Furthermore

Further to "Set your phases to synchronize":

a) If Ed Martin et al. are only now evaluating submarine transmission of so-called "Lower Churchill" power, what were they doing in the three to four months in late 2005 and early 2006 in which they were originally going to evaluate it? Hasn't this all already been "evaluated"? If so, what was the outcome?

b) What is the market for this submarine power, and is that power still competitive in that marketplace once the transmission costs have been passed on to the consumer.

c) Those costs will be passed on to the consumer.... right?

d) Does the first segment of the "Maritime" route — Labrador to Newfoundland — include a fixed link? Or has Danny finally given up?

e) If so-called "Lower Churchill" power is available for industrial use in Newfoundland, what incentive is there, if any, for making industrial use of any of that power in Labrador, given the year-round navigation available in much of southern Newfoundland, and only available with great icebreaking difficulty and expense in Labrador?

f) Why submarine transmission to New Brunswick? The closest approach between the two provinces is a straight line from Cape Anguille to Miscou Island, at about 235 statute miles, or Miscou to Cape George, about five miles longer. Both routes pass through maritime areas likely to be claimed by Quebec, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between the Magdalen Islands, Anticosti, and Gaspé.

The closest approach between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia is the 65 or 70 statute miles across the Cabot Strait. In neither area is the straightest route necessarily the best for a submarine cable, depending on bathymetry and submarine geology, but why not Nova Scotia?

And what happens past New Brunswick, if the intended market is Ontario, and if Quebec Is To Be Avoided At All Costs? New Brunswick, it may or may not have been noticed in Confederation Building, does not border Ontario.

It all seems a little too Underpants-Gnomey:

Step One: Submarine Cable to N.B.

Step Two:

Step Three: Ontario!

g) Finally, is it possible that in this, an election year, this is all an elaborate, cynical, and expensive (guess who's paying for all these studies and evaluations?) appeal by Dan to his nationalist and crypto-separatist base, proving once again that he's capable of sticking it to frenchy? And perhaps that his apology for calling Quebec politically volatile (hah!) was less than heartfelt?

Something — manything, actually — doesn't smell right in all this.