Fisherman's Road

Stephen Harper is expected to announce a federal loan guarantee in St. John’s today for the $6.4-billion Lower Churchill River project. The project includes a dam at Muskrat Falls in Labrador and underwater transmission cables onto the island of Newfoundland and then on to Nova Scotia. But where is the ‘fair’ national energy policy? Where is the power corridor through Quebec? Photo by Paul Daly . ••• The Independent newspaper published a six-part cost-benefit analysis of Confederation in the fall of 2004. The following article was the lead story in part 5 — Natural Resources. The Independent closed its doors in the summer of 2008. HEADLINE : Confederation’s‘greatest failure’ DECK : Critics say absence of ‘fair’ Canadian energy policy has hurt Newfoundland and Labrador more than other provinces • Hydro-Quebec has made $23.8 billion from upper Churchill power; $680 million for this province By Stephanie Porter The Independent Nov. 14, 2004. While the rest of Canada has ...

I canvassed today on Canada Drive, Empire Avenue and Grenfell Avenue in St. John’s. QUOTE OF THE DAY “Danny Williams’ leaving was the price of the Lower Churchill guarantee.” — Cornwall Avenue resident. OUT AND ABOUT Jack Layton’s proposal to limit credit-card interest rates to a maximum of 5 percentage points over the prime rate went over well with one resident of Canada Drive. The man, who was smoking outside his front door when I caught up with him, came straight out and said he liked the idea. He mentioned a girl he knew who had missed several credit-card payments, and, as a result, the companies gradually raised her interest rate to 28 per cent. The man said he recently paid off the woman’s $2,200 credit-card debt, and she’s repaying him at $50 a week. No interest. The man said he knows a lot of people who have gotten “burned” by high interest rates. Who doesn’t? TAINTED TORIES The most common theme at the doors is a dislike for Stephen Harper. “I just don’t ...

I plan to post everyday about my experiences on the campaign trail, a nd stand by for Tweets from the Door. To start, you should know that I like knocking on doors. Not all politicians do, believe it or not. One candidate told me she would rather give a speech on a soapbox outside a busy store any day of the week than go door-to-door. Not me, I’m always curious to see behind the next door. People are almost always lovely, you’ll be pleased to hear. In two and a half hours at the doors this afternoon, I only encountered one person who waved me off without saying a word — and he had food in his mouth. I canvassed a good section of Canada Drive today, in west-end St. John’s. The street, a central thoroughfare, is near the Village Mall and several kilometres in length. Most homes have apartments. The driveways are generally clear, although the sidewalks are buried. It was cold, with a light snow, but the people who answered the doors didn’t seem to mind talking for a moment or tw...

The following is the text of my Monday evening (March 28 th ) speech during the New Democratic Party nomination meeting for the federal riding of St. John’s South-Mount Pearl. The meeting was held at the Battery Hotel in St. John’s. It was standing-room only. ••• Wouldn’t you know it — I stand before you this evening and I’m suddenly overcome with déjà vu. Déjà vu all over again. Where did that come from, I wonder? This is actually the third time I’ve won the New Democratic nomination in the great riding of St. John’s South-Mount Pearl. What’s the expression? Third time’s the charm; third time lucky. But then it’s also said that you make your own luck, which I believe in. New Democrats make our own luck. I first won the nomination in the fall of 2008. I came out of nowhere as a career journalist, as a newspaper editor and columnist, and I won the nomination. Who is this Cleary guy to carry the New Democrat flag in St. John’s South-Mount Pearl — when he has chal...

St. John’s South-Mount Pearl NDP Riding Association nomination meeting Tonight, March 28th, at 7 p.m. Battery Hotel, Riverhead Room Come join in the launch of the New Democrat Party campaigns in the federal ridings of St. John’s South-Mount Pearl and St. John’s East. Speakers include Jack Harris, incumbent MP St. John’s East, Lorraine Michael, leader of the New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, and myself, Ryan Cleary, candidate for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl (by acclamation). You don’t have to be a registered member of the party to attend the event. All are welcome. Onwards and upwards.

The above photograph of former Premier Danny Williams, with the late VOCM reporter Scott Chafe to the left, was shot in 2004 in the lobby of Confederation Building by Paul Daly , photographer for The Independent newspaper, which closed in 2008. The two were listening to then-Prime Minister Paul Martin's comments concerning offshore oil revenues. ••• When it came to Danny Williams, Daly covered him like a wet blanket, and the best of his shots can be found in the newly released book — Danny Williams, a profile . I picked up a copy yesterday at Chapters (at $39.95, it was a little pricey), and had it signed by Williams, Daly, and Russell Wangersky of The Telegram , who wrote the text. The irony wasn't lost on me — mostly Independent photographs and Telegram copy. If The Independent had a grave it would surely be rolling over. My favourite shot is of a smiling Danny Williams driving in his sports car, a Dodge Prowler. The caption reads: "June 4, 2005. Williams drives alon...