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| Last updated at 8:50 AM on 27/12/08 |
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Premier Danny Williams talks about the year that was and the year to come. - Photo by Joe Gibbons/The Telegram |
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'Have' status tops Williams' 2008 list 
DAVE BARTLETT
The Telegram
Premier Danny Williams sits in a large, dark brown leather chair in his office on the eighth floor of Confederation Building and reflects on 2008.
"It's been a good year, overall. I mean, you still have to temper that with something, obviously, like the closing of the Grand Falls mill, which is a huge negative," Williams says at the start of a year-end interview with The Telegram.
"We became a 'have' province, which I think after 60 years is a significant achievement. Every Newfoundlander and Labradorian on the street, it doesn't necessarily put money in their pockets, but what it does do, it gives them a sense of accomplishment," Williams says.
Coming off equalization from the federal government tops Williams' long list of achievements this year.
"We want a province that's self-sufficient so that we are not reliant on the federal government."
Of course, this province - like all the others - still relies on Ottawa for federal programs, the premier acknowledges.
"But now we are a part of a select group ... a contributing province, as opposed to a province that's contributed to. So that's huge."
Williams says he's heard from Newfoundlanders and Labradorians from as far away as Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Sudbury and Cambridge in Ontario and Fort McMurray in Alberta as to what becoming a have province means to them.
Lots to cheer about
Other things near the top of Williams' list include the signing of the Hebron offshore agreement - in which the province owns a 4.9 per cent share; Vale Inco's decision to build a state-of-the-art nickel processing plant in Long Harbour, Placentia Bay; and the historic New Dawn agreement with the Labrador Innu, which the premier calls the first cobblestone on the road to the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project.
"I said all along that we can't move to the next stage on the Churchill until we have (an agreement with) our Innu partners," he says.
The deal gives the Innu varying degrees of control over more than 27,000 square miles of land throughout eastern and central Labrador and lays out a compensation plan for flood damage to Innu lands in the 1960s as a result of the development of the Upper Churchill project.
The agreement still has to be ratified by the people of the Labrador Innu Nation, and a vote is scheduled for January.
The premier also hails the creation of Nalcor Energy - the province-owned corporation that controls all its investments in oil and gas, hydro and other energy sources - as a milestone.
"It's my hope and wish and the cabinet's hope and wish ... that corporation becomes a multi-multi-billion-dollar corporation," Williams says.
He expects Nalcor to have revenues in the $10 billion to $20 billion range in the coming years.
Sombre events
"The saddest event of the year, from a personal perspective, was the loss of Jack Byrne, who was a very valued and loved member of the Progressive Conservative party and played an important role in the Progressive Conservatives over the last several decades, so he's sadly missed," says Williams.
Byrne died in June. The former cabinet minister was re-elected in October 2007 and named deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. But by the time the House reopened in the spring of 2008, Byrne was seriously ill and did not return to his seat in the provincial legislature.
Williams also said he was saddened by the loss of Pte. Justin Jones of Baie Verte, who was killed earlier this month in Afghanistan.
Other achievements
Considering there is a world economic slump, the province also did well financially this year.
"We're into our fourth surplus and now looking at a surplus close to $1.3 billion which, in these negative times, is huge," the premier says.
The province eliminated the tax on insurance, lowered payroll taxes and increased benefits for the disabled and seniors.
Williams says $180 million was invested in road work alone in 2008, and even more was spent on new schools.
Another major event this year was the Cameron inquiry which looked at why 386 breast cancer patients received false test results - affecting their treatment options - and how Eastern Health handled telling the patients and the public about the mistakes.
"Even though at times, we had our differences - for want of a better term - with regard to the process, at the end of the day it was a very good process," says the premier.
"I think it's cleansed a lot in the sense that's it's gone through all the evidence."
He also says it gave him a chance to apologize to those people on behalf of his government and governments past.
Williams says he hopes Madame Justice Margaret Cameron's report, expected in March, will bring closure to patients and their families.
