Canadian Wildlife Tours – Where Critters Canada Favorite Spot in the Wild
Posted in Adventure Travel Articles by tummadamon
Jan 20 2010 TrackBack Address.
When planning a vacation with the desire to see the animals, look no further than the Great White North. Canada is largely undisturbed nature, and even in many top cities in Canada, probably raccoons, coyotes and other creatures on earth to walk quiet streets. What you see depends on where you go, but here are some of the top spots for wildlife viewing in Canada, all over the country.
In the Maritimes:
Digby, Nova Scotia is a bunch of largeless tourist gateway to some of the best whale watching in Canada. How it works alongside a picturesque peninsula and travel remote fishing villages, one can see how far minke whales, humpback whales on the spot or, with the option, right, sperm, blue, or even pilot whales.
Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland offers the opportunity to see a herd of caribou, a colony of gannets spectacular place, and the largest puffin colony in North America.
In the East –Canada
Churchill, Manitoba is the gateway to polar bears in the wild. Vacation polar bear is truly a wildlife experience unlike any other.
Prince Albert Park, Saskatchewan – The Lavallee Lake in Prince Albert Park, resting places, the second largest colony of pelicans in North America, where moose, bison, elk roam, caribou, black bear and red fox also free.
Baie Ste-Catherine, Quebec – Two hours northeast of Quebec City is the Baie Ste-Catherine, where Belugaand minke whales gather in the hundreds. During the summer migration patterns mean that they are united by humpback and blue whales as well.
Between the Rockies and on the West Coast:
Victoria, BC offers great whale watching tours where you get a chance to spot orcas (killer whales), seals, sea lions, dolphins and eagles Dahl.
Tofino, BC s' beaches are beautiful and durable, and host all kinds of small creatures. Pull on your shoes andTake a walk along the rocks in tide pools full of sea anemones, clams, starfish and sea stars, crabs and small fish to discover.
Remote regions of BC and Alberta is full of choices of specialty, for a relaxing way to make the beasts of the field. The Great Bear Lodge and the Knight Inlet Lodge Rainforest Retreat float that the proportion of habitats of grizzly bears, wolves, otters and eagles.
Friday, January 22, 2010
The Steele Tour
Steele begins pre-budget road show
Last Updated: Friday, January 22, 2010 | 8:15 AM AT Comments19Recommend4CBC News
Finance Minister Graham Steele says compromises will have to be made in light of the province's gloomy financial outlook. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)
Nova Scotia's minister of finance is starting a pre-budget tour that will include 23 public meetings in 16 communities across the province.
Graham Steele said his cash-strapped government wants advice from Nova Scotians.
"I don't talk about cutting. I never use the word 'cut.' We have three tools to work with: We have expenditure restraint, we have increases in revenue and we have growing the economy," he said.
Steele can expect to hear calls to protect education, health care, social services, and a range of other issues.
On Thursday, school boards in the province called for a $36 million increase this year and warned of dire consequences for education if there's no new money.
Steele said there has to be a tradeoff, and that's the key question he will put to Nova Scotians in the weeks ahead.
"What is it you want the government to cut in order to find the money to do that?" he said.
"You could cut out, for example, all government travel by any civil servant anywhere and it's a drop in the bucket."
The NDP government is predicting a deficit of $525.2 million for 2009-10, about $66.9 million lower than first projected in the September budget.
With more money going out than coming in, there has been talk of tax hikes along with program cuts. A panel of experts has suggested hiking the harmonized sales tax by two percentage points, for example.
The pre-budget tour kicks off in Sydney on Friday.
Last Updated: Friday, January 22, 2010 | 8:15 AM AT Comments19Recommend4CBC News
Finance Minister Graham Steele says compromises will have to be made in light of the province's gloomy financial outlook. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)
Nova Scotia's minister of finance is starting a pre-budget tour that will include 23 public meetings in 16 communities across the province.
Graham Steele said his cash-strapped government wants advice from Nova Scotians.
"I don't talk about cutting. I never use the word 'cut.' We have three tools to work with: We have expenditure restraint, we have increases in revenue and we have growing the economy," he said.
Steele can expect to hear calls to protect education, health care, social services, and a range of other issues.
