Uttering and Buttering

Some utterances should never be said.
Especially not in politics.

Take a comment like this

"It is time to hear the concerns of the people first hand, to better inform decision-making in the coming years."
 

Reported by today's Telegram to have been uttered by the Premier of the province during her cabinet's invasion of Bonavista this week. 

That's like admitting you

haven't been there,

haven't had a first-hand listen,

haven't been getting up close and intimate with the people's real and gritty concerns,

haven't had your hand on the people's pulse.

 

Which was most evident by Budget 2013 - the biggest annual decision-making machine in government.  

Yes, there was the mockery of a pre-budget consultation

But in the end the budget was not written By The People For The People

It was brewed in a fairy land by non-strategists, non-thinkers and big-time people stinkers.

 

Interesting thing about listening

Is that it cannot start at the end.

It has to have a very early kick-start so as to be perceived as genuine.

 

The queen is desperately trying to wear the listening crown during the summer political carnival, but it doesn't fit her head properly.

 

And she's uttering those buttering words - meant to make us feel important,

but instead make us feel we haven't been respected all those years.

Not a good communique from a politician.

Indeed "It is time" to listen...high time.

 

Rehabilitation for some though comes too late,

no matter how hard you try ...

Don't Be Talking!

Shhh ........
Let's not talk about the fishery!

At least that's the undercurrent message the current government continues to convey.

"Well, we can talk about the amazing aquaculture projects - but only the employment boost it brings.
Just steer the dialogue boat away from all the environmental challenges that ails this industry.
Especially don't bring up the watchdog and regulatory roles we should be undertaking - rather than pandering to the industry's wish-list regarding this important industry. 

AND
We can talk about the wild fishery, of course - but only the positive bits & pieces -
Like the research work  carried out by our Cod Warrior George Rose and the month-long visit by the Celtic Explorer vessel from  across the Pond.
And it's ok to be chatting about the projects that are being approved under our technology program.

BUT
Let's not  go on  about the 10 years that have passed under Tory rule & the total lack of a focus on the wild fishery.

Let's not talk about the plan or the strategy we promised, but never got around to doing.
(Jeeze we were so darn busy defending Nalcor & Muskrat Falls - who had the time??)

Let's not talk about the Cod Recovery Plan we agreed to, but did not follow through on.

Let's not go there about the fishery that could be double in its value if we really had placed a priority on this sector. 

Let's not talk about the oil money we could have put aside in a heritage fund  to rebuild our fisheries (Like Norway does with its renewable resources)

Let's not converse about all the fish plants that closed, but could have been saved as regional development initiatives if there were any ingenuity and enthusiasm shown by government.

Let's not blabber on about our failure as it relates to forcing the federal government to put fisheries at the bow of the ship - like extending the 200-mile limit, sharing jurisdictional management, license buy-outs, foreign overfishing, Search and Rescue capacity, etc... 

You see what I mean ... there's so much we shouldn't talk about!

So don't be talking!


Seems it's ok with the Tories to blab about the ol' stuff like the near-extinction of the Northern Cod.
Former Fisheries Minister Trevour Taylor was at it in today's Telegram.
We got to stop blaming the foreigners for that ecological disaster!,  the former fisherman admonishes us.
Yes - let's stop talking about the real culprits.
(And by the way Trevour, the trouble with the Northern Cod goes back to the late 60s, not the 80s - that's why we imposed the 200-mile limit - to keep the foreigners out of our waters.)

Don't be talking about the fishery!   has been Government's mantra since day one - sad state of affairs really.    

It's a shame given it is one of our most sustainable natural resources - meant to outlast oil and gas any day.

It's reassuring to know that Election 2015 is just around the corner.

It will force Government to drop anchor and start to have a real conversation again about the fishery - what is the plan and how are we going to get there ...?