This was also first year of net in-migration in 16 years and Williams says the province's new family growth benefit has been well received.
The appointment of the country's former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, to the position of chancellor of Memorial University also made the premier's list of high points.
"To be able to recruit someone of his national stature is a big deal from our perspective," he says.
Williams says it shows how the government wants MUN to achieve both national and international prestige.
Not perfect
"That doesn't mean we're doing everything right, there's always something we can improve on," he adds.
The province was harshly criticized this year for its involvement in the selection of a new president for MUN.
"The Memorial situation was really unfortunate because we were actually asked by Memorial to get involved in that process," he said. "We got involved in the process and we were later then accused of interfering with (its) autonomy."
The premier stands by his government's claim that it did nothing wrong.
He maintains that because the province provides $300 million in funding to MUN each year, it has a right to have a say in who oversees that spending.
"It's not to say we want our buddy put in there or we want to put a patronage appointment in there," he says, adding he just wants a good administrator who can take the school to a higher level.
He says he hopes a new president can be found soon and admits the whole affair has harmed the university's reputation.
Promise still to keep
Williams acknowledged one election promise he hasn't kept yet is to enact whistleblower legislation, which would protect government employees who come forward with complaints against the province that could otherwise cost them their jobs.
"We indicated that we would try and get that done by the end of this year. We realized getting into that, that that's a very complex piece of legislation that we have to make sure that it's done properly," says Williams.
"I would think, that would be one thing that was probably on the list for this year but couldn't get accomplished."
Unions
Though most other public-sector unions have now accepted the government's wage increase offer of 21.5 per cent (when compounded) over four years, nurses are poised for a strike vote early in 2009.
The unions were offered an 8 per cent raise in the first year, followed by three years of four per cent increases.
He praised the Canadian Union of Public Employees' leadership for jumping at the deal this summer, and pointed out that while the province tried to start talks with nurses in June, the nurses union wanted to wait until September.
"It seems obviously they had a plan that they were going to put in place; no matter what, they were going to do it," he says.
He contends the nurses only want a two-year deal with a 12 per cent raise in each, plus a number of other money-based bargaining items that would amount to a 35 to 40 per cent raise over two years.
Williams says raises for public sector unions will cost the province a half-billion dollars each year "for here to eternity," and the government can't afford to offer more.
Relationship with Ottawa
After the Oct. 14 federal election, Williams buried the hatchet with the federal Conservatives and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
But during the election, Williams launched his Anything But Conservative campaign.
"We conducted the ABC campaign because of a broken promise of ... a little under $10 billion," he says
"It was an opportunity for the federal government to right the wrong of the Upper Churchill, whereby we are losing, like, a billion and a half dollars a year."
But Williams maintains the feud is over now, and says he hopes for co-operation from Ottawa on funding a new penitentiary, a federal ocean agency, the Lower Churchill project and transmission line.
Looking ahead
Projects like these could stimulate a slumping global economy, Williams says, and with everyone from Harper and the Bank of Canada to U.S. president-elect Barack Obama predicting the worst is yet to come, he remains confident the province is in a good position to weather the storm.
"We're hoping it will be a good year for Newfoundland and Labrador, comparatively," he says. "We can't lose sight of the fact that the rest of the world has turned upsidedown right now."
He acknowledges the ripple effects are being felt in the province, with mining companies being the hardest hit so far.
"That ripple effect will obviously have some repercussions," he says.
