TOP TEN POSTS UNCLE GNARLEY BLOG 2021

The annual ritual of presenting
the “Top Ten” posts of the year, based on Google’s counter, is repeated below.

I owe a great deal of gratitude to
several writers, especially to Ron Penney and PlanetNL who, especially in the second half
of the year, kept the Blog going as I was otherwise engaged. Their ideas and analysis are widely acknowledged. This year David Vardy was
busy offering his vast skillset to Moya Greene and to the Premier’ Economic
Recovery Commission. The job done he continues to write; his latest
contribution is entitled “Muskrat Falls An Unmitigated Disaster”.

We welcomed a post from one new
contributor, Catherine Penney. We also mourned the loss of the Bard of Pynn’s
Brook, John Tuach; we will miss his poetry and the enormous insights that he inscribed
in each turn of phrase.  

Most of us are happy to
see the end of 2021. Covid-19 remains a scourge robbing us of a quick return to
some semblance of normalcy. Our collective sanity is threatened thereby, not
least because Covid is a distraction that removes oxygen from places where
discussion of NL’s economic, social and political deficits ought to be
paramount. That “the doctor is in” represents occasional drama but little comfort.
But those issues are for later.

There are several days left in
the Christmas Season, more turkey to be devoured and, yes, mountains of “hash”
to be consumed. Even Uncle Gnarley rang up threatening a visit. I fear that our
rest will be short lived! 
Merry Christmas – Des Sullivan  

TOP TEN POSTS  2021

1. LEADERS’ DEBATE CONFIRMS ELECTION AFTERMATH

2. MORE “INCIDENTS” ON LIL PILE ON COSTS AND POWER
INSECURITY

3. THE “BIG
RESET”: TIME TO WAKE UP. TIME TO ACT.



    Guest Post by Ron Penney

    Guest Post by Ron Penney

7. THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE MUSKRAT FALLS PROJECT  

    Guest Post by PlanetNL

8. THE DECALOGUE: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR RATE MITIGATION

   Guest Post by David Vardy

9. Self reliance or Commission of Government? The choice is ours. 

    Guest Post by Ron Penney

10. DANNY WILLIAMS: Bottom Feeders and Naysayers 

      Guest Post by Ron Penney

– 30 – 

Des Sullivan
Des Sullivan
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Uncle Gnarley is hosted by Des Sullivan, of St. John's. He is a businessman engaged over three decades in real estate management and development companies and in retail. He is currently a Director of Dorset Investments Limited and Donovan Holdings Limited. During his early career he served as Executive Assistant to Premier's Frank D. Moores (1975-1979) and Brian Peckford (1979-1985). He also served as a Part-Time Board Member on the Canada-Newfoundland Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB). Uncle Gnarley appears on the masthead representing serious and unambiguous positions on NL politics and public policy. Uncle Gnarley is a fiscal conservative possessing distinctly liberal values and a non-partisan persusasion. Those values and opinions underlie this writer's views on NL's politics, economy and society. Uncle Gnarley publishes Monday mornings and more often when events warrant.

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?