NL-Outsidethebox [confederation]

Do you still think the Military shouldn't be unionized Liam?

I joined the military with the sole intention of becoming a heavy equipment operator 042, but I had to do 4 years as a 041 field engineer first. I did so after I had my Master corporals. I lost my Mcpls pay to become what I had originally joined for and was even made do 041 work after I was a 042. Then they abolish the 042 trade and I still don't get my Mcpls pay back but had to go back to being a 041 which out of convienience they call 043!

Disabled War veterans robbed of 4.5 BILLION pension investiments, Interest on the amount will accrue at C$15 million to C$20 million a month, if the government chooses to appeal the award.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=aUtUfD1vWVTo&refer=canada

Thanks to Captain Canada for this one.
http://www.thiscanada.com/2005/12/31/captain-finance-unmasked/

Do you still think the Military shouldn't be unionized Liam?

I joined the military with the sole intention of becoming a heavy equipment operator 042, but I had to do 4 years as a 041 field engineer first. I did so after I had my Master corporals. I lost my Mcpls pay to become what I had originally joined for and was even made do 041 work after I was a 042. Then they abolish the 042 trade and I still don't get my Mcpls pay back but had to go back to being a 041!

Just exactly who is this Canadian who is fighting the UN ban on trawling?

As far as I know most NL'ians aren't even fishing because their sectors bingo numbers are in Moritoria. Your not een allowed to go out with your son and catch a cod for supper. If you are allowed to go out you live in the only place in the world where you have to buy TAGS$ to catch one fish for supper.

If it were up to me I would have the fishery return to the days of Jigging only! Maybe then the fish and their home and feeding grounds wouldn't be clear cut all in the name of profit for some global share holder who doesn't even eat fish.

Be sure to ask your candidate what his and his parties stand is on this issue?

The Basic Principles of PR

The basic principles underlying proportional representation elections are that all voters deserve representation and that all political groups in society deserve to be represented in our legislatures in proportion to their strength in the electorate. In other words, everyone should have the right to fair representation.

In order to achieve this fair representation, all PR systems have certain basic characteristics -- characteristics that set them apart from our current election system. First, they all use multi-member districts. Instead of electing one person in each district, as we do here in the U.S., several people are elected. These multi-member districts may be relatively small, with only three or four members, or they may be larger, with ten or more members. (The figures below illustrate districting maps for a hypothetical 50-person state senate. Figure 1 shows 50 single-seat districts, as is common with plurality-majority systems. Figure 2 depicts 10 five-seat PR districts, and Figure 3 shows 5 ten-seat PR districts.)



The second characteristic of all PR systems is that they divide up the seats in these multi-member districts according to the proportion of votes received by the various parties or groups running candidates. Thus if the candidates of a party win 40% of the vote in a 10 member district, they receive four of the ten seats -- or 40% of the seats. If another party wins 20% of the vote, they get two seats, and so on.

That, in a nutshell, is how proportional representation works. But while all PR systems have the same goals of ensuring that all voters receive some representation and that all groups are represented fairly, various systems do have different ways of achieving these goals. So it is helpful to see how different kinds of PR systems work in practice.

As far as I know the only party advocating Pro Rep is the NDP. On the other hand the NDP are also proposing the abolishment of the Senate. As the senate now stands I can't see this as a bad thing.
The Senate IMHO should be the great nation builder if it were in the style of a triple E Elected, Equal, and Effective. If this isn't to be since the Charlotte Town accord failed and all efforts to try and reform the senate have failed maybe it is time the senate was abolished!

Unless something is done either in the form of a Triple E senate or Pro Rep then this country as we know it will be torn apart bit by bit.

Personally I would rather see a triple E senate rather than Pro Rep. I don't see how Pro Rep is going to do anything to allieviate the democratic deficit in Canada, with Ontario having 106 seats out of 308. The Colonies of Ontario will continue to become more and more distraught with Canada and begin looking more and more towards seceesion.

While Pro Rep may make evey voters vote count it still only counts towards party politics and doesn't do anything to give voters more say in government if anything it gives voters less say depending on which system of Pro rep is used. IE: Closed Party list ballot takes away the choice of which candidates will be sitting in the house, with it being decided by the party. Not much different than it is now with the party faithfulls and rich choosing the party leaders.

The only way voters true wishes will ever be followed is if there are more free votes or more independants in the House since intergity and freedom of speech are second to the party line and hence personal aspirations versus candidates constituents sentiments.

As a side note Pro Rep may very well be good for federalism, at least in Quebec.

I can see why the NDP is championing this electoral reform they plus the other minor parties will be the ones who will gain the most from this electoral change, with very little being done to reduce the Democratic deficit and halt the empire building in favor of NAtion building.

Pro Rep IMHO is still a step forward toward a more democratic system, in combination with a Triple E senate I think would go along way towards making Canada a better place for all and not just the corporate types and Ontario!

Unfortunately the powers that be (106 seats in Ontario, 75 seats in Quebec, out of 308 in Canada) will never go for either of these changes because they stand to loss to much personally to the detriment of the people and the country unfortunately.

