Constitutional Law 101

It's hard to tell whether this particular bit of stupidity, among many, is out of the mouth of the Hon. Danny Williams, LL.B., Q.C., M.H.A., Rhodes Scholar (for whatever that's worth), or wheteher it's an interpolation by the interviewer/reporter Steve Bartlett. (Please, give us verbatim. Thanks!)

But here goes:

Ottawa, he contends, has held the province back by not allowing it to transport power across Quebec and controlling resources like iron ore, the fishery and now oil and gas.

Danny. Steve (Bartlett). Repeat:

"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.
"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.
"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.

Got that?

No?

OK.

"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.
"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.
"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.

Seriously: "Ottawa" does not control iron ore.

"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.

"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.

Got that, yet?

"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.

"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.

"Ottawa" does not control iron ore, "Ottawa" does not control iron ore, "Ottawa" does not control iron ore, "Ottawa" does not control iron ore, "Ottawa" does not control iron ore, "Ottawa" does not control iron ore, "Ottawa" does not control iron ore, "Ottawa" does not control iron ore.

Kapeesh?

"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.

(Nor, for that matter, does "Ottawa" control oil and gas, but the iron ore nonsense is easiest to debunk.)

Does the Premier actually believe that "Ottawa" does control iron ore? In what words did he express that belief?

Verbatim, please.

Verbatim.

And while you're preparing that verbatim, look up Term 37 of the Terms of Union, that constitutional document that everyone whines about, but no one ever actually reads.

"Ottawa" does not control iron ore.

Seriously, guys: "Ottawa" does not control iron ore.