On Thursday, school boards in the province called for a $36 million increase this year and warned of dire consequences for education if there's no new money.
Steele said there has to be a tradeoff, and that's the key question he will put to Nova Scotians in the weeks ahead.
"What is it you want the government to cut in order to find the money to do that?" he said.
"You could cut out, for example, all government travel by any civil servant anywhere and it's a drop in the bucket."
The NDP government is predicting a deficit of $525.2 million for 2009-10, about $66.9 million lower than first projected in the September budget.
With more money going out than coming in, there has been talk of tax hikes along with program cuts. A panel of experts has suggested hiking the harmonized sales tax by two percentage points, for example.
The pre-budget tour kicks off in Sydney on Friday.
Labels:
tour Steele nova scotia
Our Coastal Area...Needs Ferry Service
Brokers: Cat loss will sink home prices
Fewer Americans will buy area vacation properties, they say
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Fri. Jan 22 - 4:46 AM
The loss of the Cat ferry could be catastrophic for Yarmouth’s real estate market, say local brokers.
"The lack of a ferry will have a negative impact on average home sale prices," said Debbie Boudreau, a Realtor with Yarmouth’s 1761 Realty Ltd., in an interview on Thursday.
Bay Ferries Ltd. of Prince Edward Island suspended the service between Yarmouth and Maine after the provincial government announced in December that it would no longer subsidize the link.
The absence of the ferry will also hurt the lucrative "summer settler" real estate business from Americans who buy vacation properties in the area, said Ms. Boudreau, who used to see a lot of walk-in U.S. business from the Cat at her Main Street office.
"They like ocean properties," she said, adding that Americans found Yarmouth real estate a bargain, especially when the U.S. dollar was stronger, and convenient to get to when there was a ferry running.
"As transportation has gotten worse, those numbers have decreased and some are looking to sell," she said, noting that Americans could get to Yarmouth and back for long weekends when the ferry ran.
"They’re finding that the cost of maintaining a home they use two or three times a year isn’t worth it," she said, adding that recent cuts to air travel to Yarmouth have further hurt transportation links to the area.
Ms. Boudreau said she sold a piece of oceanfront Yarmouth-area land three years ago to a couple from Connecticut who built a $400,000 home on it.
But she recently unloaded a local property that had been listed at US$200,000 for C$130,000.
"It’s a bit of the economy, a bit of the ferry," she said. "Fewer people are looking and values have gone down."
Richard LeBlanc, owner of Victory Realty in Yarmouth, echoed Ms. Boudreau’s concerns about the loss of the ferry.
"It’s probably going to really reduce the number of American buyers we’ve been accustomed to," he said. "That’s going to come to a halt because we don’t have that direct link."
Mr. LeBlanc also expected to see American-owned properties put up for sale with the loss of the ferry.
"It’s probably going to mean a general reduction in property values," he said.
Mike Randall of The Real Estate Store in Yarmouth said his office realized "substantial business" from Cat passengers from New England and Ontario.
"They would stop and inquire about properties," he said. "Some would acquire."
He and Mr. LeBlanc both hope ferry service between Yarmouth and the U.S. will be restored.
"I hope the powers that be will realize what they’ve done," said Mr. Randall, noting there is a need for more consistent commercial ferry service between the two regions.
Mr. LeBlanc said Yarmouth has the port facilities to support a ferry.
"I can’t see government not doing something," he said. "I think something will happen but whether it will be this year or not is hard to say."
The province, which said Bay Ferries wanted $6 million to $10 million to keep the Cat afloat in 2010, is waiting on an Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency study to develop a long-term solution to southwest Nova Scotia’s transportation requirements.
The study is expected to be released in the spring.
Ms. Boudreau said Yarmouth-area real estate remains popular with affluent German and Austrian buyers unaffected by local transportation issues.
"They don’t come to put up $80,000 cottages," she said. "They put up $300,000 homes."
( berskine@herald.ca)
Fewer Americans will buy area vacation properties, they say
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Fri. Jan 22 - 4:46 AM
The loss of the Cat ferry could be catastrophic for Yarmouth’s real estate market, say local brokers.
