Why is Danny Williams knocking a sweet deal?

[Michael Bluth]

From today's Globe and Mail. (No link, have to be a subscriber.)

Ottawa is correct that Newfoundland is blessed. Equalization is a federal program that allows the poorer provinces to deliver roughly the same level of services for roughly the same level of taxation as wealthier provinces. The payments are now so generous that, in 2007-08, the Newfoundland government has a fiscal capacity of almost $500 per capita more than Ontario and almost $240 more than British Columbia, neither of which receives equalization. Newfoundland did not forfeit a cent in the federal budget. In fact, its federal transfers are so generous that its fiscal capacity is second only to oil-rich Alberta. The federal budget does not change this situation.

Mr. Williams has long been anxious to obtain the best deal for his province in everything. But now he has become careless, because Canadians in other provinces are figuring out just how much he is pocketing. They should stand with Mr. Harper in his fight.

Finally a clear and honest voice of reason.

[sharkman]

The NP has a story in today's edition that says much the same thing. Apparently he drove such a hard bargain with the oil corporations, some have mothballed or put off projects, so revenue is down. So he's attacking Harper in the hopes of shifting the blame from himself for a resulting recession there.

Typical slimey politics. I hope Williams gets what he deserves from the voters there.

[hiti]

The slime here is Steve. He ignored the Atlantic Accord and that is the problem. For every spinner to twist the facts in Harper's favour, there is still the truth.

Quote: Premier Danny Williams has been roiling because the federal budget delivered two weeks ago only allows the province access to a newer, more generous equalization program if it gives up the Atlantic Accord.

That accord, signed with the previous federal Liberal government, generated millions of dollars of revenue each year for the province because it excluded oil revenues from equalization calculations.

Williams has accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of breaking a campaign promise by introducing a new equalization formula that includes 50 per cent of non-renewable resource revenues, as well as a fiscal cap. -end quote.

Harper lied and put NL back on federal handouts instead of allowing that province to keep the Atlantic Accord and become self supporting. The simple fact is that Harper lied and shafted the ROC to buy votes in Quebec!!!!

[Michael Bluth]

The slime here is Steve. He ignored the Atlantic Accord and that is the problem.

Ignored? Not in the least. The Atlantic Accord has been completely respected.

[hiti]

The slime here is Steve. He ignored the Atlantic Accord and that is the problem.

Ignored? Not in the least. The Atlantic Accord has been completely respected.

Not true. Williams has to give up the Atlantic Accord in order to receive equalization payments... or lose a bunch of money.

Nova Scotia also got the shaft. Quote: "The government is a poison pill. If we opt into the new formula we lose the accord and jeopardize the future prosperity of Nova Scotia. If we maintain the status quo we are shut out of new money for the people of Nova Scotia," MP Robert Thibault said during question period.

That is disgusting blackmail from Steve. First he calls Atlantic Canadians losers and then he takes away their independence.

[Michael Bluth]

That is disgusting blackmail from Steve. First he calls Atlantic Canadians losers and then he takes away their independence.

Yeah.

Now that the National newspapers have pointed out how patently weak Williams' case really is this issue will fade quickly.

Only the really Harper haters trying to make a case out of it now.

You know the type of people who use hyperbole like "losers" and taking "away their independence".

Isn't crying because somebody isn't giving you enough money whining because of how dependent you are?

[hiti]

One Steve spinner in a national newspapers does not change the truth. And Danny Williams will not be letting this one die.

Michael Bluth, I can see by what you are posting that you really have not searched out the facts here and just keep throwing out platitudes that distort the facts. May I suggest that you google for information and then come back here armed with the truth in your defense of your leader.

[Michael Bluth]

One Steve spinner in a national newspapers does not change the truth. And Danny Williams will not be letting this one die.

CBC, CTV, the Globe and Mail and the National Post have all done stories on how Williams is hurting business in NL.

Michael Bluth, I can see by what you are posting that you really have not searched out the facts here and just keep throwing out platitudes that distort the facts. May I suggest that you google for information and then come back here armed with the truth in your defense of your leader.

Read the budget. www.fin.gc.ca

[hiti]

One Steve spinner in a national newspapers does not change the truth. And Danny Williams will not be letting this one die.

CBC, CTV, the Globe and Mail and the National Post have all done stories on how Williams is hurting business in NL.

Michael Bluth, I can see by what you are posting that you really have not searched out the facts here and just keep throwing out platitudes that distort the facts. May I suggest that you google for information and then come back here armed with the truth in your defense of your leader.

