NL-Outsidethebox [confederation]

Cross Examination by Averill Baker
The Charter

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians now contribute more to the Canadian economy per capita than any other Canadians to such a remarkable degree that it makes one feel sympathy toward Canadians from other provinces.

Other Canadians who look at these recent figures must feel embarrassed that Newfoundlanders are, in economic terms, contributing so much more than they are to the Canadian economy.

Canadians in Ontario and Alberta must feel like they’re on unemployment insurance with Newfoundlanders paying the bill. Quebecers and Maritimers must feel they are on welfare with Newfoundlanders paying the bill.

In economic terms each Newfoundlander is now worth four Canadians from other provinces.

It’s becoming embarrassing.

And what is just as embarrassing is that historically, since 1949, this province, on average, on a per capita basis, has led all other Canadians in contributions to the Canadian economy.

Of course, the billion dollars of power that we export indirectly to the United States shows up as Quebec’s power on the official figures. That’s one billion dollars of exports that must be taken from the Quebec column and counted as coming from this province.

Oh yeah, says the economist, we lead every other province on a per person basis with just over a half a million people - of course Newfoundlanders and Labradorians lead the rest of Canada. Also we have always exported practically everything we produce - wood, pulp and paper, minerals, fish, and now oil. That is why we have always contributed more to the Canadian economy than any other Canadians on a per capita basis.

And that is why some people sometimes suggest that we would have been better off had we not joined Canada or if we were today to separate from Canada.

Read the entire story here. Be sure to do so quickly as these papers don't archive their articles.
http://www.thecharter.ca/index.cfm?iid=1823&sid=13772

I think this is where she got her numbers from.
http://www.edc.ca/english/docs/ereports/gef/country_information_efindex.htm