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For those that haven't been folowing the saga between Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the Federal Liberals regarding offshore oil, Danny Millions (our new PM) has annexed our island from Canada's clutches. (Tongue planted firmly in cheek). Alas, just as my dream of becoming a CF pilot begins my province decides to leave.
Canadian Flag Comes Down 12/23/04 (Denis Mulloy) http://www.vocm.com/
Premier Danny Williams is taking the dispute with Ottawa to another level by symbolically cutting our ties with the federal nation. Williams has ordered that the Canadian flag on all provincial buildings be removed until further notice. At a noon-hour news conference, Williams and Finance Minister Loyola Sullivan tore apart the federal position on the Atlantic Accord. The premier said he could've walked away with a big cheque, but chose to stand his ground and keep the province's pride intact.
Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041223.wgass1223_2/BNStory/National/
Escalating his battle of nerves with the federal government, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams said Thursday that Ottawa had no intention of settling a revenue-sharing dispute and had â Å“draggedâ ? him to talks in a bid to humiliate him.
Mr. Williams left Winnipeg in a huff Wednesday after negotiations with the federal government -- represented by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale and Natural Resources Minister John Efford -- did not produce a deal in time for his self-imposed deadline.
The province has been in a war of words with Ottawa for months, battling over how much effect offshore oil and gas revenue should have on equalization payments Ottawa currently gives St. John's.
The federal government says it is willing to give the province 100 per cent of the revenue for up to 16 years. Mr. Williams counters that the equation is actually more complex than that and that his province could be out of pocket as much as $1-billion after only three years.
Back in his province's capital Thursday morning Mr. Williams ignored opposition advice to calm down and resume talks, choosing instead to accuse the federal government of repeatedly breaking its word and trying to â Å“humiliateâ ? his province.
â Å“It's quite apparent to me that Mr. Goodale is not of a mindset to do a deal,â ? he told reporters. â Å“It's also quite apparent to me that we were dragged to Manitoba in order to ... try to embarrass us. To bring us out there, to get no deal and send us back with our tail between our legs.â ?
Earlier in the day, Newfoundland's Liberal opposition leader urged the Premier to calm down and keep talking with Ottawa to reach an offshore revenue deal.
Liberal Leader Roger Grimes told VOCM radio talk show that it was unwise to pick fights.
â Å“Maybe we should keep our powder dry before we go off the handle and go crazy again,â ? he told the St. John's radio station. â Å“I don't know how it moves the agenda forward to say 'I'm going to pick up all my papers and go home and not talk to you any more'.â ?
Mr. Williams' attitude following Wednesday's talks stands in stark contrast to the statements by Mr. Goodale and Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm, who voiced their confidence that progress had been made.
Mr. Hamm said a deal could come in January, after Prime Minister Paul Martin had returned home, and Mr. Goodale said that a final deal was â Å“within grasp.â ?
But Mr. Williams was frustrated by what he saw as the lack of progress.
â Å“My best guess is that Ralph and John decided that the government of Newfoundland and Labrador was going to brought out, was going to be put through this process and then humiliated and sent back [home] without a deal,â ? he said.
â Å“From our perspective, we've done everything we could on this.â ?
Stephen Tomblin, a professor of political science at Memorial University in St. John's, said Mr. Williams' popularity in the province has soared thanks to his negotiating tactics.
â Å“I suspect locally, as was the case in the past, he'll be very popular as a result of this kind of debate,â ? he said. â Å“There's a very strong sense of alienation which is historical ... It's comparable to Quebec nationalism and separatism.â ?
Most callers to the VOCM call-in show Thursday were behind their premier, with some raising the idea of the province separating from Canada.
â Å“Danny did the right thing yesterday by walking away,â ? said one caller. â Å“The way I look at it is the only people who aren't getting rich from benefiting from our resources is Newfoundland and Labrador.â ?
Mr. Williams said as he left Wednesday's talks that he had no intention of resuming negotiations with the federal government.
