Thursday, January 11, 2007

Minister of Fields and Farms has added too much

wind to her portfolio - or at least her rhetoric - and it's getting ridiculous.
First it's fair to say that when it comes to hydro - oil and gas - Voisey's Bay - normally it's the Premier at the helm. Not Dunderdale or the great Byrne before her - were permitted to say too much about the significant energy and mining resources.
When it comes to fighting with the oil companies - the feds over oil and gas - or discussing the so-called new "Hydro Corporation" - Danny is the mouth and the rest - including the Minister are mere echoes - unless you are Dean MacDonald - he can speak. And speak he will when we look at the words he used during the Tobin proposed deal for the Lower Churchill...and the changes that were made to get guaranteed winter availability pact...
Today on the CBC Morning Show the Minister was on singing the praises of two Island wind projects that you and I (the consumer) will pay for and the Italian Government and unknown investors will profit from.
First - wind will not replace the need for thermal or any other form of non-renewable fossil fuels as wind is not reliable. It is not hydro power - and it must be backed up - so who do you think pays for the back-up? You and I. Danny Williams energy plan is a secret to us - and known completely by him. You see he's not supposed to making these new energy decisions in the absence of the "PLAN".
Labrador is treated differently as a project for 1000 MW's in that region will not get full consideration until the completion of the "PLAN".
Williams is privatizing energy generation - he has no mandate for that - in fact he sought a mandate to do an energy "PLAN". He is giving away natural resources as the Province has no equity nor will receive any royalties on these new wind projects.
We have also not seen the deal - we do not know what the cost of the power will be!!! Why not???? Let's have a look at that Minister...
Where is the Opposition on this?
The Opposition first must believe there is a need for an Energy Plan - something which for over a decade we asked for - and for over a decade they ignored. I've written 2 drafts and there was no real desire of any Liberal Premier to complete one.
That's what makes this situation worse. While Quebec and BC - Iceland and Norway have clear plans for domestic and export use for the last and next 25-50 years - we sit in limbo. We speak freely about exporting our clean hydro from Labrador and think nothing of planning to attract industry with the same power - at a time when the Alcan's of the world seek this potential. It will not be too long into our future that heavy industry will have to go where the renewable green energy is - else the penalties will make them uncompetitive.
I heard Yvonne Jones skirt the question of hydro export from Labrador on Randy Simms program- supporting the Premier's folly of export and talking instead about guaranteeing that the thermal energy they are left to rely on will be subsidized...Right - keep on planning...
John Hickey says nothing about Labrador wind and the Metis objections including the failure of the Premier to even recognize them. This should go over well - come next election. Randy Collins is silent with respect to energy for industry - when he lives among the success it brings. Wally Anderson - not a peep - but there his district might benefit tremendously from wind or small hydro - nothing not a word.
If any federal politician currently on the environment band-wagon actually gets their way with emissions control - we can be the major beneficiary of industrial growth. If oil stays anywhere near the price it sits - if not soaring higher - we again can be the beneficiaries of industrial growth. This revenue only approach by the Premier reflects what is desirable for shareholders in the private sector - not a government policy which considers the direct benefits to those adjacent to the resource and the overall economic benefit of generating hydro for industry not export. This position as opposed to being challenged by the Libs - is questioned only because we might develop it on a go-it-alone basis. Possibly the only good thing Williams has proposed on the subject. What do they propose? Quebec own 1/3 - private own 1/3 - what???
As our politicians sit and argue over the few thousand dollars of over-billing (fire them out of caucus) until they learn to check what they are signing - our province falls further and further behind on economic development and growth.
Story after story in BC - Iceland - Quebec - the EU - Africa - and China talk about using hydro renewable power to grow their respective economies and we are sniffling over who is getting caught by the Auditor General.
Sue's Blog is going to hammer and hammer until the nail is driven through - and broken promises will be no more........
It is up to you and me - Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - to keep an eye on this ball - which is our future - and let the squawking politicians understand that Harvey and his problems and the MHA's caught overspending and their problems and MHA's caught double billing and their problems are not the most important issues in our Province.
300 people from Burgeo - most definitely is - Stephenville and the mill definitely is - out migration to Alberta definitely is - the current proposed pilfering of FPI is - the energy plan is and so on....The absence of policy by our parties is killing this province - it's future - and the thousands that are leaving....
Next - up Leadership and our Choices as Newfoundland and Labrador Elects 2007.

Oh yes and what was that position I heard on FPI examining the sale of it's Newfoundland and Labrador assets? Protect the quota??? What's that - the only thing the feds control - and Mr. Reid what of this need to come to the legislature to allow the sale???

This story from the VOCM news site...
The leader of the Opposition says it's important that fish quotas be protected in any sale of assets of FPI's Newfoundland operations. At least a couple of processors are said to be interested, but so far, FPI has been unavailable for comment. Liberal leader Gerry Reid says any sale would have to go to the legislature for approval.

Were you referring to this section - where the Cabinet can approve it? You voted on it so I assume you read it.

Sale of business restricted

7. (1) Except with the prior approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, neither FPI Limited nor Fishery Products International Limited shall sell, lease, exchange, mortgage, grant or assume a security interest on, or otherwise dispose of, or allow or direct a subsidiary of it to sell, lease, exchange, mortgage, grant or assume a security interest on, or otherwise dispose of, a substantial portion of an undertaking, property, assets or business operation which relates to or carries on, in whole or in part, the harvesting, processing or marketing of seafood.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), except with the prior approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, neither FPI Limited nor Fishery Products International Limited shall sell, lease, exchange, mortgage, grant or assume a security interest on, or otherwise dispose of, or allow or direct a subsidiary of it to sell, lease, exchange, mortgage, grant or assume a security interest on, or otherwise dispose of, a plant or other processing facility, wherever located, and machinery and equipment located in the plant or processing facility.

(3) In subsection (1), "property" and "assets" mean all property and assets, whether tangible or intangible, wherever located, and include

(a) vessels;

(b) quotas; and

but do not include

(d) "inventory" and "inventory" means inventory as defined in the Personal Property Security Act .

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (1), FPI Limited, Fishery Products International Limited and a subsidiary of either of them may mortgage, pledge, charge, grant or assume a security interest on, or otherwise encumber, their undertakings, property or other assets to secure their obligations.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Technical Difficulties

Click below for new post

Robbing Newfoundland and Labrador Part 6

test

Monday, September 25, 2006

Technical Problems again...

I will post here and you can follow the link over to Sue's Blog for articles already posted and also new posts this morning. I will transfer them as soon as problems are fixed.
Sue

Weekend Roundup

INCO WRAP
VOISEY'S BAY AGREEMENT
intro
#1
#2
#3
CIBC and big banks no Faith in Newfoundland and Labrador
Secret Meetings with the corporate elite Conservatives won't tell

And just below this post Loyola Hearn does it again!
New Crown Corp coming today - Voisey's Bay agreement #4 - fish news - and other interesting features.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Loyola Sullivan - finally talking about...

non-renewable resources being removed from equalization.
Sue's Blog will stay on top of this as it could mean more to us than the changes to the Accord.
What bothers me is our silent Premier - who has the promise in writing but refuses to demand that the promise be kept. As Sue's Blog talked about a month ago the Conservative MP's from Saskatchewan have been all over the Prime Minister on this one.
If we remain silent we will lose that revenue!
What's up Danny? Do not stay silent to help Charest - you represent Newfoundland and Labrador.
Come on people make Loyola Hearn, Fabian Manning and Norm Doyle accountable -they were elected on this promise. Then again they were elected to take constodial management of the Nose and Tail of the Grnad Banks and Flemish Cap.

Are you Willing to Read - Dunderdale talking nonsense

puts project, jobs, and future benefits in jeopardy.
If you are willing to open your mind and accept the possibility, regardless of how remote you think it is, that Kathy Dunderdale - on behalf of Danny - is bad-mouthing one of the best contracts this province has seen - then read on.
If, without proof, you are willing to accept Kathy's statement that, "...we are doing the best we can with a bad deal" - then you are deliberately turning your head - risking the future of this province with your actions.

The Voisey's Bay Development Agreement

Let's start with that. Now anytime anybody talks about a clause in the contract you can refer to your own copy. I recommend you READ the 83 or so pages, instead of having the Minister interpret it for you. It's your money - and it's your resource. For lighter reading - the first 38 pages represent the main body of the agreement.

Then you will need to review the laws which the contract is subject to.

The Mineral Act
The Mining Act
Mining and Mineral Rights Tax Act

The Contract of course is subject to all laws in the province including environmental legislation - however I have listed the ones relative to what the Minister, Cabinet and/or government can do about certain occurrences.

Throughout the day and the weekend I will deal with certain clauses of the agreement and particular sections of legislation. In this way piece by piece we can dissect the agreement and make our own educated judgements on it.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

About that refining capacity...

Canoe Money
has a great story on heavy oil and refining capacity and expansion.

This from the story....

Calgary-based EnCana has been looking for a partner with existing North American refining operations that would enable it to capture higher prices than simply selling bitumen on the market.

EnCana is looking to increase oilsands production more than ten-fold in the next decade to half a million barrels per day.

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If you read very closely you will see there are opportunities abound for more refineries...

How close are we and are we looking to partner with firms out of Alberta that have heavy crude needing to be processed. Kathy? Danny?

Crisis for Province - Pharmacists on the move west

In an interview this morning with Sue's Blog Sharon King, spokesperson for the Association of Allied Health Professionals in the province, painted a grim outlook regarding the loss of pharmacists from Newfoundland and Labrador.
King says, "Of the 36 graduates of Pharmacy in 2006 only 9 stayed in our province and only one of them stayed in the public system."
The group which just inked a contract with government in August of this year finds itself in an awkward position - the contract does not expire until 2008 and unfortunately the differential in pay between Newfoundland and Labrador has now shot to between 20-40 thousand dollars a year. Sharon King advises, "We have asked government for a labour market adjustment to deal with this critical issue and we are waiting for their response."
King added that Eastern Health had lost 10 pharmacists, Clarenville 2, Burin 1, and Gander and area 3-4.
The spokesperson added, "Things may become worse as an extra year has been added to the Pharmacy Program meaning there will only be 20 graduates in each of the following two years."

Newfoundland and Labrador has seen thousands of people head west in the skilled trades and labour market due to general downsizing of the fishery, stalled oil development, and a general reduction in jobs in the rural areas. Alberta is picking up these people and with their rapidly expanding population that province is starting to pick at all areas of the service sector - by offering significantly higher wage and benefits package.
Sue's Blog will bring you further news on the pharmacists situation as soon as it becomes available. There has been rumblings inside Confederation Building that some sort of recommendation from Treasury Board maybe making its way to Cabinet.

WE ARE TOAST (Follow-up) URGENT

On August 1-06 Sue's Blog posted the letter below - which was emailed to the Premier on the same date.
The Telegram has now followed up - all media and politicans let almost 2 months go by before anything was asked about it.
The Winnipeg Free Press has also jumped into the mix with this story today, "N.L. government criticized for handling of Quebec push on hydro projects"

As the letter provides links to the actual HQ information I encourage you to read it.
While it is irresponsible not to provide where the story originally came from (ususal), it is important that Newfoundland and Labrador become engaged. By the way I had also given the same information to VOCM months ago - but they chose not to follow-up. If you want to know what our problem - in this province is - look no forward than this. We will be taken again - with the full knowledge of our politicians on all sides of the House.

If we do not take action now to stop this pillage - we are on the way to giving Quebec everything else we own.

I have sent the following to Premier Williams

Dear Danny,
Hydro Quebec has listed on its site projects under study for generation and transmission.
Currently the Romaine River is under study with delineation excluding Labrador which the current map shows and states
that the 1927 border is not final.
They plan to have this 1500 MW construction completed within 8-10 years and they are proceeding without you.
For whatever anyone may find silly about this contention, Quebec is moving ahead. How are you chairing an Energy Committee with Quebec when this blatant disregard of our border is taking place?
It is public information for the world to see and investors to take note. What's up with this?
Sincerely,

Sue

For your information and to confirm that Quebec is actually doing this press HERE

When you get there first look at the map and the border they are using. Then press power generation - "under study" heading and you will see a symbol showing the Romaine Project. Press the symbol and....A Picture of the Romaine Complex will come up...then press General Information, another map will appear with further border errors and note how it says 1927 border "NOT FINAL".

There is nothing more I can say other than the media, government, opposition et al are negligent in their respective responsibilities.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

GAS BULLETIN - George Says

Gas and oil price guru George Murphy says our gas is going under a buck...
See when and why at George's Blog
Thanks George....

This is what I'm referring to - this mysterious technical glitch...

In either case I will post here until it recovers again.

the G7 speaks...what's important and energy concerns

SINGAPORE (XFN-ASIA) - The following is the text of the statement issued by the Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors after their meetings here:
Full Text

Below is a segment from the official text.

We are of the view that high energy prices reflect both rising demand from strong global expansion and concerns about current and future supplies, though the prices have eased recently. In addition to promoting greater transparency and reliability in energy market data, including through development of a global common standard for reporting oil reserves, we thus encourage investment in exploration, production, transportation and refinery capacity.

At the same time we call for renewed efforts by consumers towards energy efficiency, conservation and diversification, and continued dialogue between the consumers and the producers. We stand ready to provide, in co-operation with the IFIs, technical assistance for this purpose to emerging economies and developing countries, and welcome the work on the Clean Energy Investment Framework.
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I have highlighted the words refinery capacity as it relates to this province and our desire to get in on this action.

The China Effect

What will be the price of China's booming economy?

This quote from a great story from the Sunday Times in the UK

"But now, if the China effect is coming to an end, it raises questions about the past decade. Was it all just a short-term party, giving us, on the back of low inflation and interest rates, a housing and consumer boom but not much to show for it in the long run? Have we sacrificed much of what remained of our manufacturing industry without gaining permanently lower prices? Add in China’s contribution to high oil and commodity prices, now thankfully easing back, and the doubts multiply."

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Sue's Blog attempts to provide a variety of stories which impact our lives everyday - or in our future.

Another couple of billion to protect the Americans from Canadians

Good for business though says Boeing...

Boeing reportedly wins $2.1B border contract

Defense firm's plan to add more than 300 radar towers along U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada to improve security tops rivals, report says.
See the story from CNN Money

How Far will Big Corporations go...

to break the rules of democracy from trying to buy our politicians to silencing our media?

"Hewlett-Packard conducted feasibility studies on planting spies in news bureaus of two major publications as part of an investigation of leaks from its board, an individual briefed on the company’s review of the operation said yesterday."

This quote from a story out of the New York Times today.

What will our votes mean in a couple of years?

Fish and Brewis

Norway - full steam ahead - farmed slamon to Russia.
It is always good to know how competing nations are doing with aquaculture.

This News Release from Pan Fish

I wonder - Loyola how are we making out with the devastating European tariff on shrimp.

Fish Felons

Here's how the Wave Newsletter has headlined the Harbour Breton situation.

Top story
Minister declares FPI plant sale 'null and volid'

Tom Rideout, fisheries minister of Newfoundland and Labrador, says the CAD $1 ($0.89/€0.70) sale of the FPI Ltd. plant in Harbour Breton to Barry Group is "null and void" because the deal wasn't approved by provincial officials as required by the FPI Act.

Loyola Hearn and Danny Williams hang fishery out to dry

Is there a reason why our politicians are not demanding a judicial inquiry into the collapse of the ground-fish stocks?
They are disinterested - weak - gutless - and manipulative!
There will be a judicial inquiry on the collapse of the salmon stocks on the Fraser River in British Columbia - yet our members, federal and provincial, are silent.
They are destroying rural Newfoundland and Labrador to save the Canadian bacon.
Call for an inquiry - and wait there will be joint management of the BC fishery before Loyola will raise the issue for us.
Shared management ------> no
Custodial management ----> no
Retirement Packages -----> no
income stablization -------> no
quota's for communities ---> no
stop the seal protestors ----> no
judicial inquiry ------------> no
protect Ramea ------------> no
protect Fortune -----------> no
protect Marystown--------> no
protect Harbour Breton ----> no
protect Gander ------------> no
provide indemnity forArgentia --> no
provide fallow field legislation ---> no

Is any of this you Loyola? or are we blaming the wrong politician?

The Deal will be bad come Hell or High Water

Listen Minister Dunderdale - you cannot possibly be willing to shoot such crap on the Voiseys Bay Deal to further Danny's juvenile politics.
Here she is on this morning saying the government is "making the best of a bad deal". What a joke you are - and you will risk Argentia, Long Harbour, Labrador, the whole works to promote petty politics.
The issue of ore leaving the province until the processing plant is built is not new - the fact that they can ship that ore wherever is not new - and the contract also guarantees that any amount leaving will be returned in the same quantity to be processed in some manner in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Today the Minister is on trying to protect Sudbury?????
Sudbury will not process the ore because they support their union brothers and sisters - that is normal in the Canadian Union movement.
So there is nothing new here resepecting the Newfoundland and Labrador ore being processed here. That stays the same.
It is noble to defend our workers at Voisey's Bay but this Minister wants the project to fail - that is obvious by her statements.
The clauses that are being enacted are those which are normal in the industry and are not clauses you can drive a trcuk through.
This Minister will risk the project for political reasons.
Read the Laws which this deal is subject to Minister and if you feel INCO is not living up to it's social and economic commitments - have the Cabinet remove the license. Do you have the guts?
You have the ability and in this contract - the company agrees not to defend itself in court - do you want to talk about that clause? You are a puppet for the Premier - and people beware, for politics this deal must not work because that's what Danny predicted.
Now Minister I have left a message with your staff for you to call - I doubt I will hear back, but the only protection for the people relying on this project for a future is that a public debate on the deal be held now. I'm ready Minister - are you?
Tell the people the truth.
Felix - watch your political back - they can afford your loss to make Danny right.
Whether or not you are willing to defend your political garbage - I will clause by clause review this contract with the people and expose you for what you are.
Voisey's Bay workers beware - the people in Sudbury who are supporting you is fine as far as it goes, but that's for the moment - look further into the future - if you allow this Minister to keep distributing misleading information - your job may be in peril.

