Ross in the house

Do not worry about Swine Flu! Is only disease of Canadians and Mexicans! We will never allow Swine Flu into province! Never! There will be no Swine Flu crisis! Do not worry about public health and safety: ROSS WISEMAN IS IN CHARGE!

Acceptable discourse (updated) (updated)

Unacceptable political discourse:

"I apologize for raising my voice, but I cannot talk gently and rise above the yahoos in the backbenches over there, because they have been bawling and screaming since I have been on my feet."


Acceptable political discourse:

"They should be shot over that."

Acceptable discourse (updated)

Unacceptable political discourse:

"Honourable senators, I was disappointed to see that our dynamic young Premier in Prince Edward Island, Robert Ghiz, has climbed into bed with the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and honourable senators know what a grotesque scene that is. Do honourable senators know what happens when two politicians climb into bed together? One of them comes out on top and I am afraid that when one is in bed with Danny Williams he will come out on top and I would hate to see where that will leave P.E.I. in the end."


Acceptable political discourse:

"If Stephen Harper and his ministers and the people in Ottawa want to continue to try and nail Newfoundland and Labrador and punish us for exercising our democratic rights, even though it may have been questionable electing Liberals by the same token, but by the same token, when you do not have much other choice you elect Liberals and you elect New Democrats."

"They should be shot over that."

Stage managed!

This is an IP Freely exclusive. A traitor has leaked the original speaking notes, including stage directions, for Premier Williams' speech to the House of Assembly about the "wheeling" deal which he announced last week.



Mr. Speaker: I rise in this Honourable House today to share with Members and the public-at-large, what can only be described as a historic day for the Province and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING.]

You have heard our government say on many occasions that we are striving to take control of our own destiny. We have put action plans in place and we have exercised wise and strategic financial management to position us for future economic growth.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. WATER BREAK]

We have taken equity stakes in our offshore projects; we have invested in strategic areas of growth; and we have risen above the detrimental actions of the Federal Government and stood strong in the face of adversity.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. LICK LIPS]

We have also made it very clear, that we will control the development of one of our most valuable renewable energy resources, the Lower Churchill project.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. GESTICULATE]

Our government’s Energy Plan set in place a plan to develop this resource with a view to 2041 when we finally take full control of the Upper Churchill project.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. CLENCH FISTS]

In the meantime, we have been working to secure maximum benefits strategically and financially from our recall power from the Upper Churchill project.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. LICK LIPS X 3]

Since 1998, we have had a power purchase agreement with Hydro Quebec for a block of recall power from the Upper Churchill. This renewal expired on March 31, 2009.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. WATER BREAK]

Essentially, this agreement gives Hydro the right to recall 300 MW at the same price as Hydro Quebec’s current pricing under the 1969 Churchill Falls power contract.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. BLINK]

Nalcor Energy in conjunction with government decided to not renew this agreement.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. CLENCH FISTS X 2]

Instead yesterday, on April 1, we as a province for the first time in our history sold hydro electric power from the mighty Upper Churchill River in Labrador directly through Quebec and this hydro electric power was then sold into markets in the United States.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. SHOULDER TWITCH]

Simply put we, as a province, began wheeling our power through Quebec unfettered to North American markets for the first time in history. This is precisely the obstacle that was not overcome in the original Upper Churchill agreement, resulting in that unfair and lopsided deal.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. BLINK HARD]

Today, we have overcome that obstacle. We have proven that no challenge is too big or too daunting for our people to take on.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. BLINK REAL HARD]

In fact, this new arrangement means that we can now sell our own power which may access the United States and Canadian markets.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. WATER BREAK]

At the present time, we are working with Emera Energy to have our power get to these markets. We have concluded a sale agreement with them so that with their considerable expertise in the industry our power will be sold into these markets. Our goal is to eventually develop the expertise at Nalcor so that we can act as seller into final markets.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. CLENCH FISTS. WATER BREAK]

A maximum of 250 megawatts of power can be transmitted in the summer time through lines out of Labrador, through Quebec and into the northeastern US and can potentially go into other Canadian provinces.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. SHOULDER TWITCH X 3]

I want to also assure the people of Labrador that the priority of Nalcor and this government is to ensure local and domestic needs for power are met with recall power. As with past recall arrangements only energy surplus to the province’s own needs would be exported outside of the province.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. CLENCH FISTS]

We understand from Emera that power from Labrador today is being sold directly into the United States; destination – New York. Newfoundland and Labrador is taking a bite out of the big apple.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. SMIRK. WATER BREAK]

Nalcor secured this transmission access through Quebec to the Canada-United States border under Hydro Quebec’s Open Access Transmission Tariff.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. WATER BREAK]

This represents a tremendous accomplishment and bodes extremely well for the Lower Churchill development as we move forward.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. WATER BREAK]

It also opens doors in terms of our future ability to sell wind power and other potential energy into a hungry North American market place.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. WATER BREAK]

This is truly a historic and momentous occasion for the people of our province, as never before have we been granted access through the Province of Quebec with our own power.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. CLENCH FISTS. WATER BREAK.]

This power sales arrangement puts us squarely in the game as a hydroelectricity producer and seller, with our clean, hydroelectric generation being sold from Newfoundland and Labrador and finding its way into the North American market place. Just as we have taken equity stakes in our offshore resources, we see tremendous potential for long term value in entering this business arrangement and will continue to assess future potential.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. CLENCH FISTS. BLINK. WATER BREAK. SHOULDER TWITCH.]