â Å“You know where discussions with the fed government have got us,â ? he asked reporters rhetorically on Thursday. â Å“They got us out to W and back with nothing again, that's where they got us.â ?
Canadian Flag Comes Down 12/23/04 (Denis Mulloy) http://www.vocm.com/
Premier Danny Williams is taking the dispute with Ottawa to another level by symbolically cutting our ties with the federal nation. Williams has ordered that the Canadian flag on all provincial buildings be removed until further notice. At a noon-hour news conference, Williams and Finance Minister Loyola Sullivan tore apart the federal position on the Atlantic Accord. The premier said he could've walked away with a big cheque, but chose to stand his ground and keep the province's pride intact.
Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041223.wgass1223_2/BNStory/National/
Escalating his battle of nerves with the federal government, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams said Thursday that Ottawa had no intention of settling a revenue-sharing dispute and had â Å“draggedâ ? him to talks in a bid to humiliate him.
Mr. Williams left Winnipeg in a huff Wednesday after negotiations with the federal government -- represented by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale and Natural Resources Minister John Efford -- did not produce a deal in time for his self-imposed deadline.
The province has been in a war of words with Ottawa for months, battling over how much effect offshore oil and gas revenue should have on equalization payments Ottawa currently gives St. John's.
The federal government says it is willing to give the province 100 per cent of the revenue for up to 16 years. Mr. Williams counters that the equation is actually more complex than that and that his province could be out of pocket as much as $1-billion after only three years.
Back in his province's capital Thursday morning Mr. Williams ignored opposition advice to calm down and resume talks, choosing instead to accuse the federal government of repeatedly breaking its word and trying to â Å“humiliateâ ? his province.
â Å“It's quite apparent to me that Mr. Goodale is not of a mindset to do a deal,â ? he told reporters. â Å“It's also quite apparent to me that we were dragged to Manitoba in order to ... try to embarrass us. To bring us out there, to get no deal and send us back with our tail between our legs.â ?
Earlier in the day, Newfoundland's Liberal opposition leader urged the Premier to calm down and keep talking with Ottawa to reach an offshore revenue deal.
Liberal Leader Roger Grimes told VOCM radio talk show that it was unwise to pick fights.
â Å“Maybe we should keep our powder dry before we go off the handle and go crazy again,â ? he told the St. John's radio station. â Å“I don't know how it moves the agenda forward to say 'I'm going to pick up all my papers and go home and not talk to you any more'.â ?
Mr. Williams' attitude following Wednesday's talks stands in stark contrast to the statements by Mr. Goodale and Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm, who voiced their confidence that progress had been made.
Mr. Hamm said a deal could come in January, after Prime Minister Paul Martin had returned home, and Mr. Goodale said that a final deal was â Å“within grasp.â ?
But Mr. Williams was frustrated by what he saw as the lack of progress.
â Å“My best guess is that Ralph and John decided that the government of Newfoundland and Labrador was going to brought out, was going to be put through this process and then humiliated and sent back [home] without a deal,â ? he said.
â Å“From our perspective, we've done everything we could on this.â ?
Stephen Tomblin, a professor of political science at Memorial University in St. John's, said Mr. Williams' popularity in the province has soared thanks to his negotiating tactics.
â Å“I suspect locally, as was the case in the past, he'll be very popular as a result of this kind of debate,â ? he said. â Å“There's a very strong sense of alienation which is historical ... It's comparable to Quebec nationalism and separatism.â ?
Most callers to the VOCM call-in show Thursday were behind their premier, with some raising the idea of the province separating from Canada.
â Å“Danny did the right thing yesterday by walking away,â ? said one caller. â Å“The way I look at it is the only people who aren't getting rich from benefiting from our resources is Newfoundland and Labrador.â ?
Mr. Williams said as he left Wednesday's talks that he had no intention of resuming negotiations with the federal government.
â Å“You know where discussions with the fed government have got us,â ? he asked reporters rhetorically on Thursday. â Å“They got us out to W and back with nothing again, that's where they got us.â ?