Such a SAD state of affairs! Unfortunately the peoples only options will either be secession and the break up off the country or all out revolt the later probably not even on the radar since we are such a vast and diverse country it will never come to be.

Oh well it wouldn't be so bad to be known as a Newfoundlander once again. I say Newfoundlander and not Newfoundland and Labradorian because I'm sure that with secession Labrador will want to become a territory and remain a colony of Canada? Mind you there is hope of Labrador wanting to stay with NFLD what with some of the recent developments of NFLD looking more towards Lab as our path to the future and becoming an intregal part of Canada with the TLH becoming a reality and interest being expressed in a fixed link to Labrador from NFLD to finally unite our divided province by name and geography.

Very interesting blog over on CBC's Blogger forum Election Round Table by Marcie Abramovitch

Living in safe ridings with our First Past the Post system can be very frustrating. You can have a pretty clear idea that regardless of how you vote there is very little chance the person you are voting for will win the seat. In my riding the largest fight occurs over who will win the nomination for the Liberal party because if you are running for the Liberals here you have a very good chance of winning the seat. The fight over the nomination can become particularly expensive and nasty when the person who had previously been the MP in the riding decides not to run anymore.

The recent change in how parties are funded, however, does makes it more visible why it is important for everyone to vote, regardless of whether your seat is safe or not. ....

Liberals have their power base in Ontario.

5 five MSM Main Stream Media outlets are based in Ontario?

Liberals = Ontario

Ontario = MSM

MSM = Liberal

Why do you think the CPC is the only party to have pod casts of their speeches. They know that they need another media outlet other than the MSM to get a fair shake at winning this election. But being politically correct and since it is mainly by association there is no real evidence to support any accusations nothing can be done.

You don't need an Ipod to be able to acess PodCasts there are lots of free programs that will allow you to acess them on your computer. Cpac has a good free one that I use.
Sound bites make me gag!

Conservative Pod Casts
http://www.conservative.ca/EN/1868/
Free pod Cast program downloads for your computer.
http://ipodder.sourceforge.net/index.php
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

It's obvious from canada's voting record that Canadians are self centered and only care about what they can get from the winning party and as such vote only on the basis of who's going to win rather than whats good for the nation as a whole.
With attitudes like this I say let her go we should all separate into A North American Bloc of countries since right now the only people gaining from this confederation is Ontario to the detriment of the rest of the colonies. Colonial/Federalism.

At least Harper see's the Democratic deficit which is causing such disparity in Canada and has vowed to try and fix it by appointing elected senators.
I can't see Ontario and Quebec relinquishing it's strangle hold on the rest of the colonies anytime soon though. Mind you IMO he doesn't go far enough to rectify the democratic deficit which is tearing Canada apart. Why doesn't he take the advice of Preston Manning and implement a Triple E senate?

I'll tell you why because if he did that he wouldn't get a single vote from Ontario and Quebec and those two provinces alone hold the majority of political representation in Canada. A combined total of 181 out of 308, 106 from Ontario and 75 from Quebec .

IMHO the only party that can bring about change from this democratic deficit would be the controlling interest in a minority govenment and that would have to be the NDP as it now stands maybe the Bloc but they have no interest in fixing the country only leaving it. To bad really because they could affect real change. Unfortunately neither the Bloc nor the NDP have this as a platform policy. The NDP has proportional representation which doesn't do anything to rectify the democratic deficit in Canada amongst the provinces.

Merry Christmas!

Can't get your kids to stay home in NL, Stop voting for colonial/federalist governments!

Vote NDP they want to help with their crushing student loan debt, which leaves them no choice but leave.

CD Howe held the discovery of the iron or deposits a secret until NL was sold down the river by Britain for forgiveness by Canada of it's crushing war debt.

Same goes for the Upper Churchill Hydro Quebec was in a conflict of interest with insider trading knowledge of NL hydro by holding 28% of NL hydro and were sitting in on the NL hydro's share holders meetings and knew that NL hydro was going bankrupt withing the mobnth if a deal wasn't made concerning the Upper Churchill.

An escalator clause was apart of the original contract but because Hydro Quebec knew NL hydros financial state conflict of interest they changed the terms and added 25 years with no escalator clause and knew from sitting in on Nl hydros meetings that NL Hydro had no choice but accept or go bankrupt.

Lets not forget Quebec threatened terrorist acts on a national power corridor through their territory. The sooner Quebec leaves canada the sooner NL will become better off IMHO at least with the political Colonial/Federalist system we have now.

Colonial/Federalism and the clawing back of Non-renewable resource revenues from Equalization will continue to ensure NL stays a colony of Ontario with it's 106 seats out of 308 if a central colonial/federalist government is re-elected.

Colonial/Federalism is why our fishery is all but ruined all for the benefit of Empire Ontario to the detriment of the Ontario Colony of NL.

The NDP have vowed to implement a Triple E senate Effective, Equal, and Elected. This would go along way in stopping the inherent practice in our Political sytem of treating the provinces as Colonies of Ontario with it's 106 seats out of 308.

We need a nation building federal government not the same old continuation of Ontario Empire building at the expense of the colonies Colonial/Federalism.

