'The district voted for change'

Letter to the Editor -

Dear Editor,

For the past several months I have resisted the temptation to engage in the various political debates occurring around government decisions in The Straits and White Bay North riding including the debate about the decision to relocate the air ambulance service.

However, of late there has been some suggestion that I resigned because I knew that the service was to be relocated and that I had a falling out with the Premier and the government. I want to point out that I represented the district when we negotiated for the purchase and placement of a new $8 million air ambulance in St. Anthony.

It is widely known that there have been numerous attempts by parts of the bureaucracy, some politicians and some in the public, to have the service moved on a number of occasions over the past twenty years. While I was the representative for the area I was successful in convincing those involved to keep it stationed in St. Anthony, as were some of my predecessors. Unfortunately, in last fall's election the people voted for a change in direction and representation. You elected someone who was ill equipped to make the arguments needed to retain the air ambulance and worse his leader asked for a review of the service, a review for which any intelligent person would have foreseen the outcome.

I have no interest in engaging in a debate about the decisions of government. I spent nine years doing that. During that time I had the complete and unwavering support of the Premier for viable legitimate investments in the district, to the tune of $163 million during the six years we were in government, one of the biggest investments in any district in the province. I supported the leadership of Danny Williams during that time and like ninety percent of the people in the province I continue to do so. I walked out on good terms with the Premier and the government.

I have heard it stated over the past six months that the district got nothing while I was in government. I guess if you didn't get anything you are not losing anything. The district voted for change, change is what you are getting.

Sincerely,

Trevor Taylor

Ottawa

rob from NL: - July 9th, 2010 at 09:24:30

Oh come on, any intelligent person does know that Labrador needs the air ambulance more than st-anthony. All the noise being made by the citizens and their politicians is drowning out the truth, that there was no way they, or anyone, could continue to prove that the air ambulance belonged there compared to in Labrador. I've had a friend nearly die waiting 8 hours for a medivac in Labrador, oh how the people of st-anthony would be crying foul if that ever occurred to one of their own. Emotions shouldn't get in the way of facts and truth, sometimes looking out for the province as a whole is more important than one community.

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Gerry: - July 9th, 2010 at 09:24:30

Mr. Taylor is telling it like it really is. In last Fall's election the people of the district voted for a change in direction and representation . In a literal sense that means the majority of voters said to the current Government, We don't like you, we don't trust you, we don't want you, we don't need you .

Would it come, therefore, as any surprise
that (human nature being what it is) the voters are receiving what they asked for i.e. a change in direction and representation . One might say Well, that is not fair. This is a democracy and democracy is not meant to work that way . Now come on !!!! You know the difference. It happens all the time, everywhere, in or out of politics. Remember the old agricultural metaphor You reap what you sow ? I am not saying that is how it should be, (in politics); but in my lifetime I have learned that is exactly the way it is. It's reality, and to expect otherwise is to be naive. Here is an interesting quote from a previous poster, Is he (Mr.Taylor) saying that now we are getting what we voted for in the last by-election? This is followed by, not, I think, an appropriate admission to make in our presumed democracy, and one which certainly will not garner any additional PC votes in this district. I can promise him that many intelligent persons will think long and hard before they ever vote PC again . Now do you see what I mean by the reality of how things work in real life i.e. You reap what you sow. ?

I'm just saying it, the way it is. Whether it's fair or unfair, right or wrong, that things should be this way. it's REALITY.
And you may as well get use to it.

Jacqueline: - July 9th, 2010 at 09:24:30

Mr. Taylor refers to the air ambulance review as a review for which any intelligent person would have foreseen the outcome . This comment puzzles me.

Is Mr. Taylor implying that while he and his predecessors were in office, the air ambulance was kept in St. Anthony IN SPITE of the facts, a statement with which, by the way, I vehemently disagree. However, if this is what he is implying, then does he mean that political influence was in the past more important than facts? Is he admitting that political patronage was practised to keep the air ambulance in St. Anthony when he was the elected member?

If so, then the obvious next conclusion to make is one that any intelligent person would make; namely, that pay-back is now the order of the day. Now, Mr. Kennedy and others are free to do as they wish, since no PC member is there to fight to keep the air ambulance in St. Anthony.