Labrador - International Uranium Enrichment Center?

If we are that keen on globalization, international markets, and free trade - then we should be at least aware of the game - let alone be part of it.
These are the things that truly annoy me - as a taxpayer and citizen of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Labrador has uranium - the potential is truly world-class, Labrador has hydro - definately
world-class, Labrador has and does play an important role in National security, Labrador has world-class tradespeople, engineers, geologists etc.
The Department of Natural Resources has plenty of employees we pay to find, investigate, and promote the province's natural resources. We have a Department of Business to attract the world to Newfoundland and Labrador and further identify opportunities for local business to play a significant role - such as supply and services to the offshore. The Premier claims he is a multi-millionaire as a result of his exceptional business prowess - and jets around the world gathering business and government intelligence that couldbe used here.

Where are all these people we pay when the opportunity of a couple of generations comes along - clearly suitable for Labrador?
Behind the game! Until Dean MacDonald showed extremely poor judgement by taking a Board position with an energy (uranium) company, the activity in Labrador was not even getting a look-in with the local media.
Then we have Ed Martin, the CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - sitting with an expanded mandate and all the government support he needs to seek unique opportunities for our crown corporation - yet I have not heard a peep out of him.

Here is a portion of a story out of AXcess News today...
(EUNN) London - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Tuesday that it backed Russia's proposal to develop international uranium enrichment centers that would eliminate the problems faced with controling the source of atomic fuel and prevent nations from making weapons grade plutonium.
Complete Story Here

Please consider what Labrador has to offer - and understand when the IAEA has given its support to such a proposal - and considering the rebirth of the nuclear power interest worldwide - and the security issues associated with certain nations who want to enrich uranium (for energy needs) . Labrador is perfect!
Are we in on this discussion yet?
Danny likes to think big - play with the oil companies - fight with the feds on significant contracts - so now is his moment to take the lead - show us what he can do.

Uranium Rich Labrador

More news on uranium activity in Labrador.
There is no doubt that as with iron ore, hydro potential, nickel copper and cobalt - urnaium is about to become a real interest in Labrador. The question is what do we do with this resource?
Hydro ---> gone to Quebec
Iron Ore ---> gone to Quebec
Nickel ---> some here some to Ontario with guarantee for replacement to the Island processing facility.
Uranium ---> yet to be determined - but there is a tremendous opportunity - right now - for Labrador to use it's uranium and power potential for the development of a century. The question is - are our politicians - federal and provincial able to do the job and get in on the action? It is not a good sign that they did not say anything first about this opportunity - it's doubtful all the people we pay to do this work, including Minister Kathy Dunderdale, even know.

Below is an update on the Sims Lake Uranium Project. The very next post on Sue's Blog will reveal the opportunity just begging for a "real businessperson" to take the lead.

Information below is part of a News Release from Consolidated Abaddon

Sims Lake Uranium property, Labrador

Consolidated Abaddon announced on August 31st that the summer / fall exploration program on Consolidated Abaddon's Sims Lake uranium project located northwest of Churchill Falls in western Labrador is now underway. International Uranium Corporation is the operator and has been granted the right and initial option to acquire a 51% interest in the uranium rights to the Sims Lake property over a period of two years.

Sims Lake U3O8 Project, Labrador Location Map:

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Where are the Crown Corps Agencies and Federal Places located? UPDATE

Stephenville simply needs fair treatment from Ottawa. What's good for Winnipeg is good for Stephenville.

The Royal Canadian Mint has responded to Sue's Blog regarding the number of jobs for this Federal Crown Corporation in Manitoba and Ottawa.

Currently there are approximately 700 employees working at both
facilities. This includes office staff, management and production
staff.

Again another 700 federal jobs that would - let's say - fix the Stephenville mill loss. Come on Loyola get creative and get one of those headquarters for Newfoundland and Labrador. Don't be shy MP Byrne get busy.

BC Hydro under attack....

The following is from a column by Robin Matthews in Vive le Canada

What is the core of the theft in B.C.?

Having promised not to privatize B.C. Hydro, the most valuable water generating electric system in North America, Gordon Campbell is destroying it.

One. By his 2002 B.C. Energy Plan B.C. Hydro is prevented permanently from developing further electrical generation and is being forced to buy from private generators.

Two. Campbell is burying B.C. Hydro in billions of dollars of debt through advance energy purchase agreements with those private corporations.

Three. Campbell has opened all B.C.’s hundreds of rivers to virtual gift-takeovers by a network of ugly, often foreign, often U.S. corporations.

Four. He has passed legislation – Bill 30 – which prevents all B.C. Municipalities from having any power over zoning of electrical generating facilities erected by private (many foreign) corporations on B.C. rivers. In effect, he has strangled the democratic rights of B.C. Municipalities. .

Five. Campbell has forced B.C. Hydro to out-source a third of its staff to Accenture, a highly dubious Bermuda-based operation. All metering, billing, and financial services of B.C. Hydro have been handed to Accenture by the B.C. government. Accenture came into being from its original life as Arthur Anderson Consulting which was so implicated in the Enron scandal it was virtually destroyed and had to disappear. Its reappearance is as Accenture. It is now a major “partner” in the B.C. water generated energy system.
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Take the time and read the full story - it's worth the time.

We will not be taken down this path - regardless of the front any one man might present. Money wants more money!

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Power...

key to economic development.

As Sue's Blog has demonstrated time and again energy= economic development - and nowadays renewable clean energy = more economic development.

These two statements out of North Carolina

Studies show significant job creation and economic development are possible with energy efficiency. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy examined the link between economic development and energy efficiency in Illinois. Benefits found included energy bill savings, job creation, wage increases and the reduction of air pollutants. Similar economic and environmental benefits can be projected for the Southeast.

After reducing our hunger for electricity, clean, renewable sources of energy -- including wind, solar, hydro, landfill methane, and biomass -- could be developed to support a portion of our remaining energy needs. Investments in these sources would bring their costs down to competitive levels, while keeping those dollars in our state. The state Utilities Commission has a duty to North Carolinians to lead our energy suppliers in this direction, for the long-term benefit of our health and economy.

Here's a story from the Charlotte Observer in North Carolina

Political Realist

Optimism or Pessimism - Neither
Realism!
I read with interest Offal News post "A New Year's Resolution - Optimis m"
I enjoy the debate with Simon and this would be no exception. I am one of the guilty Simon speaks of in his column published in the Telegram, January 06.
The state of Newfoundland and Labrador you see has to be someones fault. It does not happen on its own. Simon says it shows us as weak or stupid if we always talk in these terms. That's correct but I would add sometimes lazy with our politics and disinterested in anything which does not affect the individual directly.
Weak - yes in that we have let Canada walk all over is in this confederation - netting us a "have not" status with a "have" set of natural resources.
It is a fact that our fishery was mismanaged by Ottawa.
It is a fact that Ottawa destroyed our hydro potential and market by not forcing Quebec to allow a corridor for power sales.
It is a fact we get very little in the way of federal jobs and agencies.
It is a fact that equalization has been used to haul away significant benefits from our non-renewable and renewable resources.
It is a fact we have never had a judge appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.
It is a fact that we get screwed politically because we have 7 seats.
and on and on...
These are not theories.
We are stupid - well I would use the words "deliberately ignorant" as we have all the smarts and talent in the world but we don't bother and want others to take care of that for us - unless it directly impacts us individually.
When Ottawa is going to hold a judicial inquiry on the salmon stocks on the Fraser River - surely to god we should have one right?
No - because Loyola Hearn is weak and we are not doing anything to make him act.
The riches of Newfoundland and Labrador are tremendous - and it is my opinion that we are the richest piece of geography in North America - yet we have mass outmigration.
Somebody is to blame - and when it's Ottawa I will say it and when it's us I will say that too. But if we say nothing then we are just floating in oblivion where bad things continue to happen and nobody knows why. That is not acceptable!
Then there are the corporates Simon mentions - people say they are out to do us in. I should hope so Simon or they are not doing their corporate job. They are in the business to make money and they need our assets to do it. So when they start shipping wholesale our resources to China, Ontario, the States or elsewhere - they clearly are gonna do us in to maximize the profits. Our job, is to maximise the resources for the people - and if that means beating them with a hard negotiating stick - so be it. But we must be willing to use our own resources wisely to attract investment. Example: If we ship our hydro to Quebec, Ontario, New England or Nova Scotia - we have chosen to ship our competitive edge away. That would be us "being stupid". If we use the power to attract industry - they will come. That would be us "being smart".
Don't worry this does not lead to a dead end but leads to recognition that we must take hold of our future and wrestle it from those who want to use everything they can get from us - including our people.
It's somebody's damn fault - and from now on it should not be ours. When that is the case - you will hear stories of success not stories of who is to blame for the failure.

Come by Chance and Stay by Chance 5

An important story for those interested in the purchase of the Come by Chance oil refinery by Harvest Energy Trust.
Sue's Blog has dealt with this issue before:

Come by Chance Stay by Chance 1
Come by Chance Stay by Chance 2
Come by Chance Stay by Chance 3
Come by Chance Stay by Chance 4

Energy Trusts move well when commodity prices are high - now that there has been volatility in the price it could get rocky - that's important to Come by Chance which has been sold to Harvest Energy Trust.

The Toronto Star has the Story

Welcome to the New Site

I hope this works out better for Sue's Blog readers.
Over the next couple of weeks I will transfer posts from the old house.
The Robbing Newfoundland and Labrador series, Hydro Quebec 101, Crown Corps and Agencies, Fish and Brewis and the regular breaking features will be moved to this site.
Thanks for your patience.
Sue

Where have all the Mayors gone? Don Fiddled while Harbour Breton Burned!

It used to be that the government, federal or provincial would have a good fight on its hands if rural communities were losing people, business, schools, hospitals etc. The Mayor would be front and centre with a hastily called News Conference followed by protests inside or outside politicians offices or hundreds and sometimes thousands of people marching on the Hill and filling the public galleries.
They had a way of putting townies in their place and showing them there's more to Newfoundland and Labrador than the Avalon Peninsula. Nowadays the Mayors have cozied up to the Premier and his Ministers - quite often at a cost to their own people and towns.
Don Stewart - as an example has been running defence for Danny since the FPI plant was closed in Harbour Breton. Stewart is a good politician and won the mayoral race even after the town was abuzz with speculation that Don was too close to government and was withholding information from other councillors.
Let's back this story up a little. Harbour Breton a thriving fishing community on the South Coast was bustling - and unlike many rural areas had a healthy population of young families. The fish plant operated year round and local small business was doing great. People like Gloria, Eric and Eric were proud to be living and working in the region and had all the expectation of continuing to do so. In a sense Harbour Breton was the flagship in rural fishing communities.
Then the announcement - FPI was leaving the community and was not re-opening the plant. Initially there was shock and then there was anger. Leaders in the community were crying foul and wanted some action taken by both the federal and provincial governments.
In true political style - the promises were fast and furious, talks of quota's and changes to the FPI Act and if all else fails - Danny would not let the community die.
When action was not coming fast enough Eric and Gloria and the parish priest put their heads together and formed a committee to try and wrestle the government into action.
They were coming to St. John's and they wanted commitments from Williams. I arranged the News Conference for them, sent out the Notice to the Editors, arranged the seating and invites, along with ensuring the technical gear was in place for the media. I also did up a kit of information for them - and no I was not employed by the town to do so.
That's when I first experienced the "Danny Damage Control" entourage. This was lead by Mayor Stewart who was only going to sit with his own people at the head table if he controlled the "tone" of the conference. It almost went down that way except Eric Day, councillor and union man spoke his mind and let the province know how the people felt about losing their community.
The town support for the group continued to grow and culminated at a rally which I attended during their annual festival in Harbour Breton. But Don - was having nothing of that. He told people to wait for the Premier and to settle down and keep it quiet for awhile. The Premier rolled into town gave tearful speech and was cheered as he spoke "from the heart" to children of displaced parents.
And Don kept it up as time went on and people were starting to leave to seek work west. He held the government's hand when they rolled into town again with the Barry announcement. This was going to be great - Barry might get quotas from Loyola, Barry might find some herring, and even conducted his own scientific study on the matter. The town would get the plant from FPI for a buck - when FPI cleaned up any environmental concerns, the town would get some community quotas, and they could attract Barry or Cooke or other interests with the plant they would then own.
FPI is controlled by the legislature and is responsible for environmental problems at the site. This should go ahead swimmingly. In comes Don...
As things started to slip, no quota from the feds, no herring in the water and an uncooperative FPI - Don asked for patience from the people - his people, friends, and neighbours. More and more people were leaving and in some cases convoys of U-Hauls left the community. Don had it under control - the government and FPI were working with him - and he would save the town.
Well my friends - Don fiddled while Harbour Breton burned and they awoke last week to hear the plant had been sold to Barry for a buck.
As you might expect townspeople were furious and Gloria called Bill Rowe while Eric joined the Fisheries Broadcast to voice their outrage at learning the news from the media.
Well today Don Stewart was on the Broadcast and he did not disappoint as he began the process of the soft sell for the government. He downplayed the fact that his own town was irrelevant in the process and essentially were ignored as Bill Barry and John Risley determined what was best for them.
Where's Oliver? and Earle? who knows!
If you want to know what's wrong with rural Newfoundland and Labrador - yes blame the feds and the province - but now sadly we must point a finger at the Mayor too. Shame on you Don - was it really worth it?

Tommorrow - we will discuss Stephenville.

Where's the New Economic Recovery Plan?

In January of this year Doug House left his position as Deputy Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development to take on a new role for the Premier.
This new assignment was to, over the next year or so, take stock of where the government has gone with its economic development initiatives - particularly in the various regions (secret pools of communities).
In a News Release Danny said the following;

"Now, halfway through our mandate, it is time to take stock of what has been initiated to date, and move to the next phase to ensure our development strategies are being carried out in an integrated, co-ordinated fashion, in line with our original goals."

Okay let's examine that statement.
Danny wants to determine if the development strategies are being carried out....
What development strategies are those?
- to decommission the Stephenville paper mill?
- to leave Harbour Breton hanging for over 2 years until enough people left in order to lower the communties expectations?
- to close Fortune and perhaps Marystown in order to accomodate the federal government's inaction on the fishery?
- to reduce the number of smaller fish processors so the "big players" could run the show?
- to slowly but surely reduce the expectations of Central Newfoundland by allowing the shut down of one machine at the Grand Falls Windsor paper mill?
- to build the airport presence in St. John's and Deer Lake by allowing the elimination of the Gander airport?
- to accomplish a population reduction of another 10,000 people from rural areas?
- to reach agreement with aboriginal groups respecting the development of the Lower Churchill in order to eliminate the educated protest which may occur for giving away our future by exporting the power to other jurisdictions?
- to close enough fish plants and paper operations in an effort to reduce energy need - thereby selling the argument that we do not need the power or the alternative
- to close enough industrial operations to be able to supply a nickel processing facility in the Argentia area?
- to hold up the process of appointing a chair to the CNLOPB until he (Danny) decides what's happening to the gas offshore - the Premier's longtime personal interest?
- to forget about the Tory election promise making custodial control and joint managment of the fishery as top priorities (is it possible that went bye bye with the Accord deal)?
- to get control of the media through whatever means possible (some ended up leavingtheir reporter roles to become communications directors with the government) - threaten them by not giving interviews?

Were all of these the original goals?
When can we see a progress report of House's new undertaking?

Interesting notes I have found...

I was just reading an interesting article on Paper Mills in the country.
Here's a couple of points for you to consider Stephenville when the Ministers, the Premier, and the "consultant" tell you it's all over for finding a new operator.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Issues

High electricity costs. Mills use large amounts of electricity, and in many jurisdictions, prices have been shooting up. In Ontario, the increase has been as much as 30 per cent over four years as discounts for manufacturers were phased out.
Inadequate wood supplies. Moves to reduce unsustainable forest "harvests" so there will be trees to cut in the future, or for environmental reasons or competing uses such as tourism, have squeezed mills in Eastern Canada. Most dramatically, Quebec decided in early 2005 to slash allowable cuts by 20 per cent over three years.

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How are other provinces going to deal with it?

"Quebec will spend $450 million over three years to ease the industry's pain, it said in October 2005, and in September, Ontario promised $330 million over five years."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newfoundland and Labrador $????????

Also you guys on the peninsula, I hope you are watching the energy plan and developments closely. You'll know soon enough if the Premier ever thinks you'll need the power. Not if he thinks you are going to perish as a community.

Entire story

Non-Renewable revenues out! Non-Renewable promise

June 2006 you said to the polling company in a quote,
Don't forget the pledge!!!!!

"Earlier this month, Williams said he expects Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper to maintain his pledge to exclude revenue from non-renewable resources from equalization, saying, "I’m quite confident that he will certainly not do this because of the commitment that he has given to me, and my province and my people in writing."

See the poll and story here
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How are we doing with that Danny? This coming before the next federal election? Ask Loyola while he's here will you.

