The federal punch line is too often Newfoundland and Labrador


I delivered the following one-minute statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Oct. 23rd. 

 Mr. Speaker,

Coming from Newfoundland and Labrador I love a good laugh, which you’ll often find in the most unexpected of places.

Take last week’s Speech from the Throne, for example, and this little gem of a line: “Our Government has supported fishermen by supporting proper management of fish stocks.”

Yes Mr. Speaker, the best lines are always delivered with a straight face.

Today there’s a demonstration in Grand Bank on Newfoundland’s south coast over the closure of the Fisheries and Oceans office that was there for decades. 

 Last month DFO shut down the library in St. John’s.

Proper management to DFO means eliminating whatever it is they manage.

How about this quote about the oil industry, Mr. Speaker: “Our Government will create higher safety standards for companies operating offshore.”

In that case, Mr. Speaker, where’s the independent safety regulator for the offshore oil industry? 

 That was the No. 1 recommendation from the Wells inquiry into the 2009 crash of Cougar Flight 491.

We do so love a good laugh, Mr. Speaker, but not when the punch line is always Newfoundland and Labrador.

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