Throne Speech Should Be thrown Away

Posted by islandnewdemocrats Posted on: 11/18/09

Throne Speech Should Be thrown Away

Throne Speech Should Be Thrown Away, Says Rodd

Island New Democrat Leader James Rodd doesn’t think much of the Throne Speech delivered by the Ghiz government on Thursday afternoon.

"Just short of an hour and well short of the mark!" said Rodd in summing up his reaction.

Rodd was particularly incensed by the token efforts put forward in regard to rural P.E.I.

"Our rural communities are being hit by a hurricane and the Liberals are trying to ensure their yachts are secure!" he said.

"For more than 50 years, both Liberal and Conservative governments have watched over the decline of our rural communities. They have refused to intervene in any fashion or to develop any comprehensive long-term plan to help our rural communities survive and thrive."

Rodd does not hold out any hope that the soon-to-be-released Rural Development report will provide any real answers.

"The Rural Development process was really just a shallow effort, designed to allow the Liberals to say they were listening to Islanders," he claimed. "No doubt, some worthwhile ideas were presented by concerned Islanders but the government had decided what it was going to do long beforehand.

"Look at what they had already done in terms of the bio-alliance. If Islanders were to say that they were opposed to the development of genetically-modified products or questioned the wisdom of growing crops for fuel, does anyone believe that the Ghiz government would have reversed its direction?

"There's a crying need for a real and meaningful public consultation process to address the crisis in rural P.E.I., a process where politicians listen long and hard to the people of this province and have the political will to act on what they hear! An NDP government would be up to that task but it doesn’t appear that the Ghiz government is capable of doing that."

Among the specific proposals contained in the Throne Speech, the creation of Health P.E.I. was one among many that prompted questions from the New Democrat leader.

"We can understand why the premier would want to lift some of the burden from Doug Currie’s shoulders," Rodd said, "but we wonder whether this is the right way to do it. Health, Social Services and Seniors – all three of those areas should have their own minister. Island New Democrats are worried that the creation of this arm’s-length agency is simply designed to remove government accountability from a very important area of public concern. Will it undermine the ability of Islanders to influence decisions related to the operation of the health system, for example, or shield the government from having to take responsibility for such decisions? Will it open the door to more privatization of our health system or interfere with access to information?

"We know, too, that there are problems with cost over-runs related to the Clinical Information System. Is the Ghiz government simply trying to distance itself from this mess by tossing this hot potato to a new arm’s-length agency? Will it do the same with the Manor Replacement Program to protect itself from the angry response of seniors when they see private for-profit operations expanding to fill the gap left by an inadequate number of beds in the public manors?

"We’ll be watching the upcoming legislative session – and the presentation of the capital budget, in particular – for answers to these and many other questions.

"It’s unfortunate that this government seems to be more focused on how to avoid providing answers to questions related to the PNP scandal than it is on how to provide answers to the problems faced by Islanders every day," Rodd concluded.

-- 30 --

3Vote!

Comments (1) Share

Like this story? Share the news by clicking below:

January 2012
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31	1	2	3	4

Upcoming Events

No events scheduled

PEI NDP Call For PNP Inquiry

NDP launch online campaign for PNP inquiry

Last Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009 | 9:29 PM AT Comments19 Recommend24

CBC News

The NDP in P.E.I. have launched an online campaign to pressure the ruling Liberal government to hold a public inquiry into the provincial nominee program.

NDP leader James Rodd said people in the province should make their opinions known in an online petition on Tuesday or to call Access P.E.I. offices to express any concerns about the program. They're also encouraging people to email the government of P.E.I.

"Today we're calling on Islanders to exercise their democratic right of providing public pressure to the government," he said.

"We're asking Islanders to take two minutes on Tuesday to show your support for a public inquiry into the operations of the immigrant investor component of the provincial nominee program."

The program, commonly known as PNP, matched foreign investors who wanted to immigrate to Canada with P.E.I. companies they could invest in. In return for their investment, applicants would have their immigration application expedited.