Senate Nominations By Province and Party

----Lib Cons NDP indep Total
B.C. 4--- 2---- 0--- 0 -----6
AB 5--- 1---- 0--- 0----- 6
Sask. 2 ---3---- 1--- 0----- 6
Man. 3--- 2---- 0--- 1----- 6
Ont. 11 ---10-- 0---- 1---- 22
Que. 18--- 3--- 0---- 3---- 24
N.S. 6 ----4 --- 0---- 0--- 10
NL. 4---- 2---- 0--- 0---- 6
N.B. 8---- 1---- 0---- 0--- 9
P.E.I. 3 ---0 ----0 ----0--- 3
Yukon. 1- 0----- 0---- 0-- 1
N.W.T. 1- 0----- 0---- 0-- 1
Nun. 1-- 0---- 0----- 0-- 1
Total 67 -28---- 1----- 5-- 101
http://bpoc.blogspot.com/


Effective: Under current legislation the Senate has the power to be effective in representing regional interests and sober second thought. However, because the Senate is not elected and represents the worst of partisan, political patronage, it lacks all legitimacy. It is unaccountable to Canadian taxpayers.

Equal: Although Senators frequently say that they will take on regional interests, when push comes to shove they invariably vote along party lines. If they were elected they would be accountable to the regions they represent.

Elected: The starting point of Senate reform so that Canadians will have a lawmaking system that reflects the needs of this great country is with the election of Senators. The Senate and its important functions will never be a legitimate part of the lawmaking body, unless its members are accountable to the people of Canada through a democratic election process.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050912.wcomment0912/BNStory/National/

http://www.petitiononline.com/1257/petition.html

So he comes back today obviously with the backing and support of the Toronto Sun and it's editors and adds insult to injury.
You must keep in mind that this guy claims to be a satirist and goes as far as to lump himself in with Air Farce, 22 minutes and the like a feble attempt at trying to justify his unjust comments about NL'ians. He even tries to appease some by making fun of himself as if that is going to change what he has put into print as if it wasn't in the back of his mind and was allowed to slip out.
What he is forgetting is that they all keep their satire in context, maybe even with a precursory note of situation.
If he is a sports writer why would he need to bring into question NL's morals and ethics with such issues as the seal hunt, Pogey checks, and the Failing state of our fishery as if we are the only ones to blame?

Wasn't the intent or subject of the comment supposed to be about curling and Brad Gushue winning the berth to represent Canada at the Olympics?
Why the need to degrade, slander, why the need for not so vague innuendo's and the like about all NL'ians and their place in Canada?

You can call Bill Lankhof at (416) 947-2260 or e-mail at bill.lankhof@tor.sunpub.com

Be sure to CC to the editor editor@tor.sunpub.com

PART VI

CONTINENTAL SHELF

Article 76
Definition of the continental shelf

1. The continental shelf of a coastal State comprises the sea-bed and
subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea
throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge
of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured where
the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that
distance.

2. The continental shelf of a coastal State shall not extend beyond the
limits provided for in paragraphs 4 to 6.

3. The continental margin comprises the submerged prolongation of the land
mass of the coastal State, and consists of the sea-bed and subsoil of the
shelf the slope and the rise. It does not include the deep ocean floor with
its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.

4. (a) For the purposes of this Convention, the coastal State shall
establish the outer edge of the continental margin wherever the
margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from
which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, by either:
(i) a line delineated in accordance with paragraph 7 by reference to
the outermost fixed points at each of which the thickness of
sedimentary rocks is at least 1 per cent of the shortest distance
from such point to the foot of the continental slope; or
(ii) a line delineated in accordance with paragraph 7 by reference to
fixed points not more than 60 nautical miles from the foot of the
continental slope.
(b) In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the foot of the
continental slope shall be determined as the point of maximum change
in the gradient at its base.

5. The fixed points comprising the line of the outer limits of the
continental shelf on the sea-bed, drawn in accordance with paragraph 4
(a)(i) and (ii), either shall not exceed 350 nautical miles from the
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured or
shall not exceed 100 nautical miles from the 2,500 metre isobath, which is
a line connecting the depth of 2,500 metres.

6. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 5, on submarine ridges, the
outer limit of the continental shelf shall not exceed 350 nautical miles
from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is
measured. This paragraph does not apply to submarine elevations that are
natural components of the continental margin, such as its plateaux, rises,
caps, banks and spurs.

7. The coastal State shall delineate the outer limits of its continental
shelf, where that shelf extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, by
straight lines not exceeding 60 nautical miles in length, connecting fixed
points, defined by coordinates of latitude and longitude.

8. Information on the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical
miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is
measured shall be submitted by the coastal State to the Commission on the
Limits of the Continental Shelf set up under Annex II on the basis of
equitable geographical representation. The Commission shall make
recommendations to coastal States on matters related to the establishment
of the outer limits of their continental shelf. The limits of the shelf
established by a coastal State on the basis of these recommendations shall
be final and binding.

9. The coastal State shall deposit with the Secretary-General of the United
Nations charts and relevant information, including geodetic data,
permanently describing the outer limits of its continental shelf. The
Secretary-General shall give due publicity thereto.

10. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the question of
delimitation of the continental shelf between States with opposite or
adjacent coasts.

Article 77
Rights of the coastal State over the continental shelf

1. The coastal State exercises over the continental shelf sovereign rights
for the purpose of exploring it and exploiting its natural resources.

2. The rights referred to in paragraph 1 are exclusive in the sense that if
the coastal State does not explore the continental shelf or exploit its
natural resources, no one may undertake these activities without the
express consent of the coastal State.

3. The rights of the coastal State over the continental shelf do not depend
on occupation, effective or notional, or on any express proclamation.

4. The natural resources referred to in this Part consist of the mineral
and other non-living resources of the sea-bed and subsoil together with
living organisms belonging to sedentary species, that is to say, organisms
which, at the harvestable stage, either are immobile on or under the
sea-bed or are unable to move except in constant physical contact with the
sea-bed or the subsoil.

Article 78
Legal status of the superjacent waters and air space and the
rights and freedoms of other States

1. The rights of the coastal State over the continental shelf do not affect
the legal status of the superjacent waters or of the air space above those
waters.

2. The exercise of the rights of the coastal State over the continental
shelf must not infringe or result in any unjustifiable interference with
navigation and other rights and freedoms of other States as provided for in
this Convention.

Article 79
Submarine cables and pipelines on the continental shelf

1. All States are entitled to lay submarine cables and pipelines on the
continental shelf, in accordance with the provisions of this article.

2. Subject to its right to take reasonable measures for the exploration of
the continental shelf, the exploitation of its natural resources and the
prevention, reduction and control of pollution from pipelines, the coastal
State may not impede the laying or maintenance of such cables or pipelines.

3. The delineation of the course for the laying of such pipelines on the
continental shelf is subject to the consent of the coastal State.

4. Nothing in this Part affects the right of the coastal State to establish
conditions for cables or pipelines entering its territory or territorial
sea, or its jurisdiction over cables and pipelines constructed or used in
connection with the exploration of its continental shelf or exploitation of
its resources or the operations of artificial islands, installations and
structures under its jurisdiction.

5. When laying submarine cables or pipelines, States shall have due regard
to cables or pipelines already in position. In particular, possibilities of
repairing existing cables or pipelines shall not be prejudiced.

Article 80
Artificial islands, installations and structures
on the continental shelf

Article 60 applies mutatis mutandis to artificial islands, installations
and structures on the continental shelf.

Article 81
Drilling on the continental shelf

The coastal State shall have the exclusive right to authorize and regulate
drilling on the continental shelf for all purposes.

Article 82
Payments and contributions with respect to the exploitation
of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles

1. The coastal State shall make payments or contributions in kind in
respect of the exploitation of the non-living resources of the continental
shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth
of the territorial sea is measured.

2. The payments and contributions shall be made annually with respect to
all production at a site after the first five years of production at that
site. For the sixth year, the rate of payment or contribution shall be 1
per cent of the value or volume of production at the site. The rate shall
increase by 1 per cent for each subsequent year until the twelfth year and
shall remain at 7 per cent thereafter. Production does not include
resources used in connection with exploitation.

3. A developing State which is a net importer of a mineral resource
produced from its continental shelf is exempt from making such payments or
contributions in respect of that mineral resource.

4. The payments or contributions shall be made through the Authority, which
shall distribute them to States Parties to this Convention, on the basis of
equitable sharing criteria, taking into account the interests and needs of
developing States, particularly the least developed and the land-locked
among them.

Article 83
Delimitation of the continental shelf between States with
opposite or adjacent coasts

1. The delimitation of the continental shelf between States with opposite
or adjacent coasts shall be effected by agreement on the basis of
international law, as referred to in Article 38 of the Statute of the
International Court of Justice, in order to achieve an equitable solution.

2. If no agreement can be reached within a reasonable period of time, the
States concerned shall resort to the procedures provided for in Part XV.

3. Pending agreement as provided for in paragraph 1, the States concerned,
in a spirit of understanding and co-operation, shall make every effort to
enter into provisional arrangements of a practical nature and, during this
transitional period, not to jeopardize or hamper the reaching of the final
agreement. Such arrangements shall be without prejudice to the final
delimitation.

4. Where there is an agreement in force between the States concerned,
questions relating to the delimitation of the continental shelf shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of that agreement.

Article 84
Charts and lists of geographical co-ordinates

1. Subject to this Part, the outer limit lines of the continental shelf and
the lines of delimitation drawn in accordance with article 83 shall be
shown on charts of a scale or scales adequate for ascertaining their
position. Where appropriate, lists of geographical co-ordinates of points,
specifying the geodetic datum, may be substituted for such outer limit
lines or lines of delimitation.

2. The coastal State shall give due publicity to such charts or lists of
graphical co-ordinates and shall deposit a copy of each such chart or list
with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and, in the case of those
showing the outer limit lines of the continental shelf, with the
Secretary-General of the Authority.

Article 85
Tunnelling

This Part does not prejudice the right of the coastal State to exploit the
subsoil by means of tunnelling, irrespective of the depth of water above
the subsoil.

