NL-Outsidethebox [confederation]

You have probably heard some if not all of these before but here goes.

Buisness plan form

Reference the Abitibi number seven machine closing, has job sharing or work sharing be proposed as an option? These are high paying jobs which I'm assuming require overtime at times. I heard about a mill out in northern BC that was in A similar predicament and they used job or work sharing as an alternative to a closure, and according to the spokesman it saved the mill and was a lot better in the long run for the workers and community.

Here are some links I googled for job sharing/work sharing.

http://www.pao.gov.ab.ca/health/flexible-work/jobshare/
http://www.workoptions.com/jobshare.htm
http://www.gov.mb.ca/csc/publications/jbsharguid.html
http://www.bcfed.com/Where+We+Stand/Policies/Archives/PS-84job.htm

If nothing else this could allow for more jobs and as such less out migration, if A policy such as these other provinces have adopted.

Population Patriot and Expatriate.

Maybe for the next consensus all of the Expatriates could open a postal box in NL. I'm sure we could get our population up to at least 600,000.

The Fishery disgrace (Mismanagement)

I realize the premier hasn't spoken out on this tragedy to my knowledge. I suspect he is hoping it will go to the courts, for a challenge of either the 3 mile limit or for the entire 200 mile limit and the give away of our resource to benefit Upper Canada. (LOL hand outs for god's sake it's Canada who has been surviving of us for the past 50 years Electricity Iron ore Nickel Fish the list goes on and on.)

Personally I think that by keeping quiet the premier is empowering the people.
He can work behind the scenes to get the Un sanctioned control of the Nose and tail. Until that time everything else would be in vain, as we will be sucked clean from around the edges(Nose and Tail) due to Canada's negligent management of this, our heritage and existence in Canada because that is all it can be called is existence.

Empower the people by petitioning the UN!

Labrador! Hmm

I'm so glad and proud of the premier for putting into action the Trans-Labrador highway. Labrador is the Crown Jewel in Newfoundland's crown.
Not until they get a bare minimum roads let alone paved roads. It's a crying shame what has happened to the natives there as well. Most of the community’s over there are powered by generator for electricity? Oh injustice, they have one of the largest power generating facilities in the world and have to generate power with generators?
At least they should be given a subsidy on energy saving appliances, light bulbs, Cold water detergents etc.

Solar and wind if transmission lines aren't feasible. Kyoto baby Kyoto.

Newfoundland will always be an Island in the sea until we have a fixed link. I'm mean a real fixed link not an electric train that is only one step above the ferries, but a real time fixed link that will allow for parity pricing with the rest of Canada.

I've been in many places in the world and how we used to judge the cost of living before we went was to inquire as to the price of a bottle of coke. IE an extra large double double from Tim Horton’s in NL is 1.70$ while in Canada it is 1.60$.

Suggestion for the roads in Labrador.
Use what I've heard called Chinese asphalt. It is put down cold or cool and graded over the sub grade which is the true foundation off a road anyway then compacted.
Here are some links for RAC Recycled Asphalt Concrete. Considering we pay 5$ on each tire as an environmental tax, there should be lots of money available to put these tires to some use.
Labrador should be the first if any to receive new paved roads!

Especially when you consider A fixed link will only become a feasible once roads are constructed or upgraded on either side of the Strait of Belle Isl.

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/recycling/awareness/facts/tires/crumbrubber.htm
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/tires/ground.htm
http://www.rubberizedasphalt.org/index.htm


Petition the Feds and Quebec to finish the section of highway between Sept-Isles (QC) Natashquan (QC) to Blanc-Sablanc. There is approximately 150km of unfinished highway separating Labrador and Newfoundland from Canada through Quebec. With a ferry crossing of only 1 hour. This would make for a great round trip tourist destination, not to mention opening the future gateway to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Just a quick cost comparison of proposed Newfoundland fixed link with respect to the PEI confederation bridge.

$840,000,000 PEI bridge
200,000 Population

$4,200 per person cost
(Not factoring in the fees collected by builder for? years)

Proposed Newfoundland fixed link.

