Ahh, politics. Just when you think it can't get any grubbier, along comes a whining premier trying out outfox two others with some classic back-room nastiness.
The Quebec government's recent letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking that Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia's request for federal aid to build an undersea cable that would allow Lower Churchill power to bypass Quebec was unbelievably nasty. Essentially, Quebec Premier Jean Charest doesn't like the idea of being outfoxed, and is prepared to use any means necessary to see that it doesn't happen.
Never mind that Hydro-Quebec is already the biggest and most powerful electrical utility in North America. Never mind that Quebec has been unfairly raiding Newfoundland and Labrador's coffers for more than 40 years, when the infamous Upper Churchill deal was signed. Never mind that earlier this year Hydro-Quebec was happy to buy NB Power and shaft Newfoundland and Labrador's plans to transmit Lower Churchill power through that province.
No, never mind any of that. This time, Charest the plotter saw something that indeed might leave his province unable to pillage Newfoundland and Labrador's profit margins. So he pulled another ace from up his sleeve and didn't hesitate to play it: he sent a veiled threat to Harper that if the PM didn't agree, he would face a voter revolt in La Belle Province when the next federal election is called.
Were those words actually written down? Of course not. Charest knows that Harper's prospects in Quebec look pretty dim and that the federal Tories can't afford to bleed seats in Quebec, so he sent a letter that most likely inferred all those things without stating them explicitly.
And apparently it worked. During a visit to Nova Scotia last Wednesday, reporters were quick to ask Harper what he intended to do about the Quebec letter and whether Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia's request for federal help would be granted, denied or just flat out ignored.
Harper's response? A mumbling jumble of words that amounted to little more than "no comment". In political speak, his non-response roughly translates like this: the Lower Churchill won't be even close to being a reality when the next federal election is called, so I won't be giving anyone a straight answer anytime soon. Ask me again in three years - if I'm still living in 24 Sussex Drive.
The prime minister had a chance to put Charest in his place and denounce his outrageous demand as both unethical and unthinkable.But unfortunately - and despite his repeated pledge to govern like he has a majority - Harper is still bound to consider the ever-changing political landscape under his feet. If he annoys Quebec one too many times, his time in the top job will almost certainly soon come to an end.
On the other hand, Harper doesn't have any seats to lose in Newfoundland and Labrador, and only a handful in Nova Scotia, so he's not worried about ticking off either of those provinces.
And that's just sad.
Andrew Waugh, former editor of the Labradorian, writes from Dartmouth, NS
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