Either way, Mr. Taylor looks bad; either he is disputing the facts, which clearly support retaining an air ambulance in St. Anthony; or, he is saying that now we are getting what we voted for in the last by-election, not, I think, an appropriate admission to make in our, presumed, democracy , and one which certainly will not garner any additional PC votes in this district. I can promise him that many intelligent persons will think long and hard before they ever vote PC again.

Thank you.

Red: - July 9th, 2010 at 09:24:29

Trevor Taylor hit the nail on the head with this one. To see Yvonne Jones on TV you would think she is saddened and all torn up over this decision. When in fact she was the one who kept asking for a review of the system to get the service moved to Labrador, her beloved land.
In the end as Taylor said 163 million dollars spent in a district wasn't enough and never will be enough for a district that depends on government to much for it's existence. That mentality of government owes us something is prevelant and ramphant in the district. If 163 million is not enough then how much is? If you feel this isn't good enough and you voted in a Liberal hoping to get more then I suggest you made a mistake and will never be satisfied, no matter what any government does wether they be PC or Liberal.
Right now you have a Liberal who is quickly finding out that he can do nothing in opposition. He told you he could do better and to vote for change and as Taylor said change is what you are getting.

greg: - July 9th, 2010 at 09:24:28

Taylor had a knack for putting his foot in his mouth. He froze up in media interviews and could be easily eviserated by even the most Junior of reporters. Buying into Taylor's failed, lame, ill concieved RMS plan to pass the crab resource to the Fish Merchants, was a huge blow to Tories as they were defeated by the Fish Union. Taylor betrayed fishermen. William's distaste for all things fish still lingers. Taylors penchant for being the darling of a small group of millionaire Fish Merchants was his undoing. He's still sore about his defeat at the hands of fishermen and it looks good on him. The Union made him and then destroyed him. Good riddance.

Mark: - July 9th, 2010 at 09:24:28

Vengeance. With Danny Williams' crew it is all about vengeance. You dared defy the Great Danny Williams. You reap what you sow, and you shall be punished.

I guess this letter illustrates the true measure of Mr. Taylor.

Jacqueline: - July 9th, 2010 at 09:24:28

To Gerry from BC:

Maybe things are as bad as they are due to the fact that some people are content to get used to it. Our society would be in even worse shape than it is if everyone were willing to just accept the status quo. If something is wrong, or unfair, we should strive to change it. After all, a wise man once said that Evil triumphs when good people do nothing . THAT'S reality, and I hope that we're not apathetic enough to EVER get used to it.

john j: - July 9th, 2010 at 09:24:28

Remember the old say becareful what you ask for,well the majority of the people in the district ask for change and change you got.There is another old saying better the devil you know than the devil you dont know. If the reason the Air Ambulance was kept in St Anthony was becausse we had a PC member then fine I dont care.All i know it was there and it should be there now.If it takes another PC member to get it back then that;s what we have to do. It seems like most people knew it was up for Grabs and we should have been smart enough to do the right thing to keep it that way.My opinnion.

melvin: - July 9th, 2010 at 09:24:27

what a loss; for this province...when
this fellow left provincial politics..

Trevor would have made a terrific leader and i hoped he would stay and
follow Danny; as the next Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador;

But he got knee capped by the FFAW
and his friends in the fishing industry;

he would have been a great Premier;
a true blue Newfoundlander/with roots in
Labrador;

a young man; who never hesitated to risk his own life; to save the life of a friend; a man with character;
again a great loss to this province when
he left public service

Pierre Neary: - July 9th, 2010 at 09:24:27

Trevor Taylor has hit the lowest of the low here. The contempt and arrogance he is displaying to his former constituents and fellow Newfoundlanders, whom he abandoned, is disgusting to say the least. Mr. Taylor was obviously one of the reasons for the voters in his district to want change, and he is still sore about it. Mr. Taylors statements also confirm what the opposition claimed during the by-election that the PC Party were wielding the sword of healthcare as an attempt to extort votes from the people of the district, more sleazy behavior. I hope the Premier hung his head in shame after reading this letter. Mr. Taylors letter has exposed him for what he really is. Take what you have left of your dignity Mr. Taylor and stay in Ottawa, youre not needed here, we already have enough arrogant politicians.

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