"The lack of a ferry will have a negative impact on average home sale prices," said Debbie Boudreau, a Realtor with Yarmouth’s 1761 Realty Ltd., in an interview on Thursday.
Bay Ferries Ltd. of Prince Edward Island suspended the service between Yarmouth and Maine after the provincial government announced in December that it would no longer subsidize the link.
The absence of the ferry will also hurt the lucrative "summer settler" real estate business from Americans who buy vacation properties in the area, said Ms. Boudreau, who used to see a lot of walk-in U.S. business from the Cat at her Main Street office.
"They like ocean properties," she said, adding that Americans found Yarmouth real estate a bargain, especially when the U.S. dollar was stronger, and convenient to get to when there was a ferry running.
"As transportation has gotten worse, those numbers have decreased and some are looking to sell," she said, noting that Americans could get to Yarmouth and back for long weekends when the ferry ran.
"They’re finding that the cost of maintaining a home they use two or three times a year isn’t worth it," she said, adding that recent cuts to air travel to Yarmouth have further hurt transportation links to the area.
Ms. Boudreau said she sold a piece of oceanfront Yarmouth-area land three years ago to a couple from Connecticut who built a $400,000 home on it.
But she recently unloaded a local property that had been listed at US$200,000 for C$130,000.
"It’s a bit of the economy, a bit of the ferry," she said. "Fewer people are looking and values have gone down."
Richard LeBlanc, owner of Victory Realty in Yarmouth, echoed Ms. Boudreau’s concerns about the loss of the ferry.
"It’s probably going to really reduce the number of American buyers we’ve been accustomed to," he said. "That’s going to come to a halt because we don’t have that direct link."
Mr. LeBlanc also expected to see American-owned properties put up for sale with the loss of the ferry.
"It’s probably going to mean a general reduction in property values," he said.
Mike Randall of The Real Estate Store in Yarmouth said his office realized "substantial business" from Cat passengers from New England and Ontario.
"They would stop and inquire about properties," he said. "Some would acquire."
He and Mr. LeBlanc both hope ferry service between Yarmouth and the U.S. will be restored.
"I hope the powers that be will realize what they’ve done," said Mr. Randall, noting there is a need for more consistent commercial ferry service between the two regions.
Mr. LeBlanc said Yarmouth has the port facilities to support a ferry.
"I can’t see government not doing something," he said. "I think something will happen but whether it will be this year or not is hard to say."
The province, which said Bay Ferries wanted $6 million to $10 million to keep the Cat afloat in 2010, is waiting on an Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency study to develop a long-term solution to southwest Nova Scotia’s transportation requirements.
The study is expected to be released in the spring.
Ms. Boudreau said Yarmouth-area real estate remains popular with affluent German and Austrian buyers unaffected by local transportation issues.
"They don’t come to put up $80,000 cottages," she said. "They put up $300,000 homes."
( berskine@herald.ca)
Studying Opportunities in Renewable Energy
From the Chronicle Herald
Province seeks energy consultant
By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Fri. Jan 22 - 4:46 AM
The province is looking for a hired gun to explore business and job opportunities in the fledgling renewable energy sector.
The Ecology Action Centre in Halifax welcomed the move Wednesday.
"It is exciting to see the government seriously considering specific opportunities," said Cheryl Ratchford, the centre’s energy co-ordinator.
The Energy Department has put out a call for proposals from consultants interested in studying opportunities arising from the province’s move toward a greater reliance on renewable energy.
According to the documentation, the province believes "consultation and research" is required to determine what sort of opportunities may arise from the plan to increase renewable energy generation to 25 per cent by 2015.
"The drive to meet this objective will open up many new opportunities in the wind, biomass, solar and tidal energy fields," said department spokesman Matt Lumley.
"The consultant’s job will be to consider how businesses in our province can take full advantage of these emerging opportunities."
Documentation accompanying the call for proposals talks about the province developing a network of suppliers for a variety of renewable energy products and services.
The documents note that some business from the growing renewable energy sector may go to existing companies with links to the oil and gas supply and service industry.