This is about our province finally acting in a strategic manner and going through proper processes to wheel our power through our neighbouring province of Quebec.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING. WATER BREAK. WHY ARE WE ALWAYS SO THIRSTY? BOOK APPOINTMENT WITH NEPHROLOGIST.]

What we are talking about today is our future and the future of generations who will follow us. Today’s announcement is one more step on that road. Our view is long term and we will not be swayed by short term thinking.

[PAUSE FOR DESK THUMPING.]

I ask all honourable members to join with me in celebrating this outstanding and significant day in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador.

[DESK THUMPING. CLENCH FISTS. LICK LIPS X 5. BLINK X 2. SHOULDER TWITCH. WATER BREAK.]

Steve announces NL autonomy from Canada

Canada's New New Government Announces Autonomy Plan for Newfoundland-Labrador

St. John's, NL
April 1, 2009

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced Canada's New New Government's plan to give autonomy to Newfoundland-Labrador, initiating a process to select a new Premier.

"I do want to acknowledge the Premier of Newfoundland-Labrador, Mr. Danny Williams, who is with us here today and wish him all the very best in his future endeavours," the Prime Minister said. "I have written him personally and I want to thank him for his contribution to the Province."

Simultaneous with today's announcement, Prime Minister Harper announced twenty-four new appointments to the House of Assembly.

The newly-appointed MHA's are Max Ruelokke, Mike Duffy, Roger Grimes, Debbie Forward, Fabian Manning, Margaret Cameron, Liam O'Brien, Joyce Hancock, Tom Rideout, Loyola Sullivan, Chris Montague, Ed Hollett, Elizabeth May, Danny Dumaresque, Merv Wiseman, Eddie Joyce, Mark Griffin, Russell Wangersky, Rebecca Aldsworth, Loyola Hearn, John Efford, Craig Westcott, Gerry Reid, and Maureen Williams.

The Prime Minister also took this opportunity to thank the outgoing Members of the House of Assembly, Roger Fitzgerald, Jerome Kennedy, Dianne Whalen, Clayton Forsey, Keith Hutchings, Kevin O'Brien, Dr. Darin T. King, Ph.D, Susan Sullivan, Tom Hedderson, Tom Marshall, John Dinn, John Hickey, Steve Kent, Dave Denine, Felix Collins, Tony Cornect, Joan Burke, Shawn Skinner, Ed Buckingham, Bob Ridgley, Paul Oram, Trevor Taylor, Ross Wiseman and Kathy Dunderdale, for their time, energy and dedication during their period of service.

They were contacted earlier today by regional minister Peter Mackay via cellphone.

"I acknowledge and appreciate the contributions made by all individuals who take on this role. Working in partnership with the House of Assembly, Canada's New New Government continues to make innovative and strategic investments that are helping Newfoundland-Labrador flourish. I would like to welcome these newest members to the House of Assembly and have every confidence they will make an invaluable contribution to the work of the House and to the Province overall."

The Prime Minister meanwhile rejected criticism from some, including former federal cabinet minister and Lieutenant-Governor Jim McGrath, that his actions are in any way improper or undemocratic.

"Mr. McGrath is a citizen of Newfoundland-Labrador," Mr. Harper said. "He has an opinion, and he's entitled to it. From our perspective, we're the government, and we've made the decision as to what we're going to do here. Mr. McGrath had his day in government, and he made his decisions in that time - that was a long time ago. Now we are the government and we are going to do what we think is in the best interests of Newfoundland-Labrador, and that's exactly what we're doing here."

The Prime Minister also brushed aside the argument that Canada's New New Government has improperly interfered in the search for a new Premier.

"I don't think anyone will ever take this present government and this present administration as one that will merely rubberstamp a position as important as Premier," Mr. Harper said.

"It has to be approved by Canada's New New Government, and it will, and if anyone thinks this whole process will be a rubberstamp at the cabinet level, they are mistaken."

"Canada's New New Government, including myself, including Regional Minister Peter Mackay, were asked by the search committee and by the House of Assembly to get involved in this process. They invited us to participate."

"We tried to keep our head down on this as much as we can, let the process go through, because, you know, any time we came out to speak on this we'd be seen to be interfering with the process, when nothing is further from the truth."

Mr. Harper also denied he has a hand-picked candidate in mind for the Premiership.

"This is not and will never be a patronage appointment," said the Prime Minister.

Furthermore, as the Prime Minister noted, Canada's New New Government subsidizes the Province to the tune of $1 billion or more annually.

"It would be irresponsible for us as Canada's New New Government to write a blank cheque."

Regional Minister Peter Mackay outlined some of the questions which will be asked of potential candidates for Premier:

1. "As Premier, how would you see the Province and Canada's New New Government working together?"

2. "What government strategies and initiatives are of particular relevance to the Province?"

3. "What mechanisms would you employ to ensure collaboration on areas of mutual interest?"

4. "Canada's New New Government has provided direction on implementing a new governance model to increase Labrador's autonomy. How would you identify issues related to implementation? What might the barriers be and how would you overcome them? What factors would facilitate success?"

As the Province's selection committee resets itself to continue its search for a new Premier, Harper said the process should not affect his government's attempts to secure more autonomy for Labrador.

"It's a separate issue and I don't think for one minute it will have any effect," the Prime Minister said.