It was later revealed that companies owned by MLAs and senior civil servants received PNP money.

Last week, Rodd called on the Green Party and the Progressive Conservatives to join his party's quest for an inquiry.

Rodd said Monday that he had not received a response from the Green Party and the Tory opposition felt it could deal with the issue through the public accounts committee.

Liberal MLAs have stymied several attempts by the Progressive Conservative party to reveal information about the PNP through the public accounts committee.

This story is now closed to commenting.

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Please note that comments are published according to our submission guidelines.

Story comments (19)

Sort: Most recent | First to last | Agreed

IslandEye wrote:Posted 2009/11/11
at 10:40 AM ETTo Moe from Chtown (and others): The petition being promoted by the Island New Democrats is not an online petition (at least in the sense of being located on a website). It's an e-mail (and telephone) petition. Anyone who has access to e-mail is urged to send an e-mail to the government of Prince Edward Island at island@gov.pe.ca containing the following message:
“I support the call for a public inquiry into the Immigrant Investor part of the Provincial Nominee Program. My name is ___________________, I live at ___________________________ and I’m an eligible voter.”

0Agree 0Disagree Policy Report abuse

Trish A wrote:Posted 2009/11/10
at 8:40 PM ETTo Silent Do Gooder:

Sure wish you would have been able to convey this comment earlier, "We intend to share the names with the NDP and tally the numbers up and present them to the Ghiz gov't in front of Province House."

I was very confused! Glad to have that straightened out now! Thank You.

3Agree 8Disagree Policy Report abuse

Silent Do Gooder wrote:Posted 2009/11/10
at 7:52 PM ETTo Island Eye: you are the one making up reasons for the gov't to ignore the petition.

The names do not appear anonymous on the copy we collect, a small % of the signers check the anonymous box so other people can not see their name but I do.

We intend to share the names with the NDP and tally the numbers up and present them to the Ghiz gov't in front of Province House.

The businesses who received the correct amount of units and invested the money in their company have nothing to be concerned about.

It is the political insiders from the Liberal and Conservative parties who received special favors from people in high places are the ones both mainstream parties are trying to protect.

Sign the petition and let your voice be heard and release the pressure on your chest.

5Agree 9Disagree Policy Report abuse

moe from chtown wrote:Posted 2009/11/10
at 7:30 PM ETand how do islanders sign up for said petition ? I have 2 minutes but can't figure out how to get through the NDP labyrinth .Maybe there's a clue from Harry Potter

3Agree 2Disagree Policy Report abuse

Trish A wrote:Posted 2009/11/10
at 6:04 PM ETTo Island Eye

I also agree that a Petition without a person's actual signature isn't worth the time it took to organize. And especially given the nature of said Petition. To make an "Anonymous" request that our Government "Disclose" Information would be at least a tad hypocritical I would think.

The point I was trying to make regarding the NDP Online Campaign was that if people have to send the email or make the call themselves they most likely won't do either. Regarding Mr. Rodd's Online Campaign I'm confused. I don't understand what Citizens are supposed to do or where they secure the form to send by email? I visited the NDP Website and found a link with information on the Online Campaign but couldn't find anything regarding a draft or an email form.

I do believe many would opt to complete an On Line Petition with their actual signatures. They have done so on Wayne MacKinnon's Petition. I'd like to also add in regards to that Petition, the person completing the same can remain Anonymous to those "Viewing" the actual signatures online but they DO have to supply their name and sign their name on the actual Online Petition Form. They can only remain Anonymous to those viewing the Signatures on the Petition Website if they check the appropriate box. Or at least that is what I understood from the information on that site.

Regarding the Public Inquiry, I know there is little else if anything available. However, I feel there should be an option for an Independent Inquiry by an Independent Professional be it an Attorney / Accountant who has no affiliation or association with Government entities. Just my personal view. And I admit, I am not privy to the procedures regarding a Public Inquiry.

1Agree 9Disagree Policy

7Vote!

Comments (1) Share

Like this story? Share the news by clicking below:

Throne Speech Should Be thrown Away