"It's the biggest thing to happen in The Land Cod Forgot since the invention of the pogey cheque -- Newfoundland's native son Brad Gushue will represent Canada in curling at the 2006 Olympics in Turin.
The last time Newfoundland made such a big international splash the Titanic tried deep-sea diving.
For Newfoundland, and for a sport looking for new blood, Gushue's victory is opportune because:
1. The local sport of baby-seal whacking is no longer coming across on TV as a great spectator sport. Most Canadians don't mind the rough play, noting it's part of the game, but it's a hard-sell on American networks.
2. Newfies finally have someone named Skip to look up to again whose livelihood doesn't depend on a cod fish to be born later.
3. Newfoundland has Newfie Screech, ice, rocks.
Curling? Booze, ice and rocks. Brad Gushue, The Natural. Coming soon to a National Film Board video.
4. Gushue can dance. No Sharpies required. His victory jig looked like Glenn Healy had snuck up and given him a blast of the bagpipes from behind. Gushue reacted like a man making himself comfortable on a nest of yellow jackets.
5. Locals now have something to chew the fat over --other than that yucky whale blubber they've been gnawing on for those CBC retrospectives the past 50 years."

Just thought I'd add this link in case you missed it. It has all of the proposals and counter proposals involving the talks between the union and Abitibi in Stephenville.

One thing that surprised me is that the town has actually promised to take a hit in its taxes to the Abitibi empire.

Great site! Unbelievable the number of Fairs and Exibitions in Newfoundland and Labrador. I was going to post but it was just to big so I decided to link instead.

I will put a specific link to the Labrador City 120 Sled Dog Race
http://www.ascoffanscuff.com/lc/sports/sports11.html

The first annual Cain's Quest is set to take place sometime in March. A cross Labrador ski-doo race similar to the Paris to Dakar desert race only on snow!


Labrador Cities Ski-Doo club

http://www.white-wolf.net/













Cain's quest link but it didn't work at the time I found this.
http://www.labradorwintertrails.com/caines_quest.htm

Update:
http://www.thelabradorian.ca/index.cfm?iid=943&sid=6173

IMHO the main issue in this election for NL and Canada should be help getting the Lower Churchill power project started.

The main stumbling block that I see for this is the Lack of a national power corridor.

Unlike the Custodial management and Joint management issue the National power corridor issue is an internal issue and doesn't require negotiations with outside countries unless you consider Quebec another nation already?

Actually even that stumbling block could be negated if they were to run the power corridor from the Lower Churchil to the Strait Jacket of Belle Isle and then down along the Lower North Shore of Quebec in conjunction with completion of the lower north shore highway.

If the national parties were to embrace this National power corridor policy they could combine it with Kyoto commitments and nation building policies.

Even Ontario would be on side with this National Power corridor policy because it would pave the way for the start of the Lower Churchill which would provide Ontario with a source of cheap clean energy which they are starving for.

Alot of the ground work has already been done with the Premiers efforts towards getting the Lower Churchill project up and running.

The Federal Government has already helped with a national power corridor in the west so the next logical step would be to make it nation wide.

I've tried to phone into CPAC talk shows to bring up this subject but as yet I haven't been able to get through. I'll keep trying but IMHO this should be the one major issue that all NL'ians should be pushing in this election!

Here are a couple of links to blogs on this subject. The Braaten one actually has a link to submit a complaint. I submitted one with a link to his blog as an explanation.

http://www.mkbraaten.com/2005/12/10/martin-linked-medisys-income-trust-stock-volume-increased-3400-the-day-before-goodale-trust-announcement/

http://www.thiscanada.com/2005/12/08/income-trust-scandal-simplified/

Check out his myspace site and see how and who is swooning over Sexxy Rexxy!
He even has a mailing list to keep you updated on his location and events.

So far Harper is onside for
Custodial management
Reinstate Weather office
Stop clawing back Non-renewable resource revenues from equalization

Now we just need a fim commitment on
paving and cost sharing the Trans Labrador highway
Country wide East West power corridor to allow us to build the Lower Churchill.

Summary
Any further development of the Grand River at Muskrat Falls or Gull Island must include the
following:
1. Adjacency Legislation: Labradorians must have first priority on all employment and
procurement opportunities. The legislation and monitoring processes implemented at
Voiseys Bay are models that can be implemented and improved upon.
2. Heritage Fund: A designated Heritage Fund specifically for the development of
Labrador to be funded and managed in a similar fashion to the former Comprehensive
Labrador Agreement.
3. Access to Power: the urban centres of Labrador West and Happy Valley – Goose Bay
require upgrades to their power lines to ensure their access to this resource and its
availability for further developments. The coastal communities of Labrador must also be
able to utilize this important resource for future developments and lowering the cost of
utilities.
4. Energy Plan: In both instances of 3 and 4, a comprehensive energy plan specifically for
Labrador should be development and adhered to.
5. Transportation Fund: It is imperative that the Trans-Labrador highway be upgraded to
a national standard. Other jurisdictions have been successful in such challenges on the
strength of such mega-developments. Any negotiations with Quebec should also involve
discussions around the upgrading of the 389 Highway and completion of the 138
Highway.
6. 92A: It is also recommended that the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador officially
and clearly state its positions regarding 92A of the Constitution and its applications for the
original Churchill Falls contract. The Combined Councils of Labrador clearly recommend
that all avenues be explored as taxation of this resource and the availability of recall
power benefits may far outweigh the benefits of further development on the Grand River.
7. Forestry: The Labrador based forestry industry must have first right of refusal on the
clear cutting of timber that would be required in any future developments.
8. Aboriginal Involvement: The project must be developed inline with the consultation of
all three aboriginal groups in Labrador and in accordance with the strictest environmental
regulations.
9. CCL Involvement: A pan-Labrador liaison committee led by the CCL should be
established with funding from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro with the intent of
interacting with the NLH board of directors and providing meaningful two way
communication and consultation.
10. Head Office: The head office for any newly formed corporation should be located in
Labrador.

