Rovik

St. John's is not Newfoundland, one city does not make a province. St. John's is getting the bulk of the benefits of the offshore oil. Most other parts of the province are not seeing any direct benefits. One way the province is trying to help these other parts of Newfoundland is to maximize the benefits from the offshore including increasing royalties so they would have extra money to maintain infrastructure and healthcare and education standards in these other parts of Newfoundland.

A lot of people here in Newfoundland weren't to happy about the fact that this was yet another Canadian study that spanned from Halifax to Victoria. Newfoundland and specifically St. John's was omitted. If they included St. John's in their study, they might have found that St. John's is doing very well indeed from benefits of the offshore and may have well been the top city from the East in GDP growth. Of course, we don't know since it wasn't included in the study. Though I do admit, sadly, other than a couple of exceptions, rural Newfoundland isn't in great shape

After this betrayal of trust from Harper and his Conservatives, mark my words, the Conservatives will lose all three seats in Newfoundland and those three seats could be the difference between a majority or a minority. Let's face it, Harper and the Conservatives broke their promise to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia so they could put in place an equalization regime that is favourable to Quebec. It's funny, how Conservative supporters were so gung-ho attacking the Liberals about broken promises, but now are staying silent after the stream of broken promises by the Conservatives; guess they abandoned their ideals, now that see a possible Conservative majority. And to those you say that they didn't break their promise to the Newfoundland and Nova Scotia governments, here's an excerpt from The Telegram that explains how they did: War of the Promises

My take is that the Liberals did nothing when they had the chance (and let the situation get worse by their inaction) and that the Conservatives by their misguided policies will make the environment worse, not better. I trust neither party with dealing with the environment.

Newfoundland bashing again I see. Why am I not surprised, considering your very blatant anti-Newfoundland bias. Newfoundlland does have tremendous potential and the government must be responsible enough to maximize the benefits of the potential to the people of Newfoundland, not to some CEO of an oil company so that the CEO can make his/her $1 million dollar performance bonus or to stockholders in places like Calgary and Houston. Newfoundland has far too long let businesses come in here and dictate terms and only received short-term employment in return. Often in Newfoundland's past, most of the benefits would leave the province to places like Alberta. Finally, our government has said no more, and have told companies (such as those in the oil sector) that enough is enough and we want our fair share; that we won't be treated like some third-world country like Nigeria and that we should get the same arrangements as Alberta such as fallow-field legislation and royalties similar to what Alberta is getting (Newfoundland's royalties don't come close to what Alberta is getting.) At the same time, I would have to say that the govt. of Newfoundland is very fair to business and this govt. has granted generous tax breaks and incentives to companies. The oil companies make huge profits off the Hibernia oil field and are making good profits off Terra Nova and White Rose (though initially the oil companies tried to creatively hide the huge profits they were making off Hibernia in the negotiations with Newfoundland over the Hebron- Nevis oil fields.)

There are several factors one must consider here. First, if they were making 12 to 14 dollars an hour, they would be getting about 7 dollars an hour on EI...not a huge amount of money, and on EI, one does not pay into CPP, therfore, they will have less of a pension when they hit 65. Second, there is a quality of life issue here. These people, many who are uneducated, if they stayed in Alberta making $15 an hour, would have a very hard time buying a house...in fact, more than likely they would be staying in a basement apartment, compare this to having their own home in Newfoundland and being happy compared to living in a basement apartment, perhaps living with many, many others (often fellow workers who can't find accommendations elsewhere) and being misrable. And many, even if they sold their homes in Newfoundland, would still have a hard time getting a down payment for a home in Alberta (and many would have a hard time qualifying for a mortgage in Alberta). Personally I believe no matter how much money one makes, if one is not happy, how can you say that person is living a fulfulling life. And to all you cold-hearted people who thing that social programs should be scrapped or diminished to a point of not been benefically, how come you are not also saying that 100% of all corporate subsidies, tax breaks and incentives should be scrapped. How come none of you are complaining about the service charges that the banks charge or the very high interest on many credit cards...often at above 25%. I don't hear you complain about that??? Hypocritical, if you ask me.