"What I've said all along is what I like is we're really nicely positioned - you know, we are at the top of the heap as far as I'm concerned."
dbartlett@thetelegram.com
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27/12/08
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Graham from NL writes: Williams still has a way to use the media to spew out his garbage and his look at me how great I am bull s h i t. Go to the food banks Danny boy and tell the people there how proud you are that they still need to use these facilities to put food on the table for their families. Go to any Nursing Home and tell them why you cut money from the food budget there, tell them why if their lucky they may get a bath once a week. Tell them why the staff is at a bare minimum stressed out and over worked. Go to the Hospitals with your NO CRISIS Health Minister Wiseman and tell them why theres not enough staff there to perform necessary surgery. Tell the staff what you and Wiseman are doing to deal with these problems and most of all tell the patients why they should feel safe in an environment where there are staff shortages, over worked and stressed out staff. I guess in your little world Danny things may be perfect but in the real world that the rest of us live in things are quite different. Spend a day in their shoes at a hospital or nursing home then you and NO CRISIS Wiseman strutt outside and smile for the cameras and say everything is just great and we have NO CRISIS.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 9:19 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Donna from NL writes: Well said Graham but dont hold your breath for Williams or Wiseman to take you up on any of those offers. Remember the Cameron inquiry? Williams and Kennedy tried to stop that too. The Williams Circus continues.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 9:54 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Bert from Gfw, Nl writes: Graham, you are a bitter,bitter man. Their has to be some underlying reason you continually spew your venom at the premier. Not one time have you paid one complimentary tribute. Whenever their is something that even the opposition agrees with, such as is handling of the Abititi-price takeover,their is never a comment from you.
Even with all the bad Harper has done to NL, even putting Fabian in the senate at a cost of $3 million over31 years, you would still prefer Harper. Why don't you give up your sookiness because you can see you are not winning.
No doubt I will get some grief from some of the regular dyed in the wool liberals on these comments. But they, like you, will say that Danny did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR NL.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 10:29 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Brett from NL writes: For anyone who had visited or worked in hospitals in other provinces or the US, one would have no choice but to conclude in all fairness that nurses in NL are by no means overworked. There is a lot of laziness and incompetence in the hospitals. Whining is the major problem here.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 10:44 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Gerald from Labrador from NL writes: If Danny boy cant get his way in Labrador will he take everything away from the Innu people and do what he wants anyway just like he ligislated the public sector workers back with his my way or no way attitude. A dictator has many ways of dealing with many issues and Danny is the master manipulator and when it comes to being a dictator he could teach things to the Castro brothers in Cuba. Your stubborn my way or the hi way attitude is only outdone by your smug arrogance Mr Premier. Get over yourself. Your not as perfect as you think you are.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 10:53 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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speedy from PE writes: We all know that Danny listens to no-one but himself and he is so good at telling himself that all is well and he has done a splendid Job for all Newfoundland and Labrador. I guess we will just have to grin and bear.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 11:07 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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tom from terra nova, nl writes: the grumling couch potatoes are waking up!! imagine that lot looking after our tax dollars.their comments should be something come 2009
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 12:01 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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jerry traverse from parsdise, n.l. writes: Graham and Dorothy.It never ceases to amaze when people condemn for their own sakes.If you all are so hell bent on change and feel that government is not doing enough then by all means get involved and try to make the necessary gachanges.Its a problem across the country that every gvmt is trying to resolve yet you two patsy's fell the need to hurl insults .run for office yourselves if you both feel you can do better.I dare either of you.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 12:47 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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bob white from st.johns, nl writes: I guess the old saying is true you can't please everyone and I guess it isnt grahm's or donna's turn.I'm guessing you are a couple of disgruntle health care workers. Who are quickly looseing all the support of the public mine included.You go Danny finially we have a premier who cares about us as a province.For once we are being reconized by the rest of the country in a good way.Hey
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 12:59 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Doug from St. Johns, NL writes: Way to go Bert! Well said. Some people have nothing better to do but complain. Graham, believe it or not, Premier Williams is the best thing that ever happened to NL. The days of giving everthing away for a few jobs are long gone...Graham, wake up and smell the coffee!! Merry Christmas everybody!!