GEORGETOWN, P.E.I. (CP) - Animal rights activists have lost a legal challenge of Ottawa's right to restrict their movement during seal hunts.

I heard this on CPAC tonight a statement by Blair Wilson from Vancouver.

"Who do you want governing the country (Provinces)
Stephen Harper who's bringing us towards the United States?
Or Paul Martin who's bringing us towards the United Nations?"

Boy thats a stretch! But you've got to admit it does make for good spin.

So where would Jack Layton be bringing us towards? Canada?

He then goes on to comment on the poverty in Vancouver and the lack of affordable housing. Boy if Martin gets wind of this he in for a tongue lashing considering PMPM is running on his RECORD that the country is in great financial condition?

I guess all of those people who don't have affordable housing or are visiting food banks to get by and are involved in crime to try and make ends meet must not be apart of PMPM's idea of a country in good financial condition.

This broadcast should become available as a pod cast on CPAC in the coming days.

Dear Main Stream Media outlets.

I fail to see why the Green Party of CANADA isn't included in the debates?

They have candidates in almost every riding, right across this country and not just in the green parts either. Unlike the Bloc which only has candidates in Quebec?

They have a national Policy agenda unlike the Bloc whos only interest in federal poll-itics is to further their separatist hand.

Supposedly it is because they don't have anyone elected to the House? Well IMHO at least they are a national party and aren't just fielding candidates in one province! Just one more example of the Poll-iticians cow towing to Quebec to protect their legacy.

No money may have changed hands on this scandal but the power and prestige of being included in a national debate is worth much much more to the Bloc and any national party for that matter!

Sincerely


PS: These are emails to the five controlling media outlets in Canada. Just copy and paste into your email to box and press send for democracy!

fanmail@ctv.ca, ombudsman@cbc.ca, globalnews.tor@globaltv.com, complaints@cbsc.ca, sgraham@cab-acr.ca

1 Avalon
2006 Candidates:
CON: Fabian Manning, email@fabianmanning.com
GRN: Shannon Hillier, shillier@greenparty.ca
LIB: Bill Morrow, ?
NDP: Eugene Conway, ?

2 Bonavista–Gander–Grand Falls–Windsor
2006 Candidates:
CON: Aaron Hynes, ?
LIB: Scott Simms, Simms.S@parl.gc.ca
NDP: Sandra Cooze, srcooze@hotmail.com
GRN: Judy Davis, ?

3 Humber-St.Barbe-Baie Verte
2006 Candidates:
LIB: Gerry Byrne, Byrne.G@parl.gc.ca
NDP: Holly Pike, hollypike@ndp.ca
CON: Cyril Pelley, iscog@islandsafaris.com
GRN: Martin Hanzalek, ?

4 Labrador
2006 Candidates:
GRN: Gail Zwicker, ?
LIB: Todd Russell, todd@toddrussell.ca
CON: Joe Goudie, ?
NDP: Jake Larkin, ?

5 Random-Burin-St.George's
2006 Candidates:
LIB: Bill Matthews (Incumbent), Matthews.B@parl.gc.ca
CON: cynthia_downey, cynthia_downey@hotmail.com
NDP: Amanda Will, ?
GRN: Mark Brennan, mbrennan@ns.sympatico.ca

6 St. John's East
2006 Candidates:
CON: Norman Doyle, Doyle.N@parl.gc.ca
LIB: Paul Antle, tom@paulantle.com
NDP: Mike Kehoe, mikek@ndp.ca
GRN: Stephen Eli Harris, sharris@greenparty.ca

7 St. John's South–Mount Pearl
2006 Candidates:
CON: Loyola Hearn (Incumbent), Hearn.L@parl.gc.ca
LIB: Siobhan Coady, info@votecoady.ca
NDP: Peg Norman, pegnorman@ndp.ca
GRN: Barry Crozier, slabchuk@greenparty.ca

email@fabianmanning.com, shillier@greenparty.ca, Simms.S@parl.gc.ca, srcooze@hotmail.com, Byrne.G@parl.gc.ca, hollypike@ndp.ca, iscog@islandsafaris.com, todd@toddrussell.ca, Matthews.B@parl.gc.ca, cynthia_downey@hotmail.com, Doyle.N@parl.gc.ca, tom@paulantle.com, mikek@ndp.ca, sharris@greenparty.ca, Hearn.L@parl.gc.ca, info@votecoady.ca, pegnorman@ndp.ca, slabchuk@greenparty.ca

Missing:
Bill Morrow
Eugene Conway
Aaron Hynes
Judy Davis
Martin Hanzalek
Gail Zwicker
Joe Goudie
Jake Larkin
Amanda Will
Barry Crozier

You can submit your questions to the candidate debate by emailing them to question@electiondebate.ca

I submitted the list "Promise to voters" compiled by Myles Higgins from over at http://www.freenewfoundlandlabrador.blogspot.com/

Here it is, Print this one of and keep it handy when the candidates come calling.