Blue Cod and a New Minister

IQF wild blueberries are moving much better than IQF cod in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. Kudos to all involved. The Canadian component of the Wild Blueberry Association of North America. The Canadian component consists of Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
Super Minister Chuck just put another 1 and 1/2 million dollars to help develop international markets.
News Release

Now if we could get the cod to hold their breath until they turn blue and we could get Loyola to don Strahal's super minister red cape we might just get somewhere.
Hard to keep up with this fellow, apparently he did not need an adjustment time when he made it to government - he landed running - unfortunately our fellow Hearn landed running away from his promises.

Good Afternoon Stephenville

As I listened to Minister Joan Burke this morning on VOCM I was trying to figure out where all the alternate plans went for the paper mill.
JOAN, in this case the problem is wood and energy.
Let's start from there - Williams and Byrne did say they would expropriate - nobody's taking these assets. Now Burke says that was only if there was somebody else to take over the mill but now after-all it is Abitibi's equipment and they can do what they want.
Joan, I think that was Abitibi's position when the government was claiming they controlled the situation - including the assets.
Number 1 saying there are no takers on the mill because a consultant says that's the case is a farce. The government said there were other interests - where did they go?
Hey Joan, what happened to the vim and vigor of your boss when he made this statement?

"I indicated to Mr. Weaver that our government will not stand by and allow them to devastate these communities that depend on these mills for their survival, said Premier Williams. I sent a message loud and clear to Mr. Weaver that we would explore every possible option in terms of what legal authority government may have over the company's water and chartered timber rights."

Complete News Release

Premier threatens to retaliate in this CBC story

Do you get the feeling that every community that's facing obliteration is given the same story - stay with us, we are on the same side, we will fight for you, and there is a plan B. Then after enough people move away from that community the government says "to hell with that", not enough left to bother us now. Another community Doug House does not have to include in his elusive economic recovery plan ( 4th Edition).

If rural communities do not come together and insist on action - it is over.
The Federation of Municpalities is a registered charity with a particular mandate which includes dealing with situations such as these. What have they done for you lately? You can get the federal gas tax, which has replaced a significant reduction in ACOA's budget, if you can keep your community afloat long enough to use it.

Voisey's Bay Strike helps to keep nickel prices high...

This is an interesting story all round - talks about nickel prices and supply generally and the last paragraph deals with Voisey's. Hard times when your strike is keeping nickel prices high for the company you're striking against.
Read Story Here

Churchill Deal must be closer...

Brian Tobin is back in town. Now before you get too excited, he's only here to address the Canadian Bar Association's Canadian Legal Conference. Sure okay - will you be seeing Dean MacDonald while you are here.
By the way think about this now, all the fisheries gurus are around - apparently John Crosbie will address the delegates, Rideout and Williams being lawyers, I guess can jump into the mix. That is if everybody promises not to bring up the Rulokke affair. Hearn's hanging around somewhere but I'm sure they can find him. In his case you can't mention custodial management.
Now's the time for a fisheries summit - I think they all have seal something or another. I know Danny and Brian have a jacket, and John I think has the boots, Hearn's at least got a hat and Rideout should have something sealy around - at the very least seal oil caplets.
This has nothing to do with the fishery ro for this bunch probably not even the Legal Conference. But all the gang can smell the money coming from a 10 billion dollar development.

St. John's Board of Trade Questions and Loyola's answers

When asked about custodial managment - Read the response from Loyola less than a year ago!
ANSWER

It was a pretty clear response!
His current position must have been adopted from Siobhan Coady's campaign. Read it and judge for yourself.

Nice Smack Loyola but it never even left a bruise...

While our Minister is Breezing through the Summer he should remember the things he said. He claims not to have said this stuff. Well Loyola, you were not promoting joint patrol in and around our waters, so stop pretending you were. Also you should remember what you said when you were quoting the Mayor of Burgeo respecting the pending death of his community and then you should remember the whole adjacency thing.

Loyola didn't say this! Well I guess Loyola the reporter got it wrong, you should clear that up.
Read the story

Then there's this from Hansard...June 18-2002

Mr. Loyola Hearn: Mr. Speaker, I again congratulate the chairperson. Usually when an opposition member speaks we get negative comments, but the hon. member strongly supports the recommendations more than anyone on the committee.

The committee has heard a lot of comments from Newfoundlanders. I will mention two or three to add to the ones the hon. member mentioned. The Liberal fisheries minister of Newfoundland, with whom I spoke this morning, said before the committee in March:

In summary, NAFO has failed us since its inception in 1978--

This is extremely important. It is why I am glad we are having the debate this morning. As we head into the NAFO meetings this fall, the House generally and governments specifically should be aware of what the report says and what members are saying. If we go to the NAFO meetings with the same frame of mind we have had at past meetings there will be no fish left next year to worry about.

The minister went on to say Canada had failed us as well. The political will, with the exception of a few brief moments in our history, has not existed in Ottawa to deal with foreign overfishing. Trevor Taylor, a member of the house of assembly, said:

I suspect if a tree falls in the forest, nobody hears, and when a fish is caught on the tail or the nose of the Grand Banks, nobody hears. The people of this country are not engaged in what's happening down here.

Luckily, some people are becoming engaged through their members. The final comment I will use is from Allister Hann, the mayor of Burgeo. His town has probably suffered more than any. This is factual. He said:Rural Newfoundland is dying, particularly my town.

This is pretty hard stuff to listen to but it shows what we can do. What can we do? We can notify NAFO that we are getting out of it. We can notify it that with or without its help we will take custodial management of the nose and tail of the Grand Banks. If we have the guts to do this we will provide a resource for our people and employment for many years to come.

and then there's this...

Mr. Loyola Hearn: Mr. Speaker, that is an exceptionally good question.

Many people including the minister do not understand what custodial management means. All it means is that the adjacent state, in this case Canada, would be the clear custodial manager with the right and duty to environmentally manage the stocks off its coast including those outside the 200 mile limit. We would declare ourselves the manager of the resource. This could be done in consultation with other members of NAFO because they all have quotas in the area that they want to see preserved and protected.

Even those who blatantly abuse the quotas admit that if we destroyed them there would be nothing left. Many countries are conscious of what is happening and of the need for someone to manage the resource. The logical manager is the adjacent state, in this case Canada. If officials in our department of foreign affairs did something besides drink cognac and eat caviar we might get agreement to manage the stocks for the benefit of not only us but all the other countries with quotas provided they operated within the guidelines. As I have said, I think many of them would. It is not a difficult process. It is one that takes a lot of guts, and I am not sure they are there.

and then this....

Mr. Loyola Hearn: Mr. Speaker, those are two pointed issues which have been discussed quite often in the fishery. First, the hon. member addressed the issue of adjacency. Over the years the people of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, the provinces adjacent to the resource, have not been the only ones to fish it. In relation to almost every resource worldwide the principle of adjacency applies. Those adjacent to the resource are the first and main beneficiaries.

Second, the hon. member spoke about historical attachment. This is where the Spanish, Portuguese and everyone else comes in because they have been fishing these grounds for years. We are not saying in any way that they should not be allowed to do so. All we are asking is that people abide by the rules. Someone has to be the policeman. We are satisfied to do it. It does not cost that much and everyone benefits.

I hope members from Newfoundland and other members will participate in this. The story must be told. It should not be cut off.

--------------------------------------------

That last highlight is the best of them all. I guess Loyola the story has been cut off.

Two interesting Links

For those who believe that Canadian troops need to come home from Afghanistan and return to our peacekeeping missions around the world look at this petition
Information about the petition is on that site. It was started by an ad hoc group in British Columbia.

Next in line is the Atlantica Party

All Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should at least have a look.

The Atlantica Party will:

Gather and lead a broad social movement for change.
Form the provincial government in one or more of the Atlantican provinces under the current political system.
Create a fairer and more democratic electoral system.
Initiate a balanced, effective and representative political structure.
Examine a union of the Atlantica region.
Create a plan in case of Quebec Sovereignty
Reexamine the terms of Canadian Confederation.

For all the info on this group visit their site here

Nobody is asking about quotas for communities

Loyola you and I both know that people want you to assign quotas to communities. The nonsense you related on "summer breeze", is nothing more than ducking or worse. I was reading a few statements by your communications guy Steve Outhouse when you were in opposition and he was responding on behalf of the Liberal Minister. Same messages from a Liberal and Tory Minister with the same communications guy. Go figure! Who's in charge?
Anyway we will carry on over the weekend dealing with your statements on the program.

MP Bill Matthews has
MHA Percy Barrett has

MR. RIDEOUT: Mr. Speaker, again, I cannot control the flights of fantasy that the Leader of the Opposition might engage in, but the fact of the matter is, he knows, everybody in Newfoundland knows, the people in Harbour Breton know, the people in Fortune know, the people in Marystown know, the people in other communities around know, that those quotas are assigned to a company. They are not assigned to a community.

Now, should there be community quotas? Maybe, but the fact of the matter is, the reality of the matter is, right now the quotas that used to be assigned to National Sea, we were able to purchase and have them repatriated to Arnold’s Cove. I think that is good public policy. When we speculate on doing that, in terms of the FPI operation, the Leader of the Opposition comes down on us like a ton of bricks.

Mr. Speaker, you cannot have it both ways. You are either for that as a public policy option or you are not. So, yes, that is one option and there are many others that we are exploring.

MHA Judy Foote has

Snitch Line

Look out, we caught some of the boys with 50 cod, yes that's right 50 cod.
Now look out so as not to look ridiculous Loyola tells everybody that NAFO are doing up a list. Yup a list of countries notorious for over-fishing or illegal fishing of any type. Hang on though - there is an exception, NAFO members can't be on the list.
Now let's watch this one unfold. The plundering european members of NAFO are getting a clean record as they cannot make the list. Next time somebody takes a smack at any of them, they are going to hold up Loyola's (NAFO) list and say - see we are not one of the bad ones.
The snitch lines that lit up for the boys of Jobs Cove should be humming tonight with reports of foreign breaches or the taking of endangered stocks. Yeah right, don't hold your breath because you see they get to tell on themselves - I think the Minister called it "self-reporting". HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.
Tell you what I'll put your email up here so the people can write you every day about the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap to inform you that violations are happening right under your nose.
Check with Peter and see if he'll let you rat on the NAFO members.
Snitch away...

Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Read the real "rant and roar" on the subject here

Minister's meetings with women on the Burin Peninsula a success???????

Read the Release

So Minister Burke came off the BBQ circuit and visited the women of Fortune and Marystown this week. She wanted to know about issues of importance to them.

FISH

That's the answer Joan, FISH >------->
Where are the fish?
What about the plant?
Where are early retirement packages?
What will we do for our families?

It was successful - the Minister can empathize!

The Release says, in part,
"The transitional office has been established by government to assist those displaced by the closure of the fish plant in Fortune."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The closure? The transitional office?
We need a transitional office alright - one that allows new leadership in the fishery.

What happened to the takeover of FPI, or legislative change, or the great fisheries summit?
Your meeting was a success how?
Have you sued the feds yet?
What you have to offer in the way of "creative thinking" is a Transitional Office - why don't you just buy them a ticket to Alberta or send them to one of that province's recruiting agencies.

You and your colleagues are failures - you are selling out!
Where's the next transitional office going to be set up - or did Cathy D answer that yesterday? Off to Stephenville, with a quick change in Harbour Breton.

Go back to the BBQ circuit - have a burger and see if you can't deliver the bacon.

Loyola knows but won't tell

Below you will see my email to the DFO copied to the Minister. This was the first week of June.
By god we, the people are not allowed to know who holds licenses for quota's in our region.
Now the Minister is hinting he is casually looking and he'll tell us later.
He's got a secret.
Grow up Loyola and give us the info - any chance you can fix that info line up?

Did I Hear Right?

Loyola H is casually looking at who holds commercial fishing quota's in our region.
Let me share with you email correspondence from me to the DFO and Ministers Office.

June 03-06

Please provide a list of commercial fishing licenses for the East Coast of Canada.
More specifically, I am looking for the name of the individual or company which holds a license
for any species of sea fish and the allocation for each.
I trust as this is a common resource this information is readily available.
If it is available electronically please advise as to how one gets this information.
Thank you,

Sue Kelland-Dyer

Response

Dear Ms. Kelland-Dyer ,

Thank you for your email, dated 03 June 2006, requesting information on commercial fishing quotas.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Commercial Fishing - Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

The Commercial Fishing - Newfoundland and Labrador Region program manages commercial fisheries in the Newfoundland and Labrador region by carrying out the following activities:

- issuing and renewing commercial fishing licences and vessel registration numbers
- establishing licence conditions
- setting quotas for certain licences
- issuing seal hunting licences to the fishing industry in the Atlantic region
- establishing management plans for commercial fisheries

The program also provides information on the following topics for the Newfoundland and Labrador region:

- commercial fisheries management plans
- selective fishery
- test fishery
- fishing seasons
- fishery notices, such as those announcing the openings or closures of fishing zones

Fishermen may appeal a decision related to licensing. Appeals must first be registered with the area office that issued the licence.

You may contact the regional office as follows:

Commercial Fishing - Newfoundland and Labrador Region
1144 Topsail Road
St. John's, NL A1N 5E8

Tel.:(709) 772-5045 9am - 4pm closed 12pm-1pm
Fax:(709) 772-2659

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require additional information.

I asked again

I repeat my request as it did not isolate those licences in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

Response

Dear Ms. Kelland-Dyer,

Thank you for your email, dated 05 June 2006, requesting information on commercial fishing licenses issued in the Maritimes, Gulf and Québec regions.

Commercial Fishing - Gulf Region.

The Commercial Fishing - Gulf Region program carries out the following activities:

- issues, renews and transfers commercial fishing licences and vessel registration numbers
- sets quotas for certain fishing licences
- administers licence retirement programs
- develops and implements commercial fisheries management plans
- implements management, evaluation and protection programs for commercial fisheries habitats
- conducts scientific research on fish species and the effects of commercial fisheries
- produces statistics related to commercial fisheries

The program also provides information on the following topics:

- commercial fisheries management plans
- selective fishing
- test fishing
- fishing seasons
- fishery notices, such as the openings and closures of fishing zones

Fishers may appeal a decision related to licensing. Appeals must first be registered with the area office that issued the licence.

You may contact them as follows:

Commercial Fishing - Gulf Region
9603 Route 134
Aldouane, NB E4W 5J2

Tel.: (506) 523-8237 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. Atlantic Time
Fax: (506) 523-8257

Commercial Fishing - Maritimes Region.

The Commercial Fishing - Maritimes Region program carries out the following activities:

- issues and renews commercial fishing licences and vessel registration numbers
- sets quotas for fisheries
- develops and implements commercial fisheries management plans
- enforces commercial fisheries regulations

The program also provides information on the following topics:

- emerging fisheries policies
- selective fishing
- sentinel fisheries
- fishing seasons
- fishery notices, such as the openings and closures of commercial fishing zones, including shellfish zone management

Fishers may appeal a decision related to licensing. Appeals must first be registered with the area office that issued the licence.

You may contact their offices as follows:

Commercial Fishing - Maritimes Region
Marine House
176 Portland Street
PO Box 1035
Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4T3

Tel.: (902) 426- 9966 8a.m. - 4p.m. Atlantic Time Licensing information only.
Tel.: (902) 426-0999 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. Information on quotas only.
Tel.: (902) 426-2473 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. Fishing regulations, seasons and zones.
Fax: (902) 426-5010

Commercial Fishing - Québec Region.

The Commercial Fishing - Quebec Region program manages commercial fishery activities in the Quebec Region that affect marine fish by carrying out the following activities:

- establishing management plans for commercial fisheries

- issuing commercial fishing licences
- developing and implementing licence policies
- enforcing commercial fisheries regulations
- monitoring commercial fishery activities
- ensuring statistic follow-up of fishery activities
- carrying out scientific research to support fishery management decisions

The program also provides information on commercial fishing seasons and issues fishery notices, such as the openings and closures of fishing zones, in the Quebec Region.

You may contact their offices as follows:

Commercial Fishing - Québec Region
104 Dalhousie Street, 3rd Floor
Québec, QC G1K 7Y7

Tel.: (418) 648-5890 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. Eastern Time.
Fax: (418) 649-8002

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require additional information.

Here we go again:

Does the Government of Canada have a central data-base or registry for commercial fishing licenses?

Response

Dear Ms. Kelland-Dyer,

Thank you for your email, dated 05 June 2006, requesting information on the existence of a central registry for commercial fishing licenses.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Statistical Services.

The Statistical Services program collects data from federal departments and agencies as well as from provincial and territorial governments in order to report on Canada's fisheries.

The program carries out the following activities:

- conducts surveys on recreational fishing and on the fishing and fish-processing industries
- publishes statistics and reports on subjects related to fisheries
- produces customized reports.

The link below will lead you to their national website:
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/communic/statistics/main_e.htm

You may contact them directly as follows:

Statistical Services
Centennial Towers
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6

Tel.: (800) 298-9935 9a.m.- 5p.m. Eastern Time
Fax: (613) 991-3254
You know I did that and the response was a joke…

Try it yourself

Minister's meetings with women on the Burin Peninsula a success???????

Hydro Quebec 101 continues...

So what does HQ do in it's spare time...
Have a LOOK
Please scroll down the page when you get to it and investigate away.
Be informed Hydro is your business.

Everybody and anybody do as you wish unless your are a Newfoundlander or Labradorian

Dear Loyola,
What's the deal? You are inspecting your own people fast and furious while foreigners carry on. Answer the questions I asked you yesterday.
1. During the same time frame how many recreational boats are being inspected in Nova Scotia, PEI, and/or Quebec?
2. How many vessel inspections are taking place on our offshore of foreign fishing vessels?
3. How much surveillance is being conducted on little oil spills here or there in our water from commercial vessel traffic?
Now we have a Newfoundland sealer charged with assault. How did that happen? Our people are in peril every time they go out, not by the natural working environment but by those who feel they have free reign in Canadian waters because you don't have the guts to go to the Supreme Court.
Further release the deal Ottawa made with the protestors/observers after the Ontario Court ruling. Why are you hiding that deal? What has the federal government granted them?
Get them Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and to hell with the rest.
Who do you represent Loyola?