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 1:34 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Ken from Nf writes: Good article but shows how little regard Williams has for papermaking jobs in Central. After 100 years of contributing to the provincial economy it draws not a mention in his year in review... Then again I hear it didn't even stay for the completion of the 100th anniversary celebrations either. Real leadership ha danny. What;s the Plan B for Grand Falls
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 2:31 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Larry from NL writes: Bert from GFW and Jerry from Paradise I havent seen either of your names on any ballots lately my friends. Both of you should consider running for the Williams team. Your both allready half way up his arse so that automatically makes you Cabinet material. Jerry for education Minister because he cant string together a good sentence and Bert for Minister of Danny Worshipers.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 3:41 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Beverly from NL writes: Doug says believe it or not Premier Williams is the best thing that ever happened to NL . Wow quite the statement Doug. Guess what I dont believe you. Have a great day anyway.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 3:46 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Shirley from NL writes: Graham you managed to do it again. You brought the Danny worshipers out in all their glory. Some appear to be so frustrated with your reality check that they cant even spell correctly, isnt that right Jerry traverse from parsdise? Bert if nothing else you get brownie points for your persistant a s s kissing of King Danny. Its people like you I guess that have made hem so popular. I do however agree with you Bert on one thing DANNY HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR NL. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Bert you or Jerry could have been Premier and the oil revenues would still have rolled in thanks to the hard work of many PREVIOUS Governments both PC and Liberal. Contrary to popular belief Danny Williams never discovered the Oil. Sorry to bust your bubble Bert but Danny Williams is not quite the man you have him all dressed up to be.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 4:05 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Danny's Craft from St. Johns, NL writes: Danny better watch his step. Next time it maybe the Innu taking back the land stolen from them. Now would that not be an interesting turn of events. The true have nots being have nots no more.
But Danny neither has the balls or courage to do the right thing and return stolen property and lands to the owners. Once that happens he might see my vote, till then I vote the other way.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 4:35 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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tom bennett from corner brook, NL writes: I think our propaganda premier could applaud himself a lot less. He should ask an opinion from some of those who felt his vindictive wrath. Maybe he should start with our ever popular Tom Rideout, Senator Fabien Manning, Elizabeth Marshall and others; he might even ask the prime minister of Canada. There are dozens of people Premier Williams could ask to endorse his report card.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 5:01 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Steve from Alberta writes: Little regard Williams has for papermaking jobs in Central ??
Papermaking is dead people, the unions killed what little chance that they had...why should the provincial government get the blame for the collapse globally?
Drayton Valley had a huge plant in Alberta but it has been shut down for years, the community realizes that the world is a much bigger place than past their noses.
Williams is the best thing to ever happen to NL. Too bad I left before his reign and love Alberta now!
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 5:10 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Frank from St. John's, NL writes: The Premier's hastily called, last minute news conference to announce that Newfoundland and labrador was a Have province was premature given the economic outlook of that day.
National media outlets will gloat next year when we slip back into Have Not status.
Another case of the Williams government fascination with public relations over substance.
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| Posted 27/12/2008 at 7:21 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Mat Kenny from Calgary, Alberta writes: Listen Danny is doing a great job if only the other losers in the past did as good a job as Danny KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK DANNY AND DON T MIND THE OTHER DING BATS THAT SHOOT THERE MOUTH OFF AND DON T KNOW WHAT THERE TALKING ABOUT GOD BLESS DANNY AND WE ARE BEHIND YOU UP HERE IN ALBERTA MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MATT
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| Posted 28/12/2008 at 1:57 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Jason from Mount Pearl, NL writes: WOW! Yes, he is a wealthy man, but this guy does not get paid to run the province, instead it is donated to charity. Why would someone put them selves in the public eye to be heckled for free is beyond me....thats honorable if you ask me. As for the health care workers, specifically nurses, I live in BC now but have many friends in various industry across the country, but it always seems the nurses want more money, and compare themselves to what nurses get paid in other parts of the country, well open your eyes, I am happy NL has become a HAVE, but the cost of living in most other parts of the this country is still well above NL. So if you want your money, MOVE, to beautiful Alberta or BC, you get a higher pay check, and house that costs twice as much.
