Gander Weather Office

[August1991]

I just learned that the federal government re-opened the Gander weather office. As Harper said:

"I can say to you, without reservation, promise made, promise kept," he said Wednesday.

CBC Newfoundland

Now, maybe it's just me, but I saw no mention of this in the national press or by any national columnist. A Google search gives one G & M reference. There is only one CBC link (the one above which is to the local Nfld CBC).

Maybe this is not major, national news item but then again it should be. It was an issue in the last federal campaign, and the Liberal decision to move the office to Halifax was controversial. Needless to say, this was major news in Newfoundland and local press covered it.

I think this is a small allegory for understanding Harper's developing relationship with ordinary Canadians.

Here's typical local reaction - ornery as always:

That reminds me of something. We are getting the weather office back in Gander again. It proves that our new prime minister is a man of his word. But that doesn’t mean he is trustworthy. I know you can never trust a politician. Remember those old western movies? The Indians use to say white man speaks with fork tongue. That was a mistake. They should have said, politicians speak with a crooked tongue.

Gander Beacon

[shoop]

This was announced over a month ago. I'm pretty sure that it did make National news, albeit as a pretty minor story.

[Nocrap]

This was announced over a month ago. I'm pretty sure that it did make National news, albeit as a pretty minor story.

They covered it on my local television station several weeks ago, including Harper's speech to the people of Gander. Old news, so why are they bringing it up now?

[Rovik]

I just learned that the federal government re-opened the Gander weather office. As Harper said:

"I can say to you, without reservation, promise made, promise kept," he said Wednesday.

CBC Newfoundland

I think this is a small allegory for understanding Harper's developing relationship with ordinary Canadians.

Gander Beacon

We'll see. This is perhaps the easiest promise for Harper to come across on as it is relatively inexpensive with minor consequences.

Here are some other promises he made to Newfoundland during the election campaign (and Newfoundlanders will be seeing if he keeps his word.)

Following quotes from From Province of Newfoundland website - Harper's response to Premier's Williams list of questions:

A Conservative government would support extending custodial management of Continental Shelp beyond the 200 mile limit, to the nose and tail of the Grand Banks and Flemish Capij the North Atlantic

Newfoundlanders would like this to curb foreign overfishing. Let's see if the Conservatives will actually do something about this or will they just play games like the former Liberals did...remember the theatrics with Tobin and the Estai incident.

We support this proposal in principle and believe that it is important for Newfoundland to have greater control of its energy mix.

This was the response to Premier Williams asking if the Conservatives are willing to offer loan guarantees to develop the Lower Churchill. These guarantees could be in the hundreds of millions range or more.

There is an over-concentration of certain federal governemnt services in some areas of the country and an effort must be made to ensure that there is a fair distributation of ithe federal governemnt presence across the country

Newfoundland has lost a lot of federal jobs over the last 10 years and Newfoundland wants many of these jobs back. For example, why are most senior DFO officials in Ottawa when most of the action is in Newfoundland and the rest of Atlantic Canada (and in BC as well.) The Gander weather station is a good start but it is only a start and very minor in the scheme of things.

Yes, a Conservative government would support a cost-shared agreement to complete the Trans labrador Highway

This would be an expensive venture for the government considering some estimates to finish the highway have been in the billions of dollars. It's hard to believe that a Conservative government would do such a thing but in this case, they did promise.

So you see, the Gander weather station was an easy promise to keep (though I agree it was good that the Conservatives came across.) Let's see if they follow up on their other promises and if they don't; Newfoundlanders won't forget.

[Keepitsimple]

CBC Newfoundland

I think this is a small allegory for understanding Harper's developing relationship with ordinary Canadians.

Gander Beacon

We'll see. This is perhaps the easiest promise for Harper to come across on as it is relatively inexpensive with minor consequences.

Here are some other promises he made to Newfoundland during the election campaign (and Newfoundlanders will be seeing if he keeps his word.)

Following quotes from From Province of Newfoundland website - Harper's response to Premier's Williams list of questions:

Newfoundlanders would like this to curb foreign overfishing. Let's see if the Conservatives will actually do something about this or will they just play games like the former Liberals did...remember the theatrics with Tobin and the Estai incident.

This was the response to Premier Williams asking if the Conservatives are willing to offer loan guarantees to develop the Lower Churchill. These guarantees could be in the hundreds of millions range or more.

Newfoundland has lost a lot of federal jobs over the last 10 years and Newfoundland wants many of these jobs back. For example, why are most senior DFO officials in Ottawa when most of the action is in Newfoundland and the rest of Atlantic Canada (and in BC as well.) The Gander weather station is a good start but it is only a start and very minor in the scheme of things.