Good Morning Bay St. George

"The Bay St. George Chamber of Commerce is worried that the closure of the Abitibi-Consolidated paper mill in Stephenville will cause the area's economy to take a nosedive." This headline from CBC news today.
Okay better late than never for community leaders. That plant did not have to close and should be open.
What happened to all the garbage spewed from the politicans that others were lined up yo take over. Now Chamber of Commerce, listen-up, the airport is next if you do not force those who made the promises live up to them.
The BBQ circuit is winding down time to put the politicians on the grill. Save your communities and region. Ask Doug House to reveal his new plan for economic development. Find out where you fit in.
Everybody remembers the promises made while Abitibi was walking out the door. What happened to the protection of the assets, what happened to the other interests, and what is Plan B?
The paper companies are going where energy is reliable,renewable and cost competitive. Dunderdale is telling the whole story - that's even if she knows it at all.

You Can Drive a Mac Truck Through it...

Apparently Dean MacDonald, our current Chair of Hydro got it all wrong and Danny did not have all the info...
Geez would you like to get let's say John Noseworthy to have a look at that one?
Appeal Dismissed and 2004 judgement stands between Henley Capital Corp. and Cable Atlantic Inc.
Read the original ruling
plus there are costs...
Read the decision on appeal

Now we are going to do what? Have this fellow review proposals for the development of the Lower Churchill? Hang on now I didn't know they were that close.
Anyway somebody paid Henley the money after he won, I wonder which one?

VOCM News Headlines???

VOCM online headline....

"Rideout Fights To Keep Rural NL Alive"

Let's examine this one. What does the reader expect comes next?
Minister Rideout directs FPI to....
Minister Rideout warns Ottawa that fish quota's must stay in NL or....
Minister Rideout announces province will expropriate Abitibi assets....
Minister Rideout announces province won't stand for cattle car service from Marine Atlantic....
Minister Rideout tells Ottawa province will fight abandonment of Gander Airport....

Those are a few I could think of - how about you?

What is actually said to back up the bold headline?
He tells delegates at the Change Island Symposium on Coastal Communities that the province must do what it can, big or small jobs created and protected...and the chaser is the government gave the conference $7500 to help with their costs.

Hey VOCM let's keep an eye on those headlines lest they turn into campaign slogans for elections.

Upper Churchill Quebec does not deny the Billion a year...

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Friday, March 15, 1996

The House met at 10 a.m.

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Prayers

There is hope Chuck and the boys are now in power. Loyola have a read and see if you can't get this fixed up.

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GOVERNMENT ORDERS

[English]

SUPPLY

ALLOTTED DAY-CHURCHILL FALLS HYDRO CONTRACT

Mr. Chuck Strahl (Fraser Valley East, Ref.) moved:

That this House condemn the government for its neglect of Labrador, and for refusing to resolve the injustice of the Churchill Falls hydro contract, thus perpetuating interprovincial trade barriers and denying the residents of Labrador the right to enjoy the benefits of their own natural resources.

He said: Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to lead off the debate on what I think is an often neglected subject in the House of Commons. Labrador is a region of the country that is the news for its natural resources and for its natural beauty. It is something we appreciate as part of Canada. However, it is an area that is taken for granted and has been taken advantage of for years.

It is time to address some of those issues in this debate. I hope that during the discussion we will be able to decide how we can better appreciate the assets of Labrador and correct some of the wrongs that have been perpetrated on the region in the past.

Yesterday during question period we discussed how a contract was awarded in Atlantic Canada but was taken away from a Halifax firm and awarded to someone in another province. Atlantic Canadians, and in particular Labradorians, feel that has happened far too often.

The Churchill Falls contract has been a severe irritant to the people in Labrador since it was signed 25 or 26 years ago. The contract forces Labrador and Newfoundland to sell its power to Quebec, which in turn sells it to the Americans. The price is jacked up 25-fold and Quebec reaps the benefits of a deal that pays almost no return to the people of Labrador.

The people of Labrador deserve much better than this. For 25 years they have sent off their electricity, specifically, and in return have received almost no benefits. They have had almost no infrastructure spending in their region. They do not have a passable highway through their region. They do not receive the tax benefits of a deal that is worth $800 million a year to Quebec.

Every time a premier from Newfoundland says: ``We are going to renegotiate, we are going to be tough, we are going to force the federal government to use some of its powers'' nothing happens. This has been going on for a long time.

Labradorians are going to make another choice in the next election about who will represent them best in the House of Commons. They will be looking to see how sincere the federal government is in addressing what has been, as we all know, an injustice to the people of Labrador.

Recently we have been hearing more talk from the government side that it is working on an internal trade agreement that will help the free flow of goods between provinces, including trade in electricity. Two years ago it came forward with a trade agreement that would break down the internal barriers to trade. However, the energy chapter is missing. It said not to worry, that by July of last year it would have the energy chapter all intact. That did not happen.

By September of last year a government spokesman said: ``Now we will have the contract'' but again it was not signed. In other words, the federal government does not seem to be able to understand that an internal trade barrier called Churchill Falls is holding up the entire internal trade agreement. It seems unwilling to exercise its powers and influence to strike that trading barrier down. During the day other speakers will be elaborating on specific points.

I would like to emphasize that although there is much the federal government can do to address this wrong, some of the feel good messages being sent out by the new Quebec premier about how he wants to get along with people, mend fences and so on, it would be a good time for him to express some of those feelings of goodwill in striking a new agreement with Labrador on Churchill Falls.

It is not enough to say we would like to get along. If something is unjust and we know it is unjust, then it needs to be addressed. I

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would hope that the new Quebec premier will take the opportunity during these negotiations on the internal trade agreement to fix what is an absolute injustice to Labrador and renegotiate that contract.

In 1969 Newfoundland signed a deal that sold power from Churchill Falls to Quebec for 65 years. Newfoundland signed this deal for two reasons. First, there was an energy glut at the time. It was before the rise of OPEC, the rise in the cost of energy generally in the world.

Second, Quebec frankly refused to allow Newfoundland to build transmission lines on its soil in order to transmit that electricity to the New England states where it was to be sold. In essence Newfoundland had to sign the deal. There is a contract, there is a deal and that cannot be denied.

The deal is so bad and so unjust that it is time not only the Quebec government, but the federal government, waded into this fray and said this is so wrong and it needs to be addressed.

(1010 )

Labrador has no access by land to the rest of North America except through Quebec. Quebec at the time had Labrador over a barrel. Labrador and Newfoundland signed. I wonder where the federal government was at the time. It was an unjust deal. Trudeau refused to deal with it. Clark refused to deal with it. Turner did not deal with it. Mulroney would not deal with it. The current government seems content to talk about it some more. It is talking and it urges us to be patient.

The people in Labrador are tired of being patient. When does the deal expire? It does not expire for another 45 years. For 45 more years the people in Labrador are expected to sell their power at one twenty-fifth of the going rate. Twenty years from now there is a renegotiation clause and the rate will drop again. Labrador will get even less money. It is so unjust that it has to be remedied.

Quebec has an opportunity to show its good faith and willingness to negotiate. The premier of Quebec says he wants good relations as a sovereign nation. It would be a good step for him to renegotiate a contract that is obviously unjust. At the end of this contract in 2041 Labrador will have transferred almost $50 billion to Quebec under this contract. That is $800 million to $1 billion a year. I understand that Quebec signed in good faith at the time but they need now to address an injustice.

The federal government can do something. It could not break the contract, of course. However, it could regulate interprovincial trade. This is one of the powers that should be enhanced as we reconfigure Confederation. Many things should be transferred to the provinces. This is what the Reform Party has said time and time again. We should allow the provinces, Quebec, Labrador and Newfoundland, all the provinces to benefit from their own natural resources. We should transfer many of the responsibilities to the provinces. I think that realignment of powers is a good sign.

One of the things the federal government should do is strengthen its power to regulate and to strike down interprovincial trade barriers. Those barriers cost Canadians between $3 billion and $5 billion a year. The first thing we must do is strike down those barriers if we are to have a free trade agreement that works in North America and the world.

In July of 1975 the minister of energy, Alastair Gillespie, said in a speech in Labrador that he favoured the use of the BNA act to declare hydro lines to be under federal jurisdiction so that they could be built across provinces.

In the west we do not deal much in the transfer of electrical energy, although certainly it is transferred without interest. However oil and gas products are transferred across provinces without an $800 million a year transfer in western Canada.

In 1976 the member for Grand Falls-White Bay-Labrador, Bill Rompkey, now a senator, and the person whose seat in Labrador is now vacant because he has been bumped up to la-la land in the other place, asked this of the minister of industry.

-is the Minister now optimistic that hydro resources in Labrador can be developed for the benefit of the Atlantic region, and will he ensure that the full force of his office, and indeed the Government of Canada is used to bring this about?

Of course there was no answer from the government of the day. Mr. Rompkey said he would talk about it and maybe someone would fix it some day. Here we are 20 years later asking a Liberal federal government about Mr. Rompkey's comments. Is it willing to champion the cause of Labrador and make this deal and the future development of lower Churchill Falls an important issue for the federal government? It does not seem to be.

(1015)

It is interesting that other parties have made comments about this. In 1976 John Crosbie, the member for St. John's, said: ``The federal government has put us in the hands of Quebec''. To that a parliamentary secretary on the Liberal side responded: ``The government has a strong preference to explore the co-operative approach and to consider exercising constitutional leverage only as a last resort''. In other words, ``we would like to talk about it'', they said in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and for the rest of time, ``and Labrador just has to be patient. You do not get a road. You do not get to develop your own assets. You do not get to benefit from future development''.

People now in Labrador are saying: ``Are we even going to benefit from Voisey Bay? What do we do, just take it on the chin? You eliminate our fish stocks. You take away our way of living.

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You take away our future prospects for benefiting from our own natural resources''. It is a shame.

In 1980 Mr. Trudeau, another well known Liberal, said: ``The federal government could act if two conditions were met: if Newfoundland had an actual contract to sell power and if Quebec charged too much to transfer that power to Newfoundland''. He said the federal government would act. He said an unreasonable charge would constitute a trade barrier.

This places Labrador and Newfoundland in a catch-22. How can they enter into a contract when they cannot get permission to transfer their power? If they cannot get permission, how can they get a contract? If they cannot get a contract the feds say they will not act. There they are hung on the horns of a dilemma saying: ``We would like to develop something. We would like to put forward a proposal but we are not allowed to wheel our power through Quebec and we are not allowed to build transmission lines. What are we supposed to do?''

The federal government should step in and say it wants to help Newfoundland and Labrador and it is willing to do it in a couple of ways. There are a couple of avenues for addressing this problem.

The first thing the government could do is follow up on a recommendation by a federal government mandated group which tabled a report in 1988 called ``Energy and Canadians: Into the 21st Century'' which we are approaching. The section entitled ``Federal Government Role'' recommends:

The federal government should articulate the conditions under which one province has a right to access, on a business basis, another province's electricity corridor or electrical grid for the purpose of transmitting electricity to a market not adjacent to the first province.

In other words, in 1988 again it said: ``The federal government should set out the terms and conditions that we could transfer power from one region or one province through another province for sale''. The federal government should do that and that has been recommended by that government mandated group back in 1988, which again promised to do something about it.

That is the first thing the government should do. It should state the right of provinces on interprovincial trade, that the right exists. The government should say it will happen, the right exists to transfer power on the electricity grid, to wheel power through another province for sale. The federal government should say that is part of its job and it will do it. It would not require legislation. It is a statement of policy. That is what we should at least be attempting, but the federal government is reluctant for some reason to even do that.

If that is not enough the federal government could take another step. Several suggestions were made by the National Energy Board in a study in 1992. If people in Atlantic Canada could live on studies they would have a very high standard of living. They have been studied to death and everyone tells them they all need help.

The Inter-Utility Trade Review in 1992 suggested several amendments to the National Energy Board Act. One suggestion was to amend the act to give the NEB the power to open up Quebec's transmission lines to allow exports of electricity to other provinces and regions. We are not talking about expropriating any land from Quebec. We are talking about the opportunity to use the lines. Other provinces do it; why not through Quebec? The NEB act could be amended to do that.

The same study talked about the huge benefits of that free trade in electricity; up to $3 billion a year Canadians would benefit from. Another NEB suggestion which can be used is that we can ask for a land corridor to build a new transmission line through another province. We have the power to do that. Section 58(4) of the National Energy Board Act says we can designate a corridor through Quebec.

(1020 )

However, we have to do something because it has been talked about for 25 or 26 years with promises of more studies, talks and negotiations. If the people in Labrador and Newfoundland are told they have to pay 25 or 30 times more for the power to run their own homes and businesses than the selling price is for export, it is unacceptable. The people in Labrador deserve the right to develop and benefit from their own natural resources.

If anything is to come out of the negotiations to settle what role each level of government has in the future of Canada, surely the people who should benefit from the natural resources should be in the province that owns the natural resources. Certainly Quebec would want and demand, and rightfully so, the control over its mining regulations and control over its own destiny when it comes to natural resources. B.C. demands the same thing. Labrador and Newfoundland demand it and should get no less. It is $800 million a year which is not going down the tubes but down the lines and the people are not getting the benefit of it.

The people in Labrador have been taken for granted for too long. It is time the federal government stood up for them and said it will doing something, that it will articulate a policy to request that the internal trade barriers come down, that the people in Newfoundland benefit, that the people in Labrador get to develop their natural resources, that Voisey Bay will not be farmed out to Ontario or to another province, that Newfoundland and Labrador will have the electricity, power and access to the natural resources so that they can become a have province and not dependent on others for a federal transfer payment.

If we were to move that way today and at least say that is to be the policy of the government and the thing we are striving for, we could send a message to the people in Atlantic Canada that they are

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not there only for the votes come whatever, but that they are also there because they deserve the right, as Reform Party policy states, to develop their own natural resources.

I hope the House will agree with me today. I anticipate and hope someone on the Liberal side has been studying this issue and will say more than we should talk, study and think about it, but that they are now ready to act.

[Translation]

Mr. R�al M�nard (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I have a certain amount of respect for the previous speaker, after working with him in the human rights committee. If I were a teacher and you were to ask me to assess how rigorous his arguments have been this morning, however, I would be forced to give him a big fat zero. Let me explain.

What we are dealing with is a dispute between two self-managed crown corporations with their own administrative policies. An hon. member rose in the House this morning-and I think that this shows a lot of nerve, not to say chutzpa, even a little rudeness on the part of the Reform Party-to put forward an opposition motion urging the federal government to intervene in a dispute between two crown corporations.

You may tell me: ``Yes, but a dispute is possible in relation to what is most sacred in law, namely a contract''. Anyone who went to university and took a few law courses knows that a contract is what binds the parties in a world where order, justice and equity mean something.

How can the hon. member rise and ask the federal government to intervene in an area that is none of its business on the basis of a contract that was signed by what we can assume are two enlightened, knowledgeable parties and that runs until the year 2031? How can the hon. member show so much disrespect for Quebec, its premier and its representatives by rising in this House and telling us that it is unfair?

Through you, Mr. Speaker, I would ask the hon. member to pay a little more respect and remind him that, in our system, when people sign their names to a legal document called a contract, they are bound by it. If this means nothing to Reformers, it just goes to show that those people will never form the government.

[English]

Mr. Strahl: Mr. Speaker, I will be interested to hear some of the speeches from the hon. member during this debate.

It will come down to the position of the member.

(1025 )

I am not disputing a contract exists. I have never said that. It has already been to the Supreme Court. The contract exists, but is it right? Would Quebec feel it is right? I do not think so.

Quebec might say ``there was a contract and they got us over a barrel. We are taking power at one twenty-fifth of the going rate and for doing that we are netting $800 million to $1 billion a year. We have them by the shorts and for the next 35 or 45 years we will take the boots to them and say they signed so suffer and live with it''.

I will ask the hon. member during the speeches that follow if it is just. It is not just. The member knows that. Nobody foresaw the OPEC situation; nobody saw the escalation in prices and demand. Because of this we have a deal which for the next 65 years will keep Labrador and Newfoundland in a have not position; three generations.

We will allow that area to be depopulated. We will allow the people there to suffer the consequences because the deal gives us $1 billion a year. If a deal was signed that would last three generations to the effect that Quebec will take the shaft for the next 65 years at $1 billion a year, would the member say c'est la vie, whatever? I hope he would be up saying Quebec is getting ripped off, that it is not fair and it is not just. If it is not just it needs to be addressed, which is what I hope the new premier of Quebec will do, address an injustice, something that is not fair.

On the legality of the contract, by all means I know it is legal. If by the contract they want to let someone suffer, if they think that is fair, they can do it. I hope they would not. That is one issue.

The other issue is what is the position of the Quebec government on a land corridor for transferring other power from the lower Churchill Falls site? What is its position on the fact that one should be allowed to wield power through the province of Quebec as is done in all other provinces? It is now becoming a North American grid. I hope it would say: ``By all means, if you develop Lower Churchill in the years to come you can have either access, a land corridor to transfer that power, or you can have access to our own existing hydro lines to wield the power as we do through all other regions and areas in North America''.

There are two issues. Is it just? It is not just. That should be addressed and corrected. More important, ``We will not let this continue. We will give you access to our lines and we will give you access to if not that at least a land corridor, something so you can benefit from Voisey Bay mineral deposits with the smelter that will come. We will not make you suffer any longer''. That is what is will come down to.