I would like to add one issue to this list and that is the reinstatement of the Gander Weather Office. Here is a Power Point presentation making the arguement for reinstatement. http://www.ncsd.ca/aboutus/WeatherCentre.ppt


Promise to voters during 2005/06 federal election Campaign.

By:
NL Riding Candidates name here:________________________________________

If elected to an opposition party I will apply whatever pressures I can to ensure the items listed below which bear my signature are addressed by the governing party.

If I am elected to the governing party I will ensure that government enacts all items bearing my signature.

1. Within my term of office, enactment of Custodial Management outside the 200 mile economic zone in accordance with the United Nations Law of the Sea and provision of the funding, personnel and equipment required for proper enforcement on an ongoing basis.

Item 1 Signature:______________________________________

2. Within my term of office, approval of all necessary federal funds to allow development of an East / West power grid stretching from the island of Newfoundland, through Labrador and on to the island of Vancouver. Further, to map and create a national power corridor that will enable the free flow of electrical energy, oil, gas and minerals from any province in the Country while ensuring that no one province can impede the ability of another to exploit its resources to their maximum value.

Item 2 Signature:______________________________________

3. Within my term of office, remove from the calculation of provincial equalization payments all provincial revenues resulting from the exploitation of non-renewable resources.

Item 3 Signature:_______________________________________

4. Within my term of office, ensure that Canada’s military presence in Newfoundland and Labrador is increased to a level that is reasonable for the protection of the nation’s Atlantic Coast. This change in policy, designed to improve Canada’s coastal defenses, will include the deployment and stationing in Newfoundland and Labrador, at minimum: 20% of the nation’s full time and reserve military personnel, naval vessels and aircraft, deployment of all equipment and weaponry necessary for the nation’s protection along this 17,500 miles of open coastline.

Item 4 Signature:____________________________________

5. Within my term of office, provide all necessary funding to complete the Trans Labrador Highway in a fashion that brings it on par with the remainder of the national highway system by 2010.

Item 5 Signature:____________________________________

6. Within my term of office, officially recognize ferry services between Nova Scotia and Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland as an integral part of the national highway system that is critical to the survival and economic stability of Newfoundland and Labrador. I will do this through legislation to lower all usage fees by 10% per year between 2006 and 2016, at which time all fees will be completely halted making the ferry services a fully funded government service which is in line with the accessibility and usage of other parts of the national highway system.

Item 6 Signature:____________________________________




I recognize that the contents of this document and my responses to this voter may become public knowledge through various internet and news distribution services, including my refusal to sign any or all items contained in this document, and may become the subject of public discussion and/or debate.

Candidate’s Signature:_________________________________



Date:___________________________



Location:______________________________________________



Witnessed by:__________________

Just did this exercise Vote by issue on CBC's web site, where you get to vote on the issues blind from partizan politics.
It was pointed out to me by Liam over at http://responsiblegovernmentleague.blogspot.com/

Cautionary note some of the questions or policy statements are a bit ambiguous in my mind. I also omitted the Bloc because I don't think they have any right on the federal political stage seeing as their whole raison d'etre is separation.

My results were like this

Agree
Layton 9
Harper 7
Martin 6

Disagree
Layton 1
Harper 3
Matin 3

Neither disagree nor agree Omitted
Layton 2
Harper 2
Martin 3

Another nail in the CPC with their GST tax cut policy.
GST is the great equalizer IMHO it taxes the rich and not the poor.
The more money you have, the more you spend, the more you spend the more taxes you will pay. Where as Income taxes the poor and middle class unfairly. Even with the rated income tax brackets there are enough loop holes and tax breaks for the rich to circumvent the higher tax brackets with the help of accountants which the middle class can't afford. RRSP's RESP's Business write offs etc all of which the working poor will never be able to take advantage of.

The term Working Poor has to be the most disgracefull term in the Canadian vocabulary and needs to be erradicated from out culture of entitlement and the Canadian vocabulary!

Jonathon Swift said...

A Modest proposal to consider for the upcoming Canadian elections.

Rather than sitting out the election, one must be cognizant of current events which have a significant impact on Newfoundland and Labrador and which if left unaddressed may well result in the Labrador area especially being difficult to sustain a presence.

