Newfoundland

[jdobbin]

I think congratulations are in order for Newfoundland to move to "have" status sometime in the next year and half.

I think the real challenge will be how Williams manages it in the next years. Newfoundland will always face challenges based on its geography and that is why if it works to develop a business plan, it needs to think about how to foster businesses and industries that will prosper regardless.

Interesting times ahead. I hope the prosperity is long lasting and widespread.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...27?hub=Politics

The future of Canada's youngest province has never shone brighter. But the prosperity that awaits Newfoundland and Labrador threatens to bring a new set of problems it has never experienced before.

For generations, Newfoundland has struggled with mounting multibillion-dollar debt, staggering unemployment and make-work projects that failed to turn the province's economy around.

National columnists labelled Newfoundlanders "professional welfare cases" -- words that still sting many residents here.

But the province's outlook has changed dramatically. Back-to-back record surpluses, growing tourism and a boom in mineral development and the offshore oil sector have combined to make Newfoundland the Celtic Tiger of Canada.

For the first time in its history, 60 years after it joined the country, the province is poised to become a have-province by March 2009 -- a great source of pride for Premier Danny Williams.

"We hope to make a significant contribution to this country," Williams said in an interview, echoing the unfulfilled dream of his predecessors.

"We want to pay our way, we want to earn our own keep."

And the boom is expected to last for some time. Primarily powered by high oil prices and expansions in the offshore industry, economists are forecasting Newfoundland to remain a contributor to the federal equalization program for at least 15 to 20 years.

[August1991]

I think congratulations are in order for Newfoundland to move to "have" status sometime in the next year and half.

Hibernia deserves the credit and the decision of Mulroney's government to stick with it even when Gulf decided to withdraw.

In fact, the Newfoundland government won the lottery with Hibernia (and the other fields) but winning a lottery is no sign of competency. The cod fishery is a disaster and that's a result of Newfoundland's decision to join Canada. If Newfoundland had managed the fishery, the cod would be plentiful as in Iceland.

The Newfoundland government was a welfare case and with oil, the Newfoundland government is a welfare case that just won the lottery. Danny Williams is the proverbial ambulance-chasing liability lawyer who takes on public housing cases because he knows how bureaucracy works. The tenants in the projects hire him. Danny Williams is a carpet bagger.

Independent, good-hearted Newfoundlanders have been badly served by their governments. Newfoundland is a prime example to illustrate that country and government are two different words. A people, country and their history should never be confused wih the government. "Newfoundland" and the "Government of Newfoundland" are two entirely different things.

So too in Canada, and the US.

Edited December 29, 2007 by August1991

[jdobbin]

Hibernia deserves the credit and the decision of Mulroney's government to stick with it even when Gulf decided to withdraw.

In fact, the Newfoundland government won the lottery with Hibernia (and the other fields) but winning a lottery is no sign of competency. The cod fishery is a disaster and that's a result of Newfoundland's decision to join Canada. If Newfoundland had managed the fishery, the cod would be plentiful as in Iceland.

The Newfoundland government was a welfare case and with oil, the Newfoundland government is a welfare case that just won the lottery. Danny Williams is the proverbial ambulance-chasing liability lawyer who takes on public housing cases because he knows how bureaucracy works. The tenants in the projects hire him. Danny Williams is a carpet bagger.

Independent, good-hearted Newfoundlanders have been badly served by their governments. Newfoundland is a prime example to illustrate that country and government are two different words. A people, country and their history should never be confused wih the government. "Newfoundland" and the "Government of Newfoundland" are two entirely different things.

So too in Canada, and the US.

Hibernia would have gone ahead at some point even if Mulroney hadn't decided to make it one of his "mega-projects." The cost of oil would have dictated that much.

I don't think I said it was a miracle of government operations that has placed Newfoundland in its present fortunate circumstances. It is the law of supply and demand over a precious resource. Nevertheless, it will be the government that must decide how to manage the income from this resource. With any luck, competent managers will invest the money in ways that act as a stimulus for further investment for decades to come.

The cod are not so plentiful in Iceland. Catches are way down and the size of the fish are smaller despite pushing the British out of the region decades ago. Overfishing was a problem in the past but even now the stocks keep declining.

I think managing the cod industry was only part of the story of why cod stocks are down. I think Newfoundland would have had to have invested in a sizable navy to chase Europeans out the way Icelanders did. Even then, it would have been a huge territory to cover for the one industry. And for what? Even with management, the Icelandic cod stock continues to decline. Perhaps Newfoundland's would have as well. Even some of the best scientific minds are mystified at why the stocks have not recovered after the moratorium in 1992.

