Tense Problems #nlpoli
“As a lawyer,” natural resources minister Jerome Kennedy told reporters on Thursday,” you’d often hear the phrase that the best predictor of past behaviour is future behaviour.” This is not…
Edward Hollett
Dunderdale: Hydro-Quebec equity in Lower Churchill and no ‘69 redress part of ‘win-win’ for HQ #nlpoli
For five years, the provincial Conservatives secretly tried to interest Quebec in part ownership of the Lower Churchill, according to Premier Kathy Dunderdale. Dunderdale: September 2009 In September 2009, she…
Two views of Muskrat Falls #nlpoli
In Nova Scotia, energy minister Charlie Parker touted the benefits of the Muskrat falls deal for his province in a letter to the Chronicle Herald, published on Wednesday. Parker flipped…
The Politics of Oil and Budgets #nlpoli
When any country or province depends heavily on the money that comes from resource extraction, it affects politics there. Political scientist Michael Ross is probably the most recent author on…
The Permanent Echo Chamber of Horrors #nlpoli
To borrow a phrase from Quebec Premier Jean Charest the other day, Twitter is a conversation between apparatchiks and journalists. That’s pretty much it, although in Newfoundland and Labrador as…
Kremlinology 41: All politics is personal #nlpoli
On Friday, the Conservatives sent Mount Pearl North MHA Steve Kent out as the designated hitter in a deliberate, orchestrated personal attack on the five lawyers who oppose Muskrat Falls.…
Not exactly, there, Tom, b’y #nlpoli
As part of the orchestrated campaign to attack the people making the comments instead of the comments themselves , finance minister Tom Marshall trotted out in front of the news…
Fourth time a charm: Kennedy changes MF “key point” …again #nlpoli
How many times should anyone need to change the key point in any discussion? Well, this past weekend, natural resources minister Jerome Kennedy signalled what is the latest shift in…
Hydro-Quebec to get Muskrat Falls electricity #nlpoli
Under a complex arrangement, Nalcor will send electricity from Muskrat Falls to Quebec in place of electricity from Churchill Falls during some months of the year. Nalcor hasn’t disclosed any…
They love going sleaze ball #nlpoli #connieplaybook
One enduring characteristic of Conservative political comments since 2003 is the resort to personal attacks. It must be Rule Number One in the Connie political playbook: Go sleaze ball. Don’t…
Radio Free Nalcor #nlpoli
Talk about putting on the full court press to try and squeeze out every favourable bit of commentary for a project that remains mired in controversy and doubt. Nalcor is…
The politics of gas price fixing #nlpoli
Gas prices used to be a hot political topic in Newfoundland and Labrador. A lot of people thought that the provincial government could do a lot about them and, in…
Navigator Online #nlpoli
Turn your browser to a new blog from The Navigator. For those who don’t know it, The Navigator is a monthly magazine about the fishery for people in the industry…
Three of a kind #nlpoli
A series of posts at The Monkey Cage describe Martin Gilens research on the connection between public policy and personal income. Part 1: These findings suggest that political representation functions…
A distinction that makes a difference #nlpoli
As part of the commemoration events for the War of 1812, the part of the Department of National Defence responsible for ceremony has decided to give seven Canadian Army units…
Any similarity is purely coincidental #nlpoli
Two announcements. The one in February consisted of three paragraphs, 10 lines, and 111 words. The obligatory quote from the minister: “Ms. Goulding and Ms. Mennie have a wealth of…
Muskrat Falls: the revised cost for consumers #nlpoli
If, as Shawn Skinner suggests, the cost of Muskrat Falls is going to jump by a third or more by the time we find out what the Decision Gate 3…
Suppressing Dissent #nlpoli
One of the hallmarks of the Conservative political method since 2003 has been the suppression of public dissent. Anyone who wants to raise a problem for public discussion is attacked…
Marshall’s release doesn’t match DBRS public statements #nlpoli
Simply put, Tom Marshall’s most recent news release about the report by Dominion Bond Rating Service doesn’t match what the bond rating agency said in a news release about the…
Muskrat Falls Cost Estimates: the Skinner Numbers #nlpoli
Former natural resources minister Shawn Skinner said this past weekend that he expected the next cost estimate for Muskrat Falls will be around $8.0 to $8.5 billion. Assuming that is…