The cost of an error.
As we muddle along into Danny's vision of a legacy - we should be reminded what happens when we as people do not ask questions regardless of media and opposition disinterest.
The Upper Churchill goes down in the history of western world developments as one of the worst deals ever to be perpetrated on a people.
Today as we see Hydro-Quebec lower its rate for Quebec consumers - we are pondering an astronomical raise in rates to accomplish what Nalcor says is a need to get rid of Holyrood.
Imagine our children having to deal with Holyrood and Labrador oil generated facilities while Hydro-Quebec and the people of our neighbouring province enjoy virtually complete hydro generated power - including the fabulous 5000 MW's from the Upper Churchill. That is a cost of that mistake. Our children should be enjoying complete clean renewable hydro energy but for the mistakes of Joey Smallwood, John Crosbie, Bill Rowe and others. We can thank a silent opposition of the day as well.
Imagine our children leaving Newfoundland and Labrador to work in processing facilities powered by our energy and value adding from our resources. That is the cost of such a mistake.
Imagine a place full of renewable hydro losing industries and not gaining them at a time when energy hungry smelters and refining facilities seek such energy in today's marketplace. That is the cost of that mistake.
Imagine our children's shoulders burdening billions in debt as we continue to lose billions we could have enjoyed - if a mistake was not made on the Upper Churchill contract.
Imagine - for years - we accepted a significant reduction in equalization payments because we produced the energy from the Upper Churchill - even though we were not the beneficiaries of the tremendous profits. Ottawa looked and said - even though the deal was bad - you could be collecting more - so we will reduce your payments as if you were. Billions more in lost revenues - a cost of doing a bad deal.
Imagine - had we simply waited - we would have attracted industry and developed the power for the benefit of Labradorians. Imagine what could have been in the 70's and 80's as oil prices rose from 60's prices of $3($18 adjusted for inflation) a barrel to $38($90 adjusted for inflation)dollars a barrel and now even greater again. That attractive hydro power that uses water not oil for fuelling generation. That water that is not impacted by an oil embargo from the Middle East in the 70's or the civil unrest in Libya today.
Imagine we would be debt free like Alberta - we would be utilizing a significant portion of our oil revenues for a heritage fund so that our grandchildren benefit from the non-renewable resources we are extracting now. Instead it is keeping us artificially afloat - keeping our growing budget in health care intact - until that is - when the oil is gone. That too will be a cost of that mistake.
Imagine the pride and not anger we could feel if we had just questioned a little more and waited for the right opportunity for us. Labrador's population could have exploded and industry could have flourished. We would not blame Quebec for our own mistake and their intelligence in choosing risks.
Here we are again - Danny says the Emera deal will right the wrongs of the Upper Churchill. What a joke. Does he take us all for fools? Apparently and that continues on with his successor Premier Dunderdale. We are mad at Quebec so we will go around them - be damned the cost - we will punish them.
Danny's idea of punishment clearly is skewed. Stephen Harper's lie robs us of 10 billion dollars - he punishes him by electing all Liberals (who cares) and by sending Fabian Manning to the Senate (oh the pain). Currently he wants us to punish Quebec by ramming through a hydro project which ships even more power out - to another company (publicly traded) which is vulnerable therefore for takeover. Punish Quebec by driving our power rates through the roof while making competitive jurisdictions cheaper.
Danny did not right the wrongs of the Upper Churchill as he promised - if there was a deal to be done on the Lower Churchill. I believe if it's even possible he's made matters worse.
First the unearned arrogance of the PC government continues to assume that the best possibility for power development is for export. Prove this to me and the rest of our people. Prove how exporting even more of this industrially attractive resource helps Newfoundland and Labrador more than if we used the power here. Show us the numbers - the normal economic studies that would be completed to reach such a conclusion. The government will have studies on everything but the economics of shipping out hydro power versus utilizing it through industry in Labrador.
The Upper Churchill will continue to punish generations of our people for decades to come - we hardly need to couple that misery with the untested policy of yet another Churchill development.
Why would industry ever consider coming here if we so willingly ship it to more convenient jurisdictions. Jurisdictions that already enjoy an advantage through the use of our raw resources?
We lose our fishery - and we sit and take it.
We lose our forestry - and we sit and take it.
We lose billions of dollars from a Harper lie - we sit and take it.