$1,400,000,000 N-L
500,000 population

$2,800 per person cost

(Assuming A similar Corporate government partnership collection fee arrangement were in place)


Here are some interesting links to blogs etc
http://www.freenewfoundlandlabrador.blogspot.com/
http://www.nlfirst.ca/
http://www.offdarock.com/opinionCove/Main.asp
http://www.theindependent.ca/default.asp

Job alternatives
Labradorite rings as provincial ring with NL seal etched in.
Casino’s either in NL or on the ferries until we get a fixed link. Call it take from the rich and give to the poor (
Abolish VLT’s or put them in the parliament buildings.
Only allow the sale of cigarettes in bars or licensed establishments to offset smoking ban. They are a controlled substance licensed substance. What better place to check ID’s it’s already there. Exception where there are no licensed establishments.

Enlist green peace’s help to turn NL fishery woes around take ownership in the disater they helped create.
Advertise fish Fridays. It was entrenched in the NL culture. Turkey Tuesdays! Fish Fridays.

Revive NL money

More for show and national pride

Some things that could be put on it are
original money
Seal hunt
Flag now flags past
John cabot
Vikings

You could even use it in a limited monetary sense like canadian tire money, or HBC points. Tourism industry would jump all over this.

Could also be used in a fund raising capacity to start our own banking system.

Get Canadian mint to print NL edition.

Bank Of Newfoundland and Labrador
Co-op Bank of Newfoundland and Labrador
Caisse populaire De Terra Neuve et Labrador
http://www.nfmuseum.com/notes6.htm

If super store can do it I'm pretty sure we can.

Our own capital and banking expertise would go along way in providing credit for business ventures. From people who know love and understand the Province.

NL below the 49th parallel. We are the only part of Canada residing below the 49th parallel. Contrary to maps and weather broad casts view of the FLAT world. OOPS were not flat you won't sail of the edge visit NL. Appeal to the explores out there amongst the 6.400.000,000 people.

Could be used to fund raise for heritage projects
It's time we took back our heritage and culture while at the same time promoting NL self interest pride and if Canada continues to separate from us like the long term trend well be that much more prepared.

By having the people have a vested interest in cultural heritage projects they will be more likely to take pride in it and less likely to vandalize or allow vandilization.

Monuments

Innukshuks

Rename the Trans Labrador Highway, Innukshuk Highway, The people were here Highway. Either have Innukshuks built or have people adopt sections and erect their own innukshus showing the people were here. They will probably do it anyway over time but if at strategic points along the way you started the trend the precident would be set.

Just need a dump truck with a load of rocks every so often. If they aren't already there.

The wild life reserve I mention in earlier mailings on the plains between Howley and Bucans could be dedicated in memory of the Beothics. The people are gone but their land remains it's only right we should provide a fitting park or animal reserve to honor their memory. This would go along way in easing the pain felt at being apart of an extermination of people.
With this land being open now to the layman due to woods roads it's time some protection measures were implemented, and take advantage of this new wildlife access.

Reality tourism
Build and live in an igloo
Tour guides and operators required. Help keep heritage and culture alive in native communities. Europeans have a love affair with the North american natives. I guess because they don't have any natives as such. This would be a winter tourism attraction.

Igloo as monument somewhere in Labrador. Geodesic dome houses look like igloos and are a canadian invention.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/geodome/
http://geodome.sourceforge.net/
http://www.bfi.org/domes/

Dog sled rides tours adventures
Canoe Kayak once again.
http://www.kayakers.nf.ca/sea_kayaking/trip_reports/femadrenaline.html



Clear the land Land my god do we have land.
Cranberry farms not much different than partridge berries. Awesome harvesting techniques LOL they flood the field and berries float to top. Then skimmers collect the berries kind of like cleaning a pool.

Blueberry farms
Bake apple farms
Partridge berry farms
Farms


The Atlantic Cool Climate Crop Research Centre could be used to research and trial this. Best have private enterprise do it though with support from ACCCRC. Once again form business application recces provided for sites enviormental studies performed.


