SIOBHAN TO BRING NEW ECONOMIC THEORY TO FINANCE

How Andrew Furey let his "funny-bone" get the better of him

Likely Andrew Furey understood the dearth of talent that comprises the Liberal Caucus long before last Wednesday’s Cabinet making. Adding to the difficulty Perry Trimper’s indiscretion towards the Native People required the absolution of another election win, while the Ph.D toting Scott Reid is far too intelligent to handle matters Departmental.

It was wise to clear “the debt is manageable” Tom Osborne from Finance; it was confusing for him to be surrounded by so many zeros.  But who thought that Siobhan Coady’s talents would be Furey’s rare find?

I had feared that Andrew might have filled the all-important Finance portfolio first. Such untimeliness might have resulted in Finance Minister Elvis Loveless, though this public does not need reminding of his gyrating namesake or that, in NL, every other day brings the expectation that “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”.

Luckily, Furey waited until after placing Bragg, Bennett and Loveless. When he was finished with Coady, he must have felt like Jesus on the seventh day.

ANDREW FUREY: A DOCTOR. BUT CAN HE DO MIRACLES?

If there is a single question that has been uttered by observers of the Liberal Leadership race in reaction to Andrew Furey’s decision to trade in his medical career for the Office of Premier, it is this: What was he thinking?

The query, of course, is less a commentary on his mental state than it is on the nearly impossible task many rightfully perceive awaits him.

At the outset, Dr. Furey should know that we congratulate him, wish him well and hope that, rather than possessing any claim to “visionary” status, he simply puts province ahead of partisanship, offers a fresh perspective on the way government relates to the citizenry, and brings courage as well as new energy to the Office of Premier.   

As much as some may wish it, Furey should not be expected to be a miracle worker. We are all to blame for what has occurred; if the miracle isn’t in us (mostly), we are in really deep trouble.

OVER 1000 FPSO JOBS GO TO SPAIN WHILE WE BEG THE FEDS FOR MONEY

True to form, Premier Dwight Ball and Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady have joined NOIA in a new crusade to have the Government of Canada ante up for a “neo-PIP” (Petroleum Incentive Program). NOIA not only wants the oil industry to receive exploration funding, they want the “beleaguered” Companies to get operating assistance, too. This is not as surprising as it is aggravating. We are talking about a group of petty, quick-buck, short-sighted manufacturer’s agents anyway; the Ball Government aligns perfectly with their thinking.

Many “private-enterprisers”, not just oil companies, are wont to pump their chests about the capital which they put at risk; until there is an economic hiccup — or pandemic — that transforms them into beggars. Problem is, when the distress passes, they expect to be left alone to conduct “private” business unhindered, the notion of payback quickly forgotten.

GNL SHOULD REJECT RISKY CANADIAN BUBBLE

Guest Post by David Vardy

As of now, we have no active Covid-19 infections in the province, 259 have recovered and three have died.  In the face of the surging pandemic south of the border and in other hot spots around the globe, this is no time to reduce controls over imported infections by dropping the requirement for quarantine or self-isolation (I use these terms interchangeably). We should instead build upon the natural protection arising from our isolation, as have other jurisdictions, such as Iceland and New Zealand. Having eradicated the virus our goal should be to remain virus free.

We should maintain the 14 day quarantine and begin to test people arriving in the province.  We should also require the use of contact tracing apps for at least 14 days after arrival.  The Atlantic Bubble is a bad idea. The proposed “Canadian Bubble “is much worse. These “Bubbles” are both flawed because they exempt more people from quarantine, thus increasing risk of imported infections without offsetting measures to reduce risk, such as testing and contact tracing.

THE BARD ON THE "LET 'ER RIP" COVID CROWD

LET ‘ER RIP

The antivaccine and open-up crowd

And anti-mask brigades

Where egoed leaders lunacy lead

Ignore the Covid threat

Creating catastrophe for mankind.

