Why is Danny Williams knocking a sweet deal?

[Michael Bluth]

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

Your memory is pretty convenientally inaccurate.

The OPEC Basket Price of oil was $37.64 USD on June 1, 2004, the first business day of the month of the 2004 election.

The OPEC Basket Price of oil was $55.60 USD on January 3, 2006, the first business day of the year and in the middle of the last election.

The OPEC Basket Price of oil was $63.97 USD yesterday. Source

That's a 15% increase in the price of oil from the 2006 election and a 70% increase from the 2004 election when Danny Williams had already whined his way into the Atlantic Accord. An agreeement the Conservatives are still honouring despite Newfoundland's much stronger fiscal capacity.

NLs revenues have gone up from oil by 70% since Williams negotiated the Atlantic Accord and still he is whining about money?!?!

Pesky thing those facts.

Stan said it best, so I'll leave it with his remarks.

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

[sharkman]

The National Post reports that Newfoundland is headed for a recession, in no small part to the Hibernia South and Hebron projects being shelved for the mid to long term. Also, the Eirik Raude, a huge offshore rig, which was slated to drill two wells in the Orphan Basin this summer, has been reassigned to the Gulf of Mexico. Why are these plans being shelved, at a huge cost to the corporations involved? Because Danny, perhaps too full of himself after winning a sweetheart deal from Paul Martin (Atlantic accord), assumed that the oil industry would grovel at his feet as well, and sign sweetheart royalty agreements. Danny badly overplayed his hand.

Danny knows his voters will be ticked off about the recession, so now he's been taking out newspaper ads attacking Harper. He seems surprised that the Tories would respond with ads of their own! What is it with this guy? Running from one fight to another...

[Michael Bluth]

Danny knows his voters will be ticked off about the recession, so now he's been taking out newspaper ads attacking Harper. He seems surprised that the Tories would respond with ads of their own! What is it with this guy? Running from one fight to another...

It's almost as if he is trying to model himself after Ralph Klein. Albertans eventually tired of Ralph's antics. The Provincial PCs saw this and gave him the boot out the door.

Hopefully Newfoundlanders see this and send Danny a strong message in October.

Danny overplayed his hand with Hibernia South and Hebron. So to make up for his mistake he overplays his hand with Harper???

Harper has learned that the smart politician who wants long-term success has to change his tactics. Doesn't look like Williams has learned this lesson yet.

[NovaScotian]

The National Post reports that Newfoundland is headed for a recession, in no small part to the Hibernia South and Hebron projects being shelved for the mid to long term. Also, the Eirik Raude, a huge offshore rig, which was slated to drill two wells in the Orphan Basin this summer, has been reassigned to the Gulf of Mexico. Why are these plans being shelved, at a huge cost to the corporations involved? Because Danny, perhaps too full of himself after winning a sweetheart deal from Paul Martin (Atlantic accord), assumed that the oil industry would grovel at his feet as well, and sign sweetheart royalty agreements. Danny badly overplayed his hand.

Danny knows his voters will be ticked off about the recession, so now he's been taking out newspaper ads attacking Harper. He seems surprised that the Tories would respond with ads of their own! What is it with this guy? Running from one fight to another...

Recession?

Newfoundland and Labrador's economy set to outperform in 2007: RBC Economics

softened growth prospects beyond 2007

TORONTO, March 30 /CNW/ - Strong energy and mining sectors continue to

lead Newfoundland and Labrador's economy to above-average growth of four per

cent for 2007, according to the latest provincial economic outlook released

today by RBC.

"With production in full swing at all three oilfields and the labour

dispute settled at Voisey's Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador is expected to be

tops for growth in the country this year," said Craig Wright, vice-president

and chief economist, RBC. "However, heading into 2008, Newfoundland and

Labrador will see growth slow thanks in large part to a pullback in private

investment, dwindling oil production and reduced capital spending as

construction on megaprojects winds down."

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive...7/30/c8319.html

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

The economy may slow down, but that does not equal recession.

[Michael Bluth]

Recession?

Newfoundland and Labrador's economy set to outperform in 2007: RBC Economics

softened growth prospects beyond 2007

The economy may slow down, but that does not equal recession.

So why is Danny asking for more money in equalization?

Does he realize it is to create an equal playing field for all provinces? Not to put NL in a better position than all the other provinces, while still receiving equalization payments.

[NovaScotian]

Recession?

Newfoundland and Labrador's economy set to outperform in 2007: RBC Economics

softened growth prospects beyond 2007

The economy may slow down, but that does not equal recession.

So why is Danny asking for more money in equalization?

Does he realize it is to create an equal playing field for all provinces? Not to put NL in a better position than all the other provinces, while still receiving equalization payments.

Did he ask for more money? I believe all he wanted was to keep the Atlantic accord as is. It was the conservatives who revamped to system to provide more equalization(basically a ploy to get Quebec more money), if the accord is given up. Which is not what the conservatives promised.

Newfoundland has been receiving more money from the offshore and in response, equalization payments have been dropping.

Newfoundland equalization payments(in $ millions)

1999-00 1,169

2000-01 1,112

2001-02 1,055

2002-03 875

2003-04 766

2004-05 1 762

2005-06 861

2006-07 2 687

source: department of finance.

[Michael Bluth]

Did he ask for more money? I believe all he wanted was to keep the Atlantic accord as is.

You are completely mistaken. That is not what Williams is *supposedly* fighting for.

The Atlantic Accord is being honoured.

Here is the link from the budget.

[GreenWhiteandPink]

Your memory is pretty convenientally inaccurate.

