I thought
it appropriate that I should congratulate him on his Book’s success and enquire
about his tour.
Of course, I
was not without an ulterior motive. I also wanted to quiz him about the Muskrat
Falls project, in particular whether the subject had emerged in his
conversations with the people attending the Book Signings and what they were
reporting. I thought those two reasons
were sufficient to ring him up.
I know no
one else in the Province who possesses Peckford’s ability to gauge public
opinion. His instincts are uncanny and
virtually incontestable. I can attest to that fact as one who directed and
analyzed dozens of public opinion polls during my eleven years in the Premier’s
office, working on the staff of both Peckford and Frank Moores.
Anyone with statistical knowledge, appreciation for care and objectivity in crafting clear and concise questions and access to a suitable computer program, can generate raw data, though not everyone has the skillset to adequately interpret the results. Peckford was one of those rare people who had his finger on the public pulse with or without the numbers; a fact that often rattled this “numbers” man. Hence, getting his ‘fresh’ perspective was an opportunity too good to pass up.
“I had a
phenomenal tour”, declared the ever upbeat and energetic former Premier, “I
could not have anticipated a better turnout” he added, clearly happy that his
years away from political life had not broken the connection he enjoyed with
thousands of people thoughout the Province.
Anyone with statistical knowledge, appreciation for care and objectivity in crafting clear and concise questions and access to a suitable computer program, can generate raw data, though not everyone has the skillset to adequately interpret the results. Peckford was one of those rare people who had his finger on the public pulse with or without the numbers; a fact that often rattled this “numbers” man. Hence, getting his ‘fresh’ perspective was an opportunity too good to pass up.
Only later in the conversation did I learn that he had escaped the fog which had engulfed most of the island, just over a week ago, by flying out of Deer Lake. Having arrived home and with just two hours sleep he was quite prepared to suffer my inquisition on what the ‘people’ were saying.
That’s as much as you ever said you needed in one night I jostled him, knowing his penchant for going days with barely any shut eye.
Dismissing the comment with a laugh, he added, “I was really pleased with the turn-out…there were line-ups in Gander, Lewisporte, Springdale and Corner Brook. I was received well, just great…the book is going over fantastic….I had no idea…”.
What about
Muskrat I interjected, perhaps a bit hastily…did the subject come up? ''It did'',
he replied, showing no irritation that perhaps my call might have had a dual
purpose. “Actually, it came up a lot”. He
added: “Interestingly, people raised the
issue with me; they wanted to know how I felt about Muskrat and, as I answered,
sometimes a bunch of people would crowd around and the line-up behind them would
come to a stand-still…some of them would say, Brian, it’s OK, we also want to
hear your answer….but'', remarked the former Premier, ``what I heard from them was
most interesting.
''I think, most prominently, I heard a 'deep concern' about Muskrat Falls; an 'unease', really. People feel they are not getting the information they need to assess the project and they don’t understand why the government is not taking an approach to get us to 2041'' when when Upper Churchill power is readily available. "That is really what was on people’s minds and I think it’s a very widespread view, certainly among those who came out for my book tour”.
I did not
press the former Premier further. The words “deep concern” and “unease”
resonated with me as lacking a solid foundation for the government to press on
with this multi-billion dollar project.
Certainly, I could not help but note some sadness as he articulated the
sentiments of people who he remarked had come from a host of communities from
Point Leamington to St. Anthony. ''I think, most prominently, I heard a 'deep concern' about Muskrat Falls; an 'unease', really. People feel they are not getting the information they need to assess the project and they don’t understand why the government is not taking an approach to get us to 2041'' when when Upper Churchill power is readily available. "That is really what was on people’s minds and I think it’s a very widespread view, certainly among those who came out for my book tour”.
Afterall, his book had very substantially dealt with the fight for shared jurisdiction with the Government of Canada over offshore oil and gas resources, which culminated in the Atlantic Accord…the very same Accord which now accounted for nearly a third of government revenues.
These were the very same people whom, over twenty-five years ago, he had met in school gymnasiums, bingo halls and kitchens to explain why the Province’s pursuit of a ‘fair deal’ deserved their support and his obstinacy.
Likely, he
felt some of pay off that resulted from that obstinacy for Newfoundland and Labrador was about to be squandered in the Muskrat Falls Project.
With the people of the Province worried about this
government`s electricity agenda and the question of what is motivating the Government`s
rush to get them entangled in a very uncertain and expensive project, I can`t
help but think any politician, especially the incumbent Premier, ought to be
more than a little worried how the ``unease`` Peckford spoke of will be
manifested.