NATURAL GAS: WHY SAVING THE PLANET WILL HELP SAVE NEWFOUNDLAND

Guest Post by Cabot Martin 

Uncle Gnarley’s recent invitation to pen a few words on Oil & Gas issues has emboldened me to return to a few of my favorite offshore issues. 

There will be two articles – the first on our most neglected sector, offshore natural gas development; the second on oil issues.  

The natural gas aspect seems to be largely absent from the recent “Town Hall” efforts in support of the oil & gas industry’s continued presence and vigor in our offshore area. 

These comments are meant to “complement those efforts” in the old days I would have said “demonstrate they are missing the boat” – but that was then and this is now. 

Indeed, the first draft of this piece included a long list of unfortunate aspects of the natural gas debate – but in the interest of the common cause it ended up on the cutting room floor. 

CROSBIE AND COFFIN CONTRIBUTING TO WEAK GOVERNMENT

One year after the General Election, Ches Crosbie’s pathetically weak Opposition should not go unnoticed. Neither should NDP Alison Coffin’s entirely un-influential role, despite holding the balance of power holding up a minority government. 

Another year of the same is layered onto a fifteen year legacy of disastrous public administration under Williams, Dunderdale, Marshall, and Davis and Ball. Each has built on the thesis of Lord Amulree, whose Royal Commission Report suggested that the British Constitution is not suited to the people of Newfoundland. That is to say, we are incapable of self-government. Crosbie and Coffin have done their part, too, to strengthen Amulree’s claim.

ECONOMY NEEDS MENDING AT A HIGH LEVEL

Premier Ball’s March 20, 2020 letter to PM Justin Trudeau seeking help following his Administration’s failure “to finalize our borrowing program, both short and long term”, might have reminded the PM of the Dickens character Oliver Twist, and his plea to Mr. Bumble: “Please, sir, I want some more.” Luckily for Ball, he wasn’t handy enough to Trudeau to be given a knock with the soup spoon, Oliver Twist’s reward for ingratitude; surely only distance could have spared him.

During his five years as Premier, Ball has never shown an inclination to “self-help”. That is not to suggest that the Province did not need the assistance of the Government of Canada to meet the public sector payroll. However, the economic fallout of the pandemic and an oil industry labouring under obliterated demand, has only compounded a pre-existing overspending problem; it did not originate there.

BARD'S RECIPE FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY

REMOTE REALITY

(Fish and Berries)

The fisher’s catch to feed our breed

With private sales, no markup greed.

Local goods to move to fore:

Poultry, pigs, sheep and more,

Veggie-plots to produce grow,

Simple ways for food to flow.

STAN MARSHALL IMPRESSES LESS AND LESS

The construction industry continues to hum throughout the province during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some big projects enjoy no interruption, including Memorial’s Science Building. Then, too, the line-ups at COSTCO confirm the daily congregation of 300-400 customers and staff. In proportion, Walmart and Dominion Stores are equally well populated; all have implemented physical distancing measures.

In contrast, the Muskrat Falls project is dormant. Laden under $13 billion of debt (likely, more) Nalcor executives cannot employ even the management skills of a Walmart “Greeter” to keep the operation running.