Read the budget. www.fin.gc.ca

Are you kidding? I am suppose to wade through 700 some pages to find the point you are using to prove your argument? LOLOLOL

How or what Williams is doing to business in NL has nothing to do with Steve shafting him on the Atlantic Accord. Different issues.

[Michael Bluth]

Are you kidding? I am suppose to wade through 700 some pages to find the point you are using to prove your argument? LOLOLOL

How or what Williams is doing to business in NL has nothing to do with Steve shafting him on the Atlantic Accord. Different issues.

Let me save you the problem of sifting through 700 pages. There is an alphabetical index on budget main page. Go down to E for equalization. Just proding you with some of those pesky facts. Ignore them if you want.

Williams general approach to "negotiations" through the media and trying to get Newfoundland's "fair share" is causing the same problems.

His desire to keep pushing the oil companies, in spite of economic conerns, has lead them to walk away from deals and hurt Newfoundlanders.

His whining for more money from the feds, in spite of NL possessing the greatest fiscal capacity per capita of any "have-not" province, has lead to him being marginalized. He is making an arse of himself. Like most people in this situation he'll be the last person to realize he has become a laughing stock.

[GreenWhiteandPink]

Harper lied to Newfounders and Labradorians, he promised that 100% of non renewable resources will be excluded from equalization, in two sucessive elections. Either Harper didn't know what he was talking about when he made the promise or he straight out made a promise he had no intention of keeping, which will mean a loss a 5 billion of potentional revenue for NL. Williams knows that isn't going to change now, he just wants Canadian voters to know that Harper lied to NL and Canadians should not trust any of his promises.

[Michael Bluth]

Harper lied to Newfounders and Labradorians, he promised that 100% of non renewable resources will be excluded from equalization, in two sucessive elections. Either Harper didn't know what he was talking about when he made the promise or he straight out made a promise he had no intention of keeping, which will mean a loss a 5 billion of potentional revenue for NL. Williams knows that isn't going to change now, he just wants Canadian voters to know that Harper lied to NL and Canadians should not trust any of his promises.

But Williams doesn't want Canadians to know that NL has the highest fiscal capacity per capita of any "have not" province.

Again read the budget.

I thought Williams was fighting for Harper to honour the Atlantic Accord.

Ohhh, that's right. NL has the option of having 1005 of non-renewable resources excluded.

What is he whining about again?

[hiti]

Not only did Steve lie but he also put a cap on equalization payments while he grabs back half of the oil revenue from NL, SK and NS. Meaning there is no incentive for these provinces to increase their oil production and better the economics in their province. Better to leave the oil in the ground of under the ocean.

No excuses will excuse the breaking of a promise and the lies that this "new" government keeps on shoveling out.

[Michael Bluth]

Not only did Steve lie but he also put a cap on equalization payments while he grabs back half of the oil revenue from NL, SK and NS. Meaning there is no incentive for these provinces to increase their oil production and better the economics in their province. Better to leave the oil in the ground of under the ocean.

No excuses will excuse the breaking of a promise and the lies that this "new" government keeps on shoveling out.

I think you really need to examine who is shovelling out the lies. www.fin.gc.ca

[mcqueen625]

The slime here is Steve. He ignored the Atlantic Accord and that is the problem. For every spinner to twist the facts in Harper's favour, there is still the truth.

Quote: Premier Danny Williams has been roiling because the federal budget delivered two weeks ago only allows the province access to a newer, more generous equalization program if it gives up the Atlantic Accord.

That accord, signed with the previous federal Liberal government, generated millions of dollars of revenue each year for the province because it excluded oil revenues from equalization calculations.

Williams has accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of breaking a campaign promise by introducing a new equalization formula that includes 50 per cent of non-renewable resource revenues, as well as a fiscal cap. -end quote.

Harper lied and put NL back on federal handouts instead of allowing that province to keep the Atlantic Accord and become self supporting. The simple fact is that Harper lied and shafted the ROC to buy votes in Quebec!!!!

HE did not ignore the Atlantic Accord, they have the option of keeping that deal or opting for a more generous trasnfer program for supposedly have-not province. Unfortunately Danny Williams want his cake and be able to eat it too. He want to be able to keep the oil revenue and still qualify for transfers without the other provinces taking into consideration the money NL is receiving in oil royalties. As pounted out NL is now ahead of ON, and ON does not receive Equalization payments, they in fact pay them. NB and PEI are not fortunate enough to have oil and gas revenues and are truly disadvantaged by this side deal

I think Stepehn Harper is right on. There should be no side deals with any province. What applies to one should apply to all, including Quebec.