There is one thing I've noticed on the mainland it is everybody and their dog has a farm tractor. They do all kinds of work with these including environmentally friendly tree harvesting. While in NL farm tractors are as scarse as chickens teeth. Now quads thats a different story. But what can you do with a quad? No PTO. I guess everybody and their dog has a fishing boatin NL. Oh well farm the seas. Well finally be true Salt Water Cowboy's LOL. Hmm program trade boat for tractor? Just like bridge mortgage really.

Today's garbage will be tomorrows gold mines. Mark my words. Oh if we only had another dozen Bonaventure's, the cars we could make. Were probably still driving the Bonaventure to this day using recycled metals.

Canada's military and navy should have an ongoing revitalization refitting program 20 years and a ship is retired and a new one commissioned none of this boom or bust ongoing should be the motto. Ship yards.

Expatriate.

Statues and historical monuments

Put statues and historical monuments in all of the outports. Bare minimun plaques until the funds can be raised for a proper monument or statue. I'm sure everytown and outport has someone to be proud of, here are a few of the top of my head.

Swamp donkey (Moose)
Joey small wood gambo
John Cabot corner Brook
Premiers past and present least we couold do as a people is celebrate our leaders.
Victoria Cross winners John Croke little Bay islands
http://www.bitesizecanada.org/august.htm
If one can't be found which I find highly unlikely invent one giant cod
Giant squid
Giant Puffin
Giant Picture plant

As silly as some of these may sound they are tourist attractions and points of pride.

It isn't just St Johns Bowring and Pippy park that has a rich past.
St Anthony Dr
Deer lake Corner Brook Grand falls giant lumber jack there's one in NB somewhere outside a logging museum. Paper machee and chicken wire I think.

Call it the reclaim our heritage if you will. Putting pride back into the out ports celebrating our culture.

Reenact the battle of the somme this should attract the war buffs. Recreate a mock battle field in Nl somewhere. Civil war enthusiasts from the USA would flock to something like that. Buiold it they will come with over 6 billion on this planet someones bound to come.

Job ideas

Value added rock and minerals

Rock hounding.
we do have three separate continental shelfs making up the island. Signs with explanations of striations and upheaval. Geological society would be glad to help out here or MUN for that matter nice little project for some class.
Use rock tumblers create gem like quality stones labradorite quartz feldspar etc. Youth groups or clubs great start here.
Turn into jewelry like NL national ring earrings necklaces using Labradorite or soapstone.

Value added Hydro electricity
I bet any Battery making company would jump at the chance to have access to a good supply of electricity and educated skilled workers. Could just use the electricity to heat homes and retirement villages like they are building all oer the place in Kelowna BC. Walled self contained towns no kids allowed in lots of them.

They have started a new initiative in NB called I believe the Aquatic Trans canada trail. Very little investment just a matter of producing maps with routes and stops marked out. Might need some promotion and facilities at certain locations.

Could even have retracing of explorers trails/routes. Vikings, John cabot.

A life in the day of a fisherman. Reality fishing LOL either show or excursions. Like in the old days with sailing ships and dory's. people will pay to relive the past and in doing so they are helping preserve our past.

Canoe or kayak routes Kayaking is a booming sport and NL has a perfect location and terrain for this business. Just needs routes mapped out, camp sites recce'd and tour operators. very little needs to be spent on advertising with the web as an advertising medium.
Build it they will come. Recce it they will know where they are going.

Google earth is a wonderful tool for something like this and virtual tours are easily set up there. Push from here to there and push play it will drive the entire route eye level.

Advertise big time the opening of the Trans Labrador Highway (Innulshuk hwy). I intend on being one of the first to drive it, flat tires dust and all.

Retrace the Newfoundland railroad. Once again it's only a matter of producing a map providing a web site to advertise. Use military engineers for upgrades. All those Newfies would love to get home for a while.

Have the plains between Bucans and Howley declared a provincial park.

Complete the missing 5km stretch separating between Bucans and Howley to save money on transportation costs.Would cut of 3 hours from across NL trip.

Provide a web site of all the ship wrecks around NL for scuba enthusiasts.

Put tourist bureaus on the ferry's

Put casino's on the ferries or in city

Gotta get tourists of the highway and down to the scenic out ports. Tourist signs at turn off's. Out ports are jewels to the tourists what we take for granted they only dream of.

