When Kathy
Dunderdale told Reporters on the afternoon of the Harbour Grace – Carbonear
By-election, ‘whatever happens it’s just
one Seat’, you are forced to wonder just how disconnected she is from ordinary
people and detached from notions of leadership.
The CRA Poll, released on Wednesday, places the Premier’s personal popularity at only
25% (22% three months ago) against 39% for Dwight Ball and 18% for a chastened
Lorraine Michael.
25% (22% three months ago) against 39% for Dwight Ball and 18% for a chastened
Lorraine Michael.
Why would
anyone expect the Premier’s popularity to be higher? ‘Whatever happens it’s
just one seat’ is declaration of ‘don’t care’ when it ought to be one of
concern and distress.
anyone expect the Premier’s popularity to be higher? ‘Whatever happens it’s
just one seat’ is declaration of ‘don’t care’ when it ought to be one of
concern and distress.
If you took notice of her comments on the six o’clock news – just two hours before the
Polls – why would you think the Premier could ever lift the Tories’ from the
doldrums?
Polls – why would you think the Premier could ever lift the Tories’ from the
doldrums?
Though support
for the P.C.’s increased to 29% (from 26%), it equates only with the Poll’s
margin of error (2.9%), so even this uptick is tentative.
for the P.C.’s increased to 29% (from 26%), it equates only with the Poll’s
margin of error (2.9%), so even this uptick is tentative.
The good
news for Dunderdale is that the Government’s satisfaction rating has improved (42%,
up from 31% three months ago). That must
be a heartwarming occurrence for which Ross Reid is no doubt taking
credit. Dunderdale will be happy to interpret
the result as confirmation she ought to have had her ‘dustup’ with Jerome
Kennedy long ago.
The bad
news for the Premier is that her personal popularity is a drag even on an
unpopular Government. A popularity level of 25% does not constitute much political
glue if the Caucus becomes fractious.
news for the Premier is that her personal popularity is a drag even on an
unpopular Government. A popularity level of 25% does not constitute much political
glue if the Caucus becomes fractious.
There are
other interesting bits in the CRA Poll, too, but it is impossible not to note its
arrival on the heels of the Harbour Grace-Carbonear by-election.
other interesting bits in the CRA Poll, too, but it is impossible not to note its
arrival on the heels of the Harbour Grace-Carbonear by-election.
Dunderdale’s
media comments, in advance of the by-election, suggest she is more imposter
than Premier. They raise the same questions the CRA Poll might pose.
media comments, in advance of the by-election, suggest she is more imposter
than Premier. They raise the same questions the CRA Poll might pose.
Does the
Premier understand her Office? Does she think about the disparate roles of a
leader? Does she know that, at times, an inspirational word transcends any
display of impermeability or bravado? That
an ability to be thoughtful, even self-effacing, is an affirmation of
self-confidence, strength and power?
Premier understand her Office? Does she think about the disparate roles of a
leader? Does she know that, at times, an inspirational word transcends any
display of impermeability or bravado? That
an ability to be thoughtful, even self-effacing, is an affirmation of
self-confidence, strength and power?
Undoubtedly,
most people took Dunderdale’s remarks as a warning not to wait up for the by-election
results, as did I.
most people took Dunderdale’s remarks as a warning not to wait up for the by-election
results, as did I.
But, frankly,
I felt sympathy for the Tory Candidate and his campaign team. The latter would have been expecting the
Party Leader to exude the utmost confidence in her Candidate and send a strong
message of empathy with the residents of the Riding – even if the final result
looked doubtful.
I felt sympathy for the Tory Candidate and his campaign team. The latter would have been expecting the
Party Leader to exude the utmost confidence in her Candidate and send a strong
message of empathy with the residents of the Riding – even if the final result
looked doubtful.
I wondered,
too, what the Members of her Cabinet and Caucus were saying having witnessed that
display of poor judgment. Undoubtedly, the cell phones of the Tory Members were
ringing as tongues wagged. Very likely
one Member was hoping that the other could spell ‘coup’.
too, what the Members of her Cabinet and Caucus were saying having witnessed that
display of poor judgment. Undoubtedly, the cell phones of the Tory Members were
ringing as tongues wagged. Very likely
one Member was hoping that the other could spell ‘coup’.
Yes, the 30%
(42 from 31%) uptick in the Government’s popularity, in just 3 months will give
some encouragement to despairing P.C. Members. Indeed, many will properly calculate
that the Liberal’s capture of 52% of voter support, in the CRA Poll, will not
be sustained in the next Survey. Naturally, the Liberal surge will ‘levelize’
as the attraction of the Leadership Contest diminishes. And, yes, Ms.