Yes. Either compete or stop complaining. Why should a company go to Newfoundland when business conditions are better in Alberta. There is no oil and gas establishment there, it costs alot of money in infrastructure and development for the companies. They need to be guarnteed their share long-term. If you want your money, you need to adopt more pro-business measures. Newfoundland is nearly as anti-business as Quebec. It's not complaining at all, it's all about standing up for your fair share. Why should Newfoundland grovel and pander to the oil companies who have profits to the companies and shareholders as their number one priority, not the province and its people. Listen, Newfoundland has made sacrifices to the oil companies in the past such as tax breaks and incentives. In the case of Hibernia, many people say that the oil companies were the big winners, Newfoundland lose big time and are still not getting their fair deal in that arrangement. In regards to lack of oil establishment , people I know who work in the oil industry say that the oil companies won't develop as much as they should here is because of our location, not anything to do with provincial's stance in regard to the oil companies. That's why you won't see a major oil company moving their HQs here; the cost of shipping stuff here from the states and elsewhere, compared to Alberta, is much more expensive. I don't see anyhting wrong about Newfoundland's stance towards big business, instead the oil companies should adopt a more pro-provincial stance.

And you're saying tha ta province should be able to force a business to make an investment? No, what i am suggesting is that the province should make the best deal possible to benefit the people of Newfoundland and Labrador from an industry making billions of dollars of profit. Even if the oil companies accepted the province's offer 100%, they would still make oodles of money.

So Newfoundland is trying to up the take after a deal was made. There has been no deal with Hebron-Ben Nevis, the negotiations broke down after both sides weren't willing to back down. The Hibernia and White Rose are separate and there were deals made, though many conclude that Newfoundland has not seen the benefits and monies that it should have received.

Well I thought they weren't being developed. The Hebron-Ben Nevis fields are not been developed because the NL govt. and the oil companies have broken off negotiations. The Hibernia and White Rose fields have been developed and are producing.

The oil companies are already making moolas of money off Hibernia and Terra Nova and they still will even if they give a favourable deal toward Newfoundland. Not to long ago, Exxon-Mobil did claim low profits when they were in negotiations with the province over the Hebron field, though it came out after that this was not true and they were making a lot more money then they admitted. Click link to read the whole story: Open your books, NL premier tells Exxon-Mobil

What they need to do is have the ownership of the resources transferred to Newfoundland. That the management would be provincial, but it still wouldn't guarantee the oil companies would do anything if they can't get a deal they can live with. Won't happen because the Federal govt. reaps a lot of money off the resources. Thye won't easily give that up.

Oh right, because Ottawa is screwing Newfoundland? Do you have any idea how long it takes to design a rig, build a rig and implement drilling off-shore? The process is huge, expensive and time consuming. If you lost your rights after 5 years, there would be little point in trying (no room to delay because of economic conditions, ect.). A 30 year implementation 'fallow field' situation might be responsible. Anything else would be damaging. The answer to Newfoundlands inability to grow commerce and industry isn't more regulation. So you are basically saying that it is ok for the oil companies to basically hold the province at ransom until they get their way because otherwise they won't develop the fields for at least 30 years? And you think this is fair to Newfoundland?

I tend to agree, but if the feds own the resource why does the province think they have any say in it. Williams has gone to Harper, saying to him it's the fair thing to do, which allow Newfoundland to be on a level playing field with Alberta This is just one small example on how many say that Canada has benefitted much more than Newfoundland since 1949.

Newfoundland has always had the resources but have seen companies take the resources and give very little in return. In additon, they also have had to contend with the Federal govt. badly mismanaging the resouces (such as the fishery.) Newfoundland, at long last is standing up for itself and saying "no more." With more of a hard line stance, perhaps Newfoundland will see revenues and benefits that have been flowing to mainland Canada stay here and because of that, more jobs and less people on EI.

Offshore drilling is an exception, I believe. Here is a better explanation and Newfoundland's rationale from Canada Free Press: Why are Newfoundlanders and Labradorians considered "Fed-bashers" So as you can see, many Newfoundlanders see "fallow field legislation" as only fair and just and to deny Newfoundland the legislation is suspicious and questionable in the extreme.