Over the last couple of days, media reports of slowing of the gulf stream have begun to attract attention. While several of these reports have dealt with the potential for significant changes in Europe’s climate, few if any have addressed the ramifications for the North American continent. From a cursory review, it quickly becomes apparent that if the test results from recent studies are correct, the speed and affects of the slowing of the gulf stream while not as rapid as in the move “The Day After Tomorrow” are clearly more rapid than most experienced climatologists expected. The result of this will be the likelihood of a seeming paradox, where global warming in effect starts at the very least a new Little Ice Age through Europe and large swaths of the North American continent.

Obviously something needs to be done and done quickly. It will no longer be possible to either ignore or study the phenomena as a mere scientific curiosity, but will require quick decisive action on the part of all countries who could potentially be affected.

After an exhaustive review of potential known solutions this author is sorry to report that he can find none which can avoid the circumstance since the speed of the change outways any measured response.

What is required is an unmeasured disaster avoidance triage where the fewest people are impacted with the least amount of overall economic and personal tragedy. To date none have been proposed. The Kyota accord while slowing the impact of new global warming actions does not contain active provisions if we as a species and ecosystem have already passed the “tipping point” towards a naturally unreversable stopping of the gulf stream. No natural solution will prevail it seems.

However, from that same review of the literature available, there does appear to be a simple method by which the large bulk of European and North American culture, population, and economics can be salvaged with minimal impact. In order to avoid the worst repercussions of this potential calamity, some method of reducing the introduction of fresh water into the North Atlantic must be found quickly.

Fresh water emerges into the North Atlantic at the present time from the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, and the various rivers from Europe and North America. Except for the Greenland ice sheet, by far the largest contributor is the Saint Lawrence seaway where between the outflow by the Straits of Belle Isle, and the edge of the Gaspe Peninsula, tremendous amounts of fresh water outflow from the North American continent.

What is interesting is that near Chicago, the Chicago river has been linked by the canal with the Mississippi river.

The proposal in its simplest form is to damn up the external tie to the Atlantic Ocean from the Saint Lawrence seaway by coffer damming at the Straits of Belle Isle. This blockage would initially divert all of the outflow from the Saint Lawrence towards Prince Edward Islance. This would assist in buying some time to address the larger disaster mitigation effort, but would also allow Newfoundland, Labrador and Quebec to be landlinked providing large benefits to the people of these regions. This land tie will be necessary for the second steps in the disaster mitigation plan

Concurrent with this coffer damming would be the rapid widening of the Chicago river to approximately 35 miles in width. While this would have a significant detrimental impact to the city of Chicago initially the outflow of support from all the people of Western Europe and Asia along with the establishment of a new port facility for Missisppi river traffic would more than offset the commercial and practical objections. This widened canal would then be available to reroute the frigid cold water flow of the Saint Lawrence seayway through the Mississippi river directly to the gulf of Mexico, by the establishment of a second dam somewhat immediately northeast of the Saguenay river.

One of the unfortunate short term consequences of this action would be the likely over flow of a few major cities including Ottowa, Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo New York, Cleveland Detroit, Toledo and perhaps a few others. In order to minimize this impact, the citizens of these areas could be relocated into unaffected areas, such as the outports of Newfoundland, and the Appalachian areas of the United States. By providing a direct routing of cold fresh water to the Gulf of Mexico, some of the direct impacts of global warming would be minimized and would likely cause a recovery of the gulf stream within a few decades at most.

What this would do for the United States is uncertain, but it is likely to be somewhat of an economic boon while at the same time becoming a political nightmare. Since only the largest of the industrial conglomerates would be able to bid on the project, the most likely contract winner for the canal and damming operations would be Haliburton, and since the most likely areas of population movement would be from Chicago and Illinois, one might expect some marginal protestations from the Democratic delegation from these and a few other states. The solution could be made palatable through a variety of means, including if needed, the creation of new states and additional senators as some states now find tranvel across the 25 mile average wide canal more difficult. This approach is now an option due to recent US Supreme Court rulings on eminent domain

What this would do for Canada would be somewhat a mixture of good news and bad news. From a Canadian point of view, warm water port access would become practical, although the shifts in population from Quebec and Ontario to Newfoundland, and the prairie provinces may cause political waves. However, it must be remembered that this if for the good of all. Additionally, the damming of the Saint Lawrence seaway would result in the entirety of the island of Newfoundland to be more of a peninsula with a more significant land mass as most of the drainage out of the Northumberland and Gulf of Saint Lawrence resulted in more territory. The remaining portions of the province of Quebec on the southern part of the seaway would in all likelihood be completely isolated from the Northern remnants and may well need to consider combining their parliamentary blocs into a single unified whole by merger with the province of New Brunswick. The northern portion would of course be most likely merged with Labrador and Newfoundland which because of these changes may well see a warmer drier climate. As for the remnants of the province of Ontario, since so much of this is at a relatively low sea level, it might be best if those issues were addressed with the survivors. The resulting shifts in population for Canada would appear to leave Manitoba, British Columbia, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick with roughly equivalent population bases.

As a result, participation in the upcoming elections is critical. Otherwise, the only people able to represent Newfoundland and Labrador which will be sitting under 125' of ice will be the MP's vacationing in Florida.

So vote for a greater, larger and warmer Newfoundland and Labrador..

Oh,,,, and just in case.. buy stock in Haliburton if you have any money to do it with