Why Tom Mulcair is wrong… yet again #nlpoli #cdnpoli
Tom Mulcair isn't alone.A lot of people have been making the extremely dangerous argument over the past few days that we ought to accept any claim or accusation based solely…
Ed Hollett
A meritless position #nlpoli
The new provincial Liberal administration has made the creation of a merit-based system of cabinet appointments the centre-piece of its first session of the House of Assembly.The bill to give…
Paying for Muskrat Falls #nlpoli
To understand precisely how insane an idea we have at Muskrat Falls, think of it this way.In Quebec, provincial government policy is to maintain a pool of electricity that is…
Trump the unpopular… maybe not #nlpoli
Apparently, Donald Trump is the most unpopular American presidential candidate since 1992.The Toronto Star's American correspondent produced a lovely article on Friday. It started with the results of a couple…
Trash talk #nlpoli
The folks at the City of St. John’s wanted to boost their curb-side recycling program.Last fall, they launched a campaign called “Blue is the new Black”. Blue is the colour…
Ghomeshi and a fair trial #nlpoli #cdnpoli
The moment when Jian Ghomeshi’s lawyer established during the trial that witnesses against him had colluded in their testimony and had lied – even if by omission – there was…
The Office of Steve Kent
26 public meetings.More than 1,000 people showed up for them.More than 28,000 people used the government website that the folks at the Office of Steve Kent call an app to…
A simple question about residential schools #nlpoli
According to one of the firms involved in the class action suit by residents of Newfoundland and Labrador about residential schools:Five separate actions were commenced alleging that former residents of…
Resettlement story wrong #nlpoli
Access to documents from government are one thing.Understanding what they say is quite another.CBC requested batches of documents from the provincial government about efforts by the people of Little Bay…
How to say little in 34 slides #nlpoli
Consultants have consistently reported that the Muskrat Falls project is well-managed and well-led.Despite that independent analysis, MFP has been dogged by significant cost over-runs, significant problems with performance on meeting…
Kissing in the rear #nlpoli
At the entrance to the new west-end high school, there's a sign that warns drivers that only those big yellow student transportation vehicles can go around back to the drop…
The Sir Robert Bond Papers 2016-03-18 04:30:00
The deficit for 2015 will be a record.We know that because of comments at the House of Assembly by Premier Dwight Ball and finance minister Cathy Bennett.News media are reporting…
Tiny pebbles in an empty washtub #nlpoli
For the third day in a row, the opposition has asked one question over and over again, with a couple of minor variations.They’ve asked education minister Dale Kirby why the…
Simple words work best #nlpoli
esquire.com last October. Big headline: Donald Trump Woos Republicans By Speaking at a 4th Grade LevelSmaller head: His competitors from both parties aren't much better.Aren't much better.Speaking at such a…
The blindingly obvious #nlpoli
After all this time, it remains an enduring mystery how a guy who held himself out to be the great seer of oil prices still gets quoted on oil prices…
Picking stuff out of the appointments hockey bag #nlpoli
One of the provincial Conservatives’ signature new initiatives in the first session of the legislature after the 2003 election was a bill that supposedly set fixed election dates. Changes to…
No change in party support numbers #nlpoli
Despite delivering bad news about the provincial government's finances since taking office, the provincial Liberals continue to hold strong public support, according to the most recent poll by Corporate Research…
Interim Supply 2016 #nlpoli
The provincial government can only spend money approved by the House of Assembly.In parliamentary language, the House grants supply to the government, as in a supply of money.Each year, the…
The inexplicable persistence of nonsense #nlpoli
“There was a very good job done … of boxing this province out a few years ago,”That was Premier Dwight Ball talking to reporters on Tuesday after the Throne Speech…
The New Approach #nlpoli
In 2003, Paul Davis' predecessor as leader of the provincial Conservative party went to Ottawa to beg for a hand-out.Called it The New Approach He got one.Then he begged for…