[GreenWhiteandPink]

Look it's like this, Harper promised before he got elected that 100% of non-renewable resources would be exempt. Now that he is PM he is saying he never changed his position but only 50% of non-renewable resources is exempt! He broke his promise! And like Harper said "There is no greater fraud that a promise not kept"!

Unfortunately Danny Williams want his cake and be able to eat it too

And why shouldn't he! That's what Harper promised him. If someone told you that you could make X billion dollars and afterwards chaged the rules so that you can only get X minus 5 billion wouldn't you be pissed off!

Williams is only fighting to protect the interests of Newfoundland and Labrador, the same way Peter Lougeed did for Alberta when Trudeau introducted of the National Energy Program.

[Michael Bluth]

And why shouldn't he! That's what Harper promised him. If someone told you that you could make X billion dollars and afterwards chaged the rules so that you can only get X minus 5 billion wouldn't you be pissed off!

Williams is only fighting to protect the interests of Newfoundland and Labrador, the same way Peter Lougeed did for Alberta when Trudeau introducted of the National Energy Program.

Williams shouldn't because the equalization program is all about providing relatively equal levels of service for each province.

Williams is asking for greater than the fiscal capacity for a have province.

So much for fairness...

The NEP is a whole different ball of wax. It killed the Alberta oil industry, plunged the province into a recessions all while Alberta continued to pay into equaliztion throughout.

[GreenWhiteandPink]

It killed the Alberta oil industry, plunged the province into a recessions all while Alberta continued to pay into equaliztion throughoutIt killed the Alberta oil industry, plunged the province into a recessions

Actually the world wide drop in the price of oil to under $10 a barrel from $39.50 within 12 months of the implemention of the NEP caused this not the NEP it self!

Harper broke his promise! End of story.

[Michael Bluth]

Actually the world wide drop in the price of oil to under $10 a barrel from $39.50 within 12 months of the implemention of the NEP caused this not the NEP it self!

Harper broke his promise! End of story.

So you are defending the NEP now?

Remember the NEP exacerbated many of the effects of the downturn in oil prices.

It's very odd to talk tough when you are asking people for money.

Williams' hardline with the oil companies has basically turned them off of the province.

Paul Martin bent over backwards to please Williams and he lost seats in NL.

Williams is overplaying his hand with Harper just like he did with the oil companies. Harper will take whatever fallout comes rather than be bent over by Danny boy.

[jdobbin]

Here' what the Conservatives said in 2004.

And a selection of premiers rejecting the "sweet deal."

[GreenWhiteandPink]

I'm not defending the NEP just stating what really happened.

Williams hardline with the oil companies was the right approach as NL's oil supplies are limited, the province must secure every dollar possible, when Hebron get's developed (and it well) it should be on NL terms not the oil companies. Newfoundland and Labrador is not able to give away it's oil reseves to the oil companies for next to nothing like Alberta can and expect the spin off jobs and capital investment to make up the loss in provinical revenues.

It's very odd to talk tough when you are asking people for money

Williams was just asking for what he was promised, he knows that Harper won't change his mind now, he just trying to make Canadians know that Harper can't be trusted. Canadians don't need a PM that pander's to every group when they trying to get elected only to stab that in the back after they are in power so they can proceed with their true agenda.

Why can't you just admit that Harper borke his promise? If he had no intention of owning up to it he shouldn't of made it.

[Canuck E Stan]

Why can't you just admit that Harper broke his promise? If he had no intention of owning up to it he shouldn't of made it.

Why can't you admit Danny doesn't ever want to give, only take?

[Michael Bluth]

Williams was just asking for what he was promised, he knows that Harper won't change his mind now, he just trying to make Canadians know that Harper can't be trusted.

What Williams was promised isn't fair to the other provinces in the current situation. Especially BC.

The price of oil is far higher than it was when Harper made the promise.

NL has a higher fiscal capacity per capita than BC does now. But BC still has to pay into equalization while NL takes money.

Nobody could have predicted how high the price of oil would go in such a sort period of time.

NL is still getting a fair deal. The Atlantic Accord is still being honoured.

Williams isn't acting in the best interest of anybody but Williams. Not his own citizens. Not other Canadians. Just Danny Williams.

Hopefully the people of NL punish him for that in the next election.

[GreenWhiteandPink]

The price of oil is far higher than it was when Harper made the promise.

Harper made than promise in January 2006!!! The price of oil then was at $60-$70 a barrel, the same as it is now!!

With 60-70% surport right now he will probley take all 48 seats come this fall's election. I won't be voting for his party, but that for other reasons.

[NovaScotian]

Did Danny ask for more equalization money?