"Consultation and research is required to determine what present and planned renewable energy opportunities exist for these fabricators and suppliers, and to determine the feasibility, costs and opportunities associated with participating in a renewable energy industry," the documents say.
The call for proposals closes Feb. 3 and the deadline for completing the study is March 31.
( bpower@herald.ca)
Province seeks energy consultant
By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Fri. Jan 22 - 4:46 AM
The province is looking for a hired gun to explore business and job opportunities in the fledgling renewable energy sector.
The Ecology Action Centre in Halifax welcomed the move Wednesday.
"It is exciting to see the government seriously considering specific opportunities," said Cheryl Ratchford, the centre’s energy co-ordinator.
The Energy Department has put out a call for proposals from consultants interested in studying opportunities arising from the province’s move toward a greater reliance on renewable energy.
According to the documentation, the province believes "consultation and research" is required to determine what sort of opportunities may arise from the plan to increase renewable energy generation to 25 per cent by 2015.
"The drive to meet this objective will open up many new opportunities in the wind, biomass, solar and tidal energy fields," said department spokesman Matt Lumley.
"The consultant’s job will be to consider how businesses in our province can take full advantage of these emerging opportunities."
Documentation accompanying the call for proposals talks about the province developing a network of suppliers for a variety of renewable energy products and services.
The documents note that some business from the growing renewable energy sector may go to existing companies with links to the oil and gas supply and service industry.
"Consultation and research is required to determine what present and planned renewable energy opportunities exist for these fabricators and suppliers, and to determine the feasibility, costs and opportunities associated with participating in a renewable energy industry," the documents say.
The call for proposals closes Feb. 3 and the deadline for completing the study is March 31.
( bpower@herald.ca)
Labels:
Renewable energy nova scotia
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Stanley Cup Goes on a Detour
From Yahoo
Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:28 am EST
Toronto awarded Stanley Cup by overzealous airport employee
By Sean Leahy
We all misplace things everyday: Car keys, important papers, pants. But when the item you can't find is something as valuable as the Stanley Cup, the level of freak-out is exceedingly high.
That's the feeling the Hockey Hall of Fame and Cup keeper Mike Bolt almost reached when it was discovered that the greatest trophy in all of sports took a detour on its way to Vancouver for a charity event Sunday.
When Bolt arrived in Vancouver, he expected to pick up the Cup and be on his way ... but then he heard his name being paged in the Air Canada terminal. Bolt said he figured a back door was going to be used to get the Cup out of the airport and en route to the charity event in a hasty manner. Instead, it was a conversation that likely went like this:
AIR CANADA EMPLOYEE: "Good flight? BythewaytheStanleyCupdidntmakeit."
BOLT: "...what's that?"
It seems that an eager new employee at Newark Liberty International Airport saw the giant case and thought, "Hey! That's the Stanley Cup. What's it doing in Jersey?", missed the Vancouver designation on it and felt he/she was doing a solid by shipping the thing back to Toronto, home of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
(And you thought Devan Dubnyk's rookie season was going rough.)
According to CBC News, Air Canada calmed any fears Bolt might have been having when they informed him that they were in possession of the Cup the entire time because of its "oversized" classification -- so it wasn't "lost." Keep that in mind next time you fly Air Canada: If you don't want your checked baggage to get lost, pack it in a very, very, very large suitcase.
Unfortunately, due to the mix-up, the Cup didn't arrive in time for the charity event in Vancouver. Bolt recommended that a donation to the Vancouver Canucks Foundation by Air Canada would be a great way to ensure that the charity didn't lose out of any of the funds that were to be raised. Also, it would be penance for the fact that Canada's largest airline almost lost the Stanley Cup.
For more tales of the Stanley Cup being lost or stolen do check out Joe Pelletier's Greatest Hockey Legends. Thanks to Sportress of Blogitude for the tip.
Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:28 am EST
Toronto awarded Stanley Cup by overzealous airport employee
By Sean Leahy
We all misplace things everyday: Car keys, important papers, pants. But when the item you can't find is something as valuable as the Stanley Cup, the level of freak-out is exceedingly high.
That's the feeling the Hockey Hall of Fame and Cup keeper Mike Bolt almost reached when it was discovered that the greatest trophy in all of sports took a detour on its way to Vancouver for a charity event Sunday.