In any event, I applaud Newfoundland becoming a "have" province. It is a milestone that I hope lasts long into their future.

Edited December 29, 2007 by jdobbin

[geoffrey]

In any event, I applaud Newfoundland becoming a "have" province. It is a milestone that I hope lasts long into their future.

So they'll stop being a net receipient of the transfer program? Not likely. Ontario will continue to fund Danny's adventures for some time yet... Danny himself said Newfoundland is entitled to both the Atlantic Accord AND Harper's new program... all giving them more than Ontario gets despite having higher per capita GDP and earnings.

Hmmm...

Got to love Canada.

[jdobbin]

So they'll stop being a net receipient of the transfer program? Not likely. Ontario will continue to fund Danny's adventures for some time yet... Danny himself said Newfoundland is entitled to both the Atlantic Accord AND Harper's new program... all giving them more than Ontario gets despite having higher per capita GDP and earnings.

Even Williams has said that when revenues kick into high gear in a year and a half that a "have" province is a "have" province. Saskatchewan faces the same issue. I don't see how it possible that will receive transfer at the point where their revenues place them into the "have" status.

[geoffrey]

Even Williams has said that when revenues kick into high gear in a year and a half that a "have" province is a "have" province. Saskatchewan faces the same issue. I don't see how it possible that will receive transfer at the point where their revenues place them into the "have" status.

So his endless whining about the Atlantic Accord and getting every last deal on the table is was all a big waste of time because it's all over in a year anyways?

[jbg]

So his endless whining about the Atlantic Accord and getting every last deal on the table is was all a big waste of time because it's all over in a year anyways?

Come now. Danny has to have something to be "flippin' mad" about.

[jdobbin]

So his endless whining about the Atlantic Accord and getting every last deal on the table is was all a big waste of time because it's all over in a year anyways?

It was something that Harper had promised in the election. Even Wade Locke was able to show independently that Newfoundland would do better under the old deal until it was to become a "have" promise.

[geoffrey]

It was something that Harper had promised in the election. Even Wade Locke was able to show independently that Newfoundland would do better under the old deal until it was to become a "have" promise.

I agree. And the old deal is still an option, it just means he can't have the new one as well.

[jdobbin]

I agree. And the old deal is still an option, it just means he can't have the new one as well.

The problem Harper had one he was telling the Atlantic provinces to pick one or the other without knowing which one would work out fairest for the province. It is why Harper eventually offered Nova Scotia a compromise.

[jdobbin]

Looks like the Feds are continuing to battle with Williams.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labr...iams-hearn.html

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams says a federal minister's claims to have inside knowledge of the provincial cabinet are absurd and untrue.

Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn, who has sparred with Williams for more than two years, told CBC News last week that he often knows as much about what's happening in the provincial cabinet and caucus as the premier himself.

"That's why we can always be one step ahead of him," said Hearn, who also suggested that he has inside information from the eighth floor of Confederation Building in St. John's, which is the location of the premier's office.

Seems a little childish to be tweaking Williams like that. I don't think it will help them with federal Newfoundland seats.

Edited January 2, 2008 by jdobbin

[bentley]

I agree. And the old deal is still an option, it just means he can't have the new one as well.

Its about time Newfoundland got the benifet from its resources. However, once we are on par with the rest of the country, I do not want special privilages. I would like to be a contributer to Canada. Williams is certainly putting up a good fight. I'm not sure what his intentions are though. Someone on the "my 2 cents" forum suggested he mayhave his sights on the PMO. Check out the topic on www.nl4u.ca under my 2 cents

[Wild Bill]

Its about time Newfoundland got the benifet from its resources. However, once we are on par with the rest of the country, I do not want special privilages. I would like to be a contributer to Canada. Williams is certainly putting up a good fight. I'm not sure what his intentions are though. Someone on the "my 2 cents" forum suggested he mayhave his sights on the PMO. Check out the topic on www.nl4u.ca under my 2 cents

The PMO? I don't think so! He's burned his bridges here in Ontario. Rightly or wrongly, his fight with Harper looked to us like he wanted to have his cake and eat it too, with our taxes buying his cake!

No, he obviously made himself popular at home but I wouldn't bet a flat beer on his chances in the rest of Canada.