Mr. John Richardson (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the debate on the Churchill Falls contract has been in the

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House many times. I put the emphasis on timing because this has been given a thorough contract and has gone all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada which ruled that it was a binding contract.

It is the nature of the Reform Party's presentation that concerns me. Reformers came here saying they would do business differently, that they would play. The only reason they are here today is there is a byelection in Labrador. That is the only reason they would ever bring this forward. They cannot hide behind something like that.

We hear the praises that they will pave their roads. Those poor people are being taken down the garden path that you will fix the Churchill Falls agreement. Again, that is something you cannot deliver on.

The Deputy Speaker: Would the hon. member please address his remarks through the Chair and remember that from now on.

Mr. Richardson: Do you think-

The Deputy Speaker: This is the second time. The member is a parliamentary secretary now. I ask the member to obey this rule in the House and put his remarks through the Chair.

Mr. Richardson: Mr. Speaker, I should know better.

(1030 )

I wonder if the party opposite understands that this is an issue which has been given thorough examination by the House and by the Supreme Court. Even though on the surface it looks like it is a bad contract-and it is a bad contract in my mind-it is a valid contract. When a contract is valid the parties have to live with it, unless one side is prepared to acquiesce and say it thinks it is bad and it would like to amend it. That is the only way the contract can be changed.

Does the hon. member know of another method?

Mr. Strahl: Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that the Liberals say we are not a national party because we do not have any members of Parliament from Atlantic Canada. We are definitely trying to be a party from coast to coast. We are running candidates all over the place. We are running in all the byelections.

When we do our job, when we are out there addressing issues from coast to coast, the member says that we should not be there. I do not know if he wants us to ignore it. I do not know what he expects. However, we are going to be there. We are not going to go away. We are going to be there in his face in the next election. He might as well get used to it because that is the political fact.

We have never said that we should pave a road from one end of the riding to another. We have never said that a paved road is going to be practical. It is never going to be practical to spend that kind of money. However, there could be a road that is at least serviceable, at least a gravel road, something the rest of us take for granted. They just tell people to take a skidoo and have a nice day. We could at least promise them not a paved road with shoulders but a gravel road that could be serviceable so that when the spring breakup comes they do not have to park their vehicles until July.

I have already mentioned three things the government can do. First is on intent and policy. The internal trade agreement is being renegotiated. It has been two years since the energy chapter was promised and it has not been delivered. During the discussions on the energy chapter of the internal trade agreement the federal government could put its foot down and say it is going to break down the barriers to trade.

Second, the government could instruct the National Energy Board to amend the act to allow access either through a land corridor or through a wheeling mechanism to allow electricity to be sold in other areas.

Finally, we should allow Labrador in the very near future, as it develops Voisey Bay and the other rich mineral deposits that are going to pull that province up from a have not province to a have province, to have access to as much electricity and power as it needs so it can develop and benefit from its own natural resources in the years to come.

Mrs. Jean Payne (St. John's West, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I participate in today's debate.

I take great exception to the hon. member's motion. Historically the federal government has been a firm supporter of Newfoundland and Labrador and its economic pursuits. I might remind the House that it was a Liberal government that negotiated Newfoundland's entry to Canada.

The Reform Party introduced today's motion because there is a byelection in Labrador and it hopes to gain votes by pretending to be a voice for the people of Labrador. The Reform Party took an interest in Labrador only after its member of Parliament, the hon. Bill Rompkey, moved to the Senate causing the byelection. There is no evidence that this issue was important to the Reform Party before that.

The Reform Party election platform only makes reference to the revenue from hydroelectric projects in relation to equalization. It states:

The Reform Party supports the inclusion of economic rents from hydroelectric activities in the public revenue of all provinces for the purpose of calculating the size of federal-provincial transfer payments.

In general, the Reform Party supports energy policies based on market mechanisms with no government involvement.

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What makes the Reform Party think it will be able to find a new resolution to this longstanding issue which has been debated by experts for years and heard by the courts?

The Reform Party, which it says is a strong supporter of free enterprise, is questioning a contract which has been ruled valid by the Supreme Court. By raising this issue the Reform Party may be trying to mask its extreme right wing economic agenda which is not attractive to the voters of Labrador.

(1035)

The Reform Party plans to turn programs such as employment insurance and the Canada Pension Plan into personalized savings accounts or private insurance. That will not find support among the workers in Labrador. The Reform's opposition to any active role by governments in economic development and creating new employment opportunities would indeed hurt the workers of Labrador.

The Reform Party avoids telling the voters of Labrador about its opposition to regional development programs. It thinks that regional development spending in Atlantic Canada has been a failure and Reform would slash programs and eliminate subsidies. The hon. member for Capilano-Howe Sound sums up what his party thinks about Atlantic Canadians and regional development by saying: ``We do not give money to our children after a certain stage because we know if we keep giving them money they will never become independent. Sometimes the best things we can do for our children is say no''.

Another Reform member of Parliament in his determination to uncover failed attempts at regional development by ACOA resorted to exaggeration to try to make his point. The member attacked ACOA for giving $22,323 to a food research centre at the University of Moncton for a study to develop blueberry jelly for Mega Bleu, a company in Tracadie, New Brunswick. In fact, ACOA had only granted $6,000 and would increase the amount only if the company decided to market its product. Moreover the money was not for jelly but for blueberry products.

The same Reform MP told Nova Scotians he would run there in the next election. When asked about this by a newspaper in his riding in British Columbia, he said: ``I was trying to be nice because I knew it would be in the Atlantic Canadian papers. I did not want to say: Who the hell would want to run there?'' That is a quote from the Halifax Chronicle Herald of September 22, 1995.

I remind all members of the House that this federal government has a long history of partnership and co-operation with all the provinces and territories. In no way would this government hinder responsible resource development in Newfoundland and Labrador. It has a solid record of working with that province to resolve outstanding issues and dismantle barricades to resource development.

For example, I look at how the federal government is working with Newfoundland and Labrador and other stakeholders to resolve issues surrounding mineral development in Voisey Bay. For more than three decades the federal government has been working with Newfoundland and Labrador on the development of its hydroelectric resources. I can cite countless examples of federal support to my province. Recent examples include the Hibernia development project. We are encouraged with the progress that is being made in connection with the Terra Nova project.

We should establish at the outset that the rights of the provinces in the area of natural resources are clearly set out in the 1982 amendment to the Constitution Act, 1867. Those rights are exactly the same for every province.

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has the complete right to enjoy its own natural resources. It further has the right to control the development of these resources and any benefits from financial gains by way of royalties and taxes. The same is true again for all provinces.

All crown lands within Newfoundland are owned by the province of Newfoundland. These ownership rights give the province the right to royalties from mineral developments such as in Voisey Bay, as well as for all oil and gas development within the province's boundaries. The province also has the right to royalties from offshore oil and gas development such as Hibernia. The same would be true for any other similar projects brought on line.

These rights are clearly set out under the legislation and are further guaranteed under a number of co-operative agreements between the federal government and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

That ownership of crown lands also gives the province the right to control the development of forestry resources. That right has allowed Newfoundland to develop and maintain a sustainable forest resource.

The ownership of crown lands is only one way in which Newfoundland has the right to benefit from its natural resources. There are many other ways which are equally important. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has the constitutional authority to legislate natural resource related works and undertakings within its boundaries. That constitutional responsibility also gives the province jurisdiction over the generation and distribution of electricity.

(1040)

I mentioned the amendment to the Constitution Act which clarifies the rights of provinces to control their own natural

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resources. The amendment deals with provincial rights concerning non-renewable natural resources and it includes forestry resources and electricity. The amendment states that provinces can make laws regarding the exploration for natural resources. Again, all provinces have this right, including Newfoundland.

The provinces may further pass laws covering the development, conservation and management of non-renewable resources as well as forestry. Again all provinces have the right to make laws concerning the generation and production of electricity including everything from development to conservation to the management of the sites and facilities. In addition, Newfoundland and all other provinces have the constitutional right to pass laws regarding the export of electricity. They can pass legislation covering the taxation of electrical generating facilities.

Some members may feel these rights should be changed, expanded or perhaps cutback. My own view is that they represent a reasonable and fair allocation of authority. These rights are clearly outlined and equally applied. I cannot see how these rights have in any way been denied to Newfoundland or any other province.

Newfoundland has constitutional control of its natural resources as do all other provinces. It is Newfoundland that decided how those natural resources would be developed, how they would be conserved and it is Newfoundland that will decide what the best advantage is.

Mr. Philip Mayfield (Cariboo-Chilcotin, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I have just listened to an astounding speech. I cannot believe that a member from Newfoundland would take the stance that it is okay to hold her constituents' heads under water while their pockets were being picked.

The member did not address the motion in any way that I could understand. Does the hon. member agree that Newfoundlanders should bear the brunt of this injustice over the next 45 years? Should her constituents do without the benefit of the resources that will help them build their economy, give them jobs, put their children in schools, put money on the table, give them independence? Who does the member represent? Does she represent her constituents or does she represent the Liberal Party in this Parliament?

Mrs. Payne: Mr. Speaker, I do represent my constituents and I do represent the province of Newfoundland. I am very glad to be able to do that.

I do not concur with breaking a legitimate agreement that was put in place and which has gone through the courts and has been ruled as a legal and binding agreement. Another member of the third party was asked earlier what he would do to renegotiate the agreement. He was unable to provide an answer. Does the hon. member have any suggestions as to how to renegotiate this?

Mr. Mayfield: Mr. Speaker, inasmuch as I was asked the question, I would be happy to respond. I am going to respond very briefly because I will have the opportunity to deal with it in detail in my speech.

When the member says the hon. member for Fraser Valley East did not offer any suggestions, that is entirely inaccurate. She is correct when she says that there is a legitimate contract. The Supreme Court has even ruled on that. What she does not say is that there are other avenues the federal government could take to relieve Newfoundland of this burden. The member does not speak of those but the hon. member for Fraser Valley East certainly did and I will be referring to them later in my speech.

(1045)

[Translation]

Mr. Ren� Canuel (Matap�dia-Matane, BQ): Mr. Speaker, why is this motion being put forward today? Why waste the time of this House again when we have already wasted two consecutive days this week? The motion reads as follows:

That this House condemn the government for its neglect of Labrador, and for refusing to resolve the injustice of the Churchill Falls Hydro Contract-

And so on. The motion talks about injustice. But as far as I am concerned, the Reformers do not know the meaning of the word ``injustice''. In a moment, I will give them a brief history of these contracts which, as my hon. colleague from Newfoundland said earlier, were entered into in good faith.

Why is this motion before the House today? It is a matter of political expediency for the Reform Party, and that is cheap. You all know as well as I do that a number of byelections are coming up. Had they not been motivated by these byelections, I hope that they would have chosen a different topic for this opposition day.

You know that the unemployed are worried. In my riding, 5,000 of the 6,500 residents of a small town took to the streets. Not all demonstrators were from Amqui of course. Some of them came from outside of town to show support.

We are going to debate this motion here, while jobless people are in the street. Nice doing. Even at the political level, I am sure that putting this motion before the House and condemning this government will not do much to help the people of Labrador. When I first came to this House, two years or two and a half years ago, it thought that the Liberal government was extremely centralizing and was under the impression that the Reform Party was a tad more understanding toward the provinces.

Today, I realize that the Reformers are worse than the Liberals. They are in fact asking the government to meddle in the provinces' affairs on the pretext of resolving an injustice. I should remind the hon. member from the Reform Party that his party's position is to

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the effect that the provinces should enter into agreements between themselves and increase interprovincial trade as much as possible.

Here is what a document, released by that party in January 1996, says: The Reform Party's vision of a new Confederation is that of a Canada in full expansion, that of a stronger and more creative country-how nice-which is as rich, as prosperous and as varied as our land. Our vision rejects the overcentralization of powers in the hands of a few, while insisting on the numerous benefits of a more equitable distribution of powers everywhere in the country and to the provinces.

Does the hon. member not agree with his party's proposals? Is he telling us that his party's vision is only for election purposes, and that if the Reform Party ever becomes the government, which would be a tragedy, it would be much more centralizing than the current government? And Heaven knows that the government opposite is very centralizing. Imagine the worst.

I would like to give a brief historical outline. I could go back to George V, but I will start in 1963. At that time, Hydro-Quebec said that it was prepared to buy all the electric power produced at Churchill Falls, provided it could sell its surplus to Ontario.

(1050)

Negotiations got under way in 1963, but the parties could not agree on production costs and on a price per kilowatt-hour. Three years later, in 1966, Hydro-Quebec again offered to buy the energy produced at Churchill Falls and, this time, accepted to pay the asking price.

As you can see, the contracts were not entered into lightly. It took three years of negotiating before finally reaching an agreement, in 1966. Daniel Johnson senior was somewhat reluctant to sign the deal, and rightly so, because he feared that the agreement might be interpreted as a tacit approval of a 1927 Privy Council decision regarding the border between Quebec and Newfoundland, following which Labrador became part of Newfoundland. You are all aware of that dispute.

Finally, on October 30, 1966, Johnson endorsed the Hydro-Quebec proposal, taking pains to make it clear his authorization was not of a Newfoundland-Quebec agreement but rather of one between Hydro-Quebec and the Churchill Falls and Labrador Co., alias CFLCO.

Six years after negotiations began, on March 12, 1969, the contract was signed, for the term that has just been referred to: 65 years. It stipulated that Hydro-Quebec would receive 5,225 megawatts from Churchill Falls. Another 300 of the megawatts produced at the Falls would be reserved for the Newfoundland companies.

The contract was not a one way negotiation; the two parties held discussions for years and this was the conclusion they both reached. In exchange, Hydro-Quebec accepted the bulk of the financial risks associated with the project, assuming a portion of the eventual expenditure outlay. It also contributed its technology in the area of high voltage transmission lines. At that time, this was what Newfoundland needed. We should note that the Smallwood government of Newfoundland approved and signed the contract. It bears the signature of the premier himself.

In 1974, Newfoundland nationalized CFLCO and, in 1984, as has been said, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision-which is rather rare-in favour of Quebec, rejected Newfoundland's 1980 request to break the contract between CFLCO and Hydro-Quebec. In 1988, another Supreme Court decision confirmed the primacy of the contract signed in 1969.

The Reform Party has a lot of nerve terming this an injustice. The contract was the result of years of negotiations, and both parties were satisfied with its terms, as well they should. My hon. colleague should keep in mind that all of the provinces in this country sign trade agreements and have met on several occasions recently to try to lessen internal trade barriers.

Increasingly there are agreements with Ontario, with New Brunswick, with the Maritimes, that do not involve the federal government. We want to see more of this. It is far easier for provinces to reach agreements between themselves than with the federal government. This is why we are anxious for sovereignty, so that we can negotiate with Canada as well, for that will lead to agreements and to our being heeded more than in the past.

(1055)

It is not up to the federal parliament to dictate the behaviour of these two provinces in an area that comes under provincial jurisdiction exclusively according to the British North America Act. The government's intereference in an agreement reached between two provinces strikes me as totally unacceptable. I hope the government shares my view.

My colleagues from the Reform Party, who don the garb of ardent defenders of federalism for a day, should understand that provincial relations is a matter for the provinces. I am still surprised that my colleague has tabled this motion in the House.

The members of the Reform Party are always calling for decentralization and returning matters to the provinces, and yet, today, they are playing petty, second rate politics with this motion. They think they will earn votes in Labrador by defending the people there and claiming an injustice has been done.

In other words, we Quebecers are penalizing the people of Labrador, because a contract was properly signed. Even the Supreme Court says this contract is valid and meets the required standards, and must therefore be adhered to.

757

I would like to ask the Reform Party to withdraw the word ``injustice'', because it is not injustice that Quebec is creating. We even have agreements with Newfoundland on a number of matters. We have teachers working in Newfoundland, and relations are excellent.

Certainly, the going gets a bit rougher when its premier, in his capacity as representative of all the people of Newfoundland, told us that the five little conditions we were looking for in the Meech Lake accord were not acceptable. At that point, on some issues it really hurt and it hurt a lot.

However, as far as the contract is concerned, it was signed by two firms, not the government, and it is valid. There is no injustice, and it takes a lot of nerve to call the contract unjust.

The Speaker: My dear colleagues, it being 11 o'clock, we will now proceed to statements by members.

Big Oil spells Big Trouble for consumers and...

Nigeria oil patch - more trouble and people of the delta strike back...
Read the STORY

Hey Tom try this out....

Pride is built, in part, through the celebration of accomplishments. The reason Hydro Quebec is so important to the people in the province is because they are educated about and encouraged to participate in it's history and growth.
From that pride comes the sense of independence, a maturity of sorts - that opposed to the feeling of regret and ignorance respecting our own energy history and importance.
Take a tour Tom to HQ's Tourism Extravaganza and see if you get any ideas.
While you are visiting the site take a virtual tour of the Robert-Bourassa hydroelectric development.
All the while keep an eye on the maps.

Inspections Inspections

I am noting with interest the hundreds if not thousands of inspections DFO says they have done or are doing on recreational fishing boats.
Way to go Loyola, keep a close tab on your electorate, the people who elect and pay you. Questions????
1. During the same time frame how many recreational boats are being inspected in Nova Scotia, PEI, and/or Quebec?
2. How many vessel inspections are taking place on our offshore of foreign fishing vessels?
3. How much surveillance is being conducted on little oil spills here or there in our water from commercial vessel traffic?

Your some boy Loyola, you and Jimmy got it all worked out. Crucify Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are out catching a cod to eat or stuff and frame instead of dealing with the real issues.
Would rural rights include the ability to keep your community while the boys heave back and pass judgement on grandpa out with the grand-kids pulling up a cod? What a bluff! Are you ashamed of yourselves yet?
What's Jim? - the messenger for DFO fishing regs?
oh ok you got'er all at hand now.