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| Posted 28/12/2008 at 7:38 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Tim from NL writes: In 2009 I think everyone should start posting only positive comments, if you have something negative to say keep it to your self. There is enough negativity surrounding us, we don't need to be bad mouthing each other. This should be the year that all the people in Newfoundland & Labrador work together. Happy New Year to all!
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| Posted 28/12/2008 at 10:29 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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LA from NL writes: IN RESPONSE TO SHIRLEY:
Funny how you point out other peoples spelling mistakes and them you yourself can't spell a simple word like him , instead you write hem . I and E aren't even close together on the keyboard Shirley....so what's your excuse?
Reference sentence from your comment:
(Its people like you I guess that have made hem so popular.)
I myself think Danny is doing wonders for our province.
As a side note....I wouldn't normally be so petty as to pick people up on their spelling errors, but when Shirley is making fun of people for it, and then does it herself, I feel the need to point out to her that she's not as bright as she seems to think she is.
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| Posted 28/12/2008 at 11:05 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Don from nl writes: Well said jason.
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| Posted 28/12/2008 at 12:14 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Cathy from NL writes: Thank you, LA.
Surly (aka Shirley) also left out commas and apostrophes.
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| Posted 28/12/2008 at 1:31 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Shirley from NL writes: Oops sorry LA but I always use hem when talking about Danny it stands for holy eminent messiah. Thats how some people see him you included apparently. Finally LA I think its virtually impossible for me to be anywhere near as bright as you think you are. So lead us on with your words of wisdom. Jason in Mt Pearl just so you know the Castro brothers in Cuba dont take a salary either. Thats one of many things they have in common with hem.
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| Posted 28/12/2008 at 2:16 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Greg NL-Expatriate from Kelowna, BC writes: Keep up the great work Premier and his supporters. Self sufficiency or bust!
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| Posted 28/12/2008 at 2:35 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Graham from NL writes: Based on the evidence presented here today I rest my case. Nothing more needs to be said.
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| Posted 28/12/2008 at 4:56 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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david from GFW, NL writes: This comment goes way back to Brett who says NL nurses are lazy and incompetent compared to American nurses. I am a Newfoundlandland nurse on my way down there to work in 2 months. Many of my friends are already down there and wouldn't come back here to work for all the tea in China. Want to know 2 things that American nurses get that NL nurses don't? 1) Market value for their labour. This results in nurses getting paid based on principles of reason and rationality like supply and demand rather than VOCM referendums and political foolishness like pattern bargaining. 2)Many states have legislation that limits nurses to 5 patients. Where I work I get 10 and you still say I'm lazy? You're just ignorant. Health care in Newfoundland is token healthcare that the government chooses to give us.
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| Posted 29/12/2008 at 1:56 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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John Power from St. John's, Newfoundland writes: After an 18 year sojourn into mainland Canada, I, a son of Newfoundland and Labrador, returned to the place of my birth. As a reluctant emigrant, I left NL in 1990, with the hope and dream to one day return to my “home”. In January 2008, that dream became a reality and I am all the better for it.
The politics of Newfoundland and Labrador has always been colourful. From the soap boxes of Joey, the ranting of Brian, the intellectual entanglements of Clyde to the wit of, “pour me another Tequila”, John; our present leader, who I refer to as “Saint Danny”, provides no exception. As a province rich in talent but poor in monetary terms, a strong voice has always been required so as those in Bytown, would not ignore us. Alas, we have now been heard! Just ask Mr. Harper how much those seven seats in Parliament would be worth to him now.
It is in our human nature to complain. I have read the criticisms of Danny’s policies, both local and national, and I, myself, have levelled a few. Can “we” do more? For those that complain, remember that ours is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. When I left Newfoundland many years ago, I left a handout culture. Give me, give me give me. If you are still living in that past it is time to STOP and take charge of your own destiny and that of our great province. The new economy of NL does not provide a bottomless pit of money. The province still has the highest per capita dept ratio in the country.
