NL-Outsidethebox [confederation]

These are just the highlights if you will, each request comes with a clarification statement and can be read in it's entirety by clicking on the link. It is only 4 pages long so isn't a long read.

Fisheries

Does your party support providing an early retirement program on a
70/30 Federal/Provincial cost-shared basis for workers impacted by
changes to the industry?

Does your party support this request for a Northern shrimp
allocation?

Will your party support imposing custodial management on the
continental shelf immediately outside Canada’s 200-mile exclusive
economic zone to preserve fish stocks from unsustainable
harvesting practices?

Does your party support the province’s view that recovery of cod
stocks is best achieved through the implementation of the Canada-
Newfoundland and Labrador Cod Recovery Strategy, and not
through the listing of cod as a species at risk of extinction under the
federal Species at Risk Act?

Does your party support the development of a comprehensive
Aquaculture Framework Agreement, including the provision of
financial support for the establishment of a cod aquaculture
demonstration farm?

Energy

Does your party support efforts to develop the hydro-power
resources of the Lower Churchill River System for the primary
benefit of Newfoundland and Labrador, including the provision of a
Federal Government guarantee to proceed with the project?

Does your party support the transfer or sale of the Federal
Government's share in Hibernia to the province of Newfoundland
and Labrador provided the Federal Government is kept whole on
their expected return at the time of their initial investment?

Federal Presence

Does your party support immediate efforts to significantly increase
the Federal Government’s presence in the province, commencing
with the immediate restoration of forecasting services at the Gander
Weather Office?

Equalization

Does your party support these reforms to the equalization program?

Labrador

Does your party support a Federal-Provincial cost-shared agreement
to complete the TLH?

Is your party committed to both maintaining a foreign military
training program at 5 Wing Goose Bay and utilizing the Base for
regular Canadian Forces training activity by designating an
operational requirement for it? Further, is your party committed to
building a substantive and meaningful federal presence in Goose
Bay, as part of a broader economic diversification effort, to
compensate for an expected decrease in military activity?

Does your party support establishing a reserve at Sheshatshiu by
June 30, 2006?

Marine Atlantic

The periodic threats from labour disruptions and the cost of the service have
proven to be serious impediments to the economy, as these factors affect
commerce, tourism and the traveling public. Immediate action is required of the
Federal Government to:

1. Take the appropriate legislative action to ensure that there is no
cessation to the MAI service to Newfoundland and Labrador, in
conformity with Term 32(1) of the Terms of Union of
Newfoundland and Labrador with Canada.

2. Require MAI to implement a one – time rate reduction of 15% in
2006.
Both of these actions are consistent with recommendations of the Minister of
Transport’s Advisory Committee on Marine Atlantic contained in the Committee’s
Strategy for the Future of MAI.

Does your party support these actions?

Economic Development & Infrastructure

Does your party support the Federal Government entering into
bilateral, cost-shared agreements to address economic development
and infrastructure priorities in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Does your party support ensuring provincial facilities, such as the
Marystown Shipyard and Bull Arm Fabrication Site, benefit from
federal shipbuilding and repair contracts to help transform this
sector’s capacity to the mutual advantage of Canada and
Newfoundland and Labrador?

The province, through its Waste Management Strategy, has set an objective
of 50% waste reduction, and the implementation of modern waste management
by 2010. The total cost to meet this objective is approximately $200 million. The
project comprises three elements: (i) elimination of teepee incinerators; (ii)
consolidation of waste management sites; and (iii) developing modern waste
management systems for the entire province. This project will assist Canada in
meeting its Kyoto commitments, as the reduction of waste and increased
recycling of organic products will yield reductions in methane emissions (a
powerful greenhouse gas).

Does your party support the Federal Government cost-sharing the
above project?

Apparently to date no party leader has replied to the Premiers letter?