Federal Gas Tax for Communities

Let's look at how Newfoundland and Labrador will net benefit or lose from this Federal Initiative.

See the News Release

Fiscal Year Canada's Contribution

2006-2007	$19,740,000
2007-2008	$13,160,000
2008-2009	$16,450,000
2009-2010	$32,900,000
TOTAL	$82,250,000

Examples of Eligible Projects

Water Infrastructure:

Drinking water supply systems, treatment and distribution systems, and water metering systems

Wastewater Infrastructure:

Sanitary sewer systems and storm water systems

Solid Waste Infrastructure:

Waste diversion, material recovery facilities, organics management, collection depots, waste disposal landfills, thermal treatment, and landfill gas recuperation

Community Energy Systems:

Cogeneration or combined heat and power projects (where heat and power are produced through a single process)

District heating and cooling projects where heat or cooling is distributed to more than one building.

Other Transportation Infrastructure

Active transportation infrastructure (e.g. bike lanes), local roads, arterial roads, regional roads and bridges that enhance sustainability outcomes, including construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of roads, bridges and other ancillary works, parks or sidewalks, lighting, traffic control, various signals and so forth.

Capacity Building

Collaboration: building partnerships, strategic alliances, participation, consultation and outreach

Knowledge: use of new technology, research, monitoring and evaluation

Integration: planning, policy development and implementation, such as environmental management systems and life cycle assessment

Public Transit

Rapid transit such as light rail, ferries and park and ride facilities

Buses, and transit bus stations

Technologies to improve transit, priority signaling and traffic information and transit operations.

Let's start from here.
First what has been the windfall from the stock of Hibernia for the feds this year?
The 8.5% share is valued at a minimum of 800 million and with the price of oil today over a billion.
The money made by the feds on this gushing Newfoundland and Labrador treasure would pay for the Atlantic Regional component of the Federal Gas Tax program every year.
How about the feds let go of this money maker, they have recovered all their investment in Newfoundland and Labrador and have had years of profit. This is the national government, they should contribute investment to regions for diversification and project developments like Hibernia. Unlike Hibernia and more like Bombardier, they should stop gouging from our resources after the investment has been paid back. Actually Quebec interests don't have to pay it back do they?
Now that's what I call gas (oil) tax.
Loyola can you get the PM to give the Premier what he has asked for - the 8.5% interest in Hibernia? Then we can take care of our own municipal funding. Ottawa makes a fortune on all of our offshore now - as much as we do, do they really need the extra benefit of the 8.5% stake in Hibernia. When will they stop taking? Loyola here's a specific question for you - Have you even muttered the words, "I would like to transfer the 8.5% share in Hibernia, held by the Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation under the umbrella of The Canada Development Investment Corporation for the feds, to Newfoundland and Labrador."
Don't deliver peanuts when we deserve caviar even if it's no longer from our fish.
To make matters worse, ACOA which is an important agency relative to municipal projects in our province has seen a budget adjustment, downward.
Below please review the details for yourself.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency


Ministry Summary

Vote	(thousands of dollars)	2006–2007	2005–2006	Difference
		Main Estimates	Main Estimates


	Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
	Department
1	Operating expenditures	82,785	78,811	3,974
5	Grants and contributions	290,391	350,119	(59,728)
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	8,572	8,912	(340)
	Items not required
–	Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency –
	Salary and motor car allowance	. . . . .	70	(70)

	Total Department	381,748	437,912	(56,164)

	Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
10	Payments to the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation	8,650	8,645	5

	Total Agency	8,650	8,645	5


Note: The Minister's salary and motor car allowance is now displayed under Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Department

Strategic Outcome

Enterprise Development – Improved growth and competitiveness of Atlantic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), leading to increased productivity, earned incomes and job creation.

Program Activity Descriptions

Fostering SME Development and Regional Economic Capacity Building

To improve the region's capacity for economic growth through a variety of mechanisms including: assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises to help them start, expand or modernize their business; partnering with universities and other institutions to increase the Region's research and development capacity, commercialization and productivity; and, to promote and participate in the region's transition to the knowledge economy.

Access to Business Information

Providing counselling, mentoring, information referrals to Atlantic Canadians.

Strategic Outcome

Community Development – Improved community economic infrastructure and strategic planning capacity leading to improved employment opportunities and economic growth in the Atlantic region.

Program Activity Descriptions

Community Economic Development

Projects which help communities build their capacity and confidence in order to identify and coordinate the implementation of priorities for economic development in their region. These projects would be supported via community economic development organizations who, in turn: provide financial and technical assistance to businesses and communities; conduct strategic planning; coordinate economic development; and implement a range of self-sustaining development projects under strategic community economic development initiatives. Community economic development organizations can be any organization which supports projects at a local, community and sub-community or municipality level.

Special Adjustment Measures

Supports initiatives designed to address the specific economic adjustment needs of Atlantic Canadian communities.

Infrastructure Programming

Programming designed to renew and build infrastructure in rural and urban municipalities in Atlantic Canada.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Department

Strategic Outcome

Policy, Advocacy & Co-ordination – Strategic, researched policy positions that reflect the region's potential; influence on national policies and programs that affect Atlantic development and interests; and co-ordination of other federal departments' policies and programs within the region to form integrated approaches to development leading to strenthened Atlantic economic development.

Program Activity Descriptions

Policy Research

Carrying out policy analysis and research to determine the areas in which the Agency will act to most effectively carry out its mandate.

Advocacy

Advocating the interests of Atlantic Canada to make new government initiatives more responsive to the needs of Atlantic Canada.

Coordination

Engaging economic partners in addressing the Atlantic region's strategic economic priorities.

Program by Activities

(thousands of dollars)		2006–2007 Main Estimates			2005–2006

		Budgetary		Total	Main

	Operating	Grants	Contributions		Estimates
			and other
			transfer
			payments

Fostering SME Development and Regional Economic
Capacity Building	65,482	1,000	214,476	280,958	264,141
Access to Business Information	2,774	. . . . .	. . . . .	2,774	2,824
Community Economic Development	11,288	1,000	30,511	42,799	75,886
Special Adjustment Measures	. . . . .	. . . . .	24,500	24,500	26,225
Infrastructure Programming	864	. . . . .	13,000	13,864	52,143
Policy Research	5,067	. . . . .	5,904	10,971	11,005
Advocacy	4,050	. . . . .	. . . . .	4,050	3,866
Coordination	1,832	. . . . .	. . . . .	1,832	1,822

	91,357	2,000	288,391	381,748	437,912

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Department




Transfer Payments

(dollars)	2006–2007	2005–2006
	Main Estimates	Main Estimates

Grants
Fostering SME Development and Regional Economic Capacity Building
Grants to non-profit organizations to promote economic cooperation and
development	1,000,000	1,000,000
Community Economic Development
Grants to non-profit organizations to promote economic cooperation and
development	1,000,000	1,000,000

Total grants	2,000,000	2,000,000

Contributions
Fostering SME Development and Regional Economic Capacity Building
Contributions under the Business Development Program	123,376,000	108,660,000
Contributions for the International Business Development Program	2,200,000	. . . . .
Contributions for the Atlantic Innovation Fund	65,000,000	74,731,000
Contribution for Trade, Investment, Entrepreneurship and Business
Skills Development	23,900,000	25,253,000
Community Economic Development
Contributions under the Business Development Program	8,248,000	22,767,000
Contributions under the Community Futures Program	12,263,000	8,800,000
Contribution for the Innovative Communities Fund	10,000,000	. . . . .
Special Adjustment Measures
Contribution for the Saint John Shipyard Adjustment Initiative	24,500,000	22,000,000
Infrastructure Programming
Contributions to the Atlantic provinces under the Infrastructure Canada
Program	13,000,000	51,168,000
Policy Research
Contributions under the Business Development Program	5,004,000	5,580,000
Contributions under the Atlantic Policy Research Initiatives	900,000	600,000

Total contributions	288,391,000	319,559,000

Items not required
Contributions under the Federal-Provincial Cooperation Program	. . . . .	900,000
Contribution for the Strategic Community Investment Fund	. . . . .	27,660,000

Total items not required	. . . . .	28,560,000


Total	290,391,000	350,119,000

Please note I have highlighted the total red.

As you review this years estimates from last you will note overall significant decreases in funding. Our province and municipalities will absorb a portion of this. You think this might negate the new Federal Gas Tax to municipalities for the same program and infrastructure development delivery?

Neither the Liberals or NDP nor the Federation of Municipalities have addressed this to date.
The government just ignores it.
Do you think they would hold a News Conference to celebrate a reduction in ACOA funds? NO
Do you think they would hold a News Conference to announce new funding? YES
They can however represent the same money.

This must be a joke right? Good Morning Stephenville

Eddie Joyce says the effected workers from the Stephenville Mill should get the first crack at de-commissioning the site!

Well done Liberals - that's a great alternate plan B for Stephenville - give me a break!

So the Opposition policy is let them take down their own future put it in a box and ship themselves with it - away from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Okay Dunderdale is just as bad, maybe worse because she has the power - or Danny does but is this the best our political geniuses can do in our province?

Hey Eddie can the workers in Gander dismantle the airport?
Will the people of Harbour Breton haul down their own plant?
Will Grand Falls - Windsor take out their own paper machine?
While they are all at it the young people can hook their houses onto a truck or boat and tow it all away.

So this morning on Open Line let's talk about dogs, there's nothing going on here that people should worry about.

Congratulations Doug House - things are "Change" Islands ing just as you predicted. You will be successful in dismantling rural Newfoundland and Labrador - and when you're finished the people might even thank you.

Make sure you add that accomplishment to your CV so other jurisdictions know what your agenda is.

Wayne Ruth jumps on board...

The ferry that is - yesterday that the ferry crossing at Port aux Basques should be treated like the TCH. He speculated that if a part of the main highway in Toronto were down it would not be tolerated.
The whole mess apparently is causing problems for tourism - no kidding - better late than never for the Federation of Municipalities to speak on the issue. Now let's take it to new heights and have the fed. study the the passenger rail service in Canada versus Marine Atlantic...What a joke!
Have a look at the two sites...
VIA RAIL
Marine Atlantic
Canada promotes the rest of the country first and we are a second-thought.

Hey Tom can you do something about this with your federal counterpart - I think Loyola flies so he's not hung up at the ferry terminal.

Seabirds in Newfoundland should move west...

From an article from Saanich News yesterday written by Mark Browne of Esquimalt News

Move west seabirds - the waters in BC killing less on a yearly basis.
Patrick O'Hara - affiliated with Environment Canada and the Institute of Ocean Sciences and a scientist at the University of Victoria says "The number of oiled seabird carcasses washed up on the shores of Newfoundland is considerably higher than on the West Coast. Research has shown that in one small survey area on the southern tip of Newfoundland, up to 70 per cent of the seabird carcasses washed ashore - which amounts to 300,000 seabirds - die from oil pollution each year.."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I guess this does not include the Exxon Valdez year...
In either case can Environment Canada confirm the above numbers for one area of our province - each year?
We have no control of our waters whatsoever and Canada is doing what...
We have so many fishermen and plant workers out of work - any chance we can employ some of these people to monitor and protect our water, our sovereignty?

Federal Gas Tax Sharing announcement tomorrow

Loyola H and Jack B and Wayne Ruth (Federation of Municipalties Pres.) will be holding a news conf. tomorrow to announce the Federal Gas Tax Sharing program. This is where towns and cities get their piece of gas tax for municipal projects and services. While the Minister of Fisheries and Broken Promises announces the cash I am going to post budget links to show you how they are taking it back.
Can't wait for the News Conference.
And by the way is Loyola bringing the retirement packages?

Have you got the time to Measure our choices?

Electricity in Quebec

Really take the time to read it and then make some informed decisions.

Keep that Quebec Air Clean...

Energy Supplies and Air Emissions

Give me some more fresh air especially in Labrador and Holyrood.

HQ on Energy Comparisons

Energy Payback Ratio

They would just love a little more of that Labrador juice....

Hey Dan these guys might be interested...

Note the end of the article - why the Canadian West Coast has the advantage...it's highlighted in red....

By MARKUS ERMISCH
Staff reporter
Aug 04 2006

As Weyerhaeuser considers the sale of its white-paper business, the industry giant's Kamloops pulp mill may be thrown into the fold, according to one industry analyst.

A shutdown, however, is unlikely.

"I assume that it's a mill that's probably one of the few that's a keeper," said Kevin Mason, managing director of paper and forest products with Equity Research Associates.

"From all the things that I've seen on it, it's still regarded as a fairly decent mill, although to really make it efficient, you want to do some upgrades. But it's definitely in far better shape than a lot of the other mills out there."

Selling the mill - Mason speculated it may be sold to Domtar Inc., Boise Cascade or a combination of both - would make sense for Weyerhaeuser.

If the Washington state-based company does sell its white-paper division, a few of its pulp mills will be part of the deal, said Mason, thus ensuring that the potential buyer is not left short of pulp.

But to survive, the mill needs to be upgraded to make it run more efficiently, said Mason.

Local Weyerhaeuser management, despite the uncertainty surrounding the Kamloops mill, is toying with the idea of introducing gasification technology to reduce its reliance on expensive natural gas. It has signed a tentative deal with Nexterra Energy Corp., a company that has sold the technology to Tolko Industries Ltd. for the company's mill in Heffley Creek.

The fact that Weyerhaeuser is considering this technology, however, is not necessarily an indication of what Weyco headquarters has in mind for the Kamloops mill.

"We're moving forward until we know something, and part of moving forward includes that project," said Bob Taylor, general manager for Weyerhaeuser's B.C. operations.

"We think it's a good project that makes sense for the mill."

Taylor said he does not know when head office will decide the fate of the Kamloops mill.

One of the first people to hear the news of any change will be Rene Pellerin, president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 10B.

The union represents about 370 workers at the Mission Flats site.

"We've been hoping for an announcement for a long time," he said.

"It would be easier on all of us if we knew where we sat.

"But again - it's a waiting game, and we've been in this waiting game for a while."

Meanwhile, Canada's position as the world's largest producer of pulp continues to slip as the country is being overtaken by Brazil.

As a result, the entire pulp industry is undergoing a dramatic change.

The Weyerhaeuser mill closure in Prince Albert, Sask., is but one example.

However, mills in British Columbia's Interior are, for the most part, not likely to suffer a similar fate.

According to Mason, they are low-cost pulp producers compared to mills in central and eastern Canada.

Fibre costs in B.C., said Mason, are about half of what mills in eastern Canada pay, while energy is cheaper on the West Coast.

You gotta love it....

Excerpt from 2nd quarter results for Fortis....

Power purchase obligations for FortisOntario primarily include a
  long-term take-or-pay contract between Cornwall Electric and
  Hydro-Quebec Energy Marketing for the supply of electricity and
  capacity. The contract provides approximately 237 GWh of energy
  per year and up to 45 MW of capacity at any one time. The
  contract, which expires December 31, 2019, provides approximately
  one-third of Cornwall Electric's load. Cornwall Electric also has
  a 2-year contract in place with Hydro-Quebec Energy Marketing
  which expires June 30, 2008. This take-or-pay contract provides
  energy on an as-needed basis but charges for 100 MW of capacity
  at $0.14 million per month.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carry on billions....

We would do well to listen!

St Kitts and Nevis Prime
Minister Dr Denzil Douglas
Part of the challenge that we face economically and financially is the large amount of money that we have to spend on the importation of fuel products, said Douglas. It is, in fact, the greatest challenge for economic stability and development because of the uncertainty in the price of energy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does this say anything to our rich energy resources?
Is it something we should export?
If we have it we just don't get the value, something like flushing our toilet with drinking water.

From China to Vietnam

Christmas may be late or not come at all if the cheap Chinese labour don't stop migrating to rural China for better employment opportunities.
You wanna fill your boots with globalization and free trade with a dictatorship?
Read below...

China labor pains and holiday woes

A shortage of workers at low-cost factories in China could spell trouble for U.S. toys, apparel, shoe retailers.

By Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney.com staff writer

August 9 2006: 7:06 AM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Retailers have a new, and unexpected, Grinch to worry about this Christmas: a Chinese labor crunch.

Make that a cheap labor crunch. The migrant workers that typically man China's low cost factories are drifting away. And it has the North American businesses that use those facilities - makers of toys, clothes, shoes and electronics - worried.

"The fourth-quarter demand is higher than anticipated so we have to ramp up holiday production," said Harold Chizick, spokesman with Ontario-based toymaker Spin Master. "But because of the labor issue in China, it could be difficult to increase production [of some products] the further we get into the holiday season."

Toys are particularly at risk, since China accounts for more than 90 percent of the world's toy production. But other industries have substantial risks too; China accounts for 53 percent of global footwear production and 50 percent of total apparel production. China also accounts for 16 percent of total global exports of consumer electronics.

Hasbro (Charts), the nation's No. 2 toymaker after Mattel (Charts), told analysts last month that it was keeping an eye on the situation.

The fourth-quarter is vital for the toy industry as it includes the November-December holiday shopping period. Over 70 percent of toy shipments to retailers and over 50 percent of all toy retail sales take place in those two months alone.

Therefore, any significant production and shipping delays from China would have a negative financial impact for both toymakers and retailers.

The most recent report from China's Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) confirmed that the shortage of workers is concentrated in toy, shoe and apparel manufacturing sectors and in electronics parts assembly and plastic products processing.

"U.S. companies have already started to shift some production away from China to Vietnam," said Nate Herman, director of international trade at the American Apparel and Footwear Association.

