But is it a long-form census?

DunderGov is counting deer:

Caribou Surveys Being Conducted on Province’s South Coast Herds

As part of the ongoing research and management efforts for woodland caribou on the island portion of the province, a mark-resight population census is now underway [sic — L. Matthews would never have allowed this illiteracy] on the south coast caribou herds. The survey is taking place west of the Bay d’Espoir Highway and south of the Trans Canada Highway, and involves the Pot Hill, Gaff Topsails, Grey River, Buchans and La Poile caribou herds.

“Caribou are an important resource to the people of this province from a recreational, social and economic point of view,” said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “We are committed to prudent and science-based sustainable management of our caribou herds, and population data is a very critical component of this management.”

As part of a mark-resight census, there is a requirement for a number of caribou to be marked using a highly visible red paint. Once a number of animals in the herd have been marked, they are counted, and the relative ratio of marked animals versus unmarked animals establishes the total population estimate for each herd. Neither the marking of the caribou, nor the paint itself, poses any harm to the animal. As the marked caribou lose their winter coat in the spring, the red marking will also disappear from the animals.

“The management of all of the wildlife species we have in our province relies on the valuable research that is conducted which, in turn, helps guide the strategic decisions we must make as a government to ensure their viability,” said Minister Wiseman. “It is integral that we have information on all aspects of our valuable wildlife resources, and census work provides an important piece of that information.”

The public are also advised that low-level flying aircraft will be used in the area to conduct this census work. The census will be ongoing until the end of March.

The release is conspicuously vague on what role, if any, Université Laval will play in counting caribou this time.

Ferrity

A bit of unintended visual humour Tuesday courtesy VOCM's webmistress:

The story is about the intra-provincial ferry fleet of government-owned vessels.

The picture shows the MV Apollo, owned by Labrador Marine Inc., operated under contract to the provincial government on the Strait of Belle Isle run between St. Barbe and Blanc Sablon.

While that self-same provincial government toots its own horn, yet again, about the latest milestone in the 328-year process to replace 163-year-old ships, it has asked the federal government for autonomoney to subsidize the construction of new ships — plural — to replace the bright blue hull pictured in the VOCM news story.

Right to Know Week II

Huzzah!

It's like Right to Know Week has come round for the second time this fall!

Minister Outlines Public’s Right to Know Salary Details of Salaried Physicians

The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, today stated that it was within his right to release information regarding salary details of salaried physicians.

"As the Minister of Health and Community Services, I believe that the public has a right to know salary details related to salaried physicians, paid from public tax dollars," said Minister Kennedy. "This is a matter of significant public concern. Part of government’s responsibility is to ensure the public has access to complete and accurate information to allow them to fully understand the nature of the issue under discussion, in this case, the resignation of a number of salaried specialists."

Minister Kennedy said the Privacy Commissioner has ruled in previous decisions that the public has a right to know this type of information. In an April 16, 2008 decision, the commissioner ruled that where salaries and benefits are paid from the public purse, the public has a right to know "not only the amounts to which an employee is entitled, but, for example, the amounts of severance pay or reimbursements for expenses actually received."

"This particular group of physicians made compensation a very public issue and government has an obligation to ensure that the public has full details," said Minister Kennedy.

The public nature of this kind of information is supported by its routine public release in some other provinces. Both British Columbia and Manitoba have legislation which requires them to disclose, on an annual basis, salaries of physicians and other public servants.

Minister Kennedy also outlined the breakdown of 10 weeks of annual leave for salaried specialists, as referenced yesterday. This breakdown includes four weeks of annual leave, two weeks of study leave, one week of compensatory leave, one week of miscellaneous leave and nine statutory holidays.

It is most curious to see the good Minister citing legislation in British Columbia and Manitoba, considering that his province is neither British Columbia nor Manitoba, and does not have a British Columbia- or Manitoba-style provision in its own provincial law.

It is doubly curious, given that on at least one occasion in the relatively recent past, when it was suggested that We might wish to model Our legislation on that of another jurisdiction, We went clean off Our head:

MR. PARSONS: If having these independent and impartial positions on the selection committee is good enough for the country on the Order of Canada, why are they not good enough for our Province?

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Mr. Speaker, it is a shame that the hon. gentleman opposite and his colleagues are minimizing what we have done here. We have bestowed an indeed greater honour again on the people who are members of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador to be able to participate in that selection committee.

Now, if I take his advice and we follow what Canada does, then we would not have our $2 billion Accord money, or we would not be out trying to get custodial management, or we would not have the Upper Churchill boondoggle that we have now.

