Big political truth

Ivan Morgan's interview-based article with Roger Grimes in this week's Independent hits on something Roger Grimes should have been hitting on all along:

Former premier Roger Grimes says when -- or if -- Danny Williams signs a deal to develop the lower Churchill, it will be "almost identical" to the one Grimes nearly signed with Quebec in 2002. He says the project remains undeveloped because of political games played by Danny Williams' administration.

"My assessment of it, quite frankly, is this: if Danny Williams ever does a lower Churchill deal," Grimes tells The Independent, "he'll do the deal I had on the table, or very close to it, because it is the only one that makes any economic sense."

If Danny were to strike a deal to develop the so-called "Lower Churchill" — and hey, there's a first time for everything, including Danny striking a deal with someone about anything — it will either be virtually identical, in pith and substance, to the one that Danny Williams and Co. railed against on Confederation Hill... or it will be no deal at all.

Smart money is on the latter.