Canadian flags lowered

[Highland 0]

Go Williams!

 

ST. JOHN'S, Nfld. (CP) - Canada's most recognized symbol - the red-and-white Maple Leaf flag - disappeared from provincial buildings in Newfoundland and Labrador on Thursday, under orders from a premier enraged with Ottawa over failed offshore oil revenue talks.

 

"They're slapping us in the face. They're insulting us. I'm not willing to fly that flag any more in the province," a feisty Danny Williams told a news conference in St. John's.

 

"You know our country, Canada, is about a partnership . . . but when the senior partner in that relationship turns its back on you, then we feel it's most appropriate that that flag not fly in our province."

 

Prime Minister Paul Martin called the action disrespectful.

 

"The Maple Leaf is the flag of all Canadians, including every single Newfoundlander and Labradorian. It should not be treated as a tool for partisan politics," Martin said in a release.

 

The order to take the flags down indefinitely came one day after Williams broke off talks with federal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale in Winnipeg. The negotiations involving both Newfoundland and Nova Scotia were aimed at nailing down a final deal to rework the way offshore oil revenues are shared between the federal and provincial governments.

 

 

Federal officials said the latest offer would see Ottawa end its practice of clawing back about 70 cents of every dollar of oil and gas revenues through reduced equalization payments.

 

Officials said the move would create about $3 billion in additional revenues for Newfoundland and about $640 million into Nova Scotia over the next eight years.

 

Williams turned it down, arguing the province would lose up to $1 billion when Newfoundland, no longer qualifying for equalization payments due to offshore oil royalty revenues, would gradually have its federal offset payments decreased.

 

"We could have come home with a cheque, we could have come home with a big cheque, but we were not prepared to . . . to leave money on the table that was rightfully ours," he said.

 

Goodale said he was caught off guard by the Newfoundland premier's request to receive 100 per cent of federal offset payments, as well as 100 per cent of offshore oil royalty revenue. Up to this point, he said, Ottawa had agreed to all Williams' requests.

 

"What he put on the table yesterday moved the bottom line, moved the goalpost, raised the stakes once again," said Goodale in an interview.

 

"There is this constant effort to redefine success, and he seems absolutely unprepared to accept yes for an answer."

 

Williams said he is not interested in further negotiations with Ottawa, although Goodale said Ottawa is prepared to work out a solution.

 

Both Goodale and Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm say they expect a deal for Nova Scotia to be worked out early in the new year.

 

Williams has become known for pugnacious, in-your-face behaviour since taking office. He stormed out of an earlier meeting with Martin over the offshore issue and has been unusually frank in his criticism of Ottawa's handling of the negotiations.

 

Stephen Tomblin, a professor of political science at Memorial University in St. John's, said Williams' political popularity has soared thanks to his negotiating tactics.

 

"I suspect locally, as was the case in the past, he'll be very popular as a result of this kind of debate," he said.

 

"There's a very strong sense of alienation, which is historical. . . . It's comparable to Quebec nationalism and separatism."

 

Newfoundland and Nova Scotia have long pressed Ottawa to revamp the way offshore oil and gas revenues affect equalization payments.

 

The two provinces argued for excluding royalty revenues from the equalization calculation, saying the clawback has prevented both provinces from shedding their "have-not" status.

[Lightning Flik 0]

Geezus, everyone seems to be hating Ottawa (government) lately. Alberta, Quebec, and now Newfie & Nova Scotia.

 

Although, I'm not surprised he's willing to stand up to the government, considering that Martin's running on a minority government and so this is could also be used to get him ousted.

[Red Baron 0]

This would not get Martin outsed, its just Martin should have appointed a better Finance Minister instead.

[Highland 0]

Of course it won't get Martin ousted. All he has to do is continue catering to Quebec and Ontario at the expense of the RoC. Business as usual.

Speaking of Martin, I wonder which flag is flown over his Canadian Steamship Lines?

Hint: Not the Maple Leaf.

Edited December 24, 2004 by Highland

[Red Baron 0]

 

sorry about the size, but is this it?

 

In a way I agree with what Williams is saying, but what he did was childish.

[Guest ShootingStylesPress]

He doesn't get his way with a deal that shouldn't be his, so he gets provincial buildings to denounce the federal government? Brilliant.

 

I won't be crying if Newfoundland separates... Which is a funny thought.

[Highland 0]

This wouldn't even be an issue if Martin hadn't promised NS and NFLD&LD 100% of the oil revenues. Martin reneged and Williams is calling him out on it.

[The Czech Republic 0]

He doesn't get his way with a deal that shouldn't be his, so he gets provincial buildings to denounce the federal government? Brilliant.

 

I won't be crying if Newfoundland separates... Which is a funny thought.

That reminds me of Mark McKinney on the KITH DVD:

 

"I flunked out of the University of Newfoundland, which if you're Canadian, is really, really funny."

[Guest Cerebus]

Are there any legal penalities for this in Canada? I know in the US there are laws that prevent the removal of the American flag over gov't buildings (including schools) unless its night time or there is sever weather. They're symbolic, mind you, but could actually be used.

[Guest ShootingStylesPress]

I'm not too up on my Canadian laws and things like that, but in Canada, we don't take such a high regard to the flag as Americans. Like, we still don't disrespect it and things like that, but if you take it down, no one's gonna give you a fine.

 

Then again, I could be completely and utterly wrong.

[Highland 0]

There are rules of ettuquette for the flag, but there are no penalties as far as I am aware for taking it down uncceremoniously, etc, as far as I'm aware.

I know the US has laws regarding its flag, but if Canada possesses similar laws, they are buried deep in the CCC somewhere?

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

 

The whole thing seems a little 'I'm taking my ball and going home' to me.

[Guest Regina Phelange]

http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/cp.../occasion_e.cfm

 

No penalties that I could find... but there's likely no precedent.

[CanadianChris 0]

Are there any legal penalities for this in Canada? I know in the US there are laws that prevent the removal of the American flag over gov't buildings (including schools) unless its night time or there is sever weather. They're symbolic, mind you, but could actually be used.

No. In fact, pretty much the entire province of Quebec has removed Canadian flags from public buildings, and no one says boo.