Have tour boats go around our coast.

Enlist rod and gun gun clubs to promote nature.

Ducks unlimited is a hugh hugh organization committed to spending money on the environment.

Fish farms for tourists to catch fish. Trout.

Upgrade road from Bucans to route 480 dirt is fine tourists want to get back to nature and slow down. Once again recce park sites and campgrounds. could go along with provincial park on high barrens. Your guaranteed to see caribou and moose up there. From looking at the map the road is already there it might just need some upgrades for bridge classification or culverts. Google earth great tool.

South shore road.

Anything you can do to promote the out ports will ensure them your not going to pull another Joey and resettle. Which I get the feeling is peoples fears.

Every town has to have at least a bed and Breakfast or campground. Just a matter of appropriating the land. Doesn't even need to be manned or manicured. maybe roads depending on terrain.

Promote ferry system as tourist trip destination.

All entry points should have at least a kiosk. we have a captive audience on ferries.

Promote our natives as a tourist attraction careful here have to show respect.

We are neighbors with Quebec and need to do a better job of promoting french, use St Pierre and Miquelonand Port au port as attractions for genealogical roots and past migration.

NL Safari, come see moose caribou rabbits mink fox bear. Europeans killed all of theirs years ago they are forever going to africa on safari with loaded cameras.

Pictures lots of pictures.

Give out memento cd roms with pictures and place names tourist attractions, people want to brag let them give the the ammo to do it and benefit from their advertising. CD rom costs .10$ DVD are even better 10 times the storage space and everyone has a DVD player nowwa days even my mother.

Trans world aquatic trail? NL has to be a big hit there just look at lanse Aux meadows.

Promote round trip through labrador. Most people don't even know its possible.
Or they have trouble getting a booking from St Barbe to Blanc Sablanc. I talked to a tourist who expressed this to me on the ferry this summer.

If there's wild life in Newfoundland Then Labrador has to be a Zoo.

Call on the Expatriates. You know they want to return home if not to stay at least to visit and show of their heritage and birth place to their kids.

combine with NB and NS for ski doo tours suggest to Ski doo clubs and federations.

Abolish ski doo trail passes and tack it onto Ski doo registration. Would be cheaper because more would have to register. Ski doo trails can be promoted as ATV trails seasonal same thing here tack trail maintenance onto registration.

Cross country ski expeditions Blow me down mtns Telemarking.

Labrador has a pretty good ski hill could be twinned with marble. They always have snow :)

Put landing strip on either side of Belle Isle straight?

Put observation post binoculars to look across at Labrador vice versa on Labrador side looking back. Put sign up future site of Newfoundland-Labrador fixed link Tongue in cheek. Throw rocks in here to complete fixed link Completion 2099.

Bonsai trees on northern peninsula advertise in japan.

Put those funky japanese rakes on beaches tai chi or something. Supposed to be soothing and relaxing.

Use caddies instead of carts on golf courses. Makes for great summer job for youth and tourists get to here from the mouths of babes.

NL antenna flags.

People are looking for worry free holidays. Why do you think cruise boats are so popular. Have tour operators make up package deals lodging maps routes stops points of interest best places to eat. It's their business they know it.

Festival and event central data base calendar.

When I was in africa Eritrea to be exact they were experimenting with salt water irrigation farming. By all accounts it was going ok. If you think our ground is bad then theirs is worse.

In europe Bus tours were the thing, In NL Boat tours should be the thing.

Get the tourists on the Cape Breton side. Entice them to come across. most people only tour the maritimes and never get across to NL. Or they go to the casino in North sydney. Run ferry from Halifax to Argentia.

Reprint some old NL money makes for a great souvenir and nationalist will revel in it. Spark memories for the old.

Declare Bingo our national game LOL

Slogan its all in the journey not the destination. something like that.

Have reenactment of first wireless. Put connections on both ends so people can talk. Would also make for great advertizing to visit NL see where Dot dot dot was received.

Kite festival to celebrate wireless. Hey we've got the wind.

