Feds, Nova Scotia reach offshore resources deal. I think?
Let me tell you, I found this statement in Harper's offshore resources announcement today very peculiar considering that Mr. Casey has told other members of his Nova Scotia caucus (Keddy & MacKay) that he would be comfortable returning to the fold if the Accord was put back in its original form:
"Mr. Casey is not welcome into our caucus (due to his unreasonable demands regarding the Atlantic accord)... when there is a next federal election, there will be a Conservative candidate in Mr. Casey's riding, and it will not be Mr. Casey."Huh? Correct me if I'm wrong here, but since MP Bill Casey and Nova Scotia premier Rodney MacDonald were both singing from the same songsheet with regards to the Atlantic Accord, if a sufficient deal was reached that was to the liking of MacDonald, then shouldn't Mr. Casey be satisfied as well? In other words, wouldn't he be happy enough to return?
Methinks that this three-member panel to study something called the Crown share is nothing more than a way to delay the rescinding of the O'Brien formula, especially considering if he did, he [Harper] would have the premier of Canada's largest province, fresh from a majority win, breathing down his neck Danny Williams style right before a possible election.
Moreover, does this mean that the PM is softening his position on "no side deals" with the provinces? If so, I know one academic and a premier who will be pleased to hear that, especially when it pertains to the 50/50 cost share of the self-sufficiency plan which Harper hinted in a press conference last week wouldn't be in the cards.
Update
Anyway, judging from what happened today with Nova Scotia, maybe Shawn Graham should consider putting together a group of stronger negotiators in an Ottawa office? I think Dave Campbell mused about the importance of an Ottawa office a couple of weeks after the 2006 election.
3 Comments:
Harper ripped the accord up once. What's to say he won't do ir again?
Casey wouldn't return anyway because the CRAP party hasn't honored the Atlantic Accord let alone their promise to remove 100% of non-renewables from the equalization formula in keeping with one of the founding principles of the constitution that the provinces own control and are to be the primary beneficiaries of their own resources.
http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2006/exec/01harper.pdf
http://www.gov.nl.ca/atlanticaccord/
While the MSM accuse Danny Williams of using fed bashing as political rhetoric. What everyone seems to forget is that by the feds bashing the smaller provinces for wanting to have their resources and the revenues that comes from them they are in effect pandering to vote rich ON/QU.
Why do you think the equalization formula was changed to a per capita formula. Just like it was changed to include non-renewables once ottawa realized Alberta would become the primary beneficiaries of their own resources and become a have province. If this formula were in effect when alberta first discovered oil it would still be a have not province today.
The national federal parties have to toe the national party line drawn by the majority ON/QU for their own good and under the guise of whats good for the federation.
http://www.nlfirst.ca/
anonymous: Possibly? especially since [he] has made it clear he will do anything for votes.
nl-expat: I think it is a risky undertaking that Danny is engaging himself in (i.e. campaigning against feds).
At the moment, two of the four Atlantic provinces can see the light at the end of the tunnel and another one is hoping to do the same.
I understand where Danny is coming from, although I don't understand why he would risk damaging or spending the political capital he now has on Stephane Dion. Danny can't control what that guy does or says.
In my opinion he should tone it down a notch and start focusing on developing Newfoundland and Labrador as a world class region. Getting involved in federal campaigns could put everything he has built at risk, especially if he puts his chips down on the guys up in Ottawa going against Harper.
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