Atlantic Accord letters censored

06/12/07  

Atlantic Accord letters censored

BY BRIAN FLINN, TRANSCONTINENTAL MEDIA

The Nova Scotia Business Journal

 
 

Premier Rodney MacDonald's office is censoring three letters he wrote to federal officials during the Atlantic Accord dispute. Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said his office filed a Freedom of Information request to see alternative proposals the premier made to federal officials regarding offshore oil and gas revenue.

The premier's office released copies of three letters MacDonald wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and ACOA Minister Peter MacKay between April and June. But the entire contents were blanked out.

Deputy minister Bob Fowler said releasing the information could injure federal-provincial relations. McNeil said he's suspicious what the letters would reveal.

"I don't believe this premier fought for the Atlantic Accord - I think he settled," McNeil said. "I think he was bullied. I think he was intimidated by the prime minister. He was afraid to stand up and defend what is rightfully ours."

The clarification agreement MacDonald and Harper announced in October will give Nova Scotia less money than it was demanding over the next four years. The province says the deal will become more favourable over the following nine years, resulting in $229-million more than Nova Scotia would receive if Ottawa followed the letter of the Atlantic Accord.

McNeil said a possible, eventual payoff is no substitute for the agreement former premier John Hamm secured in 2005. It said Nova Scotia would be the sole beneficiary of offshore oil and gas revenue. The premier said the agreement won the province additional revenue in the long term, plus more money next year thanks to the resolution of a separate offshore dispute dating back to the 1980s known as the Crown share.

"The fact we have waited over 20 years for the Crown share and are now able to see it coming to a successful conclusion is a reason to celebrate, in my opinion," he said. "We believe it's worth hundreds of millions of dollars."

MacDonald said McNeil should call Nova Scotia Liberal MPs and urge them to help get legislation related to the deal through Parliament. McNeil said he couldn't believe MacDonald made such a suggestion. The last time the premier urged MPs to vote a certain way, Bill Casey opposed the budget and was ejected from Tory caucus.

The provincial cabinet refused to come to his aid.

"Do you remember a guy by the name of Bill Casey who did exactly what that premier asked him to do?" McNeil said. "Do not give us a lesson on the hypocrisy of your government." – The Daily News 

06/12/07  

 
 

Inserted from <http://www.novascotiabusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?sid=86978&sc=107>