Instead of complaining about services perhaps it is time to help. Undeniably, the hospitals, nursing homes and various other centres of care could use help. Is it the government’s sole responsibility to provide care to “our” loved ones? Volunteer opportunities are endless. Instead of criticizing it is time for all those of our great province to change our mindset, come together and help. Thanks to our good fortune and those leaders at the helm, present and past, the task ahead of us is not as daunting. If each able person in our province assisted in the smallest of ways, from visiting nursing homes to picking up that Tim’s cup and putting in the garbage, NL would go from great to fantastic.
Since my return to this land of promise, I have been in awe. I have skied Marble, snowmobiled the Long Range Mountains, and caught salmon in our great rivers. I have hiked the cliffs of the Avalon and toured the island by bike. I have tasted the fine cuisines offered in St. John’s and have enjoyed the local and imported talent that provides us with great entertainment. This is our land, a land of opportunity and a land of plenty. Stay the course Saint Danny, and thank you!
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| Posted 29/12/2008 at 8:22 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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M from NL writes: Does a lovely job of praising himself up, doesn't he? Not so great at sweeping the undesirable elements under the carpet though.
Cameron Inquiry's verdict has yet to come in there, Mr Williams. And what about the state of our roads? Or lack thereof? How many years has Labrador been agitating for a decent highway?
Then there's the increasing poverty rate in this province. What did your government do to help that? Foodbank usage in this province has risen dramatically, and a 100 dollar bill does not go a long way these days, in buying a lot of groceries.
Then there's the cost of housing here, which is also on the rise. A recent news story put us on the level with Alberta and BC for housing prices.....life's SO wonderful, isn't it? Since those new laws came in, the possibility of many people actually being able to afford the price of a downpayment here has gone down, drastically. I know of 6 people,definitely, that had to cancel their bid in for a house, because they could no longer afford the downpayment needed. Once the Hebron deal came in, housing prices rose by 15% overnight. Helped a lot of people afford a house, didn't it? Not. Thank God i bought my house, years
ago.
The MINUTE gas prices go up on this island, the price of everything else escalates as well. Everything has to be shipped in here, but did the prices of everything else drop, when the gas prices dropped? Not on your life. People say, oh, the cost of living in Nfld is less than any where else - Right. People with money can say that, with a smirk, but pity those people who live from pay cheque to pay cheque. It's not going to get better for them, as the prices for everything keep climbing. They're Newfoundlanders as well.
As for the nurses, Mr Williams, you might want to try using the truth for a change, instead of using the union's opening bid as a cover-up.
Yes, the nurses do want a two year contract, but you know very well that they are not expecting to get 12 % each year, so stop trying to use that as a scapegoat tactic. Mr Williams, if your government negotiators/minister had even attempted to negotiate instead of dictate, and shaking fingers in people's faces, you would known about that. Then again, it has been proven by the Cameron Inquiry that you are kept out of the loop at times, by your departments, about things that are going on. Time to have a chat with them about that sort of thing.
By the way, next time you hold an interview, Mr Williams, it might behoove you to know that the ARNNL is not the NLNU. The NLNU is the union, and the ARNNL is the provincial governing professional practise body. As a lawyer, you know it's important to have all the facts before making a statement, be it in court, or on tv. Whoever wrote that bit for you needs to be reprimanded or fired, for his or her lack of knowledge.
HAVE province, alright.......but only in certain sectors.
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| Posted 29/12/2008 at 3:07 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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david from alberta writes: i wonder what the comments of the day would be if danny williams had not thrown his hat into the ring. would we be living in a land of plenty? would everything be just perfect? i know not and neither do you all, lets work with the man and his government, another election day will come, unless you have another system we can work under, go for it.
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| Posted 29/12/2008 at 9:00 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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