But others can't make such adjustments.

"Toy companies are placing their orders much closer to the holidays because they don't want to risk over-ordering. This, coupled with the labor constraint, means the risk is higher today that some deliveries won't make it to the retailers on time," said Henry Hu, a Hong Kong-based consultant to Chinese toymakers.

Indeed, Carl Tong, CEO of Hong Kong-based Creative Master, said he's anticipating a delay in meeting his fourth-quarter orders. His company, which operates factories in southern China, makes collectible toy cars for customers including Mattel and Hallmark.

Some, however, think they can beat any crunch.

"We have planned and we are fortunate to have great vendors in China who are strong and have planned ahead. We will not have product shortages because of China labor issues this year," Isaac Larian, CEO MGA Entertainment, said in a email to CNNMoney.com

A growing shortage

Factories in the Guangdong-Fujian areas started to experience a migrant labor shortage about four years ago as workers sought more attractive job opportunities closer to their homes in rural China.

China Labor Watch, a New York-based non-profit watchdog group, has closely tracked the migrant worker trend over the past few years.

The group's director, Li Qiang, attributed the labor shortage to three main reasons. First, China's "one child" policy, adopted since late 1970s has altered the population structure. Essentially, the supply of young laborers is decreasing. A July report from the Congressional Joint Economic Committee backs that view, saying China's working-age population (ages 15-64) will peak in 2015 and then begin to shrink.

Second, under President Hu Jintao, China has pushed a more pro-agriculture policy which has encouraged a large number of migrant workers to return home and resume farming. Additionally, farmers' incomes are rising due to increase of government subsidies and tax cuts on farm taxes.

"The cost of living and housing in the coastal region in the east has gone up. That shifts the balance dramatically," said Professor Marshall Meyer, a China expert at the Wharton School. "Most factories order their migrant workers to go home on national holidays. About 5 percent of the 10 million migrant population hasn't come back."

Third, low wages and benefits in the manufacturing regions have forced migrant workers to leave for other areas such as Shanghai in search of better-paying service-sector jobs in restaurants and retail outlets.

On average, a factory worker in China earns on average between $75 to $100 a month, Li Qiang said.

Could China lose clients to Vietnam?

Some regional experts say the "cheap" labor crunch, particularly in the southern industrial belt, coupled with rising cost of materials, could eventually dent China's booming export capability, causing U.S. and other foreign investors to move their production base elsewhere.

Wharton's Meyer said Vietnam and Thailand could be alternative sourcing bases for U.S. companies if China's labor issues persist.

"I can't imagine that U.S. companies aren't already exploring other possibilities to China," he said.

However, Harriet Mouchly-Weiss, an independent consultant to the U.S. toy industry, doesn't see that happening anytime soon.

"U.S. companies have too much invested in China, in terms of technology, infrastructure, skills, supplier networks," she said. It's not easy to shift all of this setup to another country.

"Even if wages go up in China, labor still isn't too much cheaper elsewhere. If anything, U.S. toymakers could end up absorbing a part of the rising costs of doing business in China and consumers could end up paying a little bit more for products in stores."

But for its part, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) representing the U.S. manufacturing industry, commented to CNNMoney.com that "no one [at NAM] has heard about a Chinese labor shortage."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carry on Corporate Canada like FPI support that Chinese abuse of it's people.

Good Morning Fortune

Congrats to the people of Fortune for taking the bull by the horns and moving forward with or without the FFAW. They got the message, nobody who is paid to help is helping. Don't forget, ultimately Ottawa is responsible for the destruction of the goundfish and is STILL responsible. Now if Loyola and Dan would do the right thing they would follow Chuck and Ralph, get for fishermen and plant workers the same as the farmers.
Where are the results of the great Fisheries Summit?
For those of you who bothered or were interested to read the FPI results yesterday - you will notice they are sticking needles in our eyes.
Congrats to the fishing communties for getting together and trying to make a pitch. So people of this crushed province you gonna get behind these people or what?
Lot's a fish in Bonavis' Harbour, Let Me Fish off Cape St. Mary's, Fogo Twillingate Morton's Harobur, This is the place where the Fishermen gather - essentially who we are, beaten to death by Water Street merchants.

Good Morning Gander

What's up with this? Gander airport, potentially closed by December?
Excuse me Loyolaaaa....Danneeeeeee....Any chance you can save this one or what?
Let me see now the airport and it's history in Gander is the same as fish in Fortune.
Anybody going to do something about this one?
Anybody awake in Central, except Gander's Mayor who's trying?
Central Newfoundland toast under the skillful work again of D & D (Doug and Dan).
We are fighting like dogs to save the flight to and from London in St. John's. Imagine just one flight stirs up that emotion but not a gig out there in Central or our wonderful BBQ circuit politicians. There we go a weather office which was or was not going to include avaiation weather, depending on which federal Minister you listened to, is going back to a town for the cost of the airport.
C'mon people rant and roar.

Good Morning Stephenville

So what's with this I hear that Abitibi wants to dismantle the mill. I thought Dan had a plan to sell it or give it to another operator. I thought he said there were others interested in it. I thought he said he would expropriate if necessary. I thought there was a Plan B. I thought he told everybody it was going to be okay so don't mind if he had a little racket with Weaver. What's his plan now?
Do a quick environmental review and give the company the green light to destroy or remove the assets? Do a quick reclamation of the site and then what? Does Dan plan to expand the airport to the site? Maybe a new industrial park for the companies setting up in the area?
Ah well Stephenville is not in the new "economic recovery plan", by Dr. Doug. I am starting to wonder if this man might be a medical doctor a surgeon perhaps with his skillful hand with a sharp scalpal as he severs this vein and that. Anyone see that new plan yet? Is the Opposition going to ask a single question on it? Perhaps the libs are waiting for D & D to do the dirty work and eliminate half of rural Newfoundland and Labrador for them.
Yes that must be it.
And all the while where's Lorraine?

HUSKY HAS NO PROBLEM GIVING CHINA EQUITY DEAL

United Press says today......

BEIJING, China (UPI) -- Alberta`s Husky Energy Inc. has signed three petroleum contracts with the China National Offshore Oil Corp. for access to South China Sea tracts.

Under the terms of the contracts, Husky will drill one exploration well in each of the Ying Ge Hai blocks and two wells on what is designated as the 29/06 block, Husky said Tuesday in a statement.

Husky will fund 100 percent of the exploration costs, while Cnooc retains the right to back into any future development with a 51 percent interest.

So Husky takes all the risk and if something is discovered, as expected, China can own up to 51 percent. Way to go China.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time to UP our request on Hebron right? Let's say a minimum of 25%. Think we can do half as well as the dictatorship?

I'll not let your ignorance do it to us again..

For those of you who have read the previous post - I will continue.
Ed while you were supporting Clyde and his guru's trying to sell Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro in the early 90's there was something drooling under your beds'. That would have been HQ drooling at the thought we were going to be that stupid again and turn the rest of our profit making company over to them.
Remember this was the period was HQ was ditching profits to run government programs and invest in everything and anything remotely related to energy. You were blind to the intentions of HQ then and you are blind now. They would have gladly added NLH to their list of acquisitions by simply waiting for the company to go public as Clyde and you were trying to do. Damn it we would not even have a company now to run the Lower Churchill development through. You keep talking about me and others putting out a bogeyman in HQ. HQ is not a monster it is intelligent - the only thing we should fear is ignorance that would give away the rest of the Churchill.
What would we have achieved? Perhaps the reduction of a couple hundred million in debt while to date we would have lost that much and much more while paying an additional 10% on our electric bills.
I am not going to sit by and let your ignorance and anybody elses cause the destruction of another valuable resource.

Giving it a try...but not there yet

The Four York Harbourmen

This latest entry on the bondpapers demonstrates the lack of knowledge respecting the Upper Churchill Mr. Hollett possesses. He speaks of HQ's profits in certain years being 700 or 800 million in total. That would be correct and he's talking about the 80's and in the 90's it started to increase further from export prices and "other investments" which we will get to later.
Basics:
The Churhill Falls Labrador Corporation is owned roughly 2/3 by NLH and 1/3 HQ, that company generates the power and pays the bills - the majority of the power is sold to HQ.
HQ then puts it it on their grid and we go from there.
If we actually owned 1/2 the power, that is it was not an automatic sale to HQ at ridiculous prices we could sell it to them for market value. It would have no problem reaching at any time in recent history for 400 - 500 million dollars.
Then Ed mixes the profit shown by HQ which is the buyer at the border.
ED it's like this they take their windfall from cheap profit buy assets, build assets (around the world), invest in foreign power developments and on it goes. Each of these moves have employed thousands of Quebeckers and netted hundreds of thousands of dollars. The other little maneuver by HQ in the 90's was to deliberately lower their profits while not submitting profits directly to the Government of Quebec. In this way the province manipulated the equalization formula while delivering programs essential to it's people.
This is the basic way it works, if profits from a crown corp are submitted to the province they count as revenues to the province for the purpose of equalization, further if a crown corp makes a profit but does not submit those revenues, the crown corp's results make up part of the formula to be considered for equalization.
To make matters worse the ability of a province to achieve water power rentals whether they actually do or not is counted for equalization purposes. That is to say until the early 90's, although this province could not generate the revenues expected by water power rentals at Churchill Falls because of the CHEAP power sales and lopsided project, Ottawa counted them as if we could thereby negatively impacting or decreasing our equalization.
In the early 90's the government of Canada shifted some of that ability to Quebec - because of the lop-sided deal and this helped to improve our equalization position.
Meanwhile, HQ spent a fortune of their windfall our loss on investments worldwide and subsidized operations of what normally would be considered projects for Government Departments. They helped build low income housing, subsidized every part of tourism and Quebec culture and even spent significantly in the post-secondary sector.
This was the result for the 90's decade...
HQ showed less profit
HQ submitted very little to none of the profits to the government of Quebec
HQ delivered government programs normally delivered by govt. departments
HQ invested heavily in R & D, Quebec companies, global energy projects, gas companies, and delivered a heritage pool of cheap stable prices to its customers.
They brilliantly used the equalization formula to assist their province while building the company. The lower profits were deliberate and do not reflect real expenses of utility only operation.
Ed my friend, when I say a billion I am being generous, if only our loss were that small.
Time to go educate yourself a little more. They are spinning circles around your ignorance while they move forward with such prowess they can single handedly finance our project. That was not always the case..the 500 mill they floated in the late 60's for the Upper Churchill was risky but brilliant, we are certainly able to do the same. They were dealing with $5 a barrel for oil to ensure the sale of hydro. Any chance we can do the same with oil over $70 bucks?

So we want some control of our offshore...and so we should

Please read the following about another example of countries grabbing and holding on to precious energy assets.

Dubai to take control of offshore oil

Lease with U.S.-based ConocoPhillips, signed 45 years ago, runs out.

August 7 2006: 7:12 AM EDT

DUBAI (Reuters) -- Dubai has joined those oil producers tightening their grip on energy assets, with a deal to take control of its offshore oilfields.

The Gulf Arab emirate will take over the fields from a unit of U.S. ConocoPhillips next year, a joint statement said.

A Dubai official said the deal was necessary as production, although dwindling to around 100,000 barrels per day, will outlast the original partnership deal agreed to 45 years ago. Output peaked above 400,000 bpd in 1991.

But the declining flow belies Dubai crude's significance to world markets as it is still used as a benchmark for more than 12 million bpd of Middle East crude oil exports to Asia.

"DPC will do its part to successfully facilitate the handover of the operations to the government," Bill Arnold, head of Dubai Petroleum Company (DPC), said in the joint statement.

Starting April 2, 2007, Dubai Petroleum Establishment (DPE) will be responsible for operating the oilfields, instead of ConocoPhillips unit DPC, and for all future business related to the production of oil and gas in Dubai.

The move marks the end of Dubai's first offshore oil concession and the start of a new phase in which it will directly control its offshore resources, the statement said.

A ConocoPhillips (Charts) spokesman was not immediately available to comment. An official at the United Arab Emirates' oil ministry declined comment. Dubai is part of OPEC-member the UAE.

"The natural resources of Dubai have always been in national ownership and will continue to do so," a DPE spokesman said.

"New plans will be formulated and assessed to prepare the assets for further development," the spokesman added, but said it was too early to discuss the firm's targets.

Resource nationalism?

High prices and increasingly scarce crude oil finds have emboldened some governments to take more control over their oil industry or extract more revenue from foreign operators.

Leading Gulf producers Saudi Arabia and Kuwait nationalized their sectors in the 1970s and show few signs of opening the doors.

But oil industry sources were reluctant to tie the move too closely to a resurgence of politically motivated producer power, seen as a resources nationalism wave from Bolivia to Russia.

"I don't think it is about a nationalization trend," Dalton Garis of the UAE-based Petroleum Institute told Reuters. "In fact everything Dubai does has been about liberalizing its markets."

"It could be they want to see the fields developed more and thus move to a service contract that allows them far more control," he added.

Dubai is the Gulf's commercial and tourism hub. Oil income accounts for less than 10 percent of its gross domestic product.

Dubai oil will continue to be freely traded in the international market under contracts established by the government and by Dubai Petroleum Establishment, a new entity wholly owned by the government of Dubai, the statement said.

Dubai Petroleum Co., wholly owned by ConocoPhillips, is part of the DPC/Dubai Marine Areas Limited consortium involving interests from Total SA of France; Repsol of Spain; RWE Dea AG, a subsidiary of RWE AG of Germany; and Wintershall AG, a subsidiary of BASF AG of Germany.

No details were immediately available on the financial impact this decision will have on the non-Dubai partners.

Something under the bed is fear based on ignorance...

In Ed Hollett's recent post, "something under the bed is drooling", he continues to question the immense profits generated by Hydro Quebec from Upper Churchill Power. He questions everyone and thing he can get his hands on because they have not provided him a mathematical equation.
Ed...unless you pay you will not get that type of info and here's why - the year to year markets of HQ vary significantly, particularly the exports. HQ for a decade provided a "heritage pool" of power for it's domestic markets at very competitive and stable prices. They were able to do that because supply was in abundance primarily because of the Upper Churchill windfall.
In recent years - over the past decade, the American and Ontario markets have boomed from lack of supply and reliability - HQ was johnny on the spot-market to sell power, at times 1000 times its value. This again was due to the supply from Quebec.
Canada is a net exporter of power and until last year so was Quebec - the National Energy Board deals with these values on a yearly basis. If you look at the overall export of hydro-power and the MW values you will see, again, that it is primarily on the back of Churchill power.
When you are determining value to the company, there is no doubt that basic math on the cost of power and the resale value delivers the majority of the so-claimed profits, but Ed it's not as simple as that. Upper Churchill supply has allowed the company to re-invest in further installations in Quebec and in fact worldwide - it was the foundational windfall that allowed the company to grow the way that it has.
HQ has hydro capitech, transmission, distribution, construction, and generation subsidiaries and for several years benefitted from gaz metro after Andre Caille became pres. Now Thierry Vandal is at the helm and tradition continues.
Further Quebec is now a net importer and is busily getting ready for another "big invest" in new supply including the Lower Churchill.
We are being modest when we say HQ makes a billion a year from the Upper Churchill - when one factors in the investment value of the new assets acquired through Upper Churchill windfalls the revenue to HQ soars.
As for your go-it-alone fears, Ed have a look at the risk HQ took at the time it financed the Upper Churchill, but they made a decision the risk was worth the possible benefits and they were right. Historical accounts of the financing in the 60's of this mega-project was not romantic it was gutsy and premised in Quebec's desire to stand on it's own and build their own economic base.
There is no fear of Upper Churchill or HQ as it relates to power development - in fact they are almost the perfect model. We too can go it alone and use the energy to develop an entire new industrial sector, particularly Labrador, and be that much closer to securing our future.
I am willing to debate with you Ed but only after you truly educate yourself on the history of HQ and what the Upper Churchill has brought to their feast.
You are demonstrating a"can't do" attitude which relies on Quebec to develop our resources.
We can do it alone and this time the outcome for our people would be a hell of a lot better than our last go-round.
In some areas Ed, I would yield to your expertise and learn. You should learn to do the same - because my friend on this issue you are nowhere close to.

Oil is so volatile...hydro so stable

U.S. crude $76.53 London Brent crude $77.73

SINGAPORE (Reuters)

Tensions in the Middle East rose after Iran again invoked its oil exports for political leverage and Lebanon rejected a draft U.N. resolution meant to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah, delaying its vote.

A further spike in oil prices resulting from a broader Middle East conflict would drag an already slowing U.S. economy into recession more easily now than a year ago, Standard & Poor's said Monday.

The credit ratings agency forecast three scenarios - with a $250 oil barrel sparking global recession in the worst of them, should Iran close the Strait of Hormuz, a bottleneck in the Gulf region between Iran and Oman by which tankers from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates transit.

But the most likely scenario, based on a limited conflict, has prices falling from current $75 levels to below $70 by year-end and to $60 by end-2008, which would allow the world economy to keep expanding, with U.S. growth slowing to 2.5 percent in 2007, S&P said.

Iran, the fourth-largest oil exporter, vowed Sunday to expand its atomic fuel work and warned of a harsh response if the United Nations imposed sanctions aimed at halting enrichment.

"If they do (impose sanctions), we will react in a way that would be painful for them," said Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

"We do not want to use the oil weapon, it is they who would impose it upon us," he told a news conference, adding Iran would expand the number of atomic centrifuges it was running.

Hopes to move forward Monday with a draft U.N. resolution to end the war were dashed after Lebanon asked the Security Council to call for a quick withdrawal of Israeli troops, dividing council members, and the U.S. and France are expected to present a revised text.