Dunderdale, even if momentarily, will interpret any decline in Liberal support
as the dawn of her political re-birth.
(42 from 31%) uptick in the Government’s popularity, in just 3 months will give
some encouragement to despairing P.C. Members. Indeed, many will properly calculate
that the Liberal’s capture of 52% of voter support, in the CRA Poll, will not
be sustained in the next Survey. Naturally, the Liberal surge will ‘levelize’
as the attraction of the Leadership Contest diminishes. And, yes, Ms.
Dunderdale, even if momentarily, will interpret any decline in Liberal support
as the dawn of her political re-birth.
But, the
Premier ought to be restrained from experiencing too much irrational exuberance.
Premier ought to be restrained from experiencing too much irrational exuberance.
Unusual for
most Governments, in this Province, this Premier can’t blame those Poll numbers
on bad luck or economic misfortune, certainly not after her Minister of Finance’s
declaration that NL is in a “golden age”.
most Governments, in this Province, this Premier can’t blame those Poll numbers
on bad luck or economic misfortune, certainly not after her Minister of Finance’s
declaration that NL is in a “golden age”.
Each Poll
result seems to just compound the evidence that Dunderdale’s lack of popular
support has a different, more personal origin; one unconnected to oil or
economics.
result seems to just compound the evidence that Dunderdale’s lack of popular
support has a different, more personal origin; one unconnected to oil or
economics.
Though
former Ministers Paul Oram and Sean Skinner have counselled the Premier to
engage in a period of reflection, essentially a “get lost” message, the Premier
is unlikely to accede without some act of heroism from her Caucus fellows.
former Ministers Paul Oram and Sean Skinner have counselled the Premier to
engage in a period of reflection, essentially a “get lost” message, the Premier
is unlikely to accede without some act of heroism from her Caucus fellows.
While some
Tory MHA’s may wish, given his letter writing skills, Dale Kirby had been one
of them, a tired public may yet prefer the opportunity to swing a more clever ax.
Tory MHA’s may wish, given his letter writing skills, Dale Kirby had been one
of them, a tired public may yet prefer the opportunity to swing a more clever ax.
Dunderdales paradox is that despite us living in the golden age her popularity, and that of her party is low. She can not explain nor understand it.
One does not to look further than the dismal financial update. Despite our golden age we are running a 500 million deficit, when we should be running a 500 million surplus. Why?
The answer is that this party has governed since 2008, like it was 2008. Oil trading at 150 $/barrel, and electricity at 85 $/MWHr. Their reckless public spending, and their unwise sanction of the Muskrat Falls project are based on their presumption that energy will go back to these levels as soon as possible.
Yet the world energy markets have changed. The governments policy and decision making have not.
There is no paradox… dunderdale's place in the polls can be easily explained. The populace are not stupid, they are awakening. The see the terrible government that we have had for the past 10 years, whom despite having the benefits of record revenue, will leave the province in worse financial position than when they took it.
A decade of squandered opportunity.
Ontario’s Power Trip: Province lost $1.2-billion this year exporting power. Financial Post. The following is a excerpt. What does this mean for the MF project and our ability to generate revenues from surplus power? Could we expect this to be an example of what we will get for the power we have now guaranteed to NS under the new agreement?
"For the first 10 months of 2013, Ontario exported 14,983,776 MWh (enough to power almost 1.6 million average Ontario homes for a full year). Revenue from those exports totaled $381-million. Average price for the exports works out to 2.54 cents per kWh"
Even at 2.5 cents per kwhr MF will not loose money, because Newfoundlanders will be paying 23 cents per kwhr. We pay for it all. Whatever they get extra will go back to Nalcor.
The government of Newfoundland and Nalcor have no respect for the rate payers of the province… or they categorically believe the BS they have been feeding us.
If we just built the line to Labrador, we could buy Upper Churchill power for similar rates. We would have power at ~15 cents as opposed to 23 cents
But this is the option which Nalcor refused to look at. Which was when Nalcor abdicated their legislative responsibility under the EPCA
I see our unemployment rate jumped considerably according to Stats. Canada's latest labour force survey. I hope the opposition brings it up in the house. Does this mean the golden age is over? Or, is that state of enlightenment independent of of vulgarity like statistics. I am guessing Dunderdale et al. will tell us that as Muskrat falls ramps up hiring all will be well.