Fisherman's Road

I’d have a better chance of becoming Prime Minister of Newfoundland and Labrador, than PM of Canada. Read why in today’s Telegram . Here’s a hint: John Crosbie taught us all about the importance of French when he ran for the leadership of the federal Tories in January 1983. The following quote — which Crosbie delivered to a “crush of eager reporters” in Quebec City on the eve of the leadership convention — killed his leadership hopes. “I am not some kind of criminal, I’m just an ordinary Canadian who has been in politics for a long time and has a lot to offer. Just because I’m not fluent in the French language doesn’t mean a disaster is going to occur … There are 20 million of us who are unilingual English or French … I don’t think that the 3.7 million who are bilingual should suddenly think themselves some kind of aristocracy and only leaders can come from their small group.” The actual deathblow came next when a reporter pushed Crosbie — who was “tired, frustrated...

I'm in Ottawa this week and couldn't attend Wednesday evening's tribute for Jack Layton at Harbourside Park in downtown St. John's. I wrote the following note, which was read by Matt White from my office. For me, what stands out about Jack Layton, what stands out above all else, is the Saturday afternoon in April when he came to St. John's for an election rally. Jack had suffered through cancer - he was still suffering through a broken hip, and was walking with a cane. It was my job to introduce Jack, and when I did he practically skipped up the stairs (cane in hand) and leapt on stage. That showed a strength and depth of charactter (keeping in mind that Jack was probably sicker than he let on) that you don't see in many people, that you don't see in many leaders. It's one thing to run in a federal election campaign, to lead a party in a federal campaign. It's quite another to do so when you're fighting for your life. Jac...

Chuck Furey’s name has been bandied about in recent weeks as a potential leader of the provincial Liberals. His name was mentioned to me in mid-July during Mount Pearl City Days. I wrote off the possibility of a Furey return to politics, assuming Yvonne Jones wasn’t going anywhere. As recently as this past Friday morning (Sept. 12 th ) — hours before the close of nominations — Furey was expected to “get in the game.” In the end, he didn’t. In Aug. 2001 — 10 years ago this month — I wrote a feature for The Telegram on Furey’s “life after politics.” HEADLINE: Out of the limelight DECK: Life after politics: Chuck Furey enjoys “every second of every minute of every day” “If you walk along the side of the road and see a starving dog and feed it, it will never bite you. That’s the principle difference between and dog and a man.” — A Mark Twain quote in a letter from John Crosbie to Chuck Furey after Fury’s loss in the federal election of 2000. ••• Chuck F...

“It’s one thing to have a safe harbour to anchor in, or a wharf to tie up to. That’s critical, no doubt. But what’s the good of having a safe harbour or a decent wharf if you’re taking your life into your hands if you’re leaving port.” - My reaction, as quoted in today’s Telegram , to the news that the federal Conservatives will spend millions on small craft harbours, while preparing to inflict deep cuts elsewhere in DFO. And another point from the same Telegram article: “Why would the government build up harbor infrastructure if there’s no fish to catch and there’s no fishermen to catch it? It’s one thing that the fisheries fell, but the big question that I’ve been getting to with the need for an inquiry, is how come after 19 years they haven’t risen again?”

It should come as no surprise that the federal Conservatives won’t allow me to tour 9 Wing Gander, not when government scientists are being muzzled . It's all about suppression. The following letter by Fin Donnelly, Fisheries critic for the federal New Democrats, was mailed to Minister Keith Ashfield on July 29 th . And people question the necessity of an inquiry into the NL fisheries? ••• Dear Minister, I write to express my concern regarding the muzzling of federal fisheries biologist Dr. Kristi Miller who was prevented by the Privy Council Office from speaking to the media about her west coast salmon study. Dr. Miller’s article, Genomic Signatures Predict Migration and Spawning Failure in Wild Canadian Salmon , was published in Science Magazine in January 2011. The hypothesis is that “the genomic signal associated with elevated mortality is in response to a virus infecting fish before river entry and that persists to the spawning areas.” The journal Science found this ...

“I didn’t do too bad, did I?” — The last words of Tommy Sexton (July 3 rd , 1959-Dec. 13, 1993), as related by his mother. I spoke with 88-year-old Sarah Sexton Sunday evening during the 28 th annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial at the Tommy Sexton Centre in St. John’s. “Oh Tommy, you did great.” — Sarah Sexton’s response to her son. ••• The following is the text of my address to the Candlelight Memorial. No one — least of all a politician — needs to tell anyone here this evening that both HIV and AIDS can be devastating. That’s obvious. This service — the 28 th annual AIDS candlelight memorial — is held to remember those who we have lost from AIDS and those living with HIV/AIDS. And we do remember — it’s so important to remember. When I give a speech, or say a few words, I like to be prepared — to do my homework. So a week or so ago I invited John Baker, outreach co-ordinator with the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador, to my Mount Pearl office. I ...