When Bolt arrived in Vancouver, he expected to pick up the Cup and be on his way ... but then he heard his name being paged in the Air Canada terminal. Bolt said he figured a back door was going to be used to get the Cup out of the airport and en route to the charity event in a hasty manner. Instead, it was a conversation that likely went like this:
AIR CANADA EMPLOYEE: "Good flight? BythewaytheStanleyCupdidntmakeit."
BOLT: "...what's that?"
It seems that an eager new employee at Newark Liberty International Airport saw the giant case and thought, "Hey! That's the Stanley Cup. What's it doing in Jersey?", missed the Vancouver designation on it and felt he/she was doing a solid by shipping the thing back to Toronto, home of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
(And you thought Devan Dubnyk's rookie season was going rough.)
According to CBC News, Air Canada calmed any fears Bolt might have been having when they informed him that they were in possession of the Cup the entire time because of its "oversized" classification -- so it wasn't "lost." Keep that in mind next time you fly Air Canada: If you don't want your checked baggage to get lost, pack it in a very, very, very large suitcase.
Unfortunately, due to the mix-up, the Cup didn't arrive in time for the charity event in Vancouver. Bolt recommended that a donation to the Vancouver Canucks Foundation by Air Canada would be a great way to ensure that the charity didn't lose out of any of the funds that were to be raised. Also, it would be penance for the fact that Canada's largest airline almost lost the Stanley Cup.
For more tales of the Stanley Cup being lost or stolen do check out Joe Pelletier's Greatest Hockey Legends. Thanks to Sportress of Blogitude for the tip.
All-Maritime Smart Grid?
Could smart power grid unite Maritime market?
Published Monday January 18th, 2010
The Telegraph-Journal
A pilot project involving electrical utilities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island could be the prelude to a regional renewable energy strategy. It will test a lynch-pin technology - the so-called "smart grid."
All three provinces depend on burning fossil fuels, and each is interested in wind power. But since the wind doesn't blow at constant force, other power plants need to be brought on line when the wind turbines aren't turning.
A "smart" electrical grid allows two-way communication about changes in electrical supply. The pilot project will test technology that could encourage consumers to adjust their power use to the amount of electricity available. This would reduce the cost of supplying additional power.
This trial run will see how well the technology works with 750 buildings in four Maritime communities. The project is being led by NB Power, with the participation of Saint John Energy, Nova Scotia Power and Maritime Electric, which serves customers on P.E.I. It may be the most extensive experiment in energy efficiency undertaken in this region.
What makes the project of particular interest is its place in the debate over regional energy policy. While some people define the issue in terms of Maritime partnership versus partnership with Quebec, the options aren't so limited.
Hydro-Québec is holding discussions with P.E.I. and has expressed interest in expanding New Brunswick's grid connection to Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has given up on the idea of building an underwater cable to the United States, seemingly opening the door to serious discussions.
A regional smart grid could allow all three Maritime provinces to benefit from Quebec's surplus hydro power, while encouraging the development of domestic wind farms, tidal power and other renewables - the core of a new East Coast energy industry.
That's an energy alternative worth exploring.
Published Monday January 18th, 2010
The Telegraph-Journal
A pilot project involving electrical utilities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island could be the prelude to a regional renewable energy strategy. It will test a lynch-pin technology - the so-called "smart grid."
All three provinces depend on burning fossil fuels, and each is interested in wind power. But since the wind doesn't blow at constant force, other power plants need to be brought on line when the wind turbines aren't turning.
A "smart" electrical grid allows two-way communication about changes in electrical supply. The pilot project will test technology that could encourage consumers to adjust their power use to the amount of electricity available. This would reduce the cost of supplying additional power.
This trial run will see how well the technology works with 750 buildings in four Maritime communities. The project is being led by NB Power, with the participation of Saint John Energy, Nova Scotia Power and Maritime Electric, which serves customers on P.E.I. It may be the most extensive experiment in energy efficiency undertaken in this region.
What makes the project of particular interest is its place in the debate over regional energy policy. While some people define the issue in terms of Maritime partnership versus partnership with Quebec, the options aren't so limited.