We are now on the verge of losing yet another tremendous resource - will we sit and take it?
What will it take for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to stop taking it and stand up for their children and grandchildren?
Why are we not in the streets and demand action?
Danny bluffed and bluffed and bluffed. We lost and lost and lost - on his way out he has asked us to giveaway yet another resource. This time say no. Just say no.
7 comments:
Why isn't this multi-billion dollar project and the ramifications of exporting cheap power while charging higher rates within NL not even a topic of dicussion from any politians or media? Can people not see how this will affect industrial investment in our province?
All the call-in shows are flooded with people talking about a kid and his snowball. GIVE ME A BREAK!I am becoming convinced that the wool has been pulled of the eyes of the sheep and we will get what we deserve.
If our population is docile enough to let this kind of debt to be piled onto their kids and grandkids without asking any questions we are just as bad as the Joey worshippers of yester-year and we will be remembered with the same disdain.
Those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them. What will it take to wake up the sheeple of NL???
Who am I to say ,but, didn't Ed Martin say that "Holyrood would still be around in twenty years"?
What is that old saying "that you can fool some of the people all of the time ,all of the people , some of the time ,but, you can't fool all of the people ,all of the time " ,maybe that rule only applies to people outside of NL.
Time after time , after time ,as a people have we not allowed ourselves to be blindsided and badgered into submission by some charlatan into believing that ,"even though the sacrifice I am making on your behalf has no benefit for me , I do it out of love of my people",and in exchange for all that love ,don't ask what I can do for this province ,ask yourselves what you as a people can do for me .
If I ask that you sell your children's and grandchildren's future "down the river" ,have FAITH in me .
God almighty , how many times have we heard that "we are masters of our own destiny", it usually turns out that ,someone else is the MASTER ,controlling our destiny .
It will be interesting to see if the Government of Canada gets involved in the loan for Muskrat. Maybe then some more details will have to be made public.
With all the mining going on in Labrador and potential hydro electricity so close by its crazy that more smelters, processing, and industry have not been developed there.
Why does our government seem so hell bent on exporting our raw natural resources and now exporting clean energy to boost economies outside our province? Are we lead by fools or thieves?
Sue...you seem to have all the problems referenced and highlighted for your readers.
One would think that if the problems are as grave as you point out....then any sensible person who feels grieved and hurt by the direction of government(s,) would do something about it. All I read is your complete distain and horror on what is happening to "we"....
If you are "shocked" by the decisions of government why don't you get out behind your keyboard and do something about it. Why don't you organize? Why don't you join a Party and put your views out there?
If you are wondering why I am not doing something...it is because I am relatively content with the direction of gov't and relatively content knowing that our democracy is open and transparent. I will respect and accept the decisions of the electorate...and I am okay with that!
The sky isn't falling Sue!
The political experts (Ursula) are muttering about being "masters of our own destiny"....if people are so concerned, then step up and do something about it
WM
Interesting comments you make - I, like you, pay people to do this work - How's your light bill these days?
Your welcome - had we not intervened the last time it would be double that already.
If you have answers that allow you to be content - why don't you share them. Explain to us what makes you contented. Your posts are general and are simply partisan. Me get out from behind my keyboard?
What have you done to save people billions from privatization or anything else for that matter. Please put some substance there instead of "I'm Happy" - what are you happy about - of course from a governmental perspective?
Your welcome Sue...thanks for you and Malone "saving" us from the bad guys. I didn't realize that 13 years later we still have to go on bended knee...now I know.
With that behind us...you say "We are now on the verge of losing yet another tremendous resource - will we sit and take it?"
So are you going to "sit" behind the keyboard and take it? Or are you going to launch a crusade to "save" the province?
I'm all ears on what you plan to do to sahke some life life into the "happy" people.
Btw, I voted for the Liberal candidate in the last fed and prov election...so if that means I am partisan...I guess I am
WM - once again you demonstrate your inability to provide answers to those of us reading your post. You are "happy" with government.
Your attempt at diminishing the work of myself Greg and others simply reaffirms - that I am not the one who needs to get up off their arse and do something. That's evident.
You appreciate nothing that others have given freely to accomplish for the province you live in. You are left to take pleasure from pleasing inept politicians.
If you cannot provide anything policy related - wherein you articulate something other than "happy" contribute elsewhere.
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