I am sorry, Sir, I am just not going to follow what the Government of Canada does. We are going to stand on our own and (inaudible).

Aggressively passive

This curious turn of phrase makes its appearance — again:

The census of the herd was conducted in partnership with the Government of Quebec, Laval University, the Nunatsiavut Government, Torngat Wildlife and Plants Co-Management Board and the Institute for Environmental Monitoring and Research. The final results and analysis of the census will be available later this fall.

Who did the "conducting"?

Hint: not the provincial government of which Labrador is supposedly a part.

Perhaps Ireland has some useful experience in caribou-counting...

Autonomy: ungulate edition (III)

A passive verb is used:

The George River caribou hunting season in Labrador, which had been scheduled to open on August 10, was delayed as the result of preliminary information from a post-calving census conducted in July in partnership with the Government of Quebec, Laval University, the Nunatsiavut Government, Torngat Wildlife and Plants Co-Management Board and the Institute for Environmental Monitoring and Research.

"Conducted"?

By whom?

Danny Williams: Federalist

In Our Dear Throne Speech 2007, We intoned:

We as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians aspire, not to perpetual subservience, but to self-sufficiency. Our people are not content to tolerate a future of relying on others economically. However, our people have now also learned that we will achieve self-reliance economically only by taking charge of our future as a people. To that end, My Government will harness the desire among Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to cultivate greater cultural, financial and moral autonomy vis-à-vis Ottawa. … Our people are proud nationalists who believe it is only by affirming our identity as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that we will realize our goal of economic equality within the federation. Our people are ready to take charge of our future and, under My First Minister’s leadership, our province will achieve self-reliance by becoming masters of our own house.

And in 2009, we expanded Our Dear Autonomist, self-reliant bent to the international level:

As we move forward to forge new and stronger relationships for the century to come, it is essential that the concerns and aspirations of all members of the federation be taken into account. Unfortunately, Newfoundland and Labrador is not convinced that the current Federal administration, having ignored our best interests when developing domestic policy, will do any better in representing our best interests when developing foreign policy.

If the current Federal Government is not prepared to represent the best interests of provinces like ours, then we as a province will protect our best interests ourselves. To lower tariff barriers to our exports while safeguarding our fish stocks and securing markets for our seal products, we will speak up on our own behalf on the international stage and work to effect progressive agreements that take our best interests fully into account.

Today, in the same week that it was revealed We are looking for another $375 million in federal funding to becomee self-reliant with, We emerged in the lobby, with Our tail between Our legs, and extolled the newly-rediscovered virtues of federalism. As We said in Our scrum this morning:

We’re very very pleased that the Government of Canada has stepped in here, and done what it felt it had to do, and, y’know, from our perspective this is a good ending to this matter. Now, it’s not completely concluded, but from my perspective it is…

The Government of Canada has to deal on a national basis. Y’know, there’s a lot of interesting discussion of where provinces like Quebec or Alberta or other provinces, y’know, should be dealing in international negotiations. It’s always been the position of the Premiers of the country that they should have some representation there and should be heard. However, y’know, the Government of Canada is the one that has to properly deal in NAFTA. So if in fact there’s a dispute, well that can go both ways. So if there’s a breach or a violation by the Americans, well, then, of course, then if the compensation gets paid, then does that compensation then filter down to the provinces that are affected? Easiest thing to do is have them deal on just a national government basis.

Passive alert

A curious claim today by Environment Minister Charlene Johnson:

In July, a post-calving census was conducted in partnership with the Government of Quebec, Laval University, the Nunatsiavut Government, Torngat Plant and Wildlife Co-Management Board and the Institute for Environmental Monitoring and Research.

A census "was conducted"... by whom? Quebec lovers?

She continues:

In July 2009, the Provincial Government announced plans to conduct a census in the summer of 2010 to determine the current status and health of the George River caribou herd, and review caribou harvest management strategies in light of the census results.

Why, yes, indeed: in July 2009, the Provincial Government announced plans to conduct a caribou census in the summer of 2010.

In July 2009, the Provincial Government announced other agencies' plans to conduct a caribou census in the summer of 2010:

In collaboration with the Newfoundland and Labrador Departments of Environment and Conservation, and Natural Resources, the Nunatsiavut Government and the Institute for Environmental Monitoring and Research, the survey will be lead by biologists from the Government of Quebec in co-operation with the University of Laval.