This from the Associated Press

Of Oil and Hydro

That billion dollar myth again....
Read the story below for further confirmation on hydro rewards.

Big oil standoff an attempt to rectify N.L.'s legacy of bad deals: premier

By TARA BRAUTIGAM

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. (CP) - It's a high-stakes gamble that could boost Newfoundland's economic viability for decades or dramatically stall the rapid growth of Canada's poorest province.

For four months, Premier Danny Williams has put the long-term growth of the province's offshore energy industry on the line in his fight against ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) for higher royalties from the proposed Hebron oilfield.

The hard-nosed Tory leader maintains his position is born out of the province's history of bad business deals. But with Canada's highest unemployment rate and per capita debt, some analysts wonder if Williams can afford to risk losing a battle with big oil.

Williams has insisted on a higher royalty rate for the province and a 4.9 per cent ownership stake in the project, which according to some estimates could produce more revenue for Newfoundland than its three other offshore operations combined.

ExxonMobil, the largest equity holder in the $5-billion project, has warned that the premier's refusal to budge could stunt the growth of the province's offshore oil industry.

One week after ExxonMobil posted the second-largest quarterly profit recorded by a publicly traded U.S. company (ExxonMobil also posted the largest), Hebron remains on the shelf and Williams has reinforced his position.

"A lot of this is posturing," said Memorial University economist Doug May, adding that many in the province support the government's quest to wrest more money from ExxonMobil and its partners.

"He is the legal counsel on this for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and like most clients, I think he has the whole backing on this, from a historic basis, of the people."

In squaring off against ExxonMobil, Williams has cemented his reputation as a tough negotiator. He insists he is only seeking a fair deal for a province that has been repeatedly short-changed when developing its natural resources.

"That's been our history, that's been our heritage and we paid a huge price for that," Williams said in an interview.

In 1972, when the Churchill Falls hydroelectric dam in Labrador was completed with Quebec's help, Newfoundland soon found itself stuck with a lopsided deal that would cost the province billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Under the infamous deal with Quebec, set to expire in 2041, $750 million has flowed into Newfoundland's coffers as of 2004, the most recent figures available. Quebec has pocketed almost $1 billion annually.

"Now, what a billion dollars would do to our bottom line," Williams mused in his office. "We wouldn't even be close to being a have-not province."

Newfoundland's economic conditions were ripe for a lopsided agreement when premier Joey Smallwood signed the Churchill Falls deal in 1969. Like today, the province was coping with a high unemployment rate and desperate for economic development.

Williams's refusal to give in to the temptation of a quick deal is a gamble, but one that may ultimately prove successful, said Rand Dyck, a political science professor with Carleton University.

"Many parts of the province are in bad shape today, yes, but Williams is saying, 'I know that, but I'm not going to repeat the mistakes of my predecessors,' " Dyck said.

"I have some sympathy for that position given that what he says about his predecessors is so true."

Still, the business-savvy premier, who earned the monicker Danny Millions after selling his cable TV company to Rogers Communications in 2000 for $230 million, knows the province faces some tough economic challenges.

Newfoundland's forecast growth of 4.6 per cent over the next two years, which trails only Alberta, will diminish significantly after 2007, according to a recent report by the Conference Board of Canada.

A declining population, the highest unemployment rate in the country and weak consumer spending are expected to offset any revenue the province generates from the offshore oil business.

The province is also grappling with a massive per capita debt of $23,000 - the highest in the country.

Meanwhile, relations between the premier and ExxonMobil appear icy in public.

But beyond the bluster, Williams said the two sides are constantly in touch behind the scenes.

"This is not a question where two people are just in a snit and they're just not talking to each other anymore," he said.

Officials with ExxonMobil declined to comment on the state of negotiations, but spokeswoman Margot Bruce-O'Connell said she was unaware of any talks.

Meanwhile, Newfoundlanders are well aware of how the premier's hardline stance against Ottawa two years ago won him an improved Atlantic Accord, which gave Newfoundland full protection against equalization clawbacks on offshore royalties over the next six years.

But don't expect the oil industry to concede defeat in a similar fashion, mainly because the Hebron project remains a small and relatively expensive play for ExxonMobil.

"Unless these companies are prepared to forecast using higher oil prices, they're likely not to do the project (this year)," said Tom Ebbern, managing research director with Calgary-based Tristone Capital Inc.

Hebron's heavy oil contains a high sulphur content and is therefore more expensive to refine, Ebbern said.

Memorial University economist Wade Locke found that the oil industry's contribution to Newfoundland's treasury is expected to peak at $1.7 billion in 2011 before sharply dropping off.

But Hebron could add another $8.1 billion to the province until 2035, Locke said.

"It's in everybody's interest - the oil companies, the province - for this project to go forward," Locke said. "There's a lot of money involved."

Loyola...Start Here

Darden Restaurants which is the Corporate head of Red Lobster has this to say
about the seal hunt. Do you notice that they are singling out Newfoundland and ignoring
Nova Scotia and PEI. Even though the company has spoken with DFO, the Department
has done nothing to correct this information.
Whose sales will be impacted.
One cannot read this and not ask Loyola - what's going on Minister?

Questions About Canadian Seafood Boycott?

Thank you for your concern about the seal hunt that takes place each year in Newfoundland,

Canada.

Red Lobster is not involved in the seal hunt in any way and does not buy or sell seal products.

In fact, we don’t buy any products at all from Newfoundland.

Nevertheless, we’re concerned about this situation. For many years we have championed the sustainability of marine life and animal welfare by working with interested governments.

We met with the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans recently to express our

concerns about the seal hunt. We believe this is the best way to advance environmental issues.

Way to go Letto

My deepest condolences to the family of Ben Michel, who will be buried today in Labrador.

Bouquet to Mayor Graham Letto for starting the protest against hydro rate increases for Labrador.
First it is unnecessary and second it is disgusting considering the cheap power flowing from the Upper to Quebec.
Don't let this move fool you, the attempt is to justify the export of the Lower Churchill to keep rates stable in Labrador. Danny says and Dean does.
I noticed as well that our Premier was quick off the mark following the untimely death of Ben Michel to reiterate that we must keep moving forward on the development. Danny is is possible you could have given it a day or two before you started articulating how Ben would have wanted it.

My my my Ontario is being soooo nice.

In this Saturday's Tele there is a letter to the editor from good ole Dalton, our friendly Premier from Ontario. On the surface it looks like a nice, sweet, and polite gesture on behalf of Central Canada.
Why is Dalton so pleased and thankful to Premier Dan?
Could it be the absolute desparate need for Lower Churchill power?
Our history is clear, when Ontario needs something - anything from us, the snootiness goes away and the super handshakes begin.
As every miserable hot day passes by in Ontario the need for our friendship grows. Turn off the air-conditioners, shut off the lights, don't use that hairdryer, and even industry has to cut back. The Lower Churchill, our competitive advantage to attract industry to Labrador. We can ship them our other potentials as they are developed.
Do not export hydro-electric, the only chance we have at a bright diversified economy.
As they entice our Premier by making him the Chair of this and that and send him a public letter of thanks for the "con"federation meeting they are sweet-talking our future from us.

Look at the here and now...

It is extemely important to understand what's happening around us.

News from The Alliance for Clean Energy New York

For more information: Carol E. Murphy, (518) 701-9085

ACE NY SAYS RECORD NEW YORK STATE ELECTRICITY DEMAND UNDERSCORES NEED FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND IMPROVED EFFICIENCY

NY Renewables offer Energy Security, Grid Stability, and Environmental Benefits

ALBANY, NY -- (08/04/2006; 1700)(EIS) -- The Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY) pointed to the recent heat wave resulting in two new peak demand records in New York's electricity usage this week and the power outages in New York City last week as a clear signal to add more renewable energy and energy efficiency to the power grid.

On Wednesday, August 2, during the 2:00 p.m. hour, the electric grid operator-the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)-reported that the state had achieved a new peak demand for electricity of 33,939 megawatts. This usage eclipses the record of 32,075 megawatts set just one year ago on July 26, 2005, by 1,864 megawatts. The difference is enough electricity to power approximately 1.8 million average New York households. This dramatic increase in demand over a one-year period is unprecedented in New York's history and underscores the need for investment in energy efficiency and the addition of significant amounts of new, clean power to the grid.

"Contrary to conventional wisdom that the majority of new demand for electricity comes from downstate, our analysis shows that this growth in electricity usage is evenly divided between upstate and downstate," said Carol E. Murphy, Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York. "When we compared 2005's peak numbers upstate with August 2, 2006 numbers we found an increase in demand of 968 megawatts in the area from western New York through the Hudson Valley. This increase represents more than half of the load growth statewide." Murphy noted that large scale wind power can help meet the fast growing demand for electricity, particularly in the upstate regions where wind power is well suited. During the recent peak demand period the Maple Ridge wind farm helped meet this demand by supplying 115 megawatts of power into the grid.

Photovoltaic (PV) systems and fuel cells create power without emitting pollution, and this is particularly important when the haze and air pollution are at their worst during the hot and humid days of summer. Recent studies conducted by the SUNY Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) have demonstrated that PV system output closely follows New York City's peak electrical demand. Solar can be counted on to generate power when New York City and Long Island need it the most. Studies have estimated that New York City could reliably meet 20 percent of its peak demand needs with solar systems on rooftops, building facades, parking lot infrastructure, etc.

As more stress is placed on the power grid, fuel cells, PV systems and energy efficiency can reduce multiple stresses on the electric system. Those systems with battery storage can provide on-site emergency backup for critical resources like hospitals, police and fire stations, elevators, air conditioners and emergency lights in high rises, and communication services.

"With increasing geo-political instability, our own growing appetite for energy and the environmental and public health issues of global warming and respiratory illnesses confronting us, we should be doing everything we can to ensure our future energy supply comes from clean, renewable, home-grown sources." said Carol E. Murphy, Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York. "Whether it's wind power, solar power, increased hydro-electric capacity or fuel cells, renewables offer price and grid stability and environmental benefits for New York. We must invest now to secure an environmentally sound energy future for our children."

The Alliance for Clean Energy New York's (www.aceny.org) mission is to promote the use of clean, renewable electricity technologies and energy efficiency in New York State, in order to increase energy diversity and security, boost economic development, improve public health, and reduce air pollution.

-30-

Look into the future...

Try to imagine the North American equivalent....

This information from Engineer Live

Global electric ‘power highways’ could become a force for peace

One day there will be a global electricity network that links all countries of the world. It will take decades to complete but the first steps have already been taken and the principle is deemed workable.

A key benefit will be a reduction in the number of power stations that are needed globally. During night time, for example, any given country’s generators can be kept running efficiently by supplying the extra needs of other countries during their working hours further round the globe. It will also help balance the different types of power generation indigenous to different countries. Nuclear power stations can take several days to switch on or off, so they are best at providing continuous base-load electricity.

But a hydropower generator can be started in minutes, making it ideal for meeting surges.

For example, Switzerland imports base-load electricity from French nuclear power plants, but exports power from its Alpine dams in short bursts to meet France’s peak needs. Any one country does not have to cater for all contingencies because it can use resources from elsewhere.

A global network will enable easier access to major sources of energy that are uneconomical to reach just now. The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, for example, is a remote region with a large hydroelectric potential. The capacity of the national system is about 300MW, according to its Water and Energy Commission, but it could generate more than 40GW of hydroelectricity in its steep valleys.

Such a grid will increased security of supply, reduce the need for new power plants and cut back on the primary electricity reserve requirements within each country. This includes the use of spinning reserve where a station is semi-powered so it can take over very quickly if another station fails or if demand rises sharply.

Interconnected systems

The Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE) is the association of transmission system operators in continental Europe. It provides a reliable market base by creating efficient and secure electric power highways. It has 50 years of experience in the synchronous operation of interconnected power systems and its networks supply some 500million people in 22 countries from Portugal to Romania and from The Netherlands to Greece with about 2300TWh of electricity. Part of its network is the Baltic Ring, recently developed by the Baltic Ring Electricity Co-operation Committee (BALTREL) which has created a common electricity market in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. It expects this will strengthen economic development in the region, increase reliability of supply and help the environment.

Currently, UCTE is investigating the feasibility of a synchronous interconnection between the Baltic States, Russia and many countries of eastern Europe as far as Mongolia. This would create an electricity system with an installed generation capacity of some 800GW, spanning 13 time zones and serving about 800million people.

Today, Europe is linked to North Africa by ac cable between Spain and Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia – known as the Maghreb, or western, countries. Further interconnection will bring in Tunisia and Libya, already forming a synchronous block with Egypt, Jordan and Syria – known as the Mashreq, or eastern, countries.
This is the basis of the Mediterranean Ring, which could eventually include Turkey.

The project will increase energy security in the entire region, and enable more efficient power flows at lower costs. It will also reduce the need for more power plants to meet rapidly increasing demand for electricity in the southern and eastern Mediterranean regions. From Turkey the ring would then link back into the European grid via Greece or through the newly interconnected Eastern European country grids.

Apart from the economic and technical hurdles to be overcome, there are two quite different outlooks to reconcile. European networks are highly meshed, consisting of high voltage lines, with high consumption and high density of consumers, and predictable load patterns. But grids in the Southern Mediterranean region are typically lower voltage grids, non-redundant, serving fewer loads, concentrated in highly urbanised areas, and strung out through the countryside at lower voltages.

Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution Group is one company keeping an eye on these developments. As one of the two world-leading suppliers in the HVDC market, it expects to contribute to discussions regarding technical realisation of the project.

The group is already very active in HVDC around the world. Currently, it is working with local companies to construct a link in southeast China. The US$121million contract was awarded by China Southern Power Grid Company in Guangzhou and the project is expected to be connected in 2007. The new HVDC transmission line will eventually provide electricity from the hydro and coal fired power plants in the west of the country to the industrial districts in Guangdong.

India’s largest power transmission project, the East-South HVDC Interconnector II, was completed by Siemens PTD Group ahead of schedule. It links the states Karnataka and Orissa over a distance of 1450km – the second longest HVDC link in the world – with a bulk power of up to 2000MW.

Siemens says HVDC is the only technically and economically feasible solution for interconnection of asynchronous grids and for power transmission over large distances between generation and load centres.

HQ continues...

Unfortunately the deal details are not well know other than the cheap price, long-term contract, and the Moore's buyback from Brinco. I'm not sure if the details of the buyback are well known but we will find out as we go through.
The other issue is the deal that Tobin made re the Upper Churchill and winter availability and purchase recall. But we will discuss the absolute mess Tobin and Dean MacDonald made during that process as well - including the increased managment powers to Hydro Quebec.
But Ed patience....a complete education on the matter takes time. You should have known all these things before you supported the privatization of NLH.
I'm glad to see you are coming around on the billions in profits "theory". A pretty basic assumption, but nevertheless an advancement.
You see Ed I've decided that all that information will be provided so that you cannot divert attention away from the important discussion.

sue's news blog

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Minister of Fields and Farms has added too much

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Technical Difficulties

Monday, September 25, 2006

Technical Problems again...

Weekend Roundup

Friday, September 22, 2006

Loyola Sullivan - finally talking about...

Are you Willing to Read - Dunderdale talking nonsense

Thursday, September 21, 2006

About that refining capacity...

Crisis for Province - Pharmacists on the move west

WE ARE TOAST (Follow-up) URGENT

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

GAS BULLETIN - George Says

This is what I'm referring to - this mysterious technical glitch...

the G7 speaks...what's important and energy concerns

The China Effect

Another couple of billion to protect the Americans from Canadians

How Far will Big Corporations go...

Fish and Brewis

Fish Felons

Loyola Hearn and Danny Williams hang fishery out to dry

The Deal will be bad come Hell or High Water

Labrador - International Uranium Enrichment Center?

Uranium Rich Labrador

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Where are the Crown Corps Agencies and Federal Places located? UPDATE

BC Hydro under attack....

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Power...

Political Realist

Come by Chance and Stay by Chance 5

Welcome to the New Site

Where have all the Mayors gone? Don Fiddled while Harbour Breton Burned!

Where's the New Economic Recovery Plan?

Interesting notes I have found...

Non-Renewable revenues out! Non-Renewable promise

Blue Cod and a New Minister

Good Afternoon Stephenville

Voisey's Bay Strike helps to keep nickel prices high...

Churchill Deal must be closer...

St. John's Board of Trade Questions and Loyola's answers

Nice Smack Loyola but it never even left a bruise...

Two interesting Links

Nobody is asking about quotas for communities

Snitch Line

Minister's meetings with women on the Burin Peninsula a success???????

Loyola knows but won't tell

Did I Hear Right?

Minister's meetings with women on the Burin Peninsula a success???????

Hydro Quebec 101 continues...

Everybody and anybody do as you wish unless your are a Newfoundlander or Labradorian

Good Morning Bay St. George

You Can Drive a Mac Truck Through it...

VOCM News Headlines???

Upper Churchill Quebec does not deny the Billion a year...

HOUSE OF COMMONS

_______________

Prayers

There is hope Chuck and the boys are now in power. Loyola have a read and see if you can't get this fixed up.

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GOVERNMENT ORDERS

SUPPLY

ALLOTTED DAY-CHURCHILL FALLS HYDRO CONTRACT

Big Oil spells Big Trouble for consumers and...

Hey Tom try this out....

Inspections Inspections

Federal Gas Tax for Communities

This must be a joke right? Good Morning Stephenville

Wayne Ruth jumps on board...

Seabirds in Newfoundland should move west...

Federal Gas Tax Sharing announcement tomorrow

Have you got the time to Measure our choices?

Keep that Quebec Air Clean...

HQ on Energy Comparisons

Hey Dan these guys might be interested...

You gotta love it....

We would do well to listen!