This is not BS. It seems that everything that you don't believe in or support is BS, though this is not surprising since you seem to be very bias, especially toward the oil companies. Obviously you can call Newfoundlanders whatever you want (within the rules of the forum of course) and I nor anybody else can stop you, even though it may seem derogatory and disrespectful to some.

They didn't like the trade-off that the Conservatives were proposing (and as far as I know will go into effect) which was to have the GST tax cut but in addition, raise the income tax on the lowest tax bracket. They figured that the income tax cut (which the Liberals brought in) brought higher savings then the GST cut. I realize that "which cut is better" has been debated to death here, so I won't delve into that.

I dunno, Newfoundland has oil, fishery, mining, logging and paper mills but much was mismanaged by either the Federal govt and/or Provincal govts. So are Sask.'s problems stemming back to Grant Devine's Conservative govt.?

All provinces (except Alberta), regardless of politcal stripes have raised taxes over the years. Sask. now has the second lowest sales tax in the country (not too chabby.) Funny, the exact same thing has been said about Newfoundland and the other Atlantic provinces over the years and guess what...there has never been a NDP provincial govt. in Atlantic Canada, though lots of Liberal and Conservative govts.

It should be Canada thanking Newfoundland, because since Confederation, Canada has benefitted more from the relationship then Newfoundland has. I mentioned this is in more detail in another thread. The province's chief objective is not to get government offices, it's to keep what it has, considering Newfoundland has lost a significant amount of federal jobs under Liberal rule (and now it seems, Conservative rule.) And it's about fairness; how are people in Montreal going to know the situation and circumstances of people with disabilities, visible minorities and aboriginal people in Newfoundland (and in fact all the Atlantic provinces.) Another example is the fact that most senior DFO officials are in Ottawa, not in Atlantic Canada or BC, where the marine resources are located. It doesn't make any sense. Socialist is not a word on how I would describe the William's Newfoundland Conservative govt. In fact, since the Conservative govt. has come into power, business, espeically small business, has enjoyed tax breaks. In regard to the oil industry; the provincial Conservative govt. is fighting for a fair deal from an industry who makes billions of dollars in profits. The oil companies want incentives that would heavily cut into the benefits that the province would receive. Newfoundland, in the past, has been involved with bad deals for short term benefits but long term detriment though hopefully no more. What M.Dancer and Rick Mercer is refering to concerns "fallow fields." Basically, in Alberta, a company must develop any area it discovers within five years. The oil companies don't have these restrictions in Newfoundland and don't ever have to develop the area if they don't want to. Because of this, they have a distinct advantage in negotiations with the Newfoundland govt. Williams, and the Newfoundland govt. want to be able to have the same arragement as Alberta, as it is only fair. The problem is that Harper and his Conservative govt. doesn't support Newfoundland to get the same arragement as Alberta. Some in this province consider this favourtism toward Alberta and "Big Oil." Here's the link to what Rick Mercer said: Rick Mercer Report

Sask. government cuts provincial Sales tax Look like Saskatchewan is cutting the PST from 7% to 5%. If you have listened to Conservatives (and a few Liberals as well,) this would be considered an impossible scenario. Considering their past crys of "NDP will never lower taxes, only increase them," it must be pretty disheartening to them to see how wrong they are. Of course, many of them also used this as a scare tactic to scare away voters from the NDP. Hopefully now, people will see through these such inaccurate claims in the future.

Federal Conservatives are potentially picking a war with the Newfoundland Conservative govt. From VOCM web site: More Cuts to Federal programs And Harper and his Conservatives are favouring Quebec as they are moving a Federal office from Newfoundland to Quebec.

I believe i did his test once before, but wasn't added to the map. Anyhow here is my newest scores: Economic Left/Right: -5.36 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.80

If the NDP is in support of it, they should demand that Manitoba and Saskatchewan do it to demonstate how good it is. First, the Federal NDP is a different entity then each of the Provinces' NDP. With your logic, the Newfoundland Conservative govt. would mirror the Federal government in every policy and stance, but we know that this is not true. Another example, is the Quebec Liberal govt...many of the members ended up helping the Conservatives in the last Federal election instead of the Liberals. Next, we all know that PR will hurt the Liberals, Conservatives and the BQ the most. These parties tend to do very well in the type of electorial system we have now.