This would be an expensive venture for the government considering some estimates to finish the highway have been in the billions of dollars. It's hard to believe that a Conservative government would do such a thing but in this case, they did promise.

So you see, the Gander weather station was an easy promise to keep (though I agree it was good that the Conservatives came across.) Let's see if they follow up on their other promises and if they don't; Newfoundlanders won't forget.

If Harper continues to follow up on most of his promises, I hope the people of Newfoundland will give him credit for rising above the bombastic negativity of Danny Williams' ABC campaign. On a personal level, Williams' attitude would prompt most people to say "take your 4 seats and shove it" and his continual vitriole towards Harper on a gleeful CBC would have most Canadians in agreement with that approach......but I think Harper has shown that in spite of Danny Boy, he will do what's right for Newfoundlanders.

[August1991]

If Harper continues to follow up on most of his promises, I hope the people of Newfoundland will give him credit for rising above the bombastic negativity of Danny Williams' ABC campaign. On a personal level, Williams' attitude would prompt most people to say "take your 4 seats and shove it" and his continual vitriole towards Harper on a gleeful CBC would have most Canadians in agreement with that approach......but I think Harper has shown that in spite of Danny Boy, he will do what's right for Newfoundlanders.

Given the results in the 2008 election, if I were Harper, I'd shut down the weather office in Gander and even the airport itself. If transatlantic flights have problems, they can land in Halifax, St. John's or Stephenville. Harper owes Newfoundlanders nothing, and Newfoundlanders should know that. Edited November 9, 2008 by August1991

[cybercoma]

Given the results in the 2008 election, if I were Harper, I'd shut down the weather office in Gander and even the airport itself. If transatlantic flights have problems, they can land in Halifax, St. John's or Stephenville. Harper owes Newfoundlanders nothing, and Newfoundlanders should know that.

I would find more pleasure in destroying Danny Williams by making him look like an idiot. By keeping his promises, Harper is showing Newfoundlanders that their premier was completely wrong in his ABC campaign.

[Smallc]

Given the results in the 2008 election, if I were Harper, I'd shut down the weather office in Gander and even the airport itself. If transatlantic flights have problems, they can land in Halifax, St. John's or Stephenville. Harper owes Newfoundlanders nothing, and Newfoundlanders should know that.

I would hope that the Prime Minister wouldn't be that vindictive in his running of the country.

[AngusThermopyle]

I would hope that the Prime Minister wouldn't be that vindictive in his running of the country.

I'm pretty much 100% sure he wouldn't be, he's a better man than that. It is good that he's making Williams look like the fool he is though.

As for the article stating he keeps his word but is untrustworthy, well, lets look at that shall we. He can be trusted to keep his word yet is untrustworthy, that makes a lot of sense, not! All I can say is that the writer of the article should give their head a shake and realize what an incredibly stupid thing they said.

[Rovik]

Harper making Williams look like a fool?!?..I strongly disagree. This type of talk is simply typical rhetoric from Conservative/Harper supporters who are still angry that Williams exposed Harper for all his broken promises, and in the process, made Harper look bad because of it.

Harper broke several promises to the province, not just the Atlantic Accord (and there were three Conservative members, for all the good that did us, at the time that didn't have any backbone to fight for Newfoundland.) Harper, by breaking his promises, had to be told that this was unacceptable in a strongly matter. This was done when Newfoundland showed its displeasure by not voting for any Conservatives.

So now everything is even. The slate is clean and the honourable to do is to move on. We'll see if Harper acts grown-up and is not vindicative towards Newfoundland; if he does, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

[Bryan]

Harper making Williams look like a fool?!?..I strongly disagree. This type of talk is simply typical rhetoric from Conservative/Harper supporters who are still angry that Williams exposed Harper for all his broken promises, and in the process, made Harper look bad because of it.

Harper broke several promises to the province, not just the Atlantic Accord (and there were three Conservative members, for all the good that did us, at the time that didn't have any backbone to fight for Newfoundland.) Harper, by breaking his promises, had to be told that this was unacceptable in a strongly matter. This was done when Newfoundland showed its displeasure by not voting for any Conservatives.

So now everything is even. The slate is clean and the honourable to do is to move on. We'll see if Harper acts grown-up and is not vindicative towards Newfoundland; if he does, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Harper did not break his promise on the Atlantic Accord. Williams had a choice between the existing agreement or the new one. Problem was he wanted both, something he was never promised.