We Don't Know What We're Fighting For

The Ministry of Truth reports today:

Premier Ready to Square off with Quebec Hydro

The Premier is gearing up for another fight on the national stage.

Aha. Translation: the "fight" on the local stage isn't going so well. Oh, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. go ahead:

Danny Williams says Hydro Quebec continues to try and block this province from developing the Lower Churchill, now refusing to sign onto a water management agreement for the Churchill River in Labrador. Speaking to a sold out crowd last evening at the PC Party's annual convention, Williams says the issue came to a head Friday and he's setting his sights on the mainland power utility as the issue moves to the Public Utility Board. In light of the profits pulled by the company on the Upper Churchill, The Premier describes the actions as 'the pure heights of greed.'

As opposed, of course, to the generosity of damming a river in Labrador, transmitting the resulting energy everywhere except Labrador, decrying as "irresponsible" the crazy idea that Labrador should benefit financially from the project, and warning the petulant locals not to get too ask-y. Oh, sorry, interrupted again:

The Quebec power company is also reported to be taking over New Brunswick Hydro, Williams says, to get a strangle-hold on route access. He says while there is nothing he can do about that possibility, he offers New Brunswick some words of caution. The short term gains could have long term consequences of giving up energy resources . He warns our experiences have not been good in dealings with the powerful Hydro Quebec.

Alrighty, then. Now, set aside that every premise in this story, just like every premise of the Dantrum which precipitated it, is demonstrably false, let's assume, arguendo, that "our experiences have not been good in dealings with the powerful Hydro Quebec".

Isn't this, then, about the point in the discourse where the reporters should jump in and ask the Premier, and his understudy: why on earth have they been begging and pleading with Hydro-Quebec, crown corporation of such a 'volatile' province, to take part in the imaginary Lower Churchill project?

As Kathy Blunderdale, ostensible Minister of something, told VOCM last month:

We know that if you come in here as an equity player that you have to have a good return on your investment. And we want you to have a good return on your investment. But it also has to be a good deal for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Now we have been with that message back and forth [i.e. to Hydro-Quebec] for five years. No, sir. No, sir. There is no takeup on that proposal.

For five years.

Back and forth.

To Hydro-Quebec.

The same Hydro-Quebec, one presumes, that Our Dear Dealings have not been good with.

The same Hydro-Quebec, one presumes, that Autonomy Williams is now warning New Brunswick about, as he injects himself into the politics of another province.

The same Hydro-Quebec that Mr. Autonomy wants, desperately, to help underwrite his imaginary Lower Churchill project. As Minister Blunderdale told VOCM, Mr. Autonomy's government has been trying to rope Hydro-Quebec in since 2004: before, and while, professing Our Dear Go It Alone strategy.

Going It Alone — Together.

Yip. That Hydro-Quebec.