Autonomy: ungulate edition (II)

A bizarre statement to assembled reporters from Our Dear Fishcounter following his Friday blow-your-minds announcement:

This doesn't mean we're shutting out Ottawa, as a matter of fact, y'know, we continue to press Ottawa, we invite them to participate, we would like to see them involved even more, but we can't wait. We can't afford to wait. And that's been the situation with our caribou, that's the situation with our salmon, and it's certainly the situation with our fishery, particularly our groundfishery. So, y'know, we're moving on. And if people want to come along for the ride, because this would be a wonderful thing...

Of course, "invite them to participate", translated from the Dannese, means, "hope, like the members of a South Seas Cargo Cult, that they'll air-drop us the money to pay for it".

It's strange that Captain Autonomy of the MV Go-It-Alone would be hoping for federal participation in what is, at bottom, more a fed-bashing exercise than a scientific endeavour.

It's stranger still that Captain Autonomy was somehow expecting federal involvement in terrestrial wildlife management. Caribou? Really?

Is there no external party onto whom responsibility for caribou — or, at least some caribou — can't be shifted? What's next? Calling on Ban Ki Moon to intervene?

What caribou research would Captain Autonomy like Ottawa to be more involved in? And why?

For that matter, why is Captain Autonomy letting Laval University — which province is Laval in, Danny? — lead the scientific survey of the province's largest caribou herd?

If only the MV Go-It-Alone could ascend the George River...

Going it alone together (IV)

Dave Bartlett reports for the Telegram on Thursday:

But Williams also said Wednesday the province will now shift it's focus to developing a Maritime route to transmit Lower Churchill power to the Island and on in to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

He said that has been his preferred option all along even though it is more expensive.
[…]

Williams said he and the other Atlantic premiers will discuss that route further during a conference call next week, which the federal government may also be a part of.

It is not immediately obvious why the federal government would be part of this conference call (or indeed why there would be such a conference call at all.) After all, in announcing the Sinn Fein development four years ago this week, Dear Leader said:

We are capable of doing this project by ourselves, for ourselves. We are on a path to be masters of our own destiny, and the successful development of this project will be a significant step forward in reaching that ultimate objective for this province.

At around the same time, he told the Bow-Wow Parliament:

Mr. Speaker, in anticipation of this announcement today, I spoke last night with the Prime Minister to indicate to him that this was proceeding and exactly what we were doing. I spoke to the Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty, to indicate that we were proceeding on a go-alone basis but that we would certainly be prepared to entertain the Province of Ontario as a customer. I spoke to the Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, and talked to him about what our plans were. We discussed briefly his energy proposals, which were released just last Friday. He indicated to us that they had gone ahead with their energy plans on the basis that - they assumed that we were probably going to do the Lower Churchill project on our own.

A year later, in proclaiming his noisy revolution – this was several months before Our Dear Theme Song exhorted Us all to join His Peaceful Resolution – He said:

We're going to do it without them. Whether that happens to be the Trans-Labrador Highway or that happens to be the Lower Churchill, we're going to move forward… We can't wait for the presumed generosity and largesse of Ottawa to advance our province.

In 2008, he told the Bow-Wows:

There have been discussions. There have been representations by the department. There have been representations by Hydro. There have been discussions with Minister Lunn, Minister Baird, if I remember correctly. Certainly, the matter had been raised on previous occasions with the Prime Minister. So everything that can be done is actually being done, but I can tell you categorically, and I have stated it here time and time again, that this Province is going to move forward with or without the federal government.

And, let us not forget the solemn laying down of the Williams Doctrine in 2007:

Our people are not content to tolerate a future of relying on others economically. However, our people have now also learned that we will achieve self-reliance economically only by taking charge of our future as a people. To that end, My Government will harness the desire among Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to cultivate greater cultural, financial and moral autonomy vis-à-vis Ottawa.

Cough, cough

Back in 2007, Our Dear Speech from the Throne intoned:

We as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians aspire, not to perpetual subservience, but to self-sufficiency. Our people are not content to tolerate a future of relying on others economically. However, our people have now also learned that we will achieve self-reliance economically only by taking charge of our future as a people. To that end, My Government will harness the desire among Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to cultivate greater cultural, financial and moral autonomy vis-à-vis Ottawa. … Our people are ready to take charge of our future and, under My First Minister’s leadership, our province will achieve self-reliance by becoming masters of our own house.

It would appear that not everyone in Danny Williams-Government got the memo. On Friday, the CBC’s Tara McLean caught up to Minister of Something John Hickey at the first of his dog-and-pony shows highlighting how much Danny Williams-Government is spending in Labrador.(The take-away literature is strangely silent on how much DW-G collects in Labrador.)

Here’s a quick transcript from the CBC Labrador Morning audio file:

McLean: What’s the government’s plan for the Labrador marine service?