Hydro-Québec is holding discussions with P.E.I. and has expressed interest in expanding New Brunswick's grid connection to Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has given up on the idea of building an underwater cable to the United States, seemingly opening the door to serious discussions.
A regional smart grid could allow all three Maritime provinces to benefit from Quebec's surplus hydro power, while encouraging the development of domestic wind farms, tidal power and other renewables - the core of a new East Coast energy industry.
That's an energy alternative worth exploring.
The Democratic Process
from the Telegraph Journal
A failure of democracy
Published Wednesday January 20th, 2010 The Telegraph-Journal
Apparently, the Liberals have learned nothing from their long history of rolling out controversial policy announcements. From the polytechnical fiasco in Saint John and the early French immersion disaster, to the recent gambit to sell NB Power, the pattern has been the same.
Lamrock speaks at a news conference during his days as minister of education. Columnist Janice Harvey takes issue with Lamrock’s contention that the process of arriving at a better power deal shows the political system is working: ‘If this is how Liberals understand the democratic process, then it explains why they have kept the New Brunswick public in such turmoil over the past three-and-a-half years.’ A few insiders, influenced by a handful of people who have privileged access to the premier's office or certain cabinet ministers, decide to make a radical policy change. The contested policy is based on a narrow and short-sighted interpretation of the problem, usually reflecting the agenda of powerful interests. Without warning, the government springs it on the public as a bold, decisive transformative change that has to happen if our province is to survive. It is presented as a fait accompli - the problem is the problem, the solution is the solution. Public relations firms are hired to craft the government's "messaging," which is rolled out strategically and predictably.
Such an approach is divisive and antagonistic, forcing people to take sides. There is no provision for intelligent, respectful dialogue and the processes provided by the parliamentary system of government are completely ignored. The only option people have to oppose it is to organize a counterforce to pressure the government to back off.
In the midst of the most rancorous political climate in a decade, remarkably, the Liberals are doing it all over again. Having abandoned Plan A, the outright sale of NB Power which the premier described as the best possible deal for New Brunswickers, they have now presented us with Plan B. The original artificial deadline for signing has not changed, nor has the approach to consultation.
In an effort to make a silk purse of the sow's ear, Kelly Lamrock, who outed the dissent within the Liberal caucus, has declared the democratic process a success. The MOU was put out to the public; the public responded; MLAs listened and reported to the premier; the premier changed the deal. If this is how Liberals understand the democratic process, then it explains why they have kept the New Brunswick public in such turmoil over the past three-and-a-half years.
The only democratic aspect in play is the protection of people's right to protest. After that, it looks a lot like what happens in authoritarian regimes where there are no legitimate participatory processes. Public consultation amounted to inviting people to post comments on a website set up by the spin doctors.
While others with privileged access got their message across by speaking quietly behind closed doors, ordinary citizens realized they would only be heard if they were very, very loud. So they resorted to demonstrations, public forums, Facebook petitions, letters and calls to MLAs threatening to withhold one's vote - the list of tactics goes on.
I am the first to defend all of these tactics as the public's only resort to influence the government, but the toll is very high. Democracy, ultimately, is the loser as people become discouraged and cynical, especially about politics and government. That people are forced into this kind of confrontational gauntlet politics is inexcusable.
The legislature, the cornerstone of our parliamentary system, is the proper vehicle for debate on public policy. In the NB Power case, the government should have struck an energy committee of the legislature to travel the province holding public hearings. There would be no special access - prince and pauper would be heard equally. Interventions of each would be part of the legislative record, not received in private or lost in the bowels of some PR website. The committee would write a report, also on the record, with recommendations to the government on how to proceed. The government, ultimately, would be accountable for how it responded to the report.
No, Mr. Lamrock, the system did not work. Having to browbeat MLAs until they realize their political goose is cooked unless changes are made is the stuff of schoolyard brawls. If that's what it takes to get this government's attention, the public will play that game - and quite effectively. But we don't like it and we resent being forced into that position. The whole business is tawdry and insulting.
The system will work when we have democratic and participatory processes for decision-making that are open and respectful, allow everyone to be heard, and are fully transparent and accountable.