Make some villages up to resemble old time NL as tourist attractions similar to the one they have outside fredericton forget name. Town initiative and useful too. Preserves heritage and culture. Similar to Kings landing in NB only with NL theme.

Have tour of old resettlement towns. Celebrate our history don't be ashamed of our mistakes.
Put a house on barrels and float it as an attraction.

People are the worlds biggest commodity or market and they are looking for adventure excitement reliving the past we have lots of that.

Fishery for a town feast get together as a festival. Fresh fish and brews cook up tell me you wouldn't pay for that or go to it :)

In Germany you get to shot the animal the forest meister tells you looking over your shoulder. Then it is taken to the local gastoff and a community feast is had.

Put natives in charge of wild life vested interest they are less likely to abuse it because it's their lively hood. Who better to take care of the wild life.

In alberta they have giant perogees UFO landing sites as attractions.

Make those bill boards with painted figures and holes for your heads. Photo op!

Try and map out the migration routes of the Beothics as a tourist adventure.

Plant trees in those great big parking lots at the ferry terminals for shade and aesthetics. After all it the first thing the tourists see upon arriving and the last thing they see when they leave. Or use Giant rocks creatively maybe even make a glacial scrape mock up for skate boarders.
Put Giant sized national emblems puffin, Picture plant, Moose at Port aux Basques, North Sydney and Argentia. Arguement for North Sydney could be its a life sized replica and meant as a warning to tourists who have never seen a swamp donkey LOL. My brother in Law went to an accident out at Terra Novva National park and it was an american and that is what he called it Swamp Donkey.

A moose from back on at night looks just like a man bent over.

Give to the people of NB a replica moose as a thank-you for their part in bringing the swamp donkey to NL. Wouldn't even hurt to send along a few quarters for the unveiling party. And put one in the town of Howley where they were first dropped off LOL in thanks for not killing the first 4 :) Could even name her lucy the Moosee. A whole family as statues would be something to see.

I'll bet there are foundations groups or buisnesses out there that would love to have their name on a plaque under those moose. Or a fund raising campaign could achieve the same thing I'll donate to eat the left hind quarter :) mmm I've seen some inovative fund raising campaigns. the ones that seem to work the best always seems to inolve the donater having his or her name placed somewhere. Makes a great memorial. In memory of. Trans Canada trail as an example or engraved bricks for buildings.

Don't put up an abortion like that monstrosity at Deer Lake. It gets the point across but god it's uglier than the moose are and thats saying something.

That sir robert bond should be sunk it's a cargo container ship only fit for cattle. Put it on the St Barbe Blanc Sablanc crossing.

I took that cat one summer I didn't find it bad actually the convenience of a 2 hour crossing was nice. But i can't say for the rest of the crew and passengers i think everyone threw up LOL. I danced a jig it was just the right roll and pitch.

Run ferries from Halifax at least one in the summer. Contracted out if you have to. Corner brook would also make a better destination in the winter what with Marble mountain being right there.

Put suggestion boxes on your web sites similar to guest books if you will.

Instead of fighting the alders and brush Plant clover and Lupins along the side of the highways. Better looking and no maintenace. 50 LB Bag of clover seed 25$ Not sure about lupins but they are everywhere on the mainland. Clover might attract moose.

Catalogue Seniors stories and experience

Here's an idea for liberal arts students or movie/tv making interests.

Record catalogue senior citizens experiences knowledge. This would make them feel important wanted and valued. It probably should be at the lowest level of communities to make the individuals feel comfortable.

For that matter Each and every town having a web page wouldn't be such a bad idea. It would aid in the tourism as well as build community spirit and pride. Something confederation with Canada has robbed of us due to peoples lack of self esteem and self worth at job shortages. The return on this small investment would be phenomenal in a cost return prospective. Even making server space available, expertise and guidance, might be enough. Not to mention there would be a central location for all of the different town web pages. Space could be contracted out to relieve the headaches. With hard drives costing 120$ for 250 gigs. One gig would be more than enough for an awesome web page.

Just go to the Innu nation web site they have biographies of their elders.
This would be a great assignment for summer students CBC etc. It could be a regular segment on NTV or CBC.

