Exploits on the Exploits #nlpoli
In Nova Scotia, the provincial government has to beat prospective woods companies with a stick to keep them in line in the rush to take control of lands from the…
Edward Hollett
Pennies and Pounds #nlpoli
In May 2011, the provincial public works department issued a call for proposals to replace the lift bridge in Placentia. In August 2011, the department scrapped the project and went…
Budgeting Control and Resources #nlpoli
Shortly after the 2003 general election, the newly elected Conservative politicians accepted a proposal to cut down the number of health boards and education boards across the province. Save money,…
Where once they stood… #nlpoli
Labour federation boss Lana Payne made an interesting comment on Twitter over the weekend: “there is never a time for austerity.” Never. Ever. You can hear all those Newfoundland politicians…
Just when we needed new ideas… #nlpoli
There’s no small laugh to be had listening to Wade Locke, the government’s favourite economist. He was all over the media on Monday talking about fiscal responsibility, cutting revenues and…
Kent to preside at envelope opening #nlpoli
As we approach the umpteenth anniversary of the internationally-accessible Internet, a website is about as far from news as anyone can get. That’s why it was so laughable last week…
Censoring Public Documents… or not #nlpoli
Not only does the provincial government now censor public documents called orders in council, they can’t get their own scheme right. Public engagement minister Keith Hutchings published a letter to…
Party Spending on Polls #nlpoli
Over the past decade, the provincial Conservatives have consistently outspent the other parties in the province on polling and similar research in both election and off years, according to figures…
General Election Cost Per Vote – Updated #nlpoli
Last fall, we looked at cost per vote for provincial general elections. At the time, Election NL hadn’t released the 2011 general election figures but with those numbers now available,…
Some evidence #nlpoli
A few years ago, some people believed that comments left on news stories and in online discussion groups could influence public opinion. As it turns out, no one took any…
Influence and Manipulation #nlpoli
Public opinion changes. Individuals don’t hold exactly the same attitudes about things throughout their entire lives. That’s true of how the typical man or woman feels about clothing styles, cars,…
Copper-fastened #nlpoli
According to the Telegram editorialist argued last week, this fuss over renovations was nothing at all. At any rate, renovations planned long in advance — to keep the legislature from…
Some Free Advice for Paul Lane #nlpoli
Paul Lane. Paulie. Pepsi-man. Snook-ums. You are embarrassed. Someone ratted you out and made you look like bad. You hid out for four days. Not the smartest strategy ever, but…
A Record of Manipulation #nlpoli
With a tip of the hat to Gerry Rogers and Andrew Parsons, here are some posts from the SRBP archive that all bear on the current political mess in which…
Live from the Orchestra Pit #nlpoli
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians got a vivid example on Thursday of the Orchestra Pit Theory of Political reporting. For those who don’t know the story, the Orchestra Pit theory goes like…
She’s Got Marty Feldman Eyes #nlpoli
If you want to see a politician under significant stress, take a look at Kathy Dunderdale talking to reporters about her party’s heavily organized effort to goose unscientific, online polls.…
So why did they lie? #nlpoli
CBC’s David Cochrane contacted the Premier’s Office and asked about rumours he’d heard of renovations to the Premier’s Office. As Cochrane reported on Twitter, the Premier’s Office told him that…
“Doom and gloom” #nlpoli
Seems that finance minister Jerome Kennedy isn’t the only fellow out there conducting the annual budget “consultation” farce this year. According to the Southern Gazette, justice minister Darin King “acknowledged,…
High-Priced Cow Pats #nlpoli
The Atlantic Provinces Economic Council thinks the provincial government should do something about its spending, what with declining revenues. Well, you know. Sort of. Maybe.
Who farted? #nlpoli
Finance minister Jerome Kennedy took his budget “consultation” roadshow to Corner Brook the other day. Former finance minister Tom Marshall showed up to help. Tom has run more than a…