Prime Minister Announces New Harbour

[FiveParadox]

Today The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., M.P. (Calgary Southwest), the Prime Minister of Canada, announced that Her Majesty’s Government for Canada is to support the construction of a new harbour in Nunavut’s Pangnirtung. The announcement of the northern harbour is just one of several restoration and construction projects made possible by Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

One of the core components of the action plan, the Small Craft Harbours Program, has been allocated $200 million to support the acceleration of construction, restoration and maintenance of harbours throughout Canada. The program has set aside $17 million for the construction of the new harbour at Pangnirtung. The Office of the Prime Minister reports that the plan to construct the new harbour supports the development of Nunavut’s inshore turbot fisheries.

Construction of the new harbour is set to start in September.
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It’s good to see the Government supporting Canada’s North, but I have to ask whether it was appropriate for the prime minister to be the one making this announcement. There seems to be a problem with the Conservative Party of Canada—it seems to think that Mr. Harper is the only member of the party that can speak for the Government. Why did Mr. Harper even bother to appoint ministers? They clearly serve no purpose under a Conservative Government—the deep consolidation of power in the Office of the Prime Minister, under the leadership of Mr. Harper, should be a cause of concern for all Canadians.

I do, however, applaud the substance of the announcement—it’s good to see the Government bringing a long-needed focus back to Northern development. This was a weakness of former Governments, and it’s comforting to see some attention paid where it’s needed. Now we only need to further develop the presence of the Canadian Forces, considering the controversy of the Northern territories and the sovereignty of Canadian borders amongst such neighbours as the United States of America.

Source

• Office of the Prime Minister : homepage • article

 

[Machjo]

Why not negotiate permanent border agreements?

I'm not saying a military force is not needed, but that its purpose ought to be to denfend clearly established borders. It's the job of diplomats to establish those borders through international consultation. On that front, harper has been acting at the pace of a slug.

 

[darkbeaver]

Diplomats without military backup get patted on the head a lot I bet. Harper is a great big slug , he's not acting.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Is there an economic inaction plan? We could use one.

 

[Machjo]

Diplomats without military backup get patted on the head a lot I bet.

Are you saying that we pat the leaders of militarily weaker nations on the head a lot and so fear other countries will treat us the same way we've treated them? interesting analysis of the situation.

 

[Cannuck]

It’s good to see the Government supporting Canada’s North, but I have to ask whether it was appropriate for the prime minister to be the one making this announcement.

Considering the importance the government places on this it is completely appropriate. The Conservatives have enough things to criticize them about. There is no need to make mountains out of mole hills.

 

[FiveParadox]

Considering the importance the government places on this it is completely appropriate. The Conservatives have enough things to criticize them about. There is no need to make mountains out of mole hills.

This particular announcement is only one aspect of that issue, Cannuck—this Government’s power has been consolidated almost completely in the Office of the Prime Minister for its entire duration. The Conservatives have created some of the most low-key ministers ever to grace the Centre Block, and I would venture to suggest that this is not an appropriate method of government for responsible government and parliamentary democracy. We should be taking advantage of the talents of a diverse and functional group of ministers; this unfortunately is not the case under the leadership of Mr. Harper. The communications style of this Government leaves something to be desired, and it always has. (The end of the fabulous tradition of the Press Gallery dinner, anyone?)

 

[Cannuck]

This particular announcement is only one aspect of that issue, Cannuck—this Government’s power has been consolidated almost completely in the Office of the Prime Minister for its entire duration.

I'm not doubting that. I merely pointed out that the government places a very high priority on the north so it's not surprising that the PM made the announcement. You are making something out of nothing.

If you think there is too much power in the PM's office start a thread about that...and I can explain to you about Trudeau and enabling legislation.

 

[FiveParadox]

Re: Conservative Defense of Powerless Ministers

I’m good with the thread I already started, thanks. It was a conversation about northern development, with a passing comment about consolidation of power—perhaps we could get back on-topic, if that’s okay. (You seem to be creating something out of nothing!) The Government has announced the construction of a new harbour to service Canada’s North, which I think is a good thing—we need to step up our northern presence and ensure that Canadian Arctic sovereignty is respected by our neighbours on the world stage. Also, the positive changes that the harbour may generate for northern fisheries could help to compensate for whatever impact the seal product ban by the European Union may have.

 

[Cliffy]

Yes we want to keep our north free from interlopers before we have a chance to rape and pillage its resources ourselves.

 

[Liberalman]

a military presence is needed in the north

 

[Unforgiven]

And economic development. I'm thinking peeler bar with hottubs close to the harbour, but not too close.

 

[Machjo]

And economic development. I'm thinking peeler bar with hottubs close to the harbour, but not too close.

Well, if you got a military presence, won't the peeler bars follow naturally?

 

[Nuggler]

And economic development. I'm thinking peeler bar with hottubs close to the harbour, but not too close.

Don't worry, it'll be a dry land harbour, ice only, 12 months of the year.

Count on it displacing several thousand irate Eskimos and polar bears and seals.

And................they'll sue...............and win.

Yay Steveo!!!!

Goddam I love where my tax dollars go.

:angry3:

 

[lone wolf]

They're going to start construction in September ... in the Arctic.... Did they take lessons from the Wehrmacht on a stroll into Russia?

 

[CDNBear]

They're going to start construction in September ... in the Arctic.... Did they take lessons from the Wehrmacht on a stroll into Russia?

Lone, we're talking about the Gov't here, were you expecting commonsense?

 

[Cannuck]

It'll take them till next May to set up the men working signs and June to have a safety orientation. By August they will have probably found the water.

 

[taxslave]

Diplomats without military backup get patted on the head a lot I bet. Harper is a great big slug , he's not acting.

That is hurtfull to slugs.

 

[taxslave]

It makes sense to start in Sept. That is getting close to freeze up and not much moves up there until the mud is frozen. They are putting kind of a lot of faith in the global warming myth though.