In such a system, people would have a lot more respect for politicians and engagement with the process of government, and Hill and Knowlton would be out of business.
Janice Harvey is a freelance columnist, university lecturer, and president of the New Brunswick Green Party. She can be reached by email at waweig@xplornet.ca
A failure of democracy
Published Wednesday January 20th, 2010 The Telegraph-Journal
Apparently, the Liberals have learned nothing from their long history of rolling out controversial policy announcements. From the polytechnical fiasco in Saint John and the early French immersion disaster, to the recent gambit to sell NB Power, the pattern has been the same.
Lamrock speaks at a news conference during his days as minister of education. Columnist Janice Harvey takes issue with Lamrock’s contention that the process of arriving at a better power deal shows the political system is working: ‘If this is how Liberals understand the democratic process, then it explains why they have kept the New Brunswick public in such turmoil over the past three-and-a-half years.’ A few insiders, influenced by a handful of people who have privileged access to the premier's office or certain cabinet ministers, decide to make a radical policy change. The contested policy is based on a narrow and short-sighted interpretation of the problem, usually reflecting the agenda of powerful interests. Without warning, the government springs it on the public as a bold, decisive transformative change that has to happen if our province is to survive. It is presented as a fait accompli - the problem is the problem, the solution is the solution. Public relations firms are hired to craft the government's "messaging," which is rolled out strategically and predictably.
Such an approach is divisive and antagonistic, forcing people to take sides. There is no provision for intelligent, respectful dialogue and the processes provided by the parliamentary system of government are completely ignored. The only option people have to oppose it is to organize a counterforce to pressure the government to back off.
In the midst of the most rancorous political climate in a decade, remarkably, the Liberals are doing it all over again. Having abandoned Plan A, the outright sale of NB Power which the premier described as the best possible deal for New Brunswickers, they have now presented us with Plan B. The original artificial deadline for signing has not changed, nor has the approach to consultation.
In an effort to make a silk purse of the sow's ear, Kelly Lamrock, who outed the dissent within the Liberal caucus, has declared the democratic process a success. The MOU was put out to the public; the public responded; MLAs listened and reported to the premier; the premier changed the deal. If this is how Liberals understand the democratic process, then it explains why they have kept the New Brunswick public in such turmoil over the past three-and-a-half years.
The only democratic aspect in play is the protection of people's right to protest. After that, it looks a lot like what happens in authoritarian regimes where there are no legitimate participatory processes. Public consultation amounted to inviting people to post comments on a website set up by the spin doctors.
While others with privileged access got their message across by speaking quietly behind closed doors, ordinary citizens realized they would only be heard if they were very, very loud. So they resorted to demonstrations, public forums, Facebook petitions, letters and calls to MLAs threatening to withhold one's vote - the list of tactics goes on.
I am the first to defend all of these tactics as the public's only resort to influence the government, but the toll is very high. Democracy, ultimately, is the loser as people become discouraged and cynical, especially about politics and government. That people are forced into this kind of confrontational gauntlet politics is inexcusable.
The legislature, the cornerstone of our parliamentary system, is the proper vehicle for debate on public policy. In the NB Power case, the government should have struck an energy committee of the legislature to travel the province holding public hearings. There would be no special access - prince and pauper would be heard equally. Interventions of each would be part of the legislative record, not received in private or lost in the bowels of some PR website. The committee would write a report, also on the record, with recommendations to the government on how to proceed. The government, ultimately, would be accountable for how it responded to the report.
No, Mr. Lamrock, the system did not work. Having to browbeat MLAs until they realize their political goose is cooked unless changes are made is the stuff of schoolyard brawls. If that's what it takes to get this government's attention, the public will play that game - and quite effectively. But we don't like it and we resent being forced into that position. The whole business is tawdry and insulting.
The system will work when we have democratic and participatory processes for decision-making that are open and respectful, allow everyone to be heard, and are fully transparent and accountable.
In such a system, people would have a lot more respect for politicians and engagement with the process of government, and Hill and Knowlton would be out of business.
Janice Harvey is a freelance columnist, university lecturer, and president of the New Brunswick Green Party. She can be reached by email at waweig@xplornet.ca
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