Tourism fishery

Tourists could be allowed to catch one fish each and the guide could have a boil up of fish and brews on shore plus maybe tourist attractions.

Lord knows there are lots of fishermen out there unemployed. Now whether or not they want to baby sit tourists is another question. There would also have to be safety standards and regulations to be met.

Bog peat moss and its many uses.

The difference between bog and peat moss to my uneducated mind is water. Remove the water and disc the bog once it dries and you've got peat moss. Peat moss (bog) has to be one of the most essential components to good soil. At least up here on the main land it is. I forget how many bags of peat moss (bog) at 7$ a bag I've put into my garden.
How hard it it to put an excavator on a bog and ditch it to allow the water to run out.
I,ve seen anti tank ditches dug by the military for 100's of kilometers just for war games in the worst kind of ground. Ask the military if they would like to do some anti tank ditch training and drain these bogs.

Some uses for (bog) Peat moss are plant pots, soil supplement. I've even seen sculptures made from bog (peat moss).

I'm willing to bet sod farms could also be made out of these bogs. Now a roll of sod will cost you from 10$ to 20$.

Basically what you want to do IMHO is use the franchise strategy find a bisness plan that works and duplicate it.

Bare minimum if someone does start a new buisness with provincial or federal funds a requirement should be to keep a log, journal, or internet diary so as the people who are interested or follow can learn from your mistakes.

Internet based buisnesses

Mail order buisnesses

Bottled Water. Talk about your value added.

Christmas tree farms

Tree farms with our vast tracts of unused land

Basically what you want to do IMHO is use the franchise strategy find a buisness plan that works and duplicate it.

Bare minimum if someone does start a new buisness with provincial or federal funds a requirement should be to keep a log, journal, or internet diary so as the people who are interested or follow can learn from your mistakes.

Internet based buisnesses

Mail order buisnesses

Bottled Water. Talk about your value added.

Christmas tree farms

Tree farms with our vast tracts of unused land

Save pulp mills by using recycled paper Stephenville isn't according to Abitibi'ds web site.
This could be a community people driven initiative. Out in Kelowna they have paper recycling depots and they are ran by volunteer groups. Abitibi has a program for this where they put collection containers and pay 1 pound in britain for 1 ton of paper. This is enforced in Kelowna by allowing each household 1 bag of garbage per person and charging 5$ for each additional bag. I realize NL with its 500,000 people won't supply enough recycled paper but it would be a start. Most large centers in Canada separate garbage nowwa days and bail it for latter retrieval from land fills. Tractor trailers are returning to NL empty?
In Germany they used a similar system as in NB Blue and green bags of garbage. Blue fro dry waste and Green for wet garbage.
It also states that the demand for recycled paper is rising exponentially.

Halifax has a composting program. Now NL supposedly doesn't have very good or much soil Composting could be used to help increase agricultural land.

I've seen farm land made from woods land by spreading manure on it. It only took 5 - 10 years and lots of manure.

And the rise of the Cdn Dollar vs the Us dollar has put them in the red. Maybe if the workers were paid using a global salary Mainly the US seeing as according to their site the US buys somewhere in the region of 50% of all of Abitibi's products. Or pay in US dollars.

They also brag that the NL lumber is highly sought out because of its Hurricane resistant properties. I'm not sure if pulp mills are value added? Their site promotes value added products like I beam floor joists etc.

Is it value added for the wood products or is it value added for the land use?

Berry co-op where the co-op buys berries at going rate and sells them on world or local market. Why should the bears get all the berries?

Rabbit farms.

There is no reason why Marble mountain should sit idle during the summer months. It could be used as a mountain bike course, trasport people up to the top to hike transport people back over the hill to grand lake for kayaking on grand lake or around Glovers Island. Even just sight seeing would attract people. It doesn't have to be full time oince a week or by appointment group.

If the lower churchill is developed a great opportunity to canoe, kayak, white water raft will be lost. This could be advertized as adventure now before it's gone!

Update:
Grow hemp on the bogs. Unsure if it can be used for pulp and paper? There are lots of other uses for this very versatile crop.

Chainsaw carving