THE BARD ON “FAMINE”

FAMINE
(Black Horse to the Fore)

Locusts and floods
For shortage of foods
Reported on page twenty-four.
Those won’t make front page
Till kids of young age
Have bones sticking out of their skin –
A picture for readers to skim.

Starvation and death
Widespread with poor health,
Aid will be little or none.
Tears as the moms
Hold their dying young kids –
More photos for viewers of ribs.

Corruption and graft
Give common man shaft
In countries with plague and with famine.
The wars, the dead, people unfed
Through rulers that worship God Mammon – For stories on theft to be read.

Hungry in need of nourishing feed
Denied by avarice and greed.
Bread-lines in First World
As Covid’s unfurled
Suggests millions to starve –
A story that surely unnerves.

John Tuach
September 14, 2020

REMEMBERING BILL MARSHALL

Bill left public life shortly after the signing of the Atlantic Accord and became a member of the Court of Appeal until his retirement in 2003. During his time on the court he was involved in a number of successful appeals which overturned wrongful convictions, for which he was recognized by Innocence Canada. Bill had a special place in his heart for the underdog.

Churchill Falls Explainer (Coles Notes version)

If CFLCo is required to maximize its profit, then CFLCo should sell its electricity to the highest bidder(s) on the most advantageous terms available.

END OF THE UPPER CHURCHILL POWER CONTRACT: IMPROVING OUR BARGAINING POWER

This is the most important set of negotiations we have engaged in since the Atlantic Accord and Hibernia. Despite being a small jurisdiction we proved to be smart and nimble enough to negotiate good deals on both. They have stood the test of time and have resulted in billions of dollars in royalties and created an industry which represents over a quarter of our economy. Will we prove to be smart and nimble enough to do the same with the Upper Churchill?