A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, and in a parallel universe

Just in time for CRA polling month, We go to war again:

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, discussions were held just sort of on an informal basis a long time ago with the Premier of Quebec with regard to whether there was any opportunity because what are looking at doing is probably doing two routes: basically the Maritime route which would take power down into the Maritimes to assist our Maritime neighbours and obviously to sell our product there; and also to go through Quebec and into Quebec and into Ontario and perhaps New Brunswick and on down to the states. That has been explored.

The behaviour that is being exhibited by Quebec does not lend itself to any kind of a negotiation whatsoever. Our door has always been open to any kind of a reasonable negotiation but only on terms that are good for Newfoundland and Labrador.

[...]

The actions and the behaviour that has been exhibited by Quebec does not lend itself to any type of reasonable negotiation.

Now, that’s funny. The Premieriffic account of recent history doesn’t quite square with what Minister Blunderdale said just scant months ago:

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.

Five years of back and forth, proposing something that Hydro-Quebec wouldn’t take up.

And that was in 2009. Danny Williams-Government and Minister Blunderdale only got into power in late 2003, so it is mathematically necessary that Danny Williams-Government has spent most of the Williams Era trying to beg, plead, or cajole Hydro-Quebec into somehow getting involved in Our Dear Imaginary So-Called Go-It-Alone So-Called Lower Churchill So-Called Project.

That is an awful lot different from “discussions … held just sort of on an informal basis a long time ago” with someone whose “actions and the behaviour that has been exhibited … does not lend itself to any type of reasonable negotiation”.

Why on earth would a rational person and Great Negotiator spend five years going back and forth to such people, proposing that they somehow get involved in a project that said he had already said he would “go it alone” on?