Hickey: Well, presently, of course, the Bond will run this year, and then, of course, next year, ah, certainly it looks that the Bond will not be running, because it’s not government’s intention to run a ferry service parallel to a road system. We fought many years to try to get this road done, and of course we’ve been successful. But certainly, y’know, the assessment of the pilot project between Blanc Sablon Corner Brook [sic] I’m sure will be looked at. And obviously, y’know, the issue of new ferries for the Straits crossing, something that we’d like to see certainly come forward, the department is looking at it, but federal government [sic] needs to cough up some monies here, I believe, to help us out with those particular pieces of infrastructure.

Masters of our own house, as long as someone else pays the utility bills and upkeep. Good ol’ federal Autonomoney. Is there anything it can’t do?

Autonomy: ungulate edition

There are ongoing management efforts for caribou in the province, apparently.

Some of them, the province's own Department of Environment and Conservation is actually carrying out:

As part of the ongoing management efforts for caribou in the province, the Department of Environment and Conservation advises the public that it will conduct a mark-resight population census of the Middle Ridge caribou herd in the eastern and central portions of the island, beginning later this week and concluding by month’s end.

Some others? Ehhnn, not so much:

The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation, announced today that the province will be participating with other organizations in efforts to determine the current status and health of the George River caribou herd. [...]

In collaboration with the Newfoundland and Labrador Departments of Environment and Conservation, and Natural Resources, the Nunatsiavut Government and the Institute for Environmental Monitoring and Research, the survey will be lead by biologists from the Government of Quebec in co-operation with the University of Laval.

Going it alone together (III)

The Telegram year-ender offers yet another peek into the parallel reality that exists on the Eighth Floor of Confederation Building:

"(The province is) doing so well on the financial side that we're going to be actually in a financial position for the first time ever in our history to be able to fund the Lower Churchill ... ourselves," said the premier.

But he also said it would be nice for Ottawa to help fund the project, and other transmission partners will likely have to come on side, too.

We are going it alone, but it would be nice for Ottawa to help us to go it alone? (And come on, Dave, direct-quote that bit!)

What happened to that nice Mr. Autonomy, anyway?

We as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians aspire, not to perpetual subservience, but to self-sufficiency. Our people are not content to tolerate a future of relying on others economically. However, our people have now also learned that we will achieve self-reliance economically only by taking charge of our future as a people. To that end, My Government will harness the desire among Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to cultivate greater cultural, financial and moral autonomy vis-à-vis Ottawa.

Autonomoney! (IV)

The ultimate symbol of Newfoundland and Newfoundland's history as a once, and in some eyes, future independent country, gets a makeover — complete with a false-alarm frisson of excitement, that maybe, just maybe, Secret Nation was a documentary after all:

While in the attic, French notes that during the ceiling stabilization, workers discovered old ballots.

There was an "Oh my God moment. - '1949 maybe we shouldn't have been in Confederation' " as thoughts turned to the 1948 referendum voting and a conspiracy theory about missing ballots.

But the bundled and wax sealed ballots turned out to be about prohibition (of alcohol) in the 1880s. The ballots were turned over to The Rooms.

Of course, if 1949 maybe we shouldn't have been in Confederation, the foreign country of Canada wouldn't be kicking in upwards of $750,000 for a pet project by a government that desires — or is that desired? — financial autonomy vis-à-vis Ottawa.

Hey buddy! take the tiller

It's not hard to see why Himself is so reticent to let His Dear Speeches stand on the written record anywhere.

Fortunately for the Anti-sphere, the Throne Speech can't be made to disappear down the memory hole.


Throne Speech 2009:

Captaining Our Own Ship

As we move forward to forge new and stronger relationships for the century to come, it is essential that the concerns and aspirations of all members of the federation be taken into account. Unfortunately, Newfoundland and Labrador is not convinced that the current Federal administration, having ignored our best interests when developing domestic policy, will do any better in representing our best interests when developing foreign policy.

If the current Federal Government is not prepared to represent the best interests of provinces like ours, then we as a Province will protect our best interests ourselves. To lower tariff barriers to our exports while safeguarding our fish stocks and securing markets for our seal products, we will speak up on our own behalf on the international stage and work to effect progressive agreements that take our best interests fully into account.

Canadian Press, today:

Bloody images of sealing have helped spur the European Union ban - a move Canada is challenging before the World Trade Organization.

"Ottawa is doing what it can," Premier Danny Williams of Newfoundland and Labrador said in an interview. "I know the prime minister has spoken with people at the highest levels."

