Newfoundland is about to be taken again.
And nothing new really — just another Trudeau. Saw this movie before.
Once, long, long ago (today decades are measured as centuries, since history is taboo) Papa Trudeau promised the province an Atlantic Accord on offshore resources but did not deliver. He wanted to keep Newfoundland and Labrador as a ward of the federal government.
Over the years, and accelerated with Trudeau Jr., there has been a federal offensive to claw back key elements of the Atlantic Accord.
Brian Mulroney put a monkey wrench in that — for a time.
Now Trudeau Jr. is about his daddy’s business.
Over the years, and accelerated with Trudeau Jr., there has been a federal offensive to claw back key elements of the Atlantic Accord. Just recently we witnessed new amendments which further erode the province’s influence in offshore matters. Thankfully, the royalty provisions are still in place but they are now more vulnerable than at any time since the accord was signed.
Now the province, through successive Progressive Conservative and Liberal governments, has unleashed poor spending practices and a disastrous Muskrat Falls project upon the people, leaving the province the most indebted province in the nation and a recent Moody’s rating agency downgrade, and hence vulnerable to quick fixes.
Ah, to the rescue a Trudeau arrives with vague promises — well, not directly (that would be something real) but through a weak premier, that money aplenty is available to help with electrical rates as a result of the province’s failures — sure all the way to $200 million. What did tricky Trudeau say: keep working on the matter — after the election, that is.
Smallwood’s Uncle Ottawa is back in all its glory. Federalism is out, cap in hand is alive and well. Our chance to have some “say” — no more.
God guard thee, Newfoundland.
Brian Peckford
Nanaimo, B.C.