Fairness in Eastern Canada

Well it has come to pass, The issue of fairness has finally raised its ugly head in Eastern Canada. This resource rich region has been getting the dirty end of the stick for so long it knows no different. Newfoundland has a plethora of natural resources oil,natural gas, ore, water, hydro capability and wood. However we reap very little of the profits from these riches, instead we remain dependent on handouts from Ottawa, and it seems thats the way successive Federal Governments want to keep it. Indeed most Newfoundland premiers have done little to improve our deal with the Feds.

Now we find ourselves in a unique position. You see we had a Federal Election here and our provincial government, led by the odious, but particularly hard nosed Danny Williams was able to wring a promise from each of the candidates for us to keep 100% of the revenues from oil exported from here (Currently most of these profits are clawed back by Ottawa's equalization formula) Not surprisingly once the election was over the PM attempted to weasel out of the deal. The problem came with the fact that We ended up with a minority government. Newfoundland was able to line up considerable support from other premiers AND some of the other federal parties. Now Nova Scotia is looking for a similar deal. The two provinces have refused to be divided, and Ottawa is running out of options, it appears that twp of Canada's 'Have Not" provinces may soon be changing their stripes