Going it alone together (II)

An unusual little report today on the Ministry of Truth (Provincial), lacking any of the when or where that would otherwise have classed it, if marginally, as "news".

Perhaps the newsorthiness is in the ex-cathedra pronouncement from Mr. Go-It-Alone Autonomusly that He - that is, We - want and need financial assistance from the federal government W/He desire fiscal autonomy from, in order to fulful Our fervent desire to Go It Alone.

On a go-forward basis, naturally.

Feds must get involved in Lower Churchill Project: Premier
Dec 6 , 2009

The premier says the federal government will need to get involved in the development of the Lower Churchill project. Williams says development of the Lower Churchill will be of significant advantage to not only the province, but the country as a whole.

Stimulating packages since 2003

A funny claim from a Minister in a government of the guy who wants — or is that wanted — to "cultivate" financial autonomy from Ottawa:

MR. HEDDERSON: What I might add, is that this particular year, that was really, I think when the final analysis - it was up around $900 million because we leveraged federal money. So you are talking about $900 million, and not only that, but we are ahead of the game because we were prepared as a government. Because we heard what was happening or what we saw and heard from the people what was required in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, in Newfoundland and Labrador in general, and we responded. Guess what? As a jurisdiction - talk about stimulus packages and that, we have been stimulating since 2003.

Pease in a Pod (IX): not-who-you-think edition

Via Canwest news:

The Prince Edward Island government wants to pick the pockets of other provinces to secure the money needed to build a new provincial museum. The ruling provincial Liberal Party has long promised to build a centrally located museum in P.E.I., which remains the only province in Canada without one. But once again there was no money in the capital budget released last Friday for the project. Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan says that's because the province is lobbying the federal government and other provinces to pay for the museum.

Honestly! Who does Rob Ghiz think he is?

From the Bow-Wow Parliament, April 16, 2008:

MR. PARSONS: My next question is for the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.On November 22, 2007, the media broke a story about certain reports done by that department concerning the future use of the Colonial Building. The report itself, apparently, cost $200,000 and it has still not been released by government.

I ask the minister: When can we expect to see that report released?

MR. JACKMAN: Indeed, the report is in its final stage. Second to that, and very much a part of, is federal funding. We are awaiting confirmation from the federal government as to whether they are going to support that project, and I anticipate that will be announced rather shortly - I mean, the overall report.

Autonomoney! (III)

The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Municipal Affairs (Acting), has some ideas on how to help municipalities:

The Department of Municipal Affairs also highlighted for delegates a number of initiatives in support of municipalities which include:

• A commitment to continue to pursue federal funding that may become available. In 2009, the Department of Municipal Affairs accessed almost $110 million for municipal infrastructure through Building Canada, Base Funds, stimulus money, and federal top-up funds.

Excellent. The Department of Municipal Affairs of The Most Autonomous Province Ever will, maybe, continue to expend letterhead and metered envelopes, writing to Uncle Louis St. Laurent Uncle Steve, asking for still more federal money to be autonomous with.

Super-autonomy

Danny Williams-Government is so sold on this idea of being autonomous, that He are going one step further, and is being autonomous on New Brunswick's behalf.

Fresh from the Premier's not interfering in domestic New Brunswick politics, this month's nominal finance minister has also decided not to interfere:

If he was in a situation like New Brunswick, Tom Marshall says he would never sell provincial assets to Quebec.“I think it’s a major mistake personally,” the Finance minister said.

“I would never sell, and insist that we remain the owners our own resources. I would never give them away.”

Surely this month's nominal finance minister's decision to be autonomous on New Brunswick's behalf is, just like the 2008 ABC campaign, entirely spontaneous.

Show and tell

The Ministry of Truth reports today:

Natural Resources and Energy Minister in Labrador

The Federal Minister of Natural Resources, Lisa Raitt, is in Labrador with her provincial counterpart Kathy Dunderdale for a tour of the Churchill River. On the eve of the National Mines and Energy Ministers' meetings taking place in St. John's, Dunderdale says the opportunities are big to showcase our green energy resources and the potential of the Lower Churchill project. Dunderdale says officials will tour the Upper Churchill generating station, before returning to St. John's for a reception at The Rooms later this evening. She says hosting Ministers from across Canada presents the province with a unique opportunity to highlight the abundance of natural resources on this side of the country. The conference gets underway tomorrow at the Sheraton Hotel.

Curious, innit? For a crew that has put such great emphasis on its so-called "go it alone" approach to the so-called Lower Churchill, and expresses such a great desire for "autonomy" from Ottawa, they sure are eager to show off the imaginary so-called Lower Churchill project to federal ministers visiting from Ottawa.

Why would that be?