The virus mutates aggressively

And seriously afflict the mind.

ANDREW FUREY’S PLAN FOR AN ECONOMIC CZAR NEEDS SCRUTINY

Does Andrew Furey understand the implications of his plan to appoint a chief economic recovery officer who “would function similarly to the chief medical officer of health”? If he does and he becomes the next Premier, every individual, business, and union should worry about what comes next.

In June, Furey announced that a chief economic recovery officer was key to getting the economy of the province back up and running after the COVID-19 pandemic. John Abbott made a similar announcement except that he drew no parallel with the functions of the Chief Medical Officer. Did someone forget to check the arbitrary powers given that unelected official under the “Public Health Protection and Promotion Act”, which requires deference to neither the Premier nor the Cabinet?

Or does Furey perceive that the only way to deal with the province’s fiscal condition is to assign to a single economic Czar the right to impose draconian measures, however oppressive and arbitrary they may be?

TRUMP FAMILY FIGHT SHOULD INFLUENCE HOW WE THINK ABOUT OUR MUSKRAT OBLIGATIONS

Guest Post by Cabot Martin

An interesting piece appeared in the New York Times last week concerning a big dust up between President Donald J. Trump and his, to put it mildly, “estranged” niece, Dr. Mary L. Trump. Both Donald J. and her father, Fred Jr, were sons of Fred Trump Sr., the Trump family patriarch.

Dr. Trump has a “tell all” book coming out next week that promises to give the world a unique look inside the mental world of a man who has wreaked havoc on his nation and the world for the past three and a half years and is bidding , through re-election, to repeat this extraordinary performance .

The title of her book foreshadows it’s substance: “ Too Much - Never enough : How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man”.

Now Dr. Mary L. Trump (she has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and is a certified Clinical Psychologist) is obviously not your average political commentator and The Donald has wheeled out his overworked legal team in an attempt to use the courts to avoid the publication of her professional/personal scrutiny.

COVID-19: THE NEW COVER FOR DELAY AND OVERRUNS AT MUSKRAT

It took a Commission of Inquiry to uncloak the deceit that flowed from the Offices of former Nalcor CEO Ed Martin, who thought he should be the one to define the “lowest cost” option and the extent of “cost overruns”.

It seems Stan Marshall is finding some of the tools of deception that Ed Martin left behind.

The Muskrat shutdown — a precaution amidst the COVID-19 pandemic — is now to blame for Marshall’s failure to “finish strong”. “The end is in sight, even through the fog of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the CBC quoted the blustery Stan, neither the CBC nor the CEO willing to measure the fog of incompetence that still inhabits the Crown Corporation.

BUBBLE TROUBLE: WHY ATLANTIC PROVINCES TRAVEL IS A TERRIBLE IDEA

Guest Post by Ron Penney

Why having an Atlantic Provinces travel bubble is a terrible idea and an imminent threat to public health.

Tomorrow, July 3rd, travel restrictions will be lifted for the Atlantic Provinces and residents of the Maritimes can visit us without the necessity of self isolation for two weeks. For the time being travel restrictions for other provinces remain the same, but the Premier has mused that they will be lifted in mid-July.

The agreement to have an Atlantic Provinces travel bubble, with no requirement to self isolate for two weeks is a risky and foolhardy decision for Newfoundland and Labrador, with little potential economic upside.

JOHN ABBOTT: OUTLIER IN A PARTISAN TENT?

In contrast to his Liberal leadership rival, John Abbott may be a heavyweight in the public policy arena but policy-wonk, alone, will not count with the Liberal Party or in the high office of political leadership. Then, too, what constitutes timely, affordable, and sensible policy alternatives is moot.

Leaders need to be capable of “selling” their ideas to an electorate and of “winning” their support. Individuals afraid of change — because it may hurt — will look for leadership which offers glib solutions. Others, who see change as inevitable and necessary, will prefer someone who has the courage to follow through, provided any such plan is not dysfunctional.