tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post2350126969595625505..comments2023-10-25T07:29:40.789-02:30Comments on UNCLE GNARLEY: Finance Minister Does Not Understand RiskDes Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02566013585647491614noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-16419880791048871292012-12-15T12:09:48.894-03:302012-12-15T12:09:48.894-03:30I know I sound like a broken record on this, but I... I know I sound like a broken record on this, but I just read todays, Dec 15 Telegram editorial "Old News".It discusses electricity demand forecast and I posted a comment, ending with "It's not the lights, stupid, its the heat" The premier this week in the House dismissed any risk to Muskrat revenue,saying as long as people continue to pay their light bills everything will be fine. Light are 120.00 per year compared to 2070.00 for heat, on a 3000.00 a year total bill. And there is the very cost effective option to save 65 percent on heat, 30 percent on the total bill.Only the stupid or very poor will not jump ship for the efficiency option. Just one more risk being ignored. Some journalist should ask the government MHAs if they intend to switch to efficient heat? A public poll would help quantify the extent of the risk to Muskrat revenue. Winston AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-88795897146370719892012-12-14T17:52:56.493-03:302012-12-14T17:52:56.493-03:30The consevative fiscal performance has been an unm...The consevative fiscal performance has been an unmitigated failure. The pundits may blame marshall and dunderdale. However, the seeds of this problem were planted in 2006. That is when the government started to progressively increase government spending. People forget... But Loyola Sullivan left provincial politics. The rumors were because of the spending spree that Premier Williams put the province on. Sullivan knew the spending projections were unsustainable, and not in the best interest of the province. Sullivan remembered the lean times of the 90's. <br /><br />Now we are suffering the consequences of poor decisions, and the general lack of desire to upset the electorate. It is unsustainable. <br /><br />Now we are on the verge of a major 6.4 billion dollar committment. You have effectively summarised the issue in my mind. The risk is not worth the benefit. <br /><br />If goverment just took the 2 Billion they are contemplated investing as equity, and used it to lower our debt, it would result in 100 million a year in immediate savings. <br /><br />Then we need to look at the options. But as Winston Adams so often proclaims the solution is simple. Reduce consumption. Problem solved. <br /><br />Maybe Winston should move to Calgary or New York. Then the guys at Nalcor would pay him 400 $/hr and call him an expert. <br /><br />The winds of change are starting to blow in the province. <br />I for one look forward to the completion of this chapter in our history. <br /><br />The title of the chapter will be referred to by historians as "The Decade of Lost Opportunity"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-49737848978675061732012-12-14T14:59:26.558-03:302012-12-14T14:59:26.558-03:30Excellent commentary. Many people point to Tom Mar...Excellent commentary. Many people point to Tom Marshall as being a "gentleman" and a person of integrity. I don't know Mr. Marshall personally and I would be inclined to agree with that assessment overall.<br /><br />However, I do have major concerns with his performance as Finance Minister, over the past several years. He has allowed, or been cajoled, into spending billions more than he and his colleagues should have, during the heady days of excess oil revenue. There was a moment in time when they had the opportunity to put the brakes on excessive spending and set money aside for times when the economy needed some of it.<br /><br />He is being prodded along toward, as you describe it, our own fiscal cliff. Sadly, all too few of our people are awake to that fact; the level of apathy in this province is beyond me, given the good information available. Those who profess to be confused are, in my opinion, simply too unmotivated to find out for themselves why this project is such a disaster. They will not ever find out from the government's propaganda machine but there is ample evidence to show it is a fatally-flawed project.<br /><br />Thanks for doing your part to try and inform and educate.Cyril Rogersnoreply@blogger.com