Actually yours is, your trying to manipulate numbers, here is athe graph of oil prices for the past 2 years

oil rice graph 2004-2006

[Michael Bluth]

Actually yours is, your trying to manipulate numbers, here is athe graph of oil prices for the past 2 years

oil rice graph 2004-2006

My source is OPEC.

Yours is Wikipedia.

Which is more reliable?

Interesting how the name you gave the link has 2004-2006 but the graph is 2005 to 2007.

Why'd you leave out the 2004 numbers?

[jdobbin]

Economist revises his numbers and says Newfoundland loses on Harper's sweet deal.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070413/...nl_equalization

An economist who said Newfoundland was poised to gain nearly $6 billion in equalization under the federal government's budget now says the province will actually end up losing.

Last week, Wade Locke of Memorial University released figures that showed the budget offered Newfoundland $5.6 billion in additional revenues.

But Locke has revised his figures, which show the budget offers the province $1 billion less than if it sticks with the Atlantic Accord and old equalization formula until 2020.

You can bet everyone in Newfoundland will know that in the next election.

[jdobbin]

Here is the editorial from St. John's.

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=22843&sc=80

Instead of having the new equalization scheme mean an increase of money for this province, it now actually means a decrease. Instead of opting in for as much as $24.1 billion, we’d be looking at $17.5 billion.

It’s a startling change of events, and one that hinges on the federal Department of Finance first giving the wrong information, and then, very late in the game, advising Locke that his analysis might be flawed.

It’s a heck of a big difference, and it’s more than interesting that the Finance Department didn’t even begin to try and correct the mistake afterwards, leaving the flawed information out there for a week because it made the federal government look better.

The Finance department is not even disputing the numbers now.

Not much of a sweet deal.

[sharkman]

What you've got is 2 Newfoundand sources. Not exactly objective, but it's interesting how much of a swing (7 billion) that professor was able to make. Makes me wonder how much pressure was put on him.

At any rate, 17.5 billion is a crazy amount of money to be given to a province of 514,409(wikipedia, 2006). Divide the population into 17.5 billion and you get $34,019 for each man woman and child. Geez, no one needs to work! Martin was crazy to sign this deal and Danny was a blackmailer to take it.

24.1 billion would have meant $46,849 for each person in the population. That's just lunacy.

[jdobbin]

What you've got is 2 Newfoundand sources. Not exactly objective, but it's interesting how much of a swing (7 billion) that professor was able to make. Makes me wonder how much pressure was put on him.

At any rate, 17.5 billion is a crazy amount of money to be given to a province of 514,409(wikipedia, 2006). Divide the population into 17.5 billion and you get $34,019 for each man woman and child. Geez, no one needs to work! Martin was crazy to sign this deal and Danny was a blackmailer to take it.

24.1 billion would have meant $46,849 for each person in the population. That's just lunacy.

Read the article. The professor said he wasn't going to be used a pawn by anyone. He simply put forward the numbers. You think he's a flack?

If you think the Accord was a bad deal that's fine. But Harper shouldn't try to say that his deal is sweeter or that he didn't promise Williams something and then take it back.

[jdobbin]

Danny Williams goes on the attack in Toronto.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labr...ams-harper.html

Newfoundland and Labrador's premier took his crusade against Stephen Harper to the heart of Toronto's business community on Thursday, with voting advice that a preschooler could remember.

"I am encouraging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and Canadians, in the next federal election to simply vote ABC — easy to remember," Danny Williams said in a speech to the Economic Club of Toronto.

"Vote ABC — anything but Conservative."

I wonder how Harper will respond now? By telling Newfoundlanders to vote Liberal in the next provincial election?

[jdobbin]

Williams is not the only one on the attack right now.

So is Nova Scotia's premier.

http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=27146&sc=89

Premier Rodney MacDonald used a party fundraiser Thursday to level some of his harshest statements yet against Stephen Harper over the offshore accord.

MacDonald told a packed crowd of Progressive Conservative supporters at the World Trade and Convention Centre that Harper’s government didn’t understand the 2005 accord and had reversed its election position.

“I don’t believe they understand how suppressing Nova Scotia’s potential violates every principle behind the concept of federation,” said MacDonald.

Nova Scotia must currently choose between keeping offshore revenues under the accord, or giving it up to enter into a more generous equalization formula. MacDonald told the crowd that he was expecting Harper’s government to live up to its agreement, but instead got something completely different.

[sharkman]

Dobbin, why are you talking to yourself on this thread?

[jdobbin]

Dobbin, why are you talking to yourself on this thread?

Why are your reading and responding to a thread where I am talking to myself?

[sharkman]

If a Liberal talks to himself on a thread and no one's there, does he make a point?

[Michael Bluth]

If a Liberal talks to himself on a thread and no one's there, does he make a point?

Because he realizes that no one will read a blog of his.

How many threads does he talk to himself on?

[jdobbin]

If a Liberal talks to himself on a thread and no one's there, does he make a point?

Every time you respond, it keeps the thread alive.

[Michael Bluth]

Every time you respond, it keeps the thread alive.

You revived this thread after it lay dormant for 18 days.

Why?

Do you plan on answering Sharkman's questions?

[jdobbin]

Dom Martins's column on Williams and how he loathes Harper.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/st...07639c5&k=57305

But during a pitstop in Gander last year, Williams reminded the newly elected prime minister to get carving his promised equalization upgrade into stone, including the vow to exclude all non-renewable resource windfalls from the calculation.

Harper shrugged and said he hadn't made up his mind. Williams retorted he had that deal in writing. "That was his dark side," the premier recalls. "There was a look in his eyes that told me this wasn't going to happen."

Sure enough, Harper partially reneged on his word in the March budget.

And now we hear that the Martime MPs face an endless stream of criticism defending the Tory budget.