Meeting Set, Efford Blasted Again
Posted by Kevin on 1/13/2005 @ 3:41 pm
It’s about time: Prime Minister Paul Martin and Premier Danny Williams will meet face-to-face Jan. 28 in Ottawa. Sullivan doesn’t pull any punches:
Meanwhile, Sullivan says if a deal is to be reached, federal cabinet representative John Efford ought not to be involved…
“…I think it would be well served if Mr. Efford went away and hid … because every time he opens his mouth, he complicates it.”
Can Efford ever recover from the repeated blasting in the press, and is Sullivan right? I haven’t seen a positive thing written about John Efford in weeks, and his defense has been lacklustre at best.
“…I think it would be well served if Mr. Efford went away and hid … because every time he opens his mouth, he complicates it.”
Check out Clearwater Foods’ president John Risley in yesterday’s Globe and Mail, Don’t write off rural Canada:
Canada cannot afford to be patronizing in its approach to rural employment. Past efforts to re-educate those displaced from the fishery were intellectually bankrupt. Training 50 people to be hairdressers in a community of 600 served no purpose other than to undermine the integrity of the entire project.
The feeling of “this is our last chance"—true or not—has guided this effort, and I think Premier Williams’ actions during the past six months.
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If this doesn’t end up in a good and fair deal for Newfoundland and Labrador, let’s pull down the Canadian flag (again), like our fellow Quebecer’s, replace it with our own flag like our fellow Quebecers and scream “SEPARATION, SEPARATION” like our fellow Quebecers. A referendum should be ready to roll following the 28th if no deal is imminent. This time let us be the ones who call their bluff.
Comment by Martha Collier — 1/13/2005 @ 10:43 pmLets not be so quick to shout ,
“SEPARATION, SEPARATION” like our fellow Quebecer’s
I’ve read a few comments on this topic and think it would be a huge mistake for the province to start any sort of serious separatist movement, especially if used simply as a bargaining chip in negotiations.
Do you think this issue is really about “Canada vs Newfoundland".
As this website says, it’s about getting a fair deal for Newfoundland.
It’s about one politician trying to break a promise and another politician trying to hold him to it. This happens ALL THE TIME. In every country, in every province, in every town.
In the past, we’ve had legitimate beefs with Ottawa and we’ve come out on the wrong end of things.
Let’s let Danny Williams do his job, and negotiate the right deal without all the rhetoric that goes along with separation. (I fear that will lead to more problems then we imagine). He’s clearly the right person for the job.
Canada IS A GREAT country, and Newfoundland IS A GREAT province. The only problem is that they’re run by politicians.
Cheers,
Comment by Duke Cabbage — 1/14/2005 @ 10:40 amDuke
I agree with the Duke, and with Rex. I’m not so sure that pulling down the Canadian flag was the best choice by Williams. It did bring substantial national attention to this issue; however, much of that attention has been negative (do we truly want to be compared to Quebec, a province that is widely stereotyped about their egocentric separatist ideology?). If the situation were reversed and we, as Newfoundlanders, heard about another province lowering the Canadian flag, I’m sure many of us would have an immediate negative reaction against that province making a seemingly derogatory statement about our great nation. After having read and listened to some of the statements from our politicians and other interested parties regarding the flag lowering, I do understand what Williams was *intending* and fully support his intention to make a strong stand against the vagaries of our federal government. It is doubtful, however, if all Canadians will show a similar interest in what Newfoundland has to say after witnessing the seemingly hostile action of our lowered flags. Though it is an often proven statement that “no press is bad press", with stereotypes already abounding about Newfoundland and her people, I would hesitate to burden our province with yet another issue that could lead to further derogatory perceptions of this great province.
Comment by M&S — 1/14/2005 @ 1:39 pmIt is so funny how the rest of Canada seems to forget their own history. The one thing that they don’t realize is when Alberta got their 100% share of the oil revenues, they received Equalization Payments 8 YEARS AFTER THE FACT!
This was so the province could “get on their
feet". This is the same thing that Premier Danny Williams wants for his province. How could you do this for one and not the other???
They also seem to forget that the reason Newfoundland is in this “boat” is
because of the people who “feeds them” as one journalist said.
First of all in the late 60’s, Lester B. Pearson begged Joey Smallwood to LEND Churchill Falls to Quebec so they wouldn’t separate from Canada….of course Joey said yes because he was all for Canada. Lester made this seem like the
sweetest deal ever…I bet that Joey is just rolling in his grave. How many more
years are left to that useless deal??? Maybe 20??? Let’s just see what happens then?
Second, over a decade ago the Canadian Government closed down the fishery
in Newfoundland….this cost 30,000 Newfs their jobs and lively hood. They sent men and women to school to do trades like hairdressing, etc…can a small community of 500 survive with 250 hairdressers?????
And not to mention third…their oil industry. What is Paul Martin so afraid of? That Newfoundland will become another province just as powerful as Alberta or Ontario? Or is he afraid that if he looses that money, that he will not be able to give it away to companies or invest in a useless program like the Gun Registry…
For the journalist who insulted on the Newfs, “you shouldn’t slap the hand that feeds you” didn’t they teach you in school that you should research the facts first before writing a story? You should try and get a job with the National Enquire…..I know they would hire you….
Regards,
Comment by Jennifer — 1/14/2005 @ 1:52 pmJennifer
Proud Newfoundlander
Folks, tell me when was the last time the ‘Rock’actually had any sort of notoriety? hmmmm? For all those of you ‘not sure’ if the flag should be taken down, what do you propose? Please stand up! All this braying and blathering of newfs not convinced that the Flag should be taken down is as annoying as a Quebecer pausing every referendum asking the age old question, ‘to seperate’ or ‘not to seperate’. What’s done is done. I am pretty sure that neither members of the Boston Tea party nor Ghandi did as much post mortem on their moves towards independence as our not-so-sure beloved newfs sitting on the fence about the cost and benfits of lowereing our flag. Here’s a novel idea. It’s done. The flag was lowered. Use this as a fuel (pun totally intended) to spread the word as to why we are frustrated. Take pride in that you are one of the first ‘not have’ islanders to stand up! Yes, there were some negatives feelings. Where are they coming from? The’have’provinces or the ‘have nots’? I have yet to hear from the ‘have not’ provinces. In a playground, the kid who decides to finally stand up alone against a bully generally tends to be alone..for a bit. Until the others see that the kid who stood up actually survived and benefited from his back bone. So please Stand UP!
Comment by S&M — 1/14/2005 @ 2:45 pmI don’t see separation as an option. This issue is about regaining and retaining our resources so that we can benefit financially , restoring the pride and dignity that has been drained from us and , as a result, become a respected province within Canada. It’s not about alienating ourselves from other provinces , envying other provinces or separating from Canada.
Comment by Enid — 1/14/2005 @ 8:20 pmCan anybody answer me this question.How does Quebec consider themselves a “have not” province?
Comment by Frank Hollahan — 1/17/2005 @ 9:52 pmGood question Frank! For the life of me, I cannot understand why the PM won’t give Newfoundland and Lab. what they want yet he is so willing to give Quebec millions and millions of dollars. What the Liberals should maybe consider is this. Give all the illegal monies going to Quebec to Nfld. instead. That’s a start anyway.
Comment by Debbie Anderson — 1/22/2005 @ 9:56 pmDebbie Anderson
Alberta