line and heaven forbid you paid into a pension plan, out of your pocket, because you’ll soon find that your foresight has won you the prize of having your government pension reduced.


There are countless issues that affect all Canadians and that need to be addressed. Issues that the government has far more ability to control and manage than the Canadian dollar. Why have these not warranted the attention of Stephen Harper or the first ministers? Why have they not resulted in a leader’s conference or been addressed at all?

Remembrance Day - NL's Pround Military History Remembered

With Remembrance Day once again upon us, it seems appropriate this weekend to reflect on the exploits of the so called “Fighting Newfoundlanders” and remember those from the Province who fought in conflicts half way around the world.

When many think of the Province's military history they immediately think of The Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Although Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans have fought with the forces of other nations and continue to distinguish themselves today in the Canadian Armed Forces, it is with a special kind of pride that we remember the exploits of that Regiment. Originally formed in 1914.

In WWI the Regiment earned no less than 280 separate decorations, 77 of which were awarded to original members of the “first 500” of which 170 were killed in action. In fact, one in every seven men among the original force received some sort of military honour.

Many people have heard the name of Tommy Ricketts who was given the highest honour possible, the Victoria Cross, however many may not remember some of the other brave men who fought for their homeland under the most dire conditions. The Province has produced many great heroes who are not as well known, but no less deserving of recognition.

Take for example the story of Cyril Gardner, originally from British Harbour. Lieutenant Gardner has the distinction of being the only known allied serviceman to have received the German Iron Cross. The Iron Cross, which was handed out only to the bravest German military personnel, was given to Gardner on the battlefield.

As the story goes, Gardner’s unit was engaged in battle with a German patrol of 70 men. During the night, as hostilities wound down Gardner, who spoke German, took it upon himself to grab his machine gun and head out to the enemy encampment.Sneaking into the enemy camp, the Lieutenant turned his gun on the officers, capturing them unharmed. With their “head” cut off so to speak, the remainder of the troop immediately surrendered. Lieutenant Cyril Gardner had single handedly captured an entire German Patrol.

Upon marching his prisoners back to his own encampment he was met by a British Officer who intended to shoot the unarmed prisoners. As the German soldiers looked on in horror Lieutenant Gardner once again demonstrated his sense of bravery by stepping into the line of fire to protect his prisoners and telling his superior officer that if one German were shot the officer would be the next one to die.

After a moment of hesitation the officer walked away and it was then that the commander of the German patrol, who had many medals on his uniform, stepped up to Gardner and removing the iron cross from his chest, pinned it on Gardner’s, to the applause and cheers of the German soldiers.

For Centuries, even before the formation of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador have answered the call whenever it arrived. Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans have been involved in major conflicts around the world since the mid 1600's, including: The Anglo-Dutch Wars – 1652 The War of the Austrian Succession – 1743 The Seven Year War - 1756 The American Revolution - 1775 The Napoleonic Wars – 1796 The War of 1812 World War I – 1914 World War II – 1939. Add to this the number of young men and women who have proven themselves in places like Korea, Afghanistan, Bosnia and countless other areas of conflict or peacekeeping around the world, and we can clearly see that the Province has a lot to be proud of.

During this Remembrance Day and throughout the remainder of the Year perhaps we should all take some time to visit a legion hall or local war memorial, to stop and chat with an aging veteran and to offer a little show of thanks for the sacrifice these fine men and women have made to protecting our nation.

Statistics show that every day in this country an average of 80 veterans die. That’s more than at the height of conflict in World War II. It only takes a moment to shake a veteran’s hand or buy one a cold beer in a local bar. It might seem like a small gesture and it is, but even taking a moment to express a little gratitude may just brighten the day of some of our bravest and most deserving citizens.

Government to Assist Unemployed Older Workers

Politicians are the only people I know who can suck and blow at the same time and they’re so good at it they can almost make the public believe they’re accomplishing something while they’re at it. Perhaps I’m being too critical. Let me rephrase that. They can almost make the public believe they’re accomplishing something besides wasting tax dollars or buying votes while they’re at it.

Today the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador announced a joint cost shared agreement that will see over 3 million in tax dollars spent to “help” displaced workers in the province. Sounds good right? So why am I pissed?

Here’s why.

The money isn’t being put into any sort of early retirement package or income supplement for these people. It isn’t being used to diversify the economy in rural areas where many of these workers live. In fact it isn’t being spent in any useful way whatsoever. Instead it’s being pumped into a program that will include, “skills assessment, upgrading, counseling and work experience”. In other words it’s being spent to re-train unemployed individuals aged 55 to 64 so they can find work in a different field.

Come on, in all honesty, couldn’t this money be applied in a much more efficient way than the training of older individuals for jobs that probably aren’t available where they lieve for companies who won’t hire anyone who is a whisper and a banana peel away from either retirement or the big sleep.

Hiring new employees, bringing them up to speed in an organization and helping them become a fully contributing part of a company takes a lot of time, effort and money. Just ask anyone who has a high employee turnover. How many companies are really going to hire someone that close to retirement age who has only just been trained in the skills needed for the job? Not many let me tell you.

According Loyola Hearn in a press release today, “The Government of Canada is committed to creating the best-educated, most-skilled and most flexible work force in the world, and that work force includes older workers."

I don’t disagree that the life experience older workers bring to the table is valuable and that many older people in our province have a lot to contribute, but let’s be realistic. This approach has been tried time and time again and it’s failed just as often. Re-training individuals a few years away from retirement and expecting them to suddenly have job offers piling up is the sort of wasteful spending and convoluted logic that’s cost millions over the years, raised the hopes (and sometimes the ire) of people who are already going through the worst of times, and made a laughing stock of government programs in general.

If the provincial and federal governments really believe the answer to the problem of displaced older workers in rural Newfoundland and Labrador is to throw money at it then at least do something useful with that money and buy them some bread and milk. The money will still be gone but at least the recipients will have a full stomach while they wait for a job offer that’ll never come.